‘Shelters From Storms’

 Shelters From Storms
  
 take these gifts...give them more
 open, open...will be doors
 no more seeking to find
 say this is mine
 it shall be yours
  
 place bets on things
 instead of doors
 what's yours will be no more
  
 treasures are found
 in gifts stored
 open, open the doors
 heal from your sores
 be fierce...the power is yours
  
 take these gifts...do more
 help the needy, help the poor
 put life in their décor
 never asking what for
  
 open, open the door
 don't be the evil's whore
 take what you know‒
 take it and soar
 high, high...my little commodore
 what you wish...will be yours
 for without fear‒
 the Lord†, you adored! 

(July 24)―There’s reasons for everything! Twice during meditation this past week I was presented with doors. The first time there were two doors. They were white and side by side. I went to open the door directly in front of me and it was locked. My team (I actually can hear them.) told me to try the other. I did. It opened. I was cheered. I didn’t see myself walk through this door. I just knew that I had entered. And the manifestation process began. The second time there was just one very large white door. I opened it and saw myself walk through it.

I’ve been talking to myself a lot lately, mainly out loud. Going over and over all that I’ve learned these past 7 years. 7…such a magical number, isn’t it! As I said in my post yesterday, a lot of questions come up. The mystery of God is extraordinary to say the least! It is important to speak out loud, but what we question to ourselves is also heard, just not as quick sometimes.

I had a long chat with my niece last night and in my mind, the question of Why me? popped into my mind. It has many times. And this morning, Matthew 25:14-30 and Matthew 25:31-46 was put before me. In my Bible, these two passages fall on pages 1452-1453, right after each other. At first, I was led directly to 25:31-46 and after I read it, I was putting the book aside when I was compelled to read 25:14-30. At first, I didn’t see the connection, then ‘Shelters From Storms’ came and it made sense. So, I’ll present both verses then discuss what I wrote after today’s work. [Note: In all the years that I’ve been writing, I never write anything more in my notebook other than the poetry. Things have changed. When you learn to truly listen, all sorts of notes come through. These days, I’m compelled to write them all down.]

‘Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents [worth more than a thousand dollars] of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.…

After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness! The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘ you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’ His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness! Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest….’

“Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’‘—Matthew 25:14-30

‘When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in, I needed clothes and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you came to visit Me. Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and invite You in, or needing clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and go to visit You?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me….’

‘Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and His angels. For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite Me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after Me.’ They will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help You?’ He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.’ Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.’—Matthew 25:31-46

These are the notes I wrote: First, tell them about the visions…doors…twice. I did at the beginning of this post. Then the following:

• Personal responsibility
• Natural resources
• Lies
• Manipulation
• Things of this world
• Causing others to stumble by putting thoughts in their heads that’s not true
• Not helping them, instead hurting them
• Instead of empowering them, breaking them
• It’s not about making another laugh…it’s about giving them strength to do what God’s asking them to do
• It’s about not looking down on them, but seeking every way possible to help them without going against the spiritual laws or harming anyone.
• It’s about helping others make a living without creating a disaster for them financially or morally.
• It’s up to you to ensure people can actually afford a product or service.
• It’s wrong to inspire them and push them into doing something that will create a hardship

Interesting. Don’t you think?

The Parable of Talents. How many people actually had this parable explained to them? Have you gotten only one meaning? Or many meanings? I’ve been led to this parable many times. It is spoken about many times in the New Testament. I’ve used it before…only this part: For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

And this is the only part I underlined back in 2007. 

The rest of the Scripture I just sort of bypassed thinking I understood it or understanding it too well! I bet many of you only think this Scripture is about money. As I said many times, the Bible is living, breathing and each Scripture that we are led to means different things to each person. As well as, the same Scripture will mean something different to each of us during different times of our lives. I think that’s why it is so important to understand that preachers can’t really tell us what Scripture means in any general form. But it is great to learn the historical aspects of who said what and when, and the why of the time.

For me today, being led to these two Scriptures is no accident. I’ve been thinking about spiritual gifts very deeply lately and about my writing, questioning my Lord about all this work I’ve done and the meaning behind it. The revelations that I have been given are things I would never have thought of, but I’ve written about it! Isn’t that something! So, for me, these two Scriptures blend perfectly.

‘Shelters From Storms’…The Parable of Talents. We are all given gifts. It is talked about over and over in the New Testament. Being a teacher is a talent. Being a policeman is a talent. Being a soldier is a talent. There are so many talents…and because we are the body under one head…Jesus…we are to work together for that body to be healthy. Currently, that body isn’t so healthy. The spiritual gifts are given on top of the regular gifts because most people who have these gifts also are directed into a field of study (you don’t need to go to college) that blends with the spiritual gift. So, for example, me being an Empathe with the gifts of feeling other’s emotions (just this one gift) I am a teacher. Having the gift of insight as well, I am a writer.

So, in the Parable of Talents, Jesus is telling us that we are given gifts for a reason: To use them! I have written many times about the Seven Deadly Sins…and in those writings, I tell you that if you stayed away from those sins, then you are doing pretty good. Truth. Sloth is laziness. In so many Scriptures in the Bible, God reveals that He does NOT like laziness! Hence, gluttony is another deadly sin! This goes directly to the meaning of this particular parable. It covers such a magnitude of things that Jesus was extreme in His genius when He told it in this way!

Many of us…pretty much the whole of us are given at least two talents. You may not see them yet, but there are at least two things that you do well. It could be so freaking simple. It is still a gift. Can you sew? Can you cook? Can you do mechanical work? What is it that comes to you easy? What ever that is…that’s one of your gifts. Now, once you figure that out, think about non-physical abilities. Can you feel for another person and sympathize with them? Can you easily make another laugh or smile? Is it easy for you to talk with strangers? Stuff like that. That is your spiritual gift…your second gift!

After reading the above paragraph, you should now understand what I’m talking about when I talk about gifts! I have several. For the very young who read this, I’ll give you some insight. I’m 50 years old. I have raised three children. I have been married. I was a soldier in the Army. I love. I love to always read all sorts of books. I went to college. I wrote a novel. I was a journalist and a teacher. I’m disabled. I’ve lived in different areas. In different countries. Okay…I’m not bragging. I’m writing this again for you to look at it. Do you see it? All of the above took place at different times of my life. Some of it overlapped, but most at different periods of my life. Do you see it?

All that we go through, eventually combines so that on our second half of life, we do what God wants from us. We begin to live our authentic life. So, don’t get upset with yourself. You are being schooled in God’s big classroom! Maturity comes with experience. You can read tons of books and think you know so much. You don’t. That’s where experience comes into play. You can be smarter than anyone you know…you are still dumb according to life’s school! Experiencing is the only way to graduate to maturity.

So, this is where Matthew 25:31-46 comes into play. We will all be judged. This is the first time since 2007 that I’m led to this particular Scripture. The entire part at the beginning of this Scripture where Jesus explains about how we will be sorted on that final day I underlined in red back in 2007. Then I underlined this part:  The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’

Do you see it? I don’t remember reading this passage at all! But when I read it this morning, it jolted a memory and I remembered the following poem which I wrote back in 2011. It is included in Book 2:

 Goats and Horses
  
 different breeds
 sharing the same feeds
 different looks
 drinking from the same brooks
 how to compare
 something so rare
 larger caring for smaller
 no neglecting
 no selecting
 it just is
 without any question's quiz 

This amazes me in so many ways. This one poems takes the two Scriptures above and combines them. Then take those notes I was given and it further combines it. Then all that leads to ‘Shelters From Storms’!

People talk about manifestation all the time on my Facebook timeline. All these people seeking to work for themselves, make a life better than they have, be their own boss. It’s having a dream and going for it. There’s a catch to this manifestation process. Yes, it’s true about the Conceive, Believe, Receive…but there is a process. In The Secret, they try to explain it but they leave one very important aspect out! And without this aspect, you won’t get what you are trying to manifest. You may think you have it, but it’s an illusion. God says that when we build something, we’d better be sure it’s solid because He will come to test it. The illustration in the Bible talks about how will it measure up to fire saying that if it is solid, it will withstand the test of fire, and if it isn’t solid, you may escape the flames, but not without misery!

What does that mean? To you, it could mean a lot of things. In general, what you build with your gifts should be honest in every way. If there’s any falsehood in what you are trying to do, it will eventually crumble. This is why I’m so leery of all these online-marketing gigs. Let’s take the essential oil business. I’m not knocking anyone’s business, but if you’re dishonest, it won’t last. I’m getting on natural oils for my health and well being. I can’t see paying all this money for 1 ounce of oil. Oil is natural. God gave that to us. Sure, it takes money for the companies given the gift of knowledge to extract these oils from their natural resources. I understand that. So, understanding this, I’m willing to pay the money to purchase the oil. But…always a fucking but in there…I’m not going to get jilted by greed. That happened so many times in my lifetime, and I’m learning how all these marketing companies work.

So, I researched. I have bought my patchouli oil from a store here in Vegas. A large bottle for $8. My usual bottles cost me about $20 for 1 ounce. I know the bottle for $8 is cut. It doesn’t smell as strong. At first, I was like…yeah scam! But then I did some reading. Putting 100% pure oil on our skin is not recommended because these oils are extremely powerful. So, they all advise using a carrier oil like coconut oil or sweet almond. So you have to cut the pure oil anyway. As I’m doing this research, I’m discovering all these companies that you can buy bulk oils…100% pure and then all these little brown bottles and labels. One company I found actually prints the labels for you. So these marketing companies are buying the bulk, the bottles, the labels, taking the brand as their own (putting their own brand on the bottles) and selling a less than 1 ounce bottle for double and sometimes triple what they paid for the bulk amount. That is being dishonest. Yes, raising the price a little to make a profit is good, but not at the prices I saw. One of these marketing companies is charging $75 and higher for less than an ounce of what is natural, given to us by God!

How does this example fit into the two Scriptures here? We are given talents. The company with the extraction capabilities…that’s a talent. They use their talent to work, to multiply their talent by selling the oils to the public. It doesn’t matter if the product is a bit diluted, you can’t put that 100% oil directly on your skin without experiencing some kind of affect. They are also adhering to the second Scripture by selling their product at reasonable prices. The company I chose is out of the country and they even ship for free. I haven’t experienced their product yet. But saying 100% and offering the carrier oils says they know what they are selling. So, they are feeding me with natural oils I can actually afford!

How about the marketing companies that many people are selling for with the illusion they are going to get rich? They are taking what these extraction companies are selling, putting the same exact oil in small, less than 1 ounce jars and selling it at an extremely marked up prices! And you feel comfortable with this? Didn’t you do your research? Do you think selling a tiny bottle of oil for over $40 is actually worth it in the long run? Do you think that bottle of oil is actually worth $40? Does it have gold in it or some magic potion that will cure things? No. It’s called greed. It’s call over-pricing. Then there is the hype put on the product. Our product is the best! Our product is the purest! Our product will cure all your problems! Really. Says who? Or Our company will make you rich! We are doing what no one else is doing! We have special machines and things that are magical! So many companies have these magical machines that it isn’t funny.

I know about marketing. My mother worked for Avon and Stanley for years. I can vouch for Stanley. I don’t know if they are still in business but their products were worth the buy. I bought a broom from them and that broom was the best! Their cleaning products was worth the price because they were so powerful, you had to use only a tiny amount so one bottle that cost $14 lasted for months and months! My mother didn’t make a fortune selling these products. She didn’t sell them for that reason only. She liked going to people’s homes and drinking coffee with them. She had some customers that remained loyal until the end. It wasn’t about money. It was about people.

That’s how these two Scriptures combine. Taking our talents and using them to help people. If you abuse the privilege of the gifts, you will never advance. Do you see it? You won’t keep what you’ve worked for when it’s dishonest, or put a stumbling block in front of someone. If you take their money, telling them they are part of your team and you will be with them every step of the way, then bail…you put a stumbling block and you become the goat. You may have been given the gift of being able to sell to people, but if you don’t use it wisely, you are hurting others. You become the goat.

My mother could sell anything, but she used it wisely. She made the most beautiful wedding cakes that spread tables long. She charged maybe $500. The prices I see people charging for simple 3-tiers is greed…pure and simple. When you use your gifts wisely, doors begin to open. When you are honest and loyal to God’s law, doors begin to open.

When you find doors opening and you are using dishonesty, it won’t last. You get put in the goat category. I’m staying in the sheep category. I follow my Sheppard’s ways. You do what you want. I’m just telling you like it is. Let money, objects be your principles or let the true meaning of having gifts guide you so that you feed those who are hungry, water those who are thirsty, shelter those who are homeless, etc., etc. It means to me, that I write and put on line for free so others can get fed words that can heal. I price my books the lowest so that I’ll make a few cents a book to help support me, and they get the feed they need to heal. I’d rather be in the Sheep deal. I’ve felt the evil deal….I get frightened really easy! I’m not lying. I can’t imagine being a goat and having to experience fright every single moment! Not going to happen! Amen!