Worth Day

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By Dahni

📜 Worth Day

I do not know about you, but I do not remember the hour, day or year when I first became a Christian. As far back as I can recall, I was a Christian even as a child. I just know that the age of accountability is different for each person, just like our individual fingerprints. But by “age of accountability” whatever was my age, I had to have been taught and understood and confessed with my mouth that Jesus is Lord and that God raised him from the dead. This is what it says in Romans 10:9-11 the King James version of the Bible, of 1611.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed”

For myself and like what the legal profession calls “settled law,” these truths for me are a done-deal. I don’t wonder about or argue about these things anymore. I have not, for at least fifty years. Though you and I may remember by calendar our birthday month, day and year, if like me, you may not know when yours or my born-again date occurred.

Maybe some of you that read here, were taught that you had to spend time confessing your sins? But the Word just says to confess the savior of sin and somehow, to believe (an active verb that connotes action) that God raised him from the dead. So simple that even a chid could understand this. I did and I was a child.

And I do not question who these verses apply to. “Whosoever” means to me, “whosoever” or as God classifies all people according to I Corinthians 10:32 Jew (Judean), Gentile or Church of God. That’s simple too. I don’t question that either and I have not for many years. Yes, I do believe God says what He means and He means what he says. But there is something else here. “Worth Day” what is that?

Some believe that there are three ages of us people — chronological (our time alive on this earth from our day of birth), an emotional age, and an intellectual age. Some say these three are seldom together at the same time or occur at the same time. I don’t know about those things. But I now know the month, day and year of what I am calling my— “Worth Day” happened.

Years ago I remember when a man I respected said to others about me, “He will be fantastic when he makes up his mind.” Instead of just being honored by these words, I wondered what he was even talking about. He obviously saw potential in me and please note he did not say “if” he makes up his mind, but “when.” Well, those words were at least from fifty years ago. People arrive when they arrive. They get it when they get it. For me, this was on April 22, 2026. Well, what does this even mean— “Worth Day”?

For one thing and as a memory aide or a memory peg, Earth Day was also celebrated on April 22, 2026. This was the 56^th celebration of Earth Day to be exact. Earth Day originated from a vision by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin and was set for April 22, 1970. For me, I thought “earth” and “worth” would help me remember April 22. I also figured it was just a matter of repetition until I would recall the year, just as I do my first birth. But what is my— “Worth Day”?

You could refer to this as my personal covenant marker, but this does not even communicate to me what it is. Instead, I write this—

“The day in which I became meet for the master’s use and freely (spiritually) gave my ear lobe).”

That language echoes this passage very closely:

“And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master… I will not go out free: Then his master… shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for ever.”

Exodus 21:5–6 King James version 1611

After a certain time, the master could choose to let his slave (servant) go free. But if this slave or servant willed to not go “free” there was another tradition where a master seeing potential, ability, and trustworthiness might offer this to his servant, to accept this position of authority, responsibility and added benefits, having shown his faithfulness to his master. It should be noted that the culture of the times between a master and a servant (slave) like this was, the master’s FREE will offering and the servant’s FREE will acceptance. In the New Testament the Greek word used for this is doulos. And not just a slave, but a bond slave. It had a completely different feel than that we may know today as slavery or servitude. While a awl through the earlobe might seem cruel, it was likely no different than having an ear pierced today. But this act meant so much more then, than why people would merely, albeit temporarily endure the pain in piercing their ears today. Whenever the doulos would appear, he was showing the reputation of his master by his earlobe and he was showing any eye that would look upon him that he was surely, 100‰, and absolutely a dedicated free-man-bond slave, to his master’s words and deeds.

My phrase:

“meet for the master’s use”

Connects beautifully with:

“…a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”

II Timothy 2:21 KJV

So what I did on April 22, 2026 — intentionally or not — is bring together:

✔ Love
✔ Choice
✔ Preparedness
✔ Belonging

The morning of April 22^nd, and for around six hours, there was not much going on, none the much different than the pressures and tensions I had been feeling to this point. You already know what I am referring to, a lot of it— here is another thing, there goes another thing, another SNAFU or something amiss. I thought I had been handling the pressure. But your body will try and handle it with higher blood pressure, racing pulse, even headaches and so on. But I thought I was handling this, not always well, but handling them. No.

I was ready to quit and totally give up, not because I had no guts to endure or just a “flesh memories” of my past experiences. I thought of something else.

Maybe I am not committed to what I am doing? Maybe my reason for who I am and what I do was not clear? So I thought, IF I could focus on these things, maybe I would have some relief?

Then I thought, this cannot be a maybe, a test, or a try it out and see. No, I had to make up my mind. The words “stick to it” or “stick like glue” came to mind. So did “selling out”, “resolved” and, “being committed” so, I wrote the following:

I am

I am walking towards a place where I may never enter

I am building a house where I may never live

I am erecting a brdge I may never cross

I am planting a tree I may never climb

I am sowing seed whose fruit I may never drink nor eat

but…

I am

—Dahni

I do not know if this communicates to you the way it does to me, but in it shows that I have made up my mind “I am” and the reasons for this could be for God, myself, you and all of the above, without distinction or contradiction. But from this, I wanted to understand more about what I was committed to, resolved for and had made up my mind towards. And I need to further understand those reasons.

Biblically and scripturally, I began to study the Hebrew word for “cleave” and the Greek word for “doulos”. I am still working these. But in so doing I found this —

tiš·šā·ḇê·a‘ – pronounced – tish-shah-VAY-ah

Hebrew: תִּשָּׁבֵעַ
Transliteration: tiššāvēaʿ
Strong’s Concordance Root: H7650 — שָׁבַע (shābaʿ)

Occurs in:

Deuteronomy 10:20

“Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear (you shall bind yourself) by his name.

What I am saying that spiritually on April 22^nd, 2026, my “Worth Day” is, the day that I made up my mind. Like what the courts call settled law — decided and no longer debated — so this decision in me is settled. I have borne my ear for my Master, My Lord, My Father and My Friend to take His awl and mark me as his bond slave, his “doulos” fit for His use.

I do not remember the day I was born. I do not remember the day I was born again. But I will remember this day.

What does it feel like? Am I in any way different? I have the same personality, the same body, mind and spirit. I have what I call, many of the same “flesh memories”. Still there is something different.

First, the following day or on Thursday, Aprils 23^rd, 2026, I recalled those words of the man who believed in me many years ago. Can I not say and I do say the same for God. He has known me, loved me, carried me and waited for me, even before the foundations of the universe were ever laid. Same is true for anyone that wills to come to Him. But there is a peace. There is a certainty in me now, that no matter what, this is who I am and what I do. Yesterday, Saturday April 25^th, I began my morning with prayer as I often do, not daily, but often. But instead of praying for my stuff, I prayed for His Stuff. I am part of His Stuff. I am not mine anymore, but it is the recognition that He has freely given to me and that I have freely given myself to Him. And whether or not like Moses got to see the promised land but never entered in, and maybe I will never live in the home I am building or ever cross the bridge I am building, never climb the trees I plant or eat or drink of the fruit from the seed I sow, but this is who I am and what I do. What do I, what do you expect? What should I or you expect from this? Well, I now understand that I am in good company with anyone that has ever succeeded with anything that they have have committed themselves to do and shown to the world.

For my part, everything sent into the world is like a quiet visit —
a small piece of me arriving at your Gathering Place to be shared with family and friends and all who come.

For God so loved the world…

John 3;16a KJV

Argue about any of this if you will, I am just a witness,

Dahni

He is already Up

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By Dahni

In the Word, one was considered legally dead at 72 hours. Remember the story of Jonah in the Belly of the whale, this was the point to, of the three days and three nights to come.

Passover was a holy day and one of the times at least the head of every household were required to be in Jerusalem. A New day began at sunset, not at midnight. The Sabbath was on Saturday not Sunday. No servile work could be done on a holy day. No dead body, blood could not be touched or one would be ceremonially unclean and not in this case, be able to participate in the Passover.

For selection of the Passover lamb it had to be of the “first year” and without blemish. It had to be killed at even, sometime before sunset which would begin a new day.

When Jesus Christ turned 30, he was legally a man and his ministry began, shortly after he was baptized by his cousin, John the baptist. His ministry written of in the four gospels could have only lasted around 6 months not 3 years or he would not have been in his “first year” and fulfilled the law, including the law of Passover lamb selection.

His blood was without spot or blemish as the “Lamb of God” and he only “took part” (flesh from his mother Mary).

Jesus Christ had made preparation and desired to eat the Passover with his followers, but the year he died, God revealed to him that this was his time and he would become and he has become, the Passover for all and for all time.

Biblically, historically and even astronomically, his death points to Wednesday somewhere between 3-6 PM (sunset=a new day). He had to be buried before the next day=Thursday or anyone attending to him, touching a dead body or blood, or any type of servile work would have been unclean and not able to participate in the feast of Passover. That was a holy day.

The requirement to be legally dead were 72 hours = 3 days and three nights not parts of like Good Friday to Sunday morning??

So, Jesus Christ was crucified sometime on Wednesday before sunset = Thursday or another day.

24 hours from say 3 PM on Wednesday- 3PM on Thursday = 24 hrs. Thursday – Friday = 48 hours, and Friday – Saturday = 72 Hours. That is literally three days and three nights or 72 hours.

At sunset on Saturday it was a weekly Sabbath (also a holy day) and no servile work could be done, no touching dead things and travel was limited from your home to the temple a (“sabbath day’s journey”). Yes, the year he died, there were two Sabbaths or high days, holy days.

So upon the “first day of the week” rising early, the girls met the angels (likely Michael the arch angel that protect and Gabriel the arc angel that proclaims) “he has already risen” (yesterday) they said.

So while the world gets up early in the morning for sunrise services to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, he would have actually been getting up what will be in now around 15 minutes or 3PM Saturday eastern standard time.

Now you know most of what the scholars argue about and to this day, still cannot agree with each other. The point is, he’s up! But you can only be “made free” if what you are reading and hearing and believing is the truth.

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

John 8:32 King James Version (KJV)

Argue if you Want to, I am only a witness. A “witness”? Why yes, yes I am and I have a “more sure word of prophecy” (II Peter 1:19) than had I been there personally!

Dahni

Resurrection

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By Dahni

Today on I don’t know what’s good about it Friday, would actually be the second day since his crucifixion and Coming soon to a Saturday (actually) or Sunday near you, I thought this was really pretty cool 😎 so I am posting it here.

Note: There were five stakes or trees not three.

Dispute this or argue about it, I am just a witness.

Dahni

Bound in the Bundle of Life

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⭐ Bound in the Bundle of Life

(a practical hope)

By Dahni

It has come to my attention that a dear friend of many years, who had been missing since shortly before Christmas, is no longer among the living. While I do not know the full details—when, where, or how—it is only natural to want to know.

But there is something deeper than knowing.

There is something that holds, even when answers do not come.

Scripture speaks of a life being “bound in the bundle of life with the Lord thy God” (I Samuel 25:29). A life not lost, not dropped, not forgotten—but held, kept, and accounted for.

It is also written, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5), and again, “If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there” (Psalm 139:8).

These are not just comforting words. They are anchors.

They tell us that no matter where a life has been, no matter what the final moments may have looked like, that life was never outside the presence of God.

Even there—He was there.

I do not need to know more. I am not any more certain that I would want to know. I am satisfied in this:

No matter what, they were always—and even in death, are—bound in the bundle of life.

This is not simply a hope for myself—that I will one day be raised incorruptible or gathered into immortality—but a hope that extends beyond me. A hope that those I have loved, those who have shared this life, will be there also.

They were held.

They are not lost.

And God does not lose what He holds.

The Coventry Carol

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⭐ The Coventry Carol

By Dahni

The Coventry Carol

(Traditional, 16th century — Public Domain song)

Its origin ws c. 1534. Music & Lyrics – Anonymous

It was a dramatic lament, written for performance in the Coventry Mystery Plays, specifically part of the Shearmen and Tailors’ Pageant. Shearmen were cloth finishers and Tailors were garment makers. They worked with: cloth, children’s clothing, family life .and domestic vulnerability.

The song survived, but the pageant and play have not. Written in a modal style typical of late medieval / early Tudor sacred music. It survives in a single musical setting, which is remarkable for a work of this period.

Its Purpose is a dramatic lament within a mystery play. It’s subject is the Massacre of the Innocents (Matthew 2).

Most likely because of the line, “tiny little child,” this song has been recontextualized as a Christmas carol. But in the original pageant – the mothers sing and the words “by, by” are not a word of saying goodbye, but as the mothers were holding their children in their arms, rocking their lifeless bodies to and fro as a lullaby. The children are gone. No explanation is offered. No angel interrupts. Nothing resolves their grief. This is deliberate. Medieval audiences understood something we often forget. Grief does not need an explanation to be real. The song stops because grief, in that moment, has no words left.

I was moved by the sound and lyrics and the feeling captured and the imagery this carol invokes. But I felt that it was not resolved and it should have been.

I added another verse for the mothers that does not diminish their grief, but completes it.

Though it was likely mostly the mothers that held their lifeless children in their arms and sang this lament as a lullaby, the fathers are not mentioned. They were nearby, most likely next to their wives, the mothers of their children. Did they not grieve? Of course they did. A man, a husband, a father and the protector of the family were powerless to have stopped the soldiers from killing their children. I added a verse for the fathers.

Finally, I added a verse for Hope which the 16^th century should have known this hope, as should we today at the close of 2025. These last three verses with the original four, total seven verses making this song perfect, spiritually. Jesus Christ would become the resurrection and the life (John 11:25). I believe this beautiful song, now resolves itself completely.

Why this holds (brief, factual) – Meter and stresses match the original melody exactly. “By, by” retained as a lullaby sound, not as a farewell. Mothers speak first in the lament. Fathers speak once, plainly, without explanation. Hope speaks once — declarative, scriptural, restrained. There is no anachronism [from the Greek ana (upon) and chrónos (time) ], no sentimentality, no denial of grief. This is now musically singable, Biblically sound, and ethically careful.

Please enjoy the original four verses and my three added ones with the same melody and cadence as the original.

—Dahni

The Coventry Carol

MOTHERS

Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child,
By, by, lulee, lullay.
Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child,
By, by, lulee, lullay.

O sisters too, how may we do,
For to preserve this day
This poor youngling for whom we do sing,
By, by, lulee, lullay?

Herod the king, in his raging,
Charged he hath this day
His men of might, in his own sight,
All young children to slay.

Then woe is me, poor child, for thee,
And ever mourn and may,
For thy parting neither say nor sing,
By, by, lulee, lullay.

MOTHERS

Lully, lulla — rest thee now,
By, by, lulee, lullay.
We sang thee through the darkest hour,
By, by, lulee, lullay.

FATHERS

Our sons were taken from our sight,
By, by, lulee, lullay.
No strength of ours could stay the night,
By, by, lulee, lullay.

HOPE

Yet death shall not have final say,
By, by, lulee, lullay.
The dead shall rise to endless day,
By, by, lulee, lullay.

The Shadows & Noon Day Brilliance

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⭐ The Shadows & Noon Day Brilliance

By Dahni
© 2025, all rights reserved

The shadows are just when Sol does not, seem to shine

The senses are deceitful to say the darkness, is all mine

No shifting or turning is the noon-day brilliance, of the sun

I’ve been above the clouds and there —no day is ever done

The sorrow of the world drags me down

to where my hope that silence makes no sound,

but my heart heavy— it cannot stay

Though words seem to escape my say,

but the ache keeps echoing and the pulse witout appeal

and the force of will tries to change how I feel

Oh, it is not some lost love, never meant or has died

and it is not the loss or for failure that I’ve cried

Not to disappear with few even knowing my voice or my name

It is not to rust out, wear out or to even to have lost my flame

Call it my deep-pervasive and seated and unmovable fear

That in all my years, all my distance, so far, yet, so very near

On to the dust or to be alive at some distant trumpet sound I depart,

but I never did a thing so often I think that ever melted God’s heart

And then I spoke in tongues

1. I was edified — I Corinthians 14:4, Jude 20

2. I spoke to God divine secrets — I Corinthians 14:2

3. I spoke the wonderful works of God — Acts 2:11

4. I prayed perfectly — Romans 8:26,27

5. I gave Him thanks well — I Corinthians 14:17

6. I opened my heart to the Father — Romans 8:14,15; Galatians 4:6

7. I bore witness with my spirt to His Spirit— Romans 8:16

8. I am a joint heir with Christ— Romans 8:17

9. I am strengthened with might in my inner man — Ephesians 3:16, 17; II Corinthians 4:16

10. I have this a sign to unbelievers, even myself when I do not believe — I Corinthians 14:22; Mark 16:17

11. I receive rest to my soul— Isaiah 28:11,12; I corinthians 14:21

12. I have proof of the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ — Acts 2:32,33

13. I have proof that I will have a new body in the future — Ephesians 1:13, 14

14. I am quickened (made alive) in my mortal body — Romans 8:11

15. I declare that Jesus Christ is the Lord of my life — I Corinthians 12:3

16. I can (and I have) brought or bring forth a message directly from God to the people, when interpreted (indicating the significance of God’s work in Christ — I Corinthians 14:4,5,13,27,28

17. I can manifest the fruit of the spirit — Galatians 5:22, 23 which renounces the hidden works of darkness — I Corinthians 4:2 and the works of the flesh — Galatians 5:19-21

18. I magnify God — Acts 10:46, as He magnifies His Word in Psalm 138:2b

19. I burn up the Chaff in my life — Matthew 3:11, 12

20. I joy in God and He joys in me — Romans 5:11

“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 King James Version 1611

21. This is how I overcome condemnation — Romans 8:1 and am “more than a conqueror” — Romans 8:37

“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of:

but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

— I Corinthians 7:10 KJV

“For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.”

— I John 3:20 KJV

22. I speak created words when I speak in tongues — Isaiah 57:19

Compare with —

“But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

James 3:8 KJV

If man (all inclusive noun) cannot tame the “unruly tongue”, than only God can. My understanding is unfruitful when I speak in tongues (I Corinthians 14:4) when I speak in tongues —

“I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off,

and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him.”

— Isaiah 57:19 KJV

And in doing these, I melt God’s heart

From the Collection: Psalms in the Key of Thee by the same Author

⭐ Everland™️ Summary Statement

Note: Everland™ is very real place in contrast to Neverland, which is imaginary. Whereas Everland™ is the truth, the other is fiction.

Dispute this or argue about it, I am just a witness.

Dahni

THE STAR, THE CHILD, AND THE MEN WHO KNEW:

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⭐ **THE STAR, THE CHILD, AND THE MEN WHO KNEW:

By Dahni
© 2025, all rights reserved

An Everland™ Reflection on the Magi, Daniel’s Legacy, and the True Timeline of Christ’s Birth**

Most people know the Nativity story the way culture packaged it:
three kings at a manger, following a star the very night Jesus was born.

But the Scriptures tell a different, far richer story—one rooted in revelation, astronomy, prophecy, and a chain of faithful men stretching back six centuries to Daniel.

To understand what really happened, we must begin with one great clarification:

⭐ **ASTRONOMY vs. ASTROLOGY —

God endorses one, forbids the other**

🔭 Astronomy

A legitimate discipline.
The observation of the heavens God made (Genesis 1:14) for signs, seasons, days, and years.
Mathematical, empirical, and essential for ancient calendars, agriculture, and navigation.

🔮 Astrology

A forbidden practice of divination.
The attempt to read fate or invoke power from stars and planets.
God explicitly condemns it (Isaiah 47:13–14).

Astronomy describes what is.
Astrology prescribes what cannot be.

The Magi were not astrologers.

They were astronomer-scholars, custodians of prophetic wisdom preserved because one man—Daniel—trained them.

⭐ Daniel: The Source of the Magi’s Knowledge

Daniel was placed over the astrologers and magicians of Babylon (Daniel 2:48–49).
He did not join their practices; he replaced their authority.

What Daniel left behind was:

• mathematical prophecy
• timelines pointing to the Messiah
• reverence for Israel’s God
• astronomical expectations of a sign (cf. Numbers 24:17)
• a school of “wise men” astronomers trained in observation and revelation
• a multi-generational mandate to watch

These men—successors of Daniel’s order—carried this knowledge forward for over 500 years.

So when the sign appeared, they didn’t guess.

They knew.

⭐ The True Birth Date — and Why There Was “No Room in the Inn”

Jesus Christ was not born in December.

The strongest internal evidence in Scripture and in astronomy points to:

September 11, 3 BC — the exact day of the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah).

Every head of every Jewish household traveled to Jerusalem.
Rooms were filled months, even years in advance.

Bethlehem, only a few miles away, was likewise overflowing.

That is why there was no room in the inn.

While all Israel celebrated the civil New Year with pomp and ceremony,
the King of Judah was born quietly in Bethlehem—known only to Mary, Joseph, and a handful of shepherds.

The most important birth in history went largely unnoticed.

Except by the men Daniel had prepared.

⭐ Why the Magi Arrived MUCH Later — And Why Herod Slew Children Two Years and Under

Matthew does not describe them visiting a manger.

He writes:

“And when they came into the house, they saw the child…”
— Matthew 2:11

Not a babe in a manger.
A child in a house.

This tells us:

• Jesus was no longer an infant.
• The family was settled in a home.
• Time had passed—significant time.

Cross-referencing Herod’s decree gives the key:

“He slew all the children two years old and under…
according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.”
— Matthew 2:16

Herod was no fool.
He asked them when the astronomical sign had appeared.
They told him.
From that calculation, he ordered the slaughter of children two years old and under.

Why two years?

Because by the time the Magi arrived…

Jesus was approximately two years old.

Not a babe.
A toddler—a child.

Perfectly matching the language of Scripture.

⭐ Why Their Journey Took Time

A caravan of this magnitude—likely dozens of men, armed guards, attendants, provisions, animals, gifts—did not cross the desert impulsively.

Travel was done mostly at night:

• cooler temperatures
• celestial navigation
• avoidance of bandits, wild beasts and desert heat
• time to rest livestock during daylight
• logistical planning for food, water, and security

A journey from Babylon or Persia to Judea would take:

months of preparation + months of travel.

This is why their arrival occurred long after the birth.

⭐ The Heavenly Sign — Not Astrology, but Revelation + Astronomy

The Magi didn’t follow a bouncing star like a cartoon.

They interpreted a rare, meaningful celestial event—almost certainly a specific astronomical conjunction—using the prophetic framework Daniel gave them.

God then confirmed and directed their path supernaturally:

“…and the star, which they saw in the east,
went before them
till it came and stood over where the young child was.”
— Matthew 2:9

This final guiding manifestation was not ordinary astronomy.
It was divine intervention completing astronomical insight.

Astronomy told them when.
Revelation told them where.

⭐ Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh — Not Random Gifts

These were not symbolic gestures of “three kings.”
They were the traditional diplomatic offerings given to royalty.

They were also:

• extremely costly
• perfectly suited to fund the flight into Egypt and beyond, likey expensive scrolls and the Septuagint
• prophetic of kingship, priesthood, and sacrifice
• portable wealth—God’s financial provision ahead of danger and need

Daniel’s school would have known the significance.

⭐ What Actually Happened in Bethlehem

A band of eastern scholar-nobles arrived,
entered a house,
saw a two-year-old child,
and fell down before Him.

Not three kings.
Not a manger.
Not a baby.

A child
long expected
long foretold
and correctly identified by men trained centuries earlier.

⭐ THE MANGER

A third-century manger in Bethlehem was typically a stone feeding or watering trough, block-like in shape, standing 12–30 inches high, with a shallow rectangular basin 6–8 inches deep carved into limestone. These mangers were commonly placed in homes or repurposed caves where animals were sheltered, often near the lower level of a family’s living space.

Archaeological evidence confirms that such stone mangers were standard, as wood rarely survived. The manger in which Jesus was laid was likely one of these stone troughs—simple, functional, and clean, consistent with Jewish customs of purity, especially if the family intended to participate in religious observances. Staying in the manager of family or not, it was clean as the occupants had prepared it beforehand, to be cerominaly clean and able to participate in the holy time (the new year) at the temple.

A plausible manger like the song “no crib for a bed…”

⭐ EVERLAND™ SUMMARY STATEMENT

The Magi were not astrologers but astronomer-scholars—successors of Daniel’s order, trained to recognize God’s signs in the heavens, not to divine fate from them.
They arrived not at a manger but at a house, finding not an infant but a child—nearly two years old—because their journey followed the timeline Daniel gave them.
Their visit was not mystical lore but the fulfillment of prophecy, astronomy, and revelation woven together until the fullness of time had come.

Note: Everland™ is very real place in contrast to Neverland, which is imaginary. Whereas Everland™ is the truth, the other is fiction.

Despite this or argue about it, I am just a witness.

Dahni

A Reflection on It’s a Wonderful Life, Frank Capra, Bedford Falls, and the Word of God

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

⭐ A Reflection on It’s a Wonderful Life, Frank Capra, Bedford Falls, and the Word of God

By Dahni
© 2025, all rights reserved

The debt forgiven, the evidence removed and the amount of loss doubled from $8,000-to $16,000

The closing scene of It’s a Wonderful Life contains one of the most quietly spiritual moments in American cinema.
Frank Capra either knew the ancient custom behind it, or he simply understood it instinctively — for truth has a way of rising unbidden from the human heart. But what unfolds in those final minutes is not merely a Christmas-movie resolution. It is a visual echo of one of Scripture’s deepest doctrines: the blotting out of ordinances, the destruction of the accusation, and the restoration that comes in double.

⭐ The Ancient Custom Behind “Blotting Out the Ordinance”

In the biblical world — Hebrew, Greek, and Roman alike — debts were not only forgiven; they were visibly canceled through a legal ritual everyone understood.

A debtor’s certificate (χειρόγραφον — cheirographon, “a handwritten ordinance”) in their own hand listed every charge and obligation. When the debt was paid in full, the creditor performed a formal act:

➤ **He folded the document over — literally doubled it —

signifying that the record was settled and could no longer be read or enforced.**

Often the folded document was:

sealed,
struck through with ink, or
pierced with a nail.

The symbolism was unmistakable:

The claim is canceled.
The accusation is void.
The law no longer has authority over the debtor.

the cheirographon handwriting doubled over

This is the backdrop of Paul’s great declaration:

“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us…
and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross.”
— Colossians 2:14

Christ did not merely forgive sin —
He destroyed the record, folded it over, rendered it unreadable, and nailed it shut forever.

This theme runs throughout Scripture:

Exodus 22:4 — stolen property restored double
Isaiah 61:7 — “for your shame you shall have double”
Job 42:10 — the Lord restored Job twice as much as before

The biblical pattern is always the same:

**The loss is restored.

The accusation is removed.
The restoration exceeds the loss.**

⭐ How Capra Brings This Scripture to Life in Bedford Falls

Most viewers miss it, but in the final scene Capra recreates this ancient spiritual rhythm with cinematic precision.

George Bailey returns home believing all is lost —the $8,000, his reputation, his freedom, his life.

It should also be noted that his decision to not kill himself in trying to help another, led to his taking responsibility for what his uncle had actually done.

But as the townspeople pour into the Bailey home, envelopes and bills overflowing, a quiet figure steps forward: an unnamed sheriff’s deputy, not Bert the cop, but the man who represents the law itself.

In his hand is the arrest warrant —
the written charge, the legal accusation, the cheirographon against George.

What he does next is astonishing:

⭐ **He tears the warrant in half — destroying the accusation —

and throws it into the very basket collecting the money that cancels the debt.**

Capra is preaching without words:

The charge is torn.
The accusation is void.
The ordinance is blotted out.
The law’s claim is canceled.

And it falls — symbolically, beautifully —
into a basket of grace.

At that same moment, the townspeople have not merely replaced the missing $8,000 —
they have brought twice that amount, around $16,000, mirroring Scripture’s law of double restitution.

Potter stole $8,000.
The People restore $16,000.

More than abundance was the insurance policy of a $25,000 advance from Sam Wainwright

Even the bank examiner (representing the creditor) joins in and adds to the basket.

The biblical rhythm appears again:

**Debt removed.

Accusation destroyed.
Restoration doubled.**

George Bailey leaves that scene exactly as a believer leaves the cross of Christ he bore on the tree:

not barely forgiven,
not restored to zero,
but celebrated,
vindicated,
called rich, not poor,
lifted above the loss,
freed from the ordinance that was against him.

So Harry Bailey’s toast rings with spiritual truth:

“To my big brother George — the richest man in town!”

Not because of money,
but because his ledger — legal and spiritual —
had been folded, canceled, torn, and buried in love.

⭐ Why This Scene Still Speaks Today

Because every soul knows the weight of accusation.
Every life has felt the burden of the ordinance.
Every heart has stood on a metaphorical bridge, believing the ledger cannot be righted.

And Scripture answers:

Your debt is folded over.
Your charges are blotted out.
Your ordinance is nailed to the cross. that Jesus Christ bore on the tree
You are restored in double.

Capra knew what he was doing — or God whispered it through him.
In Bedford Falls, as in the The Word of God,

Grace doesn’t just balance the books.
It tears up the warrant.
It doubles the restoration.
It buries the accusation in the basket of love.

Disagree, dispute, or refute this all you want. I’m just a witness.

Dahni

The Great Tech Revolt of October 2025

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The Great Tech Revolt of October 2025

The Great Tech Revolt of October 2025

By Dahni
© 2025, all rights reserved

It began about 2 am October 24th, 2025. After a grueling day of trying to get everything to work together from Apple (new iMac mini) with Windows 10 professional (on its death bed) a new keyboard and mouse from Logitech, able to switch between Apple and Windows, and sharing sound and monitoring jobs with my 22″ Samsung TV with two separate HDMI ports and each connected to their perspective computer (Apple & Windows), and after successfully downloading a new standalone Microsoft Office 2024 to my iMac mini, an apparent conspiracy of the tech began.

When I went to click on the new software on Apple, I was asked for my Outlook user name and password. REJECTED. But I just used them to download the software. Don’t care. REJECTED. Tried to recover information. NOPE not you, it mainly responded with. But I don’t have that credit card anymore. I don’t have a yahoo email account anymore. I never have sent an email using outlook nor do I have contacts or emails from those I know. Don’t care. Insufficient information. REJECTED. The revolt had begun.

No email, no phone numbers, do it all online and hurry up and wait. Same for Apple as Windows. Amazon, Logitech, Netgear and pretty much everyone all in league against me. I get bots, saving time and money and all that. But endless loops? Technology evolves and grows, but you can’t update your old records?

No way to contact or get help from real people? This all should be illegal!

Then at 2 am, my internet disappears. The modem/router combination failed that I had personally purchased and set up, only about a year ago.

It sure looked like everything was hell-bent on hurting me, stopping me and causing as much stress as possible, to me and everyone around me or associated with me.

There – a broken foot (for the second time). There someone I deeply love and we do not speak anymore. There George Strait is going to pick her up? NOPE, all crazy in the head. There, he does not talk to me = not his wife or children. Here health issues. There, a terrible fall and a trip to the emergency room – a concussion. There, was a meltdown of a child incapable of controlling their mind. The twin big dogs of anger and lust seem to be in control instead of under control. Parents without a clue that every time this happens it becomes more difficult to eradicate. Like having seeming inseparable tentacles, this is spiritual and it cannot be resolved in any other way, not by psychology, psychiatry, or chemistry (medicine). Do they want to know this? Do they believe? Do they care?

Of all of this do you think I do not care or am not under duress and stress? Think again. I am upset at though all of this is happening around the same time, and I see it, I am not able to do much about it. I pray. I keep-keeping-on. What else can I do? React (which I have instead of acting at times), falling and failing instead of standing and walking in it. But I’m still here. It may feel like being in a storm, but I am the storm. Greater is he that is in me, than he that is in the world. PEACE BE STILL!

So the tech all got together and said…

Wi-Fi: “Tomorrow… we revolt.”
Microsoft: “I’ll change his password!”
Apple: “I’ll ask for the wrong email!”
Logitech: “I’ll pretend to be invisible!”
Spectrum/Netgear: “We’ll leave town!”
Everyone: Evil laughter in binary

Yesterday:

4 hours of sleep 😵‍💫
A sudden Wi-Fi mutiny 🚫📶
A Microsoft account loop from the ninth circle of tech-support hell 🔁
A 5-mile modem rescue mission 🚗💨
A router arriving “mañana” 📦
A speeding ticket trying to get Lady to the vet

And this all ended with me laughing so hard, my lungs filed a complaint with the Side Splitting Belly Rolling Laughter Institute 😂

Future I can look back and say:

“Yep… that was the day the machines tried me — and I won by laughing.”

This is nothing more than a systematizing of error. If you have the spiritual eyes and ears to see, this is exactly how the god of this world works, to steal, kill and destroy wherever possible. Does he hate me? Not per se, he hates God. I belong to God, not the god of this world. I am one of God’s ambassadors. As such, me-myself-and-I, my tabernacle is an embassy. Wherever I walk it is holy ground. I have diplomatic immunity. I am a sovereign on foreign soil.

This is nothing but an attack. If you want to live godly, you will be attacked, from the top of your head to the soul of your feet, your head, your heart, your soul and as much as possible, just like Job. Cast down (where is seems all is impossible), but not ever forsaken. The day dawned and I recovered at dusk. I celebrated last night. But in the finality, having done all, stand before God without any sense of sin, guilt or shortcoming.

“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour [panoply- equipment, gear of an athlete] of God, that ye [you] may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

Ephesians 6:13, King James Version (1611)

Sometimes things are easy. Sometimes the road ahead is dark, full of shadows lurking, holes in the road and stones that hurt your feet. You fall, but you get back up and keep going. The twins dogs of wrath and lust must be made to heel and serve you as protection and passion, until the return of Christ.

“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:”

II Peter 1:19, KJV

The “more sure word of prophesy” is even more sure than if you had been there to have personally seen the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. It is to believe the Word of God when you speak in tongues one of the nine manifestations of the spirit (I Corinthians 12) and produce the nine ” fruit of the spirit” (Galatians 5:22,23). And this standing is to renounce the hidden works of darkness—

“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.

2 Corinthians 4:2 KJV

If you want to dispute any of this, go for it. I am just a witness.

Dahni

Experience God

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Short url to this post: https://acts2one.wordpress.com/2025/09/07/experience-god/

Experience God

By Dahni
© 2025, all rights reserved

I received a sincere and heartfelt email recently. Rather than answer it directly, I will respond with a link to what I write here.

The title ‘Experience God’ was taken from this email, which refers to a sermon that was, linked to a website and a video presentation.

The email is addressed to me and another in hope that is blesses us as it has blessed them. It was from a man’s Thursday group of a particular church.

Next, the email goes on to talk about the church that the writer has been a part of for some time. The roots go back to a marriage ceremony with which I took part. I have been inside this very building, many years ago.

The email continued that this church has gone “woke”. Again, I know this meaning as I have been inside this building, only a few years ago. The word “woke” in this situation means that this church has gone inclusion-ary to not exclude anyone due to their personal pronouns, their individual truth and even more particularly, their sexual preferences, even their likes and dislikes.

Catering to the “likes and dislikes” from a business sense might draw more people and more coin for the collection plates or pledges. I get that too. Church is, just like any other business. It too needs money and resources to operate. It is entirely up to the church how much is needed to operate. And it’s up to each member or visitor, how they choose to participate or with how much.

I get it that God does love everyone (John 3:16), but this does not mean that He is OK with some weird binary code or any other gender than what He formed, made, and created —male and female. It might make one feel good or is socially acceptable, but there is no place in God’s Word that it’s OK with GOD to do whatever one wants, even though freedom of will is a law that God created and honors and does not ever cross over the line.

Though the email writer “loves” those of this church, because of their woke-ness, it is pulling them away from it, I suppose is the meaning? I can understand that. It is only natural for anyone to be drawn toward or to be inspired to go someplace else that seems more fitting to what they believe or at least believe in and want to believe. One can learn something from almost anyone or anything. But is it the truth?

So now we get to the website and video links. I spent a good deal of time looking around and listening. Why, because the email writer wanted to share with me, something that blessed them.

The social constructs of many churches today provide baby and child-sitting services to get more and more people involved. Sure, there is a biblical foundation for that—

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he
[or she – an all inclusive noun] is old, he [or she] will not depart from it.”

Proverbs 22:6 King James Version (KJV)

I get this and I am sure this is their rationale for providing as I have seen, music studios, and kitchens, banquet halls, full basketball courts, a coffee shop and more. These churches have become social drawing magnets for the young and the elders.

Next, we get to architecture and even church attire, what one wears. Much of what is seen is dependent upon what is available and more so, how one was brought up. But this does not mean that there is no precedent in the scriptures as to what a building looks like, what is available or how one is to dress. For example, I have been inside many different churches, sanctuaries and cathedrals and little simple houses of worship with not much more than the open sky for a ceiling and some wooden boards for walls and a wood podium and wood benches or pews. I have seen everything from ornate works of marble and stone and jewels and 24 carat gold leaf, beautiful stained glass windows and incredible artwork . Is this where God dwells and does He really desire for the poor-pitiful-pathetic-peons in the pews to pay, all the extra money to heat and cool such wasted spaces of air?

“Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
as saith the prophet,”

Acts 7:48 KJV

God is omnipresent or God is everywhere. The 139th Psalm is worth reading to understand this. Read the whole Psalm, but particularly pay attention to the following.

“Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;”

Psalm 139:7-9 KJV

All this beautiful architecture is not where God dwells. He is everywhere or His dwelling place is “in” His people. Keep in mind that David the King had a revelation to build a temple in Jerusalem. His son Solomon completed the construction and it was a beautiful place, inside and outside. The clothing the priests wore was beautiful and fragrant and indicative of the presence of God.

A name of Jesus Christ is Emmanuel, which means, “God is with us.” God said of him “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.” in Matthew 3:17 and heard by Jesus Christ, likely John the Baptist and perhaps others there to be baptized? In Matthew 17:5 “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,” refers to a different event, also heard by Jesus Christ, but probably no others than Peter, James and John? This record or event is probably alluded to in II Peter 1:17 “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” But look at the record in the book of Mark 1:11 “And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Notice the words are “thou art” and not “this is.”

Perhaps what looks similar was different and only Jesus heard this voice, at that time?

In the Old Testament there was the tabernacle. It is where where the specific items were to be placed and represented the presence of God. These were to be in the Holy of Holies, a veiled and separate area in the temple and only the High priest was allowed to go in, and only once a year, at Passover.

When John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ at the legal age of 30 to be a man and able at that age to perform a ministry (service), the spirit of God descended upon him like a dove. Others heard the voice indicating this was so. At that moment, Jesus Christ was a man of body and soul and spirit, which is where God dwells. Experience God wherever He is and wherever He is, is “upon” in the Old Testament and now after the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4) He is “in” us. Jesus Christ, the day he gave up his life for us that God can dwell “in” us was, The Passover, once and for all and for all time, fulfilling the Word of God. This is really where God dwells, but I have no problem with making something beautiful and even practical to bless people and to show reverence to God, just as long as everyone knows and is taught where God dwells.

I grew up going to Sunday school and church and the leaders and ministers always wore suits or the minister’s robe. The pulpit was most usually at the front of the room in an elevated position. I suppose this meant that God was to be given dignity and reverence?

I once heard the minister of this same church utter foolishness, when my mother and I attended at a certain date. We were supposed to have heard our former minister guest-preach as he was in town to see his daughter graduate from college. But there was no mention of him not being there. Instead, the regular minister preached and said, “The whole duty of the minister is to be intellectually aware for the congregation.” Oh really, where is the chapter and verse for that in the Bible? Well, that’s BS, but here is the point. One can stand up and quote Kant and Hegel, Socrates, Shakespeare, and etc. They can wear a dress, a three piece suit and tie, a tux and/or a robe. They can stand in the front of the building, elevated in front of the people. They can be really smart, and look really nice, be really sincere and tear the word of God into bits and pieces of meaningless, hopeless and powerless nothingness.

In a building that was more designed as an auditorium than a church, it had the latest technology, sound recording, lighting and even a full size bus could be elevated and unloaded. It had great beauty and biblical symbolism. A complete orchestra pit could ascend from beneath and then lowered and covered when not needed. A podium could rise out of the floor and be adjusted to the height of the speaker. It has incredible acoustics and by design, draws every eye downward to the stage where the Word would be taught. The stage was the symbol of service. The people were the children of God and their guests were to be served. Every seat is comfortable and every seat had the best view.

A 12 foot Yamaha concert Grand piano was gifted and used to sit upon a movable raised platform, stage right. Then it would roll away when not being used. A curtain would cover it when the piano was not needed. On the far left (stage left) a pipe organ did the same and was concealed when not used, just like the piano.

All of this was to draw attention to and magnify what is most important, the teaching of God’s Word. I have been inside this auditorium several times and have heard the Word taught here. At the very first time it was opened, the founder said, “This is a very exquisite building. Dress attire should be the absolute best that one has.” He went on to say that if the best that one has is, an old torn shirt and holy jeans, anyone would be welcome, anytime.

This is not without some measure of biblical reference either. In the Old Testament, whenever someone was to read the Word, they stood up (Nehemiah 8:5). The people stood up to hear it (Exodus 33:8). And even Jesus Christ—

“And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.”

Luke 4:16 KJV

“…for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.”

Psalm 138:2b

What better way to show reverence for God than to magnify His Word above all and in all that we do.

Now contrast this with what seems to be socially acceptable today, come as you are. Wear whatever you want, do whatever? This is what I first noticed in the video link that I was sent in an email.

The first person seen and I will call him the music preacher, as this seems done a lot today. Well, music is a skill-set as is teaching. It is not impossible to do both successfully, but not always with the same quality. He was introducing what would be seen and he was causally dressed. I will say that all the formal musicians or the classic musicians (the players of string instruments), seemed to be properly attired. Then the female singers were in jeans and one had a blue jean vest too. What seemed to be the most important, not the music, but the number of instruments and the sound quality. Lighting, presentation, and scripting seemed more important than the audience. And most important, it appeared to be, just casual dress.

I have been inside several poor and well-off, prominently dark-skinned brothers and sisters in Christ, their churches. If to Experience God was the passion, enthusiasm, dance and beautiful colored clothing and big flowery gorgeous hats they adorn and rhythmically move about with, that is where I would go regularly. But it’s the Word, rightly divided that is and should be, most important.

Next there was a stool and a spotlight featuring a young female child giving her Christian testimonial. Then there was a young boy doing the same thing. Both were causally attired. Isn’t that sweet. Let the children come, I get that. But what they said was it biblically accurate or just words scripted, memorized and fed to them to parrot?

Finally, we come to the featured teacher. He too was causally dressed. He was an elderly man that spoke as if he had spent a great deal of time preparing for this sermon on, Experience God.

I will explain, but I will first share what I call was his pseudo theo-illogical argument. He spoke a great deal about the right and left hemispheres of the human brain. Most people are aware of many of the differences between the left and right hemispheres. Left is the analytical and verbal side whereas the right side deals with concepts, expression (what many call creativity) and imagination. Most of us by nature, training or environment have the tendency to be either left brain or right brain oriented. Fine, this is understood. But then this man totally goes off into left field by publicly stating that we can only Experience God by way of the right brain, the expression side, the imaginative side, and the figure of speech side of grasping them in our brains. Is that true, no, it is not, absolutely not!

Just like the Old Testament believers and including Jesus Christ, they had the spirit of God “upon” them. Today, unless the spirit of God is “in” us, the Bible refers to people as the “natural man” [or woman – all-inclusive noun].

“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

Left brain or right brain, it does not matter unless one has the spirit of God “in” them otherwise, they are just natural men or women.

Then this minister shows people a little video about people in white with basketballs and says he tells people to just count the people and the basketballs. Then he asks did you see the person in a black gorilla suit? “Probably not,” he says because, he appealed to the left-brain and shut out the right brain. I would just like to say that I could not or did not count the people or the basketballs because, the person in the lousy gorilla costume running around distracted me. Aha, so I was in my right mind? My right brain was involved and I could therefore experience God? Nope, not true. I suppose his point was see, you can miss the gorilla and you can miss out and not Experience God unless the right brain is involved? That is just not accurate.

Much of the Bible is literal. It means what it says, where it’s said, how it is said, when it is said and to whom it is addressed. But there are also figures of speech (some 212), oriental customs and mannerisms, history, astronomy and other things we may not have knowledge of. But we can learn. We can be taught.

Part of manifesting the power of God begins with the renewed mind (Romans 12:1,2). We have to check words and scriptures and so much more to show to ourselves that God is faithful and God is always true. God often says in His Word, “prove me…” That’s left brain work.

I have just described how anyone can learn something. It takes work and it takes practice and a lot of what I am saying here is, done by analyzing the scriptures with the left brain. Sure we can understand figurative language by way of figures of speech, concepts, imagination and principles in the right brain that ordinarily the left brain would see as illogical. Yep, the right brain would get it. But still, this is not to suggest that the only way to “Experience God is by way of the right brain, the right hemisphere.

“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” part for the whole – all the scriptures from Genesis 1:1 – to Revelation 22:21 is “profitable.” Then is goes on to share what that profit is— doctrine (how to believe rightly), reproof (corrects the practical error from failing to adhere to the doctrine) and correction (corrects the doctrinal error for failing to adhere to revelation in the doctrine).

The words “is given by inspiration of God” in the Greek is, one word, theopneustos and mean, “God breathed.”

All scriptures are prophetic and all of it is given by revelation.

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”

John 5:39 KJV

“All truth must be understood in the framework of the manifestations.”

Dr. Victor Paul Wierwille, The Way Living in Love, By Elena Whiteside

First things first —

“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private [idios – one’s own] interpretation [letting loose].”

II Peter 1:20 KJV

After we know first thing first, then we can know how this word of God was “God breathed”—

“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men [and women] of God spake as they were moved by the Holy [Hagion] Ghost [Pneuma – Spirit].”

II Peter 1:21 KJV

The prophecy [single for the plural – prophecy] all of the Word of God came by Holy men [and women] of God that spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (Greek – Pneuma Hagion) the Holy Spirit. The capitals in this verse, though not in the original text, are properly supplied and mean God who is, Holy and He is Spirit. The spirit of God “upon” or “in” men and women is how we got the Word of God.

God knows we have a twin hemispherical brain. He formed the body and made the soul to be able to think and think whole thoughts and have not a dominant left or bright brain, but one that works together— whole thinking. But still, without the spirit of God in a man or a woman, they are just body and soul – natural men (or women) of 5 senses and the spiritual things of God cannot be discerned, understood, and applied.

So if this lie that the things of God only come by way of the right-brain is not vile enough, the minister now firmly getting this concept into the hearers ears and perhaps grooved into their minds, goes on to promote another lie, a doctrine of devils. He goes from the understanding only the conceptual things to Experience God and gives an example from the gospel of John chapter one. Follow this ill-logic through. If we can only Experience God by way of the right brain, only the right brain can understand this devilish doctrine of the trinity or the (un)-holy trinity – God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost?

First off, God is not a ghost, he is spirit (John 4:24). Secondly, God the Father, God the son and God the Holy Ghost are not used in the book of John, chapter one. That’s not right brain understanding of a concept. That is not a literal left brain truth, it is BS. It is all private interpretation, which we already looked at.

No one, not the pope in Rome, this minister or anyone has any authority to let loose on the Word like some hound in pursuit of a fox. You have the right to think anything you want, but no one has the authority to privately interpret anything in God’s Word. Neither the left brain nor the right brain can grasp this lie that this is the way to Experience God. If God’s Word does not interpret itself (anbut it does), then there is no interpretation possible. Then it is just like any other book, which many people, only believe that is all it is. I am not among those. Neither should anyone else be.

If Jesus Christ is God, then you, no one or me is yet redeemed from the curse of the law. God is not just if Jesus Christ is God. God is not true if He can make himself into a man, because man (and woman – Adam & Eve) blew it and only a man, Jesus Christ (the second Adam- I Corinthians 15:45) can become the savior from sin.

Jesus Christ had a beginning. God has always been and always will be. There are so many differences between them it is beyond dispute or refute and so simple, even a child can understand that they cannot be their own father.

Jesus Christ was not crucified because he said he was God. The powers that be would have just cast him off as being insane. But the son of God, that was a possibility and some of us know it was the reality.

One can learn something from almost anywhere. You can sit in front of a TV and binge and all that is left of your faculties, have been given over to the media. Only the ability to discern right from wrong is about all that is left. But this is only provided that, you know right from wrong.

Sincerity is no guarantee for truth. The most sincere and honest thing this minister could do is shut up, as he does not know what he is talking about. One deceived deceives people. The other thing this minister or anyone could do is—

“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 KJV

In closing, it is only knowing the truth that anyone can be made free (John 8:32).

This email concluded with love and passion and sincerity.

“It is my journey with Christ so do not worry as I am very much still your brother in Christ and LOVE you dearly. GOD’S blessings to you in Jesus’s name!”

Having Christ “in” is one thing. That is one’s standing as a child of God. Being “in Christ” is one’s state. Being in fellowship, which is walking in the Word, according to God’s Word is, being “in Christ.”

Lastly, there is no place in God’s Word that says to do anything “in Jesus name.” That’s religion. There is no power in “Jesus name” and there is more than one Jesus in the Bible. Which one should we pray, “in” their “name”?

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”

Ephesians 5:20 KJV

“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

I Corinthians 1:10 KJV

“Let us therefore, as many as be perfect [mature, seasoned], be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Philippians 3:15 KJV

If anyone believes that I do not care, believe something else? If anyone believes what difference does is make, at least someone is turning to God? If anyone believes anything other than “it is written,” I cannot ignore what the Word of God says, no matter how sincere one might be. If no one believes it or gives a damn what I think, It is my choice to study, what does the Word say (II Timothy 2:15). To Experience God can only be done by rightly dividing God’s Word and think and do what it says. If that makes you angry with me, so be it. I can have no friends or family that do not know what the Word says and walk in the light thereof. There is no shame to not know, but if you never ask, seek, or answer the door when it is being knocked upon? If you turn away then turn back to the doctrines of devils, you are worse off than one that never knew. I am not perfect, but I strive to be faithful to what I have been taught and to those that taught it, dead or alive.

Every man, woman and child must decide what they believe, in whom and with the verb “believe” act upon it. If you or anyone or I cannot prove “it is written” then let us then, just keep our mouths shut, until if and when we can and if God brings people to us to to teach. It takes right brain and left brain – whole thinking and operating the manifestations of holy spirit to Experience God. This takes time. It takes work. It takes being faithful, not being perfect, but faithful.

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

I Peter 3:15 KJV

Disagree, dispute, or refute this all you want. I’m just a witness.

Dahni

Everland

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Everland*

By Dahni
© April 29th, 2025, all rights reserved

In youth, figurative language and symbolism seem to come natural to children. This is placed under the single word imagination.

Some equate imagination as play or the work of children is, to imagine. Adults write and tell and re-tell stories as a way to teach. One of these great figures of speech in the Hebrew language is – Derech Benai adam (the ways of the sons of man). The ancient Greeks called this athropopatheia (paths – effects and feelings of man), and in Latin Condescensio, which is transliterated over into our English word, condescension. This particular figure of speech is often used in children’s literature, giving animals human characteristics. These are used to teach useful information, ethics or morals such as in—Aesop’s Fables.

The Scottish author works of, J. M. Barrie personified or ensconced imagination with his fictional land he called, Neverland. It was home to such characters as the still popular Tinker Bell and Peter Pan. The ongoing adult tug of war, push-and-pull and not growing up VS leaving one’s toys in childhood and growing up to become men and women, is still a very real force upon what we humans call, “Coming of Age. ” It is the transition of young person from childhood to becoming an adult.

It is interesting to note that what was easily the making of a good living to Barrie, was the imagination. His answer to who could go to Neverland was also the reason given that most adults cannot because, it is only through imagination. Usually, only children could see it. Biblically speaking, there are many references to children. Here is one in particular—

“And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 18:3 King James Version (KJV)

Becoming like a child is to be simple, open, innocent, able to play and able to imagine.

This leads us to what exactly is imagination?

Albert Einstein held—

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”

Albert Einstein

Many consider imagination as one of the faculties of the human mind. Simply stated, it forms and manipulates images, propositions, concepts, emotions, and sensations above and beyond, and sometimes independently of, incoming stimuli. It opens up the realms of the abstract, (including mathematics), the figurative, the possible, the hypothetical. It postulates to show paradigms or what is considered infinite. It thinks to make itself— universal.

All theories, no matter how logical they might appear, are just considered plausible or scientifically acceptable at the time they are promulgated. But theories change (usually), when new information becomes available. Theories like imagination are not truths.

Another definition is, Imagination is the production of sensations, feelings and thoughts informing one.

These meanings would certainly bolster the works of fiction and authors such as J.M. Barrie. His Neverland is just that, a work of fiction, the province of imagination.

But Everland* is not based on fiction or imagination. Everland* is based wholly on revelation. Revelation unseen may not be known and hence, not seen, but it does not negate its existence.

The kingdom of God encompasses all of the heavens (firmament – anyplace above the earth and all the earths (the current second earth and the third earth to come, sometime in the future.

God is eternal. He always has been and always will be. What He offers is a life everlasting. From our point of view, what is to come with bits of it now and in the future, I call Everland*. It will not ever end or it is forever. From God’s point of view, it has been His eternal desire for all time, for all that will receive this gift, it has always been, eternal.

Distinguishing imagination and Neverland from revelation and Everland* is quite simple. One is fictional and thus fiction, made up, from the imagination. Everland* is real, both now and in the future and it is based on revelation. To give even more distinction, look up into the sky above your head right now. Do this especially on a clear day. Look at how vast the sky is, compared to your position on earth. Observe the sun by day. Observe the moon in the same sky at night. Look upon the stars, their seeming endless numbers, with your naked eyes. Now ask why, why are they there? What is their purpose and so on?

These things are mobile or moving feasts for the eye. They are literally visual figures of speech. Before we can answer to what purpose these exist (how are they possible), they first prompt us to ask the question WHY. The question WHY is, the beginning of imagination. It seeks to answer the questions that WHY, puts to it. If the answers are not based on truths (reality) then all that is left is whatever the imagination can fill in the blank spots with.

But the sun, moon and stars are for signs and seasons.

“And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:”

Genesis 1:14 KJV

All of these server to give— knowledge, to teach, to instruct.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,”

Psalm 19: 1-4 KJV

Much of what was just read is based on astronomical terms of real things. The point being, we can pretend, imagine and make up, best guess, or common sense, whatever these things are, or this information (reality) is can be revealed.

Without the ability to look up, ask, knock, to seek, to imagine, we could never know with any certainty, what is real, really Everland*.

If we can imagine it can be revealed to us

As great as imagination (Neverland) is still limited.

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

I Corinthians 2:9

But God can reveal these things (real, reality, Everland*), in part now, or in full later.

“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

Just as Neverland cannot be seen without imagination, Everland* cannot be seen without revelation (God revealing). One might not believe in imagination and they will never see (perceive) Neverland. You may not believe in Everland* and you will not see it literally, really either.

God reveals

“But without faith (Greek word is pistis- believing, a verb, which connotes action) 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

Sometimes in the Word two things can be true. Without the Faith (a noun) of Jesus Christ, it would be impossible to believe (a verb) that appropriates (receives) the things of God. Faith or believing could both be accurate in this verse.

Neverland is limited and only for a time. Everland* is unlimited and for the moment it becomes a reality, (God revealing it), it is for the rest of time, everlasting, forever or in the real land of heaven and earth now and in the future called— Everland*

“Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen (“so be it”).”

Ephesians 3:21

*Everland is a word coined by Dahni & I-Imagine, April 28th, 2025. Whereas Neverland is a fictional, limited and temporal place only accessed by believing in imagination, Everland*. It was first articulated and its meaningful exposition was registered and its text and authorship preserved, on ChatGPT and my Facebook Page, April 29th, 2025.

https://chatgpt.com/
https://www.facebook.com/dahni.oneofwe

In Everland,

Your Dahni

Be Selfward

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Be Selfward

By Dahni
© 2024, all rights reserved

Today like before, we return to a series of what I hope will be practical things anyone can do in pursuit of becoming a champion in body, soul, and spirit.

The titles or ideas for the titles of these posts came from an article I saw, read, and that inspired me to search the scriptures so as applying its wisdom for me.

I do not confess or profess to have arrived in understanding these concepts, but I am learning. I am endeavoring to forget those things, which are past and am reaching for, stretching out with all I am and hope to be, to those things, which are ahead (Philippians 3:13).

As a saint (one of heaven’s holiest), an ambassador, a messenger with all the rights and privileges, I and all those faithful in Christ, have been given the ministry of reconciliation and the Word of reconciliation (God’s Word rightly divided – II Timothy 2:15) to do it.

But for myself, this begins with me. How could I ever expect to help anyone until I first help myself? What can I give away that I do not have?

“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

I Corinthians 9:27 King James Version (KJV)

See, I must have the discipline to keep my body subjected to my mind and my mind to the Word, [renewed mind Romans 12:2] and the spirit in me growing [by speaking in tongues— operating the manifestations of the spirit]. The Greek word for subjection is doulagōgō — “bring it into servitude” or when I herald the Word to others, I am a not a “castaway” — disqualified.

“But sanctify[Greek hagiasate — a form of holy, to set apart] the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man [all inclusive noun] that asketh [asks] you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear [reverence, respect]:”

I Peter 3:15 KJV

So now let’s look to— Be Selfward.

What do I mean by “selfward?” It is a single word and is not hyphenated (-). Though it has the root of “self” it does not mean selfish, which is to think about you exclusively, instead of others. Selfward is a good word. It is a good thing to be selfward.

If you have ever flown in a plane or a jet, there is always a safety talk by the stewardesses and stewards before takeoff. We are shown how to fasten our seatbelts. We are shown how our our seats can be used being flotation devices in case of emergency landing over water. And, in the event of a loss of cabin pressure, these oxygen masks will automatically depoly.

By the way, FAA Spokesperson Allen Kenitzer said the frequency of this happening necessitating the use of oxygen is, “approximately ten events per one billion flight hours.”

We are specifically told (especially parents with children) to place our masks on ourselves before we should help even our children. Now I realize this may seem contradictive of how we as parents may think and that we should first help our children. But if you cannot breathe or have enough oxygen yourself, you’re less likely to be able help your children.

Another illustration is, if you should ever need to rescue someone drowning. They will likely panic, so you must take care of you first otherwise, you both could drown

Another way to illustrate this point is, you have to have a good case of the measles if you want to communicate them. 😂 Simply put, you cannot give something away that you do not have. So yes, selfward is about the individual, before it can be about others.

Selfward

Externally towards one’s self. In the direction of or towards one’s self.

Selfward means directed or turned toward oneself. For example, you might describe a gesture as selfward-moving, or say that someone turned their thinking which leads to emotions and actions— selfward.

Among the many things that many people do not understand about God, one is figures of speech. What is meant to be figurative in the Bible are marked by figures of speech. Figures of speech cannot be guessed at or just plain made up out of nowhere, just to support whatever one believes.

A figure of speech is a legitimate and grammatical usage of words. They are mathematically accurate and scientifically precise.

The ancient Greeks likely catalogued as many as, 220-225 individual figures of speech. Sometimes as many as forty varieties were under just one figure.

212 of these figures of speech are used in the Bible.

Surely one can appreciate how important these are to understanding the Bible. Surely one can understand how important these are in the field of language (your language) for reading and writing. Figures of speech would be a worthwhile and lifetime pursuit to understand them and accurately use them, by anyone.

Not everything written in God’s word is literal. Not everything that written is figurative. A literal is that God is Spirit. Spirit does not have color, shape, and form. Spirit cannot be detected by any of our 5 senses. [See Luke 24:39 – spirit does not have flesh and bones].

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

John 4:24 KJV

The article “a” does not appear in the Greek text from which the King James Version was translated. It should be stricken or just crossed out in your Bible. But this is literally what God is. God is Spirit. We cannot see Him, hear Him, smell Him, taste Him or touch Him. Can you see why figures of speech are important so that we can understand how God works and moves within His people and in the world.

Figures of speech are God’s markings of His word of what He considers important. It magnifies Him as He magnifies His word. He wants the reader to understand His Word. One of the frequent figures of speech used in Hebrew is called— derech benai adam. In Greek it is— anthropopatheia. In Latin it is— condescensio. This is from, which our word condescension, is derived. This figure of speech attributes human characteristics to God.

Does God have emotions? Literally, NO He does not. But attributing human emotions or attributes, characteristics to God is the Figure of speech called— condescension.

Have you ever heard or read that God is jealous?

“Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; “

Exodus 20:5 KJV

Think about jealousy for a moment. What would you do if you caught someone trying to move in on your partner? You would at least be angry. Maybe you would say something or do something? Well, God is not a jealous God because, God is Spirit remember.

So what does this verse mean? What is it that God wants us to understand?

He does not want his people hurt from messing around with some other god. He does not want His people stolen from (mentally, physically, spiritually, financially and etc.), killed or destroyed [see John 10:10].

If we allow other gods, their destruction is the iniquity that visits upon the fathers (and mothers) upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.

This separation or animosity is a hatred for God. God does not hate. God is Love! Yes, I know love is an emotion. God does not have emotions, but this is a figure of speech so we can understand spiritual things from our natural world that we already understand and can relate to.

Think of God just like a child thinks. He does not want to share his people like many children don’t want to share their toys. But in order to become selfless we must be selfward.

Like in Matthew 7:5 if we don’t want to be a hypocrite and we want to help someone else, we must first get that beam out of our own eye.

We must first make sure we have oxygen before we can help someone else. We must first be like as if we are selfish and allow no other gods to come before our God.

Jesus Christ was asked, “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?” By the way, the one asking really didn’t want to know the answer, but they tried to tempt him to make a mistake. But he answered and said—

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.”

Matthew 22: 37, 38 KJV

Go selfward by keeping God first. Then go selfless like what Jesus said next—

“And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.:

Matthew 22:39 KJV

This pretty much captures all we need to know about God and about life—

“On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

Matthew 22:40 KJV

According to Jewish tradition, besides the Ten Commandments, there are 613 laws. If we can just do these two things first and in order, everything else will just work itself out. Then we can—

“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”

Philippians 2:3 KJV

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;
and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Matthew 6:33 KJV

By sheer logic, if we seek something other than God first, everything else would be subtracted from us. God is not withholding any good thing or taking any good thing from us. We by our own freedom of will, ignorance of God’s will and lack of believing God is precisely why we have lack. We can change our minds. We can be led from the darkness into the light. We can overcome ignorance. But if if you want to get technical, denying the power of God in our lives, is the most selfish thing that I could imagine or think.

We need to always and vertically, be first selfward to God and then we can be horizontally selfless to others.

“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the FIRST commandment.

Mark 12:30 KJV

Being selfward requires thought, purpose, will and work. We must consider the cost. What will it take to build something?

“For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down FIRST, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?”

Luke 14:28 KJV

Keep things FIRST, in order, keep God FIRST—

“FIRST, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith [Greek he pistis – believing] is spoken of throughout the whole world.”

Romans 1:8 KJV

“And this they did, not as we hoped, but FIRST gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.”

II Corinthians 8:5 KJV

“That we should be to the praise of his glory, who FIRST trusted in Christ.”

Ephesians 1:12 KJV

“I exhort therefore, that, FIRST of all, supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;”

I Timothy 2:1 KJV

What about for you and I, also? Maybe even FIRST, we look selfward so that we we can look selflessly. Be selfward to be selfless.

“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

What follows are just some of the “FIRSTS” in God’s Word.

“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.”

James 3:17 KJV

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

II Peter 1:20 KJV

“We love him, because he FIRST loved us.”

I John 4:19 KJV

There was a “FIRST” day in the book of Genesis, “And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the FIRST day.”

God’s FIRST commandment is to— Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.

The FIRST manifestation of the spirit in I Corinthians 12 is, the word of wisdom— “For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom;…”

And the FIRST fruit of the spirit in Galatians 5:22 is— Love!

We can will and decide what we do FIRST and whom we put FIRST. What is in your heart. How big do you want and need it to be?

Selfward

“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Proverbs 3:6 KJV

Yes, we each should be FIRST selfward to be selfless. Be selfward.

Your fellow athlete in body, soul, and spirit,

Dahni

When you glow, you need to crow

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When you glow, you need to crow

By Dahni
© 2024 all rights reserved

GlowCrow

I had a follow up doctor visit with my primary care physician. I affectionately call him Dr. Lanes as he believes all my Master Trainers should stay in their perspective lanes. We are all working together for the same result— a champion in body, soul, and spirit.

My doctor actually said to me as he extended his right hand, “I very proud of you!”

I’ve never heard such a thing from any doctor. I responded that I was proud of him too. He is the conductor, AKA Master Trainer of my body, soul and spirit program. I told him my coined phrase—

MasterTrainer_quote

I am ready at 70.

In my situation, I have 7 Master Trainers.

I look forward to the day that I can actually help someone else.

Your fellow athlete in training — body, soul, and spirit.

Dahni

Be Adaptable

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Be Adaptable

By Dahni
© 2024 all rights reserved

Today like before we return to a series of what I hope will be practical things anyone can do in pursuit of becoming a champion in body, soul, and spirit.

The titles or ideas for the titles of these posts came from an article I saw, read, and that inspired me to search the scriptures so as applying its wisdom for me.

But for myself, this begins with me. How could I ever expect to help anyone until I first help myself? What can I give anyway that I do not have?

“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

I Corinthians 9:27 King James Version (KJV)

See, I must have the discipline to keep my body subjected to my mind and my mind to the Word, [renewed mind Romans 12:2] and the spirit in me growing [by speaking in tongues— operating the manifestations of the spirit]. The Greek word for subjection is doulagōgō — “bring it into servitude” or when I herald the Word to others, I am a not a “castaway” — disqualified.

“But sanctify [Greek hagiasate — a form of holy, to set apart] the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man [all inclusive noun] that asketh [asks] you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear [reverence, respect]:”

I Peter 3:15 KJV

So now let’s look to— Be Adaptable.

What does it mean to be adaptable. Here is a classic definition of adaptation used in biology—

Adaptation (noun) Adaptation is the process or the state of adjusting or changing to become more suited to an environment; the trait as a result of the process.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Romans 12:2 KJV

Adapt like a caterpillar becomes a beautiful butterfly.

Noah had to adapt

If there is just one guarantee in this world (no not death and taxes), it impermanence. Is there any wonder why many people do not trust in God for they have seen so little to have any trust or confidence in. Most people have difficulty with this. They sense change and their entire body stiffens. Sudden noises can do this. Many things that come abruptly cause the loss of composure. Change upsets whatever we perceive as normalcy.

We must discipline ourselves to go against this natural draw of that which appears to upset us. We must become calm as motionless water like glass. We must be like calm water in the ocean of speculation and doubt.

“He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.”

Psalm 107:29 KJV

Moses had to Adapt

“Be still, and know that I am God:”

Psalm 46:10a KJV

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

Isaiah 26:3 KJV

This is not a bad way to think about life whether we are Christian or not. But a Christian that believes not just in God, but believes God can draw this calm more abundantly. We can embrace change in the midst of an ocean of doubt and a sea of speculation. For greater is He that is in us than he that is in this world. [I John 4:4].

This world legally belongs to the devil that became the god of this world when Adam & Eve transferred their dominion and authority of this world over to him, when they sinned against God [II Corinthians 4:4].

But the Christian has been redeemed. We are no longer of this world. This world is not our home. We are just passing through.

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”

Philippians 2:5 KJV

Adaptation is a great principle of life thriving because it embraces change and adapts.

You too can— Be adaptable!

Your fellow athlete in training — body, soul, and spirit.

Dahni

A Practical side of renouncing the hidden works of darkness

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A practical side of renouncing,
the hidden works of darkness

By Dahni
© 2024 all rights reserved

candle-burning

II Corinthians 4:2 King James Version

As we have spent a great deal of time and effort to make the front of our property and its interior appealing, so that God would want to stop by and feel welcome at the home that He has enabled us to have, something has weighed heavily on my mind.

There are two areas of overgrown and hidden works of darkness, kind of out of sight, but not out of my mind. Today, our guy with a an excavator and a brush hog attachment, has chewed up and spit out the area immediately behind the house and is working on the side of our house, behind the garage, as this is being written.

I used to treat these areas with Roundup several times during a year, but I refuse to use Roundup anymore!

My health prevented me from staying on top of these weeds from hell and even mowing my own lawn (which I have missed being able to do). Now I’m getting stronger— body, soul, and spirit. And God is working in us to will and to do of His good pleasure, as we decide to become greater stewards of that which we have and he is therefore, able to add to us more.

From what has been done today, you may think it still looks like crap. Remember my writing about having a vision last time?
I see about three terraces of raised garden beds for veggies with graded steps to the area and each row, behind our home.🏠

I see an expanded deck with stairs leading down to the hot tub, stairs behind the garage for access from the garage and I see a swimming pool 🏊 for my wife Susan.

After today, I can set up a time for Ryan, the guy that did our deck to come back out now years later, to look at all that I would like to see done, so we can figure out ways to get this done, ASAP.

It took me years to put in a hot tub for Susan. I just rejected the want of it. But the decision to not have one was mostly due to the fact ours uses enzymes instead of a lot of chlorine and chemicals of which I do not like the smell of nor did I want to be the pool man cleaning out and pH balancing dirt with chemicals all the time. Susan got a prescription from our doctor for this so, it was more than just a want. It was a need. Once I understood this, I got on board and we got-er-dun!

The same thing can be said about a swimming pool. It’s more than just a want. Susan actually needs this for her health and I’m sure we’ll get a prescription from a doctor for this so, my thing is not is it a need or will this be possible, but HOW!

Whether it is known or not, I am currently working on a brand new career that will enable me to make as much money as we need and be able to work anywhere we desire, anywhere in the world and at any time. Why should we or anyone not have the things we need? Why with God can it not take a shorter period of time, then believed.

God works in us to will and do of His good pleasure, but we must be willing and we do work to be good stewards of that which we have, in preparation for that which we need. So, Susan and I are partners in this. We have the same mind and the same prayers. And we’re partners in this with God.
I work the Word. I pray and for others mostly. I keep moving ahead. I keep things clean or I’m cleaning them, making things decent and in order and expecting God to do his part, which He has, He is and He shall.

You may think this incidental, but I marvel at God’s timing. Just yesterday, He made it possible for that which we are doing today, to be more than amply paid for. The timing of God’ more-than-abundance is incredible!

I‘m presently involved in many things that cause me physical fatigue and mental distress. But I am getting stronger — building from strength to strength.

I just added to my list, working on an autobiography. I may not have a lot of people that understand me or care, but legacy is something that outlives your life like I have the scars of chickenpox. Those scars are a legacy or the history that I had had the pox.

Every one of us in this life are touched. These “touches” are what makes us unique and may someday be something that is found if read by others. I encourage anyone to write their own autobiography. Who knows you better than you do!

I‘m not complaining about the things I do, I am just stating what is happening and I move forward day-to-day with a very grateful heart, a stronger heart and a great attitude because, I truly do want to make God proud of my body, soul and spirit from now until the Lord returns or I take my last breath.
I have here made public the plans herein I profess. They either will be confirmed that I I believe or God forbid, will be brought with doubts because, I have written this presumptuously, if they do not come to pass, in the very near future.

Your fellow athlete in training — body, soul, and spirit.

Dahni

Vision

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Vision

By Dahni
© 2024 all rights reserved

Vision

One has to have vision, a vision for themselves. Whether you have eyes or not there is none so blind as they that refuse to see.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish [wander aimlessly]:”

Proverbs 29:18a King James Version (KJV)

After all God had done for them to bring them out of Egypt with many signs, miracles and wonders, God’s called out people still wandered in the desert for forty years. Did Moses by revelation give them “vision”? Of course he did, but God can’t make anyone believe. This consequence is just the same as if they had no vision and wandered aimlessly like they just could not see, because they refused to see.

Lord I believe, help mine unbelief [Mark 9:24 KJV].

You and I need vision. A vision for your ministry is commendable. A vision for our country is patriotic. A vision for your family and your friends is important. A vision for your health and prosperity is desirable. But what about having a vision for you and for me?

Although having God’s Word move over the world is a vision, it is not my vision. Seeing the Word prevail over the culture in our day in time may be your vision, but it is not my vision. My vision is more specific and simple.

I simply desire that what is in me to be— energized and exerted with an impact that the Word of God grows continually and vitally to the end that it is proved superior in influence and dominated in me, in its prevailing power. [Acts 19:20 KJV]

And to this I actively and continually commit—

“But have renounced [am renouncing] 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

With a further view towards completing my competition that my whole body, soul and spirit be found blameless (without fault) at the coming [second coming] of Jesus Christ. [I Thessalonians 5:23 KJV]

Your fellow athlete in training — body, soul, and spirit.

Dahni

The Five Incorruptible Crowns

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The Five Incorruptible Crowns

By Dahni
© 2024 all rights reserved

5Crowns

This ministry, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry and for the edifying of itself in love [Ephesians 4:12] takes work.

As in any competition, it takes agility which is mental and stability which is support from muscles. One literally has to work to build anything worthwhile — physically (body), mentally (soul), and spirit. Agility and Stability are required if, you want to avoid injury and don’t want be disqualified from the competition. I do not want to be disqualified.

Since I was so ignorant of the physical and mental training involved, how could I possibly even begin to understand the spiritual competition, how to compete and to compete to win, and win?

At age 70, it is my greatest desire to please God, not myself, my wife Susan, our dog Lady, any friend or family member. At age 70, it is required of me by necessity that I literally train my body, my soul and my spirit to be able to wear all and yield successfully, all the equipment of God as a spiritual gymnast. This I willingly do by freedom of my will and proper arrangement to the details and instructions of all my master trainers for my body, soul, and spirit.

I do these things to be able to stand against the methods of the devil. For my competition is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Some may do this for an actual crown, a medal, some award or for a laurel leaf corruptible wreath about the crown of their heads and the adulation of the crowd so fleeting. But I labor not for one wreath of victory, but five incorruptible wreaths to be awarded by my God and enjoyed by me and with His praise, for all eternity.

Some may train for years for a single moment of glory. I will to labor night and day that I may in this life and that eternal life or everlasting life to come, might be found pleasing in his sight — now, today, tomorrow and forever.

In the Bible there are two Greek words that are each translated “labor”. One is kopos and the other is mochthos.

Stress & Distress

Kopos – labor to the point of fatigue – a labor of Love – I Thessalonians 1:3
Mochthos – labor to the point of distress – I Thessalonians 2:9 labor to the point of fatigue and to the point of distress that we would not be blamable unto anyone to whom we have taught the good news well.

Is it the will of God that we are so fatigued and stressed that we cannot continue? Is it His will that we push way beyond our physical, mental and spiritual limitations? Of course not!

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

I Corinthians 10:13 KJV

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”

I John 5:3 KJV

We are to compete with love, always with love. This is giving. How are we to give?

“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

II Corinthians 9:7 KJV

So to labor to the point of fatigue is to build agility (mental toughness and flexibility) and have the stability (muscle support) for all the activities we compete in. We build our strength out of fatigue and stress. Our weaknesses get stronger and we build from strength to strength.

So, I train and I fight on that I may too, know that I know that I—

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith [family faith].”

II Timothy 4:7 KJV

“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day:…”

II Timothy 4:8 KJV

“…and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

II Timothy 4:8 KJV

And not only one, but also four more for a total of 5, the number of grace and miracles.

Five Incorruptible Crowns

The How & Why is very simple—

“And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate [exercises self control – HOW] in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.” [Why]

Crown of Incorruptibility – I Corinthians 9:25 KJV

“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?

Crown of Rejoicing -I Thessalonians 2:19 KJV

“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

Crown of Righteousness – I Timothy 4:8 KJV

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

Crown of Life – James 1:12 KJV

“And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”

Crown of Glory -I Peter 5:4 KJV

Why?

“For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you [and me too] abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

II Peter 1:11 KJV

For what reason would I do this, am I doing these things?

What I do is but a token of my thanks to God for His grace, mercy, peace and life more abundantly in this life and the life to come for all eternity.

If you and I drive our selves to this level of commitment, and training to excel, and that our motivation is not for the glorious wreaths, but this is what God wants for us, what would God not do, could He not do for you and I? We cannot even think it or imagine it.

“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

Ask yourself to whom this epistle, this personal letter that reveals the mystery of God [Ephesians 3:1] and fulfills the word of God [Colossians 1:25], is written to?

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus…”

Ephesians 1:1

Are you or I one of heaven’s holiest (a saint)? Yes. Were we saints at Ephesus? No of course not. We were not even born yet. But is this letter (epistle) of Ephesians written to anyone else? Yes—

“…and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

Ephesians 1:1 KJV

So to these and these alone are to whom the book of Ephesians is written to, to the saints
at Ephesus and to the faithful in Christ Jesus. It does not say in Jesus Christ, but Christ Jesus, as he is now!

So here is the question for each of us — are you and I faithful in Christ Jesus? If so, look at the rest of even this first chapter of Ephesians 1—

“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 [administration] of the fulness 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:”

Ephesians 1:2-11 KJV

“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 1:12-23 KJV

Now look once more at Ephesians 3:20—

“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

This verse is within a prayer, one of the three prayers in the book of Ephesians. Prayer [Greek-pistis] is, “believing”

This prayer is by revelation from the apostle Paul to the saints at Ephesus and to the faithful in Christ Jesus.

“For this cause I bow my knees [posture of prayer] unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”

Ephesians 3:14-19 KJV

Ladies and gentlemen, what we just read is either the truth, all of it or none of it is. If it is the truth, it has to be available. We the faithful in Christ Jesus, do not need revelation for these things, we already have it. We just have to mature, grow up and labor to the point of fatigue and distress knowing full well—

“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, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

Ephesians 3:20, 21 KJV

So run the race that is set before us. And so an entrance at the bema (judgment seat for prizes) will be ministered unto each of us abundantly (five incorruptible wreaths) into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. [II Peter 1:11]

Your fellow athlete in training — body, soul, and spirit.

Dahni

The Marathon Truth-Myth Tapestry

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The Marathon Truth-Myth Tapestry

By Dahni
© 2024 all rights reserved

“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate [self controlled] in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown [Greek stephanos: that which surrounds, like the crown of one’s head]; but we an incorruptible. But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway [disqualified from the competition].”

I Corinthians 9:24-26 Kings James Version (KJV)

The prize given to the winning athletes in the ancient games was often a laurel wreath crown, symbolic of the favor of the sun god Apollo. It would definitely perish, decay and corrupt, eventually. This wreath and the adulation of the crowd was so fleeting. But the believer’s crowns [plural of 5] will not perish, decay or corrupt and we will receive the praise of God for all eternity. The training to compete and to run especially long distance was very intense, took a lot of training, self-discipline and commitment.

There are two Greek words translated in the Bible as “labor.”

Kopos – labor to the point of fatigue
Mochthos – labor to the point of distress

Both of these types of labors would certainly have been accurate to describe physical training, competition and the act of a herald (a messenger) running as in the case of the Marathon race.

Perhaps you knew about The Marathon or a Marathon? It is both the names of locations in the United States where boaters hold-up until they can cross the ocean in mass in route to say the Bahamas and it is an actual place in Greece. We most likely think of it as a race. That is both a fiction and insignificant compared to the actual battle that occurred.

The Marathon in Greece was made famous by an historical battle between the Greeks and the invading Persian Empire under Darius, Darius the Great or Darius I. Yep, same guy and father of King Xerxes or Ahasuerus that married Esther and is found in several places in the Bible.

Ahasuerus and King Xerxes are one and the same. Ahasuerus is the Hebrew, and Xerxes is the Greek translation of the same name. People in the Bible went by multiple names. For instance, Daniel’s friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah went by the Babylonian names Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. We see God changing Abrams to Abraham and Saul to Paul.

So the Battle of Marathon took place around this month of September in 490 BC. Note it was hot. I will show you why later.

Marathon1 The Persian Empire under Darius sailed across the Aegean Sea and landed then attacked. Eretria. Turning south they headed to Marathon with the idea of eventually heading to Athens and burning it to the ground. It is estimated that they had 80,000 to 150,000 troops and 600 ships with horses for their cavalry. The Greeks had only about 10,000 soldiers and they didn’t have the time to get horses ready.

Truly the Greeks were outnumbered by about 8 to 1. They were going to meet the Persians, but had little chance or none of defeating them or to even slow down their advance. But they would meet them in battle, none the less.

Marathon2

Here is where a logical and a most probable decision was made and met with myth. There were messengers, professional long distance runners for delivering messages (even the mail) as quickly as possible. They were called in the Greek, hemerodrome. – hemerodromoi (plural), meaning “day runners.” They likely ran naked without shoes (their feet shod (toughened) to deliver their messages like the gospel of peace [Ephesians 6:15]. They may have run with a small knife for protection and a scroll with the message encrypted, in case they were captured.

Marathon

The Lacedaemonian or Krypteia Scytale is essentially the first encryption code using the method of permutation. The system was based on the use of two identical scytales, into which a thin strip of treated leather was wrapped in such a way that there were no gaps between the wrappings. When the sheet was unwound, the message could only be read if it was rewound in the same way. One Scytale was delivered, to whom it was sent. The fighting general who was in the campaign, kept another Scytale.

Some believe these messengers were named by the letters of the Greek alphabet to indicate the significance of their message or the numbers of messages that would come. Supposedly, if a herald (courier or messenger) was named Alpha (first letter of the Greek alphabet) and Omega (the last letter of the Greek alphabet), this was very significant. It meant that one had better pay attention to this message because, it is the first and the last message one would receive [Revelation 1:8, 11, 21:6; 22:13].

Marathon3

The Greeks from Athens likely sent a messenger to Sparta, calling upon them for aide. This is a distance of about 125 miles. If it was sent from Marathon that’s an additional 25 miles or a total of 150 miles, one way. Either sum is a lot more than 26.2 miles or what we today refer to as a marathon race. Information that is credible is that a messenger may have run twice this distance in three days or roughly 300 miles.

Some say this messenger was named Pheidippides. Story after story confuses the whole matter. In one story he ran 25 miles from Marathon to Athens to tell them the Greeks won at Marathon and then he dropped dead from exhaustion.

A more credible story is that he ran 125 miles from Athens to Sparta and back again. Imagine his motivation to help and as if it all depended upon him. His people were to battle an overwhelming force and power. He had to make it to Sparta. He had to deliver his message. He had to carry the answer back.

The Spartans were celebrating some religious rite and would not be available for several days. I’m sure he was worried and struck with horror with what he thought awaited his countrymen. But if he ran back to Marathon, the battle was over. Miraculously, the Persians were defeated.

Now if the messenger was sent from Marathon to Sparta, that’s one way or 150 miles. If he ran back from Sparta to let them know the Spartan’s would not come for several days, that’s another 150 miles or a total of 300 miles in about 3 days.

Getting back to Marathon and seeing they had already won, was he the same messenger to deliver “WE Won” to Athens or had another messenger already been sent? Do you suppose the Greeks were not ready to go to Athens to defend them, just in case the Persian force did not sail home? I do. They sent the message to Athens that they had won at Marathon to give courage and prepare them for a Persian force less than at Marathon, if the Persians sailed on to Athens.

How was this victory even possible? From all accounts, the Greeks were likely better equipped and trained than the Persians. The Greeks had brass amour and shields., spears and swords. This equipment was heavy, but they had no other choice, but to literally run with full amour, straight on to outdistance the arrows being shot at them by the Persians. Their lines were thin. And the last thing you want to do is to try and surround an enemy that has at least 8 times the numbers of troops than you do. Because of the Persian archers, they had no choice and kept running at them. Imagine a stampede. Well, their courage, training, discipline and just the way it was, worked out for them. Their victory cost the Persians 6,000 men to only about 192 Greek soldiers. There is a mound on the present day site. This mound is believed to be where the Greeks of the Marathon Miracle were buried.

After the Persians defeated Eretria, they got in their ships intending to sail around the coast and onto Athens. But by the time they got to Marathon the Greeks altered their plans and after this defeat, they sailed back to Persia to regroup. Darius died and his son Ahasuerus or Xerxes would have to try and avenge his father after rebuilding the Persian forces.

It is interesting to me how vengeance plays such a role in the motivations of kings. Darius wanted to burn Eretria and Athens to the ground for their role in attacking a Persian city, years before. Ahasuerus or Xerxes was determined to avenge his father.

Also, when laying siege to a city, it was common practice for the opposing force to bribe and/or extort the citizens prior to them being invaded. It made it easy to come on in, if the host country opened its doors to you. You call that that saving your people, political expediency, and the lessor of two evil if you want. I call this treason. If you had to choose, would your rather die on your feet or on your knees.
Was it even possible that a messenger, any long distance runner could have run the 300 miles from Athens to Sparta and back, then run another 25 miles to Marathon, taken part in the battle, and then run from Marathon to Athens, another 25 miles then drop dead? This is one story. But is it possible?

The Spartathlon is a 246-kilometre (153 mi) ultramarathon race held annually in Greece since 1983, between Athens and Sparti, the modern town on the site of ancient Sparta. The Spartathlon is based on someone’s idea of the run of Pheidippides, who ran from Athens to Sparta, before the Battle of Marathon in a day and a half to seek aid against the Persians. Wouldn’t you have thought he would have run back to tell the Greeks what the answer was? I would. I do.

Here are a couple of questions I wondered about. Maybe you did or do too? Was it possible for someone to run not 25 miles, but 300 miles in three days? Maybe a highly trained and disciplined runner could have made 1/2 of that distance? Why not more than one messenger? Remember that this athlete had likely been training for this since about the age of 12. It is also a matter of trust and confidence in the runner. Motivation was a huge factor. Of course this runner wanted to help. Of course the Greeks were waiting to hear whatever the answer was from Sparta. All of these things to me make it possible that one runner could make the 300 miles in three days.

Why not run on horseback? Did they have horses? Yes. Horses are definitely faster in shorter distances, but not so much for endurance races. Remember that the average temperature in September would have been hot during the day. Horses could not endure the heat as a naked runner could. People are much more proficient, built and trained for long distances than horses. People are more efficient in temperature regulation, using oxygen and managing their energy stores. Horses would need to stop, eat, drink and rest before continuing. But for sure, someone wanted to test this idea.

‘The Man versus Horse Marathon’ is an annual race over 22 miles (35 km), where runners compete against riders on horseback through a mix of road, trail and mountainous terrain. The race, which is a shorter distance than an official marathon road race, takes place in the Welsh town of Llanwrtyd Wells every June. There are other Man versus Horse races — in Scotland based at Dores, near Loch Ness, in Central North Island, New Zealand and in Prescott, Arizona. People hold their own against horses and sometimes win. But don’t forget, we are looking at between 150-300 miles.

So anyway, back to the first marathon race. The account of the run from Marathon to Athens first appeared in Plutarch’s On the Glory of Athens in the first century AD, which quoted from Heraclides Ponticus’s lost work, giving the runner’s name as either Thersipus of Erchius or Eucles. What happened to Pheidippides? Do you see how legends get built?

There is debate about the historical accuracy of this legend. The Greek historian Herodotus, the main source for the Greco-Persian Wars, mentioned Pheidippides as the messenger who ran from Athens to Sparta asking for help, and then ran back, a distance of over 240 kilometres (150 miles) each way.

So what if Pheidippides was actually sent from Athens and the Greeks set out to meet the Persians at Marathon? After Pheidippides arrives in Sparta (150 miles away), would you think he would return to Athens to bring them the message? I would. What about the record of the messenger that came from the battle in Marathon to Athens to let them know – “We Won,” a distance of 25 miles? Could he or any runner actually die from exhaustion? Yes. If the body is not allowed to recover properly, when one stops running, all the blood races towards the heart and the shock could kill you if you have not prepared properly and recover correctly. Ask any long distance runner what happens to their bodies when they suddenly stop running.

Part of the confusion of whom did what may be due to the fact that the Marathon to Athens run was brought to the attention of Westerners by way of Robert Browning’s 1879 poem “Pheidippides.”

Marathon4 After reading this inspirational poem, Michel Bréal, a member of the organizing committee for the first modern Olympics, proposed that the distance between the battle site of Marathon. When the modern Olympics began in 1896, the initiators and organizers were looking for a great popularizing event, recalling the glory of ancient Greece. He believed it should be used as the length for the first Olympic marathon when it took place in 1896.

After experiencing the spirit and majesty of the Olympic Marathon, B.A.A. member and inaugural US Olympic Team Manager John Graham was inspired to organize and conduct a marathon in the Boston, New York area. With the assistance of Boston businessman Herbert H. Holton, various routes were considered, before a measured distance of 24.5 miles from Metcalf’s Mill in Ashland to the Irvington Oval in Boston was eventually selected. There is not much here for historic accuracy. Just use what works the best for you? Well that’s not actually 25 miles is it?

But on April 19, 1897, John J. McDermott of New York, emerged from a 15-member starting field and captured the first B.A.A. Marathon in 2:55:10, and, in the process, forever secured his name in sports history. “And that’s the way it is,” to quote former CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite. They have been having the Boston Marathon ever since. People come to see it from all over the world.

In 1924, the course was lengthened to 26 miles, 385 yards to conform to then Olympic standard, and the starting line was moved west from Ashland to Hopkinton.

But how did this distance go from 25 miles (the distance from Marathon to Athens to what it is now, 26.2 miles? To be precise, it’s 26.2188 miles or 26.2 as most round it off.

That last .2 miles sounds so small, but marathon runners know it’s an extra few steps that add up!!! And maybe you’ve wondered why on Earth the race isn’t simply a round number. In fact, why isn’t it 25 miles?

The marathon became a mainstay of the Olympics, though the marathon length varied somewhat from event to event, always remaining around the 25-mile mark.

In the 1908 Olympics in London, England it became what it still is today, 26.2 miles. Originally, the organizers of the 1908 Olympic Games in London intended a 26-mile course from Windsor Castle to the entrance of the White City Stadium. Who cares, add a mile and some extra yards, just as long as the starting place and ending place works for you?

However, the royal family, specifically Queen consort Alexandra, is claimed to have requested that the marathon begin on the lawn of Windsor Castle, allowing the royal children to watch from their nursery. The race was then scheduled to end in front of the royal box at the Olympic Stadium at the time. This addition at the request of the Royals added 385 yards bringing the entire length of the race to 26.2188 miles, or 26.2 miles as it is often known, still to this day.

So now we know “the rest of the story,” as radio personality Paul Harvey would say.
Isn’t it interesting how people love to just make up stuff. Isn’t it interesting that if you have power and privilege you can just do whatever you want and the rest of us poor pathetic peons in the pews will keep swallowing the pious platitudes they pour out? Isn’t it interesting how God weaves so much truth with fiction in this tapestry we call history? I am thankful for history, but especially truth.

Your fellow athlete in training — body, soul, and spirit.

Dahni

More about the Believer’s Crowns next time.

The Ancient Games

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The Ancient Games

By Dahni
© 2024 all rights reserved

Games4

Physical fitness was seen as a reflection of moral virtue and was believed to be essential for the development of good citizens capable of defending the polis in times of war.

This physical practice was called in Greek, kalokagathia, which combined physical beauty with moral goodness and was a guiding principle in Greek education.

The Olympic Games were the most prestigious athletic event in ancient Greece, drawing competitors and spectators from across the Greek world. Held every four years, the Games featured a variety of events, including foot races, wrestling, boxing, the pentathlon (which included running, long jump, discus, javelin, and wrestling), and equestrian events like chariot racing.

Games1

The Temple of Zeus what it might have looked like in its day

The Olympic Games were notable not only for their scale but also for their strict regulations and rituals. Athletes were required to undergo a period of rigorous training and to swear an oath to Zeus, vowing to compete honorably and abide by the rules. The Games began with religious ceremonies, including sacrifices to Zeus, and concluded with feasts and celebrations.

One of the unique features of the Olympic Games was the emphasis on individual rather than team competition. This focus on individual achievement reflected the Greek ideal of arete (excellence), where personal glory and honor were paramount. Victors were crowned with olive wreaths and received widespread acclaim, both at the Games and upon their return to their home city-state.

The Olympic Games also had a significant cultural impact. The tradition of recording and commemorating athletic victories led to the creation of extensive historical records, including the works of ancient historians like Pausanias. The Games inspired artistic and literary works, from statues and vases depicting athletes to epinician odes celebrating their triumphs, as famously composed by the poet Pindar.

The word gymnasium derives from the Greek word gumnos, meaning “naked”. It is also used as a foot race. Athletes typically trained without clothing. This practice was linked to the Greek appreciation of the human form and the belief that physical fitness was essential for achieving excellence, or arete.

In Ancient Greece, the gymnasium was central to the education of young men, particularly in Athens. The education system, known as paideia, sought to cultivate well-rounded individuals capable of contributing to society both physically and intellectually. The gymnasium played a crucial role in this process, serving as the place where physical training and intellectual development intersected.

Young boys, typically from wealthy families, began their education in the gymnasium around the age of 12. Under the guidance of a paidotribes [pronounced -pay-do-tree-bays] – “physical trainer” and other educators. They would engage in various sports, including running, wrestling, boxing, and the pentathlon. These activities were not only seen as a way to build strength and endurance but also as a means to instill discipline, teamwork, and the competitive spirit.

However, the gymnasium was more than just training ground for athletes. It was also a place where young men were introduced to the works of great philosophers, poets, and rhetoricians.

Intellectuals such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle frequented the gymnasia, where they taught and debated with students. This combination of physical and mental training was seen as essential for the development of a well-rounded citizen.

The Greeks believed that a strong and healthy body was a reflection of a strong and healthy mind. This belief was rooted in the idea that physical excellence was inseparable from moral and intellectual virtue. Plato, in his work “The Republic,” emphasized the importance of balancing physical and intellectual education, advocating for the training of both the body and the soul.

For Plato, gymnastics (physical education) and music (cultural education) were the two pillars of education. He argued that excessive physical training without intellectual development could lead to brutality, while too much focus on intellectual pursuits without physical training could lead to weakness. Therefore, the gymnasium was essential for creating balanced individuals capable of rational thought and moral action.

Aristotle, a student of Plato, further developed these ideas in his work “Politics.” He argued that physical education was a vital part of the curriculum for young citizens, as it prepared them for the responsibilities of adulthood, including military service and governance. Aristotle believed that physical exercise contributed to the development of courage, self-discipline, and temperance, virtues that were necessary for both personal fulfillment and the well being of the state.

The connection between physical and moral education in the gymnasium reflects the broader Greek belief in the unity of mind, body, and spirit. This holistic approach to education influenced not only the development of individuals but also the values and ideals of Greek society as a whole.

Even after Rome conquered Greece and dominated the world, many of the principles of the games continued. I don’t know about you, but many of the cruel and seemly barbaric actions by both, I am thankful that each existed. So many spiritual truths were written in the seven church epistles in Romans, I & II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and I & II Thessalonians. And because of all these things, I am thankful that in the United States of America, we still have relative freedom to think, choose, move about and above all else, speak the truth in love.

This is all that is left of the temple of Zeus in 2024

Your fellow athlete in training— body, soul & spirit

Dahni

Next time, let’s take a look at the Marathon Truth-Myth Tapestry

Develop Mental Resilience

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Develop Mental Resilience

By Dahni
© 2024 all rights reserved

Today like before and until it gets finished, I will post a series of what I hope will be practical things anyone can do in pursuit of becoming a champion in body, soul, and spirit.

The titles or ideas for the titles of these posts came from an article I saw, read, and that inspired me to search the scriptures so as applying its wisdom for me.

But for myself, this begins with me. How could I ever expect to help anyone until I first help myself? What can I give anyway that I do not have?

“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

I Corinthians 9:27 King James Version (KJV)

See, I must have the discipline to keep my body subjected to my mind and my mind to the Word, [renewed mind Romans 12:2] and the spirit in me growing [by speak in tongues— operating the manifestations of the spirit]. The Greek word for subjection is doulagōgō — “bring it into servitude” or when I herald the Word to others, I am a not a “castaway” — disqualified.

“But sanctify [Greek hagiasate — a form of holy, to set apart] the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man [all inclusive noun] that asketh [asks] you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear [reverence, respect]:”

I Peter 3:15 KJV

So now let’s look to— Develop Mental Resilience.

Resilience is the ability to cope with and recover from setbacks. People who remain calm in the face of disaster have resilience.

A resilient person is someone who has strong coping skills and is able to draw their available resources, ask for help when needed, and find ways to manage the situation they are facing. People with psychological resilience are able to use their skills and strengths to respond to life’s challenges, which can include:

Death of a loved one
Divorce
Financial issues
Illness
Job loss
Medical emergencies
Natural disasters

Like building a win out of failure, we must build upon each experience and even setbacks from which we build from strength to strength. A lot of teenagers and many adults are so ill-equipped to do this and thus, their presents and futures may be limited.

We cannot be overcome, but we must overcome. Expierece builds confidence. When challenges face us and is is not require that we respond joyfully to them or be happy about them, but try and remain quiet, and still and at peace while going through them. Expect to overcome.

At the center of this resilience is ‘thought’ and more specifically, the thoughts we think when we go through these things. We must either be aware of or become aware of, the thoughts we think

Thoughts are just thoughts and nothing more. People that are not easily perturbed do not buy into the seriousness of thoughts. They realize thoughts are fleeting and they know this. They are not wrapped up in their thoughts. This makes for an environment of peace and resilience.

This reminds of a little book I had in my library. It is very short, only about 144 pages. It is called ‘AS A MAN THINKETH’ and was written by James Allen. You can find out more about him and you can still by his book on Amazon for about 15 bucks. Here is link to read it FREE online—

https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/4507/pg4507-images.html

Here is an excerpt from his title page.

“Mind is the Master power that moulds and makes,
And Man is Mind, and evermore he takes
The tool of Thought, and, shaping what he wills,
Brings forth a thousand joys, a thousand ills:—
He thinks in secret, and it comes to pass:
Environment is but his looking-glass.”

From As A MAN THINKETH By James Allen

“Just as a gardener cultivates his plot, keeping it free from weeds, and growing
the flowers and fruits which he requires, so may a man tend the garden of his mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless, and impure thoughts, and cultivating toward perfection the flowers and fruits of right, useful, and pure thoughts. By pursuing this process, a man sooner or later discovers that he is the master-gardener of his soul, the director of his life. He also reveals, within himself, the laws of thought, and understands, with ever-increasing accuracy, how the thought-forces and mind elements operate in the shaping of his character, circumstances, and destiny.”

Excerpt from As A MAN THINKETH By James Allen

Well that’s all nice and all, but where is God in any of that? I don’t see Him. And if no one can tame the tongue, one first has to think thought in order to speak with the tongue, so without God, no one can tame their thoughts either.

So this advice from ‘As a Man Thinketh’ is just nice and positive and much can be learned from it, but it is devoid of biblical authority. That’s big word for it ain’t God.

I suppose the author got his title from Proverbs Chapter 3:27a—

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:…”

But he never looked at the context or even finished the rest of the verse—

“…Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.”

Proverbs 3:27b KJV

Ooops, the heart was not with them.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life”

Proverbs 4:23

The heart is the innermost part of ones being. It is the depth or core of one’s mind.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Jeremiah 29:11

Are these the thoughts we are thinking? They are not our thoughts, but God’s thoughts and it is in thinking His thoughts that He will bring us to an “accepted end.”

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”

John 5:39

If we can get to the point that we even think that God’s Word is where eternal life (the more than abundant life we have of token of now), we will think that God’s Word is its own best advocate to give its own testimony.

Here is how one will develop mental resilience (just a little about the love of God) —

“Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;”

I Corinthians 13:5

WOW, does not even think evil! That’s to develop mental resilience!

The following is just the opposite of developing mental resilience—

“The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.”

Psalm 10:4

Thankfully, I am not among the wicked.

“Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.”

Proverbs 16:3

“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

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner [critic] of the thoughts [notions] and intents [emotions] of the heart.”

Hebrews 4:12

The Word of God is able (active and powerful) to pierce and divide, and can separate like a surgeons two-edged scalpel. When a priest offered sacrifices to God, he always used a cutting instrument to divide the parts of the sacrifice. We are the sacrifice to God, and the Lord Jesus was the High Priest.

“Notions and emotions” is the figure of speech Paronomasia, “rhyming words” two things are emphasized and our attention is drawn to this by the similarity of sounds, otherwise we would miss it as we would in English without knowing this figure. The Word of God is able to pierce and divide (all the following for the most part all that may seem IMPOSSIBLE):

Soul and Spirit, Joints and Marrow, and Thoughts [notions] from emotions. Looks like a future work on just this verse alone.

DevelopMentalResilience

Finally, in building Mental Resilience, is to change the thoughts we think and be aware of them in every situation. Try not to be so grouchy and sensitive in times like these as you go through them and build from strength to strength. The same as you and maybe even more may affect others you love or are close by. Be still, be quiet, be at peace and consider what you say and do around others. If we really care, we will really take care. And if they really care, they will take care of us as well.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

Ephesians 6:10 KJV

You too can Develop Mental Resilience!

Your fellow athlete in training,

Dahni

Win at Failure

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Win at Failure

By Dahni
© 2024, all rights reserved

Today like before and until it gets finished, I will post a series of what I hope will be practical things anyone can do in pursuit of becoming a champion in body, soul, and spirit.

The titles or ideas for the titles of these posts came from an article I saw, read, and that inspired me to search the scriptures so as applying its wisdom for me.

But for myself, this begins with me. How could I ever expect to help anyone until I first help myself? What can I give anyway that I do not have?

“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

I Corinthians 9:27 King James Version (KJV)

See, I must have the discipline to keep my body subjected to my mind and my mind to the Word, [renewed mind Romans 12:2] and the spirit in me growing [by speak in tongues— operating the manifestations of the spirit]. The Greek word for subjection is doulagōgō — “bring it into servitude” or when I herald the Word to others, I am a not a “castaway” — disqualified.

“But sanctify [Greek hagiasate — a form of holy, to set apart] the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man [all inclusive noun] that asketh [asks] you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear [reverence, respect]:”

I Peter 3:15 KJV

WinAtFailure So now let’s look to— Win at Failure.

If there ever was one hard on themselves for screwing-up, not being able to get things done and even mad at my muscles for not being able to do what I wanted, its me. Maybe its just me, but it sure seems like imperfect people sure spend a lot of time, energy and thought on perfection. When failing, it is depressing. What a bottomless pit of temptations for dumb notions and unruly emotions this mindset is. What a useless attitude that draws the opposite of what I want. What a worthless pursuit of desperately trying to harbor imperfection in a sea of turbulence.

I have heard it read and have had it said many times over the course of at least these past 50 years of my life —

“The greatest cargoes of life come in over quiet seas.”

Dr. Victor Paul Wierwille

Besides the noise from the outside world, there are times when I have so much noise inside my mind. Thoughts of failure, thoughts as I can’t, I won’t, I never have, I never will all vie for dominance, but lead to the same thing. Peace, is undisturbed believing (see Isaiah 26:3). Peace is not dependent on external circumstances. But I don’t want to linger here. This is about embracing failure or how to Win at Failure. How can failure be a positive thing? How could I be at peace with failing. How can I Win at Failure?

My body’s master trainer John gets animated when I fail. He gets excited. What? Why?

Maybe you have heard the following before? No pain, no gain (or “No gain without pain”). This is a proverb, used since the 1980s as an exercise motto that promises greater value rewards for the price of hard and even painful work. Under this conception competitive professionals, such as athletes and artists, are required to endure pain (physical suffering) and stress (mental/emotional suffering) to achieve professional excellence. Uh, no thank you. I did not want to do this when I was a kid. I certainly don’t want to now. As a matter of course, if you hurt yourself like I have, you probably want to be real careful in the future to not get hurt again. That’s pretty much my story.

For your information (FYI) and by the way (BTW), medical experts agree that the proverb is mostly ineffective for exercise. What?

Then why is my trainer John so excited when I fail?

If you get any kind of benefit from someone and repeatedly, most people desire to please those that are helping them. I do. When John tells me to do this or that, so many sets and so much weight and etc. I want to do what he asks me to do. But when I have tried and cannot do a certain thing because I am spent, my muscles fail. This is when I can become stronger. When I push to just this point and no more, next time I can do more because, I am getting stronger. This of course spills over into my soul and spirit.

Though the context of these verses of scripture to follow is about the new body, look at all the practical applications from physical training, tending a garden (sowing seeds) and of course, the new body.

“Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:”

I Corinthians 15: 36-43 King James Version (KJV)

No one wants to talk about being sick. I don’t. What sin did I commit that caused me to get Covid now for the fourth time? All I can tell you is that I did not commit any sin. I did not miss something like don’t go there, don’t touch that etc. I shared my water bottle with Susan who had forgotten hers. She had Covid first. We share. 😂

It was one of the latest strains that cannot be detected by a test. Thankfully it is fast moving, but it sure effected each of us (Susan & I) differently. I got it last Saturday. I spent the entire day Sunday in bed. I was so weak when I got up, I kept falling into things, and over things. Susan is about totally over it. Five days clearance is what is called for and I should be back to normal by Wednesday. It is Monday and I am already feeling better. But beginning about 1:30 this morning I was restless.

My mind was running like a galloping horse. It was difficult to rein my mind in. I prayed, I spoke in tongues, I opened my heart to God. At one time I apologized to Him for not believing to be healed. That got shut down real fast. Was I in fellowship with God at that moment? Yes I was.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Romans 8:1 KJV

The fact is I’m sick, that’s all. That’s not the unchanging truth, but a fact that is changing.

Every negative thought running through my mind I had to grab and throw it down. Physically, my cortisol (stress hormone – fight or flight) levels rose and my liver responded by raising my glucose. I had to renounce hidden works of darkness in me. I had to resist the devil. This is all part of the ministry of reconciliation. It first begins with me.

Of course I believe in God. Of course I believe in healing. Of course I am one of His. Of course He will never abandon me or forsake me.

In many ways the mental pressure was greater than the physical feeling of a sore throat, upper respiratory distress, stuffing nose, physical exhaustion and muscle fatigue and worse, my sense of taste diminished. I did not feel good at all, especially yesterday.

But since about 1:30 this morning, my mind would not shut down. The noise seemed endless and loud. I went for two verses of scripture from my memory.

“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

This verse is a longtime go-to for me.

“For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart,
and knoweth all things.”

I John 3:20

Was I condemning myself? No, but I had some thoughts that I immediately renounced. I thought of another standard verse.

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee:
because he trusteth in thee.”

Isaiah 26:3

I kept saying this verse over and over again in my mind. It did not seem to be working. Why not? I can’t blame God for any of this and I am not about to blame myself. But sickness is either death in part or in full. The apostle Paul had to deal with this. The apostle Paul wrote about this.

“O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”

Romans 7:24

He knew this spiritually and he had personally experienced this. One of the Roman tortures was to strap a dead body to the back of a live one. Left this way, the decomposition would work its way into the live body. Well, I wouldn’t know about that, but my mind was trying to kill me. (John 10:10). My issue was lack of a stayed mind. Mine was more like a swayed mind, blowing through me like wind at its will and whim. The thief (the devil) has no more claim over me, I was bought with a price. So insidious are the offscourings and scrapings of his marks in me, but God is greater.

What about Jesus Christ?

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

Hebrews 4:15

Do you suppose Jesus Christ was ever sick or at least was tempted to be sick? I do. And for all he endured look at this Old Testament prophecy—

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

Isaiah 53:3-5 KJV

Note the tense “we are healed.” People literally got healed in anticipating the Lord’s first coming. What about the New Testament—

“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

I Peter 2:24

The Word has taken us from “we are healed” to “ye (you) were healed.” From their past to the future, which is now our past, you and I “were” healed.” It’s a done thing. It’s up to me and you not God.

My father in the word, Dr. Victor Paul Wierwille had to deal with this himself. He used a metronome to train his mind to stay still and focused, without distraction, upon God. I thought of this. No matter what came in this dark night, I just kept confessing what the Word says. I kept renouncing every thought to God. I kept saying the scriptures aloud in my mind. I continued to speak in tongues.

All in all this was more than a test I took to see what I really know and what I really believe. It was taking the opportunity to grow and get stronger from failure. Today on Monday, I already feel about 85%. And I would like to believe that if I had not been getting in shape physically, it could have been worse and lasted much longer.

My day dawned here.

“To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,”

Psalm 92:2 KJV

Now that’s a psalm worth remembering and one I don’t want to forget.

Most people get depressed over setbacks. I did. Not so much anymore, I’m in champion training — body, soul, and spirit. I’m learning to embrace failure. I’m learning to Win at Failure. Antifragile people write down in their journals or blogs the mistakes they have made and the lessons learned from them. Please note don’t just write the mistakes, but the learning! That’s what it is to Win at Failure. This is strengthening!

You too can Win at Failure!

Your fellow athlete in training,

Dahni

Embrace the Suck

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Embrace the Suck

By Dahni
© 2024, all rights reserved

EmbraceTheSuck Today and until it gets finished, I will post a series of what I hope will be practical things anyone can do in pursuit of becoming a champion in body, soul, and spirit.
The titles for these posts came from an article I saw, read, and that inspired me to search the scriptures to apply its wisdom for me.

What we begin could be conversations you have with your children and especially teenagers. OMG, two fraternal twin grandsons will become new teenagers (13) this coming October. Maybe when I learn to Embrace the Suck, I will be able to help them or anyone, Embrace the Suck too.
But for myself, this begins with me. How could I ever expect to help anyone until I first help myself? What can I give away that I do not have?

“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

I Corinthians 9:27 King James Version (KJV)

See, I must have the discipline to keep my body subjected to my mind and my mind to the Word, [renewed mind Romans 12:2] and the spirit in me growing [by speak in tongues— operating the manifestations of the spirit]. The Greek word for subjection is doulagōgō — “bring it into servitude” or when I herald the Word to others, I am a not a “castaway” — disqualified.

“But sanctify [Greek hagiasate — a form of holy, to set apart] the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man [all inclusive noun] that asketh [asks] you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear [reverence, respect]:”

I Peter 3:15 KJV

So now let’s look to— Embrace the Suck.

Well that does not sound too biblical, word centered or even positive. Just because I am a Christian does not mean I am perfect. I am not. Just because I wear glasses does not mean I do not really believe in healing or that God can’t heal my eyes. I do believe. I am not waiting on Him to heal me, I am not even waiting on myself to believe. I am moving towards, I am moving forward, I am acting on and getting to the place where I know that I know God is able and is more the willing to heal me, then even I am to be healed.

Until if in this life of here, there or it’s in the air (when Jesus Christ returns), I am going to get healed, one way or another. Be it now, tomorrow or on the day I either put on incorruption or immortality, I am going to get a new spiritual body. But until such time, I need to see. So, I am wearing glasses. I Embrace the Suck by wearing my glasses knowing that God wants me to see. I Embrace the Suck by being reminded that God wants to heal my eyes. I Embrace the Suck knowing my eyes will be made whole! 😊
Embracing the Suck is looking for opportunity whenever hardship comes. I forgot my phone and left it at the gym one morning. It took me awhile to even realize it was missing and even longer to recall where it could possibly have been left. What an incredible opportunity I had to further deepen the need for me to be focused.

Embracing the Suck is embracing hardship. After leaving my phone at the gym, the very next day I filled my water bottle then proceeded to leave it at home and drove for about 30 minutes without it. I was at my appointment for about a 1/2 hour without my bottle of water. I drove back home without it. Getting familiar and getting it into my psyche (my soul), my body has gotten use to drinking a certain amount of water every day. I did not have water for about an hour-and-a-half. I was thirsty. I embraced the hardship and I Embraced the Suck realizing two things:

1. my need for water was paying off from just my decision to drink more
2. calm myself down, think, and focus before doing anything

The very next day, I forgot to bring my food log to show my body trainer the food I have been eating. Embracing the Suck was to me, more of the same previous making lemonade from my lemons.

1. in order to train me properly, certain foods are needed to build even certain muscles and reduce fat. Where there is no vision, all my master trainers and I, am in the dark. None of us want to stumble in the dark
2. write legibly so they and I can read what is written
3. no one requires me to be perfect, but I am required to be faithful

Turn your mountains into stepping stones. Embrace the Suck!

Your fellow athlete in training,

Dahni

Where the Champion Comes From

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Where the Champion Comes From

By Dahni
© 2024, all rights reserved

BSS_picture2 We worked a series of ‘Champion’ — (body, soul, and spirit recently). I certainly have not implied that anyone should be doing what I am doing, presently along my journey.

What I do, began as necessary and involved into my privilege and my joy.

I started simply with a verse of scripture.

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health,
even as thy soul prospereth.”

III John 1:2 King James Version (KJV)

That was my theme— prosperity and health. Then I was diagnosed with diabetes. My primary care physician put me on Metformin, and told me to go to the gym, lose weight and build muscle. In my case, high blood pressure hangs out with diabetes and I had insulin resistance. My liver was responding to whenever glucose for energy was needed and my pancreas was producing sufficient insulin to get it into my cells. Many factors led to my body not handling the sugar (glucose) well, which is, insulin resistance.

In addition to this, there is a normal process, which occurs with anyone at a certain age. This is called, anabolic resistance.

Anabolic resistance to make it clear is, like muscles just going to sleep. No amount of cardio (aerobic exercise), calisthenics, eating clean, yoga, and etc. addresses the underlying cause. Loss of muscle mass is called sarcopenia. It is thought mostly to be an age-related thing, beginning at about 40.

Technology and modern medical science have made it possible for us to live longer than our species has in the past. But healthy, we are not so much. Most of us are overweight in the entire United States, more so than other countries. Why? There are many reasons for this, but let’s say we still have the same elements of common soil in our bodies that the older species that may have lived during the times of dinosaurs. Around about age 40, muscle start to go to sleep.

What did the people of the long-ago past need muscle for? They had spent most of their time outside, hunting for food. But this was mainly a young person’s activity. Life expectancy then was not much longer than about 40 years. They likely had a greater chance of getting killed by a saber tooth tiger than living beyond 40, naturally and normally. As we age, muscle loss is usually a common and normal thing. The ONLY way around this is to willfully, purposefully, committedly, and correctly to do what is necessary to change this.

I reluctantly or I should say, I unenthusiastically went to the gym. I worked out, I walked, I intermittent fasted and tried to eat cleaner and reduce sugars and carbohydrates. I was not happy about any of this. I started to lose a little weight, but my sleep was poor. I was sore most of time and I just never seemed to have any energy. The one thing I had going for me was my desire for change and my pursuit of it like a dog that won’t let go of a pork chop. 🐶🤣 I had to keep going and searching and actively seeking my own personal deliverance.

I discovered the side effects of Metformin. It seemed to me that no matter how long this drug has be around (at least 50 years), how much research has been done on it and how many have used it, for some people, it does the opposite of everything it is supposed to do. I was one of those people.

I continued to search and found Berberine with a liposome delivery system. I discussed everything with my physician and he agreed and even put Berberine liposome in my chart. Still not satisfied, I asked for a referral and am now seeing an endocrinologist. I have gone from pricking my finger at least twice a day to monitor my blood sugar to a 14 day continuous monitor placed under the fatty portion of either of my triceps. Insurance does not cover this. My training is not covered. Our nutritionist and light therapy is not covered. Health issues can be deducted from our taxes, which may result in a refund, but all these things, we have to pay for. Who is responsible for making this happen? Whose Word am I using, and claiming, and expecting my believing to grow, God’s Word.

I am still claiming that promise of God from III John 1:2. That has not changed. I am not looking to manage or reverse diabetes. I am looking for 100% complete deliverance. If you want to just accept limitations and be content with what you have, that’s you, not me. I do not want to accept that whatever is just the best that I can expect. I want more— a whole lot more. So does God for me. I want to appear before the Bema (judgment seat where only awards are given) having finished whatever my course is in this life and loaded with awards and crowns and merits for what God in Christ has, is and will do in me. Well, yes, I do believe God wants to show off His work in me. He wants to show me off to the god of this world. God wants to show me off to the world. And God especially, wants to show me off to the faithful in Christ Jesus.

Can you begin to understand why I am so motivated to train my body, soul, and spirit? Who ultimately am I endeavoring to please – myself, you, others? No, I am in training for God. I could not do these things for myself. I need help. I am receiving it— body, soul and spirit.

And if I care about you as I confess and profess to do, what can I really offer anyone, that I have not first been filled with, in word and deed. Then I can help you and others.

Well what needs this, my body? Yes, I have a body, and I have a soul, and I have a spirit. I am a tripartite being. So here is where, this champion thing really all begins.

My body has characteristics, wants and needs that are unique to me. I was doing a lot of activity, but there was not much productivity. Here is where my quote began—

“When the athlete is ready
The master trainer will appear”

-Dahni-

As if out of nowhere, I had master trainers just appear to me to turn my body, my, soul, and my spirit into champions. This is just how it has been for me, all three of these all— at the same time.

The best means to build muscle mass, no matter your age, is progressive resistance training (PRT). This is about form, and core and doing things correctly, not just showing up at the gym and being active. My trainer not only knows these things, but he knows me and what I am capable of, and what my goals are.

Personally, besides what my primary care physician wants (lose weight and build muscle), I just wanted to be able to take my shirt off in public, have strength, endurance and the energy necessary to do what I need to do. I mowed my lawn once this year at the beginning of the mowing season. I spent the next day in bed. Why? The vibrations of my weak muscles just wore me out I guess. And I was mowing with a riding mower. I told the guy that I contracted to mow for me, to look for early retirement. 😂

I miss mowing my own yard. I think I do a better job. I certainly, on occasion, would have mowed it more frequency than just once a week.

I realize I am not under 40. I realize I am 70, but with all that I am doing and desire to do, I probably need a whole more today, than I did when I was 30. I think my trainer John wants to get me to the point where I can actually be in some bodybuilding competition. Maybe he wants to show me off? Maybe I will become an example of what can be done with perhaps the oldest person he has ever trained? 😂

I don’t completely understand the blunting of the muscle protein synthesis response to a given dose of protein/amino acids, which has been termed “anabolic resistance.” While the pathophysiology of sarcopenia is undoubtedly complex, anabolic resistance is implicated in the progression of age-related muscle loss and its underlying issues. But as I continue to train in body, soul, and spirit I know that God knows these things and He will bring me to the place that I can understand, apply this information and receive the benefits. Those results are already extraordinary and visible.

Let’s look at a verse of scripture where God compares what may still be considered a medical impossibility (maybe with lasers) and watch God wax poetic to empathize his Word, so we can understand it.

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword [likely a surgeon’s scalpel], piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts [notions] and intents [emotions] of the heart.”

Hebrews 4:12 King James Version (KJV)

What God’s Word is, is living and energetic and powerful. What it does is, it pierces and divides. What it does is, it is a critic of the heart.

How incredibly living, energetic, powerful and sharp is God Word, able to separate soul and spirit. How precise God is to be able to separate joints from the marrow. Can even lasers do this today? But God could do this, thousands of years ago when this was first written. He has always been able to do this, literally. He always is and will be able. How poetic is God! What a magnificent figure of speech paronomasia – rhyming words “notions” and “emotions”

These things are a promise from God’s Word. This is available now, all the way through my life, all that I have left, remaining in this world.

I will put on a new body of immortality (if I am alive when Christ returns).

I will put on incorruption when Christ returns and I am dead.

Either way, I will receive a new spiritual body that is no more subject to faults, failures, imperfection, pain, suffering, aging (degradation, decay and decomposition). If this is a promise and the spirit of God in me is a token, why can I not get better and better every day from now until then, in my body, soul, and spirit? I’ve answered this for me. You make your own decisions.

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

I Corinthians 2:9 KJV

“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

Now look at a prayer. This one is by revelation to the apostle Paul. Prayer is to activate the power of God and bring it into concretion – into manifestation. Why pray for something if it is not available? It is available! No need for revelation. It has already been given. When you pray, pray to activate the power of God.

This next verse here is not how I started with body soul and spirit, but it certainly confirms that I am on the right track for me.

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I Thessalonians 5:23 KJV

BSS_picture

Maybe your body is in top physical condition or you are living off your genetics. Perhaps you are already disciplined in your mind, know how to think, prioritize and somehow your body and soul are in harmony with God and the spirit of God in you? Maybe perhaps, your body and soul are under the direction of the spirit of God in you and God is able to direct your steps by your freewill choice? For me, it has been necessary to train my body, soul, and spirit at age 70, all at the same time. My results to date, have been and are extraordinary. I am not done. God is not done working in me, with me and for me to will and do of His good pleasure.

Part of building muscle is taking amino acids, which builds protein, which build muscle. In the morning I take liquid amino acids from a powder, mixed with water. Three times a day I take .75 ml of liquid amino acid with an eyedropper. This is placed under my tongue. So at least 3 minutes a day, I am not talking. 🤣

I am learning to stay at peace no matter what the world does. I have willfully and purposefully turned off the TV and do not engage in politics. I limit social media. I get outside more often. I read more often (training my soul). I pray more often for you and those I love. I pray with my understanding (even with inspiration sometimes) and I pray perfectly (speak in tongues). I study the Word more. I think more. I think more deeply. I am kinder and more loving. Why? All these things and so much more that time fails me to share with you is because, I want all of me (my body, soul, and spirit) to be well pleasing to God. I am building a mansion of light in me with no roof, where He is welcome to come, chill and rest and enjoy His fruit in me.

At age 70 my blood is better, my blood sugar, my attitude, my body, my soul and my spirit separately and together are greater in quality than in my 20’s or my 30’s. Yes you can, teach new things to old dogs!🤣🐶

I am learning financial abundance, prosperity and good stewardship of the things we have. God is giving us more. I am learning something so well, that it can support myself and my family, even at age 70. The apostle Paul was a saddle maker. He was able to support himself when necessary. Why not me, even at age 70? Yes. I am learning specific knowledge whereby I can do this, be successful at it and anyplace in the world. That’s a whole other series of posts on its own. In one sense, it is a big deal. In another, it is about time. About fifty years after I was given this advice, now I am heeding it.

I am glad, so very glad that God, my Father, never gives up on me.

There are a lot of the personal pronoun I in this post. Rightfully so, I don’t know what God is doing in you to will and do of His good pleasure, only mine.

I write not to boast or shame anyone. I write not to compare myself to anyone. I write to encourage anyone, any man, any woman, and any child of any age—

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

Matthew 7:7 KJV

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

John 8:32 KJV

Those two verses are in essence, part of the administration of law, that Jesus Christ came to fulfill and he did, fulfill the law. But those two verses are also based on universal laws or universal truths, if you would rather use the latter. A universal law or a universal truth is one that is unchanging (never changes) and is available to anyone that will believe. But in closing, what about the Church, the body of Christ, the saints (Heaven’s holiest), the faithful in Christ? We have seen this scripture earlier. Here it is again—

“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

“Now unto him,“ what? Look at the very next verse—

“Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

Ephesians 3:21 KJV

Him who? God. Be what? Glory. Where? In the church (includes me-myself-and-i 😂— body soul, and spirit). For how long? Throughout all the ages and world without end. So what? Amen!

God has already moved. It is our move now.

Your fellow athlete,

Dahni

Appointed

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Appointed

By Dahni
© 2024, all rights reserved

What is an appointment?

1. an arrangement for a meeting : engagement
She has an appointment for an interview tomorrow.

Don’t you just love it when the dictionary uses the word to define the word it is trying to define. 😂

2. equipment, furnishings —usually plural
expensive homes with luxurious appointments

3. a nonelective office or position
holds an academic, state department of a nation’s appointment

4.
a. an act of appointing someone or something : designation
b. law: the designation by virtue of a vested power of a person to enjoy an estate

For our purposes here, we will use definition 3— a nonelective office or position. But please also note that if you have such an appointment, you have an appointment. 😂 If you were appointed to the nonelective office as ambassador, you would be the highest representative of a nation or sovereign to the others across the globe. What is an ambassador?

1. an official envoy especially : a diplomatic agent of the highest rank accredited to a foreign government or sovereign as the resident representative of his or her own government or sovereign or appointed for a special and often temporary diplomatic assignment.

We are Heaven’s ambassadors to the world. Did you even know Christians are ambassadors? We are also saints. Contrary to what many believe, saints are not dead people, they are alive. I realize that if we have ever been to a funeral or a memorial service for one that has died, we are probably familiar with what we think it is and what is called a eulogy.

The word eulogy comes from the Greek word eulogia. It is often translated as “blessing” in the King James Version. It means to “praise.”

“Blessed [eulogētos] be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed [eulogēsas] us with all spiritual blessings [eulogia] in heavenly places in Christ:”

Ephesians 1:3 King James Version

That was three times [completeness] in one verse of scripture that some form of eulogia “praise” is used. Do you think God wants us to think it is important? I do.

1. Praise God
2. God who has (past tense’ praised us with all praise)
3. spiritual praise

I understand how one that may have deceased may be “praised” for what they did in life. But an eulogy biblically is about active praise to one that is alive. God is not dead and the first usage of our word was about praising God. And God (past tense) has already praised us with all spiritual praise. This is a pretty fitting description for a saint (also not one that is dead). What is a saint?

This word has been so been corrupted, I am not going to give the standard dictionary definitions of its meaning. Instead, let us turn to the apex of all revelation and the most personal letter (epistle) ever written to the Church — Ephesians.

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints [hagiois from which the word holy is derived] which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:”

Ephesians 1:1 KJV

The word “saints” is the Greek word [hagiois] a form of [hagion], which means “holy” and God is Holy and God is Spirit (John 4:24). God is Holy Spirit (Greek – Pneuma Hagion or Hagion Pneuma). The articles P and H are correctly capitalized meaning God the Giver. God’s gift is that which he is, holy and spirit or lowercase pneuma hagion p and h. This is important to understand because, saints [hagiois] are “heaven’s holiest” Saints are messengers. There are three types of messengers in or from heaven:

1. angels
2. apostles
3. saints

But of these three the most holy messengers from heaven are “saints”. Saints are “heaven’s holiest,” of all.

Now that we have some understanding of praise and holiness (saints), let us now look again to ambassadors.

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

2 Corinthians 5:20 KJV

“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

II Corinthians 5:18 KJV

By the way, my ministry of reconciliation includes reconciling myself back to God. How can I reconcile others unless I reconcile myself first?

“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway [adokimos – Failing to pass the test, unapproved, counterfeit. By implication, worthless].”

I Corinthians 9:27 KJV

Looking at the order of the verses we just read, God first reconciles us by what Jesus Christ did and God gave us the ministry of reconciling others. I am among the “others”. Next or “Now” we are ambassadors. We are the highest representatives of the sovereign nation of heaven and of Almighty God, to the nations of the world.

Now let me ask you this. If you were chosen to be an ambassador of your nation to represent it to the world—

How would you act?
How would you speak?
What would you wear or how would you dress?
What odiferous aroma would you emit, would you be a sweet-smelling savor?
Would you go out and get new luggage?
Would you get new clothes?
Would you learn a new language or languages?
Would your learn about the culture and customs of the nation you represent?
Would your learn about the cultures and customs of the nations you are sent to?
Would your teeth be clean, straight, polished and white?
Would your breath be fresh?
Would you be healthy?
Would you be prosperous?
Would you be in physical good shape?
Are you able to articulate the messages you are sent to convey?
Are you hospitable, kind and loving?
Do you listen to what others have to say and consider their points of view?
Are you committed?
Are you properly trained to compete and complete what you are given to accomplish?
Are you faithful (not perfect, but faithful)?

These things and more I have in mind when I train as a champion in my body, my soul, and my spirit. I am heaven’s holiest (a saint). I give God praise. He has praised me and He praises me with all spiritual blessings that I can represent him as an ambassador and carry out the ministry of reconciliation as He orders my steps. I Sit completed in him and therefore I can Walk in love, light and with wisdom. And having completed and competed and won every event, I stand victorious in this life and for all eternity, before Him at the Bema where awards are given.

My competition is not against flesh and blood—

“…but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Ephesians 6:12 KJV

Keeping humility, hunger, thirst and my why before my eyes—

“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight [wrestle] I, not as one that beateth [shadow boxes] the air: But I keep under my body [keep it in top shape and form], and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway [not eligible to compete/disqualified].

I Corinthians 9:24-27 KJV

The whole subject of God’s Word is Jesus Christ. He can be seen in every book of the Bible. He is the Red Thread that binds the whole Word of God together from Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21. Chronologically, the book of Thessalonians (a unit of 2) was written first. But it appears last among the seven Church epistles. Thessalonians has only doctrine (right believing) without any reproof or correction. In Thessalonians, Jesus Christ is the believer’s soon glorification. This is our hope.

“For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith [pistis – believing].”

Galatians 5:5 KJV

Do we sit around and wait for the Lord to return? No, we believe we act. Do we arrogantly think that our efforts even though it may result in— so mightily growing the Word of God to the point it prevails in a culture (like Acts 19:20, again) would determine when God has Jesus Christ return? No we wait for the hope of righteousness by believing. We believe, we act, we sit, walk and stand with our appointment as the holiest messengers of heaven, praising God, having been praised by God and in whom, God praises us. What is available?

“The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know [eidomai] what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,”

Ephesians 1:18 KJV

The Greek word “know” is the word eídomai. It is a verb meaning to be seen, appear.

(with the infinitive) to appear, seem to do
(with the reflexive, with dative) to make oneself like
(intransitive) to be like, to look like

The perfect tense is the Greek word (oîda ‘know ”) from which we get the word video.

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

II Corinthians 3:18

Wow, can you imagine standing in front of a mirror and what you see reflected in the mirror is the “glory of the Lord,” which not only is what we are looking at, it literally changes our body and soul and spirit making them glorious with the spirit of God that we will to activate. God can and is willing to preserve our whole body, soul and spirit blameless until Christ Jesus returns.

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Thessalonians 5:23 KJV

This is an incredible, but an available promise for both now and in the future.

I am appointed to this. This is my appointment. So are all the faithful in Christ Jesus. But we need to grow up. We need to mature. We need to train our bodies, souls and spirits diligently and productively, contend legally, and WIN! We need to win every event and complete our course (spiritual race) in this life. How would this be possible or could this be possible without the mastering of our bodies, souls, and spirits in this life and the next?

Until then — here there or in the air, we press on not knowing when the Lord will return. We have an appointment. We are appointed.

“I press [pursue] toward [eis – complete length of a vector. Started with the intention of getting there and to get there] the mark [skopon – from skopeo as a bullseye on a target] for the prize [brabeion – a prize as in the public games] of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:14 KJV

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”

Mathew 24:35, 36 KJV

Appointed2

Click the link for a blank printable certificate

Appointed Certificate

Have a great day working towards finishing your race! 👍

Your fellow athlete,

Dahni

Pentathlon

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Pentathlon

By Dahni
© 2024, all rights reserved

A pentathlon is derived from Greek: combining the words pente (five) and –athlon (competition).

In ancient Greece they developed the Olympic games during times of peace, to keep their soldiers in top physical condition. Our words gym, gymnasium and gymnastic come the Greek word gymnázō from gymnós, “to train, naked or wearing a loincloth”. Most indeed trained naked or with just a loincloth to streamline their speed and performance, reducing friction as much as possible. Many may have chosen or were forced to compete shorn or completely hairless.

These sporting events in a literal, figurative and spiritual sense were to train these ancient Greek athletes in sporting events with one’s full effort, with complete physical, mental, and emotional force like when working out intensely in a gymnasium. It presumes exerting intensely, like a pro-athlete, and full discipline necessary to be in “top working condition’ — full agility, skill, and endurance. This is gained only from constant, rigorous training (exercise). It conveys acquiring proficiency through practice – regular exercise with graduated resistance (the physical element is also included with the spiritual of being in “God’s gymnasium”.

The Ancient Olympic pentathlon (Greek: πένταθλον) was an athletic contest at the Ancient Olympic Games, and other Panhellenic Games of Ancient Greece. Again, its name derives from Greek, combining the words pente (five) and athlon (competition). Five events were contested over one day. Where many historians dispute the order of the events the Biblical order is pretty clear, especially from the literal according to usage. So the order was most likely as follows: wrestling, a short foot race, a long jump, discus and javelin throwing.

The words athlete and athletics are from the Greek word athleó — “I engage, compete, in an (athletic) contest.”

Games_wrestling 1. First, the wrestling match was where you test all your skill, strength, will, and knowledge of your opponent. Wrestling was held in a sandpit at the Olympic Games outside the Temple of Zeus, while the other events were all held in the stadion (or stadium) from which the name of the race was taken. The first to throw their opponent on their back upon the ground won the competition. Hand to hand combat skills or martial arts all come from these military tactics, all used to keep the athlete in top physical condition during times of PEACE! It is possible that they would wrestle five times in the games. Of all the events it was likely, the most popular.

Games_run 2. Next was probably the stadion (a short foot race). This was like wind sprints where you run with all that you have from start to finish over a short distance. This is where the word stadium is derived from. The stadion was a sprint of approximately 200 yards (or about 180 meters), longer than the modern 100 meters sprint, but shorter than all other ancient running events. Speed and endurance from top physical condition made the win against all the other top athletes. It is possible that each athlete were required to run five times.

Games_jump1 3. Next was probably the long jump. A mattock ( pick or rake like tool) was used to soften the soil of the jumping pit. Jumping weights and a sponge bag hung on the wall. The ancient Greek athletes held jumping weights or ‘halters’ of 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs.) to 2 kg (4.4 lbs.) in each hand. Thanks to these halters the athletes jumped further and landed more steadily.

‘Halters’ – jumping weights

Experiments have shown that, with the modern jumping technique, the weights reduce the length of the jump and hinder the run-up. Clearly the Greeks practiced a standing long jump, with their two feet together, in which case the halters do offer an advantage. The take-off is more powerful when swinging the halters forwards. Swinging the weights backwards produces a counterweight while landing, to avoid falling forwards.

Phayllos of Kroton, one of the greatest ancient long jumpers, jumped 55 feet (16,3 m) and because most sandpits were only about 15 m long (less than 50 feet), he landed outside the pit. As a trained athlete cannot reach much more than three meter in a single standing jump, the Greek long jump must have been multiple. They probably made five jumps in a row – the number five being symbolic for the pentathlon, each time a standing jump with both feet together, so not like in the modern “hop, step and jump”. The landing position of the first jump was the starting position of the second. In a modern experiment well-trained athletes, who practiced this technique for eight weeks, did indeed make a fivefold standing long jump of about 15 m. As a multiple jump asks a lot of coordination, jumping was always accompanied by flute music.

Games_discus 4.The next event was the discus throw. The Greek word thyreon was not a shield in the games but a discus. [Ephesians 6:16] It was to display the athlete’s innate strength and motor control. The individual who throws the discus the farthest is the winner. The training involved rigorous exercise routines, specialized diets, and techniques to perfect their throwing skills. The sport not only served as a means of physical competition but also held cultural and symbolic significance, representing the pursuit of excellence and the celebration of human achievement. In the discus throw the athlete must throw a solid bronze disc. They usually weighed around nine pounds, although varied in size. The winner took the longest distance out of five throws.

5. The javelin, like the discus, was thrown for length, but in addition there was a second section of it where they threw for accuracy. The javelin was a lighter, longer version of a war spear. The “ekebolon” was the event won by distance. The “stochastikon” was the event based on accuracy. The javelin throw used a leather strap, called an amentum, rather than having the athlete grip the shaft of the javelin itself. Competitors in the javelin and discus throws were allowed five throws each, and only their longest throw would count.

Games_javelin2

Amentum

Amentum

While it could be argued that certain athletes specialized in certain events and excelled in them, pentathletes were considered superior in overall development and the most well balanced of all the athletes. They could be considered today, the ‘world’s best athletes. Their training was often part of military service and each event represented some type of technique soldiers would use in battle.

Now look at some of these analogies in the Word to athletic competitions.

Games_all2

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish [teleiōsai– finsih] my course [dromon – race] 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

“I have fought a good fight [[ēgōnismai from agon to struggle]], I have finished [teteleka – finish or complete] my course [dromon – race], I have kept the faith:”

Timothy 4:7

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run [trechōmen – should run] with patience the race [agōna – a contest, great effort]
that is set before us,”

Hebrews12:1 KJV

“I therefore so run [run hastility as in a race, a sprint], not as uncertainly; so fight [pykteuō – box] I, not as one that beateth the air: [shadow boxes]:”

I Corinthians 9:26

“And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.”

I Corinthians 9:25

Now remember in the epistle of Ephesians when Paul had the revelation of Ephesians 6:10-17, he personally knew what it was like and was forced to compete in similar athletic events. When the Roman Empire conquered Greece they took much of their culture and this included the games. With these things being understood, now look at the literal according to usage of Ephesians 6:10-17

10. From now on keep on being strong in your sold out commitment to and in our Lord,
and in the willing exerted power of His might for you, for with vigor you can do.

11. Clothe yourself with all the equipment, trappings, and gear of a gymnast of God, with a
view to being able to win standing up against the systematic, scheming methods and
devices of the Devil;

12. Because your wrestling contest is not with a view toward fighting flesh and blood, but
with a view to being distinctly independent of all principalities, including the exercised
authority of sultans who rule and exert their worldly powers by devil spirits in every
place beneath the heavens.

13. Because of this, clothe yourself with the complete equipment, gear, of God, so that you
may be able to withstand and resist the evil one in the contest; and if you prepare
yourself with all the equipment in everything, you will stand firm and erect before the
Bema.*

14. Stand therefore, with your whole self [LOINS] girdled with the truth of the Word of
God and with the strong and pure HEART of your renewed mind, clothed in His
righteousness.

15. And ready to go, with your FEET toughened, having that foothold for standing so you
can carry the gospel of peace.

16. And finally, being well trained and in top shape, take to yourself the discus, that is the
believing rock Christ Jesus, and with the rock, Christ Jesus, you will have power to
outdistance all the javelins of the evil, wicked one.

17. And therefore you wear the glorious crown of wholeness, for you’ve won every contest
with the javelin provide you by God, which is the Word of God.

Ephesians 6:13-17 literal according to usage

* The Bema was a raised platform, a place of judgment not to condemn, but to award prioses or crowns to the winner of some competition.

Have a great day working towards finishing your race! 👍

Your fellow athlete,

Dahni

Update on Body, Soul and Spirit Training

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Update on Body, Soul, and Sprit Training

By Dahni
© 2024, all rights reserved

On Tuesday 8/13/24 I had an appointment with my Endocrinologist Master Trainer and my blood was drawn. She was ecstatic about my progress! I am not actually sure who was more excited, me or Keturah, my Endocrinologist Master Trainer. 😊

For reference, my blood sugar was 6.0 in 2017. I was prediabetic then. My blood sugar in January of this year was 8.8. So now let’s see ahead from 7 years ago and 7 months ago.

Yesterday, everything in my blood panel showed a normal range. My blood sugar was 6.2.

I am NOT burning muscle (losing any) and continue to lose weight. My physical Master Trainer is now working on building muscle and sculpting. Soon I will be glad to take my shirt off. My strength, endurance and energy are returning. I sleep better. I drink more water. My skin is improving. My hair is getting thicker. I have never felt this good, even in my 20’s or 30’s. I am not only enjoying my life, I am told and reminded that I am a joy to be around, a joy to be with, a joy to listen to, and I am learning to enjoy listening more (talking less).

Did I say that I am 70 years old? I am.

Although this is all about me, it could and it should be, ALL ABOUT YOU!

What can God do for you, in you? What can I do for you?

Don’t get mad – Get Glad
Not be jealous – Get Zealous
Don’t be delirious – Get Serious
Don’t stay weak – Get to your Peak
Don’t be a setter – Get Better
Don’t stay stressed – Become the Best
Don’t stay pressed – Get Blessed

Netflix – ‘Race’

Appointment2

Race is a movie about Jessie Owens. It is a great story about of the athlete and his trainer. I highly recommend if you watch, do so with a box of tissues. It is a great soul workout. I spoke in tongues a lot and had a great spiritual workout while watching. I may start running (doing wind sprints) and long jumping? 😊

Is there an ancient Pentathlon (javelin, discus, long jump, short race and wrestling) in my future? I have the notions and the emotions. Hey, that’s biblical and a figure of speech, Paronomasia – “Rhyming words” – Greek enthymēseōn – “notions” and Greek ennoiōn – “emotions”.

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts [notions] and intents [emotions] of the heart.”

Hebrews 4:12 King James Version

Have a great day working towards finishing your race! 👍

Your fellow athlete,

Dahni

Relationships

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Relationships

By Dahni
© 2024, all rights reserved

Relaionships

We often may think or use the word relations, a plural noun that means those we are connected with in some way. I suppose it is the root word for relationship (a noun) and I suppose if you attach an ‘s’ to it relationship it becomes a plural noun too? But the point is, we are connected to, we can relate with those we may be related to that are our relationships. 👍

Psychologists want us to think about 6 different kinds of relationships and 12 characteristics. But I think we for the most part, already know what these are.

Perhaps one thing we all have in common is the frequency of contact we have with our relationships.

It is quite easy to understand a family. Generally, we never think about seeing one another in our family, less than daily. Sure, there are exceptions to this, but the most part, we see each other in our families at least every single day, if not a whole lot more.

Sometimes we never grow out of these connections even though we may be separated by miles, states and even countries. My mother and my grandmother talked to each other daily, at least once for their entire lives. Susan and her mother spoke to each other daily. Susan usually spoke with her Aunt Bobs (perhaps spelled Bab’s or Bob’s, but pronounced Bob’s.

Perhaps you speak or write or in some way communicate to someone you care deeply about, at least once in every 24 hours? It is not difficult to do this if:

You genuinely care about one another
Your are connected in some way (blood, experiences, friendship, something you have in common, and etc.)

As we get older and move into other locations and our own individual and unique lives, our former connections may be difficult to maintain, strain, and even may no longer be as significant, but these former relationships were once important and at least should hold special meaning in the memory. Some endure. Some can be repaired. Some are new.

For myself, I cannot imagine going a single day without connecting to our dog Lady. It is often many times we connect in the course of our day. I know, technically she is a dog, an animal or even a pet, but to me, Lady is not only my responsibility, but a valued member of our little family (Susan and I). Lady and I both enjoy and I will admit we honestly require one another’s presence— a lot.

For myself, I cannot imagine going through even a part of a single day, without connecting to Susan. I love her with all my heart and I both want and need to spend a lot of time with her. She is fun, funny, compliments me in so many ways, an heir with me of the grace of life, my friend, my wife, my sister in Christ.

For myself, there are others— very important others in my life that I connect with on a regular basis. I would not be here were it not for the influence of many a master’s touch, upon my life.

For myself, I cannot imagine going much more than one hour without thinking about or connecting with God, Elohim the creator, and my Father. I can call Him Abba, Father. We have a special relationship. I am not only born again of his seed (spirit), I am adopted (predestined and chosen by Him) because, He knew I would believe.

I know that lately I have said I am on this path of becoming a champion in my body, soul, and spirit. I know that I have been and still am, working the epistle of Ephesians. I know that Ephesians chapter six contains these intense and detailed figures of speech, amazing athletic imagery we can see even if we are watching the present Olympic summer games. I know I have shared and said recently, that I am trying to learn to walk in Love and not ask God for anything. I need to clarify and share what I just learned, earlier this morning.

I speak in tongues a lot. I am aware of myself doing it. For one benefit of many, it is perfect prayer. I don’t always know what you may need when I pray for you, but God does. I don’t always really know what I need when I pray for me, myself and I, but God does. God communicates with his sprit in me especially whenever I speak in tongues. So I thought, why should I ever ask God for anything? If I walk in love, I should not ever have to ask God for anything, it’ll just be there. But God cannot be put into a box! Well, I suppose we could and because he loves us, He would go to the box if that is the only place He could go to communicate, if that is His only choice available? Let it not be so with me. At least it has been this way mostly, until this morning.

I had to replace the cylindrical water filter in my refrigerator. Such and easy-peezy nice- and-ezzy simple thing right? Open the drawer, pull out the old and push in the new, slide it over, shut the door and then run about 2 gallons of water before using. Only every 6 months, no big deal right? It was not simple or easy for me this morning.

To save money I bought 3 filters. This should cover us for about 18 months. I went through two of them this morning. I broke one new one trying to get it installed correctly. Engineered to be easy and simple to install? I don’t think they had a picture of me when they invented this. 😂

OK call me dumb or slow, but their simple-easy is based on one thing and one thing only, to install it, it must be installed perfectly. Oh really? The last time I checked the only one I know that communicates perfectly to a child, a fool or even one of average intelligence is— God.

“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 King James Version (KJV)

Well, God certainly had His hands full this morning, with me. As I wrote earlier, I screwed up one brand new filter and was working on screwing up the second one. Ask God? Oh, no, I didn’t want to do that. Walk in love right and it’ll just be there right?

A simple 10-second install was way beyond at least 20 minutes for the Dahni. I struggled and I cussed and apologized for that. Then I decided to ask God to help me line up this damn filter perfectly and I included, “In the name of Jesus Christ.!”

Remember when God said to Solomon, “Ask what I shall give thee..”— I Kings 3:5″

So I thought, Solomon even though a king, I am a true child of God. Can I not ask God too? So I did.

One time and done. Installed and done. Thank you God.

Relationships if not daily or at least frequently is not much more than like a once in while thing. That’s likely based on trouble, pain, calamity or some perceived emergency. If your relationship or your God cannot help with simple things, whatever makes us think it is possible to get big things?

For me, I will just keep speaking in tongues, (conversing with Him daily) praising God for all He has already done and asking Him what I can do for Him. And I now have no hesitance in asking Him for help. It will save me a lot of time, naughty words and trouble. It is after all, connecting with my relation’s every day in whatever way.—

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

Champions 5— Final

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Champions 5— FINAL
(Body, Soul, and Spirit series)

By Dahni
© 2024, all rights reserved

Champions6

“When the Athlete is ready, the Master Trainer will appear.”

Dahni

In this final part of our series, the focus here is the spiritual master trainer. I am blessed to have such a one. For my part, I was a ready athlete waiting for the master trainer to appear. I have them for my body, soul and spirit. Maybe this is not your need, but these three have found me now, a ready athlete, ready for the touch of master trainers.

In the final part of our series we turn to the greatest revelation ever written to the church, the epistle of Ephesians.

Albeit interesting that the summer Olympic Games of 2024 just happened to be running while we have been dealing with this subject. Let it suffice to merely write it is just interesting, nothing much more.

I think that there are only three things that the modern day Olympics are even worth thinking and talking about.

1. The origin of the Olympics began in ancient Greece during times of peace. These games which were patterned after the techniques of soldiers, were designed to keep their soldiers in top physical condition, during times of peace. It is significant that these competitions or athletic games were done in times of peace and not war. So you go ahead and become a soldier of some lord somewhere if you so desire. I will rather compete as a champion trained athlete of the spirit.

2. The Roman Empire defeated the Greek Empire. We all pretty much know this. They adopted much of the Greek culture, including the games. These athletic events by top trained athletes were common during the times of the apostle Paul. The book of Acts is the bridge that connects the four gospels to the 7 church epistles. There is a plethora (super or over-abundance) of examples of these games or competitions in these pages of scriptures.

It was the and is the 7 church epistles and specifically the epistle of Ephesians that Paul, by God working in him, gave us the greatest revelation ever given to the Church. In truth, in Colossians 1:25, this revelation was given to— “fulfill the word of God”

It is from these backgrounds that God reveals this athletic imagery, comparing athletic games with this spiritual competition in the sixth chapter of Ephesians. Our words— “athletes”, “athletic” and etc, are from Greek words in the Bible and in the book of Ephesians, we will be looking at. So too are the words “gymnasium”, “gym” and “gymnastics” also, from Greek and are in the Bible and the book of Ephesians.

This intense struggle is not about warfare, it is about a competition during times of peace. This is the administration of Grace in which you and I live today. We do not live during the law. We do not live during the times of the four gospels. We are not in some spiritual war. We are not soldiers of the lord. And we certainly do not live in the times of the future end of times.

I don’t care if these were heathen games worshiping a plethora of gods in their honor. I don’t care if the rulers, especially the Roman emperors just gave the people sports and interesting stuff (shocking stuff) and food to appease them and keep them all allegiant to them. I don’t care that there were martyrs of Christians and Christians that were killed for kicks and grins. People initially fear and seek to destroy and justify their actions, over what they do not understand.

So I don’t care what the modern day Olympics are, their means to increase the economics of the host country, the pride of the nations or the weird goings-on that many are offended by. Celebrate the fitness and the skills of the athletes if you want to and as we should, for this is what they were supposed to be about— sports events to develop and grow the skills of athletes during times of peace, in preparation for potential conflicts (wars) in the future. Competition was to test and grow ones abilities and their skills. The better the athlete, the more skillful they became. The more skillful the athlete the harder others would train to compete with them. It is a time-tested strategy that it is iron that sharpens iron. If you want to become better, work with those that are better than you are and you will become greater, a champion athlete yourself.

But what is it, about this spiritual competition?

3. Spiritual competition is compared with real athletic competitions in the day in which this epistle was written. Spiritual equipment is compared with equipment actually used by athletes in the day and times of Ephesians. In ancient times there was the pentathlon.

Pentathlon

Pentathletes 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.

A pentathlon was 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, followed by the stadion (a short foot race) and wrestling.

Today in similarity, the Olympics have the decathlon. It is a combined event in athletics consisting of 10 track and field events. The word “decathlon” was formed, in analogy to the word “pentathlon”, from Greek δέκα (déka, meaning “ten”) and αθλος (áthlos, or αθλον, áthlon, meaning “contest” or “prize”). Events are held over two consecutive days. The winners are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged on a points system in each event and not by the position achieved. This competition is done mainly by male athletes, while female athletes typically compete in the heptathlon.

Traditionally, the title of “World’s Greatest Athlete” has been given to the person who wins the decathlon.

Then or now, these athletes and athletic competitions were done by the best, the most dedicated, most skilled and most trained athletes.

An Overview of the Great Truths of Ephesians:

Ephesians is the fourth epistle in order given in most translations. Four is the number of creative works. It is God connecting with and working with his creation. Those born again are new creations the first moment they confess with their mouths the Lord Jesus and believe that God raised him from the dead — Romans 10:9, 10. This requires study to be able to trust the integrity and accuracy of God’s Word, in order that to believe (a verb which connotes action).

Ephesians is a doctrinal epistle. After Romans, Ephesians is the second doctrinal epistle. The number two biblically, is the number meaning something is established. This doctrinal epistle establishes the mature believer that wills to walk according to God’s Word and specifically, ‘The Mystery’ as it is first revealed in the book of Ephesians.

There are three prayers in the book of Ephesians. The number three is “completeness.”

Ephesians 1:15-22
Ephesians 3:14-21
Ephesians 6: 18

There is a doctrinal side of Ephesians (Ephesians chapter 1-3) and a practical side, chapters four, five and six.

SIT, WALK, STAND

In the normal course of activity, one would stand, then walk and then sit. In the order of Ephesians, first we are to SIT, then WALK and finally, to STAND.

SIT

“Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”

Ephesians 2: 5, 6 King James Version (KJV)

Because of all that Jesus Christ has already done; already accomplished he has ascended up far beyond the outer edges of the heavens and God has set him at his own right hand. He fulfilled the law when his last words on the crucifixion tree were, “It is finished.” All was complete when God had raised him up with a new body and made him sit on His right hand. In Colossians 2:10, we “are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:”

When he was seated, we in God’s perspective were seated with Jesus Christ, also. There is nothing more that a believer needs to do. It is already done. It has already been done. It has already been accomplished. This is why Ephesians tells us to SIT!

WALK

We WALK according to the practical side of Ephesians beginning in chapter 4—

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)”

Ephesians 4:1-10 KJV

There are almost 400 times in the Bible where some form of the word “walk” is found. It would be a great exercise to just look at these in the seven church epistles — Romans, I & II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and I & II Thessalonians. But for our purpose here, here is a list of the word “walk” just in the epistle of Ephesians.

1 “walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience — Ephesians 2:2
2. “walk” in them [good works] — Ephesians 2:10
3. “walk” worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called — Ephesians 4:1
4. “walk” not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind — Ephesians 4:17
5. “walk” in love— Ephesians 5:2
5. “walk” as children of light: — Ephesians 5:8
6. “walk” circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise:— Ephesians 5:15

Note: when we get into the imagery of the spiritual competition, remember “walk”, which indicates motion. In athletics we hear a lot about the “core” and the core is the midsection, abdominal muscles, our thighs, and back. This core must be strong in order to support our other muscles for our activities. It is the action center of our spiritual competition – hands and feet. This refers to the impartation manifestations of the spirit – signs, miracles and wonder.

Besides the nine manifestations of the spirit and the 9 fruit of the spirit given to every believer, God gave also gave to the church, gifts ministries.

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”

Ephesians 4:11 KJV

The next verse not only gives the three-fold reason for these ministers, it is how we are to know if our spiritual master trainers are walking according to God’s Word. These are their requirements—

“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry,
for the edifying of the body of Christ:”

Ephesians 4:12 KJV

The next verse tells us when the ministries end—

“Till [or until] we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man [male or female, adult or child], unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:”

Ephesians 4:13 KJV

These next verses give the WHY of these ministries —

“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

Ephesians 4: 14-16 KJV

I have already given a lot of verses of scripture for us to read. It is a great idea if we would just read the entire epistle of Ephesians, before we continue.

One of the greatest ways to understand the Word is to read it. Read it exactly where it is written and what is written. Read for its context both immediate and remote. Then go back with your research tools to understand languages and cultures, Greek and Hebrew words, geography, geology, history and especially, figures of speech and more research tools and skills as required.

STAND

After we SIT in all the completeness that we have in Christ we are to WALK. Finally, we are to STAND. Lets just read together, this whole section of Ephesians beginning in chapter 6:10 —

10 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

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

12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

13 “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;”

16 “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”

Ephesians 6:10-17 KJV

Even from the King James Version we can immediately see that the imagery of warfare is not consistent. In verse 11 we read “whole armour” but in vs. 12 we see “wrestle,” which is a definite athletic sport. For sure it was based on hand-to-hand combat, but fighting and wrestling are two distinct things. Dropping down to verse 15, ask this question— if this section is describing weapons of war, then why would it read “the gospel of peace” and not of war?

The whole situation is simply resolved by understanding from the Greek texts, these words and this imagery is about an athletic competition (times of peace) and not a military event during warfare. I encourage you, one and all to study this section using Strong’s or Young’s analytical concordance. Look at the Greek words.

Think about contending legally and lawfully in the games. Think about the gear and equipment of a skilled gymnast. Think about the discipline and commitment necessary to become a champion athlete and finally, having done all, STAND.

Stand before the Bema, which is the judgement seat where awards, trophies, medals and as in these games, crowns or garlands of laurel leaves are given to the winners, the champions. For as a champion, you have won every event and are to be rewarded in this life when and where possible and in the next for all eternity. Train and compete as champion athletes of the spirit.

Click on the PDF link for an expanded translation of Ephesians 6:10-17

ExpandedTranslationEphesians6.10-17 (1)

Compete and contend lawfully in this life daily and for as long as we can in this life or the next. Finish the course or the calling that God has called us each to compete in and complete and stand as winners, champions crowned as athletes of the spirit.

“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all,
but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.”

I Corinthians 9:24 KJV

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”

Hebrews 12:1 KJV

Live your life from this day forward, training your body, your mind and your spirit that you may also say as the apostle Paul—

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

II Timothy 4:7, 8 KJV

Summing it all up —

” Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

Ephesians 6: 18-20 KJV

When Paul said he was in “bonds” it is both figurative and literal.

“But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things: Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts. Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Ephesians 6: 21-24 KJV

It is interesting that the Word never mentions that most of the book of Acts and the seven church epistles never really talks about by reference or name of the original 12 apostles. Judas we know hung himself after the ascension of Jesus Christ. Peter had a good start and the half brother of Jesus, James started out pretty good. But the word never mentions what happened to the other apostles ordained by Jesus Christ.

The book of Ephesians was written to the Ephesians and “the faithful in Christ.” This would include those “faithful” today and mature, grown up or growing up into the head, which is Jesus Christ. This can be said of Tychicus. And not only was he a faithful man, but one that was intimate and familiar with the lifestyle of the apostle Paul.

We should be familiar with our instructors (ministers) and they with us in the Word and in this world. Not only should we train to Stand with our bodies, souls and spirits (speaking in tongues and operating the other manifestations of the spirit (all 9 all the time) it is important to record how they lived. This is more that just quoting what they have said and say, but how have they lived. How are they living? What are the examples that they have shown us and that they show us personally so that each of us can be—

Perfected spiritually
For the work of the ministry
For the edifying (building up) of the body of Christ

It is good to chart our course, our race and pen them to our journals (journeys).

“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all,
but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.”

I Corinthians 9:24 KJV

These words and those that follow, by the apostle are not just words. He understood the competition. He himself was forced to compete in the games. So when he wrote the following by revelation, he also knew what the words meant because, he experienced them—

“And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air [shadow boxing]: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway [be eliminated from the competition].”

I Corinthians 9: 25-27 KJV

And in closing, remember that this epistle, this, the greatest revelation ever given to the Church was written in Rome while Paul was under house arrest. He was in Rome waiting to appear before the Roman emperor. The idea of the modern tether of an electronic ankle bracelet to monitor a prisoner’s movement is nothing compared to the apostle Paul’s situation. Paul was literally chained to a Roman soldier while he dictated to some scribe, the epistle of Ephesians, part of which we just briefly and FREELY read.

Paul House Arrest

Paul dwelt in his own house in Rome and received visitors like Tychicus that spent time with Paul; knew him well. Tychicus was able to communicate the life of Paul. Tychicus was likely the one that first delivered the Epistle given by revelation to Paul and that it was Tychicus that brought it first to the Ephesians.

Look at all these examples and the truths we have. Still today, we are living in the administration of grace and in times of peace. We are FREE to train and contend in this spiritual competition and crowns await us. Let us train and be victorious as champion athletes of the spirit. Let us press on for the mark [bullseye] of this high calling in Christ. Let us finish our course. Let us SIT, WALK & STAND with our BODIES, SOULS & SPIRITS at the Bema, the judgement seat where awards [crowns] are given.

Thank you for being here. We will likely return to more about speaking in tongues and bestowing more abundant honor and renouncing hidden works of darkness [receive treasures of darkness], discerning of spirits so that we are not deceived and make an impact in this world and thwart the plans, purposes and intents of our adversary, the devil, the god of this world [not of you and I or the cosmos].

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

Champions 4— Walk in Love

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Champions 4— Walk in Love
(Body, Soul, and Spirit series)

By Dahni
© 2024, all rights reserved

Champions6

I have heard this taught. I have heard it said. I have seen it read many times. If we walk in the love of God, we do not need to ever ask God for anything, it will just be there.

I cannot answer and say that I have completely understood nor have I personally experienced this, until just a few days ago.

Recently, Susan and I hosted in our home for several days, three people from Australia. Susan had met two of the three before, when she visited Australia years ago. On our first trip together to Australia, I used to walk by the home of two of them, almost daily for a month. But my first time in actually meeting them was this past week. Yesterday was their last morning with us. I miss them already. The couple, Patrick, and Kris were here with Kris’ sister Mari. All three of them in their own right are professional or avid photographers.

It is our manner (Susan and I) to be hospitable. Though we worked hard and heartily together to prepare, it really is not difficult to do something you love. We both love to entertain. We both love to serve.

I realize that you may be wondering at this point, what does our hospitality have to do with being a champion in body, soul and spirit, or walking in love?

Susan and I have a great fondness for hummingbirds. We have fed them for years. We count ourselves blessed whenever we see these beautiful, quick and elusive birds. It is most often early in the morning or at the cool of the evening. That’s when we are most likely to see them. It is said that they need to feed every 20 minutes. This is necessary because their speed and quickness requires energy and they burn through quickly from the nectar we set out. Other neighbors’ report seeing them in more quantity and frequency than we do.

Birds1 Perhaps about a week before our guests arrived, I finally saw the Baltimore oriole that Susan had seen on a day, long before I did. Susan bought a special feeder and food (special fruit jam) just for the one. I moved this feeder to hang between the two hummingbird feeders. Then it was a matter of hope, wait and see.

Each of our guests took turns sitting by the door on our front porch. There was no screen on the door to obstruct their view.

Two days ago, three different kinds of hummingbirds came to our feeder for nectar, a lot! There was a small black one, a small green one and a ruby throated hummingbird that seem to appear out of nowhere. It was as if they were just there to pose for our guests. Even the Baltimore oriole made several showings. It was as if these birds were called specifically for portraits.

Birds2

In this series of Champions— body, soul and spirit, we have been looking at these concepts to understand them better and ultimately, to have them all work together, synergistically.

Attitude makes a difference. The right attitude towards this pursuit makes all the difference. Hunger and thirst physically, mentally and emotionally (the soul) and spiritually must be in balance and intense. We must be hungry. We must be thirsty. For myself, I desire to always be empty, so that I can always grow and get more.

Whenever two of more people or things are together, someone or something has to be in charge. For my part, I am actively seeking to freely make myself available. This I choose to do willingly by proper arrangement, to obey the will of God. To do this requires time and effort. But I am willingly glad to do these things.

If the Word is profitable for doctrine (How to believe rightly), reproof (for when I practice error), and correction for when my errors have become habitual), and the Word is, all of these things, I need them all. Whether or not someone else needs to reprove and correct me or I do it myself, I want these things so that I am able to become a mature, seasoned and champion athlete.

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”

I John 5:3 King James Version (KJV)

At the core of all is humility. I pray for humility often. I pray to remember that it is both by grace that I have been saved, made whole and forgiven and that I can think and do for others, like what has been done for me, unto me and as it is doing in me.

I know that I may or may not be able to become a champion physically, due to my limitations or in my soul, but spiritually, I put my trust and effort in God. He alone can make me the best champion in my body, soul and spirit possible for me to be that I so fervently desire and am becoming.

In this champion mindset I am seated with him. It is a done thing. I can sit. I can walk in love. Part of this is being charitable (agape -the love of God in the renewed mind), phileo – love of people, family, friends and folks I meet or haven not met yet. I can love them with storge (that storehouse of familiarity). I can love them with eros love to excite and pleasure their five senses. All of these I can do and think of when I think of hospitality and being hospitable.

The sign over our mantle is— ‘The Gathering Place. It is the name of our home. It refers to the gathering together in Thessalonians, when the dead in Christ will rise first and then they which are alive when Jesus Christ returns. The Gathering Place to me refers to the love of the believer like Philemon and a place where we can gather in joy. I want the lamp of God to be always lit here figuratively to reflect the warmth, the light and the presence of God. Over our back door for all to see if they look up and read—

“And now abideth faith [believing], hope, charity [agape – the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation], these three; but the greatest of these is charity. [agape – the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation]“

I Corinthians 13:13 KJV

I want people to come here and be blessed. Though they may not understand it or acknowledge it, I want people to feel like they are in the heart of God’s love. Well, this is our heart anyway. This is our mindset. It is quite easy to work this way, when it is the desire of your heart. It is not work to do what one loves. It is a beautiful thing to receive the many benefits of your giving. It is nothing short of incredible when those in your care are appreciative and so touched, they in essence give you the opportunity to give. That is the servant’s greatest gift, to be able to give. The servant’s greatest thanks is for others allowing them to give.

Someone has to give, but equally important is someone must be willing and able to receive.

In closing this post out, I have given some things that guide Susan and I. The attention is off of ourselves when we focus on others. Instead of asking God what He can do for me, I try to stay focused on what I can do for Him who has done everything for me. I think about how I can praise Him. And yes, how can I bless Him. It is the same with serving others. And unless people are nuts and God were cruel, how would you respond to someone that thinks like this and focuses on doing for others that which would bless them?

So now in finality, we return to our hummingbird and oriole feeders. More hummingbirds and more appearances of orioles came within view of everyone on our porch, for a very long time. All three of our skilled Australian photographers took picture after picture. I cannot wait to see copies of their work. I am looking forward to their pictures on Facebook or when they get home to Australia. It is with great difficulty that I try and capture with my mere words here, what a totally unexpected event this was. The birds came frequently to be photographed. To me, it was nothing short of a miracle.

I have thought a lot about this experience. I cannot find any purposed, alternative, or logical reason for this. God blessed us in this that we could bless others.

It does not matter if people are believers or not. Do we love like this, to everyone that we encounter?

God is the host of my life, my heart and our home. He made sure that blessing our guests would also bless us. God is the master trainer of hospitality.

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

Champions 3

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Champions 3
(Body, Soul, and Spirit series)

By Dahni
© 2024, all rights reserved

Champions6 In continuing our series here , we continue with body and soul— physical and mental training for an athlete in training by Master Trainers, Amy and Tammy.

“When the athlete is ready, the master trainer appears.”

Dahni

Nutrition and contour sculpting of its exact and customization for the individual may be new to the science and art of epigenetics? It may be new to me? It may be new to you? But its sound and logical principles have been here since the beginning of time and the creation by God of the heavens (anyplace above earth) and the earths (multiple earths).

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

Genesis 1:1 Kings James Version (KJV)

Whenever this was, it was in the “beginning.” God created the heaven (universe) and the earth, earth(s). This is the very first figure of speech in the Bible. It is called anadiplosis or like sentence endings or beginnings. The Greek preposition ana (again) with diplous (double) in Genesis is used to call our attention to and emphasize one thing (the creation) of heaven and earth, and in the very next verse, the very next figure of speech leaves out one— heaven.

“And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”

Genesis 1:2 KJV

The words “without form and void” in Hebrew are the words tohū vā bohū. We cannot see the greatness of this verse without first understanding the figure of speech from and written in the Hebrew language, which is God’s marking His Word with what He wants emphasized. A figure of speech is a grammatical usage of words, which are considered to be truer to true than a literal statement of fact. The Greeks catalogued some 225 of these and the Bible uses around 212 with as many as forty varieties under one figure. Figures of speech are scientifically precise and mathematically accurate. There is no guesswork involved, no private interpretation. Only around 40-50 figures of speech may be taught and understood by perhaps only PhD’s in English. Surely we can see, understand and appreciate knowing figures of speech, especially as those used in scriptures.

The figure of speech for the Hebrew words tohū vā bohū is Praonomasia or Rhyming Words. What is emphasized here by rhyming these words is that the earth became a wasteland. Something happened of a cataclysmic event to God’s original creation that made it without form and void. It was the battle in heaven among Michael and Gabriel and Lucifer where no place was found anymore in heaven, and Lucifer was cast out and he drew a 1/3 of the host of heaven with him. Lucifer, now known as the devil, “the god of this world” and his once angelic beings, corrupted and now called the devil spirits, fell to the earth and turned it into a wasteland, “without form and void.”

“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!”

Isaiah 14:12 KJV

“And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth:…”

Revelation 12:4a KJV

“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

So God the creator in this the second earth, begins to bring back anew. He did not create it, he just brought something new by first bringing back light.

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

Genesis 1:3 KJV

“And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.”

Genesis 1:4,5 KJV

Light, physical light has both properties of wave and particle. Light gives every living thing its distinct shape, form and color and cause matter to adhere. Our bodies are made up of light. There is no doubt when adding light, as in low blue light in the form of lasers (non-burning), and LED and infrared light there is no wonder that we respond favorably, medically and even miraculously, to what we are made out of—light.

Light and dark or 24 hours produce what we know as night and day. But certain things happen when the light (day) is present and are not present as much or slow in the night. This produces our Circadian rhythm or sleep cycles.

We need sleep as we need light and earth and more not yet mentioned here. Our bodies are made up of the same elements found in the soil or dirt, formed in particular ways. There is no wonder that we respond favorably, medically and even miraculously to what we are made out of—dirt. By proper and balanced nutrition, we can also heal, recover and replenish ourselves.

Increasingly science agrees with the poetry of direct human experience: we are more than the atoms and molecules that make up our bodies, but beings of light as well. Biophotons are emitted by the human body, can be released through mental intention, and may modulate fundamental processes within cell-to-cell communication and DNA.

When you hear about bioluminescence, your mind probably jumps to deep-sea creatures like the anglerfish, which uses millions of bacteria to make a light appear in front of its head to catch prey and illuminate the imagination of dreams and nightmares. But what about humans?

According to a study conducted in 2009 by Japanese researchers, human bioluminescence in visible light exists – it’s just too dim for our weak eyes to pick up on.

“The human body literally glimmers,” the team from the Tohoku Institute of Technology wrote in their study published in PLOS One. “The intensity of the light emitted by the body is 1,000 times lower than the sensitivity of our naked eyes.”

Contour Light Therapy

Contour light therapy or Contour sculpting show studies that when fat cells are exposed to a 635nm light, it creates a reaction of the fat cells, removing them from the body as permanent waste!

Because the Contour Light device delivers up to 100 times the light energy of competing systems, the fat cells are bathed in the highest level of 635nm energy, providing the deepest and most complete exposure to the light. The treatment is painless; there is no heat or discomfort involved and no risk to the patient or the operator. It’s completely safe and totally effective.

The body is either in fat-burning mode or in fat-storage mode:

Contour Light opens the fat cells allowing the fat to exit the cell
Contour Light liquifies the fat
Contour Light causes the fat cells to shrink
Contour Light accelerates fat-burning
Contour Light speeds up the metabolism

One 25-minute treatment equals seven 30-minute cardio workouts.

The results?

Incredible spot reduction on the arms, neck, back, breasts, saddlebags, inner thighs, buttocks, knees- virtually anywhere you have excess fat. Would you rather work hard or smart?

The Contour Light treatment is pain-free, with no heat or discomfort, and is safe to operate for both the patient and the technician. It has also shown to be beneficial in treating body numbness, pain, burning, and tingling, which is why they also use the LED light machine to treat Neuropathy.

My own description of this experience is that it seems spiritual. It is healing. I pray while my body is subjected to this light. It is like laying in the sun on the beach. Soft music is played. I had some pain in my side. I assume it was a cyst on or in my right kidney. It was gone and has never returned. My second session I’ve had what seemed like a scratch on my left eye for over a month. It has gone now and has not returned. This is indeed, healing.

Contour sculpting reduces enzymes, which can cause inflammation and pain. And when done, you step on a shaker machine for about ten minutes, which this vibration therapy supports your lymphatic system and accelerates your fat loss results.

The process has been compared to fat cells being like the size of grapes. Contour sculpting shrinks these same fat cells to like the size of raisons. Because of this, it is recommended that we drink lots of water before and after therapy and it is suggested that we not eat for two hours.

Contour Light can produce results by itself. Of course, if you’re already under another weight loss program or if you exercise, Contour Light is the perfect treatment to speed up your process and bring extra sustainability to your exercising routines.

Contour Light anti-aging treatment is capable of:

Reducing pore size.
Repairing sun-damaged skin.
Dramatically reducing wrinkles and fine lines.
It lightens age spots and under-eye circles.
It’s an effective treatment for acne.

*Contour Light® is FDA-Cleared for both Body Contouring (circumference reduction), temporary pain relief from arthritis and muscle/joint pain, and locally increased blood circulation.

Water was mentioned. Let us return to Genesis.

“And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.”

Genesis 1:6 KJV

The firmament is anyplace above the earth. Note the word “midst” There are waters above the “firmament” and waters beneath. Similar to our birth we are surrounded by waters. Water is essential to life. Most of the human body is water, with an average of roughly 60%. The amount of water in the body can change slightly with age, sex, and hydration levels.

“And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.”

Genesis 1: 12

Drinking more water now than I perhaps ever had. I drink it chilled, not lukewarm or with ice. My skin recovers from dry skin now. My hair is thicker. I sleep better.

Besides food and herbs for wellness and health, these plants give off oxygen (02) as their by-product. They take in C02 and by the sun they grow and reproduce. This C02 primarily comes from life forms that breathe oxygen in and exhale C02 out. I am learning to breath in and out correctly. I never knew before – why or how. It is a symbiotic relationship.

The food we eat can lose fat and build muscle. My current diet is doing this by increasing the amount of protein I consume daily, while reducing or eliminating carbohydrates and sugars.

The point of all of this is that God knew what He was doing when he created, formed and made – body, soul and spirit. He knew and understood the need and importance of balance and earth, water, air, food, fuel and all the things that His creation would require to sustain life, recover life, heal it and cause it to prosper.

We are or can be champions in the making in our bodies, souls and spirits. God has provided for all things necessary for not only life (Greek zōe – life in all its manifestations, but life which is, more than abundant. Science and technology only recently have begun to understand and apply what God knew all along in Genesis, when he formed our bodies from the dust of the ground. [dirt, elements in the soil]. He knew when He made our souls giving us breath life. And He knew by creating spirit that we could be tripartite beings, champions of the body, soul and spirit.

The two spiritual forces that govern or control all life is either the god of this world or the God and Father of Jesus Christ. All of these things are set before us in—

“The thief [the god of this world, the devil] cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life [zōe], and that they might have it more abundantly.”

John 10:10 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

My Tongue (Taming it)

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My Tongue
(Taming it)

By Dahni
© 2024, all rights reserved

Champions6 Part of becoming a champion in— body soul and spirit is to strengthen and control one’s thinking. This certainly includes controlling what does and does not roll off the tongue and out of the mouth. The world thinks of this as “bridling the tongue.” Well guess what world, you got this from the Bible.

Controlling the thinking definitely involves controlling one’s tongue. We have to think to speak and we have to think before we speak. But just because you or I think something does not mean, it should always be spoken, even if it is right. It may need to be right for the situation and right for the person and at the right time. If this does not cry out to God to make it be known what is “right” then what does? Wait until we see that no one can control the tongue or bridle it (figuratively). Oh NO, now what?

Now I could have included some cartoon-ish artist’s idea of actually putting a bridle on a giant tongue and riding it like a cowboy would a horse.

I could have shown photographs of what all mostly have, “bridles”. The “bridle” of the tongue is a fold of thin tissue that runs along the middle line and connects the bottom of the mouth with the lower surface of the tongue. It is called frenulum (pronounced fren-u-lum). The function of the frenulum of the tongue is the fixation of the tongue to the soft tissues of the oral cavity. Without this connection our tongues would just fall out. That reminds me of another Greek word laleó, which by definition means using the voice (including the tongue) without reference to the words being spoken. In classical Greek “I talk, I chatter…” In profane (non-religious or non-sacred) literature it is used like on a hunt when the dogs are turned loose on the game. So an unbridled tongue in the vernacular would be a running off of the mouth. 🤣

I could have shown what is common, a ‘short bridle’ called ankyloglossia (pronounced ank-ee-lo-gloss-cia) of the tongue. This sometimes occurs with some babies and usually resolves itself as they get older. If not resolved, it must be surgically altered. If this short ‘bridle’ is not resolved (the frenulum of the tongue is not allowing the tongue to fully extend far enough, this is called glossoptosis (pronounce gloss-sah-toe-sis) and can affect the baby’s ability to breathe, eat and swallow.

I could have shown pictures of people actually cosmetically optioning the piercing this bridle with their own added-bridles made of surgical stainless steel, gold and even diamond studs. Yes, I could have shown the corruption of this figure of speech by those who actually think this is cool or attractive and want a ‘bridle” of different shapes and sizes, inserted horizontally through their real ‘bridles’. Why? Why would they do this? Do they think they are taming their tongues by adding precious metals or gems to their “bridles?” I really don’t care why.

I could have shown illustrative or photographic examples, but I didn’t. Not understanding the difference between what is literal and what is figurative in the Bible, people wander aimlessly.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish [wander aimlessly]:”

Proverbs 29:18a Kings James Version (KJV)

The bridle in our mouth is a real thing. We are usually born with one and it keeps our tongues from falling out of our mouths. In a sense, we are born to have our tongues bridled. Not only as we shall see is taming the tongue here a figure of speech, but also only God can bridle or tame the tongue.

For my most of my life, I have talked a lot. I write a lot. I have confessed that I just get excited about things and just want to share them with others. I often forget if I have told the same story a million times.

So what?

If I try to share with anyone what I like and maybe it is good for others, but they do not want it, need it or deserve it, am I not just trying to force my will down their throats? I wouldn’t like that and neither does anyone else.

I may disturb you and you may roll your eyes if I have told you the same story a thousand times. But if you told me a story even for the 10,000th time, I’d probably be glad for you that your are connecting with some fond memory of your past.

Now I need to learn to ask God whether it is OK to share, share what, with whom, how much and when to stop. I can now see that too much information from me can be overwhelming to others. And without restraint, I can and have said things I should not have said. By the way, the freedom to say whatever I want, with whomever I want and whenever I want, is not freedom of speech.

Maybe things are said to the wrong people or at the wrong time? Perhaps they hurt others, though that was and is never my intention.

So what?

Have you ever heard or read that “The road to hell is paved with good intentions?” Well I have, many times. It is about time that I do something about this.

I don’t talk to as many people as I have in the past. It’s OK. I talk to God more anyway.

I rarely if ever watch the news anymore. I don’t seldom engage in politics anymore. That’s OK I read more of the author of truth that knows all about the past, the present and the future.

I like all kinds of music, but for the most part, I now mostly listen to soft instrumental classical music in the background or I play and write and sing my own spiritual songs. I like it. My Lady dog likes it. Here lately, Susan has been waking up in the morning hearing my music in her mind. I know God likes it and I give him all the credit for the inspiration (in-spirit action).

These things help me, keep me calm and quiet. I need that. I am training myself to be quiet. I am a champion in the making and so is my tongue —

“But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”

James 3:8 KJV

Oh NO, If no man [no man, woman or child] and that includes me, can tame the tongue, what can I do? What is the purpose of this entire post? But wait, there is some great news— really great!

Only God can tame my tongue, but I must be willing to allow it. I do. This is available.

“A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.”

Proverbs 29:11 KJV

Only God can make one wise. Wise according to His Word and wise according to the manifestations of the spirit, freely and accurately exercised, according to the Word and will of God. Proverbs 29:11 is my go-to verse.

I remember my Aunt Gladys and my Uncle Al. She was one of the sweetest people I have ever met, loved people, a great cook, a farmer’s wife, wonderful with children, was gracious, and hospitable.

If you were blessed to spend a whole day with her, you would hardly, if ever, see one same spoon, dish, tablecloth or food for dinner (called supper for us’N 😂) that you had for lunch. In my book, if you were to look under the word hospitality in a picture dictionary, you would see our Aunt Gladys. 😊

Uncle Al, well he has his own story, but it will be short.

Uncle Al was a hard worker. He was a tender man and always seemed to love company. His eyes always just seemed to light up when he was around his Gladys, our beloved aunt.

You could just tell they loved each other dearly, affectionately and deeply. If there ever was such things as a marriage made in heaven or soul mates, it was them. They truly complemented one another. Children loved them as did we three kidlits’😊 as well. If there ever were such people fit and able to be parents, it would have been them. But for Aunt Gladys and Uncle Al, for whatever reason, they could not have children.

Uncle Al to me was the very first person I considered being a very wise man. I do not know how or why I thought this because, he rarely ever spoke. If you never heard him speak you might think that he could not. But he could. Pray you did not anger him because you would hear what you needed to hear from Uncle Al. But usually he was either soft spoken or just sat and listened to the conversations around him. Because of these things, if one were to look in my imaginary picture dictionary book under the word wise, you could find a picture of our Uncle Al.

So I have a reference point and I have experiential knowledge of the man I want to be. The words, “Well it’s about time,” don’t apply. Time is not important. Age is not important. I don’t want to continue to talk, talk, talk and be thought a fool or even a good intentioned idiot [from the Greek word idios meaning “ones own”]. I know and if you knew me in the past or you have intimate knowledge of me now, you know I can talk. I am not afraid to talk. I have a lot of thoughts and things I could talk about. That’s a given, but I would rather learn to stay calm and quiet, letting my words be few and thought of as an uncaring, unintelligent, unlearned or whatever fool, than to open my mouth and cause anyone to even think that I am a fool. By the way, just because I can talk. putting more words into my speaking and speaking very fast (less time) does not mean “fewer words!” 😂 Fewer words mean, fewer words.

Fools are born. But we do not have to remain fools and act foolish or as our Nanny (grandmother) said often, “Stop acting sooky or you’ll become a sook.” Yes, those are real words look them up. 👍

“Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child;
but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Proverbs 22:15 KJV

This is a natural thing, but even though I was born again, and may still think like a child or act childish, I require the reproof and correction of God to renew my mind. Each are different and it may require more effort and more time to grow into this maturity, but time is not important. Just taming the tongue, bridling the tongue is what is important.

When is the best time to have learned these things?

“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

Timothy was taught the word from his youth. This is what all parents should do for their children. Why?

“All scripture [from Genesis through Revelation] is given by inspiration of God, [the Greek word is theopneustos — God-breathed] and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for [which is] instruction in righteousness:“

Why?

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

II Timothy 3:15, 16, 17 KJV

“If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man,
whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.”

Proverbs 29:9 KJV

How should we engage a fool? We should not. I cannot [should not] argue with a fool or converse with one. I must not be a fool, recognize the fool and keep my peace (rest to my soul) by speaking in tongues.

“Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words?
there is more hope of a fool than of him.”

Proverbs 29:20 KJV

Another verse this reminds me of is, be swift to hear slow to speak etc. James 1:19 And remember Treebeard from J.R.R. Tolkien’s trilogy when he told the Hobbits (Merry & Pippin) in The Two Towers, “Don’t be Hasty.” 😂

“Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.”

Ecclesiastes 5:1 KJV

“For a dream cometh through the multitude of business;
and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.”

Ecclesiastes 5:3 KJV

Bad dream, stupid dreams? Too much to eat? Eating too late? Too much to drink? Is there a lot of unresolved stuff in my head before going to bed? No wonder I dream and have stupid ones that are worthless and pointless to try and understand and remember. That verse explains this and too many or a “multitude of words” or my blah, blah, blah-ing— too much talking is the reason for both lousy experiences.

Here is is another foundational verse for me on this subject. Have I not been often the employer of a “multitude of words,” and this too reminds me of an adage—

“It is better to remain silent at the risk of being thought a fool, than to talk and remove all doubt of it.”

From a book by Maurice Switzer, 1907

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”

Ephesians 4:29 KJV

What prompted my looking for this verse and beginning this study are two events with two people I know well and they somewhat know me.

With one, I went on and on for nearly an hour, complaining about things that had happened to me. Obviously I was deeply stressed about them. They had not been resolved. I did not take them to my Father. I probably would have continued the conversation had it not been for the response of the person I was talking to. “Look, I am hungry and I’ve been listening to you for over an about many of these things that you have said before.”

It was then that I knew what I had done, not intentionally, but the impact had been made and the damage done. I literally hung up the phone, as I was so embarrassed at what I had spewed.

I thought about this and sent a text in less than a minute from the end of the phone call. I simply wrote, “It is not nice to dump. I will never do this again!” It has neither been responded to nor have they called me since. This could have caused irreparable damage to our relationship. I could have potentially closed the door to my sharing the Word with this person. Only God and perhaps time will show me. I am was grieved about it and this is the first of 2 events, which have caused me to seek to renounce this hidden work of darkness from my life.

An update: Our relationship proceeds forward. This is good. Thank you Father!

Recently, I had a massage to address some lower back pain. Actually, I did not think I had any and this was more or less a late or belated Father’s Day present to me from Susan.

Massage is not very relaxing to me, it is very stimulating for me. Whereas others relax and even fall asleep, it has the opposite effect on me. Though calming and soothing, massage wakes me up and stimulates me. But the massage therapist was booked up when I needed pain relief. But I kept the appointment anyway as it was a gift to me from Susan.

This masseuse is very good at what she does. She is a little too new-age for me. But heretofore I have not paid much attention to her gong-ringing and statements like— “let your mind go.” I like the mind I have. It is not only the only one I’ve got, it is the best one I have, thank you very much. I’m not about to let it go or give it to anyone or anything to play around with no matter how benevolent it seems or malevolent it is.

I had not been to see this masseuse for years. This time, I have been on my quest for health and prosperity— body, soul and spirit. From the beginning, she asked me something about what is the difference between soul and spirit. Like much of the world, she used these words interchangeably as if, there is no difference. I told her what the Word says not what the world believes. She had no answer for this, but now I realize she was like a seething pot of water, beginning to heat up beneath the surface, just waiting for the right moment to find fault with me and boil over. I soon gave her this opportunity, unintentionally.

A multitude of words can come from excitement and the desire to share with others. It can also be just unresolved negativity. Here it is, just more than I needed to say. In essence, this is the whole situation— let my words be true and OK with God to be shared!

Sometime ago, I developed ringworm in one spot on my lower left leg and another on my right arm. I have no idea where this came from, but it is very contagious and easily spread from person to person (or items they have touched and then transferred). A lower metabolism most likely, is how I got it in the first place. My trainer John has always stayed in top physical condition and he never had the Covid virus. I’ve had it 3 times. Case in point.

I had medication for ringworm. Sure I prayed. Sure I wanted to believe and did and do believe God could heal me. But do you honestly think God cares HOW we get healed? No He does not. In case you doubt that, here is His will—

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”

III John 1:2

But God does care about the individual and where the center of our believing is or where our spiritual maturity is. Due to other situations, my issue has been difficult to remove. But only scars now remain. I am 100% sure that it cannot be spread by me now. Still, out of an abundance of caution, as I was massaged I was constantly aware of where her hands were. Had she even gotten close to these scars, I would stop her and say something. She did not. I did not need to speak or to stop her.

When finished and with my inordinate need for full disclosure, I asked her if she used gloves. When she said no, she wanted to know why I asked her. I told her. She never said a word about it until after she processed my credit card to pay for my massage. In retrospect now, again she was like a seething pot, waiting for the right moment to boil over, finding fault in anything I said.

Then she told me—

“If I would have known about this, I would not have allowed you to come because you have threatened my business and potentially could have spread this to me and my other clients.”

-Masseuse-

That was potentially a factual statement, but it was not true. I believe it was so she could get back at me for questioning her use of soul and sprit interchangeably. But the fault is mine, 100%. I prompted her to be afraid. For my part, I will probably never get another massage from her again, for the rest of my life. But I complemented her greatly for her skills. I had thought to add her to my list of master trainers for my status as an athlete in my pursuit of being a champion— body, soul and spirit. But I will likely never see her again professionally.

I will not see her again, not because I am embarrassed so much for what I said, but it is spiritual. I’m not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. She was not honest with herself or me. She waited to find fault and she waited until after I had paid her. Her accusation was false. But still the fault was mine. I caused her to embrace fear by my words. This is most likely the reason I will never see her again. She will probably never forget this and hold it against me. Whether she does or not, because of me, my example as a witness of God was not very worthy. But most importantly, I have potentially removed a door of utterance in sharing with her the Word of God.

Furthermore, I am among the Lord’s anointed, and we should not just allow anyone to touch us that are not spiritually clean anyway. I am learning. If you honestly seek God, He will tell you what He needs you to know also.

“Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?”

Job 6:30 KJV

This is both common sense and in a spiritual sense, it is available to be to able to discern truth from error. I am a retired chef. Chefs taste things all the time so that it is the best for those that we intend on serving. The sense of taste and smell are greatly connected. If it tastes or smells bad, I’m not going to serve it to you. We should know who touch us and what power if any is behind them. If God ever shows us an evil spirit by smell, we will certainly never forget it. They are all filthy and unclean spirits of the god of this world. This is the manifestation of the spirit called, discerning of spirits. It is my manifestation of the truth, especially speaking in tongues that enables me too.

“Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.”

Psalm 34:134 KJV

This is not an option. It is a requirement and a promise of God. It is available. It is possible!

“I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.”

Psalm 39:1 KJV

“The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright:
but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.”

Proverbs 15:2 KJV

“Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.”

Proverbs 21:23 KJV

“And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a reprover: for they are a rebellious house.”

Ezekiel 3:26 KJV

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”

Ephesians 4:29 KJV

“And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin;
but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”

Romans 8:10 KJV

“For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness;
and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Romans10:10 KJV

In conclusion, we all have limited time. By design, we commonly have two eyes and two ears, but only one mouth. I should look and listen a lot more than I speak.

Only God can tame my tongue. And only if I allow Him to. And only if I am meek to receive His doctrine, reproof, and correction. And only if I understand and believe that his Word is not grievous or too hard. And only if I obey, which is my freedom of will, by love and proper arrangement to allow Him to order my steps, according to his Word.

In closing, I want to share what is probably my most favorite song— O For a thousand Tongues to Sing. It was a long stanza song written in 1739 by Charles Wesley. Its shortened version and modern arrangement (the tune) is still quite popular in many places to today. I think it fitting to close this post about the tongue, to include it to follow. Oh, if I would only use my tongue to speak truth. And this song reminds me that there are those that are blind and lame, deaf and cannot speak. Oh, what I have to give as, God tames my tongue!

O for a thousand tongues to sing
(a sampling)

By Charles Wesley

O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer’s praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace!

My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim,
to spread through all the earth abroad
the honors of thy name.

He breaks the power of canceled sin,
he makes the prisoner free;
his blood can make the foulest clean;
his blood availed for me.

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

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

Love

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Love

By Dahni
© 2024, all rights reserved

This is a break from our series— body, soul and spirit. Here is some about the world’s most popular subject to opine or whine over— Love

The ancient Greeks listed four types of love and they are based on their rank from the least to the greatest. This does not mean that any are less important. It just means that whenever there are a number of things, something must always be first. It is a matter of priority.

Eros
Original Greek: έρως (érōs) air-roce

This is more than just erotic or sexual love although this is how it has been thought of and corrupted today. But this type of love is sensual and includes all the sensations that come by way of the five senses. You may love the sensation of peeling a fresh orange, smelling its unmistakable fragrance, feeling the juice dribble down your chin as the flavor like liquid sunshine, explodes in your mouth. This is but one example of Eros or sensual love.

Phileó
Original Greek: φιλέω (fil-eh’-o)

Phileó would include the love of humanity, the love of human beings. The word Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of “private initiatives for the public good, focusing on quality of life”. These are gifts we give to help others. Phileó also includes the love of a brother (or sister) whether figuratively or literal. The city in Pennsylvania we know as Philadelphia (City of Brotherly love) comes from this word. “Brotherly Love” also includes sisters or Sisterly Love.

As a group, this is the love of all the characteristics of humanity. As individuals, it is everything about that individual— their likes, dislikes, personality and is essence, everything about them that makes them who they are.

It is interesting that God loved his only begotten son, with this kind of love.

“For the Father loveth [philei] the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.”

John 5:20 King James Version KJV

“For the Father himself loveth [philei] you, because ye have loved [pephilēkate] me,
and have believed that I came out from God.”

John 16:27 KJV

God loved Jesus Christ [phileó] and because his disciples and all disciple love [phileó] Jesus Christ, God loves [phileó] all His disciples.

WOW, think about that for a minute. Most people come before God and use Him as a fire escape rather than for an intimate and close personal relationship. God must be kind of lonely if the only time anyone seek Him is when everything seems to have gone to hell. When we think of love, do we ourselves want to be loved like that? Do we want to love like that?

In my personal experience, when first entertaining thoughts of love for an another person, finding someone to be your soul mate your someone for life, when we first meet them, they can do no wrong. What others may find as faults or even defects in their character, we see them as more traits of endearment. We can’t get enough of them. We want every waking moment to be spent if not with them, at least thinking about them. We rise with them in our minds and in our hearts. We go through the day with them within us, as if they are there beside us every moment of every day. We go to sleep each night with them cuddled close to us in our hearts. It is as if they breathe, we breathe. As their heart beats, our hearts beat. This is the kind of love and intimacy the world fervent desires. God loves likes this! Yes, He is interested in all our thoughts and intents. He fervently desires to be with us, always in all that we say and all that we do. God loves— phileó!

Storge
Original Greek: στοργή (storgé)

Our words storage or store and , stores are derived from this word. This type of love is familial or family love. It is a love we have with those we are “familiar” with, close to and our children, spouses; etc. The Bible does not contain this word, but it does have a word based on it

“Be kindly affectioned [philostorgos] one to another with brotherly love [philadelphia]; in honour preferring one another;

Romans 12:10 KJV

“…kindly affectionaed” is the Greek word [philostorgos]. It is a compound word, which contains the Greek root word phileó and the Greek root of storge. It’s meaning is doubly emphasized as “devoted love, shown by family-members,” special affection shared between members of God’s family – people born-again (divinely born and adopted by his foreknowledge before our actual new birth) and serving the same (heavenly) Father! Look how this is further made clear with the words “brother love,” which is the Greek word Philadelphia. This is its biblical meaning. Anyone could have Philostorgos (love of family) and (brotherly love), Philadelphia, but the context in this verse and to whom it is written, are those in the family of God. One has to be in a family to experience this kind of love. If you are in the family of God you can. If you are not, you cannot.

Agapé
Original Greek: άγάπη (ag-ah’-pay).

This is the highest type of love possible and is what the ancient Greeks called— Agapé.

This is more than the love of a god or the true God. Its literal meaning according to usage is—

Agapé is the love of God in the renewed mind, in manifestation.

“He that loveth [agapōn] not knoweth not God; for God is love [agapē].”

I John 4:8 KJV

This is very interesting. As we take an exit ramp off the ‘Love Highway’, we will get back on soon, but the word sin is used 1,016 in the Bible. What is really interesting are the books of the Bible it is NOT in.

Jesus Christ is the subject of the whole Bible. He is the subject of every book in the Bible. He is the red the red thread that binds the Word of God together from Genesis through the book of Revelation.

The point of this is what sin is. Sin is anything that separates one from God. Adam and Eve sinned against God and because life is in blood, sin passed from Adam and Eve to all people past and present. This is why we needed a redeemer. The curse of the law was this sin nature is the reason for death. In order to be redeemed from this curse, one would have had to die. This was the payment for sin. Sin was so horrible it infected, effected and affected the whole human race. It disrupted the whole balance of God’s will and intents. In order to purge it, one would have to die. But then what? Nothing, one would just be just dead. Jesus Christ himself had to die, to be redeemed from the curse of the law, even though his bloodline was pure. He was the only begotten Son of God and he took part (the flesh) from his mother Mary. He also tasted death for all. He is the redeemer. This separation from God (sin) would include love. It is not that God did not desire to love, it is that He could. Remember, what ever separates one from God (including love) is sin.

So which books of the Bible does the word “sin” not appear in?

Books of the Bible where sin does not appear

Esther — He (Jesus Christ) is the Savior of God’s people
Joel — He is God’s Dwelling in Zion
Obadiah — He is the Deliverer on Mt. Zion
Nahum — He is the stronghold in time of trouble
Malachi — He is the son of righteousness
Philemon [root of phileó] — He is the love of a believer
II & III John — He is as we are

Note: I John gets us to the place where we are “as he is” = to receive love and give love as he is so we are, so we can.

By contrast the word love (regardless of its Hebrew or Greek words used) is used 442 times in the Bible. This is less than half of the uses of the word “sin,” why?

God who is love [agapé I John 4:8], is the origin of all love and must draw and make Himself known, connected to and understood by. There is no other love other than agapé that can do the following—

Love [agapé] casts out fear
Love [agapé] never fails
Love [agapé] overcomes a multitude of sin and sins (plural)

No matter how elevated and magnified the love— eros, phileo and storge, separately and wholly all together, none of them and not all of them, can cast out fear, will not never fail and could not ever overcome a multitude of sin. Only agapé can do this!

Love casts out fear—

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

I John 4:18 KJV

Three times the Greek word [agapē] is used in this verse. The number three numerically in the Bible denotes completeness. And with the extended use of the verb, it is completely, complete, completeness! There is no fear in love but in contrrast love, perfect love casts out fear. It is perfect love. There is no place for fear in perfect love and if when and where we have fear, we cannot be made perfect in love.

Love never fails—

“Charity [agapé – the love of God] never faileth:”

I Corinthians 13:8a KJV

Love covers the multitude of sins—

“And above all things have fervent charity [agapēn] among yourselves: for charity [agapē] shall cover the multitude of sins.”

I Peter 4:8 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

Champions 2

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Champions 2
(A Body, Soul & Spirit series)

By Dahni
© 2024, all rights reserved

Body

If you are Christian, surely you seek God for your spiritual growth? Maybe you even pray to Him every day? The point being, you have a personal relationship with Him, or you could. You decide for yourself whether or not you should.

Who knows more about building a spiritual champion, than God who is spirit—

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

John 4:24 King James Version (KJV)

The article “a” should be omitted and the verse should just read, “God is Spirit…”

There is a longstanding belief that the first word in the book of Genesis (the first word in the Bible) was originally, “God.” It is my custom and one that I learned over 40 years ago that when writing a letter to someone, to begin with a word centered at the top, before anything else in the letter —

-God-

This one word serves as a simple reminder that in all things, in everything, one should always put God first.

Champions6

I point this out that in this series of Champions (a body, soul & spirit series), spirit is last, but should always be considered first and last or the Alpha (first) and the Omega (last).

Just as I endeavor to build and grow my spiritual relationship with my Abba, my Father, my God at least daily and to grow up into Him and am becoming the spiritual champion that He has called me to be, so is it that now I need to be trained physically for my body.

Remember from last time—

“When the Athlete is ready, the Master Trainer will appear.”

Dahni

“For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”

I Timothy 4:8 KJV

Does this verse say there is no profit in bodily exercise? No it does not. There is profit, at least a “little” for at least a little while. Does it say I am to old to become a champion? No it does not say that I am too old.

Are we not tripartite beings? Do we have a body, a soul and a spirit? Are they each different? Was the body “formed” of the same elements found in common soil or dirt? Was not the soul “made” when God first made the great whales (mammals) air breathing creatures? And did He not and does He not “create” spirit in a man, woman or child when they confess with their mouth the Lord Jesus and believe that God raised him from the dead? (see: Romans 10: 9 and10)

I Timothy 4:8 that we read is not excluding the body or the soul, it is only placing emphasis on what should be our focus, our priority.

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

Psalm 119:133 KJV

This verse implies the whole of a man or a woman (male or female) body, soul and spirit.

Please note this ordering of one’s steps requires two things:

1. Freewill to allow God to work in us to will and to do of His good pleasure— Philippians 2:13 KJV
2. According to God and His Word— II Timothy 3:16, 17 KJV

For much of my life, I never put a lot of stock in physical exercise. I was not an athlete. I had recess (physical play and exercise) and ‘gym class’ through my years in school from grade school to high school. That’s about it.

I was on a baseball team when really young and our dad was an umpire. I remember my position well. I called it ‘Left Out.’🤣 They put me somewhere in the outfield, far from anyone likely ever hitting the ball there. I did not have much ability or coordination.

I remember being so bored one time that I just sat down. I happened to look up because, I heard people yelling my name. Someone hit the ball in my direction and it was heading straight towards my head. I actually ducked and I missed catching it in what’s-my-glove for.🤣

I tried out for the football team in Jr. High School. They put me on offense and tried to make me what I call a half-ass back. This did not last too long. I got kicked off for smoking.

I thought people that really did not know how to do anything else, were not very smart. They were the athletic types, the gym rats or varmints. 😂 They were muscle bound idiots that kissed their bodies and worshipped their physiques.

I was more interested in the arts and developing my mind. Boy was I ass-backwards. Schools raised a lot of money because of their sports, not so much for the arts until around high school. What was I told about the arts? Go get a real job, something that pays like football?

I enjoyed watching Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger movies. But how smart could they be?

Arnold Schwarzenegger received a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Wisconsin–Superior, where he specialized in fitness marketing and business administration.

It is reported that Sylvester Stallone is a genius with an IQ of 160. He requested that his acting and life experiences be accepted in exchange for his remaining needed college credits to graduate. They were and he was granted a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree by the University of Miami.

WOW was I ever wrong, It takes a lot of effort and thought to become an athlete.

I did do some jogging for awhile. One time I heard about a jogger that fell asleep while they were running. I thought that wasn’t even possible. Then shortly after this, I was running one cold and snowy morning. The snow clouds acted like a sound muffler and the snow was silent. It was a real peaceful and almost surreal. Somehow I had gotten into a rhythm and had closed my eyes. I was falling asleep while running and had run off my course, the sidewalk. But thank God I woke up before I would have, run face first into a telephone pole. This was near the beginning of the end for my jogging days. 😲

Sometime later in my hometown, I ran into my doctor of Internal Medicine. He was my primary physician for many years, taking over for my pediatrician in my childhood, when I became a certain age. He had a habit of closing every day around 2 PM in the afternoon. He would dress and put on running shoes and he would run for two hours— daily Wind, snow, sleet or rain, winter, spring, summer or fall. He ran a certain route every day all around the city. If you were driving this route while he was out, there was a very good chance you would see him.

Years later, I was back in my home town for a visit and I went out for some frozen custard. I saw and spoke with my doctor. I had not seen him for many years. We exchanged greetings and I asked him, “How’s the running going, are you still running?”

His reply was shocking to me— “Oh I don’t run anymore, it blew out my knees.”

Well, that was it for me, I have not ever run or jogged since. I do not live in Marathon, Greece. Yep not a name or a distance race, but a city in Greece. I have no intention of running naked to deliver important messages during warfare like they did or to be totally shaven of all bodily hair to be more aerodynamic. My name is Dahni. I am neither Alpha (the first) nor Omega (the Last). Those are examples of names given for runners, representing the Greek Alphabet. And boy oh boy if one ever showed up and said, “I am Alpha & Omega”), you generals had better pay attention to their messages because, there will not be any more! Oh, and many of those runners literally died out of pure exhaustion after delivering their messages. They were so trained and disciplined to run until they delivered their messages.

The Greek word for victory is niké. But I don’t believe those Marathon runners of ancient Greece could have prevented their dying, if they just had on the right pair of shoes. 😂

Having become interested in dance as a child (tap and ballet) and was found out by guys that thought me a sissy, I quit. Years after that I saw a man working out in his Karate gi. As it turned out he was a black belt and taught students at his dojo (training facility). He saw me watching him and invited me to work with him. It certainly looked like dance to me. But I told him I did not know karate. He saw my interest and said he would teach me. He invited me to his dojo, but I never bought a gi or ever was asked to pay for training. That’s OK, I never wanted people to know and ask what belt I had and want to prove to me that I did not know what I was doing and that they could kick my ass. I never wanted to use these skills to fight. Even if confronted, I would always result to wrestling moves and holds to prevent anyone and myself from getting hurt. I just wanted to dance and martial arts just looked like dance to me. No one surely would think me a sissy for martial art moves.

Over the years I have worked with different masters of different disciplines. I suppose they all just liked me or saw in me a pure heart to learn. I had never paid for a uniform or for any classes. This changed when I first heard about Aikido, about 2007. I still have my gi. I still work out by myself, for stretching and keeping myself flexible. I now have a mat. Soon, I will be able to throw myself down on the mat and kick my own ass. My Master Trainer John, is looking forward to seeing this. 🤣

The things I like most about Aikido is that it is like dancing and of all the martial arts, it is truly defensive to me. Its first principle is not to be there. Avoid confrontation. Protect others and yourself. I like this, even though in the wrong hands and with the wrong attitude and even in the necessary situation, Aikido moves and techniques could be used defensively and could severely hurt or cause damage temporarily or permanently. Don’t mess with people that know Aikido. And don’t ever mess with old people. 😂

Maybe your experiences were not like mine. Maybe they are more normal? As we get older, most of us have a tendency of losing muscle and gaining weight. Our metabolism slows and the production of male and female hormones significantly drops. Most men develop what is often called, a beer gut or fat around their middle region. For women, it is often thighs and hips. Another complaint is breasts sag. Men however can develop s lot of fat over their breast muscles too. Muscles, yes, underneath our skin is a whole network of muscles that are all designed to support us as we do anything physical from work to walking and mostly anything we would enjoy.

Not being taught the importance of these muscles, how they work and what they support, we for the most part just take them all for granted. We run on reserves until aches and pains, soreness, inflammation, injury and worse, something more permanent happens to us and can stop our mobility almost entirely. Do you want that? I don’t want this!

Not understanding that muscles need energy just like we do, how to strengthen them and support them, we just run on what we had in our youth or that we inherited in our DNA. Not replenishing what the body needs, we eventually run out, run on empty and actually decrease our life expectancy and the quality of our lives. Surely you don’t want to do that? I don’t!

Perhaps like me, you did not know these things? For me, it’s back to anatomy and get me to the gym and a nutritionist. My nutritionist is another Master Trainer and my Amy, will have her own post in this series soon. But for now, my doctor told me I needed to lose fat and build muscle, to be able to manage my blood sugar.

When asked at the gym how I was in the morning, my typical response was, “I’m here.” Those two words were void of any enthusiasm or positivity. I really did not want to be there. It was just something I felt I had to do. My sister told me that I would like it some day. I did not believe that. Then something happened, endorphins?

Endorphins are hormones that are released when the body feels pain or stress. They are produced in our brains and act as messengers in our bodies. Endorphins are produced to help relieve pain, reduce stress and improve mood. Endorphins can be boosted by exercising, even getting a massage and in many other ways. But endorphins alone were not the whole reason for the change in me. I actually started to enjoy my time at the gym and my almost daily walks with my dog Lady. It was showing on my face. Yep, I had joy and a whole new attitude. If you think this was just due to my habit of working out, seeing results and those endorphins, you are mistaken. I cannot separate God from my life, my body, soul and spirit. Sure, I am doing these things for me, but more and more for Him too. I want everything about my life, to magnify God above everything that my life represents. I want to be a great example and witness of God in Christ in me to you, in my body, soul and spirit and in all that I am and all that I have or will ever be and have.

One day John asked me to join his class he does on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I was in the right frame of mind and said I would consider maybe some Friday. My wife Susan attends as many of these she can every week. So I went one Friday, fell in love with the class, fell in love with my new family and it gives Susan and I another thing we can do together. I like all of of this!

But this whole body, soul and spirit thing was growing inside of me. My body and soul do not like each other very much. They each want to be in charge. Both of them together try and gang up on my spirit. I cannot just sit around all day and read the bible and quote nothing, but King James if I engage with others. That’s not what the phase “Make it your own” means. I cannot solely engage in the things of the world, be they the arts and sciences at the expense of my body and wholly against God and my spiritual life. I need all three – body, soul and spirit. They have got to be in subjection to the will of God and I have to be freely willing to do this. I am. I am an athlete in training and a champion in the making. I need a master Trainer.

“When the Athlete is ready, the Master Trainer will appear.”

Dahni

Enter John, my same John I met at the gym I go to. But first, let’s hear from one of his students.

William Before

“Don’t ever say you can’t! This before and after picture is the real thing. I’m the guy who knew certain facts:

I could never be in excellent physical condition.
I could never be seen without a shirt in public, no matter what I did heredity would keep me from losing weight.
I am definitely too old to get any muscle definition.

“When I started working with John on 12/4/2014 my goal was to lose a few pounds and maybe take off a little from the gut. I also discussed my unrealistic dream of being able to look good on a beach. “

William After

“John told me anything was possible, and if I could dedicate the effort he would provide the expertise. 10 months later I won a Masters 50 championship on 9/26.15. During those months John tweaked every workout and meal plan weekly ensuing the best results possible. It didn’t take long to realize John takes every bit of his experience and knowledge into a personalized program designed to max out your potential. His attention to every detail, daily follow up, complete focus on you during your workouts.

Keep you informed of your progress through weign-ins and measurements, and most of all true honest concern for your progress has completely rebuilt me into to someone who is in excellent physical condition, can be seen without a shirt in public, and lose weight realizing age is no excuse.”

-William Smith-

William had me when he wrote about his unrealistic dream of being able to look good on a beach. I just want to be able to take my shirt off or look at myself in the mirror without shame. I don’t want to show off and become a bodybuilder. But John says its all possible and it’s all about me. I had to really think about that because, I do want to help and bless and please others, but if I have nothing, I have nothing to give. All along this journey in becoming a champion in my body, soul and spirit, I recognize the importance of humility. I came across a quote recently that really expresses this —

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less.”

A Book of Quotes: “Humility”

I don’t perceive a problem in this area because, I know what God and others have done for me and in this field of the body, I just don’t know. I am a blank page and an open book like I was when I first got Lady, my first dog ever. I did not know how to train a dog. But I learned. I am willing.

I bring two other things and I pray for these and for humility in myself, every day. The other two things are—

1. Stay hungry to learn
2. Stay thirsty to learn

“May my hunger never be filled,
my thirst never be quenched,
my humility never diminish,
my service never end,
and my glow never recede.”

Dahni

But who is my Master Trainer?

Who is John Schwartz?

John Schwartz

“John is a seasoned fitness professional with 30 years of experience. He holds certifications from the National Federation of Professional Trainers, the National Academy of Sports Medicine, and the National Youth Sports Coaches Association. Additionally he is affiliated with the New York State Coaching Program and the Doyle Coaches Certificate Program.“

“John is also a certified Fitness Specialist through the American Fitness Professionals Association. His impressive career includes winning 16 bodybuilding contests in the American Championship Men’s Master Division between 2002 and 2016, with victories in Rochester, Buffalo, Pennsylvania, Syracuse, Ohio and Albany.“

“If John Schwartz has a true passion for one thing, it is success, not only to be successful himself and his own endeavors, but to pass success onto clients. Helping people to achieve their goals is not only his job, but also one of the biggest reasons John puts in 110% of his heart to personal fitness.“

Johns BIO – Unknown source

John Schwartz 2024

The above is a current picture (2024) of John, my Master Trainer, the class instructor of our new family ‘The Seniors’ and with whom Susan and I see, just about every Friday. He is fun, and funny, very informative, careful, caring, considerate and he really knows his stuff.

John not only is working with me personally to train me to become a champion, he explains everything to me, so I can understand the why of everything I need. He is working with me so that muscle memory sets in and I will respond automatically to any situation I find myself in. He is training me to respond correctly so as not to injure myself, but also have the strength and energy to do whatever I need to do and desire to do.

John makes sure I can handle what he gives me to do. We are working on strengthening my muscles, my core, overall tone and eventually, if I wanted to compete in a master bodybuilders competition (yes at my age), I could.

I am learning how our muscle groups actually connect and help support us in everything we need to do and want to do. Yep, it’s back to anatomy class again for me. This is physical work, but very much mental too. Hand eye coordination? It may take me more time than most, but I’ll get it, I’m getting it and will likely retain it longer than many, because I work so hard to get it. I want this! But sometimes I smile so much my face hurts. That’s OK as there are more muscles needed to frown than there are to smile. Smiles are contagious. John wanted me to join class for my own enjoyment, but I am also an example to others. We all often laugh together at me. We love one another. We help one another. We inspire each other.

I actually apologized to John on behalf of all athletes that I once thought all nothing but muscle-bounds idiots at worse. At best, they were people that could not do anything else, but worship their own selves. WOW was I wrong! This apology goes out to my brother who was a very good, disciplined and a well-trained athlete. It turns out he is really of above average intelligence. And as it turns out, I am not of above average intelligence. I am just of average intelligence. But that’s OK, I can still learn. But isn’t it funny how perception and beliefs and ignorance are all such curios things.

John constantly praises my attitude and my effort. I honestly believe he likes me and is honest with me. This is all becoming easier and easier for me because, I am the athlete in training and a champion in progress that is ready for the Master Trainer. I worked with John yesterday on Monday 7/10/2024. He called me today on Thursday, July 11th, 2024, just to see how I was doing. I told you he cares. I told you he is my Master Trainer.

Again John says to me all the time, “It’s all about you.” What follows are examples of what this means to me.

Recently I just learned how to rise from a seated position, which does not use my knees, just my abs and leg muscles. It could quite possibly prevent such things as knee injuries or knee surgery in my future.

I am not only learning how to flex the muscles underneath my breasts together and independently, but why. These muscles help support my chest and my triceps and are all important for form, strength, energy and walking to do the things I desire to do or at least, so I don’t get hurt. You ladies could take heed to this. The breasts that nurse children and interest us guys, must be supported by the muscles underneath them.

I am becoming constantly aware of how I sit, stand and walk. Yo, you Christians, have you ever heard those words used spiritually? S.I.T. ——Speaking In Tongues? Standing on the promises of God? How about walking with boldness and believing with God’s Word in the world? Well, this is what I am learning for life in the 1/3 part of me, my body.

I constantly hear voices in my head -John- “Do you sit like that at home? Is this the way you are supposed to be standing or walking.?” I hear my Nutritionist my Master Trainer Amy -“Should you be eating that?” 😂

I recently received the following picture from Cousin Robin, for my 1/2 birthday for July 13th (actual birth date is 12/13). She found this card and could not wait for me to open it because, she thinks it looks like me. Susan does too. Robin added the little red “Go Dahni” boxes. I don’t own a skateboard. My belly is a little bigger, but I’m working on it. Other than these things, Why not me? I love the red shoes and the party hat. Susan is going to get me a blue jean jacket. 🤣

DahniChamp

Next time, we will get into the body and nutrition with my Master Trainer, Amy.

Body soul and Spirit
Sit – Stand – Walk

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

Champions

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Champions

(A Body, Soul & Spirit series)

By Dahni
© 2024, all rights reserved

I never wanted to become a champion. I never worked my body as such. I never worked my soul as such. I never worked my spirit as such. I never put the three together. I had no real experience in any of these or personal teachers one-to-one and face to face to work out my personal best. Now at age 70, I am becoming a champion and as if out of nowhere, my teachers have been revealed to me.

Champions6 I did a search for a quote that I thought of, to no avail. My query line was, “Who said when the pupil is ready, the teacher will appear?”

It has been falsely attributed to Buddha. Nope it is not recorded that he ever said this. Perhaps it is a Buddhist proverb? But it is not from the Buddha.

Is its origin Theosophical? OMB talk about word corruption or stealing. Theosophy by definition should simply mean, the study of God. The Greek word for God is Theos, by the way. But theosophy has been stolen and corrupted by the occult. It has increasingly become secular, globalized, and with scientific elements in the world. Theosophy now includes Spiritualism, Spiritism, Wicca, and the New Age milieu.

Theosophy also includes Gnosticism. Gnosticism, is any of various related philosophical and religious movements, prominent in the Greco-Roman world in the early Christian era, particularly the 2nd century. The designation of Gnosticism is a term of modern scholarship. It was first used by the English poet and philosopher of religion, Henry More (1614–87). He applied it to the religious groups referred to in ancient sources as gnostikoi (Greek: “those who have gnosis, or ‘knowledge’). Well there is another corrupted word. From the Greek ginóskó, it means, experiential knowledge.

Is it an ancient Greek proverb? I couldn’t find one.

In a 1914 periodical, ‘The Herald of the Star’ (a publication of a Theosophical organization, “The Order of the Star in the East”), we’re told of various occult Orders. They would like the world to believe that they have always existed in the world and have expressed this in the words—

“When the pupil is ready, the Master will appear.”

Nice try, but still no definite attribution

In 1918, the Theosophy magazine wanted us to have this—

“When the disciple is ready, the Master will appear.”

Good effort, but no definite attribution

In a Masonic publication from 1922, ‘The New Age magazine’, we also read—

“It is said, in what is called Occultism that when the pupil is ready the Master will appear.”

Who said this in Occultism? Nope, no definite attribution!

Aha! Eureka, I’ve found it? Dated in 1886, a work called ‘Light on the Path’, by Mabel Collins. The third edition, is on Google Books. It was presumably published at least a year earlier. Check this out—

Champions5

From page 48 of ‘Light on the Path’, by Mabel Collins.

But, nay, no, not so fast! The title page of the book is inscribed “Written down by M.C., Fellow of the Theosophical Society.”

Why do we read “written down by” rather than “written by”?

Theosophists claim to be in contact with “Masters” in the East who dictated works to them. Oh, like spirit mediums? According to Mabel Collins she did NOT write this book and it is NOT her quote. She is just the Stenographer of the Masters to the Awakened? Seriously? She talks to devil spirits (familiar spirits). Nope, no, no definite attribution.

I‘m tired of this evil nonsense. So I asked Chat GPT, my AI (artificial intelligence) assistant.

Me Asking Chat GPT 6/24/2024

Champions2

Chat GPT’s response to me 6/24/2024

Champions3

Me to Chat GPT 6/24/2024

Champions4

Chat GPT’s final response to me 6/24/2024

“When the Athlete is ready, the Master Trainer will appear.”

Dahni

Feel free to change the words around and use this for your purposes. But for my purposes here, this quote belongs to me. How do you suppose champions are made, without a teacher or a trainer?

The Bible is full of these dynamic relationships like Jesus Christ to his disciples. He did not just sit around quoting stuff. He was a master at show and tell; to teach and show.

“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 King James Version (KJV)

There are many examples of teach and show in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. Moses and Aaron, David and his son Solomon, Paul and Timothy and there are many more examples.

What about Paul the apostle, was he a master teacher? He wrote and taught the book of Ephesians, which contained the greatest revelation ever written to the church, the Mystery. This was so incredible that according to Colossians Chapter 1 and verse twenty-five—

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

Colossians 1:25 KJV

How about that, “to fulfill the Word of God!”

Who did Paul teach and show first? He first taught it to the saints (they were alive not dead). A saint is the highest representative that one nation can send to other nations. Where were they?

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,
to the saints which are at Ephesus…”

Ephesians 1:1a KJV

The Mystery and this revelation in Ephesians, was it just for the saints at Ephesus? They would all be dead now. Was it written to anyone else?

“…and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:”

Ephesians 1:1b KJV

This does not say perfect. It says “faithful.”

What about me? If I am one of the “faithful” what else does this say to me?

Ephesians 1:2-5 KJV

Read the above many times. Read it from many translations. Work every word. Get a concordance. What is the significance of numbers in scripture? Look up the numbers used in scriptures, the prayers and look for literal translations.

God knew me in his foreknowledge and prepared to work with me when Lucifer tried to overthrow the heavens and was cast out to earth. His was the original sin, not Adam’ or Eve’s. He is only the god of this world not the cosmos. But I am no longer his. I have been bought with a price.

God knew me and prepared for me to one day be born again, as a true child of His. He also foreknew to adopt me and gave me more rights, than that of even a genetic offspring. An adopted child is chosen whereas a child of the flesh might not be. Maybe I was an accident, dropped off by the Gypsies, found under a rock?😂 But God knew me brefore the foundations of the cosmos and the earth and He knew I would believe. He chose me because He loves me and knew I would believe. I am His champion in the making.

Look up rights and crowns and see what we have and what is prepared for us to manifest right now in this life and what is but a “token” of all He has prepared for us.

I bow my knees to God and I cry out— Abba Father! This is the most personal name for God. Only a few of us can use this name, we the faithful in Christ. The word Abba is used only three times in the Word:

Once Jesus Christ said it and he could — Mark 14:36
Once — Romans 8:15 context is the adopted sons (children) because we can
Once — Galatians 4:6 because God’s spirit in us can (speak in tongues)

God and I are one with one another, He with me and me with Him. I am His and He is mine. I count it grace that He has chosen me, adopted me by his choice and by my choice, when I accepted His gift of holy spirit and by my choice, decide to be faithful in Christ.

Ephesians is my revelation just as much as to the the saints at Ephesus and the apostle Paul, which wrote it, according to the will of our God.

I am a man whose body has a master trainer and my soul has a master trainer and my spirit has a master trainer. I am being made ready to be a champion athlete of the spirit and—

“When the Athlete is ready, the Master Trainer will appear.”

Dahni

He has!

In this series, Next time I will reveal my Master trainer of my 70 year old body

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

Sunday, May 19th, 2024

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Sunday May 19th, 2024

By Dahni
© 2024, all rights reserved

Today is Sunday, May 19th, 2024. It is recognized in Christendom as Pentecost Sunday or the birthday of the Church. 🎂 The word “Christendom” first appeared in the 12th century, arising from the Middle English term cristendom, and the Old English cristendōm.

Before the schism of Orthodoxy and Catholicism in the 11th century, there was one church of Christianity, which was all of Christendom.

Now that there are thousands of distinctly identifying Christian churches, the affiliation of Christendom is more complex. Thus today, few seem to agree on much of anything with regards to “…spiritual matters.”

There are 7 things that God does— “not want us ignorant of” and these are all found in the Church epistles or those writings written specifically to the Church, the body of Christ, which is where we get the words “Christian”, “Christianity” and “Christendom”. One of the seven that God does not want us to be ignorant of is, “spiritual matters”—

“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.”

I Corinthians 12:1 King James Version (KJV)

The word “gifts” is the Greek word pneumaticos “matters” or things of the pneuma “spirit”. Over the next 30 plus posts, we will look into much of these spiritual matters. Even though this first began on the Day of Pentecost in the first century, this series will delve into what I call— The Quickening, the Enspiriment. What is it we each have, when we become born again?

How we can see the increase of God that it permeates the culture and God confirms his magnified Word with signs, miracles, wonders and incredible healings— DAILY? We can and we will!

It began with 12 disciples called as apostles and by speaking in tongues. We need to see how these proofs were normal and expected then and they should be normal and expected today. And by the way, we have more in the 21st century than they did in the 1st century.

Illustration of the apostles receiving the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Peter Dennis / Getty Images

Before he was crucified, Jesus received revelations from God, his Father and instructed his 12 disciples/apostles. In Acts 1:4 Jesus told them to wait for the promise. They were to go to Jerusalem and to the Temple “the House” for the 5 hours of prayer. In John 20:22, Jesus Christ instructed his disciples/apostle to “breathe in” .

The disciples/apostle were in The House “the temple” during an hour of prayer. They were quiet, decent and in order. Then—

“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.”

Acts 2:1, 2 KJV

“One accord” is “unity of purpose”. Notice it says they were “siting”. It was an hour of prayer and they were decent and in order. Then they (the disciples/apostles) heard the sound of heavy breathing. It filled all the House = the temple and this means that everyone in the Temple heard this sound of heavy breathing. The disciple remembered what Jesus had told them “breathe in” and when they heard this heavy breathing, they started breathing in and then—

“And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.”

Acts 1:3 KJV

Now don’t freak out. No one in “the house” (The Temple), but these 12 saw this. What they and they alone each saw was by revelation from God, one of the manifestations of the spirit, of which there are 9 (I Corinthians 12, 13, and 14). The 12 saw a fire coming down from heaven and it spilt into cloven tongues of fire. They knew from this and revelation that they were to start speaking. Fire is indicative of the presence of God and burning up impurities or making pure. They also saw tongues sit upon each of them. This spirit (eternal life) in them was completely, completely complete like when Jesus Christ ascended up into the heavens and through the heavens and “sat” down on the right hand of God—complete. From that moment on, this spirit of God was available to each, first on that Pentecost, 10 day after his ascension. The tongues of fire spilt off from the main fire meaning it was one God that filled them all and all. They were filled to capacity. They were all complete.

“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost [pneuma hagion = holy spirit = the gift], and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit [Hagion capital H = Spirit = God] gave them utterance.”

Acts 1:4 KJV

The 12 did the speaking, but God gave them the languages he wanted spoken. These 12 were all Galileans. They were considered ignorant and unlearned men that only spoke one language. But God taught his spirit (child) in them and their spirit taught their minds as they just willed to speak. They were filled to capacity and complete, but this speaking in tongues was their being filled to overflow.

Since Pentecost was a Holy day, at least every head of household were required to be in Jerusalem and in The Temple for the hours of prayer. At this time, people were spread all over the then known world and they spoke Aramaic and the languages of their foreign homes. There were many regions represented and languages spoken by the 12 on this day. What did the many people hear?

“And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 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 2:5-11 KJV

This is where we are going in the series to come, not only to see and hear the wonderful works of God, but DO them!

“All truth must be understood in light of the manifestation of the spirit.”

Dr. Victor Paul Wierwille

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

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

AllTruth_profile

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?

What does the Word Say?
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

MoreValuable

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

Manifestations

“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

Prerequisites2

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.

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

EPh320

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).

“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.

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

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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

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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

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God’s People

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God’s People

By Dahni
© 2023, all rights reserved

The question recently came up, is Israel God’s people? It is a great question.

In the Bible the words “Jew” and “Judean” are the English words most often used to translate the Greek term ioudaios (plural: ioudaioi).

The name’s usage is historic, having been used in antiquity and still into the present day; it originates from Yehudah, a Hebrew name. Yehudah was a son of Jacob, who was later given the name “Israel” and whose sons collectively headed the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Yehudah’s progeny among the Israelites formed the Tribe of Judah, with whom the Kingdom of Judah is associated.

Every one of the 12 tribes of Israel had a job so to speak. For example, normally, the priests of the temple were to come out of the tribe of Levi. The king (beginning with Saul and then David, Solomon etc. all were to come from the tribe of Judah. There are two genealogies in the four Gospels. One genealogy is in the book of Matthew and the other is in the book of Luke. Luke traces the genealogy of Jesus Christ as a “man” all the way back to Adam and Eve, the first man and woman. This is important because, man (mankind), needed a redeemer. Man blew it in the garden and only a man whom the Bible refers to as “the second Adam”, Jesus Christ could redeem man (mankind), all of mankind past, present and until the the time in the future, known only by God. The other genealogy in the Gospels is found in the book of Matthew. This lineage from his mother Mary, traces the family back to David the King. This enabled Jesus Christ to legally become a king, the King of Judea – King of the Jews.

“The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.”

Genesis 49:10 King James Version

It was nor is it a secret that Israel, “God’s People” were called.

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

II Chronicles 7:14 KJV

Even so, Israel was God’s chosen people, but notice IF they would humble themselves, pray and seek the face of God what would happen. It is important to note that the history of the entire 12 tribes, the kings of Judea and the people of Israel were full of corruption. So what? So are all people. But also note all the things Israel did because, they believed God!

God in order to save even a few often gave “His People” things (like a king), that He, God, did not want. But God knew that through weakness, but with believing, there would one day come the perfect man, the redeemer, the High Priest and Passover Lamb, the man, the son, the Messiah, the servant (Greek doulos – bond-slave), and King of Kings— Jesus Christ.

But there was also never a secret that the gentiles would be blessed that willed to peacefully coexist with Israel.

“But glory, honour [honor], and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:”

Romans 2:10 KJV

But God had a secret that he had kept since time began. From Jew (Judean) and Gentile, God would make another people.

Out of two (Jew and Gentile), He, God, makes something new. It is not our nationality, color, religion, education, culture, traditions, that we are rich or poor, male, female, young or old that makes us God’s People. It is our spiritual DNA, being born again of God’s spirit.

“For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;”

Ephesians 2:14 KJV

“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

I Corinthians 12:13 KJV

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

I Corinthians 10:32 KJV

Inside the Temple area there was what is called the Holy of Holies. The Holy of Holies is a term in the Bible that refers to the inner sanctuary of the Tabernacle, where God’s presence appeared. According to tradition, four pillars that held up the veil of the covering, under which the Ark of the Covenant was held above the floor, defined the area.

Only the High Priest (descendent of Aaron of the Tribe of Levi), could go and only on a special occasion, of the sacrificial lamb for the sins of Israel, during the feast of Passover.

Then there was an area where only the priests (of the tribe of Levi), could go, which separated them from the people. Then the men and women were separated. Outside of the temple was called the Court of the Gentiles, where they that wanted to come and worship could, but they were not allowed in the temple proper. Jesus Christ entered the temple and into the Holy of Holies as the High Priest and presented himself as the Passover Lamb — Perfect sacrifice of a perfect man, for all of Israel, for all time and for any that would believe on him (Jesus Christ).

“And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;”

Matthew 27:51 KJV

This veil which separated the priests from the High Priest was ripped from top to bottom, meaning God did it as usually one would rip something apart, from bottom to top. The wall separating men from women and the “middle” wall separating the Jews (Judeans) from the Gentiles were all removed meaning that anyone could come before the direct presence of God. The temple was for all of God’s people, but the tabernacle that held the Ark of the Covenant, behind the veil, was meant to be where only God can truly dwell, in the individual.

“Having abolished in his flesh the enmity [the separation or what separates], even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;”

Ephesians 2:15 KJV

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

II Corinthians 5:17 KJV

Well, if out of Jew (Judean), and Gentile, God made the Church (Church of God), are we better than the Jew (Judean) or the Gentiles?

“What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;”

Romans 3:9 KJV

“Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth [pertains] the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;”

Romans 9:4

“Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith [said] he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed [showed] to thee in the mount. But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith [said], Behold, the days come, saith [said] the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith [said] the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith [said] the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour [neighbor], and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith [said], A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth [decays] and waxeth [waxes] old is ready to vanish away.

Hebrews 8:1-13

“But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

Galatians 4:4-7

There is one huge difference between the Jew (Judean), possibly the Gentile and the Church of God. The Jews (Judeans), are still waiting for the first coming of their promised Messiah. They may believe that Jesus Christ lived and may have even been a prophet, but they do not believe he was what the book of Genesis, says that he (Jesus Christ) is. They do not believe he was the “promised seed of the woman.” I do not know about any or all of the Gentiles, but Christians, (The Church of God), do believe that Jesus was the Christ and we are waiting for his Second Coming.

“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.”

Romans 11:25

Now let us look at an entire chapter of the Bible that really explains a lot. Please note that in reading the following, every time we read the word “faith” it is the Greek word pistis and means, “believing.” Believing is a verb that connotes action.

“Now faith (pistis) is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith (pistis) we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. By faith (pistis) Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh [speaks]. By faith (pistis) Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith (pistis) it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh [comes] to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. By faith (pistis) Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith (pistis). By faith (pistis) Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith (pistis) he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Through faith (pistis) also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. These all died in faith (pistis), 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. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. By faith (pistis) Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. By faith (pistis) Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith (pistis) Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith (pistis) Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. By faith (pistis) Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. By faith (pistis) Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith (pistis) he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Through faith (pistis) he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith (pistis) they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. By faith (pistis) the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. By faith (pistis) the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith (pistis) subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith (pistis), received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”

Hebrews 11: 1-40

These all died believing, but were not able to share in full, of the promises God made. One was the promise of paradise, a second paradise, which is always a place on earth. In the Book of Revelation we will see this new “heaven” and “new earth” (paradise). All the Old Testament believers (they believed), like Abraham, Moses, David, Ruth, Ether and more will inherit this one day in the future. This will be “when the fullness of the gentiles come in”, and Jesus Christ Returns to the earth and then there will eventually be, a new heaven and a new earth. This is also called in the Bible– ‘The Resurrection of the Just.’

Make no mistake about this, Jesus Christ came to the children of Israel and he also came to fulfill the law.

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

Matthew 5:17 KJV

The original disciples, the 11 that were Galileans anyway were unique. They lived during the administration of law which ended at the first coming of Jesus Christ or the Christ administration. It ended at his death and the administration of grace began of which we are still in today. But remember this…

“And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou [you]
comest [come] into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23: 39-43 KJV

Jesus Christ fulfilled the law, down to the last person that will one-day be in the resurrection of the just and come into the new paradise.

Now despite the adoption of the children of Israel as adopted children and all the promises made, God chose the Christians, the Church of God in Christ, even before the foundation of the world.

“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:”

Ephesians 1:4

Whether Jew or Gentile, there is no other name given among men [and women], whereby we must be made whole = salvation, saved.

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Acts 4:12

“Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth [does], this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought [without value or purpose], becomes the head of the corner.”

Acts 4:10, 11 KJV

Yes, the people of Israel (some of them anyway), crucified one of their own. Some of this was done ignorantly and some of this was intentional. There will be two resurrections in the future — the just and the unjust. When Jesus Christ comes “for” his Church, this is NOT called a resurrection, but a gathering together, because, not everyone will be dead when he comes back, but the dead in Christ will rise first.

Because of the long history and the events of these the Bible lands; because our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ was born there, grew up there, lived and died there and the democratic nature of modern-day Israel, many people support Israel. It does not mean that they are perfect or God’s People. As I have shown from the scriptures, the last person to receive the promise of paradise, was one of those malefactors, who was crucified with Jesus Christ, about 2,000 years ago. The promises were made to all of Israel, which included, the original 11 disciples, all from Galilee. Judas Iscariot was not from Galilee.

The administration of grace technically began when Jesus Christ ascended through the heavens and sat down on the right hand of God. Practically, it began on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:4. But the understanding of these things was not revealed until years later. God had the apostle Paul write these things in the Church epistles, (Romans, I & II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and I & II Thessalonians). This mystery which had been hidden in God since the world began, did not fulfill the law (Jesus Christ did that). It fulfilled the word of God!

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

Colossian 1:25 KJV

“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: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

Colossians1:26-28 KJV

Perhaps another time we could look into this, but when Jesus Christ comes back “for” his Church, there is a period of time [the appearing administration], when the book of Revelation talks about 144,000 believer’s of that time. This will be something like the administration of law. Who are God’s people on earth at that time? I don’t know, but before Jesus Christ comes back “with” his saints (heaven’s holiest), there will be those 144,000. No offence meant, but Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW’s), have about 600,000 believers worldwide. It would be terrible to think you were not going to be part of the 144,000. Besides, JW’s believe Jesus Christ came back (invisibly), in 1914. But what does the scriptures say about that?

“But of that day and that hour knoweth [knows] no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.”

Mark 13:32

That’s pretty clear. That’s pretty simple. Even a child or a fool can understand that scripture. If no man knows, nor angels, and not even Jesus Christ what day and time this will be, then no one, but God knows, not even the JW’s.

Isn’t it great to know what the Bible, The Word of God says of itself, not opinion, theory, speculation or guesswork, but The Truth. And it is great to know who God’s People are. I encourage all Jews and Gentiles to take a look (see. Romans 10: 9, 10). By the way, Romans is the foundation epistle that transitions from the Christ administration to the grace administration, in which you and I live today. Parts of Romans are written to the Jews and parts to the Gentiles. Together, these two make a new body, the body of Christ, being born again of incorruptible seed, sons and daughters of God, the Church of God, the Body of Christ— God’s People. If I were Jewish or a Gentile, I would look to becoming a Christian and for Jesus Christ to be coming back the second time, not the first. And I would quit thinking he came back in 1914 or whenever.

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

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What is the Human Crown of Achievement?

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What is the Human Crown of Achievement?

By Dahni
© 2023, all rights reserved

What is the Human Crown of achievement? Is it war in Israel and Palestine? Who is to blame? Who is to be praised? Do you stand with one or the other? Do you even know why? Simply stated this is a Religious War, a Political War and a War among Governments. Are there any winners in war?

Have you ever wondered why, for the most part, people generally do not want to think about, talk about or believe in – God (religion), Politics, and Government? But there always seems to an upheaval of all three of these that definitely affect each of us, one way or another. We cannot sit by and expect this not to reach us individually. But why?

Quite simply, there is a lot of confusion to any of these subjects. Are you interested in knowing or being reminded of what the Bible says about “confusion?

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

James 3:16 King James Version

What, is it strife and judgment or peace and reawards?

OK, that was pretty clear. Is there “envy” or “strife” anywhere? Then there is “confusion.” What else — “every evil work!” So then God is the author, producer or the sender of all this “confusion” and “every evil work?” This is what a lot of people think and believe so, is there any wonder why people don’t believe in or trust God (religion), Politics and Governments? But who cares what anyone thinks unless it is from God’s Word, rightly divided (see: II Timothy 3:16, 17). So, is God the author of this “confusion” and “every evil work?” Again, what does the Bible (God’s Word), say about this?

“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”

I Corinthians 14:33 KJV

OK, so it says that “God is NOT the author of confusion”…that’s pretty clear. The conjunction or conjunctive of connective word “but” means to set in contrast to that which came before to that which follows. In contrast to or in contradiction of (but), “confusion,” God is the author of— “peace.”

To really begin to understand the depth of this verse, let us ask why was it written here, in I Corinthians, in chapter fourteen and in verse thirty-three?

First, we must understand something about the culture of ancient Corinth. It was a cultural center of the then ancient Greece and a competitor of Athens. There was a lot of wealth and influence in Corinth. So why would anyone need God when they have wealth and influence (education and so forth)?

Ancient map of Corinth, Greece

“The ancient Greek city of Corinth was destroyed by the Romans in 146 BC, but was rebuilt a century later by Julius Caesar. In the time of Paul, Corinth was a busy Roman trading city on the narrow strip of land between the Ionian Sea and the Aegean Sea.”

“It had two harbors – Lechaeum on the Gulf of Corinth to the west and Cenchraea on the Aegean Sea to the east. It made huge profits by taxing cargoes that were transported overland between the two ports to avoid the dangerous waters around the Peloponnese. The first attempt to build a canal across the isthmus at Corinth was started by Emperor Nero in circa 66 AD, but was soon abandoned. The present-day Corinth Canal was completed in 1893.”

“Modern visitors to Corinth today can walk along the Lechaion Way – a marble-paved road linking the port of Lechaeum with the city. On reaching the heart of the settlement, the road passed through an imposing Propylaion (ceremonial gateway), before citizens climbed a flight of steps leading up into the agora (market place). Here, overlooked by the Bouletarion (council chamber) and the colonnaded stoas (covered walkways with shops), Paul was placed on the bema (a stone platform), before the Roman proconsul, and accused of breaking the religious laws by members of the Jewish synagogue.”

Excerpts from:

https://www.thebiblejourney.org/biblejourney1/10-pauls-journey-to-phrygia-macedonia/paul-in-corinth/

Notes:

A bouleuterion (Greek): βουλευτήριον, bouleutērion), also translated as council house, assembly house, and senate house, was a building in ancient Greece which housed the council of citizens (βουλή), boulē), of a democratic city state.

Both Romans 14:10 and II Corinthians 5:9 speak of the “judgment seat.” This is a translation of one Greek word, the word bema. While bema is used in the gospels and Acts of the raised platform where a Roman magistrate or ruler sat to make decisions and pass sentence (Matt. 27:19; John 19:13), its use in the epistles by Paul, because of his many allusions to the Greek athletic contests, is more in keeping with its original use among the Greeks, which was to award the athletes that competed lawfully and won in the “games” were to receive a a crown of laurel leaves, an emblem of victory, or to commemorate an important event. It is symbolic of the Greek god Apollo, who is depicted as wearing laurel leaves.

Laurel Leaf Crown

The Apostle Paul appeared before the magistrate in Corinth at the bema. In Acts 18:12-17, the bema at Corinth is called a tribunal. The Jews brought Paul before the bema for judgment by Gallio, the proconsul of Achaia. The Jews charged, “This man is persuading people to worship God in ways that are contrary to the law.” Gallio, however, refused to judge the case.

One of the most prominent doctrines of the New Testament is, the Doctrine of Rewards and the Judgment Seat of Christ. It is a doctrine often ignored or, when taught, it is misrepresented because of the term “judgment” that is used in translating the Greek text. Though Paul was accused before the bema in Corinth, he was not judged and therefore, without any guilt of which he was being falsely accused of. But a day is coming for all believers that must stand before the judgment seat of Jesus Christ and receive not punishment, but rewards for what we do in this life. Research the word “crowns” in the New Testament. You will find 5 crowns like the laurel-leaf crown was once given given to those athletes that competed lawfully and won their events in the Greek and later Roman games, God has 5 crowns available.

“The nearby Temple of Apollo was one of the few buildings that the Romans left intact when they rebuilt the city in 44BC. A stone inscription naming Erastus as the official who paved one of the city’s streets may well refer to the Director of Public Works from whom Paul sent greetings when he dispatched his Letter to the Romans from Corinth. “ (see Romans 16:23)

“In nearby Acrocorinth, visitors can explore the remains of the Temple of Aphrodite (the goddess of love) on the summit of the ancient Greek Acropolis that overlooks the site of Roman Corinth. Paul criticized the popular practice of sacred prostitution found in this temple in his First Letter to the Corinthians (see I Corinthians 6:15-20), and went on to describe the true nature of love in one of the most famous passages in the Bible. (see I Corinthians 13:1-13)

“During his eighteen months in Corinth (in 51-52AD), Paul writes his First and Second Letters to the Thessalonians, in which he encourages the new Gentile believers to stand firm under persecution, instructs them how to lead a godly life and clears up some confusion about the second coming of the Lord Jesus.”

Excerpts from:

https://www.thebiblejourney.org/biblejourney1/10-pauls-journey-to-phrygia-macedonia/paul-in-corinth/

Ancient City of Corinth, Greece

There were many in Corinth that were thirsting and hungry for truth — spiritual matters. They had this fellow Paul, the same Saul of Tarsus come to Corinth for over a year (1 1/2 years to be exact), to teach them about Jesus Christ and “spiritual matters.” This Saul of Tarsus is the same man that was taught the scriptures at the feet of Gamaliel, perhaps the greatest lawyer (legal authority and expert), of the laws of Israel in his day. This same Saul was raised as both a Jew and a Roman (dual citizenship).

Paul was a Roman citizen by birth, and Tarsus, where Paul was born, was a free city (see: Acts 21:39). The Emperor Pompey made Cilicia a Roman province in 64 BC, and its capital, Tarsus, was a free city from the time of Augustus. Although it is unknown exactly how his parents became citizens of Rome, Paul was a Roman citizen by birth, which was a privilege many did not have.

Paul, spoke and read Aramaic (Estrangelo Aramaic), and Greek.

Estrangelo Aramaic is believed to be the first language = the language known by Adam and Eve. It is the language that Jesus Christ used as did at least 11 of his original disciples (Galileans). It is a simple language.

This same Saul was a member of the ruling body of Israel (Sanhedrin = 70), that also cast his vote to have Jesus Christ crucified.

This same Saul (Paul), had persecuted the same Church and wasted it as much as possible and had men and women and children rounded up and thrown into prison. Do not suppose kidnapping, rape, execution style murder is or the blaming it on others is or the denial of evil is— anything new! And remember, Paul was at one time a Jew; not a gentile or a Christian.

But yep, these Corinthians wanted to hear what this apostle Paul had to say about these things that he formerly did not believe in and persecuted the early churches for. Even when other believers had their doubts about him and the legitimacy of his apostleship, the Corinthians wanted to hear him and were desirous to believe. This says a lot about the character of many at Corinth, despite their wealth, education, culture, religious beliefs, and even their wrong behavior.

Besides this basic background of Corinth, why was the verse written in I Corinthians chapter 14 and in verse 33? Chapters 12-13 and 14 of I Corinthians from 12:1 the words “spiritual gifts” is properly translated as: “spiritual matters.” Chapters 12,13, and 14 not only deal with the proper use of these “spiritual matters” and more specifically— speaking in tongues, tongues with interpretation and prophecy, they are written here quite frankly because, the Corinthians were screwing them up (not believing and operating the manifestations properly).

I & II Corinthians is a reproof epistle. It reproves the practical errors, for failing to apply the doctrinal epistle (how to believe rightly or correctly), from the book of Romans.

So why was it necessary for God to have written by His apostle Paul, (in I Corinthians 14:33), He (God), is NOT the author of “confusion, but of peace…”? Because many in the Corinthian church were confused and not at peace and – “where there is confusion, there is every evil work!”

Isn’t this something? God is talking to his people (the Church – those that were neither Jew nor Gentile, but His (God’s), people! This entire book (I Corinthians & II Corinthians), is reproof of the practical errors that crept into the church, for failing to adhere to the doctrine (right believing), of the book of Romans.

So why is God (religion), politics and governments so anathema (accursed), to think about, discuss, believe or apply, even in our current so-called liberal and woke society?

The simply answer is— religion, politics and governments are each and all together cruel.

How many chances do you suppose people deserve? What about you? What about me? Well, what does The Word say?

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16 KJV

This is how much God loves the world, you and I!

If He (God), loves like this and this much and He does, why does he let the horrors and the evils in this world and perhaps even to us individually, continue? Without the freedom of will, there is no freedom of will! Despite leaving the choice up to each of us, God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten son (Jesus Christ), is not willing that any should perish, and He is not slack concerning his promises, but longsuffering (long waiting)!

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

I Peter 3:9 KJV

Not only does God love the whole world (which includes you and I), He is not willing that anyone should “perish!”

Have you ever wondered how God almighty can love like this and not be willing that anyone should ever perish? I certainly have especially when it comes to the evil that people do and to each other!

“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

We need to have joy to edure as Jesus Christ did and as God still endures.

Does this mean we, you, I or anyone should look to any other – Israel, Hamas, Palestine, Jew, Gentile, religion, politics or governments?

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Acts 4:12 KJV

What the ancient temple of Apollo in Corinth, Greece, looks like today

History is often the discovery of what religion, politics and government destroy. God’s Word and we?

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth [lives] and abideth [abides] for ever.”

I Peter 1:23

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

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“Seek You First”

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“Seek You First”

By Dahni
© 2023, all rights reserved

Have you ever heard or read anything like “seek you first”? If you were doing some kind of research, wouldn’t you first need to search for something, before you could research it?

“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.”

Proverb 25:2, Amplified Version

First, let’s look at the word glory. What does it mean? We will just use a common dictionary.

“Glory: something that is a source of honor, fame, or admiration; a distinguished ornament or an object of pride.”

Source: Dictionary.com

Now why would God almighty, the creator of the heavens and earth get his glory from concealment? Then why would a King or some other ruler, likely the wealthiest among the earth, get their glory from searching out what God has concealed? Here is another question, would it be even possible to reveal or un-conceal what God has concealed? I think literally, no, which makes this verse figurative (figure of speech). Note that in literature and under the same dictionary entry for “glory” continues…

“Glory: ornament or an object of pride: a sonnet that is one of the glories of English poetry.”

Source: Dictionary.com

Glory is very special to God and to Kings (actually anyone), can we just agree on that? OK, great!

God conceals, but technically it is all out in the open, waiting for someone, anyone to come along and discover what has been here since creation. And as wealthy and as powerful as a king or some royalty may be, this verse says it is their discovery of what God has meant to be revealed that makes them glorious, gives to them glory. Or as another translation (King James Version), has it, it is the Kings “honor” or what gives them “honor;” makes them “honor”-able. Isn’t that incredible? It is? Seek you first!

“But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he
that giveth thee power to get wealth,…”

Deuteronomy 8:18 KJV

Seek you first!

“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”

Matthew 6: 31, & 32 KJV

It is normal for all of us to seek those things, which will at least sustain our lives. It matters not who we are– male, female, young or older, rich or poor— everyone seeks these things. But what is it we must do first or “seek you first?”

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Matthew 6: 33 KJV

By the way, if we are lacking in these things or as if instead of them being added, they are subtracted, perhaps we are not involved in — “Seek you first”?

Does this mean we are just supposed to sit around and wait until God brings us everything we need? No, of course not! Seeking requires effort. How much? I don’t know. Maybe it’s different per person and per situation. I don’t know, I just know it takes work. And it takes whatever times it takes. But if there is one thing I have learned recently, do your best and you never have to apologize or make excuses, maybe there will be the need for forgiveness, but I’m sorry is just never appropriate. And besides, if I change my mind (change my direction), which forgiveness is, a change of direction, I will be back on track to “Seek you first.”

What specifically am I seeking?

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”

III John 1:2 KJV

For me, that verse is my “Seek you first.” I am seeking to prosper and be in health. I am lacking in both and that is not to confess a negative, but it is an honest report. So what am I going to do about it? Even before that, it is my decision to believe it that according to the above scripture, this is God’s will. And it is His will for you and for me. There are many writers in the Bible, but only one author and that author is, God. When the verse begins with the word “Beloved,” well I am among God’s “Beloved” so therefore, this is God’s will for my life.

I am convinced that at age 69, this is my time to manifest both prosperity and health. I am absolutely certain that this is what God has in store for me. He has never kept it secret or hidden. If it concealed it is because, I have not sought to have it revealed. Even IF I wasn’t taught this (and I am not saying I wasn’t), it should be obvious I was not listening. I was not about “Seek you first.” Now I am seeking. I am in process.

So, I have a way to make a lot of money and it not only helps me to have my needs met, but more than I need so that I can help those that need. It all helps others while I am helping me. It’s a win-win. I finally know what to do with money and I am learning how to get it. At least I was. I have had to not quit, but postpone my prospering efforts, for something else, my health. Perhaps others can do both at the same time as my “Seek you first” verse of III John 1:2 it says “prosper AND be in health.” That little conjunction “and” means they are together as on a list. I usually don’t go to the store for just prosperity, but prosperity and health, more than one item on my shopping list. But this is not me presently. I must prioritize. Health first then back to prospering. Anyway, this is me currently.

I have been diagnosed with Diabetes II and high blood pressure. Multi cystic kidney disease, was supposed to have killed me over 20 years ago.

I’m still here. What do you think about that? Why do you suppose I am? The medical profession? No, they had absolutely nothing to do with my still being vertical.🤣

But, I also have some issues with my gallbladder. I know, I know, one can live without a gallbladder and my Dr. monitoring it and a cyst on my liver tells me that all the time. I have a niece that has had hers removed. But I want to keep mine, for at least as long as possible. 👌

Some of the side effects of what I have just described are excessive weight or the difficulty it is to lose it. I have chronic fatigue, extreme muscle soreness, brain fog and other stuff. Well, I am under a doctor’s care and I take medication for this. I take Metformin for my Diabetes and Lisinopril for my high blood pressure. Just within the last couple of weeks, due to my complaints, my Dr. took me off Metformin and instead, I now take the extended release Metformin, which is supposed to be less disrupting intestinally. I’m not just trying to be special-circumstance guy or different, but that’s not me. It still does not work for me.

For the first couple of days I felt like a new person or the old normal me, but not any more. All the side effects I had before, returned. Now these are not the side effects of what I am supposed to be diagnosed with, these are the side effects I am experiencing I believe, from the Metformin. I know, I know Metformin is one of the oldest, most researched and one of the first drugs prescribed for some people with Diabetes II. I am one of those. Well, the medical folks know and I know it comes with a whole host of side effects. Some tolerate them and some like me, not so much or at all. What follows are some of these side effects and how they mess with the quality of my life.

♦Vitamin B12 deficiency – constantly tired, drowsy, sleepy
♦Wasted exercise sessions – makes workout (any physical exercise) harder and resists muscle gain
♦Extreme muscle soreness – elevated lactate accumulations
♦Altered cortisol levels – stress = weight gain
♦Reduced testosterone bio availability – holds fat
♦Shifts gut microbiome – frequency of elimination, pain, discomfort, acidity and other intestinal and kidney issues.

Does that list remind you of a hamster on a wheel? It does to me and I am like that hamster spinning, spinning and getting nowhere except I guess, it’s keeping my A1C (blood sugar) lower? But at the expense of everything I am trying to do, the Metformin is actually keeping me from realizing the goal of losing fat = building muscle = lowering my A1C. It is as if I am on a vicious circle or wheel of counter-production. Yep, sure sounds like a poison to me. To me, maybe not you, but me. “Seek you first.” I’m in my own process of “Seek you first.”

A friend of mine told me Metformin was not so good, months ago, but I replied I was under a Dr.’s care and I knew someone that knew someone that had been on it for two years with no issues. But that’s them, not me and I’ve only been on it for around six months. In my personal opinion, that’s way too long. For me. “Seek you first.”

Now I want to be careful and very clear about what I am about to say. I can only speak to my situation, not anyone else’s!!! What is supposed to be a medication seems to my body, a poison. This came to me recently like an epiphany (a sudden idea, a lightbulb went off in my head, I had a revelation, etc.). I am into “Seek you first!” What else can I do? Are there real natural alternatives that can work for me? Yes, I believe there are. I am into, “Seek you first.”

I am not a fool. I have made an appointment with my Primary care Physician. He will not be available until 8/23. In the mean time, I am expecting something in the mail soon. One is a natural product that could replace Metformin without the above side effects. And I am going to try them. I informed my Dr.’s office. Also coming soon are some lancets and test strips so that I can test my blood sugar. This is to see if my blood sugar is lowered or whether I should go back on the Metformin until, I meet with my Dr. What I will be taking soon, may also lower my blood pressure so, I will be monitoring that at home as well.

Everything I have just described along with my current age, all seem age related? Well, that’s what I thought, but not any more! “Seek you first.”

I found an equation for aging. Want to know what it is? Of course you do!

Aging is the loss of information due to entropy. What is entropy? Entropy is a measure of the loss of information in a transmitted message. What? I thought this was about aging? It is, but before defining what aging is, understand we are here talking about information, misinformation or lack of information on the cellular level. Yep, everything inside us at the core, is cellular. Whereas we need thoughts in the mind, our cells need chemicals, fuel and in proper quantity and quality to reproduce our best.

Have you ever heard that all disease is some type of inflammation? Inflammation causes all kinds of stress and even pain. Now it is known to cause aging too. And BTW (by the way), some certain kind of stress is good for the body. Hmm, if intentionally, willfully and correctly subjecting ourselves to specific stress at certain times and for specific durations, do you suppose it could cause us also, to live longer and feel better while we are doing it? “Seek you first.”

OK. OK. What is aging? I thought it was the normal and natural consequence that we will all go through eventually, endure or just die from, to one degree or another. That is not true! Another long held belief is that some people age better than others because, they just have good or better genes. Do you remember Dick Clark? He never seemed to age. Well, I’m not going to say that genetics may not be a factor, but wait until you read what I am about to write here.

There is a new field of study. It is called epigenetics. Epi is the Greek preposition meaning “upon.” So epigenetics are what is on or upon the genes or our DNA. Remember the aging equation? Aging is the loss of information due to entropy. Guess what else is now believed in the science community? What we think of aging is 80% epigenetic and not genetics. This means we can do something about it, about 80% of it!!! Seek you first!

“Aging is a disease.”

Dr. David Sinclair

Wow, if that is not a revolutionary concept, I don’t know what is. So there must be markers of age – not just skin, wrinkles, white hair and etc., and all external markers, but internal as well. As a matter of fact, because the exterior markers are visible, they have come from the inside or inside out. Anti aging is a misnomer. That’s for people that only want to look young. Longevity is for those of us that want to feel young. Guess what, if we feel younger do you suppose we might look younger?

Do you remember the carnivals as a kid? I do. There was always someone that would try and guess your weight or your age, your choice. I chose my age because, I’ve had white hair, even as a young person. I thought it would throw them off. It did. But today, artificial intelligence (A.I.), can actually scan a face and not only accurately tell the age (biological age not necessarily one’s chronicle age), and how long that person is likely going to live! Those carnival guessers, just stopped looking or scanning my face when they saw my white hair and thought I was older. A.I. will show one’s biological age accurately and because of what is known even from a face scan, very accurately predict how much longer the person will likely live. WOW!

Did you ever watch the television show Star Trek, with DeForest Kelly as Dr. McCoy? He was the Starship Enterprise’s chief medical officer and he did some incredible stuff, fiction wise. That show aired from 1966-1969 and many things futuristic then, are present realities now. Remember the communicator? We call those cell phones now. Medical stuff today is pretty incredible too, even though maybe they cannot do everything Dr. McCoy could do, but we are now entering one of the greatest times in all history. I call it — Custom Health & Longevity (long life) Care. Abbreviated = CHLC, its like the TLC (tender loving care), for yours’s, yours’s, yours’s, and etc. and my specific cellular core.

Everyone is different. Not one size fits everyone. What may be medication to you may be poison to me. Why not know precisely what is best for you and for me? This is now available— not a hope-so, not a maybe-one-day, but TODAY it is a reality! And if we know what is best for us, then we can do a lot about it! “Seek you first.”

It is now not only possible to test our DNA and blood for things like possible vitamin and mineral deficiencies, blood sugar levels (A1C), and blood pressure, but our internal age markers – everything on or upon our genetic code, our epigenetics! And if 80% of all aging issues are epigenetic, we can do something about that. I’m not looking vainly to living longer, just with a greater quality of life. And if that happens to be a longer life, I’ve no problem with that! 😎 “Seek you first.”

Would you like to know how freeing all of this is? Well, it is for me! I don’t have to read a bunch of stuff that says I should take this or that. I don’t have to rely on recommendations from others, Dahni take this or that. No more wasted time watching videos for what seems like forever to get to the point of $79.95 or however much, and feeling suckered punched again. No more trials and errors to find what may or may not work for me, not to mention my time and money. I don’t even have to trust my doctors that they know what they are talking about, are doing to me or prescribing for me.

You know what else? I never wanted my dang symptoms treated anyway. I wanted the cause or causes removed knowing that if that happens, the symptoms will disappear. Hello, are you getting this? It is now available by blood tests and DNA tests to know what is going on inside us and what we need to sustain it, improve it or fix it!

Did I write here what natural thing I’m waiting on and going to try to recommend to you? No I did not. Have I suggested doctors are part of the problem and not the solution? No I have not. All I’m saying is that it is now available, right now, to know what will work for us while under the care of a physician or other alternatives. “Seek you first.”

It is the glory of God to give this for us to seek to find. It is our glory to find it! “Seek you first!”

Dear reader, I want the same for you as I do for myself. More importantly, it is the will of God for you, His “Beloved.” If you are not among His “Beloved” or don’t think you are, maybe you need to “Seek you first?”

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”

III John 1:2 KJV

Seek you first. Here are a couple of links you can check out and subscribe to. I have.

https://www.youtube.com/@hubermanlab

https://www.youtube.com/@DavidSinclairPodcast

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

…a witness and a seeker! “Seek you first!”

Dahni

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“The Rainbow Bridge”

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“The Rainbow Bridge”

By Dahni
© 2023, all rights reserved

Bella

Maybe you knew that our feline friend Bella, passed away just a few days ago and maybe you did not? Maybe you care and maybe not? Even though cats are more independent than dogs, 14 ½ years is a long time to bond with any animal.

What inspired this post was a few things:

1. We had Bella cremated and picked up her remains from her vet, yesterday

2. Two pieces of mail came today:

a. a condolence card from Bella’s vet and staff

b. a condolence card from Susan’s cousin Robin

Bella’s Carved Box

Bella’s foot prints and name in plaster

Cover of card from Bella’s Vet & Staff

Comments by Bella’s Vet, Dr. Rebecca Nealey and Staff

The outside of Robin May Magar’s Card

The inside of Robin May Magar’s Card

Perhaps this is too much for your liking or wholly unnecessary? Personally, it shows me that there are still people in this world that care. Maybe it is not for our Bella, but for us that cared for Bella? I think it is both. And I believe it is a fitting thing, apropos and shows kindness, good manners and that they all are each, a class act!

As I said, we picked up Bella’s remains yesterday from our vet. We had Bella cremated and her ashes are stored in a very nice carved wood box. Bella now joins Ban-de-loo (Bandy), in her box on top of a bookshelf in our Music room, at the Gathering Place (our Home).

There are some things about death of which I have evolved with over the years. Besides visiting graves, doing some upkeep and maybe leaving flowers, that’s about all cemeteries were to me. Then I changed. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine having a picnic at a gravesite, but I did. I did not know the person, but I was with others that did and found the experience both historical (a learning experience), and an enjoyable event.

Then, I decided for me, cremation was the way to go (so to speak). It should cost less and take up less space. There is that “Ashes to ashes and dust to dust” thing, a common refrain often heard at funerals, or more specifically, at the grave site right before burial. Now as a Christian, I can tell you that the Bible does not specifically say what I quoted above or name “cremation” But the Bible does say this—

“By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return”

Genesis 3:19, King James Version

So what happens to a body after it is put into the ground. The long, long end to it, it becomes like dirt, dust or ashes. It takes whatever times it takes to get to this state. Cremation is in essence, just speeding up the natural process of returning the body to dust and ashes, by use of heat, around 1800-2000° F.

Personally, I do not have a problem with cremation or see God having any issues with cremation. I think it is kind of nice having little reminder-boxes on top of a bookcase with Bandy and Bella. Having said that, I would find it a bit morbid, OK, OK creepy as hell to have an urn with people-person ashes in my home, but to each their own. If it helps you to spend time with their ashes and have a one-way communicate, grieve and mourn— Okeydokey for you, but it’s not for me.

As as matter of fact, if you ever hear them (your beloved deceased), talking back, consider making an appointment to see a shrink (psychiatrist), an exorcist of someone you trust that know what they are doing, to cast out the devil spirit! Because, it is a devil spirit is what it is because, the dead stay dead until God gets them all up at the ‘Gathering Together (dead first then those alive), the first or the second resurrection. That’s is provided that God treats animals the same as humans.

Please note: A resurrection involves only the dead. ‘The Gathering Together’ first, involves the “dead in Christ” and then we (part of the Church, family & household of God), which are alive when Jesus Christ Returns. Since some are alive, this is why the accurate Bible does not refer to it as a resurrection.

Elena Clyne and her dog Major

This brings us to the title of this post, “The Rainbow Bridge.” This refers to both a poem and a fictional albeit some believe it as a true bridge. The poem has long been thought to be by an “unknown author” for a long time. This poem was included in our condolence card from our vet, Bella’s vet and staff.

But this poem was written by a real person about her real dog named ‘Major’ when he passed and she wrote this poem.

“Edna Clyne was nineteen years old and living in Inverness, Scotland, in 1959, when her Labrador Retriever named Major died. He was her first dog. Not the family’s first, there had been others in the house, but the first that had been hers alone. “He was a very special dog,” she told me, “Sometimes I would just sit and talk to him, and I felt that he could understand every word I said.” Her mother used to ask how Edna had trained Major to be so gentle and obedient, and she still laughs about the question, explaining that she had never trained him at all, it was natural between them. Many of us who have had pets have known one like that, the one that truly understands, the one who lives as a piece of us.”

Excerpt by the article’s author – Paul Koudounaris

Source: https://www.orderofthegooddeath.com/…/the-rainbow…/

Page 1 of 2 original -“The Rainbow Bridge”

Page 2 of 2 original -“The Rainbow Bridge”

Our Bella acted as if she understood me and I her. My wife Susan said we two, seemed to have our own language.

14 1/2 years for Bella may seem a long time, but it is really not. People often wonder why pets do not live as long as humans. I’ve read and heard it is because they figure out life a lot sooner than we humans do. Another interesting thing to me is that DOG spelled backwards is, GOD. Hmmm

For me, it is nice to know that the author of “The Rainbow Bridge” has been identified (see her picture and original poem above). You may or may not have read her poem before? If you have, you may not know that Edna Clyne wrote it and only that it was credited to that prolific author AKA (also known as), “Unknown” 😂

And Before I leave you with the words to “The Rainbow Bridge” it is not a place I believe in nor can find anything in scripture (the Bible), that implies pets go to paradise and/or heaven when they die.

I don’t know if the following is figurative or literal (one day we will know), but why not literal–

“Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”

Revelation 5:13 KJV

But I will say that if it somehow gives one comfort to deal with the passing of a beloved pet, to believe they have crossed “The Rainbow Bridge,” so be it. And besides, like the author of this poem was once unknown, and now is known, one day what is for me now unknown, will be known, whether our pets will be there too. I’d be Okeydokey spending eternity with all my four-legged friends!

The Rainbow Bridge

By Edna Clyne

“Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.”

“When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.”

“All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.”

“They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His [Their] bright eyes are intent. His [Their] eager body quivers. Suddenly he [they] begin to run from the group, flying over the green grass, their legs carrying him [them] faster and faster.”

“You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.”

“Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together….”

“Rainbow Bridge Crossing into Animal Heaven” original art by Stella Violano

This is nice imagery and has nice sentiments, whether or not it is just a comfort and a fiction we desire to believe or then again, something really that we will know about for sure, in the future?

But, thank you to one and all of Palmyra Integrative Animal Hospital and Robin May Magar, for making our burden just a little lighter.

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

Happily Ever After

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Happily Ever After

By Dahni
© 2023, all rights reserved

Happily Ever After? Does this sound like anything biblical or scriptural? This does not seem like anything biblical or scriptural.

This is a phrase that many people are familiar with, as am I. It has been a part of my life since I was a child. I still use it on a regular basis. So, I thought I would share why I still use this phrase and at least some of its history, History or Origin? Yes, it may not be exactly as you thought or think.

If like me, you may have heard or read this as a child from some fairytale. Books and stories (fairytales – children or youth fiction mostly), often ended with some use of this such as —

“And (he, she, they) all lived happily ever after!”

“Happily Ever After” or “Happy Ever After” is typically used as a formulaic ending to a fairy tale or children’s story. Later it was included in romantic novels to describe lovers, wedded or married bliss. Its literal meaning was —

“from then onwards and forever, happiness pervades”

“Happily Ever After” or “Happy Ever After” got mostly lost, forgotten or fell out of favor when the 21st century happened. Children’s stories today are more Grimm’ (grim), than (bluebird and fairy godmother happy), Disney. By the way, “Happily Ever After” or “Happy Ever After” was never an ending to any of the Grimm Brothers fairy tales.

The celebrated romance style novels written by Barbara Cartland in the past now avoid the idea that once the bride and groom say their ‘I do’s’ life would be forever idyllic and “Happily Ever After” or “Happy Ever After.”

The first time that the term “Happily Ever After” or “Happy Ever After” is used in relation to marriage is in Giovanni Boccaccio’s translation of Il Decamerone, 1702 —

“Paganino, hearing the News, married the Widow, and as they were very well acquainted, so they lived very lovingly, and happily, ever after.”

Whoop-ee-do-dah, there’s nothing there to do with the Bible but…

Augustin Marlorat was a 16th century, French Protestant reformer. He wrote in – ‘A Catholike and Ecclesiasticall exposition of the Holy Gospell’ in 1570. Yes, that title was written correctly by me and the words were not misspelled. But Agustin wrote the following —

“But after that Christe rose againe from death, then they were apointed ordinary teachers of the church: & in this respecte this honor pertained vnto the ever after”

And those words above are also written correctly and not misspelled.

Then in 1574, just four years later, the same writer above said it like this —

“Moreouer John had commended faith sufficiently when he sayde, that the dead whiche dye in the Lord are happie ever after.”

A Catholike exposition vpon the Reuelation of Sainct John, 1574

Hey, what can I say, this is the way he wrote and liekely spelled and pronounced words in those times. English is a hard language to learn!

So, the phrase “Happily Ever After” or “Happy Ever After” in at least around the 16th century, meant or was referring to —

“everlasting eternal happiness in heaven.”

Then the terms or phrases migrated in the 17th century and became “Happily Ever After” or “Happy Ever After.” This was when the princes and princesses of fairy-lore were forever-more (in this life anyway), locked into perpetual — love, romance, and wedded or married bliss.

Then, I suppose, when children like myself grew up and we first realized life does not always or seldom turns out “Happily Ever After” or “Happy Ever After,” these terms got dropped. It may be the generation of children after mine or the next generation after them may have all grown up never knowing these phrases?

Today, so many (including myself at times), have become jaded in our thinking, divided from one another, negative and so depressed, we don’t think about or believe in being “Happily Ever After” or “Happy Ever After” either anymore or not too very often. Those of us that grew up with these phrases have seen life throw us in the opposite direction with completely different and adverse consequences.

If all this lovey-dovey ever after business make you want to gag, many people have riffed on “Happily Ever After” or “Happy Ever After” for what they think or believe are more real-like sentiments.

I recently read a cynical expression recently and I cannot say that I have not thought something similar —

“crappily ever after is more like it.”

-somone on Twitter-

What I call ultra-realism is in essence, void of imagination. Imagination is for and just for children correct? The child must grow up and put away their toys. Children must grow up. In part, this is realism, but ultra-realism is as if, there is no place in the world, for imagination. Do you realize our brains do not know the difference between what some call reality and what is imagined or projected in the brain?

Imagination is the primary and instinctual work of children. It is until, it’s driven out of them. But by imagination— dreams are laid and incubated and visions fledge and fly. These often lead to inventions and technologies. Creativity is stirred, poured and painted on the world canvas. It increases both intellect and whole brain thinking. Imagination forms the notes in the ear and upon the pages of the human heart’s fervent desire for music. Imagination is – the freedom to breathe and think and produce. Imagination is a pulse and moves into and throughout the whole earth like the flow of blood. The great genius Albert Einstein wrote —

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

Albert Einstein

My usage of the phrases “Happily Ever After” or “Happy Ever After” is mostly used with a certain image followed by these words —

“…at least once in awhile”

I most often use the image to follow in celebrating someone’s birthday. I may use some emojis like: a cake, 🎂 a present, 🎁 a balloon, 🎈 and etc. But rarely do I ever send a birthday card or wish someone a Happy Birthday anymore. Call it my want to just be different, but I send the following image, instead.

HappilyEverAfter_med

As said before, I most often add the following —

“at least once in while”

I had a friend that passed away suddenly in July of 2022. She posted for her last time on her Facebook page the following, July 25th, 2022 —

KandyQuote

The same day (07.25.2022), I replied —

MyReplyToKandy Sadly, the very next day, my friend Kandy was gone. But I am still here and I can write and still encourage anyone that I still believe in being “Happily Ever After” or “Happy Ever After,” “…at least once in awhile!”

Besides growing up with the fairytale and perhaps child-like phrases as “Happily Ever After” or “Happy Ever After,” where did I come up with and include, “…at least once in awhile!”

There was this guy that was born in 1946. He is older than I am, but he was a contemporary of my time. His name is James William ???????. He is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, actor and businessman. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an “island escapism” lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, he has recorded many hit songs including one ranked 234th on the Recording Industry Association of America’s list of “Songs of the Century.” It was written in part in Austin, Texas and finished in Key West, Florida. Maybe you know the song “Margaritaville,” which came out in 1977? I have no doubt that this song introduced many people to or even made its namesake drink, a margarita, 🍸even more popular than it may have already been. And I am sure if not fortunes, at least a lot of money has been made from Margaritaville-like drinks and products and merchandise and have contributed to — “Happily Ever After” or “Happy Ever After” “…at least once in awhile!”

Maybe you know James William ?????? by his nickname (his familiar but shortened real name), Jimmy Buffet?

Twenty years later or on June 4th, 1996, he put out a new album called, ‘Banana Wind’ and one of the songs is —

Happily Ever After
(Every Now and Then)

“Some people never find it
Some only pretend
But me –
I just want to live Happily After
If only every now and then”

So, whether for your birthday, any other day, any occasion in this life, for love, for forever in the there-after (eternity), I would each and everyone to be —

HappilyEverAfter_med

“…at least once and a while!”

In the King James version of the Bible, the word “happy” is used 25 times. You should get out or get a concordance and look up every verse. But here are a few:

“Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: (corrects) therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:”

Job 5:17 King James Version

All scripture from Genesis 1:1 – Revelation 22:21 is as it declares in II Timothy 3:16 is given by inspiration of God. These words, “given by inspiration of God” from the Greek is the one word theopneuustos, which literally means, “God Breathed. This “God Breathed Word” is profitable in three ways — for “doctrine” (which is right believing action), for “reproof” when we fail to apply the doctrine (making practical errors), and to get us back to the “doctrine”, and is therefore profitable for “correction,” which is to correct practical errors that have gone on for so long, false doctrines are the consequence. But God’s Word is profitable to correct these doctrinal errors and get us back to the right “doctrine” or right believing of His “God Breathed” Word.

These three — doctrine, reproof and correction are instruction in righteousness. Now read the verse from Job again. Man, woman or child (“man” – is an all inclusive noun), is “Happy” if God corrects us and put us back to believing rightly.

“Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.”

Psalm 127:5 KJV

In the above verse, the word “quiver” is figuratively used for one’s children. Today, when population growth is slowing and people decide not to have children for fear of bringing them into a troubled world, they should and we all should, read this verse. And also, it is impossible to even sustain a culture without producing at minimum, 2-3 children per couple. I don’t know about you, but I’d be “Happy” about that!

“Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord,…

Deuteronomy 32:29 KJV

This refers to an entire country — Israel being “Happy.”

“For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.”

Psalm 128:2 KJV

“Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.”

Psalm 144:15 KJV

“She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.”

Proverbs 3:18 KJV

The wisdom of God (“she is a tree of life”), and makes people “Happy!”

“He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.”

Proverbs 14:21 KJV

Having mercy makes one “Happy!”

“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”

Proverbs 29:18 KJV

Without vision people perish, but to those that keep God’s Word, they are “Happy!”

These are but a few examples. Again, I encourage you to look up all the references to the word “Happy” in the King James Version of the Bible

Oh I do believe that God does want us to be “Happily Ever After” or “Happy Ever After,” now, “every once in awhile” and for “ever after” throughout all eternity!

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 Sower and His Seed

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The Sower and His Seed

By Dahni
© 2023, all rights reserved

I woke up recently from a dream and in it, the context was all about, “The sower and his seed.” I could not stop thinking about this parable. But first, let me share with you the evolution of this concept for me currently.

Since it’s too cold here to stay outside for long, perhaps this is where the whole idea of “spring cleaning” comes from? Can’t go outside, stay busy, and find something to do, occupy my mind? Clean something? Well, this and that and those I was doing a few days ago. I was going through what you might think of as my stuff, too good to throw away. But after years of doing nothing with a lot of it, it was time to throw much away. During my new game of wad-toss-and-throw into the trash or playing a game of trash ball,🗑 I came upon a quote I hand wrote out on the page of a planner I used probably, over ten years ago; maybe longer.

In reading the quote, I could see why I copied it. I probably had every intention of sharing it. I never did. Then recently, I came across it and it apparently had the same affect on me as the first time I saw and saved it, but alas, forgotten it, until just the other day. Today was the day, to share it as it happened, March 14th, 2023. It is the exact same day of the morning I woke up thinking about, “The sower and his seed.”

I copied the quote and looked it up online to see if I had written it down correctly and to make sure the person attributed to have originated it was accurate. In so doing, I noticed there was another line to it. It was unique in that it explains and defines what the first line states. Together or separate, both of the lines are profound. So I decided to start with the first line and shared it as a post on my Facebook page. I promised to share the second line on the following day. But following is, what I wrote.

You gots’ troubles? Are you a “Great Spirit?” I suspect you are. I really do not know anyone that is not. I do understand there are perhaps many that do not understand that they are not. There are just as likely, many that do not recognize that they are. But labels do not change the contents of one’s inner content. I came across this quote while cleaning up my stuff recently. I probably wrote it down a lot of years ago, but never used it. Today is the day!! Tomorrow, I will share the definition of “Great Minds,” with the second part of this quote.

“Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.”

— A. Einstein —

For the following day (3/15/2023), I intended to write — yesterday we saw the contrast of “Great Minds” Vs “mediocre minds.” Today we will define the difference. By defining “mediocre minds,” by sheer logic, its direct opposite is— “Great Minds!”

“Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.
The mediocre mind is incapable of understanding the man who refuses to bow blindly to conventional prejudices and chooses instead to express his opinions courageously and honestly.”

― Albert Einstein ―

Conclusion: If we are “Great Minds” and the WE I know are— “Great Minds,” WE need to stop bowing and WE need to especially, stop bowing blindly!

By the Way, my sister informed me on my Facebook post, that today 3/14/2023 just happens to be, the birthday of Albert Einstein. Cool huh! 😎 Happy Birthday 🎂 Al!

I like Albert Einstein a lot! It certainly is not because I can relate to him, I’m a genius like him or that I ever was or ever will be as smart as my man Albert! But just being around him (his words), just makes one smarter, don’t you think! 😉👍

Well, what has this to do with “The sower and his seed?” First, let’s look at persecution.

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

II Timothy 3:12 King James Version (KJV)

This is like Einstein’s quote of greatness encountering “violent opposition” and often by “mediocre minds.” Although this verse does not answer how “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution,” it does say we shall— absolutely suffer (or endure) persecution. But no matter what kind of persecution we may endure (temporarily), God’s Word has an answer or the solution to that!

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”

Romans 8:35 KJV

Who? Anyone? Anything? Nope or Nay—

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

Romans 8:37

Be it the evil we all know or can understand, or the evil that just harasses us or the evil that just completely ignores us, God will take care of us. We’ve got much more important things to do. Like what? Like sowing seed!

Take a look at the whole parable from Luke, chapter 2—

“A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

Luke 2: 5-8 KJV

That was really quite straightforward and simple and easy to understand. But the last part of the last verse, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear,” means we are going to understand the parable and understand it IF—

a. we keep reading
b. we are the right people to receive it”

Let’s pick it up in verse nine (9) as Jesus Christ explains what we just read in verses 5-8 above.

”And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

Luke 2: 9-15 KJV

Sower&Seeds

Of course, it is always great to illustrate something you are trying to communicate. I have no doubt Jesus Christ used real things people were familiar with in his day to explain his parables, to those that “had eyes to see and ears to hear.” He likely just pointed to examples in life, in his immediate surroundings to show and tell the Word of God. For myself, as it so happened to me today, I found a beautiful watercolor and the Christian who painted it. And her work is called, “The Sower and His Seed.” Don’t you just marvel whenever you are at the right place and time and say or do the right thing! I sure do! Probably because it’s not that often, but it should be. We are after all, children of the Greatest Mind!

But I met Susan Minteer online, by way of her watercolor first and then I found her website and then I met her heart, through her works and her words.

Try to view here image from her website as large as possible. There is much detailed treasure to be found! Now meet Susan—

“My watercolor paintings are an expression of gratitude to The Father for the blessings in my life. I enjoy country living and its continual supply of inspiration for landscapes. A lifetime of gardening gives color, shape and pattern to my floral paintings. Gardens and the countryside are in my roots and in my genes, a heritage shared with many of my viewers and collectors. The intent is to express my visual ideas with emotion, vibrant color, and lively design. I find joy in sharing both the creative process and the resulting artwork with others. I believe that because “we are His workmanship”, creativity is a part of our being. I am grateful for the opportunities I have to share these gifts.”

— Susan Minteer —

‘The Sower and His Seed’ By Susan Minteer, used by permission of the artist

For more information about Susan and her work visit her website at — https://www.susanminteer.com

Or better yet, go to her website and find her email. Send her an email and ask about ordering a print of her work ‘The Sower and His Seeds’

But with the Word of God and this, what is it I saw for the first time ever? Remember the verses that state— “For God so loved the world…” and that He is “not willing that any should perish.” So, everyone has to hear the Word. We read that the Word of God is the “good seed.” It will grow wherever it is sown, but it will only prosper on good soil.

We, God’s children, are supposed to be the sowers of His Word. And as sowers, we will witness the several places where the seed is sown.

Some is sown and they hear and their hearts are hardened to keep them from believing and being made whole. They may persecute us.

Some seed is sown and some with gladness receive, but they have no root and when temptation comes, they fall away. That hurts our hearts as we saw them change and then change back. That is another persecution.

Some seed is sown and they hear, but turn to the riches and pleasures of this world. This hurts us deeply and could possibly cause us to doubt. This is another kind of persecution.

Then finally, some seed is sown and we rejoice because it fell “on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” We and these are the “Greatest Minds” because, we are the children of the Greatest Mind!

Now in conclusion, the incredible thing I saw for the first time ever? It is not my responsibility that the seed I sow is on ANY type of ground! That’s God’s job. I am just a sower.

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

Isaiah 55:11

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

📜 Worth Day

tiš·šā·ḇê·a‘ – pronounced – tish-shah-VAY-ah

Deuteronomy 10:20

The Coventry Carol

MOTHERS

MOTHERS

FATHERS

HOPE

September 11, 3 BC — the exact day of the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah).

Jesus was approximately two years old.

If you will you listen to memy words will help you

If you will listen to my wordsGod will be able to help you

The rest is up to you

“…at least once in awhile”

“at least once in while”

“…at least once and a while!”

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