Amanuensis

 Mark 7:36-37 Jesus told the crowd not to tell anyone, but the more he told them not to, the more they spread the news. They were completely amazed and said again and again, “Everything he does is wonderful. He even makes the deaf to hear and gives speech to those who cannot speak.”

Notice how when I am among the people and they see my miracles, they love me. They are amazed at me and they spread the word about me amongst themselves. Yet, not long after, they all cry out for me to be hung. They approve and watch me being tortured. They stand and allow me to be nailed to a cross. Why? What is it that happens? Why are you so fickle? So easily swayed? So eager to accept lies? How can you justify denying what you have seen with your own eyes in order to accept the lies of those who would control you? Is this not what surrounds you today? Those who will not see what is right in front of them, but will accept and celebrate the lies of the enemy? And, further, even promote those lies and harm those who do not agree? They have fallen under the spell of the enemy. Do not allow yourself to fall prey to this. Do not allow them to sway you. Stand firm. Be kind, be loving, be forgiving, but do not ever align yourself with these lies and this evil. You are to be a light in that darkness, not a part of it. (2022)

Leviticus 18:21 Do not permit any of your children to be offered as a sacrifice to Molech, for you must not bring shame on the name of your God. I am the Lord.  

Everything evil in your world today can be seen as sacrifice to Molech – whether physical, emotional or spiritual. If it is not of me, it is of your enemy.  When you abandon your children to the ways of your world, you are sacrificing them just as much as if you were throwing them physically into Molech’s furnace. They are consumed with the fire of evil just as if they were physically burning. Their minds and hearts and souls are sacrificed to this enemy. And you are standing by allowing it to happen – even more egregious still, you tell yourselves you are being good parents while it is happening. Shame on you. (2022)

Leviticus 18:1-3 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. I am the Lord your God. So do not act like the people in Egypt, where you used to live, or like the people of Canaan, where I am taking you. You must not imitate their way of life.”

Do you imitate the culture surrounding you? Do you read their books, listen to their music, watch their movies? Or do you avoid all of that, knowing that it sullies your soul, it interrupts your connection to me and to each other? It is impossible to avoid every evil thing in your society today. It is impossible not to see things inadvertently that I would not have you see. It is impossible to avoid the evil that is perpetrated by everyday people. But, you have the choice. Do you focus on it, or move on immediately? Whatever you invite in becomes part of you. It colors every part of your life – your thoughts, your feelings, your attitudes, your words, your actions. Nothing that comes into contact with you is innocuous. So choose. What will you invite in? What is of me or what is of your world? What will you close the door to? What will you consciously avoid? Remember, nothing is innocuous. Everything has an effect on our lives. (2022)

Mark 5:25-35 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

Do you not believe I knew who had touched my robe? I knew, but the crowd and my disciples did not. Only the woman seeking my healing and I knew. I asked so that she would speak up and admit that she had touched my robe. Her faith and trust – that by merely touching my garment she would be healed – was important for others to see. Her faith and trust were an example. And my healing of her without focusing on her was an example. Both needed to be seen by the people. Were they moved? Not for long, as immediately after when told the religious leader’s child had died, they did not believe I could do anything to help. So little faith, even when I am right in front of them doing miracles. (2022)

Mark 2:1-12 And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” 

It is your sin that kills, not physical illness. It is your sin that robs you of relationship with me. That is all that is important. That is what this is all about. You sin, you repent, I forgive you and we are restored. Would I rather you did not sin? Of course, yet I know you. I know my children are weak. I know you are imperfect. And I know your hearts. I know what is truly in your heart. So, I am always ready and willing to take you back. Just do not allow anyone or anything to tell you that cannot or will not happen. I will always take you back if your heart is correct. Always. Forever. (2022)

Luke 12:11-12 “And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.” 

I hear you my child. I will provide all you need to do my will. I will provide the words. I will provide the wisdom. I will provide the way for my word to go forth from you to the world. I will use you mightily, but it will come at a cost. It will cost you further the relationships you still have. You will know further isolation, you will know direct attack from your enemy and those who follow him. But, you have been training for this. You have learned how to fight off spiritual attacks in your home. You have learned to bury yourself in me and my word until the attack has to end. Do not forget all that you have done and all that I have provided already. I will not abandon you in any way. I will be here, guiding you in every way, and protecting that which is truly important, your immortal soul. I love you child. I know you feel alone, that there is no one who loves you since you lost your mother, but that is not true. I love you. That will never end, nor can any human match that love. It is larger than you can measure, deeper than you can imagine, and eternal. Rest in that. Seek me, don’t worry about people. (2021)

Psalm 78:1-31

Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children,
that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God. The Ephraimites, armed with the bow, turned back on the day of battle. They did not keep God’s covenant, but refused to walk according to his law. They forgot his works and the wonders that he had shown them. In the sight of their fathers he performed wonders in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan. He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap. In the daytime he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a fiery light. He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep. He made streams come out of the rock and caused waters to flow down like rivers. Yet they sinned still more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert. They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved. They spoke against God, saying, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness? He struck the rock so that water gushed out and streams overflowed. Can he also give bread or provide meat for his people?” Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of wrath; a fire was kindled against Jacob; his anger rose against Israel, because they did not believe in God and did not trust his saving power. Yet he commanded the skies above and opened the doors of heaven, and he rained down on them manna to eat and gave them the grain of heaven. Man ate of the bread of the angels; he sent them food in abundance. He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens, and by his power he led out the south wind; he rained meat on them like dust, winged birds like the sand of the seas; he let them fall in the midst of their camp, all around their dwellings. And they ate and were well filled, for he gave them what they craved. But before they had satisfied their craving, while the food was still in their mouths, the anger of God rose against them, and he killed the strongest of them and laid low the young men of Israel.

Your world is where it is because you stopped teaching your children about me. You stopped telling them about what I have done for my children. You stopped teaching them about me. Why would any of them seek me or obey me? So, do not wonder why your world is in darkness, surrounded by evil. This is why.  (2021)

Deuteronomy 30:11-18  “This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you to understand, and it is not beyond your reach. It is not kept in heaven, so distant you must ask, ‘Who will go up to heaven and bring it down so we can hear it and obey?’ It is not kept beyond the sea, so far away that you must ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to bring it to us so we can hear it and obey?’ No, the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it. Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy. But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods, then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed.” 

The choice is and has always been yours. My decision is and has always been the same – to bless those who keep covenant with me. Not perfectly. You cannot and will not do so. But, I see your heart. I know if your desire is to keep my covenant or try to obtain my blessing while worshipping other things. (2021)

Mark 11:8-10 Many in the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others spread leafy branches they had cut in the fields. Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David! Praise God in highest heaven!”

You are astounded that, mere hours before I am betrayed, tortured and put to death, the people all love me. Yet, that is what my children do. I was given a procession fit for a king. I was cheered and lauded. Then, mere hours later, I was abandoned and traded for a violent prisoner. My children are fickle. You vacillate from one thing to another. You are tossed about as a boat in a storm. You are swayed by public opinion, by “science,” by politicians, by the media. You swear allegiance to one thing, then jump to another. You are not able to commit to something then stand by that commitment. Like marriages that crumble when one or both of you is unhappy. Like jobs that are tossed when they get tough. Parenting gets difficult so you throw electronic devices at your child, all while posting pictures and telling tales of the greatness of parenthood. You must have the newer, shinier, more exciting version of everything. You are easily “bored” and are constantly seeking excitement and stimulation. Stop. Plant yourself. Firmly. What do you believe? Whom do you trust? What do you stand for?  What will you not tolerate? Who do you want to be? Learn to be still. Learn to actually evaluate what you believe, why you believe in it, what you will do to defend it. Stop acting as highly excitable children. You are so easily manipulated when you live that way. And that is evident in the current state of your world. Turn off the outside world and develop your inner world. Develop your relationship with me. Develop your relationships with those you love. If you do not actually love them, set them free. If you are incapable of loving anyone other than yourself, face that reality and seek my help to change. You should only seek my voice, my opinion, my Truth. You should accept what you learn from me, and institute everything you learn into your lives. Think about it. I am constant. I never change. I never move. My Truth is, always has been and always will be the only Truth.  You are surrounded by fickle, feckless humans. Which is a reliable source of information for life life-me- me or them? You have been living your lives based upon the opinions, the “facts and knowledge,” the narratives provided by imperfect, selfish, self-seeking beings. Why? How is it working out? Where do you actually need to go? Whose opinion actually matters? When will you begin to see life as an eternal journey, not just a temporal journey that you allow to be governed by your feelings and desires? Those are fleeting. They change. They do not stand the test of eternity. Why do you spend your lives following them? (2022)

Deuteronomy 29:1 “These are the terms of the covenant the Lord commanded Moses to make with the Israelites while they were in the land of Moab, in addition to the covenant he had made with them at Mount Sinai.” 29:9 “Therefore, obey the terms of this covenant so that you will prosper in everything you do.”

When a covenant is made between two people, there are terms for both parties. In my covenants, I promise to protect and prosper my people. My people, in order to be in compliance with the covenant, must comply with my terms – obedience to my Word. So often, my children expect me to bless them, to protect them, to guide them, to be their God while not obeying me, nor getting to know me, or even spending any time with me, outside of an occasional church service. Then, when things don’t go their way, they are mad at me. But, covenants require specific behavior from both parties. My children need to be reminded of that. (2021)