From Immigrant to Pulpit

    “Practice, practice what you preach. I’m here to tell you that it’s what you do not what you say that’s gonna count on judgment day.” The lyrics to this song were popular in the house I grew up in. They summarize my sentiments on what it takes to be an effective pastor. An effective pastor should have several virtuous qualities. Level of commitment, passion for God and courage of conviction makes one a credible witness for God.

    His name was Heinz. He was my father. He was also a pastor. Heinz first learned about commitment at the early age of five when his parents escaped from East Germany with their six children. His mother had vowed that her children would have a better life and so they boarded a boat, headed for the United States. It was April 22, 1952 when they landed in New York, with only $11.45 to their name. Heinz carried that commitment with him the rest of his life. He had gone into the army during the Vietnam War. Soon after that, he married my mother, and within a few years they had two children. It was then that Dad felt God tugging at his heart. He decided to go to college to become a preacher. He and Mom both worked while Dad went to school. I remember this so clearly because Dad and I walked to school together. Finally, in May of 1977, Heinz graduated from Southern Missionary College in Tennessee. He and Mom had their third child.

    My father’s passion for God first took us to North Dakota where Dad ministered for four years. Dad had three churches. Two of the churches we went to one week. Then the next week we went to the other. Every church Dad pastored grew. One of the ways he encouraged participation in church was to tell the children what his sermon would be about and have us count how many times he said specific words. The child who came the closest to being right got a prize. I never got a prize. After four years we moved to Illinois. Again Dad’s church grew. Then one day my parents split. Rumors that went around caused my father to lose his job. Yet so great was my father’s passion for God that he began to sell religious books door to door. Later he remarried a widow who had four young children. This was his saving grace. For the next twelve years Heinz worked hard to provide not only for Carolyn and her children but also his first three children.

    After years of struggling to provide for his family Heinz was finally accepted back into the ministry. A little church in Idaho asked him to come and be their pastor. On April 11, 1998 Heinz preached his first sermon in his new church. The little church grew and flourished under Heinz’s leadership. Each member came to love him. Then it happened. November 15, 1999, I got a phone call. “There’s a tumor attached to Daddy’s liver. We don’t know how long it’s been there or how fast it’s growing, more later.” January, “Dad only has about four months to live.” Yet Heinz’s spirit was not deterred. His witness led to him baptizing his older brother. Any time I called him he would do two things. First he would tell me some stupid joke to try to make me laugh. Second he would remind me of the hope of the resurrection. If his faith ever wavered I never saw it. Easter weekend came. April 22, 2000 Daddy’s congregation gathered around him. Someone began to read. “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...” Daddy squeezed my hand and was gone.

    Daddy had all the stubbornness of a German, all the “smoothness” of a drill sergeant, and all the weaknesses of the rest of us humans. No, Daddy wasn’t a saint, but his dedication to others, his passion for God and the courage of his convictions led him to his greatest accomplishments, seeing his children working for God in various ways and still strong in the Lord. Anyone can preach; not everyone should.

Comfort one another with these words. EGW vision of Heaven

 https://archive.org/details/a-vision-of-heaven-09-the-new-jerusalem-christian-o-berdahl-1411-44/(A_Vision_Of_Heaven)_03_The_Refiners_Fire_(Christian_O_Berdahl)_(1411-44).wav

LS 64.1 I seemed to be surrounded with light, and to be rising higher and higher from the earth. I turned to look for the advent people in the world, but could not find them, when a voice said to me, “Look again, and look a little higher.” At this I raised my eyes, and saw a straight and narrow path, cast up high above the world. On this path the advent people were traveling to the city which was at the farther end of the path. They had a bright light set up behind them at the beginning of the path, which an angel told me was the “midnight cry.” This light shone all along the path, and gave light for their feet, so that they might not stumble. LS 64.2 If they kept their eyes fixed on Jesus, who was just before them, leading them to the city, they were safe. But soon some grew weary, and said the city was a great way off, and they expected to have entered it before. Then Jesus would encourage them by raising His glorious right arm, and from His arm came a light which waved over the advent band, and they shouted “Alleluia!” Others rashly denied the light behind them, and said that it was not God that had led them out so far. The light behind them went out, leaving their feet in perfect darkness, and they  stumbled and lost sight of the mark and of Jesus, and fell off the path down into the dark and wicked world below. LS 64.3 Soon we heard the voice of God like many waters, which gave us the day and hour of Jesus’ coming. The living saints, 144,000 in number, knew and understood the voice, while the wicked thought it was thunder and an earthquake. When God spoke the time, He poured upon us the Holy Ghost, and our faces began to light up and shine with the glory of God, as Moses’ did when he came down from Mount Sinai. LS 65.1 The 144,000 were all sealed and perfectly united. On their foreheads was written, “God, New Jerusalem,” and a glorious star containing Jesus’ new name. At our happy, holy state the wicked were enraged, and would rush violently up to lay hands on us to thrust us into prison, when we would stretch forth the hand in the name of the Lord, and they would fall helpless to the ground. Then it was that the synagogue of Satan knew that God had loved us who could wash one another's feet, and salute the brethren with a holy kiss, and they worshiped at our feet. LS 65.2 Soon our eyes were drawn to the east, for a small black cloud had appeared, about half as large as a man's hand, which we all knew was the sign of the Son of man. We all in solemn silence gazed on the cloud as it drew nearer, and became lighter, glorious, and still more glorious, till it was a great white cloud. The bottom appeared like fire; a rainbow was over the cloud, while around it were ten thousand angels, singing a most lovely song; and upon it sat the Son of man. His hair was white and curly, and lay on His shoulders; and upon His head were many crowns. His feet had the appearance of fire; in His right hand  was a sharp sickle; in His left, a silver trumpet. His eyes were as a flame of fire, which searched His children through and through. Then all faces gathered paleness, and those that God had rejected gathered blackness. Then we all cried out: “Who shall be able to stand? Is my robe spotless?” Then the angels ceased to sing, and there was some time of awful silence, when Jesus spoke: “Those who have clean hands and pure hearts shall be able to stand; My grace is sufficient for you.” At this our faces lighted up, and joy filled every heart. And the angels struck a note higher and sang again, while the cloud drew still nearer the earth. LS 65.3 Then Jesus’ silver trumpet sounded, as He descended on the cloud, wrapped in flames of fire. He gazed on the graves of the sleeping saints, then raised His eyes and hands to heaven, and cried, “Awake! awake! awake! ye that sleep in the dust, and arise.” Then there was a mighty earthquake. The graves opened, and the dead came up clothed with immortality. The 144,000 shouted “Alleluia!” as they recognized their friends who had been torn from them by death, and in the same moment we were changed and caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air. LS 66.1 We all entered the cloud together, and were seven days ascending to the sea of glass, when Jesus brought the crowns, and with His own right hand placed them on our heads. He gave us harps of gold and palms of victory. Here on the sea of glass the 144,000 stood in a perfect square. Some of them had very bright crowns, others not so bright. Some crowns appeared heavy with stars, while others had but few. All were perfectly satisfied with their crowns. And they were all clothed with a glorious  white mantle from their shoulders to their feet. Angels were all about us as we marched over the sea of glass to the gate of the city. Jesus raised His mighty, glorious arm, laid hold of the pearly gate, swung it back on its glittering hinges, and said to us, “You have washed your robes in My blood, stood stiffly for My truth, enter in.” We all marched in and felt that we had a perfect right in the city. LS 66.2 Here we saw the tree of life and the throne of God. Out of the throne came a pure river of water, and on either side of the river was the tree of life. On one side of the river was a trunk of a tree, and a trunk on the other side of the river, both of pure, transparent gold. At first I thought I saw two trees. I looked again, and saw that they were united at the top in one tree. So it was the tree of life on either side of the river of life. Its branches bowed to the place where we stood, and the fruit was glorious; it looked like gold mixed with silver. LS 67.1 We all went under the tree, and sat down to look at the glory of the place, when Brethren Fitch and Stockman, who had preached the gospel of the kingdom, and whom God had laid in the grave to save them, came up to us and asked us what we had passed through while they were sleeping. We tried to call up our greatest trials, but they looked so small compared with the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory that surrounded us, that we could not speak them out, and we all cried out, “Alleluia! heaven is cheap enough!” and we touched our glorious harps and made heaven's arches ring. LS 67.2

Vision of New Earth LSMS 86 With Jesus at our head we all descended from the city down to this earth, on a great and mighty mountain, which could not bear Jesus up, and it parted asunder, and there was a mighty plain. Then we looked up and saw the great city, with twelve foundations and twelve gates, three on each side, and an angel at each gate. We all cried out, “The city, the great city, it's coming, it's coming down from God out of heaven!” and it came and settled on the place where we stood. LSMS 86.1 Then we began to look at the glorious things outside of the city. There I saw most glorious houses that had the appearance of silver, supported by four pillars set with pearls most glorious to behold. These were to be inhabited by the saints. In each was a golden shelf. I saw many of the saints go into the houses, take off their glittering crowns, and lay them on the shelf, then go out into the field by the houses to do something with the earth; not as we have to do with the earth here; no, no. A glorious light shone all about their heads, and they were continually shouting and offering praises to God. LSMS 86.2 I saw another field full of all kinds of flowers, and as I plucked them, I cried out, “They will never fade.” Next I saw a field of tall grass, most glorious to behold; it was living green, and had a reflection of silver and gold, and it waved proudly to the glory of King Jesus. Then we entered a field full of all kinds of beasts,—the lion, the lamb, the leopard, and the wolf all together in perfect union. We passed through the midst of them, and they followed on peaceably  after. Then we entered a wood, not like the dark woods we have here; no, no; but light and all over glorious; the branches of the trees waved to and fro, and we all cried out, “We will dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.” We passed through the woods, for we were on our way to Mount Zion. As we were traveling along, we met a company who also were gazing at the glories of the place. I noticed red as a border on their garments; their crowns were brilliant; their robes were pure white. As we greeted them, I asked Jesus who they were. He said they were martyrs that had been slain for Him. With them was an innumerable company of little ones; they also had a hem of red on their garments. LSMS 86.3 Mount Zion was just before us, and on the mount was a glorious temple, and about it were seven other mountains, on which grew roses and lilies. And I saw the little ones climb, or, if they chose, use their little wings and fly to the top of the mountains, and pluck the never-fading flowers. There were all kinds of trees around the temple to beautify the place; the box, the pine the fir, the oil, the myrtle, the pomegranate, and the fig-tree bowed down with the weight of its timely figs,—these made the place all over glorious. And as we were about to enter the holy temple, Jesus raised His lovely voice and said, “Only the 144,000 enter this place,” and we shouted “Alleluia!” LSMS 87.1 This temple was supported by seven pillars all of transparent gold, set with pearls most glorious. The wonderful things I there saw, I can not describe. Oh that I could talk in the language of Canaan, then could I tell a little of the glory of the better world. I saw there tables of stone in which  the names of the 144,000 were engraved in letters of gold. LSMS 87.2 After we beheld the glory of the temple, we went out, and Jesus left us, and went to the city. Soon we heard His lovely voice again, saying, “Come, My people, you have come out of great tribulation, and done My will, suffered for Me; come in to supper, for I will gird Myself, and serve you.” We shouted, “Alleluia! Glory!” and entered into the city. LSMS 88.1 And I saw a table of pure silver; it was many miles in length, yet our eyes could extend over it. I saw the fruit of the tree of life, the manna, almonds, figs, pomegranates, grapes, and many other kinds of fruit. LSMS 88.2 I asked Jesus to let me eat of the fruit. He said; “Not now. Those who eat of the fruit of this land go back to earth no more. But in a little while, if faithful, you shall both eat of the fruit of the tree of life, and drink of the water of the fountain.” And He said “You must go back to earth again, and relate to others what I have revealed to you.” Then an angel bore me gently down to this dark world. LSMS 88.3 After I came out of vision, a gloom was spread over all I beheld. Oh, how dark the world looked to me! While under the power of the Lord, I was filled with joy, seeming to be surrounded by holy angels in the glorious courts of heaven, where all is peace and gladness; and it was a sad and bitter change to wake up to the realities of mortal life. I wept when I found myself here, and felt homesick. I had seen a better world, and it had spoiled me for this. LSMS 88.4 Sometimes I think I can stay here no longer, all things  of earth look so dreary. I feel very lonely here, for I have seen a better land. “Oh that I had wings like a dove, then would I fly away, and be at rest!” LSMS 88.5 https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p666.441(666.444)&index=0

The Lord “doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.” “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” He knows our heart, for he reads every secret of the soul. He knows whether or not those for whom petitions are offered would be able to endure the trial and test that would come upon them if they lived. He knows the end from the beginning. Many will be laid away to sleep in Jesus before the fiery ordeal of the time of trouble shall come upon our world. This is another reason why we should say after our earnest petition: “Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Such a petition will never be registered in heaven as a faithless prayer. PH089 47.2 https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p365.265&index=0

God sent His angel(s)

 So a little bit ago I was walking my dogs when two bigger dogs came up out of the woods and straight towards me and my dogs.  My dogs started pulling towards them and I was being pulled along with them.  I was in danger of being pulled face first onto the road. I yelled at the dogs, nothing budged them from backing down from what I was sure was going to be a bloodbath. I screamed at the top of my voice for help, but out here in the middle of nowhere, no one could hear me. As soon as a thought flashed into my head I repeated it out loud, "Father, send your angels,". Instantaneously, The two bigger dogs turned to leave and my dogs stopped pulling, and my balance was restored, so that I didn't end up face down on the road.  All the way home, I was shaking and repeating over and over, "Thank, you for your angels, thank you for your angels."  After I had gone just a little was down the road, I stopped shaking but I broke down and cried, "Thank you God for protecting me and my dogs." 

Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.

Psalm 60:11 KJV

https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.60.11.KJV

For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

Psalm 91:11 KJV

https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.91.11.KJV

Can't stand Lies and manipulation

Leviticus 6:2 (KJV) "If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbor in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbor 4 then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found, 5 or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/LEV.6.KJV

Leviticus 19:11 (KJV) "Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/LEV.19.KJV

Numbers 23:19 (KJV) "God is not a man, that he should lie; Neither the son of man, that he should repent: Hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?"  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/NUM.23.KJV 

Deuteronomy 33:29 (KJV) "Happy art thou, O Israel: Who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, The shield of thy help, And who is the sword of thy excellency! And thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; And thou shalt tread upon their high places."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/DEU.33.KJV

1 Samuel 15:29 (KJV) "And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1SA.15.KJV

Psalm 62:9 (KJV) "Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: To be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PSA.62.KJV

Psalm 119:69 (KJV) "The proud have forged a lie against me: But I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PSA.119.KJV

Proverbs 14:5 (KJV) "A faithful witness will not lie: But a false witness will utter lies."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PRO.14.KJV

Proverbs 17:4 (KJV) "A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; And a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PRO.17.KJV

Proverbs 19:22 (KJV) "The desire of a man is his kindness: And a poor man is better than a liar."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PRO.19.KJV

Isaiah 63:8 (KJV) "For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ISA.63.KJV

Jeremiah 27:14-16 (KJV) "Therefore hearken not unto the words of the prophets that speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you. For I have not sent them, saith the LORD, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you. Also I spake to the priests and to all this people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Hearken not to the words of your prophets that prophesy unto you, saying, Behold, the vessels of the LORD's house shall now shortly be brought again from Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JER.27.KJV

Jeremiah 28:15 (KJV) "Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JER.28.KJV

Jeremiah 29:21 (KJV) "Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, of Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and of Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, which prophesy a lie unto you in my name; Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall slay them before your eyes." Jeremiah 29:31 (KJV) "Send to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus saith the LORD concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he caused you to trust in a lie 32 therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed: he shall not have a man to dwell among this people; neither shall he behold the good that I will do for my people, saith the LORD; because he hath taught rebellion against the LORD." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JER.29.KJV

Ezekiel 21:29 (KJV) "whiles they see vanity unto thee, whiles they divine a lie unto thee, to bring thee upon the necks of them that are slain, of the wicked, whose day is come, when their iniquity shall have an end." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/EZK.21.KJV

Micah 2:11 (KJV) "If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MIC.2.KJV

Habakkuk 2:3 (KJV) "For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/HAB.2.KJV

Zephaniah 3:13 (KJV) "The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ZEC.3.KJV

Zechariah 10:2 (KJV) "For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ZEC.10.KJV

John 8:44 (KJV) "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JHN.8.KJV

Acts 5:3 (KJV) "But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?" https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ACT.5.KJV

Romans 1:24, 25 (KJV) "Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: 25 who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ROM.1.KJV

Romans 9:1 (KJV) "I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ROM.9.KJV

2 Corinthians 11:31 (KJV) "The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/2CO.11.KJV

Colossians 3:9 (KJV) "Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/COL.3.KJV

2 Thessalonians 2:11 (KJV) "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/2TH.2.KJV

1 Timothy 2:7 (KJV) "Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1TI.2.KJV

Titus 1:2 (KJV) "in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/TIT.1.KJV

1 John 1:6 (KJV) "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth" https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1JN.1.KJV

1 John 2:4 (KJV) "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." 1 John 2:21 (KJV) "I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 1 John 2:27 (KJV) But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1JN.2.KJV

1 John 4:20 (KJV) "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?"  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1JN.4.KJV

Revelation 3:9 (KJV) "Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1JN.4.KJV

Revelation 21:8 (KJV) "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." Revelation 21:27 (KJV) "And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/REV.21.KJV

Revelation 22:15 (KJV) "For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/REV.22.KJV

2 dreams 4-10-23

 In my first dream, I was working in a mansion. It had a large swimming pool. I was supposed to be taking care of the old lady in the back bedroom but I was instead swimming in the pool.  The old lady attempted to get out of her bed and yelled. Her bed was wet and she was half in and half out of the bed when I ran in there. I was trying to dry my hair with a towel and the children were helping her back to bed.  They were very angry with me and told me to leave.  I went home and waited for the phone call that would tell me that I had been fired. I awoke.  When I fell back asleep the scene was of a gym with 4 exercise bicycles. Three other older ladies were on three of the bikes leaving me the last one.  As we were riding the tension on the peddles got harder and harder. The two ladies to my right soon tired, became bored and quit peddling. The one in front of me continued on. The peddles got harder to push. I looked at her but she just kept peddling. Although she was looking forward, she didn't seem to be looking at me, but passed me. We seemed to be waiting for some sort of signal to stop peddling. I thought it was taking forever and then suddenly a buzzer sounded. I gestured to the lady across from me indicating thanks for the good ride, but it seemed to me that she didn't even see me. Then a man came in the room and removed the TV from in front of me and I realized that those women weren't really there at all. They had been put there in front of me to encourage me to keep going even when the ride got tough.  

Father, God who art in heaven, please forgive me when I have had a lazy attitude towards doing things to prepare for your kingdom.  Please forgive me and your people for being in the Laodicean condition.  Raise up a standard against the enemy of our souls. May I and my family and loved ones and all whosoever will be among the 144,000. May we fight the good fight of faith, may we endure to the end, may we finish the course faithfully, no matter how hard it gets or who joins us.  Thank you for sending others to walk with us to give us courage to continue the battle. Save us at last in your kingdom when you come. In Jesus name and for His sake, Amen 

https://youtu.be/grSf5d29udw

1/26/23 dream

https://my.bible.com/bible/1/JER.23.KJV  This was the text my Bible app was on when I woke up this morning. "1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. 2 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD. 3 And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. 4 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD."

In my dream that I woke up from this morning I had warned some people about a man that I saw as dangerous. This man had been seen by me being very flirtatious with two other women at the same time. Nobody had seemed to listen to my warning. Later however one woman came to me crying that this man had defiled her. As I was trying to comfort this woman. Another woman, whom I knew to be a very Godly woman, had caught this man by his shirt and suitcoat tails twisted in her hand and she was singlehandedly thrusting him from the church building. She was saying that she had caught this man trying to kill another woman.  He was very angry and cursing her and saying all manner of horrible things that he would do to her.  Myself and a couple of other younger women came running to help this God fearing woman and we wrestled him to the ground. I had my knee in his back and was wrestling his arm around behind his back when I awoke. The older Godly woman was sinking to her knees.

Is there anything left you can trust?

2 Peter 1:20 "knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." https://my.bible.com/bible/1/2PE.1.KJV We touched on this text a bit yesterday but I wanted to explore it a bit further today. NO prophecy is of any private interpretation.  That means that there is not one man to whom belongs the secrets of the Bible.  With diligent study each person may be able to understand the prophecies in God's Word. Now I will admit that some, especially in Daniel and Revelation, can be very difficult. This is actually intentional. When the Bible mentions specific nations the casual reader may not understand what is being talked about.  It is only with the help of the Holy Spirit, who was the one that inspired the writing in the first place,  that we can gain a clearer understanding of the prophecies. The Bible was not written because someone was just jotting down some notes. The Holy Spirit of God guided in their thoughts. Men received dreams and visions. 

Romans 15:4 "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." https://my.bible.com/bible/1/ROM.15.KJV These things, in God's Word, were written to give us hope.  So many people in this world, especially today do not have hope. This is why getting a Bible and prayerfully studying it DAILY is of utmost importance in our lives. Make a commitment to do just that in this New Year. God gave us many precious promises all the way through His Word. By God's grace we will touch on some of those this year. Please join me in this year to put bible verses to memory. We need to hide God's Words in our hearts. Perilous times are here and only in God's word can we find a safe retreat. Here are the first ten days worth of verses: (or chose some of your own)

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 16, 17 https://my.bible.com/bible/1/2TI.3.KJV 

20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Peter 1:20, 21 https://my.bible.com/bible/1/2PE.1.KJV 

4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4  https://my.bible.com/bible/1/ROM.15.KJV 

9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Isaiah 46:9, 10 https://my.bible.com/bible/1/ISA.46.KJV 

98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: For they are ever with me. 100 I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep thy precepts. 105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path. 160Thy word is true from the beginning: And every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. Psalms 119:98, 100, 105, 160 https://my.bible.com/bible/1/PSA.119.KJV 

8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. 9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. Isaiah 42:8, 9 https://my.bible.com/bible/1/ISA.42.KJV 

4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Matthew 4:4, 7, 10 https://my.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.4.KJV 

27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:27 https://my.bible.com/bible/1/LUK.24.KJV 

13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. John 16:13 https://my.bible.com/bible/1/JHN.16.KJV 

17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:17 https://my.bible.com/bible/1/JHN.17.KJV 

20 “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20 https://my.bible.com/bible/1/ISA.8.KJV