Heading Toward the Light









Last year my daughter and son-in-law were beginning to teach my four year old grandson how to read. As I was leaving their house one day I saw the word "Door" taped on a piece of paper to of course, the door. Easily and without effort Owen was learning to read and write.....

My son-in-law is a professional educator and knows the different learning styles. Those styles would have been nice to know during the seemingly endless days of home schooling. I struggled to teach my children until, I came across the word kinetic. Along with that information I recognized three of my children were kinetic learners. Yes, it had a name.......lol It was then we began to make some giant leaps in learning skills.

Here is a breakdown and significant traits of a tactile/kinetic learner.

• find it difficult to sit still for long periods
• easily distracted by activity around them
• like doing sports, dance, drama
• like hands-on, concrete activities such as role play
• need to touch things in order to learn more about them
• have good coordination
• best ideas and energy will come from some physical activities
• like spending free time outdoors
• frequently use hand gestures when talking with someone
• learn new skills through doing rather than reading/or demonstrating

Tips for parenting tactile/kinetic children:

Let them use physical actions to approach learning something instead of asking them to listen to lectures or long explanations.

When they read, they can’t sit still. So allow them to have some body movement, like walking around.

Let them act out the story while listening to it. Without acting, they have difficulty in absorbing and understanding the information.

Sign them up for some sports.

Give them a hug. Let them “feel” your love for them.

Sometimes kinetic learners are misunderstood as people who have ADHD as it seems that they cannot sit still and focus on work quietly.

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How I laughed at this last sentence. And yes, you might guess, I am also a kinetic/tactical in my learning style……….lol. I have often wondered why the Lord put me here on Sonshine with you analytical types, feeling over my head most of the time. As I read and ponder what you each share, I have been amazed at how he will show me something in the natural to explain what has been shared in the spiritual and finally I get it....

At one point, I found the thought of transformation, while we yet lived, incredulous. The Lord had me study the caterpillar in it's cocooning process. Not remembering much of what was taught in biology. I recalled it was a worm that went in and a butterfly when it came out.......lol a new creature with a new name, butterfly.... the fact that it completely changed......even becoming liquid in the process, amazed me. He started with one thing melted it down and out comes an entirely different being, using the same material......how amazing that he leaves such clues and examples along the way. So there it was, I too would be changed....God is a wonderful kinetic teacher......lol

Last night while talking to Jack, I said, did it ever seem that what you were coming to believe was fantastical? He said, something like, yes one day is seems unbelievable and the next without knowing why it becomes truth…The kind of answer that leaves it up to the Lord to reveal....lol

Later I recalled how I learned to read…..one day I had little need for something called the alphabet…….the next day the word door,…….became a door, when I realized everything had a name… just like my name, Joian identified me…. My mind opened to a whole new world/realm of communication…… God used this “door” concept to make me understand I would be leaving much of my childish thinking of him for what would seem the unknown… he assured me that I would be going through a door marked, “DOOR” and I laughed in my own kinetic way….. as I recalled how Jesus, marked himself, door, bread, the way, life and so much more...

I echo what Eliyah said, “I thank God he has let us meet each of you”… you have become that door, bread and life, into his mind for us……. Your fellowship has been “Rare and Sweet” and your value is far above anything this world has to offer…….. you have deeply impacted our lives and for that we are eternally grateful…….

We Love you,

Joian and Jack
P.S. Eliyah sent this devotional this morning by Ray Prinzing . Seems we are all on tippy toes, trying to catch a glimpse of what is coming. Thanks for sharing what you found.......This relay team has been tremendously enhanced at your appearing.....

Love you much my sister,

Joian


AUGUST 17


BECOMING HIS LIGHT-GIVERS
“Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.” (Psalm 50:2)Zion – a company in Christ, transformed by the renewing of their mind, into the mind of Christ, conformed to His very own image, partakers of His divine nature, the perfection of beauty. The word “perfection” used here comes from the Hebrew word “miklal,” from the root TO COMPLETE, make perfect. However far into the future it appears to us now, in our present processing’s, God has promised to “perfect that which concerneth me.” (Ps. 138:8). He is able to do a quick work, and cut it short in righteousness. And He is able also to sustain us through every time that seemeth long. The work is His, and it will redound to His glory with exceeding joy.” (Jude 24).In our present transition and processing, as we “go forth unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach,” (Heb. 13:13), we also become identified with His humiliation and sorrow, as it was written, “He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.” (Isa. 53:2). His work is within! The outer shell of the flesh, and the reproaches of men have concealed this new creation life. But in the day of “the manifestation of the sons of God,” (Rom. 8:19), HIS BEAUTY SHALL SHINE FORTH – out of Zion.God hath shined – literally, caused to shine. It means much more than just the fact that out of Zion GOD IS SHINING. He is Light, He is always shining. But more specifically, He will cause the light to shine out through his Zion company. Divine radiance will find its expression through this people. Those who shall stand with the Lamb in the mount of Light (Rev. 14:1), shall be vessels, light-bearers, through whom God shines.“That ye may be blameless and harmless (sincere), the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights (Greek, as light-givers) in the world.” (Phil. 2:15).
Ray Prinzing

A FLOWER PLUCKED

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"Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" Job 38:4-7

In these familiar verses above, I see God beckoning Job to remember back ...... to remember back when Job as a son of God and part of the Heavenly Godhead took part in laying out the glorious purpose of creation through Christ Jesus. Surely in the eternal realm of our being, which bookends and even envelops our time on earth we knew before hand our part ...... our personal part, in God's plan, that we would play here on earth.

For sometime now, I have felt that there is at our physical death a gulf where our ignorance in the framework of time and space is swallowed up by our remembrance of our pre-existence and the laying of the worldly foundation along with our appointed place in it. With our passing our boundaries of time sets as eternity dawns when we move through the chasm spanning heaven and earth. Here where eternity meets time all the details of our earthly life pass before us and are given clear remembrance. Oh, yes there is great regret taken for certain frames of our life before the glass darkly is wiped clean by our Christ. This regret is part of the lake of fire experience and the working of the cross. And yes, I believe it works on both sides of the grave. I know I have experience it many times in my life, where it seemed I was caught in a time warp of sorts. I was taken back to view a part of my life that was lacking and I have wept in my regret. And when I was torn, broken and completely undone by the review of my horrendous foibles God would reach down in love and assure me I could never have done differently and my sin was remedied even before the foundation of the world was laid. Oh how wondrous is the comfort of His hand in such places. This is surely that which Agape love is made of and I am ever so relieved and beyond grateful to have experienced it.

But alas, as mentioned, the glass clears and we see we could have done nothing different as all was purposed and planned even before the ages. And we shall shout and sing Christ's praise as we did before. We sing with joy because we have come to realize our Spirit in Christ never left the eternal realm but we have carried a soul back from our sojourn as the Father's love has been increased. The earth that we were and the spirit we have always been is now become Heaven and earth met, the flesh has been made spirit and a New Creation has been begotten.

This is a portion of my view of how the Cross of Christ works it's grace in Hades. This is Jesus come to set the captives free (1Pet 3:19) and I can sometimes hear a recently departed son of God and morning star added to the chorus of Jesus proclamation. "it is finished!" Oh, the wonders of this Christ and His Cross that breaketh all asunder and knows no bounds.

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The Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of water and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Rev 7:17 & 21:4
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And sometimes when I am real still I can hear the heavenly chorus sing of Christ and His Cross. This morning I sensed another voice added to the great cloud of witnesses as they sang their sweet refrain of Christ Jesus. That voice is of Lee Wood, whom a number of us knew from the forums. Lee was taken suddenly last week in an automobile accident. With his departure I am reminded of this little metaphor by T.L.Haines as I know the Master has plucked another flower to grace Heaven's throne.

‘Who plucked that flower?’ cried the gardener, as he walked through the garden. His fellow servant answered, ‘The Master.’ And the gardener held his peace.

When I first ran across Lee on the old Kingdomtalk forum I addressed him as soldier and it seemed that endeared me to him. I was about the same age and I knew his type. He was one of those that had been scarred as young men, by the rigors and horrors of the Viet Nam War.
This giant of man carried a number of ailments in his body because of the chemical defoliants sprayed over many of the areas he fought in. Where many that shared his war experience became hardened Lee instead carried a passion and steel for God mixed with a rare tenderness toward his fellow man. Often times, even the old curmudgeon I am, would wince as he got after a forum participant that was attempting to pervert the gospel. These times were outweighed and softened by the occurrences when I wept as I read some other Lee Wood messages. I often would witness a beautiful anointing when this tough man would reach down and comfort the heart of another hurting soul. Such was this old message (below) I saved in a file. Here Lee lends empathy and comfort to a woman who had recently lost a young son. Lee was also renown for his disdain of the spell check function on forums. This one had to be the rare exception to the no spell check rule. I pray you feel the essence of this man so many of us grew to love.

I think in your sorrow, dear Love, the Lord has opened up some real windows for you.This speaks to me of the Spirit. The name it claim it is a great deception upon the nominal church today.There is a principle where by giving we will receive.But putting up earthen treasures comes into the picture too.Wrong hearts desire.Thy will be done, will always bring about the Kingdom of God within a much needed creation who groans in need.

Losing your son, seems so unfair and painful, it's hard to speak of, for fear of causing more hurt.When it's important to grasp the fullness of Christ and know that death is no longer what it seems, for threw Christ all are made alive.He is both the God of the living and the dead it is said.

I am convinced that young children who's lives are cut short are truly given to those who hold them dear as special messengers from God.I first saw that when reading a small book written by the famous cowgirl star and singer Dell Evens called ANGELS UNAWARES.She and Roy Rogers were very much lovers of Christ and lost a young child.They took in many children before and afterwards who had special needs.But she really was given some insight in her grieving experience.

Yes blessed angels(messengers) bringing their loved ones and others they touch a special message, only you can know.I see that message coming threw in your words and touching the body of Christ........so in that I guess we would have to say it's a message for all.The Christed one has spoken threw a chosen vessel.

We're lucky the Father sees us all as little children, for it's them he holds dear to his heart with the greatest of LOVE, I believe.I made my mother very happy as a small child, but very sad as a teenager as a young man I gave her gray hairs and many worries even till the day she died.Yet she loved me, mothers have the heart of GOD and are so very special.Dear mother you are loved and know your little one is in the cloud of witnesses that surround the body of Christ in anticipation of a final day of Glory for ALL.

You Are LOVED!

lee


Lee who loved the mountains was also a blacksmith and a bee keeper. I imagine much of his wisdom was derived from these two passions. In closing this epitaph to a treasured brother, I'll leave you with the other message written by Lee that I saved. I am sure there is a hidden message somewhere in this for us all.

"I remember there was a blacksmiths grave, with a big old anvil as his headstone. It read the smith that beats cold Iron goes to hell and this smith never once hit upon iron not red from the coals. I'm a blacksmith now by passion and recieved some of my first influance from this fine gentleman......in that my hammer never strikes on iron turned black." Lee Wood

In Our Sweet Lord Jesus,

Jack and Joian

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(above)Lee is in the hat with his brothers Stacy and Doug (right) Lee is in the middle.

Stacy Wood who is also recently departed
was a well known Kingdom minister.
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"One has the most gallant and trustworthy escort when he passes from this world through the portal we call death -- the Morning Star, the Dawn of the Ages, the Guiding Light -- Jesus Christ, the Captain of souls. He breaks the chains of carnal bondage, sets the imprisoned spirit free, closes the toilsome career of frustration, opens the door of immortal happiness, and returns the soul to its own, original, and glorious home, to go out no more forever."
Haines


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THE JEWISH BUDDHIST

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This morning I received this list (below) from my uncle, who is a converted Jew, along with this salutation, "thought you might enjoy this slice of Jewish humor, dear nephew! laughter is always good for us...and good for life! ~blessings and enjoy~ uncle donald"

Then I thought how I might use this list:

a) I could share it with my Jewish physician, who actually is a practicing Buddhist. After he recommends to me, for the umpteenth time, a course of antidepressants to relieve my inward wars, I could read to him the list. This would demonstrate that I am not feeling as bad as my plunging vital signs would indicate and I'm good to go

b) I could use some of this as new material, after I log back on to Sigler's forum under the new username of "N" for "No Reputation." God knows I haven't got one, after the "Jack is Gone" thread (wince ..... I don't think so)

c) I could post it on the blog for your enjoyment

For now I'll settle for "c" (lol)


Sayings of the Jewish Buddhist

* If there is no self, whose arthritis is this?

* Be here now. Be someplace else later. Is that so complicated?

* Drink tea and nourish life: with the first sip, joy; with the second sip, satisfaction; with the third sip, peace; with the fourth, a Danish.

* Wherever you go, there you are. Your luggage is another story.

* Accept misfortune as a blessing. Do not wish for perfect health, or a life without problems. What would you talk about?

* The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single Oy.

* There is no escaping karma. In a previous life, you never called, you never wrote, you never visited. And whose fault was that?

* Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.

* The Tao does not speak. The Tao does not blame. The Tao does not take sides. The Tao has no expectations. The Tao demands nothing of others. The Tao is not Jewish.

* Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out. Forget this and attaining enlightenment will be the least of your problems.

* Let your mind be as a floating cloud. Let your stillness be as a wooded glen. And sit up straight. You’ll never meet the Buddha with such rounded shoulders.

* Deep inside you are ten thousand flowers. Each flower blossoms ten thousand times. Each blossom has ten thousand petals. You might want to see a specialist.

* Be aware of your body. Be aware of your perceptions. Keep in mind that not every physical sensation is a symptom of a terminal illness.

* The Torah says, Love your neighbor as yourself. The Buddha says, There is no self. So, maybe we’re off the hook.
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NEXT .... Our Translation?

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"Finney preached, and sometimes the whole congregation would get up and leave! That's good preaching." - Leonard Ravenhill

Cardinal sent this by Ravenhill to me last week and we had a good laugh. Obviously Finney wasn't preaching no "Prosperity Gospel(lol). One must go a far bit with God to understand how true this quote is. It is when one recognizes the working of God within a remnant that one begins to recognize the cost few have been given heart to pay. Truly it will cost us all to possess All that He gave. I love Joian's statement posted in the sidebar of our blog as it echos my last thought:
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"It's his life for ours. We die, He lives, and then the mystery is that we live again." The wonder of it all!


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"Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son" Col 1:13

"By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God" Hbr 11:5
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NEXT .... Our Translation?

I got up this morning at 2AM to read for a bit and stumbled across a wonderful writing which I have copied below. As I read it, I kept thinking over and over, " our translation .... our translation." By now, many of us have realized that there is a progression in most states of our walk, whether it be our surrender, crucifixion, resurrection, or sonship etc. So I believe it would be also, with the experiences of our "translation", as exampled in the accounts of Philip departing from the eunuch(below) and Enoch's glorious departure(above).

And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities ..... Act 8:39,40

As I ran a Greek concordant search on the two scriptures I found where "translation" is used in the New Testament I found the duo terms, "metatithmi" and "methistmi", give thought to:

*to transpose (two things, one of which is put in place of the other)
*to transfer
*to change
*to transfer one's self or suffer one's self to be transferred
*a change of situation or place


It is when I got to the root words(and their definitions) of "metatithmi", taken from the Enoch scripture (Heb 11:5), that I began to see the connection of "our translation" with the copied article below. I believe these positional descriptions are worth meditating on for moment:

*to lay
*to put down, lay down
*to bend down
*to lay off or aside, to wear or carry no longer


Using this above as some background to understand the meaning of "translation" let me share with you that I believe "our translation or, better said, translations" are possibly the next place(no pun intended) in our sonship journey. I might believe that even today some are being translated, even unawares. I think this probably happens most often in deep prayer where no awareness, what so ever, is given to our self or our surroundings. Truly God is bringing some of us to "nought" that He be All and do all things through us. With that said, please take these last thoughts I shared with you, as you read this message by George Davis. I would hope you might catch a glimpse of why I kept thinking "our translation" as I read this.


Centered On Self or Lost In God?
By George Davis

Someone defined salvation as "salvation from self." If we carefully consider this statement in the light of scripture, we can do no less than prove it true.
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At initial conversion, we are enabled by the Spirit of Love to see beyond ourselves. Love is not self-focused. It seeks not its own. And we begin, however haltingly to walk in the reality of this great love. Even with this radical shift away from egocentrism we still bring our old self-relating reflex, which we inherited from Adam, with us. What do I mean by "self-relating"? It is that fallen condition which we inherited for Adam, who after he sinned no linger lived unto his Creator, as the glory of the Creator, but instead became acutely self-conscience and self-serving. After eating the forbidden fruit, his eyes were opened, his focus shifted onto himself and, spurred on by the shame of what he saw, he hid among the trees. Adam's first reaction was shame. He covered himself (indicating a shame-based state of self-awareness). Adam turned into himself and began to judge all things from this new position and motivation. Even his Creator became a threat to him. While hiding from the presence of the LORD God among the trees, God asks Adam the question, "Where are you?" Adam, now hopelessly blinded by self-focus, answered, "I", "I", "I", "I" ... "I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself" (see Genesis 3:10-11). And man has hidden from himself, God and others, ever since. We were all born into this conflicted state, hiding from the presence of the LORD God among the trees, tightly clutching our fig leaves.

In his book Ashes into Gold: The Journey of Spirituality, Martin M. Davis described this fallen nature in man as,

". . .an infantile, selfish despot that tolerates no frustration, brooks no delay of gratification, and reverences no master—including God. Sigmund Freud descriptively labeled this inner highchair tyrant "his majesty the baby," the metaphorical embodiment of our innate egocentricity, grandiosity, and false sense of omnipotence. His majesty's latent cries resound within each of us as he pounds his spoon upon his highchair and screams, 'I want! I want! I want!'
In his boundless egocentricity, his majesty the baby views himself as the center of a personally constructed universe. He regards himself as the principal actor in the unfolding drama of life and all others as mere extras who exist solely to support him in his starring role. . ."
From the moment we first drew air we were lost, self-relating and utterly lacking consideration for others. This ingrown state IS the condition commonly called "sin." From this perspective we can easily see why anything short of salvation from self falls far short of full salvation, because we still carry with us the self-fixation that we are supposed to be saved from. Consequently our spiritual lives consist of a pilgrimage away from carnality unto the full dawning of the Daystar in our hearts.

The following example from DeVern Fromke's book, "No Other Foundation" may help us make our point. (because the diagram copied so poorly I will list the four stages of progression; first to the last)

1) Jesus died ......... for me
2) His death provides victorious life ......... for me
3) In Him I died ..... to become alive ......... unto God
4) LIFE has one passion and purpose: bringing honor, glory and satisfaction ........ unto Him

You see the progression. When I was first saved I was limited in vision due to a lifetime of viewing everything through a self-relating lens. My first response to Christ's death and provision of grace was to view it nearsightedly, as something purely "for me," to make life better "for me", to save me. "Christ died for me." "His death provides victorious life for me." You see where this is going. The further along we go on this journey the more we realize that it is all "UNTO HIM". The more we are tried and come forth as pure gold, the more our lives have one passion and purpose--bringing honor, glory and satisfaction UNTO HIM. This is the big difference between slaves, children and mature sons.

Paul measured maturity by the absence or presence of carnality. "Are you not carnal? Are you not babes?" Conversely, by that same standard, maturity is self-forgetfulness. I am not casting stones at anyone here but simply point out that we are in the process of growth and that that growth is measured by the degree of selflessness we walk in. And that, should we return to our fig leaves God, from time to time, will ask us "Where are you?" Or rather, call our attention to where we are at because the heart is desperately wicked and is capable of making saintly the most evil desires and activities by dressing them in robes of piety. We like to think of ourselves as noble, truthful and selfless, embodying all the best human characteristics. But we vacillate between narcissism and self-oblivion.

We feel the call of destiny; to rise above all that is merely carnal and an inner strength that promises the realization of it, and yet we remain divided within ourselves and among ourselves.

We are capable of great love and self-sacrifice and at the same time, when the right trigger is pulled, capable of engaging in the worst forms of self-protection and self-aggrandizement. If we are honest with ourselves, this describes the experience of most of us. He who says he has no sin in this matter has indeed deceived himself. Even seemingly noble activities fall short when they come from the wrong tree. "If I give my body to be burned and have not love, I am nothing."

If that inner highchair tyrant is not dethroned in our lives we will inevitably lay down our crosses and hang our shingles. Even something as seemingly selfless as serving others soon becomes "my ministry." This despot doesn't give up his throne without a fight and he will use every trick in his bag to keep it. He will even be "holy" if that is a requirement of keeping his throne. However, his excitement in things holy is all about what is happening to Him and how people are relating to Him in what God is doing in HIS life. Every conversation is about what "God is doing in Me" and how "God is using ME." Though it sounds great it reaches no further in goal and objective than the outer skin. It is Adam relating to God with himself at the center.

What is the answer?
A shift as radical as Galileo's discovery that the universe is not geocentric is required. We must move from our self-relating perspective, where the Son revolves around us, our desires, our "needs" to a Christocentric life where our earth revolves around Him and all that we are is the outgrowth of basking in His light, life and love.

Christ the last Adam came to call us out of hiding and remove our fig leaves and cover our guilt and shame with a new covering. By His death on the cross He deposed our I-ness (shame-based self-focus) from the throne of our lives and put our focus back where it belongs. Through our crucifixion with Him we are delivered from a self-centered existence to a God-centered life. "He died for all, that they who live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto him who died for them, and rose again" (2 Corinthians 5:15).

It is Adam's "I" that continues to hinder true fellowship between God and men and between man and men.

O Father make your salvation complete! Perform a miracle tantamount to the crossing of the Red Sea! Deliver us from ourselves! Produce in us a holy self-oblivion. Wake us up, grow us up and swallow our identities up in your great Love, that we might live in your sight! Not doing our alms before men to be seen of them but before you, in your sight and for your glory! Amen!

After two days will he revive us: on the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. (Hosea 6:2)Davis

In closing please allow me to share one of my favorite scriptures in all the Bible (below). On a personal level, this one is dear to my heart and if you care to know why, I share a little bit of this in my first ever blog on "SONSHINE". This first blog also served as a kind of bio. and it is titled " Pain & Glory" Here is the link should you have the inkling and the time:
http://jack-sonshine.blogspot.com/2007/03/jack-hennessey-bio.html

"And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him" Gen 5:24

This is my desire, and my hope for you ....... that we will walk with God as did Enoch, and then one day ........

Jack and Joian
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TIME TO CHANGE SANDPAPER

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They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalms 126:5-6

I laughed tonight when I read some thoughts by an old friend, Keith, whom many of us have traded forum messages with over the years. I have a multitude of wonderful quotes by this brother stuck away in my files and we also have one published on our blog sidebar. I thought Keith's metaphor on the changing of sandpaper (quoted below) a wonderful one. I found it delightful because there are so many ways to look at it.

I copied this from Keith's wife, Cindi's blog tonight:

"In a conversation I had with Keith the other day, he mentioned an analogy....the sandpaper that sands the rough edges off the wood, is also changed during the process. I was on my way out the door to work so we didn't delve into it any deeper than that. I'm not sure if, in this situation, I am the block of wood or if I am the sandpaper."

While Cindi pondered whether she was the "wood' or the "sandpaper" in her situation, I thought something completely different with this metaphor. I thought of the times of "refreshing respite from my trials" as the times God is not sanding off my rough edges, but instead moving across heaven to grab another sheet of sand paper. Oh, take your time Lord .... take your sweet time (LOL).

He does give me little times of "respite" and "refreshment" in each day and in these I am so removed from my trials. If you were to see me during these periods, I am certain you would think, that man's joy is so full he must not have a care in the world.

So yesterday, I spent an hour putting together a 100 piece jigsaw puzzle with a little four year old as her mom ran errands. Oh believe me, I hate puzzles but I could see right off the bat I was going to enjoy this one, because this little four year old didn't have a clue. She was however very adapt at pressing, forcing, prying and reshaping any two pieces that even showed the possibility of fitting together. Grimacing, I finally talked her into picking and placing in a pile the pieces that had the same color or pattern and said I would put them together. I explained how we would be a team.

As we were completing the puzzle, I would gleefully shout at every coupling of pieces, "Yeah! we got another one!"
Well, after we were seeing some real success, with the bottom of the puzzle coming together, my little friend began to wryly comment every so often after my shout, "Jack you're the one who is really putting the puzzle together."
To which I would assure her with my best Mr Rogers impression, that she had the more important job and I was doing the easy stuff.
Well about the time this savvy four year old was balking at my repeated analysis of the importance of our different assigned jobs, her mom and three siblings showed up for lunch. The half completed cheap cardboard puzzle was boxed and spared to see another day. Maybe when my little friend is five we'll have another go at it and I bet our roles, right off the bat, will be reversed at her insistence.

I always keep little cartons of different flavored yogurts in the refrigerator as treats for the kids when they come over for a visit. It's routine now, that we have to have some kind of contest or drawing to see who gets first pick of the flavor they want. I mean these aren't ordinary contests but there are all kinds of decorum and formality to be gone through, including drum roles, speeches and applause as each winner is announced. Well yesterday after the puzzle and lunch it was yogurt time and the kids were excited. I was the one to shake up the pot with the five folded pieces of paper with a name on it. The ten year old drew the names and in between drawings I re-shook. My name was drawn first so I made my pick. Then when no one was looking I deftly placed my name in the pot again. There was a near riot when my name came up again. I knew I would be called "cheater" the rest of the afternoon so I succumbed to the pressure and gave my extra yogurt up. LOL

Yes, I am thankful for the time God took to change sandpaper yesterday. And if you are going through a trial I pray that you also can find someone to share some joy with during the time it takes for Him to cross the heavens for a change of sandpaper.

Jack & Joian


PS. I started this blog with the idea that the "sandpaper analogy" would serve as an introductory to a deeper message. I thought to share some thoughts on John's heartbreaking situation and how it seems we each at times would prefer to fit into part of another man's fate. I don't know why some seem to suffer more than others in this world but I also know I enjoy seeing my friends, loved ones and even strangers enjoying themselves. God forbid that I should ever come to the point that I can't share in the joy of others, even knowing I might suffer that they find such joy.

"I understand so well that it is only His love which makes us acceptable. His love is the only good I ambition. Jesus has designed to show me rest in God's Divine Furnace, and this is the surrender of the little child who sleeps without fear in its Father's arms."


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Kratos, a brother with a great need

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Joian and I were crushed when we received an E-mail tonight from an old forum friend, John McManus, better known by his forum username "Kratos." Many of our readers have traded thoughts and messages with John over the years, so we post His mail message here, knowing the faithful will be in prayer for this good brother and his family in this most trying time.

If you care to comment with a prayer or give John a word of encouragement, please do so and we will forward them on to him. As I read through John's message for at least the sixth time, I felt something. John's words used in his personal prognosis ie. "miracle or death" stirred deep in my spirit, that this saint of God and dear brother is helpless. John is helpless knowing only that God is able. Our brother is ripe for a miracle and that is my great hope. God is as able as He is loving and we trust His peace and healing for John and his family.

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Joian and I have sent to John our encouragement and that which the Lord laid on our hearts. More importantly both of us shall be in prayer.
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Jack and Joian,

I have been MIA on the forums for about 6 months. I think and feel led to contact you both with a report on my life to see if either has anything from the Lord for me. I have seldom reached out this way, but am trying hard to be led in the midst of a very dark hour so forgive me if this turns out to be just me.

As late as this April, I had been serving the Lord for almost 25 years and have only experienced one "dark night o the soul" when I lost my ministry and was cut down per Daniel 4 as a Babylonian King and started on the road to Sonship leaving the ministry behind about 15 years ago.

During these years, I always held to the "truth" that only good things come from God and all sickness and tribulation in the flesh come from the devil. Yes, the Father chastises those sons whom He receives so they can be partakers of His holiness, but this chastisement is always in the soul as in Gethsemane as we suffer the loss of our soul in favor of His will over ours.

Anyway, I have asked God to do all to me necessary to transform me into one of His manifested Sons so I could help to set at liberty the creation as per Romans 8 in the age to come. In April, I started to have symptoms of my liver failing and my skin and eyes turning yellow with jaundice. Not being a believer in 'Babylonian doctors', I suffered for 6 weeks as I got more and more yellow and more and more toxic until my wife finally rushed me to the emergency room where the doctors barely saved my life through emergency surgery.

To close, it turns out that I have a cancerous tumor blocking my bile duct and causing a back up of very septic bile fluid. Drain tubes were put in the drain this fluid to remove infection so they could operate and remove the tumor. A few weeks later they went in and found the cancer was spread to my liver and abdomen and is inoperable. A week later it was diagnosed that I also have lung cancer. Bottom line is I have been sent home to die as the doctors have nothing left to do. If I do not receive a miracle in a few weeks, I guess I will be dead.

I do not fear death, but will be leaving behind a wife and children who depend upon me greatly for their provision as well as my part as a husband and father. Please pray and speak as an oracle of God if you have anything.

John


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Have you left your heart too?

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Have you told the Lord, you can do anything you want with me; I surrender all that I have and all that I am? Have you ever asked God to rid you of any unclean thing at whatever cost?

If you have, I know that you have been captured by the beauty of Jesus on the deepest level and thus have a desire only to be the spotless glowing bride worthy of God's Precious Son. Such was King David when, captured by Christ' loveliness, pined , "Whom have I in heaven but thee? There is none upon earth that I desire beside thee!"

Eliyah came to Joian and myself a few months ago and the first time I ever visited with Eliyah on the phone I had tears in my eyes as she told me how she often cries out to the Father to make her ready for her betrothal and full union with His beloved Son. How rare a find is such a surrendered soul as this dear sister, and what a gift to our lives she has been in the short time we have had to know her.

We invited her some months ago to share what ever is on her heart with us on the blog and tonight she shares. We pray Eliyah's message causes you to better understand God and increases your loving desire for His Glorious Son, Yeshua.
John and Joian

(Eliyah calls me by my formal name "John"
and uses Yeshua and Jesus, equally.
We love it.)


Have you left your heart too?

A couple of days ago someone said to me rather proudly that they along with others have heard the call within themselves to ‘walk away from the law’......and this made me sad, not only for this person but I was grieved for my Lord.

I felt the kick in the gut like one feels when they hear the news that their spouse has fallen ‘out of love’ with them and have found another that is their SOUL(ish) mate.

Honestly, I still feel sick about it....for He has allowed me to feel HIS HEART......for His law has been WRITTEN upon my very heart.


Today so many that call themselves ‘christians’ and even some that call themselves ‘sons’ have been won over by another man .....the MAN OF LAWLESSNESS. They have chosen to be SEDUCED by all kinds of New Age thought...from Oprah’s guru to Spirit Guides, allowing themselves to be fed from every detestable spirit found within the pages of KING REASON and Prince Tolerance.

For those that might not take the bait of the New Age seducers, they might let their guard down for the Macho-men of the Apostles & Prophets. These Man-Made Kings love to tell you just WHO THEY ARE in the Lord’s kingdom....and they have the business card to prove it! Yes, there are many seducers that come after the Lords children, and this is why He has His CHAMBERLAINS that guard the BRIDE that he so cherishes.
These seducers are all different but are in actuality the SAME MAN just wearing a different form.

Who is this man that has seduced the flock of God....what is his name you may ask?

The second book of Thessalonians tells us.....

“ Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God....

The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness. (2Thess 2 :3-4: 9-12).”

Now this man of lawlessness gets around......he has many notches on his bedpost, and what I find most interesting is how all that have chosen to fornicate with him continue to make excuses for him even though they have lost their very HEART due to him.

To each and every conquest that Mr. Lawlessness has HAD comes the seductive whisper .....”Jesus actually doesn’t mind having a three-some.... Jesus has actually approved of this extra-marital affair.”
No!!?? You say this can’t be..... how does he do this, how does he get away with it???
This is how......he tells them that Christ himself has given permission and decreed that the Law is CURSED, so thus Mr. Lawlessness is now made welcome into the bed chamber. For those that still are not quite sure if their beloved Christ has given such an invitation to Mr. Lawlessness the wicked LIAR quickly leads them to Galatians 3:13 and twists the meaning in the eyes of the deceived to read as .......”I have been redeemed from the CURSED LAW”......instead of what it actually says ....” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us”. What was the CURSE that their TRUE LOVE redeemed them from......the very first curse ever spoken was the curse of DEATH! Gen 2:17.

This beautiful husband redeemed His bride from the curse of death and he actually DIED so that she might NOW live...... makes me weep every time......“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

“We were not saved to be lawless; we were saved to become slaves of righteousness and slaves of God through Jesus Christ. Those who understand this will no longer continue in sin, viewing the law as a religious artifact from a by-gone age. They will see the law as a revelation of God, full of life and possessing prophetic meaning that has yet to be fully understood.”( Stephen Jones.)

Mr. Jones continues by saying.....
”The purpose of the divine law is to set the standard for right and wrong. In other words, the law defines sin. It was never meant to save or justify anyone except those who are sinless. Since “all have sinned” (Rom. 3:23), it is plain that the law cannot be used for purposes of salvation. Yet it still retains its usefulness in informing us of what God thinks sin is. “By the law is the knowledge of sin,” Paul says in Rom. 3:20.

When God gave the law to Moses and to the Israelites, He began with the Ten Commandments. These Commands were to be obeyed, and so they represented the test of obedience. That is, no Israelite could claim to be obedient to God if he worshipped other gods, dishonored his parent, stole from his neighbor, or committed adultery. These laws were the first written revelation of the character of God and what He expected from man.”

What I have become increasingly grieved over is just how much Mr. Lawlessness has infected the children of God. He is a molester too. The children of God have listened to this molester repeatedly tell them that the “law has been done away with’ and so whenever a person brings THE TRUTH to the child of God using the old testament or the new testament....the child cringes thinking he is about to receive a spanking, when in reality the truth would bring healing, deliverance and restoration to the child.

I personally noticed this the other day in my conversation with a woman who said she left the law a long time ago and would never follow THE WAY of one pointing their finger in her face telling her what to do. I explained to the CHILD that the very word TORAH (cringe was her response...ouch...)meant ‘instructions, as to POINT THE FINGER giving directions..and yes it does mean that....but I also want to share what Stephen Jones explains as to the meaning of the word Torah.....it truly is EYE OPENING and beautiful.....and for ALL THE SONS.....a clear picture of our pattern!
“The Hebrew word for law is Torah. In Hebrew it is spelled tav - vav - resh - hey. Tav literally means “a mark or sign (of the cross). It was originally written as a cross, although the modern Hebrew letter is different, because it is actually Aramaic and was adopted from Babylon during the 70-year captivity.

The vav literally means “a nail or peg.” The resh literally means “a head, or leader.” The hey, when positioned at the end of a word, means “what comes from.”

Hence, the Hebrew word, Torah, literally means “what comes from the Leader nailed to the Cross.” In other words, the Lawgiver was Jesus Christ, the Leader who was nailed to the Cross.

When Jesus gave His so-called “Sermon on the Mount” in Matthew 5-7, He was not overruling the law, nor was He destroying or replacing it. He was disputing the Pharisaical interpretation of the law. “You have heard it was said,” Jesus explained, “but I say unto you...” In other words, you have heard it was taught that the law means such-and-so, but I tell you that they have misunderstood the law. Here is what it really means.

Take it from the Lawgiver. He was the one who dictated it to Moses. Rabbinical interpretations of the law, based upon the Jewish Talmud, is not a revelation of the mind of God (Jesus Christ). One must study the law from Jesus' perspective, or, as some would put it, from a New Testament perspective. If the rabbis had understood the law, Jesus would never have had to correct them. In fact, Jesus said of them in Matt. 15:6-9,

6... and thus you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me. 9 But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.

The law is good, if a man use it lawfully (1 Tim. 1:8). The traditions of the elders—their interpretations of the law—were based upon their carnal understanding of the law. Their traditions were not only wrong, they made void the law (Matt. 15:1-9). The same has occurred with Church traditions. Men's interpretations have caused men to cast aside the law and tell many that God now approves the violation of certain laws—such as charging interest on monetary loans or homosexual relations. “ Stephen Jones.

The book of Malachi tells us that before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes something will happen.....
He will send the Spirit of Elijah......and what will Elijah do? Elijah will remind the disobedient children to REMEMBER MOSES and the laws that were given to him at Mt. Horeb. “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel.” Mal 4:4

Why do the children need to remember Moses (representing the law)??....b/c they have now become disobedient in the last days and have listened to the man of lawlessness and allowed every evil spirit that deceives into their very temple. In the Lord’s MERCY he sends Elijah to TURN the hearts of the children to the FATHERS.
“See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.” Mal 4:5

Who are these fathers? Those of the fatherhood realm.....found in Yahweh’s saints throughout the ages that have learned OBEDIENCE through the things they have suffered as did the FIRST SON, Jesus. For me, these fathers are not only Abraham, Isaac, Jacob.....but also include saints like Jane Leade, J. Preston Eby, and Ray Prinzing and many others that have BEEN MADE PRIESTS and KINGS. For one first has to become a SON (But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name–John 1:12) in order to BE MADE a priest (and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father...Rev1:6).

What is the Lord’s purpose in sending Elijah? We see that it is to TURN THE HEARTS.....of both fathers to children and children to fathers. This is a PROMISE of OUR FATHER, that He will turn the hearts. “He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.” What a beautiful, glorious picture of our Father’s mercy! What a promise!

What are the consequences for those that choose to not heed to the Lord’s ANOINTED? That he will strike the land with a curse. The ultimate curse will be that you will not enter into your ‘promised LAND’ of the glorified body and will not be part of the first resurrection.

Stephen Jones writes....
.”1 John 3:4 says, “sin is lawlessness.” The Greek word that he uses is anomia. The Greek word for law is nomos. The “a” at the beginning of the word is a negative, so the word literally means “no law” or “lawlessness.” Strong's Concordance says that it means “illegality, i.e., violation of law, or (gen.) wickedness.

We ought also to make a distinction between God's law and Jewish law. Jewish laws are the traditions of men found in the Talmud, which are their uninspired interpretations of the divine law. They have volumes of minutiae on every subject, which put Jews into great bondage, which God never intended. In contrast to Jewish law is the divine law that Jesus (in the form of Yahweh) gave to Moses. “

Jones further explains....
”Jesus again spoke of lawlessness in Matt. 13:41, saying,

41 The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks and those who commit lawlessness [anomia].

Since this was Jesus' explanation of the parable of the tares in the wheat, it is plain that He was equating the tares with “those who commit lawlessness,” or those who deliberately violate the divine law, thinking they are now privileged to do so under grace. The fact that this was a parable about the end of the age brings the problem of lawlessness to our own doorsteps of the Church today. In fact, in Matt. 24:12, Jesus said about the Church in our day,

12 And because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold.

In Acts 2:23 Peter says in his pentecostal sermon that it was by the hands of lawless men that the Messiah was put to death. The word Peter uses is anomia.

The Apostle Paul quotes Ps. 32:1, 2 in his letter to the Romans, writing in Rom. 4:7

7 Blessed are those whose lawless deeds [anomiai] have been forgiven and whose sins have been covered.

He says again in Rom. 6:19,

19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness [anomia], resulting in further lawlessness [anomia], so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.

Paul was well aware of the problem of lawlessness and how it would affect the Church as time progressed. Moses knew the same thing would happen with Israel after his death (Deut. 31:29). So Paul warned the Church in 2 Thess. 2:7,

7 For the mystery of lawlessness [anomia] is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8 And then that lawless [anomos] one will be revealed [exposed] whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming.

We see, then, that both Jesus and the Apostle Paul prophesied of great lawlessness at the end of the pentecostal age, and Paul said that this already—in his day—had begun to manifest. In my own early life in the Church, I was taught not to be lawless, but somehow that word never focused upon the divine law that Jesus Christ had given to Moses. Rather, it was defined more in terms of what our Church was teaching in regard to right and wrong. How ironic that our Church would support America 's prison system, instead of teaching the people that those who steal ought to pay restitution—and yet they never once thought of themselves as lawless.

Other churches see nothing wrong with homosexual behavior, as long it is done out of “love.” Such churches are also lawless, for Jesus Christ told Moses very clearly in Lev. 18:22,

22 You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.

Remember what Jesus said about those who are lawless. Even if they have done many wonderful works in the name of Jesus, in the end He will say to them, “Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness” (Matt. 7:23).

This does not mean that the lawless ones will lose their salvation. It means simply that they will not inherit the first resurrection, but will have to await the general resurrection at the end of the thousand years. The first resurrection includes only believers who are called to rule and reign with Christ a thousand years (Rev. 20:4-6). One cannot rule if one cannot discern right from wrong and, as a judge, correct injustices. In other words, one must know the law and be led by the Spirit in order to correctly apply the law by the mind of Christ.” (Stephen Jones end quote).

As I stated at the beginning of this blog, I was grieved to hear someone that says that they love Christ to now have heard along with others the call to .......
(Eliyah's message cont. on next blog)

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