I've placed 4 links here about heaven. There are many, many others.
Take some time to learn more about heaven. I've read it's a very fascinating
place.
I've had my sin debt settled so I have my 'welcome to heaven' pass.
Action steps- Humbly, I prayed and asked the Lord to forgive me of my sins. I asked for forgiveness of my sins against God. I've accepted Jesus as the Son of God. In faith, I asked Jesus to be the Lord and Savior of my life. I believed He died on the Cross for my sins. I thanked Him for loving me and dying for my sins in order to save my soul. I've made efforts taking time to read, meditate, study, and listen to teachings of Jesus, the Holy Scriptures, and Biblical precepts so I can keep learning about the heart of God, and live my life as closer and closer as I possibly can so my life, how I choose to live, act and speak and treat others is as pleasing as possible in His sight. This is the least I can do with my life to honor Him for all He did for me.
When you're ready, you can also have your sins forgiven and become a friend of God's rather than an enemy against Him. When ready, the steps to take are simple but instantaneously life-changing and spiritually transforming.
If a person chooses to reject the free gift of life and chooses not to be forgiven of sins through Jesus the Christ, by default that person is an enemy of God and that person's spiritual destination won't be anything near heavenly.
Have you ever made a choice to play on a certain team, thinking you'd win, only to find that
team would be the losing team?
What spiritual team do you want to be on?
Well, right now you can choose the team you want to be on, and know for sure the team that's gonna win. It's your choice to be on the winning team, or, your choice to be on the losing team.
Who likes being on a losing team? Especially then the losing team has to pay a deep penalty.
Now, I've heard people say it would be 'more fun' to be on the losing team. I can only think their
opinion of fun is a bit 'off'. If being in darkness, having no love, hope, friendship or companionship is 'fun', they are in for the surprise they're gonna wish they could get out of. Hell is not going to be fun for one second. There will be no water, no sunshine, no gentle breeze, no flowers, no sweet aromas, no rest, and no way out. Nothing of the comforts and pleasures as we presently know of. You spirit will suffer and be tormented. And, there will be no loving God. Hell is a holding 'place' and a taste of what's later to come in which the sentence for your sin's penalty will never be paroled or a reduction of your life sentence. And, your fellow inmates will be evil spirits who loathe you. There will be no loved ones you can cuddle with, no music that will sound pleasant to your ears, just nothing but pure hell as you can never imagine. There will be no fun being in torment and punishment.
The biggest Deception The leader of the losing team, the devil, is doing everything to get you to not choose the winning team. He wants you to think his team is the 'more fun' team to be on. Right now, he wants you to think about you, you having 'fun', you getting the things you want right now. As long as he has you thinking of you so you can be happy and content, he's got your mind controlled and away from
about the ultimate consequences of being on his losing team.
The choice is entirely yours - face victory or consequences
If you're not for God, then by default you're for the devil.
If you do not accept Jesus into your life and heart, as your Lord and Savior, (he's already paid in full the penalty for your sins, but you have to acknowledge you're helpless in that department and you need him), you will have to pay the price yourself, which will be spiritual death in hell and then the Lake of Fire. Sin cannot enter heaven.
It's all about your spiritual life. God created man in his likeness- and that's the spirit part which will never die. Winning team gets to be with God forever. Losing team gets to suffer forever.
All praise and thanks to our Lord, Jesus for all he's done so we can celebrate our spiritual victory.
Those with Christ will have a wonderful time in heaven, while in hell, there will be misery, disappoint, torment, and fire. Fun will be non-existent there. If that was in your plans you're gonna
be very let down from being deceived again.
Until next time, walking in the Light of The Truth along that narrow path. There's room for all.
That's right. Man was 'pegged' in the Garden of Eden. Yeah, the old tempter, Satan, cunningly brought up an idea to Eve, which tempted her in her weakness, which was her flesh, to desire something she hadn't wanted before, and Adam fell for it, too.. Satan's appeal was directed at their flesh, taking their attention away from the spirit. Adam and Eve disobeyed God because their flesh couldn't refuse the temptation, they disobeyed the Spirit, and so sin was born, and God expelled the first couple from paradise. Yeah, they were 'pegged'. Satan discovered if he presented something to man or woman in such a way that it looked enticing, attractive, desirable, juicy, or pleasurable to have, Man couldn't walk away, even if God had given them an entire Garden to live and have sweet fellowship with Him. Man wasn't satisfied, man's flesh wanted more and what was forbidden. Satan's plan worked and it's still working beautifully for him today. Sadly, we were 'pegged' and nothing has changed over the centuries. Man is still falling into the same snares set by Satan, and the trap is not only getting larger, but hotter as well.
Lust of the flesh is our weakness causing us to sin against God.
Our carnal mind controls our fleshly desires, and is VERY STRONG! Satan doesn't have to work very hard to get Man to do anything if he can dangle it in our faces while making it sound and look so tantalizing, irresistible and appealing, that we begin craving it and believing we can't live without it. Our flesh is very selfish, and ever so hungry for more. Our flesh does not enjoy being denied. Our flesh wants to be satisfied again and again because it never stays satisfied. Our flesh wants what it wants, and it wants it now. It's the flesh that causes us to sin. Now, there's nothing at all wrong with feeling good and wanting nice things. However, when that is the driving force, you are not being spiritually minded. Satan is very pleased when we're not spiritually minded. He wants our attention to be far from the things of God or the Spirit. The adversary and our flesh are at odds with things of God, because God is Spirit. And our spirits, when not saved, are at odds with our carnal, fleshly bodies. But when you ask Jesus into your heart, by taking and trusting Jesus as you Savior and Lord, the Holy Spirit quickens your spirit to become alive and connected with the Spirit of God. You've become spiritually born, which is called being born again. Your spirit nature is now alive inside you which was dormant before. But not until we leave this fleshly body will we be free from the constant pull of our fleshly desires of our old nature. It does take effort and prayer to knock the old nature back down from time to time, but before being 'saved' you obeyed your carnal self without any regard to things of the Spirit at all. Satan places appealing things in front of our 'weak flesh' to get our eyes off God on a constant basis. Satan prefers Man to desire anything and everything contrary to God. Satan's sin has gotten himself a special place designed for him and his gang, and I don't think it's designed for pleasure or relaxation for any demon or human spirit. Satan is the master of covertness in leading many people away from the things of God. Man would rather accept Satan's deception and lies rather than believe God's truth and love. Satan has lead many blindly into the frying pan by appealing fleshly lusts and desires. Sadly, many continue to ignore the fire under the frying pan which is slowly getting hotter and hotter. Over time, when your flesh is continually gratified, you become accustomed to sin and you're not wanting to leave your residence in the frying pan. Some even want the heat turned up to be hotter. Ouch!
The old frying pan is getting hotter- are you in it?
You see, with everyone wanting to gratify their own flesh, the world has changed for the worst. Yes, there are more people in the world than there were centuries ago, but it's more prevalent with each generation the alteration from the traditional father/mother design of raising family and it's resulting effects; addictions caused by weaknesses to refrain from harmful substances and practices; children being exposed to grown up things long before they're adult or mature; marriages failing and ending for selfish reasons after vowing and promising to honor and cherish for better or worse; illegal drug use is rampant and has become the ruin of so many lives and families, but the flesh overlooks that fact but because the flesh wants what that drug provides, never mind the damage it's gonna do to your brain and body; and the list goes on and on with all types of crime, gluttony, and seemingly no conscious thought that the action is harming or detrimental to themselves and others.
That pretty trap is to snare you prevent you from escaping- you're dead
Our flesh is 'selfish','self-seeking', and often 'self-centered'. When our flesh wants something, it's gotta have it and will walk over anything and anyone in it's way in order to satisfy itself. No wonder prisons are busting full; no wonder we're so mixed up about what's morally right and wrong; no wonder man wants laws changed to make his immoral actions be legal; no wonder Man wants to take God out of everything so he won't have to be reminded of God at all; no wonder the pursuit of more and more money is the driving determination for getting ahead in life; no wonder adults have turned to satisfy their lusts using children, and 'sex sells' everything. Man has literally given God the boot. To the flesh, satisfying itself IS right. To the flesh, what it wants IS right. And Satan has helped man devise and come up with every excuse to make sure Man is continually thinking and believing what feels good to the flesh is RIGHT. Satan is smiling because his deceptions are still working well at keeping Man focused on his flesh (carnal) and not the things of God (spiritual).
Your carnal flesh is usually at odds with your spirit and the things of God
God's plan involves nothing which will hurt us. Following Satan leads us down the road to destruction and devastation. Because Satan fell from grace, he wants to take as many of God's precious creation (mankind) way down with him.
It's up to you. God gives you and I every chance to decide which road you want to travel. Satan's road is a super highway, and continued traveling on it with the masses will take you to a dark destination. Is your flesh so weak that you don't care at all where your soul will be forever? The way that God has for you is not bad at all. It's full of joy and contentment to the flesh and very satisfying beyond description, but, without hurting yourself and within safe protected boundaries God has laid down for his creation. Like a parent protecting their child by warning them to not play in the street. Don't you know God is loving enough to know and meet your every need? But most of all, when you stay on the narrow road now, this destination leads to the best that's ahead in heaven for your soul. So, it's your choice. Continue being 'pegged' and follow Satan's way to satisfy yourself and contend with all the dangers doing it the selfish, fleshly way, or follow God's way of having your needs met without the perils, but within his hedge of protection, and then look forward to your soul residing in splendor beyond description in heaven?
Question I've pondered-Is my flesh causing me to sin against God? To really know the answer, I went to the source to see what God's Word reads to know what He has to say about this. The Bible is not the easiest to read, but everything's there to find with some effort. And I'm not taking anyone else's word about it unless I know for darn sure they know God's Word better than I do. I'd rather find out for myself and I think everyone should do likewise as well.
Video about how to walk in the spirit
Ponder and act on this-If you chose to not be reborn, you can't be any way but carnal minded. You're spiritually dead, so there's no way you can see things of God? God is Spirit. Not until you accept Jesus as you Lord and Savior, are you spiritually alive. In an instant, you're made alive spiritually, your sins are forgiven, and you're made an heir to the promises of God. Those are all spiritual gifts you receive from God. Accept Jesus and receive life. If you die( this is the first death) without having accepted Jesus, your spirit cannot reside in heaven, but rather Hell, then later the Lake of Fire to always be exiled from the presence of God, which is the second death. Born again Christians will not experience that hot, hellish second death, because they are promised by God a mansion in heaven for their glorified bodies.
We're spiritual beings created in the likeness of God, residing right now living in fleshly bodies, and we have a soul-three parts making us whole. Satan focuses on the flesh.
Video on the origin of Satan, the author of sin, and what he's about,
BONUS- God made a way and the way is recorded, written by Spirit inspired men, kept and passed down so even today anyone can read about the great story of God's love for all mankind in the Holy Bible, starting with Adam and Eve, and on down to Abraham, Issiac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon, Israel, Esther, and so on.
What's important in eternity is our spirit. Now that you know this, resolve to stop allowing satan to have you "pegged".
Check out these scripture references for yourself: 1 Cor 5:44; 1 Cor :17; Titus 3:3; 1 Peter 1:13-16; 2Peter 1:4; 1John:2:16-17; Romans 5:12,19-21; 8:1,3,9,13;13:14; Gal 5:16, Matthew 6:13
Is it you, a dead man walking? This very moment, you are breathing, talking, thinking, reading, and today have goals to accomplish for yourself and/or family, and might even say you're enjoying the best of life right now. But listen, one day, one moment, you, the flesh and bones making up the physical you, is going to expire. Your "first death" of your outer shell house will cease to be. But your spirit and soul, the real spiritual you, will continue. Your spirit will always exist. You see, when you don't ask Jesus into your heart, you are refusing the only way of having your sins redeemed for gaining any right standing with God. Without 'right standing' before God, even though you may not see it, but you're a dead man or woman walking. Until you accept Jesus as your Lord and savior, you sins have your spirit as dead though you live. And it's only a matter of time that you will face your 'second death', which is death of your spirit where you will be forever separated from the presence and love of God.
Without Jesus your sins imprison you from any hope of heaven
If you choose to reject Jesus, (and yes, He IS the only approved way sent by God to save mankind from our sins) upon your last breath, your spirit is destined to hell for a time until Judgement Day. Then, our Holy, just and righteous God will judge you. Those found guilty of sins against God will rightly be banished to the Lake of Fire and you will forever experience your "second death". This ungodly place is designed for all fallen angels that rebelled against God and sided with Satan . In this place you will wish you could die, but remember your spirit can't cease. God created Man in His image with a spirit designed to live forever. God wants you to live in heaven with him, forever. But the choice is all yours to accept God's gift of Jesus who has paid you penalty for your sins for you. God will not force you to make any decision. God's gift is extended to everyone freely and must be accepted freely. Never forced. It's a decision every man, and woman must personally decide for themselves. If you choose to not accept His gift, then you will have to pay the penalty for your sins yourself, and that payment is forever cut off from God, which is spiritual death. God doesn't want anyone to choose that path. Jesus came to be The sacrificial lamb for mankind. In other words, without Jesus, you have nothing, no hope, no joy, no purpose, no future, no life, no forgiveness, no light, no happiness, no family, no love, no salvation, no heaven, only hell and the Lake of Fire, and darkness, and fallen angels. In other words, without God, your spiritual existence will be worse than any physical thing you or I can imagine. Without any mercy, or love or hope or light, your spirit will be tortured and miserable over and over and over without end. There will be no friends, no partying, nothing anything good at all to wish or hope for. You will only wish you could cease existing, but that will be impossible in the Lake of Fire. And don't think being in the Lake of Fire will be pleasurable in any form or fashion. Your soul will suffer in a way unlike anything your fleshly body could ever tolerate or endure. Remember, this place was meant for fallen angels and I'm sure they won't be happy about their fate, either. It won't be any vacation resort or place to relax or hang out with friends. It will be beyond the worst experience you could ever imagine multiplied by a hundred thousand times and you can never, ever escape this. And it's all because of sin and your choice to reject Jesus.
What can you do?
Consider making today the day you are no longer a "dead man or woman walking". Get in a quiet place, and talk to God. Tell Him you know you are a sinner and you can't pay for your sins yourself. Only Jesus, His Son, can and has already by His sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. You choose and invite Jesus into your to be your Savior and thank Him for what He's done for you. You want to give your life to Him because He's given His live for you. You want to thank Him for saving you. You want Him to be your Lord. You want to change your ways. It won't be automatic or easy, but with your 'new heart' you will be in tune with the Holy Spirit to help you and counsel you to do better. You have been reborn and have to learn to listen to your spirit rather than your flesh. You have to learn to live spiritually, rather than fleshly. Jesus was resurrected on the third day by the power of the Holy Spirit and He victoriously holds the keys to life by defeating death. Your sin penalty is lifted from you when you choose Jesus to be your Savior and Lord.
With Jesus you have victory over the penalty of sin
What happens?
When you sincerely pray and ask Jesus to be your savior and Lord, in the spirit realm, immediately your name is written in the Book of Life, you are sealed for good as a child of God and there's nothing that can break that seal of redemption you now have with God. You may not feel different or think anything has happened. You may even keep doing the same things you've always done. But God is good on His Word. Jesus has victory over death. You and I can never be perfect while we are living in our fleshly bodies. But we can be saved from our sins and that path to hell and the Lake of Fire we deserve for our disobedient ways and rebellion against God in our sins. We ought to be nothing but grateful for the dismal destiny we are saved from -all due to Jesus stepping in and loving us while we were sinners, paying a horrible death that we deserve in our stead. Only because of Jesus can any of us pass from death to life in heaven with God. Praise the Lord!
Earlier this year I went to see a show held at a school auditorium. It was an illusion show. The illusionists were an entertaining, attractive young couple, a man and woman and their stage crew. The entire show was a top notch performance, and I admit I was stumped and mystified most of their entire act. Since David Copperfield and his famous staged illusions, like making an elephant suddenly appear on stage, the term "illusion" really is a fitting term for how these entertainers mystify their spellbound audiences. Let me tell you, I was sitting pretty close to the stage and watched their every move without blinking, hoping to see a little fault of the hand to witness how the illusion was done.
When you're happy, that helps the illusion continue
For instance, I watched the illusionist on stage tear the local newspaper into pieces, then he balled all the torn newspaper pieces in his hands. He's on stage, wearing a t-shirt, standing in full view, with nothing around him. Then he opens his hand, and unfolds the ball of newspaper and it's back to it's original condition. How? It was an illusion. The hand can fool the eye. He's perfected his craft, and that's why the show was so entertaining. You know I got on the Internet and searched how to do that paper tearing illusion. I practiced and gave my own one-woman amateur show to some friends using a regular sheet of paper. It was fun to do, but I couldn't do it as well as a professional. Maybe with a dozen or so years of practice, I could perform that illusion and make someone wonder how did I do that. But it's an illusion, and when done with precision, it looks real!
The master deceptor will gain the appeal of the masses
If the right person could be so good convincing an audience, he could take it further and easily fool the masses. He could fool the world. He could have people eating out of his hand and believing everything he says and does. He could have people wanting and eagerly following his every suggestion. He could have people mesmerized with his craftiness. He could have people on the way to hell and they wouldn't even have an idea they were headed there because he's just that good. He has great communication skills, charisma, and power to give people the things they want so they will feel happy. But in reality he's an illusionist who's ultimate goal is to deceive. So in receiving things provided by this illusionist, in the end there will unfortunately be a dear, dear price to pay.
This all made me think that's what Satan, the fallen angel, is up to. He's the very best of the best at giving the illusion there's nothing wrong with taking what he's offering. Satan is offering the things that please and gratify the eye and the flesh right now, and feed your pride. But he's failing to inform about his long term goal. His hidden agenda is to get your eyes off Jesus by any means possible. This very thing has been written in the Bible, and all should take note. Choosing against the things of God comes with some serious, adverse consequences. The Bible tells you of these warnings to protect you from being hurt. God is Love and His Word is Truth. God desires you to seek Him, to know Him and praise Him for who He is, but He will not force you out of fear or trick you to honor Him. He wants you to do it willingly. Satan, however is about lying and deception to get you to praise him and give him attention instead of to God. He plays on your desires. The worse part is whatever he gives will never last and the price for it is hellish to pay. Satan's destiny is hell and the lake of fire. But before he's there he wants you to worship him and not God. He's not giving that piece of information. He knows that if he gives you want you want, you'll be happy and therefore you won't see further than that. He's pulling the wool over your eyes. And if you wear his mark, there's no way you'll get to heaven. Satan wants to steal your praise and attention from God and Jesus- in other words, he wants you to suffer with him in hell. Don't believe the devil's deception's. Don't be in the crowd believing his illusions and deceptions.
The illusionist show I saw was entertaining. But the master illusionist is not about entertaining- he uses real things in order to get you hooked and turned away from the things of God. If you're not aware of this, you wouldn't even know he was doing this. That's why he's the master of deception. In the Bible are many stories written about what happened when people turned from God, then when they came upon trouble, they cried out to God to deliver them. (the Hebrew people, David, Samson, just a few). The good news is God has provided all people a way to be saved from a dreadful and horrible ending. God desires all to be saved through His Son, Jesus, who defeated Satan and covered sin once and for all. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No illusion of his crucifixion, nor of his resurrection, nor of the wounds he bore for us. Through Him alone, by faith be saved and never die a spiritual death. This is extended to every man and woman alike. See my previous blog posting if you desire to know how to receive Jesus by faith as your Lord and Savior. What God offers is always good and lasting.
Scripture references: Revelation 12:9; 19:20; 20:10,14,15; 21:8
1 Peter 1:3-12; 5:8-9
Matthew 7:14-16; 10:32-33; 18:1-4; 24:51
2 Corinthians 2:10-12; 4:4; 11:14
2 Thessalonians 2:8-10
2 Peter 2:4; 3:3-4
1 Timothy 5:14-16
Luke 12:5, and Chapter 21
Isaiah 5:14
Jeremiah 10:12
Proverbs 27:20
Mark 9:42-47 and Mark Chapter 13
Acts 4:12
Romans 1:16-32
(If you don't have a Bible handy, use this form to look up scripture-
Sadly, many people think the things of God are foolishness, therefore they will not heed warnings. (1Corinthians 2:14) Many prophets of the past foretold what was to come in the future. Wake up! Those things are happening every day. Right now, 1 out of 8 verses in the Bible deals with the times we're living in right now and what's going to happen in the future. The Bible can be trusted as God's Holy Word without a doubt. Read what happened to this his man who called himself the "biggest skeptic in the world". He set out on a mission to discredit the Bible.
A friend took me to see the Cross Garden about ten years ago near Prattville, Alabama. The man who put up all these crosses was very adamant about warning everyone that it's not too late to get yourself in right standing with God. He was a missionary in the community he lived. The only time it's too late is after you've died a physical death, which is the first death. If you've not accepted Jesus, who is the only perfect sacrifice God recognizes for payment of man's sins, then essentially the devil's got 'cha and final destination is the Lake of Fire, which is where your spirit will experience thesecond death, the worse kind of death possible.
This is a serious enough subject to communicate. Your destiny is actually up to you. God has already provided everything to lead and show you, but your will He will not violate. He will not force or deceive anyone. Satan even uses that in his deception plotting. Up front he makes everything look mighty attractive and tempting, with his promises and pleasing up front demeanor. Many are and will continue to believe his illusions and deceptions rather than choose the way of true living God? Remember the illusionist and so convincingly believable at making himself and things appear fantastic, so many would rather choose what he offers and turn from God. But only the true God loves you and knows what's ultimately best for you. Satan is not about love. The Bible tells you what Satan is all about, how he will carry off his plan, and why he's doing it. Born again Christians, are saved from an eternity separated from God, redeemed by the saving grace of Jesus, our Savior and Lord to a heavenly destination called home. See these six steps to take right now to receive forgiveness of your sins and be saved from an eternity with Satan and his demons where your spirit will be tortured over and over without any hope of being rescued. Beyond horrible!
Yesterday I worked in the yard and forgot to apply sun protection on my face, so I figured it's a good time to make up a new facial mixture with pear and buttermilk. So I did and included one drop of myrrh essential oil. Let me tell you I really like the myrrh in this facial- the aroma is so relaxing. I had to squeeze out as much juice as possible from mashing half a pear so this mixture wouldn't be too watery and drip right off my face. I applied this mixture to my face like a mask and enjoyed the aroma while making breakfast. I'm going to add some aloe vera and yogurt to it for my next application, as you can see I made plenty. I keep it in the refrigerator and the essential oils help keep it fresh for about a week. Here it is below before blending in the myrrh oil.
My buttermilk, pear, and myrrh essential oil homemade facial
Humbly and graciously I keep my face before the Lord. Oh, by the way, my friends told me don't quit my regular job.
And lastly, I'll leave you with this video with a special message---
