Elements of God's Word - Earth

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Gen 1:1

When God created the earth – he created it with the ability to perpetually bring forth plants and trees and herbs and other things that have their seed (their ability to produce offspring) within themselves. When the Lord created the animals and creeping things He said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind.” and it was so. Gen 1:24.

When God created the man, he told the man that He had given him everything on the earth that he would need for life – to eat – and to have dominion over all the earth. The man also had his seed within himself – in order to produce offspring.

The word used for earth in these beginning verses is the Hebrew word Erets pronounced Eh-rets. It means earth (the whole earth as opposed to part), land, ground, country, inhabitants of the land.

Man was formed out of the earth – “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground (earth), and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Gen 2:7. That word earth – ground – is the Hebrew word Adamah and means red earth – but more specifically it is an agricultural term for ground that is ready to be tilled. The kind of soil that is good for growing things. When man sinned and was cast out of the Garden of Eden, the Lord cursed the ground. It would now bring forth thorns and thistles which it had before not brought forth. It would now take sweat of a man’s brow to bring anything decent out of the ground.

In simplistic terms Cain brought an offer to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. The same ground that the Lord had cursed, and when Cain killed Abel, Cain was also cursed from the earth, that it would no longer yield it’s strength – no matter what kind of sweat was involved. So for Cain – it was a double curse.

Lamech, who lived to be 777 years old, when Noah was born said of him, “This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed.” Gen 5:29. When Noah came off the ark, and the animals with him:

Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. Gen 8:20-22

Time does not allow for me to give more of a proper post to this subject, since there are over 2000 instances of the word earth in God's Word. I highly recommend you do a word study on earth for yourseves, it is a very rich subject.

Symbolically WE are the earth. We are the soil tilled and ready for the Master Planter. Jesus Christ is the Word of God. Christ in you means that the Lord has planted His Words inside you (the earth) and is waiting for the fruits of righteousness to spring forth. The meek (those that want to grow in God’s Word and Seek His Face diligently) will inherit the earth.

The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Psa 12:6.

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psa 46:10

For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. Psa 74:12

That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth. Psa 83:18

Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob; Psa 114:7

The promise of a New Heavens and a New Earth – carries with it the promise of a new glorious body for the old body will pass away.

Choose today what kind of soil you are, what kind of earth. Fertile rich soil that bears much fruit for the Master, or dried cracked earth good for nothing.

Dark days are coming on the earth. Seek the Lord's face and desire to be close to Him.

Blessings in Christ
Linda

Rest in Peace

David Wilkerson was killed in a car accident yesterday. Please pray for his family and especially his wife who is in critical condition.

This news bothers me greatly. We are in a spiritual battle and at any moment, in the blink of an eye, you can be taken out.

Dark days are here my friends. They are here. Pray as hard as you can. Seek the Lord as hard as you can and do not let the adversary get a toehold in your life.

With great love and concern
Linda

Know Your Enemy Part 74 - The Emergent Church

A Balanced Diet

Many times throughout God's Word, food is used as an allegory. I have written on these themes before, but I feel they can always be touched on again.

The concept of milk - is for baby Christians. Christ and Him crucified. It is to say, Jesus died for you. Jesus laid down His perfect sinless life so that you can be saved. The simplicity of Christ is easily digested for the newbie, yet profound all on it's own. Anything more substantial and you run the risk of hurting them, the Word needs to be built upon a little at a time, so that it is can be processed.

Herbs are the spicy little verses that can be memorized in order to fight against our adversary. Proverbs and Ecclesiastes and promises out of the epistles. Spend the day eating herbs and if the devil comes sniffing around you just have to breathe on him like onion-breath and he goes running away. Buh-bye!

Jesus is the Bread of Life, as in our daily Bread. That is our daily time in the Word. Our fellowship with the Father and our foundation to start any day. Without a firm daily foundation in God's Word, you run the risk of very serious spiritual health problems. This should be a staple of your life. I like to start my mornings with my time in the Word. I read a couple pages in the Old Testament and then a couple pages in the New Testament and most often, it is in this morning reading time that the Lord is able to speak to me out of His Word. If you skip this step, just like skipping breakfast, you will be run down by mid-morning and the rest of the day just won't really track right. This is one of the most important keys to Christian living. If you don't have time for this MAKE TIME!

Then of course the meat of the Word. I remember when I was a little kid and we had steak for dinner. I hated steak when I was little. Chewing and chewing! (Of course, the steak I had as a child was always overcooked which made it worse. Steak should be medium rare. Period!) So I would chew and chew and it felt like 20 minutes later I was still chewing - so I would pretend to wipe my mouth with my napkin and put the steak in and the rest of dinner hold it in my hand under the table. Unfortunately for me, that stubborn little kid in me still sometimes has problems when eating meat. My impatience for understanding gets me frustrated. If we are having problems understanding the meat of the Word, then we need to seek the Lord for understanding, who gives it freely.

Jesus had multitudes of people following Him, more so once it was noised abroad that He was giving away free food. But when He started talking about them eating His flesh and drinking His blood - many of His disciples turned away.

Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. Jhn 6:53-58

I always felt sorry for Jesus at this point, when he asked his remaining disciples, "Will you also go away?" Many times I have thought what Peter said, "Where else shall we go? You have the Words of Eternal Life."

It is the Lord who teaches us His amazing Word and helps our understanding. But time is running short. Decide today that you will be weaned from the milk and grow up to start chewing on the meat of the Word. Dedicate yourselves to study and put the Word on in your mind - putting on the Lord Jesus Christ. Because a famine is coming. A famine of the Word of God. When you are being persecuted and standing before Kings for the testimony of Jesus Christ - the Holy Spirit will be drawing on the Words that are in your mind already - in order to speak. Make sure there is something there to draw upon.

Blessings in Christ
Linda

Little Children

This is a picture of my beautiful little grandchild Joshua. The title of the picture when it came to me was, "Fighting Dragons." Isn't that cool?!

The Lord Jesus was NOT happy with His disciples when they tried to prevent the little children from coming to Him. He said in Matt 19:14, "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

One of the terms for the phrase "little children" is the greek word Teknion. It is used 9 times in the New Testament and translated as "little children." The words the Lord uses in His Word are perfect and there are important reasons the Lord requires us to be like little children if we are to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. If we do not TRUST the Lord like little kids, he can't teach us. If we do not run after the truth of His Word like little kids, he can not show us the treasures in His Word that He has for us.

Because Peter trusted the Lord like a little kid, he was able to walk on the water - just as Jesus had. It was fear that caused Peter to start to sink. Fear - that the Lord was not completely trustworthy to keep him afloat. We - as little children - need to trust in the Lord COMPLETELY. I am writing about this because I am struggling with this. Just as I am angry at myself for feeling this way - I am battling to eliminate the fear and doubt in my life. God looks on the heart - and my head can trust the Lord - but when rubber meets the road - my heart has to completely lay down my life on the alter and trust the Lord.

I think it is a good reminder to re-read the verses from the word teknion and translated "little children."

Jesus said, "Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." John 13:33-35

Paul said, "My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you," as he talked to the Galatians about their error in trying to get back under the law. Gal 4:9

John used the term teknion seven times in his epistle of 1st John:

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin , we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 1 John 2:1

I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. 1Jo 2:12

And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear , we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 1Jo 2:28

Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 1Jo 3:7

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 1Jo 3:18

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 1Jo 4:4

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. 1Jo 5:21

I would strongly recommend that you read the epistle of 1 John, because it has a lot to say to those who endeavor to trust the Lord like little children.

The Lord IS completely trustworthy. We need to come to Him as little children - in love, in trust and in obedience. We need to put away fear and doubt. We need to know that the Lord does not lead us into temptation but delivers us from evil. As little children we need to follow Him and seek Him.

Pray for me, my friends!

Blessings in Christ
Linda

Opening up to the Lord

It is after 3am. In my dream tonight, the Lord was trying to teach me His Words. But for some reason, it was not going well. I want to learn God's Words, but so much of what He was trying to teach me was brand new, and I at first thought I was having a problem getting rid of the traditions I had learned in order to fully accept the Pure Words He was trying to teach me. There was a level of frustration going on that was unclear.

Finally the Lord said to me, "This would be easier, if you could truly open up to Me."

I saw myself as a little child covered in bubbles resisting the attempts of the father at trying to wash behind my ears.

I saw myself as a little girl with huge tangles in her hair. The Lord was trying to brush them out but I was being too fussy and shaking my head back and forth.

"Open up to me."

I realized that the Lord was asking me for a deeper level of intimacy with Him. I realized that I was afraid. I still had pockets of control and doubt and unbelief in my life. I need to be at the level where there is nothing between the Father and myself. I need to be completely open with the Lord because the things the Lord will be requiring of me in the days to come will entail a full trust in the Lord and immediate obedience. There will be no chances for running out into traffic.

I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.

I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?

My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him.

I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock. Song of Solomon 5:2-5

The Lord is beginning to reveal to me what His plan and Will is for my life. The Lord has placed a high calling on my life, higher than I imagined, and I will need to be ready. There is no room for doubt or unbelief. There is no room for less than perfect fellowship with the Father.

Things are changing my friends. Seek the Lord with your whole heart, mind, soul and strength and hold nothing back. If you seek Him, you will find Him, it is a promise.

Blessings in Christ
Linda

New World Next Week

Figment of My Imagination

I met someone.

Well, it is far too soon to tell of course. My email is in the public domain so I "meet" people all the time, both brothers and sisters. So because I get lots of emails and have internet friends, I can kindof tell that this is different. But I do not want to get ahead of myself.

It is good the Father has instructed me to slow down my thoughts and cast down imaginations because several times in the last day or so I have discovered my mind floating up in the clouds and have had to bring it back down to focus on what I am reading. Then I re-read the same paragraph over and over. I realize that reading comprehension may be down for a while.

The internet is a very strange place. In the olden days when they communicated only by letter they had months and months to wait between letters. Now in the age of microwave technology - a single hour can seem painstakingly slow.

Of course there is sometimes the thought that it isn't real. Maybe my adversary has set up an elaborate hoax where by a top of the line Artificial Intelligence is having conversations with me and Google and other corporations could be in on it even having gone so far as to set up an AI website with three years of hard-core audio bible teachings on it.

Yeah, I kind of doubt that one too.

Maybe I have really made up the whole thing in my mind and I have gone crazy after all. Maybe my parents basement IS the safest place for me.

Ok, probably not.

But I feel like a little girl who has just inherited a huge candy store complete with meat section that offers thick steaks marbled with fat, the kind that smells amazing if it hits hot oil.

I met someone. If even as a friend.

Don't worry my friends. The Lord of Hosts is watching out for us. Pray for us. We'll just take this one step at a time.

Blessings in Christ
Linda

The Sons of Thunder - A synopsis of dreams

These amazing dreams showed up in my inbox yesterday so I wanted to share them with you. They are originally posted on Andrew Strom's website JohntheBaptisttv. As most of you know the Lord has called me to learn the guitar, and if it was not for the fact that I know it is the Lord's will and not my own, I would have quit already in frustration. But slowly and surely I am learning the guitar. But I truly feel that one day, I will worship the Lord with this guitar. I dont see myself with big venues or lights or anything - but maybe around the campfire with two or three believer's comforting them with untainted music. But maybe, like these dreams seem to suggest, this ol' guitar may bring the lost back to the Father. So I want to reprint these dreams in their entirety because I really believe they are from the Lord.

THE SONS of THUNDER - A SYNOPSIS of DREAMS
-by James Ryle.

The following insight occurred to me in August 1990 as a result of three dreams. In the first dream I saw a flatbed trailer with a curtain behind it. This trailer was parked at a fairground, as if a concert was about to happen. There were two guitars on the mobile stage. The color of these guitars was the most vivid, electric blue that one could imagine. What impressed me most was that the guitars were not painted, but stained. It had obviously taken time to make them blue. The curtain was the same color as the guitars. Two men walked from behind the curtain with sheet music in their hands.

They were very excited, and could hardly wait to play this music. One said to the other, "Wait till they hear this. Its going to be just like when the Beatles played their music!" In the dream I also became excited. I turned to see the crowd that was gathering at the stage and the scene changed before my eyes. The audience became a vast body of water, like a lake, and as the musicians played the new song I saw fishing lines cast out into the water. The dream ended. My waking thoughts were that God is about to release a new kind of song in the streets. It will bring a revelation of the truth and it will usher people into His presence. The anointing
of the Lord will be with musicians who have spent time in God's presence "behind the curtain" receiving a deep love for the lost. The lyrics of their songs will be as "fishing lines" cast into the hearts of men and women needing Christ.

In the second dream, I was on the stage in a large church. There was an equipment room on the right side of the stage. It had microphones, cables, amplifiers and other kinds of things that collect in closets. In one corner of the room I saw a power amplifier covered with dust. The cord was wrapped about it, and it had not
been used for a long time. When I looked closer I saw written on the front, "The Beatles Power Amp." I knew in that moment that this box was the source of their sound and their power. I knew that anyone could plug into this box and, in effect, have what the Beatles had - an incredible ability to mobilize masses of people to
a single thing. As I stood there holding the Beatles power amplifier, I asked aloud this question, "What is this doing here in the Church's equipment room?" Suddenly I was out of the equipment room and standing behind the pulpit at this church, still holding the amp. The enormous church, throughout the main floor and all about the balcony, was packed with people from every nation. A very beautiful woman, radiant with a glow of glory, stood in the middle of the church and began singing a song from the Lord. A light shone upon her and her voice filled the auditorium. All she
sang was: "In the name of Jesus Christ the Lord we say unto you, be saved." She sang it over and over. She would turn to her right and sing, then turn to her left and sing; then she would turn behind her and before her and sing the same thing. As I watched her sing, it was like a wind blowing on a wheat field. The people began to
swoon in the presence of God and then collapse in their seats -- converted to Christ! God's power was moving through the music. The dream ended.

My thoughts upon waking were clear. There is going to be a new sound and distinctive anointing from the Lord upon music that will turn the heads and capture the hearts of men and women for Jesus. The reason the Beatles power Amp was in the Church's equipment room is because God meant for it to be a part of the church's equipment in reaching the lost for Christ. Music does not belong to the world, but to the Church. Music does not belong to the Devil, but to Christ. Satan has indeed stolen the hearts of musicians and their gift of music to use for his own evil purposes. The Church in many cases has unwittingly surrendered this to the devil without any fight at all. Music was given to worship the Lord but Satan has turned it for self worship, which is the reason people tend to worship musicians. But true worship and true music belong to Jesus Christ. They are given to His church to serve Him with. I
truly believe the anointing the Lord will release on music is going to sweep the world in a manner like the Beatles did when they first performed. But instead of drawing attention to themselves (like the Beatles did), the anointed musicians of the Lord will draw attention to Christ alone and give Him all the glory.

In the third dream I was again in the large church where I had seen the amplifier. This time the church was empty except for one man. He was up on stage playing a keyboard and singing to the Lord. It was a beautiful song, and he was crying because of the tender exchange taking place between he and Jesus. He was writing the song right there, spontaneously making it up as he went. I was greatly moved by this song and the man's pure worship. I had a camera with me and decided to take a picture of this to remember it. I took two Polaroid pictures that came out immediately. When I
looked at these pictures I was stunned because both of them were glowing with a golden light. I looked up and then I could see it on the man. The entire platform around him was also glowing like gold. I knew that this was the anointing of God. I showed the man, but it startled him...He looked at the pictures for a second, putting his hands in his pockets he shrugged his shoulders and kicked the ground shyly. "Gosh, I didn't know you were here, I'm so embarrassed" was all he could say. "You don't have to apologize for the anointing" I replied. The dream changed. I still had the two photographs of the anointed worshipper in one hand, and in the other I held a parchment. I looked at the scroll and saw it was a letter written by an unknown soldier in the Salvation Army. It said, "The Lord will release into the streets an army of worshipping warriors known as the Sons of Thunder. They will bring forth a witness of worship and praise for the Lord Jesus Christ that will bring many people to God."

The dream changed once more. I was floating over a wide and long highway that headed in one direction. All lanes were completely grid-locked, jam packed with motorcycle gang members, revving their engines and stirring up dust. It was a graphic picture of lost humanity. Then I saw a group of bikers moving in single file along the service road. They were headed for a field in the distance where there was a monolithic stone. This stone, I knew in the dream, represented the power of Christ and would empower those who touched it to go back to the highway and turn masses of lost people back to God. I looked closer at these motorcyclists as they sped toward the Stone, and saw on their jackets the words "Sons of Thunder."

As the Sons of Thunder approached the Stone to touch it, a barricade of law officers stood arm to arm in riot gear, opposing the motorcyclists - assuming they were intent on defacing the Stone. At that moment, I took the parchment in my hand and folded it like a paper airplane. I then placed the photographs inside it and tossed it sail over the heads of the officers. I knew that if the pictures and the promise were to touch the Stone, then the power would be released upon the Sons of Thunder. When the paper was one foot away from the monument, just before actually touching
the Stone, my dream ended. I believe this portrays the role of intercessory prayer in helping the Church get past the barricades of legalism, and open the gifts of God for reaching the lost with the message of Christ. The Sons of Thunder, represented by motorcyclists on the service road, illustrate the servantheart of ministry. They also show the agility and decisiveness necessary in reaching the lost. The fact that they were in single file shows, in my opinion, the unity we must maintain as Christians in order for our message about Christ to have credibility...

Now, I extend to you a prayer that God will capture your heart and bring you into full devotion to Christ Jesus. That your passion for music will be equaled by your love for the lost. I pray that you will receive an anointing from God to minister with artistic creativity that is so compelling in its quality, and in its message - that thousands of unbelievers who are lost in darkness will see the light and turn to Jesus to be cleansed and born again!

Wow! Isn't that awesome?! Our Heavenly Father will be revealing Himself in beautiful ways on this world. Pray for the lost my friends, especially those who are in your direct sphere of influence! Again this is posted at John the Baptist tv: Here. Written by James Ryle.

Blessings in Christ!
Linda

My Protector, My Hero, The Lord of Hosts

When I was a small child, someone, who should have been my protector, hurt me. When the abuse was discovered, the ones who really SHOULD HAVE been my protector chose instead to protect the abuser, thus opening the door for him to hurt me again.

When I grew older, I met girls who had older brothers who protected them. I sighed over the fact that I had no older brother to protect me. I was the firstborn daughter. So I became the protector. Woe to those who tried to mess with my little sisters!

I joined the military in order to serve and protect my country. I understand the ways of a soldier; ranks and hierarchies and chains of command. I understand the battlefield and what is required of a person who swears to protect the innocent.

I married a man who promised that HE would protect me and always be faithful. But when I caught him cheating on me, he protected his adulteress, telling me that she was a better woman than I.

So I completely understood what it meant if you told me that you would be my protector. I understood it completely.

It meant: I was on my own.

Several months ago, I took a concern I had to the Lord. In Stuart Best’s book, “Darklight,” (which I believe I have already warned you NOT to read) he stated more than once that a person wasn’t really born again until they had seen the Lord in person with their very own eyes. That really bothered me. I had not seen the Lord with my own eyes, but I knew I was born again and I felt I was close to the Lord. I read on other people’s websites that Jesus would come into their bedrooms and sit on their beds and tell them the craziest things. Some people had angels with names from Old Testament prophets appearing to them and telling them the future. (Before you get upset, I’m not saying those were not real experiences, just not what I had experienced.) I read about a man who said it took months and months of seeking the Lord before he saw him. Months and Months! Oh Lord I cannot wait months and months.

I was writing blog posts about false prophets and while I understand a lot of what I am reading on the internet is simply not true, I was saying to the Lord, but they say they have seen you Lord. You are not a respecter of persons. I want to see you too.

I read about Job. He recognized that there was no daysman, no mediator between God and man (Jesus Christ) and lamented the fact that he wished his adversary had written a book. It may be that the only prophecies Job knew about were that the seed of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent. And although the spirit realm was hidden from Job, Job knew about the serpent.

So when the Lord revealed Himself to Job – He did so using only the natural realm – from the stars and constellations in their courses, down through the animals. How the Lord himself assisted the animals as they give birth in the stillness of the wilderness, and gives His strength to the horses. Every part of nature reveals the Lord and His mighty love for His creation. Every river, season, animal and heavenly body is a parable that shows the handiwork of our Heavenly Father. In the end, the Lord explained to Job about his adversary, leviathan, the serpent from the sea. Leviathan, who is also the spirit of alcohol by the way, whose scales are so close together that even air cannot pass through. There are no chinks in his armor. No mortal man can slay this dragon. In the end Job said to the Lord, “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.” Job 42:5

I read about Moses. Moses wanted to talk to the Lord face to face. So the Lord brought Moses to a high mountain, but the Lord explained that He could not show Moses His face, only His backside. So the Lord passed by Moses and put His hand over Moses – and then let Moses see His mighty plan – but only as it was filtered through the Law. Moses met the Lord as the Lawgiver and the Law is only the backside of God’s plan. That was why Moses could see the Promised Land – but not go in. The Promised Land is Jesus Christ – and you cannot truly enter in – until you have left behind the Law. Yet, even so, when Moses came down from that mountain – his face shown like the sun – and everyone knew he had seen the Lord.

There are more, too numerous to mention, in God’s word who sought to see the Lord, and they saw the Lord, in sundry and manifold ways.

So I sought the Lord saying, Thy will be done Lord, and if it isn’t too much to ask, can I see you too? I did not understand these things before. Now I understand. First the Lord shows Himself to us, like he did to Job, through the natural realm. When we understand that everything in the natural realm teaches us about His Word, Jesus Christ and His plan of redemption and His tender mercy and love for all His creatures. The Lord teaches us about the enemy and that the enemy appears to have no weaknesses.

Next He shows us the Promised Land Jesus Christ, but only as it is filtered through the law. The law is like spiritual training wheels. You need the safety of the law, it is concrete, something that you can hold onto. Through the law, the Lord is leading you by the hand to be able to see and understand Him more fully in the parables of feasts and holy days. You need to go through the wilderness of the law, to be fed of the manna and drink of the water from the Rock. To understand and trust the Lord who comes to you as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. You may have to experience hunger in order to appreciate being fed and experience thirst to understand and appreciate when that thirst is truly quenched by the Living Waters.

Although it seemed very sudden when it all fell into place, the Lord had been leading me to this moment my whole life. For the first time, I really saw the Lord. For just a glimpse the Lord showed me Himself as He truly is – A loving Father who sent His only Begotten Son as a living sacrifice – in order to truly reconcile the whole world unto Himself. I was in awe of the Father I now understood to be Righteous and Just and Loving in ways I could not have even fathomed before. That in the end, all would be saved. That every judgment was only fair and just and righteous but most of all CORRECTIVE. The Lord does not come down to our level. But he meets us as we are; covered in our own blood and washes us and puts jewels in our ears and beautiful garments on us, and covers us with His blood. I would never see anything the same as I had seen it before, my Father was bigger and more powerful than I had known up to that point.

I had seen the Promised Land – through the filter of the law – so I knew that there would be giants there. I was prepared for giants (or so I thought), I was not afraid of giants. When the Lord revealed His plan to me, I had not realized that I was no longer in the wilderness. I had entered the Promised Land. That was why the battlefield had changed and I had not realized it. The furnace had been heated to seven times hotter. Going into battle as my own protector I was quickly defeated. I was beat up and bruised and what is worse, I had sinned against my only true friend.

But when I woke up the day after, I knew something was different. I had sinned before (oh please – girlfriend has sinned many many times in this life) and always the spirit of condemnation was there to tell me I was a piece of crap, a loser, and would usually throw in fat and ugly for good measure. Oh I knew there was going to be a consequence (besides the consequence that comes with that particular sin – the hangover) – the Lord gave me a dream and told me what the consequence would be – I actually wish I could tell you what it is going to be because it was the Most Righteous and Appropriate consequence I’ve ever had in my life that I actually thanked the Lord for being so merciful and Righteous.

As I wrote before, I thought that I was supposed to get back into the battle, and was actually surprised when the Lord said no. The Lord told me to be still and wait on Him. But sometimes I would cry, and I felt that the Lord was rocking me and touching my hair and just saying, “ssshhhhhh, be still, be still.” I also knew that I was not in the battle. Something was different. I knew that the Lord was protecting me from the battle. Because everything was quiet. The spirit of condemnation was not there to rub my face in my failure. For the first time in my life, I really felt protected. Like I was under the Lord’s hand of protection. Like I was wrapped in supernatural bubble wrap.

Then the Lord revealed Himself even more. When you enter the Promised Land – and fight your first battle there you are met by the captain of the Lord of hosts. The Lord needed me to understand that I would no longer be fighting battles against the adversary. The Lord of hosts would be fighting those battles from now on. Jehovah Sabaoth. I don’t have time to go into the fact that biblically women never fought in battles and that one of the main reason a women was always under the authority of her father or husband was because she NEEDED to be PROTECTED.

The Lord came to show me that He – as the Lord of hosts – the Lord over all the hosts of heaven - would be my protector from now on. The proof was in the fact that he was not allowing the spirit of condemnation to attack me after my sin. That is why it says; NOW there is therefore no condemnation to those who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit. For the first time in my life I had a real protector.

Of course, when I really realized that I was in the Promised Land – I remembered the promise that I would have a husband. A foolish thought occurred – what about my husband? Then I laughed. The answer was there all the time. For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is His name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. Isaiah 54:5

I’d like to introduce you to my husband, my protector, my hero. Jehovah Sabaoth. The Lord of Hosts.

Blessings in Christ
Linda

Know Your Enemy Part 71

Be Still and Know that I am God

I woke up determined to get back up and back into the fight. I wrote lists on possible titles of blogposts - Battle Strategies 101. I wrote my list of things to do like I do every morning. Walk. Blog. Practice the Guitar. Laundry. Kitchen. I bent down to get my shoes on and my back began to spasm.

I knew I needed to take it easy at that point. Many times in my life my back has gone out and this was the sign to slow down or my back would go out. I did have to drive to the other side of Portland to pick up my mom so I had 45 minutes to talk to the Lord on the way.

I need to get back up Lord. I need to get back in the battle. I have holes in the wall and breaches in security. I feel awful that I have sinned against you and I want to make sure that it does not happen again.

The Lord said No. You have been in a real battle against a real enemy and you have been defeated. You have real battle wounds that need to be attended to and real consequenses to your actions. You tried to fight the battle in your own strength and you will always be defeated. I am the Lord who fights for you. You need to slow down. You need to study to be quiet. You need to be still and Know that I am God and I fight the battles. Even the armor I give you is of Me and I will have the glory. You need to always remember that I love you with an everlasting love and that no one can take you out of my hand. You need to practic being quiet and waiting on me to give you instructions and then you need to obey. You need to slow down your thoughts so that you can lead them captive, one at a time, to the obedience of Christ.

I realized I had actually tried to be fake with God. While the battle was going on and the pressure was so thick, instead of being honest with my Father about my feelings, I actually tried to pretend that I was not upset, that if I could just push through these negative feelings I would be alright. That is so how the world deals with things. Push Through. You can do it. The Lord has shown me, I CANT do it. In my own strength I am nothing and can do nothing and I'm no match for the adversary. I should have been honest with God about my feelings. I should have slowed down and dealt with them properly instead of trying so hard to "push through" and think positive.

It is true that I am not in the battle at the moment. I can feel the Lord's hand of protection on me. The Lord is not some tyrant that sends a wounded soldier back into battle. He is a very concerned nursemaid that is showing me where I went wrong, where I blew it, so that I will never again be tempted in this category.

And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,

And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them;

For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you. Deut 20:2-4

Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, 2Ch 20:17

Michael Boldea has a very timely post on this idea:

Break the Pitcher

I know others have mentioned on their websites about The Fuel Project and the Know your Enemy series, but I have been going through them and I highly recommend watching them. I think you should start from Part one and work your way through because I believe Mark Fairley has really done a lot of research and put it is a very easy to understand format. He builds each new video on the information from the one before, so it may take you several days to go through.

Know your Enemy Part One

Be careful out there my friends. We are in a raging battle against an extremely dangerous and psychopathic enemy. Only the Father can fight this battle. Seek Him now while He can be found.

Blessings in Christ
LInda

Return of the Old Man

Several years ago I had a dream. I was in a house with a bunch of other people and they were trying to kill themselves. It wasn't scary or anything I was trying to kill myself too and no one was successful. I saw a door going outside and I decided to escape that house. I was running outside over fields of green grass and the sky was blue and there was a pleasant breeze and it felt so good to just run and run. I was alone out there but then I caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of my eye. I stopped and turned around to see what it was. A man was running after me. He was wearing a white robe and had jeans on underneath his robe and messy black hair. I realized it was Jack Nicholson from the movie The Shining. He grabbed me and threw me down to the ground and then I woke up.

At the time, I believed the house represented those who were trying to live the crucified life. Now I believe that the house and people inside are legalism. If you are trying to crucify yourself, you are doing an impossible task. When I had the dream I was still very legalistic. Leaving the house meant leaving behind my legalism of the past and enjoying my new found liberty and freedom in Christ. But the man running after me, I knew then as I do now, is that old man nature coming out of nowhere to take me down at any time.

"Who hath woe? who hath sorrow?"

So as I was making my daily rounds I notice a door that has been closed, for a long time. I said to the Father, "Lord, I noticed the door today." The Father said, "Do not go near that door. Everytime you have opened it, bad things happen." I said, Yes Lord, you are right. But every day I walked past the door, I felt a little more relaxed. I began to feel comfortable walking by the door. Like, no big.

"who hath contentions? who hath babbling?"

One day, as I am sauntering past the door, I hear a noise coming from inside. What is that sound, I say to myself. Is that a typewriter? Who uses typewriters anymore?! Of course I have to open the door, we can't have undetermined noises about can we?

The door opens to a huge ornate ballroom. In the very back, looking small, is a desk with a typewriter on it and stacks of paper. And who is furiously typing away but my Old Man Nature: Jack.

"I thought you were dead." I said to him.

"Nope. Right here." He replys

"Well...what are you doing?" I say.

"Oh, you know...stuff." He says nonchalantly. He continues to type.

I pick up one of the pieces of paper and read it aloud. "The road to sin - or coming back from the dead by Jack Daniels." I stop reading and look at him. "I thought you were suppossed to be Jack Nicholson!"

He grins and in his best Jack Nicholson voice says, "Oh you know A Jack is a Jack."

I left the room and went straight to the Lord. "Father. I opened the door and I can't get the door to shut again. I think I have a crush on Jack." The Lord said, "Shut the door and walk away. This is the flesh and satan trying to entice you. Here is my word, I have made a way out for you." I sigh. Yes Lord, You are right. I know you have made a way out for me.

I can hear the typing going on and on. When I'm near the door, when I'm not near the door. I go in sometimes to flirt with Jack, because he's so cute and clever and I feel so COMFORTABLE around him. Typing. Typing. Typing.

"who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?"

Suddenly the typing stops. I run into the room and down to the desk. Jack is gone. I read what he has been typing, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." Pages and Pages of it. The hair stands up on my arms and I feel very scared. I run outside and there is Jack; breaking down the hedges with a sharp scary ax and he has that crazed look in his eye again. "How did you get out?!" I yell at him. "You let me out," he yells back. He throws down the ax and grabs me by the shoulders and screams, "YOU WANT ME!" and throws me down to the ground.

I wake up. My head is pounding and my mouth is dry and I feel like all the water has been sucked out of my body. I have sinned. I am a foolish woman who tears down her house with her own hands. I have allowed the breach in the security system. I have seen the hole in the wall and dug at it little by little until the whole wall has crumbled down. I was the temptest that refused to be comforted. The Lord wrote me a love letter inviting me to walk with him and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine, and I cheated on him with my Old Man Nature.

They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.

They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again. Proverbs 23:29-35

Sin always starts in the mind. Where did I go wrong? When I opened the door? When I walked past it or when I noticed it? No. What was I doing going round and round by doors of locked sin anyway? A thought occurred that I did not lead captive. Any evil thoughts that are not led to the obedience of Christ have a way of growing and growing until they burst forth as sin. God always makes a way out, but we have to take it.

Time to rebuild the temple. Time to fix the breaches in the security system and shore up the wall.

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2Cr 10:5

Blessings in Christ
Linda

Walking with the Lord

This morning I read the following verses:

My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;

The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. Song of Solomon 2:10-13

These verses really stood out to me in a big way. In fact, when I first read them, I thought they were a call again to go out on the road. The repetition of the words to arise, rise up and come away - and the fact that the timing is right - the birds are singing and the rain (we can only hope) is over and gone, the flowers are blooming. etc. The word turtle in the above verse means turtle dove - the symbol of the Holy Spirit.

My van is currently still broke down and my son is not sure when he can come take a look at it. I have $700 to either get it fixed or buy a new vehicle or? an airplane ticket? I currently have no answers as to what I am to do concerning this.

It was last year in April that I got the call to leave, but I didn't end up leaving until the middle of August, due to my own unbelief. So I definately do not want to miss the call again. It may be that details will become clear in the future and I am to be ready for the details to be worked out.

Because there are not any clear answers in the physical realm about possibly leaving, I decided to take a closer look at the verse. Strong's concordance say of the fig tree and the vine, "To sit under ones vine and under one's fig tree is said of those who lead a tranquil and happy life, I Kings 5:5, Zec 3:10, Micah 4:4."

The weird thing is, that 1 Kings 5:5 does not speak of the vine and the fig tree, 1 King 4:25 does. I Kings 5:5 is Solomon saying he is going to build the house of the Lord.

The term "come away" from the Gesenius's Lexicon just means "To go, to walk". It is an invitation to walk with my Lord, just me and him, like lovers would. Smelling the new fruit on the vine and listening to the birds sing and enjoying the flowers. My Maker is my husband like in the verses of Isaiah 54 that He gave me when I started this trip. I looked again at Isaiah:

For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.

And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.

And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. Isaiah 54:10-14

It was an invitation to walk with the Lord and let HIM satisfy my longings and my desires. He is never far away and He will be with me to enjoy the sunshine and the spring with. He is always with me and will never leave me nor forsake me. Oh what an amazing Husband and Maker I have.

Stop and enjoy the sunshine and flowers, and be filled with the Holy Spirit and thanksgiving for all the Lord blesses us with.

Blessings in Christ!
Linda

Of Appetites and Epistles

When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat. Prov 23:1-3

The first time I read the above verses, I was a baby Christian and was very surprised to see such harsh wording in the bible. I was very carnal at the time so I understood the concept of 'appetite.' I understood the concept of eating too much and drinking too much and of lust. The idea of putting a knife to your throat as a reminder that what you are considering eating will bring sudden death was not lost on me at the time.

Now, as a more mature Christian, re-reading these verses, they are all the MORE important and profound. Because now I understand that the term "meat" in the bible often refers to deep doctrine, and that not everyone believes the same concerning the meatier things of Scripture. So the verse means something far more penetrating. If you are sitting with someone in authority over you be careful of the doctrines laid out before you because they could be all sugar and spice, but not very nice. It is the false doctrines that are the deceitful meat. We see this in our church culture today. The sports arena churches of today are preaching the false Jesus of the prosperity gospel and not the true Jesus of the cross, yet they are the preachers being called to represent "Christianity" in our society. The knife should still be at our throats, because at any moment the "doctrine's of demons" (or dainty meats) will suddenly be something that we could fall for and believe - sometimes due to the peer pressure of the masses.

This world, and in particular, our American culture is SATURATED with filth and false doctrine. Every where you look there is sin and debauchery and you almost can't go anywhere without bumping into a lie and carnality. Now we are all Lot's being vexed day by day, and satan, our evil adversary, is constantly testing the boundaries, constantly assailing us with lies and propaganda ESPECIALLY when it comes to the truth of God's Holy Word. The flesh is always vulnerable to temptation and sin is only a mouthful away sometimes. Consider what it is that you are eating.

Andrew Jukes, in his book, "The Restitution of all things." discusses the idea that God's Word is like a veil AND a revelation. To the carnal man, a veil, and it cannot be penetrated by the natural mind of man. But to the spiritual man - a revelation - and more and more is revealed by the Holy Spirit as he teaches the spiritual man. He also talks about how we are partial revelations as well. I was fascinated by the concept because the Word also says that:

Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 2 Cor 3:2-6

Please read 2 Corinthians 3 because there is more there, but I don't have room enough to quote the whole thing.

We are God's epistles - known and read of all men. What do men and women read when they read your life? Are you indistinguishable from the rest of American society? Are you indistinguishable from the prosperity churchs, with their sugar doctrines and deceitful meat? Or do people read, "LOVE GOD AND LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR" when they read you. You will win far more souls by loving them like Christ does, then whether or not you talk them to death. I know that it is God that gives the increase, but we may be the only bible these people ever read.

It is time to leave this carnal world and all it's filth behind and put on the whole armor of God. To stand in the gap for the lost of this world and be an epistle that speaks of the mercy and love of God and how Christ died for them, as he did for us. Be strong in the Lord and the Power of His Might.

Blessings in Christ
Linda

Considering a Vineyard

So let's pretend for the moment, for the sake of argument, that in the end - the very end - every knee shall bow before the Lord Jesus and every tongue shall confess Him as Lord. That there will truly be, at some point down the line in a time far, far away, a "restitution of all things" as in Acts 3:21.

That word "restitution" is the Greek word apokatastasis which only occurs once (which in itself is signifigant) and means: Restoration of a true theocracy of the perfect state before the fall! How can you get so much meaning into one little word?! I'm not saying that some people will not burn in hell. They will. I'm not saying that there won't be weeping and gnashing of teeth, oh there will. But ultimately after every sin has been paid for and when Death has been done away with and Jesus has put everything under his feet and He has won every last person - because that is who He came to save. Every one. Oh I know this is what is hard to swallow. Because the WHOLE WORLD through Him will be saved - not in this age - because it's just too big a job for just one age. Maybe it will take 70? You know, an age a week? Because didn't God tell Daniel there would be 70 weeks? But that is just a kernal of an idea that the Lord has put on my heart - Just speculation for chewing purpuses - I don't know if the idea is true or not yet, I just started considering it, but the Holy Spirit woke me up to write this whole post tonight.

Anyway, back to our hypothetical situation. If Jesus saves everyone in the end - what is the point of "our" cross? Why strive to go on the narrow way? Why fast? Why pray? Why the whole wilderness experience?

Jesus told a parable about just that exact situation.

For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.

And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.

And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.

But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.

Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. Matt 20:1-16

This parable is for us - those that want to BE chosen - who strive to obey and pick up our cross and deny ourselves. The penny symbolizes a day's wage - and it is not insignifigant that in Revelation - it is a day's wages that will buy a loaf of Bread. I think there is more here about that, but it has not yet been revealed to me.

So the question that has assaulted me the last couple days has been, why be good? But see, that IS the test! It is the same test in the same wilderness that the Isrealites had to go through!

And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?

We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:

But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes. Numbers 11:4-6

First, us little kids are afraid of our Father - very concerned about getting a big scary spanking in the form of hell. We look around at the "other" kids and say "nyah nyah, you are getting a spanking and we are not!" Then we get a little more mature and find out that the spanking will not be what we first thought it was. So we love our Father for His extreme mercy and realize that we have to love the "others" as ourselves because the Father will save them too. Then maybe the thought occurs that we should just go out and party like the others are doing? I mean, isn't that what teenagers do?

That is the test because - the Lord is testing us to see if we REALLY DO love HIM with our WHOLE HEART, SOUL, MIND and STRENGTH. And of course, our neighbor as ourselves, but it is really about God. God wants to have a loving and sweet relationship with us. We have to want God because of Who he IS not because we want to avoid hell, or because we believe we have somehow hit pay dirt because we are saved and the others are not. It's not about hell and it's not about our "rewards". Those in Revelation cast their crowns at the feet of Jesus. Because all honor and glory does belong to Him. He saves the whole world and everyone in it.

It's not about us anymore. I guess, it never has been. That is the plan that the Lord has, that a little glimpse has been given. A plan for the ages. That is why it is so important to love our neighbor, like Christ loved us and DIED for us. Because it is still better to be saved in this life. Part of the test is whether or not we will love our neighbor. Love them enough to let them know that Jesus died for them too. We have to grow up, we have to be mature sons and daughters of the King, and bring the gospel of salvation to those who are lost.

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. REV 21:1-8

I know, that last verse appears to contradict what I have been saying. But it doesn't. Someone has to be the bad guy. We can't crucify ourselves, just as Christ couldn't crucify himself. But woe to that man right? The lake of fire will still suck, for any length of time. Better to be saved in this life and even better to be good, obedient children. Love God and love your neighbor.

Blessings in Christ,
Linda

Iron Sharpeneth Iron

I'd really like to thank those who made comments and sent emails after my last post. You guys are the best.

The mark of a true friend is one that will give you God's Word when you are down and will remind you of the promises of God when times get tough.

Proverbs 27:9, "Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel."

Proverbs 27:17, "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."

Some good reads on the internet today:

You Have Not So Learned Christ! by Michael Boldea

UNLESS A SEED DIES IT REMAINS A SINGLE SEED by A. Brother

Blessings in Christ!
Linda

Blue Sky Temptations

I understand now why the Lord keeps me in Oregon despite my vitamin D deficiency. Yesterday was beautiful blue skies for the first time in months. It was warm and lovely and I stood in the sunshine with my arms outstretched trying to soak up the rays to hold unto for another rainy day.

I felt overwhelmingly sad. I am sure it is an attack from the adversary. I am lonely for someone to go walk in the park with, play frisbee, study the word on a picnic table. Enjoy the sunshine with. Talk to face to face and not through emails and comments. Oh I have some family and even some friends here, but they just don't love the Lord the way I do. I think they would prefer I love the Lord less. Or at least stop talking about it already.

I remind the Lord that He said that it was not good that the man was alone. I tell the Lord that if it is His will that I have a husband, I know HE will bring me one. Sometimes I think, maybe I will always be alone. Part of me says, that is fine. Part of me understands I have a good 40 or some odd years or so in me. That is a very long time to be alone.

My boss thinks I am just hormonal. Maybe. Maybe it is because it is spring.

My parents ask me to go uptown and get them a movie from the Red Box. They want to see Secretariat. The movie is out so I go to call them and see if they want me to go to the next town's Red Box. I realize I have a voice mail so I listen to it. I am standing in the produce section of the grocery store with tears streaming down my face.

"This is John. I was just thinking about you - thought I would check in, you know from Ontario? Anyway, call me."

Wow Johnny. Did satan tell you I was vulnerable at this moment? Why would you call me now? Yeah, me and Johnny really did click. Because I always did like bad boys. I have not talked to him since I left Ontario after that last time. So it has been seven months since I have seen or talked to him. We knew each other - what? 4 days? I guess spring is getting to Johnny as well.

Some days it is hard to be the good girl. Hard to be the one who has to say it like it is without watering down the truth. Hard to spend another day in his carnal evil world.

Thank the Lord there is a future for us. This world is not my home. I don't belong here and I don't WANT to belong here. Sometimes, for comfort, I can think about the future. I wonder what the white stone will be like? I wonder what my new name will be? I can't wait for my new body which will be beautiful and not fat. And I really can't wait to be able to see my Heavenly Father with my own eyes and know that all the trials and temptations and tribulations will be worth it. I can't wait for that day.

Is anyone else having a touch of spring fever? I love you all. Blessings in Christ.
Linda

New World Next Week

Walking by the Spirit

I want everything I do to give glory to God. My heart for this blog is to give glory to God and to do His Will. In my excitement and exuberance over my recent epiphany, I may have bitten off more than I can chew as far as trying to relate - in a few blog posts - the magnificance that is My Heavenly Father and His plan for this world and the world to come. I really didn't think of it as a pride thing, at least I sincerely hope I didn't and I really did check my heart to make sure that I was not trying to get some glory for myself in this.

Some of you are trying to walk by the Spirit of God, like I am, and you know that it is not always an easy road. Some of you may not know what walking by the Spirit is. Even that is not something I can really explain to you because I believe that walking by the Spirit of God is a very individual thing. The Lord may lead me one way and you another - because we all have different weaknesses and strengths. Covetousness has never really been one of my weaknesses. I have been out of debt for the most part for the last several years and have always given money to other people and ministries as I have felt led, so when the Lord told me to give up all my possessions and my job to follow Him, that was not too hard. (O some of it was hard, don't get me wrong.) But loving people and not being a respector of persons, THAT WAS HARD. That IS hard.

I believe that Loving people like Christ loved people is the most important key to understanding God's plan for the ages. True love is a fruit of the spirit, and therefore a supernatural manifestation. Oh, we can fake it till we make it I suppose, but then it isn't true love. Just fake love. I also think it takes work to really love people the way Christ did. You have to get rid of all your pre-concieved notions about that person, your stereo types, your prejudices. You can't truly love people and be stocking up on guns and ammo. You can't truly love people if you think that torture is ok. You certainly can't love people if you are a racist.

I believe that God does have to clean us up and change us into His image, but we also have to follow. We have to lead every thought captive - and sometimes that is an uphill battle every moment of every day. We have to live our lives according to God's word and obey the things that God tells us to do. The clearest way the Lord speaks to us is through His Word. The word tells us how to think and what to think and how to avoid sin and how to repent. And repentance is not about saying sorry. God doesn't want you to keep saying sorry over and over while still engaging in your sin. Repent means CHANGE. Turn your life around and stop doing the things that are sin in your life.

If you find you cannot stop sinning in a certain category in your life ask the Father why you keep getting defeated. Sometimes there is a reason behind it. Sometimes it is a demon. Don't believe those people that tell you that Christians can't have demons. They most certainly can. Satan likes to tell you that Christians can't have demons because if he succeeds in getting a demon in a Christian, he certainly does not want that Christian to be delivered. That is why Jesus gave his followers the ability to cast out demons - so God's kids can get deliverance from satan and his evil hordes. It is God's will that you have deliverance from all demons and demonic influences. But sometimes there are giants in the land so that you will learn spiritual warfare.

You might be interested in reading The restitution of all things by Andrew Jukes. He talks more at length about this idea that I've been trying to convey and failing miserably at. There are some other writings from him that can be accessed from that page as well. I also think you may like J. Preston Eby - who I think I have mentioned before on this website. His writings on Revelation are absolutely astounding and very meaty.

Anyway, that is all I have to say for now. Love God and Appreciate Him and Thank Him for all the blessings you have in your life. Thank Him also for the trials and tribulations you may be going through, as He works to perfect you as a son or daughter. If you are not saved, seek the Lord and pray and read the bible and believe in Jesus Christ, and you will be saved. God desires all men to be saved, and there is nothing that can separate you from the Love of God. If you are a Christian, make sure you have not taken that name in vain. With much knowledge comes much responsibility. Do not let someone take your crown or cause you to lose your birthright or inheritance. Love God and seek Him first in all you do and endeavor to walk in obedience to His Holy Spirit.

With much love and blessings in Christ!
Linda

The Need for Light

The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Rom 13:12

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matt 5:14-16

I got the results of my blood tests back yesterday. My thyroid was fine and the dosage I am currently on for my thyroid is fine. But apparantly I have a red flag vitamin D deficiency. The lowest number you can have for optimum health is 32. Mine was 9. I'm sure it has to do with the fact that we hardly ever see the sun here in the Pacific Northwest. The doctors say I need 4000 units to get back up. Of course I looked up vitamin D deficiency and one of the main causes is lack of natural light. Our skin is able to convert sunlight into vitamin D. I thought it was pretty profound that the Lord has designed our bodies to require a certain amount of light in order to function.

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5

God is light. Just like our bodies need the light of the sun, spiritually, we need the light of God in our lives.

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 1 John 1:6

If we say that we have a relationship with God, and yet we are still walking in darkness,(full of sin and anger and hatred and NOT LOVING YOUR NEIGHBOR) we are LIARS, and are not doing the truth. Nowadays the lost can't see any light at all in this crooked and preverse world because all the Christians are hypocrites and not walking in the love of Jesus.

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. Eph 5:8-14

Jesus Christ brought all the law into two commandments. Love God and love your neighbor. It is the love of God that you show that will bring the light of God to a world filled with so much darkness. If you can't love your neighbor, ask the Lord to fill you with His light and His love. Pray for open doors to witness Christ and to share the hope that is in you and be lights in this world.

Understanding Perfection

Some interesting points were made in the comment section that I think are important to take a closer look at. I'd like to thank those of you who are commenting and encourage you to keep commenting. My heart for this blog and in these posts in particular is not that I am right and anyone with an opposing view is wrong. I will freely admit that I don't know anything and could be wrong in the view I am holding. My heart, is to find out what is the Word actually saying. Also, with the way the Word is designed - both letter and Spirit - we could be saying what appears to be the opposite idea and can actually both be right. Or wrong.

The Scriptures do not come right out and say that Adam was created perfect. The very first usage of the word perfect was in reference to Noah. It says, "These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God." Gen 6:9 Now I know there are alot of theories out there that the word 'generations' actually means 'genetics' and that idea is used to prove alot of pretty out there doctrines. We could debate whether or not evil changes your genetic code or changes you at the genetic level, but I think that idea is going to take up more space and be more of a distraction than I want for this discussion.

Unfortunately for us, the Word does not explain why Noah was perfect - was it because he was just? or because he walked with God? The answer is not in the text.

I believe that everything God creates is perfect. I don't think that He is even capable of creating something that is imperfect. I believe that the imperfectness comes from the created being and not from God. Even the anointed cherub himself was created perfect:

Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.

Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. Eze 28:12-15

I still hold to the idea that Adam was created in the image of God - and God is perfect - therefore Adam being in God's image was perfect. Plus, I think Adam had to be created perfect on a legal basis. It is impossible for God to do anything that could cause Him to be accused of unrighteousness. Not that people don't accuse him of unrighteousness, because they do that all the time since they do not understand what righteousness is and that God is incapable of unrighteousness. If Adam had been created imperfect - then he could say, "of course I sinned, you created me this way". It would have been unfair.

No. I believe God created a perfect man and put him in a perfect environment. He also gave him the Word that the man could stand on to use against the adversary. God also told the man the consequences of breaking the Word. The man chose himself to break the Word and bear the consequences.

Yes, absolutely Jesus Christ was perfect. He had to be like the first Adam in order to be the perfect sacrifice. That is why he took part (the flesh) but not the blood (the tainted sin nature brought by the fall of man). Before the fall, Adam's blood was not tainted, because he was created perfect. The blood became tainted with the sin nature after Adam sinned.

This is a very vast subject and I don't have more time today to devote to it. I also believe books and books could be written on the subject and it still not be adequately covered. Blessings in Christ!
Linda

Adam and Eve: A Love Story

This is really the most amazing Love story of How God So Loved The World That He Gave His Only Begotten Son and more about How much God Loves us as individuals. God is the Great Author who has given us His amazing Word and has magnified His Word above all His name. (Psa 138:2) Jesus Christ was The Word of God made flesh, and dwelt among us.

But this story has to start somewhere and for me, it started in one of the most unlikely of places. Stuart Best. I'm not sure if you are familiar with him, but he wrote a book entitled, "Darklight." In the book, he has an enormous amount of research about the word "agape" which is the love of God, and also has a lot on the idea that when Adam and Eve were created - they were created in the image of God and therefore - miniature agape loves - just like God Himself. Now if you are interested in reading "Darklight" you can google it or Stuart Best and delve into some of his research for yourself. He offers "Darklight" for free to download from his website. But I would have to say EMPHATICALLY that I do not recommend that you do that. I only read up to page 535 (there is over 700 pages) and I believe that the conclusions he reaches are false and actively contribute to the deception that I am trying to overturn here. If you feel led of the Lord to read that book, then please pray beforehand for discernment. I'm not so sure that the meat is worth all the bones that would have to be picked through.

I used to visit Stuart's website daily, but every couple days he announced the "potential" complete and utter annihilation of the planet on such and such a date. After a couple years of that and still no extinction level event I just couldn't take it anymore! The only reason I even bring up his name at all (since you may have noticed, I don't like to name names) is that some of what I learned in that book, helped to open my eyes to the truths I am expounding here.

So I loved the premise that Adam and Eve were little agape love people. If they were in the image of God who is love - then they were also pure love. So let's go back to the garden for a moment. God looked at Adam alone, and stated that it was "not good." Up until that time, everything had been very good or at least good. So God created Eve and brought her to Adam. (You know the story. But if you don't you can read it in the beginning of Genesis.) Two little love birds sitting in a tree.

Now I have read many many books about what happened in the garden. Every one of them different. So I know that there are many ways to interpret what happened in Eden and I have read and/or believed a good portion of them. I think it is a parable for many different things - so pray about this idea of agape love creatures in the image of God. I'm not making this up, I'm just the messenger. "Darklight" also touches on this.

So now the serpent has tempted Eve and she has eaten of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The Word establishes the fact that Eve was deceived but that Adam WAS NOT deceived.

Here is Adam - a pure agape love creature - who has seen the object of his perfect love become a fallen creature right before his very eyes. Oh - we can say maybe he should of stopped her, maybe he could of talked to God - woulda, shoulda, coulda.

No he did what another famous romantic did in a similar situation. Maybe Shakespeare actually knew what happened back then? Romeo - having seen Juliet die after eating the poison - decides to join her in death - rather than live without her. Because Love always lays down His life for His friends.

When I first heard that idea my jaw about hit the floor.

If that was the case - then the fact that Adam subsequently blames both the woman and God for his disobedience becomes that much more poignant. Now a fallen creature Adam does not remember his noble agape love and pure motive sacrifice for Eve. Yet, that was the plan all along from God's perspective - because without the fall, there can be no plan of redemption. That is why - by Adam death was introduced, but by Jesus (the 2nd Adam) death was destroyed and thereby life was made available again. True agape love type life.

While we are still in the garden lets look around a little more. There is someone here who is not like the others, someone else who just doesn't belong. Someone who is NOT a pure agape love creature. Our adversary, satan who is pure hatred the polar opposite from God (and Adam and Eve when they were first created.) I read somewhere the idea that satan was able to get 1/3 of the angels to rebel because he convinced them that SINCE God was pure love - He would be unable to do anything about satan's revolt, satan thinking that he could use God's own Holy Character against Him. I'm sorry I can't remember who taught that so if you know please let me know and I will edit this to add the authors name. (Ma says she thinks it is Chuck Missler. Thanks Ma!)So the fall of man and subsequent redemption up to now and including the destruction of the power of death that satan has used to bind the human race, has not only saved man, but shown satan how God was willing to take on humanity in order to lay down His Own life for it. Thus proving to satan once and for all that the Lord can defeat satan without breaking His perfect Love and Character.

Phew!

Ok, check in with you tomorrow! Has your head exploded yet? That is just the beginning! Love in Christ!
Linda

The Weaning Process

Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.

For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: Isaiah 28:9-12

For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. Matthew 18:11-14

Those of us who are parents know what it is to wean a child off of milk and unto solid food. If you have never had children or been around little babies, from the time they are born until they are about 6 months old, a baby can only drink milk. Around 6 months of age,(maybe 4 months if the baby is really big and always hungry) you can start to introduce them to solid food. Usually cereal first. Then baby food which can be fruits, vegetables or even meat, although it is completely pureed because little babies do not have any teeth. Babies usually get their first tooth around 6 months and by two years old should have their full set of baby teeth. But it has happened that a baby won't get their first tooth until they are 15 months old and have a full set by three years old - so it really varies from baby to baby. No two babies are alike.

The Scriptures talk about milk and meat in terms of what a baby Christian can handle as far as what the truth of God's Word is. But when it is time to start going past the milk doctrines and start chewing some of the meat doctrines you don't just stop drinking the milk. No matter how old you get in the Word, you always have to remember the milk - but now you have the meat as well.

I used to think the Word was like an onion. You would get deeper and deeper as you take off the certain layers. Then I began to see it as a diamond, if you turned it this way in the light it looked this way and if you turned it that way in the light it would look that way. Now I understand that it is a classroom, where you are the student and our Heavenly Father is the teacher. Sometimes there are field trips and sometimes there is homework. But the Holy Spirit is not a mean teacher who is wearing polyester pants and has tape on his glasses and a laser pointer. He is our merciful and graceful Heavenly Father who is home-schooling us. Like I told someone in an email recently, "Our Father feeds us like a little baby. He gives us a bite and then He waits for us to chew on it. He does not shove a steak sandwich down our throats!"

I want to clarify that I'm not taking the place of the teacher in this next couple of posts. The Holy Spirit is your only teacher and He will lead you to hear what I have to say or lead you away if that is His Will. I, frankly, know nothing.

I do want to share what I have learned with you, but not by shoving a steak sandwich down your throats! I want to show you the way my Father showed me - precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little. Someone on a comment somewhere on the internet that I cannot remember where I read it said, "we are all at different levels." That is absolutely the truth. I can assume that my readers are more mature Christians, but that is not necessarily the case. So I certainly don't want any of the younger Christians to start choking on this, if I can introduce it in a way that can be pure and peaceable.

My wise friend Richard has brought up a very good point in the comments. He said, "a wise man has said “that the most dangerous doctrine is God’s truth held carnally to exalt self”. A very sobering truth - and one I do not take lightly. I don't want to turn into some kind of blowfish - puffed up on my new found knowledge. I certainly don't want you to think that I think everyone who doesn't know this is a child and I'm a grown up. NO! Absolutely not. I pray the Lord will keep me humble with this knowledge. And here is the rub. This information should be COMMON KNOWLEDGE to Christians! This should be taught in the churches and not the watered down prosperity gospel we have there now. All the people in the 1st century church KNEW this stuff! But the adversary has done a pretty thorough job of hiding this truth with a lot of lies. Lies that me and most of my fellow Christians have believed for the most part.

I have another reason for talking about this subject the slow way rather than just posting a bunch of links. I have already had someone very close to me accuse me of not sticking to the words of Jesus and they would not accept this subject. While on the phone with this person - I had a very clear idea of what the coming persecution would be like. This person has been a Christian for years and could not accept the truth of what I was saying. Maybe you won't be able to either. The Lord has to open peoples eye's when HE believes they are ready. I used to believe whole-heartedly in the pre-trib rapture doctrine. I was so set on it, that anyone who did NOT believe in the pre-trib rapture, I would not take them seriously or read their website. Of course, I was a backslidden carnal Christian at the time. So that just proves the validity of the 'we are all at different levels' case.

I would like to ask that you pray for me as I write these posts, that they will be what the Father wants me say, the way He wants me to say it. I also ask that you pray for yourselves, that the Lord show you the truths in His Word. I also ask that you look up the stuff I will say for yourselves and not just blindly believe it because I am saying it. Press in to the Father and establish a relationship with Him. It is His desire that we trust Him to teach us and to take care of us in every aspect of our lives. Pray for the lost, because we were once, just as lost as them. Till next time! blessings in Christ!
Linda