Inspirational Weekend - "One Day at a Time"

"The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe." -            ,,,,,,,,,,Proverbs 29:25

Sometimes the study of Eschatology (study of end times) can bring fear even to Christians if they are not grounded in the saving Scriptures of the Bible.   Some believe Christians will go through the horrific 7 year tribulation period, and that erroneous belief would cause fear to anyone if they are aware of the judgments -- God's wrath - that will be poured out during that time.   I will talk about the tribulation period soon in another post.

This time I am concentrating on taking one day at a time, as the old hymn goes:

"One day at a time sweet Jesus

That's all I'm asking of you

Just give me the strength

To do every day what I have to do

Yesterday's gone sweet Jesus

And tomorrow may never be mine

Lord, help me today, show me the way

One day at a time."

There is more to the hymn, but the above words pretty much sums it up.   In other words, just follow Jesus one day at a time; one hour at a time; one step at a time.   

"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."  -  Matthew 6:34

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."  -  John 14:27

If you are a true believer, you need not be afraid of  many things that vex the world today.  Just put all of your trust and hope in the Lord; He will take care of you and rescue you from the wrath to come. 

There is something peaceful about watching a turtle resting on a log or a rock.    We need to be like that turtle and hold fast to our Rock, Jesus.   He will not let us drown in the murky, dark  waters of sin or this wicked, turbulent world of evil.    If we keep our focus on and cling to Jesus, worry and fear will not overcome us.

"No one can pray and worry at the same time."  -  Max Lucado

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow.  It empties today of its strength."  -

Corrie Ten Boom

Worry is a sin, because we are doubting God when we worry and are not showing faith in Him.  If we have a close, intimate, love relationship with God through Jesus Christ, we will not be overcome with fear and anxiety.   Christianity is all about a relationship with Jesus more than it is a religion.   If you truly love God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength and all of your mind -- and are a true follower of Jesus - you will have peace that passeth all understanding.   (Matthew 22:37-40;   Matthew 10:38;  Philippians 4:7)

Part of the secret to peace and taking one day at a time is to learn to wait upon the Lord.

Psalm 27:14 says, "Wait on the LORD:  be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart:  Wait, I say, on the LORD."     I wrote a post about that  here , which explains why waiting on the Lord can be a good thing.  

Have a happy weekend !     Below is a beautiful video (not mine) with gorgeous scenery for you to enjoy over the weekend.

Go ahead and smile:

Internet photo

What fun captions could be made for this amusing photograph !   Like maybe a mother saying to her adolescent, "I said don't talk back!"

Enjoy your weekend and be thankful always !

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"Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you."  -  1 Peter 5:7

Inspirational Weekend - "What In The World Is Happening? (As In The Days Of Noah)"

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come."  -  2 Timothy 3:1

There is such power in the ocean waves; there is more power in God's Holy Word to change hearts and also the power to predict the future.   We are living in the last days.   Just read the news and look around you at all the violence and immorality and lawlessness....better yet, just read the Bible and it describes the times we are living in exactly.  I do not want this post to be all doom and gloom, but the world needs to be aware that God's wrath will soon be poured out upon it for all of its evil and its rejecting Jesus as Savior.   Bad news for unbelievers, good news for true believers.   Followers of Jesus will be caught up to heaven to be with the Lord before God's day of wrath and destruction on the earth.  

"But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only.  But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."   -   Jesus speaking at Matthew 24:36-39. 

There was much corruption in Noah's day.  The fallen angels had come to earth and married the women there and produced giants as offspring (Genesis 6). These fallen angels also tampered with the DNA so that all mankind was not as God intended; that is, except for Noah and his family, their bloodline was still pure so that the Messiah would one day come from them.    The devil was trying to defeat God's purpose to have a pure bloodline for the coming Messiah.   (Genesis 3:15 --Satan's seed and the woman's seed.)

This may sound far-fetched to many, but it is the only explanation that makes clear why God had to destroy that evil society and even the majority of the animals.   Below are two videos that go into more detail on this and the days of Noah.

Today scientists are experimenting with the same type of procedures that were prevalent in Noah's day.  They are into trans-humanism, mixing animal and human DNA, chips to implant in soldiers to make them superheroes with extreme endurance...even to control them like robots.  I could go on and on, but perhaps you would like to view the videos above and do some research on your own.  In a nutshell, they are also trying to achieve immortality through science and become godlike.    

There are many signs that we are living in the last days found in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 and other places in the Bible.   Again, all you have to do is to look at what is currently happening in the world.   Here I am focusing primarily on how things today are similar to the days of Noah.  

"So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.  Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled."  -  Jesus speaking at Luke 21:31-32.

For those who scoff at this and say there have always been wars and bad times and evil, then there is a Scripture written about them at 2 Peter 3:3-4 :  "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming?  for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."

In the Bible, we are not told the day and the hour when Jesus will return to take the Church, all true believers, up to heaven in the Rapture,  but we are given signs to know when His return is near.   Unbelievers don't see it, but believers can discern the times and know that it is very near now.   Look at what is going on in the Middle East.  Previously  I made a post here concerning what is presently going on in Syria, how Russia is mentioned in Ezekiel 38, and how Damascus will be totally destroyed soon according to Isaiah 17:1.    So there are many other current events that point to the fact that we are now living in the last days.   There are, in other words, many prophecies in the Bible that are coming to pass at an accelerated pace all at once now; a convergence.   

Remember, God does not unleash his wrath without first giving a warning.   He warned for 120 years through Noah as he built the ark.    Lot and his family were warned and helped before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrha.    There are many more examples of this in Scripture.  Romans 5:9 says, "Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him."

All of the above information is good news to Christians, for soon they will be with the Lord in heaven.   It is time for unbelievers to repent and turn to Jesus as their Savior and by faith begin to live a godly life.   The time on earth after the Rapture of the Church will be a time of much destruction and death known as the 7 year Tribulation.  It will be too late then as most people in that time will not be inclined to accept Jesus, though some will.  The Tribulation will have to be a subject for another post in the future.    

"For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day."  -  2 Timothy 1:12

Inspirational Weekend - "God's Greatest Act Of Grace"

"Once more, never think that you can live to God by your own power or strength;  but always look to and rely on Him for assistance, yea, for all strength and grace."  - David Brainerd, Missionary

These powerful waves in the photograph above remind me of God's great power and strength.  Watching the surf is a spiritual experience for me, even though I am a little afraid of the water, especially powerful surf like this.  I suppose that is like we love God, but are in reverent fear of Him at the same time.   That same reverent fear of Him should guide us in leading godly lives.

Grace is unmerited favor; something we do not deserve.   Many of you may be familiar with GRACE

being  "God's Riches At Christ's Expense."  The gift of salvation that is in and through Jesus Christ is God's greatest act of Grace. It is available for all who accept this gift by faith.  

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and not of yourselves:  it is the gift of God:  not of works, lest any man should boast."  -  Ephesians 2:8-9

By His shed blood at Calvary, Jesus was our substitute and purchased every sinner and, once a believer, you are sealed with the Holy Spirit and are a child of God destined for Heaven.   

Without going into a lot of detail, the good Lord has helped me to overcome many obstacles and I am forever grateful for that and for His love and guidance.   I identify with Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9 :  "And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.  Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."  In my life, God has made a way where, humanly speaking, there was no way.   I have learned to follow what it says in Proverbs 3:5-6 , "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."  

I am weak and imperfect, but when I rely on the good Lord He gives me the strength and power to overcome my weaknesses and to carry on when things get tough.   

"Grace, then, is grace, - that is to say, it is sovereign, it is free, it is sure, it is unconditional, and it is everlasing."  -  Alexander Whyte    

"Extraordinary afflictions are not always the punishment of extraordinary sins, but sometimes the trial of extraordinary graces.   Sanctified afflictions are spiritual promotions."  - Matthew Henry

We should be thankful for the gift of grace, and praise God in song and worship.  One hymn that brings me to tears is "Amazing Grace", because I at one time was so wretched but God has made me whole through His Son Jesus Christ and I am so very grateful.   Below is a video of LeAnn Rimes'  version of this moving hymn:

Since God  has been so loving and full of grace towards us, we also should extend grace to others.  We may not be in a position to make large cash donations, but we can show simple acts of kindness and helpfulness to others.   We can be generous with our smiles as well as visit the sick and the elderly.    We certainly need to be forgiving of others.   Look how much Jesus forgave us!

"Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."  -  Colossians 4:6

Remember, God's grace saves us from death and eternal torment.   It also gives us a sense of peace and much comfort to know we are bound for heaven one day.   

"But to the God of all grace, Who hath called us into His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." -  I Peter 5:10

Inspirational Weekend - "Amazing Love"

"Love is the sum of all virtue, and love disposes us to good."  - Jonathan Edwards

And here is to you having a wonderful weekend !  This post is about love - again.  So much can be said about love that it is impossible to put it all in one blog post.   Now I will focus primarily on how much God loves us using Scriptures, videos, and my own reflections on the subject.

Below is a video that shows how much Jesus loves us.

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."  -  I John 4:10

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."  Jesus speaking at  John 15:13.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not  perish, but have everlasting life."  -  John 3:16

We humans cannot totally comprehend the great love God has for us; God is love, it is His very nature.    I John 4:8, 16.  Everything He does is out of love; yes, even when He disciplines us or allows hardships to overcome us.  Because trials and hardships help mold us into what God desires us to become; we can grow spiritually from His correction.   

Another music video below concerning Jesus' love for us.  "Above All" by Michael W. Smith 

"While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.."  -  Romans 5:8

When I consider all that God and Jesus have done for me and all true believers, it fills me with so much love and gratitude that I could never explain the depth of it all in words.   What amazing love ! Even when I am experiencing trials, I still have peace in my soul because of  the Lord's great love and the fact that I am aware of His presence and helping hand.

"Doubt not His grace because of thy tribulation, but believe that He loveth thee as much in seasons of trouble as in of happiness."  -  Charles Spurgeon