The Day of the Lord and Our Responsibilities

1 Thessalonians 5

The Day of the Lord

¹ But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. ² For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. ³ For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. ⁴ But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. ⁵ You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. ⁶ Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. ⁸ But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
¹¹ Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Various Exhortations

¹² And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, ¹³ and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
¹⁴ Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. ¹⁵ See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not despise prophecies. ²¹ Test all things; hold fast what is good. ²² Abstain from every form of evil.

Blessing and Admonition

²³ Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
²⁵ Brethren, pray for us.
²⁶ Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.
²⁷ I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy^a]">[a] brethren.
²⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Sea of Faces, by Kutlass

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I can see the city lights all around me
Everyone's obscure
Ten million people each with their problems
Why should anyone care?

And in your eyes I can see
I am not just a man, vastly lost in this world
Lost in a sea of faces
Your body's the bread, Your blood is the wine
Because you traded Your life for mine.

~~ Sea of Faces, Kutlass
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The Watchman and His Message

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Just this afternoon, as I happened to be reading a blog, I came across a verse from Ezekiel 33. It struck me as very important, so I looked up the chapter in my NKJV. How deeply it speaks to my heart, the verses 1 to 11!
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Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life.

But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.’

“So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.

“Therefore you, O son of man, say to the house of Israel: ‘Thus you say, “If our transgressions and our sins lie upon us, and we pine away in them, how can we then live?”’ Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’

~~ Ezekiel 33:1-11
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My main feeling and warning is that things are not as they seem. Officials say that everything is fine and they know what they're doing, but I think are lying. They say they can be trusted, but I don't believe them. I think there is something huge coming around the corner, and most people are not going to be ready. There will be weeping and distress.

Oh people, get ready!
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Notes on an Evening

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1. It is amazing to me how much even as Christians, we adhere to the standards of a non-Christian, oppressive, exploitative society where an individual does not have freedom, autonomy, or security of person. We claim that the 'greater good' is more important. I would say otherwise: we are here for the sake of the individual. The greater good is the society where freedom, autonomy, and security of person are the standard; where every individual has value, regardless of financial, educational, or productive worth. It is challenging to be sure, to function in this world with all of our wounds, sin, and worldly perspectives, but that is why we need the body as a whole. We need to be open to our brothers' and sisters' perspectives and to weigh them with God's word and Holy Spirit so that we can clear as many blind spots as we can from our collective consciousness. Good God... even here, in 2009, in Canada, we have such aweful attitudes.
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2. 1st space: the choir, where we say yes and amen. 2nd space: the marketplace, where we work, play, meet and get to know people, and share our beliefs/faith. 3rd space: where we are invited into relationship and discussion. where we walk entirely by the holy spirit because there is no other way to exist here. Main idea by Irwin McManus?
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3. The artist's way: 3 pages of stream of conciousness writing immediately upon wakening, every day. Then, once a week, take yourself out to 'date' the artist in you. Go out by yourself to a movie, musuem, gallery, park; or anything else you enjoy.
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Ready the Lamps

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I feel like God has laid it on my heart for some time now to begin preparations for a significant event or period of time. It feels fairly urgent. I hesitate to even use that word, but the feeling fits the definition, especially when I think of putting it off.
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1. compelling or requiring immediate action or attention; imperative; pressing: an urgent matter.
2. insistent or earnest in solicitation; importunate, as a person: an urgent pleader.
3. expressed with insistence, as requests or appeals: an urgent tone of voice.

~~ Source: http://www.dictionary.com/

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I don't feel panic or fear, or that it's going to begin in the next week or month, but soon. How soon, I don't know. I feel like we will have just enough time if we work at it bit by bit. If we put it off, we will not be ready.

Last year, even with the US economy begining to tank, I didn't really feel this way. I wish I had; however, the past is the past. I have peace that if God had wanted us to begin last year He would have made it clear then. With that said, I take more warning from this feeling now since He is making it clear to me at this time. Preparations need to be made.

I'd like to introduce my newest blog: Ready the Lamps. It will detail my research on the subject of preparedness and some of our plans. It will also include research on some of the possible situations and concerns that may arise.

Is anyone interested in taking this journey with me?
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Dream: Are We Ready?

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Last night I dreamt that I was preparing food in a community kitchen with a group of 8 to 14 people. We were sitting around chatting as we waited for the last of the food to cook. We were almost finished all the preparations we knew to make. Bags were packed, food was ready, necessities and supplies were stored up.

Suddenly I saw a plume/pillar of dark black smoke - so dark it surprised me - rising from the middle of the city. It would rise up, and then disipate a little, then rise again, then disipate again, then rise again, stronger.

Then a 'portal' opened up in the sky above it. Here, I note that it was a fairly clear, blue sky; it was daylight, in warm weather (neither scortching nor cool). The portal was round and shimmering. The area around it was a shimmering as well, sometimes oval, sometimes heart shaped. Some other people in the city noticed, and like me, looked on in wonder and 'what the heck???'

Suddenly, either the world was drawn into it, and taken back in time to the point just as the planes slammed into the Trade Center buildings in 2001; OR, the planes themselves flew out and crashed. This image appeared in the dream like a flash, or a still photograph of the planes up close and headed downward. Then we were on our bikes, racing through the city. We were more prepared than most people, but still not enough.

Interpretation:

The smoke is from the sacrifices to other gods. GOD is getting angry, and we - as a city, nation, and world - are about to be tried and judged.

I recieved this in my reading today:

Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
~~ Proverbs 11:4

Even us (either my personal group of people, or the wider Christian community, or both), who are aware, prepared, and waiting, will wish we had done more when we had had the time. We are not as ready as we think we are, and we will be caught off guard. It was implied that we had done the best we could according the the knowledge and understanding that we had. However, it was also clear that we ought to have known more, considering what resources were available to us. It wasn't held against us, but we also weren't excused. Things were not in place or missing because of our lack of understanding. This lack seemed to be with regard to an unpreparedness in action, rather than supplies; we didn't know what to do, where to go, or how to help to the extent that we ought to have, had we known more.

The final point is that war is coming. What kind of war, or by whom, I don't know; it may be spiritual, figurative, or literal. I would assume there would also be some amount of destruction; mild to severe, I don't know.
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Comfort & Courage

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Given Thursday, July 9, 2009 around 9:00 pm.
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It is not the pressure that I am under that is the issue; it is how I respond/act amidst and under it. The pressure is exactly as God intends; and He is faithful to not give me more than I can bear. But it is the trial by fire that purifies the silver/gold. And it is this kind of suffering that the Christian life (that Jesus Christ) speaks of. It is necessary and to be welcomed and rejoiced in. It is the suffering that produces character, perseverance, and hope. (Romans 5:1-5)
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Genesis 2

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Gen 2:2 > And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested...
Gen 2:3 > Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it...
Gen 2:4 > This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created...
Gen 2:5 > ... before any plant of the field was in the earth and before any herb of the field had grown. For the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground;
Gen 2:6 > but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground.
Gen 2:7 > And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
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Gen 2:8 > The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed.
Gen 2:9 > And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
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Gen 2:10 > Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads.
Gen 2:11-12 > 1st river: Pishon; ... skirts the whole land of Havilah; gold - good; also, bdellium and onyx stone.
Gen 2:13 > 2nd river: Gihon; goes around the whole land of Cush.
Gen 2:14 > 3rd river: Hiddekel; goes toward the east of Assyria. 4th river: Euphrates.
Gen 2:15 > Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.
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Gen 2:16-17 > And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
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Gen 2:18 > And the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
Gen 2:19 > Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name.
Gen 2:20 > So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.
Gen 2:21 > And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.
Gen 2:22 > Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.
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Gen 2:23 > And Adam said:

"This is now bone of my bones
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man."

Gen 2:24 > Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Gen 2:25 > And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
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False Teachers

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God has laid it upon my heart to study this subject: false teachers. I was 'briefed' on it last week, but I know there is more that needs to be covered. On looking through my concordance, there is so much more, to the point that I feel rather overwhelmed. Nevertheless, this is Part 1.
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First, 2nd Timothy 4:2-5. Verse 2 explains our rights and responsibilities with regards to how we speak God’s word.

“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”

Verses 3 and 4 explain what is going on, and why.

“For the time will come when they will not indure sound doctrine, but according to their desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”

Verse 5 explains our response, and further responsibilities.

“But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
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Second, 1st Timothy 4:1-3. More about what will happen.

“Now the Spirit expressly/explicitly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.”
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Thirdly, 1st Timothy 4:12-14. Encouragement on how to conduct ourselves.

“Let no one despise (or, look down on) your youthfulness, but be an example to the believers in the word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Until I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine (teaching).”
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Outline: Genesis 1

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Gen 1:1 > In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Gen 1:2 > (the earth was) without form, void; darkness on the face of the deep;
Gen 1:2 > Spirit of God hovering over the (face of the) waters;
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Gen 1:3 > LIGHT
Gen 1:4 > good. God divided the light from the darkness.
Gen 1:5 > light = day; darkness = night;
Gen 1:5 > 1st day.
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Gen 1:6 > FIRMAMENT/EXPANSE (called Heaven; Gen 1:8)
Gen 1:6 > in the midst of the waters, dividing them;
Gen 1:7 > divided the waters under from the waters above;
Gen 1:8 > 2nd day.
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Gen 1:9 > DRY LAND
Gen 1:9 > let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into once place and let dry land appear.
Gen 1:10 > waters = seas; dry land = earth; good.
Gen 1:11-12 > grass, herb with seed, fruit trees with fruit > brought forth from the earth
Gen 1:13 > 3rd day.
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Gen 1:14 > LIGHTS IN FIRMAMENT
- to divide the day from night;
- for signs and seasons, days and years;
Gen 1:15 > to give light on the earth;
Gen 1:16 > TWO GREAT LIGHTS, the greater to rule the day, the lesser to rule the night.
Gen 1:16 > stars also.
Gen 1:17-18 > God set them in the firmament of the heavens 1. to give light (on the earth) 2. to rule over the day and night 3. to divide light from darkness;
Gen 1:19 > 4th day.
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Gen 1:20-21 > SEA CREATURES, BIRDS
- living creatures in the water > great sea creatures, etc. (abundance!)
- birds > fly above the earth, across the face of the firmament of the heavens
Gen 1:22 > God blessed them: Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.
Gen 1:23 > 5th day
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Gen 1:24-25 > LIVING CREATURES ON THE EARTH
- cattle, creeping things, beasts. good.
Gen 1:26 > Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish, birds, cattle, all the earth, and over every creeping thing.
Gen 1:27 > male and female
Gen 1:28 > God blessed them: Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish, birds, over every living thing that moves.
Gen 1:29-30 > herb and fruit for food, for man, beasts, birds, and creeping things.
Gen 1:31 > 6th day. (Everything) - Very good.
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Week 1: The Promised Land

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Last Friday I began a new period of life: working outside our home, 4 days on, 2 days off, 6 am to 2 pm. Our baby is 2 years old now, and God has presented me with this opportunity to grow and serve in a new way. My husband also began a new period of his life: working from home and taking care of our little one. It occured to me that we are not merely 'switching roles', but God is giving us both 'more'. Apparently, we have been faithful with what He has given us thus far. (Matthew 25:13-30; Luke 19:11-27). What a relief to hear "Well done. Here is your next project." And yet, it is not a removal of previously given tasks, but instead it is the addition of another.

The Lord has prepared this postion, this territory, for me and I am thankful. I see it in all the ways that it suits me: the time I prefer, the hours I need financially, the staff I get along with, and the residents I work best with. He goes before me and with me. I will have to fight for it and claim it, and that involves a lot of work. It also involves endurance and perserverance, which I feel is very lacking in me. That is the main challenge and lesson for me. I have never worked this many hours with no end in sight; any other full time position was always temporary and I always knew the end. This one is permanent and indefinite. I know God - Jesus - will help me and be with me, but I don't know what that means in a day by day, perhaps year by year basis.

I recieved an insight this week though. Days 1, 2, and 3 I set aside time in the morning while I ate breakfast to read, pray, and write. I spoke in my thoughts to my friend Jesus, and on my day 1 I felt like He was sitting in the bathroom keeping me company while I got ready. I said aloud the armour of God and 'put it on' as I got dressed. I stated my desire to serve, and to walk with Him that day. I asked for help and for God to fill me, because I not only knew I couldn't do it myself, but I felt completely empty. I considered each day to be a task that Jesus and I were completing together. The days were very busy and not everything went exactly 'perfect'. However, there was wonderful timing and I was happy. I don't think I have ever enjoyed my shifts as much as I did those three days. I felt like I carried and managed the work wonderfully, and honestly cared and served the residents as well.

Day 4 was different because I was so tired, and I did not really pray; just prayers tossed like confetti. The shift itself was fine; not perfect, but not difficult. The main difference was that I didn't enjoy it. I felt anxious, flustered, and behind. I don't know where the time went, but it seemed to take me forever to get my work done. I did fine, and I did serve, but it was nothing like the abundancy of the first three days.
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God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able...
~~ 1st Corinthians 10:13
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I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly...
~~ John 10:10
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My sheep hear My voice and I know them, and they follow Me.
~~ John 10:27
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This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.
~~ Joshua 1:8-9
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Faith: Trusting God

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"I do beg of you to recognize, then, the extreme simplicity of faith; that it is nothing more nor less than just believing God when He says He either has done something for us, or will do it; and then trusting Him to do it. " -- Hannah Whitall Smith, "The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life"

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So this is faith: believing what God has said. Shall we look then for what God has said? And declare that it is so? I have posted this passage already, so let's start here.

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Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither.
And whatever he does shall prosper.

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First, do not live one's life by the advice and 'wisdom' of the ungoldly. Delight in the law of God, and think on it continually. For us, that is the Bible. Learn the scriptures - verses, passages, lessons, and instruction. We will be watered, we will bear fruit, we shall not wither, and we will prosper. Whatever the metaphors mean practically I don't exactly know, but the image is that we will THRIVE, and that's good enough for me.

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Dreams: House Inspector; Waitressing.

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Last night I dreamt, first, that I was in my grandparents old place where I spent a lot of time growing up. I don't remember now who I was with, but we were preparing to recieve a house inspector. He was a wonderful person to deal with. He told me what was great, what needed slight adjustments, and what was going to have to be rebuilt. As he went along, I made the adjustments; sometimes I asked him to pause just a minute while I did so. Overall, the kitchen and living room were great - sparkling clean, well maintained, and well decorated. The 1st bedroom we came to, however, was a different story. I hadn't realized how bad it was, but the wallpaper was peeling, some walls were missing pieces of drywall, it smelled musty, and was in terrible disarray. Also, it was clear that there were cracks in the foundation. In some ways, it wasn't a surprise since the house was over 30 years old. The only message/feeling was 'wow, we have a lot of work to do, and it's going to take some time to do the renovations this place needs. We have a big job ahead of us.'

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The second dream was this: I was with quite a group of waiters and waitresses in a large banquet hall setting tables and placing flowers. There was a special event/dinner that evening, and we were all busy with our assigned tasks. Then it was time, and people started coming in. My first table was a group of 10-12 homeless/very low income people. I was sitting with them as they read the menu. They ordered things that they would normally eat rather than things that were on the menu, but it took almost an hour! I was trying to be patient and helpful, but I felt like I wasn't doing my job well. However, no one was critizing me or asking me what was taking so long. It didn't seem like I was expected anywhere else, so I just waited for them to decide. I wanted to ask the manager if they could order what they did. A senior staff member came by and helped me, and fine meals were brought for the guests who had ordered, but had asked for egg McMuffins and fried oatmeal porridge.

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I finished there, went out to gather up some dishes, and brought out some water and drinks. At one table, a lady asked for some kind of drink or dish that I wasn't familiar with. She repeated the name several times, and then said to forget it. I apologized, said this was my first night, and that I would find another server to help her. I went into the kitchen with an armful of dishes, and happened to bump into the head chef. He was an older man, very experienced, and very kind. Even though he was very busy he listened intently to my concerns. I asked him first about my large table, how dinner was almost over and one person still hadn't ordered/recieved their meal. I was afraid she would leave and speak badly about the evening. He said not to worry, he would whip up a chocolate frappicino with cream while she waited for her meal - people were always pleased and satisfied with those. While he was getting that together, I told him about the woman who I couldn't understand. I tried to pronounce what she said, and he said 'Oh yes' and got it ready for me to take to her.

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Psalm 1:1-3

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Welcome!

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Currently, I feel a desire to write and share some things about my life and what I am learning and studying. This blog will also be about my faith in Jesus and His work in my life, and the day to day aspects of knowing Him and learning to know Him better. To those I haven't met, welcome. To my family and friends, enjoy.

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Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,

Nor stands in the path of sinners,

Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

But his delight is in the law of the LORD,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,

That brings forth its fruit in its season,

Whose leaf also shall not wither.

And whatever he does shall prosper.

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As an introduction, this is pretty much where I am at in my life with God: delighting in the law of my LORD. I am fairly prosperous right now, and basking in the abundant life God has given me. I realized this last year, about this time, and God laid the choice before me: would I pursue my life, or would I pursue Him? I pursue Him, but my flesh is weak and easily distracted, like Romans 7. Yet, like Romans 8, I have peace: there is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus. At the same time, I press on for the prize that awaits me, so thankful that Jesus noticed me in my distress and saved me. At this time, I am learning to bring my body, tongue, and mind into discipline and obedience - (1 Corinthians 9).

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