BEYOND peripheral VISION

1 Samuel 3:1

King James Version

3 And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. 

And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; 

there was no open vision.

Once a reader of new age material, I prided myself in having "peripheral" vision.

It's "seeing" from "outside the corner of one's eyes".

I thought that was the right way to "see".

Of course, new age makes you think you're more than you really are.

Well, soon as GOD made me born again in 2019, I began to see differently.

Starting with losing all sense of "self".

My vision truly expanded.

I began to see beyond the peripheral.

I began to see , and become aware of "others".

Their plight, their needs, my sins against them.

When you really start "seeing", the latter is the most painful of all.

But it's something you have to go through.

That's what automatically happens when GOD makes you born again.

FIRST, you receive a "humbling".

SECOND, the "forgiveness"

THIRD, the "anointing".

You begin to finally "see", as GOD wants you to see.

Your vision is not clouded anymore.

You begin to understand, and grasp things, through Scripture.

The WORD of GOD becomes your ONE, TRUE GUIDE.

You begin to appreciate everything GOD gave you.

You begin to acknowledge all your sins.

You realize self is not as important as new age says it should be.

I never thought I was the center of the universe.

I always thought the sun was.

Even that was corrected.

Only GOD is the center of the UNIVERSE.

Concern goes beyond self.

You begin to truly care about others.

Love becomes "unconditional".

Because JESUS taught us that.

That's what it means to go BEYOND peripheral vision.

Now, you have SPIRIT and SPIRITUAL vision.

You are now being taught by the HOLY SPIRIT.

He teaches you about GOD, self, and others.

He teaches you about GOD's commands.

He teaches you about JESUS.

He tells you of past, present, and future.

He answers all the questions you have.

As born again, you see who you really are.

You see others for who they really are.

You see the world for what it really is.

You see GOD for Who He Is.

You see JESUS for Who He Is.

You see SPIRIT for Who He Is.

You see Scripture for what it is.

Nothing is withheld from you anymore.

As born again, you see beyond the norm, the usual, the programmed.

It's like, all of a sudden, you don't need to "wear" glasses anymore.

Now, you see through the LENS of the HOLY SPIRIT.

Your "vision" has become perfect!

Or, at least, being perfected.

Now, nothing is being hidden from you.

Scripture tells us all we need to know.

That's why I marvel, and write like crazy.

We have created 110 blogs, as of this writing.

Those blogs explore, and expand, on our Bible discoveries.

As my vision expanded. so did my understanding of GOD's laws.

Now, you don't need to see through "philosophy".

Or what man thinks you "should" focus on.

Now, all you care about is that SPIRIT makes you "see".

You don't need intellect, as much as you need a childlike heart.

As a teen, I came across this quote from "The Little Prince":

"It is only in the heart that one can see rightly, 

what is essential is invisible to the eye".

-- Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Today, I reflect upon it.

And discover HALF of it is right.

It is not "in the heart" that makes us see rightly.

It is only "through SPIRIT" that one can see "rightly".

1 Corinthians 2:10

King James Version

10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: 

for the Spirit searcheth all things, 

yea, the deep things of God.

And yes, Exupery was HALF right, too.

"What is essential is invisible to the eye".

John 4:24

King James Version

24 God is a Spirit: 

and they that worship him 

must worship him in spirit and in truth.

JESUS said these of the HOLY SPIRIT:

John 3:8

King James Version

8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, 

and thou hearest the sound thereof, 

but canst not tell whence it cometh, 

and whither it goeth: 

so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

John 14:17

King James Version

17 Even the Spirit of truth; 

whom the world cannot receive, 

because it seeth him not, 

neither knoweth him: 

but ye know him; 

for he dwelleth with you, 

and shall be in you.

Apostle Paul speaks of the "unseen":

2 Corinthians 4:18

King James Version

18 While we look not at the things which are seen, 

but at the things which are not seen: 

for the things which are seen are temporal; 

but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Pray to be born again.

You have no idea what you're missing out on.

I champion the cause of being BORN AGAIN.

Not in the way many elite, or prosperity churches have abused it.

But in the way that JESUS defined it.

John 3:3-7

King James Version

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, 

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 

Except a man be born again, 

he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, 

How can a man be born when he is old? 

can he enter the second time 

into his mother's womb, and be born?

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.

Only through GOD's LOVE, and GRACE, do I have clear vision.

Otherwise, I couldn't write as I do.

Much less understand Scripture, as I have.

I'm done with peripheral vision.

It is limited.

GOD isn't.

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TRIMMING the LAMP

 

Matthew 25:6-7

King James Version

6 And at midnight there was a cry made, 

Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

I had no idea the significance of "trimming" the lamp.

I had been doing it nearly three years now.

Every single day, several times a day.

Lighting a candle, in honor of my baby sis.

And trimming the wick, every so often.

Spurgeon declares that, as "High Priest", JESUS would "trim" the lamps.

He also said mentioned in a video another set of "trimmers":

"These Philistines have intruded into our temple

under the pretense of trimming our lamps

but their aim is to put them out."

-- Charles Spurgeon

I didn't realize my trimming the wick every so often had any spiritual significance at all.

I thought it was just plain common sense, to make the candle burn better, brighter, and longer.

I had been doing it long enough, to know it actually works.

Now, SPIRIT and Scripture, gave new dimension to my every day task.

As warrior, writer, and watchman, I am tasked to share the gospel

To tell you that JESUS is the LIGHT.

That we need Him in this dark world.

That only through JESUS can we do anything.

John 15:5

King James Version

5 I am the vine, 

ye are the branches: 

He that abideth in me, and I in him, 

the same bringeth forth much fruit: 

for without me ye can do nothing.

Through Scripture, my readers would have REAL hope in JESUS.

They will not fear; but trust the LORD.

They will understand GOD is in control of everything.

They will also know who is trying to put their lamps "out".

I also learned a few more things about lamp "trimmers".

How vital their task was.

"In the days when light came from burning oil in lamps, a vessel at sea needed crewmen to constantly care for the lamps. This care involved trimming the wick, which drew the oil up from the storage reservoir, so that the flame would be clean and bright."

-- Wikipedia

I was also right in doing what I was doing.

Trimming the wick, and all that.

"The end of the wick of an oil lamp needs to be cut off periodically to avoid having it become clogged with carbon deposits. The wick height is also adjusted so that the flame burns evenly and gives good light without producing a lot of smoke."

-- World English Bible footnote to Matthew 25:6-7

Sometimes, it's mundane tasks that have great significance.

Because a born again is wont to view it differently.

Through the LENS of the HOLY SPIRIT.

We connect everything through Scripture.

That's how precious the Bible is.

It tells you about GOD.

About JESUS.

About SPIRIT.

About the world.

About the enemy.

About others.

And about you.

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GOD's quirky WAYS

 

Deuteronomy 29:29

King James Version

29 The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: 

but those things which are revealed 

belong unto us 

and to our children for ever, 

that we may do all the words of this law.

If you think you're going to laugh here, you're right.

If you think you've got GOD all "mapped" out, you're wrong.

GOD's got a lot of surprises, up His divine sleeve.

Do you know that He's quirky?

He makes learning about Him fun.

I fear the LORD, but I also delight in His ways.

He reveals His mysteries to the childlike heart.

He reveals His Word to the true born again.

He reveals His love to the cheerful ones.

He makes things known, through Scripture.

Oh, how His mysteries are made plain!

Through the embodiment of JESUS.

What is most delightful?

At least, to me, who loves His WORD?

He continues to confound men.

And that's when I laugh the hardest.

For GOD shows us a thing, or two.

Well, okay, at least seven instances here.

That we may understand His will, ways, and wisdom.

And yes, even His superb humor.

As these examples show.

GOD loves the few.

He chose Israel.

Deuteronomy 7:7

King James Version

7 The Lord did not set his love upon you, 

nor choose you, 

because ye were more in number than any people; 

for ye were the fewest of all people:

GOD loves the poor.

He chose Gideon.

Judges 6:14-16

King James Version

14 And the Lord looked upon him, and said, 

Go in this thy might, 

and thou shalt save Israel 

from the hand of the Midianites: 

have not I sent thee?

15 And he said unto him, 

Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? 

behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, 

and I am the least in my father's house.

16 And the Lord said unto him, 

Surely I will be with thee, 

and thou shalt smite the Midianites 

as one man.

GOD loves the forgotten.

He chose David.

1 Samuel 16:10-12

King James Version

10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons 

to pass before Samuel. 

And Samuel said unto Jesse, 

The Lord hath not chosen these.

11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, 

Are here all thy children? 

And he said, 

There remaineth yet the youngest, 

and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. 

And Samuel said unto Jesse, 

Send and fetch him: 

for we will not sit down till he come hither.

12 And he sent, and brought him in. 

Now he was ruddy, 

and withal of a beautiful countenance, 

and goodly to look to. 

And the Lord said, 

Arise, anoint him: 

for this is he.

GOD loves humility.

He sent JESUS, His Son.

Isaiah 53:2-4

King James Version

2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, 

and as a root out of a dry ground: 

he hath no form nor comeliness; 

and when we shall see him, 

there is no beauty that we should desire him.

3 He is despised and rejected of men; 

a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: 

and we hid as it were our faces from him; 

he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, 

and carried our sorrows: 

yet we did esteem him stricken, 

smitten of God, and afflicted.

GOD loves children.

He chose Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 1:4-10

King James Version

4 Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; 

and before thou camest forth out of the womb 

I sanctified thee, 

and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

6 Then said I, Ah, Lord God! 

behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.

7 But the Lord said unto me, 

Say not, I am a child: 

for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, 

and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.

8 Be not afraid of their faces: 

for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.

9 Then the Lord put forth his hand, 

and touched my mouth. 

And the Lord said unto me, 

Behold, 

I have put my words in thy mouth.

10 See, I have this day set thee 

over the nations and over the kingdoms, 

to root out, 

and to pull down, 

and to destroy, 

and to throw down, 

to build, 

and to plant.

GOD even loves the reluctant prophet.

He chose Jonah:

Jonah 1:1-2

King James Version

1 Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah 

the son of Amittai, saying,

2 Arise, 

go to Nineveh, that great city, 

and cry against it; 

for their wickedness is come up before me.

GOD loves to frighten pretenders, too.

As in apostle Paul's story.

Acts 19:11-17

King James Version

11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick 

handkerchiefs or aprons, 

and the diseases departed from them,

and the evil spirits went out of them.

13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, 

exorcists, 

took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits 

the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, 

We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, 

a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

15 And the evil spirit answered and said, 

Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, 

and overcame them, and prevailed against them, 

so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks 

also dwelling at Ephesus; 

and fear fell on them all, 

and the name of the Lord Jesus 

was magnified.

All these you'll love about the LORD.

Who doesn't play favorites.

But gives each one of us a chance.

That we may redeem ourselves.

You really have no idea what you're missing.

When you haven't given your heart to GOD, in full.

No longer will you be a fool.

Don't you get it yet?

GOD wants to show us something.

It's all for His GLORY.

Like when He chose Israel.

Isaiah 43:21

King James Version

21 This people have I formed for myself; 

they shall shew forth my praise.

Through us -- the fewest, the poorest, the forgotten, the humblest, the children, the reluctant, the pretenders -- GOD is able to show His POWER.

Through the LEAST, GOD is able to make the GREATEST.

(And when man gets proud, the LORD does the reverse.)

Unbelievers have no idea GOD's POWER.

Matthew 19:26

King James Version

26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, 

With men this is impossible; 

but with God all things are possible.

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NAVIGATION we need

 

Jeremiah 33:3

King James Version

3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, 

and show thee great and mighty things, 

which thou knowest not.

What makes for perfect navigation?

A map?

A guide book?

A satellite system?

A celestial system?

A bunch of gurus?

Or a different celestial system?

The born again knows.

If you want perfect navigation, turn to GOD.

SPIRIT and Scripture attest to the LORD, our GOD.

Look at how He navigates for us, and how He directs us.

Away from all possible harm:

Nehemiah 9:11

King James Version

11 And thou didst divide the sea before them, 

so that they went through the midst of the sea 

on the dry land; 

and their persecutors thou threwest into the deeps, 

as a stone into the mighty waters.

Nehemiah 9:12

King James Version

12 Moreover thou leddest them in the day 

by a cloudy pillar; 

and in the night by a pillar of fire, 

to give them light in the way 

wherein they should go.

Nehemiah 9:13

King James Version

13 Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, 

and spakest with them from heaven, 

and gavest them right judgments, 

and true laws, 

good statutes and commandments:

Job 33:14

King James Version

14 For God speaketh once, 

yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.

Job 33:15-18

King James Version

15 In a dream, 

in a vision of the night, 

when deep sleep falleth upon men, 

in slumberings upon the bed;

16 Then he openeth the ears of men, 

and sealeth their instruction,

17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, 

and hide pride from man.

18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit, 

and his life from perishing by the sword.

Psalm 23:1-3

King James Version

23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: 

he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: 

he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness 

for his name's sake.

Psalm 32:8

King James Version

8 I will instruct thee and teach thee 

in the way which thou shalt go: 

I will guide thee with mine eye.

Psalm 37:23-24

King James Version

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: 

and he delighteth in his way.

24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: 

for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.

Psalm 78:13-14

King James Version

13 He divided the sea, 

and caused them to pass through; 

and he made the waters to stand as an heap.

14 In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, 

and all the night with a light of fire.

Psalm 94:12-13

King James Version

12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, 

and teachest him out of thy law;

13 That thou mayest give him rest 

from the days of adversity, 

until the pit be digged for the wicked.

Proverbs 3:5-6

King James Version

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; 

and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, 

and he shall direct thy paths.

Proverbs 16:1-2

King James Version

16 The preparations of the heart in man, 

and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.

2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; 

but the Lord weigheth the spirits.

Isaiah 11:1-3

King James Version

11 And there shall come forth a rod 

out of the stem of Jesse, 

and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, 

the spirit of wisdom and understanding, 

the spirit of counsel and might, 

the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;

3 And shall make him of quick understanding 

in the fear of the Lord: 

and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, 

neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:

Isaiah 30:21

King James Version

21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, 

saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, 

when ye turn to the right hand, 

and when ye turn to the left.

Isaiah 43:15-16

King James Version

15 I am the Lord, your Holy One, 

the creator of Israel, your King.

16 Thus saith the Lord, 

which maketh a way in the sea, 

and a path in the mighty waters;

Isaiah 48:17

King James Version

17 Thus saith the Lord, 

thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; 

I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, 

which leadeth thee by the way 

that thou shouldest go.

Jeremiah 1:7-9

King James Version

7 But the Lord said unto me, 

Say not, I am a child: 

for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, 

and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.

8 Be not afraid of their faces: 

for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.

9 Then the Lord put forth his hand, 

and touched my mouth. 

And the Lord said unto me, 

Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

Jeremiah 29:11

King James Version

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, 

saith the Lord, 

thoughts of peace, and not of evil, 

to give you an expected end.

Mark 1:11-12

King James Version

11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, 

Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

12 And immediately the spirit driveth him 

into the wilderness.

John 8:12

King James Version

12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, 

I am the light of the world: 

he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, 

but shall have the light of life.

John 14:6

King James Version

6 Jesus saith unto him, 

I am the way, the truth, and the life: 

no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 16:13

King James Version

13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, 

he will guide you into all truth: 

for he shall not speak of himself; 

but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: 

and he will shew you things to come.

Acts 27:22-26

King James Version

22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: 

for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, 

but of the ship.

23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, 

whose I am, and whom I serve,

24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; 

thou must be brought before Caesar: 

and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: 

for I believe God, 

that it shall be even as it was told me.

26 Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.

Did that give you a sense of comfort?

I hope it does, for there's only GOD to trust.

Through His Son, JESUS.

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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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