14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 Does anyone really believe that our lives are going to change forever in the near future? Or do we find we are staying so busy with our lives that we refuse to look and see what is right before our eyes? The television news is screaming in our ears, the newspapers are right before our eyes in black and white and yet we have ears that do not hear and eyes that do not see.
Mark 4:9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?
We know the scriptures if we have searched for the heart of God and surrendered our lives to him, yet even when we know the scriptures do we remember?
I wrote about my beautiful view out the front window of our home and for me this has began to be a sort of sanctuary. A place when I stop and look out and see nothing but God's creation that reflection quickly comes to mind. I know perilous times are coming because the Lord said they would and the Lord cannot lie. He has said in his word their would be many anti-Christs that would arise on the earth. Those of us that have lived for over half a century have witnessed this. Jim Jones in the Guyana incident, David Koresh and the burning in Waco of his temple. The most massive, of course was Adolf Hitler. Now another leader has came to our country and many fear that he is another anti-Christ. Some even believe he may be the real anti-Christ. He has wielded power that in my life time has never been the achieved. People evidentially wanted change and thought his promises would bring it about.
I am reminded of Moses and the Israelite s, they wanted change. God looked down and in his love for his people delivered them out of bondage and led them to the promised land with a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day and performed miracles never seen before. Yet many died in unbelief right at the time in their lives these events were being performed before their very eyes. We sit back and say to ourselves how could they be so very blind? Yet we have all the signs that God put in his word to warn us of his immediate coming and what are we doing?
In my heart it is like coming in at night and switching on the light and immediately I see how to maneuver through the house. An awareness comes when I hear of the floods, earthquakes, and volcano's erupting throwing ash in the air and stifling economy. However, as my eyes adjust to the light I quickly go about my way forgetting the darkness that I have just left.
I have watched and the decline of moral values since 1976 or 1977 when the women's lib movement began and it was predicted we would see abortion, same sex marriage and euthanasia. We worked diligently with those that saw the dangers this movement would bring about and sought to educate and warn young women of the results, but Satan won the battle, and the bill passed.
Today we see babies lives taken away before they have the chance to be born and make a difference in this world. If we live long enough, we will be slowly killed because we are old and the young are told we should not live because we are weak and sick and a drain on the economy.
Have you ever wondered how many of those baby boys might have been great preachers of God's word and reached thousands with the message of salvation and God's love? How many of those baby girls might have loved and nurtured their children and taught Sunday school classes to those that didn't have time for Jesus and those little lives be turned toward Christ?
For the more fleshly point of view; how many of those killed before their birth might have grown and found the cure for cancer, diabetes, arthritis and the other diseases that not only drain our economy, but prematurely take the lives or the quality of live from our people.
Yet sin prevails and we seem to welcome it with open arms. The God that created us, gave us the free choice of will and gave us the escape of retribution for our sin and replaced it with the hope of eternal life is being extinguished daily through the media and our leaders that only seek to line their pockets and as said in the beginning have eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear. Even more sad, apathy has overtaken the very people that he has delivered from eternal death and separation from himself.
We have lived in a time when we saw great Revivals, people come and kneel at the alter and pray for forgiveness for their sins and go back home and teach their children about the Jesus that delivered them from an eternity of doom. We have watched the Holy Spirit move in lives that seemed hopeless. We have watched prayers be answered and saw the faithfulness, love, mercy and grace of Jesus Christ in our own personal lives. Now we watch as it has slowly, like a candle that has burned down to the stub, flicker and seems like it will finally go out.
Personally I have lived in a time where we played at night on the end of the street close to our house in the light of only a street light and had no fear. Doors were not locked and cars, lawn mowers, etc. could safely sit in the back yard. Our teachers were respected and when they spoke to our parents we knew we were in for it because they sought our best interests and our parents cooperated with them for the good of the children. We had a mother and daddy with one name for all of our lives. Our mothers were home when we woke up and gave us breakfast, made sure we washed, brushed our teeth and had clean clothes to wear. Daddy went to work and earned our living and mama stayed home and earned her children's lives. Of course there were always exceptions, as in my very own life where a father in weakness of his flesh sought many women and my mother was left to make a life for me and herself. However, divorce was the exception not the norm. Sin was still in the world, but people knew what sin was and the difference between the truth and a lie. Things were black and white not gray. We knew where we stood whether it be on the side of right or the side of wrong. Today that is not true.
Oh! are we not glad that this is not the end of the story? This is what Satan had to say!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Isaiah 14:13-14
2 I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me. 3 He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth. 4 My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. 5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth. 6 They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.
I wrote about my beautiful view out the front window of our home and for me this has began to be a sort of sanctuary. A place when I stop and look out and see nothing but God's creation that reflection quickly comes to mind. I know perilous times are coming because the Lord said they would and the Lord cannot lie. He has said in his word their would be many anti-Christs that would arise on the earth. Those of us that have lived for over half a century have witnessed this. Jim Jones in the Guyana incident, David Koresh and the burning in Waco of his temple. The most massive, of course was Adolf Hitler. Now another leader has came to our country and many fear that he is another anti-Christ. Some even believe he may be the real anti-Christ. He has wielded power that in my life time has never been the achieved. People evidentially wanted change and thought his promises would bring it about.
I am reminded of Moses and the Israelite s, they wanted change. God looked down and in his love for his people delivered them out of bondage and led them to the promised land with a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day and performed miracles never seen before. Yet many died in unbelief right at the time in their lives these events were being performed before their very eyes. We sit back and say to ourselves how could they be so very blind? Yet we have all the signs that God put in his word to warn us of his immediate coming and what are we doing?
In my heart it is like coming in at night and switching on the light and immediately I see how to maneuver through the house. An awareness comes when I hear of the floods, earthquakes, and volcano's erupting throwing ash in the air and stifling economy. However, as my eyes adjust to the light I quickly go about my way forgetting the darkness that I have just left.
I have watched and the decline of moral values since 1976 or 1977 when the women's lib movement began and it was predicted we would see abortion, same sex marriage and euthanasia. We worked diligently with those that saw the dangers this movement would bring about and sought to educate and warn young women of the results, but Satan won the battle, and the bill passed.
Today we see babies lives taken away before they have the chance to be born and make a difference in this world. If we live long enough, we will be slowly killed because we are old and the young are told we should not live because we are weak and sick and a drain on the economy.
Have you ever wondered how many of those baby boys might have been great preachers of God's word and reached thousands with the message of salvation and God's love? How many of those baby girls might have loved and nurtured their children and taught Sunday school classes to those that didn't have time for Jesus and those little lives be turned toward Christ?
For the more fleshly point of view; how many of those killed before their birth might have grown and found the cure for cancer, diabetes, arthritis and the other diseases that not only drain our economy, but prematurely take the lives or the quality of live from our people.
Yet sin prevails and we seem to welcome it with open arms. The God that created us, gave us the free choice of will and gave us the escape of retribution for our sin and replaced it with the hope of eternal life is being extinguished daily through the media and our leaders that only seek to line their pockets and as said in the beginning have eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear. Even more sad, apathy has overtaken the very people that he has delivered from eternal death and separation from himself.
We have lived in a time when we saw great Revivals, people come and kneel at the alter and pray for forgiveness for their sins and go back home and teach their children about the Jesus that delivered them from an eternity of doom. We have watched the Holy Spirit move in lives that seemed hopeless. We have watched prayers be answered and saw the faithfulness, love, mercy and grace of Jesus Christ in our own personal lives. Now we watch as it has slowly, like a candle that has burned down to the stub, flicker and seems like it will finally go out.
Personally I have lived in a time where we played at night on the end of the street close to our house in the light of only a street light and had no fear. Doors were not locked and cars, lawn mowers, etc. could safely sit in the back yard. Our teachers were respected and when they spoke to our parents we knew we were in for it because they sought our best interests and our parents cooperated with them for the good of the children. We had a mother and daddy with one name for all of our lives. Our mothers were home when we woke up and gave us breakfast, made sure we washed, brushed our teeth and had clean clothes to wear. Daddy went to work and earned our living and mama stayed home and earned her children's lives. Of course there were always exceptions, as in my very own life where a father in weakness of his flesh sought many women and my mother was left to make a life for me and herself. However, divorce was the exception not the norm. Sin was still in the world, but people knew what sin was and the difference between the truth and a lie. Things were black and white not gray. We knew where we stood whether it be on the side of right or the side of wrong. Today that is not true.
Oh! are we not glad that this is not the end of the story? This is what Satan had to say!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Isaiah 14:13-14
7 O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. 8 Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. 9 I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations. 10 For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds. 11 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth. Psalm 57:1-11
And this is what we must do, and this is the answer to my question, "Lord how do I prepare for these events that will come as surely as you let the air fill my lungs and my lungs release that my life is sustained.
I will end with a footnote from my Alex, who has been so patient and let me have this time to share my thoughts and hopefully inspire someone to read God's words written here and let it be a healing to their souls and a peace to their hearts.
Alex wanted me to write down the memory verse she is to recite next Wednesday night in Church with her Team kids class mates.
With all my heart I try to obey you. don't let me break your commands. Psalm 119.10
And this is what we must do, and this is the answer to my question, "Lord how do I prepare for these events that will come as surely as you let the air fill my lungs and my lungs release that my life is sustained.
1 And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:
2 And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; 3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. 4 I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. 5 When the wavesa of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; 6 The sorrowsb of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me; 7 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears. 8 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth. 9 There went up a smoke out of his nostrilsc, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. 10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet. 11 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind. 12 And he made darkness pavilions round about him, darkd waters, and thick clouds of the skies. 13 Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled. 14 The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice. 15 And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them. 16 And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils. 17 He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of manye waters; 18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me. 19 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. 20 He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me. 21 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. 22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 23 For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them. 24 I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity. 25 Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight. 26 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright. 27 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavouryf. 28 And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down. 29 For thou art my lampg, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness. 30 For by thee I have runh through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall. 31 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is triedi: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him. 32 For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God? 33 God is my strength and power: and he makethj my way perfect. 34 He makethk my feet like hinds’ feet: and setteth me upon my high places. 35 He teacheth my hands to warl; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. 36 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great. 37 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feetm did not slip. 38 I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them. 39 And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet. 40 For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subduedn under me. 41 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me. 42 They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but he answered them not. 43 Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad. 44 Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me. 45 Strangerso shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me. 46 Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places. 47 The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation. 48 It is God that avengethp me, and that bringeth down the people under me, 49 And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. 50 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name. 51 He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore. 2 Samuel 22:1-51
Alex wanted me to write down the memory verse she is to recite next Wednesday night in Church with her Team kids class mates.
With all my heart I try to obey you. don't let me break your commands. Psalm 119.10
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