In November 2005, the Lord gave me a fresh perspective about the manger:

Let’s look at the manger.  You’ve looked at this scene with various responses over the years and yet most of the time it takes a low priority of focus.  You prefer to see Me as your risen Lord and coming King.  Nothing wrong with that but let Me show you more about the manger.

I really didn’t need to come that way.  I could have been born in the courts of King Herod himself and lavished on as Moses was.  Bethlehem was the place—the house of bread.

Just as yeast goes into the hidden pockets of dough to bring life to the bread, I plunged into the hidden place of life in those times to produce life in the dough of society there and ultimately the world.  It looked illogical—“Such a strange  way to save the world.”  Yes, strange, but My way.  I  always seek the hidden place—not the place of exposure.

There are many hidden places in this world –your world.  Places where poverty of spirit and soul run rampant.  

The manger was a hidden place and yet I used it as a stage to gather an audience and to send them out with a message of God’s love come to earth.  Are you willing to go into the hidden places?  Hidden from your usual places of travel and pursuit?  Fear not.  Put your hope in God.

Remember I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.  I am BIG and I can do ALL things.  Nothing is too hard for Me.  We will go there together in tandem.  Me first, for I’ve already gone before you to prepare this place for you.  It is a manger of hope but it will require death to your usual mindset.  I want to free you from the strongholds there and put you in a place of safety in My will.  A place of love and joy, peace, patience, brotherly kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

It’s where you’ve always wanted to live but didn’t know how to get there.  You are truly now being born again.   Born again in purpose, in power, and in plenty.

You will discover the riches of the kingdom here.  You will laugh at all that’s been and rejoice in what is now.  I am giving you new eyes.

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We all have the choice to follow His example.  As I read this over today, I am more aware than ever, that this is a NOW word not only for me but for all of us.

Philippians 2:1-7 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

2 Corinthians 8:9 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

Matthew 20:26-28 …whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”