Timothy J. Pruitt's Blog, page 432

The Sea Horse: Alliances

While Rook was fuming, the Wonzu was keeping a promise. It was the agreement to prevent the Hospital from being taken over. She was meeting personally with the representatives of the two factions.

“You both want my allegiance, I have not decided yet, but I seek a gesture. The Hospital must be spared, it is no longer in play. This must be agreed upon by you both, before I ever consider who I will support.”

The British Rose spoke first, “I agree, it’s of little value to us anyway.” High Society’s veiled nameless representative spoke next. “Agreed, we will not touch it, but we expect an answer within two weeks time, good night.”

The two agents left at the same time, leaving Wonzu and her driver alone on the pier. She looked at the water for a long time, imagining what her son was doing now. Her sister had kept her promise to raise him, soon she would send him back.

“Drive by the hospital slowly.” As they did, she remembered the night her late husband and herself had the baby. She also remembered having to send the baby away for its own safety. There was a war then too, but now as then, she planned to come out on top. That was another promise she intended to keep.

In close proximity, Rook stood on his balcony for several minutes. He was holding the letter in his hand. The agent wasn’t one to be bullied, but he could use this. ‘Swallow your pride, or at least appear to, let the Sea Horse think he’s got you stymied, then strike.’ It was a good plan, one Rook would follow, the problem was, he said it out loud.

When you’re accustomed to spying on everyone, you think you’re an expert on eliminating others from spying on you. Rook’s men had checked the package, the letter, the plastic trinket, and even the chocolate for a listening device. The problem was, they had failed to check the Senator.

Oh they wanted too, but Rook had stopped them as a courtesy to a powerful ally. Sea Horse was sure they would find it, on the balcony railing tomorrow, but all he needed was tonight. When they did, Rook would get the point, Oceania wasn’t his playground.

It was a city that needed help, and Rook could assist, but not on his own terms. There would have to be conditions, and Rook would agree to them, if there was to be an alliance.

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#CollageFriday: Viewpoints

This week’s #CollageFriday is all about “Viewpoints”. Whether you’re in the city, or the country, you should always take the time to appreciate the sights around you. God has blessed us to be a part of this life, and we should appreciate all the wonderful things around us, even if they seem simple or common place.

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Snowstorms

Jeremiah 18:14

Will a man leave the snow of Lebanon which cometh from the rock of the field? or shall the cold flowing waters that come from another place be forsaken?

Snowstorms, they’ll stop you in your tracks. That thick blanket of white wonder, will change your plans in a very short amount of time. It stops schools, transportation, and places of business, altering their usual course of action. Whether it’s a natural pause like a snowstorm, or some other kind, we view them as an imposition.

Kids that don’t live in an area that has regular snow dream of it, while those who do rejoice in it. We ‘grown ups’ don’t like it because it changes our plans. We don’t like anything that alters our agenda. What we forget is that like many pauses, snow is an agent of Heaven, and we are His children.

Sometimes that delay is not meant to destroy you, but to both protect and position you. God knows that, in order for you to reach your destination safely, at times, you must get there later than you and I had planned. What we view as an opponent, was sent as a protector. What we look at as a punishment, was God keeping us safe.

They say that snow was known in Bible days, but primarily in the higher elevations, as Jerusalem and Lebanon. God cares so highly for us that He sends pauses our way. He loves us enough to send an entire snowstorm just to secure our future.

In the Psalms they were called Selah, which meant pause, or interruption. Even in songs, there is a time of rest. If you’re weary today, maybe the answer isn’t to plough through. Perhaps God meant for you and your pjs to find a warm corner, wrap yourself up in Him, and talk.

The greatest pause, or interruption in Scripture wasn’t a covering of snow, but of cloud. Both Tabernacles and Temples were so filled with God’s glory that ministers couldn’t work, only rejoice in Him. “This is the Rest that causes the weary to rest.” Christ is our blanket of both snow, and cloud. He washed our sins from scarlet to snowy white, and filled us with His presence.

Let Him rejuvenate you today. That battle that seems so icy and insurmountable, will thaw out. God will cause you to break through the ice, and mount that hill. He just knows that before you do, you and Him need some time together. It’s an old song, but on this cold wintry morning, the old strains come through, “Just a little talk with Jesus makes it right.”

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Cold, Cold Heart

It was written by a man from Alabama who made it popular, but then an Italian New York waiter matched its fame. It was released by both singers, months apart, in 1951.The one man was Hank Williams Senior, the other was Tony Bennett, and the song was Cold, Cold Heart.

The song tells the story of a faithful person in love with someone who was hurt by another’s unfaithfulness. Try as they might, every gesture reminds the other of a past person’s manipulations. While there is drifting in the song’s second verse, there is no giving up on the faithful person’s part.

Who can blame the other person, for their pain is real. Still, if they are to find happiness, they must release the memory, and embrace the present hope. Wouldn’t it be awful to refuse your life’s dream, standing right in front of you, because of yesterday’s nightmare?

So many people do it, in business, in opportunities, and in relationships. As a result, many give up on the other, but the tenacious ones do not. It may take time, but they remain faithful.

One such suitor, that has never given up, carried His love all the way to Calvary. The God of creation, who had warned Eve before her eyes wandered, spent thousands of years to purchase our redemption. He had a plan, but it would take time.

First, He spared Adam and Eve, then He walked with Enoch. He talked with Noah, and called Abraham. He used a fiery situation to get Moses’ attention, and brought Israel out of the Red Sea. All of it culminating to the love song that is Calvary.

Throughout it all, some rejected, others doubted, and people mocked. Yet, He loved, bled, and died. No matter how many refused Him, no matter how hard the heart of humanity, Christ pursued.

Whether or not to hold onto the doubt and fear, or to take a chance, can be hard. I would point out this, He asks nothing but a chance to love us, with no strings attached. There are boundaries in the relationship yes, but what union doesn’t have them? He loves unconditionally and completely. Our love, beat so passionately inside of Christ’s heart, that He gave until His own stopped beating.

Then He arose to reinforce the fact that nothing would stop Him from loving us. His love is a persistent, mesmerizing, and consistent witness. It states that The Savior will never, ever stop loving us.

The love of God has won over even the most jaded, ardent, critic. C.S. Lewis discovered that God’s love surmounted a wall of man made knowledge with the very real fact of His own existence. If you’re hurting today, from a past or present relationship, know that Jesus loves you.

He cares, and has waited patiently for the chance to show just how much He loves you. No matter what you’ve faced, what pain or anger in your past, please know this. His love can, and will, free your doubtful mind and melt your cold, cold heart!

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iPainting: A Warm Home

We hope you enjoy this very simple iPainting for our Sunday afternoon art post. It’s of a little cottage nestled in the snow, showing that “A Warm Home”, doesn’t have to be fancy to be filled with laughter and love.

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The Sea Horse: Valentines Day

“What is Project LEO?” Henry asked. He was more than a little frustrated that his home had turned into so many group’s new social spot. “Rook is what we call a lion. He’s an international player on the espionage scene. He works for the United States, but his effectiveness comes from his leverage.”

“So Project LEO, is designed to maintain and expand his agency’s influence. One way of doing that is the creation of a new operating theater. Oceania is to be an international city, one that draws various undesirable groups to play in its backyard. Then Rook can monitor, contain, and control more of them while still being close to his home base.”

Aaron couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “So he wants to create a cesspool?” “No, not a cesspool, a respected international city like New York. Which is also a wonderful opportunity to give somewhere else for the people he’s trying to catch to escape to and from. He allows them to slip through the cracks on one end, only to catch them on the other.”

“So he just randomly told you all of this?” Nicolai smiled. “On the contrary, he came to send a message. He doesn’t know who you are, but he knows who trained you. He knew I could give you a message. Rook has studied your methods enough to know I am your trainer. Thomas is saying that he owns you.”

Aaron thought this through for a couple of minutes, and then headed for the door. Nicolai spoke to stop him. “You can’t fight him head on. He’ll have agents all around him.” “I’m not, I’m going to hit him … with a little heart to heart.”

Two people got a box of chocolates and a card that Valentine’s night. One came in an extra pizza box along with Elizabeth’s favorite pizza. The other went to Thomas Rook. Each time the pizza guy was different. The first was a certain doctor who, without speaking, stole a kiss, when she saw who it was.

Aaron positioned himself inside the door where prying cameras weren’t. He knew from surveillance who and how they were watching Elizabeth. They only got to see each other for a minute and a half, but it reaffirmed his promise to find a way for them to safely be together.

The next was by a visiting Senator. “Agent Rook, a friend asked me to bring you dinner. I think you’ll be very interested in what he has to say. I can’t stay, but I’ll tell you this, The Sea Horse is a very close, personal, constituent, and I intend to keep his vote.”

In Rook’s box was also a small plastic toy, a caged lion. In Elizabeth’s chocolates was a small heart shaped pendant locket with a picture of two hands holding the other. She would hide it in her most personal belongings for now.

Elizabeth was happier than she thought she could be. Two floors away, the Senator left smiling. Agent Rook was seething, but at least Elizabeth got a Valentine’s Day gift. It was small, but it was a start, even Valentine’s Day is an adventure in Oceania.

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#CollageFriday: It’s A Lovely Day

We hope you enjoy our #CollageFriday ipainting, “It’s A Lovely Day”, as we celebrate our better half this week.  I’m so thankful and honored that my wife Ashley Dawn is my precious bride, and I love her more now than ever before!

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The Native: From Here To Eternity

Luke 2:3-4

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

We make an assumption about Joseph, in fact we make a lot of assumptions about Joseph. One is that his path was somehow less important than Mary’s was. We look at him as if he just was drafted into this. However God had plans for Joseph, just as He had for Mary.

Prior to the birth in a manger, somewhere a little baby was born. His birth wasn’t heralded by Angels, but it was celebrated by God. The very God who would one day wrap Himself in flesh attended the birth of Joseph.

God attends every birth, He rejoices at the potential of every soul. To Him, there isn’t such a thing as an unimportant person. Joseph was integral to the adventure that was about to happen.

Yes, Mary was of the house of David, but that wasn’t enough. To transport them from Nazareth to Bethlehem in time for the birth, Joseph had to be a son of David. “All went to be taxed, every one into his own city.” If you had ask Joseph before this, “what city are you from?”, he would have said Nazareth. After this, his answer was, “my city is Bethlehem.”

When you’re life comes in contact with Jesus, it will change more than just your location, it will reveal your destiny. Like Joseph, you always were meant to come in contact with The Savior from the day of your birth. Your entire existence pointed to the day you meet Jesus.

Nazareth means the guarded one, maybe that’s you today. When Joseph first heard Mary’s news, he was guarded, and he had doubts, but then he met the Angel in a dream. That dream of a better hope changed his life, and it can yours.

Maybe you think salvation sounds to good to be true, like a dream or something. You’ve heard the message and the angel. In Revelation, God called His Pastors the Angels of the Church. You’re guarded, but you know what you’ve felt is real.

That feeling isn’t manufactured, it’s ordained. Just as Joseph’s lineage came from David, your life is no accident. You were born for this moment. God wants to translate you from Nazareth to Bethlehem. He wants you to experience the manger, not as a bystander, but as a participant.

Joseph’s pathway took him from Nazareth to Bethlehem, to Egypt and back, but he was never the same. Yes, there will be hard times on your journey, but Jesus will be with you. There will be precious things along the way, like gold, frankincense, and myrrh. God’s glory, His anointing, and His mission will transcend any obstacle you face.

Today, you may not feel important. You may look at your past as if it’s a dead ancestry of failures, but it isn’t. It just brought you where you are, it doesn’t dictate where you’re going. Let this meeting with Jesus take place in your life, isn’t it worth the trip?

Angels, Shepherds, and Wisemen awaited Joseph, but most of all, he cradled eternity in his arms. God will guide you, He has been waiting for you since you were born. He will Shepherd you through the hard times, and make you wiser for it. Most of all, you’ll see Jesus, as he cradles you from here to eternity.

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Real Love

Love isn’t the stuff of deserted islands, it’s the stuff of rough and tumble reality. We have this image of Love as if it’s something out of a fantasy. Much like the proverbial desert island we romanticize it. The truth is, desert islands have their own hardships, but love conquers all.

Love isn’t afraid of the mean streets. It’s equally comfortable whether in the city or the country. Cupid, while a cute character, isn’t the image of true love. Love isn’t a mythological, unobtainable dream.

There is a mountain where The God of Love made a stand, but it isn’t Olympus. True love has scars from never giving up. The Lord Jesus wanted to give man an understanding of what real love was. Love, at its most real, at its most painful, is an image of Calvary.

God’s love caused Him to wrap Himself in a body, come to Earth, just to rescue His creation. From the moment man fell, God was working to pick us back up. Love said through gritted teeth, and a bleeding back, I’m not giving up on anyone.

He loved us enough to suffer and die for the sins of man knowing more would reject than accept Him. Still, He did it, because that’s what love does. It doesn’t give up when it’s not easy, it doesn’t walk away when there are obstacles.

Today, you’re love story may not have happened yet, but you are loved. You may feel all alone, and may have been badly mistreated, but know that He loves you unconditionally. The God of Calvary has a plan for your life, and people waiting to care for you.

So don’t give up on love, for God is love. He didn’t manufacture it, He is love, just as He is life. Broken hearted people are tempted to build walls to minimize the damage, but that won’t repair the rest. Open your heart to the Restorer Of Souls today and let love, real love, make you whole again.

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Acrylic: Boston Row

We hope you enjoy our latest Acrylic that I made for my wife Ashley, “Boston Row”. This is a picture of it hanging in our living room.

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