By HIS Great Power

November 02, 2017

This morning, as I began to read Exodus 3 in my Bible (the next chronological chapter in my devotions), I was struck by several things.

1. God knows. Nothing was/is a surprise to Him. "I have seen... I have heard... I am concerned... I have come down to save them... I will bring them out... (I will) lead them... I have heard the cries... "
2. God is ever present. Moses was going about his daily business when he saw the bush on fire but not burning up. Moses didn't call out to God and then God finally arrived from some far away distant place. He was already there! BUT, Moses (and we) have to first look, and then draw closer in order to see Him.  
3. God promised HIS help. He is the great I AM. He was. He is. He will always be. He promised to go with them as He sent them out, and He promised to help them. "I care about you... I have seen what has happened to you... I promised I would take you out of your troubles... I will lead you..."
4. God has power. "Only a great power will force him to let you go, so I will use my great power... After I do that, he will let you go." God has "surpassing greatness" (Psalm 150). Nothing is beyond His capability. "Praise him for his acts of power..." (Psalm 150).  
5. God is in control. God used the ordinary to prove His authority. God took Moses' rod, something he used in his day to day life, to show Moses (and later the Egyptians) HE was in control and had the power and authority to save His people. Psalm 140:12 - "The Lord secures justice."
6. God will lead. He doesn't need our ability, He only wants our availability. Who has the power and authority? "It is I, the LORD. Now go! I will help you speak, and I will teach you what to say."

Thank you, LORD, for the reminders this morning. You are the great I AM. You are omnipresent and you are omniscient. Your promises are true. You have surpassing greatness. And no matter what, YOU are in control and you will continue to lead us while we are on this journey. We will continue to trust you and follow you on your footpath.

I still do not believe this path we are on includes sitting across from my sister in a court of law as "he said–she said" plays out in front of a judge. I do not believe a judge in the world's court system is going to determine our fate. (It took a considerable amount of courage to just put my belief down in writing—again!) It's not a comfortable position to be standing at the precipice of a cliff when you know you don't have any kind of safety line to protect you should you fall. I know I will look like a fool and much of what I have devoted seven years of my life to (reading through the Bible and keeping a journal of my thoughts now transcribed into this blog) will be totally discounted should I be proven wrong. BUT, with tears in my eyes I am going to step out on the edge of the cliff and say it again: I do not believe the path we are on includes a trial.

So, if I don't believe there is to be a trial, then what do I believe will happen? What I believe is found in the chapter I read this morning.  

"Only a great power will force him to let you go, so I will use my great power... After I do that, he will let you go." ~ From Exodus 3:19–20

I believe the only way we will be released from the traps my sister and brother-in-law set and from this lawsuit they've filed is by HIS great power. Not a judge. Not the skill of an attorney. Not by luck, happenstance, or a fluke. No. Only by HIS great power!

We have already seen that "time" is not the answer. The lawsuit has dragged on in the court system for over ten years. "Time" has changed nothing. When someone is fueled by revenge and evil intentions, no amount of "time" in and of itself, will ever change their mind.

We have already seen that "reasoning" is not the answer. A mediation attorney spent hours (literally) in their room trying to "reason" with them—and failed. A skilled settlement judge gave it his best effort. He tried to "reason" with them—and failed. All of our "reasonable" offers to sell, buy, or sell to a third party were flatly rejected without any consideration. "Reasoning" is not the answer or the lawsuit would be over.

Shockingly, even though my sister and brother-in-law's lives appear to be fueled by greed, "money" is not the answer either. They have already spent far more than they could ever hope to win even if the judge ruled in their favor on every one of their (false) charges. If you add what they will now have to spend to take the lawsuit on to trial to what they have already spent, it makes no logical or business sense. The judge at the Settlement Conference made a pointed effort to explain to them that even if they were successful in getting a judge to rule in their favor, all we would have to do is go down the hall to another office and file bankruptcy and they would be left with nothing. Yet, the risk of gambling and losing even more money is not enough to make them stop. Not only are they willing to risk spending more money they also rejected the possibility of receiving guaranteed money. We offered to walk away from any share of the money in escrow (over $140,000) if they dropped the lawsuit, and our offer was rejected. So, no amount of guaranteed "money" or no amount of risked "money" is the answer.

Even a ruling by a judge is not an answer. As the judge explained at the Settlement Conference, if you don't like the court's ruling you can always appeal, the lawyers would be glad to take your money.

Time. Reasoning. Money. A court's ruling. None of these are the answer. No earthly thing is the answer.

The way I see it that leaves only two options:

1. A heart and life change; or  
2. By HIS great power.

Oh, how I pray it will be #1. That has always been our prayer and it continues to be our prayer today. If there is a true heart change then their desire to pursue us would soon change and the lawsuit would end. That is still our hope, desire and prayer. However, even after ten years of Grace, there has been no heart change.

If there continues to be no heart change, then by default that leaves #2. "Only a great power will force him to let you go, so I will use my great power... After I do that, he will let you go." Brick by brick a wall being built to force a change in behavior. What a sobering thought. I can't imagine what it would take to force them to stop. I can't imagine, and I can't even allow my mind to go there.

Oh. My. Goodness. I just had a brand new thought!! Soon the judge will set a date for a trial. When we received the news, it felt like an end point was quickly coming and we were running out of time for some sort of intervention to block the impending trial. It felt like we were the ones running out of time. But. Oh. My. Goodness! What if they are the ones who are running out of time? Are the "days of Grace" God has so graciously extended to them these last ten years coming to an end? Are they running out of time to change their hearts and lives? Is there a day of accountability and reckoning coming?

I don't know. All I know is this: we are putting our faith and trust in Christ alone. I wish we could make the same decision for my sister and brother-in-law, but we can't. Only they can choose to surrender their hearts and lives to the King of kings and Lord of lords  I KNOW God wants my sister and brother-in-law's surrendered hearts even more than I want it for them. I KNOW God is a fair and just judge who can be trusted. I KNOW that no matter what, I can have peace and joy in all circumstances because HE is in control and my trust is in HIM.

For the last couple of days the song In Christ Alone has been running through my mind.  Here are the lyrics:

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live, I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life's first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

Til He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

I will stand

I will stand, all other ground is sinking sand

All other ground, is sinking sand

Songwriters: Keith Getty/ Stuart Townend

Listen to In Christ Alone here.


Next Entry: THEN They Will Know!

Brick by Brick!

November 01, 2017

The first initial years of "the storm" were overwhelming and time consuming, but once all the legal filings were submitted to the courts, things became quiet. The wait for the judge to issue his rulings began. Months passed. And then years passed. We became accustomed to the lull in the nastiness. And then a few weeks ago, the judge sent out a notice to both parties soliciting available dates for a trial to be scheduled for the Spring or Summer of 2018.

What?? A trial?!? Is there going to be a trial?!? For YEARS, I have been absolutely sure that this lawsuit would never go to trial. SURE! There are many, many reasons why I have felt so strongly about there not being a trial. You can read about some of them here and here. To get a letter from the judge requesting available dates for a trial was a complete surprise and rather disconcerting. It temporarily threw me off balance. I had a lot of questions and no answers. Feeling discouraged, on October 20th, I sat down and wrote my feelings out in a prayer to the LORD.

LORD,

What is it YOU want? What is YOUR will for our lives? Is it YOUR will for this ugly battle perpetrated upon us to go to trial? Is that YOUR will? Is it YOUR will for my journals and the story of Jane to be made public? Is that the way you want YOUR story to be told?

I have so many questions. So many. I'm not doubting you, LORD. I am doubting me. I have been sure for years that this battle was not going to trial. I still believe that. But am I crazy? Was it just wishful thinking? Is it something I have conjured up in my own mind? I really don't believe so. I really don't. But LORD, I want to be sure. I want to be sure that I am surrendered to YOUR will and following YOUR path.

LORD, I have absolutely NO doubt that you are going to protect us from my sister and brother-in-law's vicious and false accusations. NO doubt whatsoever. I guess what confuses me is the path. Do you want this battle to go to trial? Do you want the blogs to be made public? How does that work? Things have changed. The wait for the resolution of the lawsuit has been open ended with nothing in sight, so waiting wasn't that hard because there was an open ended time frame (in my mind) for you to complete your will. But now things have changed. Lawyers from both sides have agreed to set June of 2018 aside for a trial. There is now a point in time set aside for a decision and it is nine months away. Am I starting to doubt? I'm not losing faith in the end result, but I am really confused about the process. Did I misunderstand? Am I wrong? Last night I was reminded of what our Pastor always says. "Don't doubt in the dark what God has shown you in the light."

The blogs are for the most part done and ready. As far as I know I have completed the journey I felt YOU directed me to take. Is YOUR story really going to just sit idle for over nine months? Is there something else I am supposed to do? Am I losing my faith?

In the end it doesn't matter. You are God and I am not. So what is the problem?

I am ashamed. Why am I struggling? Nothing has changed. Am I worried about being wrong in what I have so passionately written about? Is it my pride that is suffering? Am I fearful of looking like a fool and trying to explain why everything I said I felt God was showing me was wrong and (evidently) a figment of my imagination?

LORD, I confess to you my fears. I confess to you my doubt. I confess to you my need to know what is going on and how you plan on doing things. I am weary. I surrender all to you. I surrender it all to you. My hands are open. You are God. I will continue to trust you. I do trust you. If I'm made to look like a fool—then so be it. The only thing that matters is YOU. I bow my need to know how you are going to protect us to your authority and sovereignty. I'm sorry, LORD. A planned date doesn't mean anything. I will still follow your footpath no matter where it leads. Help me to only look ahead at each next step and not start looking into the future. One step at a time, LORD. One step at a time. May YOUR will be done in whatever way YOU choose. 

Writing my thoughts down always has a therapeutic effect for me. It calms my mind and soothes my soul. It brings me back to Truth and to what I KNOW.

• I KNOW God has a plan for our lives.
• I KNOW God has promised us His protection.
• I KNOW I am to tell HIS story.
• I KNOW this lawsuit will not accidentally go to trial.
• I KNOW that while God may allow the "world's" court system to set us free, it cannot be His revealed moral will because the filing of this lawsuit violates His written words.
• I KNOW God has given my sister and brother-in-law ten plus years of Grace.
• I KNOW there will come a day when accountability for our life choices WILL happen.
• I KNOW that HE is in control—and that is enough.

We will STAND on the promises of God. We will continue to believe and hold on to HIS Truth.

There have been some other new developments pertaining to the lawsuit as well. Three of the four attorneys (including the lead attorney) representing my sister and brother-in-law are now no longer with their law firm. To us this is huge news. We felt their lead attorney was just plain vicious in his actions, words and tone. He didn't appear to be interested in facilitating any kind of negotiation or reconciliation and gave my sister and brother-in-law free rein in trying to cause strife and discord among our immediate and extended family members. Nothing appeared to be sacred or off-limits to either him or my sister and brother-in-law. We are SO grateful he is gone.

The timing of his departure seems rather remarkable. He literally left the firm just days or weeks before the judge sent the notice out asking for available dates from each side for a trial. He took a position as an in-house lawyer for a large company so he will NOT be able to assist my sister and brother-in-law again on their case. This is a huge blessing! We never need to see him again and we are very grateful. The scheduled dates for the trial are still up in the air. Some time in June 2018 is what the attorneys for both sides agreed upon but my sister and brother-in-law would not agree to those dates, so we are waiting to hear what the judge decides to do.

Shortly after the news about these new developments broke, the phrase "Brick by Brick" came to my mind early one morning and it got me to thinking.

In the beginning of this conflict, my sister and brother-in-law put up a brick wall of their own doing. Every effort we made to bring our conflict to a peaceful end (by using biblical principles) was blocked by a brick wall of resistance. They thought they were in complete control of their destiny and ours. While my sister and brother-in-law were building a brick wall of resistance, God was building a brick wall for our protection. "Brick by Brick" obstacles to block their plans and intents have been put in their way from the very beginning and the obstacles continue to build as they try to take us down financially by using the "world's" court system. Losing their lead attorney, ten years into the legal process and immediately before the judge requested spring and/or summer trial dates from both sides, is certainly another brick placed in their way. It will now cost them a considerable amount of more money to continue to pursue us. It will take a new lawyer many billable hours to be brought up to speed on the sheer amount of volume and details of the case.

Brick by brick.

Even the scheduling of a date appears to be a brick in their path. In their letter to the judge they stated the only times they would be available for a trial would be in very early spring because a trial later than that would cause their seasonable businesses hardship. I'm not sure if the judge will grant their request or not. Our lawyer is scheduled to be out of town and then has two other trials scheduled and the judge is typically in Florida in the time frame my sister and brother-in-law proposed as the only time they would be available. To read their claims of hardship and their basic refusal to consider other times was rather astonishing. They are pursuing us, we are not pursuing them! You would have thought their response would have been something along the lines of, "you name the date and time and we will be there." Instead, they had the audacity to tell a judge that his time frame for dates was not acceptable to them. Incredible. Their own words have caused more bricks to be added to the wall being built for our protection.

Brick by brick.

LORD, our prayer for my sister and brother-in-law remains the same. May they understand that without you they are nothing, and may they desire nothing but you. LORD, thank you for patiently giving them time to change their hearts and lives. Thank you, for granting them ten more years of Grace. LORD, we have always said they cannot pursue you and pursue us at the same time. So, Lord, I come boldly before you and ask in the Almighty name of Jesus for you to build the brick wall of protection around us so high they can't climb over it and so wide they can't go around it. LORD, I pray you would knock down their brick wall of resistance. LORD, I pray you would block the path of disobedience they are on to the point where the brick wall of protection you have built around us is insurmountable and they cannot successfully go forward in their desire to pursue us. LORD, we pray the words of Psalm 140:8 - "Do not grant the wicked their desires, O LORD; do not let their plans succeed or they will become proud." LORD, their planned intentions were clearly demonstrated when they chose to go against your written words and instead filed this lawsuit in an attempt to use the "world's" court system as the means to further their false accusations and their evil intentions. LORD, I pray that brick by brick you would block their ability to pursue this case to trial. LORD, may YOU release us through YOUR power and YOUR might. May all know that is was the LORD God Almighty who stopped the avenger and saved us from the lion's mouth. We pray this in Jesus' holy name. Amen.

Brick by brick.

Addendum: 2/19/19 ~ A light bulb of further understanding went on as I was reading this today. Jesus is three types of stone: 

• Cornerstone—someone to build your life's foundation upon
• Stumbling stone—someone who puts or allows obstacles in your path for the purpose of getting your attention and letting you know you need to change your heart and life 
• Crushing stone—someone who will eventually hold those who refuse to follow Him accountable for their life choices.

I Peter 2:6–8 - " 'See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.' (Quoting Isaiah 28:16) Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, 'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,' (Quoting Psalm 118:22) and, 'A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.' "(Quoting Isaiah 8:14) 

Matthew 21:42–44 - "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?  (Jesus quoting Psalm 118:22,23) 'Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.  He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.' "

Many of the decisions my sister and brother-in-law made throughout "the storm" just didn't make sense. My husband and I (and others) would often just look at each other and shake our heads. How many times did we (and others) say, "Why on earth did they do that?? How does that make any sense?!"

I thought my sister and brother-in-law were (all on their own) building strong walls of resistance and they thought they were in complete control of their destiny and ours, but now I am starting to see things a little differently. I am beginning to understand God's hand has been in even the smallest of details. I now believe God-planned and God-allowed stumbling stones were put in their path; obstacles which were meant to get their attention and change their course of actions. 

So many situations are running through my mind. So many things that just didn't seem to make good business or logical sense. The disturbing thing is this: my sister and brother-in-law think they are building a wall of resistance against us when in reality, their wall of resistance is a fight against the authority of God. Because my sister and brother-in-law refused to change their hearts and lives, God allowed them to continue to build a wall that ultimately prevented them from owning our joint project which in turn prevented them from realizing any eventual profits from their deceitful practices. They also didn't make any money from the large sum of money they removed from the project; they lost the entire amount they removed and much more. 

My sister and brother-in-law's covert strategy to take over the project—failed. Their scheme to keep all profits for themselves—failed. Their plan to make a large profit off of the money they removed from the project—failed. All their best laid plans and strategies—failed. Not only did all their strategies for ill-gotten gain fail, but now their insistence on moving forward with a lawsuit has cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees. We absolutely believe their attempt to have the courts enforce the "agreement" they deceitfully obtained as a way to financially ruin us for their own gain will fail as well.  

We always wondered, but now we see more clearly. Their decisions weren't just bad business practices or illogical thinking—it was God's hand at work. Stumbling stones were put in place and brick by brick a wall was built to thwart their plans. God has given my sister and brother-in-law opportunity after opportunity to change their hearts and minds, to surrender, to turn from their self-centered ways, and to build their lives upon the Cornerstone. For that I am very thankful. However, there comes a time when "time" runs out and accountability happens.

The stumbling stone becomes a crushing stone.

None of us like to think about judgment. We would all much prefer to talk about the wonderful Grace of God and sit around a campfire singing, Kum Ba Ya. But TRUTH is the truth. Some day we will all stand before our Maker. At that time He will either be the Cornerstone on which we have built our lives—OR—He will be revealed as the stumbling and crushing stone. He is either Lord of our lives—or He isn't. 

Oh LORD, we are still learning so much. While we have understood much of what YOU have done, we at the same time have understood very little. I am just amazed at even the glimpse we have been given. LORD, we trust you and ask that you continue to put obstacles in their path that will prevent their plans from succeeding. Thank you, for building walls of protection around us. LORD, there are not enough words to adequately thank you for all you have done these past twelve years. Thank you, Father.

Brick by brick. Stumbling stone by stumbling stone. Obstacles ignored. Walls of resistance built.


Next Entry: By HIS Great Power

II Chronicles 34:1–33

July 23, 2014

Josiah becomes king at eight years old. By the time he was sixteen, he began to remove all the idols and places for worshiping other gods from the land. He broke up the wooden and metal idols and beat them into powder. He sprinkled the powder over the graves of those who worshiped the idols. (The golden calf the Israelites made while Moses was on the mountain with God was broken and made into powder as well. The Israelites were forced to drink it, and it ended up on the ground—useless.) Josiah rendered the idols useless, dust on the ground—gone. The people returned to dust and what they put their faith in returned to dust. It brought them nothing, totally destroyed and useless.

At the age of 26, Josiah made Judah and the Temple pure again. In the process of doing so, Hilkiah the priest, "found the Book of the LORD's Teachings that had been given through Moses." God's words—lost in His own Temple. God's words that were supposed to be given to each king—lost. God's words that were supposed to be read every day—lost.

When Josiah heard what was in the Book of the LORD's Teachings he was very upset. He wanted to know more. What does this mean? He sent Hilkiah and four other men to, "go and ask the LORD about the words in this book that was found." So Hilkiah and those the king sent with him went to talk to Huldah the prophetess. She was a simple woman, the wife of a man who took care of the king's clothes, yet she was used by God to be a prophetess.

Huldah tells the men that God's word is true. God will do what is written in his Book of Teachings. Accountability for personal actions will happen. There are blessings for those who humble themselves before the LORD; there are curses for those who refuse to surrender their will to His. There are blessings for obedience; there are curses for disobedience. (See Leviticus 26:1 – 27:34; Leviticus 26:1 – 27:34 (Continued); Leviticus 26:1 – 27:34 (Continued); Deuteronomy 27:1 – 28:68; and Deuteronomy 28 (Continued) ) "I will bring all the curses that are written in the book that was read to the king of Judah. The people of Judah have left me and have burned incense to other gods. They have made me angry by all the evil things they have made. So, I will punish them in my anger, which will not be put out." Then, Huldah continued. Because Josiah had humbled himself and sought after the ways of the LORD, God promised to honor him and to not hold him accountable for his ancestors actions. God also told Josiah he would let him die in peace.

God's Word is true—period. He will do what He says—period.  

The men took Huldah's message back to Josiah. Josiah gathered all the people and went to the temple. There he promised to obey the LORD with his whole being and to obey the words in the Book of the LORD's Teachings. Josiah was doing God honoring things even before he knew what was in the book of God's laws. When he found out what was in God's Word (by seeking and searching) he sought to follow hard after the LORD; a blueprint for how we should live our lives. God fulfilled his portions of the prophecy He gave through Huldah.

Seven years ago, Jane (Her Name Was Jane) prophesied, and told us to read Psalm 150, Psalm 140. Jane then prayed a strong prayer of blessing over my life. I never thought of it as a prophecy until I heard my daughter-in-law telling someone that ... and I realized she was right.

I decided to research women prophets in the Bible. There are five listed specifically with the title of prophetess in the Old Testament. A prophetess is a female prophet called by God to be the mouth piece of the One who sends her. She speaks on behalf of the sender. A prophet (prophetess) is considered a seer because God has given them the gift of foreknowledge. God reveals His secrets to the prophet (prophetess). True prophecy is initiated by the Holy Spirit.

I absolutely believe God used Jane to prophecy to us. There can be no other explanation. Her prophecy about praising the LORD taught us a brand new principle/concept. Her prophecy of Psalm 140 describes two kinds of people: 1) people who refuse to obey the LORD's teachings; and 2) those who choose to rely on the LORD for His protection. The same basic principles prophesied by Huldah. Blessings—verses—Curses. Jane's subsequent prophecies of Psalm 1 and Isaiah 30 give the same message. We have a choice. You can choose blessings or you can choose curses. Jane's last prophecy to us was Jeremiah 33—God's promise of restoration. God chose Jane to speak His Holy Spirit inspired words because of her years of faithfulness, her godly character, and her surrendered heart.

Thank you, LORD, for using Jane to be YOUR mouth piece and messenger to us. LORD, Jane spoke words to us that she could not have said within her own ability or knowledge. They were YOUR words, LORD, and we thank you. LORD, we choose to surrender our hearts, lives, and whole beings to YOUR authority. We praise YOUR name LORD, for being the King of all kings and the LORD of all lords. How majestic is YOUR name in all the earth. We humble ourselves before YOU and we claim YOUR promises. Blessed be YOUR name. May all honor and all glory go to YOU for all that YOU have done and will do. Amen.


Next Entry: II Chronicles 35:1 – 36:1 

II Chronicles 27:1 – 28:27

July 19, 2014

Jotham becomes king. "(He) became powerful, because he always obeyed the LORD his God." He not only started well, but he finished well too. But then Ahaz becomes king and it's a completely different story. (You can read more about Ahaz in II Kings 16 and Isaiah 7.)

Because Ahaz refused to follow God's ways, the LORD handed him over to the king of Aram. God also handed him over to Pekah the king of Israel because Ahaz (Judah) had left the LORD. Disaster happened to them and they were taken captive by their own relatives. A prophet of the LORD met the Israelite army when they returned from the battle. He told them: Look, God is the one who handed the people (Ahaz/Judah) to you because he was angry with them. But God has seen the cruel way you have treated them and killed them. Now you plan to make your own relatives your slaves. This should not be! You yourselves have sinned against God. "Now listen to me. Send back your brothers and sisters whom you captured because the LORD is very angry with you."

The people of Israel listened and sent the people of Judah back to their homeland.

Ahaz witnessed all of this but still did not change. The Edomites attacked Judah. Did Ahaz turn to God for help? No. He goes to the king of Assyria. The Philistines also attacked Judah. All this happened because Ahaz (Judah) was unfaithful to the LORD. The LORD caused it to happen. In all his troubles, Ahaz turned even farther away from God. He gathered things from the temple; he broke them; and he closed the temple doors. Why is it some people just don't seem to "get-it"? They keep turning away from God instead of turning to God?

God does not tolerate continued disobedience. The longer you refuse to surrender your will to HIS will, the harder it becomes repent.


Next Entry: II Chronicles 29:1 – 32:23

II Chronicles 25:1 – 26:23

July 18, 2014

Amaziah becomes king. He does what is right, but it is more out of duty than a passion to follow the LORD's commands. When Amaziah became established, he held those who had killed his father accountable. He followed the laws of Moses and did not hold the children accountable for the actions of their parents.

Amaziah prepares his soldiers for battle. He also hires 100,000 soldiers from Israel for 75 pounds of silver. A man of God comes to him and says—what are you doing? Don't let the men from Israel go with you. Why are you trusting men instead of God? "You can make yourself strong for war, but God will defeat you. He has the power to help you or to defeat you." Amaziah says—but what about the money I have already spent? And the man of God replies—walk away from it. "The LORD can give you much more than that."

God has the power to help you OR defeat you. Put your faith and trust in Him. Rely on HIM, and only Him. It is HIS battle.

So Amaziah goes to war without the hired men and God provides the victory. But THEN, Amaziah brings home the idols of the people he defeated and started worshiping them. Why? Why would he do that? I've always said the most dangerous time isn't when you are facing a battle bigger than yourself because you know you need God's help. The danger comes when the battle has been won and you forget it was God who won the battle. The focus becomes, "look what I have done" instead of, "look what God has done."

Amaziah starts worshiping the idols that could not save those he had attacked and God had beaten. The LORD was very angry and sent a prophet to talk to him. Have you noticed that God always sent someone to warn people when they were getting off track? Unfortunately, it made Amaziah mad and he did not repent. His response was basically, "Who are you to tell me what to do?"

God provides each of us the opportunity for change, but the decision to listen and obey falls entirely upon our own shoulders.

Amaziah would not listen. He tried to align himself with Israel again. Instead of being joined with Israel he was defeated by Israel. He was captured by his enemies, and later he was hunted down and killed by his own people. "God caused all this to happen" because he sought help from others instead of God. Why? Why? Why? Why are some people so stubborn?

We all need to let go (of our pride) and let (surrender to) God.

Uzziah becomes king. He does what the LORD said was right. "As long as Uzziah obeyed the LORD, God gave him success." Therein lies the true secret to success. It is not our own abilities, but God's response to our servant-hood. Unfortunately, when Uzziah became powerful, "His pride led to his ruin." He became unfaithful to God and he thought he was above the rules. Only the priests were allowed to burn incense on the altar, but Uzziah decided that he would do it. The priests tried to warn him, "You have been unfaithful, and the LORD God will not honor you for this." Uzziah wouldn't listen. He became angry and he did what he wanted to do. Because of his actions, Uzziah developed a skin disease and he could no longer live in the palace. He was separated from being around other people for the rest of his life.

The most dangerous time is not when we are in a crisis. The most dangerous time is when things are going well.

LORD, I want to finish strong! May we follow hard after you now and when "the storm" is over.

From the Life Lesson in my Bible – "The humble are always at peace; the proud are often envious and angry." ~ From The Imitation of Christ by Thomas Kempis.

In my Bible margins I have written – "Isn't that amazing! The very thing they think will bring them stature and control actually binds them in a prison. A self made prison of envy and jealousy. What they thought would bring freedom is instead an albatross. A goal or "feeling" that can never be attained."

II Chronicles 25:9 - "...the LORD is able to give thee much more than this." Jane (Her Name Was Jane) has written in her KJV margins – Much More!  See Romans 5 - Uncle Amos's "much more's."

Addendum: 4/12/15 ~ "Walk away from it...the LORD can give you much more." Luke 6:38 - "Give, and you will receive. You will be given much. Pressed down, shaken together, and running over, it will spill into your lap. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you." We are watching this happen. "The storm" has battered our finances. In our human minds we think, but how can we be restored? How could that happen? How would God be able to do that? See II Kings 6:8 – 8:15.

Our human minds cannot begin to fathom the magnitude of God's love and abilities. Cannot. Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow. 


Next Entry: II Chronicles 27:1 – 28:27  

II Chronicles 21:4 – 24:27

July 17, 2014

You cannot align yourself with ungodly people and then expect to remain faithful to the LORD.

Jesus' calls for us to be separate cannot be followed when aligned with the ungodly. Jehoshaphat found this out when he aligned himself with Ahab (II Chronicles 16:3) and then again with Ahab's son Ahaziah (II Chronicles 20:35). He (and others) suffered the consequences.

Jehoshaphat is dead and now his son Jehoram (the son who married Ahab's daughter) becomes king. In his desire to have total control, he kills all of his brothers and some of the leaders of Judah. He did not follow in the footsteps of his father. Instead, because he married Ahab's daughter, he chose to follow her ways and to do what the LORD said was wrong. But, not everyone chose to follow Jehoram's sinful ways. The people of Libnah broke away from his rule because he had left the LORD's ways.

If you find yourself linked with others (in business or socially) who are not following God, you must break free.    

God sent Elijah to warn Jehoram (by letter) what was going to happen. Jehoram and his people, his wives and children (plus everything he owned), were all going to suffer the consequences for his actions. He was going to develop a terrible disease that he would die from. Two years later he died a horrible death. His need for total control (II Chronicles 21:4), eventually led to his downfall (II Chronicles 21:20), and in the end it brought him nothing. No one was sad when he died. He wasn't even buried with honor.

God's promises are true and nothing can destroy or prevent God from fulfilling His promises. 
There are consequences for our life choices.  Our decisions bring God's promised results: Blessing—or—Curses.

Because of his selfish need for control Jehoram killed all his brothers. And now years later, the exact same fate happened to his own sons by robbers. His youngest son Ahaziah survived, and he became king. He followed in the footsteps of his father, his namesake uncle, and the others in Ahab's family because his mother encouraged him to do what was wrong. His actions later led to his death. Ahaziah goes to visit his uncle Joram (the son of Ahab and king of Israel). While there, "God caused" (NCV) "brought about" (NIV) his death (KJV - "was of God"). There are consequences for our choices and actions.

Ahaziah's mom Athaliah (Ahab's daughter) either doesn't "get-it" or doesn't care. She doesn't take this opportunity to repent and change her ways. Instead, she kills everyone in the royal family so she can take over. At least she thought she killed everyone. But Jehosheba (Ahaziah's sister) takes Joash (Ahaziah's son and her nephew) and hides him in the Temple. No danger in Athaliah finding him there... she is not worshiping God in the Temple. Jehosheba, (along with her husband Jehoida the priest) hid him for six years.

When Joash was seven, Jehoida led the plan to make him king. God promised the king would be of David's descendants and nothing can destroy or prevent God's promises from being fulfilled. Joash is made king. Jehoiada appointed guards to surround him. (God's angels surround us.) When Athaliah realized she was no longer the ruler over Judah she screamed, "Traitors!  Traitors!" Interesting how she felt anything and everything was permissible and acceptable for her as she maneuvered to get her way, but let someone do what God instructed and she screams—no fair! She was taken outside the gate and put to death. Sin must not be tolerated. It must be removed. That may mean that you have to separate yourself from an ungodly situation or person.

As long as Jehoiada was priest and advising him, Joash did what the LORD said was right. He rebuilt the temple. But later when Jehoiada died, Joash began to listen to others and he stopped worshiping the LORD. II Chronicles 24:19 - "Even though the LORD sent prophets to the people to turn them back to him and even though the prophets warned them, they refused to listen." God sent Jehoiada's son Zechariah to talk to the people. II Chronicles 24:20b - "This is what God says: 'Why do you disobey the LORD's commands? You will not be successful. Because you have left the LORD, he has also left you.' "

Did they listen to him and repent and return to the Lord? No. The king and his officers instead made plans against Zechariah and stoned him to death. Zechariah was the son of Jehoiada, the person who had done so much for Joash and was so respected by the people that when he died at the age of 135 years old, they buried him in Jerusalem with the kings! Yet by this time, Joash was so far away from the LORD that he didn't even remember what Jehoiada the priest (and his uncle) had done for him. As Zechariah was dying he said, "May the LORD see what you are doing and punish you." (II Chronicles 24:22)

By the end of the year it happened. The Arameans came against Joash. The Arameans were just a small little army compared to the large army of Judah, "but the LORD handed over Judah to them" because the people of Judah had left the God of their ancestors. So Joash was punished. Joash was wounded by the enemy, but it was his own officers who killed him as lay in his own bed. He died and was buried, but not with the kings.

How sad. Joash started well but ended in failure. I don't want to just start well. I want to finish well.   


Next Entry: II Chronicles 25:1 – 26:23  

II Chronicles 16:1 – 19:3 (Continued)

July 15, 2014

Jehoshaphat (king of Judah), became entwined with Ahab (king of Israel) because his son married Ahab's daughter. Ahab—who rarely followed God's teachings; and Jehoshaphat—who followed God's teaching. In Jane's (Her Name Was Jane) Bible she has written: danger ahead. Indeed. When you align yourself with those who are not like-minded with you, there is danger ahead.

Jehoshaphat knew he was going against God's commands, but he did it anyways.

Ahab wants to go to war and he wants Jehoshaphat to join him. Jehoshaphat wants to make sure it is God's will. Ahab just wants to do what he wants to do. He has a group of 400 "prophets" that will tell him whatever he wants to hear. Ahab despises the one prophet who is honest about what God wants. Jehoshaphat wants to hear what the LORD'S prophet has to say. Micaiah (the Lord's prophet) says—don't do it. Don't go to war. Your plans won't work. In fact, what you don't understand is this: God is fed up with your refusal to follow his teachings. You think those 400 men are just telling you what you want to hear. Wrong. They are being used by God to fool you into going into battle because of your refusal to submit to His authority. Ahab became angry. He refused to listen, and put Micaiah in jail. Ahab (in his typical arrogant fashion) said to only give Micaiah bread and water until he returned safe from the battle. Micaiah replied, "If you come back safely" then the LORD hasn't spoken through me.

"Remember my words, all you people."

So, Ahab does what Ahab wants to do and he goes into battle. But Ahab wasn't completely confident in his victory. Somewhere in the back of his mind there was some doubt and fear. So he tells Jehoshaphat to wear his royal clothes, but Ahab wore other clothes so no one would recognize him. How nice of him. He set up his "friend" as a means to protect himself. Ahab's plan most likely would have worked, but God stepped in and intervened. The only person the king of Aram wanted was Ahab. When they saw Jehoshaphat in royal clothing they were ready to attack him. But Jehoshaphat shouted, "... and the LORD helped him." And then, by chance, (God) a soldier shot a random arrow and it struck Ahab between his pieces of armor. Ahab was dead by sunset.

By chance, was actually the Hand of God. The army that was ready to attack Jehoshaphat was stopped by God. II Chronicles 18:31 - "The LORD helped him; and God moved them to depart from him." (KJV) God protects those who call on Him; He holds accountable those who have turned their backs on Him. We control whether we submit ourselves to the authority of God and obey His teachings. God controls all the rest.

Jehoshaphat returns. God sends a seer to him and asks, "Why did you help evil people? Why do you love those who hate the LORD?" Because of the choices Jehoshaphat made, the LORD was angry with him and he was faced with new troubles and the same problems of aligning himself with those who were not like-minded.


Next Entry: II Chronicles 19:4 – 21:3

II Chronicles 11:18 – 15:19

July 12, 2014

The story of Rehoboam.

After Rehoboam became strong and established, he (and the people) became self-reliant. They stopped obeying God, and they abandoned the laws of God. Oh, the dangers of PRIDE and forgetting that it isn't about "I" do. It is, "I can do all things through Christ." Rehoboam forgot (or ignored) the

God

     ↓   

  Man

relationship, and trouble ensued.

The king of Egypt attacked them. The LORD said, "You have left me, so now I leave you to face (them) alone." It is always in that order. We separate ourselves from God; we are left on our own. The LORD never abandons us first.  

When Rehoboam sees what is happening he becomes afraid and repents. The LORD saw they were sorry, so He held back His anger and prevented the king of Egypt from totally destroying them. Even though Rehoboam repented there were still consequences. The king of Egypt stripped them of what they were most proud of; their many prized possessions. Rehoboam "made himself" a strong king. "He did not want to obey the LORD.

Pride → punishment.

Abijah (son of Rehoboam) becomes king. There was a war between him (Judah) and Jeroboam (Israel). Abijah brought 400,000 soldiers into battle. Jeroboam brought 800,000. Abijah stood on a mountain and said, "Listen to me!" You know that God gave David and his sons the right to rule Israel forever, so what are you doing following Jeroboam, the son of one of Solomon's officers? You are making plans against God by planning evil against us. You are arguing against God. You have made yourself golden calves to be your gods. You have gotten rid of who God appointed as priests (the Levites) and you have appointed your own priests. You have left the LORD. "But as for us, the LORD is our God; we have not left him." (Psalm 140:6 - But we say, "You are my God...") "We obey the command of the LORD, but you have left him. God himself is with us...." He is the One leading us. Listen! Stop what you are doing! Don't fight against God! It won't work! You won't succeed!

Jeroboam wouldn't listen. Instead he sent some of his troops to "sneak behind" Judah's army. You can "sneak behind" man, but you cannot sneak behind God. When the people of Judah realized they were being tricked, they cried out to the LORD. They didn't run, and they didn't hide. They gave a battle cry, and "God caused" Jeroboam and his army to run away. "God handed them over" to Judah. The people of Israel were defeated, and the people of Judah won. Why? "...because they depended on the LORD." Jeroboam never again became strong. "The LORD struck Jeroboam and he died."

Accountability. Consequences. Every king that followed Jeroboam followed in his foot steps and did evil. Every single one! They couldn't succeed because they were trying to circumvent God's will. It won't work. It can't work.

Abijah dies and his son Asa became king. Asa did "What the LORD his God said was good and right." The LORD gave them peace because they obeyed the LORD. But then Zerah from Cush comes out to fight them with an enormous army. Asa called out to God saying, "LORD, only you can help weak people against the strong. Help us LORD our God, because we depend on you. We fight against this enormous army in your name. LORD, you are our God. Don't let anyone win against you." (Psalm 140 - "...don't let their plans succeed or they will become proud.") The size of the army doesn't matter because the battle belongs to the Lord. They couldn't do it but God could, and He did. "So the LORD defeated (them)... they were crushed by the LORD."

When you face a battle that is bigger than you, remember this truth: You can't do it, but God can. Don't give up. God is in control. 

II Chronicles 15:2 - "The LORD is with you when you are with him. IF you obey him, you will find him, but IF you leave him, he will leave you."

II Chronicles 15:7 - "But you should be strong. Don't give up, because you will get a reward for your good work."

Don't give up! God IS in control. II Chronicles 15:15 - "They looked for God... and found him."

Jeremiah 29:12–14 - "...then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will search for me. And when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me! I will let you find me," says the LORD. "And I will bring you back from your captivity... and I will bring you back to this place."

LORD, we call out to You. Hear our cries for mercy. Protect us from "the storm." Protect us from those who "have set traps along our path."


Next Entry: II Chronicles 16:1 – 19:3

Revelation 20:1–15

August 26, 2013

The thousand year reign of Christ begins. An angel came down from heaven. He had the key to the bottomless pit and a large chain in his hand. It was his job to grab Satan, tie him up, and throw him in the bottomless pit. Satan was now powerless and his ability to deceive and trick the people of the world was suspended until the thousand years ended.  

During the 1000 year reign of Christ, those who during the seven year tribulation refused to follow the beast and the false prophet and instead chose to follow and be faithful to the message of Christ (and therefore were put to death), came back to life. Their souls joined Christ and ruled with Him and the other believers who had died before or who had been raptured by Jesus at the first part of His second coming.

After the 1000 year reign of Christ is completed, Satan will be loosed from the bottomless pit for a brief period of time before eternity begins. During this time he sets out to do what he has always done—deceive and trick people. He gathered an army so large that they were like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the earth full of pride and arrogance. They were determined to destroy God's people. They surrounded God's people and the city (Jerusalem) God loves.

They were full of confidence and they were in control—or so they thought. But they were deceived. They only thought they were in control. God was in control! Fire came down from heaven and burned them up—which was only the beginning. Judgment was going to happen. Satan's reign was over. Satan, the beast, and the false prophet were thrown into the lake of burning sulfur to be punished day and night forever and ever.

The Great White Throne—the final judgment of all those who refused to surrender to Jesus/God.

Oh my! Whenever I hear the words "Great White Throne" I immediately picture in my mind the events of the day in April of 2007 when my husband and I met with a lawyer to seek advice on how to remove ourselves from any business connections with my sister and brother-in-law. Our lawyer had just finished explaining the convoluted meaning of the documents my brother-in-law deviously created and deceitfully had us sign. I sat across the conference table from our lawyer. My husband sat on my right (our lawyer's left). I had just asked our lawyer if he felt my sister or brother-in-law would ever be held accountable for their vile actions. He didn't say anything. Instead, he took a plain piece of paper and wrote three words. He then picked up the paper, turned it over, and held it up for me to read. In large letters it said:

GREAT

WHITE

THRONE

I knew the Great White Throne meant judgment but I didn't understand the full meaning of it. Now that I have studied end-time prophecy and understand more about the Revelation of Jesus, the reality of what it means is even more disturbing than what I realized on that eventful day in our lawyer's office. While those three words were our lawyer's opinion, I'm so grateful that God is Faithful and True; we bear no responsibility for the choices and actions of others; and we can trust Him to make His judgments according to His righteousness.

There are two end-time judgments described in Revelation.

The Judgment Seat of Christ—is for believers. It is when Christ-followers will stand before Christ and be judged for the things they have done and given crowns for the works they did while on earth. This judgment is for believers only and happens after the rapture of the Church.  

The Great White Throne—is the time when all those who have refused to confess that Jesus is Lord are judged. It is too late. There are no arguments and there is no defense. Their choice was made when they refused to change their hearts and lives, and the sentence has already been determined. Their names are not written in the Book of Life. They are judged for the things they did and the sentence is sure—eternity in hell.

I just can't imagine the horribleness of this. It is absolutely beyond human comprehension and words. But, even though it is difficult and painful to think about, it does not change this fact: IT IS TRUTH.

So, why don't we live as if we believe it is Truth? Understanding what the Bible says is going to happen should make us want to live each day as if it were our last. Do the important things—TODAY! Tell your lost family members and friends about Christ—TODAY! Live your life the way Christ would want you to live—TODAY!  

Do you believe God's Word? Do you believe Jesus could return at any time? If you believe that, then how does that belief change your life? What would you do differently? Even if Christ didn't return for another thousand years, what if you only had a few months or weeks to live? What would you do differently if you knew when your earthly life would soon end and your eternity was ready to begin?

• What is it that you are doing now that you would stop doing?
• What are you not doing now that you would start doing?

The truth is ALL of our lives are terminal. Whatever it is you would change—DO IT NOW! 

Philippians 2:10–11 says every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Jesus is Lord. DO IT NOW—while there is still time. Change your hearts and lives and surrender your life to the King of kings and Lord of lords. Surrender your life to Master Jesus—TODAY!  


Next Entry: Revelation 21:1 – 22:21

Revelation 19:1–21 (Continued)

August 23, 2013

After hearing about all the destruction happening to the evil and people on earth, the response of the "great many people" in heaven was this:

"Hallelujah! (Praise the Lord) Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God, because his judgments are true and right."

In their righteousness they understood what was happening on earth was true and right. Sin was punished. Accountability happened. Those who had done evil received their just punishment, by God not man. Again they said:

"Hallelujah!"

And the twenty four elders and four living creatures said:

"Amen, Hallelujah!"

Then a voice from the throne said:

"Praise our God, all you who serve him and all you who honor him, both small and great!"

And then a great multitude of people (our loved ones who have went before; and you and I) shouted out, sounding like the roar of rushing water (I'm remembering the deafening roar of Niagara Falls) and sounding like the loud reverberating sounds of thunder saying:

"Hallelujah! Our Lord God, the Almighty, rules. Let us rejoice and be happy and give God glory, because the wedding of the Lamb has come, and the Lamb's bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given to her to wear."

(Fine linen means the good things done by God's people.) Then the angel said to John, "Write this:

'Happy are those who have been invited to the wedding meal of the Lamb!' "

These are the words of God. John bowed down at the feet of the angel, but the angel said, "Do not worship me—worship God, because the message about Jesus is the spirit that gives all prophecy."

Then John saw the heaven open, and there before him was a white horse.

Revelation 19:11–16 - "The rider on the horse is called Faithful and True, and he is right when he judges and makes war. His eyes are like burning fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him, which no one but himself knows. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven dressed in fine linen, white and clean, were following him on white horses. Out of the riders mouth comes a sharp sword that he will use to defeat the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will crush out the wine in the wine press of the terrible anger of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his upper leg was written the name:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS." 

Wow! There is no other way to write that then word-for-word out of God's Holy Word. Unlike the counterfeit rider of the white horse in Revelation 6:2, this rider is called Faithful and True; a name we cannot understand; the Word of God; and KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS! And we are with Him as He descends from heaven and makes war with the beast, the false prophet, and the kings of the earth. 

Christ is victorious, the armies of the earth are destroyed, and the beast and false prophet are thrown into the lake of fire, to remain there for 1000 years. The thousand year reign of Christ is about to begin.

From Life Lesson:

"Here is the big difference between victory in Christ and victory in the world: A victor in the world rejoices over something he did... but the believer, rejoices over who he is—a child of God, a forgiven sinner, an heir of eternity...

Nothing can separate us from our triumph in Christ. Nothing! Our triumph is not based upon our feelings, but upon God's gift. Our triumph is based not upon our perfection, but upon God's forgiveness. How precious is this triumph! For even though we are pressed on every side, the victory is still ours. Nothing can alter the loyalty of God... it is not something we do. It is something we are." ~ From On the Anvil by Max Lucado

It is ALL about Him. When it is all about Him, we can respond to HIS judgments with happiness and praise, because we know He is Faithful and True and He judges fairly.  There are NO mistakes.  He is: 

 

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.  

Amen.


Next Entry: Revelation 20:1–15

Revelation 19:1–21

August 23, 2013

The human part of me reads about these judgments and my heart just breaks for those who are being judged guilty for refusing to surrender their wills to God's will.   

A couple of days ago, while I was out and about running errands, I caught a few minutes of a sermon on the car radio. The Pastor was talking about Isaiah 54:17 which I referenced in my Revelation 17 journal entry. One of the comments he made shocked me. This Pastor said that at the end time judgment we, as Christ followers, will personally condemn those who wrongly condemned us if they do not repent and change their hearts and lives. My mouth literally dropped open and I heard myself shout—NO! The thought of being the one to pronounce condemnation on those who wrongfully condemned us is a horrible sickening thought and incomprehensible to me. It felt as if I had been punched in the gut.

It was the first time I had ever heard that preached and I really had to process and think about this brand new (to me) thought. What is this Pastor saying? More importantly, what does God say about this? So, I started asking, "What does this mean Lord?" I went back to Isaiah and re-read the verse (Isaiah 54:17) and its context in different versions to try and understand the TRUTH of what God is saying.

This is what I've learned.

During our life on this earth we are not to judge, condemn, seek revenge, or avenge what others do to us. That is for God to do and we should have no part of it. However, as part of the righteousness of God at the end time judgment, God gives us a voice and we will refute, expose, condemn, and be victorious from their false accusations. God gives us the voice to vindicate ourselves, expose the truth, and pronounce their condemnation. It will not be an "I got you" moment. Not at all. It will be a holy moment where the righteousness of God is revealed and proclaimed. It will be a God moment, and it will bring HIM honor and glory. It is His plan.

" 'This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and is their vindication from me,' declares the Lord." Isaiah 54:17b

As much as the thought of pronouncing their guilt makes me want to say—NO! I won't do it!—that response is an earthly answer. In the heavenly realm we will recognize it as just, fair, and right.

Blessed be the name of the LORD. It is not about us, it is ALL about HIM.


Next Entry: Revelation 19:1–21 (Continued)

Revelation 18:1-24

August 22, 2013

Another angel came down from heaven and declared in a loud voice:

Ruined! Ruined!

The city of Babylon is used throughout Revelation as a symbol for wickedness, greed, materialism, power—all things of the world and contrary to the teachings of Christ; and all things we as Christ followers should not be a part of.

And another voice from heaven said:

"Come out of that city, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive the disasters that will come to her." Revelation 18:4

We must separate ourselves from evil actions and from people who practice evil behaviors. We must! Disasters will come to anyone who practices evil actions and behaviors. Revelation 18:5b - "God has not forgotten the wrongs she has done."

The voice said:

• Give them the same punishment they gave to others
• Give them back twice as much as what they did
• Double the punishment they prepared for others
• They gave themselves much glory and rich living
• Give them suffering and sadness in the same proportion they gave themselves glory and pretentiousness
• They think themselves above everyone else
• They think they are untouchable and exempt from consequences
• So these disasters will happen to them in one day
• Death
• Crying
• Great hunger
• Destruction

Others will see what has happened and they will be afraid and distance themselves. They will be shocked by what they see. The punishment came quickly—it happened suddenly and without warning. Some were saddened because of what happened to "her" (what Babylon represents) and others were saddened because the destruction of "her" meant they were going to lose business and profits. All those who watched cried, "Terrible! Terrible!" All the things they wanted and desired were gone. Their rich and fancy things disappeared, and they would never have them again.

So, on one side you have the people of the world sad because of the destruction of "her" and sad for themselves because of the profits they were going to lose. But for God's people there was a totally different reaction.

"Be happy because of this, heaven!
     Be happy, God's holy people and apostles and prophets!
God has punished her (them) because of what she (they) did to you."

Then an angel picked up a large stone and threw it into the sea. He said, this is what it will be like. They will be thrown down and gone forever.

• The playing of music—gone
• Employment and work—gone
• Growing and harvesting of crops—gone
• The light from a lamp—gone
• The happy sounds of marriage and family—gone

Every. Thing. Gone. Forever. They were held accountable and judged guilty for their trickery and violence against innocent people.

From Life Lesson:

"Greed and materialism will be judged and crushed. Christians must derive their security from faith in Christ."

"John pointed out that although society was built around the economy, only what was built on God would last forever."

Side note: Besides the generalization of what/who Babylon represents, I'm sure there is also literal meanings to the symbolism and prophecy of Babylon of which I am not qualified to understand or write about.


Next Entry: Revelation 19:1–21

Revelation 16:1–21

August 19, 2013

The seven bowls/vials of God's anger are poured out on the earth.

The first angel and bowl—horrible, painful, and ugly sores came upon all those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his idol.

The second angel and bowl—all the water in the sea became like decaying blood and every living thing in the sea died.

The third angel and bowl—the water in the river and springs became like blood. Then the angel of the waters said:

  "Holy One, you are the One who is and who was.
       You are right to decide to punish these evil people.
  They have poured out the blood of your holy people and
       your prophets.
  So now you have given them blood to drink as they deserve."
And then a voice came from the altar saying:
  "Yes, Lord God Almighty,
       the way you punish evil people is right and fair." Revelation 16:5–7                (emphasis mine)

It had to be difficult for the angel who had the authority over the water to watch all the waters of the world destroyed. Yet, he knew what God was doing was right, even if it meant destroying what he loved. Vengeance and punishment is the Lord's.

My husband has often said (and I agree) that God's punishment is far worse than any punishment man could ever give. That's why accountability that brings repentance, while there is still time for change, cannot be something we avoid or regret even if it is hard to watch someone we love experience it. 

The fourth angel and bowl—the sun increases in heat and people are burned with the fire from it. Instead of repenting, the people cursed the name of God and refused to change their hearts and lives, and they refused to acknowledge God as Lord of all and give Him the glory that is due Him.

The fifth angel and bowl—darkness covers the kingdom of the beast. People were in incredible pain without relief. They gnawed their tongues, causing pain to try and block out their even greater pain. And still—they refused to change their hearts and turn away from the evil things they did. Instead, they cursed the God of heaven because of their pain and their sores.

The sixth angel and bowl—the water of the Euphrates completely dries up. This prepares the way for the final battle of Armageddon. The dragon, the beast, and the false prophet send out evil spirits who have the power to do miracles and they go out to gather the kings and get them ready for the final battle—but it won't be their victory. It will be "...the great day of God Almighty." (Revelation 16:14)

God says, "Listen!  I will come as a thief comes!" (Revelation 16:15) Be watching and ready!

The scene is set. All the participants are in place. 


Next Entry: Revelation 16:1–21 (Continued)

Revelation 14:1 – 15:8 (Continued)

August 16, 2013

This passage is also a prophetic description of a battle that will take place at the end of the tribulation. The battle is so violent that blood will flow as high as a horse's bridle for a distance of about one hundred eighty miles. Horrible, horrible destruction and violence for those who refused to be a servant of Master Jesus and instead insisted on following their own selfish ways. They realize they are no longer in control of their choices. Their attempt to ride the fence and fool others into thinking they were "religious" while they were actually unbelievers is exposed and they are forced into being what they were all along—a slave to Satan himself. 

Then John looked again—and he saw seven angels bringing seven disasters. Revelation 15:1 - "These are the last disasters, because after them, God's anger is finished." When Jesus was crucified (John 19:30) He said, "It is finished." The Plan for Salvation was completed with Christ's death and resurrection. Now the plan for destruction and God's anger will soon be finished.

But before the final seven disasters began, John saw something else. He saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire. All of those who had won the victory over the beast and his idol and of the Antichrist were standing there. They had harps that God himself had given them. Revelation 15:3–4 - "They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb:

"You do great and wonderful things, (Psalm 111:2)
    Lord God Almighty. (Amos 3:13)
Everything the Lord does is right and true, (Psalm 145:17)
     King of the nations.
Everyone will respect you, Lord (Jeremiah 10:7)
     and will honor you.
Only you are holy.
All the nations will come
     and worship you, (Psalm 86:9–10)
because the right things you have done,
     are now made known." (Deuteronomy 32:4)

After John saw the redeemed and heard this song, the temple in heaven was opened and the seven angels bringing the seven disasters came out. They were given seven golden bowls "filled with the anger of God, who lives forever and ever." The temple filled with smoke from the power and glory of God, "and no one could enter the temple until the seven disasters of the seven angels were finished."

The final destruction is about to begin.


Next Entry: Revelation 16:1–21

Revelation 14:1 – 15:8

August 15, 2013

God's judgment arrives. The time has come; the time for patiently waiting (as in the time of Noah) is over; and the time for judgment is here. Only those who are cleansed by the blood of the Lamb are protected from God's anger. 

John looked—and before him was the Lamb and 144,000 of the redeemed who were saved out of the tribulation. They were singing a new song of praise to the Lamb. Then John saw three angels.

The first angel proclaimed the Gospel of Christ. This happens right at the end of the tribulation and immediately before the judgment of the nations. This message is not about grace and salvation—it is about judgment. The only people it is "Good News" for is Israel and the 144,000.

The second angel announced the destruction of Babylon—false worship. (Revelation 17 & 18 tells us more about Babylon.)

The third angel—accountability happens! Anyone who went along with, followed, and/or worshiped the beast (this boils down to everyone who does not obey and worship Christ as Master) "will drink the wine of God's anger which is prepared with all its strength in the cup of His anger. And that person will be put in pain with burning sulfur before the holy angels and the Lamb. And the smoke from their burning pain will rise forever and ever." (Revelation 14:10–11) There will be no rest, day or night, for those who worship the beast and his idol or who get the mark of his name.

I'm sure there will be plenty of people who think they would never worship the beast so they think none of this applies to them. But wait! Let's examine what the Truth is. 

As a true believer (one who has surrendered their will to God's authority and accepted His free gift of Salvation) your body is a temple of the Lord. Temple—the one and only place where sacrifices were performed. Jesus Christ was the sacrifice for our sins. When we accept His sacrifice and receive Him as our personal Savior our bodies literally become the temple of the Lord. As a repentant believer, your actions show there has been a change in your life.

BUT! There are "religious" unbelievers (people who say they believe but their actions show otherwise) whose bodies are synagogues of Satan. Synagogue—a building, a gathering place, a "town hall" of sorts. It is ran by people, financed by people, and is a place of worship and study. As "religious" unbelievers, one's body cannot be a temple of the Lord. Instead, because there has been no true repentance and change of life, their bodies become a synagogue and gathering place of Satan. 

Unless you are surrendered by word and deed to Master Jesus, and your body is the temple of the Lord because He lives in you as the sacrifice for your sins—you are living in the "synagogue of Satan" (Revelation 2:9; 3:9) and John's message does apply to you!

John says, "This means God's holy people must be patient. They must obey God's commands and keep their faith in Jesus."(Revelation 14:12) Then John heard a voice from heaven saying, "Happy are the dead who die from now on in the Lord... they will rest from their hard work, and the reward for all they have done stays with them." (Revelation 14:13)

Rest and reward—verses—the cup of God's anger that never ends. 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." (For other verses that speak of the Lord's cup of anger see: Jeremiah 25:13–15; Isaiah 51:23; Jeremiah 49:12; Ezekiel 23:32; and Luke 22:42–43.)

Then John looked—another angel came out of the temple and said to the One who looked like the Son of Man, "Take you sickle and harvest from the earth, because the time to harvest has come, and the fruit of the earth is ripe." (Revelation 14:15) So, the earth was harvested by the One. The final believers are now removed from the earth.

Then another angel came out of the temple and he also had a sharp sickle. And then from the altar came a third angel who had power over fire, and he told the second angel, "Take your sharp sickle and gather the bunches of grapes from the earth's vines, because its grapes are ripe." This isn't a harvest of redemption. This is a harvest for destruction. The angel swung his sickle and harvested the grapes, "and he threw them into the great winepress of God's anger."

Total. Violent. Destruction.

Addendum: 3/7/2017 ~ Revelation 14:10–11 - "...will drink the wine of God's anger which is prepared with all its strength in the cup of his anger. And that person will be put in pain with burning sulfur before the holy angels and the Lamb. And the smoke from their burning pain will rise forever and ever."

What a horrible, horrific thought. I don't think I ever thought specifically about the source of the smoke from Hades/Hell before. But this verse says the smoke comes from "their burning pain." Oh. my. goodness. An eternity of pain, “their burning pain," evidenced by the smoke that arises from the pit of hell!!

This just became very personal. "THEIR burning pain..." Who is the "their" in your life? Who do you know that is at risk for being part of this group of people whose burning pain will create the smoke that arises from Hell? There IS eternal accountability!    

Do we believe this or not? Because if we believe this then we CANNOT remain the same. We first need to make sure we are living our own lives surrendered to Master Jesus. And then we need to make sure we are doing everything possible to lead others in our sphere of influence to the Path to Salvation.

There is nothing more important. NOTHING!! Eternal accountability is at stake. 


Next Entry: Revelation 14:1 – 15:8 (Continued)

Revelation 11:1–19

August 06, 2013

John was given a measuring stick to measure the temple of God, the altar, and to count the people who were worshiping there. The people inside the temple were protected but those outside the temple, "are not God's people." Then God gave power to "my two witnesses" to prophecy for three and one half years, "and they will be dressed in rough cloth to show their sadness."

For three and one half years they testify to God's message. They have God-given power, and they have complete control over their enemies. Revelation 11:5 - "... if anyone tried to hurt them in whatever way, in that same way that person will die." These two witnesses have the power to stop the rain from falling from the sky; they have the power to turn the waters into blood; and they have the power to send whatever trouble they want to the earth, whenever they want, and as often as they want.

Revelation 11:7 - "WHEN the two witness have finished telling their message" (My emphasis. It will happen at exactly the right time, not a day before or a day after.) the beast (Satan) wages battle against the two witnesses, and as part of God's plan, Satan defeats them and kills them. Their bodies lie in the street of the same city where the Lord was killed. The spiritual meaning of the name of the city is Sodom (city destroyed by God because the people were evil) and Egypt (the country where God's people were held captive). People from every nation, tribe, race, and language will be able to see them.

I used to wonder how this could possibly happen. Obviously, God has supernatural abilities and He doesn't require "man's" capabilities in order to accomplish His plan, but with the advancement of technology (which already exists and is available worldwide), it isn't difficult at all to understand how literally everyone around the world could see them using man-made technology. I'm not saying that is how it will happen because it may very well be a super-natural event orchestrated entirely by God, but it's just interesting to be able to see how what seemed impossible a few years ago could now happen. 

For three and one half days their bodies will lie in the streets. The people of the earth rejoice at their destruction and celebrate because of it. They don't "get it." They don't understand that the message they rejected could have saved them. After three and one half days God put the breath of life back into the prophets once again. They stood to their feet, and all who were watching them became very afraid. They went from being thrilled that their enemies were dead to being terrified because they were alive once again.

The two prophets heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Come up here!" And they "went up into heaven in a cloud as their enemies watched." They ascended into heaven just as Jesus did. During this same time there was a great earthquake and thousands died. Terror upon terror.

7th Trumpet—Now it is time. The angel blows the trumpet and there were loud voices in heaven, saying:

"The power to rule the world
     now belongs to our Lord and his Christ,
and he will rule forever and ever."

Then the twenty four elders bowed down and worshiped God saying:

"We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty
     who is and who was,
because you have used your great power
     and have begun to rule!
The people of the world were angry,
     but your anger has come.
The time has come to judge the dead,
     and to reward your servants the prophets
and your holy people
     all who respect you, great and small.
The time has come to destroy those who destroy the earth."

The time has come, and the heavens are opened, the ark can be seen, and flashes of lightning, noises, earthquakes, and a great hailstorm begins.

Addendum: 2/28/07 ~ The time has come!! The time has come!!

Just over two weeks ago I wrote about the importance of changing your heart and life and The Path to Salvation. While the importance of changing your heart and salvation is woven throughout my entire journals, I didn't know my journals would become public and there wasn't a separate journal entry devoted to explaining The Path to Salvation. It's the most important message of the Bible and the most important message of my journals.   

So, for the last several weeks I have went back through my journal entries and added links to The Path to Salvation wherever I'd written about "change your heart and lives" and "salvation." I've finished adding the links and am ready to begin adding the rest of my entries for Revelation. There are only eleven chapters left before I am finished and God clearly let me know "the time has come." Make sure everyone knows. There is ONE path to Salvation. Make sure it is clear. It is the ONLY thing that matters!! 

Isn't it time? Isn't it time you surrender your ALL to Master Jesus? Why wait? It's the most important decision you will ever make. It literally is a matter of life or death. In this life there are two paths. One is wide and leads to eternal damnation. The other is narrow and leads to eternal salvation. Only you can make the decision on which path to take.

Think about it. Isn't it time?


Next Entry: Revelation 12:1–18