Amanuensis

1 Chronicles 22:6-10 Then David sent for his son Solomon and instructed him to build a Temple for the Lord, the God of Israel. “My son, I wanted to build a Temple to honor the name of the Lord my God,” David told him. “But the Lord said to me, ‘You have killed many men in the battles you have fought. And since you have shed so much blood in my sight, you will not be the one to build a Temple to honor my name. But you will have a son who will be a man of peace. I will give him peace with his enemies in all the surrounding lands. His name will be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel during his reign. He is the one who will build a Temple to honor my name. He will be my son and I will be his father. And I will secure the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’”

Do you not see? I do not always allow my children to do what they want to do – even for Me. David wanted to build My Temple. Yet, I chose his son Solomon to be the one for that task. Does that mean I loved Solomon more than I loved David? Of course not, Child. It means that David was not chosen to do that one task. It means that Solomon was the better choice to do that one task. Was David disappointed that he was not chosen to build the Temple? Probably. But note his reaction. He immediately moved forward gathering the materials for the day when his son Solomon would build. When his son Solomon would be overseeing the creation of the first Temple. David immediately accepted my decision and began to implement my plans. He found a way to be helpful in the task assigned to Solomon. He found a way to quietly serve his son. He worked humbly toward the day when his son would gain the recognition of having built the magnificent Temple. And he found contentment in that service. Will you be like David? When I do not give you assignments that you wish to have, when you are not recognized and placed in positions you want, will you quietly accept my decision and then come behind and help those I have chosen? Can you humble yourself and be a background worker? Can you put your pride and hurt away and know that, if I have chosen another, it does not mean I love that person more than I love you? Can you trust that when I choose, it is the best choice? 

Acts 28:7-10 Near the shore where we landed was an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and treated us kindly for three days. As it happened, Publius’s father was ill with fever and dysentery. Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands on him, he healed him. Then all the other sick people on the island came and were healed. As a result we were showered with honors, and when the time came to sail, people supplied us with everything we would need for the trip.

Shipwrecked. On a foreign island. Yet, I had everything arranged. They were given housing. They were fed for three days. They were welcomed and cared for. While there, Paul healed many of illnesses. And the people were grateful. And in that gratitude they opened their hearts and made sure that Paul and all that had been shipwrecked with him were given everything they needed to continue their journey when the storms had passed. Do you not see? They had lost everything in the storm. All provisions. All belongings. The ship itself. Yet, I arranged this island stay so that they would be safe and they would be provided all they needed to continue the journey I had for Paul. Had I promised such abundance? No. I promised safety and provision. And what was Paul’s attitude through it all? Did he lose confidence in Me? Did he lose hope? Did he fall into despair and despondance? No. He trusted. He knew it would all work out. And as it was in process, he continued to do My will. He showed others who I am. He healed the sick. He walked uprightly and honorably. He was a strong ambassador, a faithful representative. Be Paul. Trust. Continue to do My will. Walk uprightly and honorably. Be solid in your faith in Me. Because, Child, I am always solid in keeping My promises to you. 

1 Chronicles 9:1 The people of Judah were exiled to Babylon because they were unfaithful to the Lord.

You read this and it really does not sink in. They were captured – physically – and removed from their land. They were exiled to a foreign land where I was not honored. This seems to be just something that happened to them, but not today to you. But do you not see, Child. It happens today. To you and all of yours. No, you are not physically removed from your home, uprooted from your land and planted in a foreign land. But you are exiled when you are unfaithful. You are exiled in place. You are given over to your sin. To your desires. To your addictions and compulsions and all that is sin. Your exile takes place in the spiritual realm. You are exiled from my presence, from my nearness. 

Romans 1:21-23 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. 

You see this all around you today. You wonder how so many of your fellow man can be so deluded, so convinced of lies, so incapable of recognizing Truth. You are astounded at the fervor with which they defend irrational beliefs. Yet, you forget the most important factor in all of it: they do not know Me. They do not have a relationship with Me. The refuse to believe in and trust Me. So, they have only the enemy to depend upon. They draw their beliefs, their “truth” from the father of lies. They construct a “religion” based upon what they are led to believe: that there is no God, that the creation that surrounds them has no Creator, that there are no mores or rules of standards for behavior – it can all be based upon their whims and desires and impulses. There is no logical thought where there is no acknowledgement of the Creator of the human brain. There is no moral behavior where there is no code of morality given by the One True God. There is no order where there is no acknowledgement of the One who gave the Universe order. Outside of Me, none of that is possible – not for more than a mere instant. So, absent Me, they create their own systems. Their own beliefs. Their own morals. Their own codes of behavior. And none of it is consistent, logical or based upon objective reality or objective Truth. It is all relative and subjective and based on fleeting emotions. That is why you see the narrative shift in an instant. That is why you see no substantial gains in anything of worth. And the gods they create, the idols they worship today are no longer concrete versions of animals or birds or people- their idols are “belief systems”. Equity. Being your best self. Seeking and increasing the inner divine. Being one with God – coequals. God is love and love is God. Cherrypicking what to believe in Scripture and ignoring what is inconvenient or convicting. Love is love. There is no sin. There is no Hell. And it continues to evolve – or devolve. As the rejection of Me and My Word and Truth increase in your world – so do darkness and evil increase. You see how they do not even try to hide what they are doing any more. It will only worsen unless there is a revival among your people. Stand firm, Child. Look up, not around. And proclaim Me wherever you go. You have been chosen for this time. I will equip you. 

Acts 27:22, 41, 43-44 “But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down.” … But they hit a shoal and ran the ship aground too soon. The bow of the ship stuck fast, while the stern was repeatedly smashed by the force of the waves and began to break apart….. Then he ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and make for land. The others held onto planks or debris from the broken ship. So everyone escaped safely to shore. 

I promised Paul that everyone would survive the storm. And they all did. But, they did not just float happily in the ship to the nearest beach. No, the ship ran aground, was battered into pieces and everyone was overboard, making their way as best they could to dry ground. It was not pretty. It was not easy. It was a struggle – a struggle for survival. But survive they did. Each and every one of them, just as I promised. See, Child. I keep My promises. But My promises do not always come wrapped up with a bow. The journey is often tiring, difficult, a struggle. Sometimes it is such a struggle you do not see how you can make it. But, I have promised. And if I have promised, you will come out of it all not only ok, but better for the journey. Breathe. I have not gone away. No, things are not “better” yet. But they are fine. Your bills are paid. You have food and transportation when you need it. Others are stepping up and offering you help. You are learning to allow them to help. My promises are often delivered by the people around you. You have been on your own for so long, you do not know how to allow others in to help you.  You have been mistreated and taken advantage of by so many that you do not trust others to see your needs, your pain, you weaknesses. You are learning that I have given you a new family, a set of people that you can trust, that will not take advantage of your current weakness to do you harm. Keep allowing yourself to trust those that I have given you as friends and family. I am in this. I have chosen them. Remember what you learned many years ago: not allowing others to help is cutting them off from the blessings I have for them. You know how much your heart and soul are fed when you minister to others. Allow others to minister to you and, in doing so, position them to receive those same blessings from Me. Your solitude has not allowed you to participate in the reciprocity of human life – as I designed it to be. If you wish to be a blessing to others, you must allow them to be a blessing to you. It does not work as I meant it to any other way. 

Romans 1:6-7  And you are included among those Gentiles who have ben called to belong to Jesus Christ. I am writing to all of you in Rome who are loved by God and are called to be his own holy people. 

Yes, you. Thousands of years after Paul wrote this, I say he wrote it to you, also. You are loved by Me. You are called to be My own holy Child. Yes, you. Stop doubting. Stop questioning. Accept and live in that acceptance. Accept that Truth and stop allowing your doubts to get in My way. I love you. Look over the trajectory of your life. Make note of when and where I demonstrated – blatantly demonstrated – in such a way that you could not deny it – places where I demonstrated My love for you. Reflect carefully. You will see Me in so many instances, so many circumstances, so many happenings in your life. Times when you should have suffered irreversible harm – even death. Times when your spirit was so crushed it should not have survived – let alone revived. Times when your heart was rendered dust and yet I have put it back together. Stronger. More able to love. Reflect. Remember. Rejoice. And repent of your unbelief. I love you. No more. No less. Simple, timeless, boundless fact. My love is for you. Whether you truly believe it or not. But, Child, wait until you see what is possible when you truly, 100%, undeniably, unshakably believe that My love for you is real. Your life will not ever be the same. 

2 Kings 8:1-6 Elisha had told the woman whose son he had brought back to life, “Take your family and move to some other place, for the Lord has called for a famine on Israel that will last for seven years.” So the woman did as the man of God instructed. She took her family and settled in the land of the Philistines for seven years. After the famine ended she returned from the land of the Philistines, and she went to see the king about getting back her house and land. As she came in, the king was talking with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God. The king had just said, “Tell me some stories about the great things Elisha has done.” And Gehazi was telling the king about the time Elisha had brought a boy back to life. At that very moment, the mother of the boy walked in to make her appeal to the king about her house and land. “Look, my lord the king!” Gehazi exclaimed. “Here is the woman now, and this is her son—the very one Elisha brought back to life!” “Is this true?” the king asked her. And she told him the story. So he directed one of his officials to see that everything she had lost was restored to her, including the value of any crops that had been harvested during her absence.

The Shunamite Woman. Do you not see how I blessed her? First, she is gifted the son she had always desired, through Elisha. Then, when that very son dies, I brought him back to life through Elisha. Then, Elisha saves her and her family by telling her to leave her home because of a coming famine. And then, when she returns, she walks into a conversation about how Elisha had helped her and in that conversation with the King, I have the King restore to her all of her land and possessions, which she had walked away from for the duration of the famine. Life given. Life restored. Life protected. Life provided for. All of these things for this one woman. Why would I not do the same for you? Your life was a fragile gift to your parents. They had lost two babies by miscarriage prior to your arrival. Later, your life was saved when you tore out those stitches and almost bled to death. Also a number of times where you were in peril of your life being taken – either by accident or at the hands of evil men. Your fortunes were restored after your divorce. They will be again. Can you not see the parallels? Do you not see My love for you? Dig deep, My beloved Child. Dig deep. Do not allow the lies in your head and heart to overcome what you know – I LOVE YOU. I AM FOR YOU. I know your pain and see your tears and hear the cries of your heart. I am not blind to them or deaf to them. I am moved and grieve with you. Ride it out. It will prove to be for the benefit of you, and all that you will touch later. Look to Me. Do not look inside or around. All of that is lies and darkness. Look to Me. Breathe in – pneuma. Keep talking to Me. Keep listening to hear Me. I know it is hard right now. You have been taken advantage of yet again. But I will take care of it all. Just keep grieving, purging, and letting go. The only thing that you need in your hands is space for Me. 

2 Kings 4:18-25 One day when her child was older, he went out to help his father, who was working with the harvesters. Suddenly he cried out, “My head hurts! My head hurts!” His father said to one of the servants, “Carry him home to his mother.” So the servant took him home, and his mother held him on her lap. But around noontime he died. She carried him up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, then shut the door and left him there. She sent a message to her husband: “Send one of the servants and a donkey so that I can hurry to the man of God and come right back.” “Why go today?” he asked. “It is neither a new moon festival nor a Sabbath.” But she said, “It will be all right.” So she saddled the donkey and said to the servant, “Hurry! Don’t slow down unless I tell you to.” As she approached the man of God at Mount Carmel, Elisha saw her in the distance. He said to Gehazi, “Look, the woman from Shunem is coming. 

When the Shunamite’s only son died, she did not weep or wail or advertise the occurrence. She quietly asked for a donkey to be prepared for her to go to Elisha. She did not even tell her husband that their child lie dead up on Elisha’s bed. She trusted. She knew she would have her son back. She knew Elisha would help her, as he had always done. She knew I would help her, through Elisha. Do you have this kind of faith? Can you handle what is going on in your world without talking about it? Do you have faith that I will provide a new car for you? Do you have faith that I will heal the nerve damage in your leg/hip/back? Do you have faith I will help you clean up the mess you have on the property and in your life? Do you have quiet, silent faith? Can you walk forward, day by day, in silence before Me, with Me, relying solely upon Me? Can you be emotionally and spiritually strong enough, mature enough, trusting enough to just abide in Me, quietly, and allow Me to work? Or do you need to talk about it? Constantly replay it? Involve others in it? What can they do? What do they add to the equation? Who is it you really need? Your “donkey” is prayer.  Your “donkey” is trust. Your “donkey” is faith. Can you walk forward in quiet assurance that I am here? That I hear you? That I will provide for you? That I love you – even though right now you are not capable of loving yourself – that I love you so much I will do all you need for you? Just because you are My Child? Am I really enough for you? Or am I just another add-on? You must decide. It all rests upon that. 

1 Chronicles 5:20 They cried out to God during the battle, and He answered their prayer because they trusted in Him. 

It really is that simple. Cry out to Me. I hear you. I know your heart. I know your desires, your hurts, your grievances, your needs. I love you and I want what is best for you. Always. In all things. But, Child, can you say you have that simple faith? Do you trust Me? Do you just trust? In all things? In all circumstances? After all is said and done – that is the issue. Do you trust Me? That is the door that opens My ability to act. Faith. Trust. Belief. Knowledge that I am who I say I am and that I do what I promise to do. That I love you. Always. With a love that does not depend upon what you do. Or who you are. Or what you say. That love is constant, eternal. Open your heart and accept it. Lay down your arms and allow Me in. Break down those walls and let Me enter. Wholly and completely lay your heart bare to Me. I will not break it as others have. I will not walk away as others have. I will not betray you as others have. I will not willingly inflict harm and pain as others have. I know you have been shattered by the evil done you. I know you have been torn apart over and over again. But, that was not done by Me. That was not condoned by Me. And though it was allowed to happen, I did not leave your side during any of it. Even when you were unable to sense My presence, I was there. Carrying you. Loving you. Working on your healing. Strengthening you. Giving you the supernatural ability to lift your head, get up and walk on. In the pain. In spite of the pain. In the damage. In spite of the damage. I’ve always been with you in it and will always be with you in it. Trust that. 

1 Kings 20:41-43 Then the prophet quickly pulled the bandage from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. The prophet said to him, “This is what the Lord says: Because you have spared the man I said must be destroyed, now you must die in his place, and your people will die instead of his people.” So the king of Israel went home to Samaria angry and sullen.

 Ahab disobeyed me when I told him to destroy all of his enemies, including Ben-hadad. When he was told that his disobedience would cost him and his men their lives, he was “angry and sullen.” He chose to disobey, I chose to bring a consequence. And so it often is in your life. You make decisions and do not like the consequences. Instead of seeking my face to see if you have sinned, if you have been directly disobedient, you sulk and feel sorry for yourself. Dry your eyes. Wash your face. Clean up, dress nicely and walk in the light. You sin. I allow consequences. Then you have a choice: act like a petulant child or learn the lesson and move on in gratitude and My love and light. But remember that if you choose self-pity and sadness, your life sinks into that mire and I can’t reach you. If you choose to lift your eyes to Me, all will be well with you. Whatever your outer circumstances. Every thing, every word, every thought, every decision, every attitude, every moment is a spiritual decision. How will you decide? I will help you when you choose the right pathway. I will distance myself when you do not. But, Child, I never go away. I am always near and ready to walk beside you, to come alongside and strengthen and guide you, to help you. But a bad attitude closes that door somewhat.