Changing Your Scars from Sand to Stars - Religion and Spirituality Article

By:Joyce C. Lock

As the Sand of the Sea: wave beaten,
had for lunch, spit out, drug through the mire,
washed ashore; then stomped on.
Fear ye not me? saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?
But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.
Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you. For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.
Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? Jeremiah 5:22-31.
____________
Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God, Hosea 1:10.
And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the Lord.
And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the Lord, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth; And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel. And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God, Hosea 2:19-23.

~ Changing Your Scars from Sand to Stars ~
(suggested midi - Keeper of the Stars)
If you haven't personally felt the waves roaring, your foundation shaking, the earth around you quaking ~ you may have already been there, done that, and found the Living God and His Kingdom.
But, more than likely, you're experiencing more sea than anyone one person should experience in an entire lifetime. You may be in the process of discovering that nothing you've ever been taught or believed in has prepared you for overcoming spiritual warfare.
By your dependence upon the faith and teachings of others, or even by your study of God's word using anything but scripture's
definitions, you may be discovering that not even God's word works to overcome these battles. And, by lack in truly knowing God, you may, thereby, have also been the source of tribulation for others.
However, if none of the above applies, you may be no threat to Satan at all.
____________
The ultimate purpose of tribulation is to bring us to the place of entering the Kingdom of God, Acts 14:22, because, without it, we could never be that camel making it through the eye of a needle, Luke 18:25. We are equipped with such strong instincts of survival that we actually have to come to the end of ourselves to find something even better.
Like it or lump it, this is how it is. There is no longer peace by following the religious status quo. We are leaving the church age and entering the age of the Kingdom of God, preparing for Jesus' return, and setting up His Kingdom to where God will again dwell with man. God wants His throne back, in YOUR heart and life. (Don't worry about what someone else is doing.)
As previously shared, I once asked God how many prophecies have to come to pass. His response was, "As many as it takes."
The Kingdom of God does not come to all at the same time, Luke 17:20. So, yes, you are experiencing conflict and dissention
(whether verbalized or not) with family, friends, church members, etc. ~ as you are not all arriving at the same place, spiritually, at the same time, Matthew 10: 36. However, the sooner you enter the Kingdom of God, the sooner your tribulation will be over.
____________
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away, Luke 21:25-33.
____________
I have heard said (and you can decide whether you believe it or not) that we knew, before we came to earth, our coming would be for the end times; that we were hand picked for such a time as this and agreed to come (knowing, in advance, that it would be incredibly hard), and that we are a very courageous people.
Sure, most of the people I know are currently experiencing what feels like the sand of the sea ... and even Jesus was spiritually stomped on when accused of befriending publicans and sinners. Yet, He, too, knew where wisdom lay.
God wants you to know that He does not see you as weak and sickly, at all. You were created in His image and He is not sick. Additionally, you are His chosen. No matter how many horrors have come your way, you never gave up on God and that makes Him very proud! That's what true love is. Only, now is the time to take up your cross and walk; redeeming the time, Ephesians 5:16-17.
There is only one entry to the Kingdom of God. You have to start all over, in your knowledge, as a little child, Mark 10:15.
Once you finally realize and come to terms with the fact that man does not know the answers, 1 Corinthians 2:11, it is no longer so hard to run to the One who knows how to defeat Satan every time. Throw out those survival instincts. They don't work in spiritual warfare. Throw out everything you thought you knew and let God teach you all over again, John 6:45. One more time, for such a time as this, Ye must be born again, John 3:3, 5.
Abraham believed God and God counted that as righteousness and friendship, James 2:23, and, with friendship, you are no longer left standing in the dark, John 15:15.
Scripture always works once God has revealed to you His intent for the words given. God will answer, once you ask the right question with the right motive (James 4:3), and He promises, if you ask first, Matthew 7:9-11, that He will not allow Satan to trick you, I John 2:27.
Don't do anything until you have received instruction from God. Then, do it without fear, as Satan cannot touch you as long as God's anointing is on your every step ~ because, Satan cannot defeat God. Therein is your confidence.
Then, as you experience the Kingdom of God, begin sharing it with others. The purpose of our creation, for such a time as this, is to have the honor of leading the procession in bringing God's children home. So, here is your chance. Change your scars from sand to stars.
They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament;
and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
Daniel 12:3
For the law made nothing perfect,
but the bringing in of a better hope did;
by the which we draw nigh unto God.
Hebrews 7:19
© 2005 by Joyce C. Lock
http://our.homewithgod.com/heavenlyinspirations/
This writing may be used in its entirety, with credits in tact,
for non-profit ministering purposes.

About the Author

Joyce C. Lock founded and maintains the e-mail ministries
"Heavenly Inspirations"
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeavenlyInspirations/ and
"Share a Smile" http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smilesharing/ .
She also has a published e-book, "The Difference",
which can be purchased here:
http://www.theeaglesgarden.com/

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