Zechariah 14:8-9 Only through Christ will peace reign.

Only through Jesus, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, will the world finally have true peace!

Daniel 2:44-45 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. 45 Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.” The New King James Version

When the Jews rejected their King they were set aside for a period of time. In God’s grace the Gentiles, who accept Him by  faith, are brought in as the Body of Christ. In the end the children of Abraham, Jacob and David will be accept Jesus as their redeemer King and they will be bought back by the blood of the Lamb of God. This will fulfill the promise to Abraham that in him the world would be blessed and in the genealogy of David the King would return to the His chosen people.

Daniel 7:9-10 

I watched till thrones were put in place, 

And the Ancient of Days was seated; 

His garment was white as snow, 

And the hair of His head was like pure wool. 

His throne was a fiery flame, 

Its wheels a burning fire; 

10 A fiery stream issued 

And came forth from before Him. 

A thousand thousands ministered to Him; 

Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. 

The court was seated, 

And the books were opened

Daniel 7:13-14 

“I was watching in the night visions, 

And behold, One like the Son of Man, 

Coming with the clouds of heaven! 

He came to the Ancient of Days, 

And they brought Him near before Him. 

14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. 

His dominion is an everlasting dominion, 

Which shall not pass away, 

And His kingdom the one 

Which shall not be destroyed.

Hosea 4:6 

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. 

Because you have rejected knowledge, 

I also will reject you from being priest for Me; 

Because you have forgotten the law of your God, 

I also will forget your children.

Hosea 10:12-13 

Sow for yourselves righteousness; 

Reap in mercy; 

Break up your fallow ground, 

For it is time to seek the Lord, 

Till He comes and rains righteousness on you. 

13 You have plowed wickedness; 

You have reaped iniquity. 

You have eaten the fruit of lies, 

Because you trusted in your own way, 

In the multitude of your mighty men.

Hosea 14:1-7 

O Israel, return to the Lord your God, 

For you have stumbled because of your iniquity; 

2 Take words with you, 

And return to the Lord. 

Say to Him, “Take away all iniquity; 

Receive us graciously, 

For we will offer the sacrifices of our lips. 

3 Assyria shall not save us, 

We will not ride on horses, 

Nor will we say anymore to the work of our hands,

‘You are our gods.’ 

For in You the fatherless finds mercy.” 

4 “I will heal their backsliding, 

I will love them freely, 

For My anger has turned away from him. 

5 I will be like the dew to Israel; 

He shall grow like the lily, 

And lengthen his roots like Lebanon. 

6 His branches shall spread; 

His beauty shall be like an olive tree, 

And his fragrance like Lebanon. 

7 Those who dwell under his shadow shall return; 

They shall be revived like grain, 

And grow like a vine. 

Their scent shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

Revelation 5:1-7 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. 4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” 6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. 

Zechariah 14:8-9 And in that day it shall be— That living waters shall flow from Jerusalem, Half of them toward the eastern sea And half of them toward the western sea; In both summer and winter it shall occur. 9 And the Lord shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be “The Lord is one,” And His name one.

When the Jews rejected Jesus as their King they were set aside for a period of time. It allowed the grace of God to be offered to the Gentiles who accept Him by faith, they makeup the Body of Christ. In the end the children of Abraham, Jacob and David will be brought back in accepting Christ as their King and His Kingdom will last forever. This will fulfill the promise that Abraham would be a blessing to the world. Jesus by His shed blood redeems all those who place their trust in Him. (John 3:16-17) Carla

Living waters describes waters flowing rapidly with constant movement and a variety of twists and turns, so that they appear to be something alive. Ezekiel 47:1–12 also describes a river flowing from Jerusalem in the last days. Yahweh will be one  an  allusion drawing attention to the statement of Yahweh’s essential unity in Deuteronomy 6:4 (sometimes referred to as the Shema). Faithlife Study Bible

The term living waters describes running water from a spring or river, in contrast to the stale and stagnant water of a cistern (Jeremiah 2:13). The water will flow from Jerusalem toward the eastern sea (the Dead Sea) and the western sea (the Mediterranean). In contrast with the seasonal streams that flow only during the rainy season, these streams will irrigate the land both summer and winter. Zechariah anticipates the glorious day when the Lord will reestablish His reign on this earth, where it was first challenged by Satan  (Revelation 20:1–3; Psalm 93:1; 97:1; 99:1). This will be the answer to the prayers of all those who pray Jesus’ words, “Your kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10). The words the Lord is one speak of His unity and His uniqueness (Deuteronomy 6:4).  The NKJV Study Bible

Revelation 22:1–2 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 

John 7:38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 

Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! 

Isaiah 45:21–24 

Tell and bring forth your case;

Yes, let them take counsel together.

Who has declared this from ancient time?

Who has told it from that time?

Have not I, the LORD?

And there is no other God besides Me,

A just God and a Savior;

There is none besides Me.

“Look to Me, and be saved,

All you ends of the earth!

For I am God, and there is no other

We’ve missed the point if we don’t see that unplugging and refueling is a laboratory for forgiveness, which begins with self-forgiveness. An invitation to befriend our scattered and wounded self.

Yes. Grace, indeed, is WD40 for the soul.

And the permission to let go of the strange measurements we lug around for self-worth. Here’s the bottom line: When I lose sight of who I am (or where I am grounded), I forget to be here now. The gift of enough in the sacrament of the present. As long as I’m preoccupied with apprehension of where I need to arrive, I’m unable to pause, or care, or give, or weep, or mourn, or heal, or contribute, or laugh, or savor. Sabbath Moments

True repentance always results in obedient action. We cannot return to God without openness to do what He asks.Jesus tells His disciples that loving Him means obeying Him (John 14:15). Loving God also involves loving our enemies, not just our neighbors (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 5:43-44). The Apostle Paul writes, "In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:19). Cultivating a lifestyle of continual repentance is vital to our walk with the Lord. Not only will we avoid hardening our hearts, but we'll experience the mercy of God, who grants second chances and offers fresh starts whenever we choose to return to Him. First5

Ezekiel 36:24-28 The Lord has won the battle. Our trust is in God alone

We are watching the fulfillment of God’s promises unfold. No one knows the time when all of prophesy will be fulfilled but the Father… but we can discern the signs that draw us ever closer to the return of Jesus as King of the Jews. All knees will bow and all hearts will rejoice at His coming.

Jeremiah 31:11 

For  the Lord has redeemed Jacob, 

And ransomed him  from the hand of one stronger than he.

Jeremiah 31:34 “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” 

Jeremiah 33:14-16   ‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘that  I will perform that good thing which I have promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah: 15 ‘In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David A  Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. 16 In those days Judah will be saved, And Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this is the name by which she will be called:  THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS’

The days will come that in the New Covenant Israel will recognize their King and their sin will be no more. God’s laws will be written in their mind and written on their heart. From the least to the greatest they will all know Jesus, all God and all man! All of His Kingdom promises will be fulfilled. No one will remove them from God’s hand.

Jeremiah 33:7-9 And  I will cause the captives of Judah and the captives of Israel to return, and will rebuild those places  as at the first. 8 I will  cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me. 9  Then it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise, and an honor before all nations of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I do to them; they shall  fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it.’

The world will see the glory of the Lord. 

Ezekiel 36:24-28  For  I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. 25  Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you  from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a  new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My  Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. 28  Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers;  you shall be My people, and I will be your God. 

When Israel was returned to their land that prophesy was fulfilled in our lifetime. Their total restoration will come as God’s will is finished in their land and in their lives. Salvation belongs to the Lord!  Only the blood of Christ cleanses us from sin. We live in the  righteousness of Jesus Christ. Carla

Before Yahweh can cleanse them, He must gather them back to the land. I will sprinkle on you pure water refers  to ritual purity and cleanness (Leviticus 15:19–24; Numbers 19:20). A new heart and a new spirit develops the promise from Ezekiel 11:19–20. Yahweh’s cleansing entails a total transformation of heart and spirit. From a biblical perspective, the heart was the seat of the mind and will, not just emotion. Ezekiel seems to use heart and spirit in tandem to refer to a person’s whole being (18:31). God will remove their heart of stone. The people’s arrogance and stubborn self-reliance had hardened their hearts, making them unable to respond to Yahweh as they should. Faithlife Study Bible

The preview of the return to the land in the Mosaic covenant is related to the promise of perpetual—but not necessarily uninterrupted—possession of the land of Canaan in the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 12:1–3; 13:14–18; 15:12–21; Hosea 3:4). To sprinkle clean water symbolizes cleansing from sin (verses 17; 11:18; 37:23; Jeremiah 33:8). 

This is God’s forgiveness based on a blood atonement (Exodus 12:22; Leviticus 14:4–7, 51; Numbers 19:14–22; Psalm 51:7; Zechariah 13:1; 1 Corinthians 6:11;  Hebrews 10:22.). The ritual of purification from sin would be empty and meaningless apart from true repentance and the regenerating and empowering work of the Holy Spirit on the inner spirit of individuals. God would not only restore the people physically to the land, but would restore them spiritually, by giving them a new heart and new spirit to help them follow Him and do His will. (11:19–20; 18:31; 37:14; 39:29; Jeremiah 31:31–34; Joel 2:28, 29; Acts 2:17, 18; Romans 7:7–8:11; 2 Corinthians 3:3–18;  Hebrews 8:6–10:39.) 

you shall be My people: The purpose of the Mosaic covenant would finally be realized (Deuteronomy 26:16–19; 29:13; 30:8). The Israelites would become a people dedicated to God’s ways. The NKJV Study Bible

Ezekiel 11:19–20 Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God. 

Ezekiel 37:14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it,” says the LORD.’ ”

Ezekiel 37:21 “Then say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; 

Ezekiel 18:31 Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? 

Ezekiel 34:13 And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country

I can “hear” the invitation of grace.

I can “hear my song”—and the dance (empowered by grace) that unlocks my heart, and the extraordinary gift of being restored to myself.

The arms and hands of grace, that...

...remind us we are beautiful, when we feel ugly.

...tell us we are whole, when we feel broken.

...give us the power to dance, even when we feel shattered.

...allow us to take a step, even when we feel stuck, or shut down.

Sabbath Moments

“Dear God, soften our hearts and help us pull up a chair for one another. May we view one another with compassion and remember that we all have a seat at the table. Amen.” (Maria Shriver)

Only God's merciful intervention saves us from self-destruction. "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). Indeed, salvation belongs to our God. We find forgiveness and eternal life in no other. As the Apostle Paul, a great missionary, said, "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). That name is Jesus. He is the Son of God who died for our sins and rose from the dead so we might have eternal life.

Someday, people from every nation and tribe who have placed their faith in Jesus will stand in heaven before God's throne and worship Him, the Lamb who was sacrificed to redeem us. What a day that will be when we praise Jesus together: "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" (Revelation 7:10). First5