So here we are. Sort of out in the cold, looking in at a former dwelling place called "ironshield".

It (was) sort of like an ironshield city, complete with a mini-economy of various tokens, stakes, delegations and pools. But an intruder kicked me out and liquidated everything to BTC and transfered it away into the sunset. What's left is slowly being unstaked, presumably to be sold off.

The city has been plundered.

So why would I be grateful? Well... there's still faith in God, still the light yoke of Yeshua, there's my wife (who has been helping me greatly), my family, my friends, my communities, my health, my home, warm cloths, good food and drink.

I am not wealthy, but I am richly provided for!

"My City is An Iron Shield"

I don't know if I ever published this on the chain, but the name "ironshield" is from an old video game character name I used to use when I was young. I borrowed it from Tolkein's "oakenshield". How much stronger is iron than oak? I started using that handle as early as the late '90's. When I made my first STEEM account, I used that name "ironshield". By extension, that became my HIVE account name.

My early posts were all scripture related studies that I wanted preserved on the chain.

My wife grew up listening to a very particular audio-version of the bible called "The Living Bible". It was one of the very first audio bibles recorded, paraphrased, with some music and voice characterizations. We play it in our house sometimes and I can hear it in my office while I work and blog.

I was shocked one day when I heard an obscure verse from Ezekiel 11:3 and 8 while I was managing my HIVE ironshield account:

"Our city is an iron shield and will protect us from all harm."... The Lord God says: “You think this city is an iron shield? No, it isn’t! It will not protect you."

(This is the only version of the bible that uses the words "iron shield" in this verse, it's not original to the text but a paraphrase.)

At first I thought, wow, "ironshield" what a coincidence, that's my name, my city! But then I heard the context. God says "no, your ironshield city will not protect you." I dismissed it at the time.

"Bah, some obscure bible passage, a paraphrase, unusual choice of words. This has nothing to do with MY iron shield city. My iron shield city will protect me and my family from economic calamity!"

My iron shield city was my crypto portfolio I had built up over countless hours, almost 8 years (this March). With blogging, gaming, trading, investing, I had built the account all the way up to some respectable numbers.

My crypto city is STRONG, it will protect us from all harm! When the time was right I would cash it in and our family would be safe during difficult economic times!

Or, when the time was right, it would be all taken away. And the timing was perfect. (But that's another blog post.)

God's Fingerprints

Why would God take away something that had become so precious to me? Well... I don't think God actually took it away Himself, but he allowed it - no, He ORDERED it to be done. Spiritually speaking, of course.

My last transaction (before the account was hijacked) was purchasing LEN token for the LEN:LENM pool. I (unknowingly) purchased from an account called "godsorders".

Another coincidence? I gave up on coincidences a long time ago. I believe it's more like a fingerprint left behind by the Divine.

I'm not suggesting that the voice of God thundered from the clouds and ordered some scammer/hacker to go find ironshield and lock him out and steal everything. But the Most High, the Lord of the Spirits, commands (or ORDERS) the Spirits. And the spirits obey with trembling.

I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right and on His left. And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one suggested this, and another that. Then a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ By what means?’ asked the LORD. And he replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ ‘You will surely entice him and prevail,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’ So you see, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of these prophets of yours, and the LORD has pronounced disaster against you.”

If God can order a lying spirit to lie, He can order a stealing spirit to steal. And pronounce disaster.

God orders a thief to steal?

A righteous God? A good God? YES! Not that stealing is righteous, or good, but the Divine will is righteous and good! And why can't God order a thief to steal what is already HIS????

The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours; everything in the world is yours—you created it all. Psalm 89:11

This happens a number of times in the bible. In fact the "iron shield" of Ezekiel (Jerusalem) was plundered. Surely the Most High God, Lord of the Spirits, can order any spirit to do His will. His good will. Yes, I said good will!

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

Even Yeshua asked that His calamity be taken from Him, but submitted to the good will of His Father... and He was killed. Excruciatingly. But what the enemy meant for evil, God means for good.

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20

His Good Will

While it's nothing like the gravity of Yeshua's faithfulness and obedience, or the great trials and faith of many prophets and saints - I pray that my measure of faith (wretch that I am) remains through this trial, acknowledging that this judgement is from the Most High.

I believe this crypto "disaster" is His good will. I don't understand it now, but perhaps someday I'll look back and marvel at the hidden blessing.

I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things. Isaiah 45:7

God brought this prosperity to me and if it is His will to "create disaster" for my "iron shield" city, then I say "not my will, but yours be done." Good, good Father.

The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job 1:21

Even if I (in the flesh) do not like this particular divine order, God is still good. I believe with all of my heart that if it was sanctioned by the Most High, that it is good. Blessed be the name of the LORD! His mercy endures forever and ever.

I am Grateful Everyday! Especially Today!

This is why I am grateful, that in the LORD's mercy I only lost some numbers on a screen. I can still post, comment, engage, discuss, blog and on and on.

There is SO MUCH to be grateful for! My family is secure, our home is warm, our food is satisfying. Our needs are being met.

And the generosity of the community is overwhelming. I'm humbled by the kindness that has been shown to me and the encouragement to continue blogging.

My wife has been extremely supportive as habits change, thought patterns re-adjust.

Overcoming the Pangs

I will admit, it's not easy. In my mind-flesh, I still have 'pangs' of thought (mostly regrets) - all that HBD, the HIVE, the investments, various tokens, stakes, delegations and pools. But I push it aside and remember that the greatest blessings I've ever had in my life were after some of the greatest losses.

I will still invest, stake tokens, delegate and invest in pools... and forget what I once had and focus on what the LORD has in store for me moving forward.

Exercising My Gratefulness Muscle

I'm not interested in building a new "iron" city, but expressing gratefulness for the kindness and love towards the supportive community and all the great bloggers, commentators, curators and friends here on the HIVE blockchain.

I'll do what I can to build back a little something so it's not a complete loss, but I feel like I've actually gained something precious (in a strange sort of way), an opportunity to exercise that gratefulness muscle!

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. Matthew 6:19-20

Sometimes the bible comes ALIVE!

Bless the Most High!