Saturday, March 12, 2016

Encouraged About an Old Soulmate

I had just received word about Meredith who has been living at a bird sanctuary 32 miles away from me, formerly my pet for the first 25 years of his life, that he was ill. It sounded like he was about to exit this world. I wasn't ready for that although I was already sensing something was going on with him.

So I asked God to allow me more time with him. As it was, I was feeling badly for not visiting him more often, though I had good reasons. I had car issues and commitment to school.

But on the way to visiting him yesterday, enduring the wind and rain on the highway, I asked God for a turnaround in Meredith's health. I had to no longer entertain the thought that he was about to die, but that he could have extended life. I thanked the Lord and saw a rainbow grace the sky in the direction where he is living. I wish I could have pulled off the highway to take a picture of it. It was perfect, and too good to be a mere coincidence! That gave me great hope and joy that God heard my prayers. That felt special to me!

When I arrived and saw his cage on the table, I was hesitant about approaching him. But after setting my things down, I got a better look at him. It was hard at first and he didn't look well. But with a few moments of interacting with him, he seemed to perk up and eat and drink. He allowed me to stroke his head, although not at first. But once he warned up to me, he made the sounds he used to make when getting his neck rubbed.

This encouraged me and revived my faith which had seemed to fade away. Thank You, Lord, for Your faithfulness! ♥️


Update tonight:


This is nothing short of a miracle, given the bird's age and his condition when I first heard about this and saw him weak, unstable on his feet, and shivering! Now he has his life back!

Friday, January 15, 2016

A Star Gone Dark

Last Friday was David Bowie's 69th birthday which was publicized a lot on Facebook. Up to that point I had not thought much about the rock star, though I once upon a time had a couple of his albums and recently heard my favorite song of his while shopping at a second-hand store in Haight/Ashbury which was "Ziggy Stardust." Back in the day, when I used to listen to it, I admit I didn't pay much attention to the lyrics. I liked a song by the way it sounded.

On his birthday I played at work a playlist of his music that someone had created on YouTube. My boss enjoyed his music too. We both come from that same era. His music seemed to liven up the workplace and my job which is often very repetitive seemed lighter.

Then, the day following, my curiosity about this artist whose music I grew up with led me to videos of interviews with him. I was intrigued about his past and inspirations and even his setbacks which he seemed to overcome very well. He didn't let adversity and rejection and failure stop him from pressing on with his music and theatrical talents which made him a great success. I was intrigued by the many personas he assumed on stage and how he warmly interacted with his audiences. I saw him progress from bizarre to upbeat over the passing of time and really admired his transformation. I perceived that he was happily married and loved being a father. I was pleased with his decision to give up drugs because he valued his family too much.

But then I was feeling prompted to look for his more recent work to get a feel for the shape his career has taken. I came across a couple videos -- "Lazarus" and "Black Star." I was rather shocked by the mood of these videos as they portrayed a very dark David Bowie, apparently on his recently released project called "Black Star." It was definitely occultic, as a commenter said. Satanic symbolism was used throughout the video "Black Star," and both videos were about death. Their content was blasphemous, and dishonoring God and His Word. I had posted a comment below the "Black Star" video, saying that I was very disappointed. I believed much better things of David Bowie. Both videos received a lot of negative ratings, yet still outnumbered by positive ratings.

An old secular friend of mine said he just bought his album Black Star though he found the lyrics to be very dark. I personally would not have it in my house. Here is a video review from a Christian perspective: David Bowie - Blackstar of Satan EXPOSED! Demon Worship Ritual in Plain Sight!

So, I was mortified and feeling burdened for this creative and flamboyant rock star gone dark. I couldn't get him off my mind. I prayed that God would draw him to Himself and that He might send someone across his path who could win him over to the Lord. I didn't know quite what to pray, nor was I aware that he had been battling a terminal illness for the past eighteen months until the next day when it was aired that he had passed away.

Facebook fans were in shock, as I read many comments. Many were struggling to process this tragedy, including me. It seemed so sudden to us who were clueless about his battle with cancer and how it was kept secret from the public. My heart sank after studying about a music icon who became interesting to me for the first time in a new way, and suddenly he's gone.

David Bowie died two days after his 69th birthday. How I wanted so badly for David Bowie who I never met in person to be there in Heaven when I finally arrive, but the message that kept coming back to me was very chilling. "He is not in Heaven. He wasn't saved." There are no words right now to describe the heartache I feel for this loss. God cared enough to burden me for him before he died. I also read in someone else's comment that they were led to pray for him two weeks earlier, also unaware of his illness, yet they prayed for him.

David Bowie in his early years engaged in a bisexual lifestyle which I believe set a trend in our nation. Today marriage has been redefined to accommodate those of same gender or transgender. Since my conversion to Christianity, I had veered away from listening to his music. However, upon learning of his recent (and final) birthday, I decided to research him and found a refined individual from the one I used to know. I had high hopes of better for him. But upon reviewing his most recent material and learning of his sudden disappearance from the world, my hope for him just turned to ashes. He committed spiritual suicide. I don't think I can ever listen to, or enjoy his music again.

Ultimately, a person for whom we pray has to make a choice. I just wish David Bowie had accepted God's invitation. He certainly must have had plenty opportunity. I'm sure he's regretting his choices right now. Someone else stated that he knelt down and recited the Lord's prayer on stage for AIDS victims, but only God knows the heart. Jesus said many will say "Lord, Lord" but He will say Depart from me; I never knew you. In other words, He is looking for those who will put their complete trust in Him and their life into His hands. He is looking for continuous, intimate fellowship with His followers -- those who will keep His words and obey Him.