Goosebumps are a chill or thrill barometer, the indicator of an approaching storm or the measurement of a joyous event. They are the prickly, hair-raising, bumpy sensations that take over our flesh, riding up and down our necks, backs and extremities like the leaping spray of a mighty waterfall. Have you never experienced goosebumps? If not, you do not know what you have missed. They can be terrifying or they can be delicious. They can be thrilling or they can be chilling. They can arrive with horror, and they can arrive with great expectations. If you have watched the movie, "Psycho" you have had goosebumps. If you have been born again you have experienced the "clean, clean, clean" that envelops the whole of you. Hooray for the goosebumps, the cry of alert by the all-knowing, all-seeing watchman that warns us of an approaching good or an approaching evil. Even the sinner is alerted by the goosebumps, warned ahead of time so he may repent and turn his heart, his life and his eyes toward God before the tragedy strikes or eternity arrives. It is the hope and prayer of every believer that the sinner will do so... Such is the message of today - it is the message of alerted men and women covered from time to time with anticipation - preparing for the coming storm or the sudden rapturous deliverance from the storm's wrath. It is a message to the sinner and to the lukewarm, apathetic, and backsliding believer that again clings to the nether world of the deceiver who repeats and repeats for the dull to hear, "All is well and good..." One can only imagine the goosebumps Abraham experienced when Isaac was born. Or when Jacob met Esau again after twenty years in Padan-Haran. How about Moses at the burning bush? the Red Sea? His ascent of Mt. Nebo to his own death and the grave? How about the goosebumps on Joshua when he confronted the awesome Captain of the Lord's host with the drawn sword? How about David the lad when he was annointed by Samuel to be the future king over Israel? How about Naomi when Obed was born? How about Solomon in completing the building of the Lord's Temple? How about Elijah in hearing the still small voice of God at Sinai? These were goosebumps of natural fear and goosebumps of reverent fear, but always with humble hearts before the Lord. John the Baptist knew the goosebumps of martyrdom. Even our Lord dreaded the horrors of crucifixion in the Garden of Gethsamane, such that he sweat blood through the skin of His brow. Peter knew the goosebumps of fear and betrayal. Paul knew the goosebumps of trials and persecution that bore works of precious fruit. John the Beloved Apostle knew the goosebumps of revelation. Although the Scriptures do not describe the phenomena of goosebumps per se, they do give us pause to declare, "Goosebumps have been around since Adam and Eve discovered they were naked..." We can be thankful for the goosebumps. God in all His mercy has awarded these little barometers the task of alerting us when danger is near or when something wonderful or beautiful reaches our eyes and our ears, such as our National Anthem, the American Pledge of Allegiance, the grand old Battle Hymn of the Republic, and the bugler's, Taps. We are a nation of goosebumps, a people of passion, a people of compassion, and a people of great expectations...a nation UNDER GOD...the Creator of goosebumps... We tickle little babies and say, "Goosey goosey goosey..." Where does that come from??? Goosey parents and grandparents... I am convinced we are equipped with much more than we know for living in this world in preparation for living in the next. Goosebumps may not get our attention with earth-shattering magnitudes, but they are one of the several common denominators that unite the human race. They are apportioned to each of us, individually, inborn so to speak, so that the entire human race is beneficiary to the mysterious reflexes of the goosebump. I do not know why I am writing this article but I was led to do so. I was sitting on Bonnie Payne's front porch earlier this morning, when she suddenly broke out in goosebumps. I muttered the words, "Goosebumps are a thrill or chill barometer." I didn't know what I was saying - but immediately I knew it was not of me. I knew the Lord had something to say about goosebumps so we came into the house where I headed for the computer and began typing the words I had spoken on the front porch. The rest has been fed into my spirit line by line. I have never heard nor read this teaching, so it is as new to me as it is to you. I am thankful that my Father has a great sense of humor for He is the only One who can offer this teaching in such a delightful manner. I am grateful as well for the revelation that goosebumps were designed in the beginning, by the Creator Himself, to be a supernatural barometer... Apparently the Lord is planning something wonderful - or chilling - and wants to prepare us. Whatever it is, it will be heralded by the Spirit, then by the goosebumps, and only those that truly believe and walk with Him, will hear His voice when that time comes. This means the invasion of the goosebumps is at hand - all across America. Meanwhile, I leave with you the goosebump of the week: Jesus loves you - Jesus saved you and accepted you in the Beloved - Jesus is coming for you - and that is goosebump truth for a lifetime. What joy to be so loved, what thrill to be so accepted, what rapture overcomes us when we think of His coming - let the invasion begin... Joan Krempel
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