"Life - What's It All About, Anyway?" - Inspirational Weekend

You could say that life is all about relationships,or all about love.  Some people make their career and success their goal in life; while others move from boyfriend to boyfriend.  I could go on and on with a list of what gives people so-called  satisfaction in life.   Many people make family their main concern in life.    

Life is about relationships and love follows in its stead .The Bible itself is all about relationships when you think about it.  And God's Word tells us to put Him first in our life.  Our relationship with our Creator is more important than anything else in the world, or in our life.

"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment."  - Mark 12:30 .

Putting God and Jesus first in our lives is the only way to go to have peace and joy and a clear conscience .  Do not let your earthly relationships take priority over your relationship with God.  People will let you down; but God will always uplift you and encourage you and He will never forsake you.               ( Hebrews 13:5)

Of course we should love and take care of our families, as well as to love our neighbor.  But the Almighty God who created you should always come first in your life. Jesus said the second commandment is, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, there is none other commandment greater than these."  -  Mark 12:31.

This reminds me of a poem by C. T. Studd that many of you may be familiar with.  Part of it goes,
"Only one life, will soon be past; only what's done for Christ will last."  Once this truth gets deep within your soul, you will be on fire to do the Lord's work .. telling others about Jesus as Savior.  The entire poem by C.T. Studd may be found here .

But more important than the above mentioned poem,  read your Bible for guidance and instruction and to "hear" God speak by His Holy Spirit as you read.   Ask God to help you understand and to apply what His Word says.  Keep your mind on things above, things eternal,  and not on things that will soon pass away.

"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.  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. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."  -  1 John 2:15-17.

Included in loving our neighbor, is to love other believers and to love the lost enough to tell them about Jesus.  Jesus wants us to love others, but to love Him more than anyone else.   

"I have now concentrated all my prayers into one, and that one prayer is this, that I may die to self, and live wholly to Him."  -  Charles H. Spurgeon

Following is a short 5 minute clip by Dr. Charles Stanley on how you can have a personal, intimate relationship with God:

"But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."         -  Matthew 6:20-21

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

"Where Was Jesus After His Death and Before His Resurrection?" - Inspirational Weekend

Here is a wish for your weekend to be happy and blessed !  If you put God and Jesus first in your life, you will be happy and blessed !  Life can be difficult and downright unfair sometimes, but your attitude concerning what befalls you determines whether you will be happy or not.   If you are focused on Jesus and on God's Word, that alone will keep your attitude on the right track.   

While making my post here last weekend, it occurred to me to do another post about exactly where Jesus went after His death on the cross; so this is my endeavor to do just that.   Did He go to heaven?  Did He go to hell?  (Hell being the grave or where the dead await resurrection......not the lake of fire).

Let's first take a look at 1 Peter 3:18-20.  "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:  by which also He went and preached unto the spirits in prison;  which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of  God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water."  This is quoting from the KJV; the NIV and the New American Standard Bible says, instead of "preaching" to the spirits in prison, that Jesus made a "proclamation" to them.   This difference is important when you consider just who the spirits in prison are.   So I will digress a moment here and discuss that first.    In the Bible, human beings are not called spirits; they do possess a spirit and a soul, however.  So it could not mean that Jesus proclaimed to deceased humans, or "preached" to them in order to lead the spirits in prison to repentance.   The fate of people in hell is settled; there is no second chance.   The only possible explanation is that the spirits in prison were the fallen angels, and salvation is not a possibility for them.  So to say that Jesus "proclaimed" to them is a better translation;  He proclaimed His victory over them... and over death.    

We need to read Genesis 6:1-4 to find out more about these fallen angels.  "And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.  And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh; yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.  There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown."

Most scholars agree these sons of God were angels that disobeyed God and left heaven and married human women.   All of this and the subject of giants, is food for another post later.   But this disobedience was probably instigated by satan in an attempt to pollute the human bloodline so that the Messiah could not eventually be born; in other words, the hybrid bloodlines between humans and the fallen angels could not produce a sinless seed of the woman  (Genesis 3:15).

Now back to where was Jesus after His death on the cross and before His resurrection; Jesus' body was still in the grave waiting for His resurrection but, as 1 Peter 3:18 and 19 says, Jesus was quickened by the Spirit, meaning He was alive in the Spirit when He preached to the spirits in prison.  Later, on Resurrection Sunday,  body and spirit joined in the risen Christ.  With God all things are possible !  Matthew 19:26.

The main thing is that Jesus died to pay our sin debt, making a way to have eternal life through faith and belief in Him and in His resurrection.   He is risen!  Death has no victory over sinless persons.  Jesus redeemed us and sanctified us.  We have much to rejoice about ! Much to praise God about and to worship Him in awe and in much thanksgiving !

"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.  Serve the LORD with gladness:  Come before His presence with singing."  -  Psalm 100:1-2.

There is still much beauty and goodness to be thankful for and to enjoy in this world. Below is a video of beautiful scenery with soft music to quiet your soul and give you rest from the cares of life on this glorious weekend.   

"O LORD, how manifold are thy works!  In wisdom hast thou made them all:  The earth is full of thy riches."  -  Psalm 104:24

"Resurrection Sunday" - Inspirational Weekend

This weekend, as you know, Christians will be celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.   But not everyone, some Christians included, completely understand the complete meaning behind Jesus' death and resurrection.  

When I was very young, before I became a teenager, it was a time to dress up, wear a hat, and put on your best gloves.   Yes, we used to wear gloves ages ago when I was young.   My family didn't attend church with me, except for a cousin who was a couple of years older than I, but she sat with her friends and not with me.  I learned a bit in Sunday School about this time of Jesus' resurrection and also from the pastor's sermons.   But I was an adult before it all reached my heart and soul and I understood the enormity  of the sacrifice of Jesus' shed blood on my behalf while He was on the cross.  

I prefer to call this Resurrection Sunday because the term "Easter" is of pagan origin; it was an ancient festival of Ishtar (pronounced "Easter")   and this festival celebrated reproduction or fertility, with the symbols of the rabbit and of eggs. The Christian church adopted some of those symbols, which is tragic.  For instance, Easter egg hunts are held on church property.  You can Google for more information on this subject, as I wish to dwell on the Resurrection here.   

Some people want to make a big deal as to whether Jesus was crucified on a Wednesday or a Thursday instead of the commonly accepted Friday.   They claim there were other Sabbath days observed  that did not fall on a Saturday , which is very true.   Here is a  link  http://www.gotquestions.org/three-days.html  which explains each viewpoint as to the day.

The point is not all these above mentioned issues, but the wonderful good news that Jesus died to take the punishment we sinners deserve.  Putting our faith and trust in Him means we may gain eternal life; and since He arose from the dead, we too will be resurrected if we die before the Rapture of the Church occurs.   We should be filled with wonder and awe when we consider Jesus' resurrection, and the great love which He displayed in dying in our place.   His sacrifice enables us to be forgiven of our sins, and to live a godly life in obedience to the Almighty God.   

"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

Think about it, no other religious leader or any other religion  is able to claim a risen Savior.   The disciples saw and communicated with the risen Christ; they were convinced He was resurrected and that He was the prophesied Messiah; so much so that they were willing to be beaten, to be put in prison, and to suffer a martyr's death because of their bold preaching and their strong faith.   

Christians today need to be so bold; we need to live our lives as if we truly believe He is risen and thereby live godly lives and not compromise with the world and its soon to disappear lusts and desires.   1 John 2:15-17.

Below is a lovely hymn about the risen Christ:

"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

"God Is Speaking" Bible End-Time Prophecies About To Be Fulfilled - Inspirational Weekend

There is a sense of urgency within me to write about end-times prophecies again, as so much is happening now in the world that cries out, "It won't be long now!"   God is speaking through His Holy Word to all who will listen and take heed and prepare for what lies ahead.   Prepare so far as being spiritually minded and having a close, intimate, personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.   That happens from much prayer and much Bible reading and studying.   Hearing God depends on a relationship with Him, not a formula or a method.

"He that is of God heareth God's words:  ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God."

-  John 8:47

You must be a true believer in Jesus as your Savior; you must be born-again in order to have and develop this close relationship with Him and to be able to "hear" Him speak to you.   He speaks through His Holy Spirit and through His Word, the Bible.   He also speaks through the church, a Christian friend or family member, or by your circumstances.   There are many ways that God can and will get your attention.   

Recently I have viewed some videos featuring Bill Salus, an author of several books and DVD's on end-time prophecies.   I want to share some of that information with you now.   The first video below is short, about 13 minutes in length.    The other two are each 28 minutes long.   I hope you will take the time to view all 3 videos as they are full of information everyone needs to be aware of.

The first short video follows and is titled "The Middle East Powder Keg" :

In these videos, Bill Salus brings out the fact that the Church will probably be raptured before the Ezekiel 38 and Ezekiel 39 prophecies.  However, Ezekiel 38 and 39 will most likely happen before the 7 year Tribulation begins.  

In the Middle East, God's focus is on what He is going to do through Israel.  Israel is still a special people to God; He never broke His covenant with them as it was an everlasting covenant.

For some reason, all I can get is the link to the Part 2 video and not the video image itself .  Please go to this link for more exciting prophetic information from Bill Salus:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI2a21R0fb4

These videos have information about how Egypt will collapse, and speak also about how ISIS may soon take over Jordan.   Also, Iran is having an evangelical presence and growth where Muslims are becoming Christians; they are having miracles, visions, dreams, and healings.  Could it be that Christians and people in general in America are so lukewarm and indifferent and materialistic and secular that we are not having similar experiences ?  Or at least, not to as strong a degree as those in Iran?

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

The world is in chaos, and only Jesus can bring real peace.   We can have a measure of peace right now, despite unsettling world events, if we know Jesus as our Savior.   Soon this earth will be a paradise again during the 1000 year reign of Christ on earth (Revelation 20:1-6).  Something to look forward to, as Luke 21:28 tells us.  

"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 speaking at  Luke 21:36

"Do Not Be Fearful - Instead Be Cheerful" - Inspirational Weekend

My photograph above is of a male white-rumped Shama Thrush.  This species was introduced to Hawaii years ago.   It is not a recent photo, but I wanted to share it because over the last weekend one of these beautiful birds surprised me with a visit to my lanai (patio) and gave me quite a cheery visit for 3 days in a row.    Twice as I sat on the lanai, he landed on the ledge and also in my ficus tree and was about 5 feet from me both times....2 different days.   I didn't move an inch and admired him as he sat for a good 4 minutes or so eyeing me as well before he flew away.   With my curtains opened  I enjoyed his many visits beginning on Friday,March 4.  I was so thrilled and happy to have him nearby, but it ended on Monday while he was out there when a neighbor walked by and her cell phone rang loudly and she herself stopped and talked rather loudly in a high-pitched voice.   I never saw the Shama Thrush again after that.   I regret that he is gone, but I have the sweet memory of his visit.  This particular bird is usually found in forests and gardens.  I live in the city.   All my photographs of them were taken at 3 different botanical gardens here on Oahu.  Below is a video of one of them singing his heart out.

For more of my photographs of this beautiful bird, plus an image of a painting I did, and lots more information about the Shama Thrush, click on the link to the right of this page or go here.  Birds never fail to cheer me, even when things aren't going too good.  Besides personal concerns, the world situation is in big trouble; we are in the beginning stages of what some think will turn into World War Three, not to mention a global economic collapse any day now.   I could go on and on, as I keep up with current events from various sources, but what interests me especially is how the Bible predicted these things and a New World Order or a One World Government which is what the powers that be are working towards.   

I hope I have not made you fearful by all the depressing issues mentioned above !!   I have a blessed hope to be in heaven when all hell breaks loose on earth during the Great Tribulation period !   I am concerned about how bad things have gotten, and I am concerned for the lost souls that do not know Jesus as their Savior who will go through a world that will suffer God's wrath because of their wickedness.    If you are a born-again believer, you will not be here during the seven year Tribulation because you will be taken to heaven before those horrendous events occur then.  That is something to give you great cheer and joy, to know you will always be with the Lord.

"Be strong and courageous.  Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you.  He will not leave you or forsake you."  -  Deuteronomy 31:6

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

Fear manifests itself as anxiety, or worry, or any number of phobias. As we grow in our relationship with the Lord, the less hold fear and anxiety will have on us.   As Adrian Rogers said, "Joy is an inside job."   When your conscience is clear and you trust the good Lord and have a strong love relationship with Him,  you can lose everything and yet still have joy when you realize that only Jesus can truly complete you......not material things or a new boyfriend .   To have this kind of joy, you must be truly committed to Jesus and surrender all to him.  

Previously, I made a blog post here about how to become full of joy, which is similar material to this post, but I wanted today to stress how we need not be fearful if our heart is right with God and we have been truly saved by belief and trust in Jesus Christ.    I know how fearful I used to be, and I am so grateful that the Lord renewed my mind and brought me out of all of that with His love and grace and tender mercies.   Just focus on God, believe in Jesus; put them first in your life and everything else will fall in place.  Of course, much prayer is needful.  "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."  -  2 Timothy 1:7

"The LORD is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear?  The LORD is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?"  -  Psalm 27:1

"Cheerfulness is a friend to grace.  It puts the heart in tune to praise God and so honors religion by proclaiming to the world that we serve a good master.   Be serious, yet cheerful.  Rejoice in  the Lord always."  -  Thomas Watson

Remember to go to the Lord in prayer at all times with all of your cares and fears. Pour your heart out to Him, hold nothing back.  Prayer is powerful !   God will see you through all of your trials and fears, but you must have faith and truly believe  that He will hear you and answer your sincere prayers, if you ask according to His will.

Below is a wonderful sermon by Adrian Rogers on the subject of joy.

"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."  - Proverbs 17:22

"Is It Impossible To Be Holy?" - Inspirational Weekend

Spring is right around the corner for most of you living on the mainland USA.  Here in Hawaii there is something always in bloom year round.   When I think of Spring I automatically am reminded of its beautiful flowers.   I still miss some of the mainland's flowers that we do not have in Hawaii; like dogwood tree blossoms and azaleas as well as many others.   Flowers make me feel good and I bask in their beauty.    I imagine there will be beautiful plants in Heaven as well.   

Below is a YouTube video of nature in Spring:

I hope you have a very happy weekend and that this information cheers you.  Sometimes I think I get too serious with all this end time prophecy and spiritual information; but then again we live in very serious times filled with turmoil and unrest and we need to turn our attention to God's Word and find comfort there.   A holy life that is pleasing to God is a very serious matter and we need to take heed to what really matters in this life.....pleasing and obeying our Creator.  

When I used to read 1 Peter 1:15-16 I would think that it is impossible to do what it says there. Those verses say:  "But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."   We are all sinners, and need to repent daily; how can we possibly be holy?   The idea is to pursue holiness, to the best of our ability and with the Lord's help.

We are imperfect creatures and fall short, but we can be holy in the sense that we are "dead to sin" and we "cleanse ourselves from what is dishonorable."   Our focus is on God and Jesus, to obey and follow their guidance to the best of our ability......not to forget that the Lord, by His Holy Spirit, enables us to live a godly and holy life.    This is not perfection of holiness, that will only happen when we reach Heaven.    God in His love and mercy, has made provision for our sin:  "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."      -  1 John 1:9    So we need to daily confess and forsake our sins as we pursue holiness.   We cannot deliberately sin with no remorse if we are true followers of Jesus.   

"If you think you can walk in holiness without keeping up perpetual fellowship with Christ, you have made a great mistake.  If you would be holy, you must live close to Jesus."  -  Charles Spurgeon

"No man should desire to be happy who is not at the same time holy.  He should spend his efforts in seeking to know and do the will of God, leaving to Christ the matter of how happy he should be."           - A. W. Tozer  

Sanctification means to be set apart, and that for a holy use; it means to purify.   When you become a Christian, the Holy Spirit regenerates you and indwells you, making you able to live as holy a life as possible.   As Christians, we grow in purity over time....a lifetime.   God and the Holy Spirit are in the process of perfecting us and it takes patience and time.   It takes the power of the Holy Spirit to reach deep inside you to regenerate you; it is impossible by your own human effort.

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."  - Hebrews 12:14.  Let me stress that again,  "Without holiness, no one will see the Lord."  You cannot just dismiss your sins and say."Oh, that's just the way I am" and go on about your business as usual.  You need to repent and forsake your sins.

So now I understand better about verses such as 1 Peter 1:15-16 and also Ephesians 1:4 which says,   "According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:"  Be constantly in prayer and read the Bible daily, in order to grow closer to God and Jesus and to have a close, intimate and personal relationship with the Lord.  God speaks to us through His Word, and thereby teaches us to be obedient and holy.   

Being pleasing to the Lord and living as holy a life as possible will determine whether you will be ready when Jesus returns soon to gather "His Bride" - the church, true believers- to Him in the Rapture to Heaven.    Something to look forward to with great expectations!

Below is a sermon by Charles Spurgeon on holiness:

"Holiness, as taught in Scriptures, is not based upon knowledge on our part.  Rather, it is based upon the resurrected Christ in-dwelling us and changing us into His likeness."  -  A. W. Tozer

"By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."       -  Hebrews 10:10

"How To Become Full Of Joy" - Inspirational Weekend

My cactus above bloomed beautifully again the end of January and the first of February this year.  It is always a thrill and a joy to admire its beauty as it only blooms once a year as a rule, although last year it bloomed twice.   Double treat !  But joy such as these soon to fade blossoms bring is rather fleeting and short lived.   True joy comes from the Lord and is yours forever !

Joy is fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).  You have to be regenerated, born again, in order to have the Holy Spirit living within you and thereby produce fruit of the Spirit, of which joy is one.   When you stop the lust of the flesh and worldly desires (with the help of the Holy Spirit), you have the joy of knowing you please the Lord and the joy resulting from a clean conscience.  

"And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."  -  Ephesians 4:23-24

"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 Spirit."  -  Romans 15:13

So to have true joy, we need Jesus as our Savior, to cleanse us and wash us white as snow.  There is joy in the Savior, and joy in knowing you have a heavenly hope.   Before I was converted, there was not any joy to speak of.   Oh , sure, fleeting moments of happiness, but they soon passed.  I have shared with you before how I used to worry constantly, and worry will definitely steal your joy. Thanks to the Lord now, even in the midst of trials, there is still joy for me because I have learned to focus on God and Jesus and I am so grateful for all He has done in my life and in my heart and soul and mind.   That is another key to being full of joy, to have a thankful heart and attitude .

The above image says it all.   So many people are so self-centered and so self-absorbed that they don't take time for Jesus or for other people.  

"The out-and-out Christian is a joyful Christian.  The half-and-half Christian is the kind of Christian that a great many of you are,,,,,,little acquainted with the Lord.  Why should we live halfway up the hill and swathed in the mists, when we might have an unclouded sky and a radiant sun over our heads if we would climb higher and walk in the light of His face."  -  Alexander Maclaren

Below is an old song that makes you joyful just to listen to it,

"Joy is the serious business of heaven."  -  C. S. Lewis

This all reminds me of that quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln, "Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."  There is much truth in that, but for true joy you need Christ in your life.   You then will lead a more holy life and have a closer, personal and intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ.   What joy !   I intend to do a post here soon about "Holiness", as it is so very important to the Christian in order to see heaven.

Below is a sermon on becoming full of joy by Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Jesus speaking at John 16:22,  "And ye now therefore have sorrow:  but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you."

"True or False Conversion? - How to Tell Which" - Inspirational Weekend

"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

A reprobate is one who is a hardened sinner, a scoundrel, and one who is cast off by God.   It is said that about 80 to 90% of new converts to the Christian faith fall away and leave the faith, primarily because they were not truly converted in the first place.  They may have sincerely believed they were converted,  but were sadly mistaken   They were not taught about the ten commandments and how guilty they were and therefore in need of the Savior Jesus.    If they are not convicted of how guilty a sinner they are, they feel no true remorse and do not truly repent; so it is easy to slip back into sin again.   The sad thing is, most of these false converts think they are truly saved.  Another sad thing is that often they are very worldly and their loose conduct causes the world to think all Christians are hypocrites.  

It is one thing to be a new "babe in Christ" and make mistakes, and another thing to sin without remorse.   A true Christian, when he sins, is saddened by his conduct and feels convicted by the Holy Spirit and will repent and make changes to live more of a godly life.  A true Christian does not make a practice of sin; they do not live in sin. The Holy Spirit is given to those that obey God  (Acts 5:32). If a person feels no conviction when he sins, then he may not even be born again.   In other words, the Holy Spirit is not living in that person at all.

A false convert will likely be guilty of things such as the following:  "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you  before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."  (Galatians 5:19-21).

"By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another."  -  Jesus speaking at  John 13:35 .  Love for people, especially of other believers, is a mark of a true Christian, a true convert.   That would mean you would not gossip about or slander anyone, and that you would always display the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.   (Galatians 5:22-23)  

A true Christian will not love the world and be consumed in its pleasures and lusts, and will watch his associations carefully.   "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 4:4 .    That is pretty plain and is a warning.   See the warning signs in my photograph above?  They are warning of turbulent waters and to be careful ... there may even be rip tides.   The Bible gives us warnings and signs to obey and follow for our own good, and we would be wise to heed them.   The Bible is God's Love Letter to us and also His Instruction Manual.   Yet there are many professing Christians who never read God"s Word; they are spiritually illiterate and therefore weak in faith and not on fire for Jesus.   They live day by day in a spiritual vacuum, never asking God for direction and seldom praying, if at all.   WAKE UP!    Time is short!  Jesus will return soon and so many people are not ready and are not watching for Him like they should.   

"I believe hundreds of Christian people are being deceived by satan now on this point, that they have not got the assurance of salvation just because they are not willing to take God at His Word."  - 

D. L. Moody   

"There was a day when I died, died to self, my opinions, preferences, tastes and will;  died to the world, its approval or censure;  died to the approval or blame even of my brethren or friends; and since then I have studied only to show myself approved unto God."  -  George Mueller

A true Christian, as a follower of Christ, will endeavor to imitate Him.  "He that saith he abideth in Him, ought himself also to walk, even as He walked."  -  1 John 2:6

Following is a You Tube video about  True and False Conversion by Ray Comfort.

Another video that relates to what we have discussed here is below.   It is titled "Hell's Best Kept Secret" and Ray Comfort and the actor Kirk Cameron share biblical truths.

I hope you take the time to view these two videos.   They are excellent for guidance for yourself and for leading others to Jesus.  I am sure you will agree that we live in perilous times now, and even though I am keenly interested in Bible prophecy, I realize the Great Commission of preaching the Gospel is what Jesus told us to do.   (Matthew 28:19-20)   Let us be busy in the Lord's work in these end times we find ourselves living in. 

"Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit."

- 1 John 4:13 

"The Mark of the Beast - 666 - And How to Avoid It" - Inspirational Weekend with Videos

"And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.   Here is wisdom.  Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six."  -  Revelation 13:16-18

The above Bible verses are referring to the Antichrist (the beast) who will appear during the 7 year Tribulation period, which occurs sometime after the Rapture of the Church. That statement right there gives you a clue how to escape taking the Mark of the Beast.   More on that later in this post.  

"Anti" means to be against or opposed to; the Antichrist is opposed to Jesus Christ.  Did you know the Bible says there are many antichrists in the world, back in the apostle John's day as well as today? Those of you who are familiar with the Scriptures could probably name one or two today that fit that description.   1 John 2:18 says, "Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time."  See also 2 John 7: "For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.   This is a deceiver and an antichrist."   But these antichrists are not the same as the Antichrist.   

But what does 666 mean?   The number 6 is thought to be the number of man.  The Bible often repeats things 3 times for emphasis.  I have heard it (the number 666) explained to mean  "imperfection to the third degree".   In Greek as well as in Hebrew, the letters of the alphabet also may stand for numbers, which makes it possible to add up numbers for every name.     The apostle John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, may have intended the number 666 to be a mystery.  If you have kept up with these things, that number has been applied to several people in the past, including President Ronald Reagan.    Food for thought:  in some ancient Greek manuscripts of Revelation,  the number is written as 616 instead of 666.

To take the Mark of the beast is to give your allegiance to the Antichrist.   So the eternal destiny of those who take the Mark so that they may buy or sell is to spend all eternity in the lake of fire.  Taking the Mark of the Beast (the Antichrist) is the same as worshiping Satan, who is the one who gives the Antichrist his power; in fact the Antichrist is possessed by Satan. So if a person takes the Mark he cannot be forgiven.  To escape hell, you must not take the Mark.  That means you will either starve to death as you will not be able to buy or sell, or that you will be killed.  (Revelation 13:15).   The other key to avoiding the Mark of the Beast is to give your life to Jesus; repent and believe on Jesus and His resurrection (Romans 10:9-10).  If you do that right now, you will not be here during the 7 year Tribulation period.   You will have previously been Raptured to heaven some time before the Tribulation.   Believe me, the horror and the destruction and the plagues and disasters during the Tribulation time will be terrible beyond your imagination; you do not want to be here for that.  Just read the book of Revelation for all of the judgments to come upon those left behind , as well as upon the earth itself.  

Many in the know believe the Mark will be either an RFID (Radio Frequency Indentification  microchip) or possibly a tattoo of some kind on the right hand or the forehead, which stores all information about you and will enable the Antichrist to enforce his powers over the economy as well as other things.   This technology is available now.   It is only a matter of time.

Supposedly, by Agenda 2030 (Google this), the UN plans to have universal biometric identification for all humanity by the year 2030.

Below is an interview with Billy Crone concerning the Mark of the Beast.

It is good to know about what is in store during the Tribulation period, even if you are a true believer and know you will be raptured before that terrible time occurs.    For one, we can tell others about the horrors of that time so they will want to avoid it and turn to Jesus in repentance and with a new heart set on God and Jesus and His will.     If you keep up with Bible Prophecy at all, you will realize that events happening right now, especially in the Middle East, were all prophesied in Ezekiel 38 and 39, and Psalm 83 and Isaiah 17 and many other places in the Word of God.  So time is short.  The Rapture could happen at any moment.  I hope you watch the video above for more information and, if you have time, below is a longer playing video chock full of even more detailed information on the universal matrix  that is leading up to this Mark of the Beast.

"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.  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 21:3-4

"Be Alert and Be Ready" - Inspirational Weekend

"Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."       -      Matthew 25:13

Are you ready for the Rapture?  Ready for when Jesus takes His Bride, the Church, true believers, to Heaven right before the seven year tribulation period of horror and judgement and destruction occurs to the left behind ungodly people?   "Give me a break!" some of you may be saying, "The word rapture is not even in the Bible."    Yes it is, in the Latin Vulgate Bible by Jerome in the early 400's !  There the Latin word "Raeptius  or "Rapio" is where the English word "Rapture" developed from.  It means to "seize, snatch, caught up, tear away. "  Rapture in Greek is the word "Harpazo", which means to be taken away or being carried away, to "snatch up" or a "catching away."  This is clearly taught in Scripture:

"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:  and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."  -  1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

The Rapture is not the same as the Lord's Second Coming.  The Rapture happens before the 7 year tribulation and, at the Rapture, the Lord comes "in the clouds" to meet us "in the air."  1 Thessalonians 4:17.     At the Second Coming, which occurs at the end of the 7 year Tribulation period,  the Lord descends all the way to the earth and stands on the Mount of Olives.   This results in a great earthquake, which is followed by a defeat of God's enemies.   Zechariah 14:3-4

The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night to unbelievers.   (1 Thessalonians 5:2).  But those who know Christ as their Savior will be alert and ready and watching for His return.  That is the key:  you have to be a born again believer in the Savior to be ready and alert and to be raptured.  Don't just be a Christian in name only; have a close intimate personal relationship with God and Jesus, and the way to do that is by much prayer and Bible study.  You don't want to be in the position of not being truly saved and have Jesus say to you, "Truly I say to you, I never knew you."

Read your Bible and interpret it literally.   There are over 300 prophecies about the first coming of Jesus (2000 years ago), all of which were literally fulfilled.   So we can be sure the prophecies about the Rapture and His Second Coming will also be literally fulfilled.

Please listen to this lovely song titled "In His Time" :

"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 .  Don't wait until tomorrow; it may be too late then.   

Did you know there is a crown waiting for all those who are longing for Jesus' return; a crown of righteousness.   2 Timothy 4:8.   Revelation 4:10 tells us that we will cast our crowns at Jesus' feet when we see Him.    

Following is a duet by Celine Dion and Josh Groban  "The Prayer":

Remember, a person who knows and trusts God is free from anxiety and worry concerning the future.  "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."   -  Isaiah 26:3

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

"Pride or Humility? Distant From God or Close to God?" (Charles Spurgeon's Sermon on Humility) - Inspirational Weekend

"Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility."  -  Proverbs 18:12

Believe me, I know how to spell "honor", but the above Scripture is from the King James Version of the Bible and they spelled some words differently back then than we do now.   But more than being able to spell honor, do we know how to live a life of honor ......to bring honor and glory to our Lord?

Let me say up front, that some of my blog posts here are triggered by what happens to me personally; I look up Scriptures and information on the subject to help myself in whatever area I am having difficulty in and then I realize it is good information to post here.   So what about pride ?   It is something that affects us all from time to time.   We have to be on guard because our adversary the devil is seeking to devour us; to influence us for the bad.   Remember, pride was satan's downfall; he wanted to be equal to God or to put God entirely out of the picture; the devil thought more highly of himself than he should have and exalted himself above the Lord God Almighty.   Is it any surprise that satan would try to bring about a person's downfall by inflating that person with pride?  As Christians we do not want to imitate the devil but instead to follow and imitate Jesus Christ.   Most of you are thinking, "Well, that's a no-brainer!"   But pride can sneak up on you without you realizing it for what it is.   If you feel proud of your humility, then you are not humble.

"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."  -  1 John 2:16

Below is a song about the "poison of pride"; it is a prayer to God for deliverance.

One way to avoid the sin of pride, besides prayer, is to remind yourself that all you are and all you may have is a gift from God;  even your very salvation is a gift from our Creator.   Who are we to exalt ourselves above anyone or anything ?!!  We are but dust and our life is like a mist, which soon disappears.   Another way to avoid pride is to spend time in serving others, especially the poor and the infirm and those who cannot help themselves.   Jesus is speaking here at Matthew 23:11-12,   "But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant;   And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. "   

"A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and of course, as long as you're looking down you can't see something that's above you."  -  C. S. Lewis

"But He giveth more grace.  Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.  Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." -       James 4:6-7

"Though the LORD be high, yet hath He respect unto the lowly:  but the proud he knoweth afar off."  -  Psalm 138:6

So if God seems far away from you and your fellowship with Him is now broken, ask yourself if the reason might be the sin of pride.   

Following is a wonderful song titled "Who Am I"  :

As we all know, humility is the opposite of pride. Humility has been described as "a prominent Christian grace.  It is a state of mind well pleasing to God; it preserves the soul in tranquility and makes us patient under trials."

Remember, even Jesus was humble.   "For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many."  -  Mark 10:45 .    As followers of Christ, we should imitate His humility, in all sincerity and with a pure heart.   "And being found in fashion as a man, He (Jesus) humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. "

-  Philippians 2:8

One of the hindrances to humility is the fact that most people want to feel in control of everything.  That sometimes includes spouses, which can lead to big trouble.   The key is to surrender all to God and Jesus because, after all, He is the only one in absolute control of everything.   Pray for Him to teach you how to surrender all to Him; to guide you in the choices you make and in everyday affairs.  It is really your choice to be distant from God or to be close to Him .    

Below is a 4 part sermon on humility by Charles H. Spurgeon.  Each part is only about 11 minutes long, so the entire sermon is around 45 minutes.   It is well worth the time to listen to it.

"By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life."  -  Proverbs 22:4

"Time Heals All Wounds - Or Does It?" - Inspirational Weekend

"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."  -  Romans 8:18

True believers realize and hope for the time when we will be in heaven with the Lord 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

Just contemplating on that verse makes you feel good and gives you hope and patience to endure various trials here on earth right now.    But what if the emotional or physical pain seems impossible to overcome ?  Or to endure?  What if the hurt and the reason for the hurt keeps playing over and over in your mind......even years after it first occurred?   "Time heals all wounds". so the saying goes, right?    Or, as some would say, "Time will tell" when we cannot comprehend the outcome of a situation.    

When I was in my senior year in high school,  I wrote an essay titled "Time Heals No Wounds".  It was rather negative in content as I was going through (and had previously gone through) some very difficult and heartbreaking times at that young age.   My English teacher liked the essay, however, and insisted that I read it in front of the class, to my horror, as I was extremely shy about things like that.    I did as she asked, and kept that essay for several years and then it got lost in moving to another state.   

My relationship with the Lord has grown and He has "renewed my mind" (Romans 12:2 and Ephesians 4:23) in these latter years of my life.   However, time may not heal all wounds, but it can make the memory of past hurts dull with time, if you will let it and not be bitter and resentful and nurse the hurt for years and not let go of it.    Forgiveness is the key.   Actually, the good Lord is the key!

"Leave the broken, irreversible past in God's hands, and step out into the invincible future with God."

- Oswald Chambers.

"God uses broken things.  It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength.   It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume.  It is Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever."  - Vance Havner

So if you are broken, God can still use you.   You can use your experience to help others in their afflictions; to share your faith of how, if God can help you,  He can help them as well.   God can heal our broken hearts.   Psalm 147:3 says,  "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds."  It is God's great and merciful love that heals us.   If you focus on God and Jesus and pray about your situation, you are taking positive action towards leaving the brokenheartedness behind you.   

"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 press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."  -  Philippians 3:13-14

Following is a song for the broken hearted.  Just pretend it is God speaking in the verses.

We must also remember that sometimes God uses heartbreak and afflictions to shape and mold us and teach us some lessons.....the number one lesson is that we turn to Him in prayer and in total surrender to Him and to His will.   Hardships and trials and heartache will cause us to look to God for help and guidance.   God is our Healer, the Master Physician.   If we handle suffering God's way, we bear witness to the Lord more so than we could have otherwise.  Remember the apostle Paul's thorn in the flesh :  "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."            -  2 Corinthians 12:9      Whatever Paul's thorn in the flesh was,  God still powerfully used Paul.   

"Afflictions, though they seem severe, in mercy oft are sent."  -  Unknown

A few months ago, I painted a landscape scene from one of my reference photos, which is shown below:

This is the reference photograph I took of Wind River in Dubois, Wyoming.  I titled the finished painting  "Brokenness Amid Beauty."   The brokenness of course refers to the broken log in the foreground.    Our life can still be beautiful, despite some brokenness in it from time to time.   Keep a close relationship with God and Jesus and you then can always see the sunshine poking through the dark clouds.

"A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance:  but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken."  -       Proverbs 15:13

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."  -  Romans 8:28

"A Sound Mind Amidst All The Turmoil" - Inspirational Weekend

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"This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all; yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil,  and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead."  -  Ecclesiastes 9:3  (KJV)

That is not starting this weekend post on a very joyous note, but stay with me because I am leading up to something good!   The New American Standard Bible says of the same verse, "....full of evil and insanity in  their hearts..."    In other words, to think and do evil is insanity;  sin is insanity.  Yet the same stubborn, habitual, hardened sinners call Christians mad and crazy for their beliefs.   The insanity spoken of in Ecclesiastes  is moral, that of the heart.  By the heart here is meant the will -  a person's voluntary power.  "The conduct of impenitent men is the perfection of irrationality."

Because punishment for their sins seems to be delayed, it only encourages them to more wrongdoing, as stated in Ecclesiastes 8:11.   God is patient and at times delays punishing the sinner because He is long-suffering and does not wish any to perish  (2 Peter 3:9)

As for true believers, 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."  That is pretty positive !   A sound mind from God, a mind focused on Him and Jesus and good works and holy conduct.   Believers may not be perfect, as they still occasionally sin, but they repent and are "washed in the atoning blood of Jesus Christ."  

It has been said that if you can keep your wits about you when everyone else is losing theirs, then you do not have a complete understanding of the situation.   That should not be true of Christians and followers of Christ.   We know the world has gone crazy and is full of violence, wars, crime, crooked and evil governments, and the threat also of global economic collapse.   But we have a blessed hope, and know what the future holds for us later in eternity.   We can weather the storm now because of our faith and because of God's promises.   

"And there shall be signs in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring.  Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken................And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh."

Luke 21:25,26,28

A hymn that fits here and that encourages me follows:

Yes, the world situation is explosive right now; but things are not falling apart, they are falling into place.   Bible prophecy teaches you that.   Many Bible prophecies are being fulfilled all at once now in these last days; and at an accelerated pace, a convergence, if you will. as I have stated previously  here  and also at this post  

Read and study God's Word, pray without ceasing; it will build your faith and also enable you to have a close, personal, and intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ.   And filling your mind with good things and God's Word has the bonus of God giving you a sound mind.

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all things; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  -  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."  - Romans 12:2

"Reasons To Pray and Charles Spurgeon's Sermon on Prayer" - Inspirational Weekend

Someone once said, "Prayer is the highest use to which speech can be put."  That is true, but prayer goes so much deeper and heartfelt prayer draws you closer to God.  It is communication with the Almighty God; you acknowledge Him and thereby give Him credit and honor that is due Him.   If you never talked with your spouse about anything, the relationship would suffer and eventually die.  The same is true where the LORD is concerned; if we never communicate with Him in prayer, there is no relationship with Him, no closeness.   Charles Spurgeon said, "A prayerless soul is a Christless  soul."    Without Christ, you will never have eternal life in heaven.   You will never be able to have a close, personal, intimate relationship with God the Father, because Jesus is our advocate to/with God.  "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.  And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."  - 1 John 2:1

Someone may say, "I don't know how to pray."   Jesus gave us an example to follow at Matthew 6, called "The Lord's Prayer".   Below is a video with blind artist Andrea Bocelli singing a beautiful rendition of the Lord's Prayer.

One of the reasons we pray is to make our requests known to God.   Sadly, sometimes that is the only way we pray.   We should pray to draw close to God,  to give Him thanks in all things. to intercede for others, and of course to confess our sins to Him, repent, and ask for His forgiveness.  If you notice in the Psalms, often a Psalm will begin with moaning and groaning and complaining, but as the attention is focused on the LORD, the Psalm will end in praise to Him and in thanksgiving.   So prayer can help clear out all the garbage in our minds and life as we focus on God.  It is important to pray in Jesus' name, however.  Sometimes we may think God will not listen to us or answer our prayers, but rest assured he does listen and, more than that, He always listens to His Son.   

"And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."  -  John 14:13-14

We need to pray to find out what God's will is, and to ask for discernment.  To find that out, we need to spend time "listening" to what God says.   That happens when we read the Bible, because it is, after all, God's Word.   Listening to God happens when we spend quiet time with Him, and we can "hear" a small, quiet voice within our soul  that we will know is God speaking by the revelation of the Holy Spirit.   It may direct us to a Scripture, or prod us into an action the LORD wants us to take.

"God does nothing except in response to believing prayer."  -  John Wesley.   We need to have faith and believe that God will answer our prayers, because without faith it is impossible to please God as stated in Hebrews 11:6.  Keep in mind that you need to pray in agreement with God's will for Him to answer your prayers.   God is sovereign and knows what is best for you; He has plans for you, if you are a true believer, and He will not answer a prayer of yours that goes contrary to His plans and His will for you.  

"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."  -  Romans 8:26-27

Below is an excellent sermon by Charles H. Spurgeon, a Baptist preacher who lived in the 1800's and who is known as the "Prince of Preachers."  The sermon is about pleading prayers.

Prayer is Powerful !!