Clouds of Glory

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Clouds of Glory
By Dahni
© 2023, all rights reserved

   I have been awed and drawn to clouds, sunrises, and sunsets, since I was a child. I came to know the name of my favorite type of clouds, cumulous. Those are the big puffy, cotton ball-like, marshmallows or pillow-like clouds my brother and I would often see. When the sun was going down and it was cooler, but still light out, my brother and I would often climb up onto our roof in the summer, lay down facing the sky and imagine all kinds of wonderful shapes, faces and things as the clouds seemed to move across the heavens.

   When I became a somewhat knowledgeable Christian (of the scriptures), I heard about the “Clouds of Glory.” This was an expression used when speaking about Jesus Christ and his return for those dead in Christ and those alive at his return, otherwise called, the Gathering Together.

   People and artists, perhaps ever since Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, have wondered what these “Clouds of Glory” at his return might look like. I too have wondered on this for most of my lifetime.

   I have been to many states in our country, “many”, but not all of them. I have been to several countries across this globe of ours, “several,” but not many or all of the something numbering about 172 countries. Still, there is one thing that has been quite clear to me. Though the type of clouds may be named the same, they are still different, everywhere I have ever seen them. My explanation of this phenomenon is, the Artist, our God, is infinitely diversified in scope and reach. 

   Let us look at few scriptures and see where the idea of “Clouds of Glory” has come from. Jesus Christ, on the day of his ascension was standing before his 12 disciples/apostles. Then at some point, Judas Iscariot departed and the angels spoke unto the other eleven disciples/apostles, which were of Galilee or Galilean.

“And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men [angels] stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

Acts 1:9-11 King James Version (KJV)

   According to what we just read, “this same Jesus” at some point is going to come back through a “cloud” at the exact same spot he left from. Then he will go into the city of Jerusalem, into the temple and before the ‘Holy of Holies’, proclaim himself as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. But this is after he comes for his saints (the dead in Christ and those alive in Christ when he returns). Then (time), he comes with his saints. The Bible is very clear about these events and the words “with” and “for”.

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:”

I Thessalonians 4:16 KJV

“And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

Matthew 24:30 KJV

   And that verse from Matthew above may likely be where the idea of the ‘clouds of glory’ come from? But what might these clouds look like?

LOW CLOUDS (less than 6,500 feet)

   Cumulus clouds look like fluffy, white cotton balls in the sky. They are beautiful in sunsets, and their varying sizes and shapes can make them fun to observe! Weather prediction: Fair

Cumulus

   Stratus clouds often look like thin, white sheets covering the whole sky. Since they are so thin, they seldom produce much rain or snow. Sometimes, in the mountains or hills, these clouds appear to be fog. Weather prediction: Fair, but gloomy

Stratus

   Cumulonimbus clouds grow on hot days when warm, wet air rises very high into the sky. From far away, they look like huge mountains or towers. Weather prediction: Look out for rain, hail, and tornadoes!

Cumulonimbus

MID-LEVEL CLOUDS (6,500-23,000 feet)

   Altocumulus clouds have several patchy white or gray layers, and seem to be made up of many small rows of fluffy ripples. They are lower than cirrus clouds, but still quite high. They are made of liquid water, but they don’t often produce rain. Weather prediction: Fair

Altocumulus

   Altostratus clouds are gray or blue-gray mid-level clouds composed of ice crystals and water droplets. The clouds usually cover the entire sky. Weather prediction: Be prepared for continuous rain or snow!

Altostratus

   Nimbostratus clouds are dark, gray clouds that seem to fade into falling rain or snow. They are so thick that they often blot out the sunlight. Weather prediction: Gloomy with continuous rain or snow

Nimbostratus

HIGH CLOUDS (16,500-45,000 feet)

   Cirrus clouds are delicate, feathery clouds that are made mostly of ice crystals. Their wispy shape comes from wind currents which twist and spread the ice crystals into strands. Weather prediction: A change is on its way!

Cirrus

   Cirrostratus clouds are thin, white clouds that cover the whole sky like a veil. These clouds are most commonly seen in the winter, and can cause the appearance of a halo around the sun or the moon. Weather prediction: Rain or snow will arrive within 24 hours!

Cirrostratus

   Cirrocumulus clouds are thin, sometimes patchy, sheet-like clouds. They sometimes look like they’re full of ripples or are made of small grains. Weather prediction: Fair, but cold. However, if you live in a tropical region, these clouds could be a sign of an approaching hurricane!

Cirrocumulus

All the descriptions and images of clouds above are from:

https://scijinks.gov/clouds/

   The sun draws water from the sea. Have you ever read or thought of such a thing? Well, the ancient Greeks were very logical and used words to explain such physical or real phenomenon that they also believed, were produced by the gods. These rays are sometimes called ‘backstays of the sun’. These are also known as crepuscular rays. Crepuscular means “twilight” as this is usually, but not always or exclusively, when they may be seen.

   Crepuscular rays are shades of sunlight from below the horizon shining through openings and edges of clouds into the evening sky during sunset. They primarily occur when sunlight travels through broken clouds, but also happen when the light travels through other objects under the right conditions.

   Due to its mystical or supernatural appearance, this phenomenon has been adopted and used by different religions and cultures to portray a form of higher power or divine presence. It is no wonder they are commonly referred to as, “god rays” or God’s rays.”

   Crepuscular rays are more noticeable during the late afternoon and early evening because, the beams of sunlight are most visible when there is a strong contrast between light and darkness. These conditions are optimal during sunset.

   The crystalline paths become visible to the naked eye when particles of dust in the atmosphere are touched by the light. It is a “reality parallel.” The same effect, though not with light touching particles of dust, we see by looking at a railroad track as it reaches into the distance.

   The Greek word αποσπερνός apo + spao means to draw out or away from like a knife or sword from a sheath. Sun Drawing Water is phrase based on an old Greek belief system that the rays of sunlight pull water into the atmosphere. The clouds fill up and rain will come soon.

   In 1872, artist William Trost Richards painted ‘Beach with Sun Drawing Water.’ We can see how the idea of “God’s rays” came about. When I see these rays, I like to imagine that wherever they are touching the earth, miracles are occurring there. I call them, ‘Miracle Rays’ or ‘God’s Miracles Rays.’

“Beach with Sun Drawing Water” by William Trost Richards

   Artist Arthur Garfield Love painted a work he called, ‘Sun Drawing Water.’ His paintings did not always represent the real objects. He was one of the school of abstract painters. But in 1925, he had written a poem which he entitled ‘A Way of Looking at Things’ and his abstract painting of  ‘Sun Drawing Water’ was done in 1933. to illustrate his poem.

“The sun draws water from the sea,…”

Except from the poem ‘A Way to Look at Things’
by Arthur Garfield Love (1925)

   In the fall of 2003, my wife Susan and I were on our way back home to New York. We had just left Boston, MA and were just outside of the city, when it was close to sunset. We were so astounded at what we saw, I had to pull over and take pictures.

   A copy of the following photograph hangs in my office and is available on my website for sale, along with my other ‘cloudscapes’ or photographs of clouds. I said earlier in this post that I have for a long time, been awed and inspired by clouds. I have known about crepuscular rays and this figure of speech, “Where the Sun Draws Water,” for many years. But I did not know the ancient Greeks used these words and gave this explanation, thousands of years ago. But I named my picture, “Where the Sun Comes to Draw Her Water.”

“Where the Sun Comes to Draw Her Water.”
(outside of Boston, MA)
© 2003 By Dahni, all rights reserved

   If you are interested in viewing my collection of photographs and artwork under the category of ‘cloudscapes’, click the following link:

https://dahni.com/Cloudscapes.htm

   I have seen and I’m sure you have seen many sunrises and sunsets, paintings and photographs with awe-inspiring clouds. Perhaps like me, you too have longed wondered, what these “Clouds of Glory” might look like?

   I felt like the “Clouds of Glory” would be these huge clouds with the sun shining through them and rays everywhere. Then, Jesus Christ would appear in the middle and he, the son of God (God’s firstborn), would “draw” first, all those dead in Christ and then all those alive in Christ at his coming. This “second coming” has two parts. First he comes “for” his saints (“heaven’s holiest”), the dead in Christ and then those alive at his coming (second). This is referred to as, “Our Gathering Together unto him.”

“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,”

II Thessalonians 2:1

   It is here and now interesting, about the word “draw” Look at this verse –

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will DRAW all men unto me.”

John 12:32

   What if in keeping with the ancient Greek belief that the sun draws its rays, its backstays or corpuscular rays or miracle rays or God’s rays from the water. What if the return of Jesus Christ is marked by a tower of clouds, ascending from the earth and water and there appears a  round opening with Jesus Christ in the midst? Since heaven is technically anyplace above earth, what if the feet of Jesus Christ at this time are neither on land or touching the water?  He would then have his feet still technically, in heaven and that he would be drawing others up to him is accurate.

   What if the following picture is like what it will be when Jesus Christ comes “for” his saints and the dead in Christ rise first, and then they (those Christians), which are alive at the time? What if this cloud formation is over water and on land in the horizon? No one knows the day time and hour. And no one knows what these ”Clouds of Glory” will look like. But what if, it is like the following photograph I found, but do not know who the photographer is that took it? 

Coming in the Clouds of Glory? Unknown photographer

   Now if you want to dispute any of this (Bible quotations), Go for it, but I did not write the the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

A Beautiful Life

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A Beautiful Life
By Dahni
© 2023, all rights reserved

Lilias (Isabella) Trotter (14 July 1853 – 27 August 1928)

A Passion for the Impossible: The Life of Lilias Trotter

“Art critic John Ruskin enthusiastically proclaimed her potential as one of the best artists of the nineteenth century, but Lilias Trotter’s devotion to Christ compelled her to surrender her life of art, privilege, and leisure. Leaving the home of her wealthy parents for a humble dwelling in Algeria, Lilias defied sterotypes and taboos that should have deterred any European woman from ministering in a Muslim country. Yet she stayed for nearly forty years, befriending Algerian Muslims with her appreciation for literature and art and winning them to Christ through her life of love.”

Excerpt from the book

Ruskin mentions Lilias

This is Lilias’ sketch Ruskin may have been reffering to

A Blossom in the Desert: Reflections of Faith in the Art and Writings of Lilias Trotter

“Lilias Trotter believed that God had two textbooks—Scripture and creation—and she studied both. Day by day for decades, Lilias recorded in words and watercolor paintings her observations of God through nature and people. A Blossom in the Desert showcases exquisite art and inspirational writings from her many devotional books, journals, and letters. Her humble insights and reflective watercolors, combined with words from Scripture…a keepsake you’ll treasure.”

Excerpt from the book

   Lilias Trotter was the inspiration for the song, ‘Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus. It is also know as, ‘The Heavenly Vision.’ It was written By Helen Howarth Lemmel, © 1922. This song was written when she was physically blind, but spiritually, 20-20.

“There lies before us a beautiful life, one with passion for giving
that shall be poured forth to God, but spent out for man.”

Lilias Trotter

   For more about Lilias Trotter, see:

https://liliastrotter.com/

   Now if you want to dispute any of this (Bible quotations), Go for it, but I did not write the the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

O’ Soul Are You Wearied or Troubled

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O Soul are You Wearied or Troubled
By Dahni
© 2023

   The following is a favorite hymn of mine and likely one of a man I greatly admire. He was my father in the Word, Dr. Victor Paul Wierwille. On some occasions when I sat in one of his live teachings and if she were available, he would have this particular young woman sing this song, a cappella (without instruments). I apologize that I could not find a recording of her singing and neither do I remember her name. For myself and others, its words and melody are pure and sweet, and I personally cannot recall my eyes welling up with tears and felt them fall. But it was only recently that I knew who wrote this song, when and why.

   The song is ‘Turn your eyes upon Jesus’. It is also known as, ‘The Heavenly Vision’ It was written in 1922 by Helen Howarth Lemmel. Here is a video, which provides some background about not only this beautiful song, but this beautiful woman as well.

The inspiration for this song came from a track and artwork called ‘Focused’ by Lilias (Isabella) Trotter. When the song was written, Helen Howarth Lemmel was physically blind, but she could spiritually see 20/20.

 

https://unveiling.org/focussed-2/

To follow are the lyrics.

 

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

(aka The Heavenly Vision)

By Helen Howarth Lemmel

©1922

 

O soul, are you weary and troubled?

No light in the darkness you see?

There’s light for a look at the Savior,

And life more abundant and free!

 

   Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

   Look full in His wonderful face,

   And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

   In the light of His glory and grace.

 

Thro’ death into life everlasting,

He passed, and we follow Him there;

O’er us sin no more hath dominion–

For more than conqu’rors we are!

 

   Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

   Look full in His wonderful face,

   And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

   In the light of His glory and grace

 

His Word shall not fail you–He promised;

Believe Him, and all will be well:

Then go to a world that is dying,

His perfect salvation to tell!

 

   Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

   Look full in His wonderful face,

   And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

   In the light of His glory and grace

 

I found the following lovely version of this hymn that is sung and signed. Enjoy.

 https://youtu.be/QXWS1bMI_a0

   Now if you want to dispute any of this Go for it, but I did not write the story, as a teller, I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

Consequence or Result

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Consequence or Result
By Dahni
© 2022, all rights reserved

   The Snobbery and Deceit of an Intellectual Idiot – A Closed Mind –

How to Be, Become or Stay A Fool

   Now any one of those could have certainly been the title of this post, but I’ll keep what is written. I will explain.

   I was listening to a conversation between two people. They were discussing the anxiety of an individual, which at one point they wanted to be taken to some Urgent Care because, they felt like they were going to die. I entered myself into the conversation. Let me ask a couple of questions:

1. If a merry heart or a happy heart could be like good medicine, would you want to know about it, IF it were possible to remove the anxiety?
2. If it was wrong and consequential to have anxieties, wouldn’t you want to know how, IF it were possible to get rid of them?

   The first response was simple, “No.” So I repeated both questions. Then they rolled their eyes and said, “I know what is coming next.” To this I responded, “So you really don’t want to know and you just want to criticize what you think I might say?”

   Though I did not quote the verses verbatim or give reference, here they are to follow:

“A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.”

Proverbs 17:22 Amplified Bible (AMP)

“Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.”

Philippians 4:6 AMP

   The answer to both questions I asked should have been simply, Yes, I would want to know, but what I got was, “So where do you think the right answers are: Buddhism, Judeo/Christian (etc.)?”

   Again I asked, “Do you really want to know?” “OK.”

   “It is really very simple. There is a difference between belief or believing in something or someone, and believing something or someone. The word believe, is a verb which connotes action. If one acts, one either gets the results or the consequences.”

   The conversation was over when they wanted to argue that results and consequences are the same thing and some anxieties and fears are good for you.

   I do not expect anyone to believe me about anything, just because I say so. I do not expect everyone to know what I know. But I do expect anyone and especially anyone seeped in empirical evidence, is degreed and highly educated, but has something missing, to at least have an open mind! To me, they are just an intellectual snob and an idiot (“ones own” – self-centered). To me, they are no different than any other that cannot believe, except for what can be perceived by one or more of their five senses. I’m not asking anyone to accept anything blindly or by blind faith. I don’t expect anyone to accept anything, especially NOT, by blind faith.

   I have a bold declaration to make here. I challenge anyone to find anything in the Bible where God says or it is implied that He or any of His representatives (including Jesus Christ), say, tell, have commanded or command (not even imply or suggest), anyone to to accept anything by faith or blind faith! Much but not all of the problem is the word “faith”. In the Greek (from which English versions of the Bible were translated from), “faith” is the Greek word pistis. It is correctly translated as believe, believing or faithfullness, depending on how it is used in the verse where it is written.

“But without faith (Greek pistis = belieivng), it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.

Hebrews 11:6 AMP

   I suppose I was not a good witness? Or actually, they really didn’t want to know, have already made up their mind and by default, if I don’t believe as they do, I’m the idiot?

   Each man and woman and child will need to make the decision that they are either going to believe what the world says or what God says. Either/or, one needs to study. For a Christian, this is not a suggestion, but a commandment of God and is at least, common sense. How can one become confident in or trust anyone or anything of which they have no knowledge and understanding? Impossible!

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts higher than your thoughts. For as the rain and snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth, Making it bear and sprout, And providing seed to the sower and bread to the eater, So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me void (useless, without result), Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”

Isaiah 55:9-11 AMP

   So how about God, how does He feel about His own Word?

“..for thou [God] hast [have] magnified thy [Your) word above all thy [Your] name.”

Psalm 138:2b King James Version

      God’s name represents all he has ever made, formed and created and all He is presently or that He ever will. That speaks a lot about how much confidence and trust and knowledge and understanding He has in His own Word. Perhaps we you give it heed? Maybe we (anyone), should read it and allow it to speak for itself?

   God knows we need to see proof. He knows we have 5 senses. He made, formed, created our bodies, souls and spirits to be able to handle His word by our five senses and spiritual senses. God’s advertising/marketing program is – signs, miracles and wonders. That’s how we know we are on the right track, that we are doing the right thing and we get the results of what His Word says we will receive when we believe. And when and where we do not receive what his Words says, we either do not know what His Word says and therefore don’t believe, we will receive the consequences. Believing is a law, a universal law and it is the same for saint or sinner.

Consequence or Result

   As nouns, the difference between ‘consequence’ and ‘result’ is, a ‘consequence’ is that which follows something on which it depends; that which is produced by a cause. A ‘result’ is, that which concludes; the conclusion or end to which any course or condition of things leads, or which is obtained by any process or operation; ‘consequence’ or effect.

   As verbs the difference between ‘consequence’ and ‘result’ is that ‘consequence’ is to threaten or punish (a child, etc.) with specific ‘consequences’ for misbehavior while ‘result’ is to proceed, spring or rise, as a ‘consequence’, from facts, arguments, premises, combination of circumstances, consultation, thought or endeavor.

   As an interjection ‘result’ is an exclamation of joy following a favorable outcome.

   A result of a particular action or situation, often one that is bad or not convenient: Not making a will can have serious consequences for your children and other family members.

1. Scientists think it is unlikely that any species will actually become extinct as a ‘consequence’ of the oil spill.
2. I told the hairdresser to do what she wanted to my hair, and look at the ‘consequences’!
3. Well, if you insist on eating so much, you’ll have to suffer/take (= accept and deal with), the ‘consequences’!

Modern Examples:

“But today, planned obsolescence has broader and more serious consequences.”

From The Atlantic

“I thought of those individuals, and their portrayal in the film, during an exchange about the financial crisis and its consequences.”

From The Atlantic

“And we’re going to talk about the consequences of all that transportation.”

From NPR

“But facing into the winds of this strange primary season, we can see how this denial yielded other consequences, too.”

From NPR

“Unfortunately, leaving the workforce to take care of a child can have negative life-long economic consequences, from lost wage growth to lower retirement savings.”

From CBS News

“The inevitable consequence is that patients will receive lower-quality, higher-cost care.”

From Washington Times

“Some of these deficiencies were inherent in the structure of today’s federal government, but others were a consequence of flawed leadership.”

From Foreign Policy

“It could break at any moment, with catastrophic consequences.”

From Slate Magazine

“Just as before, the consequences of falling behind will be devastating.”

From CNN

“So consequences have to be paid if he is to be just.”

From CNN

“She’s seen all the problems and the unforeseen consequences.”

From NPR

Source: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/consequence

Etymology:

consequence (n.) late 14c., “logical inference, conclusion,” from Old French consequence “result” (13c., Modern French conséquence), from Latin consequentia, abstract noun from present-participle stem of consequi “to follow after,” from assimilated form of com “with, together” (see con-) + sequi “to follow” (from PIE root *sekw- (1) “to follow”).

Meaning “that which follows from or grows out of any act or course” is from c. 1400. Sense of “importance, significance” (1590’s) is from notion of being “full of consequences.”

result (v.) early 15c., resulten, “occur as a result, arise as a consequence of facts, arguments, etc.,” from Latin resultare “to spring forward, rebound” (in Medieval Latin “to result“), a frequentative from the past participle of resilire “to rebound” (see resilience). The etymological sense is rare in English, mostly in poetry, now obsolete. Related: Resulted; resulting.

   The word ‘result’ is a synonym of ‘consequence’. The word ‘consequence’ is a synonym of ‘result’. Synonyms are similar words, not an identical words. All words have meaning. These two words though similar, do not mean the same thing. Their origins differ in first known usage and intended meaning. Consequence was something with, together to follow, whereas a Result is, to spring forward, to rebound.

    Used in a sentence of comparing differences, ‘consequence’ and ‘result’ would be accurate as opposed to using either word to mean the same thing, which would be both confusing and inaccurate. Though similar, a result is a result of a result is not clear, just as a consequence is a consequence of a consequence is not clear. This is more or less lettuce salad and would make words useless, as a tool for communication. 

Lettuce Word Salad — close – similar, but not identical

   Do we end any and all conversations to argue over results and consequences being the same thing and some anxieties and fears are good for us, or do we at least keep an open mind and actually read what God (if He exists), the creator (if there is such an entity), of the heavens and the earths (past, present and future), says in His Word that He magnified above all his name (all He ever has created, is creating or will ever create)? Make up your own mind, but remember this, IF what His Word say is true, wouldn’t it make for just simple common sense to take a look? And even IF, it were not all true (but it says of itself that it is), wouldn’t we all just be better off and happier going nowhere to some cool place and peace of mind that doesn’t exist? No, that’s not being blissfully ignorant because, studying the Word builds believing and believing brings results — signs miracle and wonders.

“So then faith [pistis – beliving] cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Romans 10:17 KJV 

      How do we hear, to the end that we believe?

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

II Timothy 2:15 KJV

      Remember Hebrews 11:6, “without believing it is impossible to please Him [God]? Remember that believing comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God? Hearing and believing is to study as, study is to hearing and believing. This is a mathematical axiom that things equal to the same thing are equal to each other.

   Now if you want to dispute any of this (Bible quotations), Go for it, but I did not write the the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

The Heart of a Card

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The Heart of a Card
By Dahni
© 2022, all rights reserved

   I recently had a birthday. Yes, I am now officially as old as dirt. I do wonder where all the time went. Somewhere along the way, I looked into the mirror and wondered who that old guy was starring back at me. And what happened to the children in my life. When did they all grow up? Did I miss some memo?

   Well, I don’t believe age has anything to do with anything that really matters! I mean, it’s the simplest things in the past that matter the most in the present and the future. Like cards, annual newsletters and homemade gifts, they brought me such joy and these are what matters the most! When did they fall from grace or fall out of favor? When was the last time your trudged along or floated to the post office or mail box for something addressed to you? Oh no, not the printed looks-like script with real postage, or junk mail, but something handwritten to you. Did your heart skip a beat because, that depressed you or was it from from the excitement and anticipation of whom it was from and what was sent to you? Come on, it made you glad didn’t it? Perhaps it even made your day? Maybe it might have even saved your life? Oh yes, that is all possible from a card, a note or something handmade or at least hand addressed to you that someone cared enough about you, to send you their very best.

   This is certainty not to make anyone feel bad or to make them feel guilty to the point they send a card without first having their heart in it. I’m telling you, most of the people that do all the giving and serving and dying for others in this country and over the whole earth, were not born with silver spoons in their mouths (are not rich – wealthy). No, the better part of most, care about simple things the most. They matter to us and these matter to most everyone. But guess how many cards I received in the mail for my birthday? Not a single one!

   Should I be grateful that my wife at least was the only one that gave me a birthday card? Yes, I am. Am I grateful for the digital well-wishes I received online? Yes. Are these the same as real, hand written, hand-addressed, hand sealed, hand stamped and hand sent cards and letters? No they are not!

   I know times are tough. I live in the same times as you do and they are tough for me as well. There never seems enough money to do the things I want and even need to do at times. It never seems I can ever do enough for people. These have been very blue times for me, sad times and even those that I have even despaired of life. Staying busy and especially doing things for others is a very working solution to this heart-robber! I know there always seems so little time for what I call the “important things.” There are no “things” more important than people anyway! I am reminded of a now recalled quote –

“Things are made to be used. People are made to be loved”
-unknown-

   Yes, I do realize that even cards are expensive nowadays and can be several dollars. It’s difficult, if not nearly impossible to send out Christmas cards to family and friends these days. A single postage stamp is almost a dollar. Then there is the time it takes to write a message, address, sign, seal and send (from your postbox attached to your home or business or on a post at the side of your road, a post office box or your actual local post office.

   Let’s get real honest and make this perfectly clear. It’s not just me, but almost everyone would rather have a physical card or letter addressed to them from someone they know, love and admire. From the surprise on our faces when we see something in the mail that is addressed to us by hand, we know! The surprise when it is so unexpected, but from someone we know, we know the joy it has brought to our faces and spines! Then those—  feels like butterflies, from anticipating what we will find inside, we remember! We know what this feel like. 

   You may feel like you just can’t compete with the sentiments on and inside store-bought cards so, why bother? Answer me this. Did you receive a friend first or was it their card which made you friends? You and I (if we have fiends and loved ones), know better what to say than any card! We know our friends and loved ones hearts and they know ours, better than Hallmark or any other Greeting Card Company or maker. They are our treasures and we are theirs! So, anything, anything we write will be to them, a “treasure!”

   I just believe we have lost the art of the heart of a card.

   I understand that we might not be able to send everyone we know and love a card, a letter, a note or a newsletter all the time or even once a year? But we can send some, at least once in awhile. The feelings we each get when we receive something so personal, may be few and far between, but we know how great this makes us feel, as most all of us do too.

   I made a few cards to send to a few people for Christmas this year. Everything was mailed either yesterday or two days ago to Japan. I wrapped the one to Japan in a bubble-wrap, water-resistant mailer (plastic), and it went first class for $3.90. That was pretty reasonable to me! All the others I put them inside of the top of the boxes we mailed yesterday.

   When I said I “made” these cards, it was pretty darn accurate. I had some Christmas green 8 ½” X 11” cardstock and folded the sheets in half. So this was something I had on hand, but even so, blank colored card stock costs a whole lot less than store-bought cards. I used colored gel pens and little things we already had on hand to decorate the cards.

   You could even cut your folded cardstock in half and make more cards and save even more money. I found envelopes (festive red), 60 for only around $15. That’s .25 each and that’s a cheap and great price for a quality envelope. Envelopes are made for nearly any size and can be relatively inexpensive.

   For goodness sakes, let’s use our imagination to decorate with things, even common things, we may already have on hand. My several gym teachers I had growing up always said, “Use it or Lose it.” This applies to imagination too!

   I found envelopes (festive red), 60 for only around $15. That’s .25 each and that’s a cheap and great price for a quality envelope. Time spent and costs including a stamp were maybe $2 and that’s is a whole lot less than store-bought. I hope that when all is said and done, it’s cards like these that are ‘keep-able’ long after the store-bought are forgotten and discarded.

   I made and sent cards out to a few people. We can do this. Handmade = Heart-Made. If nothing else, it’s really, and not unlike that company that may indeed hold the trademark ® on the phrase, when we send (homemade – heart-made), we really do “…care enough to send the very best!” So, please do not let money prevent you nor I from sending the best because, we really do, “…care enough!”

   Now the rest of this post is for Christians and logical people. If we believe and say that God is our sufficiency and He who supplies our needs (and many of our wants), what does it say about God if our needs and not being fulfilled or met? Well, to me it either means that I need to get another GOD (or another job), or I need to believe the one I already confess and profess to be mine! Does heaven have inflation, depression, layoffs, and economic downturns or do we just need to learn HOW to believe not just IN GOD, but believe God? For some or many of us, perhaps we need to re-learn HOW to believe God?

   An interesting word is the word “believe” both biblically and in life, everyone’s life, Christian or other. Everyone believes something and/or in someone(s). Believe is a verb and it connotes action. It is not based on blind faith. Those words are not even found in the Bible because, they do not exist. They are made-up. When and wherever possible, God always expects the individual to believe. Sometimes it may be important or at least more efficacious, for a couple to believe or even whole families.

   Just do a word study search for the word “believe” in the Bible. The word “believe” is the Greek word pistis and is often translated as faith, but should be always translated, “believe!” The word “believe” and its other derivatives are found throughout the Bible. “Moses believed God and it was counted as righteousness,” by God. People look for and often need signs, miracles and wonders to “believe.” What follows is but one example of one that performed signs, miracles and wonders, had to say about believing.

“Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”
Mark 9:23 King James Version (KJV)

   Here is another quote by Jesus Christ—

“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”
Mark 11:24 KJV

   What’s the point of praying if we do not or won’t believe God is willing and able to provide?

“If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.”
John 10:37, 38 KJV

   There was a time that even Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ and his half brothers and sisters did not believe him. And sometimes, people won’t or don’t believe when or just because, you tell them the truth. But let me make this clear, if it is not? If we want to see things happen in our lives like – signs, miracles, wonders? If we want to see answers to prayer? If we want to have our needs met and many of our wants and this includes even enough to send a card, we need to believe God.  It is impossible to please God if we don’t believe! Our God, “is a reward-er of them that diligently seek Him! 

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)

   Remember doubting Thomas? He had to see the imprints where the soldiers drove the nails into the hands of his Christ, before he would believe in him. Did he? Yes, he saw and Thomas then, was able to believe. But Jesus took that literal experience and taught his disciples to believe first, and then they, or you and I will see! God is more interested and willing to provide for us and in giving to us, then we are in receiving! All He asks of anyone or us is that we believe to receive what He has already promised. Our job is to know and claim what He has already promised!

   Let us not or let us stop using the excuse that “we can’t!” Why do we settle for lack when we should and can have more than we need? Remember that! That’s what having more than we need is for so that, we can give! And isn’t is always better to give than it is to receive?

   God like Santa Claus in the Daily (not just once a year), signs, miracles and wonders business!

   This is why the believing of a child is so adored and shared in the Bible. It’s like a line from the Movie ‘The Santa Clause’ by Judy, a 1,200 year old elf, “Children don’t have to see the North Pole to know it exists, they just know!” Sadly, but children are often taught out of imagination and believing. But you and I need to believe. And when and wherever possible, we need to believe as couples and families.

   Please believe that the sending and receiving of homemade, hand addressed, hand signed and hand sent cards, letters, and newsletter are among the things that matter most to – all of us!

   May your holidays be bright, your season white and your hearts full of joy!

   Now if you want to dispute any of this (Bible quotations), Go for it, but I did not write the the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

Defeating Our Adversary part 1

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Defeating Our Adversary part 1
By Dahni
© 2022, all rights reserved

A Spiritual Competition requires skill

A Spiritual Competition 

With the movie Hocus Pocus 2 out in 2022 and Halloween coming soon, leaving aside the goof and fun-funny-let’s make evil a good thing or good things evil (at least ridiculous or non-existent), let’s get serious. Let’s talk about things pertaining to the spirit realm and specifically, ‘Dealing with Our Adversary.’

Before beginning, I would briefly like to write about what within this series are NOT my intentions and give an overview of what IS.

1. it is not some joke, fiction or funny
2. it is not to be afraid of
3. it is to present information, which God wants us to know and to apply this — boldly, fearlessly, and victoriously

I sort of hesitated in working this material and whether or not I should write and post it. A big consideration was my motivation. Would this be to get back at someone I know or suffice it to say I knew, back in high school, for recently unfriending me and blocking me on FaceBook?

Unfriending is no big deal, but blocking, they cannot see what I post nor can I view what they post. I guess that is only important if we want to know what others are posting about us and how our friends/family/associates are responding to what they post?

I had tried to be nice to this person for quite some time, being non-confrontational and trying to stay non-political. I truly tried to not saying (writing anything), unless I had something positive to communicate. For the most part, this was all one-sided. Even though they disdained many things that I believe in (including Christianity), they were hypocritical in using the very subjects they held in denial, to harshly judge anyone that believe differently than they do. Even though it is not entirely a joke, in my mind, I started to refer to this person as a modern day, ‘Witch of Endor’ , which in part is, included in this series. Her science, skill set and degrees she may tout and the world may accept as special or even normal (Okey—Dokey’), but God in His Word, does not! I will address this association with this person, later in this series. But no, this research, my writing and this post is not to get back at my former, so-called friend, but they were a trigger for it.

Trigger? Yes, my used-to-be friend was a trigger for this subject, ‘Dealing with Our Adversary’.  If you are a Christian or not, we all have the same adversary and this adversary may even operate with or behind the scenes, manipulating those we are familiar with or what Job called his own friends and family— “miserable comforters.” Job 16:2 Sincerity is never any guarantee for the truth. And there is no excuse for the deer-in-the-headlights look as a defense either.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

I Peter 5:8 King James Version (KJV)

Yes, our adversary is personal “your [and my] adversary”. Like a lion roars to instill fear into its intended victim and make it unmovable, before the lion attacks and devours them, our “adversary” seeks to instill fear in us. And if that is not possible, at least to deceive us.

“…if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

Matthew 24:24b KJV

Let us study to show ourselves approved towards God (II Timothy 2:15), so that we are not deceived!

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

Ephesians 6:11 KJV

The Greek word panoplian πανοπλίαν is translated (whole armor) is, “with complete armor.” But the word can also be translated as “instruments.” I know what you and I have been taught and from likely, good intentioned and sincere people, who in turn are just teaching what they were taught. But the idea that you, anyone or myself is a soldier of the Lord or for the Lord and that we must do battle and are in a war, a spiritual war is, incorrect! All I can write for NO is— look up the words “athlete” and athletics from the Greek and find every place the words are used in the New Testament of the Bible!

Based on warfare, the ‘games’ were made to keep the military in top physical condition during peace time. There were many events.

Historically, the ancient Greek empire at one time, had defeated its known enemies and had relative peace. Wisely, their military was kept in top physical form, just in case they were needed to do battle against some up-and-coming or future enemy. To do this, the Olympic Games were invented. The ancient Romans had their “games” as well. The world still follows this tradition, normally every four years.

Jesus Christ came and fulfilled all the law. He did battle for us and won the victory for us.

“Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.”

Ephesians 4:8 KJV

In another part of this series, we will look into Ephesians 4:8 above and Ephesians 6:11 (the amour of God), in more depth. But for now, we need to understand that we are neither in a war (spiritual war between good and evil), nor are we soldiers.

We are in a competition, not a war. But yes, even a competition can be real and dangerous and fatal. All the biblical imagery, if using military weaponry – a shield , sword (javelin), and wrestling (for hand to hand combat), and etc. is that of a competition, rather than war.

The ancient Olympics pentathlon, is a contest featuring five events. The name is derived from Greek: combining the words pente (five) and –athlon (competition) (Greek: πένταθλον). The first pentathlon was documented in Ancient Greece and was part of the ancient Olympic Games. Five events were contested over one day for the ancient Olympic pentathlon, starting with the long jump, javelin throwing, and discus throwing (see David and his five stones), followed by the stadion (a short foot race) and wrestling. Pentathletes or those in a decathlon, were considered to be among the most skilled athletes, and their training was often part of military service—each of the five events in the pentathlon was thought to be useful in war or battle. There were other events as well.

The prizes they sought were crowns of laurel leaves given them by some royal or emperor. The origin is ancient Greece with a grievance between Eros (Cupid to the Romans), and Apollo. Cupid sought to punish Apollo for making fun of him, so he made Apollo to become infatuated with a young female nymph named Dahne. Apollo pursued her repeatedly and violently and Dahne repeatedly repelled his advances. Finally, she begged her father, a river god for help and he transformed his daughter into the laurel tree. Daphne avoided Apollo in her human form, but she could not escape becoming his sacred property. The laurel leaves were considered to have medicinal and healing qualities. Some believe oracles chewed the laurel leaves for their hallucinogenic properties so that they could supposedly prophecy from the gods. So, the laurel crown has long been connected with the Olympics and great honor.

The prizes we seek are seven crowns in the Bible and from God. These are available to all athletes of the spirit. I bring these up because, the adversary does not want us to know that Jesus Christ has already obtained the victory for us. Our adversary wants us to think we are in a war with him together and especially to get us off alone to fight. We contend legally. We are not in a war as soldiers. We are not on a battlefield. We are in a stadium. We are athletes of the spirit.

The ancient crowns were fashioned from real leaves of the laurel tree. The word “laureate” comes from “laurel”. = A great honor in both the Greek and Roman games.

Our subject here will move towards a further view to, charming, “familiar” or lying spirits as they are called. These are all, the same type of devil spirits. Even attempts at taming spirits in calling them disembodied souls (ghosts), or demons, does not lesson their potential harm or evil.

Our subject is dark and deep, but it is necessary for each Christian to know, understand and apply these biblical truths, as are many others!

There are seven things in the Bible, God’s Word that God does not want His people ignorant of. The following is one of these seven.

“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

II Corinthians 2:11 King James Version (KJV)

If God does not want us ignorant, then He wants us smart or to be intelligent, so our adversary (your’s and mine), can neither instill fear in us nor deceive us!

Before moving on, I should also clear the air. If I am to be writing here and you are reading here about the devil, Lucifer, Satan, witches and stuff like this, unless you are a Christian you will neither believe it, nor understand it. It is just the way it is. Why?

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

I Corinthians 2:14 KJV

The “natural man” [or woman or child] has body and soul, but no spirit of God the Father and the creator of the universe. Therefore, the subject we are dealing with here is spiritual and can only be spiritually discerned (understood).

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

John 10:10

John 10:10 shows the purposes of both our adversary (“the thief”), and of Jesus Christ. The word “life” is the Greek word zoa and means, “life in all of it’s manifestations” (physically, mentally, spiritually, and etc.)

“The thief,” Lucifer, Satan and other names are just a few of our adversary’s names and he is a liar and the father of the lie (lies, lying). In John chapter eight, Jesus Christ was speaking with members of the supposed spiritual leadership of Israel—

“Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. “

John 8: 43,44 KJV

As a thief (“the thief” from John 10:10), our adversary uses stealth in secret, and secrecy is how he moves or is his method, of operation. One of if not the earliest known reference of some behind-the-scenes enemy was by Job, thousands of years ago, even before the New Testament.

“Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me,
and that mine adversary had written a book.”

Job 31.35

Job thought it good if his adversary would have written a book as to how he operates. Jesus Christ had to expose the hidden secrets of our adversary so that we can know how he operates. It is always with a lie to deceive. He will kill if possible and he will destroy whenever it is available. The greater the false or fake imitates the true and real, the greater the deception.

“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”

II Corinthians 11:14 KJV

Lucifer was an archangel along with Michael and Gabriel. God was the creator and like the architect for the universe, but Lucifer was like the builder. He believed he should have had more credit.

^“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”

Isaiah 14: 12-14 KJV

The word “Lucifer” in the verse above is only found in the 1611 version of the King James Bible. “Lucifer” is a Latin word. Some scholars may want to dispute the entity of Lucifer, his association with a King of Babylon, or that he even exists. But the secret to his success is the secrecy of his moves. Jesus Christ exposed his methods that only thousands of years ago, the best that Job could sense was that he had an enemy and if his enemy, had only written a book, it would have been so very helpful to Job, to know who and what was behind the repeated attacks on his life and all that was his.

Lucifer was also once associated with the ‘morning star’, the ‘daystar’ ‘the star of dawn’, the bright and morning star’ or what we refer to as, the planet Venus. But when Jesus Christ fulfilled all the law, was resurrected and ascended up through the “heavens” and sat down (completeness), on the right hand of God, he legally acquired and became, “the bright and morning star.”

Because of the above, there was a war in Heaven, Lucifer was cast out and he drew a 1/3 of the host of heaven with him and it was to earth, where he (Lucifer), legally became the “god of this world” when he deceived Adam and Eve and their authority was wrongfully, but legally acquired by him.

“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

Revelation 12:7-9 KJV

It does not matter if people believe in the devil, Satan, Lucifer, the Thief, the Dragon or whatever name of his is named. As long as the true God is not worshipped, directly, indirectly and accurately, our adversary is then worshipped as a god. What God conferred upon Adam and Eve, they transferred to Lucifer through disobedience to God, and Lucifer legally, became the god of this world.

“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

II Corinthians 4:4 KJV

This spirit being could be depicted as horrific, terrible and cause fear as a lion roars. He could be shown as a red being with horns, a forked tongue and a long red spiked tail, red flaming eyes and razor sharp claws on his hands and feet and piercing teeth with flames all around him. He could also, be shown as a beautiful being full of light.

Paint with Flames

Paint with Light

Either way, his true nature is concealed and countless people are deceived, especially since no one can see spirit!

“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

John 4:24 KJV

“Spirit” – Greek word pneuma means: “spirit,” “breath” or “wind” Spirit has no form or comeliness for that matter. Just because it cannot be seen does not mean it cannot manifest itself, come into some form of concretion, make itself known or that we cannot detect it’s presence (effects-actions), like the wind blowing the leaves in fall and etc.

I just want to make this clear, perfectly clear. If you or anyone, the Roman Catholic Church, the Pope in Rome, any religion or head (and I do mean anyone), if you think you can use science and wit as a “ghost buster”, holy water, silver bullets, amulets, curses, crosses, reverse-curses, tea leaves, astrology, a medium and some form of magic to rid you and others of evil-devil spirits and their influence, you would be wrong and foolish to even try. And you don’t need to keep repeating something like we “adjure you in the name of…” (some name), to come out, as if it’s all about numbers (repetition), with devil spirits. And it is not out of boredom (from repeated bunk). They are not going to release their hold freely. And one final thing— whereas stories, books. plays, movies, musicals and all forms of spooky-entertainment, may seek to frighten, to be sure, evil spirits (yes even multiple spirits), are more afraid of just one child of God. Just one child of God who know who they are and stand upon the integrity and accuracy of God’s rightly divided word, can freak out and cast out multiple devil spirits. see II Timothy 2:15 and…

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

I John 4:4 KJV

In Part II we will see by what authority and power we have to contend with, the god of this world.

   Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

The Breath of God

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The Breath of God
By Dahni
© 2022, all rights reserved

   Recently, my sister, Carol Lee shared something that had been shared with her. The idea was incredible and I wanted to do my due diligence in researching it, before I shared it with you. I have not really been able to verify this idea other than from one source, but this does not mean it is not accurate. It certainly does not contradict scripture.

   So with this in mind, consider the idea that the name of God in pronunciation could sound like an inhale and an exhale from the respiration system. Consider what this could mean in association with, “The Breath of God.”

   So that I am clear, the Bible, the Word of God mentions this figure of speech (the breath of God), many times and in many ways throughout both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

   We begin with the name of God. God has many names throughout the Bible, elohim (creator) Abba (Father), El Shaddai (God Almighty or Almighty God), Jehovah (God in relationship with his creation), and etc. With the name Jehovah, God has 7 redemptive names:

Jehovah Rohi – God or Lord, my or our shepherd
Jehovah Jireh – God or Lord, my or our provider
Jehovah Rohi – God or Lord, my or our shepherd
Jehovah Rapha – God or Lord, my or our healer
Jehovah Shalom – God or Lord, my or our peace
Jehovah Tsidkenu – God or Lord, my our righteousness
Jehovah Shmmah – God or Lord, is there for me or us

   Yahweh according to Strongs concordance is defined as, “the proper name of God.” It also associates itself with the words “lord” and “passage” or “to fall.” Various spellings with and without vowels have been used to mean the same thing – Jehovah. · Yahweh · Yahveh – eh yeh – YHVH and in Latin, Iehova, as there in no J in Latin.

   The four-letter Hebrew theonym (God name literally) is יהוה

‎

   It is transliterated as YHWH, the name of God in Judaism and Christianity. The ancient Greeks called this- Tetragrammaton (“four letters”). They are written and read from right to left – YHWH = (HWHY). Now here is where it gets interesting.

Strong’s Concordance and other theologians concur and agree that the vowels e-o-a were later added from the original, where there were just four consonants YHVH (HWHY).

  A woman named Sandra Thurman Caporale, from the Memorial Church of Christ in Houston, Texas USA is credited with this particular exploration into the name God revealed for Himself.

“There was a moment when Moses had the nerve to ask God what his name is. God was gracious enough to answer, and the name he gave is recorded in the original Hebrew as YHWH [HWHY].”

Sandra Caporale

   She talks about how the pronunciation of the name without the modern-day vowels, sounds like breathing:

“YH (inhale): WH (exhale).”

Sandra Caporale

   But according to this writing, originally being written and read from right to left, if this is all true, the sound of inhaling would be HW and exhaling would be HY.

   I do not know where she got these pronunciations. I cannot find anyone else to verify or concur (just copy and paste). But she starts from scripture, Exodus chapter 3. Let me set this up and then we will take at look at the scriptures.

   So there was Moses and the burning bush remember. An angel appears in the midst of the burning bush and the fire does not burn up the angel or the bush. Moses turns to see what’s going on. Well, duh, so would I. So would nearly anyone, but this really means Moses was humble and prepared to receive. So then God speaks to Moses from the burning bush. God says a lot of great things. And at the end, Moses being the realist/pragmatist he was, I guess he wants to cover his a— just in case he is called into question when he returns to the children of Israel? So Moses dares to ask God what His name is, in case people ask him. God does not take offense as, how dare he question me the creator of the heavens and earths and God answers him.

Moses before the burning bush, Marc Chagall 1866, Musuem Aan De Stroom

“And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.”

Exodus 3:13, 14 King James Version (KJV)

   “I Am that I Am…” and “…I Am…,” three times it is the same word used we are looking at here. In their nearest common root they are the four consonants, HWHY (YHWH). They do seem guttural. They could sound like an inhale and an exhale. I am not saying this is how it should be pronounced because, I do not know 100%, but there is nothing that would contradict this in scripture. Please keep reading. This continues to get exciting!

Still in consideration mode, lets us consider that HW sounds like an inhale and HY sounds like an exhale. Please note, that God was very specific on the order and he understood that this would be written and read in those days from right to left. He also knew as in today, we write and read from left to right and not thgir ot tfel.

   But consider God’s name sounding like first an inhale, followed by an exhale.

   A baby’s first breath would be speaking the name of God. A deep sigh, would call His name. A groan or a gasp that is too heavy for mere words, would call out to God. An atheist or an agnostic would speak God’s name, unaware that their very breath is giving constant acknowledgment to God. Even the most evil, unbelievers and the devil’s own if human, when they breathe they would inhale and exhale the name of God. When we leave this earth and take our last breath is this because, God’s name no longer fills our lungs? So when I can’t utter anything else, is my cry calling out His name? His name is still heard and perhaps it is the loudest, when I’m the quietist?

   In sadness, we breathe heavy sighs. In joy, our lungs feel almost like they will burst. In fear we hold our breath and have to be told to breathe slowly to help us calm down. When we’re about to do something hard, we take a deep breath to find our courage. If the name of God sounds like an inhale and an exhale, breathing would just be giving Him praise, all the time and even in the hardest moments! I like that!

   “A breath of fresh air,” “Not worth the breath,” receive new meanings.

   So if HWHY, the name of God, sounds like an inhale and an exhale, being alive means I speak His name constantly! True or not, that’s pretty cool. 😎

יהוה
    (YHWH) is similar to the famous Hindu mantra AUM (OHM), which also represents the whole of everything whilst consisting of the three basic phonetic components of speech.

   All animals are, to some degree, conscious, both of themselves and of their environment. This dual consciousness culminates when animals look for a mate, and even a creature as small as a fruit fly won’t settle for anything other than another fruit fly. But for conscious thought, words are needed. Without words, the consciousness of animals comprises subconscious thought. The subconscious thought of animals is believed to be identical to human subconscious thought. This is thoughts without words. These are usually accompanied by vocal expressions other than words: Huh? Wah? Hey! Ah! Woohoo!.

   Those non-words certainly describe the words of my essentially three year old in human years, my dog Lady. She is a mammal and like all mammals, she breathes. She exhales and inhales. I may never be the same again after today, but sometimes I watch Lady while she sleeps, her breathing in and out, inhaling and exhaling. What if she is also, saying God’s name?

“This is so beautiful and fills me with emotion every time I grasp the thought. God chose to give himself a name that we can’t help but speak every moment we’re alive.
All of us, always, everywhere. Waking, sleeping, breathing, with the name of God on our lips.”

Sandra Thurman Caporale

   Now let’s look at other things from the scriptures that are proven. One of my favorite passages is from I Kings chapter 19:7-12

“The angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”

I Kings 19:7-10 KJV

   Elijah is pretty distraught and the angel answers him.

“And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

I Kings 19:7-12 KJV

   I love these words, “a still small voice.” After all the loud sounds, strong wind, breaking rocks, an earthquake and a fire, notice it says “God was not in” any of those. Then the whole things ends and moves on to a new subject seemingly passing over— “a still small voice” without once saying that is where God was. But that’s exactly where God was, a small still voice and who knows, maybe it sounded like breathing?

“ And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.”

Exodus 3:15 KJV

   Now let’s look at breath and breathing in the Word of God.

“By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.”

Psalm 33:6 KJV

“The Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature”

Genesis 2:7 KJV

   I just want to point out that in order for us to both inhale and exhale (breathe), God first breathed into (exhaled), into Adam and Eve.

The term “breathed his last” (can be found in Mark 15:37, 39; Luke 23:46. The words “breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’” by Jesus Christ to his 12 apostles from John 20:22 are actually the words “breathed in.”

“Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! “

Psalm 39:5 KJV

And Job:

“…for my days are a breath.” – Job 7:16
“the breath of the Almighty gives me life” – Job 33:4

“Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:”

Ezekiel 37:5 KJV

“As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.”

Ecclesiastes 11:5-6 KJV

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

Romans 8:26 KJV

“And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,”

Acts 9:1 KJV

   Breathing gives you the ability to make sounds and speak. Good things. Bad things. Blessings. Cursings. Life. Death. Paul was breathing threats and carrying out murderous acts. But God breathed His mercy upon him and he became a vessel and an instrument of God. Spirit and breath are the same word in Hebrew. Except the spirit come into you, you cannot be saved. The wind in the temple on the day of Pentecost was the breath of God. The breath, wind, spirit of God is our salvation.

“By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
And by the breath of His mouth all their host.”

Psalm 33:6

   After the original creation in Genesis 1:1, the earth became formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. The first thing God does in verse three is –

“And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”

   God did not have to create light, he already had in Genesis 1:1. What he did to this darkness that he neither created nor caused was to bring back light. Light gives everything life, color and holds all together.

Next, the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. If you look at the Genesis 1, the moving of the spirit of God or God breathing out (exhaling), yielded the forming, making and creation of – body, soul and spirit.

“By His breath the heavens are cleared; His hand has pierced the [swiftly] fleeing serpent.”

Job 26:13 Amplified Bible AMP

“The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life [which inspires me].

Job 33:4 AMP

   Our current word “inspiration” is a compound word, which is made up of in – spirit – action.

“But there is [a vital force and] a spirit [of intelligence] in man,
And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.”

Job 32:8 AMP

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”

John 14:26 English Standard Version (ESV)

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

John 16:13-15 ESV

“Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

John 3:5-8 ESV

“Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 KJV

“He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we have done, but because of His own compassion and mercy, by the cleansing of the new birth (spiritual transformation, regeneration) and renewing by the Holy Spirit,”

Titus 3:5 AMP

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost (holy spirit – the gift of God, not God the giver), and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Acts 2:1-4 KJV

   The words, “rushing mighty wind” are literally, “the sound of heaving breathing.” Look at how incredibly clear and detailed this verse is. Days before his death, Jesus Christ told his apostles to go to Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the father. He taught them how to receive by showing them and by the sound of his breathing in. So they were in the temple, during one of the hours of prayer. They were sitting and decent and in order. Then they heard the sound like heavy breathing and they remembered the word of Jesus Christ. Then using the mechanics of speech and breathing, they spoke in a new language unknown to them, but others in the temple understood them word for word.

“And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear (reverence or awe towards obedience) of the Lord.”

Isaiah 11:2 ESV

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners;”

Isaiah 61:1 New American Standard Bible 1995

      Among many things here, this prophecy about Jesus Christ involves speech and that involves breathing.

“It shall come about after this that I shall pour out My Spirit on all mankind;
and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions. Even on the male and female servants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.”

Joel 2:28-29 AMP

“But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Acts 1:8 American Standard Version (ASV)

“Then the lawless one [the Antichrist] will be revealed and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of His mouth and bring him to an end by the appearance of His coming.”

2 Thessalonians 2:8 AMP

“You blew with your wind; the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters.”

Exodus 15:10

“Then the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were laid bare
by the rebuke of the Lord, at the blast of the breath of His nostrils.”

2 Samuel 22:16 AMP

“Then the stream beds of the waters appeared, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at Your rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.”

Psalm 18:15

“By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of His anger they come to an end.”

Job 4:9 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

“He will not escape from darkness; the flame will wither his shoots, and by the breath of His mouth he will go away.”

Job 15:30 New American Standard Bible 1995

“But with righteousness He will judge the poor, and decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; and He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.”

Isaiah 11:4 New American Standard Bible 1995

“Scarcely have they been planted, scarcely have they been sown, scarcely has their stock taken root in the earth, but He merely blows on them, and they wither, and the storm carries them away like stubble.”

Isaiah 40:24 New American Standard Bible 1995

“So they will fear the name of the Lord from the west and His glory from the rising of the sun, for He will come like a rushing stream which the wind of the Lord drives.”

Isaiah 59:19 New American Standard Bible 1995

   The words – breath, breathing, voice, (“still small voice”), wind, and spirit are used throughout the Bible and are figures to describe the same thing. Let me close with these verses.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

II Timothy 3:16 KJV

   All scripture (singular for the plural) from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:1 is inspired by God. The words “inspired by God in the ancient Greek is theopneustos and means, “God breathed!” WOW! In one verse of scripture we find out how we got the Word of God. It was “God Breathed!” Then from the rest of II Timothy 3:16 we get its profit – doctrine how to believe rightly, reproof when not believing rightly and correction, to get us back to believing rightly. And these three and according to its literal usage, “which is instruction in righteousness.”

And in one verse of scripture (II Timothy 3:17), we get the purpose of the Word of God.

“That the man [or woman or child] of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

II Timothy 3:1617 KJV

   There are several words translated as “perfect” in the Bible. This is one and it is the Greek worth artios.

   Artios was used in the vernacular (Greek literature), in two ways. One was a ship, totally outfitted for a voyage, having more than necessary to reach its intended destination with much left over upon arrival, no matter the perils or time it took. That’s pretty perfect. Its other usage relates to modern arthrology, which is a study of joints as a ball and socket joint. If the tiniest foreign matter could interfere with a ball and socket joint, the pain would be excruciating and unbearable. Now that’s perfection! The words, “throughly furnished” are the extended usage of the word perfect. Here they literally mean, “through and throughly perfected.”

   So, this God Breathed Word is for doctrine, reproof and correction, which is instruction in righteousness, that the one that speaks for God may be perfect, through and throughly perfected, unto all good works! WOW!

Now to close with one verse we should all know first thing.

“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.”
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

II Peter 1:20-21 KJV

   This is the first thing we should all know about this God Breathed Word. No prophecy (singular for the plural) of the scripture (singular for the plural), from Genesis 1:1 – Revelation 22:21 is of any private (Greek; idios “ones own), interpretation. By logic this means you nor I, not the Pope nor anyone can interpret God’s, God Breathed Word. By logic again, that either means there is no interpretation possible or God’s Word has to interpret itself. That’s what it does!!! For this prophecy (singular for the plural), from Genesis 1:1 – Revelation 22:21 did not come in old time by the will of man. But holy men (and women and children), of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (God), who spoke to His creation (also holy spirit – lower case), in His people, the God Breathed Word!

   Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

Happy Birthday Jesus Christ

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By Dahni
© 2022, all rights reserved

   The following image first appeared, in the December 1969 issue of, Playboy Magazine. Yes, you read that correctly.

Fred Berger originally did it as a charcoal sketch. The picture appeared with the article, ‘For Christ’s Sake’ by Harvard theologian Harvey Cox. Many just refer to the illustration for the opinion piece as the ‘Laughing Jesus’. Most people have never thought of Jesus Christ laughing or smiling?

   Most people may have never seen this sketch or have likely read the article, ‘For Christ’s Sake.’ Most probably never read or looked at anything from Playboy Magazine? Most could not, cannot and will not believe that if Jesus ever lived, he did not have light colored skin or blue eyes. They would not accept that there was likely nothing extraordinary about him in his physicality, which made him any different, from any other man living at the time.

   But his so-called looks, comes to us through many artists and some of them known to us and famous. But forget history and culture and common sense. The depiction of Jesus was with piety and devotion to stupidity I guess? History put a halo around his head, wherever he walked. He must have been an ascetic, except that word does not define him.

“Ascetic (noun): In the early Christian church, one who practiced unusual self-denial and devotion; in modern usage, also one who retires from the customary business of life and engages in pious exercises; a hermit; a recluse.”

see:  https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ascetic

   That was not Jesus Christ. He was neither a social organizer nor a revolutionary. He came to fulfil the law. But neither was he some lack-luster human being that had no compassion or ever had any fun. Contrary to what you may have been taught, Jesus Christ loved life. He was not some accept-it-by-faith, will-less, spineless and foolish devotee that went to his own murder (slaughter), like a deaf, dumb and blind lamb.

   And most of you might be wondering, why am I celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ today, of all days, when it is tragedy not celebration, on the minds and hearts of many? It is because, this date in history (and certainly not December 25th), that this birth took place. To those that do not believe that, you are in good company. Most of the people in the world at the time and even his own people did not believe it, just a mother, father and a few shepherds.

   Yes, those were the only witnesses to this birth, besides God and the host of Heaven. The “Magi” (the made-up name with its own song called “we three kings’), we’re in route, but did not arrive until around 2 years later when they found “the young child” in a “house” and not a manger.

   There are a few things abundantly clear or they are by scholars and should be by all of us. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year is celebrated in September, not on January 1st. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. It is the celebrated anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, a Day of Judgment, the coronation of God as king, the coronation or recognition of all the kings of Judah, of Israel.

Rosh Hashanah is a high day or holy day (special Sabbath), in Israel. It is a one of only 5 days on the Jewish calendar in history, when at least the heads of every household were required to be in Jerusalem, no matter how far away they might have lived.

The date name was was called Tishri 1 (or Tishrei 1).

 Sunset or sundown began a new day as (Tishri 1) or Tishrei 1, not sunrise.

   The biblical accounts, historical records, and astronomical tools all indicate certain configurations of stars and planets, aligning in the visible night sky, ushered in this date.

   “No room in the Inn,” meant there were no accommodations to be had in Jerusalem as it was crowded and many would have likely made arrangements to have been there the year before and possibly even gave a deposit to their ‘Inn Keeper’ to hold their room.

   That the ‘manger’ was empty was because, no animals would have been kept there in September. This is why the shepherds were in the field attending to their sheep because; it was still warm enough to do so in September.

This is why the shepherds were able to see the incredible astronomical ‘Sky Movie’ before their eyes.

This small number of shepherds were humble and curious and this is why, they saw an angel, then the host of Heaven, were told the meaning of this and where to find this newborn baby.

   This is why the manger was clean, because no servile work could be done on the approaching holy day of Tishri 1 (Tishrei 1), Rosh Hashanah, the celebration of the Jewish New Year. Otherwise, people would be ceremonially unclean and not able to participate in the celebration of this high day, this holy day, this special Sabbath for the Jewish New Year.

   And with all this information, there is only one day in September when this birth took place. It was unknown to the masses of people filling and swelling Jerusalem, while they celebrated the beginning of their Jewish New Year. That particular year, when all the biblical prophecies and astronomical signs all lined up in history, all  were fulfilled on, September 11th!

   This was not hidden from anyone. One has to either be looking for something or they are humble enough to be told what they were looking at and where to go to look further. Even though the night sky was dark, it was lit up with stars and planets, showing what God had written there and had been coming to announce this date and exact moment, since the beginning of creation! Imagine being a shepherd. Of course you would have looked up and saw the stars and planets (all or many of which, you knew their names and the names formed the pictures and not looking and the stars themselves forming the pictures. This moving show was like a mobile, above the crib of the baby born.

   God had waited for thousands of years, for just one young woman (14-16 years of age), to believe and say to what had happened to her, just 9 months prior was, “Be it unto me, according to thy word!”

   The entire hosts of heaven (all the angels) were involved in celebration of this birth.

    Only a handful of shepherds saw the display in the sky. No one else was looking.

    At the exact moment of birth, only Mary and Joseph were present.

   At the exact moment of birth, an angel appeared to a handful of shepherds and told them what had happened and where to go and find this baby that had been wrapped in swaddling cloths that had been salted. By this they would know this baby king would have integrity. He would be morally and spiritually upright and straight. He would say what he meant and would mean what he said. And when they would find this babe, they would have it confirmed, because, the baby would have just been wrapped in salted swaddling cloths, when they arrived.

   Then suddenly, to this small number of shepherds, “…there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

   But all the multitude of peoples in Jerusalem what of them? They were too busy celebrating the New Year and being involved in the temple, to be looking towards the birth of a king, their long awaited King, Messiah, and Savior.

   But even so, God had his only begotten son, brought into this world with the joyous sound of announcing his birth throughout all of Jerusalem, with the sound of the blowing of trumpets and an incredible visual night display, for any eye to see that was looking to see!

   AlI of these things should have made ever eye enlarge in excitement and wonder, every lung paused to take its next breath and the hair on every arm to stand up, thrilled and in awe! It would have been this way for me!

   So to my ‘First Brother’, Happy Birthday, Jesus Christ!

   Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

The Renewed Mind

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By Dahni
© 2022, all rights reserved

The renewed is an incredible area for Biblical research, teaching and application. The words “renewing of your mind (renewed mind), are found in the New Testament Bible, in the book of Romans.

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Romans 12:2 KJV

When it comes to the brain (the physical organ of reception and perception), and the mind (Greek nous, the mental organ of reception and perception), there are separate parts designed, to make a whole. It begins with our sensors, which are normally, our five senses. They are sight, smell, and taste, sound and touch.

There are two hemispheres of the brain and they sometimes share similar functions, but each is separate or independent of the other, but normally, they are supposed to` work together, for whole thinking. Another word is, they are supposed to be  interdependent. By nature, nurture, choice or lack of ‘know-how’ and practice, we are left brain or right brain dominated. It should not be unbalanced, but equal. Some of these differences between the two hemispheres are as follows:

The Two Hemispheres

It is interesting to me in music, creativity (expressive arts), imagination and the mechanical or (in motor skills), like playing an instrument, rhythm (beats), and the tune of a song are best produced on the Right side of the brain. Whereas the words in a song are best suited, on the Left side of the brain. I would say singing is a motor skill that is required to develop, in order to become a fine singer. This explains why it may initially be difficult to vocalize the words of a song while playing and singing a song. The words sung come from the left side of the brain, while how it sounds is from the right. This is also an example of both sides of the brain working together to produce something without overlaps, chaos or confusion. Its successful “working together” is an example of the ‘Renewed Mind’, being transformed by the renewing of ones mind.

Faculties of the Mind

There are at least and what I believe are seven faculties of the mind. “Faculties” is a great word! Just imagine many professors or faculties required for our minds to function properly. These accepted faculties are— reason, memory, perception, will, intuition and imagination. I know, I wrote above I believe there are seven. Keep reading.

Reason

The definition of the verb “reason” is to form conclusions, judgments, or inferences from facts or premises. It involves choosing or selecting certain facts or premises and using them to establish conclusions, judgments or inferences. A person will choose their facts or premises, from either of two areas which are: Ideas which they have formulated and which reside in their objective or conscious mind and information conveyed to the objective or conscious mind, via the physical senses.

Memory

Like building a muscle, practice or repetition strengthens the neural network or increases the speed of the neurons firing between each other and in close proximity. Both the Left and Right hemispheres of the brain utilize memory, but generally, the right side is more efficient. It is far better to put something into our memory and later are able and quickly can recall it, if using memory aides. The ancient Greek orators were trained and skilled in being able to memorize and recall long and detailed speeches, by using such memory aides. Their often long-winded oratories (speeches), as if they were speaking as inspired in the moment (like from some god or the gods), or extemporaneously (impromptu, without preparation, notes, and etc.). But they had a system, a memory system which used the left side of the brain to speak while using the right side to remember it for later recall. They would visualize their familiar (the homes where they actually lived), beginning with the loki, the vestibule of their home. The loki was the “first place” one would see, coming to the home. This carry-over to the present day is still being used especially in writing and speaking for example, “the first point (loki), that I would like to begin with is…

The literal physical home was being used mentally or visualized while associating with the abstract. The orator could easily see in their mind their loki (“first place”), and entire home easily, because it was familiar to them and they had seen it countless times before. Then they would just associate something strange or weird or different with their familiars. The whole process made it easier to recall and they could be looking right at their audience while actually walking through their own homes room by room in their minds. They did not have to be concerned about people staring at them either! 🙂

Perception

Perception includes the five senses; touch, sight, sound, smell, and taste. It also includes what is known as proprioception or kinesthesia, your body’s ability to sense movement, action, and location. It’s present in every muscle movement we have. It detects changes in body positions and movements. It also involves the cognitive processes required to process information, such as recognizing the face of a friend or detecting a familiar scent.

Will

Will (free will), is important as one of the parts of the mind, along with reason and understanding. It is considered central to the field of ethics because of its role in enabling deliberate action. As one can will to do the right thing thay can also will to do its opposite.

Intuition

Intuition is a form of knowledge that appears in consciousness without obvious deliberation. It is not magical, but rather a faculty in which hunches are generated by the unconscious mind, rapidly sifting through past experience and cumulative knowledge. It is often referred to as “gut feelings”. Spiritually, this faculty may be where revelation is given a Christian. The difference between intuition and revelation may be known outside of the individual by the results. And this is why the seventh faculty of the mind is Truth, to be able to separate the differences between intuition and revelation.

Imagination

Imagination refers to holding in the mind a representation that may not yet be, but could be. It may not yet reflect the facts about the external world or the reality of the present. The faculty of imagination may use previous memories and a general knowledge of the world to recreate or change past memories or to imagine novel future events. Einstein said it is greater than knowledge. To a child that is allowed to be a child and encouraged to “play”, play is the province of imagination.

The highest achievement of a “natural man” [all-inclusive noun], without the spirit of God by natural ability, talent, and/or personal effort would be the nearly balanced and maximum development of all the faculties of mind. It is what all civilized, healthy and educated people strive towards— a whole, healthy and educated person.

But the best that this person of body and soul can do, is the best that they can do.
As great as it is, it will still fall short of a tripartite being, whose mind is being renewed
and a life transformed as it proves to themselves, what is that good, acceptable, and
perfect will of God.

Truth

Truth is a faculty that is only available to a Christian. Truth, like all the other faculties, must be developed. Truth is similar to Reason, but all the other faculties must be weighed and balanced by truth (spiritual knowledge), over all other faculties combined. The mind (the whole mind), must be willingly, a servant to truth above all. God does not ask of us anything that we are not capable of nor that He is unwilling to do himself.

“I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.”

Psalm 138:2

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;”

John 8:31 KJV

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

John 8: 32 KJV

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

I Corinthians 2:14

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”

Ephesians 3:20

How the Ancient Greeks and the Greek New Testament of the Bible,
Used Different Words Translated as Knowledge

agnoeό ignorant— ag (out, without, out of) + nous and its form noeό (mind). Alpha, is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. (alpha) is used as a prefix (called its “privative use”), and typically means “no” or “not”, “un-,” without”), hence, “ag” Greek words, whose first letter (of the root), is alpha, can not take an “alpha-privative” to negate them, so the only way to express their “antithesis” is using a negative particle before
them, as (ag”). So (ag) “out” + noeό (nous) “mind” = out of mind
Note: An agnostic is one that will not make up their mind.

eido (oida) “knowledge” is to be aware, consider, perceive. The word video is derived from this word. Like reading something from a book, this form of knowledge was considered basic or even common compared to ginosis

ginosis, also translated “knowledge” is “experiential knowledge” and valued

sophia, also translated “knowledge” is wisdom, the application of knowledge

sunesis also translated “knowledge” is, understanding. sunesis (which is transliterated over to synthesis means, “a running together” It was used of two rivers, Homer, Odyssey 10, 515. “two roaring rivers.”

In the ancient Greek mind and as the Greek words are used in the Greek New Testament of the Bible knowledge— eido (oida) was the beginning of some river on top of a mountain, like as gathered or collected snow melt.

The point at which this knowledge began to flow and down the mountain, this
knowledge (experiential knowledge), was called ginosis.

When, for example, another river began to flow downward from the other side of the mountain, the application of two or more branches of experiential knowledge (ginosis) are applied, this knowledge was called sophia, “ wisdom” and is, “the application of knowledge”.

As these rivers experiential knowledge (ginosis), flow downward at the same time, this application of knowledge was “wisdom” (sophia). But as they, this experiential knowledge (ginosis), and applied knowledge “wisdom” (sophia), reached the bottom of the mountain and at the point where they began to flow together, this knowledge is called sunesis “understanding” from which the word synthesis is derived.

It is all so logical, and of “logic” the Greeks were particularly committed.

“For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom (Gr. sophian) “wisdom”).”

I Corinthians 1:22 KJV

The words logo, logic and etc. are derived from the Greek words logikos and logos. The Word (The logos) is logical. The Word (The logos), also referring to God who is logical and He is, the logos.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

John 1:1 KJV

Every usage of the word “Word” above is, the Greek word logos

As a prayer, the psalmist asks God to order his steps, but actually, he is willing to place his feet where God would have him go because, he trusts God.

“Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.”

Psalm 119:33

What beautiful imagery can be brought up or imagined, when we willingly and lovingly allow God to order our steps. This is the logical action. This is the renewed mind when all the facilities of the mind are enlarged and balanced and can handle much information and even apparent contrary information without overlap, fatigue or confusion. Our twin brains are equal and are working together in harmony.

This is whole brain thinking. This is our only “religious” service if you want to call it this, but Christianity is not a religion. It is a vital spiritual relationship (a full fellowship), with God the Father and God the Creator. No wonder He wants us to “renew” our minds, so He can enjoy sweet times with us, beside us, along side of us, over, under, behind, through and inside us!

Enjoy the imagery to follow and say to the Father, you want Him to order your steps too!

Oder my steps in dirt

Order my steps in grass

Order my steps in mud

Order my steps in dust

Order my steps on the sun

Order my steps on the moon

Order my steps in salt

Order my steps in snow

If there is anything else Order my steps and let me place them where you have left yours

Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

The Renewed Mind is a Transformed Mind— a Whole Mind

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The Renewed Mind is a Transformed Mind— a Whole Mind!

By Dahni
© 2022, all rights reserved

Recently a man I call a friend, posted the following on his Facebook Page:

“From a neurological perspective, we learned in neuro class (most difficult class I ever took) about what they call the Gate Theory of pain. Simply, the prefrontal cortex is involved in sending messages/input to the spinal cord to inhibit pain. Fascinating to think that religion could be pursued by people for this very reason. I am just postulating this and want to look into it further, so if any of you know something/have references, I would love to read it.”

He gave the link to an article as:

msn.com/en-us/news/technology/scientists-establish-link-between-religious-fundamentalism-and-brain-damage/ar-AA101SgO?cvid=f73130ff7a15469c9f38ffff91287f5d

or url shortner: https://bit.ly/3zGEbOb

I read the entire article. However, there was no mention of the ‘Gate Theory’ to inhibit pain or association with the article.

What Is Gate Control Theory?

Gate control theory suggests that the spinal cord contains a neurological ‘gate’ that either blocks pain signals or allows them to continue on to the brain. This theory is often used to explain both phantom and chronic pain issues.

Unlike an actual gate, which opens and closes to allow all things to pass through, the gate in the spinal cord differentiates between fiber types when carrying pain signals. Specifically, pain signals traveling via small nerve fibers are allowed to pass while signals sent by large nerve fibers are blocked. And some pains signals may be blocked by will power, meditation and even religion. An athlete or a soldier or someone under duress could possibly block some of these pain signals or they may just will to ignore them?

But the following quote from the article, establishes the purpose of their research:

“Scientists establish link between religious fundamentalism and brain damage.”

“Since religious beliefs play a massive role in driving and influencing human behavior throughout the world, it is important to understand the phenomenon of religious fundamentalism from a psychological and neurological perspective.”

Reading into this article, Christianity is mentioned as another religion or among “fundamental religion[s].”

“119 vets with brain trauma to 30 healthy vets with no damage, and a survey that assessed religious fundamentalism was administered. While the majority of participants were Christians of some kind, 32.5% did not specify a particular religion.”

“Based on previous research, the experimenters predicted that the prefrontal cortex would play a role in religious fundamentalism, since this region is known to be associated with something called ‘cognitive flexibility’. This term refers to the brain’s ability to easily switch from thinking about one concept to another, and to think about multiple things simultaneously. Cognitive flexibility allows organisms to update beliefs in light of new evidence, and this trait likely emerged because of the obvious survival advantage such a skill provides. It is a crucial mental characteristic for adapting to new environments because it allows individuals to make more accurate predictions about the world under new and changing conditions.”

“According to Dr. Grafman and his team, since religious fundamentalism involves a strict adherence to a rigid set of beliefs, cognitive flexibility and open-mindedness present a challenge for fundamentalists. As such, they predicted that participants with lesions to either the vmPFC or the dlPFC would score low on measures of cognitive flexibility and trait openness and high on measures of religious fundamentalism.”

“The results showed that, as expected, damage to the vmPFC (ventromedial prefrontal cortex), and dlPFC (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex), was associated with religious fundamentalism.”

“On the other hand, religious beliefs are not usually updated in response to new evidence or scientific explanations, and are therefore strongly associated with conservatism. They are fixed and rigid, which helps promote predictability and coherence to the rules of society among individuals within the group.”

“By investigating the cognitive and neural underpinnings of religious fundamentalism, we can better understand how the phenomenon is represented in the connectivity of the brain, which could allow us to someday inoculate against rigid or radical belief systems through various kinds of mental and cognitive exercises.”

Excerpts and/or edited from:

Scientists Establish Link Between Religious Fundamentalism and Brain Damage

I had interesting observations from my friend’s FB page and this article he had linked. On his Facebook page there appears to be a cropped and poor quality picture of an older Pat Robinson, televangelist and former presidential candidate. This image is not found in the article itself, but seems to have been used to suggest he has brain damage? The word “conservatism” seems to have been associated with religious fundamentalism and brain damage. The word “inoculate” was used and this is a poor choice, considering its usual definition would indicate the introduction of some substance into the mind, even though its future hope is to change, “through various kinds of mental and cognitive exercises.”

The bias of the article seems to be pretty clear and transparent, which is religious fundamentalism, which ‘they’ would include Christianity to be damaging to the prefrontal cortex and preventing the brain from adapting, changing; from open-mindedness. And imagination and creativity too, I suppose? This may shock you, but Christianity is not a religion. It is the exact opposite of religion!

The Greek word for religion is thréskeia, (religion).
The Greek word for godliness is eusebeia, (godliness).
The word eusebeia as it is used in the Greek New Testament carries the meaning of “godliness” and is  distinct from thrēskeia, (religion).

But what does the Bible say?

“But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

Matthew 15:9 King James Version (KJV)

The key to this verse is the word “worship.” It would appeal to many as the desire to worship God, but to do so, the how of doing it was by the “doctrines” (right believing – a verb that denotes action and not just accepting it blindly), and “commandments” of people not God. But that is not correct. It says this is “vain”— wasted effort or not profitable. If something is not profitable, then it is unprofitable or profit-less. With great detail, the next verse explains what is not profitable and what is profitable.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

II Timothy 3:16 KJV

All scripture (singular for the plural scriptures), from Genesis 1:1 – Revelation 22:21 according to its own testimony here is “given by inspiration of God.” Those five words is one word in the Greek theopneustos and literally is translated as God breathed.” And All scripture (singular for the plural scriptures), from Genesis 1:1 – Revelation 22:21 is profitable. And it is profitable in three ways: doctrine (for right believing = right thinking = right actions = right results, for reproof when not adhering to the doctrine, and for correction when not adhering to the doctrine and turning aside to get back to it. You show a child the right thing to do and if they turn aside you tell them not to do that. But correction not only tells them not to do something, it turns them around and points them towards the right thing. Doctrine, reproof, and correction and the word “for” are the words “which is,” instruction in righteousness or right living, a life that is profitable. By the sheerest of logic, what is not “God Breathed” is of little to no profit.

Now let us take a look at a very important difference between religion (the doctrines of men [people]), and what God finds acceptable.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

Romans 12:1 KJV

The word “reasonable” is the Greek word lateria for “reasonable service.” Its meaning is, “service to God.” And satirically or as a figure of speech, it could be translated as “religious service.” Since one cannot sacrifice themselves or anything and lay it before God, how can this be done? It firsts helps to understand the contrasts between a living sacrifice and one that is, not living, at least after it is sacrificed. 😂

Still to this day, there are men and women that travel by long distances, (often by foot). They would journey to some holy shrine or temple. Often this so-called holy place was on top of a mountain or the highest place. This is where the gods were/are supposed to reside. And these worshipers, upon arriving, would remove their outer clothing and lay down and then roll their bodies up to the top of the holy place. I can’t imagine what their backs and likely ripped clothing would look like when they get there, if they get there! And this they do because, they were taught to do this. They felt or feel compelled to do this, as if this were somehow appealing to God. These were and are, the “commandments of men [people].” And it’s “vain,” not profitable. Clearly anyone can see that to the sacrifice there is no visible profit to them because, they are dead.

Religious cultures such as the Mayans believed in and practiced human sacrifice to appease their god or gods. A human sacrifice (a dead sacrifice), is also “vain” and not profitable. But this verse clearly says God does not want human sacrifices or dead sacrifices. He wants “living sacrifice[s]!” What is this and how is it to be done so that it is acceptable to God as if it was, our religious service?

Note: Here is a little study you can do on your own. If so it will likely shock you about the things the God of the Bible did not and does not desire. God never wanted all the laws that are found in it, kings (rule by royalty), judges, prophets, other things and no human sacrifice!

What is this religious service or how is this service to be rendered to God? The next verse in Romans 12:2 explains it extraordinarily.

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Romans 12:2 KJV

We just read another verse of contrasts. We are not to be “conformed” (to the doctrines and commandments of men [people] = religion). But in contrast, we are to be “transformed”. The word “transformed” is the Greek word metamorphous the from which is transliterated over to the word metamorphosis as a caterpillar is “transformed” into a butterfly. And this transformation comes by our “renewing” our minds, according to the doctrine, reproof, and correction (what does the Word say). And in so doing, we will prove what is that “good and acceptable and perfect will of God”. How will we be able to prove it? By the results or like fruit from our trees (in and of our lives)! Please note, this is by free choice. There is no compulsion. We do what the Word says and we will get the results. If we do not, we get consequences. It’s just this simple.

As the brain is the physical organ of conception and perception along with the other faculties of the brain, the mind is the mental organ of conception, and perception along with the other faculties of the mind. Here are a few more Greek words:

phronema – thoughts
nous– mind
sóphroneó – translated in his or her right mind and sound mind, sober-minded, able to
exercise self-control, having whole thoughts and whole thinking
exestē – out of your mind in the vernacular or insane

I am using the King James Version of the Bible to quote and reference scriptures here. It is pretty easy to understand and is very accurate, but there is another reason I am sharing it here. The real king, King James was he who authorized this version of the Bible, in 1611. What contemporary of his was alive at the time? If you think this was William Shakespeare, then you are smart! William Shakespeare (baptized April 26, 1564 – April 23 1616), was an English playwright, poet and actor. At least two of his tragedies (Hamlet and Macbeth), use words that were also familiar and used in the King James Version of the Bible. The words were, He or She was/is “beside themselves [himself or herself].”

Now I will not spend a great deal of time on this, but in contrast to sóphroneó (having a sound mind), the Greek word used below is exestē and means, “out of your mind, insane and etc.” It comes from ek “out” or “out from the center” and histemi “to put out of wits, to become insane.”

This word (exestē), is used several times in the Bible, sometimes of those possessed with some devil spirit that causes them to be insane. It was also used of Jesus Christ by his own mother and his half-brothers and half-sisters. For context, read the entire chapter of Mark chapter 3.

Jesus had 12 disciples. Fine, he needed help. But when he ordained them as apostles and sent them forth to also preach and perform miracles like he did, that’s when his “friends” (“those belonging to him”), said he was out of his mind and went to seize him.

“And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.”

Mark 3:21 KJV

“Being beside” oneself can be understood by the two hemispheres of the human brain, with each side specific in how information is processed. The left side of the brain tends to analytical and verbal skill whereas the right side of the brain lends itself more towards the so-called creative arts (expressive arts), imagination and etc. As in dreams, your brain cannot always determine what is real and what is not. Thus being beside yourself (insane), is the inability to control one’s thoughts and actions or distinguish between what is real and what is not. People with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease are thought to be ‘stuck’ inside their right minds. And this is what being besides oneself is, being “stuck” and unable to return to the real world.

It can get worse. Others believed Jesus Christ was possessed of Beelzebub. In other words he himself used a devil spirit to cast out other spirits. It’s like an army with a general telling all the rest to say, jump.

“And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.”

Mark 3:22 KJV

In Mark 3:31, his “friends” (“those belonging to him”), are identified as his “mother” and “brethren,” (half-brothers and half-sisters). They were all outside of a meeting where Jesus was teaching and they desired to speak with him. Note his own family were not hearing the Word of God he was teaching and that we knew from verse 21, they already believed he was insane, and were seeking an occasion to seize him.

“There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.”

Mark 3:31 KJV

Because of their relationship with Jesus, the multitudes “they” interrupted Jesus’ teaching.

“And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.”

Mark 3:32 KJV

Here is how Jesus answered—

“And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother. “

Mark 3: 33-35 KJV

So, essentially the multitude, Mary the Mother of Jesus, his stepfamily, and the scribes were not thinking clearly or they thought he was insane. This is what religion and the “doctrines and commandments of men” [people] do. It is just the opposite of Christianity or godliness, which is having a vital spiritual relationship with God.

Remember transformation (the change— the metamorphosis), comes by our renewing our minds freely, by thinking, acting and then proving to ourselves, what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Romans 12:1 KJV

There is a more modern term made up by the combination of two Greek words, nous (“mind”), and “Theos” (“God”). Combined, the word is nouthetic and is used with Nouthetic Counseling. But Nouthetic Counseling is not new. While the name is new, the sort of counseling done by nouthetic counselors is not.

From Bible times onward, God’s people have counseled nouthetically. The word itself is Biblical. It comes from the Greek noun nouthesia (verb: noutheteo). The word, used in the New Testament primarily by the apostle Paul, is translated “admonish, correct or instruct.” This term, which probably best describes Biblical counseling, occurs in such passages as Romans 15:14—

“And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.”

Romans 15:14 KJV

The words “to admonish” is the Greek word nouthetein.

Nouthetic Counseling embraces three ideas: Doctrine, Reproof and Correction which is, instruction in righteousness (right thinking = right actions = right living).

Because the New Testament term is larger than the English word “counsel,” and because it doesn’t carry any of the baggage that is attached to the latter term, we have simply imported the Biblical term into English. In that way, the full force of the Biblical concept of counseling may be set forth while avoiding the many contradictory connotations surrounding the English one. The three ideas found in the word nouthesia are doctrine, reproof and correction— to confront, concern and change (transform). To put it simply, nouthetic counseling is to produce sound thinking and sound living people, in order to make those changes God requires and expects each person to prove to themselves, what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

What are the effects, affects or results of this renewed mind, this transformed whole thinking and whole acting mind?

“That the man [all inclusive noun] of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

II Timothy 3:17

From one verse of scripture (II Timothy 3:16), we find what the whole Bible is profitable for— doctrine, reproof and correction, which is how to believe, think and live righteously (rightly, correctly). Now in one verse of scripture we see its purpose.

The man or woman or child, when speaking and believing God’s Word is, God’s “man” (woman or child). And believe it or not, it’s purpose is that this person might be perfect. This perfection (the Greek word “artios” in Greek literature is used as outfitting a ship with everything needed to make a journey and to reach its destination. It was also used for joints. The present medical studies have transliterated over from artios to anthrology, which is the study of joints. A specific joint as, ‘a ball and socket joint’ if not “perfect” and if the smallest matter were to come between its normal function, the pain would be excruciating! Now that is perfection!

So putting this all together and from an expanded view of this verse—

“That the man [all inclusive noun— man, woman or child] of God may be perfect, through and throughly perfected, unto all good works.”

II Timothy 3:17 expanded literal translation

“Good Works” is equal to good “fruit” as in Galatians—

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Galatians 5:22, 23 KJV

There are many factors that can indeed cause brain damage as drugs, perhaps genetics, some accident, devil spirit possession and yes, the “doctrines and commandments of men”—women and children A.K.A. religion. And as if from medical science, research and empirical evidence, and philosophy, psychiatry and psychology, if they do not understand that Christianity and godliness is not a religion, then they are wrong, confused and proposing inordinate thinking, which will indeed damage the brain.

Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but

I did not write the the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

Happy Birthday

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Happy Birthday!

By Dahni
© 2022, all rights reserved

I almost forgot what today is. As a matter of fact, I did forget, but thankfully, my sister reminded me. It was not the first thing I’ve ever forgotten and probably not the last. Still, Pentecost, the Birthday of the Church is pretty important!

Thank God there is no condemnation for, forgetting perhaps the most important thing ever written in God’s Word? Perhaps it is the most important thing in all of Christendom? It surely is the most important thing in the history of these United States of American! Without God ordaining this country way back in the 1700’s to be a Christian Nation, which has not only for over the past about 250 years, stood out in all the world, it still stands!

If not for God, His Word, the Old and the New testament of God’s Word, the Bible, ‘The Mystery’ and Christianity, WE the People would not have had the right to choose our government! We would have no unalienable rights without Christianity. Our nation is the only one in the entire world where rights come from God, not man. All other nations have human rights or are ruled by some ruler(s) or tyranny (tyrants).

There is no wonder why some people in our country do not want you or I to know these things or believe them. If rights come from humans (human rights), they can be given and they can be taken away. Of course these same people want us to forget the things of God, ‘The Mystery and, the Birthday of the Church.

It is a great thing that I was not born a woman, got married and had children. Could I have forgotten my own child? The Bible declares that this though nearly improbable or suggesting its impossibility, it is possible.

[The Lord answered] “Can a woman forget her nursing child
And have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.”

Isaiah 49:15 Amplified Version (AV)

The greater point here is though we may forget, even forgetting God, God never does forget us!

Let’s us now look to celebrating our birthday.

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”

King James Version (KJV)

Pentecost, this day in the past and now in this time of celebrating it, as far a God was concerned, has been coming for thousands of years ago before time began. God was ready, willing and able, but He (God), was waiting for certain things to be done. They had to be done by humans!

Jesus Christ was purposed for or is the purpose of the ages. He is the red-thread that binds the whole Bible together, from Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21. Jesus Christ has his name (some characteristic of him), in every book of the Bible. But God still had to wait for thousands of years, for one young woman (Mary), to believe and to say, “Be it unto me according to your Word.” This she had to do, to become pregnant by the will of God and deliver her “firstborn son”, but God’s only begotten son! This was not a mystery. It may have been hidden to those that are spiritually blind, but it was not hidden, it was written in prophesy and in the stars, thousands of years before it occurred!

God had created the heavens and the earths and hid all the truth within the stars, but  not ‘The Mystery’. And then He created the earth. And then, his masterpiece, in forming the body, making the soul and creating spirit in Adam and Eve. And then God rested (finished his work), on the next day as a reminder to rest for his creation. The idea has always been and his son Jesus Christ said with his last breath, “It is finished!” And then he (Jesus Christ), had to be resurrected. And then He (Jesus Christ), had to ascend up into heaven and through the heavens and be seated on the right hand of God, symbolizing, all is finished, all can be redeemed and all can be complete in him! And then God waited for the 1t apostles to appoint another apostle after Judas Iscariot. And then God had to wait for them to be in the temple on a certain day (Pentecost), and then for a certain hour of prayer. God waited for his servants to be together so that the whole of every male of every household of Israel had to be there, in the temple for this holy day of Pentecost!

Yes, God almighty, the Creator of the Universe had to wait for humans to rise up and do and be where they needed to be at the right time and place. And then, Pentecost was “fully come!”

But here is God’s viewpoint about ‘The Mystery’

“Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”

Colossians 1:26, 27 KJV

I will close with what I call God’s birthday present and birthday card to each of His Children that he has foreknown, planned for and fervently desired to have fellowship (full sharing), with us, even before the foundations of the heavens and the earths were thought about or laid.

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated (foreordained), us unto the adoption (sonship/daughtership not a legal adoption but birth), of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded (super-abounded), toward us in all wisdom and prudence (good sense); Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation (administration), of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated (foreordained), according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest (token- just a little bit), of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”

Ephesisans 1:1-23 KJV

So, Happy Birthday! 🎈🎂💜🎁

Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but

I did not write the the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

Vision Quest V (#5 in a series)

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Vision Quest V
“Every Day Would Be Great”

By Dahni
© 2022, all rights reserved

Don’t (can’t or won’t), believe in Signs, Miracles, and Wonders? Don’t see them, daily? Tired of them or just these posts you may not read? Perhaps you need a ‘Vision Quest?’

Vision Quest V
(Quill Journeys)

for and by Quill scribbers, Ink slingers, Gleemeants, and the part Fablers and Verities

Every age since the dawn of first time and every culture have had and/or have a quest for vision or answers to the simplest of questions as: who am I – why am I here – for what purpose am I supposed to fulfill?

So now we understand what a ‘Vision Quest’ is and what it is for. Now we need to understand HOW to do it, How to have one.

How to Vision Quest (what it is NOT):

If you think this will be about some form of chemical inducement to produce visions (hallucinations), this is incorrect. It is also a great waste of time and a health robber, mentally, physically, emotionally and spirituality! If we understand how the mind works and that we are supposed to be in control of it, using chemicals to produce required or desired results are wholly inadequate, compared to what we already have within our mental potential! But we do need to briefly discuss them here.

But for thousands of years people and some cultures have turned to such natural things as mescaline from peyote cactus (buttons), and other species of cacti. Psilocybin from certain fungi and other natural substances have been used. Drugs such as DMT (known as ‘the business trip’), as it is a less rapid onset, intense effects, and a relatively short duration of action compared to other naturally occurring hallucinogenic drugs is an alternative. Many believe chemical inducement or ingestion triggers these psychedelic experiences.

”Psychedelics are a class of hallucinogenic drugs whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary states of consciousness (known as psychedelic experiences or “trips”).This causes specific psychological, visual and auditory changes, and often a substantially altered state of consciousness. The “classical” psychedelics, the psychedelics with the largest scientific and cultural influence, are mescaline, LSD, psilocybin, and DMT.”

Excerpt from Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychedelic_drug

   So now we understand what a ‘Vision Quest’ is and what it is for. Now we need to understand HOW to do it, HOW to have one.

   Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

Next time: ‘How to Vision Quest’

Vision Quest (#4 in a series)

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Vision Quest IV
“Every Day Would Be Great”

By Dahni
© 2022, all rights reserved

Don’t (can’t or won’t), believe in Signs, Miracles, and Wonders? Don’t see them, daily? Tired of them or just these posts you may not read? Perhaps you need a ‘Vision Quest?’

Vision Quest IV
(Quill Journeys)

for and by Quill scribbers, Ink slingers, Gleemeants, and the part Fablers and Verities

Every age since the dawn of first time and every culture have had and/or have a quest for vision or answers to the simplest of questions as, who am I and for what purpose am I here. Call them rites of passage from youth to adulthood or some other evolution to a greater understanding and application of life and it’s deeper meaning, appreciation and experience. Whole societies could participate or those of a family and individuals. Tools or aides can be as simple as a fire and the aloneness in nature.

Why Vision Quest:

“European anthropologists used the term vision quest to describe certain ceremonies of indigenous communities of North and South America. These ceremonies, which served for thousands of years to mark significant changes in both individual and community life, were important in the social health of these communities. While each indigenous tribe would have its own unique ceremony, naming them all vision quests suggests certain common elements: solitude, time spent alone in nature, fasting, and seeking understanding or purpose through connection with both the visible and invisible worlds.”

Excerpt from: https://wildernessquest.org/vision-quest/

Being “Born Again”

The analogy of being or becoming “Born Again,” — the analogy of spirit or a spiritual experience. A tree growing from its dead trunk.The analogy of spirit or a spiritual experience compared with wind— ‘Ride the wind,’ ‘Roping the wind, ‘The Wind in your Hair’

“Have you ever felt the wind, in the leaves among your heart”

Shawn Philips singer/songwriter/poet/musician

Over time, vision quest came to refer more generally to this kind of ceremony, found in some form on every continent, by every culture and all people.

Shedding our skin or our former selves

Breaking free from our shell or our former selves

Renewed Mind

“Therefore I urge you, [brothers and sisters], by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].”

Romans 12:1-2 Amplified Version

The word “transformed” is the Greek word metamorphoomai, which is transliterated over to, the current word “metamorphosis” and the visual example of a transformation is like that of a caterpillar to a butterfly. By the way, my sister Carol Lee, recently has been taking a class on ‘The Renewed Min.’ She shared with me that a caterpillar is basically a selfish creature, spending its existence to mostly eating and receiving. A butterfly is a transformative creature that gives back and helps all of creation in spreading pollen. Let’s be renewed. Let’s be transformed and transformative. Let’s be butterflies! 🦋🦋

So now we understand what a ‘Vision Quest’ is and what it is for. Now we need to understand HOW to do it, HOW to have one.

Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

Next time: ‘How to Vision Quest’ (what it is Not)

Vision Quest (#3 in a series)

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Vision Quest III
“Every Day Would Be Great”

By Dahni
© 2022, all rights reserved

Don’t (can’t or won’t), believe in Signs, Miracles, and Wonders? Don’t see them, daily? Tired of them or just these posts you may not read? Perhaps you need a ‘Vision Quest?’

Vision Quest III
(Quill Journeys)

for and by Quill scribbers, Ink slingers, Gleemeants, and the part Fablers and Verities

Every age since the dawn of first time and every culture have had and/or have a quest for vision or answers to the simplest of questions as, who am I and for what purpose am I here. Call them rites of passage from youth to adulthood or some other evolution to a greater understanding and application of life and it’s deeper meaning, appreciation and experience. Whole societies could participate or those of a family and individuals. Tools or aides can be as simple as a fire and the aloneness in nature.

It all begins with ‘The Call’ 📞

The Call:

Mother or Father, some tribal leader, family, friend, mentor or God may call. But there is something innate about this upon our senses, which draw us. By place, event or age, we believe we are drawn because- it is time, it is our time.

Our inner ears at least, must be open to hear this call and at minimum, our finger wakings or stirrings from silent sleep must hear and answer this call by going toward it, like a moth to flame.

There is no race or gender, age – young and old this call excludes. Intellect small or great, wealth nor lack is factor. Man, woman or a child at times hear this call and feel its drawing power to transition, change, and to deepen their understanding about life and spirituality – a plane above the more five senses.

‘The Call’ is as ancient as humanity. It is the path of hero and heroine. It is the seeker’s call of enlightenment.

The words “vision quest”, “rites of passage,” “wilderness quest”, and even “the call,” belong to no certain people or culture, anymore than a rainbow or the word “gay” belongs to any one race, group, individual or culture. Whatever this event is called, it is common to all, belongs to all and has existed throughout the earth among all people, for all time. It begins as simply as—

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find;
knock, and it shall be opened unto you:”

Matthew 7:7 King James Version

The results or consequences are determined by the individual’s believing and the resources available at the time of their vision quest. Results and consequences may vary from time to time and even with the same individual. But it’s draw and it’s pull is nonetheless as real as breathing air. But if we are not open to the “call,” it may not come or repeated rejection may longer be a part of our conscious minds Listen! Seek and search!

There are parchments, papers and virtual screens to hold these stories, tales, truths and fables. Now what be a fable, but an imagined way to tell the truth!

True or fake and false, the mind does not distinguish nor separate, what I-magination has formed and reality holds.

Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

Next time: ‘Why Vision Quest’

Vision Quest (#2 in a series)

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Vision Quest II
“Every Day Would Be Great”

By Dahni
© 2022, all rights reserved

Don’t (can’t or won’t), believe in Signs, Miracles, and Wonders? Don’t see them, daily? Tired of them or just these posts you may not read? Perhaps you need a ‘Vision Quest?’

Vision Quest II
(Quill Journeys)

for and by Quill scribbers, Ink slingers, Gleemeants, and the part Fablers and Verities

Every age since the dawn of first time and every culture have had and/or have a quest for vision or answers to the simplest of questions as: who am I – why am I here – for what purpose am I supposed to fulfill?

What is a Vision Quest:

Every age since the dawn of first time and every culture have had and/or have a quest for vision or answers to the simplest of questions as: who am I – why am I here – for what purpose am I supposed to fulfill?

Call them rites of passage from youth to adulthood or some other evolution to a greater understanding and application of life and it’s deeper meaning, appreciation and experience. Whole societies could participate or those of a family and individuals. Tools or aides can be as simple as a fire and the aloneness in nature.

Other tools and aides to this vision quest or these ceremonial rites of passage, are often solitude, fasting, purposed hunger and thirst and exposure to nature- nights and days- hot, cold, wind, rain, sleet, snow and other cycles. Enduring these help us to face our fears, meet for the first time, awaken and perhaps affirm our inner strengths and capacities.

We seek an audience with God or Nature’s God and to hear and listen to the sound of own souls.

We do this to awaken, to heal or strengthen (prepare and ready), ourselves for what we know to be ahead or what we may encounter. We seek to transform our lives from the ordinary to the extraordinary.

A Vision Quest can have as wide a berth in purpose and worth as the seeming endless variables and differences of those that seek them. It could be to face any or many or all the transitions or crises people face. They be such as: entering pubescence, adulthood, some life crises or transition including- a career change, marriage, adulthood, the death of a loved one, the affirmation one’s chosen identity or acceptance

Be a recovery from some addiction, trauma, and more. May perhaps, It was also a sacred adventure, a test for what you believe you believe. An allowance for self-discovery and renewal of what had maybe, has become plain, too normal, stagnant and stale. Perhaps some things that sensitize your crud that prevents your being in tune, is in order?

What could be more necessary! To give birth in Italian is literally dona alla luce, “give to the light!” For a day, a night, a few of those- why not let this be like a new birth for you and I!

What are our four walls, our present reality; all your responsibilities and stress, but to protect the dreamer that we wall up inside? Maybe not the dreamer, then the innocence of youth, the wonder and curiosity? Keep that lamp lit and let that burn! Is that not both what is the and the end of day (night), the beginning (morning), and the why, of a Vision Guest?

 

   

Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

Next time: ‘The Call’

Vision Quest (#1 in a series)

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Vision Quest I
“Every Day Would Be Great”

By Dahni
© 2022, all rights reserved

Don’t (can’t or won’t), believe in Signs, Miracles, and Wonders? Don’t see them, daily? Tired of them or just these posts you may not read? Perhaps you need a ‘Vision Quest?’

Vision Quest I
(Quill Journeys)

for and by Quill scribbers, Ink slingers, Gleemeants, and the part Fablers and Verities

Introduction:

Every age since the dawn of first time and every culture have had and/or have a quest for vision or answers to the simplest of questions as, who am I and for what purpose am I here. Call them rites of passage from youth to adulthood or some other evolution to a greater understanding and application of life and it’s deeper meaning, appreciation and experience. Whole societies could participate or those of a family and individuals. Tools or aides can be as simple as a fire and the aloneness in nature.

Now before this begins, it must be told the whom and what the “for(s)” and the “by(s)” are here. These are laid down exactly as received and are important “for” and “by” the tellers. Other synonyms or words similar to or just to describe and define other words that could be used here could be: writers, poets, storytellers and wordsmiths. “Part Fablers and Verities” are those that fashion fables with characters and write truths (verities), with letters. Together, these make words to share information for transformation.
But I had finger wakings or stirrings from silent sleep. Quintessential word tools appeared and I enclosed them all into a black velvet, silver lined bag to transport them. “Finger wakings” or “stirrings” were for fingers walking, the principal or main mode of transportation, for these journeys of ‘Vision Quest’.

These pages might appear as if written by witches, wizards, fairies or elves, but these are not fake or false. These are very real and living fingers that live just on the other side of imagination and between wake and sleep.

The contents before the bagging were doubled for the two worlds they are designed to live in- the real and virtual worlds; the physical world and cyberspace.

The first two of these Quintessential word tools, are quills or pens, feathered pens. They are quintessential (representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class), and they are essential (necessary). Both types of quills (or pens), represent a permanence to capture, record, store and archive what is penned for posterity, the all generations of all future people, or at least for, a very long time.

A good quill from birds of flight was good feel in the hand and suggest flight as the fingers wrapped about begin to stir and move the quill about with the imagination. Stories, poems, tales and truths were passed along from ear to ear and often much changed or was lost in the interpretive telling. The quill, inks and parchments were used to capture the exact words and give them a sense of permanence.

The other quill, laid out here, is one of virtual essence- existing in essence or effect though not in actual fact or form. Made with our digital devices, electronic text for some storage place or cloud for our Internets and Intranets of digital data.

There are two bottles of ink with which to dip our quills and write. Each is red in color and made with the blood of our souls. We pour them into bottles and dip our quills and the stirring or walkings of our fingers pour out into characters and letter and words.

There are parchments, papers and virtual screens to hold these stories, tales, truths and fables. Now what be a fable, but an imagined way to tell the truth!

True or fake and false, the mind does not distinguish nor separate, what I-magination has formed and reality holds.

Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

Next time: ‘What is a Vision Quest?’

Are Signs, Miracles, and Wonders Still Possible Today

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Are Signs, Miracles, and Wonders Still Possible Today
“Every Day Would Be Great”

By Dahni
© 2022, all rights reserved

Signs, Miracles, and Wonders? Are they still possible daily?

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

Acts 17:11

They did not just listen to what others told them. They looked these things up in the scriptures for themselves.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

John 14:12

What works did Jesus Christ do? Who is the “you” in the above verse. Was Jesus only speaking to his disciples? Or does this verse apply to anyone that reads them? If we do not see signs, miracles and wonders today, it would be quite easy to make the excuse that these do not apply today, only for certain people in time past. But re-read the verse again. Was this verse ever fulfilled?

The More than Noble Bereans

Be like a Berean. Have a ready mind and search the scriptures daily. Study…

 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

II Timothy 2:15 King James Version

Expect to do the works of Jesus Christ and “greater” and expects signs, miracles and wonders’ EVERY DAY!

Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

Where and Whom are We Hanging With

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Where and With Whom are We Hanging With
“Every Day Would Be Great”

By Dahni
© 2022, all rights reserved

Signs, Miracles, and Wonders? Where and with whom are we hanging with?

“And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?”

Luke 24:32

The Road to Emmaus

“And then, that very day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. While they were talking and discussing it, Jesus Himself came up and began walking with them. But their eyes were [miraculously] prevented from recognizing Him. Then Jesus asked them, “What are you discussing with one another as you walk along?” And they stood still, looking brokenhearted. One of them, named Cleopas, answered Him, “Are you the only stranger visiting Jerusalem who is unaware of the things which have happened here in these [recent] days?” He asked, “What things?” And they replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet powerful in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers handed Him over to be sentenced to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel and set our nation free. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. And also some of the women among us shocked us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and they did not find His body. Then they came back, saying that they had even seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive! Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women had said, but they did not see Him.” Then Jesus said to them, “O foolish men, and slow of heart to trust and believe in everything that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and [only then to] enter His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and [throughout] all the [writings of the] prophets, He explained and interpreted for them the things referring to Himself [found] in all the Scriptures.”

Luke 24:13-27 Amplified Version

Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

Do You Believe

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Do You and I Believe in Signs, Miracles & Wonders
“Every Day Would Be Great”

By Dahni
© 2022, all rights reserved

Do you believe in signs, miracles or wonders? I do! If you do not, then what do you believe in, “Same O?” What if it is intentional that we are formed have a body), made (have a soul), and created (have a spirit), to live in the realm of the miraculous, every day. Wake up, get up and rise from the the dead. What are you seeing in your life? Any questions?

   Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

Signs, Miracles & Wonders III

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Signs, Miracles & Wonders III
“Every Day Would Be Great”

By Dahni
© 2022, all rights reserved

A favorite poem of mine is as follows:

God has no hands but our hands

with which to give His people bread.

God has no feet, but our feet

with which to walk among the almost dead.

We say that we are His, and He is ours.

Deeds are the proof of this, not words,

And these are the proving hours.

 The problem with signs, miracles and wonders? One never gets used to seeing them. What’s the problem? If we are not experiencing these daily, maybe the reason is not with God, but because of you and I?

   Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

Signs, Miracles & Wonders II

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Signs, Miracles & Wonders II
“Every Day Would Be Great”

By Dahni
© 2022, all rights reserved

   The problem with signs, miracles and wonders? One never gets used to seeing them. What’s the problem? If we are not experiencing these daily, maybe the reason is not with God, but because of you and I?

   Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

Signs, Miracles & Wonders I

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Signs, Miracles & Wonders I
“Every Day Would Be Great”

By Dahni
© 2022, all rights reserved

   There are a couple of stanzas from a favorite hymn of mine, which well up inside me and pour from my eyes, every time I think of them or hear them. The only other ways that I know of to describe my feelings are twofold:

1. There is line from a song by Shawn Phillips, ‘Burning Fingers’ from the Album ‘Collaboration’ ©1971

“Have you ever felt the wind in the leaves among your heart.”

2.  After Mary (the mother of Jesus Christ), conceived, she went to the home of her cousin Elizabeth, who was also pregnant with her son John (John the Baptist). And when Elizabeth heard the voice of Mary…

“For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.”

Luke 1:44 Amplified Bible

   Perhaps the pictures I have found and will share with you, will visually capture the Hymn I have chosen below.

O’ for a thousand tongues to sing
Our great redeemer’s praise
The glory of our God and King
The triumphs of His grace

Hear him ye deaf, his praise you dumb,
Your loosened tongues employ,
ye blind behold your savior come
and leap you lame for joy

Excerpts from the hymn written by Charles Wesley in 1739

“Ye blind behold…”

“…loosened tongues…”

 

“Hear Him ye deaf…”

“Leap ye lame for joy”

      Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

Seeing Signs, Miracles & Wonders (part 5 Final)

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Seeing Signs, Miracles & Wonders (part 5 final)
“Every Day Would Be Great”

By Dahni
© 2022, all rights reserved

Seeing Signs Miracles and Wonders

“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light,
and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness,
we lie, and do not the truth:”

I John 1: 5,6, KJV

Now look at these incredible things from I John, the as he is, stuff—

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another,
and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

I John 1: 7, KJV

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see himas he is.
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous,
even as he is righteous.”

I John 3: 2,3,7, KJV

We are not some poor, pathetic people that must by good works, hope that after the struggle that we might make it into heaven? No, we are God’s children, brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ and the family and the household of God. What can we ask our Father for?

“Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

I John 3: 21,22, KJV

This is not to say that we will not endure the temptation to fear or may not suffer persecution. This is not to suggest that being in this world, we will always have fair winds and smooth sailing. Or as Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, published in 1851 wrote, “Let me square the yards, while we may… and make a fair wind of it homeward.” In other words, let me square the yards (add on all sail) and make a safe journey home.

Oh, and here is a little extra. There is a Constellation called Argo. The ancient Greeks knew about this and there were stories (myths), like ‘Jason and the Argonauts’ — as the sailors on their ship the “Argo” were known, in search of the Golden Fleece. But this very real astronomical constellation gets it’s pictorial description from knowing the names of the stars. One can not look up into the night sky or with some aide like a telescope and see a groups of stars, which look like a ship (boat with sails), but this is what the constellation Argo is all about. It’s position in the “heavens” is in the north, where there are less stars. This was God’s way of pointing out “The Mystery that He hid and revealed first to the Apostle Paul and others, but had the Apostle Paul write it and thus, “fulfill the Word of God. “Argo is made up of stats and planets come in and out of Argo and planets or literally, “wanderers” as they move around (orbit) the sun. This is visual poetry and prophecy that the pilgrims “this world is not our home” but the wayfaring men and women will all as if they will be boarding a ship for “everlasting life”, someday in the future! This is, the return of Jesus Christ (his second coming), which triggers the “end times.” And it may interest you to know a vernacular meaning of how the Word of God views a man or woman that speaks for God. As a matter of truth, one verse of scripture shows how the Word of God came into manifestation (II Timothy 3:16, KJV). So too and so absolutely true, one verse of scripture shows the purpose of God’s Word—

“That the man (or Woman) of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

II Timothy 3:17

There are several words translated as perfect from ancient Greek words. The word “perfect” above is the Greek word artiós. It is used in Greek literature as a ship totally outfitted for a voyage, with all that is needed to safely arrive to its destination. In the medical world their is a study called, arthrology, which is the study of joints and enarthrosis, which is the study of a certain type of joint (like a ball and socket joint).  Both of these are transliterated from the the word artiós and are translated in the above verse as “perfect.” If the smallest foreign particle were to exist between a ball and a socket, the pain would be unbearable! This is how “perfect” the ball and socket was designed by God to function. This is how “perfect” God’s Word makes His men and women (those that speak for Him)! The literal translation of this verse according to usage is—

“That the man (or Woman) of God may be perfect, through and throughly perfected, unto all good works.”

II Timothy 3:17 Literal translation, according to usage

Consider the times in the Bible. God’s adopted people were once in dire straits. Joseph was sold by his brothers as a slave to Egypt. But he operates manifestations and that knowledge and wisdom, allowed him to become next to Pharaoh in authority and Joseph in essence saved his own people and many people from starvation because of, a terrible drought throughout the world. And Joseph was responsible for the golden era of Egypt. For food, he sold it for what people had, and at the end of the drought, Egypt was wealthy!

Even though the people of Israel had been taken captive and sent to Babylon and Persia and under the control of Rome during the times of Jesus Christ, certain people that operated manifestations of the spirit rose to top positions in these foreign governments, such as Daniel and others.

Esther was a Jew and she became Queen to a Persian King and she saved her people. Famine and drought so great in the land, that God even brought ravens just to feed one of his people.

So what, what the world does? We have been made to be more than conquerors. One of my favorite scriptures that I have often used in times of trouble is—

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

I John 4:4, KJV

Sometimes it is not the quantity you know, but the quality you believe. No matter what, God will always take care of his children!

“I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken,
nor his seed begging bread.”

Psalm 37:25, KJV

“Thou therefore, my son [or daughter], be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou
to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness,
as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the
affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.”

II Timothy 2:1-5, KJV

Note: The above scripture does not say we are soldiers of the lord or we are in a war. It does not say we are athletes. But the the analogy of soldiers and warfare and the words “strive for masteries” is a form of the Greek word athleó and literally means “contend in the games”. The Olympic games were originally designed to keep soldiers in top physical condition during times of peace. So, in times of war (soldiers) or in times of peace (athletes), we are to do so lawfully and receive our crown  and the words of our Lord, “Well done thou good and faithful servant!” 

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing
the word of truth.”

II Timothy 2:15 KJV

For one thing, just by studying and rightly dividing God’s Word, we will be avoiding a lot of negative stuff like fear, and junk even from people that are supposed to be smart and maybe even leaders in the Church? Look at the scriptures from II Timothy 2:15-18

“But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already;
and overthrow the faith of some.”

II Timothy 2:15-18 KJV

Now obviously, if “the resurrection” is past, so also would be the “Gathering Together”. Remember, not everyone in the “Gathering Together” will be dead, some will be alive at the time and this is why it is not called a resurrection. A resurrection however, does mean that people that are dead will rise from the dead. There will be two of these, the resurrection of— the just and the unjust.

I am not sorry if you believe otherwise, but there have not been any resurrections yet! No I’m not talking about those that died like Lazarus, who later died again. But there has been no resurrection of the just or the unjust. Moses has not been resurrected, not David or his son Solomon, no one that has died prior to Acts 2:4. And the Gathering Together has not yet occurred either! This means that no one, not our grandparents, our mothers, fathers, other family or friends and no one that died has gone to heaven! This is nothing more than false comforts to better deal with those we love, dying. But it is void of biblical authority. It is simply just not true. How ridiculous, how ludicrous to think such a thing! If someone we loved, knew or knew about died, many years ago and immediately went to heaven, why during the Gathering Together or any Resurrection (just or unjust), would God find it necessary to reunite their body, soul and spirit?

Read the entire chapter of Hebrews eleven sometime. Many people and familiar names are mentioned. But look what it says of all of them in verse thirteen—

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”

Hebrews 11:13, KJV

Coming in the future, all will either be “Gathered Together” or rise in some Resurrection. But not yet!

“And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.”

I Corinthians 6:14, KJV

If these things are not true, then our testimony of the resurrection of Christ and the Gathering Together to Christ are both false, and Jesus Christ would have not come the first time, was crucified and resurrected and the dead do not rise.

“Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.”

I Corinthians 15:15, KJV

“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,”

I Corinthians 15:51, KJV

If others have died and have been transferred to heaven a long time ago— days, months, years, centuries or even thousands of years, those benefits would give them what others do not have, would be unfair and it would make God a respecter of persons, He is NOT!

“For there is no respect of persons with God.”

Romans 2:11, KJV

A More Sure Word of Prophecy

Finally, Peter and the other disciples were with Jesus Christ and were eye witnesses of his resurrection. That’s pretty proof positive, but what about us today? Peter said we have an “even more sure word of prophecy!”

“For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard,
when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy;
whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place,
until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time
by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

II Peter 1:16-21, KJV

Ladies and Gentlemen, this more sure word of prophecy than witnessing the works of Jesus Christ and his resurrection from the dead and his ascension, is first knowing that not a single word or scripture from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 is of “any private” (one’s own), “interpretation”! The speaking as moved by the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit, God), is by way of, the operations of the nine manifestations of the spirit (I Corinthians 12-14). These produce the nine fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5).

How do I know that I know these things? In addition to what we have already looked into, I speak in tongues. I still speak in tongues. And of the nearly eighteen benefits of speaking in tongues (just one of the nine manifestations of the spirit), it is greater proof than being there personally, at the resurrection of Jesus Christ! It too is, a “more sure word of prophecy!”

“Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.”

Acts 2:29-33, KJV

On the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), Peter and the eleven were sitting quietly at an hour of prayer in the temple. The temple was crowded being a feast day and all the heads of families were required to be in Jerusalem, no matter what part of the world they lived in at the time. They came from many countries all around Israel.

At the time Pentecost “was fully come”, since before the beginnings of the world and of time, God poured out His spirit first upon a band of Galileans, uneducated and unlearned men and they began to speak in other tongues. This is what the multitude saw and heard and this speaking in tongues was and is, proof of, the resurrection of Jesus Christ!

If Jesus Christ came the first time, was crucified, was resurrected, and ascended up, into and through the heavens and sat down on the right hand of God (all was complete), then he will so come again! Until then, we, God’s Children, can operate all nine of the manifestations of the spirit (I Corinthians 12-14) and receive the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5). This still is the Administration of Grace or the Administration of, the Church of God.

“Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

I Thessalonians 4:18, KJV

“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”

I Thessalonians 5:11, KJV

Study the seven Church epistles— Romans through II Thessalonians, a lot! Get some answers to prayer! Have some power! See signs, miracles and wonders! Every Day Would Be Great! No matter what the world does, we need not ever fear!

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33, KJV

Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

Start from the beginning Part 1

Seeing Signs, Miracles & Wonders (part 4 of 5)

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Seeing Signs, Miracles & Wonders (part 4 of 5)
“Every Day Would Be Great”

By Dahni
© 2022, all rights reserved

Living in the Realm of the Miraculous

Now you may think and believe as many have been taught and believe still, that signs miracles and wonders went out or ended with the first century apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers? Well. I am here to write that is nothing, but an excuse for why we do not see signs, miracles and wonders! How convenient that you or I don’t have to have signs, miracles and wonders following us, because they are no longer available? Poppycock!

Remember, in first knowing the truth and the truth absolutely making you free IF you continue in the truth? Well, here is how these signs miracles and wonders work. We have to promote the right stuff. The right stuff is the truth of God’s word that is rightly divided (II Timothy 2:15, KJV). The signs miracles and wonders are God’s marketing program and the sign we are teaching (promoting), the right stuff!

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

Hebrews 2:3,4, KJV

You, others or me— if there are no signs miracles and wonders, it is because of unbelief! Unbelief even prevented Jesus Christ from doing many mighty works!

“And he [Jesus Christ] did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.”

Matthew 13:58, KJV

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

Galatians 2:16, KJV

Prior to Acts Chapter 2:4, when the Day of Pentecost was “fully come”, the spirit of God was upon and not within. It was upon a condition. The condition was that if you walked according to the will of God, the spirit of God upon you would remain. This was still the only way a man of woman could do the mighty works seen in the Old Testaments, the gospel period when even Jesus Christ had the spirit of God upon him, just like Adam and Eve did, before they sinned against God.

Having the spirit of God upon or within (eternal life-everlasting spirit), is what enables men and women to do the works of God— signs, miracles and wonders.

“If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.”

John 10:37,38, KJV

Before Acts Chapter 2:4, when the Day of Pentecost was “fully come,” Jesus Christ had told his 12 disciples/apostles—

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

John 14:12, KJV

At some point, Jesus Christ had sent out the 12 and others and they had power. They did works— signs, miracles and wonders. Many of these works were the same that Jesus Christ did himself. But in the verse above, Jesus told them that those who believe on him would be able to do the works that Jesus Christ did and “greater works!” WOW, not just the works that he did absolutely (shall), but they shall (absolutely), do even greater works than Jesus Christ! WOW! How is that even possible? What are these “greater works”? You can search the scriptures until you are blue in the face, but these “greater works” that Jesus could NOT do, was only because, they were not available until Acts 2:4 when Pentecost was “fully come!” Oh yes, it had been coming long before creation in God’s vision, purpose and planning. Search the scriptures until you are blue in the face, but these “greater works” were threefold. There were just three things (“greater works” ) that Jesus Christ could not do, but after the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:4, those that believe on him could absolutely do? And these are:

1. Speak in an unknown tongue (a language that others may or may not know, but the speaker does not)
2. Interpret the unknown tongue the speaker spoke in sum and substance of that which was unknown to the speaker
3. Lead someone into the new birth – eternal life everlasting life, being born again

We are to continue to walk in the spirit. Signs, miracles and wonders follow, the hearing and believing of, God’s rightly divided and magnified Word (see: Psalm 138:2b, KJV). This is still the age or the Administration of Grace, the New Dynamic Church Administration. Why because, all nine manifestations of the spirit are still available as is the nine fruit of the spirit. How would anyone know these times had passed, if the Lord had already returned?

“But of that day and hour knoweth no man,
no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father.” only.

Matthew 24:36, KJV

If no one knows the day, time, and hour, then no one knows!

What if we had to go through the day of wrath, the end times of Matthew 24 and the book of Revelation? We do not, we don’t and we won’t!

“Much more then, being now justified by his blood,
we shall be saved from wrath through him.”

Romans 5:9, KJV

We will either be raised from the dead (no more to corrupt), or gathered together with him in the air, like immortals, when he comes for his saints. Then we will come with the saints when he returns to earth and all the things of “the end” will be done. We will be kicking some unrighteous ass and even judging the angels (devil spirits), that wrecked havoc on this earth since they along with Lucifer (the devil), were cast out of heaven.

Until this time, it is God’s people, his children, those born of holy spirit by God who is Holy Spirit (God in Christ in you and me), God and Father and Creator, that holds back the full force of evil. No matter how bad it may get, it will get worse in the future. But until then, it is us, God in Christ in us that holds back the devil and the full force of his lying signs and wonders and power of evil.

“And now ye [you] know what withholdeth [holds him back or down— the devil and his host] that he [the devil (all his host), and Satan, all his influence] might be revealed in his time.”

II Thessalonians 2:6, KJV

Reading and Applying What is Written to Us

But with regards to end times and the times we are now living in, the books, which are specifically written to us, the Church, are the seven Church epistles— Romans through II Thessalonians. Let’s look at scriptures from the seven to see just that.

“To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Roman 1:7, KJV

Are you and I “beloved of God, called to be saints”? Yes we are! Romans is written to us— “grace and peace!”

“Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their’s and our’s: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”

I Corinthians 1:2,2, KJV

Are you and I “sanctified in Christ”? Yes we are! I Corinthians is written to us— “grace and peace!”

“Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ,
and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;
And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,”

Galatians 1:1-3, KJV

Is “God the (our) Father”? Yes He is! Galatians is written to us— “grace and peace!”

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father,
and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Ephesians 1:1,2, KJV

Are we “saints”? Yes we are! Are we among the “faithful in Christ Jesus”? I would like to believe that I am, how about you too! Ephesians is written to us— “grace and peace!”

“Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi,
with the bishops and deacons: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father,
and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Philippians 1:1,2, KJV

Are we “saints in Christ Jesus”? Yes we are! Philippians is written to us— “grace and peace!”

“To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Colossians 1:2, KJV

Are we “saints and faithful brethren”? Yes we are or desire to be! Colossians is written to us— “grace and peace!”

“Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

I Thessalonians 1:1, KJV

Are we part of the “Church in God?” Yes we are! I Thessalonians is written to us— “grace and peace!”

“Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and
the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

II Thessalonians 1:1,2, KJV

Is grace and peace “from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”? Yes it is! II Thessalonians is written to us— “grace and peace!”

By all these scriptures, it should be more than abundantly clear that the seven church epistles of— Romans, I Corinthians, II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I Thessalonians and II Thessalonians are not only for our learning, they a specifically written to us! Therein is the mystery revealed that God had kept secret (concealed), since the world began that Jews and Gentiles would become a new classification, a new creation. Therein (these seven Church epistles), “declare the Riches of the Glory of this mystery” (Colossians 1:27), which is— “Christ in you, the Hope of Glory!” And Therein (these seven Church epistles), fulfills—  “the Word of God” (Colossians 1:25)!

The following are what the church could call the “end times”. The following is who we are, what we have to look forward to and how we should conducts ourselves today, still in the Administration of Grace or the Church Age (Administration).

“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed,
the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
And now ye know what withholdeth [holds him back] that he might be revealed in his time.
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [holds him down] will let [hold him down], until he be taken out of the way.”

II Thessalonians 2:1-7, KJV

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

I Thessalonians 4: 16-18, KJV

Have any of what we have read, seem like we should be afraid? No, NEVER! We are not preparing for evil to flourish, driven to madness and despair, no matter what the world prepares for or any so-called Christian or group, that teach and believe anything contrary!

“Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!”

Dahni

Next Time: Seeing Signs, Miracles & Wonders (Part 5 final)

Seeing Signs, Miracles & Wonders (part 3 of 5)

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Seeing Signs, Miracles & Wonders (part 3 of 5)
“Every Day Would Be Great”

By Dahni
© 2022, all rights reserved

Classifications

Now we need to understand for whom the Bible is written for? Yep, and to do that, we need to understand How God classifies people.

“Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles,
nor to the church of God:”

I Corinthians 10:32, KJV

So if this is the classification of all people,  according to God and it is, then to whom are the Books of the Bible written to? Yes, it is written for the learning of all, but not all is written to all. Just like you could learn something by reading my mail, it could be for you to learn something, but it is not written to you. All 66 books of the Bible are written to the Jews, Gentiles or the Church of God (a new classification of people made up of former Jews and Gentiles). The majority are written to the Jews or those written to in the “end times” (Daniel’s “abomination of desolation” (see Daniel, chapter 9), Matthew 24:14,15, and the book of Revelation (among other scriptures). In some cases, all three classifications of people are included. This is quite clear in the book of Romans when the scriptures sometimes address— Jew, Gentile or the Church of God.

The Bible consists of an Old and a New Testament, the latter supposedly, beginning with the Book of Matthew.

But Matthew, one of the so-called four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), are technically, still part of the Old Testament and are written to the Jews.

Why are there four gospels?

“And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.”

Luke 24:44, KJV

It takes four gospels to do this, as not all the information needed to be fulfilled, is written in each book, but together they are. Sometimes, one book is concerned with time and another with place and etc. Together, these are the signs of the one who was to come, as prophesied in the Old Testament.

“For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:”

1 Corinthians 1:22, KJV

Old Testament prophets had foretold there would be certain signs of the one and that there would be four aspects of these signs. Look at Isaiah 4:2, KJV—

“In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.”

“The branch of the Lord,” is the foretelling of the Messiah, Jehovah’s Messiah to come. He would have four aspects or “signs” to the Jews that he was the one. A branch is separate from the main part of the tree, from which it grows.

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.”

Jeremiah 23:5,6, KJV

“In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.

Jeremiah 33:15, KJV

This Messiah would be Jehovah’s Branch the King. He would be a descendant of David the King, and by his bloodline, he would legally be the King of the Tribe of Judah. There is only one of two genealogies listed in the four gospels, but only one fulfills the Old Testament prophecy that the Messiah would be a king. This is only found in the book of Matthew.

There are more references to the word “servant” in the Book of Mark, than all of the other three books, some call gospels. Jehovah’s servant the branch is fulfilled in the book of Mark.

“Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.”

Isaiah 42:1, KJV

“Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the Branch.”

Zechariah 3:8, KJV

The records of servants, or a slave, a Greek doulós were considered unimportant and there is no genealogy given in the book of Mark.

In the book of Luke, there are more references to the word “man” than in all the other three. In Luke, Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy that he would be Jehovah’s branch the man.

“And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The Branch; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord:”

Zechariah 6:12, KJV

In I Corinthians, the “man” , Jehovah’s man the branch is referred to as, the “last” or the second Adam (red earth). The book of Luke is the only other book that has a genealogy and it traces the birth of Jesus Christ (a man), all the way back to the first man, Adam.

“And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul;
the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.”

I Corinthians 15:45, KJV

In the Book of John, the word “son” is used more often than in all the other three gospels combined. The book of John fulfills the Old Testament prophecy that Jesus Christ is Jehovah’s Son The Branch.

“In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.”

Isaiah 4:2, KJV

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

John 1:14, KJV

“And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.”

John 1:34

There is no genealogy in the book of John, for Jesus Christ is, The Son (only begotten), of God.

As Jesus was the only begotten son of God and the firstborn son and child of Mary (he had stepbrothers and stepsisters by Joseph and Mary), he was the firstborn of the Church of God. Every mouth that confesses him as Lord and believes in their heart that God raised him from the dead (Romans 10: 9,10), is a brother or sister of Jesus Christ.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,
to them who are the called according to his purpose.
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed
to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn
among many brethren [an all inclusive noun— includes women, sisters].”

Romans 8:28,29, KJV

Prophecy

One final thing before we get into signs, miracles and wonders. It relates to prophecy and prophets. A prophet is one that speaks for God. All prophecy speaks forth of God, but not every prophet foretells the future. When we think of prophecy, we often think of those speaking or writing about future events. Abraham was a prophet, but I never read a single thing he ever predicted about the future. But when a prophet speaks for God about future events, the test of whether or not that they are a true prophet of God is, every single thing they foretell about the future, must come to pass, EVERY SINGLE TIME!

“When a prophet speaketh [speaks] in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.”

Deuteronomy 18:22, KJV

Prophecies are often shrouded in mystery, hard sayings, and figures of speech as, idioms and parables etc. and are often not understood until the time in which they are fulfilled and by those to whom they are addressed (Jew, Gentile or Church of God)! Contrary to what many have been taught and believe, much of this applies to the ‘end times,’ as written about in the book of Daniel, Matthew 24, the book of Revelation and other scriptures. There is one event which triggers all these things and it is when Jesus Christ comes again (the Second Coming or the second time), to gather his Church— the dead in Christ and then those alive when he comes. This ‘Gathering Together’ occurs in the air when he (Jesus Christ), comes for his saints and not upon the earth when he (Jesus Christ), comes with his saints and touches earth.

These events have not happened yet and this is extraordinary! We are still in the Administration of Grace or the Church Age. Today, the new birth is still available. Today, we can still operate all nine of the manifestations of the spirit (see: I Corinthians 12-14)— speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, the manifestation of prophesy (no foretelling, just forth-telling), word of knowledge, word of wisdom, discerning of spirits, the manifestation of believing, miracles and gifts of healings. Yes, healing is not only a manifestation, it is also a gift— gifts (plural), and God is always willing to heal different things and even the same thing multiple times, hence the way the word is written —“gifts” (plural) of “healings” (plural). By operation of these manifestation, we receive the fruit of the spirit (see; Galatians 5:22,23). Today, God’s Saints (heaven’s holiest), are Ambassadors for Christ (the highest ranking representatives of one nation (the kingdom of Heaven or of God), to others.

Today, we are sanctified (set apart for blessing), justified (just as if I have not ever sinned), redeemed from the curse of the law (which was to die as payment for the sin in our DNA), Jesus Christ being made a curse for us and redeeming us. Today, all Christians have experienced remission of sins and any sins we may commit, we can be forgiven of. Today, we are the sons and daughters of God, born of His spirit, not of works and unto everlasting, eternal life. Today, we are complete in Him! Today we can expect—

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”

Ephesians 3:20, KJV

Today, we are the righteousness of God in him, Jesus Christ! How righteous is God? He is righteous! Then how righteous are we? We are righteous!

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

2 Corinthians 5:21

“Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!”

Dahni

Next Time: Seeing Signs, Miracles & Wonders (part 4)

Seeing Signs, Miracles & Wonders (part 2 of 5)

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Seeing Signs, Miracles & Wonders (part 2 of 5)
“Every Day Would Be Great”

By Dahni
© 2022, all rights reserved

Spiritual Knowledge

Before we get into the simplicity of actually what the Bible (The Word of God), says, we need to look at religious thought of the so-called smart Christian experts and their interpretations of the present situation and future events. Yes, we will briefly look at Biblical prophecy, especially about what so-called future events that were “foretold” hundreds and thousands of years ago.

One such belief (religious), is that of preterism. The word “preterism” comes from the Latin “praeter,” meaning “past.” According to preterism, all prophecy in the Bible is really history. The preterist interpretation of Scripture regards the book of Revelation as a symbolic picture of first-century conflicts, not a description of what will occur in the end times. Thus, preterism is the view that the biblical prophecies concerning the “end times” have already been fulfilled—in the past. Preterism is directly opposed to futurism, which sees the end-times prophecies as having a still-future fulfillment. Yay and whoop-d-doo, preterism is from a Greek word and likely its origin was with the ancient Greek philosophers? I am not impressed!

Preterism is divided into two types: full (or consistent) preterism and partial preterism. Full preterism is sometimes referred to as hyper-preterism.

Preterism is the eschatological view that the “end times” prophecies of the Bible have already been fulfilled. What is “eschaatological” besides another big word the smart people use so we appear stupid and inferior compared to them? It is just another big word and a stupid word (eschantological) –

“pertaining to the last or final things, dealing with or regarding
the ultimate destiny of mankind and the world.”

the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

So, according to preterism when we read what the Bible says about the tribulation, we are reading history. Full preterism takes an extreme view that all prophecy in the Bible has been fulfilled in one way or another. Partial preterists take a more moderate approach, and many partial preterists consider full preterists to be guilty of heresy.

Those who hold to partial preterism believe that the prophecies in Daniel, Matthew 24, and the book of Revelation (with the exception of the last two or three chapters), have already been fulfilled and were fulfilled, no later than the first century AD. According to partial preterism, there is no rapture, (gathering together), and passages describing the tribulation and the Antichrist are actually referring to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 and the Roman emperor Titus. Partial preterists do believe in the return of Christ to earth and a future resurrection and judgment, but they do not teach a millennial kingdom or that Israel as a nation has a place in God’s future plan. According to partial preterists, the Bible’s references to “the last days” are speaking of the last days of the Old Jewish Covenant, not the last days of the earth itself.

According to the preterist view of the end times, chapters 6—18 of Revelation are highly symbolic, not describing any literal events. Since the destruction of Jerusalem did not involve the wholesale destruction of sea life (Revelation 16:3) or agonizing darkness (verse 10), these judgments are interpreted by the preterist as purely allegorical. However, according to preterists, chapter 19 is to be understood literally—Jesus Christ will physically return. But chapter 20 is again interpreted allegorically by preterists, while chapters 21—22 are understood literally, at least in part, in that there will truly be a new heaven and new earth.

In order for partial preterists to maintain their rightness, they insist that the book of Revelation was written early (before AD 70). They must also use an inconsistent hermeneutic (interpretive; explanatory), when interpreting prophetic passages.

Now we move into the Dispensational and end time folks. Such was and is Hal Lindsay who wrote a book in 1970 and it was made into a movie soon after called: ‘The Late Great Planet Earth.” It was hugely popular as to numbers of books sold, but made little in Tinsel Town Box office for movies. The ‘Omen’ had already been released and terrified people longer and stronger than, ‘The Late Great Planet Earth.’ Good intentioned or not, it made a lot of money on fear. Another of his works is, “The 1980’s Countdown to Armageddon,” published in 1980. There is a theme here.

In a nutshell, according to Lindsay from 1970, 1980, and still going in 2022, and others before 1970 and also currently, Jesus Christ is on his way? His people (Christians), need to prepare for the end of the world, the ‘Rapture’ (I like to call it the big snatch), a 1,000 year reign of Jesus on earth and then for a “new heaven and a new earth.” Oh, there are all kinds of twisted and scary scenarios. What if an jet airline is flying over some ocean at 30,000 feet and both the pilot and the co-pilot suddenly disappear in the rapture (the big snatch)? OMG, the poor crew and people left on board!

I would not be surprised if there is not at least one insurance company out there that offers for whatever it may be called, essentially, rapture insurance in the event you go missing so your heirs can collect whatever was left them and your sudden disappearance goes on unexplained.

Books, tapes, CD’s, DVD’s, digital downloads, movies, television programs, radio program, podcasts, all manner of products, services, merchandise and I’m sure even, T-shirts and other clothing items are sold who knows, maybe every second. Fear is a big seller!

I’m sure Hal Lindsay is sincere as are other end-timers and the preterists— full and partial. Remember—

Sincerity is no guarantee for truth!

Private Interpretation

Is all of this just interpretation, “private interpretation”? Yep! OK, lets stop right there. How many times in all this explanatory garbage (that is what it is garbage), have we seen the word or some form of the word “interpretation” used in this post? I think we all in essence understand what the word means, but just in case not, it is basically, whatever, you or I or anyone may think or believe something means. But is the Bible subject to interpretation, which is in essence, interpreted according to our own individual truths?

“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture
is of any private interpretation.”

II Peter 1:20

The word “private” in the verse above from Greek is the word idiós from which we get words like “idiot.” The word “prophecy” is in the singular for prophecies (plural). That is a figure of speech by the way, emphasizing that all the prophecies are in essence, one prophecy. And all of the Bible from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 is “prophecy.” It may not always foretell the truth, but it always forth-tells or declares the truth!

The word idiós (idiot), just meant and means, “ones own.” You nor I and not the Pope of Rome or anyone can interpret the scriptures, according to “one’s own” belief! If this is true, then the Word of God, the Bible, must interpret itself and it does! There are several ways it does this, but most often, the scripture (used for scriptures), interprets itself, right where it is written!

Full or partial preterism is void of any authority as is this “end times” bs. These are no different than doctrines (how to believe rightly), of men, previously addressed by Jesus Christ.

“But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines
the commandments of men.”

Matthew 15:9, KJV

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”

Romans 8:15, KJV

The Greek word υιοθεσιας Spirit “of adoption” means to be legally made a son (or a daughter), but this is not as it appears in English as an “adoption” like we think of them today. This sonship (daughter-ship), is a new birth by the spirit of God, not as Israel (pre-Day of Pentecost from Acts 2:4, adopted children, bride of Christ etc.

As to “fear”, fear is always wrong and is not from God; does not come from God!

”For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;
but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

II Timothy 1:7, KJV

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:
because fear hath torment.
He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

I John 4:18, KJV

I am sad to write more bummer-downer stuff, but we need to look at some albeit sincere, yet stupid, private interpretation, void of authority, and carnal knowledge stuff that was just made up by people! Sometimes, in order to learn the truth, we must first un-learn what is un-true or just not true.

“The Scofield Reference Bible is a widely circulated study Bible edited and annotated by the American Bible student Cyrus I. Scofield, which popularized dispensationalism at the beginning of the 20th century. Published by Oxford University Press and containing the entire text of the traditional, Protestant King James Version, it first appeared in 1909 and was revised by the author in 1917.”

“The Scofield Bible had several innovative features. Most important, it printed what amounted to a commentary on the biblical text alongside the Bible instead of in a separate volume, the first to do so since the Geneva Bible (1560).[2] It also contained a cross-referencing system that tied together related verses of Scripture and allowed a reader to follow biblical themes from one chapter and book to another (so called “chain references”). Finally, the 1917 edition also attempted to date events of the Bible. It was in the pages of the Scofield Reference Bible that many Christians first encountered Archbishop James Ussher’s calculation of the date of Creation as 4004 BC; and through discussion of Scofield’s notes, which advocated the “gap theory,” fundamentalists began a serious internal debate about the nature and chronology of creation.”[3]

“The first edition of the Scofield Bible (1909) was published only a few years before World War I, a war that destroyed a cultural optimism that had viewed the world as entering a new era of peace and prosperity; then the post-World War II era witnessed the creation in Palestine of a homeland for the Jews. Thus, Scofield’s premillennialism seemed prophetic. “At the popular level, especially, many people came to regard the dispensationalist scheme as completely vindicated.”[4] Sales of the Reference Bible exceeded two million copies by the end of World War II.” [5] “The Scofield Reference Bible promoted dispensationalism, the belief that between creation and the final judgment there would be seven distinct eras of God’s dealing with man and that these eras are a framework for synthesizing the message of the Bible.[6] Largely through the influence of Scofield’s notes, many fundamentalist Christians in the United States adopted a dispensational theology. Scofield’s notes on the Book of Revelation are a major source for the various timetables, judgments, and plagues elaborated on by popular religious writers such as Hal Lindsey, Edgar C. Whisenant, and Tim LaHaye;[7] and in part because of the success of the Scofield Reference Bible, twentieth-century American fundamentalists placed greater stress on eschatological speculation.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scofield_Reference_Bible

We are almost done with looking at confusion. There is only going to be, just a little more.

“Premillennialism, in Christian eschatology, is the belief that Jesus will physically return to the Earth (the Second Coming) before the Millennium, a literal thousand-year golden age of peace. The doctrine is called “premillennialism” because it holds that Jesus’ physical return to Earth will occur prior to the Millennium. Premillennialism is based upon a literal interpretation of Revelation 20:1–6 in the New Testament, which describes Jesus’s reign in a period of a thousand years.”
“The premillennialist view is not held by most Christians. Denominations such as Oriental Orthodoxy, Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Anglicanism, and Lutheranism are generally amillennial and interpret Revelation 20:1–6 as pertaining to the present time, a belief that Christ currently reigns in Heaven with the departed saints; such an interpretation views the symbolism of Revelation as referring to a spiritual conflict between Heaven and Hell rather than a physical conflict on Earth.”
“Amillennialists do not view the millennium mentioned in Revelation as pertaining to a literal thousand years, but rather as symbolic, and see the kingdom of Christ as already present in the church beginning with the Pentecost in the book of Acts.
“Premillennialism is often used to refer specifically to those who adhere to the beliefs in an earthly millennial reign of Christ as well as a rapture of the faithful coming before (dispensational) or after (historic) the Great Tribulation preceding the Millennium. For the last century, the belief has been common in Evangelicalism according to surveys on this topic.[1] Amillennialists do not view the thousand years mentioned in Revelation as a literal thousand years but see the number “thousand” as symbolic and numerological.”
“Premillennialism is distinct from the other views such as postmillennialism which views the millennial rule as occurring before the second coming.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premillennialism

Confused? We should be, about all of this, but regarding our subject here, ‘Seeing Signs, Miracles & Wonders,’ we need to KNOW what God’s Word (The Bible), says about these matters and it needs to be simple enough that a child or even a fool can understand!

“And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.”

Isaiah, 35:8, KJV

“For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”

James 3:16, KJV

Wouldn’t you say that all these so-called smart people that interpret all these things and cannot agree with each other are full of “envy” and “strife” and are, confused? I do. Why would we want to listen to them? I do not! And if this is “confusion” and therein (in confusion), is “every evil work.” Wherefore or why fore cometh all this evil? What is its origin?

“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

II Corinthians 4:4

“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

II Corinthians 2:11, KJV

Knowing God’s Word

“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the
truth.”

I Timothy 2:3,4, KJV

God’s desire for us is to strengthen our knowledge of His Word is clear in the Scriptures.

“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye
might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.”

Colossians 1:9:

This is God’s heart for every born-again believer—to be filled with the knowledge of His
will. The word “knowledge” in verse 9 is the Greek word epignōsis, which means knowledge that is attained through effort or exertion.

It is an experiential knowledge that E. W. Bullinger’s lexicon and concordance describes as expressing “a more thorough participation on the part of the knower.” We know God by actively seeking and learning His Word and putting it into practice. Look at the purpose of this, as stated in verse 10 of Colossians 1.

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

I Peter 3:15, KJV

“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in
every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.”

Colossians 1:10, KJV

Our reading and studying of the Scriptures are vital to our spiritual growth and trust. The Apostle Paul declared in Ephesians 3:4: “Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand….” And the Word exhorts us to—

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”

II Timothy 2:15

There should be no more doubt in anyone’s mind that God wants us to know that we know and understand what His will is! We should never be afraid! Now we need to understand what He wants us to know about the end times, if we are going to see— signs, miracles and wonders.

Administrations

Just like every four years in this country, we have a new executive administration, a president, so too there are different administrations in the Bible. I know that in the KJV of the Bible the word dispensational is used and some call these dispensations, but what is the Greek word. Look at Ephesians 1:10

“That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:”

Ephesians 1:10, KJV

The word “dispensation” from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance to the Bible (# G3622), is the Greek word  οίκονομία [oo-koh-noh-MEE-an]. It means the management or the overseeing of an administration or the household oversight by a steward of someone’s property. The word administration is a better word to use than dispensation.

But in the Bible, there are specifically seven (7), administrations that have beginnings and endings (except for the final one. Each administration have different things that apply, during them.

1. Original Paradise (on earth), during the times of Adam & Eve.
2. Original paradise ended, the day Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, and this began the Patriarchal Administration up until Moses and the coming of the Law
3. Law— Moses and the Law
4. Christ Administration— Jesus Christ came to “fulfil the law”

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets:
I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”

Matthew 5:17, KJV

5. Administration of Grace or the Church— Began in Acts 2:4, when the day of Pentecost was “fully come.” Under the stewardship or administration of the Apostle Paul, the Word of God was fulfilled!

“Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation” (οίκονομία – “administration”), of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;”

Colossians 1:25, KJV

6. The Appearing Administration— Two parts: The first begins when Jesus Christ comes and the dead in Christ rise, then they which are alive and are gathered together for his church—

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

I Thessalonians 4:16, 17, KJV

And then the second part, when he comes with his saints—

“To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.”

I Thessalonians 3:13

The words for and with are clear and are two separate events at two different locations. The first is in the air and the second when he comes with his saints (heaven’s holiest – God’s true children – born again believers), when he touches back down on earth from the same place he ascended from, into and through the heavens, after he was resurrected from the dead. This coming for his saints (“gathering together”) is never refereed to as a resurrection from the dead because, not all will be dead when it occurs.

“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and by our gathering together unto him,”

II Thessalonians 2:1, KJV

7. Glory Administration— A new heaven and a new earth. It is from God’s perspective “eternal” (had no beginning or ending), and from our point of view, “everlasting”, does not end.

“Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!”

Dahni

Next time: Seeing Signs, Miracles & Wonders (part 3)

Seeing Signs, Miracles & Wonders (part 1 of 5)

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Seeing Signs, Miracles & Wonders (part 1 of 5)
“Every Day Would Be Great”

By Dahni
© 2022, all rights reserved

How to begin something few may believe? How does one challenge long held beliefs which are lies? You begin. You challenge, but for why? If what I am about to share with you, if you live in fear, even if it is unknown (this information I am about to share), you need not be afraid anymore! And instead of fear, be fearless and dare to believe more abundantly above, anything you could ask for or think! And before we delve into HOW we can see signs, miracles and wonders DAILY, we need to understand WHY we do not! That is a very high standard or a high bar, but I accept the challenge and I do so without a doubt, without reservation or hesitation! I now, right here, write what I usually close with –

“Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!”

So get ready; get set— here we go!

Carnal Knowledge

We will start with the things of the world, factual things, things we can see with our eyes, hear with our ears and just know by way of one, more or all of, our six senses. The Bible calls this the carnal knowledge of a natural man or natural woman. It may be all that most of us understand and believe in? We just need common sense, some, but we need a little, to see it. I suppose it would be presumptive of me to think that a non-Christian would find themselves here or read this post, but it could happen and more importantly, many Christians are still carnal and certainly need to read this! Everyone and anyone can benefit from this post. “That is my story and I’m sticking to it!”

In no particular order, let us look at most of, if not all the major issues which affect and effects the people of the United States. Other nations may have similar issues as this post, but this is, specifically addressed to the people of my country which is, the United States of America.

First we want to list the issues and then we want to look at the driving forces behind them. A partial list:

1. Viruses/Vaccines– evolving or mutating strains, masks, mandates and lock downs
2. Law enforcement and lack thereof (fear and lack of peace and security)
3. High cost of goods and services and rising (inflation)
4. Misinformation – media and our own government
5. ‘Cancel Culture’ – canceled for supposed association with racism, privilege and
superiority
6. Loss of energy independence=higher prices at the pumps and essentially, everything
7. Lack of security at our borders (particularly southern), and all the costs that go with that
8. A consequence of the lack of border security, unnecessary burden of our resources
given to illegal aliens to enter our country (undocumented)
9. Critical Race Theory (CRT), apologies for America and our total shoplifted and
hitchhiked belief that our history is that of a racist people and this propaganda is being
forced on our children, without our permission
10. Canceled flights and other commercial transportation (lack of personnel with this most likely being due to, #1 above
11. Delays and other issues, with mail and packages shipped and received, and just generally, limited quantities of items available at stores.
12. Delays, holds and re-classification (to elective or optional), non-life-threatening
medical procedures due to covid, and lack of personnel
13. Mental health decline (especially with children), due to covid, lack of connections with school, classmates, sports and other social activities
14. Global Warming or Climate Change – record warmth followed by record cold, more cyclic than human caused or solved, but lots of money is made by this driving force
15. Rapid move from California, New York and other states and areas for more freedom, resources and opportunities in other states
16. People are hapless, rudderless, lack morals, ethics, and personal responsibility. Many associate order and discipline, for servitude and manipulation and reject all. Many are wholly unhappy and seek almost anything or anyone, which could bring some sensation or cessation of trouble or temporary distraction of their reality. Many forsake spiritual direction with their own “personal truths” and seek sensual satiation and satiety, for all they may desire (excess – beyond need, i.e. lust, greed).

I started this with including the words that this was to be “a partial list.” But for certainty, are not the 16 above, much of what troubled us in 2021? If something is not done, if some things are not changed, will they also, follow us or continue in 2022? I want to at least say, “Happy New Year!” I want this for myself and I desire it for you as well. But perhaps unlike many others, 2021 was a year of great accomplishment, victory, joy and personal satisfaction to me. Now I am not here, about to tell anyone that if they do what I did in 2021, their results will be as great if not greater than mine. But I am going to tell you right up front, if you do the things I did in 2021, your results could be equal to or greater than mine, in 2022!

The same things from ‘the list’ that were happening around you in 2021, were happening around me, but I found out the drivers, had different drivers for myself and had results instead of consequences. Well, what or whom drove 2021? Here is a clue, it is a four-letter word.

What were the drivers of 2021? If you strip away everything else and get down to the nitty-gritty, the base, the unadulterated truth, the bare facts, the “in the raw,” what numbers 1-16 from (‘the list’), had in common was the little four-letter word called— fear. If you just think about it, you will see it and know that is what it was and may still be what it is, is what it is? But ask yourself now this question, who or what stands or stood to profit (make a lot of money), from all of this “fear”?”

Search the records of the stock market for 2021 and look to see who and what made a lot of money (gains), while most of the rest of us were subjected to losses. Who funds politicians and gives them the power or enables them to keep power over us? Where is the Justice Department in all of this? Why are bribes (for gains or promises for ill-gotten gains made), and blackmail (threats of violence against others or public exposure of their privacy), no longer considered to be nor called to be, bribery and blackmail? For those not believers in God or believers of God (yes there is a difference), a couple or parts of a couple of scriptures wrongly quoted, may come to mind?

The truth will set you free? Ever heard that? How about money is the root of all evil? Ever heard that? Where did those two bone-headed and stupid misquotes come from?

The first is misquoted from the Bible, the gospel of John and chapter eight, verse thirty-two, from the King James Version—

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

John 8:32, KJV

Does the verse above say that the truth “will” or “set” you free? Is there a difference between “will” and “shall,” and “set” and “make” you free? You figure it out for yourself, but God had it written that if we know the truth, the truth shall absolutely make us free! Words do have meaning.

Have you ever thought such things as:

The rich keep getting richer – Wealth is for The Privileged Few –
Wealth is reserved for The Lucky –
Wealth is Risky (no more risky than keeping or holding a job) –
Riches are only for The Smart People with excellent grades in school (then why isn’t every college graduate wealthy or and especially those with the highest GPA’s— grade point averages) –
It’s complicated and therefore, a lot of money must be dishonest and corrupt –
Money is only for the right people that form the rich people –
It’s earned over time and labor (passes from generation to generation) –
Most of the rest of us look at money as being linear and if we want more,
we have to work more over time –
Money is controlling –
These and more just mean that those having too much money are if not evil, they are influenced by evil and…
…too much money is, just evil –

If we have ever heard, read and believed any of those beliefs, none of them are true and again, “money is the root of all evil” is only partially quoted and therefore, misquoted from the Bible. What does the Bible really say?

“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

I Timothy 6:10, KJV

WOW, there is a huge difference between money being the root of all evil and the “love” of it being, “the root of all evil!” Money itself, is not evil, it is indifferent. It’s an inanimate object. It’s a neutral thing that cannot be good or evil, or do good or evil things. It can certainly be a motivation for anyone to do good or bad things, but this ability is not limited to just money.

Money can highlight who we are, but if money were based on good grades, every summa cum laude college graduate would be rich.

Money is a shadow that can cover a multiple number of things, but it cannot hide who the person really is. The only reason God frowns upon the rich in pursuit of it, they have an unhealthy attachment— “love” for it, which supersedes everything and everyone else, even God. The love of money squeezes the life out of everyone and everything. The “love” of money gets adored and almost becomes a religion and worshipped as any god or the God of all creation.

There are only two ways to motivate or manipulate behavior. One can be motivated by love or manipulated by fear to do the right thing or the thing, which is desired by that or by whom is motivating or manipulating.

Fear takes a lot less time and effort than love! Fear manifests itself in three ways:

Destructive – Harassment – Non-productivity

Destructive behavior is the product of fear. Harassment is the product of guilt and shame. And non-productivity is the product of apathy. All of these are driven by fear. The entire world is driven by fear. And though Christians should know better, most of them are driven by fear as well. Quit it! Everybody just quit it! But in order to do so, we need to have something far stronger, more reliable and is the truth, above and beyond natural knowledge.

“Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!”

Dahni

Next Time: Seeing Signs, Miracles & Wonders (part 2)

Revisiting the ‘Red Thread’

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By Dahni
© 2021

https://acts2one.wordpress.com/category/the-red-thread/

 

He is the red thread that binds all together- ‘The Red Thread’ By Dahni © 2017, all rights reserved

Fishing Report X

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By Dahni
© 2021

 

Fishing 🎣 Report #10 of 10

November 30, 2021

Today, begins my final day from my three-month journey, primarily reading, the seven Church epistles, since September 1st, 2021. This began as something I have wanted to do for many years. Its benefits were to experience:

1. Have some power
2. Get some prayers answered
3. See some signs, miracles and wonders

I did with some detail, share my event of quitting smoking, but rather than list the many others things which happened to me and for others I had been praying for during these times, just let me say, do the things I have shared in these “fishing reports” and you will have your own signs, miracles and wonders. You can have and should have your own power. You should and could have your own answers to prayer! 🙏 It is better to read the Word on your own and allow God to work in you to do of His good will and pleasure than to ever teach experiences! Besides, what God does for me and can can do for me, may be different for you.

But in previous reports, I did realize that the only way I could have been even more blessed over these past three months would have been, to spend more quantity and quality time in this pursuit. And I have decided to for now, to repeat this annually, every September. It’s kind of funny, I did not miss the negatives news much, I got more accomplished, had less stress and am a much happier person. I don’t even mind so much, being around me. 🤣

This was not planned, but I did end up reading Romans, I & II Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I & II Thessalonians,  at least 8 times and the entire book of Acts, one time.

During this 3 month period, I also purchased an audible and digital New Testament  of the King James Version of the Bible.  Sometimes I would listen to it rather than read, but most of the time it was running in my truck while traveling and especially every time Lady dog  🐶 and I went for a walk, at least six times each week. It was great having Darth Vader, a.ka. Anaken Skywalker, Luke’s Skywalker’s father, a.k.a. James Earl Jones read to me! 🤣🤣🤣

Today, my last day, I read all of the Church Epistles, I & II Timothy, and the last section of true chapter 8 of the book of Acts from 19:21-28:31, as many times as I could today, either reading or having them read to me by Darth I mean Earl. 😂

The last thing I read before closing out this 3 month journey was to read, Psalm 119, every verse. Every verse mentions God word in the following ways

Law, Testimonies, Commandment, Commandments, Judgements, Righteous Judgments, Ways, Precepts, Statutes, Thy Word, Thy Judgements, Thy Way, Thy Fear [respect/reverence], Thy Salvation, Thy Righteousness, merciful unto those that love Thy Name, Thy Word, Thy Words, The Truth, The Testimony of Thy Mouth, Thy Faithfulness, Ordinances, Thy Commandment, Surety [a sure thing] and Loving Kindness

Some of my favorites from Psalm 119:

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

vs. 11

“How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

vs. 103

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

vs. 105

“Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.”

vs. 133

“Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.”

vs. 160

“I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.”

vs. 162

This completes our 3 month fishing for Truth and on the Cusp of Spiritual Renewal and Revolution.

Coming Soon! A brand new subject. Something you may not know, but should and something I just recently saw from the scriptures. You Don’t want to miss this!!

Who is? What is? Don’t Miss This!!!!

Gone fishing, catch you later 🙂

Fishing Report VIII

Short url to this post: https://wp.me/p8DawH-iG

By Dahni
© 2021

 

Fishing 🎣 Report #8 of 10

November 10th, 2021

Today, leaves 20 days left until my 3 month reading goal ends on the December 1, 2021, since starting on September 1st, 2021.

Initially, the reading was simply to read the Seven Church Epistles, Romans, I & II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and I & II Thessalonians, as many times as possible.

To this I add (highlighted and emphasized), to think on whether the epistle by order and by nature was doctrine, reproof, or correction and the differences as I could see them while reading them.

To this I added (I highlighted and emphasized), ‘The Seven Things God Does Not Want Us to Be Ignorant Of,’ but to rather- ‘Aim Towards The Goal of… while reading them in the epistles and where they appear.

Once completely reading through all the the seven church epistles, to this I added first Timothy which shows the early church and it’s rise in an expansion and follow this by second Timothy which shows the church and it’s fall even as the apostle Paul Was under house arrest in Rome until the end of his life. but there he wrote the seven churches pistols, Which according to the Word of God “fulfilled the Word of God! I wanted to focus on first and second Timothy because they are basically written to church leadership I wanted to see and understand more clearly, the characteristics of leading the church not necessarily that I would be a leader, but that I could recognize what leadership is supposed to do.

Having been taught that the book of acts which appears in most translations has 28 chapters, was really marked by God, by figures of speech, which conclude each section or true chapter, in unique ways and in eight ways. So, After reading the entire seven church epistles, and then first and second Timothy I would go to the book of acts and read the section which was finalized and it’s unique concluding verses. Truly and technically the book of acts should only have eight sections or eight true chapters.

As of today, November 10, 2021 I have read all the above, five complete times and as of today, I begin my sixth reading.

It is now obvious to me that I am trying to get through this reading journey eight times from September 1st, until the end of this month, triumphant on December 1, 2021. I have now, only 2O more days to read and complete this goal, three more times.

Gone fishing, catch you later 🙂

Fishing Report IX

Short url to this post: https://wp.me/p8DawH-iP

By Dahni
© 2021

 November 16th, 2021

Today, begins my eighth and last time reading primarily, the seven Church epistles, since September 1st, 2021. This was not planned, but with just 14 days left with this three month journey, It does look like I will have completed this reading schedule eight times. An eighth, biblically to notice the number of a new beginning. I have thought about this often and especially yesterday. Today I’ve decided to repeat this annually, once every year in September through November to read the seven church epistles.

Fishing 🎣 Report #9 of 10

November 10th, 2021

Today, leaves 20 days left until my 3 month reading goal ends on the December 1, 2021, since starting on September 1st, 2021.

Initially, the reading was simply to read the Seven Church Epistles, Romans, I & II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and I & II Thessalonians, as many times as possible.

To this I add (highlighted and emphasized), to think on whether the epistle by order and by nature was doctrine, reproof, or correction and the differences as I could see them while reading them.

To this I added (I highlighted and emphasized), ‘The Seven Things God Does Not Want Us to Be Ignorant Of,’ but to rather- ‘Aim Towards The Goal of… while reading them in the epistles and where they appear.

Once completely reading through all the the seven church epistles, to this I added first Timothy which shows the early church and it’s rise in an expansion and follow this by second Timothy which shows the church and it’s fall even as the apostle Paul Was under house arrest in Rome until the end of his life. but there he wrote the seven churches pistols, Which according to the Word of God “fulfilled the Word of God! I wanted to focus on first and second Timothy because they are basically written to church leadership I wanted to see and understand more clearly, the characteristics of leading the church not necessarily that I would be a leader, but that I could recognize what leadership is supposed to do.

Having been taught that the book of acts which appears in most translations has 28 chapters, was really marked by God, by figures of speech, which conclude each section or true chapter, in unique ways and in eight ways. So, After reading the entire seven church epistles, and then first and second Timothy I would go to the book of acts and read the section which was finalized and it’s unique concluding verses. Truly and technically the book of acts should only have eight sections or eight true chapters.

As of today, November 10, 2021 I have read all the above, five complete times and as of today, I begin my sixth reading.

It is now obvious to me that I am trying to get through this reading journey eight times from September 1st, until the end of this month, triumphant on December 1, 2021. I have now, only 2O more days to read and complete this goal, three more times.

Gone fishing, catch you later 🙂

Fishing Report VII

Short url to this post: https://wp.me/p8DawH-iy

By Dahni
© 2021

 

Fishing 🎣 Report #7 of 10

October 29th, 2021

Would you desire any of the following?

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22,23 King James Version (KJV)

The fruit of the spirit comes by operation or manifestation (free will exercising), of the spirit which is to speak in tongues (S.I.T.), and operate the other eight manifestations.

For example: would you desire to believe more? S.I.T.

Note the first word in this group is “love”. Love activates “joy” (number 2 to establish – inside deal-hope), and believing (number 7 spiritual perfection).

Fishing 🎣 Report #7 of 10

November 10th, 2021

Today, leaves 20 days left until my 3 month reading goal ends on the December 1, 2021, since starting on September 1st, 2021.

Initially, the reading was simply to read the Seven Church Epistles, Romans, I & II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and I & II Thessalonians, as many times as possible.

To this I add (highlighted and emphasized), to think on whether the epistle by order and by nature was doctrine, reproof, or correction and the differences as I could see them while reading them.

To this I added (I highlighted and emphasized), ‘The Seven Things God Does Not Want Us to Be Ignorant Of,’ but to rather- ‘Aim Towards The Goal of… while reading them in the epistles and where they appear.

Once completely reading through all the the seven church epistles, to this I added first Timothy which shows the early church and it’s rise in an expansion and follow this by second Timothy which shows the church and it’s fall even as the apostle Paul Was under house arrest in Rome until the end of his life. but there he wrote the seven churches pistols, Which according to the Word of God “fulfilled the Word of God! I wanted to focus on first and second Timothy because they are basically written to church leadership I wanted to see and understand more clearly, the characteristics of leading the church not necessarily that I would be a leader, but that I could recognize what leadership is supposed to do.

Having been taught that the book of acts which appears in most translations has 28 chapters, was really marked by God, by figures of speech, which conclude each section or true chapter, in unique ways and in eight ways. So, After reading the entire seven church epistles, and then first and second Timothy I would go to the book of acts and read the section which was finalized and it’s unique concluding verses. Truly and technically the book of acts should only have eight sections or eight true chapters.

As of today, November 10, 2021 I have read all the above, five complete times and as of today, I begin my sixth reading.

It is now obvious to me that I am trying to get through this reading journey eight times from September 1st, until the end of this month, triumphant on December 1, 2021. I have now, only 2O more days to read and complete this goal, three more times.

October 25th, 2021

By nature, there are people in our lives we seem to connect with better, faster than others and it’s not that they may be more important than others it’s more ab out an order, a priority. But when anyone takes precedence over God or becomes a priority over God first, that becomes a problem, especially in concentration and focus in returning to the Word.

There are times when I am just really into reading the Word and it just seems like time stands still. So, I thought to praise Him in my enlightening and to praise Him when my mind is dull, unresponsive, unruly and just has difficulty in concentrating and reading. In whatever state I am in, it is well, praise the Lord.

In reading the first couple of chapters of II Corinthians, I noted that there are two of the seven things that God does not want us to be ignorant of. In II Corinthians chapter 1:8 it’s not ignorant of the trouble that came to Paul and others, but to aim towards avoiding those that cause trouble, particularly leaders that teach other doctrines. Another is seen in the second chapter of II Corinthians, 2:11 not letting Satan take advantage of us, not being ignorant of his devices, but aiming towards the goal of not being tempted.

By nature, when people do us wrong we want to avoid them or avenge ourselves and seek revenge or to somehow get back at them and yet in this section of scripture, Paul is saying to comfort and forgive those that cause the troubles that he is receiving, which if they receive will benefit them and it (the troubles borne), shows to others that have eyes to see and ears to hear, how much love he has for them that cause the trouble and that we should do the same and this is how we avoid temptation and understand of not being ignorant of, the devices of Satan.

Very interesting analogies- clothing, nakedness, tabernacle, veil and blindness and it is directly caused by Satan and the will of mind to reject God. The veil upon the face of Moses, upon the heart- Israel’s blindness and the Gentiles receiving this grace also.

Twice in these first couple of chapters of second Corinthians the word “earnest” of the spirit (token), is used. And I found this extremely interesting that of all the greatness of all the manifestations of the spirit and walking in the love of God in the renewed mind and manifestation, which we just read about in I Corinthians chapter 12,13, and 14, and then talking about the resurrection and the gathering together in chapter 15, it is just a “token” of all the things that God has prepared for them (us), who love him when Jesus Christ returns!

In all the universe above, below and within the bounds of all the heavens, the spirit of God, His gift to us and in us is, but a “token” of what he has prepared for us and all that love his appearing (re-appearing)!

Gone fishing, catch you later 🙂

Fishing Report VI

Short url to this post: https://wp.me/p8DawH-iq

Fishing Report V

By Dahni
© 2021

 

Fishing 🎣 Report #6 of 10

October 25th, 2021

By nature, there are people in our lives we seem to connect with better, faster than others and it’s not that they may be more important than others it’s more ab out an order, a priority. But when anyone takes precedence over God or becomes a priority over God first, that becomes a problem, especially in concentration and focus in returning to the Word.

There are times when I am just really into reading the Word and it just seems like time stands still. So, I thought to praise Him in my enlightening and to praise Him when my mind is dull, unresponsive, unruly and just has difficulty in concentrating and reading. In whatever state I am in, it is well, praise the Lord.

In reading the first couple of chapters of II Corinthians, I noted that there are two of the seven things that God does not want us to be ignorant of. In II Corinthians chapter 1:8 it’s not ignorant of the trouble that came to Paul and others, but to aim towards avoiding those that cause trouble, particularly leaders that teach other doctrines. Another is seen in the second chapter of II Corinthians, 2:11 not letting Satan take advantage of us, not being ignorant of his devices, but aiming towards the goal of not being tempted.

By nature, when people do us wrong we want to avoid them or avenge ourselves and seek revenge or to somehow get back at them and yet in this section of scripture, Paul is saying to comfort and forgive those that cause the troubles that he is receiving, which if they receive will benefit them and it (the troubles borne), shows to others that have eyes to see and ears to hear, how much love he has for them that cause the trouble and that we should do the same and this is how we avoid temptation and understand of not being ignorant of, the devices of Satan.

Very interesting analogies- clothing, nakedness, tabernacle, veil and blindness and it is directly caused by Satan and the will of mind to reject God. The veil upon the face of Moses, upon the heart- Israel’s blindness and the Gentiles receiving this grace also.

Twice in these first couple of chapters of second Corinthians the word “earnest” of the spirit (token), is used. And I found this extremely interesting that of all the greatness of all the manifestations of the spirit and walking in the love of God in the renewed mind and manifestation, which we just read about in I Corinthians chapter 12,13, and 14, and then talking about the resurrection and the gathering together in chapter 15, it is just a “token” of all the things that God has prepared for them (us), who love him when Jesus Christ returns!

In all the universe above, below and within the bounds of all the heavens, the spirit of God, His gift to us and in us is, but a “token” of what he has prepared for us and all that love his appearing (re-appearing)!

Gone fishing, catch you later 🙂

Fishing Report V

Short url to this post: https://wp.me/p8DawH-hI

By Dahni
© 2021

 

Fishing 🎣 Report #5 of 10

October 11th, 2021

The Importance of the Nap, by Bella🐱 and Lady 🐶 🐾

At the end of this past September (9/30/2021), I decided it would be my last day of smoking. I was preparing for this time back in June. But 9/30/2021 was the evening I stopped. At around 7 pm I ran out of cigarettes purposefully and intentionally only buying one out of two packs I usually smoke each day. In New York State this is a lot of money as it works out to me, to be $25 a day.

You might think 🤔 making up your mind to stop smoking 🚬 is hard? To me that’s the easy part! It takes only 24 hours to get your physical need of nicotine out of your body. If like me, your withdrawal symptoms may be pretty mild, like sleeping a lot as your body is in repair and I just figured as long as I’m sleeping, I’m not smoking. So, as much as I could sleep day one that was fine with me.

Sleep is a wonderful lesson learned from our cat 🐱 Bella and our dog 🐶 Lady. They are survivors. They do whatever they need to do to not only survive, but to thrive. They sleep or nap, not so much because they are bored, but are about sustainability. They are not liberal or progressive, they merely conserve their energy stores. And as I already mentioned, sleep mode is repair mode. Nicotine and other chemicals have built up in my body and done their damage for years. Sleeping for as much as possible during the next 24 hours to detoxify and purge nicotine from my system, is certainly a pretty mild withdrawal symptom or side-effect to me.

A Story of Deliverance

Now if you knew my reason to stop smoking, you might find it a little strange? It wasn’t about my health, saving money, my wife’s repeated encouragement to stop because, she wants me to stick around a while longer. I did not stop because my chest was wheezing and sounded like a screen door opening and closing with hinges needing oiling.😂  No, none of those and there were really, no other ‘good’ reasons. No, for me, it was just as simple as the two fingers on my right hand that held the cigarettes, for whatever reason at this time in my life, developed nicotine staining and it even was in the index finger of my nail bed. So, I made up my mind to stop because, those two fingers were just ugly to me!!! What is the right phrase to stick up here, ‘Whatever it takes’!

The hard part, are the triggers that caused me to smoke in the first place, the addictive behavior, my personal habit, my 67 year old made and formed personality and nearly lifelong experience. Now if you want to count these as benefits, nicotine can make you feel calm or help pick you up and it is also an appetite suppressant of sorts. Not wanting to gain weight and pick up some other bad habit by replacing one with another, and not merely wanting to steel my will and deprive myself of one thing, for something else, I wanted deliverance!!! Something had to be greater than any perceived loss. I had to want something more, than I wanted to smoke!

Now believe it or not, my biggest and greatest motivation was, I wanted to make myself a better tabernacle in which for God to dwell.

I was trying to find something positive to replace this with and some pain and pleasure if you will, with something to keep me motivated, disciplined and able to resist the temptation. All I had to do is just not smoke for the first 24 hours, but then, the emotional and mental habit would rear it’s ugly head. Then what?

Many years ago, I used to be the lead singer in my hometown rock band, we called ‘Mad Dog.’ I and my best friend then, Arlan, wrote all of our original songs. I wrote lyrics or hummed a melody and he would work out the music on guitar. Our keyboard guy was a classical music trained pianist. In fact, everyone in our band could play instruments, but me. I wanted us to really do something with music, but the leader of the band was mostly interested in this as a hobby or just something to do at the time. Everybody else in the band, except for me, knew how to play an instrument, could read and write musical notation.

The only thing I ever took in school for a short period of time, was drum lessons. I had a set of drum sticks and a raised wooden pad with a rubber piece on it. I’m sorry, but that’s nothing like real drums to me and I lost interest very quickly.

I don’t know why, but I just wasn’t interested in playing music growing up or taking classes except for voice training, in junior high school. Our family loved music, at least listening to it, singing to it and even dancing to it. We just were never encouraged so to speak, to learn to play. Our father learned to play the trumpet or bugle, probably during his time in the Navy. Our brother had and learned to play a trumpet. But frustrated that I had no musical or artistic control in our little band, I quickly found out that any instrument I could put in my hands on or into my mouth I could play, but still, without being able to read or write music. And I could not, play anything you knew. 😂

A guitar was my first choice. I picked up a band member’s when they weren’t around, then a used one for myself, along with a guitar chord book with pictures of where to place my fingers on the frets and I learnt’ me myself, 😂 as best as I could. But nothing I did really mattered to real musicians. And over the years of my life, I’ve had several guitars and some of them quite expensive including, a Martin guitar. At some point, someone would ask me if they could play my guitar and I obliged them. When I heard them play so effortlessly and so beautifully, I knew there was nothing I could ever do that well so, I gave away all my guitars. What was the point anyway, my efforts to influence our band went nowhere.

There was a time when I lived in a community of about 20 families on all about 200 acres. The land had been deeded down through many presidents, including Abraham Lincoln. What likely was one huge plantation (yes with slaves), of 5,000 acres at one time, ended up being around 200, but it was in vincity of and technically within, the jurisdiction of Kansas City, Missouri. But Kansas City did not know what to do with this area and they did not want to be responsible for it. They left it up to the county seat to administer, in Liberty, Missouri, about 13 miles away.

Behind this property was what is known as ‘Worlds of Fun’, an amusement park. The only way to get to our community was if you lived there or followed someone there. On a map, it just looks like a bunch of trees in an area that most people did not know existed. But if you accidentally stumbled onto this location by foot or in your car, there would be people out in the middle of the street that would recognize just the sound of your engine that you did not belong. I guess it was a great thing if you had children in the neighborhood, a private security force?😂

But everybody in this community had to have a community-centered job. My next-door neighbor’s job was the weekend bonfires. I was the only one in the community that had a guitar so, my responsibility was entertainment. 😂 I would play background music. I’d write up my own songs complete with lyrics. Just don’t ask me to play something you knew because, I couldn’t. But I remember a line from one of the songs that I wrote. The line went like this— “Way down yonder in the country, right smack dab in the city.” That’s they way it went because, that’s what it was like, living there.

I mentioned this previous experience because, I recounted it all the way back in June of this year to a man who ran a music store, about 15-20 minutes from me. His store had been in operation for over 30 years. I was in his shop over two years ago, looking for a specific type of guitar, which was a classic guitar, with nylon strings. I really did not want to build up callouses on my left hand from the steel acoustic strings. I have never been interested in playing an electric myself, but love its sounds. And I was looking for a particular brand which is called, Alvarez. I have wanted one for over 30 years, but even after playing it, I just could not afford it. But I told him that I would be back. In the world of sales, ‘Be—Back’s, seldom ever come back! But I did come back, even if it took me over two years. 😂

But I told my story to the owner of this music store and he looked at me and he said to me, “Isn’t it time that you kept your own guitar!” So with his words and encouragement, this became part of my plan. When I finally quit smoking, I would replace it with playing music, writing songs and singing them along with playing them on my guitar.

Remember I said I could write songs with my guitar, original songs? It has taken me 67 years to figure out that of all the instruments that I have ever sat down to play, it is only a guitar with which I can turn my poems into lyrics or just write lyrics for songs! I am slow to learn. 🤣

There was a particular type of Alvarez guitar I was looking to play, to see if I liked the sound and it’s all about the sound! In developing their new Classical and Flamenco guitars, Alvarez began a journey in Cádiz, Spain the beautiful most southern province in Andalusia and the home of the Classical guitar. Their aim was to learn more about the history, the music and construction of these amazing instruments before embarking on research and development of their own. They started in the small hilltop town of Vejer de la Frontera, just south of the city of Cádiz where they met, talked with and worked with local luthiers (makers of stringed instruments), and players in the Cádiz area.

It was called the Cádiz from the area in Spain where the Spanish guitar or classic guitar, as it’s mostly known as, and where the flamenco guitar originated. So Alvarez sent it’s people to work with Spaniards made this new series of guitars. I was very excited to try it, but there was none in inventory, but one was coming in. It was long on back order. I gave my information and they would let me know when it came in. That call never came. I called back several times with the same answer, NO! On October 5th, 2021, I called and got an automatic voice saying the store, after 30 years, had been been permanently closed, with no further information available. In fifteen days the store had completely closed. Transportation issues and inventory could not allow them to continue. I have since learned that due to Covid-19 and cargo ships not being unloaded, if one were to place an order with Alvarez as of this writing in December of 2021, it may not be available until summer or later of 2022. This is primarily why the longtime dealer in Webster, NY, ‘The Music Store’ closed his business, in just under 15 days, after 30 years!

But Alvarez gave me the name and phone number of another store, ‘The Music Lover’s Shop’, about 45 minutes away from my home. I called and spoke with Jimmy, either the store’s manager, owner or both? He was getting ready to go to their Buffalo, New York store. I explained to him my situation and that it was not a matter of money, but that I wanted to try this guitar, the Alvarez Cádiz and if I liked its sound, I wanted to buy it, but I couldn’t do it for 60 days. Six weeks is the longest time I ever went from not smoking. I wanted to beat the record and make it two months. In the state of New York, two months of smoking two packs a day, seven days a week, is equal to about $1500. The Alvarez Cádiz guitar I was looking at was considerably less than that, but Jimmy said of his two stores, they only had the one I was looking for, in their Rochester, NY store. Yes, they had one and only one and it was on a first come, first serve basis. I asked him if he would make an arrangement with me to put a certain amount of money down and hold it for me until I paid it off in 60 days. And he agreed to do this, but I had to have a package value of about $1,000.00 and I had to put 25% down or at least $250.00, which I was more than happy to do. I made arrangements to come over and he promised he would not sell this guitar until I arrived, had a chance to play it and if satisfied, put the required deposit down.

I was excited driving over. It was like anticipating getting my driver’s license for the first time at age sixteen or hoping to kiss a girl I had just met! 🤣 Remember my saying that sometimes smoking can kind of pick you up or calm you down? I was so excited driving over that morning to the store to try out this guitar, when I arrived, I reached across the center console between the front seats of my truck, for a cigarette to calm me down before I entered the store. There were none there. 😂

October 6, 2021, I played the Alvarez Cádiz, asked many questions and put down the required deposit. About a month later, November 5, 2021 I called the store and I asked if I could come in and “play my guitar” and I put down another 25% so I could.😂 I started to become a local phenom, as the guy that quit smoking, to buy a guitar. 😃

The plan was that I could not have ownership until completing 60 days of no smoking. And if I smoked within those 60 days, I would lose any and all deposits! I had several witnesses to keep me honest. Besides them, I suck at lying to the guy in the mirror, myself. I also made the agreement that if I smoked after buying the guitar in 60 days, I would give this guitar, it’s case and all, all away for FREE. I had witnesses for this as well.

So this was my plan of hope, to replace one habit with a newer habit of playing guitar, writing songs and singing again— having something that was worth more than anything that I lost, but also having some pain involved if I screwed up before or after I purchased it. And just so we all understand, guitar or not, if I had continued to smoke, I would have burnt up in smoke, $1500 in two months, with nothing to show for it. As a surprise to my wife, I secreted out and took her guitar (an acoustic), had it cleaned up, restrung with new strings, bought her new case and some other things. All total, I spent $300 less than I would have spent smoking up and burning up my money in two months, anyway. So hey, I was saving money too and would have “something to show for it!”

Every story has an ending and this one ends really well! I believe I’ve been delivered and on November 30, 2021. On this date, I picked up and now own my own Alvarez Cádiz, classical guitar! And I’m keeping it! I have not smoked since and I really don’t think I will EVER allow anyone other than myself, to play it.

There is much thanks to go around . I thank all the folks at ‘The Music Lovers Shop’ that helped me make this possible.

https://musicloversshoppe.us/ – website

https://www.facebook.com/MusicLoversShoppe/ – Facebook page

I thank my beloved wife Susan, my sister Carol Lee, her husband Lenny, and a few other friends and family that knew what I was doing— my Cheery-oes (cheery + heroes), who were my unsung and silent confidants and who encouraged me. And I mostly thank God, for not just that I could steel my will to not smoke, 🚬 ever again but delivering me from this lifelong; horrible addiction and replacing it with something far better.

If the whole church is the Temple of God (and it is), I desired to become a much better tabernacle, for God to dwell in! As the Holy of Holies, the tabernacle of God was in the Temple of God, it was only there that the high priest was allowed only once a year to enter in. When Jesus Christ died, he was the High Priest and he entered into the Holy of Holies and the middle wall of partition between the Jew and the gentiles was broken down, the separation between men and women was ended, and the veil of the Temple was torn from top to bottom allowing anyone who would will to come, come directly to God. The Holy of Holies represented the place of God. It contained the tablets of Moses. But the temple was too small to hold the God of Heaven and Earth. The scriptures said there be no temples made with hands. But it was the tabernacle (tabernacles), where God was to dwell and we, the Church of God in Christ are the Temple of God, each a tabernacle, wherein the Holy of Holies (God), dwells!

“Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink (as the parchments, the written Word of God), but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.”

II Corinthians 3:3 (KJV)

Let me then, make a joyful noise…

“Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.”

Psalm 95:2 (KJV)

“And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.”

II Samuel 6:5 (KJV)

Gone fishing, catch you later 🙂

Fishing Report IV

Short url to this post: https://wp.me/p8DawH-hD

By Dahni
© 2021

 

Fishing 🎣 Report #4 of 10

October 3rd, 2021

   I began this month of October in reading (trying to read), the book of Romans. After starting and stopping several times and having only read maybe one or two chapters at the most, I let it go at that. No, I did not quit at a couple of chapters only, I let it go, with whatever small amount I had read.

   Though is is good to force a dead-head mind to read the Word (doing the right thing), there are just times when my mind just refuses to open to what I am reading or just wants to go to sleep.

Reading is futile it seems, to continue to try in such situations.

   There are other times when my reading-mind is not swimming with the splashing of enlightenment, but I am at least able to read without much distraction or repetition, because of my wandering off. As uncomfortable that this exercise is, to strengthen a muscle, muscles need to be broken down to become strong and that is sometimes quite painful. Reading with a purpose and with excitement or struggling to get into it or wanting to just to go to sleep, I am thankful that I can read and am reading what is not just for its literature or information, but it’s potential and power of my transformation!

   Eyes on the pages until my eyes are within them!

Gone fishing, catch you later 🙂

Fishing Report III

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By Dahni
© 2021

 

Fishing 🎣 Report #3 of 10

September 29, 2021

 In reading through the 7 Church epistles, Romans-II Thessalonians, I am trying to also focus on with a further view to recall them, are the seven things God does not want us to be “ignorant of!” This is like not hitting the mark or missing the mark. The mark is skopeó in Greek and it’s equivalent is to hit center of a target 🎯 or a bullseye. So not wanting us to be ignorant (miss the mark), God wants us to aim towards hitting the mark. These 7 things are as follows:

1. Not ignorant of others watching over us, but aim towards watching over others

2. Not ignorant of the mystery, but aim towards things not seen

3. Not ignorant of O.T. believers and their walk, but aim towards to goal of believers in Christ in their walk

4. Not ignorant of spiritual matters, but aim towards the goal of light in our walk, not darkness

5. Not ignorant of our trouble, but aim towards the goal of marking and avoiding those that cause divisions and teach other doctrines

6. Not ignorant of Satan’s devices, but aim towards the goal of not being tempted

7. Not ignorant concerning those that sleep (have died), but aim towards the prize of the high calling

For these seven, I have given the scriptures in Fishing 🎣 Report I. But what I saw for the first time is where these seven things appear.

By order, there are doctrinal, reproof, and correction epistles. Romans begins the first doctrinal epistle. Doctrine is how to believe rightly. Roman is followed by first and second Corinthians which is reproof. It corrects the practical error for failing to adhere to the revelation given in the book of Romans. Corinthians is followed by Galatians which is correction. It corrects the doctrinal error for failing to adhere to the revelation given in the book of Romans. This form is a trio or the number three is the number for completeness.

This order is repeated in the next book, Ephesians. Ephesians is a doctrinal epistle. It is followed by Philippians which corrects the practical error for failing to adhere to the revelation given in the book of Ephesians. Philippians is followed by Colossians which is, correction. Colossians corrects the doctrinal error for failing to adhere to the revelation given in the book of Ephesians. This form is the second trio, and number two is the number for establishment. 3×2 is six which is the number for a man or men or men and women, it is the height that mere mortals could possibly ascend to. Something is still lacking and that which is lacking is God 6+1 = 7 and seven is the number for spiritual perfection. First and second Thessalonians is a doctrinal epistle. But it has no corresponding reproof or correction! Why, because Christ returns for his saints, his church, the body of Christ, and then shall we be like him and forever be with him as he is, so shall we be quickening spirits. The dead shall first arise and then they which are alive at his return.

So, it is interesting that’s the first two things that God does not want us to be ignorant of, are found in the book of Romans a doctrinal epistle. The next four, are all found in the books of first and second Corinthians, a reproof epistle. And the last thing that God does not want us to be ignorant of, number seven, the number for spiritual perfection, is found in the epistle of Thessalonians, the final doctrinal epistle with no corresponding reproof or correction!

Gone fishing, catch you later 🙂

Fishing Report II

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By Dahni
© 2021

 

Fishing 🎣 Report #2 of 10

Special Note: November 30th, 2021 ended my three-month quest which I began on September 1st, 2021 and called it, ‘Gone Fishing’ (for truth and to make myself a better tabernacle in which, for God to dwell). During this time, I made notes about what I saw and what I was learning; what was happening to me. Those I called ‘Fishing Reports’ and today is, the second of a total of ten such reports. So, beginning today (December 1st, 2021), I will post these reports, for the next several days until they are completed.  Then, we will look into something I am perhaps more excited about than anything I’ve seen from the scriptures, in a very long, long time!!! It is my hope this will be enlightening to you as well! Have a Happy first day of December! 😀

D

September 27, 2021

It has come to my attention that:

“If I make time for the superfluous deed, then I have time to read!”

-Dahni-

   Being on track to have read the seven church epistles 8 times and the 8 true chapters or sections of the book of Acts (essentially once), all from September 1st – November 30, 2021, may seem like a lot on this three month journey, but how much more could be accomplished if I would eliminate most other if not all other forms of information/entertainment, and read more of God’s Word, during this period.

Is not the purposes of this 3 month pursuit to:

Further prove to myself that God says what He means and means what He says, to have some power, get some answers to prayer and see some signs, miracles, and wonders? Yes!

How can I be acceptable to Him (II Timothy 2:15), If I am studying the news, social media, movies, the Internet and other non-essentials, more than or even equal to, studying His Word?

How am I to get myself free from the distractions and entanglements of this world, if I am entangling myself still, with them, even though unintentionally?

The competition raging between my carnal mind and having the “mind of Christ,” is already intense enough! Why then, would I want to give more weight to the things of this world, rather than the things of God? The latter is my intention and not the former.

It is not the quantity of scripture read during this 3 month journey, how many books I repeat or how many pages read per day, but the quality of my reading! How much am I reading without distraction? How much am I willingly allowing to sink in? Without these distractions, a greater quantity of scriptures will be read hereafter and there is certainly nothing wrong with that.

Still, the key to all of this seems to me, to read without distraction. Even my mind wanders at times while reading and I have to recognize this, stop and re-read at the place when my mind wandered off, all over and even all over again and again until, I can read without distraction and allow God’s Word to settle in to where it needs to be and should be- in me.

God does His God thing, but I have a part in this as well. I have to do my part. My part is to read and read without distraction.

It has also come to my attention that there are times when it is a pure delight to just sit quietly and read God’s Word without outside distraction. But there are also times when I am not “into it” and just going through the mechanics and the motions of reading, just to keep some goal I have set for myself, for these three months. In this I have decided, so what? So what? So what, whatever and how much or how little I am reading from God’s Word, I am reading it and if slowly, sooner or later my mind will get used to this and I will still benefit. Beyond this, it is important to me to be faithful. Starting over and re-reading when my mind wanders off is one example. I have missed reading daily once or twice this month of September already, and no amount of reading more the next day can make up for it, but rather than put myself down or condemn myself, I just picked myself up and started again. This is to me also, an example of faithfulness or being faithful.

“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

I Corinthians 4:2 KJV (King James Version)

   A steward is a trusted (and faithful), member or servant of a household entrusted with and to be responsible for those things their master, lord, God or Father had given them.

So I am resolved to more frequently, tune out more of the world and give my mind more quantity of God’s Word, by tuning into it more often, and allow my mind to absorb it more.

In ‘reading’ forward’ it is not a preset goal for how much more I will from this day until the end of November 30th, 2021, but I will neither read less or the same, but more.

Gone fishing, catch you later 🙂

Fishing Report I

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Fishing Report 1

By Dahni
© 2021

 

Fishing 🎣 Report #1 of 10

   Good Morning! 🌞 I thought I would share my latest fishing report on many three month journey for truth. This is my latest ‘Fishing Report’, 🎣 AKA on the cusp of Spiritual Renewal & Revolution). By Today’s date of September 21st, 2021, I have read the seven church epistles twice (Romans – II Thessalonians) and the first two chapters of Acts (the real chapters), with their concluding verses = FOS (Greek figure of speech- symperasma).

Chapter 1 -Acts 1:1-2:47

2:47 “Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

Chapter 2 – Acts 3:1-6:7

6:7 “And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.”

   The reading of the seven church epistles for a period of three months, has long been something I have desired to do and now in this, my 68th year of life, from September 1 through November 30, 2021, I am in pursuit to realize this desire. My father in the word always encouraged people to set aside their other reading materials for at least three months and to concentrate rather than on reading the seven church epistles, which are written TO us. Yes all of the Bible is FOR our learning, but these 7 are written TO us That profess and confess to be Christian.

   My Spiritual father in the Word stated often and publicly that it has been proven time and time again that in doing so, people would have some power, get some answers to prayer, and see some signs miracles and wonders.

   This along with what the Word says, which is to “study the Word,” is my purpose for this three months challenge.

   I want to read what is written to me from the seven church epistles. I read them completely through from start to finish and then read one of the real chapters of the book of Acts. Acts contains all principles of how that early first century church moved God’s word over all Asia minor to the end that “so mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed! Beyond anything else, first, God’s Word must become “mightily” and prevail in me.

Along this, my journey of spiritual renewal and revolution, I want to become familiar with and be able to recall the eight concluding verses of the book of Acts.

I also want to see and be able to recall the 7 things God does NOT want me to be “ignorant of,” but in contrast, to know the ‘Seven Things’ He wants me and all Christians to KNOW!!!

1. Not ignorant of spiritual leaders watching over us – Romans 1:13, but aim towards watching over the things of others- Philippians 2:4
2. Not ignorant of The Mystery Romans 11:25, but aim towards things not seen – eternal- II Corinthians 4:18
3. Not ignorant of O.T. believers and their walk- I Corinthians 10:1, but aim towards to goal of believers in Christ in their walk- Philippians 3:17
4. Not ignorant of spiritual matters- I Corinthians 12:1, but aim towards the goal of light in our walk, not darkness- I Corinthians 1:8-10
5. Not ignorant of our trouble – II Corinthians 2:8-10, but aim towards the goal of marking and avoiding those that cause divisions and teach other doctrines- Romans 16:17
6. Not ignorant of Satan’s devices- II Corinthians 2:11, but aim towards the goal of not being tempted
7. Not ignorant concerning those that sleep (have died), but aim towards the prize of the high calling – Philippians 3:14

Along with these things, I am slogging (working hard over this period of time), to get myself free from the entanglements of this world, in order that when I teach or preach to anyone, I am not found to be a hypocrite or that the ministry is not blamed!

If it is a witness that I am and I am a witness, I desire to be the best witness that I can be!  🎯

Gone fishing, catch you later 🙂

Gone Fishing!?.

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By Dahni
© 2021

  

   Gone Fishing!?. What is this, an exclamation (!), a question (?), or a statement (.)? Well, it’s kind of all three and if not literal it’s figurative. Yes, I would literally like to let you know that not only have I “gone Fishing” (for fish), I’ll be gone three months! It is a question because, am I really going fishing for three months? And last, but not least, I really am going fishing (figuratively speaking), for three months. I’ll be fishing, for the Word of God, reading the Bible, for the next three months and I’m using me as bait.

   I don’t believe in God? So what? I believe in God? So what? The devil believes in God and so does his host of devil spirits. Yes, that is what I wrote, that is what I meant, and that is what the Bible, God’s Word, calls them.

   It really does not matter if you or I believe in God or not! The question is, do we believe God? The word “believe” is a verb and it denotes action. Professing and confessing something that you or I believe in or don’t believe in makes not much difference in the down-and-dirty or the nitty-gritty, where we live, every single day. But what do we believe? What do we act upon or what do we take action on? It is those actions, which will determine, if we will receive results or consequences, from what we believe.

   We all know how to believe. We have known how to believe since birth. Even a crying baby believes. They cry, they take action, and it brings them usually food (milk), aid, and comfort. It is no different in receiving the things of God or spiritual things if you will.

   Believing is a law. It is a universal law. It does not matter if we are Christian or not. If we believe, if we act, we are going to receive something, either a result or a consequence, according to what is available!

   You can scroll down this page, if you are reading line by line and paragraph after paragraph. We can do this because, we believe (take action), and because, it is available. Now, when it comes to this blog- ‘Pentecost’ “Birthday of the Church,” which started thousands of years ago (the church not my blog), I am interested in replicating the things that were done in the first century. I want to see that kind of power in my own life! I don’t believe all those signs, miracles, and wonders ended, with the apostles. I believe they are still available today, to you and I!

   It is no more difficult to believe to scroll down this page than it would be to part the sea like Moses did, tell a mountain to go jump into a lake or raise someone from the dead! So how do we test that? How can we prove that?

   The church of Christ or the Christian church (Christ in), began in the book of Acts (interesting name, acts). It started in chapter 2 and in verse one. The link to this blog uses the reference to Acts 2:1 like this:

https://act2one.wordpress.com

   Almost 50 years ago, a man I loved, admired and respected, always encouraged not just me, but all of those, he called his “kids.’ He used to say all the time, “Lots of things, Kids!” Today, you and I live in the ‘digital’ world and time, when there is a convergence of all things tech. There is a lot of excitement and on its heels is, evil too. It is coming for religion and its ‘believers’. Look about you and you know these are troubling times in the world and in my country, the United States of America. Are these the ‘end times’? Should we be afraid? Are we approaching the book of Revelation and the “mark of the beast”? I don’t know, but I do know three things:

1. “Lots of things Kids” are always going on.
2. No one knows the day, time and hour when Christ comes “for” his church and the dead in Christ rise first, then those, which are alive when he returns, will meet him in the air and forever be with him. see: Matthew 24:36
3. I’m still here, so #2 has not happened yet! 😀 see: II Thessalonians 2:3-6

   The man I met almost 50 years ago, was to me, my father in the Word and I was one of his “kids.”  But another thing he always encouraged everyone to do was, to study Gods word:

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman” [or work-woman or work-child] “that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

II Timothy 2:15 King James Version (KJV)

   Well this is way cool!😎 This is how we can stand approved before God and never have to be ashamed, IF we study His rightly divided Word! WOW, this sure beats having to spend all night in prayer on my skinny bony knees or a lot of other works, just to try and get His approval or His attention. In this complex and complicated world, I really love simple, don’t you?

   I have wanted to do this for almost 50 years, but life always seemed to get in my way and I just never got one of those ‘round-to-it’s’

   The suggestion was really quite simple and has a great deal of promise for power. I will do my best to quote it verbatim or at least the gist of it, as I recall it:

“This has been proven time and time again. If you will just put away all your other reading material for the next three months and only read the 7 Church epistles (Romans, I & II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I Thessalonians and II Thessalonians), which are written to you and for you, you’re gonna’ have some answers to prayer! You are going to have some power!! You’re going to see some- signs, miracles and wonders!!!”

   So beginning today, September 1st, 2021, until November 30th, 2021, this is what I’ll be doing. No social media, no blogging, probably little to no mainstream news (maybe the weather), and just reading and doing the stuff I need to get done. I invite you to give it a GO, whether you are a Christian, Atheist, Agnostic or whatever you believe. Here is a little secret, just reading God’s Word rightly divided, builds both our believing and our hope, not to mention learning trust and our trusting in God. But let’s just say you really don’t believe in God. Just by studying His rightly divided Word, it will make a believer out of you, if, if you will to believe! If nothing else, at least you would be able to argue against God, just by knowing what His Word says.

   Now how are we gonna’ do this “believe” stuff unless He, God, backs up His Word and our study and reading of it, with- signs, miracles and wonders? He says He will! He will!

   I Love ❤️God, I Love ❤️ my wife, family and friends, my country, and I Love ❤️ you! 🤗 😘 That’s X’s and O’s! 😉

   I posted mostly everything here, on my Facebook timeline. I intend to return to Facebook and resume participation in the online digital world, December 1st, 2021.

   Enjoy your fall!

   Pray 🙏 for one another and all those you hold dear! Pray 🙏 for our country (if it is yours)! Or pray 🙏 for your country! Pray 🙏for yourself! And if you have any extra time, I would appreciate you praying 🙏 for me too! 👍

   I’ll be busy and have plenty to do!

   I may not be around here for three months, but I’ll be around hear! 😎 If you need to reach me, leave a comment with your email address and I’ll email you back. Comments are never posted until I have read them, so no one else will know your email address from this blog. You could also send me a text message on your cell phone to mine, if you have my number, by the Messenger app on Facebook, call me or just come on over! 😀 You could just ask God- how and when to reach me, He always knows! 😀

   I cannot wait to discover, what God does in me, these next three months! I’ll be wondering what He is doing in you or could be doing in you, if you will try this, for the next three months. Maybe I will share from my three-month journey, maybe not and maybe- you will already know?

 

Taken with my iPhone 8/30/2021. The rays make me think of miracles and it looks like a heart in the middle of the clouds. Why not, I’ll take it as my sign.

The Plan

Real simple! Read as much as you want or can each day! Plan? Start in the book of Romans and work your way through until the last verse in II Thessalonians. Then, start all over again and keep doing this until the end of three months. I am new/old. By that I mean, I have a real Bible and it has a real red ribbon in it as a bookmark. 🔖 I also have an iPhone and iBook’s. For either/or I am reading from the King James Version because, I am most familiar with it. My version of the KJV on iBook’s is free. But it also has a red bookmark. See pictures to follow.

I am sure no matter what kind of cell phone you have, there’s an app for reading and most likely, you can get it in any version of the Bible that you like.

I had to chuckle at the e-cover of my digital Bible. I always thought there were a bunch of (“various”), writers, ✍️ ✍️ but only one author! 😂

I generally like the touch of real paper and the turning of real pages while reading. 📖 However, there are certain times like appointments and you’re waiting etc. etc. Rather than pick up a God only knows- where it has been and who touched it literature, I can just “pick up” my cell phone because, I know where its been. 😂 You could also, just use your cell phone and continue your e-reading, while you’re waiting! 😀 It has other nice features too like search. 🔍 Hmmm 🤔 that reminds me of another verse, now where was that? 😀 Faster than you can say bing, bing, bing- Ricochet Rabbit, it will find the verse for you!

Gone fishing, catch you later 🙂

The Convergence of all Things Tech

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The Convergence of all Things Tech

By Dahni
©️ 2021, all rights reserved

On my Facebook timeline recently I said, “…they are coming after religion next.” It has already begun and Facebook is poised to exploit and emerge as a if not THE meta-church, where life, culture and even religion converge as all things tech.

There is no truth, only your truth? Let us make god in our own image?

When people are afraid and overwhelmed, traumatized, confused and in pain, when all that they know seems to have failed, it is a common thing for us to turn to religion and to some god we may not know and may not even believe in. We are in crisis mode. So, it was only a matter of time before religion would enter in, into our world, through the convergence of all things tech.

‘SPIRIT TECH’
“The Brave New World of Consciousness Hacking and Enlightenment Engineering”
Wesley J. Wildman, Ph.D., and Kate J. Stockly, Ph.D.

Do a search for the so-called “Christian,” Wesley J. Wildman. He is very favored by the mainstream media. Forget he is a “Wild-man”?

“There is an app for that!” Remember those words? Now there is an app for prayer, prayer requests, to raise money for your church or religious group or cause. There are even virtual churches you can now join and participate in by wearing virtual reality headgear and make a donation through PayPal, Apple Pay or other online pay-as-you-go services. You could actually be in a building (a church), wearing your head gear and after the service, meet and greet at a Starbucks, your church has on site.

Oh, why would anyone want to do this? Almost gone is the idea of “show and tell.” The new motto emerging in the convergence of all things tech is, “Show and bring!” Bring where? Show and bring to almost anything or to anyone. Walk and talk with a transgender, maybe even sit in the throne room of heaven and see and converse with the god of someone’s imagination. Be your own Jesus Christ? Maybe you won’t care? Maybe you won’t notice? Maybe it will all seem so real, you won’t recognize the counterfeit? Data mining will gather what you believe, who you associate with, what you purchase, your names, addresses, phone numbers and everyone you connect with on a religious, philosophical or spiritual basis.

You can be sure Facebook is in! see:

https://www.oculus.com/

Facebook has already and are, signing non-disclosure agreements with those that are in or want in. This is more, much more than Big Tech coming after us! So are our churches, philosophical and religious organizations, coming for us. Afraid? You should NOT be, just be aware!

“…stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places.”

Ephesians 6:11b-12 Amplified Bible

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil,
as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

I Peter 5:8 King James Version

Short of pulling all my tech plugs, (which I am more and more interested in doing that and going off grid and just be like a voice crying out in the wilderness), what can I do? What can you do? For the smart people out there, develop some ALL-tech-sniffing and ALL-tech-jamming technology to protect us in this digital world. Let me be perfectly clear. You can believe what ever you want. But I believe, it is only Christian nations or those, which allow freedom, to allow Christians and only Christians, men and women filled with the spirit of God- to INVENT! Everyone else cannot feed himself or herself or enjoy the freedom, health and prosperity that God intends for all. Everyone else must steal, kill, destroy, exploit, clone or copy!

Beyond this, what else can you and I do? We can pray! WE can pray for ourselves, each other and for the nation that God raised up! We can pray that He will restore our republic and to His glory and as our national motto says, really and truly say it and mean it- ‘In God We Trust!’

“The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer [male or female]) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].

James 5:16 Amplified Version

Finally, know God! Study His Word! Believe God! By the way, the study of His Word will cause you and I to both know Him and believe! Once we believe- signs, miracles and wonders will follow, DAILY!

“Study to shew [show] thyself [yourself] approved unto God, a workman [work-person] that needeth not [does not need] to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

II Timothy 2:15 King James Version

Just remember, it says “rightly dividing the word of truth.” It says what it means and means what it says! If it can be “rightly divided,” than it can also be wrongly divided. Wrongly divided, it is not the truth. Only by meeting the following conditions, can you and I not be set free, but “made free.”

“As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews
which believed on him, If ye continue in my word,
then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free.”

John 8:30-32 King James Version

It’s the hearing and the study of, the “rightly divided” Word of God, which causes believing. If we (any man, woman or child), will continue in His Word, “then” are we his disciples or disciplined ones and then, we will absolutely know the truth and then, the truth will absolutely make us free!

Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the Bible, I’m just…

…a witness.

Dahni

Sustainability (“prosperity”)

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Sustainability (“prosperity”)

By Dahni
©️ 2021, all rights reserved

What is “sustainability”? Before we get into this, let me ask us some questions. When was the last time you or I received a bill from Nature’s God, The God of Nature, or God, for sunshine, rainfall, air purification, water purification, photosynthesis, and breathable air, among many other needful and desirous things to “sustain”, maintain and prosper your life? Never received such a bill? Me neither! And why is that? Why, because, it’s all FREE, to everyone and anyone, anywhere in the world, for and at, any time!

Well, that seems like a terrible business model, does it not? But IF we really think about it, it is all “sustainable!” It works as a whole system. It works independently of each part. It is not dependent on anything, but is interdependent, each part for each other and the whole.

The world’s “sustainability” model is solely based on individual parts, variables and even individuals. Well, this IS a terrible business model! Only our species could take infinite diversification, slug it into a box with limited boundaries and devise a system, which will devour its host or itself. Wow, does this sound like a virus to you? It certainly does to me. You know, a virus, which will consume all available resources, move on and eventually dies because, it eats itself out of house and home. Now maybe we can all have an inkling of why the Bible says-

“For the love of money is the root of all evil…”

I Timothy 6:10a, King James Version (KJV), of the Bible

Notice it does not say money is the “root”, but “the LOVE of money is the root of,” [not just some evil], but “all evil!” When our need is met and our needs are supplied and we have more than we need (which is prosperity), what do we do with the excess? Only finite and imperfect beings could think of dividing up the infinite and devise some business or “sustainability” model, to get caught up and away with, such an imperfect thing as greed. And after need, greed sets in, which is the love for more, which is evil and ends with the consumption or the destruction of itself.

Don’t forget the “love” – love of money

There is not a thing, nothing wrong with money. We should not only have some and all our needs met, but have more than we need. This is prosperity. So money is NOT the problem, it’s the “love” of money that is the root of all evil! A tree can survive- missing leaves, twigs, branches, limbs and even a lot of damage to its trunk. But it will not long endure, if its roots are damaged, dying or dead. Money is not the root of ALL evil, it’s the love of it.

There are many records of prosperity in the Bible. The closest to reaching overflow and permeating the culture in the old testament, was likely under the reign of Solomon. The whole nation of Israel prospered. Even the Queen of Sheba could not accept the report to her about Solomon and Israel, from her most trusted advisers. Oh no, she had to come and see for herself. And what she saw and heard and experienced personally was, greater than anything she had be told.

see: I Kings 10:1-7

In the first century Church, beginning in Acts 2:1, the following is what the early Christians did with all their excess, all they had, over and beyond what each individual had need of-

“And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men” [all inclusive noun meaning all – men, women, children], “as every man” [all inclusive noun meaning all – men, women, children], “had need.”

Acts 2:45 (KJV)

Alchemy, as we mostly think of it is, the idea of turning lead or some other metal into gold. Alchemy can include such things as chemistry, metallurgy, philosophy and just weird mythological stuff. But early Christian Alchemists, Yes, Christian and Alchemists, were not trying to figure out how to turn lead into gold, but how to prosper from the nature that God had created. They believed that God had provided everything needed to sustain the life that God had created, for as long as we dwell upon this earth- past, presently, and in the future. I realize this might be upsetting to you, if you believe that our kind, humankind, can destroy what has been created by God, to sustain and prosper His creation. But I did not write the Bible.

An economist, Paul Zayne Pilsner, first brought this Christian alchemy to my attention, many years ago. I’ll never forget the examples he gave, in one of the first of several books he has written.

For some of us, we remember the LP (long playing), black vinyl grooved albums of the sixties. Yes, the word “groovy” was used back then and these albums really had grooves cut into them. As the album revolved or spun around on a turntable, a needle would go along those grooves and WOW, the speakers would play our favorite music! Then, technology changed and many people in the album business, suddenly became unemployed. CD’s, then DVD’s and now the “Cloud” and streaming audio and video, are the technologies, which replaced the former ones.

Pilsner also, told a story about a bunch of people stranded on a deserted island. They had no way to get back home and they had to survive. Their priorities were pretty basic- water, food and shelter. They had plenty of rainfall and they could collect fresh water from streams. Vegetation provided them with the means for shelter and food. Fish were plentiful in the ocean. But the entire group of people, spent all day long, just fishing, even to have enough to eat for the day.

One day, let’s say you and your friend saw a boat in the distance coming toward you. As it drew nearer, you could see a man and as he got even closer, you saw he had another boat, tied behind him. As he came to the shore, you and your friend were pretty excited about the possibility of being rescued. But you soon realized these two boats could not get everyone on the island back home. The man in the boat promised to tell of your location and your situation, when he got back home. And he did one more thing, he gave his extra boat to you and your friend, waved goodbye, and went back out to sea.

So, you and your friend went all around the island exploring and found this really nice, deep and calm cove. You felt a little guilty that while you and your friend were having fun, everyone else on the island were busy fishing, just to have enough food, maybe, for the day. So, you and your friend cast your fishing lines into this water and in no time at all, you had a lot of fish, more than enough fish, for every man, woman and child to last a whole week. You and your friend in about an hour, unemployed everyone else on the entire island. Instead of everyone becoming depressed about losing their jobs, they each and all rejoiced. Now, there was time to develop other things and do things they more enjoyed than just fishing. This is what technology (“sustainability” and “prosperity”), is supposed to do, make life easier and better. Instead of just surviving, they were thriving and prospering. And this is exactly what the early Christian alchemists believed, was nature’s way, God’s way! That is until, they walked off a short pier into the deep, of wild and crazy alchemy, as we think of it today.

“Everything God has formed, made, and created is to sustain and prosper His creation.” -dahni-

“Everything God has formed, made, and created is to sustain and prosper His creation.”

-dahni-

God wants all his children, his people, all people to prosper. But like- the love money is the root of all evil, this is something that sets the will of God in contrast and that contrast is evil. God sent his only begotten son to break this evil and bring prosperity back, as was and is always, His will.

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

John 10:10 (KJV)

And there we have the contrast or the contradiction. The thief has one purpose and it is to steal, kill and destroy. But Jesus Christ, coming in the name and power of God, came that we might have not just life in every aspect of life (mentally, emotionally, physically, financially and spiritually, etc.), but more abundantly or more than abundant. By the way, the word life in the Greek is sozo. It is a small word, it may have a funny sound when pronounced, but it has a big, BIG meaning! It means as I have already said, life- in every manifestation or every evidence! He wants us healthy or to be healed too!

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest,” [may- your choice] “prosper and be in health, even as thy,” [your] “soul prospereth.” [prospers]

III John 1:2 (KJV)

Today, when most people think of the word “sustainability” they likely mean the environment, possibly financial “sustainability”, but likely, sustaining our natural resources like- water, earth, fresh air, and the end of pollution so, the sun can shine through, as it is intended. But the prosperity we are talking about here, covers all that and whole lots more!

The closest I have ever read about, about this sustainable prosperity, began in the first century Church, in Acts chapter 2 and in verse one. The 12 apostles went to the temple during the hours of prayer they were supposed to be there and as Jesus Christ had told them to do, days before. They availed themselves of God’s sustainability. The results from this were- signs, miracles, and wonders followed. From Acts 2:1-41, many things happened. Then, then what happened next?

“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear [reverence-awe], came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men” [all inclusive noun], “as every man” [all inclusive noun], had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.“

Acts 2:42-47 (KJV)

I realize most believe (like I used to), there are 28 chapters in the book of Acts. But actually, there are 8 sections or 8 chapters. I’m not making this up. God set this up and he marked these, with a specific figure of speech for each one of the eight, to empathize and magnify what He wanted us to know is important. This first of 8 in the book of Acts, is found in Acts 2:47.

“Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be” [in the process of being], ”saved.”

This is the figure of speech from Greek, called ‘symperasma’ (sym’ per-as’-ma). It is a concluding statement. It is to conclude with or end what was stated before. It is the sum and substance of everything read from Acts chapter 1:1-2:46 and concludes or ends the whole thing, in verse 47 of chapter 2. It is also called in the Greek, ‘athrcesmos’ (a-thrces’mos), to collect or gather together. All the things read about, from Acts 1:1-2:41, line up perfectly with verses 2:42-46 and concludes it all, with God adding to the church daily in Acts 2:47. This was only the beginning. There are 7 more sections or chapters, which build upon all these things and each has their own concluding statement. These are:

(2) Acts 6:7, (3) Acts 9:31, (4) Acts 11:21, (5) Acts 12:24,
(6) Acts 16:15, (7) Acts 19:20, and (8) Acts 28:31

This begins with addition, one center (the temple), one location (Jerusalem) and 12 apostles. As these sections or chapters build upon each other, multiplication comes in- multiple synagogues, towns and cities, more leaders, and more and more signs, miracles and wonders following others, besides the apostles. Many were just average people if you will, people, everyday common people, like maybe you and definitely me. All of these things add to and build from these principles, beginning in Acts 2:47 Each section has the former principles and adds more in sections 2,3,4,5, and six. It rises and rises until, the 7th section or chapter 7 (the number seven being the number for spiritual perfection), is concluded in, Acts 19:20- “So mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed!” This prevailing word is no more addition or multiplication, but geometric progression-

2-4-8-16-32-64-128-256-1,012-2024-4,048-8,096-16,192, and so on.

At some point, I can’t count much higher! 😂

“Sustainability” is not dependent or independent, but interdependent, each individual part working together for each other and the whole. It is not only to sustain life, but to also, prosper, all of life!” -dahni-

“Sustainability” is not dependent or independent, but interdependent, each individual part working together for each other and the whole. It is not only to sustain life, but to also, prosper, all of life!”

-dahni-

This is just about a close of an example of “sustainability” and “prosperity” we could ever imagine. It all began and grew to the point, it “prevailed” and the signs, miracles and wonders followed the speaking, teaching and believing of God’s Word. And if this is not extraordinary enough, in and of itself, it all happened in the space of just about two years and three months. And it was by the leadership of just one man, the apostle Paul. This is the same guy who once cast his vote to have Jesus Christ crucified! And all of this was accomplished, without our incredible technology and mass communication of today.

I would just like to point out that the last or the eighth section of the true and real chapter 8, of the book of Acts, its concluding statement in verse 31 of chapter 28, is all about one man, the apostle Paul. He was the same leader that over the space of two years and three months saw- “So mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed!” This is the same man that according to the administration of God, he was made a minister – “to fulfil the word of God;” Colossians 1:25b (KJV). Jesus Christ came to fulfill the law and he did fulfill the law, but the apostle Paul, fulfilled the Word of God.

Now even before his life was over, everything that had happened in the first century, was all but lost and is still lost to many today. This same mighty man, this apostle Paul, was under house arrest in Rome until the end of his days. He was there because, he erred in judgement, but not in heart. God first told him and others told him, NOT to go to Jerusalem, several times, but Paul wanted to go anyway and he went. He was told that he would be captured and bound and he was. So, this mighty man of God was constrained and under house arrest in Rome, until the end of his life. But while he was there, God gave him the revelation and told him to write the seven Church epistles:

Roman, I & II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and I & II Thessalonians.

Therein, those 7, is the Word of God fulfilled!

I believe God stamped this 8th section (eight denotes a new beginning), this chapter 8 and last chapter of the book of Acts, for one, all important reason. This being that anyone, any man, woman or child if they will-

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

II Timothy 2:15

If you or I or if anyone would do this in our day and time and teach it, preach it and share it, this can all happen again! And AGAIN, God will confirm the teaching of His rightly-divided Word, with DAILY– signs, miracles, and wonders following.

That is rise and expansion. This is “sustainability” and “prosperity”. If we will just begin with believing to have our needs met, then believe to have more than we need and then, give our excess to those that have need, as we rise, they rise! We can see the first century Church in the 21st century and see- God’s word so mightily grow and prevail! And to me, what’s even better, God is not going to send us a bill for- signs, miracles, and wonders! Freely He has given, Freely we have been given, so we can and should, Freely give!

Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the Bible, I’m just…

…a witness.

Dahni

Still the Only Way

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Still the Only Way

By Dahni
©️ 2021, all rights reserved

Recently, I had a comment for my blog post- ‘Are We Limiting God’

https://wp.me/p8DawH-d5

The comment was very personal and I chose to answer it in private, rather than approve it for public view, but I will share part of it here.

“Will you focus more on the signs, miracles and wonders that are missing from the Christian life? It is part of the mystery of God and we need to talk about it at every opportunity.”

This entire blog, ‘Pentecost’ (The Birthday of the Church), is wholly about signs, miracles, and wonders. The ‘first’ birthday of the Church, over a thousand years ago was, with, signs, miracles, and wonders!

There exists still today- ministers, churches and people that believe these signs, miracles, and wonders ended with the apostles in the first century church. There were more people “daily” experiencing “signs, miracles and wonders” besides the apostles, according to the Bible. And many were just regular people like you and I.

I learned a long, long time ago not to care what others think or even what I think. I wanted and still want to know what God thinks. Excuse my simplicity, but I don’t know any other way to know, but to know what His Word says. If I want to know what the will of God is for my life or any other, the “only way” is to read His Word because, in it contains His will.

People often make excuses, for what they do not understand, what they do not believe and even if they are wrong, for what they believe. Perhaps it is just human nature to not want to be harassed over what we do not know, understand or believe? What good has my trying to avoid confrontation, being challenged, and criticized, to save face, and to be thought of as fool. Nothing! Which is worse, being thought a fool or opening my ignorant or stupid mouth and removing all doubt?

Every day, I look at myself in the mirror, when no one else is looking. I know if it is a fool staring back at me. For myself, I’d rather be thought a fool, but know, that I know, that I know! I have never since found anything more reliable and more trustworthy than God’s Word, rightly-divided! And since it is His Word, why shouldn’t I trust in Him!

If you or I do not know what the rightly-divided word is, look up II Timothy 2:15

If anyone does not want to see signs, miracles, and wonders or they do not believe to see them, who am I, but I cannot help them. But I can answer the comment above, and if the words that I write in this blog are God’s Word, rightly-divided, I can show anyone how they can see or have their own signs, miracles, and wonders! There only ever was one way. It is, “Still the Only Way!” It will be real simple and crystal clear for me to tell it and anyone to understand it, even a child or a fool!

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

Hebrews 2:3, 4 King James Version (KJV)

First, someone has to speak, preach or teach God’s Word. Then someone(s) has to believe it. That’s the “confirmation” that the Word of God is believed. Here is a plus, the Word of God rightly-divided, builds believing! And the word “believing” is a verb and it connotes action, not sitting around all day and praying that God would or will act! God has already acted and yes, God is waiting on you and I- to act!

Next, the signs, miracles, and wonders follow. These signs, miracles, and wonders are God’s advertising program. We, his children, are supposed to be like mobile billboards. Signs, miracles, and wonders following you and I, are how we know, we are promoting the right stuff!

“This is Still the Only Way to Do It!“

If you or I do not know what these “signs, miracles, and wonders are, read I Corinthians chapters 12, 13, 14. There, there are nine (9), manifestations or operations of the spirit. I grew up with the Word by a phrase-

“All Nine All the Time!”

If you or I do not know why we are supposed to live in the daily realm of signs, miracles, and wonders or the benefits to us beyond just seeing daily signs, miracles and wonders, look up Galatians 5:22. Hmmm, very interesting, there are nine (9), manifestations and nine (9), fruit of the spirit.

Maybe sometime we will get into I Corinthians chapters 12, 13, & 14 and Galatians 5:22? But even if not, it just does not get any plainer or simpler than this. Speak the Word, preach the Word and teach the Word, rightly-divided and you and I will DAILY see, signs, miracles, and wonders! This is…

…Still the Only Way!

Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the Bible, I’m just…

…a witness.

Dahni

Greater

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Greater

By Dahni
©️ 2021, all rights reserved

By the wretched rags of sin
Be they about or within
Far, far greater than the wiles of even me
And closer than breath or hell is, He
Though all the fiery darts may be justly hurled
He is greater than anything or me, in this world

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

I John 4:4 King James Version (KJV)

Here is another:

“And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith [beliving] as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”

Matthew 17:20 (KJV)

A single grain of rice held by a sewing needle

A single mustard seed

From the collection: ‘Psalms in the Key of Thee’
By the same writer, but God is The Author

Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the Bible, I’m just…

…a witness.

Dahni

Like Apples of Gold (part 3)

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“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold
in pictures of silver.”

Proverbs 25:11 (KJV)

A Little History of and Information about Apples

The apple was considered, in ancient Greece, sacred to Aphrodite. To throw an apple at someone was to symbolically declare one’s love; and similarly, to catch it was symbolically, to show one’s acceptance of that love.

“The proverb, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”, addressing the supposed health benefits of the fruit, has been traced to 19th-century Wales, where the original phrase was “Eat an apple on going to bed, and you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread.”

Excerpt from: A Dictionary of American Proverbs by Wolfgang Mieder, (1992)

Apples have been grown for thousands of years in Asia and Europe and were brought to North America by European colonists. Apples have religious and mythological significance in many cultures, including Norse, Greek, and European Christian tradition.

A line from a poem by William Butler Yeats ‘The Song of the Wandering Aengus’ is—

“The Golden Apples of the Sun”

Greek and Roman mythology referred to apples as symbols of love and beauty.

Isaac Newton is said to have thought up the law of gravity, while sitting under an apple tree, observing the falling of apples.

Members of the rose family have flower parts in fives (multiples of five). The flowers are white or pink and the fruit is a pome type, derived from the fusion of the ovary and the receptacle, which make up the fleshy part of the fruit. Cut the apple in half cross-wise to find a star with five chambers, with two seeds each.

“Pomme” is the French word for apple. Pomme de Terre (“apple”) +‎ de (“from”) +‎ terre (“earth”), “Apple from the Earth” is a state park in my home state (born and raised), in Missouri.

“Pomo” is one word in Italian translated as, “apple.” Pomodoro is an Italian sauce made with tomatoes (not a vegetable, but a fruit). Tomatoes are often referred to as “love apples.” Tomatoes are a whole other species of plant, have their own history and why they were called “love apples” is a whole other story, but I thought this interesting and included it here.

Even potatoes are sometimes referred to as, “ground apples” or “apples from the ground.”

For many, many years, the word “apple” has been associated with and called an “apple” and used, for almost every type of fruit and nuts, but not berries.

Fresh apples float because 25 percent of their volume is air.

Apples harvested from an average tree can fill 20 boxes that weigh 42 pounds each.

The largest apple ever picked from a tree weighed 3 lbs. 2 oz, according to The Guinness Book of World Records.

It takes about 36 apples to create one gallon of apple cider.

Apples are sometimes called “nature’s toothbrush.” Apples help clean the teeth and massage the gums.

Apples are delicious and nutritious— full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants and many other properties for health and wellbeing.

History of Apples in America

You may think as I once did that apples have always been here in the United States, but they were brought here from Europe, first in 1607. The first colony was in Jamestown, VA named after King James, the same King James, which authorized the King James Version of the Bible in 1611. It was a 7-year project that began in 1604, two years after his namesake settlement in Jamestown. But the apples did not take too well, until they brought honeybees from Europe in 1622, the same year the second edition of the King James Bible was published. It was basically the same except for the change in Ruth 3:15 referred to as the ‘She Version,’ “…she went into the city.” The 1611 version, same verse, called the ‘He Version’ was written, “…he went into the city.” After 1622 apples were carried and spread all across the 13 colonies. Native Americans had never seen honey bees before and called them “stinging flies.”

With a lot of credit to Thomas Jefferson and John Chapman (a.k.a. Johnny Appleseed), seeds were spread, nurseries developed and grafting produced new varieties throughout the United States. The “Grimes Golden Apple” tree was found at a cider mill and nursery established by John Chapman, back in the early 1800’s. The “Grimes Golden Apple” is a rich, spicy, tangy, with a honeyed sweet flavor that’s crisp and sharp. “Grimes Golden Apples” are simply unforgettable, packed in a simple light yellow skin. No one knows how it ever got there or came there, but it was the first known “golden apple” in the United States.

The “Golden Delicious Apple” was first discovered quite by chance on the Mullins’ family farm in Clay County, West Virginia around 1891. L.L. Mullins sent his 15-year-old son to mow the pasture with a large scythe. He saw a chance seedling that neither he nor his father knew anything about. It was then about twenty inches tall and the boy decided to just let it grow. Grew it did and produced a lot of “golden apples,” sweet and “delicious.”

A family from Kentucky moved to the fertile valleys of the Mississippi and settled in Missouri. They wanted to build a nursery and raise apples. The Stark Brothers really took off and grew like their apples and they started the first International Forum for Apples in the United States. Their biggest seller was “Stark’s Red Delicious,” or its common name now, “Red Delicious.” They started to promote and advertise apples and encouraged other growers to send in samples of their varieties. About a 1,000 miles away, the Mullin’s “golden apple” was sent in for review about 1938. The owner of Stark Brothers almost immediately boarded a train for at least the thousand-mile trip to West Virginia and rode on horseback the last 20 miles to Mullin’s farm. There he saw not much more than scrawny, runts and untended apple trees and then, he saw the one, shining like gold in the sun, so full of beautiful apples they were bending the branches almost to the ground. After one bite, he knew this was what he was looking for and bought the tree on sight, hired Mullins to watch over it and to protect his investment. This “golden apple” was like nothing he had ever tasted. And this is the apple that Italian firm back in 2009 researched, having 57,000 + genes and were more than any other plant they had ever studied.

Back home in Missouri, they decided to name it after their popular “red delicious” even though it was nothing nearly like it. But to try and capitalize on the name, they settled on ‘Stark’s Golden Delicious,’ It is still one of the most popular apples grown in the USA and all over the world. Truly the “Golden Delicious” or “Gold Apples” are as “American as apple pie.”

Changes in cultural movements, transportation and likes and dislikes, varieties of apples went from somewhere from 19,000 (many of which were the same variety, they just had different names. All said, it is estimated that the world over, there are somewhere around 10,000 varieties today and 7,000 of those were grown in the United States, at least at one time in our history. Today there may be considerably less, but the recent rise in popularity of apple cider (including hard cider), many varieties are coming back, especially to home-grown nurseries and small family orchards.

There is one more thing about apples I want to share. Apples have seeds as we all I’m sure know. Personally, I have eaten apples my whole life, skin, flesh, core, seeds and all. Some may not like the skin, the core or the seeds. Apple seeds are bitter.

Apple seeds contain everything needed to grow apples. The outer portion of the apple, as it has fallen on the ground, begins to decompose and this helps feed and nourish the soil and the seeds for new apples to grow from. Many people, animals and birds eat apples.

Sometimes seeds are ingested whole and end up being carried by people, animals and birds and end up spread and land on the soil, for new apples to grow and the species to carry on.

Apple seeds are designed to protect themselves. Their outer coating of amygdalin protects it from digestive enzymes, and the seeds can usually pass through the digestive system undamaged. But if the “amygdalin” breaks down, this becomes known as hydrogen cyanide. Cyanide can be toxic and even fatal in the right quantity and at the right weight of the host that ingests them. I am not about to describe any such formula or number of apples with apple seeds needed or how to release the cyanide, for it to be fatal. I am not going to say how to determine how much cyanide by one’s weight is required for this to be fatal. So don’t come back to this post and cite me as the cause of someone’s cyanide poisoning or death because, they saw, heard or read this here! I never said, not that I know what it is anyway!!

I gave no one any exact formula needed to consume enough cyanide to harm them or kill. Besides, too much and your body may react violently and throw off the poison and you still just might be well enough or alive to tell about it.

Swallowing whole apple seeds is unlikely to cause any symptoms. And if those seeds were from apples served in silver baskets or trays, some silver might be transferred to the apples and silver which purifies, just might counteract the effects of cyanide? Silver has been used for thousands of years, for many medical purposes. Silver nitrate used to be placed in the eyes of babies just born. Silver has been ingested and many believe in its medical benefits, in protecting, lengthening, preserving and restoring life.

Apples may also, help improve memory and focus.

I do find all these possibilities, extremely interesting and the relationship of apple seeds and real gold. Hydrogen cyanide from apple seeds has been and can be used in mining “gold”. And a skilled-trained jeweler may use cyanide to make jewelry.

So, let’s put this idiom and the whole verse together. Look again at Proverbs—

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”

Proverbs 25:11 (KJV)

We discovered earlier that “a word” (singular), could be used for many words (plural), in comparison to “apples” which is also plural. A word fitly spoken is the right word or words spoken, in the right way, at the right time and to the right person or people. This is the right time, the right words, spoken in the right way, for the right person— You or I and the right people, us!

This word (singular for the plural), is being compared to “apples of gold.” These apples are real apples (or some fruit), and they appear to be like real gold in appearance, brilliance; are precious and are meant to be protected.

The apples are emphasized and magnified and purified by real trays or baskets or “pictures of silver.” These silver trays or baskets may have had “pictures” (symbols and scenes familiar to the easterner, designed in and upon them, to further augment, magnify and emphasize the importance of, “apples of gold.”

Literally, this verse could have been written – apples of gold in pictures of silver (baskets or trays of silver with pictures or scenes), is like a word (or words) that are spoken in the right way, at the right time and place, for the right person or people. Inverted like this, it would literally mean the same thing. But God, the author, wanted the right (“fitly”), word spoken, used first and then compared it to the “apples of gold, in pictures of silver.” Why, because, God’s Word is first a “word” (or words), “fitly spoken” and is used first. As wonderful and as important the “apples of gold in pictures of silver” are, the figure of speech metaphor (“is”), was not used, a simile (“like”), is! “Apples of gold in pictures of silver,” are similar to, but not equal to, “a word fitly spoken!”

All of this points to eastern customs and mannerisms or “Orientilisms” that Bishop K.C. Pillai called them. This points to the covenant of salt, saying what is meant and meaning what is said. This is that it has had or has (theses customs and these words), integrity. And this points to eastern hospitality. And this points to how the easterner would even treat a stranger, not knowing if You were the Promised Messiah, an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher or some other person of importance or even an angel! And “apples of gold in pictures of silver”, points to the idiom that this is about food!

Yep, this is a food story. And to try and serve it, I know of no better way to tell it than to ask you—

1. Try to picture it in your mind.
2. Imagine this story is about you, because it is! Put yourself into this story because, You are!
3. For this to be effective, we each must use our imagination! One of the smartest persons of the 19th and 20th century Albert Einstein (March 14, 1879 – April 18, 1955), said—

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”

Albert Einstein

Said more succinctly, more simply, but also attributed to Einstein—

“Imagination is greater than knowledge.”

Albert Einstein

So sit back, get comfortable, and read along and please allow me to try and paint with words—

Your Story!

You are walking alone in the desert. You have been walking for quite some time. You are hot, tired, thirsty and hungry. Your feet are clad with sandals and your feet are dusty and dirty. The sun and sand has beaten against your face and all parts of your body exposed and it stings. You feel nearly hopeless, but you have no other choice, but to carry on. Survival is driving you against thirst and hunger and lack of strength and lack of well being.

Then all of a sudden, your eyes hear, “a word fitly spoken.” It is the sound (sight), of an oasis just up ahead. It beckons you to keep walking, keep going, and it sounds like, “Come!” It fills your heart with hope.

There is a cool soft breeze blowing against your hot and tired flesh. Your whole body hears, “a word fitly spoken.” It is the sound (touch), of refreshing and thirst-quenching water gurgling and it sounds like, Come!

Your nostrils hear, “a word fitly spoken.” It is the sound (aroma), of freshly ripened “apples,” wafting in the breeze and is coming from the oasis. It fills your nostrils and your lungs and sounds like, Come!

All of these so far are, “a word fitly spoken!” It is the right time, the right moment and spoken in the right way and you are the right person at the right place.

You walk to the oasis and past the first trees. Inside it is cool and calm. There is a deep well of pure cool water and a fountain. Songbirds sing to you, “a word fitly spoken.” Soft candles dance in the cool breeze. You are greeted with radiant faces smiling at you as if you were a welcomed treasure expected and they had been waiting for you for a long time. Your ears hear “a word fitly spoken,” “Please Come in and be seated!”

Your sandals are gently removed. Your feet and hands and face are gently washed and massaged with healing ointments. Cool water is brought to you in pure silver cups, more than you need. Your thirst is quenched.

Your eyes behold and your nostrils behold, fresh ripened golden apples, shining like real gold from the orchard of trees as far and as wide as you can see.

Much savory and sweet treats are brought to you, much that has been “seasoned” with salt. This salt covenant has been extended to include you. With integrity and care are you being, gladly honored. All that they have is yours in abundance, in quality and quantity. There is much more than you need or could desire. You are made to feel that you are friend and kin. You are.

This hospitality has integrity and says what it means and means what it says like the pure silver trays filled with food it is brought to you on. It is morally straight and spiritually upright. More than you could possible eat of these beautiful gold apples are picked personally for you and are brought to you on silver trays. The silver trays emphasize and magnify, the gold apples.

You take one of these golden shiny apples into your hand.

You see your own reflection (your “little man” or your “little woman” or “little maid”), in these “apples of gold!” You are its “gate.” You are precious and you are protected.

You taste and smell and eat. The juice dribbles down your chin. Your thirst is quenched yet again and your appetite is filled. You are refreshed. You are glad. You are strengthened. You are healed. You are comforted. You are filled with hope! You are renewed. You are reset afresh!

You are honored because, to your hosts, you could be the Messiah, an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher or some other very important person (VIP), or an angel. And this is how important “a word fitly spoken” is, in comparison to “apples of gold in pictures (trays or baskets), of silver!”

YOU— are “like,” “Apple of Gold, in a tray (with “pictures”), of silver!”

And this is the right word, (“a word fitly spoken”), for the right time, in the right way and at right place and the right person is like (similar to “apples of Gold in pictures (baskets or trays of silver) because You and I are—

“Apples of Gold!”

The following picture may be “like” (simile – similar to), to what you saw and experienced in ‘Your story.’

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  ‘Apples of Gold in Silver’ By Dahni © 2021, all rights reserved

Why is this “Your Story” or my story? Because, when we look into the apples of God’s eyes (his pupils), and the reflection we see is our own image (“little man” or “little woman” or “little maid”), it is precious, costly and shiny and brilliant like gold. What is precious to us we protect. When God looks into the apples of our eyes (our pupils), and the reflection He sees is His own image (“little man”), it is precious, costly and shiny and brilliant like gold. What is precious to Him He protects. How should we see each other and ourselves? We should see one another and ourselves in the eyes of God. How does God see us? God sees us, as He sees Himself!

But as wonderful as this story is and as great as these “apples of gold in pictures (on trays or baskets), of silver,” are, it is only like or similar to, “a word fitly spoken!”

Now if you want to dispute any of this. Go for it, but I did not write the Bible, I’m just…

…a witness.

Dahni

Like Apples of Gold (part 2)

Short url to this post: https://wp.me/p8DawH-dD

“A word fitly spoken is like
apples of gold in pictures of silver.”

Proverbs 25:11 (KJV)

In part 1 of this post we were introduced to the figurative words, “a word fitly spoken” and this “word,” which is inclusive of words (plural), is the right word or words, spoken at the right time, in the right way; for the right person or the right people. It is being compared to “apples of gold in pictures of silver.” By the word “like,” this comparison we know is the figure of speech called a “simile.”

Also in part 1, we saw the importance of the ‘salt covenant,’ that words have integrity; they are supposed to say what they mean and mean what they say. They are morally straight and spiritually upright. We saw how important eastern hospitality is to serve quantity and quality to their guests, as if they were serving the Messiah, a prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher, some other very important person and even angel, all, even without without knowing their identity. In the Easterner’s mind, you or I could be one or more of these VIP’s (very important persons), and we are treated as if we are. Since food mostly always is salted and makes savory and purifies and silver purifies and with gold, it magnifies and emphasizes the gold. To understand this idiom, we need to understand what “the apples of gold” are. We know this is a figure of speech, the figure called an “idiom,” but what are they?

The words “apples of gold in pictures of silver” from the Greek word, the figure of speech idíōma and is translated in English as idiom.

These words, this idiom, is not predictable nor does it follow the order of the rules of grammar, like saying or writing golden colored or yellow apples. But the figure is understood in the language, dialect, or style of speaking, peculiar to a people.

If, and I should write when, when we become knowledgeable of the oriental idioms, customs, mannerisms and traditions of the Biblical setting, and figures of speech, these Scriptures become clear. WE are about to see this and it will all, become clear.

Solomon, the writer (not the author), of Proverbs “wise sayings” collected these from his own upbringing, and even from other countries. They were and still are in usage by some people today. What are these “apples of gold”, from Proverbs 25:11?

When the Authorized King James Version of the Bible was introduced in 1611, they just assumed these “gold” things were “apples” because, many people in the world quickly became familiar with “apples”. Yes, whatever these things were, they were gold in color or golden in appearance or yellow. How is this known, because the word “gold” is the word “gold” and is used to describe its color, brilliance and preciousness, as the metal (real gold), but not that they were made out of gold.

Let’s look at some information about apples and some of its history.

Though the forbidden fruit of Eden in the Book of Genesis is not identified, popular Christian tradition has held that it was an apple that Eve tempted Adam to share along with her. The origin of this popular identification with apples may have not been known in the Middle East in biblical times?

In the Vulgate—the Latin translation of the Bible is found the possible answer to this confusion? The Latin words mālum (an apple) and mălum (an evil), each of which is normally written malum is the same word in their spelling. It is the same word spelled the same, but pronounced differently and means something entirely different from the other. The tree of the forbidden fruit is called “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” in Genesis 2:17, and the Latin words for “good and evil” is bonum et malum.

Everything has a wild ancestor. For the apple tree, it is believed to have originated in the mountains of Kazakhstan, a land-locked country, which borders Russia to its north and China to its south. Its name is— Malus sieversii. Malus sieversii (MAL-us see-VER-see-eye), is the botanical title for these wild fruits. Malus is the Latin word for “apple,” and Sieverrii honors Ivan Sievers, a Russian botanist who discovered the wild apples in 1793, in Kazakhstan. Do you see the connection mālum (an apple), and mălum (an evil), and malus (apple)? Varieties from Malus sieversii are called Malus domestica, which produce some 10,000 apples, known in the world today.

In 2010, an Italian firm had a genome project and found 57,000 genes in a certain species of apple in Malus domestica. This was more genes discovered than any other plant, they had ever researched. Would you like to guess where it was found and/or its name? Not to keep you hanging, but the apple is called, ‘Golden Delicious’ and it was discovered by chance, in the United States, and no one knows how it got there!

It is not surprising, that Malus sieversii and Malus domestica species still exist today and apples have been thriving for tens of thousands of years. Nutritious, delicious and highly versatile, apples are a mainstay of life the world over.

In Hebrew, there are two words found in Israel— Beth-tappuach (tap-poo’-akh): “place of apples,” a place in Judah and Tappuach (tap-poo’-akh): apple tree, apple.

The phrase, “Apple of the Eye” is an English idiom, a figure of speech, understood by those, which are familiar with its use. It denotes the pupil of the eye, which some believe is shaped like an apple and thus the word “apple” is used. It is the dark center of the eye and is reflective of whatever image is seen in it, when the light is right. The eye is precious and therefore, most carefully guarded. It is used several times in King James Version. The “apple of the eye” is also another ancient figure of speech. It is not a simile (similar to), but a metaphor (“is”) or it is the center of the eye, the pupil. The figure is that it is the pupil is, “the apple of the eye.”

The “apple” in “the apple of the eye” is a translation of the Hebrew word for “apple,” “ishon,” which is related to the word “ish,” meaning “man.” Another Hebrew word “isha” meaning, “woman” or “maid” which is the feminine equivalent, Etymologically, the “ishon” or “ishaon” of the eye is “the little man of the eye” or the “little maid (woman), of the eye.” It is the reflection of the person in the pupil, the center (“apple”), of another’s eye.

The eye itself is very sensitive and very much protected. We blink often to keep it moist and protected. If something flies in it or towards it, our eyelids reflectively close. We turn our head and our hand would instinctively position to immobilize the threat. Yes, our eyesight is valuable, it is precious, costly like gold and our body naturally protects our eyes to avoid injury.

Think about this. If we were made “in the image of God”, what could this possibly be? What would God, the creator of the heavens (anyplace or places (plural), above earth— earths (yes plural), and the whole universe see in our pupils? What would he see, in the “apple” of our eyes? The answer should be quite clear, He would see Himself and He would protect and care for it, (You, I), as something precious, brilliantly shining and costly like gold. This is how I should see YOU, YOU me, and we should see each other.

“In a desert land he found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; he guarded him as the apple of his eye.”

Deuteronomy 32:10

This was the poetic description of Moses that his image of himself would be reflected in the apple of God’s eye, and God would protect him as God would protect His own eyes.

“The wise father says to his son, “Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye”

Proverbs 7:2 (KJV)

In the son or daughter’s “apples of their eyes,” would be the reflection of their father as he looked upon them and they would see their own reflections if they looked into their father’s eyes. The father’s teachings are to be protected as he would his own eyes and we would our eyes.

“Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings”

Psalm 17:8 (KJV)

This is yet another verse about protecting what is valuable, costly, shining and brilliant like gold, “apples of gold”! The psalmist is asking God that when the psalmist looks into God’s pupils (the apples of God’s eyes), and sees himself (his own “little man”) [or herself], (her own “little woman” or “little maid”), God would keep these images in His eye and protect them as precious.

What were these Biblical or Eastern Apples of this Idiom?

Most Biblical authorities and experts agree that these “apples” if not “apples,” were likely some type of fruit, citrus fruit. But the same experts often disagree with what type of fruit the verse in Proverbs 25:11 is referring to. I have read everything from apples, to oranges, citron, etrog (a type of citron used by Jewish people in celebrations), apricots, kumquats and quince.

For K.C. Pillai, the man who had likely coined the word “Orientilisms” (customs and mannerisms used in the Bible and ancient Eastern culture), thought and taught that these are a kind of oranges grown in Egypt, Syria, and India of which there is no English name. It is gold in color, and does not last long after it is ripe and couldn’t be exported outside of the country. They were very tasty. A sherbet is made from this. Its fragrance is immediately recognized, when ripe on a tree. They are very beautiful to look at. It quenches the thirst quicker than any other juice. It has a very sweet taste and is very refreshing for people who are tired. Drinking the juice is very relaxing.

I found from the writings of K.C. Pillai, a certain Sanskrit word he used to name this fruit. I could not verify its existence in any Sanskrit dictionary, so I will not use the word here. This does not mean he was incorrect. It only means I could not trace, track and corroborate the word.

Without dispute or contradiction, I concede that the “apples of gold” from Proverbs 25:11 may have been any type of fruit that was or is found in the area where any expert or person living in the world may have been familiar with, at the time of writing Proverbs. Or these “apples of gold” may be any type of fruit from any culture since, which still use whatever fruit is familiar to them and who understand this idiom. Their experience and familiarity with this idiom may have been different than that of others as to the type of fruit.

Whatever the fruit was in the area at the time this scripture was written, may have been “apples,” some other fruit and even some type of apple that may or may not be any longer the original species or any longer available today. But there is one thing clear. This fruit was gold or golden in appearance actually. The word for “gold” actually used, is more specific about its description and brilliance like gold, than that of real gold. “Apples of Gold” is another figure of speech in this verse. It is a metaphor. Rules of grammar would merely say something like golden looking apples or yelloe apples. But gold is used to emphasize and magnify the word “apples” or whatever fruit it may have been. It’s skin or outer covering in the sun was likely shiny and reflective, like we would expect real gold to look like. There is no dispute or contradiction about the word “gold,” used in Proverbs 25:11.

Without dispute or contradiction, there is no reason to believe that whether apples could thrive in the area of Jerusalem or Israel as a whole, could not have been carefully irrigated, cultivated, grown and produce apples in a mostly arid area, where apples may not be normally best suited. Without dispute or contradiction, there is no reason to not believe that at the time of writing Proverbs 25:11, it may have been a more fragrant apple than what may be available today. What I am saying is said the best, with the following quote.

“On the whole there does not appear to be any sufficient reason for rejecting the translation of the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American); the Biblical references suit it; the identity of the Hebrew and Arabic words favor it and there is no insuperable objection on scientific grounds.”

Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. “Definition for ‘apple; apple-tree'”.
“International Standard Bible Encyclopedia”

While gold is used to emphasize and magnify “apples” (real apples or some fruit), “pictures” emphasize and magnify the word “silver.” While the “pictures of silver” were trays or baskets to hold the fruit differ, there is no argument, dispute or contradiction that they were made out of real “silver.”

There is ample support from various translations, Hebrew, Latin and as we have read from the King James Version of the Bible that the “apples of gold” were real “apples.” They had a gold color or appeared golden and that they were held in “pictures” or trays or baskets, made of real “silver.”

The trays or baskets could have been artistic works in silver metal, molded, engraved, embossed, sculpted and woven with silver ropes and had actual “pictures” or symbols or scenes, familiar in the area, or at the time of writing Proverbs 25:11. These “pictures” could have been part of these ornate baskets or trays. But they were made out of real “silver.”

Concluding that the “apples of gold” in Proverbs 25:11 were real “apples” and the real word “gold” was used to describe its color, shine (reflection), and it preciousness and comparing it to the “apple of the eye,” what have we learned about these “apples of gold?”

1. They were golden or gold in color.
2. Like the real metal gold, they would be shiny in the light and reflect an image of say, you or I looking upon it, as the “apple of our eyes,” (“little man” or “little woman” or “little maid”).
3. They were served in “pictures” (scenes or symbols), in trays or baskets, made of real “silver,” to magnify and emphasize the “apples of gold.”

I promise that when this series is complete, neither you nor I will never look at or think about this verse in Proverbs 25:11, in the same way, ever again!

In Apples of Gold (part 3), we will put this idiom together, this verse in Proverbs 25:11, and see some of how important it is in the history of the world and in the founding and establishing, the United States for America!

Now if you want to dispute any of this. Go for it, but I did not write the Bible, I’m just…

…a witness.

Dahni

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  “Apple of the Eye” By Dahni © 2021, all rights reserved

Like Apples of Gold (part 1)

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  ‘Apple of Gold’ By Dahni © 2021, all rights reserved

“A word fitly spoken is like
apples of gold in pictures of silver.”

Proverbs 25:11 (KJV)

What sticks out in this verse? There is a comparison. Words, “A word fitly spoken” is being compared to, “apples of gold in pictures of silver.”

Notice the word “like”. By this word “like” it is the figure of speech, simile (similar to). Whatever this “word fitly spoken” is, it uses the word “like”, which makes it a figure of speech called a simile. It does not say it is, which would make it a metaphor, but it is “like” and that makes it a simile. The words are emphasized and magnified. Whatever “apples of Gold” are, it is like a “word fitly spoken” and vice versa or the other way around.

The phrase, “apples of gold in pictures of silver” is another figure of speech. It is from the Greek word, idíōma and is translated in English as idiom. These words, this “idiom” is not predictable nor does it follow the order of the rules of grammar, but are understood in the language, dialect, or style of speaking, peculiar to a people. To understand the figure of the simile in comparing “a word fitly spoken,” we must discover what these “apples of gold in pictures of silver” are. Makes sense to me.

There was a man, E.W. Bullinger – Ethelbert William Bullinger (December 15, 1837 – June 6th, 1913). He was a very smart man, an accomplished musician and it is said he carried out three games of chess with three other people, at the same time. He was a biblical scholar and wrote many books. One of his books in particular is, ‘Figures of Speech Used in the Bible.’ It is still currently available and I highly recommend it to anyone! Why?

The ancient Greeks catalogued 225 figures of speech and 212 of them are used in the Bible, with sometimes 40 varieties under one figure. Bullinger cites examples of all 212 used in the Bible, but he never had the time to work this subject completely. To illustrate the importance of figures of speech, let’s go back in time to the Greek and later, Roman orators.

People would marvel at these speeches which all seemed to be long, articulate and brilliant as if composed right on the spot. But they had a secret.

The words still used today in letters and all forms of communication often begin with “in the first place” or “the first point I want to make”, and etc. It seems as if a list of things, a bulleted list, will be spoken or read or written. There was one ancient Greek word for “the first place” an it is “loki.” It is the entrance to the speaker’s or the writer’s actual or literal home.

Their speeches were mostly all prepared in advance. Starting at “the first place” (the entrance to their homes), they would hang parts of their speech as inanimate objects on or in familiar things or places in their actual home. In their minds, they would just walk through their homes and find these albeit curios or strange attachments of their speeches.

While it may have seemed like they were mentally gifted and looking right at their audience, they were actually walking through their own comfortable and familiar homes in their minds. Then they just grabbed all the unfamiliar things (parts of their speech), they had placed there in their memories, until they could be recalled at any moment.

Oh, if I only knew this when studying for an exam or it could have removed my nervousness when facing an audience expecting me to speak. One time, I did memorize my speech, but could not recall a single word when I looked at my audience. I should have just been walking around in my head-house and spoken of what I had put there, my speech. These memory aides or tricks if you will, are figures of speech! It’s like mortar or bricks or “apples of gold” to build things that will endure and not be easily forgotten, but instantly recalled. It’s like giving life to lifeless words.

So this brings us to the idiom itself. Although Christianity may be considered western practice, writers who lived in the East and clearly understood this idiom, wrote in the East. For many years the words Occident and Orient were known and perfectly acceptable. The “Occident” was anyplace in the world, west of the Mediterranean Sea. The “Orient” was anyplace east of the Mediterranean Sea. Pretty simple to me. Replacing the word Orient or Oriental with the word Asia or Asian, does nothing but confuse the fact that at the time of writing Proverbs, Israel, and the Jewish nation was considered to be part of the “Orient.” Technically it still is!

A man by the name of Bishop K.C. Pillai, D.D., (c.1900-1970), most likely coined the word, which he said were Orientilisms. “Orientilisms” are customs and mannerisms of the people, which lived in the east, and many are still in use today in areas of such as Armenia, areas of India and others. The Bible is filled with passages that most Westerners do not understand, but Easterners do, often from birth.

If, and I should write when, when we become knowledgeable of the oriental idioms, customs, mannerisms and traditions of the Biblical setting, and figures of speech, these Scriptures become clear.

Solomon, the writer (not the author), of Proverbs (“wise sayings” ), collected these from his own upbringing, and even from other people from other countries. They were and still are in use by people, in places in the world today.

At the time of the Bishop’s early life, his native India had remained an isolated country for thousands of years. The customs and manners of the people were still aligned with the Eastern, Biblical culture.

For over twenty years, Bishop Pillai taught these “Orientalisms”, bringing great enlightenment to the western world. As an author of several books and one in particular, ‘Light through an Eastern Window’, it is significant for this post because, this is— “Light through an Eastern Window”.

His mission of imparting this light carried him to numerous universities and seminaries, as well as every major denomination throughout the United States, England and Canada. His teachings remain among the foremost authorities on Biblical customs and culture.

This will become very important later, but I do want to mention that Bishop K.C. Pillai was raised as a Hindu.

When a Hindu child of the ruling class is born, a little salt is rubbed on the baby who is then wrapped in swaddling cloth. This custom invoked one of the oldest and strongest covenants in the eastern world, the “salt covenant.” In this particular instance, the child was salted for a lifetime of dedication to the Hindu religion. The same custom was used at the anointing of a king (Jesus Christ), when the baby’s cloth was lightly salted, then the babe was swaddled, its torso wound loosely with the cloth, and this was significant that the child would be raised to be morally straight and spiritually upright. The salt is indicative that they would say what they mean and mean what they say. Their words had integrity!

The salt covenant was and is a big deal to Easterners. So great in fact, if you ever happen to eat a meal that is salted and with a thief, they would not and will not ever steal from you.

Yes, I suppose this could be where the phrase, “Honor among thieves,” may have been influenced by? I know, what has this to do with “Apples of Gold”? Hang on, we’re getting there.

Now we might begin to understand how great “A word fitly spoken is [was] like apples of gold in pictures of silver,” to K.C. Pillai. So great to him was God’s Word that he endured the shame, broke the ‘covenant of salt of his religion’ and was considered to be dead to his family and friends.

In the Roman Catholic Church, this would be called, being “excommunicated.”

Today, it may not be much of a big deal because, if I got kicked out of one church, another one just down the street, would probably be glad to have me, especially if I put money in the offering plate or basket when it’s passed. But this was not so for people of the East.

If one was “excommunicated” and it was you, you could not buy or sell. If it was Dahni and he walked down one side of the street, people would walk away, shun me, look down and away and not speak to me.

WOW, whatever the “Apples of gold” are; whatever “A word fitly spoken” is, must have been worth it to K.C. Pillai, to convert to Christianity! It was! They are!

WOW, what a great example of building ourselves up morally and honestly!

The words written in the Kings James Version, “A word fitly spoken” sure seems figurative. How do words or does a word “fit”? How do we “fit” a word or words? The word “word” could be used for many words (plural), as in comparing it or them to “Apples” (plural)? But words that are “fit” are like a perfect fit of some article of clothing we put on. It is the right word or the right words, for the right point in time, in the right way. They are “spoken” so in ears of the hearer, it is the right word or the right words, at the right time, in the right way, for them to hear!

These words “fitly spoken,” are seasoned with salt. They have integrity. Why do I say this? We will see that this verse involves food and food is salted to season it in the east for taste, to purify and symbolically. It also makes one thirsty for more. And there is one more thing I would like us to understand about salt. Along with the symbolism of saying what you mean and meaning what you say, and used in food, and purifying, it is also part of hospitality, especially among Easterners. If you are ever invited to a tea or a meal, consider it an honor because, you are being honored!

“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby
some have entertained angels unawares.”

Hebrews 13:2 (KJV)

In the Bible and other cultures, hospitality is a big deal. A great deal of effort and much quantity and quality goes into preparation and presentation of food, for the entertainment, enjoyment, blessing (to be—”highly favored” or to “think favorably of”), and comfort of those being served. And yes, if this were You and I, we would be served, gladly!

Some reasons for this custom could be for the promised Messiah. Christians believe he already came and the Jewish people are still waiting for his first coming.

Some prophet or other person of importance might be under their roof with their having the privilege of serving.

And many people did and do believe in angels, spirit beings taking on the form of human beings. The word “unawares” means, “without knowing.”

Not knowing who you are, the Easterner treats you as if you were the promised Messiah, a prophet, some person of importance (You are), or even an angel. In their minds you could be, so they treated you and served you, as if you were.

Years ago, I met two men from Iran, studying at a University. They were friends since their youth and shared an apartment together, along with their wives. My new Iranian friends were curious about western culture, Christianity, and were just very kind, polite and friendly people. When we would see each other we would often have lengthy conversations. One day, they invited me to their home for, let’s just call it an afternoon tea. I accepted not knowing what to expect.

When I arrived and rang the doorbell, the door was almost instantly opened and I was warmly greeted with smiling beaming faces, almost like they had been looking out the window, looking for me and then timed it perfectly to open the door, when I rang the bell.

I was asked to remove my shoes, which I did. Next, I was directed to a chair and motioned to sit. I did. I was asked if one of them could remove my socks and wash my feet. I was a little embarrassed and declined the offer. I regret that decision. I took from them some of their joy in refusing to allow them to serve me. Years later, having actually had my feet washed, what an incredible feeling of well-being and how relaxing it was!

Continuing my story, next, I came into their living room, which had a central area of large, medium and small pillows, nicely arranged on the floor and I sat down.

There was sweet incense and candles burning and calm instrumental eastern music, playing in the background.

There was a very large oval shaped table with short legs in front me.

They asked me to make myself comfortable, excused themselves and left me alone to immerse myself in this delightful, new, and comfortable setting. They and their wives soon returned with plates and bowls of figs and dates, cups and pots of coffees and teas (yes both plural), and so many dainties— savory and sweet that I cannot now still describe. But one was a white substance like taffy in small bites, naturally sweet and from the root of some plant found in Iran.

There was more than enough than I could eat or even try and taste. That was part of the point, to offer more than needed, ample choice and to possibly meet any want or need they did not know I might have had. This was one of the most pleasant, inspiring and memorable experiences of my life. I was Christian being served by Moslems, as if I was one of theirs or someone of importance.

Sometime after this (several years later actually), a friend and I sent out hand written and hand painted invitations with a pastel watercolor butterfly, outlined in ink. “Come and be Renewed”, the invitations read. It was sent to 8 people, including my Mother, for a Mother’s Day surprise. The invitations gave the particulars and asked everyone to come with their favorite pillow. I wanted and my friend wanted to offer to our guests something similar as what we had learned or experienced about culture. Actually, it was a blend of several cultures, Eastern, Polynesian, Mediterranean and we even served Greek wine.

As our guests arrived, they were greeted with the aroma of incense and the food we were preparing. The curtains were drawn and soft candlelight and instrumental music set the mood. We made it available to any and all to have their feet and hands and face washed and dried and then moistened and massaged with oils to their hands, feet and foreheads.

Those that agreed to this blessing, I could literally see stress melt from their faces, hands and feet and watched them smile and relax. To “bless” means to “think favorably of” or to think “highly of.” They were!

We had a bunch of metal milk crates I borrowed from a local dairy. To get an idea of their size, each crate would hold four gallons of milk and were square, about 24” X 24” and about 12” high. These were set next to each other, about 4 foot across and about 12 foot in length. This table was covered with pieces of plywood to make each top stiff and then the whole thing was covered with a tablecloth. Four people set across from 4 others and all on their pillows.

In the center of our milk-crate, makeshift table is where we served the food. My friend and I did not sit at the table. We prepared, made and served everything, including desert, drink and coffee or tea at the end, to all our special guests

Both of these experiences, the one with my Iranian friends and the one I just shared, were wonderful for all and probably the greater benefits befell the servants. I know this was true for me. But these experiences should be noted and sealed in our memories as they are in mine, the importance of the “salt covenant”, eastern hospitality, the love of serving one another and that the word “fitly spoken” was like “apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver.”

This is because, You and I are about to be served with Apples of Gold, by Apples of Gold, to each one of us that are an—

“Apple of Gold!”

But we really need to understand the idiom of “The Apples of Gold”, to put this all together. What are the “Apples of Gold?”

Here are some hints:

1. Salt is used symbolically and it is also used with food in the East. A word or words “fitly spoken” are to be heard and are like having been salted, and purified, and salt make us thirsty for more. We come. Come for what?
2. The “Apples of Gold” are real. They are fruit. We are drawn in to eat. The “pictures of silver” are real. They are trays or baskets of silver, used to hold the “Apples of Gold.” Silver purifies. These silver trays magnify and emphasize, “Apples of Gold!”
3. Together we are, “Apples of Gold!” It is because, we each are an— Apple of Gold!
4. A letter from someone to someone else in 1860, used this exact same verse of scripture! Call it a Gold letter in a Silver envelope!
5. This letter and the response to it, is what inspired a little known work called ‘Fragment of the Constitution,’ associating (not separating), ‘the Declaration of Independence’ in 1776 and the United States Constitution for America,’ in 1789. And all together, these Apples are “like” words “fitly spoken”! They are at the right time, delivered in the right way, at the right moment and for the right people, You and I. I can hardly wait until next time to continue to discover in the next post, ‘ Like Apples of Gold (part 2),’ the idiom of Proverbs 25:11 that you and I are—

‘Like Apples of Gold (part 2),’

Now if you want to dispute any of this. Go for it, but I did not write the Bible, I’m just…

…a witness,

Dahni

Reap the Gladness of God

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Reap the Gladness of God

By Dahni
© 2024, all rights reserved

   I knew a man. I know his wife. I worked with this man. I loved him. He died. I know women and I knew their husbands and worked with them, loved them and they died. I have lost friends and family. Others have had loss. Others will. But out of respect for my beloved their wives and husbands, children, siblings and friends and their memories and anyone that may read and believe the poison of continuous grief and seemingly unrelenting mourning and depression, I must say this is not what God’s Word says! It is not the will of God.

   Even harder is that some of those I write of should know as they were taught what God’s Word says. What about John 10:10? Did Jesus Christ come that we might have life (Greek word zoe— life in all its manifestations? This life is— physical, mental, emotional, financial, etc., and spiritually.

   What of I John 4:4? Is He that is in us, not greater than he that is in the world?

   What of II Corinthians 4:2, are you renouncing the hidden things?

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

James 4:7 King James Version (KJV)

   How is a widow supposed to act according to the Word? How are widows supposed to be cared for, according to the Word? Just do a search for the word “widow” in a concordance. If there are not those that are caring for you and you are not doing what you are supposed to do, change.

   Where is the comfort? Where is the hope? Not only search for these, but also how are they to help you or anyone that grieves?

“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith [Greek pistis— believing]? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Galatians 3:1-3 KJV

“Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings,”

Galatians 5:7,8, 19-21a KJV

   Those are all of the works of the flesh. They are every emotion, every action and everything that exalts itself above God. Even unending grief and non-stop mourning are works of the flesh that we are to renounce. They are hidden and hiding in us, those secret rooms of inner shame (fears) that prevent our living the more than abundant life of John 10:10. They are just as miserable and familiar as, the “miserable comforters” of Job.

   From the book of Galatians, which is a correctional epistle to the Church, it corrects the doctrinal errors that crept into the Church for failing to adhere to the doctrinal epistle of the book of Romans. As God led here with the ‘less’ (“works of the flesh” of Galatians 5), what is the ‘more’— His remedy?

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

James 4:7 KJV

   How can we resist, which results in the devil and all his host, all of world wisdom, the systematizing of error and “works of the flesh” flee from us?

   It is very simple. There are only two ways. Both are required, not optional— required.

1. Renew (like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly) your mind to what the Word says (see Romans 12:1, 2).
2. Operate the manifestations of the spirit and ESPECIALLY speaking in tongues.

“All truth must be understood in light of the manifestation of the spirit.”

Dr. Victor Paul Wierwille

   And now Ladies and Gentlemen the “more” of Galatians chapter 5. It is fruit. It is fruit of the spirit. It is fruit that is in concretion. It is fruit that is evident. It is fruit that is visible and real. It is fruit that can be known, first by the individual and then the whole world or at least those that orbit your sphere of influence. This fruit is not something that can be guessed at. This fruit is not a hope. This fruit is not imaginary, pretended, made-up or a mere positive confession or mental ascent. It is not conditional on any therapy, medication or anything one could do to raise themselves up by their bootstraps. This fruit is not just for some. This fruit is available to every child of God— male, female, young, old, widows, widowers, any— child of God. This fruit of the spirit is in direct proportion to what we believe —

1. our renewed minds
2. our operation of the spirit in us

   But guess what? One of the fruit in this incredible group of fruit, is that it increases our believing! Would this also build up the other eight fruit? Yes!

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith [pistis— “believing”], Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22, 23

“Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing:
thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;”

Psalm 30:11

   If you know it say it. If you know it, sing it. Believe it!

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”

Psalm 100 KJV

   Reap the gladness of God!

“Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;” Psalm 30:11 KJV

      Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the Bible, I am just…

 

…a witness.

Dahni

“All truth must be understood in light of the manifestations.”

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“All truth must be understood in light of the manifestations.”

By Dahni
© 2024, all rights reserved

   We have seen these words before in a previous post ‘All Truth’ and there as well as here, it is a quote by Dr. Victor Paul Wierwille,  December 31, 1916 — May 20, 1985

“All truth must be understood in light of the manifestations.”

Dr. VPW

   I am only  a year older now in 2024, than he was in 1985. Let me not take anything for granted! But what do these words mean— “all truth” and “manifestations?”

   So there is not any misunderstanding, we have the entire Bible, the Word of God today, because of “manifestations!” Now before we get into this more deeply, let this also be understood.

   I don’t care if you actually heard the above quote with your own ears, from the lips of him who said them. I don’t care if you were there when it was first written. I don’t care if you are still involved in the ministry that he founded. I don’t care how many stories, pictures, poems or quotes by Dr. VPW you or anyone may use.

   I don’t care how long you have been with that ministry— 40, 50, 60 years or more. I don’t care if you still are. I don’t care if you have Rev. in your name. I don’t care how many programs you graduated from or classes you have successfully completed. I don’t care how much money you have donated or how much you may still donate daily, weekly, monthly and yearly. I don’t care how many countries, cities and towns and hamlets you are in or reach. I don’t care if you have the legal copyright of words, for moving the Word of God over the entire World. I never heard of God copyrighting “so mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed” – Acts 19:20 KJV

   I don’t care how much money is made. I don’t care how well what is used is maintained, restored and repaired. I don’t care what is sold or what is bought. I don’t care how many books and materials and resources are made available. I don’t care how many languages that all of this is translated in. I don’t care how many free Sunday service streams or podcasts are made available. I don’t care how polite, civil, and not wanting to offend anyone, someone may be. I don’t even care what you wear or don’t wear, if it is your best out of respect for God and His Word. I don’t care how many materials or books that anyone has or has read or listened to. I don’t care about your library. I don’t even care if all you sell and say is according to the accuracy and integrity of God’s Word. If there is anything else, I don’t care about, then I don’t care about those either. I don’t care how many verses of scriptures one knows. 

   The only thing I care about is— whatever is done or is spoken, is it according to the spirit of God! Where is the “all truth” understood by, the “manifestations” of the spirit?

   Exile or Exodus? Religion or Resurgence? Having a form of godliness or the spirit of God Moving? Death and dung of the kingdom of the dead or True Revival? Hangers-on or Remnant? Only by spiritual discernment can these be known! Even the very elect can be deceived. See: II Corinthians 11:14; Matthew 24:24

   Is life a calendar and reading your teachings so as not to make a mistake? Are you afraid of making a mistake? Are you motivated then by fear? Are you afraid by holding onto a familiarity with the past? Is it the fear of loss of all you’ve ever known, your friends and family, your job, substance, power and respect? Are you prepared to die to your fear upon the hills of your traditions? Is fear from God? Have you cut off God in not allowing him to work in you, to will and do of His good pleasure? Are you teaching according to manifestations of the spirt? Are you teaching others about the manifestations of the spirit? Are you teaching others HOW, to operate the manifestations of the spirit? Are the worship manifestations operated in a home fellowship or on a public or private stream. They may be operated correctly, but is it being done decent and in order and most especially, according to God’s Word? How would anyone know? 

1. What does the Word Say?
2. It must be spiritually discerned = manifestation of discerning of spirits!

   If the answer is no to any one of those questions in the paragraph above or those numbered 1, & 2, above, then you are not promoting the right stuff! And guess what else that means? It means though you may be my friend or kindred, I am to avoid you! 

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”

Romans 16:17

   How would I know? How would you know? Discerning of spirits. Is this not a manifestation of the spirit? There are 7 things in God’s Word that He does not want His people ignorant of. One of these is spiritual matters—

“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.”

I Corinthians 12:1

   The words “spiritual gifts” is the one Greek word pneumatikos πνευματικός — things pertaining to the pneuma = spirit or spiritual matters. In the following verses of I Corinthians chapter 12 verses 2-31, I Corinthians chapter 13 and I Corinthians chapter 14, God’s Word explains HOW we are not to be ignorant of these spiritual matters. HOW, by operating the nine manifestations of the spirit, with believing, hope and love! Those three characteristics are all spiritual in nature! “All truth can only be understood in light of the “manifestations of the spirit!” This brings to us, the fruit of the sprit (Galatians 5:22, 23), just because, we operate the manifestations of the spirit, which include, discerning of spirits.

   Discerning of spirits is HOW we can know if anyone is not promoting the right stuff! This is HOW we can know, even though they are a friend or a kindred and are not promoting the right stuff and that we are to avoid them. There is no other way to say it, it must be spiritually discerned!

   All of this work in the spirit or with spiritual matters must be to CORE principals:

1. For the perfecting of the saints,
2. For the work of the ministry,
3. For the edifying of the body of Christ:

Ephesians 4:12 KJV

   I don’t care who you are, if you operate a gift or gift ministries to the Church, have a Rev. in your name, are so and so or anyone, if they or you are not walking this way, then they or you are not walking in the way of holiness— see: Isaiah 35:8

“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;”

Colossians 1:9 KJV

   Sure we pray and cease not to pray for those we love or that God has brought to the path you are traveling on. But what is wisdom? It is the application of knowledge. Look how these are tied to “spiritual understanding.” These are talking about revelation manifestations — word of Knowledge, word of wisdom and discerning of spirits. These are the three revelation manifestations of the spirt from I Corinthians chapters 12, 13, 14. These are the eyes and ears of the individual believer first and then, for the whole body or Church of Christ.

“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;”

II Timothy 3:14

   II Timothy is the first century church in its ruin. Even before the apostle Paul had died, most who had previously stood with him left him. Have you ever seen anything like this in our day and time? I speak to those with eyes to see and ears to hear.

   Paul himself erred in judgment (not heart) when he went to Rome. But God still did the best He could for Paul and the Church in the circumstances. It was in Rome under house arrest that Paul wrote the church epistles containing the greatest revelation ever given to the Church and its “riches” – Christ in you and I, the hope of glory! Paul had the revelation and the green-light GO from GOD to write these epistles and it “fulfilled the Word of God”.— see: Colossians 1:27 and Colossians 1:25 

   Dr. Wierwille is dead. None can follow him anymore. Did he as every apostle of the Bible had done before, pass the mantle on to another? Yes. Are the gifts and callings of God without repentance? Yes they are. There are such things in the Bible as universal truths like these and— ask-answer, seek-find, knock and it shall be opened to you. If you are curios enough, humble enough and honest enough and if God is at work in you to do of His good will and pleasure, all these things will be available to you to “Know— that you know that you know!” Ever heard that before? Have you also ever heard, “Make it your own!” What is that, but God’s Word living in our words, vocabulary, language, intelligence and experience that He can work in us by way of, the manifestations of the spirt!

 “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.” 

Philippians 3:15 KJV

“All truth must be understood in light of the manifestations.”

Dr. VPW

   All this maybe be heartfelt and sincere profound and wonderful and deep. Maybe they are obtuse and possibly cryptic or a meaningless quote by someone that lived and now is dead. These words means absolutely nothing unless, they are spiritually discerned and this “all truth” cannot be understood without operating the manifestations of the spirit!

   This understanding begins with one getting saved, born again or whatever you want to call it. It is not by confessing all your sins, but the savior from sin, Jesus Christ. And you must know by your senses-knowledge, from the rightly divided Word and spiritual manifestations of the Word itself, that God raised him from the dead— see: Romans 10:9, 10. Then and only then can you learn to operate the manifestations of the spirit and discern these spiritual matters. It is the integrity and accuracy of God’s Word that He magnified above all His name that will allow each individual whatever they need to believe. It is up to the individual (you or I) to accept this FREE gift of God’s Grace, Mercy, Peace and Love. If you need more information to believe these things, just ask I will help!

   Do that and then come see me— find me and we’ll talk about spiritual matters.

 

   Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the Bible, I am just…

 

…a witness.

Dahni

Are You More Valuable

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Are You More Valuable

By Dahni
© 2024, all rights reserved

   Are you more valuable? Are you more valuable today than yesterday? Are you more valuable right now than you were?

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power
may be of God, and not of us.”

II Corinthians 4:7 King James Version

“And the Lord said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest.  And be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, and present thyself there to me in the top of the mount.”

Exodus 34:1, 2 KJV

   So Moses did as God had said and he went up to Mt. Sinai. There the finger of God engraved the 10 commandments upon the stones. As a result of being in the presence of God and His Shekianah glory, Moses face shone.

“And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone;”

Exodus 34:30a

For illustrative purposes only Moses and Skekinah glory

   The word “Shekinah” was adopted by Christians as a way of describing God’s presence with His people. The phrase “Shekinah glory” is a symbol referring to that divine presence. God promised to “dwell among” His people: “And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony” (Exodus 25:22).

   The word is related to the Hebrew language word “shakan”, which means “to dwell” or “to reside” with the added emphasis of being a permanent resident in a community. In the Bible, this display of God’s dwelling among human beings is described as His “glory.”

   Yes, Moses became more valuable to God.

“Precious [literally the word is costly] in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.”

Psalm 116:15

   It costs God a lot at the death of one of His. They are no longer around for God to work in to will and do of His good pleasure.

   The five hardest words in all the bible to audibly say and are very guttural like a babaric yawp is found in the beginning in the book of Joshua—

“Moses my servant is dead;…”

Joshua 1:2a KJV

      But what did God tell Joshua to do? Read the rest of the verse—

“…now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.”

Joshua 1:2b

   Jesus loved Lazarus. The hardest two words expressed at the death of his friend was—

“Jesus wept.”

John 11:35

   Jesus loved Lazarus. The hardest three words he spoke about him was—

“…Lazarus is dead.”

John 11:14b KJV

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power
may be of God, and not of us.”

II Corinthians 4:7 KJV

   We are valuable!

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”

Ephesians 1:1-23

   Are you more valuable today to God?

   I am!

   I am more valuable in time and money. My value can draw more time and money, health and prosperity.

   When we walk down the street are we like honey to the bees, nectar to hummingbirds? Do the mountains appear to shout for joy at the sight of us? Does the wind whisper our name? Do the rivers sing and the fountains spray with joy as we pass? Do the trees seem to clap their hands as you walk by?

   This is how God sees us not for what He would have us to be, but as he is, so are we in this world!

“Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.”

I John 4:17

Note the 5 times the words “as he is” are used in I John—

1. AS HE IS in the light— I John 1:7
2. see him AS HE IS— I John 3:2
3. AS HE IS pure— I John 3:3
4. AS HE IS righteous— I John 4:7
5. AS HE IS so are we— I John 4:17

   Valuable!

“God has no hands but our hands
with which to give His people bread.
God has no feet but our feet
with which to walk among the almost dead.
We say that we are His and He is ours.
Deeds are the proof of this, not words,
And these are the proving hours.”

Dr. Victor Paul Wierwille

Note: NO, thse are not the same words as Teresa of Avila of the 14th century or the poem and hymn by Annie Johnson Flint (1866-1932)

   Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the Bible, I am just…

 

…a witness.

Dahni

All Truth

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All Truth

By Dahni
© 2024, all rights reserved

“All truth must be understood in light of the manifestations.”

Dr. VPW

“The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.”

Deuteronomy 29:29 Kings James Version (KJV)

   In one verse of scripture and in the Old Testament, I am pointing out, God reveals. How did he do that in the Old Testament? In the Old Testament, God revealed His word by way of manifestations. There were seven then:

Prophecy (to hold forth or to foretell)
Word of knowledge
Word of Wisdom
Discerning of spirits
Faith (believing to bring to pass the impossible)
Miracles
Gifts of Healings—

Notes: This is the only manifestation that is also called “gifts” (plural) and “healings,” also plural. This is because; God is willing and able to heal us of multiple things (plural) and of the same things (multiple times = plural). Healing in part or in full (being raised from the dead) is always a gift and a manifestation of the spirit of God. The spirit of God was “upon” men and women in Old Testament (O.T.). The spirit of God is “in” men and women after being born again of God spirit. See Romans 10:9, 10

   This having the spirit of God “in,” men and women first became available on the Day of Pentecost, thousands of years ago. See Acts chapter 2.

   Before Jesus Christ who for the first time ever, by manifestations of the spirit, revealed the sprit kingdom of the devil, the closest anyone got to understanding discerning of spirits may have been Job—

“Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book. “

Job 31:35 KJV

   Job knew he had an enemy by the spirit of God “upon” him. Jesus Christ revealed the devil as he too, had the spirit of God upon him. But he also knew there was a day coming in the future, that his disciples and anyone could be able to do the works that he did and even “greater works!”

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

John 14:12 KJV

“And when he had said this, he breathed on [literally this word is “in” and the word “them” should be deleted or lined out. Jesus Christ breathed “in” (inhaling and exhaling) and was showing by revelation to his disciples and anyone, HOW to receive the pneuma hagion (Greek for “spirit” “holy, the gift of holy spirit from God who is Holy with a capital H and Spirit with a capital S.

John 20:22 KJV

See Apendix II page 233 ‘The Uses and Usages of the words Pneuma and Pneuma Hagion – Receiving the holy spirit today, By Dr. Victor Paul Wierwille

   This in-breathing first occurred in Acts chapter 2. Let us look to it.

“And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, (literal = “heavy breathing”) “and” (this sound like inhaling and exhaling) “it filled all the house” (the temple) “where they were sitting, (being decent and in order during an hour of prayer).“

   By the way, God did this out in the open in front of at least all the heads of the households of Israel. They were all required to be present in Jerusalem and in the temple on certain feast days (High or Holy days) from which is we get the word holidays. Pentecost was one such required day to be in the temple, at certain hours of prayer.

   This was not done in some “upper room” where the men were separated from the women and where they slept, but in the Temple, in the open and in front of men and women that had come there from all over the then world.

   In addition to the sound of “heavy breathing” the 11 plus Matthias (newly appointed replacement for Judas Iscariot) saw—

“And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire,
and it sat upon each of them.

Acts 2: 2-3 KJV

   This “sat” was completely complete completeness! This was the first time in the history of the world that anyone could have the spirit of God, born in them. Not even Jesus Christ had this because, it just was not available until this moment of time and he had already been resurrected, ascended up far above all and “sat” down on the right hand of God because, then and only then, was all completely completed and complete. Then on this the Day of Pentecost, it “sat” upon each of these 12 first. What was the result of this sitting (“sat’) this receiving or filling to capacity this decomai (Greek for filled to capacity)? The word dynamite comes from this word decomai as it is potential power and only potential, until and unless it is activated.

“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost literal =”holy spirit” (Greek pneuma hagion lower case, the gift) “and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit (God- the capital S here is properly suppled) “gave them utterance.”

Acts 2:4 KJV

   Who began to speak? The 12. Who was responsible for what they spoke in languages of men or of angels? God – the Spirit! That they spoke was their responsibility. What they spoke was and still is God’s.

   The phenomenon of Pentecost was these men were all Galileans and only understood most likely, just or only, the common tongue of Estrangelo Aramaic. But there were many people that understood exactly what they were saying—

“And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.”

Acts 2: 8-11 KJV

   Is this a complete list of the languages spoken this day by originally just theses 12 disciples, called also as apostles? I do not know, but they did not understand what they were saying. Others as listed, surely did. There is no guarantee that if you or I ever speak in tongues that someone would understand the language that we are selves do not. But God certainly has done this, can and may still! This is precisely why not to teach personal experiences, but teach the Word. God will make sure we have our own personal experiences IF, we walk according to His will.

   This was all done in the temple during an hour of prayer. It was all done decently and in order. There was astonishment on the part of the hearers and doubts about how it was possible that these ignorant and unlearned men could be speaking with languages they themselves did not understand, but others did and they heard them speak, “the wonderful works of God!” There was nothing done here that was weird or shameful or embarrassing to the speakers or was anything done with confusion.

   These 12 were the first, but not the only ones this day.

“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”

Acts 2:41

   This baptism was not like that of John the Baptist, dry cleaning, 😂 dunking, dipping, sprinkling or anything to do with water. It was an in-filling of the spirit of God “in” them, which figuratively is to flow out, living rivers of water. This filling is the Greek word lambano and means filled to capacity and overflowing.

   Whereas decomai (filling) is potential or inert power, the Greek word lambano (filling) is the overflow or dynamic, energetic. Get it? If we understand the mechanics of speech and breathing in (inhaling) and breathing out (exhaling), we can understand how to speak in tongues and that we can today, still speak in tongues.

   Does Acts 2:41 say these about 3,000 souls spoke in tongues? You figure it out. Were there less than or more than 3,000 souls? It says “about.” I don’t know what that means or the exact number, but God knows and that’s what He wanted written, “about!”

   Before we continue here, we need briefly to return to Deuteronomy.

“The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.”

Deuteronomy 29:29 KJV

   We are working on the “secret things” (manifestations of the spirit). This same verse of scripture in the O.T. tells us that these “secret things” are “revealed” and belong to us and here comes the why—

“that we may do all the words of this law (His Word).”

   We have looked into the O.T. and listed seven of the manifestations of the spirit that were available. Those same 7 and only seven did Jesus Christ operate because, none others were available. Others operated the seven including the original 12 disciples that Jesus also, ordained as apostles. By the way, Judas Iscariot was among them. The 70 sent out by Jesus Christ and perhaps others that I do not know about could operate 7. All these could only operate 7 of these manifestations because, that is all, which was available. One the day of Pentecost and even now, right now in our day and time there are nine. Two more became available. All nine are found in I Corinthians 12

“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:”

I Corinthians 12: 7-10 KJV

   By their nature, these nine in application are for worship, revelation and impartation.

Worship Manifestations

Speaking in Tongues
Interpretation of Tongues
Prophecy (to hold forth or to foretell if by a prophet)

For edification – encouragement to a more worthy endeavor and peace and comfort, quiet acquiescence. A message from God or for God in the language (when interpreted) of the majority of the body of people present at the time

Revelation Manifestations

Word of knowledge
Word of Wisdom
Discerning of spirits

The eyes and ears of the Church and the individual believer

Impartation Manifestations

Faith (believing to bring to pass the impossible)
Miracles
Gifts of Healings

The manifestations of power

   All of these manifestations produce the “fruit” of the spirit from Galatians.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

Galatians 5: 22, 23 KJV

Fruit

Love
Joy
Peace
Long suffering (endurance)
Gentleness
Goodness
Faith (believing yes, operating the manifestations produce fruit which includes believing)
Meekness (humbleness)
Temperance (self control)

   Against such as these, the fruit of the spirit, there is no law! Note that manifestations is singular (manifestation) in I Corinthians 12 as “fruit” is singular in Galatians 5. This is like a bunch of grapes 9 grapes (manifestations) and 9 fruits one bunch all – in all.

“But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Galatians 1:11, 12 KJV

“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost Spirit.”

I Peter 1:21 KJV

   These two verses form a mathematical axiom that things equal to the same things, are equal to each other.

“Revelation” = “moved by the Holy Spirit”

That’s by manifestations of the spirit

   Now even with all the knowledge that comes to us by revelation, it is still possible for us not to read God’s word and not to heed it. If we do not renew our minds to the Word (Romans 12) and not operate the manifestations regularly or accurately. This is where, when, why, how and to whom —

“All truth must be understood in light of the manifestations.”

Dr. VPW

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man,
but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

Proverbs 14:12 KJV

   If for a season (some period of time) error is not reproved and allowed to continue, it becomes a false doctrine for doctrine (right believing) and a return to legalism out of fear and spiritualism for false signs and wonders. These are the ways of death. These are the doctrines of devils with devil spirit influence and control to possession, whenever possible.

   What are we to do?

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;”

Hebrews 2:3 KJV

   Someone has to be taught the word of God, renew their mind to it and speak it. Then signs, miracles and wonders (manifestations) will follow and then “fruit” of the spirit. This is still the only way. It is these manifestations of the spirit of God in operation that is proof to the believer first, then others that we’ve got the real deal!. Manifestations of the spirit are like God’s marketing, advertising and copywriting program. The product is salvation (wholeness) and has cost Him everything, his only begotten son, Jesus Christ.

“Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.”

Philippians 3:15 KJV

   Let us continue to make God manifest (known) by—

All truth being understood in light of the manifestations of the spirit.

   In other words, let us renew our minds and bringing into captivity, every thought to the the obedience of Christ. Let us renounce the hidden works of darkness, by lovingly and faithfully and accurately manifesting the power of God. If we think otherwise, God will reveal this to us if we have the ears to hear.

   If you do not know – ask, seek and knock. If you know, do it. If you have erred or forgotten, take heed.  

“God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.”

Psalm 7:11

   Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the Bible, I am just…

 

…a witness.

Dahni

Prerequisites

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Prerequisites
(how can you tell)

By Dahni
© 2024, all rights reserved

   How can you tell if a leader (especially) spiritual leaders are those we should follow? Although there are several characteristics of leadership, what is or should be, their first principles?

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”

Ephesians 4:11 King James Version,
A doctrinal epistle— ‘How to believe rightly’

   The pronoun “he” in the above verse is God. God gave. And these gifts to follow are plural. These plural gifts listed are defined as:

1. “apostles” brings new light to a generation. It may be old light, but it is new to the generation where it is brought
2. “prophets” are individuals that speak for god. Their speaking or prophecies can either be fore-telling (predicts future events before they come to pass) or forth-telling (they simply declare what the Word says or what God wants said in the situation.

Note:

Prophets may seem difficult to be around and above all else, they are going to say and do what God wants said and done and this may contradict what is popular and trendy. The test of a true prophet is that without exception, ALL their prophecies (fore-telling) must come to pass! See: Deuteronomy 18:22

3. “evangelists” are adept at getting individuals to the place where they can believe to become part of the family/household of God and in working with new believers
4. “pastors” bind up wounds, comfort and encourage. They are also protectors like shepherds to their sheep. see: Psalm 23
5. “teachers” are adept at teaching the rightly divided word and are able to communicate effectively so the student can know, understand and apply the Word. Instruction has to be so simple and clear, even a fool or child can understand it. see: Isaiah 35:8

Note:

All of these ministries, ministers, and/or leaders are skilled at and involve teaching! It is not uncommon that a minister operates more than one gift ministries. Unless one knows by sense knowledge what that gift ministry or those gift ministries are, they are or can be spiritually discerned (manifestation of discerning of spirits)

   The “gifts” are not given to the individuals, they are given to the Church (all the people of God or those wanting to know God)

   The character of those that are operating these ministries to the church are given in:
I Timothy 3:2 (The church in its rule) and II Timothy (the Church in its ruin). In both of those books it is established (used twice), that leaders are to be— “apt to teach.”

   As I wrote above, all of these ministries are to teach. So what is the purpose of these ministries. What are the first principles of a true ministry, minister, and/or leadership? In one verse of scripture, God tells us…

True Leadership

“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry,
for the edifying of the body of Christ:”

Ephesians 4:12 King James Version,
A doctrinal epistle— ‘How to believe rightly’

“FOR…”

1. the perfecting of the saints

This ministry, minister, and/or leader’s first and foremost function should be to perfect the saints (heaven’s holiest). These ministries should be helping us grow in our relationship with God and our walk with him. They should be challenging us where our thoughts contradict God’s thoughts (His Word). The status quo is not enough. Just repeating what has already be researched and taught and believed is not enough. They should be teaching how to believe rightly (doctrine). They should be correcting our practical errors, calling us back (reproof) for failing to adhere to the doctrine (right believing). They should be correcting doctrinal error (correction) from failure to adhere to doctrine (right believing). We need to be taught the spiritual realm and this includes the manifestation of, discerning of spirits. Anything less than this “perfecting of the saints” is just a Christian veneer. Beware that underneath are doctrines of devils and devil spirits. 

If these ministries we are listening to or following are not perfecting us each individually and as a whole, this ministry, minister and/or this leader is not of God or they have forsaken their first commitment!

2. the work of the ministry

If this ministry, minister, and/or leader that we are listening to or following are not doing the work of the ministry for us each individually and as a whole, this ministry, minister and/or this leader is not of God or they have forsaken their second commitment!

3. the edifying of the body of Christ

If these ministries we are listening to or following are not edifying the body of Christ — each individual and as a whole, this ministry, this minister and/or this leader is not of God or they have forsaken their third commitment!

A broken commitment of any of these three is a broken commitment, period.

   There we have what God says these ministries, these ministers, and/or these leaders are supposed to do, in just one verse. Without exception, all of these ministries, these ministers, and/or these leaders are to do not just do one of these, but all of them. If they are not faithful to these what are they to do, what are all of us to do if they or we do not walk accordingly?

Cast Down

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing
that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,
and bringing into captivity every thought
to the obedience of Christ;”

II Corinthians 10:5 KJV
A reproof epistle— ‘How to get back to believing rightly’
Corrects the practical errors for failing to adhere to the doctrine (right believing)

   Anyone that exalts themselves, their thoughts, their words and their imaginings above God, need to cast them down and bring them into captivity, every thought to the obedience of Christ. What does the Word say?

“But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”

II Corinthians 4:2 KJV
A reproof epistle— ‘How to get back to believing rightly’
Corrects the practical errors for failing to adhere to the doctrine (right believing)

   We came into this world as bipartite beings – two parts. We had a body and a soul. We still do. But our prototypes or the originals (Adam and Eve) were tripartite beings – three parts. They each had a body, a soul and a spirit. The spirit was given them upon a condition. If they walked according to what God had told them, the spirit would remain But we know from Genesis, they did not and they lost their spiritual connection with God. For thousands of years, the spirit of God came upon certain individuals, but it was temporary because of, the imperfections of body and soul. All people were appointed to die until Jesus Christ redeemed us from this curse.

   Then on the Day of Pentecost, (see: Acts 2) the 12 apostles for the first time ever in the history of the world, experienced two things and one was in public (in the Temple), where all the people could see it and hear it.

   These 12 apostles were all Galilean and Galileans were not known for their great intellect or language skills. They were not liked much by the other Judeans of the nation of Israel. They spoke one language and it was most likely the most primitive and simplest form of Aramaic. It was called, Estrangelo Aramaic. This was a common language at the time. This is the language that Jesus Christ likely read and spoke and most likely, as did Adam and Eve. But on the day of Pentecost, these first 12 received the gift of holy sprit, eternal life spirit and this was the birthday of the Church.

   Since Pentecost was a feast, a holy day, a special Sabbath, at least the heads of every household of the Judeans were required to be in Jerusalem and at the Temple during the appropriate times. The scripture in Acts lists at least some of the parts of the world these Judeans were living in when they returned to Israel, Jerusalem and the Temple. It also mentions many if not all the languages these people understood in the countries from which they came.

“…we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.”

Acts 2:11b KJV

   The miracle of the new birth was evidenced by the “cloven tongues of fire” that sat upon them. After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, he instructed his disciples/apostles how to receive the coming promise of the Father and he literally breathed in…

“And when he [Jesus Christ] had said this, he breathed on them,” [breathed in] and saith [said] unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: [holy spirit]“

John 20:22

   So when the 12 apostle in Acts 2:2 saw the spirit of God descending and spreading out as cloven tongues as fire and when if “sat” (spiritually complete), they opened their mouths and using the mechanics of speech, began to speak in tongues.

   According to I Corinthians 13:1 the languages were either of men or of angels. If they spoke languages of men these could have been dead languages where no one, including the speakers would understand what the words were or meant. If they spoke in the languages of angels, no one would understand them, including their own selves.

   We know that Jerusalem was crowded, as was the Temple area for all the special Sabbaths (5 times per year), including that Pentecost. We know that many of these Judeans came to Israel, Jerusalem and the Temple, from other countries. We know that many of these countries were named. We know that the Galileans (those that spoke in tongues) only usually spoke and understood Estrangelo Aramaic and would not understand what they were saying. But other people did understand the languages that were spoken by the Galileans. “They heard them speak…”

   The miracle of Pentecost was that initially, only these 12 received the gift of holy spirit. We know that on this same day, about 3,000 others were added to the Church. (see: Acts 2:41) It does not say that the about 3,000 added souls spoke in tongues, but they had the same potential as the the 12.

   The phenomenon of Pentecost was that many of the tongues that were spoken by the 12, were not understood by them, but many people in the Temple heard them and their response was that they heard them speak (they understood the language spoken) “the wonderful works of God.”

   There is nothing in God’s Word that says if you or I speak in tongues that someone(s) in the area where we speak, would understand the language we speak.

   The simple thing here is, what we speak in tongues is God’s business, but that we speak in tongues is ours.

   We are still talking about the ministries and ministers and/or leadership and how to detect them and what to do if they are we are not casting down anything that is not God’s word. This is correction practically (reproof) and the correction of doctrinal error (correction) for failure to adhere to the revelation given in the doctrine (right believing). Along with revealing the ministries and those that are supposed to be operating them for the Church and how to correct them or ourselves, there is one more thing we must all understand.

   Having taken what time was taken to go over the manifestation of this spirit and specifically, speaking in tongues, that is critical to this next verse.

“But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”

II Corinthian3 4:2
A reproof epistle— ‘How to get back to believing rightly’
Corrects the practical errors for failing to adhere to the doctrine (right believing)

   Casting down imaginations and every thought to the obedience of Christ is equal to “renouncing the hidden works of dishonesty.” Notice that word “hidden”

   These things are hidden, crafty and deceitful. How is anyone supposed to do any of these things:

1. if they are “hidden” how would you and I know
2. how could what is revealed (the “hidden”) be “renounced” without some supernatural ability (the “manifestation of the truth”— manifestations of the spirit)

   What can reveal these hidden things of dishonesty and etc. is the same that enables one to do these things is— “by manifestation of the truth.” The only way to manifest the truth is to operate the manifestations of the spirit (9 — see: I Corinthians 12, 14).

   By operating the nine manifestations of the spirit, one produces (God in Christ in you— see: Colossians 1:27) produces the fruit of the spirit (9— see: Galatians 5:22)

   Remember that all people have a body and a soul. Any one or a combination of the five senses receives information: seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and touching. But having the spirit of God, spiritual information can also be received. If you can understand the principles of learning sensual knowledge, the principles work the same way in the spiritual realm. The spirit of God in the one must make spiritual information understood to the individual, in ways in which that individual can understand it— make sense.

   But we must understand that we are or were once just body and soul and could only learn by our 5 senses. What some erroneous folk call the sixth sense, by sheer logic, puts it into the category of spirit or into the spirit realm. It is spirit coming into concretion into the natural world.

   We know from the scriptures that there are many gods, but only two main or principal ones. The one, Lucifer, the Devil, a fallen archangel that according to the Bible is legally, “the god of this world.” (see: II Corinthians 4:4)

   The rulership of this world, was transferred to Lucifer (serpent = just one of his many names) from Adam, when he and Eve disobeyed God.

   The second or I should say the first and only true God (with a capital G) is, the true God and creator and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. My intent was to begin with the lessor and end with the greater— less and more.

   To our minds, we can figuratively renew them (see: Romans 12:2) and not be conformed to this world. We can change what we think by replacing our thoughts with God’s thoughts. But to be really “transformed” and to really prove by the renewing of our minds—

What is good
What is Acceptable
What is the Perfect will of God…

   We must operate the manifestations of the spirit. In so doing we see the results— the proof that we are doing the right stuff. The individual may understand their operation of the spirit, but all can see the fruit that is produced by operating the spirit. This is how we commend ourselves to the conscience of others, in the sight of God!

In Conclusion

   In order for us to know for sure if the ministry and ministers and/or leaders are really walking with God, they must be faithful, (not perfect) but faithful to:

1. the perfecting of the saints
2. the work of the ministry
3. the edifying of the body of Christ
4. understand, teach and live that all of theses are gifts to the church, not the individuals
5. understand, teach and live that all of these must be “apt to teach”
6. they must first study to teach (see: II Timothy 2:15)
7. they must teach the rightly divided word that we can continue as disciples and THEN we can know the truth and Then we can be made (not set) free by the truth
8. If they or we falter and fail, all must be taught to cast down everything to the obedience of Christ
9. In order to really do all of the above, all must teach or be taught that it is only the “manifestation of the truth” (the 9 manifestations of the spirit), whereby ONLY GOD can produce the fruit (God in Christ in us— the spirit of God in us and we know that we know that we know. And the world can see it.

   To close this out, let’s look at some scriptures from the book of James. In the book of James, Jesus Christ, the Red Thread from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 is— The Royal Law.

“But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude [likeness] of God: Out of the same mouth proceedeth [proceeds] blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

” For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”

James 3:8-10,16 KJV

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”

James 3:17-18

   The only way that the tongue can be tamed is, if God tames it. The only way He can do this is by the fruit of the spirit. (see: Galatians 5:22, 23) The “fruit of the spirit” is, but one of about 18 of the purposes and benefits of the manifestation of, speaking in tongues. 

   The only way there can be fruit of the spirit is by the individual free will to operate the manifestations of the spirit. The only way the individual by freewill can operate the manifestations of the spirit is to have, the spirit of God and be taught HOW to manifest. 

   All of these things are what the ministries and the ministers and/or leaders should be “apt to teach” and teach!

Notes:

Speaking in tongues alone has at least 18 purposes and benefits. Producing fruit of the spirit is just one of these eighteen. We need to look at these in the future.

Most people have been taught (and I was once among them) that there are 66 books in the Bible. Jesus Christ is the Red Thread, the Go-through (used as a noun) that binds the entire Bible together from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21. Jesus Christ is the subject of the entire Bible. He is concealed and then revealed in 56 books in the bible. We need to look at these in the future.

There are 9 manifestations of the spirit. We need to look at these in the future.

There are 9 fruits (singular “fruit” of the spirit, like one bunch of fruit with 9 grapes on it). We need to look at these in the future.

I have written before that some 90% of the entire planet do not know what happened the last two weeks in the life of Jesus Christ. We need to look at these things in the future.

I will go a step further here. Roughly 90% of the whole world do not understand the Bible at all, believe even less and those that do believe, most cannot from the scriptures say why or prove what they believe. We need to look to these things in the future.

There are seen things God does not want us to be ignorant of. It He does not want us to be ignorant then what does He want for us, what is available— to be wise, smart, to understand? Well of course He does! One of these these that He does not want us to be ignorant of is— “spiritual matters” (see: I Corinthians 12:1). We need to look into this and these seven in the future. 

   Now I am not saying I am a minister, but I am “apt to teach” because, I have been taught and I am still being taught.

   How would I or anyone know these things unless we are taught? No one can believe more than they know. No one can know more than they have been taught. No one can lead anyone any farther than they have been led themselves. These are laws of learning. This is what the ministries, ministers, and/or leaders should be doing — teaching (“apt to teach”). 

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher [publicly expound the scriptures]? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

Romans 10:14-15 KJV
A doctrinal epistle— ‘How of believing rightly’

   Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the Bible, I am just…

 

…a witness.

Dahni

Only the Needy Need Apply

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 Only the Needy Need Apply

By Dahni
© 2024, all rights reserved

 If you will you listen to me
my words will help you

If you will listen to my words
God will be able to help you

These are quite the promises, but I know of whom I speak
I know the words I will choose
Words are powerless or they are powerful
How much power that you need
will determine from whence the power comes
Either way I will give you my best
Words that I know will help you or…
His words that I know will help you
If you hear them
He will help

The rest is up to you

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”

Ephesians 3:20 King James Version

   Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the Bible, I am just…

 

…a witness.

Dahni

The Power of Pentecost

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 The Power of Pentecost

By Dahni
© 2024, all rights reserved

   This blog Acts2One (Birthday of the Church) began, April 8, 2015. On this same date in 2024, that will be nine years ago. Much has happened since then, but not the purpose of this blog. You can view the first post here: 

http://wp.me/p8DawH-1M 

   Today, I want to share some source inspiration for this blog. It begins here as it ended almost nine years ago with scripture, the same scripture.

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”
“And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.”
“And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.”
“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Acts 2:1-4 King James Version

   Almost 44 years ago (1980), a wonderful artist I had met named Meg, was inspired and commissioned to make a large work of art depicting the original day of Pentecost or what I here call Acts2One (The Birthday of the Church). 

The Day of Pentecost—Dechomai © 1980 by The Way International

   “This print is a rendition of the original day of Pentecost, shortly before the twelve apostles received the gift of holy spirit into manifestation. This pictorial rendering was inspired by the record in the Book of Acts as Dr. Victor Paul Wierwille, Founding President of The Way International, expounded it.”

   “The original outpouring of the gift of holy spirit on the day of Pentecost occurred in the Temple, the house of prayer, and only the twelve apostles received into manifestation the original gift from the Holy Spirit.”

“Traditionally, the fire is depicted as hovering above the apostles, but this painting accurately shows it as a “pillar like as of fire” descending, according to Acts 2:3, and splitting into cloven tongues and sitting upon each one of the twelve apostles. The cloud above the Temple and the pillar of fire descending into the Temple represent the outpouring of the gift of holy spirit from God.”

“Seeing the phenomenon of the “cloven tongues like as of fire,” the twelve apostles received the gift of holy spirit and breathed in as Jesus had instructed them to do according to John 20:22. This “breathing in” on the part of all twelve apostles is the “rushing mighty wind,” or “heavy breathing,” of Acts 2:2. Immediately after this historic moment of the outpouring of the gift of holy spirit on the day of Pentecost, the twelve apostles, filled to overflowing with holy spirit, manifested the fullness of the holy spirit by speaking in tongues “as the Spirit [God] gave them utterance.” This was the first time in the history of the world that God made available the new birth, and the twelve apostles were born again, which is to be filled with “power from on high.” This was the birthday of the Church.”

“The First Limited Edition of twenty-five hundred numbered prints of The Day of Pentecost—Dechomai was specially commissioned by the Board of Trustees of The Way International, New Knoxville, Ohio. The original painting was presented to the Board of Trustees on Pentecost Sunday, May 25, 1980, and is on display in The Word Over the World Auditorium.”

“Consideration was given to the ministry research of the day on color and related principles. The color-chord system was employed, utilizing five selected colors in acrylic paints. The original of The Day of Pentecost—Dechomai, from which this print was photographed, is 5½ feet wide by 10 feet high. The size of the print is approximately 27 percent of the original. The Way International Research Department was helpful in insuring the Biblical accuracy of this illustration.”

“May this print bless all who see it, and may they be inspired to manifest the fullness of the gift of holy spirit.”

The Quoted words above are verbatim from: The Way.org

Print Dimensions: 16″ x 20″ available from: The Way.org

   Along with this beautiful image, which helps us understand visually, what occurred on the Day of Pentecost for the first time ever and thousands of years ago, enjoy the following Youtube video. It is also by Way Productions of, The Way International. 

Ready to Manifest (insturumental) © 2021

 

   Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the Bible, I am just…

 

…a witness.

Dahni

“Perfectly” blow our minds

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“Perfectly” blow our minds

By Dahni
© 2023, all rights reserved

Perfect

   Everywhere we turn, poets, singers and songwriters, philosophers and perhaps nearly everyone talk about, speak about, read about, paint about, sing about and contemplate in all ways of the imagination, what is perfect and perfection. Why we even may use and think about perfect imperfection? By this time in our lives and in the vast archives of stored data of human knowledge, what is perfect or perfection is, just as elusive as a butterfly or pretended as fairytales. Perfect is just imagined and imagination is just for children?

   But some might even consider that what is perfect or that perfection is something real and it just needs to be developed as —

Practice makes perfect

   Does practice make perfect? Wouldn’t one need perfect practice to achieve perfection?  😂  And with the facts that we are imperfect, how could we ever become perfect? And with all this imperfection — 

Does this all seem like in the world today, January 7th, 2024

   Does this all seem seem like in the world today, January 7th, 2024 –

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded,’ lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

II Timothy 3:1-5 Kings James Version

   What about Christians, are we or they not affected and perhaps even influenced by what we just read?

“…all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

II Timothy 3:12 KJV

Yep, But

   Yep, but we or those Christians can be affected, influenced and that’s a form of persecution. If any will to live godly (live in godliness, live in God), shall (absolutely) suffer), but look at verses 16 and 17 of this same third chapter of II Timothy. Personally, I never saw the conditions of the world and the Christians being persecuted with these next verses, ever before, just the other day! WOW and WOW, now I’m sharing it with you and for FREE. What is the profit of reading this? –

   What is the profit of reading this verse or anything from the Bible?

“All scripture” [from Genesis 1:1 – Revelation 22:21] “is given by inspiration of God” [Greek – θεόπνευστος, ον theopneustos = “God Breathed’], “and” [which] “is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for” [which is] “instruction in righteousness.”

II Timothy 3:16 KJV

   WOW, in one verse of scripture, we just read the profit of the whole Word of God, the Bible. Now, in one verse, what is it’s purpose?

   Would you be interested in reading one example of something perfect or perfection, from the Word of God, the Bible? I am interested. But Look at the first word and last word in the entire Bible. Remember, previously in another post, we saw that you and I are hard-wired for stories and this is why artificial intelligence will never replace humans? Where did I possible get that idea?

   Originally, the first word, the very first word in Genesis 1:1 was and should accurately be, “God.” That makes sense, “perfect” sense. Without God being first, there would be no other words to follow or anything, living or non-living of all that He created.

   The very last word in the Bible from Revelation 22:21 always was and still is in English, “Amen.” The word “Amen” literally and simply means – “so be it.” 

GOD SO BE IT!

   “God, so be it! That is the whole story of the Bible, if it were to be told in just a few words. If you were a copywriter (of which I am one), what other direct-response copy is needed to tell His story? None, it is perfect. It’s people that have issues with simplicity and want more details and complexity. Talk about simplicity and perfection, what is the purpose of God’s Word, the Bible?

What is the purpose of God’s Word, the Bible

   What is the purpose of God’s Word the Bible? Are you ready for this, it is going to blow your mind, it blew my mind (figuratively speaking of course.) 😂 The whole purpose of God’s Word (the Bible), is –

“That the man” [all inclusive noun = men and women and children, which can understand] “of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

II Timothy 3:17 KJV

   WOW this Word of God is able to make those willing to follow God [men or women and children at the age of accountability or whatever age the child can understand it] a man, woman or child of God, first of all here, “perfect.” Biblically speaking, a male did not become an adult until he reached the age of 30, nor could any spiritual ministry begin or a king be crowned, in ancient Israel until he became a man at age 30. Up until then, he was a youth. Think about that!

Perfect

   But getting back to this verse, any man, woman or child willing to follow God and His Word who speak for God is, a man, woman or child of God. Look at the next part of this verse –

The purpose of this Word of God is that we who speak for God may be “perfect”

   The purpose of this Word of God is that we who speak for God may be “perfect”? What? Yes, that’s what we read, that’s what it says and that’s what it means. But in the Greek there are several words which in English are translated “perfect.” In this verse, the Greek word is artios ἄρτιος and this is its only usage in the entire Bible. This is highly significant. In ancient Greece, profane literature was non-biblical literature that did not necessarily include expletives or swear words as we think of the profane and profanity of today, but was secular or even mythology, but not scriptural originally. But in profane Greek literature, the Greek word artios (“perfect”), was used as follows –

   Artios was used for a ship (a sailing vessel), totally outfitted for a voyage. It had everything on board to outfit the journey from start to finish. Everyone on board would have everything needed before they left, while they traveled and more than enough, to get them to their final destination. That’s perfection!

   The verse continues to expand upon this perfection. This Word of God’s purpose is for that anyone that speaks for God might be “perfect” how?

   The words “thoroughly furnished” should be translated, “through and throughly perfected” = expanded usage of the verb referring to the noun “perfect” (artios). To what end are the men and women and children of God to be through and throughly perfected? That we who speak for God, may be “through and throughly perfected?“ This completely, completed completeness, this perfection is, in order that we may be –

“thoroughly furnished” – completely, completed in this completeness, this perfection “unto” [to] —

“…good works!”

   Talk about your mega-WOW factor and minds blown! Now, let us put together, all we have read. Even though today, January 7th, 2024 the world all around may seem to be  nuts (insane, evil) –

“lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:”

Excerpt from: II Timothy 3: 1-5 KJV

   And even though we could be affected, influenced and “shall be persecuted” if we will to live a godly life and speak for God, be we God’s men, God’s women or God’s mature children, we all “shall” –

“…all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

Excerpt from: II Timothy 3:12 KJV

   We have this wonderful Word of God, which is “profitable for doctrine, reproof and correction,” [“which is instruction in righteousness”] or [right living] –

“All scripture” [from Genesis 1:1 – Revelation 22:21] “is given by inspiration of God” [Greek – θεόπνευστος, ον theopneustos = “God Breathed”], “and” [which] “is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for” [which is] “instruction in righteousness:”

II Timothy 3:16 literal according to usage

   Why do we have this profitable word even though the world is nuts (insane, evil), and we shall suffer persecution

   Why do we have this profitable word, even though the world is nuts (insane, evil), and we shall suffer persecution?

   We have this wonderful Word of God for one and only one purpose, that we that would live Godly, we that speak for God, might be “perfect” – [“through and throughly perfected”] “unto” [“to”] “all good works!”

“That the man” [all inclusive noun = men and women and children, which can understand] “of God may “be perfect,” “through and throughly perfected” [“to”] “to all good works.”

II Timothy 3:17 literal according to usage

Say What You Just Said

   So what was just said and we read, even though it seems like the following are our times, right now, January 7th, 2024 –

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

II Timothy 3:1-5 Kings James Version

   And –

“…all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

II Timothy 3:12 KJV

   But –

“All scripture” [from Genesis 1:1 – Revelation 22:21] “is given by inspiration of God” [Greek – θεόπνευστος, ον theopneustos = “God Breathed”], “and” [“which”] “is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for” [‘which is”] “instruction in righteousness:” 

II Timothy 3:16 literal according to usage

   So that –

“That” [whosoever] “of God may be perfect,” [through and throughly perfected to”] “all good works.”

II Timothy 3:17 Expanded translation according to usage

   WOW, mind’s blown! Have a nice day.

   Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the Bible, I am just…

 

…a witness.

Dahni

Joy

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Joy

By Dahni
© 2023, all rights reserved

   Why do we spend so much time and effort on the pursuit of happiness? Why do we run from it to either grow up or just to be a responsible adult? Maybe we don’t believe we deserve to be happy or are worthy of happiness? Perhaps our efforts are to punish ourselves and forbid ourselves from happiness because of, bad stuff we have done or think we have done?

   Oh, I’ve come to terms with happiness because, it is so elusive like a butterfly or like a carrot on a stick – neither of which we can ever seem to net or catch. Happiness always seems so temporal if we find it or it’s just out of reach.

   So over the years, I developed my own little theory about happiness. Part of it comes from a line from many “fairytales” we are likely familiar with from our childhood. Another comes from a song by the late Jimmy Buffet-

Happily Ever After
(at least once in awhile)

   Well isn’t that special? No, it does not really help anyone or me, why not? Well, news flash to me, happiness is a relative thing. This means it could be different for nearly every person. Maybe we form groups, associations, clubs, families and clans when our people-social unions have the same or similar types of happiness in common?

   Oh I get it, maybe we get talked out of happiness or we are not supposed to pursue happiness because, it’s childish? Funny thing is that we all want to be happy and we all pursue happiness anyway. What about the people of the United States and the ‘Pursuit of Happiness’ in our founding documents?

   But here is something I just discovered – joy is right in front of us.

   How convenient for me to have discovered this and to be sharing it with you at Christmas time or during the holiday times if you prefer – Hanukah, Kwanzaa or whatever. But sticking with Christmas, look at the many references to “joy” from carols and songs:

“Joy to the World”
Good Tidings of Comfort and Joy”
“Ode to Joy”
“Joyful , Joyful We Adore Thee”
“Oh For Joy”
“Joy”
(probably a lot more, but “joy” is everywhere)

   About the last one above, “Joy” is a song by English singer-songwriter Mick Jagger. Yep, that’s what you read and that’s the guy, the lead singer of the Rolling Stones. Go figure. But his song ‘Joy’ was released on his fourth solo album, Goddess in the Doorway (2001). Rolling Stone Magazine called it “a rocking, gospel-tinged collaboration with Bono of U2” – featuring Pete Townshend (remember the rock band The Who), on guitar. “Joy” was one of three tracks from Goddess in the Doorway to be featured on Jagger’s greatest hits album, The Very Best of Mick Jagger.

“Joy is everywhere!

   Maybe we can’t see joy because, we are not looking for it, we’re focused on happiness? Joy is not relative! Not only is it not relative, it is universal. It’s real. It’s scientific. Joy knows no language, culture, education, age, borders, sex or anything else that otherwise separate us people from each other.

   Joy is common to all. Joy is all around us. Joy is everywhere. I suppose we don’t look for it because, once we experience it, we feel just like kids again. No, joy may not make us younger, but it sure can make us feel young and well hey, that could certainly contribute to both our good health and long life.

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”

Proverbs 17:22 King James Version (KJV)

   A merry heart can physically effect our pain response, immune system and so many other physiological and biologic processes. No guessing there or mere positive-projection, it’s real. So is joy.

   Just for fun, how many times is the word “happy” and the word “joy” used in the Bible?

25 times the word “happy” is found in the King James Version
187 times is found the word ”joy”

   Before we look at many of these, would you agree that “joy” is found many more times in the Bible than the word “happy”? Would you think there might be a reason, a purpose, a design for this and that it is intentional?

   So let’s look at some “joy” from the Word of God. If we should experience joy and if it is so readily available to all people everywhere, wouldn’t God mention it in His Word?

“For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”

Psalm 30:5 KJV

   Sure, when we make others mad, we are uncomfortable with that for a while, but it does not generally last indefinitely, not with God anyway. And grief and mourning may be difficult especially at night, but what comes up in the morning? Have you ever been on an airplane and it’s dark and stormy out? Did you ever get above the clouds and see the sun shining? How does this make you feel? Do you not feel joy?

“Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:”

Psalm 66:1 KJV

   Like cheerful humming, that could be a a “joyful noise.”

“Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice.”

Psalm 96:12 KJV

   Waving fields of grain, don’t they make you feel joy? What about trees waving in a gentle breeze? Don’t these make you feel joy as if the trees are rejoicing too? What is rejoicing but to re-joy again!

“Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together.”

Psalm 98:8 KJV

   Water through the rocks sounding like clapping and echoes through the hills (plus their rounded shapes), aren’t those joyful sounds?

“And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.”

Ecclesiastes 2:10

   Joy in ceasing from your labor and joy from the many things you see that your heart desires = joy.

“There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.”

Ecclesiastes 2:24

   Joy is everywhere and it is from God and by His multitude of reminders in nature that all people should joy.

“Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.”

Isaiah 9:3 KJV

   Having a larger population of joyful people increases joy. At harvest time we joy to see the bounty of the fields being brought in.

“Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.”

Isaiah 12:3 KJV

   Drawing water from a well causes joy especially if you are really thirsty and the water is cool and refreshing, to save you from a parched throat.

“And gladness is taken away, and joy out of the plentiful field; and in the vineyards there shall be no singing, neither shall there be shouting: the treaders shall tread out no wine in their presses; I have made their vintage shouting to cease.”

Isaiah 16:10 KJV

   Look at the opposites of the verse – joy from a field of plenty (good food to eat), vineyards full – joy from eating grapes and from drinking a little wine.

“The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth.”

Isaiah 24:8 KJV

   The sound of the harp, a violin, flute, piano, guitar, trumpet and other musical instruments cause joy.

“Because the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall be left; the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks;”

Isaiah 32:14 KJV

   Leaping, jumping and frolicking little donkeys, horses, goats too, cows, calves, sheep and more, have joy and bring us joy when we see them act this way.

“And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

Isaiah 35:10 KJV

   Singing songs bring joy.

“For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”

Isaiah 55:12

   What beautiful mind pictures or figures of speech this verse brings to mind. When we experience joy it is as if the echoes we hear from the hills are sounding joy (breaking out with singing), and the wind through the trees seem to have joy when you walk by!

“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.”

Isaiah 61:3 KJV

   Having oil to light your lamps, for your food and to soothe our often tiredness and soreness, give us joy.

“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.”

Jeremiah 15:16 KJV

   Surely we have all heard words like this and it was as we just eat them up because, they give us such joy.

“The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the Lord of hosts: for the Lord is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the Lord.”

Jeremiah 33:11 KJV

   Voices speaking or singing or humming can cause us joy. Newlyweds and weddings give us joy. Birthdays and all manner of celebrations give us joy.

“For was not Israel a derision unto thee? was he found among thieves? for since thou spakest of him, thou skippedst for joy.”

Jeremiah 48:27 KJV

   Skipping causes joy. Try it if you still can! Ask a child or watch them skip. All of these things will cause joy.

“The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.”

Joel 1:2 KJV

   Just the opposite of the things above, joy can be experienced because of trees, their fruit and their leaves all in abundance.

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.”

Matthew 2:10 KJV

   When the Magi saw the astrological signs in the sky, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy because,
they were following “his star!” We experience joy when we see stars.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.”

Matthew 13:44 KJV

   Have you ever been somewhere and the location was so wonderful and it gave you so much joy, you wanted to buy the house there, rent it, or maybe buy the property and build your home there? Rounding the bend and seeing that you are almost home again, does this not bring joy!

“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

Matthew 25:21 KJV

   Isn’t it obvious that if what you do gives joy to others that you would benefit and be joyous or joyful too?

“And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.”

Matthew 28:8 KJV

   Come on, surely we must know that in the above verse that the word “fear” is respect or awe as, how would it be possible to be afraid and joyful?

“Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.”

Acts 2:28 KJV

      Seeing the countenance of another gives joy.

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”

Acts 20:24 KJV

   Finishing your degree, finishing the work week — (TGIF Thank God It’s Friday and the weekend), making it to retirement, finishing your course or purpose in life, gives joy.

“And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”

Romans 5:11 KJV

   Joy in, the word “in” is the Greek preposition en = totally within. Joy in God. So yes, enjoy yourself, totally in God.

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

Romans 15:13 KJV

   “Joy and peace in (en = totally within), believing why? So we can abound in hope through the power of the spirit of God from God in us. How? Because all of this comes from the the God of Hope. The word hope is used twice here. The number two (2), numerically means = “it is established”

“And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.”

2 Corinthians 2:3 KJV

   My joy is that it is the joy of all! Have you ever felt joy just because others you care about joy?

“Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.”

2 Corinthians 7:4 KJV

   Even joy in tribulation! Notice it does not say happiness in tribulation (pressure etc), but joy!

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,”

Galatians 5:22 KJV

   All people can experience joy, but the Christian can receive even more (“fullness of joy”) and it is a fruit (1 of 9 fruits), we receive when we operate the manifestations of the spirit – speaking in tongues, tongues with interpretation, word of prophecy, word of knowledge, word of wisdom, discerning of spirits, manifestation of believing, miracles, and gifts (plural) of healings (plural). What? Not only can we have joy in operating the manifestations, but we get “joy” as one of the fruit of the spirit when we do? Yep, that’s what it says and that’s exactly what it means. Fullness?

“You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”

Psalm 16:11 KJV

“And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.”

1 John 1:4 KJV

“Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,”

Philippians 1:4 KjV

   There is joy in praying for others.

“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?”

1 Thessalonians 2:19 KJV

   Joy in seeing each other again throughout eternity and the joy of being with Christ at his coming (his return).

“For ye are our glory and joy.”

1 Thessalonians 2:20 KJV

“Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;”

2 Timothy 1:4 KJV

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Hebrews 12:2 KJV

   The joy that is future and comes by God revealing it has no different effect than if it was happening now because, it is happening— always in the now!

“Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:”

1 Peter 1:8 KJV

   Joy so incredible that we may not be able to articulate it, but it can be experienced. This is why joy is an inside job! It is often both an inside and an exterior response from what comes to us from without. God has these reminders everywhere that cause joy.

“Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.”

2 John 1:12 KJV

   Joy not written with paper and ink but face to face that “our” joy is full. Joy is made to be experienced, immediately.

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

3 John 1:4 KJV

   The writer (Paul), and the author (God), have no greater joy than to see their children (in the World), and (in the Word), walk in truth.!

   There is joy everywhere –

Snowflakes on your tongue and eyelashes
Squiggly mud between your toes
Fish leaping from the water
A red barn, especially in the winter snow
The contrast of a pair of cardinals, in the white snow
Building a snowman
Making mud pies
Sandcastles – seeing them and building them
Candles and fires
Cooking fragrances – seasonings and spices
Fresh cut grass and growing living things
Decorating for the holidays
Cookies and Candy, Gingerbread
The first flower of spring – crocus coming up through the snow
Bubble baths
Singing birds
Seeing a hummingbird, a butterfly or a honey bee
Bluebird and Robin eggs and their fledglings leaving the nest
Dancing in the rain
Ice skating or pretending to, inside with your socks on and with children
Puppies and kittens and children
A hug and a kiss –

and the list is almost endless.

   There is joy everywhere.

   There was a band leader named Louis Prima (December 7, 1910 – August 24, 1978). He was an American trumpeter, singer, entertainer, and bandleader. He once sang on a song – ‘Enjoy Yourself’

   So, go ahead and Joy and En-joy yourself!

   Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the Bible, I am just…

 

…a witness.

Dahni

An Alternative to Forgiveness

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An Alternative to Forgivingness

By Dahni
© 2023, all rights reserved

 

   I am aware, as a Christian, I am certain of at least a few things. One is that quite often, we are commanded to forgive others and this would include ourselves. Perhaps the latter may seem improbable or difficult, but not impossible.

 

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

Ephesians 4:32 King James Version (one of many, many references to forgiveness) KJV

   

   God forgives and He forgets—

 

“For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”

 

Hebrews 8:12 KJV

 

   Should we forget? 

 

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,” 

 

Philippians 3:13 KJV

 

   Is it even possible to forget? Take at look at I Corinthians chapter 13. In speaking of the several characteristics of walking in this, the wonderful Love of God, God’s Word says of this “love” —

 

“Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, THINKETH NO EVIL;”

 

I Corinthians 13:5 KJV

 

   WOW, how could not even thinking evil be possible, if we could remember our sins or we never forget them? Well it is possible to live like this. But still, we have this treasure in an earthen vessel. (see: II Corinthians 4:7 KJV)

 

   Personally, it is generally not hard for me to forgive others because, I know what I have been forgiven of.

 

   But I also know again that I have this treasure in an earthen vessel. I know that I am fraught with faults and failures, weaknesses, and imperfection.

 

   When it comes to forgiveness, there are times when I find this extremely difficult, if not impossible, especially, when we’re talking about forgiving and forgetting what others have done, not for what they’ve done against me, but to others.

 

   Being human, I want restitution, sometimes vengeance, and sometimes, to see the comeuppance due to certain ones, whose behavior I view as reprehensible.

 

   I am mindful that God will repay and it’s not up to me. This does not in any way mean I find this to be easy to do. (see: Romans 12:19 KJV)

 

   I know that despite the truth of God’s Word, sometimes we must endure and we see so much contradiction and confusion, cruelty and downright evil in the world. With so many opposites appearing as what is perceived as reality and normal, there is to me, no wonder why people have a difficulty believing God, believing in God— in His goodness, and forgiveness and not forgetting the evil that is done.

 

   I look to examples of how others deal with such things. I find beauty, comfort and encouragement from those who stand against such and endure the bitterness and the bite of sin and evil against our mortal flesh, our souls and our spirits if possible.

 

   I know that it was for joy (the revelation of you and I one day being with Jesus Christ, for what he stood against and for), that he could endure. I know it was because of this “joy” that he, though despising the shame being hurled at God his Father, because of others rejection of him and thus God, and all because Jesus always did his father’s will. I know it was this “joy” that enabled him to endure to the end. 

 

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

 

Hebrews 12:2 KJV

 

    I have given the example of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul, who wrote the seven Church epistles, “to “fulfill the word of God,” (see: Colossians 1:25), is, another example.

 

   But Paul voted (cast his ballot), for the death of Jesus Christ, directing other followers to be imprisoned and he consented (agreed with, voted, cast his ballot), for the stoning of Stephen a great man, a doer of many miracles in the first century Church. Perhaps now you can understand another verse of scripture, which is to this day, still being misinterpreted and accuses God for what he does not do. Is it precious in the sight of God that his children are killed because, they immediately go to heaven to be with Him?

 

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.”

 

Psalm 116:15 KJV

 

   The word “precious” above is literally the word “costly.” It costs God much to loose any of his saints (heaven’s holiest), as they are no longer on the earth to do the works of Jesus Christ and greater works (see John 14:12)

 

   The apostle Paul said of himself —

^“And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.”

Acts 22:19, 20 KJV

   If there was ever an example of forgiving and forgetting, Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul are two examples. But how difficult is it, to not only forgive, but to also forget?

 

   Jesus Christ was a perfect man, born without sin and never committed sin. By choice (freedom of will), he always did the will of God, his Father. But he forgave and he forgot.

 

   The apostle Paul (formerly Saul of Tarsus), was a member of the ruling body of Israel, known as the Sanhedrin. They would have been like the Supreme court, whose decisions were final. According to the Misnah or or the Mishna “study by repetition”, or “counsel,” the first major written collection of the Jewish oral traditions known as, the Oral Torah, these 70 elders plus Moses himself are the source for the 71 judges of the “Great Sanhedrin.”

 

   For details of the apostle Paul’s life prior to his conversion to Christianity, see at least the following references:

 

Acts 6:8 to 7:60, (Acts 9:4, 22:7 and 26:14), Acts 23:6, Acts 26:10 and Galatians 1:13, 14

 

   Look at Acts 22 —

 

“And I [Paul] persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.”

 

Acts 22:4 KJV

 

   I have given two examples, one of Jesus Christ, and that of the apostle Paul. They had to wrestle with forgiveness and they had to contend with forgetting.

 

   The apostle Paul once made reference to a particular Roman torture technique that he himself was subjected to and delivered from. He was literally tied to a dead corpse, which would have eventually killed him as the rotting flesh would have begun to rot his own flesh. But Paul used this literal situation to convey a greater spiritual truth— comparing the weakness of sinful flesh when he said—

 

“O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death (literally— “this dead body”)?”

 

Romans 7:24 KJV

 

   But I find these two individuals almost superhuman, and I myself have often needed some less than perfect flesh to be able to relate to. Be they real or fictionalized or at least embellished, I seem to have needed such as this, to make its point upon my heart, especially recently.

 

   I found such an example in the memory of a movie I had watched years ago. It is from the life of a woman who had to endure the shame of rape and to keep it hidden from her own husband to keep him alive. This is a movie wherein I found so much depth of heart in the same unfolding— horrific and tragic events. For the opposite reasons, my wife Susan, refuses to watch this because, it is so — horrible and tragic.

 

   But the movie I am referring to here is called ‘Rob Roy’. It is the true story of a 1700’s Scottish Klansman named, Rob Roy MacGregor, portrayed by Liam Neeson. His wife is Mary MacGregor and she is played by Jessica Lange.

 

   What was her alternative to forgiving and forgetting the evil she endured by another? To me, the greatest line of the entire movie and its main point to me, and the dogged determination on her face when it was spoken, occurred when Jessica Lange, as Mary McGregor, facing the one who had raped her to humiliate her and to draw her husband out so that he could falsely accuse him and kill him for crimes that he himself had committed, to hide his own sin and guilt, was simply and so beautifully stated —

 

” I will think of you no more!”

 

   If we cannot forgive and forget or if we refuse to forgive and forget, perhaps an alternative without seeking vengeance is, to live peaceably and quietly with those we love and of the others to…

 

…Think on them no more!

 

   I find (especially and particularly this Holiday Season), in myself— a sweetness, a cheerfulness and a peace, despite sorrow which has come to me over someone dear to me in passing. I am resigned to let God do what He does and to do my best in what I get to do and should do.

 

   Some dear loves of mine have passed. But they are at peace and in pain no more. Their next waking moment will be at the return of Jesus Christ, when he comes for his saints. First he will come for those dead in Christ and then those of his alive at his coming. Whether I forgive others and forget what they have done may in essence be, what I have done, but I do not have to—

 

think on them any more!

   

   My wife Susan and another have also, found some solace, some consolation and some resolve in this.

 

   To me, this is safe anchorage in an ocean of doubt, upon calms seas, for me, my little dinghy.

 

Dinghy on calm water, by John White

Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the Bible, I am just…

…a witness.

Dahni