Transition: movement, passage, or change from one position, state, stage, subject, concept, to another; CHANGE.
On yesterday while fulfilling my Prayer Room service hours I was passed the message below by Anita Hensley, my Native American, Mohican friend who also made the “transition shawl.” I was told to take the shawl home for a while and use it in prayer if I wanted to. Of course, I wanted too…you all know me…I love tools and this would prove to be one.
34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
36 In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; 37 but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. 38 So the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels.
In reading these verses Holy Spirit reminded me of my recent post “Direct My Heart into Your Love” about the new wine being put in new wineskin. The fact that these scriptures speak of how the cloud (glory/presence/spirit) of God was settled (upon) the tabernacle and that the tabernacle was “filled” with the glory (spirit-presence) reveals the desire of God (Spirit being upon and within) to do the same with us, the earthly tabernacle. As I pondered this the divine set-up began to unfold. I found myself thinking of how the Israelites had so many signs and wonders done amongst them, so much evidence that God was for them yet they fell into such unbelief that it caused there to be a veil placed upon their hearts-minds in knowing their God. Then the blow was struck, CONVICTION. For months I have sought after a sign from the Lord as to whether or not I had made the right decision to move here. For months I have battled the demons of doubt and unbelief in spite of the many signs that the Lord has given to assure me of His hand being not only upon this move but my life. Oh, how I have cried rivers (really rivers of tears) night after night, day after day over having stepped out of the boat to follow the Lord. Then another blow of CONVICTION – John 20:29 was given and I was told that if the Israelites failure to believe and acknowledge God’s favor and goodness towards them for 40 years led to their being snared by doubt and unbelief how much more could this happen to me if I did not step out of this place and walk this journey by faith.
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Conviction had done its job and now I was broken and repentant. Afterwards, God’s loving-kindness began to lift me out of the valley of CONVICTION and REPENTANCE to the banqueting table. I was told to now place the shawl over my head and read aloud certain passages from Psalm 91 and the entire book of Ruth. In Psalm 91 Holy Spirit highlighted what I call the “I will’s of God” so I prayed them back to the Father. But the most awesome event of all while feasting at the table was the reading of the book of Ruth. I have read this book often during the 28 years of my “being” saved and each time the Lord reveals something that I had not seen before. Here I am sitting-covered in a “transition shawl” and in verse 15 of chapter 3 it reads:
15 He also said, “Bring me the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he poured into it six measures of barley and put it on her. Then he went back to town.
Now, I am weeping again but not in despair but in sheer joy of how the Lord favors me and has determined to show me His great love. At this point in the story Ruth is about to have another transition in her life take place. One of her transitions was her choosing to leave her people and follow Naomi back to Bethlehem. Once she is in Bethlehem she remains faithful to her mother-in-law and does exactly as she is told and goes and gleans whatever is left behind by the shearers of the field so that the two of them will have food. In her obedience and love for Naomi she has placed herself in the position for another transition to take place (by faith) at the feet of Boaz; a transition that would place her in the lineage of Jesus (Matt 1:5).
Of course, I removed the shawl and held it out to receive by faith all that “Boaz,” my redeemer, (Jesus) has for me knowing that as Ruth; He has so much more in store. One day those of you who are walking with me and those of you watching me travel along this journey will also share in my joy as those who shared in the joy of Naomi when the Lord restored and blessed her through Ruth & Boaz.
Until He Returns…..
~Timbra
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