Psychics, Spiritualists, Witchcraft and the Owner's Manual Series Part 1
Posted: Thursday, October 29, 2009
by Marijo Phelps
Mel: Beth certainly has become a good friend, I'm so glad that our kids are in school together and we have time to talk once in awhile. She seems to have some strange ideas about life sometimes but also has much peace…… hum, she is out working in her iris garden, maybe we will have time for coffee today. What in the world is going on with that truck of hers?
"Well, that Toyota owner's manual wanted me to change the oil – a nasty job – and use gasoline in the truck. I read that gasoline can cause fires and make a big mess. You know our neighbor, John Jamison? He raises quarter horses and has written a wonderful book about them and their care. I got his book and decided to try his suggestions on the Tundra."
"Beth, your Tundra is not a quarter horse. Tell me this doesn't have something to do with our conversation last week about owner's manuals?" Melissa walked slowly around the pick-up truck shaking her head.
"There ARE mice in there on your new leather seats!"
"Mel, the enemy of your life can come as an angel of light. Before there can be a counterfeit there has to be an original. Does it make sense that the one who put this truck together might have the best ideas for its care and maintenance? You were telling me about consulting a psychic for a kick and that it was no big deal. Well, I tossed the Toyota owner's manual and am using John's book to "feed and care for" the Tundra. Never mind that John didn't create the Tundra and is writing a book about horses. I don't LIKE the Toyota manual and want to do this my way."
"I can't believe you are letting MICE in your new truck – they could ruin the seats and chew the wiring"
"I love you, my dear friend and think this makes a good visual….who is your owner, Mel, who made you? Does it make sense to seek the advice of a psychic or spiritualist or go to a palm reader for help? Besides there is only one mediator between man and God and that's Jesus. Let's go into the house for coffee while the kids are in school."
Mel: I remember the talk we had about electricity. You can't see if but that doesn't keep you from turning on the switch and expecting the lights to come on. Our lives would be pretty miserable without electricity. Yes, used incorrectly it can kill. And we talked about power sources and being plugged in to the right one. Hum, where IS Beth going with this one?
"Coffee sounds good, do you have any of that amaretto creamer? Beth, I am in control of my life and there are things that I, well, like to pick and choose and just see how that goes, know what I mean?"
Beth: She didn't know me years ago – how can I communicate that I know all too well what she means. Actions have consequences and some of them are terrible to you and those you love. We have all broken God's heart and done things which have badly hurt ourselves and those we love. He has written a wonderful "owner's manual" for us with a bunch of promises in it. Man, they are sort of like gift certificates made out to us – ready to use. He also has parameters to keep us safe and healthy. It isn't like he is a great cosmic kill joy in the sky – He loves us and knows what makes us tick and what will destroy us too. That's one reason why He inspired the writing of His "owner's manual."
"Mel, I do know what you mean. Do you know that years ago I was into astrology, tarot cards and transcendental meditation? I found out that by doing some of these things I was opening the door to entities I had no idea about."
"Like what?"
"Well, like electricity, there are other things that we can't see….."
"OK, I could agree with that but what are you saying, Beth?" "There really is an unseen part of our life, our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. There are some things that we should not be messing with and things that we do that invite unwanted involvement…."
"Now don't go getting all spooky with me, Beth!"
"Mel, we are back to that owner's manual again. God loves us, he wired us and made our personalities and, believe it or not, He has a purpose for us being here. SO does it make sense that He might have a few insights into how we should go about that perfect plan of His?"
"OK, I will give you that but it sounds so, so restrictive."
"When your Josh was a toddler did he ever run towards the street when a car was coming?"
"Oh, Beth, I can still remember one time in particular when I scooped him into my arms just in time. He was looking back over his shoulder giggling and running away from me thinking it was a big game. He had no idea that car was coming straight towards him." Mel was getting tense just thinking about how close of a call that was.
"Can you picture us as the toddlers and Jesus as our loving God scooping us up into His arms just in time?" Beth reached over to gently touch her friend's arm.
The ladies will have more coffee time discussions and you are invited to be an observer of their times together. Part 2 is coming soon.
(C) Marijo Phelps all rights reserved. Use with proper credits.
2 Corinthians 11:14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. (NIV)
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.(NIV)
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
Marijo Phelps,saved by Jesus grace in 1974, from 9 years atheism into His loving arms. She is wanting to spread the good news about His redemptive plan for our lives through written media. Her name is pronounced Mary Jo. She was an RN for 23+ years, missionary with YWAM,statistical analyst for Every Home for Christ 9 years. Her first poem published when she was four years old. (her mom had much to do with that!) She has been writing ever since.
Her new blog can be found: http://myincrediblelord.blogspot.com
Her new blog can be found: http://myincrediblelord.blogspot.com
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More commentsHi Marijo. Great article. "You can't see it but that doesn't keep you from turning on the switch and expecting the lights to come on." This statement makes me think when we pray, we expect God to answer our prayers all the time. We expect the answer as if we turn on the switch. Sometimes, God says, "No" to us for a reason and for our own benefit. Thank you Marijo for sharing. ~Nenita~You are so right - He sees the whole picture and we are stuck at this point in time - we don't have much insight and wisdom compared to Him - that's for sure. I am praying about the next part in this series. Have 2 sentences written....Thanks so much for reading and your comments. MarijoNenita,such truth uttered;I used to jokingly say that God answered ALL of my prayers; He said;"NO!"But that was always said with a small degree of bitterness; Now, I think that God protects us, from ourselves, often, exactly by not answering our prayers.But more often than not God hears and comes through for us.You've certainly heard the admonition;"Be careful what you pray for!"
Great story with a great message. Keep it up! There is certainly a spiritual battle going on that we all need to recognize.There will be more to follow of the coffee time discussions of these two friends. thanks for your comments, Jim! Marijo
Marijo you are spreading & blossoming in your writing talents! This was a wonderful story and I look forward to reading more. Blessings to you sister!Thanks so much Edward - was difficult to commit to a series (except my Words from the Lord Series - I keep finding more notebooks and occasionally I get nudged to write a new and fresh one now) Looks like this would be a good series and am feeling challenged to write another on a peek at Intimacy before Marriage from the Biblical perspective.... Marijo
I must respectfully and strongly differ with you for an assertion that you included in this well written piece.There are indeed many reputable God loving and devout psychics (E.G. John edwards,James Van Pragh,Allison Dubois)who are as devout,religiously and spiritually as they are gifted,in their abilities to see and read your 'blueprint'(prepared by YOU, in Heaven, before you were born,this lifetime)as well as they are able to speak directly to your passed loved ones who surround you even though they've 'crossed over'To paint these bonfide most intuitive and psychically gifted people, whose gifts are absolutely God given, with the same punitive brush and the same broad dismissive stroke with the many pedestrian psychic charlatans,who do admittedly abound,is a terrible mistake.I am almost sure,however,where you get the unshakeable firm conviction that nobody should intercede between us and God, but Jesus.I assure you, to the contrary,that elevated Saints, holy personal angels, spirit helpers and spirit guides are always there for that exact purpose,to intercede for us, to God.Paul SchroederI totally believe in what the Bible says, Paul, and here are a few scriptures that speak to this (there are a lot of things out there we can't see and shouldn't mess with - God isn't trying to be mean he wants to protect us and to have us come to Him) Deuteronomy 18:10-12 (New International Version)10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in [a] the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you.Isaiah 8:19-22 (New International Version)19 When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? 20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. 21 Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God. 22 Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness. Those are pretty strong reasons I decided to go the direction I am going. I appreciate the fact that you wrote in a gracious way to express your differing views, Paul. MarijoI thought so;what I was afraid of is indeed true;"thump thump thump",end of conversation.There is no way to argue or reason with people, who when asked to meaningfully think about something, quote the bible and thus end all reasonable arguments and all meaningful conversations.I also appreciate however, that you are gracious in your, I mean the bible's differing view'.I could not more strongly disagree.You must learn how to draw a line between accepting personal salvation for oneself without accepting non critical thinking for oneself....much affection:Paul SchroederPaul ~ I am quoting something/Someone I believe in with all my heart and soul. Jesus who I believe is part of the triune Godhead and God's Word have been impactful and life changing for me for 35 years now, that is why I chose to quote it here. I made a choice to believe in the inerrancy of the scripture. (hum, I can't spell) You, seemingly have chosen not to believe in the inerrancy of the scripture. My answer to your comment simply included that which I believe. You are free to chose not to believe but that doesn't mean we have to stop conversing, eh? MarijoI shall never stop talking to you as I consider you not merely a friend but as someone who prays for me, more a close friend, or,at least,'the unmet friend'.I shall prefer, (as a devout atheist myself for almost all of my life who then moved to embrace the ChristLight as Savior) to see you as one who has moved from one end of the extreme spectrum, to the other end of the extreme spectrum, from one with no faith to one with almost cult faith.I shall pray that you move away from either silly end and simply locate more to the middle, central position in your thinking of God with all the written manmade laws surrounding Him, away from these two radical extremes, to one of an enlightened, questioning and curious faith, not blind faith: In Christ;Paul SchroederAnd I still am....praying and hoping that you are able to sleep better. I have walked this road for 35 years now,Paul, and am seeking His highest for me and my life - I have been set free in so many ways and it is truly because of Jesus and absorbing His Word so we might have to agree to disagree on this one.... most interesting talking I must say, quoting an old song (and scripture) I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Thanks for taking the time, Paul, MarijoBless you for your prayers;I don't mean to challenge your faith,,just your mind.Christianity is the branch;Judaism is the original tree that it comes from.Deuteronomy is filled with worse than ridiculous ancient Hebrew laws and even sillier ancient Hebrew prohibitive restrictions which even most enlightened Jews( and my conservative congregation of temple torah feels the same way) take with a liberal grain of salt.Isaiah was, how do I say this gently, just plain loco nuts; If he preached that self same negative mad lingo of death and destruction at God's hands on a streetcorner today he'd be carted off and surely given thorazine in some emergency room.Just keep an open mind; God gave us a mind to use critically not to just merely surrender it. Thanks for the 'overtime'; PaulI had an evening bereft of nightmares and I must thank you as your prayers MUST have helped!I shall return the favor:Paul SchroederThanks very good to hear! MarijoIn the Letters of Paul, the spirit of prophesy is encouraged and made sacred.this is one reference about the source of our gifts1 corinthians 12:4-111 Corinthians 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
Hi Marijo,This one is a bit over my head, but I appreciate the work you put into it.Take care,DebiThanks for your honest comments Debi. It is the first part of a series. Marijo
Marijo, this is a wonderful series. I am excited to follow it through. And I absolutely love the wonderful conversation between you and Paul. It is good to see people who disagree have an honest and respectful conversation. I am praying many positive things will come from this series. I agree with you. I don't see us Christians as brainwashed or not using our own minds, but like you I have made a well researched and thought out not to mentioned to actual experience of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It is a choice and I too could never imagine walking away from something so freeing and wonderful. Thanks again for writing this and everything you write. Love you girl! TTechnically speaking, this is well written and it is good to see you stretch your style!Thanks Teresa - praying for your safety on the trip to LA and wonderful time for you and your hubby to talk and share. Appreciate so much your comments. Marijo
Great story. I especially liked the way you lead into it. I am looking forward to part 2.Linda DThank you, Linda for your encouragement. Marijo
Amazing! What a great analogy! I have heard speakers mention the owners manual before, but not nearly as eloquent and thorough as this.How is your ticker today? I have part 2 written and am just waiting to post it.... Marijo
Marijo, I believe this is the first piece of fiction I read from you. Nice work. I like how you carried your theme through the characters' conversation. This is not easy to do. It is easier to simply write an opinion article. With this piece, you make the reader think a bit. You could probably expand this into a short story if you want to work on it some more.Thanks so much for your encouragement! Marijo (I have written fiction before but have posted so many when I came on this site that I think they got buried... Melody for a Miracle is one of my favorites) Marijo
Marijo,This is so well-done. And so true. Satan does masquerade as an angel of light and so will the Anti-Christ.Keep it up.It is a series and part two is posted - thanks for your encouraging comments! Marijo
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