Inspiration

 Sixty five years ago I was twenty years old and was fighting cancer. God opened my eyes and I was aware of him personally.  I was witnessing to everyone in the hospital that God is real and  that he was here for them.  Later on, I was to be baptized as an outward witness  of my Christian faith, My entire family; father, mother and two brothers were baptized along with me. An elderly woman in the church said that she had never seen an entire family baptized together. It was a time of inspiration and hope for our entire family.

The dictionary defines inspiration as the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative. I believe that to do something new and worthwhile that you need the help of God, the creator.

A Biblical definition of inspiration is  "God breathed".  

Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

God makes living creatures and he gave a soul to human-beings. The Bible say that we were created in the image of God, with a soul and spirit.

The Bible is inspired by God and is truth.

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

God is the author of his word and he spoke his word into men who were given inspiration to write the Bible.

2Pe 1:20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one's own interpretation.

2Pe 1:21 For no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

It is a great comfort to me to trust in the truth of God, the Holy Bible. Jesus spoke to us to learn of him and  that the truth shall set you free.

John 8:31 So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples.

John 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Heb 4:13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

 I pray for you that you will come to God through Jesus Christ. Through him he will give you inspiration and direction to chose what is good and right. He loves you and he will receive you and give to you more love than you have ever known. He wants you to come to him. Lord God I ask that you give me opportunities to serve you by bringing others to you. Amen

Translated

Col 1:12  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Col 1:13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Col 1:14  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Col 1:15  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

How are we translated into the kingdom of God? It is not something we have earned, because it is an inheritance. An inheritance is from a relationship. It is not a religious membership, but a personal relationship with Jesus who has been raised from the dead; He is our risen  savior. The New Testament, is the will of Jesus Christ. He died to give us an inheritance through his shed blood. What must we do to be an heir? We must believe that his blood was shed for our sins to receive an inheritance into the kingdom of heaven. No sin can enter this kingdom, we enter by faith in Jesus, allowing him to be master of our life. He is Lord and master and our friend if we follow him in love. Our redemption, was from his purchasing us from satan by paying the price for our sins on the cross of Calvary. His sinless blood became our guilty blood for sin. Our old self died with him on that cruel cross. Our inheritance begins when we are raised with him in the Spirit. Baptism is a representation of this and a sign that we are identified with him. It is a sign both to the natural world and also to the spiritual world. We are translated out of the kingdom of darkness into his kingdom of light and truth. May we increase in his truth as we study his word; keeping our relationship alive though prayer. If we have seen Jesus , we have seen the Father. We see Him through his Spirit.

 

Joh 3:5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Joh 3:7  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Joh 3:8  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

 

We are translated and spirit filled as adopted sons of God. We belong to another kingdom, the kingdom of God. Thank you Jesus!

Eaglewings Ministries

Integrity

Zec 13:9  And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God. 


Pro 20:7  The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. 

Integrity; tom, completeness, simplicity, fulness, innocence

Integrity should be found in the true people of God, but it is found less and less in the world. Leaders without integrity, lying to deceive and to gain more power; business people lying to you, their word meaning nothing. They think the end justifies the means. Rebellious teachers, covenant breakers, schools teaching junk. 

In Christian America a handshake was usually all that was needed, because people kept their word. Having God in our country and in our lives kept us honest. I do not like what I see now, even some ministries are moving away from sound doctrine, manipulating people. For what purpose? Is there no fear of God? Hell is enlarging itself. Hell is a place for liars; integrity is truth.

3Jn 1:3  For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 
3Jn 1:4  I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 

Eaglewings Ministries

Shades of Grey

Grey is the absence of color, although grey is often called a color. In black and white photography there are shades of grey. A grey scale shows shades of grey from black to white. Spiritually there is a right and a wrong, truth and lies, good or evil. These are opposites as is black the opposite of white. Most live in the murky grey of compromise. When I rededicated my life to the Lord I was in a church that taught that there is good and evil and that we are not to mix them up. Without Jesus we would be lost in the murky grey of sin.

Rom 3:19  Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 

Rom 3:20  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 

Rom 3:21  But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 

Rom 3:22  Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 

Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 

Rom 3:24  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 

Randy the wounded goose stands before the grey of the pond. The pond is grey because the sky is grey. He watches the ripples caused by a gentle wind. The Greek word for spirit is pneumos, meaning wind.

John 3:7  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 

John 3:8  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 

We have a blue Jay called the Scrub Jay. It has blue feathers and a grey breast. A bluish grey is called a cool grey. Grey with hints of tan are called warm greys. The Lord has made good use of colors. Most any color goes with grey.  Grey or gray is the same word. The KJV Bible uses the spelling "gray". Old people have gray hair.

Pro 20:29  The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head. 

 The Robin has a grey top and a red breast. He is a warm grey color. My hair used to be a reddish brown, but I noticed a few years back that the barber started putting gray hair on the floor. Was he getting it from a bag just to trick me? We will all get gray if we live long enough. I am still young in spirit. Jesus keeps us young.

Eaglewings Ministries

Meat

Meat in the Bible refers to food and often it refers to spiritual food. The meat of the word.

John 4:33  Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? 

John 4:34  Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. 

Jesus understood the will of his father and he was led by the Holy Spirit to witness to the Samaritan woman at the well. His disciples were concerned about food to fill their bellies, but Jesus said  "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." This was his meat. Not all who seek Jesus are seeking a deeper spiritual walk with him. To be a disciple we must follow Jesus to go deeper in spiritual understanding. If he is not our master, we are not of him.

John 6:26  Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. 

John 6:27  Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 

Jesus has the meat, the word of God that is everlasting and that gives everlasting life. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6) Like Jesus we may suffer for our faith, because the world is hostile to the things of God. As he was sealed with the Holy Spirit, so must we be be sealed with the Spirit and with power.

Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 

Heb 5:9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 

Heb 5:10  Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. 

Heb 5:11  Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 

Heb 5:12  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 

Heb 5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 

Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. 

We must learn to eat the strong meat of God's word; we must learn to discern right from wrong. For there are false ones who seek to divide you with words, even quoting scriptures to divide with twisted truth and iniquity and who seek to destroy your faith. Some even believe they are speaking from God, but they have another spirit. We must learn to discern the spirits. The Holy Spirit in us is the Spirit of truth.

2Ti 2:14  Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. 
2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 
2Ti 2:16  But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 

Shun profane and vain babblings: turn oneself away for the purpose of avoiding wrong words. To repent is to turn to God and his truth. To change one's behavior. We must shun the dividing and learn to discern right from wrong. Too many are led astray by false words. We are to know the truth and to warn those seeking to divide, but not to allow them to speak to lead us astray; shun them, send them away from our gatherings. We must learn to eat the meat of God; His guidance and direction, knowing and doing the will of God through his word and prayer. Be disciples of Jesus Christ.

Eaglewings Ministries

The Rock

Mat 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

This is a powerful warning.

The LORD spoke through his prophet Isaiah:

Isa 8:13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
Isa 8:14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Isa 8:15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
Isa 8:16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
Isa 8:17 And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.

We need to know Jesus as our hope and salvation. Those who come to him with broken hearts, he will heal.

Psa 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Psa 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
Psa 34:20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

But, those who oppose Jesus shall be broken, ground to powder by the judgment of God.

Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Rev 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Mat 21:45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.
Mat 21:46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

The religious leaders saw themselves as Jesus saw them. Instead of being broken in their hearts and seeking forgiveness, they wished to kill him. First, they must control the minds of the people. If evil controls the minds, then satan has his way. Who will we listen too? We follow the goodness of Jesus drawing close to him. I know this is what we will choose.

Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Eph 5:7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Eph 5:12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
Eph 5:13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
Eph 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
Eph 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Eph 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

The will of the Lord is that we come to Jesus, trust in him, and share the gospel message while we are able. The end is very near.

Turning again to the way

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

I took a wrong turn in the car three different times today. I had to backtrack and get on the right way again. The last time made me a few minutes late for our rest home service. What a wonderful group of people were there waiting for us. They truly enjoy our time together as do we. The Lord is there; as one friend said, this is as the gates of hell or of heaven, a last chance to make a decision. We have the opportunity to point them towards Jesus and everlasting life. They hear us each week giving them the way.  We all were lost at one time, heading the wrong way. It just took correction, turning or repentance and accepting Jesus as the way to the Father. By loving them, by worshiping together we point the way. Maybe some have never heard the gospel message? They are given an opportunity before stepping into eternity. Lord save our rest home friends.

Act 2:36  Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 

Act 2:37  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 

Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

Act 2:39  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 

Weightier Matters

Mat 23:23  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Mat 23:24  Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

The problem with those who pride themselves in keeping laws, is they do not keep them perfectly. They have  a form of righteousness, but they really do not keep the laws in their hearts. 

The scribes and Pharisees ignored the more important things of the law: judgment; which is justice; knowing right from wrong and administering a just sentence on a wrong doer, according to God's laws.

Deu 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

Mercy; kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them.

Deu 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
Deu 7:10 And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.

Faith; in the LORD and his promises to His people.

Mat 17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
Mat 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

There was a great deal of pride in these religious leaders thinking that they obeyed the laws and condemning others who they did not approve of, including Jesus. 

Have we in the church ignored the law? Have we given grace too big a definition making it an excuse to live casually? Have we too come up short regarding justice, mercy and truth? Revival starts in each believers heart. We are not to be rigid Pharisee law keepers, nor loose living sinners hiding under the name of grace. It is a spiritual walk we must take. We must stay close to Jesus, allowing his Spirit to search our hearts as we read the Bible. He is perfecting his bride. Do not think that you are yet perfect. Only in him are we made perfect. Our identity is hidden in Jesus Christ; he is seen and he is glorified.

Sin unto death

1 John 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

What is the sin unto death? Is it not rejecting Jesus as Lord and going out into the world? Where is the proof? I think you will know through the Spirit's witness if someone is not of God. Note, that John is speaking of a brother, a professing believer. A professing believer may not be truly committed to Christ.

I have seen people who left being a Christian who were enemies of the cross. They became antichrist like. Wolves doing all they could to destroy the faith of other people. We see them in the world going to court to stop the display of the ten commandments or placing anti God billboards in public places.

1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. 
1 John 2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Heb 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Heb 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

I was one who for a time fell away, don't be too swift to abandon someone who has fallen away. It may be that a great trial or sorrow has come upon the person. If this is the case we should go to them seeking their restoration.

Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

James 5:19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
James 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Some are to be sought after and some are to be avoided.

Plumbline

Amo 7:7  Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand. 

Amo 7:8  And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more: 

A plumb line is a straight and true line by suspending a pointed weight on a string.  The plumb line is a straight line and by it a wall is made straight or is seen as not truly being straight. The law of gravity keeps it perfectly straight. God would judge Israel with a perfect law, no longer would he pass by and ignore their sins. Judgement time had come.

Paul spoke of rightly dividing the word of God. I see this as a plumb line in the spiritual. We can discern the truth by correctly interpreting scriptures. The scriptures interpret scriptures. Read them, know them and then you will see truth from error.

2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

The truth of God is backed up by the authority and power of God as creator and judge. He will punish the transgressor and through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ he gives grace. When a politician makes a line, then it means that anyone stepping over it would be subject to the power that he has behind him. The big difference is that God is not a liar, he means what he says and he keeps his word. When all is said and done, God's word remains true, the plumb line of his truth and will.

Our foundation

The foundation of our nation was based on the Bible and the laws of God. These are being removed. What was unheard of Fifty years ago has come about because of the lack of understanding and the indifference of the people. With the ignoring of the constitution and the moral laws there is a crumbling of the nation because the foundations are being destroyed. We Christians have a high calling.

World War 2 poster

Eph 2:19  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 
Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 
Eph 2:21  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 
Eph 2:22  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. 

The foundations of our faith were built on Jesus Christ and the founding apostles. There are no new entries to the Bible, it is complete as written. All that is said and done must  be aligned with the word of God. When a nation or church alters the foundations in the name of progress, we have the so called enlightenment of nazi Germany or communist Russia. Both of these systems failed because they oppressed God's truth and destroyed individual freedom.

Our leaders swore to keep and honor the constitution of the United States. We the people are to be careful who we elect to office. The church too must pray for the leaders and uphold the word of God or the foundations will crumble. Jesus is returning soon and he will destroy the ungodly foundations and bring righteousness. He will make everything over to his proper building"code,"  the way that God has foretold and established that it shall be. We are to be made into his image in truth and righteousness.


Psa 96:11  Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. 
Psa 96:12  Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice 

Psa 96:13  Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth. 

Eph 5:8  For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 
Eph 5:9  (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 
Eph 5:10  Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. (hymn)

Look up

The park is only a mile from our home, so when the last light of the day comes and I need refreshing I find solitude there. I see the LORD's creation as the sun dies in the west. How beautiful are the western skies through the majestic oaks from the pond boat dock.

The air is crisp and the beauty of God's creation takes my breath away. If it is so beautiful here, how much more beautiful will be our heavenly home?

John 14:1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 

John 14:2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 

John 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 

The silent ripples in the pool mirror the beauty of the sunset. We too are to mirror the beautiful light that is Jesus.

Joh 14:4  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 

John 14:5  Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

Mark 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 

Mark 16:16  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 

Mark 16:17  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 

Mark 16:18  They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 

Looking towards the eastern sky through the oak, the  clouds are a cooler pink and blue.

Mat 24:27  For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 

Streaks of pink clouds show the urgency of moving before the last light goes out.

Mat 16:1  The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. 

Mat 16:2  He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. 

Mat 16:3  And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? 

My heart knows that the world of man's doing is a mess, having removed the foundations of truth, the word of God. The creation shouts that the Lord lives!

Job 19:25  For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 

Job 19:26  And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 

Job 19:27  Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

Luke 21:25  And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 

Luke 21:26  Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 

Luke 21:27  And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 

Late harvest

The last of the garden is harvested. I pulled up the pepper plants and the tomatoes are all through. Persimmons on the tree are bird food now. The lemon tree has fresh lemons and some that were left from last year are still on the tree the size of oranges.

I see the harvest of souls in our nation like this late crop. Some refuse to come to Jesus and are under the wrath of God, the birds devour them like the last persimmons. Some do not know what they need. Some are in addictions or just too much entertainment and cannot see the need, rotting on the vine. Others are family members with hardened hearts like a winter squash. These we pray to God for their souls to be harvested. Some in the church are looking for a great revival. If the church will be ready and be active in witnessing then the last of the crop will come in. I do not see a harvest field, but Jesus said it is ready for harvest; look up, he sees and will guide us to them.

John 4:35  Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. 

Our prayers are needed to bring the last of the harvest to Jesus. Perhaps we should also be seeking the ones who have fallen back into the world?

Luke 14:23  And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 

The devil will send his drones out to confuse the fruit and to block our way. Recognize this and use the sword of God's word; keep going and keep the faith.

Luk 18:7  And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 

Luk 18:8  I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? 

Psa 40:3  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. 
Psa 40:4  Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 

The Thankful Ones

Battleship Arizona Memorial

I was two years old when Pearl Harbor was attacked and we entered the second world war. The battleship Arizona was sunk with almost 1200 casualties. The survivors of this ship are few and old. Over thirty have returned to be with their fallen brothers in ash filled urns. So many young men died, but a few lived to be old men with thankful hearts.

 

One of last USS Arizona survivors returns to ship for last time - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL

I am thankful that when I could have died of cancer as a young man that God allowed me to live to be an old man, young in spirit. I thank God for life and the new life in Jesus Christ. I thank God for a loving wife and wonderful children and grandchildren. I thank God for families and kin and the kinship of those in God's family. May we celebrate this Thanksgiving in the company of friends. Jesus is our best friend; thank you Jesus.Most of my friends are old in age but young in spirit. I do not look forward to a burial in an urn with my buddies, but I look beyond the grave to a place of life and goodness, joy and peace. I thank God that he came to me as a young man and although I went through some hard times, he was always near. We must look at life through our redeemed spirit. For greater is he that is in us then he that is in the world. Greater is the eternal spirit made alive in Christ Jesus, then the flesh body of the world.

Psa 100:1  A Psalm of praise. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
Psa 100:2  Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Psa 100:3  Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Psa 100:4  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
Psa 100:5  For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

 

Translated

Heb 11:5  By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Enoch was translated by faith. The word translate means to change, remove, to put.

 

Col 1:12  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Col 1:13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Col 1:14  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Col 1:15  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

We have read that to worship God we must worship him in Spirit and in truth.

 

Joh 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

 

Our faith must rest on the true God and Jesus his son. The LORD requires faith to move in his people.

 

Rom 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 

What else is needed besides faith and true worship? It is a continual walk in the presence of God.

 

Gen 5:24  And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. 

Autumn leaves of red and gold

The Crape Myrtle leaves fall on my car. A
closer look proves that they are quite beautiful.
These are simple blessings of God's design.

Nearer Lord to thee..

Psa 119:63  I am a companion of all them that fear thee,
 and of them that keep thy precepts. 

Asking for directions?
One group is open sided, the other closed.

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

Beware of false prophets.

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 

Just out of seminary,
but will they teach the whole word of truth?

Act 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Act 20:29  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

Some come to church seeking healing.

Luke 4:40  Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. 

Nothing like close fellowship.

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 

The leaves are packed like sardines,
but are we not one body in the Lord?

Rom 12:5  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 

All bow at the feet of Jesus.

Rev 4:10  The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 

Rev 4:11  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.