"Forget Me Not" - Inspirational Weekend

The title of my oil painting shown above is "Forget Me Not".  I have posted it here previously, but felt it appropriate to use it again as this writing will be about how we should not forget the good Lord.   In this painting, there is much symbolism.  The blue flowers on the cup and saucer are forget-me-not blossoms;  the yellow peace rose symbolizes the peace that comes from the Lord, and it is sitting in a vase containing living water from Him;  the eyeglasses are a reminder to read God's Holy Word; and the red rose symbolizes Jesus' shed blood at Calvary.  

"Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping His commandments, and His judgments, and His statutes, which I command thee this day:"  -  Deuteronomy 8:11

Moses gave the above warning to the Jewish people, for he knew there was a very real danger that when they became prosperous they would forget God who had given them so many blessings and would rather begin to commend themselves.   Not that they would forget God altogether, but they would forget their covenant responsibility.  Their forgetfulness would show up when they did not keep the Lord's commandments and His ordinances and statutes.  

What about us today?  Sure, we enjoy our attendance at worship, but how genuine are we?  We show our faith and that we still remember the Lord by living a godly, surrendered life to Christ, full of faith and joy and hope.  By living our lives in obedience to Him, we demonstrate that we have not forgotten Him.

"And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish."              -  Deuteronomy 8:19

It is in man's nature to always worship something, and it was no different back in Moses' day.  It was apparent to Moses that if they forgot the good Lord, they would soon turn to other gods.  "They would find the easy going gods of the land preferable.  Man loves to worship something, but he prefers it not be too demanding."

Today - especially in the Western world - men are wealthy compared to most of the rest of the world.  This prosperity has made many to succumb to greed and always wanting more, more, more.   They display no gratitude to God for His many blessings.  So we have our idols as well:  musicians, money, movie stars, materialism and on and on.  Many are thereby destroying their souls and the souls of others, because all of this idolatry leads them into behavior which displeases God; and it is also harmful to themselves.  The very prosperity which is the gift of God is too often the reason for the heart to become lifted up where one forgets the Giver.  

"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits."  -  Psalm 103:2

This past week, I was reading a Charles Spurgeon devotion and felt the desire to post some of what he said; so here it is:

"It seems then, that Christians may forget Christ!   ..... It appears almost impossible that those who have been redeemed by the blood of the dying Lamb, and loved with an everlasting love by the eternal Son of God, should forget that gracious Savior....... Forget Him who never forgot us!  Forget Him who poured His blood forth for our sins!  Forget Him who loved us even to the death!  Can it be possible?  .........  Let us charge ourselves to bind a heavenly forget-me-not about our hearts  for Jesus our Beloved, and, whatever else we let slip, let us hold fast to HIM."

If Christians have a difficult time following and remembering the good Lord, where does that leave the lost and unbelieving?  They are just that - lost and doomed unless they turn to Jesus and repent and believe in Christ as their Savior, and become redeemed by His shed blood at Calvary.

God is full of tender mercies and the Bible tells us that God is love (1 John 4:8).  Jesus is full of love for mankind - He died for us!  He is waiting for unbelievers to repent and to believe He is the Savior and to turn to Him in full surrender and He will forgive their sins and wipe the slate clean.  No more burden of guilt and no more living in sin and darkness.  You will be free from the devil's control over you! You will experience a true peace from the Lord and you will have a hope and a purpose.   It frees the soul to live for the good Lord !

"I will remember the works of the LORD:  Surely I will remember Thy wonders of old."  -  Psalm 77:11

"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 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

"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

"How Long, O Lord?" (Videos ; Current Events and Bible Prophecy)

Yesterday (Sunday) while checking the Internet, I saw information on how Damascus, Syria, was attacked by Israel.   Automatically I thought of 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. "

I immediately went to "Behold Israel" on You Tube which is current events in the Middle East explained by Amir Tsarfati, a Jew who is a believer in Jesus Christ as the Savior, and who has a thriving ministry out of Israel, where he lives.   He preaches all over the world and I have featured his videos on this blog several times prior to today.   It turns out that Israel made strikes on 6 different targets, one of which was the airport in Damascus.  Isaiah 17:1 has not as yet been fulfilled, but it will happen soon.  Following is Amir's 12 minute video on the Israeli strikes in Syria:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qe0YPh-ldw

Many scholars believe that the Tribulation period may not begin immediately after the Rapture of the Church occurs; perhaps it may be several weeks to several years after Jesus takes His Bride to heaven.....a gap, if you will.  Bill Salus, a prophecy expert, explains this and much more in the following video by prophecywatchers.com in which he and the host, Gary Stearman, have an interesting discussion on Bible Prophecy, focusing on primarily the book of Revelation.  Here is that 29 minute video:

I found something new to think about and to do research on in the above video.  Most believe that when the six seals of Revelation are opened, that that happens during the Tribulation period.  Bill Salus believes the seals happen before the trib.   Here is a portion of Revelation 6, verses 9-11 :

(9) "And when He had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:  (10) And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?  (11) And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled."

Bill Salus' reasoning is that if this question had been asked during the Tribulation, then they would know that period would last for 7 years, according to prophecy and at the end of that time God would judge and avenge their blood.   Therefore, the seals happen before the Tribulation, (but after the Rapture of the Church), according to Mr. Salus, since these souls under the altar did not know how long it would be.   The souls spoken of here are evidently those who became believers after the Rapture and were martyred.

{Update:  September 8, 2018:   While watching Bill Salus on another interview today,  He clarified that the Seals of Revelation 6 ...specifically Seals one to five....happen during the time gap between after the Rapture occurs and the Tribulation period.  He believes that the sixth Seal and the rest of the judgments poured out on earth happen during the Tribulation.  It is a video which lasts over 2 hours so click below on the time minutes starting at 1 hour and 2 minutes to begin the Salus interview.  Here is a link to that recent video where Mr. Salus again discusses the Seals and so much more:}

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NJz_ll8

Let me make it clear that I am not saying that I agree with Mr. Salus' conclusions.  It is just something to throw out there.  It will take research and much prayer on my part to determine whether he is right or not.

The main thing is, get right with the Lord and be ready for the Rapture of true believers.   We believers will not be here on earth when the Seals of Revelation occur.  Focus now on living a godly life and endeavor to always please the good Lord.  Be busy sharing the Gospel and winning souls to the Lord.

How long, O Lord?

We believers today ask that question also as to when the Rapture of true believers takes place as Gary Stearman points out in his interview with Bill Salus.   It is wonderful that we should be watching for the Lord's return but, again, do not neglect in the meantime to live a holy life and to be busy sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Time is short!

We are living in the last hour of the last days !

When Jesus returns for His Bride, the true believers, you do not want to be "left behind" to face the judgments and the horrors and the wrath of God which will be poured out during the Tribulation.  I urge you to please read the entire book of Revelation for more insight on future events.  Doing so will instill in you the desire to avoid going through the Tribulation period as it will be a terrible time filled with horrors and suffering and destruction.

Nor do you want to end up in hell, if you are an unbeliever, where all who reject Jesus as their Savior will go if they do not repent and turn to Him in faith and belief.

Jesus loves you and is waiting for you with arms wide open to embrace you with pardon; to give you hope; to give you a future with Him in heaven; to give you eternal life.

Pray and ask for forgiveness; truly and sincerely repent of all sin, which means to forsake your sinful ways and to not live in sin any more.  Have real faith and believe Jesus is the Savior who can wash all of your sins away by His shed blood at Calvary.  Believe also in His resurrection.

Romans 10:9,10,13 says it best:  (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

"Beware Of Becoming Lukewarm" (Video with Charles Spurgeon Sermon) - Inspirational Weekend

If you read Revelation 3:14-21 you will discover that Jesus is talking about the lukewarm church of Laodicea.  That church was neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm and nauseating.  So much so that Jesus said at Revelation 3:16

"So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."

That word "spue" literally means to vomit.   Do you want to be lukewarm and have Jesus feel like vomiting because of you?  Of course you don't if you are a true, born again believer in Christ.  Have you considered that when you don't pray and do not read the Bible, that is a symptom of being lukewarm.   The good Lord wants to have a living, vibrant, love relationship with you.  That requires spending time with Him, communicating with Him through prayer, and by putting Him first in your life.

Another symptom of lukewarmness (and maybe even a sign that you are not truly converted) is becoming like the world; being a part of the world and loving its godless entertainment and excessive materialism; its lusts and desires.  

Consider 1 John 2:15-17,  (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 lusts thereof:  but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."

This world, or realm of sin, is controlled by satan and organized against God and righteousness.  We should avoid anything that involves the devil and wickedness.   Your very soul is at stake.  Do the will of God and have eternal life with Him.  

Consider also 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."

James makes it clear how God feels when we are friends with the world.....it is enmity with God !  It makes you an enemy of God.

Revelation 2 and 3 deals with the 7 churches in Asia Minor in the apostle John's day and to which Jesus told John to write to each of these as a message from the Lord Himself.  The letter to the Laodicean church was the harshest of the seven.  That church had nothing to commend it.

The vast majority of scholars agree that these seven churches are typical of the Church age throughout history, and that the time we now live in is also like the Laodicean church.  The church today has become lukewarm and worldly.  I am speaking generally, for not all of today's churches are like the ancient one in Laodicea.  If you find yourself in a lukewarm church, leave and search for one that is truly alive and preaching the gospel and putting Jesus first.

Let us be true sheep and follow the Lord our shepherd wherever He leads.  Turn to Him for guidance and instruction, and put your faith in Him and in His promises.

Let us consider Revelation 3:20, which reads,  

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock:  if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me."

Most people take this to mean that Jesus is knocking on the individual unbeliever's heart.  But when you consider the context, the lukewarm church itself is being addressed.  Christ, the Lord of the church, is pictured as knocking on the door of the church.  "The Laodiceans were in danger of closing Jesus out of their church, just as unbelievers can close Him out of their lives."

Beware of becoming lukewarm!  

Following is a 58 minute sermon by Charles Spurgeon with a warning to avoid lukewarmness.  It is worth taking the time to listen to.  Charles Spurgeon is known as "the prince of preachers."

In the above sermon, Spurgeon said something very noteworthy.  "Men are less likely to repent when they are in the middle - neither hot nor cold -  than if they were at the worst extreme in sin.  There is more hope to convert the cold than it is to convert the lukewarm."  

If you are a Christian and you see any signs of lukewarmness in your life and in your attitude,  repent and turn to the Lord and ask for forgiveness.  Begin to pray more often, as well as to be in God's Holy Word daily.   

If you are an unbeliever, do not delay in accepting Jesus and believing in Him as the Savior, whose shed blood at Calvary can wash away your sins and bring forgiveness if you truly repent.  To repent is not just feeling sorrow for your sins for the moment; it means completely renouncing sin and not living in sin anymore.  If one occasionally and unwittingly commits a sin after being saved, he can sincerely repent and ask for forgiveness and the slate will be wiped clean... he will be forgiven.

Turn to the Lord now in faith and in repentance.  Time is fast running out before the Rapture of the Church occurs.  

Do not delay!

"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.  Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates."  -  2 Corinthians 13:5

"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

"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

"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

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

"Global Crisis! A Financial Expert Talks About End Times" (Video) - "Inspirational Weekend"

My photograph above is of the Rainbow Shower Tree.  It is a common landscape tree found all over Hawaii.  As I write this, Hawaii is in the path of Hurricane Lane.  It is to come a little west of Oahu, the Island where I live, this coming Saturday at 2 a.m.  According to the news reports, we will still see high winds, an overabundance of rain, and some serious flooding.   I am writing this post today, before we might even lose power.   I feel secure in the Lord, that it will not be too terribly horrific for us.  This will be my first time to experience the effects of a hurricane.  

"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid:  for the LORD Jehovah is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation."  -  Isaiah 12:2  

The world situation is in a state of chaos and turmoil, and that is as predicted in the Bible.  It just proves Bible prophecy and informs us that we are living in the last hour of the last days.   If you are a true believer, that is good news for you realize that soon Jesus will return to take His Bride, the Church, to be with Him in Heaven when the Rapture occurs.   

The following 29 minute video by prophecyinthenews.com gives financial advice for these shaky times, and it also dwells on end times and Bible prophecy.   You will hang on to every word by financial expert Charles Thorngren, as he and the host, Lyn Leahz, discuss pertinent information for you....advice on surviving not only the financial market but, more importantly, it also deals with your eternal salvation.  

A word of caution:  don't put all of your hope and trust in man's schemes to survive hard times.  Look to God in faith and trust to see you through your trials and to guide you as to what path to take.

  Pray with all your heart for guidance and for the good Lord to give you an extra portion of the Holy Spirit to help you make wise choices in these perilous times.  (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

"Man's way leads to a hopeless end!  God's way leads to an endless hope."  -  unknown

Proverbs 3:5-6 informs us,  (5) "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (6)  In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."

If you have not been saved - are not born again -  now is the time to do so.  If Jesus came for His true believers tonight, you would be left behind to face the horror of the 7 year tribulation period, and eventually the torments of hell if you did not become a believer.

Wake up!  Look around you!  These are perilous times we are living in.   Bible prophecies are all converging at one time right now, proving the Lord's return and the Rapture of the Church is soon to transpire.   

Jesus loves you and wants to welcome you to His family with love and forgiveness.

All you need to do is to pray for forgiveness of your sins and to sincerely repent of your sins....forsake your sins and do not go back to that lifestyle....believe that Jesus is the promised Savior and believe that God raised Him from the dead.

Romans 10: 9, 10, 13 says it best:   (9) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall 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 he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) "  -  2 Corinthians 6:2

"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 happy and blessed weekend !

"Be Blessed" - Inspirational Weekend

"Praise ye the LORD.  Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in His commandments"  -  Psalm 112:1

To be blessed is the happy condition of those who revere the LORD and do His will. 

"Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.  Blessed are they that keep His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart."  -  Psalm 119:1-2

"Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust....."   -   Psalm 40:4 a  

So from these verses we see that to be blessed is to trust the LORD, walk in His laws and keep His commandments; and to have a reverent and healthy fear of Him and to seek Him with the whole heart.  

The ultimate blessing is to have Jesus Christ as our Savior, by Whom we may gain eternal life.   But that takes faith and belief on our part.  Salvation is believing in Jesus as the Savior, repenting of all known sin, and praying to God for forgiveness; surrendering our life and will to the good Lord.

Romans 10:9,10,13 says it best:  (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."

A blessing is a gift from God.   Our every breath is a gift from Him.  So is the fact that we have eyes to enjoy all the beauty of His creation, and to see the faces of our loved ones.   God is love, and He shows His love to us in many ways.  He blesses us with a roof over our heads and with food to sustain us.   But the subject of this post will dwell on the spiritual blessings from the good Lord.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:"  -   Ephesians 1:3

Treasure God's Holy Word and read it daily. The Bible is a gift from the Lord; His love letter to us and His Instruction Manual for us.  By studying the Bible you come to comprehend God's attributes and His character, and you begin to know Him more intimately, and you become full of love for Him and for Jesus.  Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).  You need to communicate with the good Lord in order to know Him and to love Him with all of your heart.  You cannot truly know a Person unless there is communication between you and Him.  It takes much prayer to build a strong, intimate, love relationship with the Lord.  He communicates with you by His Holy Word, and through sermons and even by conversations with other believers.

As a true believer, one needs to watch his associations and not become chummy with hardened sinners.  Psalm 1:1-2 tells us:

(1) "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  (2)  But his delight is in the law of the LORD:  and in His law doth he meditate day and night."

The Psalms are full of expressions of blessings.  And do not forget the sermon on the mount by Jesus... the Beatitudes .   Read Matthew 5:1-12.  There is described the happiness to be found by those who find their purpose and fulfillment in God.

"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."  -  Matthew 5:8

"Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God."  -  Psalm 146:5

To be blessed is to be happy.  Don't forget to bless others and spread the happiness around in a generous fashion.


"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

"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


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

"How To Find Contentment" - Inspirational Weekend

The above photograph is of Lika, my calico cat.  She is cat-napping and looks rather content doesn't she! Animals can teach us many lessons.   As a rule, they take life as it comes and never get anxious.

This post is about contentment and how to find it.  The online dictionary defines contentment as happiness and fulfillment; comfort, serenity and peace.  

This post is also about godliness, which means conforming to the laws and wishes of God; holiness, piety.  You are no doubt aware of what Scripture I will be referring to;  yes, 1 Timothy 6:6, which follows:

"But godliness with contentment is great gain."

It means that if you are godly and focused on the good Lord and His will, you will be more likely to feel contentment.  Worldly pleasures and materialism will not consume you to the point where you are always wanting more, more, more; yet you are never satisfied with that mindset, because material things cannot buy you happiness.  Oh, you may have some pleasure in having a new "toy" for a time, but when the newness wears off, you look for something else to possess in an unreasonable quest for happiness through material things or through a relationship.  You know what I am referring to.

I speak from experience.   Before I was born again, I looked for happiness from "things".  I had over 50 rose bushes in my yard and over 100 African violet flowers  under lights in my home.  One Persian cat was not enough, I had to have several and became a breeder.   I could go on and on, but the bottom line is, I was really trying to fill a void with things of this world instead of turning to God, Who only can truly fill that empty void within our souls.

If you learn to be content with what you already have, there will be less striving for more possessions, less debt, and less selfish desires.  Be God-centered and focus on living a life pleasing to Him.  You will find that Jesus can give you true happiness, and a purpose for living that does not include self-indulgence.   

I am reminded of the apostle Paul and what he said at Philippians 4:11-12 :

"(11)  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  (12)  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound:  every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need."

Paul suffered much persecution, hardships, beatings, and imprisonment, yet he found joy and purpose and fulfillment in the Lord and in doing the Lord's work, which was preaching the gospel.  We can take a much needed lesson from observing Paul's life and ministry.  He was not interested in acquiring material goods or in having a big home and all of the world's comforts.  He was focused on doing God's will and reaching lost souls for the Lord.

"The heart," says Wiesinger, "amid every outward want, is then only truly rich when it not only wants nothing which it has not, but has that which raises it above what it has not."

"Let this be thy whole endeavor, this thy prayer, this thy desire, that thou mayest be stripped of all selfishness and with entire simplicity follow Jesus only."  -  Thomas A. Kempis

"Prayer - secret, fervent , believing prayer - lies at the root of all personal godliness."  -  William Carey

"For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content."  -  1 Timothy 6:7-8

The verses above remind me of that saying, "You can't take it with you."   So that is why we need to focus on Jesus and spiritual matters and to be busy doing the Lord's work.   It also reminds me of that poem which tells us,  "Only one life to live; only what's done for Christ will last." 

1 John 2:15-17 says,  (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."

We are definitely living in the last hour of the last days.  Bible prophecy is being fulfilled almost on a daily basis.  Jesus will return soon to take true believers to heaven in the Rapture of the Church.   Why be immersed in a world that is soon to pass away?  Why accumulate treasures that you cannot take into eternity?  Remember, if you are a faithful follower of  Christ, this wicked world is not your home.  We belong in heaven, our true and glorious home for all of eternity.   There godliness and contentment will be perfected.

Live for Christ !  Occupy till He returns !  (Luke 19:13)  By occupy that means to be busy in doing the Lord's will and winning lost souls to the Lord and by preaching the gospel.

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior,  you will never know what true peace and contentment is all about.   Only Jesus can satisfy that deep longing inside, that indescribable "something" that makes the soul long for what you just cannot put your finger on but you know something is missing in life.   What is missing is Jesus, and a strong relationship with God through Christ. Only a deep, personal, intimate love relationship with the Lord can bring true peace and contentment; and in turn you will learn godliness.  Likewise, the more spiritually minded you are, the more you will find contentment.  Godliness and contentment naturally flow together.

If you are an unbeliever, now is the time to accept Jesus as your Savior and believe that only He can wash your sins away by His shed blood at Calvary.   He died for you !   Think about it!  He made a way for you to have eternal life in heaven, instead of in hell. 

We all are sinners in need of the saving power of Jesus (Romans 3:23). It is necessary to believe He is the Savior, and to ask God to forgive you of your sins; to repent with all your heart and to put your faith in Him.  You need to also believe in Jesus' resurrection.

Romans 10:9,10,13 says it best:  (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 !

He is waiting with open arms of love and forgiveness if you but turn to Him in faith and repentance !

Choose Jesus.

Choose eternal life with 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

"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

"To Live And To Die" (Video) - Inspirational Weekend

The title of this post, "To Live And To Die", sounds like the information here is morbid and doom and gloom.   I promise you that is not the case! Let me quote a wonderful Scripture found at Philippians 1:21 :

"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

This was written by the apostle Paul.  His life found all its meaning in Christ, Who was his secret to continual joy.  This can also be the case with all true Christians who put Jesus first in their lives, and who live a godly life and thereby endeavor to imitate Him in their daily walk in love and obedience.  

"Jesus answered and said unto him,  If a man love me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."  -  John 14: 23

Many who read "to die is gain" in Philippians 1:21, concentrate on just that part of the verse and they think of being in heaven forever with the Lord.   All that is true,  but you need to be a born again believer, sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13), in order to make it to heaven.  "To die is gain" refers to the fact that we will be with Christ after death; that is, if you are a true believer who has lived a life of obedience and faith in the good Lord.   Works do not save you; faith in Jesus is what saves you.  But a true believer will bring forth much fruit, and will obey and follow Jesus with a pure heart.

"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."  -  James 2:26

True believers will endeavor to live a Christ-like life....to "live Christ."  Galatians 2:20 tells us:

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me."

The above verse is the apostle Paul speaking again.  What faith he had !  What devotion and dedication he exhibited !  May we all be likewise!  

The thought behind "to me to live is Christ" is that we be so one with Christ that we do only His will, and continually have "the mind of Christ."  (1 Corinthians 2:16)

Keep in mind, also, that we are not only to "live Christ" but to bring Him glory as well.  Praise Him and give Him glory in all we do and say.  Let our lives, our hearts, our minds, our actions, our speech, reflect  good things and give glory to God and Jesus in everything !

"To live is Christ" means that we will want to know more about the Lord and to take in as much knowledge of Him as possible.   To do that we need to read our Bibles daily, as well as to pray daily.   You get to know more about a person by communicating with him,  Do the same with the good Lord.  Develop a close, intimate, personal, love relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

If we are truly saved, we will also have the enthusiasm for preaching the gospel and for witnessing at every opportunity.  We may also have to give up anything that prevents us from serving the Lord.   Anything that takes up all of our time needs to be dealt with and eliminated in order to enable us to live for the Lord with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength. 

We need to fix our eyes on Jesus.  Put Him first !

Following is a 4 minute worship song about to live is Christ:

All of the above does not apply to those who are unbelievers.  But look up, folks! Jesus loves you and is waiting to hear from you! All you need to do is to repent of your sins and do not live a life of sin any more, pray for forgiveness, and sincerely dedicate your whole life to the Lord as you turn to Him in faith and trust.  Believe Jesus is the Savior and that His shed blood at Calvary will wash your sins away.   Believe also in His resurrection.  All of this takes faith on your part.  It is that faith that will save you where you may live for Christ and have the hope of eternal life.

Do not delay !

We all want to live forever !   Let it be with the Lord in heaven !

Jesus gives us hope, a glorious future, a purpose in life right now, (to serve Him and to be a light and witness bearer).

Wouldn't you rather be in eternity where there is no more sin, no more death, and no more sorrow?  -  Revelation 21:4

This old earth is passing away soon!  -  1 John 2:17

Jesus is eternal and you can be as well !

There is hope !

"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."  -  1 John 2:17

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."

"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

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