Imagination
Attention
Love
Will
Emotion
Being
Holiness
Apprehending, approaching qualities that redound to
being created in
the Image Of God.
----------------
That is my poem for the day.
Imagination
Attention
Love
Will
Emotion
Being
Holiness
Apprehending, approaching qualities that redound to
being created in
the Image Of God.
----------------
That is my poem for the day.
There's the Old Testament. And the New Testament and then there is Paul. All of it works together, inspired by The Holy Spirit, God.
Those who reject Paul, reject The Lord.
I recall one Sherry Shriner, years ago, maligning Paul. That was one of her big issues. How did that work out for her?
Judaizers and demons and the devil hate Paul just as they hate Jesus. Up through and to the time of Acts, the Gospel was meant specifically for the House of Israel. Had they accepted The Messiah, THEN it would go out to the "whole world", to "the Greeks/Gentiles".
BUT, they rejected Christ. And so, Jesus taught Paul in his three years in the desert the doctrines of grace, faith . . . belief! NOT works, so that none can boast. And He sent him (Paul) into the world to preach the good news to all.
Quick Followup. When I say, God's presence is not there in Hell I obviously mean to be more specific. His grace, His blessings, His love is not there. Oh, He is everywhere, yes. THAT is what makes it ever more devastating.
His Holy, perfectly just wrath is there; which is fully deserved for those who Hate and reject Him. But all the mercies and second and second and 70 X 7 chances extended . . . are finally exhausted. The cup of iniquity is full, and the due justice is what it is.
So you end up there with just your awful selfish self, ruminating on all His commandments you broke (all of them by the way) because you were more interested in your own desires, pleasures, comfort, maneuvering for worldly gain and ascendance (in a world that was run and rewarded by the devil.)
Apprehending, avoiding THAT terrible end is . . . the beginning of wisdom! FEAR OF THE LORD! Who is the God of all!
Mind you, I only emphasize this so harshly . . . at this time . . . because the (righteous, loving) fear of the Lord is so exceptionally bereft in any modern discussion, such that, although it is Written, still SOMEONE NEEDS TO SAY IT! We are Witnesses!
Paul Washer saw it and says it. Others, better suited than I, have long said and still do say and See it.
Regardless, The Holy Spirit impresses, it must be said! It must be known! THIS IS NOT A GAME! THIS IS NOT FLIPPENT MENTAL CANOODLING! This is not wishes and slacky bumbling and shrugging, vain, nonchalance omg "whatever" eye-rolling nonsense. . . .
This is SERIOUS!!!
AND IT IS GLORIOUS!
And the wrath abides BECAUSE HIS LOVE AND PERFECT JUSTICE AND HOLINESS . . . IS ETERNAL and His nature, being demanded of itself, as He Is, will have it! It is Written!
I'm just adding, that a slug, a worm, some burnt ash old decaying tinder like me, if able to perceive and shout it, ONLY further redounds to His ETRERNAL GRACE AND GLORY!
Meaning, I myself, fool, fallen, mortal, dying . . . even daring to share and alert this dire (yet glorious!) message . . . only continues to prove and supplicate toward His Divine Majesty--THE ALL IN ALL . . . THE I AM THAT I AM! It is almost like raising the dead. . . . WHICH, actually is like what happens when one is born again, born again in the Spirit.
HOW IS IT NOT SEEN!? HOW IS IT NOT KNOWN, LOVED!? WORSHIPPED!? EVERY DAY . . . EVERY MOMENT . . . EVERY GIVEN BREATH . . . EVERY GOD GIVEN EVERY LIVING DAY!!!!!!????!!!!!!
And again, . . . ONLY by HIS grace is it even remotely possible to grasp, let alone sear to, cleave to, adhere to, dive in to, implore to, pray to! And by "to" I mean to HIM! THE TRIUNE GOD! ONE GOD! THE GOD! GOD ALMIGHTY!
It needs to be shouted! And taught. Well, and blessings and crowns to the martyrs and saints all along The Way--it indeed is and has been shouted, and preached and warned and implored of, since forever, in this world.
Those who have seen Him, His Truth, His sovereign reality--who have been (undeservedly) given even a speck of a blurry eyeful's look through the glass darkly at The Light--The Way, The Truth, The Life--will find themselves not only willing, but eagerly willing and hopeful to suffer and proclaim an infinitesimal SHRED of testimony regarding the revelation of HIS HOLY ETERNAL BEING, CREATOR, GOD, FATHER.
Let alone, my goodness! Remember this during the trials!: One can be a CHILD OF GOD!!!!!!!!!
YES!
YES!
HALLALULLAH! FOREVER!!!!!
PRAISE GOD!
An inheritor of the riches of The Throne? A Child of God? We can be that?!
YES!!! Adopted through grace!
BELIEVE!!!
PRAISE JESUS WHO DIED AND TOOK ON ALL OF THE CURSE AND PAYMENT DUE . . . SUCH THAT . . . mere--albeit blessed, astounding, intricately loved and designed creatures, individuals--are mercifully and magnificently intended to inherit a blazing eternal fraction of the glory of God!!! Such can be a literal member of the Family, of the Body of Christ, OF AND FOR AND WITHIN AND LOVED BY GOD!!!
YOU WANT TO BE SUCH! (If you do.)
Once you have received even a miniscule, particle-sized, glimpse into the being and reality of The Almighty Creator, you find yourself fall-down on face, crushingly humbled, unworthy yet aware, that you are in the actual vale of His Presence!
It is mind blowing, it is ego blowing, it is garbage blowing--it (even this little glimpse) is such a blast-furnace of Light, that ALL else is barely worth speaking of!
Well, there aren't really words to describe it. At least not here . . . but we try. . . .
Astounded, one carefully realizes . . . WE are His handiwork! We are not our own! Thank GOD!
How dare one complain! How dare one contravene and argue and imagine to have a better idea!!!
Are you kidding ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????!!!!!!!!!
NO! Don't you dare to question God! If you do, quickly repent and humble yourself.
Praise and thank God every minute, moment, breathe, intent as you are able!
The Holy Spirit, especially in these end times, as He fires up to support and sustain and invigorate His Children, WILL whisper and sometimes shout . . . direction to you. Remember, let the dead bury the dead. The dead are dead. The Living are the Living. And such is God's will and pleasure!
And then you shall revel in His Name and sacrifice; as The Holy Spirit continues to teach and lead and sanctify you along the LONG, ENDLESS, UNFATHOMABLY GLORIOUS HOLY ROAD TO ENDLESS PERFECTION AND WONDER IN HIM!
I've had three prominent "supernatural" "visitations" "revelations" in the past year. And many "smaller" signs, confirmations, so-to-speak.
Have been buried in The Word daily increasingly through it all.
The first of these recent intense encounters was, I believe, one of the most horrific and realistic visions of Hell that I've ever heard of.
You would wish for chains dragging, burning fire, outer utter darkness; being poked, beaten, tortured . . . the moans, the groans, the "gnashing of teeth" and wailing, compared to how desperate and terrible it actually is.
What I saw was worse than that. Infinitely worse!
If God allows and wants, it will be something I can share to a broader, needing audience.
I've heard others say they got "PTSD" from their vision/experience of Hell. I got something like that, just from my brief, but devastating vision/experience. It "scared the Hell out of me" as they say. It's no joke.
The foolish (and I wouldn't wish it on anyone, "my worst enemy", even those that intentionally deserve or ignorantly want it) imagine that Hell will be being finally being freed from moral, societal and conscience constraints, and just a big nasty party. Free from God, The Holy Spirit, Jesus.
And there lies the horror. Indeed, those who hate and do not want God, will justifiably get what they want. Only then do they realize, too late, that any joy, love, goodness, delight etc., that they enjoyed in mortal life, was God's presence and blessings.
THERE (Hell) there is no quenching of thirst. You are hungry, but you will be forced to eat vile, poisonous, putrid garbage. No satiation whatsoever. Forever!
You loved yourself and darkness and wickedness in life, while benefiting from the ubiquitous presence and general blessings of God; and so, rejecting God, you end up with your awful, degenerate, selfish, hateful, barren, ruminating perverse mind/self . . . with NO CHANCE OF REPRIEVE.
Yeah, what I was shown was devastatingly worse than the typical depictions and descriptions of Hell. Those things would be a relief, compared to the reality of the experience--the hopelessness and absence of God, left only with one's own putrid, wretched self.
I described it before here a while ago.
Meanwhile, I can't get enough of The Living Word, and prayer.
[Interesting sidenote. . . . It was at least 2-3 million people, probably more, plus the livestock and pets, who followed Moses in the exodus, through the desert! Imagine what it would take to supply, sustain such a large body of migrants through terrain where wood, food, water were scarce. It wasn't a rag-tag thousand or so as depicted in Cecil B. Demille's epic "The Ten Commandments". Not disparaging Cecil, just saying, historically, it was even a far more momentous (miraculous) accomplishment than many know.]
Fools! Hypocrites! Liars! Deceivers!
There is nothing more important now, just as it ever has been.
GOD!
He, Jesus, became a curse, took every ugly sin you have done, continue to do, and will do!
Do not be distracted!
At the end of the day, all that matters . . . is what HE DID!
Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins, no redemption.
You cannot please God without faith. Believe.
The Gospel is simple. But hard to believe.
Faith! Believe! Trust in THE WORD OF GOD!
He died, was buried, and rose from the dead.
FOR EVERY SIN THAT ALL HAVE DONE, CONTINUE TO DO, WILL DO.
Believe in the Cross.!
For it is by GRACE you are saved, through FAITH! NOT OF YOURSELF! Otherwise, you will find your carnal mind boasting and taking credit. It is not by works, so no one can boast. YOU GOT NOTHING! YOU BRING NOTHING!
God's love and glory and mercy and grace is sufficient.
It is all about Glory to God!
Theodicy: "the vindication of divine goodness and providence in view of the existence of evil."
Also, in simple terms, it's an argument to discern, assert, justify . . . how there can be evil permitted . . . in a creation where The Creator is love, good, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent--a God Almighty! How in the heck and why did evil get a foothold and mixed into a Holy, Good, Loving, all-powerful God's Creation?
For me, that has been pretty much the crux of the matter. As it is for any Truth seeker and curious mind. . . .
Many of "the great" thinkers and theologians, mystics, prodigies, and "salt-of-the earth" observers . . . over the centuries have wrestled with and struggled to justify God's purpose in this glaring existential crisis of sorts--how can there be such evil and suffering in a world created by a good, holy, omnipotent God?
It was one of my earliest questions. I wrote a song about it, age 7, walking home from a friend's house after school--I came across a flat, weathered football sitting on the sidewalk. I loved football--was already playing it and knew all the teams and players of the time!
Anyway, I was sad to see this fine football flat and forlorn on the grass, along the sidewalk.
I thought, "what happened to that? Who's fault was it?"
"Somebody or something made, or let that happen."
I thought, hmm, so ... whoever left the football out in the yard is to blame. WAIT! No . . . if there wasn't a football in the first place . . . hmm . . . sooo . . . well, who bought the football . . . then, I thought . . . wait ... who made the football? Then . . . I thought . . . well . . . a company made the football--IT'S THEIR FAULT! ... but then I kept tracing the lineage of the thing. . . . Sooo . . . people want footballs, maybe it's THEIR fault. Then I started thinking about the materials that go into making a football . . . lol . . . and then I realized you would have to "blame" about a thousand people tangentially involved . . . for that flat, ruined football.
Eventually, I took the logical, non-stop searching for THE SOURCE OF ALL analysis all the way, to where, I realized it . . . "It's God's Fault".
As I continued walking back home I wrote a song about it. Probably my first proper song. I believe it is when I first (although I didn't know it at the time) became so-called "reformed". Meaning, I traced back the reality in front of me all the way back to--to it has to be God Who is ultimately to answer for.
He is sovereign. HE has a purpose regarding all that is "fallen". Since HE is Good . . . it MUST BE that! So, for HIS purpose . . . and since He is perfect, just, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, love, just . . . IT HAS TO BE THAT IT IS (ultimately) GOOD, RIGHT, JUST, IN HIS HOLY PURPOSE that there is the existence of evil within the divine providence and goodness of THE CREATOR.
In the world but not of it.
For those who ever yet are interested in God above the daily machinations of the world, I'm working on a piece about Theodicy. I believe it involves the question that a vast majority of all who have ever lived here have thought about at some point in their life. A good fair bundle of seekers have delved into it almost obsessively (which I think is a good thing, because "seek and ye shall find.")
God cares that WE care and yearn and search to understand and know Him more. And more. And MORE! Eternally. . . .
Anyway, I'll be posting that soon, for any who should care.
Meanwhile, re the world and current developments. . . .
Yes, I along with many are relieved about and cheering on the "draining of the swamp" so-to-speak.
It is a very needed superficial relief. The pendulum swings. The architects know when the pressure has gotten to a point that it needs to be released and swung the other way.
In the end, I believe it is a calculated matter (not necessarily consciously done by the ones who find themselves effecting it--for, never forget, we wrestle NOT with flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers and the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places)--such that it will inevitably end up in a tightened up technocracy utilizing "AI" and full-scale surveillance . . . "peace and security".
For now, it is like watching a fun, entertaining, inspirational movie--a movie that makes you feel good and hits all the right tones.
But it is just a movie.
Then you leave the theater and find yourself back in the real world.
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
A fool despises his father’s instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent. In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him. The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but he loves him who pursues righteousness.
There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; whoever hates reproof will die.
Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD; how much more the hearts of the children of man!
A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.
A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed. The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.
Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it.
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.
A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.
. . . . He that refuses instruction despises his own soul: but he that hears reproof gets understanding.
The fear of The Lord is instruction of widsom; and before honor is humility.
--prov. 15
Well, and it's just my musings (re last post). . . . But if angels are able to "absorb" "imprint" communications and personalities from the other side, then that would also explain why people mistake getting messages from "the other side" from the dead, via Ouija boards, seances, channeling etc., which Christian's generally assume are actually just demons faking it . . . because demons, are "fallen angels" and thus, might still have some of that innate ability to get "imprints" and reproduce . . . "the dead." Just thinking out loud.
Meanwhile. . . . Everything sounds too good to be true. I've usually found that is the case. Hope I'm wrong. I would love some good news on the temporal front (I already have it on the Spiritual front--The Good News) . . . . . My searching mind and suppositions, is wondering if we are seeing the groundwork for a world government, albeit, with some guard rails and addressing of inefficacies. But ending in the same general plan. Digital control, global ID, ubiquitous surveillance, but with some relief getting rid of "riff-raff" so that that coast into it will be less onerous....
Wet-blanket boy here, just keeping it real. Hoping always for the best!
AND, above all, only have HOPE in GOD.
Like I wrote a moment or two ago . . . things are "fluxy".
Top of the chart is JESUS! I'm all in. We've been talking.
Well, and I don't ever want to come off presumptuous, or flippant, or overly casual regarding the Holy, Sacred, Real, bottom-line purpose and meaning of life, and when He deigns to communicate.
I am flat on face, stunned, ever broken, humbled, desperate, in love, at mercy, amazed, grateful beyond this flurry of words to even dare attempt describe or ascribe anything of this reality/relationship with GOD ALMIGHTY.
BUT--I do dare say, He "gives quarter" regarding how fallen, knucklehead, mortal WE ARE; (for HE went through it Himself, to the ENTH degree!!!!!!! Fully man, fully God!) And sometimes He shows a little slip;)!
And then, I find I must speak of the devil's wiles. . . . . . .
Well . . . and then speak of the strait and narrow Way . . . there is the wide gate; and there is the narrow gate.
The devil is super-duper subtle and wily. And he is always skirting close to the Truth, such that, were they not elect, even such would be deceived.
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Now, I'm going to take a hard turn (not really, but kind of, because it's actually related to strait and narrow gates re understanding how supernatural, spiritual/mortal communications work.)
And time is short, so I'll just cut to the chase and relate the previous and currently yet confirmed findings.
People wonder and are intrigued with the idea of reincarnation; because, it seems many, if not most of us seem to particularly relate to various eras and experiences in history. For instance, my mom was pretty much convinced that she lived in an early 20s Gatsby like era. She "remembered" things about it--was drawn to it and could uncannily display it through talent, inclinations, fashion, cultural appurtenances of the time. She also had an Egypt/Cleopatra era comprehension that didn't make sense unless she had once lived through it.
My wife . . . relates to and shows talents and abilities that (seemingly) could only come from actually once had lived a life in the 1920's 30's early 40's of America--the songs, the fashion, the culture etc. And also renaissance times. She's got that one too.
Myself, when I was Hindu and believed in reincarnation, I was fairly well convinced I had done time in ancient Greece/Rome . . . middle ages knight times, Shogun samurai era Japan, some Kung Fu monasteries in China, ashrams in India--an ascetic monk, cowboy and Indian times (me being an American Indian, and world war 2. If I believed in reincarnation, (which I once did) I'd be certain, and could almost prove it, that I had experienced all those times.
What are these "memories"? Besides reading a few books, why can I almost instantly "be there" and "remember" exactly what it was like in each situation? I mean, down to very specific details and general memories of what it was like. It's like time travel. I can be there.
When I became a dedicated, fully Christian, born again Bible believing follower of The Way, Jesus . . . I had to sort that out.
So I went into prayer and thought/meditated on the phenomenon. I look forward to expounding on all of this, hopefully in a podcast or something similar. . . .
But for now, I'll relate this: what I believe I was told/shown . . . is actually fairly simply.
The Holy Spirit (God) is omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent. The Holy Spirit particularly is through all and relates spiritually to the mortal. He is access to the mind and Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit (God) has been everywhere, is through all, seen all, authored all, and "time" is not an issue. SO, when you have the Holy Spirit, you have access to the mind of God, as a child of God, made in His image. So you basically have a sort of Spiritually based "time machine" that can access all that has gone on in any given era of this age, (let alone, of course, being shown Truth in all things, primarily, SPIRITUAL TRUTH/GOD.)
\NOW, combine that with-- remember, He is in all, through all, author of all--CELLULAR, dna, physical body memory. Just like how we inherit certain talents, inclinations, diseases, proclivities, looks etc., from our familial, dna/cellular lineage, THAT is also within us.
If you combine being connected to the all-present, timeless Spirit of God (Who has seen, been present during all the different eras/cultures/races of this mortal worldly history and time, including animal, fauna experiences) WITH . . . one's personal dna/cellular memory from your ancestors . . . well then, you find yourself being able to "time travel" to experience a semblance of that--of what has gone before, and what is now, throughout the creation/creatures.
The occultists (and demonic realm characters) know these things and try to and do use it to their (albeit temporary) advantage . . . and have come up with ( over time ) useful philosophies and theories like "reincarnation" in order to throw you off the Truth of the matter.
[BTW, this also relates to how Prophets can See things in the future and can divine the past, encapsulate the present--via The Holy Spirit, Who is ubiquitous.]
Somewhat related to this, but a different topic . . . is the experience of "hearing from" or "communicating" with the dead, especially passed loved ones. For instance, you have a dream or strong experience awake--a profound feeling of a presence of a passed, communication from ie., a loved one. I've had it, my wife has, and I know many others have as well....
[Remember, angels are messengers. They can travel "Jacob's Ladder", going to and fro between the Heavenlies and this "mortal coil".]
Imagine a passed loved one, who is in Heaven (sometimes, as like Lazarus, from Hell) who has fond caring and prayerful concern for the loved one(s) yet on temporal "earth". . . . Prayers and supplication and passion and loving care prompts the mortal to recall and miss the dead loved one, hope they are okay, would love to "hear" that they are. . . .
Those earnest prayers are heard and picked up by the angelic councils. The request/prayer gets kicked up to The Big Man, God. It gets approved (according to His Sovereign will and design) . . . and, so, the dedicated (guardian?) angel/messenger goes to the subject (of the prayers/thoughts) in Heaven . . . and than "absorbs", "records"--gets angelically imprinted with the personal impetus/message/feeling conveyed. Angels, I believe, have a capability to harbor, carry and impart a perfect replica of the soul's personality/intent that they are taking the message from . . . and then this is relayed, either through a dream or a powerful feeling of presence TO the intended mortal target, or visa versa.
Ie., a "deceased" father in Heaven . . . or a grandmother or a friend or whoever is allowed to send a sweet, quick message of comfort from Heaven to the target (ie., son, daughter, cousin, wife, husband, friend) "below" can request that. And so can the mortal ask and pray for a "message/sentiment" to be conveyed.
This is where people here mistake "hearing from their dead loved ones" directly, when, it's really an angel, conveying "the message".
This all happens through the medium of prayer and supplication and loving intent, and usually when those attributes of each the subject and intended target (between the departed and the living )are happening roughly at the same "time".
SO, you are not "communicating with the dead"--and it is a fairly rare instance anyhow--you are hearing from, or sending to, a messenger/angel who is transporting a spiritual, sort of, "digital" (using modern terms) imprint/export of the sentiment/message.
And for sure, other than sheer, sincere, spontaneous LOVE and need for some sort of sign (which may or may not be granted) one is never to make a work of it. As in, those who deliberately seek to commune with "the dead" . . . will most likely end up communing with demons who also have a semblance type imprint/recording capability of presenting the personality/person.
It is not something that one should seek out. BUT, within God's grace and mercy, I believe He will allow sometimes for an angel to convey either a message from the mortal or from the deceased. And I believe there is scripture that can justify this theory.
There is something to that sense of having lived before, in another life, another time. But I'm saying it is where ancestral dna/cellular memory, so-to-speak, combined with the all-present knowledge and experience of the Holy Spirit/God combines. It is NOT reincarnation.
Indeed, there is something to that sense that one gets a feeling, a "message" from the deceased--a loved one. . . .
It's just not the way that it is popularly proposed through the ages. The devil and his minions are always mimicking the truth of the thing--an "almost true" explanation . . . and then, if they get you to fall for THEIR version of it . . . next thing you know, you are in a cult or lighting candles and worshipping dead people and demons.
I've spent time and experience wondering and asking and praying about these types of experiences (which I've had) . . . and this is what I believe I was shown regarding the matters.
Just sharing thoughts :)
God Bless YOU!
I praise God, am so thankful for The Lord! He is speaking, relating. Pressing through, face down, imploring, asking, receiving; He is so faithful to the faithful! It can be a bit nuanced, wending through the miasma and attacks and constant subterfuge (the worst subterfuge is subtle, quiet, sneaky, long-burning) but HE can, and does, blast that away in a flash, and it is glorious, as He is!
Among other things, He had me recall these two lines of His Word. I found it notable that one was 6:44 and the other was 44:6. He is SO deep and intricate and through all and wry in a Holy interpersonal way, relating and speaking to EACH as His own. He is intimate. He comes to you, as you are, where you are, in the moment--hence, why it is so laudable and productive and reciprocal . . . to PRAY ALWAYS--ALWAYS, as much as humanly possible, stay in constant repartee, report . . . with and within The Holy Spirit.
Anyway, He gave me these numbers/verses today. I roughly recalled them, but curious, and to make sure it wasn't just my imagination, I looked them up, and then loved and marveled how that fit together like Holy bookends--Alpha and Omega style!
Both testify to HIS sovereign grace and will--His will and sovereignty.
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"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day." --John 6:44
“This is what the LORD says, He who is the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of armies: ‘I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me." --Isaiah 44:6
If you're ever beset, been beset (which, I dare say all are in this fallen, sinful world) and the call of faith (faith--without which you cannot please God) via The Holy Spirit comes calling, your spirit will respond. And SO will all the enemies of faith. They (the wicked, demonic minions) sound an alarm, and, where they had you pretty well under wraps (or so they imagined) they will come swarming back to attempt continued oppression. Distractions, subversions, accidents, "bad luck" etc., (their pathetic playbook) will abound.
Hah! It only makes their presence and evil intent more obvious.
Meanwhile "the angel of the Lord", and angels, and The Lord Himself, will sustain and show the Way to go, step-by-step.
Stay fast. Delve and strive into The Word, into earnest real prayer, speak in aloneness with God. It is a proper fight, a battle. Thank and praise and worship God, that He created and found and chose you to be with Him in His Eternal Kingdom!
His ways are mysterious to the fallen, mortal mind. The SPIRIT--THE HOLY SPIRIT--will reveal the unspoken things, in angelic, Godly "talk" to your mind and soul.
Stay strong, and do not be distracted by the petty filth of the wicked.
Perhaps later I will post the writing I started several times recently to finish. But for now, I can say this. The Lord is alive and speaking. It is a fight, battling the enemy always until the blessed, given-by-grace end. Which is the beginning.
For now, I can sum up recent interactions and advice in the spiritual/worldly battle as "to live everyday walking in simple obedience to God while all hell is coming against you to stop you."
I have an extensive recap post coming up regarding many things going on personally and recent, ongoing "events" in the world. I've been working on it for days. Several times I have erased it and started over. I'll get it done, God willing.
Meanwhile, I have this:
"It is difficult to live without some one to whom we can open our hearts and confide our secrets. But to whom can we better disclose them than to Jesus, who, more than all the others, is a friend and the most faithful, the most constant, and the most worthy of our confidence. Seek, therefore, in Him alone thy consolation and thy peace; lay open thy heart incessantly before Him; have recourse to Him in all thy troubles and be not discouraged if he seem to hide His countenance, for this is only the effect of His love towards thee, and the trial of thy fidelity towards Him. Pray, entreat, and conjure Him in His bounty to assist thee; and be assured that, sooner or later, you will experience the effects of His goodness.
Preserve your heart for Him, and detached from every creature; love Him for the sake of His own infinite perfections; and love all things else only as they lead you to Him and to His love.
Let pains, injuries, sorrows and humiliations become as welcome to thee as they were to Jesus Christ; and let the esteem and the praises of men be to thee objects of dread and contempt, because they were so to Him.
In a word, accustom thyself to know Him, to speak to Him, to love Him, and seek to please Him in all things, that, living thus in the exercise of His love, the last motion of your heart may be an act of the love of thy dearest Redeemer"
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Ok . . . last night in deep, passionate prayer and imploring . . . this is what He said. This morning, I was compelled to seek my ancient little copy of Imitation of Christ, opened it "randomly" to a page. And what I read was near word for word for I was "told" in that meditation and prayer last night. He lives! He is still speaking, to those who diligently, humbly, face on ground, yearn and strive to hear His voice and counsel.
Update .... One of my cousins, who live(d) in that fiery LA area . . . lost everything, all cinders. . . .
Another one who lives there, so far, last I heard, has been spared.
Our son and daughter-in-law, and old doggy took off to safer places, "better safe than sorry" to wait it out.
I'm thinking of the toxic burnt chemicals (rubber, plastic, fiberglass, glass, metal and who knows what else, etc., that make up a home) being spewn in the air . . . breathing and being coated with that--best to get away, which they did.
Last night, about 4am I awoke with dreadful sense. My mind ruminating over the usual worries, bills, health, relatives dying of "turbo cancer" (yeah, they took the v . . . 34 year old mother of two).
I had a heavy heavy sense of ominous dread that I couldn't shake and, so finally just got out of bed, went downstairs to check on things, check the news. Well, and quickly caught the fire news.
We have family and friends in that zone. Our son and daughter-in-law (and dog "uncle "Banjo") are ok but keeping an eye on it. Waiting to hear from one of my cousins (a mother with a family of five) who are directly in the path. Haven't heard back from them. And a couple of close friends--haven't heard from them yet.
Heavy heart right now . . . for this, and a number of reasons.
This life is a vapor--tomorrow is not promised
Then I think of the Savior . . . and the apostles . . . and the prophets . . . and all of the innocent creatures, the faithful, the martyrs, who have suffered the worst persecution one can imagine. And I expect more, sadly.
As I've long written . . . we are under deliberate, evil attack, constantly, from within and, obviously without. The knowledge and experience and reality of evil and the stakes at hand , in this fleeting mortal life, constantly recur to my mind and soul, BUT and only strengthen my appreciation of the knowledge, experience, reality of it's opposite--GOODNESS, LOVE, TRUTH--GOD!
The Adversary's powerful tactics are to confuse, confound, distract, mollify, coddle, lure, bribe, extort, subvert, pervert, mystify--create so much "smoke and mirrors"--so that the targeted living soul ignores and barely or rarely ever thinks deeply about what the actual meaning and purpose of this life is--short and brutal as it tends to be.
It makes the rebellious mad and hateful and lash out and enable possession (of the demonic) -- to hear that the purpose of life . . . is the purpose of YAHWEH--about The Glory Of God! HIS awesome, Holy majesty, sovereignty!
Once one grasps and surrenders to THAT realization, suffering can be endured with a song and a prayer!
This is not our home. We are not the boss. Stop resisting. God's grace is sufficient.
Our sufferings, as terrible as they can be, are "not to be compared to the Glory that shall be revealed in us!"
Spooky. I'm not buying any of it. This seeming peaceful "transfer of power". Just my opinion, hope I'm wrong. But I sense something is afoot, and it will "strike" when you least expect it. . . .
[Meanwhile . . . the "singularity" agenda/program is taking firmer and firmer hold, inside and out; and that alone may be the "strike". . . .]
The slow, steady tightening of the snake's maneuvers--while it seems comforting and soft at first . . . keeps on getting a subtle death grip. Then, the snake, or an octopus ie., at the end of it's mission . . . does the last constricting submission move; then consumes its subject/prey.
Today--a day that will live in infamy, Jan. 6, (for what the cabal instigated and the innocent citizens held as political prisoners) USSR style. . . .
Chatter has it that "they" are planning some nefarious, explosive deed to frame patriots and thwart the "peaceful transition of power". I pray not.
My heart breaks for everyone. The fragility and pressure and heartache and struggle . . . for every single creature, large and small. . . .
I'm a nothing, barely nothing . . . but within my meager divinely templated, mortal heart . . . I hear the echoes of the pain and suffering and the lonely cries of all. I fathom it is because, being made in the image of God, there is some sort of (albeit miniscule) semblance of His grief and passion. Indeed, I shall re-iterate, it is but a mere MINISCULE semblance of His sorrow, mixed within the joy and glory and wonder, in this realm, but here it is.
He is so profound. He is sovereign. His ways are mysterious and unfathomable to us mere crawling creatures. . . .
Yet, here He Is!
It is actually a special, unique and un-looked for joy . . . to share . . . in even the tiniest particle of His majesty which comprehends, yes, dire suffering amidst the majesty and breadth of His Creation.
He blows my mind. Thank GOD!
Otherwise, I might find myself getting too full of myself and mistaking all of His gifts of existence for something that I, or we, or they, or any one creature concocted.
HENCE . . . why the wicked . . . always truck . . . to find a way to make themselves a god of sorts. They get frustrated and angry that He does not fit into their scheme of things. . . .
Every cult, every religion, every urge, every pretentious pose, every thoroughfare OUTSIDE (as if it could EVER be OUTSIDE GOD) is THE fool's errand.
When He says, "I never knew you." . . . . He means it.
There is a reason that the angels sing and glorify and seek endlessly to glorify God . . . forever!
There is nothing else. There is no one else to be Praised, such as He! And they who did not fall, are even now singing His praises and endlessly grateful to be a speck in His Eye, I dare say........
He is magnanimous to bestow a plethora and menagerie and intricate, complex designs throughout all of creation to bespeak His nearly unapproachable Nature/Being/Character . . . . . . . (THANK GOD HE ALLOWS THOSE WHO LOVE HIM TO APPROACH HIS INEFFIBLE BEING AND LITERAL PRESENCE!)
Then, there is the absence of His Presence and blessing..... Oh LORD! NO! NO! NO! Please Lord never leave me or cast me out of your Presence! Your Word says there will be those who go there....NO NO NO Lord God, have mercy on me!
Indeed,
His majesty . . . surrounds all experience and being.
Fools dare to take a mere slight sliver of His glory, and try to make it their own. FOOLS! And I would not wish such fate on anyone! But I . . . you . . . are not God and have no business telling Him how and what He ought do with HIS creation and creatures.
Well, AND HE OBVIOUSLY HAS A PURPOSE IN CREATING SUCH A REAL SCENARIO that we find ourselves amidst!
One can complain, cavil, rebel, reject, puff-up in degenerate pride and spiraling violent angst, etc,. . . .
But to no avail.
For HE IS LORD.
He IS GOD!
Bow down, submit, relinquish foolish pride, PRAY PRAY PRAY that you shall be spared from His wrath!
For He is HOLY. It is His Nature, His Being. Seeking His Holy Being that Is That He Is, is The Way
And He is personal! He will meet you like a friend--one YOU can interact with, personally, intimately.
The Liar . . . seeks to deflect and obfuscate and subvert and pervert and control and oppress and torment to the point that the poor little soul is so beaten down that it gives up Hope and Faith in God, and just then, limply relinquishes to the evil one(s).
Well, and they (the evil ones) have a place that they desire and deserve, made for them, and are celebrating, parading about their way to there.
Those who thirst for righteousness and for peace and for love and above all: love of GOD ALMIGHTY SOVEREIGN KING OF ALL KINGS, CREATOR, I AM THAT I AM, GOD LORD SPIRIT . . . shall be comforted in the quietest moments--it's a still, small voice--the voice and Spirit of Truth, Who He promised to provide us with, regardless of the times, the chaos, the distractions!
Praise GOD! LOVE GOD! GOD IS LOVE (a supreme mystery which the Chosen will, God-willing explore FOR THE REST OF THIS ETERNITY!)
-bro t
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.
O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.
If I take the wings of the dawn,
If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
Even there Your hand will lead me,
And Your right hand will lay hold of me."
--The Lord God Creator Of All, The Great I Am That I Am
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Whenever I feel beset, concerned, anxious, wondering . . . I find recalling and meditating on the Truth that God is OMNISCIENT, OMNIPRESENT, OMNIPOTENT . . . brings me to my senses. It is both terrifying and comforting at once. Ah, the mystery of God! He works in mysterious ways (to us) . . . and is both to be (righteously) feared and loved beyond all measure! There is none greater. There is nothing greater. He is the all in all.
"When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all." [This verse is heavy, deep and, in a way, explains it all, btw.]
The mystery of The Trinity, Who is God . . . causes many to stumble.
Why not, simply accept that God IS WHAT AND WHO HE IS!
Of course, the simple (albeit marvelous) human mind, of itself cannot comprehend the depth and breadth, and width of His Being--like an animal cocking its head to comprehend a man digging a trench for some purpose. . . .
Such are our simple (yet complex and astounding) minds that try to comprehend the workings of God--HIS purposes.
The suffering--the allowance of wicked, cruel evil abounding and seemingly ruling this fallen, material realm. . . . It makes one wonder.
BUT . . . He has given us His Word, and there is a Divine Purpose to all of it! WHICH, is none of our business--so far as criticizing, complaining, cajoling, twisting . . . thinking we, the fallen could do "it" better. HENCE . . . Lucifer, who imagined he could . . . and we all are feeling, seeing, experiencing the result of that dreadful, foolish, prideful impetus.
HENCE, why Hell exists. For those who want to argue with, defy, hate GOD AND HIS SOVEREIGNTY (because their foolish pride wants to be God) there is a place He has made for them, which satisfies their rebellion against HIS will. BARFO! [You've no doubt heard of FAFO--"Fck Around and Find Out"] Well, I just made a new one--"BARFO"
Be A Rebel and Find Out.
And yes, also, one of the (many) mysteries surrounding The Lord's nature, Being is that He has a "sense of humor". OBVIOUSLY He does, because we do . . . and we were created "in His image". . . .
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AND, THANK YOU! I so appreciate your friendship, comradery, fellowship, interest, support (you know who you are:) over here in this little inimitable (so far😬) corner of the realm.