Archive | July 2020

And I Will Look Up!

Jul28

With all the chaos going on around us these days it is easy to start the day with news updates, social media updates and the like. This morning I was reminded by the words penned by David the best and most effective way to start every day.

Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. Give heed to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, for to You I will pray. My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD. In the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up. (Psalm 5:1-3)

It is so important we start each day acknowledging the very presence of God in our lives. Through Christ, we can boldly come before the throne of God and make our petitions known. He longs to hear us cry unto Him and seek Him in every step of our day.

Today, rather than start your day looking at things horizontal, why not look up? After all it is the LORD alone that can really make a difference in our lives and in the lives of those we have the opportunity to impact.

Today LORD we choose to look up and acknowledge you first and foremost before we attempt to weave ourselves through the day! Thank you for giving ear to our words! Thank you for hearing our cries! We bless your name this day!

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Labor Has Begun

Jul27

The days we are currently living in so accurately express the birth pains stage of prophecy. Every day we see religious freedoms become less and less available. Natural disasters have greatly increased. Lawlessness abounds. There is increasing turmoil building in the Middle East. False teachers and doctrines can be found anywhere you look. Sin is rampant. Famines and earthquakes are on the increase.

Matthew 24:3-8 Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?” Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you,  for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many.  And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately.  Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.  But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.

Though the times are going to get increasingly difficult, we have to praise God for the fact we are living in days where we get to witness the scriptures be fulfilled in living colour before our very eyes! We may well be very close to the appearance of Christ!

Let’s not waste any more time on frivolous things. It’s time to pray for the lost in our families and the world! We need to pray for our leaders and the darkness that surrounds so many worldwide governments! We need to pray for the body of Christ as never before!

Why not dedicate a set time every day to get alone before God and repent and intercede for all of the above? Reach out to others who also discern the times and join together in prayer in person or if distance is an issue, via a social media platform such as face time.

Let’s do our part to prepare others for the beautiful appearance of our Lord and Savior so that none of us will need to be ashamed at his appearance but rather we will be excited at just the thought!

1 Thessalonians 4:16,17 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.

God’s Got This

Jul21

The past few months have drastically changed our world. Our lives have become much more limited in regards to what we can do outside our own homes and also how we can do things. Many of our taken for granted freedoms have gone.

Church gatherings have had to become much more creative in order to continue to be able to meet. Families have had to postpone so many events due to limited numbers being able to gather. Life as we knew it no longer exists.

All that being said, do we need to wring our hands in worry? No. None of this is taking God by surprise. We are living in exciting days where prophecy is being lived out before our actual eyes. God’s got things under control. The characters are all lining up to play their parts in what is to come.

Christians, we have more reason than ever to not be afraid. If we are watching, we can surely see things lining up for our beautiful Savior and King’s appearance. This is the time to get serious about sharing the gospel with those who haven’t heard. This is the time to encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is the time to spend time on our knees asking the Lord what it is He wants us to do today, and every day until He appears. This is not the time to get distracted by things that keep us from abiding in Christ. There is no time to waste.

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.  And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.~ Hebrews 10:24,25

So why not start your day today in prayer? Ask God what it is you can do for Him today? Who should you speak to? What can you do for a brother or sister in Christ? Seek Him and His will for you today.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.  For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.

 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves.  Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.  So encourage each other with these words. ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18