Category Archives: perserverance

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“Moments with Moses”

“That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:5

In my recent post we started taking a closer look at just what a formidable attitude and absolute resolve one must possess concerning faith when desiring to see a miraculous feat of the divine power and wonder of God.

Moses had to have faith in God, that He would supernaturally accomplish all that He had commanded Moses concerning the release of the Hebrew slaves.

Moses did not know all the plan involved or know to the extent which the battle with Pharaoh’s hardened heart would go.

While he held to the faith in knowing that God would indeed prevail, he not only had to hold onto that faith in the face of the aggressive, arrogant Pharoah, but he also had to have faith on behalf of all those that he had been sent to, even while they murmured against him and even doubted his commission.

Depending on what source you look at, the number of Hebrews were two million, with some estimates going down to ten thousand, I tend to go with the two million estimate.

Exodus 1:7: “All the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.”

Either way, in my thoughts, those who wish to decrease the number somehow think that by doing so, the magnificence of the miracles performed of God would somehow decrease with that number.

Not so, even if it were four, fourty, four hundred, four million, it would never detract from the wonders and plagues that God sent in securing the release of his children.

Esther as we also studied in relation, had to be willing to submit herself to that preparation process, we sometimes completely miss the necessity in the preparation process that we must also go through in order to complete the task God has given us.

She obediently accepted the advice given her and did as recommended and in that obedience and with the favour of God she became queen and was ultimately used to save the lives of hundred of thousands of her people.

John the Baptist, whose birth had been foretold by the angel, also given a holy commission to proclaim the Lamb of God,  the voice of one crying in the wilderness, fulfilling the prophecy that God would send his messenger to prepare the way before Him, also had his time of preparation.

Luke 1:80: “And the child grew, and waxed (grew) strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing (appearing) unto Israel.”

Our most loved, most quoted Apostle Paul also revealed to us, his time of preparation.

Remember Paul had formerly been Saul, who hated and persecuted the believers, he was quite blood-thirsty in this, even having secured the legal documentation to forcible bring back to Jerusalem all those he found converted to Christ, because he thought what he had been taught was right.

Instead of finding those he wished to punish for their faith, he was found himself of God, once he was encountered by Jesus on the road to Damascus, he knew the truth because the Truth had made Himself known. After being blinded for three days, refusing to eat or drink God has his sight restored and he truly saw the light.

Could anyone  even possibly imagine the sorrow, horror, and dread that tormented his soul those three days as he was faced with the fact that he had prosecuted and fought against Jesus Himself?

Not only Jesus’ followers but the Lord Himself, as Jesus asked Paul Why did he persecute Hm.

So I personally believe that Paul had an entirely different insight in how he related teachings to us, because he had truly been on both sides.

As you read this, pay special attention to the fact that he did not go to any human nor any church leaders during his preparation, instead he went to God, giving himself over to study and pray.

Galatians 1:11-24: “But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

For ye have heard of my conversation (conduct) in time past in the Jews religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it. 

And profited in the Jews’ religion above many of my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,

To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; I conferred (sought counsel) not with flesh and blood: 

Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

But other of the apostles saw I none, save (except) James the Lord’s brother.

Now the things I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.

Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;

And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judea which were in Christ:

But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.

And they glorified God in me.”

So we see that preparation is vital for all believers, in order to truly fulfill the call that God has placed on our lives and think of the verse describing the commission of John the Baptist.

Luke 1:17: “And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Rehoboam the evil son that became king over Judah at the death of Solomon has this written of him.

2 Chronicles 12:14: “And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord.”

Even New Jerusalem is being prepared.

Revelation 21:2: “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

We could give many other examples and many other ways those preparations have taken place, but this allows us to see that it is necessary to go through those growth processes to exercise the faith and develop the fortitude to fulfill the calling and purpose God has for us.

Moses had faith for millions of people, and I believe today, that in these last days God has those already in place that he will use in the coming signs, wonders, and mighty exploits that we are told of.

Daniel 11:32: “And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.”

It is the end, and God will send amazing things, as we are already seeing the outpouring,

So do I believe that there will be people chosen to bring millions to Christ or help orchestrate the rescue of thousands enslaved through the demonic forces of human trafficking, and be the vessels God uses to send His gift of miracles and power of healing through, and literally in a heartbeat see people delivered  from drugs, alcohol, demonic bondages, the blinded eyes see, and the deaf hear, and the paralyzed run for joy?

As He said: John 14:12: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to my Father.”

Yes, actually I do believe that, it is the crux of the calling which He has given me, a messenger and my testimony to every nation, every kindred, and every tongue.

And with that, here is the challenge, for all who will, all whom God has sent this post to, if you are reading it, that is not by accident. Those of you who know that there is something burning in your heart, and rest assured, as our story of Moses, it is perfectly “normal” to have battles during the fulfillment of your calling, the enemy does not just surrender, but God always wins, and sometimes, such as the case with Pharoah, that also can be a daunting challenge.

So we must have a personal relationship with Jesus, we have to spend time in prayer, worship, communion, consecration allowing that preparation time until God sets in motion the commission and opens the doors He wishes us to walk through.

Then we must have the faith, not only for us, but to believe for those who may not at the moment, but once the power of God is revealed, they will believe.

How many do you think doubted while they walked through the Red Sea? Not too say they didn’t later sin, but they knew that they had been spared by a divine act of God and God alone.

This is what was on my heart, I give all these verses because that is how I was led, someone may read part of a series and never ever get to see the remainder, if I gave you only references you would have to go look those up, so it had been placed in my heart long ago, to give it all in the post.

Please take this, take it for what it is, it is the Word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit and it is our spiritual weapon .

Please memorize these verses, and I know there are many, but once you have God’s Word in your heart, He will bring back to your remembrance exactly what scripture you need for the particular issue at hand.

This is known as the faith chapter and the more you recite these, the more you will literally feel your faith grow.

Please savor each verse and if God leads you to study out each one ,please do not skip that preparation.

Hebrews 11:1-40: ” Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

For by it the elders obtained a good report.

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice that Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

By faith Enoch was translated (taken into heaven) that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony that he pleased God.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became the heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went (his destination).

By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles (tents) with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.

For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, (become pregnant) and was delivered of a child when she was past age, (past childbearing age) because she judged him faithful who had promised.

Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

{Abraham was also too old to father children in the natural}

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were pilgrims and strangers on the earth.”

For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

Accounting (considering) that God was able to raise him up,even from the dead; from whence he received him in a figure.

By faith Isaac blessed jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

By faith jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph, and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw that he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.

By faith Moses, when he was come to years, (grew up) refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;

Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

And what shall I more say? for time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

They were stoned, they were sawn asunder (cut in half), were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

(Of whom the world was not worthy) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains and in dens and caves of the earth.

And all these, having obtained a good report through faith, died having not the promise:

God have provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”

I just want to quickly say that the references to not receiving the promise is that they believed for something that they did not see in their lifetime, such as we now know that Abraham’s descendants are innumerable, but he did not see this in his lifetime, and these died in faith not seeing the promise of Christ as we have.

I also love the verse that the world was not worthy of them, it reminds me of our persecuted brothers and sisters, who suffer for the Word of God, and this world does not even deserve their presence, but one day God will avenge them and their rewards will be glorious beyond measure because they have kept the faith of Jesus Christ.

Blessings and Peace to you till next time!

Praise, Honour, and Glory be unto the Lamb, for ever and ever. Amen.

Φλογιζω NBJ 2023/ Rev. N. Brown Johnson

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OF MADMEN, MARTYRS, AND MAIDS/ PART 2

We all have a Bible, one we often take for granted. Humor me for a moment, if you will, close your eyes and picture a man tied to a stake surrounded by fodder and as a crowd looks on, now imagine him being strangled and set on fire, his last words spoken on this earth having been a prayer, that God would open the eyes of the King of England.
That is the price William Tyndale paid. He was fluent in eight languages and it was his soul desire to bring the true word of God to the smallest of the world.
Despite constant adversity and the destruction of his work, he carried on.
The last seventeen months of his life spent in prison diligently translating the Old Testament into English, a work which was completed by a friend after his death.

So much of the true roots of the church and sacrifices made by others to give us the freedom we have today have been all but forgotten.
Replaced by agendas of man-made doctrines, and denominational bickering over who is going to hell, because they hold a slightly different view. I’m still pretty, pretty sure that only God has the authority to make that judgment.

Picture again, if you will, a man driven to near madness after the murder of his wife, and  with his people enslaved to England he decided to lead a revolt against their oppressors.
Being quoted as once having said “Fight and you may die, run away and you will live at least for a while, and dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies, that they make take our lives but they will never take our freedom”
Picture this man tortured, disemboweled, and emasculated while still alive, his tormentors repeatedly offering him a quick death if he would renounce his acts.
Sir William Wallace would not. He died for his beliefs and because of his thirst for freedom and his love for his people he endured.
Just as Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:22 “Ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake: but he that endureth to the end shall  be saved.”
It is time for us to follow that burning in our souls. What is your hearts desire today? What group of people whose suffering brings tears to your eyes and breaks your heart?
What is the still small voice of the Lord prompting you to do?
The world will always smash your dreams, that is why you don’t look at the world. Some of the wisest words ever spoken were “Anything that is worth having is worth fighting for.”
What if Tyndale had just given up,  and said “Oh, well, sorry” and never translated another word or destroyed his own work.
What if Wallace had pledged allegiance to England and surrender a breath of God save the King?
We would be at the mercy of someone else concerning our salvation, we would be told only what they wanted us to believe.
Scotland would now be a distant memory, a land only visited in history books.
The sad reality is the “church” as it was created to be is also in danger of becoming a memory, a place to be visited in history books, well actually secular schools would never want to acknowledge churches existed, so maybe passed down through folklore.
It is time to stand up against false doctrines and blatant sin that has opened up shop under the guise of a “church”.
If we never breathe a word against injustice, whether it be human rights, animal rights, or the false doctrines hiding behind the misuse of the word Christian, we all become guilty by omission. Not to speak against it is as the same as condoning it.
Jeremiah could not stop that fire in him, you shouldn’t either, let it out, “If God be for you, who can be against you?”
And if they refuse to listen, take it as a compliment!
” For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall heap to themselves, teachers having itching ears (ones who tell them what they want to hear) And they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned into fables (believe lies) But WATCH thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”
                                  2 Timothy 4:3-5
God had us warned throughout the New testament that these days would come, the false teachers would come and the false prophets and at the time of Paul’s writings, he said they were already here! Imagine now.
Stand for the truth, let it be known, Let the lord lead you and guide you and stay in his word.
Share the truth and if it falls on deaf ears, don’t worry, you have done your job and while they are still here praying to their God of gumdrops and lollipops we will be at the biggest Jewish wedding the universe will ever know!

Original Date: 12/29/2013.FOWC/Avenue Rev. Nina Brown Johnson 2015 REVISITED 02/05/2022 Φλογιζω  also listen as podcast at: https://anchor.fm/phlogizo

For other two posts in this series: OF MADMEN, MARTYRS AND MAIDS/ PART1 and OF MADMEN, MARTYRS AND MAIDS/ PART1

Post note: I realize the Wallace quote was used in the movie, but it is nevertheless listed with quotes accredited to him.

 

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OF MADMEN, MARTYRS AND MAIDS/ PART1

Now that we are all awake, where’s the fire? Man, that’s a good question, especially when you consider scriptures such as “For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:29
“Who maketh his angels spirits and his ministers (servants) a flaming  fire.” Psalm 104:4
The fire Jesus refers to when he said “I know thy works that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:15,16
Lukewarm Christianity  is like lukewarm anything.
It is a spineless, gutless attempt to lay claim to a massive inheritance of untold worth while denying the very one it is handed down by.
That is why the Lord tells them without question that he knows their works, and he wants to give him their all or give him nothing but don’t try to play the middle.
Today we have become so worried about offending people and being politically correct, that we will choke back anything while the true church is ran into the ground.
The prophet Jeremiah also went through this in his time.

“For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me, and a derision daily, Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak anymore in his name.

But his word was  in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing and could not stay.”   Jeremiah 20:8,9
Jeremiah had absolutely the worst job in the Bible, he is often referred to as “the Prophet of doom”.
It was his job to proclaim the forthcoming judgment on his own people, the very people who instead of heeding his warnings would ridicule him, even to the point that he would have rather not have been born as to have to carry out this task.
But the fire of God and the holy calling on him, that had been placed on him before he had been formed in his mother’s womb, was so strong and burned so deep that it could not be contained and it prevailed.
God wants to use some people in these last days that are wiling to just let Him burn in them and do the work his has created them for.
People like Martin Luther who took on the entire church of his day, because a fellow named Tetzel had cooked up quite a money-making scheme,  enough money to help build Saint Peter’s Cathedral, by selling what he called “indulgences”.
A get out of purgatory free certificate, ( purgatory being the Catholics belief in pre-hell, a place we know does not exist, because the rich man in the story of Lazarus had lifted up his eyes in hell) Luther being disgusted and knowing for himself the truth of God nailed his understanding of that truth to the church door.
John Brown, who finally became so tired of the injustice done to the slaves that he started his own movement, which regrettably became violent, bloody and cost lives.
One of the last photos taken of him before his execution, tells all there is to tell, as a small, black child hugs him as they lead him away to his hanging.
When he had been asked how he justified what he had done, this was his reply “Upon the golden rule. I pity the poor in bondage that have none to help them, that is why I am here, not to gratify any personal animosity, revenge or vindictive spirit. It is my sympathy with the oppressed and wronged that are as good as you and are as precious in the sight of God.”
Luther suffered excommunication and the threat of death but took his cause forward.
Brown paid with his life, I am sure he never wanted to see any lives lost, but I am equally as sure that the hug he received before going to his death was worth it all because he knew he had lived for something other than himself.
Two very different men, both having a common fire, burning for truth, justice and to see others truly free. That fire could be contained.

Nor should it today, pray for that fire.
If one voice can affect the entire world, what can we accomplish with our voices collectively speaking as one?

Original Post: 12/20/2013 FOWC/AVENUE  Rev. Nina Brown Johnson  2015  REVISITED 02/02/22 Φλογιζω   Also listen as podcast at: https://anchor.fm/phlogizo

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Golden

Golden apples, golden pomegranates, figs, nuts and not to be forgotten the beautiful gilded roses and sprigs of heather that since the Victorian era have added their lovely soft holiday glow to many Christmas trees.

I myself, a die hard Victorian trapped in a modern world with a strong opinion base and more than willing to verbally express those opinions would have no doubt been confined to the solitude of a servants quarter someplace.

So I am thankful I can now have the best of both worlds, but that does bring back a few school memories, now looking back, maybe that strong opinion and big mouth could explain more than one solitary confinement detention, but that is neither here nor there.

Golden apples, can’t make it through the holiday without a least a couple and every time I see one I am reminded of one of my favorite verses: Proverbs 25:11″A word fitly spoken (SPOKEN AT THE RIGHT TIME) is like APPLES OF GOLD in pictures (settings) of silver.”

Think of how beautiful that would truly be, the little snapshot above of my golden apple on my little Victorian tree can give a glimpse of just how the light reflects from that gold, it captures each twinkle and presents a warm, soft glow. Imagine the light reflected from a true golden apple glided by the process of the fire of the word of God. The tradition of Christmas apples can be kinda shaky depending on your research but we know that the only research we need is the symbolism found in the word of God. God refers to his children as the apple of his eye, (meaning pupil, but yet something extremely precious and of irreplaceable value.)

Song of Solomon has countless references to this ,when Jesus announces “I AM the rose of Sharon, AND the lily of the valley” describing his great love and calls her into his presence and she replies Song of Solomon 2:3:

“As the apple tree among the trees of wood, SO IS my beloved among the sons, I sat down UNDER HIS SHADOW with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my taste.” The apple tree bearing nourishing, beautiful, sweet fruit that no other tree could compare too. She goes on to plead to be comforted with apples, as she now had fallen completely in love wishing only to be refreshed and fed in His Presence, his very breath being as the fragrance of apples. Need we say more about apples?

Now for the gold, pure, valuable, beautiful, and reflective and adds worth to anything it touches. Through his fire He will refine his servants” as silver is refined” and try his servants “as gold is tried” his saints are processed as gold, with all the impurities being fired away until all that remains is pure and fire tested, purity tested to prove that they are tried and true.

His word as the setting of those refreshing, encouraging, nourishing “apples”.

Psalm 12:6:”The WORDS of the Lord ARE PURE WORDS; AS SILVER TRIED IN THE FURNACE OF EARTH, purified seven times.” Jesus will send a word in season to those who are weary, we need refreshing, we need encouragement and we live in a world where everyone wants to kick you when you’re down and people seem to have issues with being loyal friends to more than one person at a time. Sometimes these golden apples, words of encouragement or gentle warning words of wisdom are never delivered by the messengers but they are needed:

Proverbs 25:12,13:”As an earring of gold, and an ornament (adornment) of fine gold, so is a wise reprover  upon an obedient ear. As the cold of SNOW in TIME OF HARVEST, So IS a faithful messenger to them that send him: For he refreshest  the soul of his masters.”

We may not always hear the words that we necessarily want to hear but it refreshes us to the Lord and refreshes us to our path and to that process of our spirits being refined and tried to the purification of God’s golden standard.

Apples in due season, seasons of if we faint not, seasons of sorrow, seasons of loss, seasons of discouragement there is nothing finer than apples of gold and the refreshment brought to weary souls is truly golden.

If you have a scripture or thought that just keeps burning in your soul about someone else, don’t sit on that, pray about it and share it.

Unless it is revealed by the Lord we never know what is going on inside of another soul, they may be so weary that they are in danger of falling, they may be so hurt and wounded that they don’t know where to turn or they could be in danger of heading down the wrong path or have something going on inside that they need to get in check to finish that purification process, you never know but if God continues to stir you heart you need to heed that and don’t keep all the pretty golden apples to yourself, they were meant to be shared!

Φλογίζω για παντα  / NBJ 2015/ original post date: 12/02/2015/ repost 12/20/2019 & 12/01/2021  Rev. Nina Brown Johnson

*** I do apologize that this references a photo of my tress that is no longer on this post, I will try my best to get it added asap, Thank you so much for reading! Have a blessed day!

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“Bountiful Benefits”

Psalm 119:17-24 GIMEL:  “Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.

Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

I am a stranger in the earth; hide not thy commandments from me.

My soul breaketh for (is crushed with) the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.

Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.

Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.

Princes also did sit and speak against me; but thy servant did mediate in thy statutes. 

Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counselors.”   

The joys of serving the Lord are beyond measure, but often in the midst of persecution or a season of lack we may not also feel blessed or feel like the chosen that we are. Which is why this verse reminds us that his testimonies are our delight and they are our “counselors”, helping us and giving us direction especially in the face of our enemies who ridicule and accuse us and God wants us to focus on Him, not on their actions especially when it seems like that have it “made” in life and it appears that they just run on forever being cruel, wicked, and unkind but God tells us often in his word that he sees all of this and even though it may appear that they are somehow rewarded, in reality if they do not change this life will be only life they have because they will be condemned to an eternal hell and in that thought you will actually feel sorry for them and here is his word on how to deal with that.

Psalm 37:1-18: “Fret not (do not be concerned with) thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

For they shall soon be cut down like grass, and wither as the green herb.

TRUST IN THE LORD, and do good; so shall thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

DELIGHT THYSELF ALSO IN THE LORD; AND HE SHALL GIVE THEE THE DESIRES OF THINE HEART. 

Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 

And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment (justice) as noonday.

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him; fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices (schemes) to pass.

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; fret not thyself in any wise (way) to do evil.

For evildoers shall be cut off (destroyed); but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth .

For yet a little while, and the wicked shall NOT be; yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

The wicked plotteh against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

The Lord shall laugh at him; for he seeth that his day is coming.

The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and the needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation (conduct).

Their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. 

For the arms (forces of control) of the wicked shall be broken; but the Lord UPHOLDETH the righteous.

THE LORD KNOWETH THE DAYS OF THE UPRIGHT; AND THEIR INHERITANCE SHALL BE FOR EVER.”

 

Φλογιζω  NBJ 2020/ Rev. Nina Brown Johnson

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Jehovah God IS THERE

“These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up HIS spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.

And AFTER him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of three mighty with David, when they defied the army of the Philistines that were gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away: He arose, and smote the Philistines until his was weary, and his hand clave (STUCK) unto the sword: and THE LORD WROUGHT A GREAT VICTORY THAT DAY; and the people returned after him only to spoil (plunder).

And AFTER  him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, WHERE WAS A PIECE OF GROUND full of lentiles: And THE PEOPLE FLED FROM THE PHILISTINES. But HE STOOD IN THE MIDST OF THE GROUND, AND DEFENDED IT, AND SLEW THE PHILISTINES; AND THE LORD WROUGHT A GREAT VICTORY. 2 Samuel 23:8-12

 This was a rather impromptu writing and it was born of a conversation I had with my beautiful friend after church Wednesday night, we had been praying and she said that something said and reminded her of Shammah, and then I said and yeah, isn’t there Jehovah Shammah and told her I’d look it up for us, because year after year it is hard to always remember what we have studied, but Jesus promised that He would “bring all things back to our remembrance” So He does remind us of His word EXACTLY when we need it.

This was not the first time this had been brought up in our church, another Sister a couple of months back mentioned it one night from the pew and after I had researched it, I think it is well worth ALL of us in this time to remember this story. We ARE in a battle, we all know that, it is the battle royal for souls and for the TRUE WORD OF GOD, and FOR THE HARVEST OF OUR FIELD that will proceed the coming of our King.

And what I want you to notice in these verses that time after time the enemy encamped, and time after time a warrior was raised up to fight against them and time after time GOD GAVE VICTORY.

BUT  they WERE required to protect that ground THEMSELVES, and if you look at Eleazar, he fought until the sword actually stuck to his hand, he had held it so long and use it so much that his hand had actually, in pain and tiredness, wrapped to it and he WAS weary. I know we get weary, we get tired, and I know the people “have fled” from the house because of the pressure, threats, and attacks of “spiritual” Philistines, pressuring the just could not endure any longer, and then they only came back when blessings were to be had “dividing the spoil” so that should cues us in on the fact, that not everyone is gonna be around for the fight, but someone has got to do it.

And when the Philistines came after the very land itself (view this SPIRITUALLY, your churches, your promises, your God Given destinies) Shammah STOOD in the middle of it, he did not hide, he did not run, but he STOOD and he DEFENDED IT.

God DOES protect, God DOES go before us, and God ALWAYS has our backs, BUT sometimes we are required to stand and defend what God has GIVEN us or it will be taken.

God GAVE Shammah the victory, BUT Shammah first had to be WILLING to STAND AND FIGHT FOR THAT VICTORY. We have to let our voices be heard concerning the TRUE Gospel, we have to let the TRUTH of sin be known and we have to GENTLY admonish and warn people to the truth or otherwise we HAVE given our field to the “Philistines” already.

And why SHOULD God do anything for us as the “body” of Christ will allow any thing to be done to lessen His Word, or candy-coat His truth, or coddle sins and behaviors that we KNOW will send people to hell?

And AGAIN this is NOT About the particular church that I attend, This is about the “Church” as a whole, all of us, all believers that this something I felt as I study it that we need to be on guard and ready to STAND for the particular field God has GIVEN us, as His children. Your field, my field, we all have been GIVEN different fields but we MUST be willing to fight for them and NOT just give them away because the enemy tells us to!

WAIT ON GOD for the victory!!!! BECAUSE GOD IS THERE!

 Ezekiel 48:35: ” It was round about eighteen thousand measures: And THE NAME OF THAT CITY FROM THAT DAY SHALL BE THE LORD (YHWH {JEHOVAH} SHAMMAH) IS THERE.”

So the LORD IS THERE, HE IS JEHOVAH SHAMMAH and He will fight for you IF you stand and DO NOT BACK DOWN FROM THE ENEMY. And Fight with HIS WORD which IS the SWORD of the SPIRIT,

“For though we walk in the flesh (natural human state) we DO NOT war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare ARE NOT carnal (earthly), but MIGHTY THROUGH GOD TO THE PULLING DOWN OF STRONG HOLDS;) CASTING DOWN IMAGINATIONS (arguments) AND EVERY HIGH THING THAT EXALTETH ITSELF AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, AND BRINGING INTO CAPTIVITY EVERY THOUGHT TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

  If we ALL stand together in whatever field God has chosen for us, WE WILL SEE the goodness of the Lord, USING HIS SWORD, HIS WORD:

 “And ye shall CHASE your enemies, and they shall FALL before you by the sword. And five of you shall chase a hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies SHALL FALL before you BY THE SWORD.” 

Again you see the UNITY that we must have in these last days and it that field for this harvest!

Love and Peace, have a blessed week!

Φλογιζω Σαλπιζω NBJ 2017         

Re-posted 5/15/2019 from 2017 Archive

Revisited 08/21/2020 Thought someone may need to be reminded of this today, no matter where you are or how alone you may feel, HE IS THERE

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Golden

Golden apples, golden pomegranates, figs, nuts and not to be forgotten the beautiful gilded roses and sprigs of heather that since the Victorian era have added their lovely soft holiday glow to many Christmas trees.

I myself, a die hard Victorian trapped in a modern world with a strong opinion base and more than willing to verbally express those opinions would have no doubt been confined to the solitude of a servants quarter someplace.

So I am thankful I can now have the best of both worlds, but that does bring back a few school memories, now looking back, maybe that strong opinion and big mouth could explain more than one solitary confinement detention, but that is neither here nor there.

Golden apples, can’t make it through the holiday without a least a couple and every time I see one I am reminded of one of my favorite verses: Proverbs 25:11″A word fitly spoken (SPOKEN AT THE RIGHT TIME) is like APPLES OF GOLD in pictures (settings) of silver.”

Think of how beautiful that would truly be, the little snapshot above of my golden apple on my little Victorian tree can give a glimpse of just how the light reflects from that gold, it captures each twinkle and presents a warm, soft glow. Imagine the light reflected from a true golden apple glided by the process of the fire of the word of God. The tradition of Christmas apples can be kinda shaky depending on your research but we know that the only research we need is the symbolism found in the word of God. God refers to his children as the apple of his eye, (meaning pupil, but yet something extremely precious and of irreplaceable value.)

Song of Solomon has countless references to this ,when Jesus announces “I AM the rose of Sharon, AND the lily of the valley” describing his great love and calls her into his presence and she replies Song of Solomon 2:3:

“As the apple tree among the trees of wood, SO IS my beloved among the sons, I sat down UNDER HIS SHADOW with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my taste.” The apple tree bearing nourishing, beautiful, sweet fruit that no other tree could compare too. She goes on to plead to be comforted with apples, as she now had fallen completely in love wishing only to be refreshed and fed in His Presence, his very breath being as the fragrance of apples. Need we say more about apples?

Now for the gold, pure, valuable, beautiful, and reflective and adds worth to anything it touches. Through his fire He will refine his servants” as silver is refined” and try his servants “as gold is tried” his saints are processed as gold, with all the impurities being fired away until all that remains is pure and fire tested, purity tested to prove that they are tried and true.

His word as the setting of those refreshing, encouraging, nourishing “apples”.

Psalm 12:6:”The WORDS of the Lord ARE PURE WORDS; AS SILVER TRIED IN THE FURNACE OF EARTH, purified seven times.” Jesus will send a word in season to those who are weary, we need refreshing, we need encouragement and we live in a world where everyone wants to kick you when your down and people seem to have issues with being loyal friends to more than one person at a time. Sometimes these golden apples, words of encouragement or gentle warning words of wisdom are never delivered by the messengers but they are needed:

Proverbs 25:12,13:”As an earring of gold, and an ornament (adornment) of fine gold, so is a wise reprover  upon an obedient ear. As the cold of SNOW in TIME OF HARVEST, So IS a faithful messenger to them that send him: For he refreshest  the soul of his masters.”

We may not always hear the words that we necessarily want to hear but it refreshes us to the Lord and refreshes us to our path and to that process of our spirits being refined and tried to the purification of God’s golden standard.

Apples in due season, season of if we faint not, seasons of sorrow, seasons of loss, season of discouragement there is nothing finer than apples of gold and the refreshment  brought to weary souls is truly golden.

If you have a scripture or thought that just keeps burning in your soul about someone else, don’t sit on that, pray about it and share it.

Unless it is revealed by the Lord we never know what is going on inside of another soul, they may be so weary that they are in danger of falling, they may be so hurt and wounded that they don’t know where to turn or they could be in danger of heading down the wrong path or have something going on inside that they need to get in check to finish that purification process, you never know but if God continues to stir you heart you need to heed that and don’t keep all the pretty golden apples to yourself, they were meant to be shared!

Φλογίζω για παντα  / NBJ 2015/ original post date: 12/02/2015/ repost 12/20/2019 Rev. Nina Brown Johnson

 

 

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Jehovah God IS THERE

“These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up HIS spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.

And AFTER him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of three mighty with David, when they defied the army of the Philistines that were gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away: He arose, and smote the Philistines until his was weary, and his hand clave (STUCK) unto the sword: and THE LORD WROUGHT A GREAT VICTORY THAT DAY; and the people returned after him only to spoil (plunder).

And AFTER  him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, WHERE WAS A PIECE OF GROUND full of lentiles: And THE PEOPLE FLED FROM THE PHILISTINES. But HE STOOD IN THE MIDST OF THE GROUND, AND DEFENDED IT, AND SLEW THE PHILISTINES; AND THE LORD WROUGHT A GREAT VICTORY. 2 Samuel 23:8-12

 This was a rather impromptu writing and it was born of a conversation I had with my beautiful friend after church Wednesday night, we had been praying and she said that something said and reminded her of Shammah, and then I said and yeah, isn’t there Jehovah Shammah and told her I’d look it up for us, because year after year it is hard to always remember what we have studied, but Jesus promised that He would “bring all things back to our remembrance” So He does remind us of His word EXACTLY when we need it.

This was not the first time this had been brought up in our church, another Sister a couple of months back mentioned it one night from the pew and after I had researched it, I think it is well worth ALL of us in this time to remember this story. We ARE in a battle, we all know that, it is the battle royal for souls and for the TRUE WORD OF GOD, and FOR THE HARVEST OF OUR FIELD that will proceed the coming of our King.

And what I want you to notice in these verses that time after time the enemy encamped, and time after time a warrior was raised up to fight against them and time after time GOD GAVE VICTORY.

BUT  they WERE required to protect that ground THEMSELVES, and if you look at Eleazar, he fought until the sword actually stuck to his hand, he had held it so long and use it so much that his hand had actually, in pain and tiredness, wrapped to it and he WAS weary. I know we get weary, we get tired, and I know the people “have fled” from the house because of the pressure, threats, and attacks of “spiritual” Philistines, pressuring the just could not endure any longer, and then they only came back when blessings were to be had “dividing the spoil” so that should cues us in on the fact, that not everyone is gonna be around for the fight, but someone has got to do it.

And when the Philistines came after the very land itself (view this SPIRITUALLY, your churches, your promises, your God Given destinies) Shammah STOOD in the middle of it, he did not hide, he did not run, but he STOOD and he DEFENDED IT.

God DOES protect, God DOES go before us, and God ALWAYS has our backs, BUT sometimes we are required to stand and defend what God has GIVEN us or it will be taken.

God GAVE Shammah the victory, BUT Shammah first had to be WILLING to STAND AND FIGHT FOR THAT VICTORY. We have to let our voices be heard concerning the TRUE Gospel, we have to let the TRUTH of sin be known and we have to GENTLY admonish and warn people to the truth or otherwise we HAVE given our field to the “Philistines” already.

And why SHOULD God do anything for us as the “body” of Christ will allow any thing to be done to lessen His Word, or candy-coat His truth, or coddle sins and behaviors that we KNOW will send people to hell?

And AGAIN this is NOT About the particular church that I attend, This is about the “Church” as a whole, all of us, all believers that this something I felt as I study it that we need to be on guard and ready to STAND for the particular field God has GIVEN us, as His children. Your field, my field, we all have been GIVEN different fields but we MUST be willing to fight for them and NOT just give them away because the enemy tells us to!

WAIT ON GOD for the victory!!!! BECAUSE GOD IS THERE!

 Ezekiel 48:35: ” It was round about eighteen thousand measures: And THE NAME OF THAT CITY FROM THAT DAY SHALL BE THE LORD (YHWH {JEHOVAH} SHAMMAH) IS THERE.”

So the LORD IS THERE, HE IS JEHOVAH SHAMMAH and He will fight for you IF you stand and DO NOT BACK DOWN FROM THE ENEMY. And Fight with HIS WORD which IS the SWORD of the SPIRIT,

“For though we walk in the flesh (natural human state) we DO NOT war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare ARE NOT carnal (earthly), but MIGHTY THROUGH GOD TO THE PULLING DOWN OF STRONG HOLDS;) CASTING DOWN IMAGINATIONS (arguments) AND EVERY HIGH THING THAT EXALTETH ITSELF AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, AND BRINGING INTO CAPTIVITY EVERY THOUGHT TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

  If we ALL stand together in whatever field God has chosen for us, WE WILL SEE the goodness of the Lord, USING HIS SWORD, HIS WORD:

 “And ye shall CHASE your enemies, and they shall FALL before you by the sword. And five of you shall chase a hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies SHALL FALL before you BY THE SWORD.” 

Again you see the UNITY that we must have in these last days and it that field for this harvest!

Love and Peace, have a blessed week!

Φλογιζω Σαλπιζω NBJ 2017

Re-posted 5/15/2019 from 2017 Archive

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BELIEVE

“And not long after there AROSE against it a tempestuous wind, called Eurocyldon. And when the ship was caught, and could not bear (head) up into the wind, we let her drive ( BE DRIVEN).

And running under (under the shelter of) a certain island which is called Claudia, we had much work to come by the boats ( to secure the ship’s skiff); Which when they had taken up (taken it on board), they used helps (cables) undergirding the ship; and fearing lest they should fall (run aground) into the quick sands, strake sail, and SO WERE DRIVEN.

And being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. And when NEITHER sun nor stars in MANY days appeared, and no small tempest lay (beat) on us, ALL HOPE THAT WE SHOULD BE SAVED WAS TAKEN AWAY.

But after a long abstinence (from food) Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm (disaster) and loss.

And NOW I exhort (urge) you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship.  For there stood by me this night, the angel of God, WHOSE I AM, and WHOM I SERVE, saying, FEAR NOT, Paul; THOU MUST BE BROUGHT BEFORE CEASAR: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer (take heart): For I BELIEVE GOD, that it SHALL BE even as IT WAS TOLD ME.” Acts 27:14-25

Now, Paul was a prisoner on this ship that was caught in this massive storm a storm who had a name, Eurocyldon, which pretty much means wind stirring up waves. Many are in the midst of storms, the storm in your life that IS stirring those waves up against you as they try to blow you completely off course. I am also quite sure your storm also has a name, as they always do.

The storm of despair, the storm of sickness, the storm of recurring circumstances, the storm of financial woes, whatever the storm you are going through, it is the name of your worst enemy at the moment.

But here is where we are going to take a turn in this storm business. I know so many of God’s children who just keep getting hit, over and over. I write quite a bit about it and I truly hope this will be of encouragement.

First off, they did not try to control the ship during the storm, there are just things in life that no matter how much we wish we could, we simply have no control over some things and in the grand realm of all things, we really have no control over anything, so they let the ship BE driven and just simply tried to hold on.

Secondly, they lightened the ship, tossing off every thing that was not vital to survival, often, that is what storms do in our lives, they have a way of making us realize what is truly important and what we can and can not live without.

Finally, as the storm STILL beat down in the darkness, ALL hope SEEMED lost and they really thought they were all going to die. Paul had seen this coming and warned all that they should not go but go they did, after reminding them of fact so that they WOULD now take his next statements with seriousness, he tells them to cheer up, because even though the ship will be lost, they would live.

An angel had appeared to him to comfort him with a VERY POWERFUL fact, Paul WOULD go to Caesar, so NO storm, NO action on earth COULD PREVENT WHAT GOD HAD SPOKEN, and you know what? IT STILL CAN’T!

So I want to stir up your thinking a little, get you concentrating on the blue skies and smooth sailing that are just beyond this latest barrage of woe.  As children of God, we have the promises of God on our lives and I want to you to think about the word God has given to you FOR your life, a word of knowledge or a word of prophecy of His plans for your future and your work and if at all possible make a list of the things that God has spoken over you and KNOW that as long as you have “unfinished” business for the Kingdom, or a direct promise from God concerning something yet to take place, you are under “NO WEAPON THAT IS FORMED AGAINST YOU SHALL PROSPER” umbrella, if you will. 

Just as in another scripture Apostle Paul wrote of a great and effectual “door” the Lord had for him, but that there were MANY adversaries to try to prevent him from entering that door. The battle you have faced could very well be the same set-up. I am not saying that it always is, but when you read God’s word, you clearly see it is not always easy to stand against the “wiles of the devil” but we are encouraged to STAND. 

Let me give you a few more examples of Paul being encouraged through the dark nights by being reassured that he still had work to be accomplished.

“Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be NOT afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace; For I AM WITH THEE, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.” Acts 18:9,10

Jesus gave Paul comfort that he would not let anyone hurt him because Paul would preach to many and he stayed there for a year and six months after the Lord gave him this reassurance.

And again as his life was being threatened, the Lord appeared, as this was reference to the work he would do.

“And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul; for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so MUST thou bear witness also in Rome.” Acts 23:11

God always encouraged Paul by assuring him that he would be okay because he had a job to do and just as our starting verses, PAUL SAID ALL THAT NEEDS SAID when he said “I BELIEVE GOD”

He believed because he believed what had been told him on behalf of God.

Believe, Believe, Believe… “While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, Thy daughter IS dead; trouble NOT the MASTER. But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, FEAR NOT: BELEIVE ONLY, and she SHALL be made whole.” Luke 8:49,50

Just as death had no right to Jairus’ daughter when Jesus said she could not be taken, nothing has any right over you unless the Lord allows that right and as long as you have a word, a hope, and a confidence of His promises you can rest assured, it is not over until He says it is over.

May God Bless and encourage you! Love and Peace until next time!

Φλογίζω Σαλπιζω NBJ 2017

 

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“Learning to just say… NOT SO!”

” And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother answered and said, NOT SO; BUT HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED JOHN.” LUKE 1:59,60

Now the deal with this is that at that time sons were usually named by the father and after the father, but his name had come not from man but from God and knowing this, Elisabeth quickly spoke in the babies defense with NOT SO.

How often do we accept the names and titles wrongfully given to us and our children, not once arguing our own NOT SO! ?

I have written in the past about names and titles and the damage they can do but this was on my heart so strong concerning what does it do to our children, our families, and even us when do not loudly proclaim NOT SO at the wounding words and accusations of others? And what role will it play in ultimately fulfilling our destinies?

What if Zacharias and Elisabeth had disobeyed the voice of the angel of the Lord? What if they had chosen to name this child any name other than the commanded John? Well, we know of a certainty, “John the Baptist” would not have existed, all that was spoken, even in that time, among those who heard him and those who hated him, would never have been uttered and the destined place in the cosmic scheme of all things would have been void and John’s namesake message of GRACE might not have been so quickly proclaimed. 

Of course I know God is sovereign and God uses who He wants, when He wants, but I am just stirring your thoughts to the fact that this was PREDESTINED, PREORDAINED, and that I think many of us are fighting battles and fighting against that predestination by being caught up in names that we have accepted but God NEVER chose to call us or others. 

I can never think of names without thinking of the name of my sister, Ruby, who is my “sister-sister” natural sister and spiritual sister. When her name was in my Mom’s heart, it could have not been more perfect, she is beautiful inside and out, has so much compassion that she cries when others cry and missed her calling as a “Florence Nightingale” (notice the image of a loving nurse popped right up, ah.. the power of a name) due to care and nurture of the sick and wounded. And she truly has been a precious jewel placed in our family and we do thank God for her.

And I think especially of children, when labels are placed on them, especially when they HEAR these labels and all the negativity and self-doubt that those labels immediately cover them in and I do wonder what if, what if those labels change?

What if someone boldly stands and says, NOT SO! I wonder about times when people make accusations and spread gossip about others, especially, IN CHURCHES, often with the “But don’t mention it….” attached to it, ( I am meaning when people tell you the most awful things a person has done or supposedly still doing, and are attacking their character and accusing them to you, while wanting to stay anonymous, behind the others back with them not even aware they are being slandered) we are never to judge someone or listen to “charges” against them without first consulting that person to hear their side of the story, but often we choose to see the worst in others and become, judge, jury, and executioner without ever affording that person a “trail”.

And “as we judge, so shall we be judged” so we can be assured that somewhere along the way, someone will backbite, trash talk, and harm our reputation without us having the benefit of speaking on our behalf in the matter.

And in hindsight, which we all know it the greatest of all sight, I look with terrible, terrible regret at times when I should have stood on behalf of others and myself and screamed NOT SO!

Many “old timers warned of the ability to kill with words, to murder another’s reputation and in doing so we are in effect breaking the sixth  commandment, “Thou shalt not kill”. Because we are killing them with the power of that untamable beast and yet we don’t want it mentioned….of course they SAY they do not want to “stir up” trouble, but trouble is exactly want they want stirred.

This could never be discussed without a trip to the Old Testament and going down that tortuously, long hard road that Joseph trod. From the verse, in which his Mother, gives him, HIS name:

GENESIS 30:24: “And she called his name, Joseph; and said the Lord shall add to me another son.” To the naming of HIS sons;

GENESIS 41:51,52: ” And Joseph called the name of the firstborn MANASSEH  (fortified), for God, said he, hath made me FORGET ALL MY TOIL, and ALL my father’s house.

And the name of the second called he EPHRAIM(fruitful),; for God hath CAUSE ME TO BE FRUITFUL IN THE LAND OF MY AFFLICTION.”

And we can travel that road reading his story until words would be fulfilled about his very bones over four hundred years later:

EXODUS 13:19: “And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he (Joseph) had straightly sworn (placed under a solemn oath) the children of Israel, saying, GOD WILL SURELY VISIT YOU; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.”

So Joseph’s namesake “add to” surely was fulfilled, but what about all the names and titles he had to have faith to ignore on that road? Hated by his brothers because of their jealously, he endured, that time equivalent to “brat”, “pet”, and “Daddy’s boy”, and suffered by their hands, now we add  “rejected”, “abused” “hated to death”, Finally “slave” falsely accused and imprisoned, he would have been labeled “rapist” and after those he helped remembered him no more, and as two years went by, he could have easily been labeled “forgotten and forsaken” but he NEVER allowed these labels to adhere to him and he held onto FAITH, that these names, these “titles”, these labels were NOT SO!

Can you imagine the pain, not only of the hurt and anguish he felt at the realization that they did indeed HATE him, but to be ripped away from all he had ever known and loved? But as God brought him out and brought him up, he chose to name his children,  “fortified” strengthen and protected, causing him to FORGET ALL his father’s house, all he suffered and unfortunately the pain of the loss of all he loved.

And “fruitful”, because he said GOD HAD MADE HIM FRUITFUL IN THE LAND OF HIS AFFLICTION. Many, many times he could have just laid it down, he could have lost hope and gave into to voices calling lies over him, and walked out on his destiny, but he chose to BELEIVE in his heart that these heartaches and struggles were only for a little while and when the enemies tried to convince him otherwise, he would remember in his heart what his father had taught, he would rest in his God and know all the lies and false labels had no power over him.

So I want to ask you today, what labels have been applied to you? What labels have been falsely attached to your family, your children? What words, names, and titles do you need to ask the Lord to tear down and break the yoke of those strangling, binding words today, because they HAVE POWER, but GOD HAS MORE!

But God gives us freewill and we must CHOOSE what voice we will hear and what we are willing to accept and we must have courage through the word of God to CHOOSE to hear what HE says about us.

As the Bible states, “Let God be true, and every man a liar”  DO NOT allow others to label you and for the love of God, never let the label children or the elderly while they are in “earshot”, what we hear, we tend to believe and if WE BELEIVE OTHERS THINK US BAD,SICK, OR MENTALLY UNSTABLE , okay, guess what? BAD, SICK, and MENTALLY UNSTABLE WE SHALL BE!

But if YOU choose to say to that person (or yourself) NOT SO! And offer instead to that person a word of hope, healing, or encouragement, and peace, that can change their mindset and MAYBE change the final outcome of that life. Find scripture and use them.

Afraid? “He hath not given us a SPIRIT of fear, but of a SOUND MIND”

Sick? “HE IS risen with healing in his wings”

Tired? COME UNTO ME…..I WILL GIVE THEE REST.”

Every single problem we can have, THERE IS  a word for that problem, use a reference Bible, go online and search scriptures for…… and use them, when everything and everyone around you says you are defeated…. NOT SO! “We ARE MORE THAN CONQUERS THROUGH HIM THAT LOVED US.”

Think about it today, don’t look back years from now when damage is done ( I do hold to the belief that THERE IS NO DAMAGE THAT GOD CAN NOT UNDO, but if it can be avoided, it will save much heartache) and wish you had said NOT SO! to thoughts, labels, titles, and the voices of others, regardless of WHOSE MOUTHS those wrong voices are coming out of! God and GOD ALONE holds your past, present, and future and HE IS the author and finisher of your faith.

He started you, he wrote your story and HE IS more than able to take a tragic beginning and compose into it the world’s most triumphant work! What HE starts in all of us, HE WILL finish. So again, please, please please, (see I really, really pleaded with you) DO NOT ACCEPT ANYONES thoughts, labels, and TRASH, just say, satan (they are his agents) THAT”S JUST NOT SO!

Φλογιζω Σαλπιζω NBJ 2016

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Golden

Golden apples, golden pomegranates, figs, nuts and not to be forgotten the beautiful gilded roses and sprigs of heather that since the Victorian era have added their lovely soft holiday glow to many Christmas trees.

I myself, a die hard Victorian trapped in a modern world with a strong opinion base and more than willing to verbally express those opinions would have no doubt been confined to the solitude of a servants quarter someplace.

So I am thankful I can now have the best of both worlds, but that does bring back a few school memories, now looking back, maybe that strong opinion and big mouth could explain more than one solitary confinement detention, but that is neither here nor there.

Golden apples, can’t make it through the holiday without a least a couple and every time I see one I am reminded of one of my favorite verses: Proverbs 25:11″A word fitly spoken (SPOKEN AT THE RIGHT TIME) is like APPLES OF GOLD in pictures (settings) of silver.”

Think of how beautiful that would truly be, the little snapshot above of my golden apple on my little Victorian tree can give a glimpse of just how the light reflects from that gold, it captures each twinkle and presents a warm, soft glow. Imagine the light reflected from a true golden apple glided by the process of the fire of the word of God. The tradition of Christmas apples can be kinda shaky depending on your research but we know that the only research we need is the symbolism found in the word of God. God refers to his children as the apple of his eye, (meaning pupil, but yet something extremely precious and of irreplaceable value.)

Song of Solomon has countless references to this ,when Jesus announces “I AM the rose of Sharon, AND the lily of the valley” describing his great love and calls her into his presence and she replies Song of Solomon 2:3:

“As the apple tree among the trees of wood, SO IS my beloved among the sons, I sat down UNDER HIS SHADOW with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my taste.” The apple tree bearing nourishing, beautiful, sweet fruit that no other tree could compare too. She goes on to plead to be comforted with apples, as she now had fallen completely in love wishing only to be refreshed and fed in His Presence, his very breath being as the fragrance of apples. Need we say more about apples?

Now for the gold, pure, valuable, beautiful, and reflective and adds worth to anything it touches. Through his fire He will refine his servants” as silver is refined” and try his servants “as gold is tried” his saints are processed as gold, with all the impurities being fired away until all that remains is pure and fire tested, purity tested to prove that they are tried and true.

His word as the setting of those refreshing, encouraging, nourishing “apples”.

Psalm 12:6:”The WORDS of the Lord ARE PURE WORDS; AS SILVER TRIED IN THE FURNACE OF EARTH, purified seven times.” Jesus will send a word in season to those who are weary, we need refreshing, we need encouragement and we live in a world where everyone wants to kick you when your down and people seem to have issues with being loyal friends to more than one person at a time. Sometimes these golden apples, words of encouragement or gentle warning words of wisdom are never delivered by the messengers but they are needed:

Proverbs 25:12,13:”As an earring of gold, and an ornament (adornment) of fine gold, so is a wise reprover  upon an obedient ear. As the cold of SNOW in TIME OF HARVEST, So IS a faithful messenger to them that send him: For he refreshest  the soul of his masters.”

We may not always hear the words that we necessarily want to hear but it refreshes us to the Lord and refreshes us to our path and to that process of our spirits being refined and tried to the purification of God’s golden standard.

Apples in due season, season of if we faint not, seasons of sorrow, seasons of loss, season of discouragement there is nothing finer than apples of gold and the refreshment  brought to weary souls is truly golden.

If you have a scripture or thought that just keeps burning in your soul about someone else, don’t sit on that, pray about it and share it.

Unless it is revealed by the Lord we never know what is going on inside of another soul, they may be so weary that they are in danger of falling, they may be so hurt and wounded that they don’t know where to turn or they could be in danger of heading down the wrong path or have something going on inside that they need to get in check to finish that purification process, you never know but if God continues to stir you heart you need to heed that and don’t keep all the pretty golden apples to yourself, they were meant to be shared!

Φλογίζω για παντα  / NBJ 2015/ original post date: 12/02/2015/ repost 12/20/2019

 

 

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OF MADMEN, MARTYRS, AND MAIDS/ PART 2

We all have a Bible, one we often take for granted. Humor me for a moment, if you will, close your eyes and picture a man tied to a stake surrounded by fodder and as a crowd looks on, now imagine him being strangled and set on fire, his last words spoken on this earth having been a prayer, that God would open the eyes of the King of England.
That is the price William Tyndale paid. He was fluent in eight languages and it was his soul desire to bring the true word of God to the smallest of the world.
Despite constant adversity and the destruction of his work, he carried on.
The last seventeen months of his life spent in prison diligently translating the Old Testament into English, a work which was completed by a friend after his death.

So much of the true roots of the church and sacrifices made by others to give us the freedom we have today have been all but forgotten.
Replaced by agendas of man-made doctrines, and denominational bickering over who is going to hell, because they hold a slightly different view. I’m still pretty, pretty sure that only God has the authority to make that judgment.

Picture again, if you will, a man driven to near madness after the murder of his wife, and  with his people enslaved to England he decided to lead a revolt against their oppressors.
Being quoted as once having said “Fight and you may die, run away and you will live at least for a while, and dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies, that they make take our lives but they will never take our freedom”
Picture this man tortured, disemboweled, and emasculated while still alive, his tormentors repeatedly offering him a quick death if he would renounce his acts.
Sir William Wallace would not. He died for his beliefs and because of his thirst for freedom and his love for his people he endured.
Just as Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:22 “Ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake: but he that endureth to the end shall  be saved.”
It is time for us to follow that burning in our souls. What is your hearts desire today? What group of people whose suffering brings tears to your eyes and breaks your heart?
What is the still small voice of the Lord prompting you to do?
The world will always smash your dreams, that is why you don’t look at the world. Some of the wisest words ever spoken were “Anything that is worth having is worth fighting for.”
What if Tyndale had just given up,  and said “Oh, well, sorry” and never translated another word or destroyed his own work.
What if Wallace had pledged allegiance to England and surrender a breath of God save the King?
We would be at the mercy of someone else concerning our salvation, we would be told only what they wanted us to believe.
Scotland would now be a distant memory, a land only visited in history books.
The sad reality is the “church” as it was created to be is also in danger of becoming a memory, a place to be visited in history books, well actually secular schools would never want to acknowledge churches existed, so maybe passed down through folklore.
It is time to stand up against false doctrines and blatant sin that has opened up shop under the guise of a “church”.
If we never breathe a word against injustice, whether it be human rights, animal rights, or the false doctrines hiding behind the misuse of the word Christian, we all become guilty by omission. Not to speak against it is as the same as condoning it.
Jeremiah could not stop that fire in him, you shouldn’t either, let it out, “If God be for you, who can be against you?”
And if they refuse to listen, take it as a compliment!
” For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall heap to themselves, teachers having itching ears (ones who tell them what they want to hear) And they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned into fables (believe lies) But WATCH thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”
                                  2 Timothy 4:3-5
God had us warned throughout the New testament that these days would come, the false teachers would come and the false prophets and at the time of Paul’s writings, he said they were already here! Imagine now.
Stand for the truth, let it be known, Let the lord lead you and guide you and stay in his word.
Share the truth and if it falls on deaf ears, don’t worry, you have done your job and while they are still here praying to their God of gumdrops and lollipops we will be at the biggest Jewish wedding the universe will ever know!

Original Date:12/29/2013. All rights reserved. Rev. Nina BrownJohnson 2015
Post note: I realize the Wallace quote was used in the movie, but it is nevertheless listed with quotes accredited to him.

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OF MADMEN, MARTYRS AND MAIDS/ PART1

Now that we are all awake, where’s the fire? Man, that’s a good question, especially when you consider scriptures such as “For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:29
“Who maketh his angels spirits and his ministers (servants) a flaming  fire.” Psalm 104:4
The fire Jesus refers to when he said “I know thy works that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:15,16
Lukewarm Christianity  is like lukewarm anything.
It is a spineless, gutless attempt to lay claim to a massive inheritance of untold worth while denying the very one it is handed down by.
That is why the Lord tells them without question that he knows their works, and he wants to give him their all or give him nothing but don’t try to play the middle.
Today we have become so worried about offending people and being politically correct, that we will choke back anything while the true church is ran into the ground.
The prophet Jeremiah also went through this in his time.

“For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me, and a derision daily, Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak anymore in his name. But his word was  in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing and could not stay.”
                                 Jeremiah 20:8,9
Jeremiah had absolutely the worst job in the Bible, he is often referred to as “the Prophet of doom”.
It was his job to proclaim the forthcoming judgment on his own people, the very people who instead of heeding his warnings would ridicule him, even to the point that he would have rather not have been born as to have to carry out this task.
But the fire of God and the holy calling on him, that had been placed on him before he had been formed in his mother’s womb, was so strong and burned so deep that it could not be contained and it prevailed.
God wants to use some people in these last days that are wiling to just let Him burn in them and do the work his has created them for.
People like Martin Luther who took on the entire church of his day, because a fellow named Tetzel had cooked up quite a money-making scheme,  enough money to help build Saint Peter’s Cathedral, by selling what he called “indulgences”.
A get out of purgatory free certificate, ( purgatory being the Catholics belief in pre-hell, a place we know does not exist, because the rich man in the story of Lazarus had lifted up his eyes in hell) Luther being disgusted and knowing for himself the truth of God nailed his understanding of that truth to the church door.
John Brown, who finally became so tired of the injustice done to the slaves that he started his own movement, which regrettably became violent, bloody and cost lives.
One of the last photos taken of him before his execution, tells all there is to tell, as a small, black child hugs him as they lead him away to his hanging.
When he had been asked how he justified what he had done, this was his reply “Upon the golden rule. I pity the poor in bondage that have none to help them, that is why I am here, not to gratify any personal animosity, revenge or vindictive spirit. It is my sympathy with the oppressed and wronged that are as good as you and are as precious in the sight of God.”
Luther suffered excommunication and the threat of death but took his cause forward.
Brown paid with his life, I am sure he never wanted to see any lives lost, but I am equally as sure that the hug he received before going to his death was worth it all because he knew he had lived for something other than himself.
Two very different men, both having a common fire, burning for truth, justice and to see others truly free. That fire could be contained. Nor should it today, pray for that fire.
If one voice can affect the entire world, what can we accomplish with our voices collectively speaking as one?

Original Post: 12/20/2013.

All rights reserved. Rev. Nina BrownJohsnon  2015