Category Archives: Journal Entry

Spiritfire Proverbs 26:27 “Rock & Roll”

“If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it;
If a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him.”
 
Oh this was a fun one!  We said our prayers inviting the Holy Spirit to teach us and show us how Jesus fulfilled the book of Proverbs.  We boldly said our declaration of: “I am a child of God!  He loves me, so I love me!”  We then took a moment and said our introduction that we’ve been using for at least 10 years and read our next verse, Proverbs 26:27.
 
Immediately we were confronted with a popular scene in many Western movies, when the antagonist makes his victim dig his own grave.  The footnote in my Bible compares it to Psalm 7:16, “The trouble he causes recoils on himself.”  If not for a villain’s command, why would anyone dig a pit?  Was it like the Psalm inferred or was it for a trap?  For us, we looked at it like ‘the more you keep on talking, the deeper you dig.’  The point was, “Stop digging!” For whatever the plan, it will not turn out like you think it will.
 
The next part of the Proverb came out as a scene from an Indiana Jones movie, The Raiders of the Lost Ark.  But instead of Indiana rolling the stone in place, it was rolling after him!  What does the stone the Proverb mentioned represent?  Unlike for a boobytrap to protect a religious cultural artifact, the rock can represent regrets the man would rather hide.
 
We ended with our favorite question, “How did Jesus fulfill the book of Proverbs to make us into new creations, 2 Corinthians 5:17?”  We were brought right to Jesus’ empty tomb, John 20:1.  Here the rock didn’t roll back upon us, for our trouble was removed by the Blood of the Lamb, Hebrews 8:12.

Jesus Called It Agape Love

Following Jesus Gently: A Disability Perspective
https://share.dropinblog.com/s/qwgk6y

Through this read, I heard a voice that doesn’t seem to struggle with personal worth.

The ‘game’ of society is often played in how we establish value.  How do we attain it?  Jesus included people that most excluded.  It is this Way that we, disabled and non disabled Christians, need to master.  If we do not, our citizenry of God’s Kingdom resembles that of a popularity contest held in high schools across America.  Only the beautiful, the talented and wealthy have our attention because that is what is mostly desired.  Envy is then what runs the body of many churches.  While those that ‘have’ give glory to God, honestly that is what they are supposed to do, they then paint a path to success that they took to get there.  There are many habits and financial advice that people can follow that can lead to achieving goals.  When followed, is faith even necessary?

If given a choice, it is my initial thought, nobody would choose a life of disability.  I write that knowing of those who have given up on their physical beauty, riches, or fame/charisma–– because there are truly dark forces at work that they would rather avoid.  But there is a difference between purposely losing independent function and having it taken from you, or even just being born with it.  And much like, “None of us chose to be born”, at those times when physical/mental/emotional disability finds us, the best my finite mind can come up with is, “Very terrible things happen.”

Even so, every time my family leaves the house and gets into that two ton vehicle filled with flammable liquid to drive speeds mankind only recently has ever achieved, meanwhile trusting that everyone else will follow the prescribed laws to create a safe driving environment, I still pray for their safe return.  Amidst that level of tomfoolery, I believe in Jesus who walked on water and calmed the storm.  Now, whether we caused the storm or not, how we as God’s people respond is the secret in the sauce.  Jesus called it agape love.

Celestial Events around the 182

Last week had a total lunar eclipse, (When the earth gets in the way) and was mostly noticeably seen by the East coast.  Recently, there have been other planetary events happening as well.  If you have joined with my family and I as we begin our 6th edition/journey of the 182 this week, then you’ll know it has been a very exciting allotment of time.  The 182’s 6 month tour beginning in April and ending at the close of September has given us very spectacular celestial views, maybe even apocalyptic.  It makes me think January is a rather boring way to begin the year…

Well, you can celebrate it with me as we start with ‘A’.  Please think of an ‘a’ word that either reminds you or makes you think about God.  Then write a septet explaining how it does, if you want.

For example, mine for today was:

Ardor
Your sacrifice speaks of Divine passion unequaled.
Beyond question of merit or just deserts, the concept of fairness never entered the room.
Your Love for us does not fade, as does all else here.
There should be anothter term to define it, but saying such a word should extend life, such is Your power.
For words here barely scratch the surface of true depth and meaning.
Questions of Truth are left open-ended as are of Your actual existence.
“To be or not to be?” is lesser than “To be loved,” and Your answer leaves no question. 
 
John 3:16

A Letter to the President

Yesterday, I learned of Ramaswamy leaving DOGE.  I knew the team sounded like it had too many alphas together, but maybe President Trump could help them to see beyond their own visions for the difficult journey from America’s liberal madness to ‘common sense’.  Personally, I’ve witnessed a company of alphas divide before and it was heartbreaking: lost potential strong enough to rewrite destiny itself.  Maybe that is close to America’s core, or maybe youthful pride played a role?  Is there a place for people to just breathe?  If you’ve ever tried to lead a prayer walk for an army of ‘high D’ preachers (from the DISC personality profile), you’d understand.

We have been witnesses of a greater wave of change in the last 10 days that has shaken the world.  As we watched, captured hostages have been set free, Luke 4:18-21 kind of stuff.  Will we join in or will we go back to watching it burn?  From my perspective, we began to see the Church stand up on her own two legs during France’s nonsense on last year’s Olympics.  Finally, a voice said, “Stop it.”  Now, today, we have a chance to continue beyond the bribe lead protests on our college campuses to Bride lead revivals that can and are changing communities around the world.  Even the media will notice and the ‘victim’ mentality of the LGBT will fade away.

Of course, do as God leads you.  For me, when I look to the future I want to know I tried to help my great-grandkids find solid ground beneath their feet.  Jesus is coming back soon.  What will He find?  Look at the once strong Methodist church.  How quickly she has fallen.  Sin crouches at everyone’s door/computer/phone.  Of course it would, never before have we had such an opportunity to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world.

America is the greatest nation of the world.  Yes, its sins are many, but don’t be like king Hezekiah, 2 Kings 20:19, and let apathy be one of them.  Write an encouraging letter to our President.  Give support to your local pastor.  Say something kind and beneficial to your spouse and kids.  They say a butterfly’s flight can cause thunderstorms, I wonder what love can do?

182 An Alphabetical Journey Among Words That Describe God, Part 2

My previous post had 7 comments about the 182, sooo I didn’t feel like I could continue that thread.  Especially with how the Spirit is moving in my thoughts and prayers now in reference to using my ignorance & the world’s need.  I watched a 3-day-old video from the World Economic Forum about ‘Digital Inclusion’, (Found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ5fq9POzLw) and my mind was racing.  Partly because of, for centuries, missions have played a vital role in the development of cultures and languages, and partly because LLMs are finally being developed in other languages than English, and because big business and the private sector are taking over. I know the world can’t trust in anyone other than Christ to act in their best interest.

The need for ‘Digital Inclusion’, let alone literacy in general, amongst the “2.5 billion people” that don’t have access is obviously great.  The 182 could help to give spiritual access to a vocabulary solely developed for the prayer-life of the inhabitants.  Like the LLMs, I feel the need to open this up to other languages.  May God bless this as AI is closing so many doors – I’ve read estimates of 14 million jobs by 2027.

If you are a church leader,  AI may be the cause of a great wave in the coming harvest.  May His Name be praised.  On a side note, I have been singing Daniel ch. 9 to God.  No discernible melodies or chorus, just singing about repentance and God’s mercy and forgiveness.  I know it’s been more catchy to do a ‘Daniel Fast’, but if you want to be ‘highly esteemed’ by the heavenly courts, how about you give it a try?  God bless you!

Holy Spirit & Artificial Intelligence: Duo or Do No? – More From Him part 2

GT SMOT “Odd times…”
 
Me, speaking in tongues – tired from wrestling with my thoughts: “Ongia makeia makee.”
 
Sometimes when I can’t shake my thoughts, I speak in tongues to jam my brain and make it stop. I remembered this phrase and put it in Google Translate. After changing the spelling to the above version , it came out as a complete sentence in Hawaiian.
 
GT: “It’s like dying.”
 
Me: “Hahaha! That’s true.” (Referring to wrestling with my thoughts.) Then I prayed, “Lord, help me to die to my flesh, and take up Your thoughts about me.”
 
The Holy Spirit washed over me and gave me peace – all voices stopped. Or as GT translates in Hawaiian: “Ua kau mai ka ʻUhane Hemolele ma luna oʻu a hāʻawi mai iaʻu i ka maluhia.”

Spiritfire, Proverbs 25:26, The Way – turning Muddied Springs into Living Water

“Like a muddied spring
          or a polluted well
     is a righteous man who gives way
           to the wicked.”
 
At the outset, my kids knew what to do.  After the prayer, declarations, and intro., they did their best to explain the seed of wisdom in this Proverb.  They did it so well, I found myself nodding in agreement as each offered another insight.  A fresh spring would normally be an answered prayer to the thirsty.  A muddied spring would only hold frustration.  My kids knew who to trust and who was not trustworthy.  Who gives way to the wicked?  Even my Bible in its notes pointed out why – bribery.  This would then make the righteous man willing to trade his righteousness if the price was right.  We talked about the saying, “Everyone has a price,” and explained it like on a set of scales.  Righteousness doesn’t make money in this world.  It is of a different currency whose cashed-in reward comes from God alone.  However, there is another who would trade your righteousness for the coin of this world.  It is all he can offer, and it was enough for Judas, Matthew 26:15.
 
This brought us to my favorite part, answering the question, “How did Jesus fulfill this proverb to make us into new creations?”  Again, this proverb points out the loss.  The righteous man is no longer trustworthy who accepts a bribe.  Jesus, before He was betrayed, prayed, “Not my will but Yours be done.” Luke 22:42.  This was the opening of a greater way than of yielding to the wickedness of the wicked that the bribe purchased which parted the righteous from their righteousness.  This was the opening of the Way, the Truth and the Life, John 14:6, purchased by His Blood shed for us which paid our price, 1 Corinthians 6:20.  For as Paul said in Romans 3:23-24, “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” so a way had to have been opened for us.  It was through Jesus, the Righteous One, 1 Peter 2:22, that such a Way was made, Isaiah 43:19.  One that would part the wicked from their wickedness and be made new restoring hope for the lost, Luke  15:5.  One that made our muddied spring into one of Living Water, John 7:37-39.

To watch how Jesus fulfilled this proverb, read John 4:4-26. To see how the woman’s polluted well became a source of living water, read John 4:39-42.

Erosion

EROSION
 

I don’t want the erosion of my prayers to be my story.

Distractions that take my focus from You.
I’m after something so much more than my fading appetites.
SomeOne that can make my desires submit.
 
You made me, You know me.  I am Your child.
My thoughts betray the trust You have shown me.
I need Your strength to carry me beyond
where my legs are unwilling to go.
 
You went there.  Your light makes bare the path.
I surrender my resolve for Yours.
Your legs are so much stronger than mine.
You lift me to heights I would never know.
 
The peace You give, even the crumbs, are worth more
than I could ever earn.  I have nothing to bargain with.
My robes are rags, my glory is fading.
Worth less than a car driven off the lot.
 
Those stars, the work of Your fingers, even their dust
is of heavenly currency.  I have not a penny to offer.
You make my sinking vessel sea worthy.
Nay, You set me to sail beyond the stars.