A bottle in the smoke

For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes. Psalms 119:83

I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment (thy Word) is exceeding broad. Psalms 119:96

The wine bottles of old, were not glass like they are today. They were made out of animal skins, most likely goatskins and were more like our modern day bota bag. Jesus taught that "no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better." Luke 5:37-39

When they hung the wine bottles over the fire - the smoke of the fire would harden the skin and render the bottle useless and also cause it to break or leak. But when I first read that verse in Psalms 119 about a bottle in the smoke, I thought about our bottles. If you have ever seen a bottle that has been in a fire - it is covered in this black coating that reminded me of the world and the filth of the world. If I am a bottle in the smoke, then the Lord Himself has had to take the time to clean all the filth of the world off of me before I can see clearly. I must also be willing to taste the new wine and not cling to the old.

I have tasted the new wine. I have been made new. The Lord has shown me a tiny glimpse of something so spectacular that it has changed the way I see everything. Reading the Word has a whole NEW meaning now, and I can't unglimpse it. This is my testimony that I want to share with you, but it is so huge that I cannot even begin to tell you in one tiny post. The Lord has filled my veins with fire and if I were to shut my mouth my entire head would explode just like in the movie Scanners. (Scanners was the very first movie to have a real live head explosion. But now, meh, happens all the time!)

I realized that every single minute, every trial, every temptation and every hardship had brought me to this moment. Not just since I started this journey in 2008, but my whole life was getting me ready to see the Lord bigger than I ever had. It isn't even about me. It's about God and His mighty and amazing plan of redemption.

I saw a brilliant rainbow today. The colors were amazing - bright blue, deep purple, light yellow, but when I tried to take a picture of it, it was dull. The camera was unable to capture the brilliance I had seen with my own eyes. I fear that I will be unable to convey with mere words the amazing and unimaginable glory that is my Heavenly Father and His great Love and Mercy for this fallen world and my fellow brothers and sisters.

Maybe you will not understand? Maybe you will stop following my blog and think me a heretic? Maybe I have gone insane? If this is craziness I want MORE! And I never want to go back to sanity.

I started this post at 10am this morning - but got called away from the computer. Now it is 7:30pm and I have had a long day and cannot say the things I wanted to earlier. I will have to start again in the morning.

Seek the Lord my friends and LOVE Him with your whole heart and soul and mind and strength. He loves us more than we can even imagine and His mighty arm is stretched out still. He sent His son Jesus Christ to be the ultimate sacrifice, to take away the sins of the world and to destroy the works of the devil.

Sorry, I am so tired now and have to go to bed. I will attempt tomorrow to finish what I have to tell you. Love you my friends!
Linda

Fools

God's word has a lot to say about fools. The book of Proverbs is filled with verses about the fool. Here is an example from Proverbs 26:1-12:

As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool. As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.

The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools. The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.

As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

I was surprised to find out that when the Lord Jesus Christ was listing the things that come out of the heart of man, to defile the man, one of the things He listed was foolishness! Mar 7:20-23.

When it comes to death, though, the fool and the wise man are the same:

For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool. Ecc. 2:16

But wisdom itself is a paradox. The minute you say that you are wise, you become a fool. The ultimate wisdom/foolish paradox is the cross:

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; I Cor 1:18-27

So then? What do we do? I am beginning to understand the paradox. If you want to be wise, become a fool for God. Any true wisdom comes from the Father above. The Word admonishes us:

Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 1Cr 3:18

Just like if you want to save your life you must lose it, so if you want to be wise in the Lord, understand that you are a fool. Then you will understand Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God.

I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. 1Cr 10:15

No Turning Back

It is ironic that the Lord would have me write about heretics so soon before He would show me something so amazing, so profound in it's simplicity that the whole of carnal christiandom would rise up to the shouts of "HERETIC" should the idea be whispered within it's halls. I can't be blunt on this one. I'm too busy at the moment to give it a proper post. But here is a little taste - Nothing is impossible for God. Except, it is impossible for God to lie, other than that nothing is impossible for Him. God was in Christ, reconciling the WHOLE WORLD to himself. It is God's will that ALL Men be saved. Jesus Christ conquered sin and death with His perfect sacrifice. If all these things are true - then God can absolutely reach beyond the grave to save a sinner who died in his sins.

This changes everything.

Wow! My Heavenly Father is blowing my mind right now. I am crazy busy the next couple days - I am done with jury duty but I'm working and my schedule is full so I'm not sure when I can elaborate. I have so much to study before more becomes clear, but today, the Lord just got bigger.

I love you my friends!

Order in the Court

Heh heh. I am so glad they let us bring our laptops! It's almost like I'm at home. Except I should have brought my guitar because I could be practicing right now!

So we are breaking for lunch at the moment, but I need to report to the courtroom at 1:15pm for the possiblity of a trial. They only need 12 people out of 40, so I may not end up being on the jury yet, will find out then. I have an hour to kill. Can I say that at the courthouse? :0)

We got to watch a little film about what to do if you are on a jury. I guess a couple weeks ago one of the guys in the jury room got bored and left before being excused and they had a warrant out for his arrest! Serious stuff. I think it is interesting. In the film they stressed the fact that it is a high priveledge to be able to have a jury trial. I guess so.

Talk to you soon!
Linda

Jury Duty!

I just made the call and I have jury duty tomorrow! I've been summoned many times, but I've never had to actually go in before. I'm kindof looking forward to it.

We haven't had any lookers for the house lately. Not sure if I posted that my parents have decided to pay off their mortgage. They now own this house fully and they are going to wait until this house sells before they put any other offers down. The first house offer fell through, which ended up being a blessing in disguise. The Lord's timing is perfect, so He will take care of any and all details.

Not sure if I will have to do more than one day at jury duty so I will try to post when I can. Take care out there!

Gifts of the Spirit

My friend Kim over at Mystery of the Ages blog has an interesting post on Gifts of the Spirit. I invite you all to go read her post and join in the discussion!

Blessings in Christ!
Linda

Psalms 42

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.

Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Psalms 42:1-11