Who did it?

There is a new year beginning today.  What lies ahead, only GOD knows for sure.

But GOD’s word promises Isaiah 26:³ GOD will keep in perfect peace the mind who is stayed (focused) on HIM, because he trusts in GOD.  ⁴ trust in the LORD for ever and ever for in the LORD JEHOVAH (YHWH) is everlasting strength.

One pastor once said, “If you view everything as coming from the hand of our loving wise GOD, life will be filled with peace. HE tells us that if trust HIM and talk to HIM about everything, HE HIMSELF will direct our steps. But we must not be wise in our own eyes to demand which we think is best (Proverbs 3:5-7).

But sometimes what GOD does/allows doesn’t makes a bit of sense to us.  Which just proves GOD’s own word is true.

Isaiah 55:⁸ For MY thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways MY ways, says the Lord. ⁹ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are MY ways higher than your ways, and MY thoughts than your thoughts.

When we don’t understand the whys(?) behind what GOD is allowing or doing in our lives or around the world we need to depend on what we do know about GOD. 

1-HE is Sovereign (in control and works all things after the counsel of HIS own will (Ephesians 1:11, Lamentations 3:37).

2-GOD is love (1 John 4:8) (That’s agape’ love which always works for the benefit of the one loved (see 1 Corinthians 13)

3-GOD is compassionate and faithful.  Because of HIS mercies endure forever we are not consumed (Lamentations 3:22-23).

4-The LORD has all power (HE is able to do whatever HE says HE will do Romans 4:20-21)

5-Everything the LORD decides to do is right and true (Psalm 19:9)

6-The ALMIGHTY does nothing without a good reason (Ezekiel 14:23).

7-HE has preset the exact times and places for the purpose that people would reach out to HIM (Acts 17:26-27)

8-GOD works all things (good and bad) together for an end result of good to them who love HIM and that changes them to be conformed to the image of JESUS (Romans 8:28-29).

9-Everything allowed or sent benefits the believer in JESUS for temporary troubles achieve for us eternal wonders that far surpass the pain of today.  Our troubles are temporary but what they achieve are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:15-18).

10-Struggles develop and prepare us for the work GOD has for us to do (James 1:2-4)

Just 2 examples of these truths.

In Genesis 50:20 Joseph tells his brothers that when they sold him as a slave they meant it for evil against him but that GOD intended to use that for good. GOD used the 20 years of slavery and prison to prepare and place Joseph in a position where he could be called into leadership in Egypt and save many through 7 years of famine as well as forward GOD plan to build a nation out of Jacob/Israel from whom the Messiah JESUS would come.

In Acts 2:23 shows us that wicked men had JESUS crucified by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of GOD.  What did it achieve?  Forgiveness and eternal life for all who will believe in JESUS, and it disarmed the demons and destroyed the authority of the devil (Colossians 2:13-15).

The wicked are responsible and will be judged for their actions, yet GOD will use all things the wicked do to benefit those who love HIM and to further HIS eternal plan.  That blows my mind.  Our GOD is a mighty GOD!

See, we really can’t say what is bad for we do not know what the all wise, powerful, compassionate GOD is doing through what we see is happening.  1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the LORD come, Who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the heart…

Remember Psalm 3:3 “YOU O LORD are a shield about me, YOU are my glory and the lifter of my head.”

If you sing that verse or state it when you see trouble coming your head will lift up and focus on GOD and your fears will flee.

Hugs

Sharon

Are you ready?

When I carried my babies, I got incredibly large. Way, way before the time for the births of my babies, I was more than ready to have them. Many, many times throughout the last days of my pregnancies I would think. “This is the day!” But, it wasn’t.

In each case, somehow there was a lull, I gave up, or other things caught my attention. Crazy as it sounds, after all that false labor, each time I went into real labor (with my five children), it came on so suddenly it surprised everyone.

Doctors tried to induce my 2nd daughter-Kari, over and over but nothing happened. But, when the appointed time came, she was ready. It even surprised me. She came so quickly, the doctor barely got into position after pulling on his gloves when Kari landed in his hands.

I think that is what the Scripture means when it says, the day will come as a thief in the night (Revelation 16:15).

We know the signs of CHRIST’s coming, as recorded in the Bible are seen everywhere. They have been around for awhile. But boy are they intensifying as we see war in the Ukraine but now Israel is getting shelled.

Just like when I went into the hospital with signs of labor, time and time again, many have “thought this is the day!”.. But it wasn’t.

As the LORD JESUS said, “It is not for us to know the time” (Acts 1:7). “Watch for you don’t know the hour when your LORD will come” (Matthew 24:42).

The thing is, one day JESUS is coming back to take those who believe in HIM to be with HIM forever (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).

Unless you believe in JESUS (John 3:16-18), you will be left behind. JESUS said, when HE comes, we will be busy with our everyday life (Matthew 24:33-39). So, we need to make sure NOW, that we are ready.

All have sinned and the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through JESUS Christ.  Believe John 3:16 and 36. Romans 10:9-10 and call on the Lord Jesus Christ Romans 10:13 and you will be saved.

One day when we don’t expect Him Jesus will come

Are you, am I, ready? What about our kids, the neighbors, the people we work with, are they ready? Have you told them about JESUS? If you don’t tell them, who will?

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

Hugs

Sharon

Are you salty?

How salty are you?

The Dead Sea is a salt lake bordered by Jordan to the east and Israel and the West Bank to the west. The lake’s surface is 1,412 ft below sea level, making its shores the lowest land-based elevation on Earth. It is 34.2% (in 2011) salt- 9.6 times as salty as the ocean –making it the saltiest body of water in the world and also which makes swimming similar to floating.

It went from a fresh-water lake to a salt lake when GOD sent fire down upon it in judgment (Genesis 19:24).

When GOD says,   “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Colossians 4:6), the salt HE is talking about is the truth of the Word of GOD which is purifying.

Too much salt is not good for us.  In an open wound salt can really make it burn, so we must always seek GOD’s wisdom when talking and saying silent arrow prayer for direction always helps.  Yet as salt purifies and preserves and enhances the flavor of foods, so the truth of GOD’s word can preserve and enhance lives.   Therefore, even if it stings a bit it is a very good thing.

We live in a day of pandemics and increasing natural disasters, when all around the world people are going crazy with riots and looting because of food, gas and electric shortages.  We hear of wars in the Mideast and threats of a war and ultimatums from Russia and North Korea, it is a time when we who know what GOD has said would happen to be salty. 

We must care enough about others to tell them GOD’s plan laid out clearly in HIS Word the Bible.  Prophesies written centuries ago are being fulfilled one after another.  GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS only begotten Son JESUS to die for us to pay for our sin and reconcile us to GOD that we might have eternal life (John 3:16).  They need to know of HIS love and HIS plan to purify this world when HIS wrath against sin will be poured out.   

People need to know that all they must do to be saved from what is coming soon is to call upon the LORD.  (Romans 10:9-10, 13).

^“The one who believes on the SON (JESUS) has everlasting life: but the one that does not believe the SON shall not see life; but the wrath of GOD abides on him (John 3:36).

Are you salty?  Are you ready?

Hugs

Sharon