Category: Uncategorized

I May Not Be Long with You

Have you ever felt a need to share something with someone? I have been feeling this need for a while now. I do not know if my days on earth are short because of sickness or if the church about to meet Jesus in the air. Maybe it is just because I have turned 61 and I do not have the excitement of life in front of me. In my spirit I feel God would have me say some things to you before I go.

I am writing this in January 2024. I was born in 1962. I can tell you there have been many changes in my lifetime. I can remember when we only had 3 channels to choose from on the television. The television in my home as a child was only black and white, no color. The television stations only stayed on part of the night. When they went off the air there would only be static on the screen. Cartoons only came on television on Saturday mornings. I can remember when they invented the handheld hair blow dryer. I wanted one so bad, but we were poor and purchasing a hair dryer was not an option for my family. I can also remember it was a simpler time. People had respect for each other. There was a belief in God. Even if you didn’t follow him, you didn’t mock him or provoke him. I remember when men were men, women were women, boys were boys, and girls were girls.

When I look around at America today, I do not recognize her. Everything that used to be called good has changed into something bad. It seems like common sense has flown out the window. Seems like the mindset of foolishness has taken hold of our nation. But I guess that is to be expected when we kick God out of our nation and out of our life. 

Sometimes I want so badly to turn back the clock and go back to a simpler time. Go back to a time when right was right and wrong was wrong. Go back to a time when morals were something of value. Go back to a time when the innocence of our children was in full force. Go back to a time when life was an excited journey that we were all willing to take.

I so desperately want to tell you that we cannot look back, nor should we want to. Take a moment to survey the horizon and see what you see. Life as we knew it is not coming back. The times have shifted and the innocence that once was is gone. The darkness is all around us and if we do not fight it will choke the very life out of us. Yet, it is all in God’s control. 

He told us repeatedly what the times of the end were going to look like. He gave us markers to look for. He gave us signs to point the way. But above all else He gave us a way to keep hope alive.

Luke 21:7-28 So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?” (8) And He said: Take heed that you not be deceived, For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them. (9) “But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.” (10) Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. (11) “And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sight and great sings from heaven. (12) “But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. (13) “But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. (14) “Therefore settle it in you hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; (15) For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. (16) “You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. (17) “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. (18) “But not a hair of your head shall be lost. (19) “By your patience posses your souls. (20) “But when you see Jerusalem surround by armies, then know that it desolation is near. (21) “Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. (22) “For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. (23) “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. (24) ”And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. (25) “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring: (26) “men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. (28) “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.

A couple of things I want to point out. First this is not the only description of what we will face living in the time we are living in. I will write more about that in later posts. Second the times we are living in are not as bad as what is described above, yet.

The point I really want to focus on is in verse 28. It tells us to look for these things to being to happen. To watch how events around the world and here at home are unfolding. Pay attention to what is happening. Learn to be sensitize to the Spirit. Learn to have discernment. And then look up! 

When all this mess is happening, we can wallow in our darkness allowing ourselves to become depressed. Or. We can look up. Look up! Look up! Your redemption draws near. Your savior is coming! Your Savior Is Coming!

The best hope I can give you when things begin to look dark and hopeless is that Jesus tells us we will be caught away to be with him. We will miss the worse part of this. No matter how bad it gets, we will be spared from the worst part. We will all be changed in a moment in a twinkling of an eye, the Bible says. Oh how much wonderful hope is that? 

Look up children of God! Look up! Get yourselves ready! Take a lesson from the parable of the ten virgins. Get yourself ready! Spend time with your Lord. You do not want him to say depart from me I never knew you! Lift up your head! Tell yourself to not be downtrodden. You have hope! You have Jesus!

If you do not know Jesus, I pray you call on Him today! Call on Him now! Please do not delay! Today can be your day to be filled with hope!

A word from my son Donny

So, I’ve come through these walls numerous times before. I’ve seen myself be evil, bad, mad, sad, lost, hurt, everything except for truly happy. I’ve seen other men come through here with a sense of happiness about them who claimed “that they were saved” — “they found God”

Well, I’ve always been a believer in God I guess-but never really put much thought into it. Until now. I am now a knowing believer in Jesus Christ. I once used to mock or make fun of people–calling them weak because of my now same way of life. Someone with the tiniest piece of faith, then they can be saved.

If you are interested in seeking wisdom, knowledge, understanding to achieve direction, purpose and salvation–then read on. Ask yourself this: where have we humans come from? We are much too smart and genius to come from a fish or an accident. We come from someone who made us. Someone much more smart then we are.

God! God created us in His image. He made us to glorify Him- to worship Him. To seek Him – our creator

Dedication

By My Friend Toni

We are now in the season of the Feast of Dedication, better known as Hanukkah. Also referred to as the Feast of Lights. Every year, for over 2,200 years, Jews have celebrated this festival commemorating the miracle that occurred when the oil to light the huge menorah in the second Temple burned for eight days, despite that only being enough for one day. The background for this story, which is historical, can be found in the Catholic Bible. It can be read in I Maccabees 1:20-60, 4:36-57 and II Maccabees 10:1-8. The Seleucid King, Antiochus Epiphanes, came into Israel with his army, and overpowered the Jews. He forced them to stop honoring the Sabbath, and all things related to their religion, or pay with their lives. He demanded that the Jews adopt his religion, and sacrifice to idols. The Temple was desecrated, damaged, and the things dedicated to the worship of God were taken. The Temple was called “the temple of Olympian Zeus”, due to the idols of Zeus being placed there. A high priest of the tribe of Benjamin was placed in charge, who was willing to bow to Antiochus’s wishes. When a country priest by the name of Mattathias was commanded to be the first to sacrifice an animal on an alter of an idol, he refused. Another Jewish man stepped forward to do it. Mattathias turned on the officer who had demanded the sacrifice, and slew him. He then tore down the idol He said, “Let everyone who is zealous for the low, and stands by the covenant follow me!” Then the fight was on. His five sons and several tough men, who were loyal to God, engaged in guerilla warfare. After Mattathias passed away, one of his sons, Judas, became the leader of the revolt. After successfully expelling their enemies, the Temple needed a good cleaning and rededication. There was found only enough dedicated oil for the large menorah for one day. They decided to go ahead and use it. Coming into the temple the next day they expected the light to have gone out, but miraculously it was still burning, and continued for eight days. By that time enough oil had been made available. A reference to the Feast of Dedication can be found in John 10:22. It was then that Jesus was asked if He was the Messiah the people were looking for. In their minds, the Messiah would be Judas Maccabee, breaking the yoke of Roman rule from off their necks. However, Jesus had a mission to accomplish before He took on the role of conquering King.

Hanukkah speaks of sanctification, dedication, and the light of the Holy Spirit in our lives. One of these days, our Messiah will return to set up His kingdom and all those who have lived dedicated lives for Him will have the privilege of ruling and reigning with Him. This festival season, light up the world with the light of Jesus

HAPPY HANUKKAH

A Nation in need of Repentance

Hosea 6:1-3 (1) Come, and let us return unto the Lord; for he hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and he will bind us up. (2) After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight. (3) Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

A couple of weeks ago, the LORD woke me up at 4:30 am with Hosea 6 burning in my head. I could not get way from it. I opened my bible and read the first three verses in Hosea 6. When I asked the LORD what He was telling me, I heard Him say 5:15.

Hosea 5:15 I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.

What was the offence they needed to acknowledge? Verse 3 in chapter 5 tell us, I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled.

Now I fully understand Hosea was talking to Israel in the Old Testament. But I also know how the LORD speaks. I know He can use the Old Testament to speak to us today.

The LORD is telling to get right! He has watched as we have figuratively been a whore by chasing after other gods. His heart has broke while He watched us push Him out of our families, our government, our society. He watched as we have turned His love into a thing of compromise. He watched as we turned his grace as a excuse to follow our own wants and desires. He has watched as we have turned…..

He is asking me to tell you we, as a nation, need to acknowledge our offense. We, as a nation, need to repent for our actions.

A lot of ministers I listen to right now are talking about the latter and the former rain. Yes, the LORD does want to pour out His rain. He wants to flood the earth with His presence in such a way as we have never seen.

God does not change. He clearly tells us what we must do to have the former and latter rain. We must repent. We must repent. We must repent. That is the only way, that is what the LORD requires.

Remember 5:15 says he will return to His place….. Do we really want that? You and I both know, we are a stubborn and stiff-necked people. Much like the Israelites wondering in the wilderness, we only turn to the LORD when things get bad. Things are pretty bad right now. But they can get worse.

I had someone tell me to be careful about rebuking the people. Believe me, I am not trying to deliver this in a spirit of rebuke. When the LORD spoke this to me at 4:30 in the morning, it was not in a spirit of rebuke. It was in a spirit of pleading. I felt like His heart was breaking at the thought of having to go and return to His place. I felt that He is wanting the nations to “come and let us return to the LORD”

The Compromising Church

THE COMPROMISING CHURCH

God has been speaking to me about the compromising church. Who is the church? We are the church, both corporately and individually.

Rev 2:12-17 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two edged sword. (13) I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is, and you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. (14) but I have a few things against you because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality, (15) Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I have. (16) Repent, or else I will come o you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. (17) He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit say to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.

VS 14 The Doctrine of Balaam (The doctrine of compromise) In order to understand the doctrine of compromise. We must go back to the Old Testament and learn who Balaam was.

Numbers 22-24 tells about Balaam who was a magician, who wanted to have the status as a Prophet of God, he liked to look like a prophet to the people of the land. Balak was a Moabite king who saw Israel come into his land and he did not want any part of them being there. So he sent messengers to Balaam to ask him to come curse Israel.

Numbers 22

  • Balak believed that the outcome of war was dependent on the gods. So he sent for Balaam to curse the Israelites so that they can be defeated.
  • Balaam was a magician who wanted to look like a prophet in the eyes of the people when in fact he was actually a magician. (vs7) So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the diviner’s fee in their hand.
  • Balaam means false teacher
  • Vs8 & vs 19 Balaam made s show of being uncompromising. He made it look like he was obedient to God. “Stay here the night and I will seek the LORD” In fact in vs18 he says even if Balak were to give him a house full of silver and gold he could not go against the word of the LORD. (Yet God had already said no) In his heart he was already compromising.
  • In vs32 the angel of the LORD says he stands against him because his way is perverse before Him.
    • Way = a road, a coarse of life, mode of action, along, away, because of, by conversation, custom, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward
    • God was angry because of the journey in his heart. He was willing to compromise. He grabbed hold of the thought of all that gold and silver being offered and thought maybe God would change his mind. In his heart he had compromised
  • In vs32 Balaam said he sinned because he did not know the angel of the Lord was standing in the way.
    • His spiritual eyes were closed. (that spirit of compromise had blinded his eyes to the spirit realm and he did not even know it, he had gone through the motions, he thought he was so tuned into the spirit world, when really he was blinded and probably a little deaf to it.)
    • Notice he said he sinned because he did not see the Angel of the Lord. He sinned because he was blind to the spirit realm.
    • He wanted the money; he was on a journey not to do what God wanted, but to get his hands on the gold and silver.
    • He figured he could find a way to get the money and still find a way to obey God
  • How many times have we done the same thing? We say we are fully committed to do what the LORD wants, but in our hearts we are hoping He will change his mind or allow us to bend the rules.
    • Wives sometimes make a big show of making sure people know they are fully submitted to their husbands. “I will ask my husband” “If my husband says yes” etc… Is what they say around other men and women? But then when it is something they really want they do not ask their husbands, and sometimes they only tell them after the fact or if it is something the husband asks about. Or in the privacy of their own homes they are stubborn and rebellious. I have seen it with the way they treat their children, the way they handle money, they way they spend their time. Outwardly they appear uncompromising, but God sees our heart, he knows our true motives.
  • Question: What has the church of America become? Has she become a church of compromise? Seeking what the world has to offer so that she is spiritually blind?
    • I have listened to many television preachers who are living in the darkness of compromise. It causes me much prayer when I think of all the people who are following them and being led astray by their spiritual blindness.
    • Those spiritual leaders of the church are condoning drinking wine; they are mixing other religions in with Christianity. They are compromising on the word of God. They are making excuses for their behavior. They are allowing things in the church that God would never allow. God does not change, His word does not change. What was wrong in the past is still wrong today.
  • Question: What about you and me? Have we become a church of compromise? Maybe it’s not money that has the allowed the spirit of compromise to blind you. Maybe it’s a lust for power that has caused your spiritual eyes to dim. Maybe it’s a lust for accolades that has caused you to make exceptions for certain people and that what has caused your spiritual eyes to dim.
  • It is time to turn back to the right path
  • In vs20 God allowed Balaam to follow the desire of his heart and God will allow you and me to follow the desires of our own lusts. But there will not be approval in it. God will never bless what goes against His word. He said to be Holy as He is Holy.
  • Right now in churches across America the people are even beginning to worship Baal. They may not know it, but they are. They have sinned because their spiritual eyes are blind. They are practicing something called Ekstasis (Ecstasy) look it up on You Tube. What they are doing is compromising; they are allowing other gods into their worship.

The Doctrine of the Nicolaitans (A doctrine God hates)

  • Nicolas means “one who conquers the people. Irenaeus writes that Nicolas, who was made a deacon in Acts 6, was a false believer, who later became apostate, but because of his credentials he was able to lead the church astray, And like Balaam, he led the people into immorality and wickedness. The Nicolaitans, followers of Nicolas, were involved in immorality and assaulted the church with sensual temptations. Clement of Alexander says, “The abandoned themselves to pleasure like goats, leading a life of self-indulgence. Their teaching perverted grace and replaced liberty with license.
  • The doctrine of the Nicolaitans appears to have been a form of antinomianism. Which is a belief that is based upon recognition of the mercy of God as the ground of salvation, but it makes the fatal mistake that man can freely partake in sin because the Law of God is not longer binding. It held the truth on the gratuitous reckoning of righteousness; but supposed that a mere intellectual “belief” in this truth had saving power. (http://www.wordoftruthradio.com/questions/38.html)
  • The bible teaches us that salvation is a free gift, based upon God’s grace alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, the very next verse tells us that “we are created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10)
  • True faith produces action, as well as a desire for holiness and obedience. (1 John 3:18, Titus 2:11-15, 1 Peter 1:15-16, Revelation 14:12)
  • By the time the 2nd century rolled around the Nicolaitans seemed o have continued and extended the views of the 1st century adherents, holding to the freedom of the flesh and sin, and teaching that the deeds of the flesh had no effect upon the health of the soul and consequently no relation to salvation. On the other hand, the bible teaches that Christians are supposed to “die” to sin and the deeds of our “flesh”: Romans 6:1-2, Romans 6:11-13
  • There is a teaching right now that basically says that because of the Grace of God we no longer have to repent of sins. Because of what Jesus did for us we can live a life of effortless success! We no longer have to live a life free of sin because of what Jesus did for us. This is a lie, and this is a doctrine God hates. Do not be deceived!

Both of these men Balaam and Nicolas brought the Israelites to a state of compromise, that same spirit of running rampant on the earth today. People are living in a state of compromise and they don’t even know it. If we were honest we could all say we have places in our lives where we live in compromise. We tell little white lies, we act one way in church and another way outside of church, leadership allows people to be in positions they should not be in, we gossip, we backbite, we make a big deal of looking all holy to the people of God, then as soon as we are out of their presence all the ugliness in our hearts comes gushing out. Then instead of running to God in a place of repentance, asking Him to clean up, heal us, change us; we make excuses for our behavior, we justify our actions.

What about when we say we trust God, then we run around trying to solve our problems ourselves?

What about when we say we believe God is our healer, except for this or so and so?

What about how we set standards for how people should behave then we make excuses for people in our own family.

Do we really think God is pleased with our compromise, with our justification?

The compromising church is very dangerous because it puts a stumbling block before the church. Remember they are watching, but most of all God is watching.

That spirit of compromise is running rampant in our churches and in our lives. With it is deception. We are worshiping other gods, we are compromising the Word of God and we are bringing judgment down on ourselves.

What will the antichrist look like? Perhaps a religion opposite Christ?

So I just watched a video in which there is a sign in Jerusalem stating that Jesus was a slave to allah.  What?  Are you kidding me?  Why is this allowed?  Where is the outcry against such nonsense?  The more I learn about this allah and what he says or what the quran says, the more I am wondering if this might be the face of the antichrist?

Could it be possible that someone from this religion could be the antichrist?  Just a thought.  I do not have any backing for this thought.  It is just that more and more it seems to me that this religions is the opposite or “anti” to everything about Jehovah and Yeshua.

Watch this clip.

[kyte.tv appKey=MarbachViewerEmbedded&uri=channels/451373/1411263&tbid=294793&p=1011&height=384&width=320]

 

America is still the land of the free?????????

What is it about this administration that deems is necessary to blast and belittle those who they oppose.  I can name no time in history when there has been such a great wide gaping space between Americans.  When was there ever a time when presidents poked fun or belittled those they oppose.  When were you made to be the scape goat for every thing wrong in our country just because you are from a different party than those in power.  Now a days, just because you are a republican or conservative you are the enemy and this administration does all it can to connect us to every thing wrong.  When did we lose the level of excellence in our government?  When did the morals in our country decline so bad that to be conservative is considered to be shameful?  I am not some kind of radical person looking to call people names that do not agree with me, I believe America is the land of the beautiful and the home of the free.  I believe we still have the right to speak without being labeled as inciting a riot or being a hater.  I just want out Presidents, (past, present and future) to set the bar higher.  I want those in government to be the ones our children look up to as role models.  I do not want my grandchildren to believe you can fight and cuss their way to the top.  I do not want my children and my grandchildren to be taught to be silent when they do not agree.  This is America people, we are proud of what we have accomplished over the course of our history.  Let’s remember who we are.  We are Americans, we may not always agree, but we are still Americans.  We still have the right to be heard.  Let us not allow those rights to be shamed away.

AWAKE! AMERICA AWAKE!

Hosea 8:1-4 “Set the trumpet to your mouth! He shall come like an eagle against the house of the Lord, because they have transgressed My covenant and rebelled against My law. (2) Israel will cry to Me, My God, we know You! (3) Israel has rejected the good; the enemy will pursue him. (4) They set up kings, but not by Me; They made princes, but I did not acknowledge them. From their silver and gold they made idols for themselves- that they might be cut off.

I have been thinking about American the last few days. We were a nation founded on the Word of God, we were founded on the belief in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Somewhere along the road we lost our fear of the LORD! Somehow we decided we could claim to believe in the LORD but act like we don’t. Think about this America. God does not share His throne with anyone. We have set up idols in the place of God. We have allowed other gods to come into the house of America. We are allowing the ungodly to make our laws and they are driving America down the path of destruction.

I was reading my bible this moring when I came across this passage in Hosea. It made me stop and think, what are the consequences of apostacy? What are the consquences of mixing belief with unbelief? What are the consequences of allowing the ungodly to rule in our court rooms and in our government?

We claim to believe in God, but we make that claim less and less. We want to claim the promises of God, but we don’t want to obey His Word. We have mixed belief in with unbelief and we believe we will be fine. We are a nation in deception.

While reading this passage in Hosea I found the following commentary: “When a nation conduts its government in the spirit of pratical atheism, without acknowledging God’s presence and supreme control in human affairs, or seeking to conform its actions to his will, it can have neither stability nor true prosperity. One violent change will follow another, until it is cut off in its iniquity.”

I employ you American, awake from you sumber! Open your eyes to the deception all around you! Set yourself apart from the ways of evil! Learn to sanctify yourself, put on the garmet of righteousness that can only be found in Jesus Christ! Let’s stop trying to mix belief with unbelief. The bible says in Isaiah 44:6 “Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God.”

Somalia: Christian Martyred

Somalia: On Nov. 14, the body of a 23-year-old Christian convert, Mumin Abdikarim Yusuf, was discovered in Mogadishu’s Yaqshid district, according to Compass Direct News. On Oct. 28, members of al-Shabaab, an Islamic extremist group, detained Yusuf and searched his home for Christian materials. A 15-year-old Muslim boy had accused Yusuf of trying to convert him to Christianity. In an attempt to gain evidence against Yusuf and to gain information about other Somali Christians, the extremists knocked out all of Yusuf’s front teeth and broke several of his fingers. They then shot him twice in the head and dumped his body on an empty residential street. Since it is unknown whether Yusuf revealed information about other Christians during his torture, the underground Christians who knew him have relocated for their safety. Yusuf’s Muslim family members are also in danger, as extremists have accused them of failing to report his conversion to Christianity. The Voice of the Martyrs supports persecuted Christians through a project to assist evangelists and encourage converts from Islam. Pray for all those mourning the death of this brother in the Lord. Pray for safety for the relocated believers. Pray that Yusuf’s faithful witness will be a testimony to his Muslim family members and that they will turn to Jesus for their salvation.