.

.

Daily Devotional, Year 3 – January 22 

.

.

.

.

A Christian Lobotomy!

.

.

.

.

.

“That this is a rebellious people, lying children,

children that will not hear the law of the LORD:

Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets,

Prophesy not unto us right things,

speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:”

Isaiah 30:9, 10

.

.

.

.

.

There’s an old song which goes…

.

“Grab your coat and get your hat
Leave your worry on the doorstep
Just direct your feet
To the sunny side of the street…”

.

Nice song! Wonderful sentiment! And it’s true that people should try to look for good things to lift their spirit!

.

But there are many unhappy things in this godless world. And should we try to ignore them? Maybe pretend they don’t exist?

.

Oh yes, on the other hand, there are many persons who are totally inundated by negative thoughts! And there have been many who have been driven even to the point of suicide by uncontrollable thoughts of hopelessness!

.

Yes, Satan is a very busy devil! And he loves to see some people drown in hopelessness!

.

Happy face svg – Wikimedia – public domain

Sad face – Wikimedia – public domain

Human worry & stress & depression – by Becky Wetherington for Wikimedia – Share-alike License

.

.

.

.

.

THE LOBOTOMY

.

During the last century, there arose a popular medical procedure known as having a Lobotomy.

.

This operation was performed on individuals who could no longer handle the sadness and stresses of life. And it was believed (for a time) by doctors, that by removing the frontal lobes of the brain, then that individual might be finally cured of all negative thoughts. Well, obviously this hypothesis didn’t work! And eventually this horrible procedure was finally stopped!

.

Doctors ultimately renounced this hideous practice, saying such things as… “the procedure was “contrary to the principles of humanity”, and “‘through lobotomy’ an insane person is changed into an idiot.” (Wikipedia on “Lobotomy”)

.

Reviews lobotomy courtesy Discover magazine Jan-2007 – Wikipedia – GNU-user-license

.

.

.

.

.

MANY NEGATIVE THINGS

.

The Bible is a book that has many things to say, some happy and some sad.

.

For instance, the Book of Psalms has, roughly, about one-third happy things, one-third unhappy, and one-third neutral. But also, the books of the prophets were largely concerning unhappy issues.

.

The New Testament is also filled with both happy and unhappy truths.

.

Holy bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons lic.

.

.

.

.

.

MANY UNHAPPY THINGS

.

God has many rebukes in Scripture, concerning the behavior of His people.

.

There are also many warnings in the Bible, as well. And there are likewise, many prophecies concerning both happy, as well as unhappy future events. God, in His infinite wisdom knows that sadness is necessary! At least, in this world, sadness is necessary.

.

Listen… “Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.” Ecclesiastes 7:3

.

Here is one of those verses which the world nor the apostate portion of the Church will ever accept. Because very few thought-leaders within the psychiatric community would ever assent to or teach those types of “hard saying(s)” from God’s infallible “Word of Life”!

.

Such Bible truths completely go against the grain of world’s hedonistic, ‘happy-faced’ thinking!

(See John 6:60 & 1st John 1:1 for ‘hard saying’ and ‘Word of Life’ References)

.

Holy bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons lic.

.

.

.

.

.

“PROPHESY SMOOTH THINGS”

.

Well, back to the subject of lobotomies.

.

You see, the secular world isn’t the only place which tries to eliminate all negativity.

.

No, and this idea of a happy-faced-lobotomy is nothing new! Even God’s very own people, during the days of Jeremiah and Isaiah were desperately searching for such a lobotomized gospel!

.

Listen to Isaiah… “That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:” Isaiah 30:9, 10

.

Yes, these professing people of God didn’t want to hear all the negativity which God’s prophets had to say! They wanted only “smooth things”.

.

They wanted a lobotomized gospel!

.

joshua 24 Parting Advice www.thebiblerevival.org public domain

.

.

.

.

.

LOBOTOMIZED GOSPELS TODAY

.

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2nd Timothy 3, 4

.

Well, you would think that things would have progressed since the days of Isaiah.

.

But just look around today and you will find preachers willing to preach peace and earthly prosperity! In their gospel, God is smiling down on His people, willing to give earthly riches and peace and all the good things this world has to offer.

.

Yes, it’s almost as if these happy-faced gospels are trying to become lobotomized. They almost seem as if they want to eliminate any of the negativity in the Bible. It reminds one of that “power of positive thinking” ideology which has blown back and forth through the church-world for the last 60 years or more.

.

Perhaps you could say that we’ve reached that time in which “itching ears” gospels are abounding, as the above passage foretells. 

.

Listen again…“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2nd Timothy 4:3, 4

.

Audience hands – cropped & altered – Wikimedia – Universal Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

JESUS, A MAN OF SORROWS

.

But listen to this description of Jesus… “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” Isaiah 53:3.

.

Being born into this world of sin became a trial for the Sinless One from Heaven. And His constant encounter with the hatred and rebelliousness of His very own professed people, would daily take its toll upon the Savior.

.

But make no mistake! Jesus had an inner joy which shone out from His eyes. And yet, it was tempered by the sadness and grief He felt for the fallen human condition.

.

It is written… “Jesus wept.” John 11:35.

.

Jesus was weeping here for the great unbelief He saw in His Elect! And He weeps over our sorrows too!

.

Listen…“Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” Romans 12:15

.

Yes, our great God even rejoices with us, but also weeps with us as well!

.

La Bible, Notre-Dame – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-Alike License

.

.

.

.

.

SAME SPIRIT IN CHRISTIANS

.

When a person is filled with God’s Spirit, there is a duality of emotions, quite often.

.

Listen to Paul, as he describes the Christian life… “…As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing…” 2nd Corinthians 6:10.

.

Yes, because God is very complex, so also is that same complexity experienced by the Christian, howbeit to a much less degree.

.

Along the pathway of the Christian, there are times of peace and joy, but also there are times of sorrow. There are times of victory, but also times of defeat. And there are many times when the Christian must weep at the foot of the Cross for his or her sins.

.

So, it should be understood that, just as Scripture reveals, sorrow is sometimes a necessary thing… “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.” James 4:8-10.

.

Yes, as the Christian strives to crucify the “Old Man”, with his lusts and affections, there will be many sad times.

.

And as he reads the Bible, God has many sorrowful things to say, but also many joyful promises as well.

.

Braet von Überfeldt – woman with bible 1866 – Wikipedia – US-public-domain

Weeping Woman – Van Gogh – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

BUT WHY ALL THE SADNESS?

.

“Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.” Ecclesiastes 7:3

.

But why would God want us sad, as this above verse indicates? Why not just give us nothing but happy times, along that upward pathway? Why not just give us the lobotomized, peace-n-prosperity gospels which are so often being preached today?

.

Well, this above passage reveals God’s true motives (“…for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.”). God knows that sadness is His necessary “cleansing agent” to help remove the stain of sin from one’s heart. No, God does not enjoy causing grief. But this has been His chosen means of purifying for Himself, a set-apart people who will reflect the character of Christ to the world.

.

Just listen to this next passage… “For the Lord will not cast off for ever: But though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. For He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men. To crush under His feet all the prisoners of the earth…Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.” Lamentations 3:31-34, 40, 41.

.

So here is the answer, smack-dab in the middle of the saddest book of the Bible, Lamentations. Yes, this passage reveals that God takes no pleasure in inflicting pain or sorrow!

.

But our “many light afflictions” will ultimately cause us to turn back to God, with greater zeal and deeper devotion!

.

David’s sorrow www.wikigallery.org public domain

.

.

.

.

.

JOY COMETH IN THE MORNING!

.

“For His anger endures but a moment; in His favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalm 30:5

.

As this above verse reveals…“joy cometh in the morning.”

.

Yes, there is coming a day in which all tears will be wiped away! And one of these days soon, God will lift us up and put a new song in our mouth! And on that day, it will be said… “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Isaiah 35:10

.

And so, with such promises as this, the Christian takes heart, and continues to allow God to work in him, changing his heart into the image of Christ; all the while knowing, that there is soon coming a day, when that often-difficult work of transformation will be completed!

.

And then will God’s perfected people fully reflect the character of Christ.

.

Sunrise from Burrow Mump, Burrowbridge, Somerset – cropped image – wikimedia share-alike license

.

.

.

.

.

Below is a poem that speaks more eloquently on this subject…

.

.

.

.

THE MASTER WEAVER’S PLAN

.

.

My life is but a weaving, Between the Lord and me; I may not choose the colors– He knows what they should be.

.

For He can view the pattern, Upon the upper side, While I can see it only, On this, the under side.

.

Sometimes He weaves in sorrow, Which seems so strange to me; But I will trust His judgment, And work on faithfully.

.

‘Tis He who fills the shuttle, And He knows what is best; So I shall weave in earnest, And leave to Him the rest.

.

Not ’til the loom is silent, And the shuttles cease to fly, Shall God unroll the canvas, And explain the reason why.

.

The dark threads are as needed, In the Weaver’s skillful hand, As the threads of gold and silver, In the pattern He has planned.

.

~ Benjamin Malachi Franklin

.

Tapestry – Adoration of the Magi Tapestry – Wikimedia – Public Domain

.

.

.

.

TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Please help me to love Thy Word, both the happy as well as the sad…

Woman Praying – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

.

.

.

.

.

.

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Orion, The Good Shepherd” or you can also read… “December 2 (The gospel according to Pollyanna).“

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

.

.

.

.

THE END

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

.

.

FLOWER OF THE FIELD CONSTELLATION

.

This is perhaps one of the most amazing constellations that God has created! It truly looks like a flower, and appears to be blowing in the direction of westward. But as autumn draws near, this constellation appears to bow itself down, just like the flowers of Earth bow down, at the summer’s end.

 .

And these are not merely obscure stars. These are among the biggest and brightest stars in the night heavens!

.

.

The Two Turtle-Doves Constellation is also known as Sagittarius .

.

The Flower of the Field is commonly known as Scorpio .

.

But there is another obvious aspect to this constellation group. Notice that the birds are flying in the same direction as the flower is bending; it is as if the east wind is blowing these heavenly messengers…

.

“The wind blows where it desires, and you hear the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it comes, and where it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. John 3:8.

.

So here is another incredible Bible concept, written in the heavens! And God has spoken of these signs! Listen… “For ever, O LORD, Thy Word is settled in heaven.” Psalm 119:89

.

THE ZODIAC CONSTELLATION NAMES

By the way, it is not the purpose of www.theheavensdeclare.net to give any validity to the Zodiac or any pagan deities. But the common names of many constellations must be given, solely for the purpose of locating them on star-charts.

.

.

.

.

.

FLOWER CONSTELLATION BOWS DOWN…

.

AUGUST 28TH, 2011

.

.

It has become apparent, on this date, that as summer draws to a close, this “Flower of the Field Constellation” appears to bend almost completely down. This occurs as it travels into the western skies. It somehow rotates in order to produce this effect. This is a very wonderful phenomenon…and biblical too! After all, the Bible says “the grass withers and the flower falls away”. And that’s exactly what this flower constellation seems to do. It almost seems to be bowing itself…in the direction of that bright and beautiful star, “Arcturus” (which represents Jesus). This would make sense. After all, Scripture states…

.

.

“…unto Me (the Lord), every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear… Bel bows down, Nebo stoops… They stoop, they bow down together… Listen to Me… all you remnant of the house of Israel (God’s people)… which are carried from the womb: And even to your old age I am he… even I will carry, and will deliver you.” Isaiah 46″1-4 (condensed)

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Flower of the Field Constellation”

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

TOMORROW…

January 23 . . . . Revelation 18:2: “A Cage of Every Unclean & Hateful Bird! Part 3: The Social Club Gospel, Continued: Accepting A Form of Godliness”

Bat – Livingstone’s Fruit Bat – Wikipedia – Creative Commons 2.0 License

.

.

.

.

90-MINUTE OPEN FORUM

.

ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO LISTEN TO THIS 90-MINUTE OPEN FORUM, A QUESTION/ANSWER CALL-IN, TALK SHOW.

.

Harold Camping Bible Conference Open Forum #16 (youtube.com)

.

ABOVE PICTURE: Holy Bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic.

.

.