Author: songofmary

The Law, Jesus, and the New Covenant

Yeshu’a was given to the people of the world to be the perfect lamb of God, by God himself, as a flesh and blood sacrifice, and an everlasting atonement for the sins of all those who accept this in his name.

“And he himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” ~ 1 John 2:2

Propitiation (also called expiation) is the act of appeasing or making well disposed (from Latin propitiāre, to appease; from propitius, gracious), especially a deity, thus incurring divine favor to avoid divine retribution.  Propitiation is translated from the Greek hilasterion, meaning “that which expiates or propitiates”.  There is frequent similar use of hilasterion in the Septuagint in regard to the mercy seat on top of the ark of the Covenant.  For example, the mercy seat was sprinkled with atoning blood on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:14), representing that the righteous sentence of the Law had been executed, changing a judgment seat into a mercy seat.

The thought in the Old Testament sacrifices and in the New Testament fulfillment, is that Christ as Messiah completely satisfied the just demands of our Holy Father for judgment on sin, by his death on the Cross of Cavalry, for ever and ever.

He also came to preach a message of love and grace regarding Yahweh against a backdrop of legalism and burgeoning self-righteousness; to remind people that God was not just to be feared as judge and warrior, but revered as nurturer and lover of all.

However, Yeshu’a was not sent to replace the ancient words of God via Moses or the Old Testament authors:  “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” ~ Yeshu’a via Matthew 5;17

God’s Covenants (the rainbow, the promise to Abraham, The Ten Commandments, that David and his descendants would be royal heirs) are inviolable and everlasting, and should be adhered to by any wise person who not only fears the LORD but who respects and loves Him as Almighty Sovereign King.

When Yeshu’a instituted the Lord’s Supper the night before he was crucified for our sins,

“He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you.  For this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” ~Yeshu’a via Matthew 26:27-28

Yeshu’a was not just making a NEW covenant, he was also fulfilling an old law whereby one had to make daily blood sacrifices and frequent offerings to the LORD, to be almost in a perpetual state of the act of atonement.  However, Yeshu’a’s entrance on the religious scene marks a point in history as sacred (or more so) than the Exodus story, the story of Creation, or the Abrahamaic migration from Ur; and in so doing–in so marking history profoundly–Yeshu’a in this way did make a new covenant, placing himself on the altar a the ultimate flesh (grain) and blood sacrifice for our sins, forever.  We need only accept this fact on a daily basis to be redeemed.  But we also are held accountable for the rest of God’s Law.

Circumcision was a sign of God’s chosen people that marked them outwardly for life.  We needed the message Yeshu’a brought about God’s love and grace and mercy, and we should be thankful throughout every day for the sacrifice he made for us as the perfect lamb of God.  But we also need to show God that we are proud to be His, that we are willing to be marked as His, and that we are eager to sacrifice our fleshly bodies for a deep spiritual relationship with Him, including circumcision.

Abrogating all God’s former Law and Word with new testament conceptualism where Christians misinterpret Yeahu’a’s Divine mission, annihilating everything that has been held as a holy sacrament before, is a grave mistake.

To sum it up, I love this concept:

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. ~Revelation 22:13

Nouthetical Counseling

Nouthetical counseling is a phrase coined by Dr. Jay Adams after much study and experience providing therapy as a Christian minister. Although the Greek word ‘nouthetical’ has fallen out of use and has been replaced by the simpler term, ‘biblical’, Dr. Adams preferred the former word because he states in his book, Competent to Counsel, that, to him, there is not a good English translation for its meaning. Noutheteó is entry number 3560 in Strong’s concordance, and it means to admonish or exhort.

Original Word: νουθετέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: noutheteó
Phonetic Spelling: (noo-thet-eh’-o)
Definition: to admonish, exhort
Usage: I admonish, warn, counsel, exhort.

Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish [νουθετεῖν (nouthetein)] one another. ~Romans 15:14

Nouthetical counseling differs from secular counseling modalities because it seeks to speak the truth in love and to help guide the person back onto the right path of God which is made clear to us in the Bible. It also contradicts classic and modern theorists and theories about mental and psychiatric illness because it reminds us we are born sinful, that we are all sinners, that we need to repent for our sins, and that sin can cause physical and spiritual illness (and death). Instead of Sigmund Freud, we should look to the Apostle Paul for elucidation into a cause for illness; instead of Carl Rogers, we should read James the Just for how to help someone who is ailing; and instead of a clinical psychiatrist, we should call upon Jesus to heal those who are sick.

As a new nurse practitioner, it is incumbent on me to work within my Christian worldview while still adhering to the standards of practice for my licensure and certification. This is quite a challenging task because there is very little ‘God’ in western medicine. As I forge my way ahead in my new role as a healer of God, I must make a path that provides a safe passage for someone to be truly healed, and for God to receive the glory. This cannot just involve taking a history, doing a physical exam, and writing a prescription for a pharmaceutical drug. I realize that to truly follow my God-given calling, I must first and foremost create a sacred space for someone to relate their physical and mental health issues, confess any sins to me if need be, pray over them, anoint them with oil, and follow up frequently as to whether they were healed. I cannot do this over text, via telehealth, or in a sterile setting. To be a healer of The Way I must follow the examples of Jesus and the saints who came before me.

Thankfully, over the years with God’s leading, I have accumulated resources and knowledge that rely on Christian beliefs and ways. These include mindfulness, meditation, preparation, sanctification, confession, prayer, therapeutic listening, gentle rebuke, essential oils, speaking in tongues, miraculous healing, and traditions reminiscent of the early church. I have to find a way to fuse these with modern medicine, tests, referrals, and pharmaceuticals when needed, with the overarching goal of primum non nocere– first, do no harm.

What a mission God has entrusted to me, the healing of His people. I am so blessed. ❤

Rejected by the World

It was sometime after coming to know God that I really began being rejected by the world and the people in the world. Before then satan duped me into thinking I was accepted, though I never really was; it was all a ruse to lull me into antipathy toward God. As it says in His word, the bible, He delivers us by our affliction. ~Job 36:15. And He did thus to me. My affliction had been sexual immorality in the guise of finding true and perfect love. He knew I was really seeking Him in that, so He did what He had to do to deliver me. The effect was that I found Him, but I lost most everything else.

…..Indeed I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. ~Philippians 3:8

Much to my deep consternation and pain, my kids drifted away from me toward their father. This was a shock because I, not him, had devoted my life to tending their every need, physical and emotional. From natural birth, to breastfeeding, to nighttime awakening, to cooking healthy food, to homeschooling, to nursing them when they were sick, to being a stay-at-home mom. I did not hire babysitters, go on vacation without them, or practice autocratic rule with them, always acknowledging their feelings and emotions. I dug deep and turned myself inside out for them. But they abandoned me anyway.

Then, down the line, I finally met my true male earthly soul mate (God is my ultimate Soul Mate in Heaven), and just as we began falling in love, he pulled away which devastated me. Caught up by addiction and sin, he did not realize what he was doing. He was well-entrenched by the demons and his strongholds. And still does not realize it to this day. God has made it clear to mine eyes that we definitely do not fight against flesh and blood (each other), but

…against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ~Ephesians 6:12

Even my own birth mother abandoned me. Then my adoptive mother following her. Then my step-mother was jealous of me. Not many people can claim that depth of lack of female nurturing. Satan really went out of his way to try and sabotage me from the start. I wonder why…. But I hold no animosity against any of my mothers. They are victims of the devil too.

Godly sisters and brothers in Christ ebb and flow in and out of my life. Friends come and go as well. I am actually down to 1 friend now! Though we are close, my sister is living far away from me. Why does any of this shock me, it shouldn’t. The bible guarantees that as Christ-followers we will know suffering and rejection!

In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted… ~2 Timothy 3:12

I take comfort in knowing that God has chosen me. And I am also His. In fact, I know that the more I am rejected in the world, the closer I am to God because the devil HATES those who know God. And the devil rules this world, so that makes sense. This became crystal clear for me when as a newfound Christian I was studying the bible and I realized the symbolism of the circle in the bible. I know now the circle represents the sun and the sun represents the Son, and God’s Realm.

The priestly writers of the bible embedded numbers within the text to speak a secret language only those privy to this special knowledge could see or understand. Some of this symbology is in the form of 227, which represented pi in ancient times. One day I was contemplating my childhood and that I was now a true daughter/wife of the KING, when I realized that the phone number of my childhood home conflated to 227: (713) 488-5119. When you break it down, it equates to 11>2, 20>2, 16>7 The chances of that number occurring in exactly that order are extremely rare. What this tells me is that I always belonged to God and that He was watching over us even back them. He sent my life-force down from Heaven and I became a girl whose whole mission was and is to serve Him. I have a special purpose and mission He wants me to fulfill, as we all do! I know that is my reason for being.

So the world can reject me. Family can reject me. My soul mate can reject me. Friends can reject me. But this all just pushes me closer and closer to God. I trust that He cares about EVERY detail in our lives, no matter how seemingly small. If He is whittling me down to being a solitary, there must be a reason for it. I want to get to work! More than ever, I don’t have time or interest in social niceties. Being liked is not my mission. He has given me so much energy to focus on achieving goals set before me. He keeps telling me to continue building my ark. So I will. With an ever-watchful eye toward His call.

If you relate to this, you might be His chosen one too. ❤

My Ministry Has Begun!

I have now successfully conducted three home health nurse practitioner visits and I am very pleased with the outcome and the satisfaction I feel doing this ministry for my Lord. I am still working out some kinks such as in getting to know my electronic charting system, but that is to be expected. As directed by God I do not charge for my services, but have received a cash offering thus far, which is much appreciated! My visits last about 45 to 60 minutes which is just right.

It has been confirmed to me that health care in America has been unnecessarily complicated by several factors which I would like to contemplate here. Possibly the weightiest variable is that people have become patients. A patient implies passivity, as in patiently waiting to be practiced upon. What I mean by this is that there is a psychology inherent in our society that we must be well, without pain, and without illness; and if we are not well, we merely need to present ourselves to a local doctor, submit ourselves to him passively, and become fixed. If we do not get cured, then that means there is a breakdown in access to medical care, whether that is physical, mental, or financial. That illness, pain, and suffering could be part of our human reality is rejected by us, and if we cannot be made well, we blame the ‘medical system’. Since society is made up of persons, each person comes in with the premise that

I deserve to be well and if I am not well, that is society’s [doctor, hospital, insurance, government] problem to solve ~

We feel that being healthy is a right. And we blame doctors and hospitals when we access care and we are not fixed, and not fixed immediately! We blame doctors and hospitals when we are charged too much or when the cure fails, as it inevitably will. Why? Because doctors are not God, and sickness and suffering are part of the human condition.

Is being healed biblical? Yes, it is. In the bible, doctors as such are rarely mentioned and when they are mentioned it is usually in derision, or in the context of a waste of time and provisions. Who is the Healer in the bible?

Jesus

Time and again I see good people, Christians even, purchase sophisticated tests and spare no expense or effort to be made well. There is no cure they will not travel to the clinic to receive, even if they do not have the means or transportation. They are affronted at the price of healthcare and offended at the thought of actually having to pay for it. People work so hard to obtain what they perceive as medical care for any and every symptom. They are willing to take any testing even if it involves huge amounts of radiation as with CT scans, and more and more medications each year to modulate their body’s response to life, circumstance, heredity, or lifestyle choices. Then after combing through their body with high-powered scopes and unnatural means, when they receive the fateful diagnosis of cancer or other disease, they become fraught with fear over how they are going to deal with this news. It becomes their focus, and by default becomes their families’ and friends’ focus as well. In biblical terms, it becomes their new idol. God did not intend for us to scrutinize our bodies to that degree! Our eyes are not made to penetrate the depths of cells or inner flesh, nor minds. So, it should be no surprise that we cannot handle the information we receive when we do. It is just another tactic of the devil to give us more power than we should have access to.

Christians have been duped–right along with everyone else–to demand healthcare in the form of western medicine. An example is how many flocked to get Covid vaccines and wear masks due to fear of dying from Covid-19, a novel Coronavirus. The average elderly patient in home health care takes about 5 to 10 different prescription medications. If you know me, you know that it is a pet peeve of mine that Christians give lip service to Jesus until they get sick, then they go to their false god in a white coat for their ‘real cure’. I realize they know not what they do, and are honest victims of the anomaly known as ‘medical care’, but come on, Christians should know better!

To try and deal with this petulant demand of American citizens, systems have been formulated and manipulated to address every possibility for a patient encounter, complaint, lifestyle choice, symptom, risk factor, and even gender ideology! This has occurred to such a degree that Medicare decrees how a literal office visit must go, how many minutes it should last, what tests must be ordered, what vaccines encouraged, and what medications prescribed. If you deviate from their algorithm at all, you can not only not receive payment, you will likely be audited, but you could also be investigated by the state medical board! Again, we all saw this happen (unlawfully) during Covid when some physicians who refused to treat according to the mandated narrative at the time, lost their licenses, or were even jailed! The type of care this medical model fosters is one of defensive medicine. A care provider is deemed good if they are simply following the algorithm, and bad if they are practicing outside the majority-approved doctrine. That is why many doctors are leaving ‘the system’ and going off on their own and not taking Medicare payments.

But unfortunately, it isn’t that easy to escape the clutches of the model of western medicine, because its pervasive reach is rooted in the fundamental ideology that people believe they deserve to be well, and to be made well.

I envision my ministry as healing those God sends to me in the way He decrees to me. This might be as simple as listening to their story and validating their experiences. It could be listening to their physical ailments and helping them troubleshoot healing modalities they might not have tried. It might involve prescribing medication that can treat an ailment with the goal of fixing the underlying problem, if possible. It might involve laying on of hands, anointing with oil, and praying for a cure. It might even involve casting out demons. It might involve doing nothing instead of doing something than can make things worse.

Regarding their health, people can be like children when they demand a smorgasbord of treatments and have a temper tantrum if they do not receive the perfect anecdote to what ails them. I witness this every day in my job. But that is God’s plan for us here on earth. God has allowed satan to run this world and there is no guarantee we will live a healthy or happy life. Saint Paul of biblical fame had a thorn in his side that God would not cure even though he begged numerous times for relief. The Apostle Paul came to see his ailment as a gift, as a sign to him and others that his strength came from not himself, but from our Savior, Jesus Christ, lest be become too proud in his flesh.

People are proud and demand to be made well. Pride is one of the seven deadly sins. Where pride is, humility cannot exist. And we are called to be humble servants of our Lord God. Sometimes God allows us to suffer, to be in pain, and to have an ailment. But the bible says after a while, He will deliver us from that same suffering, but we must have faith and believe in Him for this.

So, to tie up my thoughts here, God’s people are like children, we want everything to be perfect in our lives, including our health. To obtain this end, we demand that society provide this to us in a way that doesn’t cost us too much. We don’t look to God for His plan and His cure in His way and His timing. We make care providers our false gods and our hospitals temples for false gods. When these things inevitably fail, we become infuriated and blame them. Then at some point when we reach the end of ourselves, we feel abandoned by God. The irony is that we abandoned God to begin with, by not trusting Him fully. God isn’t just a deity we sing to and pray to in name (or in vain) on Sunday. He is our biggest Fan, our greatest Lover, and our only Healer. We must look to Him first and foremost for our healing and well-being, for everything.

And that is who I serve in my practice: God. I am so thankful I have been granted standing orders from God to treat His people in His way ~ ❤

My Mantle

Today God has placed His mantle upon me; a mantle of healing. 😊

I had to research the meaning of this as I only had a rudimentary knowledge of what mantle means from reading the bible verses about Elijah, Elisha, Joseph, and John the Baptist. I am sure there are others, and I think it would be an interesting study to do–just how many saints in the bible wore mantles.

Today is 4/14/2024. This date conflates to the number ‘8’ which in numerology means 1 more than perfect. As in the number of people God chose to inhabit the ark. In my internet search, the number 8 is described thus:

Numerology 8

The number eight (8) is the sign of organization, perseverance and control of energy to produce material and spiritual achievements. It represents the power of realization, abundance in the spiritual and material world. Sometimes it denotes a tendency to sacrifice but also to be unscrupulous.

The number eight (8) must develop or balance the aspects of ambition, organization, authority and sense of power. It is very susceptible and sensitive with great capacities to live in society. He/she is also emotional, empathetic and of great social intelligence. # Number 8 people relate very well in society and in dealing with people they are usually very careful, cordial and friendly. It is not easy to know the number 8 very deeply, because it is very changeable, as well as arbitrary and capricious. As soon as good as bad, loving as indifferent, magnanimous as selfish.

While 8 isn’t my life path number, it is significant to me today in that God placed His mantle upon me. I think it’s like when you work hard and finally graduate or pass a certification exam. It’s His way of saying, “you have now arrived at the place I have brought you”. I consider this way more important than any man-made achievement or accolade, although those are important to be able to carry out His work in this world.

I feel the 8 fits perfectly because to get here I have had to sacrifice many things, mostly of the flesh. I no longer drink, I don’t do drugs, I don’t engage in sexual immorality, I live by the law and the love of God, and I believe in every word of the bible, even if I don’t fully understand all of it yet. I believe my body is a temple of the living God. I have shown Him that I can wait on Him, and trust in His timing. I have given Him control of my vehicle. If I heal people, in my heart I want God to receive the glory and I want His light to shine through me, so that people see Him and His love through me, not that they see me. It’s a culmination and reward for hard work and sacrifice. And He sees and knows this in all of us. He wants us to achieve great things for His Kingdom. We are all soldiers in His army, it’s just that some of us love Him more than others. Some of us hate Him and blaspheme Him.

Maybe He has a special mantle for you.

Israel Biblical Studies.com states: “Jacob expressed his love to Joseph by giving him a special gift – ketonet passim כְּתֹנֶת פַּסִּים. The word passim here can be translated as “colorful”, “embroidered”, or “striped” – but it can also denote a long garment, coming down to the “palms” of the hands and the feet, or the material out of which the coat was made (fine wool or silk). (I think of Jesus’ stripes, His very flesh was His divine mantle)

Kethoneth [Strong 3801, ‘kethoneth or kuttoneth‘]

Kethoneth, garment, is mentioned seven times – a perfect number – in Genesis: once in relation to the coats of skins which God provided for Adam and Eve, then six times regarding Joseph’s garment. Joseph’s garment appears after his death, with blood upon it – a significant matter ~ *JESUS*

Joseph’s garment is that which sets him apart from his brethren – also a significant matter.

Then kethoneth appears seven times in Exodus relating to Aaron and his sons. It is a matter of priestly attire and priestly service. Only the God-appointed High Priest and his sons may don this attire.

Kethoneth appears twenty seven times in scripture (the quoted number, in one concordance, of “twenty nine” is incorrect). Twenty seven is a highly significant number and draws very great attention to this matter. Three times three times three is extremely significant.

I personally discovered in my bible studies that 27 is a reference to 22/7 which is the primitive representation of pi. Pi denotes circle and circle denotes sun and sun symbolizes God Almighty, ALHYM.

The mantle is a symbol of a man’s gift, the call of GOD, and the purpose for which GOD has called him. It is a reminder that we are wrapped in GOD’s authority and that we have a purpose and a gift to share with the world.

What is the difference between mantle and anointing

The mantle is a symbol of authority and position. With the mantle comes a greater degree of power, position, and authority. You have an anointing to do something but someone else is wearing the mantle. The mantle of responsibility is a heavy burden to bear. It requires a great deal of strength and fortitude to carry out the duties of an important position. When someone takes on the mantle of responsibility, they are taking on a great deal of weight and pressure. It is not an easy task, but it is one that is essential to the success of any organization.

What is a woman’s mantle?

A cape is a type of clothing that has been worn by both men and women throughout history. Technically, the term cape refers to a long, loose cloak that was worn during the 12th to 16th centuries. However, by the 19th century, the term was used to describe any type of loose-fitting, shaped outer garment that resembled a cape. Capes continue to be worn today and are often seen as a stylish and elegant piece of clothing. The mantle is a special endowment of the Holy Spirit that gives kingdom leaders an advantage over other leaders. Kingdom leadership involves a radical change in thinking and a close relationship with the Holy Spirit. Those leaders who carry the mantle are continually renewing their minds to spiritual truths. This helps them to make wiser decisions, better understand the spiritual realm, and more effectively lead God’s people.

~The Internet

I asked God what my mantle was for and He told me HEALING. I then asked Him what it looked like and He said I could choose what it looks like, and that made me smile. I was concerned that Jesus abrogated the mantle in Matthew 10:10 when He is quoted as saying ‘…do not take 2 tunics…’ However, I am convinced Jesus meant ‘do not take extra clothes, only those on your back’. Of course, his disciples need to wear a cloak to be protected from the elements. A mantle to my mind is like a divine cloak.

I think this happened today because I am beginning a very long fast from food. I am calling it a ‘coffee fast’ because I am drinking only coffee (with cream and sugar), and hydrating water. I feel like I need to factory-reset my body. The effects of trauma from infancy and childhood, bad eating habits, and menopause have not factored well into my physical constitution as it regards my habitus. In other words, the fat has taken root and doesn’t want to let go. I appreciate that God gives us fat as calorie storage for survival, but for me it has turned into a detriment. And there seems to be no other way to fix it than long-term fasting. Some of my dear friends in the Lord actually fasted 40 days, so we shall see how long God leads me to fast. Jesus also fasted 40 days, so it does seem significant that this is the time and place I have begun my fast.

I also have been praying about being granted greater spiritual authority by God, and Dr. Rob Reimer–an expert in deliverance ministry–says that fasting and prayer are necessary for that to be achieved; to be able to cast out the most tenacious and vicious of demons, those imbedded from sexual abuse.

Which brings us full circle to being given a mantle. I now have the ability to heal and cast out demons. Praise God!

Vision of the Apocalypse

My first word from God after waking up very early today came in the form of a vision of the Apocalypse. I don’t receive many visions from Him so this is important to me. I was standing and keeping watch, like a watcher, in the hills a far distance from a burning town (see featured photo for an example of what I saw, except there was more burning) and I had the sense I was protecting those behind me taking refuge; they were sick but chosen. I was well and strong and called to protect and heal them. I was watching and overseeing, and I knew we were safe, and where He wanted us to be.

It doesn’t seem far away now….

Freely you have Received, Freely Give

I performed my first home health visit as an FNP-C this past weekend, on a spry 95-year-old lady. I spent pretty much half a day or more in anguish and anxiety over preparing and completing this visit. I was in a state of hypervigilance, not wanting to miss anything, or overlook any detail, with the overarching mindset of not doing anything unsafe or harmful: primum non nocere, first do no harm. I knew this first visit of pulling all my hard work together would be daunting and it was! But I also knew it needed to happen, and I welcomed it as bravely as I could.

How exhilarating it was! The visit went flawlessly, and I had so much fun doing it! I prepared the proper forms, did the proper assessment and physical exam, and even drew her blood for lab work. I changed her medications some and ordered refills from the local pharmacy during the visit. Later, I had to work out some kinks in having the lab bill Medicare, and I will have to follow-up on how well they pay based on how I filled out the requisition form. I am very pleased that my lab courier picks up every day of the week, and the turn-around time was two days total, which isn’t bad considering they process her blood in Seattle.

I definitely feel like I am on the right path for me <3. Which is a wonderful thing to know. Right?

But an interesting detail has arisen I will share with you. She paid me with a check which I thought about cashing on my way home, but then I forgot–darn it! Then I did not have time Monday. Then I planned to take it during my work break yesterday (Tuesday) so I got it ready and folded it with my work sticky notes and placed it in my deep dress pocket that I always wear. I went to work in the office and sat at the usual places and did the usual things, and it wasn’t even a busy day. However, when I went to leave on my bank break, my check and deposit slip were gone. My sticky notes were there, my pen was there, my keys were there, but my check and deposit slip were gone, completely vanished into thin air! I checked my car, I checked my home, I retraced my steps at work, viewed the parking lot; I enlisted my co-worker to help me, I checked my pockets a dozen times, I dug through the trash. I berated myself for not cashing the check sooner (which I had forgotten to do) and I was so embarrassed that I was so spacey as to have lost something so quickly that was so small. I figured it would turn up by evening; that a coworker would call or something, anything. My patient offered to write me another check, which I declined. But my check remained lost. I let it go as it wasn’t that much money, and decided I would chalk it up as a first-visit sacrifice.

I retired to bed early and woke up very early with a vision (see my other post today) from God and many words from Him–4 to be sure–which is an unusually large number of things to hear from God at once! One of the words was:

You have been given freely to, so freely give.

I was like, wow, okay, Lord, so You want me to give away my work as an FNP??? And in my spirit, I felt Him confirm this. This knowledge was followed by a feeling of peace and satisfaction, or rightness; of, if not now, when? I have been in training to be ‘a missionary’ for so long and thought my free work would come when I ministered in a developing country, or maybe with the homeless population here. But for regular people? Here? I felt Him say yes to this, and that is why my payment miraculously disappeared. It was so I would know God really means it.

Do I understand this fully? No, not really. Regular working folks can afford to pay me. I always thought of free work or real missions as going out to the poor. But when I think about it, Jesus did not distinguish between the financially challenged or the well-off; He was interested in healing the sick without discriminating for or against those with or without means. His goal was saving the lost. When He sent out the disciples, He did not tell them to give freely to the poor but charge the rich. His call was simply to go out and heal in His name, without concern or focus on finances or money.

And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. 

These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.

“Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. And when you go into a household, greet it. If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!

~Matthew 10: 1, 5-15, NKJV

We have been duped by the ruler of this world to differentiate with money, between the haves and have-nots. Money is our greatest idol. We believe satan when he tells us that those who have money or wealth can buy everything they need to be happy and healthy, and those without money will struggle and are more likely to be sick. ‘Healthcare’ is a huge concern for our nation and was the primary goal of our past president, Barak Obama. If you have access to healthcare, you will be well and if you don’t you won’t. Or so they say.

But that is a lie. Mental illness affects the rich and the poor. Folks of all classes commit suicide. Heart disease and cancer do not differentiate between someone who lives in a mansion versus a park. As we play more in internet space–the Prince of the air’s domain (satan)–our chance for depression increases, and our physical activity decreases. And it is not coincidence that as each generation falls further away from God, our world becomes a worse place to live. Jesus, not health care providers, is the only true Healer, of body and mind. And if we aren’t doing it His way, we cannot heal. Not with any lasting effect.

Jesus’ mission was to simply heal the sick, among the chosen ones. And their needs would be provided for. Jesus knew there were poor people and that they ‘would always be with you’ (Matthew 26:11), but His mission wasn’t just to the poor. He saw beyond the obvious plight of the poor, which could equate to our modern-day homeless population. He saw the suffering and sickness of all people, regardless of their financial circumstances. And those are who He ministered to, sent His disciples to, called us to preach the gospel to, and gives to me to minister to. He has prepared and equipped me for such a time as this, and I am called to serve Him and His people, freely.

This calls for obedience because it is so antithesis to our way of living, the worlds’ way of being, my way of making a living. People with means pay, people without means get. That is how our modern culture works. But God says, “Give freely to all those I send you to and send to you“.

~Thank you for this word, LORD.

Did King Nebuchadnezzar become an Essene?

In my current studies of the Essenes, I found a striking similarity between the Josephus’ account of the Essenes regarding banishment of a member who has broken the rules of the community and is consigned to living in the desert and eating grass (or herbs), and the story of Nebuchadnezzar in the biblical book of Daniel. Both involve excommunication and the ‘eating of GRASS’.

I always wondered at this passage in the bible as eating grass and living like an animal sort-of sticks in one’s mental imagery! I find this too coincidental to be unrelated, which begs the question, were Daniel and his friends members of the most pious group of Jews, The Essenes? And did King Nebuchadnezzar become an initiate and member, who, when he became proud in himself as ruler of Babylon, was immediately banished by ‘them’ as an animal in the wild to eat grass for 7 ‘times’ before being restored to his kingdom???

I will include quotes for clarity:

Daniel Chapter 4: Nebuchadnezzar’s Humiliation (around 580 BC)

“All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of the TWELVE MONTHS as he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. The king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?”

While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! And THEY shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. THEY shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.”

That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.

Nebuchadnezzar Praises God

And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever:

For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,

And His kingdom is from generation to generation.

All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing;

He does according to His will in the army of heaven

And among the inhabitants of the earth.

No one can restrain His hand

Or say to Him, “What have You done?” [sounds like Job]

At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.” ~Daniel 4:30-37

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The Essenes–the Holy Ones–the People of the Way

Josephus is an ancient Jewish historian and wrote a lot about a special branch of the Pharisees (a sect of Israelites) which we know of as the ‘Essenes’, the secret brotherhood to whom is attributed the hiding of the Dead Sea Scrolls so far discovered in 10 of 11 caves where they dwelt at Wadi Qumran. For the purpose of this post, I am just referring to how the Yahad (the elders) dealt with those members who were initiated into the secret society, but then faltered in its rules due to sin or disrespect.

Josephus relates via his book The Judean War (76AD) that if “anyone has sinned badly he is expelled from the society, though that person-bound by oaths and practices-can starve since he, ‘grass-eating’, cannot eat normal food, so that he is OFTEN TAKEN BACK IN THE END”. ~Joan Taylor, The Essenes, the Scrolls, and the Dead Sea (2014).

And Josephus via the Jewish Encyclopedia: Discipline of the Essene Order:

“They have no special city of their own, but live in large numbers in different cities, and if any of their followers comes from a strange city everything they have is considered as belonging equally to the newcomer; those who were never known before are received as kindred and friends.” [Hence, the great sin of Nebuchadnezzar saying the nation-state of Babylon was his, created by him for him versus belonging to God’s and God’s chosen people, even if in exile]

“If any of them be condemned for any transgression, he is expelled from the order, and at times such a one dies a terrible death, for inasmuch as he is bound by the oaths taken and by the rites adopted, he is no longer at liberty to partake of the food in use among others (([because he has spent at least a YEAR if not 3 YEARS becoming worthy and pure enough to partake of sacred meals together, the breaking of bread])) [Here Josephus: “and being compelled to eat herbs, he famishes his body until he perishes.”] Occasionally they pity those exposed to dissolution [“shammata”], considering punishment unto death sufficient. In their judicial decisions they are most accurate and just; they do not pass sentence unless in company with one hundred persons [this is possibly a combination of the higher court of seventy-two (“Sanhedrin gedolah”) and the smaller court of twenty-three (“Sanhedrin ḳeṭannah”)], and what has been decided by them is unalterable. After God they pay the highest homage to the legislator (that is to say, to the Law of Moses), and if any one is guilty of blasphemy against the Lawgiver, he is punished with death. They are taught to obey the rulers and elders [J: “the majority”]”.

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https://www.thecollector.com/nebuchadnezzar-biblical-king/?fbclid=IwAR282j8Gzun6VT_m3FetYwh9qdm8see6wMwImqzkRE2178BAEN3KbvKMRVw

My commentary:

Note how those who are banished in the above passages obey ‘THEM’, the order, as in the story of Daniel where it states ‘THEY’ banished the king. Who would the ‘they’ have been who banished King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel when King Nebuchadnezzar should have been the most powerful entity in his own kingdom? Could this mean that Daniel and the secret order of Essenes, known by other names such as Sons of Zadok (referring to the priestly line of Aaron, Moses’ brother), were actually ruling Babylon behind the scenes, undoubtedly through a holy conversion that took place in the king after Daniel gave the king the proper interpretation of the king’s dream??? It is striking that part of the esoteric knowledge of the Essenes was the ability to prophesy accurately, which Josephus also writes about extensively in his works. The book of Daniel is full of prophecy and interpretations with which no kingdom magician is able to contend.

Interestingly, the Greek word for the name ‘Essene’ is derived from the same word being used as a designation of the priests of Artemis of Ephesus, who had to observe strict rules of purity for ONE YEAR, and Artemis has been posited to be an early reference to Mary, of Jesus fame. Later, in the Essene Community Rule scrolls dated to 160 BC they lay out a specified timeline for new initiates of 1 year, followed by 2 years, of probation to become part of the Yadad brotherhood at Qumran. This initiation of 3 years might not have been applied to all Essenes since there were Essenes scattered all over Judea and the Holy Land, including in Egypt and Babylon via the diaspora and captivity of the Hebrews. Perhaps the initiation for the ‘satellite’ Essenes, if you will, was only one year. Or perhaps they increased the initiation period from 1 to 3 years between the time of Babylonian captivity to the Qumran colonization.

There is so much depth in the book of Daniel. But just a superficial glance is enough to demonstrate that there are numerous similarities between Daniel; his friends; King Nebuchadnezzar’s conversion, humiliation, and repentance; and the Essenes.

Taken as a whole, it boggles my mind that there is the real possibility that underneath the surface of truth and life as told in the bible, there is a mystical, esoteric knowledge known only by those ‘with eyes to see and ears to hear’ that might extend back to oral Torah times (Adam or Noah’s days) and the Way may have been promulgated by the prophets (Daniel), prepared by John the Baptiser, and perfected by Jesus.

Thanks for reading! ❤

Paul’s Conversion to The Way

“But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to

The Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting….so he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do you want me to do?” And the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.” he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

Saul Escapes from Damascus
When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.

Saul in Jerusalem

And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. ~Acts 9:1-31

Paul and Barnabas Are Sent to the Gentiles

Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

Preaching in Cyprus

So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John [Mark] as their assistant.

Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.”

And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord. ~Acts 13:1-12

Saul Becomes Paul

Lucius Sergius Paulus or Paullus was a Proconsul of Cyprus under Claudius (1st century AD). He appears in Acts 13:6-12, where in Paphos, Paul, accompanied by Barnabas and John Mark, overcame the attempts of Bar-Jesus (Elymas) “to turn the proconsul away from the faith” and converted Sergius to Christianity.

Writing in the fourth century, Jerome speculated that Saul of Tarsus had been renamed Paul (Paulus) because he had converted Sergius Paulus to Christianity: “For as Scipio assumed the name of Africanus for himself when Africa was subjugated…so also Saulus, who was sent to preach to the nations, brought back from the initial spoils of the church, the proconsul Sergius Paulus, the trophy of his victory, and he raised a standard so that he was called Paulus.” ~ Wikipedia for Sergius Paulus