02-26 - Ro-13 Jn-6,7

N.Testament & Prophecy Advanced CU Study, verses paraphrased [ ] references { } thots

 • Romans 13:9-14  John 6:52-7:1 and  ACTS 17:15-34

           ☀️ Romans 13:9-14

9 - The commandments, “Don’t commit adultery, don’t murder, don’t steal, don’t covet,” and any other commandment, is summed up in this — “Love your neighbor {fellow person} as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to another. Therefore - love is the fulfilling of the law.

     11 And you know the day, that it’s late, and an hour to wake from sleep. For we’re nearer now to salvation than when we first believed! {At the Lord’s return, those who are his, dead and alive, will “put on perfection and {thus} immortality”, Heb.11:40. No more entropy toward death.}

     12 The night is far spent! And a new day is at hand. {Both spiritually speaking, aNd, literally, as 70 CE was not far off, and a new spiritual age, the years of our Lord, AD. was beginning, Rev.6:1-2.}

     So then! Let us cast off all works of darkness, and “put on” the armor of Light. 13 Let us walk properly as in daylight, and not in {pagan rites of} orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. {Not in accusation, slander, division.} 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision to gratify the flesh {the lower selfish and contrary nature}. {We, the world and its fashions and allures can put on sheep’s clothing? And some can even believe their own masquerade.. Others can be up to no good. It’s why God prophesied to Eve, the man/stronger would rule woman (for quite some time and still in some places and cases). In this ‘dimension’ called “Imperfect”.. well, history is a very sad commentary to it. We should always pray for peace.. Everywhere. And be peacemakers because love is the fruit God loves! And division is the siren call to armageddons, large and small? Is.24:20, Rev.10:4; Ps.91,46,23, Rev.7:15-17.}

            🌙 John 6:52-7:1

52 - The people were questioning and saying to one another, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat!” 53 So Jesus said, “Truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you!” {A spiritual, yet very real partaking, yet there were ancient abysmal practices of humanity, especially during the hands off, pre-flood age?} 

     54 “Whoever feeds on my flesh (Ps.1) and drinks my blood/life has enduring life, and I will raise them up on the last day. 55 For this is true food, and true drink. [“I am the vine, you are the branches” ..that will bear fruit if succored and “abiding on the vine”, the true vine.] 56 “Whoever feeds on me and drinks of me, abides in me, and I in them.

     57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, this means whoever feeds upon me, will also live. 58 For this is the bread {for you} come down from heaven, not like the bread (manna) the fathers ate” (during wandering years in the desert under Moses) “and later they died. But whoever feeds on this bread, will live into the age [aion].” 59 Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.

     60 But when many heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying! Who can bear it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing it, said, “Do you take offense at this? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?

     63 It’s the Spirit{/Presence of God} that GIVES life. The flesh {and relying on self?} is no help at all. The words that I’m speaking to you are spirit and Life. 64 But there are some of you who don’t believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who would believe and who wouldn’t, and knew who would betray him.

     65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father grants it.” 66 After this many turned back and no longer walked with him. {Interesting #’s Jn.6:66.}

     67 Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter said, “Lord, to whom would we go?! You have the words of enduring life! 69 We believe, and we know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

     70 Jesus said, “Did I not choose you twelve, yet one of you is a devil?” 71 He was speaking of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, though one of the twelve, was going to betray him.

     7 After this Jesus went about in Galilee, and not in Judea, because the leaders were seeking how they might have him killed.

           

Tomorrows verses, 02/27

Romans 14:1-7. Matthew 15:21-39

Start the day with a Psalm (jan 1-20, feb-20’s, mar-30’s, apr-40’s, etc. dec-120-150)

have a great day! ☀️🕊️

01-06 - 2 Cor-11 Jn-3

🗝️s New Testament & Bible prophecy study, verses paraphrased [ ] references { } thots

 • 2 Corinthians 11:1-9  John 3:1-12

            ☀️ 2 Corinthians 11:1-9

1 - I hope you will bear with me (Paul) in a little foolishness! 2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you! For I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. {🗝️to Rev.14:4; 7:9,4; and also key to God being a “jealous God”, which is a - good - thing!} 3 But I’m fearful that as the serpent {seraphim?} [ophis - snake; symbolizing deceit, danger, and evil; serpent] deceived Eve by his cunning, that your thinking will be led astray from the sincere and pure devotion to Christ!

     4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaim, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you first received, or if you accept a different gospel {different message} from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough! 5 Let me say {foolishly} that I consider I am not in the least inferior to these ‘superior apostles’ {claiming levels and assigning theirselves as on a higher level than the others is no sign of maturity or superiority}. 6 Even if I were unskilled in my words, I am not so in knowledge. Indeed, we have made this plain to you in many ways and in all things.

     7 Or do I commit a sin in humbling myself so you might be lifted up in your spirit? Or because I preached and taught God's message to you free of charge? 8 I accepted from other churches in order to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and was in need, I didn’t burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. So I didn’t burden you and will continue to not burden you in any way.

            🌙 John 3:1-12

1 - Now there was a man of the Pharisee party whose name was Nicodemus, a leader and ruler of the Jews. 2 He came out to see Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you’re a teacher come from God. For no one can do these signs, that you’ve been doing, unless God is with him.”

     3 Jesus answered, “Truly, I tell you, unless someone is born again they can’t see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said, “How can a person be born when they’re old? Can they enter a second time into their mother's womb to be born again?”

     5 Jesus said, “Unless one is born of water {natural birth from the womb} aNd, of the Spirit {of God, his Presence} they can’t enter into the kingdom of God. 6 Because what is produced by flesh/matter is flesh/matter {that which is mortal is mortal} and that which is produced of the Spirit is spirit.

     7 Don’t wonder that I said, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where the wind blows, and you hear the sound of it, but you don’t know exactly where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone having been born of the Spirit.”

     9 Nicodemus said, “How can this be?” 10 Jesus answered, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you don’t understand? 11 Truly, I tell you, what’s known is what someone will speak. And what someone sees,  is what they’ll bear witness to. But my witness/testimony isn’t received.

     12 If I’ve told you the earthly and you don’t believe me, how will you believe if I tell you the heavenly?”

           

Tomorrows verses, 01/07 

2 Corinthians 11:10-29  John 3:13-24

Start the day with a Psalm (jan 1-20, feb-20’s, mar-30’s, apr-40’s, etc. dec-120-150)

have a great day! ☀️🕊️

12-25 - 2 Corinthians 5 1-9

🗝️’s to riddles, N.T. in a yr study, verses paraphrased Logic [ ] references { } thots

☀️ 1 - For we know that if the tent [skénos - tent, tabernacle, dwelling, from skéné - tent, hut] {made of hides} our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building/edifice [oikodomé - building, ediface, structure] from God, a better tent not built with human hands. {Real. And “not artificial” - note from biblehub.} One that is enduring. 2 And in this we groan, longing to be clothed from heaven, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found unclothed. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed! So that what is mortal may be annulled by Life! 5 And he who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. [Galatians 4:6 - “God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, ‘Abba, Father.’” Romans 8:15 - “you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” Ephesians 1:13,14 - “..having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the guarantee [arrabón - pledge, down payment, guarantee] of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it..” [Hebrews 10:36 - “be patient, in order to do the will of God and receive what he promises.” 2 Corinthians 1:20 - “For all the promises of God find their yes in him. That’s why it’s through him that we utter our Amen to God..”]

     6 Always of good courage, we know while at home in the body, we’re away from {the full union with} the Lord, 7 for now we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the {mortal/entropic} body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

Tomorrows verses - 2 Corinthians 5:10-21

12-21 - 2 Corinthians 3 1-11

🗝️’s to riddles, N.T. in a yr study, verses paraphrased Logic [ ] references { } thots

☀️ 1 - Do we begin again having to prove ourselves? (To those criticizing him and his teaching/message.) Do we need now, as some do, letters of recommendation?

     2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation! Written on our hearts to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you’re a letter from Christ, written not with ink but with the Spirit {Presence} of the living God. Not on tablets of stone, but upon human hearts. 4 And such is the confidence we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we’re sufficient in ourselves! As if anything is coming from us! No, our sufficiency is from God. 6 He has enabled us to be servants/attendants of a new covenant, one not of the letter. {Not of rules and “earning”, but you know how human nature loves rules.. usually for others.} It instead, is of the Spirit. For the letter kills. {Fails, utterly, aka hopeless, imperfect/the law of entropy doesn’t reverse course, what it is, ultimately, to be “under” this law, of “sin and death” / of “hamartia - missing the mark” and entropy/death.} But the Spirit GIVES life. {Highest Law.}

     7 Now, if the ministry (or covenant) {revelation} of death, carved in letters upon stone {stony hearts} came with such radiance that the Israelite tribes couldn’t look upon Moses' face because of its brightness, and (all the while) it was intended to be temporary, 8 won’t the ministry and covenant {and revelation} of the Spirit have even more glory and radiance? {It being then, since GIVEN, is a promise, dependent upon God who is perfect. And is a ‘legal’ binding Promise. From God who is “almighty”/ all powerful.} 9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation {explaining the law and the ‘charge’ - like, if you jump off this tall building you will hit the ground with a thump} how much more, the ministry of righteousness must fAr exceed it in glory! {And power and might. Radiance.}

     10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to not have glory after all, because of the glory that surpasses it. {Was one side of the story. “The day that you take of it you shall surely die my children” - God is Life, and “is perfect”, Mt.5:48. No option to stray in Eden would be an Ant Farm? But to stray is to be imperfect… thus this one and done imperfection/entropy, a slow gehenna “not put out.. a worm that doesn’t quit”. And therefore “God is savior of all” 1Tim.4:10. Having “subjected all” to this, Ro.11:32. Christ Crucified is strong enough to appease eveRy conscience and convince eveRy psyche, and he has been made king of kings and lord of lords forever - of all, and of all things. Father and Son, the only straight out from God one.. The First/Proto (and prototype?) are so close both administer God’s Spirit/Presence. The same as will saturate and “seal” angel, man and all creation. Instead of Ant Farm, the dis-ease as part of the cure.. which leads to?} 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, how much more glory - shall what is permanent - have!

Tomorrows verses - 2 Corinthians 3:12-18

Start the day with a Psalm (jan 1-20, feb-20’s, mar-30’s, apr-40’s, etc. dec-120-150)

Have a great day! ☀️🕊️

{…10-4 came to mind, rev.10:4, usually is accompanied with Isaiah 24:20, but ..🤔 The literal has the spiritual ‘partner’. Aka, there’s no metaphor without the literal (lol). So are there “seven thunders” that are spiritual? That “make their voices heard”? Oh I’d bet on it!}

Hebrews 1 5-9

 a paraphrased ‘enter the story’

 🍃🕊️  reading & study  🕊️🍃

06/09 ~ From New Testament Letters

   (In the Order Believed Written)

5 - For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I’ve begotten you”? {Only straight out from God one.. forever “Firstborn of creation”. Whereas mankind and before mankind, angelkind are created/formed beings.. endowed with genuine thinking and reasoning ability.}

     Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”? 6 And again {later} when he brought the firstborn into the world, he said, “Let all God's angels worship him.” (Angel worship was going on. A trend/spirit. We have many different trends today, both okd and new.) 7 Of the angels he said, “He makes his angels winds, his servants a flame of fire.” 8 But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is age to age, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You love righteousness and hate wickedness, therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness and exultation beyond your companions [métoxos - (those who are your) fellow(s), partaker(s); from metexo - share in, meta - change afterwards, and mexo - have —properly change due to sharing, i.e. from being an active partaker with].” ..{To love righteousness/rightness/justice and hate wicked-ness, grows friuit - of gladness, joy, happiness, contentment; root and foundation being in friendship with Father and Son.. They are so close both administer God’s Spirit/Presence, same as will “seal” and saturate humanity and creation. The Son is vastly superior to the angels, and to all. The first, greek proto. The prototype. “We shall be like him” but he is forever first. “All of heaven and all of earth” are being “gathered into Him” Eph.1:10. After which, when fully completed, will be the “the regenesis, the “palin/again-genesis, fiery, of Rev.21:1-5. Last mention, out of 3, of a lake of fire, at a very large fiery event.}

                          ~ * ~

🗝️ [  ] - word/language insights, usually from biblehub dot com - peering through translator partial unbelief; cross references, etc.

      {  } - thots

Tomorrows verses - Hebrews 1:10-14

My own studies, had to paraphrase to post..

Start the day with a Psalm (jan 1-20, feb-20’s, mar-30’s, apr-40’s, etc. dec-120-150)

Jude 1 14-19

 a paraphrased ‘enter the story’

 🍃🕊️  reading & study  🕊️🍃

06/06 ~ From New Testament Letters

   (In the Order Believed Written)

14 - It was also about this that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes amidst myriads of his holy ones, 15 to work/cause justice upon all. To convince the ungodly concerning all the works of ungodliness impiously done and concerning the severe things the ungodly have spoken against him.” 16 Such are the grumblers, malcontents, following their own lusts, they are loud boasters, causing wonder to gain advantage.

     17 But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus, 18 how they said, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.”19 It is these who cause divisions. They are worldly, devoid of the Spirit{/Presence of God}.

                          ~ * ~

🗝️ [  ] - word/language insights, usually from biblehub dot com - peering through translator partial unbelief; cross references, etc.

      {  } - thots

Tomorrows verses - Jude 1:20-25

My own studies, had to paraphrase to post..

Start the day with a Psalm (jan 1-20, feb-20’s, mar-30’s, apr-40’s, etc. dec-120-150)

Oct-16 From Lk-20 Gal-5

 🕊️ A paraphrased NT scripture study

   (sometimes w/ commentary) 

  [and original language insight]

         📜🍞+🍷🕊️(+Logic)

Today’s GospeL Verses ~ Luke 20:27-40

27 - There also came to Jesus some Sadducees, who deny there is a resurrection. (And deny also spirits/souls or angels, so were total materialists, the other extreme of human inherent immortality, aka immortal soul/greek psyche - we have a psyche but “there is only One who is immortal”. Enduring life is through the Son into reconciliation with the Father/Life who “is Perfect” and Incorrupt. Full union at one of two vivifications, will mean no more entropy/slow gehenna fade/crucible. Vivification either at Mt.13:30 as Rev.16:13-16; oR at Rev.21:5 when “death dies”.) 28 And they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses gave us a law that if a man dies, leaving a wife but no children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will carry on the brother’s name. 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died without children. 30 And the second, 31 and the third wed her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. 32 Afterward the woman also died. 33 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife.”

       34 And Jesus said to them, “The sons and daughters of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are considered worthy to share in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons and daughters of God, and of the resurrection. 37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.” 39 Then some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” 40 For they no longer dared to ask him any question. [Rev.20:5 - “This is the first resurrection. The rest of the dead do not come back-to-life until the thousand years are ended.”]

         - - - - - - - - - - - -

From New Testament Letters

     (In the Order Believed Written)

                ~ Galatians 5:16-21 ~

16 - So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t gratify the lower desires.17 For the desires of the flesh/carnality are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against carnality, for these are opposed to each other, so we cannot do what the lower nature may want. 18 But if we are “led by” the Spirit (of God), we do not need to be “under” the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I have before, that those who do such things are not able to inherit/enter the kingdom of God. (While in that state.)

                       ~*~

🗝️ [  ] - word/language insights, usually from biblehub dot com, and facts, cross references, etc.      (  ) - thots

Tomorrow’s Verses:

Mark 12:28-34

Galatians 5:22-26

Acts & Rev - weekly

Recently Jonah, Daniel

psalms - jan-1-19 / feb-2o's / mar-3o's / apr-4o's / may-5o's / jun-6o's / jul-7o's / aug-8o's / sep-9o's / oct-100-110 / nov-11o's / dec-12o-15o ..the psalms are very prophetical in an overview sense.

⛲️ Is.11:7 - The lion will eat straw like the ox!

Humanity and creation will be sealed with God’s Spirit/Presence. This is logic, for is anything else possible? For surely(?) God is Life.

11-10 𝔉𝔯𝔬𝔪 Lk-22 1Cor.7

     𝓓aily 𝓖ospel \/erses ✨

          Luke 22:17-23

17 Jesus took a cup of wine in his hands, gave thanks to God, and said to the disciples, “Take this and pass it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you I will not drink from the fruit of the vine again, until the kingdom of God has come.” 19 He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it, broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance [anamnésis - from anamimnḗskō - to bring to mind, deliberate recollection, self-prompted recollection including as a memorial, in memory] of me.”

       (daily 📜🍞➕🍷🕊️)

Here at the monastery (member one, lol) we strive to “keep sabbath”/Quiet time with God’s Spirit/Presence and the scripture - and the Lord Jesus is there too - in the morning for as long as possible. With an afternoon and an evening “moments” for prayer, thanksgiving, reading, listening ..the modern “sacrifices”. This is a formula! Very good for healing, and will keep our ship on course - 3x4 - 3 times daily within God’s wondrous 4 seasons, a schedule the Lord gave me many years ago ..I was sitting on a bench ‘here at the monastery’ under some plum trees and grape vines..

     20 Then after supper he took another cup of wine in his hands, and said, “This cup is the new covenant which is sealed by my blood, and is being poured out for you.” [A blood oath. A promise sealed in blood. There is no stronger oath. How can we not “believe”? And thus “receive”.]

     21 “But behold, the hand of he who betrays me, is with me at the table. ..22 The Son of Man will go as it has been determined and decreed. But what sorrow is awaiting the one who betrays him.” (Imagine what sorrow! What heart wrenching remorse. Including much later, which will seem like but a moment, when then in the bright radiance of God and Jesus’ presence.] 23 And the disciples began to question among theirselves which of them would do such a thing. (The one “who kept the money bag”.)                   

       🌙☀️🌲🪐🕊️💫

From New Testament Letters

          (In Order Written)

   ~ 1 Corinthians 7:32-40 ~

The Corinthian believers had written to Paul with certain questions about marriage. His response continued —  I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried person is concerned with the Lord’s works, how they can best please the Lord. And how to best be devoted to him in both life and spirit. But the married person is anxious about worldly things, how to please the other (32-34). 35 I am only saying this for your own benefit. Not to restrict you! But that you may have undivided devotion to the Lord. 36 But if someone thinks they are not behaving properly toward their betrothed (engaged) and passions are strong, they should marry. It is no sin. 37 But if they have decided firmly in their heart not to marry, and there be no urgency and able to control the passions, they do well not to marry. [“Especially considering the late hour” Israel and the age was at.] 38 So the person who marries does well, and the person who doesn’t marry does even better. 39 They are bound to each other as long as they live. But if one dies, they are free to marry again, to another who belongs to the Lord. 40 But in my opinion it would be better to stay single. And I think I am giving you counsel from God’s Spirit/Presence when I say this. (In his prophecy, Jesus had said to pray their fleeing was not in winter, and woe to those with child or nursing little ones.)

                       ~*~

🗝️ [  ] - 𝕃𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕦𝕒𝕘𝕖 𝕚𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤

      𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝒷𝒾𝒷𝓁𝑒𝒽𝓊𝒷 𝒹𝑜𝓉 𝒸𝑜𝓂 𝓉𝑜𝑜𝓁𝓈

      (  ) - 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤

𝒯𝑜𝓂𝑜𝓇𝓇𝑜𝓌’𝓈 𝒱𝑒𝓇𝓈𝑒𝓈:

John 13:1-20

1 Corinthians 8:1-8

                 ✔️= posted

𝒜𝒸𝓉𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓌𝑒𝑒𝓀, 15:22-41

𝑅𝑒𝓋/𝒜𝓅𝑜𝒸 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓌𝑒𝑒𝓀, 16:8-16

𝒫𝓇𝑜𝓅𝒽𝑒𝓉𝓈 - Isaiah part 1, 2, 3,4 ✔️

                🗞️📜

Never Give In To A Bully

Concerning words.. And debate. One of the surest signs that you are the more accurate in a dialogue is when the other side displays a sort of bullying attitude. Instead of presenting points which support their view, the tactic is to belittle another's view. To intimidate.

Condescension is a close relative to this.

"Be gentle with all.. with a mild spirit.. forgiving one another.. pray for those who despitefully use you.."

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)

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..

Goofy Account Of My Morning

I had such a funny morning this morning. It was morning Quiet time and I was feeling very blessed. (I've been out of sorts lately and the Lord has been straightening me out. Thank Goodness.) So I was just sittin' there reading and contemplating, etc, feeling very wealthy. (I'm very rich in the people I know and get to go through life with! We're second only to the Lord in this, don't you know!!)
- I heard such great preaching (messages) on the radio the other day when I ran to town for weekly errands.. One being "the Seal of God on our heart, which, as we know, is the down payment and ``pledge`` of what shall be and all that is to come.. the Seal (loving thumbprint?) of the LORD on our heart-which cries 'my Father!' ..The Spirit being in our life proves we are His and all that brings" and the other message on Philippian's verses "rejoice in the Lord always! ..And again! I say rejoice! - It had been midnight, Paul and Silas were in jail (chained in jail) after having been beaten, and they were singing joyful songs to the LORD, when the earth shook and all the doors and chains of the jail opened.. the jailer and all his house was saved/believed, and it was to these folks/this 'church' the teacher on the radio said, who Paul wrote these words to: rejoice in the Lord always! And again - he said - rejoice!"
- So there I was this morning, in my recliner watching the birds eat out the window, with the cat all comfy beside me on the footrest part of the recliner, when I noticed the big spread wings of a bigger bird, or rather one wing, was all I saw of the bird. One of the big birds which fly higher.. and of course I thought of the "birds of midheaven" in the Book of Revelation. After a few moments I saw the top of the pine tree rustle. I had been looking, trying to see where the bird, likely a 'turkey buzzard' had gone. Although it's possible it was a hawk, but the color looked pretty dark. (I'm going to google 'turkey buzzard'. They have to have another name than that!)
- I can't help it, whenever I see a deer or other wild animal, or a big bird soaring, I always think of it as a 'hello' from 'above'. And I had just been particularly blessed.. Felt like I could almost see the peaceful stream of God's peaceful and joyful Spirit, the Holy Ghost (I love to call it!) His presence like a fountain of light and rich love, or stream from 'above' which fills us. I wanted to get up for a moment, but the cat was just so comfy! But it was right then she decided to try to sneak into my lap, don't you know, so I decided to get up. I was closing the footrest very slowly, giving Tipper a chance to get down, but even so, when I closed it, there she was with her tail softly trapped in the fold of the footrest. She looked at me like "what!" so I laughed, upon which the dog, big ole black lab, jumped up with a snarly bark, ready for whatever. Well now, the dog and cat are mortal enemies. (Tipper's not too friendly even after they've been living in this place together for three years or more now.) So she's very paranoid right about then! But we avoided calamity. I released the cat and she ran behind the other recliner and the dog laid back down after I laughed at him and told him too. (By this time Tipper knew I hadn't for some reason deliberately trapped her.. yes, we had that pet/person eye to eye thing going on and had reached an understanding.)
- Okay, so it's not as exciting as a blockbuster movie or anything, but I thought it was kind of kool and a bit funny ..and I've been neglecting this blog a bit lately.. (Have a Good day!:)

Is The Bible And Bible Prophecy Literal?

2 Timothy 2:15
Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Ephesians 6:17
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Hebrews 11:3
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
2 Peter 3:5
For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
1 John 2:14
I have written to you... ..because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.
Revelation 6:4 (NKJ) "..a fiery red horse.. granted to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword" (Greek word "mega" sword, and fiery-red, Greek word "purros", from root word "pur").

The New Covenant

Contemporary English Version (CEV)
Hebrews 10:39-11:2,6
"...We will keep on having faith until we are saved.. Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see. It was their faith that made our ancestors pleasing to God... without faith no one can please God. We must believe that God is real and that he rewards everyone who searches for him."
Hebrews 10:19,20
"My friends, the blood of Jesus gives us courage to enter the most holy place, by a new way that leads to life! And this way takes us through the curtain that is Christ himself."
Hebrews 6:18-20
"God cannot tell lies! And so his promises and vows are two things that can never be changed. We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us. This hope is like a firm and steady anchor for our souls. In fact, hope reaches behind the curtain and into the most holy place. Jesus has gone there ahead of us, and he is our high priest forever, just like Melchizedek."
New King James Version (NKJV)
Hebrews 4:16
"Let Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Hebrews 3:14
"For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.."
Hebrews 3:14
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
"We were sure about Christ when we first became his people. So let’s hold tightly to our faith until the end.."
Colossians 1:27
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
"..to whom God did will to make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this secret among the nations -- which is Christ in you, the hope of the glory,"
Colossians 1:27
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
"God did this because he wanted you to understand his wonderful and glorious mystery. And the mystery is that Christ lives in you, and he is your hope of sharing in God’s glory."
Ephesians 1:13,14,19,20
Young's Literal Translation (YLT) - Amplified Bible (AMP) - (YLT) - (NKJV)
"..in whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth -- the good news of your salvation -- in whom also having believed, ye were sealed** with the Holy Spirit of the promise, That [Spirit] is the guarantee of our inheritance [the firstfruits, the pledge and foretaste, the down payment on our heritage], in anticipation of its full redemption and our acquiring [complete] possession of it—to the praise of His glory".. (it is) "...the exceeding greatness of His power to us who are believing, according to the working of the power of His might, which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead." (Same Spirit which rose Jesus from the grave, is at work in us - "enter His rest" (Hebrews 4:1&11) "recieve the promise" (Galatians 3:14)
**the "seal" and "proof/guarantee" = "because you [really] are His, God has sent the [Holy] Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba Father!" - Galatians 4:6, Amplified Bible (AMP)