The Journey

It's been awhile since I wrote on this, mainly because I only write here what I don't want everyone to know and lately, God's been using a lot of stuff in my life on an open scale. But there's just so many prophetic things happening lately that I have to record it somewhere for me to read later on. It isn't going to be one of my better entries. Just recording facts down...

So, Christi's been staying at our house since February 1st and today is February 28th. Last week, I got a strong impression that she was supposed to leave before March for the good of our family but I thought maybe it was cuz I was overwhelmed that day and so later, I thought, oh maybe she's supposed to stay here although I knew there was no room in our house that she could use on a permanent basis but I just left it to the Lord. I guess I've gotten attached but as she was driving off on her driving test, I felt like a mother bird letting her chick out of the nest. Then, as soon as I emailed Judy and Keat about it, I saw a picture of a place that was Christi's and it definitely wasn't our house but again, I just kind of spoke it and then left it. We wanted to meet with Judy and Keat on Monday but they weren't available til today, the last day of February. I was supposed to meet with smn on Tuesday but that got changed to tomorrow. And we felt like Judy and Keat were going to know where she was supposed to live and when we went today, they said definitely not at our house and kept thinking of Linda's. So, the Lord was like, this is it. But I think it wasn't supposed to happen until this very moment because there were things she was supposed to learn by staying here and also, God just wanting to show how supernatural He can be when I stay under his anointing. So, called Linda and she said we could move in tomorrow, March 1st! Yay, I'll be able to tell smn that everything has been taken care of.

When we were getting ready this morning, I felt like I should wear my pink sweater. Then, when I went to dress Caleb, I felt like he should wear his pink polo. Then, I felt I needed to tell Tim to wear something pink so he did. It was kind of cute and we went to Keat and Judy's house to eat tortilla soup and then right before we were going to leave, it hit me that their walls are all pink. So I said to Judy, "I feel it's prophetic we're all wearing pink" and she said, "Pink is the color of birth!" and Tim prophesied that 9 months from when we first came to Calvary, which was July, there would be a birthing for our youth group and it's the last day before March! Plus, Aki's coming to be the elementary pastor and that's settled. Min is already doing well with Jr. High and Christi got a car, got her driver's license and is moving out all within a matter of three days. Birth! Yes! Maybe another birth coming as well? Hope so.

Then when we were coming home, this sign (realtor?) popped out at me on our street (2nd ave)that said, "Ron Moses", and for some reason, I felt like it was of importance so I told myself to look up the meaning of the names. Forgot but God reminded me and "Ron" means "commander of a decision" and "Moses" means "Pulled out of the water". The Ron part I understood cuz it's what God has been saying about me lately but I didn't understand the Moses part until just now as I was writing this and I remembered one of our students prophesied that Tim would be like Moses and deliver our church from the waters. Still not clear on what pulled out of the water means but I have a feeling it'll make sense in time.

Then, while we were talking, Judy brought up "plumbline" and I was like, "What the...! God spoke that so clearly into my head a few days ago" and she pointed out that it was on string and I realized that if you're being measured by a ruler, it's not that hard because if you're a bit off, the ruler can move to an angle to still get to you but with a string, there's absolutely no way it can hit you unless you're standing exactly where that metal pulls the string with gravity. I know this is going to make no sense to anybody but me but I totally get it. There's no leeway with a plumbline. It's very exact and sensitive and that's exactly how we need to be in this time regarding the things of God.

Ok, I think that was pretty much it but... man, amazing.

Passages for me from Judy about flint:
Isaiah 50 and Ezekiel 3

It grieves me that women leaders in the church are the first to condemn other uprising female leaders. Why is it that we attack each other so? Jealousy? Social norms? Vulnerability? We're so much more willing to hear bad things about a woman and not question it than we would about a male leader, or perhaps that's only in the Korean church. I've come a long way in being able to appreciate Korean culture but I know it's not just Koreans cuz Cindy Jacobs is one of the most condemned Christian leaders and what's sad is it's mostly by other Christians. I admit that there's a part of me that doesn't want to be seen in the same way but it's already begun. I'm willing to accept correction (although sometimes my flesh is grudging about it) but I know that in this case, it's a spiritual battle against spirits that want to keep God out and a lack of understanding of God's process. And I have to say, that after journeying through much prayer, I'm actually ok with it. At other times, I'd be upset, want vengeance, or give up but God's opening my eyes to the undercurrents and His promise of victory remains so I realize what is there to fear when I know that God will be shown right in the end? There's no place for bitterness because God enables ALL of his people to stand, whether now or later. I just pray for more grace, love, and humility in me so that I too may continue to stand and can stand on that Day.

Our anniversary was a mess but a mess ordained by God. Or is that all of life? It took a demonic influence for T to finally see that the love he thought he was giving was neither good enough or godly enough. And I finally realized that regarding our intimacy life, T just needed me to encourage him to break through WHILE believing that he was capable. We pray that this year, God will work in our marriage to make it a light for couples and a beacon by which our ministry can stand. The situation with TH makes it all the more important to me for a ministry couple to stand in intimacy and integrity so that the enemy has no foothold by which to creep in.
I'm getting more and more ideas for our book. Something about living prophetically for the everyday life. If you have thoughts or suggestions, let me know.

11-7-06 12 am
i'm putting this out there for the spirits in the demonic realm to see and

hear. Strongman over Calvary, San Diego and demons that have been

assigned to me, you may have authority over this place and over our church

but you DO NOT have authority over me. So I bind all the attempts that

are being made to give me a bad name and to spread gossip about me, and I

rebuke all the spirits that are influencing and injecting church people

with malicious thoughts and intentions towards me and mine, and in Jesus'

name, I command you to stop. In the authority I have in Jesus and with

the anointing I come with under my husband, I command all God's angels

that have been assigned to Calvary, San Diego and over my family to punish

any spirits that function out of this authority and I bless God's people

at Calvary who are being used by the enemy to bring division and hatred in

the church. I bless them with peace. I bless them with pure thoughts,

thoughts that are lovely, trustworthy and noble. I bless them with joy

and with love. I pray in faith that their efforts will be turned by the

power of the Holy Spirit within them to actions that will unite the

church, that will allow the anointing of God to flow throughout all

departments and among all leaders, and that will finally break the curse

of this church. I pray for intercessors to rise up who will pray GOD'S

will for Calvary. I pray that people who are not under the influence of

these spirits will begin to rise up in the church and be more visible. I

believe that people who have been used by demons and who have spoken death

will come under a strong conviction under the Holy Spirit and will begin

to turn in repentance. I believe Calvary is going to begin to purify its

waters so that the waters that will spread throughout the city of Linda

Vista will be clean, pure, and full of life. I believe the strongman over

Calvary is soon to be overthrown, that the people of GOd, though under

oppression for many years will awaken and come to their senses. I pray

and bless our church to open our spiritual eyes. Lord, right now, even as

I write this, I believe there are already people in our church who are

being stirred in the spirit and who are going to begin to speak messages

of John the Baptist. I believe that though I am the first voice, I will

soon be lost within a sea of voices calling out for a turning, just as in

Nehemiah's day. I believe that the enemy will not be able to turn our

relationship with the head pastor's family sour. I bind that spirit that

has been assigned for that very purpose over pastor kim and though I may

not have the authority to cast it out, I do have the authority for that

spirit not to send bad thoughts about us to them so I do so in Jesus'

name.

Enemy, I declare to you right now that you are using God's beloved people

at Calvary to get to me since I have turned from all sin in my life but I

take back that permission in Christ's authority for God's will for His

church is to be one. You know this so do as you have been commanded.

Lord, send your mentor to me so that I might unload my last confession.

Right now, I send a cover of protection over my family (my husband,

myself, and my child) and our extended family (every person, especially

our parents and my brothers) and over our youth group members, teachers

and spiritual children. I say to you, Satan that you cannot backlash

against them in any physical, emotional, spiritual, mental form. From

this moment, from today, something will shift in the atmosphere. People

will begin to go to the source of their complaints and in doing so, the

curse will be broken off and blind eyes will be opened, hearts will be

united with one purpose. All the attacks will fall and wither away,

whether on myself or other leaders. People will serve in love, not in

arrogance or ambition, and a new compassion will be opened and increased

every single week. I take hold of these things in Jesus' name and send

them out into the spiritual realm for all the demons and angels in San

Diego to hear and obey. Every step, every moment, every meeting will be

God ordained and so shall it be, Amen.

God, give me more wisdom. Carry me through this all in your wings.

Correct me where I must be corrected and push me where I hesitate. Remind

me, with your staff if required, to always be in more intimacy with you

than I.

Ok, praise report right now. I'm so crying but I'm so thankful to my

Daddy in heaven. Right after I finished writing the above, LIKE RIGHT

AFTER, my dad called. Which is weird cuz we kind of ended on a weird note

when we met on Saturday and usually my dad avoids me at those times. So I

knew it was from God. He heard from my mom cuz I talked to her earlier

that I was having a hard time so he called. I told him what was going on

and he just really encouraged me which is crazy cuz the whole spirit of

death thing I told him about, I was going to write an email but God kept

saying wait and through this call, my dad pretty much told death that it

had no hold over me. He said exactly what I just wrote above - to win

through loving those who come against, and that satan wins if i fail and

wants to destroy me but that he believes in me because his daughter is

strong. Yeah, I just pretty much wept on the phone which broke something

cuz usually I hate crying in front of my dad but his words healed some

brokenness in me and encouraged me so much cuz that's what i needed to

hear and it was my dad who i needed to hear it from. God, you are good

and I know that your angels are with me or else the answer, the shift

wouldn't have come so fast. Thank you so much Lord. I love you and I

truly want my intimacy with you to be more to me than anything. Show me

each day what you purpose for me and I will obey Lord. I want only to do

what I see you do so don't let me step out of line. Shalom to me, Shalom,

His peace, to you.

Another praise report: my mom called a little later and though it got off

on a rocky start, it left with me being very encouraged, reminded to walk

blamelessly, and excited that God is increasing my mom's use of her gifts.

Thank goodness - people will see where my spiritual DNA comes from and

not be able to dispute it. She's going to be fasting and praying for the

next three days!

Then, I finally opened the passage God gave to me a few days ago - Psalm

37... read it and you'll laugh cuz it hits the situation so accurately

that I couldn't believe it. But then again, I believe anything is

possible for MY GOD!

Proverbs 25
¹ These are more proverbs of Solomon, copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:

² It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
to search out a matter is the glory of kings.

³ As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

⁴ Remove the dross from the silver,
and out comes material for the silversmith;

⁵ remove the wicked from the king's presence,
and his throne will be established through righteousness.

⁶ Do not exalt yourself in the king's presence,
and do not claim a place among great men;

⁷ it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here,"
than for him to humiliate you before a nobleman.
What you have seen with your eyes

⁸ do not bring hastily to court,
for what will you do in the end
if your neighbor puts you to shame?

⁹ If you argue your case with a neighbor,
do not betray another man's confidence,

¹⁰ or he who hears it may shame you
and you will never lose your bad reputation.

¹¹ A word aptly spoken
is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

¹² Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
is a wise man's rebuke to a listening ear.

¹³ Like the coolness of snow at harvest time
is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him;
he refreshes the spirit of his masters.

¹⁴ Like clouds and wind without rain
is a man who boasts of gifts he does not give.

¹⁵ Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,
and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

¹⁶ If you find honey, eat just enough—
too much of it, and you will vomit.

¹⁷ Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house—
too much of you, and he will hate you.

¹⁸ Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow
is the man who gives false testimony against his neighbor.

¹⁹ Like a bad tooth or a lame foot
is reliance on the unfaithful in times of trouble.

²⁰ Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,
or like vinegar poured on soda,
is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

²¹ If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

²² In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the LORD will reward you.

²³ As a north wind brings rain,
so a sly tongue brings angry looks.

²⁴ Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

²⁵ Like cold water to a weary soul
is good news from a distant land.

²⁶ Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.

²⁷ It is not good to eat too much honey,
nor is it honorable to seek one's own honor.

²⁸ Like a city whose walls are broken down
is a man who lacks self-control.

Proverbs 26
¹ Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,
honor is not fitting for a fool.

² Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
an undeserved curse does not come to rest.

³ A whip for the horse, a halter for the donkey,
and a rod for the backs of fools!

⁴ Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
or you will be like him yourself.

⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly,
or he will be wise in his own eyes.

⁶ Like cutting off one's feet or drinking violence
is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.

⁷ Like a lame man's legs that hang limp
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

⁸ Like tying a stone in a sling
is the giving of honor to a fool.

⁹ Like a thornbush in a drunkard's hand
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

¹⁰ Like an archer who wounds at random
is he who hires a fool or any passer-by.

¹¹ As a dog returns to its vomit,
so a fool repeats his folly.

¹² Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.

¹³ The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road,
a fierce lion roaming the streets!"

¹⁴ As a door turns on its hinges,
so a sluggard turns on his bed.

¹⁵ The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

¹⁶ The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
than seven men who answer discreetly.

¹⁷ Like one who seizes a dog by the ears
is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own.

¹⁸ Like a madman shooting
firebrands or deadly arrows

¹⁹ is a man who deceives his neighbor
and says, "I was only joking!"

²⁰ Without wood a fire goes out;
without gossip a quarrel dies down.

²¹ As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

²² The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to a man's inmost parts.

²³ Like a coating of glaze over earthenware
are fervent lips with an evil heart.

²⁴ A malicious man disguises himself with his lips,
but in his heart he harbors deceit.

²⁵ Though his speech is charming, do not believe him,
for seven abominations fill his heart.

²⁶ His malice may be concealed by deception,
but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

²⁷ If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it;
if a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him.

²⁸ A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Reading Chuck Kraft's I give you authority - every person in leadership or who moves charismatically should read it.
Want to read Peter Rhodes? book on hearing the voice of God

My parents finally came to visit, thank goodness, and I got a good dose of yummy food and spiritual discipline. I really value my parents as spiritual mentors these days and even though in some areas, I feel as though we're beyond them, just because they're my parents, I feel God has given them the authority and wisdom to guide me in the right direction.

Matthew 7:¹⁵"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ¹⁶By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

²¹"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²²Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' ²³Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

Two thoughts:

I can move charismatically, raise the dead, command angels but Jesus can still say, "Who are you?" to me if the motive for moving in the Spirit is the authority and not the intimacy. If our using the gifts is not based in intimacy, it isn't just not good - Jesus says it's EVIL. That scares me and I constantly need to be reminded that it's all about HIM, not about me, or the gifts, or the power. Must move in compassion and servanthood not ambition and power.

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit. CANNOT. It doesn't say a good tree bears mostly good fruit and few bad fruit. It says it's impossible for a good tree to bear bad fruit - ANY bad fruit. Doesn't that put the fear of God in you? How many of us don't have any bad fruit at all?? It's a time when we can't let down our guard and allow compromise to settle in our lives because the evidence will lay plainly before the sight of God.

I'm really interested in spiritual warfare right now, specifically deliverance ministry. I realize that so many Christians live as though we don't believe in demons and even if we do, we don't believe we have the power to do anything about it. But WE DO! We have more power than satan himself because we have GOD INSIDE OF US. I don't think we really comprehend the magnitude of that. If we humble ourselves, are obedient, and seek His face, there's absolutely nothing that is impossible for us, especially in regard to commanding demons to leave. Yet, so few of us realize that the only thing we have to do to get rid of demons is to get rid of our junk and stop living in sin. It's not easy but it is simple. So right now, I'm trying to figure out what can motivate someone to willingly and eagerly leave their lives of sin and hearts of fear? The love of Christ, of course, but how do we, as ministers, get people to see it, experience it in such a real way that they can't imagine any other option than to turn and press into a life with Christ? To be continued...

I'm such a mommy. I have the mommy haircut, the mommy pooch and this weekend, I realized I have the mommy nerves. I found myself getting really annoyed and wanting to discipline one of our youth group kids who kept getting out of line. Phew... thank God I'm not parenting teenagers now cuz I'm PRETTY sure I don't have the maturity to handle that with grace.

So people keep saying I'm scary since I prophesy pretty boldly and push kids and teachers alike to their spiritual max. Part of me wants to tone it down but the Spirit inside keeps saying, "It's all or nothing". Either I give in totally to the fear of man or I take no part in it. I'm even entering a time of consecration where I don't take in the junk I used to, whether it's certain tv shows, saying negative things to T, etc. Ever since I declared to the demonic realm that I don't want them in my house or my family and that I was going to do nothing that invited them to stay, I've felt how clean our house and marriage is but since they couldn't get me that way, they decided to attack me with feelings of being misunderstood, unappreciated, and attacked. Then, I resolved to not accept those either so now he's trying to get me with thoughts that maybe I'm in the wrong and I need to stop and correct myself. My goal/prayer is that I will get to a place where there's no garbage in me for them to cling to. But every battle I have to struggle through, every step forward I take, I can promise that it's going to be one that I bring as many people forward with me as I can and the more the harder the enemy pushes me. I've accomplished what I set before myself when I first got here so I need to wait upon the Lord for the next move, the next strategy to push the barriers yet again. I believe it - that every thing that has happened until now has been because of the enormous faith (in our measure) that we had about this whole thing but now, we've gotta increase that even more until we attain the next level. Dream big dreams and then even bigger.

My mission statement for the next two weeks: love in mind and in use of gifts. remember that we are a body and God can uphold every single member. walk in boldness, practice in humility. become more discerning about appropriate use and words. mehkyuh T to God. get caleb to sleep before ten. keep speaking against spirit of excess and keep moving in the treatments of God.

Great Expectations
by steven curtis chapman

The morning finds me here at heaven's door
A place I've been so many times before
Familiar thoughts and phrases start to flow
And carry me to places that I know so well
But dare I go where I don't understand
And do I dare remember where I am
I stand before the great eternal throne
The one that God Himself is seated on
And I, I've been invited as a son
Oh I, I've been invited to come and ...

Believe the unbelievable
Receive the inconceivable
And see beyond my wildest imagination
Lord, I come with great expectations

So wake the hope that slumbers in my soul
Stir the fire inside and make it glow
I'm trusting in a love that has no end
The Savior of this world has called me friend
And I, I've been invited with the Son
Oh I, I've been invited to come and ...

We've been invited with the Son
And we've been invited to come and ...

Believe the unbelievable
Receive the inconceivable
And see beyond our wildest imagination
Lord, we come with great expectations

I just heard this song and it connected with where my spirit is right now so much. God is doing impossible things. He's using us to minister to 1st generation. He's released prophecies and tongues. He's started using the kids to evangelize. They're beginning to see the spiritual realm and become more sensitive to the enemy at work and at hand. They're walking in obedience to the call of reconciliation. Visions and dreams. More hope, more breath, more life. It has now been almost four months since we officially began here and already I feel like I'm out of ideas. By that, I mean that God has already brought almost everything we envisioned to pass. I have to push my spirit to see bigger visions and dream bigger dreams so to urge myself, I'm going to write down some of the things we still are waiting for. To see our church reach the surrounding community of Linda Vista - leading worship for kids on their lots and asking neighbors what we can help them with. To begin networking with churches in the area. To see healing and prophetic break out among the young people when we go to minister to the homeless. And for our home - God has already brought a possibility of someone staying in our extra room and we also got a vision of starting worship for our neighborhood. More, Lord, more.

I'm struggling with healing the wounded part of me that says, "If you're going to do it, make sure you do it right". We're going through a time in our marriage where we're having to retrain ourselves to be kind to one another and to cast out the demons that have been allowed to remain and grow in our home because of the spirit of criticism and frustration and abandonment. So, I said to God as I was cleaning in the kitchen - Lord, I know that I'm never going to be free of satan's attacks as long as I'm on this earth but I do ask this. Take me to a place where I don't have those demons that live and walk with me but only the demons that have to come from different places to attack me and leave as fast as I fend them off. I believe that every time I've asked these things of God, I can see them coming to fruition so Lord, DO IT!

I experienced a new piece of God's heart today. As we were ministering to the 1st gen, I knew that some were blessed and some were critical of a smn who prophecies and ministers beside her husband and at first, I was a little withdrawn because of it and I asked the Lord how to respond. So, I saw a picture of the passage in Numbers 16 about Korah and how God caused the earth to swallow up Korah and those that came against Moses and Aaron but before I could feel satisfied that God would take his vengeance against my enemies, the Holy Spirit rose up in me and cried, "Lord, no! I would rather that they live and continue to cause me grief so that they might have a chance to repent and draw near to you than that they would be taken and have no opportunity." He replied, "You finally understand my heart. All this time, people have risen up to blaspheme me, to deny me, to come against my Holy name yet I have waited this long because I would give them one more chance and one more chance and another." See, this isn't me - I'm the one who always goes to Psalms and reads the passages about how God will kill my enemies whenever I'm upset. I don't usually mean it but it makes me feel better. But I almost wept at that because I understood that this is part of feeding the sheep - to care for those who cast you down. Now that God is expanding my heart, I'm realizing... I don't want even one to be lost. Even if they are in complete rebellion against the spirit of God and the church would be better off without them, I grieve for that one lost soul.

I know I can't go far in the kingdom without experiencing the persecution of even the saints (Cindy Jacobs has so much crap written about her even just on the internet) but I think that the fact it's not worse is purely the grace of God and his response to my prayer, "Unconventional but not offensive, Lord." I'm going to keep believing that God's people will recognize Spirit and that if I am being rebuked, it will be because I need correction. I live not by the words of man, but the words of God.

On another front, I think we've finally met the American mentor couple God promised us!

Lord, we give you all the glory and may everything in our lives and those around us be consecrated to your Name. So be it and so it shall be.

Numbers 16
¹ Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent ^{[a] 2} and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council. ³ They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, "You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD's assembly?"

⁴ When Moses heard this, he fell facedown. ⁵ Then he said to Korah and all his followers: "In the morning the LORD will show who belongs to him and who is holy, and he will have that person come near him. The man he chooses he will cause to come near him. ⁶ You, Korah, and all your followers are to do this: Take censers ⁷ and tomorrow put fire and incense in them before the LORD. The man the LORD chooses will be the one who is holy. You Levites have gone too far!"

⁸ Moses also said to Korah, "Now listen, you Levites! ⁹ Isn't it enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the LORD's tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them? ¹⁰ He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too. ¹¹ It is against the LORD that you and all your followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble against him?"

¹² Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab. But they said, "We will not come! ¹³ Isn't it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the desert? And now you also want to lord it over us? ¹⁴ Moreover, you haven't brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you gouge out the eyes of ^[b] these men? No, we will not come!"

¹⁵ Then Moses became very angry and said to the LORD, "Do not accept their offering. I have not taken so much as a donkey from them, nor have I wronged any of them."

¹⁶ Moses said to Korah, "You and all your followers are to appear before the LORD tomorrow—you and they and Aaron. ¹⁷ Each man is to take his censer and put incense in it—250 censers in all—and present it before the LORD. You and Aaron are to present your censers also." ¹⁸ So each man took his censer, put fire and incense in it, and stood with Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. ¹⁹ When Korah had gathered all his followers in opposition to them at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the glory of the LORD appeared to the entire assembly. ²⁰ The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ²¹ "Separate yourselves from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once."

²² But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and cried out, "O God, God of the spirits of all mankind, will you be angry with the entire assembly when only one man sins?"

²³ Then the LORD said to Moses, ²⁴ "Say to the assembly, 'Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.' "

²⁵ Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. ²⁶ He warned the assembly, "Move back from the tents of these wicked men! Do not touch anything belonging to them, or you will be swept away because of all their sins." ²⁷ So they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram had come out and were standing with their wives, children and little ones at the entrances to their tents.

²⁸ Then Moses said, "This is how you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea: ²⁹ If these men die a natural death and experience only what usually happens to men, then the LORD has not sent me. ³⁰ But if the LORD brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the grave, ^[c] then you will know that these men have treated the LORD with contempt."

³¹ As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart ³² and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, with their households and all Korah's men and all their possessions. ³³ They went down alive into the grave, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. ³⁴ At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, "The earth is going to swallow us too!"

³⁵ And fire came out from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.

³⁶ The LORD said to Moses, ³⁷ "Tell Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, to take the censers out of the smoldering remains and scatter the coals some distance away, for the censers are holy- ³⁸ the censers of the men who sinned at the cost of their lives. Hammer the censers into sheets to overlay the altar, for they were presented before the LORD and have become holy. Let them be a sign to the Israelites."

³⁹ So Eleazar the priest collected the bronze censers brought by those who had been burned up, and he had them hammered out to overlay the altar, ⁴⁰ as the LORD directed him through Moses. This was to remind the Israelites that no one except a descendant of Aaron should come to burn incense before the LORD, or he would become like Korah and his followers.

⁴¹ The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. "You have killed the LORD's people," they said.

⁴² But when the assembly gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron and turned toward the Tent of Meeting, suddenly the cloud covered it and the glory of the LORD appeared. ⁴³ Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the Tent of Meeting, ⁴⁴ and the LORD said to Moses, ⁴⁵ "Get away from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once." And they fell facedown.

⁴⁶ Then Moses said to Aaron, "Take your censer and put incense in it, along with fire from the altar, and hurry to the assembly to make atonement for them. Wrath has come out from the LORD; the plague has started." ⁴⁷ So Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people, but Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them. ⁴⁸ He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped. ⁴⁹ But 14,700 people died from the plague, in addition to those who had died because of Korah. ⁵⁰ Then Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, for the plague had stopped.

Sorry my past few blogs have been so unmeaningful. There's been so much fullness in real life that writing it down felt like it would be cheapening it. Usually by the time I sign on, I already know what I'm going to say and how I'm going to say it but these days, it feels like to form something would be causing something to be that still needs room to grow. Argh, this is frustrating. Everything is so ambiguous but perhaps, it's because God wants to be the one to define what HE'S doing - not me. Ok, Lord, I give in. I'll wait until it's time.