The Great Tree and the Cavern Vision

The Great Tree and the Cavern Vision

On Saturday, the Lord began to show me a vision of a great tree and an underground cavern under the tree several times throughout the day. The tree was vast, a huge full tree standing above the ground. The Lord then shows me under the ground. Underneath the tree is a cavern being dug by a bunch of little men, like dwarfs or gnomes? They are busy working under the tree digging under the roots of the great tree. The little men have dug downwards from the surface through a tunnel which opened up to the tree roots below. From the surface, the little men would move huge colored balls of something and rolled them down the tunnel into the cavern below the tree roots and then they would place them in such a way that the tree roots would suck up the contents of the balls and feed on it. The tree would then receive it’s nourishment from these balls instead of the soil. The soil underneath was removed from around the roots so that it was forced to eat from these balls. There were many balls, each with its own color. Each was placed strategically under the roots at specific places. The tree would then grow from this nourishment and also produce fruit above ground. People would come from all over and eat of the fruit of this tree, but when they did they became sick. They did not act like themselves anymore, but became like the tree. Soon, all they ate was from this tree and from nothing else. I wondered what this vision meant. The Lord showed me this scene over and over, but each time, He let me see something else, till it was done.

Then I saw a wind come down from heaven. I saw fire within this wind and it swept across the people who were eating the fruit of the tree, and it swept over the tree and all across the lands. Everything was being burned up. I saw the tree reduced to a blackened stump. All of its branches and trunk were burned in the purification. When this occurred, the fire also went down the hole into the cavern below and it burned up all of the dwarfs and their colorful balls. The roots also were singed causing the tree trunk great pain. The tree trunk then contorted and shrunk back from the fire below. But it could go no where. In desperation, the tree stump with its remaining roots began to thirst from its ordeal and trauma and it shook and soon thirsted greatly. It could find no water or nourishment as its soil was gone. So I saw the tree roots then strained very hard, and they spread out looking for the bottom of the cavern where the soil was. When the tree roots finally dug deep down enough, it found the soil and it plunged its roots in almost violently because it was so traumatized by the fiery ordeal and the purging. It began to heave and to drink through its roots like a dying man would drink. After it had drunk for awhile, it began to produce a few new shoots. It also produced more roots below than it had before. It had doubled its root system underneath now. Its roots began to grow and stretch out very deep. When it did, it caused the soil around the cavern walls to collapse all around the roots and it then began to settle and form a new base for the roots to grip tightly. Then more shoots appeared on the trunk above. The blackened trunk was slowly transformed and soon many little shoots began to sprout on top of the stump. Slowly it began to grow upwards within the flames. It grew strong from the flames and it produced blossoms and fruit appeared in the fires. People that were also in the fires then ran to this tree and ate of it and were saved within the fires. Those that did not come to this tree perished in the flames. The end of the vision:

After meditating upon the vision for 2 days, the Lord said the interpretation was:

The small men or dwarfs are the enemy and the demons that work through men who are at work against the church (the tree). The colorful balls are the false teachings and false works that the enemy is using to “undermine” (the underneath cavern) it. The enemy is attempting to undermine the principles of faith and belief in the truth of the Word that are the foundation of the true church. The soil or truth is being eroded and/or removed to prevent the church from rising up and feeding upon the truth and instead it is being fed teachings and works of men and revelations from devils instead. People that do not love the truth will gravitate towards what looks pleasing to the eye, or to their ear or to their their flesh. They will lust after that which is unclean or that is false to satisfy their own desires, and the enemy will give them all they want. They will become dependent upon that which will slowly kill them. The foundation of the tree was slowly removed over time by the enemy and it is has been fed false food and it is producing dead fruit that is deceiving and weakening the people, and is killing the destiny of the church, the tree. True Faith is being slowly being removed and replaced with delusions. God’s people are running everywhere eating anything that looks good to them, because they have rejected God and His Truth, they do not want to believe in God or to live Holy lives with Him; so they eat whatever they find pleasing to them. Many do not believe the Word is true any longer, or that Jesus is the only Savior, or that Faith in God produces life. Many want their own truths, their own absolutes, their own principles, and their own works.

We must dig down deeper and find the faith of God, the Faith in the principles of the Word and the faith in the Person and power of God. They must strengthen their foundation in Him. They must return to their first love and to their love of the truth. They must forsake their flesh and the world and turn fully back to Him and to His ways. God is going to wake up the tree. The Winds of Opposition, Winds of Resistance, and Fiery Trials will increase greatly in 2011 and will force the tree to look for life, to dig down deep into the soil of the Word, and to fully draw the Truth and Life from it, in order to live. God wants us to wake up and return to Him. Return to faith in Him, to faith in His Word, and in the things of the Spirit of Truth. The Foundation of the Church must be strengthened and we are to return to faith in Jesus Christ and to the pure teaching and eating of His Word. We are to fully believe upon Him and that what He says is true. We are to deepen our communion with Him and strengthen our union with Him. We are to be rooted and grounded in Christ and not in any man, or in any doctrine, or in any teaching or work that is contrary to the Word and to the Spirit. Our faith is rooted in Christ alone, and when are united in Christ, and then we can become the true Church that is united to Him, and not to the world or to men. Jesus is coming, and will He find faith in the earth when He returns for us? He is coming to cast fire to the earth, and it is already kindled. It will disclose all that which is His, that is drawing its life and nourishment from Him, and it will disclose that which is eating and drinking upon false things. Those who are within the fires will see the blossoming tree and will run to its branches and eat of it while in the fires, and they will live and thrive in it and will not be harmed by the fires. The false will be exposed in the fires and the true will stand and produce fruit even in the fires.

Luke 12:49 “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!

Luke 18:8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

Matthew 24:12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.

Revelations 2:1 "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: 'The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 "'I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.'

Jude 1:3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Romans 7:4 Likewise, my brethren, you have undergone death as to the Law through the [crucified] body of Christ, so that now you may belong to Another, to Him Who was raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God. 5 When we were living in the flesh (mere physical lives), the sinful passions that were awakened and aroused up by [what] the Law [makes sin] were constantly operating in our natural powers (in our bodily organs, in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh), so that we bore fruit for death. 6 But now we are discharged from the Law and have terminated all intercourse with it, having died to what once restrained and held us captive. So now we serve not under [obedience to] the old code of written regulations, but [under obedience to the promptings] of the Spirit in newness [of life].

Romans 2:29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

2 Corinthians 3:6 who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

2 Corinthians 4:1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.

2 Corinthians 5:18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

Philippians 1:27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

Romans 1:12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

1 Timothy 1:18 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,

1 Timothy 4:14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.

1 Corinthians 12:9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,

2 Corinthians 4:13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, "I believed, and so I spoke," we also believe, and so we also speak,

2 Peter 1:1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

Titus 1:4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Colossians 1:23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,

Acts 20:24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.     

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Susan O’Marra  01-24-11  www.intheimageofhisglory.com  

The Curtains Of Time

The Curtains of Time

I have been receiving a recurring vision throughout the day today. At the end of the day, I lay down to sleep and the vision came again, so I got up to write it down before I forgot it all.

I saw before me a stage or platform of sorts. There were many curtains sectioned off all in a row up on the platform. Each section was with its own corresponding curtain. I counted 12 curtains. So, there were 12 sections. An angel stood by each section and had its hand on the curtain. The angel waited for the Lord to tell them when to open the curtain. I saw the Lord who stood nearby nod His head, and the 1^st angel drew back his curtain. Behind it was fire. All I could see was fire. It looked like a furnace of fire. I could even feel the heat from the fire from where I stood. I could also hear singing coming from the flames. I could not understand the words, but I could hear them nonetheless. It was a beautiful song that carried a deep melody that made my heart soar. I listened, and I grew hungry for this fire. I wanted to go into the fire, but the Lord nodded no, and the angel drew back the curtain.

The Lord nodded, and the next angel drew back his curtain. There was a land being shown there with great winds blowing upon it. The trees were all bent over from the fierceness of the winds. I could hear the howling of the winds and it seemed that nothing else could be heard over it. The winds were blowing everything in that land and there was nothing that was not blown by the winds in that land. All was affected. Nothing grew but the trees, and they were very heavily bent over. I did not see any people out in the winds, but I felt that there were people that dwelled there. Everything was at the mercy of the blowing of the winds. I did not want to go there. The Lord nodded to the angel, and the curtain fell in folds before that scene.

The next curtain was opened by the next angel and behind that curtain was rain. Great rains were falling upon the land in this scene. The rain was like sheets that fell. Great blankets of rain that flooded instantly wherever it landed. You could hear the rain and it sounded like drummers drumming on a drum. It fell till some areas were submerged, and others were lifted up. I don’t know what that meant, as I did not know how water could lift up an area, but that is what I saw. The rains were also like little hammers, as the drops would break down what was hard, and tear up that which was solid. Everything was made to open up in this rain. Everything expanded and either sank or rose up in the rain. Then the Lord nodded and this curtain also closed before me.

The next curtain opened with the Lord’s nod, and I saw war. I saw war amongst houses. One house was shooting at the next house. I saw cities at war with other cities. One city was attacking the next city. I saw businesses at war with other businesses. I saw countries at war with other countries. Everything was set against the other. It was appalling to see the animosity and anger being released against one another.  I could not understand what had caused the uprisings and the hostility. It seemed that everyone was participating in the attacks, and that there was no peace in this scene. I did not want to watch it anymore. The Lord signaled to the angel, and he dropped his curtain as well.

The next curtain was opened, and it was full of light. The light was blinding, and very gold in color. It was like deep gold, burnished and shining. It almost looked solid. I thought it must be solid gold, but the Lord assured me it was indeed the light. I could feel the life and energy from this golden light and I felt so drawn to it, that I stepped forwards, but the angel looked fiercely at me and I stopped. He said, “You are only to observe at this time.” So I watched and wondered. The light pulsated and almost danced in it’s brilliance. I could not see through it, but could only look upon it. The life coming out of it was wonderful. The Lord nodded, and the angel lowered his hand and the light disappeared behind it’s folds.

The next angel then waited for the Lord to nod. The Lord did not nod right way, but waited. I wondered why the Lord did not give His approval as he had done so before. He only waited silently. After a few minutes, He finally sighed and nodded. The angel raised his hand and opened the curtain. What I saw was shocking and amazing at the same time. I saw many nations spread out like a carpet or a map. I saw great bolts of lightning coming down from heaven and the bolts were fierce-some. Great peals of thunder sounded, and lightning flashed, and the bolts would strike here and there on the map. When they struck I could hear voices speaking. I could hear the sound of the voices but I could not make out the words. As the voices spoke, the ground under the map shook. The ground rose up with each lightning bolt that struck it. The sky was dark like it was night time, but lit up like the day time with each lightning bolt strike. I don’t know how long the lightning struck and the thunder sounded, but it seemed like a short time. Then everything was quiet. Dead quiet. Nothing moved. The sky was dark, and the winds died down and the lightning and thunder had ceased, and now there was peace. I wondered what had happened to the lands during the great storm. I did not find out because the curtain dropped.

I looked at the Lord, and He nodded to the next angel. The angel reached up and pulled the curtain back. Behind this curtain were floods. There were areas that were flooded with great floods of water. I did not know if the floods were the result of prolonged rains or from another source. The Lord did not show this. But I did notice that in these flood waters the waters boiled. It seemed like the water was churning or simmering. I did not feel that it was from heat. But it was from something else. Something was causing the flood waters to boil and the waters turned brown. Not everywhere was flooded, but vast areas were. There were islands here and there that stood out of the flood waters. But parts of the areas were dry too. Great portions were languished and others were not. I felt that wherever the floods were, the waters were bad and had death and sickness in them. Then I saw some people walking on the waters. There were not many, but some were not affected by the flooding, and they moved about freely during the floods. They helped many during this time period. I saw a few small boats try and rescue some people, but not many boats came. I heard the sound of a door closing, like someone closing a door after they enter a house. Then the Lord nodded, and the angel closed his curtain.

My mind was racing trying to remember all that I had seen. I was trying to mentally file these curtains away within me as I knew they were important. The Lord reached out and touched my shoulder getting my attention. I looked and he nodded to the next angel. The angel nodded, and pulled back the folds of the curtain. I saw the heavenly skies. It was dark in space, and the stars were brilliantly lit. I watched and soon I saw a comet fly by. It was blue and it had a long glowing tail. I saw meteors and other space formations out in their distant places. I could see the farthest of stars. It was like I noticed them all, no matter how many there were. They were all distinct and important. I saw an explosion to my right, and one of the stars to my right just blew up. I don’t know why, and I could not see the cause of its disintegration. Its debris rained down everywhere from where I stood, but I could not see the earth from my view, so I could not tell the effect it had on our planet. I was not shown what happened, only that the star was now broken. I could feel shockwaves from its demise and felt the ripples as they moved through space. I don’t know how long this event took or how long it would take to go throughout the heavens. The Lord nodded, and this curtain went down too.

I saw four more curtains were left on the platform. I waited for the Lord to nod. He just stood there and watched me. The angels waited, and stood erect at attention. I could feel the anticipation in their beings. Suddenly, I felt like I was falling, and I tried to steady myself, but there was nothing to hold onto. It seemed like the whole floor that I was standing on was moving. I looked down and we were indeed moving. The floor was moving almost like a conveyor belt, yet we were motionless. How could that be? I steadied myself as best as I could.

I looked up, and the Lord nodded to the next angel and he opened his curtain. I could see mountains and many lands. There were some mountains rising up from the ground, and in other places I saw mountains being made to fall straight downwards. There was no sound as this happened. I did not hear anything, but that did not mean that there wasn’t any sound. I was not allowed to hear, I felt. I could feel that the ground was moving and the lands were changing. But I knew that it was also that time was changing. Time was accelerated and the earth was responding to the changes of time. Everything was out of timing and out of synchronization with the laws that held it together. What was balanced became unbalanced. What was out of order, now came into order. Some things blossomed in the accelerated time and even thrived. Things reversed and even exchanged places. I saw many areas grow in population and others grow sparse that were once overcrowded. Lands changed and even diversities were exchanged. It seemed the Lord was mixing up things and yet, clarifying things at the same time. I tried to comprehend the vast changes, and the blendings that were happening. The Lord just smiled. He motioned for the angel to drop his curtain.

I saw the Lord again nod, and the next angel raised his curtain. Behind it was a huge factory of sorts. It has many conveyor belts and assembly lines. There were multitudes of angels busily at work everywhere. There were crowns and scepters being fashioned on the machines. There were so many crowns that they seemed to flow fluidly down the belts, almost like liquid. They just seemed to pour through the machines as fast as it could make them. I saw this huge golden liquid coming from above and it poured down into the machines below and then the crowns came out of the other end of the belts and the waiting angels worked on them. Many angels were fashioning precious stones into them or other things which I could not tell what they were from my point of view. There were many polishing them, and some were carrying them to somewhere. The other belt has golden scepters coming out of the other machine. There were about 1½ to 2 feet long, I thought. They were very ornate and each one had unique carvings on them. The angels picked them up reverently and polished them carefully. They also were carried to somewhere out of my view. I could hear faint music in the background. I wondered who they were making these crowns and scepters for. The Lord said, “For the ones who will rule and reign with me in the earth of course.” I nodded. The angel then dropped his curtain at the Lord’s nod.

The Lord took me by the elbow and pointed me to the next curtain. He was very sober, yet His eyes were on fire. I looked and the next curtain had opened. We were looking at a very holy place. The walls were of bronze, or a dark gold color. The furniture was a dark wood and very heavy. There were golden bowls and bronze bowls and copper bowls all sitting on the tables. The golden bowls had coals burning in them. The bronze bowls had what looked like incense in them. The copper bowls had little scrolls in it. I could smell a very rich heady smell that was thick and overbearing. My nose began to burn and my eyes began to water. I could not see clear. The air seemed to get hazy and I felt like I fell asleep. I do not know how long I slept, or what I did. I faintly recalled hearing thunder and harps playing and angels singing. But I did not know if that was in my sleep or if I was awake. I was so heavy. I felt someone shaking me. It seemed like I was floating in eternity. I heard someone calling my name. I groggily shook myself awake and stood up. I had fallen asleep! I was shocked and mortified at the same time. The angel only smiled at me.

He said to me, “It’s time to go.” I thought, “Time to go?” Had we saw all of the curtains? I couldn’t remember.

I shook as I walked. It took sometime for me to get my bearings. I followed the angel for awhile and then he led me to a hallway. I walked down the hallway and came to a large door. I wondered why I could not remember a lot more of the events that I had seen. The Lord then said, “You are not meant to retain the full knowledge of the events at this time, but you are to take note of the time. Men seek to measure time by the events that take place in their lives and in the earth. Men tend to mark their calendars by the events and try to discern the future by their marks. But the wise already know the time, and thereby understand the events when they come. It is time for My people to be wise.”  I opened the door and I was out of the vision.

Daniel 2:21 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;

Acts 17:26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.

1 Thessalonians 5: 1Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you.

Daniel 11:33 And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder.

Daniel 12:10 Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand.

Hosea 14:9 Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.

James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

Psalms 107:43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving kindness of the LORD.

-Susan O’Marra

01-21-11

444 - Signs of Life in the Midst of Death

I could not sleep tonight. Went to bed at 3 am and tossed for a long time. So I finally got up, and the clock said 4:44 am. The Lord then led me to look up 444 in the Word:

I found a recurring theme in all of the passages below:

1/16/11 -  4:44 AM - Signs of Life in the Midst of Death

2 Kings 4:38 And Elisha came again to Gilgal when there was a famine in the land. And as the sons of the prophets were sitting before him, he said to his servant, "Set on the large pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets." 39 One of them went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine and gathered from it his lap full of wild gourds, and came and cut them up into the pot of stew, not knowing what they were. 40 And they poured out some for the men to eat. But while they were eating of the stew, they cried out, "O man of God, there is death in the pot!" And they could not eat it. 41 He said, "Then bring flour." And he threw it into the pot and said, "Pour some out for the men, that they may eat." And there was no harm in the pot. 42 A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing the man of God bread of the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And Elisha said, "Give to the men, that they may eat." 43 But his servant said, "How can I set this before a hundred men?" So he repeated, "Give them to the men, that they may eat, for thus says the LORD, 'They shall eat and have some left.'" 44 So he set it before them. And they ate and had some left, according to the word of the LORD.

2 Kings 2:21 Then he went to the spring of water and threw salt in it and said, "Thus says the LORD, I have healed this water; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it."

Exodus 15:25 And he cried to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.

Psalms 44:1 O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old: 2 you with your own hand drove out the nations, but them you planted; you afflicted the peoples, but them you set free; 3 for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them. 4 You are my King, O God; ordain salvation for Jacob!

Psalms 74:12 Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.

Isaiah 4:1 And seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying, "We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes, only let us be called by your name; take away our reproach."  2 In that day the branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel. 3 And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem, 4 when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning. 5 Then the LORD will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory there will be a canopy. 6 There will be a booth for shade by day from the heat, and for a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain.

Isaiah 44:1"But now hear, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen! 2Thus says the LORD who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you: Fear not, O Jacob my servant, Jeshurun whom I have chosen. 3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. 4They shall spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams. 5 This one will say, 'I am the LORD’s,' another will call on the name of Jacob, and another will write on his hand, 'The LORD’s,' and name himself by the name of Israel."

444:  Esther, Book Of:  (Smith’s Bible Names Dictionary)

One of the latest of the canonical books of Scripture, having been written late in the reign of Xerxes, or early in that of his son Artaxerxes Longimanus (B.C. 444, 434). The author is not known. The book of Esther is placed among the hagiographa by the Jews, and in that first portion of them which they call "the five rolls." It is written on a single roll, sin a dramatic style, and is read through by the Jews in their synagogues at the feast of Purim, when it is said that the names of Haman's sons are read rapidly all in one breath, to signify that they were all hanged at the same time; while at every mention of Haman the audience stamp and shout and hiss, and the children spring rattles. It has often been remarked as a peculiarity of this book that the name of God does not once occur in it. Schaff gives as the reason for this that it was to permit the reading of the book at the hilarious and noisy festival of Purim, without irreverence. The style of writing is remarkably chaste and simple. It does not in the least savor of romance. The Hebrew is very like that of Ezra and parts of the Chronicles; generally pure, but mixed with some words of Persian origin and some of the Chaldaic affinity. In short it is just what one would expect to find in a work of the age to which the book of Esther professes to belong.

The Picnic and the Grape Vision

The Picnic and the Grape Vision

On 1/15/11, I saw a vision of a picnic early in the day.

I saw a blanket spread out ahead of me in a very nice wooded area. There were lots of bushes, and trees, and birds and lush plants. It looked like summer. The day was sunny and warm. The air was light and energizing. I could smell and feel everything while watching the vision.

I saw Debra, my friend in the natural, sitting on the blanket in the vision. Opposite her was Jesus, and He was kneeling over a picnic basket. He was reaching into the basket and He was taking various things out of the basket for their picnic. He took out some bread and laid it on the blanket. He then took out a bottle of wine. He pauses for a minute, then He reached in to get something else, and I heard Debra ask the Lord, “Jesus, are we going to drink the wine?” He said to her, “No. I have something better.” He smiles at her and then He pulls out a single grape. One grape. He looks at her holding out the grape. Debra says to Jesus, “Is that one grape enough for us both to drink?” The Lord then looked at her and said, “One grape in My Kingdom is enough to satisfy all of your thirst.” Then the vision ended.

I had this same vision again tonight at the meeting at church. Twice on the same day signifies something being established by God to you.

After some thought, I searched the scriptures regarding grapes and drinking with Jesus in His Kingdom:

Matthew 26:29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom."

Drinking it new. The old was passing away. Jesus came to fulfill the old, abolish the old, and birth the new. He came to bring the New Covenant to men. He also will drink it with men, men that walk in true covenant with Him in the earth.

Matthew 13:43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

Luke 12:32 "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Luke 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Men have always looked for an outward kingdom. They wanted Jesus to be their King. They didn’t want Him to be their Lord, within them. They rejected Him. The Church must want Him as Lord within, and also without. The Kingdom is birthed in our spirits at salvation, then it moves outwards throughout our souls, and finally into our flesh, to eventually rule and reign within us, and then to change our world.

Revelations 1:6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Revelations 5:10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth."

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Matthew 4:23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.

Matthew 13:19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,

Luke 17:20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, 21nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you." 22And he said to the disciples, "The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 And they will say to you, 'Look, there!' or 'Look, here!' Do not go out or follow them. 24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.

Again, look at: Matthew 13:43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

Its fullness was not destined for the disciples day before the cross, that is why they did not see it then. The Cross had to come, then on Pentecost, the Kingdom reality came within them and they began to manifest the Kingdom and preach the gospel of the Kingdom. But Jesus was speaking of a day afar off when there would be a church in the last days, which would manifest fully the kingdom the way He had ordained it in their generation as a witness in the end. The Light of God would shine on them in the earth.

Mark 14:25 Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."

Again, Jesus speaks of drinking it new with us, when the Kingdom of God that is within us, is to now more fully come out of us. We will shine like Him, we will radiate Him, in this new day. We will manifest the Kingdom and preach the gospel of the kingdom.

Luke 22:18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."

He is coming to drink it new with us, because it is time for the Kingdom of God to be demonstrated through the church in the earth.

Luke 22:14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, "Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."

Revelations 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup (eat) with him, and he with me.

Romans 8:9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

John 14:20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?" 23 Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

John 17:21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.

The Picnic: The Rest of God:

2 Corinthians 6:16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

1 John 2:24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.

Hebrews 4:1 THEREFORE, WHILE the promise of entering His rest still holds and is offered [today], let us be afraid [to distrust it], lest any of you should think he has come too late and has come short of [reaching] it. 2 For indeed we have had the glad tidings [Gospel of God] proclaimed to us just as truly as they [the Israelites of old did when the good news of deliverance from bondage came to them]; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith (with the leaning of the entire personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness) by those who heard it; neither were they united in faith with the ones [Joshua and Caleb] who heard (did believe). 3For we who have believed (adhered to and trusted in and relied on God) do enter that rest, in accordance with His declaration that those [who did not believe] should not enter when He said, As I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter My rest; and this He said although [His] works had been completed and prepared [and waiting for all who would believe] from the foundation of the world.

Romans 4:19 He (Abraham) did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. 20 No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.

The Grapes:

Matthew 9: 6No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. 17Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved."

Mark 2:22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins."

Luke 5:37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.

Job 32:18 For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me. 19 Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins ready to burst. 20 I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.

Jeremiah 20:9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

Isaiah 65:8 Thus says the LORD: "As the new wine is found in the cluster, and they say, 'Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing in it,' so I will do for my servants’ sake, and not destroy them all. 9 I will bring forth offspring from Jacob, and from Judah possessors of my mountains; my chosen shall possess it.

-Susan O'Marra
01-15-11

Upcoming February 2011 Regional Gathering

In The Image Of His Glory Ministries

   Announces

2011 Rochester Area Regional Gathering

February 4th & 5th 2011

Friday Night at 7 PM

Saturday Night at 7 PM

Doors open at 6:00 PM

Location:

The Salvation of God Church

349 W Commercial St

Suite 1000

E Rochester, NY 14445

(In The Piano Works Mall)

Speakers:

Rev. Susan O'Marra

In The Image Of His Glory Ministries

Pastor John Kowalczyk

Isaiah 61 Ministries

The Lord is gathering His people in this Hour

 to hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying to the churches in 2011.

It is time to hear! It is time to gather!

It is time for the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ to Rise in 2011!

The Gathering is free for all to attend

We will take a freewill offering for the speakers

Sorry, There is no childcare provided for these meetings,

small children will be the responsibility of their parents.

We look forwards to seeing you at the Gathering,

Rev. Patrick and Susan O'Marra

The Tree, the Cross, and the 3 Golden Coins: More Understanding

01-07-11

Today, the Lord revealed more on the vision of the tree, the cross, and the 3 coins.

As Patrick was preaching the message at church tonight, I was following along in the word, and saw this in the scriptures:

Psalms 92:¹⁰But you have exalted my^(O) horn like that of^(P) the wild ox; you have^(Q) poured over me^[a] fresh oil. 11My^R) eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies; my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants. ^12(S) The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. ¹³They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in^(T) the courts of our God. ¹⁴They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, ^15(U) to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my^(V) rock, and there is^(W) no unrighteousness in him.

Psalms 104:¹⁵And wine that gladdens the heart of man, to make his face shine more than oil, and bread to support, refresh, and strengthen man's heart.  ¹⁶The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly and are filled with sap, the cedars of Lebanon which He has planted,


The People of the Lord are entering a Season of Fresh Oil in their lives, just like the Revelations 10 reference the Lord keeps giving to us about a time of fresh prophecy being given to us for the nations and peoples of those around us.

¹¹Then they said to me, You are to make a fresh prophecy (fresh oil) concerning many peoples and races and nations and languages and kings.

We are flourishing in His House, we shall be like Him.......as the Tree full of sap.


Psalms 1:³ He is like^(A) a tree  planted by^(B) streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its^(C) leaf does not wither. ^(D) In all that he does, he prospers.

Psalms 52:8 But I am like^(A) a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.

Proverbs 11:28 Whoever^(A) trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will^(B) flourish like a green leaf.

Hosea 14:5  I will be like the dew to Israel; ^(B) he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees^(C) of Lebanon; ⁶his shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be^(D) like the olive, and his fragrance like Lebanon. ⁷They shall return and^(E) dwell beneath my^[a] shadow; they shall flourish like the grain; they shall blossom like the vine; their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon. ⁸O^(F) Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you.^[b]   I am like an ress; ^(G) from me comes your fruit.


We shall yield more fruit.........be full of His sap........and release fresh oil.

More ponderings to come...........

-Susan

The Tree, the Cross, and the 3 Golden Coins

The Tree, the Cross, and the 3 Gold Coins

I laid down in the afternoon for a nap and had just about fallen asleep when I dreamed of my being in a field of sorts with a clearing in front of me. I saw people were foraging around through the plants and bushes looking for food. I watched them as they harvested what they could find, and I turned and looked at the edge of the clearing and saw some trees. I thought that I would go and look at the trees to see if there was food there for the people.

I walked over to a very large and full tree. Its branches were thick and the tree was full of leaves. I looked at the trunk and I saw that there was something coming out of the bark of the tree, and it was squeezing through the gaps of the bark to the surface and was beginning to run in a thin stream down the trunk. I reached up and put my finger into the sap. It was thick and golden, like amber, and it was warm. I tasted it and it was sweet. I thought that I should go and tell the people about this tree, when I looked up into the branches of the tree, and all of a sudden I saw the Cross in the tree. Then as I looked, I saw right through the Cross into heaven.

Suddenly I was standing among a group of people. We were standing off to the side of a huge palace foyer. The palace was spacious, and made of stone. It was very beautiful, yet simple in it’s furnishings and design. I saw a man standing over by the throne and he turned and it was a man with a short beard, and brown eyes, with shoulder length hair, and he was dressed like a king. He was the king of this palace. I suddenly knew this was the Lord. But this king was a younger king, and his crown was very distinctive, but simple too. It was beautiful, yet it did not take away from him and his features. He wore a white garment, with a red outer robe that had black scroll works woven into the fabric. The edges had gold fringes, and it fell to his ankles.

The king turned and looked all around. He called out, “Where are my runners?” All of a sudden we were all ushered over to where the king stood. He smiled at us all and motioned for us to each approach him. He then began to hand out a small bag to us. When it came to my turn, I stepped forwards and he paused and looked into my eyes. His face was one of amusement, joy and seriousness all at once. He then placed a small brown bag into my hand. He nodded at me and I reached down and opened it. Inside the bag were three golden coins. I took them and put them each, one by one, in my mouth and ate them. I then woke up. I wondered why I ate the coins.

·         I told the dream to Patrick and he felt it also goes along with the recurring theme also of the Lord preparing us all to move forth in these coming times and we are to speak his words to the people that he leads us to. The runners of the Lord are his messengers. But he also felt that our provision will come from the Lord and not from the normal means that men seek after for provision. Our bread is every word that proceeds from his mouth and to do his will. He will provide for us by supernatural means.

Tree/Cross:

Acts 5:3 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree.

Acts 10:39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree,

Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"—

Runners:

1 Corinthians 9:23 And I do this for the sake of the good news (the Gospel), in order that I may become a participator in it and share in its [blessings along with you]. 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] and make it yours. 25 Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we [do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness] that cannot wither.

Three Gold Coins:

Job 42:11 Then came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and ate bread with him in his house. And they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him. And each of them gave him a piece of money and a ring of gold.

Psalms 119:71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. 72 The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Coin:

Before the Exile the Jews had no regularly stamped money. They made use of uncoined shekels or talents of silver, which they weighed out (Gen. 23:16; Ex. 38:24; 2 Sam. 18:12). Probably the silver ingots used in the time of Abraham may have been of a fixed weight, which was in some way indicated on them. The "pieces of silver" paid by Abimelech to Abraham (Gen. 20:16), and those also for which Joseph was sold (37:28), were proably in the form of rings. The shekel was the common standard of weight and value among the Hebrews down to the time of the Captivity. Only once is a shekel of gold mentioned (1 Chr. 21:25). The "six thousand of gold" mentioned in the transaction between Naaman and Gehazi (2 Kings 5:5) were probably so many shekels of gold. The "piece of money" mentioned in Job 42:11; Gen. 33:19 (marg., "lambs") was the Hebrew _kesitah_, probably an uncoined piece of silver of a certain weight in the form of a sheep or lamb, or perhaps having on it such an impression. The same Hebrew word is used in Josh. 24:32, which is rendered by Wickliffe "an hundred yonge scheep."

Money:

Of uncoined money the first notice we have is in the history of Abraham (Gen. 13:2; 20:16; 24:35). Next, this word is used in connection with the purchase of the cave of Machpelah (23:16), and again in connection with Jacob's purchase of a field at Shalem (Gen. 33:18, 19) for "an hundred pieces of money"=an hundred Hebrew kesitahs (q.v.), i.e., probably pieces of money, as is supposed, bearing the figure of a lamb.

The history of Joseph affords evidence of the constant use of money, silver of a fixed weight. This appears also in all the subsequent history of the Jewish people, in all their internal as well as foreign transactions. There were in common use in trade silver pieces of a definite weight, shekels, half-shekels, and quarter-shekels. But these were not properly coins, which are pieces of metal authoritatively issued, and bearing a stamp.

Of the use of coined money we have no early notice among the Hebrews. The first mentioned is of Persian coinage, the daric (Ezra 2:69; Neh. 7:70) and the 'adarkon (Ezra 8:27). The daric (q.v.) was a gold piece current in Palestine in the time of Cyrus. As long as the Jews, after the Exile, lived under Persian rule, they used Persian coins. These gave place to Greek coins when Palestine came under the dominion of the Greeks (B.C. 331), the coins consisting of gold, silver, and copper pieces. The usual gold pieces were staters (q.v.), and the silver coins tetradrachms and drachms.

In the year B.C. 140, Antiochus VII. gave permission to Simon the Maccabee to coin Jewish money. Shekels (q.v.) were then coined bearing the figure of the almond rod and the pot of manna.

Runner:

2 Kings 5:5 And the king of Syria said, "Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel." So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing.

Context:

2 Kings 5

1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman’s wife. 3She said to her mistress, "Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy." 4So Naaman went in and told his lord, "Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel." 5And the king of Syria said, "Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel." So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. 6And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, "When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy." 7And when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, "Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me." 8But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, "Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel." 9So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house. 10And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean." 11But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, "Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. 12Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage. 13But his servants came near and said to him, "My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, 'Wash, and be clean'?" 14So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 15Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, "Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant." 16But he said, "As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none." And he urged him to take it, but he refused. 17Then Naaman said, "If not, please let there be given to your servant two mules’ load of earth, for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the LORD. 18In this matter may the LORD pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon your servant in this matter." 19He said to him, "Go in peace." But when Naaman had gone from him a short distance, 20 Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. As the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him." 21So Gehazi followed Naaman. And when Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and said, "Is all well?" 22And he said, "All is well. My master has sent me to say, 'There have just now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.'" 23And Naaman said, "Be pleased to accept two talents." And he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants. And they carried them before Gehazi. 24And when he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and put them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed. 25He went in and stood before his master, and Elisha said to him, "Where have you been, Gehazi?" And he said, "Your servant went nowhere." 26But he said to him, "Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants? 27Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever." So he went out from his presence a leper, like snow.

·         Gehazi was a runner/servant for Elisha and in his greed, he asked Naaman for things, but note that he never asked for the gold coins, only the clothes and the silver. The Gold Shekel is holy.

Gold Daric:

Ezra 2:68 Some of the heads of families, when they came to the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem, made freewill offerings for the house of God, to erect it on its site. 69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury of the work 61,000 darics of gold, 5,000 minas of silver, and 100 priests’ garments.

Nehemiah 7:70 Now some of the heads of fathers’ houses gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold, 50 basins, 30 priests’ garments and 500 minas of silver.

Ezra 8:28 And I said to them, "You are holy to the LORD, and the vessels are holy, and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD, the God of your fathers.

-Susan O’Marra

-01/04/11

Standing Steadfast In The Fires Of God

I laid down that night to go to sleep and the scripture came into my mind, James 1:4. I thought about it, but was too tired to get up and look it up. About an hour and a half later, I woke up. I then remembered the verse, so I went and looked it up…

James 1:4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

AMP -4 But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.

TM - 2-4 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

John 15:3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.

John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

·         Greek Set them apart (for holy service to God).

1 Peter 1:22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,

2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.

·         Some manuscripts chose you from the beginning

James 1:18 AMP -And it was of His own [free] will that He gave us birth [as sons] by [His] Word of Truth, so that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures [a sample of what He created to be consecrated to Himself].

James 1:1 JAMES, A servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered abroad [among the Gentiles in the dispersion]: Greetings (rejoice)! 2 Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. 3 Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. 4 But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him. 6 Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting).

We are the First fruits of the Lord in this hour, emerging purified, tried, and prepared for His work. We are also Holy unto Him and are separated unto His Service, just like the Golden Coins for His House.

Ezra 8:28 And I said to them, "You are holy to the LORD, and the vessels are holy, and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD, the God of your fathers.

-Susan O’Marra

-01/05/11