Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Mass prayer for rain

After reading this article, I wonder if God was pleased with a group of leaders, representing various religious beliefs, praying in unison for rain to end the month's long drought in Nevada and surrounding area.

rain clouds

Photo credit: Godserv from morguefile.com

Praying for rain brings to mind the Bible story when the prophet of God,  Elijah told King Ahab it wouldn't rain for 3 1/2 years. God was judging Israel for all the idolatry. Idolatry was rampant from the top down. King Ahab worshiped Baal, the god of the weather.

Could the drought in the Western states be God holding back the rain clouds to get more to pray to Him, and not to idols?

 God IS in control of the rain, fully and completely, as well as the wind, the climate, the tide, the moon, the stars...it is He, and He alone in control of what He created. False gods can't produce one single droplet.

All the various religious leaders together wouldn't make one bit of difference had they prayed day and night for an entire year.

This reminds me of another great Bible story, again with Elijah.  The 450 prophets of Baal prayed long and hard to Baal, their god,  but nothing happened. When Elijah prayed, God answered. This showed there was then and to this day now and forevermore only one, true God.
Praying to false gods is futile. There is only one, true God.

Rain will fall when God is ready and sees fit to send rain upon Nevada.

parched without rain

Photo credit: hotblack from morguefile.com

This author suggests to those critically needing rain to fall upon their land, consider pondering
 if you may be delaying the release of rain with prayers to false gods and idol worship.

We're really all at the mercy of God every second of the day for all our needs, wants and desires. At any moment any of us could befall a number of situations of loss or of lack.

We've become very spoiled and comfortable in general with our possessions, lifestyles and freedoms we've been given and granted. All those things have a source, and, at any moment we could be in an earthquake, sudden high winds, a tornado, an electrical fire could break out in our home, the Earth open up and swallow your home, or auto or you, an insect or locust infestation wipe out an entire crop or widespread vegetation, or a blood clot suddenly lodge in our brain.
No one knows what the next moment might bring, know but we can know that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has proven over and over the truth of the matter that He is God and He can withhold rain or whatever He wishes to withhold or release as He wishes according to his perfect will.

When you want your prayers answered like Elijah had his prayers answered, doing what pleases God is a good way to get Him to answer and rather quickly, and in this matter of drought in Nevada, I would think answered prayers to God to shower down some liquid sunshine quickly would be most appreciated and welcomed.

 If you don't have a clue what's you can do that's pleasing to God, take some time to read to get some clues in the Book. In order to receive your clues, you must have an open heart to receive a personal clues and message. In order to receive your message, your must first invite His precious gift into your heart. You will instantly receive supernatural faith to trust in the things you can't see with your human eyes, or touch with your hands, or reason through with human logic.
It starts with a change of heart and acknowledging you're helpless within your own efforts to please God. You take the first step of opening and trusting your heart to him and He will gladly give you all you need to please Him. You just have to ask and be willing to trust in Him, That's the biggest way to please Him and He gives you what you need to do that if you ask.

Here are steps to take which will make God pleased and give you a new heart..



Here are some additional Bible verse about rain which shed light on the dire situation for rain in Nevada. 

Jeremiah 5:24 

They do not say in their hearts, ‘Let us fear the Lord our God, who gives the rain in its season, the autumn rain and the spring rain, and keeps for us the weeks appointed for the harvest.’

Jeremiah 14:22 

Are there any among the false gods of the nations that can bring rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Are you not he, O Lord our God? We set our hope on you, for you do all these things.

1 Kings 8:35 

“When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place and acknowledge your name and turn from their sin, when you afflict them,

Matthew 5:45 

So that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Zechariah 10:1 

Ask rain from the Lord in the season of the spring rain, from the Lord who makes the storm clouds, and he will give them showers of rain, to everyone the vegetation in the field.

Zechariah 14:17 

And if any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, there will be no rain on them.


Final questions-If rain should fall from the sky in this area in much need of moisture..would the idol gods or the God of Abraham and Isaac receive the glory?

I believe God will not share glory with false gods. Why should the glory be shared?
 False gods can do nothing?
They did not create anything but people worship and pray to them. 
So perhaps when the people get truly desperate and finally come to the conclusion false gods can't come through, they will have to turn to the true God.
But until then, parched and dry conditions shall continue paralleling the people's allegiance and faith in which God they serve and worship.

Are your prayers going to a dead, lifeless, dry god or The God who makes and releases necessary water upon all living things?


Until next time, keep on the straight and narrow path. 

Friday, January 10, 2014

Positively I.D.'d


I learn so much re-reading the foretelling of Christ's coming. I can only imagine the prophets telling of the Messiah but not fully understanding  their predictions of the Messiah yet to come..

Identification of the Messiah---Jesus

Photo credit: Alvimann from morguefile.com


God saw well to preserve all the prophecies throughout the generations so we could read of them in the Holy Scriptures today.

I can imagine the Jewish people had all sorts of questions about the Messiah.
Who would be the Messiah? What would he do? Where would he come from? When would he arrive?

The Old Testament writings left clues and signs so the Messiah's identity would clearly prove it was him. None other than Jesus Christ positively fits the ID.

The Messiah would need to-

Be of a certain lineage
Be a male and be born of a virgin woman.
Make his arrival at a certain time and place.
Be received a certain way by his peers.
Be of a certain character in his day-to-day life as well as in his ministry.
Have someone preparing the way and announce that he was coming.
Be despised by his own people.
Be given up for a certain amount of silver.
Be mocked, pierced and crucified.
Be guilty of no violence.
Be laid in a rich man's grave.
Be resurrected.

This link gives scripture about all this and more with links to parts 1-3.
http://www.provethebible.net/T2-Divin/D-0401.htm  


Below is a little of what I recently learned from my pastor concerning the Jewish Messiah------

The Temple Mount in Jerusalem

Photo credit: lisasolonynko from morguefile.com


There are Jews who do not believe Jesus is the Messiah.
The word Messiah is Hebrew, and Christ is Greek. They both mean, the anointed One.

Back in biblical time, the Jews ( the religious ones) saw Jesus as an ordinary man. They didn't take kindly to him claiming to be God. That was blasphemy. Only God could forgive sins and Jesus claimed he could.

The Jews were anticipating their Messiah to be a political leader and rescue them from all their enemies, including the Romans, and rule over Israel forever. They were expecting their Messiah to be a mighty leader and warrior and free them from their enemies and restore Israel to her glory.

What the Jewish people didn't see was Jesus came first to save them spiritually. The Jews were heavily into the letter of the Law, but neglected to get their hearts right with God. Many times the Jewish people disobeyed God by worshiping idols and wanting to be ruled by kings instead of allowing God to rule over them. They got caught up in being doer's of the Law and kept adding to the Law thinking that keeping the Law made one righteous. But their hearts were not right with God. And yes, hearts can be hard and blind. The Lord looks inwardly to the heart, but they weren't seeking God within their hearts, they were focused on rules and do's and don'ts, living to please self and thinking their doings made them righteous. They were living to please themselves, not God, and this is known as being carnal-minded.  God saw their 'righteous' attempts liken to filthy rags because their hearts were far from God.

Changing the heart.
Filthy rags.

Jesus said he came not to condemn the world, but to save and forgive sins. He brought something new, and the Jews resisted the change from the Law. No one could keep the entire Law no matter how 'holy' they believed they were. Jesus ushered in a change, a change to 'grace'. The Jews were not aware their Messiah was to first set up his spiritual kingdom, for saving souls, as Redeemer. They missed this in the Old Testament teachings pertaining to the Messiah.

'How to go to Heaven and not hell'-video



Old and New Testament scripture on how you can get to heaven.

Jesus is from a Spiritual world. He did give up a certain part of his deity to walk in human form as a man. Jesus was still God, but he was also a man in order to satisfy and complete his Earthly mission to be the once-and-for-all sacrifice for all the sins of Man. His Earthly mission was to be obedient as a Son, allowing himself to become 'The' Sacrificial Lamb for all mankind. This sacrifice would need to be one super sacrifice, and only a god could fulfill that duty. Jesus did it all and was all-- Son of God, Son of Man, and the image of God almighty that we could see and touch. Our heavenly Father accepted and was well pleased in what Jesus did for you and I. Praise the Lord.

God in his deity is not bound to the limits we are. God is not relegated to the limits of gravity or time and space, and He is not held to operating within the logical thinking we understand and are bound to. God's above and beyond that. God is Spirit and Jesus is the image of the unseen Holy God. No person can possibly explain all He can do because we are incapable to realize His holiness, fullness, vastness, limit-less majestic-ness, and being the creator of the universe. Man is unable to fully comprehend what we can't measure, relate to, test or place under a microscope to study or dissect, let alone understand what's spiritually beyond our physical capacity to understand. We'd like to, but try as we may, there's no way to fully grasp the fullness of an infinite God. The physical and the spiritual are very different worlds.

Jesus fulfilled his part of coming and claiming victory over the spiritual kingdom of darkness. We are assured of that. While he walked on Earth, he taught about a new way, a new covenant with his disciples and to the Jews. And when he died, this new covenant was ushered in. The change was to be not of works, but faith and an change on the inside, bringing in a newness of spirit, one which was open to pleasing God with a repentant heart, acknowledging one's sins and seeing the need for Jesus to be one's Savior and Lord. This new covenant was for those who'd had a spiritual rebirth. This is what the disciples were learning from Jesus' teachings to the Jews, first. But the Jews as a whole rejected this new covenant. But some Jews believe in the new covenant that Jesus brought about.

Messianic Jews are sometimes known as, 'complete Jews'. They keep their Jewish identity and hold to their Jewish traditions, and they understand the Torah or law are God's guidelines for right and wrong for living a morally just life and the law explains what one must do in order to receive forgiveness for sins against God with a substitutionary sacrificial system.
 Messianic Jews also accept and believe Jesus as their 'permanent' sacrificial Lamb, the 'suffering servant', who taught the spirit of the law is to be kept in the heart, which is a higher standard than the old letter of law. And knowing they can never keep to the letter of the law because of their sinful nature, this a new covenant is a more excellent covenant with forgiveness, grace and mercy. They know what's required is an exercise of faith, and a change of heart (Hebrews 8:6-Hebrews 9:26), and they know the fullness of the new covenant will be completed upon Christ's second coming, and
 Israel will also be restored to peace in their land.

The spirit of the law written upon your heart-love God & love your neighbor

Photo credit: alexander from morguefile.com


Messianic Jew testimonies.

Their are two spiritual kingdoms- the kingdom of God and the kingdom of satan.
Jesus came already for Part .  He's not yet returned for Part 2,  but that's coming soon.
God's plan is still in the works.  And God's plans never, ever fail.
God, His Son, the Messiah, the Holy Spirit are all in perfect harmony as One.
All God wants is your heart.
Your place in the plan is to give your heart to God, be obedient, and get on board with Jesus.
Jesus cleared the way so there would be no more need for sacrifices or wondering if you've done
good enough. All you have to do is give of your heart to God for all He's provided out of his tremendous love for one and all. This includes you. Jewish, Gentile, or whatever you call yourself.

Jesus brought in the New Covenant, a much better covenant than the first.The old was for but a little while to show that no man, woman or child could ever be good enough to keep all the law all the time.


When Jesus returns, he will show his power and might to the world.  This would be the time to be on Jesus' team when he does return.




For those who have to reason this out intellectually...

Don't be misdirected off of the Truth and forget that in Jesus the Father is well pleased.  Jesus IS Lord. He is the Alpha and the Omega. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is the only
God-endorsed, approved way to heaven. Yes, heaven is a sin-free zone and the only way is Jesus.

Study the scriptures yourself until you find the answers. Allow the Holy Spirit to direct you in your studies. Don't let someone tell you....they could be spiritually blind and mislead you. That would be awful. Do your own searching and studying so no one but you and the Holy Spirit are communing to find the Truth for yourself, your soul and your spirit. Get a good Bible concordance. Do word study. The mysteries of the Bible can be solved for those who search and seek the Truth. Pray to have your eyes opened to see the spiritual, and allow
the peace of Christ to richly rule in your heart.

 It's through the heart with a re-born spirit one can have a close relationship with a spiritual God.
God must be worshiped in spirit and in truth.

For all, check out this scripture in Romans 3:19-26.

Seek for yourself. Search for the Truth like searching for treasure.

Spiritual riches are more than physical riches
Photo credit: Alvimann from morguefile.com
 
God desires your heart and to accept His richest, most precious treasure, Jesus.

If you're Jewish or not Jewish, what matters is being faithful and obedient to what the Lord and Holy Scriptures have told.

No offense is intended to anyone and their beliefs.
 The Good News of the gospel of Jesus Christ, who was sent to save all from the penalty of your sins is worth sharing so everyone can know they have a choice to make for their own soul.
Think spiritual.      Think eternal.     Think of the love God had to have to send His Son to be the  sacrifice for mankind so you and I can live forever.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Spoiler Alert- All in due time

The human viewpoint is mainly from the perspective of the 'hear and now', or from where we stand, on what we know about things from what we've seen or heard during our lifetime.
That's our problem.

Our perspective is actually ultra-limited and confined. Most are unaware that the 'unseen' (spiritual) is responsible and behind what our physical eyes see.

Most are blindfolded to the thing concerning the Spirit

Photo credit: tcatcarson from morguefile.com

God, who is Divine Holy Spirit, has His plan all laid out and it's going according to the way He already, because He's omnipotent, knows how it's all going to proceed. And, thank God He is so patient about not hurrying up time any faster so more Jewish people can hear the gospel and come
to know of their Messiah).

God is not affected by the passage of time

Photo credit: mconnors from morguefile.com

Have you ever read a book before seeing the movie? You have a pretty good idea of the plot and already know ahead of time how the plot and story is going to end for the characters. This also means no matter how much we know or not know, agree or disagree about the end times, our opinions can't change the plot one bit. But you can change where you end up.
His Word is our 'spoiler alert'. (read and study the Bible so you know the ending and won't be caught off guard and regret for the rest of eternity)

What we can do is make plans to be either saved or unsaved, which could mean if you're alive when Christ returns, you would either be raptured or left behind. And until Jesus returns you can either spread the good news there's still time to get saved, or you can keep the good news to yourself.  Those are your choices in the matter of these last days.

All which is transpiring in the Middle East, where God's plan using the Hebrew people began to bring about the Law, which from their history we see no one, not even the Jews can keep all the Law. The Law was meant to be a precursor of something better to come, a new Judaism, so to speak. The prophets recorded things which we can read about, and prophesied, about the coming Messiah, who was to be the One to save them. This area of the world is most likely where it's all going to crescendo and we can read about it and the history of this place and why there's so much conflict there. It's representative of the spiritual battle raging between the forces of good and evil.  All in due time.

The ground work, the players, the tension...it's all accumulating and lining up for the last stanza.
God is not caught off guard. This is His baby. This is His song. His master plan. It's been long in the works and trucking along all in due time.

It took centuries, meer nanoseconds in God-time, for all the players and the circumstances to line up so Jesus could fulfill prophesy and be born at the time and place foretold long ago.

The current world events are part of the line-up of circumstances so that Jesus can come again and take the Church out of here.

Christians have nothing to fear. We won't be here when the anti-Christ comes to power. (Click on History, then Israel, then World).


The world is getting set for the anti-Christ to come onto the scene.


SIGNS THAT THE END TIMES/LAST DAYS ARE UPON US-

There will be more and more occurrences of people choosing a sinful lifestyle of lusting after the desires of their flesh and turning their backs to anyone or anything having to do with righteousness
or righteous living. This is one of the signs we're entering into the last days.

Israel has to be a Nation. This happened in1948.
The gospel must be preached throughout the whole world.  This is happening with missionaries and mass communication just about in every country.
Knowledge and travel must increase. We have this with computers, the Internet, and air flight.

Digital instant information devices

Photo credit: crass from morguefile.com
 
A "falling away." of local churches and society in general. We have this with the help of false prophets, false doctrine, even churches that deny Christ. And we're seeing the legalization of same sex marriages and hearing of sex trafficking and adults raping children, all described as perversions. Those who find reason to delight in their perversions, they do not wish to be told anything contrary. They want others to be completely tolerant, and silenced to saying anything negative about their lifestyle. They want to practice their sin freely and legally without any associated guilt or retribution.

Same-sex marriages

Photo credit: mensatic from morguefile.com

And, people in general will exhibit these characteristics and attitudes.
And finally, there must be wars, rumors of wars, violence, rioting in the daytime, and anti-Semitism to the degree of wanting Israel wiped off the face of the Earth.

                                                      *************

God's Word has told us what to look for and what to do. But first you must be converted from an enemy to a friend of God.  No matter how much you've sinned, you can receive forgiveness and atonement and have your name written in the Book of Life and be headed for your heavenly home instead of damnation.



What the Bible says about sex.

Sex was created and is a gift from God for intimacy between a husband and wife within a marriage relationship, which He also created. Sex represents the coming together of two flesh into one, for procreation, for enjoyment and for protecting the bond of marriage. When sex is practiced outside these boundaries, it represents the depravity within us.

 2Timothy 3:16-17. Key words----reproof, correction and profitable, doctrine, instruction, perfect, good works. 

(Take time to read for yourself about the promises God gave to Israel).


You've been alerted to the Spiritual viewpoint. God always keeps His promises.


The clock's a tickin', in human and spiritual time,

What are you going to be doing?




As for me, I'm on my journey, steady and sure along that narrow, straight path leading to my shining Savior. Peace.

Monday, December 16, 2013

The biggest argument is solved

We all have our beginnings of development within our Mother's womb. Mankind has had a fascination about what was before we came on the scene. We question that which we can't see. We search for answers. We form conclusions and think we have the answers.  Does God exist?

Jesus, the Righteous Judge, will be upon his seat for every unsaved person to face

Photo credit: kconnors from morguefile.com
 
There have been some interesting arguments on this subject of how the world and the universe came about. Did God create it? Does He exist? Who can answer and who can answer correctly?

God tells us what's important for us to know. And that's all we really need to know. Other than that is purely guess work and imagination to satisfy our 'need-to-know and our egos.

No one can come back from eons ago, and all the scientific data is gathered from man-designed instruments. There are space stations and cameras floating about in outer-space, but they can only record the present. What happened long ago, is out of our reach and I will say we have enough to be concerned about right now in the present. Isn't it more important to be feeding the hungry and helping the hurting and needy people living right now?

I came across some interesting and informative writings on the proof that God exists.

These 6 reasons the author of this article writes can't be argued against if one has the least bit of common sense.

View this video detailing and describing 5 reasons God exists and Jesus was God in the flesh.
The last two minutes sum it up best.




If I ignored and refused to believe any of the above arguments, I'd have to conclude God exists because I'm breathing and living. Some divine force has to be at work allowing me to exist because I have nothing to do with making my lungs work or my brain function, or digest my food, or anything. My internal functions operate automatically. I am designed by a master creator.

My conclusion is we have a sovereign, loving and patient God. He could force us to love him and believe, but He decided to not violate the free will  He gave to us. It is our choice to believe or not to believe.

Those with eyes to see and ears to hear, God speaks clearly and lovingly of His presence.  Jesus came for us so we can relate to an  unseen God.

When you see Jesus, you've seen the essence of God. And He so desires to have a relationship with you. And he loves you so much that He sent His Son to die for you so your sins can be forgiven.

 The biggest lie you can believe is that God does not exist and that He sent you a way to restore rightful standing with him. That would be just what the enemy of God would have you believe.

Our only way back to good graces with the Heavenly Father in through Jesus, who gave his life so
 all who believe upon him will live. And I'm talking about spiritual life. Our flesh will cease, but our spirits will live forever.  We were created in God's everlasting, spiritual image.  Heaven is for those who have chosen to have faith that Jesus is the Son of God and by his death on the Cross, his blood and death satisfied God as payment for your sins.

Just pray to God and tell Him you know you can't pay the price for your sins against Him. You need a Savior and you trust and believe Jesus came and died for your sins and you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and thank him for giving you life and hope and a new direction. You are pasted from death to life just like that. Jesus did all the work. All you have to do is ask and believe. If you want to thank God, live for Christ. And to live for Christ, read His Holy Word and see what the Holy Spirit has for you. It's a journey that will lead to great things and best of all, the best is yet to come!!!!!

Yes, God exists!

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

The Christ-mas story from the beginning

 I've heard that some people believe Confucius or Buddha were teaching the philosophy of peace and love and expounding words of wisdom long before Jesus. Life of Buddha compared to Jesus.

Lights, carols, gifts, & trees-just a portion in celebrating the Reason for the Season

Photo credit: NikiNoon from morguefile.com

Allow me to shed some all revealing, bright light-of-truth on this matter.
God had long ago, prior to any men and prior to anything we know, had preparations already in the works to present His most precious gift of peace to mankind at His predetermined time. 


The Christ-mas story was in the making before God created Man.


The greatest story on Earth is the Christmas story- every thing leading up to the birth of Jesus, Emmanuel, and the greatest miracle that ever happened on Earth when a part of God became an innocent human baby boy, and who would grow as a normal male child and show and teach how we ought to live and demonstrate what God, the Father, is like and what he expects of us. His life, ministry, teachings, miracles, and his death were recorded so we can today read, study, learn and know what his mission was and why, and so we'd know why his life, death and resurrection are important to every soul in the world.

Keep Christ in Christmas and in your heart for real peace, love & joy

Photo credit: ronnieb from morguefile.com
 
The miracle of Christmas is that no matter how awful mankind sinned against a loving, holy,  sovereign God, God's plan had long been in motion through every generation until the set time with the sole purpose of redemption, providing mankind with a means upon which to be pardoned from the curse of spiritual death and be set free to enjoy life forever.
God's plan to send his Son, whom we call Jesus, to bear all penalty for all sin upon himself was God's masterful plan long before Man even was.

Jesus is God's peace-offering to us as a way to return to right and peaceful standing with our heavenly Father.

The spirit of Christmas is love, joy, peace, and giving.
This person writes about rediscovering the meaning of Christmas.
These gifts from our heavenly Father are given to us, all wrapped up in His Son, Jesus.
Jesus was presented to the world as a babe in a manger, surrounded by his Earthly parents, animals and shepherds. Jesus came to serve and save us from having to suffer the penalty of death we deserve, and through him we can enjoy the spirit of love, joy and peace forever.

Confucius and Buddha philosophised ABOUT peace, but the Prince of Peace- is Jesus, and we get peace like none other only from him.

In all the activities during the last month of the year, if you haven't already, this is the perfect time to accept 'The Gift.'
It's His gift to save your soul and redeem you back to righteous and peaceful standing with Him.
You may accept his gift at any time by opening your heart and accepting Jesus.
Jesus is THE best gift you can ever receive.

The gift of Jesus is the gift of life that never stops giving or loving
Photo credit: cohdra from morguefile.com
 

Christmas-time is celebrating the glorious miracle of the birth of the Christ-child, the long awaited Messiah, the Savior, which took place despite insurmountable odds.

God so loved the world, even long before we would know we would need Jesus, God knew.
 It takes belief and faith to receive this 'above and beyond' gift from God because his gift is 'above and beyond' what any man could have ever envisioned.
 From beginning to end, the long-in-the-works story of Jesus' coming has fingerprints of God all through it.  It truly is a wonderful and marvelous story come true!

Christ-our Savior-is-born!

A child was born, a Son was given

Photo credit: xenia from morguefile.com
 
More history of Christmas and how customs came about.

Until next time,
I'm celebrating Jesus in my life- the best gift there ever was to be received!
May your Christ-mas be equally joyful and meaningful!

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Don't be tricked like the buffalo

I was remembering from history class certain tribes of Native American Indians depended heavily upon the buffalo for their survival. Buffalo were hunted in various ways.

Buffalo herds are vastly diminished

Photo credit: lightfoot from morguefile.com

Sometimes a hunter dressed like a buffalo to lure them and get close enough to take a good shot at one with his bow and arrow or weapon to take one of these big boys down.

Another hunting strategy was to force-run the entire herd into a valley or ravine where they couldn't escape.

Over the cliff
Photo credit: mensatic from morguefile.com

And yet another strategy was to drive the herd straight over a cliff. This method had many buffalo falling to their death and the Indians in one swoop would have slaughtered an entire herd without wasting one arrow and they'd celebrate large with their massive kill having plenty of meat and skin for the tribe.

The proud Native American Indian

Photo credit: DodgertonSkillhause from morguefile.com

You may be wondering what in the world am I writing about buffalo and Indians on this faith based blog?

Substitute hunter for satan.
Substitute the hunt to kill for prowling to seek out and kill by satan.
Substitute herds of buffalo for masses of humans and precious souls.
Substitute the buffalo hunter's plan for satan's plan to steal, kill, and destroy.
Substitute weapons for satan's lies to get your attention and eyes off God.
Substitute costume for deception of what satan really is.
Substitute buffalo running over the cliff for satan executing his plan taking you 'blindly' over a cliff and away from the blessings of God. 
Substitute the cliff's edge for falling away from God.
Substitute the bottom of the cliff or ravine for hell and the Lake of Fire.
Substitute a herd for what masses of people are doing or believing.
Substitute meat and skin for your spirit and soul.


I hope my analogy makes a strong point how Indian hunters tricked many buffalo and how satan tricks many people. But I'm in no way calling American Indians satan or people herds of buffalo.


                                                         *******

Think.........


Many are following and/or being lead away from God to their spiritual death.
Satan is playing all his cunning, masterful deceptions. He's good at what he does. So good, he even has many headed for the cliff but they don't yet see the cliff.

The road to destruction is wide and crowded and looks to be the 'thing' to be running in.
The path to peace and life is narrow and uncrowded. Few take the effort to find it. But it can be found and it's so worth the effort.

One destination is death, the other is life.
One looks good now, until the dropping point. But by then, it's too late to turn around- being caught up in a massive crowd steadily pushing onward and over the edge and the end of the fall is everlasting death.

The other is much less crowded and void of danger.  It's destination is good. It is paved with knowledge and wisdom and the path leads to everlasting life.


Which path are you on?  Who is prompting and leading you?   Where is your spiritual body going?

Before you reach the cliff, unlike the herd of buffalo about to meet their end,  YOU can choose
to not be tricked.



Jesus came not to condemn, but to SAVE and REDEEM YOU from 'falling off the cliff to your spiritual death' (destruction).  HE WHO HAS THE SON HAS LIFE, SPIRITUAL LIFE, and that translates into a more abundant life now as well. God looks at you and sees you've been cleansed of all unrighteousness because you have accepted his free gift of Jesus, who shed his blood to pay the penalty for your sins. Sin no longer separates you from God. You have Jesus as you friend and personal mediator. You're in the family of God.

Six-step process for your rebirth into spiritual and eternal life-

1. ADMIT you're a sinner, you can't save yourself, and your need of a Savior.
2. BELIEVE Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah.
3. With sincerity of heart, PRAY and INVITE Jesus into your life and heart.
4. LEARN AND STUDY about Jesus and his teachings in the Bible SO YOUR FAITH WILL
    GROW AND DEEPEN. Satan IS GOING TO try but don't allow him to steal your joy. You are
    forever sealed in redemption in the kingdom of God and adopted into his family and to inherit the
    promises of God. Satan is a washed up defeated foe, but he will keep trying by any means possible
    to take as many down with him. Remind him that you are washed clean of your sins and Jesus is
    your Savior and Lord,  YOU  are not going where he'll be going. YOU have accepted Jesus and
    you've been bought and paid for with the pure blood of Jesus. YOU'RE NO LONGER A SLAVE
   TO SIN OR TO THE LIES AND DECEPTIONS. He's not going to take you down and tell him to
    be gone in the mighty name of Jesus!

5.PRAISE GOD for giving you a way to be brought back to good graces with a holy, sovereign,
   righteous and loving heavenly Father.

6.Get baptized which symbolizes the newness of your new life, having been washed clean of your
   sins and arisen into a new life with Christ.



Until next time,
I'm walking in the narrow path with the wonderful warmth of the Son upon my back.



Tuesday, October 29, 2013

The Earth never was flat

Long ago, the most educated minds thought the Earth was flat and believed if you sailed too far out into the ocean, you'd fall off the edge of the world. It's understandable when looking out over the horizon that it looks like there's nothing else out there. I wonder what these people might have thought of ocean water running off the side of the Earth? On Earth, we look at things from our small perspective.


Photo credit: enfinite5 from morguefile.com
 
Well, that theory was all wrong and we know better since we've gained more insight and knowledge about the Earth, and still are.
Today, many educated people think their 'sinful status' has no significance to God..and some don't believe in God, or His Word, or much of anything related to the masterful plan God has to redeem and save every person from a horrible future set for those who reject him. (I ponder why people reject or accept a particular religion. I know a lot has to do with where a person is born, the family they're born into, having been exposed to the gospel or not and their upbringing. This is another topic to write later).

Sometimes it takes seeking and prodding to find the Truth. Sometimes it takes a knock up beside the head. Sometimes it takes a major life event to open one's eyes to the Truth.

Longtime atheist converts to Christianity and plans to become a preacher

 With my little mind, I've thought of a few reasons of what a person chooses to have faith in boils down to 'choosing to believe or disbelieve'. And disbelief is due to human perspective of a holy, sovereign, spiritual, unseen deity. Until one can see from a 'spiritual perspective', this does looks flat, like there's nothing out there. So naturally the conclusion is 'disbelief' in all the good things which God promises. And the promises of the God of Abraham are better than any other god. And the Lord God stamps His promises with Himself, cause there is none higher or cross his heart to, nor can He lie. His promise is as good as a promise can be.

God's Holy Word is for us to gobble up and absorb all it's loaded with of characters showing what happens when a person obeys, and what happens when a person disobeys God.

The Earth never was flat, no matter how many people thought it was. And same goes for God's Word. It does not matter what you think, God's Word, all of it, is for you and I to gain knowledge of what delights God and wisdom for living, and to be in His good graces to receive His abounding goodness. 

Taking this notion a bit further, God does not need you or I to believe Him. We need to get on board with Him, not visa verse. His Way is 'The Way' regardless what any of us thinks or believes. We are alive in our fleshly bodies only for a brief moment in His vast creation timeline.  His ways are far above our mortal ways. (Can a man create a sunset?) There is plenty 'unseen' we have to use eyes of faith to see, and sin against God is nothing to be blind to, for it is something so real to a real God.


Photo credit: hotblack from morguefile.com

In His wisdom, God made us with certain needs.  In this posting I want to bring up just two needs we all beacon for, even thought we may not consciously say we need them, but in my most humble opinion, I believe we all do, just like we need air to breathe.

The first is love. Love is intangible, but love bonds us and helps get us through life. Life and love are inseparable in a way, but are the compliment that makes each better. Without love, life is miserable

We want love to last, especially after we share love with someone who reciprocates love back, and the love is pure and true.  God loves each of us with an unconditional love. This may not be believed if you don't believe in God, but it's true nonetheless. If he didn't love you, He wouldn't have sent a part of Himself in the flesh to die for payment of your sins. He was the perfect acceptable sacrifice for all of mankind, but more fittingly, just for you so you'd be spared from dying that 'second death'. Right now you receive fresh blessing each day- waking up, breathing, air, food, sunlight, love. Separation from all blessings, is the 'second death' which will be like 'dying, not being able to die so you suffer continually without end or hope of it ever stopping-hence, death. I can only think that spiritual death is something I do not want to experience.

(What could be more wonderful than the creator devising a plan that ensures a future with Him and totally missing the hell and Lake of Fire?  Would anyone prefer Hell and the Lake of Fire?)

God's plan of love could not be thwarted by the devil, even though he tried to throw a wrench in God's plan. Lucifer, the fallen angel, also known as 'the devil', has been allowed lots of freedom to deceive people, and many have been ensnared by his masterful cunning, devious deceptiveness.  So much so that people believe him and disbelieve God. Satan's that good in making people turn to his counterfeit everything, and away from God's perfect design. He's nearly perfected getting people's focus, hearts and minds off what's really important and rather onto mundane things with no lasting, true value, such as wasting your time and energy and ultimately selling your soul for what the flesh wants and desires. And get this, satan is so good he's even got some thinking he doesn't exist, or he isn't that bad, or an even has some worshiping him in some form or other. He has you thinking you don't need God, you don't need to obey God, you don't need to worship God, and you're fine and happy with stuff and things, so why pursue anything that has to do with godliness?  But, satan can't give you love. He does not love you.
But God loves you so much that he sent his Son, to die in your place so your sins could be forgiven so there would be nothing separating you from God so you are not banned from entering heaven and the place Jesus is working at designing for every soul who wants their sins forgiven and the Son of God as their Lord and Savior.

Noah's ark was navigated by God without the need of rudder or sails.  The New Testament ark is in Jesus.

those on the ark were kept safe 
Photo credit: gracey from morguefile.com

Forgiveness is another need. I don't even think Reverend Billy Graham would honestly
claim to have lived his life not making a single mistake. Compassion is a wonderful. But forgiveness is compassion amped up to the tenth degree. Because of love with compassion, forgiveness was made available to each of us through Jesus the Christ. When your sins are forgiven, you are indeed set free from spiritual death, the death that your sins, or disobedience to God, so rightly deserves.

 God covered all bases for you so you could be in heaven. All it takes on your part is humbleness, admitting you need a Savior, and believe that Jesus was sent for you and he died for you,  and invite Him into your heart and life. And bam, just like that, you're no longer a foe, but an heir to the kingdom of God in heaven instead of on your way to hell and the Lake of Fire.

There are some societies and religions which one must perform or do certain things to have their 'mistakes' dealt with to appease the gods to get back into good standings, like reciting something or doing something physical.

Some societies don't practice of extending of 'forgiveness', 'compassion' or 'love' when a person makes a mistake or 'sins'. If something is done which brings shames upon the family, they're promptly put to death as punishment. Jesus said about the woman who was caught in an adulterous situation, 'let the first one without sin be the first to cast a stone'. And then, he said to the woman, 'go and sin no more.' Now that was Jesus demonstrating grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion, which is the gift of love. Love. Love. Love. A God who loves you and I. What in the universe is better than that?

Forgiveness is granting someone amnesty, a get-out-of jail pass, a 'free ticket' that completely exonerates one of their wrongs, even when they're not deserving of the forgiveness. Wrongs done against God are called 'sins'. The Ten Commandments are the Old Testaments list of categories sins fall under. These 'wrongs' can't be hidden from the omnipotence of God.  Back then, a person had to offer a perfect animal and have the priest offer it to pay for sins. That sufficed for a while until the perfect God-Man offered Himself once and for all. God accepted and all we have to do is acknowledge we need a savior,  accept Jesus as our Savior, and invite him into our hearts and as thanks for all he's done, share this good news of our new life and hope with others searching for the same inner peace, redemption and salvation.  Reciting 'hell maries' is like wanting vanilla ice cream, but settling looking at a picture of ice cream.  Jesus is so much more as High Priest and friend. Go to him like a child and receive love and life. He is The Way. Accepting Jesus into your heart has permanent and lasting advantages. And he is patiently waiting right now to be invited into your life.

Forgiveness of your sins covers all shapes and forms and manner of sin in your life. This is freely given as part of the package wrapped up and included in the love God has for you. In accepting Jesus  into your heart and to be your Lord, your sin slate is wiped clean and you're fresh and new and you're an heir to the blessings of God, because you've invited His Son in your heart.

In this world, satan is on the loose, prowling about to destroy any way he can. He deceives and wants you destroyed, but he does this by making you think you do not need God, which will make you a foe of God. Deception is his mode of operation.

Which team are you on? There is only one ultimate winner.

Photo credit: ardelfin from morguefile.com

 Think from a heavenly perspective. Life in the flesh lasts but so many days, months, and years. In contrast, existence as a spiritual being will be forever.

What'cha gonna do about your sin condition? It's all up to you, with your educated mind. It's all up to you to make the choice for your spirit and soul. The choice you make will determine your forever future. Unforgiven sin, is sin which will be to your eternal detriment. Don't let that happen.


Because of the Son, the Earth is revolving and you can't fall off.




Christianity is a relationship with the one, living God, who offers love and forgiveness, totally free just for the asking.  It begins with inviting Jesus into your heart and life and growing in faith day-by day with such an indescribable and wonderful God because Jesus opened the way.

God is indescribable and awesome in His splendor and love to us and in His creation which is so vast and wide and without end.  (Light travels over 186,000 miles/second). Be amazed at our wondrous Creator. We will not know the end of God's span. He can hold the galaxies in his hand. God calls the stars by name. He has no equal. Watch this video to see the universe beyond any words can describe.




I can go on an on. So until next time,
Peace is so sweet when you're totally at peace with God.

Enjoying the walk down that peaceful, small path, leading closer and closer to my Lord.