The girl who had no ordinary voice Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Andrew

Well, there you have it!

Her name is Anabel and she is a woodsy girl who loves to sing.

Now why do you suppose though she loves to sing; she never speaks nor lets anyone hear her when she starts breathing out a musical beat?

Hello, my name is Andrew. I am the narrator of sorts here in this so-called fairy tale of sorts, much without the fairies that is. I, myself, do not live in the woods like that of Anabel. Rather I am a painter from Dublin and a frequent traveler to various places. My favorites being ones seemingly untouched by man.

Rather short for a man of my stature, I love to wear tweed jackets and from time to time I smoke a bit of a pipe. In my spare time, I love a good mystery. Though for myself these usually were found safely within the confines of my small flat. I'm a great lover of books, you see. And though I love to pick up a good story, I'll admit this is my first go at writing one. It all began of course while I was on the road.

In one of my travels I heard of a forest that was a type of Eden. Upon hearing the natural beauty of the forest floor untamed, the glistening of the waters that filled up a lake at the center of the wild tangles of bramble bushes and pine-scented trees, and the lustrous glow of the tall peaks surrounding said forest, I decided it was worth a trip and began the preparations.

I could go into length about my journey to said paradise but that can wait until a future date for this is not my story. It is Anabel's. And it is here on this grand adventure on which I set out on that I came across a little girl who though appeared rather shy and timid, and spoke not a sound, was rather rambunctious and full of deep dark secrets, the sort that would make your ears itch with anticipation at discovering said secrets and the pure honor of being allowed the trust to share in them. For you see, Anabel was no ordinary girl. And she had no ordinary life.

The little girl who had no ordinary voice. Chapter 2

Chapter 2:

Hello, my name is Anabel.

I love my home. Every day I get up and go out exploring.

♫Down in the wood I am a silly lass
I like to tumble in the tall prickly grass
The air smells like a Christmas tree
Pine needles in my hair are like sweet flowers to me.♫

Today I'm going on an adventure. I'm going to find the tallest tree in the wood and climb up it! Then I'm going to look out at the mountain peaks to see if there is any snow!

♫Like a monkey in a tree so is this silly girl
I go climbing up and up, no bother to a scratch here or there
I will find something grand at the top of my abode
And there look out and smile bright
In my treetop home.♫

And while I'm doing this I just want to write and tell you this:

♫I'm an explorer who finds hidden things
I listen carefully
I'll write all my adventures down
And sing, sing, sing.
But if you think you'll catch me in it
A blink and I am gone
Just like the second when the setting sun is done.
No one has heard me calling except the birds and trees
I just love to sing, sing, sing
But only to One do I bring, bring, bring
The songs I sing, sing, sing."

Shhh... It's a secret!

The Little Girl who had no ordinary voice

Chapter One: The narrator

Hello there and welcome to my storybook about a little girl who never spoke.

Now I surmise you are wondering where the "Once upon a Time" has gotten to no doubt.Well, it is safely tucked between the pages of the fairy tales of well loved books here on the library shelf. This story, though, needs no such introduction for it is not any ordinary sort of fairy tale. This story is quite...well, now, why ruin it. Why not come and see?

In the world there are many places where trees grow and mountains peak up into the heavens, the sort where clouds casually rest upon from time to time. In the world there are lakes of all shapes and sizes, some visited frequently by tourists, others practically disregarded or even forgotten. And in the world there are vast numbers of different kinds of people all scurrying about here and there for whatever purpose they have to do so. And in the world there are places undiscovered and unexplored. Here is where our story begins, near a mountain range with a forest floor surrounding it and a forgotten lake so forgotten it looks almost like it was never visited by man or woman alike in all of creation. And here is where we meet a little girl who had no ordinary voice.

That isn't to say this young girl could not speak; I imagine anyone can make some sort of squawk, hack, cough, sigh, etc. However, this little girl was different. Whenever anyone tried to speak to her, she would only stare that them and smile. Perhaps she never spoke because she didn't know any words? Or perhaps she had nothing she wanted to say? Perhaps she loved to listen? Or perhaps there was another reason altogether?

And so, now that I've made the introduction, let us begin the tale.

What's after death?

What’s after death?

Ø What do they mean when Christians say, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord?”

ü “So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 NKJV

Sleep verses Death

Ø What does the Bible say about sleep verses death?

Ø Jesus mentions several times that people are not dead but asleep.

                             -She’s only sleeping

ü  “When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing. He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. But when the crowd was put outside. He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.”

Matthew 9:23-25 NKJV (see Luke 8:50-56)

                             -Lazarus sleeps

ü  “These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up. Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.’” John 11:11-15 NKJV (Bold print for emphasis)

What is sleep?

*The Merriam-Webster Dictionary, copyright 1998

-Sleep: n 1:the natural periodic suspension of consciousness during which bodily powers are restored

-Sleeping v 1:to rest or to be in a state of sleep

ü Jesus was speaking of the verb. Lazarus was sleeping.

Can we make this more simple to understand?

          Yes!

Sleep: (verb) to rest.

Sleep: (noun) a time in which you are alive but are waiting to be restored, refreshed, renewed.

ü Ie: We sleep, not die

Where’s the evidence of this?

Ø Revelation 6:9-11 NKJV

                             The souls under the altar

ü “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (vv.9-10)

                   White robes and rest

ü “Then a white robe was given to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.” (v.11)

Do souls have bodies? Continue to find out.

Back Track:

Wait a minute? What happened to people who “died” before Christ even came?

Ø What about before Christ rose from the dead?

ü  “No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.” -Lord Jesus to Nicodemus, John 3:13 NKJV

ü  “And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.” -In reference to the saints (ie. Noah, Abraham, Moses, etc.) Hebrews 11:39-40 NKJV

There’s a promise? What is the promise? What does that have to do with anything?

Ø Our inheritance

ü Hebrews 11:13-16

“But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” v.16 NKJV (Bold for emphasis)

Ø Found only in Christ Jesus

ü Romans 5:1-2

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” NKJV (Bold for emphasis)

Ø We have hope that does not disappoint

ü Romans 5:5

“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” NKJV

ü Holy Spirit is the guarantee (see Ephesians 1)

Ø We have the testimony

ü The three-fold witness

“This is He who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.” 1 John 5:6-7 NKJV

Ø We have that witness:

ü “He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed that God has given of His Son.” 1 John 5:10 NKJV (Bold for emphasis)

Ø This is the testimony:

ü “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1 John 5:11-12 NKJV (Bold for emphasis)

Conclusion:

        We have eternal life!

ü “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” 1 John 5:13 NKJV (Bold for emphasis)

Then, is God, the God of the living, not of the dead?

Old Testament:

Ø Moses encounters God

ü “Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.” Genesis 3:6 NKJV

Ø Note: Don’t forget Enoch in Genesis and Elijah in 2 Kings

ü They never tasted death but were taken up to God

New Testament:

Ø Moses and Elijah appear

ü “And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.” Matthew 17:3 NKJV (re: The Transfiguration of Lord Jesus)

Ø After the resurrection some arose

ü “Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” Matthew 27:51-53 NKJV (Bold for emphasis)

Ø Thief on the Cross: With Me in paradise

ü “And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43 NKJV (Bold for emphasis)

Ø Those who had died meet their Savior

ü “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.” 1 Peter 3:18-20 NKJV (Bold for emphasis)

We will rise:

                             Does this mean we are dead until later?

Romans 5:12-21

                    “Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” vv.20-21 NKJV (Bold for emphasis)

                             Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life Now!

John 14:6

                   “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” NKJV (Bold for emphasis)

Spiritual Bodies

1 Corinthians 15:42-44a

                   “So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.” NKJV (Bold for emphasis)

What is a spiritual body? Is my spirit just floating around?

What we will be like:

1 Corinthians 15:49

                   “And as we have borne the image of the man of dust [Adam], we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man [Lord Jesus].” NKJV (Bold for emphasis)

Luke 24:36-43

                   “Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence” NKJV (Bold for emphasis)

                             -Lord Jesus appears

                             -He has a body

                             -He shows them His body (He’s not a Ghost/spirit)

                             -He eats in their presence

                             (Again, spirits don’t eat physical food)

So we will have a body, but when will the sleep end?

Trumpet: Our Alarm Clock?

Ø “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”

1 Corinthians 15:51-53 NKJV

Bye-Bye Death

Ø “then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades [Sheol, the place of the dead], where is your victory?”

1 Corinthians 15:54b-55 NKJV (Bold for emphasis)

Who are we?

Temple? Body? New Jerusalem?

Ephesians 2:20-22  

                   “having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” NKJV (Bold for emphasis)

-In the Old Testament period and into the New, God’s name and presence was in Jerusalem.

(see 2 Chronicles 6)

                             -That is where the Temple of God was

                             -We are that New Jerusalem being built, a holy temple

Revelation 21:3

                   “And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.” NKJV (Bold for emphasis)

Because He lives, We live too!!!!

Forbid them not! A Father's love.

Children are so precious to God.

And all throughout history we see a theme of child abuse and murder.

Long ago, children-sacrifices was very common. They were offered to appease certain gods.

But the True Living God is not pleased. He loves children.

Several times He mentions this in various ways.

“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 18:10 NKJV

He even says, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.” Matthew 18:3-5 NKJV

Since when did it become ok for us to determine that it is ok to break God’s standard and abuse the children He loves?

We think we have rights to do this. But God doesn’t say that. Man says that. The World preaches that.

This little blessing in my womb is so small and grows every day. I feel her move. I’ve felt her kick. I can feel her heartbeat when I put my hand on my belly.

I could feel her heartbeat when someone said I was only 5 weeks. I was probably a little further along.

Regardless, I am a mom. The moment this baby was conceived I became a mom.

I love this baby. But my love isn’t even an ounce in comparison to the love that God has for this precious little girl.

Do we think that God as a the Father will not defend His precious babes?

Do we think because we are older that we are more important or something?

How do the decisions we are making today here going to show the love of God to children?

And God loves everyone. Lord Jesus died for the sins  of the whole world. But darkness loves sin and hates the light.

Come into the light! Don’t stand in darkness.

From a Mother to the rest of the world, this is Food for Thought.

“But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14 NKJV

"Cut if off!"- Say What???

CUT IT OFF!!!


Have you ever read or heard of the story in the Book of Matthew 18 where Jesus is speaking to His disciples and tells them, "So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away." ?

Whoa! What does that mean? Was Jesus being literal? Some may have thought so.

At one point, as recorded in the Book of John, Jesus says that it is necessary to eat His flesh and drink His blood!

This was a hard saying that caused many to turn back from following Him.

But what else does Jesus say about cutting something off?

Matthew 18:7-9

"What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.

So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, CUT IT OFF AND THROW IT AWAY.

It is better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet.

And if your eye causes you to sin, GOUGE IT OUT AND THROW IT AWAY. It's better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell."

(NLT, Caps for emphasis)


WHOA! Sounds kind of harsh? But was Jesus being literal?

Now before you get any ideas and start doing something you shouldn't take some time to understand something.

God hates sin!

God loves people.

It is not His intent that we start chopping off body parts and gouging out eyeballs.

But take a moment and think about what Jesus is saying.

If I used my hand to do something against what God intended, thus disobeying God, aka sinning against God, and my hand was cut off, could I use that hand to do that same action again?

No! I wouldn't have a hand to do so.

In the same way, if a man lusted after a woman with his eyes and thought, "Man, she's hott. I just have to have her." In the same way, if he lost his eyes and couldn't see anymore, he wouldn't be able to look at a woman and do what he just did.


When Jesus says to "CUT IT OFF", He's calling everyone to repent, to turn away from their disobedience toward God and do what is right. And to do so with a sincere heart change so that it is like as if your hand, foot, eye, whatever, was literally gone! If it's gone, it makes it harder for you to fall back into that particular sin.

So, yes, cut it off and gouge it out. But not literally. Jesus is speaking spiritually. A heart change.

Otherwise, we'd be mute, blind, and have many missing body parts.

"For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard." Romans 3:23 NLT

"If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." 1 John 1:8-9 NLT

"Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign LORD. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live." Ezekiel 18:23 NLT

Thorns

Lukewarm.

It's a word many if not most of us have heard at one point or another.

It's an adjective that describes the character of a person.

It has negative connotation.

And it has gotten to the point in which the adjective has so overtaken the noun (its subject) that it is literally chocking all faith from that individual.

The sad thing is that many are lukewarm, but don't know it.

Perhaps deep down they do.

Or perhaps they don't know what that word really even means?

A person can go to church, read the bible, pray occasionally, do good works and be Lukewarm.

Strange right?



In the Parable of the Sower that Jesus taught, he mentioned four kinds of soil. In this case I am addressing two: the thorny ground and the good soil.

But the difference between soil with weeds and soil that has no weeds is the heart of that soil, the heart of that individual.

If you had to lay everything down and walk away from it forever, would you?

What matters most to you? Who or what do you love most and can't live without? Where do you find your happiness, value, security, joy, hope?

The simple answer that every Christian (well, every person who calls themselves that) knows is Jesus.

But is Jesus your answer? Really and truly?

If your bank account was depleted and you didn't have a job anymore, would you still have peace? Joy? Faith? Hope?

Is your phone everything to you? Coffee? Friends? Family? Facebook? The internet? Sports? Movies? Celebrities? Politics? Career? School? Dreams of the future? That past hurt you can't let go of? Are any of those everything to you? What about your boyfriend? Girlfriend? Spouse? Child?

Are you everything to you? Looks? Food? Lust? Music? Your reputation? What you consider is your right to control?

If Jesus came to you and said you have to make a choice between all of that, your bubble, the world you've made around you, or HIM, who would you choose?

Who is your everything? Who is your smile? Who is your hope?

A Christian by definition is a Follower of Jesus Christ.

It is someone who has a personal relationship with Christ Jesus.

Jesus said,  “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another." (John 15:12-17 ESV)



Indeed, faith is more than believing. It has life in it. At least it should if it is genuine.

But a plant being chocked by weeds struggles to live.

It can't do what it was meant to do.

It needs to be free to grow and bear fruit, produce, become more.



Lukewarm. A term that is heard of, but not always understood.

I was Lukewarm once. Then Jesus came with Authority, Love, Gentleness, Truth.

Who do you love? Who do you choose? Who do you love more, Jesus or everything else?

"For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeits his soul?" -Lord Jesus    Mark 8:36 ESV