Tried in the fire...

Zec 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It [is] my people: and they shall say, The LORD [is] my God.

I know that now is a time that the Lord is refining me. A good Christian friend used the example of tempered glass. In order to make tempered glass they have to heat it in a very hot fire and then let it cool for a bit and then heat it in the fire again. That is repeated over and over again until the glass is very strong and will not break very easily. I realize now why this week has been so peaceful, like a vacation. Because I had just spent the last month or so in the fire and will go back into the fire again soon.

Rom 5:3 And not only [so], but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
Rom 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Thank you my heavenly Father.

Gardens of cucumbers...

Isa 1:8 And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.

I am at the farm again this weekend. We have picked buckets full of cherry tomatos that we are drying and buckets full of cucumbers. So far we have 9 jars of pickles and more on the way. It reminds me of the coming harvest:

Rev 14:14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud [one] sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
Rev 14:15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
Rev 14:16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
Rev 14:17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
Rev 14:18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
Rev 14:19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast [it] into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
Rev 14:20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand [and] six hundred furlongs.

Thank you Lord for another day with Your grace and mercy.

Contentment

1Ti 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1Ti 6:7 For we brought nothing into [this] world, [and it is] certain we can carry nothing out.
1Ti 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

I am enjoying the life of a vagabond. I have food and raiment and I am content. Sometimes I know where I will sleep that night and sometimes I dont until the night falls. I will trust the Lord to lead me in all things and trust Him with my very life. Thank you for being a mighty and loving Father!

Sometimes you only have to be willing...

At the family reunion I had an aunt that was very worried about me. She was concerned about me being homeless in my quest to do the Lord's will. I was telling my parents the story and I used the term, "dirt under my fingernails homeless".

In the sense that the world looks at it, I am homeless. Yesterday morning I was at the Viento state park. The C4 spot was right next to the bathroom and close to the trail that went down to the river. I had a nice walk and then left to go do my daily stuff. Later that day I came back hoping to get that same camp spot but there were tents set up. Someone had already claimed that spot. I have to say that I was actually very disappointed. It was around 5pm and I wanted to stop for the night because I was tired and I really liked that spot! I ended up driving for another couple hours but the sights I saw on this extra little trip were absolutely spectacular (note picture above). I ended up at a different camp ground later that night(one i had rejected earlier for some reason)

When I woke up this morning I realized the spot I was at was better than the spot the night before. I was still close to the bathroom only this time they had showers and I was able to take a refreshing shower.

Trials and tribulations are given to us from the Lord in order to refine us, and strengthen us and bring out fruit in our lives. Sometimes the trial seems like it will be something that is very hard, but if we are willing to go on, walk out on the will of the Lord, the trial is not as bad as we thought it would be. I think that our willingness to do whatever the Lord asks of us, is half the trial. Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac to the Lord. It was the willingness to obey that was the trial.

Psa 66:8 O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard:
Psa 66:9 Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.
Psa 66:10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.

Understanding what the will of the Lord is...

I woke up near the Columbia River this morning. It was hot last night when I was sleeping in the van and I had opened a window. That was a big mistake. Various gnats and flying bugs came in to eat me alive all night. So I am thinking that I should get a little battery operated fan to help in the future.

Yesterday at this time, I had no idea I would be sitting in the public library at The Dalles today. It is absolutely beautiful here and the weather is perfect. I often pray and ask the Lord where He wants me to go and what He would have me to do. So it surprises me when He leads me to places like this, basically to show me His handiwork of beautiful mountains and rivers and hills. On one hand it is very enjoyable for me to see these wonderful sights, but on the other hand, it feels like the Lord is showing me this because soon, it will all be destroyed, like someone showing me an amazing sculpture that can be appreciated for a minute before it is thrown down to the ground and shattered into pieces.

Eph 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Eph 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
Eph 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
Eph 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Eph 5:7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now [are ye] light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them].
Eph 5:12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
Eph 5:13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
Eph 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
Eph 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Eph 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord [is].

The Father's wrath IS coming. He is warning His children to repent so that they can be spared. Repent now so that you can be numbered with the children of God and not the children of disobedience. Seek Him now while he can be found, because there will be a day when it will be too late and whatever state a man is in, that will be where he will spend eternity "Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still."

Back to the mountain...

The Lord has called me back to the road for a bit. I went to Jiffy Lube this morning to get an oil change (and some lights fixed grrr) and then headed out to Mt. Hood. It was a really beautiful drive and I had a chance to stop and fellowship with some christian friends that I know. They are also preparing to go out on the road when the Lord gives the word. We talked about the coming judgement. It could literally be any day now and those of you who are reading this should repent and seek the Lord. Ask the Lord what you can do to prepare and seek His will. I believe every day now without God's judgement is a day of extra grace that the Lord is giving to His kids to get ready. The van almost overheated going to the top of Mt. Hood and I had to pull over 3 times to let it cool down in order to reach the top. I'm here to seek the will of the Father myself. Thank you Lord for your amazing blessings and for your word. Your judgements are just and righteous.

Family Reunion weekend

I just got back from a family reunion where I had no internet access. It was really a wonderful time. I will post more soon.