Heart Transplant

"I have given you My heart! I have given you My heart! But will you accept My heart? Will you let My heart beat inside you? Will you accept the love that My heart longs to pour through you to others? You accept My love for you, but will you accept My love for others—even your enemies? Or will you reject My love for others and stop the flow of My blood?"

*****

Art link: "Our Heart's Need Is..."

"My Favorite Place"

"You will always be My little child! You will never grow too big to sit on My lap. You will never be too dirty for My arms to hug you. I will never be too busy to pick you up and hold you. I will always be a place where you can find rest and comfort. My love for you will never change.

"Will you come let Me embrace you and adore you forever?"

Called

"I am He who took you from among many assemblies of My people and brought you out so that you might hear My heart for My people, and My heart for nations. I have called you to speak My words even though you may not understand. Speak! I will always confirm what is My heart and what is your own. I will not leave you, even in this."

"To the Seven Churches"

"Look! Look, My people!
Outwardly much has changed, but spiritually you have
the same trials, strengths and weaknesses
that the seven churches had long ago:

Emptiness:
"Many believe they have grown in wisdom and discernment,
but cannot see that they have forsaken their first love."

Brokenness:
"Others who are esteemed as unblessed are rich in My sight,
and though they are called cursed, I call them faithful."

Eagerness to Fight:
"Some think they are called to defeat their enemies by all means,
and so they spend their spirit striving against flesh and blood."

Grasping:
"Some believe they have learned prophetic secrets
and constantly seek to attain more authority,
while idols in their hearts hold them captive."

The Appearance of Perfection:
"There are also those who appear straight and clean,
but who are dead or dying inwardly."

Holding Onto the One Thing:
"Many appear small and weak in the eyes of those who seem strong,
yet are actually firmly in My grasp,
and are holding firmly to the one thing that is necessary."

Being 'First':
"And many who believe they are leading the way
in pointing to righteousness in the world
have unwittingly turned away from Me."

"Look! Look, My people!
I have spoken of all things concerning you today
in My letters to the seven churches.
Look to the spirit of things
and not on the outward appearance.
Listen to My Spirit
—listen to My heart—
for I am coming soon!"

*****

Art: "Seven Spiritual Realities"

Threatened By Children

"Woe! Woe! My children are being abused!
And their abusers deny their wounds:

'Don't criticize leadership...'
'No church is perfect...'
'Don't focus on negatives...'

"When My children see abuses, hypocrisy and errors,
their spiritual parents feel threatened
because they are afraid to see their own inadequacies;
they would rather wound the eyes of My children that can see clearly.

"Spiritual fathers and mothers point the finger at their spiritual children
because they are afraid of losing their status and the praises of men.
They have not found their worth in My unconditional love, and so they seek
to keep their spiritual children from knowing My unconditional love.

"Woe to those who abuse My children and stand between us!
Woe to them, for I am coming to rescue My abused children!"

*****

Art: "Spiritually Abused"

Slavery ("For Your Own Good")

"Many of the pastors, teachers and prophets among My people
are leading My people into prostitution:
They are teaching My people that they must do
the works of the old covenant to please Me
so that I will give them a blessed life.
Many of these leaders know I do not require obedience
to the regulations of the old covenant.
Yet they continue to teach My people the ways of slavery
in order to keep their own place and position.
They put My people in slavery and say it is for their own profit.

"And so many of My people don't know how much I love them!
Many are trying to earn enough 'currency' with Me
to attain what they are taught is 'a blessed life'.
Their teachers have them look for satisfaction
in the ways and means of the world.

"How much longer will I endure this?"

Old Judgment

"The Old is obsolete! The Old is obsolete! My people, I do not judge you or the nations by the Old Covenant any longer! The death of My Son has put an end to the Old Covenant! His blood has released you from its ministry of condemnation.

"Do not look to the stone tablets of the Old Covenant to understand My judgment!
Do not look to the nation I made the Old Covenant with to understand My judgment!
Do not look to the prophets of the Old Covenant times to understand My judgment!

"Look to My Son!
Look to the Cross!
Look to My command to love one another
as I have loved you
while you were My enemies!

"If you proclaim judgment according to the Old Covenant, you are proclaiming the ministry of death and condemnation."

*****

Art link: "The Plundering of Sheol"

Before the Morning

"I am the One who treasures you.
I am the One who misses none of your tears.
I am the One who hears every one of your cries.
I am the One who stays with you through the night.

"I am the One who sees what you are going through,
and I am the One who often does not stop it
but who loves you and suffers with you.

"I am the One who redeems
each of your wounds,
each of your tears
and each of your cries.

"I am here with you.
I catch every tear.
I will bring morning to your night."

Perfect Acceptance

"My dear child, I am so pleased that you want to give your life to Me! You have learned many things, and you will continue learning more and more. But I want you to know that I love you and accept you regardless of how correct you are about things. I have gladly accepted you not because of your perfect knowledge or a minimum amount of things you've understood, but instead I have accepted you because I love you—you're My child! All I want is your heart, and you have given it to Me!"

Father's Heart

"My people! My people! Why are you chasing after shadows? Why are you seeking 'mantles', 'anointings', tithes and 'shekinah' glory? Haven't I shown you My glory in the face of My Son and given you fullness in Him? Haven't I given you all things in My son—in Christ and Him crucified?

"You have wandered from your first love, and your devotion has been given to the pursuit of power, authority and 'prophetic' insights. And so you have lost sight of the one thing that is needful. Growing in Me does not mean being in trances, speaking in 'spiritual' terms, prophesying to crowds or declaring 'open heavens'.

"Return! Return to your first works! Return to the simplicity of the Cross!"

*****

Art link: "Father's Exchange"

Desiring to Be Known

"My heart! My heart! I have given you My heart! I gave you My Son, taken from My bosom, and I have given you My Spirit—My very own spirit—so that you and I might fellowship with one another. I want you to know My heart, but many of you have not sought to know My heart! Many of you have been too busy with many things to stop what you're doing, ask Me to know My heart and wait on Me to share it with you. You have been living in shadows, sometimes coming within the veil for a time and then leaving to return to your business—which you think is My business. But I want you to seek My heart."

"Call to Me and I will answer you
and tell you great and unsearchable
things you do not know."

- Jeremiah 33:3

Real and Eternal

"Many of you have been 'believing for' material blessings
and seeing the goal of your faith as receiving temporary rewards.
Many of you have seen blessings that are 'spiritual'
as being lesser and not as wondrous.
Many of you have thought that the more 'real' ministry
of My Spirit is producing visible miracles.

"I tell you that many of you have been
seeking shadow instead of substance!
Now is the time to return to seeking what is eternal—
now is the time to live in Spirit and in truth!"

"The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing.
The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life."
(John 6:63)

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.
For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
(2 Corinthians 4:18)

*****

Art: "The Spirit Gives Life"

Cutting Command

"My child, I know your pain! Remember Gethsemane! I know the pain of My word cutting between spirit and soul! So I don't condemn you for feeling pain in the flesh or for grieving at the difficulties you feel in your soul as I send you forth to speak My word. I only ask that you trust Me and walk when I command you to. You are My beloved child, and I am very pleased with you!"

Rejected

"Tears! Tears! My eyes are full of tears! Why have you chosen to fight Me?

"Woe, woe, woe! Many who cry out for My coming do not know Me! Woe, woe, woe! Many are living against My love and mock those who live by My love! Many do not know My heart! Many cry, 'Lord, Lord' but live against the will of My Father!

"Woe to many, for I am coming, I am coming! Woe, for I will judge according to My commandment to love as I have loved you! Woe to those who live as enemies of the love I gave you on the Cross!"

"My Chosen Direction"

"Look! you have before you a path I have called you to.
This path was chosen for you before you were born.
You did not choose Me, but I chose you.
On this path you will be attacked and accused,
and many of your greatest griefs will come
from those who claim to be My people.
And, the very burdens I share with you will bring you grief,
because they are the griefs of My heart.
I have called you to walk this path,
sharing My heart and My sufferings."

*****

Art: "This is The Way"

Ears to Hear

"My prophets, I will share many burdens of My heart with you,
and I will send you to many people to speak My heart to them.

"Therefore, open your mouths wide and drink My heart,
for I will share burdens with you that will overwhelm you
if you do not hide yourself in Me.

"Do not be afraid to receive My heart and the burdens of My heart.
I will give you rest as you lean on My breast."

*****

Art: "Hearing His Heart"

Hunger For Shadows

"My people, I told you that many would leave the faith in the last days. And now behold, the days have come when many will not put up with the sound doctrine of the gospel, but turn aside to shadows—even the shadows of the old covenant. Now is the time when many are turning away from the testimony of the Son to believe myths instead—even 'Jewish' myths about Me, My ministry and My 'true' message.

"Many can no longer see the light of the glory of God in the face of the Son, and for them it is no longer enough to know 'Christ and Him crucified.' Many have already gone out from among you, and many are still among you seeking to draw others away from the Cross to the shadows—to holy days, months, years, land, and to seeking My favor through honoring the people of the circumcision.

"Stand firm in the freedom of the Cross, and do not let your hearts be drawn away from your pure and simple devotion to the Son—to whom you are betrothed."

*****

Art link: "Out of the Shadows"
See also: "End-time Judaizers" (at the 8thDay4Life website)

Crying For Peace

"I hear your cries, I hear your pleas.
I know your suffering and your longing for peace.
I am the One who weeps with you,
and I am also the One who weeps for you.

"Therefore I tell you that if you want peace,
you must let go of what you believe is yours by right.
I am the One who ascended to heaven
not by taking what is My right,
but by laying down My rights.
I am the One who receives My inheritance
through suffering on the Cross.

"Which do you want?
Do you want to fight for perishable land
and yet live without peace?
Or do you want to look instead
to an imperishable heavenly inheritance
and discover a peace that will
keep you in any tribulation?"

*****

Art: "But Not This!"

"Walk On"

"I know.
I know how it feels
when you feel alone.
I know how it is
when your heart is singing
with My Father's love,
and few or none
can hear or understand.

"Keep going.
My grace surrounds you
and will carry you through this."

*****

Art: "Grace Walk"

The Release of Barabbas

People wanted the Messiah to be a military leader, to drive out the Romans who the Jews saw as their "enemies". They were disappointed in Jesus because He didn't take a stand against the Romans and re-establish the nation. But the political party of the Zealots was all about driving them out and re-establishing a sovereign Jewish nation. And there were many rebellions. Barabbas was a rebel, and the two "thieves" crucified next to Christ were not actually thieves —that's an incorrect translation— but "rebels". When they asked for Barabbas to be released, they showed that they preferred a military approach to securing their freedom rather than this hippie Messiah who was preaching about loving enemies. But Jesus knew that the real "enemies" are spiritual, in the heart, not the 'Romans' (or Palestinians) outside.

But today there are people fighting to gain "the holy land." Instead of loving their neighbors, they are fighting them. Meanwhile millions of Christians are saying that God wants us to "stand with Israel" because the land is their right. Instead of teaching Israel to love as Christ loved us while we were His enemies, Christians are preaching the rights of Israel to the land, and that it is God's will and desire for them to have it.

Once at a national day of prayer meeting I attended, a woman stood up and shared that the Lord had told her, "Your neighbors are your inheritance", and I have never forgotten those words. Everything else on earth is perishable and will not last for eternity in its present form. But people are the treasures that Christ died to save from destruction, not money and not land (which will be renewed/re-created). And so the Psalms say of Christ that "the nations are His inheritance". And then Paul says in Romans 8 that we are "co-heirs with Christ". So His inheritance is our inheritance, too. The nations are our inheritance!

And that means that the Palestinians are the inheritance of the Jews, and the Jews are the inheritance of the Palestinians. We are all meant to inherit each other, because Christ desires to inherit all of us! But we are encouraging Israel and "standing with Israel" to fight for her old, perishable inheritance of dirt and dust, while fighting against those Christ wants for His inheritance!

Somehow today it seems like we Christians have failed to notice that this is the spiritual situation behind what's going on in the Middle East, and have lost sight of the gospel while supporting Israel as if in a fever. (And most often this is for eschatalogical reasons, not based on the gospel or Christ's command to love one another as He loved us!)

Ironically, some ancient manuscripts of Matthew list Barabbas' surname as "Jesus", so his name may have been "Jesus, son of Abbas", while our Jesus was "Jesus, who is called the Messiah". So when Pilate presented them both to the people, he may have been saying, "Which 'Jesus' do you want?"

It's a good question for us today: Do we want the 'Jesus' who teaches us to fight our enemies to secure our freedom and nation? Or do we want the 'Jesus' who teaches us to love our enemies because He loved us while we were His? Do we want the 'Jesus' who commands us to carry the bow and arrow, or do we want the Jesus who calls us to carry the cross just as He carried His?

As I prayed about these things, I heard the Lord crying out in the Spirit:

"My people are choosing Barabbas!
My people are teaching the ways of Barabbas!
They are rejecting Me and choosing the 'Jesus'
that their itching ears want to hear!
Turn! Turn from your ways, My people, and be saved!
For the path you are choosing only leads to death!
I am He who brings freedom through the Cross,
not through the sword!
If you live by the sword, you will die by the sword."

*****
See also:
• "Me or Barabbas?"
• "What Good Is It?"
• "What Are You Fighting For?"

"Give Freely!"

"My people, many of you have been zealous
to have My name respected and acknowledged.
Many of you have tried to defend My name and prove
the unrighteousness of those who do not profess My name.
Many of you refuse to show grace and love to 'the other side'
until they come to you, repent, and profess My name.

"I am calling you to repent, My people,
for I do not demand that anyone earn My grace and love
through first acknowledging and professing My name correctly.
Instead it is My freely given grace and love
which lead people to repentance.

"Go and give My grace and love freely, My people."

*****

Art: "Reaching Across"
Article: "Bitterness in My Homeland"

"Hear."

"As I called Samuel long ago, so I have called you. I will use you like the voice of a child, sent to those who have been turning away from Me, but whom I dearly love still. Arise, and speak what I tell you to speak."

"Lean On Me"

"I have told you these things,
so that in Me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart! I have overcome the world."

- John 16:33

"When you're feeling weak and weary, I am with you and will not let you fall. When you're confused, misunderstood and in doubt, I will hold you up. When you feel like you can't go on, I will carry you forward.

"Lean on Me. I will never leave you, and I will guide your footsteps
in the path of My love."