February 18, 2011
The cup. Psalm 75:8 - "The LORD holds a cup of anger in his hand; it is full of wine mixed with spices. He pours it out even to the last drop, and the wicked drink it all."
Psalm 11:6 - KJV - "Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest; this shall be the portion of their cup." NCV - "He will send hot coals and burning sulfur on the wicked. A whirlwind is what they will get." (Sounds like Psalm 140.) NIV - "On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot."
Exploration Verses:
Zephaniah 3:1–8 - God's judgment for the wicked. The LORD asks people to change in Zephaniah 2:2–3. Then God describes what will happen if they refuse to change. Zephaniah 3:1-8 - "Just wait," says the LORD. "Some day I will stand up as a witness."
Malachi 3:13–4:3 - God compares His mercy to those who chose to follow Him and the judgment that will happen to those who don't. Malachi 3:18 - "You will again see the difference between good and evil, between those who serve God and those who don't." Malachi 4:1 - "There is a day coming that will burn like a hot furnace, and all the proud and evil people will be like straw. On that day they will be completely burned up so that not a root or branch will be left... but for you who honor me, goodness will shine on you like the sun, with healing in its rays. You will jump around, like well-fed calves. Then you will crush the wicked like ashes under your feet on the day I will do this," says the LORD All-Powerful.
II Peter 2:1–13 - Peter talks about false teachers. People who look good on the outside but are corrupt on the inside. They teach ideas that do not agree with God's word... teachings that will cause people to be lost. These "false teachers" refuse to accept Christ as Master of their lives. They are instead the master of their own lives, refusing to submit (or trust) God's authority. II Peter 2:1 - "They will bring quick ruin on themselves." II Peter 2:3 - "Those false teachers only want your money, so they will use you by telling lies. Their judgment spoken against them long ago is still coming, and their ruin is certain."
What makes man think he can go his own way and do his own thing and not be held accountable? Even when the angels sinned (verse 4) they were held accountable! The world was punished at the time of the flood. Noah was saved because of his relationship with God. Same thing with Lot. "So the LORD knows how to save those who serve him when trouble comes." But! II Peter 2:9–10 - "He will hold evil people and punish them while waiting for Judgment Day. That punishment is especially for those who live by doing the evil things their sinful selves want and who hate authority." II Peter 2:13 - "...they have caused many people to suffer, so they themselves will suffer. That is their pay for what they have done... they delight in trickery while eating meals with you."
The rest of II Peter 2 is disturbing. I'll write about that part when I get there. "They promise freedom, but they themselves are not free... for people are slaves of anything that controls them."
Revelation 20 - The Thousand Years. Revelation 20:11 - "Then I saw a great white throne and the One who was sitting on it. Earth and sky ran away from him and disappeared. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. Then the books were opened, and the book of life was opened. The dead were judged by what they had done, which was written in the books."
1 - 8.5 x 11-inch piece of white paper. Three words.
Addendum: 1/7/15 ~ Oh my. This entry in my journal brings chills to my spine and tears to my eyes. There IS accountability. These Exploration verses (in our minds) exactly described the "why" behind my sister and brother-in-law's actions and the lawsuit they filed. These verses also very clearly describe the reality of judgment, and the result of judgment if people do not change their hearts and lives—and it brings chills to my spine and tears to my eyes.
PLEASE!! Change your hearts and ways! The "end" these verses describe DOES NOT have to happen. The End of the Story can be the beginning of a brand new life. Only you can make the choice. Only you will bear the the responsibility for whatever that choice is. Make the decision today. The farther you do down the wrong path the harder it is to retrace your steps.
When I wrote the original journal entry, I was still being very careful not to write about anything that pertained to the lawsuit. The lawsuit is still ongoing, but I feel as if I have been released to put into writing what I could not before. Here is the explanation for what I didn't explain in 2011.
1 - 8.5 x 11-inch piece of white paper. Three words.
When we finally knew we had to separate ourselves from any type of partnership with my sister and brother-in-law, we met with a business attorney. At the end of our very first meeting, I asked the business attorney if he thought my sister and brother-in-law would ever "get-it"; if he thought they would ever understand the underhandedness of their dealings; and if he thought they would ever be held accountable for their actions. He was sitting directly across from me on the other side of the conference table. My husband was sitting to my right. Our lawyer (without saying a word), took out a blank 8.5 x 11-inch sheet of white paper. He silently wrote three words. And then still without saving a word, he turned it around and held it up for my husband and me to see.
Just three words. It said:
Addendum #2: 6/29/16 ~ My heart is pounding and tears are running down my cheeks. It's been nine years now and God, in His loving kindness and great mercy, graciously gave my sister and brother-in-law another (albeit failed) opportunity at Settlement Conference. Please! PLEASE choose the path of righteousness. God has been SO gracious. He has given you SO many opportunities. It is up to you—it is solely up to you.
To refuse to change your heart and life must mean that you somehow feel that what you have to give up is more valuable than what you will receive. That is a lie from Satan himself. What we give up is nothing compared to what we receive. Nothing! Temporary earthly treasures and pleasures—compared to—God himself and eternal salvation. There is NO comparison. Choose you this day whom you will serve! "As for me and my family, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15
After I finished writing today I got up and started working around the house. I realized a song was running through my mind. O How He Loves You and Me. He has done ALL He can do. He loves YOU. In His great LOVE He died for YOU. Accept His gift of LOVE and repent, turn, and seek Him. You will find Him. You will receive Him—and it doesn't get any better than that.
Next Entry: Psalm 11:1 – 13:6 (Continued)
The cup. Psalm 75:8 - "The LORD holds a cup of anger in his hand; it is full of wine mixed with spices. He pours it out even to the last drop, and the wicked drink it all."
Psalm 11:6 - KJV - "Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest; this shall be the portion of their cup." NCV - "He will send hot coals and burning sulfur on the wicked. A whirlwind is what they will get." (Sounds like Psalm 140.) NIV - "On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot."
Exploration Verses:
Zephaniah 3:1–8 - God's judgment for the wicked. The LORD asks people to change in Zephaniah 2:2–3. Then God describes what will happen if they refuse to change. Zephaniah 3:1-8 - "Just wait," says the LORD. "Some day I will stand up as a witness."
Malachi 3:13–4:3 - God compares His mercy to those who chose to follow Him and the judgment that will happen to those who don't. Malachi 3:18 - "You will again see the difference between good and evil, between those who serve God and those who don't." Malachi 4:1 - "There is a day coming that will burn like a hot furnace, and all the proud and evil people will be like straw. On that day they will be completely burned up so that not a root or branch will be left... but for you who honor me, goodness will shine on you like the sun, with healing in its rays. You will jump around, like well-fed calves. Then you will crush the wicked like ashes under your feet on the day I will do this," says the LORD All-Powerful.
II Peter 2:1–13 - Peter talks about false teachers. People who look good on the outside but are corrupt on the inside. They teach ideas that do not agree with God's word... teachings that will cause people to be lost. These "false teachers" refuse to accept Christ as Master of their lives. They are instead the master of their own lives, refusing to submit (or trust) God's authority. II Peter 2:1 - "They will bring quick ruin on themselves." II Peter 2:3 - "Those false teachers only want your money, so they will use you by telling lies. Their judgment spoken against them long ago is still coming, and their ruin is certain."
What makes man think he can go his own way and do his own thing and not be held accountable? Even when the angels sinned (verse 4) they were held accountable! The world was punished at the time of the flood. Noah was saved because of his relationship with God. Same thing with Lot. "So the LORD knows how to save those who serve him when trouble comes." But! II Peter 2:9–10 - "He will hold evil people and punish them while waiting for Judgment Day. That punishment is especially for those who live by doing the evil things their sinful selves want and who hate authority." II Peter 2:13 - "...they have caused many people to suffer, so they themselves will suffer. That is their pay for what they have done... they delight in trickery while eating meals with you."
The rest of II Peter 2 is disturbing. I'll write about that part when I get there. "They promise freedom, but they themselves are not free... for people are slaves of anything that controls them."
Revelation 20 - The Thousand Years. Revelation 20:11 - "Then I saw a great white throne and the One who was sitting on it. Earth and sky ran away from him and disappeared. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. Then the books were opened, and the book of life was opened. The dead were judged by what they had done, which was written in the books."
1 - 8.5 x 11-inch piece of white paper. Three words.
Addendum: 1/7/15 ~ Oh my. This entry in my journal brings chills to my spine and tears to my eyes. There IS accountability. These Exploration verses (in our minds) exactly described the "why" behind my sister and brother-in-law's actions and the lawsuit they filed. These verses also very clearly describe the reality of judgment, and the result of judgment if people do not change their hearts and lives—and it brings chills to my spine and tears to my eyes.
PLEASE!! Change your hearts and ways! The "end" these verses describe DOES NOT have to happen. The End of the Story can be the beginning of a brand new life. Only you can make the choice. Only you will bear the the responsibility for whatever that choice is. Make the decision today. The farther you do down the wrong path the harder it is to retrace your steps.
When I wrote the original journal entry, I was still being very careful not to write about anything that pertained to the lawsuit. The lawsuit is still ongoing, but I feel as if I have been released to put into writing what I could not before. Here is the explanation for what I didn't explain in 2011.
1 - 8.5 x 11-inch piece of white paper. Three words.
When we finally knew we had to separate ourselves from any type of partnership with my sister and brother-in-law, we met with a business attorney. At the end of our very first meeting, I asked the business attorney if he thought my sister and brother-in-law would ever "get-it"; if he thought they would ever understand the underhandedness of their dealings; and if he thought they would ever be held accountable for their actions. He was sitting directly across from me on the other side of the conference table. My husband was sitting to my right. Our lawyer (without saying a word), took out a blank 8.5 x 11-inch sheet of white paper. He silently wrote three words. And then still without saving a word, he turned it around and held it up for my husband and me to see.
Just three words. It said:
GREAT
WHITE
THRONE
Oh, how my heart sank when I saw those three words, but I also knew he was probably right. Our lawyer was saying there will come a day. They will be held accountable for their lifetime of choices and actions. But unfortunately, he did not expect them to "get-it" and to change their ways. And I had to admit—barring a miracle—he was probably right. And now here we are, eight years later, and even after our partnership has been dissolved, and even after we have offered to turn over to them the remaining funds in escrow, they STILL will not let go of their anger and revenge. They appear to be still consumed by their desire to destroy us, and they still cannot give up "control."
It doesn't have to end this way. They still have a choice. God in His great mercy has given them eight years to change their heart and ways. The "End of the Story" can be the beginning of the best days of their entire lives. That is what we hope for and that is what we are praying. In man's eyes it seems utterly impossible. But with God, nothing is impossible.
LORD, we pray that you will give my sister and brother-in-law another opportunity to humble themselves, to pray, to seek YOUR face, and to turn from their wicked ways. THEN! Then LORD, you WILL hear, you WILL forgive, and you WILL heal. That is our prayer. That is our hope.
Addendum #2: 6/29/16 ~ My heart is pounding and tears are running down my cheeks. It's been nine years now and God, in His loving kindness and great mercy, graciously gave my sister and brother-in-law another (albeit failed) opportunity at Settlement Conference. Please! PLEASE choose the path of righteousness. God has been SO gracious. He has given you SO many opportunities. It is up to you—it is solely up to you.
To refuse to change your heart and life must mean that you somehow feel that what you have to give up is more valuable than what you will receive. That is a lie from Satan himself. What we give up is nothing compared to what we receive. Nothing! Temporary earthly treasures and pleasures—compared to—God himself and eternal salvation. There is NO comparison. Choose you this day whom you will serve! "As for me and my family, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15
After I finished writing today I got up and started working around the house. I realized a song was running through my mind. O How He Loves You and Me. He has done ALL He can do. He loves YOU. In His great LOVE He died for YOU. Accept His gift of LOVE and repent, turn, and seek Him. You will find Him. You will receive Him—and it doesn't get any better than that.
Next Entry: Psalm 11:1 – 13:6 (Continued)
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