When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. (Isaiah 43:2 ESV) (Ref. Isaiah 43:1>13)  This is the promise of God the Father; spoken through His Son, the Word of God and delivered to His Faithfully Obedient children, by His servant Isaiah whom He Chose.   A thought came to mind about the fire and the flame part!   Consider Daniel’s friends when their faith was tested; now some would have to be there to believe, I am not among them.  (Ref. Daniel 3:15>30 RSV or any translation you may prefer)

The Promises of God are irrevocable and go forth now to His Faithful children whom He called out from among the Gentiles.   Let those who have ears that hear, hear and be comforted.

This too, is irrevocable from God Who deserves and only desires the Respect owed to the Father Who Loves: Remember this and stand firm, recall to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I Am God, and there is no other; I Am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the End from the Beginning and from the Ancient Times things not yet done, saying,  My Counsel Shall Stand, and I Will Accomplish All My Purpose,… (Isaiah 46:8>10)(Ref. Isaiah 46:1>13 ESV)

God is the God of Promises; not the god of idle threats.   Which brings to mind a hymn, Standing on the Promises.  We are now in the time when the distractions of the world makes it possible to listen even to that which is sacred and not comprehend if they have become relevant in our experience.   This is dangerous ground and most people remain unaware.

Something that puzzled me, was when I witnessed the use of the 23rd Psalm as part of what I have come to understand as the funeral ritual traditional within some religions, when a person has passed on.   It didn’t seem appropriate to me if it was being applied as if it was related to what one experiences after death.    It took me awhile to understand why I was puzzled and what I have come to understand the 23rd Psalm means.   David, a man after God’s own heart, understood what his Words meant when he spoke them.

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. (My protector and provider) He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. (He provides a place of rest and nourishment to strengthen me for my sojourn in this world, the sheepfold)  He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His Names Sake. (It is He, not I that completes my being, my soul; so as to walk the Path of Righteousness; as a demonstration of the Power of God, the Power of Love)  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your Rod and Your Staff, They comfort me. (Though our journey, threw this world where temptation to sin and death surrounds us, we have no reason to fear the evil, when His Presence is with and in us.  The Rod of Correction is His Word and His Staff is the Promise of His Protection, which is Sufficient to Comfort) (my understanding from verses 1>4 NASB) (Ref. Psalm 23:1>6)

Psalm 23: is for the here and now, for all who seek to walk by Faith and succeed by rejecting all that causes any doubt in the sufficiency of God’s Power to Deliver.   As a young boy David’s faith gave him the confidence to protect his father’s sheep without fear.  As a young man David’s faith gave him the confidence to face Goliath without fear, when an army of full grown men were being debilitated by fear.   As a man David’s faith was so strong that under the threat of death from king Saul, he was Obedient to God’s Commands and dflived to become King after Saul had been slain by his enemies or perhaps at his own hand.   Because he remained in the Path of Righteousness, knowing that in obedience to God, his strength resided.  And he too learned obedience through the things he suffered through the firey trials of this life.   Having been given Faith that prevented him from being consumed, he was able to break through to the other side.  (Ref. Psalm 119:45>108)

Back for a moment to my experience in the troubled times, to which we were born.   I was raised in a dysfunctional family and as a child I didn’t have a clue.   Mainly because most and perhaps all families were dysfunctional by degree.   I couldn’t understand the why of it, because I lacked the insight required.   However, I no longer believe that to be the case, so I will attempt to explain.

My mother’s father passed when she was eight years old and that trauma affected her perspective in life.   She had two older brothers, the oldest became an alcoholic and the younger experienced the trauma of war.  Her mother, my grandmother, persevered and she provided for her family at home as a baker and seamstress.  Using her talents in service to those who became her customers and friends.   She was respected and appreciated in her community and it was the power of love that sustained her.

Though she never lacked the necessities of life, my mother thought she was poor compared to other children she knew and that also affected her perspective.   When my mother had her own family, seven children in all, she didn’t want us to appear to be poor and my father, at times, in fact most of the time, struggled to maintain her standard.  But his love for his family and his faith, gave him the strength to persevere.   We never lacked anything and had far more than we needed. He carried the burden and I never heard him complain, but it was a source of tension between he and my mother.   Tension is a source of dysfunction, and it exacts a toll against harmony.

My father’s mother passed when he was twelve years old and he loved her deeply.   She was a teacher and became ill, so she home schooled my father and he took care of her.  Therefore, he had a far better education than public schools have ever provided.   It was the love of his mother, his teacher, and that love formed his perspective, his faith; that had the power to sustain him.   When his mother died, his father shipped him off to his half sister in New York state and that helped form his perspective, throughout the firey trials that was his life.  When my dad was seventeen he joined the Navy during World War Two.   He and my mother married during that time and my oldest sister was born while they were separated by war.   Just another trauma, a firey trial, that affected the dysfunction in our family as war effects most people who live through it.  War breaks the normal perspectives of what gives family its strength.   Often broken men return having been trained to be followers, less manly and more effeminate, no longer leaders and the women were forced to bear the responsibility of family without their husband’s, rendering them more manly and less feminine.    The trauma of war changed the family dynamic and society continues to reap the whirlwind.

The war did not break my father, it broke society and added to the firey trials he faced.   The trauma of war, an induring cost of war, has not been understood or addressed, so the devastation continues.   War had turned the responsibility of head of the household into a competition and families became a house divided.

Broken men were often all too willing to deny their responsibility and wives began to be said to wear the pants in the family.   Men who knew and accepted their responsibility were often labeled tyrants, who dominated their families and communities.   When labels are based on opinion they still have potential to harm, even when they lack the slightest grain of Truth.   One thing is for certain, since World War Two the foundation of society, the family, has been shaken and the rate of divorce continues to soar.

The Lord has defined the role of men and women in the world we now experience.   Those who know, understand and accept their individual responsibility have always been blessed.   This is and has always been true: a godly man is a blessing to his wife, his children and his community; a godly woman is a blessing to her husband, her children and to her community.   To drift away from the standard of godliness is what destroys the oneness of the family and our oneness with God; those who believe that must be ever diligent to act upon it; in resistance to the spirit of the ungodly.

To sum it up for now: out of all my family I was the only one who truly wanted to be like my dad, so I payed attention to him.   He lived his time in loving service to others.    His reward was that he was loved and respected by all who knew him, even briefly and that helped to sustain him.   Sadly in this world, oftentimes those who could and should have known us best, have missed the Mark.   This may or may not have been partly our fault.   Thankfully; God has taken the responsibility of keeping our scorecard, which frees us up to do our best.

When he passed, I believed that I was the closest thing to my dad remaining in this realm, I still believe it.

My father’s example was a high bar to strive for and I did my best. When I reached the point in my life that an even higher bar was before me, I had been prepared to do my best and persevere. In the end, I’ll learn how I’ve done, so shall we all.

Enough for now of my experiences, we’ve all had our own: I must get back to the work of sharing what I’ve learned along my journey.

I have noticed that most people struggle to understand and apply, the First, and Second of God’s Great Commandments, and most think it impossible to obey a Third.

God’s Commands are not suggestions; by their nature they are meant to be understood, received and obeyed by those who desire to obtain in full His blessings. This is True: always has been and always will be!

The First: And He said to him, You Shall Love the Lord your God with all your Heart, and with all your Soul, and with all your mind. (Mathew 22:37 RSV) (Ref. Mathew 22:34>40, Mark 12:28 & Ephesians 6:2)

I experienced difficulty in coming to an understanding of what this meant and I’ll borrow a quote from Will Rogers, drawing from my memory so it might not be his exact words, but I trust you will get the drift of the meaning. It’s not what you know that’s the problem, it’s what you know that ain’t so. That problem has been a reoccurring problem in my quest for understanding. So I’ve learned to look to God’s Word for deliverance. The Soul was fairly easy; And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of Life; and man became a Living Soul. (Genesis 2:7 KJV) (Ref. Genesis 2:4>9 & 2 Timothy 3:16 [consider how God breathed and inspiration are related])

Now the theory that is promoted, of Adam being the first of mankind also caused me a problem; but Lord willing I will address that issue at a later time. What caused me greater difficulty was the issue of the difference between Heart and mind. From the perspective of the world of science, the heart of man is related to the organ in our chest responsible for pumping blood. So how do I believe in my heart; or out of the abundance of my heart my mouth speaks. Though some people direct their hand over their chest as an indicator of where their believing heart resides. That simply made no sense to me. It was only later in my journey that the Light bulb moment came to me with the answer.

Remember that I said; I may be slow, but my dad trained me so as not to be stupid. It turns out that our brain is divided into two hemispheres each having their specific purpose and that they are connected by a small pathway for the purpose of communication. The left side is our mind, dedicated to carrying out the intentions of the Right side; by our words and actions. The right side is our Heart, dedicated to directing our mind to put into action the intentions of our heart, be that as they may, depending on the influence [spirit] it has been willing to receive. When our hearts are in harmony with the Spirit of God, it directs our mind to put into practice the good that is pleasing to God. When our hearts are influenced more by the spirit of the world, no matter how well intentioned the individual may be, their actions fall short of being pleasing to God. Therein lies the rub and the warning not to be deceived into thinking we can serve two masters. All mankind is given the right to choose; however no one is given the right not to choose, the Master/master whom they have chosen to serve. The day will come and is already here, because on the day of judgment, our decision will be revealed no matter what the world may think of us, only what God has to say of us will matter. Enough said for now, however I remain open for questions!

The Second: And the Second is Like It, You Shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Mathew 22:39 RSV) (Ref. Luke 10:25>37) So the question was asked, who is my neighbor? Is my neighbor the people who live close to me, yet love me less [hate me], not being at all concerned about my well-being, no not at all, perhaps they, in truth, would be better described as my enemy. In the sight of God and His enlightened children, your neighbor, is anyone so inclined to render aid in the time of your distress and offer relief whatever the cost, expecting nothing in return. That is my understanding of what being a neighbor requires, however everyone remains free to have a differing opinion. Therefore, for this reason I have simply chosen the one that suits me best.

The Third, if you will allow me to make my point: But I Say Unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in Heaven: for He maketh His Sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. (Mathew 5:44>45 KJV) (Ref. Matthew 5:38>48 In your preferred version, Luke 6:27,6:35 & Romans 11:28)

Now for my understanding of the 3rd which I mentioned, remembering that for the child of God, it is a command, not a suggestion. As a child of God, we are not to follow the way of obstanance, but to become mature in our Faith so as to be prepared to obey God’s Commands. As we grow closer to the Mind of Christ, every command becomes clear and easy enough to obey if we are willing. So what does God’s Word reveal in regard to the Mind of Christ and the True Light that fully illuminates. Well this is the understanding that I have been given: It is the Desire of God to be in friendly relation with all of mankind. Jesus came in the flesh as an example of what True friendship requires and for those who accept His requirements He said that He would not be ashamed to call them his Brethren. Therefore, though anyone who chooses to regard me as their enemy and act upon it. I will not wish them any ill, nor will I will I withhold my kindness if they lack the necessities of life, not being so arrogant as to refuse my efforts. Now to the worldly minded of mankind, this may appear to be foolishness, however, the Wisdom of God often appears as foolishness to mankind. So if my enemy treats me unkind and I respond in kind, it stands to reason that I would lessen the chance of ever being considered a friend. If not and I follow the godly example, I can remain hopeful of my enemy having a change of heart. I for one prefer to remain hopeful, as I believe that is the path of the godly.

Well beloved readers, on that note I will conclude chapter 3, that seems to be quite enough to ponder. Lord willing I will continue to chapter 4. My hope is that what I share is Sufficient to overcome the short attention span the world would have us adopt, I’m doing my best.

Until then have a truly blessed day and every day hereafter!

In Sincere Love, Michael

December 4th, 2022 @ 15:37 Updated with minor changes: December 10th, 2022 @ 12:19