The Night of all nights!

CHRISTmas is a joyful time of the year. It is the time we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Jesus was not an ordinary baby! He was a Gift from God to mankind. God showed how much He loves us by sacrificing His one and only Son. God wanted His best for us, so He gave us His Best!

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

John 1:4 "In Him was life; and the life was the light of men."

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and repent of our sins and start living for Him, something wonderful happens inside of us. Our heart is illuminated with His presence. As we continue to live for Him by following His commandments, we become beacons to a dark world. It is His "light" in us that makes us different from other people. It is the love, joy and peace that comes from Jesus that other people see in us that's different. Even when we are going through the storms of this life, we can still have peace, joy and hope because of the One who lives in us. The Bible says: "Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world." When we allow Jesus to live in us, we allow the "Christmas spirit" to stay with us all year round and not just in December!

John 3:17 "God sent His Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save the world."

Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests."

Matthew 2:10-11 "When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh."

God gave us His one and only Son so we can be saved... Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!

1 John 1:5 "Now this is the message that we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all."

Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, the One who has triumphed! He is the One who is able to open the scroll and its seven seals in the end. He is the Alpha and Omega - the Beginning and the End! He is the only Way, the Truth and the Life!

John 14:7 Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had known who I am, then you would have known who my Father is."

Psalm 29:11 "May the Lord give might to His people; may the Lord bless His people with peace!"

...May 2009 be our best year yet filled with HIS peace, love, joy and abundant blessings!

Merry CHRISTmas!

Lucine

Faith, hope & love.. but the greatest of these is love

"There are not thousands of religions in the world, but only two", states Dr. Robert Jeffress in his book titled 'Hell? Yes!' He continues on to say: "All of the other religions of the world are spelled 'd-o'. Regardless of its label, every other religion tells us what we must 'do' to earn God's favor. But Christianity is spelled 'd-o-n-e.' The foundation of the gospel is not what we do for God, but what God has already done for us in sending His Son to atone for our sins."

Yes, our salvation is a gift from God because of God's unconditional love for us. Only Christianity makes that claim!

I'm listing only a few of the 400+ Bible verses on 'love':

1 Corinthians 13:13 "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.'

1 John 4:19 "We love because he first loved us."

Luke 6:27-28 Jesus said: "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."

Mark 12:31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

Luke 6:31 "Do to others as you would have them do to you."

John 8:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

Romans 12:9 "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good."

Romans 13:10 "Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."
1 Peter 4:8 "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."

1 John 4:7 "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God."

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away."

Ephesians 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her."

Ephesians 5:33 "However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband."

Colossians 3:14 "And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

Luke 6:35 "But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your rewards will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked."

For more on "love", read the "New Testament" of your "Bible" :-)

God Bless,
Lucine

A beacon in darkest times...

Time is short... What are we doing for God's Kingdom? Are we being a beacon or idling in our comfy zone?

Acts 20:35 "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'

John 9:4-5 Jesus said, "As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world," Jesus told His followers in the Sermon on the Mount. "A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

We should get out of our complacency and reach out to people just like Jesus did! Let's not be content with where we are in our comfy-zone and our own cirlce of friends! Let's reach out to the helpless, hungry, deceived, poor, sick, hopeless, confused, lonely, tired and torn. Let's be Jesus' hands and feet and share the good news wherever we go... and let's do it all in love and compassion one person at a time.

We have it a lot easier than Jesus' disciples. They had to walk from town to town to share the free gift of salvation. We on the other hand, are the privileged generation. We can reach people within seconds. This has been made possible by TV, radio, missionaries, Bible offerings and translations and other high-tech communication systems. So what is our excuse? Is it because we are too busy or we don't know what to say or is it because we are ashamed to claim Jesus? We can come up with all sorts of excuses to avoid doing what Jesus instructed us to do, however, our excuses are worldly excuses based on our emotions and fears of what people might think or say. We need to start looking beyond feelings and emotions! We need to focus on facts! This is about our salvation! Based on the choices we make here on earth, we'll set the future! We will be either in heaven with Jesus or in eternal darkness separated from Jesus (the Light of the world). The choice is ours!

Jesus said that the end won't come until the gospel is preached to every corner of the world. It's a big possibility that this could happen in our lifetime considering the high-speed communication tools we have. Also, the Bible prophesies are being unfolded one by one. Although we may not know the exact day and time of our Lord's return, we need to prepare ourselves and others. God wants ALL His children to be saved!

Matthew 24:14 "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."

Romans 3:10–11 "As it is written, 'There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God."

Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

Romans 5:12 "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned."As followers of Jesus, we get the urge to tell people about Him because there is no higher motive to do so than the love of God. Let us daily saturate ourselves with Biblical wisdom so we know how to share our faith with others openly and wisely. There is a way which seems right to man, but it leads to death and darkness. People ignore the fact that the love of God, His ways and His standards are pure and higher than ours!

1 Peter 3:15 "In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."

2 Corinthians 5:14 "For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died."

Proverbs 14:12-13 "There's a way of life that looks harmless enough; look again, it leads straight to death. Sure, those people appear to be having a good time, but all that laughter will end in grief."

Let's share the truth with people and let's educate them. Being good and doing good deeds, volunteering, being ethical, and morality are all good, but not knowing Jesus or not accepting Him as our Lord and Savior is not going to get us to Heaven! The Bible makes it very clear that no amount of good works will save us! If we could get to heaven based on our good works alone, then Jesus' crucifixion was in vain! It is God's unconditional love for ALL His children that lead Jesus to that cross! Christians celebrate Easter every year, but how many people actually know or remind their children the 'true' meaning behind Easter? More emphasis is placed on coloring eggs, candies and bunnies rather than the cross, and when I say "cross", don't focus on Jesus' death, but on HIS Resurrection - because that's the Hope of eternal life with Jesus!

John 3:16-18 "For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of Jesus."

The cross should be our everyday reminder that we were not created to live for ourselves, but to live for Him!

Jesus said: "The one who comes to Me, I will certainly not cast out. Come now, and let us reason together... Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool."

Romans 10:13 "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

John 14:1-3 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

Revelation 14:13 Then I heard a voice from heaven: "Write this," it said. "Blessed are the dead who die as believers in the Lord from now on." Yes, says the Holy Spirit. "They will rest from their labor. What they have done will not be forgotten."

God is not asking too much from us. He knows that we're all sinners and He knows our limits and capabilities. Unless we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, there's no way we can make it to heaven. The only things that God requires of us is to confess our sins, to ask for forgiveness, to believe that Jesus is the only Way, the Truth and the Life and that there's NO other way to God except through Jesus. That's it!

We need to reach out and share the good news with everyone we come in contact with and make a difference for God's Kingdom. We can affect our everlasting destiny by learning the Bible and teaching it to others. God wants 'ALL' His children to be saved. So it's up to us, we can continue to live for ourselves or we can become a beacon to a dark world!

God Bless,
Lucine

Nothing happens unless God authorizes it!

I am amazed at how during this presidential campaign, our mainstream media and the entertainment industry folks are getting uglier and uglier with the way they're reporting the news about the candidates. They are out to destroy anyone and everyone without any concern about the consequences of their actions. They somehow seem to forget that their job is to report the news honestly by being fair to both parties. However, their ratings seem to take priority over country and the American people.

For instance, a responsible journalist, as part of his/her job, should report the ‘truth’ from both sides and let the public make up their mind. Unfortunately, that's not how it works these days. The journalists are very bias. A good example of this is what I heard on CNN the other night. It's a good thing that I had watched the entire debate that took place in Alaska between the Alaskan governotorial candidates. The CNN reporter chose to show only a 'selected segment' of what Sarah Palin said during this debate and told the viewers that 'what she said at the debate was contradictory to what she said on VP nomination night.'

That was not good journalism! That's called manipulation of the truth! The CNN reporter should have showed the whole debate to the public so they could hear what actually was said and why. The reporter deceived the public by manipulating the content of the debate and imposing his own personal opinion on the viewers. I'm not trying to get into politics here. This is not about promoting McCain/Palin or Obama/Biden, I'm talking about "where is the fairness?"

This is about the journalists, entertainment industry, politicians, CEO's, lawyers, etc., who are lying and manipulating the system to promote their own agenda and raise their ratings by hurting their country and deceiving the American public.

The entertainment industry and the media don't know the meaning of "integrity" anymore! They anapologetically take sides and they don't care if they destroy that person and that person's family. Fairness, truth, and respect are no longer popular values in our society.

When I try to analyze why all this is happening, I seem to always come to the same conclusion. I truly believe that the reason people become mean, carless, and selfish is all because they have distanced themselves from God. If they still respected and loved God, they will do their best to please God! Yes, this is a free country and we have freedom of speech, but that freedom is a privilege and it comes with a big responsiblity! The Bible says: 'Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone...'

The Bible is full of wisdom and guidelines to help us live a life of integrity, but somehow we prefer to look at worldly sources for guidance. I truly believe the reason we are in this big mess is because we have forgotten our Maker and we rely too much on our own strength. Somehow we have let our big ego and arrogance get in the way preventing us to have an intimate relationship with the Lord. Nowadays, being a Christian and claiming Jesus as our Lord and Savior is no longer considered 'cool'. Folks are influenced by the rising popularity of the new age movement, eastern religions, meditation, and belief in past lives and reincarnation, thus forgetting their Maker. Also the departing of certain Christian denominations from the original teachings of the Bible has not helped the situation either.

Not admitting the existence of an omnipotent God makes it easier to live life without guilt and to be part of the crowd. However, the truth will be revealed sooner or later and whether we like it or not! Soon, every nation and every knee will bow down before the King of kings and Lord of lords and everyone will see "Truth" and realize they've been decieved by the world.

We think we are somehow smarter and wiser than God and we look at the contents of the Bible as foolishness or something of the past. It is easier to nullify God in order to keep on doing what we are doing. Some of our entertainment industry folks make a comfortable living out of mocking Jesus, the Bible and its followers. They think Bible believing folks are 'dilusional, fanatical or freaks'. I heard one comedian on Larry King say he believes "Billy Graham and mother Theresa had mental issues." Mental issues? Give me a break! It is obvious, we (CHRISTians) are easy targets. After all, we turn the other cheek and we don't blow up people. They don't dare ridicule other religions because they're afraid of them! However, no matter what goes on around us, how people treat us or may percieve us, let us not lose heart. Let us remain strong in our faith and let us put all our trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Let the Words of Jesus give you comfort and strength when you feel misunderstood:

Matthew 10:16 "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."

Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

1 Corinthians 1:25-31 "For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

Jude 1:8 "In the very same way, these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority, and slander celestial beings."

Jude 1:16 "These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage."

Matthew 10: 26-31 "So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

1 Peter 2:13-21 "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover–up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, and honor the king. Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps."

Romans 13 "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor."

Nothing in this world is a "coincidence", God authorizes everything! And yes, even the next president of the United States is authorized by God. God will do what He has to do to work His plan! If we follow God's ways and be truthful to ourselves and to others, we will win no matter what. Therefore, during this critical election period, let's vote for what's right and what's just. Let us focus on the important issues, such as what's best for the country and the American people instead of focusing on making our party win. Let's do our homework and find out from various 'reliable' sources about each and every candidate, instead of relying solely on what we hear from our bias mainstream media or what we read on the internet. Because not everything we hear or read is always right. But most of all, let us pray so God will guide us in making the right decision. God bless America - One Nation Under God!

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

God Bless,
Lucine

Why Pray for Israel?

Let's see what the Bible says about the importance of praying for the Jews and Israel; (God's chosen people and His Holy land).

As more and more Christians are becoming familiar with the Bible, they are realizing they have a Biblical mandate to share their faith with the Jewish people and to pray for them.

Genesis 12:2-3 "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

Psalm 121:1-4 "I lift up my eyes to the hills where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep."

Romans 11:11-12 "Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!"

Based on the above, we can say that we are reaping God's blessings due to Israel's unbelief and denial of her Messiah. This is God's way of provoking the Jews to jealousy so they will envy us and desire what we have; 'the blessings of the new convenant through Jesus'. However, our God is a good God and He keeps His promises! He has not forgotten His chosen people! He wants us to pray for the Jews daily so they'll turn away from their sinful ways and accept Yeshua as their Messiah.

Unfortunately, our actions in the past and even now have not made us trusthworty in the eyes of the Jews. Israel has suffered persecution after persecution under the hands of many, including Christians. Therefore, we need to pray for Israeil and re-introduce them to Christ by showing them love and compassion so we can win their trust.

When we study the Bible diligently, we gain knowledge and realize the importance of defending Israel and praying for her. God says "I'll bless those who bless you". As we truly pray for the Jews, God will intervene and create in them a spiritual awakening like never before.

The Bible says: "all peoples on earth will be blessed through Israel".

Romans 11:21-24 " And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

Romans 11:25 "I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

Ezekiel 39:22 "From that day forward the house of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God.

Ezekial 39:29 " I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD."

Zechariah 2:8-9 "For this is what the LORD Almighty says: "After he has honored me and has sent me against the nations that have plundered you - for whoever touches you touches the apple of His eye. I will surely raise my hand against them so that their slaves will plunder them. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me.

Some scholars argue that the contents of the Bible are not applicable to the present times and they chose to ignore the prophecies. The Bible is God's Word and we should not twist its meaning. It is what it is! God is the same yesterday, today and forever!

When we hear about the persecutions of Christains and Jews just like the prophecies have predicted, we should not get overwhelmed. Instead we should pray and ask the Lord to give us strength and courage so we can face anything that comes against us. The Bible prophecies are not meant to scare us, but to prepare us. Although the media may be one-sided in reporting only the bad news, there are a lot of good things happening around the world that we don't hear about. God is raising up a whole new generation of radical Christians who are winning souls everywhere and who are making a difference for God's Kingdom.

God's chosen people, His holy land and all His believers will live through it all no matter what. Even if Israel's enemies claim they will wipe her off of the face of the map, Israel's future is in God's hands and no one can snatch her out of God's hand. What Israel's enemies do not realize is that the war they plan to have against Israel will be a war against the Mighty God of Israel and God will win that war!

The United States has prospered and has been blessed because of the support and prayer she has been providing Israel in the past. However, if we keep trying to negotiate with Israel's enemies for the sake of politics, peace and safety, and try to divide her land, we will anger the Lord and His curse will come upon us. We are already seeing some of the consequences of those negotiations that the U.S., UN and EU are making with the corrupt Palestenian and Jewish officials for the sake of peace and safety.

1 Thessalonians 5:3 "While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape."

Joel 3:1-2 "In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat (the Mount of Meggido). There I will enter into judgment against them concerning my inheritance, my people Israel, for they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land."

Ezekiel 24-26 "No longer will the people of Israel have malicious neighbors who are painful briers and sharp thorns. Then they will know that I am the Sovereign LORD. 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: When I gather the people of Israel from the nations where they have been scattered, I will show myself holy among them in the sight of the nations. Then they will live in their own land, which I gave to my servant Jacob. They will live there in safety and will build houses and plant vineyards; they will live in safety when I inflict punishment on all their neighbors who maligned them. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God."

Jeremiah 16:14-16 "However, the days are coming," declares the LORD, "when men will no longer say, 'As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,' but they will say, 'As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.' For I will restore them to the land I gave their forefathers." But now I will send for many fishermen, declares the LORD, and they will catch them. After that I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them down on every mountain and hill and from the crevices of the rocks."

Ezekiel 37:21 "and say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land.God will gather the remnant of His chosen people to the Holy land again. He will breathe new life into them and the whole world will recognize who the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is once and for all!

Ezekiel 37:3 "He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live? I said, "O Sovereign LORD, you alone know."

Ezekiel 37:5-6 "This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.' "

Ezekiel 37:6-8 "So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them."

Jesus gave us lots of hints to prepare us for end times. Most of the Bible prophecies have already been fulfilled. The greatest one that amazes theologians is Israel is back in the land and Jerusalem is once again under the rule of the nation of Israel, just like the prophets had foretold! A thing of impossibility with men, but possibility with our great God!

Luke 21:28 "When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

Luke 21:32-33 "I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."

Although we may not know the exact day or time of our Lord's coming, the Bible clearly states that what we are going through now is "labor pains". When Noah started building the ark out of obedience to the Lord, people were teasing him and labeled him as 'crazy' - they saw it as foolishness. Noah chose to ingnore the critizism and remained obedient to the Lord. When finally Noah had finished building the ark and the animals started coming, Noah and his family knew that the time of the deadly rains was nearing. For the other folks, it was business as usual. They were too busy with their worldy things and were not concerned about anything else. The flood took them by surprise and they all perished. God is not a mean God, He gave them plenty of warnings to turn away from their wicked ways and to repent, but they chose not to. In the end, we are responsible for our actions and we reap what we sow because of our disobedience.

Matthew 24:36-37 "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man."

Thesselonians 5:2-3 "For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape".

Other major signs, which are rampant in the U.S. and throughout the world are self-centerdness, materialism, addictions of all sorts, hatred, pride, anger, divorce, persecutions, self-righteousness, etc. Natural disasters are on the rise as well. This is what the Bible says:

2 Timothy 3:1-5 and John 17:21-23 "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them."

In addition to all the above, multi-belief system is growing too (i.e. new age, scientology, universalism, etc.). These folks claim to be 'open-minded' and 'free-thinking'. They cling to any belief system that would make them feel good. They pick whatever quinches the fleshly desires and feeds the inner cravings.

Idols such as money, material possessions, friends, status, etc., are all temporary and short-lived. No matter how much of these things we have, we will still feel empty, lonely and unhappy if we don't have Jesus. Jesus is the Living Water and only He can quinch our thirst. True joy and contentment comes only through Jesus Christ!

Exodus 20:3-7 "You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand of those who love me and keep my commandments. You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name."

Matthew 5:19 "Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

Proverbs 14:12 and Proverbs 16:25 "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death."

When we pray, we are showing God that we are obedient and we are totally depending on Him. God will do wonders when we pray. The Bible predicts that during the latter days, a lot of unbelievers will turn to Jesus in alarming numbers through visions, dreams and other venues. A major revival is taking place as we speak all around the world and the Lord is lifting off the veils from the eyes of many so they can see "Truth". All this is happening because of the prayers and obedience of God's warriors throughout the world. Prayer is a powerful tool and it works!

The gospel is being preached to a lot more people and at a lot faster rate than ever before due to high-tech systems. God is raising up a new generation of young, radical warriors who are hungry and thirsty for God and who are willing to go the extra mile without intimidation and despite satan's efforts to stop them. At the same time, God and His army are busy in the spiritual realm helping people to come to Jesus and accept Him as their Lord and Savior.

For instance, with all the attacks that Israel has encountered, Israel should not even exist! Consider her size; approximately the size of New Jersey with a population of less than 6 million, also, she is surrounded by enemies from left and right whose population exceeds 300 million, but Israel still stands and stronger than ever! God has supernaturally protected her.

It is amazing to me that not only Israel exists, but Israel is reborn and thriving! Israel is a wealthy nation and has some of the highest technologies in the world. Israel has also given birth to numerous Nobel Prize winners for their inventions. This is not a coincidence, it's the hand of God, fulfilling what the prophets have foretold us. So let's stay encouraged because God is still in control and He will never leave or forsake us.

Yes, days of persecutions are still ahead for Jesus' followers, but He will be right there with us to give us strength, courage and wisdom to do what's right. We just need to pray daily to strengthen our faith so we don't grow weary and give up.

The Bible says: "...and you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved".

So why does the world hate Israel? Why do the Arab nations want to wipe Israel off of the map? There is real evil in this world! Satan is well and alive and he knows that the promises of God will not be accomplished if Israel is destroyed and annhiliated. Satan also knows that his time in this world is almost up and God will come to take over and reign forever. The devil is fighting with all that he's got to destroy God's people and God's plan!

No matter what the devil and his followers do, we should not lose hope because the glory of Zion and the glory of all God's children is drawing near! Jesus has aleady won the battle and we have the victory, but because of God's mercy and grace, He is willing to give us a chance after chance after chance to repent and to turn away from our sinful ways while we're still alive, but once we die without accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, then there would be no more chances. We will be in eternal darkness, separated from God (the Light of the world). God wants 'all' His children to be saved, not just some. However, the choice is up to us; we can follow the world's way or Jesus' way.

Zechariah 12:10 "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son." (the Old Testament is talking about Jesus long before His birth... but Israel didn't see it - they chose to be blind to the truth)

Revealtion 12:12 "Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short."

Isreal will come to the realization of what she's done to her prophets and Messiah and she will repent. The restoration of Israel is near! The Jews are regathering in Israel from every corner of the world just like the Bible has prophesized. The Jews have an undying desire to return to their homeland without realizing that their actions are fullfilling Bible prophecy.

Acts 3:19-21 "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you - even Jesus - He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets."

Isaiah 60:1-3 "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brigthness of your dawn."

Zechariah 12:3 "On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves."

Those nations who vow to annhiliate Israel are not aware that their war will be against the God of Israel. Israel's enemies will be the ones who will be wiped off the face of the map while the whole world will watch in amazement, and because of that, a lot of people will come to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Zechariah 14:2-3 "I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle."

As we near to the Lord's second coming, our troubles will escalate for sure. Believers in Jesus will be faced with tribulations, anguish, afflictions, sufferings and persecution. It will become clear that the battle is between "good" and "evil". Satan and his army will be fighting ferociously, but they'll lose and harvest will come for God's people.

The future is bright even if it seems dim right now. We should not waste our time and energy on the temporary things of this world, instead we should focus on what is unseen; the promised eternal life in heaven with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, where there will be no tears or suffering! But in the meantime, we need to continue to be responsible, hard working, honest, kind, and compassionate Christians so we can win more souls for God's Kingdom!

Hebrews 12:1 “Let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back.”

1 Corinthians 7:31 "Deal as sparingly as possible with the things the world thrusts on you. This world as you see it is on its way out.”

2 Corinthians 4:18 "We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Matthew 13:30 "Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn."

1 Thessolonians 4:13-18 "Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words."

The blindness is coming off of the eyes of Jewish people in greater numbers since the first century. If we want Jesus' return, we need to do our part to reach out and spread the gospel to as many people as we can and that should include the Jewish people!

Isaiah 1:18-19 "though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow. Though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient,you will eat the best from the land."

Isaiah 11:10-13 "In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious. In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the sea. He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth."

Matthew 23:39 "For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."

If end-time prophecies interest you, you may also want to read Psalm 83, Ezekiel 37 and 38, the book of Zachariah, and Daniel, etc.

God Bless,
Lucine

The Power of Prayer...

Matthew 18:20

"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

Mark 11:24

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

If we truly understood the power of prayer, we would be on our knees 24/7 praying and reaping the consequences. We can pray to the Father anywhere and anytime, and as long as we are sincere and we are not asking for things out of selfishness, God will give us the desires of our hearts.

James 4:2-3 "You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."

Matthew 6:5-8 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."

Jeremiah 33:2-3 "This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it - the LORD is his name: "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

After we pray, we need to trust God and wait patiently for His response. God's timing is not the same as ours; His timing is always perfect! See what the angel told Daniel after he prayed:

Daniel 10:10-12 "... then a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. He said, "Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you." And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling. Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come."

Satan wants us to believe that God does not hear our prayers, does not care or love us. But it's Satan who wants to steal our joy, kill our hope and destroy our relationship with Jesus. When we wait long enough and our prayers do not get answered, we start doubting God and we distance ourselves from Him. Precisely what the devil wants! He wants to destroy our trust in God! During that period of delay, we should not get angry with God; instead, we should continue to pray and we should rebuke doubt and unbelief in Jesus name.

God knows what we need before even we ask Him, but when we ask Him through prayers, He rejoices to know that we are fully depending on Him. Our faith, obedience and trust in God always brings Him honor and glory.

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

Hebrews 11:6 "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

John 14:12-14 "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

If we truly believe in Jesus with all our heart, mind and soul, what's to stop us from doing the miracles that Jesus and His disciples did in the Bible days? All we need is a little bit of faith! Jesus said, if we have faith the size of a mustard seed, we can move mountains.

With true faith and obedience, we can carry on His mission until His glorious return. God wants us to go to Him with all our needs. Wouldn't we want the same from our children? We want them to come to us whenever they need something because they know they can trust us and they can depend on us, but most of all they know we love them.

Matthew 7:7-11 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"'

Don't let the enemy, who comes in the form of many different things, deceive you into unbelief. Our afflictions in this world are for a short period. We need to look above and beyond our earthly circumstances. God says to store up our treasures in heaven. We only see the things of this world which are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

We need to build a strong and honest relationship with the Lord before it's too late. We cannot say "I'll start praying tomorrow" or "I'll give my life to Jesus when I get older." Today should be the day of our salvation because we don't know how long we have on this earth and tomorrow belongs to the Lord!

Matthew 25:13 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 "...therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For momentary light troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

Hebrews 13:5 "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

God has not changed. God of the Bible is the same yesterday and today! We focus too much on earthly success and status and become arrogant or self-righteous. Our fame, financial security and material possessions give us false sense of security and we somehow forget about our Maker; the Creator of all good things.

When we pray and we don't hear from God, we give up too quick and turn to worldly sources for quick answers and we start losing our faith and give up on God althogether. Some turn to horoscopes, visit physics or get involved in witchcraft. The devil is not stupid! As a matter of fact, he knows very well who God is and that Jesus is the only way to God. He also knows about us to give just enough information to these entities so they can mislead us and destroy our faith.

These entities may give us instant answers to make us believe they know the future. Slowly, we start depending more and more on these sources and denounce our God. However, we need to remind ourselves that only God knows our future and only God should be our source. And in order to do that, we need to be praying constantly so we can strengthen our relationship with God. God's silence to our prayers does not mean He doesn't care or doesn't love us. Of course sometimes His delay could be because we are still sinning and we are not aligned with His will, but if that's not the case, then God is waiting for the 'perfect time' to answer our prayers because He loves us and knows what's best for us. God's timing never fails!

Deuteronomy 18:10-12 "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you."

Isaiah 45:6 "I am the Lord and there is no other".

We need to rely on God at all times. He is Jehovah Jireh; our Provider! Prayer refreshes, restores and energizes us. Prayer also keeps us in close relationship with God. Prayer gives us confidence to face anything that comes our way and it takes away our anxieties and fears.

Psalm 91:4 "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart."

If necessary, God will move heaven and earth to show us His will and He assumes full responsibility for our needs as long as we are obedient to Him. Here's a story about what God does when we pray:

It was a week before Christmas when I decided to drive to the mall during my lunch hour to buy a couple of presents. After I finished shopping and was trying to get out of the parking lot, I found myself stuck behind a line of non-moving cars. People were honking, gesturing obscenities with their hands and getting real impatient. We watched 3 green lights come and go and still not moving. It was obvious that there was either a car accident or some construction work ahead of us. Instead of getting frustrated, I decided to turn on a contemporary Christian radio station to listen to uplifting songs. I also mumbled a prayer "Please God, let me get to work safe and sound and don't let me be too late."

Finally at the 4th geen light, the cars started moving slowly at which time it had also started raining and traffic was turning to a big mess. I was trying to make a U-turn under a very busy overpass when my car started skidding. I got very scared and said a quick prayer "Jesus, please help me", then I let go of the steering wheel and took my foot off the brake. My car made 360 degree turn and stopped facing in the direction I wanted to go. I was very shaken and my heart was beating so fast that I thought I was going to pass out. I was wondering how much damage I had caused. However, when I looked around, I noticed I was the only car under there and had not hit anything. I was expecting the worst and here I was sitting in my car without a single scratch. It puzzled me as I thought "this is lunch time and this road gets very busy, how come there are no other cars here?" I looked around again just to make sure, but there were no damages.

On my way back to work is when it dawned on me that this was the hand of God. He knew what was ahead and He delayed my exit at the mall to create the perfect timing so no one would be under the overpass when my car started skidding. My little prayers made the difference! Heaven reacts when we pray! My God had turned what would have been an ugly, messy and even fatal situation to a minor incident. What a great God we serve! I took a moment to thank my God and give Him all the glory and honor. I had never been so scared, but my Father was right there with me protecting and watching over me. Some people may read this and say "it was just a coincidence", but I know better! I don't believe in coincidence - I believe in devine interventions!

Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

Isaiah 55:6-9 "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

We need to pray constantly. No matter how busy we are, we need to make time to pray! God should be our #1 focus throughout the day! When we have a genuine relationship with the Lord, we will wake up thinking about Jesus and we will go to bed thinking about Jesus. And when we do that, we will experience the most restful and peaceful sleep we've ever had.

2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, who are called by my name, will 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."

Jesus said "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart - I have overcome the world." Jesus has the Victory already! Therefore, until that glorious day of His second coming, we need to stand vigilant in the fight for Truth by being obedient to His Word and by praying constantly - not just praying for ourselves and our loved ones, but also for our country, government officials, our soldiers, neighbors, friends, co-workers and even our enemies! And when we pray and do it in Christ-like love, then God will do His part to bless us above and beyond our expectations!

God Bless,
Lucine

Small act, Big impact

Sometimes what we see as major, impressive or important is not as significant as we think. It is the little things that we so often ignore or consider unimportant that would leave a lasting impression on people. A genuine smile, a sincere compliment, a hug, good listening, forgiving and praying for those who do us wrong, etc., are some of the little things we can do on a daily basis to make a difference. What we may consider little and insignificant can impact others in a major way!

Hebrews 13:2 "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it."

If we are Jesus' representatives in this world, we should set good examples wherever we go and in whatever we do.

Isn't it amazing how our children try to do and say things to impress and please us? Or as grown ups, how we try to do our best at work to impress our boss in order to be liked, get a promotion or a raise? So why do we think differently when it comes to our Father in heaven? We need to be busy and productive for His Kingdom so we can receive His abundant blessings so we can bless others.

Going to mission trips, giving money to charities, helping the homeless, tithing are all good and pleasing to the Lord, but we need to have a Christ like mentality, wherever we go. Whether we are at work, home, on the road, or at the store; we need to practice love, patience and compassion with everyone! Sometimes, it is easier said than done, but we must do it regardless of how we feel in order to please the Lord. The Bible commands us to sow seeds wherever we go. When we stay obedient and sow seeds (action), then God will do His part to help us reap the blessings (impact).

Proverbs 25:15 "Through patience a ruler can be persuaded and a gentle tongue can break a bone."

I would like to share a short story with you. A couple of years ago when I got hired at the place that I'm working now, there was an employee who was rude and mean to me. I didn't know why she was that way. I had not done or said anything bad to her. Each time I heard a hurtful comment or sarcastic gesture, I mumbled a prayer under my breath "God forgive her and help me understand why she is this way and most of all, please help me keep my mouth shut so I won't say anything I'll regret later".

After several months of working there, I got to know her a little better and one day she opened up to me. She said that she had a tough childhood. She grew up without a dad and her mother was not a nurturing person. Very often, her mother would spank her for no reason she said. After listening to her story, I knew now where her bitterness and hate was coming from.

Then I shared a little bit about my childhood. I told her that my dad had passed away when I was only two. After he passed away, my mom abandoned me and my two brothers. Luckily my aunt (my dad's sister) adopted the three of us even though she had 7 children of her own. Two were married and living on their own, but the other 5 still lived at home. I continued telling her that I could have easily dwelt on my past and become a very bitter person blaming God for taking away my parents and for not having them around to love me, to read books to me and to tuck me in every night, and so on and on...

As children we don't understand why certain things happen to us, however, as we get older, we need to understand things from God's perspective. God did what was best for me and my two brothers. While God sees the whole picture, we cannot. He is God and we are not! My aunt had a big heart and was a God fearing woman. She read her Bible twice a day; in the morning and before she went to bed. She took us to church every Sunday. She instilled in us the love of God from day one and taught us how to be grateful for the little things we had. She told us not to dwell on the past. If God didn't use my aunt to come to our rescue, who knows where we would be today.

Everyone has a story to tell ; some good and some not so good. However, it's how we deal with our circumstances that paves the road. We can direct our path toward a positive and productive lifestyle and reap God's blessings or we can take the destructive path and be miserable forever. Either way, it's our choice and we cannot continue to live blaming others! If we trust God and lean on Him, He will guide and help us make the right decisions. He can wipe our past and give us a new beginning. Always remember that God's ways are higher and better than ours and His timing is always perfect!

After that day, I started giving my co-worker some inspirational notes, CD's and books on forgiveness, patience, and how to become intimate with the Lord. Several months later, she quit her job and I didn't hear from her for awhile. Then one day, I received a phone call from her. She said that she had a new job and she really liked it, also she didn't have to work on weekends and she was now able to attend church on Sundays.

Then she continued: "you taught me how to forgive and how to be patient and most of all how to keep my mouth shut. Although it's hard at times, it sure feels good to be able to do it. But most of all, I feel this 'joy' inside that I've never felt before."

When I heard that, I told her that the joy she felt was 'Jesus'. The Bible states that the peace and joy that comes from Jesus is above and beyond human understanding.

I was a bit teary when I heard her testimony and felt gratified. However, this was not about me or my emotions; all the glory and honor belongs to my God! I was merely a tool, just like my aunt, who God used for His purpose. When God sees a willing and obedient heart, He rejoices and instructs us to do our small part. We just need to be willing and ready for His use to see the big impact for His Kingdom!

Matthew 25:30-43 When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"Then the King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

"Then He will say to those on His left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

God Bless,
Lucine

Are we ready or still slumbering?

Are we getting close to the last days? The Bible repeatedly predicts the future and most of the prophecies in the Bible have already been fulfilled...

Romans 13:11 "And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed."

Mark 13:1 "As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!"

The disciple was talking about the Jewish Temple which was still under construction for over 46 years...

Matthew 24:2 "Do you see all these things?" Jesus asked. "I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down."

I'm sure the disciples looked at Jesus with disbelief when He said that. They probably thought "no way"; so much effort, money and time has been put into it, how can it be destroyed? Well, look at what happened in New York on September 11, 2001.

We never thought that the Twin Towers will collapse within two hours. As unfortunate as it was, it did happen and not only the Twin Towers, but the attack destroyed at least two nearby buildings and damaged others. Also, about 3,000 people lost their lives and 6,300 people were injured and not to mention the emotional distress it caused to loved ones, rescue and recovery workers, the American people as well as the rest of the world. Yes, evil does exist in this world and our lives can turn around within seconds and change everything!

Mark 13:4-13 The disciples said to Jesus: "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the signs when all these things will be fulfilled?" And Jesus answering them, began to say: "Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying 'I am He,' and will deceive many. But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be eartquakes in various places and there will be famines and troubles." These are the beginnings of sorrows. But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved".

Luke 21:32 "I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened."

2 Timothy 3:12 "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."

John 15:18-20 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master. 'If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also."

1 Thesselonians 5:2-3 "For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape".

Yeap - it will be business as usual because no one knows the day or the hour of this event, except for our Father in heaven. However, Jesus told us of these things so we can be prepared and not be surprised. These things will take place regardless, but again due to His amazing Grace, Jesus foretold us in order to prepare us.I can write a lot more on end times, but I will keep it short this time.

There will be more postings on this in the future as I enjoy reading books, articles, and watch documentaries on this subject. I truly believe God has given each of us certain talents, gifts and desires so we can contribute our share to society accordingly for His Kingdom and glory until He returns!

Zechariah 12:2-6 "Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah. It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it. In that day, declares the LORD, I will strike every horse with bewilderment and his rider with madness. But I will watch over the house of Judah, while I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. Then the clans of Judah will say in their hearts, 'A strong support for us are the inhabitants of Jerusalem through the LORD of hosts, their God.' In that day, I will make the clans of Judah like a firepot among pieces of wood and a flaming torch among sheaves, so they will consume on the right hand and on the left all the surrounding peoples, while the inhabitants of Jerusalem again dwell on their own sites in Jerusalem."

Luke 21:28 "When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

God Bless,
Lucine

Castles in the sand...

Lately, everyone seems to be coming up with "new" schools claiming that their schools will have open-minded staff and that their way of teaching will be 'just & fair' to suit the needs of everyone, also that they will not be affiliated with any particular religion... (Just to mention a few: Oprah, Tom Cruise, and most recently Will Smith).

Well, they are getting further and further away from the "Truth"! The article in the "The Los Angeles Associate Press" about Will Smith's new school, dated Monday, June 30th, 2008, is what prompted me to write this.

Mr. and Mrs. Will Smith are claiming that the new school they are about to open is not going to teach scientology. However, the AP article states "The school will use instructional methods developed by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard called study technology".

Well, if you don't know who L. Ron Hubbard is, here is a brief biography from Wikipedia: "Lafayette Ronald Hubbard, (March 13, 1911 - January 24, 1986), was the founder of the Church of Scientology, as well as the author of Dianetics and the body of works comprising Scientology doctrine. He was also an author in numerous speculative fiction genres for the pulp magazines and, later in life, returned to science fiction.....".

So what is scientology? I'd say a religion! What is atheism? A religion! What is new age? A religion! So we can say that there are many different religions in this world. However, we have to be careful so we don't fall into deception and follow false religion. We need to stand firm on truth and solid rock. For me and my brothers and sisters in Christ, Jesus is the only Truth and Solid Rock! We cannot be lukewarm (whatever goes) Christians. We need to claim Jesus boldly, not in arrogance, but with love, compassion and confidence! Jesus told us not to be ashamed of Him!

I understand that following a religion is a "personal choice" and we cannot force anyone to build a relationship with Jesus. But I also believe that in the end, when we come face to face with the one and only God Almighty, we will be held accountable for the choices we've made while living on this earth. So let's not build our castles in the sand where they will be destroyed, instead let's store up our treasures in heaven on solid rock (Jesus) where they are safe.

Matthew 6:19-24 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

"The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!"

"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

2 Corinthians 6:16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."

Proverbs 14:12 and Proverbs 16:25: "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death."

Matthew 7:13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it."

Whatever is happining nowadays should not come as a surprise to true Christians, because the Bible prepares us that when the end is near, these sort of things will take place. Wide is the gate that leads to destruction and will attract the majority. False doctrines will promote self, whatever feels good to the flesh, whatever quinches the downs of emotions and feeds the inner cravings. We are living in a self-absorbed world. People are shortsighted and want instant gratification. It's not about God any more, it's all about "Me, Myself and I." But what we forget is that we don't belong to ourselves, we are accountable to God! God has equipped us to serve Him, not serve self! We see "self-promotion" everywhere; and Hollywood is a very good example of what I'm talking about!

Luke 9:23 Jesus said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

God Bless,
Lucine