SORRY ABOUT THE SURVEY FAIL...

Obviously I need to get the hang of how this system works; none of the questions I posited showed up. I’ll try that again later..

Also, does anyone know WHY some of my posts get sent to my whole EMAIL list, while in other cases.. a post will be sent only to FIVE emails out of 175? Hmmm. Your feedback on this point is invited.

IF I see that continue to happen, I will do 2 things:

• Forward posts to the emails myself

• Step up the encouraging of people to -share posts they appreciate- with others.

Let me take this moment of your attention to thank you for being a subscriber of any kind. You are the reason for the effort., and you get prayed for here, all the time.

That said, when I started this blog, the Lord impressed upon me to NOT look at ‘reader stats’. I have had partial success with obeying that directive. His point is clear - He doesn’t want me motivated by numbers. (as do too many churches).. lest that influence what I focus on.

Naturally I believe in the topics I write about, and am delighted when it gets out there to people who need to hear it. My messages frequently address how to stay safe in an unsafe world. So numbers -to me- mean I’m helping as many people as possible.

THOUGH, if just ONE person ever read the messages, they will continue to be written. The Lord regularly BURNS things into my heart, not just for my benefit, but so that others would benefit.

This is as the parable of the servants to that ‘multiplied their talents’ (a form of ancient currency). The faithful servants were those who made GOOD USE of what the Master gave them. The UNFaithful servants - hid their gifts. God forbid we should hide ours.

THis is also what Jesus was talking about in Matthew 13:9-14

Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

¹⁰ And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

¹¹ He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

¹² For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

¹³ Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

¹⁴ And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

People who want to understand, are called ‘Disciples’. They are those followers of Jesus that follow after him all the time, even when it’s inconvenient (Matthew 5:1) And ASK HIM QUESTIONS.

Jesus rewards the same for this behavior. Verse 12 says:

The man who uses what the Lord gives him, will get EVEN MORE!

But the man who doesn’t receive of the Lord, or hides what he gets,.. will lose even that.

This is the principle shown to us of the ‘harvestman’, or farmer. If they want to reap rewards, they’d not dare ‘sit out a season’, or ‘keep their seeds in a bin - unsewn’. To do so means the seeds will eventually rot, and they are left without anything at all.

But unto HIM Who gives us the good seed (The WORD) to begin with, says this:

¹⁰ Now he that ministereth seed TO the sower

both ministers BREAD for your food,

and MULTIPLIES your seed sown,

and INCREASES the fruits of your righteousness;)

¹¹ Being ENRICHED in EVERYTHING to all bountifulness,

which causeth through us THANKSGIVING TO GOD.’ II Corinthians 9:10,11

Isn’t it PLAIN. And isn’t it WONDERFUL! We are blessed just because we use, and distribute what He gives us. God is no respector of persons - but of Faith.

God bless you all.

Yours in Christ Jesus, our returning Lord,

Victoria