Social Distancing Day 24 - "Mysterious Ways"
So, the other night my best friend Shae and I were having an impromptu virtual happy hour and like always when I've had one too many drinks, scripture comes up and it is almost like the Holy Spirit is right there like, "Now, that I've got your attention... listen to me."
And so, I listened.
Well, I was not prepared for what was about to happened.
I call this post "Mysterious Ways" because the seasoned saints say things like, "God is trying to get your attention", "Be still and listen", "Better stay prayed up" and my favorite, "God works in mysterious way."
Was God trying to get my attention somewhere around my third glass of wine?
Here's what I think.. cause this is my blog and collection of my never ending thoughts:
God is always working.
Everything He does is mysterious because He only let's two others in on His plans.... Jesus and the Holy Ghost.
But what about the book of Revelation or the Bible or the Torah or any of the religious doctrines that have outlived the authors?
Someone once told me that Bible stood for: Basic Information Before Leaving Earth
If that's the case, shouldn't we already know what to do in times like these? Is there really any mystery?
One thing I know for sure is that no where is it written that in order to survive disease, famine, or battles does it say that we should go forth and hoard toilet paper. SMH.
Sidenote: I am, as I write these lines, not drinking wine.
It is 11AM.
Not that the time of day would change anything but still. I thought it was an important detail to mention. As a matter of fact, I haven't consumed anything today.
No water. No juice. No food.
This is usually the time that God speaks to me. When I am free from distractions. When I'm hungry but I'm ignoring it. When I come to Him boldly and not beating around the bush or during a hurried prayer but honestly, patiently, and just as I am.
Back to the story...
So Shae and I were in the middle of Happy Hour and somewhere in the convo Shae says:
"Read 1 Peter 5:10" And so, I immediately opened my bible app, clicked on 1 Peter 5 and scrolled down to verse 10. This is when the magic began.
1 Peter 5:10 (NLT) reads:
"In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation."
At this point, Shae and I are yelling in unison, "he will restore you, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation."
I don't know who recommended it but the next scripture we pulled up was Daniel 12. The header for the section was "THE TIME OF THE END"
Daniel 12 reads:
" 1 At that time Michael, the archangel who stands guard over your nation, will arise. Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence. But at that time every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued. 2 Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace. 3 Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever. 4 But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase."
Did you see what happened there, "...until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there and knowledge will increase." I don't think this means the world ends but just the ending of the way the world was, how people moved about the Earth...
It continues on with verse 5:
Then I, Daniel, looked and saw two others standing on opposite banks of the river. 6 One of them asked the man dressed in linen, who was now standing above the river, "How long will it be until these shocking events are over?"
7 The man dressed in linen, who was standing above the river, raised both his hands toward heaven and took a solemn oath by the One who lives forever, saying, 'It will go on for a time, times, and half a time. When the shattering of the holy people has finally come to an end, all these things will have happened. '
8 I heard what he said, but I did not understand what he meant. So I asked, "How will all this finally end, my lord?"
9 But he said, "Go now, Daniel, for what I have said is kept secret and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined by these trials. But the wicked will continue in their wickedness, and none of them will understand. Only those who are wise will know what it means."
11 "From the time the daily sacrifice is stopped and the sacrilegious object that causes desecration is set up to be worshiped, there will be 1,290 days. 12 And blessed are those who wait and remain until the end of the 1,335 days!"
13 "As for you, go your way until the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days, you will rise again to receive the inheritance set aside for you."
God surely works in mysterious ways. Even during a virtual happy hour when the world around us looks like a movie, He sent us HIS word.
Oh, but that was only the beginning.... the next 30 minutes or so was another level of mystery, clarity, and comfort...
To be continued... because this was a long post and although we are all at home we still don't have time to be bothered with reading long passages... not when there's so much to watch on Netflix (insert shade)
And so, I listened.
Well, I was not prepared for what was about to happened.
I call this post "Mysterious Ways" because the seasoned saints say things like, "God is trying to get your attention", "Be still and listen", "Better stay prayed up" and my favorite, "God works in mysterious way."
Was God trying to get my attention somewhere around my third glass of wine?
Here's what I think.. cause this is my blog and collection of my never ending thoughts:
God is always working.
Everything He does is mysterious because He only let's two others in on His plans.... Jesus and the Holy Ghost.
But what about the book of Revelation or the Bible or the Torah or any of the religious doctrines that have outlived the authors?
Someone once told me that Bible stood for: Basic Information Before Leaving Earth
If that's the case, shouldn't we already know what to do in times like these? Is there really any mystery?
One thing I know for sure is that no where is it written that in order to survive disease, famine, or battles does it say that we should go forth and hoard toilet paper. SMH.
Sidenote: I am, as I write these lines, not drinking wine.
It is 11AM.
Not that the time of day would change anything but still. I thought it was an important detail to mention. As a matter of fact, I haven't consumed anything today.
No water. No juice. No food.
This is usually the time that God speaks to me. When I am free from distractions. When I'm hungry but I'm ignoring it. When I come to Him boldly and not beating around the bush or during a hurried prayer but honestly, patiently, and just as I am.
Back to the story...
So Shae and I were in the middle of Happy Hour and somewhere in the convo Shae says:
"Read 1 Peter 5:10" And so, I immediately opened my bible app, clicked on 1 Peter 5 and scrolled down to verse 10. This is when the magic began.
1 Peter 5:10 (NLT) reads:
"In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation."
At this point, Shae and I are yelling in unison, "he will restore you, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation."
I don't know who recommended it but the next scripture we pulled up was Daniel 12. The header for the section was "THE TIME OF THE END"
Daniel 12 reads:
" 1 At that time Michael, the archangel who stands guard over your nation, will arise. Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence. But at that time every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued. 2 Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace. 3 Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever. 4 But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase."
Did you see what happened there, "...until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there and knowledge will increase." I don't think this means the world ends but just the ending of the way the world was, how people moved about the Earth...
It continues on with verse 5:
Then I, Daniel, looked and saw two others standing on opposite banks of the river. 6 One of them asked the man dressed in linen, who was now standing above the river, "How long will it be until these shocking events are over?"
7 The man dressed in linen, who was standing above the river, raised both his hands toward heaven and took a solemn oath by the One who lives forever, saying, 'It will go on for a time, times, and half a time. When the shattering of the holy people has finally come to an end, all these things will have happened. '
8 I heard what he said, but I did not understand what he meant. So I asked, "How will all this finally end, my lord?"
9 But he said, "Go now, Daniel, for what I have said is kept secret and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined by these trials. But the wicked will continue in their wickedness, and none of them will understand. Only those who are wise will know what it means."
11 "From the time the daily sacrifice is stopped and the sacrilegious object that causes desecration is set up to be worshiped, there will be 1,290 days. 12 And blessed are those who wait and remain until the end of the 1,335 days!"
13 "As for you, go your way until the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days, you will rise again to receive the inheritance set aside for you."
At this point... I'm reading the New Living Translation aloud while Shae is echoing with the King James Version....
God surely works in mysterious ways. Even during a virtual happy hour when the world around us looks like a movie, He sent us HIS word.
Oh, but that was only the beginning.... the next 30 minutes or so was another level of mystery, clarity, and comfort...
To be continued... because this was a long post and although we are all at home we still don't have time to be bothered with reading long passages... not when there's so much to watch on Netflix (insert shade)
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