THE PERFECT STORM

 

THE PERFECT STORM
I congratulated Lori: “Wow, you’ve lost 90 pounds and look awesome!” She didn’t even smile: “I don’t feel like it. I just can’t see any difference.” Ninety pounds, and she couldn’t see any difference? Everyone could see it, but she couldn’t. She told me that she was having problems in her family and wasn’t allowed to see her grandson. And there were work issues that were exasperating. She was spiraling downhill, being hit on every side. This chain of events is what I call the perfect storm.

 

“The perfect storm” is a term meteorologists use to describe a storm of astronomical power and devastation. It’s caused by several separate events mobilizing to drastically aggravate the circumstances and produce a barrage of extreme magnitude.

 

Sometimes we feel like our lives have been thrown into that kind of storm—no way out, nowhere to turn for safety, no rest, no escape. Swirling in the perfect storm makes us feel like we’re drowning and can hardly breathe.

 

In Psalm 18:5, David says: “The sorrows of hell compassed me about.” The original Hebrew for “sorrows” translates “a noose tied together twisting around so that there is no escape.” And the Hebrew for “compasses” means “whirl around on every side, surround, besiege, and enclose.” When we’ve felt horribly attacked, hurt from every side, and spiraling uncontrollably down, this is what David describes here in Psalm 18.

 

David didn’t mind telling God that the enemy was too strong for him, like in the movie “The Perfect Storm,” even the strongest and smartest guy found no escape. Like that guy, sometimes we must admit that we truly can’t handle it, and that’s okay with God.

 

What happens when this overwhelming storm of attacks surrounds a person? They can get swallowed up like Jonah, or pulled down in agony and terror like David. I’ve seen people end up in the hospital, or in my own case, one time thrown into a long and miserable suicidal depression.

 

This kind of intense spiraling spiritual attack is no small matter. The oppressiveness mounts up like floods, and Satan himself stirs the pot around and around. We have to remember that it’s not the people attacking us, but the demons behind the very thoughts and actions of the evil that comes against us.

 

But our God is much more powerful than anything Satan can manipulate. I’ve seen from studying different records in the Bible that God has a specific remedy for the perfect storm.

 

When David called on God to help him, God got up off His throne, and He roared:

 

“The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.”

 

“Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them” (Ps. 18:13-14). “Discomfited them” in Hebrew means He made an uproar; He agitated and destroyed them.  

 

Verse 15 says: “Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.” “The foundations,” or the roots (demons) of the attacks on David were “discovered.”  The word “discovered” means that the demons were “exposed, shamelessly revealed, stripped, and exiled.” 

 

At the blast of God’s breath, David was sprung out from Saul’s attempts to destroy him. A blast from God and Jonah was thrown out of the sea creature’s mouth and safely onto the beach. From Jonah 2:10: “And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.” God didn’t just mildly speak to the fish and politely ask it to vomit. The Hebrew word for “spake,” in this verse means He “commanded” that fish to upchuck now!

 

Philippians 2:13 tells us: “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure,” and sometimes that means He’s going to inspire us to shout at the devils!

 

When I saw the perfect storm of spiritual attack on my friend Lori, God gave me strong, loud words of deliverance to shout out in the name of Jesus Christ. I didn’t have to be there in her presence for Satan and his devils to hear God’s rebuke. The demons were exposed and defeated!

 

In just a couple of hours, I got confirmation of her deliverance: She posted a new picture of herself in her skinny jeans, a great big smile, and another photo showing a current snapshot of her with her grandson. I found out later that the work issues also benefitted her.

 

When confronted with this kind of perfect storm situation, we need to shout or speak with a strong word, not a polite asking. Think about yelling at a sports event. Even the quietest and meekest can get up a good yell.

 

Clear your lungs and your life with a good shout! It has to be from the standpoint of believing in what you’re doing and believing in the power of our God to rescue. The Lord will give the words. We just have to start. No devil, not Satan himself, can stand up against the powerful roar of our God! Believe and receive.

 

Our God is mightier than any storm.

 

Love, Carolyn  https://www.amazon.com/Carolyn-Molica/e/B007GZO1HA?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_15&qid=1651431514&sr=8-15

INSPIRATION FOR ENDURANCE

INSPIRATION FOR ENDURANCE

John grew up with good Christian teaching. He’s much older now, and he says he doesn’t believe in God anymore.  Many people who started as Bible-believing children, come dangerously close to wanting to give up on the Bible later in life.

 

Traumatic events take place, and God gets blamed. We’re born again, and we think things should be going better for us. But sometimes they don’t go well at all. The truth is faithfulness isn’t something for the weak-hearted. It takes some real inner strength to stay faithful, and our faithfulness gets tested over and over throughout our lives. Faithfulness isn’t that easy sometimes, but is it worth it? For sure!

 

Hebrews 11:6 tells us that God rewards faith: “He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

 

In the big picture of things, our lives are short here on earth compared to our eternity. “As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more” (Ps. 103:15).

 

Though life may seem unbearable at times, God promises that “there hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Cor. 10:13).

 

In Old Testament terms, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning” (Ps. 30:5). You say, “That’s the longest night ever!” But God does promise joy in the morning. And God “is not a man that he should lie” (Num. 23:19). The Hebrew translation for the word “morning” doesn’t necessarily mean “the next day.” It also has the meaning: “the breaking forth of light.” When light comes, the darkness has to go.

 

In New Testament terms, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor. 4:17). I looked up the word “affliction” in the Greek. It is a thronging, crowding pressure. It’s narrow, burdened with anguish, persecution, and trouble. It comes from a root word meaning a rut or worn track. And isn’t that how the attacks come sometimes? We get in a rut of affliction, the same things over and over, or the rut of one bad thing after another, non-stop.

 

When the Bible says “light affliction” it doesn’t mean it’s no big deal. The word “light” has two meanings in the Greek. The older meaning is that the affliction is pushed like a torrential wind pushes or oars push in the water or how demonic powers push. We are all aware of what mighty winds can do to even the strongest of palm trees or buildings.

 

If you’ve ever watched the Olympic rowing teams, you know how powerful those oars cut through the water. And if demonic powers have pounded you at times, and pushed you continuously, you know it’s no small matter.

 

This verse is telling us that the Lord understands that the afflictions are hard to dismiss, hard to bear up under.

 

But the second meaning of the word “light” is just as we suspected. The afflictions we bear now are minimal, compared to the honor, praise, glory, and dignity we will have for eternity.

 

This is how Second Corinthians 4:17 is translated In the Amplified Version: “For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!” Read that again!

 

God shows us how to endure in this life. Read the Bible and see the many examples of men, women, and children who confronted adversity and came out victorious on the other side.

 

Take a look at Hebrews 12:1-2: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Romans 15: 4 tells us: “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” So, it’s good for us to pick up our Bibles or our phones and read some of the Old Testament records to learn things. Personally I am reading the book of Jeremiah, as the Lord led me to do, and the truths there are definitely comparable to the troubles we now are experiencing in the world.

 

But the great thing is that we have Jesus’ help! Let’s use it. “Help me. Help me. Help me!” He will help us. So let’s do our best to stay totally faithful even through the hard things. Others have endured before us and we will do likewise. Let’s continue to read God’s truths from His written Word.

 

Love, Carolyn

 

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CHARACTERISTICS THAT PERSONALIZE JESUS FOR YOU

CHARACTERISTICS THAT PERSONALIZE JESUS FOR YOU

When I travel, I take the time to consider the deeper truths of my life. In November of 2019, as I was sitting in the airport on the way to my sister’s memorial service, I had the clear revelation that my love for Jesus is more important to me than life itself. Then just a month later, I was sitting in an airport again and got a similar revelation: “I love Jesus so much, if I died today, I would be happy.” We know from the Bible that when a thing is doubled, it is established: It says in Genesis 41:32: “And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God.”

 

When I got home, I kept thinking about those revelations and was inspired to make a list of some of Jesus’s characteristics—things that mean something special to me. It didn’t start in this way, but as it turned out, I used letters of the alphabet to make my list. You may want to make a list that’s personal to you.

 

Here’s my list. I wrote it in one long spurt and at the time couldn’t think of anything for O or Z, (and I still can’t think of anything that fits for me), so if you’ve got ideas let me know 😊. Love, Carolyn

 

A – ACTIVATOR OF AWESOME

B – BOSS OF BUILDERS

C – CORNERSTONE OF CONSTRUCTION

D – DIRECTOR OF DESTINY

E – ENABLER OF EVERYTHING GOOD

F – FOUNDATION OF FAITH

G – GLORY OF GALAXIES

H – HEIGHT OF HOLINESS

I – INGNIGHTER OF INQUIRY

J – JUDGE AND JURY

K – KING OF KINGS

L – LEADER OF LOVE

M – MASTER OF MIRACLES

N – NOBLEST OF NOBLE MEN

O –

P – PROPHET OF PEACE

Q – QUEST OF EVERY QUESTION

R – RIGHT VERSUS EVERY WRONG

S – SOLID OF EVERY SOLUTION

T – TEACHER OF THE TEACHABLE

U – UNITER OF UNIVERSES

V – VICTORY OF VISIONS

W – WONDER OF WONDERFULNESS

X – XCELLERATOR OF EXCELLENCE

Y – YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER

Z –

 

I’m working on Volume 2 of BIBLE LESSONS FROM NATURE. Get your copy of Volume 1 today 😊

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WORDS MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WORDS MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

On the drive to work, I was praying out loud, and I noticed tiny wet spit flecks shooting out of my mouth. As I spoke words aloud, they were literally moving air molecules in the car. How far would these molecules travel? Who knows but God? I picture this process working like when people play dominoes, and one domino hits the next, making the whole row fall. Words move molecules like that, impacting our lives and other people’s lives as well. That’s how prayer works across the miles, or words spoken into a phone.

 

Scientific research has been done to test the results of our spoken phrases.  In his book Natural Cures, Kevin Trudeau says: “Words have power. Most people speak words that increase body stress and turn the body’s pH from alkaline to acidic. Words can change the way we think and feel. Researchers have concluded that speaking the correct form of words and thinking the correct thoughts actually changes a person’s DNA.”  

 

Nazi scientists after WWII did experiments using sound frequencies and words to brainwash ordinary people into thinking and acting in ways that were contrary to the way they would typically think and act. Words sung or broadcast in specific frequencies produce anger and frustration in listeners. That’s happening today. That’s why Jesus warned us: “Take heed therefore how ye hear” (Luke 8:18). “For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad” (Luke 8:17).

 

Masaru Emoto, a Japanese scientist, experimented to prove how words and frequencies affect water crystals. If they affected water crystals in the experiments, they’re also affecting us because our bodies comprise a large percentage of water. In children’s bodies, it’s 75 percent , and in adults, about 60 percent!

 

In the experiment, people spoke different phrases in different tones to water and then took photos of the crystals. Harsh and mean words made the particles look ugly, very different from those that received words of love and encouragement. The water molecules in this experiment responded to words and frequencies, as do the water molecules in our bodies.

 

We could all work on what we say and how we say it. Don’t you agree?

 

God knows a lot about words, and the Bible has important things to say along these lines. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Prov. 18:21). “Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth” (Prov. 6:2). “A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul” (Prov. 18:7).  

 

We shouldn’t be so frivolous about what we say. For example, as a response to something amazing, we hear ourselves or others use the phrase, “That’s unbelievable!” What is our brain hearing? It hears that the thing I am  talking about has no credibility, and I can’t accept it. It’s foolish or false. How often, if confronted, would we say, “Oh, I didn’t really mean it”? 

 

But if we continue saying things like, “It blew my mind,” or “My foot is killing me,” or “It scares me to death,” our brains start to believe what we say and then send those messages to the rest of our body. Our body parts start to respond accordingly.  One example would be if our body thinks it’s being threatened, it could start over-producing cortisol, the fight or flight hormone, and begin shutting down other vital activities. In other words, speaking puts these things in motion. God says if we keep speaking it, or allow ourselves to continue to hear certain words, they will come to pass.

 

God’s Word says that speaking something is a law of life. It’s similar to the law of gravity with a heavy object: The minute you let go of it, it’s going to fall.

 

Here are some good word things from the Bible to think about:

 

“Hear, for I will speak excellent and princely things; and the opening of my lips shall be for right things” (Prov. 8:6).

“A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger” (Prov. 15:1).

 

“A gentle tongue is a tree of life” (Prov. 15:4).

 

“Set a guard, O Lord, before my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips” (Ps. 141:3).

 

Let’s consider the words and phrases we hear and speak and choose wisely.

 

Love, Carolyn

 

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LANGUAGES QUESTION

 Hi. I am curious. What languages do you speak and does blogger translate my posts into your language? Thanks so much for answering :-)

WHEN HOLY SPIRIT ENERGIZES OUR WORDS AND ACTIONS

WHEN HOLY SPIRIT ENERGIZES OUR WORDS

My friend told me he didn’t really like horror films and then asked me if I did. What happened next surprised me.

 

I barely got the first words out when I felt a powerful stirring from within. It was from my belly and not my brain. I felt strong and energized as these words came out of my Spirit: “Yes. I like to watch sci-fi, monster flicks, superheroes, and movies about the devil—I need to know what he’s up to so when he attacks my friends, I’m ready, and I know how to back him off!” My words surprised me; I had no idea I was going to say that, but when I did. . .

 

I said it with conviction and knew I was speaking from the Spirit of God within me. Sometimes truths get confirmed straight out of our bellies because that’s where the Holy Spirit dwells. John 7: 38-39 confirms: “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. This spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive.”

 

The words bypass the rationalizations and limitations of our minds. I love it when that happens.

 

In this situation, the Holy Spirit in me connected to the words of my friend, and when I opened my mouth, I spoke a revelation that I hadn’t known up until that moment. This happened to Elisabeth when Mary came to stay with her. Mary said a few words of greeting, and “when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she spake out with a loud voice” (Luke 1:41-42). What came out of her mouth was a prophecy regarding Mary and the birth of Jesus.

 

God has a great sense of humor, and what we hear ourselves say or write is a surprise even to us! When Peter had a vision on his rooftop about eating all kinds of things that were against the Jewish laws, Peter told God he wanted nothing to do with it. “And there came a voice to him, ‘Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.’ But Peter said, ‘Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.’ And the voice spake unto him again the second time, ‘What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.’” The word “common” means unclean or defiled and not allowed by Jewish laws.

 

But then, when he ended up at a gentile’s house, Peter began talking and was shocked to hear and see what followed: Cornelius and all his household were born again and spoke in tongues just like the Jews. For Peter, this was a shocker. He was expecting the new church to be only for Jews. As he spoke, it was a new revelation to him, and he welcomed it: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears [respects] him” (Acts 10:34-35).

 

This kind of energizing is thrilling. I’m praying you have the exciting opportunity to experience being the giver of important blessings and receiving them as well. it. It’s God’s will that especially the body of Christ works together to bless each other and in many different ways. He promises: “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Phil 2:13). God is working in the whole body of Christ to change the world into a better place now and for the future. Keep praying for people, forgiving, and making yourself available to walk in love as Christ leads you.

Love, Carolyn

 

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