Amanuensis

John 1:5 The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.

Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Ephesians 5:11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

Lord, we need you. I recognize that the pain and suffering I see around me is just going to increase. Help us, Lord. Protect the righteous. Strengthen your remnant. Give those of us who are so sensitive to the suffering of others the strength to walk on in these upcoming days. Lord, please help us to fight back. Help us to be brave and strong and involved in the battle before us, the battle for which you placed us here and now. Lord, guide us. Give us discernment. Give us skills. Give us fellowship. Lord, raise up your army. May I be a willing warrior and may I be so in tune to you that I know what my part is to play in all of this. Lord, it is so dark in our world today. Yet, your light remains, strong and steady, growing also. Let us do what it takes the feed the light and squelch the darkness. Help us to discern, to discard all that is associated with evil and darkness – especially those things we have grown accustomed to having, grown lazy in using, grown comfortable with – help us to reject it, and not only that, but to fight against it. Lord, we pray your Truth be supreme in all things, even when it means we are confronted with truth about ourselves that may necessitate change. Lord, as you promise in your Word, please bring all that is hidden into the light, that all may see and recognize it. Open eyes, Lord. Bring recognition and acceptance of the reality of our current world. It is only in this way that we can truly fight back. May we trust – may we know deep down in every fiber of our beings – that you are with us, your angelic warriors battle beside us, your Holy Spirit guides us, you strengthen us, you comfort us, you give us everything we need to be the people you created us to be. May we rest in that, may we draw strength and courage in that and may we never, never, never give any credence or inroads to the lies of the enemy. We love you, Lord.

1 Samuel 2:27-31 One day a man of God came to Eli and gave him this message from the Lord: “I revealed myself to your ancestors when the people of Israel were slaves in Egypt. I chose your ancestor Aaron from among all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer sacrifices on my altar, to burn incense, and to wear the priestly vest as he served me. And I assigned the sacrificial offerings to you priests. So why do you scorn my sacrifices and offerings? Why do you give your sons more honor than you give me – for you and they have become fat from the best offerings of my people Israel. Therefore, the Lord, the God of Israel says: I promised that your branch of the tribe of Levi would always be my priests. But I will honor those who honor me, and I will despise those who think lightly of me. The time is coming when I will put an end to your family, so it will no longer serve as my priests. All the members of your family will die before their time. None will reach old age.”

And so it is with so many who “serve” me in my Church. So many who think lightly of me, and yet so highly of themselves. Those who treat my Word lightly, who twist it and turn it and change it to serve their purposes. Those who have grown fat off my Word, off my children, who use and abuse their privilege as my representatives. Their time is coming to an end. I will not honor those who do not honor me – those who speak of me yet do not speak Truth. Those who purport to teach my Word, yet teach perversion. Those who grow fat and rich and powerful – those who only wish to accumulate what is considered valuable in this world system. I will not allow them, nor the institutions they represent, to continue much longer. You have left your first love. You have forgotten that it is a privilege – of the highest order – to be allowed to represent me and my Word. You have forgotten it is I who am God – not you. You have put yourself in my rightful place. You have allowed your mind to be polluted and perverted by your enemy. Repent. Return. There is no greater sin than to aspire to equality with me. And, changing even one of my Words reflects a desire to take my place, to be equal to me – if not even to overshadow me. Your enemy made that mistake – a mistake that has cost him everything – eternally. Will you continue to follow him? Or return while you have the chance.

1 Samuel 2:25 But Eli’s sons wouldn’t listen to their father, for the Lord was already planning to put them to death.

Sometimes you wonder why certain people can’t be reached. They have already been judged. They have been given every chance possible to change their ways, to move to another path, to be obedient to me. Yet they choose to remain in their sin. So, I allow them to have their way. I allow them to become their sin. I allow them to remain who they have chosen to be. And from that point on, there is no return. You saw that with M on the driveway that day so many years ago. He had everything. He chose sexual sin. Repeatedly. Consciously – chose the sin over a relationship with me. So I gave him what he demanded. And he remains lost. So it is with so many that surround you. So many that are the power-holders in your world. They will not change. I have given them over to their sin, to their worship of the enemy. And they will die in that sin. Learn from this. Every decision has consequences, and repeated, unrepentant sin has eternal consequences. 

Isaiah 43:18-19

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. “

Things in your world are changing – rapidly, daily (at times, even hour by hour). Nothing is as it was. Nor will it ever be again. Do not long for your “old life”. Do not grieve what was. Do not linger over what you want things to return to being. This is not your reality, this is no longer your life. What was is gone. What is – is – for now, but will continue to change. What does not change? I do not. That is all. Only I do not change. So wear the rest loosely. Cling to the only certainty there is (or ever has been) – that is I. Many of the changes you see, you experience, you are living within are not good. Many are evil. Do not despair. “I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” I AM doing a new thing. I WILL make a way for you, my children. I WILL provide your needs – rivers in the desert of your world, whether that be rivers of water, of provisions, of peace and joy, of comfort, of strength and courage – I WILL provide. Rest in that. Eyes up, child. And never let go of a childlike wonder and anticipation of what is to come, because though there may be more pain and suffering in the short-term, the long-term “new thing” that I am doing will be glorious. Anticipate that, even as you are enduring what comes before. It is what I have promised, and neither I nor my promises ever change or return void.

Jeremiah 17:7-8. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is in the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

These are my promises to you. Trust in me. I will care for you. I will provide for you. I will shade you, I will nurture you, I will water you. Trust in me and continue to bear fruit – your faith, your trust, your knowledge of my Word to share with others. This is what matters now. Time is coming closer to an end for your present world. Too many do not know me. Too many do not have faith in me. Too many belong to your enemy. Help them. That is what is important. I will take care of the peripheral issues – what you eat, what you wear, where you live. Do what you have to to maintain your physical life, but concentrate on your spiritual life – your relationship with me and your relationships with others. Whom will you serve? What will you stand for? What will you do with the time I have given you here? These are issues to be decided upon, then lived out. 

Ruth 2:17—22 So Ruth gathered barley there all day, and when she bet out the grain that evening, it filled an entire basket. She carried it back into town and showed it to her mother-in-law. Ruth also gave her the roasted grain that was left over from her meal. “Where did you gather all this grain today?” Naomi asked. “Where did you work? May the Lord bless the one who helped you!” So Ruth told her mother-in-law about the man in whose field she had worked. She said, “The man I worked with today is named Boaz.” “May the Lord bless him!” Naomi told her daughter-in-law. “He is showing his kindness to us as well as to your dead husband. That man is one of our closest relatives, one of our family redeemers.” Then Ruth said, “What’s more, Boaz even told me to come back and stay with his harvesters until the entire harvest is completed.” “Good!” Naomi exclaimed. “Do as he said, my daughter. Stay with his young women right through the whole harvest. You might be harassed in other fields, but you will be safe with him.”

Ruth was a stranger in her dead husband’s land. She was not one of my chosen children. Yet, I showed her kindness. I made sure she was able to gather all the grain she needed to live. I put her in a place where she would be safe from harm. I fed her, gave her to drink and in all ways provided for her. I appointed one of my children, Boaz, to be her kinsman redeemer – a privilege she was granted via marriage, not birth. And a marriage that was, technically, over since her husband had died. Ruth did not know me. Yet I took care of her. How much more so will I take care of you? Do you fear for what is ahead? So did Ruth when she lost her husband. Are you nervous by not knowing what is going to happen in your world? So was Ruth when she chose to leave everything and everyone she knew to go with her mother-in-law Naomi and be faithful to her. Can you be sure that you will have all you need to survive the coming days? Outside of me, no. But you know me. You have seen my faithfulness, my love, my protection, my care, my guidance – you have seen and personally experienced all of that for many years. Do not allow your enemy to distract you. Do not allow your enemy to sow doubt in your heart. Do not allow your enemy to take your eyes off of me. Yes, it is dark in your world. It is growing darker. Yes, things are evil. What is happening is unbelievable – you can not and do not understand how people can act as they are, how so many are so blind, how so many embrace darkness and evil deeds. Yet, here is your world. It is under the control, for the most part, of your enemy. But do not despair. I am aware. I am. Not surprised by any of it. I am not caught off guard. And I am still, at the core of it all, in control. But more importantly, right at his moment, you have much more control than you know or understand. I have given you all power. I have put this world, the evil surrounding you, your enemy – I have given you the power needed to take back your world. Trust that. Develop that. Create the armies that are needed to combat this evil. This is a spiritual battle, and you are perfectly equipped if you are a believer, if you have my Holy Spirit, if you have given your trust and life to me. Develop those gifts. They are key to saving what is left of your culture, your Nation, your world and – ultimately, mankind.

Luke 24:28-31, 41-42, 49 

(28-31) By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So he went home with them. As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared! 

(41-42) Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he ate it as they watched.

(49) “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” 

I will do what it takes to help you to see me, to believe in me – to have faith.  Remember what I did when I appeared to my disciples after my death and resurrection – I ate food to prove that the body that they saw was real – not that of a spirit or ghost.  I do not need to eat – I do not need a body nor clothing nor anything that you all need.  But I am willing to wear those things, to do those things that will help you to believe.  Look around you – I am working all the time in many ways that you do not take the time to see.  Look for me and you will see me everywhere.  I am all around you, all the time.  I am working to help you to see me in everything.  Open your spiritual eyes and your physical eyes will be opened.

Remember also that it is I that opens your mind to understand my Word.  You are not capable of understanding anything in my Word without my help.  It would be foolishness to you, as it is to all unbelievers.  So, do not become prideful about your wonderful intellectual and spiritual capabilities – your abilities come directly from me.  I decided to grant you these abilities.  I wish to use you.  Will you spend the time with me that I might teach you and you might reach others for me?  Your gifts have a price.  Will you pay?

Just as I had my followers stay in Jerusalem until I sent the Holy Spirit – so too you are to stay silent and do nothing without him.  Do not venture out in your own strength or knowledge.  Ask daily for the presence of the Spirit.  Until you are with him, you are not capable of doing my work.  Don’t try. (2003)

Judges 8:33-34  As soon as Gideon died, the Israelites prostituted themselves by worshiping the images of Baal, making Baal-berith their god. They forgot the Lord their God, who had rescued them from all their enemies surrounding them. 

Just as the Israelites, time and time again, turned their backs on me and worshipped other gods, so too you have been spending your time and energy worshipping the world. Your pride more than anything.   Though I love you, if you continue to spend your time and energy on things that do not matter, on things of no real eternal value, then you will reap what you sow.  Just as the Israelites were defeated by the armies surrounding them, so too are you defeated by those things around you – greed, gluttony, pride, arrogance, self-indulgence..this world is full of little gods – small armies that will crush you if you are not in me – wearing my full armor to ward off the attack and win the battles.  Stay by my side and I can protect you.  But this is your decision.  Remember, just as I always rose up to protect Israel when she was repentant – so too will I always be there for you when you seek me. (2003)

Leviticus 11:1-13:59 Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel.” …..

My people were given many rules by which to live.  Notice, though, they were not given lightly.  The rules you have read today were formed to keep people safe from outbreaks of infectious diseases.  It was necessary that they be examined, and if infectious, kept away from others.  There was no real hygiene then, as it exists today.  If someone were contagious, it was next to impossible to contain the illness.  Notice my laws.  They all made sense.  They were all given to protect my people.  So it is with what I desire of my people today.  Just because you are all under grace, does not mean that you do not need to obey me.  What is asked of you, what is required of you, is for your own safety.  Sex outside of marriage is not allowed because it leads to disease, unwanted pregnancy, the pain of adultery, the breakup of marriages, many many painful and destructive things.  I want you to stop smoking because smoking cigarettes destroys your body, which is a gift from me, and the temple of the Holy Spirit.  I ask you to spend time with me daily so that your focus can be taken off of yourself and this world, and onto eternal values and treasures.  Spending time with me is what centers you, what gives you peace, and what teaches you how to live.  Without that, you will be the person you were before you met me.  Tithing and generosity are required to remind you that you have nothing that does not come from and ultimately belong to me.  It gets you out of self-seeking and gives you my perspective  that riches are meant to be shared and to be used to further my kingdom.  You are to eat healthily and to exercise again to take care of your body, my temple.  Stop feeding on the things of this world.  Start feeding on my word, on time with me, and you will not need those other things as much.  You will come back into balance. (2003)

Exodus 28:1-4, 15, 29-30, 36-38   “Call for your brother, Aaron, and his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. Set them apart from the rest of the people of Israel so they may minister to me and be my priests. 2 Make sacred garments for Aaron that are glorious and beautiful. 3 Instruct all the skilled craftsmen whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom. Have them make garments for Aaron that will distinguish him as a priest set apart for my service. 4 These are the garments they are to make: a chestpiece, an ephod, a robe, a patterned tunic, a turban, and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother, Aaron, and his sons to wear when they serve me as priests…..  15 “Then, with great skill and care, make a chestpiece to be worn for seeking a decision from God…..   29 “In this way, Aaron will carry the names of the tribes of Israel on the sacred chestpiece over his heart when he goes into the Holy Place. This will be a continual reminder that he represents the people when he comes before the Lord. 30 Insert the Urim and Thummim into the sacred chestpiece so they will be carried over Aaron’s heart when he goes into the Lord’s presence. In this way, Aaron will always carry over his heart the objects used to determine the Lord’s will for his people whenever he goes in before the Lord….  36 “Next make a medallion of pure gold, and engrave it like a seal with these words: Holy to the lord. 37 Attach the medallion with a blue cord to the front of Aaron’s turban, where it must remain. 38 Aaron must wear it on his forehead so he may take on himself any guilt of the people of Israel when they consecrate their sacred offerings. He must always wear it on his forehead so the Lord will accept the people.

Aaron and all the priests that followed him were to wear special garments, garments that would set them apart from others, set apart for my service.  You, too, are to wear “special garments” – you are to put on the mind of Christ.  You are to wear a different way of living, a different way of thinking, a radically different way of relating to the world and to others.  People should be able to look at you and know that you are different, that you are Mine.  Your life, your words, your actions, your attitudes and beliefs – all should paint a picture of someone set apart from the regular, everyday people in the world.  Those who know me, who walk with me, should be able to look at you and recognize your relationship with me.  Those that do not know me, they should watch you in wonder.  Their opinion of you should be that you are different from most others they know – they should see peace and joy in you, strength in times of great trouble, wisdom in times of confusion and uncertainty, love in times of hatred and violence. They should see the qualities exemplified by Christ in His life.  They should look at you and want to know what it is that makes you what you are.  Those are the “special garments” I want you to wear.  Will you?

Just as I specifically instructed Moses in the construction of those special garments for my priests, so I instruct you specifically as to how you are to live.  Read my Word.  Listen to my voice.  Stop trying to figure it out.  I am telling you in many ways.  Watch those women who are mine, truly mine.  Do what they do. Ask questions, you really don’t know everything.  More than anything else, stay in constant communication with me.  Remember when you were doing that?  Your life, at that point, seemed to be falling apart in every way, however you were closer to me than ever before or since, and you had a deep-down peace that even you couldn’t understand or explain.  Don’t you want that back?  I know I want you to get back there. Talk to me. All day. About everything.  Others may have tired of listening to you.  I never do.

Notice where I placed the article of clothing that was used to determine My will – the chestpiece – close to the heart of the priest.  Give me your heart, all of it.  Speak to me from the heart.  Listen to me not only with your ears, but also with your heart.  And never forget that I am your lover, you are always in my heart.  Keep me in yours, also.

Notice that I am directing a medallion to go on the priest’s turban that reads “set apart as holy to the Lord”.  The medallion goes on the priest’s head — directing his thoughts.  So I would have your mind set apart to me.  Do your thoughts reflect your relationship to me?  Or better yet, do they reflect my love for you? (2003)