The Kingdom of God

I want to talk about Father God's kingdom—and share my belief that you and I are invited to live in it today.

In the Bible, especially in the book of Acts, we read about the early church. This first community of believers was founded on the teachings of Yeshua (Jesus) and held together by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.

Luke, a physician and close companion of the Apostle Paul, is traditionally believed to have written both the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. His detail-oriented nature made him well-suited to record these events accurately and thoughtfully.

In Acts 1:1–11, Luke describes the risen Jesus speaking with His followers about the kingdom of God. He instructs them to wait in Jerusalem for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Then, before their eyes, He ascends into heaven—leaving them with the promise that He will return the same way.

This early Church was not simply an organization—it was a Spirit-formed body of believers.

• Their identity was rooted in who Yeshua is and what He accomplished for us.
• The Holy Spirit, promised by the Father, became their helper—teaching them, empowering them, and uniting them in love and purpose, just as Yeshua prayed in John 17:11: “that they may be one as we are one.”
• Entrance into this community began with repentance and baptism, as Peter declared in Acts 2:38–39: “Repent and be baptized... and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
• These believers were devoted to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. They shared their possessions, lived in unity, and praised God daily (Acts 2:42–47).

I've been reflecting deeply on this picture of the early Church, especially as I grow older. For much of my life, I’ve lived independently—doing things on my own, relying on my own strength. Family has helped at times, and for larger tasks I’ve hired assistance, though not always with satisfaction.

Now in my late 70s, I'm more aware than ever of the importance of true community. And despite being in church for most of my life, I don't believe I've ever been part of a fellowship that fully mirrors the Acts church—where the Holy Spirit knits believers together in unity, and God's authority, not man's, leads the way.

Jeremiah 9:24 reminds us what truly matters:
"Let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the Lord.

Being part of God’s kingdom is a serious calling—not to be entered into lightly. Think about what Yeshua endured on our behalf: the sinless one, crucified for us, fulfilling prophecy, rising on the third day, and appearing to many before ascending. All of this was done so we might be forgiven and restored to the Father.

Lately, I’ve been thinking more about this kingdom in light of the troubling direction I see in today’s world. What we’re witnessing from political leaders—such as President Trump and his administration—reminds me of the rise of oppressive regimes in history, like Nazi Germany in the 1930s. Many people are fearful of what the future holds.

But in God’s kingdom, fear has no place. Who is more powerful than God? When we live under His rule—trusting in His righteousness, justice, and mercy—we can find peace even in uncertain times.

What is Your Belief System?

What do you believe? What religion do you belong to? Are you agnostic? Even if you are agnostic, you still have a belief system. Whatever your beliefs, think deeply about this: Could you say that LOVE is at the core of whatever you believe? I think we can all agree that we desire peace instead of wars. This is because there is THAT of God in all of us: LOVE.

Why be so strict and demanding in our religions? Why say, "You have to believe the way I believe, or you are not a good [insert religion here]"? Why prevent people from talking with others who are not of the same faith? I have learned and am still learning so much by talking with people who are not like me. I am finding out that there are great similarities in our beliefs, such as sharing what we have with others, showing compassion, having empathy, etc. These are all Christlike characteristics. It's because of that part of God in all of us.

If you don't know Yeshua/Jesus, you are missing out on so much. Jesus is God's son who willingly came to earth, and became human, for us. He lived a life that was perfectly obedient to Father God's laws, so that he could be the spotless lamb who was sacrificed for our sins, all our sins. If we recognize our true state, that we are sinners, and we want to change, we can repent. Having God--Jesus--the Holy Spirit in our lives teaches us about God's kingdom.

God/Allah is One

I believe that the phrase "God is One" is often subject to misinterpretation and here is why.

Islamic Belief: Muslims have faith in Allah as the sole, all-powerful God, the Sovereign and the Creator. They place their trust and fear solely in Him.

Jewish Belief: Jews uphold the belief in a singular, incomparable God.

Christian Belief: Christians adhere to the belief in only one God, as stated in Isaiah 43:10; 44:6, 8; John 17:3; 1 Corinthians 8:5-6; Galatians 4:8-9. Christianity, however, introduces the Trinity concept, sparking considerable debate and conflict with other faiths. The Trinity denotes the triune nature of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as referenced in Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; John 14:16-17; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Acts 2:32-33; John 10:30, 17:11, 21; 1 Peter 1:2.

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This notion has even led to confusion among Christians themselves. 

Islam, Judaism, and Christianity all profess belief in a singular God. Yet, in the creation narratives of the Quran, Tanakh, and Bible, God is frequently mentioned using plural pronouns (WE, US, OUR). It would arguably be more logical to use singular pronouns (I, ME, MY) to underscore God's singularity. This is the basis for my view that the statement "God is One" is not fully understood.

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Examples:

Islam: The Quran quotes God: "Indeed, We created man from a mingled sperm-drop, to test him; thus, We gave him hearing and sight. His procreation stems from various elements, fitting his multifaceted role in the universe, necessitating a broad spectrum of attributes. Does man not recall that We created him previously when he was nothing? (19:68) And We made every living thing from water... (21:31) Did We not create you from a trivial fluid, which We placed in a secure environment? (77:22)" (21 The Prophets - al-Anbiya)

> "Do the disbelievers not see that the heavens and the earth were one mass, and We tore them apart? And We made from water every living thing. Will they not believe? And We placed on earth stabilizers, lest it sways with them, and We placed therein signposts and passages, that they may be guided. And We made the sky a protected ceiling; yet they turn away from its wonders. It is He who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon; each floating in an orbit. We did not grant immortality to any human being before you. Should you die, are they then the immortal? Every soul will taste death. We burden you with adversity and prosperity—a test. And to Us you will be returned." (21:30-35)

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In Judaism, the Tanakh says: "And God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.' And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." (Genesis 1:26-27)

"And the LORD God said, 'Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil; now, lest he reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever.'" (Genesis 3:22)

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In Christianity, the Old Testament (similar to the Tanakh) states: "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, over the cattle, over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." (Genesis 1:26-27)

"The Lord God said, 'The human has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. Now, so that he does not reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever.'" (Genesis 3:22)

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The true meaning of "ONE" and "GOD IS ONE" can be further understood through the words of Jesus (Yeshua).

First, Jesus stated that He existed with the Father before the world was created, which explains the plural form of God in creation: "Now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world was created." (John 17:5)

Jesus also declared that He and the Father are One: "I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one." (John 17:11)

When we accept Jesus into our lives and receive the Holy Spirit, we become one with Christ: > "We have many parts in one body, but the parts don’t all have the same function. In the same way, though there are many of us, we are one body in Christ, and individually we belong to each other." (Romans 12:4-5)

Another way to understand “God is One” is to see God like we see a man and a woman who, through marriage, become one.

Judgment Day

Judgment Day

If today were Judgment Day, Yeshua (Jesus) has finished putting a spotlight on your life, and he tells you to go away, he never knew you, how would you feel? How would I feel?

If today were it, Judgment Day, I don’t believe that I would do well. So many things I have done and not done. I think that what I would regret most is missing the opportunities to talk with someone. I will get kind of a inclination to talk with someone. I mull it over in my mind why not to and why I should. If I finally decide to do it, go talk with them, more often than not, it is too late. The person is gone. Whenever we feel the need to meet someone, just do it. Don’t think, just do it. These opportunities go away quickly.

In the book "Celestine Prophecy" it calls these opportunities coincidences. They are important to us and have great meaning. If not at that very moment, then for a later time.

I've repented a number of times but seem to fall back into my same old person. I think, how can God put up with me?  His Son, Yeshua (Jesus) went through unimaginable things so that I could be forgiven. Why can’t I honor him? Why can’t I honor Father God for His plan to save us? Such Love those two have for us…...

We can ask forgiveness today and after seeing that we fail, we can ask forgiveness and try again. One day the disciple Peter asked Yeshua (Jesus), "How many times should I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus tells him, "Not seven times, but seventy times seven." (Matthew 18:21-35)

God is patient with us, but His patience is finite. Some day we will be judged. No one but Father God knows when that will be.

Forgiveness is circular or reciprocal. If we forgive then we are forgiven.

Matthew 6:14-15

New International Version

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

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Think about what Yeshua (Jesus) went through, for us all, so that we could have forgiveness.

Here are the crucifixion stories in the Bible:

Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, and John 19 

He endured things beyond our comprehension. He did it for all of us.

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If being fearful of God makes you do good works, then be afraid. If doing good works is for rewards at Judgment Day, then that is for your benefit. Doing good works because you LOVE is the ultimate reason. LOVE like Father God and Yeshua (Jesus) LOVE. I think this may be what "The Way" means in the Bible.

John 14:6

New International Version

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

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John 14:15-16

New International Version

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—

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4/24/2024

I was looking through some of my old posts and came across 'The faith that justified Abraham'. This is a long read but I feel like it goes very well with this post and the 'Good Works' post.

Love

Have you ever tried to put a description or a meaning to this word 'LOVE'? Every time I think about this word, love, I have a hard time putting a concrete definition to it in my mind. How would you describe to someone what love is?

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

New International Version

13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing. 

The Greek word for love is 'agape' Definitions: love, i.e. affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast; - (feast of) charity ([-ably]), dear, love.

What is it about this word? There seems to be great power in the word but how,,,, why? Does the power come from just saying the word or thinking the word? It seems this word has something to do with God.

I remember a piece I did quite a while ago 'Living Water' that was about how positive and negative words said to water affected it. There have been different kinds of experiments using water and words as explained in that blog post. It was quite amazing to see the results.

I am reading the book 'Celestine Insights' by James Redfield right now. It is an astonishing book. I am about 80% through but it is quite amazing how the things talked about in the book pertains to what is happening in our world today and possibly what will happen in the future. 

We've all experienced how certain things come into our lives as though they were predestined to be there at that very point in time. We don't often think about it in that way when it happens and I think it is because we are not attuned to it. If we were more cognizant of them I believe we would see great meaning in them (one of the insights in the book.) This book showing up in my life at this precise time when my desire is to understand 'love' is one of those predestined life experiences for me.

So, back to that powerful word 'LOVE'. The book talks about how everything vibrates at a certain frequency, everything. So I wondered if this word 'LOVE' has a frequency and was blown away by what I found out. The love frequency is 528 Hz. This frequency resonates at the heart of everything. It is the core frequency of our universe. The 528 Hz is known as the 'Miracle' tone. It is the frequency that is central to the "musical mathematical matrix of creation".  "It connects your heart, your spiritual essence, to the spiraling reality of heaven and earth."

528 Hz - The Love Frequency  

The Gospel Message of Christ Jesus

What is a Quaker?
What Do Quakers Believe?

I have watched these videos a number of times. When I think about Quakers and their beliefs I think that they are the true church of Christ. Quakers live a pretty simple beautiful life but they are not afraid to stand up against injustices like what is happening in America today. When I have read books based off of true historical things that happened, I would often find a Quaker somewhere in it who played a pretty significant part during that time period.

The gospel message of Yeshua, Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah, is a simple one but it is a profound one. Jesus, the Son of the Living God came to earth to take away the sins of the world. He took on himself the punishment for my sins, your sins, the world's sins. We owe Him our very existence. When Jesus lives in us, He Himself teaches us truths through the Spirit.

When man interprets scriptures, it puts a smoky film over truth. See and understand what the Nicolaitans and their teachings are. They and their teachings are what God hates (see the post 'God Hates The Deeds and the Doctrines' of the Nicolaitans'. That word 'Hates' is a big word for God to say. God loves us so much that He was willing to die for us but He hates injustice.

John 14:6 New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth[a] and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

The life that Jesus is referring to here is eternal life and Jesus even tells us what that is in John 17:3

John 17:3 New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
3 (Jesus is speaking) [a]Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.

This knowledge of the only true God and of Jesus is a deep intimate knowledge like two people have of each other who are married. The Greek word translated 'know' is 'ginosko' meaning know absolutely.

Another School Shooting.

There's been another tragic school shooting. This time a short distance from my home in the small town of Santa Fe, Texas.The shooter, a kid himself, a student from the same school of the students he murdered. It is so very difficult to understand how this could happen. What causes someone to murder without empathy for those they kill? ….. There have been more mass shootings since I started this post, almost a common occurrence. Will we ever see a time of peace?

As I was thinking about these shootings, I've seen some similarities between them. The shooters are pretty much loners and have a hard time fitting in and are drawn into groups which are not the right groups for them to be in. These groups are residual groups from the Hitler and Nazis era.

These groups are centered around Nazism, Fascism, Supremacism. I read that Fascism was first used during WW1 in Italy. Hitler and the Nazis successfully used it to gain control of Germany. It is a type of propaganda that manipulates the mind. I don't know if these groups are really aware of the hate they breed, or is it their goal and what they believe in? They usually pick out groups of people to blame for the problems we face. Even the problems themselves get over exaggerated. They also stir up hate towards anyone who goes against them. The more they blame and the more that people listen then things happen, like they did when Hitler was in control of Germany; millions of people are murdered. People get pulled into believing something and when evil things happen, it becomes like a run away train; it is almost impossible to stop.

Let me give you some fuel for thought. I am a Vietnam vet. When I got out of the service, there were no welcome home ceremonies. I wanted friends but it was like I had a curse on me and people didn't want to associate with me, at least that was my impression then. I found a few friends, just not the right ones. One was a gay male. I didn't really know he was gay until he invited me out to go to a bar one evening. I expected we were just going out for some drinks. When we went inside, I could see this was not the typical bar like I had frequented before. Men were with men and girls with girls, for the most part, a gay bar. It took me by surprise. I didn't know there was such a thing as gay bars. I could have left the bar when I understood but I didn't. I had some drinks and at some point passed out. When I came too, my gay friend was carrying me into my apartment. He had his way with me, I let him, he left to go back to his apartment, and I cried. I talked with God and cried. I remembered asking Christ into my life as a teenager and asked God how did my life get to be the way it was at that point. I thought maybe I messed up somehow the first time I asked Jesus into my life and that is how I got to this low point in my life. So, I asked Jesus back into my life, I started to attend a non-denominational church that my brother was going to and my life changed for the better. I met good friends there and felt welcomed into the young singles group. It was here I met my wonderful wife. We have been married now 44 years this coming August. We have two wonderful girls. I feel so blessed to have such beautiful children. One is married and has a very good relationship with her husband. They have four marvelous children who we adore. Our other daughter is nothing like her sister. I think one might say that she is a free spirit. She is not married so does the things she wants to do. She has and is still traveling the world and has seen beautiful amazing places. We love to see the pictures she's taken.

Let me go back to the time I met this gay man. What happened with him is really what changed my life so in a way, I consider that to be a blessing. I think he must have had misgivings about me and I of him. I feel no animosity towards him. He is gay, I am not. I can't say I really understand homo sexuality but I believe it is real and something that can't be changed for those who really believe they were born into the wrong body. How does one explain people who are born with both sex organs? It happens, it's real. I leave the things I don't understand to God Who knows everything about everyone.

God has said that we are all sinners. We have all disobeyed His teachings, His laws. We don't seek after God or want to get to know Him. After all, we can't see Him. But, Jesus being in the image of God the Father came into this world to tell and to show those who were with Him what God is really like. He fervently cared for people. He healed them, fed them, made the blind to see, made the dead to come back to life, and He taught them all about God and told us how we should live. He gave us two commandments which sums up all of God's commandments; love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy mind, and with all thy strength, and to love thy neighbor as thy self (These are all peoples, even our enemies.) What is so amazing is that while we were all doing our thing, sinning against God, He (Jesus) died for us, in our place. All our transgressions were laid upon Him. He loved us so much that He did that for us all! This doesn't mean that we are free to go on sinning. After knowing this and accepting His gift, if we go on sinning, it is like putting Him to death all over again. We all need help not to sin. Inviting Jesus into our lives is how we get help. The Holy Spirit is our helper and Jesus our teacher.

Let me just close with this that has to do with those who may become future mass murders. If we as individuals could see others who have a hard time fitting in and could just love them the way they are. Bring them into good groups who will welcome them in as they are and not try to shove religion down their throats. They first have to be able to see something different in this group as appose to what they know. Let me just say this too. People can sense when others are not genuine, that they are just doing it out of a sense of obligation, it's not from the heart.

This about the heart brings to memory of another post I wrote about the heart, "The Heart - It's Not Just A Pump". You might find this interesting.

Jesus

Yeshua Jesus is the Son of the living God. Another name given Him is the Word of God. It is from Him we get knowledge and understanding of God. At the right time, a little over 2000 years ago, Yeshua Jesus came to earth in the form of a human, a baby born of a human mother but not of a human father. This was God's plan to save us, we humans. Jesus lived a life without sin so that He could take our place. He became that unblemished lamb that was sacrificed for our sins.

All us humans have sinned, disobeyed God's laws. The Bible says that we are slaves to sin. Jesus fulfilled all prophesies proving Him to be the messiah, giving us a way to break free from the bondage of sin. He was beaten, spit on, scourged, cursed, mocked, and nailed to a cross to die. But He did not stay in the grave, that tomb. On the third day He arose from the dead. He appeared to many people for a period of 40 days until He went into heaven to be with the Father.

I look at this this way. God's laws deals with how we treat God and how we treat each other. So, what Jesus did was like this; He steps between me/you and those I've/you've sinned against. He took upon Himself everything that should have been dished out to us.

John 15:13 Common English Bible (CEB) 13 No one has greater love than to give up one’s life for one’s friends.

Jesus' love hasn't stopped at giving up His life for us. He teaches us all about God the Father, Himself, and the Holy Spirit.

You can think of Jesus like the food that you eat and the Holy Spirit like the water you drink but in a spiritual sense. What does the water that you drink do? It helps break down the food and then it caries all that good stuff to all the parts of your body by way of blood. The blood also takes out the bad stuff and gets rid of it. Taking in Jesus is as simple as asking Him or allowing Him into you and your life. When you do this, you are in Jesus and Jesus is in you. You and I become members of His body. He becomes our head.

Revelation 3:20 Lexham English Bible (LEB)

^{20  (Jesus talking)} Behold, I stand at the door and knock! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, indeed I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me.

If you have just invited Jesus into your life, I encourage you to start a journal. Write down what you experienced at that moment. How would you characterize yourself up until that point and how do others view you. The reason why I say this is because change in your life will happen but it takes time and I think this is good to help you remember from where you came.

I want to also give you a warning. Satan will be busy sowing seeds of doubt in your mind. Don't let him. He will try and make you miss out of something wonderful called salvation. I like this definition of salvation that I found in The Bible Encyclopedia – “”salvation” denotes the whole process by which man is delivered from all that would prevent his attaining to the highest good that God has prepared for him.”

Let me tell you some things about my life. Believing that Yeshua Jesus is the Son of the Living God, our Messiah, our Savior, our teacher, I have learned that I can trust God in all things through Jesus.

I asked Jesus into my life to be lord and savior when I was about 17 years old. I'm not so sure that I understood at the time what that meant.

I am a Vietnam vet. Not once did I fire my weapon at another human being the year that I was there in Nam. I came back unharmed. I went through what I think was probably the lowest part of my life when I returned home from the service but in a way, it was because of that low point that I re-found Jesus. I started going to a great church and met really great friends who accepted me as I was, one of them became my wonderful wife who I am still married to today, 43 years in August. We live in the Houston Texas area and have gone through several bad hurricanes, some tornadoes close by, floods, a small plane crashed, killing the pilot, on the street just behind us at our first home while my wife and children were there, and so many other things. God has saved us from great harm in all of it.

Sometimes it is hard to believe in something you can't see with your eyes but you will find joy and peace if you will.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 New International Version (NIV) 23 This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, 24 but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.

I don't want to leave you with the impression that nothing bad will ever happen. If you look throughout history from the early church until now, there have been pretty bad things happen to those who follow Jesus. Jesus said He will never leave us of forsake us. He helps us endure those times.

John 12:24-26 New International Version (NIV)²⁴ Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ²⁵ Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶ Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

Deuteronomy 31:6 New International Version (NIV)

⁶ Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Fractal

Have you ever heard the word fractal before?

From the online Merriam-Webster dictionary: 

Definition of fractal

1. :  any of various extremely irregular curves or shapes for which any suitably chosen part is similar in shape to a given larger or smaller part when magnified or reduced to the same size

If you look at any of God's creations you will see fractals; trees, flowers, clouds, rivers, sea shores, mountains, seashells, snowflakes, hurricanes, etc. Fractals are images of dynamic systems and said to be pictures of chaos.

 




The first time I heard this word was when I read the book "The Shack". I just love this book. It has opened my mind to new understandings about Father God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. In the book, the character as the Holy Spirit was "Sarayu". Sarayu has a garden. One day, Mack, the main character, decides to go out to help Sarayu in her garden. On the way there, Mack pictures a garden perfectly manicured and ordered like an English garden. Here is what he sees:

"The Shack" by William P Young

""It was chaos in color. His eyes tried unsuccessfully to find some order in this blatant disregard for certainty. Dazzling sprays of flowers were blasted through patches of randomly planted vegetables and herbs, vegetation the likes of which Mack had never seen. It was confusing, stunning, and incredibly beautiful.
"From above it's a fractal," Sarayu said over her shoulder with an air of pleasure.
"A what?" asked Mack absentmindedly, his mind still trying to grapple with and control the pandemonium of sight and the movements of hues and shades. Every step he took changed whatever patterns he for an instant thought he had seen, and nothing was like it had been.""


I look at America's forefathers wanting a kind of country with a government for all people. A government that works for the good of all, no matter what their race, creed, religion, or color. I see this as a fractal, something that is infinitely beautiful in a chaotic way. But we are tearing this apart. We want to fit everyone into the box we believe to be the perfect box. We want a perfect manicured English garden.

Have you ever had conversations with others not like yourself? There is just something about the experience that is rich and refreshing. Getting a glimpse into the cultures of others is so fascinating, their music, their food, their dance, their poetry, their thoughts, their religion. Why try to control everyone into one type when God does not?

  

Our elections are over.

😕😲😧

It is hard to put into words my feelings and thoughts right now; about the future of America and the world. I did not vote for Trump. I do not hate him but I don't know that I could say that I love him either. I will definitely pray for him, for me, and for our nation. 

That word,"hate", I have heard it so many times lately. I have heard it come from the mouths of Christians. The very word Christian means you believe in Christ Jesus and profess His teachings which is love not hate; love God, love neighbor, and even love our enemy (I would like to tell you, hopefully in the next post, about a book I last read which tells how enemies during WWII became friends through the gospel of Christ).

I had a feeling that Trump would be nominated as our next president. I even made a comment on Facebook to a friend a while back that I thought that he probably would be elected. But, when all was done and he was elected, I was stunned, shocked. How did this happen? I do believe this is the work of Satan but the will of our Father God.

It seems to me that many Christians have become like the scribes and Pharisees during Jesus' time, believing they are righteous.

Romans 3:20-23New International Version (NIV)

20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

Righteousness Through Faith

21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousnessis given through faith in[a] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Matthew 15:8Common English Bible (CEB)

8 This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far away from me. 

I wonder how America will be made great again, as Trump says he will do. Will it be like Germany during the reign of Hitler and the Nazis? Germany became a very powerful nation but it was done by deceit, bullying, threatening, and eliminating the dissenters and the unwanted. 

I just watched 60 Minutes on TV, an interview with president elect Trump and his family. I have to say that after watching it, I am still uneasy about our future. 

A large number of Christians believe that Trump is anointed by God to be like Cyrus in the Bible because of prophecy through someone believed to be a prophet of today, someone who is respected. I just don't know. I feel otherwise. If they are right, great. Even if my thoughts are correct and we are headed to be great like Germany, Christ Jesus' way of love and prayer will win out over evil and it will calm our fears.

If you haven't already done this, opening your heart to Yeshua Jesus, letting Him in, and receiving the Holy Spirit (the Living Water), I invite you to do so. All who do this become part of Christ. He is our head and we are members of His body. He will direct our actions. Love will rule over hate. Think about the fruits of the spirit. 

Galatians 5:22-23King James Version (KJV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Matthew 5:43-48Common English Bible (CEB)

Law of love

43 “You have heard that it was said, You must love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy. 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who harass you 45 so that you will be acting as children of your Father who is in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both the evil and the good and sends rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous.46 If you love only those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Therefore, just as your heavenly Father is complete in showing love to everyone, so also you must be complete.

Let us pray for each other. I believe we are headed into difficult times, more so than what we already have.

More about the kingdom of God.

Yeshua Jesus is always telling us, teaching about the kingdom of God, that realm that is invisible to our human eyes. When Jesus was with us in a form we could see, it was to verify what was spoken by the prophets, to give us a seen glimpse into that unseen realm, God's kingdom. 

Today, Jesus teaches us in the Spirit, the unseen again; as long as you have asked Him in. Jesus' teaching us about God's kingdom is what eternal life is (John 17:3).

This taking Jesus into you may be difficult to understand. Jesus tells us in various ways that this is the only way to be taught, to understand about that which we don't see. One way to to get a picture is when Jesus said, " take and eat, this is my body " when He broke bread and gave it to His disciples (Matthew 26:26). He wasn't saying literally to eat His body nor was He saying that the bread becomes His body. It was a picture of eating food, Why do we eat food? From SciWhys"Just as a power station requires gas or coal to power its turbines and generate energy, so we need fuel – in the form of food".

The Holy Spirit is water. Not literally water, again it's to help us understand what the Spirit does. We need both food and water. The water (blood) gets rid of the bad stuff and it breaks down the food and carries it throughout the body to make the body healthy and strong.

Now let me talk some about that bad stuff in our bodies. Also of the unseen realm are unclean spirits, demons, devils. In another post, I said that I don't know how someone becomes demon possessed but I thought of one scripture that gives us a picture of how that happens. 

Matthew 12:43-45Common English Bible (CEB)

Unclean spirit seeking a home

43 “When an unclean spirit leaves a person, it wanders through dry places looking for a place to rest. But it doesn’t find any. 44  Then it says, ‘I’ll go back to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the place vacant, cleaned up, and decorated. 45  Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself. They go in and make their home there. That person is worse off at the end than at the beginning. This is the way it will be also for this evil generation.” 

In this scripture, we see an unclean spirit leaving a person. I don't think that it is leaving willing, it was cast out. It goes looking for a new place to rest; it actively seeks out someone else to take up residence in. If it finds no other person, it goes back to the person it came from. If that person has not filled that cleaned out space with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, then the unclean spirit goes and brings back other evil spirits so, that person ends up worse than the way he was when the first demon was cast out.

Satan is worse than demons. Satan can affect our thoughts, if we don't have Jesus inside. Jesus was about to go through great suffering and He told His disciples what was about to happen. 

Matthew 16:21-23Common English Bible (CEB)

First prediction of Jesus’ death and resurrection

21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he had to go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and legal experts, and that he had to be killed and raised on the third day. 22 Then Peter took hold of Jesus and, scolding him, began to correct him: “God forbid, Lord! This won’t happen to you.” 23 But he turned to Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are a stone that could make me stumble, for you are not thinking God’s thoughts but human thoughts.” 

Jesus' words were directed toward Peter, the one seen, but His words were for Satan, the one unseen.

Satan is powerful, but not as powerful as God and Jesus. I have personally experienced Satan's power. He has anticipated things I am about to do or say and will try to stop me. He has brought down my internet, killed all my email accounts, disabled Facebook, made whole writings disappear or made the cursor jump around to different areas of the writings I was working on so that when I looked up from keyboard to screen, I was typing in a totally different place. Satan and demons are working to keep us from believing in the One True Living God and in Jesus, our Savior, our Teacher, our Counsellor, our Messiah, our King, the Prince of Peace.