Conchshell Chronicles

One of the iconic songs of my youth was Don McLean’s “American Pie” which was a lyrical commentary on the music and political scene of the 1960’s. References were made to John F. Kennedy, Buddy Holly, Mick Jagger and “the three men I admire the most, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, who caught the last train to the coast, the day the music died.”

There is a line from the song that has been echoing in my mind all week:

“But February made me quiver, with every paper I delivered.

Bad news on the doorstep, I couldn’t take one more step.” 

I try to make my first reading of each day be from the Bible, and specifically from the book of Proverbs. Then I wander through the news. Indeed, its bad news on the doorstep, which is a reference to the morning newspaper being thrown by that faithful paperboy tossing that rubberbanded rolled up newspaper from a moving bike with amazing accuracy onto the front porch. My brother and I became proficient in this skill during our paper route days in Texas.

The year 2020 brought with it much blurriness in our world at large…..A great deal of confusion, evil plotting, distractions, changes , fears, uncertainties, financial chaos, ruin, anger, loneliness and depression for many.

REFOCUS, RETHINKING AND REMEMBERING were antidotes for my heart, mind and soul.  I brought every area of my Life before the Great Throne of the BIG E. His EXCELLENCY WAS AND IS MY MAJOR FOCUS because I if I didn’t establish and practice my focus upon my only stable FORCE in this world, I would lose the battle that was raging all around me. And rage it did and continues to do so.

I continue to stand firm in my 20/20 upon My EXCELLENCY of Life-giving Love, grace and peace.  I practice with great care my Focus on the One True God who is in control and not surprised by one thing that occurs or will occur.  He knows, cares and Is the only One that can do anything and everything about it.  I rest in Him.

When you are family, it is easy to forget to exercise such pleasantries and restraint over ourselves in what we choose to express for the moments we are given.  Lots of focus, care and intention needs to be practiced for each moment.  Great relationships take work.  It is not natural to be others  centered or to be a good compassionate understanding listener.  Takes unselfish time, effort, and a heart to truly love others as yourself.  It takes an awareness that comes from the Top.

Life is too short to waste any time.  Each moment could be our last.  God does appoint the day of one’s birth and death.  It all belongs to Him, and we will choose where we will be and who we will be with for all Eternity.  

TRIGGERED: (of a response) caused by a particular action, process, or situation: “a triggered memory of his childhood”

At year 60, I have realized one significant revelation that seems to repeat itself time and again as I go through each day…  ”I am truly dumber than I think”  

I do not say this in a derogatory way because I have a low self esteem or an unrealistic evaluation of my worth, value or view of who I am.  I understand quite thoroughly that I am linked to my Eternal Creator who designed me fearfully and most wonderfully and I exalt Him daily for this.  I am a grateful human to be alive, well and have movement and the blessing of true inward life, contentment and peace.

DUMB: UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO SPEAK.

Make dumb or unheard: silence. “a splendor that dazed the mind and dumbed the tongue”.

Over and again, I have heard, “Let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger for the anger of a man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”

We are now repairing the damaged roofs from Hurricanes Eta and Iota (November 2020), and have completed two of our nine school buildings. Danilo told me today that the parents of our students are working hard to do the repairs, and have the building repaired for their children. 

He said: “They value the  education that Seek The Lamb provides their children, and I have had many ask me to tell all of our friends in ‘Tets’ (The United States) ‘Tanki Pali (Thank your very much) for all the help they have sent.”

I was sitting at Central Assembly of God in Vero Beach, Florida. As I sat and had my eyes closed, I went away for a moment and “saw” a huge black, beautiful pot or cauldron sitting at the front of the church.  It reminded me of the decorative black incense containers that sat in front of a Box (we supposed represented God and our ancestors). We would put incense in the container and pray to the box representing Kamisama (God).

This Cauldron was a 100 times larger not meant for a human to drop incense into it.  As prayer and worship proceeded all around me, I noticed there was smoke that began to rise up from the Container and it proceeded upward.  I felt it was as a pleasing aroma to the Lord and it was good.  As we continued to invite the presence of the Lord through our praises, worship and prayers, I noticed that the smoke began to billow out of the pot and not only was it going upward toward heaven but it began to “drip” over the sides like water overflowing onto the ground and dispersing into the crowd of people…some sitting, some standing and some began to be visibly affected as this “smoke” passed by and touched them.  There was a sense of “wow there is something going on here” that was good, right, powerful and in order. 

The praises continued and the smoke continued to go up and rise up over the sides and it reminded me of my childhood when we played with dry ice or “gas ice” as we called it as kids.  The smoke continued to fill the sanctuary touching every person in its path and having an impact.  I then saw in my minds eye that people started to get up and walk out the doors of the church with this smoke upon them as if they were walking in it and through it because it was swirling with the movement of all who were in it.  I watched as people went to their places, work, offices, barbers, gyms, libraries….wherever they went they went with this Essence swirling around and having an impact upon anyone they were coming into contact with. 

My father Forrest was a tank driver, then tank commander in the 2^nd Armored Division, nicknamed “Hell On Wheels” and one of the first Americans to enter Berlin in July 1945. The Second Armored fought from North Africa, through Sicily, across France, into Germany, finally meeting the Russian Army on the Elbe River in eastern Germany. Forrest told me that of the 120 guys in his company that started the war in 1942, there were only three left when they got to Berlin.

Sobering sacrifices, all for the cause of freedom. Common ordinary men rose to the occasion and gave it all for the cause.

 As a member of the Kingdom of God, we have a worthy cause and a worthy leader who wants all to be saved and spend eternity with Him. Our battle against spiritual darkness is raging, intensifying and escalating. Can you sense it? Its not a political or even a cultural fight. We are dealing with spiritual forces that are waring against the people of God.

And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, ⁸ and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. ⁹ And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Revelation 12:7-9