"Victory By Faith ! Be Strong! The Lord Watches Over You!" (With Videos) - Inspirational Weekend

 

   [Mom and baby monk seals at Waikiki]

My photograph above was taken back in August of 2017, when the above monk seals caused quite a stir at Waikiki beach by taking a rest there.  A rare occurance in Waikiki, to be sure.  

The mother seemed not to be alarmed by all of the people around and about; as if she had faith that no harm would come their way.

We true believers in the Savior Jesus Christ should have ultimate and unshakable faith in the good Lord: that no harm will come to us if we abide in His will and obey Him.  That is, unless it is His will that we should hurry on home to Him by natural death or death by harm from someone with evil intent; or also we could die by some type of accident.  We all know this; but what we don't know is when we will die.  That is in the good Lord's hands.  However, many believers believe that Jesus will return very soon to take true believers to be with Him in heaven -  at the Rapture of the Church.  That being the case, some of us will NOT die before being taken to heaven! Hallelujah !  (John 11:25, 26)

How to be strong and of great faith in the Lord is helped by knowing your weaknesses in your spirit and endeavoring to correct those flaws with the Lord's help.  Following is a wonderful 12 minute  Christian video which tells us warning signs that our spirit may be weak.

  The above video stresses that we pray and ask the good Lord to help us.   But pray with faith!

Sure, we Christians are NOT perfect.  We still make mistakes due to our inherited sin nature from Adam.  However, though we may sometimes sin (due to our imperfection -- or even from existing health issues, etc., (such as pain or stress and heartbreak and grief - all of which are usually  temporary occurrances; making us on edge and not always full of grace, perhaps); though we may sin and are not sinless,  we sin.. LESS.  Less than ungodly people of the world; and we true believers do NOT, as a rule, sin intentionally like worldly people do. 

Remember,  " .. the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins"  -  Psalm 7:9 b

That means, God understands the character of all people because He is intimately acquainted with all of their thoughts and purposes and feelings . Which is meant by the expression "the heart and the reins".  (So one Bible Commentary tells us.)  It  goes on to say, "The word 'heart' in the Scriptures is often used to denote the seat of the 'thoughts', and the word 'reins' seems to be used to denote the most secret feelings, purposes, and devices of the soul - as if lodged deep in our nature, or covered in the most hidden and concealed portions of the man.  (As if utterly concealed from the eye and so unknown to other people.)   But they are all known by God.   [since God knows all hearts of all people, He is able to judge aright].  .. And to determine correctly in regard to their character, or to administer His government on the principles of exact justice.  [...] (Therefore,)  God would confirm those who are truly righteous, and would bring the wickedness of the ungodly to an end."  - end of quote.

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."  -  1 John 5:4

"My defense is of God, which saveth the upright in heart."  -    Psalm 7:10

In the above Psalm, we can rest assured that if we are endeavoring to obey the Lord as best we can, and we are sincere and truthful, and love the good Lord, that He will save and protect us.

That is encouraging to know in this mixed up and dying world, which can be very cruel at times!

   Recently, (this past week) the good Lord impressed upon me to take a deep look into and to ponder the message in the hymn "I Surrender All."  It was written by a man who was an artist and who had other talents as well, who gave it all up to do the Lord's work.  He wrote more than 60 hymns, but his most famous was "I Surrender All."  His name was Judson Van DeVenter and he was born in 1855.  More information may be found here  about DeVenter and his famous hymn.

Following is my favorite version of "I Surrender All".   However, most of the versions do not contain all of the stanzas.

     The last stanza most often omitted in versions of this hymn is as follows:

"All to Jesus I surrender; Now I feel the sacred flame. -  Oh, the joy of full salvation! -  Glory, glory, to His name!"

Following are two quotes from Corrie ten Boom:

"You can never learn that Christ is all you need, until Christ is all you have."

"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."

And a quote by Frederick W. Faber:  "They always win who side with God."

    Speaking of the future, (as in Corrie ten Boom's quote above),  to true Christians their future is not unknown.  Oh, present earthly events are not always known, of course, but the ultimate and most important future of Christians is to be with the Lord forever in heaven, and of that hope believers are sure of, because the Bible confirms it!

Titus 2:13 and 14 tells us: "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."

And of particular comfort are the beautiful words of Jesus at John 14:1-4:  "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know."

  What wonderful words of encouragement and hope!  

Maranatha!

If Jesus were to return today, would you be Rapture ready?

Following are Scriptures that explain Salvation for any unbelievers reading this blog.

But remember, all it takes to be saved is repentance and -- Believe in Jesus as the Savior!

But you cannot understand anything well unless it is properly explained.  Ultimately, of course, the Holy Spirit will give your heart and mind and soul understanding!

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."  -  John 3:36

"Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."   -    Jude 21

"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

John 11:25,26 tells us : "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.  Believest thou this?"

"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 !

"Little children, let no man deceive you:  he that doeth righteousness is righteous; even as HE is righteous."    1 John 3:7

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is HE that is in you, than he that is in the world."    -  1 John 4:4

"I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."  -   Revelation 1:8

"Watch!" - Inspirational Weekend

"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

"Watch" and "pray always":  two great duties of man.  To have a close, personal, intimate, love relationship with God through His Son Jesus, we need to be diligent to prayer; to pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17).  Now in these latter days - the end times - we need to watch for the Lord's return with great expectation; to be ready for His imminent return; to be found worthy of heaven and thereby to be living a godly and faith filled life.  Although no one knows the day or the hour of His return, His Holy Word has given us the signs that are prevalent which point to His soon return.  Read Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 to learn of these signs of the last days.  

We are there !   Right in the last "hour" of the end times and therefore the time of Jesus' return must be very soon.   Only God the Father knows the exact time when our Savior will return.

"But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father."    -  Jesus at Mark 13:32.

Now is not the time to be asleep or concerned only with the immediate needs to survive..... to not be involved in materialism nor even to be caught up in the cares of this world and its desires.  The devil uses distractions to keep our focus on anything and everything but doing the Lord's will.   We need to be busy and occupied with the Lord's work of disciple-making; preaching and teaching the Gospel.

"Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober."  -   1 Thessalonians 5:6

I have written previously about the Rapture and end times.  For more information go to the "Search box" at the top right hand side of this page and type in "Rapture" or "Tribulation" or "last days" (etc.) and several posts will appear for you to choose which ones that interest you to read.

Following is a 29 minute video from prophecywatchers.com  featuring host Gary Stearman with guest Dr. David Reagan, who is a prophecy expert.   

In this video, they stress the soon return of Jesus.   The Rapture has always been imminent; that is, it could happen at any time.  But now with signs of the end times all converging at once, it must occur very soon.   Be ready !

In light of Bible prophecy and current world events, it makes Dr. Reagan say, "It is like the Lord is shouting from Heaven, 'Jesus is returning soon.' "

One thing of interest is what Dr. Reagan brings to light in the above video.   He said that in the 1800's about 100 people a day were coming to Jesus; in the 1900's about 1000 people a day came to Jesus;  and today, almost 200,000 are coming to Christ in a day.

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

It is to this future hope that we must look.  Speaking from Heaven's point of view, there is not long to go before  Jesus returns for His Bride, the church, true believers.

Yes, believers have a blessed hope. (Titus 2:13)  We will have an eternity to spend with the good Lord.   In heaven, there will be no more death or sorrow or pain.

"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."    -  Revelation 21:4

Those of you who have not yet accepted Jesus as your Savior have no such blessed hope.  There should be a dread come upon you when you contemplate an eternity in darkness and torments.  Why not be wise and surrender your life to the good Lord in faith and believe that Jesus is the Savior.  Only He can fill that void within your soul.  He will give you a purpose and a hope.  It is so much better than the alternative.

But we are not talking about "head knowledge" of Jesus.  We are talking about believing with your whole heart and all of your very being that He is the Savior and that only faith and belief in Him enables Him to wash your sins away.  Turn to the Lord in prayer and ask for forgiveness.  Sincerely repent of all sins and do not go back again to a worldly, lustful, and sinful life.  Believe also in Christ's resurrection.

Romans 10:9,10, and 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 loves you and is waiting to welcome you to the family of God.  He will forgive you and wipe the slate clean.

If you are truly born again (John 3:3), you will surrender your life and will to the Lord and show your love by your obedience to His commandments. 

Find a true, Holy Spirit filled church that puts Jesus first.  Pray without ceasing and read your Bible daily.  You will then begin to grow to maturity and be pleasing to the Lord.   But keep in mind, it is not works that save you.   It is sincere belief and faith in Jesus that saves you......it is God's gift; it is His grace.

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


Keep watching !

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

"Don't Fret; Be Happy" (With Videos) - Inspirational Weekend

The above horses on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, look contented and happy.  It made me feel good and downright happy to photograph them the day I was there.  

Some have said that happiness is temporary and fleeting while true joy is from the Lord and is forever.   The truth is, both joy and happiness are very similar in meaning and the Bible gives no such distinction between the two words, as well as the similar word rejoice.   It depends on which translation you have, but the Bible uses the words happy and happiness about 30 times;  but joy and rejoice are found in God's word over 300 times.

As I was thinking about writing on happiness for this weekend, that old song "Don't Worry, Be Happy" popped into my mind and I can't seem to shake it.  You can find the full version of the song on You Tube, but here is a fun version which is a short one minute cartoon-type clip of it:

"If you hope for happiness in the world, hope for it from God, and not from the world."  -  David Brainerd  

"Success is getting what you want.  Happiness wants what you get."   -  Woodrow Kroll

"Happy the soul that has been awed by a view of God's majesty."   -  A. W. Pink

We all know that true happiness does not come from worldly pleasures and selfish ambition and selfish lifestyles that are also full of the ungodly world's poisons.  Those things do not fill the void in our hearts that only the good Lord Himself can fill, Who can thereby give you true joy and a purpose for living.  And, I might add, a wonderful hope for an eternity in bliss and joyfulness.

Having such a hope for an eternity with the Lord is plenty of reason to be happy right now in this imperfect world we live in.  When you are a born again believer, you are sealed and filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30), which enables you to obey and follow Jesus and to build a strong relationship with God.   You will be happy when you read and study His Holy Word and when you spend much time in prayer, building a strong relationship with the heavenly Father through Jesus Christ His Son.   You will, in time, grow to spiritual maturity and be even more effective in your walk with Him and in service to others; in particular, to obey the Great Commission found at Matthew 28:19, 20.  All of that will make you happy because you know you will be pleasing God.   It will put a song in your heart, and make your worship more intense and more personal; more devoted and more reverent.  

"I sing because I'm happy" is a repeated phrase in the hymn "His Eye is on the Sparrow" which follows:

In the above song, the lyrics also say that because God takes note of the sparrow, we know He watches over His children as well.  That is enough to make anyone happy and grateful, to know the Lord is watching over us and taking care of us and guiding and teaching and protecting us.

"I believe that the happiest of all Christians and the truest of Christians are those who never dare to doubt God, but take His Word simply as it stands, and believe it, and ask no questions, just feeling assured that if God has said it, it will be so."   -    Charles Spurgeon   

Happiness can be found in admiring the Creator's handiwork on this beautiful earth; it can also be found in simple pleasures and in the love of family and friends.  But true happiness comes from the Holy Spirit of God, which enables you to obey and serve the Lord with joy and with much gratefulness. 

Our salvation itself is a source of joy !  

"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."  -  Psalm 16:11

"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."    -  Romans 15:13

"And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost."   -  1 Thessalonians 1:6

The Scripture above reminds us that we may have afflictions and hardships, but we can still hold on to our joy with the help of the Holy Spirit.   We realize that trials and sickness and the like are but temporary, and soon we will be with the Lord forever and He will wipe away all of our tears and there will be no more crying or death or sorrow.  (Revelation 21:4).

Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22).

Joy is a gift from God.  

So be happy !!

God's people will be happy forever !

If you are not a believer, not born again, not sealed with the Holy Spirit, then you cannot experience true happiness and the joy of serving the Lord.  You will not know His love and forgiveness and His guidance and the hope He gives to all who turn to Him in repentance.

Stop and think !  By not turning to the Lord you are making a choice.....a choice to spend eternity in the wrong place - hell.   

Time is short!

Jesus will return soon to take all true believers to be with Him forever !   Wouldn't you rather be in heaven where there is no more pain, no more violence, no more evil, no more deceivers?

All you need to do is pray and ask for forgiveness, believe in Jesus as the Savior, believe in His resurrection, and believe that His shed blood on the cross can wash your sins away and wipe the slate clean......you are forgiven if you turn to Him in true repentance and belief. 

Jesus loves you and will welcome you with understanding and pardon.

He is waiting to hear from you.

Don't delay!


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."

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



I pray that you have a happy weekend.... and a happy Christ centered life.

"A Crown Awaits You" - Inspirational Weekend

The above Hawaiian Black-Crowned Night Heron has expensive tastes !  He is fishing for koi, but the one he is eyeing in my photograph is longer than he is and more than he could handle.  He is looking to obtain a prize....edible smaller koi.

True believers should be trying to gain a prize... a crown, no less.  My intention was to write only about the crown of righteousness, as that is the one the Bible says is reserved for those who love the Lord and wait for His soon return.  However, in my research I discovered there are five crowns for believers that are mentioned in God's Holy Word.  Since Jesus will return at any moment during these present last days, I will concentrate on the crown of righteousness primarily but will also discuss the other crowns briefly.

1 Timothy 4:7-8 tells us  (7) "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  (8)  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing."

Notice that the apostle Paul said he had fought a good fight and had kept the faith.   If you claim to be a Christian but still live like the world and are friends of the world and sin like the world and with possibly no remorse or no repentance, then you may not even make it to heaven to receive any crown.  You are probably not born again.   A true believer will want to be holy and will live a godly life, endeavoring to obey and please the Lord in his actions, speech, mind, and heart.

Back to the crown of righteousness.  The apostle Paul spent his life, after his miraculous conversion, in preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and traveling extensively to spread the Word.  He suffered much persecution, beatings, one stoning, and several times he was imprisoned.   Yet his faith and obedience to the Lord remained strong and zealous.   He struggled hard to win "the prize", the crown of righteousness.   May true believers today be able to follow Paul's example.  Ultimately, however, it is Jesus we should imitate and follow.

We are to believe in Jesus' soon return -  and truly desire His return.  But, even if there were no crown, no reward, just being in heaven with Him for all eternity is reward enough in itself.    

         

"Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.  Even so, Amen."  -  Revelation 1:7

"He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly.  Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus."   --  Revelation 22:20

Jesus at John 14:2-3 informs us,  (2) In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you.  (3)  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself: that where I am, there ye may be also."

Besides the crown of righteousness, there are 4 other crowns that believers will be rewarded with:

(1)  The crown of rejoicing:  

1 Thessalonians 2:19 says,  "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing?  Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?"

"Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice."    -  Philippians 4:4

(2)  The crown of glory:

"And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."  -  1 Peter 5:4

This crown is primarily for pastors and elders.

(3)  The crown of life:

Revelation 2:10 tells us,  "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer:  behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried;  and ye shall have the tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."   

Although this crown is for all believers, it is especially applicable to to those who endure persecutions and sufferings for Jesus.

(4) The imperishable crown:

1 Corinthians 9:24-25 tells us,  (24)  "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize?  So run, that ye may obtain.  (25)  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.  Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible."

Faithful endurance wins a heavenly reward:  "an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you."  -    1 Peter 1:4

According to which website or source you encounter, some believe these crowns are figurative, and some believe they are literal.  The point is, we should live for the Lord, totally surrendered to Him, and love Him with all of our strength, mind, heart and soul  (Mark 12:30).  If you do that you will obey His commandments and live a life that is pleasing to Him, whereby you may eventually enter heaven.  Of course, first you must be born again in order to obey God and to endeavor to live a life that befits a true believer. You must believe in Jesus as the Savior whose shed blood at Calvary washes away your sins; you must repent in all sincerity of your sins and pray to the Lord for forgiveness, and believe in Jesus' resurrection.   Then you will be forgiven by the Lord, and you will be a child of God !  Remember, He loves you and wants to lead you home to be with Him.

Romans 10:9,10,13 says :  (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."   

 Whether or not the crowns in heaven are figurative or literal, real crowns,  we should so love and serve the Lord that we only want to live forever in heaven with Him, crowns or no crowns.  What a blissful eternity it will be, to be with Jesus forever !


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


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