THE DUCKS WADDLED HOME....

I bought this notebook last fall, just before a milestone of a birthday. My intent was to start writing on my birthday (November 18) and fill the notebook daily with life stuff for my girls.  You know, a keeper for them to read when I'm gone!  A keeper because it would have great writings from daily living (mine) which would ooze with wisdom.  :-0   I just knew they would treasure this book one day!   of course...

Would you believe, the notebook is blank.  It's been sitting in plain view since last November.  I don't have an explanation for this, either.  I just didn't follow through with my brilliant idea! 

We've all heard the phrase, "hell is paved with good intentions" ... thankfully, another phrase rather softens this statement:  "But remember that good intentions pave many roads.  Not all of them lead to hell."

There's another one that goes, "Hell is full of good meanings, but heaven is full of good works."   

I also read that "One kind deed is more beautiful than a thousand good intentions."   

Scripture tells us that faith without works is dead.  Three verses in James chapter 2 states this fact.  

James (the author of the book in the Bible) makes it very plain.  If I have intent,  I need to get up and do something about it or that intent amounts to nothing.   Just as there's no correspondence course for swimming - there's no other way to see results with my Notebook of Wisdom other than actively moving beyond intent and adding works along with my intent.

So... I should pick up the notebook, grab a pen, and get to work.  A blank piece of paper is the best place to start.  It is true that 50% of result is better than 100% of intention.  Besides, it keeps me out of trouble.

A story is told of a town where all the residents are ducks.  Every Sunday the ducks waddle out of their houses and waddle down Main Street to their church.  They waddle into the sanctuary and squat in their pews.  The duck choir waddles in and takes it place, and then the duck minister comes forward and opens the duck Bible.  He reads to them:  "Ducks!  God has given you wings!  With wings you can mount up and soar like eagles.  No walls can confine you!  No fences can hold you!  You have wings.  God has given you wings, and you can fly like birds!"

All the ducks shout, "Amen!"

And then they all waddle home.

Lesson learned.  

We Live In a Good World That We Have Turned Bad

I just started a series on YouTube called The Bible Project.  The best place to start is, of course, at the beginning.  So,  I'm viewing Genesis 1-11, listening as the narrator gives the overview and I'm watching the drawings depicting the scene of that period. Very Interesting!  I am at the close of this video when the conclusion of the narrative catches my attention and I was shaken with the reality that this relates to TODAY.  This is happening in my own country!  In fact ...  this is a description of what is happening before my eyes.  I'm stunned!  Ok.  Here's the concluding narrative I am referring to:

We live in a good world that we have turned bad ... that we've all chosen to define good and evil for ourselves, and so, we all contribute to this world of broken relationships, leading to conflict and violence, and ultimately ... death.

Stop right there.  In the beginning, God created a beautiful world for us to inhabit.  Sin entered and ruined it for all of us.  Sin has made life hard for every person born after Adam and Eve.  Even though Jesus came and died on the cross to redeem us from sin, we still live in a fallen world.  Life is not fair.  Life is even hard, at times.  

I want to highlight one phrase of the narrator's conclusion:  we've all chosen to define good and evil for ourselves.  

Here's where I stopped and said, "Whoa!" - this is happening today in my beloved nation of America.  This is happening in our government,  our society, and even in our churches.  We've all chosen to define good and evil for ourselves.   You may ask me to explain ...  thank you .... I will.

Our society as a whole along with many liberal judges, are siding with anti-God organizations to determine what is good and what is evil.  They are openly calling evil, good -- and good, evil. 

Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

ABORTION:  I've watched as women celebrate killing of babies in the womb.  I saw government leaders cheer boldly as the legislation to murder a baby after birth.  Our own legislators declare this kind of evil to be a good thing for women.

TRANSGENDERS:  We now have those in authority paving a wide path for gender identity ... calling it good instead of evil.  This is nothing more than rebellion against God's creation of man and woman.

ISLAM:  If we stand against the idealogy (no, it is not a religion) of this war faction, we are labeled Islamophobic.  Currently, we hear the war cries from some in our own Congress as they demean us for being a free nation - free from their Sharia laws.  They are turning our good into their evil.

We are living in a world turned bad  because people want to be like God  and determine what is good and what is evil instead of following the wisdom and instruction of our Almighty Creator.   Unfortunately, some people don't have the sense God gave a goose when it comes to decency and goodness.  Otherwise, this nonsense wouldn't be happening.  Left alone, we yield to our sinful nature and all hell breaks loose in our society.  

We are being raided of righteousness, devoured of decency, and we are being drug down a barbaric road to ruin by political correctness ... led by people who are deciding to define good and evil for themselves.  They can't leave their own house of hate alone.  They will not rest until they spread their dung of decisions on society as a whole.

We are watching a mass mental disorder of degenerates being played out before our eyes.  News channels parade babbling heads empty of knowledge ... with talking points repetitive with rancor intended to brainwash those not grounded in common sense.  

We are getting exactly what we want.  A good world that is turning bad,  really bad.   We are becoming a nation that is opposite of goodness.  A country that will not be safe for our children and grandchildren. 

Why are we in this battle?  Because humanity is giddy with rebellion against God.  The highest goal in our country is to call evil, good.  One writer says it this way:

"To call evil good is practical atheism.  To call good evil is practical blasphemy."   

Where do we go from here?  Unless we turn back to God, there is little hope.  Will churches become houses of prayer once more?  Will pastors once again preach hell as hot and heaven as real?  
I don't know.  

I do know that Jesus Christ is the answer.  He is the only answer for a world turned bad.

PLAYING CATCH UP !

We are on the go a lot. Home a day or so, then off again.  This is my fifth day following our last trip away from home.  I'm still trying to 'catch up' ... for a while, anyway.  That is an interesting phrase: catch up.  We use that phrase in numerous ways to express different circumstances.... such as:

Slow down so I can catch up with you.
All those late nights are beginning to catch up with me.'
Old age catches up with everyone in the end.
Gotta run, catch up with you later.

For me, it's catch up on laundry, housework, and even physical rest.  We Americans find it difficult to stop.  Stop the rat race.  Stop pressuring ourselves to do more, go more, have more....just a day or more of doing very little is foreign to many of us. 

Have you ever felt guilty if you are not always busy?  I read about seven deadly dangers of being too busy.   In that article,  I noticed among the seven points listed that we can rob ourselves of joy when we are overly busy.  Or, we can be unfruitful if we are busy with things that are unnecessary.  If you are not filled with joy, perhaps it's time to slow down and do as our GPS says, recalibrate.

John 15:11  clearly shows that Jesus intends for us to be full of joy.

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

There are times when our lack of joy might be due to our own busy endeavors - and not because of the behaviors of those around us.  Perhaps it would be helpful to slow down and get caught up  on our relationship with the Lord.  Too much of the natural and not enough of the spiritual causes a drought and our joy river runs dry!  We end up parched and in time, can suffer dehydration.  Spiritual dehydration is just as damaging to our joy as physical dehydration.

Dehydration for the body is where the water content is below the value needed to function.  It can be a dangerous thing for human life.  Spiritual dehydration for the soul is where the spiritual content is below the value needed to function ...  it shows up in our lack of joy, peace, patience, righteousness, and faithfulness, to name a few.  

If severe dehydration can be a medical emergency, then can't our lack of joy be a spiritual emergency?  I think so !!  We function so much better when we are full of joy.  Jesus knew this when he said that he wanted us to be FULL of joy.   So what is the answer?   Play catch up !  Slow down and catch up !!  That's what I'm doing.  Guilt???   Nah.   I'm catching up so I can be ready to go again!  

PUNGLE. A new word for me...

It's never too late to learn.  The word of the day for Merriam Webster is PUNGLE.  A new word for me!  Here's the meaning:

...to make a payment or contribution of (money) - usually used with up.

I've always been interested in words and meanings of words. One web site describes our curiosity of learning this way: 
        People who love to learn don't depend only on classrooms or professors.  They seek answers for every question, their minds are always clouded with 'how' and 'why'.  They have innate desire to please their inner curiosity and dig deeper until their thirst for answer quenches. 

I suppose that's me.  I can spend a day on the computer ...  searching ... actually, I prefer the word:  researching.   I especially love learning the deeper meanings and revelations from the Word of God.  Listening to a minister who preaches the Word with insight into scripture also catches my attention.

But, at times, simple  explanations are powerful.  I remember a pastor from my teen years who was referring to eschatology, the study of future events and the future coming of Christ.  He described it in a few words.  "He's coming and I'm going" -  I got it.

Jesus is coming again.  And I'm going in the Rapture.  Here's another opportunity for a word study.  The word 'Rapture' isn't found in the Bible.  The Latin word, rapio, is used in verse 17 when Paul says we will be caught up, and it is from this association with being “caught up” or “carried off” that we get the word, rapture.  You will find this in the following verses of I Thessalonians 4:16-17.

16: For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 

17: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Pungle is a new word for me, but I have understood the word Rapture for a long time.  "Caught up" in the clouds has not happened yet - but I expect it to occur any day.  This brings us to another word, imminent, meaning: likely to happen at any moment.  This means that Christ could come back for His church, the Bride of Christ, at any moment.  There are numerous scriptures indicating the imminent return of Jesus.  So, here you go.  Do your research.  It's never to late to learn.  You might have an epistemophilic personality like Edison...an excessive love or reverence for knowledge....An impulse to inquire. 

I pray you have an impulse to inquire about the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.  And, as the song goes,

"I'll see you in the Rapture

... see you in the Rapture

I'll see you at the meeting in the air.

There with our blessed Saviour

We'll live and reign forever.

I'll see you in the Rapture some sweet day." 

..

A BEAUTIFUL LADY NAMED ANN

Yesterday I attended the celebration of the life of Ann Minick.  I met her a only few times during recent years.  At this point, Ann was not well.   I listened as her life story was shared, and I could picture her vitality for living, her wit, and just how much she was loved by so many.

To be honest, the service caused me to think about my life.  I wanted to hurry home and dig out all of my pictures.  Get a flash drive - pick out snapshots of me that I approve - then, present it to my girls, so that, when it's my turn to go HOME  I would not be miffed at photos they might display on the screen. !!  :)

Ann's life depicted one of dedication and service to the Lord Jesus Christ.  When she stepped out of this house of clay - she moved right into the presence of Jesus.   

Psalm 116:15 says, Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.  

From this side, death is a time of sorrow, of loss, defeat, and separation.  From the other side: it's a time of release, reunion, rest and reward!    

John 14: 2,3 "In my Father's house are many mansions:  if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you. 3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

Christians never say goodbye.  We just say, I'll see you later.  Eternity will provide opportunity for me to get better acquainted with A Beautiful Lady Named Ann.

I am thankful for that still, small voice that offered the gift of eternal life to me as a young girl.  I accept it.  I treasure that gift.  

I pray that you, too, will receive Jesus as Savior if you have not done so.  It's easier than  you think....to have eternal life in heaven with the Lord.   His invitation is still extended to all who will believe.  

Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.  And let him that heareth say, Come.  And let him that is athirst come.  And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

One word.  Come.  Just come.  It will be worth it all...

.....

Ever wondered what church would be like without God?

I believe the year was 2013.  Two London comedians came up with the idea of a church without God.  Well, that's nothing new!  There are many churches who don't allow God in their services, although they claim to be Christians.  But, that's not the point of this blog.  The point of this blog is simply to inform you about an anti-god movement desiring the expression and community of a church - but they don't want God.   Since two comedians birthed the idea, I suppose we could call it funny.

According to the Hackney Citizen: Comedians Pippa Evans and Sanderson Jones came up with this idea en route to a gig. “We wanted to start a sort of ‘atheist church,' a church of community and celebration without religion”.

With headquarters in London, they soon spread to other countries, even the U.S.  It seems there is lots of laughter, games, a sermon,  and later, tea and biscuits.   The name of their church is Sunday Assembly ... a church without God.  

Sanderson Jones is the leader.

Their motto is:  "Live Better, Help Often, Wonder More"

Let's look at one in Los Angeles.  Sunday Assembly Los Angeles is a god-free community that meets monthly to hear great talks, connect for service projects, sing songs and generally celebrate life. Assemblies are free to attend, and everyone is welcome. Of course, they are a chapter member of the American Humanist Association.

A few of their claims on their web site include:

Sunday Assembly LA

1.  Is 100% celebration of life.  We are born from nothing and go to nothing.  Let's enjoy it together.

2.  Has no doctrine.  We have no set texts so we can make use of wisdom from all sources.

3.  Has no deity.  We don't do supernatural....

One certain man visited one of their churches of self-worship, and this is a paragraph from his article published in The Spectator:

The service starts with the Pointer Sisters’ ‘I’m So Excited’ projected on to the back wall. At the prompting of Sanderson Jones, the charismatic leader, everyone stands up and sings along to the small band on stage. Most clap their hands; many are swaying, holding their hands in the air — and, during the instrumental section, where the lyrics are replaced with the words ‘Jumping Break’, some do start jumping. After everyone has applauded themselves, we segue into the next song: Daft Punk’s ‘(I’m Up All Night To) Get Lucky’. On first hearing the lyrics of this song, you might assume that it was about someone searching for a missing dog — and who, amongst the dogless, doesn’t have a dog-shaped hole in their life? — but it’s actually about a man hanging around until a woman is drunk enough for, or otherwise disposed towards, sexual relations. The lyrics have been altered, though: the charismatic leader jumps up and points out that ‘If you change the “I” and “she” to “we”, the song is a lot less creepy.’

A church without God ends up being nothing more than a church of self-worship.  

Sanderson says Sunday Assembly wants to use all the good things about religion, but leave out the 'god bit' ...  Some say this is the latest flowering of what the tabloids have quickly labeled the "Atheist Church'.  The focus is on celebrating life without any need for the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - or an afterlife.  The problem with this is that we are created by God with an innate need for Him in our life.  If God is not allowed in our life, then we will create our own god. 

Sunday Assembly is modeled after Christian churches ...  they just don't want God in their service.   I watched Sanderson on YouTube and I heard him use "God" in the phrase:       My G-d.   I'm thinking, Why are you saying this if you do not believe there is a God?   

This type of church without God ... appeals to the younger folks.  Let's admit it, we've all seen it appeal to many adults in our Christian churches!  We are people in danger when we kick God Almighty out of our lives.  

Not only are there churches without God in their midst....we now have a political party who is busy deleting God from our nation.  It is FRIGHTENING when a Democrat leader intentionally DELETES God from Congressional proceedings.  Watch the clip:  Democrats Omit ‘So Help Me God’ From Swearing-In Oath at House Committee 

Reo, Steve Cohen (D-Tenn) prepared to move on but Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) interjected, saying, “I think we left out ‘so help me God.'”   “We did,” admitted Cohen.   Johnson, 47, asked the witnesses to reaffirm the oath with the traditional phrase for the record, to which Cohen responded, “No.”

Whether you chose to believe it or not, THERE IS A GOD IN HEAVEN.  

The Word of God describes Him as:

1.  Eternal.  Psalm 90:2; I Timothy1:17

2.  All Powerful.  Jeremiah 32:17; Colossians 1:17

3.  Infinite in understanding.  Psalm 147:5, Isaiah 40:28

4.  Perfectly Holy like no other. Exodus 15:11; I Samuel 2:2

5.  The Only God.  Psalm 86:8-10

6.  Incapable of lying.  Titus 1:2

7.  Creator of the universe.  Genesis 1:1; John 1:3

8.  And Savior.  Titus 2:13

Through the truth of God's Word, only Jesus Christ can save the blinded and unrepentant skeptic who refuses to accept the Bible, which holds him accountable to God as a sinner in need of salvation.  Praise be to God for His free gift of salvation through His Son, Jesus.

The title of this blog is Ever Wonder what church would be like without God.  

I leave you with this question:

Ever Wonder What Church 

Would Be Like WITH God?  

Heaven is not for cowards!

I've been receiving emails from "Worthy News" for many years.  The devotion before the list of news events around the world always catches my eye.   This one is from today's email:

Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
In light of today's headlines with both revival and the spiritual warfare taking place within the U.S. military, I thought I'd share this story from Moody's Anecdotes, a must read. 

"A young man enlisted and was sent to his regiment. The first night he was in the barracks with about fifteen other young men, who passed the time playing cards and gambling. Before retiring, he fell on his knees and prayed, and they began to curse him and jeer at him and throw boots at him. So it went on the next night and the next, and finally, the young man went and told the chaplain what had taken place, and asked what he should do.

'Well,' said the chaplain, 'you are not at home now, and the other men have just as much right to the barracks as you have. It makes them mad to hear you pray, and the Lord will hear you just as well if you say your prayers in bed and don't provoke them.'

For weeks after the chaplain did not see the young man again, but one day he met him, and asked - 
'By the way, did you take my advice?' 
'I did, for two or three nights,' [the soldier answered.] 
'How did it work?' 
'Well,' said the young man, 'I felt like a whipped hound and the third night I got out of bed, knelt down and prayed.' 
'Well,' asked the chaplain, 'How did that work?' 
The young soldier answered: 'We have a prayer meeting there now every night, three have been converted, and we are praying for the rest.'

There are rewards for standing firm in your Christian walk.  Rewards in this life and the hereafter.  How can we stand strong as Christians?

Ephesians 3:16  That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

ILLUSTRATION:

As a young man Philip was kidnapped and held as a hostage in Greece.  There he remained for several years.  During this time he received a military education.  Then he returned to his homeland, which had conceded many defeats and had lost much land.  Within five years he had become king.

Philip II of Macedon desperately needed his army to stand firm.  He is remembered for two major innovations.  First is the sarissa, a very long spear.  Second is the re-development of a rectangular military formation used by ancient armies (known as a phalanx).  A core of highly-trained infantrymen armed with Philip’s longer spears stood shoulder to shoulder in files normally eight men deep. 

As long as they stood firm and did not break rank they were virtually invincible and struck fear into the hearts of their enemies.  Using this tactic, Philip united the city-states of Greece and took the city of Philippi (which is named after him) in 356 BC.

PRAYER:

Father in heaven, in the Name of Your Son, Jesus, give us the courage and strength to stand strong and faithful as Your Children in a world of turmoil.  Allow us to experience the Peace that Passes all Understanding which only comes from Your presence.  Give us a heart for the lost.  Burn within us a desire to minister to all within our reach.  Let us not become slack, complacent, or lazy ... Lord, help us to keep the fire of the Holy Spirit burning within our spirit.  Grant us wisdom to maintain unity as soldiers of the Cross.  May we stand before your judgment seat one day and hear you say to each of us, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

REMEMBER DAGON

There is an interesting story found in I Samuel 5.  The Philistines had captured the Ark of the Covenant,  and they "carried the ark" into Dagon's temple and set it beside Dagon.
Dagon was the chief deity of the Philistines.  For this tabernacled-centered culture of Israel, the ark conveyed divine presence, which meant the servants of Dagon had defeated Yahweh on the field, demonstrating which of the two gods reigned supreme.  Now the ark sat at Dagon's right hand.  It appeared that the glory was lost. The ark at Dagon's right hand? Unthinkable.  Where was the God of Israel?  Why did He allow this to happen?  Who would rescue the ark and bring back the presence of God in the nation?

This is where we find ourselves today.  On August 16, 2018:Satanic Temple Unveils Baphomet Statue at Arkansas Capitol - The Satanic Temple has unveiled its statue of a goat-headed winged creature called Baphomet in a rally at the Arkansas  State Capitol to protest a Ten Commandment monument already on the Capitol grounds.  The statue of Baphomet is seated and accompanied by two smiling children. There is quite a history of the idol, Baphomet. Space doesn't allow for full disclosure on this blog.

A LITTLE HISTORY:  In order to survive his debts owed to the Knights Templar (and fear of their military might), King Philip accused the Knights Templar of spitting and urinating on the cross, engaging in homosexuality, and worshipping Baphomet as an idol.  Baphomet, presumably a reference to Mohammed was allegedly incorporated into the Templar practice during their time, mingling with Islamic culture in the Middle East.  In 1854, French magician Elphias Levi reimagined Baphomet into a figure he named the Sabbatic Goat.  Baphomet was also adopted by Aleister Crowley.  It is said of Crowley: His name is whispered with horror amongst devout Christians, with skepticism amongst conspiracy theorists, and with awe amongst the occultists and pagans, though ultimately Crowley's goal was achieved - with whatever they whisper his name, it's still being whispered today.

The Sigil of Baphomet, depicting the Sabbatic Goat within an inverted Pentagram has been adopted as the modern Church of Satan's logo.  Now, Satanists are using this large built idol as a tool to challenge the ten commandments which are placed near a capitol of any state.  It happened in Oklahoma.  Yesterday it happened in Arkansas.  Was I upset? YES!  I am a believer in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  I worship Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  So yes, I am aggravated and disgusted at the action of this satanic presence in our town ... and my home state.  But, I must remember the story of Dagon and the Ark of God.

When the people of [the city of] Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord!  They took Dagon and put him back in his place.  But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord!  His head and hands had been broken off and were lhing on the threshold; only his body remained.  That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor any others who enter Dagon's temple at Ashdod step on the threshold.

The Lord's hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity;  He brought devastation on them and afflicted them with tumors.  When the people os Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, "The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god" (verses 2-7).  Who says God does not have a sense of humor?  This has to be one of the more funny passages in the entire Bible.

What can I take from this biblical account of a piece of stone claiming equal rights and existence with a symbol of the Almighty God?  This:  IF the Satanists sue the state, and IF they were to win, resulting in their statue being placed beside the ten commandments,  IF this happens ... then I can rest assured in three things:

1.  The power of God to defend HIMSELF!  He needs no other power or assistance.  He can steady the load.  He can stand alone.  He will not be overwhelmed by any other symbol.  He is all-powerful.

2.  He will deal with the Satanic statue.  He will deal with that evil presence.  He can bring a curse on those who establish the presence of such a false deity.  He (God) is not intimidated by satan or those who promote his presence in our world.  He will cause that idol to fear nightfall ... lest he find himself
face down to the ground by dawn!  Should they set Baphomet aright, they will come another dawn to find him face down on the ground again ... but this time with his head and hands lying several feet away from his pre-fab body.

3.  Cast down twice means:  Don't get up again !    No man-made idol from hell will stand in the presence of my Almighty,  all-powerful, God.  My fretting won't hinder this sort of activity.  My words are not powerful enough to sway the force coming against Christianity.  But, my God is powerful ...

Final note:  It is an uphill battle for this organization to obtain legal rights to place such a monstrosity of evil on our capitol grounds.  No politician (in Arkansas) will introduce this bill - no legislative body will pass such a bill - and no governor will sign the bill allowing this to happen ... yet!  But, this is demonic activity rising in the last days!  Be aware and come awake to the spiritual activity around us ... and in our nation.   Be steadfast.  Endure to the end.  And pray,

Come Quickly, Lord Jesus!

When We All Get To Heaven

Do  you remember the hymn we used to sing in church:  When We All Get to Heaven?  I do, even though it's been a very l o n g time since it has been included in congregational singing.  Here's the chorus:

When we all get to heaven,
what a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus
we'll sing and shout the victory!

Heaven will be a surprise.  A great surprise.  One thing that will knock our socks off is the fact that Jesus Christ is preparing a place for us - and that Jesus will reward us at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

The Apostle Paul, Abraham, Moses, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and other gospel giants mentioned in the Bible had and still have an effect on our lives.  To hear about the thousands of years their names have been mentioned around the world will certainly be a surprise to them!  I'm positive they had no clue that we would be writing and talking about them in the 21st century, worldwide, and learning important lessons from their lives in Sunday School classes and using their experiences for weekly sermon material!!

When we arrive in the presence of our Savior we won't be stressed over earthly stuff,  the dishes we left in the sink, the laundry still in the dryer, the floor that didn't get mopped.....no, but we will be pleasantly surprised and ridiculously happy that we were faithful and the plan of God for our life was carried out!  We will learn the significance of our role in life.  Eternity will fully reveal our purpose on earth and the lives we affected.

What a Day of Rejoicing That Will Be!
Rejoicing is defined with these additional words:  jubilation, exultation, celebration, revelry, merrymaking... a great feeling of happiness and triumph!  A state of intense excitement!

Pleasure will permeate our soul.  Waves of peace will overtake our state of eternal bliss to the point we will certainly shout the victory!  It's done.  We have arrived!  Our joy is full of glory and it is absolutely unspeakable!   

We must keep our focus in this life.  There is an eternity with Christ to gain and besides that, our rewards for service in here will be meted out one day.  Your individual purpose is of such value that no other person can fulfill your role.  Give your all today to see God's dreams and ambitions He has planned  for you ... fulfilled!

What a Day of Rejoicing That Will Be!!  
What a Day That Will Be!

No wonder we will sing and shout the victory when we see Jesus!

Happy Eternity!!

The Tribulation? I AIN'T DOIN' IT...

The Tribulation Period?   I Ain't Doin' it !!

Have you read the book of Revelation lately?  Didn't think so.  Most don't read it because they think it's too hard to understand.  Some folks just forget it's there...at end of the New Testament.   And, for others, it scares them.  They live in panic over every bar code, chip implant, and even the mention of the Anti-Christ.  For years, we've been trying to figure out who he is - where he will come from -etc.  

Another reason people don't read Revelation is because they don't intend to be here during that time... so, there's not much sense in studying events that will happen when they are gone!

Really?  Well, Let me tell you.  Revelation 1:3 says, " Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. 

How on earth can you be blessed...and hear the words of this prophecy....and keep the commands..if you can't understand it?

I understand enough to know that the church will be Raptured and then the scene will be set for the Anti-Christ to take over and a 7 year period will follow with much devastation for those who don't take the mark of the beast - and then the second half of that period is full of the wrath of God being poured out.

The only thing for anyone to fear about the book of Revelation or any of God's Holy Word is if we do not OBEY and REPENT as we have been commanded by our Heavenly Father! 

Why do I want to ignore the warnings and be left here after the Rapture?
I ain't doin' it.

Why do I want to risk staying around for those 7 years?
I ain't doin' it.

Why do I want to go through the time when Jesus opens the seals?
I ain't doin' it.

Why do I want to be here when the hail and fire mingled with blood is cast on the earth....and to watch 1/3 of the trees burn up and all the grass?
I ain't doin' it.

Why would I prefer to see the 1/3 part of the sun, moon, and stars smitten darkened?
I ain't doin' it.

Why  would I want to see the sea and rivers become blood...and see men scorched with great heat as they blaspheme the name of God?
I ain't doin' it.

Why would I stay here to witness unclean, demonic spirits, the spirits of devils, go forth and gather kings of the earth to battle?
I ain't doin' it.

Why would I stay to hear about the false religions professing to serve God while worshiping and serving other gods.  They enter into partnership with the philosophy of Babylon...the world system with its immorality..and political power?
I ain't doin' it.

Why would I want to be here when the false religion, in league with the world system, will persecute everyone devoted to Christ and the biblical faith?
I ain't doin' it.

No,  I don't have to be here after the Rapture.  This is why I love Jesus Christ. He came to earth, died on the cross for MY sins and set me free from damnation.  Through faith in Him, and love for His Word, I become part of the Bride of Christ.  I'm going to meet Him in the air...along with the believers who are raised from the dead at the sound of the trumpet.  I give HIM glory and praise for redeeming me.  

Revelation 22:20-21  He which testified these things saith, Surely I come quickly.   Amen.  Even so, come, Lord Jesus.  21)  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Miss His coming?

I ain't doin' it.


.....