Sounds of Silence

 

Do not live in darkness, Sometimes He allows darkness so we cand see He is the true light in our life. Seek Him and you will find the light.

This song reminds me of Psalm 88

88 O lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:

2 Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;

3 For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.

4 I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength:

5 Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.

6 Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.

7 Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah.

8 Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.

9 Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: Lord, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.

10 Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah.

11 Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?

12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

13 But unto thee have I cried, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.

14 Lord, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?

15 I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.

16 Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off.

17 They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together.

18 Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.

The Sound of Silence

Simon & Garfunkel

Hello darkness, my old friend
I've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence

In restless dreams, I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
'Neath the halo of a streetlamp
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence

And in the naked light, I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never shared
No one dared
Disturb the sound of silence

"Fools", said I, "You do not know
Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you"
But my words like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the wells of silence

And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming
And the sign said, "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls
In tenement halls"
And whispered in the sounds of silence

 

 

1Joel 19 - 20 and The Revelation 15 and 16

I'm sharing this with you today.  This is what has been happening for awhile now, some of you see it but most of you ignore it.  This is the Plague of the Locusts, or Nations,  you will also find this in Revelation 15:5  The Bowls of Plagues.  The Locusts is another word for Nations. We will see 7 plagues, we have seen several so far.

The first bowl. The first angel pours out the first bowl on the land, “and ugly, festering sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image” (Revelation 16:2). This plague is targeted at those who have committed themselves to the Antichrist; tribulation saints will not be affected by these sores.  

The second bowl. The second bowl is poured out on the sea, turning the water “into blood like that of a dead person, and every living thing in the sea died” (Revelation 16:3). A third of the sea life had already perished with the sounding of the second trumpet (Revelation 8:9), and now the rest of the sea life is gone. The oceans are dead.

The third bowl. When the third bowl of God’s wrath is poured out, the rivers and freshwater springs also turn into blood (Revelation 16:4–5). The angel in charge of the water says, “You are just in these judgments, O Holy One, you who are and who were; for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve” (verses 5–6).The altar in heaven responds, “Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments” (verse 7).

The fourth bowl. The fourth angel pours out his bowl on the sun, “and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire. They were seared by the intense heat” (Revelation 16:8–9). Rather than repent of their sin, the wicked inhabitants of the earth “cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him” (verse 9).

The fifth bowl. The fifth of the seven bowls causes the kingdom of the beast to be plunged into great darkness. The pain and suffering of the wicked intensify, so that people gnaw their tongues in agony (Revelation 16:10–11). Still, the followers of the Antichrist “refused to repent of what they had done” (verse 11).

The sixth bowl. The sixth angel pours out his bowl of judgment on the Euphrates River. That river is dried up in preparation for the kings of the East making their way to their own destruction (Revelation 16:12). John then sees three unclean spirits “that looked like frogs” coming from the mouths of Satan, the Antichrist, and the false prophet (verse 13). These demons perform miracles and deceive the kings of the earth and gather them to the final battle on the Day of the Lord (verse 14). Under demonic influence, “the kings [gather] together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon” (verse 16).

The seventh bowl. The seventh bowl is emptied into the atmosphere. A loud voice in heaven says, “It is done!” (Revelation 16:17). The seventh bowl results in flashes of lightning and an earthquake so severe that “no earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake” (verse 18). Jerusalem is split into three parts, and the cities of the world collapse (verse 19). Islands are flooded, and mountains disappear (verse 20). Giant hailstones, “each weighing about a hundred pounds, fell on people” (verse 21). Those under judgment “cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible” (verse 21).

One of the angels of the seven bowl judgments then shows John the fate of Babylon the Great (Revelation 17), as God avenges “the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people, of all who have been slaughtered on the earth” (Revelation 18:24). The world mourns the fall of Babylon (chapter 18), but heaven rejoices (chapter 19). Jesus Christ then returns in glory to defeat the armies of the Antichrist at Armageddon (Revelation 19:11–21) and to set up His kingdom on earth (Revelation 20:1–6).

 The Locust Plague

2Hear this, you leaders of the people.

    Listen, all who live in the land.

In all your history,

    has anything like this happened before?

3 Tell your children about it in the years to come,

    and let your children tell their children.

    Pass the story down from generation to generation.

4 After the cutting locusts finished eating the crops,

    the swarming locusts took what was left!

After them came the hopping locusts,

    and then the stripping locusts,[a] too!

5 Wake up, you drunkards, and weep!

    Wail, all you wine-drinkers!

All the grapes are ruined,

    and all your sweet wine is gone.

6 A vast army of locusts (Nations) has invaded my land,

    a terrible army too numerous to count.

Its teeth are like lions’ teeth,

    its fangs like those of a lioness.

7 It has destroyed my grapevines

    and ruined my fig trees,

stripping their bark and destroying it,

    leaving the branches white and bare.

8 Weep like a bride dressed in black,

    mourning the death of her husband.

9 For there is no grain or wine

    to offer at the Temple of the Lord.

So the priests are in mourning.

    The ministers of the Lord are weeping.

10 The fields are ruined,

    the land is stripped bare.

The grain is destroyed,

    the grapes have shriveled,

    and the olive oil is gone.

11 Despair, all you farmers!

    Wail, all you vine growers!

Weep, because the wheat and barley—

    all the crops of the field—are ruined.

12 The grapevines have dried up,

    and the fig trees have withered.

The pomegranate trees, palm trees, and apple trees—

    all the fruit trees—have dried up.

    And the people’s joy has dried up with them.

13 Dress yourselves in burlap and weep, you priests!

    Wail, you who serve before the altar!

Come, spend the night in burlap,

    you ministers of my God.

For there is no grain or wine

    to offer at the Temple of your God.

14 Announce a time of fasting;

    call the people together for a solemn meeting.

Bring the leaders

    and all the people of the land

into the Temple of the Lord your God,

    and cry out to him there.

15 The day of the Lord is near,

    the day when destruction comes from the Almighty.

    How terrible that day will be!

16 Our food disappears before our very eyes.

    No joyful celebrations are held in the house of our God.

17 The seeds die in the parched ground,

    and the grain crops fail.

The barns stand empty,

    and granaries are abandoned.

18 How the animals moan with hunger!

    The herds of cattle wander about confused,

because they have no pasture.

    The flocks of sheep and goats bleat in misery.

19 Lord, help us!

The fire has consumed the wilderness pastures,

    and flames have burned up all the trees.

20 Even the wild animals cry out to you

    because the streams have dried up,

    and fire has consumed the wilderness pastures.

The only way to save this world is for the people to repent and leave their wicked ways behind.  This is not an easy thing to do because we are surrounded by evil and our leaders are deceiving us daily.  Do not trust them, they are leading you to a path of no return.  

We are in the end times. Our Heavenly Father has reserved many of His most noble spirits, perhaps His finest team for this final phase.  Those noble spirits, those finest players, those heros, are you.  We are in the end game.  Stay firmly connected to God.  We have a divine purpose and mission.  We were made for these times.

The Narrow Gate - Mathew 7:13

13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 

14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

Will you be one of those who find the Narrow Gate?

Isaiah 65 and 66 Judgement and Final Salvation

Hello friends!  I'm am finishing up the Book of Isaiah for the second time.  I woke up in the middle of the night a couple of weeks ago with a voice in my head that was telling me to read Isaiah.  This happened to me one other time, that voice was telling me to read the Book of John.   This post is about the last 2 chapters in the Book of Isaiah and an observation I have connected to it.  

When I read the Bible I see so many similarities in today's world and when speaking with others I see that things come back full circle.  You know the saying the "World Goes round and round", well it certainly seems to be doing that.  I feel like I'm watching God's plan unfold right in front of me.

There is 2 passages I want to share especially today as we watch the fires consume the City of Angels, better known as Los Angeles.  

The Lord tells us that everyone will see his anger against his enemies and the earth will be consumed by fire.  Is the Lord rebuking the unbelievers? The sin he sees all over this area?  It's not just LA by the way, he will consume the world with fire and by his sword (His sword is the word of God, His Bible is his sword).  The bible tells us he will judge the earth and many will be killed by Him.  Look around, we see fire in many of our states over the last years, especially California.  We are watching people lose their lives and everything they own.  Is the sin of fornication, greed, idol worship, human trafficking, theft and all the other corruption coming to a head?  This isn't just happening in the United States but all over the world.

I heard another theory for these fires, are they destroying evidence of the crimes against humanity of the Diddy arrest and all involved? Or is it an Land grab like Hawaii? Interesting observations.  Is it God's wrath or the human hand  behind these fires? Not sure about it but it's definitely an interesting theory and one to think about.  My humble opinion is this is the wrath of God.

So here is what the Lord says about the punishment for the world and their sins.

66:4  I will send them great trouble—
all the things they feared.
For when I called, they did not answer.
When I spoke, they did not listen.
They deliberately sinned before my very eyes
and chose to do what they know I despise.”

14  Everyone will see the LORD’s hand of blessing on his servants—
and his anger against his enemies.

15  See, the LORD is coming with fire,
and his swift chariots roar like a whirlwind.
He will bring punishment with the fury of his anger
and the flaming fire of his hot rebuke.

16  The LORD will punish the world by fire
and by his sword.
He will judge the earth,
and many will be killed by him.

Judgment and Final Salvation

1  The LORD says,
“I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help
I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me.
I said, ‘Here I am, here I am!’
to a nation that did not call on my name.

2  All day long I opened my arms to a rebellious people.
But they follow their own evil paths
and their own crooked schemes.

3  All day long they insult me to my face
by worshiping idols in their sacred gardens
They burn incense on pagan altars.

4  At night they go out among the graves,
worshiping the dead.
They eat the flesh of pigs
and make stews with other forbidden foods.

5  Yet they say to each other,
‘Don’t come too close or you will defile me!
I am holier than you!’
These people are a stench in my nostrils,
an acrid smell that never goes away.

6  “Look, my decree is written out in front of me:
I will not stand silent;
I will repay them in full!
Yes, I will repay them—

7  both for their own sins
and for those of their ancestors,”
says the LORD.
“For they also burned incense on the mountains
and insulted me on the hills.
I will pay them back in full!

8  “But I will not destroy them all,”
says the LORD.
“For just as good grapes are found among a cluster of bad ones
(and someone will say, ‘Don’t throw them all away—
some of those grapes are good!’),
so I will not destroy all Israel.
For I still have true servants there.

9  I will preserve a remnant of the people of Israel
and of Judah to possess my land.
Those I choose will inherit it,
and my servants will live there.

10  The plain of Sharon will again be filled with flocks
for my people who have searched for me,
and the valley of Achor will be a place to pasture herds.

11  “But because the rest of you have forsaken the LORD
and have forgotten his Temple
and because you have prepared feasts to honor the god of Fate
and have offered mixed wine to the god of Destiny,

12  now I will ‘destine’ you for the sword.
All of you will bow down before the executioner.
For when I called, you did not answer.
When I spoke, you did not listen.
You deliberately sinned—before my very eyes—
and chose to do what you know I despise.”

13  Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says:
“My servants will eat,
but you will starve.
My servants will drink,

but you will be thirsty.
My servants will rejoice,
but you will be sad and ashamed.

14  My servants will sing for joy,
but you will cry in sorrow and despair.

15  Your name will be a curse word among my people,
for the Sovereign LORD will destroy you
and will call his true servants by another name.

16  All who invoke a blessing or take an oath
will do so by the God of truth.
For I will put aside my anger
and forget the evil of earlier days.

17  “Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth,
and no one will even think about the old ones anymore.

18  Be glad; rejoice forever in my creation!
And look! I will create Jerusalem as a place of happiness.
Her people will be a source of joy.

19  I will rejoice over Jerusalem
and delight in my people.
And the sound of weeping and crying
will be heard in it no more.

20  “No longer will babies die when only a few days old.

No longer will adults die before they have lived a full life.
No longer will people be considered old at one hundred!
Only the cursed will die that young!

21  In those days people will live in the houses they build
and eat the fruit of their own vineyards.

22  Unlike the past, invaders will not take their houses
and confiscate their vineyards.
For my people will live as long as trees,
and my chosen ones will have time to enjoy their hard-won gains.

23  They will not work in vain,
and their children will not be doomed to misfortune.
For they are people blessed by the LORD,
and their children, too, will be blessed.

24  I will answer them before they even call to me.

While they are still talking about their needs,
I will go ahead and answer their prayers!

25  The wolf and the lamb will feed together.
The lion will eat hay like a cow.
But the snakes will eat dust.
In those days no one will be hurt or destroyed on my holy mountain.

I, the LORD, have spoken!”

66

 1  This is what the LORD says:
“Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
Could you build me a temple as good as that?
Could you build me such a resting place?

2  My hands have made both heaven and earth;
they and everything in them are mine.
I, the LORD, have spoken!
“I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts,
who tremble at my word.

3  But those who choose their own ways—
delighting in their detestable sins—
will not have their offerings accepted.
When such people sacrifice a bull,
it is no more acceptable than a human sacrifice.
When they sacrifice a lamb,
it’s as though they had sacrificed a dog!
When they bring an offering of grain,
they might as well offer the blood of a pig.
When they burn frankincense,
it’s as if they had blessed an idol.

4  I will send them great trouble—
all the things they feared.
For when I called, they did not answer.
When I spoke, they did not listen.
They deliberately sinned before my very eyes
and chose to do what they know I despise.”

5  Hear this message from the LORD,
all you who tremble at his words:
“Your own people hate you
and throw you out for being loyal to my name.
‘Let the LORD be honored!’ they scoff.
‘Be joyful in him!’
But they will be put to shame.

6  What is all the commotion in the city?
What is that terrible noise from the Temple?
It is the voice of the LORD
taking vengeance against his enemies.

7  “Before the birth pains even begin,
Jerusalem gives birth to a son.

8  Who has ever seen anything as strange as this?
Who ever heard of such a thing?
Has a nation ever been born in a single day?
Has a country ever come forth in a mere moment?
But by the time Jerusalem’s birth pains begin,
her children will be born.

9  Would I ever bring this nation to the point of birth
and then not deliver it?” asks the LORD.
“No! I would never keep this nation from being born,”
says your God.

10  “Rejoice with Jerusalem!
Be glad with her, all you who love her
and all you who mourn for her.

11  Drink deeply of her glory
even as an infant drinks at its mother’s comforting breasts.”

12  This is what the LORD says:
“I will give Jerusalem a river of peace and prosperity.
The wealth of the nations will flow to her.
Her children will be nursed at her breasts,
carried in her arms, and held on her lap.

13  I will comfort you there in Jerusalem
as a mother comforts her child.”

14  When you see these things, your heart will rejoice.
You will flourish like the grass!
Everyone will see the LORD’s hand of blessing on his servants—
and his anger against his enemies.

15  See, the LORD is coming with fire,
and his swift chariots roar like a whirlwind.
He will bring punishment with the fury of his anger
and the flaming fire of his hot rebuke.

16  The LORD will punish the world by fire
and by his sword.
He will judge the earth,
and many will be killed by him.

17  “Those who ‘consecrate’ and ‘purify’ themselves in a sacred garden with its idol in the center—feasting on pork and rats and other detestable meats—will come to a terrible end,” says the LORD.

18  “I can see what they are doing, and I know what they are thinking. So I will gather all nations and peoples together, and they will see my glory. 

19  I will perform a sign among them. And I will send those who survive to be messengers to the nations—to Tarshish, to the Libyans and Lydians (who are famous as archers), to Tubal and Greece, and to all the lands beyond the sea that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. There they will declare my glory to the nations.

 20  They will bring the remnant of your people back from every nation. They will bring them to my holy mountain in Jerusalem as an offering to the LORD. They will ride on horses, in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels,” says the LORD. 

21  “And I will appoint some of them to be my priests and Levites.

 I, the LORD, have spoken!

22  “As surely as my new heavens and earth will remain,
so will you always be my people,
with a name that will never disappear,”
says the LORD.

23  “All humanity will come to worship me
from week to week
and from month to month.

24  And as they go out, they will see
the dead bodies of those who have rebelled against me.
For the worms that devour them will never die,
and the fire that burns them will never go out.
All who pass by
will view them with utter horror.”

There is still time for repentance. Repentance will be the first step to salvation.  You will have to put in the work, freedom isn't free.  

Innocent people will suffer, God's chosen will be persecuted.  Mocking God has a high price to pay.

With knowledge comes sorrow.  The knowledge I have gained from reading God's word is immense.  The feeling is indescribable. The fruit I've acquired is unmeasurable.  The journey is one I'll never forget.  The goal is the narrow path that leads to salvation.  The wide path is the one most are on, It's before your eyes.  Those who have eyes to see will see, those who have ears to hear will hear.

Jesus, the Way to the Father -  John 14

1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 

2  There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you. 

3  When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

4  And you know the way to where I am going.”

5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

 7  If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

2Chronicles 7:14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 

Praying for our nation,

 Love to you all,

Debbie

How Many Times Have You Heard This?

 You Reap What You Sow - Galatians 6:1-7

Hello again! I feel like an expert on this one! My past occasionally haunts me with some of my actions and words that were harshly spoken. I have never mocked God that I am aware of, but I have asked Him for forgiveness on this one.  Because I was an adolescent as we all were at some point, I spent a lot of time away from the Word of God.  

It was a time of trouble for me and while I thought I was having fun, I didn't realize that Satan had taken over my life in many ways.  I paid a high price for many things.  He still tries to take me over, but I fight him off.  You see he doesn't come after the people he controls, he comes after God's people.  They are the ones who are a challenge to him.  

It took some really bad things happening in my life to wake me up again.  Divorce was one of them.  I was a battered wife for many years and my son and I suffered for a long time.  I do forgive my ex and I pray for him, because if I didn't I would have that hurt haunting me forever. It gave me freedom again and I don't live with resentment.  I was able to move on  and live my life happy and free.

 I was always a believer in the Lord but I'm also a sinner as everyone is.  I was raised Catholic and God was always a part of my life. My mother is a devout Christian as is most of my family.  When I need to understand the Word of God, I turn to my Son as he has the best understanding and knowledge of the The Word of God.  Better than most I have met.   I also turn to my Mother as she has a great understanding and knowledge too.

Both read the Bible everyday and my son and I talk almost daily on new discoveries we have found in God's Words.   He helps me to understand when I misinterpret what I'm reading.  It's awesome!  We have built an amazing relationship centered around love and God.  What more can you ask for in life!

While some relate Karma to sowing and reaping, it is different because one usually doesn't see see good things coming from Karma.  I understand Karma because I grew up in the 70's.  John Lennon sang a song about Instant Karma.  Karma is way different than reaping what you sow. Then, there’s grace! Karma believers don’t often take grace and mercy into account. God’s law of sowing and reaping includes much grace and mercy. You can learn from the good things you do, and you can also learn from the wrong things you do. You can learn from successes as well as mistakes. You can pay a high price for mistakes.  Mistakes can destroy relationships, jobs, marriages and so much more.  I don't really believe in Karma anymore.  

These verses in Galatians are some I love!  Paul the apostle is the Author of Galatians and I love the way he teaches about reaping and sowing.

Galatians 6:1-7

6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 

2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 

4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else,

 5 for each one should carry their own load. 

6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 

8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 

9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 

10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

When you help others, you feel rewarded, it's called the "fruit of the Holy Spirit."  We all have a calling, most are not compassionate enough to see it or understand what they have been called for.  I see the "fruit" in most believers, by their words and deeds.  When you have the fruit of the Holy Spirit within you, it's effortless to help others who are suffering.  There is only one way to get that "fruit" and that is to read God's Word everyday and follow it.  You will know when you have the fruit, because it brings you joy and you feel it in your heart. You can also see the fruit of others.  It's very obvious as soon as they begin speaking.  Sometimes they don't have to say a word, you can just feel it.

 There is a joy in finishing good works for the Lord ( John 4:34) and that joy isn’t dependent on the harvest that may come later.  

Doing good without any expectations of reward is an amazing feeling, even when you don't see any of the rewards. In other moments you get rewards you never expected. By the Grace and Mercy of God. If you can't find a way to help, pray for them.  

Sowing generously, there is always some kind of reward. Some rewards are  easy to see and  others harder to see, no need keep score, it will be obvious eventually.

I've learned many  lessons, and been given many second chances even when I do wrong things. God is extremely generous with both grace and mercy!

Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously ( 2 Corinthians 9:6). 

“Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy” ( Psalm 126:5). Even when bad things are happening, remember that it will get better.  Everything happens for a reason.

( John 4:37-38) God’s kingdom is a world of walking by faith not sight. 

God always brings many blessings—both deserved and undeserved. 

Are you reaping what you sow?   

I" m leaving you with a song by the Byrd's.  It's a song that is in the book of Ecclesiastes. For Everything there is a season.

Thanks for stopping by!

Debbie

My Word for 2025 - Restore

 Restore is my word for the year.  I have many things to be grateful for, however there are many things that need restored.  Some relationships, health issues, forgiving others and yourself.  For some it is possible to turn back time and restore your health and relationships.   Many are not that fortunate.

I spent much of my lifetime watching family members suffer with Type II Diabetes and about 7 years ago I was diagnosed with this disease.  Now mind you, this happened because of my gluttony and love of food, basically sin.  I was eating too much and not exercising, I was somewhat depressed and it was a vicious circle.  I was sitting behind a desk and too tired after 9 hour days to come home and get in a workout.

 I did my annual blood draw and when my doctor saw my weight and the results, she told me we needed to go after these problems aggressively.  My A1C was at 8.9 and normal is 5.7!  Not to mention cholesterol and triglycerides and blood pressure were over their limits by a long way.  I was a ticking time bomb.  I weighed in at the most ever. I HAD TO DO SOMETHING OR I WAS GOING TO DIE! 

Today is a whole different story. A1C is 5.8 and my numbers are as low as when I was  a teenager.  My weight is 135lbs, which is normal for me, and my doctor is very proud of me for doing what she told me to do.  I'm no longer Diabetic!

 My word for this year brings me to Isaiah 38. It's about Hezekiah and the sickness God put on him.  You see, God warned him.  God warned me too in a very subtle way.  Here is Hezekiah's story.

Hezekiah’s Sickness and Recovery 

1 About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: “This is what the LORD says: ‘Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.’”

2 When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 

3 “Remember, O LORD, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you.” Then he broke down and wept bitterly.

4 Then this message came to Isaiah from the LORD:

5 “Go back to Hezekiah and tell him, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will add fifteen years to your life, 

6 and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. Yes, I will defend this city.

7 “And this is the sign from the LORD to prove that he will do as he promised: 

8  I will cause the sun’s shadow to move ten steps backward on the sun dial of Ahaz!’” So the shadow on the sundial moved backward ten steps.

Hezekiah’s Poem of Praise

9 When King Hezekiah was well again, he wrote this poem:

10 I said, “In the prime of my life,

must I now enter the place of the dead?

Am I to be robbed of the rest of my years?”

11 I said, “Never again will I see the LORD God

while still in the land of the living.

Never again will I see my friends

or be with those who live in this world.

12 My life has been blown away

like a shepherd’s tent in a storm.

It has been cut short,

as when a weaver cuts cloth from a loom.

Suddenly, my life was over.

13 I waited patiently all night,

but I was torn apart as though by lions.

Suddenly, my life was over.

14 Delirious, I chattered like a swallow or a crane,

and then I moaned like a mourning dove.

My eyes grew tired of looking to heaven for help.

I am in trouble, Lord. Help me!”

15 But what could I say?

For he himself sent this sickness.

Now I will walk humbly throughout my years

because of this anguish I have felt.

16 Lord, your discipline is good,

for it leads to life and health.

You restore my health

and allow me to live!

17 Yes, this anguish was good for me,

for you have rescued me from death

and forgiven all my sins.

18 For the dead cannot praise you;

they cannot raise their voices in praise.

Those who go down to the grave

can no longer hope in your faithfulness.

19 Only the living can praise you as I do today.

Each generation tells of your faithfulness to the next.

20 Think of it—the LORD is ready to heal me!

I will sing his praises with instruments

every day of my life

in the Temple of the LORD.

21 Isaiah had said to Hezekiah’s servants, “Make an ointment from figs and spread it over the boil, and Hezekiah will recover.”  (Did Hezekiah have Sepsis?) 

22 And Hezekiah had asked, “What sign will prove that I will go to the Temple of the LORD?”

Cont.

Do you listen for the Lord's warnings?  I spent many years not hearing the Lord, today I find quiet time for prayer and reading His Word every morning and listening for His Voice.  I spend 2 hours in the morning, I get up at 5:00 am and study and read until 7:00 am.  I dedicated this time to the relationship I want with the Lord. Like any relationship, you have to work at it.

I literally also prayed for my health many times just like Hezekiah and I felt that no one was listening, then one day I heard Him.  You see I spent many years doing everything I shouldn't have been, eating and partying.  Once I started cleaning up my bad habits and repented my sins, I could hear Him.  

I feel like God Restored me in many ways this past year and this year I will be reflecting on that restoration and continuing my journey.  There is more that needs fixing but I will get to that this year.  I will be getting back to my artwork very soon, but it will be different than anything you have seen from me.  I used to paint.  Oil, Acrylics and Watercolor. This will be my next restoration.  

Never hesitate to reach  out to the Lord, He is always listening and ready to help. It may not be in the manner you want but you will learn important lessons along the way!  In the end, you will understand His Wisdom.  The best restoration was my relationship with the Lord, I feel His spirit in my heart and the journey he has taken me on in this life is one I wouldn't trade for anything.  

Thanks for stopping by!!

Debbie

Judgment Against the Nations - Isaiah 34

Hello again!  As you can see I am once again reading through the book of Isaiah, today it's Chapter 34.  There is a total of 66 chapters in Isaiah and it is the 3rd largest book in the Bible.  Isaiah was one of the Lord's most trusted prophets.  He was a poet and well educated.  The Lord trusted that he would speak the Word of God with Truth.  

The Prophet Isaiah was primarily called to prophesy to the Kingdom of Judah. Judah was going through times of revival and times of rebellion. Judah was threatened with destruction by Assyria and Egypt, but was spared because of God’s mercy. Isaiah proclaimed a message of repentance from sin and hopeful expectation of God’s deliverance in the future. 

While these are words of the past events, these events have come full circle several times and are once again upon us.  The difference is that one of the Nations now included here is the United States.  The United States has lost it's way from God.  We see it being exposed everyday.  From human trafficking, greed, porn, gossip, judgement of others, and all the other filth happening.  It relies on corrupt leaders (this includes global religious leaders and foreign leaders) to control it and they have different ideas than God's people.  

Isaiah calls for repentance from sin and  hopeful expectation of God’s deliverance in the future.  This will be the only way to save this country.  As I said before, we are in the days of Noah and if we choose not to repent and come back to the Lord we will face the Wrath of God.  God knows where our hearts are, each and every one of us.

While you may not be believers, you should consider it very seriously and change your ways.  

For myself, I repent everyday, as we are sinners and I find it necessary to protect  myself.  Sometimes we sin just because we live in this world and are around others who may influence your thoughts. I don't live in the past but I do repent for my words, my thoughts, and my deeds. Daily. I read the bible daily and pray for the restoration of family and country.

Messiah warned them: I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear. Fear Him who, after the killing of the body, has the power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him (Luke 12:4-5).

We are watching the destruction of the World, whether you see it or not is up to you. If you have eyes to see and ears to hear. 

 Israel will fall and it will happen fast, in one day says the bible. and everyone will see it. Prophesy is happening before our eyes, everyday!

 If the United States falls, the world will also fall.  Just my understanding. 

Isaiah used these two nations, Edom and Bozrah as examples, however his words are meant for ALL nations.

Judgment Against the Nations

1 Come here and listen, O nations of the earth. Let the world and everything in it hear my words.

2 For the LORD is enraged against the nations. His fury is against all their armies. He will completely destroy them, dooming them to slaughter.

3 Their dead will be left unburied, and the stench of rotting bodies will fill the land. The mountains will flow with their blood.

4 The heavens above will melt away and disappear like a rolled-up scroll. The stars will fall from the sky like withered leaves from a grapevine, or shriveled figs from a fig tree.

5 And when my sword has finished its work in the heavens, it will fall upon Edom, the nation I have marked for destruction.

6 The sword of the LORD is drenched with blood and covered with fat— with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of rams prepared for sacrifice. Yes, the LORD will offer a sacrifice in the city of Bozrah. He will make a mighty slaughter in Edom.

7 Even men as strong as wild oxen will die— the young men alongside the veterans. The land will be soaked with blood and the soil enriched with fat.

8 For it is the day of the LORD ’s revenge, the year when Edom will be paid back for all it did to Israel.

9 The streams of Edom will be filled with burning pitch, and the ground will be covered with fire.

10 This judgment on Edom will never end; the smoke of its burning will rise forever. The land will lie deserted from generation to generation. No one will live there anymore.

11 It will be haunted by the desert owl and the screech owl, the great owl and the raven. For God will measure that land carefully; he will measure it for chaos and destruction.

12 It will be called the Land of Nothing, and all its nobles will soon be gone.

13 Thorns will overrun its palaces; nettles and thistles will grow in its forts. The ruins will become a haunt for jackals and a home for owls.

14 Desert animals will mingle there with hyenas, their howls filling the night. Wild goats will bleat at one another among the ruins, and night creatures will come there to rest.

15 There the owl will make her nest and lay her eggs. She will hatch her young and cover them with her wings. And the buzzards will come, each one with its mate.

16 Search the book of the LORD, and see what he will do. Not one of these birds and animals will be missing, and none will lack a mate, for the LORD has promised this. His Spirit will make it all come true.

17 He has surveyed and divided the land and deeded it over to those creatures. They will possess it forever, from generation to generation.

If you have never read this book of Isaiah you should.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Does This Sound Familiar?

 Isaiah 24 and 25

This seems to be happening now.  If you are a Believer this will ring true to you.  What I have found is the Bible is full of Wisdom and Knowledge and it also shows you that what happened thousands of years ago is coming back around and is again happening.  Please read and understand.  

This is nothing new, it happened in the days of Noah and we are now full circle.  Back in the days of Noah.  The earth will be judged and destroyed and most of the people (90%) will end up in Hades with Satan.  The path to the Lord is narrow.  Are you on it or are you on the wide path?

This world has become unrecognizable.  When God cleansed the earth the first time, Noah and the flood, the only way he could do it was to destroy it.  The same is happening now.  If you look around it's full of Idolatry ( worshipping athletes, movie stars, politicians and many other idols)  It's full of porn, adultery, arrogance and pride, unbelief, child trafficking, prostitution, alcoholism, drugs, lying, stealing, murder, greed, gluttony and so much more. 

I had trouble with some of these myself.  I used to be a glutton for food, spend several yeas overweight and eating everything in sight, I was very unhealthy.  Through my journey I became very healthy and lost 80 pounds. I fasted and gave my troubles to God and he led me through a transformation.  I had trouble with greed.  I spent years working with manufacturers (most of you know) using their products to design scrapbook pages and projects.  I got greedy for free product and the result was that I had so much product in  my house I had no room to breath.  I gave it away to the schools and others and now I feel so much better.  I still have a few hobbies but now I donate excess to others.  Makes my heart happy.

24Here in the United States you see the people scattering from one state to another.  Many left New York and California.  You have immigrants in every state, some looking for a better life, some here for other reasons.  There will only be a remnant left here, by remnant I mean the Chosen: the Believers.  If you don't repent and come back to the Lord you will be judged and sent to the Pit with Satan.  By Believers I don't mean going to church on Sunday.  I mean a daily relationship with God, in his Word and in Prayer and repentance everyday.  

We are sinners and will need to follow his plans for us. The only way to understand his plans is to open your Bible and read the whole Book of His Life.  Understand it and follow it.  The path to the Lord and eternity with Him is a narrow path and 90% will never find that path, however the path to hell is wide and most will find it.  13 Only a remnant is left.

21 The Leaders of this Nation and all Nations will be judged and punished because they have led the people to sin and have oppressed them.  You can see this happening all over the world, not just in the United States.  They will be judged and imprisoned and by imprisoned I don't mean a jail cell, I mean in Hades (hell) with their leader Satan. 

 

Destruction of the Earth

24 

Look! The Lord is about to destroy the earth

    and make it a vast wasteland.

He devastates the surface of the earth

    and scatters the people.  (The people are scattering.  California and New York  and many others)

2 

Priests and laypeople,

    servants and masters,

    maids and mistresses,

    buyers and sellers,

    lenders and borrowers,

    bankers and debtors—none will be spared.

3 

The earth will be completely emptied and looted.

    The Lord has spoken!

4 

The earth mourns and dries up,  

    and the land wastes away and withers.

    Even the greatest people on earth waste away.

5 

The earth suffers for the sins of its people,

    for they have twisted God’s instructions,

violated his laws,

    and broken his everlasting covenant.

6 

Therefore, a curse consumes the earth.

    Its people must pay the price for their sin.

They are destroyed by fire,

    and only a few are left alive.

7 

The grapevines waste away,

    and there is no new wine.

    All the merrymakers sigh and mourn.

8 

The cheerful sound of tambourines is stilled;

    the happy cries of celebration are heard no more.

    The melodious chords of the harp are silent.

9 

Gone are the joys of wine and song;

    alcoholic drink turns bitter in the mouth.

10 

The city writhes in chaos;

    every home is locked to keep out intruders.

11 

Mobs gather in the streets, crying out for wine.

    Joy has turned to gloom.

    Gladness has been banished from the land.

12 

The city is left in ruins,

    its gates battered down.

13 

Throughout the earth the story is the same—

    only a remnant is left,  (Only God's Chosen and Believers will be left. By Believers I mean the people who have a relationship with the Lord. )  This doesn't mean just going to church on Sunday.) 

like the stray olives left on the tree

    or the few grapes left on the vine after harvest.

14 

But all who are left shout and sing for joy.

    Those in the west praise the Lord’s majesty.

15 

In eastern lands, give glory to the Lord.

    In the lands beyond the sea, praise the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.

16 

We hear songs of praise from the ends of the earth,

    songs that give glory to the Righteous One!

But my heart is heavy with grief.

    Weep for me, for I wither away.

Deceit still prevails,

    and treachery is everywhere.

17 

Terror and traps and snares will be your lot,

    you people of the earth.

18 

Those who flee in terror will fall into a trap,

    and those who escape the trap will be caught in a snare.

Destruction falls like rain from the heavens;

    the foundations of the earth shake.

19 

The earth has broken up.

    It has utterly collapsed;

    it is violently shaken.

20 

The earth staggers like a drunk.

    It trembles like a tent in a storm.

It falls and will not rise again,

    for the guilt of its rebellion is very heavy.

21 

In that day the Lord will punish the gods in the heavens

    and the proud rulers of the nations on earth.  (The Leaders of this Nation will be punished because they have lead the people to sin and have oppressed them.  You can see this happening all over the world, not just in the United States.)

22 

They will be rounded up and put in prison.

    They will be shut up in prison

    and will finally be punished.

23 

Then the glory of the moon will wane,

    and the brightness of the sun will fade,

for the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will rule on Mount Zion.

    He will rule in great glory in Jerusalem,

    in the sight of all the leaders of his people.  

Isaiah 25 

Praise for Judgment and Salvation

25 

 

O Lord, I will honor and praise your name,

    for you are my God.

You do such wonderful things!

    You planned them long ago,

    and now you have accomplished them.

2 

You turn mighty cities into heaps of ruins.

    Cities with strong walls are turned to rubble.

Beautiful palaces in distant lands disappear

    and will never be rebuilt.

3 

Therefore, strong nations will declare your glory;

    ruthless nations will fear you.

4 

But you are a tower of refuge to the poor, O Lord,

    a tower of refuge to the needy in distress.

You are a refuge from the storm

    and a shelter from the heat.

For the oppressive acts of ruthless people

    are like a storm beating against a wall,

5 

    or like the relentless heat of the desert.

But you silence the roar of foreign nations.

    As the shade of a cloud cools relentless heat,

    so the boastful songs of ruthless people are stilled.

6 

In Jerusalem,[a] the Lord of Heaven’s Armies

    will spread a wonderful feast

    for all the people of the world.

It will be a delicious banquet

    with clear, well-aged wine and choice meat.

7 

There he will remove the cloud of gloom,

    the shadow of death that hangs over the earth.

8 

He will swallow up death forever!

    The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears.

He will remove forever all insults and mockery

    against his land and people.

    The Lord has spoken!

9 

In that day the people will proclaim,

“This is our God!

    We trusted in him, and he saved us!

This is the Lord, in whom we trusted.

    Let us rejoice in the salvation he brings!”

10 

For the Lord’s hand of blessing will rest on Jerusalem.

    But Moab will be crushed.

    It will be like straw trampled down and left to rot.

11 

God will push down Moab’s people

    as a swimmer pushes down water with his hands.

He will end their pride

    and all their evil works.

12 

The high walls of Moab will be demolished.

    They will be brought down to the ground,

    down into the dust.

I spent the last year reading the Bible and it was quite the journey.  I found myself crying everyday as I read through it.  I found the Holy Spirit living within my heart and I am so glad I did.  I'm happier, kinder and more compassionate towards others.  I don't judge people by their outwardly appearance anymore and I don't judge them for their troubles.  On my journey I also found the evil demons that surround us everyday.  Satan has been unleashed for a short time and his time is almost over, he's desperate to take as many with him as possible.  Are you one of them?  I will fight him until God takes me. I won't let him have my soul.

If you go by the timelines of the Bible and God's Word, you will understand that we are not far away from judgement. Maybe 3-5 years, maybe sooner.  Could be as soon as 2025.  Many believe we are in the End Times, including myself.  

There is only one way to clean up this mess and that is to destroy it all.  Are you ready?  How is your relationship with God?  Have you repented?  Have you read and understood God's Word? He's warning you and you can see the signs if you're paying attention.  It's all in the Bible, open it up and enjoy the journey!

 Love and blessings to all,

Debbie