THOSE PESKY INVADERS Part Two

Did you know there are highly invasive weeds whose mission in life is to be the only weed?

It seems most unfortunate, but throughout human history, there have been human beings who seem to have the same code imprinted upon them! And has made itself seen ever since Cain slew Abel. (A good reason to keep government powers in check, we always say.)

As I mentioned earlier, the community of "Inner-Monastery" (me, myself and I) began our annual scouting of he grounds for invaders of the vegetative kind. This always makes us think about certain truisms of life - like keeping the weeds of life in check. Don't let them grow huge.. nor take deep root!

After lengthy discussion, interspersed with a bit of debate, we decided to ascend to the ramparts and see if we could spot signs of encroaching invasion from on high.

I forgot the binoculars of course, being of an age of increasing forgetfulness. It was left up to Me to run back down and get them. After that it took us no time at all to spy a healthy crop nestling in the back corner.

So out we went armed with gloves, long sleeves and various gardening utensils and that old standby, the trusty shovel, ready to wage war against the most invasive culprit. We were later very happy for the long sleeves, having been reminded by Myself, as we were traversing the front hall toward the out of doors, how a few years back we had neglected this simple precaution, and came across a virulent case of wild rose menacing the blackberry bushes, and had to make the long trek back indoors to arm ourselves with long sleeves before risking life and limb to carry out our assault upon these hostile counterfeits. We slew dragons that day!! Yes, it's best to catch these ones early too! Very early!

After this days work we had to reflect upon the possible futility of our efforts, for looking up from our land clearing we noticed in the distance, the farmer who owns a field nearby, had many Garlic Mustard flower blooms blowing in the breeze! If these are allowed to seed, we will have to carry out our assault anew...

THOSE PESKY INVADERS Part One

Yesterday, one of our first warm Spring days of the year, the community of "Inner-Monastery" (that unruly bunch, me, myself and I) began our venture outside to scout the grounds for any of those 'malevolent' weeds we like to keep ahead of. At the top of our list, of course, were those weeds if left alone and allowed to multiply, will be very fruitful indeed! Until you will see them absolutely everywhere!

This is the varmint (highly invasive plant) we set off to find:

Garlic Mustard (Alliaria Petiolata)

                        ...To be continued..

Comparing Leaf To Leaf

So many people think that God is a myth. But if you really look at the so-called science of man's popular theory, there are a whole lot of loose ends.

If the second most held law of science, "the Second Law of Science", is the Law of Entropy, which means all matter is falling apart, how did matter do the exact opposite and improve to a level so much higher, namely life?

Some evolutionary scientists have answered that by saying "well, the sun entered the system long enough to suspend the Law of Entropy, we can see all plants and trees, etc. utilizing sunlight this way and improving/growing".

But, good fellows, (say the non evolutionary scientists) pluck a leaf off the tree, give it 24 to 48 hours, then compare it to a leaf still attached to the tree. In other words, as long as it is living and "alive" it can make use of sunlight to grow and make improvements. But when it is not alive, it cannot do this, indeed it burns up. This is why farmers and gardeners put their compost pile in the sunlight. Besides, how did the "system" come about in the first place, the highly organized, so perfectly balanced, it hangs on nothing, universe?

Crazy Man Prophet

In the age of the prophets, Elijah "prophet fed by ravens" was the first. It was roughly eighty somewhat years after the first kings, David and Solomon.

One day, frustrated with the times, Elijah took a hike (well, a sojourn, in the lingo of the day) to Mt. Horeb, where Moses, a long time ago, had met with God.

While he was there on the mountain, God went by as an earthquake, but then said "I'm not in the earthquake". And then He went by as a tempest, and said "I'm not in the tempest".

But then He came by as gentleness and stillness, and said "I'm in the quietness and the peace".

I read a blurb in an old book which said the Spirit of God was showing Elijah not to fret over the world because God's Spirit of peace and gentleness will one day fill the world and rule the universe.

Newest Addition

Mission Statement / End Times in Brief Story Form
so I can move on to other things more often..

Brief Summary of End Time Events

A quick summary of the 'landmarks' of latter day events (in hopes and faith they be recognized when they occur and bring someone to faith?)

(seems to me there's a great(er) deception coming, greater than what we've seen of it thus far (which i consider man's theory of origins w/o God, jes sayin')

..for innocents to get swept up into it, for most, will mean to drink it down to its final dregs..

The more informed, we, his own are, as to the landmarks along the way, the more opportunity to peacefully plant seeds of awareness of it(?)

In many opinions a large percentage of the Bible is given to warnings pertaining to 'end' time events [when man's (God-less) world comes crashing down around his ears].

The last and most imminent signs of course, are our Lord's words
"when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies" and,
"when you see the desolating abomination 'set-up' (spoken of by Daniel the prophet)"

But before then

1 - the pause put upon thermal-nuclear warfare will end; rev 7:1, this will be, in my opinion, the breaking of the 7th seal, followed by a shorter pause while the 7 trumpeters line up

2 - a world renowned peace treaty/accord/league made for one week of years by a strengthened (given breath) world body (Daniel 9:27 & Rev 13:3,4 original head of the world body)

3 - the treaty is first broken with Israel (Daniel 12:11) when their "daily sacrifice is taken away" Cross-Reference, MT 24:1,2 - Jesus said, "see all these things?" (the temple complex) "not ONE stone will be left one atop another" - When they take away the place in Israel where daily prayers, etc are made..?

4 - three Hebrew? years and seven months later (after #3) will be 'set-up' the abomination of desolation - Daniel 12:11

5 - "Happy the one who makes it to the 45 days later" - Daniel 12:12
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Outline of the Book of Revelation (a longer outline)
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Or in Story Form - MISSION

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Finding The Quietness

It's not always easy.. finding the Quietness.. but it is in "entering His rest" that the God filled life is fulfilled. Jesus said "the scriptures speak of Me". Jesus, is our rest. Not only does our faith "rest" in the "finished work of Jesus" (we are declared righteous and innocent, setting us free to grow in the Lord, He is the vine, we are the branches). But we rest - in Jesus Himself. "Let God do what seemeth Him good.." (Let God do..)

Reading about King David, while he was still just a shepherd, it says "the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David.." (1 Sam 16:13)

It takes the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost of God, to bring about in our lives the spirit of being an overcomer. As the world heads more and more towards, well, where it is rushing toward, it will require this Spirit all the more so. It's the key to the treasure! And it's the key to overcoming, and to the fruit of the Spirit maturing within us and within our life.

It's also "in His rest" that we most easily hear the still, small voice of God Almighty speaking. ("Be still. And know I am God." Psalm 46:10) And this is the rest which God's people enjoy. And all of us, like the psalmist says, thirst for this stream, as the deer thirsts for running water. Sometimes there are Goliaths in our way. And it's in this Rest of God that we can defeat them and vanquish them from off our path.

Joel prophesied a dark and smoky day.. Keeping with the spirit that the scripture is both literal and metaphor - having a spiritual meaning that lasts always.. As the days mature, the clouds of darkness and deception will become (surely?) thicker and thicker. Believers of the day will need to abide, live, tabernacle (often) in God's Rest, not just for peace and joy, but for survival and perception. (Of course our goal is to always abide in that rest.)

It's the mighty sWord of the LORD which cuts through all things, all clouds, darkness, and the untruth they rest upon. And it's the Spirit of God Almighty which opens our eyes and seals our forehead (to go along with the seal of God on our heart, which cries "abba, Father!" (2 Corinthians 1:22, Galatians 4:6, Ephesians 1:13,14).

"Let God do what seemeth Him good". (1 Samuel 3:18)
Jesus tells us, "my yoke is easy, my burden is light". (Matthew 11:30)

"The works were finished from the foundation of the world.. Let us therefor be diligent to enter that rest.. for we have a great High Priest.. ..therefor come boldly to the throne of peace.." (from Hebrews 4:3,11,14,16)

Bible Prophecy - Nebuchadnezzar's Dream Statue

The empires the statue represented, most historians agree, the gold, silver and bronze is Babylon, Media-PERSIA, and Greece.. The iron most believe is Rome, with towards the end, the ten toes (parallel in 'last' days to the ten kings of rev) are a blend of iron/western and clay/not western. (Daniel 2:24-44) [The Ottoman Empire, and the nations after it, being part of the clay. I believe all these others in latter days will be subdued by the iron type politics - senates, courts, architecture.. And that the Ottoman Empire was subdued/split into Saudi Arabia and Yemen by the modern iron/western organization of the League of Nations, forming much of the foundation of what is the Middle East today, and will be the Kings of the East (East of Jerusalem). And who will work closely with the 'last' days Roman/Greek world beast. (Rev 20:4b)]

The beast which Daniel later saw (7:7,19,20) is a cross-reference to the one at Rev 13:1 (ten horns). By this we find out that this beast has two of the metals of Nebuchadnezzar's dream statue, the iron and bronze. Rome and Greece (Graeco/Roman roots is how I learned it in school - the Roman/Greek as the foundations of western civilization; besides the Christian.)

Summary- Rev 13:1 - The big beast of Rev 13:1(-10) has "iron teeth" (iron columns) and "bronze claws" which it uses to "scatter/scrabble the residue" - the Greek based secularism of our day has changed and scattered/scrabbled western civilization (with its bronze claws).

This makes me think, there's a Roman/Greek foundation to the 'last' days world beast who will declare a treaty for a week, but the clay and the iron won't really mix.. it won't be real peace.. (won't endure, but wars and rumors of wars will flare up in the midst of, in challenging times until the last battle which takes place in the Middle East against Israel/Jerusalem.)

Three Things To Prepare For Part One

A  STORY (Rev 12)

A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman... being in labor to give birth..

[cross-ref - The Lord God then asked the woman, “What have you done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” And Jehovah God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed [art] thou above all cattle and every beast of the field: upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her-seed, He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” [Genesis 3:13-15]

[cross-ref - Therefore the Lord Himself gives you a sign, behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel, which means, “God with us”. [Isaiah 7:14]

...And there was seen another sign in the heaven, lo, a great red dragon.. stood before the woman to devour her Child as soon as it was born..

[cross-ref - When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi. [Matthew 2:16]

And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to shepherd all the nations with a rod of iron ..the son was caught up to God and His throne ..

[cross-ref  - And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus. [Matthew 1:21]

[cross-ref  - I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, "You are My Son, today I have begotten You, ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. Thou dost rule them with a sceptre of iron, As a vessel of a potter You shall shatter them like dishes of clay." [Psalm 2:7-9]

[cross-ref - The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek,” the Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. [Psalm 110:4,5]

[cross-ref - The Lord says to my Lord: "Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” [Psalm 110:1]

[cross-ref - So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. [Mark 16:19]

[cross-ref - In many parts, and many ways, God of old having spoken to the fathers in the prophets, in these last days did speak to us in a Son, heir of all things, through whom also He did make the ages.. ..when He had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. [Hebrews 1:1,3]

[cross-ref - Jesus said to him, “..hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” [Matthew 26:64]

[cross-ref - Then Stephen said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” [Acts 7:56]

[cross-ref - ..where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. [Colossians 3:1]

And the woman did flee to the wilderness #1. And there came war in the heaven; Michael and his messengers did war against the dragon, and the dragon did war, and his messengers, and they did not prevail, nor was their place found any more in the heaven; and the great dragon was cast forth -- the old serpent, who is called "Devil," and "the Adversary," who is leading astray the whole world -- he was cast forth to the earth, and his messengers were cast forth with him.. And he pursued and persecuted the woman who had given birth to a son..

[cross-ref - For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us.. [Isaiah 9:6]

[cross-ref? - ...tortured.. and others ...mockings and scourgings did receive trial.. and imprisonment.. sawn asunder, they were tried..  [Hebrews 11:35-37 w/ Rev 13:2]

...but she was given the two wings of the great eagle, so that she could fly (sail?) from the serpent into the wilderness, to her place #2, where she is nourished a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. Then from his mouth the serpent poured water like a river after the woman, to sweep her away with the flood, and the land did help the woman, and the land did open its mouth and did swallow up the river, that the dragon did cast forth out of his mouth.

[cross-ref - And as they led Him away, having taken hold on Simon, a certain Cyrenian, coming from the field, they put on him the cross, to bear it behind Jesus.. Jesus turned to the women and said: "Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, for, lo, days do come, in which they shall say, Happy the barren and.. to the mountains, fall on us, and to the hills, cover us; for if they do these things when the tree is green, what will be done in the dry?” (Joel's smoky day? aka, drought)  [Luke 23:26-31]

So the dragon was enraged and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, those keeping the commands of God, and having the testimony of Jesus (by now?)

[cross-ref - (Jesus' Lament over Jerusalem) - O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord'! [Matthew 23:37,39]

[cross-ref - ..the spirits of demons, doing signs -- which go forth to every king on earth, to bring them together for a war against God All-Powerful, to the battle of that great day of God the Almighty.. And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon. [Revelation 16:14,16]

Just One Thing

Sometimes I feel like the Lord taps me on the shoulder (metaphorically of course) and reminds me "it's the fruit of the Spirit I'm after.. my fruits of the Spirit in you, is all I want.."
- Lack of the fruit of the Spirit upon Earth is what lets the iron grow.. the hard stuff, the lack of human kindness things..

No More Death Nor Graves

COLOSSIANS 1:20 - "..through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven.."

JOHN 12:32 - (Jesus said) "If I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all to myself.."

1 TIMOTHY 4:10 - "God is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe."

1 CORINTHIANS 15:22 - "..as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive."

REVELATION 21:4,5 - "..God will wipe away all tears.. there shall be no more death.. Behold, I make all things new.."