"The Gift Of God" - Inspirational Weekend

God gives us many gifts, such as the gift of hospitality, the gift of empathy, the gift of service to others, and to some the gift of being effective pastors.   But those gifts and many others, as important as they are, are not the "gift of God" meant here.  You mature Christians already know where I am going with this article.

"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

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  -  Romans 6:23

Eternal Life !   

That is God's gift to us !  Like any gift, it is free.  All we have to do is accept it with gratitude.  We do this by believing that Jesus is the Savior and that by putting our faith in Him we may have everlasting life, and all of eternity with Him.  

Even in this life we may have foretastes of the gift of God to be enjoyed, such as peace with God and a quiet trustfulness as to the future, and many other joys as well.  There is much comfort in knowing the good Lord is always near !

"Forget not the channel through whom it flows; it is a gift to thee, because thy Lord paid it all."           -  A.G. Brown

Jesus took our place on the cross and suffered a terrible and painful death so that He paid our sin debt in full.  He was our Redeemer and He did it all out of such a great love for us -  a love so strong and true that we cannot begin to comprehend the depths of it.

When you think about it, eternal life actually begins the moment you surrender your life to Jesus; the moment of conversion, when the soul passes from death to life.  He that hath the Son hath Life. You have freedom from condemnation (Romans 8:1), communion with God, and you begin to grow into the likeness of Christ.  There is no longer any fear of death.

Jesus told His disciples (and by extension, us as well) that He was going to prepare a place in heaven for all true followers.  This is found at John 14:1-3, which follows:

(1) "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me.  (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."

With such a wonderful hope - eternity forever with the Lord - how can some people shrug their shoulders in complete unconcern and indifference and go their "merry" way instead, sinning all the way to hell?

And what is equally disturbing, how can professing Christians go the way of the world and still be putting the good Lord first in their lives?  They can't.  Some so-called believers go to bars with worldly people; they talk and act and dress worldly and try to blend in as much as possible with the world.  How does Christ, who bled and died for them, feel when He sees their rebellion?

James speaks of spiritual adultery when he says at James 4:4 :

"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?  whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."

And then there are the verses at 1 John 2:15-17 that tell us: (15) "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  (16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  (17) And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."

If you find yourself guilty of being worldly and sinful, think of how it must make Jesus and the Heavenly Father feel after all their love for you has done; after Jesus dying a cruel death to save you if you would but believe in Him.   And then you go and become His enemy by friendship with the world?  That is not showing gratitude for His great sacrifice and His love for you.

Let us be mindful that new converts to Christianity do, for the most part, still exhibit carnal ways and worldliness.  They are "babes in Christ" who, in time, will mature and leave their worldly ways behind them and become more Christlike.  We need to be patient with them until they develop a close, intimate, personal, love relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

"And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ."  -  1 Corinthians 3:1

Let us examine ourselves and determine to put the good Lord first in our lives.  He loves us with a love we cannot even begin to fathom; it surpasses anything we can imagine.  

Remember what it says at Ephesians 2:8?   "For by GRACE are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."

To obtain grace, you need to be humble.

"........  {He} giveth grace to the humble."  -  James 4:6 b

It takes humility to confess your sins and to realize that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. 

It takes humility to say, "Not my will, Lord, but thine."

It takes a humble person to surrender all to the good Lord.

After the Lord "woke me up" to be more spiritually minded, every time I heard or sang the hymn "Amazing Grace" I was brought to tears.   I was so grateful to Him for saving me and bringing me out of the darkness and into His life-giving Light.

Following is one of the most beautiful renditions I have ever heard of that wonderful hymn:

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

"Be Ready! Is Isaiah 17 Prophecy About To Be Fulfilled?" (Amir Tsarfati Latest Middle East Update Video) - Inspirational Weekend

[Kailua Beach, Oahu, Hawaii]

Here is another update on Middle East events published May 17, 2019, by one of the most informed evangelists out there, Amir Tsarfati, who is a Jew who believes in Jesus and who has a thriving ministry that takes him all over the world where he preaches the Gospel as well as Bible prophecy.   I find him a most reliable source with inside information that is right on the mark.  The video is 54 minutes in length, and with Amir is Pastor Barry Stagner.

Please take the time to watch the entire video as it is so relevant today.  He tells us about the recent strikes by Israel on targets near and around Damascus, Syria.  Amir says, "Nothing that happens today should surprise any Bible believing Christian" and that all the instability we see now in the Middle East is to be expected according to Bible prophecy.

Pastor Barry Stagner, in this video, mentions that "there is a definite religious aspect to the strife in the Middle East" right now.

They also mention Europe, North Korea, and President Trump, and much more.  

The fact that there are many targets being hit around Damascus recently quickly brings to mind the prophecy at Isaiah 17:1 which reads:

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

It is highly possible that the above verse could come true very soon!!  And if so, some pastors believe that the War of Gog and Magog will happen soon as well, as spoken of in Ezekiel 38 and 39.

As if the Isaiah 17 prophecy happening is the precursor to the War of Gog and Magog.   All of the nations mentioned as coming against Israel are already in place now in Syria or nearby. 

I have written here previously about Isaiah 17:  go here. 

A more detailed study of the Gog of Magog War  is to be found here

So very many signs of the end times are literally shouting out loud, so to speak, that we need to take heed and make sure we are ready to meet Jesus when He soon returns for His Bride, the Church, true believers.   His return is ever so imminent, with so many prophecies coming true now... or precursors to the prophecies happening now.

All one has to do is to believe in the Savior, Jesus Christ.  Not a mere head knowledge, but a deep heart-felt love and sincere belief and faith in His power to redeem you and to wash you white as snow in His shed blood at the Cross.

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

Believe that Jesus is the only one who can save you and put you on the path to heaven.  (John 14:6)

Call on His Name ; Commit your life to Him.  Confess your sins.

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 moment you believe and have faith in Jesus, you are saved forever.  In the past I have written about joining a church, getting baptized, and witnessing to others; and all that is well and good and we should do those things, but they don't save you.  Works do not save you, but belief in the Savior will.

"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

However, if you are truly saved, truly born again, the Holy Spirit will work in you to witness to others about Jesus, to help others in trouble, to attend church and fellowship with other believers.  It is a process over time, this sanctification.  To sanctify means to make holy or to set apart as sacred; to cleanse and purify.  All of this takes time and as you grow closer to the good Lord by prayer and constant Bible reading, you will begin to display the fruit of the Spirit.  Everyone matures at a different pace.   Just communicate with the Lord frequently and you will "grow".  But you are saved the moment you believe in the resurrected Jesus!  Even without having done any "works".   Remember the thief on the cross: he believed in Jesus by faith and Jesus told him that he would be with him in paradise.   The thief did no good works before he died; he simply had saving faith in the Savior.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance..... "    -   Galatians 5:22-23

"If you are not interested in the fruits of sin, stay out of the devil's orchard."  -  unknown

"Is it possible to be so active in the service of Christ as to forget to love Him?  Many a man preaches Christ but gets in front of Him by the multiplicity of his own works......Christ can do without your works; what He wants is you.  Yet if He really has you, he will have all your works."  -   P.T. Forsyth

"Man was made for the highest and most elevated enjoyment - the enjoyment of the presence of God and the admiration of His infinite perfections.  And when he loses this power to appreciate, admire, and love his God, he sinks from his high calling - to a level with the brute."   - Charles H. Spurgeon

"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me; and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him."  -    Jesus at John 14:21

"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

Keep looking up !!

Keep watching !!

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

"Your Life Guard Walks On Water!" - Inspirational Weekend

The lifeguard boat above is my photograph of Waimea Bay on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii.  The boat is positioned right below the lifeguard station.  Notice the upside-down "RESCUE" sign on the surfboard in the background.  This boat rather reminds me of how the apostle Peter got out of the boat he was in and attempted to walk on the water towards Jesus (Matthew 14:22-32).  He actually did walk on the water while he kept his eyes on Jesus, but when he took his gaze off of the Savior, he realized how strong the wind was and the waves around him, and he became afraid, and cried to the Lord to save him as he began to sink.

"And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"     -  Matthew 14:31

Jesus' rescue of Peter was sure and true; yet He reprimanded Peter for his little faith.   Remember, "without faith it is impossible to please God"   ( as found at Hebrews 11:6) .  Let us not be too hard on Peter, however, because he alone of all the disciples had the faith to begin to walk on the water towards Jesus.   He is like many of us today;  lots of good intentions but with no true depth of faith.   I firmly believe that those of us believers who have suffered many trials and heartaches grow stronger as we rely upon the good Lord; all the problems and defeats and struggles tend to make us grow stronger, if we keep our eyes upon Jesus and rely on His help and strength.

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."    -  Philippians 4:13

"By trials God is shaping us for Higher things."   -  Jeremy Taylor

Someone has said:  "When you feel you are drowning in life's situations, don't worry!  Your Life Guard walks on water!"

"The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us."       -  C.S. Lewis 

I used to just stumble through life; existing with no real goals nor thinking of the future in any great depth.  I was, for the most part, only thinking of the present and what I wanted and - when I was really suffering in much lack as well as in trials -  I was just relying on myself to get through the day, so to speak.  That was before I came to know the good Lord; before He "renewed my mind." (Romans 12:2)

 Salvation itself is a miracle from God.  When all material things were taken from me, and I felt as if I had no one, I began praying in earnest to God and I also began to read the Bible in earnest.  The good Lord began to renew my mind, and I eventually put Him first.......so I thought.  At first, I still  identified myself as an artist; my passion for painting consumed me.  In my mind I was always an artist, instead of identifying myself as a follower of Jesus.   Eventually, I realized I was NOT putting the Lord first and I was ashamed and felt convicted.  The Lord showed me that sharing the Gospel with others, and developing a strong, close, loving relationship with Him was my calling.  I felt Him urge me to write. As an adult I had always had an interest in Bible prophecy, and I knew we were living in the last days and that Jesus would return soon.   It was time to quit my selfish pursuits and put the Lord first.   I am a much happier and more fulfilled person now.   Thank you, Jesus!  Thank you, Yahweh, for to you goes all the glory; for it was nothing I did to change myself but, rather, your tender mercies and love and forgiveness as well as your patience that began to mold me and shape me.

It takes a God of light and truth to bring a lost soul out of the darkness. 

"Our calling and purpose as followers of Christ is to love God completely, to love self correctly, and to love others compassionately."  -  Kenneth Boa

"And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the Lord is his treasure."  -  Isaiah 33:6

But it is not all about you and me;  it is all about Jesus and doing His will and following in His footsteps as best we can.  I do NOT mean that you are saved by works; no way is that true.

"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

"For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and  ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.   ......  For we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."   -  2 Corinthians 4:5,7

When I give my personal testimony or talk about my past, it is to show you how gracious and loving God is to save a wretch like me. It is to encourage any who are hurting and looking for answers.  The good Lord has all the answers and the gift of eternal life!  He can give you hope and a purpose. 

Jesus loves you.  He will return soon to take all true believers to heaven to be with Him. 

Are you ready?

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 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?"   -  John 11:25-26

"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


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

Saved By Grace - Not By Works (The Way Of Salvation)

"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

This post is for everyone, but especially for those who read my recent Inspirational Weekend post.  Reading over that information again today, I realized that I didn't explain something as carefully as I should have.  I made a note of correction on the weekend post, but felt that I should do another post today to further clarify what I had meant to say.

Yes, we are saved by grace when we, by faith, believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior.  (Ephesians 2:8-9, the verses quoted above.) You are then a child of God forever!  In my weekend post I had urged any unbelievers to pray and ask for forgiveness to be saved.  And then I said, "It will take effort on your part" and went on to encourage them to read their Bibles and to pray and to join a Christian church.    I realized today that that made it sound like they must also do "works" to be saved, when that was not my intention at all to convey such a thought.  We are saved only by belief and faith in Jesus.  What I had meant was that, after we are saved, we can only grow to spiritual maturity by pouring over God's Holy Word and by much prayer and by attending worship services and associating with fellow-believers.  All of that helps us to mature as believers and also helps us to have a close, personal, intimate, love relationship with God our heavenly Father through His Son Jesus Christ.

"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."  -  Romans 10:9

"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?"               -  John 11:25-26   

Also, remember the thief on the cross who believed in Jesus at the very end of his life, and Jesus told him that he would be with Him that day in Paradise (Luke 23:39-43).  This thief had not had any opportunity to do good works; his faith alone had saved him.

I can look back to the time when I told Jesus that I loved Him and how that was the turning point for me.   There was no formula prayer for me; just a heart broken yet full of love for the Savior; a heart that was reaching out in desperation and in the hope He provided.  He showed His love, forgiveness, and patience in return.  I began to read the Bible more and to seek Him even more with all my heart.  I learned to let go of my previous "I can take care of myself" attitude and to turn to Him in surrender, willing to be taught by Him and with a desire to grow ever closer to Him.   So we are saved by believing in Jesus as our Savior, Lord, and Master; but if we are truly born again, we will have the desire to pour over His Word and to pray fervently and with importunity and to attend worship services and to thereby grow ever more in love with Him.

Following is a sermon on the way of salvation by Charles Spurgeon

"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