IT’S THE END TIMES – WHAT DO I DO?

https://youtu.be/cBD98-Ryqb8

BUT WHILE MEN SLEPT, HIS ENEMY CAME

As I look at the history of America, I am convinced that the “falling away” or “rebellion”  spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, began to occur before many of us were even born.  Just in looking back at the movies and television in America, from the time of the “Dick Van Dyke Show” 1961 (where they would not even allow people portraying a husband and wife to be filmed in bed together.)  to now where there is all kinds of sex and perversion on even prime time shows for all the kids to see.

When you are born into something - it is easy to think it is “normal” until a light is shined on it and a revelation of God’s Holy Word is brought before you.  Even then - it often takes repeated exposure to God’s standard of truth written in His word before you can even begin to comprehend how far off this world has traversed.

It takes humility to be able to see and receive the truth.  That pretty much all of society, in all nations, has fallen away from the standards God - Our Creator, set up for us in this creation of His.  But once you get past the acknowledgement of that truth, it is absolutely shocking how far society has fallen away.

Matthew 13:24,25  “Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;  but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.”

I’m not sure when it began, but television certainly put it on the fast track.  Even looking at “The Wizard of Oz”  filmed in 1939,  you can see a complete departure from the reality of God’s Word and standards.  Instead the subtle introduction of a wizard having the answers and that goodness and answers come from man - without the need of God, and entertainment became the pursuit of much of humanity. (a modern idol - even the Oscar is a golden statue of a man) This departure was subtle and cunning.  

I think television and media was (and is)  the most powerful tool in Satan’s hand to reshape mankind into a non believing and self centered, entertainment seeking, moral less group of people - and it has taken decades to slowly move it to this point.  It is heartbreaking, but mostly for those that are under it’s spell of brain washing, where man is his own god and his own standard maker.  Again, it happened before most of us were born.  A departure from the Word and ways of God.  There is no condemnation towards us - we can’t help that we were born into a time of great deception.  But truth is also readily available to anyone seeking to find it.  For that we are accountable.

It takes a great commitment to follow God’s word.  As I spoke in the beginning 2 Thessalonians  2 talks about the rebellion and falling away of those that claim to believe in Christ.  John 1 says that Jesus is the living Word of God and came to dwell among us.  If you are a believer you must “fight the good fight of faith”.  To stick out in a generation that is going down stream and choose to fight the current to go upstream towards Gods ways and standards.  Doing that now may mean the difference between life or death.  Eternity in heaven or hell.  This is no light matter, and to stand up and walk in God’s ways will require a sacrifice (taking up your cross daily)  but that sacrifice is small compared to what Jesus did for us.  He is a good God and always has our best interest at heart.  He is for us and not against us.  (Romans 8:31)

One day this will all come to an end.  One day we will stand before God and receive a reward for following Him, or suffer loss for not.  Heartbreaking loss.  Your story is dependent on your heart choices.  God alone can empower you to walk the walk in this degenerate society, but the rewards for choosing to follow Jesus and His word, will last into eternity.

My heart goes out to us all.  May God shed His light within us by His Holy spirit and may we have the grace to keep looking to Him who is the author and finisher of our faith and run this race with patience, enduring until the end.  God bless each and every one of you.  We are a chosen generation.  May God help us fight the good fight of faith.

Amen

Your sister in Christ, Jean

1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

WASHINGTON D.C. WILL GOD SPARE THE NATION- GIVE US MORE TIME?

I know many of us are worried about the coming election.  But I want to share something with you.   On Saturday, September 26th,  we went to Washington D. C.  To join a Day of Prayer and Repentance called “The Return” with Johnathan Cahn coordinating it.

It was just that.  Around 75,000 people stood and knelt on the ground weeping and repenting for the sins of the nation ,  listing many of them one by one.  Yes it took hours.  And it was awesome and so right.  The unity of the body of Christ and the Presence of God among us was palpable.  

It went from 9a.m. to 9p.m.  and it was not tiring at all, but life giving.  You could feel it.  This is what God has wanted us to do for a long time.  Another group was simultaneously doing a prayer walk around D.C. with Franklin Graham.   When it was over – I wondered.  Was this enough?  To stay the hand of judgement and procure from God’s hand a little more time to turn this nation around?  It would have only taken 10 righteous for God to spare Sodom and Gomorrah. (Genesis 18).  Was this enough for a nation of 330 million?

Then a month later another group of mainly young people filled the national Mall again and worshipped and prayed for four hours and then walked all around praying and worshipping at different sites in D.C.   And we saw a victory with a pro life supreme court justice sworn in the next day.  That gives me hope.

Now another group of believers will gather and pray at the end of October.  People have been traveling from all over the United States to join in these gatherings.  And there were over 12 million joining online for ‘The Return”. Plus millions around the world joining  in livestream and praying for America.

Only God knows what He will do.  But for the first time in a long time,  I have hope that God may grant us more time for revival if we will continue and not stop after the election.  The church is out of the building and in part we need to keep it that way and not retreat into a mindset of  four walls and only individual programs.  

There needs to be unifying events like these.  A Body of Christ that will rise up and fight against the darkness and lawlessness of the age.  A Body that will pray and fast and seek His face until a great awakening and harvest of souls comes full throttle into our land.

It was so beautiful to be with believers of all walks of life.  The unity of purpose was incredible.  It felt like we were experiencing the answer to Jesus prayer in John 17:22.  when He prayed that we would be “one” as they are “One”.   I saw Amish, Baptist, Messianics, Pentecostals, and probably most denominations were represented among us.  All that was secondary – we were there for Jesus.  To do His will.  To cry out for our nation.  

I pray it continues and grows.  May God bless this land of ours and a harvest of souls come into the kingdom of God!  

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

It is important to see things through the eyes of God, which can totally be found in the scripture if we read it for ourselves and ask His help to understand it.  Everything happening today was foretold by God.  Thousands of years in advance.  Because “ He knows the end from the beginning.”  He dwells outside of time.  That’s why it is so foolish for man to seek “mediums” and horoscopes and such to find “wisdom”  when God is Wisdom Himself.  He made everything and knows what it’s purpose is, and when it will come to an end.

The beauty is – that He has offered us through accepting what Jesus Christ did on the cross and accepting Him as our Lord – we are offered the promise of living in His kingdom – forever – where there are no more tears, pain, sorrow…..heaven.  And in the here and now – we will never be alone.  He will never leave us or forsake us.  Good promises to stand on.  Having faith is believing what He said – no matter what you see.

God will protect us in this crazy time or take us home to His house at our appointed time.

As for where we are now…..it’s all in the Book.  Don’t be afraid to look.  

God will arise to judge the earth – but if we are in Him, in Christ – it will all be okay for us.

Here is an interesting scripture about God “shaking” the earth.  For us – it is so our reliance will be on Him.  But for the world and the enemy of humanity, the devil, Satan.  He gets his way for only a moment in time – and people decide who their allegiance will be to.  Then for Satan and all those that have chosen to follow his ways……it will end…..and not well.  Choose life.  God rules heaven and earth and yes, we will have to live by His ways…..because a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.  And heaven is undivided.  

Isaiah 2:17-22

 The arrogance of man will be brought low    and human pride humbled;

the Lord alone will be exalted in that day,

and the idols will totally disappear.

 People will flee to caves in the rocks

and to holes in the ground

from the fearful presence of the Lord

and the splendor of his majesty,

when he rises to shake the earth.

 

In that day people will throw away

to the moles and bats

their idols of silver and idols of gold,

which they made to worship.

 They will flee to caverns in the rocks

and to the overhanging crags

from the fearful presence of the Lord

and the splendor of his majesty,

when he rises to shake the earth.

Stop trusting in mere humans,

who have but a breath in their nostrils.

Why hold them in esteem?

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY – THE “DINKY” LITTLE PRAYER

Sometimes it’s those insignificant seeming prayers we say that can carry a lot more power than we think.  For example “Lord thank you for protecting the house” as you pull out of your driveway, or “Lord protect my kids at school today”, as you drop them off. Sometimes I pray over an important letter that it will arrive on time, or a package undamaged.

We don’t really notice it until we forget to pray and begin to see a difference.  For instance, I always prayed over my luggage when I used to fly.  “Lord keep the plane safe, no accidents, and that You would put angels to keep my luggage from getting lost or stolen. Amen

Pretty regular prayer.  Except the day I forgot to pray about the luggage!  Not only did my bags not arrive at my destination.  It didn’t even make it to the right country!  It went to Mexico!  Whaaat??  I think God must have chuckled and I certainly got the point.  Those “little” prayers WERE being answered.

They may not be said in fanfare, passion, or hardly with any thought at all, but God is listening and things are happening in the unseen realm even when we don’t know it.  That’s where faith comes in and we continue to pray, trusting that it’s making a difference.

Now this is a silly one, but you ladies can relate.  I had purchased some nice bras for myself when I was living in an apartment and had to do laundry in the community laundry room.  I tossed my clothes in the washer and as I walked out, under my breath, and almost without a thought I said,  “Satan I bind you from stealing any of my new bras in Jesus name.”   They weren’t cheap so I guess that’s why I singled them out.  But when I came back to get my clothes, someone had stolen every single pair of underwear – except the bras.  I had to laugh.  That “in Jesus name” carries weight.  And there are some spiritual rules even the devil must obey.

So I guess my point is that there really is no “dinky” prayer.  Even a little prayer to us is being answered by a great and mighty God.  His ways are higher than ours right, and He instructs us to “ask (and keep on asking) and you shall receive.”   I truly believe that He loves to answer the smallest of prayers because He loves us so much and is happy we are including Him in the everyday things of life. We are not bothering Him like the enemy and our own reasoning tries to convince us of.  He loves us and that our thoughts turn towards Him. He delights in you and the relationship that continues to grow for a lifetime if we let it!

Much love and have a great day!

Streams In The Desert

On that day, when evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s go across to the other side of the lake.” — Mark 4:35

Even when we go forth at Christ’s command, we need not expect to escape storms; for these disciples were going forth at Christ’s command, yet they encountered the fiercest storm and were in great danger of being overwhelmed, so that they cried out in their distress for Christ’s assistance.

Though Christ may delay His coming in our time of distress, it is only that our faith may be tried and strengthened, and that our prayers may be more intense, and that our desires for deliverance may be increased, so that when the deliverance does come we will appreciate it more fully.

Christ gave them a gentle rebuke, saying, “Where is your faith?” Why did you not shout victory in the very face of the storm, and say to the raging winds and rolling waves, “You can do no harm, for Christ, the mighty Savior is on board”?

It is much easier to trust when the sun is shining than when the storm is raging.

We never know how much real faith we have until it is put to the test in some fierce storm; and that is the reason why the Savior is on board.

If you are ever to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might, your strength will be born in some storm.
–Selected

“With Christ in the vessel,
I smile at the storm.”

Christ said, “Let us go to the other side”—not to the middle of the lake to be drowned.
–Dan Crawford

From:  Streams In The Desert  (Cowman)  June 3  (devotional)

Destiny – Poetry

I know You can see
The things that no one else can see
Things You’ve placed inside of me
Seems impossibility

But not in Your hands, But not in Your hands

Can you hear your Maker
Calling out your name
Can you feel the hand of the Potter
Carving out your life

Calling out your name,  Calling out your name

Don’t you know you have a destiny
You were born for such a time as this
Don’t run away in fear now
This is your finest hour

Destiny, destiny
What you’re meant to be
Heed the call
Destiny, destiny
Oh rise up dear one and give it your all

copyright 2006 Jean Chamblee

LEAN INTO THE STING – Poetry

Lean into the sting of things
The cutting and the knife
Let the Maker of our souls
Shape and mold our life

It’s not the pleasant things that bring
True and lasting change
But painful blows that pound our souls
With power to rearrange

Rearrange our carnal self
And bring us into light
The pounding of the anvil
Unveils and makes things right

This life it is no picnic
Our time here short and sweet
But honey comes from creatures here
That also contain a sting

If we choose not to run away
From the anvil and the sting
Let it shape our destiny
And the goodness that it brings

The beauty of the mystery
Will far outweigh the pain
As God reveals His plans for us
Our pain will bring such gain

So learn to lift your head up high
Lean into the sting
Let it shape you deep inside
God’s treasures it will bring

copyright 2017 Jean Chamblee

Isaiah 64:8   “But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.”

 

(Youtube channel – Jean Chamblee – Passing The Torch)

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

So today I read a scripture that just hit me like a rock and went to the core of my being. It is written that His word is a “lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path”. It shines into our lives and souls and shows us what we need to see. I am grateful, even when it hurts at first. Kind of like a splinter. You know it must come out before the infection can heal.

The scripture I read is this:

Matthew 6:25-27 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?”

And it echoes at the end…… 30….O you of little faith?

Those incredible words……DO NOT WORRY ABOUT YOUR LIFE! As God’s word shined on that, I realized how far off the mark I have been. Have I been worrying about my life? YES, YES, YES! I am guilty, but I don’t want to be and I don’t have to be.

Can we really take God at His word? I did not realize how much I had been weighed down by worry. Yes, it is easy to walk around and think that you trust in God and for most of us we have areas that we are good at. I trust Him for many things, but as I read these words the lights came on and I could see how much fear had gripped my heart in certain areas. And I want out of it! I could see how I have let so much slip. I used to live by faith so much more, but somewhere along the line I began to trust in man, in natural things, it was easier to look for natural easily available solutions than to look to God to meet my needs and to look to God first in prayer before turning to something or someone else. To actually believe that He would take care of the problem for me.

I’ve always liked the fact that the Bible tells us that if we would “judge ourselves” we would not be judged. So even though it smarts for me to admit that I have slipped pretty far in this area of trusting God and actually doing away with worry. I want to read that again….

Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life….”

I want to walk in that. God has never said something that we could not do with His help and grace. I feel like I need to go through my life like weeding a garden and hunt down the “worry” weeds and pull them out. I am asking God to help me do this and I hope in some ways this will be a blessing to you.

It is written James 5:16 “ Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

There is so much in the word that we actually don’t “do” anymore, but I hope this is a spark. As I have been honest about my shortcomings I hope that you will pray for me, yourself and others. We are a body meant to be a part of each other for good. To reflect Christ. To be “doers of the word and not hearers only”.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. God bless you and I pray you have a great day.