Are you ready?

Are you ready?

John 3:16 GOD (the FATHER) so loved the world that HE gave HIS only begotten (unique) SON (JESUS) that whosoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have everlasting life. 

Why was that necessary?

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned…Romans 6:23 the wages of sin is death, but the gift of GOD is eternal life through JESUS CHRIST our LORD.

1 Peter 1:¹⁸ Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed (bought out of the slave market of sin) with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your empty lifestyle (of selfishness and sin) received by tradition from your fathers;

We were slaves to sin and lived empty lives of selfishness and sin but when we call on the name of the LORD to save us (forgive and lead us) Romans 10:13 set free from the control of sin in our lives.

1 Peter 1:¹⁹ But with the precious blood of CHRIST (JESUS), as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

It took the blood of JESUS CHRIST when HE died for our sins to forgive and cleanse us/

1 Peter 1:²⁰ WHO (JESUS) verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest (revealed) in these last times for you,

Before GOD through JESUS (Hebrews 1:2) made all things the plan for JESUS to take on a human body (Colossians 2:9) come to earth as a baby, to live and die for us was determined.  You see, GOD the FATHER, the LORD JESUS and the HOLY SPIRIT have always known all things past present and future.  The GODHEAD knew man would sin, but they wanted man to have a relationship with them.  The LORD (JESUS) GOD (the FATHER) ALMIGHTY (the HOLY SPIRIT’s) delight (Proverbs 8:31) was in man (even before GOD made man).  At the right JESUS came to earth.

1 Peter 1:^21 (We) Who by HIM (JESUS) do believe in GOD (the FATHER), that raised (JESUS) up from the dead, and gave JESUS glory; that your faith and hope might be in GOD (the FATHER).

Amazing isn’t it that it took GOD the SON to come to earth in a body to reveal GOD to us so that we might be saved and be born again into GOD’s family (John 1:12-13) and transformed into the image of GOD the SON (Romans 8:29, 1 John 2:1-2).

John 14:6 JESUS said, I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to (GOD) the FATHER but by ME.

Have you chosen the way?  Have you called on the name of the LORD confessing that JESUS is LORD and that GOD the FATHER raised HIM from the dead? (Romans 10:9-10, 13).

Are you ready?  JESUS is coming back to catch HIS believers out of this sinful world.  Do you long for and love that appearing? (2 Timothy 4:8)

Hugs

Sharon

A lady and a basket

I was sent this delightful story and just had to share it.

            The Lady And The Basket    by Loreen   

A funny story tells about an old lady who was living in the village. She had never owned nor even been in a car before.  One day, she was returning home from the market carrying a big heavy basket on her head, when a rich man riding his car passed by.  Kindly, he offered to drive the lady to her home.  She thanked him and got into the car with her basket.

On the way, the man glanced at the lady in the mirror, still holding her basket over her head.  

Astonished, he asked her to lay the basket down in the car and rest.

The old lady naively replied, “Oh my son, your car is carrying me; this is enough, I should not burden it carrying my basket too!”

What an innocently funny response!  We sometimes do the same with GOD.  Every day, GOD carries us during the day. Still, we insist on carrying our heavy baskets of worries and fear of
 the future, for family, kids, spouse, money, job, etc…

We are carried by Almighty Hands, watched over by Sleepless Eyes and GOD plans our future.  Let us then relax and lay down everything in GOD’s Hands.  The old lady, if she agreed to lay down the basket, would have to carry it again when she got back home. But the beautiful thing about GOD is that once we cast our heavy basket in HIS Hands, we do not need to worry about it anymore.

PS-Just a thought from Sharon, Though the burden is lifted, GOD at times will give us instructions for action on our part concerning the basket.  If HE does, follow HIS instructions exactly. “For it is GOD who works (places in us) in us both (the the knowledge and desire) to will (determination) and (enables us) to do of HIS good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). The burden must remain on GOD not us.  for “faithful is HE who calls us who will also do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

Hugs,

Sharon

Should we not pray for Israel?

Most of our misconceptions are described by one truth that JESUS referred to: You do err not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of GOD” (Matthew 22:29).

At 1^st glance it jolted me when I found out that some are changing/ editing and deleting parts of history at will.  They do it in order to get people to think the way they want them to think.  Pondering their actions, I am not altogether surprised at unbelievers in JESUS altering truth in order to manipulate others. We are told in Romans 1:25 that they deliberately choose to exchange the truth for a lie. They have altered the younger generations’ way of thinking by changing the historic records and adding their own ideas/inventions (Ecclesiastes 7:29, Psalm 99:8, Psalm 106:29, 39).

These (like we believers before accepting JESUS as LORD (ruler and Savior) live in an ‘I am god/ it is all about me’ society ruled by the devil.

Before believing in JESUS, every one of us was: Ephesians 2:¹… dead in trespasses and sins; ² Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, (the devil) the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience: ³ Among whom also we all lived our lives in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Therefore, it is not surprising that they feel free to change history to suit their purposes.  Their present opposition to Israel is no surprise either for GOD foretold it thousands of years ago.  HE spoke openly that this would occur in Psalm 83:¹ Keep not silence, O GOD: hold not YOUR peace, and be not still, O GOD. ² For YOUR enemies make a tumult: and they that hate YOU have lifted up the head. ³ They have taken crafty counsel against YOUR people and consulted against YOUR hidden ones. 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 YOU:

You see the hatred of Israel is demonic for Satan hates GOD and wants to destroy those GOD loves.

But what blows me away is when someone who says he knows the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY chooses to edit, delete and change the Bible/ the HOLY WORD of GOD to suit what they think instead of accepting what GOD says in HIS word.  The LORD had recorded in Isaiah 8:20 that if one speaks things against what the scriptures say, ‘they have no light in them’. In other words, they are in darkness.

JESUS said that man cannot live (eternally, abundantly) by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of GOD (Matthew 4:4).

The LORD (ruler) GOD (source) Almighty (all powerful) the triune GODHEAD cannot lie it is against HIS divine nature (Titus 1:2).  If HE could lie, HE could not be trusted to do what HE says HE will do. Christians would then have NO basis whatsoever to believe or hope on HIS promises.

Many within the church at large are saying that GOD is fed up with the Jews for their many sins and that the church (despite her many sins) has hence taken its place and is now spiritual Israel.  that is called Replacement Theology. But what does GOD’s word say?

GOD has promised, declaring by two immutable things, 1) in which it is impossible for GOD to lie, (Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:18) and 2) by taking an oath (Jeremiah 32 and several other texts) certain things for the nation of Israel (the natural physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob/ Israel and David) that have not been fulfilled.

First look in one text where the LORD GOD Most High declares in an oath to bless Israel everlastingly.  Notice in this text the Sovereign LORD declares/ promises 11 times I will do something.

Jeremiah 32:³⁷ Behold, I will gather them (Israel Jeremiah 32:30) out of all countries, whither I have driven them in MINE anger, and in MY fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place (Jerusalem/ Israel- Jeremiah 32:31-32), and I will cause them to dwell safely: ³⁸ And they shall be MY people, and  I will be their GOD ³⁹ And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear ME forever, (cause up to now they haven’t) for the good of them, and of their children after them: ⁴⁰ And  I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that  I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but  I will put MY fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from ME. ⁴¹ Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and  I will plant them in this land assuredly with MY whole heart and with MY whole soul. ⁴² For thus says the LORD; Like I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so I will bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.

Jeremiah 31:³¹ Behold, the days come, says the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: ³² Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which MY covenant they broke, although I was an husband unto them, says the Lord: ³³ But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, says the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and I will be their GOD, and they shall be MY people.

Jeremiah 31:³⁵ Thus says the Lord, which gives the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divides the sea when the waves thereof roar; the LORD of hosts (armies) is HIS name: ³⁶ If those ordinances depart from before ME, says the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before ME forever.

Well, as far as I can see the sun, moon and stars are still there and will be until the new heaven and earth spoken about in the last two chapters of Revelation.  Therefore, Israel is still a nation before the LORD.

Jeremiah 31:³⁷ Thus says the Lord; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, says the Lord.

The heavens cannot be measured, nor the foundations of the earth searched out so it looks like the LORD will NOT cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done.

But through the nation of Israel, we learn of the faithfulness of GOD and that the steadfast love of the LORD never ceases nor do HIS mercies ever come to an end (Lamentations 3:22-23).

As is often the case in scripture, there is a time element for the promises to be completed: It will be completed in segments.  The nation of Israel came back into being in one day in 1948 (Isaiah 66:8) yet to this day an influx of Jews continue to come back to Israel from the nations that have turned against them.  Israel has had opposition ever since it became a nation, but we see here that GOD is working even the opposition for good to fulfill HIS purposes (Genesis 50:20).

During the 7-year tribulation/ Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7) / Daniel’s 70^th week of years (Daniel 9:24, 26-27) GOD is working with the Jews and the unbelieving wicked world.

In speaking of the Jews and the land of Israel, the prophet, a scribe for the LORD GOD said in Zechariah 13:⁸ And it shall come to pass, that in all the land (speaking of Israel), says the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die (during the 7-year-Tribulation); but the third shall be left therein. ⁹ And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on MY name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is MY people: and they shall say, The Lord is MY GOD.”  That is why this period is called Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7). As is written, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I have kept YOUR word” (Psalm 119:67).

JESUS said that the Jews will not see HIM again until they say blessed is HE who comes in the name of the LORD (Matthew 23:39).  That will happen when they see JESUS coming at the end of the 7-year-tribulation (Revelation 19). Zechariah 12:⁹ And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. ¹⁰ And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon ME whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn…

Isaiah 10:²⁰ And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him (the Antichrist) that smote them; but shall stay upon the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. ²¹ The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty GOD.

Romans 11:²⁶ And so all Israel (the 1/3^rd that made it through the 7-year-Tribulation) shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer (JESUS) and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: ²⁷ For this is MY covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

In the meantime, we are told to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6), should we not obey the LORD our GOD?

Hugs

Sharon

I can!

Got any struggles?  Feeling weary of the day-to-day demands or spreading worldwide chaos and confusion?

Hebrews 12 ^:2 Looking unto JESUS the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before HIM endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of GOD. ³ For consider HIM that endured such contradiction of sinners against HIMSELF (GOD who took on a body for us), lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. ⁴ You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

Why would pondering/considering the unfairness of JESUS life help us in our day-to-day struggles?

For me it happened this way nearly 30 years ago now.  I was running late for work, there were issues with my two teens and Mac was working out of state, so it was up to me to figure it out. To top it off all the demands kept me too busy to read the Bible.  To put it mildly, I felt overwhelmed.  You know what I mean, for we have all had days like that.  

I didn’t feel like I could take another step, so before I headed out the door I cried out to GOD, “I need a word from YOU, just a word!”  Then I blindly opened my bible and read Hebrews 12:1-4, glanced at the clock, rushed out the door heading for work.

As I drove to the space center I thought about JESUS.  I considered some of what I knew concerning the total unfairness of JESUS life, HIS willingness in giving of HIMSELF, how HE joyously endured even the cross, though HE despised the shame of the weight of sin put on HIS back and being displayed naked before those passing by. 

JESUS, the SON of GOD, set the joy of you and me being cleansed of sin, living eternally with HIM and fulfilling GOD’s eternal plan before HIM.  As HE thought of what HE was accomplishing HE endured.  As I thought of these things, somehow the struggles I was facing faded as I began to worship and praise JESUS.  Too soon I arrived at the base and had to go through the portal.  But no longer was I weary and dragging but energized ready to step out and to do whatever needed to be done.

If you are struggling and weary, maybe even wondering how GOD could allow all this to happen I urge you to consider JESUS and what HE endured for you. Somehow it changes your perspective.

Hugs

Sharon

Doing the homework

I really enjoy the research essential to write each chapter’s lesson. Nonetheless, it is when I sit down before the LORD and open HIS word to actually do the lesson the morning of class that the text really opens up and lives for me.  Maybe that is because before I begin I pray, “LORD let YOUR word live for me.”  For without the illumination of the HOLY SPIRIT the words are just words (1 Corinthians 2:10-12).

Since there comes an emphasis to some of the concepts as I read the bible verses. It prompts me to ask what I call wild card questions.  Questions not in the written lesson but ones that have flooded into my mind as I did the lesson. This morning was no different.

This morning one thing that struck me so that I wanted the gals to consider was how they have experienced the truth that GOD has preset (Acts 17:26-27) their times and places for specific reasons.  Now that can be literally a change of town or state or merely what time you go to or who you meet at the grocery store.  

My mind flew back to when I had just turned 15 and stopped on the way home from high school for a few moments to meet my new girlfriend’s invalid mother.  I arrived home maybe 15 minutes late and my grandmother was in a tizzy.  She called on Dad to make me see the seriousness of my actions.  I thought it was totally unfair when Dad put me on restriction and reacted badly by saying (actually just to hurt him) “I want to go live with my mother.”

At the time I didn’t know where that spontaneous response came from or where it would take me. I was very happy living with my grandmother even though Dad had moved down from Sacramento and lived close by.

Those angry words totally changed my life, and I didn’t remember until years later that just a month before at the Christian summer camp I had promised GOD to witness to my mother who lived 600 miles away.  I can see now HE helped me keep my promise by allowing my misconduct and Dad’s reaction (although Dad had sworn I would never live with my mom).

Well, within days I was taken 600 miles up to the beautiful, mountain small town of Quincy, California and deposited with my mother.  It was there when having a coke in the Pinecone Café with a new acquaintance that I was introduced to my future husband who was from Missouri. 

Most of his family lived in Colorado and a couple years later we moved to Colorado also. Mac worked in construction, so it was just one of over 60 moves in our many years of marriage. 

There was a difficult period when I wanted to take off and change my life. But the LORD said, “If you do you, will be a cast away.”  I knew enough Greek and customs of Bible times to know that meant that although I still belonged to the LORD, I would be put on a shelf and could no longer be part of the LORD’s work. 

Nothing, absolutely nothing is worth that, so I stayed.

I knew that like every believer in JESUS CHRIST, I was GOD’s workmanship designed to walk with HIM through certain specific good works that HE had prepared in ahead for me (Ephesians 2:10).  If I walked away from HIS purpose and place for me, I would be the loser.

Now 40 plus years and several moves later, I am retired yet busier than ever in the LORD’s work.  I obeyed GOD’s instructions and GOD was faithful to lead me on the path HE had prepared in advance for me.

GOD is so good!  I love the truth that GOD has preset the exact times and places for me.  It keeps me from fretting and gives me a sense of security while allowing me the privilege and responsibility to choose how to act at those times and in those places.

How about you?  Does this truth keep you from fretting when you get delayed at a red light?

Hugs

Sharon

Do you fret?

Now tell the truth, it is just between you and GOD anyway, are you worried about anything?

GOD says, “Do not fret— it only causes harm” (Psalm 37:8).

Fretting causes harm!

Fretting is just another word for worry.  It means getting ourselves “out of joint” mentally or spiritually.  It’s easy to say, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him” (Psalm 37:7) until our own little world is turned upside down and we are forced to live in confusion and agony and all sorts of accusing thoughts come into our minds.

Many are experiencing that right now not only with personal struggles but also with chaos breaking loose worldwide as hatred of the Jews escalates as it did before World War II. 

Let’s face it, if we don’t obey the command “Do not fret” in the middle of a storm when we don’t know what is coming next, then we won’t obey it anywhere.

This “Do not fret” is applied by choosing to believe GOD is still in control even when it looks like HE isn’t.

All our fretting and worrying is caused by planning without considering GOD is sovereign and actively at work behind the scene on our behalf working the good, bad and ugly together for an end result of good to us who love HIM (Romans 8:28). 

Those fretful thoughts come as lying whispers from our enemy to stir us up and feed our old nature’s desire to have its own way and be in control.

Our LORD JESUS never worried and was never anxious because HIS purpose was never to accomplish HIS own plans.  All HE wanted to do was to fulfill GOD’s perfect plan (Hebrews 10:7).

Fretting accomplishes nothing good, so it is foolish and a total waste of our time and energy.  But it’s not just foolish it is wickedness for a child of GOD because it is trying to take over GOD’s job and be in control.

To rest in the LORD is not dependent on our external circumstances at all, but on our relationship with GOD HIMSELF and our confident trust in HIM. 

So, say “no!” to those accusing lying whispers that can nag at you and take all your opinions and speculations to JESUS.  As I talk them over with HIM HE has a way of letting me see things from HIS point of view (2 Corinthians 10:5). 

When the taunts to fret or worry come, run as fast as you can to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16) and “abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1).  It is only there we find release from our fears.

Do you fret?  It is better to tell yourself the truth, “I am not in control, but my GOD is, and HE loves me and promises that HE will fulfill HIS purpose for me” (Psalm 57:2 NIV).

When we do that GOD promises to direct our hearts and minds (Proverbs 3:5-7) and then our job is just to do what we know we should do.  It is that simple, the simplicity that is in CHRIST.

Hugs

Sharon

What do you fear?

Some people seem to FEAR many things and in these trying times FEAR attacks each of us.

So, what should we do?

“YOU will keep in perfect peace the mind that stayed (focused) on YOU because he trusts in YOU. Trust in the LORD forever, for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength” (Isaiah 26:3-4).

“For the Lord spoke thus to me with a strong hand and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying, “Say not, A conspiracy!, to all of them to whom this people shall say, A conspiracy!; neither FEAR what they FEAR, nor be AFRAID. Sanctify the LORD of hosts HIMSELF; and let HIM be your FEAR and let HIM be your dread (not wanting HIS displeasure). And HE shall be for you a sanctuary;” (Isaiah 8:11-14a).

The FEAR of the LORD is the beginning both of wisdom and understanding (Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 9:10). As you focus on the LORD you learn to TRUST HIM (which includes GOD’s love, HIS word, HIS control, HIS power, HIS knowledge and wisdom and HIS justice) and you will have peace. A peace that will throw you beyond having to understand (Philippians 4:6-7).

The spirit of FEAR (FEAR of anything other than GOD) cannot cohabit with peace for “There is no FEAR in love; but perfect love casts out FEAR because FEAR hath torment. He that FEARS is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18).

As Oswald Chambers said, “The remarkable thing about FEARING GOD is that when you FEAR GOD you FEAR nothing else, whereas if you do not FEAR (trust) GOD you FEAR everything else.”

“Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that FEARS the LORD, that delights greatly in HIS commandments” (Psalm 112:1).

Who or what do you FEAR, or should I say trust in?

Hugs

Sharon

Darts and arrows

Darts vs Arrows 

Matthew 24:⁴ And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. ⁵ For many shall come in MY name, saying, I am CHRIST; and shall deceive many. ⁶ And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that you be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. ⁷ For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. ⁸ All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Confidence in GOD’s word is more important now than ever before as the world hurls itself into complete chaos. Just as the Word of GOD tells us we are in the last days (Hebrews 1:1-2) and in 2 timothy 3 declared it to be a time of great deception where evil men will get worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

Every word or action that isn’t good is prompted by believing a lie from the evil one.

The Bible calls those accusing lies the fiery darts of the devil (Ephesians 6:16). Those thoughts are the world’s way of thinking for ever since Adam and Eve listened to the devil in the garden and believing him ate the forbidden fruit, mankind has a fallen nature that listens to devil (Ephesians 2:2, 1 John 5:19, I John 2:15-16).

The amazing thing is that GOD declares that anyone who honestly wants to KNOW and DO things GOD’s way will be given that which he needs in order to do so (John 7:17),

We can easily recognize the enemy’s thoughts for they are ME-CENTERED thoughts-

How does this affect me?

How can I control this situation?

What do I think needs to be done here?

These thoughts do not trust GOD.  They ignore GOD and HIS wisdom and thereby lean on their own understanding. When focused on them people are wise in their own eyes (Proverbs 3:5-7).

But GOD is faithful to those who choose to trust in the LORD and acknowledge HIM in ALL things. When we acknowledge or consult with GOD, we are GOD-CENTERED. To those who look to HIM, HE sends arrows of light (Psalm 18:6, 14) HIS insight and direction (Proverbs 3:5-6).

GOD sends us arrows by placing HIS desires in our hearts and minds (Philippians 2:13).  Then when we submit to GOD by picking up an arrow- the WORD of GOD/ the Truth, it becomes both the shield of faith to protect us from the fiery darts of lies of the devil (Ephesians 6:16) and also the Sword of the SPIRIT (Ephesians 6:17) which when spoken aloud, makes the enemy flee (James 4:7).

Are you tempted to do or say something you know would not please our LORD? Then take that thought to JESUS (2 Corinthians 10:5).  Since the LORD JESUS has been tempted in every way just as we are (Hebrews 4:15), HE’s been right where we are and knows exactly what we need.  If we go to HIM, HE will send us an arrow of light to combat and extinguish that fiery dart/lies of deception of the devil (Hebrews 4:16).

Looking unto JESUS (Hebrews 12:2)

Hugs

Sharon

Are you listening?

Do you, do I, listen to hear GOD speak and direct us?

JESUS said “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of GOD” (Matthew 4:4). 

It is recorded that GOD said, “I change not” (Malachi 3:6). Therefore, if the LORD ever did speak to people (and we know HE did), then HE still does.

HE can speak to us in any fashion that He desires: from a whisper in our innermost being where we know what we need to know, do, or say.  The LORD speaks often through a verse that stands out as we read the Bible, or a piece of a verse coming to mind that shows us what we need to do or know. Perhaps GOD will move on another (a preacher or a friend) to speak an audible word that resounds within you.

Remember, GOD even had a donkey speak once (Numbers 22:28).

So, the question isn’t, “Does GOD speak to us or not?” The question should be, “Are we listening and obeying when GOD speaks?”

And my friends, today in our world full of deception and increasing chaos this is the time we really need to study GOD’s word and listen for GOD’s voice as never before.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In ALL your ways acknowledge HIM and HE will direct your path.  Be not wise in your own eyes, fear the LORD and depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:5-7)

But beware, GOD is not the only one who speaks to us.  Therefore, if the message seems strange, ask GOD about it (Proverbs 3:5-7) for if you are willing to do what GOD says you will know if something is from GOD or not (John 7:17).

Now if a word contradicts scripture, toss it out altogether (Isaiah 8:20).

But don’t write off that inner awareness, check it out with GOD for HE may very well be directing your steps not just to lead you in the way you should choose but also to protect you from harm.

hugs,

Sharon

Villain or Victim

Hamas and others claim that Israel is the villain in this war in the Middle East.  But visual and verbal proof from Hamas own troops’ body cameras tell a very different and horrific story. 

Every story has a villain, yours and mine do too. You and I were born into a world at war.

Today the devil goes back and forth throughout the earth seeking those he can devour but he still has access to the heavenlies and accuses us to our great GOD (see Job 1 and 2).  We are told that one day Satan will lose the battle against Michael and his angels, “he will be hurled to the earth, and his angels with him” (Revelation 12:9), barred from free access to the heavens wherein now he moves.

Amir Tsarfati likes to call it ‘the great exchange’.  Christians go up in the Rapture to meet JESUS in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Revelation 4:1) and Satan is thrown down (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7) and not long after the 7-year Tribulation/ Jacob’s Trouble begins when JESUS begins opening the 7 seals of the scroll (Revelation 6).

But meanwhile, right now, on this earth there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of fallen angels -foul spirits, bent on our destruction. And Satan’s mood? He is filled with fury, seeking those he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). Yes, he roves back and forth across the earth (Job 1:7), and comes not but to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10) and deceiving many with his lies.

Although we have an enemy and are at war, there is a Savior. JESUS CHRIST our LORD and Savior is Greater.  HE has given everyone who believes (trusts) in HIM the HOLY SPIRIT and GREATER is HE (the HOLY SPIRIT) within us than he (the devil) who is in the world (I John 4:4).

In YOU O LORD, I put my trust; let me never be ashamed; deliver me in YOUR righteousness. Deliver me speedily; be my rock of refuge, a fortress of defense to save me (Psalm 31:1-2).

Looking unto JESUS and for, the Author and Perfecter of my faith.

hugs

Sharon