Chapter 1 The Stunning Encounter

A woman struggling to find value and belonging wanders away down into the woods to get away from the rest of the world. There she is discovered by an elk helping her find real love and purpose.

The Stunning Revival

Chapter 1 The Stunning Encounter

The city skyline appeared as the sun rose over the skyscrapers and city buildings. A train zipped through a tunnel where the bright white light at the end revealed the big bustling city. The city that never sleeps indeed was revealed with many people down below already out and about their day as normal, while glued to their phones, hardly anyone really speaking to each other on their way to wherever they were going. A car suddenly blared its engine obnoxiously when a young lady came out of its mist.

She was different than the others, glued to their artificial existence. Her eyes weren't really glued on anything; they were just... lost. She seemed sad and just wandered along, not really going anywhere in particular. She wore jeans and a regular light green t-shirt with her dirty blonde hair in a ponytail. She also wore her hands in the pockets of her brown sweater on a chilly fall day with leaves falling beside her. Her green eyes seemed lonely as she would look at people around her as though she couldn't fit in. She looked up at the city rooftops and then back down to her feet. She wanted something more, something more, whatever that was.

Everyone around always seemed so mindless to her. The way they just went along with the next big hit show and thought it was so great, even though she found it to be so shallow and cheesy. The many filler scenes that meant nothing to the story, the way the characters always seemed to forget what they just said 5 minutes ago, then saying something totally random, and the bunch of really unnecessarily long fight scenes. Yeah, but everyone seemed to love it for some reason.

She wanted to understand, so as to make more friends, but one way or another, always found herself being ridiculed for not getting a certain scene or trend like it was that good. She just couldn't fit in, and everyone just kept laughing and teasingly calling her weird, no matter how many times she told them to stop calling her that, as if it was so funny. She really didn't mind what people said about her or sitting by herself, but she really just wanted to find people of her own. To her, friends were more than just people you talk about ordinary things with, but someone you can confide in about deeper matters of the heart. Someone she could trust. She didn't seek to have a boyfriend like everyone else; she simply wanted a real friend, that's all. She couldn't understand why she couldn't just have that.

She continued down a sidewalk more towards the outside of the city. She couldn't really explain it, but there were days she just wanted to wander, trying to get away from her family and others that she was acquainted with but would hardly call good friends or anything, as they would always refer to themselves that way anyhow, again, no matter how many times she would tell them to stop. She would've loved to be friends with them, but not over the same shallow jokes and empty conversations.

The air was raspy; she stepped onto some dry leaves while following the power lines outside the city. She would stop every now and then to pick up as much trash as she could at her feet. The city was full of litter and exhaust that spilled even out of the city's edges where she was. She finally found a trash can to throw it away. She eventually wandered near some woods on the side of the road, further away from the car noise and hustle and bustle of the city. She just wanted to get away from the people and noise in general. That car noise always annoyed her. She couldn't stand the arrogant sound their engines just had to make. That loud sound would scare forest creatures and cause them to run onto the road, where they were not seen again.

As she wandered, she found a red barrier at the end of the road to mark a dead end. A dead end. She found herself wandering down the hill past the other side of the barrier, at the end of herself. The dry fall leaves crumbling under her feet; a pebble stumbled into the creek bed further down with a splash, where something suddenly looked up behind the brush from drinking trashed, murky, polluted water. Leaves were seen resembling a thick armor around the neck to the head, with a bright, crystal-clear emerald eye appearing from the darkness.

Every step she took down began to feel like a step closer into that void of feeling invisible, like everyone in the world would only see her from the outside only. Just someone weird and always needing to be fixed with so-called good advice. Advice that led to long, boring counseling sessions, pills, and plenty of bills. No matter how hard she worked, she could never measure up to their expectations; they would always find something wrong with her. Always quick to label her, autistic, depressed, suicidal even, weird, overthinker, whatever else, but never truly getting to know her and never truly doing anything to help her. No one could "figure" her out, like she was just so complicated to understand. Something they could fix, like she was just a robot, either working or not. As mindless as the machines used for the desertification of the forest. No real friends or worth. Just a statistic. Like she was just another of billions in the world with no real purpose or value. She always worked hard, but it was never good enough. She bit her lip; tears began to blur her vision in a flurry of anger and confusion mixed with the bitter weight of society. She didn't want to feel sorry for herself or make anyone else ever feel sad with her for no reason, but she just felt so empty, and no one could ever really fill that emptiness in her heart.

Out of nowhere, she began to just angrily stomp and move her arms up and down with a fist in anger at the cold, mindless, heartless world around her. Spinning around, she accidentally tripped down the hill and stopped right before falling into the ravine with her hands, face staring right into the deep-sided crevace. Her face was now full of dirt and scratched up as she looked down into the creek bed before pushing herself back up. She grudgingly put her hand into a fist and hit the ground in exhaustion and frustration. Tears began to just flow down into the shallow waters below when she suddenly let out the most heart-wrenchingly sad, overwhelmed, and desperately broken yell. She broke down crying from the burdens of it all as far as she could get away from the crowd. Nobody could understand her pain, her longing. She didn't want fake friends to see her tears and try to cheer her up. No one. She felt unseen, unnoticed, unwanted. A waste of space. Hopeless.

Suddenly, the creature's ears met her distant cry, and was deeply moved while fixated toward the sound. Antlers were now visible like the branches in the bitter wind as it began to walk through the shadows of the depths of the ravine, farther away. Every other creature might have darted off after hearing a sound like that full of anger, frustration, and sadness, but not this one. Emerald eyes radiating concern for whoever that was. Just needing to find the source of this cry so purely intense and sorrowful that even the hardest heart would melt.

This elk was no ordinary elk; he was the guardian of the forest realm, upholding the virtues that cause everything to flow together interconnectedly. Something about this person's presence had alerted it, as if a wave flowed through the trees over to its heart of a long-anticipated encounter. He was made aware of every tear that fell to the ground, making its way to see this human. Finally making its way around the bend to see her from below, where the roots of the trees were shown in the dirt walls of the ravine. It saw her, but she could not see it.

"What ails you so much, dear one?" The guardian's voice penetrated the silence with a gentle and concerned tone, calling out to her from below.

The woman didn't react to the voice as if the life was drained out of her. She was so angry, so tired, conflicted, she didn't know her identity anymore. She didn't even question the voice. Words failed her for a moment when she then answered, "I am all alone and lost in this world."

The elk could sense her longing and desperation for something more. It's heart breaking for her. He then spoke again,

"You look down now, what do you see?"

"Just my empty, shallow existence staring back at me." She said blankly.

"Indeed, and where has the water gone in this deep pit of your despair?" The creature responded.

"I don't know if it was ever there at all, so I couldn't say."

"Hm, and would the water hide?"

"No."

"It does exist and is here, only is stuck somewhere else. Now, to your right, can you see?

She slowly looked up in the direction from which the water would be flowing from.

"The water is there, only blocked by the garbage and clay soil that has drifted in. If only to be let in."

"So?" she asked dully.

"The same is true for the flow to your spirit. Human beings are special. They are body, soul, and spirit.They are meant to be filled with words, not just things or empty praise. Without the true spirit of life the human spirit is walking dead, lifeless, disconnected, void and empty in their sin and trespasses. (Ephesians 2:1) When they are born of water, they not only need physical food, but something else to fill the void they are born with as well in their spirit. They cannot fill themselves with what they do not have, such as love or belonging. The true spirit of love is the only thing that can fill that void that hurts you so much. To enter the kingdom of heaven and be saved, one must be born again of the Holy Spirit. (John 3:5)"

"Humans love." She stated.

"But is it real love or just a fleeting moment or feeling? Something that truly fills you?"

She didn't respond, contemplating the truth in that statement.

"That clay soil is the expectations and lies set by the world that can harden your heart to everything around you."

Her eyes slowly opened in acknowledgment of that reality, but quickly furrowed in frustration from it all.

"Why does it even matter? Why should I even bother with this world anymore?! It's all just the same insanity again and again; people never change! What's the point of even living? It doesn't mean anything to anyone anyway, other than just to use me when they’re upset, all while never doing the same for me. I can't do it anymore!"

She hit the ground with her fist. Her face was in such agony, looking towards the sky and then returning back down again.

"Yes." He answered solemnly, acknowledging her pain. "People use people. They take, and even when they mean well or try to give to you, they can't give anything that lasts and fills our hearts with real love and joy. Only empty promises of such things."

She still couldn't see him. Dust and tears were building up in her eyes. She just sat there, continuing to contemplate life. Some said in the past that she tended to overthink things, but she just wanted to look past the surface for meaning. She started to sink into helpless depression, burying her head in her arms in frustration with herself and the world around her.

The elk saw. A gust swayed his giant antlers like branches in the wind. He continued on. The wind rustled gently through the tree branches as the leaves blew off.

"The murky part of water over there on the left, why does the water reside alone there and become impure?"

"Probably just a really sandy bottom draining it all." She said, turned away in her arms.

"The same is true for the flow to your spirit. You yearn for something more from the world: fulfillment and guidance. Instead, you are left confused, unsatisfied, broken, and empty, even though you do your best. The more you take in, the more you still find yourself with nothing. Just that still broken, still tattered heart. A never-ending cycle of false hope and discouragement. We are saved, not with our righteousness or works, but because of mercy and grace, by the washing of rebirth and renewal of the Holy Spirit." (Titus 3:5)

Hot tears streamed down her face. She turned more towards the source of the voice. Her face was still sad, but understanding the reality of someone speaking to her, not at her, but sincerely to her. A warmth she had never encountered before in the cold bitterness of society. She still felt hate for herself and the world around her.

''Shall I continue?" He asked.

"I guess."

"The birds, can you hear them?"

'"No."

"Then listen closer."

She was as still as possible and began to hear the distant songs of the birds nearby.

"Do you know that not one of them worries about tomorrow or what they shall eat, drink, or where they shall call home? (Matthew 6:25-34) Do you know that all their needs are provided for by me as they seek refuge here? Do you know that even they mourn for the loss of their homes, and yet are comforted as they sing for joy in a new day in the changing of the seasons? Mourning is a sign of humanity, of pain. A sign some humans don't realize the depths to. A sign that you may be comforted as your hardened heart is pierced, making way for the water of life to flow freely, overflowing in your heart. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (Matthew 5:4) Whoever believes in me, as the scripture declares, rivers of living water will flow from out of their innermost being. (John 7:38) The words of our creator."

"Creator?"

"Yes, and the rightful king of the world who came down to the Earth he created. The one who gave dominion to humans to rule over the Earth and animals. (Genesis 1:26) Although most choose to live idly and never acknowledge him and the world he has given unto them. His son, the Word who was and is God, came down in the flesh and even died for the world, but the world still chooses to hate him and his words of life. (John 1:1 and John 1:14) He is the one who gave the gift of the Holy Spirit. The true spirit of love who testifies of him. (John 14:26) (John 15:26-27) (John 5:8) The Spirit who counsels us and gives us encouragement and wisdom. Never failing love and purpose on our path." 

"Long ago, after staying up that night of the day and week of Passover, or week of the Feast or Festival of Unleavened Bread, gathered with his disciples, he looked up and prayed that those belonging to him would be one, just as he as the father are one. Not to be taken out of the world, but be kept in the Father's name and kept from the evil one. Sactified in the truth and perfectly one so the world may know that he was sent by the Father and are so loved by the Lord and come to know that love which he showed to them and see him in them. (John 17) They went across the brook of Kidron, where there was a garden in Gethsame, meaning the oil press, on the base of the Mount of Olives. (Matthew 26:30) (John 18:1) The disciples all fell asleep instead of praying as they were told to for even an hour as their spirit was willing but their flesh was weak. (Matthew 26:40-41) As he stayed in earnest prayer to his father for God's will to be done and not his own. Being in agony, he prayed more earnestly, the weight of sin causing him to sweat great drops of blood and the pressure of what he would face. (Luke 22:44)  Judas Iscariot, a disciple and friend, betrayed him with 30 pieces of silver with a kiss to indicate to the soldiers who to arrest. (Matthew 26:49) The band of soldiers, some officers from the chief priests, and the Pharisees arrived with their lanterns, torches, weapons such as swords and clubs, and arrested and bound him and took him away. (Matthew 26:47) (John 18:3)  He faced two illegal night trials by the Jews according to the Mishnah, the writing of the Rabbis, that states a trial should not be held at night by the Sanhedrin. He was taken first to to the courtyard of the high priest. (John 18:15) After being beaten there and tried by Annas, the high priest that year, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, he would second be led by the same soldiers to Caiaphas's house, where the elders had gathered later in the night. (Matthew 26:57)  They spit in his face, struck him on the cheek, and some slapped him. (Matthew 26:67) They also blindfolded him and beat and kept asking, "Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?" (Luke 22:64) Jesus himself was sleepless after they kept in a dungeon or pit until early morning when they could take him to the Roman court to be tried by the governor Pilate. They needed the Romans permission who were occuping there in Jerusalem at the time, in order to crucify him and put him to death as it wasn't lawful for them. As this was to fulfill his words of the the kind of death would die. (John 18:31-32) And as soon as it was morning, the chief priest held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate. (Mark 15:1) They who arrested him did not enter the governor's headquarters so that they would not defile themselves, but could eat the Passover, for Pilate's palace contained leaven. (John 18:28) (Leviticus 23:8) Ironic as the Jewish trials before were not legal. Pilate saw no evil in him and had him sent to Herod's jurisdiction as he was a Galilean. The chief priests and the scribes stood by vehemently accusing him. And Herod and his soldiers treated him with contempt as they mocked him. They arrayed him in splendid clothing and sent him back to Pilate. Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this that had been at enmity with each other. (Luke  23:6-12) He was dragged from place to place. Pilate knew that it was out of envy that that they, the Jews, his own people, had delivered him up. (Matthew 27:18) The crowd continually insisted that Pilate crucify him. In order to please or satify the envious, paid off crowd, so there would not be an incursion of the Jews, they whipped and beat him, flogged or scourged him more than hundreds of times. Far more than allowed the Jews that is only 40 for a criminal. (Matthew 27:26) (John 19:1) (Deuteronomy 25:3) After they had striped him and put a scarlet purple robe on him, the whole batalion of Roman soldiers gathered together and twisted and drove serveral different thorny plant branches, such of the Thorny Burnet plant, Gundelia, and Arabian Jujube, into his head like a helmet, mashed together covering the entire top of his head, forehead and scalp, as a Middle Eastern crown of the time and put a reed in his right hand. Kneeling before him, they mocked and scoffed, at him, shouting "Hail, King of the Jews" as they spit on him and took the reed and struck him in the head. Making him come out to the crowd with a robe, reed, and a crown of thorns. They then mocked and stripped him again of the robe, reopening the deep stripe on his back from the many floggings, and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him. (Matthew 27:27-31)(Mark 15:16-20) (John 19:2-5) His body began to get cold, clammy, and sweaty, as the shock from all the blood loss caused the body to begin to redirect the blood to the main organs such as the brain and heart. Along with the tenderness of sweating blood, stress, and pure exhaustion he still had to carry the weight of the his 100-pound crossbeam of his cross over his shoulders, between his arms, up to Golgotha, the place of the skull. (Luke 23:33) He would fall onto his face, breaking the cartilage tissue in his nose where they made a passerby help him the rest of the way. (Mark 15:21-22) The creator's son was mocked, pierced, beaten beyond recognition. He had even had the his beard pulled out, all the while never hiding from insult or injury. (Isaiah 50:6) People were appalled by him and hid their faces from him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised,and held in low esteem. (Isaiah 53:3)  His appearance was disfigured beyond that of any man. And his form marred beyond human likeness." (Isaiah 52:14) The nails or spikes, several inches long, were nailed through his wrists and hands into his medial nerve causing radiating shocks of pain upon impact as soon as that nerve was damaged. He, the son of man, was lifted from the crossbeam to the upright beam with ropes or pulleys onto the upright beam's notch or peg, stablized, and hung on that cross. (John 3:13-15) (John 12:31-33) The Romans made sure his elbows were given some bend and feet were give rotation so he wouldn't suffocate and die quickly; maximizing the suffering. The weight on the body on the shoulders and elbows caused his every bone to be dislocated. In the Psalms, the prophecy spoke of "I am poured out like water,; my hear is like wax; it has melted within me." (Psalms 22:14) He was poured out like a drink offering. (2 Timothy 4:6) The pain and sorrow gripping his heart causing it to melt like wax. He was humiliated. Barely able to speak "Father, forgive them. For they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34) Cry out in a loud voice, "Eloi, eloi, lama sabachthani? My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46) (Mark15:34) A direct reference to the Psalms prophecy to show all that the prophecy was being fulfilled and that he understands feeling forsaken as King David of Jerusalem had in the past. (Psalms 22:1) Blood pulsing toward his brain, heart, and lungs, the cells in his heart began to die and the increased friction from rapid short gasps breathing in his lungs. The friction built up from the irregular heart beat and gasps of air began to rupture his lungs and heart as he gave his final breath. "It is finished." (John 19:30) His declaration of victory over the wages of sin and death and the debt we could never pay gone and no more. (Romans 6:23) It was about noon, and deep darkness that could be felt came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. He called out with a loud voice "Father, into you hands I commit my spirit! And having said this he breathed his last. And the temple barrier curtain, 60 feet wide, 30 feet wide, and 4 inches thick, seperating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, was torn in two from top to bottom. The Earth shook, the rocks were split. The Roman centurian watching praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man."" (Luke 23:44-46) The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. The Roman centurion then, and all those with him who were guarding, saw the earthquake and all that had happened and were terrified, exclaiming "Truly this man was the Son of God!" (Matthew 27:50-54) (Mark 15:37-39) He said solemnly.

"He was pierced for mankind's sake. For what the enemy meant for evil, God meant for good. With a plan from the beginning to save them by telling the serpent, the great dragon, that is the Devil and Satan; (Revelation 12:9) that he would bruise the Messiah's heel, but he would crush his skull or head in the end in ultimate victory over darkness and the grave! (Genesis 3:15) The tearing of the veil, composed of squares woven of 72 cords containing 24 strands each, reuniting access to the Holy God and man to all who believe. According to the Talmud of the Jewish Rabbis, no mere earthquake was enough to rent in twain or be torn in two. The strongest man Shimshon, or Samson, may have been able to rip from botton to top, but not top to bottom. Two mighty horses could not pull it apart. So heavy it took 300 priests to work together and cleanse if it was soiled. 40 cubits or 60 feet long, and 20 cubits or 30 feet wide. 82 myriads of of damsels worked on the veil. Two veils were made every year for the temple. One to seperate the inner court from the sanctaury or tabernacle at the tabernacle door called the Kalumma, and the second veil to seperate from the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, or the Most Holy Place of God's dwelling at the Mercy Seat on top of the Ark of the Covenant called the Katapetasma. The Ark had been been lost long ago at the Babylonian destruction of the first temple, and was not present at the second temple at the time of his crucifixion. The archaeologist Ron Wyatt had discovered the truth on January 6, 1982 hidden beneath the garden tomb in Golgotha. After several years of digging through a honeycomb of natural limestone caves and artificial dug out tunnels without damaging the surrounding surface in the limestone, north of Jerusalem's Damascus Gate, he made the stunning discovery. At the moment the rocks were split at the crucifixion, a fissure opened beneath the cross, allowing the blood from his pierced side to flow all the way down... to the Mercy Seat on the Ark of the Covenant. Purifying by his blood not the sprinkled blood by the high priest from animal sacrifice on the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, once a year in the Holy of Holies. (Leviticus 16:14-15) (Hebrews 9:7-22) (Hebrews 4:12-16)  He, the light of the world, conqured darkness and sin by his blood! Giving dominion back to and rescuing mankind from the dominion of darkness and enslavement to sin, transferring us into the kingdom of light to rule with God through and with his beloved son. The first fruits of the resurrected harvest of those that slept defeating his last enemy death into subjection under his feet! For as in Adam all die, yet in Christ all shall made alive!" (John 8:12) (Romans 6:18) (1 Corinthians 15:20:28) 

"Later that afternoon, soldiers would come to kill, break the bones of the legs first, and take down the remaining bodies on the crosses, those others crucified beside him, for it was the day of Preparation for a high Sabbath day when all work should be done of the week of the Passover. He was already dead and so they did not break his legs. No bones were broken because he is the perfect sacrifice. As prophecied they would look upon the one they had pierced. (John 19:31-37) The lamb who takes away the sins of the world. (John 1:29) But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear and at once came out bood and water. (John 19:31-37) Nicodemus, a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin, along with Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy man, member of the Sanhedrin, and a secret disciple who had asked permission from Pilate to bury him later that evening, came to properly bury him. He was later taken from the cross by night, nails still in his hands, and taken to a garden in the place he was crucified; and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. They wrapped him in clean linen cloth, the same cloth he was wrapped and laid a manger in, then Joseph laid the body his own new tomb close by. (John 19:38-42) (Luke 2:12) Chief priest and Pharisees had Pilate secure the tomb further so no one could fake his resurrection spoken of on the third day. So they went and made sure the tomb was secure by putting a seal on the 1-2 ton stone cut and rolled out by Joseph, 4-6 feet across, and posting the Roman guard. (Matthew 27:57-66)

"Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day, there was a great earthquake. For an angel of the Lord descended from Heaven and came and rolled that great stone away and sat on it. His appearance was like lighting and the soldiers fell on their faces like dead men in utter terror. Proclaiming "He is not here! He is risen!" (Matthew 28:1-6) Rising on the third day after he hung on the cross and gave up his spirit, the Holy Spirit's power brought him back to life! (Matthew 27:50) (1 Corinthians 15:4) (Romans 8:11) To redeem mankind and lay down the perfect law of love by laying down his own life, which he freely gave, and no one took from him. For he, Jesus the Christ, the anointed chosen one of God, Yahusha, meaning Yah is salvation, Hamashiach Messiah, the anointed and chosen one, who gave his life freely to bring an end to vain works and bring righteousness to all as a gift not to earn but to receive, that none should boast. (Romans 10:4) (Ephesians 2:9) By simply believing in his son's sacrifice on the cross, and that he rose again to redeem the lost to have a fulfilling relationship with him, we can be saved from the spiral of darkness in this world. His son said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. Nobody comes to the father except through me."(John 14:6). By grace through faith, one is saved. (Ephesians 2:8) Then, we can be baptized by the Holy Spirit, who makes us born again. The one who gives the fruit of our salvation, rooted in him, the vine, and we are the branches that his father prunes. (John 15:1-2) Giving our hearts real love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control altogether as one fruit, so no one can pick and choose or have one without the other. (Galatians 5:22-23) For God does not have plans of hopelessness, but of hope and a future for everyone who believes, if only they would surrender their plans and life to him who is strong to save." (Jeremiah 29:11) (Proverbs 23:18)

The woman's heartbroken eyes slowly filled with life and hope at this. "This creator loves me that much?"

"Yes, indeed, he does. Do you believe his words?"

She lit up with excitement as she said, “Yes! I do!"

She pushed herself off the edge of the ravine, further down to remove the blockage for the water to flow through freely down to the rest of the creek, helping to clean the murky, polluted water. "Holy Spirit, please come fill me with your love!" She exclaimed, coming down on both knees in the mud and fist to the ground, as a knight kneeling to The King, then removing the rubble and mud, and the water began to rush through.

He smiled at her words. Coming towards her from behind. She suddenly felt his breath upon her when she spun around, hands behind her, and still on the ground. She looked at the ground, slowly up to the magnificent and tall leafy armored elk, as their eyes met each other's. She could see him. Raìzen. His name meant the good foundational root in Spanish. The guardian elk of the forest realm. His emerald eyes stared deeply into her with a sweet intimacy she had never experienced before. His eyes made her feel seen, no longer invisible, loved, wanted, and valued.

"What is your name, dear one?" He asked.

"K-k-k-Kîra." She answered, petrified and in awe. Staring up into his magnificent, deep emerald eyes and meeting his gentle gaze.

"Kîra, a beautiful name dear one. Your name comes from Hebrew, Yakira, precious and beloved one. Kiryah, in Hebrew, is a strong fortress of safety. In Japanese, a name that means to sparkle, shine, and illuminate the darkness. A combination of the Japanese kanji symbol for hope or rare, and for love or affection. You are a rare, precious one indeed in his sight. My name is Raìzen, guardian of the Xīn Sī Shenfeng, Chinese for the Heart Piercing Forest realm. Helping penetrate or pierce deep into the heart The Word of God, the Sword of The Spirit, and stay rooted in the truth. For his words bring life to those who find them and healing to those who heed and pay attention to his words of life. Keep your heart will all vigilence, for from it flows the springs of life. (Proverbs 4:20-23) (Ephesians 6:17) The rash words of the haughty and wicked are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (Proverbs 12:18) Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those that love it will eat the fruit thereof. (Proverbs 18:21) One day every idle word will be judged. (Matthew 12:36) Not many have the eyes to see me and the ears to hear me. (Matthew 13:16) You are now a child of the Most High God. A princess of the light of life, no longer to walk in the darkness of this world. (John 8:12) You have been set apart now to become a warrior with fingers trained for battle, (Exodus 15:3) (Psalm 144:1) a high royal priest, (1 Peter 2:9) an ambassador of the good news that is the Gospel of Christ, (2 Corinthians 5:20) a heir of God, a princess (Galatians 4:7) a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth (Philippians 3:20-21) to be transformed, a new creation in the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings. (1 Timothy 6:15) Wherever you go in this world, his spirit will be with you. Call on him. He is faithful to answer in his timing. To guide you as you trust not in your own understanding, but trust and acknowledge him in all of your ways. (Proverbs 3:5-6) He will help you not to be entangled in this world as you run your own race home until the kingdom of heaven is established on Earth. (2 Timothy 2:4) (Matthew 6:10) Laying aside the cares and burdens of this life. (Hebrews 12:1) Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth. (Matthew 5:5) Your battle won't be with flesh and blood, but against the rulers of darkness! (Ephesians 6:12) The old is gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17) You are so loved! (John 3:16) For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) For God does not desire that anyone perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)" As he spoke those words, a whirlwind began to form around her.

A light began to glow, flicker, and flow from deep within her. She would valiantly rise to her feet from the mud, her heart filled with real love, joy, and purpose, and stand in amazement as a stunning light began to appear.

Raìzen smiled again. "Because you have chosen to believe and not conform to the patterns of this world, you shall be transformed." He said, proud of her finding identity not in the world but in who she was as a child, a princess, of the Most High king and creator of the universe (Genesis 1:1) (Colossians 1:16). Raìzen brought his mighty antlers down to the ground, bowing. For every knee will bow, and every tribe, tongue, nationality, race, gender, ethnicity, the least to the greatest shall confess one day, that Jesus Christ is Lord! (Philippians 2:10-11) (Revelation 7:9)  For there is no Jew nor Greek, black, yellow, or white, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, we are all one in Christ (Galatians 3:28), where therefore there is now no condemnation (Romans 8:1), only those who are free indeed in Christ our Lord and Savior (John 8:36)! Redeemer and Friend! (Matthew 11:19) Alpha and Omega! (Revelation 1:8) Beginning and the end! (Revelation 21:6) Our brother and closest friend. (John 14:18) (John 15:15) (Proverbs 18:24) Not born of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, but of God. (John 1:13) King of our hearts, King of Kings! Faithful and true! (Revelation 19:11) Presenting us one day as the holy and pure spotless bride to his father (Ephesians 5:27), the author and finisher of our faith seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2), where we have been raised with him by God and are seated with him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6). But when the priest, Jesus our highest priest, had offered for all time one sacrifice for all sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time awaits his enemies to be made his footstool. (Hebrews 10:13) For to which of the angels did God ever say, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet?"(Hebrews 1:13) (Psalm 110:1) Once you were strangers to God and were enemies in your mind because of your evil behavior. But Christ's sacrifice presents us holy, faultless, and blamess before the father unto that great day when the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our God! (Colossians 1:21-22) (Revelation 11:15) Lifting the veil from our hearts at the revealing of the mystery our true Lord, Savior, King, Redeemer, and friend! (2 Corinthians 3:16) (Hebrews 9:7) That at his name every knee should bow, of those in Heaven, of those on Earth, and those under the Earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God our father! (Philippians 2:10)

 

Author's Note

The name is pronounced like raise-en by the way. Hope it turns out good. Open to any suggestions as well. Have since made some fixes.

Reviews

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

it's such an intriguing premise, i just wished the story was longer.
the opening scene is a great meditation on modern-day loneliness. this feeling was expressed really well. but a saviour arrives! an... elk? i had to read that a couple of times. it's a great twist. it's surprising and makes you wonder. ithis is a great parable about finding the path to salvation, which sometimes requires leaving behind a lot of things.