Blog Posts

Pressed but not Crushed

2/5/2017

Sunrise over the Lighthouse on Copinsay

It has been a long winter for this soul. Though the weather has been unusually mild and I have become accustomed to the shorter days, a different kind of darkness has threatened to undo me...

Forgive me for lamenting...I know there are untold numbers in the world today who would trade places in an instant...

For more than four months I have succeeded in dissuading myself from exposing myself, managing to hide a heart that has hemorrhaged. Jesus warned that following Him would be costly:

"Now great crowds accompanied Him, and He turned and said to them:
'If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yet, even his own life,
he cannot be my disciple.
Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and
COUNT THE COST,
whether he has enough to complete it?
Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish,
all who see it begin to mock him.'"
(Luke 14:25-30)

Of course we cannot take this literally, as Jesus commanded us to love...even love our enemies! He is using a bit of hyperbole here to make His point. If we will follow Him, obedience must be our highest priority, no matter the cost.

I have counted and recounted the cost over the past few years, thinking I had offered all I had...leaving children, an elderly mother, extended family, ministry, dear, life-long friends, the family farm, horses, sheep and chickens...everything precious and familiar, to answer His call.

I could not have anticipated the crucifixion of my character.

On October 3 a prominent member of the church and community requested a meeting with me, ostensibly to discuss a possible project. Instead, for more than two and a half hours the 'accuser of the brethren' hurled one stone after another.

                               "Is anyone telling you what people are saying about you?"
    "Isn't there anyone who is speaking candidly with you about what people are saying?"
"Isn't there anyone in the church who knows you well enough to defend your character?"

Requests for specifics and clarification were met with a glib rebuff:
                                         "I am not going to betray my confidences."

Henry had just left to visit his Mom in Indiana. I came home that evening to an empty house...consumed with torment, confusion and grief. My only goal since arriving in Orkney has been to 'be a blessing' to our new community. I grabbed my journal and cried out to the Lord:

Abba,
I am practically crawling out of my skin at the moment. My 2 1/2 hour meeting turned into a lengthy recitation of all the reasons I have failed in Orkney...evidently everyone has been talking about me, but no one has bothered to tell me...

Four months later, I now know the claims made that day were unfounded. I had not ruined my reputation...my 'character' was not in question. Sadly there has been no resolution, no reconciliation, as the accuser denied all of it...suggesting I fabricated the entire incident. I have been deeply hurt and frustrated beyond belief. The battle with bitterness is REAL.

I must believe that ALL things work together for good...so what have I learned in all of this?

1) Our God is El Roi, 'The God who sees.'
In Genesis 16 Hagar had been mistreated by Sarai and fled into the wilderness. The angel of the Lord found her and ministered to her. She called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, "You are a God of seeing...truly here have I seen Him who looks after me."

2) He is my Defender
King David cried out to the Lord when Saul pursued him in jealousy: "Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me...my God in His steadfast love will meet me..." (Psalm 59:1, 10)

The Lord has stripped me of all self-reliance. I can no longer fall back on my 'reputation' of being a woman of godly character...after all, as it was pointed out:

"No one knows you well enough to know that what you have to offer is ok..."

I am completely dependent on Him. The words from a Chris Tomin song come to mind:

"Where you go, I'll go.
Where you stay, I'll stay.
When you move, I'll move.
I will follow...
All Your ways are good
All Your ways are sure.
I WILL TRUST IN YOU ALONE...

Several days ago I was walking on the beach...feeling quite alone. I picked up a flat stone. (I often pick up flat rocks or bits of pottery upon which I can write verses. These sometimes find themselves in a bubble-wrapped envelope, travelling across the Atlantic to a loved one) That day on the beach, looking for flat stones, I asked the Lord:
"If you were to write something on a stone for me, what would it say?"

Immediately the words from Jeremiah 31:3 came to mind...

"I have loved you with an everlasting love!"

Forgive me for doubting You, Lord.

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Heaven: Password Protected

11/8/2016

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It was a strange way to wake up. On the 9th of September, the Spirit of the Lord spoke while I slept. I was vaguely aware, but sleeping too deeply to awaken easily. Finally, around 5:00 I was awake enough to realize that the title for a new blog had been 'downloaded.'
"Heaven: Password Protected"
"Clever," I thought, "but what am I supposed to do with that???"

The Yellow Brick Road

Tonight, I think I know. We have just witnessed the conclusion of the most vulgar and embarrassing presidential election in living memory. The results are in. A decision has been made, but the combat continues. Nerves are raw. Tempers are flaring. Tears are falling. Folks, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore.

Strange things happen when campaigning commences. Something that has it's roots in nobility rises in us. Primeval hope stirs. We ought not be surprised...after all, God has set eternity in our hearts. We instinctively know we were created for a better world. Tragically though, we are afflicted with a strange kind of amnesia. Vainly we fix our eyes on a political candidate, looking for a saviour of sorts. We set off on the yellow brick road, hoping to find Utopia. John Eldredge calls it 'The Haunting,' this strange desire for that which is beautiful and fulfilling and oh-so elusive. It is the longing for paradise lost.

Our beloved fairy tales betray our hearts...our desperate longing to be rescued, and our hope for a 'happily ever after' ending. My Dad used to say, "I have good news and bad news." The Good News is that heaven's door is open!

The bad news? It is password-protected. The gate is narrow. The way is hard that leads to Life, and those who find it are few. There is only One who holds the Key. His Name is Jesus. He is the One you have been waiting for! He is The Desire of Nations. King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Seek Him while He may be found!

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An Elephant, the Thief and Escalonia

10/13/2016

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October Escalonia, Little Halley

This is Escalonia. Unknown to me before our move to Orkney, she has become one of my favorite shrubs! From Spring until the worst of the winter gales set in, clusters of pink, bell-shaped blossoms adorn her branches. Her leaves are a deep waxy green, reminding me of Gardenia foliage, or the Camellias that grace the entryway of our old home in Graham. Above all though, I love Escalonia for her resilience!

Our first winter in Orkney (2014) was a WILD one! Orcadians in their eighties claimed they could not remember a winter like it. Salt laden gusts topping 100 MPH battered this beauty until the only leaves left dangling from her branches were withered and brown. "She's done for," I thought to myself...

The worst of the winter winds have not yet arrived, but I am ahead of the game. I have found myself in the midst of one of life's stormy battles. Several weeks ago Henry and I decided to have another go at our favorite study, 'Experiencing God'. Our renewed commitment to draw near to the Lord, to seek His purpose and plans, unleashed a barrage of fiery arrows from the pit of hell. The attack has left me feeling bewildered and helpless. My consolation comes from knowing that El Roi, the 'God who sees,' is my Defender.

This is a tricky time of year for me anyway...approaching the eighth anniversary of Dad's disappearance and death. Haunting memories of our Montana nightmare reappear: Images of pale November sunshine casting long, distorted shadows...Miles and miles of faded gold stubble, the barren remains of summer's harvest...The desperate, somber expression on my son's face as we searched for Dad, a mirrored reflection of my own heart...The sound of the helicopter as it landed, bearing news of Daddy's demise...And the abject horror of seeing my father one last time...encased in a black body bag.

Life can be cruel. It is against this backdrop that I began my study yesterday:

"If you were standing before God, could you describe your relationship with Him by saying, 'I love You with all my heart, and all my soul and all my mind and all my strength'?
               Yes?             or             No?

How I wanted to check 'Yes!' But I could not. 'What has happened to me?' I wondered. I began to realize that the Thief has robbed me of trust in God's goodness, fueling the fire of doubt.   The circumstances of Daddy's death provided the fodder and the spark...the testing of my faith and radical obedience required these past few years only fanned the flames.

                      'How can I love Someone I do not fully trust?' I wondered.

I began to pray, and as I prayed the words of C.S. Lewis came to mind, as penned in
"The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe."

"Aslan is a lion - the Lion, the great Lion."
"Ooh," said Susan.  "I thought he was a man. Is he quite safe? I shall feel rather      nervous about meeting a lion."
"Safe?" said Mr. Beaver..."Who said anything about safe? Course He isn't safe.  BUT HE'S GOOD. HE'S THE KING, I TELL YOU."

                                   "Course He isn't safe, but He's GOOD..."

I found myself praying, "Spirit, help me experience Your love for me as I recall Your goodness and faithfulness...thank you for giving me a Daddy who understood me - who loved me unconditionally..."

As I prayed, a torrent of memories washed over me! Momentary flashes of my father's wild and lavish expressions of love. My first Christmas brought a puppy, Inky, a black ball of fluff who would become my closest companion and confidant. Many pre-school days were spent standing on the seat of the 'call truck,' wedged behind Dad's shoulder. We bounced through the countryside, from farm to farm, tending to all manner of livestock. Those days were not complete without a stop for 'penny candy' at Mr. Kuper's store.

Several years later I would arrive home from school one afternoon to find a baby elephant standing in our front yard! Dad was a man of delightful surprises! Then there was the day he decided to buy a herd of ponies...twenty-four, to be exact, along with two 'pony rings' he would take to local carnivals.

He taught me to work. My career began at the age of twelve, cleaning kennels and mopping floors fouled by sick dogs. I watched my father practice veterinary medicine without partiality, loving and serving those shunned by others, often refusing to charge those who could not afford his services. He was NOT a perfect man...many a naughty word escaped his lips when he was frustrated or angry, but I NEVER detected a hint of pride. His was a humble, servant's heart.

After my disastrous and painful divorce he was often both "Papa" and very much a second father to my children. He loved his grandchildren in the same outlandish way he loved his children, with a balance of love, discipline and an unmatched sense of adventure.

Dad with Drew and Kate...

Tears flowed freely as I relived life with Dad...wondering anew at the peculiar richness of my childhood. It was then I heard the familiar 'still, small voice,' and I knew...

"It was You all along!" I cried. "It was You blessing me through my father, revealing Your generous, knowing, loving heart through him! And You love me still..."

I asked the Lord to forgive me for doubting Him...for questioning His goodness. I told Him I LOVE Him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength...and like the Escalonia, I know the storms of Winter will eventually pass, giving way to Spring.

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Habitat

8/16/2016

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"Habitat" is defined by Webster's Dictionary as:
'the place or environment where an animal or plant naturally occurs.'

After years of woefully neglecting this delicate habitat we call home, concern for the earth has reached fever pitch. While care and concern for Creation are noble and necessary, Ecology has evolved. Morphing from science, 'green' philosophy has spawned a peculiar, pantheistic idolatry which now drives national and international policy.

WE HAVE MISSED THE POINT ENTIRELY.
*******

In packing up to move two years ago I realized I had a serious addiction to books. Paying by the pound to ship our belongings more than 5,000 miles, I was forced to be ruthless, bidding farewell to many a treasured tome. As I sorted, a handful of volumes cried out to me from the rubbish heap, reclaiming their place in my limited library.

Happiness at Little Halley

Last week I returned to one of these treasures, a book called "They Drank from the River and Died in the Wilderness," written by David Ravenhill in 2000.

I read Chapter Seven last night. The words, sweet as honey and bitter as gall, have forever altered my perception/perspective on "HABITAT." I want to share what has impacted me so deeply.

Man was created to be the HABITAT of Almighty God:

     "At the far-in hidden center of man's being is a bush fitted to be the dwelling place
     of the Triune God. There God planned to rest and glow with moral and spiritual fire."
                                                                  (A.W. Tozer)

We KNOW habitat is important...we spend millions creating habitats for animals in zoos. Appropriate habitat can actually make the difference between life and death. Imagine a habitat for pandas that contained no bamboo! In the wild, bamboo comprises 99% of a panda's daily diet! An inappropriate habitat would spell starvation.

In Chapter Seven of "They Drank from the River and Died in the Wilderness," Pastor Ravenhill reminds us that:

"God Himself has a 'natural habitat, a culture...a way of doing things that is different than ours. Unless we understand that we can offend Him and end up puzzled as to why our relationship with Him is not everything we would like it to be."

                            "WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE HABITATION OF GOD
                       IF WE WISH TO ENJOY THE FULLNESS OF HIS PRESENCE."

From the beginning God has expressed His desire to dwell in the midst of His people. In Exodus 25 the Lord said to Moses:
                "Let them construct a sanctuary for me, that I may dwell among them."

Notice that it is GOD who takes the initiative. Moses didn't come along saying:

                                    "You know Lord, it's about time You paid us a visit.
                                           After all, we're supposed to be Your kids!"

No, God expresses His exacting demands:

                                   "According to all that I am going to show you...
                                             JUST SO you shall construct it."

A quick read through Exodus reveals, the Lord is concerned with EVERY DETAIL of His Dwelling Place!

You can learn a lot about people simply by visiting their homes. In Revelation Chapter 4, John takes us on a 'guided tour' of the House of God, His heavenly Tabernacle...

              "After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven...
            immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven,
                                                      and One sitting on the throne."
                                                                  (Revelation 4:1-2)

The first thing John sees in Heaven is the Lord sitting His throne. There is no question about who is 'in charge.' Now pay attention:

"If God is going to reside in your house or in mine, if we are going to experience the fullness of His presence in the way we desire, then HE DEMANDS THE THRONE. It's just that simple. He demands the right to govern, the right to rule, the right to control our lives. When God comes to reside in us, He comes as Lord, Master and King."

                            "If God's presence is to be fully manifested in us,
                         then He must fully reside on the throne of our lives."
                                                                   (p. 85)

As my mother used to say when I was argumentative:

                      "NO 'BUTS' ABOUT IT, Anne Marie, NO 'BUTS' ABOUT IT!"

If God is going to feel at home in our hearts, if we want a lasting, abiding and growing relationship with Him, then we MUST give Him the throne.

Now, back to the scene of God's home in heaven:

                 "And the four living creatures...day and night they do not cease to say,
                                 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty,
                                          who was and who is and who is to come."
                                                               (Revelation 4:8)

"If God is going to dwell in our lives on a permanent basis, if we are to enjoy the full richness of His presence, not only must we give Him the throne, but we also must provide Him with a HOLY PLACE...many of us expect Him to dwell with us when there is uncleanness, rebellion, lust, worldliness, or other unholy things in our lives. Part of the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to point out those things to us and clean them up.

OUR part is to OPEN UP AND LET HIM WORK. As long as we are cooperating and dealing with those things everything is fine. It's when we resist that we grieve the Holy Spirit. Persistent resistance will eventually quench the Spirit and He will withdraw. IF WE WANT GOD TO DWELL IN US, WE MUST PRESENT OURSELVES TO HIM AS CLEAN AND PURE."
(p. 86-88)

God dwells in an atmosphere of continual thanksgiving:

         "Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power;
                             for Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will
                                         they existed and were created." (Rev. 4:11)

Scripture exhorts us OVER AND OVER to give thanks to God. It is God's will that we give thanks in EVERYTHING! How faithful am I in obeying this??? I am ashamed to admit that I am guilty of ingratitude. The early Christians, despite immense suffering and persecution, learned to LIVE AND BREATHE thankfulness.

         "If God sniffed the air of your 'sanctuary', would He smell the sweet,
       fragrant incense of praise and thanksgiving, or the stench of bitterness,
                                             pride and ingratitude?" (p.89)

Why is gratitude so vital? Because, according to Psalm 22:3

GOD INHABITS THE PRAISES OF HIS PEOPLE!

"Thanksgiving and Praise are part of God's HABITAT. Genuine worship comes from a heart that is in absolute agreement with God, absolutely committed to God, and resolutely, radically obedient to God...God is looking for those who will abandon themselves COMPLETELY to Him, casting everything at His feet. These are the ones who will take their crowns--all their achievement, their prestige, their recognition, and their rewards--cast them down and WORSHIP HIM. These are the ones in whom God will choose to dwell in His fullness. We must come to the place of absolute surrender to God's will and His ways." (pp.91-93)

"Lord, take the throne of my life. I give it to You. Make me into a holy HABITATION acceptable to You. Clean out the worldliness that has so controlled my life--the lust, the pride, the bitterness, the resentment, the uncleanness. Take it ALL out. I want to be a clean vessel, a holy habitation for Your presence and glory. Teach me to be grateful. Let thanksgiving rise up new every morning, like Your mercies, for GREAT is Your faithfulness. Teach me how to worship in spirit and in truth. give me an 'amen' in my heart of absolute surrender and radical obedience. Amen. So be it!"
(p. 93)

Soli Deo Gloria

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A Post-Script...

8/13/2016

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I awakened this morning having dreamed of a house that was plagued with snakes. These were not ordinary garden snakes. They were quite large, many of them five to six feet long and about two inches in diameter. There were different colors and kinds. I knew instinctively that some were poisonous. Every snake was headed for the door...trying to get into the house. Some were near the threshold.

The most unsettling part of the dream for me was the fact that the owner of the house had become accustomed to the snakes. By now they were so familiar he had grown COMFORTABLE with them. No longer alarmed by their presence, he simply walked among them...

This morning I have prayerfully searched the Scriptures, inquiring of the Lord in regard to the meaning of this dream. Jeremiah 8:17 caught me off guard:

" 'For behold, I am sending among you serpents,
adders that cannot be charmed, and they shall bite you,'
declares the Lord."

What provoked the Lord to send snakes to bite His people? Are we in danger of similar judgment? In the words of Henry David Thoreau:

"The more we know about the ancients,
the more we find that they were like the moderns."

Let's take a look at Jeremiah 7 and 8.

Excerpts/Observations:

The people had not actually abandoned temple worship.

If you watched their worship, you would have thought the people were sincerely honoring the Lord, but their hearts belonged to the false gods all around them.

They paid lip-service to Jehovah, but gave their hearts (time, energy, attention) to idols.

The Lord warned them: "Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail! DO NOT PRAY FOR THIS PEOPLE...DO YOU NOT SEE WHAT THEY ARE DOING...?"

He commanded them: "Obey my voice and I will be your God and your shall be my people. and walk in all the ways that I command you, that it may be well with you."

He told Jeremiah, Say to them:
                     'This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the Lord their God,
                                                       and did not accept discipline;
                              TRUTH HAS PERISHED: IT IS CUT OFF FROM THEIR LIPS.'

And the words of a grief-stricken Father:

"Why then has this people turned away in perpetual backsliding?
They hold fast to deceit;
they refuse to return...no man relents of his evil,
everyone turns to his own course,
like a horse plunging headlong into battle...
Were they ashamed when they committed abomination?
No, they were not at all ashamed;
They did not know how to blush.
THEREFORE THEY SHALL FALL AMONG THE FALLEN...
For behold,
I AM SENDING AMONG YOU SERPENTS,
ADDERS THAT CANNOT BE CHARMED,
AND THEY SHALL BITE YOU,"
Declares the Lord.

But there is GOOD NEWS:

Jesus promised:
"Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions,
and over all the power of the enemy, and NOTHING shall hurt you."
(Luke 10:19)

Our Defense? The Sword of the Spirit...

The Word of God

"If you abide in my Word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."
(John 8:32)

The serpent is at the threshold. We must choose. The choice will be costly,
but the reward great:

"They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony,
for they loved not their lives even unto death."
(Revelation 12:11)

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Bloom and Grow Forever!

8/12/2016

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It feels like November today. Cold, damp and gusty...gruesome by August standards! I am ashamed to admit I just took a twenty-minute nap. Something about stormy weather simply lulls me to sleep.

Life is like that too, isn't it? There is something about the constant tumult in the world today that tempts me to shut down. It's easier to 'sleep' than deal with the constant battle...the battering of heart and soul. We instinctively know life was never meant to be like this... The banners of justice and righteousness lie torn and tattered. Dare we hope?

Two weeks ago we had the privilege of celebrating the first birthday of our grand-daughter, Adelyn Hope. In light of Adelyn's growing passion for music, our daughter Kate aptly chose a 'Sound of Music' theme for the party, specifically the following line from the song, 'Edelweiss'...

The roses have long since withered and most of the decorations have been stashed in the attic. I haven't had the courage to wipe the tiny fingerprints from the glass coffee table. Evidence of the great blessing of her life, they remind me to pray, "Lord, may she bloom and grow forever!" I'm not certain when I began to realize these words resound from the heart of the Father's. He created us for ETERNITY. His passion and promise is that we WILL continue to 'bloom and grow,' as long as we abide in Him.

It sounds so simple! As an introduction to the events of Revelation, Jesus offers some straight talk to the Churches. He brings words of conviction and encouragement. The thrust of His message?

"To him who overcomes I will give..."

These are the words of the Great Commander of Heaven's army...the final instructions for His beloved Bride and the key to claiming victory in the coming Battle. The victory lies, not in a one-time confession of faith in Christ, but in STAYING AWAKE, and daily choosing self-denial and obedience.

Two days ago the Lord impressed upon my heart to read/study Malachi (meaning 'my messenger'). It is the last book in the Old Testament. I was shocked to discover it reads like a stern wake-up call for God's people:

To Summarize:

1. Esau was 'hated' by God because he forfeited the privilege of his birthright...for a bowl of soup! He was ruled by his flesh, rather than the Spirit of God.

                                          *In what ways am I ruled by the flesh???

2. "If I am a Master, where is my fear?" the Lord asks His people.   They did not respect or revere Him.

          *Do I conduct myself in a way that demonstrates a healthy fear of God?

3. The Lord 'despised' their offerings. Why? Because they were going through the motions, 'giving'...all the while continuing to live in sin. He said their offerings were 'polluted.' His name was dishonored because they were NOT giving their best!

                          *How's my heart? Are my offerings acceptable to God?

4. The Lord warns: "If you will not listen I will curse your blessings. Behold, I will rebuke your offspring and spread dung on your faces."

             *He makes it clear that my children will suffer for my disobedience!

5. The people can't understand why God doesn't hear their prayers. The Lord tells them He is weary of their words because they called good evil and evil good!

     *Have I compromised God's holy standard by condoning what He calls evil?

6. He says, "I the Lord do not change! Return to me and I will return to you!"

                                               *******

"Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a Book of Remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed His name. 'They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and one who does not serve Him."
                                                                  (Malachi 3:16-18)
                     May our names be written in His Book of Remembrance!

"You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand,
take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people
and lose your own stability.
But GROW
IN THE GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."
(2 Peter 1:19, 3:17)

Soli Deo Gloria

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The Man of Lawlessness?

7/28/2016

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Plain as day. Dark as night. I have been meaning to blog for several weeks now...and my uneasy spirit has been further stirred by early-morning whispers from the Lord. Three, to be exact.

Around 4:00 am on 27 of May I awakened from a sound sleep with a simple, silent phrase spoken to my heart:

"The Man of Lawlessness"

While we were in Albania I was awakened a second time (July 9) in a similar fashion. This time the phrase:

"Author of Confusion"

burned into my consciousness until I was awake once again.

Finally, on the morning of 17 July I was roused with:

"Stern Countenance"

The third incident startled me, since a vivid image accompanied the spoken words. I found myself staring (eyes closed) at a close up of the president's face. A strand of saliva dripped from his mouth down his chin.

I realized it was time to take these warnings a bit more seriously. I recognized that the words I had been given made reference to the anti-Christ. They come straight out of Scripture (2 Thessalonians, 1 Corinthians and Daniel 8). I decided to look to the Hebrew and Greek for clarification...

'lawlessness' - from the Greek 'apoleia' - meaning ruin, destruction, pernicious (destructive, injurious), waste

'confusion' - from the Greek 'akatastasia' - meaning instability, disorder, commotion, confusion, tumult

'stern' (or fierce) - from the Hebrew 'az' - meaning vehement, harsh, power, strong, greedy

I am hesitant to draw any definite conclusions about what the Lord is saying, although I have strong impressions. Those impressions were dramatically reinforced this morning when I awakened and read an excerpt from the president's speech at the Democratic National Convention last night. He spoke in reference to the Republican presidential candidate, but my gut tells me his words carry a deeper, far more sinister message:

"Our power does not come from some self-declared Savior
promising that He alone can restore order,
as long as we do things His way.
We don't look to be ruled.
Our power comes from those declarations first put to paper
right here in Philadelphia all those years ago.
That we the people can form a more perfect union.
That's who we are.
That's our birthright.
The propensity to
SHAPE OUR OWN DESTINY."
(caps not in transcript, used for emphasis)

Could it be that the Man of Lawlessness,
the Author of Confusion,
the Man of Fierce Countenance
has just removed his mask?

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Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin

7/15/2016

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These are cryptic words. They are words which proclaimed imminent judgment to a king who was drunk with his own power. They rise from the mists of ancient Babylon, a kingdom destroyed some 2,500 years ago, largely a victim of its own arrogance, indulgence and presumption. These prophetic words, written on the wall by the hand of God Himself would not prove false. By morning the king would be dead and his kingdom given over to foreigners.

Translation:
'Mene' - "God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end;
again for emphasis:
' Mene' - God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end;
'Tekel' - You have been weighed in the balances and found wanting:
'Parsin' - Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."
(Daniel Chapter 5)

I had planned to blog about our recent trip to Albania and Kosovo. So many lessons to be learned there. This morning however I was confronted with what sadly appears to be 'the handwriting on the wall' for the United States of America.

For years now we have witnessed/experienced the erosion of our privacy and freedom. We are subjected to unchecked, federally-funded electronic surveillance directed at virtually all forms of communication. In addition, Congress approved the use of 30,000 drones for 'domestic surveillance' in 2012. A multitude of Executive Orders have been crafted and signed, giving the administration LIMITLESS POWERS to control the food and water supplies, communication, all modes of transportation, public and private, sources of energy production, etc. It seems life as we know it hangs in the balance...

In May of last year the President hosted a seminar on 'extremism.' At that time a report was issued that redefined the term 'Enemies of the State' as those who hold traditional values, vow to protect the Constitution, are 'pro-life', etc.

Citizens have watched as thousands of armored vehicles and other military equipment (often bearing the "UN" logo) have been distributed across the nation during the past year or so. Military exercises, previously restricted to 'reservations' built for that purpose have been conducted in populated areas. 'Jade Helm 2015' (subtitled 'Mastering the Human Domain' ) actually rehearsed the abduction of potential dissidents.

The stage has been set. what I learned today has convinced me that we have passed the point of no return. Mene, Mene Tekel, Parsin.

On July 1, 2016 the President of the United States signed an Executive Order which changes the rules of engagement between the military and U.S. citizens. For the first time in history the military has been given permission to use force on American citizens, on American soil!

The following is a brief excerpt from the executive order, which can be viewed in its entirety on the official government website for the White House:

"Civilian casualties are a tragic and at times unavoidable consequence
of the use of force..."

Excuses are already being made for 'civilian casualties.' What are 'civilian casualties?' They are people like you and me, killed by the hands of a military whose job it is to protect them!

Many will argue, "Our soldiers will never turn on American citizens!" For that very reason the current administration has put in place a backup plan. In May of this year Samantha Power (U.S. ambassador to the U.N.) 'proudly' and 'humbly' joined 28 other nations in signing an agreement called the 'Kigali Principle.' This agreement endorses and allows FOREIGN TROOPS to use FORCE against AMERICAN CITIZENS on AMERICAN SOIL!

Folks, we have been 'weighed in the balances and found wanting.' The blood of SIXTY-TWO MILLION BABIES cries out...the deaths of those SOULS whose tiny bodies have been barbarically and tortuously dismembered and SOLD for 'research' will be avenged by God Himself. We as a nation will answer to 'El Roi'...the 'God who Sees.' The foundations of His throne are JUSTICE and RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Almost four years ago the Lord awakened me with a vision which I struggled to understand. Confused, I was tempted to dismiss it, so He brought back the same vision twice more in the following months. The message was simple:

"PREPAREDNESS"

According to Webster's dictionary it means, 'The state of being made ready, specifically for war.' I believe the fullness of time has come. Our 'kingdom' has been divided and given over to the enemy.

"Seek the Lord while He may be found,
call upon Him while He is near:
Let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts:
And let him return to the Lord,
and He will have mercy upon him;
And to our God, for He will abundantly pardon."
(Isaiah 55:6-7)

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De-Creation

5/17/2016

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I'm not going to lie. The whole 'bathroom' thing has occupied far too much brain space since Obama sent the 'decree' to public schools last Friday, the 13th. Disgust and outrage are only the tip of the iceberg. A question burns persistently: WHY??? What could possibly be the motivation for such idiocy?

The answer eluded me until this afternoon when I was in the shower. A frantic weekend called for the counterpoint of a 'lazy' Monday...some time to 'be still' before the Lord. I found myself in the book of Numbers, reading the account of Balaam. What an unexpected source of inspiration in this age, in which cursing God and His people is publicly applauded!

King Balak was thoroughly intimidated by the presence and power of God's people. He summoned Balaam and offered him a hefty bribe to 'curse' God's people. Balaam refused. Numbers 24 records that Balaam was a man whose eyes were open, who heard the Word of God, who saw the vision of the Almighty and who knew 'the knowledge of the Most High.' He was oblivious at times, as we all are. In fact, it took a talking donkey to get his full attention...even so, he is an inspiration for us. He was committed to speaking ONLY the Word of the Lord!

This was the backdrop for the following conversation with the Lord in the shower:

     "Lord, I don't know what You want from me today. I am at a loss...I want to hear Your voice. Open my eyes! I want to know Your heart..."

     "De-creation..."

     "Excuse me? De-creation?"

     "It's the answer to the question you have been asking, the 'why?' "

     "Of course!" I responded.

I knew EXACTLY what He meant. In an instant everything made sense...total, diabolical sense. I recalled the account of Creation in Genesis:

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness covered the face of the deep..." (Genesis 1:1)

Now this was no ordinary darkness...not merely physical darkness...the Hebrew word for 'darkness' here is choshek. It is described in the Hebrew dictionary as:

'darkness, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness, obscurity.'

This comes as a bit of a shock. I had always imagined the pre-created earth as a blank slate, ready for the handiwork of the Almighty. Not so! You see, earth was already inhabited when the Spirit of God hovered over her and spoke: "LET THERE BE LIGHT!"

"Discontented with his high position as 'Guardian Cherub,' and wanting to be like God, Lucifer and his rebel-angels had found themselves hurled out of heaven, relegated to the dark recesses of our pre-creation planet:

"How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn!" (Isaiah 14:12)

"Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor: I cast you to the ground..." (Ezekiel 28:17)

"And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world--he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him." (Revelation 12:9)

When God spoke Light into the darkness, it was the first step in His plan to reclaim planet Earth for His glory. The devil was put on notice. Every single Word spoken by God in the moments of Creation brought 'beauty from ashes and the oil of gladness instead of mourning.' Hideous misery was displaced by the wonder of that first Sunrise, bringing both warmth and Light. Unsullied seas teamed with life, and sweet birdsong filled fragrant gardens. God SAW THAT IT WAS GOOD! Then, at last, the crowning glory of Creation, miraculously fashioned from the dust of the earth:

"Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. AND LET THEM HAVE DOMINION over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth...So God created man in His own image...MALE AND FEMALE He created them."

"And God blessed them. And God said to them, BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY and fill the earth and SUBDUE IT..." (Genesis 1:26-28)

So The Battle began.  The enemy would not relinquish control without a fight! Before long a pure, faultless Creation would suffer corruption through the subtle lies of a serpent called Satan. The enemy injected strains of his perversion into the blood of the human race, bringing his own misery to bear on all of God's Creation.

Not to be outdone, Jehovah Elohim (Strong Creator), Elyon (Lord Most High), Elgibbor (Mighty God) responded immediately, sealing Satan's fate. He made a proclamation which set in motion His perfect, eternal plan for RE-CREATION, through the life, death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus:

     "Because you have done this, cursed are you...I will put enmity between you and
                           the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring;
                 he shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel." (Genesis 3:14-15)

Satan knows he faces a future of eternal torment. His only recourse in the meantime is to use his misguided children, victims of deception, to STEAL, KILL and DESTROY as much of God's creation as he can...DE-CREATION!  His goal is to disrupt and destroy the order and beauty of what God has made. He has set his ruinous targets on anything and everything which points to God's glory:

      MUSIC
           ART
                SCIENCE
                     HISTORY
                          WISDOM AND REASON
                                THE ENVIRONMENT
                                     DNA
                                          TRUTH
                                               GENDER IDENTITY

                               LIFE ITSELF.

       "Woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath,
                                 because he knows his time is short!" (Revelation 12:1

He and his children are responsible for metastatic confusion and for the dissolution of all that is just and right and good. One unnamed writer speaks of the 'growth in militant godlessness in the world today, until the world is swarming with human beings no longer human, but just beings.' What is our recourse? In one word, PRAYER...prayer uttered in the matchless power of Jesus' Name:

"It has been said that prayer is the greatest force in the universe.
This is no exaggeration. it will bear constant repetition.
In this atomic age, when forces are being released
that stagger the thought and imagination of man,
it is well to remember that prayer transcends all other forces!"
(F.J. Huegel)

May God grant us the grace to pray without ceasing.

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The Beauty and Danger of Distraction

5/10/2016

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What glory! The mercury hit 16 degrees in Deerness this afternoon...nearly as warm as it was last week in Sorrento. Drawn by the irresistible elixir of sunshine and surf, I took Magnolia and Teddy for a walk at Newark Beach. A curious 'selkie' (Orcadian for seal) joined us, following about fifteen yards out, bobbing up and down with the undulating waves. He made the most of the crests, comically craning his neck to get a clearer view of his human and canine companions. I smiled, perhaps for the first time today.

Photo: Andrew Balerud

You might have noticed, it has been awhile since I posted my last blog. For weeks succeeded in distracting myself from the absurdly disturbing realities of life in 2016. Beachcombing, cooking, crocheting...even cleaning have proved effective diversions! It is much more comfortable living in willful ignorance! The idyllic illusion of normalcy inevitably evaporates though. Always a 'watchman', I cannot slumber for long...

Last week Henry and I had the somber privilege of visiting Pompeii. I am still processing.

Pompeii was first settled in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, late in the 7th century BC. It was inhabited by Etruscans, Greeks, and the indigenous people of Campania ('fertile plain'), now Italy. As we spent the day explored the ruins, it was easy to envision a bustling city, full of life!

Pizza anyone?

This is one of 89 'thermopolium', (small cook shops) which remain. Yes, that is a pizza oven! Evidently most of the citizens of Pompeii preferred to dine out, rather than prepare their own meals at home. Sound familiar? These were a prosperous people! They enjoyed a number of elegant public baths (we would call them spas), embellished with elaborate mosaics and relief sculpture. An overtly sensuous society as well, Naples houses a museum devoted entirely to the display of erotic (pornographic) images which have been removed from the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Interior of the Forum Baths

Sport and entertainment played a huge role in the life of Pompeii. There were two amphitheaters which are among the oldest known in the Roman world. Built around 70 BC, the larger one held an audience of 20,000!

These were not primitive, uneducated people. They were as bright and sophisticated as anyone we meet on the street today (perhaps more so). Despite a massive earthquake several years earlier and signs that Mount Vesuvius was awakening from slumber, many of the citizens of Pompeii ignored the warning signs. On August 24, 79 AD they lost their lives in a matter of minutes, overcome by a torrential flow of superheated gasses and subsequently buried beneath eighteen feet of volcanic ash.

So complete was the decimation, that the city vanished, forgotten, until its rediscovery at the end of the 16th century.

A Painful Reminder

Grandmothers and grandfathers, moms and dads, children and their pets perished, memorialized only by stony semblances buried in the cinders. Why did they remain??? How could they have ignored the ominous warning signs?

I can only speculate! Life was good...peaceful and prosperous. The scenery was stunning, the climate mild, and the soil fertile. Day to day life kept them busy and distracted. They assumed life would continue as it always had. Ignoring the sense of foreboding rising from within, they disciplined themselves to disregard the alarming signals that could have saved their lives. They adjusted to 'the new normal.' A few heeded the warnings, escaping just in time. Most however, managed to remain oblivious until unimaginable disaster literally rained down upon them.

Are we succumbing to the danger of distraction? Have we learned to ignore the warning signs, which are increasing in number and frequency, shutting off our God-given alarm system? Are we guilty of adjusting to 'the new normal', assuming life will continue as it always has?

Spend a few minutes reflecting, reminiscing. Recall life in America ten years ago...We have been cooked like the proverbial frog, my friends. It is time to awaken from slumber:

                      "Be on guard, keep awake...stay awake...stay awake...
                          And what I say to you I say to all: STAY AWAKE!"
                                                         (Mark 13:33-36)

                          DO NOT BE A VICTIM OF DISTRACTION,
         But seek Lord with your whole heart. Discern His specific direction for your life.
              It is time to face the truth of our times head-on, not in fear, but in FAITH.
                                  It is time to step foot in the waters of the Jordan,
                             trusting the Lord to make a way where there is no way.

"For He is the living God, enduring forever;
His Kingdom shall never be destroyed,
And His dominion shall be to the end.
He delivers and rescues;
He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth.
He who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions."
(Daniel 6:26-27)

Soli Deo Gloria

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Pressed but not Crushed

Heaven: Password Protected

An Elephant, the Thief and Escalonia

Habitat

A Post-Script...

Bloom and Grow Forever!

The Man of Lawlessness?

Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin

De-Creation

The Beauty and Danger of Distraction

Anne Reitzug

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