"Godliness And How To Achieve It" - Inspirational Weekend

"Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness."  -   2 Peter 3:11

We all have a good idea what exactly "godliness" means, and so do I, but I looked it up anyway in the online Webster's dictionary 1828. This version of Websters is best for looking up words of a spiritual nature and I highly recommend that you use it for such.   This 1828 version defines "godliness" as "a religious life; a careful observance of the laws of God and performance of religious duties, proceeding from love and reverence for the divine character and

commands;  Christian obedience."

My version : belief in God and His Son and endeavoring to live a godly life by being more like Christ. It also involves being obedient to the good Lord and living a surrendered life to His will.  

We all realize what godliness means, but sometimes we find it difficult to always live godly.  Our "flesh" gets in the way more often than not.  Being godly does not mean you are perfect; none of us will reach perfection until we are in heaven.  You can live a life of godliness by putting the good Lord first in your life and endeavoring to please Him in your thoughts, words, actions, and in your heartfelt love for Him.

"But thou, O man of God, flee from these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness."   -  1 Timothy 6:11

At 1 Timothy 2:2, after saying to pray and make intercession for all men, it goes on to tell us "For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."

To lead a godly life requires a deep reverence for God.  You cannot have a deep reverence for Him if you never pray to Him and never get acquainted with His holiness and attributes by reading the Bible daily.  In order to KNOW God, you obviously need to communicate with Him frequently.  I am not referring to head knowledge of Jesus/God.  I am referring to a deep, close, intimate, personal and loving relationship with Him.  Pray constantly; spend much time with the good Lord.  If you do that, you will begin to grow spiritually and will be able to lead a life of godliness.  

"For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come."    -  1 Timothy 4:8

Many of you Christians reading this are very familiar with the above Scriptures.  However, we all need to be reminded now and again of basic truths to help us stay on the right path.

It is so easy to get caught up in the day to day affairs of life that we neglect spiritual things if we are not careful.   Some start to pursue gaining riches as their primary goal.  Look at the super-rich, megachurch pastors with their jet planes, for instance.  It is not sinful to be rich; it all depends on your priorities.   Put God and Jesus first.

"But godliness with contentment is great gain."  -   1 Timothy 6:6

It is difficult to be godly and content if you are always in pursuit of more, more, more and put gaining riches above all things spiritual.

An excellent sermon on living a godly life is by Dr. Charles Stanley, and  may be found on You Tube by typing in: 'The Seven Habits of a Godly Life - Dr. Charles Stanley."  It is only 27 minutes in length and is a very encouraging discourse.    (In the past, without  my knowing any better, every link to every sermon of Dr. Stanley that I shared here on this blog was deleted by the powers that be.)

Learn to be content in whatever circumstances you find yourself.  Contentment is one of the secrets of being happy.   But to be truly happy you need Jesus.  He is all you really need.  If you put Him first, everything else will fall into place.

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."  -  Jesus at Matthew 6:33

The time is short! 

We are now living in the last moments of the last days!

Jesus will return soon to Rapture true believers to heaven to be with Him!

Are you rapture ready?

To be ready for Jesus' return, you need to put your faith and trust in Him and believe that He is the Savior and believe in His resurrection.   

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."

"Jesus saith unto him,  I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me."  -  John 14:6

"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

Jesus loves you!

He will welcome you with arms wide open and full of love and forgiveness.   

Turn to Him in faith today.  He will teach you all about godliness.

Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend....... and life!

The Middle East Crisis, Current Events And What The Future Holds (Amir Tsarfati Latest Update Video)

This will be a shorter post than usual, and I will let the two videos here speak for themselves.   They are recent videos on You Tube and concern the world's current events (particularly Israel and the Middle East) and also how Bible prophecy is being fulfilled now, and some things which are precursors to prophecy being fulfilled.

If you frequent this blog, you are familiar with Messianic Jew Amir Tsarfati and his world-wide ministry and his weekly updates on current events in which he also explains Bible prophecy.   Following is his latest update :

Please watch the entire video as it is one of Amir's best.  It is only 43 minutes in length and you will learn so much from him.

The next 29 minute video is from prophecywatchers.com  with host Gary Stearman interviewing Avi Lipkin, who lives in Israel and who is an expert on Middle East events:

Both of these informative videos speak of recent events in the Middle East.  They are just a reminder that we are living in the last moments of the last days;  we are in the end times in which the Rapture of the Church (Christ's Bride) will occur shortly and following that the 7 year tribulation period.   

True believers will not be here for the Tribulation;  they would have already prior to the Trib. been caught up to heaven in the Rapture.

Are you a true believer in the Savior Jesus Christ?  If you are you will be ready for Jesus' soon return.  

For the signs of the end times, read Matthew 24, Luke 21, and Mark 13.   When you see these things:

".....then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."                   -   Jesus at Luke 21:28

"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and  Saviour Jesus Christ;" -  Titus 2:13

Jesus loves you !

Will you surrender your life to Him in faith and give Him your all?

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."

"The God Of Miracles" - Inspirational Weekend

The Bible contains many examples of the miracles of God, in the Old Testament as well as in the New Testament.  These miracles amaze us and sometimes we wonder why we do not see evidences of God's miracles today like there were back in Biblical times.   

Could be you are not looking with the wonderment of a child at all of the beauty and order of Creation;  the instinct of the birds and the industrious ant which stores its food (Proverbs 30:25 and Proverbs 6:6-8).    All of this and more should wake us up to the amazing God we serve, and to His great love and mercy toward mankind.

Following is a beautiful song that praises God for His miracles, and tells us that to even be alive and living is a miracle:

One miracle was the Savior who bore our sins, who took our place on the cross and paid our sin debt in full when he died in our place at calvary and made salvation possible for all who would put their faith in Him and believe in His resurrection.

Not to mention How Jesus always existed in heaven before the miracle of the virgin birth.   How He was God and became a man out of His great love to redeem mankind.  

Another miracle is the time the sun stood still at Joshua's command to enable him to fight a victorious battle with an enemy.  (Joshua 10:12-14).

The Resurrection of Jesus was another miracle (Luke 24:1-7).  And Jesus and His disciples raised others back to life, as well as did the prophets in the Old Testament.  

There were miracles over nature, such as the parting of the Red Sea. (Exodus 14). 

There are many, many more miracles shared in the Bible that can truly make us to be in awe of our Creator when we dwell on His care for us, and for which we can be grateful for His provisions and for the Savior, Jesus Christ.  What I want to share now is the good Lord's miracles of healing.  

I recently had been diagnosed with a serious health issue and needed an operation.  Right before surgery I underwent a physical exam to insure that I was healthy enough to go through with the operation.  I failed the EKG and the surgery was postponed until I underwent a "stress test" for my heart.  In the meantime, one more image was taken of the affected area of my body.  Also, for some time my pastor and my church family had been praying for my health, and for a healing.   When the results came in from the latest image, there was no abnormality, nothing at all showed up on the image !!   God had healed me !   No surgery for me, as the Great Physician had done all the work -  the miracle.  Praise the Lord!  All the glory belongs to Him.

I praise and give glory to God for His tender mercies.   I am grateful to my pastor for his prayers, and grateful to the caring and loving church family who had also been praying for me. 

Yes, God/Jesus are still causing miracles to happen in our day and age.   One of the greatest miracles is the gift of salvation to rebellious sinners.  The good Lord does this miracle everyday, by granting forgiveness to a repentant sinner and by granting him life and sealing him as a child of God.  Praise the Lord !

Often I tell you friends of how close we are to the return of Jesus and the Rapture of the church.....the true believers in Jesus Christ, the Savior.  When He comes to take us to heaven, will you be ready?  You will be if you have been born again and surrendered your life and your will to the good Lord !  We have a blessed hope!

"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ."  -  Titus 2:13

What if you are not saved?  Then the blessed hope does not apply to you and you will spend all of eternity in hell.

But it is not too late for you to repent and to turn to Jesus in faith!

Admit you are a sinner and in need of a Savior.

Believe in Jesus and in His redemptive work at Calvary.  Believe also in His resurrection.

Call on the name of the Lord....commit your life to Jesus and confess your sins.

You are then a child of God!All this must come from your heart and not be a mere intellectual acknowledgement of Jesus as the Savior.  If you are born again and have true faith in Christ, you are a new creation....a brand new person and sealed with the Holy Spirit. 

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are past away; behold, all things are become new."    -     2 Corinthians 5:17

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."

Let us praise God every day for His many miracles.   Let us come to Him in a spirit of love and gratitude for all He has done for us.  I constantly thank Him for the recent healing in my body, and for all of His many blessings . 

Following is a hymn that I listen to every morning and which many of you are familiar with.  It is a praise for how great God is.

Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend..... and life !

"Once Again - Forget The Past" - Inspirational Weekend

[Orange Blossoms of the Cassia Tree)

While doing my Bible study this past Wednesday, I concentrated on Philippians 3:13 where the apostle Paul tells us:

"Brethren,  I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before."

I was inspired to write this weekend's post using that verse as my focus.  However, I realized that way back in 2016, I had covered that verse extensively in a post that year.  Following is that article:

Please, I urge you to read the article at the above link.   Don't let past hurts and sorrows eat you up with morbid remorse and regrets.  Look to the good Lord to give you light and hope and a reason for living.   Don't forget our blessed hope as spoken of in Titus 2:13 which follows:

"Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ."

Hang in there, folks !

Our deliverance is near!

Jesus will return soon to take us out of this wicked and perverse world and bring us to be with Him forever in bliss in Paradise.

"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."    -  Jesus at Luke 21:28

Read Revelation 21:1-4 where it speaks of the New Jerusalem and how God will be with us.  Following is Revelation 21:4 :

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

We have much to look forward to !  We have a hope and a future!

Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend .....   and life !!

The Rapture - Is It Still A Mystery To You? (With Two Videos - One on the Rapture and the other on the future of America)

There must be a reason why I focus on the Rapture of the Church so often.   For one thing, it is a blessed hope and assurance for true believers in the Savior Jesus Christ.  (Titus 2:13).  For another reason, the Rapture is imminent, which means it could happen at any time.  We do not know the day or the hour, but Jesus gave us signs for us to know when we are in the "season" of His return.  Read Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 for these signs.  We are definitely in the season of the Lord's return right now because so many signs of it are converging all at once now in this last "hour" of the end times we find ourselves living in.

Why am I posting another video on the Rapture ?  This video stands out because so many facts are presented in it -- in one video - that have been discussed by various scholars in a variety of sources.   This video by prophecywatchers.com  with host Gary Stearman interviewing Dr. David Reagan is jam packed with lots of nuggets to digest concerning the history of the Rapture view in centuries past and so much more.  Lots of information in this 29 minute video will keep your interest.

In the description area of this video on You Tube, it says:  "The Apostle Paul described the Rapture as a mystery.  Today, almost 2,000 years later, it is still a mystery to many Christians."

One thing brought out in the above video is the thought that satan does not want us to have hope.  To not believe in the Rapture is to have no hope.

They also discuss the fact that the word Rapture is in the Bible.  In Greek it is Harpazo and in the Latin Vulgate Bible it is Rapio,  or Rapturo, where we get the English "Rapture".   This is brought out in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 where the English words "Caught up" occur.

I have written about how the word Rapture is in the Bible on other occasions.  One article was written on October 10, 2017, which includes another video by prophecywatchers.com featuring Jeff Kinley.  It discusses the future of America and is well worth your time to watch as it is only 29 minutes long.  

https://inspiringnaturephotography.blogspot.com/2017/10/is-there-future-for-america-bible.html

Now the question is, are you Rapture ready?

You are if you are a born again true believer in the Savior Jesus Christ!

What if you are not saved?  You have no blessed hope.  You will face God's wrath.  

What to do then?  

Admit you are a sinner and in need of a Savior.

Believe in Jesus Christ and in the redemption He provided by His shed blood on the Cross.  He was our substitute.  He bore our sins so that if we but believe on Him, we may gain eternal life.

Call on the name of the Lord.  Commit your life to Him.  Confess your sins in true repentance. 

Jesus will welcome you to the family of God with wide open arms of love and forgiveness !

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."

The good Lord has made it simple for us to be saved.  A child can understand it.   But man makes it complicated by not wanting to give up secret and "favorite" sins.   Man can get quite comfortable and set in his ways and not want to give up whatever vices he may be guilty of.

Friends, just surrender to the good Lord with all of your heart and trust Him to help you to change through the power of the Holy Spirit.  If your heart is right, He will mold you into a new Creation.

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are past away; behold, all things are become new."           -  2 Corinthians 5:17  

Time is short.  

We are living in the last moments of the end times.

Don't delay!

Maranatha!

"Remember Who Holds Tomorrow" (With Sermon by Charles R. Swindoll) - Inspirational Weekend

[Dinard Blue Heaven Orchid]

I had originally meant to do research on another subject, but for some reason I have been listening over and over to a certain hymn these last few days.  Every morning at the beginning of my Bible study, I always listen to several hymns on You Tube before I read and study and journal on a Bible Scripture or two.  Following is a beautiful rendition of that hymn:  "I know who holds tomorrow";  please listen carefully to the lyrics -  there is a powerful message there.

In this chaotic and upset world we are living in..... in the trials and hardships and worries and sorrows..... in the dread of what the future holds or might hold (like perhaps a nuclear world war) ;  we need to look to the One Who holds tomorrow.... to the only One Who can help us and save us.   

We need Jesus.  Those of us who are saved and washed white as snow in the Lamb's shed blood at Calvary,  the true Shepherd Who guides us and cherishes us,   ....  We have nothing to fear if we are born again believers.  We have a blessed hope (Titus 2:13), and that is that soon Jesus will return to take us to Heaven to be with Him, before the wrath of God is poured out on the earth and on ungodly men during the 7 year Tribulation period.  

I have written much about the Tribulation in previous articles.  For more information, go to the "Search box" in the upper right hand side of this page and type in "Tribulation" and several articles will appear that you may chose from to read.  There are also videos on those links.  Also, do the same with the word "Rapture" for more information on that subject...... a sure return of the Lord Jesus Christ which is very imminent. It will happen soon, according to the way Bible prophecy is being fulfilled , or the precursors are here leading up to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. 

If the Rapture happened today, would you be ready?

The only way to be ready is to be a born again believer in the Savior, Jesus Christ.  

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."

Not only are we living in the last moments of the end times, but none of us know the day we might die.  Other than the promises and prophecies of the Bible, we do not know what tomorrow might bring so far as our living or dying is concerned.  That is, we do not know the timing of our death; but if we are true believers in the saving power of Jesus Christ, we know we will go to be with the good Lord the moment we die.  

"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."  -  2 Corinthians 5:8

"Every day you are alive is a special occasion."  -  Charles Swindoll

Celebrate life!

Live life to the full!

Live to obey Yahweh !

Share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with lost souls !

Following is a 38 minute sermon by Charles R. Swindoll titled: "You Do Not Know What Tomorrow  Will Bring."  It is a sobering sermon and makes us realize what truly matters in this life.

In the above sermon, Swindoll tells us to "Respect our Lord's will, as this will guard you from pride."   Pride is a sin that God hates!

Charles Swindoll also mentions what James 4:13-14 has to say about making plans for tomorrow:

(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."

As one commentator says, "Our lives....are not substantial.  .... they are like an early morning mist that soon clears away.  (Hosea 13:3).  For life is brief,, and in the midst of life we are in death.  ...... It is in this light that [people] should determine what they (or rather, God) consider to be important.  And if they truly recognize that their lives might disintegrate like a puff of smoke

at any moment, they will undoubtedly put more consideration into looking at the things that are unseen, and building up treasure in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). "

"While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."                              2 Corinthians 4:18

[Hong Kong Orchid Tree Blossoms]

Wake up!  Jesus could return at any moment.  Nothing needs to be fulfilled from the Bible for His return.  We are living in the last days, friends.  

The apostle Peter tells us at 2 Peter 3:11, concerning the end times, "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness."  

Do the following if you are not saved:

Turn to the good Lord now in faith and repentance and acknowledge that you are a sinner in need of a Savior.

Believe that Jesus is the Savior and the only way of salvation and surrender your life to Him. 

Call on the Lord in faith and confess your sins and commit your life to Him.

"Jesus saith unto him,  I am the way, the truth, and the life:  no man cometh unto the Father but by Me."  -   John 14:6

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."   -  John 3:3

"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

Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend .... and life !!