While praying this morning, I was asking Yeshua why so many people continue to ignore Him even amongst so much tribulation and suffering. I don't watch TV, but I did turn it on yesterday to see the damage Hurricane Sandy was doing, and what the response of some were to this storm. It brought tears to my eyes, to turn back and forth to the different news channels, and listen to reporters as well as everyday people, using phrases like "we were so lucky", or "don't worry, we'll simply rebuilt bigger and better next time". Another comment on MSNBC was "we have to stop focusing on the local disaster and concentrate on getting these markets back up and running". Everywhere I turned, there was not one mention of turning to God, being blessed at still being alive, or still having a house to live in, just nothing even remotely suggesting that a greater power was responsible for attempting to get the attention of a people grown cold and hard-hearted towards Him. Some were going so far as to say that our candidates Obama and Romney were using this disaster for political means as they spoke or reached out to the hurting. Do we ever stop? Our God is so merciful, yet there must be justice at our blatant ignorance to even acknowledge His existence. It is not a coincidence that this storm struck the heart of our nation, as God is beckoning us to turn our hearts back to Him (as a nation). Yet how many will respond to Him? How many will take this as their wake-up call to get their spiritual houses in order? While listening as Yeshua expressed how He is moving throughout the land, this is what I feel He wants all to hear:
I have spoken to you recently of shaking souls, of removing the scales of hidden sins and ways of life that are not in accord with My ways. I am not only shaking individual hearts through refinement to bring about this purification, but you are also experiencing a purification of your lands, your society, your foundations. I am uprooting all that does not have receive its nourishment from Me. All that is not of Me MUST be brought down. I have targeted the heart of your country as I am targeting your heart at this time. I want you to know that it is I you must turn to in your need. Cry out to Me! All that is built on false ideals and belief systems is coming down! How can you not see this? I warn and I warn, always in My infinite mercy, that your hearts have grown cold and you no longer seek Me as a nation. I give ample time for repentance, yet your walls of resistance remain standing. You grow ever more obstinate at My pleas. Oh the pride of America and how she disregards the blessings I have bestowed upon her. She will know pain and suffering because of this disobedience. I will give you over to that which you crave, and the end result will be desolation, darkness and emptiness. My people if you could only remove the veil for an instant from before your eyes and see the great beauty which I have prepared for those who love Me and accept My invitation. You are like the wedding guests who after receiving the King's invitation, not once, not twice, but three times deny even attending My banquet. And those of you who may come begrudgingly in words only are hypocrites, insulting Me more than those who simply ignore Me. You come and profess Me with your lips, but you refuse to wear the wedding garment and truly put on Christ as your garment. I must strip all that is familiar, all that is comfortable, and all that you depend on for sustenance if there is any hope of you returning to Me. Some will lose all to gain Me. But oh the glory that awaits those precious souls. I ask again in My infinite mercy. Forsake all and run towards Me. I alone will sustain you. I alone hold all you require. Let me care for you as only your Creator can. Lay down your idols and your pride. Take My hand and I will lead you home.
3 Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day.
4 My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.
5 He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.
6 He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.
7 He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy.
8 Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.
9 He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked.
10 He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.
11 He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate.
12 He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.
13 He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins.
14 I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.
15 He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood.
16 He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes.
17 And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity.
18 And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord:
19 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
20 My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.
21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
24 The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
25 The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.
27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.
28 He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.
29 He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.
30 He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.
31 For the Lord will not cast off for ever:
32 But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.
33 For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
34 To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth.
35 To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High,
36 To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.
37 Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?
39 Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?
40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.
41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.
42 We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned.
43 Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.
44 Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.
45 Thou hast made us as the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the people.
46 All our enemies have opened their mouths against us.
47 Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction.
48 Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people.
49 Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission.
50 Till the Lord look down, and behold from heaven.
51 Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city.
52 Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause.
53 They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me.
54 Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off.
55 I called upon thy name, O Lord, out of the low dungeon.
56 Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.
57 Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.
58 O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.
59 O Lord, thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause.
60 Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me.
61 Thou hast heard their reproach, O Lord, and all their imaginations against me;
62 The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day.
63 Behold their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their musick.
64 Render unto them a recompence, O Lord, according to the work of their hands.
65 Give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them.
66 Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the Lord.
3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
I have spoken to you recently of shaking souls, of removing the scales of hidden sins and ways of life that are not in accord with My ways. I am not only shaking individual hearts through refinement to bring about this purification, but you are also experiencing a purification of your lands, your society, your foundations. I am uprooting all that does not have receive its nourishment from Me. All that is not of Me MUST be brought down. I have targeted the heart of your country as I am targeting your heart at this time. I want you to know that it is I you must turn to in your need. Cry out to Me! All that is built on false ideals and belief systems is coming down! How can you not see this? I warn and I warn, always in My infinite mercy, that your hearts have grown cold and you no longer seek Me as a nation. I give ample time for repentance, yet your walls of resistance remain standing. You grow ever more obstinate at My pleas. Oh the pride of America and how she disregards the blessings I have bestowed upon her. She will know pain and suffering because of this disobedience. I will give you over to that which you crave, and the end result will be desolation, darkness and emptiness. My people if you could only remove the veil for an instant from before your eyes and see the great beauty which I have prepared for those who love Me and accept My invitation. You are like the wedding guests who after receiving the King's invitation, not once, not twice, but three times deny even attending My banquet. And those of you who may come begrudgingly in words only are hypocrites, insulting Me more than those who simply ignore Me. You come and profess Me with your lips, but you refuse to wear the wedding garment and truly put on Christ as your garment. I must strip all that is familiar, all that is comfortable, and all that you depend on for sustenance if there is any hope of you returning to Me. Some will lose all to gain Me. But oh the glory that awaits those precious souls. I ask again in My infinite mercy. Forsake all and run towards Me. I alone will sustain you. I alone hold all you require. Let me care for you as only your Creator can. Lay down your idols and your pride. Take My hand and I will lead you home.
Lamentations 3
King James Version (KJV)
3 I Am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.
2 He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.3 Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day.
4 My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.
5 He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.
6 He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.
7 He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy.
8 Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.
9 He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked.
10 He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.
11 He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate.
12 He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.
13 He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins.
14 I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.
15 He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood.
16 He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes.
17 And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity.
18 And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord:
19 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
20 My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.
21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
24 The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
25 The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.
27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.
28 He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.
29 He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.
30 He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.
31 For the Lord will not cast off for ever:
32 But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.
33 For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
34 To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth.
35 To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High,
36 To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.
37 Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?
39 Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?
40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.
41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.
42 We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned.
43 Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.
44 Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.
45 Thou hast made us as the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the people.
46 All our enemies have opened their mouths against us.
47 Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction.
48 Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people.
49 Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission.
50 Till the Lord look down, and behold from heaven.
51 Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city.
52 Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause.
53 They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me.
54 Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off.
55 I called upon thy name, O Lord, out of the low dungeon.
56 Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.
57 Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.
58 O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.
59 O Lord, thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause.
60 Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me.
61 Thou hast heard their reproach, O Lord, and all their imaginations against me;
62 The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day.
63 Behold their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their musick.
64 Render unto them a recompence, O Lord, according to the work of their hands.
65 Give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them.
66 Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the Lord.
Matthew 22
22 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
Mark 7:6
6 He
answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you
hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me.