Amidst the Strife of Nations....

He who slumbers not, who in every crisis has been the strength and dependence of His people, will carry out His eternal purpose.  He will halt the designs of wicked men, and will bring to confusion the counsels of those who plot mischief against His people.

 He who is the King, the Lord of hosts…amidst the strife and tumult of nations guards His children still.  When the strongholds of kings shall be overthrown, when the arrows of wrath shall strike through the hearts of His enemies, God’s people will be safe in His hands.   By Ellen G White

Read Psalm 91 - in Holy Scripture, the Bible

God Believes in You!

God is so powerful that He could force us to love Him, but

God doesn’t use force, because He loves us and wants us to love Him back.  Even if you hate God – He still loves you.

Bad things happen to good people – it’s because of sin,

not  because God hates you.  

God loves everyone.   The devil hates everyone. 

You don’t believe in God?  He believes in you!

Trust yourself to God – He will care for you.

God's Free Love

God's love cannot be bought - He gives it freely.

SIGNS OF JESUS SOON COMING

As time winds down, the signs of Jesus' coming increase!

INCREASING SIGNS IN THE PHYSICAL WORLD
Earthquakes/Disasters [Violent Weather?] - Matthew 24:7; Luke 21:11, 25
Famine, Strange New Diseases/Pestilence - Matthew 24:7; Luke 21:11
Signs in the Sun, Moon and heavenly bodies - Matthew 24:29; Luke 21:25

INCREASING SIGNS IN THE BUSINESS WORLD
Labor & Money Troubles - James 5:1-6
Increase in Knowledge - Daniel 12:4

INCREASING SIGNS IN THE POLITICAL WORLD
Disregard for Justice - Isaiah 59:12-14; James 5:6
Fear, Distress, Perplexity Everywhere - Luke 21:25-28
Wars & Rumors of War - Matthew 24:6, 7; Luke 21:9, 10
World Leaders and Pastors preach “Peace & Safety” –
1 Thessalonians 5:3; Jeremiah 6:14; Ezekiel 7:25

INCREASING SIGNS IN THE SOCIAL WORLD
Moral Collapse, Increase of Violence & Crime - 2 Timothy 3:1-6, 13
Love pleasure more than God - 2 Timothy 3:4
No Natural Affection - 2 Timothy 3:3
Disobedient to Parents / No Self Control - 2 Timothy 3:1-4
Evil increases, so the love of many grows indifferent - Matthew 24:12

INCREASING SIGNS IN THE RELIGIOUS WORLD
Form of godliness, but denying God - 2 Timothy 3:5
Disregard for God’s will, but doing “religious” works - Matthew 7:21-23
Ignoring/Rebellion against God’s Truth - 2 Timothy 4:3-4
False christs & prophets - Matthew 24:11, 24
Scoffing at Jesus’ Promise to Return Soon - 2 Peter 3:3-14

The closer we come to the end, the more frequent the signs will come.

Conscious Dignity

It is the privilege of everyone to so live that God will approve and bless (her).
….It is not the will of your heavenly Father that you should ever be under condemnation and darkness.
It is not pleasing to God that you should demerit yourself.

…While we should not think of ourselves more highly than we ought, the Word of God does not condemn a proper self-respect.
…child of God, we should have a conscious dignity of character, in which pride and self-importance have no part.”

Excerpts from Daughters of God 142, E G White

Self-worth, Self-Respect

Many struggle with feelings of self-worth and value.

The Lord has given each one of us a sense of self respect, and this must not be opposed….

 God wants us to respect ourselves.

Excerpts from Daughters of God 141 E G White

Your Past Experience

Whatever may have been your past experience, however discouraging your present circumstances, if you will come to Jesus just as you are: weak, helpless, and despairing, our compassionate Savior will meet you a great way off, and will throw about you His arms of love and His robe of righteousness.

  Jesus presents us to the Father clothed in the white raiment of His own character. He pleads before God in our behalf, saying: I have taken the sinner’s place. Look not upon this wayward child, but look on Me.

           Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing 21, E G White

Clouded because of Pain

“Often your mind may be
Clouded because of pain.
Then do not try to think.
You know that Jesus loves you!
He understands your weakness.
You may do His will by simply
Resting in His arms.”
Ministry of Healing 251
E G White


And the Lord your God will
Turn a curse into a blessing
For you,
Because the Lord your God
Loves You!
Deuteronomy 23:5


Those who have a humble, trusting,
contrite heart, God accepts,
and hears their prayer, and
When God Helps
All obstacles will be overcome.
Prayer 33
E G White

FINAL JUDGMENT GOING ON NOW!

Solemn are the scenes connected with the closing work of the Judgment. Momentous are the interests involved. The Judgment is now passing in Heaven above. …In the awful presence of God our lives are to come up in review.

When the work of the investigative Judgment closes, the destiny of all will have been decided for eternal life or eternal death. Probation ends a short time before the appearing of the Lord in the clouds of heaven.

The righteous and the wicked will still be living on earth in their mortal state –there will be planting and building, eating and drinking - they will all be unconscious that the final, irrevocable decision has been pronounced in Heaven above….

Watch and pray; for you know not when the time is. Mark 13:33

Watch…lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping. Mark 13:35-36

Perilous is the condition of those who, growing weary of their watch, turn to the attractions of the world. 


While business men and women are absorbed in the pursuit of wealth, while the pleasure-lover is seeking indulgence, while the daughter of fashion is arranging her adornments – it may be in that hour the Judge of all the earth will pronounce the sentence, “Thou art weighed in the balances and art found wanting.”  (Daniel 5:27)

Based on Excerpts from The Great Controversy, p 490-491 E G White

Appropriate Now !

Please read Blog January 12, 2015 - Stupendous Crisis Coming. Seems so appropriate right now.

HEALTH - Part 2

Dear Friend:

As Jesus entered the village ten lepers met Him but kept their distance. They said, "Jesus! Master, have mercy on us!" Jesus looked at them and said, "Go. Show yourselves to the priest." Obeying Him they turned and ran and were healed. Then only one turned back to thank Jesus for healing him, and fell at Jesus' feet. Jesus said, "Were not ten healed? Where are the other nine? Only you have returned thanks to God. Arise and go your way, your faith has made you whole." Luke 17:12-14

**********

Paul said, "Three times I have pled with the Lord to remove my handicap. Each time the Lord said, `My grace is sufficient for you. For My strength is made perfect in weakness.' So I will now boast of my weakness for I am glad to be a living demonstration of Christ's power instead of showing off my own power and ability. For Jesus' sake I am content with weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions and disasters. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10

***********

"Now we look in a mirror and see a blurred reflection, but someday we will see God and understand why things happened as they did just as clearly as God sees right now." 1 Corinthians 13:12

HEALTH

Dear friend, I pray above all else that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers. The Lord says, "My child, listen to My Words and keep them ever in mind. Allow them to penetrate into your entire being, for they mean real life and radiant health for you.

Do not be conceited, sure of your own wisdom. Instead, trust and reverence God and turn your back on evil. When you do that, then you will be given renewed health and vitality. For I will restore your health and heal your wounds.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases.

The above quotes are taken from these Bible texts:
3 John 2/ Proverbs 4:20-22; 3:7-8/ Jeremiah 30:17/ Psalm 103:2-3.

In Answer to the Prayer of Faith

It is a part of God’s plan to grant us, in answer to the prayer of faith, that which He would not bestow did we not thus ask.

The Great Controversy 525 E G White

Do not Neglect Secret Prayer

Do not neglect secret prayer, for it is the soul of religion. With earnest, fervent prayer, plead for purity of soul. Plead as earnestly, as eagerly, as you would for your mortal life, were it at stake.
Testimonies Vol. 1, 163 (1885, E G White)

God always hears Our Cries

Amid the anthems of the celestial choir, God hears the cries of the weakest human being.

 We pour out our heart’s desire in our closets, we breathe a prayer as we walk by the way, and our words reach the throne of the Monarch of the Universe

. [Our prayers] may be inaudible to any human ear, but they cannot die away into silence, nor can they be lost through the activities of business that are going on.

   Nothing can drown the soul’s desire. 

  Christ’s Object Lessons 177, E G White

Love of Money...

Now the Spirit explicitly states that in the last days some will depart from the faith by listening to corrupt spirits and demonic doctrines. 1 Timothy 4:1

If any one … does not believe the words of Jesus Christ … that person is conceited, and understands nothing. They are doting on controversies and semantics, resulting in envy, strife, and evil thoughts. They think godliness is only a path to monetary gain - for the love of money (greed) is the cause of all evil. 1 Timothy 6:3-5, 10

But you, O child of God, run away from evil and follow righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and humbleness. 1 Timothy 6:11

In regards to our faith and trials – Gold is not afraid of fire!

PRAY !

The Lord is disappointed when His people place a low estimate on themselves. Desire of Ages 668

Prayer is Heaven’s ordained means of success in the conflict with sin and the development of Christian character. Acts of the Apostles 564

When we come to Him in faith, every petition enters the heart of God. When we have asked for His blessing, we should believe that we receive it, and thank Him that we have received it. Then we are to go about our duties assured that the blessing will be realized when we need it most. Desire of Ages 200

When every other voice is hushed, and in quietness we wait before Him, the silence of the soul makes more distinct the voice of God. Desire of Ages 363

Make every effort to keep the communion between Jesus and your own soul. Steps to Christ 98


all quotes by E G White

A Warning Dream to Deb M

A Warning Dream to Deb M

In the dream: after purchasing a small, beautiful acreage on the edge of a forest we went about our chores. Suddenly it was announced Sunday Laws were enforced; it was now time to retreat deep in the forest until Jesus came. Andy found a book about a pioneer trail that ran right past our front door to a forest refuge. Deciding to take the trail we first got together a few things to take along, things we thought God would not provide for us.

Telling those with us to go ahead we continued to get more items from the house. While making a large pile of items in the front yard we noticed the wheelchair-bound, blind, infants and elderly running at top speed on the trail to safety.

Going back into the house for more items we realized this was it - Jesus would soon be here! But we were also getting sentimental over the things we would leave behind. I yelled, "Hurry up! We have to go!" But we both lingered. Then as we were ready to leave my family entered the house carrying all their possessions for us to care for. They did not want us to leave - they wanted us to stay and help bring their packages into the house. We were in a quandary what to do - help our family or go and meet God. The dream ended.

Upon awaking I knew I needed to prepare for the Lord’s return and put away material things and encumbrances.

Jesus' Second Coming & the Last Days

But no one knows the day or hour of Jesus coming, not even the angels nor Jesus Himself.
 Only the Father knows. Pay attention! Watch and pray! For you do not know when the time is. 
 Mark 13:32-33    
Jesus says, "I will return!" John 14:3

As time winds down, the intensity and frequency of the signs will increase.
 But, God will protect His faithful followers thru the last days.  Read Psalm 91.


INCREASING SIGNS IN THE PHYSICAL WORLD
Earthquakes/Disasters [Violent & Strange Weather?] - Matthew 24:7; Luke 21:11, 25
Famine, Strange New Diseases/Pestilence - Matthew 24:7; Luke 21:11
Signs in the Sun, Moon, Stars and heavenly bodies - Matthew 24:29; Luke 21:25

INCREASING SIGNS IN THE BUSINESS WORLD
Discontented Employees, Disproportionate wealth, Money Troubles - James 5:1-6,8
Increase in Knowledge - Daniel 12:4

INCREASING SIGNS IN THE POLITICAL WORLD
Disregard for Justice - Isaiah 59:12-14; James 5:6
Fear, Distress, Perplexity Everywhere - Luke 21:25-28
Wars & Rumors of War - Matthew 24:6, 7; Luke 21:9, 10
Leaders & Pastors preach “Peace & Safety” – when there is neither
1 Thessalonians 5:3; Jeremiah 6:14; Ezekiel 7:25

INCREASING SIGNS IN THE SOCIAL WORLD
Moral Collapse, Increase of Violence & Crime - 2 Timothy 3:1-6, 13
Love pleasure more than God - 2 Timothy 3:4
No Natural Affection - 2 Timothy 3:3
Disobedient to Parents / No Self Control - 2 Timothy 3:1-4
Evil increases, so the love of many grows indifferent - Matthew 24:12

INCREASING SIGNS IN THE RELIGIOUS WORLD
Form of godliness, but denying God - 2 Timothy 3:5
Disregard for God’s will, but doing “religious” works - Matthew 7:21-23
Ignoring & Rebellion against God’s Truth - 2 Timothy 4:3-4
False christs & prophets - Matthew 24:11, 24
Scoffing at Jesus’ Promise to Return Soon - 2 Peter 3:3-4,9-14

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 for the full scene of His coming

Benign tumors

Four weeks ago Andy's doctor (ENT) found two tumors on Andy's neck, one was quite large. A biopsy was performed - both were benign! The ENT urged to have them removed ASAP - so the following week they were removed in a 3 hour surgery. Andy's incision goes from around the ear down almost to the adam's apple. Praise the Lord that none of the facial nerves were cut/damaged!

The day after Andy's surgery I noticed a large, painful purple/red lump on my left breast. My doctor saw me the next day and it was removed. It was benign!

We are both in pain still, but healing.

Praise God the tumors were benign and removed promptly!