THEN They Will Know!

November 6, 2017

I am continuing to read in Exodus and I feel as if God is taking me on a journey down memory lane.

See this? Do you remember when I showed you this before?
See over here? Have you forgotten the things I did in the past?
Do you remember I Kings 18:36? Do you remember why you prayed those exact words?
Do you need to be reminded of what MY purpose is? Have you forgotten the very first thing I showed you as you began this journey?
Have you lost sight of who I AM? I AM faithful.
Are you going to trust MY plan? I AM in control.
Do you see? Keep your eyes on me.
Do you remember? Trust me. Keep your faith in who I AM.  
Are you beginning to understand? I AM the LORD. There is none beside me. 

I see, LORD.
I remember.
Thank you, for the reminder of WHO you are. My trust is in YOU and YOU alone.

God gave Moses (and then Aaron) very clear, detailed, and specific directions on where to go, what they would find, what to say, what to do, and what was going to happen. God clearly knew the complexities of the entire situation and He left nothing to chance or happenstance. He didn't leave Moses and Aaron stranded out on a cliff to fend for themselves. He was step-by-step directing their paths and the Israelites' path to freedom.  

1. "I will lead" my people on their journey to freedom.
2. "I will punish" those who are holding my people captive.
3. "I will bring" my people out of their captivity so they can worship me."
4. "THEN THEY WILL KNOW I AM THE LORD."

The phrase—"Then they will know I am the LORD"— just keeps repeating over and over in my mind.

THEN they will know I am the LORD.
Then THEY will know I am the LORD.
Then they WILL KNOW I am the LORD.
Then they will know I AM the LORD.
Then they will know I am THE LORD.

It's the purpose!! It's the reason for everything. It's ALL about Him. HE is the LORD. It is HIS story. And HE, in HIS great power is the ONE who will save us from the captivity of this lawsuit which will then allow HIS story to be told. Then ALL will know HE is the LORD. That has been our prayer and continues to be our prayer. May it be so, LORD. May it be so.

Do you remember? Are you beginning to understand?

Thank you, LORD, for the journey down memory lane. I remember. I understand. It's ALL about you, LORD. It's All about YOU.    


Next Entry: The Proof Came—AFTER

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

Revelation 16:1–21 (Continued)

August 20, 2013

The seventh angel and bowl—The bowl was poured out into the air, then a loud voice came out from the throne in the temple, saying, "It is finished!" When Jesus was crucified and the Plan for Salvation was completed, Jesus said "It is finished" and the ground shook. Now the time for salvation is over, and this time God said, "It is finished!" and flashes of lightning, noises, thunder, and the worst earthquake ever experienced by man, happened on the earth. The cup of God's anger was forced upon those who refused to surrender to His Lordship. Cities were destroyed, mountains and islands disappeared, and giant hailstones weighing about 100 pounds each fell from the sky upon the people. And still—people cursed God, because this disaster was so terrible. Yet all these horrible disasters combined, pales in comparison with the eternal punishment awaiting those who refuse to change their hearts and lives. 

Revelation is full of so much imagery. Imagery that often times just gets lost, glossed over, or ignored. People are accustomed to watching fictional graphic movies on TV or going to the theaters and seeing 3-D movies of horrific events. When the show is over they either just switch the channel or leave the theater and return to their normal daily routines without thinking anything about it. The imagery of Revelations is often treated the same way. Read it (if it's read at all), put it aside, and then forgot about it. But the events John saw in the Revelation of Jesus are not part of a fictional horror movie. It is Truth. It will happen. And it should cause us to change our hearts and lives.

Don't read it and go back to your normal daily routine. 

Read it—and change your hearts and lives.
Read it—and reach out to the lost and dying.
Read it—and praise the name of the One who is, was, and is to come. 


Next entry: Revelation 17:1–18

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

Revelation 10:1–11

August 06, 2013

Then John saw a powerful angel come down from heaven. He held a small scroll in his hand. He stood with his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. He shouted like a roaring lion and the voices of seven thunders began to speak.

John began to write down what he heard when a voice from heaven interrupted him and said, "Keep hidden what the seven thunders said, and do not write them down." Then the angel raised his right hand to heaven and he made a promise by the power of the One who lives forever and and ever; the One who made the skies and all that is in it; the One who made the earth and all that is in it; and the One who made the seas and all that is in it.

The angel promised: "There will be no more waiting!"

7th Trumpet—When the angel is ready to blow this last and final trumpet—it will be finished. God's secret of His Good News will be realized and Jesus will return for the final battle on earth and then eternal heaven will begin.

We have a choice. We are either:

• Entering through the small gate or the wide gate (Matthew 7:13–14)
• Traveling the narrow road or the wide road (Matthew 7:13–14)
• Building on the rock or sand (Matthew 7:24–27)
• Wise or foolish (Matthew 25:2)
• Prepared or unprepared (Matthew 24:45–51)
• Fruitful or fruitless (Matthew 25:14–27)
• Heaven called or hell bound (Mark 16:15–16)

~ From Just Like Jesus by Max Lucado.

Next Entry: Revelation 11:1–19 

Revelation 4:1 – 6:17 (Continued)

July 30, 2013

Then ALL creatures in heaven and on earth and under the earth joined in saying:

"To the One who sits on the throne
     and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever."

The four living creatures said, "Amen" and the elders bowed down and worshiped.

Are we "getting" this? Have we even begun to understand that life, our temporary time on this earth, is NOT about us and what we want? If our eternal lives in heaven are spent worshiping and praising and giving honor and power and glory to the great I AM and to the LAMB, then why do we think our lives on earth (which are like a mist) are about what we want, when we want it, and how we want it? And then we have the nerve to tell the great I AM what He should do for us?!?

Oh my goodness! Who do we (people) think we are? Certainly not servants of Master Jesus. What has America done with Christianity? What have we done with Christ's message? Where did the idea of prosperity "religion" or this feel-good-God-just-wants-us-to-be-happy "religion" originate? The answer is from selfish desires and from pride. It's from disregarding God's very first commandment and worshiping ourselves instead of God. And out of a selfish heart we present God with a laundry list of our wants. The prayers of the "saints," which should be a sweet smelling aroma to our heavenly Father, are instead a stench in the nostrils of the Most High God.

I want my prayers to be ones of worship, honor, glory, and praise to the only One who is worthy and to the Lamb. I want my prayers to be a sweet smelling aroma in the nostrils of my heavenly Father. 

The Lamb began to open the seals. One of the four beasts told John to "come" and see  So, John looked and recorded what he saw.

1. The first seal was opened. John looked and there before him was a white horse. Its rider had a crown and bow and it went out to conquer "determined to win the victory." Revelations 19 talks about Jesus coming on a while horse and being called Faithful and True. I don't believe this white horse and rider is Jesus. Instead, I believe it to be the Antichrist whose mission is to counterfeit the Christ as part of Satan's plan. He is determined to conquer, but not for the good of man. It is instead for man's destruction.
2. The second seal is opened and a red horse came out  Its rider was given power to take away peace from the earth. Violence runs rampant. Evil abounds.
3. The third seal is opened. A black horse came out. Its rider held a pair of scales. Famine takes over the land. Desperation and starvation are everywhere.
4. The fourth seal is opened. A pale horse emerges and its rider is death, and Hades followed close behind. War, starvation, disease, and death by wild animals kills a fourth of the people of the earth.  
5. The fifth seal is opened. John saw under the altar the souls of the martyred believers who were killed because they were faithful to God and His words and message. Their souls cried out "Holy and true Lord, how long until you judge the people of the earth and punish them for killing us?" Each of them were given a white robe and were told to wait a short time longer because it wasn't quite time yet. There were still more believers who were going to be martyred. When the time is right, THEN judgment will happen.
6. The sixth seal was opened. There was a great earthquake. Total chaos ensued. The sun became black, the moon became like blood. The stars fall to earth from the sky. The sky closed up and disappeared. Every mountain and every island was moved from its foundation. Total chaos. Fear was everywhere and no one was exempt. From the richest to the poorest, from kings and rulers to those who were free or slaves, everyone was terrified. They realized there was indeed a God and that He was showing His wrath. They called on the rocks and mountains to fall on them in a futile attempt to hide from God's wrath. They understood they could not stand up against the holy wrath of the One who sits upon the throne and of the Lamb. What they didn't understand is this: even the rocks, the very thing they were trying to hide under, understood the majesty of God and that He deserves our praise.

The consequences for disobedience kept increasing with each seal that was opened. It reminds me of Leviticus 26 where God talks about the reward for obeying God and the punishments for not obeying God. Each time the people refused to obey, the punishment increased seven fold. Leviticus 26:1 - 27:34; Leviticus 26:1 - 27:34 (Continued); and Leviticus 26:1 - 27:34 (Continued). 

What a contrast between the rewards given for obedience and the punishment set aside for those who have chosen disobedience. What a contrast from praising the Father and the Lamb in Revelation Chapters 4 and 5 and the tribulation described in Chapter 6.

If you are a believer: Stand strong and continue in the faith.

If you are a non-believer or a "religious" unbeliever: Change your hearts and lives while there is still time. Do it today!!

Addendum: 2/7/17 ~ I've been thinking about the number seven. Creation took seven days. In Leviticus the punishments increased seven-fold. In Revelation there were seven seals. I've always known the number seven is significant throughout scripture, but I've never taken the time to study it. Today as I was adding the links to Leviticus, I was reminded once again about the importance of the number seven in the Bible.

I wanted to learn more so I googled the question, "Why is the number seven important in the Bible"? and I found this website: Gotquestions.org

"What is the biblical significance of the number seven "7"?

"The first use of the number seven in the Bible relates to the creation week in Genesis 1. God spends six days creating the heavens and the earth, and then rests on the seventh day. This is our template for the seven-day week, observed around the world to this day. The seventh day was to be “set apart” for Israel; the Sabbath was a holy day of rest (Deuteronomy 5:12).

Thus, right at the start of the Bible, the number seven is identified with something being “finished” or “complete.” From then on, that association continues, as seven is often found in contexts involving completeness or divine perfection. So we see the command for animals to be at least seven days old before being used for sacrifice (Exodus 22:30), the command for leprous Naaman to bathe in the Jordan River seven times to effect complete cleansing (2 Kings 5:10), and the command for Joshua to march around Jericho for seven days (and on the seventh day to make seven circuits) and for seven priests blow seven trumpets outside the city walls (Joshua 6:3–4). In these instances, seven signifies a completion of some kind: a divine mandate is fulfilled."

You can read the rest of the very interesting answer here:  "What is the biblical significance of the number seven "7"?

Several different people have said to us over the years that maybe the lawsuit would end on year seven—but that didn't happen. The year 2014 came and went, and the lawsuit continued on. After reading the explanation of "seven signifies a completion of some kind: a divine mandate is fulfilled" I thought to myself—well of course the lawsuit didn't end on year seven. My sister and brother-in-law deciding to file a lawsuit was a direct violation of God's written word. It most definitely was not part of a divine mandate. It was selfish pursuit of evil plans and a desire to circumvent God's authority by using the world's court system to get what they wanted.

Several weeks ago a new thought came to me. I was writing The Beginning of the End on 1/11/17 when it suddenly occurred to me that it is has been seven years since I knew I was supposed to begin keeping a journal while reading through God's Word again. I began the process of reading and writing on November 16, 2009. When I finished the almost four year journey of reading and writing, I knew I was to transcribe my journals into a format where I could organize and label the contents of my journal. So, the plan to create this (private) blog began. The blog was just for my own personal use. Then along the way, while transcribing my journal entries, the unexpected happened:

LORD – What Am I to Do?
The LORD Answers!
I Didn't Know—BUT GOD DID!!

And for the first time, I realized what I had been working on since November of 2009 and what I thought was just for my own personal use was—THE Book. I knew I was to tell HIS Story, but never did I imagine my journals were the way HE wanted HIS story told.

Now it's early 2017, I am transcribing my journal entries for Revelation from my final journal; I am understanding for the first time that it has taken me seven years to complete the telling of HIS Story; I'm reminded of the importance of the number seven; I look up why the number seven is significant in the Bible; and I read the quote, "In these instances, seven signifies a completion of some kind: a divine mandate is fulfilled."     

Is there any correlation?  There is still editing to complete, but the actual writing and telling of HIS Story, the divine mandate I was given, has taken seven years. HIS Story cannot be released until the lawsuit has permanently ended, so until that time, we will wait. God waited patiently while Noah finished building the boat, and then His judgment began. We will wait patiently for God to reveal His timing. In the meantime, it makes me smile to realize this journey of reading and writing has taken seven years. How cool is that?

Here is what I do know. We are just very ordinary people. I'm 62 years old. I am not college educated. You really can't get more ordinary than we are. But, this isn't our story—it is HIS story—and we serve an extra-ordinary God. I don't know why we were chosen to be the recipients of a Blessed Event. All I know is that God has a plan and I want to be faithful.

There is so much that has happened that had absolutely nothing to do with us. So much. It's humbling to realize the path we have been on has been ordained by the great I AM. It turns out it wasn't my idea to:

• Hike the Appalachian Trail
• Begin going to visit the residents of a nursing home on Christmas mornings
• Go to the nursing home on that fateful day in January 2007
• Start a journal
• Begin to pray and prepare for a New Beginning
• Purge our home of all the lawsuit stuff while it was still ongoing
• Begin Walking On His Footpath (Following the Master's Lead)
• Open up my private journals for the world to see

And the list could go on and on. These weren't just random events. I'm convinced they were/are all "divine mandates" that had nothing to do with us—and after seven years—they are almost all completed. Is there more that needs to happen?

So, when or how is the lawsuit going to end? When can HIS Story become public? I have no idea. Nothing about this journey we have been on has been "ordinary." God has done so many amazing things along this path that it's hard to believe the lawsuit would end in some sort of ho-hum way. So, we wait, and we trust.  

Just like Mt. Kathadin is the goal for those planning on hiking the entire Appalachian Trail, Heaven is the goal for a believer who is following HIS path. There are valleys to cross, mountains to climb, and obstacles to overcome, but there is no safer place to be than on HIS path. We will wait to see what God has planned for our next steps. We will take a step, the next step, and the next step. The journey WILL unfold before us. 

 Walking on His Footpath (Following the Master's Lead).  

Addendum #2: 2/15/19 ~ Two more years have passed—and the lawsuit continues. I just realized (this past week while reading through my entries) that another seven is coming up.  It was in July of 2012 (while hiking the Appalachian Trail), that God brought it to our minds to begin praying about a New Beginning. Without our knowing it at the time, the New Beginning represented a turning point in our lives. You can read about The New Beginning: The Path Unfolds here.

Addendum #3: 6/26/19 ~ And then there was: A New Path—A New Journey


Next Entry: Revelation 7:1–17

The Beginning of the End

January 11, 2017

All my reviews and edits from Genesis to Jude are done and I am ready to begin recording my last entries from my last journal and the last book of the Bible.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

I once again am filled with excitement, anticipation, and a little hesitancy. Seven years. It has been seven years since I first began keeping a personal journal of my thoughts while reading through the Bible and then began recording those handwritten journal entries into this format. I'm almost finished.

It's the beginning of the end.

I have so many questions. When I began keeping a private journal on November 16, 2009, I had no idea where this journey was going to take me. I was only doing what I KNEW I was supposed to be doing. Almost four years (2013) and thirteen full size journal notebooks later, as I was finishing up Revelation and wondering what to do next, I suddenly KNEW I was supposed to take my private journals and enter them into a format where I could organize them and create labels for different topics.

NEVER could I have imagined what happened a year later in 2014. Read about it here.

LORD – What Am I to Do?
The LORD Answers!
I Didn't Know—BUT GOD DID!!

Once I began to understand what God was asking me to do, it literally shook me to the core. What? This is "The Book"? Really? But God, the lawsuit! How could it ever be public? Are you sure, God? I know we are supposed to tell the story of Jane and Your faithfulness, but I always pictured a short story in something like Guideposts. My journal is the plan?  What I KNEW I was supposed to start, and what I KNEW I was supposed to put into this format wasn't just something I was doing? It was part of YOUR bigger plan all along?

I was shaken, but then I surrendered all, even though I knew logistically it would be impossible for my journals (and this blog) to become public while the lawsuit is still ongoing.

My private journals* contain conversations between us and our lawyer; reveals mediation and settlement details; reveals much we would use as our defense; reveals things we know and could use against the plaintiffs (my sister and brother-in-law); reveals the ugly details of their deceit, trickery and accusations; reveals my personal opinions about their lives and actions; and my journals also reveal that we would in no way ever go after them for anything—all information which cannot become public knowledge while someone is trying to ruin you. The only way it would ever be acceptable for this journal/blog to go public is if the lawsuit is finalized and over—permanently.

But how or when will the lawsuit end? It's been going on for almost ten years now. Why would it suddenly be over now? Is there going to be a trial? Nothing is on the docket. Even if the judge would decide to set a trial date, it probably couldn't be scheduled until sometime in late 2017 or 2018 at the earliest. It's been ten years already. Why would the judge reverse course and suddenly schedule a trial after what our lawyer calls a "pocket veto" for the last ten years?

We have said from early 2008 on that we somehow believe this lawsuit will never go to trial. We have nothing to back up that statement—except faith. It is just something we KNOW. It seems kind of crazy to believe it won't go to trial. Mediation failed. Settlement failed. A trial is the next step and the only thing left in the legal process. So, why wouldn't it proceed to trial? We don't know, but we are sure. We only know what we believe, and it is by faith that we say we don't believe the world's court is going to be what determines our fate. 

At the Settlement Conference, the judge made it clear that our American laws grant each of us the "right" to sue. My sister and brother-in-law have a legal "right" to sue whether their claims are based on merit or based on greed and vengeance. The judge also pointed out that if you don't like the outcome of the trial it doesn't mean it is over because lawyers will always be glad to take your money and an appeal can be filed. So, it is their "right" as Americans and they can always appeal if they aren't satisfied with the results. 

Even knowing they have the right, and even knowing it is the next legal step in the process, we still don't believe this is going to trial! I know God's ways are not our ways, but what would be the point (now ten years later) of a trial? If there is going to be a trial now, why wasn't there a trial years ago? If the judge thinks if he gives my sister enough time she will eventually stop this personal vendetta, then he doesn't know my sister. She will stop at NOTHING. No earthly thing will ever convince her to stop, and nothing will convince her that what they did (and are doing) is wrong. NOTHING. It truly will take an act of God.

I can't imagine what a trial would be like ten plus years after the facts. During my sister's and brother-in-law's depositions in early 2009 they were confused much of the time. After breaks they would come back in and "clarify" something they said earlier while under oath. When your testimony is based on truth the facts aren't hard to remember. But imagine what it would be like for them now that it is eight or nine years later. I believe there are many ways that our lawyer could show their contradictions and catch them in their lies. But we don't believe it is going to be "man" that protects us.

GOD is the One who is our protector. HE is the One who will deliver us. This battle belongs to the LORD. The glory and honor for what HE is going to do belongs to HIM and HIM only. 

So, the only way I can humanly see the lawsuit ending (and therefore allowing this blog to be made public) is either by trial (and then appeals which would take many years), or by my sister and brother-in-law deciding to drop the lawsuit with prejudice, meaning it could not be brought up again. Either way looks completely impossible. It was only a year ago at the Settlement Conference that the judge could not get them to look at anything realistically. Why would there be any change now when there hasn't been a change for ten years?

Our prayer, desire, and hope, has always been for my sister and brother-in-law to change their hearts and lives. How often have we said that they will either be like the Saul of the Old Testament, who in his anger, revenge, and twisted thinking never understood and/or accepted Truth and went to his grave disillusioned, self-sufficient, and determined to "get" David—OR—they will become like the Saul of the New Testament who was stopped in his tracks, changed his heart and life, and became a servant of Christ. We continue to pray they will understand they are nothing without God and will desire nothing but God. We continue to pray they will be like the Saul of the New Testament.

That is our prayer.

Will they change? Barring a miracle there is little hope, BUT, while there is breath there is hope. So, we will continue to hope and pray, understanding it is a choice only they can make. We cannot make it for them. We would if we could, but we can't. It has to be their own personal choice. 

LORD, I pray again what I said in my journal a few days ago. Get in their face. Rattle their cages. LORD, if it takes bringing them to their knees and blinding them like you did Saul in the New Testament, then bring them to their knees and blind them. LORD, they are already blinded to Truth. LORD, I pray you blind their eyes to the false truth they have been believing so they can open their eyes and like Saul, be able to see Light and Truth for the first time. And like Paul, may they choose to get a new way of thinking. We boldly come before your throne and ask you, in the name of Jesus, to give them one more opportunity to change their hearts and lives. Thank you, LORD, for these ten years of Grace you have so lovingly given them. LORD, please give them one more chance. Whatever it takes, LORD. Whatever it takes. We surrender them to you.

We've come to understand we are NOT victims of a lawsuit. We are the recipients of a Blessed Event. The path we are on isn't a path we've created. It is a God-ordained path and we have chosen to follow the Master's lead on HIS footpath—no matter where it leads. To even begin to realize the awesomeness of our Heavenly Father in even the most minute of ways, has been very convicting and humbling. Following HIS footpath has taught us so much about faith and trust. We trust HIM—period. Our faith is in HIM—period. No matter what the circumstance, there is no safer place to be than following the Master on HIS path. You truly can let go of the need to be in charge and let God lead.   

It's been quite the journey. My crazy idea to begin hiking the Appalachian Trail? It turns out it wasn't my random idea. The idea to start going to a nursing home on Christmas mornings which put everything in place for HIS divinely arranged appointment with Jane? Not my random idea. The idea to start a journal while reading through the Bible? Not my random idea either. Now we understand it wasn't my idea to enter my journal into Blogger. It wasn't my idea to come up with the notion of praying about a NEW BEGINNING. It wasn't my idea to purge the house of all lawsuit files almost five years ago. It most certainly wasn't my idea to make our personal journey public. Unbeknownst to me, God was scripting a plan.

This isn't my story—this is HIS Story.

We absolutely believe without a shadow of a doubt that it is God's will for my private journal and this subsequent blog to be made public. But how can it happen? When? I'm almost finished recording my personal journal entries. The separate blog created to chronicle the story of Jane (Walking By Faith: A True Story of God's Faithfulness) is close to being done. Everything I've been led to do is almost finished. I know of nothing else I am supposed to finish. But, the lawsuit is still ongoing. What else needs to happen before God decides it is time for the lawsuit to end and the public release of the blogs to begin?

It's the beginning of the end.

Why did God show us (in 2013) how He waited patiently until Noah finished the boat before He brought judgment and the New Beginning began? Does the New Beginning after the flood correlate with the New Beginning we were led to pray about in 2012? Does I Peter 3:20 - "God waited patiently while Noah finished the boat" have anything to do with our situation? Is God waiting for something to finish? Is He waiting until my journal/blog and Jane's blog is completely finished? Is He waiting for us to start, stop, or finish something? Is there something else I am to do? 

Seven years. It has been seven years since my journey through the Bible began, and I have loved every minute of it. There has not been even one single day that I felt like I wanted to quit. Not one. There were times I was surprised how long it would take me to do something, but never a time of being bored, tired, or wanting to stop. I learned along the way that God's timing—is God's timing. We are just following Him. And I am okay with that.

It's the beginning of the end.  

I've been thinking a lot lately about this part of the journey being "over." There is hesitancy because I have loved every minute of it, but there is also excitement. What does God have planned? How would anyone even find this blog of our journey and my walk through His Word? How will God use His Story? It been seven years in preparation, what are the next steps? I can't imagine, and that is a good thing because it isn't mine to imagine. 

I have a lot of questions. But you know what? None of them matter. I don't need to know the answers because I trust the One who does know, and that is enough. We don't know how or when this journey will end. We only know that we are Walking On His Footpath (Following the Master's Lead). We only know that God is faithful and we want to be found faithful.

For the last several nights I have been praying specifically for God to use us however He wishes. A few nights ago, I was praising God and praying during one of my wakeful moments. I was praying about this blog and whoever may someday find it. It's taken me seven years to complete. In my mind I literally took these last seven years and my writings and presented them to God as a gift of my love. I once again surrendered to HIS Lordship ALL I know to surrender. I've given my journals and this blog to Him and I've asked Him to accept my gift of love and to use it in whatever way He desires.

During these last several nights as I have been praying and thanking God for his love, there was a melody running through my mind with a few snippets of words. I couldn't quite remember what song it was or the words. Then it finally came to me. I heard this song for the first time when a friend of mine from Texas posted the video from First Baptist Church to Facebook after the horrific shooting of the police officers in Dallas. 

Listen to it here if you have Facebook: Take Me to the King!  If you don't have Facebook you can listen to Tamela Mann sing it on YouTube here: Tamela Mann: Take Me to the King  
 

Take me to the King. That's my plea. Nothing else matters, LORD. Thank you, Jesus, for providing the way. It's all about you, Jesus. It's all about you. 

It's the beginning of the end.

I'm ready to begin recording my journal entries for the last book: The Revelation of Jesus. Show me once again LORD what it is you want to teach me. I'm ready. I'm listening. Let's go.

Addendum: 7/30/18 ~ While it took me seven years to read, write, and then transcribe my journal entries into this blog, it has taken me several more years to work on edits.  After taking a several month break from working on it, a friend of mine began to read the blog. In going back to read some of the entries, I realized the initials I used to protect people's identity were very distracting. So, I once again started over from the beginning, this time to edit out all initials and insert descriptive names instead. And now here I am, once again ready to start Revelations. Once I complete that, I plan on reading through it one more time to check links and to make sure I didn't miss any name corrections. It's close—it's very, very close.

It's the beginning of the end.

*****

*2020 Update: For privacy reasons, I decided to remove from Blogger the portions of my handwritten journals which included private details about my sister and brother-in-law's lives, their behaviors and actions, and the lawsuit they filed. The ugly details are not what is important. HIS Story is not about them—HIS Story is about our journey while following HIS footpath and how the amazing Hand of God protected us from them.  


Next Entry: Revelation 1:1–20

I John 4:1 – 5:21

July 20, 2013

John continues to drive home the point: God is love and if we have God living in our lives, God's love will be reflected in us and through us. Love comes from God. He sent His son to die so that we may have life. Real love is not our love for Him, it is His love for us. Psalm 8:4 - "What is man that you are mindful of him?" Because God is love we can trust Him. When we confess Him as Lord (Master) we live in His love, and He lives in us. I John 4:17-18a - "This is how love is made perfect in us: that we can be without fear on the day God judges us, because in this world we are like him. Where God's love is, there is no fear, because God's perfect love drives out fear."

Our lives (actions) reflect the truth of who we are. If we have God's love in us, that is what we reflect. If we are instead fueled by our own desires (own = evil) we may try to mask it, but it IS what we reflect and it will be revealed. After John talks about there being no fear if you are living in God and in His love, He makes a statement I never noticed before. I John 4:18b - "It is punishment (KJV says torment) that makes a person fear." And why is it punishment? Because when someone refuses to surrender to God they do not have God's perfect love that drives out fear. The refusal to surrender becomes a punishment as fear runs rampant in their lives.  

God's perfect love is available to us. When we refuse to submit to it we are punished by living in fear. You would think people would "get it" and choose to live in God's love. But selfish pride (the very core of sin) gets in the way. They would rather live a miserable existence and think they are in control (and be punished for it) than to unconditionally trust God.

I used to think fear is what kept some people from trusting God, but my thinking was all wrong. My "aha" moment came when I finally understood what John was saying. Fear is not the cause that prevents someone from surrendering their life to the Lordship of Christ; it is the result of refusing to surrender your life. It is punishment received for choices made. How sad. What a waste of precious time, energy, and effort, and what a shame to live in fear when God has provided us His perfect love.  

John goes on. I John 4:19 - "We love because God first loved us." You can't say you love God and hate your brothers or sisters. The two actions cannot mix, and John says that person is a liar. I John 5:3a - "Loving God means obeying his commands." His commands are not hard to follow IF you are surrendered to Him, but they are impossible to follow if you are controlled by your own selfish desires.

As a child of God you can conquer the world. It has nothing to do with who you are. It has everything to do with whose you are. The ability to conquer the world comes from having faith in the One who created the world, sent His Son to save the world, and will return again to rule the world. God's Spirit, who is in us, is greater than the spirit of this world.

II Kings 6:16 - "The army that fights for us is larger than the one against us." I John 4:4 - "My dear children, you belong to God and have defeated them; because God spirit, who is in you, is greater than the devil, who is in the world."

It is God who gets the victory and God who gets ALL glory.


Next Entry: I John 4:1 – 5:21 (Continued)

I John 2:1–29 (Continued)

July 16, 2013

I don't know where the line is. How much leeway is there between saved and lost? How narrow is the narrow road? 

After carefully reading, studying, and writing about God's Word for these past 44 months, it seems as if the road is even more narrow than I thought. What I know is this: I want to be as close to the center of that road as I can get. I do not want to flirt with the ditches and become accustomed to the edges.

John describes the enemies of Christ. These were people who used to be part of the group of "believers" but they left the group which showed that they weren't "believers" at all. What they said they believed and the truth about their lives, were polar opposites. I John 2:21b–22 - "No lie comes from truth." He goes on. "Who is the liar? It is the person who does not accept Jesus as the Christ. This is the enemy of Christ: the person who does not accept the Father and his Son."

This is the point where people start going through a check list to convince themselves that they are OK.

1)  Have no other gods
          ✔  I don't do that
2)  Don't take the Lord's name in vain
          ✔  I don't do that
3)  Don't grieve the Holy Spirit
          ✔  I don't do that
4)  Accept Jesus as the Christ
          ✔  Yup—I've done that

WAIT A MINUTE!! WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE?!?

We say we have no other gods, but is anything in my life more important than Him? Self? Work? Family? Christian "service"? Anything? We say we don't take the Lord's name in vain, well maybe you aren't swearing, but what about the times you should have told someone about Christ and you didn't? What about that? You say you don't grieve the Holy Spirit by cursing His name, but any time you choose to not follow God's commands and instead do things your way, you are indeed grieving the Holy Spirit. You say you accept Jesus as the Christ—really? Is He Master of all areas of your life or are you using Him for (what you think will be) your get-out-of-hell free card?

Much of modern Christianity has made Jesus into this feel-good, lukewarm, I-just-want-you-to-be-happy guy. Where do you hear Him being talked about as Master and how often do we hear messages about being a "servant" of Christ? We don't want to hear that! We want to be our own master. Jesus is our back-up plan. We are capable. We will be in charge—thank you very much.

The problem with that way of thinking is that it is heresy. It is not God's teachings. We sure have messed things up. We strive to teach our children from little up to be self-confident, independent, and critical thinkers. Where is that scriptural? Scripture says our confidence comes from Him, it is in whose we are not who we are. Our dependence should be on Him, that is where freedom comes from. Our thoughts should be like His thoughts.

Where on earth did this Americanized view of Christianity come from? Certainly not the Word of God. World view says make it to the top—Christ says serve. To confess Jesus as Lord does not mean mere lip service. He must be LORD!

God has given us everything we need. Jesus clarifies everything in the Old Testament. His teachings show us how to live. His Holy Spirit is in us. I John 2:27 - "Christ gave you a special gift that is still in you so you do not need any other teacher. His gift teaches you about everything, and it is true, not false." He is Truth and His Spirit guides us. I John 2:29 - "If you know that Christ is all that is right, you know that all who do right are God's children."

I've still been thinking about II Peter 2 and the concept of servants—verses—slaves. Jesus is to be our Master Jesus. If He is Master we are servants. If we aren't HIS servant, we are a slave to whatever controls us, our own lusts, selfish desires, and ultimately—Satan. Hmm. Servant to Christ—OR—slave to Satan. We are one or the other. We are not our own boss. We are either surrendered to the Lordship of Christ and we are HIS servant, or in our futile effort to remain in control, we have relinquished ourselves to Satan and we become his slave.

Master Jesus—kind, loving, compassionate, Father, gentle, patient, etc. As His servant we are the beneficiary to all those things and we in return live our lives in service to Him. We bend our knee and allow Him to guide us and direct us, and our hearts desire is to follow His commands and to bring honor and glory to Him.

Satan on the other hand is a cruel dictator that seeks to kill, steal, and destroy. Like a roaring lion he devours. And while you think you are independent and master of your own domain, you are not. Instead you are a slave to a cruel dictator whose only mission is to destroy your soul.

Servant to a Loving God

OR

Slave to a cruel dictator

It truly is one or the other. I choose to surrender and bow my knee in submission to Master Jesus, to live my life in service to Him, to listen and accept His instructions, and to do everything I can to bring honor and glory to His name. When my life on this earth is over, I want to hear the words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." (Matthew 25:21–23)  

Being a servant to Christ brings freedom. Selfish desires only brings bondage. 


Next Entry: I John 3:1–24

I Peter 5:1–14

July 09, 2013

Continue to do what is right—no matter what. Don't give up. Stand firm and continue to do what is right. Be humble and serve others. "God is against the proud, but he gives grace to the humble." (I Peter 5:5 and Proverbs 3:34)

Your humility should not come from a "I'm no good" attitude. That isn't humility. Humility is understanding the awesomeness of God and the

God

↓

man

relationship. It's ALL about Him. I Peter 5:6 -"Be humble under God's powerful hand so he will lift you up when the right time comes." He will do the rescuing. It isn't us who have to pull ourselves up to save ourselves. The key is to let Him (surrender) and wait for Him. Only He knows the "right time." In the meantime,  I Peter 5:7 - "Give all your worries to him, because he cares about you."

Don't hold on to worries or fears because that is a reflection of you trying to assume control. Let go and trust Him. Control yourself—NOT the situation. Be careful to keep yourself grounded in God's Word. The devil prowls around looking for someone to devour. He is "like a roaring lion." There are times your head is in the mouth of the lion because you are doing the right thing. It is not your power that saves you, it is God's power that prevents the mouth of the lion from shutting and harming you. Our responsibility is to stand strong and refuse to give in to him (the evil one) or the fear he wants to create.

I Peter 5:10 - "After you suffer for a short time, God, who gives all grace, will make everything right. He will make you strong and support you and keep you from falling. He called you to share in his glory in Christ, a glory that will continue forever. All power is his forever and ever. Amen."

So stand strong. He is in control. Pass it on. Share who HE is and what HE has done. Mentor others. I Peter 5:2 - "I beg you to shepherd God's flock, for whom you are responsible. Watch over them because you want to not because you are forced." Do it because it is the right thing. Be happy to serve. Don't do it because it is a way to make a monetary gain or to bring notoriety to yourself. Don't do it to be in charge. As a servant of Christ—serve. As a recipient of Grace—give grace. "This is how God wants it." (I Peter 5:2) In everything you do, please God—not self.

"When the temptation of pride comes knocking... as it will... we must lock the door against it—whatever that takes... The best protection I have discovered is accountability. Since we all have blind spots, we must, as we mentioned earlier, submit ourselves to those who can see the logs floating in our eyes." ~ From The Body by Charles Colson

Next Entry: II Peter 1:1–21

James 5:1–20

June 27, 2013

James issues a warning to rich people who are self-sufficient and think they are in charge because of their wealth. He said:

• Listen!
• Trouble is coming your way
• Your riches have rotted
• Your clothes have been eaten by moths
• Your gold and silver have rusted
• You will be proved wrong
• The worry and anxiety will eat your body
• You saved your treasure but you found out it was only temporary and could not save you
• The wrongs you did against others cries out against you
• God has heard the cries of those you walked over in your selfishness
• You spent your time on earth thinking only about yourself, pleasing yourself, and doing what you wanted
• You lived the "rich" lifestyle
• You made yourself fat by indulging yourself
• You made yourself judge and jury
• You have harmed innocent people who were not against you
• You've hoarded, exploited, and self-indulged

And it is all for nothing. Instead of waiting on the Lord you have relied on yourself and wealth. You are your own god. You didn't understand that wealth and self-sufficiency is not the answer. It is here today and gone tomorrow. It is temporary only. If your health fails, it cannot save you. And when you die you can't take it with you. So, why? Why spend so much time and energy on something that is temporary and doesn't matter? Eternal things are the only things that matters. We should be focused on kingdom building not material wealth.

How tragic the day when the rich find out it was all for naught. Oh, what time was wasted.

Only One Life  by C.T. Studd

Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life's busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in 'that day' my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgment seat;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God's holy will to cleave;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its days I must fulfill,
Living for self or in His will;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore,
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e'er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing thee pleasure on They throne;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say, "Thy will be done";
And when at last I'll hear the call,
I know I'll say "twas worth it all";
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
And when I'm dying, how happy I'll be, 
If the lamp of my life has been burned for Thee."

Wow! So well said. I want that to be my life's testimony. Even if we live to be a hundred years old, our life is still brief. Like James said, "Your life is like a mist." Jane E Wolfe's physical body is dead and gone, but look at what she has left behind. What is not dead and gone is her love and faithfulness to Christ and the mercy and encouragement she gave to others because of that life. "Only one life, 'twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last."

Addendum: 12/5/16 ~ For the last several weeks I have been contemplating "life." How interesting to come across this writing from 2013 about this very subject. On 11/21/16 I sent a friend of mine the following text:

"Want to know what I have been contemplating? I have (probably at the most) twenty years left where I can make an impact. What is it I want to accomplish? I may only have one day. I don't want to waste any time."

I received a quick phone call to see what was going on. I assured her all was well, we talked, and she said she also has been contemplating the same thing lately.

I am 62 years old. Two-thirds or three-fourths of my life is over and I have no idea how much time I have left. The breakdown in the relationship with my sister and brother-in-law and their subsequent filing of a lawsuit against us has been going on for almost ten years now. Ten years!! What a colossal waste of time, energy, and money they have spent on earthly and temporary things in their attempt to "get" us. The last ten years have flown by. With (at the best) only twenty years or so left I want to make sure I don't waste any of the time I have remaining by being busy but not accomplishing anything of true importance. When my time on this earth is up I don't want to have any regrets about "I wish I would have ______."

So what is important? Material "things" are not important. Personal "I" accomplishments are not important. The only thing important is people and eternity. We take nothing of what the world deems important with us.

My husband and I were just talking about this the other day. Usually when you hear that statement you think of material things. But it's so much more than that. You also don't take your personal "I did this" accomplishments, your degrees, your goals, your pastimes, your work, the prestige you've worked to obtain, the honors you've accumulated—nothing.

My father-in-law is 90. He has congestive heart failure and for the last year and half has resided in a nursing home. The effects of Congestive Heart Failure and age have taken a toll and he now has memory loss. Watching the changes in his mind this past year and seeing all the other people in the nursing home is probably what triggered my "contemplating." We have literally watched my father-in-law lose all the "things" the world would deem important. Not only is he not taking any material "things" or accomplishments with him when he dies, he is already living without them.

All the personal "I" accomplishments are gone and forgotten. All that time spent worrying about whether he would "have enough" doesn't even process in his mind anymore. It has been sobering to watch. The knowledge of owning a business, the awards he won, the vacations he took, the pride of his personal accomplishments, many of his family memories—ALL gone while he is still physically alive. We have a living example of what it means to leave this earth with literally nothing sitting right in front of us. 

And that makes me contemplate.

The emphasis our culture places on what is important is all messed up. Watching someone lose everything they once felt important is very sobering. You can only come to one conclusion: The ONLY thing that is important and the only thing that lasts is the Kingdom impact you've made while building relationships with others as a servant of Christ.

That's it. That's the only thing that matters. I want to make sure that in the busyness of life I keep what is important—important. I want to hear "well done" and I want to know I've lived my life (for however many days I have left), in a way that brings both salvation, joy, and happiness to others here on earth and for eternity.

Update: 12/6/16 ~ My father-in-law passed away this afternoon. While his health had been declining in the last months, his condition had seemed to plateau and we fully expected him to live at least several more months. However, this morning that all changed. The nursing home called to let us know what was happening and that his body was shutting down. My husband and I had the opportunity to spend the afternoon with him, reading the Bible to him, praying, and saying our earthly goodbyes. We left to do our evening chores and were going to return a short time later but he passed away an hour after we left.

C.T. Studd was right. Watch "Only One Life" video here.

Addendum #2: 1/19/2017 ~ I just came across my notes from the 2014 Global Summit Leadership Conference. Obviously I have been contemplating life for quite some time now. In my notes I have written:

Legacy Leadership has to be intentional! What will be my legacy? What will I leave?

And then I wrote,

"Oh, LORD—Thank YOU for having me write the journal."

I am grateful for my journals. I wrote that statement in the summer of 2014, before I knew what God's plans were going to be for my journals. I never could have imagined. I thought it was a legacy I was leaving for my family only. I had NO idea my journals would someday become public.

My prayer is that our story—which is HIS story—will be used to bless others and help others to choose to get on HIS path no matter where it leads. Thank you, LORD.

"What you are is God's gift to you. What you do with your life is your gift to God." ~ A plaque given to Carly Fiorina by her mother. 2014 Global Summit Leadership  Conference

Next Entry: James 5:1–20 (Continued)  

James 1:1–27 (Continued)

June 19, 2013

There is nothing wrong with wealth itself, but our culture has it ALL wrong. The world tells us we should desire wealth and that wealth will brings us independence and happiness, freedom, power, prestige, status, etc. All things that sound good. But! with wealth also comes a hidden (or not-so-hidden) danger.  

The biggest danger that comes from wealth? Independence. When you are self-sufficient it is hard to be God-reliant. The temptation is to believe in and rely on yourself and therefore not rely on God. James 1:9–10 - "Believers who are poor should be proud, because God has made them spiritually rich. Those who are rich should be proud because God has shown them that they are spiritually poor." 

Money, power, and control are temporary earthly pleasures. Heaven and hell are eternal realities.  James describes someone who relies on and lives their lives seeking wealth as a wildflower in the grass. The sun comes out with its scorching heat and it dries up the flower and its blossoms fall off, the plant withers, and the beauty is gone. The "rich" are busy doing business and trying to accumulate more wealth. They are busy being "in charge" and they don't even recognize that they are being scorched by the Son and that they are in danger of losing it all. They dig their heels in and try all the more thinking, "I will be in charge," but it is to no avail and they wither up and disappear.

God is in charge. He is Lord. We are to understand His sovereignty; submit ourselves to His authority; and place our dependence totally upon Him. Rare is the person who can have abundant wealth and still remain reliant on God. 


Next Entry: James 1:1–27 (Continued)

Hebrews 4:1 – 5:10

June 03, 2013

"By grace of God, I've come to place where I can't work up a worry (rest)." "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God." ~ Written in Jane's KJV Bible.

Rest. God has offered to us a place of rest. There is of course heaven, a place of eternal rest. But in addition to eternal rest, we have also been offered a "place of rest" on this earth.

"Now, since God has left us the promise that we may enter his rest, let us be very careful so none of you fail to enter. The Good News was preached to us just as it was to them. But the teaching they heard did not help them, because they heard it but did not accept it with faith." Hebrews 4:1–3 

It wasn't the teaching that failed, the failure came from the choices they made. They "heard" the teaching but they refused to accept it with faith. They chose disobedience. The old hymn has it right when it says: "Trust and obey for there is no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."

Hebrews 4:5 - "We who have believed are able to enter and have God's rest." Our choices determine our life results.

Obedience → Happy in Jesus → Rest

God rested on the seventh day, His perfect work of creation was complete. God made available to us His perfect work of redemption, and as believers, we can rest in that. God provided the Israelites a way of redemption from the Egyptians. They could have rested in His deliverance and protection, but instead, they chose not to trust and they chose not to obey, and as a result of their choices they lived 40 years wandering around in the desert and they never received His "rest." Those who did not obey and did not trust were not allowed into the Promised Land. Not only did they not get the future reward, they missed out on peace and "rest" in the present, their time on this earth.

The writer of Hebrew again says—TODAY. Hebrews 4:7 - "Today listen to what he says. Do not be stubborn." Stubbornness—the root of the problem. That is what keeps most people from surrendering to God and obeying Him. It's not ignorance—it's stubbornness. It's a refusal to let go of whatever you need to let go of (pride, selfishness, the need to be in charge, etc.) and let God be—God. Hebrews 4:10–11 - "Anyone who enters God's rest will rest from his work as God did. Let us try as hard as we can to enter God's rest so that no one will fail by following the example of those who refused to obey."

The phrase "try as hard as you can" does not mean we are working to earn our salvation. To enter God's rest is to finally "get-it"; to fully understand the

God

↓

man

relationship; and to daily live the "God is God, I am not" concept. If you don't daily commit to surrendering your will to the authority and Lordship of God, you will find the sin of self-sufficiency slowly creeping back into your life.

We can attest to what it means to find God's rest while on earth. Oh, what a change there has been in our thinking. Before we learned to surrender all I used to occasionally have "what if" fears about my husband's business. What if the economy goes bad? What if there isn't enough work? What if? What if? Our entire livelihood and our son's entire livelihood depends on this business. What if? What if? Then "the storm" happens, the economy goes bad, and all my prior "what if" fears which at times clouded my thoughts—happened. BUT! It did not bring fear.

What would have earlier created worry, fear, and angst in our lives, now has no power or control in our lives. We are living in God's rest and it is only because of one reason: we have committed to surrendering ALL to God. Oh, what peace (and rest) that gives. When the economy went bad, we didn't frantically go out searching for work—God brought the work to us. When the lawsuit threatened the very existence of my husband's business and took hundreds of thousands to defend our innocence—God doubled our gross revenues. God is in control and we can REST in that. 

We need to "work hard" at surrendering. God does ALL the rest. TODAY don't be stubborn! Listen to what He says! Hebrews 4:12 - "God's word is alive and working and is sharper that a double-edged sword." It convicts, it prunes, it does whatever is necessary to make us as believers more like Him. For the believer, it brings freedom and rest. For the non-believer, it condemns. "It judges the thoughts and feeling in our hearts. Nothing in all the world can be hidden from God. Everything is clear and lies open before him, and to him we must explain the way we have lived." (Hebrews 4:12b–13)

I've often wondered if people would change their hearts and lives if they understood that someday they will stand before Christ and have to explain the choices they've made and the way they lived their lives? Would it matter? Would they care? As believers we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and have to explain our choices and how we lived, and we will be rewarded accordingly. A non-believer will stand before Christ at the Great White Throne judgment, and they will be held accountable—eternally—for their stubborn refusal to surrender to Him.

Hebrews 5 - Jesus is our high priest, an intercessor between us and God. Because of Jesus we can "come before God's throne where there is grace. There we can receive mercy and grace to help us when we need it." When Jesus was on this earth He prayed to God and "his prayer was heard because he trusted God."

Even though He was the Son of God, He learned obedience by what He suffered. The same can be said about us.We learned obedience because of our suffering, and for that we are grateful. Obedience and full surrender is often learned best during times of suffering.

Addendum: 11/29/16 ~ So many people try to avoid times of suffering by trying to "pray away" their problems instead of surrendering and learning from them. Charles Swindoll in Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life says it perfectly.

"Life is difficult... really very little more than an endless series of problems. Do we want to moan and groan about them or face them? Do we want to teach the next generation the disciplines involved in accepting and solving them or encourage them to run and hide? ... The tragedy, of course, is that the substitute itself ultimately becomes more painful than the "legitimate suffering" it was trying to avoid. And, adding insult to injury, the avoidance of legitimate suffering means we also avoid the growth that problems demand of us. Our determination to push pain away instead of meeting it head on creates a vicious circle. Could this explain why God's wisest saints are often people who endure pain rather than escape it? Like their Savior, they are men and women "acquainted with grief." I recall that Jesus "learned obedience from the things which he suffered (Hebrews 5:8) not in spite of those things. Do you have a problem? You're smiling back at me. "A problem? Would you believe several dozen problems?" If you listen to the voices around you, you'll search for a substitute—an escape route. You'll miss the fact that each one of those problems is a God-appointed instructor ready to stretch you and challenge you and deepen your walk with Him. Growth and wisdom await you at the solution of each one, the pain and mess notwithstanding."         

Well said.  


Next Entry: Hebrews 5:11 – 7:28

I Timothy 3:1–16

May 20, 2013

"Leaders must know God's Word and have a mature Christian lifestyle. Every Christian ought to pursue these characteristics. Leaders must already have them."  ~ From the Life Lesson in my NCV Bible.

In this chapter Paul lists the attributes of a leader. Leaders must:

• Not give people a reason to criticize them
• Have only one wife (spouse)
• Be self-controlled
• Be wise
• Be respected by others
• Ready to welcome guests
• Able to teach
• Not drink too much
• Not like to fight
• Be gentle
• Be peaceable
• Not seeking wealth
• Be a good family leader
• Have children who respect God
• Not be a new believer
• Have respect from people inside and outside the church
• Be sincere
• Be above approach
• Not be quarrelsome
• Not try to get rich by cheating others (dishonest gain)
• Keep and hold the truths of God
• Be tested
• Be bold in their faith 

"If the church can only be the church when it exists for others, then the Christian can only be truly Christian when he or she is willing to be emptied out for others. There are no harder words in all of Scripture than Jesus' commandment that we love one another as He loved us – which means love that lays down its life for another." ~ From The Body by Charles Colson.

Next Entry: I Timothy 4:1 – 6:21

The New Beginning: Wait For His Justice

May 03, 2013

I am just totally amazed and stand in awe of God.

Last night an "in your face" moment happened. Nothing hugely upsetting, just something "in your face" that made us feel like life just wasn't quite fair. Sometime during the night I awakened and was thinking about how some things in life just don't seem fair, and immediately a response in the form of a question and a directive came to my mind and was pressed upon my spirit.

"Are you going to listen to truth or believe the lie? Read the chapter in Psalms. And read Habakkuk too."

My immediate response was—Okay, LORD—and I peacefully went back to sleep. I couldn't have told you the number of the chapter in Psalms, but I KNEW what chapter it was. I knew the chapter was on the left hand side of the page in my Bible. I knew where the chapter started on the page. I knew I had written a note beside it. 

When I got up this morning, I picked up my Bible, sat down, turned on the light, and started by reading Habakkuk. I then turned to the Psalms and started leafing through the pages. There it was on the page, exactly as I pictured it. Psalm 73.

In Habakkuk, the prophet is complaining about how life was unfair. God replies—I know what is going on, I will rise up, justice will be done. Habakkuk complains again. He complains that he even feels used by God. God replies—I am God, I can do what I want. Habakkuk says—Okay, God, I get it. You are in control, I am not. I trust you and I will wait for your justice. Even if everything goes wrong and there are no figs on the tree, no olives in the field, no grapes on the vine, and no sheep or cattle in the barns even then,even then I will praise the Lord, for He is the one who is my Savior and who gives me strength.

In Psalm 73, David is complaining about the same thing. He knew what the truth was but he had become discouraged and almost believed the lie. Accountability for the wicked just didn't seem to happen. Not until he went to God did David understand. God is God; HE is in control; I am not; and David became okay with that. Justice will happen when the Lord decides to rise up. And David says—Okay, God—I get it. I surrender to YOU, I want nothing but YOU. I may become weak but YOU are my strength, YOU are my protection—and that is enough.

I choose to believe the truth and not listen to the lies. Thank you, God for the reminder. I "get it." I will wait for your justice and freedom from "the storm."

In Habakkuk God tells him to write down what God was showing him. Habakkuk 2:2 - "Write it clearly on clay tablets so whoever reads it can run to tell others." In Psalm 73:28 David says, "I will tell all that you have done."

• God has promised
• He will deal with the wicked
• He is in control
• Write it down

 I get it, LORD. Thank you, for the reminder.

Addendum: 9/19/16 ~ I'm sitting here with a smile on my face. After a four month break, this morning I started transcribing my journal entries again. I've been curious.  Hmm... I wonder what is in my last one and one half journals that covers Philippians–Revelations.

So, on my very first day, the second post I come to is another untitled journal entry. We now understand my untitled journal entries were actually progressive steps in the New Beginning. The interesting thing is last night another "in your face" moment happened. But this time, my spirit responded in a totally different way than it did in 2013. This time there was no angst and no feelings that life was unfair. Instead, there was an immediate response of—"God's got this. He is in control." Immediate.

Oh, how we have grown in our faith and understanding over the years. We trust Him—period. I'm just amazed that an "in your face" moment happened late last night and this morning I am transcribing what I wrote about that very subject over three years ago. I'm so thankful we have grown in our faith and understanding. 

The other things that stood out to me today were the statements:

"Write it clearly on clay tablets so whoever reads it can run to tell others"; and "I will tell all that you have done."

In 2013, I had no idea my personal journals were anything more than that—personal. But then this happened:

LORD – What Am I to Do?;
The LORD Answers!;
I Didn't Know—BUT GOD DID!!

In my simple mind, I thought telling His story meant a pamphlet of some sort or a couple paragraph story in something like Guideposts. NEVER did I imagine (or could have imagined even in my wildest dreams) that God planned to use my personal journals to tell HIS story. NEVER. I don't know how "clearly" it has been written, but our story is HIS story.

LORD, take my simple words to bring honor and glory to YOUR name. May others be encouraged by YOUR faithfulness. LORD, if someone reading this does not yet know you as their own personal Savior, I pray your Holy Spirit would draw them to you and they would be willing to confess their sins and acknowledge you as Savior. LORD, I pray they would understand the importance of surrendering ALL and they would be willing to do so. Thank you, LORD, for this opportunity. Thank you, LORD, for allowing us to be YOUR recipients of this Blessed Event. We are forever grateful for YOUR amazing love. 


Next Entry: Philippians 1:1 – 2:30 (Continued)

Ephesians 2:1–22

April 24, 2013

In the past.

In the past before you were followers of Christ, you lived the way the world lives "following the ruler of evil powers" and doing whatever your sinful selves wanted. But that way of living should be in the past. God's mercy is great. Because of His great love He gave us new life in Christ and we are saved through God's grace which was a free gift from God. Therefore, we are new creations, and we should not be living as we did in the past. 

We did not and cannot "earn" our salvation by our own efforts or by what we do or don't do. Christ alone is the One who can save us. But it doesn't stop there. He saves us and creates in us the desire and responsibility through Christ Jesus to do "good works." This was God's plan. It isn't good works that gives us salvation. Our salvation demands good works! And that in turn brings honor and glory to God and fulfills His plans for us. There should be a distinct difference between our past way of living and our new life in Christ. 

"But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away from God are brought near through the blood of Christ's death. Christ himself is our peace." Ephesians 2:13–14

Christ's message of peace was for "those who were far away from God, and to those who were near to God." (Ephesians 2:17) He is the cornerstone that our lives should be built upon. If He isn't the foundation then our lives will crumble. He is either the cornerstone (the first and most important stone in a building), or He isn't. You cannot live a life of deceit, lies, grudges, deception, etc. and have your life built upon Christ.

The Cornerstone demands a life of good works. 


Next Entry: Ephesians 3:1–21

I Corinthians 3:1–23

March 14, 2013

I Corinthians 3 contains the verse we used when we were asked to have our gardens as part of the Master Gardener tour in 2009. We didn't want the focus to be on us or our home. We wanted to do something to make sure all honor and glory went to God for His provisions and protection. Our Pastor, in his sermon the week before the event, used a saying we loved and felt appropriate. We put the saying on a chalkboard which we displayed on a chair by the back office door. (I can't recall at the moment what it was. I will look through the video and pictures to find it.)

But then, while reading in I Corinthians 3 for my devotions I came upon this verse—and it was perfect. We wrote the verse on a white board and displayed it on an antique easel surrounded by beautiful Calla Lilly's. It was right by the entrance as everyone walked in. It said:

"The one who plants is not important, and the one who waters is not important. Only God, who makes things grow, is important." I Corinthians 3:7

Perfect. It is all about HIM! Everything in life is about HIM! Everything we do should be for His Honor and Glory. I Corinthians 3:9 - "We are God's workers, working together; you are like God's farm, God's house." It is God's farm and God's house. Not our house, but God's house. God is the foundation—period. We are HIS workers. The wooden stake we drove into the ground beside the large boulder from Mom and Dad's farm (that we drive by every time we enter our property), represents our total surrender to God's authority and will. If all we own, our home, our business, or our lives aren't built upon God—then it is all in vain and worth nothing.

God is the foundation, and we will be rewarded for what we build on that foundation. If we build upon it things for the Kingdom, then it will last and be recognized. If we build upon it with earthly things then that will be revealed and our selfish things will be destroyed. We are God's Temple and the things we build upon His foundation should reflect that. I Corinthians 3:16–17 - "Don't you know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person, because God' temple is holy and you are that temple."

Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are wise in this world. The world's wisdom is foolishness with God. It is written, "He catches those who are wise in their own clever traps." (Job 5:13 and I Corinthians 3:19) "He knows what wise people think. He knows their thoughts are just a puff of wind." (Psalm 94:11 and I Corinthians 3:20)

It's all about Him! Period. We are His stewards. The sooner we understand that the sooner our lives become successful—for HIM.

Addendum: 9/9/16 ~ I pulled out the DVD the Master Gardener's made of our home to see what the saying was. Unfortunately, there wasn't a picture of the saying on it.

Addendum #2: 8/13/18 ~ Found it!!

THE BEAUTY OF NATURE

THE HANDIWORK OF CREATION

THANK YOU, GOD!

Next Entry: I Corinthians 4:1–21