D E I – – – DO WE KNOW BETTER NOW ?

May 1, 2024 By Leave a Comment

The rapid-fire volley of new stuff, new ideas, new science, new religion, new crises, new mandates, new problems, new ‘solutions’, new education, new government, in recent years, pressures us to go along with—accept, endorse—all the latest, and apologize for everything that we hold dear, and that holds us together.

Ideas get recycled.

From the original wanna-be master of the universe, the first successful propaganda, “Did God Really Say, ‘Don’t eat that.’ ?”
It still works for him, and for all the willing cohorts who can’t submit to God, and serve the devil.

New methods accomplish the same old goals.

Distract/fool people to focus on the latest ideas/trends, while behind-the-scenes leaders try again to take over and rule the world.
Tried before throughout history.
Many failed.
Some succeeded.
This time looks like The Big One, with so many new devices to control the people, by fear, by threats, by canceling daily functions to stay alive—for anyone who does not comply.

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Political---Cultural, Time

HORRIBLE – – – YES

April 26, 2024 By Leave a Comment

— “Lake of fire”
— “Torment day and night forever”
— “Weeping”
— “Agony”
— “Eternal punishment”
— “Lake that burns with fire and sulphur”
— “Outer darkness”
— “Furnace of fire”
— “Unquenchable fire”
— “Gnashing of teeth”
— “Eternal death”
— “The ‘worm’ never dies”
— “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
— “. . . I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.”
— “. . . the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
— “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels . . .”

– – –
– – –

Going there ?

Yes, unless you repent for your sin, accept Jesus’ payment for your sin, and ask Him to save you and write your name in His Book of Life in heaven.
“And there shall in no way enter any thing . . . but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

How about today ? – – – for you ?

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Inspirational, Time

FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT

April 26, 2024 By Leave a Comment

Not just once and you’re done.

Keep praying—Jesus did, often, a lot.

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”
So we should pray for the Holy Spirit, surely not just once.

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.”
So Jesus prays for the Holy Spirit for us, surely not just once.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”
So the Holy Spirit teaches and helps us remember, surely not just once.

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
So we get power from the Holy Spirit to be witnesses to Jesus, surely not just once.
– – –
Do we need prayer just once ?
Do we need teaching just once ?
Do we need power just once ?
Do we need the Holy Spirit just once ?
– – –
So, be filled with the Spirit—ask—surely not just once and you’re done.

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Inspirational, Time

BAD IS NOT . . .

April 26, 2024 By Leave a Comment

Bad is not fair.
Bad is not equal.
Bad is not proportional.
Bad is not fun.
Bad is not understood.
Bad is not over.
Bad is not simple.
Bad is not easy.

BUT,

Bad is not the last word.
Bad is not too much, with Jesus.
Bad is not the last word.
Bad is not too much, with Jesus.
Bad is not the winner.
Bad is not a match for God.
Bad is not all bad.
– – –
Bad surrenders to the Word of God.
“All things work together for good”

You’ll hear lots of people say various human versions of that statement, not giving credence to the Bible or God—basically wishful thinking, declared optimism.
– – –
Now, the rest of the story, why bad is not the end of the story . . .
Because there is an IF, as in BUT GOD.

“All things [including bad things] work together for good . . .”
—IF—
“. . . to those who love God . . .”
“. . . to those who are called . . .”
“. . . according to His Purpose.”

Now, whenever you hear only the first part of the verse in conversation, be sure to share that it is a promise from God in the Bible, with preconditions.
Then clearly state the rest of the verse—and the door is open for . . .

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Inspirational, Time

FOR A NEW LEASE ON LIFE . . .

April 26, 2024 By Leave a Comment

Try this if your husband struggles with any variations of the following:
tiredness
weakness
failing health
discouragement
not getting better
even life-threatening
even family-threatening
reduced accomplishment
increased struggle to work
desperate need to rest more

and you struggle with blaming it on:
laziness
or attitude
or character
or his family
or personality
or . . .
– – –
Sometimes a graphic, black-and-white illustration can get our attention to change ourself and our world—while we can—rather than continue watching and doing what does not work.
– – –
– – –
A couple went to their doctor together to find out once-and-for-all what was wrong with the husband, and what could be done about it.
They both told the doctor everything they knew, including how frustrating it was for each of them, and their fears for the family, and even life itself, if it kept getting worse.

They told the doctor he was exhausted almost all the time, and work that he thrived on in the past had become almost impossible.
He could hardly function, and it never got better, for years.
He had been accustomed to pushing himself on jobs, including emergencies for others, and always recovering for the next day.
Then it turned into forcing himself on autopilot, just to get things done, without replenishing energy levels like before.
It kept getting worse—more rest, more sleep did not change the pattern, the facts.
Health and well-being were at risk.
They knew this could not continue—unsustainable—life wouldn’t last much longer.
Doctor, please help !
– – –
So the doctor did his tests, as doctors do.
Nothing gave definitive answers, that he thought would turn things around.
Looking at the whole picture, he saw the gravity of their situation—indeed life-threatening.
Then he thought of a different prescription—with sound medical relevance.

He thought it best to share with the wife first, to prepare her for the prescription.
– – –
– – –
Your husband’s condition is very serious, like you described it, even more serious.
If it continues to get worse, he may die.
All the tests do not give clear answers to the cause or the solution.
But we must do something, to rebuild your husband’s strength.

The prescription that I believe will help is for you to do the following:
+ Encourage him with positive conversation.
+ Tell him all he is capable of–and repeat as needed.
+ Help him do anything he can do with a little help.
+ Think of something special you can do for him, every day, to lift his spirits ! ! !
+ Your support of him in everything will do more for him than any prescribed medicine.
+ Restoring his confidence in what he can do will go a long way to restoring his energy.
+ Continued assurance that you are 100% behind him and beside him will be the key to his recovery.

With these things going for him, your husband will experience a new lease on life that can restore his strength and vitality.
Part of recovery may be right away, and some may be gradual.
But you will be the key—you are the ingredient to make the difference.
Be as consistent as possible.
Don’t give up.
You both understand the gravity of the situation.
I want to see both of you again in two weeks.
– – –
Then the doctor gave the couple a few minutes alone, to share and process what he told the wife—to underscore his belief that she would be the key to her husband’s recovery—his very survival.
– – –
The wife went back to her husband in the waiting room.
They were alone.
Immediately he asked what the doctor said.
The wife answered, “You’re gonna die.”
– – –
– – –
This story makes the point, how much difference a wife can make—reviving, restoring, giving life — or not.

Filed Under: Family, Fun, Health, Inspirational, Time

TEST – STRETCH – STRENGTHEN

April 13, 2024 By 2 Comments

After your faith has been Tested, Stretched, Strengthened,
Then . . .
Comfort Others.

But don’t worry in the middle of a storm, “What do I have to do to use this for helping others ?”

Don’t worry about ‘why?’ in search of meaning for the current trouble.
Go ahead and ask ‘why?’ when you feel it, then set it on the shelf of His promises.

Answers to ‘why?’ may come later, maybe much later, but don’t miss what God is doing now (when you can’t explain it).

Try to not jump to the end of the matter, when you’ll see how God uses it for others.
If you try to verbalize and explain to others right away what God is doing, you may miss much of God’s purpose in your discomfort, in the ambiguities, in the painful times of life.

“Be still, . . .”
Accept “I don’t know.”
Accept “I don’t have a clue.”

If your personality type is achiever—figure it out, fix it yourself—remember God’s desire is to refine, remove, reshape you in ways you can’t see as long as you are ‘taking care of things’.

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

“He comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Inspirational, Political---Cultural, Time

A B C and A B C

April 10, 2024 By Leave a Comment

I shared this at Church In The Park a few weeks ago.

There is a parallel between a Bible verse on prayer and an experience with Jesus and His disciples applying the verse in real life, VERY REAL LIFE !

THE PRAYER
“Call upon Me in the day of trouble . . .”—that’s A.
There’s more to the verse, but I stop there because we should just stop there when we pray—in trouble, any trouble, none too big, none too small—and not add our suggestions how God should take care of the trouble, and not think of how we might take care of the trouble ourselves.
God knows our trouble, but He wants us to specifically call out what the trouble is, and repeat what He said, aloud, “Lord, I’m calling on You in this day of trouble.”
It’s a good time to say and do this, “Be still, and know that I Am God.”
That’s what it means to “Cast all your care on Him.”
Then, while you’re waiting on God, immediately pick up doing whatever task is clearly in front of you—carefree.

THE PRAYER
“Lord, save us; don’t you care that we’re going to drown.”—that’s A.
Jesus’ disciples were in trouble, serious trouble, and they called on Jesus.
They got that right—but first they tried their best to take care of the trouble themselves—they hesitated to call on Jesus for help, until they were at wits end.
Notice the second part of their calling on Jesus in their day of trouble—Jesus was sleeping in the boat, on a cushion, in the storm that threatened their lives, like He didn’t care.
Do we ever think Jesus is sleeping on the job, sleeping in our boat, like He doesn’t care?

THE ANSWER
“. . . I will deliver you . . .”—that’s B.
That’s God’s job, without any help from us, no matter how many people say God helps those who help themselves (not Biblical !).
Besides, if God takes care of the trouble, delivers us, He wants all the credit, not halfway.
How much do we need God—all the way, or halfway ?
We know what God can do—it’s amazing what He will do, if we stop . . .

THE ANSWER
“Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.”—that’s B.
God does His job.
Not our job—we can’t do it, even if we think we can, even if we try.
Some times, many times, God seems to take extra measures to make sure we can’t, and get us to understand that, sooner than later, before He delivers.

THE GLORY
“. . . and you will glorify Me.”—that’s C.
All glory to God, all the time, every time.
If we think we did half of the deliverance ourselves, we will give ourselves half of the credit, half of the glory.
“. . . don’t forget to thank Him for His answers.”
When God gets our attention, putting us in a situation where we have to call on Him, we must thank Him, glorify Him.
Important side note—when God gets our attention, He wants to know how long He will have our attention.
And He will send repeated circumstances to remind us when we forget to call on Him and glorify Him.

THE GLORY
“And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, ‘Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!’”—that’s C.
Giving God all the glory means standing in awe of what God can do, what He just did, for me—sometimes with fear and trembling.
God is “a friend that sticks closer than a brother”, and we “call on Him in the day of trouble”, AND He is to be feared because He is God.
“His ways are higher than our ways; His thoughts above our thoughts.”

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Inspirational, Time

REFINER’S FIRE

April 10, 2024 By Leave a Comment

“The refiner’s fire does not burn off the dross until the crucible gets hot enough.”—–on afr.net

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Inspirational, Time

HOW DO YOU KNOW ?

April 10, 2024 By Leave a Comment

? How do you know if it’s Killer Bees ?

? How do you know if it’s The Big One (terrorist attack) ?

? How do you know if it’s The Mark of the Beast ?

? How do you know if it’s The End/Your End ?

Who can you tell ?

Who can you ask ?

– – –
– – –

++ How do you know if you’re getting attacked by killer bees ?

You’ll know !
Sad, but true.
Might not be able to tell anyone, unless help arrives quickly.
You can ask now, and get some information–
— Killer bees don’t look different.
— Killer bees aren’t more poisonous.
— Killer bees kill by shear numbers of stings.
— Killer bees don’t stop, once they attack.
— The only defense against killer bees is getting inside a closed room or vehicle.

— Pray for Medical Help !

– – – – – –

++ How do you know if the next terrorist attack—The Big One—is happening ?

You’ll know !
Sad, but true.
Might not be able to tell anyone, because The Big One could include canceling our communications, as well as the rest of our infrastructure that depends on electronics or the electric grid.
If they choose to , our enemies can eliminate anything we are accustomed to for survival.
There will be little chance to ask for information or help then.
There will be universal breakdown of everything—nothing will work—everyone will panic, just trying to stay alive.
You can ask now, and get some information–
— The Big One means no electricity and no restoring electricity like we expect after natural disasters.
— The Big One means everyone will get fiercely hungry within a few days, and kill for food for survival.
— The Big One means many will die in a few days, many more will die in a few weeks, most Americans will die in a few months, and ninety percent of Americans will die within a year.
— The Big One means you must have a reliable, self-sustaining means of long-term survival in place now, and the means and willingness to defend it against all attackers.
— The Big One means our enemies can also use the threat of what is described above, to force us to surrender, to slavery.

— Pray for Supernatural Help !

– – – – – –

++ How do you know if it’s The Mark of the Beast ?

You’ll know !
You could know !
Sad, but true—it will happen !
You COULD know it’s The Mark of the Beast, maybe not by that label.
You WILL know it’s happening—everyone will know because everyone will be forced to participate, in order to buy or sell.
You can tell anybody what’s going on, and talk about it, because it’s obvious, everywhere, everybody’s involved.
But who can you ask what it’s really all about, and why ?
— There will be very few, if any, who understand, and who take the risk to talk.
— There will be a very, very few who refused to participate, and did not take The Mark of the Beast.
— There will be all those who did not take The Mark of the Beast, who will be killed.
— There will be some who own a Bible, and remember that the Bible talks about The Mark of the Beast—so you can read exactly all about it, written 2000 years ago, happening currently just like it says.
— “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”
“And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

— Pray for Mercy !
— Pray NOW—before you’re forced to take The Mark of the Beast, and you will be ready to say “NO“, and face the consequences of death and the reward of heaven.

– – – – – –

++ How do you know if you’re ready when time is up—when your time is up—or all time is over ?

You’ll know, ready or not !
Might not be able to tell anyone (sad, but true).
OR
Might be able to tell someone.

But who can you ask, now, for answers ?
You can ask me, Larry Michalk, writing this article.

There are two ways you’ll know if you’re ready when “It’s Time !”
XXXXX One way—Do nothing now to get ready for the time when time is up.
When it comes, you’ll know you’re not ready.
Too late for heaven.
To hell by default.
Sad, but true.
+++++ Second way—Get your name written in heaven now.
It’s called the Lamb’s Book of Life—if your name is there, you’re in—if your name is not there, you’re out.

It’s simple to get your name in The Book.
Tell God–
— You admit you’re a sinner.
— You accept Jesus’ payment for your sin.
— You surrender your life—past, present, future—completely to Him.

You’ll know—NOW !
You’ll know—THEN !

Hope to see you there—heaven.

– – – – – –
– – – – – –

There’s More—Good Stuff, Good News, in His Book, The Bible.
God has His Own Mark on His Own people.
Observing the feast of the Passover is, itself, as a sign upon the hand (the hands DO the preparation) and a memorial between the eyes (remembering what the Lord did for the Israelites when he brought them out of Egypt).
What God did for Israel, He will do for all His People—Christians.
“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart,
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children,
And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes (decorative band or ornament).

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Inspirational, Political---Cultural, Time

ECLIPSE – – – THIS SHOW BROUGHT TO YOU . . .

April 10, 2024 By Leave a Comment

THE ECLIPSE – – – THIS SHOW BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE ALMIGHTY !

No extra charge.
All natural.
No man-made additives.
No artificial ingredients.

He would accept “Thank You.”

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork.
There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.”
– – –
If you saw, if you heard—then . . .
“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”
– – –
When you looked up at the awesome glory of the eclipse on Monday—the sun, the moon, and the stars visible at the same time ! ! !—if you did not look beyond what you saw, and acknowledge God’s handiwork—then stop and do so now.

“Know that the Lord, He is God.
It is He Who has made us, and not we ourselves.”

This would be a good time to read Psalm 100, and talk to God yourself.

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Inspirational, Time
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