So, here's the point of all that writing I've done for the last three days: First off shun evil, don't hang out with it, I've written that before... but look, for real, here's the thing:
Don't get caught out in a lie the devil tells you, that has just enough truth in it, that you might not recognize it for the lie it is.  When he told Eve that God knew if Eve ate from the tree, it would make her like Him, the truth was there, Eve just couldn't recognize it.  What if Eve had simply said, "I'm already like Him."

Oh he would have just slinked off and thought up some other stupid lie... but the point is you have to KNOW that you know... who you ARE in Christ, and you've got to know God and recognize His nature.  See, any of us can get caught out, I'm not beating up on Eve, but God isn't petty and selfish... 1 Corinthians 13 describes His nature perfectly : ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  ⁸ Love never fails.

He does not dishonor others, and He is not self-seeking... He created us in His Image... to be like Him. 

Beware of the lies you are told, that are actually based on a truth in your life, but have a twist in them.  When the devil tells you you're nothing, he's right. Now what? I am nothing without God, but with God I can do all things... When it all seems so impossible and improbable, just focus on the last Word you know God gave you.  Stand on that word, even until it seems like insanity, stay on the Word that God gave you.  And don't get tricked... for someone today, this is really important, whatever you do, don't get tricked. The lie you're fighting does sound true, because it IS true, but the truth is twisted... its the worst kind of lie.  Just remember Eve... "He knows you will be like Him..." That's right you crafty old serpent, I AM fighting hell every day to be like Him.  Jesus died so that I CAN be like Him.

One more thought: In the KJV Genesis 3:1 starts like this:  ¹Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. Subtle... So slight as to be difficult to detect or describe; elusive. He was more subtle than all the rest.  Remember that.
Much love... Anita

We waste our lives. Literally, we spend our lives in such ignorant pursuits. We start out very young, shoving our kids out the door to school.  We must be EDUCATED so that we can chase after money and careers and houses and cars. We must reach a certain level of "success" so that...  well I'm not sure why we must reach it anymore. Now I’m not hating on getting an education… that’s not my point.  Stay with me here.

We don't want to be thought of as stupid, or ugly or poor. We want our existence acknowledged and respected.  We want our "rights" honored and we want dignity and decency and respect.  We are easily offended, by a tremendous number of things.  And we feel we have the right to express our outrage when we are offended in whatever ways we get offended. We love to have opinions. That one makes me laugh and we do not like it if others do not agree with our opinions. Wow.

But most of all, we are terrified of being... nothing. And more than that, we are terrified someone might see us as nothing. And its that deeply ingrained fear that motivates about 90% of our lives.  Look at our culture, billions of dollars spent on how we "look" to other people.  BILLIONS of dollars. Our culture of celebrity is astonishing... everyone wants to be famous, and now you don't even have to be talented, people are famous just for being famous. BILLIONS of dollars... wow. And you know what? You want to learn a big truth right here? It’s the enemy that feeds us that fear.  Its the enemy that likes us to feel "offended", its the enemy that wants us to waste our lives chasing after stuff instead of chasing after God. He's done a good job, hasn't he?

And he did it by making you afraid of your nothingness. Because here's the biggest truth of all... you ARE nothing. Just like the lie he told Eve in the garden...  "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman.  "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil...." (Genesis 3:4) Eve was ALREADY like God... she didn't have to 'become' that way.  You ARE nothing... without God.  And you know what? Its OK to be nothing, gives God plenty of room to make something.

But every day we must battle the lie the devil tells... the ones about failures and unreached goals and shortened expectations. We must battle the lies that we've not "reached" our potential and that someone some where might think we are not successful.  And if you ARE successful by the world's definition, well I hope you don't get entrapped by the lies that go along with that.  You're successful because you are smarter, or you tried harder or whatever other lie is told.  You are SOMEBODY, and you are IMPORTANT and people should notice that.  You dress better, or live better or drive better than someone else... OK.  Don't buy those lies either.  It might mean your fear of being nothing is bigger than someone else.

I found tremendous relief with the revelation that I was nothing.  All those expectations that had been heaped on me all my life fell away. According to God I was nothing and it was cool with Him. It was a big step in freedom, and yet I have to fight to stay free.  The devil still likes to try to make me think that being "nothing" is humiliating.  Once in a while he still tries to convince me that I am "less than" because I am a lowly maintenance person, I clean floors, and toilets and fix things that are broken.  Its not fancy, but it IS where God wants me. Oh, I don't always want to be where God wants me, and I have to remind myself that what matters is not what I think I want, but what I KNOW God wants.  When God wants something else, He'll let me know.  He always does.  Until then, according to the world, I'm kind of low on the totem pole, and most days, I'm cool with it. When I'm not, I know the One to
go see, because He can make it right again. And I just slide those lies back to the one who sends them, when he wants me to think I'm less than... I just smile and agree, he's right, I am less than... because in truth, I am nothing.  If you see something different than that... that's not me, that is my big God, making something... out of nothing.
Much love my friends....

Let's go back to the place where it all started, in the garden. There's Eve having a conversation with evil...which was the START of the mistake

OK? But here's the irony of what the evil said to Eve... When Eve told him they couldn't eat from the tree in the center of the garden or they

would die, he "explains" to her WHY God doesn't want her to eat from the tree.  Wow, this hit me like a freight train...

 

"You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman.  "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be

like God, knowing good and evil...." (Genesis 3:4)

 

Now here's the truth: SHE WAS ALREADY LIKE GOD!!!!!!!!!!! She was created by Him... from the man, created in His Image.  And we are to become more like God, laying our old nature down... so that we can be like Him.  Becoming a "new creature..." Do you know WHY we have to become "new"? DO YOU??????

 

Because, of that one lie.  Do you see how SUBTLE that is?  Do you see the depth of that evil?  Do you see if you do not KEEP YOUR EYES open how easy it is to be tricked?  "you will be like God..." She already was. And that is EXACTLY what we are called to now, only now its a struggle.  Because we struggle AGAINST our knowledge of evil... and our recognition of it.  Once we gained the knowledge of it, we were stuck with it.  And here's the thing, we gained the knowledge of it, but not an understanding of it.

 

I have to get up every single day and fight hell itself just to try to please God and be more like Him. Did you get that? EVERY DAY I have to deny my'self' fight the demons of hell so they will not trick me or trap me or enslavement with their horrible lies into being less than God wants of me. The Holy Spirit LIVES IN US... But we have to struggle and fight to let that Spirit show through instead of our own ugly natures. YES GOD WANTS US TO BE LIKE HIM... poor Eve, she didn't know and the devil tricked her, and enslaved the rest of us with one tiny simple subtle twist of words.

 

Do you realize that if you don't understand the forces at work around you, you can't discern one from the other? If you don't know God, if His voice isn't familiar to you, then you don't know the difference between His voice and evil's lies.  If you don't know God's word, then you can't tell when evil is twisting it, warping it and making something totally disconnected from God seem like something God would want.  We are tricked and trapped and lied to because we don't know... the Bible says "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge..."

 

He tells Eve that God doesn't want her to eat from the tree because then she will be like Him. That is enormous. What an amazing twist on the truth.

She was already LIKE Him...but she didn't know... And now we have to be born again... grow up through the baby stages of belief, learning who God is. Struggling to learn Him, and know Him. We have to LEARN how to live His life for us, we have to die every day to our "self" that God might abide in us, and work through us. And we STRUGGLE to please Him, when our very existence was pleasing to Him in the beginning. We have to learn of a love that is astounding in its purity and we have to have huge measures of grace and forgiveness to save us from our own destruction and even then most of us live enslaved, and entrapped by that one simple lie: "God knows when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God... knowing good and evil."

We are supposed to be striving to be like God and I can tell you this for certain... wow it would be SO MUCH EASIER if we didn't  have the burden of evil.

But we do...

was in a conversation the other day about God... not that unusual. The woman was saying she was in the process of reading some Old Testament, and wasn't enjoying it. She was in Leviticus and she remarked on how angry God seems throughout the old testament. She's not the first to make such an observation.  Many many of us have misunderstood God and His ways, some never gain understanding, and worse yet, some never even desire it.

Here's the thing: If you view God in the absence of evil, at best, God will seem petty, trite, controlling, unfair, unjust, contradictory and somewhat malevolent.  That would be at His best. Viewed in the absence of evil, at His worst, God will seem cold, manipulative, foolish, arrogant, angry, prone to tantrums, and cruel. Really, really cruel.

Not nice words huh? Can you deny it? Want to walk through the list?
Moses never entered the Promised Land after all his service to God because he hit the rock instead of speaking to it to bring water forth.
Saul got worried Samuel wasn't going to show up and did the sacrifice himself before a battle, cost him the kingdom. John the Baptist, from the womb, loyal... as soon as he finished his ministry of announcing Christ... got his head cut off.
Look at Mary, Jesus Mother.  Pregnant and unwed, in a time when she could have been stoned for that transgression because that's what GOD'S LAW SAID TO DO TO HER!!!!!

Paul, oh Paul... prison, beatings, death threats, ship wrecks... And Jesus... The Son.  Arrested, humiliated, beaten, then tortured to death. His OWN Son.

Wow, that's just a partial list, and God's people Israel... did they ever suffer for being God's people or what? They suffered from evil but it sure seemed like they suffered for being God’s people.

Even the 10 Commandments seem excessive...  If you view them in the absence of evil. That's the key here... When you view God without considering the evil of this world, then God appears almost "evil" doesn't He? Unreasonable. Unreachable. Unkind. Unconcerned. Uncaring.

But if you view God, and how He relates to us, and works to protect us... from evil, than His ways start to make a lot more sense.
Do not murder... what is the "fruit" of murder? Hatred, anger, sometimes more murder...
Do not commit adultery... what is the fruit of adultery? Anyone who has been through that betrayal will tell you its a nightmare... and can lead to murder and lots of other destructive behaviors.
Do not covet... it only makes you miserable, and sometimes makes you murder or steal or lie...
Do you see? Evil only has one intention, that's to kill steal and destroy anything that God loves. Its intention is to first steal every thing God has for you from you, with lies and deceptions, then to kill the relationship you are so struggling to have with God, then finally to destroy you. Because he hates God…its just that simple.

Jesus said "And fear not them which kill the body; but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:2 Please note it’s a "them" that can kill the body, it’s only a "him" that can destroy both the body and soul in hell.

Once you begin to view God with the reality of the existence of evil, you begin to see the tremendous grace and long suffering of His nature.  You begin to see that God made laws for His people so that they might be Holy and could live in His Presence, but His laws also PROTECTED His people from the schemes of the devil.  God is STILL working to protect us and yet we ignore Him, and do not form a relationship with Him and He watches His creation live enslaved, and in the constant chaos and destruction of the enemy. And yet it is unnecessary, but we do it.  We CHOOSE it.

When you choose to live independent of God, or in ignorance of God, then you choose to allow the enemy easy access. And believe me, he uses it against you every day. When we choose to raise our children without teaching them the importance of  God's Word, and God's actual real presence in their lives... when we do not live the example, nor do we instruct them... we hand them over to the devil. They have no way to defend themselves because no one has taught them.  When you try to teach about God stripped of His Spiritual existence, and the existence of evil in the spiritual realm... then you are leaving them unable to function in the very realm of God's existence.  God IS spirit. There is no denying it and the spiritual realm has existed since before time, and will exist eternally.  I often wonder why we are so afraid to acknowledge the spiritual and so fond of the natural? This natural world is passing away, just as our natural bodies wear out and pass away and yet because we can see it and touch it... it becomes so difficult for us to believe there is "more".  Even as we sit in church and profess a belief in God's Word... we do not FULLY BELIEVE all that it says.  There is many a pastor that would read these words of mine and find them "silly" and "dramatic".  But to deny the existence of evil in this world, to deny a spiritual realm functioning in communion with our natural one... you've got to deny a whole bunch of the Scriptures.  And even if you don't deny it, but you don't live like you believe it... you might as well go on and deny it. Because you're just as enslaved as you can be and you are blind on top of being enslaved and you don't know you're either one.

That's a terrible predicament.  Dangerous too. 
Tomorrow, we're going to talk about the beginning... Eve made a terrible mistake, and its one we are all still making....
Much love... Anita

It was a hectic week, but today is Friday, we are slow starters on Friday.  Its 8:30, the pinto beans are on the stove boiling, they will have brown rice, green split peas, whole wheat pasta and corn added through stages and that's the bird's feed for today. I'll dish that out once it cools enough to eat.  For now, I am sitting in bed, sipping hot tea, going through recipes... I haven't had a cooking weekend in a while, so I'm thinking I want to cook this weekend.

Myrtle loves Fridays.  She's had her dish of dog food, been outside, checked the yard, and the neighbors.  My dogs are so funny.  A friend of mine owns a business down the road from us. If my dogs go out to the front corner of the yard, there is a spot about 18 inches wide that was finished with chain link instead of privacy fence. From there they can see up to the other end of the road. They know Gary, and on Fridays, they always watch him as he comes into open his shop and get ready for his day. They are a nosy bunch. Bax will stay down there as long as she thinks Gary is at his shop.  Myrtle isn't that interested... she comes in, and right now she's stretched out across the bed napping, I'm sitting here with her, answering emails that get ignored through the week, doing a bit of writing, and finishing a shopping list.  Its perfect to Myrtle, a perfect morning.

My week hit an odd bump on Monday afternoon.  I witnessed a wreck coming home.  A guy was driving very aggressively trying to force another vehicle to move over so he could pass.  It was dangerous and awful to watch.  His driving was so aggressive and erratic I dialed 911 to report it. While I was on the phone with them, the guy lost control of his truck and by the Grace and Hand of God, did not hit anyone else as he veered off the road, went airborne and flipped back end over front end landing squarely on the cab, crushing it.  It was horrible to watch this unfold. He wasn't seriously injured, believe it or not, but I found out later he was monumentally drunk. His blood alcohol was a .35... you are legally drunk at .08.  He missed a court date for a different DUI while he was locked up for THIS one.

I gave a written statement to the state trooper investigating the wreck.  I struggled with this a bit. I gave a very detailed statement, and the guy will probably end up doing some time. I mentioned to a friend it was hard for me to be a part of that. See I know what it means to do time. I know what it means to be locked up, and all of you will say, "yes but he NEEDED to be off the road, he DESERVES...." But you don't really know what is going to happen to him.  You don't know how it feels to want to come home so bad you lay and cry at night, you don't know what it is to spend years WAITING... You don't know the shock of realizing that the people responsible for you, don't believe you deserve to be treated with dignity and decency.  You don't know what its like to have someone over you who likes to believe their ugly treatment of you is included in your "punishment".  And yes, I know that doing time can change you... if you ALLOW God to work it for your good, but I just wouldn't wish it on anyone.

I had told the trooper I would phone him when I left my job in Montgomery and meet him to give him the signed written statement.  I sat in the car holding the phone.  One drop of water sends a ripple across the whole pond.

There was one thought, and I don't know if it was mine or it was God's... but it flitted through my mind: If he had lost control and hit me on Monday and if I had died... If he had killed me on Monday, my friends and family, would have likely gathered on Thursday to memorialize me... and Thursday happened to be my 48th birthday.  It was a jarring realization. I dialed the phone and met the trooper and gave him my statement. I assured him if it went to trial I would make myself available for testifying.

And I pray for the man, whose demons drive him to function in such dangerous destructive behaviors.  And I thank my wonderful God for grace and protection, because as much as it hurts me to think he might go to prison, I know God is able to use it save him from the demons who haunt him. And who am I to get in between God and His work?

And I'm grateful to be sitting here with fat Myrtle stretched out beside me, planning some good cooking,  watching my iris bloom, and the garden grow... and sharing a short note with all of you.  Much love my friends... Anita

As I sit here in my peace, I read the news headlines.  I just finished reading that CNN will not air the Quran burning Pastor's interview.  Over 20 people have died in demonstrations in Afganistan since its been made known that this Pastor burned the Quran.

This isn't about any of that...
I blog these little notes I write.  I put them out there, like planting a seed.  Oh they don't get much attention, but they have garnered a small following besides those of you on the email list.  The stats manage double digit numbers most days and one day in March we actually had 124 visits in a single day.  Through the month, I've had visits every day, and only two days of single digit visits, slowly it grows.  The blog is just there, and I guess God uses it as He sees fit. I blog out of obedience.

But what occurred to me today was how this little tiny space I occupy in the huge online world, I am trying desperately to pass along a message of love, a message about a God who still cares about His Creation, has not abandoned us, who is patient, who is kind, does not envy, does not boast, and is not proud. He does not dishonor others, He is not self-seeking, He is not easily angered, and keeps no record of wrongs. He does not delight in evil, but delights in the truth. He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. He never fails.

I write about peace and His kingdom, I so desperately want you to find this God I know. I so desperately want you to learn how He works, how He changes you and effects you in ways you cannot imagine until you experience them.  I want you to learn that the hate and ugliness that fills our headlines and our world... that you can live PAST it even when you must live among it.  You don't have to be depressed or frightened or angry.  You don't have to worry... about ANYTHING.

I mentioned the Pastor because his message of hate has been so well received by the world, and he's managed to get that message far beyond his tiny congregation down there in rural Florida.  And he can't see he's been tricked, and he's lost sight of his God... and the world embraced him and the devil has screamed his hate filled rhetoric far and wide... and made sure to label him a "christian..."  Oh yes, let's don't forget to label him so that others who are diligently trying to follow God, and live the truths of the Bible can be lumped together with him.  Just like we believe all Muslims are terrorists and all young black men are gang members...  we believe so many lies the devil tells us. So many... subtle sneaky lies that work to separate us from what Jesus died trying to reveal to us.

Sometimes all these words seem so futile, and my heart hurts for my God... my Father, the One who loves me and cares for me in ways no one else can. My Father... my Friend, this incredible Spirit that set all this in motion, who exists when nothing else does. He is all there is, it all comes from Him and will all return to Him... If I am, its simply because He is.  And all I know to do is to continue to tap away spilling out these words, hoping that one day, somehow, His message, who He is will be more interesting than the hate mongering.

When you want to vent angry ugly words, when you want to rage or whine, or complain... for just a minute stop BEFORE you do it and think of all the hate that is poured out in this world every day. I know you think you're tiny drop in this gigantic bucket won't matter, but really, if we all start speaking of His hope, and His light, and stop adding to the hate...

Well, I like to think it matters. I like to think that these words that come from me, even if only 5 people stop by the blog to read them, that maybe it matters. If only a few people hear this message, then just maybe a few more people might "see" God... join me, add your words to mine.  Let's see if daily we can administer the message of love, hope and reconciliation that He's given us through His Word, His Son and His Ways. If we don't, then God will continue to be defined in this world by those who do not know Him, and by the very devil himself... and you know what? That's not OK with me.

A seed. What a huge leap of faith it is, to plant a seed. Its nothing more than a tiny dry speck... blown easily by the wind, fragile beyond words, powerful beyond description. And we take this tiny dry speck and cover it with dirt, leaving it to the whims of the rains and the sun.

I just planted spinach, romaine, parsley, petunia, mesculen, nasturtium, and snow pea pod seeds. I put my tomato seeds in seed cups a few weeks ago, and I started a tray of perennial carnations yesterday. Sprinkling these tiny specks here and there and yonder.  Some are in pots, some are in the ground.  I put dried up, husk covered onion bulbs in the ground, garlic bulbs too. Hard to believe they will turn into flavorful juicy onions that will flavor all the things I so love to cook with their wonderful pungency.

I love flowers, and I grow them all around me. I bought two new double begonias, their ruffled apricot faces were too much for me to resist. I thought about them for a week before I went back to purchase them. They are gorgeous. The Iris are setting their bulbs, the daffodils are STILL showing their heads, the wisteria is absolutely huge this year and so full, and its soft scent wafts across the yard at dusk. My favorite scent are tea olives, which is a shrub, the flowers are so tiny they are unnoticeable on this big green bush, but their sweet scent permeates the air all around them, they are only about 20 feet from my front door, its one of the first things I smell when I open it.

As I sprinkled seeds and moved Iris and day lilies this weekend, I thought about that faith, those tiny specks that don't even fill your palm, the dirt, the rain, all the components it takes to make it grow, has to come together. Then I think how God deals with us, someone, some where brings us a word of encouragement, or a story about Jesus, a tiny seed of information, and they leave it there in us. Something comes along and buries that seed, we forget it was even left. Then the storms come, and the rain pours down... we are dark and discouraged, but then the light shines in our darkness, and that seed? The one covered in the dirt, it does something amazing, it sprouts. Its no longer a speck, but a green shoot. It struggled up through our mess and suddenly we see evidence of Him inside us. Oh that little green shoot is fragile, it can break, it can freeze, it can wither... but somehow, if its in good ground, it can also take root, and He can water it, and protect it and warm it with His light... and we grow, and expand, we change, our shape changes, our hearts change... every thing about us changes as that tiny sprout grows.  And then one day the greatest miracle of all happens, we bear fruit in the kingdom.  And we go out sowing those seeds in others. Amazing isn't it?

Friday and Saturday I did nothing that felt earth shattering. I wandered around, it was peaceful piddling. I fixed a fence, I planted seeds, I watered plants, I dug iris and day lilies, I re-potted some stuff, I played with the dogs, I took TONS of pictures, I played with the birds, and I wrote. But I am full in my spirit, and as content as a pig in the sunshine after eating a trough full of slop. Now... this is the life God has for me right now, and I am finally learning to embrace it, as He gives it instead of how I want to manage it. I am not running in some circle, trapped and enslaved by my own desires, or the lack of others.  I am at peace.

I wonder if this is the quiet right before a tornado? HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!
Much love my friends, my prayer is you find what God has for you and you have the courage to live it.

If you didn't read yesterday's grace note, you'll have to go retrieve it out of the trash folder to review.

We're still doing Gideon... make sure we get all the good out of this one Scripture.  So, I had written that I wanted to make two points based on Gideon and the angel of the Lord's first conversation. The first point was that the Promises of God aren't always like we think they'll be, and how once we receive the Promise, we change.  And in changing we screw things up.

The SECOND point is based on something I wrote yesterday, this is what I wrote:
So... God would send Judges to save Israel, and as long as the Judge lived, Israel would follow God, and they went in this circle... Judge dies, Israel strays, God allows them to be oppressed, Israel cries out, God sends a judge to save Israel, they are saved again, Judge dies, Israel forgets, goes back to the evil... God allows them to be oppressed again, they cry out, God has mercy AGAIN, and sends another judge... the judge saves them, they follow God while the Judge lives... Judge dies, they go about their own way... round and round and round they go....

Circles are the work of the devil. Israel was now caught in a vicious destructive ridiculous circle. And the reason they are demonic is because the kingdom of God is always moving forward, well, there is no forward motion in a circle. It covers the same ground over and over.  Its repetitive, same behavior, same results, nothing improves, nothing changes, and the kingdom of God stalls... here were God's people, finally reaching the promised land, finally coming into the PROMISE OF GOD... and because they were blind and stupid and WOULD NOT LISTEN, they went in this circle.

Are you stuck in a circle? Do you go through the same silly messes over and over?  Do you have the same argument with your spouse repeatedly? Do you have the same arguments with your kids over and over? Do you find yourself stuck in the same situation repeatedly? No matter how you THINK you've done it differently, you just KEEP ENDING UP AT THE SAME SPOT?????  Have you EVER DONE THIS IN YOUR LIFE????? For those of you who have not a clue what I'm talking about, congratulations, you are doing better than the rest of us, that, or you're so blind you don't even have a clue that you're stuck in a circle.

Self introspection is never fun.
Sometimes we get drug into circles by other people.  And I'm here to tell you its tricky to be close to someone and stay OUT of their circles. Takes a whole lot of awareness and time LISTENING to God to see it and side-step it.

The book of Judges, is a book about circles. Israel had finally made it to the PROMISED LAND and all they were doing was going around and around in circles.  They never completed their assignment to drive out the peoples from their Promised land, they stopped listening to God and they stopped obeying Him.  They became comfortable and complacent and the devil lied to them and trapped them into this HUGE national circle. Round and round they went. God would get tired of watching their mess, and just hand them over to their enemies. They would be oppressed, and they would suffer, and in their suffering they would remember their God and turn their face towards Him, and cry out to Him. And because God honestly DOES love them, He would hear their cry, and send a Judge, one person who was obedient and would listen to God. The judge would lead the Israelites to beat the crap out of their oppressors and do it in such a way that it could ONLY HAVE BEEN GOD... and Israel would rejoice at being saved and would be so grateful they would follow the judge that followed God and live by God's commands in the land. Then the judge would die... Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon, then came Abimelech's treachery, then Tola, Jair, Jephthah... round and round and round they went, each Judge risking their own life to save Israel from her oppressors.  Ibzan, Elon and Abdon... we all know Samson.  The Judges of Israel as she marched in her circle.  The Promised land was still not fully settled, not all the tribes of Israel had gained their inheritance and yet God's plan for them, was already stalling, the forward motion of a nation that would represent God to the world was no longer going forward... it just went round and round.

While the devil laughed.

Are you making choices and decisions and participating in behaviors that keep you trapped and enslaved?  Do you just go round and round? Stop moving... and LISTEN for the still small voice, He can show you how to break the destructive circle and move forward with His kingdom... but I did just write the word... "LISTEN" again, didn't I?

Don't live enslaved, you don't have to, unless you like it.
Much love to you all... Anita

I was prompted to stay in Gideon.  There were several of you who responded how much you've enjoyed the last two writings... I thought I better go read Gideon again and see if God had some more for us from there.  Let's see what we come up with?

I love the fact that the Bible tells us that "the angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite..."  He just came and sat down under the oak for a visit. Here's what I want you to get... the angle of the Lord is still coming and sitting down under the oak for a visit. If he's not appearing to you, its because he knows you won't receive him. Open your hearts... so you can open your eyes.

So I've written on Gideon's whine, how Gideon just can't believe that God is with them (the Israelites) because they are suffering some pretty MAJOR oppression by the Midianites.  Just as a refresher, I'm going to write out the angel of the Lord's response to all of Gideon's "why us" complaint.
                        The Lord turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand.  Am i not sending you?"

Now, let's do Gideon's response to this command: "But Lord," Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." (Judges 6:15)

Gideon just said he's a big ole chicken, even his family says so.  His clan is the weakest, and he's the weakest of all those weaklings. He can't go fight the Midianites.  Now look, the Midianites were no joke, they were an extremely cruel and oppressive enemy. Of course I'm going to reiterate this one point: Chapter 6 of Judges starts with the word "AGAIN".... Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord... Remember that Gideon's story comes from the book of Judges, a time in the Israelites history where they struggled continuously. They had finally come into their full promise, they lived in the land God had promised to their forefathers.  But it was a new generation who was Israel now.  They had not seen the wonders of what God had done for them as a nation, they had not struggled in slavery, nor in the desert.  They were living in the blessings and promises of God... and they were prostituting themselves with the gods of the peoples around them, they were unfaithful to God and constantly did evil in His sight.  They ignored the covenant that their forefathers had entered into with God, disregarding it... the new generation thinking the old ways are not for them.  Sounds very familiar doesn't it?

So, they struggled in this land, constantly. They could not find peace, and they were constantly being oppressed by the other peoples in the land. That right there should have told them SOMETHING, if this was the land God promised them, and it wasn't working out like that... well, we are not good at self introspection.  We like to blame anyone else, even God, rather than take responsibility for our behaviors.  So... God would send Judges to save Israel, and as long as the Judge lived, Israel would follow God, and they went in this circle... Judge dies, Israel strays, God oppresses them, Israel cries out, God sends a judge to save Israel, they are saved again, Judge dies, Israel forgets, goes back to the evil... God allows them to be oppressed again, they cry out after years, God has mercy AGAIN, and sends another judge... the judge saves them, they follow God while the Judge lives... Judge dies, they go about their own way... round and round and round they go....

Now I've got TWO Points I want to make from this Scripture... shoot we might spend the next month in Gideon if I write every thing I'm thinking right now.

The first point:
The Israelites had finally gained the Promise of God. They were IN the land that God had promised them, but the promise functioned from their covenant relationship with God. Here's the thing, God makes us a promise and we struggle and struggle towards it, we work hard in our relationship, we stay close to God as we get closer to the promise, we've crossed the desert, and walked through the sea on dry land, the Jordan parted... we've marched on Jericho... we've fought the Caananites, the Perezites and all the "ites" to own our promise.  We might have stumbled and staggered a little getting there but we've made it.  God has fulfilled the Promise He gave us.

And somewhere along the way we've convinced ourselves its supposed to be some kind of bed of roses, even though that's NEVER what He promised. So we get the promise of God, whatever that might be in your life... and then when it isn't exactly like we idealized... we start that stupid whining, and mumbling and complaining.  Personally I don't see how God keeps from destroying us. Its not as easy as we thought, its not as GOOD as we thought, its not ANYTHING like we thought.  That's because we're stupid.

If its not a complaint our next mistake is, we get biggity with it. Know what that means? We get to thinking we're special because God did this thing for us.  We think other people don't get their promises because they aren't "faithful enough" that's why their life isn't as blessed as mine... or we think that they "sin" so God doesn't bless them with a promise.  We get to thinking we get this because we are all that and a slice of bread. We think we are "more spiritual" than others.  We do this because we're stupid. We get real religious, and judgmental and well... stupid.

And sometimes, we totally forget God all together.  And "I" becomes very pronounced in our life. "I" built my business into a great success.  "I" Make my marriage successful. "I" raised my kids perfectly that's why they are doing so well.  "I" am really GREAT!!!!! "I" am very wise, that's why others seek my advice. "I" am a great spiritual force so people want my attention and my prayers. "I".... is a very dangerous concept.

And once we forget God, other things become really important, our investments, our houses, our cars.  Going to ballgames, and entertainments, and hanging out with other really important successful people, so we can all sit around and talk about how important and successful we are.  Our gods become our things, and our entertainments, and other people, and whatever gods they bring to the table.

Sound familiar? And if you think you're above making this kind of mistake... well you're already well on your way to making it.

I'm going to save the second point for tomorrow so this grace note isn't as long as a short novel and you don't get fired for reading the entire thing.
Much love to you all...

So, we've got Gideon speaking with the spirit of the Lord.  Doing the eternal thing of asking God, "why?" Let's see what happens next ok? Gideon is going to hear from God...

The Lord turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?

OOOOOHHHH NOOOOOOO!!!!! Gideon heard from God, sure did. And what God said to Gideon sounded impossible. Go in the strength you have....

What kind of answer is that? I'll tell you what kind, its EXACTLY the kind the Lord gives. Today, since I am not in crisis mode, nor am I struggling or suffering, I can laugh at this response. But I can tell you God has given me this kind of reply before when I've cried out... and it would make me grind my teeth. But you know what? It will work. Whatever He tells you, if you go on faith and do what He says... IT WILL WORK.

So Gideon (us) replies like this: "But Lord," Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least of my family." (Judges 6:15)

We know most of the rest of this story, Gideon continues to stutter about his assignment, goes through the deal of tearing down Baal's alter, and is encouraged by that little adventure, then the Lord finally comes upon him to take on the Midianites, and Amalekites since they were camped at Jezreel.  Its at this point Gideon does the fleece test.  TWICE.

Gideon calls the men together to take on this fight and the Lord says he has too many men. So, they culled 22,000 men, only 10,000 were left. THEN God did it again, and culled them down to 300 men.
Go in the strength you have... Am I not sending you?

The Lord was very patient with Gideon, encouraging him along this path of a warrior, that was so foreign to Gideon.  Even after he defeated the Midianites and the eastern peoples and brought Israel peace, the Israelites said to Gideon, "Rule over us - you, your son and your grandson - because you have saved us out of the hand of Midian." But Gideon told them, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you." (Judges 6:22-24)

Now, here's the thing, Gideon could always HEAR God encouraging him and instructing him. Gideon never had to guess at what his mission was. Whatever you're facing, stop waiting for something or someone to come rescue you.  Go in the strength that you have, and know that God is faithful and He's able, and turn your ear to Him... and get some instruction.

Its a great story, Gideon's tale. Its Judges 6.... go read it for yourself and see what the Lord might say to you.
Much love... Anita

You have to love Gideon's story. We are so MUCH like Gideon.

The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites.  When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior."

Gideon is threshing in hiding, trying to keep the Midianites from stealing what little bit of wheat he's got. The angel of the Lord sits down under the tree... and it doesn't say how long he watched Gideon working away. Because THEN it says, WHEN the angel of the Lord appeared to him, he said, "The Lord is with you mighty warrior."

Now, look at Gideon's response: "But sir," Gideon replied, "if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all His wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, 'Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the Lord has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian."

That is such a typical response of all of us. How did something bad happen if God is with me? Why am I stuck where I'm at? Why won't God DO SOMETHING, I shouldn't have to live like this.  God should take care of me. He's abandoned me, He doesn't exist, there is no God... blah blah blah.

Let's back up ok? Let's see how Gideon ended up hiding in the winepress trying to thresh some wheat.

AGAIN the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and for seven years He gave them into the hands of the Midianites.  Because of the power of Midian was SO OPPRESSIVE, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds.  Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and other eastern peoples invaded the land and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys.  They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts.  It was impossible to count the men and their camels; they invaded the land to ravage it. Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help.  When the Israelites cried to the Lord because of Midian, He sent them a prophet, who said, "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says; I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.  I snatched you from the power of Egypt and from the hand of ALL your oppressors. I drove them from before you and I gave you their land. I said to you, 'I am the Lord your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.  But you have not listened to me." (Judges 6 1-10)

Wow... BUT YOU HAVE NOT LISTENED TO ME.
There it is. YOU HAVE NOT LISTENED TO ME.
Any plainer? YOU HAVE NOT LISTENED TO ME.

Y O U   H A V E   N O T   L I S T E N E D   T O   M E

Which part of that do you not understand?

So, the Israelite s are SO oppressed that they have to hide their wheat to thresh it so they can eat.  That's why Gideon is threshing the wheat in the winepress... instead of the threshing floor. He's hiding. And Gideon does what we all do, IF the Lord is with us why has all this happened to us? Where are His wonders...???

Its all God's fault if you're life is not going like you think it should be going, if you're actually struggling, worse yet, if you're REALLY SUFFERING... why doesn't God heal me? why doesn't God save me from this situation? why doesn't God help me? why doesn't God give me a job, enough money, a house, a car... If God would ONLY DO THIS, THEN I would be OK.

Verse one begins with, AGAIN... this wasn't the Israelites first rodeo OK? And I'm sure its not yours either.  How long have you ignored Him? How long have you skimmed His Word instead of studied it? How long have you refused to listen to Him? How many times has God sent you word and you didn't recognize it, or you just didn't believe it, so you ignored it? How many times have you missed that still small voice telling you which way to go that would keep you from disaster? How many?

But you have not listened to Him. Now its either that you can't hear Him, or that you don't want to hear Him... and in way those are connected. The first step in hearing from God, is believing that God wants to speak to you. That is the first step, it starts in your head. You've got to first come to terms with your unbelief and confess it, and then go forward from that. TELL God that you're struggling with the idea that He will speak to you.  TELL HIM THAT, don't worry, He'll show up.

But the next step gets a little more difficult, it involves your heart. Because when you hear from God, its going to effect your heart, and He's not going to let go of you. And that's a really good thing. Of course then He will begin to teach you, and you'll encounter your spirit... and that's when the adventure really begins. Make the journey, change your life, live it the way God intends, and if you find yourself hiding in the shadows, afraid of the dark, scrambling for some hope, struggling through it all... Have you listened to Him?

Shoot, my life had to get so bad even I didn't want it, that's when I gave it up to Him... for real. Its hilarious now, wasn't so funny back in 2000. I've kept my promise, its been quite a ride too. Don't do it like I did it. Don't go like I went. Go on, listen to Him...
Much love... Anita

I was reading in Leviticus this morning.  Leviticus is the book of instructions, and its reiterated message is how the people of God could live holy, because their God was holy.  It is instruction in honoring the covenant relationship they have just made with God at Mt. Sinai. We don't understand covenant very well in our society.  We aren't taught covenant, and we aren't taught the terrible consequences of breaking covenant with God. One of the few examples of covenant relationship that still exists in our society is the marriage covenant and we don't even understand that very well.  Our marriage covenant isn't between the two people.  The marriage covenant is two people coming into an agreement to enter a covenant with God... as ONE...the mystery of becoming ONE flesh before God.  It is still about a relationship WITH GOD.  Not about the relationship between US.

But it was in Leviticus that I found an interesting passage:
He is speaking to Israel, and He says: "Do not defile yourself in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled.  Even the land was defiled; so I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants. But you must keep My decrees and My laws.  The native-born and the aliens living among you must not do any of these detestable things, for all these things were done by the people who lived in the land before you, and the land became defiled. And if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were before you." Leviticus 18: 24-28

Sin has an effect ON THE LAND according to the Scriptures. The Scripture from Leviticus POINT BLANK instructs the Israelites that the land became defiled from the practices He is admonishing them to avoid. He is giving them an example... the people of Canaan will be driven out before you, you will be granted THEIR LAND because THEY DEFILED IT and this is HOW THEY defiled it.  DO NOT DO WHAT THEY HAVE DONE.

And they did it.  They did it almost immediately upon entering the land.

Its about living inside a covenant relationship with God, and God tells them in great detail how to go about that. Here's what I've learned about covenant: I always thought that the covenant broke from one certain act. Like the marriage covenant, I figured adultery was a covenant breaker. Sleep with a man besides your husband and BAM... the covenant is broken. Shows how much I didn't understand covenant.

Here's the deal, the covenant relationship with God is like a large solid stone column, and our disobedience and our sin, constantly chip away at that column. Until one day, the column, has become so weakened by the chipping away at it, that it crumbles into a heap of rubble. Its no longer a column, and the rubble of stone chips cannot be made back into a solid stone column.  The column no longer exists. A pile of rubble stones exists, but the stone column that was once your covenant relationship with God, has ceased to exist.  If you go back and look at Israel's history, you'll see their constant chipping away at the stone column of their covenant relationship with God. There were times in their history that they were flagrantly disobedient, but God did not destroy them.  They sacrificed their babies in the fires to the god Molech, they worshiped Baal.  And yet the covenant remained, God always honoring His end of it.

Until it ceased to exist, until their sin chipped and chipped and chipped away at that stone column, and it crumbled in a heap of nothing but stone rubble and dust.

We are not so different in our relationship with God. We chip away it by ignoring Him, rejecting Him and that which He sends to us. We refuse to study His Word, we refuse to practice His teachings, we refuse to give up our time to Him, we refuse Him over and over and over, shaving and chipping away at that stone column, ignoring the dust and rubble building up around its base. Its amazing isn't it? Utterly amazing once you can "see" it.

How's your column? Might be shakier than you think. Try some obedience and spend some time with Him... it might be more important than you think.
Much love ....A

I just collapsed on Friday.  The time change had certainly been difficult through the whole work week, I went to bed early Thursday and slept until after the sun was up on Friday, much to the birds, cats, and dogs dismay. I woke up to Myrtle almost nose to nose, staring intently at me. I got up and got them all taken care of, and then took a nap.  I went to be at 7 that night, I was just going to lay down a minute, then get back up to do some stuff.  I woke up at 7:30 on Saturday morning, finally feeling like a whole person again.

Rest is a gift and I've learned well to embrace it.  God did not create man for the Sabbath, He created the Sabbath for man. Its a gift, to take a day and do nothing in it. No matter how long the list of chores is, no matter how badly the grass needs mowing, the floors need sweeping, the dishes need doing, the clothes need washing... no matter how much there is to be done... on most Fridays, I rest. I might wander through the yard, and mill around the house but the work of my existence can wait.

I've heard the differing discussions from one denomination to another about "when" the Sabbath actually is... but really what difference does it make, most people never embrace a Sabbath rest anyway. Most people do not spend a day doing nothing.  You go some where, you clean, or wash or shop or whatever because time is always so short you have to get stuff done when you're able to because our jobs steal most of our lives away from us. If you're a single parent, running a household with kids in it, time is like some kind of monster to you. I get it. I know.  I've stared at that monster.

But here's the thing, God offers rest as a gift to His servants.  You ask God for blessings all the time, but what do you think it means to God when you refuse one He put so much emphasis on? He listed the Sabbath rest in the ten commandments.  He thinks its VERY important to take ONE day, disconnect from the world, and rest. I find that when I honor this, and I don't make it all the time, but I find that all the rest of the work gets done, and I am more prepared to face the world again and be what He wants me to be for Him.

This isn't a new grace note, its an old message. One I guess He likes repeated once in a while.  I pray you have peace, and you find the courage to sit down and have a beautiful Sabbath rest.  Much love... Anita

I have a friend whose got one of those really tough life situations right now.  It might be a long time before they get to "ok" again.  Life took a left turn. She's hurting and struggling but the ONE thing she could tell me, she could tell me the Word God gave her. God gave her a Word from Isaiah, and she's clinging to it and standing on it.

In all my struggle and my efforts to share where I've been, what God has taught me as I journeyed, there is simply nothing more precious to me than to hear someone I love be able to TELL me what God has said to them when they are in crisis, hurting or struggling.  I cannot tell you my frustration when I watch you struggle but you have not heard from God.  Any of you that have ever sought my advice know one of the first questions I ask you, is "What does God say?"

In that moment, even as her tears trickled down her cheeks, I knew she would be alright, simply because she's got a Word from God. I offered my help, and my prayers, but the truth is, she doesn't need them.  She has all she needs for this journey, whether she believes it or not.  She will learn many things in her struggle and in her suffering.  It will not be an easy road, and yet I am not afraid for her, I am so proud of her because she BELIEVES the Word God gave her, and she's holding onto it.

Godspeed my friend, I love you so much, my prayer for you is that you know God's Presence in the most real sense and in abundance, that as He bends near to you, you will feel the peace of His Presence, the comfort of His Mercy and the Glory of His Love.  For in His Presence, all things come right. I know it because I have lived it. I pray that as this journey unfolds you are never at a loss, and that He makes sure you always have a Word to stand on.
Don't give up on God, He won't give up on you... He's able. Don't forget that, He's able... to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can think or imagine. He's able.

Thank you for sharing with me what God has shared with you. You have no idea how it made my journey mean something. I love you.

I was accused last week of having "screwed up views" of God.  Actually I was accused of quite a few things in that particular letter.  It was from a friend, oddly enough.  He was going to "set me straight".  This is a man, who I believe, is making an honest effort to follow God.  I understand most of what happened that caused the letter, because God made sure I did, and it had nothing to do with the topic of discussion.

I only reveal the episode, and I realize I've revealed it vaguely, to write on something that I touched on yesterday.

I encourage you constantly to find your way to a relationship with God that you HEAR from Him. I write it a million different ways, but it is usually the bottom line of most of my writing. We all so desperately NEED to hear from God.  A life with God is very different, than "regular" (for lack of a better word) life. You will find yourself doing things in ways you would have NEVER done before.  You will find that you are not even ALLOWED to react to extreme provocation, that every thing revolves around furthering the kingdom, and it seems that nothing even entertains furthering your own interests any more. You don't have your "own" anything.  Your life isn't yours, your thoughts aren't yours, your ideas aren't yours...

I do not get it right all the time, I struggle, in this life God allows. But I struggle before Him... if I've misunderstood Him, I believe He will let me know. What was most disturbing about the letter my friend wrote was how damaging his words would have been if I had had a lesser relationship with God. He mocked who I am with God, and it was offensive and extremely painful. The reply took two days to craft, and alot of deleting. In the end, I was not allowed to demean, or belittle... I was only allowed to give him his own words back, and ask what kind of response was he trying to provoke and how did his words reveal God? And I was allowed to share a long ago lesson, where God plainly told me as one who has come through the gate, I cannot stand in the gate and throw rocks at the sheep.  They won't even approach the gate, much less come in.

But his words were so damaging. He did apologize after receiving my response but I find myself reticent to share any part of myself with him now.  I did not like being mocked and demeaned, especially by someone I trusted. But it is a lesson, a reminder in kindness. I am not quick to demean someone's ideas different than mine.  If I disagree, I must do so gently and with all respect, and willing to look at what I believe again, and check it for its validity, which is what yesterday was about. I checked the Scriptures myself to see if they did indeed reveal something I had missed about Christ's return.  It wouldn't be the first time. But no, I found that I have no reason to worry about what is to come, and that we still do not know the day or the hour...

Do not think ill of my friend, we have all done what he did in his pursuit of proving a point.  What it showed me was how utterly damaging words can be, and that our responses must be careful and measured in all circumstances.  As much as I've sat with God, and I do get chastised, and corrected, His way with me is not demeaning, or belittling.  He doesn't tear me down as He builds me up. As His children, it is our duty, it is our devotion, it is our passion to pass along to others His way. Our words should BUILD, not destroy.  Our idea of "right" should never, under any circumstance, be presented in a fashion that would demean or belittle or deride another person.

The passage that comes to mind about the Samaritan woman who encountered Jesus at the well, its in John 4. It was in the middle of the day, no one gathered water in the middle of the day, it was done in the cool of the morning, or the cool of the evening.  No one was normally at the well, in the middle of the day, it was her shame that sent her there then, she was basically the town whore. I've borne that feeling, after my indictment I would go to Walmart in the middle of the night. What's important is the way Jesus treated her... beginning with the fact He had a conversation with her.  Even she was surprised. And at the end of their conversation, He revealed Himself to her as the Christ. She was probably the lowest person in the town, and He revealed His identity to HER. He did not demean, nor did He belittle and list her faults and her shortcomings. He trusted her. Amazing isn't it?

The truth is I did not wish to write my friend again, even after receiving his apology, when I asked God if I could just let this go, His response was this:  Grace is a wonderful gift.
Nothing more, nothing less. The choice would be mine. He's right, grace is a wonderful gift, and if we are unwilling to extend it, then it will not exist in this lost and dying world.
I wrote the letter.

I found an interesting article today while I was reading news headlines, its about a group who is declaring that the rapture will come on May 21, 2011, and the world will end on October 21...

I'm going to tell you how I approached this, respectfully, slightly skeptic, and a willingness to "see" for myself. I googled it, and found a more informative page that explained the mathematical calculation that was used to come up with the date.  I then went and found the Scriptures that they used to support their theory. Why would I even bother?

Its important to know things for yourself, and not just accept what someone else says.  These people believe they have revelation from God, like He sent His prophets of old to implore Israel to repent, and prophesying the judgments to come, they had warning.  They believe Noah had warning, Lot and his family was warned before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the city of Ninevah was warned, they believe in what they are doing. They believe God has given them a message.  I am a person who hears from God. When you believe these words I write are wise, or my understanding of Scripture insightful, please know it is not me.  I am neither wise nor insightful. Even if I do not agree with someone's message, I will not disrespect them. Its important to know for sure, especially a message so serious.

Once I looked into it, there is a "glitch" in the mathematical calculation.  It held water for a moment but then suddenly there had to be 51 days just "added" in to get the numbers to crunch correctly, there was no Scriptural reference for how "51" was picked, except of course it made the rest of the equation come out correctly. That was the first problem I encountered.

Then I found a page with what they believe are relevant Scriptures that support their belief that God DID reveal in the Bible in hidden equations the time of the Rapture and the end of the earth.  I'm only going to quote a few...

I will give you a warning: Always be wary of someone using a SMALL piece of a Scripture. Scripture MUST be understood in the context it is written, you cannot part and parcel it out, it destroys its original intent and meaning.  So ALWAYS ALWAYS be wary of someone using only a PIECE of a Scripture. And yes, I quote small passages of Scripture but I always ENCOURAGE you to go read in context.  The first passage quoted was from 1 Thessalonians 5:2-6, here's the interesting thing about 2Thessalonians, in 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul writes SPECIFICALLY about the return of Christ, but since it does not align with an ending of May 21, 2011, that Scripture has been totally ignored.

1 Thessalonians 5 goes like this: ²For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

 ³For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

 ⁴But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

 ⁵Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

 ⁶Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

So, they say the key here is that since we as believers are children of the light,  if we are sober and "watch" then we will not be surprised. But its also OUT of context, in that Paul continues in this manner:

 ⁷For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

 ⁸But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

 ⁹For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

 ¹⁰Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

Whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.  Its about living a life in the light of Christ, yes? I discussed this with my friend Jo and she laughed and said, "Christ is the light and even "the light" didn't know."

Ok, there are two others that I found VERY misleading and would like to point out, they have a whole section on how God revealed impending destruction, especially about Noah.  Their website reads that God revealed in advance the EXACT day and time of Judgment and destruction in Noah's time. They quote Genesis 7:4: ⁴For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth. .  God actually told Noah when to finally go get in the Ark, and seven days later the flood began.  God told Noah to get in the ark and then the animals came in twos and got on the ark... THEN the flood came.  It would take seven days to get the ark loaded. Again, they use it out of context.  In truth Noah knew LOOONG before the day the rains came that they were coming, that's WHY he built the ark.  Just like we know Christ is coming back. God had to tell Noah when to get ON the ark, its a matter of practicality, not prophesy. 

The most egregious use of Scripture I found was from Matthew 24: The only part of the Scripture they quote is the first part, using it directly after their argument of how Noah "knew" the exact day of destruction.
They quote this:

(Jesus is speaking) "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.  But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Here they make the argument that like the days of Noah where he was warned 7 days before, there will be a warning for the coming of the Son of man.... they stop RIGHT THERE, keeping things out of context, if you just read a few more sentences, Jesus continues...

For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, unto the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Yes, as in the days of Noah, everyone will be going about their business and it will SUDDENLY be upon them.  Unto the day that Noah entered into the ark... and knew not until the flood came...
The point of this is to encourage you, first, not to be disrespectful of someone's belief that is different than yours.  Please do not make assumptions.  God IS revealing Himself to this world all the time, you do not have to argue or demean or disrespect someone else.  BUT... you should KNOW for yourself, what you believe, and not because someone else told it to you.  You should KNOW what you believe because you've looked for yourself.

That's really the point of this, not whether these folks are right or wrong, just that they believe that God has revealed something to them, we can all respect that, but we also know from 1 Timothy that God does not give us a spirit of fear but of power and of sound minds... that makes our own investigation worth something.  And just as an added note, I'm going to quote 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul writes it like this: Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that you be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

In other words, don't worry about it. Jesus said not to worry about tomorrow, for surely today has enough worries of its own.
Much love to you all... Anita

I'm going to stick with the Recabites for a another writing. The story comes from Jeremiah 35 for anyone who wants (or NEEDS) to go read all of it.

There was something that struck me when I read this story.  What stuck out the most was this: Would you have done what the Recabites did? Here was the man of God Jeremiah, inviting you into the House of the Lord to drink some wine.  Actually he kind of commanded them.  He put the wine in front of them and said, "Drink some wine."

What do you do? Its rude to turn down hospitality, and He's the man of God, and its the Lord's house. But see, this is the thing... the Recabites didn't not drink wine as some choice... this was a way of LIFE to them. Its how they LIVED... not how they chose.  Does that make sense? Its part of who they are. Their obedience isn't based on some theological idea, or some plan to make it to heaven if they "do right".  This command shaped their entire way of life.  They did not build houses, they did not plant crops or vineyards and they did not drink wine.

God's commands should SHAPE every thing in our life.  Our choices should be based on what He's saying to us. Our desires should be based on His desires for us. Our lifestyles should function completely around Him.

There was a time in my life I "chose" God. It came and went.  Listen, then drift away, come back, be intense, then get distracted. We drift in and out of a life with God. Oh we might function fine legalistically, not "breaking" the laws but living with Him... giving our life up to Him... nope, we don't do it for real, we choose it for a while, but its hard, we go back to our old ways. Controlling and manipulating and deciding and choosing... Then we come back, get intense, but its time consuming, and we get busy... LIFE is going on all around us... like I said, there was a time in my life I "chose" God.

Then it changed, for real. I do not choose to live life this way. For me there is no other way to live except listening to Him, and following what I hear, even when it seems stupid, or irrelevant to me. I've been embarrassed, and uncomfortable with what God has instructed me to do. The "sidewalk" spot was not my pick and it was mild compared to stuff I get stuck doing now. I do alot of things in my life that He tells me to do, and I am not doing it because I WANT to do it. Ok? And many many people, even others who say they believe, do not understand. I've also stopped explaining myself... because many times I simply cannot make it make sense. It doesn't even make sense to me. See, I understand the Recabites... I'm so grateful for that too... I mean really grateful that I understand WHY they lived as they lived, and how they could walk into the House of the Lord with the man of God giving them wine and telling them to drink and they simply, politely... refuse. Its who they were, it was there identity.

I gave up "my" life. I stopped living life "my" way. I made ONE choice, then all my choices stopped. If you're still making choices, and if you're still running your life, and you are if you can't hear Him because if you can't hear Him you cannot be following what He's telling you... then you've got to get closer, you've got to listen more, talk less and come CLOSER. I think of the hardest times in my life, I functioned in them because I had a word from God.  When my house was torn up by a tornado, and it was time to get it fixed and I was still short on money.  I got a word from God, "With 5 loaves and two fish I fed 5000, I can fix your house..." and so He did. When the tornado hit, I was sent to Job... an ill wind sent by the adversary... Over and over in my life I can tell you what He's told me so I could go forward in faith, and OBEDIENCE. At the beginning of 2006, after suffering and struggling through 2005, just days before winning the appeal the second time, so quietly, SO QUIETLY He whispered one morning... "Anita, NOW you are convinced..." in relation to Romans 8:38, I had burned in the fires of affliction, I had felt abandoned by God, the butt of some cosmic joke throughout most of 2005, but I stayed with Him, what else was there? SO QUIETLY He whispered... NOW you are convinced... the most horrible year of my life was SUDDENLY JERKED into perspective... NOTHING CAN EVER SEPARATE ME FROM GOD.  NOTHING.... do you hear that?  Do you know that? Do you know if you can suffer a total black out crisis of faith, can you walk through the valley of the shadow of death and not fear the evil? Do you know if you can suffer well? Do you know if you feel betrayed by God can you FORCE that down and trust Him anyway?

"Now, you are convinced..." He was right. I was. The Recabites knew who they were, they were convinced, and obedient.

I found this interesting little story, tucked away in Jeremiah.  Have you ever heard of the Recabites? No? No surprise there, neither had I until a few nights ago. In comes from the 35th chapter:
     This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord during the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: "Go to the Recabite family and invite them to come to one of the side rooms of the house of the Lord and give them some wine to drink."

Its not an overly profound command.  Its not some huge majestic revelation. In some ways it reminds me of that little command to go sit on that "spot" on the sidewalk I thought was so useless.  The Recabites were a nomadic clan.  They did not build houses, they lived in tents.  There were only in the city of Jerusalem because of the siege going on from the Babylonians.  There were wanders. But Jeremiah was obedient, so the Bible continues...
    So I went to get Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, and his brothers and all his sons - the whole family of the Recabites. I brought them into the house of the Lord, into the room of the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah the man of God.  It was next to the room of the officials, which was over that of Maaseiah son of Shallum the doorkeeper. Then I set bowls full of wine and some cups before the men of the Recabite family and said to them, "Drink some wine."

Simple enough huh? Jeremiah's obedience is to be commended. Its so simple it seems stupid. Me? I would be mumbling... because I'm a mumbler, this is ignorant, go get them and give them some wine, what's the big deal? I don't even have much wine, and I don't even know these people, why I got to bring them in here and serve them some wine? Yada yada yada... God is long suffering because if He wasn't I would be dead. And I'm going to say this: For some of you, He can't even TELL you to go get the Recabites, because you can't hear Him, so He can't even TELL you what He wants... (listening ear is important ok?)

But He had Jeremiah who was better at his obedience than me or you.
Here's where the story finally gets a little interesting.
    But they (being the Recabites) replied, "We do not drink wine, because our forefather Jonadab son of Recab gave us this command: 'Neither you nor your descendants must ever drink wine. Also you must never build houses, sow seed or plant vineyards; you must never have any of these things, but must always live in tents.  Then you will live a long time in the land where you are nomads. We have obeyed every thing our forefather Jonadab son of Recab commanded us.  Neither we nor our wives nor our sons and daughters have ever drunk wine or built houses to live in or had vineyards, fields or crops.  We have lived in tents and have fully obeyed  every thing our  forefather Jonadab commanded us. But when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded this land, we said, 'Come, we must go to Jerusalem to escape the Babylonian and Aramean armies. So we have remained in Jerusalem."

Here was Jeremiah the prophet, inviting them to sit down in the House of the Lord and drink wine, Jeremiah was following the word of the Lord. He was told to invite these men in and give them wine to drink. But the men refused the drink... they had been commanded GENERATIONS ago, not to drink wine... and so the command had totally shaped their lifestyle. They didn't follow it when they felt like it, they LIVED this way, every day. Their entire life was shaped by the commands of their forefathers.

    Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying; "This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel says; Go and tell the men of Judah and the people of Jerusalem, 'Will you not learn a lesson and obey my words?'  Declares the Lord. Jonadab son of Recab ordered his sons not to drink wine and this command has been kept.  To this day they do not drink wine, because they obey their forefather's command.  But I have spoken to you again and again, yet you have no obeyed Me. Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets to you.  They said, "Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and reform your actions; do not follow other gods to serve     them. Then you will live in the land I have given to you and your fathers. But you have not paid attention or listened to Me.  The descendants of Jonadab son of Racab have carried out the command their forefather gave them, but these people have not obeyed Me.

The Lord goes on to pronounce the disaster that is in the process of befalling the people of Judah and Jerusalem.  And the Recabites were given a beautiful promise from God, that they would never fail to have a man to serve before God, and it was all based on their simple obedience.

Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (1Corinthians 13) You can hear God's hope for His people as He laments how He had spoken to them again and again, yet they had not obeyed. Again and again He had sent His prophets to them... but they had ignored Him.

Is God trying desperately to help you "see" and you are stubbornly remaining blind? Has He sent word through someone, or is there a situation that is pressing you? Are you digging in His Word to find Him? Are you looking with all your heart, for real? Has He spoken to you again and again? Has He sent His servants to you? Or maybe you're too busy for God, I mean, you do at least give Him that five minutes of devotional reading time in the mornings and you do read the Bible once a week, and well, if you don't forget or fall asleep you usually pray before you go to bed, and tell Him all the things you think He needs to know, and give Him some suggestions and if you think about it, say thank you... for... well whatever He's doing, but you don't usually know for sure what He's doing so your thanks is vague because you don't want to seem ungrateful for real.

You MUST listen for God, and be willing to obey what you hear... and its probably going to take more than five or ten minutes out of your day.  It will actually take your life...

Its the tiniest things that we often think of as too trivial for our attention or time. They are the things God will often use for the biggest effect.

I have written on more than one occasion about sitting on "the sidewalk" with God in Marianna. We had a building at the end of our compound called a "multi-purpose room" and it was exactly that, we had church in there because we didn't have a formal "chapel", and there would be educational presentations and anything else that went on that there was a "gathering..." it was in the multi-purpose room. It was at the end of the compound area that opened up into the rec/track/workout area.  For the last 18 months I was at Marianna, God put me on the sidewalk that faced all four housing units on the compound. God would always give me a place to sit with Him in the mornings when I came out of the unit.  This was a daily thing He asked of me, to give Him this morning time. I had a bag, with two Bibles and writing materials in it.  Every morning, just after the guards and walked through the unit doing count, I would get dressed, either in my work clothes or my sweats (on the weekends) and wait for them to clear the count. Once the count was cleared we were free to move about the compound, inside or out.

I would clear the door and go to a regular "spot" that God would always provide.  During the winter I would often be given use of an interior game room that had heat.  Guards would be kind enough to unlock the door for me. I always knew it was God's favor that I be allowed those heated rooms.  During the spring, summer and fall I would always sit some place outside.

But here's the thing, what I learned in prison was its best never to draw attention to oneself.  The less you are noticed the better off you are. Its best to "fly under the radar".  It keeps life simpler. I excelled at the "under the radar" thing. So, I went out early one cool March morning and the door was locked to the room I had been using, I stood in the middle of the compound waiting quietly for Him to point the way. "Right there will work..." He said, as my eyes fell on the sidewalk that circled the far side of the multi-purpose room. "There? No, not there." I answered Him.

"Yes, there will work just fine." He insisted.
I started walking that direction. "But this puts me in plain view of the entire stupid compound, I'm facing the housing units... NOT HERE." I am grumbling as I drop my bag of Bibles and writing materials.
"Yes, this will work just fine." He said.

The ugliest part of my struggle, played out on that hard cold sidewalk right there. I grew used to the spot with time, but in my ignorance, I had no idea what God was doing. They watched me, but what they saw when they looked out the windows was my faithfulness. Every one knew of my circumstance, I had won an appeal, which is nearly unheard of, and yet remained incarcerated.  What would the "Christian" think of her God now. They saw it, I never had to say it.  I was there every morning, with my God. Those that believed saw it, those that didn't believe saw it.  I was there with God.  People would ask what I did out there every morning... "I sit with God there every day." Guards would walk by, curious why I came out early, no matter the weather and sat. What was I doing? Every day?

I befriended a beautiful young woman named Jeannie. We worked together at the warehouse, we worked out together. When I left Marianna, Jeannie took "the spot" she had watched me sit in every day. She went there in her faithfulness and sat with God.

After coming home, I began to write again and I began the mail ministry of mailing grace notes to those who didn't have email, I mailed them to Jeannie who was still at Marianna at the time. She asked me to add a young woman to the list, Amy. I did. Amy and I exchanged a few letters, then Marianna got email and we exchanged emails. Times change, I change. The writing stops, starts, stops... Amy and I write, then miss a while, then write again. We just pick up where we leave off. A week or so ago, I was emailing Amy to encourage her.  She's done a hunk of time, and I was telling her that its so much easier to "get God" in there than it is out here, I was encouraging her to make her "God Habits" strong, so she wouldn't get distracted once she returns to the world.  I told her about the "spot" on the sidewalk and how much He taught me there. Needless to say to my surprise, Amy wrote me back and told me how Jeannie had ministered to her and explained "the spot on the sidewalk" and how I used to sit there. Amy says sometimes when she looks out her window, she is sure she can still see me there. It is an encouragement to her.

It was a tiny simple act of obedience, one I wasn't even sure He said.  You know the small things are like that.  We do it and it seems silly but surely God doesn't care where I sit? But it mattered very much. And who knows, maybe some part of my spirit is still sitting there with Him... where He taught me so much.

You must gain your listening ear. So you can be obedient to the tiniest commands because with God nothing is vain, or unimportant, not even where you go to sit with Him.
Much love... Anita

Who knew there is joy in digging in the dirt? Well, I already knew it.  These gorgeous days have lured me outside to the garden.  I am wishing I had done my cleaning during the drab ugly days so that I could be planting those spots right now... oh but timing... is every thing.  And there is no rush. But I am more like an excited child at Christmas. I will put the seeds in the ground and then watch every day, awaiting the first tiny sprout that will push its way through. Gardening is so... healing.

I have seeds for parsley and basil, mesclun greens, spinach, and romaine lettuces. They will be tender sweet and delicious.  I have sweet snow peas, and nasturtiums.  How much fun is that?  These warm days will bring the asparagus up, so getting the old summer growth cleaned out is imperative now, lest we cannot find the tender shoots of spring.  I have tomato seeds that I will start inside. Romas and Better boys. I found oregano growing, sheltered under some weeds today, the tarragon will begin to sprout from the ground again. 

Of course I have signs of the flowers that color my yard, peeking through even now.  I have sprouts of day lilies.  And so many daffodils that are standing tall, ready to bloom... the first ones of the year are already nodding their huge yellow heads for me.

My camera walks through my yard have already begun, looking for some treasure to photograph. Here is my first floral.

For me, this is the glory of God.  I feel the greatness of His love in the renewal that is spring. I'm not writing anything profound. Tonight I am just full in my spirit and renewed in my soul by the first glimpse of spring.
Much love to you all... Anita

Finally my brothers, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:10-12)

 

Therefore put on the FULL armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done every thing, to stand.  Stand firm then... (Ephesians 6:13-14)

 

When you have done every thing to stand…stand firm then…

Sounds easy enough doesn’t it?

Here’s something I’ve learned about my enemy…he likes to trick me into going in circles.  Have you ever noticed how some situations seem to constantly circle back around to the same thing over and over?  Let’s say you have a behavioral issue about one of your kids.  You take steps to alter it.  It works for a while, then suddenly, you’re staring right at the same situation again…maybe THIS time its just slightly altered, its not exactly the same, but its similar.  So you address it.  And two months later, you’re addressing it again.  And again.  I’ve seen people live in circles for YEARS and not even recognize them.  I did it in my own marriage…the same basic issue just presenting itself a little differently over and over and over and over…running around and around and around in a circle, and the matter is never truly resolved. 

 

I’ll tell you something about that circular trap, it will exhaust you.  It will wear you out.  I still occasionally get stuck in circles, but my vision is a little better than it used to be and I have this great relationship with God, so when I figure out that I’m not moving FORWARD on some issue, I know its time to stop moving all together, because more than likely, I’m moving in a circle, even if I can’t quite see it.  I go sit down with God and find out.  It takes a willingness to admit your blindness, and a willingness to open yourself to learning a better way, and a willingness to accept you aren’t all that smart.  But God is.

 

After you have done every thing to stand…STAND FIRM THEN…

 

The enemy loves to get you stuck in a circular trap, because you stop growing in your relationship with God.  It’s a useless destructive means that keeps you from the life God intends for you.  It often causes us to question God, and become bitter as we become weary of the never ending cycle of misery.  Round and round we go…sometimes its illness, sometimes is relationships, addictions are circular.  We exhaust ourselves emotionally, mentally, physically and keep wondering “why” is this like this?  And sometimes you’ve been in the circle so long, the root cause is deeply buried. You are trapped, and enslaved and don’t even know it.  The enemy continues to feed you lies that will keep you in the circle.  That’s his J O B.  You have to find God’s voice so that He can send that Spirit of Truth to you that will “take from what is Mine and make it known to you.” (John 16:12-15)  You’ve got to hear God so that you can hear the truth and start to counter-act those lies you’ve been believing. 

 

When I got my little job, I went there to help out on a single “project” but I knew I was supposed to go.  I did that work, then accepted any other work they offered.  Then accepted part time work.  Look I wasn’t even making enough money to hardly buy my gas back and forth.  I pointed this out to God.  He told me I was where He wanted me, keep going.  So I stayed…and they created a full time/full benefit position for me.  I’m not going to get rich, but I’m real stable.  God gave me a job that didn’t exist, the job that did exist wasn’t available and I was in no way shape or form qualified for it.  God made me a REAL good handyman, but I didn’t let the devil steal it from me with a bunch of lies when I didn’t have enough money, and it seemed insane to be driving to Montgomery for a part time job in a 6 cylinder truck and gas was over $3 bucks a gallon.  For those that don’t know… I have a 90 mile commute every single day.  I spend two hours a day just driving.  But God worked it all out, it’s a good job now, I work 4 tens…helps on the commute, makes my animals happy to have me home 3 days a week and I get rested up.  I didn’t buy into the circle.  I stood firm in what God had for me.

 

But the devil is always trying to steal, kill and destroy with his lies.  He’s always trying to trick us believers into negative reactions, angry responses, nasty comments, juicy gossip, because when we’re engaged in those, we are failing at our one real mission… …“A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34)

 

By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another...

And surely the devil does not want that light shining brightly into his dark domain. 

Armor is for tomorrow, much love to you all…Anita

 

I’ve written about the tornado in 07.  This was my first staggering and very real revelation of evil.  And I bemoaned it.  I didn’t want it.  I was uncomfortable with it.

 

The short version:  In Feb of 2007 on a Sunday afternoon, I ended up in the direct path of a funnel cloud.  It past directly over head.  It did some damage but that’s another story, it did NOT take a single life of me and my little gang.  Not a cat, not a bird…none of us.  We were a little stressed but we were all here.  But in the seconds that I stood in my bathroom listening to this thing cross over my house…I would “see” in a way I never cared to.

 

Once you begin to live a life in the spirit, and you can accept that there is a spiritual realm beyond what you can see with your physical eyes and touch with your physical fingers and hear with your physical ears…the journey with God kind of ratchets that up…as it were.  The Bible tells us that God is spirit.  It shouldn’t be such a big stretch for us to understand that we have a spirit inside of us that will connect us to our Creator.  We are created in His image and as He is three…the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, we are three…the soul, the body and the spirit.  I’ve written this before.  Our soul is our personality, the seat of our emotions, and thoughts, the center of the “self”…our body is our body, it houses the soul and spirit here on earth.  And we have a spirit…this is the part of us that can hear God.  Jesus used to teach and say, “let those who have ears, hear.”  He meant spiritual ears.

 

The world loses some of its importance as you learn to live in your spirit, there is a reality shift.  What is real is what God is doing in the spirit, the world is just passing through…and all that’s in it.  The one thing I knew on that Sunday afternoon…in my spirit…was that what was over my house was evil.  It was pure, ugly, horrid evil, and it wanted to destroy me…utterly.  And it was a shocking, frightening, ugly revelation.  There was quite a commotion around my house as people arrived to help move the tree off of the house, the rain was still pouring and now it was pouring into my living room, television crews even showed up…go figure.  The one thing they asked me was what it sounded like…did it sound like a freight train?  Did it sound like a jet engine?  I’m not normally given to drama, and I would have liked to have been able to give a different answer but when they would ask me, very quietly I answered… “No, it does not sound like a freight train…it sounds like death, it sounds like destruction…”  My spirit would remind me, it sounded like evil.

 

So here was my dilemma:  God who sees to me, and cares for me and protects me…why did God do this TO me?  And the big problem was…God is NEVER EVER evil and I was absolutely certain that what crossed my house that day was evil.  Eventually people went home and I stayed…alone.  I came in and settled down, picked up my prayer journal and waited.  God already knew my struggle, my questions.  God is simple and so amazing…He said, “Go read the very first part of Job…”

 

So, I went and read the beginning of Job.  As the tragedies befell Job and the servants are running to tell him all that is transpiring, the last servant comes with the news, “behold there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead…”

 

A great wind, that God did not send.  All that befell Job was of the devil’s making.  God TRUSTED Job’s righteousness, God trusted Job’s integrity, and God ALLOWED the enemy to strike, but the methods of the strike were not concocted by God.  It was an evil wind that felled the house.  It was full of all the evil intent the devil could pack into it.  God did NOT send the wind.  And relief flooded my soul.  The devil showed up here, but did not have leeway to touch me, and didn’t.  He didn’t even have leeway to kill my birds, cats, or dogs.  He flipped a tree or two over, like a brat having a tantrum.

 

But why?  Why did I need to come face to face with such a deadly frightening force?  Why did I need to know this?  I was MUCH happier without the horror of that sound in my head.  I’ll never forget the deep ugly yawing, sucking sound of the funnel cloud above me…never.  I can still hear the thing screaming towards us, then suddenly the screaming no longer filled my ears but what filled them was much worse.  I hear it still.  Thunder storms were difficult that year.  Tornado warnings still set me at a run, gathering birds, moving cages, I have a tornado plan now.  They make me edgy, nervous…I am not so cavalier about storms as I once was.  Why did I have to “see” the ugliness of this evil?  Why did I have to feel its absolute desire to destroy me?  And even though I lived in the revelation of my absolute protection, God’s hand slid perfectly in between it and us…I had still “seen” the other.

 

So I asked why.  I sat down with God and asked Him why I had to know this?  I hated it.  God put it very simply:  You cannot fight an enemy you do not know.  And so began my education of “principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” From Ephesians.  We wrestle not against flesh and blood, we are not equipped to wrestle against flesh and blood and do you know that if you wrestle against flesh and blood, as a believer, you’ll lose every single time.  Why?  You are not equipped for flesh and blood battles. 

 

Enough for today, more tomorrow...I’m not crazy, hang in there with me, much love…Anita