Occupied

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I have been rather lax this week with writing – why?  
Occupied I suppose — I am anticipating more occupation mid-week next week too.
But that does not mean you all are not on my mind — I have a blanket request for you all in my daily prayer journal. 

I read 2 Thessalonians 2 today and made many notes in my notebook. I also had questions. Imagine that, huh? 

I am not prepared to share it all, but I am inclined to share a comforting thought. 

The people of Thessalonica were alarmed; some folks had told them YESHUA had already returned. 
We’d be alarmed too, would we not at such a message? 
So Paul set about to set their minds at ease.

I don’t have all the answers and I have more questions.
There are matters of eschatology that are beyond my learning at this time and that had been concerning me. 
But today, coupled with a prayer a dear sister prayed with me this week, I have this direction: 

Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, don’t be afraid to think outside of that traditional box; don’t be afraid to explore for the TRUTH.
And as you do: Trust Father to protect.
Trust Holy Spirit to teach. 
Trust JESUS to return. 

And in the meantime occupy! 
Let us occupy ourselves with listening, obeying, loving, and going about our lives doing good. 

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. 

Amen and amen – make it so of us too, Father. 

Not Just a Writing Prompt

Windows and sunshine. 

I’m not kidding.
This very sight is one of the things for which I give thanks – often.
Not just today as a writing prompt. Even though it is. 

How lavishly fortunate we are to have a place, a roof over our heads with walls and windows in all our rooms to let in that glorious light from the sun that warms and comforts us, that helps grow our foods, that gives us much needed Vitamin D to ward off diseases. 

Today, we live in a place of extravagance, and yet with all our extravagance without sun, moon, air, and water – we soon would not be at all. 

Could we today give thanks for the common things; things that we have closed our eyes to; things that we only miss when they are gone? 

So. For what are YOU giving thanks today? 

Just in case you are interested 48 times in the KJV we find give thanks referenced. 
Here are a few and a link for the rest. 

A Teaser

The Anti-Christ. 
Perhaps he is walking among us today (personally, I think he is) yet he has not been revealed to us. 

However, his spirit is clearly here and working among us; especially with some. 

and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.  source 

16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,
17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.source

I have a thought on verse 18. We should not expect to see three 6s tattooed on hands or foreheads. No doubt there will be an identifier of some kind.
So what is the significance of 666?
I have a theory. Numbers in Scripture have meaning. The Number 6 has been identified as man’s number.
The number 3 I understand refers to GOD (Father, Son, Holy Spirit).
With that in mind, it seems reasonable to me that 666 identifies the man who will pretend and present himself to be GOD.
So the man pretending, insisting that he is GOD will be on the scene preaching to earth’s inhabitants that he knows all, has all the answers, and is better qualified than anyone to know what humans are to do or think.
But this man to come insisting he is GOD has no mercy, no love, no justice, no wisdom, (albeit the majority of earth’s people will think him to be all those things) even though he is NOTHING like GOD.
He is the polar opposite of GOD. He is fully evil.
Even this very day he may be in the wings, eagerly awaiting his unveiling. 

Would you like a preview, a trailer we might say of this Mark of the Beast?
We have a teaser before us right now.

Any person or entity that forces a human to take the Covid JAB under the threat of losing their job or being refused entry to a store, an event, to board an airplane, or any other form of coercion is indeed operating with the spirit of antichrist. 

The book of Revelation is not nearly the mystery it once was to those who have ears to hear and eyes to see.
See 2 Thessalonians 2: 3-12

Are you ready for this?
A METHODIST hospital in Texas is requiring employees to take the Covid JAB.

A Texas hospital system will require employees to get the Covid-19 vaccine and could fire them if they don’t comply

Lawsuits have been filed on behalf of employees who do not want to be forced to comply. 

Perhaps you will pray about this. 

We were meant for this,

Question Answered

I asked a question recently at my Facebook feed (in summary) if Christians should just let evil flourish. 
I am here with an answer. 

2 Thessalonians 2:5-8
1 John 3:8
Romans 8:9

There may be other passages but these helped me with the question. 

I heard a Minister of the Gospel say we are to stand against evil to prolong the time we can have to preach the Gospel of Salvation. Other than because GOD said so, that’s the best reason I’ve heard to date. 

We know from 2 Thessalonians 2:5-8 that HOLY SPIRIT restrains the Evil One from being fully revealed in this world and He restrains the rise of the Anti-Christ to power at this time. He will not always do that. 
From 1 John 3:8 I know that JESUS came to earth to destroy the works of the Devil, the Evil One. 
From Romans 8:9 I know that every SAVED person is indwelt by HOLY SPIRIT.

So, since HOLY SPIRIT is here to restrain the evil one; since JESUS came to destroy the works of the devil, and since all true Christians have HOLY SPIRIT living within us; it stands to reason that Christians must allow HOLY SPIRIT to resist and restrain evil in this world through us. 

So, what evil do we resist, restrain?
Every stinky form of it that is in this world.
How?
However, HOLY SPIRIT provides us individually and collectively with a way to stand. 

Professors

This post is for professing Christians only.

If you have or you intend to vote for a political candidate that has said he or she will fight for you or anyone else to continue to have the legal right to obtain an abortion, you may not be saved.

If you have or intend to vote for a political candidate that has indicated he or she will legally enhance the distribution of taxpayer money to people who refuse to work, you may not be saved.

If you have or intend to vote for a political candidate that has indicated he or she will fight to legally advance or protect legal privileges for those who practice or participate in perverted sexual conduct, you may not be saved.
 
If either of these apply to you, I urge you to check your Damascus Road Experience. You may have missed it and you may not have a covenant relationship with JESUS.
Your eternity depends on it, please don’t delay to inquire.

Proverbs 14:34 (NLT) 34 Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people. source

2 Thessalonians 3:10

Romans 1:18-32