Food AFTER the Fall of Man

 

Genesis 3:17-18

King James Version

17 And unto Adam he said, 

Because thou hast hearkened 

unto the voice of thy wife, 

and hast eaten of the tree, 

of which I commanded thee, saying, 

Thou shalt not eat of it: 

cursed is the ground for thy sake; 

in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; 

and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

In God's garden of Eden He gave Adam, the first created man, EVERYTHING he needed for food, companionship, and all.

The LORD even graced the garden with His presence.

The original food man ate bore seeds, propagating itself.

"whose seed is in itself"

Genesis 1:11

King James Version

11 And God said, 

Let the earth bring forth grass, 

the herb yielding seed, 

and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, 

whose seed is in itself, 

upon the earth: 

and it was so.

But after the fall, man had to till the soil.

Gone were the days of ease, comfort, and glory.

Where before, his diet was anything bearing seed,

Genesis 1:29

King James Version

29 And God said, 

Behold, 

I have given you every herb bearing seed, 

which is upon the face of all the earth, 

and every tree, 

in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; 

to you it shall be for meat.

eventually, man's diet greatly changed, with the times, and technology.

There was drought, pestilence, strife, varying weather, and disease. 

After Eden, Scripture revealed a variety of other foods coming into being such as fish, lamb, goat's milk, honey, bread, raisins, spices, flour, lentils, and nuts.

Where man used to eat herbs and fruits -- all yielding seed -- now, things are processed.

To yield greater production, farming processes changed, too.

Then pesticides were created, to eradicate pests.

Now, most things come from laboratories, and not from seed-bearing plants.

Now, food is traded as a commodity, with many elite earning greatly from the poor man's labor.

Everything has conformed to man and the prince of this world, reflecting perverse desires, greed, gluttony, vanity, and rebellion.

People forgot food originally-designed by God.

Now, everything serves the atrocious appetites of man.

People have forgotten GOD.

We now live to eat, where before, we ate, to live.

We fell from GRACE, and know no other thing, but feeding the ever-hungry mouth of the world, that can never be satiated.

The world was designed to keep man's heart away from God.

Although there are a few exceptions, the following have occurred:

People have become fixated on food, and not on God.

People forgot to thank God for every blessing given.

People don't pray before a meal, in gratitude.

People don't think of other people starving elsewhere, as they throw their surplus food.

Hard-working farmers are forgotten, ostracized, marginalized.

Every time we eat at the table, do we think of these poor farmers, barely able to pay their debts, not even owning their land, unable to feed their families, as they feed the world.

Very cruel, isn't it?

We don't even know what the component of our modern-day food is now, but surely, it's laden with all sorts of chemicals, pesticides, hormones, and additives.

Other people take to drugs, and mind-altering substances.

We have become a chemical society, a mechanical society, and an electronic, and digital society.

People boast of their ability to whip up exotic dishes, ostentatiously prepared, and served.

Being a chef has become a trend.

Everyone trying to outdo the other.

But are the poor people being fed each day?

Sure, many feed the poor genuinely, like soup kitchens, and the like.

But others have personal, and political agendas.

It becomes personal gain, not as a sincere, unpublicized effort to help the poor, and starving.

Hardly would it serve God, nor for His GLORY.

Everything in the world is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 1:14

King James Version

14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; 

and, behold, 

all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

I look to JESUS -- the MAN of MIRACLES -- who fed 5,000, with a five loaves, and two fishes.

Matthew 14:13-21

King James Version

13 When Jesus heard of it, 

he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: 

and when the people had heard thereof, 

they followed him on foot out of the cities.

14 And Jesus went forth, 

and saw a great multitude, 

and was moved with compassion toward them, 

and he healed their sick.

15 And when it was evening, 

his disciples came to him, saying, 

This is a desert place, 

and the time is now past; 

send the multitude away, 

that they may go into the villages, 

and buy themselves victuals.

16 But Jesus said unto them, 

They need not depart; 

give ye them to eat.

17 And they say unto him, 

We have here but five loaves, 

and two fishes.

18 He said, 

Bring them hither to me.

19 And he commanded the multitude 

to sit down on the grass, 

and took the five loaves, 

and the two fishes, 

and looking up to heaven, 

he blessed, 

and brake, 

and gave the loaves to his disciples, 

and the disciples to the multitude.

20 And they did all eat, 

and were filled: 

and they took up of the fragments 

that remained twelve baskets full.

21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, 

beside women and children.

I long for that love, compassion, and simplicity from Christ.

My heart cares more to hear His WORD.

Like when He told the tempter:

Matthew 4:3

King James Version

4 But he answered and said, 

It is written, 

Man shall not live by bread alone, 

but by every word that proceedeth 

out of the mouth of God.

Food for the spirit is what the world needs.

For the body is the TEMPLE of the HOLY SPIRIT.

1 Corinthians 6:19

King James Version

19 What? 

know ye not that your body is the temple 

of the Holy Ghost which is in you, 

which ye have of God, 

and ye are not your own?

Therefore, our bodies need more than food.

We need the WORD of GOD to feed our souls.

When you have come to know the Holy Spirit, things of heaven become more important.

We realize the faithful can be taken up ANY moment to meet up with Christ, at a time of God's choosing.

Food becomes simple, and basic, of no obsessive importance, as we await the return of the Lord.

We want to live right, by the Lord.

We want to eat right, by the Lord.

Our hearts are focused on Him alone.

Related material:

Food DESIGNED by GOD

Jesus is the Living Water and the Bread of Life

The Lord's Invitation

Updated 15 October 2024

Why GOD Hates Idolatry

 

Psalm 42:2

King James Version

2 My soul thirsteth for God, 

for the living God: 

when shall I come and appear before God?

Ever wondered why God hates idolatry?

Of graven images, and things of the world?

Acts 17:29

King James Version

29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, 

we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, 

or silver, 

or stone, 

graven by art and man's device.

God hates idolatry, for these FIVE reasons:

1. God is a LIVING GOD.

Jeremiah 10:10

King James Version

10 But the Lord is the true God, 

he is the living God, 

and an everlasting king: 

at his wrath the earth shall tremble, 

and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.

2. There is no life in graven images.

Jeremiah 10:14

King James Version

14 Every man is brutish in his knowledge: 

every founder is confounded by the graven image: 

for his molten image is falsehood, 

and there is no breath in them.

3. The world does not love the Father.

1 John 2:15

King James Version

15 Love not the world, 

neither the things that are in the world. 

If any man love the world, 

the love of the Father is not in him.

4. All that is in the world is not of God.

1 John 2:15-16

King James Version

16 For all that is in the world, 

the lust of the flesh, 

and the lust of the eyes, 

and the pride of life, 

is not of the Father, 

but is of the world.

5. Idolatry leads people away from God.

1 Kings 11:1-10

King James Version

11 But king Solomon loved many strange women, 

together with the daughter of Pharaoh, 

women of the Moabites, 

Ammonites, 

Edomites, 

Zidonians, 

and Hittites:

2 Of the nations concerning which the Lord said 

unto the children of Israel, 

Ye shall not go in to them, 

neither shall they come in unto you: 

for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: 

Solomon clave unto these in love.

3 And he had seven hundred wives, 

princesses, 

and three hundred concubines: 

and his wives turned away his heart.

4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, 

that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: 

and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, 

as was the heart of David his father.

5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, 

and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, 

and went not fully after the Lord, 

as did David his father.

7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, 

the abomination of Moab, 

in the hill that is before Jerusalem, 

and for Molech, 

the abomination of the children of Ammon.

8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, 

which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.

9 And the Lord was angry with Solomon, 

because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, 

which had appeared unto him twice,

10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, 

that he should not go after other gods: 

but he kept not that which the Lord commanded.

God's authority cannot be denied.

No one can deprive our Creator of His might, power, and glory.

Observe how He punished Solomon:

1 Kings 11:11-14

King James Version

11 Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, 

Forasmuch as this is done of thee, 

and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, 

which I have commanded thee, 

I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, 

and will give it to thy servant.

12 Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it 

for David thy father's sake: 

but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.

13 Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; 

but will give one tribe to thy son 

for David my servant's sake, 

and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen.

14 And the Lord stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, 

Hadad the Edomite: 

he was of the king's seed in Edom.

Or how He will punish us.

Exodus 20:5

King James Version

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, 

nor serve them: 

for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, 

visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children 

unto the third and fourth generation of them 

that hate me;

We really have no idea of the might, power, and love of God.

On and on, we continue to defy Him.

Through Scripture, and Spirit, we can all adore the ONE, TRUE GOD, and have no other gods beside Him.

God declared early on, how He wanted to be worshiped:

Exodus 20:1-4

King James Version

20 And God spake all these words, saying,

2 I am the Lord thy God, 

which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, 

out of the house of bondage.

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, 

or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above,

 or that is in the earth beneath, 

or that is in the water under the earth.

Exodus 20:7

King James Version

7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; 

for the Lord will not hold him guiltless 

that taketh his name in vain.

Jesus also taught us how to love God.

Mark 12:29-30

King James Version

29 And Jesus answered him, 

The first of all the commandments is, 

Hear, O Israel; 

The Lord our God is one Lord:

30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, 

and with all thy soul, 

and with all thy mind, 

and with all thy strength: 

this is the first commandment.

Scripture, and Spirit, make everything clear.

All we have to do is desire to humble ourselves before God, knowing the world cannot offer us answers, but God.

Jesus, and His Holy Spirit, will take care of all teaching.

(Image source: Joseph)

When GOD Gave Us the FAMILIES We Have

 

John 13:34-35

King James Version

34 A new commandment I give unto you, 

That ye love one another; 

as I have loved you, 

that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, 

if ye have love one to another.

What kind of family do you have?

Are you tickled by them?

Or are you angered by them?

Perhaps, both?

As a student of Spirit, and a born again, mercifully, I am guided to a better understanding of people now.

But one thing I do know, when God isn't fully in  us, we can't really get it right.

There will always be a piece missing.

The MOST important piece, in fact.

Only when the Holy Spirit of God is in you, can you understand God's ways.

Only when the Spirit of God is in you, can you understand what Jesus meant about loving each other.

For families will truly test the mettle of your spirit.

We all test the patience and endurance of the other.

We will all test the love we have for each other.

And if you have come to know better, as a true born again, a believer and follower of Jesus, you can only pray that you're always doing the will of the Father.

You'll always be praying you be led to do the right thing for your family.

You also pray that your family's always safe, healthy, happy, even comfortable.

You do not pray for material wealth, or things of the world, for that is not of God -- much as your family members wish they are richer than king Solomon.

Instead, you pray that all their needs are met, and mostly, you pray that God touches their heart, so they, too, can understand your joy.

You also pray that love continually touches their heart, and that they are loved.

Mostly, you pray that you learn to love, as Jesus taught us to love.

A true born again cannot bear failing to see the real needs of his family, according to the will of God.

You would want to see your family, for their truth, and beauty.

More so, you pray that they get to know the kind of love GOD can give -- through you.

You are confident that God cares for each one of us, for that was His will, as known only too well by the Son:

John 6:38-40

King James Version

38 For I came down from heaven, 

not to do mine own will, 

but the will of him that sent me.

39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, 

that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, 

but should raise it up again at the last day.

40 And this is the will of him that sent me, 

that every one which seeth the Son, 

and believeth on him, 

may have everlasting life: 

and I will raise him up at the last day.

You are confident, that one day, we will all surrender our will to God, and we who have experienced it for ourselves, can only tell you, "Watch what happens!"

When the Spirit of God is upon you, you can appreciate your family for what they are, as they are, and yet praying to God that His will be done for them, too.

We cannot interfere with what God has planned for EACH one of us.

We are only here to love each other, to be guided by Spirit, and to obey the Lord.

Beautiful things happen when you are God's.

I can honestly assure you of that.

Things become clear.

You begin to understand the ways of God, and not question His will.

If anything, you keep thanking God, for showing the true nature of things, of people, of the world, and of your role in it.

You keep asking God to please correct you, if He finds you wrong.

There is no ego; only GOD.

When God is all that's left, then you can truly love others, in a way that's pleasing to God.

The Lord Jesus did show us what love was:

Obedience to the Father, by dying on the cross -- for us.

And being raised on the third day by the Father, in promise of eternal life for His faithful.

Everything Jesus did, was for the Father.

Everything the Father did, was for the Son.

We, too, are sons of God, if we believe in His Son, Jesus.

John 1:12

King James Version

12 But as many as received him, 

to them gave he power to become the sons of God, 

even to them that believe on his name:

That's how families ought to be.

Only love must remain.

The power of change lies in every person, of every family.

May we all abound in God's love, and perfection.

We can do all things, through Jesus.

Let our prayer be:

Philippians 4:13

King James Version

13 I can do all things through Christ 

which strengtheneth me.

Receive the power to love, from the Lord.

Only Jesus, through His Spirit, can teach us how to love, as He did.

GOD bless all who do your best to love each other.

Love always starts at home.

What more, if God is in your home.

Starting with the home in your heart, where you create a place for God.

That's really where it all starts.

Love starts with God.

The Path to PROPHECY

 

Psalm 16:11 

King James Version

11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: 

in thy presence is fulness of joy; 

at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Very strange how the Lord JESUS brought me upon the path to prophecy from day one.

That's been nearly 19 months now, and I am continually astounded at how the Holy Spirit guides me each day.

The volume of lessons alone are amazing, and leaves me all excited.

As such, I was led to create 24 blogs, as of this writing.

What am I to do when the Holy Spirit leads?

I merely follow.

And last night, we started a new thread.

This time on prophets.

I already know where this is going.

But I have to work on it, for there is a lot to study.

I remain true to God's Word, and I must be precise.

But I am grateful for the task given.

When you serve God, as a born again, you obey.

And yet, it's such a delight to obey, for God is TRUTH.

His truth has been the one I had been seeking for the longest time, thus, all the books I read.

And yet, He gently chides me, that I never read HIS BOOK.

Which I started reading in autumn of 2019, making my life and work blossom, in a way the world can never make it blossom.

If anything, the world and I are not on the same path.

I have chosen the path, back to God.

And I call upon you now, inviting you to do the same.

For the path is the only path that makes sense.

Especially in these times.

Wherein God's faithful can meet the Lord JESUS up in the air -- anytime God chooses.

Would you be ready then?

The UNSEARCHABLE RICHES of CHRIST

 

Ephesians 3:7-8 

King James Version

7 Whereof I was made a minister, 

according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me 

by the effectual working of his power.

8 Unto me, 

who am less than the least of all saints, 

is this grace given, 

that I should preach among the Gentiles 

the unsearchable riches of Christ;

What would be the "unsearchable riches of Christ"?

That really got me thinking.

So I continued meditating upon the verses from apostle Paul.

Ephesians 3:1-6 (KJV)

3 For this cause I Paul, 

the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God 

which is given me to you-ward:

3 How that by revelation 

he made known unto me the mystery; 

(as I wrote afore in few words,

4 Whereby, when ye read, 

ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

5 Which in other ages was not made known 

unto the sons of men, 

as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles 

and prophets by the Spirit;

6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, 

and of the same body, 

and partakers of his promise in Christ 

by the gospel:

If you are not a Jew, then you're a Gentile.

That last verse seems to be of great importance.

That Gentiles sould be "fellowheirs", to partake in the promise of God, through Jesus, as spoken of in the gospel.

But there's more.

Ephesians 3:9-11 (KJV)

9 And to make all men see 

what is the fellowship of the mystery, 

which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, 

who created all things by Jesus Christ:

10 To the intent that now unto the principalities 

and powers in heavenly places 

might be known by the church 

the manifold wisdom of God,

11 According to the eternal purpose 

which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

It's all Jesus.

Everything comes through Jesus.

The world may continue to deny His divine leadership, and Sonship, but God cannot be denied His purpose in Christ.

We absolutely have no idea of God's power, and dominion, His authority over our lives.

But through Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit, we may just begin to understand.

Ephesians 3:14-21 (KJV)

14 For this cause I bow my knees 

unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

16 That he would grant you, 

according to the riches of his glory, 

to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; 

that ye, 

being rooted and grounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints 

what is the breadth, 

and length, 

and depth, 

and height;

19 And to know the love of Christ, 

which passeth knowledge, 

that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

20 Now unto him that is able to do 

exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, 

according to the power that worketh in us,

21 Unto him be glory in the church 

by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, 

world without end. 

Amen.

As a writer and workman for the Lord, I am constantly bowled over by the wealth of material in Scripture.

I will need several lifetimes to understand it.

But I share with you my many findings.

Even as I still have a long way to go.

Click this link to check the blogs.

The SOURCE of All Power

 

JESUS said:

John 15:5 

King James Version

5 I am the vine, 

ye are the branches: 

He that abideth in me, 

and I in him, 

the same bringeth forth much fruit: 

for without me ye can do nothing.

That was a very powerful statement from the Lord.

"for without me ye can do nothing"

But does the world believe that?

Sadly, and unfortunately, it doesn't.

We all think our intelligence is the source of power.

We also think it's our fame, fortune, education, connections, looks, and whatever the world made us believe.

How people have been blinded, and deluded.

Worse yet, not many people know who the source of all blindness is.

But Scripture does, and the Word of God doesn't mince words.

2 Corinthians 4:4 (KJV)

4 In whom the god of this world 

hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, 

lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, 

who is the image of God, 

should shine unto them.

If you do not believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ, you will be under the power of this false god.

That's why God hates idolatry, for people worship everything not of God.

They worship self, each other, lifeless statues, error-filled statutes, money, position, prestige, beauty, corruption -- everything but the true Creator of All.

That's why those true born again, who truly understand the sanctity of the Word of God -- JESUS -- know we are in the season of the end times.

1 Timothy 4:1-2 (KJV)

4 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, 

that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, 

giving heed to seducing spirits, 

and doctrines of devils;

2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; 

having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

Knowing that, would you still serve the god of this world?

Or would you serve Jesus, the Son of God, the KING of KINGS, and LORD of LORDS? 

Would you serve the true SOURCE of ALL power, by whom we exist?

The One who gives our life meaning?

And by whom everything was created for?

Colossians 1:16 (KJV)

16 For by him were all things created, 

that are in heaven, 

and that are in earth, 

visible and invisible, 

whether they be thrones, 

or dominions, 

or principalities, 

or powers: 

all things were created by him, 

and for him:

Only by becoming born again  will we be able to understand things of the Spirit.

We will understand how we have sinned, and how we can get right with God.

When you come to know the LORD JESUS, by the power of the Holy Spirit of God, there is no turning back.

Only a moving forward, as we walk each moment with Christ.

And a leading of others back to the Lord, in acknowledgment of His power over all our lives.

This is the ONLY choice, if we are to survive what is to come.

Why Music Must Be GOD-Inspired

 

Are you a musician or a lover of music?

I hope you pay heed to the following verses which the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD led me to share with you.

We have some very profound discoveries about why it is important we pay close attention to the music we teach, play, promote, listen to, or enjoy.

I was once a music teacher, some 18 years ago, and taught beginner's piano to students, with ages ranging from three to 45 years.

There was really one important lesson I'm glad I got to teach them.

A very strange lesson, as if coming out from "nowhere", and yet when I spoke of it, the student would register awe, and recognition.

I taught them to consider the Middle C -- the center of all piano keys, where our lessons were to start from, the very basic  key of all -- as CHRIST, the center of all.

It was the "key" they all need to "return to", and they couldn't possibly get lost.

Amazingly, ALL the students realized the TRUTH of it.

I wasn't born again then; now I am.

Naturally, the HOLY SPIRIT took that knowledge to the next level, revealing something very interesting today.

You will see WHY it is important we pay attention to a GOD-inspired music, instead of what the world has offered us so far.

Did you know that the "fallen one" has great ability for music?

The BIBLE has proof of this, as you shall see.

You will also witness GOD's gift to his anointed king the ability to play music, which soothed the spirit of a possessed king.

The fallen one's gift in music.

Ezekiel 28:13 (King James Version)

13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; 

every precious stone was thy covering, 

the sardius, 

topaz, 

and the diamond, 

the beryl, 

the onyx, 

and the jasper, 

the sapphire, 

the emerald, 

and the carbuncle, 

and gold: 

the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes 

was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

Isaiah 14:11 (KJV)

11 Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, 

and the noise of thy viols: 

the worm is spread under thee, 

and the worms cover thee.

The GOD-anointed king soothes the possessed king's spirit.

1 Samuel 16:14-23 (KJV)

14 But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, 

and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.

15 And Saul's servants said unto him, 

Behold now, 

an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.

16 Let our lord now command thy servants, 

which are before thee, 

to seek out a man, 

who is a cunning player on an harp: 

and it shall come to pass, 

when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, 

that he shall play with his hand, 

and thou shalt be well.

17 And Saul said unto his servants, 

Provide me now a man that can play well, 

and bring him to me.

18 Then answered one of the servants, 

and said, 

Behold, 

I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, 

that is cunning in playing, 

and a mighty valiant man, 

and a man of war, 

and prudent in matters, 

and a comely person, 

and the Lord is with him.

19 Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, 

and said, 

Send me David thy son, 

which is with the sheep.

20 And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, 

and a bottle of wine, 

and a kid, 

and sent them by David his son unto Saul.

21 And David came to Saul, 

and stood before him: 

and he loved him greatly; 

and he became his armourbearer.

22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, 

Let David, I pray thee, 

stand before me; 

for he hath found favour in my sight.

23 And it came to pass, 

when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, 

that David took an harp, 

and played with his hand: 

so Saul was refreshed, 

and was well, 

and the evil spirit departed from him.

Now you see the power of evil over the music we have in this world.

But you also see the ULTIMATE power of GOD over anything evil.

Take heed the music you play, or listen to.

In it lies deception, without your even knowing it.

PRAY to the LORD to be led to music that pleases Him.

Be born of water and of the Spirit, so you can judge rightly things of the spirit.

Last of all, EVERYTHING we do must be for the GLORY of GOD alone!