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It Just Doesn't Add Up ... or does it?

3/31/2015

Today is Tuesday, March 31st ... it is 10:00 at night, and I am starting this blog.

Regardless of what "church" we go to, or what "religion" we are ... we all read from the same Bible, and read the same passages at this time of year: Passover/Easter.

We've all read the scriptures about how Jesus was crucified on the actual DAY of the Jewish Passover.

We've all read the scriptures about how the sun was near setting when He finally took his last breath, and there was a rush to get His body down, and wrapped, BEFORE the sun completely set because it was going to be the Sabbath.

"And now when the evening was coming, because this was the day of preparation, this is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathaea, went boldly unto Pilate and demanded the body of Jesus." Mark 15:42-43

And

"Joseph went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus, and he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, where never a man before was laid. And that day was the preparation day, and the Sabbath drew nigh. And the women followed, and beheld the sepulchre, and how His body was laid. And they returned [to their dwelling places] and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment." Luke 23:52-56

Yes, I think we all know that Jesus had to be taken down from the stake in a rush before the sun set because it was going to be the Sabbath ... He observed the Sabbath, and His followers observed the Sabbath ... and I think we all know it was such a rush that they did not have time to properly clean him, and rub His body with all the ointment/salves, and so He was quickly placed in the tomb before the sun set .... and it was understood that the women would come back to finish preparing His body later for His proper, final burial.

I think we all got that ... no confusion ... we all got the gist of the story.

And, like I said, I think regardless of what church we go to, or what our religion is, I think we can all read these passages and come to the same conclusion .... because we all read from the same Bible, and we all pretty much know the story.

I think we all know that Jesus proclaimed many times, and in many different ways, among His followers and the crowds, and here is just one example: "For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." Matthew 12:40

And I think we also know what those pesky self-righteous Jewish Pharisees did ... they were the main (if not the only religious sect at that time) who were behind having Jesus killed ... they went to Pilate (The Governor of Rome - not a religious title, but a governmental title, since the Roman Catholic Church didn't come into existence until MANY years later) and said, "Excuse us, Sir, we remember what that deceiver Jesus said - while he was still alive - he said that after three days he will rise again! Command that the sepulchre be made sure [sealed] until the third day so his disciples won't come by night and steal him away and say unto the people, "See! He is risen from the dead!" And, so, we also all know that Pilate gave into their paranoid, spiteful wishes, and Jesus' tomb was sealed even tighter and was manned 'round the clock with guards. Matthew 27:62-66

And, since we all read the same Bible, we also know that the women showed up early "Sunday" morning to finish preparing Jesus' body with the spices and ointments ... and found the stone rolled away, and the tomb empty: "Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre bringing the spices which they had prepared ... and they found the stone rolled away ... and found not the body of the Lord Jesus." Luke 24:1-3

I think we got all of that, too ... still no confusion ... we all know the story.

Here's where it DOES get confusing though.

For the longest time I could never understand how people could be confused about Jesus' death and resurrection ... the timing of it.

I never could understand how the general majority got three days and three nights from Good Friday to Easter Sunday ... it just seemed so simple, the mathematics of it all, and it just didn't make sense to me ... it just didn't add up.

At all.

There were no calendars back in those days ... there were no clocks ... there were no formal names for the days (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, etc) ...

The days were numbered (First Day through Seventh Day) since the beginning of time ... and God's DAILY timing (also since the beginning of time) was literally sunset to sunset.

Not sunrise to sunrise ... not midnight to midnight ... but sunset to sunset.

But even if the general majority didn't realize these facts, there's still no way in the world to calculate three days and three nights from the sixth day of the week to the first day of the week ... from Friday to Sunday.

Try it ... count ... from Friday to Sunday ... see what I mean?

But then I got to thinking ... well, wait ... maybe they must think Jesus HAD to die on a Friday since, you know, His body had to be hurried down and put into a tomb BEFORE the Sabbath (which most everyone knows is Saturday, the seventh day.

They read the same scriptures ... they think He has to die on a Friday because of the Sabbath ... and they read more scriptures that clearly say the women discover Him gone on the first day of the week (Sunday) .... okay, wow, I think I get where they are coming from ... they are trying to force it to make sense.

But, you see, you really can't force these things.

So, anyway, yes, the confusion kinda began to make a little bit of some sense to me ... the confusion of why the majority of the world can't add Friday to Sunday, and why they have their timing all messed up ... maybe they just don't realize that there is another kind of Sabbath that is observed, and it is called a High Sabbath, and it is a Holy Day that is even holier than the seventh day weekly Sabbath.

Let me explain.

The "day" that Passover itself falls on is NOT a Holy Day ... but that night, when the sun sets, the next day, IS ... it is The First Day of Unleavened Bread ... it is a High Sabbath ... and this is why the actual "day" of Passover is CALLED a preparation day ... the Jews are busy on this day, during the day, preparing for the Passover meal that they will partake of after the sun sets and the Holy Day starts ... sunset to sunset.

How do they prepare on the day OF Passover? By getting their meal prepared and ready, by slaughtering the lamb and getting it ready to roast, by cleaning their main dining area, by getting their candles, etc ... there's a lot to prepare for before the sun sets, and before the High Sabbath begins.

So, you see, Jesus didn't die on a Friday ... He didn't have to be rushed down because the next day was a Saturday (Sabbath.)

Jesus died on - what we call now - a Wednesday.

The actual day Jesus died ... He actually died at the precise time the High Priest was slitting the throat of the Passover lamb ... was a Wednesday, and the next day (Thursday) was a High Sabbath, a Holy Day called The First Day of Unleavened Bread.

Now ... count the nights Jesus was DEAD in God's time ... Wednesday night, Thursday night, Friday night ... THREE NIGHTS.

Now ... count the days Jesus was DEAD in God's time ... Thurs-day, Fri-day, Satur-day ... that equals THREE DAYS.

The women couldn't take care of Jesus Wednesday night because after sunset it was a High Sabbath ... and they couldn't take care of Him Thurs-day because that was THE High Sabbath which ended at sunset ... and they couldn't take care of Him on the next day Fri-day because that was another preparation day for the regular, weekly Sabbath.

Okay, now, so since Saturday DAY is still the regular weekly Sabbath ....... the women still couldn't get to Jesus to properly prepare Him for His final burial.

They had no choice but to go to Him in the wee hours of Sun-day morning ... daybreak ... and He was already gone, as we all well know the story.

It is estimated Jesus died probably around 5/6 o'clock in the late afternoon/early evening ... not long at all before sunset.

Jesus was not dead three days and four nights ... He was dead three days and three nights ... Jesus did NOT resurrect/rise on a Sunday ... He was found GONE on a Sunday, YES, but He did not resurrect/rise on a Sunday.

For Him to resurrect on a Sunday, He would have had to be dead Wednesday night, Thursday night, Friday night, and Saturday night ... rising on Sunday after the sun set on Saturday.

No, Jesus was resurrected on a regular, seventh day, weekly Sabbath ... probably about the same time He died ... around 5/6 o'clock in the late afternoon/early evening BEFORE the Sabbath day ended at sunset, and BEFORE the new day Sunday started.

In closing, I am wondering if anyone out there reading this realizes what tonight is.

My blog yesterday described and explained that Jesus knew He wasn't going to be able to observe the Passover meal BECAUSE HE KNEW HE WAS GOING TO BE THE PASSOVER ... so what did He do?

He gathered His followers the night before and had His own intimate supper.

My blog tonight describes and explains that Jesus died on a Wednesday ... and, I also told you at the beginning of this blog that I was writing to you on a late Tuesday night.

Do you realize that at this precise moment ... this exact same day/night ... some, oh, maybe 1982 years ago ... Jesus sought privacy in a garden .. kneeling and pacing and kneeling and pacing ... crying and moaning and shouting ... in agony ... knowing what He was going to be facing tomorrow?

It just doesn't add up ... or does it.

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Preparing For The Passover

3/27/2015

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Millions of Jews all over the world are preparing to observe the Holy Day, Passover, this coming Friday, April 3rd ... which is, ironically, also the so-called holiday "Good Friday" that millions of Christians will celebrate (but that subject will have to be addressed in another blog.)

Meanwhile, a very small scattering of people will be preparing to do what the real Jesus did ... why? Because He asked us to.

In fact, it is the only "thing" He asked us to do for Him.

He didn't ask us to celebrate His birthday ... and He dang-sure didn't ask us to celebrate the Mass of Christ with the Roman Catholics.

He didn't ask us to celebrate His resurrection ... and He dang-sure didn't ask us to pay pagan homage/respects to the goddess of fertility, Ishtar, either.

He simply asked us to honor, and remember, His death.

"Do THIS in remembrance of me."

That's all ... that's it.

So, anyway, I have been asked by a few people about how to "keep" Passover ... how to observe it, how to prepare for it.

I honestly try to keep it just as Jesus did, and just how He asked us to ... we do not observe the Jewish Passover; we observe it the night BEFORE just like He did.

This is Christ's Passover; not the Jewish Passover ... this is the New Covenant; not the Old.

As far as physical preparations for the actual service, it is really quite simple ... we have a table with a platter of unleavened bread and a bottle of wine with small glasses.

We read all of the scriptures that pertain to this night ... in Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, John 13, and I Corinthians 11:24-29.

We also wash one another's feet ... just as He commanded us to do ... John 13:1-17 ... and the last thing He said on this very humbling subject of feet-washing was "If you know to do these things, happy are you if you do them."

And, then, we simply sing a hymn and leave ... just as they did ... Matthew 26:30 and Mark 14:26 ... "And when they had sung a hymn, they went out ....."

We do not fix an elaborate meal on this night ... it is not a festive occasion ... it is more of a reflective, respectful, solemn memorial service.

And, that is where the Spiritual preparations come in ... yes, it is important to Spiritually prepare for this occasion.

The observance should move us forward in the faith, and in the mind, of Jesus Christ ... we should strive to make it a very personal and private occasion.

This is a personal occasion because, not only did Christ die for the sins of all mankind, but He died for YOU ... He personally died for YOU.

This is a private occasion because, if you consider and reflect upon what it took for Jesus Christ to suffer and die for YOUR sins ... well, like I said, that is a very private matter.

Something else that makes it personal, and private, as you Spiritually prepare for this special night is taking the time for retrospection and self-examination of your Life ... realizing that we are made worthy through the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ ... we should look back and reflect on the turns our new life has taken since we made our decision to follow, and OBEY, Him.

And, then ask ourselves, am I still going in the right direction?

I think it is also important to evaluate your relationships and make amends ... make amends with ourselves, and forgive ourselves ... and also make amends with people who have hurt us, and forgive them ... before we take part in this special ceremony.

Why? "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."

The Passover is an annual opportunity to "wipe the slate completely clean" again ... start all over ... and so evaluating yourself, and your relationships is a Good, Spiritual preparation ... and a Good, Spiritual time to deal with issues, find closure where needed, and start over with a clean slate and a new understanding.

Observing Christ's Passover deals with the Attitude of Mind ... I think it is important to go into this solemn ceremony with the right Spirit and attitude ... so we are not guilty of the body and blood of the Lord (I Cor 11:27.)

We need to prepare ourselves Spiritually so as to not partake of the service unworthily ... not that anyone is actually "WORTHY" ... but what I mean is, we must recognize we are bad enough to need it, instead of good enough to deserve it ... and the word "unworthily" in this context means to partake of this service arrogantly, disrespectfully and irreverently.

Can you really take Passover worthily? Yes ... examine yourself, and think about what you truly are, and where you truly are in your Life, and repent.

What does repent mean? It means CHANGE.

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When God Steps Away ...

3/23/2015

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The other night while I was doing my personal Bible study on depression, which resulted in this blog HERE, I meditated upon all the standard scriptures that reminded me that God is my Comforter, My Deliverer, My Fortress, My Rock, and My Shield.

I was somewhat comforted by all of the scriptures that told me He is with me wherever I go ... as in Joshua 1:9 "Be strong, and of good courage, and don't panic or tremble anymore, for I am with you wherever you go."

That speaks directly to me ... I know all about panic, and shivering/trembling, when my brain misfires and sends ridiculous amounts of adrenaline coursing through my veins that causes me to either shrink in fear in an attempt to flee/hide, or become hyper-alert ready to pounce any direction at a moment's notice to fight for my Life ... it's real, folks.

And I was also somewhat comforted by all of the scriptures that assured me He will never leave me or forsake me ... as in Hebrews 13:15 where it literally, and specifically, says THAT verbatim.

I say "somewhat comforted" because I knew my Truth ... the same Truth that King David felt, and knew, firsthand ... "How long will you forget me, O Lord? Forever? How long will you hide your face from me? My God, My God, why have you forsaken me!?!? Why are you so far from helping me? And why are you deaf from the words of my roaring? O bring me out of my distresses ... Hear, O Lord, when I cry out to you ... please, please answer me! Where are you??"

And, not only was it my Truth, and King David's Truth, that God DID forsake us and was not always there for us ... as promised ... it was Jesus Christ's painful Truth, too, when He was struggling to breathe upon the stake and the clouds turned pitch black, and He saw, with His own eyes, God step away and turn His back to Him .... "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? My God, O, my God, why have you forsaken me!?!?"

So I found myself faced with an obvious contradiction ... right there in the Bible, and right here in my own personal experiences ... the Word of God contradicted itself ... I have, on one hand, promises that He will never leave me or forsake me and, on the other hand, recorded accounts written and preserved in the Bible forever (coupled with my own experience) that proves/shows otherwise.

Talk about being "somewhat comforted" ... lol.

And, then, I recalled something my dad taught me when I was a young girl ... when he gave me this Bible for my 16th birthday ... He told me to study this Book, and to prove/test ALL things written in here ... he told me to question everything ... and, he really did mean EVERYTHING ... he told me I would find blatant "lies" in here ... and he also told me I would find what appears to be contradictions!

Keyword: appears.

He taught me that when I am faced with what seems to be a contradiction, that I must guard myself from reacting carnally ... jumping to a quick, human-natured arrogant hot-tempered knee-jerk conclusion ... without taking a moment to gather more facts, stepping away to maturely assess the context and situation, before making any assumption or judgment on the issue.

So, that's what I did these past two days ... I stepped away and gave myself time to mull over this painful contradiction ... I tried to quieten my carnal human nature and tried to invite the Holy Spirit in to help me look at this paradox in a better Light.

I am the mother of three daughters ... ages 23, 19 and 9 ... I call them My Miracles ... maybe I will tell you why I call them that someday.

If you are a parent, I'm sure you will understand that each of your children require different approaches (or styles) of parenting/teaching ... depending upon their age in Life, their maturity, their personalities, their needs and their sensitivities ... it's something we as parents eventually figure out and learn as we go ... unfortunately, some parents don't ever figure it out.

But, I digress.

With My Youngest Miracle, I have more of a "micro-manager" style of parenting ... I still call most of the shots, and control what she will or won't do ... I still oversee her behavior and choices, and I discipline/guide her, and I protect her - ready to jump at a moment's notice if I see her head in a direction that will definitely harm her ... I'm the influence behind most of her plans, and map out the direction I'd like to see her go ... of course, this stage lessens everyday as she grows ... she's not a toddler anymore ... and I find myself transitioning into the "next style of parenting" with her ... which is where I've been with My Middle Miracle.

With My Middle Miracle, I've had an "Allowing" style of parenting the last five years or so ... I had to have faith I taught her the best I knew how, and I had to let go quite a bit, and allow her to decide for herself how she was going to behave and decide for herself what choices she was going to make for herself ... always being right there, if she REALLY needed me, but letting her do her own thing whether I personally agreed with it, or liked it, or not ... I "allowed" her to become who she wanted to be, and now, with her, I find myself transitioning into the "next style of parenting" which is where I am with My Oldest Miracle.

With My Oldest Miracle, my parenting style is "Hands-Off." She's 23 years old, and has traveled the world. She turned 21 in Dalian, China where she lived and worked for over a year. She's independent, and intelligent. She is completely on her own. She knows where I am, and I know where she is. I know she can handle herself and Life. I know she is prepared to face challenges and trials. I can not, and will not, live Life for her.

But, I digress AGAIN.

As I was saying, some parents don't ever figure it out. They either neglect, or provoke their children to wrath through constant criticism, or smother. I personally think a good, healthy blend of the three main parenting styles ... micro-management, allowing, and hands-off ... is best.

And if God is our Father, our Parent, and if He created us and if He created the family unit ... I think He probably has a better grasp of His Children and how to "parent" than we do.

All throughout the Bible you can read and study and witness His parenting styles ... and all throughout the Bible you can see examples and proofs of His parenting styles ... and if you are perceptive, you will see that He is a perfect blend of micro-managing, allowing, and hands-off.

We can PROVE, through His Word, that He has done all three parenting styles at different times, with different people, and through different circumstances ... just like none of our children are all the same, and just like the times change, and just like everyone's circumstances and situations vary .......... the same applies with God, and His children.

I think people who believe that God always micro-manages everything (God did this for me, God did that for me, God told me this, God told me that) are making a big mistake ... and when I see people, at the other extreme, thinking God is always "Hands-Off" well, I think they are making a big mistake, too.

I see God, our Father, at mostly the "allowing" stage ... He can micro-manage when necessary but, for the most part, He allows us to do what we want to do. Yes, He has His own plans for us ... but He doesn't micro-manage those plans.

Otherwise why do we have the scriptures that tell us even though we think we make our own plans/way, God has other plans for us ... "For I know the plans I have for you" ... "The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD re-directs his steps" ... and He will make sure we arrive where we were supposed to be in spite of our detours.

What does all of this have to do with solving the contradiction/paradox of He will never leave us, nor forsake us, and yet at times feeling like you are literally being forsaken???

I can not, and will not, live the Lives for ANY of my children ... can/will you? ... would you really WANT to?

When your baby first learned to walk, did you prevent and protect him from every single bump and fall? When you taught your young child to ride a bike did you force him to keep his training wheels on? Did you go to school every day with your child to watch his every move? to make sure he didn't get his feelings hurt? to make sure he got all of his potty breaks? Did you do all of his homework for him, and take all of his tests for him? Did you go take his driver's test for him? Did you go on all of his dates with him? Go on job interviews with him? Answer all of the questions for him?

If you didn't do all of these things for him ... does that mean you don't love him?

Then, why would we think our Loving Father should jump in every single time we need something? And why would we feel like He doesn't Love us if He doesn't immediately jump when we holler? Why do we assume He is not there? Why do we feel He doesn't care? Or hear us? Or notice?

God delivered in the past ... God delivers now ... and God will deliver in the future.

But how quickly?

Sometimes very quickly. Sometimes not quickly at all.

But is it possible He might have a Good reason if He waits?

Sometimes God sits back and lets you take the test because He's been training you for it ... sometimes He lets you drive the car by yourself because He's prepared you to be a Good driver ... And sometimes our emotional upheaval is because we have been in training ... He has been helping us to grow, to mature ... He's helping us deal with adversity and Life ... and He is not going to be the over-protective, smothering Parent who makes all the decisions for us ... He's not going to be the Parent who always bails us out when we get in trouble ...

Sometimes when we are down, yes, God will comfort you and He will deliver you ... but it may not be as quickly as you like.

God will ALWAYS deliver ... but in different ways and at different times.

So the next time you are going through a real hard time, and you are feeling really low, and ignored, and useless ... and the next time you feel forsaken ... please, think of God's plan for you, and try to remember all of the Good things you KNOW He has already done for you.

If you do that, you will be like Jesus Christ .... and that is what we are supposed to do, right? Aren't we supposed to be more like Him, or try to be more like Him?

Jesus Christ went through the Darkest and Greatest and Hardest and Lowest and Scariest trial OF ALL, but His Father knew His Son could handle it ... God had faith His Son was prepared for it ... His Boy was ready ... His Son was going to succeed ... The Father knew it was time to let go, step back, and let His Son finish it on His own .. Dad knew what His Son needed, even if it was tough.

Jesus Christ went through the Darkest, Greatest, Hardest, Lowest and Scariest trial OF ALL ... and while He was going through it ... and after He screamed out "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani" when His Father stepped back from Him .... he still chose to remember, and hold onto, this fact: My Father loves me, and He WILL deliver His promises.

So, my friends, think about this.

When God, your Father, steps back ... He knows what He is doing.

Don't lose faith, and fight the Good fight.

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The Struggle is Real

3/21/2015

21 Comments

I am a ... Believer.

I have minored in Religion, and I once had hopes of pursuing a Master in Theology ... having tested to begin courses towards that direction before I even completed my under-grad degree ... all of that is still simmering dry on the back burner.

I am a ... Christian.

I have worked in the ministry, and I feel a strong need to serve others although I honestly have no idea how I can really be of any kind of worthwhile "service" since I feel so inadequate. I mean, who am I ... really ... and how could He use me, of all people, and why would He want to?

I am a .... Nothing.

The past few months have been emotionally taxing for me, and this heavy taxation has triggered a fierce relapse of PTSD complete with its full-blown depression and random panic attacks ... notice, please, I said "triggered a relapse" which means these issues are nothing new and are also, unfortunately, recurring.

I am not clueless, and I am not in denial ... I am aware of the physical, and Spiritual, causes/sources of my pain.

But being "aware" doesn't make it any easier to deal with, though, and neither does over 25 years experience of dealing.

As the sun was setting, I decided tonight would be Good night to delve into my Bible for a personal study on depression ... I have leaned so heavily upon my Best Friend these past few weeks, I thought I'd give him a much-needed rest and turn to our Creator. It was the perfect time to reach out to Him; being the Sabbath.

I stumbled upon something appalling and disturbing as I was skimming through a few Christian articles about depression, and I couldn't believe my eyes ... I read it and re-read it again several times ... I took a screen-shot of it, and read it again.

I immediately began to HURT for all the many others, like me, who were searching for help and stumbled across this statement.

How damaging! How dangerous! How false! How irresponsible! How wrong!

My own hurt/pain was forgotten, irrelevant, at this point .... and had turned into OUTRAGE.

What complete, and utter, shit from a horse.

God never used anybody who was depressed or discouraged? Really?

Let's see ...

MOSES - "I am not able to bear this any longer ... it is too heavy for me ... it would be better if I were dead ... if I have found any favor in your sight, at all, take me, I pray thee."

I don't know about you, but, that sounds like a depressed and discouraged person to me ... and we ALL should know how God used Moses.

ABRAHAM - "And a deep sleep fell upon him; lo, a horror of great darkness fell upon him."

Anyone who has truly experienced depression can instantly recognize what this passage described ... the only time the pain is dulled is while sleeping ... and you sleep so much that you fall deeper and deeper into the dark pit ... but, sorry, God was never able to use Abraham.

ELIJAH - "I've had enough; please take my Life for I am not Good enough."

Goodness Gracious, I guess God couldn't use the PROPHET Elijah either ... despite his obvious exhaustion and insecurity.

JEREMIAH - "Cursed be the day wherein I was born!"

Dang, another prophet, despite all he did to honor God's calling .... sorry, Jeremiah was not used.

JONAH - "It's better if I were dead ... take, I beseech thee, my Life from me ... for it is better for me to die than to live."

Despite his crappy attitude, and poor decisions, God still used Jonah ..... oh, wait, nevermind, sorry ... according to that article up there, God didn't use him either.

Something's fishy here.

And how about the Apostle Paul??? Paul was "pressed beyond measure; pressed beyond strength; thought it might be better to die!!!" Did God not use him??

Or what about my personal favorite, the Man After God's Own Heart, King David??????

KING DAVID - "I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly ... I go mourning all the day long, I groan because of the turmoil in my heart ... have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak ... please heal me ... I am weary with my groaning ... how long will you forget me, O Lord? Forever? How long will you hide your face from me? Consider me, and hear me, lest I sleep the sleep of death ... the sorrows of death encompass me ... My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me??? Why are you so far from helping me? And why are you deaf to the words of my roaring??? Turn back unto me and have mercy upon me for I am desolate and afflicted ... O bring me out of my distresses ... Hear O Lord when I cry ... please answer me ... Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble ... my eyes are consumed with grief ... My Life is spent ... My strength is failing ... my bones are consumed ... But I trust in you, O Lord ... You are My God."

All of these men were Believers ... all of these men had a specific job to do that God assigned to them ... that God GAVE them ... and every one of these men had trouble with their calling, and struggled to do God's will ... each and every one of these men got depressed, and discouraged, over different circumstances and situations ... they were ALL in a state of acute stress, and found it very difficult to carry out the demands of their tasks ... and each one of these men were still very, very much used by God in spite of their flaws, illnesses, and weaknesses.

The most damaging, the most dangerous, the most irresponsible, and the most false/wrong self-righteous advice, attitude and judgment of them ALL is when you go to a trusted confidant, or elder, or friend, or leader, or pastor, or whatever/whoever ... and you feel this, or hear this, from them:

"A real Christian has faith ... a real Christian never gets that heavy or sorrowful ... A real Christian would never let depression get that much of a hold of them ... a real Christian doesn't doubt their worth ... a real Christian never questions God ... a real Christian wouldn't have that kind of trouble/struggle ... a real Christian would never want to die ... a real Christian knows all things work for Good, and knows he's going to make it, and is always up for the task."

Really? A REAL Christian, huh? You ignorant, pitiful ass.

The most "REAL CHRISTIAN" I know is Jesus Christ HIMSELF.

He had faith ... an unlimited supply of faith. Jesus Christ knew all things worked for Good. He knew he was going to make it. Jesus Christ was up for the task; he took the job. Yet He anguished over what was ahead of him. HE WAS DISCOURAGED. Jesus Christ also questioned God, if surely, please, is there not another way we can do this? He begged for God to remove that cup from him. Jesus Christ was extremely heavy, and intensely sorrowful ... depression had a big hold of him ... so much so that his sweat and tears were falling like drops of blood ... HE WAS DISTRAUGHT EVEN UNTO DEATH ... so distraught that he wasn't just willing to die, but he wanted to die, but surely there's another way we can do this?!?!?!? Jesus Christ experienced a maxed-out emotional stress overload breakdown prior to his physical torture, and was in literal AGONY!!!

He KNOWS what it feels like, and He knows what it IS, and He understands.

And, for what it is worth .... if anything ... I do too.

I'm going to tell you, flat out, if you struggle with depression ... you have never been alone, in the past, and you are not alone right now, in the present, and you will never be alone in the future.

The Struggle is Real ... for REAL Believers ... for REAL Christians ... yes, the Struggle is Real.

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Israel in Bible Prophecy

3/17/2015

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My Facebook newsfeed is filled with memes and posts from many of my Christian friends who pray for, and support, Israel. I see the familiar white flag, with the blue Star of David, everywhere. I see countless posts about Netanyahu, and the upcoming election today. I still see many posts concerning his visit to America a few weeks ago.

I've kept my opinions to myself ... about Israel ... until now.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu gave perhaps the most sobering, patriotic address we've heard in years in front of a joint session of Congress. His message was clear: we cannot trust Iran to abide by any agreement, or even any assertion, it makes. Netanyahu is perhaps the only world leader willing to tell the unvarnished truth about the dangers Israel, Europe and the United States face from a nuclear Iran ... and he may well lose the Israeli election today if the published polls are accurate. If he loses, it will mean that the last prominent world leader who believes in confronting evil ... rather than appeasing evil ... and the last prominent world leader (who loves the America who has supported Israel through thick and thin over the past sixty seven years) will be out of office.

I agree with my Facebook newsfeed ... this is something that deserves our attention and our prayers ... but probably not for the same reasons as my friends.

My thoughts about Israel go way deeper than what I see from all the Facebook fanfare, and I have been hesitant to voice my thoughts ... out of a sincere concern that my thoughts might challenge and possibly offend ... until now.

Many of my followers and friends are Christian ... they believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and they also believe in the messages and prophecies found within its Holy pages, and they take to heart that Israel is God's chosen people, and they feel Israel needs our prayers and support because of these facts.

And, so, they request prayers and support for Israel ... there's the Star of David flag again ... the tiny nation where God's chosen, and the Holy City Jerusalem, resides.

The purpose of this blog is not to say Israel doesn't need our prayers and support ... I most definitely think Israel does ... what I am wanting to say through this blog is that I'm not quite sure my followers and friends really know, and understand, WHO/WHAT Israel is.

Surely most of us know the promise God gave to Abraham ... you know, the promise that Abraham's seed (children aka descendants) would "spread ABROAD" from the ancient land of Palestine; that they would ultimately be found in all directions (north, east, south, west) from Palestine! They would be numbered in the countless MILLIONS "as the dust of the earth" in number! Abraham was promised to be a father of NATIONS. Plural. This promise was GLOBAL, y'all ... this promise was NOT describing a small nation of people in the Middle East surrounded by hostile Arab nations, struggling for acceptance and survival like modern "Israel" today.

Re-read the story of Abraham again if you need a refresher ... please.

And, hopefully, most of you know the reinforced Promise that Jacob received from God after a long night of literally fighting ... wrestling ... each other. If not, please read it again. After they tossed each other around, and got banged up real good, God changed Jacob's name to what? Do you know? Can you remember?

God changed Jacob's name to Israel.

But, wait, who was Jacob? He was the son of Isaac, and the grandson of Abraham. It is important you know that Jacob/Israel received the same reinforced Promise that Abraham had from God ... and Jacob/Israel was the father of twelve sons ... the TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL ... not two (Judah/Levi) but twelve!

As a sidenote, in case you don't know, the tribes of Judah and Levi are the only "Jewish" tribes ... the people/tribes found in the modern-day nation of "Israel" today ... kinda makes you wonder where the other ten tribes are, huh?

As another sidenote, many wrongly assume that the words "Israel" and "Jew" are synonymous ... that would be like saying "American" and "Texan" were the same. (LOL) Nothing is farther from the truth. All Jews are Israelites, yes, of course, but not all Israelites are Jews ... just like all Texans are Americans, but not all Americans are Texans.

But I digress.

God's chosen people are not just the Jews over there in modern-day Israel ... wrap your mind around that ... also, wrap your mind around the fact that the end-time prophecies about the demise and tribulation and ultimate obliteration of Israel is not just limited to that modern-day tiny nation where Jerusalem resides either.

Jacob/Israel had a favorite son with the Love of his Life, Rachel ... his name was Joseph.

Joseph also received special Blessings and Promises, and he had two sons that he took to his dying father, Jacob/Israel, to have the same Blessings/Promises passed to them.

Jacob/Israel placed his hands upon Joseph's two sons ... Ephraim and Manasseh ... and reinforced the same Promises of Abraham unto them ... with a very specific addendum: One son was to become ONE GREAT NATION, and the other son was to become a GREAT GROUP OF NATIONS.

And WHO, down through history, was to bear the name of ISRAEL? Jacob/Israel said, "LET MY NAME BE NAMED ON THEM" .... the name of ISRAEL was placed upon Joseph's sons!!!

"Let my name (Israel) be placed upon Ephraim and Manasseh."

These two sons of Joseph are brothers ... close-knit, bound together ... what two modern-day nations can you think of that come from the same cloth, so to speak, and also 1) is a great group of nations, and 2) the other is one great nation? These two brother nations were to eventually become a great, single nation, and a "company of nations."

Where, in the world today, does one look to find nations matching these descriptions ... two brothers enjoying a long, enduring relationship (even though brothers sometimes fight, and do not always agree) ... two great peoples possessing between them much of the power AND wealth of the world?

If you truly believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and if you truly believe the messages and prophecies to be true, and if you truly believe the Bible to be REAL and RELEVANT to today ... then how in the world could you not think the two greatest nations in the world's history is not included anywhere in there??? I mean, come on, Assyria/Germany is in there ... Egypt is in there ... and Ethiopia ... and Libya, and Syria, etc ... but not America and Great Britain??? Really?

Re-Read the histories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob/Israel, and Joseph again .... and, by the way, as yet another sidenote, what EXACTLY is placed under the Royal Throne in England? Otherwise known as the Coronation Stone? And how/why do you think it is there?

I'll give you a hint: Jacob's Pillow. Google it.

Millions of Britons are blissfully unaware of their ancient roots ... they have not the faintest idea that the "great group of nations" called the British Commonwealth (Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa,etc) are the literal seed of Abraham, of Jacob/Israel, of Joseph ... the Chosen/Promised peoples of Ephraim. Nor do countless millions in the United States understand that they are the Manasseh of Bible history—and Bible prophecy!

WE ARE ISRAEL.

Maybe the next time you blow the dust off your Bible and refresh your memory of the demise of Israel, and the end-time prophecies, and the upcoming tribulation ... and maybe the next time you see prayer requests for the support of Israel ... and maybe the next time your see memes and posts concerning the repentance (true change) of Israel .... OR ANYTHING REGARDING ISRAEL, FOR THAT MATTER ... maybe, just maybe, you'll remember what I've challenged you to read about, research, and think about.

And, hopefully, not be offended.

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