Well here we are, in the final hours of September 2024. I’ve done my reading, done my praying (and will definitely do more praying); I’ve worked out, I’ve cashed in my daily quota of gaming sessions (which I really shouldn’t be keeping in the high numbers), my daily activities have been plotted out accordingly… All that’s left is to just write.
All that’s left is to write. Groan.
Anyway, about that, I do have a couple of things I took note of in this handy-dandy Evernote entry, that I’ll just go ahead and expound/expand on.
Bit of back story for this first entry. We used to have a sharp kid help us out by way of playing the drums in our musical service, way way back. Eventually the higher leadership in the church sort of heard from him by way of ‘prophetic words’ and recognized his words, at least for consideration.
Apparently this kid was more or less on the money for at least one of his declarations, because the wife of one of my good mentors (who served as a leader in both our church and in local politics) couldn’t contain her excitement – without going into too much detail, she got further confirmation, or, rather, validation that her husband, my mentor, was going the right direction with his decisions…
…and this further validation was in the form of a message that this kid gave him, just a single day shy of it being precisely 10 years ago – September 16, 2014.
This led me to go back to my older conversations on Messenger, because I do remember that this kid didn’t just send a message to my mentor, but to me, and other leaders.
I do remember appreciating it at the time, but, apparently, I didn’t think too much of it after that. When I went back to this message for me, I found out that it was sent out November of 2014; So I thought to myself, maybe I should be looking at it a couple of months from now… for, what, dramatic effect? I don’t know.
I mean, I already went through it now, so I suppose I should just go through it again, with a fine-toothed comb. I’m not sure if I should really be sharing this, but hey, here we are.
By the way, the ‘fine-toothed comb’ I’m referring to is Scripture. 1 Thessalonians 5:10-21 says that we’re not to despise prophecies, but test everything, and to hold fast what is good – I took that as a cue for me to take a look at that kid’s words, and see how it matches Scripture.
…the Lord is handing a golden scepter to you. it is covered with gems and light found only in Heaven.
First scepter that comes to mind is the one Cyrus held out to decree mercy and favor upon Esther, who dared to appear in his court without prior notice and his permission. I’m to take note that this is a scepter, and not a staff, as in those used by Moses and Aaron – Gold, as in the same gold one of the three wise men gave to the baby Jesus, further represents royal favor over prophetic purpose.
I’m being brought back to when I first started my online job, where I got excited, particularly with the prospect that I’m helping in the process of families buying, selling, leasing or renting their future dwelling places. That’s where Ed Kowalcyk’s song, “We Deal In Dreams” just played in the background while I stayed up to keep up with American Central Time.
My point here is, it may be seen here as royal favor, but I suppose it’s something I’ve had in mind ever since – giving advice and/or money (and mostly money) not expecting anything in return.
As I reflect over my bank account that used to have a whole lot more than I see in it, I think, sure, I’ve made a whole lot of mistakes – and most of those mistakes have been related to how I wanted to establish ‘passive income’ just so that I’m sustained for the years and decades to come. What a joke!
But all these other folks I’ve lent to ever since? I’m sorry if this seems as if I’m tooting my own horn here, but to be straight with all of you, I gave to all of them without the expectation of profit, or even of return. None of them were mistakes, even if never see these folks again – or, even if I DO see them again, and they ‘forget’ these favors, the point is, I was certainly giving out of contentment.
Sure, I’ve felt some folks being abusive, but that’s also where I learned that the grace of God was not necessarily giving to these folks each and every time, but eventually it would come to a point where demonstrating grace was in graciously stopping to give them what they ask for, in place of what they need.
Perhaps, in the context of the kid’s message almost 10 years ago, a golden scepter WAS given, in form of regal resources to consequently give out.
But hang on here. Up until now we’ve only been talking about a golden scepter, and just a golden scepter – Could those gems ‘found only in Heaven’ just mean that I really did get all I had between that moment and today, from divine providence? Or, could the light which is also ‘found only in Heaven’ mean that I’m to remember that this royal favor comes from eternity, and is not necessarily of temporal value (‘found only in Heaven’ ), but certainly of eternal value (‘found only in Heaven‘)?
I could be sounding like a madman here, but, well, I’m testing this prophecy best I could – by way of relating it to Scripture (i.e. Cyrus’s scepter, the significance of gold, etc.), and ‘reviewing’ it based on what I’ve actually been through between almost 10 years ago and today.
Gosh, that’s just the first line. I probably shouldn’t be taking too much time in this – it’s way past my bedtime. I’m not even sure if I want to share this right away, but, well, I could – with the intention of me practically demonstrating how I do not despise prophecy, but test all things, and to hold on to what is good.
With that being said… Well, I don’t think I’m anywhere near ending this before the clock strikes 12 (and September turns to October), but I do think I should keep going.
Some other time.
I mean, it’s funny. Or, I find it funny. I did have a writing prompt in mind, to compare how I’m doing now versus what I’ve said during the first days of this year. I never expected to be making any evaluations considering now, and some words I more or less ignored almost 10 solid years ago.
So, this is a series. I thought I’d be done with all my September thoughts this evening, and I’d focus solely on Romans 14 to get a head start on this coming Sunday’s message… but here we are, talking about jewelry and a whole bunch of other things.
It sort of feels like I’ve been walking with a metal detector on the beach, and I wasn’t expecting to find anything more than random trinkets and stuff… then, boom. A freaking golden scepter with jewels and light of eternal value.
And there’s a lot more, apparently. We’ve only touched on the first sentence of what this kid shared. And, yes, I understand I could be overreacting, but, hey, again – you get something like this yourself, you owe it to yourself to test all things, and to hold on to what is good. Also, I get it – as far as I’m concerned, I AM sharing all of this to keep up with my daily writing quota, but I’m sure there are some things here that I’m not going to make public.
Until the next post, God bless us all. Amen and amen.
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