"Forget The Past" - Inspirational Weekend

The above driftwood reminds me of some people (and the way I used to be).   People can be carried along by the waves of the world ... sin and emptiness and purposelessness.   And before they realize it they end up stranded on the beach of ruin, burnt by life and parched and thirsty for meaning.  They are stranded with their baggage with no where to go, no where to turn.   One of the worst kinds of baggage is to be living in the past, and unable to forget the past hurts and disappointments and unfair treatment by others.  

Chances are, if you replay over and over in your mind past hurts, that you have not forgiven others of their sins against you.  This is serious because Matthew 6:15 says, "But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."  I recently made a blog post on forgiveness here .  You need to truly forgive those who have hurt you, slandered you, lied about you, or damaged you in any way.  Put them in the hands of God.   Then God will be able to heal you by His Holy Spirit and take the hurt and pain from your mind and soul.   Once you take everything to God in prayer, and surrender your hurts to His capable hands, a peace will come over you that only He can give.    

"Hurting people hurt people."  -  Unknown

"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, "  - Philippians 3:13

In the above Scripture, the apostle Paul stressed "one thing I do", as if he gave that top priority...to forget the past - leaving it behind him as done and settled.  Paul kept his mind on "those things which are before"......his ministry and the future hope of eternity with Christ in heaven.  He wished to obtain "the prize", the crown of victory in heaven after he ran his race here on the earth.  When we look forward, as Paul did, we see everything to cheer us and spur us on to good works, as well as the joys of heaven and being with Jesus.   When we look backwards, we see everything to dishearten us and bring us down, especially if we dwell on past sins and hurts.   One who constantly dwells on the past, though he may be a true Christian, is often a recluse and he will be melancholy and depressed.  On the other hand, looking to the past he may consider all he has done and the difficulties he has surmounted and perhaps will become self-complacent and self-satisfied.  He will trust his past victories over difficulties and hurts, and become proud.   

"God has nothing to say to the self-righteous."  D. L. Moody

Granted, sometimes it is good to look back and learn from our mistakes in the past.  The past can teach us valuable lessons at times.   God can use past experiences - even the really bad ones - to transform us and mold us to become the kind of person He wants us to be. We grow and mature as we face trials and heartaches and learn to take it all to the Lord in prayer.   But generally speaking, it is better to let go of your past and live in the present, but with the future in view.

Luke 9:62 says, "And Jesus said unto him, No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

To put one's hand to a plow is a proverbial expression to signify undertaking any business.   In order to complete his work, the plowman must look onward and be intent on what he is doing, and not to be looking back with regret that he even began to plow in the first place.   So it is with a follower of Jesus Christ.....we must follow Him with our whole heart and not be influenced by the world and its sinful lusts.   And not to have a morbid fixation on what happened to us in the past.  You can make yourself ill with depression dwelling on unpleasant things.   Morbid things and thoughts are from the devil trying to tear you down and make you ineffectual as a Christian.   We do not want to be unfit for the kingdom of God.   One way to combat these negative thought patterns is to be constantly in prayer and in the Word of God.   If you truly know Jesus in your heart, and have a close, personal, and intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ, you will keep your mind on spiritual things and be a lot happier.  

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

Note that the above verse says, "old things are past away.....all things are become new".   If you are a true believer, you are a new creation.   Forget the hurt and badness of the past.   You have a new and renewed mind (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:23) and need to be thinking about the present and what God's will for you might be; as well as the wonderful hope in the future of being with Jesus in heaven.   I am reminded of Philippians 4:8 which follows:

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report;  If there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Think about good things, which will be all the more easier when you are often in prayer and often in the Word of God.   

We are living in the last days; the Rapture of the Church  (true believers) could happen at any time.  We need to be busy in the Lord's work until then.   That means to share the Gospel with lost souls.  All Christians are ministers in that sense.

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."   -   Jesus at Matthew 28:19-20   (KJV)


Romans 12:1-2 informs us: (1) "I beseech you therefore, brethren,  by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

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



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

"Why We Should Forgive Others" - Inspirational Weekend

"To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love.  In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness."  -  Robert Muller.     

That quote partly answers the question as to why we should forgive others.  The main reason to forgive is given to us by Jesus at Matthew 6:14-15  :  "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."  Think about that real hard.   You will lose fellowship with God and Jesus if you are unforgiving.   You may not lose your salvation, but you will suffer consequences.  The commentator John Trapp wrote,  "It is more comfortable to love a friend, but more honorable to love an enemy.  If thou reserve in thy mind any piece of the wrong, thou provokest and daily prayest God to reserve for thee a piece of His wrath."

This reminds me of the parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18:21-35.   First of all, in verse 21, Peter came to Jesus and asked Him, "How oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?"  And Jesus , in verse 22, said  to him,  "I say not unto thee, until seven times but until seventy times seven."   The sense here is "times without number" or as many times as necessary.

In other words, as often as God forgives you.  In the parable of the unforgiving servant, he owed his master a huge debt, and  because of his pleading and begging, the master forgave him the debt.   Immediately this servant went out and found another person who owed him a very small amount in comparison, and he demanded payment of him.   The unforgiving servant had this man thrown into prison until he would pay him back.   When the master of this servant heard about it, the master had the unforgiving servant thrown into prison where there were tormentors and where he suffered greatly.   The point is, God has forgiven us for so much and therefore we should be forgiving of others.The offences committed by our brothers are very small in comparison to how greatly and often we have sinned against God.

"To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you."  -  C.S. Lewis

We must consider that when Jesus was on the cross He prayed, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."  He was praying for His murderers !    We learn from Jesus' example that we have a duty to pray for our enemies, even when they are trying to injure us.   This shows the power and excellence of the Christian religion.  No other religion teaches its followers to pray for their enemies.  Another thing to consider is that followers of Christ are just that...followers, and should follow His example and be as forgiving as He is.   

"It takes a strong person to say sorry, but an even stronger person to forgive."  -  Unknown

Another difficulty some have is in forgiving themselves.   In a way that is a perverted sense of pride.  C. S. Lewis said it best,  "I think that if God forgives us we must forgive ourselves.  Otherwise, it is almost like setting up ourselves as a higher tribunal than Him."   Remember the old saying,  "He is his own worst enemy."  

The first martyr in the early church was Stephen who was stoned to death by the religious leaders.  The account is found at Acts 7:54-60.   Verse 60 reads,  "And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.  And when he had said this, he fell asleep."

How much did Stephen resemble Jesus in praying for his murderers!  "What a beautiful light does this place the spirit of the Christian religion!  Christ had given what some have supposed to be an impossible command:  Love your enemies; pray for them that despitefully use and persecute you."

(Quote from Adam Clarke commentary)

Remember, refusing to truly forgive a person brings out resentment, anger, and bitterness, which are not the characteristics of a true Christian.   By not forgiving, you are hurting yourself more than the other person.

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."  -  Ephesians 4:32

Below is a wonderful sermon by Charles Stanley titled "Forgiving Hurts That We Don't Deserve"

"The Lukewarm Church Is Asleep" - Inspirational Weekend

Is the church you attend lukewarm or asleep or perhaps compromising with the world or being "user-friendly" to draw more attendance?    Truly, the church today, as a whole, is compromising with the world in an effort to enlarge membership and are really just drifting away from the true Gospel.  I have visited many churches, and have seen this first hand.   Churches want to entertain and be a social outlet more than preach the meaty Scriptures that can save souls.   I want to be clear that this is the church in general; there are still churches around that are Christ-centered and that do not compromise the Word of God in any way whatsoever.   Thank the good Lord for that !  Find one of those churches immediately if the one you now attend is lukewarm or compromises with the world.

"Religion today is not transforming people; rather it is being transformed by the people.  It is not raising the moral level of society; it is descending to society's own level, and congratulating itself that it has scored a victory because society is smilingly accepting its surrender."  -  A.W. Tozer

Jesus makes it plain how he feels about a lukewarm church in Revelation 3:15-16,  "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot:  I would thou wert cold or hot.  So then because thou art lukewarm, I will spue thee out of my mouth.  "   In other words, the church at Laodicea made Jesus want to vomit, He was so disgusted with them for their lukewarmness; they sickened Him.   Lukewarm people claim to know God, but live like He doesn't even exist.   If they go to church, they are self-righteous in their complacency.   Their hearts are not right with God and remain unchanged.

Revelation 3:20 is speaking primarily to the Laodicean church, but it can also apply to the individual as well:  Jesus says,  "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."  

The Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior, presents Himself not only to the church as a whole, but to the door of an individual's heart.   The movement toward reconciliation is originated by the Savior ....."Behold, I stand at the door and knock".     Please open the door and let Him in, before He stops knocking and perhaps never returns again.   Christ's knocking at the door shows tenderness.  This reminds me of the hymn, "Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling"  which may be heard directly below.

We want to make sure that we, in our hearts and minds, are NOT lukewarm towards God.   We need to be preaching the Gospel to lost souls and generally be on fire with zeal for the things of the Lord.  Examine yourselves, and get rid of any laziness of spirit where the Lord's work is concerned.   We do not want God and Jesus to be disgusted with us because we put forth no effort to do His work, and we showed nothing but indifference.   If you are lukewarm, you have good reason to dread the indignation of the Savior.

Remember, if you're headed in the wrong direction, God allows U-turns.   Your lukewarmness can be forgiven once you confess it, repent of it, and have a change of heart where you have a heart-felt passion for the Lord and His work.   

Just like the first century church, the church today is still asleep.   Below is a video that touches on that subject and others.

"Sowing Seeds and Bearing Fruit" - Inspirational Weekend

This flower garden is on the famous Strand at Manhattan Beach, California.   I liked the photo so included it here, but the subject of this post has to deal with planting fruit bearing seed and also with bearing fruit in our lives as Christians ought to do.   

Everyday we go out into the world we sow spiritual seed, and we have the choice as to which seed to sow.   Be full of grace and light and sow joy and goodwill and thereby bring glory to our heavenly Father.

"Be not deceived;  God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.   And let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."  -  Galatians 6:7-9

Be careful how you speak and how you act.   Always honor Jesus by your actions and speech.   It will benefit yourself as well as those who observe you.   So many people go around angry or bitter or depressed; spread some sunshine with the Gospel.   Try to always have a cheerful attitude in public.  You have a lot to be joyful about if you are a follower of Jesus.  Your sins have been forgiven and you have the hope of eternal life !      Remember to do whatever is necessary to draw you closer to God; and that includes much prayer and Bible reading.   Then share what God's Word says with others.  But all this "doing" means nothing if you do not have love behind it.   If you are a true believer, there will be love motivating you to share the Gospel and to "shine" for the Lord.  

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."  -  Galatians 5:22-23

Everyone receives the Holy Spirit the moment he or she believes in Jesus Christ  (Ephesians 1:13).   It is the Holy Spirit's primary purpose to make us more like Jesus Christ.   As we are being conformed to His image,  we begin to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit.   It will not all happen all at once, but as we grow spiritually there will be a dramatic  change in us and we will be more patient and have more joy and exhibit the fruit of the Spirit.  

Actually, Jesus told us what to do in John 15:4-5 ---   "Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.  I am the vine, ye are the branches:  He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit:  for without Me ye can do nothing."     

So to be spiritually fruitful, we must stay close to Jesus.   Do not neglect prayer, daily repentance, the reading of God's Word, and total surrender to God and Jesus.    Their will, not yours.   If you focus on God and Jesus and do not get distracted by worldly desires and lusts, you will find it easier to sow fertile seeds and to  have the fruit of the Spirit.

Following is a 7 minute clip by Andrew Murray titled, "Working for God/ Bearing Fruit In Every Good Work"  :

"Tommy Ice on the Rapture and Saving Scriptures" - Inspirational Weekend

My photo above of a South African Starling (taken at the Honolulu Zoo) is just another reminder of how glorious and beautiful are God's creation.  It is unfortunate that man has done so much damage and is destroying a lot of God's handiwork.   I keep up with a lot of news, from a Biblical perspective, and I realize that time is fast approaching a prophetic climax, considering all the Bible prophecies now being fulfilled at an accelerated pace, a convergence of many prophecies coming true in these last days.   This all leads up to the imminent return of Jesus Christ to rapture His Bride - the Church, true believers- at any moment now.   I want to focus now on the Rapture of the Bride. 

"Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven."  -  Acts 1:11

Below are two videos discussing the Rapture, featuring Tommy Ice who is very knowledgeable about this subject.   They are both very informative and I learned some new things from watching them.   The first video to me is more of a warm up to meatier matter in the second video, Part 2.  Please take the time to watch both videos as they will give you new insight and valuable information.  

Below is part 2, a must view!

If you watch the news and keep up with things, I am sure you will agree that the world is in chaos and something has to give.   Once the Rapture happens,  sometime thereafter the 7 year tribulation period begins when God pours out His wrath on the ungodly people who defy Him.   You do not want to be here then!!  Trust me!   Rather, trust God and His Word.   

If you are not now a believer in the Savior Jesus Christ, I urge you to repent and turn to Him and surrender your life to Him.  Below are some "salvation" Scriptures:

Romans 3:23  "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"

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

                        our Lord."

John 3:16       "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 14:6        "Jesus said unto him, I  Am the way, the truth, and the life:  no man cometh unto the 

                          Father, but by Me."

Romans 10:9      "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."

Romans 10:13    "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Turn to God in prayer and heartfelt, sincere repentance and ask Him to forgive you of your sins, and to come and live within in you in the form of the Holy Spirit.   Tell the heavenly Father you believe Jesus died and shed His blood for the remission of sins and that you are grateful and want to live your life in complete surrender to Him.  Tell Him also that you believe God resurrected Jesus from the dead.   Thank the Lord that He made the way for sincere believers to gain everlasting life.   Pour out your heart to God and Jesus.   God will hear and answer a sincere prayer like that.

Time on this earth is short; eternity is forever.  Eternity is a long time to spend in the wrong place....Hell.    

"Thoughts On Faith and Strength From God" - Inspirational Weekend

There are several topics whirling around in my brain that I want to discuss here, but I need to focus on only one or two or this post could go on for pages.   I want to talk a bit about faith and about strength from God.   I recently had a lesson in faith and strength from the Lord.   I had over-exerted myself and suffered extreme pain as a  result.  Then on top of that I had pneumonia.    I spent a  good deal of time flat on my back, so I had a lot of time to just think, and think some more.  I wondered what lesson God was trying to teach me in all this.    I guess the obvious is to not over-extend myself physically.   Basically I came to the conclusion that God just wanted me to be still and know that He was God  (Psalm 46:10); to meditate on His Word and to be in prayer and to have faith  and patience to be healed.

God wants to show Himself strong on our behalf.  Surrender to Him today and and He will give you peace that will fill your very soul.  We cannot fully serve God without full surrender to His strength.   "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: Be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."  -  Isaiah 41:10

God's strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).  You need to trust in God so  completely that He is your strength.   That takes faith.   

"Faith, as Paul saw it, was a living, flaming thing leading to surrender and obedience to the commandments of Christ."  -  A.W. Tozer

Many people struggle with a lack of faith.   According to the apostle Paul, we are to "walk by faith and not by sight."  (2 Corinthians 5:7)  .   Don't follow your perceptions of what is true; instead follow what you know to be true by faith.  God is a stranger to many people.....they don't read His Word or pray daily and are therefore less likely to believe what God says if they ever hear or read His Word.   The way to end this is to spend many hours in God's Word so you may come to know Him and have an intimate, personal relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.  

Romans 10:17 says,  "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.."  -  Hebrews 11:6

"Every element of self-reliance must be slain by the power of God.  Complete weakness and dependence will always be the occasion for the Spirit of God to manifest His Power."  

-  Oswald Chambers

Next time you are ill and flat on your back, or you are experiencing many trials and hardships,  ask God what lesson He is trying to teach you.  Most of the time all these things happen to make you realize your weakness and to turn to God for answers, direction, guidance and to therefore draw you closer to God and Jesus.   God is your strength.    A verse I love is found at Nehemiah 8:10b ,

"....for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

I am very fond of the following song by Don Moen,  "God Will Make A Way"

"Seek the LORD and His strength, seek His face continually."   -  I Chronicles 16:11

"These things I have spoken unto you,that in Me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."   -  Jesus speaking at John 16:33

"What Does God Require of You?" - Inspirational Weekend

So what exactly does God require of Christians?  The Bible is full of Scriptures that tell us just that, and this post is for all Christians, no matter where you are in your walk with God.  We all need reminders from time to time as to what it means to be a Christian; how we should act and what we should believe.  This post will quote several Scriptures .

"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.  And the Second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  There is none other commandment greater than these."

- Jesus speaking at Mark 12:30-31

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them  in the name of the Father,  and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:  and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."    - Jesus at Matthew 28:19-20

Many of you are familiar with John 3:3, how you must be born again and all of  you know John 3:16.

But I must quote John 14:6 in full; "Jesus saith unto him, I  AM the way, the truth, and the life,:  no man cometh unto the Father but by Me."

Micah 6:8,  "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good: And what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"

Ecclesiastes 12:13,  "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:  Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."

1 John 4:21,  "And this commandment have we from Him, that he who loveth God love his brother also."

There are many other verses as well telling us what God requires of us.  Please also read 

1 Thessalonians 5:15-22.    I would like to draw particular attention to verse 22, "Abstain from all appearance of evil."    Verse 17 admonishes us to "Pray without ceasing."

These Scriptures were food to my soul and I hope to yours as well.

Have a Christ-centered weekend.   May you be happy and filled with love.

"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."