An Encounter in the Stillness by Dan Wilson

     I believe this is the cry of God's heart.  He wants us to come near to Him--to allow Him to speak to our hearts--to reveal Himself to us.  Let us "Be Still" long enough for Him to speak.

Dan Wilson:

An Encounter in the Stillness

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10

Be still. Abba is wooing us, drawing His beloved into the quiet, secret place where we can renew our heart's knowledge of Him as God.

Recently we spent three days in the isolated far northern town of Kotzebue, Alaska. God took us there. This small, seaside city of 3000 people was completely frozen. Every house was built on stilts so that they would not melt the permafrost.

The ocean was frozen and vast, ice as far as the eye could see. In the distance were snow-covered mountains, shining before the expanse of blue sky. It was beautiful – stark beauty, yes, but so beautiful. The sea's surface was covered in miniature sculptures of snow and ice sparkling like diamonds. These works of art were fashioned by the finger of God.

An Encounter With He Is!

Walking alone on the frozen ocean, God came. The weight of His presence was intense, requiring that we stand still, immoveable for some time. Quiet. Powerful. Awesome in the truest sense of the word.(Photo via Dan Wilson, trip to Alaska)

In this magnificent encounter He reminded us simply that, "He is." He is strong. He is mighty. He is gentle. He is kind. He is lovely. He is aware. He is creative. He is wise. He is safe. He is not safe. He is immense. He is holy. He is. He is!

This passionate, beautiful God Almighty is calling the Bride, calling YOU, to the secret place with Him. He is longing to be alone with you. He wants to show Himself to you again. Hedesires to stir your heart. And, He will settle your heart.

Dare you meet with Him?

Perhaps a few days fast from the noise of the world is in order. Even an afternoon sitting alone in the beauty of nature will be attractive to Jesus. He will meet you there. He is calling you. Listen. 

The Spirit of the Lord is reminding us in this season to "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10).

It is from this place of stillness that He will send you out to the world. It begins in a quiet place and ends with a glorious shout! He will indeed be exalted among the nations. He will be exalted in the earth!

Dr. Dan & Linda Wilson
Supernatural Marriage Ministries
Email: info@supernatural-marriage.com
Website: SupernaturalMarriage.org

Dr. Mercola on Heart Disease Prevention

     Another interesting article from Dr. Mercola refutes some of the common recommendations for heart disease.  You can read it here.

The following excerpt from the article lists his suggestions for a heart-healthy diet.

What Constitutes a Heart-Healthy Diet?

If you're still confused about what a "proper diet" is, I suggest reviewing my Optimized Nutrition Plan, which is designed to guide you through the dietary changes in a step-by-step fashion, moving from beginners to intermediary to advanced. When properly applied, it can improve just about anyone's health. Following is a summary of the basic recommendations, all of which will help combat chronic inflammation:

Limit or eliminate all processed foods

Eliminate all gluten, and highly allergenic foods from your diet

Eat organic foods whenever possible to avoid exposure to harmful agricultural chemicals such as glyphosate

Eat at least one-third of your food uncooked (raw), or as much as you can manage

Increase the amount of fresh vegetables in your diet

Avoid artificial sweeteners of all kinds

Swap all trans fats (vegetable oils, margarine etc) for healthful fats like avocado, raw butter or coconut oil

To re-balance your omega-3 to omega-6 ratio, take a high-quality omega-3 supplement, such as krill oil, and reduce your consumption of processed omega-6 fats from vegetable oils (trans fats)

Drink plenty of pure water

Optimize your vitamin D levels, either through appropriate sun exposure, a safe tanning bed, or as last resort an oral vitamin D3 supplement

Limit fructose to less than 25 grams per day, from all sources, including whole fruits. If you have insulin resistance, diabetes, hypertension or heart disease, you'd be well advised to keep your fructose below 15 grams per day

Beware: Heart Disease May be an Outcome of Cholesterol- and Vitamin D Deficiency

One of the most common dietary misconceptions is the notion that animal foods are bad for your heart because they contain cholesterol. Conventional medicine tells you that heart disease is due to elevated cholesterol and recommends lowering cholesterol levels as much as possible, including in your diet.

Compelling research by Dr. Stephanie Seneff (the same researcher who recently published a groundbreaking study on the harmful impact of glyphosate on human health) suggests the converse may be far closer to the truth. She believes heart disease is due to getting too little cholesterol, opposed to getting too much.

         Click here to continue reading. 

How did this happen?

    On Friday when I got home to find two of the kittens missing and the towel from the cat house on which the kittens laid pulled out onto the deck I knew the dog had been back even though I didn't see him this time.
    As I watched, Milky Way came out of the woods, licked the remaining baby a few minutes and then walked off towards the woods checking to see if it was following her.  She then returned from the woods in a few minutes without the kitten.  I walked out to see if I could hear a kitten crying, and then Country Guy searched the woods a couple of times to no avail.
    This morning when he went to feed Milky Way and Cute Eyes (who is also pregnant) the THREE kittens were playing on the deck!  Where have they been?  And why did she bring them back so soon?
Of course, they're getting so big and playful I'm sure it was dfficult to keep them hidden.
    Just 3 more weeks till they can go to new homes!  Hopefully, they will survive that long!  It would help if we could determine where that dog is coming from and do something about it!  I have spent too much time worrying about the safety of these kittens!  And I'm not even a cat lover!
     

Practicing His Presence

      Many years ago I read Letters by a Modern Mystic, and Game with Minutes by Frank Laubach, and  The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence.  They were wonderful little booklets/books that deeply inspired me.  I began to 'practice His presence' but as time progressed and busyness crowded into my life I had slowly relinquished this discipline.
    I recently came across a new edition of these books.  The Library Of Spiritual Classics have updated the language since Brother Lawrence's book was written in the 1600's and Frank Laubach's in the 1930's, and combined the three in one small book entitled Practicing His Presence.  I have begun the 'practice' again.  Obviously it was time to revisit 'old wells'.   The book is available through Amazon.  I highly recommend it!

Here is an excerpt from Letters of a Modern Mystic

October 11, 1931
     There are three questions we may ask, "Do you believe in God?"  That's not getting very far.  "The demons believe and tremble."  "Are you acquainted with God?" We are acquainted with people with whom we have had some business dealings.  Third, "Is God your friend?" or putting it this way, "Do you love God?"
    It is the third stage that is really vital.  How is it to be achieved?  By doing things together.  The depth and intensity of the friendship will depend upon the variety and extent of the things we do and enjoy together.  Will the friendship be constant?  That again depends upon the permanence of our common interests, and upon whether or not our interests grow into ever widening circles, so that we do not stagnate.  The highest friendship demands growth.  "It must be progressive as life itself is progressive."  Friends must walk together; they cannot long stand still together, for that means death to friendship and to life.
    Friendship with God is the friendship of child with parent.  As an ideal son grows daily into a closer relationship with his father, so we may grow into closer love with God by widening into His interests, and thinking His thoughts and sharing His enterprises.  
    Far more than any other device of God to create love was the cross where the lovingest person the world has known hangs loving through all His pain.  That cross has become the symbol of love for a third of the world becaue it touches the deepest depths of human love.

More kittens missing!

      I am so mad!  I just returned home to find the cat house messed up again and two more kittens missing. I had taken pictures of them this morning and was planning to post them on my blog as survivors of the dog massacre.  It looks as if he returned and killed two more. Only one remains.  How annoying to not be able to protect these little guys from a dog that doesn't belong here!  They, too, were so cute--as you can see!

Excerpt from "America's Most Important Institution"

      Our society no longer remembers (or teaches) that marriage is to be a lifetime commitment.  We have become a very selfish, self-centered society.  It's all about us.  If we aren't happy then we look for something that makes us happy with no concern for how many people we are hurting in the process. Pastor Stephan Nash explains the current mindset--and the solution (life-long commitment) so well in his article "America's Most Important Institution"posted on The Daily Rant .  I have included an excerpt below.  You can read the entire article here.

"As a pastor I have had many couples come to me and simply declare they want a divorce because they “don’t love each other anymore.”  What they are really saying is that they have drifted apart and neither party has done anything to work on their marriage.  They have believed the lie that “love” is a “feeling” and they have lost that “loving feeling” for their spouse.  Since when has love become merely a “feeling?”

We must be reminded that God commanded us to love.  He cannot command us to have certain feelings.  Feelings come and go and travel like a roller coaster through life.  Those warm, gushy, exciting feelings of a newlywed couple must gradually give way to a deeper, life-long commitment that has been tested by disappointments, disillusionment and draught.  As we weather the storms as a couple we will develop a lasting, deep-rooted, loving commitment that will become a trophy of God’s grace and a testimony that will inspire and give hope to onlookers!"

Joyce Meyers' Wisdom

     Recently I came across a Joyce Meyer's program while looking for movies to record.  I lingered at the program a few minutes and overheard her say that "You do not need to have an opinion about things for which you are not responsible." That really hit home!
      How often I find myself thinking about how I would change something or do something differently when the object of my opinion has nothing to do with me!  How much energy I waste on this!
      It seems to be a universal tendency--at least in those I'm around.  Everyone has an opinion about how something was done, or how it should be done, or when, or why, or where, etc. ad nauseum, but it is only an opinion.  We have no intention of doing anything about it, or any authority to do so.  I wish we could all take note of Joyce's wisdom.  Let's not waste time on things for which we have no responsibility.  If we have a strong opinion, then let's look for ways to change the situation--not just talk about it!

Good News-Bad News!

      I was excited!  The floor of the new amphitheater was being poured and some of the excavation work was being done yesterday so I went to see if there were any questions or decisions to make.  On the way home I realized the Christmas lights we had used for the Hometown Christmas Celebration were still up at the park so I stopped to take them down.  Maybe if I had come straight home disaster could have been avoided.  Who knows?
     When I got home--just as I was walking towards the kitchen I saw the shadow of a large animal on the deck.  I hurried out there and found a German Shepherd trying to get to the kittens in their house.  He had pulled the old towel that was on the floor of the house out onto the deck and had knocked the roof sideways.  I scared him off and then discovered two of the kittens were missing.  When I looked around I found them dead in the yard.  The dog had killed them.  As I watched, Milky Way (the kitten's mother) came walking out of the woods.  She discovered the first dead kitten on her way to the deck, licked it a couple of times and them picked it up by the neck and carried it into the woods.  She then seemed to be searching for the other one.  When I led her out to it she licked it a couple of times and went back to the 3 who had escaped the dog.  Later when I looked out onto the deck she was lying with them but had carried the dead kitten (from the woods) back onto the deck.  So sad!

The two casualties-- Weren't they so cute?

     I am afraid the dog will be back today.  Since the kittens have gotten to the age of exploring the others will have no chance of surviving if he returns.  I don't know whose dog it is, but if I find out I will be contacting the owner.  Last week something ate 3 or 4 of Country Guy's chickens--the ones who wouldn't stay in the pen but insisted on flying over the fence.  We assumed it was a fox but now are wondering if it could have been this dog.
      

How To Create A Socialist State

       I received this email from a friend and find it worrisome.  I have not studied Saul Alinsky (nor do I plan to) so I can't say the email is accurate in attributing the list to him, but the points listed are certainly 'food for thought.'  Using this criteria it appears America is clearly headed towards Socialism thanks to the leaders in charge of our country.  I hope you are planning to vote in this year's election.  We need strong conservative leaders who are committed to following the Constitution and who have the best interests of U.S. citizens in mind when making decisions if the U.S. is to survive as a leader in the free world.  This is not the time to be apathetic.

How To Create A Socialist State 

          by Saul Alinsky 

There are 8 levels of control that must be obtained before you are able to create a social state. 

1) Healthcare

Control healthcare and you control the people. 

2) Poverty

Increase the Poverty level as high as possible.  Poor people are easier to control and will not fight back if you are providing everything for them to live. 

 3) Debt

Increase the debt to an unsustainable level. That way you are able to increase taxes, and this will produce more poverty.

 4) Gun Control

Remove the ability to defend themselves from the Government. That way you are able to create a police state.

 5) Welfare

Take control of every  aspect of their lives (Food, Housing, and Income) 

6) Education

Take control of what people read and listen to – take control of what children learn in school. 

7) Religion

Remove the belief in the God from the Government and schools.

 8) Class Warfare

Divide the people into the wealthy and the poor. This will cause more discontent and it will be easier to take (Tax) the wealthy with the support of the poor.

Does any of this sound like what is happening to the United States?

Another "Noah" Review

In case the review I posted a couple of days ago didn't convince you, here is another from Breitbart.com 

THEOLOGIAN BLASTS CHRISTIAN LEADERS FOOLED INTO ENDORSING KABBALAH, GNOSTIC VERSION OF 'NOAH'

by JOHN NOLTE 1 Apr 2014, 6:25 AM PDT 17POST A COMMENT

Dr. Brian Mattson, a theologian with a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from the University of Aberdeen  who now serves as Senior Scholar of Public Theology for the Center for Cultural Leadership, has written a scathing review of Darren Aronofsky's "Noah" that takes special aim at the numerous Christian leaders who endorsed a film  "direct from Kabbalist and Gnostic sources" that has zero to do with the Bible.

"This was a thoroughly pagan retelling of the Noah story direct from Kabbalist and Gnostic sources," Mattson writes.  

Mattson reminds that the "subject matter" of Arnofosky's debut film, "Pi," was Kabbalah, so it makes sense that he was already familiar with it. Moreover, a number of moments in the film that at first seemed like artistic flourishes -- a glowing Adam and Eve, the serpent skin Noah wraps around his arm -- all have a basis in either Kabbalah or Gnosticism:

The world of Gnostic mysticism is bewildering with a myriad of varieties. But, generally speaking, they hold in common that the serpent is “Sophia,” “Mother,” or “Wisdom.” The serpent represents the true divine, and the claims of “The Creator” are false.

Where the numerous Christian leaders who endorsed the film really got fooled, though, was in assuming Aronofsky's "Noah" had anything to do with God of the Old Testament or the Bible.  It doesn't. "Noah" is really about "The Creator," a completely different being according to Gnostics, and an evil one. If Aronosfsly's "god" seemed a little anti-human to some of us, here's why:

Except that when Gnostics speak about “The Creator” they are not talking about God. Oh, here in an affluent world living off the fruits of Christendom the term “Creator” generally denotes the true and living God. But here’s a little “Gnosticism 101” for you: the Creator of the material world is an ignorant, arrogant, jealous, exclusive, violent, low-level, bastard son of a low level deity. He’s responsible for creating the “unspiritual” world of flesh and matter, and he himself is so ignorant of the spiritual world he fancies himself the “only God” and demands absolute obedience. They generally call him “Yahweh.” Or other names, too (Ialdabaoth, for example).

This Creator tries to keep Adam and Eve from the true knowledge of the divine and, when they disobey, flies into a rage and boots them from the garden.

Mattson also explains that why Russell Crowe's Noah turns into a "homicidal manic" in the second half of the film:

Many reviewers thought Noah’s change into a homicidal maniac on the ark, wanting to kill his son’s two newborn daughters, was a weird plot twist. It isn’t weird at all. In the Director’s view, Noah is worshiping a false, homicidal maniac of a god. The more faithful and “godly” Noah becomes, the more homicidal he becomes. He is becoming every bit the “image of god” that the “evil” guy who keeps talking about the “image of god,” Tubal-Cain, is.

But Noah fails “The Creator.” He cannot wipe out all life like his god wants him to do. “When I looked at those two girls, my heart was filled with nothing but love,” he says. Noah now has something “The Creator” doesn’t. Love. And Mercy. But where did he get it? And why now?

In the immediately preceding scene Noah killed Tubal-Cain and recovered the snakeskin relic: “Sophia,” “Wisdom,” the true light of the divine. Just a coincidence, I’m sure.

Unless Mattson is off base with his facts, which is doubtful based on his resume, Aronosfsky has pulled off one of the greatest bait-and-switches in history.

The director was not only able to fool the public (and maybe the studio) into buying into the idea that "Noah" was a biblical epic, he also fooled legions of Christian "thought leaders" who were apparently ignorant of Kabbalah and Gnosticism but also willing to put on blinders when it came to the obvious paganism that those of us who are not theologians picked up on.

Mattson lets them have it, too: [emphasis original]

The scandal is this: of all the Christian leaders who went to great lengths to endorse this movie (for whatever reasons: “it’s a conversation starter,” “at least Hollywood is doing something on the Bible,” etc.), and all of the Christian leaders who panned it for “not following the Bible”…

Not one of them could identify a blatantly Gnostic subversion of the biblical story when it was right in front of their faces.

I believe Aronofsky did it as an experiment to make fools of us: “You are so ignorant that I can put Noah (granted, it's Russell Crowe!) up on the big screen and portray him literally as the ‘seed of the Serpent’ and you all will watch my studio’s screening and endorse it.”

He’s having quite the laugh. And shame on everyone who bought it.

In the opening of my "Noah" review, I wrote that Aronofsky "conceived" this film for "the sinister purpose of leading people to believe that Christianity and Judaism are something they are not."

At the time, I had no idea where his ideas had come from, but that the director was trying to lead people away from the God of the Old Testament was blatantly and sickeningly obvious.

Indeed, "shame on everyone who bought it."

Especially those who should have known better.

Christ Be Beside Me

A friend sent a link to this YouTube video. I had never heard the song.  At the bottom of the video there was a note that said the song was adapted from the words of a prayer called "St. Patrick's Breastplate".  Since  I was curious to hear the whole prayer  I looked it up.  It is beautiful!   ( I also looked up the meaning of "bind" and liked these definitions-- to put under an obligation <binds himself with an oath>; to make a firm commitment; wrap tightly; to encircle something to protect and strengthen it.) Not only is this St. Patrick's declaration of his commitment to Jesus and His sacrifice, but also recognition that in the binding he is wrapping himself in Jesus' provision to be strengthend and protected.

Here is the poem:

St. Patrick's Breastplate

I bind unto myself today

The strong Name of the Trinity,

By invocation of the same

The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this today to me forever

By power of faith, Christ’s incarnation;

His baptism in Jordan river,

His death on Cross for my salvation;

His bursting from the spicèd tomb,

His riding up the heavenly way,

His coming at the day of doom

I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power

Of the great love of cherubim;

The sweet ‘Well done’ in judgment hour,

The service of the seraphim,

Confessors’ faith, Apostles’ word,

The Patriarchs’ prayers, the prophets’ scrolls,

All good deeds done unto the Lord

And purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today

The virtues of the star lit heaven,

The glorious sun’s life giving ray,

The whiteness of the moon at even,

The flashing of the lightning free,

The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,

The stable earth, the deep salt sea

Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today

The power of God to hold and lead,

His eye to watch, His might to stay,

His ear to hearken to my need.

The wisdom of my God to teach,

His hand to guide, His shield to ward;

The word of God to give me speech,

His heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,

The vice that gives temptation force, 

The natural lusts that war within,

The hostile men that mar my course;

Or few or many, far or nigh,

In every place and in all hours,

Against their fierce hostility

I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan’s spells and wiles,

Against false words of heresy,

Against the knowledge that defiles,

Against the heart’s idolatry,

Against the wizard’s evil craft,

Against the death wound and the burning,

The choking wave, the poisoned shaft,

Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,

Christ behind me, Christ before me,

Christ beside me, Christ to win me,

Christ to comfort and restore me.

Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,

Christ in hearts of all that love me,

Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,

The strong Name of the Trinity,

By invocation of the same,

The Three in One and One in Three.

By Whom all nature hath creation,

Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:

Praise to the Lord of my salvation,

Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

Could this kitten be any cuter?

Milky Way's kitties are getting adventurous--and they are all available for new homes.  :o)

'Noah' Review

From Breitbart News

'NOAH' REVIEW: BRILLIANTLY SINISTER 

ANTI-CHRISTIAN FILMMAKING

by JOHN NOLTE 28 Mar 2014

     When atheist director and co-writer Darren Aronofsky promised that his epic "Noah" would be "the least biblical film ever made," that was not hyperbole. "Noah" is a brilliant, compelling, beautifully-mounted, beautifully-acted piece of storytelling conceived for the sinister purpose of leading people to believe that Christianity and Judaism are something they are not.

Continue reading this review here.

Will Rogers Quote

     I came across this quote from Will Rogers in a book I was reading today.  It is so good that  I wanted to remember it.

"Go out on a limb--that's where the fruit is."

Useful Tech Hints for iPhone, iPad & Apple Computers

     Our daughter sent this link to us since we have iPhones.  Of course, there are so many things an iPhone can do that we don't know about so I was glad to have this information.  I thought some of you might find a new use for your phones in this article, too.  When I went to the webpage I found a link to another article on 19 things you can do with your iPhone and iPad.  There was some duplication, but also more good ideas, so I am posting both links.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/jessicamisener/things-you-didnt-know-your-iphone-could-do?bffb

  This one specifically says it is for iPad, also. http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/mind-blowing-tricks-every-iphone-and-ipad-user-should-kno.   I will have to experiment to see if the hints in the first link work on iPad as well.

     Last week my sister showed me how to take a screen shot on an iPhone.  For those of you who don't know--press the "home" key at the same time you press the "off" button.  The screen shot goes to "Photos".
      I am so glad to know this.  I use the screen shot capabilities on my Apple laptop all the time. (FYI:  hold the "command", "shift" and "4" keys and then drag the lines around whatever you want to take a picture of and release the keys).  The screen shot stays on your desktop unless you decide to save it in Documents.

     If you know of other tips on how to get the most out of iPhone usage, I would love to hear from you.  Email me, or better yet post the ideas in the "comments" to this blogpost so everyone can benefit.