TRICK or TREATING 1964

On Halloween 1964 I was allowed to go "trick or treating" with the neighbor kids Merry and Mark who were two years older than me. The rule was to stay on 91st Street Circle, but we decided the "treats" were better on the other side of busy 90th Street.

After crossing 90th Street in the dark the first home owner we came to eagerly led us into his garage. He told us for a "treat" he was giving us fresh fish he had caught that very morning. Being excited about “fresh” fish we were each given six or more frozen fish. The fish wrappers were stamped, "June 1962,” but this made no difference to us, we were only in grades 3 thru 5!

We were proud of our fish, but kept getting farther from home and finally were lost. It started raining, thundering and lightning and being very scared we started running and shouting. Adults came out of their homes to see what the commotion was all about and yelled at us. We were so scared we threw our thawing fish all over their lawns, which only made the adults yell louder! Running down the street we met Dad who was driving around trying to find us! After a reprimand he drove us home. Dad and Mom were upset that anyone would give me two-year-old frozen fish and the next day Dad went to see the man and gave him some words.

After Halloween (1964) my friend Merry and I got into more trouble. In her basement we found a wall box with pop bottle tops sticking out of it. There were purple caps, red caps, orange caps, and yellow caps, but we thought they were grape, strawberry, orange and lemon soda bottle tops. When Merry’s dad found us pulling on the tops, he was very upset, because the tops were old fashioned, live electrical fuses!

GOD DOESN'T USE FORCE

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 planned for you before the world began. He longs for you to talk to Him about everything that is on your mind. God always listens. 
I go to Him with all my problems and He always looks after me. As a small child I learned these things – it made all the difference in my life.


Often your mind may be
Clouded because of pain.
Then do not try to think.
You know that Jesus loves you!
He understands you.
You may do His will by simply
Resting in His arms.


Jesus determined, (in council with His Father), to do everything possible - no matter the cost - to rescue sinners. Jesus loves you more than He values His own life – He died for you!

Seeing Grandma's Ghost - True Story

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God..."
1 John 4:1 [RSV]

When Adam and Eve believed Satan’s first lie, "you will never die," (Genesis 3:4), the world was cast into sin and confusion that grows worse every year. Satan lied in direct opposition to God's truth, “when you eat of it [and sin] you will surely die.” (Genesis 2:17). Since Satan’s first lie almost everyone believes that when you die you keep on living.

It was this teaching and the popular 1960's television comedy, Bewitched, that almost caused my spiritual ruin. Bewitched piqued interest in other schoolgirls, and at slumber parties we would attempt levitation and seances. We did not know the Bible truth that would protect us from danger. “The living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing.” (See: Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 and 10; Psalm 115:17; Psalm 146:4; Job 7:9-10; Job 14:21; and Isaiah 8:19-20.)

On May 21, 1963 at 10:15 p.m. I sensed something "bad" in the house. Trying to alert my parents to danger by shaking their bed and yelling - I was confused when they did not respond. Crawling back into bed, I was startled when Grandma Anna, who lived three hours away in a nursing home, walked through the closed door. She was filmy-white. Slowly she glided towards me.

"Grandma, why are you here?" I asked innocently. Never speaking she came to me, her face changing into a demonic glare while gesturing to choke me. "Jesus help me!" I screamed, while throwing the covers over my head. Moments later the ghost was gone. The clock read 10:20 p.m. I cried out to Mom who came immediately.

The next morning the nursing home called with the news that Grandma Anna had died the night before at 10:18 p.m.

"Grandma was in my room last night,” I told the family, “she was see-through white." Mom was unnerved, but said, “Such things are impossible. Grandma is in Heaven. When people die they go to Heaven."

For years I wondered what Grandma had wanted from me. Was she really trying to kill me, or just wanted me to go to Heaven with her? These questions haunted me for a long time.

In 1975 a friend and pastor, Dr. Charles Felton, explained, “the living know that they will die but the dead do not know anything.” Ecclesiastes chapter 9, verses 5, 6, 10. Dr. Felton said that the ghost was the devil – the devil had been confusing me and wanting me to follow him ( the devil.) These words of Holy Scripture protected me from further attacks.

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.

Creator of the Heavens

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God, and all things were created through Him and nothing was made without Him.

By faith we understand that the world was created by the Word of God, so that what is seen was made of things which cannot be seen.

Scoffers deliberately ignore this fact: that by the Word of God the heavens existed long ago. Since earliest times men have seen God's Creation and have known of His existence and great eternal power. So they will have no excuse for saying, "there is no God".

For in these last days God speaks to us by His Son....through Whom He created the world!

[The Hands that sustain the worlds in space, and holds them in their orderly arrangement, are the Hands that were nailed to the cross!]


Look into the heavens! Who created all these stars and planets? He creates them in number calling each one by its own name. By His great might and strong power not one strays or is lost.

Why do you say that the Lord God does not see your troubles and is not being fair? Don't you know? Haven't you heard?! The everlasting God, the Creator of the Universe, never grows faint or tired. No one can fathom His understanding.

[Remember how He cares for the stars? He loves you even more!]


The above quotes are from these Scriptures: John 1:1-4/ Colossians 1:16/ Hebrews 11:3/ Genesis 2:3/ Nehemiah 9:6/ Psalms 33:8-9; 95:6; 148:3-5/ Acts 17:30-31/ Hebrews 1:2/ Isaiah 40:26-28

The Soul that Sins will Die

The soul that sins will die.

The living know that they will die, but the dead do not know anything. Their love, hatred and envy die with them.

The dead have no work, wishes, knowledge nor understanding - for they are dead.

The dead praise not the Lord. He breathes his last and is buried; in that same day his thoughts die also.

The dead will never arise to haunt, and will never return to his house. They will never know if their children are honored, or if they fail or face disaster. They do not know about it, because they are dead!


REFERENCES
The above quotes are from these Bible texts:
 Ezekiel 18:4/
Ecclesiastes 9:5,6,10/
Psalm 115:17; 146:4/
Job 7:9,10; 14:21

A Sympathizing Friend

Whatever our situation, if we are doers of His word, we have a Guide to direct our way;
whatever our perplexity, we have a sure Counselor;
whatever our sorrow, bereavement or loneliness, we have a Sympathizing Friend (His name is Jesus Christ).

Ministry of Healing 249 E G White

The coming of the Anti-christ

For satan himself masquerades as an angel of light! So is it any wonder if his followers pretend to be holy and righteous? Their end will be what they deserve.

Do not believe every person, but test their message to see if they are from God, because many false prophets are in the world.

The coming of the anti-christ will be in accordance with satan's works - displayed in all sorts of counterfeit miracles, signs, wonders and deceitful evil.

The Holy Spirit expressly says, "In the last days some will leave the faith and will believe evil spirits and doctrines of demons."

So watch yourself lest you are weighed down with life's worries and cares, and Christ's Coming catches you off guard. Watch and pray at all times so you will have the strength to keep yourself from evil.

Above quotes from these Scripture Texts: 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 / 1 John 4:1-3/ 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10/ 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17/ 1 Timothy 4:1

One thing Satan loves...

Give your whole life to Jesus, not just parts here and there. God can only forgive the sins which you confess and give to Him.

One thing Satan loves is when people say they belong to God but continue living how they want.

“Pay attention, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.” Mark 13:33.

Be ready for Jesus’ coming at any time. Don’t fool yourself into thinking it is in 20 years or even in 3 years from now. You might not live that long! Nobody knows - so be ready now!

Habit of Talking...

Cultivate the habit of talking with the Saviour when you are alone, when you are walking, and when you are busy with your daily labor.

Ministry of Healing 510-511 (1905 E G White)

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

Those who Hate God

The Lord delights in mercy; and for the sake of a few who really serve Him, He restrains calamities and prolongs the tranquility of multitudes. Little do [those who hate God] realize that they are indebted for their own lives to the faithful few whom they delight to ridicule and oppress.

The Great Controversy, 632, E G White

Problems of Marriage

Satan hates marriage - this is no surprise. He is behind all marriage problems!

Satan causes strife, arguments, anger, adultery, jealousy, bitterness, envy, sexual sin, and a slew of other problems - especially those dealing with the emotions.

There is a war going on! Between Satan and his minions, and God and His holy angels. Between the devil and Gods people. [See this Blog site dated June 13, 2015 - No Mimic Battle].

Stay true to Jesus, ask His Holy Spirit for help and discernment. Focus on Jesus love for you.

Stay true to God and your spouse. Honor your marriage.

If there is violence, seek shelter, get help.

Angel Protection

We may, through the exercise of faith and prayer, call to our side a retinue of Heavenly angels, who will guard us from every corrupting influence.

Our High Calling 23 (1961, posthumous compilation, 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

WORKING

"When the redeemed stand before God, precious souls will respond to their names who are there because of our faithful, patient and earnest persuasions to flee to the Stronghold (God).

 "Thus, those who in this world have been laborers together with God will receive their reward."

Testimonies to the Church, Volume 8, 196-197, E G White

Do not Follow Vain People

Those who work will have plenty of food; but those who follow vain people will have poverty enough
. Proverbs 28:19

Ashley Madison - Forgiveness

Compassion for those who have been exposed by the Ashley Madison hack has been in short supply. There has been a lot of "they got what they deserved," even though the innocent spouses, children and family members deserved nothing of the sort.

But the truth is, we all have secrets! How would you feel if your most personal details were exposed? What if your deeply-held secrets were published on a searchable database? Yet as uncomfortable as that sounds, the Bible is clear that one day the private secrets of all people who have ever lived are going to be revealed.

The Bible says, "Fear God and give Him glory, for the hour of His judgment is come." Revelation 14:7. And Daniel 7:10 states, "...the judgment was set, and the books were open."

The Books of Record that contain the deeds and misdeeds of every person (good or evil) will one day be opened. As Solomon wrote in Holy Scripture, "God will bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it is good, or whether it be evil." Ecclesiastes 12:14.

While many are trying to figure out how to handle the damage caused to their reputations, God offers every person a simple remedy. Acts 3:19 states, "Repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."

In the judgment that precedes Jesus' return, the sins of those who have faith in God will be blotted out. When the Books are opened, their pages are clear rather than stained by sin. In place of sin is purity and righteousness. The grace that forgives is the grace that cleanses, and in the judgment the redeemed are found to be white as snow (Isaiah 1:18).

The woman taken in adultery repented for her sin and heard Jesus say, "neither do I condemn you" John 8:11

Repentance opens the door to the cleansing power of God. Grace does not justify sinful behavior, but it does justify the sinner.

God sees the hearts of all, and He does so without condemnation. King David wrote that God "knows our frame, He remembers that we are only dust" Psalm 103:14, and God loves us anyway.

Holy Scripture promises that "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" 1 John 1:9.

We all have secrets. What shouldn't be a secret is that God is able to cleanse and heal, remake, restore, forgive. The reality of the judgment isn't only that sinners will be judged, but that sinners - when they repent - are forgiven! God offers that hope to all sinners everywhere.

Original Blog by John Bradshaw, August 31, 2015. blog.itiswritten.com