It had been over a month since the posting of ‘God’s Disciple Messenger Called to Carry the Reconciliation Message’. Though I had been given the way to end the blog — which was just as I had ended the book with revealing of dreams and with letters meant to cover groups of people, such as, judges at all levels (Supreme Court judges included), legislators at all levels, ones who had taken and failed to obey oaths, those who call themselves church, specific people, some to tell them that they had failed to follow the commandment to honor your father and mother, thus, they had failed to honor the Heavenly Father, and special letters to Rush Limbaugh and ones like him, to Ron Reagan, RFK JR., Franklin Graham, and an ex-President — I had no idea what the next post should be.
As in the past when I needed guidance, that early morning, March 25, 2024, I went to my Garden of Prayer to talk with the Heavenly Father. Because he had already guided me in how to close the book and since the blog carried the same messages as the book, I knew much of what he wanted included and the way he wanted the wrap-up of the blog to be. I was at a standstill, a loss as to what was to come in between the previous post and what were to be the wrap-up posts. I had been given bits and pieces of additional information to be passed along to those who call themselves church, some ideas for more tough love messages, some dreams I was to relay, but I wasn’t feeling that God was ready for those just yet. I grew quiet with ears open to his guidance.
This is what I heard: “Too big for your britches.” I knew not what that meant, but I knew God would provide the bits and pieces necessary to complete another blog post. He was not finished, “Too big for your britches applies to you, too.”
Surprised, a bit hurt, and perplexed while, at the same time, I accepted that God would let me know the reason, or reasons, I had been included, I answered, “Okay, but you and I know, as always, I will need a lot of help with this post.”
I wasn’t surprised he had given me a saying as a lead-in to a post. In the last post, I told that one of my early assignments was to make a list of sayings, such as Mother’s pretty is as pretty does. ‘Too big for your britches’ was not part of that original list, but it needed to be added, especially since I had been included as one who was ‘too big for your britches’.
After some thought about what God might be leading me to write next, I went to the internet to see if I could find help with what the saying might mean.
Via The Phrase Finder by Gary Martin, I found the meaning given as ‘conceited’, ‘having a too high opinion of oneself’. The idiom originated and appeared in Col. Crockett’s Tour to the North and Down East, 1835 (via Davy Crockett). Crockett was referring to helping Andrew Jackson gain in popularity, but later Jackson had lost Crockett’s support because Jackson had gotten too big for his britches, so it was time to say goodbye.
At that point, another idiom came to my mind to express goodbye in another way: Time to cut the apron string. No doubt, cutting of the apron string would come into play.
Three other online sources gave me ideas. Online Cambridge Dictionary offered, “behaving as if you are more important than you really are” while Merriam-Webster listed the US, informal meaning of too big for one’s britches as ‘too confident or proud of oneself’. Other ideas listed: ‘People also ask it’ suggests that to be conceited and have a big head or full of oneself equals ‘too big for your britches’.
I mulled over the helpful offerings until ‘too big for your britches’ started having meaning to me. I surmised that God might be saying to those who are or who support and follow the egotistical, the bigheaded, the self-centered, the selfish, the puffed up, the vain, “It’s time to wake up, my children, time to cut the apron strings from those causing harm. Sooner rather than later would be best for you and for the others who have grown too big for your britches.”
That Maundy Thursday evening — 3/29/24 – I went to bed feeling as though I had some concrete thoughts about what God might have meant. I had a good, restful night’s sleep and woke up refreshed and ready to begin the writing task ahead.
Before I got out of bed, God let me know that the meanings I had found online did not cover the subject as he meant it. The phrase was meant to deliver some tough love messages with lightness and hope, comparative to ‘a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down (Mary Poppins), though, while not in a delightful way, it provides an acceptable way.
Good Friday — 3/30/24 – was to be spent in a prayerful frame of mind. God wanted to have my full attention, so that I could listen and learn from him.
I determined that I would spend the day with him, walking and talking, in the Garden of Prayer. Since it was Good Friday and I had signed up for an hour of prayer for our church’s Prayer Vigil, it seemed a very good fit, for, instead of an hour, it would be several hours. Past experiences prepared me for realizing that these several hours would not be enough. It would be more like several weeks of prayer-filled hours before I had recorded all he wanted included in this blog entry.
In the beginning of our walk-talk, listen-learn session, God reminded me of November 2014 when I was trying to figure out what was meant by reconciliation — the topic of the book I was called to write. I had looked at online definitions and found them helpful, but it was God who revealed what he meant by reconciliation and tied it up in one neat, helpful package: reconciliation: *restoration of friendly relations, *making one’s view or belief compatible with another’s, *former enemies agree to a truce, *restored trust and respect among warring parties, with one another – family members with family members, neighbors with neighbors, church members with church members and beyond, lawmakers with lawmakers, world leaders with other world leaders, and, most of all, God’s creation with God. I had realized that only God could have seen the whole picture and given the solution to all the problems. I was now realizing that by this review of reconciliation, God was letting me know that reconciliation would be key to solving the problems caused by those – yes, that includes me — who are ‘too big for your britches’.
Next, I was reminded of the times — before it had been revealed what was meant by a Christian heart — that I had implored legislators to vote with a Christian heart without having a complete understanding of what God meant by it. It took a surprise, lesson-giving session for it to sink into my brain and heart.
God wants the lesson and the meaning repeated here for he says, “By repeating this, it will serve as an important reminder that the messages come from me, not you. Also, repetition is needed for my messages to take hold.” It is repeated below for perhaps the last time in this blog, but then again, maybe not. Only God knows …
It was in 2017 or 2018 – I would have to check through my many journal pages to get the exact date – that I had one of many unexpected and unusual explanations given to me—this one was regarding the Christian heart. This experience follows:
I had just stepped out of the shower – my mind filled with thoughts about the many things I had to do — when my thought process was interrupted by one of God’s teaching moments. This lesson was to help me better understand what he meant by a Christian heart.
I heard God explain that he had placed the heart a little to the left of center in the body for a reason. The reason given: to keep us speaking and acting a little to the left of center so that more people are helped.
He wasn’t finished; he continued, “Middle C on a standard piano is a little to the left of center. It is a centering point, bringing us back to middle C – a little to the left of center – for more harmony.”
Most of all, “For proper balance in words and actions, turn your eyes upon Jesus, pay attention to his words and use them as a guide.”
As though summarizing what I had heard, these thoughts came to mind: Having a Christian heart means one hasn’t gone too far to the right nor too far to the left – hasn’t gone to the extreme, for that is excess and excess leads to sin — just a little to the left of center, where the heart is, so that more people are helped. The person with a Christian heart is more balanced in thinking, not demanding ‘my way or no way’ but more ready and willing to work with others, to reconcile for the good of all. Most of all, the person with a Christian heart has a love for God and others. That person has taken to heart the lessons learned from the most perfect teacher of all –Jesus.
Then, the full impact of what I had just been told hit me – an epiphany: God had prepared our hearts from the beginning to be Christian hearts capable of being filled with love for all, especially love for God, and not out of balance but ready to reconcile differences so that all might have needs fulfilled. In other words, a person with a Christian heart does not like chaos and division and desires to, ** ”Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.” (**John Wesley was reminding us to do all the good to all the people, that means no exceptions. He also said something else that is very important, “There is no such thing as a solitary Christian.”)
Because in today’s world there are too many wanting to go it alone – or work only with those who think and look like they think and look– God wanted thoughts of falling/failing, because of divisions, included here as a forewarning that divisions in all areas of today’s world are very close to tipping the scale toward falling/failure. God reminds us that this message can be found in Matthew 12: 25 by stating that every kingdom, city, or house divided against itself will be brought to desolation, therefore, it will not stand, and Matthew 3: 25 gives the message that a divided house will fall. To this, God added, “Church divided against itself will fail.” Know this: Failure is the opposite of what God wants.
NOTE: The Bible holds the truths to living the life we should. How can you believe in these truths, yet continue to cause divisions or follow those who cause those divisions? Do as Jesus did and speak as Jesus did. Speak and act with a Christian heart. Know this: You can’t have your cake and eat it, too, especially in this instance. In other words, you can’t claim that you believe in God’s holy word then do and say things that cause divisions. To say one thing then do the opposite is hypocritical. Those who were the enemies of Jesus were hypocrites — claiming to be the most moral, the most religious while speaking and acting in unChrist-like ways.
The following suggestion came next: “Reread the blog post ‘A Christian Heart, a guide to speaking and acting in ways acceptable to God’ so that you may be reminded what a person with a Christian heart does do/does not do, does act/ does not act, does speak/does not speak. You will be reminded, also, that a Christian heart is filled with love, leaving no room for sins.” To this God added, “Reread the ‘Valentine from God’ post to be reminded what love is and what love isn’t and to know that my love for my children is a forever love.”
Remember: Review is necessary for us to get the messages planted in our minds and hearts. Also remember: What God asks us to do, we should do. He always asks us to act and speak in helpful, not harmful, ways.
My first reprimand for being too big for my britches:
Then I heard what I knew was coming at some point but had dreaded hearing, “Those times you thought you had found what I wanted and what I meant without coming to me for guidance are examples of times that ‘you were too big for your britches.”
I knew I had been reprimanded for trying to go it alone and for depending on others for help while leaving God out of it; however, this tough love lesson was given to me with the kindness of a loving Father. This hard-to-swallow medicine was delivered in such a way that it went down more easily. I determined that I would not make that mistake again. I realized that whatever was ahead in the way of tough love messages, they would be given with a love that is beyond human understanding. They would be meant to help, not harm, to save us from our own worst instincts, not allow us to be destroyed or lost by them. Never, ever forget: God’s goal is the saving of souls. His efforts, his interventions, are meant to accomplish his lifesaving, soul-saving mission. If enough souls are saved, the church, the nation, and other nations will be saved.
The teaching had begun in earnest. Just as I experienced his tough love message to not depend on others to help me determine the meaning of God’s messages but depend on God, others doing the same kind of thing that I had done were also to be recipients of his tough love message.
NOTE: I learned that ‘too big for your britches’ and ‘time to cut the apron string’ would not be the only sayings used during this teaching-learning session. In addition, the ‘you don’t know me’ theme would be used as it was in the blog entry ‘Songs used in tough love messaging: You Don’t Know Me’. A review of the blog entry about Songs Used in tough love messaging would be helpful at this time. Special Note: The ‘Songs’ blog entry has a ‘Heavenly suggestion/calling’ for Carrie Underwood.
Bits and pieces, given during my walk and talk with God, for near-future use …
Conspiracy theories, false statements (sometimes called alternative facts), wrathful threats, do not wish for self what you do not wish for others
Declared Christian values to be observed at all costs that are in contradiction to the teachings of the Bible
Shunning, excluding instead of including
Adding to the Bible, attaching one’s name to Bible, autographing the Bible with one’s name, making additions to or deletions from the Bible – examples, the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, songs — or using the Bible for personal gain, signage that would indicate it belongs to one nation or certain people, ignoring the pledge to the Bible or Christian flag while demanding allegiance to other flags or allegiance to following other books
Demanding respect for the American flag and pledging allegiance to it but failing to recognize the Christian flag and its pledge of allegiance
Taking away rights from others while assigning them to self
Promoting anything that causes death and destruction – guns, promoting unauthorized, harmful medications, drugs (including cigarettes and alcohol), laws that prohibit care needed to save a life, passing along and/or acting on conspiracy theories,– or discouraging things that promote safety and/or health – examples of things that are discouraged that would promote safety and/or health and would save lives: passing sensible/fair gun control laws, following the advice of respected health professionals regarding vaccinations and medications, passing laws that save lives instead of laws that allow harm or deaths to those seeking life-saving procedures, following God’s ways instead of man’s ways: Love God, Love one another as you love self, do unto others as though you are the others, speak, think, and act with a Christian heart, reconcile, take on the full armor of God to protect yourself from evil.
Know this: God is pro-life – wanting to save all lives/all souls. God is also pro-choice – wanting people to have choices that save themselves or others from harm. He gives choices instead of demands– even unto the 10 commandments and the Greatest Commandments. We can choose the invitation to follow God’s suggestions, or we can choose not to follow them. Just know that it is a forever-after-earthly-life choice. (NOTE: You can tell whether people are following God’s ways or man’s – man’s ways: they demand obedience to themselves and their ideas/values/ways, God’s ways”: they show love)
Using money, laws, or power for destruction of what is a right for all (public schools, libraries, affordable health insurance)
Using money, laws, or power for political or power gain – gains that place you above those considered unworthy
Worship of idols – golden statues, flags, wearing apparel, sports figures, entertainers, wannabe kings/authoritarians
Pardon and praise for insurrectionists, extremists, authoritarians
Hypocritical messages regarding flags: flags of hate or idol worship flown or carried with the Christian flag (can’t serve two masters)
Refusing to help others (turning a blind eye or having a deaf ear), self-servers
Wrathful rants meant to incite harm to perceived enemies
Armed militia empowered by the state for protection of ‘me and ones like me’ from those who protest against us, use of extreme punishment against those perceived as enemies
Labeling innocent people with hateful names/name calling Saying the innocent are guilty and the guilty are innocent Calling the lies as truths and the truths as lies
Words and actions meant to cause harm to ones perceived as enemies
Be careful what you wish for
Division, division, division
I recognized these as actions that would require God’s tough love methods to be used to get the ones using these actions to have a change of heart.
Time to close shop…
It had been a long, pleasant-yet-stressful day – yes, receiving and recording God’s messages as he wants them recorded with information being given to me in bits and pieces is stressful work, yet rewarding work at the same time. Feeling I had prepared for tomorrow’s start by jotting down bits and pieces of ideas for this blog posting (see above), it was time for an earlier-than-usual leave of the computer to prepare a good evening meal, rest my eyes which felt strained and body which was exhausted, and to have a relaxing evening.
The above is what I had written by the end of Good Friday 2024.
Early to bed, early to rise…
My husband had a full day in the sun and wind, and I had a full day at the computer. An early bedtime was on our agenda. The agenda was followed with bed at 9:30. I went to sleep quickly and dreamed. By 10:45 p.m., I was wide awake recalling the dream. It was an example of God using his sense of humor to get across an important point. (Yes, God has a great sense of humor. The title of this blog entry, ‘Too big for your britches’, is a testament to his humor.)
After going over the dream several times in my mind, so that I would not forget it, I went back to sleep. I hadn’t been asleep long when I awoke with the dream on my mind. I went over it several times before returning to sleep. This was repeated through the night and into very early morning. Each time this happened, my thought was that I should get up and record the dream, but that thought was dismissed, and I would return to sleep. At 2:45 a. m., 3/30/24, I awoke with a call to get out of bed, go to the computer, and record the dream. I followed those directions.
God’s humorous, Heavenly, knock-knock joke that will lead to a prayerful relationship…
God’s instructions to tell ones who realize the need to have a relationship with him but don’t know how to fulfill that need: “Get a prayer blanket – a lap throw, a towel, any small item that can be wrapped around the shoulders will work – pull it tight and imagine that it is my arms holding you safely, lovingly, like any loving father would hold a hurting, needy child in his arms. When all comfortable, warm, and secure say, “Knock, knock.”
God then explained the humor, meant to throw the person an unexpected curve ball, a turn-of-the-table tactic, to quickly get their attention. By getting the one expecting to be told a knock, knock joke to instead say knock, knock, they become the one expected to tell the joke; thus, a joke has been played on that person.
However, God softens the joke (might call it a soft joke with a purpose) by answering the knock, not with the usual, “Who’s there?” but by saying, “Hello, my child, I’ve been waiting for you.” In doing so, God is revealing to the person who he is. The door has been opened, a connection has been made lovingly, casually, humorously with a lost, hurting child that will allow a relationship to be formed through prayer. The reconciliation process has begun.
After this recording session, I was sleepy and ready to return to bed. It was 4:25 a.m. We had the alarm set for a 5:45 a.m. wake-up. I thought I would be too tired to function when I got up, but, surprisingly, I felt eager to start on blog additions.
God had other ideas and I listened and followed his directions…
Thinking I was ready to make other additions was an instance of making leapfrog moves instead of taking baby steps directed by God. He told me that I need to learn to play ‘Mother/Father, may I?’ — following directions instead of playing by my own rules. I knew that he was gently reminding me, in a different way than before, that, once again, I was too big for my britches – trying to use man’s ways and man’s time instead of God’s ways and God’s time.
NOTE: God doesn’t have to say all the words or fill in all the blanks to let me know what he means. That is my job to fill in the words without changing the meaning. (An explanation: Think of times in your childhood when you had done something you should not have done, and your mother looked at you disappointingly and simply said your full name. You knew what you had done, your mother knew what you had done, and you had been gently reprimanded by her calling you by your full name. In other words, you filled in the blanks to discern the meaning and to know you had been reprimanded. Oftentimes these gentle reprimands were more effective than harsher punishment.)
Saturday, March 30th was spent making additions and changes to developing prayerful relationships that God said were needed. This time, I listened and followed his directions.
God told me to keep this dream reveal in the above place in the blog post. Then he instructed me to ‘ask them’—that’s everyone — to read Luke 15: 11 – 32 (The Parable of the Lost Son) and Luke 11: 9 (knock and the door will be opened to you) to help them understand that ‘the lost wishing to be found’ were never lost to me, for I was with them all the way. He then said to tell them that if they knock, the door will be opened, and I will receive them with a welcoming celebration. And the reverse is true, also, I am knocking and waiting for the door to be opened to me.
It was emphasized that by placing this unusual approach to prayer at the beginning of some tough love messages that will follow, all will realize that God is wanting the lost to be found, hearts changed, thus, leading to lives changed for the good, and souls saved. Knowing that approaching prayer is not easy for most people, it will serve as a lead-in to prayer. It will let them know that prayer does not have to be a scheduled time full of formal, religious-sounding words. It is a conversation between an understanding, loving parent and child. You can pray anytime, anyplace, no limits on when, where, or why. God is always available – just knock and he will answer. Words should not be used as a barrier. God knows all words in all languages – yes, even Pig Latin (his Pig Latin addition is another example of his sense of humor). You do not have to speak the words aloud – a mind-to-mind, heart-to-heart connection works just fine. Since you can pray without speaking the words aloud, you can pray in the midst of a large crowd, and no one will know except you and God, and no one can stop you from praying. No topic is off limits. God wants to share your joys, your sorrows, your laughter, your pain, your good times, your bad times, as well as the okay times, and the more often the prayer connection is made the better. NOTE: Don’t forget to thank God for his love and guidance. He likes thank-yous just as much as we like them.
As another guide to going to prayer using your prayer blanket, the following poem, inspired by God, is to be included and follows:
Guiding with His arms reaching down from above,
It is the Lord who is wrapping you in this Blanket of Love.
May it remind you, His child so dear,
That through prayer He is always near.
Put the blanket around you when feeling lonely and blue,
Or when you are troubled and don’t know what to do.
Wrap it around you when angry and mad.
Wrap it around you when you are hurt or sad.
Wrap it around you when you are having a good day.
Wrap it around you when to Him you have something to say.
Then enter quietly into the Garden of Prayer,
Call out to Him, He’ll meet you there.
Tell Him all you are feeling at the time.
Doing so will help you out of your darkness climb.
Give Him your cares and concerns; turn over to Him all that’s in your heart.
Letting go, so He can carry your load, is the path on which to start.
And, if you LISTEN and listen with care,
He will walk with you. He will accept the load of the burdens you bear.
He will talk with you. He will let you know you are always in His care.
The healing begins when you wrap yourself in the Blanket of Love
And go to the Garden of Prayer to meet the Savior Above.
Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024…
Going to church has always been important to me. I can truly say that I enjoy it; that is to say, it brings me joy. Early in my 2014 calling I was told that ‘as church’ we should travel through each year recognizing the importance of the Reconciliation emphasis, Thanksgiving, Advent, the Christmas season, Week of Compassion, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, and Independence Day. Through each year – starting with Thanksgiving 2014 — I had tried to follow these instructions. I found that with the passing of each year I had learned much and had grown in following God’s ways.
It was with great anticipation and joyful attitude that I entered the Easter service 2024 – the 10th Easter service since my calling and having those instructions given. I wondered what I would learn this year.
From each part of the service, I learned something:
*The flowering of the cross showed me that by working together, we produce beautiful, pleasing results. It also reminded me that God’s creation is beautiful, and we not only should want to take care of it, but we are also called by God to care for it.
*The music caused emotions to well up inside of me, the words to the songs giving meaning to why I was having the emotions. The combination helped me know, as the ones present on that first resurrection day knew, that Jesus lives.
*The musical offering by a choir of children, with proud parents and grandparents taking pictures and smiling from ear-to-ear, reminded me that as church we should provide many opportunities for the children to participate. They learn from the experiences, and many of the parents and grandparents seldom or never attend at any other time. (God has said, “Involve the children and the families will come.” And never forget, that Jesus said, “Suffer little children to come unto me.” Also, do not forget that to God we are all children, no matter our age – young, old, or in between. He says, “Do nothing that would hinder my children from coming unto me. Make them feel welcome, wanted. Be inclusive, not exclusive.”)
The Sermon was all about victory over death — Jesus lives!!! Jesus was the one sent to save the world from sins. Jesus obeyed. He ridded ones who possessed demons of those demons, healed the sick, restored sight to the blind, sound to deaf ears, called out The Pharisees and false leaders, and gave his life so that all believers could have Eternal Life.
The Easter message – Jesus lives – as pointed out in the sermon, was delivered by women. Combatting their fears over what Jewish leaders might do to them, the women went to the grave to anoint the body of Christ. Mary, who went to the grave early, found the body missing and angels present saying, “He is not here, He is risen.” Mary Magdalene, whom Jesus had healed from demons and was considered by many to be unworthy of the attention of Jesus, was a faithful follower. She was the first one to whom Jesus appeared after the Resurrection. She was told to go and tell the others. Overcoming fear, she did as she was told. Jesus entrusted this important message to a woman – a woman considered unfit for the job by the powerful.
*NOTE: God adds that ones today who consider women unworthy of carrying his messages, should take a lesson from above to know that without women, we would not have had the Easter message. Also, remember that Mary was chosen to deliver The Word to the earth through the birth of Jesus.
NOTE: It was from the Easter Sunday message that I heard from the minister that without women, we would not have had the Easter message. I had written about the role of women carrying God’s messages and doing his work, but I had never thought about the brave one who carried the Easter message. Many thanks to this Disciple messenger! He’ll know who he is.
*Gathering around the all-inclusive table… When we take the bread & drink the cup we are proclaiming that Jesus – like Father/like SON — is the one and only Savior of the world. No one else can, nor should they, make that claim.
*Offering time reminded me that all belongs to God, we are but caregivers of all that he provides. We should not be selfish givers, but selfless givers of time, talent, and resources to accomplish God’s work.
*Benediction served as an invitation to daily walk with God/Jesus and sent us, God’s children, on our way with hope, new beginnings. Time for us to bravely announce that Jesus lives and is at work in the world today. Time for women and men – disciples of Christ – to realize that the goal of the Father and the Son is to save lives, thus, save souls. That has always been the goal through the ages. Time for us to show that we are the hands, feet, and voices that can help accomplish that goal.
(As I was recording this, one of my Mother’s favorite poems – The World’s Bible by Annie Johnson Flint – with the message that we are to use our hands, feet, tongue to do God’s work – came to mind. Look it up online and see what work ours is to do and what happens if we are too busy, or walking in sin, or speaking untruths to do that work. )
*Visiting – There was joyful excitement during the sharing and fellowship that took place after the service. May this be the start of renewal and dedication was my silent prayer.
God is speaking to those who call themselves church…
As I thought of the bits and pieces I was being given, an epiphany came to me: God is speaking to the capital letter (C) Church — that is everyone who professes to love God above all others, no matter the denomination, creeds, standards for belonging, whether you meet in a church, tabernacle, temple, abandoned store building, private home, beside lakes, rivers, or streams – in other words, it matters not where you gather, what your practiced beliefs are, whether you are inclusive or exclusive, God wants there to be no misunderstanding of his messages to you. He is also speaking to the unchurched, in other words to everyone. Failure to listen and follow his directions will result in failure/destruction/devastation of the church. God’s saving of his children will result in saving the church. If church is saved, the nations of the world will be saved. God’s saving grace is being offered to all, no exceptions, free of charge. This is his lifesaving plan.
Back to the too-big-for-your-britches, time-to-cut-the-apron-string, you-don’t-know-me task at hand…
God directed me to share my Tolstoy experience, which was received early morning Friday, November 15, 2019, and now shared in early April 2024: I had something happen that I can only compare to a few other experiences I’ve had during the past years. I had been sound asleep when I awoke suddenly at 3 a. m. I tried to go back to sleep but couldn’t. I finally got up and walked around a bit thinking I would go right to sleep after getting under the warm covers. I settled back in bed, got comfortable, and was just about asleep when I heard, “Tolstoy.” “Now why would that pop into my head?” I asked myself. I settled in, trying to sleep, when I heard, “Tolstoy,” once again. I found myself wondering about Tolstoy, but my brain wasn’t working well. For a minute or so, I couldn’t remember anything about Tolstoy. I hadn’t thought about him in years. Through my sleep-filled brain, it finally came to me that he wrote War and Peace. Still, I couldn’t figure why I heard his name. All I wanted to do was go back to sleep. It was not to be according to my wishes, for I started hearing his name in my mind over and over – “Tolstoy, Tolstoy, Tolstoy.” In my mind’s eye, I saw Tolstoy written in large, bold letters. I tried to dismiss it all, changed positions, got warm and comfortable again, only to hear the name repeated over and over. Realizing I wasn’t going to get any rest until I got up and searched for Tolstoy on my laptop, I forced myself out of bed, into the cold, and went to see what I could find.
I got the most info from Wikipedia. I found that Tolstoy was born into an aristocratic Russian family. He had a spiritual and moral awakening in his 40s causing him to become a fervent Christian working for a utopia – a place where all live in harmony with one another. He was a pacifist. His nonviolent ideas had a profound impact on many, including Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. His ideas were based on the teachings of Jesus and centered on the Sermon on the Mount. He spoke against governments that were formed to exploit and corrupt its citizens instead of ones that helped/served its citizens. He understood the need for education for all (founded schools for children of the peasants which later failed because of the actions of the secret police but served as an example of the first democratic education) and for the printing press. He came to believe that self-sacrifice to help others was necessary, especially self-sacrifice for people of great wealth. He followed the Great Commandments of loving God above all and one’s neighbor as self.
After reading and learning about him for over an hour, I went back to bed and slept soundly until 8. No more hearing Tolstoy in my head. I believe I got the message I was to receive from reading about Tolstoy. It is a strange feeling to have experiences like this. There is no explanation for them except that they come to me for a reason and from a higher source than I or any earthly creature.
After recording the Tolstoy experience above, as directed by God, I was instructed to tell them: Those who call themselves church, as well as all others, should follow the teachings of living together in peace and harmony –which requires reconciliation –, to practice nonviolent resistance – just be careful that you are wishing for yourself something you wish for others, support governments that help its citizens (provides affordable health care, voting rights, has respect and concern for all, supports public education, cares for the earth and its inhabitants, seeks justice/mercy/equality/fairness for all, cooperates with other nations that seek to help, not harm), and to speak out against governments that exploit and corrupt its citizens – (takes away voting rights from ones not bowing to them/destroys public education/takes away health care options/speaks untruths, including about needed health measures/favors and uplifts the wealthy/uses strong-man tactics to gain power/fails to care for God’s creation/causes harm to the democratic process/refuses to cooperate or reconcile differences), provide public education for all children – not just ‘chosen ones’–, use all means available, especially printed material, to get out messages of truth, practice self-sacrifice to help others – especially people of great wealth should follow this rule (read The Rich Young Ruler –Luke 18: 18 – 30). Above all, be guided by the Great Commandment of loving God above all and one’s neighbor as self.
God suggests: Review the blog posts, ‘God’s Ways’ and ‘God’s Goal is to turn sogs into Gos’. (Yes, God introduces some new words; in fact, at some point in the future – only God knows when, how, or where — you will be told about airification, another ‘God word’ that was used by him during a humorous wake-up call for me.)
Next, God wanted a review of the blog entry ‘Recognizing Disciples at work in today’s world’. To the ways Pope Francis is helping do God’s work add that Pope Francis says to value silence and listening – an act of love that helps shut out the loud voices that promote violence. He discourages marginalization, isolation, exclusion, rejection. Being builders of bridges, as he suggests, make for a better, more stable world. And he always encourages us to live like our Master and Lord Jesus.
Catholic News, Vatican News, and Politico – all to which I felt led — furnished most of the information I gathered through the years about the Pope. I also listened to messages delivered through TV and radio – especially ones given during the Pope’s visit to the United States in September 2015 — hearing the messages with my own ears, then recording the bits and pieces in my journal entries. You can search for the messages of Pope Francis on which topics you want through the Catholic News and Vatican News or Politico. Suggestion: Search to find what the Pope has to say about keeping borders and hearts open to welcome refugees. Guidance is needed in this time when refugees can be shot and killed or harmed in other ways for seeking refuge, and a time when there are far too many criticizing others for what is happening at our borders while refusing to reconcile differences to help solve the problems.
God says ask them: Are you one who can help solve the problems at the border, but you are refusing to give that help because you feel it would be beneficial to those you perceive as political foes? Or are you one who uses loud voices to support these non-reconciliatory people and point fingers at the ones seeking to help? Don’t forget that when you point a finger at another, you have three fingers point right back at you. Think of the 1970 cartoonist Walt Kelly quote: We have met the enemy, and he is us.” Too many, too often are our own enemy.
After review of all the messages I had gathered, it became obvious to me that the Pope’s overall theme was to encourage us to love God, love one another.
The two greatest commandments — love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and your neighbor as yourself — were what Jesus taught also. After all, Jesus came to seek the lost and to save the lost (Luke 19: 10). There is no better way to save the lost than to teach the ways and encourage us to follow the ways that show we love God and love others as self. If the heart is filled with love of God and love of others as self, there is no room for nor desire to sin. Those who have a love-filled heart seek to know and follow God. Heed is given to his messages.
I must add that I have also heard on TV and seen on the internet many who are critical of the Pope. They are far right, Pharisee like, thinking too highly of themselves. In other words, using God’s soft reprimand, they are too big for their britches. God reminds his children: “Leave the judging to me – I have the whole picture and will be fair. I know what is in the heart. Accent the positives, eliminate the negatives, love me, love others, reconcile.”
God says the Pope’s messages of love, justice, and peace, not sacrificing oneself to superficial pleasures, or allowing yourselves to be robbed of your dreams applies to all, regardless of age, and, as the Pope says, would help “build a society worthy of the name.” God adds, “Following this advice would help save souls, thus, it would help save Church.
Further God adds, “Those who use loud voices, violence, harsh speech,
those who exclude, isolate, marginalize, or reject others, those who refuse to have dialog and openness (reconciliation) with others, those who build walls to keep others out instead of building bridges as a path for establishing relationships, those who reject living like the Master and Lord Jesus — who did not exclude anyone from his path — are too big for their britches and need to cut the apron strings that are binding them to these ways. To speak and act in these ways show that you don’t know me while rejecting these ways and living according to the ways of the Master and Lord Jesus show that you do
know me, and already have, or are seeking, a relationship with me.”
Ones not listening to God, but listening and following others…
Result: things happening that are contrary to God’s teachings and God’s ways, contrary to the commandments that are meant to guide us…
God says to place the things that were listed by the end of the day, March 29,2024, under the title ‘Bits and pieces, given during my walk and talk with God, for near-future use’ below. The ‘near-future’ has arrived. They are examples of things that are happening that are not pleasing to God. He suggests that you read the list and use it to evaluate yourself for times you have been guilty of them, or have followed others who are guilty of them, or that you have seen or heard the following done by others but have failed to have courage to speak truth to them.
NOTE: Some words of clarification have been added to the original list. Some unneeded words have been removed. These are just bits and pieces meant for you to read and fill in the ideas to make complete thoughts. By not giving complete thoughts, you will have to put more thought into what you read. Giving thought to it to evaluate yourself and others, will help get the messages across.
Know this: God is not political. He will, however, point out which political leaders, political followers, and which religious leaders and religious followers – specifically and generally — are speaking and acting with a Christian heart and which are not. If speech or actions go against Biblical truths or the ways of Jesus, they are not ways of a Christian heart, not God’s ways, but man’s ways.
Bits and Pieces meant to serve as self-evaluation:
*Conspiracy theories (Examples: Sandy Hook didn’t happen/wind turbine noises cause cancer/Pizzagate – political figures involved in trafficking rings/election voter fraud/Democrats kidnapping kids to harvest their blood/vaccines cause autism/2020 stolen election/villainizing Bill Gates/holocaust did not happen/and on and on and on they go causing division) *false statements (sometimes called alternative facts to try to make false statements seem true or true statements seem false – search to find who coined the phrase alternative facts and whose falsehoods were tried to be made into truths), *wrathful threats – which are a deadly sin–, wishing for self what you do not wish for others goes against the Golden Rule, and lying or malicious speech are sins. Passing along or acting on any of the above to cause harm adds another dimension to the sin.
Declared Christian values to be observed at all costs that are in contradiction to the teachings of the Bible — example, encouraging revenge against ones not thinking as you think or that you perceive as enemies — are sins. “Vengeance is mine,” the Lord says. Laws — such as, *passing laws trying to prevent deaths but could/will cause deaths of others, *passing laws establishing armed militia groups that act with violence, including shooting on sight, at the orders of the governors – that cause unnecessary deaths are equal to murder. Murder is a sin. Wrath is a deadly sin.
Shunning, excluding instead of including Example: “We must keep ourselves safe from ones not sharing our values,” then as church ostracize unmarried, pregnant women or LGBTQ+ or those with a different political or religious label from the one you support is going against love others as self and God’s suggestion to be inclusive, not exclusive and is in contradiction to the ways of Jesus. Another example: Saying you are pro-life, then kill someone you perceive as not being pro-life or pass laws that seek to put someone in jail or prison who seeks life-saving procedures or who performs such procedures
Saying you respect the Bible and its teachings then support those who make additions to the Bible, or attach one’s name to Bible, autograph the Bible, making additions to or deletions from the Bible – examples, the Constitution, Declaration of Independence — using the Bible for personal gain (monetary, power, prestige), signage that would indicate it belongs to one nation or certain people, ignoring the pledge to the Bible while giving allegiance to other books, such as books written by ones who share your political views, are not ways pleasing to God.
NOTE: There are religious leaders who are beginning to speak out about desecrating the Bible in any of the above ways. They are calling these actions blasphemous. Remember: God has said that you will be able to recognize his disciple workers. They will not claim any gains or rewards as they seek to carry God’s messages out to the world. All honor, all glory, all rewards belong to God.
NOTE: Learn the Pledge to the Bible, write it on your heart — I pledge allegiance to the Bible, God’s holy word, a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path. It’s words I will hide in my heart that I may not sin against God.
Demanding respect for the American flag and pledging allegiance to it but failing to recognize the Christian flag and its pledge of allegiance –equal to hijacking the flag. This flag hijacking has made some feel that they can’t display the flag or say the pledge without having others feel they’ve gone to the extreme Demanding the American flag be displayed in church sanctuary and pledge to it given as part of worship instead of displaying and pledging allegiance to the Christian flag. NOTE: Pledge to the Christian flag — I pledge allegiance to the Christian flag and to the Savior for which it stands, one brotherhood, uniting all mankind in service and in love. (Can’t serve two masters. Church service should be about God, not country. If you choose to have a flag and pledge as part of worship, then have the Christian flag.)
Extreme actions, such as, making claim to the American flag – think flag huggers — and the pledge meaning America as those taking these actions see it, take-over of schools and libraries (parents’ rights and book bans — the Bible has been banned by some), some fear that if they go to libraries and ask for desired books, they are putting themselves and the librarians in danger, or if they go to school board meetings to express their feelings on important issues they will be met with taunts and threats), guns allowed everywhere, targeting health care facilities. A reminder: Pharisees, scribes — ones claiming to be most moral, who saw Jesus as a threat — were enemies of Jesus and his ways. Are not the Pharisee-like people and ones who claim to be the most moral, most religious today’s enemies of Jesus and the ways of Jesus? God says they are and reminds us that he wants us to speak and act with a Christian heart.
Be aware that the Bible has the following to say about making vows – also called pledges or oaths : Ecclesiastes 5: 4 – 5 says that vows made to God should be fulfilled without delay and adds that it is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. (Those who are judges or legislators, those who take marriage vows, those who take oaths for office or any other vow/oath/promises should take special note of what the Bible says about taking vows and failing to keep them. Isn’t being baptized and promising to follow the ways of Jesus all the days of your life a sacred vow?)
Taking away rights from others while retaining them for self (right to vote, right to affordable health care, public education, justice, fairness, equality, respect) breaks the Golden Rule — treat others as you wish to be treated –, and also breaks the two greatest commandments – love God, love others as you love yourself
Promoting anything that causes death and destruction – guns, promoting unauthorized, harmful medications, drugs (including cigarettes and alcohol), laws that prohibit care needed to save a life, passing along and/or acting on conspiracy theories,– or discouraging things that promote safety and/or health – examples of things that are discouraged that would promote safety and/or health and would save lives: *passing sensible/fair gun control laws, *following the advice of respected health professionals regarding vaccinations and medications, *passing laws that save lives instead of laws that allow harm or deaths to those seeking life-saving procedures, *fight following God’s ways, instead follow man’s ways God suggests: Love God, Love one another as you love self, do unto others as though you are the others, speak, think, and act with a Christian heart, reconcile, take on the full armor of God to protect yourself from evil.
Know this: God is pro-life – wanting to save all lives/all souls. God is also pro-choice – wanting people to have choices that save themselves or others from harm. He gives choices instead of making demands (you can tell if people are following God’s ways or man’s ways by whether they demand obedience to themselves and their ideas/values/ways or whether they show love) – even unto the 10 commandments and the Greatest Commandments. We can choose the invitation to follow God’s suggestions, or we can choose not to follow them. Just know that it is a forever-after-earthly-life choice. (Yes, there is an afterlife – Jesus lives/God lives and they have prepared a place for us.)
Using money, laws, or power for destruction of what is a right for all (public schools, libraries, affordable health insurance, teaching history as it really happened)
Using money, laws, or power for political or power gain – gains that place you above those you consider unworthy, gains that lift you up while pushing others down
Worship of idols – *golden statues – example, the golden statue of someone deemed by many to be Jesus that appeared at CPAC in 2021, *flags, *wearing apparel – spending huge amounts of money on apparel or flags with your idol’s name on it, on *attending concerts or sporting events while failing to give any help to others or to carry on the work of God, *sports figures, entertainers, wannabe kings/authoritarians, church leaders, government figures
Remember: You cannot serve two masters at the same time.
Pardon and praise for insurrectionists, extremists, authoritarians, seeking pardons for those jailed for insurrection while seeking prison or death for innocent people – calling the guilty ‘Patriots’, while calling those working for truth, justice and mercy ‘traitors’, ‘scum of the earth’, ‘robbers’, ‘thieves’ (Remember: An earthly pardon does not equate a heavenly pardon and a win on earth does not equate to a heavenly win.)
Hypocritical messages regarding flags: flags of hate or idol worship flown or carried with the Christian flag (again, can’t serve two masters)
Refusing to help others (turning a blind eye or having a deaf ear), self-servers
Wrathful rants meant to incite harm to perceived enemies – these rants are recognized as battle cries
Armed militia empowered by the state for protection of ‘me and ones like me’ against those who protest against us, use of extreme punishment against those perceived as enemies
*Labeling innocent people with hateful names/name calling *Saying the innocent are the guilty and the guilty are the innocent *Calling lies truths and truths lies
Words and actions meant to cause harm to ones perceived as enemies
Be careful what you wish for – *money meant for public schools can be used for religious/charter/homeschooling resulting in allotted money being spread too thinly so all schools fail, white supremacist schools (often called academies) seek to get funds *Bible reading, prayers with chaplains in schools delivering the desired outcomes (Satanist chaplains are now demanding to be part of this experiment/there is disagreement about which version of the Bible can be used, in addition there are parental rights groups and book ban groups that are saying the Bible has unsuitable material. Division, division, division)*Conservative evangelicals appointed to the Supreme Court using any means possible to accomplish the task (having a super majority that leans too far right or too far left makes the court off balance and decisions not fair and just, not voting with a Christian heart, but rather with an ideological heart)
Division, Division, Division — Division here, division there, division, division everywhere and not enough of us are paying attention to the damage being done to family relations, friendships, religion/church, communities, government, nations, health – mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, moral, social, governmental, financial –, or to God’s creation, the world.
*Hate, *greed, *‘my/our’ ideology only true way, *selfishness/self-interests/self-serving, *ideology as religion, *fear, *wrath, *gender identity issues, *mental health issues, *racial issues, *my way or no way, *apathy, *greed, *sloth, *pride, *stubbornness, *lust, *misinformation, *conspiracy theories, *drunkenness, *drug use, *idol worship, *unwise use of money, *gathering wants instead of needs, *inattention, *helplessness, *hopelessness, *carelessness, *intentional exclusion of and harm done to one’s not like me, *unfair laws, *demands that help me and ones like me, *failure to listen to others, *loud, demanding voices are heeded instead of the still, small, quiet voices of reason, *moral decay, *taking more than my share, *lack of sympathy/empathy, *willingness to go along with evil as long as it accomplishes my/our goals, *turning a blind eye and deaf ear to things are among the multitude of division causes.
*Not knowing what to do about the situation, *indifference, *thinking you’ll help when it gets worse (procrastinating), *unwillingness to do your part to correct, or *failure to accept one’s part in the cause of problems keep the cycle of division going.
Our divisions are taking us nearer, and nearer to the edge of the abyss of destruction/failure. (Read and pay heed to the scripture Matthew 12: 25 that tells us every kingdom, house, city divided against itself will fall, brought to desolation.)
God is our salvation, our superhero, the one who hears all, sees all, and knows just what is needed to solve problems. In his own time and in his own way, he will intercede.
With the above in mind, God adds some tough love messages to let us know that…
You have many gods that you put before the one true God. The name of God is used in vain. Idols are worshipped. The sabbath day is not kept holy.
You murder in so many ways. Weapons kill, failure to follow health measures cause deaths, taking away access to affordable or needed health care results in needless deaths, suggestions to take wrathful revenge can lead to actions that cause deaths, false teachings can lead to deaths of souls which will lead to death of the church, arming of civilians with the intent of ridding society of ones not like us causes deaths of innocent people.
You have been told that you should not bear false witness, yet falsehoods about others are told and repeated each second, each minute, each hour of each day. Conspiracy theories promoted by leaders at all levels, wrath-filled rants, posts on social media are filled with examples of bearing false witness. They spread like wildfire. They are told with the intention of causing harm to others. If they cause death, those responsible, in any way, have failed to follow God’s commandments – not murder, not bear false witness, and love others as self.
The commandments to honor your father and mother, do not commit adultery (choosing earthly idols over God is adultery), do not steal (that means anything that rightly belongs to another), and do not covet are on full display causing harm to the persons who fail to follow and to the person or persons harmed by their failures.
You seek to have prayers and Bible readings in schools, yet you fail to have the teachings written on your hearts. You also fail to go to the Lord in prayer.
You push to have the 10 commandments posted in public places, yet the commandments are not written on the heart.
God added: “Not following the commandments and not having the commandments written on the heart is like ‘cutting off your nose to spite your face’. In other words, you are causing great harm to yourself when you cause harm to others, and you cause great harm to self when you wish for things for others – public prayer and Bible reading in school — that you do not take to heart yourself.”
By breaking the 10 commandments, the all-encompassing greatest commandments of love God and love others as self are broken also.” Jesus came to fulfill the law. His way of loving God, loving others was the fulfilling way. If we had the Two Greatest Commandments written on the heart, Love God, Love others as self, no commandments would be broken. Jesus showed that kind of love – because of his great love, he included everyone, *he honored his father and mother, especially his Heavenly Father, he caused no harm to anyone – *never killed, *never bore false witness, *never committed adultery, *never stole, *never coveted, *kept the Sabbath Day holy, *had no other Gods, *never used God’s name in vain, *did not make or worship idols. Why? Because his heart was and is filled with love for everyone, no exceptions. Like Son/like Father. God has love for all his children.
NOTE: Some of the things above are mentioned several times, in several ways. God says that this repetition is needed to get the messages across. And speaking of repetition, this would be a good time to review the post on Abominations to the Lord. You will find that most of the above ways of speaking and acting are abominations to the Lord.
Hit the road running…
As mid-April approached, I heard that it was time to ‘hit the road running’ which meant that it was time to say in everyday language, so there is no misunderstanding as to meaning, what is happening in churches across America…
In the blog entry ‘The Call to Ministry of Reconciliation’ I told of concerns caused by things others and I were hearing expressed by those who call themselves church. These same kinds of things are being heard today – maybe even louder and with more wrath-filled consequences suggested (shun, disown, make laws to punish them, take up arms and be prepared to shoot if they dare enter our space, divide so we conquer): “Gays can’t be Christian. Democrats can’t be Christian. You can’t be Christian unless you believe as we do about war, guns, politics, or murder. Can’t be Christian unless you are right-leaning, conservative evangelical. You aren’t Christian if you don’t have long/short hair and wear long dresses for women or have a beard and wear dark clothes for men or dress in best finery or wear jeans, try to overdress – hair, facial hair, and clothing must meet our standards. Music divides us – must have a praise band and sing non-traditional praise songs or must have a choir and sing traditional songs, can have instrumental accompaniment or no instruments. It is okay to support people for public office who have committed adultery, who lie, show wrath, are vindictive, promote unrest and division if they support what is important to us – tax cuts for the wealthy, religious schools or homeschooling, are anti-abortion with no exceptions, but work to keep people who don’t think or look like us from voting. Appoint conservative evangelicals to the Supreme Court, and we would like it if they would work to bring back Bible reading and prayers to school and work to turn us into a Christian nation.”
Division seems to be the rule of the day. We concentrate too much on the negatives and fail to accentuate the positives. It is easier to listen to untruths rather than to take time to learn the truths. Far too many take the downward path — the easier path, the path more traveled — than take the upward path which is less traveled and more difficult to navigate.
The downward path travelers *let others do the work and sit back and reap the benefits. When things go wrong, they are *vocal in their criticism of the ones who had tried, but failed, to have positive results, even though they themselves had caused the failure because they were *unwilling to compromise/reconcile on differences, *unwilling to work with others ‘not like us’, even to accomplish worthy goals, if it benefits a person or group that are considered foes/enemies. *Using guns and man-made ammunition, because hate, wrath, and fear are sins those on the downward path exhibit and also support others who have sin-filled hearts. Those on the downward path *go to the other side of the road when they see someone in need – as the Jewish priest and Levite did in the parable of the Good Samaritan. They are prone to *take more than their share, to build up and hoard storehouses of treasures out of greed, selfishness—as the Rich Young Ruler did (Luke 18: 18 – 22) – and often are taking from rather than sharing with the less fortunate. Those on the downward path build up self whether it is the truth or not. They seek immediate gratification – I want my cake and eat it, too, and want it now! Many on this path *lie and steal, even murder, to get one’s way or reach one’s desired goal. The downward path goers *make judgements and false statements against others according to their personal beliefs and what benefits them, or ones like them. Promoting conspiracy theories is a favored tool to use against others.
The upward path travelers *love others as self, *meet evil with the full armor of God, *help others in whatever ways they can, even if it means it might cause personal losses and hardships (as the Samaritan did in The Good Samaritan, Luke 10: 25 – 29). Those on the upward path *take all they need, but not all they might selfishly want. (Read Exodus 1 – 36 to find that there were upward and downward path goers in the time of Moses.) They *seek the truth, for it is truth that will set them free, are careful in what they wish for, willing to wait for the things that truly matter, accept no easy, unacceptable substitutes. They also *strive to make judgements on what benefits the most, not the few/ on sound footing, not beliefs or wants based on unsolid, marshy ground/on facts, not fictions. Further, they *use wisdom when making decisions that will affect others either negatively or positively as did the judge in 1 Kings 3: 16- 28.
Positives: God loves all His children, and we are all His creation in whom He is well pleased. He will guide us, stand beside us through all our days if we let Him.
Reread and take to heart the blog entry: ‘What church is meant to be’.
The Bible speaks…
Colossians 3: 12 – 14 speaks to us as church today as it did to the early church. The Christians then were *showing anger and malice and used foul talk. They were *not fulfilling their duties. They *thought of themselves more highly than they ought to have thought. They were *not treating their health correctly and not taking care of themselves as they should. They were *not loving one another. They were *practicing deceit. They were *not putting Christ in the center of their lives, thus rejecting the reconciliation to God made possible by the blood of Jesus on the cross. In other words, much of what the people making up church then were doing is like what we are doing today.
Read and heed:
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, *clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. *Bear with each other (have patience, tolerance) and *forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. This means to forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues and love will bind them all together in perfect unity/harmony. (Colossians 3: 12 – 14, paraphrased)
Jude was written for all churches, to Christians, as a warning about false teachers and leaders. In Jude 1: 16-19 we find some of these warnings of evildoers – warnings as meaningful for us today as in those long-ago days: It says that *these are grumblers, complainers, faultfinders who are following their own sinful desires; they are *boasters building themselves up while tearing down others, *they flatter and show favoritism to ones willing to do their will – *all done in order to gain advantage and promote self.
Then comes a warning to these who are boasters, discontents, faultfinders, favor-granters, mockers, and complainers: *Remember, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ which told that in the last time there will be scoffers, mockers who will follow their own ungodly passions and lusts and by doing so will cause divisions, withdrawal, or separation from norms. It also said that these are worldly people who do not have the spirit.
God’s tough love suggestion: Think of ones whose actions or words have been described as ‘not the norm,’ ‘unprecedented,’ ‘dangerous,’ ‘divisive,’ ‘racist,’ ‘amoral,’ ‘narcissistic,’ ‘misogynistic,’ ‘untruthful,’ and ask yourself if they might be among those evildoers and false leaders warned about in Jude – ones causing divisions and separating from the norms.
God adds: “Do not think you are helping yourself by supporting the ones above with votes, money, speaking out for them, acting on their behalf. You are not helping yourself and you are not helping the ones carrying out any of the above behaviors. By giving them support in their wrongdoing, you are only reinforcing the wrongdoing and causing harm to yourself. They will continue if they have others supporting them with votes, money, or wrathful actions.”
God says the wrongdoers need their mental health, moral health, emotional, spiritual, social health issues addressed.
The following messages to churches are added: *Be disciples that go into all the world making other disciples. *Love one another. *Reconcile differences. *Be inclusive. *Be servants. *Gather around the Lord’s table as often as you join in worship. Know when you are gathered that the Lord is there with you just as he promised. *Take care of one another. *Keep the SON at the center of your life and let his light so shine through you that all may see your good works and glorify your Father. *Live in such a way that all will know you are Christian because of your great love for one another and for me.
Early morning prayer time
It was early morning April 22, 2024. I was sleeping away when I was awakened by itching all over my upper body. I scratched in every place I was itching, but the itching continued. I was ready to get up to put on lotion to see if that would stop the itching when I heard, “Airification.” I knew exactly who was speaking and what I was to do — for, you see, God had used airification before to wake me when he had something important to say.
I removed the covers and let the cool air soothe the itch. It did its job, and I went back to sleep. (The airification solution involved cool air to help stop an itch between toes and came from God, in an amusing way, early in my calling.)
At 5:30 a.m. I was again awakened with itching. Just as I had much earlier in the morning, I heard, “Airification.” I knew this time God was calling me to prayer. I answered the call and went to meet him in the Garden of Prayer.
He said to TELL THEM: “I have been knocking and you have failed to answer.” He then began naming names of ones that needed to answer him. He asked that I not look up the names to find correct spellings, because he wanted all to know that the names were coming from him not from anyone else and certainly not from me.
I was surprised at his naming names for up to this point, he had not called out many, instead, naming ones who had followed his calling or issuing new calls. I knew he must have realized the many who had not been paying attention and knew these times called for more tough love measures. I listened intently for names. At 6: 58 a.m. I got up. By 7:10 a.m. I was at the computer ready to record the names I had heard. I was determined to follow his directions of not looking up names – just know there may be some errors in spelling though I must admit that the spell check made some corrections. Be prepared to accept that God knows you and knows what you need to do, what changes of heart you need to make: ANSWER HIS KNOCK and answer it NOW. Also, know this, he speaks in a still, small voice that is powerful enough to enter your thoughts. All you must do is recognize and accept.
Some names he put together under a group name – be prepared to recognize groups that include you. Also, be prepared to recognize yourself as speaking and acting in the ways the following are speaking and acting or supporting ones speaking and acting as are the following. The names I heard: RFK Jr., Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Tucker Carlson, Alex Jones, Kellyanne Conway, Sean Spicer, McEnany, The Murdochs and FOX team, Lindell – the Pillow man –, Kyle Rittenhouse, Jerry Falwell, Jr., Franklin Graham, Kenneth – though repeated over and over, I did not hear a last name, but had the feeling he is a religious leader –, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, Bill Barr, Lindsey Graham, Paul Manafort, Steve Bannon, people of The Villages and in similar communities, Judge Cannon, Marjorie Taylor Green, John Kennedy, James Comer, Lauren Boebert, Matt Gaetz, Ted Cruz, Ken Paxton, Kari Lake, Ron Johnson, Paul Gosar, Tim Scott, Jim Jordan, Mike Johnson, church leaders who have been leading their followers astray with political ideology instead of Biblical truths, Supreme Court Justices, the DeVos family, Koch Foundation leaders, Ron DeSantis, Gregg Abbott, Kristy Noem, Sarah Huckabee Sanders and her father, Mike Huckabee, who has to accept that he helped lead, and is still helping lead, his own daughter and many others down the wrong path, Mitch McConnell, Tom Cotton, Paul Ryan, Josh Hawley, Eric Schmitt, Rick Scott, Marco Rubio, J. D. Vance, Rand Paul, Supreme Court Justices – including those specifically named and listed above – named again and again, legislators at all levels – especially those who have refused to reconcile differences in order to get anything accomplished — judges at all levels, — Murkowski (Alaska), Mitt Romney, Liz Chaney, Adam Kinzinger, and other moderates – named so many, among them WV Senator Manchin, Maine Senator Collins, Oklahoma Senator Lankford, George W. Bush, and many that I can’t recall their names or remember them all, but do remember that God said that they need to lean a little more to the left to have the Christian heart needed for reconciliation–, Franklin Graham, Donald Trump, Charles Koch, Jeff Yass, Elon Musk, the Adelsons, and other billionaires who have been using their money to cause harm to education, health, environment, or to build themselves up or to make even more riches, those who use their money and those who accept that money in quid pro quo deals, members of groups claiming to be fighting for parental rights and are instead laying claim to making the decisions, those who are fighting to change history, those who are banning books ( a suggestion for these — how about banning/speaking up against ugly, hateful, wrathful, threatening words from ones in power), Club for Growth members and the ones who benefit from their work, those who work to Melania Trump – to whom the following message was given, “You have indicated that you don’t care and asked, “Do you?’ I answer, “Yes, I care and so should you.” –, Ivanka Kushner, Jared Kushner, Donald Trump, Jr., Eric Trump, Lara Trump, Kimberly Gillfoyle.
Separate from above, he added the names of Chuck Schummer, Nancy Pelosi, and Hakeme Jeffries. The message to them was that they needed to keep working for the good of all and keep praying for guidance to accomplish that. To Joe Biden he gave a special message: “Keep staying in touch and I will guide you. You want to help save the soul of the nation. I want you to succeed. Remember, you are but a child to me. Pray, pray, pray.”
(NOTE: There were so many names and groups given to me that I am sure I have not included some that God wanted included. Just know that God is wanting everyone to evaluate their own actions and words, to acknowledge what is in the heart that does not belong there, and to make the necessary changes.
After I had recorded the names above, God then said to ask them: “Can’t you see how all problems could be solved if you would listen to me, speak, and act with a Christian heart, and reconcile differences? Can’t you accept that doing so would improve all health – mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, financial – personally, as church, as a nation, and for the world?”
Finally, God added: “Let there be no doubt: I AM the one who is speaking. I AM the one who has love in my heart for all children, who is willing to go to great lengths to help change hearts, ease fears and concerns, who will serve as guide and give strength, who has miracle solutions, who wants relationships built through reconciliation. I AM the one who has provided each of you with your own life’s puzzle and is ready to help you repair the pieces and get it put together in the right way so that it fits into the Heavenly puzzle I have prepared for you. I AM the one for whom you have been watching and waiting. I AM the one who has heard your pleas and your cries of despair. I AM the one who knows your needs and has chosen this time of division, pain, and hurting to intercede. This intercession is worthy of your undivided attention. I AM the one seeking a dwelling place in your heart. I AM the lifesaver/soul-saver. I AM the one who has prepared a great army to be my eyes, ears, arms, feet, and mouth. They are armed with the full armor of God: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit (the word of God), and the Spiritual gift of prayer so that they may pray constantly. I will hear their prayers, give comfort and guidance, and provide their needs. Onward, Christian soldiers! Amen and Amen.”
UPCOMING: God’s Jesus-at-the-Temple-like-Messages