My Prayer for You

"Asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his 
will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to 
walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to 
him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in
the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all 
power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance
and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who
has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints
in light." (Colossians 1:9-12)


Reader, during this crazy time in history, in our nation,
in our world, it is good to stop and ponder what we have
in Christ: spiritual wisdom and understanding, strength,
endurance, patience, joy, and an inheritance that is out
of this world!!!!!

Eagerly Awaiting

I keep coming across various scriptures that capture my
attention in ways that I had not experienced before. The
verse in Hebrews 9:28,

"...so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the 
sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation 
without reference to sin, 
to those who eagerly await Him.'

The first time Jesus came it was to take away our sins,
but this appearing has nothing to do with sin, but a
lifting us out of this world and into another dimension.

I have been told all my life that the entire church will be
raptured when Jesus appears to pick up what He bought
2,000 years ago. If this is true then why are we told a
number of times, 'to be alert, to watch,' that we are 'to
eagerly await His appearing?' Then there are the ten
virgins in Matt 25, but only five of them went into the
marriage feast.

'No one knows the day or hour,' but Jesus said that,"
when these things begin to come to pass, look up for
your redemption draws near." What were these things?
Wars, earthquakes, famine, weather changes. Yes, these
things have been going on one degree to another for
hundreds, even thousands of years with one exception:
Israel. See Matthew 24: 32-39 and Luke 21:29-36. The
fig tree is Israel and the generation that was born just
before Israel became a nation, will not pass away until
all of the prophecies of his coming, including the
tribulation are fulfilled. Israel became a nation in 1948.

I was watching a video this evening that took me into
the heavens and the constellations which tell the
redemption story, God's story. It had been a very dull
day but when I glanced out the window I saw a sky of
brilliant pink. One minute later I looked up to see that
beautiful sky but the light was gone and the darkness
was closing in. That quickly it had vanished. The Bible
says in 2 Thessalonians that we will be gone in a blink
of an eye. I am so excited about the coming of the Lord
but few want to hear about it. If you are one of the few,
check out the video below. I had to watch it twice. I did
not look up the references he gave to see what the
Wise Men of the East saw in the sky when Jesus was
born. It was something very unique that set them on a
journey that would take months! That sign is connected
to this season.

We are to encourage one another as the day draws near!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yumhuYugsdA

I Lift Up My Soul

It is amazing how God can open a portion of scripture
and it is exactly what you need to hear for that day.
May you find Him to be your 'only' today.

To Thee, O Lord, I lift up my soul
O my God, in Thee I trust
Do not let me be ashamed;

Make me know Thy ways, O Lord
Teach me Thy paths
Lead me in Thy truth and teach me.

For thou art the God of my salvation;
For Thee I wait all the day...

According to Thy lovingkindness
      remember Thou me.
For Thy goodness sake, O Lord...

Guard my soul, and deliver me;
Do not let me be ashamed
For I take refuge in Thee. (Ps 25)

Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will
sustain you. He will never allow the righteous
to be shaken. 

Unheeded Secret

It is amazing how some things can jump out at you
when you are searching for truth.

"Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world.'"
                           John 18:36

If that is true, why do we work so hard to establish His
kingdom on earth? I won't mention any parties but one
of them has been working over the years to establish
God's kingdom through elections. There are churches
whose goal it is to make their city, a Godly city. Jesus
was not just talking about His time on earth, but the
'is not' includes the now. I am not saying that Christians
should not vote. I am saying that we don't have to have
a Christian running for the Presidency in order to vote.
We do need to seek God as to how to vote, and do our
homework. Which platform represents our values?
They are polls apart. Please vote.

So, what is the calling of the Church?
It is to make Christ known.

Oswald Chambers narrows it down to the
              Unheeded Secret:
"We must get rid of the plague of the spirit of 
this religious age in which we live. 
The central point of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ 
is a personal relationship with Him, 
not public usefulness to others."

Somehow this did not get posted today! 

A Prayer for Perilous Times

"The prayer of the upright is his delight." Pro 15:8
" Men ought always to pray and not faint." Luke 18:1

If you are watching the news at all regularly, it may cause
your heart to faint. Jesus said that at the end of  the age,
"men's hearts would fail them for fear" 
So, dear reader, what is a good prayer for these days?
You may be surprised by the petition of Andrew Murray

"Make known to me and take from me every form, and
degree and type of pride whether it be from evil spirits
or my own corrupt flesh, and awaken in me the deepest
depth and truth of that humility which will make me
capable of His light and Holy Spirit. "
(from the little book called, Humility)

Enoch--A Not

"And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for
God took him." Gen 5:20

OR, 'Enoch walked with God and he was a 'not.'

The message we hear today is how to be somebody
for God. It is all about excelling in the works of
God; to be great in the kingdom of God. I have sat
under this kind of teaching for most of my life.

Consider Enoch. What did he accomplish for God in
his 365 years? NOThing is recorded. Did he feel like
a 'not?' However, no one else in scripture suddenly
vanished like Enoch, without fanfare, without notice.
Did Enoch change dimensions because of a unique
relationship with his Creator?

Reader, the greatest of us can't live the Christian life.
We are all on the same playing field. Everyone of us
is helpless to live the Christian life out of our own
gifts, resources. Each of us has far more than Enoch
could have dreamed of. Every born again Christian
contains the Creator of the Universe--Jesus Christ!

Paul says: "Whatever things were gain to me, these
things I have counted loss for the sake of Christ."
(Philippians 3:7)

Jesus says: "I am the vine, you are the branches; he
who abides in Me, and I in Him, he bears much fruit;
for apart from me, you can do NOThing. (John 15:5)

Silence

Lewis once said that when you need God the most is
the time that the door slams shut, the bolt is dropped
and then, silence. (I am paraphrasing)

"When He heard that he was sick, He stayed 
two more days in the place where He was."
                         John 11:6

'If Jesus Christ is bringing you into the under-
standing that prayer is for the glorifying of His 
Father, then He will give you the first sign of 
His intimacy--silence.'     (OC)

Revealed

How can I know what the Father is saying?

"Jesus answered and said, 'I thank You, Father,..
that You have hidden these things from the wise
and prudent and have revealed them to babes.'"
                   (Matt 11:25)

'All of God's revealed truths are sealed until they
are opened to us through obedience. Even the 
smallest bit of obedience opens the heaven, and
the deepest truths of God immediately become
ours.' (OC)

Reader, we must pause long enough to hear that
quiet voice... 

Coming to Jesus

'Come to Me...'
  Matt 11:28

'"Come to Me...' When you hear those words, you
will know that something must happen in you
before you can come. The Holy Spirit will search
out that one immovable stronghold within you,
but He cannot budge it unless you are willing to
let Him do so,"   (OC)

Reconciliation

As I type this word, reconciliation, I ponder what it means--
truly. We are currently preparing a Christmas Cantata and
the theme of Christmas is that God became flesh that we
might be reconciled to the living God.

Reconciliation from Webster's 1825 dictionary:
Reconcile: To conciliate anew; to call back into union
and friendship the affections which have been alienated;
to restore to friendship or favor after estrangement.
 In scripture, the means by which sinners are reconciled 
and brought into a state of favor with God.

'God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself...'
     1Cor. 5:18
'For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, 
so that we might become the righteousness of God.'
     1Cor 5:21

"Jesus Christ reconciled the human race, putting it back
to where God designed it to be. And now anyone can
experience that reconciliation, being brought into oneness
with God, on the basis of what our Lord has done on the
cross.  (OC)

Reader, you are a mystery to me. I have no idea where
you are on this journey of reconciliation with God. I so
pray that you would consider what I have written, not
for the words but for the heart of God and how much He
loves you--even as you are now. Bow before Him and
let Him know your greatest need. He stands before you
to fill you with Himself.

Ten Thousand Times Ten Thousand

Here we are still on earth two thousand years after
Jesus left and the disciples were told to watch for
His return. But the midnight call has gone forth
and the ten virgins are trimming their lamps.

Ten thousand time ten thousand,
   In sparkling raiment bright,
The armies of the ransomed saints
   Throng up the steeps of light;
'Tis finished, all is finished,
   Their fight with death and sin;
Fling open wide the golden gates,
   And let the victors in.

What rush of hallelujahs
   fills all the earth and sky!
What ringing of a thousand harps
   Bespeaks the triumph nigh!
O day for which creation
   And all its tribes were made!
O joy, for all its former woes
   A thousandfold repaid!

O then what raptured greetings
   On Canaan's happy shore,
What knitting severed friendships up,
   Where partings are no more!
Then eyes with joy shall sparkle
   That brimmed with tears of late;
Orphans no longer fatherless,
   Nor widows desolate.

Bring near Thy great salvation,
   Thou Lamb for sinners slain;
Fill up the roll of Thine elect,
   Then take Thy power and reign;
Appear, Desire of nations,
   Thine exiles long for home;
Show in the heavens Thy promised sign;
   Thous Prince and Savior, come.
Henry Alford (1810-71)

Reader, the night is far spent, the day is at hand.
There were ten virgins but only five went into the
wedding feast. What made the difference? Open
to the first three chapters of Revelation and ask
the Lord to show you which church you represent.
Truly, He is at the door! Are you Rapture ready?

The month of September and October this year has
been very busy prophetically. Lots going on in the
heavens and there have been many shadows and
patterns. InformedChristiansYouTube has been
putting up three to four videos a week of some very
interesting stuff regarding the rapture. I will post the
most recent below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZkU6lV9YF0

Work for God

"We cannot take up work for Christ--plan, scheme,
devise, organize or enter upon Christian service--
and so command God's blessing. We cannot pray as 
we desire, even though these prayers contain passion 
and tears, in order to secure the Divine response. 
Failure to recognize this is bringing multitudes into 
despair because of no blessing upon their ardent 
labor and no answers to their prayers."

'We must know in our spirit just what Christ is 
doing, how He is doing it. Moreover, our prayers 
must be the prayers of Christ Himself prayed in us 
and through us by the Holy Spirit." 

From where came Christ's power?

"I came out from God." Jn 7:29
"What he seeth the Father doing...
     these the son also doeth.' Jn 15:19)
"The works of my Father" Jn 5:36
"I speak not of myself."

"The first believers knew what it meant to be 
baptized 'in one spirit"...into one Body of which 
Christ is the head...They had no independent 
action, no self laid plans, no schemes or 
undertakings which were the product of their 
own thought, reasoning, devising--even though 
it were "for Christ" or "for the kingdom or in 
His Name."  T Austin-Sparks from In Christ

Well, reader, in this 21st century of nonstop
busyness, we may be missing something. We
relax in front of the TV, but when do we set
time aside to read and listen to what God is
saying?

A Preposterous Statement

Everything in our culture screams out, 'I am the one. I can do
anything. If I can get my life together I will soar. I must soar!'
The motto in my home growing up was, 'Busyness is next to
godliness.'

The scripture laid out in the last blog serves to emphasize the
truth that no one can live the Christian Life. This is what
T Austin-Sparks says:

'No man can live the Christian life; there is only One Who
can live the Christian life, and that is Christ Himself. He 
lives His Life through us as members of His own Body, 
so that:

'For me to live is Christ'
'It is no longer I...but Christ.'

Reader, it was about a decade ago that I learned that only
through Him can I live the Christian life. Up until then my
days were full of 'oughts' and 'should.' I measured my quiet
time, serving time, praying time and it wore me out. Then,
I got sick and was helpless to live the Christian life and
discovered that He leads moment by moment and when He
is my Life, my life is effortless and full of peace.

The Immensity of Redemption

I recently picked up a small book entitled In Christ by
T Austin-Sparks, who lived in the 19th century. First of all,
I hardly recognize his teachings because they are foreign
to what is taught in most churches today; secondly,
he speaks truth.

There is no phrase or formula which occur with greater 
frequency than this, "in Christ." In all the 200 times of its 
occurrence the principle is the same. In Ephesians 1:10 
we are told that God has purposed to sum up all things in 
Christ and that outside of Him there is nothing which has 
any place in the eternal purpose and intention of God. The 
plan, the method, the resources, the times, the eternities, 
are all Christopheric--centered in Christ.

In Eternity past we were chosen and elected together in 
Christ. Eph 1:4; 1Peter 5:13
Planted together in the likeness of His death. Rom 6:5
Quickened...together in christ Eph 2:15
Raised...up together in Christ Eph 2:6
Made...to sit together in Christ Eph 2:6
Perfected together 1Cor 2:2
Knit together  Col 2:2
Live together with him 1Thes 5:10
Working Together with him 2 Cor 5:1

Then comes the climax at the end of time, when all things
will be accomplished and we are 'Together...caught up,"
Phil 1:27 and then "Glorified together with him." Rom 8:17.

Reader, have you ever pondered the immensity of what it
means that Christ redeemed us from our sins and made us
a New Creation, centered in Him alone? I have not done
this very much, myself!

The Lord Draws Near

I came across a website whose writer plunges into places few
wish to walk. I put a quote below and will post the site at the
end of this blog. Sabine covers a lot of ground and gives the
reader opportunities to explore other areas.

'Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I 
will also keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which 
is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who
dwell upon the earth. I am coming quickly; hold fast what
you have, in order that no one take your crown. 
(Rev 3:10,11)

'The Lord draws near to him into the understanding that He
works all worldly things according to His purpose, and 
invites us to abide in the presence of His gracious, loving 
Spirit ruling our personal lives as well.

At times I struggle with fear including fear of the unknown,
rejection at large and by Him eventually, trickling down to 
the well-being of my children and fate of (as yet unsaved) 
loved ones, and friends, and often seek the Lord for 
re(assurance), for deliverance from fear induced fight, flight 
and freeze, and letting go of the need to be in control and 
pray to come into proper alignment.

Nearing Him in spirit, knowing how near He actually is 
and cares for every detail in our lives, eases, settles and heals. 
Our time is not in our hands, nor in the enemy's. We are not to 
fear men's judgements, but may enjoy great expectations of 
what the Lord has and will undertake for us and our loved 
ones in these end times especially.

He, through His Word, Spirit and diligent servants, gives us 
ample insight into events unfolding and offers us security in 
both knowing and understanding times and our responsiveness, 
yet invites us also to be grateful and content with what is all 
ready established, revealed and matters sealed. His future 
promises and blessings are rock solid, kept by his unchanging, 
loving nature extending toward us. Whatever we yield and 
whomever we lay in His hands, knowing our time on earth is 
nearly ending as well.'
Sabine Vlaming, The Netherlands, 2016

https://forthtell.wordpress.com

Degeneration

"Just as through one man sin entered the world,
and death through sin, and thus death spread to
all men, because all sinned.' (Romans 5:12)

This is what Oswald Chambers says:

The nature of sin is not immorality and wrong-
doing, but the nature of self-realization which 
leads us to say, 'I am my own god.'

People do not want to bow to another, they want
to be free to live their lives with no constraints.
The tribulation period will be a time when all
restraints on sin are lifted and everyone will do
'what is right in their own eyes.' 

It is Finished

I have come across a poem, hymn that was written in
the eighteenth century. May it be a blessing to you
this day!

'It is finished' 
John 19:30

Hark! the voice of love and mercy
Sounds aloud from Calvary;
See! It rends the rocks asunder,
Shakes the earth, and veils the sky:
       'It is finished!'
Hear the dying Savior cry.

'It is finished!' What assurance
Do the wondrous words afford!
Heavenly blessings without measure
Flow to us from Christ the Lord:
       'It is finished!'
Saints the dying words record!

Finished all the types and shadows
Of the ceremonial law,
Finished all that God had promised;
Death and hell no more shall awe:
       'It is finished!'
Saints, from hence your comfort draw.

Saints and angels shout His praises,
His great finished work proclaim;
All on earth and all in heaven
Join to bless Immanuel's name:
       Hallelujah!
Endless glory to the Lamb!
Jonathan Evans (1748-1809)

Grow Faith

For the past couple of months many things have been
coming together in regards to the Rapture of the Church.
We are moving into a less intense time of watching and
many are discouraged. It is not a time to let faith--which
is 'the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction 
of things not seen'--lag in despair.

I have been encouraged in my faith by listening to a
dramatized version of scripture. There is a great verse
in Romans 10:17.

'... faith comes from hearing, and hearing 
through the word of Christ.' 

In August I got the free app from Bible.Is and I have
listened to over half the Bible, including the whole NT.
It is easy to turn it on when I am busy around the house,
or driving somewhere.

Reader, if you have not listened to the dramatized
version of the book of Revelation, you are missing
out.
The worship is phenomenal!
Bible.Is

What is Important?

If we do not understand what is of prime importance
we will set our priorities incorrectly. Life here is but
a breath compared with all eternity. And, yes, there is
a real heaven; there is a real hell--separation from
God for all eternity, or living in pure love and delight
for all eternity. The choice is ours.

The Westminster Catechism asks a key question?
What is the chief end of man? The correct answer is:

'The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy
      Him forever.'

What is the purpose of the Church?

It is first of all, 'to make Christ known,' and then to
make disciples.

Jesus says this to his disciples before he leaves:

'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given 
to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, 
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the 
Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe 
all that I have commanded you. And, behold, I am 
with you always even to the end of the age.' 
(Matt 28:18-20)

Paul says this in Galatians 4:
I am agin in the anguish of childbirth until Christ be 
formed in you.'

Reader, other things such as doing good works, and
loving each other are important but if the church is
not primarily 'making Christ known, it is failing in its
purpose. These other things are spin-offs to a vibrant
relationship with Christ, where one cannot be silent
about their Lord!


  

Truth From Paul

I went through some of my back blogs from this year
and discovered some 'almost' duplicates. There are
some parts of scripture I review frequently to get a
better handle on the truth. Perhaps, you also need
reminding...

Here's what Paul wrote to Timothy in his
Second Epistle, and,
the last letter to be written:

• Luke alone is with me...
• Bring the cloak I left with... 
• Alexander the coppersmith 
• did me much harm...
• At first all deserted me...
• but the Lord stood by...
• Do your best to come before winter...

'The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and 

bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom, to Him 

be the glory forever and ever, Amen.'

To the Philippians from he same prison:

• My imprisonment 
• has turned out for the greater 
• progress of the Bible...
• Rejoice in the Lord always...
• Again, I say, 'rejoice....'
• The Lord is near...
• Be anxious for nothing...

Reader, the Apostle Paul was real in his writings.

His negative emotions show through the letters he 

wrote. He was a man of great passion in every 

way, however, between the expression of negative 

feelings, he speaks truth. Go ahead, express your 

emotions to God and to trusted friends, but always 

speak truth--even if you don't feel it--that your joy 

may be restored! 

REJOICE!  The Lord is at hand....