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!
I may have found a way to recover your account. Here is a post that explains it. Newbie Initiative Task3 Understanding How To Recover Your Hive Account. The website. Hive account recovery You just need to remember your old password for it to work. Hope it works. Edit: The post by the creator gives a better explanation Hive Account Recovery GUI Video tutorial
Thank you for the link, this is a great tool. Unfortunately the "Trustee" account or "Recovery" account was also compromised and password changed. The recovery account had my account as it's recovery. By getting into both accounts and changing both passwords, the thief eliminated the possibility for recovery.
Still, good tool! Appreciate all the links!
This tool allows you to bypass your old recovery account and key change, as long as you know your Master password. It was created when HIVE was born because most accounts have steem as their recovery account. You can use this account as your recovery account to gain your account back. Not guaranteed to work but it is worth a shot. Edit: You may be able to get your recovery account back as well with this tool.
Really appreciate our conversation and your attention, it's a great tool but still cannot get around the situation I find myself in.
hive.recovery would be a good one to set up as back up for one of your accounts. Circle jerks can make it where you can recover fast but as your unfortunate account loss has proven, 2 is not enough for protection. And always have your account master passwords on separate devices, so you don't lose all your accounts at once. Have a back up to your back up. This has shown me I need to improve my practices and get to know all the different recovery services out there.Your Welcome. That is the unfortunate that you can't recover your account. Now just make sure this account is protected so you don't lose it. Their is a lot of recovery trustees out there to chose from. Chose wisely. Our top witness @arcange runs a recovery service,
You might ask them about this, I've never heard it before.
It'd be worth looking into. The majority of the funds are in HBD savings and it takes 3 days to withdraw... clock is ticking, it's already been over 30 hours...
I've dm'd arcange, he should know.
Thanks, keep me posted.
He said it only works if the account has no recovery account set.
You might try the exchange that they send the hive to, but I wouldn't expect much.
I hate that this happened to you.
Did you find where the keys leaked?
I'm grateful to know you, friend! Also looking forward to what is in store for you and me and all of us. Wishing you all the best! :)
Congratulations @gratefuleveryday!
You raised your level and are now a Minnow!
I'm grateful to know you on here and read your words of gratitude even after a thief has broken in and stolen it all! I'm hopeful that you can use some of the tips in the comments and recover your account. That's so wild about your name and the verse - and it only being in the Living Translation! Keep us posted if you get ironshield back! Blessings.
What a great attitude, I love it. I really hope you can recover that account too. All the best and I'll see you around the chain 😃👍
!PIMP
!LUV
(2/10) sent you LUV. | tools | discord | community | HiveWiki | <>< daily@gratefuleveryday, @summertooth
Glad you are finding a way to be grateful in this situation and finding a spiritual meaning through your faith.
Personally, i do just think some people are scammers, hackers and crooks only, not the rightous might of God.
It would make more sense God would encourage you to share percentage no?
Or give to community maybe over enriching some low life.
Regardless wishing you a successful restart keep those keys safe.
!ALIVE
!BBH
!LUV
!HUG @gratefuleveryday
I was very sorry to see this, Benjamin. I am very grateful, however, to see the way in which you have
chosento respond!Amen. To Him be all praise, glory, and honor, in the days, weeks, and months to follow. While I can only imagine the ... "daze" ... you find yourself in, for the moment, it is equally clear you are already well on your way to a proper, eternally focused view of what to make of it.
There is no greater example of how to process it, than the one from our Lord you have cited above. Rest assured, all things
willwork together for good. Not because of anything you are. Or will do ...No! It is because of who He is and what He and He alone can and most certainly will do!
Aww man! So sorry to hear this!!
What happened and why isn't it possible to get your precious account back?
!BBH !SLOTH
I am so sorry to hear about your lost account, but your attitude towards the situation is inspiring.
A good mindset and a little faith can get you through even the toughest of times.
Thank you for sharing your story.
I just found out about what happened, I feel so sorry for you!
I hope there is something we can do for you as a community to help you, your posts were always very heartwarming and lit up my days that I spent on this platform reading posts.
You're always so positive and didn't deserve this faith for ironshield account whatsoever.
Oh wow.. thank God, your heart is in the right place. God first.
Oh wow, I was so sad when I heard this. I am glad you got right back up! There are many good people who follow you here and I'm sure a great many of them will prop you up until you get back in the flow. You haven't lost your faith and that is so important, and your family supports you fully.
“Synchronicity works in mysterious ways” !LOLZ
On my journey of creating a real life gaming platform via Hive, I had to established some "FJism Principle and Belief" to give guidance on core values for those that connect and collaborate their journey with my journey.
FJism 3D Core Principle #4
Do Not Lie
Do Not Cheat
Do Not Steal
Unfortunate that we live in a chaotic world where these simple core values can be easily dismissed by troubled souls.
Your response to this incident tell me you are at peace.
Sending !LUV and positive energy your way.
PEPT philosophy 101, Learn Before You Earn.
(1/3) sent you LUV. | tools | discord | community | HiveWiki | <>< daily@gratefuleveryday, @fjism
Sorry for what happened, will give you a follow on this new account and support it a bit extra whenever I see posts. Happy to see you not giving up!