Chapter 1 -- The book of Revelation

Wow! It's been a while!  Maybe you're glad, or maybe you missed me! :)  Anyway, I feel like God has led me to start this up again, so my current commitment is going to be a post every 15th of the month!  I'm going to begin going through books of the Bible chapter by chapter.  Starting with Revelation!

Let me start this series by saying I never used to like reading Revelation!  I have read through the Bible many times in my life, and I always dreaded getting to this book.  I usually saved it until the very last one.  Why?  It made me think about the end times!  It made me think about persecution... Am I willing to suffer for Christ?  A lot of bad things happen in this book, and it is all prophecy!  One of the only reasons I used to read this book was because of verse 3...  

Since then, I have developed a new desire to read it... As I said above, it is all prophecy!  Each and every day we are getting closer to the fulfillment of this prophecy.  I don't know about you, but I want to be prepared!  So I have begun to read a chapter a day!  Isaiah 55:11 says, "So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. (NAS)" In other words, no matter what, I'm going to reap benefits for reading and rereading God's Word!  Some days I don't feel like I am getting anything out of what I'm reading, but a few days later I will have a scripture ready at just the perfect moment!  God will reward us for being stewards of His Word!

Revelation Chapter 1 (I'm using the NLT "New Living Translation")

Prologue Verses 1-3

Verses 1-2 tell us where the book came from: Jesus Christ!  Though John wrote the book, it was inspired by God.  I recently heard someone say, "There were 40 writers of the Bible, but only 1 Author!" 

Verse 3: "God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near."  We are blessed when we read, listen to, and obey this prophecy!  Isn't that great!?! 


John's Greetings to the Seven Churches  Verses 4-8

Verse 4: He was told to write this book (verse 11) to the seven churches in the province of Asia.  Back then, this was a Roman province... Now it is western Turkey!

Verses 5-8: John goes into detail about God and how Awesome He is (see also Amos 4:13 and Exodus 3:14)


Vision of the Son of Man Verses 9-20

Verses 9-10: John explains the when, where, what, and who!  When he had the vision, What he was doing, Where he was, and Who was there/gave it to him!

12-16: These verses describe the Son of Man!  Jesus used the phrase "Son of Man" to describe Himself when he was on earth!  A pretty Awesome sight if you ask me!  

17-18: Jesus reiterates what John said about Him at the beginning of the chapter!  It's always cool when God confirms what you say!

19: God tells John to write the book of Revelation!

20: The meaning of the Seven Stars and Seven Gold Lamp stands is given! Stars = Angels/Messengers of the seven churches... Lamp stands = the seven churches!


What are your thoughts on this book of the Bible?  What things has God pointed out to you about his book or chapter?  I'd love to hear them in the comments below!!  

Blessings!

~ S*

I Will See You Again

Isn't is Awesome to know that when we die, or when a loved one who has accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior passes on...  We will see them again!  Heaven is a way better place than here on earth, and I can hardly wait to never feel pain, depression, hurt, anxiety, fear, etc... ever again!

This is what God tells us in His Word:

Luke 24:50-53, "Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. So they worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. And they spent all of their time in the Temple, praising God."

Mark 13:26-27, "Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with great power and glory. And he will send out his angels to gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven."

 Acts 1:6-11, "So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, 'Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?'

He replied, 'The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'

After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 'Men of Galilee,' they said, 'why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!'”

And my favorite!

John 14:1-7. "'Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.'

'No, we don’t know, Lord,' Thomas said. 'We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?'

Jesus told him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!'"

Isn't that great!?! God has room for us in heaven!  He has a place just for you and me! The death of a loved one is hard.  We miss them.  We don't want to give them up.  But I am encouraged that I will see them again in eternity!  There's nothing the devil can do about that.  

I will leave you with one more verse:

Ecclesiastes 3:1-4, "For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.

A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest.

A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up.

A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance."

I will see you again!  It is so Awesome to know that when we die here on earth... "this is not where it ends!" Today's post was inspired by the recent loss of my grandma.  The video below is a tribute song to her. 

Blessings!
~ S*

Today is the Day...

The Lord has made!  I choose to rejoice and be glad in it!

Hello everyone, in "Jesus Calling" this month the theme seems to be trusting God through trials or hard circumstances...

Today's entry said to thank God for my problems...  Whenever I get distracted with something hard, I should bring it to God with thanksgiving... 

I don't know about you, but that is not an easy pill to swallow...  I don't want to thank God for my problems... That just doesn't seem right.  God loves me.  He shouldn't want me to have problems, so why should I thank Him for them?...  I don't truly mean it, if I thank Him for a problem... Cause I'm obviously not happy that I have the problem... Right?!

Well, after a little bit of family discussion, this is my new way of thinking...  I am going to thank God for the opportunity(s) that the problem is bringing into my life.  For instance, someone makes you mad/upset and talks down to you like you don't have feelings...  I can thank God for the new opportunity to walk in love, the opportunity to be humble, and thank Him for being here for me because I cannot handle this on my own.  Problems, trials, etc... they all bring us out of our comfort zone.  Out of our little bubble of "self".  In order to survive we need to trust in God and lean on Him more.  This keeps us grounded.  We need things like this so that we don't become like the men at the Tower of Babel(Genesis 11:1-9).  They felt like they were as great as God because everything was going so well for them, they were united, no one could stop them...  We don't want to be like that... Look where it got them! 

Staying grounded and understanding that we couldn't do anything without God's help is a very important life lesson.  Pride goes before a fall(Proverbs 16:18)...

So even-though I want to quit, or throw something back in someone's face, I'm not going to.  God told us that the greatest (and really the only commandment) is to LOVE. I'm trying hard to love others, and to treat them the way I want to be treated.  What are you doing?  Are you looking at things from their perspective? Or yours?  Is it all about me, me, me?  Or am I willing to sacrifice my time and energy for someone else?  I'm not just talking to you here, I am talking to myself too.  I have a lot to learn and apply to my life, but I am going to continue to ask God for wisdom on how to grow in His LOVE.  What are you going to do???

Blessings!
~ S*

What Has God Been Teaching You Lately?

I know it has been forever since I have posted, but I was writing a letter to a friend about the blessing God has been in my life... And I thought I would share part of it with you!

My family started this Bible study thing, where we all read a chapter of a book on our own, then watch a pastor talk about it, and then we discuss it with a study guide that is at the end of each chapter.  Last night one of the questions was what do you need to improve on... I said prayer...  I don't feel like I'm good at praying, or that I do it enough.  I have been working on trusting God no matter what, and my biggest thoughts right now are about not forgetting God in my everyday activities.  I want to keep Him as a main focus 24/7... A specific verse stuck out to me the other night when I was reading "Jesus Calling"... I even wrote about it in my letter to my future husband that night...  It was a verse I've heard hundreds of times, and I even know a song that has the verse in it. "There is, therefore, now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1)  For some reason that just struck a cord with me.  I have never really thought about what that verse meant before.  But this time I interpreted it this way:

God's mercies are new every day.  His grace is sufficient for me.  Even when I mess up He still loves me!  Even if I'm not adequate He still loves me.  No matter what, my name is written in the Lamb's book of Life!  I am "in Christ Jesus".  I am not going to be condemned.  Jesus broke the power of sin and death when He died on the cross(Romans 8:2)!  I don't have to be afraid that He is going to punish me somehow, or that something bad is going to happen because I have been redeemed from the curse of the law. 'Cause Jesus became the curse for us! "Cursed is any man who hangs on a tree." (Galatians 3:13) Jesus did that for me! I don't have to suffer now, no matter how much I deserve to, I DON'T HAVE TO! Isn't that Awesome!?!

Something HUGE is going to happen in my life in the next ten days!  I have been praying about it a ton, and I just want to be ready for it.  I want to be ready the way God wants me to be ready.  I want to be selfless.  That is something I am trying to work on here lately.  Being selfless.  The two greatest commandments in the Bible were the same thing: LOVE.  If you love God, you'll love other people.  If you love people, you will be a selfless person.  It's that simple...but it is also that complicated!  It is so much easier to say that, than it is to do it!  Especially when an extremely rude and grumpy customer yells at you and tells you to "FIX IT" when they don't even know what they are talking about... But I am supposed to love that person anyways!?!  What!?!  If I think about it, that is what God does with me every day! I mess up, I get mad, I want to punch the wall, I don't pray, I get frustrated, and the list goes on and on...  But God Loves me anyway... With no condemnation...  Isn't our God just the most Awesome and romantic person ever?  Why do I need an earthly husband when I have Him?  The truth is... I don't... (Don't get me wrong here, I still really want an earthly husband!)  But that isn't what's most important.  GOD is!

I love what she said in her letter to me, "I'm getting an ever-growing urgency in seeking His plans and claiming His victory-- not just for myself, but for... everyone around me."  I want that urgency too.  Bottom line, I want to do God's will over my own... Even if that means getting out of my comfort zone, which, believe me... I do NOT like to do!  :) God has just been so real/present to me lately.  It has been really cool.  I am the happiest when I am talking about what God is doing in my life; when I am talking about what I am learning from Him.  Like typing this message right now! :)  It just makes me so happy when I can "tell of the works of the Lord!" (Psalm 118:17) A couple weeks ago, at church, we were singing for praise and worship, and at the second song... The anointing just hit me!  I was shaking/trembling all over through out three songs!  When we got home my dad said, "Yeah, I could tell something was going on with you."  And something else you need to understand about this particular Saturday night... We have been out of the sanctuary the last three weeks because of maintenance, and the praise and worship hasn't been an "free and easy" for us (as the worship team).  We have had to do it without a piano(normally the main instrument)! It has been all acoustic guitars, and very interesting.  So the fact that I felt the anointing during a service where that was all going on!!!  Well, that was even more Awesome!



What has God been doing in your life lately?  What has He been teaching you?  I would love to hear about it!  Please leave a comment below sharing the blessings God has bestowed on your life!


Blessings! 
~ S*

Haunted by Fear?

 

Have you ever been to a haunted house, spooky night at a theme park, or a horror film? Why did you go? Do you enjoy being terrorized? Did you get pressured into going because all your friends went? Did you regret it? Or did you stand against the peer pressures and stay home, or go to see "The Wilds" with your little siblings instead?

Why do people want to do things or go places that will make them afraid? Fear is not of God. The Bible says, "God hasn't given you a spirit of fear, but a spirit of love, power, and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7) Why would you want to expose yourself (or others) to things that will make them afraid?

Fear is not of God, so let's avoid things that will make us afraid...

Please check out these verses on fear:

Psalms 56:11

Psalms 91

Proverbs 3:24

Isaiah 12:2

Philippians 4:4-8

James 4:7

These verses have helped me through a lot when it has come to battling fear.  We do not have to live in fear.  God has sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for us so that we may be His children forever.  Children of God have no need to fear: "What can man do to me? The Lord is with me; He is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies!" (Psalm 118:6-7)

What verses do you use when battling fear?  What other tactics have you come up with to defeat the devil?

I have found that praising God is a great way to get the devil to leave you alone.  Every time you think of that thing that scares you, or every time you think about that sickness or disease in your body, give thanks and praise to God for what He has done for you.  He is our Healer; He hasn't given us a spirit of fear!  We don't have to live with these things, for God has sent the ultimate Redeemer, Jesus Christ!  Let's choose not to live in fear anymore!!

Blessings!

~ S*

Witchcraft

Witchcraft... Some of you may be wondering what is witchcraft? Is there such thing in today's world? What qualifies as witchcraft? What things in this world (toys, movies, books, etc...) depict or encourage witchcraft? Does the Bible really say that witchcraft is bad?

Definitions*:
Witchcraft:1: a : the use of sorcery or magic b : communication with the devil or with a familiar 2: an irresistible influence or fascination

Witch: : one that is credited with usually malignant supernatural powers; especially : a woman practicing usually black witchcraft often with the aid of a devil or familiar : sorceress.

Divination: : the art or practice that seeks to foresee or foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge usually by the interpretation of omens or by the aid of supernatural powers.

Sorcery: : the use of power gained from the assistance or control of evil spirits especially for divining

This Week's Scriptures:

Exodus 22:18, "Do not allow a sorceress to live." (NIV)

Pretty obvious...

Leviticus 19:26b, "Do not practice fortune-telling or witchcraft." (NLT)

Can't get much clearer than that...

Leviticus 19:31, "Do not defile yourselves by turning to mediums or to those who consult the spirits of the dead. I am the LORD your God." (NLT)

Consulting mediums or witches can separate you from God; it puts your relationship in jeopardy.

Leviticus 20:6-8, “I will also turn against those who commit spiritual prostitution by putting their trust in mediums or in those who consult the spirits of the dead. I will cut them off from the community. 7So set yourselves apart to be holy, for I am the Lord your God. 8Keep all my decrees by putting them into practice, for I am the Lord who makes you holy." (NLT)

Do what God says, and He will protect you. Don't jeopardize your relationship with Him for a whimsical fortune telling...

Leviticus 20:27, "'Men and women among you who act as mediums or who consult the spirits of the dead must be put to death by stoning. They are guilty of a capital offense."' (NLT)

If we did this stuff now a days (putting sinners to death for capital offenses the real capital offenses), we wouldn't have near as many problems in this world as we do... You can't go wrong when following God's Word!

Deuteronomy 18:9-14, “'When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there. 10For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, 11or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. 12Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the Lord your God will drive them out ahead of you. 13But you must be blameless before the Lord your God. 14The nations you are about to displace consult sorcerers and fortune-tellers, but the Lord your God forbids you to do such things.'” (NLT)

If we would stop sinning against God, we would be a nation safe and blessed by Him. But instead we follow or engage in the detestable things, and we pay for it. All the things listed in the above scripture are things God hates. Why would you want to do something that dishonors Him; something He forbids?

1 Samuel 15:23, "'Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.'" (NLT)

If you think about it... Witchcraft is rebellion... Along with a lot of other things...

2 Kings 21:6, "He [Manasseh] sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger." (NIV) (Repeated in 2 Chronicles 33:6)

It makes God angry when we practice evil things.

Galatians 5:19-21, "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." (NIV) (emphasis added)

I think they are obvious, but a lot of people in this world don't know right from wrong. Look in the Word and learn what God blesses and curses.

Revelation 9:21, "And they did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their sexual immorality or their thefts." (NLT)

Guess what's going to happen to them? (read the next scripture)

Revelation 21:8, '"But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars--their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."' (NLT) (emphasis added)

Pretty serious stuff... I don't think we want to be practicing witchcraft. I personally wouldn't get near it with a ten foot pole!

What things are witchcraft that might effect you? Anything with sorcery or revolving around death probably isn't a good idea. Including some of the following: Harry Potter, Twilight, Wizards of Waverly Place, Ouija boards (pronounced weegie board), Tarot cards, Horoscopes, etc... Let's face it... The only one who knows the future is God. We don't need to waste our time trying to figure out what tomorrow will bring, for God knows the plans He has for us (Jeremiah 29:11). I encourage you to put your trust in the Lord, not in a Ouija board. He will bring the best out of you!

Extra Scriptures to look up: Isaiah 47:9, Micah 3:7, Micah 5:12-13, Nahum 3:4, Revelation 18:23

Blessings!
~ S*

*definitions came from merriam-webster.com/dictionary/

Halloween To Participate or not to Participate?

A lot of people want to know what the Bible says about Halloween... Should they participate in the dress up day at work?  Should they let their kids go door to door to get candy?  What about those "Halloween Alternative" parties that churches put on to keep kids "safe"?

While I was growing up I wasn't allowed to trick or treat.  I had some Christian friends who did an annual "Halloween Alternative" party at their church, but I wasn't allowed to go to that either...  Is dressing up in costumes bad?  Some of my friends would say, well, we only dress up as Bible characters... As if to justify it...  I didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing, but I never participated in anything on Halloween... So in the end, I guess I didn't really care.

Now that I am older I have adopted my own, personal, point of view on the holiday, based on what I have read and learned from the Bible and other sources.

I personally am against any form of participation in Halloween.  This includes those church alternative parties.  Let me be clear on something... Dressing up in costumes isn't bad... Playing games for candy isn't in itself bad...  Carving a face in a pumpkin isn't bad...  A lot of the activities or things that people do on Halloween or "Beggar's Night" aren't in themselves bad, but what they represent on this night in particular, to me, makes it bad...  "Why does doing it on that night make it any worse than doing it any other time?" you may ask...  

It's what they represent...

After researching the history of Halloween and some of the things that are done on or around this holiday here is what I have come up with:

Bonfires were used to drive Satan away...

Bobbing for apples had to do with superstitions regarding who a girl would marry...

Costumes were originally worn by people to make themselves appear dead so, in turn, evil spirits wouldn't bother them...

Black cats are historically associated with witchcraft and evil; at one point in time, they were considered to be reincarnated witches...

The Jack O' Lantern originated with an old story of Jack tricking the devil into a tree. He traded the devil's freedom for his never going to hell.  So when Jack died he just roamed around the dark places of the earth with a carved turnip lit by an ember from hell.  People used these vegetable lanterns (now usually pumpkins) to ward off evil spirits (especially Jack's)...

Other words and phrases associated with Halloween: voodoo, mischief making, ghoulish visitors, bribe with candy, ghost stories, satanic rituals...

Here are some of the most common costumes that people dress up as this time of year and their meaning*:

Witch: a woman thought to have magic powers (wears back and rides a broomstick); a woman practicing black witchcraft often with the aid of a devil; sorceress

Warlock: a man practicing black arts (male version of a witch)

Ghost: an apparition of a dead person that is believed to appear or become manifest to the living; spirit of a dead person; demon or spirit; a returning haunting memory or image

Devil: the chief evil spirit, Satan; a subordinate evil spirit; a demon; a wicked or malevolent person; an outstanding example, especially of something difficult or bad

Zombie: originally a snake-deity of west Africa or Haiti; a soulless corpse said to be revived by witchcraft; a snake god of voodoo cults; a supernatural power or spell that in voodoo belief can enter into and reanimate a corpse

What the Bible has to say:

1 Thessalonians 5:22, "Abstain from all appearance of evil." (KJV)

Ephesians 5:8-11, "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10and find out what pleases the Lord. 11Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them." (NIV)

(For more on Witchcraft please visit my previous entry by clicking here!)

Everything about Halloween is negative to me...  Everything I have listed above has something to do with witchcraft, evil spirits, or the dead.  Why would we want to condone or associate with anything like that? 

And as for those "Halloween Alternative" parties that churches throw...  I think their intentions are good, but to me those parties represent the church accepting the holiday or condoning it.  Just look at some of the things I listed above... Do you want to participate in what all of those Halloween oriented things represent?  I know I don't.

What are some things we can do to be the best example we can be this Halloween season?  If I choose not to wear a costume to work, that may bring a lot of attention to myself...  But what better way to be an example and shine God's light to others!?!   I look forward to hearing from you!

Blessings!

~ S*

*some definitions taken from google.com and thefreedictionary.com