Praying. Waiting for the City Built by God.

Don't Get Sidetracked

2012-02-03T19:20:00.001-06:00

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life (Jude 1:20-21).

There's a lot going on in the world and in our busy lives, but what God wants for us never really changes. We need to be sure not to lose site of this and make time everyday to be close with Jesus. In these two verses in Jude, our walk is about four things. The first is holiness. God is holy and He wants us to be holy. We need to let the Holy Spirit work in us and change us into Christ's image more and more. Secondly, prayer in the Spirit is mentioned. Get close to the Lord by praying and listening to Him. Spend time every day just talking to Him about everything going on and listening for His direction and assurance. Third, we are to abide in the love of God. If we do not abide in Christ, we can do nothing. Stay close to Him and His word and remember, nothing has meaning without the love of Christ flowing through us. And finally, be looking for the Lord's return and establishment of His Kingdom at any moment.

If we do these things, we will stay close to the Lord and His will and will be used by Him greatly.

Our Need For A Fresh Start

2012-01-01T19:00:00.000-06:00

Every year, for many, New Year’s Day delivers a sense of relief and excitement that another chance, a fresh start is possible. The celebration taps into a deep need within us for an opportunity to let the past go and enjoy a new hope for our future. Of course, we know that this day is actually no “newer” or different than any other day, but the realization that we need a fresh start motivates our anticipation of what the New Year could bring. As Christians, we have had our sins removed because of our faith in Jesus Christ and what He has done for us at the Cross. Past, present and future sin is no longer counted against us and our standing before God is right because of Jesus’ perfect righteousness. For us, each and every day now offers a new set of opportunities in Christ, an infinite number of fresh starts by His grace. The Bible says that if we have genuinely repented of our old lives and truly received Jesus as our Lord and Savior, that we are now a “new creation” in Christ Jesus; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Cor. 5:17)...” All people have a need to have the past reconciled and a desire to do better in the future. This desire and the knowledge of it, written by God deep into everybody’s conscience, is a “proof” of our sin and our need for forgiveness and a new beginning. It should lead us to cry out to our Creator God for forgiveness, revelation, help and guidance. Now, as we walk in the newness of Christ our Savior, every day is a Happy New Day by and through and in God’s amazing grace.

What Does Mormonism Teach? Don't Ask Joel Osteen.

2011-10-14T08:17:00.000-05:00

Joel Osteen could use a link to an article on what Mormonism teaches.

Excerpt from transcript of Joel Osteen on Piers Morgan CNN show on 10-4-2011 (http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/apostasy-local-church/55125-joel-osteen-piers-morgan-cnn-show-10-4-2011-a.html):

(Piers) MORGAN: Are there aspects to Mormonism which you find offensive?

(Joel) OSTEEN: I don't know a lot about it and here I go again but I don't know a lot...

MORGAN: How can you keep saying that?

J. OSTEEN: ...I don't know a lot about it but here -- here's the thing.

MORGAN: I bet you do but you just don't -- you don't want me to think you know lots about it, otherwise it makes the argument more difficult.

J. OSTEEN: Well, you know what, I haven't studied it. I hear things from time to time. There are certain things about the Mormon religion that I don't agree with...

MORGAN: Like what?

J. OSTEEN: I don't know -- I don't...

(Victoria) OSTEEN: Well, I think there's different degrees in religion too. It's just like being a Christian, you know, you could say, this -- these people think it's OK to do this, this, and this and they're Christian and these people say, oh, no, we don't do it like you're saying the Catholic Church, well they won't let you do this, this, and this. So, I think it has to do with degrees of how much you practice that religion, so.

MORGAN: Well, what are the things about Mormonism which are awkward for you?

J. OSTEEN: You know what, I don't know enough about their -- their beliefs to -- to point out what they are, to articulate it well but here's what I -- here's what I believe that, you know, Mitt Romney says he believes that Jesus is the Son of God, that he believes Jesus is his savior, that's the -- to me, those are the foundational things, when I look at somebody, could I vote for them, do they believe, you know, in the major things like me. I don't know what all the other church doctrine is.

Here's a good place to start, Joel:

What Does Mormonism Teach?
http://carm.org/teachings-of-mormonism

Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3).

How Well Do We Know God's Word?

2011-03-22T14:04:00.002-05:00

I have written for him
the great things of My law,
But they were considered
a strange thing.
(Hosea 8:12)

The apostate church of the last days, with its fair-weather followers, makes this same error.

Jesus answered and said unto them, "Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God." (Matthew 22:29)

Quake and Tsunami Ravage Japan

2011-03-11T22:41:00.011-06:00

A 9.0 earthquake and ensuing tsunami ravaged Japan on March 11th. Just last month a disastrous quake in New Zealand delivered up to $11 billion worth of damage, according to the New York Times, killing at least 166. In fact, over the last 10 years there have been over 150 major earthquakes around the globe, most of which of a magnitude of 7.0 or higher. 20,000 people were killed in Gujarat, India in 2001. 31,000 in southeastern Iran in 2003. As a result of the tsunami that followed the quake in Indonesia in 2004, 230,000 people lost their lives. 80,000 in Kashmir, Pakistan in 2005. Nearly 6,000 in Indonesia in 2006. In 2008, 70,000 perished in Sichuan Province, China in a 7.9 magnitude quake. An unimaginable 316,000 were killed in Haiti last year, in 2010. And the 8.8 magnitude quake in Chile last year caused the earth’s axis to tilt slightly.

Seismologists estimate that the earthquake was so powerful that it may have shortened the length of the day by 1.26 microseconds and moved the Earth's figure axis by 8 cm or 2.7 milliarcseconds.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Chile_earthquake#Geophysical_impact

The recent quake in Japan had a similar effect.

Japan was actually moved closer to the United States by about 13 feet, the earth’s axis shifted by 6.5 feet, the day was shortened by 1.6 microseconds and Japan sank downward by about two feet. The quake caused a rift 15 miles below the sea floor that stretched 186 miles long and 93 miles wide. http://www.timesleader.net/articles/stories/public/201103/16/055B_news.html

Something else especially distinctive has been happening around the world over the last ten years or so. The world, the entire world on a global scale, seems to be unraveling! Today, the entire Middle East is in unrest and every major nation of the earth is vying for control or partial control of its resources. There is a global sex and servant slave trade numbering over 30,000,000 children. Worldwide hunger, ecological peril and war are also bringing the planet to the brink of disaster. What does this all mean?

All of these things are the signs of the times we live in and should point us to the soon return of Jesus Christ for His church at the Rapture. We are told in the Bible of a time called "The Day of the Lord" when God will judge the world for its sin. This is a seven year period that takes place between the Rapture and the Second Coming. God's word tells us that Jesus will return and establish God’s just and righteous Kingdom on the earth to bring the Tribulation period to an end. Jesus said about this period of God's judgment,

"For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. "And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened (Mt. 24:21-22)."

God has made a way for people to be right with Him through faith in Jesus Christ and has given the world nearly 2,000 years to receive Him as King. We are told in the Old and New Testament, especially detailed in Revelation chapters 6-18, of this seven-year period of judgment to come upon the earth. It will be the wrath and indignation of God poured out on a rebellious and evil world living for itself and in opposition to God. The Bible describes this time as a time of war, famine, disease and almost unimaginable natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, volcanic activity, meteorites, poisonous air and water pollution, scorching heat and much more. It is a time of demonic activity and tyrannical leadership in the spiritual and earthly realms.

This worldwide, turbulent phenomena we are witness to, that has unfolded especially since 9/11/2001; the global war on terror, financial melt down worldwide, globalization, disastrous earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes and the like, are forerunners or foreshadows, if you will, of the Great Tribulation coming during God’s judgment. These events now are signs of the times in which we live. In Matthew 24, Jesus spoke of the signs that will come to pass in the Tribulation period, the signs of the time of judgment for the inhabitants of the earth and His soon return at the Second Coming. For us now, these trying times are signs of the soon return of Jesus for His church at the Rapture and the beginning of that very Tribulation period.

Who can deny that the world is currently shattered, damaged more severely on a global scale than anyone could have ever imagined? It is time to yield to God if you have not already turned from your sin and given your life to His Son Jesus Christ, who died for your sin and rose from the dead three days later. He is risen in Glory and is coming very soon to establish His Kingdom on earth. No one knows the date or hour of His return for His church. But, the foreshadowing events of the Tribulation period to come, that we are witnessing today, have gone from muddy to transparent throughout the world over the last 60 years or so. Some of these indicators include developments like the return of Israel to their homeland in 1948, the unifying of Europe, the power and position of China, the alliance of Russia and Iran, globalization, and even natural disasters. These all foreshadow what is detailed throughout the Bible as culminating in the Tribulation period. By foreshadow I mean, they are not the events of the Bible themselves, but are precursory to them.

If you are a Christian already, we need to be getting very close to Jesus in our walk with Him and seeking to live our lives fully for Him in these last days that we have on earth. We are about to go home to our Jesus, church, so let us be doing His good and pleasing will in the time we have left. Lord, help us to know your will in these last days and to act on your leading. Help us, each of your children, to be changed by you from the inside out more and more each day and to be doing your will more and more every minute. God, pour out Your Spirit on Your people.

To read an article on the Rapture and End Time events, go to:

http://ph16.com/ts_the_rapture.html

Grace and Peace

2009-09-02T01:54:00.002-05:00

May God give you more and more grace and peace (1 Peter 1).

God's grace is the only thing that brings me peace. I have no peace unless I am tapped into God's grace; daily, hourly, minute by minute, breath by breath. When we've received God's grace for salvation, His forgiveness of sin and gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ, we have peace. Peace with God and peace in our hearts. When we live moment by moment by God's grace, in His comfort and teaching, directed by the leading of His indwelling presence, we have peace. Peace with the people around us and peace within. In the New Testament, peace always follows grace. Peace comes from knowing God.

Lord, draw me to you. Help me to enter into your presence throughout the day. Speak to me in your word. Fill me with your Spirit, Lord. Surround me, empower me, fill me and use me. Flood me with your grace for life, and lead me beside peaceful streams and let me rest in your green meadows.