If you have come to this site, whether on purpose or clearly by accident, don't turn away without reading this post. Yehovah has called you this very moment in time. It does not matter where you are, what your life is like, what it has been up until this very hour. He is calling you out of the world and into his light. He loves you very much and wants to bless you and have a personal relationship with you.
We are all brothers and sisters, whether we live down the block from one another or on different continents. Our culture or religious denominations, economic situation, education, background, traditions, etc. do not define us or separate us from the love our Creator has for each and every one of us. If you feel you have failed him or not lived up to his standards and could never receive his love and forgiveness, you are so wrong. None of us are perfect or more acceptable than any one else. It is time for all who love him to wake up and realize that, though the world view has separated us from one another and our God in so many ways. He is calling us home as one family to fellowship with each other and with himself as our heavenly Father.
The world at large has wholly abandoned the truth revealed by our Creator from the dawn of time, that which would lead us into abundant life. The first man, Adam, exchanged the knowledge of God for the knowledge of good and evil. He was coerced by Satan to question God's authority and instructions and to govern himself by his own ability to choose right and wrong., That fateful day resulted in the fall of the human race and mankind has continued to corrupt himself throughout history, resulting in unimaginable pain and suffering. The very creation itself suffers the results of man's sin, and we are plunging quickly toward total destruction if we don't wake up and turn back to our God. He alone knows what is best for us and his instructions are the only ones that lead to life everlasting and eternal peace.
It is my opinion that of all the things that divide us, religion is at the heart of all our problems. It is the very foundation of our particular world view. It is said that every war has been the result of our differing religious ideologies. Yeshua didn't come to earth to start a new religion, but to free us from religion, to bring us to the truth. He challenged the religious leaders of his day because, even though they were very zealous for the Torah, they had added so many man-made laws to control the masses, they completely lost sight of their Creator's heart.
Every religion today does the same thing. No matter what denomination you are in, you will find yourself subject to their definition of what is and isn't sin. They control what you think and how you act, what you come to believe as their brand of truth. The really sad reality is that they have all gone away from absolute truth and inherited the religious system born out of the attempted one world government of Nimrod. You can read of him in the book of Genesis, where he erected a tower in Babel that was to reach into the heavens, in defiance of God. Nimrod wanted to be God and the dominant ruler over a political/religious state. God thwarted his plans, separating the language of the people, resulting in their migration from Babel, leaving behind their building project.
However, the seeds of rebellion had been sown and Nimrod's world view infested the populations of the known world at that time. Mankind had begun to worship the creation rather than the Creator. They worshipped the sun, moon and stars and developed a religious system that became known as Babylonian sun-god-worship. Down through the ages, all of mankind has been influenced and corrupted by this deceptive "religion".
No matter your nation, culture or religion, you have inherited much of the belief system of this ancient kingdom. The world at large is in total bondage to it's sway over the hearts and minds of mankind. Our accepted customs and traditions, as well as our religions, have all been infected with the deception of Nimrod. The bible tells us he was a mighty hunter before Yehovah. The original text declares he was a might hunter "in the face of God" or in defiance of God.
We can't help what we have inherited. All we can do is repent and turn back to God, read His word, learn His ways, obey His instructions. The Torah is His instructions and, despite the fact that many declare them to be done away with or nailed to the cross, nothing could be further from the truth. Yehovah is the same yesterday, today and forever. He does not change. What he has declared in the beginning will be declared in the end. When Yeshua returns to earth the gather his saints and rule the earth, he will judge and rule this world with the same instructions given to Adam in the garden.
Ancient Israel was given seven annual moedim (appointed times) to observe throughout their sojourn in the promised land. Three times a year they would gather in Jerusalem, the place where Yehovah chose to place his name. Each of these rehearsals were shadow pictures of their coming savior and his plan of salvation, not only for Israel, but for the entire world. God's truth is embedded in each of these festivals. Our inherited religious systems do not contain the truth found in these beautiful shadow pictures. Our Messiah has already fulfilled the Spring feasts to the very day, hour and moment as they were rehearsed for thousands of years. He is coming soon to fulfill the Fall feasts in every detail as they were also rehearsed by ancient Israel. These reveal to mankind the answers to our deepest questions. Why were we born, why are we here, what is the purpose of life and where are we going after we die. It's all there, embedded in these beautiful living oracles given at Mount Sinai four thousand years ago. They are still as meaningful today as when God gave them on the holy mount.
We all need to return to Yehovah today and follow the ancient paths He laid out for us from the beginning. It doesn't matter who we are, where we live, we are all His children, brothers and sisters in Messiah, called out of the world to be His holy people, set apart for a holy purpose. Though we are in the world, we are not to be of the world Yehovah has a purpose for each and every one of us. We are special in his sight and greatly loved. If we will turn back to Him in spirit and truth, He will do great and mighty works in our lives and grant us eternal life in his soon coming kingdom.
Saturday, May 13, 2017
Saturday, April 22, 2017
A Rush To Judgment
We all do it! We judge others.It's a major part of the human experience and, I believe, the number one cause of the evil so rampant in our world today. Judgment negatively affects every area of our lives and has resulted in the ruin of multiple millions from the dawn of time.
We humans have made judgment a way of life and it is often so cruel and unfair. No one is off limits when it comes to the judgmental opinions or harsh words of others. I'm sure we all have been the recipients of petty gossip by unthinking individuals who didn't consider the potential results of their careless words. No one is immune from this insidious practice, yet we all have to admit that we too have been guilty of the same. However, that behavior is mild compared to what we see going on today. Many have graduated to a whole new level of judgment. Due to social media, many are taking their verbal attacks to the internet, spewing out all manner of evil upon those they deem worthy of their displeasure. By their actions, many have taught their children that it's okay to belittle others, to attack those who don't measure up in their opinion. Now we see that school bullying is getting out of hand, often resulting in the suicide of the one being bullied. People, in general, are becoming less tolerant and are quick to get angry and lash out at anyone and everyone they encounter on a daily basis. Love and compassion for our fellow man has fallen in the streets. The frustrations of everyday life have caused many to take it out on any who cross their path. Families are disintegrating, divorce is rampant, children have no respect for authority, our colleges have become institutions of social unrest, the workplace has often become a war zone, road rage is common on our highways, riots have become daily fare in our inner cities.The list goes on and on. The problem is that many want to be GOD! Most don't realize it, but it is true. Their thoughts and opinions are the only truth there is and those who disagree are not to be tolerated.
When it comes to judgment, nothing is off limits. We judge others by appearance, race, gender, religion, culture, social standing, occupation, lifestyle, education, income, behavior, vices, on and on. This is true of every individual, every group, company, organization, institution, denomination, social club, political party, government, country, you name it.
It's the cause of every war, whether it be neighbor against neighbor or nation against nation. We make blanket judgments of entire groups of people. Millions around the world are suffering unimaginable horrors because of evil governments ruled by despots who delude themselves into believing they are GOD! They have decided who should live and who should die. Massive migrations of entire populations are seen on the evening news each night, people running for their lives because of war and persecution by those who have judged them of lesser value.
One day soon, our creator, Yeshua, is going to judge the world and I fear it is not going to be the judgment we hoped for. When he came to earth two thousand years ago, he taught his disciples to judge not lest they be judged. He is the only righteous judge and his judgment is not based on the criteria we use to judge others. He is not interested in outward appearances, but the inner heart. When he returns as King of kings and Lord of lords, he will come to render judgment upon each and every one of us according to our heart. The standard for that judgment will depend upon us. The measure we use to judge others will be the exact measure he will use to judge us. That is a very sobering thought. Our eternal destiny depends upon us. May we all consider our ways and our contribution to the pain and suffering of our fellow man. God is love and those who are his will live to spread that love throughout this dying world.
We humans have made judgment a way of life and it is often so cruel and unfair. No one is off limits when it comes to the judgmental opinions or harsh words of others. I'm sure we all have been the recipients of petty gossip by unthinking individuals who didn't consider the potential results of their careless words. No one is immune from this insidious practice, yet we all have to admit that we too have been guilty of the same. However, that behavior is mild compared to what we see going on today. Many have graduated to a whole new level of judgment. Due to social media, many are taking their verbal attacks to the internet, spewing out all manner of evil upon those they deem worthy of their displeasure. By their actions, many have taught their children that it's okay to belittle others, to attack those who don't measure up in their opinion. Now we see that school bullying is getting out of hand, often resulting in the suicide of the one being bullied. People, in general, are becoming less tolerant and are quick to get angry and lash out at anyone and everyone they encounter on a daily basis. Love and compassion for our fellow man has fallen in the streets. The frustrations of everyday life have caused many to take it out on any who cross their path. Families are disintegrating, divorce is rampant, children have no respect for authority, our colleges have become institutions of social unrest, the workplace has often become a war zone, road rage is common on our highways, riots have become daily fare in our inner cities.The list goes on and on. The problem is that many want to be GOD! Most don't realize it, but it is true. Their thoughts and opinions are the only truth there is and those who disagree are not to be tolerated.
When it comes to judgment, nothing is off limits. We judge others by appearance, race, gender, religion, culture, social standing, occupation, lifestyle, education, income, behavior, vices, on and on. This is true of every individual, every group, company, organization, institution, denomination, social club, political party, government, country, you name it.
It's the cause of every war, whether it be neighbor against neighbor or nation against nation. We make blanket judgments of entire groups of people. Millions around the world are suffering unimaginable horrors because of evil governments ruled by despots who delude themselves into believing they are GOD! They have decided who should live and who should die. Massive migrations of entire populations are seen on the evening news each night, people running for their lives because of war and persecution by those who have judged them of lesser value.
One day soon, our creator, Yeshua, is going to judge the world and I fear it is not going to be the judgment we hoped for. When he came to earth two thousand years ago, he taught his disciples to judge not lest they be judged. He is the only righteous judge and his judgment is not based on the criteria we use to judge others. He is not interested in outward appearances, but the inner heart. When he returns as King of kings and Lord of lords, he will come to render judgment upon each and every one of us according to our heart. The standard for that judgment will depend upon us. The measure we use to judge others will be the exact measure he will use to judge us. That is a very sobering thought. Our eternal destiny depends upon us. May we all consider our ways and our contribution to the pain and suffering of our fellow man. God is love and those who are his will live to spread that love throughout this dying world.
Sunday, April 16, 2017
Beware of False Teachers
I guess you could say this post is a continuation of previous posts, "The Origin of Easter" and "Resurrection Sunday". However, it is much more than that. It is very personal and comes from the depths of my heart. Today, as I watched the news and saw nothing but people "celebrating" the resurrection with dyed eggs, face painting, candy, bunnies, and baby chicks, I was sickened to the core of my being. Just hearing the phrase "Happy Easter" sends chills down my spine. Easter, the Babylonian bare-breasted goddess named the queen of heaven, the reincarnated Semiramis, the wife of Nimrod has nothing to do with my savior.
How have so many in the world come to associate the resurrection of Yeshua with Babylonian sun-god worship? What do the ancient fertility rites and traditions of pagan cultures have to do with the Messiah? If you consider yourself to be a believer in Yeshua, saved by his blood, secure in your hope of eternal life through him, you should seriously ask yourself that question and, even more seriously, be careful how you answer.
I faced the truth many, many years ago and it is a bitter pill to swallow. It is not pleasant to go against the accepted traditions of an entire culture. You find yourself isolated from all that has previously been your reality. You are no longer comfortable in a world that you once were very much a part of. Yet, once you know and accept the truth, however painful it may be, there is no going back. You can't unlearn what has been revealed to you. The blinders are off, the veil has been lifted. You once were blind but now you see, and what you now see is a world under judgment, a world that will one day soon be stripped of all of its false gods, it's religions, governments, educational institutions, it's very culture. Everything they have put their trust in will collapse before their very eyes and they will see the awful truth, that they had been fed nothing but lies.
I read in an article this morning that says Easter is also known as Pascha (Passover). That is an absolute lie. Easter has nothing to do with Passover. None of it's ancient celebrations, rituals, or customs identify with anything remotely associated with Yeshua. Do you know where the custom of dying eggs comes from? On the first Sunday after the vernal equinox, the priests of Easter would impregnate virgins on the altar of Easter and the next year sacrifice those three-month-old babies, dying eggs in their blood. Is this the ritual we are rehearsing with our children. Many will respond, "That's not what it means to me!" Well, what does it mean to you? You tell me! When you are telling your children the story of the resurrection, how do you insert egg-laying rabbits, baby chicks and baskets filled with candy?
Yehovah's warning to his called-out ones is to stay away from the worship of pagan cultures, not to learn the ways in which they honored their gods and attempt to do so to him. It is an abomination. Jeremiah 10:2, "Learn not the way of the heathen". God tells his people in Revelation 18:4 to come out of Babylon, that we are not partakers of her sins, and receive not of her plagues.
It doesn't matter how sincere we may be. We are to worship him in spirit and in truth. He shows us what that true worship is in his sight. Ancient Israel rehearsed, through their temple services, the shadow pictures of the Messiah and how he would save mankind. The celebration of each of the festivals and the manner in which they were to be observed were to tell the story of Yeshua, both his first coming as the lamb of God and his second coming as King of kings. He fulfilled the Spring feasts two thousand years ago through his death, burial, and resurrection. These shadow pictures are beautiful illustrations that pagan practices can never duplicate or replace. However, because the majority of mankind has abandoned these feasts and celebrations for those of pagan sun-god worship, his second coming will be that of judgment on a disobedient, God-rejecting world. We have been warned. Jude 1:3 begs us to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints for, even in the first century, many crept in unawares among the early believers, bringing in false doctrine and leading many astray, turning God's grace into license. Too many today believe that God accepts any form of worship we choose to offer him, but God is not mocked. He has revealed to us how he wants to be worshiped.
The religions we have today come from the deluded mind of Emperor Constantine in 325 A.D. who declared Christianity the official religion of the Roman empire, albeit a hybrid religion. He purged the empire of the teachings of Yeshua and the early apostles and ushered in a corrupted form of religion that merged pagan sun-god worship with the worship of God. Any who refused to comply with the new religion were executed. To appease those followers of Yeshua who remained, he changed the names of all the pagan festivals to cover up their origins, so as to make them more acceptable. So, here we are today, nearly two thousand years later, completely immersed in Babylonian sun-god worship, and it's not just Easter. It permeates nearly everything in our culture. We should not be surprised. The bible tells us that Satan is the god of this age and has deceived the whole world.
We have been warned, but will we heed the warning? We can do nothing about what we have inherited. It goes back much farther than our parents or grandparents. All we can do is repent and ask God to show us the truth. Can we do that? If we are taught the truth, can we turn from what has become so familiar, from those traditions that have become so dear to our hearts, those which we thought were honoring God but were birthed in the mind of a madman who remained a sun-god worshiper to the day of his death?
Modern day Christianity, as we know it, has been the recipient of this hybrid religion and our priests, ministers and pastors have continued in its teachings down through the centuries. Some have seen the light and discontinued their association with their previous denominations. Most have remained, many who know the origins of their religion but who are afraid to preach it for fear of losing their position in the church. They weakly proclaim that it doesn't make any difference. Well, lets read the message of Yehovah to Jeremiah and see if it makes a difference to him. You alone are responsible for your life, for the decision you make. God has set before us life and death. I pray you choose life.
Jer 2:8 The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal and walked after things that do not profit.
How have so many in the world come to associate the resurrection of Yeshua with Babylonian sun-god worship? What do the ancient fertility rites and traditions of pagan cultures have to do with the Messiah? If you consider yourself to be a believer in Yeshua, saved by his blood, secure in your hope of eternal life through him, you should seriously ask yourself that question and, even more seriously, be careful how you answer.
I faced the truth many, many years ago and it is a bitter pill to swallow. It is not pleasant to go against the accepted traditions of an entire culture. You find yourself isolated from all that has previously been your reality. You are no longer comfortable in a world that you once were very much a part of. Yet, once you know and accept the truth, however painful it may be, there is no going back. You can't unlearn what has been revealed to you. The blinders are off, the veil has been lifted. You once were blind but now you see, and what you now see is a world under judgment, a world that will one day soon be stripped of all of its false gods, it's religions, governments, educational institutions, it's very culture. Everything they have put their trust in will collapse before their very eyes and they will see the awful truth, that they had been fed nothing but lies.
I read in an article this morning that says Easter is also known as Pascha (Passover). That is an absolute lie. Easter has nothing to do with Passover. None of it's ancient celebrations, rituals, or customs identify with anything remotely associated with Yeshua. Do you know where the custom of dying eggs comes from? On the first Sunday after the vernal equinox, the priests of Easter would impregnate virgins on the altar of Easter and the next year sacrifice those three-month-old babies, dying eggs in their blood. Is this the ritual we are rehearsing with our children. Many will respond, "That's not what it means to me!" Well, what does it mean to you? You tell me! When you are telling your children the story of the resurrection, how do you insert egg-laying rabbits, baby chicks and baskets filled with candy?
Yehovah's warning to his called-out ones is to stay away from the worship of pagan cultures, not to learn the ways in which they honored their gods and attempt to do so to him. It is an abomination. Jeremiah 10:2, "Learn not the way of the heathen". God tells his people in Revelation 18:4 to come out of Babylon, that we are not partakers of her sins, and receive not of her plagues.
It doesn't matter how sincere we may be. We are to worship him in spirit and in truth. He shows us what that true worship is in his sight. Ancient Israel rehearsed, through their temple services, the shadow pictures of the Messiah and how he would save mankind. The celebration of each of the festivals and the manner in which they were to be observed were to tell the story of Yeshua, both his first coming as the lamb of God and his second coming as King of kings. He fulfilled the Spring feasts two thousand years ago through his death, burial, and resurrection. These shadow pictures are beautiful illustrations that pagan practices can never duplicate or replace. However, because the majority of mankind has abandoned these feasts and celebrations for those of pagan sun-god worship, his second coming will be that of judgment on a disobedient, God-rejecting world. We have been warned. Jude 1:3 begs us to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints for, even in the first century, many crept in unawares among the early believers, bringing in false doctrine and leading many astray, turning God's grace into license. Too many today believe that God accepts any form of worship we choose to offer him, but God is not mocked. He has revealed to us how he wants to be worshiped.
The religions we have today come from the deluded mind of Emperor Constantine in 325 A.D. who declared Christianity the official religion of the Roman empire, albeit a hybrid religion. He purged the empire of the teachings of Yeshua and the early apostles and ushered in a corrupted form of religion that merged pagan sun-god worship with the worship of God. Any who refused to comply with the new religion were executed. To appease those followers of Yeshua who remained, he changed the names of all the pagan festivals to cover up their origins, so as to make them more acceptable. So, here we are today, nearly two thousand years later, completely immersed in Babylonian sun-god worship, and it's not just Easter. It permeates nearly everything in our culture. We should not be surprised. The bible tells us that Satan is the god of this age and has deceived the whole world.
We have been warned, but will we heed the warning? We can do nothing about what we have inherited. It goes back much farther than our parents or grandparents. All we can do is repent and ask God to show us the truth. Can we do that? If we are taught the truth, can we turn from what has become so familiar, from those traditions that have become so dear to our hearts, those which we thought were honoring God but were birthed in the mind of a madman who remained a sun-god worshiper to the day of his death?
Modern day Christianity, as we know it, has been the recipient of this hybrid religion and our priests, ministers and pastors have continued in its teachings down through the centuries. Some have seen the light and discontinued their association with their previous denominations. Most have remained, many who know the origins of their religion but who are afraid to preach it for fear of losing their position in the church. They weakly proclaim that it doesn't make any difference. Well, lets read the message of Yehovah to Jeremiah and see if it makes a difference to him. You alone are responsible for your life, for the decision you make. God has set before us life and death. I pray you choose life.
Jer 2:8 The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal and walked after things that do not profit.
Jer 10:21 For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.
Jer 12:10 Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness
Jer 22:22 The wind shall eat up all thy pastors, and thy lovers shall go into captivity: surely then shalt thou be ashamed and confounded for all thy wickedness.
Jer 23:1-2 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.
Jer 16:19 O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.
Sunday, April 9, 2017
The Cultivated Mind
I love the parable of the sower. Yeshua often
used agricultural analogies to bring to light spiritual
principles. We learn from this parable that God sows his word like
seed in the world. His purpose in sowing the word is that it
might bring forth abundance in people's lives. We are likened unto
the ground in the parable. Some people hear the word of God, but
don't understand it at all. They are pictured as the ground
by the side of the road. The seed falls on it, but the
birds come quickly and take the seed away. Maybe these are those
who are not interested or maybe they don't believe in God,
the bible doesn't say. What it does say is that the evil one
(HaSatan) immediately takes it away so that it has no chance to
make a difference in that one's life.
Some are compared to rocky ground. This is
ground that may quickly receive a seed, per chance, and bring forth a
small plant. I've seen impatiens grow in some pretty rocky soil, but
they have no opportunity to reach their full potential. This
represents people that eagerly receive the word, but have
no depth within their hearts that allows the word to get down
deep, where it can grow.
Others are compared to ground that contains
thorny weeds. These weeds, the cares of this life, the pursuit
of possessions, fame or fortune, choke out the word. These people are
too busy pursuing their own agenda to give ear to God's word.
Some, however, are likened unto good
ground, cultivated soil that can produce abundant fruit. I was
thinking this morning about cultivated soil. The tractor,
tiller, shovel or hoe has to break up that ground to prepare it for
the seed. The Holy Spirit's job is to prepare the way for God's word.
Our hearts and minds need to be cultivated so that, when God's word
is planted inside of us, we can accept it and allow it to grow and
produce an abundant harvest for the Kingdom. To produce the greatest
fruit, we often must be broken, humbled or chastened to prepare
us for the growth to come, much like a plant needs pruning to bring
forth a greater yield.
The important lesson here is that we are not
the ones who produce the fruit. The fruit is produced by the word
(seed). We are the ground. The ground does not, of itself, produce
fruit. It receives the seed that produces the fruit. Any so-called
goodness within us comes from God. We have no goodness within
ourselves. We are a receptacle for his word. We must receive that
word into cultivated minds and hearts, that it may be able to produce
his purpose for our lives.
Saturday, April 8, 2017
Never Give Up
Yeshua tells us that all things are possible with God. Sometimes we humans have a hard time believing that. We live in a world of limits, or so we think. The ones who truly excel are those who conceive a thought or an idea and bring it to full fruition with a never give up attitude and a boundless faith in their ability to achieve it.
Take every invention that we are the recipients of today. Each one began as a seed in the inventor's mind. They saw it clearly in their mind's eye first before they were able to manifest it in the physical world.
Every musician hears the music before he/she creates the notes. A writer sees their characters and story line before they appear on paper. An artist imagines the strokes of a painting before the picture is put to canvas.
What is man really capable of? What are each of us capable of? More than we can ever imagine! That's why I know, at the deepest level of my being, that we can eradicate negativity in our lives and we can rise above any obstacles that loom large in front of us and conquer them with an unwavering faith that all things are possible. Good things don't just happen to the "lucky" few, the rich and powerful, the educated or the famous. We are all on equal footing when it comes to faith. We hear all the time of people who have risen above their circumstances; humble beginnings, poverty, disabilities, abuse, whatever.
What did they all have in common? They were tired of the status quo. They assessed the situation and dared to believe. They put one foot in front of the other with determination and a will to fight for what they wanted, and they rose above every barrier, every naysayer, every mountain, fought every giant and their own doubts and fears until they achieved their dream. That's what each of us needs to do. We need to know that nothing can tear us down if we don't let it. It's up to us. How bad do we want it? That's the only question.
Take every invention that we are the recipients of today. Each one began as a seed in the inventor's mind. They saw it clearly in their mind's eye first before they were able to manifest it in the physical world.
Every musician hears the music before he/she creates the notes. A writer sees their characters and story line before they appear on paper. An artist imagines the strokes of a painting before the picture is put to canvas.
What is man really capable of? What are each of us capable of? More than we can ever imagine! That's why I know, at the deepest level of my being, that we can eradicate negativity in our lives and we can rise above any obstacles that loom large in front of us and conquer them with an unwavering faith that all things are possible. Good things don't just happen to the "lucky" few, the rich and powerful, the educated or the famous. We are all on equal footing when it comes to faith. We hear all the time of people who have risen above their circumstances; humble beginnings, poverty, disabilities, abuse, whatever.
What did they all have in common? They were tired of the status quo. They assessed the situation and dared to believe. They put one foot in front of the other with determination and a will to fight for what they wanted, and they rose above every barrier, every naysayer, every mountain, fought every giant and their own doubts and fears until they achieved their dream. That's what each of us needs to do. We need to know that nothing can tear us down if we don't let it. It's up to us. How bad do we want it? That's the only question.
Thursday, November 10, 2016
CHOICES
America has made her choice in Tuesday's election, for better or worse. It is no surprise that she continues to be divided right down the middle. Many hearts are broken, others are beating with excitement. I personally was under no illusion that either candidate would turn this country back to God. I pray the new administration will seek the best interests of the American people. Our problems are numerous and answers are few. We are a nation on the operating table in critical condition. Our wounds are so numerous and each so serious, any wrong decision during surgery could render a death blow to the patient.
Could Isaiah 1:4-6 be a commentary, not only of the ancient nation of Israel, but America as well? "Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken Yehovah, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment."
America declares itself "God's nation", but are we? We say we are a Christian nation, but do our fruits show that to be true? I believe us to be a nation in which Christians reside, but the nation as a whole long ago rejected His divine authority over us.
Would you agree that the apostle Paul saw our day 2000 years ago and declared it in his second letter to Timothy? Does this, in any way, describe what we see in America today?
2 Timothy 3:1-4 "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good. Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;"
Don't get me wrong. I am not America bashing. This applies to every nation throughout the world. This is a universal problem. The point I am making is that no person, government, company, denomination, civic organization, educational institution, healthcare system or immigration policy can heal what is wrong with us as a nation.
Whether or not you voted for Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump in this election, I hope you weren't putting your trust in either of them to do what only God can do. I pray that Mr. Trump will bow his knee to God and, as King Solomon did, ask for the wisdom to rule this mighty nation and lead us back to His righteousness. With that said, whether or not God will be welcome in the White House, I can absolutely declare that He has been and will continue to be welcome in my house.
Could Isaiah 1:4-6 be a commentary, not only of the ancient nation of Israel, but America as well? "Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken Yehovah, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment."
America declares itself "God's nation", but are we? We say we are a Christian nation, but do our fruits show that to be true? I believe us to be a nation in which Christians reside, but the nation as a whole long ago rejected His divine authority over us.
Would you agree that the apostle Paul saw our day 2000 years ago and declared it in his second letter to Timothy? Does this, in any way, describe what we see in America today?
2 Timothy 3:1-4 "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good. Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;"
Don't get me wrong. I am not America bashing. This applies to every nation throughout the world. This is a universal problem. The point I am making is that no person, government, company, denomination, civic organization, educational institution, healthcare system or immigration policy can heal what is wrong with us as a nation.
Whether or not you voted for Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump in this election, I hope you weren't putting your trust in either of them to do what only God can do. I pray that Mr. Trump will bow his knee to God and, as King Solomon did, ask for the wisdom to rule this mighty nation and lead us back to His righteousness. With that said, whether or not God will be welcome in the White House, I can absolutely declare that He has been and will continue to be welcome in my house.
Saturday, November 5, 2016
A Prayer for America
Our Father, America stands at the crossroads of the most important time in our history. In a few days we will elect the next president of the United States and usher in events that will forever change the course of history, not only for our country but for the entire world. May your spirit guide and direct us to your will for this nation. My heart is exceedingly troubled as I view the events of the days in which we now live through the perspective of biblical prophecy and the path we have embarked on from our inception as a nation. I believe with all my being that America was birthed to be a light to the world, to live according to your laws, statutes and judgments and make your name great throughout all the earth. Father, You have blessed this nation above all others and we have been a blessing to many throughout our history, yet we have forgotten that our continued blessings are contingent upon our obedience to you. Sadly, rather than be a godly example to the world, we have allowed ourselves to be influenced by the world and have turned from righteousness to ungodliness. Like Israel before us, who likewise was birthed to be a nation under God, we have succumbed to following the ways of those who do not know or worship you. We have inherited their godless forms of religion whereby we practice recycled customs and traditions of pagan sun-god worship rather than the commandments of our God. These have not revealed your ways to us, for they are but the manufactured devises of imperfect men that have not known you. We have exchanged our glory for that which does not profit. We have abandoned the beautiful shadow pictures of your holy times and seasons for celebrations that contain no truth, no understanding. Your instructions have been pushed aside as ancient teachings for an ancient people, no longer relevant for the modern times in which we live. I beg you, please remove the veil that covers our eyes and understanding. Show us the ugly truth, that the god of this world has deceived us and caused us to go astray. We have rejected the tree of life for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Is it yet too late for America to repent, to turn to you with all her heart? May we yet be able to find redemption and salvation? Has she gone too far to find her way home, her way back to you? I pray not! Will it take chastisement, punishment to awaken us and pull us from the deadly precipice upon which we stand? Please have mercy upon us. Please raise up a people among us who will blow the trumpet and sound the alarm, who will stand as watchmen upon the wall, who will bring us to repentance and turn our hearts back to you, our only hope. We cannot put our trust in any other. No elected leader can save us.You are our only Savior, If we want America to be great again, then the American people have to aspire to be great again as individuals, to repent of their abominations and turn to You with all their heart. Again, we stand at a crossroads. What will our response be? I fear judgment stands at the door. May we wake up before it is too late, in Yeshua's name I pray, AMEN!
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