MERCY MAGNIFIED

Return of the Robin

9/12/2023

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven." (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

Autumn has long been my favorite season. I find joy in the simplest things. Freshly fallen acorns, the crimson blush of maple leaves, a chill in the air and the pungent scent of wood-smoke evoke nostalgia.

While sparrows gather on the telephone wires, preparing for their migration to Africa, robins reappear! Having largely disappeared into the forest during the summer, the robins return with their sweet song bringing cheer amidst darkening days. They will remain throughout the winter as a harbinger of longer, lighter days to come.

Harvest is underway here in the Highlands. Yesterday as I drove to a nearby village, my top speed must have approached twenty-seven miles per hour! I found myself following not one, but two tractors slowly making their way over Culnakirk, a steep and winding pass. The tractor-trailer directly ahead of me overflowed with freshly harvested barley, bits of chaff drifted behind.

It wasn't until I was on my way home that the Spirit of the Lord drew my attention to the neat rows of straw and stubble left behind in the fields...

"For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says
the Lord of Hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.
But for you who fear my Name, the sun of righteousness shall rise
with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet,
on the day when I act, Says the Lord of Hosts."
Malachi 4:1-3

Do you find strange comfort in this passage? I do! There seems to be no end of evildoers in the world just now. Knowing his time is short, the enemy is raging. We long to see the judgment of the wicked. It will come!

That said, the image of the harvest has a vital word for believers as well. Jesus Christ has laid down His life as a foundation. In Matthew 7:24 He paints a picture for us of what it means to build upon the foundation He has laid:

"Everyone who hears these word of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock..."

I must ask myself:
"How solid is my 'house'? Is my faith expressing itself in obedience?"

The struggle is real, but there is GOOD NEWS! Though we are admonished to 'work out our salvation with fear and trembling,' it is God Himself who works in us both to WILL and to WORK for His good pleasure! I can ask Him to help me do His will, EVEN WHEN I DON'T WANT TO! He is faithful to complete the work He has begun in me.
THAT is GRACE!

One day soon HE who created the robin and sends him to cheer us on through the long winter WILL RETURN IN GLORY!

"...behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me,
to give every man according as his work shall be."
(Revelation 22:12)

On that day:
"Each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it,
because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work
each one has done." (1 Corinthians 3:13)

HOW SHALL WE THEN LIVE?

0 Comments

Beware the Mark

10/6/2022

0 Comments

For as long as I can remember, Christians have been speculating about the

“Mark of the Beast”

Aesop's tale of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" comes to mind. I fear many have been lulled to sleep, wearied by the barrage of false alarms! The hour has come to wake from our slumber, however. The father of lies, that old serpent, is poised to strike with his deadly deception, seeking to destroy the unsuspecting.

Why Does it Matter???

John writes in Revelation 14:9-11: "If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath…the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest who receive the mark of its name.”

The receiving of 'the Mark' is an act of high treason,
a voluntary forfeiting of the salvation Jesus bought with His own blood!

Jesus sounded the alarm, warning against the coming deception:

“See that no one leads you astray!”
(Matthew 24:4)
"Take heed lest any man deceive you."
(Mark 13:5)
  “See that you are not led astray…stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things and stand before
the Son of Man.”
  (Luke 21)

According to the prophet Daniel (8:12,23 and 11:43), the beast and his kingdom will rise when man's sinfulness has reached its limit. Deceit will prosper and truth will be thrown to the ground. (Is this beginning to sound a bit familiar?) This kingdom will “devour the whole earth,” and will control all financial transactions. Revelation 13:16-17 prophesy that everyone, rich and poor, will be required to receive a “mark” on the hand or forehead in order to buy or sell.

While many have speculated that this mark would be some kind of microchip, the word translated as “mark” in Revelation 13 is the Greek word ‘charagma.’ A charagma is a 'scratch or etching' that is used as a form of identification or a badge of servitude.

The word itself is derived from the words charax and charasso, the verb meaning 'to sharpen to a point.'

Discerning the Times
There is growing evidence that Big Tech, The World Economic Forum and the United Nations have joined forces to establish a standard/requirement for "Universal Legal Identify" in fulfillment of prophecy:

2016 – The ID2020 Alliance was formed “To ensure that all people have access to better forms of Digital ID” (among the founding partners are GAVI, the Gates Vaccine Alliance and Microsoft)

December 2017 – MasterCard reinforced its commitment to “A World Beyond Cash” with plans to introduce a “Trust Stamp” or “Wellness Pass,” defined as: “A digital vaccination record and identity system linked to a ‘click to pay’ system."

January 2018 - The governments of Canada and the Netherlands, partnered with the World Economic Forum, committed to piloting a program known as KTDI, Known Traveler Digital Identity

December 2019 – Rice University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology announced the development of a “Quantum Dot Infrared Tattoo,” commissioned and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This tattoo:

*Is applied with a small patch of sharp, sugar based micro-needles which dissolve
*Injects ink called ‘luciferase’ which can be scanned under infrared light
*Is capable of administering vaccines
*Is designed to implant an array of quantum particles, forming a unique digital ID
*Records medical records via quantum particles

March 2020 – Microsoft was granted a remarkable patent (#WO2020 060606) for a crypto-currency system using BODY ACTIVITY DATA. A sensor placed in the body monitors a person’s activity: Data collected and stored on the server is used to release or withhold crypto currency according to whether that person has met the specified requirements.

March 2022 - the government of the U.K. set up the office for Digital Identities and Attributes as a governing body for 'digital identities.'

According to the United Nations’ Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals:
Digital Identity will be required in order to:

Buy/Sell, conduct business
Access Healthcare
Make financial transactions
Access social services
Communicate (via internet, telephone, etc.)
Collect benefits, pay taxes, etc.

Staying Strong
The global plan for use of this Quantum Dot Infrared Tattoo (with its various functions) appears to accurately fullfil the prophecies of Daniel and John's Revelation. How will we resist the temptation to take "the mark" when our livelihoods, our health, our very lives are at stake?

A Lesson from Esau:
Genesis 24 records the tragic account of a young man who was clearly in the habit of being ruled by the flesh. Famished after a long day working in the fields, he traded his birthright, forfeited his inheritance for a bowl of lentil stew. Esau's carnal nature led to an offence which incited the Lord’s hatred. (Malachi 1:3)

The Apostle Paul begs the Philippians to walk according to the Spirit:

"For many of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly...
with minds set on earthly things." (Philippians 3:18-19)

World leaders have been warning of the “dark winter” ahead, predicting food shortages and noting the rising costs of both food and energy. Many of us are wondering whether we will be able to feed our families and heat our homes.

We must prepare now, both physically and spiritually. Are we in the habit of sowing to the flesh or sowing to the spirit? The enemy will come with his quantum dot micro-needle ‘saviour’ when we are most vulnerable. Are we strong enough to resist the temptation to sell our ETERNAL inheritance when we are homeless and hungrier than we have ever been? Will we trust the Great Physician when we are suffering and can’t see a doctor?

Jesus encourages us with these words:

“In this world you WILL have tribulation,
but take courage, I have OVERCOME the world.”
(John 16:33)

He is our Deliverer, El Shaddai, God Almighty. He is El Roi, the God who sees. He is Yaweh Yireh, the Lord who Provides, and He is Yahweh Shalom…the Lord our PEACE.

We will fix our eyes on Him. His promises are sure.

“And they overcame 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)

0 Comments

On Guard!!!

12/22/2021

11 Comments

"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the Word of God." Ephesians 6:17

"This is the 'get ready' position for fencing and enables the fencer to be balanced and constantly ready to change direction while continuing to threaten the opponent with the weapon."
(The Beginner's Guide to Fencing)

I have had a new blog brewing for some time now, but was unsure about how to begin. I prayed, and the words that came to mind almost immediately were:
"On Guard!"

This was NOT what I expected to hear, however I can not imagine a more suitable call to arms! The enemy is playing fast and furious. We must be at the ready, sword in hand at all times!

There are indications which lead me to believe that the Lord has begun to open the scroll described in Revelation 6, setting in motion the final chapter of human history. We may be at the threshold of the Tribulation.

Several months ago I was discussing Revelation chapter 6 with a friend in England, who brought to my attention something in the Greek which I had not previously noticed:

"Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, "COME!" And I looked and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him and he came out conquering, and to conquer." (Rev. 6:1-2)

The rider on the white horse is meant to look like a hero, but is an impostor. He rides out "conquering and to conquer," (the verb 'conquer' is recorded in the present and future tense). His intention is to subdue and control. His weapon? A BOW!

Although the word 'bow' is found 99 times in Scripture, the Greek word used here for 'bow' is 'toxon.' It is the ONLY time the word 'toxon' is used in the entire Bible. My research left me stunned. the following is a screenshot of an article I found in the British Medical Journal:

Toxon/toxicon pharmacon = a bow armed with poisoned arrows!

So the rider on the white horse (antichrist) is armed with a bow that shoots poisoned arrows, determined to conquer...

His 'kingdom' and influence advance by means of 'poisoned arrows.' Does this sound familiar?

Prophecies written by Daniel, the apostles Paul (in Thessalonians) and John (in Revelation) describe the time in which the rider appears:

Daniel's Prophecies:

"There shall be a fourth kingdom on earth which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth..." (Daniel 7:23)
"It will throw truth to the ground..." (Daniel 8:12)
He will appear with great power, causing fearful destruction: "At the latter end of the kingdom when transgressors (revolt, religious and moral rebellion) have reached their limit." (Daniel 8:23)
"By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper...and in his own mind he shall become great." (Daniel 8:25)

Paul's prophecy:

"The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan...with all wicked deception..." (2 Thessalonians 2:9)
"While people are saying 'Peace and Safety,' destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape." (1 Thessalonians 5:3)

John's prophecy:

"And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words and it was allowed to exercise authority...it was also allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on the earth." (Revelation 13:5-7)

John describes this "beast" in Revelation 13:2 -

"And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear's and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And to it the dragon (devil) gave his power and his throne and great authority."

On the 9th of November 2021, this massive statue, entitled "Peace and Safety" was erected outside the United Nations headquarters in New York City.

Friends, I believe this may be a sign that the beast/antichrist is about to take his place on the world stage. All the world is in turmoil and is looking for a 'saviour.' We know from Scripture that the only Saviour is Jesus Christ, who will come with the clouds in great glory! DO NOT BE DECEIVED!!!

Jesus warned His disciples:
"Be on guard! Keep awake! Stay awake! Do not be deceived!"

Be On Guard!

Get ready! Draw near to God and He will draw near to you!
Keep your balance! Fix your eyes and ears on Jesus and His truth!
Stay flexible! Be ready to change directions at a moment's notice!
Take up your sword! Stay offensive...don't let the enemy back you into a corner!

"For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, o joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."
Hebrews 4:12-13

"Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints."
(Revelation 13:10)

Soli Deo Gloria

11 Comments

Thanksgiving

11/25/2021

3 Comments

"There's a peace I've come to know
though my heart and flesh may fail.
There's an Anchor for my soul
I can say, 'It is well.'
Jesus has overcome..."

I awoke in the wee hours of the morning, grateful for this song playing in my heart. Yesterday's holiday brought a wave of nostalgia which was harder than usual to bear. It has been seven years since we left all that was precious and familiar, our home and family in Graham...and answered God's call to 'come out.' (Revelation 18:4)

A confused, jet-lagged Magnolia

Our first ferry crossing to Orkney

Our first walk at Newark Beach

Thanksgiving at Little Halley, 2016

Thanksgiving has long been my favorite holiday, a time for enjoying time with family...and for giving gratitude its proper place. We managed to maintain our traditions in Orkney, celebrating with new friends and even family (when possible).

I am struggling a bit this year though. The plandemic has brought a fearful paralysis to our Highland village. Few of our new neighbors are willing to step foot into our home. We are once again, 'strangers' in a foreign land. Thankfully our specially ordered turkey arrived yesterday, so we look forward to celebrating Thanksgiving here at Walled Garden with Kate and family tomorrow (no work/no school on Saturday).

Who dreamed that 2021 would find us torn between two worlds - the familiar, comfortable world we have known and loved - and the bewildering, dystopian reality which tightens its grip with each passing day? Our temporal future is characterized by uncertainty. Each day presents a new battle to keep our feet firmly planted on the Rock while our circumstances swirl around us like shifting sand. So many questions remain unanswered! Are we to remain in Scotland? If not, where, Lord? What is YOUR will, Lord?

"When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My Anchor holds within the veil

Christ alone, Cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Savior's love
Through the storm He is Lord, Lord of all."

I am happy? No, not really. Thankful? Absolutely.

"For this light and momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen, but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Soli Deo Gloria.

(Song Credits: "I Will Rise" by Chris Tomlin, "Cornerstone" by Hillsong)

3 Comments

Ready or Not!

6/13/2021

3 Comments

It is October 2019. A group of high profile leaders from all over the globe have gathered in New York City for "Event 201: A Corona Virus Pandemic Rehearsal." The event is sponsored by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, The World Economic Forum and the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. The leaders attending represent world governments, business and technology, trade, travel, and 'health security.' Every detail of a potential "pandemic" is being rehearsed. Images of the virus have been created. Simulated news clips dramatize the imagined crisis. Discussion about the need to suppress 'false information' via control of social media takes place. Below are a few screenshots from the Event 201 website:

In December, just eight weeks after the timely rehearsal, news of the "novel corona virus" hit the headlines. We know the rest of the story. The virus has been used as a carefully calculated Trojan Horse to usher in The Great Reset.

We did not see it coming. We were not prepared. We have, however, been put on alert and have been reminded of these words of warning from Jesus himself:

"Be on guard, keep awake!..stay awake...stay awake...
and what I say to you I say to all:
Stay awake!!!
(Mark 13:32-36)

For this reason I am writing to sound a very serious warning about another rehearsal taking place on 9 July, 2021. "Cyber Polygon," sponsored by the World Economic Forum, the Russian company BI.ZONE, Visa, IBM and other international organizations, will be rehearsing a "Cyber Pandemic" which would disable the banking systems, disrupt communication, disable the power grids and bring the supply chain for food to a screeching halt!

I highly recommend doing a bit of research on www.bitchute.com. You will find video clips of Klaus Schwab (head of the World Economic Forum) predicting that the upcoming Cyber Pandemic will make the Corona Virus look like child's play in comparison, bringing massive global disruption. If the WEF stays true to its usual modus operandi, we might expect such an event to unfold in the relatively near future. Some are saying early autumn.

What might this mean?

No access to money in the bank
No communication/internet
No power
Severe food shortages
No ability to travel

In short... the civilized world will be thrown back into an existence known by the early pioneers.

The Goal???
The answer is multi-faceted. In short? TOTAL GLOBAL CONTROL over finances and all resources necessary for life. The most diabolical goal??? The implementation of a mandatory digital identification, without which no one will be allowed to participate in the New World Order. Below are screenshots of former Prime Minister Tony Blair's recommendation in the case of a massive cyber attack:

Friends, the time is short. There is much to be done. The enemy desires to steal, kill and destroy, but we are not in darkness that this day should overcome us like a thief! Remember the promises of Jesus for those who overcome!

I have just begun reading an excellent book, called "Get Prepared Now", by Michael Snyder and Barbara Fix. Please consider ordering it NOW and getting prepared while there is still time.

"The eyes of the Lord roam throughout the earth, searching to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him."
2 Chronicles 16:9

Soli Deo Gloria!

3 Comments

From the Frying Pan Into the Fire

5/2/2021

4 Comments

Yesterday was a nightmare. I don't remember the last time I had such a raging tantrum! My poor, bewildered husband took the brunt of my sudden, unbridled fury. Jet lag, combined with the rude reality of plandemic travel had apparently taken its toll.

Henry and I flew back to the U.S. two weeks ago. He injured his knee in January and due to the cov-idiocy (is that a word?) among the docs at the local clinic, he was only able to secure two useless telephone consultations. In case you were wondering, it's pretty much impossible to diagnose and treat a knee injury via the telephone. Medical care in the UK has sunk to new levels. Fear and sloth have brought out the very worst in many 'healthcare' workers.

It was an expensive trip. In addition to airfare and hotels, the required C-testing cost nearly 1,000 pounds (the equivalent of $1380.00). Restrictions on international travel forced us to file an official "declaration" detailing our legitimate purpose for traveling. Had our purpose for traveling been found "illegitimate" we might have faced fines up to 10,000 pounds and possible jail time. Welcome to the "Covid 19-The Great Reset."

Thankfully the report from the doctor was good! The growth in his knee is not a malignancy, but a benign, painful cyst that should resolve with the help of a cortisone injection and a bit of time. We took the opportunity to see family and a few friends before traveling back to Scotland. We also relished the fearless enjoyment of several restaurant meals and maskless, joyful singing in WORSHIP (for the first time in more than a year).

We took the red-eye back from Sea-Tac to London on Wednesday night (Ugh), then flew on to Edinburgh on Thursday. Friday morning we caught the train to Inverness and Beauly, arriving home late in the afternoon. MY, IT WAS NICE TO CRAWL INTO OUR OWN BED FRIDAY NIGHT!

So far, so good, right??? Saturday afternoon I received a call from NHS (National Health Service) "Track and Trace." Scotland requires a minimum of ten days' quarantine after traveling abroad. The call was to ensure I 'understood the requirements of self-isolation' and to 'answer any questions' I might have. I was told the call would be recorded. I mentioned that I was happy to listen, but did not prefer to be recorded. The young woman told me she would have to speak with her supervisor and call me back.

Several minutes later she called to inform me that recording the call was not optional. I then assured her that I understood quarantine and did not have any questions. There was, therefore, no need to continue the conversation.

Within five minutes a threatening email arrived in my inbox, demanding that I contact Scotland's NHS Track and Trace within 48 hours. If I did not comply I would be reported as "uncontactable" during quarantine. Police Scotland would be notified. This, after having had two telephone conversations with a Track and Trace officer!

Suddenly the dam broke!

The accumulated stresses of a year of lock-downs, unnecessary isolation, deprivation of any semblance of normalcy, forced Covid tests and 48 hours of non-stop, mask-wearing travel reduced me to a raging, trembling tear-stained mess.

"When did I sign up to live in a police state?"

I am torn between two worlds...

We left the United States almost seven years ago. Serious, prayerful studies in Revelation 17-18 as well as correlating passages in Isaiah, Jeremiah and the minor prophets convinced us that we were living in "Babylon the Great," a nation whose sorcery (Greek: pharmakeia) deceives the world in the last days prior to Jesus' return.

Revelation 18:4 specifically instructs:

"Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins
lest you share in her plagues; for her sins are heaped high as heaven
and God has remembered her iniquities.
Pay her back as she herself has paid back others...
As she glorified herself and lived in luxury,
So give her a measure of torment and mourning."
(Revelation 18:4-7)

Having been obedient at great cost to ourselves and our family, imagine my surprise to find the walls closing in here in Scotland! I wrongly assumed our life here would be characterized by "peace and safety." Our freedoms have been stripped away like old varnish, and we find ourselves bound by invisible shackles.

Have we jumped from the frying pan into the fire???

Frustrated and confused, I have angrily lashed out at the Lord. Thankfully, in confessing this to a dear friend, she assured me: "Don't worry, He can take it!"

He knows we see only the tangled threads, the underside of the tapestry He is weaving in our lives.

Yesterday I found myself rereading Daniel chapter 3, the account of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace. I was taken aback at their boldness in refusing to participate in the meaningless, mandated 'worship' of the golden image created by Nebuchadnezzar:
"We have no need to answer you in this matter...WE WILL NOT SERVE your gods or worship the image!"

Of course, their courage landed them in a fiery furnace, heated SEVEN times hotter than normal...not exactly the reward one would expect for faithful obedience! What I observed though, is and will be a GREAT encouragement to me:

They were not alone in the fire, the Lord Himself was with them!
Their chains were loosed in the midst of the flames.
The power of God is greater than the fire of the furnace.
Their courageous witness humbled one of the greatest kings of all time.

THE HOTTER THE FIRE, THE GREATER THE GLORY!

What of my FIGHT OR FLIGHT impulse???

God cannot help me until I stop running away.
I must be willing to stand somewhere and trust Him!

"Fear Not!" is the first step!
Lord, keep me from turning back.

Soli Deo Gloria.

4 Comments

The Pinnacle of Prideful Rebellion

3/21/2021

2 Comments

It has been nearly a year since I published my first blog after awakening to the agenda behind the plandemic. I thought I had plumbed the depths of the evil plans and intentions driving this nightmare. My discoveries of this past week however, shed light on areas of darkness I was yet unaware of.

Below are excerpts from an article entitled "Looking Forward to the End of Humanity," published in the Wall Street Journal last June:

"People have always feared death and dreamed of escaping it. But until now, that hope has been formulated in religious terms. Eternal life through advanced technology seems like a pipe dream...Yet Covid-19 may turn out to be just the kind of crisis needed to turbocharge efforts to create what its advocates call a 'transhuman future.'

Transhumanists envision several possible avenues to immortality. Nanorobots could live inside our cells...genetic engineering could eliminate the mechanisms that cause us to age...Ultimately however, the hope is that we won't just use computers--we'll become them."

In his book, "The Fourth Industrial Revolution," Klaus Schwab describes plans to "fuse biology and technology in a way that causes us to question what it means to be human."

This week I was horrified to learn that vaccination of infants and children will begin as soon as this summer in the U.K. I also learned that CRISPR technology has been used in the development of these mRNA 'vaccines' for covid. Until yesterday I had no idea what "CRISPR" was. According to livescience.com, CRISPR is:

"A simple yet powerful tool for editing genomes.
It allows researcher to alter DNA sequences and modify gene function."

As recently as November of 2020 a genetic-engineering news site published the following warning in a report:

"Responsible scientists insist that the genome editing of human embryos presents unacceptable risks...Large-scale damage was found in a study that analyzed human embryos that had been edited with CRISPR-Cas9. The study from Columbia University Irving Medical Center, showed that applying the CRISPR-Cas9 to repair a blindness-causing gene early in the development of a human embryo OFTEN ELIMINATES AN ENTIRE CHROMOSOME OR A LARGE SECTION OF IT."

I am not a scientist, but if 'responsible scientists' are labeling the risks of this kind of gene editing in embryos "unacceptable", I cannot imagine the implications for children and adults. In order to understand the full implications of this, I spent some time refreshing my memory about the nature and function of DNA:

1) DNA is a complex molecule found in virtually every cell
2) It contains ALL of the information needed to build and maintain an organism
3) Portions of DNA are passed along to our children

You might have seen this stunning image recently. It is a model of a single human cell created at Stanford University, by a biomedical animator using X-ray, nuclear magnetic resonance and cryoelectron microscopy.

There are about 15,000,000,000 of these cells in the body of an average adult! No wonder King David, inspired by the Spirit, proclaimed:

"I will praise Thee, for I am fearfully
and wonderfully made!" (Psalm 139:14)

Is it not the height of arrogance to think that humans can improve upon what God Almighty has designed? I am convinced that Satan may be the force behind techniques like CRISPR. Having stained God's people with the legacy of sin, the enemy would love to leave his own rebellious signature on the DNA of man, God's image-bearers! Could it be that he is using mRNA "vaccinations" to accomplish this?

Some facts about mRNA vaccines:

There has NEVER been a successful trial of mRNA vaccines in animals, because the animals inoculated in the trials all DIED.

At the date of publishing of this blog, 1,913 people in the U.S. have died after being vaccinated.

In the U.K. (with a much smaller population) 534 people have died.
28 young women who were vaccinated in order to work in the 'health care setting' suffered spontaneous miscarriage.
68,996 people in the U.K. have suffered serious side effects which involve their central nervous system!
Any alterations or damage to the DNA caused by these 'vaccines will likley be passed on to future generations!
And yet the WHO, the CDC and the mainstream media insist the 'vaccines' are safe!

The tyrannical nature and global scope of the Covid-19 nightmare has given me cause to wonder if we are witnessing the rise of the fourth and finally worldly kingdom as described by the prophet Daniel in chapter 2.

This week, in reviewing my study of this kingdom, I was startled by something I had not seen before. Daniel is called to interpret King Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a giant image/statue. The massive image of gold, silver, bronze and iron represents the kingdoms that would rule throughout the ages until the return of Christ. As described in Daniel 2:40-43, the final kingdom, represented by the feet, is made of iron and clay:

"And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks things to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these. And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of of potter's clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay."

The phrase highlighted in red above consists of the following Hebrew words:
havah arab zera
It roughly translates as:
'the iron and clay will cleave and mix with the seed (future generations) of men.'
Could this have been a prophetic reference to the use of genetic engineering and the attempt to integrate man and machine???

Time will tell. The hour may be later than we suspect...

"The hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light."
Romans 13:11-12

Note: I wrote a blog called "Daniel and the Fourth Beast" in 2015. It details the characteristics of the fourth kingdom and the Beast. If interested you can find it a www.mercymagnified.com

2 Comments

Cracked Pots

12/13/2020

1 Comment

It is said that in ancient and medieval times, dishonest potters used wax to cover cracks their vessels acquired in the firing process. Both the French and Spanish developed a phrase to indicate the integrity of their wares. The Spanish term was:
"sin cera," meaning 'without wax.' It is from this concept that we get the English word "sincere."

In writing to Timothy, the Apostle Paul emphasizes the vital importance of "sincere faith," faith without hypocrisy. Six years ago I believe I was characterized by "sincere faith." Henry and I chose to believe God and act accordingly, leaving my native homeland, family and friends in response to the Lord's unmistakable call.

We sat alone at the airport as we waited for boarding. No family came to see us off...a real and painful demonstration of their disapproval. All of our earthly belongings were floating in the Atlantic, crammed into a container on a ship, headed for port on the east coast of Scotland. My heart pounded as the jet engines began to roar. I was consumed with a strange mixture of trepidation and eager anticipation. This was a monumental leap of faith for me. The adventure was just beginning.

Fast-forward to this morning. My Bible reading has taken me to Hebrews chapter 11. The "Faith Chapter." Ugh! Dare I still characterize my faith as "sincere?" The past six years have left my heart broken and my faith in tatters.

We have lived as strangers in a foreign land. True exiles. While we have gained a few precious friends along the way, we have known mocking, rejection and abandonment on more occasions than I care to think about.

Perhaps another look at the "Faith Chapter" is in order after all! A bare Christmas tree awaits lights and decorations, so I will merely outline what the Lord showed me this morning and trust the Holy Spirit to speak into your heart what is most needed.

FAITH

Is commendable by God! (Abel)
Is a witness that continues to preach after we die. (Abel)
Makes us pleasing to God. (Enoch)
Brings reward from God.
Leads to obedience which SAVES. (Noah)
Often leads us into unfamiliar territory.
Can co-exist with uncertainty. (Abraham and Sarah)
Can open the door to the 'IMPOSSIBLE.' (Sarah's conception)
Remains active until death.
Makes us 'aliens' and 'strangers' on earth.
Directs our desires heavenward.
WILL be tested! (Abraham and Isaac)
Blesses future generations. (Isaac and Jacob)
Strengthens our confidence in God's promises. (Joseph)
At times calls for civil disobedience! (Moses' parents)
May lead us away from a life of ease/privilege. (Moses)
Requires obedience that means the difference between life and death.
(Moses and the Passover)
Can bring supernatural deliverance! (Crossing the Red Sea)
Breaks down walls when combined with obedience. (Jericho)

Through FAITH kingdoms have been conquered, justice enforced, promises obtained, the mouths of lions have been shut and fire quenched! Through FAITH armies have been defeated, and the dead have been raised!

I have heard rousing sermons preached on this passage that make me want to conquer the world! There is another side of the FAITH coin, however. Halfway through verse 35 the writer of Hebrews shifts gears! The 'reward' of our FAITH is not always what we expect!

Because of their FAITH...

Some were tortured
Some were chained and imprisoned
Some were mocked and isolated
Some were stoned
Some were sawn in two
Some were killed by swords
Some were made destitute
Some lost their homes, and were living in dens and caves.
"Of whom the world was not worthy!"

I don't know about you, but my "FAITH" perspective needs a bit of adjusting! I may never see MY "reward" for faithfulness here on earth. After all, I am an alien and stranger here! I am both the Lord's "peculiar treasure" and a citizen of a Kingdom that CANNOT BE SHAKEN.

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay,
to show that the surpassing power
belongs to God and not to us."
(2 Corinthians 4:7)

Lord, find us FAITHFUL.

1 Comment

Gorse

11/8/2020

0 Comments

"Gorse." My first introduction to this spectacular prickly shrub came courtesy of C.S. Lewis in his describing what it was like to ride on Aslan's back:

"That ride was perhaps the most wonderful thing that happened to them in Narnia. Have you ever had a gallop on a horse? Think of that; then take away the heavy noise of the hoofs...imagine you are going about twice as fast as the fastest racehorse...right across Narnia in Spring, down solemn avenues of beech and across sunny glades of oak, through wild orchards of snow-white cherry trees, past roaring waterfalls and mossy rocks and echoing caverns, up windy slopes alight with gorse bushes..."

Mind you, I had never actually seen gorse until we moved to Scotland! It was winter. We were making our pilgrimage from Orkney to Kiltarlity to visit Kate when I noticted unseasonably BRIGHT YELLOW BLOSSOMS gracing the prickly shrubs along the verge. Astounded that ANYTHING could bloom under such conditions, I set out to identify this wonder! I discovered a 19th century English proverb:

"When the gorse is out of bloom, kissing's out of fashion."

Evidently gorse can be found blooming here and there year-round in Britain! The following summer we were headed north on the A-9 after another visit with Kate and her family. The sun shone and the air was quite warm by Highland standards. I rolled down the window just as we drove past a hillside fairly glowing with bright yellow gorse blossoms. Suddenly we were enveloped by a most delicate, intoxicating fragrance! Who knew that gorse smelled and tasted of coconut?

I have since discovered a myriad of mysterious characteristics of this strange and alluring shrub:

Gorse grows ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE, along motorways and in wasteland
It flourishes where soil is shallow and nutrients scarce
The flowers are a valuable source of pollen and nectar during gap months
Its blossoms are high in protein, delicious in salads, tea and liqueurs
The seeds can be soaked in water and the liquid used as flea repellent
The flowers and bark produce brilliant yellow and green dyes
Gorse are "noisy, exploding self-seeders"

One might wonder, "Why all this fuss about Gorse??? God has designed His creation to reflect His glory. Even gorse has a lesson or two for me! These are difficult times. I have not always "flourished in the wasteland." Gorse has given me a bit of inspiration to:

Persevere when growing conditions are challenging
Provide a bit of sweetness for all I meet
Help others taste and see that the Lord is good
Soak myself in the water of the Word to ward off pests
Live a colorful life and avoid drabness at all costs
Eagerly (noisily?) plant seeds, sharing the reason for the HOPE I have in Jesus

Soli Deo Gloria!

0 Comments

Rise Up!

11/1/2020

2 Comments

Twelve years ago today, and 4,087 miles away
I stood on one of a thousand sun-bleached hills in Rosebud County, Montana. The day was exceptionally mild. The sun shone and shadows were long. I had arrived in the wee hours of the morning, with my son Drew and my brother Steve. We found ourselves in the middle of a real-life nightmare.

At noon the day before we had received word from the local sheriff that my father had "gone missing" while hunting with his "friend." Today finding him in this vast, almost featureless terrain seemed an impossible task. The nights since his disappearance had been frosty, and he might easily have died of exposure having survived an injury. The uncertainty was torturous. We spent the morning bouncing across the countryside in a jeep, frantically scouting the landscape for any sign of my father. It was entirely possible our searching would prove futile. We were hunting for the proverbial needle in a haystack. I prayed, "Lord, please let us find him!"

Around noon we noticed the search helicopter silhouetted against the bright mid-day sun. As it drew closer, landing in the adjacent field, my heart pounded wildly. Bill, a friend helping with the search jumped out, jogging toward us: "We found Doc...he's didn't make it."

The THIEF had struck, stealing a faithful husband, loving father, doting grandfather and beloved veterinarian. I had wanted to protect my firstborn from the agony of this moment, but Drew had insisted on traveling with me to Montana for the search and hoped for rescue. Drew was "Papa's boy." Now, in gut-wrenching shock, we stood next to my father's uninhabited body. Despite the sinister circumstances and unanswered questions surrounding his death, I was grateful to have found him. The gift of closure is denied to many in similar circumstances. We prayed together, giving thanks for the indescribable gift of Dad's life...and the assurance of his unwavering faith in Jesus.

Yesterday I was overcome by the sudden realization that the THIEF has struck again. This time the scope of his theft is almost immeasurable!

Henry and I have been attending this small, local church for the past few weeks. We commend the pastor and the leadership for their courage. It is the only church in the area that has made the decision to resume gathering! We are grateful.

The official government requirements for meeting border on the absurd. We are obliged to book ahead. As we arrive a friendly greeter stands at the door offering, not a handshake, but a generous dollop of hand sanitizer. I reluctantly don my disposable mask, knowing I may not enter without it. The floor is marked with directional arrows to ensure "social distancing." We are shown a map of the seating arrangement and choose our socially distanced seats.

As the service begins we are reminded that those of us in attendance may not sing with the prerecorded worship music, but must confine ourselves to meditating on the words as they are displayed on the screen. I find myself singing beneath the mask. If I don't sing, surely the rocks will cry out!

The scene is strangely redolent of a poorly written pantomime. The reluctantly masked actors are silent.  Suddenly, out of nowhere, I am CONSUMED with a perfect storm of GRIEF and OUTRAGE!  Where is the Church Militant? Where are the soldiers of the Cross? I want to stand up and scream:

*What has happened to the Church?
*When did we allow the enemy to consume us with fear?
*When did our allegiance shift from our Captain to the unwitting
servants of that cunning conniver, the devil of hell?

  The Bride has been bound and gagged
And we are worshiping the devil by default!

In his book "Worship As David Lived It" Judson Cornwall reminds us that:

FEAR AND FAITH
ARE EXACTLY THE SAME ENERGY
RUNNING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS.

Faith says, "I believe God."
Fear say, "I believe the enemy."

In August of 1527 the Bubonic Plague reached the small village of Wittenberg, the home of Martin Luther. Eighteen villagers died in the first seventeen days of the plague. Luther, married with a small son and a pregnant wife was encouraged to flee. Luther was not immune to fear, but chose faith, remaining in the village throughout the plague to serve the people. He wrote the following in a letter to a friend:

"I am concerned about the delivery of my wife...but He who is mighty has done great things for me; and so the endurance of great things is required of me. May Christ, whom I have purely taught and confessed, be my Rock and my Fortress. Amen."

It is thought that he wrote "A Mighty Fortress," his best loved hymn during this time, After having recovered from the plague himself, Luther wrote that the desire to flee death is a "natural tendency." He also wrote that "No neighbor can live alongside another without risk to his safety, property, wife, or child..." LIFE IS RISKY!

Friends, let us choose FAITH over FEAR!
Perfect love CASTS OUT FEAR!
Jesus' resurrection has removed the sting of death and the grave's victory!
To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord!
Let us worship the Lord our God and serve HIM only!

Held captive in Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednago refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar's golden image, reserving their worship for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Their faith had them cast into a fiery furnace, but the Lord delivered them!

It is high time that we too take a stand, refusing to bow to the idol called Covid. Let us entrust ourselves in worshipful obedience to the Lord. He is perfectly sovereign and GOOD in ALL His ways! We are precious in His sight and we have been bought by the blood of the Lamb!
He is WORTHY of our praise!

"Oh Church Arise and put your armour on
Hear the call of Christ our Captain
For now the weak can say that they are strong
In the strength that God has given
With shield of faith and belt of truth
We'll stand against the devil's lies
An army bold whose battle cry is love
Reaching out to those in darkness!"
(by Keith Getty)

Soli Deo Gloria!

2 Comments

<<Previous

Return of the Robin

Beware the Mark

On Guard!!!

Thanksgiving

Ready or Not!

From the Frying Pan Into the Fire

The Pinnacle of Prideful Rebellion

Cracked Pots

Gorse

Rise Up!

Anne Reitzug

Archives

Categories