Videos - "The Future of War" Featuring Bob Maginnis and "The Bankruptcy of Our Nation"

               

The videos here are very recent and give a glimpse of some of the gigantic problems we face in these tumultuous end-time days we find ourselves living in right now.   The first video features LTC Bob Maginnis who not only talks about his new book "Future War", but also topics such as how our  "culture has misplaced values" and how the making of super soldiers (with brain implants that make them more effective and stronger in battles -  and less human as well)  will dramatically alter them as well as their souls.   Here is that video :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl0hJpoB0GI

The next video, with Jerry Robinson, is about the "allusion of prosperity" we are experiencing and the one phrase he repeats is "The Titanic has hit the iceberg".  It is important to be informed about the economy.

The information here is not meant to depress you.   If you are a true believer you realize this world is not our true home and that soon Jesus will return to take us there.   There is a wonderful hope for those who put their trust in Christ and not in this world and its governments.   

"Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help."  -  Psalm 146:3

"It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."  -  Psalm 118:8

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

Dangers Of Halloween - With Video About Some Of The Symbols of Halloween

Here it is Fall, and almost time for Halloween.   Time to dress our children as witches, and goblins, and even devils.  Or should we put our innocent children to practice a tradition that is steeped in darkness and pagan origin ?  When our children are taught that things of darkness can be fun and supposedly harmless, it teaches them to not be wary of anything dark and satanic.  They grow older and experiment with Ouija boards and other occult things, having no fear of the danger.   Very few Christians take the time to look up things about the pagan origin of Halloween, and they also don't take to heart such Scriptures as 1 Peter 2:9 which says,  "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light:"  (KJV)

Did you know that satanists regard Halloween as a high holy day and offer human sacrifices to the devil at this time?   How much into darkness is that !!  Children who think witches and devils are fun play as at Halloween, can be easily influenced by satan.  They grow up thinking it is all harmless and that makes it easier for them to accept occultic practices.   Sadly, even our churches have Halloween parties.  

Think about how all this must make The Lord God Almighty feel when He sees His children, whether adults or little ones, getting involved in the works of darkness when His desire is for us to be children of light .   

"For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.   And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."  -     Ephesians 5:8-11

You may Google "Origin of Halloween"  for more information on this subject.

Following is a video by Skywatchtv.com featuring Derek Gilbert who gives information about popular symbols of Halloween such as vampires, werewolves, and the like (all from a biblical viewpoint).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T3UBFnR_VM

It is my intention to start posting topics such as this and ones on current events in these perilous end times at the beginning of each week.   My Inspirational Weekend posts, which are more biblical and contain positive affirmations of Scripture and Bible topics, will continue to be found here on Thursdays or Fridays to start your weekend with a more soothing and pleasant type of experience.  

"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."  -  Philippians 4:8   

"There Is Always Hope" - Inspirational Weekend

There will be no negative headlines in this inspirational post....just calming and assuring Scriptures that are full of hope and better things to come.  Also there is a sermon here on hope by Adrian Rogers.   

Hope from a biblical viewpoint is not "wishful thinking" but a "confident expectation".  Hebrews 11:1 tells us, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."  In a sense, hope is also wrapped up in faith.   Without hope, there seems to be no meaning to life. I have mentioned previously how a few years ago (1998) I literally lost everything and my life seemed hopeless.  I know what it means to do without many necessities.  But that is not what I want to dwell on here, except to say that through reading God's Word and prayer and strength from the Lord, He helped me to hang on and gave me a sense of direction and purpose.   A hope.  Meaning. A close relationship with the Lord.

A favorite verse of mine is found at Hebrews 6:19:  "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the vail;" .  

Following is commentary by Albert Barnes on Hebrews 6:19:    "Hope accomplishes for the soul the same thing which an anchor does for a ship.  It makes it fast and secure.  An anchor preserves a ship when the wind blows, and as long as the anchor holds, so long the ship is safe, and the mariner apprehends no danger.  So with the soul of the Christian.  In the tempests and trials of life, his mind is calm as long as his hope of heaven is firm.  If that gives way, he feels that all is lost."  Regarding the phrase "And which entereth into that within the vail", Barnes continues :  "The allusion to the "anchor" is dropped, and the apostle speaks simply of hope.  The "veil" here refers to what in the temple divided the holy from the most holy place.  The place "within the veil" - the most holy place - was regarded as God's special abode - where He dwelt by the visible symbol of His presence.  That holy place was emblematic of heaven, and the idea here is, that the hope of the Christian enters into heaven itself; it takes hold on the throne of God; it is made firm by being fastened there.  It is not the hope of future riches, honors, or pleasures in this life - for such a hope would not keep the soul steady; it is the hope of immortal blessedness and purity in the world beyond."

Following is a sermon by Adrian Rogers on how to have a steadfast hope in a shaky world.

The most important thing we can do to hang on during trials and hardships is to keep our eyes on the things above and not on earthly, worldly things and the chaos in our troubled world.   As  Colossians 3:1-2 tells us:  "(1) If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (2) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."

Also we need to keep looking in expectation for the return of our Lord.   That gives hope.  It also inclines believers to purify themselves, to live a godly life now so as to be found "blameless" when Jesus comes again to take us to heaven.   ( 1 John 3:3)

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

Truly it is a blessed hope and we should always be looking for Jesus' return. And to tell lost souls about it and the Gospel of Christ.  

So when the world is falling apart, turn to the Lord for hope and encouragement.  The power of the Holy Spirit will produce joy and peace within you

Enjoy the following nature video and have a Christ-centered weekend.

"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

Two News Articles - The Economy Is On the Brink of Collapse & Possible Catastrophic Space Event

In the above photograph of mine taken at Waikiki Beach, this Black-Crowned Night Heron looks as if he is contemplating what the warning sign is all about.   At least he is alert and (my fantasizing) attempting to take in the information.  In these troublesome times in which we live, we need to stay informed and alert ourselves.  Here is a recent article about the economy we need to be aware of.  In this article are 5 urgent warnings from Big Banks that the economy "has gone suicidal."

Did you hear about the new Obama Executive order about space weather?  In particular perhaps a CME striking earth as it almost did in 2012?   Check out this article. 

In August of this year I wrote a blog post here about the CME  almost hitting the earth in 2012.   A CME is a very large plasma like gas explosion from the sun.  In the August blog post it has a video featuring Brent Miller who is an expert on these type occurrences  and how it relates to Bible Prophecy, in particular part of the trumpet judgments in Revelation 8.  See this fascinating information.

I mention these 2 articles not to be "doom and gloom" and not to put fear in your hearts.   We need to be informed !  Some people would rather not hear all this type current events; they would rather pretend life goes on as normal.   These are not normal times.   It is not the "Happy Days" of the 1950's.    

As stated in my blog numerous times,  you need not fear if you have a close, personal, intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ.   Things may be worse for true believers before the Rapture occurs, that is true.  Or we may be raptured before much damage is done.   We will

 not go through the 7 year tribulation period, however.  

Romans 15:4 tells us, "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."

Read the Bible often, pray without ceasing, and God's Holy Spirit will give you hope and keep you from being overly fearful.  The Scriptures truly are a comfort in these perilous times.   

"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

"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

News Alert - Possible War Soon With Russia !

The mainstream media has not reported much if any about the possibility of a soon nuclear war with Russia... and with China as well.   I have known about this threat for a few days and I should have made a post on this blog about it sooner.  This world we live in now is chaotic and unpredictable and you cannot believe everything you hear or read, to be sure.   But this situation now with Russia bears some serious thought as to it being a very real threat.  Here is a link to a commentary on the situation that you should watch.

Following is a video discussing a nuclear war with Russia as well as other prophetic events happening now:

I have written previously about Russia and the Gog of Magog war.  You may read about it here.  I am not saying the Gog of Magog war is the same thing as Russia coming against the U.S.A.   The Gog of Magog war concerns the middle east countries (with Russia and Iran and others) coming against Israel.   That war is also on the horizon.  

Another post I made last year was dealing with current events and not giving way to fear and anxiety.  It also mentions the Psalm 83 war, the Gog of Magog War, and the situation in Syria and how Damascus will be totally destroyed.  You may read about it here.

Be prepared!  And by that I don't mean just stocking up on food and water.  We need to be prepared spiritually.   If you have never accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, now is the time.  Don't delay! No matter what happens, if you believe in and accept Christ you have a wonderful hope for the future.  Eternity with the Lord !   

We are definitely living in the end of the end times, and speaking of the end times Jesus tells us, at Luke 21:34-36: "(34) And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.  (35) For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.  (36)  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. "

"What To Do When God Is Silent" - Inspirational Weekend

In my previous post about "Listening To God",  I wrote that silence from God is often because we have sin in our lives that needs to be confessed and repented of in order to have fellowship with God and to "hear" Him speak to us.  And that is very true.   But there are other reasons why the Lord may remain silent for a time.   Tuesday of this week I read a daily devotion by Oswald Chambers about God's remaining quiet for a season.  Following is a quote from a portion of Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest" devotion:

"Has God trusted you with a silence - a silence that is big with meaning?  God's silences are His answers.   .............His silence is the sign that He is bringing you into a marvelous understanding of Himself.  Are you mourning before God because you have not had an audible response?  You will find that God has trusted you in the most intimate way possible, with an absolute silence, not of despair, but of pleasure, because He saw that you could stand a bigger revelation.  If God has given you a silence, praise Him; He is bringing you into the great run of His purposes.  The manifestation of the answer in time is a matter of God's sovereignty.    ........If Jesus Christ is bringing you into the understanding that prayer is for the glorifying of His Father, He will give you the first sign of His intimacy - silence."

The LORD is teaching us many things by His silence.  Also, His silence can create in us a hunger for Him.   Between the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament of the Bible there was approximately 400 years of silence.....there was no prophet of God in that time.  Something to think about when you are concerned about God's temporary silence with you.   As Dr. Charles Stanley says, "Silent times are often God's preparation for something else."   

Following is a sermon by Dr. Stanley on the subject of when God is silent:

In this excellent sermon, Dr. Charles Stanley mentions seven reasons for God's silence; eight reasons for the various ways we often respond  (discouragement and doubt, to mention two); and then he gives seven reasons of how we should respond, one of which is that we should "respect the right of God to be silent."   Dr. Stanley says, "What God is after is love and intimacy and obedience."

Just a reminder, we cannot complain about God being silent if our Bibles are always closed.  As mentioned previously, God speaks to us through His Holy Word by the Holy Spirit.  It is our spiritual food without which we cannot grow to maturity in our Christian walk. Read and memorize Scripture and let the words sink deep within you, down deep in your heart and very soul.  Scripture can be like seeds that grow into deep faith and commitment to the Lord.  Faith is also believing God is present when all we hear is silence.

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a worker that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth."  -  2 Timothy 2:15

"Keep not Thou silence, O God: Hold not Thy peace, and be not still, O God."  -  Psalm 83:1

"The door of the Word only opens to the key of diligence.  The Scriptures claim searching."  -

Charles H. Spurgeon 

Don't let God's silence make you believe that He has totally forsaken you, maybe even forever.  If you are a true believer, He will never forsake you as Hebrews 13:5b tells us: "For He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."   

I hope this information will help you when God is quiet and not speaking to you.   But if you will open your Bible and read, and pray, and continue with perseverance, there will be a breakthrough eventually where you will once more hear from the heavenly Father.  

Below is a soothing video to brighten your happy weekend.  

Silence speaks when words can't.  

"And when He had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. "  -  Revelation 8:1

"Listening To God" - Inspirational Weekend

First of all, to hear God speaking to us, we have to be willing to listen to Him.  We need to set aside a special time everyday to read the Bible and pray to Him.   The primary way the Lord speaks to us today is through His holy Word, the Bible.   That is how we learn to know God and His will and purposes.  He guides us by means of His Word, and teaches us what we need to know in order to live a full and victorious life, a godly life.   Through His Word and by prayer. we grow close to the Lord and learn to love Him with all of our heart.   And of course, God speaks to us through prayer as well.  But we need to spend time in prayer listening for Him to speak, instead of us doing all the talking.  "Be still and know that I am God"  -  Psalm 46:10a .   It is best to set aside a specific time and place everyday to fellowship with and pray to the Lord.  King David, in Psalm 143:8 prayed :  "Cause me to hear thy loving kindness in the morning; for in Thee do I trust:  Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto Thee."   King David spent time with the Lord in the morning, before the day began.  I personally have my quiet time with God in the early morning, before I face the "battles" of the day.   It starts the day off right, and gives you a sense of direction for whatever may lie ahead.  Find a quiet spot in your home, or sit on your patio.  My grandfather used to sit on the front porch in his rocking chair when he read the Bible.   I rarely do deep studying when I sit on my patio, because there are distractions outside.  The point is, study where you are least distracted and can focus entirely on the Lord and His Word.  Journal key Scriptures and insights that you may gain at this quiet time.  The gazebo below looks inviting; a good place to study God's Word if the birds and other things don't distract you overmuch.   

God can also speak through other people and through circumstances.  He knows how to get your attention.   Following is a sermon by Dr. Charles Stanley titled "Listening to God."

We also need to have a right attitude in order to hear God speaking to us.  First of all, we must want to do His will.   God pays attention to a heart that is totally surrendered to Him.  We need to desire God's will first, before anything else or our own selfish desires.  Matthew Henry has said, "The first lesson in Christ's school is self-denial."

Psalm 40:8 :  "I delight to do Thy will, O my God: yea, Thy law is within my heart."

Sometimes God does not answer our prayers right away, and sometimes He is silent.  The silence can be deafening, and causes you to wonder if you have displeased God in some way.....and maybe you have, or maybe not.  Do not let that stop you from praying to Him or stop you from listening for His "voice" through His Word.  Someone once said, "God has not promised to give us answers, but He will give us grace."    Make sure there is no unconfessed sin in your life that is hindering you from hearing from the Lord.  If there is, repent and confess the sin to God and make the necessary changes to stay in fellowship with Him.

Following is a beautiful nature video to grace your happy weekend.   Nature teaches us a lot about God if we will just pay attention.

Psalm 32:8,  "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My loving eye on you."

"It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness."  -  Lamentations 3:22-23

"Have You Received Your Hug From God Today?" - Inspirational Weekend

The other day I was studying the Bible book of Daniel while sitting on my patio enjoying the beautiful day and the rich blue sky, when some long lost "friends" showed up.   I mean my bird visitors that have not been around much lately: finches and the Red-Vented Bulbul with his mate.  I had been missing their visits. Every year in the late Spring and Summer  months I spend much time watching their babies being fed by them, as well as observing the baby birds learning to fly.   You can see more about the Bulbuls  here and also here  It gave me a pleasant and enjoyable thrill to see those birds again.  I said a little thank you prayer to the Lord for the nice surprise visit.    Another hug from God !!

We have to be careful not to worship nature and the birds and other wonderful things about God's fantastic creation, but I know for a fact that God delights in our enjoyment  of His creation, and that was a big factor in His handiwork, that we humans should also take delight in the beauty and fascinating creatures and plant life that sprung from His creative hand.   But I digress.  This post is about receiving hugs from God !   The Internet image below speaks volumes.  

In prayer some time ago, I had told God how much I needed a "hug" from Him; a spiritual hug to give me comfort and encouragement.  Soon thereafter I ran across this image above on the Internet.   It just made me realize that the Lord is always giving me hugs as I read the Bible everyday.   His Holy Word has been an anchor to my soul, as is Jesus.  Hebrews 6:19 speaks mainly of hope of eternal life and heaven as being an anchor for the soul, but I also like to think of God's Word and Jesus in the same light. They all are intertwined.  God's Word is His Love Letter to us, as well as His Instruction Manual to guide us along life's paths.  We are told at Psalm 119:105, "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."  So reading and studying the Bible guides us, strengthens us, gives us power, helps us to endure trials and hardships, teaches us how to behave as Christians should, and much, much more. All of that results in many hugs from God.   Most importantly, the Bible teaches us what God's and Jesus' characteristics are, and the more we read, the more we learn to have hearts full with love for the Lord.  God is love.   By reading the Bible and spending much time in prayer, the ultimate reward is a close, intimate, personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.   You will never be the same once you are filled with the Holy Spirit and in close communion with the Lord.  There will be no desire to go back to your old sinful nature.

We also get hugs from God when He answers our prayers.  Think of how awesome that is.  The Almighty Sovereign God stoops down and takes notice of us puny, tiny specks of dust and even answers our petitions !!  All of the hugs from God are His way of showing His great love and grace and tender mercies for His children.    

"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."  -  Jesus speaking at John 3:16 .

"As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love."  -  Jesus at John 15:9

God and Jesus are all about love, and we should endeavor to be the same way.  

Below is a baby that gives its patient cat some loving hugs.  It is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.   

The above video reminds me of what someone once said: "Remember that life's most treasured moments often come unannounced."   How true.  As when your baby says "Mama" or "Dada" for the first time out of the blue; or when your husband brings you flowers just because he loves you; and a myriad of other simple pleasures that can happen that all remind you that God just gave you a big hug. 

God has used my 2-year-old grandson's affection for me to give me a hug direct from Him above.  We all could go on and on with the lavishness of God's love and grace and hugs if we will stop and take the time to recollect and ponder how good He has been to us.   We need to be generous to others as well with loving hugs to them..... which are really from God. His spirit at work in us.

Following is a video about cats and kittens and their hugs to others.   (Yes, I am a cat lover!)

I hope these videos and the reminder that God loves you and that He gives you hugs all the time has brightened your weekend.  Be happy and enjoy your weekend !  And be sure to thank God for all of your blessings !

"And whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he."  -  Proverbs 16:20b

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

"How To Surrender All To God" - Inspirational Weekend

How to surrender to God was a bit of a mystery to me before I was truly saved, and after I was born again, it took a while for it to sink in just what surrendering to Him really meant.  I had been a bit stubborn and self-willed and independent prior to being born again, and the Lord in His mercy was patient with me as He began to teach me and guide me in spiritual matters. 

The word "surrender" is similar to the word "submit", but to me surrender has more of a total and unconditional meaning than the word submit.  Both are like military terms, where one surrenders to the conqueror and lets the conqueror take total control.   In the New Testament, the word submit is from the Greek word "hypotasso", which means to obey, be subject to, be obedient to.  Isn't that a wonderful explanation of how we should feel towards Jesus ?!  It means to yield oneself to His power and authority, give oneself up, and yield to His guidance and direction.   

"Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?"  -  Hebrews 12:9

To obey God is the way of life we should choose.   To disobey God is rebellion.  When you totally surrender to God, He will bless you.  As Dr. Charles Stanley says in the following sermon, you need to surrender all control of your life to God - body, soul and spirit - and let God have His will in your life.

In the above sermon, Dr. Stanley gives 6 excellent ways to fully surrender to the Lord.   If you are truly saved and born again, you will love Jesus so much that you will want to surrender to Him and let Him be in control.   You must be humble !  1 Peter 5:5 tells us, "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder.  Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility:  for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble."    So part of surrendering to God/Jesus is to be humble.  One cannot be proud and at the same time submit to God; it just will not happen.  Remember, being humble and submissive is a choice we make.   If we make that choice, the Holy Spirit will help  to "conform us to the image of His Son"  -  Jesus Christ.  (Romans 8:29).   

As you surrender to the Lord, you should have a hunger for the Holy Word -  the Bible.  The careful study of God's Word will help you to grow spiritually and will renew your mind  (Romans 12:2).  You will grow to know the Lord more intimately, which in turn will mature you and help you to ever more willingly surrender to Him and His will.   It is a process.   

Because God is a loving Father and He knows what is best for us,  He requires us to submit to Him in all things.  By humbly surrendering to Him daily, He will give us blessings and peace that is so far beyond and superior to anything this old fallen world has to offer.   

Many of you may be familiar with that old hymn "I Surrender All."  For those who are familiar and those who are not, here it is in a beautiful video.

One huge hindrance to surrendering to Jesus, which is closely linked with pride, is self-will and stubbornness; wanting your own way all the time.   Besides displeasing the Lord, that attitude can get you into a lot of trouble with people and cause you to fall into serious circumstances.   Proverbs 14:12 tells us: "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."  It is far wiser to always seek God's guidance and then submit to His will. In other words, deny yourself.

At Mark 8:34b Jesus said, "Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."

Think of all that Jesus suffered for our sake !  He was mocked, tortured, and nailed to the cross to die a horrendous death so that we may have eternal life if we believe in Him.   God the Father even forsook Jesus for a time when Jesus was made sin for us as He died.   How could we finite creatures dare to not obey and surrender to Him after all He has done for us !!   We need to show our gratitude for His great love by our obedience and our submission to His will.  Too many people today are very self-absorbed and not spiritually minded.   Christians should not fall into that trap; and if you are a true believer and are often in prayer, asking for guidance, it will not be likely that you are self-absorbed but instead totally committed to the Lord.

Another thing that will help you to surrender to Jesus is to remember that, not only is He our Savior, but he is very definitely our Lord and Master.  We should show honor, respect, and reverence for  the Lord and Master by obeying Him and putting His will first in our lives.  

Jesus Christ will return soon to take His true followers to heaven in the Rapture.  We need to be living a life that He will approve:  a godly, totally surrendered life, and therefore be ready when He returns.

"And behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."   -  Jesus at Revelation 22:12

"The Cure For Loneliness" - Inspirational Weekend

A person can be alone, and yet not feel lonely.   Also, a person can find themselves in a crowded room and yet feel lonely.  So to a large degree, loneliness is a state of mind; a feeling caused by feelings of disconnectedness.   Even in loving families, you can find almost no type of communication (and therefore feel lonely) when one is on the computer, another on his smartphone, and still another family member in a zombie state watching TV.  We are supposedly all connected nowadays with all this technology and all the social media.  After all, we have many so-called "friends" on Facebook, don't we?  Still many individuals are suffering from chronic loneliness.  There may be many reasons for this; often elderly persons are the most affected, especially if they are shut-ins for health reasons.   These seniors cannot go out and volunteer and thereby be around more people to combat the pain of loneliness.  They have the telephone to call family, but that is not the same as being together in the same room, sharing and giving a hug now and then, which gives one the experience of true companionship, keeping a person from feeling lonely for a time.  At the end of this post is a sermon on loneliness by Dr. Charles Stanley.   

Besides the quote above, loneliness is also bad for your health.  Loneliness can kill you.  It is believed that social isolation kills more people than obesity does.  Loneliness has about the same risk of death as smoking does.  According to one source,  social isolation has a detrimental effect on a person's immune system and helps to increase inflammation if you are already prone to it.  This can bring about many complications, such as arthritis and even heart disease. 

But as I stated before, loneliness is primarily a state of mind. Don't get me wrong, loneliness is very real.  I've been there, done that. I have overcome loneliness by being busy in Bible study and prayer, as well as by doing research for these blog posts. As I research, I read and make note of many Scriptures, which in turn inspires me and draws me close to the Lord.  In other words, stay busy in the Lord's work and stay focused on Jesus and spiritual matters, and that will keep you from being lonely as you fellowship with the Lord.   Below is another take on loneliness:

In the Hebrew, the word translated "desolate" or "lonely" in the Old Testament of the Bible means "one alone, one who is solitary, forsaken, wretched."   Even King David got lonely and filled with despair.  "Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted."    -  Psalm 25:16.   What did David do to remedy these feelings?  He turned to God and prayed and his Psalms testify to this fact.   David loved and trusted God, and he knew that his only real hope was in the Lord.   So that is the cure for loneliness !  Go constantly before God in prayer, confide all your fears and lonely feelings to Him.  When you think about it, loneliness has a way of drawing people to God for relief.   And He will keep you from being lonely.   What better companion could a person have than the Lord Jesus Christ !  He laid down His life for us, and called us His friends.

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.  Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.  Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you."       - Jesus speaking at John 15:13-15

Remember also what Jesus said at Matthew 28:20b ,  "and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.."

And Hebrews 13:5b tells us,  "for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

What a friend we have in Jesus !  So our alone time can be a blessing to us if we let it -- by spending quality time with the Lord in prayer and Bible reading.   Life is all about love and relationships; and God wants to have a close, intimate, personal relationship with us through Jesus Christ.   We get to know God as we read the Bible, pray, and put our trust in Him.   First, though, (in order for our prayers to be heard and answered by God), we must accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and believe that He rose from the dead.  (Romans 10:9,10,13).   To do that you must repent of your sins, confess your sins to God, and ask Jesus to come into your heart - and believe with all your being that only Jesus' death and shed blood at the cross can wash us from our sins.   If you do all of that, then God will hear and answer your prayers, if they are according to His will.   Remember, the Lord is always near, watching over us.  He longs for our companionship and will give us peace and comfort and His friendship if we will only turn to Him in prayer and worship, and obey His commands.

Romans 10:9,10,13:  " (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."  Take this step, and spend much time with the Lord, and watch how He transforms you and your life as He becomes your constant companion, Who will never abandon you, never forsake or leave you.

"For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day."  -  2 Corinthians 4:16

"Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you."  James 4:8a 

Following is a sermon from the archives of Dr. Charles Stanley dealing with the subject of loneliness.   Please watch.  In this sermon, Dr. Stanley gives examples of how he has felt lonely, as well as ways to alleviate the loneliness.   

"The Prophetic Time Clock - Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" - Inspirational Weekend

Israel, as God's covenant people, is also the prophetic time clock as you will realize when you study God's Holy Word.  Many people today are not aware of this fact, as the false doctrine of replacement theology teaches that the Church has replaced Israel and what happens to Israel has no relevance in today's world.    When God made a covenant with the Jewish people in ancient times, it was an everlasting covenant.  Bible Prophecy revolves around Israel as my previous post concerning the Psalm 83 war and the Gog of Magog war makes clear; as well as does other previous posts of mine here.

The fact that the world is now in such a chaotic and dangerous state has many people alert to what the future may or may not hold; still others don't have a clue what it all means.  If people would read their Bibles and study Bible prophecy, they would have a better grasp of what is transpiring and realize that we are living in the last of the last days.

It is time to wake up before the alarm goes off !  The alarm being God's wrath being poured out on ungodly persons during the Tribulation period.   The Rapture of the Church (Jesus' true followers) is imminent and we need to be watching for His return.   We want to be taken to heaven before the horrors of the Tribulation period begin.  I seem to be stuck on repeating certain information over and over, but that is because it is so important...life saving !... and the fact that there may be new readers to each new post of mine.   Below is a recent video featuring Bill Salus and his belief about the Elam prophecy found at Jeremiah 49:34-39.  He believes that this prophecy concerning Elam is probably next to take place, even before the Psalm 83 war and also before the War of Gog and Magog.

Elam is found in today's Iran.   According to Mr. Salus, Elam goes back to over 4000 years ago, before the days of the patriarch Abraham; and the Elam prophecy was written by Jeremiah around 596 BC.   Basically, the belief is that some type of nuclear disaster will happen there at the Bushehr nuclear plant located near tetonic plates and the possibility of an earthquake happening in the area is very likely, causing a radioactive disaster.   Either that or Israel could attack and destroy the plant.  For more information, Google under "Elam prophecy".  Bill Salus has also written a book on the Elam prophecy found here.

Just a note here, as Bill Salus states in the video above, the Rapture does not trigger the Tribulation period.   We are not told in the Bible how long after the Rapture happens that the 7-year Tribulation begins.  There could be a considerable time gap, or maybe not.   What triggers the Tribulation is when Israel signs a peace treaty or covenant with the antichrist as written in Daniel 9:27:  "And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: 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."  The "one week" mentioned in this verse means seven years.

If you are a Christian, you need not fear all the turmoil, unrest, and terrors of today's world.  You should be cautious and alert and informed, to be sure.  But even if you should die for your faith, you have the promise of being with the Lord forever.  "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD Jehovah is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation."  -  Isaiah 12:2

For those who mistakenly think Christians will have to go through the terrible Tribulation period, there is this verse, "Much more then, being now justified  by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him"  -  Romans 5:9.   Also, 1 Thessalonians 5:9 tells us, "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ."   For true believers, Jesus, at his death on the cross,  took our deserved wrath upon Himself.  The price was paid for us.   We should be grateful and praise God continually for His great love and tender mercies !

Don't get confused and overly concerned about what prophecy occurs when.  Be grateful that God has told us what the future holds but, more importantly, live a godly life and be occupied until Jesus returns in doing the work of the Lord, the doing of the Great Commission found at  Matthew 28:19-20,  "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."

"Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and  from ancient times the things that are not yet done, Saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.........Yeah I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it."  -  Isaiah 46:9-10, and 11b

  

"The War Of Gog And Magog" With Video by Chuck Missler - Inspirational Weekend

In my photograph above, the sun is setting on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai.   In many ways, the sun is setting, so to speak, on this current world situation of confusion and chaos we find ourselves in now.   I know you are familiar with the occurrences of violence and the immorality, as well as the fact that many in the world have adopted an anti-God attitude.  But all signs point to the fact that we are living in the end times, the last days.   And what is happening in the Middle East with Russia and Iran and Turkey and the conflict in Syria is one of the signs that point us to the prophesied Gog of Magog war, when various countries in the region attack Israel for its gas and oil riches, as well as the fact of an extreme hatred of the Jews by Israel's surrounding enemies.   

One thing about it, if the battle of Gog of Magog is near, then the Rapture of the Church is even nearer as most scholars agree that the Rapture happens before that war.  That is good news that the Rapture is so close to happening; that is, if you are a saved, true believer it is good news to you.   

Following is a video by Chuck Missler, a Bible prophecy expert, in which he goes into detailed information on the Gog and Magog war, as prophesied in Ezekiel 38 and 39.  I recommend that you read those two chapters in Ezekiel, although Chuck Missler quotes Ezekiel 38 extensively in the video.    (Please note, this Session 1 discourse automatically continues to Session 2 on Gog and Magog)

God uses the Battle of Gog and Magog to bring Israel back to Him (Ezekiel 39:22).  The same can be said of all the other events during the Tribulation period.  The Church, the true believers, were caught up to heaven in the Rapture prior to this battle, so God is concentrating now on leading Israel to believe in Him and in Jesus as the Messiah.  I highly recommend that you watch the above video as Chuck Missler gives valuable information above and beyond what others attempt to explain.  

Why should you be concerned about the Battle of Gog and Magog?  After all, it happens during the seven-year tribulation period, (probably during the first 3 -1/2 years), and if you are a believer you will be in heaven then. Actually, some scholars believe that the Magog coalition  and attack may end no later than 3 - 1/2 years before the 7 year tribulation actually begins.  This is because Israel will burn the enemies' weapons for fuel for 7 years (Ezekiel 39:9).  This is no problem for the first half of the tribulation while things are peaceful, but not feasible during the second half of the tribulation because the Jews will flee Israel then (at the mid-point of the tribulation) rather than dealing with this energy supply (Matthew 24:15-22).  Therefore, these scholars suggest that Gog of Magog Battle will happen and end before the Tribulation even begins.  

As I stated previously, for believers the fact that events are lining up as preparation for Gog & Magog Right Now !!  means that we will be raptured very soon.   Thank you, Lord !!  We need to share the Gospel with family members and others immediately, before it is too late.  However, some will become Christians during the Tribulation as the Bible tells us at  Revelation 7:9-14.  If you are not a believer in Jesus Christ before the Rapture of the Church, you will end up suffering through the horrors of the Tribulation period.   Therefore, it is important to study and know Bible prophecy because, one way or another, you will be affected.  

It is important to note that the enemy countries that border Israel have already previously been defeated by Israel in the Psalm 83 war.   Following is Psalm 83:4-8  -- "(4) They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. (5)For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:  (6) The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; Of Moab, and the Hagarenes; (7) Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek;  the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre, (8) Assur also is joined with them:  they have holpen the children of Lot. "  I am sure you are familiar with the current Middle East chant, "Israel will be wiped off the map", which echoes verse 4 above.  

After the victory (Psalm 83) over the above bordering countries, Israel will have a sense of peace and security, which may explain why Ezekiel 38:11 says, "And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,"  The fact that Israel got rid of its walls and "gates" make it seem like easy prey to the Gog of Magog invading forces.   But God !   God steps in with supernatural events to protect Israel from these Magog forces.  You can read about the earthquake that happens just as these invaders arrive in Israel, as well as fire, brimstone, and hailstones and more at Ezekiel 38:14 through to Ezekiel 39:9.   So the army of the Magog invaders will be destroyed by God Himself !   God makes it clear that this is to make His name known  (Ezekiel 39:7-8; 38:23).

Not to forget, the countries that invade Israel in the Gog and Magog war are listed in Ezekiel 38:2-6. Chuck Missler, in the above video, shows who they are and uses charts/maps to do so.   Magog, as scholars agree, is Russia; Persia is modern day Iran; Togarmah is Turkey; and if I remember correctly, Gomar includes Germany and Eastern Europe. Mr. Missler and others believe the word "gog" is referring to something of a satanic or evil origin.

The main thing is, Bible prophecy has come true in the past (for instance, the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus Christ the Messiah came true, as the New Testament makes clear); so if prophecy has come true in the past, it will come true in the here and now and in the future.  People need to make sure that their lives and their hearts are "tuned in" to God, and that they have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus -  that they put their faith in Him and believe that He rose from the dead.  Romans 10:9 tells us,  "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."  Don't delay !

"But this I say, brethren, the time is short:  it remaineth that both they that have wives be as though they had none; and they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away."     -   1 Corinthians 7:29,31

"Is Something Missing? Could It Be The Abundant Life?" - Inspirational Weekend

Do you ever feel like something is missing?  Or that you are missing out on something in your life?  I guess all of us at times feel like there has got to be more than the humdrum, everyday common chores and jobs and existence.   Like, oh, so boring!  Like there is no getting out of the rut you are in? At least, some people feel they are in a rut; I used to feel like that, but no more.   Not since I have tried to put the Lord first in my life and am trying to please Him as best I can.   I am not bragging on myself, I'm bragging on the Lord for changing my heart and my attitude.   So that nagging feeling you have that something is missing could be the abundant life that Jesus promised us, His followers.

What is this abundant life?  It is to live life to the full in faith in Jesus Christ.  It is to have a close, personal and intimate relationship with God through Jesus, our Savior.  

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:  I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."  -  Jesus speaking at John 10:10  (KJV)

Jesus is referring to abundant life from a heavenly viewpoint, not an earthly one.   Some people read the above verse and think of a prosperous life, or one filled with prestige and power on this earth.   Not so !  Remember that Jesus Himself was poor and meek while on this earth; there is no guarantee that Christians will be rich and powerful, although some of them are just that.   

An abundant life is one that is heavenly or spiritually abundant.  Christians have the Holy Spirit; how abundant is that !!  They have the love and protection of God and Jesus and the hope of eternal life; how awesome !!  And what a comfort to the soul to believe and realize these truths.   Material things in this world do not compare to these blessings of abundant life from a heavenly perspective.   This reminds me of the apostle Paul who had many hardships after being converted to Christianity, yet he truly had an abundant life in Christ.

"I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."  -  Paul at Philippians 14:12-13.

I went through an extremely difficult time for a few years, and that verse 13 of Philippians 14 helped see me through as I repeated it over and over,  "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me."   There were other verses as well, but that one helped the most and kept me hanging on.   

The word "abundant" in the Greek is "perisson", meaning "exceedingly, very highly, superfluous, beyond measure.......".   Only Jesus could promise us a life like that.   This brings to my mind the Scripture found at 1 Corinthians 2:9,  "But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him."  The apostle Paul also says, "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us."  -  Ephesians 3:20 

These Scriptures are very encouraging and give us something to hope for and to look forward to.   Goodness knows we need that in this chaotic world in which we live; these last days that now have the threat of World War Three looming ever closer, not to mention all the immorality and the certain collapse of the world's economies.     But if you are familiar with Bible prophecy and are a true believer,  you know there is hope for you with a bright future..... an eternal future with the Lord.   You will not panic, and you will still have a peace in your soul that is from God.   True peace, love, joy, and more are given to us by the Holy Spirit which sealed us at the time of our salvation and will see us through all the turmoil.  (Galatians 5:22-23).

"I have a great need for Christ, I have a great Christ for my need."  -  Charles Spurgeon  

Someone once said, "If the outlook is dark, try the uplook."   Look to Jesus for deliverance and protection.  Faith can work miracles in a person's life and in his attitudes.   To God be all the glory!

Following is a sermon by Adrian Rogers on the abundant life.  

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."  - Colossians 3:1-2

"Will Earth Be Hit By Fire From The Sky - by a CME?" - Inspirational Weekend

Before I discuss the main topic (Fire From the Sky- a CME), I wanted to share a video concerning breaking news in the Middle East.   As many of you know, Israel is God's prophetic time clock;  much of prophecy revolves around the tiny nation of Israel, God's covenant people forever.  Russia, Turkey and Iran have joined forces, so to speak, to form what Kevin Clarkson of Prophecy in the News calls a strategic triangle. This is exactly what is prophesied in Ezekiel 38 and 39, and is a prelude to the war of Gog and Magog.   Following is a very short video concerning this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgsUTCI4WWY

Now, speaking of fire from the sky, 4 years ago, July 23, 2012, earth had a near miss with a CME, or a coronal mass ejection from a powerful storm on the sun; the strongest in over 150 years.  We all went about our business as usual, oblivious to the danger we almost encountered, as the media did not tell us about the event till much later.  Here is a link to one article about its occurance.   

Whereas a solar flare is mostly local events on the sun, CME's are large bubbles of magnetized gas (liquid fire....plasma like) which erupt into space.   Here is more information about them. A natural EMP disaster, like a CME, would render the whole planet into a shut down scenario.   Following is a video with much valuable information on all this that takes us to prophecy in the book of Revelation.   

In case you did not watch the above video,  I will highlight some of the information in it.   In a previous post I shared Revelation 8:7-9 , which Brent Miller in the above video also talks about.

Revelation 8:7 says, "The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up."   According to Brent Miller, this is describing a CME; liquid fire and hail, and mixed with blood from people on airplanes being killed and blood from any birds killed during the CME blast.   

Revelation 8:8 follows:  "And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;  (verse 9 says:)  "And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed."  Miller believes this is describing a supervolcano in the ocean.   

The verses above and following are describing what is known as the trumpet judgments.   Revelation 8:10-11 says,  (10) "And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; (11)  And the name of the star was Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter."  This "star" is probably a meteor.

Keep in mind the above Scriptures are referring to what happens during the Tribulation period when God is using His wrath to execute vengeance and judgment on ungodly and wicked mankind.   True believers will not go through the Tribulation as they would have already been raptured to heaven prior to this Tribulation.

I urge you to watch the video above as Brent Miller is quite the scholar and prophecy expert and he gives you valuable information in a clear and concise manner.  In the video he discusses many other interesting facts that I did not highlight here.   Keep in mind what one famous preacher has said:

"The LORD has His own sovereign modes of action: He is not tied to manner and time as we are, but doeth as He pleases among the sons of men."  -  Charles Spurgeon

Although believers will not experience the Tribulation, things might get worse for us before that time. As many of you are aware of, Christians right now are suffering persecutions and beheadings and other hardships.   We need to remember what Joshua 1:9 says,  "Have I not commanded thee?  Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."  - Hebrews 13:5     See also Deuteronomy 31:6.

There is a verse at Deuteronomy 28:34 that is speaking of another time and place, but could possibly be applicable to the Tribulation period:  "So that thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see."  -  King James Version.   Following is the same verse in the Contemporary English Version (CEV) : "What you see will be so horrible that you will go insane."  That will be the case, maybe, of many in the Tribulation.   You do not want to be on earth during that time !   I urge you to make sure you get right with the Lord before it is too late and you miss going to heaven in the soon to happen Rapture.

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