harvest field
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IMPORTANT  NOTE: 
 It  has  come  to  our  attention  that  there  was   a problem  with  our registration  system.    Many of  you  who  signed  up  for  our  newsletter  have  not  been receiving  these  emails. If  you  are  a r egistered  member  of  Trumpet  and  Torch  Ministries you  will  continue  to  receive  these  emails  from  this  point  forward.   New  users  can  still register  for  the  journey  by  clicking  here.   To  review  the  first  two  emails  of  this  journey please  click  on  the  "Day 1"  and  "Day 2"  links  at  the  end  of  the  devotional.   We  apologize for  any  inconvenience.   Thank  you  for  your  patience!
 
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harvest field

"...being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might  

 so that you may have great endurance an d patience..."
 
(Colossians 1:11)
 
The Festival of Lights - Day 3
 
"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned" (Isaiah 9:2).
 
The challenges and uncertainty of the days we are living in may cloud our vision and cause many to begin to doubt our ability to shed light into the darkness of this fallen world.  The Lord Jesus told us to expect such days of evil, declaring, "because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold" (Matthew 24:12).   As we draw closer to the flame of God's love our hearts will be filled with the warmth of His love and our lives will be transformed to radiate brilliantly "...in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe" (Philippians 2:14).
 
However, "this calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints" (Revelation 12:10), as those called to take a firm stand in the midst of the darkness, rejecting retreat (reference Hebrews 11:35-39) as the evil one makes his ugly advances against the children of light.  We must patiently wait for the promised harvest of the Lord, constantly aware that the enemy will use every tactic and lie in his arsenal to cause us to grow weary and lose heart, with the goal of extinguishing our flame!
 
LIGHTING THE CANDLE
  
 [You will need  your Bible, and, if you choose,  a candle or set of candles]
 
Tonight we will light a third candle, beginning as we did last night by first lighting the center candle - the "servant" or "guard" candle - which we are using to symbolize the Holy Spirit of God Who is God's gift to believers; and is the indwelling power that is necessary to fuel the flame of Christ, and keep our hearts burning passionately for our Lord, enabling us to bear fruit  - fruit that will last (reference John 15:8, 16).  The third candle is then lit followed by the second candle and then the first candle.
 
As we shared on day one of our devotional all spiritual fruit is an outgrowth out of love.  As the third candle  is ignited through the power of the Holy Spirit we watch as "patience" burns in the heart of the believer who is already filled with the fruit of "peace," "joy," and "love".  "But the fruit of the Spirit is...PATIENCE" (Galatians 5:22).
 
If your family is together for this dedication ceremony you may choose 3 helpers to light the candles. As the head of household hands the "Shamash" ("servant") candle to the first participate, say: "You are the light of the world!"  Facing the Menorah (or candles you have set out) they will light the third candle first (see Menorah above or click here to view a web video) then have them hand the "Shamash" candle to the next person who will light the second candle from day 2, saying "You are the light of the world!", and then, in turn, they will hand the "Shamash" candle to the third participant who will light the day one candle.  When the candles are lit have the person who ignited the day 3 candle read Colossians 1:9-12, "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.  And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way:  bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light."
 
PUT ON THE ARMOR OF LIGHT 
 
 [Read the following devotional to your family]
 
Patience, or "longsuffering" (KJV), is the fruit of the Spirit.  This fruit is produced from abiding in a God who is "the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands and forgiving wickedness, and rebellion and sin" (Exodus 34:6-7).  The Lord desires all to come to repentance, therefore He remains patient with us, revealing Himself as a long-suffering God.  "The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness.  He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).  
 
John the Baptist was commissioned by God to prepare the way of the Lord (reference Isaiah 40:3; John 1:23).  His message was the message of repentance (reference Matthew 3:2; 4:17).   "He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe.  He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.  The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world" (John 1:7-9). 
Just as John paved the way for the Lord Jesus Christ to come into the world and call mankind to "Repent,"  we, also, as ambassadors of light, are called to patiently endure the present evil age being mindful "that our Lord's patience means salvation..." (2 Peter 3:15).
 
There will be times when those closest to us will try our patience, causing us to lose our temper,  and we will endure painful trials that will cause us to lose heart and want to give up.  We must remember that the battles we face are not "flesh and blood" they are "spiritual" and must be fought with spiritual weapons (Ephesians 6:11-12).  "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love" (Ephesians 4:2).  When the Holy Spirit of God produces patience in us our armor of light enables us to endure triumphantly in the midst of insults, persecutions, and suffering, just as Christ, Himself, endured for us (reference 1 Peter 2:20).  "Endure hardships with us like a good soldier in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 2:3).  Jesus Christ endured intense persecution and extreme suffering to achieve our salvation.  Through the indwelling power of His Holy Spirit He will enable us to endure and patiently persevere so that others might also partake of the glorious light of His salvation!
 
"You are the light of the world!"
   Therefore, "Be patient, brothers, until the Lord's coming.  See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.  You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near.  Don't grumble with each other , brothers, or you will be judged.  The Judge is standing at the door!" (James 5:7-9) 
 
 
PRAYER
 
Heavenly Father,  "You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning [you] turn my darkness into light" (Psalm 18:28).  "You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness" (Psalm 86:15).  We praise you for strengthening us "with all power according to [your] glorious might so that [we might] have great endurance and patience" (Colossians 1:11).  Bring to our minds those earlier days after  we had received the light, how we stood the ground in a great contest in the face of suffering - strengthen us so we will not throw away our confidence.  Help us to persevere so we can fulfill your will and receive what you have promised (reference Hebrews 10:32, 36). We praise you, for in your desire to see us come to repentance you  were patient with us, help us therefore to remain patient as we endure affliction and suffering so that we may slow to anger as we respond to others with calmness and in love so they might also be drawn into your glorious light!  In Jesus' Name. Amen.
 
 
BLESSING 
 
As we take time to offer a blessing to the members of our family  we are reminded that the Word of God is life to all who receive it (Deuteronomy 32:47).  Our words have power to build up or to tear down.  Everytime we open our mouth to speak we make a choice to utter words of blessing and life or curses and death into the lives of others.  We have a powerful opportunity each night of this journey to speak words of life and promise into the lives of those we love (whether near or far away) as we pray blessings over them.  "...I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.  Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to Him.  For the LORD is your life..." (Deuteronomy 30:19-20a). 
 
The Word of God is "living and active" (Hebrews 4:12); by speaking the Lord's promises and blessings into the lives of our loved ones (where they can hear it!) we provide opportunity for them to experience firsthand how the living Word of God accomplishes and achieves the purposes for which God has sent it (reference Isaiah 55:11), and encourages them to rise up to live up to those words spoken over them*.  Everytime we offer a blessing we breathe life into the lives of those we love and build up the kingdom of God.  If you are walking through this journey alone, speak the Lord's promises outloud and receive them as a blessing in your own life and pray blessings over those family and friends who are far away.
 
You may choose to use the framework of the priestly blessing provided in Numbers 6:24-26 to bless the members of your household, expanding the blessing to include other promises from God's Word that are specific to the needs of your children, spouse, or other family members.
 
 
"The LORD  bless you and keep you;
the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD  turn His face toward you
and give you peace." 
 
[ To perform the blessing the head of the household places their hands on the head, or on the shoulders of each child, spouse, or family member (one at a time), and recites the priestly blessing over them (you can hold hands if you prefer).  Jesus Christ was the greatest Word ever spoke, as we follow Him through the lighted pathway of His Word (reference Psalm 119:105) we will lead others out of the darkness and set them high upon a lampstand so they too will radiate for the glory of God.  By blessing each other  with His Word we will bring healing to the heart and restoration to our families and ultimately to the Church!]
 
 * The Power of Spoken Blessings, by Bill Gothard, is a wonderful resource for learning how to speak words of blessing to others.
 
PRAISE & WORSHIP
 
After lighting the Hanukkah Menorah and reciting a blessing Jewish familes will continue their celebration by singing songs.  "Shout with joy to God, all the earth!  Sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious!  Say to God, "How awesome are you deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you.  All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name" (Psalm 66:1).
 
 
You  might choose to close tonights celebration by singing one of your family's favorite Christmas carols or  "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"
 
 
 
Note: The candles are meant to only stay lit for a half hour.  Be sure to extinquish the flame each night.
 
 
"To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence
 without fault and with great joy -
 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty,  power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen."
(Jude 24)

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Trumpet & Torch Ministries
 
Trumpet and Torch Minstries is dedicated to connecting people to the heart of God through prayer and fasting and provides meal-by-meal devotionals to guide the spiritually hungry through periods of consecration as they feast on the Word of God and surrender to the Lord in humble dependence and prayer.
Visit www.trumpetandtorch.org to find out more information on the importance of prayer and fasting in the life of the believer and to utilize the free online devotional journey's or to download a free copy of the devotionals.
 
The current "Festival of Lights" journey is a preparation feast for the Christmas season and
for the upcoming 40-day prayer and fasting journey beginning January 1st, 2010
More details coming soon!