All that Glitters is not Gold

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are as excited for spring as I am!  This winter feels like it has lasted two and a half years!  We need a break from the stress of the days and times.  I was reminded of a vision the Lord had given me about 5 years ago.  I named this blog “Forsythia,” after the vision.  I believe that the Lord would have us revisit  the vision, in light of what is happening in the world right now.  Here is a link to the post where I wrote about it:  “Forsythia - Anticipation of a Great and Exciting Moment”

Today I have three visions that I would like to share with you.  

The Visions

The Red Pepper

In this vision, I saw a large red bell pepper with the needle from a syringe pierced into its flesh.  The needle was inserted and appeared to come back up, as if one were sewing and taking a single stitch.  The needle of course was not a sewing needle, for there was a large hole near the tip, where a liquid medicine would exit the needle.

The  Horse

In the second vision, I saw a horse in full gallop running around the fence of an enclosure.  The horse seemed to be in a panic, looking for an opening in the fence.  As he was going so fast, he appeared to be leaning to the inside of the corral, like a car speeding around a tight curve.

Dirt, Dust and a Touch of Glitter

In the third vision I saw a perfectly clean wooden drawer.  Suddenly a dust pan was emptied into the drawer.  Dirt, thread, bits of crumbs and glitter fell into the bottom of the drawer. 

What the Visions Mean:

At first I thought of the syringe and red pepper as something that a diabetic might use to practice giving himself injections.  Most people I believe practice with an orange, being more like flesh.  But the need was placed into the pepper and then brought back through its skin as if taking a stitch.  This made no sense.  To take a stitch is not a mindless activity.  It is done for a purpose.  Yet because it was not a sewing needle, it had no hole in the opposite end to carry the thread.  After praying for the Lord’s interpretation, these words came to mind:  “They are pierced with many sorrows.”  So I looked up the full scripture to get a more complete understanding.  This is the scripture as it is written:

“For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.  By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.”  Matthew 6:10

Now I believed I understood.  The red pepper represents sin.  The syringe style needle presents the idea of piercing oneself with sorrows.  This type of needle not only allows a person to administer insulin to remove sugar from the blood, but it can be used to administer other more harmful drugs to oneself, such as heroin.  The scripture that came to mind, declared that “by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.  There is no doubt that to pierce one’s self with heroin leads to more and more dependence and craving it.  There is no doubt that through shame, guilt, self loathing, and hopelessness, that comes with drug addiction, they might depart from the faith.  Some experience great sorrow as they find themselves doing things that they would have never considered before.  Some drug addicts turn to stealing to pay for their drugs.  Others turn to prostitution as a means of aquiring the drugs that their bodies demand.  

A person hooked by sin becomes a slave to whatever controls him.  “Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.”  John 8:34

But the sin that the first scripture addressed was the love of money.  And just like with drugs, pursuing wealth, and craving money, a person would pierce himself with  grief and sorrows.  His life would be filled with much trouble and pain.  “Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.”  Ecclesiastes 5:10

In context, we see how that comes about.  This is the sentence that precedes the scripture above:

“Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.  By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.”  Matthew 6:9-10

There are many people in our world who are pursuing wealth, fame, fortune and the pleasures that money affords.  We see the social elites, and many government leaders have used their position in the government for personal gain.  They have become ensnared by greed, and have become morally bankrupt.  How many leaders are involved in sexual scandals, and perversity.  The desire for wealth and influence turns their hearts towards the world and away from God.  Their hearts become hard, and selfish.  They have no love or compassion for others.  They use people to achieve their own goals, crushing anyone who gets in their way.  As their desires take control, they become slaves to their cravings.

People who have aligned themselves with the world and its values become enemies of God as scripture reveals:

“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:4  

The Lord detests sin because it is everything that he is not.  He wants us to take on his nature, through the indwelling Spirit.  He wants us to walk with him, to adhere to his commands, and to live in harmony and unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  He calls us “friend”  But how can we experience that intimacy and fellowship with God, if we have muddied the waters with sin?  We cannot be a friend of God and at the same time engage in a lifestyle of sin. 

“For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?”  2 Corinthians 6:14

We know that those who love the world have chosen the world over God: 

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”  Matthew 6:24

But as children of God, we take our cues from the Holy Spirit.  He is the comforter, the Spirit of Truth.  He guides us and helps us to nurture a love for him and his word.  Fellowship and friendship with God can be possible when we deny ourselves of our sinful desires, and repent, turning to God asking to be restored to him. 

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”  Jeremiah 29:13

The Lord simply wants us to be obedient to his will and his ways, as he declares through the Apostle Paul to Timothy:

“But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.”  1 Timothy 6:9-10

Thank you Jesus!  “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  Philippians 4:13

The Horse
In the second vision, I saw a horse speeding around the fence of a corral.  The horse was going very fast as if it were in a panic.  I believe that he was trying to escape the fence.  The horse leaned away from the fence as he ran.  

I believe that the horse represents people who are stressed in life, looking for a better way, a way to escape the events and circumstances in their lives.  The horse was in a panic.  Fear is what brings about panic.  People have a lot of fear these days: fear of loss of work,  fear of potential sickness, fear of the future, fear of physical harm, fear of government take over, fear of a loss of freedoms, fear of inflation, fear of not having the necessities for life.  Fear causes  stress, anxiety and worry.  There is no doubt that a shaking is going on.  

“For this is what the Lord of Hosts says: ‘Once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.’”  Haggai 2:6       

The writer of Hebrews, quoted the above scripture and added this comment for clarification: 

“At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, ‘Once more I will shake not only the earth, but heaven as well.’  

The words ‘Once more’ signify the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that the unshakable may remain.”  Hebrews 12:26-27

The writer of Hebrews was revealing that all created things would be so shaken, that they would be removed.  Only those things that are unshakable would be left standing.  Jesus spoke of these times and events as birth pains. 

“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.  Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  All these are the beginning of birth pains.” Matthew 24:6-8

He also prophesied that wickedness would increase in the end days.  So things will get more and more heated.  Conflict, wickedness, unrest, and confusion will cause people to become more testy.  We see it already.  People are quick to become offended.  They argue, blame others, and become defensive.  But we as the church must stay grounded in our faith.  We need to be calm and fearless, for we know that our help comes from God, when we choose to trust him. 

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”  Isaiah 26:3   

“For in Him we live and move and have our being.” Acts 17:28

“What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”  Romans 8:31

Years ago, the Lord gave me a vision of an electrical multi-outlet plug which was spinning on the floor.  He was showing me about myself.  He wanted me to not fear what was happening in my life.  He was showing me that I was the multi-outlet plug.  I was not grounded, but spinning around.  I was not operating in faith, but allowing fear to get the better of me.  He showed me that if I were to be plugged into him, I would access the power that I needed.  Not only would this give me peace and strength, but I would also become a source of strength for others.  They would see that they too could get plugged into God, the giver of life, and the very one who sustains and strengthens us. 

They would see that he is the lifter of our heads, the prince of peace and the one who heals and provides for all our needs.  He changes our fear into trust.  He leads us to victory as we choose to overcome, rather than being overcome. When we trust him, he will give us all that we need.  Hallelujah!

So when fear comes up–we should take a pause, and readjust our thoughts and turn our hearts towards the Lord.   He will be our peace. 

“Be still and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”  Psalm 46:10 

Jesus is the answer to every problem!

Dirt, Dust and Glitter

In the third vision, I saw a clean drawer in front of me.  Suddenly, dirt, dust and even glitter fell into the drawer from a dust pan.  The dirt and the dust I believe represent the things of the world.  When Jesus sent out his disciples two by two he gave them these instructions: 

“Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt.  Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town.  If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”  Luke 9:3-5

The dust and the dirt represent the world and its values.  We are to shake off the dirt of the world, and not let its values and attractions affect us.  We are to be separate, to come out from the world, and to not align ourselves with its teachings and beliefs.  We should not participate in the things that take us far from God.  

Along with the dust, I saw thread.  Thread represents sewing.  It is a functional pastime.  I make very large tumbling mats for my two sons’ who are trainers in tumbling and trampoline.  However, I am careful to not allow it to take precedence over my commitment to the Lord, for he needs to be first.  Sewing and any other pastime must take a back seat.  

Also with the dust was glitter.  Several years ago, I made costumes for my church’s two yearly  productions.  For one play, my daughter and I made 98 costumes.  It was a Christmas play showing how Christmas was celebrated throughout the centuries.  So we made every type of costume complete with footwear and hats.  We started in June for a December play.  This was quite an undertaking. 

Just a few years earlier, the Lord had asked me to give up my design business, and later, my master’s degree in physiology.  So when I was asked to take over the costume ministry, I had to get permission from the Lord.  After much prayer, the Lord gave me the green light, so we made all new costumes for the Passion play.  The Pharisees were given all new robes outlined with  many hand made tassels.  Herod’s dancers were adorned with gold coins and more tassels, and rich vibrant colors.  I had a team of seamstresses working on a variety of costumes.  We created new costumes for both major and minor roles.  And it was fine with the Lord.

However, following the Passion play, we got geared up to work on the Christmas play.  This production became an all consuming task.  I realized that God had given me the green light and the grace to do the Passion play, but I assumed that it was all right to continue designing and sewing for the Christmas play.  

I have taken issue with Christmas as a holiday because it seems so pagan and so materialistic.  I wished this play was about the birth of Christ instead of the celebration of Christmas.  I felt grieved by the wrong focus.  Somewhere along the way, I started asking the Lord, “Why can’t we just pray and seek your face, rather than make such a big deal out of these productions?”  

Are they really beneficial in reaching the lost?  It seemed very frivolous.

“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.”  Psalm 127:1

Years ago the Lord spoke to me and said, “I do not want you to do.  I want you to be.”  It was when the Lord asked me to give up my design and my masters.  So one day I was at the church.  On the front cover of a brown paper bag it had these words:  “It is best to be.”  I knew that the Lord was reminding me that I was to be and not do.  So we finished all 98 costumes, and then, I gave up the costume ministry altogether.  

So the thread in the vision represented my commitments to sew.

The glitter also has meaning.  It can represent anything in the world that catches our attention, that becomes attractive to us.  It can be something that seems valuable in our eyes or in the eyes of the world, but as far as God is concerned, it may be something that takes us away from him.

There is an expression, “All that glitters is not gold.”  (Shakespeare uses this common expression in his play - “The Merchant of Venice.”)  

So we need to see that what we deem as dirt and dust from the world, others may see as something of value, something to be desired, something that “glitters.” If we are not living for God, and reading his word, we can allow our flesh to be captivated by something that is harmful to our faith.  Just as the first vision spoke of having a hunger or lust for money, we can also be captivated by other things that the world has to offer:  homes, cars, luxury vacations, restaurants, spas, clothing and the latest and greatest gadgets and electronics.

I had another thought. “Why was the dirt, dust and glitter dumped into a perfectly clean drawer?”  Doesn’t dirt belong in a garbage can or taken outside and dumped with the trash?  Why would it be placed in a clean drawer?  For safe keeping?

Don’t we reserve drawer space for things that are important?  Aren’t drawers for clothing, keepsakes, mementos, important papers, and supplies of various kinds.  Why would we keep dirt–unless it has value to us.  If the dirt represents sin, then, with what are we not willing to part? Could we be justifying sin?  Cheating on taxes to save money?  Continuing a relationship outside of marriage because of “love”?  Stealing from the company, because they “owe me.” This vision shows that we are not willing to clean house, and throw the dirt (sin) out.        

But there are grave consequences for sin:  

“But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”  Revelation 21:8

But the gift of God for those who are in Christ Jesus is eternal life. 

“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life.  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 6:22-23

So let us seek God, and repent of our wickedness. 

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:9

This is a prayer for salvation and reconciliation with God:

Dear Jesus, Heavenly Father, and Holy Spirit,

You are great.  You are faithful.  And I come before you as a sinner.  I am truly sorry for all the sin I have committed, in thought and in deed.  I ask for your forgiveness.  Please restore me to yourself.  I want to become a new creation, given a new heart, and a pure mind.  Please take away any wicked or sinful desires and behaviors that have grieved your Holy Spirit.  Please fill me with your Holy Spirit and make me new.  Please write my name in the Book of Life and keep me from sin.  I thank you for your forgiveness and for the promise of eternal life with you.  I give you my heart, my soul, my spirit and my body.  They no longer belong to me.  They are yours, now and forever.  Jesus thank you for I am now born again, filled with your Spirit and ready to love and serve you for the rest of my life!

Thank you Jesus for your unfailing love, and that will keep me until the day you come for me.  Amen!  Come Lord Jesus!   

Please share this messages with friends and loved ones.  God bless you all!

Note: When I shared this post with my sister, she said the God gave her a vision of a horse in the open country. The wind was blowing through its mane and it was free to run. She said she believed the fence that had been there represented doubt and unbelief. But with the horse free to run, she shared this scripture: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.” Hebrew 12:1

The glitter she saw as deception. It is good that when we receive a vision that we our thoughts.

God bless you all!