"God's Eye Is Upon You" - Inspirational Weekend

"Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear Him, upon them that hope in His mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine."  -  Psalm 33:18-19

What a comforting promise in God's Holy Word !  As most of you know, to fear God does not mean a morbid, trembling, worrisome fear; but, rather, a true reverential fear: a fear of displeasing God in any way; a worshipful fear and to be in awe of His majesty.   God keeps His eye on people with such an attitude towards Him and shows them mercy and delivers their soul from death.   Of course, this also includes believing in and having faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, who died to set us free and to give believers eternal life.   (John 3:16)

But if you are living in sin and/or do not know Jesus as your Savior, the fact that God sees and knows everything should make you uncomfortable.  That in turn will either make you try to avoid God, or it will make you repentant and cause you to turn to Him.  Confess your sins to Him, be truly repentant, ask Him for forgiveness, and put your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior, Lord, and Master.                                 (Romans 10:9,10,13)

"God created me - and you - to live with a single, all-embracing, all-transforming passion  -  namely, a passion to glorify God by enjoying and displaying His supreme excellence in all the spheres of life."  -  John Piper, Don't Waste Your Life

"The point of your life is to point to HIM.  Whatever you are doing, God wants to be glorified, because this whole thing is His."   -  Francis Chan   

It is all about the Heavenly Father and pleasing Him and bringing Him glory.  He is Almighty God, the Creator of the Universe and should be glorified.   His eye is upon His creation, and that includes you and me.   Let us acknowledge Him in all that we do and give Him glory always.   Don't glory in yourself, or your career, or in anything else but instead only in God.  

"To give God glory is the ultimate purpose of all things."  (King James Study Bible Notes)

"To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever.  Amen."  - Romans 16:27

Perhaps I should have titled this post "Give God The Glory".   But if we realize that His eye is upon us, we will tend to live a more holy, godly life and thereby give the Lord glory.   

In these chaotic and perilous times we are living in right now, it is easy to get caught up in fear of tomorrow  and what the future holds..... that is, if we do not have a close personal relationship with the Lord and do not pray and do not read the Bible.   Only God can give you the peace you need to cope with troublesome times.... these end times we find ourselves caught in.   

As the hymn "I Know Who Holds Tomorrow" tells us, "And today I'll walk beside HIM, for He knows what lies ahead."

                              Here is that hymn in full; it is very uplifting:

"If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever.  Amen."  -  1 Peter 4:11

Two Gog of Magog Wars (With Video)

Yes, there are two Gog of Magog wars!  Most of you are familiar with the one in Ezekiel 38 and 39.  That is the war where several nations come against Israel in the near future.  We can see in today's news how Bible Prophecy concerning  this is unfolding before our very eyes !   In this war of Ezekiel 38 and 39. the leader will come from the North, which many believe will be Russia, accompanied by Arab Nations.  

In the following video with Amir Tsarfati, he stresses that sometimes the name of a place or geographical location (like Magog) can refer to the "spirit" of the place or person.  

The other Gog of Magog war is mentioned in Revelation 20:7-10; and, again, Amir stresses that it is the "spirit" of that war that gives it its name.  The instigator of the war in Revelation 20 is satan himself and there will be those that follow him, at the end of the 1000 year Christ's reign of God's kingdom on earth.  In that war, the evil forces against the saints will come from all directions throughout the entire earth.

I urge you to watch the entire 36 minute video above as it is chock full of spiritual information.   Amir has a thriving ministry and travels all over the world.  He is a Jewish believer in Jesus, and his home is in Israel.  

"And [satan] shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea."       -   Revelation 20:8

"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.  And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."   -  Revelation 21:1-2

"Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book."     -  Revelation 22:7

"Not Right Now ?" - Inspirational Weekend

Earlier this month I was at the beach with my son and his family and friends, and my 3 year old grandson was my big joy and delight.   One adult friend asked my grandson to do something (I forgot exactly what he asked), and my grandson kept on walking and didn't miss a beat and said, "Not right now" as he continued about, in his 3 year-old way, his important business.  My grandmother's heart thought that was the cutest thing ever!   Naturally, he had heard his parents say that and understood exactly what it meant.   

After later sharing this amusing and precious moment with others, I began to consider the words "not right now" in a more serious and profound way.

How many Christians have felt the call of God to serve as a missionary and have said instead, "Not right now."

How many have felt the urge to help a homeless person, but were intent on their business and thought, "Not right now."

How many were prompted by the Holy Spirit to witness about Jesus but, for one reason or another, decided "Not right now."

I could continue on and on, but you see where I am leading us to.  Most of our ignoring the promptings of the Holy Spirit is due to selfishness (maybe of not having enough time to spare to act, for example) and just generally self-love where we think only of our own needs and not the needs of others.

See the lighthouse on that 600 foot sea cliff in the above photo of mine?  I have walked the 2 mile trail up to that Makapu'u lighthouse on the southeastern shore of Oahu, Hawaii.  It took a bit of effort, being a grandma, but once at the top the view below was breathtaking and you could see such a beautiful shoreline and the mountains all around. 

Jesus has been compared to a lighthouse.  His life and words and example have been a "light" to many.  It takes effort to stay in His light; being guided by His loving Spirit to put Him first in our lives.

And to obey Him and keep His commandments.

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."  -  John 8:12

The hymn, "The Lighthouse," seems fitting to include here now:

Are you walking in darkness now?  Have you heard the gospel and know you need Jesus, but you keep saying, "Not right now."? May I remind you that tomorrow may be too late !  You might die before tomorrow arrives, and then where will you spend eternity without Jesus?  Jesus could return the next minute to rapture true believers to heaven to be with Him......where will you be when the 7-year Tribulation begins if you have not  previously accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior and Master?    

One may be so involved in the pleasures and lusts of this world, that they say "Not right now" to surrendering their lives to Jesus.  They love the world too much.   Here is another reminder:

"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

And another reminder:

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

Many people are enjoying their sinful life in this evil world and do not want to think about giving it all up.  Part of it is their own sinful will, and part of it the influence of the devil, who is the god of this world.

"In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, Who is the image of God, should shine unto them."  -  2 Corinthians 4:4  

Please, if you have not done so, accept Jesus as your Savior and put your faith in Him so that you may have eternal life in glory with Him.   Do not continue to say, "Not right now" !   

Jesus' return is imminent... it could occur at any time.

Be ready.

Be like the true believers spoken of in Philippians 2:15 :

"That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without  rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world."

"What Is True Christianity" (Video with Dr. Michael Lake)

Are you a professing Christian or a carnal Christian?  Or are you truly saved and witnessing about Jesus to others?  Are you actually born again and thereby connected with God?  Do you commune with the Lord daily in prayer and "hear" Him speak as you daily read His Holy Word?

Christianity is not only a religion, but first and foremost it is a relationship with the Creator.  In the following video (38 minutes long) Dr. Michael Lake discusses about what it means to be a Christian, as well as other topics ...such as the mark of the beast.   The video is titled "Are You a Christian or just saved? Dr. Michael Lake says what the Church won't!"

Dr. Lake says we need to understand what it means to walk in Biblical holiness.... to live a life so that the Holy Spirit is not grieved whereby He pulls back and away from you.  He also states that being connected to the throne of God is the only way you will know true peace.  

Now is the time to turn to the Lord with all your heart, and soul, and mind and strength in love for Him; to come to a saving knowledge that Jesus is the Messiah, the promised Savior and to surrender your entire being, your whole life, to Him and to repent of your sins and begin to lead a godly life.  He will help you to do just that if you believe in Him and in His resurrection.   

Time is short.  Jesus will return soon to take true believers to be in heaven with Him, before the seven-year Tribulation begins.   You do not want to be left behind to face the wrath of God on the unrepentant and ungodly people during the Tribulation !

Repent.

Confess your sins.

Admit you are a sinner.

Ask for forgiveness.

Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is your Savior and Lord and Master.

Believe in His resurrection.

Be totally surrendered to the Lord.

"(9) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."  -  Romans 10: 9,10,13

Remember what Jesus said at John 6:37 ,  "All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me, and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out."

"And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall seek for Me with all your heart."  -  Jeremiah 29:13

In these perilous end times we are now living in, you need a firm Anchor to keep you grounded in the Lord's truth and in His loving arms.  Some people, even professing Christians, are fearful of all the chaos and violence and turmoil happening right now and are in dread of what the future may hold.  Read your Bible and pray without ceasing, and you will find the peace only God can give you.  Remember, the Bible tells us the glorious end of all things:

GOD WINS ! ! 

A wise choice is what Isaiah 55:6 tells us:

"Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near:"

"Prayer For Wisdom and Knowledge To Walk Worthy Of The Lord" - Inspirational Weekend

Do you ever feel at a loss as to know how to please the Lord?  It may be because you need to read your Bible more, because His Word is rich in showing us how to please Him and how to walk as Jesus walked, in total surrender to Yahweh.

Total surrender.  That is a primary way to please God the Father.

There are two prayers we will consider here that will show us how to please the Lord and to walk worthy of Him; one in Ephesians and the other in Colossians.  Both deal with prayers for knowledge and wisdom.  In truth, how can we please God and walk in His will without knowledge of His Word and without His guidance?   You might want to read a previous post on being wise by knowing God's will.  Here we will explore walking worthy of the Lord with the help of wisdom from Him and as found in His Holy Word.

"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints:"   -  Ephesians 1:17-18

The above prayer for wisdom and knowledge in Ephesians is the first prayer we will discuss.  To know God is to be wise.  This is not just mere acknowledgment, but true knowledge.  The Ephesians did possess knowledge and enlightenment to some degree, but Paul prayed that they might more clearly and fully hold their present views.   Since we are imperfect humans and prone to error, we are not totally pure and we may have some dimness or not have a clear understanding where spiritual things are concerned.   That is why we need to be constantly reading the Bible and in frequent prayer.  Pray for God to give you a clear understanding of spiritual matters.

Until the Lord opens the eyes of our heart, we are as if blind.

I remember, before I was truly born-again, there was something like a veil that prevented me from completely comprehending revelations from the Lord; from understanding the Bible as I should have.   I may still understand in part, but the Lord has opened my eyes and my heart to a greater degree than ever I could have imagined.

Colossians 1:9-10 is part of the second prayer for wisdom that we will now consider:

(9) " For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; (10) that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;"

Let's just concentrate on verse 10 above, particularly "that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing."   We can see from this verse that to please God, we need to be fruitful in good works, and to also increase in the knowledge of God.   When we increase in the knowledge of God, we grow closer to Him and can therefore have a close and personal relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.  God wants to fellowship with us, and this is possible only with a close, intimate relationship with Him.  That pleases Him.  And if we have this close bond, we will naturally be inclined to please God in return and to obey Him and keep His commandments.  That is part of walking worthy of the Lord.  When we put God's kingdom first and endeavor to be as Christ-like as we possibly can, that is also pleasing to God and walking worthy of Him.  Put God and Jesus first in your life.

Be filled with the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and walk in the Spirit and crucify the flesh, killing the lusts and desires which are of the world (Galatians 5:24-25).

All of these things may seem impossible to do but, if you are a true believer, the Holy Spirit will help you to walk worthy of the Lord.  Be constantly in the Holy Word and fervent in prayer; it will enable you to draw close to the Lord and to understand and do His will.

"Wisdom is the right use of knowledge.  To know is not to be wise.  Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it.  There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool.  But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom."  -  Charles Spurgeon

"Not until we have become humble and teachable, standing in awe of God's holiness and sovereignty, acknowledging our own littleness, distrusting our own thoughts, and willing to have our minds turned upside down, can Divine wisdom become ours."    -   J.I. Packer

I have not mentioned love.   "God is love" (1 John 4:16), "He that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."  Without love, we cannot truly begin to walk worthy of the Lord and please Him.
 If we love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and with all of our strength (Mark 12:30), we will gladly obey Him and display true godliness, which enables us to walk worthy of Him.

First, be sure you are walking in the Spirit and not in the flesh. Get rid of all worldly lusts and desires and sinful thoughts.

"So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God."  -  Romans 8:8

You need to have vigorous faith to please the Lord, as that will enable you to be strong and to endure trials and to wait on the Lord, thereby walking worthy of Him.

"For we walk by faith, not by sight:"  -  2 Corinthians 5:7

"The just shall live by faith."  -  Galatians 3:11b

"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

"Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and please God, so ye would abound more and more."                       -   1 Thessalonians 4:1

"Be Wise : Know The Will Of God" - Inspirational Weekend

As an artist, everything beautiful inspires and delights me to no end.  Beautiful flowers, landscapes, wildlife, and delightful and gorgeous birds; all the beauty found in God's creation takes my breath away and fills me with awe and admiration.

God's Holy Word, the Bible, affects me the same way in that it fills me with awe and admiration for the heavenly Father and for His love and mercies and His wisdom.   The Scriptures also inspire and delight me as the Holy Spirit gives me understanding as well as directs  me to verses that fit a particular day or circumstance or emotion.   God's Word is powerful and can work miracles in a person's life, such as a renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2) and helping someone to live a holy, Christ-filled life. 

(15)"But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; (16) Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."   -  1 Peter 1:15, 16

You have to admit that endeavoring to be holy is a wise decision.  The Scriptures can make you wise - and in a spiritual, more important way than flighty worldly wisdom can do.  Worldly wisdom, more often than not, leads to death apart from God.  

The first, most basic act of wisdom is to recognize that you are a sinner and in need of a Savior - a Redeemer - to save you and to give you eternal life with Him.   It is God's will for all to come to a knowledge of Him and of His Son, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:9).  It is the most important decision a person will ever make in his life; a decision that determines his eternal destiny.   

As a person studies God's Word and obeys Him and is in submission or total surrender to Him, he comes to truly know the Lord and that will enable him to know God's will, as he is given the mind of Christ. 

"For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that He may instruct him?  But we have the mind of Christ."  -  1 Corinthians 2:16

The main thing is wanting God's will, not our own.  If you are that surrendered to the Lord, He will help you to know His will.  There are many Scriptures that tell us what God's will is.  Matthew 28:19-20 gives us the Great Commission: it is the Lord's will that we preach and make disciples.  1 John 4:21 reminds us of the commandment that "he who loveth God love his brother also."  There are, of course, the Ten Commandments we should endeavor to keep.   Read the Bible, and you will discover for yourself what God's will is.  The Lord will guide you as to what paths you should take in your life.

Once you put your trust in Jesus as your Savior and you are born again,  you will have a thirst and a hunger for God's Word and a longing  to be ever closer to Him; which will enable you to know His will as you build a close, personal, and intimate relationship with Him.  By all means, pray without ceasing ( 1 Thessalonians 5:17) because the Lord will reveal His will to you in prayer or in answer to your prayer.  

In these perilous last days we are now living in, that above quote gives hope and encouragement to those who trust in the Lord and know His will.  Even if you are persecuted, mocked, or have to face death because of your faith, you are safe in God's "everlasting arms" and will spend eternity with Him.  

"The chief means for attaining wisdom, and suitable gifts for the ministry, are the Holy Scriptures, and prayer."  -  John Newton

"There is nothing more foolish than an act of wickedness; there is no wisdom equal to that of obeying God."  -  Albert Barnes 

"Wisdom in Scripture is, broadly speaking, the knowledge of God's world  and the knack of fitting oneself into it."   -  Cornelius Plantinga

"As we trust God to give us wisdom for today's decisions, He will lead us a step at a time into what He wants us to be doing in the future."  -  Theodore Epp

Wisdom and knowing God's will gives incredible delight and peace in our souls.  Keep in mind we are not just talking about head knowledge here or just a list of facts, but true wisdom which only God can give by the renewing of your mind as you read His word and are much in prayer.  True, we need a certain amount of head knowledge to get by in this world, but knowledge is never right unless wisdom goes along with it.  "Wisdom is the right use of knowledge," says Charles Spurgeon.

So we can see that understanding God's will is true wisdom.  It gives us a frame of mind with which God is well pleased (Isaiah 66:2). It gives us a view of God which excites us to love and give ourselves to Him (1 John 4:9-10, 19).  It assures us that God will soon set all matters right (2 Thessalonians 1: 6-10).   And so much more !  Remember, God wants to reveal His will to us, His children.   

"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

Romans 12:2 above is a powerful verse and I will focus primarily on "the good...acceptable, and perfect will of God," quoting and paraphrasing Albert Barnes' Commentary on this verse:

"The word prove used here is commonly applied to metals, to the operation of testing, or trying them by the severity of fire, etc. Hence, it also means to explore, investigate, ascertain.  This is its meaning here.  The sense is, that such a renewed mind is essential to a successful inquiry after the will of God.  Having a disposition to obey Him, the mind will be prepared to understand His precepts.

There will be a correspondence between the feelings of the heart and His will.   ........  The reason why the heart is renewed is that we may do the will of God:  the heart that is renewed is best suited to appreciate and understand His will."

Again, to renew your heart and your mind you need to daily read and study your Bible and to pray without ceasing.  You will thereby draw close to God and James 4:8 tells us that God will draw near to you.  Separate yourself from the ungodly world and its sinful people as much as possible, but do witness to them about Jesus, however.

As Albert Barnes comments, "If all would separate from the vices and follies, the amusements and (pleasures and lusts) of the world, Christ would be glorified.  If all were truly renewed in their minds, they would lose their relish for such things, and seeking only to do the will of God, they would soon find it."



"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."    -  James 1:5

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding."  -  Proverbs 9:10

"Comfort And Peace" - Inspirational Weekend

In contemplating the subject for this weekend's post I thought rather than Bible Prophecy, I would dwell on some quotes about comfort and peace.  There is so much violence and chaos in today's world (which, in itself, is a sign of the end times) that perhaps we would do well to contemplate some positive quotes from godly men as well as from the Bible itself.  In my quest to keep up with the signs of the times and the news today as it relates to Bible prophecy, it makes me depressed to see how much distress and evil itself is prevalent in today's mixed up world.  When the world situation affects my mind and disturbs me, the best thing I can do is to take it to the Lord in prayer and also to read His Holy Word.  It does me good to dwell on Scriptures and quotes that stress how there is still hope if you are a true believer in and a follower of Jesus.  Christians know how things will turn out in the end for the Bible tells us that God wins !   He wins the war over the devil and unregenerate mankind. The Lord will usher in a New Heavens and a New Earth  (Revelation 21:1) filled with peace and happiness, or should I say, filled with joy; for true joy comes only from the Heavenly Father.  Happiness depends on temporary, earthly happenings that bring you temporary pleasure.

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."  -  1 Peter 5:7    

"In the midst of the awesomeness, a touch comes, and you know it is the right hand of Jesus Christ.  You know it is not the hand of restraint, correction, nor chastisement, but the right hand of the Everlasting Father.  Whenever His hand is laid upon you, it gives inexpressible peace and comfort, and the sense that "underneath are the everlasting arms" (Deuteronomy 33:27), full of support, provision, comfort, and strength."  -  Oswald Chambers   

"Comfort ye, comfort ye, saith your God."  -  Isaiah 40:1

"Great comforts do, indeed, bear witness to the truth of Thy grace, but not to the degree of it; the weak child is oftener in the lap than the strong one."  -  William Gurnall

Do not hesitate to cast all your cares and burdens on the Lord; go to Him as often as need be; find comfort and love and peace in His Presence.  He will never hurl a true believer from His Presence. (John 6:37). One Scripture that has brought me much comfort and given me peace is Hebrews 13:5b  :  "for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."  With the Lord by your side, you will be able to face adversities and to be strong.  If fear visits you, cast it away in the assurance that you "can do all things through Christ Who strengthens you."   (Philippians 4:13).   This takes faith.

"Assurance is the fruit that grows out of the root of faith."  -  Stephen Charnock

"Prayer crowns God with the honor and glory due to His name, and God crowns prayer with assurance and comfort.  The most praying souls are the most assured souls."  -  Thomas Brooks

"Faith means trusting in advance what only makes sense in reverse."  -  Philip Yancey   

There is just one important thing: in order to have God's Presence and to be assured of His protection and love and of eternal life, you need to be born-again.  Spirit born, that is.   You need to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord and King and Master.   To do this, you first need to recognize your need of a Savior and to repent of all known sin; ask God to forgive you and truly believe that Jesus' death at Calvary and His shed blood can wash away your sins.   You must be sincere and from your very heart believe in Jesus and in His resurrection.

"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

"(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.  (13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."  -  Romans 10:9,13

Marc Wolfe has said, "Living a Christless life is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic."  You are doomed to eternity in hell if you do not accept Jesus as your Savior.  (John 14:6). If you are an unbeliever and still here and live to see the soon to happen 7-year Tribulation, you will suffer through much pain and wrath and horror the likes of which has never been seen on earth before.   

When you give your life and heart and soul to Jesus Christ, you will have peace in your soul and will be able to experience a close, personal, intimate relationship with Him.  That is what we are called to do.

Live for the Lord.

Be in constant fellowship with Him.

Don't delay !

"Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near:"   -  Isaiah 55:6

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

"All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out."   -  John 6:37

50 Reasons That Prove We Are In The Last Days

The Bible informs us that most of the end time prophecies would not be truly understood until during the last days, when their fulfillment will begin to take place.  

"(4) But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.  (9)  And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end."   -  Daniel 12: 4, 9

There are many prophetic signs and occurrences today that literally scream out "end times are here!" The following video featuring Dr. David Reagan of christinprophecy.org explains in detail many of the signs we are witnessing or will witness soon.  At the end of the video, Dr. Reagan gives 50 reasons that show these are the end times we are now living in.

Following is a beautiful video with animals, birds, and gorgeous scenery showing the beauty of God's creation.  During the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth (Revelation 20), I am sure we will enjoy even greater splendors; not to mention those found in heaven and in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21).  

"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

"(13) I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. (14) Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."   -  Revelation 22:13,14

"It Is Later Than You Think" - Inspirational Weekend

The above young White-Rumped Shama Thrush looks alert and like he is paying attention to his surroundings and is ready to take action, if need be.   Oh, how we need to pay attention to all the signs around us which scream out at us, "Wake up!  End times are here!  Be ready for Jesus' return!"

I have written much about the Rapture and the 7-year Tribulation.  (Go to the search box above and to the right and type in a subject). I will continue to write about the end times right up to the time I either die or I am raptured to heaven, whichever comes first.   There is a sense of urgency in my heart and soul that compels me to warn people that we are living in the last hours of the last days.   

Unfortunately, many people are so caught up in the affairs and cares of everyday living, that any notion of it all ending soon just floats on by them in an unreal, dreamlike state of non-concern and even of unbelief that it could be true that these are the last days.  That falls right into the schemes of the devil; to keep people from realizing that time is running out.  The evil one also tries to keep us so busy, busy, busy that we do not have time for Bible reading and prayer, whereby we could grow to maturity in the faith and be able to endure and persevere to the end.

"But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."   -  Jesus speaking at Matthew 24:13

Following is a recent video https://prophecywatchers.com featuring Billy Crone and his views on the soon to happen Tribulation.  He believes that prophecy can wake up the Church and motivate us to share the gospel and to live godly lives.   In many cases, and in many churches, the Christians are asleep where prophecy is concerned.

Billy Crone feels that God wants us to know the future because He built the future and wants to give us a hope of a glorious future with Him....that is, if we are true believers.  Human beings cannot exist without hope; the heavenly Father gives us a hope and a reason to live.  That is one more indication of His immense love for us.

"Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth  into that within the veil;"   -  Hebrews 6:19

"And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."  -  Romans 5:5   

"There is an intimate connection between the life of the Christian here and the enjoyment and the glory in the day of Christ's appearing."  -  George Muller

Regarding the Rapture of the Church, C. S. Lewis has said,  "Precisely because we cannot predict the moment, we must be ready at all moments."

The Rapture will precede the 7-year Tribulation, because believers are not appointed to suffer God's wrath in the Tribulation.  

"Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him."      -  Romans 5:9

"For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,"                            -  1 Thessalonians 5:9

Perhaps there are some scoffers reading this now, that do not believe in Bible prophecy and say,  "Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."  -  2 Peter 3:4

It is well to point out that today all things are NOT the same as they were a few years ago.... not even 10 or 20 years ago.   Read the news in one hand and the Bible in another (figuratively speaking) and you will comprehend that what the Bible prophesied to happen in the last days is indeed occurring now....a convergence of all the end times signs happening all at once, as Jesus told us would be the case in Matthew 24, Luke 21, and Mark 13.

Why take a chance and scoff at the prospect of a soon Rapture of the Church, which is followed by the fearsome and devastating seven year Tribulation?   Open your heart and ask God for discernment.  What if all the Bible tells us is going to happen is really true?   - which it is, because God cannot lie  (Titus 1:2).  If you remain unyielding and do not surrender to Jesus and do not believe in Him with all your heart and soul as your Savior, Lord, and Master; then you will be left behind (after the Rapture of true believers) to face and endure a time of trouble and wrath like the world has never seen before when the Tribulation period occurs.

Why take the chance of being stubborn and hard-hearted and thereby suffer in hell for all eternity?   Ask God to open your eyes of understanding and to teach you the truth as you read the Bible.   Admit that you are a sinner and that you need a Savior (Romans 6:23).  Repent of your sins (Mark 1:15).  Put your trust and faith in Jesus to save you and believe on Him for eternal life (John 3:16).

The Lord has made it simple.   But it requires faith and surrender to Him to make redemption possible.   He will not force you.  Repentance and Faith must come from your heart.

God loves you.

Jesus is waiting to take you by the hand and call you His own.

Don't delay.

Tomorrow may be too late.


"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."    -  John 3:16

Middle East Turmoil - What's Next? (With Video featuring Andy Woods)

Everyone is aware of President Trump's visit to the Middle East as well as Rome.  This is prophetic!  Trump really wants peace for Israel and the Palestinians, and is working towards that goal.  But quite frankly, there will be no true peace in the region until the Prince of Peace (Jesus) returns and sets up His Millennial Kingdom.   

After the Rapture of true believers ( the Church, the Bride of Christ) the antichrist will make a covenant for peace with Israel which will begin the 7 year Tribulation, but it will be a false peace and a temporary one at that.  After signing the 7 year covenant with Israel, the antichrist will break it after three-and-a-half years.  

"And he (the antichrist) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (7 years): and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. "   -  Daniel 9:27

It should be mentioned here that although Israel will have a brief, false peace under the antichrist, there will no doubt be wars in other parts of the earth, as the antichrist goes conquering (Revelation 6:2)

But Christians living now will not have to worry about the antichrist or who he is, because we will be raptured before he comes on the scene, or is revealed.   We believers need to focus on Jesus and His soon return and live godly lives and be ready to meet Him in the air.   

"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."  -  2 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Therefore what is next - for believers - is the Rapture.  For those unbelievers who are left behind, more wars, cosmic disasters, and the wrath of God as He judges the ungodly left on earth to suffer the horrors of the Tribulation.  

Following is a video by prophecywatchers.com featuring Andy Woods' opinions on the "Middle East Meltdown", in which he discusses the Gog/Magog war and Ezekiel 38 as well as other insightful thoughts and conclusions.

It is Mr. Woods' opinion that Islam is furnishing the theological motivation for the Gog/Magog attack.   

"What the situation will be like in the world before the Lord returns, namely, Christ will be despised, and the preachers of the Gospel will be regarded as fools."  -  Martin Luther

"Such are the conditions prior to Judgment Day.  We need to learn from this and not fret when we see these things happening, but say: Christ predicted beforehand that the world would become so savage, coarse, greedy, and so on.  Well then!  That's the way it is; and it is even going to get worse."   -  Martin Luther

The above two quotes by Martin Luther sound very negative, but you have to admit what he said is very true of today...these last days we find ourselves living in now.   Read Matthew 24.  

The good news is, Christians have a blessed hope !   (Titus 2:13)  The hope of being raptured to heaven to be with the Lord forever!  We should be full of zeal to witness about Jesus to lost souls, especially since the time is short before His return.

Following is an uplifting song about when we shall see Jesus.

Let us remember that only Jesus can bring lasting peace to this world.   If you give your heart, soul, and life to Jesus and believe He is your Savior and repent of your sins and ask for God's forgiveness, you will have a certain degree of peace right now.  Peace in your soul, knowing you are right with the Lord.  You may still have trials and tribulations on this earth, but with the Holy Spirit's help,  you will have endurance and strength to persevere.  

"(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

"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."   -  Jesus at John 14:27

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

"Don't Forget The Armor" - Inspirational Weekend

The above flower and fruit (the ball) are on the Cannonball Tree; a tree with its own weapon !   When the cannonballs fall to the ground (or on your head!)  they burst open and emit a foul odor.  You might say this is a tree with its own armor.  

Christians have armor for their use as well.  The armor of God, that is.  In last weekend's post  I dealt with the subject of strength: how to be strong.  This weekend we will discuss how the armor of God can make you strong and can protect you in this spiritual battle we find ourselves in every day.  Following are verses from Ephesians 6 that describe this armor of God, which verses most Christians are familiar with but I quote it here for unbelievers or those who are not aware of this passage in the Bible.

"(10) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.  (11) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  (12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against  powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  (13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  (14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;  (15) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  (16) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  (17)  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God: "  -  Ephesians 6:10-17

We cannot win this spiritual battle by our own human effort; we need the Lord's help and His Spirit, and these verses above inform us how to do just that.   It is good to take note that, in verse 12, it tells us that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood....in other words, we should not lash out at humans that give us a hard time as though they were the real culprits or enemy.  The devil is the real enemy and is able to use people to tear us down and persecute us and to make us lose heart.

Also in verse 12, satan and his fallen angels (demons) are referred to as "spiritual wickedness" and "the rulers of the darkness of this world."  Though powerful, they are not as powerful as God and the Lord can protect us and help us by means of the armor of God.

Please note also that verses 11 and 13 admonish us to "put on the whole armor of God."  Not just a part of it, but all of it.  That is the only way we can stand firm and be strong.  Ancient soldiers equipped themselves with all of their armor when in battle, and we should do the same with our spiritual armor.  

"Having your loins girt about with truth"  (verse 14) ;  The girdle or sash was always an important part of their dress in war as well as in peace.  It was designed to keep every part of the armor in its place, and to gird the soldier on every side. Likewise, believers need the truth of God's Word to keep things in perspective and to help them endure the battle we face with the darkness of evil.  In other words, to hold everything else together as only God's Word is able to do.

"Having on the breastplate of righteousness" (verse 14) ;  Here Paul is showing that true believers are to put on righteousness to protect their hearts as a soldier puts on a breastplate to protect himself.  This righteousness includes integrity, holiness, purity of life, and sincere piety.  

"And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;" (verse 15);  A peaceful and benevolent attitude which is an essential part of the Christian character.  This, like the boots worn by soldiers, will keep you from being harmed by the many difficulties and trials which, like sharp-pointed thorns, may lie in your way and thereby obstruct your progress.

"The shield of faith"   (verse 16)  The apostle alludes to the great oblong shield which covers the whole body.  As faith is the grace by which all others are preserved and rendered active, so faith is properly represented here by a shield by which the whole body is covered and protected.   True faith can quench any dart of the devil.

"The helmet of salvation"  (verse 17).   This protects one's understanding from being darkened and confused by any temptations of the evil one.  It also protects from any subtle views of the ungodly.

"The sword of the Spirit."  The Word of God; the Holy Scriptures.  It comes from the Holy Spirit, and receives its fulfillment in the soul through the workings of the Holy Spirit.  The ability to quote God's Holy Word, especially in times of temptation and trials, can cut in pieces (like a sword) the snares of the adversary and his demons.  

Ephesians 1:19 tells us:  "And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power."

In other words, God gives us the strength to help us to resist the devil.  As stated previously, we are in a war; a spiritual warfare against the wicked forces of darkness.   This is particularly true of Christians who are living godly lives and sharing the Gospel.  The devil strikes at them especially hard, to bring them down, because he already has the ungodly...the world in general...in his grasp.

So put on the armor that God provides.  The Lord will protect you and help you to endure.

"Do not strive in your own strength; cast yourself at the feet of the Lord Jesus, and wait upon Him in the sure confidence that He is with you, and works in you.  Strive in prayer; let faith fill your heart - so will you be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might."  -  Andrew Murray

We should not overlook what Ephesians 6:18 tells us,  "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."

Prayer gives you strength from the Lord.  It just simply makes all things better to pray.   When you pray and read your Bible daily, you draw ever closer to the Lord, and that alone gives you victory over temptation and discouragement.  When you love the Lord with all your heart, soul, strength and mind, you will live more and more in His presence and grow stronger every day.


"Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong."   -  1 Corinthians 16:13

The September 23, 2017 Myth

The Internet is overflowing right now with the myth that the Rapture will occur on September 23, 2017, because of the alignment of the stars and of what Revelation 12 records.    Granted, it is possible for the Rapture to occur at any time, even on September 23, but it is not likely on that specific date.  Mainly because of what Jesus said at Matthew 24:36,  "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only."  He also says at Matthew 24:44, "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man cometh."  In these verses Jesus made it very clear that no one would know the day or the hour when He returns.

Following is a video by Joel Richardson concerning this big to-do over September 23 of this year.  The following video contains a video from Stellarium showing exactly where the stars will be on that date, and it disproves the current theory that it will be the time of the Rapture.  It is a very informative video and Mr. Richardson's thoughts on this false sign of September 23 of this year are worth taking note of.

 Update :  This video was deleted .  To view go to You Tube and type in   ..  The Underground Episode 65 The False Sign of September 23, 2017

Sorry for the inconvenience.

It is very true that this year is worth noting; so many prophecies are coming true almost daily, or are a precursor of what is to come.  I have written several posts about the end times, the Rapture, the Mark of the Beast, the 7 year tribulation, etc.  You may type any of those subjects in the above right search box to take you to those posts.   

Pete Garcia has written an excellent article on how significant the year 2017 is.   For instance, 2017 is 70 years since Israel became a nation again (Israel won the right to statehood on 11-29-47); also, this year, it has been 50 years since they regained Jerusalem in the 6 day war of 1967.  Remember, the Jewish people are special to God; He made an everlasting covenant with them in ancient times and Israel is the LORD's prophetic time clock.  The end times began when Israel became a nation again. You may read Pete Garcia's article here.  

Let us not get so involved in dates and prophecy that we neglect the main thing:  Jesus Christ, our Lord and King and Savior.   We need to stay focused on Him, in worship and in praise.  We need to pray daily and read our Bibles daily so we may grow to know Him better and to thereby have a close, personal, and intimate relationship with Him.  He loves us and wants to hear from us and He wants to fellowship with us.

We should live godly lives, in expectation of our Lord's return at any time.   

"And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming."  -  1 John 2:28

"How To Be Strong" - Inspirational Weekend

How refreshing is this small waterfall !  It reminds me of what Jesus called "living water".  (John 7:38).  God's holy Word is even more refreshing - and more rejuvenating - than even this delightful waterfall shown here.  Just a side-note: when I do my daily Bible study I have an internet video going depicting a stream with waterfalls and with birds chirping in the background.  It is very soothing to watch and listen to as I read my Bible.  It is not distracting as the sound is on low and I only occasionally glance at the moving water.  Try it sometime.    

This post is about acquiring strength to face obstacles.  Reading God's Word and immersing yourself in its faith-building truths will enable you to do just that.... to face hardships and trials with the Lord as your strength.   

"My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen Thou me according to Thy word."  -  Psalm 119:28

Philippians 4:13 tells us,  "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."   I could almost end this post with that verse, because it just about sums up everything concerning strength and how it is possible when you have the Lord by your side.  You can face anything by the power of God/Jesus and you can endure the impossible in His strength.  Philippians 4:13 is a only a part of what Paul had in mind in this epistle as to Christ's abilities to meet all of our needs.  

A large part of endurance and learning to be strong is found in the ability to learn to be content in whatever circumstances one finds himself in.  (Philippians 4:11).  The more you have your mind on Christ and on heavenly things (and not on the lusts of the world), the more you will find yourself content, serving the Lord and living a godly life, with Jesus to guide and strengthen you in all things.

"And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places,"  -  Ephesians 1:19-20

"Only he who can say, 'The Lord is the strength of my life' can say 'Of whom shall I be afraid?' "  -  Alexander MacLaren

"You become stronger only when you become weaker.  When you surrender your will to God, you discover the resources to do what God requires."  -  Erwin Lutzer

We need to rely on the power of God.  God cannot use a person who is self-centered and who relies on his own strength and not on Him.  That is the epitome of conceit and pride to rely on your own strength.  When we were saved, we were to rely on Jesus as our Lord and Master as well as our Savior.  Inquire of the Lord when you are in doubt and need guidance.   He is waiting to hear from you.   He will give you strength to endure and to face your mountains.   

"He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength...........But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."    -  Isaiah 40:29, 31

Remember, however, that if you ask for strength, God may give you difficulties to make you strong.  It is through endurance that we learn to be strong.   

"Occasions of adversity best discover how great virtue or strength each one hath.  For occasions do not make a man frail, but they show what he is."   -  Thomas A. Kempis

Remember Paul and his thorn in the flesh.  In 2 Corinthians 12 Paul describes how he was caught up to the third heaven and that he "heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter."  Verse 7 tells us that to keep him from being prideful he was given a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of satan to buffet him.  He prayed to the Lord to remove it, but verse 9 tells us:

"And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.  Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."    And continuing with verse 10 of 2 Corinthians 12:  "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

We can see that the Lord's grace was sufficient for Paul because it was a better solution than to remove Paul's thorn.  "Human weakness provides the perfect opportunity for the display of divine power."  

To be strong requires strong faith.  If you have been born-again the Holy Spirit will increase your faith as you study your Bible and as you come to the Lord in much prayer.   Answered prayers is one of the greatest faith-builders there is !    When you are in distress or feeling blue, just remember how many times God has answered your prayers showing how much He loves you and cares for you.  Recalling His goodness and faithfulness toward you will guarantee that you snap out of your negative mood and that you will also be encouraged to continue life's journey with much faith in the Lord, which in turn will make you stronger in your walk with Him.

"Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength."  -  Francis de Sales

"The remedy for discouragement is the Word of God.  When you feed your heart and mind with its truth, you regain your perspective and find renewed strength."  -  Warren Wiersbe

We find ourselves now living in the end times, the last hours of the last days.  We need our faith and strength in the Lord to be able to endure these perilous times.  (2 Timothy 3:1-5).  But, if you are a true believer in and follower of Jesus Christ,  you will be included in the Rapture of the Church which is soon to happen.  You will therefore not suffer the wrath of God which occurs during the seven year Tribulation period.  You do not want to be "left behind" and see and experience the horrendous judgments during the Tribulation; that is, if you are not saved now, you must give your life to the Lord in faith, believing in Him with all of your heart and also in His resurrection; repenting sincerely of all your sins and asking the Lord to forgive you and give you a humble and contrite spirit.

Time is short !!  


"That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened  with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness  of God."   -  Ephesians 3:16-19