Spiritual Wickedness

 37 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did hunt the band of robbers of Gadianton; and they did preach the word of God among the more wicked part of them, insomuch that this band of robbers was utterly destroyed from among the Lamanites.

38 And it came to pass on the other hand, that the Nephites did build them up and support them, beginning at the more wicked part of them, until they had overspread all the land of the Nephites, and had seduced the more part of the righteous until they had come down to believe in their works and partake of their spoils, and to join with them in their secret murders and combinations.

I remember years ago, sitting in the dental office foyer waiting while my son was having dental work done, that on the TV it was announce Osama bin Laden was killed. I saw both on tv and the people around me were all celebrating in the death of this person. 

I automatically thought of the Gadianton Robbers and how to take care of your enemies. 

You need to get to the root and heart of the problem. 

Ephesians6:12

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Be Prepared Dream, Firm Foundation

 

Dream from Feb 2023

Father spoke to me, either face to face or audio (don't recall now upon waking) that I needed to get my family downstairs in the storm shelter NOW. 

Saw my parents and told them they needed to go down stairs past the basement into the second basement (to the foundation) and stay there.

Went to another part of the house to gather my kids. (Realizing these ones never did drills/practice for natural disasters nor packed a Go-Bag) I told them, lets go. Realizing they were barefoot needed to find shoes, have stuff we needed for after the storm. Knew the storm would wipe out ALL the houses and stuff above the foundation. 

Emma was brushing her teeth and didn't want to go till she was done and could spit. There was no sink down in the basement/foundation area. I was literally tugging her/escorting her by pulling on her right arm. Told her she could spit once there in a garbage can or something else. 

When we got to the place a lady asked how we did, if we made it in a normal time. I shook my head no, 5 min too long. Took us 7 min to get there instead of the 2. Turns out it was just a drill sent from Father and a practice run. I was very grateful for that. We would prepare and gather every needed thing and put in a  Go-Bag. So when I was told to go, by the Father again- this time we could go "Now" and not be delayed 5 minutrs to gather and go and kids will know the importance of dropping what they are doing and come without hesitation. 

Dream shifted- in a store/shop. Quietly adding seashells to open shallow tables/counters. Making a beautiful sea display. 

Shifted to art class teacher teaching. Blink my eyes and 5 years later. I don't remember being there for 5 years or having experiences. Switched where I sat. Everyone else had easels. I was trying to find one.

 We were all given specific paintings. There were 4 different parts like puzzle pieces and when don, line up the canvases together to show the whole/finished project. I was far to the right and with 3 others. Best friend on the other side of me with 2 others in between. Told them that when we left class it was vital that they go home and stay indoors. Don't go outside for any reason. Best friend was uncomfortable,  I told her if you need to cut ties with me she said guilty by association. If I was seen as a jackpot she would be too and lose social status. She was concerned if the storm did not happen. 

I said if I was wrong on timing so be it. But I would do my duty and warn others. I would not be responsible for the deaths of others. Their blood would not be on my head. 

Huge storm would come and destroy everything above ground and underground that wasn't on its foundation. So important for people to go down to the foundation. Even if it wasn't deep underground as long as they were on a true solid firm foundation they would be passed over by destruction. Everything else would be taken away in this storm that all the forecasters had no clue and therefore could not warn others. It was a beautiful day. 

End of dreams.

Words of Betsie & Corrie van Boom

Being in the center of his (God's will) is our only safety. -Betsie to Corrie 

The love of God is stronger than the deepest darkness- Betsie to Corrie

Thank you Father that your love for me is victorious over my hatred- Corrie 

Look around and be distressed

Look within and be depressed 

Look at Jesus and be at rest

I served the Lord in strength and will serve him in weakness. Served him while young and old age

The 2nd verse of How Firm a Foundation comes to my mind as I read those words.

That hymn has been a great source of strength and comfort to me over the years. I love ALL 7 verses of it. 

...that there is no pit so deep that the Love of God is not deeper still-Betsie to Corrie

When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.- Corrie van Boom

Divine Delay

 Journal entry for Jan 18th, 2023

What we might consider a delay might just be God's timing and putting everything into place.

I was going to go to Walmart but got delayed (bathroom visit and then sitting on the bed to watch a trailer conversion- about 45-50 min video). 

Finally went to walmart, took time to look and get a wide-cart. The one that has the double seats for kids. First we (my youngest kids and I) headed to the grocery section. Got our milk then headed to buy cheese. Saw a lady panicking walking past us in the opposite direction. I had the thought to catch up to her to ask what was causing her such destress. Didn't act upon that thought but told my kids let's pray for her, which we did. We then went towards produce and when there Emma (my 11 year old) pointed to $ on the floor. Either she or I picked it up. She told me latter her first thought was- "wow $$$, I want to keep it" then she thought "NO, I should tell my mom about it." I held the money in my clinched fist. Didn't even think about how much it was. An older couple was near by, I asked if they dropped $, after a few moments they said no. I then remembered the lady from just a few minutes prior. 

Emma and I split up on each side of the aisle and walked the grocery side, no sign of her. Then we went with our cart towards Customer Service and said to the kids, "I think that is her." Her back was to us. She was talking to the employees.

We came up and I got her attention. I asked her- "You are distressed, did you loose something?" She said yes, and before she could say anything else, I said, "Money?" She said, "yes $83."I opened up my fist and showed her the $. She counted it, only $63. She was missing a twenty dollar bill.

I told her I would recheck the area and if we couldn't find it I would cover the rest of her bill.

Turns out she originally went to pay for her stuff in the self checkout line and went to pull out her money to pay and that's when she found out her money was missing. That is when she frantically went to retrace her steps in the store and when I first saw her.

She said to the Customer Service ladies, "there are still kind people."

We didn't find the missing $20 bill, even asked the lady sweeping the floor. I grabbed fruit and followed the lady we helped to the check out area and put my cart to the register next to hers. Then paid for the rest of her purchases which came to $17. 

We hugged. She told me that was ALL the $ they had. She was now short only 3 dollars total from when she first came into Walmart with her last $83 to her name. 

I am glad I was "delayed" in going to Walmart shopping because the Lord used my daughter and myself to help a lady who was in need.

Divine delay or in other words- right place, right time. Seems to happen alot lately or I am more aware of it. Click Here to read a past post about God's timing.

The Little Things Can Be the Big Things

I had the following dream this Spring as follows:

I told the man who sold us his 5th wheel, "Your little things are our huge thing!"

Knowing how to handle water heaters and appliances. 

He fixed it and at the same time flipped a switch to have both our stove and fridge run on the propane. 

So simple for him, like an afterthought but huge for us! We were so grateful to him. *End of that dream*

After the dream I woke up with that little phrase "a little thing for one is a huge thing for another. So help another out."

It might be a huge thing and blessing for the other person.

The day before, we had 2 puppies dropped off under the trailer from their momma from down the road. We fed them and took the time to remove ALL the ticks from their small bodies. One had over 75 and the other over 100. Some of the ticks had been there for awhile. Both puppies fell asleep after that. 

The memory of the puppies came back into my mind after fully waking up for the day. That was a simple, somewhat easy thing for me to do, just a little time consuming removing all the ticks. I have had tons of practice over the years and almost like a second thought just like the guy in my dream.  But for the puppies, it was a huge thing! Something they couldn't do for themselves and they were very grateful for that service. 

We have the opportunity to help one another. Just like one's strength is another's weakness. We are to fill in the gaps and help one another. We need one another. The key is to let the Holy Spirit guide you to where to go, when to go, what to say and do and how to do it. 

Shifting a little or maybe a lot now-

Many times the "little things" are the "big things". Often we are willing to do big things but ignore the little things. Other times not willing to do either the big or small things. Or not willing to STOP doing the big or small things to come closer to God.  It reminds me of a beautiful blog post I read awhile back. I invite you to click Here to read, ponder, and apply it. Happy reading- your Sister in Christ- Sally. 

The Gift of Health

 

The Gift of Health

***It is SO much more than not being physically sick**

When I say the word health, what comes to your mind? 

The 1828 Webster dictionary has the following insight into the word “health”

HEALTH, noun helth. [from heal.] That state of an animal or living body, in which the parts are sound, well organized and disposed, and in which they all perform freely their natural functions. In this state the animal feels no pain. This word is applied also to plants.

1. Sound state of the mind; natural vigor of faculties.

2. Sound state of the mind, in a moral sense; purity; goodness.

There is no health in us.

3. Salvation or divine favor, or grace which cheers God's people. Psalms 43:5,

4. Wish of health and happiness; used in drinking. Come, love and health to all; an elliptical phrase, for, I wish health to you.

Down below is something the Lord has taught me concerning “health”

When you think of a square, there are 4 exact sides which have 90 degree angles in each of the corners. 

A person can be like that square- we are part: physical, metal, emotional, and spiritual. When we are like those 90 degree angles on each side, we are balanced.

Too much or too little and you no longer have a square. Those 90 degree angles are vital. So too, in our life. 

Q: So what does this have to do with "health" you might ask? 

Many times we just focus on the physical and or spiritual, or mental and sometimes emotional part of us, BUT what about all 4 of them ( at the same time) and how they are all a part of one great whole? 

In the Bible dictionary we find the following under the word health:

In old English the word health denotes:

Healing Power 

Deliverance

Salvation

Here are some examples of health meaning healing as found in the Old Testament

Isaiah 58:8

"Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.”

Exodus 23:25 Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you.

In other scriptures "health" denotes deliverance/safety

Acts 27:34 " Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not a hair fall from the head of any of you. 

Psalms 32:7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance

Health can also mean salvation or in other words "saving health"

Psalms 43:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Psalms 67:2 That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.

In my patriarchal blessing, baby blessing, and many other priesthood blessings over the years I am told I am blessed with "good health" and counseled that as I live the commandments relating to it, I will be blessed. For most of my life I hadn’t seen “good health” as a gift.  Nor, taken into consideration that there is much more to health/good health than not being physically sick/unwell. 

*Disclaimer-that is NOT to say that I have never experienced sickness or addiction. I have had colds, the  flu, dental work up the wazoo over the years. Had a sugar addiction and was really sick with pneumonia and had strep throat a few times and don't forget tonsillitis, that made me really sick for a long time until I had my tonsils removed as a teenager.*

healing, safety/deliverance, and salvation

The 3 are linked together, think of points on an equilateral triangle

Here is something that also relates to Health. We are spiritual beings endowed with physical bodies along with the emotional part and mental part. 

Q: The Law of the Fast- what is its purpose???

A: In Isaiah chapter 58 we find out the following:

• Loose bands of wickedness

• Undo heavy burdens

• Oppressed go free

• Administer to hungry & afflicted.    

As we do so we will have abundant Life.

So having the gift of health=healing, safety, and salvation.     

Going back to the square analogy

Adding up those four  90 degree angles and you get the following:

90+90+90+90=360 degrees

360 degrees=Perfection (whole & complete)

Recap

Isaiah 58:8  Exodus 23:25 

Health=Healing, healing power

Acts 27:34, Psalms 32:7      Health=Safety/Deliverance

Psalms 43:5, 67:2               

Health=Salvation

Many and I mean MANY more scriptures speak of this gift of Health (healing + safety/deliverance + salvation) and each one of us has an opportunity to seek it out for ourselves. What I shared is just like a little movie trailer/teaser. 

The greatest physician of all is Yeshua! Did you know his name Yeshua actually means Salvation? 

As we seek God with all our might, mind, and strength we will be changed, be aligned, and be balanced! 

He will give us healing (not just physical), safety, and salvation! 

***God will help people and heal them,  but they must reach to him with their hearts. He's not demanding, but he does need their hearts or else his help is not for their salvation.***

Let us close with Psalms 91-promises of God and a prayer. 

Psalms 91 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

        

Gift of Dreams, Visions, and Interpretation of Dreams Part 3 of 3

 Gift of Dreams, Visions, and Interpretation of Dreams part 3

We have discussed some of the why’s of God’s sending communication to his children through the means of dreams, night visions, and waking visions. 

Have you had a dream and you are like - “Wow there’s something to this but have no clue what it means?” Or get the gist of the dream but have questions to what each part means? You are not alone. Which brings us to the last part of this post- 

The Gift of Interpretation of Dreams

Remember God is NO Respecter of Persons and he gives gifts for us to share with each other. Many gifts from God come in pairs or in other words have companions. Think of peanut butter & jelly. Those two just go so well together. 

Here are just a few pairs-

 The Gift of Prophecy & Revelation.

The Gift of Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues 

Soooo it should NOT surprise us that there would be the Gift of Interpretation to accompany the Gift of Dreams & Visions.

I was telling my brother how I needed to not trust in the Arms of flesh but in the Lord. I was seeking help straight from the Lord for the interpretation of some of the dreams I had had. This was his response-  

“It is true that we need to depend on God, and not put our trust in the arm of flesh.  But did the Kings put their trust in the arm of flesh when they asked Daniel and Joseph to interpret dreams?  I believe that they put their trust in God.  And I certainly believe that you and I can put our trust in God, and help each other with the gifts that we have.  I have learned from the dreams that you have shared with me, and I am grateful for you sharing with me.”

Both Joseph of Egypt and Daniel were given by God the ability to interpret the King's dreams. You might say, “Well that’s the mighty Joseph and Daniel, they were chosen, God’s prophets you are talking about- GREAT MEN, of course God would grant them that gift and I am just a nobody.” 

If this sounds like something you would say, think, or feel, I would encourage you to really study the Lectures on Faith and get to know the attributes and characteristics of God. He really is NO respecter of persons. Also a layer of unbelief the Lord helped me get rid of is the whole “Stewardship Thing”. Meaning that you are ONLY allowed to receive revelation/inspiration, etc only for your own immediate family, and church callings. The Lord will use whoever and however he wants. We are the ones that like to keep putting God in a box. That is simply NOT true, regardless of what church leaders/authorities, or family and friends might say. 

No one, and certainly NO  church organization owns a MONOPOLY on God!!! Same thing with the gifts!!! 

Took the following from my brother's blog and put it in “you’ form- goes along with the above.

Q: Do you understand that the Lord gives different gifts to different people?

Not because one person is better than the other, but so that all can work together, living in peace and harmony as Jesus taught.  

Q:Instead, do you believe that God is a respecter of persons and will not give gifts to the lowly, while not giving better gifts to the special priesthood holders? 

 A false doctrine in direct opposition to what Jesus taught, and yet many believe this. Do you???

I wasn’t planning on sharing the above, however, I was told to add that in there so that’s the “why” behind the little sermon above. Moving on now.  

Do Not Interpretations Belong To God? 

Gen 40:8 And they (Pharaoh’s butler and his baker) said unto him(Joseph), We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you. 

Pharaoh and King Nebuchadnezzar both pop into my mind with this subject 

*If you read the accounts you will realize these men weren’t the nicest fellows. Both had tempers and let ego and power get to their heads. They also were quite vain, thinking they were something, able to interpret their own dreams. Then, getting into difficulty. However they had dreams that were both very important and God is the one through his servants that interpreted those dreams.

Joseph- son of Jacob (of Egypt) was given the opportunity to interpret the baker and butlers dreams. Then later (2 years later I believe) Pharaoh was given a dream that stumped him and his magicians. The Butler remembered Joseph and told the Pharaoh about him and how Joseph could help. 

See the full account Genesis 40 & 41 I highly recommend reading and studying it out.

Daniel 2 King Nebuchadnezzar was an interesting fellow. To keep this post from being a novel I am encouraging you to look up the account yourself. Just sharing tiny parts of the account-Here’s just an example of some questions to get you started.

Q: What state was the King in when he woke up from this specific dream?

Q: What did the King do next? 

Q: What was the response of those that were there?

Q: What does the King tell them/require of them?

Q: How is this conversation going between the Chaldeans and the King? 

Q: How does the King take the news? Who’s lives were in danger?

Daniel comes into the scene, he talks to the Kings guard and asks-

Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:18 That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.24 Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation.25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;29 As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.30 But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.

For years I have kept my dreams mostly to myself. Then it was like- share them already, those dreams aren’t just for you anyways. Some dreams aren’t even about me or for me BUT for others. As I share dreams with others , they are blessed and I am as well as I ask the Lord to allow others to know the meaning of the dreams. It has been an amazing process. Many times as I type up dreams or share with others more details pop into my mind. Those I am sharing with will ask specific questions. Sometimes I give more clarity but many times clarity is given to me and more information is given to us all. 

We are all like an individual puzzle piece in a huge jigsaw puzzle. Every puzzle piece is NEEDED to complete this puzzle.  We are to help one another, share with one another, temporal AND Spiritual. This definitely includes the Gifts of the Spirit. We need to truly love one another, that includes loving oneself -  how the Lord loves us. I will close with these words from my brother which I add my Amen to- 

“Let’s purify ourselves as Jesus taught, purify our hearts, strip ourselves of pride and envy, and repent of all worldly desire, seeking only the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness.  Then let us approach Him in faith, nothing wavering, and He will answer.”