The Color of Worship - Brown

 

A Time of Creation and Growth

Genesis 1:9-12 And God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered into

one place, so that the dry land may appear.” And it was so. God called the dry land “earth,” and the gathering of waters He called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.

Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth vegetation: seed-bearing plants and fruit trees, each bearing fruit with seed according to its kind.” And it was so. The earth produced vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 2:7, 22

Then The LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being. ... And from the rib that The LORD God had taken from the man, He made a woman and brought her to him. (Genesis 1:26-28)

A Time of Repentance

Joel 1:13

Gird yourselves and lament, you priests; Wail, you who minister before the altar; Come, lie all night in sackcloth, You who minister to my God; For the grain offering and the drink offering are withheld from the house of your God. 

Daniel 9:3-5

Then I set my face toward The Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. And I prayed to The LORD my God and confessed, “O, Lord, The great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of loving devotion to those who love Him and keep His commandments, we have sinned and done wrong. We have acted wickedly and rebelled. We have turned away from Your commandments and ordinances." 

Jonah 3:5-6

And the Ninevites believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least. When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

The Gem

SARDONYX is the fifth foundation of the city walls:

Revelation 21:20

...the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.

    As you can see, it is reddish-brown in color and so qualifies to be placed in this study. Though there are a number of distinct shades of sardonyx, or onyx, I like this one. 

    Onyx was also on the breastplate of the priest bearing the names of the twelve tribes.

Exodus 28:9, 10

Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel: six of their names on one stone and the remaining six on the other, in the order of their birth. Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a gem cutter engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in gold filigree settings.

   From The Topical Lexicon:

 1. Permanence and Strength: Like a mason choosing the hardest stones for foundational tiers, the heavenly Architect selects gems that will never decay (Revelation 21:14). Sardonyx’s toughness illustrates the inviolable security of the saints’ eternal dwelling.

2. Purity and Sacrifice: The deep sard layer evokes the blood of the Lamb, while the white onyx layer evokes righteousness (Revelation 7:14). Together they preach redemption: washed robes made white by atoning blood.

3. Witness and Authentication: Because sardonyx signet rings authenticated decrees, the stone signifies that God’s promises are sealed and irrevocable (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Mercy of God

 

1 Chronicles 16:34

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

Mercy: Lovingkindness, Loving Devotion

What is the Mercy which God which God extends to people?

1. Redemption from enemies and troubles. We should Trust in it; Rejoice in it; Hope in it..

2. Preservation of life from death.

3. Quickening of spiritual life.

4. Redemption from sin.

5. Covenant-keeping

These things, this Mercy of God, is for ever. For us it is while we have breath, this life we have been given. The decision to believe God and follow Christ must be made on this side of eternity. You can't change your mind after you die. It'll be too late then. 

  

James 4:13-14

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.”  You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Color of Worship-Purple

MUREX

Exodus 25:4 "And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair."

This verse is part of the offerings that The LORD told Moses the people needed to give willingly, from the heart (V. 2). 

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God Is one LORD. And thou shalt love The LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."
Mark 12:30 "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment."
Deuteronomy 10:12 "And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,"
Matthew 22:37 "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."

     All worship must be from our heart to God's heart. It must be real. It must be sincere. It must be willing. And you cannot hide your heart from God, because that is where He looks when He is looking for worshipers. 
     When our hearts are filled to the brim with love and adoration for Him, we simply must praise and worship The LORD our God. We bring an offering of praise. We bring it willingly, lovingly, obediently; according to His Word.
       The seashell pictured here is a murex. The yellow liquid that is excreted from the seashell turns purple when exposed to sunlight and this purple is what is used to dye fabric purple, just as in early Bible times.  Because small amounts only were able to be obtained in this manner, this purple dye, also known as Tyrian Purple, was extremely costly and only the very wealthy could afford to wear it. 

Majesty

Ferrell's Travel Blog

RAW AMETHYST

On the breastplate of the priest the tribe of Issachar was represented by amethyst. Issachar was the fifth son Leah gave Jacob. 

The worship we give to God will also be costly. Because the born-again believer's life is a life of worship, a life that is sanctified, set apart unto God, the life we live will be more than different. To the world around us, which includes our family and friends, we will be seen as crazy or extreme or fanatical. It is not that we exclude them from our lives, merely the opposite: they exclude themselves.

We who are living a different lifestyle after we get saved and Spirit-baptized know from our studies that we no longer 'blend in'. Now we have a target on our backs. This target keeps us near the throne of grace and close to God. What happens the closer we get to God? The more our hearts pour out in worship. We love Him and only desire to tell Him so. 

Every time we come to God we bring an offering of praise. An offering is going to cost us something, whether we purchase it from another to give to God, or whether we draw out of our own wealth to give it to God. But we know that Jesus paid the debt we owed to God, therefore to be in God's presence is to know and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord. 

And in order to stay there, for ever in God's presence, we need to know and acknowledge this fact now, while we still draw breath in this life. For after death it will be too late. Yes, you will still be able in death to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, but it will be too late. Now, today, is your day of salvation. 

What do you need to do to be saved? "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ." Acts 16:31 And because we who have heard the Word spoken to us, we bring those within our households, both family and friends, strangers and foreigners, to Jesus, with the hopes that they, too, will believe after hearing this Word spoken. 

Worship God with our lives, lift Jesus up wherever we go and whatever we set our hands to do and every time we open our mouths. This worship sets apart from all other religions, as well. Because the Spirit of God is working on us, sanctifying us, making us holy, we will be outcasts in the religious atmosphere of our towns and cities and nations. 

This worship is rare and beautiful and glorifies God. 

Color of Worship-Sardine/Sardinius/Sardius

In Revelation 4:3 John writes:  "And He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald."

The sardine/sardinius/sardius stone is often translated 'carnelian', but this first photo is sardius. 
While this one is orange in color, the stone can also be red. 
But carnelian

is  a lighter color, more flesh-toned, not as orange, not as red. 

Exodus 28:17 tells us that this is the first stone in the breastplate of the high priest. First stone, first son, first tribe: Reuben. (V21)
And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes. 

We cannot see God and live because He is holy (Exodus 33:17-23, v20). Therefore, when men of old, prophets and disciples, would see God on His throne or passing by, He is many times described according to the gemstones with which they were familiar. 

So, the bold brightness of God is seen in these red/orange/beige colors, like jasper: 

What will we see, when we see God? Only God knows. Only God reveals Himself when He wants to. 

Moses got to be in God's presence for so long that when He came back down off the mountain, the reflection of God's presence was upon him. The people of Israel could not even look at him and he had to hide his face. That is one powerful light! 

Exodus 24:17 "And the sight of the glory of The LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel."

Exodus 34:29-35, (V29)"And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of Testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him."

You may want to read Ezekiel 10, but I will only quote Ezekiel 10:1 "Then I looked, and behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne."

It is the glory of God, the glory of The LORD, that shines brighter than any sun or star ever seen by men. And we worship Him in "the beauty of holiness", His holiness, His glory, His light. 

2 Chronicles 20:20-21 "And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, 'Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in The LORD your God, so shall you be established; believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper. And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto The LORD, and that should praise the beauty of  His holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise The LORD; for His mercy endureth for ever." 

1 Chronicles 16:29 "Give unto The LORD the glory due His Name: Bring an offering, and come before Him: Worship The LORD in the beauty of holiness."

Psalm 29:2 "Give unto The LORD the glory due unto His Name; Worship The LORD in the beauty of holiness."

Psalm 96:9 "O worship The LORD in the beauty of holiness: Fear before Him, all the earth." 

Come, Now Is The Time To Worship

Only A Holy God

King of Kings

1. King of Glory: Psalm 24:7-10
"Lift up your heads, O ye gates; 
And be lifted up, ye everlasting doors; And The King of glory shall come in. 
Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle. 
Lift up your heads, O ye gates;
Even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; And The King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is The King of glory. Selah."

A song/psalm of victory as The King of glory enters His city, the city of Jerusalem/Zion. It is His sanctuary, His rest. We raise our voices to welcome our King of Glory with praise and adoration; not just for His overcoming victories but for Who He Is.

2. King of Nations: Psalm 47:8-9 (Psalm 96:10 & Jeremiah 10:7)
"God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of His holiness. 
The princes of the people are gathered together, Even the people of the God of Abraham: For the shields of the earth belong unto God: He is greatly exalted."

There have been many kings through the ages, set up to rule little kingdoms upon this Earth, but there is only King who rules over all and that King is God. 

3. King of Salvation: Psalm 74:12
"For God is my King of old, Working salvation in the midst of the earth."

There is but one hope of salvation and that is God's hope: His Word wrapped in flesh and given the name JESUS. 

4. King of the Jews: Matthew 2:2 and John 19:19
"Saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him."
"And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS."

Recognized as being the King of the Jews before He arrived and upon His birth, sought as such. But the little note placed on the cross upon which He was crucified stated the reason for His being crucified. Such notes were often placed on crucifixes when a criminal was being tortured and killed on them. His crime? My crime. My sin. Your crime. Your sin. 
For the sins of the world from the beginning of time until the last sin. But what was His crime really? Love. Forgiveness. Healing. 
He was accused of being THE KING OF THE JEWS, when there could be no king but Caesar. From a worshipful title of adoration to a mock title of accusation. 

5. King of Israel: John 1:49 & Mark 15:32
"Nathanael answered and said unto Him, 'Rabbi, Thou art The Son of God; Thou art The King of Israel."
"Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe..."

Nathanael recognized Jesus for Who He Is from the beginning of Christ's ministry; not in and of himself, but through the whisper of The Holy Spirit, for it is The Holy Spirit who reveals the Truth of Jesus Christ to the hungry soul. 
Used with reverence by Nathanael, but irreverently by the thieves who hung on the cross with Him (though one of them later repented and was immediately forgiven). 

6. and 7.  King of Peace & King of Righteousness: Hebrews 7:2
"To  whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;"

Jesus Christ being our Melchizedek, we recognize Him as our King of Righteousness, for He Is Righteousness, indeed. And as our King of Peace, for His peace is not like the world gives, but peace that passes understanding (John 14:27; John 16:33; Ephesians 2:14; Romans 5:1; Philippians 4:7).

Abraham gave a tenth of all he had to Melchizedek. Are we giving our King of Peace, our King of Righteousness, even a tenth of all we have?

8. King of Kings: Revelation 19:16 (Daniel 2:47; 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:14)
"And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."

As my study Bible notes, these verses recognize the Supreme Sovereignty of The Lamb of God. And, as Supreme Ruler, His commands and will must be obeyed. Not as a tyrant would demand obedience, but The Word of God as a loving Bridegroom; The Almighty God as a loving Father. We obey and do God's will with loving hearts and a desire to please Him. Our heart is secure in His heart. 

At least mine is. My heart is secure in His heart. Is yours?

Color of Worship-Orange-Yellow

JACINTH

1 Chronicles 12:8, 14

And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to wilderness men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains...These were the sons of Gad, captains of the host: one of the least was over an hundred, and the greatest over a thousand.

Deuteronomy 33:20

And of Gad he (Moses) said,

Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad: He dwelleth as a lion,

And teareth the arm with the crown of the head.

Depending on which author you read, the precious stone used to symbolize the tribe of Gad is either Sardonyx/Sardine or Jasper. But if the stones were set in the ephod in order of birth, that would make Gad's stone a Ligure. Ligure has been translated as being Amber, Opal, Jacinth and Onyx. 

AMBER

ONYX

Still, while type of stone may seem to be obscure, color variations stay the same. Ligure, Gad's stone, is a bold orange-yellow, which is what we were seeking. 

His name means "A troop overcomes", troop here means 'good fortune' (Genesis 30:11). But the way it is phrased "a troop overcomes" also means 'an overcoming army, a victorious army'. 

In 1 Chronicles 12:14 we read that the least one of the sons of Gad had the ability to overcome one hundred enemy soldiers, while the greatest, or strongest, had the ability to take down 1,000 enemy fighters. A troop overcomes, indeed.

1 Chronicles 12:8 says that these men of Gad separated themselves unto David. What does that mean? They defected, switched sides, to enjoin themselves to David, who was on the run from King Saul. These were "men of might and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler (lance or spear), whose faces were like the faces of lions (fierce), and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains." 

Matthew Henry's Commentary shows us that these men of Gad who joined themselves to David believed that God was with him and came to support him in battle, not like the others who had previously joined him: men who wanted or needed to hide out with David. These men of Gad were strong, efficient warriors and they left their lands to help David fight his battles. I would imagine that just their decision alone encouraged David and strengthened him emotionally, as well. 

And so we come full circle to this Color of Worship: Orange (-Yellow). A bold color that SHOUTS! to the enemy that their Conqueror has arrived. A troop overcomes, indeed. We raise our Banner high, our Banner being JEHOVAH-NISSI THE LORD MY BANNER. We are overcomers when our faith and trust is fully resting on what God can do and not on ourselves. For we know that our only part in any battle is to have faith, and not very much faith either. 

 

Mustard Seed

 

Matthew 17:20 "Faith as small as a mustard seed". The smallest seed in the garden is the one that produces an abundance. The littlest amount of faith in God can move mountains, put enemies to flight, uproot trees, tear down walls and overcome temptations. 

Ephesians 6:10-12 "Finally, my brethren (brothers and sisters in Christ), be strong in The LORD, and in the power of His might. 

Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

A little bit of faith is being 'strong in The LORD and in the power of His might.

•  JEHOVAH-CHATSAHI THE LORD MY STRENGTH. (Psalm 27:1)
• JEHOVAH-GANAN THE LORD OUR DEFENSE and
• JEHOVAH-MAGEN THE LORD MY SHIELD (Psalm 89:18 for both)
• JEHOVAH-NAHEH THE LORD WHO SMITES (Ezekiel 7:9)
• JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH THE LORD IS PRESENT                   (Hebrews 13:5)
•  THE LORD IS MY HELPER  (Hebrews 13:6)
• JEHOVAH-'IZOA HAKABOTH THE LORD STRONG AND MIGHTY IN BATTLE (Psalm 24:8)

We are overcomers in every battle because The LORD fights our battles for us, when we let Him. The men of Gad knew that The LORD GOD was with David, so they left Saul's side of the battle and joined forces with David. We have got to stop fighting against God and join forces with Him! We must overcome the temptations that rise against us by THE WORD OF GOD spoken forth from our faith. Speaking Bible verses without backing them up with faith, is useless. Even the devil knows Scripture but it does him no good because he refuses to accept that GOD IS GOD. 

We overcome with THE WORD OF GOD and with The Power of The Holy Spirit of GOD. Both must be evident in our lives that we might truly be the people of God. Our might is pitiful; His might is powerful. Our strength is weak; His strength is magnified. 

Let us walk in victory every step of this journey we are walking with our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST! Let us walk by faith and not by sight. Let us walk in our integrity, in His light, in His WORD. 

Color of Worship-Silver

 REDEMPTION, SANCTIFICATION, DELIVERANCE

Exodus 30:11-15

"11) And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, (12) When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them. (13) This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD. (14) Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the LORD. (15)The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls."

This half-shekel was silver and this silver was to be paid as an atonement for their souls. (The Tabernacle) 

It was blood money. While some animals were designated to be used as sacrifices for various cleansings, the silver tax on each male person that was delivered out of Egypt was once and for all. They were each able to pay it, as they had left Egypt with as much wealth as the Egyptians could give them to carry out. They were more eager to see the Israelites leave Egypt than the Israelites were eager to go. Who would want to risk more dire plagues upon themselves than this last one which took the firstborn male of every family that had not blood-washed their doorposts?

The first time this silver tax was paid, the half-shekels were melted down and formed into silver sockets, or bars, and used as the foundation for the tabernacle which was a shadow of Jesus Christ and the church. I say "and the church" because each person who comes to Christ, must first come through the blood of Christ on an INDIVIDUAL, PERSONAL responsibility. 

Atonement for sin could only be given through a blood sacrifice and that sacrifice had to be paid for with Silver. And it was. Even in the New Testament. Who does not remember what Judas was paid? Thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15 'they covenanted with him'), in other words for 30 shekels. 

If the silver could not be paid, that person was put to death. If we do not accept God's payment of atoning power for our sins on an individual basis, we must pay the death penalty ourselves. Romans 3:10 "There is none righteous, no, not one."

Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." John 3:18 "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." 1 John 5:12 "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." 

For it is in Jesus Christ that we are redeemed by the divine blood which was shed for our sins. It is in Jesus Christ that we are made complete, whole, one. It is in Jesus Christ that we are for ever delivered from the bondages of sin. 

Redeemed. Complete. Delivered. 

The Color of Worship ~ Blue

I love the color blue; all shades. Blue represents the color of grace. The curtains in the tabernacle of God in the Old Testament were blue, purple and scarlet (Exodus 26:1). There were 10 curtains. Each curtain was 28 cubits long ( 1 cubit = 18 inches) and four cubits thick. {42' L x 6' D). The curtains which met in the middle had fifty blue loops on each edge and were attached to each other with fifty gold taches, or knobs.

Isaiah 53:5 & 6 He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Matthew 27:28-31 And they stripped Him, and put on Him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand: and they bowed the knee before Him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit on Him, and took the reed, and smote Him on the head. And after that they had mocked Him, they took the robe off from Him, and put His own raiment on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him. Matthew 27:50 & 51 Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;.

Wounded. Bruised. Chastised. Stripes. Beaten. Smote. Blood didn't just drip from His wounds: it poured. Blood ran down His face, oozed from His chest, matted His clothes to His back. Surely some of that blood was on His persecutors and tormentors. Some dripped into the ground where He stood, where He fell. Some blood seeped into the cross He was forced to carry after being beaten nearly to death. Some blood fell on the man who helped Christ to carry the cross. Some blood got on the men who nailed His hands to the cross and on the men who nailed His feet to the cross. Some blood splurted onto the men around Him as the cross was raised up, with Christ on it, and placed firmly into the ground, for all the world to see. Some blood fell on those who came near to see the worst criminal of all time: the Man who was given the title King of the Jews, the Man who claimed sovereignty as the Son of God. And some of that blood fell on me.

The wounding of Christ, the bruising, the chastisement (punishment), the whipping, the mockery of Christ was for us. He was wounded for our transgressions, our sins, our rebellious thoughts and hearts. For our blatant disobedience and disregard for the Word of God. God punished His own Son instead of you and me. Only the Son of God could take our place in that regard. He was a Man without sin. He was the firstborn, without blemish, without stain. When He died the veil in the tabernacle was ripped in two. Six feet of fabric was ripped like a piece of paper at the exact same time as Christ's last breath left His body. Instant access to the holy of holies was made available to everyone now.

Romans 10:9 If you confess with your mouth (say it out loud) that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. Romans 10:13 For whosoever (anyone) shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved. Every single person across the face of the earth has the opportunity through Christ to come into God's presence. He is the doorway. His bruises and His wounds, colors of blue and scarlet and purple created a permanent entryway into the throne room of God.

I believe.

The Color of Worship ~ Beryl

We hear and see reasons why we, as a united earth, should "Go Green". Save the planet for future generations. Save the whales, the dolphins, the owls. Save, save, save; ignore, ignore, ignore.

What about save the people? The reason Christ was born was to save the people. He didn't die on the cross and rise from the grave to save the polar bears. He died for me and for you and for him and for her.

You want to "Go Green"? Okay. Let's "Go Light Green". In science, the color light green is associated with new growth, spring, new life. Flowers blossoming, trees budding and the first little blades of grass rising through the wet black dirt.

Zechariah 8:12 For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.

3 John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers.

2 Chronicles 31:21 And in every service work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.

Let's "Go Light Green"! This isn't about $$. This isn't about "Earth Day". This prosperity is prosperity of our soul: My Soul Prospers before the LORD. God wants us to be blessed with "every good and perfect gift from above." Money is not perfect. 1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some have coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many arrows. You want true prosperity as outlined in the Word of God? Seek God. Seek His face, His will, His way. Read His Word, Believe His Word, Obey His Word.

Growth requires the four seasons: spring (seed time), summer (sunshine, rainy days), autumn (harvest time) and winter (dormancy, rest). In order for the seed to grow, it needs to take root. The seed requires sunlight and rain. Once the seed has budded and blossomed, new seeds are released. And then they are harvested. And the root of the seed rests until the next season arrives and begins the cycle again.

Psalm 1:3 "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper."

You and I are the seeds. Our roots reach deep into the Word of God, where we are grounded. Our hearts and minds and souls push forward through the darkness of this world into the Light of God's Love and Mercy. We stretch forth our hands and wave our arms in the breeze of His Holy Spirit. We receive and embrace the reign (rain) of Authority over us. Our thirst for the presence of God is satisfied when we open our hearts to Him. And when we share the Love of Christ, then more seeds are released to dig into the Word and take root. And so, the garden grows. We grow. We prosper.

While light green is not mentioned as such in Scripture, beryl is. Beryl is a mineral 'with gemstone varieties'. Aquamarine, Morganite, Heliodor and Emerald are all forms of Beryl. It is the darker green shades of Beryl that we associate with emeralds, but it is the lighter green, the pale, translucent greens that we associate with Beryl. A lighter shade of green.

It is the 8th gemstone layer in the wall around the new Jerusalem. While Beryl takes on many shades and colors, the color intimated here is sea-green: Revelation 21:19,20 "The foundations of the city walls were adorned with every kind of precious stone: The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst."

Beryl is on the Breastplate of Judgment worn by the high priest (Exodus 28:20), signifying one of the twelve tribes of Israel. This beryl, though, is thought to be yellow jasper in color, which can also be construed as being a lighter shade of green, depending on the hue of such a stone.
Ezekiel 1:16 states that 'the appearance of the wheel was like unto beryl'.

When the bride describes her bridegroom, in Song of Solomon 5:14, she says, "His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires."

I love the many colors mentioned in The Holy Bible. It is hard to choose a favorite, but I like that this pale green, this beryl, tells me that 'my soul prospers'.  My spirit is transformed and my soul is uplifted.