God Is In Control

It has been a while since I have written here, but it struck me how appropriate this Psalm is to the time we live in.  Sometimes, we feel insulated as we watch the news, but in our heart of hearts, we know the hatred being spread by the Enemy.  The Enemy I speak of is the evil one Satan, whose name I do not even like to say.  He is the root of evil.  At least, that is what I believe.

Man can choose who to follow.  If we do not choose the one and only God, who sent Jesus his only begotten son, we have chosen by default.

However, that is not what I speak of today.  I speak of an earthly enemy, who I believe is demon-possessed, because the atrocities they are committing are beyond what you and I can even bear to think.  How their followers can continue to be led by their leaders is beyond me.  I am sure when they realize what they are into, it is by fear.

However, Evils too horrible to contemplate have happened before, and the psalmist David, addressed the subject.  I have highlighted and colored certain words and sections that stood out to me.  I am not going to say anything about them.  The words speak for themselves.  

His Eye Is On The Sparrow
Photo by Jeff Ratcliffe / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

God, the Creator of the Universe, is here all around us, holding us, loving us, and to some He is saying, "Trust me.  Believe in me.  I sent my Son to die for your sins.  Believe in him.  Believe in me.  We are One."  To those who have not believed, I ask that you do not wait until it is too late.  We live in perilous times:  we must admit that or we lie to ourselves.  However, we do not have to fear with Jesus in our hearts.  He died and rose from the dead, then ascended into heaven.  He is returning.  He shall wipe away all  tears from His Beloved, His Bride, those who truly have trusted in Him. 

Psalm 36 New International Version (NIV)

¹ I have a message from God in my heart
    concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:^[b]
There is no fear of God
    before their eyes.

² In their own eyes they flatter themselves
    too much to detect or hate their sin.
³ The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful;
    they fail to act wisely or do good.
⁴ Even on their beds they plot evil;
    they commit themselves to a sinful course
    and do not reject what is wrong.

⁵ Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the skies.
⁶ Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
    your justice like the great deep.
    You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.
⁷ How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
    People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
⁸ They feast on the abundance of your house;
    you give them drink from your river of delights.
⁹ For with you is the fountain of life;
    in your light we see light.

¹⁰ Continue your love to those who know you,
    your righteousness to the upright in heart.
¹¹ May the foot of the proud not come against me,
    nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
¹² See how the evildoers lie fallen—
    thrown down, not able to rise!

Prayer:

Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name, may you be lifted up, may your Son be praised.  Thank you for the gift of life, and the promise of life everlasting.  Thank you for your peace and your comfort.  May your Holy Name be praised always.  May we Rejoice Always and Pray Without Ceasing.  Hallelujah.  Glory be to the Highest.  Peace on earth to all men.  We look forward to the peace to come, Father.  Give those who fight evil courage to do what is right and to do the hard things, Father.  We lift up our leaders to You, that they may follow a path of your leadership.  Whatever happens, Lord, we know that You are the One in Charge.  The Victory is already won.  Amen.

Living a "Normal" Life in the Last Days

Artist Unknown, But I Have Posted a Link
Click on the Picture

In these tumultuous days, I speak to many of my friends, and they believe we are in the last days of this earth as we know it, that Jesus Christ is coming soon.  I agree with that;  and, I also note that the Christians of the New Testament thought Jesus was coming very, very soon, possibly in their time.  This is true for Christians of many generations that have lived through hard times, for we long to be with our Lord -- rightly so.

The passage of scripture I have in mind today is one about how we live when  we are expecting Jesus to come soon.  In fact, I think of the scriptures that say things in the end times will be like the days of Noah.  Men and women will be given in marriage, children will be born, commerce will exist.  Life on this earth has not stopped just because we think we are seeing the signs of the times.  We don't stop going to work, cleaning house, having celebrations, or washing the dishes.  We still live.

The passage I have been focusing on this day is in 1 Corinthians 7.  It struck me in a profound way today, because I have thought about this very thing many times.  Must we do things because we live in the world?  Yes.  We must do the needed things.  We may rejoice in all things;  however, the realization the life on this earth is temporal is very real.  We are not to be wrapped up in it, so that this is all we think about.  We are to be able to let go with grace and happiness that the importance of life is living in Christ and looking for His coming.  Glory be to God!

But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.  1 Corinthians 7:29-31 (NKJV)

What Time Do We Live In?

A certain verse has been going through my mind, because of the happenings around the world. Luke 21:25-26  “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;  men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken."   It is a good Bible verse for any age of persecution, but could we be in the days of final persecutions and Jesus Christ's return?   Whether you believe a pre-tribulation rapture, a mid-tribulation rapture, or a post-tribulation rapture, it certainly seems we could be in the times that  Jesus said would come.   It's hard to imagine living on the continent of North America;  however, I think we should consider these things, and where we stand with Jesus Christ.   Jesus did speak of the last days, and even though man has thought, we could be there in the past;  perhaps, those days are here.  If you know Christ as your Savior, there is no need to fear.  Live for Him:  do not be like the foolish virgins who were not ready for the bridegroom.  Have your oil and your lamps ready.  You see, the door closed against the foolish virgins, because they were not ready.  Live for Him now.  Do not say, " I will do it later."  Later may be too late.

I want to add one more thing, something I had not noticed before in Luke 21.  It says not to meditate on the words that you will say, when brought before kings and rulers for testimony.  In other words, you do not have to memorize a speech beforehand, because Jesus will give you the words to say if this should ever happen to you.  This is what Jesus said, "for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.  (Luke 21:15)"   What comfort to know that God is with us!  It also says in Romans 8, that nothing can separate us from His love.  

You see there are two sharply divided sides:  you are either for Him or against Him.  If you are sitting on the wall, then I do not want to think about the suffering you will endure.  There is only one place I want to end up, even though I still struggle with this flesh I live in.  I want to be at the feet of Jesus.  I want to be with God, to be His child Forever.  Do you?  Do you have confidence you are His?  If you don't, you need to be or you are not going to be safe for eternity.  You may say, "But, I want to be safe now."  You have to choose:  safety now or safe for eternity.  

Personally, I want to know where I will be when I die.  I know that even though Fear and the Enemy should try to overtake me, I belong to Jesus.  I am His.  That is what I want to know.  That is where I stand.

Verses taken from the New King James Version

Whispers from God

Sometimes I am afraid I do not love enough.

You love more than almost anyone I have seen. 

You have a source of unending love, Me.

Sometimes, when you love, you are not going to be loved back,

 or you will be hurt, but don't let it keep you from loving other people.

Thank you, Lord, for helping me to see I should not be afraid to love.

The Light of God's love is covering the dark gray sin in the background.

God's love covers all.  His love covers the sin in my life.  

His love can cover the sin in yours too, because Jesus paid it all when He died on the cross.  He was the sacrifice for all our sins.  

He arose from the dead on the third day, and he is in heaven with Father-God:  and, He will be coming back for those who believe and follow Him.