Mothers, we are formed in their bodies, they feed us, diaper us, love us and nurture us. They dry our tears and relieve all our fears. They chase the boogey men away. Spend sleepless nights by our bedside when we are sick.
Their love and patience pour over us as we spend hours crying through all the heartaches of puppy love and the growing pains that only a mother’s comfort can see us through. My own mother always had an awesome ability that allowed her even in the worst possible circumstance to see so beyond the crisis at hand and see a better time in the future. And I have truly been through a thing or two, including having to file for a restraining order at the ripe old age of eighteen and my mother always reassured me of several things.
#1. Things always look brighter after a good night sleep. We often worry about bad things that never actually happen.
#2. No matter how bad that day may seem, one day we really do look back and whatever it was that almost broke us will seem like a nightmare that never really even happened.
#3. An old, old one which is true and will always be true, whatever doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.
You know she was right on all counts, and she still is!
I always thought if I could even be “half the woman” that she is I would do well. She is beautiful inside and out and has such a dignity and grace about her that is almost regal and loves Jesus more than life itself.
Mothers are like beautiful jewels, they come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. Each one exquisitely crafted by the master’s hand.
Maybe your birth mother or maybe the mother God chose just for you by joining you together through adoption.
Maybe He chose your grandmother or Aunt as the defining maternal hand to guide you, love you, teach you, and above all nurture you in Him.
Nevertheless, we all know there is no one, no one like our mother.
The relationship between Mary and Jesus is such a beautiful example of this one-of-a-kind bond. We know the story, Mary the blessed virgin, to whom an angel came to proclaim that she would give birth to the Son of the Almighty God, who had in fact created her.
Without a doubt she was scared to death, how do you conceive without a mate? An answer which came when she was overshadowed by the Holy Ghost.
How do you knowingly carry the Son of God inside your body?
How do you tell your future husband and your family that this is true, and it really happened to you? How do you travel ninety miles on a donkey and give birth in a stable surrounded by his beautiful animal creations knowing this child is the one to save all of creation?
How do you accept the gifts of frankincense, gold, and myrrh brought from faraway lands by wise men on bended knee who have been led there by a star to pay honor and tribute to the King of all Kings?
How do react when the shepherds come to worship him, relaying that the message of his arrival had been proclaimed to them by the host of heaven who proceeded to sing praises to the glory of God in the Highest as heaven came down and kissed earth?
How do you give the offering of the poorest of poor when dedicating him, never, ever worrying about providing for him?
How do you hear a prophecy from one who had been promised he would not see death until he beheld the face of this promised child, when that prophecy is that “a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also”?
As this child grows and maternal instincts take over, as he is held, loved, learns to crawl, walk and says his first words, has his first bumps and bruises and one day decides to stay behind and talk with the elders rather than join the caravan his family traveled with.
How do you understand, when you ask why he did this and he asks you “Did you not know I must be about my Father’s business?”,
I will tell you how, he was her baby, even though he was divine, she knew he was God’s Son, but she was human, and she was his mother and like all of us, that was her baby and as she watched him grow, he became what he was…her son whom she loved more than life itself.
Fast forward twenty-one years after pondering what did he mean by this, as he begins his ministry and watching his miracles (she had to know he held this power because she asked him to do something for her friends at the wedding when he turned the water into wine, which was his first public display of this power) she watched as her own people hated him and threatened his life, she watched as his ministry grew.
She knew of his arrest and public torture and finally seeing him bloody, beaten beyond recognition and carrying a wooden beam to his execution, his battered body falling under the weight of it. And unable to go to him, to hold him, to touch his face, to tell him everything would be okay and this was still her baby and there was nothing in the universe she could do to stop it because it was the piercing of her soul. There would be no words to describe her sorrow.
How could her beautiful son who hung nailed to a cross, nearing death look down and want to be sure his mother would be cared for before dying, because he was her firstborn son.
John 19:25-27 “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, (John) he saith unto his mother Woman, behold thy son!
Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”
They seriously wrote the book, the ultimate story of love between a mother and child, and a wonderful example to us about the love and respect we should have for own mothers.
I hope all have a blessed Mother’s Day and if you have lost your Mother, rejoice in knowing just as Jesus and Mary we reunited and are together forever and ever, you will be also. And if you know a lady who maybe has lost her children or they are “too busy” for her, please, please consider “adopting” her for Mother’s Day.
A card, flowers or just a visit can change her world. Because loneliness is one “disease” we can cure!
Remember Jesus said if you do it for one of his little one’s (saints) you’ve done it for him! Because He is the King and these ladies are precious, precious jewels that help make up his Majestic crown! They are precious to him! Φλογίζω 2014 Revised 2019 & 2020/ May 08, 2022,& 05/13/2023
*Post Note: My beautiful mother mentioned above has since went home to be with Jesus, I was blessed beyond words to be her child.
Thanks for reading Φλογιζω! For posts dealing with a multitude of subjects please check out the side menu on desktop or on a mobile device, please click any post title and once it opens scroll to bottom of screen for links to other options. If you have been encouraged please considering sharing post via any option below. God Bless you! Rev. Nina Brown Johnson
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, and have not charity (love), I am become as a sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the GIFT of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have ALL faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity (love), I am nothing.
And though I bestow ALL my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity (love), it profiteth me NOTHING.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Love, love, sweet glorious love! We say it, we think it but just how often are we really showing it?
Think of it though He SPOKE with the heavenly languages, given through the gift of tongues, so that all could hear the word of God for themselves and though He even SPOKE the language of the heavenly host, the language of the angels, as marvelous and wonder striking as that, still without love, his voice would be nothing other than the sound of a common instrument.
Though he had the very gift of God MANIFESTED in his life, through prophecies could understand and relate even the darkest of parables, though he had faith to even pray the most insurmountable mountain down to the ground and call it dust, without love it is nothing.
And giving all he had and even his life, if it was without love, it would hold no value eternally and there would be no reward for any of those acts.
He was giving us a very valuable lesson here, we CAN be saved, we CAN be working in the kingdom, we CAN have the manifestation of the gift of the Spirit, and yet we can be so one minded, so religious, and so hard-hearted that it will not be effective and none of it will last eternally.
Doesn’t mean a person is not saved, just means they are not producing the most precious of fruit and without producing love, nothing else is going to grow.
Love IS…. “Charity (love) suffereth long, and IS kind; charity (love) envieth not; charity (love) vaunteth not itself (does not brag on itself), it not puffed up (arrogant),
Doth not behave itself unseemly (rudely), seeketh not her own (is not self-seeking), is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, endureth all things. Charity (love) NEVER fails….” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8(1)
So LOVE IS… forbearing, willing to tolerate a lot before blowing its top. LOVE IS kind, gentle, merciful, looking over things and looking through others to see the best and see the causes before passing judgment, giving of itself rather than to be given to, thinking of others before itself.
LOVE IS not boastful, or proud, it never reminds you of what all it has done for you, never thinks you owe it anything, never expects anything in return, love is never arrogant in thinking that it is number one, but always allowing the favored position to other, love gives a hand up not a knock down.
LOVE IS never rude, cocky, or bossy, or better than anyone or anything, never self-seeking and self-fulfilling, never self-willed.
LOVE IS not easily angered, chooses to see the good, even when it is aware of the bad.
LOVE IS never pleased with lies, and hypocrisy but is overjoyed with the truth.
Love walks along the paths of this life with us, walks through all the sorrow, all the sadness, and all the grief with us, and when we become to weary to walk, love will carry us to the end of that journey.
Love holds on, ever clinging to the side of a mountain as everything around it starts to quake and tumble down, never giving up and never letting go. Love never fades, never dies, never gives itself credit, it always protects, always perseveres and NEVER, EVER FAILS.
We gotta put this baby in reverse, to fully understand just why we need to know what love really is: 1 John 4:19: “ We love him because HE FIRST LOVED US.”
We are not even capable of love in our own selves, we only love at all because HE LOVED US FIRST, and even then we are still not capable of the level of love that He has.
“Beloved, let us love another: for LOVE IS of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth NOT knoweth NOT God; for GOD IS LOVE.
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be propitiation for our sins. Beloved, IF GOD SO LOVED US WE OUGHT ALSO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.” 1 John 4:7-11
So is it love? Is it real, real love? Titus 3:1-4 “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers (authority), to obey magistrates (obey laws of the land) to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers (not contentious) but gentle, shewing meekness unto all men.
For WE OURSELVES WERE ALSO SOMETIMES foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures (running wild doing whatever they pleased), living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. BUT AFTER THAT THE KINDNESS AND LOVE OF GOD OUR SAVIOUR TOWARD MAN APPEARED.”
There you have it, Paul stating what we all have been but AFTER all that the love and kindness of Jesus showed us all EXACTLY what LOVE IS!
Φλογίζω Σαλπιζω NBJ 2016 /RP/02/13/2017 ****01/14/2022 REVISITED*** Rev. Nina Brown Johnson 2022
Thanks for reading Φλογιζω! For posts dealing with a multitude of subjects please check out the side menu on desktop or on a mobile device, please click any post title and once it opens scroll to bottom of screen for links to other options. If you have been encouraged please considering sharing post via any option below. God Bless you! Rev. Nina Brown Johnson
The sun may be shining, but it is night. The birds may be singing but it is night. For most, everything may appear well-lit and crystal clear but in the spirit world it is night. For the addict who is one hit away from the mouth of hell, it is night. For the prostitute who is one trick away from the wrong John, who will be the devil incarnate come to assure her entrance into hell, it is night. For the bullied teenager who is one razor blade away from ending it all, it is night. For those widowed and alone, whose loneliness eats away at their souls more viciously than any cancer, it is night. For those persecuted and imprisoned for their beliefs or simply for the sick pleasure of the forces of hell, still the brightest of days with the greatest, blinding magnification of the sun is the suffocating blackness of the most darkest of nights. Night Watchmen, those hired to protect and oversee the goods and properties of their employer. These particular watchmen actually being the biblical laborers hired in at that vital eleventh hour, because as dusk starts closing in, that harvest must not only be gathered, it must also be protected from the beasts of the field that attack to destroy it, even while the laborers work exhaustively to gather it. As it is the eleventh hour, this work must be done in complete unity, all while following one light that will light their way through the rows, showing both the ready crops and revealing the awaiting dangers. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105 These are the night watchmen of the Lord, they stand in the night hours when destruction and mischief are most common, and sin tries to take cover under the darkness of night. While the rest of the world “sleeps”, these are they who will keep vigil, pray down strong holds, plead the blood of the Lamb over ones they have never even known and through intercessory prayer they will make a difference between life and death. They will through that prayer under the unified anointing of God will stand in the gap and make up the hedge around those who are unable to do it for themselves. Their petitions before the throne of grace will break chains of abuse and addictions and the anointing of God will break the chains of abuse and addictions. “BEHOLD, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord.” Psalm 134:1 Watchmen know who they are, and Night watchmen even more so.
Be vigilant, do not get discouraged and know that the power of the anointing of the secret prayers you pray alone are known of God, “who sees in secret, and will reward you openly”.
Ask that your prayers be accepted in agreement of unity with all those who are called as you are. Know this also that as this is the last Psalm in the “Songs of Degrees” (steps, stairs) and just as being “compassed about with songs in the night”, this is going somewhere, it is blessed and it is beginning of the “prayers of the saints.” Φλογίζω/ Original Post:01/01/2015. All rights reserved. Rev. Nina Brown Johnson
**REVISITED 03/05/2021** REVISTED again 08/17/2021 because now more than ever we need to
stand in prayer for those who are suffering persecution.
Please consider reading the remainder in this series, the links are below.
Thanks for reading Φλογιζω! For posts dealing with a multitude of subjects please check out the side menu on desktop or on a mobile device, please click any post title and once it opens scroll to bottom of screen for links to other options. If you have been encouraged please considering sharing post via any option below. God Bless you! Rev. Nina Brown Johnson
“Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?
I raised thee up(awakened) under the apple tree:…” Song of Solomon 7:5
The wilderness the daughters of God have been very acquainted with since the dawn of time. Since the fall of man, the enemy has ensured that we would be considered no more than property and every day countless of us are raped, abused, forced into prostitution and in many countries we are still property at the complete mercy of often unmerciful husbands.
While in other corners of the world, unable to carry lineage names daughters are aborted and others sold into slavery. Christianity of old.
Tainted by MEN also seemed to teach that women are inferior but the truth is far from that. My biggest struggle in coming to Christ was this very topic, I was like, Why are women always the bad ones? Misguided teaching of confused or intentionally biased doctrine has kept many away and who could blame them? Many modern women who have been left to support their children completely alone, who have struggled to pay their bills, put food on their tables, educate themselves and their children, just barely surviving through the world.
And if they happen into the wrong church they will hear that they are of a lesser value to God than their male counterparts. To “fit in” they will need to change everything about themselves and sit down and above all shut up. Even after God had enlightened me to the truth and helped me understand his word, I still had trouble wrapping my head around a few things. I did most of intense studying before my child was school aged, after everyone was asleep and my house cleaned, I would stay up and read until I could not function any longer.
One night I happened upon Judges 19 which in my opinion contains the most disturbing and gruesome story in the entire Bible. It mirrors the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, ironically found in Genesis 19, when Lot had offered his virgin daughters to the deviant, demon possessed pagans, who were demanding he turn over his male visitors to them, “that they may know them” translated, so they could gang rape them.
The Bible clear to point out that Lot offered these girls with a “do whatever you want to them” agreement to try to get them to take them instead of the male visitors.
To break Judges 19 down, a Levite had a concubine, it says she “played the harlot”. I’m not sure how that worked since she was “kept” for that purpose, double standards of the day, which still equate in our culture as the difference between a guy being a “player” and a woman being a “slut”.
Another problem Jesus addressed when he came to earth, he wants two people married, period. Enlightening them to their double standards when they wanted judgment against the adulterous woman, of course it takes two, but they seemed to have forgotten to bring her partner in this sin before the Lord, His answer to them translating to this, if they themselves had no sin, go ahead hit her.
Standing in front of a Holy God they couldn’t do it.
But at the time of Judges, men could have as many women as they wanted but it was never God’s plan. To get on with the story, she went back to her father’s house, so he comes after her to talk her into coming back, finally she agreed, and after being detained several days they went on their way.
He refused to stay anywhere other than lands belonging to the tribes of Israel and insisted on traveling to a city of the tribe of Benjamin, they had nowhere to stay, so an old man invited them to stay with him, pleading that they not stay outside, soon just as with Sodom, there were men at his door demanding he turn over this man to them that they “may know him”.
Picture perfect to Sodom, only lacking the presence of the angels that saved Lot’s daughters. So the old guy offers his daughter and the concubine, again with the agreement to whatever they wanted to them, just do not touch the man.
They refused, they still wanted the man, so the guy just takes the concubine and throws her out to them and they repeatedly gang rape her until the morning and then they let her go.
She makes it to the door of the house where she collapses, she just lies there helplessly until he gets up, opens the door and finds her and he actually tells her quite simply, to get up they have to get going, needless to say she is dead. He dismembers her body into twelve parts and sends a part to each of the tribes and war is waged. It wasn’t that they raped her or that she was dead that bothered him, it was because they destroyed his property.
I read this and I was alone with my shock and absolute horror and knowing the Lord, I just asked “Why, Why are we of so little value?” These “men” would not even try to fend off these monsters, not even try to muster up an ounce of anything remotely resembling courage to fight for themselves.
Forget chivalry, or protection, an ounce of some sort of compassion, but to just offer these women as less than nothing and to do it to save themselves. I just could not understand it.
I do understand that at the time the thought of this being done to men was so unthinkable that they were desperate to prevent it. But they could have tried to prevent it for happening to any of them.
The God I know would never sanction this stuff or ever condone it and I was in tears, and it just hit me to keep reading, the bottom line is this, at the very end of Judges, “In those days there was no king in Israel: Every man did what was right in his own eyes.”
This was never God!
He never put these things in men’s hearts and for years it was falsely taught and still is in many places.
Men still do what is right in their own eyes and only God can make them see the truth. But it is time for the awakening of his daughters.
No matter what false beliefs that women have been brainwashed by, we have to let them know that this is not what Jesus is about. He does not hate women and did not create us to be objects of amusement to fulfill the twisted lusts of men nor to be their gender indentured servants.
If we are ever to see those that are oppressed be saved and free, they have to know the truth about him and who he is and most of all who they are in him.
A forgotten child, much like David, when no one would even waste their time to call him to be presented before Samuel the Prophet, because in their eyes why would a prophet possibly want to speak with someone so unimportant and simple?
A forgotten child from the greatest of tribes, who just happened to be a woman, a sister to the twelve tribes of Israel, a forgotten child that no one bothers to mention because she was not as important as her brothers, or so they thought.
Dinah, the seventh child Leah bore to Jacob, a woman who also a thing or two about pain and substandard treatment, who had been raped and used as a bargaining chip which led to a mass slaughter.
Her bloodline STILL offering an inheritance. because she was one of the tribe.
The most prophetic beauty with Dinah is the meaning of her name, “JUDGEMENT.”
It is awakening time for the sisters, the beautiful, forgotten army who have a straight shot to the heart of the Father.
You are so strong, so powerful, and yet, you do not even know WHO YOU ARE in HIM, and so unaware of your predestined place in this end time end game.
You are the spiritual virgins and maidens forever following to proclaim the majesty, beauty, and holiness of the Kings of Kings.
It is the love and proclamations that Hannah, and Mary, and never forget Mary Magdalene, He came to her first because she needed him the most.
Take your place in the kingdom, it is not going to be accomplished with half an army. The adoration and praises from hearts that have known sorrows and pain that men can never begin to understand.
A relationship to God who will bring justice for others on behalf of the cries of the souls of his daughters. Unlike the time of Judges, unlike the women who are your sisters the world over, who are oppressed and in bondage.
You have access to a King, the King, and The King over heaven, and earth, and the entire universe, He will plead their cause if you bring them before his throne in that secret prayer closet. He will bring justice for those your tears flood the altar for, when you allow your soul to be awakened under that tree, awakened by a love so strong, so powerful, so consuming that you wear that love as a covering for the whole world to see.
“I AM the rose of Sharon and the lily of the valleys. As the lily among the thorns so is my love among the daughters. as the apple tree among the trees of wood so it my beloved among the sons.
I sat down under his shadow with great delight his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me into the banqueting house and his banner of me was LOVE” Song of Solomon 2:1-4
Translated: KNOW HIM for who HE IS, allow his love to bloom in you, in spite of the valleys and thorns, breathe in his sweetness and lift you up out of those ashes and hide in the secret place of the Most High, under the shadow of his wings, taste the goodness of his salvation and let him bring you into his house of feasting and the love of Jehovah Nissi is his war flag over his daughters and the love is the secret to it all.
Φλογίζω / 02/05/2015. All rights reserved. Rev. Nina BrownJohnson 2015
For later posts in the realm of all things feminine, check these out:
REVISTED:08/01/2019 I like to revisit these older posts, because sometimes we just need to be reminded of who Jesus REALLY is and who he has called us to be in him.
Thanks for reading Φλογιζω! For posts dealing with a multitude of subjects please check out the side menu on desktop or on a mobile device, please click any post title and once it opens scroll to bottom of screen for links to other options. If you have been encouraged please considering sharing post via any option below. God Bless you! Rev. Nina Brown Johnson
Mothers, we are formed in their bodies, they feed us, diaper us, love us and nurture us. They dry our tears and relieve all our fears. They chase the boogey men away. Spend sleepless nights by our bedside when we are sick.
Their love and patience pour over us as we spend hours crying through all the heartaches of puppy love and the growing pains that only a mother’s comfort can see us through. My own mother always had an awesome ability that allowed her even in the worst possible circumstance to see so beyond the crisis at hand and see a better time in the future. And I have truly been through a thing or two, including having to file for a restraining order at the ripe old age of eighteen and my mother always reassured me of several things.
#1. Things always look brighter after a good night sleep. We often worry about bad things that never actually happen.
#2. No matter how bad that day may seem, one day we really do look back and whatever it was that almost broke us will seem like a nightmare that never really even happened.
#3. An old, old one which is true and will always be true, whatever doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.
You know she was right on all counts, and she still is!
I always thought if I could even be “half the woman” that she is I would do well. She is beautiful inside and out and has such a dignity and grace about her that is almost regal and loves Jesus more than life itself.
Mothers are like beautiful jewels, they come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. Each one exquisitely crafted by the master’s hand.
Maybe your birth mother or maybe the mother God chose just for you by joining you together through adoption.
Maybe He chose your grandmother or Aunt as the defining maternal hand to guide you, love you, teach you, and above all nurture you in Him.
Nevertheless, we all know there is no one, no one like our mother.
The relationship between Mary and Jesus is such a beautiful example of this one-of-a-kind bond. We know the story, Mary the blessed virgin, to whom an angel came to proclaim that she would give birth to the Son of the Almighty God, who had in fact created her.
Without a doubt she was scared to death, how do you conceive without a mate? An answer which came when she was overshadowed by the Holy Ghost.
How do you knowingly carry the Son of God inside your body?
How do you tell your future husband and your family that this is true, and it really happened to you? How do you travel ninety miles on a donkey and give birth in a stable surrounded by his beautiful animal creations knowing this child is the one to save all of creation?
How do you accept the gifts of frankincense, gold, and myrrh brought from faraway lands by wise men on bended knee who have been led there by a star to pay honor and tribute to the King of all Kings?
How do react when the shepherds come to worship him, relaying that the message of his arrival had been proclaimed to them by the host of heaven who proceeded to sing praises to the glory of God in the Highest as heaven came down and kissed earth?
How do you give the offering of the poorest of poor when dedicating him, never, ever worrying about providing for him?
How do you hear a prophecy from one who had been promised he would not see death until he beheld the face of this promised child, when that prophecy is that “a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also”?
As this child grows and maternal instincts take over, as he is held, loved, learns to crawl, walk and says his first words, has his first bumps and bruises and one day decides to stay behind and talk with the elders rather than join the caravan his family traveled with.
How do you understand, when you ask why he did this and he asks you “Did you not know I must be about my Father’s business?”,
I will tell you how, he was her baby, even though he was divine, she knew he was God’s Son, but she was human, and she was his mother and like all of us, that was her baby and as she watched him grow, he became what he was…her son whom she loved more than life itself.
Fast forward twenty-one years after pondering what did he mean by this, as he begins his ministry and watching his miracles (she had to know he held this power because she asked him to do something for her friends at the wedding when he turned the water into wine, which was his first public display of this power) she watched as her own people hated him and threatened his life, she watched as his ministry grew.
She knew of his arrest and public torture and finally seeing him bloody, beaten beyond recognition and carrying a wooden beam to his execution, his battered body falling under the weight of it. And unable to go to him, to hold him, to touch his face, to tell him everything would be okay and this was still her baby and there was nothing in the universe she could do to stop it because it was the piercing of her soul. There would be no words to describe her sorrow.
How could her beautiful son who hung nailed to a cross, nearing death look down and want to be sure his mother would be cared for before dying, because he was her firstborn son.
John 19:25-27 “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, (John) he saith unto his mother Woman, behold thy son!
Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”
They seriously wrote the book, the ultimate story of love between a mother and child, and a wonderful example to us about the love and respect we should have for own mothers.
I hope all have a blessed Mother’s Day and if you have lost your Mother, rejoice in knowing just as Jesus and Mary we reunited and are together forever and ever, you will be also. And if you know a lady who maybe has lost her children or they are “too busy” for her, please, please consider “adopting” her for Mother’s Day.
A card, flowers or just a visit can change her world. Because loneliness is one “disease” we can cure!
Remember Jesus said if you do it for one of his little one’s (saints) you’ve done it for him! Because He is the King and these ladies are precious, precious jewels that help make up his Majestic crown! They are precious to him! Φλογίζω 2014 Revised 2019 & 2020/ May 08, 2022,
*Post Note: My beautiful mother mentioned above has since went home to be with Jesus, I was blessed beyond words to be her child.
Thanks for reading Φλογιζω! For posts dealing with a multitude of subjects please check out the side menu on desktop or on a mobile device, please click any post title and once it opens scroll to bottom of screen for links to other options. If you have been encouraged please considering sharing post via any option below. God Bless you! Rev. Nina Brown Johnson
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, and have not charity (love), I am become as a sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the GIFT of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have ALL faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity (love), I am nothing.
And though I bestow ALL my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity (love), it profiteth me NOTHING.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Love, love, sweet glorious love! We say it, we think it but just how often are we really showing it?
Think of it though He SPOKE with the heavenly languages, given through the gift of tongues, so that all could hear the word of God for themselves and though He even SPOKE the language of the heavenly host, the language of the angels, as marvelous and wonder striking as that, still without love, his voice would be nothing other than the sound of a common instrument.
Though he had the very gift of God MANIFESTED in his life, through prophecies could understand and relate even the darkest of parables, though he had faith to even pray the most insurmountable mountain down to the ground and call it dust, without love it is nothing.
And giving all he had and even his life, if it was without love, it would hold no value eternally and there would be no reward for any of those acts.
He was giving us a very valuable lesson here, we CAN be saved, we CAN be working in the kingdom, we CAN have the manifestation of the gift of the Spirit, and yet we can be so one minded, so religious, and so hard-hearted that it will not be effective and none of it will last eternally.
Doesn’t mean a person is not saved, just means they are not producing the most precious of fruit and without producing love, nothing else is going to grow.
Love IS…. “Charity (love) suffereth long, and IS kind; charity (love) envieth not; charity (love) vaunteth not itself (does not brag on itself), it not puffed up (arrogant),
Doth not behave itself unseemly (rudely), seeketh not her own (is not self-seeking), is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, endureth all things. Charity (love) NEVER fails….” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8(1)
So LOVE IS… forbearing, willing to tolerate a lot before blowing its top. LOVE IS kind, gentle, merciful, looking over things and looking through others to see the best and see the causes before passing judgment, giving of itself rather than to be given to, thinking of others before itself.
LOVE IS not boastful, or proud, it never reminds you of what all it has done for you, never thinks you owe it anything, never expects anything in return, love is never arrogant in thinking that it is number one, but always allowing the favored position to other, love gives a hand up not a knock down.
LOVE IS never rude, cocky, or bossy, or better than anyone or anything, never self-seeking and self-fulfilling, never self-willed.
LOVE IS not easily angered, chooses to see the good, even when it is aware of the bad.
LOVE IS never pleased with lies, and hypocrisy but is overjoyed with the truth.
Love walks along the paths of this life with us, walks through all the sorrow, all the sadness, and all the grief with us, and when we become to weary to walk, love will carry us to the end of that journey.
Love holds on, ever clinging to the side of a mountain as everything around it starts to quake and tumble down, never giving up and never letting go. Love never fades, never dies, never gives itself credit, it always protects, always perseveres and NEVER, EVER FAILS.
We gotta put this baby in reverse, to fully understand just why we need to know what love really is: 1 John 4:19: “ We love him because HE FIRST LOVED US.”
We are not even capable of love in our own selves, we only love at all because HE LOVED US FIRST, and even then we are still not capable of the level of love that He has.
“Beloved, let us love another: for LOVE IS of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth NOT knoweth NOT God; for GOD IS LOVE.
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be propitiation for our sins. Beloved, IF GOD SO LOVED US WE OUGHT ALSO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.” 1 John 4:7-11
So is it love? Is it real, real love? Titus 3:1-4 “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers (authority), to obey magistrates (obey laws of the land) to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers (not contentious) but gentle, shewing meekness unto all men.
For WE OURSELVES WERE ALSO SOMETIMES foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures (running wild doing whatever they pleased), living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. BUT AFTER THAT THE KINDNESS AND LOVE OF GOD OUR SAVIOUR TOWARD MAN APPEARED.”
There you have it, Paul stating what we all have been but AFTER all that the love and kindness of Jesus showed us all EXACTLY what LOVE IS!
Φλογίζω Σαλπιζω NBJ 2016 ****01/14/2022 REVISITED*** Rev. Nina Brown Johnson 2022
Thanks for reading Φλογιζω! For posts dealing with a multitude of subjects please check out the side menu on desktop or on a mobile device, please click any post title and once it opens scroll to bottom of screen for links to other options. If you have been encouraged please considering sharing post via any option below. God Bless you! Rev. Nina Brown Johnson
I am really seriously trying to avoid the news, all news. World news, internet news, people relying the news I missed to me, because after the stories that are being reported everyday, it is truly hard for, I believe ANYONE not to become a wee bit disturbed by all of it. It started off with a page feed on my Facebook about a beast who had been sentenced to fifty-five years in prison and a twelve million dollar fine for his crime. I can’t even bring myself to get into the details of his reign of absolute horror.
It seriously made me rethink my anti-death penalty stance. I have never understood how we can be against abortion and yet justify the killing of someone else, but, then again I seriously do not believe the person is human. He is demon possessed, which led me to the question about the demons begging Jesus not to send them to the abyss, to send them into the swine, then the pigs ran into a river and drown. So either way, it ended that story.
But I know that God holds ALL justice and couldn’t help but notice in the case of Ariel Castro and a few others how fast that justice comes. My soul screams justice and deliverance for the oppressed, wounded, and hurt and yet if that is not carefully tempered with the word of God, the need for seeing that justice come to pass can quite easily turn into a bad case of running a marathon with scissors and that will help no one.
So with a weeks worth of murder, mayhem, and just sick twisted cruelty which also included a story of a Tennessee man who was the caregiver of his seventy-nine year old cancer stricken mother, decided for some reason that it would be a great idea to beat her to death, a four-month old baby dying after being given Benadryl at daycare, a man arrested for “disciplining” his children with a stun gun, more police dead, a beautiful dog who appeared on someones porch that had his teeth filed down and his tongue cut out, evidently used a dog fighting bait dog ( YES, the end time reign of plagues and judgment on these monsters is starting to sound right on cue, once upon a time I could not understand why the Lord would send such terror, oh believe me, I now understand clearly) more senseless attacks, including one at a club hosting a teen party, ending a twelve-year-old life and I know heaven itself is weeping at the sight of all these things.
Those subjects I can not touch because what am I going to say, that will even be hopeful or thought-provoking?
It all ends with the scripture in which God tells us that those who show mercy will be shown mercy and those who have shown no mercy will be given judgement without mercy, so the full force of an angry, Holy God pouring out on peoples heads needs no human intervention or explanation.
The story I did choose to go with, that we can all pray about and think about is this one. Most have seen it or heard about it, my husband enlightened me to it while reading his CNN news feed.
A mother (?) decided to embarrass, beat, terrorize, and humiliate her sixteen year old daughter live on Facebook. Here is this woman in a cami top and tight pink shorts up to her butt, slapping and verbally bashing her daughter for what she had posted online, while having someone else film her beating this child.
Like, Hello? What are you wearing yourself there? Queen Mother?
This poor child is trying to cover her face from the hits and this goes on for five minutes and then this person (and I use that term very loosely) takes the camera, FIXES HER HAIR, and tells everyone to send it viral.
Pretty obvious to know what that was all about, get some attention by beating her kid and acting like she is so bad.
Love to see her live feed taking on someone who hits back! This girl was left in the corner whimpering as her mother(?) proudly proclaims that there would be more posts to come.
My heart broke for this girl and my heart breaks for the sadness of just how many are treated like this by those who are supposed to encourage them and protect them and help them deal in the right way with the changes in their lives and all the peer pressure they endure.
What really kills me is the mindless idiots that are complimenting her and saying god bless her, I did not capitalize that because GOD WOULD NEVER,EVER BLESS THAT!
They like to try to change Him and His thoughts to fit in with their own sick behaviour, as a justification attempt.
Jesus whom allowed himself to be humiliated, stripped, and ridiculed SO WE WOULD NOT BE.
Jesus who taught us to turn the other cheek, not to attack a grown up who attacks us first.
Jesus who said that it would be better to have a millstone hung around your neck and drowned AS TO HURT ONE OF HIS LITTLE ONES.
Jesus who lined all the naysayers out when Mary cried at His feet and when the woman accused of adultery was brought to Him.
And now they want to insist that He is okay with slapping around on your kid or anyone else or even animals for that matter.
They DO NOT KNOW HIM nor do they know anything about Him.
But they will soon discover His thoughts on the subject for themselves and in the meantime they will reap what they have sown and be judged by their own judgment so maybe someone can live feed us them being beaten and talked to like trash.
Well, I am obviously getting dangerously close to running with those scissors on this but these people really bring out something unpleasant in many of us and I know I am not the only one that is enraged by it.
I know that as the scripture states when someone is saved and comes back into the household of God, that the ANGELS IN HEAVEN REJOICE, they are so happy that they REJOICE at our salvation. I know the tears that they surely cry as they watch the senseless cruelty on earth.
They cry as humans and animals and all the living are being hurt and wounded. And I also know this is the reason for the thirty minutes of silence which will happen in heaven as the Lord prepares His judgment and return upon earth.
They are praying and weeping for US, they are weeping for the hurt, and oppressed. They are praying for those who have been stubborn, prideful, and self-willed to admit that they need a Saviour. They are praying about the blood of the innocent that covers the earth and the price that blood will cause the wicked to pay.
But to deal with it as humans, while on this earth requires understanding and faith in God.
The beating is really the lesser of the damage done here, the shame, the humiliation that was caused and the painful memories that will last that child a lifetime and without divine intervention the pain trying to deal with that damage will cost her.
Shame, even the word is unpleasant, we have all felt shame, that feeling that starts in your stomach and somehow covers your face as if to show the world that you are lesser than they. That you have messed up and now you are fit to be placed in the village stocks for the villagers to gaze upon and throw things at.
It is MORE than any emotion, it is a snare that Satan uses to cover his victims, think about the term often used “shame ON you”.
Shame is worn and once the initial episode of that shame has been forgotten by those that “put it on you” that shame IS STILL THERE, it is in your mind and affects everything you do.
Because our first instinct is try get it off of us. To hide it, so no one will see “it” that we can function and be accepted while deep down inside, we are still covered in humiliation and hurt, which can also turn to some serious rage. If you doubt that, think about stories of bullied teens and abused children who have finally took all that they can take and become violent.
And as much as I hate to quote anything from the world, it can best be summed up with some lyrics from an old rock song, “till you end up like a dog that has been beat too much, and spend half your life just trying to cover it up”. That is what shame does and it DOES NOT belong to us.
It is a snare like all the other traps that try to convince you that you can never “belong” to the kingdom of God, when actually you DO belong.
That is why all these things have been set against you, to try to prevent you from knowing your identity in Christ.
When I started feeling prompted in my writing ministry to share certain things about my own pain, it was hard, because none of us want to feel like people will run from us or that we are “damaged”.
The the biggest lie told to us by the enemy or our human “enemies”, (the ones who intentionally make us feel embarrassed and ashamed) is that because we have been mistreated that somehow it is our fault, that we caused it.
The truth is evil ALWAYS calls itself good and it always pretends to be right and that is why these particular things damage our spirit and only God can remove it.
But once God gave me reassurance that even if it helped one person overcome and to know it is really, really okay that He has seen it all anyway and that He is never going to look us with the contempt we may have been subjected to, but He looks us with mercy and love and ONLY HE can take away the reproach of shame.
There is nothing, nothing we can do, no drugs, no drinking, and there is not enough therapy in the world to take off what can only removed on spiritual level.
I have painfully learned that being saved was only my beginning, I spent almost thirty years trying to forget and just live with a broken soul, and discovered that once I allowed Jesus to take care of that, when I allowed Him to “look” at all that was broken, smashed, and chained up in shame that it would be the beginning of a process of healing, dealing with all those unpleasant emotions that still, made me who I am, exactly who He knew I would be.
Not always good, but still, me.
We are over-comers by our testimony and the hardest for me to ever overcome, which He had to divinely get me through was having been held over a fire with the threat of being burned alive, I tell you when you’re a little kid, there is nothing that will define your self-worth quite like that.
I am sure that once knowing that, many found my fire symbol very disturbing, believe me I asked myself that question, but you know what? For me, the fire is VICTORY. The whole deal with that was this, I was specifically told that “the devil comes and takes “bad” people to hell” and you are threw in a fire, so I spent most of my life really, really believing that the devil CONTROLS who goes to hell and that I was pretty much all ready done for.
So imagine when I received the baptism of fire and learned through scripture that “GOD IS a consuming fire”.
Satan NEVER controlled hell or fire, he is cold as ice and WILL BE IN HELL, Hell is RESERVED FOR HIM AND HIS ANGELS!
After serving Christ many years and receiving my calling I couldn’t help but notice something, if the enemy made certain that I would be terrified of it and believe that he controlled it, than obviously there was a reason he wanted to make sure I would never, ever go near it.
Once I realized that, I KNEW the fire is to be embraced, not earthly fire, but the fire of God because I know, I know who really controls it and I know WHO pulled me out of it and WHOSE arms held me and let my soul know without a doubt that I never had to be afraid of that awful place again.
This is good to remember when you deal with what has been set a stumbling block in your path, there is a definite reason he chooses what he chooses to attempt to destroy you and usually you will find it is tied into the calling that GOD PLACED ON YOUR LIFE BEFORE YOU WERE EVEN BORN.
Read that for yourself in Romans 8:29,30, you will see things in a different light.
Shame comes “on us” in many forms, words and actions of others, being mocked and laughed at because of our looks or clothes,or our speech, it can come many ways but it comes and it is the most dangerous snare of them all.
So whatever you may have been hurt by, shamed with, and are still trying to overcome I want to encourage you.
Jesus CAN take it completely away, the memory may hurt but that feeling, the shame WILL be completely erased from your mind, your soul, and your life. I believe that if I could show you just a little of my “shame” you can surely show yours to Jesus.
You NEVER have to tell a human anything but you can share your most painful wound with Him and I promise, once you do, He will heal you and remove those heavy chains from your soul.
He does NOT laugh at you, your pain or your humiliations. Actually this is what the word says about Him.
ISAIAH: 50:6 ” I GAVE my back to the smitters (those who struck), and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair:
I HID NOT MY FACE FROM SHAME AND SPITTING.” He suffered THIS to remove it from us! Trust Him, let Him take it away.
PSALM 25:2,3: “O my God, I TRUST IN THEE: LET ME NOT BE ASHAMED: let not mines enemies triumph over me. Yea, let none that wait upon thee be ashamed: let them that be ashamed which transgress (deal treacherously) without cause.”
PHILIPPIANS 1:20: ” According to my earnest expectations and MY HOPE, that IN NOTHING I SHALL BE ASHAMED…”
1 PETER 4:16: ” But if any man suffer as a Christian, let him NOT BE ASHAMED; but let him glorify God on this behalf.”
JOEL 2:26,27: “And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: AND MY PEOPLE SHALL NEVER BE ASHAMED.
and ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND NONE ELSE: AND MY PEOPLE SHALL NEVER BE ASHAMED.”
ISAIAH 25:8: “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God WILL WIPE AWAY TEARS FROM OFF ALL FACES; AND THE REBUKE (embarrassment and shame) OF HIS PEOPLE SHALL HE TAKE AWAY FROM OFF ALL THE EARTH: FOR THE LORD HATH SPOKEN IT.”
So many other wonderful scriptures of God’s love and mercy, and His cleansing power that truly washes it all away.
So today if you are struggling with these issues, turn to Him, REMEMBER the scripture said he did not hide His face from it and you have His promise that He will never embarrass or hurt you.
Please pray that eyes will be opened, that people will realize this is NOT the way to prove anything.
Pray that those who are mortified with shame, which literally means unable to move, crippled by that shame will be touched of the Lord to leap as never before and pray that the ears who are only hearing harsh, damning words will hear the soft whisper so much greater that they ARE loved, they are accepted and that they are NEVER ever to be ashamed.
Φλογιζω Σαλπιζω NBJ 2016
I chose this song because of the testimony of the lead singer. so powerful and so free.
Thanks for reading Φλογιζω! For posts dealing with a multitude of subjects please check out the side menu on desktop or on a mobile device, please click any post title and once it opens scroll to bottom of screen for links to other options. If you have been encouraged please considering sharing post via any option below. God Bless you! Rev. Nina Brown Johnson
I spend an unnatural amount of time in the parking lot of a local store. That sounds like some kind of bizarre plea for help doesn’t it? “Hi, I’m Nina and I like to spend my free time in this parking lot”! Wouldn’t make me too many new friends but I have a really good reason for being outside rather than inside, and since we all have issues, this is one of mine, I could easily play the part of the lady in the commercial, you know the one where she is bowling and this cute little pink thing with big blue eyes keeps trying to drag her off to the restroom, finally she angrily declares “No! I am seeing my doctor!”. Well, me and my bladder just hang out rather than suffer the nuisance and annoyance of having to find a restroom every three hundred feet. That is my personal secret revealed for the day. Disturbing? Probably! Too much information? Surely! Needed to be divulged in order to write this post? Most definitely! I had to tell you that so that you wouldn’t think I am just all kinds of weird (those who know me are now falling over laughing hysterically thinking BUT YOU ARE WEIRD!) That point aside. I have learned a lot sitting there and watching shoppers and I always think about them and what their life is like and if they look weary, tired, or hurting, I always say a little prayer for them. I watch people interact with their kids and I watch the elderly go in and I wonder do they have enough food money. And amazingly enough the majority of my posts have been birthed there, most of my series titles and scriptures have been jotted down while sitting in that parking lot and the death of “Eagle” hit me there and I sat and cried scribbling it all down as my family returned to try to understand why on earth I was crying. So I think I have a special kind relationship with that place and the most astounding thought that I have taken from it is this, WE AS HUMANS, AS A MAJORITY SUFFER FROM THE TOTAL LACK OF PERCEPTION! My view varies based on parking, and across the street in one direction is what was once upon a more prosperous time THE motel of the town, it has since became not quite so much so. I think it is mainly rented out as housing and often I watch those that live there come and go from the grocery store. One evening a couple had just came out and were trying to cross the road they were dressed very modestly and NO ONE would stop to offer them to cross the road and the more I watched, I could only think that maybe if they were dressed to the nines or in fine clothing, or were well-known people, like I don’t know a mayor, or doctor or someone of the sort, people would be glad to let them cross, but no, drivers felt it not worth their time to show kindness to this couple. The other side facing the store, right in front of it, I have had the grandest of all pondering. There is a local man,seen by many, but I am sure known by few if any. He is for the most part mute, he is so sweet and the kindness oozes out of him, he is an older man and lives in an assisted living home just a tad to the side of the grocery, and he can communicate IF you are willing to listen with your HEART and not depend so much on ears. So Me and Pinky, (the cartoon bladder) are once again sitting there ( because I had determined I AM NOT going to the bathroom AGAIN ) and the sweet man is out there and we wave at each other and he flashes me that sweet smile and there are several shopping carts haphazardly left here and there on the walk, so he gets them one by one and takes them back in the store and puts them in their place, he comes back and picks up some loose trash and throws it away, he then steps just inside the store to a little rack where I am so sure are the “Thrifty Nickel” or something to that effect, it is little papers that people run ads for anything imaginable to sale, I think they are actually free BUT if not some witty, knowledgeable store employee SHOULD KNOW THE PRICE ( but I guess that depends on who is trying to ask! ) He holds it up and shows it to a bag boy, who just looks zombified at the paper, as if it is a mysterious sphere floating down before him and shrugs and walks off, then the man turns to a cashier, who is obviously also brain-dead to the universal code language ( HELLO if you are holding it up, you want to know the price) and she brushes him off also, and he just puts it down, that beautiful smile has now faded and he walks silently away to the place he calls home. So between pinky pulling my arm and these two geniuses I am growing a wee angry. Curlylocks is still outside after having ran away to avoid the man’s unspoken question,( never bothering to notice that the carts had been taken care of for HIM ) so I call him to my window and as gently and clearly as possible I said “He is asking you how much that paper is.” Curlylocks looks at me, by this point I have come to believe the dude may not really be a bag boy but is actually zombie doing a rather bad impersonation of a bag boy, he just says”Umm, I don’t know” and I just say “Okay” . By this point, I really kinda wanted to slap him upside his head and say “You know Sonny, you ain’t through living and one day that might just be you!” Then I wanted to slap my own self! Why did I not just drag pinky out of the vehicle, tell the sweet man to hold on one minute, go buy the paper, give to him! I COULD HAVE DONE THAT!!!! So now we have three geniuses! What is wrong with us as a society? Why can we not hear what others are saying, even if they have no words? Why do we hold to the old cop-out that if they needed anything THEY would ask, if they had a problem they would tell someone. Why do we not listen with our hearts and be led by the spirit? When we look someone in the eye and that little tug inside of us tells us they have a need, why do we not ask? Why do we not care? Why will not go even an inch outside our zone to help another person? How many chances have been missed to impact a life other than our own? This did not happen in a parking lot but I have pondered it more than once, because it leaps to mind when I think of these things, so it belongs here. My family has a friend that grew up with my parents, she is a wonderful woman and has dedicated her life to two people, Jesus, and raising her little grand-daughter, she is in her seventies and she called one evening and needed help, her back was hurting really badly and thought it was caused by her stomach, so me and my Dad took her to the ER, she was left for hours in a freezing cold room, when we did go back to see her, she said she was freezing so I asked for a blanket for her (which should have been offered ) and she told us that she had a broken back. She had been doing yard work that week and had somehow slipped or something and didn’t think much of it but had actually broken her back. She told me she needed to go the restroom and had mentioned that the nurses had been really rude to her, so I told her I’d go get someone. Now this is around five in the morning, we had been there all night, ( They are in process of transferring her to another hospital better equipped for her injury) so I go to the desk, there’s the doctor and three of four nurses sitting around and I ask could someone please come help her to the bathroom, This young nurse just looks at me and says “Well, I’ve took her several times” (Yeah, there is obviously a limit on times one may need to go) I said “Well, she needs to go” she just looks at the doctor and rolls her eyes and he said “Take her” she gets up, her nasty little attitude plain to see and I said “You do know that HER BACK IS BROKEN don’t you?” She just looks at me and like nothing and almost smugly says “Yeah, I know” and it took everything in me not to say “Well, here’s the deal, one day this is going to come back and bite you so hard in your prissy little butt, one day you will be in her shoes.” But as a child of the Lord’s, I held my peace but it was hard, she was so smug, so smirky, so absolutely uncaring and cold that I truly would not want to be in her shoes, if that is how she chooses to treat wounded people she should have never became a nurse, she should not be allowed to care for a rock. But it does beg the question, what happened to us? When did we grow so insensitive, so lacking as a society? Well, I am sure it happened as we fell as a nation from the grace of God and without his presence and guidance THAT IS what happens to society and it is the biblical fulfillment of what is to become of people. “Without natural affection”, lacking any common decency or courtesy, much less compassion toward our fellow human. BUT more so as Christians we ARE to be the LIGHT in the darkness. WE are to shine into this world and be different and to do that and to not fall victim to the infectious lack of caring and love growing cold, we must be aware of what is inside of us. Jesus IS the master of perception! And of course HE IS WHO HE IS but as his children WE CAN PRAY for HIS PERCEPTION to be awake and alive in us. People really didn’t have to tell him much,when he walked this earth he was so in tune to people he took it straight to the heart, he didn’t make them pour out their secrets, or wait till they begged for help, he addressed the problem and assured help was on the spot. More often the people who need help the most are the ones who are LEAST likely to ask. NO ONE WANTS TO FEEL EMBARRASSED and shame has NO PLACE but satan sends it and if you are lead of God to help in a charitable way, keep it secret! AS much as you possibly can, again because NO ONE wants to feel embarrassed and calling attention to their plight and what you did to help will only embarrass them and make them feel worse than they would have if you had left them alone. “Take heed that ye do not your alms (charitable deeds) before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee as thee hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men, Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.” Matthew 6:1,2 So we never want to come off that way! Here’s what we want: “But when thou doest thine alms, LET NOT THY LEFT HAND KNOW WHAT THY RIGHT HAND DOETH: that thine alms MAY BE IN SECRET: and THE FATHER SEETH IN SECRET HIMSELF SHALL REWARD THEE OPENLY” Matthew 6:3,4 “Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank (credit) have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if you do good to them which do good to you, what thank (credit) have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, TO RECEIVE AS MUCH AGAIN. Luke 6:30-34 “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also IS merciful.” “GIVE, and it SHALL BE GIVEN UNTO YOU; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give unto your bosom. FOR WITH THE SAME MEASURE THAT YE METE (use) withal it will be measured BACK UNTO YOU again.” Luke 6:36,38 So lets all do better, let’s make eye contact, pray for that perception and TAKE CHANCES and ASK when we feel someone has a need and remember this isn’t always about money, it can be many things, even just someone who will listen for a moment and a little help getting something off a store shelf. And if they say “No, Thanks” what have you lost???? You have offered and God is still very pleased with that! But let’s please not continue to look through people as if they aren’t even there and never, ever over them, like what happened with the sweet man, when his disability was such a burden to others that they would not even TRY to understand him, and someone other than you and me sees it.
He sees it all, so let’s make sure what he sees is us being the best we can be. Φλογιζω/ All rights reserved/ NBJ 2015
Thanks for reading Φλογιζω! For posts dealing with a multitude of subjects please check out the side menu on desktop or on a mobile device, please click any post title and once it opens scroll to bottom of screen for links to other options. If you have been encouraged please considering sharing post via any option below. God Bless you! Rev. Nina Brown Johnson
Cute term, can be kinda offensive, but I promise I will prove why in the case we all should want to be “wannabes”!
The Church of Philadelphia, Revelation 3:7-13 is one of a kind. This church an universal symbol of love ,mercy,compassion, I believe is the one composed of all nations, all kindred, all tongues. So what do they have?
Love as in “A new commandment I give unto you. That ye love one another as I have loved you, ye also love one another.“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one for another” John 13:34&35,
Proverbs10:12 “Hatred stirreth up strife: but love covereth all sins.” Love “Beareth all things, beleiveth all things, hopes all things ,endureth all things” 1 Corinthians13:7
How about mercy?
“For he shall have judgment without mercy, that shewed no mercy: and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” James2:13
“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy” Matthew 5:7.
Compassion? Galatians6:1&2 “BRETHREN, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
All the things He is to us, His mercy that is renewed every morning, his banner of love over us serving notice on the Hell that we are his and his unfailing compassion that understands all we go through and cries with us. All that he is and all he wants us to be, not judge, jury and executioner, It is not his will that any shall perish.
Seven times we are told “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” Now “listen” closely….
“And to the angel (messenger) of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith HE THAT IS HOLY, HE THAT IS TRUE, HE THAT HATH THE KEY OF DAVID, HE THAT OPENETH, AND NO MAN SHUTTETH; AND SHUTTETH, AND NO MAN OPENETH;
I KNOW THY WORKS: BEHOLD I HAVE SET BEFORE THEE AN OPEN DOOR, AND NO MAN CAN SHUT IT FOR THOU HAST A LITTLE STRENGHT, AND HAST KEPT MY WORD, AND HAST KEPT MY NAME.
BECAUSE THOU HAST KEPT THE WORD OF MY PATIENCE (command to persevere)IALSO WILL KEEP THE FROM THE HOUR OF TEMPATION (trial)WHICH SHALL COME UPON ALL THE WORLD TO TRY (test) THEM THAT DWELL UPON EARTH” Revelation 3:7,8,10
My personal favorite,
Isaiah26:20&21 “Come, My people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: Hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.” With promises like that we all should wanna be in this blessed number!
Nina BrownJohnson / εν Φλογιζω FOWC/ 02/11/2014
Thanks for reading Φλογιζω! For posts dealing with a multitude of subjects please check out the side menu on desktop or on a mobile device, please click any post title and once it opens scroll to bottom of screen for links to other options. If you have been encouraged please considering sharing post via any option below. God Bless you! Rev. Nina Brown Johnson
Cute term, can be kinda offensive, but I promise I will prove why in the case we all should want to be “wannabes”!
The Church of Philadelphia, Revelation 3:7-13 is one of a kind. This church an universal symbol of love ,mercy,compassion, I believe is the one composed of all nations, all kindred, all tongues. So what do they have?
Love as in “A new commandment I give unto you. That ye love one another as I have loved you, ye also love one another.“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one for another” John 13:34&35,
Proverbs10:12 “Hatred stirreth up strife: but love covereth all sins.” Love “Beareth all things, beleiveth all things, hopes all things ,endureth all things” 1 Corinthians13:7
How about mercy?
“For he shall have judgment without mercy, that shewed no mercy: and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” James2:13
“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy” Matthew 5:7.
Compassion? Galatians6:1&2 “BRETHREN, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
All the things He is to us, His mercy that is renewed every morning, his banner of love over us serving notice on the Hell that we are his and his unfailing compassion that understands all we go through and cries with us. All that he is and all he wants us to be, not judge, jury and executioner, It is not his will that any shall perish.
Seven times we are told “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” Now “listen” closely….
“And to the angel (messenger) of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith HE THAT IS HOLY, HE THAT IS TRUE, HE THAT HATH THE KEY OF DAVID, HE THAT OPENETH, AND NO MAN SHUTTETH; AND SHUTTETH, AND NO MAN OPENETH;
I KNOW THY WORKS: BEHOLD I HAVE SET BEFORE THEE AN OPEN DOOR, AND NO MAN CAN SHUT IT FOR THOU HAST A LITTLE STRENGHT, AND HAST KEPT MY WORD, AND HAST KEPT MY NAME.
BECAUSE THOU HAST KEPT THE WORD OF MY PATIENCE (command to persevere)IALSO WILL KEEP THE FROM THE HOUR OF TEMPATION (trial)WHICH SHALL COME UPON ALL THE WORLD TO TRY (test) THEM THAT DWELL UPON EARTH” Revelation 3:7,8,10
My personal favorite,
Isaiah26:20&21 “Come, My people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: Hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.” With promises like that we all should wanna be in this blessed number!
Nina BrownJohnson / εν Φλογιζω FOWC/ 02/11/2014
Thanks for reading Φλογιζω! For posts dealing with a multitude of subjects please check out the side menu on desktop or on a mobile device, please click any post title and once it opens scroll to bottom of screen for links to other options. If you have been encouraged please considering sharing post via any option below. God Bless you! Rev. Nina Brown Johnson
“Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?
I raised thee up(awakened) under the apple tree:…” Song of Solomon 7:5
The wilderness the daughters of God have been very acquainted with since the dawn of time. Since the fall of man, the enemy has ensured that we would be considered no more than property and every day countless of us are raped, abused, forced into prostitution and in many countries we are still property at the complete mercy of often unmerciful husbands.
While in other corners of the world, unable to carry lineage names daughters are aborted and others sold into slavery. Christianity of old. Tainted by MEN also seemed to teach that women are inferior but the truth is far from that. My biggest struggle in coming to Christ was this very topic, I was like, Why are women always the bad ones? Misguided teaching of confused or intentionally biased doctrine has kept many away and who could blame them? Many modern women who have been left to support their children completely alone, who have struggled to pay their bills, put food on their tables, educate themselves and their children ,just barely surviving through the world.
And if they happen into the wrong church they will hear that they are of a lesser value to God than their male counterparts. To “fit in” they will need to change everything about themselves and sit down and above all shut up. Even after God had enlightened me to the truth and helped me understand his word, I still had trouble wrapping my head around a few things. I did most of intense studying before my child was school aged, after everyone was asleep and my house cleaned, I would stay up and read until I could not function any longer.
One night I happened upon Judges 19 which in my opinion contains the most disturbing and gruesome story in the entire Bible. It mirrors the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, ironically found in Genesis 19, when Lot had offered his virgin daughters to the deviant, demon possessed pagans, who were demanding he turn over his male visitors to them, “that they may know them” translated, so they could gang rape them.
The Bible clear to point out that Lot offered these girls with a “do whatever you want to them” agreement to try to get them to take them instead of the male visitors.
To break Judges 19 down, a Levite had a concubine, it says she “played the harlot”. I’m not sure how that worked since she was “kept” for that purpose, double standards of the day, which still equate in our culture as the difference between a guy being a “player” and a woman being a “slut”.
Another problem Jesus addressed when he came to earth, he wants two people married, period. Enlightening them to their double standards when they wanted judgment against the adulterous woman, of course it takes two, but they seemed to have forgotten to bring her partner in this sin before the Lord, His answer to them translating to this, if they themselves had no sin, go ahead hit her.
Standing in front of a Holy God they couldn’t do it.
But at the time of Judges, men could have as many women as they wanted but it was never God’s plan. To get on with the story, she went back to her father’s house, so he comes after her to talk her into coming back, finally she agreed, and after being detained several days they went on their way.
He refused to stay anywhere other than lands belonging to the tribes of Israel and insisted on traveling to a city of the tribe of Benjamin, they had nowhere to stay, so an old man invited them to stay with him, pleading that they not stay outside, soon just as with Sodom, there were men at his door demanding he turn over this man to them that they “may know him”.
Picture perfect to Sodom, only lacking the presence of the angels that saved Lot’s daughters. So the old guy offers his daughter and the concubine, again with the agreement to whatever they wanted to them, just do not touch the man.
They refused, they still wanted the man, so the guy just takes the concubine and throws her out to them and they repeatedly gang rape her until the morning and then they let her go.
She makes it to the door of the house where she collapses, she just lies there helplessly until he gets up, opens the door and finds her and he actually tells her quite simply, to get up they have to get going, needless to say she is dead. He dismembers her body into twelve parts and sends a part to each of the tribes and war is waged. It wasn’t that they raped her or that she was dead that bothered him, it was because they destroyed his property.
I read this and I was alone with my shock and absolute horror and knowing the Lord, I just asked “Why, Why are we of so little value?” These “men” would not even try to fend off these monsters, not even try to muster up an ounce of anything remotely resembling courage to fight for themselves.
Forget chivalry, or protection, an ounce of some sort of compassion, but to just offer these women as less than nothing and to do it to save themselves. I just could not understand it.
I do understand that at the time the thought of this being done to men was so unthinkable that they were desperate to prevent it. But they could have tried to prevent it for happening to any of them.
The God I know would never sanction this stuff or ever condone it and I was in tears, and it just hit me to keep reading, the bottom line is this, at the very end of Judges, “In those days there was no king in Israel: Every man did what was right in his own eyes.”
This was never God!
He never put these things in men’s hearts and for years it was falsely taught and still is in many places.
Men still do what is right in their own eyes and only God can make them see the truth. But it is time for the awakening of his daughters.
No matter what false beliefs that women have been brainwashed by, we have to let them know that this is not what Jesus is about. He does not hate women and did not create us to be objects of amusement to fulfill the twisted lusts of men nor to be their gender indentured servants.
If we are ever to see those that are oppressed be saved and free, they have to know the truth about him and who he is and most of all who they are in him.
A forgotten child, much like David, when no one would even waste their time to call him to be presented before Samuel the Prophet, because in their eyes why would a prophet possibly want to speak with someone so unimportant and simple?
A forgotten child from the greatest of tribes, who just happened to be a woman, a sister to the twelve tribes of Israel, a forgotten child that no one bothers to mention because she was not as important as her brothers, or so they thought.
Dinah, the seventh child Leah bore to Jacob, a woman who also a thing or two about pain and substandard treatment, who had been raped and used as a bargaining chip which led to a mass slaughter.
Her bloodline STILL offering an inheritance. because she was one of the tribe.
The most prophetic beauty with Dinah is the meaning of her name, “JUDGEMENT.”
It is awakening time for the sisters, the beautiful, forgotten army who have a straight shot to the heart of the Father.
You are so strong, so powerful, and yet, you do not even know WHO YOU ARE in HIM, and so unaware of your predestined place in this end time end game.
You are the spiritual virgins and maidens forever following to proclaim the majesty, beauty, and holiness of the Kings of Kings.
It is the love and proclamations that Hannah, and Mary, and never forget Mary Magdalene, He came to her first because she needed him the most.
Take your place in the kingdom, it is not going to be accomplished with half an army. The adoration and praises from hearts that have known sorrows and pain that men can never begin to understand.
A relationship to God who will bring justice for others on behalf of the cries of the souls of his daughters. Unlike the time of Judges, unlike the women who are your sisters the world over, who are oppressed and in bondage.
You have access to a King, the King, and The King over heaven, and earth, and the entire universe, He will plead their cause if you bring them before his throne in that secret prayer closet. He will bring justice for those your tears flood the altar for, when you allow your soul to be awakened under that tree, awakened by a love so strong, so powerful, so consuming that you wear that love as a covering for the whole world to see.
“I AM the rose of Sharon and the lily of the valleys. As the lily among the thorns so is my love among the daughters. as the apple tree among the trees of wood so it my beloved among the sons.
I sat down under his shadow with great delight his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me into the banqueting house and his banner of me was LOVE” Song of Solomon 2:1-4
Translated: KNOW HIM for who HE IS, allow his love to bloom in you, in spite of the valleys and thorns, breathe in his sweetness and lift you up out of those ashes and hide in the secret place of the Most High, under the shadow of his wings, taste the goodness of his salvation and let him bring you into his house of feasting and the love of Jehovah Nissi is his war flag over his daughters and the love is the secret to it all.
Φλογίζω / 02/05/2015. All rights reserved. Rev. Nina BrownJohnson 2015
For later posts in the realm of all things feminine, check these out:
REVISTED:08/01/2019 Because sometimes we just need to be reminded of who Jesus REALLY is and who he has called us to be in him.
Thanks for reading Φλογιζω! For posts dealing with a multitude of subjects please check out the side menu on desktop or on a mobile device, please click any post title and once it opens scroll to bottom of screen for links to other options. If you have been encouraged please considering sharing post via any option below. God Bless you! Rev. Nina Brown Johnson
Mothers, we are formed in their bodies, they feed us, diaper us, love us and nurture us.
They dry our tears and relieve all our fears. They chase the boogey men away. Spend sleepless nights by our bedside when we are sick.
Their love and patience pour over us as we spend hours crying through all the heartaches of puppy love and the growing pains that only a mother’s comfort can see us through. My own mother always had an awesome ability that allowed her even in the worst possible circumstance to see so beyond the crisis at hand and see a better time in the future. And I have truly been through a thing or two, including having to file for a restraining order at the ripe old age of eighteen and my mother always reassured me of several things. #1. Things always look brighter after a good night sleep. We often worry about bad things that never actually happen. #2. No matter how bad that day may seem, one day we really do look back and whatever it was that almost broke us will seem like a nightmare that never really even happened. #3. An old, old one which is true and will always be true, whatever doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.
You know she was right on all counts and she still is! I always thought if I could even be half the woman she is I would do well. She is beautiful inside and out and has such a dignity and grace about her that is almost regal and loves Jesus more than life itself. Mothers are like beautiful jewels, they come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. Each one exquisitely crafted by the Master’s hand. Maybe your birth mother or maybe the mother God chose just for you by joining you together through adoption.
Maybe He chose your Grandmother or Aunt as the defining maternal hand to guide you, love you, teach you, and above all nurture you in Him. Nevertheless we all know there is no one, no one like our Mother. The relationship between Mary and Jesus is such a beautiful example of this one of a kind bond. We know the story, Mary the blessed virgin, to whom an angel came to proclaim that she would give birth to the Son of the Almighty God, who had in fact created her. Without a doubt she was scared to death, how do you conceive without a mate? An answer which came when she was overshadowed by the Holy Ghost. How do you knowingly carry the Son of God inside your body? How do you tell your future husband and your family that this is true and it really happened to you?
How do you travel ninety miles on a donkey and give birth in a stable surrounded by his beautiful animal creations knowing this child is the one to save all of creation?
How do you accept the gifts of frankincense, gold, and myrrh brought from far away lands by wise men on bended knee who have been led there by a star to pay honor and tribute to the King of all Kings?
How do react when the shepherds come to worship him, relaying that the message of his arrival had been proclaimed to them by the host of heaven who proceeded to sing praises to the glory of God in the Highest as heaven came down and kissed earth? How do you give the offering of the poorest of poor when dedicating him, never, ever worrying about providing for him? How do you hear a prophecy from one who had been promised he would not see death until he beheld the face of this promised child, when that prophecy is that “a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also”?
As this child grows and maternal instincts take over, as he is held, loved, learns to crawl, walk and says his first words, has his first bumps and bruises and one day decides to stay behind and talk with the elders rather than join the caravan his family travelled with.
How do you understand, when you ask why he did this and he asks you “Did you not know I must be about my Father’s business?”, I will tell you how, he was her baby, even though he was divine, she knew he was God’s son but she was human and she was his mother and like all of us, that was her baby and as she watched him grow, he became what he was. Her son whom she loved more than life itself. Fast forward twenty-one years after pondering what did he mean by this, as he begins his ministry and watching his miracles (she had to know he held this power because she asked him to do something for her friends at the wedding when he turned the water into wine, which was his first public display of this power) she watched as her own people hated him and threatened his life, she watched as his ministry grew. She knew of his arrest and public torture and finally seeing him bloody, beaten beyond recognition and carrying a wooden beam to his execution, his battered body falling under the weight of it.
And unable to go to him, to hold him, to touch his face, to tell him everything would be okay and this was still her baby and there was nothing in the universe she could do to stop it because it was the piercing of her soul.
There would be no words to describe her sorrow. How could her beautiful son who hung nailed to a cross, nearing death look down and want to be sure his mother would be cared for before dying, because he was her firstborn son.
John 19:25-27 “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, (John) he saith unto his mother Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother!
And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.” They seriously wrote the book, the ultimate story of love between a mother and child, and a wonderful example to us about the love and respect we should have for own mothers.
I hope all have a blessed Mother’s Day and if you have lost your Mother, rejoice in knowing just as Jesus and Mary we reunited and are together forever and ever, you will be also.
And if you know a lady who maybe has lost her children or they are “too busy” for her, please, please consider “adopting” her for Mother’s Day.
A card, flowers or just a visit can change her world. Because loneliness is one “disease” we can cure! Remember Jesus said if you do it for one of his little one’s (saints) you’ve done it for him! Because He is the King and these ladies are precious, precious jewels that help make up his Majestic crown!
They are precious to him! Φλογίζω 2014
Thanks for reading Φλογιζω! For posts dealing with a multitude of subjects please check out the side menu on desktop or on a mobile device, please click any post title and once it opens scroll to bottom of screen for links to other options. If you have been encouraged please considering sharing post via any option below. God Bless you! Rev. Nina Brown Johnson
The sun may be shining, but it is night. The birds may be singing but it is night. For most, everything may appear well-lit and crystal clear but in the spirit world it is night. For the addict who is one hit away from the mouth of hell, it is night. For the prostitute who is one trick away from the wrong John, who will be the devil incarnate come to assure her entrance into hell, it is night. For the bullied teenager who is one razor blade away from ending it all, it is night. For those widowed and alone, whose loneliness eats away at their souls more viciously than any cancer, it is night. For those persecuted and imprisoned for their beliefs or simply for the sick pleasure of the forces of hell, still the brightest of days with the greatest, blinding magnification of the sun is the suffocating blackness of the most darkest of nights. Night Watchmen, those hired to protect and oversee the goods and properties of their employer. These particular watchmen actually being the biblical laborers hired in at that vital eleventh hour, because as dusk starts closing in, that harvest must not only be gathered, it must also be protected from the beasts of the field that attack to destroy it, even while the laborers work exhaustively to gather it. As it is the eleventh hour, this work must be done in complete unity, all while following one light that will light their way through the rows, showing both the ready crops and revealing the awaiting dangers. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105 These are the night watchmen of the Lord, they stand in the night hours when destruction and mischief are most common, and sin tries to take cover under the darkness of night. While the rest of the world “sleeps”, these are they who will keep vigil, pray down strong holds, plead the blood of the Lamb over ones they have never even known and through intercessory prayer they will make a difference between life and death. They will through that prayer under the unified anointing of God will stand in the gap and make up the hedge around those who are unable to do it for themselves. Their petitions before the throne of grace will break chains of abuse and addictions and the anointing of God will break the chains of abuse and addictions. “BEHOLD, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord.” Psalm 134:1 Watchmen know who they are, and Night watchmen even more so.
Be vigilant, do not get discouraged and know that the power of the anointing of the secret prayers you pray alone are known of God, “who sees in secret, and will reward you openly”.
Ask that your prayers be accepted in agreement of unity with all those who are called as you are. Know this also that as this is the last Psalm in the “Songs of Degrees” (steps, stairs) and just as being “compassed about with songs in the night”, this is going somewhere, it is blessed and it is beginning of the “prayers of the saints.” Φλογίζω/ Original Post:01/01/2015. All rights reserved. Rev. Nina Brown Johnson
**REVISITED 03/05/2021**
Please consider reading the remainder in this series, the links are below.
Thanks for reading Φλογιζω! For posts dealing with a multitude of subjects please check out the side menu on desktop or on a mobile device, please click any post title and once it opens scroll to bottom of screen for links to other options. If you have been encouraged please considering sharing post via any option below. God Bless you! Rev. Nina Brown Johnson
We know world hunger is rampant but we are also in a period of spiritual hunger, as the Bible says the days are coming that there WILL be a famine of the Word of God. The Shepherds have become concerned more with the quantity of sheep in their pasture rather than the quality of health of those sheep. They may be mighty in numbers but they are weak, sickly, infected and infested and as long as they take up space no one is going to bother caring for them. The watchmen have fallen asleep at their posts so the weakened, anemic sheep often make a tasty meal for the wolves, who offer them a false sense of care and compassion and something resembling food, while it is all candy coated junk food, to the sheep is it better than starvation, so they leave the field God intended for them to be in and follow the wolves who are leading them to their banquet to be devoured by their leader Satan. SO what do you think the Lord will have us do? Sheep are going to have to feed other sheep, and when they happen upon a green spot it is going to have to be shared. We’ll pick it up at Matthew 14:15-18, a multitude had come to hear Jesus and to be healed by him, The Bible points out that he was “moved with compassion” for them, something I think people often forget about him, “And when it was evening, ( it is evening on earth, we are entering spiritual nightfall) his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place,( the barren place many are in today) and the time is now past (growing late); send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals (food). BUT Jesus said unto them, THEY NEED NOT DEPART, GIVE YE THEM TO EAT. And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves and two fishes. He said BRING THEM HITHER (HERE) UNTO ME.” That is the place we are at now, so many of us are praying for all the sheep who are hurt, wounded and have fallen over cliffs, lying there on the verge of death, with no one trying to rescue them, I know people right now who are so talented and so anointed of God and have become so discouraged and wounded that they are not even in church. The calling of God is forever and NO ONE can do the job we were created to do. I can only imagine the rejoicing in hell when a minister falls, or one that God has given the gift of healing and miracles, word of prophecy or the song of praise to sing in the tongues of heavenly angels, songs which would bring down an anointing that would set the captives free. Vessels who hold one or more of the nine gifts of the spirit, who are now sitting on their living room couch. The gifts are NOT being stirred, they are NOT being cultivated and I have even heard people have almost an anger against the thought that one could have something that the others do not. THEY ARE GIFTS. THEY ARE DESIGNED OF GOD TO BE DIFFERENT! Why would we all have a “community” gift or calling, we would be severely lacking as we are now. We all feel sometimes that someone else would be better suited to do something, but if no one else WILL then we have to pray and ask God to help us pick up the slack. I don’t just write this stuff, I’ve lived it. So I want to give you one of my stories from the field, I was a fairly new Christian and was in a situation that I HAD TO put myself between an intoxicated person and two more people, and this was a bad deal, and while I was trying to reason with the person, it just went from bad to worse and of course God got brought up and they started referring to themselves by name in the third person and some heavy-duty things about how Satan would win and everyone would be hell. Again I was a new Christian, I had two prayer warriors praying and I just keeping praying in heart to God that I needed someone with me that I couldn’t fight this and I wasn’t supposed to be alone, someone was not helping me like they were supposed to because I wasn’t strong enough to battle what had become obvious that I was really fighting. I was on my porch, they were in my yard and as they became more angry they finally just reached out and grabbed me by my throat and just held it, not really putting pressure but holding me around my Adam’s apple, and I was still praying” Lord Jesus, God you gotta help me, I don’t know what I supposed to here” and I just started singing, I am not a singer, actually I am a person people would pay not to sing! But I just started singing “When the spirit of Lord moves in my heart I will sing like David…” it’s an old, old Pentecostal standard, and after a few minutes or what seemed like minutes they left! Of course they turned from time to time to spew another threat at me, all the while walking away and I just kept singing. I know that was God and God alone and even though I thought he should have sent a “strong, anointed warrior” to fight that battle while I hid in my house, that was not his plan and He will never send you to do anything without him! He is there and he will send whatever weapon you need. And on a great praise note, that person in time was saved! So now my friends, whatever you have please share, we all know someone who is going through something, you can find scripture references in most Bibles for help in all areas, and two fail proofs are Psalm 23 and the Lord’s prayer, Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4. Such as someone struggling financially or spiritually, “Give us this day our daily bread” someone in bondage “Deliver us from evil” help in time of various troubles ” Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies” you get the drift. I promise you, God said his “word will not come back void” it will do what he sent to do. Maybe you don’t want to seem pushy, get a card and write a fitting scripture inside for the person. Pray always for them, God will put in your heart want to do to uplift and encourage them to go on. And you know sometimes the greatest gift we can give is of ourselves, a heart to feel and share their burden, a smile, and best of all just a hug to let them know they are not alone. It really is like the man Jesus healed at the pool of Bethesda (John 5), healing was there he just didn’t have anyone to help him into the water, some major symbolism in that! God is there, his anointing is there, but no one wants to be bothered with helping the spiritual lame into that water! So time has come, be bold and of good cheer, whatever YOU have little lamb, as Jesus told the Disciples, bring it to him, he will bless it, multiply and let YOU feed the ones you have access to, all the hurt, wounded and ones who don’t even now they are his (yet). He will allow you to pray safety over them and that they see and know the goodness of God. Think of it as sharing your lunch! I know there are so many of you, full of love, compassion and mercy and I know you will help others into those waters so that they may be healed as you have been healed! I do want to quickly point out that this is not an attack on Pastors as a generic whole. But there are a lot of bad apples, the Bible has quite a section on the judgments that WILL be leveled against them in due time. So if you hear an uplifting song or hear a wonderful word, do your best to share that with someone who needs it. Share your food with those that are hungry, and if you do that, I promise he will never allow you to suffer famine. Φλογιζω/ All rights Reserved. Rev. Nina BrownJohnson/ baresoulphlogizo 2015
Thanks for reading Φλογιζω! For posts dealing with a multitude of subjects please check out the side menu on desktop or on a mobile device, please click any post title and once it opens scroll to bottom of screen for links to other options. If you have been encouraged please considering sharing post via any option below. God Bless you! Rev. Nina Brown Johnson
We know world hunger is rampant but we are also in a period of spiritual hunger, as the Bible says the days are coming that there WILL be a famine of the Word of God. The Shepherds have become concerned more with the quantity of sheep in their pasture rather than the quality of health of those sheep. They may be mighty in numbers but they are weak, sickly, infected and infested and as long as they take up space no one is going to bother caring for them. The watchmen have fallen asleep at their posts so the weakened, anemic sheep often make a tasty meal for the wolves, who offer them a false sense of care and compassion and something resembling food, while it is all candy coated junk food, to the sheep is it better than starvation, so they leave the field God intended for them to be in and follow the wolves who are leading them to their banquet to be devoured by their leader Satan. SO what do you think the Lord will have us do? Sheep are going to have to feed other sheep, and when they happen upon a green spot it is going to have to be shared. We’ll pick it up at Matthew 14:15-18, a multitude had come to hear Jesus and to be healed by him, The Bible points out that he was “moved with compassion” for them, something I think people often forget about him, “And when it was evening, ( it is evening on earth, we are entering spiritual nightfall) his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place,( the barren place many are in today) and the time is now past (growing late); send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals (food). BUT Jesus said unto them, THEY NEED NOT DEPART, GIVE YE THEM TO EAT. And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves and two fishes. He said BRING THEM HITHER (HERE) UNTO ME.” That is the place we are at now, so many of us are praying for all the sheep who are hurt, wounded and have fallen over cliffs, lying there on the verge of death, with no one trying to rescue them, I know people right now who are so talented and so anointed of God and have become so discouraged and wounded that they are not even in church. The calling of God is forever and NO ONE can do the job we were created to do. I can only imagine the rejoicing in hell when a minister falls, or one that God has given the gift of healing and miracles, word of prophecy or the song of praise to sing in the tongues of heavenly angels, songs which would bring down an anointing that would set the captives free. Vessels who hold one or more of the nine gifts of the spirit, who are now sitting on their living room couch. The gifts are NOT being stirred, they are NOT being cultivated and I have even heard people have almost an anger against the thought that one could have something that the others do not. THEY ARE GIFTS. THEY ARE DESIGNED OF GOD TO BE DIFFERENT! Why would we all have a “community” gift or calling, we would be severely lacking as we are now. We all feel sometimes that someone else would be better suited to do something, but if no one else WILL then we have to pray and ask God to help us pick up the slack. I don’t just write this stuff, I’ve lived it. So I want to give you one of my stories from the field, I was a fairly new Christian and was in a situation that I HAD TO put myself between an intoxicated person and two more people, and this was a bad deal, and while I was trying to reason with the person, it just went from bad to worse and of course God got brought up and they started referring to themselves by name in the third person and some heavy-duty things about how Satan would win and everyone would be hell. Again I was a new Christian, I had two prayer warriors praying and I just keeping praying in heart to God that I needed someone with me that I couldn’t fight this and I wasn’t supposed to be alone, someone was not helping me like they were supposed to because I wasn’t strong enough to battle what had become obvious that I was really fighting. I was on my porch, they were in my yard and as they became more angry they finally just reached out and grabbed me by my throat and just held it, not really putting pressure but holding me around my Adam’s apple, and I was still praying” Lord Jesus, God you gotta help me, I don’t know what I supposed to here” and I just started singing, I am not a singer, actually I am a person people would pay not to sing! But I just started singing “When the spirit of Lord moves in my heart I will sing like David…” it’s an old, old Pentecostal standard, and after a few minutes or what seemed like minutes they left! Of course they turned from time to time to spew another threat at me, all the while walking away and I just kept singing. I know that was God and God alone and even though I thought he should have sent a “strong, anointed warrior” to fight that battle while I hid in my house, that was not his plan and He will never send you to do anything without him! He is there and he will send whatever weapon you need. And on a great praise note, that person in time was saved! So now my friends, whatever you have please share, we all know someone who is going through something, you can find scripture references in most Bibles for help in all areas, and two fail proofs are Psalm 23 and the Lord’s prayer, Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4. Such as someone struggling financially or spiritually, “Give us this day our daily bread” someone in bondage “Deliver us from evil” help in time of various troubles ” Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies” you get the drift. I promise you, God said his “word will not come back void” it will do what he sent to do. Maybe you don’t want to seem pushy, get a card and write a fitting scripture inside for the person. Pray always for them, God will put in your heart want to do to uplift and encourage them to go on. And you know sometimes the greatest gift we can give is of ourselves, a heart to feel and share their burden, a smile, and best of all just a hug to let them know they are not alone. It really is like the man Jesus healed at the pool of Bethesda (John 5), healing was there he just didn’t have anyone to help him into the water, some major symbolism in that! God is there, his anointing is there, but no one wants to be bothered with helping the spiritual lame into that water! So time has come, be bold and of good cheer, whatever YOU have little lamb, as Jesus told the Disciples, bring it to him, he will bless it, multiply and let YOU feed the ones you have access to, all the hurt, wounded and ones who don’t even now they are his (yet). He will allow you to pray safety over them and that they see and know the goodness of God. Think of it as sharing your lunch! I know there are so many of you, full of love, compassion and mercy and I know you will help others into those waters so that they may be healed as you have been healed! I do want to quickly point out that this is not an attack on Pastors as a generic whole. But there are a lot of bad apples, the Bible has quite a section on the judgments that WILL be leveled against them in due time. So if you hear an uplifting song or hear a wonderful word, do your best to share that with someone who needs it. Share your food with those that are hungry, and if you do that, I promise he will never allow you to suffer famine. Φλογιζω/ All rights Reserved. Rev. Nina BrownJohnson/ baresoulphlogizo 2015
Thanks for reading Φλογιζω! For posts dealing with a multitude of subjects please check out the side menu on desktop or on a mobile device, please click any post title and once it opens scroll to bottom of screen for links to other options. If you have been encouraged please considering sharing post via any option below. God Bless you! Rev. Nina Brown Johnson
This is for all who love our furry friends, whom I would like to point out were actually created before us. And for all who believe in mercy and the sanctity of all life that has been created by our God. Humans often intentionally misinterpret what it actually meant when we were given dominion over the animal kingdom. People like to have a scapegoat technicality to hide their own evil behavior behind. So let’s rip the band-aid off this thing and get it some fresh air! Unless you live in your own world or under a rock ( which could be a refreshing change to this world) you know all to well the abuses committed under the guise of “sport’ and it seems for some reason like the savagery of our nations history, most of it for some reason takes place in the south. Chicken fights, dog fights, pit bull breeding to produce more victims in their pursuit of the all mighty dollar, the heinous so-called training methods that involve cruelty far beyond what I believe a true human capable of. “Violence begets violence” the Lord is merciful and desires mercy as a characteristic in his children. If we are told by Jesus to turn the other cheek, how can we justify hitting anyone or anything? If Jesus was so on point about this that if someone walks up to us and slaps us down, we are, if at all possible, to not hit them back. So how do we justify hitting animals and children as a method to produce a desired behavior? If God were that unmerciful to us every time we made a mistake we would all be black and blue! Most of us know the story of Balaam, the false prophet/sorcerer who was hired by Balak to curse the children of Israel. But God took control over the situation and overruledthe evil plans, however Balaam decided to disobey the voice of God. So God sent an angel to stand in his way, now the donkey could see the angel of God, so three times she would move to avoid him and every time Balaam hit her with his staff. God allowed her to speak and ask him why he did this to her, he was so full of blind fury that he did not even find it strange that suddenly this donkey spoke! We’ll pick it up at Numbers 22:28-33 “And the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said unto Balaam What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten (hit) me these three times? ( NOW HERE HE IS, STILL SO UPSET THAT HE IS HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH A DONKEY,AND STILL NOT FINDING IT STRANGE! )and Balaam said unto the donkey, Because thou hast mocked me: I would (wish) there were a sword in mine hand, for now I would kill thee. And the donkey said unto Balaam, Am I not thine ass upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? Was I ever wont (accustomed) to do so unto thee? and he said, Nay. THEN the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and HE SAW THE ANGEL OF THE LORD STANDING IN THE WAY, AND HIS SWORD DRAWN IN HIS HAND: and he bowed down his head and fell flat on his face. and the angel of the Lord said unto him, WHEREFORE (WHY) HAST THOU SMITTEN (HIT) THINE ASS THESE THREE TIMES? behold, I went out to withstand thee because thy way is perverse before me: And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times; UNLESS SHE HAD TURNED FROM ME, SURELY NOW ALSO I HAD SLAIN (KILLED) YOU AND SAVED HER ALIVE.” She was protecting him and all he could do was beat her and would have killed her if given the opportunity. The angel was so enraged by his cruelty that he demanded an explanation and let Balaam know really fast who would have died that day and it would not have been the helpless donkey! Proverbs 12:10 ” A righteous man careth for the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.” So in God’s view, even the best they can do is still immense cruelty. It is not hidden from God and it carries a hefty price. This is the lesson learned by two sons as Jacob pronounced the blessings on the sons of the tribe of Israel. Genesis 49:5-7 “Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations (cruel behavior is part of them). O my soul, come not into their secret (council); unto their assembly, mine honour be thou not united (have nothing to do with them) for in their anger they slew a man and digged down a wall (intentionally crippled an ox, by cutting its hamstring) CURSED BE THEIR ANGER FOR IT WAS FIERCE; AND THEIR WRATH FOR IT WAS CRUEL; I WILL DIVIDE THEM IN JACOB AND SCATTER THEM IN ISRAEL.” Ecclesiastes 3:19 ” For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them; as the one dieth, so dieth the other: yea, they have all one breath; so a man hath no preeminence (advantage) above a beast: FOR ALL IS VANITY.” Many, many scriptures detail their presence that will be in New Jerusalem, here is just a hint of what to expect: Isaiah 11:6-9 “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; and their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall put his hand on the hole of the asp (cobra) and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ (viper) den. THEY SHALL NOT HURT NOR DESTROY IN MY HOLY MOUNTAIN; FOR THE EARTH SHALL BE FULL OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD, AS WATERS COVER THE SEA.” I think that gives a fair amount of insight to how he feels toward them. He loves all his creations. HE CREATED ALL BEINGS FOR HIS PLEASURE AND WE ARE ONLY SUPERIOR TO THEM IN OUR MINDS! So as we await this day, please always remember them in your prayers, pray for rescues and deliverance to come, pray that peoples hearts will be opened and that their compassion will be stirred. Be the voice they do not have and never forget them. That is the true dominion we have been given, their lives are in our hands and we will be held accountable for those lives.
Original post::06/27/2014.
All rights reserved. Rev. Nina BrownJohnson 2015
Thanks for reading Φλογιζω! For posts dealing with a multitude of subjects please check out the side menu on desktop or on a mobile device, please click any post title and once it opens scroll to bottom of screen for links to other options. If you have been encouraged please considering sharing post via any option below. God Bless you! Rev. Nina Brown Johnson
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