SKETCHING the EYES

 1 Samuel 16:7

King James Version

7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, 

Look not on his countenance, 

or on the height of his stature; 

because I have refused him: 

for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; 

for man looketh on the outward appearance, 

but the Lord looketh on the heart.

It's been decades since I last sketched.

I would normally sketch eyes, effortlessly.

As if there was something about eyes, that beheld me.

But I would normally sketch lovely women's eyes.

Enjoying the curve of the eyebrows, the slant to the eyes, the long lashes, the light-colored gaze, the grace to it all.

Taking up architecture seemed to have dislodged all that.

Probably because structure replaced "freehand".

It was only today -- 44 years after -- that I held pencil and sketched again.

But this time, I sketched a face, outlining the features, and the background first.

And this time, I skirted around sketching the eyes.

It was a stranger who coaxed me into sketching him at a park.

A small group of people gathered, waiting, and watching.

I remember that stranger's beard, hair, and eyes.

And I sketched everything, BUT the eyes.

I left it for last.

Those round, black eyes.

The mirrors to the soul were to be last.

I seemed to be sketching for hours.

Prodding myself to finally take to the eyes.

But somehow, it didn't get done.

Strangest of all?

It was a dream.

I had been sketching a stranger in my dream.

A man I never saw in my whole life.

Another poignant thing is that GOD woke me up at EXACTLY 4:44 a.m.

It took me 44 years to finally sketch another face.

What is it about the number "4"?

Ed f. Vallowe's "Keys to Scripture Numerics" says the number 4 stands for:

CREATION....WORLD

Interesting...

Something to think about, for a future time.

But those eyes were forever imprinted in my mind.

Only because I didn't get to sketch it.

And I sure don't want to lose the memory.

You know how dreams are.

They could be strange.

You know the motions you do.

You know how you egg yourself to act on things.

You even know your movements.

What was SPIRIT making me see?

Why did I leave the eyes for last?

Why had I not finished the sketch?

I was about to do the finishing touches.

Such as darkening the hair, for contrast.

That the face may stand out "among the trees".

And last of all, the eyes, which would complete the face.

Everyone waited patiently on.

Including myself.

But I never got to doing the eyes.

Those round, black eyes that my hand wanted to faithfully sketch.

For I was like a copying machine when I'd sketch.

I wanted to capture ALL the details.

I wanted to capture the EXACT image.

I wanted to capture EXACT proportions.

But I never got to finish those eyes.

It's not a disturbing dream.

Just an intriguing one.

Before GOD made me born again over 50 months ago, I had no trouble sketching eyes.

It served as "doodle" for me.

Now that I'm born again, it was the last I could touch.

Perhaps, because the eyes are sacred?

Very strange, indeed.

Leaves room for thought.

But I leave everything to GOD.

Only He sees the soul anyway.

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THREE-day JOURNEY

 

Proverbs 29:18

King James Version

18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: 

but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Surely, I'm not imagining it.

A born again devoted to the WORD of GOD can't.

But here are some random thoughts.

Occurring over a period of days.

Three days, in fact.

All attuned to Scripture.

As I observed the world, daily:

1. When covetousness is gone, you can really serve GOD. The struggle ceases. Covetousness is idolatry.

Colossians 3:5-6

King James Version

5 Mortify therefore your members 

which are upon the earth; 

fornication, uncleanness, 

inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, 

and covetousness, which is idolatry:

6 For which things' sake the wrath of God 

cometh on the children of disobedience:

2. The goal has always been perfection. Not by man's standards, but by GOD's standards. Thus, JESUS.

Matthew 5:48

King James Version

48 Be ye therefore perfect, 

even as your Father which is in heaven 

is perfect.

3. When GOD wants to expand your work, prepare for something wonderful. GOD is full of surprises. Only a fool would not want to work with GOD.

1 Corinthians 15:58

King James Version

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, 

be ye stedfast, unmoveable, 

always abounding in the work of the Lord, 

forasmuch as ye know that your labour 

is not in vain in the Lord.

4. Only through SPIRIT can we understand Scripture. Only through SPIRIT can we know JESUS. Only through SPIRIT can we be born again.

John 3:5-7

King James Version

5 Jesus answered, 

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 

Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, 

he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; 

and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, 

Ye must be born again.

5. Following the world is risky. There is no risk in following GOD. Your salvation and surety can only come from GOD; not from great wealth, insurance companies, tax havens, or people.

Luke 16:14-15

King James Version

14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, 

heard all these things: and they derided him.

15 And he said unto them, 

Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; 

but God knoweth your hearts: 

for that which is highly esteemed among men 

is abomination in the sight of God.

Following JESUS is the best course to take.

Obeying GOD is what JESUS taught us.

SPIRIT reveals everything JESUS did for GOD.

Why do we struggle so?

In an instant, all could be well.

In an instant, all could be gone.

In an instant, all could be peaceful.

Only GOD has true power over everything.

Revelation 1:8

King James Version

8 I am Alpha and Omega, 

the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, 

which is, and which was, and which is to come, 

the Almighty.

Once you are born again, all foolishness stops.

You commit Scripture to heart.

GOD's WORD is that powerful:

Psalm 119:97-106

King James Version

97 O how love I thy law! 

it is my meditation all the day.

98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me 

wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.

99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: 

for thy testimonies are my meditation.

100 I understand more than the ancients, 

because I keep thy precepts.

101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, 

that I might keep thy word.

102 I have not departed from thy judgments: 

for thou hast taught me.

103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! 

yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: 

therefore I hate every false way.

105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, 

and a light unto my path.

106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, 

that I will keep thy righteous judgments.

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Some SIMPLE observations

 

Habakkuk 2:1-2

King James Version

2 I will stand upon my watch, 

and set me upon the tower, 

and will watch to see what he will say unto me, 

and what I shall answer when I am reproved.

2 And the Lord answered me, 

and said, 

Write the vision, 

and make it plain upon tables, 

that he may run that readeth it.

Can't help but notice a few things.

I've got enough mileage in my years to know.

As born again, I am taught by SPIRIT each moment.

Time to tell you some observations.

Here are a few two-liners:

If marketers really wanted us to know what they're selling,

they'd make the print larger.

If lawyers really wanted us to know our rights,

they'd use simple language.

If lawyers really wanted to help us,

they'd charge less.

If the world was fair,

we won't need lawyers.

If doctors really wanted us to be well,

they'd refuse to partner with big pharma.

If the food industry really wanted us to be healthy,

they'd refuse to make so much processed food.

If schools really wanted us to learn,

they'd lead us to the Bible.

If lawmakers really wanted to govern well,

they'd have less laws.

If lawmakers really loved us,

they'd refuse to enrich themselves.

If creditors really wanted us to be able to pay,

they'd charge less interest.

More is not always better.

More can confuse.

Satan wants you "occupied".

So he can occupy.

Born again

is never bored again.

JESUS asked for nothing,

and yet He gave EVERYTHING.

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The LAST witch

 

Deuteronomy 18:10

King James Version

10 There shall not be found among you 

any one that maketh his son or his daughter 

to pass through the fire, 

or that useth divination, 

or an observer of times, 

or an enchanter, 

or a witch.

She was the last of the line.

Or was she?

At least, from the many generations that preceded her.

She came from a long line of witches.

How did she come to know that?

Dreams.

Always, through dreams.

The older the witch, the more bent they were.

They lined down the stairs.

Nearing the bottom of the stairs, the straighter they became.

At the end of the steps, there she was.

Young.

Seated.

Fresh-faced.

With a delicate smile.

You could not detect any evil upon her.

Clothed in a long black dress, she sat primly.

Who would have thought she was a witch?

But maybe, she wasn't.

Is that at all possible?

After having come from a long line of such?

Well, there she was.

Totally alien to the previous generations.

How did that come about?

That's like asking how do her dreams occur?

She didn't know.

All she knew was that she "saw".

She could see "things".

She could hear "voices".

She was given "messages".

She even spied a demon's face among the bushes, one afternoon.

His evil eye, fixed on her.

Apart from the many faces she'd see around.

Every so often.

Clear "formations", that only she could see.

She knows if they're after her.

Or if they're for her.

It has become so, that it failed to unnerve her.

She hasn't shared her visions with anyone.

How could she even begin to explain?

She merely took notes of her dreams.

And found a decent book to interpret them with.

The dreams started since she was a child.

They didn't haunt her.

They intrigued her.

One day, as she was in her thirties, she felt great distcontent.

She turned her back on the world.

And would have nothing more to do with it.

Then the dreams became vicious.

Even bloody.

Still, she wasn't terrified.

She needed to understand.

She'd experience strange dreams.

Such as battling black scorpions.

Or putting her hand up, as lifeless people came for her.

That stopped them in their tracks.

Sure, she could stop them.

But she didn't feel powerful enough.

Something was missing.

It was pretty much the same when she battled the scorpions.

She didn't feel power in her hands, as she fended them off.

At another time, she came upon a thick, black book.

It looked so ancient, inviting her to look in.

All the while, she became aware of two old women whispering.

She was not supposed to be there.

But there she was, and they were afraid.

They didn't want her to look into the book.

Would she succumb to the darkness?

The darkness wanted her to.

The darkness has courted her, all her life.

But she kept it at bay.

Not to mean, she didn't make tons of errors.

Hurting many people, as she did.

She was no great beauty.

But men seemed to be drawn to her.

It didn't interest her, to knowingly entice.

Such was not her way.

Nor will ever be.

Most of the time, she was oblivious to people.

She was too busy with her search.

Not for a man, but for absolute knowledge.

Was that why darkness followed her around?

Making many threats upon her life, as she slept.

During the day, they were nowhere to be found.

Ah, but at night, there they were.

Not making her lose much sleep, for she'd pray.

Just the simplest, childlike prayer she knew:

"Please help me, GOD!"

And right away, darkness and demons dissipated.

She knew they were after her soul.

She knew they dug into her gut.

Or at least, tried to.

Unsuccessfully.

She had too many encounters to be afraid of them.

Once, a crowd of demons looked down, upon seeing her.

Almost respectfully.

The men and women, with black-ringed eyes, whispered something.

Of course, they all wore black.

She gathered they were actually afraid of her!

She overheard them mentioning about a "path" she took before.

Walking with JESUS.

But she didn't know the LORD then.

So, she filed the memory for future understanding.

What she did know is that the demons knew her.

Darkness tried to ambush her too many times.

And that the entities were afraid of her.

But how could they be?

She barely had power to fend them off.

But that's how it is in the spirit world.

You don't know what they know.

Until you get to know JESUS.

Until GOD makes you born again.

Then all things become clear.

And you don't need that dream book again.

SPIRIT will interpret it for you.

He will lead you to Scripture.

And you will know for sure.

As she did, eventually.

That she was no witch.

The last witch was the one at the foot of the stairs.

The one behind her.

The line ended with that one.

They had not corrupted her.

How could they?

She belonged to GOD.

From day one.

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TO and FRO

 

Daniel 12:4

King James Version

4 But thou, O Daniel, 

shut up the words, 

and seal the book, 

even to the time of the end: 

many shall run to and fro, 

and knowledge shall be increased.

In these end times, what does it mean "many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased"?

We turn to other Bible versions for clarity:

Daniel 12:4

Amplified Bible

4 But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the scroll until the end of time. Many will go back and forth and search anxiously [through the scroll], and knowledge [of the purpose of God as revealed by His prophets] will [greatly] increase.”

Daniel 12:4

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition

4 But you, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the Book until the time of the end. [Then] many shall run to and fro and search anxiously [through the Book], and knowledge [of God’s purposes as revealed by His prophets] shall be increased and become great.

Daniel 12:4

Christian Standard Bible

4 “But you, Daniel, keep these words secret and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will roam about, and knowledge will increase.

Daniel 12:4

Common English Bible

4 But you, Daniel, must keep these words secret! Seal the scroll until the end time! Many will stray far, but knowledge will increase.”

Daniel 12:4

Complete Jewish Bible

4 “But you, Dani’el, keep these words secret, and seal up the book until the time of the end. Many will rush here and there as knowledge increases.”

Daniel 12:4

Contemporary English Version

4  Daniel, I now command you to keep the message of this book secret until the end of time, even though many people will go everywhere, searching for the knowledge to be found in it.

Daniel 12:4

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time appointed: many shall pass over, and knowledge shall be manifold.

Daniel 12:4

Easy-to-Read Version

4 “But you, Daniel, keep this message a secret. You must close the book and keep this secret until the time of the end. Many people will go here and there looking for true knowledge, and the true knowledge will increase.”

Daniel 12:4

Evangelical Heritage Version

4 Now you, Daniel, close up the words and seal the scroll until the time of the end. Many will continue running back and forth, and knowledge will increase.

Daniel 12:4

Expanded Bible

4 “But you, Daniel, ·close up the book and seal it [L keep the words secret and seal the book]. ·These things will happen at the time of the end [L …until the time of the end]. Many people will go here and there to ·find true [L increase] knowledge [Amos 8:12].”

Daniel 12:4

GOD’S WORD Translation

4 “But you, Daniel, keep these words secret, and seal the book until the end times. Many will travel everywhere, and knowledge will grow.”

Daniel 12:4

Good News Translation

4 He said to me, “And now, Daniel, close the book and put a seal on it until the end of the world. Meanwhile, many people will waste their efforts trying to understand what is happening.”

Daniel 12:4

International Children’s Bible

4 “But you, Daniel, close up the book and seal it. These things will happen at the time of the end. Many people will go here and there to find true knowledge.”

Daniel 12:4

International Standard Version

4 Now as for you, Daniel, roll up your scroll and seal your words until the time of the end. Many will rush around, while knowledge increases.’”

Daniel 12:4

Jubilee Bible 2000

4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end: many shall pass by, and knowledge shall be multiplied.

Daniel 12:4

Lexham English Bible

4 But you, Daniel, keep the words secret and seal the scroll[a] until the time of the end; many will run back and forth and knowledge will increase.”

Daniel 12:4

Living Bible

4 “But Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal it up so that it will not be understood until the end times, when travel and education shall be vastly increased!”

Daniel 12:4

The Message

4 “‘This is a confidential report, Daniel, for your eyes and ears only. Keep it secret. Put the book under lock and key until the end. In the interim there is going to be a lot of frantic running around, trying to figure out what’s going on.’

Daniel 12:4

Names of God Bible

4 “But you, Daniel, keep these words secret, and seal the book until the end times. Many will travel everywhere, and knowledge will grow.”

Daniel 12:4

New American Bible (Revised Edition)

4 “As for you, Daniel, keep secret the message and seal the book until the end time; many shall wander aimlessly and evil shall increase.”

Daniel 12:4

New Catholic Bible

4 As for you, Daniel,

    keep these words secret,

    and seal the book until the time of the end.

Many shall fall away,

    and evils shall increase.”

Daniel 12:4

New Century Version

4 “But you, Daniel, close up the book and seal it. These things will happen at the time of the end. Many people will go here and there to find true knowledge.”

Daniel 12:4

New English Translation

4 “But you, Daniel, close up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will dash about,[a] and knowledge will increase.”

Daniel 12:4

New International Reader's Version

4 But I want you to roll up this scroll, Daniel. Seal it until the time of the end. Many people will go here and there to increase their knowledge.”

Daniel 12:4

New Life Version

4 But as for you, Daniel, keep these words hidden and lock up the Book until the end of time. Many will travel here and there and knowledge will be more and more.”

Daniel 12:4

New Living Translation

4 But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase.”

Daniel 12:4

New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised

4 But you, Daniel, keep the words secret and the book sealed until the time of the end. Many shall be running back and forth, and evil[a] shall increase.’

Daniel 12:4

Orthodox Jewish Bible

4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the devarim (words), and seal the sefer, until the Et Ketz (Time of the End): rabbim shall run to and fro, that da’as (knowledge) may be increased.

Daniel 12:4

The Voice

4 As for you, Daniel, keep these visions and their meaning a secret. Write down what you have seen and heard, then seal the scroll until the time of the end. Many will wander here and there, and knowledge will expand.

Daniel 12:4

Wycliffe Bible

4 But thou, Daniel, close the words, and aseal the book, till to the time ordained; full many men shall pass, and knowing shall be manyfold. (But thou, Daniel, close up the words, and seal the book, until the time ordained; yea, a great many shall live and die, and knowledge shall be manifold.)

In SUMMARY, "many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased" means:

Many will go back and forth and search anxiously [through the scroll], and knowledge [of the purpose of God as revealed by His prophets] will [greatly] increase.

many shall run to and fro and search anxiously [through the Book], and knowledge [of God’s purposes as revealed by His prophets] shall be increased and become great

Many will roam about, and knowledge will increase.

Many will stray far, but knowledge will increase.

Many will rush here and there as knowledge increases.

many people will go everywhere, searching for the knowledge to be found in it

many shall pass over, and knowledge shall be manifold

Many people will go here and there looking for true knowledge, and the true knowledge will increase.

Many will continue running back and forth, and knowledge will increase.

Many people will go here and there to ·find true [L increase] knowledge

Many will travel everywhere, and knowledge will grow.

many people will waste their efforts trying to understand what is happening

Many people will go here and there to find true knowledge.

Many will rush around, while knowledge increases.

many shall pass by, and knowledge shall be multiplied

many will run back and forth and knowledge will increase

travel and education shall be vastly increased

there is going to be a lot of frantic running around, trying to figure out what’s going on

Many will travel everywhere, and knowledge will grow.

many shall wander aimlessly and evil shall increase

Many shall fall away, and evils shall increase.

Many people will go here and there to find true knowledge.

Many will dash about,[a] and knowledge will increase.

Many people will go here and there to increase their knowledge.

Many will travel here and there and knowledge will be more and more.

many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase

Many shall be running back and forth, and evil[a] shall increase.

rabbim shall run to and fro, that da’as (knowledge) may be increased

Many will wander here and there, and knowledge will expand.

a great many shall live and die, and knowledge shall be manifold

The Expanded Bible version also relates another verse, which gives greater clarity to the verse above:

Amos 8:12

King James Version

12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, 

and from the north even to the east, 

they shall run to and fro 

to seek the word of the Lord, 

and shall not find it.

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