At last…freedom!

God is not mad. He is a God of mercy and kindness. He knows every thought and every circumstance, and He does everything He can do to help us discover His very best for us. Right now, for all who will trust Him, He is providing a way where there was no way from tormenting thoughts and situations that may have taken many of us captive. Here is a sample of His goodness….

Woman caught in adultery:

And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, they say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have something to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. John 8:3-11 KJV (Youversion)

Wow! I think I could just end this message here….

God corrects us for good:

My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of His correction: For whom the Lord loves He corrects; even as a father the son in whom he delights. Happy is the man who finds wisdom and the man that gets understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the acquiring of fine gold. She is more precious than rubies and all the things you can possibly desire are not to be compared to her. Long life is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasure, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her:: and happy is everyone that retains (diligently keeps—refuses to let go of) her Prov 3:11-18 (my paraphrase).

In all your getting, get understanding Prov 4:7.

The goodness of God leads us to repentance  Rom 2:4. You know my sitting down and my rising up. You know my thoughts from afar off. Psa 139:2, If I ascend up into heaven, you are there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, you are there also Psa 139:8

1. Right at the starting gate: Watch out for vengeance:

Maybe you might think “This is payback time!”, but vengeance is God’s. His is longsuffering toward every man. Let go and let God! His ways are higher and far more effective than anything we could devise against one who has offended us. (I have added a Part V to this series in response to the First Nations heinous crimes and cruelties committed against them. Isa 54:17, Gal 6:7-8, and Luke 18:7, Matt 18:6 quickly come to mind. So much to address here….)

Isa 54:17, Gal 6:7-8 and Luke 18:17 all apply to every other situation where one has taken the blows of hurtling rocks of gossip, slander, false accusation, intimidation, abuse etc… God is our avenger. “Vengeance is Mine,” says the Lord. Romans 12:19

And then there is the “general complaining” of this and that—I was cut off in traffic, clerk wasn’t nice, fries were cold—a habit of having something to complain about—keeping us stuck on a merry-go-round of discontent and self-pity. These were addressed in Part II OUCH! This was not necessarily an exhaustive list rather than a sampling of situations that will help to understand a complaining stronghold. Google: strong·hold “…a place where a particular cause or belief is strongly defended or upheld.”

Something I have noticed in my own life is if I don’t resist complaining about something that happened during my day, very quickly something else will occur, providing opportunity to complain again. I have come to recognize this and zip my lips.

2. The subject of counselors: Get help!

By now you might recognize that you are stuck on the merry-go-round of complaining or accusing and you will say either “No problem, I can handle this.” or “I need help.” 

Prov 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. KJV

Of course our ultimate Counselor is  the Holy Spirit. He already knows what has happened. When we ask for His counsel, He soon guides us on our path of recovery and healing. And that just might be that He leads us to talk to a counselor.

I have already mentioned that my husband and I are trained lay-counselors. We have sat at both sides of the table…counselees and on to counselors…wounded healers, was the term used. This was not just going from a bad situation, learning a better situation, but it involved a number of years of consistently attending formal courses, classes and conferences provided by a professional counseling center (twelve attending registered psychologists, trained counselors, a psychiatrist and a family physician). So, bottom line, I support counseling 100%, preferably, professional or formally trained lay-counselors. One might begin with a close, trusted friend or family member just to express the concern of the dilemma and evolving  habit of complaints. God bless my mother! I only complained to her once about my marriage. Her response was, “You made your bed, now you have to lie in it.?” That took care of that. I continue in the same marriage today 50 years after many such complaints. I learned that was what counselors were for. LOL!

One little bit of counsel from me when meeting with counselors—thus the “multitude of counselors”: From my personal experience, there must be a sense of connection with your counselor, the same as you would have with your physician. If you don’t click the first meeting, don’t go back, find someone else to confide your dilemma to and pursue rising from the pit of discouragement and the constant rehearsing of your situation without resolving it. The second bit of counsel is that all counselors contain their own assortment of information, insight and specialty when helping counselees sort out their stuff. I have found that I have obtained certain helpful bits of information from one counselor and other helpful bits from another counselor. Also, there should be an invitation to return (a minimum of four sessions). Counselors will leave that up to you. Also, you will likely be asked at the beginning what you would like your counselor to do for you. For me, it was always “I need help to stay in my marriage.” Another thing—counselors likely won’t be talking to you about the devil, unless you are meeting for deliverance, so I will talk about that very thing further down.

Do receive prayer ministry every opportunity there is in church; ask faithful, close friends or a specific prayer partner you can trust to walk through your crisis with you and pray with and for you.  THREE FOLD CORD! Eccl 4:12 

***Online therapy/counseling “Better Help” sponsor for, and recommended by, SB Mowing

. Give the devil the boot: spiritual warfare

We do not wrestle against flesh and blood… Eph 6:12-17

David said…The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine…. 1 Sam 17:37 KJV

We have one enemy—that is the devil. Remember how he allured Eve, causing her to doubt God’s Word to them, believing a lie rather than the truth. Don’t let the devil steal away God’s promises for you by deceiving you that it is ok to complain. He comes to rob, kill and destroy our faith and trust in God. God is telling you here “It is not ok.” Just a thought: I bet Satan was a big complainer in heaven. His rebellion in Heaven indicates that he was the master of complaint. He is the father of lies John 8:44.

Learn about spiritual warfare! Lots of books available and many knowledgeable ministries to follow. There is an arising awareness in this season of fighting off the darkness that has come to rob, kill and destroy. Satan goes about like a roaring lion

1 Peter 5:8. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

He is quite capable in his work to gain support for his cause by deceiving many into see things from his perspective and as far away from God’s as he can trick us to go. Sin opens the door. Sin is simply that which is contrary to God’ instruction for our lives…a life more abundant.

Don’t’ rejoice that the demons are subject to you….Luke 10:17-20

¹⁷ And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

¹⁸ And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

¹⁹ Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

²⁰ Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. 

You are empowered: Take your authority and use it!

4. What we think and what we speak:

Prov 18:21 AMP

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.

Also take a look at, James 3:8-10.

Here is a great article from the Mayo Clinic (Google)

Mayo Clinic:

Healthy Lifestyle, Stress Management

Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, increases sugars (glucose) in the bloodstream, enhances your brain’s use of glucose and increases the availability of substances that repair tissues.

Cortisol also curbs functions that would be nonessential or harmful in a fight-or-flight situation,,,,

But when stressors are always present and you constantly feel under attack, that fight-or-flight reaction stays turned on.

The long-term activation of the stress response system and the overexposure to cortisol and other stress hormones that follows can disrupt almost all your body’s processes. This puts you at increased risk of many health problems, including:

· Anxiety

· Depression

· Digestive problems

· Headaches

· Muscle tension and pain

· Heart disease, heart attack, high blood pressure and stroke

· Sleep problems

· Weight gain

· Memory and concentration impairment

That’s why it’s so important to learn healthy ways to cope with your life stressors.

Continuing on the path of healing, deliverance and recovery…let’s think and speak life and that more abundant—this applies to me also. The thief comes but for to steal, kill and to destroy, I have come so that they might have life and have it more abundantly (my paraphrase) John 10:10!

Just a glimpse of a recent colossal disaster my husband and I navigated:

I was forced to relocate several provinces away from where we had resided for 11 years. The situation was beyond belief or comprehension. When I arrived at my new destination, I noticed that if some friendly soul welcomed me and asked me how I had chosen their city I began spewing out my dilemma. For some reason I couldn’t carry on a normal conversation. The recent turn of events had been so consuming that I seemed to be stuck mentally within the whole mess. After several of these embarrassing encounters I knew I needed help. I decided to go for prayer counseling after one Sunday service. I simply told my prayer person that I had gone through a traumatic situation recently and I couldn’t carry on a simple conversation—all that was in my thoughts and conversation was what had happened. We prayed, I left—and instantly it was gone. My next encounter with a kind enquiry was easily answered with a simply, “I have friends here, and I like the city very much.” IT WAS DONE! Praise God! A stronghold was instantly broken and I was free to move forward in my new relationships.

TRAINING OUR THOUGHTS AND MOUTHS   to think and speak life! His Word is life Heb 4:12!

Take control of your thoughts:  2 Cor 10:4-5—casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. (Christ is not Jesus last name; it’s literal meaning is  burden removing, yoke destroying power of God.)

We can move mountains with our words Mark 11:22-24.

Speak life into your situation: I have the mind of Christ 1 Cor 2:16; No weapon that is formed against me shall prosper, and every tongue that rises against me in judgment, I shall condemn (prove to be wrong) Isa

54:17. If God is for me, who can be against me ? If God is on my side, what can man do to me Rom 8:31. I shall not die but live to declare the works of God Psa 118:17. I am strong Joel 3:10! My God shall supply all my need through His riches in glory Phil 4:19. My father owns the cattle on a thousand hills Psa 50:10-12. The silver and the gold are His Haggai 2:8. I am a child of the most high God 2 Cor 6:18! I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me Phil 4:13! I will sing praises to my God while I have my being Psa 146:2. I was glad when they said unto me Let us go up to the house of the Lord Psa 122:1. Amen!

Our mind is a human computer…input = output. Your input is what you act out. Control your thoughts and you will surely control your tongue. If your thoughts are controlled by what has happened to you, what you watch, follow and listen to and it is not producing good data. Change your input….reprogram….

Emotions:

Are you able to control your emotions? Do your emotions control how you think and behave? Is what you feel your primary motivator? God gave us emotions. He has a few Himself. But we are not to cultivate a life based on our emotions. Make a list and see how strongly you are influenced about how you feel about assorted stuff. A little logic goes a long way in controlling our emotions. Think things through logically and you will likely come to a completely different conclusion in what you are dealing with. Count the cost Luke 14:28-30; Eccl 5:4-7. Don’t make wedding vows without counting the cost; seek peace and pursue it every day Psa 34:14-15. Don’t sign any agreement without counting the cost. One of my responsibilities, when I was Controller of a small engineering firm many years ago, was to enforce contracts…don’t sign contracts you are not prepared to fulfill. At the same time, make certain that a contract is two sided. One sided contracts can end badly when you realize you signed your life away…or someone else is in control when you most need control yourself.  This is why, in a marriage, two become one…. The key here is “become”. It takes a lifetime to “become”, so be prepared.

5. Here is a great THREE FOLD CHORD Ecl 4:11-12!  Forgiveness, Understanding and Love….

Forgiveness brings instant healing. Do it God’s way and you will not even remember the details of the crushing offense or disaster you encountered, and you are no longer tempted to disclose any tormenting thoughts to others through gossip etc. It will all be gone. Here is a reminder: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new 2 Cor 5:17 KJV.  Don’t allow anyone to drag you back into your past once you become born again (or you have moved on)…all the old things have passed away…all thing have become new for you!

In all your getting get understanding Prov 4:7

All I ever asked God for in my early years as a Christian was for understanding. It was 35 years later, when we purchased a small homestead acreage on the prairie in 2011. that I realized quickly I needed a wisdom that I had never known before. Getting wisdom from God is easy…it’s applying that wisdom that sometimes goes awry.  I learned to ask, “Give me wisdom, Father, and the ability to walk in it.”

Simple: if you apply love every day, your pursuit of peace, understanding and forgiveness will fall into place. This scripture is a mighty truth which applies to oneself (love yourself), as well as applying it to our interaction with others. There will be no room for gossip or complaining when we put on love…

1Cor 3: Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity (love), I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity (love), I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and

though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity (love), it profiteth me nothing. Charity (love) suffereth long, and is kind; charity (love) envieth not; charity (love) vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity (love) never faileth…And now abideth faith, hope, charity (love), these three; but the greatest of these is charity (love).

Even our enemies will be at peace with us when we are pleasing to God Prov 16:7. By this—by your love for one another—will all men know you are My disciples….John  13:35.

Loving your enemies:

How on earth do we do this?  God, we need Your help!

Matt 5:44-45 KJV

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust

There was an amazing epiphany imparted to me recently, regarding loving my enemies…we all have them. I was somehow given the insight that Jesus died for all men. No one is master of their own soul. God is master of our souls…every single one who was, or is, or will be born on this earth. Jesus died for every single soul ever to exist on this earth. It doesn’t matter what our title is, how small or how large our importance is, we are all the same in the sight of God Almighty. He sent His Son to die for every sin ever sinned. When we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Corrie Ten boom achieved the same revelation as God gently brought her to forgive her enemies. Once you are able to see a man or woman through God’s eyes, you will easily forgive them. They will no longer torment you with fear of what they can do to you. You will understand what they are made of and Who made them and you will forgive. They are no longer a personal matter to you. You are able to view them from a distance. You now have understanding.

Even our enemies will be at peace with us when we are pleasing to God Prov 16:7.

Don’t fear those who aim to kill just the body, but are unable to touch the soul. The One to fear is He who can destroy soul and body, in the fires of hell. Matt 10:8

Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live… Ezek 33:11

Prov 24:17-20 KJV

Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them. Do not fret because of evildoers or be envious of the wicked, for the evildoer has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

Take pleasure in that you are God’s precious child, His favored, His most loved and cherished. Your name is written in the Lamb’s book-of-life. This is not the end. It is a new beginning. Keep moving forward! Don’t look back! Amen. When we focus on what is ahead, our mind cannot muddle around in muck and mire of what we left behind. Praise God!

6. Be thankful in all things….

This one was not so hard for me to grasp. Again my mother was adamant about thankfulness and I guess I was a good student. Even today when I retire for the night I have a list that I thank God for for that day.

Develop a thankful and forgiving heart, your will be blessed abundantly.

Therefor, in whatsoever place you find yourself be thankful Phil 4:12-13. Be thankful in all things, and with prayer and supplication let your request be made known unto God Phil 4:6-8. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and praise Psa 100:4. After 47 I have not lost the excitement of entering the House of the Lord to give Him thanks and praise.

 MOVING ON!

If you have persisted and read all four parts kudos to you. I am impressed. This normally would have sparked another book, but my instruction from Holy Spirit was to blog it. I have cut and cut information in order to make the reading less of a load. There are five pages of information remaining on my file not included.

My prayers over this God assignment is that His Word would not return to Him void but would accomplish that which pleases Him Isa 55:11. And nothing would interfere or hinder His Word reaching out to heal, deliver and restore any soul that is struggling. I hope what I have done here pleases Him and provides many answers to many questions where man or woman or child has suffered the blows of what has hit them. Don’t’ throw rocks. Lay them down. We all have a life to live on this earth and we all need each other’s support and love. Simply love at every opportunity.  Amen.

In closing: Jer 12:5 KJV

If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling (war) of Jordan?

Inspiration:

MOVIES

Defiance (Holocaust)

42 (Black achievement)

Heaven is for Real (4 year old, Weslian Church son visits Heaven)

Freedom Writers (Clashing teen culture)

Pride (Black achievements)

(Corrie Ten boom) The Hiding Place; Faith Undefeated (Holocaust)

Hidalgo (First Nation achievements)

Jerry Elliott (High Eagle) NASA (First Nation achievements)

Amazing Grace (Ending the slave trade)

Hidden Figures (NASA) Black achievements

Unbroken (War prison camp survival)

Impossible (disaster survival)

Sitting Bull and Little Big Horn,  Little Big Man, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (Sitting Bull seeking safety in Canada for his people)

Pursuit of Happiness (Rags to Riches)

MINISTRIES:

Joyce Meyer

Joel Osteen

David Jeremiah

RADIO:

K-LOVE

A bomb has been dropped; let’s take a look at the casualties.

             As painful as it is to see ourselves sometimes, it is essential in order to make the necessary adjustments to  move to higher ground.

         When you prepare for a wedding, you are not dressed for work or play, you respectfully prepare yourself for the occasion, especially the Bride  and Groom. You are cleaned up and looking your very best for the occasion Matt:22: 11-14 KJV.  Jesus is preparing His Bride for His return Eph 5:27! Wow! This is just now a revelation in what He is doing here! At the same time, He is preparing us for what is coming on the earth, He is taking us much, much higher, making us much, much stronger and much more resilient. He is giving us greater wisdom so that we not only survive what is coming, but we, and our children, flourish in what is coming. So don’t lose heart. His love is reaching out and revealing something  that will help keep you and me in the swelling of the Jordan Jer 12:5!  

  God takes no pleasure in a soldier that shrinks back Heb 10:38-39. 2 Tim  2:3  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Let’s suck it up then(idiomatic-To put up with something; to deal with something, such as pain or misfortune, without complaining.) and look at the effects of our complaints and accusations against ourselves and others. We can become our own worst enemy, causing injury and casualties we are not aware of.  Our Heavenly Father wants to open our eyes to see the full picture: give us a full revelation of what we are doing and how it affects us and others around us.

“How can You possibly compare a small complaint or accusation to throwing rocks. It certainly is not as big a deal as all this fuss, God. I don’t mean to do any harm. I just want to set some things straight.” Throwing rocks at others, ourselves and for that matter, throwing rocks at God is very painful for those hit by the wallop—or even lethal! Take a look.

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves….1 John 1:8

1. Marriage: Throwing rocks by threatening, intimidating, bullying, manipulating, and controlling  one another causes confusion, immeasurable pain and  frustration, planting seeds for adultery and divorce; it creates sorrow, sadness, discouragement, and physical and mental separation; it destroys vision and family development it propagates hopelessness; crushes self confidence; instills fear, depression, a sense of failure and defeat, destruction, and even death; most importantly, it damages your seed for future generations….establishing or maintaining a generational curse (or iniquity).

2. Workplace:  Throwing rocks in the workplace, by either side, quickly becomes infectious, spreading malcontent; creates an unpleasant atmosphere; stirs fear, reduces work ethic or motivation to support or increase the advancement of a company.  This works for both sides…a two edged sword; be careful not to bite the hand that feeds you!  So much more here I could say!

3. Church: This is my favorite subject in all the world. I will make this brief. Again, a two edged sword—that is, whether it comes from leadership or it comes from the members. Grieving the Holy Spirit—a big one. Where the Holy Spirit is grieved, advancement will fade. Discouragement, disappointment, bitterness, resentment, loss of faith, loss of vision, loss of purpose.

4. Neighbors: Gossip and accusations separates, creates tension, awkwardness, isolates. This list goes on…

5. Extended Family/friends: Throwing rocks at family and friends, separates, confuses, generates sadness, sorrow, pain, regret. This is a huge subject….

6. Government: Throwing rocks at the current government. Unless you are called by God to be an activist to fight wrong and promote righteousness…throwing rocks is simply life draining, energy robber, loss of focus. HUGE distraction, robbing your destiny, creating a detour in your direction. Psa 34:14 READ THE WHOLE PSALM

7. Yourself: Throwing rocks at yourself results in disappointment and loss of hope for a fulfilling future, depression, oppression, discouragement, loss of desire to move forward, no vision, an invitation to the enemy to come and finish you off. Opening a door for defeat.

8. God: Throwing rocks at God. Wow! Thin ice, disrespect, dishonor, trying and testing His patience. Slandering His provision. Forgetting the fear of God. Not trusting Him and Who He is. Attempted manipulation, ungrateful, unthankful, unforgiving. Leaving God hurt, angered, provoked to act.

No, no, no…throwing rocks at God…not a good idea! It is hurtful to God to hear His people complaining and accusing Him that what they have is not good enough, or that they are not getting from God what they expect from a loving God James 4:2. Ungratefulness is throwing rocks at God. It is a lack of holy fear of God and who He is. It is a lack of trust. It is an indication that one’s personal relationship is not developed or matured.

Whether we complain about God, others or ourselves, we are doing some rock throwing, causing pain and confusion in other’s lives and robbing ourselves of blessings we are yet unaware even exist. God is waiting to bless us abundantly above and beyond what we hope or dream. He is not the tooth fairy, He is our Heavenly Father, worthy of respect and honor; not only liking what He has to say, but doing what He has to say Matt 12:50; Matt 7:21. 

The subject of Satan John 10:10; John 8:44. Do not accuse anyone falsely Exod 23:1. Satan is the accuser of the brethren Rev 12:10.  He accused God in the Garden of Eden Gen 3:1. Satan complained, accusing God that He had given favor to Job and that was the only reason Job was a righteous man: Take it all away and God would see a different Job Job 1:7-11.  Satan thus accused God of getting people to be righteous by giving them good stuff. If He didn’t give people all the good stuff, they wouldn’t love Him or behave in a way that pleased Him. (Though He slay me yet will I trust Him Job 13:15. Though there is no stock in the barn or the crops have fail…. Hab 3:16. Know Who’s side you are on!

The above is a good point. Do you only love God because everything is going your way and He has hedged you about and poured out abundant blessings? Who will you be in the swelling of the Jordan? And the swelling of Jordan is coming….

Complaining, gossip, and slander all start in the mind, creating emotions, resulting in outward demonstration of the discontent formulated in a secret place. Even the two boys in the introduction, Throwing Rocks Part I, followed out what was brewing in their minds. A complaint about these new kids; an accusation, maybe? (hatching cockatrices eggs Isa 59!)

Lots of good reading available out there, you might try Joyce Meyer’s book Battlefield of the Mind. Maybe a good companion teaching to this message.

END OF PART III FALL OUT—taking a look at the damages…

PART IV SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST—DROPPING OUR ROCKS

Jeremiah 12:5       

If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan (war) ?  KJV

             Exodus 17 and Numbers 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 20 & 21

If you recall, God’s chosen people lost their patience in the wilderness with Moses and God, constantly complaining and accusing them as they traveled from Egypt to Canaan. God wasn’t doing this right and Moses wasn’t doing that right. A rabble had banned together, stirring up more complaints—complaints against God’s provision. Where were the leeks, melons, and garlic they enjoyed in Egypt—at no cost? Now, no water! They might as well have stayed in Egypt than die in the wilderness. What did God expect of them, anyway?  Even Miriam, Moses sister, slung accusations against Moses authority, claiming equality with him.

And the complaining goes on, right up to arriving at the door of God’s promise of freedom, possessing their own land, a land flowing with milk and honey. Well, not so fast, God. They had just spent 40 years wandering around in the wilderness without proper food or water and now they had to go into this, so called, “promised land” and fight off giants? Surely, God could have done better than this for His chosen…. 

They had not trusted God, or His messengers, Moses and Aaron. Their lack of trust and continuous complaining and accusing finally provoked God, and it ended for them in the wilderness, costing them their inheritance of a good land with a good life.  They died in the wilderness, without ever receiving their promise. Moses died with them for his disobedience when striking the rock when God instructed him to speak to the rock the second time around. Disobedience cost Moses his promise after 40 years of obedience, while the people lost their promise from years of accusing and complaining.

There were consequences…fire, snakes and plague…and for Miriam’s accusation against Moses—leprosy. When Moses cried out for God’s mercy for Miriam, God relented and healed the leprosy after seven days. Both Miriam and Aaron died in the wilderness (Num 20:1, 20:24).

Maybe you have learned not to accuse or blame God, but you have singled out persons, or groups, and go about telling all they are doing wrong, or did, wrong, and how you are suffering because of what they are doing, or did, or how others are suffering because of what they are doing or did. Maybe you even take a glance over your shoulder every once in a while, hoping to see that God has judged them for all the evil they did to you, or others you see suffering because of them.  Or maybe you’re the one laying on the side of the road, bleeding, after suffering an excruciating loss and everyone passes you by without even glancing.

Let’s cut to the here-and-now and get specific: We’ll call this section Lancing The Boil…. We will use God’s word to do the cutting Hebrews 4:12. Out will ooze the stench of infection and the poison.             (Prov 3:11-12 Spoken to me many times over the years!) 

1. Marriage/abandonment/abuse/divorce: Malachi 2:14-17 God hates divorce. Remember, there is no marriage in heaven—no sex—we are as the angels (Matt 22:28-30), we are here to prepare for Jesus as His Bride (Rev 19:7-8). Look at the end of the article for a more complete (not exhaustive) list of scriptures.

My personal take on the subject of marriage after 50 years experience, as well as a trained lay-counselor for over twenty years: Marriage is one of our strongest and most effective character builders. If

you have quit on your marriage because it feels too difficult for you to learn the lessons or it feels like there is something better for you somewhere else—you have missed out on a tremendous opportunity for growth in your character and understanding of your relationships here on earth and with Jesus Christ, our soon coming Bridegroom. I could easily write an entire book on this subject alone.

My encouragement to you is to stick with it and consider how your situation will bring growth and development to your character, a sense of fulfillment and success to your life, as you decide to do it God’s way. Marriage is His plan for us—and between us and Jesus—so He has a pretty good idea how it all works out in the end. The end of a thing is better than the beginning—A word God spoke to me very early on, which I sincerely pondered a number of times over the years regarding my marriage (Eccl 7:8). I am so grateful I listened….

2. Workplace: Peter 2:18-19 Some rock throwing might be done under the guise of “authority”. One might think they are just setting a paid employee straight, wanting to improve production. Whether we are the boss or the servant, always do it God’s way, whether it changes others or not, it will change us. Proverbs 15:1 Talking back, gossiping, spreading rumors, trashing the boss or employees are no, nos. If you are strongly discontent with an employee, let them go and sincerely wish them well. If your work is unbearable, go somewhere you fit in. If there is complexity in either of these choices, do it God’s way. You will never regret it. 1 Peter 3:8-14 Are you getting the picture that complaining is a two-edged sword.

3. Church: Matt 12:24-31– Zech 3:1-2, I will chose pastors over you Jer 3:15,  Obey those who have rule over you Heb 13:17 ; Matt 16:18 I will build My Church….

The following comments come from years of experience, attending a variety of churches when God has sent me a distance on various writing assignments. Here is what I have seen and heard over the past 46 years. God loves His Church. Jesus died for His Church. Jesus (the Bridegroom) is coming for His Church (the Bride). But He says in Revelation He has a few things against some of His family. Let Revelation speak for itself (Rev 3:1-22).

There are primarily 3 issues that are consistent wherever He sends me: gossip and slander, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit’s work and resistance against a servant of God and their  vision and assignment from God.  (There are many wonderful things going on in Jesus Church, but here, we are dealing with a specific issue that God is asking us to pay serious attention to. If you read my book Voices Crying in the Wilderness, A call to prophesy, you will see the amazing revelation God gave to me regarding His love for His Church, and my love for His Church also. I have never attended a church I didn’t like…it would be like telling Jesus He didn’t know what He was doing.) 

4. Family/friends  A friend must show himself friendly Prov 18:24; mother-in-law against daughter-in-law Luke 12:53 Familiarity breeds contempt. Definition: Idiom—extensive knowledge of or close association with someone or something leads to a loss of respect for them or it. Coined by Geoffrey Chaucer  1300s. Stay loyal, stay faithful, stay respectful, keep confidences to yourself….

5. Neighbors: Matt 22:35-40, Mark 12:31 love your neighbor as yourself, who is my neighbor? Luke 10:25-37, Exod 20:16-17, Prov 3:28

6 Government: Rom 13:1, Matt 22:15-21-render to Ceasar that which is Caesar’s and to God that which belongs to God. Governments are put in place by God Rom 13:1. God raises up kings and puts down kings Dan 2:21-22. This subject is so volatile at this point and so expansive, I will only say…if you are calling out to Jesus to come…to return for His Church…for His Bride…understand that when He returns all will not be well on the earth. Be prepared. (Rev 22:17; all of Chapter 22!)

7. Yourself: You shall have what you speak Job 3:25; You are fearfully and wonderfully made Psa 139:14. I knew you in your mother’s womb Jer 1:5;  I knew you before the foundation of the world Eph 1:4-5 You did not choose Me, but I chose you John 15:16. *I loved you first 1 John 4:19-21

Speaking evil of yourself is deadly: I’m…too tall, too short, not smart, too fat, too skinny, unloved, not respected, lonely and so on. These thoughts will program and control your mind, emotions and life’s direction. Matt 12:36-37 This applies to all the above….

             Don’t lose heart, now. You can do this. Don’t click the x yet. Read on. Remember your promised land. Jer 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Don’t procrastinate, go in and possess your promise. God will help you slay your giants. Don’t look back, whether you are the accused or the accuser; whether you are the complainer or the one complained against. Let go and leave it all behind. Keep your focus on Jesus, He is always moving forward, and shut down the complaint department. Be quick to get off the merry-go-round of complaining, accusing (Rev 12:9-11) and trying to figure it all out, and give the victim mentality the boot!.  Get up quickly, move ahead and leave the junk behind.

End of Part II OUCH!

Part III FALL OUT—Taking a look at the damages…

1.  Marriage: Genesis 2:24, Eph 5:22-29, Matt 19:4-6, Col 3:18, 1Peter 3:7, Hebrews 13:4, Eccl 4:10, 1Cor 7:2-5, Prov 6:27, 29, Hebrews 13:4, 1Cor 6:9-10, Exodus 20:14, Proverbs 6:26, Proverbs 23:27-35, 1Cor 6:18, Matt 5:32.

(Part IV we will use His Word again to cleanse and heal the wounds, so keep looking forward! There is hope and healing in sight!)

THROWING ROCKS Part I

             My family moved many times over the years as my father’s work frequently took him a distance from our home for many months at a time. My mother’s way of supporting my father’s work was to move us all closer to where his next project took him so that he would have a home to come to after 12- and 16-hour days of strenuous labor. At that time, my father was a logger on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada.

This move took us to a small island off the west coast. Accommodation was limited on the island when we first arrived. The only housing available for a family of five was a converted chicken coup. Maybe that’s what triggered the somewhat hostile reaction to us three kid’s intrusion into the small community and the one room school.

We walked to and from school each day. Perhaps a mile or so. There were two brothers that also walked the distance with us. Well, I can’t say they walked with us, as they walked behind us and threw rocks at us, taunting us and laughing at us. I didn’t understand this rock throwing business. We had never done such a thing to others, nor was it done where we came from. Every day these two brothers followed us, throwing rocks as they had the day before. One day a gentleman came along in his ox cart. He pulled up beside us and beckoned us into his cart, glancing a good scowl at the rock throwers as we clattered on down the road to the little schoolhouse. The rock throwing and name calling came to a halt soon after our ride with the gentleman. Perhaps he had something to say about it to the brothers or their folks. We did move from the converted chicken coup shortly after to a very nice, large home near the ocean.

The point is. Throwing rocks at others hurts. It intimidates and causes confusion in other’s lives. God showed me something about rock throwing today. Do you know that complaining is a form of rock throwing?

God, our Heavenly Father, wants us to see some things differently. He is calling us higher to a holiness we have not yet known or understood. Hopefully, this message brings lifechanging revelation to our spirits and brings greater revelation of the nature of our amazing God. Amen.

The story of the two brothers randomly came to my mind as I waited for God to provide me with the complete revelation of what He was increasingly, unfolding in my understanding. He was putting His powerful finger on a subject He wanted us to pay serious attention to.

I could not devise this message on my own, it was so complex to me. Where do I ever start with this, Lord?  Then in a moment, for no apparent reason, the story of the two brothers came to my remembrance. Suddenly, the whole mishmash of notes and insights I had assembled over the months made sense.

Holy Spirit has called me to talk to us all about complaining. It is not at all what one might think. It is not at all what I thought….

***Watch for Part II to IV before the end of Feb/23.  Comments and questions welcome.