Too Close to Quit

 

Pressing Through Hard Times - the Temptation to Quit

Be strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work will be rewarded. [2Chron 15:7]

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season, we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. [Gal 6:8-9]

In January 2021, I had posted an article called: Rejoice Not, O My Enemy – I Will Rise Again. The first words in the title come from the mouth of the ancient prophet Micah [7:8]

Living in times where corruption and sin abound, the prophet saw that there were very few good people, even among those who claimed to be God’s people, but that was their reproach, according to Matthew Henry, a beloved nonconformist preacher and well-respected commentator of the scriptures.

In Psalm 69, King David also groaned deep within, depressed and discouraged, wrote: Reproach has broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. [vs 20]

When the hindrances and interruptions, which I had mentioned in previously posted articles, continued nonstop, even up to yesterday, I became more and more discouraged. I began to question my purpose. With the plagiarists still dipping their hands into the archives, I had to wonder if the good Lord was indeed shutting the door on my writing.

Satan Desires Apostasy

If I do not step out of the boat once again, I never will. Great discouragement weighed me down, to the point where I was ready to quit writing publicly, after 22 years. But that is exactly what some would want me to do. Satan's agenda is to steal, to kill, and to destroy. His desire is to see all Christians fall into apostasy.

At the beginning of the year, but particularly around the end of February, early March, hindrances and interruptions were happening quickly. I began to fall behind more than I ever had before in all these years of writing, and believe me, I have fallen behind before, especially these last few years – just not this severely.

I am not a pastor, prophet, or any such thing; simply a blogger who loves Jesus and has a healthy fear of the Lord, endeavouring to be obedient in sharing the good news, and pointing the way to Jesus/Yeshua. Seems there are those who tear down the average Christian, but exalt the false teachers and false prophets, especially those who plagiarize, or at least, started with plagiarism and gained a following by hiding deception under an exterior covering of shimmering truth.

It began slowly back in October, when it was impressed upon me to remind brethren of increased witchcraft activity, which has been becoming more brazen in the public eye over the past few years. 

As the time fast approaches for the son of perdition, the lawless one, the Antichrist of all antichrists, to make his prideful revealing, witchcraft has been made more public and acceptable (such as the Super Bowl 2024, Grammy Awards 2023, Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022, Gotthard Base Tunnel 2016, and much more).

The blatant compromise, the lies, the blasphemy and mockery, the deception (yes, IN the churches and EXECUTED by multitudes who call themselves followers of Jesus), false brethren, false teachers/preachers, false prophets, false doctrines, witchcraft in the church, the acceptance of sodomy, acceptance of transgender preachers, abortions 'after' natural childbirth – shall I continue?

It is heartbreaking –

Pressing In and Waiting on the Lord

Did I press in to ask the Lord about quitting writing? More than ever. A critical spirit is in the personality of many who call themselves by Christ’s name, but they would call it discernment, and hide their gossip under the guise of ‘concern’. 

How are we to respond? Pray good for them, that God would help them as surely as He helped me (and every other born-again, Holy Spirit-filled person who repented), and then leave it in God’s hands – for my wisdom is foolishness to Him.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God [Rom 3:23]

The nonstop chronic pain has not helped. Combined with the hindrances, interruptions, the plagiarism, and other matters of concern, I just about quit writing. I am not complaining about the chronic pain, nor am I looking for sympathy. Perish the thought. Yes, there are times I want to ‘go home’, just to get relief because morphine is not really doing much, except to make pain bearable.

To be upfront, I was not so grateful for this pain at first. It was frustrating (still is because it limits my activity), and it angered me, but mostly, I just wanted relief, or to see an end to the pain somewhere up ahead.

But now I see changes in my heart – gratitude, clinging more to God, letting independence go, trust increasing, seeing God’s wisdom in using it to mold me step by step into Christ’s image, thanksgiving, opportunity to praise Jesus, realizing the privilege of being able to run to the Lord anytime, anywhere…and so much more. All to the glory to God; Yeshua is exalted on high.

God’s Order of Things

I believe the Word of God regarding God’s order of things [1Cor 14:40], and the roles of men and women (I appreciate the godly male pastors who take the lead), men who stand for Israel (God’s chosen nation/people), who honour all of God’s Word, standing against abortion, sodomy, and homosexuality.

They are not afraid to mention repentance, the cross (as well as the spiritual cross we are to carry daily, endeavouring to overcome and to nail sinful and fleshly appetites and desires), the precious blood that purchased us, paid for our sins that nailed Jesus to the cross.

What about holiness, forgiveness, God’s sovereignty, or the Godhead (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)? What about the armour of God [Ephesians 6], the adversary (Satan and his hierarchy), and spiritual warfare?

There are still preachers who do not compromise in order to gather a huge following, or to stroke their egos. They teach pure and true doctrine, have a healthy fear of the Lord, but walk humbly as Christ did. I wonder if rebellion is part of the fallen nature we inherited from Adam because many still rebel against God’s Word.

Although I have given a prophetic message in times past, I do not claim to be a prophet. I believe in prophesying, for it is written:

Despise not prophesying. Prove [test] all things; hold fast that which is good. [1Thess 5:20-21]

The false prophets today are more like fortune tellers, or gossips, “revealing” the sins of people in the public eye, or constantly have some new revelation, or predict what will be in the news. Would we want the Lord to broadcast our sins, especially if any that might be done in secret, or would we want Him to give us a chance to repent first? 

But with some of today’s ‘prophets’, the Lord spills the beans on multitudes. Would we want our past sins brought up if we repented privately in brokenness and with godly sorrow? 

I have seen so-called apostles, self-proclaimed prophets and those who claim to be preachers do such, and so have multitudes of others seen it. How could people trust the Lord if that is how He operated (which it is not His way at all)?

The God of the Bible does not trash anyone, or make a public show of them.

Yet it would seem that the false have thousands of loyal followers, people who defend them because they look at the outward appearance, their ‘charismatic’ personality and charm. It could also be that:

[1] their followers are deceived

[2] deception has blinded them

[3] some are not saved, and some need deliverance from python [spirit of divination]

[4] the person almost has two personalities (the dark side of their sin is so well hidden that only their victims and God Himself know about it: friends and family are fooled by their ‘good works’) – for now. But their judgment day is coming!

For over a decade the Lord has been urging people to stay in His Word and to stand on it, to come closer to Him, and wait in His presence – not rushing off. He is consistent, steadfast, repeating the message so that we would keep a repentant heart, forgive those who come against us and pray for them (never easy at first, but gets easier as one steps out in faith). Obedience comes naturally from love.

This will be a short entry.  

It is Not Complicated

I am now glad that the hindrances and interruptions kept me from posting about the eclipse because it seems everyone and their uncle posted about it. Jesus said that no sign would be given but the sign of Jonah. He did not wrap the answer up in deep revelations or mysteries to guess and solve.

The message is simple, so simple a youth would get it. I mentioned it in the last article, posted April 7, 2024, the day before the eclipse. I ended the article saying it was a “call to repentance”, and that all nations needed to repent, and that we were to “repent, be holy, a warning”. 

The asterisks are book-ending the titles of two of the three messages I posted online in 2005/2006. The third one was: “The Watchman Repented”. That is how the Lord started me in my writing: repentance, trust, forgiveness. He built from there

As Unto the Lord

Almost giving up on writing (NOT to be confused with giving up on the Lord or my faith), shutting down the blog, I did press into the Lord – for weeks now. The plagiarists got to me, but one ‘prophesied’ that many would have their platforms shut down.

But God is Sovereign.

A few days back, I was repenting about unbelief and fear (these were attempting to enslave me again). The Lord reminded me of His love, and how perfect love casts out fear because fear has torment, and if we have unhealthy fear, it is because we are not perfect in love. [1Jn 4:18]

Then, when I opened the Bible, it opened to Jesus leaving the 99 righteous, to go after the one who had gone astray. I silently wept and broke, repenting for fear and unbelief, for wandering astray from the Word – how subtle the enemy is indeed. He strikes when we are weak.

Then, when I asked again about writing, or was it time to quit – after weeks of waiting and wondering, I came across the answer that jumped off the page.

Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as men pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for you serve the Lord Christ. But he that does wrong shall receive for the wrong which he has done: and there is no respect of persons. [Col 3:22-25]

I understood that I was to please God, not man, to have a sole devotion to write for the Lord, and to fear God. I am to write wholeheartedly as unto the Lord – to keep trust that He will take care of plagiarists, or all of us, if we do wrong.

So, step by step, I will continue, to the glory of Messiah Jesus.

In the presence of His glory

Bonita                         dovesofthevalleys4@gmail.com

Time is Almost Up

The Lord has moved upon my spirit and revealed: "great danger fast approaches". It is a well-known fact that danger is always lurking somewhere in this world, but my understanding is that all nations, all the people of the earth and particularly God's people are to be on high alert.  

I am no alarmist, and many times when there have been false prophetic warnings giving dates in the past, the Lord would have me post "Not today..."

What exactly it is I do not know, but there is a deep urgency to warn the people to seek God and to repent, if necessary, and most importantly, to do His will. This is not to put anyone into the bondage of fear, although there will be those who will say so. Who can blame them with all the false prophecies the world has been subjected to?

Jonah was sent to tell the people to repent in Nineveh, but he did not want to. Instead, he hopped on a ship going in the opposite direction. When a storm came, the crew knew that someone was aboard that had angered God. Jonah confessed and was tossed out into the sea where a large fish swallowed him up.

I am sure the entire crew believed Jonah died, but he did not. Three days he stayed in the dark, smelly, acidic belly of that fish, only to be spewed (vomited) out on the third day. Jonah immediately went to Nineveh and warned the people.

He knew that if he warned the people and they repented that God would stay His hand and not send His judgment upon them. Jonah did not want to look like a fool to the people, or to look like a false prophet. He ran rather than have to face the people once they repented, and questioned his prophetic word.

Great Deception

great deception
up in skies

China Ovni hologram
2014

holograms 2015-16

Those of us who follow Christ closely know what the Word of God says, and we know what the main warning of Jesus was (Matthew 24), and that it would be the mightiest weapon in Satan's arsenal in the last of the last days. It is great deception. 

great waters

volcanic activity
watch dormant ones

great earthquakes

touchdown
giant storms

However, the Holy Scriptures also warn of unprecedented, cataclysmic natural events also, whether they be meteors, asteroids, volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, storms of great winds (hurricanes, cyclones, tornadoes etc.). Global war is nearly upon us, economic collapse a reality and so much more.

Domino Effect

domino effect
God is holding things back 
for now -2016

Once these things begin, it shall be as a domino effect. There will be no man, no government, no nation, who will be able to put a stop to it; only God can. 

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers (different, unusual) places.  All these are the beginning of sorrows.  [Mat 24:7,8]

The Word tells us also that in the latter times, events would be as a woman in travail, with labor pains that increase in intensity and frequency, until her time comes. [Jn 16:21] So it shall be with the events happening that we were forewarned about, and truly, things ARE intensifying and becoming more frequent. The whole earth is in travail!

In great humility, we must seek Him for direction, discernment and truth. He will answer us and lead us in the way that we should go.

Yet, the Lord also let us know that He has secrets that are His alone, but if He so chooses to reveal them to us, they belong to us, so that we may be obedient to Him (His will). He reveals in order to lead us, to direct our paths.

The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may DO all the words of this law. [Deut 29:29]

For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.  [Ps 91:11] 

The holy angels are at His command, to do His will. He sends them out as He sees fit, for He is omniscient and wise. He is telling His people to repent, to seek Him now with all our heart and soul.

He is warning us urgently and strongly right now about great tribulation, great trouble, great danger upon the peoples of the world, in every nation. No one can judge what horrible thing will take place next. Only God alone knows. 

It is all happening very quickly in these latter days. Hardly a day goes by now, when some tragedy, some event does not take place. He will lead us to be there for others, and He will lead others to be there for us, in times of trouble. 

Who knows if He would not send an angel in human form to help us when there is no help around. Never underestimate God's ways or power. Who can know the mind of God? We who love Jesus and abide in Him have the mind of Christ, which is to do (obey) the will of the Father.

But if you from then you shall seek the Lord your God, you shall find Him, if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in tribulation, and all these things are come upon you, even in the latter days, if you turn to the Lord your God, and shall be obedient unto His voice;

(For the Lord your God is a merciful God); He will not forsake you, neither destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your Fathers which He swore unto them. [Deut 4:29] 

Brethren and friends, an urgency is in my spirit. God always gives warnings within a fair time frame. This is so that we can be prepared, but more importantly, to not walk in fear.

We are to walk in a strong faith that seeks Him desperately, knowing that He loves us. Keep in prayer and read the Word of God. He is speaking to all of us who have ears to hear; who are willing to listen and obey. 

He has been warning for years now. Time is almost up!

Or has God assayed (determined, attempted) to go and take Him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?

Unto you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD He is God; there is none else beside Him. Out of heaven He made you to hear His voice, that He might instruct you: [...]  [Deut 4:34, 35] Please read the verses for yourself to keep context.

Something horrific is coming which will begin the domino effect. That is why the Lord has placed an urgency regarding "danger" upon my heart (and the hearts of others).

There is still time because the Lord always issues "fair warning", but think again, He has been warning for a very long time now. He has been most patient, very longsuffering, but the time is about upon us.

Seek God humbly; pour out your heart to Him in faith, not fear. Wait upon Him to answer and direct you. It is not the time to go off halfcocked (like a rooster with its head cut off), in fear and crazy imaginations. Yet, do not do the opposite, which is to ignore His warning.

All I know at this time is that whatever it is that will push that first domino must be sooner upon us than we care to admit or acknowledge, but we who believe have always known that the day would come when His Word is fulfilled in its entirety. Fast and pray if you are so led, but do seek the Lord whilst He can be found. Call upon Him now, whilst He will still answer.

Please do not ignore His warnings, which He gives out of love. Repent now, if you know there is anything that you must repent of. When he calls us and reprimands us or shows His disapproval in anything, accept it and be obedient to His leading.

Heed these words, I solemnly urge you. He also warns of the consequences of not seeking Him when He  calls us, and not following His counsel.

How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

Turn you at My reproof: behold, I will pour out My Spirit upon you, I will make known My words unto you. Because I have called, and you refused; I have stretched out My hand, and no man regarded;

But you have set at nought (as nothing) all My counsel, and would have none of My reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear comes;

When your fear comes as desolation, and your destruction comes as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come upon you.

Then shall they call upon Me, but I will not answer; they shall seek Me early, but they shall not find Me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord:

They would have none of My counsel: they despised all My reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

But whoso hearkens (listens) unto Me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.  Selah  [Prov 1:22-33]

A loving parent always corrects and disciplines their child out of love. Our Creator always corrects and forewarns out of HIS love. The rest is up to us. Just as a good child does not want to sadden their parents and thus obeys them, so should we, the created, desire not to grieve the heart of the Creator, but rather to return His love by simply obeying and honouring Him.

Jesus answered and said unto him (Judas, NOT Iscariot), If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode in Him. [Jn 14:23]

We love Him because He first loved us. [1Jn 4:19] 

for His glory  

Bonita                dovesofthevalleys4@gmail.com

Addendum - What I had written to a dear sister and friend in England is this (and I believe it is worth posting):

Britain, United States, Canada, Ireland, Scotland (UK that is), New Zealand, Australia...so many nations; it's almost as though the Lord's warning is indeed for the entire world. China, Russia, N. and S. Korea, Philippines, Cuba, Venezuela, Jamaica, Haiti, Columbia...[all] the Islands. I truly sense every nation, every people, every clan and tribe...needs to be on alert.

I could go on...India, Taiwan, Greece, Italy, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq...onward. ALL need to repent and draw close to God and let Him lead