Jesus' Dusty Feet

 

When I was a young girl I recall walking barefoot in the fine country dust. The dust, warmed by the sun, felt good poofing up between my toes and out from under my feet - like generous portions of powder off a puff, soft and dry. Nahum 1:3 says, “... clouds are the dust beneath His feet”, speaking of God!

Most times when I am praying ‘the full armor of God’, and I come to the ‘shoes of the readiness (or preparation) of the Gospel of Peace’, I see an image of Jesus - mostly His feet - in sandals, walking a dusty road. Matthew 4:12-13 tells us, “Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.” Capernaum, Israel, has hot, dusty, summers. The roads there were unplanned and unpaved. Jesus surely walked through the dust.

Jesus - who had no place to lay His head (no earthly home) - walked this earth much. He was either in a boat, or walking from one destination to the next. In fact, Jesus was mostly walking which means His feet got dusty just like mine did, and still do. I wonder if He, too, enjoyed walking in fine loose dust when He was a little boy? The scriptures don't discuss such things. We do know from scriptures, however, that one of Jesus’ final acts was to wash the dust off the feet of His Disciples in a moment of teaching servanthood by His example.

Dusty feet is not an uncommon thing - especially among the poor and the traveler. Dusty feet is a trademark of Jesus’ followers as they live the life, and do the work, of the Gospel of Peace - peace between man and God. The Gospel shoes are for living, and sharing, the Gospel in our everyday life journey. Glory to God in the Highest! There was the time when Jesus was sending His Disciples out to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. He was sending them out to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Jesus instructed the Disciples in this way, saying “... Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet.”

When King Jesus was born into this earth there was no room for Him except to be born in a barn and laid in a manger following His birth. A manger is a rack for fodder, or a structure or feeder used to hold food for animals. The manger Jesus was laid in was made of stone. Yes, Jesus was born in a barn and laid in a food trough - after all, we are the Sheep of His pasture and He is the Bread of Life! In birth, even, Jesus identified Himself with the lowly and poor. It would have been dusty in that barn where Jesus was born, I'm certain. Proverbs 16:19 says, “It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud.” Jesus did not come to divide spoil with the proud. He came to restore and reconcile what is His back to Himself! King Jesus began with the lowly and poor - the dusty commoner.

Later, in Jesus’ adult life, a Scribe offered to follow Him saying, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go." Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Matthew 8:19-20) Surely there were times Jesus may have had to lay His head upon the dust - or very near the dust - to sleep. 

Dust tends to permeate every environment, and makes its way into even the palaces of Kings. When I lived out in the country on a farm in order to keep up with the dust one would have to be in a perpetual state of dusting. When I did housekeeping for a wealthy family, in their home, I dusted every day. Dust is a fact of this life which no one escapes. We are made from dust by our Creator, even, and to dust we will return.

In Genesis 3:17-19 God pronounces to Adam the consequence of his disobedience in eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. God warned Adam not to eat of that tree, and that if he did he would die. Here, then, is God's pronouncement:

Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat from it'; cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; and you will eat the plants of the field; by the sweat of your face you will eat bread, till you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

To the serpent who tempted Eve God said, "Because you have done this, cursed are you more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; on your belly you will go, and dust you will eat all the days of your life…” (Genesis 3:14) This is reiterated in Isaiah 65:25 where it says, “... dust will be the serpent's food.”

In the book of Ecclesiastes, verses 3:19-20, King Solomon writes, “For the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same. As one dies so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath and there is no advantage for man over beast, for all is vanity. All go to the same place. All came from the dust and all return to the dust.” And again in verse 12:7, “... then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.”

Dust. Dry bones. From these God is able to create and instill life! Ezekiel 37:1-10 tells of a most miraculous and awesome account! Here Ezekiel says:

The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones. He caused me to pass among them round about, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley; and lo, they were very dry. He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?", and I answered, "O Lord GOD, You know." Again He said to me, "Prophesy over these bones and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones, Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life. I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the LORD.'" So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And I looked, and behold, sinews were on them, and flesh grew and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life."'" So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

Very dry bones. Very dry dust. From these the Creator can, and does, bring life. In Isaiah 26:19 God says, “Your dead will live; Their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, For your dew is as the dew of the dawn, And the earth will give birth to the departed spirits.”

In 1 Samuel 2:6-8 Hannah recites a song of thanksgiving when God relieved her of her barrenness. She says, “The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. The Lord makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts. He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with nobles, and inherit a seat of honor; for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and He set the world on them.”

Dust - laying in the dust; throwing dust on one's head - was often a way for one to express their extreme sorrow, or humbling one's self before the Lord. Jesus chose the dusty path of humility. He was known as ‘Man of Sorrows’. The King of Kings came and identified Himself as the Son of God, Son of Man, by donning a body of dust, and living in this dusty world along with all us dusty and dying sinners. Then, at the Cross, Jesus won victory over sin and death, giving those who will believe and trust in Him beauty for ashes. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44,49,51-57 tells us:

“So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. 

… If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.

… Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "Death IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

And this is the gift of God for His children created from dust, for those who will believe. “... Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

My Story: Failure

I would rightfully be considered a failure. I did OK in school, but certainly not my best. I could have done better had I cared more, or been more confident or motivated. I saw no reward in store for anything I may have aspired to do or be. In topics of interest I did excel - Art, Drama, Speech, Music, Language Arts… In High School more homework was left undone than done. I mostly excelled at smoking cigarettes, smoking pot, skipping school, and forging notes from my mom. My senior year I got pregnant and lost the baby at around 5 months of pregnancy. I finished the year and graduated.

I could tell stories from childhood, talk about my origins (parents, locations, economic status), but these have come to bore me. I have too often used these as excuses. I love stories and storytelling (not lies). I have been a prolific storyteller all of my life. The problem is that most of my life I have shared my stories as self involved justification for my behaviors or particular circumstances in life. Today I am a New Creation in Christ Jesus. My story has forever changed! My old story is only good for a testimony of the goodness and glory of God, and His power to change a life.

I could keep my story simple and short with one line: I was a failure (and still am). Following High School I saw no possibilities except to marry and have babies. I did not seek God's counsel in this. I did not seek God's counsel for anything. I didn't even know about seeking God's counsel, or even consider it. I just knew I was afraid God would call me to something I did not want (to be a Missionary in China), or a man I did not like. I did not trust God in my choices. I just acted on my own will and impulses - ALL OF MY LIFE. This has led to a life of nothing but regret born of my sinful state. The state that we are all born into.

After High School I married the first guy who asked me in February of 1980. I had my precious and treasured daughter nearly 10 months later. Then I got pregnant again and lost that baby at 5½ months of pregnancy - a girl. I got pregnant again and lost that baby at 6 months of pregnancy - a boy.

I was partying and going to church during the entire marriage of 5 years. I even did my morning Bible studies faithfully - praying and ‘speaking in tongues’. I exercised daily and had a health conscious diet. I played my guitar and sang at church. I even conducted a Christian exercise class for women at the church. I smoked pot, did drugs, and drank alcoholically - with and without my husband - during the whole time. 

Two years in I really was not wanting to be in that marriage. I realized I vowed, “until death do us part”. How casually I made my vows! I had been in a nirvanic dream state. Today I have come to hate romantic notions and fantasy (I perceive them as one and the same). I became very unhappy and depressed. I stuck it out for another 3 years. I left when I decided that to stay meant I would die to myself. I felt I must preserve me at all costs. How very selfish, rebellious, and self determined I was. 

For all my Bible studies and praying I really did not know, fear, or love the Lord. I was fooled - by me and the devil. Jesus told us that if we love our life and seek to preserve it we will lose it! He told us that those who lose their life for His sake will gain life eternal. Yes, I was fooled, tempted, and led astray by my own evil desires, giving the devil a foothold in my life. God was asking me to die to myself, and my marriage was the vessel for this. He was asking me to stay, but I said, “No”. I felt it was more important to serve and preserve me. In all the years of my life, to date, while this was my position, what damage I have done! Regret!

I divorced April 2, 1985, and lost custody of my daughter for seven years. That was devastating to us both. I had a beautiful and unexpected son out of wedlock a year later on April 2, 1986. I often felt that his birth helped in saving my life. I got married again in May of 1989. I divorced again in August of 1999 (this time it was his idea). And now I am married a third time and intend to stay until he either leaves me or God calls one of us home. Even so, when I entered this marriage I decided I was done breaking my vows. I omitted “until death do us part” from my hand written vows. I only vowed to the things I believed I could keep. We have been married 10½ years to date. 

By the time I entered into this marriage in October of 2013 I was in full rebellion to God, and fully into witchcraft. That said, after a study of the pantheon of gods, and a personal determination to learn what love is, Jesus Christ became my ‘deity’. He was the only deity that came down from Heaven to be a man and choose to die so He may save us. His was the deepest expression and manifestation of love in all the pantheon of deities. 

The beginning of February 2019 God taught me to fear Him. It was terrifying. I immediately repented of my involvement with witchcraft and disposed of the items I used for the practice. I changed the content of my entertainment. I no longer watch TV or secular movies. I no longer listen to secular music, and even a lot of today's Christian music. The fear of the Lord is saving me. I have learned to love Him, and seek to obey Him. I daily choose to die to self that I may live to Christ, and my marriage is most often the vessel of exercising this choice. I now gratefully embrace the opportunity I've been given to die to myself and become alive in Christ Jesus. I am grateful for the trials and tribulations - and failures.

I am so grateful God has allowed me to be such a colossal failure! I have failed in relationships, parenting, being a wife, musical endeavors, writing, selling handmade bags, selling photography products and paintings, marriages, jobs, home ownership, health, etc. Nothing about my work has been notable enough to excel me in the world of my talents and interests. The world rapidly is uninspired and tired of my “Look at me! Look what I can do!”, as am I. It is boring to even me. As the Psalmist says, “As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. When the wind has passed over it, it is no more, and it's place acknowledges it no longer”. (Psalm 103:15-16) 

Praise God I have failed and lost! For, otherwise, I may believe I have merit and worth and find myself sorely and most sadly still self involved and independent of God. Praise God for His story rather than mine! May my story only and ever point to Jesus Christ, my Savior - the One who redeems my soul from the pit! Praise God for His goodness and mercy to me in teaching me to fear Him, and demonstrating His loving kindness to me - to the lost world - through Jesus Christ the King of Kings.

Enoch (The Book Of) and the 66

I love the Holy Scriptures of the Bible, and believe God can (and will) keep His Words. I believe, too, that bad Shepherds have stolen God's words from us, yet God has spoken regarding this. In Jeremiah 23:30 God says, "Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour."

Today's traditional Bible has been whittled down to 66 books. 66. Add one more '6' - the number of a man, and you have a beastly mark. God warned men of influence - Shepherds - of robbing His people of His words, and of bringing harm upon the sheep under His care. In Malachi 2:7-9 God says, "For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. But as for you, you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by the instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi," says the LORD of hosts. "So I also have made you despised and abased before all the people, just as you are not keeping My ways but are showing partiality in the instruction."

God has brought forth a remedy against bad Shepherds and the loss of His words. First, God has given us Jesus Christ, the Living Word, and the Good Shepherd, who existed with God before the creation of this world, and was present at the creation. John 1:3 tells us that, "All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being." Remember creation was spoken into existence. 

Second, God has made some promises - set things in place to preserve His words for His people! In Jeremiah 31:33-34 God says, "But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the LORD, "I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," declares the LORD, "for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." This scripture is reiterated in Hebrews 8:10-11, "For This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. And I will be their GOD, and they shall be My people. And they shall not teach everyone his fellow citizen, and everyone his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for all will know Me, from the least to the greatest of them."

This brings me to certain books that were removed from scripture - specifically the Book of Enoch for the purpose of this blog. An individual asked a question on Quora regarding the Book of Enoch. I will submit his question here on this blog, and an answer I found reasonable, sound, and informative.

[Question: Why are the books of Jasher, Enoch, and Jubilee excluded from the Bible Canon but their teachings are referenced in the Bible?

What books were removed from the Bible and why? Where might I find them?

Answer: What is the book of Enoch and should it be in the Bible?

How authentic is the Book of Enoch? Is it a fable-like the one's that Paul warned us about in his epistle to Timothy? Is there history that verifies its authenticity? Did Enoch write it and why was it not included in the 66 books Canon of scriptures?

These are questions I see daily and for good reason. When it comes to scriptures we should be protective of what we allow to influence our understanding and more importantly our relationship with God. We shouldn't be like Clement of Alexandria and just accept any book as scripture just because it claims itself to be.

But we also shouldn't be like Irenaeus and claim that's there are only 4 Scriptures in the New Testament Canon (Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John)

Also, its important to remember that God's people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6)

So then what is the history behind the Book of Enoch?

Well, the oldest accounts that we have say it existed, and go as far as to claim that Enoch wrote it.

When Jude in his epistle quoted from Enoch 1:9 he did not shy away from giving credit to Enoch being the source of the prophecy. (Jude 1:14)

Alexander the Great around 300 BC also referenced a book that was in India which had been handed down since the flood. The Book strongly resembled the Book of Enoch that the Ethiopians had preserved in their Bible.

And there were scrolls among the Caves of Qumran aka Dead Sea Scrolls which stated that Enoch had written a book and that it had been handed down to Abraham and eventually kept in Levi's possession.

So if the oldest sources are confirmation then we have strong reasons to believe that a Book was preserved prior to the great deluge.

If this is true then what happened to this Book and why did only the Ethiopians preserve it?

Well, the oldest source that I have been able to find of someone rejecting Enoch came from a man named Rabbi Simeon. Simeon was a disciple of Akiba in the early 2nd century. Like Akiba, Simeon desired to preserve what was Judaism by managing the books that the Jews called Scripture. With the growing sect of Christianity, anything embraced by Christians became less favorable which ultimately lead to the Book of Enoch's rejection.

Simeon had claimed that Genesis 6 was no longer about Angel's and utilized this belief to reject the book of Enoch from its scriptural status.

"The theme of the Book of Enoch dealing with the nature and deeds of the fallen angels so infuriated the later Church fathers that one, Filastrius, actually condemned it openly as heresy (Filastrius, Liber de Haeresibus, no. 108). Nor did the rabbis deign to give credence to the book's teaching about angels. Rabbi Simeon ben Jochai in the second century A.D. pronounced a curse upon those who believed it" (Delitzsch, p. 223).

In the 4th century, Christians then began to take on similar beliefs as these 2nd century Jews.

First, they embraced their later Hebrew Manuscripts which had been a deviation from the Greek translation that was made by the Jews 280 years before the physical birth of Christ. In doing so they also started to limit their accepted scriptures which also later lead to the Protestant's 66 book Bible.

Secondly, Christians started to embrace these 2nd-century Jewish interpretations. One of these interpretations being that Angels were no longer the sons of God in Genesis 6. Proof of this can be seen in the quotation above when Filastrius made his comment during the council of Laodicea. Augustine also made a similar comment when he rejected the book of Enoch for the same reason as Simeon.

This lead to the Book of Enoch being lost to most of the known world. There's no exact date as to when this happened or who encouraged the book to be destroyed, but ultimately the book was completely lost... or so most would think.

Around the late 1700s, Scottish explorer James Bruce had traveled to Ethiopia. There were rumors about a Book of Enoch being in Ethiopia which inevitably sparked James Bruce to investigate these claims. Around 1773 he would bring with him 3 Geez copies of the Book of Enoch. The Book of Enoch wouldn't be translated into English until the early 1800s. It was at this time that Enoch was considered a Christian forgery because of all the New Testament passages and Christ prophecies found all throughout the Book.

But things would change between the years 1946-1947 when several copies of Enoch were found in the Caves of Qumran or as we often refer to them as the Dead Sea Scrolls. These findings were extremely significant for several reasons.

#1 It proved that the Book of Enoch predated Christianity by at least 300 years.

#2 It proved that the Ethiopians had preserved a fairly accurate/uncorrupted copy.

#3 These scrolls proved that the ancient Jews did in fact have a Book of Enoch in their possession.

So did Enoch write this book? And is the Book of Enoch Scripture?

Well according to our Lord and Savior the Book of Enoch is an inspired work by God.

In Mathew 22:29 Christ rebuked the Sadducees for not "Knowing the Scriptures"

Then in Mathew 22:30, Christ said that in the Resurrection we would be made like the Angels of God in Heaven who does not marry

Matthew 22:29-30

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

There are three very interesting points we need to make here.

First Christ specified that the Sadducees did not know the scriptures indicating that there was a source to His teaching.

Secondly, Christ specified that Angels of God in Heaven do not marry... He could have said Angels in general but His statement indicates that there were Angels who had disobeyed this command or left their first estate which is the primary topic in the Book of Enoch.

And then lastly He taught that Angels of God in Heaven do not marry. This teaching is not found anywhere in the Old Testament but can only be found in the Book of Enoch.

Enoch 15:4-7 R.H. Charles

And though ye were holy, spiritual, living the eternal life, you have defiled yourselves with the blood of women, and have begotten children with the blood of flesh, and, as the children of men have lusted after flesh and blood as those also do who die and perish. Therefore have I given them wives also that they might impregnate them, and beget children by them, that thus nothing might be wanting to them on earth. 6But you were formerly spiritual, living the eternal life, and immortal for all generations of the world. And, therefore, I have not appointed wives for you; for as for the spiritual ones (Angel's) of the heaven, in heaven is their dwelling.

The last point is extremely important, by this one single verse we have our Lord and Savior calling the Book of Enoch Scripture and rebuking the Sadducees for not knowing it.

This now leads me to my final conclusion on all of this.

Over two thousand years ago this book had a prophecy saying that the Book of Enoch would be used among believers who will live during the days of the tribulation. Seventy-five years ago this prophecy would have seemed completely impossible. Now with its growing resurgence, we are now able to see this prophecy slowly becoming true.

Enoch 1:1 R.H. Charles

The words of the blessing of Enoch, wherewith he blessed the elect and righteous, who will be living in the day of tribulation when all the wicked and godless are to be removed.

I will leave this final prophecy for those who say God would never allow corruption to occur with His God-inspired Scriptures

Enoch 104:10-13 R.H. Charles

And now I know this mystery, that sinners will alter and pervert the words of righteousness in many ways, and will speak wicked words, and lie, and practice great deceits, and write books concerning their words. But when they write down truthfully all my words in their languages, and do not change or minish ought from my words but write them all down truthfully -all that I first testified concerning them. Then, I know another mystery, that books will be given to the righteous and the wise to become a cause of joy and uprightness and much wisdom. And to them shall the books be given, and they shall believe in them and rejoice over them, and then shall all the righteous who have learnt therefrom all the paths of uprightness be recompensed.'

Enoch 105:1 George Schodde Translation

And in those days, says the Lord, "they will call and testify over the sons of the earth concerning their wisdom: show it to them, for ye are their leaders and the rewards over all the earth.]

Having submitted the question and then the answer I will follow up by saying that it is up to each individual to diligently and earnestly SEEK the Lord God, and to be taught by Him. Seek! Keep seeking! Seek and He WILL be found! 

We must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Assumptions are deadly. Pray for God's counsel regarding ALL things - of knowledge, and even daily living. We must fear God and try to learn what is pleasing to the Him (Ephesians 5:10). Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is our High Priest and Teacher. He will NEVER lead us astray into a lie. Ever. Pray. Pray. And pray again. Pray without ceasing. Keep your eyes on Jesus and you will not sink in the stormy waters. If you stumble and begin to sink cry out to Jesus and He WILL save you! Always, always, turn and return and return to Jesus. In Him, alone, is salvation.

Now, I will post some scripture from the Book of Enoch, chapters 61, 62, and 63. Please pardon punctuation issues. I would ask you to critique it against the scripture we are given in the 66 books of our present Holy Bible. Does it sound like the voice of our Shepherd, or the imposter? Pray on it. Be a Berean. 

[Thus the Lord commanded the kings, the princes, the exalted, and those who dwell on earth, saying, Open your eyes, and lift up your horns, if you are capable of comprehending the Elect One. The Lord of spirits sat upon the throne of his glory and the spirit of righteousness was poured out over him. The word of his mouth shall destroy all the sinners and all the ungodly, who shall perish at his presence. In that day shall all the kings, the princes, the exalted, and those who possess the earth, stand up, behold, and perceive, that he is sitting on the throne of his glory; that before him the saints shall be judged in righteousness; and that nothing, which shall be spoken before him, shall be spoken in vain. Trouble shall come upon them, as upon a woman in travail, whose labour is severe, when her child comes to the mouth of the womb, and she finds it difficult to bring forth. One portion of them shall look upon another. They shall be astonished, and shall humble their countenance; and trouble shall seize them, when they shall behold this Son of woman sitting upon the throne of his glory. Then shall the kings, the princes, and all who possess the earth, glorify him who has dominion over all things, him who was concealed; for from the beginning the Son of man existed in secret, whom the Most High preserved in the presence of his power, and revealed to the elect. He shall sow the congregation of the saints, and of the elect; and all the elect shall stand before him in that day. All the kings, the princes, the exalted, and those who rule over the earth, shall fall down on their faces before him, and shall worship him. They shall fix their hopes on this Son of man, shall pray to him, and petition him for mercy. Then shall the Lord of spirits hasten to expel them from his presence. Their faces shall be full of confusion, and their faces shall darkness cover. The angels shall take them to punishment, that vengeance may be inflicted on those who have oppressed his children and his elect. And they shall become an example to the saints and to his elect. Through them shall these be made joyful; for the anger of the Lord of spirits shall rest upon them. Then the sword of the Lord of spirits shall be drunk with their blood; but the saints and elect shall be safe in that day; nor the face of the sinners and the ungodly shall they thenceforwards behold. The Lord of spirits shall remain over them: and with this Son of man shall they dwell, eat, lie down, and rise up, for ever and ever. The saints and the elect have arisen from the earth, have left off to depress their countenances, and have been clothed with the garment of life. That garment of life is with the Lord of spirits, in whose presence your garment shall not wax old, nor shall your glory diminish. In those days the kings who possess the earth shall be punished by the angels of his wrath, wheresoever they shall be delivered up, that he may give rest for a short period; and that they may fall down and worship before the Lord of spirits, confessing their sins before him. They shall bless and glorify the Lord of spirits, saying, Blessed is the Lord of spirits, the Lord of kings, the Lord of princes, the Lord of the rich, the Lord of glory, and the Lord of wisdom. He shall enlighten every secret thing. Thy power is from generation to generation; and thy glory for ever and ever. Deep are all thy secrets, and numberless; and thy righteousness cannot be computed. Now we know, that we should glorify and bless the Lord of kings, him who is King over all things. They shall also say, Who has granted us rest to glorify, laud, bless, and confess in the presence of his glory? And now small is the rest we desire; but we do not find it; we reject, and do not possess it. Light has passed away from before us; and darkness has covered our thrones for ever. For we have not confessed before him; we have not glorified the name of the Lord of kings; we have not glorified the Lord in all his works; but we have trusted in the sceptre of our dominion and of our glory. In the day of our suffering and of our trouble he will not save us, neither shall we find rest. We confess that our Lord is faithful in all his works, in all his judgments, and in his righteousness. In his judgments he pays no respect to persons; and we must depart from his presence, on account of our evil deeds. All our sins are truly without number. Then shall they say to themselves, Our souls are satiated with the instruments of crime; but that prevents us not from descending to the flaming womb of hell. Afterwards, their countenances shall be filled with darkness and confusion before the Son of man; from whose presence they shall be expelled, and before whom the sword shall remain to expel them. Thus saith the Lord of spirits, This is the decree and the judgment against the princes, the kings, the exalted, and those who possess the earth, in the presence of the Lord of spirits. I saw also other countenances in that secret place. I heard the voice of an angel, saying, These are the angels who have descended from heaven to earth, and have revealed secrets to the sons of men, and have seduced the sons of men to the commission of sin.]

May the Lord God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ keep His children, as He is able and willing to do, and lead us into all truth. Amen.

Respect Your Parents

You know, my Heavenly Father blessed me with a very very wonderful earthly dad. My siblings and I have been so very blessed in the mom and dad God gave us! I can not emphasize this enough!

My dad loved his children and grandchildren only second to the love he had for his wife - my wonderful mom, Joanne. He was mostly loved in return in the same fashion. You know the Bible verse that tells us we only love our Heavenly Father because he first loved us? Well, the children and grandchildren loved dad so very much because he first loved us. His love for us showed through in all he did for us. Was he perfect? Who is? Yet, to me my parents are perfect because that's my choice to make!

My dad was deserving of every respect our Heavenly Father commanded us to give our earthly parents - for those who follow Christ Jesus. Just as my mom is! If we will not obey in this area, and make excuses to justify why we will not obey and give our parents the respect we are to give them, then we tarnish our testimony and can even become ineffectual in our Kingdom work for the Lord.

If one, as a follower of Jesus Christ, has a beef against a parent Jesus is asking you to:

#1 - repent

#2 - forgive

#3 - love

#4 - respect

#5 - pray (for them)