SELAH Jubilee Lady Writes 4 Shalom

Yesterday was the first Shabbat of our newly turned-over Gregorian Calendar.  It was rainy and overcast all day. Which just added to the atmosphere of rest. Somehow, the absence of sunshine makes resting from the normal activity a bit easier. Today however is a bright sunny day. The wonderful glow of the sunshine is adding to the feeling of positive possibilities, and prophecies for the coming year. The mottos for the “New Year” are flying about – “Let the Lion Roar in '24!”; “Going for MORE in '24!”; and, “An Open Door in '24”!

As to the Lion's Roar, I'm sensing that this "Roar" is going to be expressed through courageous intercessors and Worship Warriors - in The Name of The Lion of Judah! As to the, “Going for MORE in '24!” - this refers to His Anointing, Revelation and Deliverance – all of which are expected to increase this year, so that the end-time harvest can be reaped with less interference. And as to “An Open Door in '24!” - this is indicating that there IS a new portal to HIS BLESSING, INCREASE, and ANOINTING  getting ready to open up, again, in order to accomplish His Divine purposes in the Earth for this season. 

However, the door that I am seeing is a NARROW DOOR, with a bright light beckoning all real followers of Yeshua to lay aside the many religious bundles they carry,  and step through if they dare! What must be laid aside are the many, complicated, Scripturally irrelevant, Spiritually Blasphemous, traditions of men with unscriptural, idolatrous roots, be it “Orthodox Jewish”, “Catholic”, “Protestant”, “Evangelical”, “Charismatic” or even “Non-Denominational” (an ironic choice of words, since those systems tend toward as much or more divisiveness as all the others). 

What we must now realize, as The Spirit of God is revealing it to us, is that all religious systems of men, most of which have been positioned above the commandments of Father God, will not fit through this door! And, even more importantly, will not be welcomed into the heavenly portals at the end of time either! It is therefore advisable for us to rid ourselves of them now, so that we can access His Power, Blessing and Abundance, to do the job we've signed on to do! 

I sense that The Spirit is indicating that this is the time to lay aside religious works,  many of which are done in pride, or to gain the accolades of humans, especially those in positions of spiritual leadership. He is requiring that we lay aside the many lists and conditions, which keep us from a total surrender to God's Will and Purpose for our lives - and die to the ubiquitous flesh, which is born in leagues with the devil.

This Door is Narrow, and will not be open long. God is requiring us to lighten our loads if we expect to go through it, and come out on the other side in His Blessing, expanded territories, and abundance - all of which we will need to accomplish the mission we've been called to.

Mankind keeps trying to come up with alternative versions of God's Kingdom, which allows them to sidestep His boundaries and do their own thing, while pretending to serve Him. That is why we keep falling into these false systems of religiosity that operate more by manipulation than actual Spiritual Authority. These systems are anathema to His Anointing, and instead inevitably produce “a form of godliness, while denying the power ….”.

So, though this was the first “church service” of the year, according to the Gregorian Calendar, Gene and I opted to stay home. Partly because we are experiencing some light cold symptoms which we didn't want to "share", but also we just felt inclined to get a bit more rest before charging into our week, and maybe just, in a low key way, begin the work on some household order and a bit of planning for next week.

Our tendency to skip “church”, without some huge emergency or necessity, often does not sit well with most of the “church-bound” masses. Their stance, or judgment, seems to be that we can't possibly be “good Christians” if we are not exhibiting the same level of “commitment” to the weekly gathering that they are!

However, I sense, after decades of observation of these issues, that it is most likely a religious jealousy of the freedom which we've found, and shamelessly operate in – which they can not seem to get their religious brains around!

We have finally come to a place of boundaries in our lives! Scripturally correct, GODLY boundaries, which excludes the suffocating, oppression and religious ideologies which plague most of the church-going masses in our nation. Ideologies which are based loosely on Scripture, most of which have been taken out of context and twisted, from a mere heartfelt obedience, based on a real relationship with a Loving, Trustworthy God, to a restrictive religious obligation based on fear of judgment (of God or others), instead of a sincere longing to please Him.

The Scripture which is loosely thrown around, concerning the subject of “faithful attendance”, is Hebrews 10:25 which admonishes us, “Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together [as believers for worship and instruction], as the habit of some is, but encouraging one another; and all the more [faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ’s return] approaching.”

What is missed, in my opinion, is that “assembling together with other believers” does not mean ONE group of believers! Nor does it restrict us to the same building, at the same time, each week – or every time the doors are open! I encourage, and get encouragement from, many believers on a daily basis! The early church, in the book of Acts, did go to synagogue to hear Torah read, but they mainly got their “fellowship” visiting house to house, sharing food, revelation, and anointed teaching and encouragement!

So, using this bit of Scripture to beat people up emotionally, or diminish them spiritually, or to pressure them into showing up more, or “doing their part”, or whatever, is not guided by The Holy Spirit, and therefore is manipulation and control, which, by the way, is strictly forbidden by God, and condemned as witchcraft! So I think we should stop doing this now.

God's Word is to be preached boldly, but never twisted to put pressure on people! We, who desire to honor God, are called to submission to GODLY AUTHORITY! We are not called, however, to  compliance to spiritual bullies who have assumed positions of leadership. Nor were the five-fold ministry gifts ever intended to be titles by which people restrict or exalt themselves! They are gifts of service to The Body of The Anointed One, in which we should ALL be operating on some level, all the time! We don't have to pick a box to be stuffed in!  Nor will I allow the religious system to bonsai me, so that I fit into their conveniently selected boxes of spiritual gifting! 

Submission is an act of the freewill, in which we voluntarily, gladly, submit to GOD's boundaries, laid out by Spirit-led leadership in a loving, authoritative, but never controlling, way. Compliance is cowardly acquiescence to avoid being maligned and/or side lined. Cowardice and religious codependency is not scripturally recommended. They are, in fact, on that list of folks going to hell at the end of this journey, along with liars, fornicators and other flesh-motivated addictions. 

It is time for the people of GOD to become students of His Word, as led by His chosen Redeemer, Yeshua The Anointed One, and His Spirit, whom He sent to guide us until He returns! We can not obey Scriptural Instruction or boundaries which we do not know, and we can not trust One with whom we have little to no relationship! We must become Bible-Reading, God-Obeying genuine followers of Yeshua. Not Bible-thumping bigots who use Him to push people around who dare to question the loosely held authority!

Listen, I have made a FIRM decision. I will NEVER “join” another fellowship as long as I live. I am a Blood-bought, Word-washed, Water and Spirit Baptized, Grafted into the Vine of The House of Israel, sold-out follower of Yeshua The Anointed One. If those aren't enough qualifications to accept me into your little club, or allow me a say in the decisions made there, then you can keep the buttons and stars all to yourself!

IF YOU are a true follower of Jesus, Yeshua, then we are brothers and sisters in HIM. If, however,  you are just some religious prig with a power complex we have nothing to fellowship over. Dedication without discernment is dangerous. Discernment without dedication is useless. At some point we need to find the balance of obedient, anointed discerning dedication to the WORK of The KINGDOM! But, it is time for "the church" to accept the TRUTH that the anointing, gifts and callings of God might look different for different people!

Yeshua commanded us to “GO into all the world, making disciples to HIM”... and doing what HE DID! Are we there yet? Closer perhaps!?  BUT - we need to really get this - He did NOT say, “Go into the parts of the world that you are comfortable with and make converts to your religious or political preference, and drag them into your turkey sheds and beat them into religious clones! We are called to be living stones, not white-washed bricks! 

I have been at war with this warped, well-meaning but seriously deceived,  religious system most of my life! The people in this system are usually genuine, and serious about pleasing God,  and many of them are anointed in some way or another! Yet most have been extremely spiritually misinformed! A.k.a. - deceived!  And are, therefore, deceiving others!

It is time we awakened to righteousness. It is time God's people stop complaining about “woke being broke”, when the church at large has mostly been a pig in a religious poke!!!! We've been largely asleep in the light, trying to judge those who are still bound in the night! Sin has been judged y'all! That's why HE CAME! Sinners SIN! Until they are shown a more excellent way!

We should be awake and bringing the light to their darkness! As my Jewish friends are known to say, “Stop cursing the darkness and light a candle already!” Or better yet, let's get our lamps full of OIL, and get LIT for Jesus! Self-control is a necessary fruit of The Spirit. Religious control of others is scripturally forbidden. It is time we learned the difference, and begin teaching The Truth that will set people free! We won't get through that open door of '24 carrying a lot of religious baggage, so it's time to start unpacking and making some decisions! Out with the OLD, in with the NEW. We can be the many called, or the chosen few! 

Selah …..

Shalom &  Shavuah Tov! To a great week!

The best memories of this holiday season have been with Gene and our kids. We have always celebrated Hanukkah and Christmas, so it was definitely a season of light and fun, with God and Jesus at the center.

We began reading books on December 1^st, beginning with, “24 days before Christmas” by Madeline L'Engle. We read the children, “The Story of St. Nicholas” every year because we wanted them to know where the legend sprang from. But we did NOT do any elves on shelves to manipulate their behavior (that is what Godly discipline is for, to correct behavior, not just manipulate it.), and we did not credit “Santa” with their blessings on Christmas day.

They had the cookies and hot cocoa with their dad on Christmas eve, while he read them the “Christmas Story” out of Luke. We had a tree, with God honoring ornaments, Nativity scenes on many surfaces, and books on top of books! Some of our favorites, besides the ones already mentioned, being “One Wintry Night” by Ruth Bell Graham, “The Christmas Tapestry” by Patricia Pollaco, and “A Confused Hanukkah: An Original Story of Chelms by Jon Koons...(Featuring Herschel Hanukkah, in a Blue and White Santa Suit! Lol), to name the top few. But there were many more.

One Christmas, we were particularly struggling to get the children presents for Christmas morning, but we had saved about $100.00 for the five of them. (I was pregnant with number six, who turned out to be Eli, my navy guy. But he wasn't due until January.)

One Sunday as we were getting ready for Church, we were watching James Robeson and his wife, on a missions trip in Uganda. They were making a plea for funds to feed the hungry children there. With tears in their eyes, my three oldest, Jonathan who was 10, Christin who was 8, and Rachel who was 6, came to us and asked us to please take the money for their gifts and send it to those children!

After, giving it a few days, we asked again, and they persisted. So we had them write the letter to the Robesons, thanking them for what they did, and for sharing it with us! We told them what our children were giving up to make this offering. When I told my neighbor, who was like a grandmother to these guys, she was so overwhelmed by it she went to her church, and it turned out to be the best Christmas (materially speaking) that the kids had ever experienced! It was a good lesson, we told them, in how we can't out-give GOD! Plus, the Robesons were so touched they sent them an autographed book of that mission, to thank them.

But also, as the children got old enough to participate, we began going to the homeless shelter, at 4:30 A.M., on Christmas Morning, to cook breakfast for the homeless people. Our reasoning was, since it is Jesus' birthday we need to give HIM a gift! So this is a way to make Him happy. The kids loved it.

The added bonus was that they were SO grateful to come back to our little Habitat for Humanity Home, with our simple traditional snacks, and modest gifts (sort of pitiful compared to most of their friends and cousins). But, the deal was that we just didn't want to make Christmas about that. We really wanted to crush the “greedy-gimmies” of the commercialized mess, and make it to be about the Birth of our LORD and Savior. Let me tell you, it worked! It never failed to produce a grateful contentment in all of them.

I miss those days. But it is getting more and more exciting now as the grand-children are coming along. Our tradition is to meet here, mid-morning on Christmas day, with our traditional snack items and Hot Mulled Cider. The snack items have been upgraded to include gluten-free crackers, and my famous “no-bake oat cookies”, in a variety of flavors, in place of the fruit cake that we used to have. Plus our usual assortment of cheeses, beef summer sausage and special mustard. 

We give gifts to the littles, and exchange meaningful but inexpensive gifts among the adults. Our most recent tradition, in the last few years,  is that Gene and I gift them each with a copy of one of the treasured books from their childhood! Which I shop for all year long, to avoid the ridiculous increase right before Christmas. Many of these books are out of print, so I have to find used library versions. But each is greeted with exclamations of delight and pleasure. So our Advent Tradition of reading quality Christmas material from December 1^st to Christmas Day can continue.

Sigh . . . Wow. Didn't mean to go so long . . .  but it HAS been a long journey!

Chag Sameach! Happy Holidays! Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas!!!

(Concerning the Birkat Kohanim, a.k.a., “Priestly Blessing”, “Aaronic Benediction”, from Numbers 6:22-27)

Okay. Once again it is time for the “People of God” to make a choice. It is time we stopped our selective denial and made up our minds on the subject of GOD's NAME.

Because of Verse 27, of Numbers 6; which instructs us (as priests and kings in Messiah) to put God's NAME, not one of His many titles, upon the people, in order for Him to Bless them … I have been impressed by the Holy Spirit that this is IMPORTANT.

So I have decided to pray this significant prayer, from Numbers 6, this way....

Verse 22 begins the conversation with Aaron: “(The Lord,) YeHoVaH Elohim, spoke to Moses, saying, 23. 'Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,

24. YeHoVaH bless you and keep you;
25. YeHoVaH make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
26. YeHoVaH lift up his countenance upon (turn His Face toward) you and give you peace.'

27. So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”

יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהוָה, וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ

יָאֵר יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וִיחֻנֶּךָּ

יִשָּׂא יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם

  Yevarechecha YeHoVaH, V'Yishmerecha
  Ya'er YeHoVaH Panav Eleycha, ViChoneka
  Yisa YeHoVaH Panav Eleycha, V'Yasem Lecha Shalom

Because, the Hebrew uses what has become known as the Tetragrammaton, the four letters from which the vowels have been removed – erroneously preventing us from knowing God's Name, so as to not be able to profane it! Yod Hey Vav Hey, יְהוָה, These are NOT the Hebrew letters for ADONAI, which is translated as “THE LORD”. As we can clearly see here - יהוה (YHWH), אֲדֹנָ  (Adonai). Clearly, even the consonants are not the same for these two words, the Hebrew for His Name, and this Title.

Over the years there has been some confusion as to YeHoVaH (or YeHoWaH, the only change being the “hard Vav” which is pronounced “v”, or the “soft Vav” which is pronounced “w”) vs Yaweh (which flips the order of the vowels AND leaves the O out entirely)! How can both of those be used interchangeably?! That is idiotic and illogical! We must choose!

Logically I find this to be true, it is the same as if we changed the order of the vowels in our name, Dancun, instead of Duncan! Do you think that would be okay on legal documents? Nor do I want to be called “The Duncan Wife”, especially by Gene, or those close to me! Or worse, “The Name” - which should actually be “The Nameless One”, or “The Name which shall not be uttered”! How is that not as rude and disrespectful as it gets? Especially considering that we are repeating this insult to a GOD Who has given His all to restore a close, functional, intimate relationship with us?! How are we supposed to have a close, trusting relationship with a God whose Name we are not allowed to utter?!

But, thankfully, a Hebrew Scholar, a Karaite Jew, diligently sought, and found, the vowels to the Tetragrammaton, because verse 27 always concerned him. He didn't want to disobey that command! AND SO, because, he knew that “Adonai”, “THE LORD”, isn't God's NAME - it is just one of His many titles, he dedicated himself to search it out, so that this verse could be obeyed. This faithful, God-fearing, fellow's Name is Nehemiah Gordon, and he wrote a book called “Shattering the Conspiracy of Silence”, addressing the issues on why The Name had been hidden, and people had addressed God as ADONAI, THE LORD, or HA SHEM, THE NAME, for all these centuries. His testimony on how God's Name was found, and the incidents which surrounded it, and the possible prophetic meaning of those events, is incredible and worth looking into.

In my own, further, research on the subject I have noted a few things which are cause for concern. One, there is WAY more evidence that YeHoVaH (or YeHoWaH) is the proper pronunciation (due to the order of the vowels in the Hebrew texts)! And worse, there is even some pertinent evidence that “Yaweh” could be, and probably is, a version of the word which represents the Roman god, also known as “Jupiter”. AND. Furthermore, “The LORD”, which is most often translated from the Hebrew word Adonai, can also be the translation from the word Ba'al. Therefore we could be addressing our Holy God, by Names of idols, which HE has strictly forbidden!

Then there is the term which is often used in place of His actual Name, “Ha Shem”, which means “The name”, that simply refers to a name, but clearly, it is NOT HIS NAME! Oy! The stupidity of it all utterly confounds me! And, to me, it doesn't help that it is covered over by the religious excuse that we don't want to offend HIM by addressing Him directly? When HE has commanded us to do so?! How utterly deceived is that?! The other excuse is that we can't profane that which we can not pronounce! Wow. Lame. How about if we actually just choose to KNOW HIS NAME and just CHOOSE NOT TO PROFANE IT!!!!

So. Despite the many, otherwise very knowledgable, men of God, who persist in wavering between the two opinions, because, perhaps they don't want to insult their devoted (paying) followers, by making a choice, claiming that they “Just don't want to cause dissension in The Body of Christ” and have, therefore, decided that the two names are interchangeable - ? How convenient! And how totally illogical. Truth has always caused a bit of dissension folks! Get over it!

OR, even those who have “PHDs in Semitic Languages”, who have come down firmly on the side of “Yaweh” because that is where their studies have taken them! Who, also very conveniently, refuse to consider that someone else might know more than they do. Especially a “non-Messianic” dude, who merely has a devotion to their same GOD, but just hasn't been convicted about following our Messiah yet? When they have obviously taken OTHER opinions from ORTHODOX leaders who are even more objective to our chosen Messiah!!!! In that case it is pride, or just plain deception!

So. Though I still respect most of their work! And have no reason to challenge God's anointing on their lives, or wisdom, otherwise, I have had to take a firm stand with this madness. We've just had to agree to disagree. But I still have to call it as I see it, as THE SPIRIT has led me to see it!

The point, to me, is this – we can't possibly obey verse 27 and PRONOUNCE HIS NAME OVER HIS PEOPLE if we can't even make up our minds about what it is! So that is the deal to me. It just makes no sense! It is not, as pushed in the religious community, a matter of “respect” for Him! It is, in clear fact, an incredible insult! So, I believe that is why The Spirit of Yeshua has tagged me as one of the people to get this information out there. I am one of the few listening, apparently, or courageous enough to go against the popular “christian” flow. But what else is new?! Lol

I have heard the Elijah challenge from The Holy Spirit! HE is saying; “How long will you waver between two, or even three, opinions? If “Ba'al” (also translated, “The LORD”) is your god then serve him! If “Yahweh” (aka “Jupiter”) is your god, then serve him! But if YeHoVaH Elohim is The REAL God, then serve HIM!” It is down to that word again folks – #CHOOSE!!!!

Selah....

This life is but a journey to the Dwelling Place of God.

We are His Tabernacles here, we vessels made of sod.

This life is temporary, we can rise above the OY,

We serve a God Who Is Eternal - Victory, Love, and JOY!

Our goal is but to honor Him, to bring Him sheer delight.

Though fraught with contradictions, to the Faith with which we fight!

We war with a defeated foe, whose cunning often wins,

when we choose to wallow in defeat, or make excuse for sin.

GOD has sent His Champion, to redeem and train His beloved Creation,

So that one day, as He did, we'll bring His foe to devastation!

One day we'll rise, take up the armor, raise both Shield and Sword,

And take the evil blighter out, with Faith in HIS MIGHTY WORD!

One day we'll finally figure out, the fight is for the meek,

who in humility and faith, The WORD of GOD will speak!

One day we'll rise up from our heap, where we've given way to bleak despair,

Take up the Cross, Take up the WORD, and Mightily declare:

I stand upon The Solid Rock! Who has already WON!

So do stand down, return my crown, now, satan, you are DONE.

I stand IN He Who conquered death, He conquered grave and hell!

He's worked you over, left you whipped, and I will win as well!

I will go forth in Power and might, conquering His every foe!

In His Anointing, all wrongs will right, and wipe away all woe!

His JOY awaits me just ahead, my soul will count the days,

When in His glorious Presence I can give Him fullest praise!

But for today my praise I'll lift, through disappointment,      and/or pain,

Knowing all these trials are temporary, and will work out to my gain!

For He is just that GOOD!  I know His Mercy will suffice!

Faith in His love defeats all fears, slays each demonic device!

His Anointing heals, delivers too, makes every shadow flee!

By HIS GRACE I am transformed anew, to whom I was made to be!

So I will glorify His Name as long as I have breath!

And when this life down here is through, I'll honor Him in death!

Though I know that death can't hold me! No! I'll rise the same as HE!

And in His Loving PRESENCE, then, forever I will be!

Giving Him the Praise that's due, His glorious, awesome Name!

For redeeming all us fallen ones, from all our sin and shame!

For conquering hell, our enemy as well, putting him in his place,

and saving us from his evil clutch, by God's Amazing Grace!

Forever then, I'll worship The FATHER, there'll be no need to cease,

Basking in The Forever Light, of The Precious Prince of Peace!

So sighing a happy, peaceful sigh, I close my eyes to rest.

Trusting that, when I awake, He'll help me pass the tests.

Trusting that His Spirit, True, will strengthen and enable,

Any Saints who'll take the time to bring Him to the table!

Trusting, I will overcome, through the Power He has wrought,

By Faith I'll continue winning fights, until that final fight is fought!

On that day, when He beckons me, from Heaven's opened door,

I'll throw my armor down and rise, I won't need it any more!

But for today, I'll rest a bit, waking in His Love & Light,

I'll live my life, above the strife, equipped for every fight.

I'll keep my head up, my heart full, focusing my eyes,

on He Who is my Captain, He will help me win the prize!

The prize of bringing Father God, His Son, Who He's made King,

Crowns of life, to lay at Their feet, in other saints I've helped to bring!

Then hearing those endearing words, I've lived my life to hear,

“Well Done, You good and faithful One, Do come now, please draw near!”

Then, trembling in the sheerest Joy, I'll fall down at His feet,

 gazing into those All-Loving eyes, my joy will be complete.

We must remember life's a journey, it is not our destination, 

We're traveling on to worlds unknown through Messiah's firm Salvation! 

This life's a journey, short or long, through a fallen world of OY,

But we serve a Risen Champion, Who's come to lead us to His JOY!

So rise up all you Saints of GOD! Lay all the OY aside!

Take up His Mantle of Victory, and just enJOY the ride!

SCD

9/29/23

(*Disclaimer: Most folks who follow me know that my writing is not for everyone. I tend to be a bit rough around the edges. I've been working on my “language” for years, and I do take seriously the Scriptural boundaries for what constitutes “appropriate” language for people striving to please a Holy God! BUT. There are times, when the expression of TRUTH overrides religious preferences, and verbiage has to be brought down to the level of those needing, or reading, it. Which means that I may use more down to earth terms which often don't measure up to some people's religious qualifications or preferences. So - if what I write offends you, do yourself a favor and don't read it! And I mean that in a very caring way! Be blessed. Selah.) Okay. Jumping right in....

When it comes to physical intimacy, what most guys don't get, apparently, is that women need to be “wooed” not just “screwed”. “Wooed” is an archaic term, so let me explain. We need you guys to behave in such a way that we actually DESIRE to be with you. We need you to treat us with affection – ALL DAY (not just when you want some) - so that we have warm fuzzy feelings about you. We've a need to be held by you, embraced by you, loved to the point that we, then, actually want to please you in any way possible. We NEED your affectionate behavior toward us, which will inspire affectionate behavior toward you. Men are stimulators, women are responders, so if you don't like the response you are getting, buster, then please change the stimuli! SMH

Let me break this down for you slower ones. If you act like a basic asshole toward us all day – if you can never remember what we tell you - if you show an obvious lack of interest about anything we like or prefer - if you act as though you can barely tolerate us throughout the day (is anyone getting the picture yet...?) - IF that is the way men behave toward women all day - then – guys - you can't just turn on the imaginary “charm” at night, tell us how “hot” we are, bring us a few flowers and chocolates, and play Romeo, just to “get a piece”, and expect that to thrill us! Not happening! Ain't nobody got time for that!!! BECAUSE THAT, unkind sir, is manipulation, NOT LOVE, and is completely unacceptable.

COME ON GUYS!!!! Most women are not that stupid. Some ARE, sadly, that desperate. OR religiously confused, having been pounded into believing that we're supposed to kiss hubby's hind-parts in order to please GOD! My sympathy goes out to both of those type of women. Since, due to the confusing doctrines, and the erroneously popular scripture twisting, of entirely too many so called “pastors” on my journey, it took me several decades to find GOD's real boundaries on THAT thing!

But, LISTEN to SANDRA, our loving GOD loves us WOMEN too! He didn't create us to be used by a lot of self serving jackasses. Which is what men become when sex becomes their god, their priority, their only source of happiness and, therefore, what they serve! (*And now I probably owe an apology to the actual jackasses with four legs, though I think that comparison came about due to the stubborn nature of both creatures... but, I digress....) Listen up gentlemen. And I use that term VERY loosely!!!! We are not a piece of meat. We are not your property. We are not your paid whore. We are not just your maid that gets laid!!! We are your WIFE, and we want to be part of your whole LIFE, NOT just your rock-relief!!!! Please get that, or get lost!

NOW. To the WOMEN. To use sex to manipulate your husband, into any kind of forced acquiescence, to exert your will over his, is also scripturally abhorrent, offensive to God, and offensive to men! As it should be. Men also need support, real love (which they DO need to EARN – but some need to heal or learn to be able to do that), and yes, they do also need a physical sign of all that (“SEX”) on a regular basis, without strings attached (to the balls, in an attempt to control them)!

HOWEVER - if the proper balance can or will not be reached – if a man finds that he can not “love his wife as Christ loved the church....giving himself for her...”; meaning, that he finds he is unable to get over some stuff, put his own preferences aside occasionally, to meet HER needs, etc. - AND if the wife can not find it in her heart to forgive petty grievances, and/or resist making Mt. Vesuvius out of every mole hill & bump in the road - then the relationship is dead. Which means that it must be resuscitated, resurrected, or just cut the losses, bury the thing, have the funeral, mourn it, and move on.

The problem I see in the world today is that there is too little real, Christ-oriented, selfless love, even in the “Church”! Unfortunately, “the flesh”, which is the epitome of “selfish assholism” is allowed to rule and reign, which will eventually destroy any relationship, including, but not limited to, the “sex-life”. Because - GOD ordained physical intimacy to flow out of mental, emotional and spiritual intimacy! The Climax was NEVER intended to be the GOAL of the whole thing! It was originally designated as a really great fulfillment for the sacrifices of selfless LOVE – which ALWAYS puts the other person first! This only works, though, if BOTH people are putting EACH OTHER first! If only one is doing it, that person will eventually run out of love, feel used, and bail out!!! We have, for the most part, sadly, made what was meant to be an intimate exchange of love into a contest, of who is going to get the most gratification. Sex has become a mere manipulation tool, because we have made it an idol, a god, which has turned us into lusting monsters, tearing down our own houses with our own hands!

That is why the divorce rate is so high, even in “the church”, why there are so many broken families, which produce broken individuals, who keep repeating this terrible pattern, because very few people have it right. “Marriage” is not limited to being a safe place to get one's rocks off! That is definitely not “Holy Matrimony”! That is an UNHOLY abuse of intimacy. True marriage is a union of whole souls! It is supposed to be two people, meeting each other's needs out of love, and growing into ONE complex unity, in GOD, which creates families of more loving people – like their Creator.

Instead it has become a nightmare in the name of “sexual freedom”, and “personal rights”, which has led to a host of horrific abuses which have badly warped, stained, and ruined, the whole idea! It has led to perversion of almost unimaginable portions, pornography (and anyone who thinks that is harmless is an idiot, not an intellectual), pedophilia, human trafficking (while demanding reparations for slavery), to mention a few....! BUT ALL of THAT is so far from what God intended in this physical union!!

It is time we got ourselves far enough into God that we can let HIM deal with our lust issues, so that we don't keep repeating these ungodly, unholy, inhumane models. It is time that we REPENT. CHANGE. And become the PEOPLE OF GOD. And not in name only!!!! We've become a nation of “Chrinos” - “Christian In Name Only”! It is time that we made a U-Turn to Authentic Discipleship to Yeshua The Anointed One, and let HIM teach us how to love! Here's a hint: He defined LOVE as GODLINESS, beginning with, “And you shall LOVE....”, FIRST, “YeHoVaH Elohim, The LORD your GOD, with ALL your HEART, soul, mind and strength …” ; and then, “You shall love your neighbor as (much as you do) yourself...”! The closest “neighbor” being your spouse and family! But all the people with whom we come into contact must be taken into serious consideration, and ways sought to love them as GOD has loved us. He has truly “given Himself for us”. Our mission now, if we CHOOSE to accept it, is to learn HIS kind of LOVE, and express it to humanity, to pay it forward, by giving OUR LIVES to His mission of redeeming this lost planet!

Most importantly, we begin by giving our lives to meet the needs and desires of the one we VOWED to love, cherish, and support until DEATH do us part! That's right. The only thing that is allowed to come between us is physical death. Not just the death of our emotional feel goods. Not the death of “sex” through E.D.(erectile dysfunction), or the death of any emotional connection through other psychological dysfunctions such as I.A. (intimacy anorexia)a.ka. “strongholds”. These issues develop as a result of lust and a lack of authentic love. They can be fixed by The God who is Love, but we must allow Him to slay the flesh driven lust dragon and lay it in the grave!

Please hear me - I am NOT saying that we should stay in a dead relationship, that either one, or both, has starved to death by our selfish foolishness, white knuckling it, so we can look religiously correct! NO!!! That is a huge devastation of what God intended! HE DOES, however, expect us to keep our WORD. OUR VOWS. We did NOT promise to endure bullshit until one of us dies from it! We DID promise to LOVE, CHERISH, and take care of each other!!! And, obviously (to me if it is obvious to no one else) WE NEED GOD TO BE ABLE TO FULFILL THOSE VOWS!!!!!

We have, as a nation, a world, and sadly, even “the church” exalted lust above love, and our own personal gratification above God, and caring for others. It is time to REPENT, to make TESHUVAH back to GOD, and redeem, and learn to live in HIS model of LOVE – including marriage, intimacy and family. Only THEN will our families, and nation ever be whole, and redeemed from the thieving devil.

How can we ever hope for “National Unity” if we can not even maintain unity on the most basic level – in family? Or in God's family, “the church”!? Short answer? We can't! We must change!!! We must learn His art of FORGIVENESS!!!! And to do that effectively we need GOD. We must stop playing at “church”, and become HIS real DISCIPLES, study His Ways, learn from Him, OBEY HIM. There is no hope for this nation otherwise, though there is supreme hope IN HIM. But it involves dying to self, which is a difficult concept, especially in our, ever increasingly, self centered world. But it is a concept that we must now embrace if we expect to save our families, this nation, and our world, from self-destruction. Because, our emphasis on pleasing ourselves IS the cause of this destruction we're seeing.

But, again, we are not without hope. We must simply exchange our gods (all based on self-serving) for The One True God, The maker of Heaven and Earth, The God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel..... YeHoVaH Elohim, and HIS Redeemer, Yeshua Ha Messiach, Jesus The Anointed One. HE IS where our redemption exists. Only HE, being the source of LOVE, can show us how to love in such a way that we can, with His help, save this fallen planet. But He works through His devoted ones. It is time to put our energy and priority where it can actually make a difference!

Or at least stop whining about the state of things. It is time to put up or shut up. Stop the whine and choose to shine!!! The flesh will never be divine!!! It is time to finally CHOOSE whom we will serve!!!! The choice is clear, serve ourselves – and the god of this world, or serve the REAL GOD, and FIND our TRUE SELVES in Him, once and for all. But know this … choosing to serve ourselves is choosing HELL, both here, and for eternity. So please, choose wisely.... The temporary affliction of choosing to serve God on this insane planet will be nothing compared to the literal hell, which comes at the end of serving our devil controlled fleshly self. We must find God and rise to our redeemed self.

I will say it again. It is time to CHOOSE - Will WE be wooed...by a loving GOD, Who DID give Himself for us? Or just be screwed (manipulated and used) by the world, the flesh and the devil?

CHOOSE wisely. CHOOSE LOVE! CHOOSE LIFE! L'Chaim!

Selah.

SCD

9/1/23