Heshewethree's Xanga

A little outside the box...

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:39:28 GMT

Lately, some questions have been going through my mind. So let me jump right into it.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but when we hear a minister or pastor or even a prophet speaking the word of God...when they say, "Thus saith the Lord..." we tend to believe that this is definitely what the good book says. But if someone says, "I want, or I prefer, or I will, or I would that you..." even standing in the position of a man of God, expounding upon "church" or even "biblical" principles; do we still say or believe that what they are espousing is actually "the" word, or their word?

Someone I know and love, a friend who knows my position on this particular issue, showed me this last night:

1Ti 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

1Ti 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

1Ti 2:10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

1Ti 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.

1Ti 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

1Ti 2:13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

1Ti 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

1Ti 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

He tried to say that Paul was speaking "as God." Really? Cause I don't even see Christ doing that. What did Christ constantly say? I don't do my will, but the will of Him who sent me. Not one time can I recall that Christ told the people do His will. Yet several times, we see evidence of Paul saying exactly that; "I will that..."or "I would that..." and so on. Is this not subjective? Is this not Paul telling what he prefers, not what thus saith the Lord.

Paul is setting up church doctrine. When I looked up the word "doctrine," this is what I found: "a particular principle, position, or policy taught or advocated, as of a religion or government."

A doctrine then, is not "the word" of God, but is a principle, position or policy advocated by a governing body. Any institution has to set up a doctrine, or rules and procedures of operation. However, it's one thing to say thus saith the Lord concerning a principle, and quite another to say, "I will."

I also noticed that that word "I" came up alot in the book of the 2 Corinthians, where Paul is so busy boasting. For instance, look at this:

2Cr 2:1 But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.

Is Paul writing as God here? No. Clearly, he is writing as Paul, and speaking as Paul. So when I get told that certain things Paul says in the first person is “the word of God,” I have to question it, particularly when it espouses a pride based issue against any group or people.

Christ was not about that. Christ did not segregate. He did not oppress. He came to give us all freedom through Him. He came to restore what was in the beginning before the fall, and that was total unity. There was no greater than or lesser than because just like God Himself, the Spirit and the Father worked in one accord...a complete unit.

Do I believe that Paul was God’s man? Yes. Do I believe he was perfect? No. Paul came from a highly religious background. He was all about law, so it is not illogical or surprising that he was the one to set up the church doctrine. Even he spoke about his own failings and the war of his flesh and his spirit. Was that also the word of God as written in Romans? No. It was the word of Paul, because God cannot war in Himself between flesh and spirit. He is not flesh. Was Paul’s words there a guide point, a principle for us, yes, but God’s words...no.

This is why God gave Paul the thorn...because Paul walked in a spirit of pride. He was always boasting...he claimed on the Lord, but it was obvious that it was more about himself, because the word “I” came up quite often and a lot of it appeared to be about Paul’s embarrassment if the he found the church “not as he would.” He was clearly stealing a bit of God’s glory, thus the reason for the thorn. And, aren’t we responsible to distinguish between grace and law, and walk in grace?

Do I say all this to discredit Paul? No, however, aren’t we also called to discern and walk in wisdom as well as with grace? Paul was writing letters to the church. In those letters, he spoke of his trials, tribulations, and how well the ministry was going. He also advised the body of believers (the church) on certain principles of conduct because of the issues that were coming up and being brought to his attention.

Did he give this advice by God’s word? Most of the time, yes. However, I clarify this statement by pointing out that when the prophets came to speak the word of God to a given leader or person in the Old Testament, they never used the word “I” or “I will.” They always said, “Thus saith the Lord.” The only prophet that I personally know of that started to incorporate his own will into what God told him, was Balack, and was almost killed for that reason.

Let me also say, that part of our responsibility as believers, is to study to show ourselves approved, and to discern the spirit of any given thing. Thus, I’m not going to take the word of any pastor, just because they hold a title; especially when a title is clearly only applicable in importance to a chosen few in the echelon of those in positions of power.

Ok...you’re probably questioning that last statement, so let me clear it up. What happened to the woman who gave the two mites? She gave her all for the Lord, and what happened to her? Jesus gave her a title. Jesus said that she would forever be remembered for her sacrifice. However, she’s a woman...so that title is meaningless, because a title would give her (a woman) position and authority over men, and in accordance to the book of Timothy, that’s not supposed to be.

1Cr 1:10 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.

Look at the reference point in this verse. Paul is beseeching the brethren, in the name of Jesus. So clearly Paul is speaking as representing God here. But look at this:

Act 5:36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.

This guy started boasting...got full of himself and was destroyed. Below, Paul is both discussing boasting, and doing the boasting, so he was given a thorn.

Rom 3:27 Where [is] boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

2Cr 7:14 For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which [I made] before Titus, is found a truth.

2Cr 8:24 Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.

2Cr 9:3 Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:

2Cr 9:4 Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.

2Cr 10:15 Not boasting of things without [our] measure, [that is], of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,

2Cr 11:10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

2Cr 11:17 That which I speak, I speak [it] not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

There’s a lot of “I” in there among all that boasting. But even Paul himself stated this:

Rom 3:28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.

My friend, the same one who showed me those verses in Timothy, told me that I still have to obey the law, despite Christ’s sacrifice. He says that I have to obey the governing law of the land. I don’t have issue with that, if it is not violating a biblical principle. However, my point to him was that through Christ, we are to walk by grace, not by law. When we walk in His grace, we would automatically have a tendency towards civil obedience as well as spiritual. The difference then, is that the obedience is not forced upon us as a matter of law, but a willing choice as a matter of grace. This, imo is where the church is falling short in its teachings. It is too focused on forcing an issue of obedience for the purposes of control, and not really teaching people to walk in God’s grace by faith. Am I wrong? What is your opinion on this matter?

The Book of Isaiah Chapter 1 V.1 Part 5.13

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:57:57 GMT

The Book of Isaiah

Chapter 1 V.1 Part 5.13

Isa 37:21 Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent unto Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Whereas thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria:

Isa 37:22 This [is] the word which the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The virgin, the daughter of Zion, hath despised thee, [and] laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.

Isa 37:23 Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted [thy] voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? [even] against the Holy One of Israel.

This first part of the Lord’s response to Hezekiah confirms that he is in right standing with God, and that it was God that Sennacherib was coming against.

Isa 37:24 By thy servants hast thou reproached the Lord, and hast said, By the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon; and I will cut down the tall cedars thereof, [and] the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the height of his border, [and] the forest of his Carmel.

Some similar words to reproached are to taunt, blaspheme, defy, jeopardise, rail, and upbraid. By the multitude of my chariots....this strikes a blazing similarity to the theology America has held to for so long; “Might makes right.” And there’s that phrase that Lucifer used so many times to his undoing... “I will...”

Lebanon = "whiteness"

Carmel = "garden-land"

Isa 37:25 I have digged, and drunk water; and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of the besieged places.

This is indicative of the king of Assyria destroying hope. This is the reason why Hezekiah said he would not allow him to take the water.

Isa 37:26 Hast thou not heard long ago, [how] I have done it; [and] of ancient times, that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste defenced cities [into] ruinous heaps.

Isa 37:27 Therefore their inhabitants [were] of small power, they were dismayed and confounded: they were [as] the grass of the field, and [as] the green herb, [as] the grass on the housetops, and [as corn] blasted before it be grown up.

Here, God says that he gave them the power they had, which they used to destroy these smaller nations.

Isa 37:28 But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me.

Isa 37:29 Because thy rage against me, and thy tumult, is come up into mine ears, therefore will I put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.

Tumult: 1) at ease, quiet, secure

a) at ease, secure

b) at ease, careless, wanton, arrogant

2) security, pride, arrogance

a) one at ease

b) arrogance

Isa 37:30 And this [shall be] a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat [this] year such as groweth of itself; and the second year that which springeth of the same: and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof.

Isa 37:31 And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward:

Isa 37:32 For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.

This sign was for Hezekiah. At this point, God had allowed these Assyrian kings to defeat many fortified cities. Many of the tribes had been taken captive. Here, prophesy is given, and it is sealed in the number 3, as in the number of years for the sign God would give and that there would be a remnant in the future of survivors.

The captivity of the people of Israel was forthcoming because of their sins and disobedience prior to Hezekiah’s time, therefore a prophesy is given towards that fact. However, it would not happen at that moment because of the faithfulness of Hezekiah.

The Book of Isaiah Chapter 1 V.1 Part 5.12

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:30:32 GMT

The Book of Isaiah

Chapter 1 V.1 Part 5.12

Isa 37:6 And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say unto your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.

Isa 37:7 Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.

Right here we see God’s protective nature towards His own becoming visible. He says that the king of Assyria did not speak against Hezekiah, but instead against God, and has blasphemed Him. Therefore, the fight has become God’s and He will address it. Clearly Hezekiah understood this, and his own position here, because he did not attempt to do anything other than what Isaiah instructed him, per the Lord.

Isa 37:8 So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.

Isa 37:9 And he heard say concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, He is come forth to make war with thee. And when he heard [it], he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,

Isa 37:10 Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God, in whom thou trustest, deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.

Isa 37:11 Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by destroying them utterly; and shalt thou be delivered?

Isa 37:12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed, [as] Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which [were] in Telassar?

Gozan = "a cutting off"

1) the Mesopotamian city on or near the middle of the Euphrates where exiled Israelites were settled

Haran = "mountaineer"

2) the city to which Abraham migrated when he left Ur of the Chaldees and where he stayed until his father died before leaving for the promised land; located in Mesopotamia in Padan-aram at the foot of Mount Masius between the Khabour and the Euphrates

Rezeph = "a hot stone"

Eden = "pleasure"

Telassar or Thelasar = "Assyrian hill"

Isa 37:13 Where [is] the king of Hamath, and the king of Arphad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?

Hamath = "fortress"

1) the principle city of upper Syria in the valley of the Orontes

Arpad or Arphad = "I shall be spread out (or supported)"

Sepharvaim = "the two Sipparas"

1) a city in Syria conquered by the king of Assyria

a) perhaps near the modern 'Mosaib' and on the Euphrates above Babylon

Hena = "troubling"

1) a city in Mesopotamia which the Assyrian kings reduced shortly before the time of Sennacherib; site unknown

Ava or Ivah = "ruin"

Isa 37:14 And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.

What I like here is the fact that Hezekiah took the offensive letter, went to the house of the Lord, and spread it before Him. That’s the act of placing something upon the altar, or giving it to God.

Isa 37:15 And Hezekiah prayed unto the LORD, saying,

Isa 37:16 O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest [between] the cherubims, thou [art] the God, [even] thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth.

Isa 37:17 Incline thine ear, O LORD, and hear; open thine eyes, O LORD, and see: and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent to reproach the living God.

Isa 37:18 Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries,

Isa 37:19 And have cast their gods into the fire: for they [were] no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.

Isa 37:20 Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou [art] the LORD, [even] thou only.

Now I’m looking at this prayer and I see a few things that may be indicative of a pattern of victorious prayer.

He identifies God; speaks of His reign and power and position as Lord over all – He praises God.
He requests that God listens to and hears as well as opens His eyes to see what this pagan king has said against God. So he’s not praying about his own shame or embarrassment here, but is saying that this king had the nerve to speak thus against the living God.
Then he mentions what the kings of Assyria have done against the works of man.
Lastly he requests that the Lord rescue them so that His name would be glorified in all the earth.

What I see is a totally unselfish prayer. He never once mentioned any of the works that he himself had done, in tearing down the high places and re-establishing worship at the temple unto God as a justification for why God should rescue them. It is also obvious that he was in right standing with God, because he did not have to ask for God’s protection despite the failing of the people to give God proper respect and honor and to serve Him alone.

His entire focus was on the fact that by attacking them, this king was, in fact, rising up against, and attacking God, and therefore, he must be put down, because of God’s glory, which must be evident throughout the earth. It doesn’t matter the number of times these kings rose up against other nations, but when they rise up against God’s own, they rise up against God, and therefore, they must be destroyed.

The Book of Isaiah Chapter 1 V.1 Part 5.11

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:38:30 GMT

The Book of Isaiah

Chapter 1 V.1 Part 5.11

I’m back in 2 Ki 18, as this story is recorded there as well as Chr. 32: 1-15, 30; and Isa 36:2-10. So let’s look at it here in 2 Ki 18.

2Ki 18:19 And Rabshakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence [is] this wherein thou trustest?

2Ki 18:20 Thou sayest, (but [they are but] vain words,) [I have] counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?

2Ki 18:21 Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, [even] upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so [is] Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.

2Ki 18:22 But if ye say unto me, We trust in the LORD our God: [is] not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?

2Ki 18:23 Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.

2Ki 18:24 How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?

What got my attention was the next verse.

2Ki 18:25 Am I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.

Now, I gotta say, that if I was one of the people...one of the Jews in Hezekiah’s kingdom, that statement might make me question things or rethink, particularly if Hezekiah had not already been standing for the Lord. If not for the fact that Hezekiah had prepared the people, and had strengthened them...they would have been shaken. Since I put most of what the king of Assyria’s message was already, I’m just jumping to the people’s reaction.

2Ki 18:36 But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.

2Ki 18:37 Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which [was] over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with [their] clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.

This story continues in chpt 19, but also in Isaiah 37, so I’m going to go there. Here is Hezekiah’s reaction.

Isa 37:1 And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard [it], that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.

Isa 37:2 And he sent Eliakim, who [was] over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests covered with sackcloth, unto Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.

Eliakim = "God raises" or "God sets up"

Shebna = "vigour"

Isaiah or Jesaiah or Jeshaiah = "Jehovah has saved"

Amoz = "strong"

Isa 37:3 And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day [is] a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and [there is] not strength to bring forth.

Isa 37:4 It may be the LORD thy God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God, and will reprove the words which the LORD thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up [thy] prayer for the remnant that is left.

Isa 37:5 So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.

Now, not only did Hezekiah build up the people and exhibit faith, but sometimes we can burn out giving or feeding faith into others and we need to be refreshed and built back up ourselves.

The Book of Isaiah Chapter 1 V.1 Part 5.10

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:14:22 GMT

The Book of Isaiah

Chapter 1 V.1 Part 5.10

So now, the test kicks into high gear. Here comes the attack...a “second” invasion. Be mindful that the first attack came after the watch tower was captured, despite the city being fortified. This second attack is after a transition or change of mindset, and a building up and strengthening has occurred.

2Ch 32:9 After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he [himself laid siege] against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that [were] at Jerusalem, saying,

Notice that he himself laid siege against “invincible.”

2Ch 32:10 Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem?

2Ch 32:11 Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

2Ch 32:12 Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it?

2Ch 32:13 Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of [other] lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand?

2Ch 32:14 Who [was there] among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?

2Ch 32:15 Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?

This sounds like the typical fear attack of the enemy. First, he’s got to attack our foundation and our faith, just like Satan did against Job. He went after his herds and flocks. He couldn’t strike him or his family until the hedge was removed, and the herds and flocks were destroyed.

2Ch 32:16 And his servants spake yet [more] against the LORD God, and against his servant Hezekiah.

2Ch 32:17 He wrote also letters to rail on the LORD God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of [other] lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand.

2Ch 32:18 Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' speech unto the people of Jerusalem that [were] on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.

2Ch 32:19 And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, [which were] the work of the hands of man.

Then they attack with the terrible threesome of fear against...Vision: lust of the eyes: v 11; faith: lust of the flesh: v 12; spirit: pride of life: v 15-19. This is the standard of all of the enemy’s attacks.

And note how much talking was going on. Why? “Let him who hath an ear hear...” And what are you going to listen to? Is it what thus saith the Lord, or whatever anyone else says? Are you shored up? Are you built up in the word? Cause see, when the attack comes...you have to be prepared, because they didn’t stop talking after the first bit of discouragement. They continued their talk, they wrote letters; they even spoke and screeched in the Jews language.

This is a determined enemy, and they will do their utmost to discourage you, because once they can break your will, the rest is easy. They will overrun you without bars because your defenses will be down and you will be broken. This attack will work if you haven’t built up and repaired the broken places/walls...if you haven’t cut off the water/stopped listening to everyone but God and encourage yourself in Him and (the water of) His word. It will work if you haven’t strengthened yourself and build up weapons in abundance. We have to be prepared.

3 - The Final Praise Report

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:47:07 GMT

Just to warn you all, this will be a long post. Now, for those who have not been keeping up with the latest developments, I have to refer you back to two posts. The first being the one concerning the first 3 I encountered, and that story is here. I had an Abraham moment, encountering 3 men and paid $213.00 to write 3 chapters of my book.

I want you to note the number of times the number 3 comes up. The next thing that happened was the beginning of the payback or blessing. This first incident happened here, when I encountered a person named Joshua Tallent...(check that name out!) and he blessed me with a free gift. Make sure you support him and his site: www.kindleformatting.com.

Last Thursday, the 24th, God woke me up at 5am and told me to go to the beach. Now, I think I had mentioned here that I was attempting to get more active, and in doing so, I was going to the beach to get some exercise. It has evolved from walking on the beach to actually jogging and walking in the water, which has several benefits.

First of all, the ocean floor is not smooth as one might think, but has ridges, which, while jogging particularly, has the effect of massaging the soles of one's feet, thus increasing the circulation, which is something I need. In addition, when you are waist deep in the water, and are dealing with mild waves, or even no waves, just the resistance in the water is enough to give you a serious work out.

My muscles from the ankles going up are getting a really good workout. As a matter of fact, I felt the muscles moving and straining up to my thighs. It was particularly felt in my feet and ankles, and considering my injury, my ankles needs strengthing anyways, so this is really cool.

On the morning of the 24th when God woke me, I told him after looking at the time on my cell, that it was too early, because I normally go at 6am, and it was too dark out. So I asked God why He had gotten me up so early, and He said He wanted to talk to me. So we had an hour of conversation, and at 6 o'clock on the nose, He told me to go to the beach.

Now mind you, I had no plans from the night before, to go to the beach that morning. I had not set my alarm, and it was just not in my plans for that day, but He said go, and I got up and went.

Because my son was not going with me, I went to the public beach to avoid the construction workers around the private beach I sometimes frequent. As I got out of the car and headed to the beach, I see two guys on the beach doing yoga stretching. I walked over and asked if I could join them, to which they agreed.

Awhile later, a woman that had been standing for a long time at the edge of the water watching us, came up and said, "You all look so cute up here doing this. Can I join you?" So she also started stretching with us, and Ryan, who was leading, was specifically accomodating my injury with his instructions, as I had already told him about it.

So here I was, thinking, "Wow Lord, what a blessing this is..." and just as I have this thought, the woman turns around and says, "So all of us here are Christian, right?" My mouth about hit the floor, because sure enough, every one of us was saved. We all said what churches we attend and introduced ourselves. It was cool.

So after we went into the water to do the cardio, (the jogging I told Ryan I do) the woman, who was an evangelist/prophetess, had to leave. The doctor had already left, as well as the other (5th) guy, who was photographing us, and was also Christian.

Ryan said he would walk her out and catch up with me, so I continued jogging towards the pier. At this point, I have to inform you that I had a fear of the pier. I've been on the pier. I've walked under the pier on the beach, but I had a fear of being near the pier in the water, because, having been on the pier at the end, and seeing people catch pretty large fish, I was afraid of what might be in the water in and around the pier. (Of course, someone later told me I should have been afraid of hooks...but I hadn't thought about that at the time.)

So I'm heading for the pier, and I decide, after looking back and still not seeing Ryan; that I'm going under the pier to the other side. As I get closer to the pier, I stop jogging and was walking, so that I could see what was in the water, because the seaweed was getting thicker on the bottom as well, and I was already on the lookout for jellyfish. I had jumped over two already. I had to keep telling myself that I had nothing to fear but fear itself, and reminding myself that God was with me. I hesitated twice, but I walked under the pier to the other side and back. I actually liked standing under it.

So after I get back to where I started, Ryan comes and joins me and we are talking about a lot of biblical/spiritual things. It turns out that he is the owner of a gym which he has converted to a ministry. He is a wellness coach, and he wanted to be able to assist people who wanted to get healthy, whether or not they could afford a gym, so that is what he does. He offered to evaluate and help me with that effort, and gave me the cards with info for his gym. He said he needed to evaluate me on flat ground, and that he would work with whatever I could afford, as I had already told him that I was unemployed and a single mom. So God gave me a gym to work out in weeks after I casually mentioned that this would be helpful.

So now...I put out $213.00, and thus far, the work Joshua did for me would have cost at least $40.00, plus a gym membership is usually about $300.00 yearly. But God is not finished yet.

Friday, the 29 year old that is crazy about me...and trust...I'm a bit older, lost his car keys and had no spare. I honestly believe that God has put him in my path to drop seeds on, so I tell him that God is in control and we are friends until such time as God sees fit to change the situation. I told him that if he wants me, he has to go through God because I'm married to God and God will not release me to just anyone. He'd have to be lined up with and walking with God. This has not deterred him, despite the fact that he's not lined up with God now.

So anyways, he loses the keys and has no money because his check was not deposited to his bank when he thought it would be. He has no family that would have a spare, nor any friends that do either, and he's so frustrated, he's asking me if I've ever seen a grown man cry.

I hug him and tell him that God has got it and not to worry. A while later, I remember my A(3) card, and call them to see if a locksmith is part of my service, which it was. So I call in a service call for the locksmith. We go out to the garage where his truck is parked and are waiting for them to arrive and we get the first phone call.

A(3) had told me that usually the cost is the amount that I'm covered for on the membership, which is $100.00. I speak to the locksmith, and he says...$95.00 more. So I tell him, no can do, because I'm hurtin' for cash myself because of the two car repair bills. He asks the year of the truck and says that he will check if it needs a certain cell to do it; if not, he can bring it down to $140.00. I tell him that I'm a single mom, that is not working so this is not affordable now, and I will have to wait.

At that point, he says, "Let me help you out. I can give this to you for the A(3) discount, but I will have to wait a few hours until later when his calls die down a bit. He will call me 20 min. before the guy is on his way. Cool. We go back to the house, and get the call a while later. The guy is there waiting. We get there only to find that the guy says he doesn't have the equipment needed because he was going to try to do it from the vin and realized that he couldn't because of the type of vehicle. So my friend is sighing and showing his frustration, and I tell him..."It's ok...God's got this."

The locksmith says he's going to send another guy, but we will have to wait another couple of hours. I say ok, and we head out and do a few errands. We are heading back to the house again, and we get the call again. Third (3rd) time's the charm, and there's the locksmith and he's able to do the job quickly, so I was able to leave and my friend drove back later. So here was yet another set of 3's.

Friday, my friend comes over and is helping me to paint my place. This has nothing to do with 3, but was just another blessing because I've had the paint about 2-3 months and no help to move the furniture and so forth. The color looks great. Will post pics when I can.

Anyways, now we've got $340.00 plus $195.00 we didn't have to pay for the locksmith...just have patience and wait on God.

Saturday, I'm on my way to church (evening service) and my son picks up the mail and gives it to me in the car. I look at the one envelope and think..."I don't recognize that sender...it's probably junk mail."

I hold up the envelope to the light and see some words including "unemployment." I'm thinking, "I'm already done with unemployment, so this wouldn't have anything to do with me." I was going to chuck it, but God tells me to open it.

It turns out that the president apparently signed something that gives me an extended benefit of an additional 13 weeks of unemployment starting July the 12th! So we're talking around $3328.00 that God just put in my lap in the next 13 weeks!

So for my $213.00 (plus some minor whining, and a lot of faith), God gave me $3668.00, not including the $195.00 that we saved with A(3). That is 17x what I spent! Am I blessed or what?!? Man! I love God! Peace and blessings all.

More Payback

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:01:37 GMT

The previous post tells of an interesting situation that God used to not only get me info to write 3 chapters of the next book, but also to test my faith. I loved all the great comments I got on it. Thanks guys!

So to update everyone, what I can now say is FINALLY! After weeks of setbacks and delays, and small things that were somewhat frustrating, the current book, "Dear Child Of God," is now uploaded in the amazon.com/dtp site for the Kindle. The only thing remaining for that version is for me to give them my bank info, which hopefully, I will have a commercial account by the end of this week.

I want to thank Joshua @ www.kindleformatting.com, for the gift of the formatting that he did for me. It really saved me so much time and most definitely, major frustration. He's a really great guy and for those trying to publish, especially for the Kindle, he is very helpful, so support his site. I couldn't not have gotten this ready at this point in time, if not for his assistance.

The soft cover print version has also been loaded to my publisher, and I am awaiting their review. So finally, things are looking like they are on track. I'm estimating that by the first of August, it should be available to purchase. FYI, any readers or subscribers of this site that contact me directly to order will be getting a discount off the retail price. It will be available at amazon.com for both print and Kindle versions. I am also looking to make it available as an ebook in several sites, such as Lulu.com and smashwords.com, among others. As soon as it is available on these and a few other sites I'm looking into, I will let you know.

Meanwhile...I'm psyched! I'm also looking at investigating some of amazon's other international sites, to see if I can get it on there. Amazon is really amazing. They offer so much; they charge a bit for it, but sometimes it's really worth it, because you can't their service anywhere else. So I'm gearing up, 'cause as Creflo Dollar says, the time has come and the shift is beginning. The wealth of the wicked is in the transfer process, because it was laid up for the children of the faith. So get ready people. I know God is going to just take this and run with it. Peace and blessings.

An Expensive lesson

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:56:59 GMT

Thurday, I was taking my son for a play date at his friend's house, when my car's front end started shaking and rattling real hard. I pulled over, thinking I had a flat, but the tires looked fine. So I slowly drive the rest of the way to my son's friend's, because once I hit 35mph, the shaking would start again.

I'm thinking, "Aw, c'mon Lord! I just spent $256.00 barely a week ago on this car, and it hit my budget hard. I was already pressed for this month, and definitely did not need another repair bill. I get to the mechanic a bit later, and run into three (note the number-which I didn't even realize until writing this)gentlemen sitting in the mechanic's office.

They ask me if I'm a sister in the Lord, which I affirmed. The one said, "See, I told you she was. You can tell looking at her." Well, I must admit that I liked the fact that it was finally that obvious. Now, of course, I'm thinking that if it is that obvious, what do I look like when I'm mad or impatient? How's the reflection then?

Anyways, so I start talking with these guys and telling them about my books. In the course of the conversation, I let them know about the one that I am now trying to publish, and the delays that keep occurring, "But," I say, "I know that God has a reason and a purpose for all of these delays, so it's cool."

Then I tell them about the current book I'm halfway through writing, "In His Image." I told them that the last section I was working on, I was talking about Lucifer, and how he came to be. I described the difference in his origins versus mankind's origins, and they asked me, what about the angels?

I told them that I hadn't gotten to them yet, and they said that this information interested them because why did 1/3 of them fall away with Satan? After the mechanic returned, they got up to leave, and shook my hands saying they were glad to have met me, and the one fellow intended to contact a pastor that we both knew (I knew this pastor only as a homeschool evaluator) and let him know about my books so that he could forward the name of a publisher to me that worked a good deal for him.

When they were gone, I was sitting in the mechanic's office, and he has this big large print bible on the desk. Despite having brought my own reading material...some business info I needed to study, I kept thinking about what those guys asked me about the angels.

So I decided to peruse this bible, particularly the back to see if there was any concordance or subject information on angels. Sure enough, this bible had a whole section that listed quite a bit of information on angels. I immediately photocopied those pages to take home and review.

So I'm sitting there, and I say to God, "Lord, seriously, you need to address this bill for me, because things are too tight right now for me to be hit with another car repair bill like the last one." Meanwhile, I say this, hoping that God will convince my mechanic to give me a freebie this time, as he has done this sort of thing in the past.

The mechanic comes in and tells me that the problem was the ball bearings and the holder for them, which was damaged when the ball bearings locked. He handed me the bill. "Ouch!" I say, "Can I stop by tomorrow with a check?" So he ok's that, and I leave.

Later that night, I'm at home looking at my banking in my computer program and trying to figure out how I might rob Peter to pay Paul. I finagle the numbers between several accounts and figure how I'm going to move money into the main account to cover this...by hitting 4 other accounts for the funds. Heartbreaking.

So then I move on to looking at those sheets I copied on angels. I begin to look up certain aspects of the information, and start finding some interesting information that is extremely relevant to my book, and so...the flow starts and I end up writing 3 more chapters to add in this new information.

When I'm finally done with this exercise, it's late and I'm exhausted, but I was still clear headed enough to realize something and I said to God, "That information cost me $213.00!"

It was a pretty expensive lesson, but well worth it because I needed it for the book. So for anyone who is considering purchasing this book once it's published, just know that you are getting more than you paid for; because I had a predestined appointment at the mechanic's just to meet those 3 men, receive their questions, and get the information that pointed me to the answers for that section of the book. Peace and blessings.

The Book of Isaiah Chapter 1 V.1 Part 5.9

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:14:08 GMT

The Book of Isaiah

Chapter 1 V.1 Part 5.9

Now we are back to this point that shows us why Hezekiah is dealing with this situation. It is evident that this is a test. In other words, it’s like Sennacherib = "Sin multiplied brothers" came to "Jehovah is my strength" king of "praised" and said, I don’t believe you. I don’t believe Jehovah is your strength, or that you are the king of "praised." Me and my “multiplied brothers of sin” have come to challenge you and your “strength.” Now I want to view that invasion from 2 Chronicles.

2Ch 32:1 After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself.

2Ch 32:2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem,

Jerusalem = "teaching of peace"

2Ch 32:3 He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which [were] without the city: and they did help him.

Waters

1) water, waters

a) water

b) water of the feet, urine

c) of danger, violence, transitory things, refreshment (fig.)

When I looked up the word transition, I found: the passage from one place or state to another, change. Transitory means lasting only a short time.

Fountains

1) eye

a) eye

1) of physical eye

2) as showing mental qualities

3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

2) spring, fountain

City

1) excitement, anguish

a) of terror

2) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)

a) city, town

So what I see here is that Hezekiah stopped the waters of the fountains without the city in order to prevent the passage or change in the mindset of those outside of excitement, anguish or terror; in other words...this was an effort to proclaim: “Trouble don’t last always.”

2Ch 32:4 So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?

2Ch 32:5 Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised [it] up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo [in] the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.

So Hezekiah stopped doubt and at the same time, strengthened himself, and built up broken areas, and invested in weapons in abundance. It sounds to me like he was getting filled with the word.

2Ch 32:6 And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying,

2Ch 32:7 Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that [is] with him: for [there be] more with us than with him:

2Ch 32:8 With him [is] an arm of flesh; but with us [is] the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

The Fifteen "Songs of Degrees":

Fifteen years were added to the life of Hezekiah. In the restoration of the second temple by Herod fifteen steps led from the Court of the Women to the Court of Israel, and on these steps the Levites during the Feast of Tabernacles were accustomed to stand in order to sing the fifteen "songs of degrees" (Pss 120-134). At the head of these same steps in the gateway, lepers who had been cleansed from their disease presented themselves to the priests. It has been suggested that Hezekiah himself was the compiler of these fifteen "songs of the steps," in thankfulness for his fifteen years of added life. Five of them are ascribed to David or as written for Solomon, but the remaining ten bear no author’s name. Their subjects are, however, most appropriate to the great crises and desires of Hezekiah’s life. His great Passover, to which all the tribes were invited, and so many Israelites came; the blasphemy of Rabshakeh and of Sennacherib’s threatening letter; the danger of the Assyrian invasion and the deliverance from it; Hezekiah’s sickness unto death and his miraculous restoration to health; and the fact that at that time he would seem to have had no son to follow him on the throne—all these subjects seem to find fitting expression in the fifteen Psalms of the Steps.

Ramblings and putting things in motion

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:07:06 GMT

Last night I decided to put something in motion. I'd been thinking about it for several days, hemming and hawing about whether or not I could actually do it. The doubt, for those who may be curious, was not in my ability to accomplish the thing, but in my ability to be consistent in accomplishing it.

I'm one of those people, who can get focused for a period of time, and then...life just interferes, and I completely get off track. I guess many people are like that. When there is too much to focus on, it can be that way.

I was reading this book last night, I think it's called, "I became a Christian and all I got was this lousy Tee-shirt." It's an amusing book, and this pastor has a sort of wacked sense of humor, but he does make his points.

As much as I can remember of the section I read, and considering I was pretty sleepy when I read this; he was talking about walking with speed, versus walking with love.

I guess it’s our goal-making mentality that causes us to place time restraints on everything. His example was when his sister’s baby had died, and he took the opportunity to minister to his mother and brother-in-law. He had an entire speech ready when he went into the hospital to be there for his sister, who had asked him to try to speak to them. None of it mattered. They were unmoved.

His wife went and was just there, and even after he left and flew back home, she stayed an additional week, just being there for them. His point was that his method was walking with speed, and hers was walking with love, because she demonstrated her faith by her actions, not by words. He figured that long term, she would have a greater effect than he did.

What was my point? I said this to point out the fact that those of us who aspire to the fantastic organizational skills we see in others, are, in our backwardness, seeking to become goal-setting, everything-in-its-proper-place people, when in reality, God calls us to live life moment by moment, and not to sweat the small stuff. He calls us to walk in love, not speed.

Yesterday, starringsarah posted a lot of nice pics showing a beautiful apartment in Chicago. I, in my muddle of misery at my lack of organization, was looking at these pics and thinking, “Why can’t I have a beautiful, spotless apartment like that?” Actually, that apartment is so spotless, it doesn’t look lived in. It looks like a model for showing apartments. Pretty though.

Now admittedly, part of the problem, aside from too many things on the platter, is laziness. See, this is why I actually need to be wealthy, because I have always known that there were so many more interesting things to be doing than to be bothered with something like housework. I’m not the queen of domesticity, but I do like things neat and organized.

So in the spirit of breaking free of at least a portion of my laziness, I determined to get more active and started taking my son out of the house a bit more frequently. That was stage one. I enacted stage two today.

Although the dreariness of the current rain wouldn’t tell you this, it was a gorgeous morning, and I woke up by alarm at 6am; got up at 6:25 and got dressed after retrieving my bottom half from the car. Yeah, I know that sounds funny. It’s the bottom half of my swimsuit.

I decided that I’m going to get up at 6am in the mornings, and hit the beach walking for some exercise. So today, not being really clear on how I would do the getting wet part of this exercise, I got to the pier and started walking.

I set my sights on a set of condos that were probably a mile from the pier, and headed towards them. Having arrived in dusters (those slip-on suede shoes people get for work that are really comfortable) I walked down by the water and pulled them off; sticking my keys plus cell into one shoe, and my fingers through the loops on the back to carry them.

I was wearing a stretchy sort of yoga pant and a sleeveless tee over my suit, and my pant legs were getting wet, but I didn’t care. It felt good, and it wasn’t hot yet.

The only difficulty I was having was in the fact that my left ankle felt a little uncomfortable due to the angle of the beach and sinking into the sand. For those who don’t know, my left leg was damaged in a biking/car accident, in which I was basically sideswiped on the bike by a car 8 years ago. I had a double fracture to the ankle and the knee, and the ankle still has a bit of swelling (edema) as well as stiffness and inflexibility. The knee sometimes feels weak like it will slip.

But nevertheless, I plodded on through the angled sand and water, determined to get to those condos. I did pretty well actually, coming within a few buildings of them; but by that time, I was pretty hot and wanted to take a dip, so I figured I’d dip and then maybe proceed on.

The dip was nice; water cool and clear, and a low tide. No big waves, just small to medium swells and minor irritants. I got in, got low into the water, and started back floating. I really didn’t have to go out far, but I could have because the tide was so low. But the fish were, I guess, trying to figure out what this big thing casting a shadow in the water was, and so, they kept nipping at me.

Outside of that, back floating allows me to relax my neck, back and shoulders, and I basically cross the arms behind my head, as well as my legs, and just chill. Its great alone time to talk to God, and also gives one an interesting view and perspective of the seagulls and pelicans as they fly directly over you.

I was on my way back to the pier about 45 minutes later, walking on the street near the beach, which by that time, was beginning to get hot. It was almost 8am, and aside from the new construction, the street still had shade, so it was easier. All in all, it was a great morning.

After that, I went home and got ready for my meeting with FAU’s small business dept., where I was referred to another counselor who happens to be Christian, and has also written a book. She will be able to give me a much better perspective on what I will need to do, and how to do it, so all in all, I had a great morning. Peace and blessings.