Amanuensis

Exodus 5:22-6:1 Then Moses went back to the Lord and protested, “Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people, Lord? Why did you send me? Ever since I came to Pharaoh as your spokesperson, he has been even more brutal to your people. And you have done nothing to rescue them!” Then the Lord told Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh. When he feels the force of my strong hand, he will let the people go. In fact, he will force them to leave his land!”

Do you see, Child? Did I get angry with Moses when he brought his complaint to me? Did I react in anger when he challenged why I was doing what I was doing? No. I understand. You do not know why I do what I do. You do not comprehend what I am thinking, you do not see the end result of My plans. You do not yet know that you can trust Me in all things, in every decision, in every action and every seeming inaction. You do not have My mind. Therefore, your partial ability to see, your partial ability to understand, your inability to see into the future cause you to react with emotions. I can take it when you ask Me why. I can take it when you are frustrated and do not understand. I can take it when you doubt because you have no way of seeing how I will unravel the messes, how I will redeem the seemingly irredeemable circumstances. I understand that you are limited in all of these things, therefore I am able to withstand the emotions you unleash upon Me. Your temporary emotional outbursts are not able to cancel out the state of your heart. I know your heart. I know you love Me. I know that deep down and as much as you are humanly capable, I know you trust Me. I know your heart. So when your emotions overwhelm you, I am ok with that. Bring them to Me. Trust Me with the emotions I gave you. Those emotions came from Me. I gave you emotions so that you could work through the trials and problems and celebrations and victories and all of those things you will experience in your temporal life. They are the valve on your pressure cooker of a life. They allow the steam to escape so that you do not explode or do irrevocable harm. It really is all ok. Your emotions will not cancel out My love nor My plans. Ever. To the contrary, they allow you to clean out your heart and mind when life overwhelms you in any way. If you keep them bottled up, if you keep them inside, the damage begins – damage that, if left to eat away at your heart and mind and soul could lead you away from Me. Process. Celebrate. Grieve. Talk to Me. But do not allow your emotions to rule your life. Give them to Me. I will deal with them. Then, allow me to strengthen and comfort you. Put on your amor and get back into the fray, just as Moses did. 

Genesis 39:19-20 Potiphar was furious when he heard his wife’s story about how Joseph had treated her. So he took Joseph and threw him into the prison where the king’s prisoners were held, and there he remained.

Does it trouble you that when you do what is right, things seem to get worse? Does it bother you that when you embark on a path that you believe is My will, you are attacked? Look at Joseph. The one thing Potiphar did not share with Joseph was his wife. And she tried to lure Joseph into having sex with her. But Joseph refused, knowing that it was wrong and a sin against Me and against his owner, Potiphar. So, she falsely accused him of attempting to rape her and he was thrown in prison. Unfair? Yes. A horrible outcome from obedience? Seemingly. But you know the end result. You know how this story ends, though Joseph did not. He ends up in Pharaoh’s household and as Pharaoh’s right hand. And in that position, he is able to save his family – the family that betrayed him and sold him into the Egyptians’ hands as a slave. Do not lose sight of how My plans may not seem to be just and right – yet they always are. My plans are not something you can understand at the outset or from the outside. But, they are My plans and as such they are perfect. Just trust. Stop trying to figure it all out and put your hands on things. I have it all under control and you can just be calm and listen for My voice to direct you in the things I would have you do. Trust, Child. It’s all good. 

Genesis 39: 2 The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master.

Do you see? You are fearful that your life will not count. You are fearful that all the evil around you and against you will make your life a waste. But, look Child, look at Joseph. He was his father’s favorite.  He had been given dreams that he would be a ruler, a powerful man. Yet here he finds himself a slave to Egyptians, in Egypt, far from his home and his family. Further, his father believes him to be dead, so there is no search for him. Yet, I did not abandon him. I did not forget him. I blessed everything he did – in captivity. I made him a success in the pit of slavery. I did not forget My plans for him. To the contrary, My plans for him included this period of slavery and captivity and powerlessness. Because – and do not miss this – even in his lowly, powerless state, he had choices. And he chose to continue to believe in and serve Me, the God of his fathers. You, also, have that choice. No matter the circumstances of your life. No matter the attacks from the enemy. No matter the damage that may be done to your finances, your ability to find work, your friendships, your family relationships, your health – whatever the damage to your earthly state – you have a choice. Continue to trust Me. Continue to have faith in Me. Continue to worship and obey Me. I have not forgotten you. Will you forget Me? 

Proverbs 3:21-26 My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them, for they will refresh your soul. They are like jewels on a necklace. They keep you safe on your way, and your feet will not stumble. You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly. You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap. 

Your world just keeps getting more and more twisted up and the lies and deceptions are stronger and thicker. Eyes on Me, Child. Remember what I have said here. Common sense and discernment are invaluable in your world today. And they will become less and less available and harder and harder to obtain. Do not let it slip. Eyes on Me, be in My Word, pray without ceasing and hang on to common sense. Much of what you hear, read, even see will be impossible to believe if you just stick to common sense and use your spiritual discernment at all times. I am here. I have not left you. I am just as available as I ever was. Do not let what is happening around you convince you of anything else. I am here. Right by your side. My Spirit is residing within you. Stay close. It is going to become more and more tempestuous. But I am in the tempest. Never forget that. 

Matthew 8:32-34 So the demons came out of the men and entered the pigs, and the whole herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water. The herdsmen fled to the nearby town, telling everyone what happened to the demon-possessed men. Then the entire town came out to meet Jesus, but they begged him to go away and leave them alone.

Is this you? Would you send Me away rather than give up your possessions in order to obtain My healing and My blessings? Do you value your “things”, your money, your business over what I bring? Is your comfort, your pleasure, your way of life more valuable than I? Decide, Child. I cannot place any of my blessings into hands that are already full. Empty your hands. Clear out the spaces in your heart that you have cluttered with temporal things and matters. Choose today whom you will serve. Do you want a life of service to empty idols that can bring nothing of eternal value? Or will you let go of all of that, ALL of it, and serve Me? Allow Me to change your life, to bring real value to your days, to inhabit all of the corners of your heart? I will not make that choice for you. You must choose, and then you must live out that choice daily. 

Genesis 16:11-14 And the angel also said, “You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael (which means ‘God hears’), for the Lord has heard your cry of distress. This son of yours will be a wild man, as untamed as a wild donkey! He will raise his fist against everyone, and everyone will be against him. Yes, he will live in open hostility against all his relatives.” Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?”

I hear all of your cries, Child. I see you. Always. I do not ignore you and will not abandon you. I am here, and it will all work out. Just trust.

Genesis 16:4-6 So Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant. But when Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to treat her mistress, Sarai, with contempt. Then Sarai said to Abram, “This is all your fault! I put my servant into your arms, but now that she’s pregnant she treats me with contempt. The Lord will show who’s wrong – you or me!” Abram replied, “Look, she is your servant, so deal with her as you see fit.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she finally ran away.

Do you see how convoluted and messed up your lives become when you take matters into your own hands? Do you see how when you do this it is a clear indication of the depth of your faith? Do you see how it points out the level of trust you have for Me? What a mess they made when Abram agreed to impregnate Hagar. Everything changed. Hagar became disrespectful of Sarai. Sarai became resentful and angry and bitter toward Hagar. She blamed Abram for Hagar’s attitude, even though it was she that insisted Abram have relations with Hagar. Abram retreated into weakness and told Sarai to do whatever she wanted to Hagar, so she took her anger and bitterness out on Hagar, driving her to run away while she was pregnant. The entire household was in a mess and everyone was angry, bitter and resentful. Though her attitude toward Sarai was not acceptable, the only real victim here was Hagar. She did not ask to be used as a surrogate. She did not ask to have sexual relations with Abram. She was a servant and did as she was told. Oh, what a mess. And it did not end there. It went on to become an eternal enmity between two peoples: the heirs of Ishmael and those of Isaac. All of history was changed by one act of disobedience and a lack of trust and faith in My promises. Do you have faith that I will keep my promises? Will you endure whatever is in your path while you wait for them to be fulfilled? Or will you take matters into your own hands and risk wreaking a lifetime of havoc? The choice is always yours. But do not lose sight of the potential damage that can be done by disobedience and impatience…….

Genesis 15:6 And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith. 

You are learning this lesson, Child. You are learning that I can be trusted. You are learning that I keep My Word. You are learning that I keep My promises. You are learning that I will not leave you, will not forsake you, will bless you and keep you safe. You are learning that no harm against you will stand. You are learning, deep down in the depths of your soul, that I am all you need, all you want, your all in all. Abram was old and he doubted he would ever have a child. He despaired that he would have no heirs. But, I repeated My promise and he chose to believe. He chose to believe. Again, let this sink in: it was his choice. You are seeing that it is your choice, also. Yes, much damage has been done to your finances and your property. Much damage has been done to your heart – all of this by your blood family, people whom you tried to help. I have seen it all. I have missed nothing – none of the evil done, none of the harm purposely inflicted, none of your grieving and anger and frustration and despair. I have missed none of it. My Word promises that I will stand by you if you are righteous and I will redeem all the damage done. Will you choose to believe? You are getting better at it. You are getting stronger than your thoughts and your enemy’s schemes and plots to derail you. You are getting more solid in your foundational beliefs. Stay the course, Child. Keep choosing to believe. Keep choosing to trust. Keep choosing to seek Me, seek My counsel, seek My direction. Keep listening to My Spirit residing within you. Keep choosing to honor Me above all earthly things. As I have said so many times before: Eyes on Me. Look up, not around you. Focus on Me, breathe through the pain and frustration and know that it is temporary – as all in your earthly world is. Temporary. What is important, what is vital, what matters – all of that is what is eternal. And all of that is tied to Me and what you choose to believe and trust. 

Genesis 13:10—13 Lot took a long look at the fertile plans of the Joradn Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the Lord or the beautiful land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) Lot chose for himself the whole Jordan Valley to the east of them. He went there with his flocks and servants and parted company with his uncle Abram. So Abram settled in the land of Canaan, and Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom and settled among the cities of the plain. But the people of this area were extremely wicked and constantly sinned against the Lord.

Notice that Lot made his decision completely based upon what would benefit him. Only him. No thought for the welfare of his uncle. He chose the best of the land so that his flocks would have food and water. He chose what would help increase his household and his wealth. No matter that his uncle had stepped up to take care of him after he lost his father. No matter that his uncle was making decisions – hard decisions – based upon what would be beneficial to them all. No, Lot’s thoughts were for Lot. And so he walked right into a very wicked, evil environment. He walked himself and his family right into spiritual and physical danger. His less than moral decisions led them into a morally bankrupt environment. Do not miss this. So often people are disappointed with the direction their lives take. Why? Do you not see that I honor your decisions? You cannot have it both ways: you cannot have free will and the ability to make decisions that not only affect your own life but those around you AND have Me clean up your messes as you go. I honor your decisions. Will I leave you hanging out there always? You know I do not. I also honor repentance and submission to My will. But, as Lot finds out, there are consequences to every decision and not all bad consequences are removed. 

Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Genesis 3:8-13 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” “Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?” The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied, “That’s why I ate it.”

Why are you surprised when people do not take responsibility for their actions? Why do you allow yourself to be disappointed or angry when those around you blame others for their decisions, when they lie to make themselves look good? It all started right here. Notice how quickly Adam blamed Eve – his helpmate, his soulmate, his partner – how he instantly blamed her for his own sin when asked if he had disobeyed Me. And, instantly thereafter, Eve blames the serpent. Did Eve share the fruit with Adam after she had eaten some? Yes. Did the serpent lie and manipulate Eve’s thinking in order to entice her to eat of the fruit? Yes. But, ultimately, each of them made their own decisions – making any blame or responsibility for the consequences their own. This is just another facet of the first and most egregious sin – pride. It was pride that caused your enemy to attempt to elevate himself to My stature and cost him everything. It was pride that caused Eve to listen to the serpent and eat of the only fruit forbidden to her – in an attempt to acquire the knowledge that only I had. And it was prideful self-seeking and self-preservation that caused both of them to lie about why they had sinned – throwing the blame on others. Do you not see that everything you see around you is not only not new? It is all from the beginnings of mankind’s existence. So, instead of being surprised or dismayed when you see this exhibited in others, look inward and make sure it is not manifest in your own behavior.