The first thing I noticed, when meandering on a break from the laptop and my son; was that one of my favorite writers had written two new books since I had last checked. Paulo Coelho is one of my favorite authors. His books tend to be about journeys of one sort or another, and the human and many times, spiritual condition.

This guy’s books are the sort that I’ve picked up in B&N, sat down and spent the day there reading in its entirety; and then purchased, because I liked the book so much. I’ve had time periods of distress or some trauma or issue that I was going through. Somehow, I would happen upon a new book of his. I’d read it and find a parallel of some sort that the main character was having in the midst of their journey, and find my answer within theirs.

I immediately went downstairs and purchased the two books without a second thought. I had waited years for something new from him. As I was returning upstairs, I wandered around the opposite side of the second floor. Two other books caught my eye, and I picked them up and took them back to my seat, intent on just looking but not purchasing them.

One is a book called monster, which I started to read. The story itself is nothing new. Some 16 year old teenager got himself “caught up in the game,” and ends up in jail and on trial for murder. It’s not the story line that interests me, but the delivery of it. So needless to say, I ended up purchasing this book, and the other one I’d picked up as well.

The other one. I had started it at B&N, and was immediately hooked on the very first paragraph. I couldn’t believe that the very first paragraph held a line that I had already written in the book I had been working on last year. So naturally, I was interested.

This is a book by the same author that wrote “Tuesdays With Morrie.” It’s called “The Five People You Meet In Heaven.” What a fantastic book. I had never read Tuesdays With Morrie, although I had previewed it and thought it looked interesting. I had even heard about the movie. I just didn’t have the time then.

But this book…what a prize it is! It opens with the last hour of a man’s life. It’s bad to say or even think this, but I actually couldn’t wait until he died, because I was anxious to see the perception this writer was going to deliver on the afterlife. I gotta tell you, I spent the day reading it, and suffering from serious stuffy sinusitis due to all the crying I did.

It’s funny how God gives us a precept, concept or idea; a new view and perspective; a new way of looking at our circumstance. Then He turns around and confirms it in a most unexpected place or way, or via the last person you’d expect to have that knowledge.

I had already received my answer, but didn’t realize it. I spoke it out myself, in an explanation I had given to my son about life.
Five Principles I learned from the book, my son and myself about life in no particular order:

1. No story sits by itself. Sometimes stories meet at corners and sometimes they cover one another completely, like stones beneath a river. Take one story viewed from two different angles…

I had been in the midst of attempting to impress upon my son, the importance of school and doing all of his assignments; regardless of whether he liked them, was interested, bored or not. In the course of my explanation, I brought up a subject that he, himself had taught me, at age seven: string theory. He’d learned it studying a science program on pbs, (Nova I think) and in one sitting, fully comprehended the theory and explained it to me…as a 7 year old child. Needless to say, at the time I was blown away at the brilliance of my child.

So I began to revisit this string theory he had explained. He reminded me that one string had a number of atoms and that these strings were all around us; floating bands of atoms that were the content of our environment and the space around us.

I grabbed a string and pulled it straight. “Let’s say that this string represents just one of the strings of atoms, and let’s say that this string represents your path in life. On this side of the string,” I said, nodding my head to indicate the end in my left hand, “is where you are now. And there are a number of atoms between there and here.” I nodded to indicate the end in my right hand.

Additionally, my current focus involves a bit of sacrifice concerning some goals and the general direction that I thought I was headed in…the fulfillment of my purpose; the full manifestation of my most predominant gifts known to date, and my own expectations.

So what’s going through my mind? Well, I admit, I was feeling some measure of despair. I was frustrated to some degree of the new load of additional work that one particular circumstance has now added to the already overloaded plate of my life.

Because of this issue, I’ve had to make major dietary changes that affect my entire household. These changes require that I pretty much make everything, and I mean every thing from scratch. Salt has to be minimized as well as sugar, which includes any products made with corn syrup, sucrose, L-carnitine and especially aspartame, which gives people brain tumors and can result in strokes.

These components are found in almost everything that is prepackaged. If it doesn’t have sugar, it has corn syrup and so forth. So the fact that I really don’t use much pre-packaged foods very much, didn’t really matter. Now I have to read the labels of every thing we consume, liquids included; and prevent the use of any product containing these ingredients for my son and myself.

So I was frustrated with the amount of hand preparation I have to do for everything eaten in our home, and we cannot eat fast food any more for that matter for the same reasons. (The only thing I might get away with is BK…a whopper.) Now, this is a good thing, mind you, because it’s certainly much healthier, but with the days growing shorter and shorter, time has become more of a commodity. The time it takes for both preparation and clean up is considerable, but necessary. So despite the fact that I prefer this healthier way and lifestyle change, it is limiting the little time I already had available to focus on my calling.

Additionally, I’ve had to increase my focus on my son because he needs me. I’m not complaining about that. He’s the most important thing in my life, so it’s not even in question that his needs supersede mine.

After years of wondering…answers are now coming. There were signs and symptoms, but now there is confirmation of at least one thing. My son has a hereditary condition that I suspected to some degree, that he had. This explains the struggle he’s had in school, despite being so bright.

There were signs and symptoms like I said. I already suspected he was gifted, because he tested a high level even in kindergarten; but he was struggling in school despite the intelligence I saw.

Finally, God arranged the circumstance wherein I could finally get the answer. Despite the diagnosis, I felt a sense of relief, because I thought it was somehow my fault as his parent.

So this discovery lead to many of the changes I mentioned earlier, because I’m determined not to medicate him. This sacrifice of my time and the dietary changes are working. Even academically, I’m seeing signs of improvement. Of course on all fronts, this is the result of giving up my time; days and weeks of this. So for once, I am looking forward to the start of the school year, so I can get a break.

So there I was, feeling a bit frustrated that I could not find the time to write. I thought about the books still unwritten or incomplete and the volume of ideas that just keep coming.

I thought about the issue that caused a major distraction for me last year; one which took about seven months to disengage and remove as an obstacle in my life. That distraction caused me to shelf the book I was working on, and I’m eager to get back to that.

Again in church within the past week, the call went out to not just come and get fed, but to find somewhere to serve. And I thought, I was working on that, but now, when will I have the time?  I also realized that not having a job at the moment is rather convenient to the adjustments I’m having to make; which would not happen if I was working because I’d never have the time.

I was feeling like I just couldn’t accomplish anything. I’ve been working on some goals for ten years, and I still feel like I can’t say much has been accomplished; or perhaps that I’m accomplished. So I was frustrated and feeling like my life was a waste.

Phl 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Two things caught my attention in this verse: shall supply and his riches.

There are several Greek meanings, but the word in this verse is plēroō which is a verb.

1) to make full, to fill up, i.e. to fill to the full
    a) to cause to abound, to furnish or supply liberally
1) I abound, I am liberally supplied
2) to render full, i.e. to complete
a) to fill to the top: so that nothing shall be wanting to full measure, fill to the brim
b) to consummate: a number
1) to make complete in every particular, to render perfect
2) to carry through to the end, to accomplish, carry out, (some undertaking)
c) to carry into effect, bring to realisation, realise
1) of matters of duty: to perform, execute
2) of sayings, promises, prophecies, to bring to pass, ratify, accomplish
3) to fulfil, i.e. to cause God’s will (as made known in the law) to be obeyed as it should be, and God’s promises (given through the prophets) to receive fulfilment

In the Greek, this word is a verb focusing around the words “Accomplish, Accomplishment” with it’s main meaning being “to fulfill, to complete, carry out to the full” (as well as to fill); and is translated “perfect” in Rev 3:2, AV; RV, “I have found no works of thine fulfilled before My God;” “accomplish” in Luk 9:31.
See COMPLETE, END, EXPIRE, FILL, FULFILL, FULL, PREACH.

(Note: Its strengthened form, ekpleroo, “to fulfill,” lit., “fill out,” is used in Act 13:33, of the fulfillment of a Divine promise of the resurrection of Christ.)

These words, “shall supply ” are listed 95 times in 90 verses of the KJV.

It also has a few other meanings which I will give you a brief synopsis of.

It also means in the Greek:

Exartizo:  (a verb) “to fit out,” (from ek, “out,” and a verb derived from artos, “a joint”), means “to furnish completely,” 2Ti 3:17, or “to accomplish,” Act 21:5, there said of a number of days, as if to render the days complete by what was appointed for them.
See FURNISH. In the Sept., Exd 28:7.

Teleo:  (a verb)  “to finish, to bring to an end” (telos, “an end”), frequently signifies, not merely to terminate a thing, but to carry out a thing to the full. It is used especially in the Apocalypse, where it occurs eight times, and is rendered “finish” in Rev 10:7; 11:7, and in the RV of Rev 15:1, which rightly translates it “(in them) is finished (the wrath of God). See END, EXPIRE, FILL, FINISH, FULFILL, GO, No. 5, PAY, PERFORM.

Epiteleo:  (a verb) epi, “up,” intensive, and No. 3, is a strengthened form of that verb, in the sense of “accomplishing.” The fuller meaning is “to accomplish perfectly;” in Rom 15:28, RV, “accomplish;” “perfecting” in 2Cr 7:1; “complete” in 2Cr 8:6,11; “completion” in the latter part of this 11th verse, which is better than “performance;” “perfected” in Gal 3:3; “perfect” in Phl 1:6. See COMPLETE, DO, FINISH, MAKE, PERFECT, PERFORM.

Teleioo:  (a verb) the word teleo more frequently signifies “to fulfill,” while teleioo, more frequently signifies “to make perfect,” one of the chief features of the Epistle to the Hebrews, where it occurs nine times. It is rendered “accomplish” in the RV of Jhn 4:34; 5:36; 17:4; Act 20:24.
See CONSECRATE, FINISH, FULFILL, PERFECT.

Pletho: (a verb) “to fulfill,” is translated “accomplished” in the AV of Luk 1:23; 2:6, 21, 22 (RV, “fulfilled”).
See FILL, No. 5, FURNISH, Note.

Ekplerosis: (a noun) means “an entire fulfilment” (ek, “out,” plerosis, “a filling”), Act 21:26, of the “fulfillment” of days of purification.

Until I saw this, I had no idea that those two little words had so many different meanings and applications.

The other thing that caught my attention was the word “riches.” I thought about how God created everything, therefore He owns everything, and is well beyond our comprehension on the word “rich” in that sense. But, I thought about how most people perceive it…that God is “rich.” I tried to picture this from the position of the “storehouses” ideology that we often here in church, but it just wasn’t washing for me because that is a man-made concept that places emphasis on money and materialism.

Since I don’t conceive of God as materialistic like the god of this world, then that image just didn’t wash. I think what most people don’t understand, is that to be rich doesn’t mean that God has to supply me with money. That verse said, “his riches in glory, by Christ Jesus.” To me, that’s looking like “what,” “where,” and “how.” You see, by American standards, I don’t have much. I have “stuff,” in fact, much stuff that I’d like to get rid of, but not the kind of stuff anyone would quantify as signifying wealth. Yet I know that I am rich, and I know this, not because of what I have, but because of Who I have. The Who is the One who supplies everything I need.

In other words, technically, I have no real need for money. The only reason I receive it, is because it is simply a tool that makes it easier for a few things to get accomplished. Plus, God is not going to interfere with a system set up by a governing body, because He is the One who set up the concept of governing and gave mankind the dominion to do so on the earth. So He will work within the “confines” that we, as humans live within, but He doesn’t have to.

God doesn’t have to put money in my hands for my needs to be met. He can simply address it another way, such as with a bill. He may have a company review their records only to discover “an error” in their systems which indicate an overpayment on my bill, and eliminate the bill that way. Or He could have the company give me a credit for whatever reason. He could have people give me food, or make the gas in my car last twice as long.

There’s any number of ways that I cannot even fathom, that God can arrange things in my behalf, and frankly, my mind is too finite to even begin to comprehend all the ways and methodologies possible. All I know is that God’s got me, so I’m just fine. I’m good. I’m covered, and “what me worry?” So in reality, despite the fact that it may appear that I lose a few “earthbound,” material things, it wouldn’t matter because God can and will replace whatever I need. Not only can He, and will He, but He’ll do it bigger, and better than before…if…I’m faithful. How do I know? Well, let’s look at the word “riches” as in that verse.

Greek: ploutos (masculine noun)
    1) riches, wealth
a) abundance of external possessions
b) fulness, abundance, plenitude
c) a good i.e. that with which one is enriched

Rich, Riches, Richly, Rich Man:
is used in the singular

(I) of material “riches,” used evilly, Mat 13:22; Mar 4:19; Luk 8:14; 1Ti 6:17; Jam 5:2; Rev 18:17;

(II) of spiritual and moral “riches,”

(a) possessed by God and exercised towards men, Rom 2:4, “of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering;” Rom 9:23 and Eph 3:16, “of His glory” (i.e., of its manifestation in grace towards believers); Rom 11:33, of His wisdom and knowledge; Eph 1:7; 2:7, “of His grace;” Eph 1:18, “of the glory of His inheritance in the saints;” Eph 3:8, “of Christ;” Phl 4:19, “in glory in Christ Jesus,” RV; Col 1:27, “of the glory of this mystery . . . Christ in you, the hope of glory;”
(b) to be ascribed to Christ, Rev 5:12;
(c) of the effects of the gospel upon the Gentiles, Rom 11:12 (twice);
(d) of the full assurance of understanding in regard to the mystery of God, even Christ, Col 2:2, RV;
(e) of the liberality of the churches of Macedonia, 2Cr 8:2 (where “the riches” stands for the spiritual and moral value of their liberality);
(f) of “the reproach of Christ” in contrast to this world’s treasures, Hbr 11:26.

This is the meaning in that verse, which occurs 22 times in 21  verses in the Greek concordance of the KJV. However, there are a few more meanings I want to share with you.

Greek: plousios (adjective) Rich, Riches, Richly, Rich Man:
akin to “rich, wealthy,” is used

(I) literally, Mat 27:57   When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple:
(b) as a noun, singular, a “rich” man (the noun not being expressed),  “the rich,” “the rich (man);” plural, Mar 12:41, lit., “rich (ones);” “(them that are) rich,” lit., “(the) rich;” Jam 2:6, RV, “the rich;” Jam 5:1, RV, “ye rich;” Rev 6:15; 13:16, RV, “the rich;”
(II) metaphorically, of God, Eph 2:4 (“in mercy”); of Christ, 2Cr 8:9; of believers, Jam 2:5, RV, “(to be) rich (in faith);” Rev 2:9, of spiritual “enrichment” generally; Rev 3:17, of a false sense of “enrichment.”

Greek: plouteo (verb): Rich, Riches, Richly, Rich Man:
“to be rich,” in the aorist or point tense, “to become rich,” is used

(a) literally, Luk 1:53, “the rich,” present participle, lit., “(ones or those) being rich;” 1Ti 6:9, 18; Rev 18:3, 15, 19 (all three in the aorist tense);

(b) metaphorically, of Christ, Rom 10:12 (the passage stresses the fact that Christ is Lord; see Rom 10:9, and the RV); of the “enrichment” of believers through His poverty, 2Cr 8:9 (the aorist tense expressing completeness, with permanent results); so in Rev 3:18, where the spiritual “enrichment” is conditional upon righteousness of life and conduct (see GOLD, No. 2); of a false sense of “enrichment,” 1Cr 4:8 (aorist), RV, “ye are become rich” (AV, “ye are rich”); Rev 3:17 (perfect tense, RV, “I . . . have gotten riches,” AV, “I am . . . increased with goods”), see GOODS, Note (3); of not being “rich” toward God, Luk 12:21.

Greek: ploutizo (verb): Rich, Riches, Richly, Rich Man:
“to make rich, enrich,” is rendered “making (many) rich” in 2Cr 6:10 (metaphorical of “enriching” spiritually).
See ENRICH.

Greek: chrema (noun): Rich, Riches, Richly, Rich Man:
“what one uses or needs” (chraomai, “to use”), “a matter, business,” hence denotes “riches,” Mar 10:23, 24; Luk 18:24; see MONEY, No. 2.

Greek: plousios (adverb): Rich, Riches, Richly, Rich Man:
“richly, abundantly,” akin to A, is used in Col 3:16; 1Ti 6:17; Tts 3:6, RV, “richly” (AV, “abundantly”); 2Pe 1:11 (ditto).

I don’t have to worry, just trust. Take my petitions to God, and then wait. See, that’s the hard part…the waiting, and it’s what most people can’t or won’t do. Instead of standing in faith with their eyes on the prize, (the prize being God) they focus on their possessions because they think those are rewards they gained from hard work.