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Today’s Devotional – September 7th

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Rollie-Pollie Bug Christians!

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Part 2

To read Part 1, click here…September 6th (Rollie-Pollie Bug Christians!)

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In yesterday’s devotional (click here to read), a familiar little bug was showcased. Scientists have named this insect, “Armadillidiidae”. Nevertheless, this cute little bug is commonly referred to as, the “The Rollie-Pollie Bug”, and by others as a, “Doodle Bug”, or sometimes even as a, “Pill Bug”.

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Well, which ever name you call it, the fact is, God has given this little bug a little coat of armor. So then, when confronted by an assailant, this little bug simply curls up into a little ball, and is now totally protected by his coat of armor!

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Well, yesterday, this little bug was used as a picture of how a Christian can all but curl up by his or her own self, and hide in God’s Secret Hiding Place.

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And as that Christian pulls the covers over and begins to pray in secret to God, the following verse from Psalms is fulfilled… “commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.” Psalm 4:4

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Yes, the Rollie-Pollie bug has been created by God to give us encouragement to curl up with God, during our times of trouble!

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Armadillidium vulgare – Pill Bug – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-Alike License

Photo Above Right: Rollie-Pollie Doodle-Bug – Slater rolled up – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-Alike License

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PULLING DOWN THE SHADES

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Now this curling up with God brings to mind a story which a radio minister of yesteryear told about somebody he knew who was an officer in the military.

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And as the story goes, this military officer, at times, had the unpleasant duty of having to attend parties at the Officer’s Club, in which drinking and other similar behavior was going on. And being a Christian, this officer did not participate in the less-than-wholesome activities. But he was nevertheless required to attend these occasions, and witness things that Christians are warned to flee from!

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Well, one day, another Christian asked this Christian officer how he could “put up with all that ungodly behavior?” Well, this Christian officer replied, “You see, when I get there, I just pull down the shades and get alone with God!”

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Well, whether he knew it or not, this military officer was truly being a, “Rollie-Pollie Bug Christian”! When in such unwholesome circumstances, he just “pulled down the shades”, so to speak, and got alone with God! Definitely a Rollie-Pollie Bug Christian!

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You see, this big strong military officer could say, along with David… “Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of Thy wings, From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about. They are enclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.” Psalm 17:8-10

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Photo Above Right: Rollie-Pollie Doodle-Bug – Slater rolled up – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-Alike License

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CURLED UP WITH GOD

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Now this radio Bible teacher was not telling this story to encourage any Christians that it’s somehow okay to go into drinking parties! No, if this officer had voluntarily gone, he would have had no blessing from God! He would have found it all but impossible to, “pull down the shades and get alone with God”.

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But isn’t it true, that in this work-a-day world, there are many times when a Christian needs to just “pull down the shades and get alone with God?” Yes, just like that military man, we often find that we must curl up with God and hide ourselves from the corruption which often sweeps over us like a flood!

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And just as the Psalmist wrote… “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in His tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD…Thou art my hiding place…Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.” Psalm 27:5, 6 & 32:7

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There are so many times and places in this Babylonish world, that the Christian must, spiritually speaking, curl up in a little ball, and let his or her shield of faith become the shell around them. Just like that little bug, with his coat of armor as a protection!

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Johann Heinrich Füssli – Woman Sitting, Curled up Google Art Project US public domain

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PLACES OF PRAYER

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Maybe in a store, when the magazines at the checkout isle are glamorizing sin and sinners, we might pull out our little pocket Testament and read a passage!

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Or when the air is filled with ungodly music at some place of business, we must roll up (figuratively, not literally), and begin silently praying!

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Or perhaps down at the office, the sights and sounds and all the ungodly conversations necessitate that we simply curl up into a little ball, and let our Christian armor and shield of faith protect us!

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News stand in Las Vegas – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons 2.0 License

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FAMILY GET-TOGETHERS

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There may be some family get-together, in which we really would love to get up and walk away from all the ungodly behavior all around us! And so, like that Christian military officer, we must “pull down the shades and get alone with God!”

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Oh yes, when we attend such occasions, we can quietly attend, and be as light and accommodating as possible. Maybe we might find someone who is all by themselves, and go and converse, trying to make them feel at ease, as best we can. Or maybe we can help with the dishes, or some other task, attempting to relieve the workload of the host.

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In other words, there are ways in which we can let our light shine, and be the fragrance of Christ in some unpretentious way.

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Barbecue – Dutch family – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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OUR HIDING PLACE, TOO!

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All who are persecuted may find refuge and safety from Satan’s cruel hand.

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Our true “hiding place” is the place of secret prayer and quiet trust and confidence in Him, coupled with the joyful contemplation of His “exceeding great and precious promises”, so that we may say along with the Psalmist…

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“Thou art my hiding place; Thou shalt preserve me from trouble; Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.” Psalm 32:7

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Prayer – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TO READ PART 3, CLICK HERE…

JUNE 15 (Rollie-Pollie Bug Christians! Part 3: How To Dwell In Love)

Rollie-Pollie Doodle-Bug – Slater rolled up – Wikipedia – Share-Alike License

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Teach me how to hide in Thee! Let me know the Way to Thy Secret Hiding Place, that I may find it in times of trouble and anguish…

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “How To Be Hidden in the Day of Wrath” or you can also read… ” March 7th (Finding Perfect Peace, Pt. 2, “Precious Promises”)”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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

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THE NARROW WAY: THE PILGRIM’S PATHWAY

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“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13-14

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That world-shaking allegory, Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan, picked up the theme of the Narrow Gate. The hero of the story was Christian, a man who was warned to flee from the City of Destruction (the world), and to embark on a journey to the Heavenly City. And along the way, Christian encountered many adventures and dangers. This first of its kind allegorical book absolutely rocked the western world, and became perhaps the first million seller book (along with the Bible).

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But God has also given this same Narrow Way parable in the night heavens! Incredible? Yes, incredible…and amazing too! And though these two stars can hardly be considered a constellation, but when sitting next to the two stars which comprise the Broad Gate, well, it makes a powerful statement, for the people of God.

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So please come along on this journey and find out just why this pathway graces the night heavens, and perhaps you might find yourself embarking on your own pilgrimage up that very same Narrow pathway.

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John Bunyan – Wikipedia – Public Domain

Pilgrim’s Progress Enters The Wicket Gate-Wikipedia public domain

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LOCATION

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This most amazing phenomenon is seen throughout the winter. Although it can be observed most of the winter, it is seen best when it is the western part of the sky, at winter’s end (The end of winter being the final scene of this heavenly Gospel story). Orion , the Dragon, and the Glorious White Horse are beginning to descend into the western horizon (sketch to right is Winter Constellations descending into western horizon. This can actually be seen as early as December, in the pre-dawn hours).

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And at this point it is apparent that the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation is veering toward the two bright stars, known as Castor and Pollux (sketch to left). But the Wide Gate Stars are composed of the two brightest stars of the Auriga Constellation, known as the star, Capella, and the star, Menkalinan. The two stars, Castor and Pollux, make up the concept of the Orion’s Narrow Gate Stars.

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This can even be observed into June in the western sky (for a short time just after dark). While a dark night is best for seeing the Woman Constellation, the 4 stars which comprise the Narrow Gate/Wide Gate Stars can be seen even under mediocre conditions. It begins with the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation (AKA Ursa Major) going towards these two doors.

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The sketch to left shows, the two doors are each composed of two bright stars. The two bright stars that comprise the Narrow Gate are the two brightest stars of the Orion the Reaper’s sickle. The two stars that comprise the ‘Wide Gate’ Stars are the two brightest stars of the wave of water that comes out of the Dragon Constellation’s mouth (for explanation of “Wave of Water”, just click here). The stars that make up the ‘Narrow Gate’ are about half the width of the Wide Gate (see sketch below left).

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(For more information on Orion’s sickle, just click here,“Orion The Reaper”.)

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Editor’s note: These sketches on this page are merely sketches. The stars are not in their exact place. However, they are close enough to find them in the night sky. But as with most stars, it takes persistence to finally locate them.

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Revelation 12 Woman & The Narrow Gate Stars (Orion’s Gate to Heaven)”

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TOMORROW:

“September 8th (Eternal Torment?)”

Brooklyn Museum – The Rich Man In Hell – James Tissot – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS IS STUDY #248 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Those who are interested in using photos on this page may click on the provided image credit link below each photo, to get to Wikimedia Commons for various licensing names, details, and tags, and all other necessary info on any particular photo.