The Valley Walks: Baca, Dry Bones, Elah... and Decision

1. Valley of Baca; the furnace

Psa 84:5-6 ESV — Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs;

the early rain also covers it with pools.

The Valley of Baca is a valley of weeping. In this valley is a plant that lives in the desert sorrow and dryness. (I would like to find one of these, to water with a can of tears, as they still do come now and then)

The Hebrew word baca is related to bakah, which means “to weep.” Baca refers to a type of “weeping” tree; that is, one that drips resin or gum-like tears, such as a balsam, mulberry, or aspen tree. In 2 Samuel 5:23, bakaim is translated as “balsam trees” (ESV).

This is the valley for my season of my refining. The breaking and the undoing of a cord of three. The valley where the strength of self was stripped... and the roots of faith in Jesus went deeper while my bark wept tears of resin.

I walked through all but empty handed. Eyes weeping tears of blood. God turned my weeping into worship and a new voice from the heart was birthed.

In Baca, the springs didn’t come from the ground but from heaven and only after the surrender. This was not where I stayed but the valley I passed through. 

In the passing, I was changed.

2. Valley of Dry Bones; the growth 

Eze 37:3-5 ESV — And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord GOD, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.

There was a time when I felt lifeless. Devoid of passion, a vision, an identity. I knew the language of faith... but not the power! I waited in the dry and the dark.

The Valley of Dry Bones is a valley of awakening. The bones weren’t just brittle... they were disconnected. Stewn about before the yawning mouth of Sheoul but He brought them back together again! This is the valley of Spiritual awakening. My flesh returned. My breath returned.

A standing army of purpose was born from dust and is felt in the heart. My spirit is not just revived but it is re-formed.  It is a daily activity to seek an alignment with His voice. I didn’t and couldn't do it. I can't do it - nothing I do can! I can only respond in repentance with reverent fear and obedience. Is this not the Lord of all creation? He is the Alpha and Omega! Selah.

In the passing I was changed.

3. Valley of Elah, the surrender to victory in faith

1Sa 17:46-49 ESV — This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hand.” When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.

The Valley of Elah is a valley of standing. This the name of the valley where David met Goliath.  The armies of Israel stood in fear! Who would face this giant? A small boy with faith and a stone... he alone remembered that the battle It belongs to the Lord!

I’m know I'm not a David. But perhaps I have his heart? It is such reflection of mine. Of both the good and the bad parts.  

So I carry with me a white stone and a new name: little king. With it comes a willingness to stand when others run. Not because of confidence in myself. No. But because I know the One who goes before me. The One who provides the living water! So the leaves may remain green, even in the desert heat. This is the valley where obedience  and faith meets a victory. Not by might or education or notoriety... but by His Spirit.

In the passing I was changed.

There are three valleys (at least) where light is not overcome by the darkness:

• One of a refining fire. 
• One of a breath for revival. 
• One of a giant-slaying God.

Do you weep my beloved? Awaken sleeper! Stand strong in faith of His promises! 

He is with you in every valley. And He is not done with you as He is not yet done with me:

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 

Blessed be the Prince of Peace! He paid the price of stripes for our healing! 

There may be more valleys to come. I wait, expectantly, for the day of my King. A day when we all will walk in different valley - the valley of decision.

a watering can of peace in the 12x12

Some verses that have hit home for me as of late:

Rom 8:25-30 ESV — But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

He is the Master Gardener. I will walk with Him in garden of my heart - for it is God who who gives the growth. A friend reminded me of this:

Isa 54:14 ESV — In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you.

Psa 101:1-8 ESV — A Psalm of David.

I will sing of steadfast love and justice;

to you, O LORD, I will make music. I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil. Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure. I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me. No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes. Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land, cutting off all the evildoers from the city of the LORD.

Mal 3:16-18 ESV — Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name. “They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.

Jhn 14:27 ESV — Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

My prayer today: 

I do not see the first leaves but I wait.

I am not strong but weak.

I do not know how to pray but I do.

His will be done.

All things come together.

Not of my will.

All for His purpose and glory. 

I wait for the Day of the Lord.

With patience.

With hope.

With my brothers and sisters.

Blessed be the Prince of Peace.

Amen. 

the calls of the flock stir me to rise & reflect

Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? - James 2:5 ESV

Today I'm nearly vexed to tears by my observation and waking to this birdsound. The reading of the Holy Regulations brings some comfort - amidst all the findings.

I run to scripture on my waking by the birds song today for comfort. They woke me yesterday too.

A heavy realization to know and think differently. With eyes on eternity. Has the polarity of my heart been flipped? I hear talk of what's on TV, the shows and the drama. And I only think of how it is just a vapor. Even the rib eye tastes bland. This talk of the entertainment of a fallen world....the echos of this conversation...  My attention and thought then divides to reflect on both here and above: in and at once. These things will pass and it is not hardly worth the fuss or attention. Only the Lord deserves it all, Christ the King who lived to save us and died for our sins. Are there more important matters to discuss than this? What does it gain to speak otherwise? The only gain I see is the meditation on scripture and prayer and praise lifted up to the Creator. 

The formation and creation of relationships so truth can be more freely spoken out of love and carry more weight... This good news that must be shared. What gain is all else but then to lose eternity in Glory? Oh how the ears are clogged and the mind clouded by the desires of the flesh. There, so near, awaits grace and peace freely given. Even the birds cry out, they see and know of this! Will to listen to the bird? Can you hear the sound of is praises?

My friend - those nights terrors can be traded for peace! The suffering exchanged for strength and tranquility by clinging to the hope of Christ's return! Something stirs deeply within me and it can not be contained. Much like a seed that has begun it's germination. So I say and know this sower must cast more seeds for sometimes the not so nice birds come early in the morning and eat it up. I wish all would have this understanding of this...though that is a matter of your own heart.

I wonder in response to the birdsong: When is the earths summation? It's as though the presummation meeting is being discussed by the flock, both the birds and the sheep... And I...am in attendance.

For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations. - Isaiah 61:11 ESV

For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. - 1 Timothy 4:10 ESV

Reflection at Dawn

I woke up in the dark. But now the dawn rises. 

I see now how I was reduced to a crust of bread by dark honey. A young heart led astray from the path of the Lord's will. 

I am thankful for the teaching this morning, these verses brought to mind and the reproof that has preserved me:

(Proverbs 6:23-29 ESV) "For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life, to preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress. Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes; for the price of a prostitute is only a loaf of bread, but a married woman hunts down a precious life. Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned? Or can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched? So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; none who touches her will go unpunished."

Why did I fall in love with the fire? Well... I liked to see the flames dance. Bit of a pyro. Not all children buy flower of sulphur, potassium nitrate and make a charcoal cooker. I liked to experiment back then! Recipes aren't around anymore - I checked long ago when I ran across my old paper copies. The Internet back then was so different.

It felt like love and grew into love until my heart broke. I was young and naive. We are given freedom in choice but sometimes the Lord intervenes with a word spoken in the night, a word from Papa the Protector of my heart - to let me know that season was finished. 

Ephesians 5:13 

 "But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that is visible is light." (NIV) or "But everything that becomes visible is exposed by the light, for everything that is exposed is light." (NASB). 

So moving forward I will guard the heart from fire. The prize is not fire but wisdom. Papa teaches me the best path to walk and she will serve me with more honor that my former choice:

(Proverbs 4:18-23 ESV) "But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. 

The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;

they do not know over what they stumble. 

My son, be attentive to my words;

incline your ear to my sayings. 

Let them not escape from your sight;

keep them within your heart. 

For they are life to those who find them,

and healing to all their flesh. 

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life."

Now it flows as it did in my youth! For since I choose the path of peace and forgiveness... Now I am blessed! 

Marriage was indeed gift for a time but now I see the greater gift - of attention and service to the Lord. The light of dawn has been revealed in my life. It is so incredibly good to walk where you can see - with the shoes of the Gospel of Peace. 

Goodness and Provision

🐝 

Judges 14:8-9 – Samson and the honey from the lion

“After some days he returned to take her. And he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey. He scraped it out into his hands and went on, eating as he went.”

The riddle posed to Samson's guests:

"Out of the eater came something to eat,

out of the strong came something sweet"

I know of the sweetness that comes out of destruction of the eater.

Deuteronomy 32:13 that sticky good from the rock

“He made him ride on the high places of the land, and he ate the produce of the field, and he suckled him with honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock.”

Psalm 19:9-10 God’s Word even sweeter than honey

“The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.”

Proverbs 16:24 Sweet words they be honey

“Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”

Proverbs 24:13-14 Wisdom is like honey

“My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.”

Isaiah 7:15 Honey = provision

“He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.”

Matthew 3:4 Johnny B

“Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.”

So I will eat the honey. 

The sweet of scripture.

The love abounding. 

And these words are sent to teach us and to train us. Milk should be fresh from the camp fridge. Not spoiled from the market. Where is the sandwich at the house with long steps? 

Agony of the Horned Lizard Near Death

Who's eyes squirt blood? The horny toad...or lizard:

The generic name Phrynosoma means "toad-bodied". In common with true toads (amphibians of the family Bufonidae), horned lizards tend to move sluggishly, often remain motionless, and rely on their remarkable camouflage to avoid detection by predators.

Quite fascinating, huh? Literally they close off blood flowing back to there tiny hearts...then POP... goes the blood vessel in the eye. Up to 4-5 feet. Lots of formic acid in the blood too - from the venomous ants. Its not until the lizard is in the mouth, nearest death, when the flow to the heart is stopped so it can burst from the eyes. 

The horned lizard has two constricting muscles that line the major veins around its eye. When these muscles contract, they cut off blood flow back to the heart, while it continues to flow into the head. This floods the ocular sinuses with blood, building pressure, and causing them to bulge. By further contracting these muscles in a rapid manner, the pressure increases even more, eventually rupturing the thin sinus membranes. The result is a jet stream of blood that can shoot up to four feet from the eye socket, a process known as auto-hemorrhaging. Amazingly, this process can be repeated several times within a short period if necessary, though the mechanism for this rapid recovery is not completely understood. - AskNature.org

Since science is fun and so are flowcharts, here is decision tree for this little lizard:

Source: Awkwardadaptations.com 

This video stands out as a reminder of a few biblical things: sweating blood, coyotes the trickster and the question ....blood squirting lizard - the world's weirdest

1. Did Jesus Christ experience hematohidrosis while praying in the garden of Gethsemane before his crucification. 

[Luk 22:43-44 ESV] "And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Interesting some manuscripts omit these verses. Let it me known...there is a completely unseen world around us. Gives us strength. (But also fire arrows)

Strange too, as I just heard of a story angels strengthening a soul fought with terror - a time ago now of this writing. Perhaps I was surrounded by angels in my time of need, as I heard in the story of the lady that collapsed. The muslim students would not go out for there were angels seen. When I said Gabe and Mike may go it was the night of testing.

Does not our physical bodies need encouragement from the heavenly realm? In us resides the Helper. Thought the will of the Father and the Son were one it is no easy thing to choose death. When your will becomes one with Christ it becomes a delight even thought the path is difficult.

 A prayer of incense still rises and praises too - though spun round the feeling wheel the hand that lands on fear.David too resolved to be strengthened; not by His will but by the will of the Lord:

1 Samuel 30:6 – “But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”

After the temptation was overcome the angels ministered to Jesus: Does it not read as so? Heed the words:

Psa 89:21 KJV - 21 With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.

"If God proportion the shoulders to the burden, we shall have no reason to complain, whatever he is pleased to lay upon us."

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1765/nasb20/mgnt/0-1/

Actually hematohidrois or profuse sweating? No doubt that He wasn't looking forward to the crucifixion.  hematohidrosis = sweating blood. 

Also interesting are the tears of blood from the virgin mary statue. Unsure if there is any truth to it, but interesting none-the-less. In related news; ever here of a stigmata?

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stigmata 

According to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22).

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted" (Matthew 5:4 - NKJV)

And those of Peter:

 "Rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified" (1 Peter 4:13-14 - NKJV). 

Affliction caused by our faithfulness to the name of Christ is proof that the Spirit of the glory of God rests upon us. This should make us glad, for we are blessed, and we shall rejoice when His glory is revealed when He returns to earth. 

Our joy will never be interrupted..."soon"

 "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:4 - NKJV).

Though I suffer tears of affliction for my loss there will be more to come another day no doubt: 

[Mic 1:8 ESV] "For this I will lament and wail; I will go stripped and naked; I will make lamentation like the jackals, and mourning like the ostriches."

I know from my experience, the prayer of surrender is when strengh from the spirtiaul comforts world lifts you up. So that you can continue to take steps. 

The prayer of full surrender ...where help then comes!

(Luke 22:42-44 ESV) "saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Let us not forget the reverent need:

(Hebrews 5:7 ESV) In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.

dream: devil santa and the grocery market

05/03/25 

I had prayed this night for direction from the Lord. Was feeling a bit overwhelmed from the activities of that day - usual for my routine but was mine this week. I woke at 530am and just felt the presence and warmth of the Spirit when asking about it - a warm embrace. Also I can't stop thinking about it. 

I was a cute kitten. And my friend was a cute dog, almost like a stuff toy kind of cute. We were jumping up and down pressing the buttons for the video game. It was a fun time. I then remember being a Santa but like of the South Pole. (Darker and colder. Where the devil Santa rules since not the north, which is the good side) The conversation I was having with my friend was about: “Why is it that I am in charge of 12 devils and serving in hell because all I want is to be a good “devil” Santa. (Referring to the south pole flip) He explained that part of the reason that I was good santa there is because when I jumped through the portal my body and the spirit got flipped. So it wasn't fitting in the same way. (Hard to describe the feeling)

As we played the game and had this conversation one of the minions was sneaking up. They were like shadowy creatures that could move along on the walls and conform to the shape of things and then hide under it. So, there was one that got closer. I looked and the hid themselves. 

A different dream right after that first:

Everything was really busy, and like a downtown location at an crosswalk/intersection to stop playing. I was trying to follow the crosswalk path but it's super crowded and grocery store was to the right. And people are pushy. Then I enter the grocery store. It's kind of a gloomy area there. I was shopping and I go to a refrigerator. There used to be fresh food there just a week ago. But then I open it and all the food is decayed and old, some open and spoiled milk. And someone says that they're having a sale because the store is closing down. So I look closer at a lot of products actually marked as a discount. The way that it's tracked. Is that if people don't buy it like it drops down in price but as soon as people start buying it... it goes back up.

So I prayed from the heart. Ran to scripture for fresh milk. Wrote a note to a greiving sister, with a lizards wisdom, on an anniversary of a time past and current time of tears of weeping.

Passage found and presented as affirmation from yesterdays Spirit stirring in neighborly conversation: 

(Proverbs 3:25-35 ESV) "Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,

when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you. Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you. Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm. Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways, for the devious person is an abomination to the LORD, but the upright are in his confidence. The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous. Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor. The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace."

The grieving widow eats tonight. No strings attached.