"Give God The Eraser" - Inspirational Weekend

Someone once said, "Write your plans in pencil, but give God the eraser."  This is so true, as only the good Lord knows what the future holds; and also because life is so precarious and risky and uncertain.  We do not even know what the next day may hold, or even the very next hour.  We could make all kinds of grandiose plans for the next day, only to find ourselves in a terrible accident and then handicapped; or we could die before our next breath.   Yet man is notorious for making plans and ignoring God in the process.   I realize we have to have goals in life and to prepare for the future as much as possible, but we need to plan with the knowledge that everything we work for could be taken away at any moment.  We need to put our trust in God and seek His will.  First !

God is in charge !

This all reminds me of James 4:14 , but I will also quote here verses 13 through 16:

"(13) Go to now, ye that say, today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: (14) Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow: for what is your life?  It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.  (15) For that ye ought to say, if the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. (16) But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil."

Verse 14 above tells us that life is like a vapor..... a mist, always fleeting, and then fades away. Vanishes. No one can depend on or calculate on the "permanence" of a vapor.  Something as evanescent as a vapor cannot be depended upon and cannot last.   We all have seen a morning mist or ground fog and watched it disappear as the sun rose in the sky.  The vapor or mist simply vanishes with no trace remaining; no outline or anything that will remind us that it ever existed.

"As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.  For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more."  -  Psalm 103:15-16

"For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass.  The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:"  -  1 Peter 1:24

This post is meant to uplift you, but the Scriptures quoted here tell us how frail and transitory life really is.  Which points us to the fact that we need to have a hope beyond what this life on earth holds.  A glorious hope for eternal life with the Lord in heaven !!  So many people live life on earth as if this is all there is; as if there is no hereafter once you die.   "Eat, drink, and be merry; for tomorrow we die" type of mentality.   True believers know better.  This life on earth is a test. A schoolhouse to prepare us for our future with God and Jesus.   It took me a long time to realize that truth; the Bible taught me that, but for many years I did not study God's Word.  I seldom if ever prayed.  I thank the good Lord that He opened my spiritual eyes and my heart to truly embrace the Gospel and Jesus Christ and to have a close relationship with Him.   

In these perilous times in which we live - these last of the last days -  we need to hang on to the hope and promises of God and Jesus.  If we don't, we will be depressed and feel like there is no hope.  But true believers know that with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).   Give your heart and mind and soul to Jesus Christ in faith.  Repent of your sins and confess them to God and ask Jesus to come into your heart.   Time is short before the Rapture to heaven of true believers.   

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  -  Philippians 4:7

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."   -  Jesus speaking at John 14:27

God Rejoices Over You With Singing !!

Yes, the Almighty powerful true God rejoices with singing !  The thought of Him singing never occurred to me until I read Zephaniah 3:17 which says, "The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing."  Isn't that amazing !  This verse in the Revised Standard Version even says that "He will exult over you with LOUD singing."

Some may say that is just figuratively speaking; He doesn't really sing.  I tend to take this verse literally, that God does indeed sing with joy over us.   This verse is primarily speaking of Jerusalem and Israel, and some commentators believe it is speaking of Christ's 1000 year reign of peace on earth after the seven-year Tribulation during the Millennial Kingdom.   Still other scholars are of the opinion that this verse includes the Christian Church today, Christ's Bride.  Regardless, it is a joyful thought for us to consider that our Lord can sing over us like a loving parent does over his child in his arms.   

Zephaniah 3:14 tells us "Sing, O daughter of Zion, shout, O Israel; Be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem."   The people of Jerusalem were singing praises to God, which in turn caused God to expresses joy Himself when His people praised Him.   Therefore, we can make God want to sing when we praise Him in worship and in song.  There is one happy, joyful hymn I enjoy that just makes me feel good all over, especially if I count my blessings as it says to do :

When we count our blessings we are aware of how good the Lord has been to us; we are more appreciative of His love and tender care, and it makes us realize how much we need Him.  Sing along with this happy song and see if your spirits lift and take you to a new appreciation of all that God has bestowed upon you in the way of love and tender mercies and blessings. 

God wants us to be happy, and the only way we can be truly happy is by following Jesus and obeying Him in all we say and do. The way to do this is to pray without ceasing, thereby developing a close personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  When I observe sunsets and beautiful flowers and landscapes, it gives me a feeling of awe where God's power is concerned, and also makes me feel so tiny and insignificant in His presence. At the same time, observing His creation and thinking about His awesomeness draws me closer to Him.   Below is a beautiful time lapse video of skies.

My hope and prayer is that you enjoy these videos and photographs and that you are happy and safe in the Creator's loving and protective arms; that your days may be filled with joy and praise to the Lord.  

Following is one more time lapse video to brighten your day and your week to follow.

Keep a song in your heart, sing praises to God, give Him thanks, and see if you can perceive and sense God singing with joy !

"I will praise Thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works."          -  Psalm 9:1

"By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name."  -  Hebrews 13:15

"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."   -  Jesus speaking at John 10:10b   

"After The Rapture.... What Happens Next? (with video) - Inspirational Weekend

To sum it all up, no sane person would want to live on this earth after the Rapture of the church occurs.  It will be a time of desolation, violence, wars, natural disasters, lawlessness, and untold suffering as Almighty God in heaven pours forth His wrath upon all the ungodly earth dwellers during that time....the time of the seven-year Tribulation.  This is only doom and gloom for the unbelievers;  true believers have the hope of the imminent Rapture when they will be taken to heaven to be with the Lord.   It is prudent to be aware of what will happen on the earth and what will happen to wicked mankind, so you can prepare yourself spiritually by belief and faith in Jesus Christ and surrendering your life to Him, and you can also help friends and relatives and other lost souls to come to Christ so that they will not suffer the Tribulation period.   The following video is an excellent tool to help you to do just that....save your soul and the souls of others.   The creator of this video encourages you to share his video with as many others as you possibly can.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWavGDD6r7U

The above video explains what might happen in the first few minutes after the Rapture, the first few hours after the Rapture, and then the day after the Rapture which will be hell on earth.   The creator of this video speculates that many left behind will realize what has happened, and will repent and turn to God and ask Christ to save them; perhaps more people will be saved right after the Rapture than ever before (at one time).   One bit of information that I have mentioned before myself (that there may be a gap of time between the Rapture and the Tribulation), but this video mentions several things that must take place (according to Bible prophecy) that must happen before the seven-year Tribulation begins, all of which will take time that cannot be completed only during the Tribulation period.   I pray that you watch this video; it is an hour long but you will want to see it all once it begins.   I intend to share this video with as many people as I can.

An interesting link concerning- in brief - prophetic events that must take place in the end times may be read here.    

As I have strongly urged you many times before, if you find yourself left behind during the Tribulation, do NOT take the Mark of the Beast (the antichrist).   Many will take it in order to buy and sell and to have food, but they will forfeit their very souls by thus pledging their allegiance to the antichrist instead of to the One True God, Yahweh.   (Revelation 3:16-18).   Most scholars believe this Mark will be an RFID chip or some similar type of tattoo that has your entire history in it, such as your bank account so that it can be used to buy and sell.....and no doubt connected to some internet system to keep track of you and your actions.  

Below are two passages of Scripture that pertain to the Rapture of true believers.   There is much to be joyful about and much to look forward to if you have put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory."  -  1 Corinthians 15:51-54 

"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words."  -  1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

Billy Crone On The Imminent Rapture - Pre-trib, Pre-wrath, Mid-trib, Post-trib; Which ? - Informative Video

So many Christians are in a "battle" with each other over whether the Rapture of the Church will occur before the Tribulation, or somewhere during or even after the seven-year Tribulation.  We need to spend less time debating about all this and more time in evangelizing and saving souls from hell, so says Billy Crone in the following video and I entirely agree with him on that.   He shares excellent Scriptures and reasons to support his view, which is that the Rapture will occur prior to the tribulation period.   Please watch the entire video as it is chock full of fantastic information.

I mention the Rapture often, because it is closer to happening than ever before, the way Bible prophecy is being fulfilled at such a fast pace now....many things converging all at one time.   My hope is that the Scriptures and the videos I share will bring others to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior before the Tribulation.  After the trib. begins, it will be more difficult to do so; you will be subject to mistreatment in the antichrist's one world government, and you must choose to be martyred rather than to take the Mark of the Beast.  (Revelation 13:16-18).  Those who take the Mark of the Beast in order to buy and sell and to keep from starving will lose their very souls.   You do not want to go through the Tribulation !!  More information about this may be read here.

In the video above, Billy Crone focuses primarily on the Rapture and the reason for the Pre-Tribulation belief, which he explains thoroughly.   I like how he says that Jesus would not "beat up" His Bride (the Church) before He "married her" (in heaven) by causing her to suffer any part of the Tribulation.    

"For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,"                      -  1 Thessalonians 5:9

"Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him."        -  Romans 5:9

"For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry."  -  Hebrews 10:37

News Alert ! Aleppo Has Fallen - Damascus Will Be Next !

Just posted today by Amir Tsarfati, another update on Middle East affairs.  This is HUGE !!   Aleppo has fallen!  It is the largest city in Syria and it has fallen into the hands of the Syrian regime, the Russian military, and the Iranians.  Amir feels certain that Damascus will be the next to fall.  (Isaiah 17)    Please watch this short video report by Mr. Tsarfati, a Christian living in Israel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8RdUTGDoe8

Last week I posted another video with Amir about Damascus .  In that post I quoted the prophecy in Isaiah 17 which says that Damascus will be a heap of ruins....destroyed completely, in other words.  Isaiah 17 also informs us that it will be Israel who destroys Damascus.  I urge you to read that post.

These current events prove how relevant and true Bible prophecy is, and things are converging now like never before.....things pertaining to the end times.   We need to make sure we are right with the Lord as time is short...He will return soon !   Will you be ready?   Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior and your Lord and Master?   If not, you will be left behind when Jesus raptures His Bride, the Church, and then you will suffer horrendous atrocities and untold suffering during the seven-year tribulation that will follow.   Unless you turn to Jesus Christ, you will suffer eternity in hell.

Romans 10:9-10, 13 tells us, "(9) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  (13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Don't delay!  Repent of your sins; change your life to be a godly one; believe in Jesus with all of your heart, mind, and soul.   All you need to do is to confess your sins to God, ask for forgiveness, and truly repent and totally commit your life to the Lord.  As time goes on, as you read the Bible and pray continuously, you will see unfolding in your life a close,  personal, and intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ.   Our whole purpose in life is to bring honor and glory to the Lord !

"How To Acquire Wisdom" - Inspirational Weekend

Most of us, myself included, realize that we may not be the "sharpest knife in the drawer"....there are plenty of others who are geniuses while we are not. The online dictionary says that knowledge is "Acquaintance with facts, truths, or principals; as from study or investigation."  But wisdom can judge what is true and apply what knowledge we have to make decisions and choices.  "Wisdom is the right use of knowledge" says Dr. Charles Stanley.  The wisdom that we should be concerned about is not as the world sees things, but instead true godly wisdom should be our goal.  

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering: for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."  -  James 1:5-6

The King James Study Bible notes tells us "wisdom is not just acquired information but practical insight with spiritual implications."  We therefore need to pray for wisdom to guide us in our everyday life, and in the decisions we make.   I am reminded of ancient King Solomon who was the wisest man that ever lived.   When God spoke to Solomon at the beginning of his reign over the nation of Israel,  God simply said, "Ask what I shall give thee."  Solomon was young (around 20 years old) at the beginning of his kingship, He replied to the LORD, "Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?  And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing."  So God told him "Behold, I have done according to thy word: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee."  (Read 1 Kings 3:1-15).  

Solomon was also given riches and honor by God.  He did fine until he married foreign wives who worshiped false gods and they turned Solomon's wisdom into folly.  Think about it....he had 700 wives and 300 concubines....how foolish is that !  But his greatest folly was, when he was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods, "and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father."   ( 1 Kings 11:1-13)   If the wisest man who ever lived could fall away from Almighty God, let us be ever so cautious not to make the same mistake.  It may be that we worship the god of money, or materialism itself, or worship another person other than God.  Beware lest you fall!

"Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall"  -  1 Corinthians 10:12

Solomon, before his folly, wrote many Proverbs as well as Ecclesiastes and perhaps Song of Solomon as well.  Proverbs especially speaks much of wisdom, as the following verses show.

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding."

- Proverbs 9:10

"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom:  and with all thy getting get understanding."      - Proverbs 4:7

"He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good."

- Proverbs 19:8

It is evident that true wisdom comes from God.  "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy."  -  James 3:17.    By reading and meditating on God's Word we gain knowledge and as we put God's precepts into practice and also deep into our heart and soul, we acquire this wisdom from above.   We need to study, ponder, and follow God's Word  in order to know how to put God's Word into practice in everyday life.   To live godly and wisely.  If you truly have God's wisdom it will be evident by how you live.  

"Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge amongst you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom."   -  James 3:13

Following is an excellent sermon by Dr. Charles Stanley titled "Acquiring Wisdom".  He gives 7 ways  as to how we can acquire wisdom.

Dr. Stanley points out that the most important and wisest choice we can make is to to choose life and Jesus as our Savior, Lord and Master.  In other words, to determine where you will spend eternity.

"And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding."  -  Job 28:28

Have a blessed and Christ-centered weekend !

News Alert - Israel Attacks Damascus !

Following is a video update by Amir Tsarfati , a Jewish believer in Jesus Christ as the Messiah.  Amir is a Christian who has a thriving ministry and who lives in Israel.  Bible Prophecy is coming to pass right before our eyes, as Israel has just attacked Damascus.  ( Isaiah 17)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk7m6N2Tzwk

The Prophecy about Damascus being totally destroyed as shown in Isaiah 17 has not been completely fulfilled yet, however, as Damascus is not a total heap of ruins yet.   Let me quote part of Isaiah 17.

"The burden of Damascus.  Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap."  -  Isaiah 17:1

"In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel:  and there shall be desolation"  -  Isaiah 17:9

Verse 9 makes it clear that Damascus will be destroyed by Israel.

Speaking of Damascus,  verse 14 of Isaiah 17 tells us, "And behold at eveningtide trouble; and before the morning he is not.  This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us."

Verse 14 tells us that at the evening time, Damascus is standing, but before the morning will be destroyed.   This smacks of a nuclear bomb.

I have written about this prophecy before at this link .   A wonderful article from RaptureReady.com goes into more detail here

Israel is God's time clock.  Pay attention to events in the Middle East.  We are in the end times and we need to be looking up in expectation of Jesus' return.   Time is short.  Bible prophecy is being fulfilled daily now like never before as we head to the end of these end times.

Regarding signs of the end times, at Luke 21:28 Jesus said,  "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."

"Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."  -  Jesus at Luke 21:36

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"The Potter And The Clay; Have Thine Own Way, Lord" - Inspirational Weekend

For 3 or 4 days that hymn "Have Thine Own Way Lord" has been going through my mind often.  In the morning I listen to old hymns on You Tube before I begin my Bible reading and study every day, and that is one hymn I have listened to frequently.  Have you ever had a tune pop up in your mind and it won't let go?  I felt compelled to do a post here about letting God have His own way, as well as Bible verses about the Potter and the clay.   Let's begin with a 5 minute video (below) with quoted Scriptures while showing a potter molding and shaping a clay pot.  It is interesting and inspirational.

When I was a child, the artist/singer Jim Reeves was popular.  My mother, but especially my stepfather, liked Country Music which I had no choice but to listen to.   I grew to enjoy the songs by Jim Reeves.....there is something unique about his voice.   Following is his version of the hymn "Have Thine Own Way, Lord" ;

To let the Lord have His own way, we need to first know what His way - His Will - is for us individually as well as for the nations   Almighty God spoke to the prophet Jeremiah concerning the nation of Israel and likened Himself to a Potter, with Israel being the clay.  You might like to read Jeremiah 18 and 19 for some background.   

"The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, (2) Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.  (3) Then I went down to the potter's house, and behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.  (4) And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. (5) Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, (6) O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD.  Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel." - Jeremiah 18:1-6  

Jeremiah knew that not only did this refer to Israel, but to himself and to each individual as well....that we believers are going to be molded and shaped by our Heavenly Father, to conform to His will for us.  That means He wants us to be more Christ-like.  "For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn amongst many brethren."  -  Romans 8:29. "For even hereunto were ye called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps."  - 1 Peter 2:21  .   

"Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: For shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not?  Or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?"  -  Isaiah 29:15

Romans 9:20-21 tells us, "(20) Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God?  Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?  (21) Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?"

Who are we puny humans to defy God?  To purposely disobey Him by being stubborn and self-willed?  God is the Sovereign of the universe and He is in control, not us.   It all boils down to surrendering all to God/Jesus and putting His will first in our lives.  There is a previous post here about how to surrender all to God .  The main thing is to simply obey Him in all matters, putting God's will first as I stated previously.  We learn to know His will by prayer and by reading His Holy Word.  The Lord shapes us and molds us so that He may use us in His service.  That especially includes witnessing about Jesus to lost souls.        1 Timothy 2:4 tells us that God's will is to "have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."

God loves us just as we are right now, but because of His love He continuously molds and shapes us into "vessels of honor", so we can be filled with His Holy Spirit and live lives that bring Him glory and honor   This growth process is a continual, daily process of molding and changing us.  If we "mess up" take comfort in the knowledge that you are a child of God and He is disciplining you and forming you - patiently - into a godly and more Christ-like child.   

God will use other people to help mold you, and He will use His Word as well.  He is patient with you, and you need to realize His love in order to behave in a manner of gratitude, obedience,  reverence, and to love Him in return.    Surrender all to Jesus; be totally and wholeheartedly committed to Him and His will, and you will be blessed.

"One of the most arduous spiritual tasks is that of giving up control and allowing the Spirit of God to lead our lives."  -  Henri Nouwen

"We are either in the process of resisting God's truth, or in the process of being shaped and molded by His truth."  -  Charles Stanley