Tiferet

The day is beautiful, the moments glisten, the clouds come in, the sun shines behind them. The darkened tree trunks, silhouetted against the brightness, branch out into feathers of prayer. Soon they will be recovered in leaves, soaring higher into the heavens. Expectation is birthed during winter. God’s hand moves forward in His perfect timing.  Listen. Breathe. Wait. Now, the deep blue sky is filled with soft white moisture. It only takes a moment for everything to change.

My new floor is still scratched. It is still full of grime that I am needing to scrape off. The stink bugs are still falling to my floor. People still come and go.  I still have to make hard choices I wish were easy. I could be miserable. 

But there is balance, in space. 

My sweetly gorgeous worship center needs much attention.

The new floor is lovely but marred, each mar speaking of the joy that has already happened here. Good memories. 

The atmosphere feels pristine, but it requires endless cleaning.

And there is balance, in time. 

The winter passes. 

Spring comes. 

Sparkling snow is replaced by lime green leaves. 

Last year’s foliage gives way to even more abundance. 

In ourselves. 

In our nations. 

In our world. 

The old dies to give birth to the new. 

Do leaves rejoice when they wither and turn to mulch?

The earth is pregnant. 

Last year‘s fruit must die.

Does an apple yearn to rot in the ground so its seeds can bear much fruit? 

Everything that can be shaken must be shaken. The old must die for the new to emerge. 

Will we rejoice at the coming transformation, embrace death for life? Will I?

GOD calls this place “Beit Tiferet.” 

House of Beauty. 

Things that are beautiful are balanced. 

There is order and structure, love and exquisite synchronicity.

Let me explain. 

Tiferet balances Ahavah, love, and Gevurah, structure.  

Ahavah is simple, unrestrained, unlimited love, the kind of love that holds the entire universe together, the kind of love we feel when we are connecting with God with all our might, the kind of love that holds everything together regardless of our thoughts or feelings. It gives, maintains and unifies. Without it, everything would fly apart. It supports, encourages, admonishes and appreciates. Without it, judgement rules. It establishes and re-establishes connection. Its limitlessness holds everything together. It gives us the capacity to embrace our Creator’s creative energy. It births and maintains the world.

Gevurah is the structure that defines what Ahavah embraces, the structure that causes my foot to move forward and my arm to rise, that creates a butterfly’s wings to fly 1000s of miles and an Eagle’s wings to soar, that discerns between good and evil and shows me the way I should go. It creates distinction and definition. It restores order, process and protocol. It requires discipline. It includes consequences. It separates this from that.  A diamond from a rose.  A sunrise from a sunset.  Heaven from hell.  It is identity. I am who GOD created me to be and nothing else. I receive my God-given power, strength and authority when I choose God’s choices for myself.  Thus, Gevurah also means personal power.

Ahavah synthesizing with Gevurah creates glorious beauty.

Paintings, relationships, music, communion.

Tiferet, God’s glorious beauty.

The exquisite harmony integrating the fullness of love and the specificity of disciplined choice is Tiferet. God’s choice. Compassion. When we have Ahavah for people who have run away from God’s Gevurah, that gives us the compassion to walk with them into redemption. 

It is winter on earth … the challenges that are ahead of us are immense.  Much fruit will fall.  Many leaves will die.  But evergreen leaves will thrive, even in winter, even in war. If we walk within the balance of Tiferet, we will be glorified, whether we live or die.  Tiferet equals a glorified life. We can show people God’s love for all of His creation, plus the specifics of what He desires from our lives, Ahavah and Gevurah combined.

Planet earth is meant to be God’s Glorious Worship Home, His true Beit Tiferet. Everything that needs to be shaken to build its firm foundation will be shaken. 

The sun has come back to my mountain now. The sky is striated. Gorgeous blue mingled with silvery white, and the trees stand starkly silhouetted against its beauty. Suddenly, all the clouds evaporate. The purity of the sky returns.  

Hallelujah! Let’s look for the beauty in the season that’s coming. Let’s love without question.  Let’s rejoice in God’s people, and in His creation, always and always. Ahavah. Let’s destroy any darkness that comes against us, any ugliness we see. Gevurah. Our God-given power and authority is absolutely wielded with love. Let’s remember balance. Tiferet in war. Compassion in war. God’s glory is compassionate.  His compassion is glorious. His glorious compassion destroys the enemy. Tiferet.

Be prepared. Rest inside the heart of our Lord and Savior, Yeshua HaMashiach, and wait for His Call.

With every step, move closer and closer to God’s Kingdom’s Advent on earth.  Remember, this Christmas, whom we serve, the vastness of His Empire, His Kingdom that transcends all of space and time. Walk into His Heart boldly, and discover all the beauty that awaits us in the midst of the storm, as we prepare for what’s to come.

Shalom to everyone.

From my house to yours, let us all serve the LORD with gladness.

Wendy