Beware of Hell

 Three times in Mark 9 Jesus repeats his warning about the results of sin and the damnation of hell.  Three times he repeats the words of Isaiah 66:24,

“And they shall go forth and look Upon the corpses of the men

Who have transgressed against Me. For their worm does not die,

And their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”

Mark 9:43 -48 (NKJV) Jesus speaks to the disciples,

43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— 

44 where ‘Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.’

45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— 

46 where ‘Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.’

47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire— 

48 where ‘Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.’

Why would He repeat this three times in a row?  Because he is serious about saving the sinner? Because He wants no one to endure an eternity of worms and fire?  Jesus loves the people and wants to save all who come to Him and honor Him as their savior and redeemer from their sin.  But….people are hard hearted until He takes their heart of stone and makes it a heart of flesh.  To have a heart of flesh is to have compassion.  To have love for others.  To forgive people who hurt you.  To live in the world peacefully and joyfully even with all of its darkness and sin.

I have lived long enough to have heard the naysayer and unbeliever say 'there is no heaven and there is no hell because there is no god'.  To them and their hearts of stone it is sadly their truth.  My truth tells me there is a God.  My faith tells me there is a God who cares and shows me in the days of living life that those with a heart of flesh are far better off than those who turn their back on faith, on God.  It breaks my heart that those who choose not to believe have not only a heart of stone but also a brain of stone.  They seem to have put themselves in the position of a god in their lives.  They believe in themselves and deny a Creator.  According to Jesus (three times right here)they will be cast into the lake of unquenchable fire with the worms.

Being the seeker of knowledge that I am I looked up the Hebrew word "worm" used in Isaiah 66:24.  In English we have a 4 letter word but in Hebrew it is a really long word, "tola tole ah tola ath tola ath".  The definition is quite extraordinary.  Voracious maggot.  Crimson grub. Scarlet, crimson, worm.  Deeper dive takes you to the Hebrew word, "yala", definition "devour".  Jesus is warning of the voracious worm (aka maggot) that devours for all eternity because once in hell the worm never dies.  Literally put, how can that mind picture not scare hell out of everyone?  Yet Jesus repeats the warning 3 times!

People do not like to talk about hell but they will always talk about heaven.  People like the good stuff but they do not like the bad stuff.  People want to believe that God is only love and forgiveness but then they respond to those closest to them with hatred, anger, and unforgiveness.  They blame God for the bad things that happen in the world and then pile their own immorality into the world year after year.  Sin is a human condition that leads to death and God did not send them there.  They did it all on their own and God was not even in their picture.  Each one of us makes a choice.

A couple of verses before Jesus gave His warning about hell he told the disciples,

Mark 9:40  (NKJV) "For he who is not against us is on our side." 

Choose your side wisely my friends.

Elijah in the Wilderness

 I Kings 17 begins the history of evil King Ahab and his evil queen Jezebel and also tells the story of Elijah the prophet of God for the time.  Right after Jerry died in 2022 I attended a Bible Study on Elijah and felt the Lord touch my heart and tell me I was in the same wilderness that Elijah was in.  A wilderness of learning to trust in God for my every moment and every day to come as I learn the ways of widowhood.

Elijah spent roughly 3 1/2 years in the Kerith Ravine wilderness before God called him out to be the servant and prophet he was destined to be.  He ran away.  He had doubts.  He had fears.  He did not want to do the task at hand.  I am not called to be a prophet but called to learn to be a better servant to the Lord and to learn to trust him in every single day as I now trudge through life without a spouse, without a helpmate, without my closest friend.  Like Elijah, I cannot see what and why the Lord has me where I am. Not yet.

For over 3 full years Elijah learned to trust in God for food and water.  The essentials of life.  According to Hebrew customs the food delivering ravens were unclean and contact with them was against the law yet Lord God used them to feed Elijah. For over 3 full years Elijah was alone in the wilderness.  I am sure he cried many tears. I am sure he expressed his anger at being stuck in the wilderness as the rest of the land experienced a drought of water but also a a drought of separation from Lord God at the hands of the evil king and queen.  

When God first called Elijah out of the ravine after some years he goes to a widow who is ready to give up and die.  She and her son have no food.  Elijah comes along, prays, and food miraculously comes from the Great Provider.  Later the son dies but Elijah pleads with God to restore the son to life and it is done.  Without Elijah leaving the ravine the widow and her son both would have died in the drought and famine.  God had other plans.  Elijah trusted God and then the widow and her son trusted Elijah's God.  I wonder how many more were led to trust God as each one of them lived on and told of their miraculous touch of Lord God in their lives.

Today I am 3 years and 6 months into my widowhood journey.  There are days I want to stay in the ravine where I am safe from the outside world.  Where I can cry and shout.  Where I can seek and find.  Where I can grow in the Lord for whatever plans He has for my future.  I have told others I feel like a three and a half year old child.  I am still learning to walk on my own.  I am learning how to be a fairly self-sufficient human being.  I still fall down and cry.  I still hide away under my bed in fear of the outside.  Not really under the actual bed but I am safe in my home without having to pretend I am okay.

When you read the rest of the story of Elijah he fights against the evil king and queen who are eventually defeated by the hand of Almighty God and His faithful servants. It was never an easy time and Elijah had some rough down times but in the end Elijah never experienced death and is taken out of this world into heaven on a Chariot of Fire in a whirlwind while Elisha the next prophet of God watches.  

Elijah's story of endurance through the terrible times of drought, sadness, persecution, doubts, and fears, only to experience an intimate relationship with Almighty God who rescues him from death is one of those Bible stories that get us through this life.  Jesus rescues us.  Jesus does this for me and for you.  We all experience times of wilderness in so many different ways.  Do I lose faith sometimes?  I do.  Do I come back to the arms of Jesus looking for comfort and the courage to continue?  I do.  Do I want to serve and help in this world filled with so much darkness and wilderness?  I do.  Am I able to do this on my own without my husband?  No.  But with the Lord Jesus Christ my eternal bridegroom at my side I can do all things.  

Jesus came out of his wilderness experience and saved each one of us who call Him Lord, God, Savior.  The wilderness is never a fun place to be but it is essential if we are to learn how to trust in an Unseen God who has loved us since we drew out first breath of life.  

John 10:9-10 (NET) I am the door. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved, and will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.

When Death Comes

When Death Comes

Friday, 13 February, 2026

7:43 AM

 

It has been a very long couple of weeks to sort through. 

 

On Monday, January 26th I took Penny the cat, who had been having serious health issues for a year, to the Vet and had her put to sleep.

 

On Tuesday, January 27th my friend and Power of Twelve sister, Rose died of a sudden heart attack at home.

 

On Wednesday, January 28th my friend and longtime sister in the Lord, Bobbie Jo died after a long battle with brain cancer.

 

That was over 2 weeks ago and I am still having a very hard time coming to grips with these deaths.  Two of the death involved sickness that were not healed by God.  One was an unexposed medical issue that exposed itself within hours. 

 

I understand that God is in charge of everything for everyone.  I know He has a purpose that we do not understand so many times.  I know there is birth and death.  I know that all that all things work together for good for those who are called by the Lord. 

 

When death comes into our lives we must find a way to live with it and try to understand that it is always going to be a part of everyone's lives.  As Christians we can get a little better understanding know that the body we have on earth is only a vessel for the spirit that lives inside each one.  We are the believers of a life after this one for those who follow Jesus as Lord and savior.  Those who believe in a Creator and God who formed us and put our spirit inside of these vessels believe there is a spiritual life after this one.  Jesus made a promise of a new heaven and a new earth where every tear will be wiped away and there will be no more sorrow, no more death and no more evil.

 

There is nothing wrong with having sorrow and grieving the loss of someone close.  We know that life will not be the same as they are missing from now on.  We move through each day learning how to live without that one in our life.  Moving slowly forward through grief is a tough walk.  There are days where we do not even want to face the world without these loved ones but we do it because of the others who are still with us in life.

 

Whether it is one day or one thousand days since death has shown itself in our lives we rely on the Lord to get us through today and we do our best not to worry about tomorrow. 

 

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” - Revelation 21:4

 

he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.  - Isaiah 25:8

 

l be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” - 1 Corinthians 15:53-55

 

 

Noise

Noise

Tuesday, 27 January, 2026

9:03 AM

 

I think people are in such turmoil and in an uproar because of instant news.  The internet and social media is to blame.  Back in the old days we waited until the television, radio and news agencies filled us in on the day.  People in Oregon had no idea what was happening in Maine until it was reported in the news, audio or print.

 

 We had no idea, minute by minute what was happening in other parts of the world until we saw or heard the news reports.  Now we get slammed minute by minute with instant news or at least instant reporting with someone else's opinion of the circumstances or actions.  This is where the confusion comes.

 

We hear things and see things and then our brain determines the interest or the desire to seek if what we see or hear is the truth.  That is the normal way a human should respond but we have a generation of people who have been spoon fed minute by minute without the ability to seek reality or truth.  We have a generation of people who have never been taught to think for themselves.  There has always been another person's opinion or thoughts manipulating their own thoughts.  In school we are taught by a teacher and that teacher influenced us.  If the influences are not Godly and grounded they will affect our own opinions of the situation unless we dive into getting the entire truth. Not little bits and pieces of it.

 

This is the noise of the world today.  A majority of the world uses cell phones which are connected to the constant news noise of the world.  Every single little thing good or bad will pop up into our daily lives whether we want it or not.  We have a choice to turn off the noise or let it influence our day and our thoughts. 

 

God wants us to be a people that are grounded and filled with knowledge and wisdom.  He does not want us to become a part of this world as this world will come to an end one day.  Either we will leave it or it will leave us.  In the meantime if we are following God we will be able to discern the good from the bad.  We will be able to find the truth of the situation and gain knowledge from it. 

 

If you are letting the noise of the world ruin your day turn it off.  Unplug and go for a walk or read something valuable.  Listen to music and work in the garden.  Paint a picture or do a puzzle.  Turn off the television, radio, and your phone for an hour. 

 

The noise will still be there after you have sought the quiet but you will feel better knowing that it is your decision to turn it off at any given point.

 

Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 

 

Proverbs 13:16 - All who are prudent act with knowledge, but fools expose their folly.

Two Stories

Two Stories

Tuesday, 16 December, 2025

9:01 AM

 

There are two stories that have been on my mind and my heart recently.  One is in John 4: 46-53 about the Nobelman's dying son and Jesus.  The other is the Woman who had been bleeding for 12 years spoken of in Luke 8:43-48 and in Matthew 9:20-22.

 

The Nobleman was considered some kind of royalty while the bleeding woman was a total outcast of society.  The Nobleman had everything and every kind of luxury affordable to those of that high status.  The Woman had nothing and was not allow to even touch or be touched since she was deemed unclean by the blood that flowed from her.  Not one single Jew could come anywhere near her as that would make them unclean also.  The Nobleman had slaves and servants while the Woman had no one and was alone.  The Nobleman had all the money he needed and more.  The Woman had nothing left of her money and lived in poverty.  She had spent it all trying to find a cure for her ailment.

 

When Jesus shows up on the scene for each of these encounters He is not thinking about the royal status of the Nobleman and He is not thinking about the unclean status of the bleeding Woman.  He is looking into their hearts for faith and He finds it in both of them. 

 

The Nobleman is seeking a healing for his dying son whom he loves with all his heart.  He knows there is a death sentence on his son but he hears about a man who is healing others and he goes to find this man.  At this time he could care less about his royal status, his wealth or what the Jewish society says about some false Messiah and healer who is a madman and a liar.  All he knows is that his only hope lies in this man who has healed others.  He believes in his heart that this man can heal his son.  When he finds Jesus and speaks with him he knows that the healing pronounced by Jesus is the truth and he instantly believes and has faith.  And so it is that the son who is not even touched by the hands of the Healer is healed while lying in a bed far away.  The Nobleman knows this and when he finds out the details He and all of his household are saved and believe in  Jesus the Messiah, the Savior.  This royal household could be hundreds of people.  They all now believe, have faith and are saved.

 

The Woman had lived with her bleeding for twelve years we are told.  That is a very long time to be an outcast from society.  She was not allowed near any of the people so she had to do her grocery shopping when no one was around.  The merchants did not want to have any contact with her.  She was not allowed near any of the water sites so that also had to be done in quiet when no one else was at the well or the riverside.  She was not allowed into the synagogue's to pray or listen to the scripture.  She once had money and was not an outcast but then the bleeding began and she used all of her money to find a cure.  There was no cure for twelve years.  But she heard about a healer.  He was in town and was headed through the street to heal a little girl who was dying.  The street was crowded and she crept down among the people hiding and just trying to get close enough to touch him and hope for a healing.  It was the only chance she had left.  She believed in what she had heard about him.  He had healed others just by a touch.  She reached out and touched the hem of his robe and was instantly healed.  She felt it and knew it but Jesus also knew it and He said out loud while standing in the crowd, "Who touched me?"  He had felt the power leave him and enter into the woman who was now healed.  She knew and He knew.  She had reached out in faith and He had provided the healing.  Nothing was ever the same for this woman who was no longer an outcast and was one of those whom Jesus had healed and changed their lives forever.

 

Both of these stories talk about a person changed by their faith in Jesus Christ.  Neither one of them expected something like this to happen in their lives.  None of us today expect a miraculous change in our lives. Many of us have followed Jesus for decades and have not had anything overtly miraculous happen to us.  We know we are blessed and that the Lord is with us.  We know that His love for us is eternal and wonderful.  We have faith that we will see him one day when we are no longer on this earth.  We believe in what the scriptures say about him and we seek more wisdom and knowledge of him.  But the days and the pages of the calendar keep passing by.  Sometimes a miracle comes in a grand fashion with bells and whistles and standing ovations.  Sometimes a miracle comes in a crowd of people who are seeking something special and life changing.  Sometimes a miracle come in the quiet times of life when nothing is seen or heard and only by faith do we know that something supernatural did happen. 

 

Jesus  does not see us as a Nobleman or royalty.  He does not see us as unclean and unworthy to be loved and healed.  He sees us as the children he created before time began on earth.  He sees us as the chosen ones whom he placed on earth to love and learn.  He sees us as his people whom he will continue to bless and keep in his care until the time comes we are standing next to him at his throne.  Then we will all be royalty and all be perfectly clean.

Pride

Pride

Wednesday, 19 November, 2025

6:37 AM

 

It's hard to admit pride and I have been prideful about my health.  Now I see it and wish I would have never held that pride.  That pride has cost me dearly as I have now been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Heart disease.  Not to mention, obesity.  My health life was unremarkable as the OHSU Neurosurgeon said back in 2018.  At that time I had nothing wrong except 20 extra pounds and a small Meningioma tumor, which he took out.  Fast forward, my complacency and pride took me from that to today.  A short 7 years!

 

Today I hear the Lord speaking to me of my pride.  Like the Tribes of Israel, I stopped listening to God.  I stopped treating my temple, my body, as the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.  I left it untended and unloved.  I am the only one to blame for what is happening to me today.  My body is 71 years old and is suffering from my pride and my abuse of it.

 

I spent an hour with a doctor yesterday telling me of all the different medications I will now be on for the rest of my life.  I am so undisciplined and taking pills every day is going to be hard for me.  I could not even take vitamins every day let alone lifesaving drugs.  Lord, help me!  When I went into this a month ago I was taking zero prescription medications.  Today I have five. Two heart meds, a cholesterol med and two meds for water retention which harms my heart.

 

There is quite a list of what causes diabetes but the only two that pertain to me are extra weight and a sedentary life style. I asked the doctor how I could exercise when I get out of breath so easily and she said it will take some time to get my heart pumping better then I could exercise so for now it is getting salt and sugar out of my diet including carbohydrates which turn to sugar.  Everything I put into my mouth now matter to my life.  If I want to live I have to change.  I want to live Lord!

 

Proverbs 16:18 says;

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

 

The Contemporary English Version says, "Too much pride will destroy you."

 

The Message Bible says, "First pride, then the crash - the bigger the ego, the harder the fall."

 

I would never have thought pride was one of my characteristics but today I see it clear as a bell.  My health and my body I took completely for granted and was so lazy about it.  I told everyone I did not like to sweat but that sweat could have saved me from all of this.  I had a desk job most of my life and then lived a life just like the chair that sat at that desk.

 

I am hoping and praying today that I can stop any further destruction of my body and that the Lord sees my repentance from pride and allows some healing and some extra time.

Life Happen Fast

 Life Happens Fast

Thursday, 23 October, 2025

7:40 AM

Almost a week ago I ended up in the hospital out of nowhere.  This would be my third stay in a hospital in 71 years.  First was a cesarean section birth in 1980 with Chris.  Second was a meningioma tumor in 2018.  Now 2025 is a heart issue.  My heart is in Atrial Fibrillation or A-Fib.  It is not beating correctly and therefore caused me breathing issues.  I am now on a blood thinner, two high blood pressure medicines, high cholesterol medicine and potassium.  I went from zero prescriptions to five!

 

It looks like I caused all of this with the way I have eaten whatever I wanted.  I lead a sedate lifestyle without any exercise.  I did not care about my weight and let it go.  My poor heart was just forgotten about.  Now all of me is suffering.  Until I have an echocardiogram I will not know just what I have done to my heart.  Than will not happen for 2 more weeks.  Doctor's offices are filled with sick people and appointments are days in coming.  An appointment with a cardiologist to review the echocardiogram is scheduled for January 6, 2026, over 2 months away.

 

In the meantime all I can do is eat better to try to get my cholesterol down.  I can try to get my blood pressure down.  I am in a weak state so any exercise will have to wait.

 

I can pray for mercy from the Lord! 

 

An Echocardiogram was done on October 30th and the results were as expected but they were unable to get a good one for some reason.  The report was listed fair to poor and they were unable to capture good pictures and diagnostics.  It still was good enough to say I have congestive heart failure due to Atrium Fibrillation of my heart which was caused by high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and lack of exercise. Now I wait for an appointment with my new primary care provider on November 18th so she can go over the echo and talk with me about a plan with her and a cardiologist. 

 

I am in the arms of God each moment of the day and for how many days he gives me.

 

The Split of the Twelve Tribes

The Split of the Twelve Tribes

Monday, 6 October, 2025

1:37 PM

 

Do you ever wonder if the Twelve Tribes of Israel ever thought they would split and become enemies?  I doubt when they were held slaves by Pharoah they thought about it.  I doubt when they were going through the Red Sea they thought about it.  I doubt during the wandering in the desert for 40 years they were thinking about it.  Even when they were fighting to take the Promised Land they were fighting for the land that God the Father had promised Abraham.

 

But sure enough after centuries of being blood relatives and worshipping the One True God they divided into Judah (2 tribes) and Israel (10 tribes).  Israel was the first to be conquered and scattered then about a century and a half later the tribes of Judah were conquered and scattered.  Satan with his idolatrous way had destroyed the family that God had made.  He is still doing it today.

 

Fast forward a couple thousand years plus and you see the people in America dividing in much the same way. The idol worship of 'self' has taken so many away into a life away from God.  The people on one side have morals, integrity, values, and focus on others.  The people on the other side are mostly looking out for themselves first and then maybe there is a little room for others.

 

So is the split for America coming soon?  It does look like America is going that same direction.  It is almost a repeat of what happened for the original Hebrew tribes.  Little by little the evils of the world lead many away from God.  God the Father and creator of all things.  People in America worship their money, their possessions, their looks, and their fame.  The most elite of the tribes of Israel were led astray by the same things. 

 

God has always know the heart of mankind is hard hearted and very selfish but he repeatedly tries to woo his children back to him.  His love is everlasting but can his patience for the horrific things people do to one another continue?  I don't think so and I think that was probably why the twelve tribes split back around 750 BC and 590 BC.  Instead of destroying the people he scattered them all over the world so they could chase after other gods and lose the blessings he had once offered them if they would worship him alone.  It is really one of the saddest stories ever told.

 

America was once a Christian nation.  A nation that followed after God and worshiped him for the most part. There are always the rebellious just like Lucifer but 400 years ago on the shores of America they were few and far between.  Not so today in 2025!  Satan and Self worship go hand in hand in America today.

 

The American split is coming.  It could come very fast or it could take several hundred more years.  I pray not but humans never seem to learn lessons the easy way, only the hard way.  All I can do is pray that those in my linage never walk away from the face of God.  The one true God who loves us, created us and wants to be a Father to us.

In the Image of God

In The Image of God

Saturday, 4 October, 2025

6:56 AM

We read in Genesis that we were created in the image of God.  In my mind that means we look like him.  Though we each have our own personality and our own mind the outside of us looks like him. 

 

When I think of my children I can see some of me in them.  The freckles.  The white skin.  Even some of the mannerisms are there but those can be formed by them living with me from their early childhood until early adulthood.  The same with characteristics.  It's always entertaining to hear some of my words come out of them in the later years of life just as when I make statement that my own mother used to make.

 

These are all human traits but what about the spirit of each of us?  My children were raised from the beginning to believe in a God, the One who loves them and gave them life.  They were raised in a Christian home with Bible teachings.  They were not raised in a Jewish home, an Islamic home, a Buddhist home or any other religion.  Many children are born to homes that practice no religion whatsoever.  They are brought up in the image of what their parents put into them.  They develop the same morals, character and beliefs of their parents.  Sometimes later in life a person will seek their own identity and not that of their parents and find their own version of God. 

 

In 2025 we live in a world of instant information.  If you have a question you can find an answer.  The answer can come from many different versions of intelligence.  Artificial intelligence is just starting to take hold but even artificial intelligence was placed by human knowledge so there could be many answers.  Which one is the truth? How does a human speak of the knowledge of spirituality if they are not a spiritual person?  How does a person who has no relationship with God define the Spirit of God or the image of God? 

 

Scienfitic truths are the facts, but as technology changes and advances those facts can also change and therefore that scientific truth changes.  Is that the same with spiritual truth?  Can a Creator God open the eyes of the blind through the power of His Spirit? Can we be changed and molded into more of a reflection of who He is? I believe we can.  Personally as my knowledge of my God changes and grows my spirit also changes and grows.  I know only the one true God.  I know only his son Jesus Christ.  I know only the Holy Spirit who lives and dwells with me.  I study the Holy Bible and then I let the power of God's Holy Spirit open my eyes of understanding.  I seek knowledge.  I seek only his truth and as the years have passed I find my truth and his truth become one and the same.  I want and desire to be like my Father.

 

I pray a lot.  I want my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to have God in them and be transformed into his image.  As I write this they all know the same God that I do. They all confess that Jesus is the Son of God who came to pay the price for sin.  My heart is filled with love and thankfulness of this! I cannot express my gratitude for God's image being in my family and those who carry my blood in them!  What a miracle that we are considered chosen and called by the Creator of the Universe!  

 

When I look in a mirror I see my old blue eyes, my freckled white skin and now white hair that used to be reddish, I see a twinkle of God the Father in me.  In that reflection is my earthly father who had the blue eyes, his mother who had the red hair and freckles but also of my heavenly Father whose spirit lives in me.  This makes me smile!

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

 Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

12:15 PM

 

I have been stuck in a study of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for a week and it is always so fascinating to me. 

 

The One True God calls Abram out of Ur and he and his family travel from Ur, along the Euphrates River to Haran. Eventually they go down to Egypt and then back to the Jordan River Valley near Hebron. Several times Abraham is in Damascus which is Northern Israel. Isacc, son of Abraham and his family seem to stay in the vicinity of the Jordan River Valley (Southern Israel) most of the time.  Jacob, son of Isaac, leaves the Jordan River Valley (Southern Israel) and travels far north to Haran to find his wives Rebekah and Leah.  When he leaves Haran to head back to his homeland he meets God who changes his name to Israel and he settles back in the Jordan Valley which becomes called the land of Isreal.

 

 

On Jacobs travels back to the Jordan Valley he encounters a man whom he wrestles for a night.  The man eventually gives Jacob a blessing and  Jacob knows he has just seen the face of God.  The place is called Peniel "The Face of God".  He then meets his estranged brother Esau and they reconcile.  Jacob settles near Shechem where more trouble follows him and his family.

 

 

It seems that once Jacob is named Israel trouble becomes normal life for the family.

The family is stubborn and hot headed.  They are rebellious in life and rebellious to God.  The brothers sell their younger brother, Joseph, into slavery.  But God is still holding on to his promise to Abraham, Issac and Jacob that he will make them a great nation.  Joseph is a slave in Egypt but eventually becomes a great Egyptian leader.  During a great famine he saves his lost family living in Edom and they all move to Egypt only to becomes slaves as the centuries move on.  God sends Moses to get the Israelite's out of slavery.  They wander through the desert for 40 years with God taking care of them and keeping them alive.  God finally lets them into the Promise Land where they battle the idol worshipping pagans but still do not obey God.  They are taken captive again and again.  They fight with the pagans and they fight amongst themselves.  God finally send the promised Messiah to save them but they kill him.  That was over 2,000 years ago and they are still fighting, still waiting for their Messiah and still a hated nation of people. In a nutshell, nothing has changed for the chosen people of God since Abraham was called out of Ur to a promised land.

 

This brief summary spans around 4,000 years.  We can only estimate the years from Adam to Noah and then Noah to Abraham but it could be another 4,000 years or more.  Father God keeps calling to his chosen people to repent and come to him.  He still wants to have a relationship with his creation.  He still loves us even when we are rebellious and stubborn.  He continues to keep the earth rotating, the sun shining and letting us breath air. 

 

Jesus walked the earth about 2,000 years ago and did his best to open up the door between mankind and God.  He told his followers that the only way to come to the Father was through him and his offer of salvation for eternal life.  He told his followers that faith, hope and love were the ways of God.  He said to love each other and not kill each other.  He showed signs and wonders to back up his claim to be God in the flesh.  His own preachers and teachers denied him and hung him on a cross.  They turned their backs on God.  Hundreds of people saw Jesus alive after his death but many could not and would not believe this could ever be possible.  They turned their backs on the Son of God.

 

Today we still have signs and wonders that happen but many choose not to believe.  Many still choose to walk in the desert, disobey God, seek their own selfishness, follow after pagan idols, lie, steal, cheat, kill and destroy others.  They choose to turn their backs on God, his Son and his Holy Spirit.

 

It can be an amazing journey if we are seeking God and his ways and every once in a while a heart sparks and an ear hears that whisper from God that says, "Come to me! Follow me!"