WHAT A BLESSING!

My husband and I were recently asked to look at the first few pages of a manuscript, with a view to editing same. I prayed about what I was going to read, as I wanted to be fair, and non-judgmental. The author started by saying he had been charged by the Holy Spirit to write this, and get it published. I read the first three pages and found myself editing quite ruthlessly. I stopped immediately, and started to read again. If I were to 'edit' as an 'editor', the author would have been left with about two paragraphs. However, I had been asked to do this as a 'disciple', and I believe that if I am told something by the Spirit, to impart to others, I should not, (unless specifically told to do so) change the wording, and so I should pay the same respect to the author of this manuscript.

As we were reading, and discussing, my husband noticed that our car was pulling to the right. He thought it might be the brakes. I thought it might be because we were being too harsh on the writer of the manuscript, and prayed about the car. 'It's the tire', I said, as something just told me, and was quickly reminded that we have an array of lights that blink when there is a problem. I closed my eyes and asked Elohim to fix the car, and as I opened them, the light flickered, and the screen to the left of the steering wheel showed there was, indeed, a flat tire.

The cedar pollen count is very high at the moment, and my husband thought it best not to stand outside and attempt to 'plug' the tire. He suggested we take my car in the morning and he would fix the offending tire at the weekend. I agreed, but then, suddenly, thought I should check my car. I had not taken it out since before the holidays, and something told me that the battery was dead. It was. In fact, it was so dead, it did not even respond to a jump. My husband had no choice but to change the tire on his car. The bolts on the wheel would not move. No matter what he did, there was no way the wheel was coming away from the car. All I could think (and I was rather surprised, being that I have a propensity to think that my world is being messed with, not very spiritual, I know), was how blessed we were. True, we had two cars that were out of action, but it was an inconvenience. We would go back into our house, have some dinner and think about our options.

Again, something told me to 'Phone Jerry!' (Jerry is a guy who works for us, who either has the tool, or knows someone who has the tool!) I continued to prepare dinner, and was still thinking, 'We are so blessed'. It was then that another thought came to mind. If all else failed, my daughter could take us to work in the morning and we could phone our mechanic and he would take care of both the tire and the battery.

Jerry did have the tool! He drove from his house, about 20 miles away, and not only did he have the equipment, he took the tire away, so that his son could look at it, in the morning, and determine its fate.

We drove to our office this morning, and Jerry came in with the tire which was unfortunately deceased! We would have to buy a new one.

All I could think about were the positives. We were truly blessed. Editing and having reservations about what one man hears and writes, is not an act of disobedience, and the problem with the car had nothing to do with my comments. I was not disobeying the Will of Elohim, because I was being asked by a man to read and edit. Elohim may speak to us all, but he does not necessarily tell us all the same things, and sometimes, he tells us very different things. I learned a very valuable lesson (as always). Although we were electronically immobile, we had our health, and strength. We had a house in which to go and discuss our options. We had food on the table, in the freezer and fridge, and in the pantry. We had a daughter who could take us to work. We even had a mechanic who would come out to collect the cars. We had the ability to pay for the the tire, the battery, and the mechanic! As I have said before, Miracles are not necessarily things that make us 'oooh' and 'ahhh'. They are the simple, individual things, like being able to pay for a tire, having food on the table. Having a friend who will come to our aid without a thought. A real good Samaritan!

I will read the manuscript, because I have been asked to by another disciple. I shall give my opinion, and express it as my opinion, unless Elohim asks me to take part in the project. Unless I do something that will offend my Father, such as berate the writer, or make personal slurs, I will not be disobeying any will!

As I was writing this, I had the scriptures playing on my computer, and whilst I set it to start in Romans, it looped, and continued playing through the New Testament. However, as I was up and down, I did not hear very much, but I returned to my desk just as 1 Corinthians 14, started playing. Very interesting!

It has been a blessed day! Grace and peace to all.

We are in the world, not of the world!

With the new year now into its second week (in the Gregorian calender, that is) I found myself, once again, thinking about a new start.  I believe it is a natural part of the human condition. Unless you do not keep track of dates, and are not part of the 'rat race', as it it sometimes known, you have no alternative but to 'join in', to a certain degree.  Many clients, as well as acquaintances, and friends, wish me a 'happy new year', some aware of my spiritual beliefs, and some not.  I respond in kind, as it is the 'human' thing to do, and we are told (and I am sure there are some that will disagree, but it seems apt) to 'render to Ceaser, what is Ceaser's'.  (I think the verse about 'if thy eye offends, pluck it out, is on a more personal level!)

However, despite the 'wishing' everyone salutations, I realised that being caught up with the 'new' is putting myself in the way of the world.  Although we are 'in the world', Paul tells us not to be 'of the world'.  Starting 'afresh' at new year should not be something that I aspire to.

It was all too easy to 'slip' into the Christmas spirit, listening to the tunes on the radio, and joining in with the festive atmosphere.  However, when I heard one shopper say, 'I have just bought these boots.  No one else will. Merry Christmas to me!'.  I wondered why she needed the excuse to buy herself the boots, and didn't think of how I was being caught up in the same net.  Although Messiah was not born around December (and I am sure I have covered this), we are constantly reminded to 'remember the reason for the season!'  Even if Messiah were born around December, and even if we were to celebrate the birth with such fervour, where is the honouring in buying presents for oneself?  I must admit that although I celebrated as a child, I now consider 25th December, and the surrounds to be a time when I have a few days off work, and go home to England to be with my family.  Why?  Because they all have time off work, and it has become a tradition.  I do not celebrate the birth of Messiah at this time, nor do my husband and I give presents (just as we do not consider Valentine's Day to be the day to show our love for each other!)  However, I am in the world and my family still exchange gifts.  My personal gifts are no different to those which I take when I visit in the summer.  However, as they are given on 25th December, which is the time that everyone congregates, there is a preconception that this is a Christmas present. 

With my mother being in her 80's, there is much preparation and much clearing away, and so the day becomes a giant chore!  There is little time for reflection on spiritual matters, and by the time it is all over, we are exhausted.  I am not saying everyone is the same, and I am sure there are many who go to church, and give thanks, but I am also sure there are many like me, who get carried away with the atmosphere, and worse still, complain about how tired we are after it is all over. 

I read my husband's blog on the Sunday after the 25th, which dealt with doing Elohim's will, and not your own.  I was very humbled.  I had not necessarily been doing things that were selfish but I had not been paying as much attention to the Spirit as I might.  I was determined to make amends.  However, after spending most days on my vacation in the kitchen, or doing housework, I relished the 'me' time in the evenings.  I played games on the computer, and I knitted, but I did not read the scriptures, nor did I consider that there might be time to reflect and write something.  After all, it would be new year soon.

Yesterday, I read the Proverbs 7.  The young man is pulled in by the whore and she makes it all sound so nice.  I don't think I have ever contemplated the depth of this Proverb.  I understood the meaning, and I understood that it is easy to either take the easy way out, or to go down the wrong path.  However, it suddenly struck me that I was the figure that was the young man.  I saw the lights, and I enjoyed the atmosphere of the Christmas spirit, and festivities.  I went along and followed the whore to her house, and enjoyed the good life.  I had fun!  How did it end.  Blessedly, I was stopped in my tracks, and understood the implications of NOT doing the will of Elohim.  I understood the implications of going my own way.  I did not fall into the pit.  I was saved as I looked over the top. 

I believe that one of the biggest pit falls is not to recognise our own downfalls. 

Grace and peace to all, and may the voice of the spirit be as clear to you as it was to me, yesterday.