Feeling Uncertain?

Hello my blogging friends. 

It's been quite awhile since you have heard from me. I can assure you I am fine and now that my small business has stalled, I came back to my blog, to where I once shared all my heart felt feelings so that one day I can go back and hopefully find the reason I had hope when it feels like your life is unraveling and becoming undone. Am I the only one? I hope not. 

I often wondered to myself, why did you stop writing Kat? Even looking back to gather links for my traditional Easter posts to shine the light on the real reason for the celebration, being all about the Lamb and nothing to do with a bunny or eggs. I found myself reading posts that didn't even feel like I wrote them. It's even like that when I go back and read my prayer journals. I often wonder who wrote this amazing prayer because it doesn't feel like those are really my thoughts at the time. I have to journal my prayers now because as I have gotten older (61 at this point, goodness gracious, seriously that old now... sorry I transgress again) I write my prayers in a journal because even when I try to say the words out loud my thoughts are all over the place. Can you relate? 

Plus it's a nice way to go back and see how God has always answered my prayers most often not like I wanted but according to what He wanted for my life at that time. I guess my prayer journal turned out to replace my blog posts for some time, but I really do miss just putting my thoughts into a blank white space and hope someday to come back and read them and see how I have faired since writing them. I can tell you it's intimating even more so now, because I am a whole lot slower at typing and I refuse to use AI to help me compile my thoughts in a very organized way. I love just the random stuff that comes out when I am sitting here alone in my office, a cup of coffee within reach and my thoughts running faster than I can try and capture them. 

The world is a much different place now in 2025 than where I thought it would be. I had hoped that 2024 and all the ugliness that happened that year would be behind me and that 2025 would be a much better place, but if I am being honest it's not. I feel like the world right now has hit a freeze button and nothing is moving forward or even backward. Like time is suspended. My business has slowed to a complete stop and nothing is happening. It's the first time since I started in 2017 that I haven't sold one wreath, and I know it's not just me. I see everyone is in the same boat. Shall I make room for one more, my dear friend? 

I see more businesses closing up shop. Well known ones too. I mean I used to think that when I wanted to make a major purchase that I would choose well known and reputable business because who wants to buy from a unknown place because of the possibility they may not be around in a year. Why waste your good hard earned money. Yet it's those very businesses that are going out of business. Places like Sears, Best Buy, Big Lots, Kohls, JoAnn's Fabrics, Party City and so many more. I used to think they just weren't keeping up with the times and offering more online options to make purchases since Amazon came around. 

Yet for the first time, I am feeling what they felt. Is this the end? How can my business pivot to stay ahead of what is happening at this time in the world. So I do what we all do, ( a line for the Chosen just popped into my head as I was going through this post and proofreading it, " What do we do when we are afraid? We say the words of Adonai." Thanks Dallas Jenkins for that one. Back to my train of thought before it leaves the station. I try not to panic and jump on the fear train, like I have watched so many people do. Even three of my business associates I have deals with have all closed up shop. They are bowing out and giving up. So I stay the course at least for now, vowing not to give up and pray. Pray a lot. Pray more than I ever have before. In fact I have prayed since day one of 2025. But has it helped?

Some days yes, and to be honest some days no. I feel like God is just busy. He obviously has more important things to do than to be bothered by my request for help. I feel like Gideon just wanting a sign to know should I hang in there or bail out now. Will you give me a sign Lord?  Yet this is where faith and hope come into play. I have been here before. even worse than now, and God came shining through. I call it my Red Sea moment. A pivotal time where I need to stand strong and hold on. I know I will make it through because God has promised to never leave me or forsake me. It doesn't mean I won't have to endure the storms that are here right now, but it does mean that I need to change what I focus on. 

Will it be the ever increasing wind and waves that are threatening to tear my boat apart or will I keep my focus on Him, who has promised that He will bring me through to the other side? Did I forget He said that to me?

Will I show up with my 5 loaves and 2 fish and trust that He can multiply what I bring to Him in faith believing He can feed the 5000 and still have 12 baskets of left overs? 

Do I have enough for today? 

I need to remember at this stage of my life and all that I have been through and witnessed, that He has always blessed me more than I ever dreamed and that it is never supposed to be about me, but it's about Him. 

It's not my way, it's His way. 

He doesn't need my help, but He does invite me in to participate with Him. 

So I thank you blogging friends for listening to me. If you find yourself struggling in the storms that are threatening to drown you, change what you are focusing on. Keep your eyes on Him and He will bring you through anything that you are going through in your life. Trust Him in all things, not just some things. God is still writing your story and He always finishes what He starts. Hold on! 

Keeping My Faith in Tact!

Why God? It is what is circling through my mind right now. The spiritual battle today has been relentless but it shouldn't surprise me at all. In fact, far too many times I go about my day forgetting it's a battlefield and not a playground. Yet I find myself caught off guard when it seems like you're at the beach dodging one wave only to get pummeled by another one. 

So as a believer in Christ it is logical to question what's up? Is there any guidance to be gleaned? My first thought is prayer first, and then wait and listen to see what God has to say. 

I got a phone call today in the midst of a hard day already. Trying to deal with so many family issues that are all raging out of control today and all happening one after the other. Today, I am trying to remain in control of the one thing I can and that's my faith. 

It's my go to when things like today happen. My dad, almost 81 years old was scheduled for hernia surgery today and we prayed together last night that no matter what happened it would be a win-win situation as a believer. He would either have a successful surgery or he would go immediately into heaven and be 100% restored again and living a wonderful life til we get together again. 

Only neither of those were the outcome. During the midst of his surgery, his heart began to act up and both the doctor and his anesthesiologist decided to stop before risking his life. Not even sure how far or even if they started his surgery. All I know is he is in recovery and they are waiting for him to wake up. Was God getting ready to take him home? Not sure, but at least He decided my dad's time here on earth wasn't done yet. He still has a plan and a purpose for this right now. He was needed here. 

I am praying that God will give him some sort of peace in the midst of this. He had been looking forward to hanging out with his military honor guard friends again that he volunteers with and with the onset of this hernia, he hasn't been able to participate due to the pain. Will God heal him in spite of a failed surgery? 

These are the questions rolling through my mind as I sit here once again taking up blogging to give myself some sort of outlet for all the things. I wait to hear from him and see what he has to say when he wakes up. I pray that he won't lose his faith. He may question it all after this, but I pray God will be there with him and give him a sense of purpose again. I am thankful he is still here. 

Is there another answer for what has happened to his heart during his surgery? We have to wait for more answers when he meets with his doctor. What I am grateful for at this time, is I can feel God's presence with me. I feel a strength that isn't my own. I feel Him holding me. 

So now I wait for more answers, both from God and from my Dad. But the one thing I won't give up on is my faith. I may not know the Why, but I do know God and I am trying to stay in His presence. That is here I can find peace and strength. 

How do you handle those tough days? 

Despite What is Happening in the World, You Can Still Have Hope

 

As we continue through the Book of Revelation, it is really important not to rush through it and realize how it is speaking to us in our own personal relationship with Jesus if we have one today. It should be an ongoing personal checklist to how we're doing in our relationship with Jesus. If you don't have a personal relationship with Him, than how can you say you're a Christian. It's just religion if you are simply going through the motions. The questions we need to be asking ourselves today is:

Is this real in my life?
Am I really a Christian?
How are you doing in this world?
Are you relying on the blood of Jesus Christ and His faithfulness day by day?
Have you placed your entire existence upon the altar of God?
How is your faith?
How is your hope?
How is your love?

Never underestimate man's own ability to justify his own sin. Remember that appearances are everything to the Christian life and how others perceive us. Just because you're living together to save money for your wedding and you aren't sleeping with one another, people who don't know you, believe that you are. How can you justify that as a Christian?

Will you fight temptations so that you can stay strong today?

2 Corinthians 9:8 ~ "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

Ephesians 3:20 ~ "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us."

Lamentations 3:32-33 ~ "Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men."

God's not setting out to ruin your day today. 

Hebrews 6:19 ~ "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain."

Have you put all your hope and trust in God? Some might be putting all your trust in money. Realize that it can never buy you great health.

Psalm 42:5 ~ "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. "

You are not hopeless. Your hope is in God, no matter what happens to you. It is the only thing that will get you through to the end. People who are dying want and will cling to the Word of God. Maybe what you're losing or have possessed, isn't what is important for you right now.

Psalm 146:5-6 ~ "Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them - the LORD who remains faithful forever."

Got problems? Give them to the LORD.

1 Peter 1:3-4 ~ "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you."

Our hope is alive, because Jesus rose from the dead! That is the deep assurance and hope of a Christian despite circumstances.

Romans 15:13 ~ "May the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Titus 2:13-14 ~ "while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good."

To look for, means to anticipate something. It may look to some like they are fretting or worrying sometimes, like sprinters before a race walking around the track aren't worrying about the race, but anticipating the sound of the gun and finishing the race.

Let each moment we have count, regardless of what is going on around you. Jesus paid for the cost of our sins, past, present and future sins through His death on the cross. That is how He redeems us from all wickedness and purifies us for Himself when we put our faith and trust in Him.

God knows how special you are. He is so in love with you and will be with you always. He will never leave you. He loves us because He is love. It has nothing to do with what we can do for Him. That is not love. God's love for us is unconditional. Eager to do what is good is easy to do when you are a Christian, because we can't wait to do something to give God all the glory, honor and praise. That is what being a Christian is all about.

We will pick up our study into the Book of Revelation 13 tomorrow but through today, consider just how much you are loved by God and how wonderful you are to Him. Be blessed through the love and hope that can be found only in Jesus Christ.

Why Do You Blame God When Bad Things Happen To You?

Why do bad things happen to good people? According to God, there are no good people. That might offend someone reading this, but remember the Bible says that there are NONE righteous. Not one. So it begs to ask the question, why does any good stuff happen to any one of us? The wrath that is coming to the world, is for a world that has rejected God. That would be like standing outside in the rain and asking God, why are You allowing it to rain on me? It's your choice, put your umbrella up, go someplace it's not raining. Don't blame God. When things happen in our lives, it might beg to ask the question, have we walked out from under God's umbrella in our own lives? Is that why certain things are happening to us? What is coming to the world will be the result of unbelief. There is no one in hell right now blaming others to why they are there. They are there because they chose to be. Maybe they made the wrong decisions in life, they wind up in hell however, by their own choice. To accept God or reject Him.The things that are coming are what happens to man who has left the protection of God. He has no one else to blame but himself. If you cast aside your umbrella in the midst of a storm, you are the one responsible for getting wet.

You don't go out and live your life without God. He is the one who made you. He loves you. He has a plan for your life. He has a plan and path for you in mind to walk on. Why live your life on your own? It will never wind up good for you. You will come to a point, of living a life of unbelief and it hurts, and eventually it kills.

Revelation 13:14 ~ "and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived," promises that the Antichrist will deceive those who dwell upon the earth. The earth dwellers will make an image of the beast to worship. We will study that more in depth when we get to Revelation 13. 

Revelation 14:6 ~ "Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people."

Revelation 17:8 ~ "The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come."

You can escape this stamp or title of earth dwellers, by the way, by coming to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. How can you escape God's judgment? Run to Him with all your sins in hand. What have I done to deserve God's judgment? Only one thing, you have refused to receive God's free gift.

When the judgment of God comes, the prayers of God's saints will be heard, and the Lord will represent His people.

Revelation 8:3 ~ "And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was give much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne."

1 Timothy 2:3-6 ~ "This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time."

When the judgment of God comes, the prayers of the saints will be heard, and the Lord shall be both Priest and Judge.

Revelation 8:4-6 ~  "and the smoke of the incense together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake. Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them."

Exodus 30:6-10 ~ "And you shall put it in front of the veil that is above the ark of the testimony, in front of the mercy seat that is above the testimony, where I will meet with you. And Aaaron shall burn fragrant incense on it. Every morning when he dresses the lamps he shall burn it, and when Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he shall burn it, a regular incense offering before the LORD throughout your generations. You shall not offer unauthorized incense on it, or a burnt offering, or a grain offering, and you shall not pour a drink offering on it. Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonement he shall make atonement for it once in the year throughout your generations. It is most holy to the LORD." 

When the judgment of God comes, punishment must fall upon this world. This is the section of gross devastation. From here on out, it gets pretty intense. The first four trumpet judgments are all concerning nature. The created elements of nature, be it humans, things in the sea or the stars above. They are of a physical nature. The last three judgments of the trumpets are of a spiritual nature. In the first four judgments to come upon the earth, the environment will suffer.

Revelation 8:7-13 ~ " The first angel sounded his trumpets, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up. The second angel sounded his trumpet and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the living creatures of the sea died, and a third of all the ships were destroyed. The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water - the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter. The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night. As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: "Woe! Woe! Woe! to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!"

 Jesus laid all of this out in chronological order 2000 years ago about the last days, when he taught in Matthew 24:7 ~ "Nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places."

Can you imagine what is coming with the first trumpet blast on an ecological scale that " hail and fire mixed with blood, will be hurled down upon the earth" This means that hail and fire will strike down and kill those on the earth at that time. Hail will hit people so hard that it will break their bodies open. Blood will be mingled with it. Hail and fire? How can that be? Did you know that it is a meteorological fact that hail and fire have been found together throughout human history? Did you know that when Mount St. Helen's erupted that what followed was hail falling to the ground and lightning striking the earth at the same time? Did you know that when the gases were belched out of Mount St. Helen's, by the way it formed its own weather system, it formed such a violent reaction in the plumes above, that it rained hail and the gases caught fire by the virtue of the lightning. This is documented not only in Mount St. Helens but all major volcanic eruptions.

Jesus said that there will be famines as a result of this. Just look at the devastation that Mount St. Helen's caused. The dust cloud circled the earth 6 times before the dust began to settle. It changed the flight patterns of air craft. It changed weather patterns all around the globe.

Exodus 9:23-26 ~ "When Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning flashed down to the ground. So the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt; hail fell and lightning flashed back and forth. It was the worst storm in all the land of Egypt since it had become a nation.  Throughout Egypt hail struck everything in the fields - both men and animals; it beat down everything growing in the fields and stripped every tree. The only place it did not hail was the land of Goshen, where the Israelites were." 

So when it says that hail and fire mixed with blood, what it means is hail coming down to the earth, and gaseous explosions in the atmosphere and and when it struck the earth it killed people.

Joel 1:19-2:1 ~ "To you, O LORD I call, for fire has devoured the open pastures and flames have burned up all the trees of the field. Even the wild animals pant for you; the streams of water have dried up and fire has devoured the open pastures. Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm"

Joel 2:30-32 ~ "I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved." 

This is volcanic eruptions that happen just before the Second Coming of the LORD, and it will devastate the earth. When Mt. Vesuvius erupted it cause devastation like the world had never known. If you read the eye witness accounts it was horror on a scale human history had never seen before. The Bay of Naples was unnavigatable due to a huge tsunami. (Zondervan Illustrated Background Commentary, Vol 4, Encyclopedia Britannica.) Do you know what triggers warning systems for tsunamis? There is an earthquake and the sea begins to drop and it sets off the alarm. It means you'd better head for the high ground. Why? Because when the sea drops, it comes back in a giant wave We have seen such things like this happen in history. We need to keep those things in mind.

When the judgment of God comes, punishment must fall upon this world, because of man's unbelief, the seas will suffer.

Revelation 8:8-9 ~ "The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned to blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed."

Remember when we see terms like " something like a huge mountain," means it wasn't a huge mountain. This means that something is going to impact the seas that 1/3 of those sailing on the waters and 1/3 of those living in the sea will be destroyed.

Hosea 4:3 ~ "Because of this the land mourns, and all who live in it waste away; the beast of the field and the birds of the air and the fish of the sea are dying."

Zephaniah 1:3 ~ "I will sweep away both men and animals; I will sweep away the birds of the air and the fish of the sea."

A polluted sea will kill 1/3 of the seas life, and 1/3 of the ocean going ships will be sunk (10,000 +). Punishment must fall upon this world because of man's unbelief, the heavens will shake.

Revelation 8:10-13 ~ "The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water - the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter. The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night. As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice" "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blast about to be sounded by the other three angels."

The Bible gives three words for the word heaven. Heavens where God lives in the spiritual realm.(2) where the stars and galaxies dwell, and (3) the atmosphere from sea level to about 126,000 feet. This means this will be impact the space heavens, like meteors or asteroids. It says a great star, blazing like a torch ( once again this is symbolism, it doesn't mean it was a torch). Think of the ecological impacts if the sun does not shine properly? Can you imagine what it will look like when a 1/3 of the stars cascade from the sky and fall to the earth? How will that happen? I don't know. The days will be radically shortened. Jesus says when people see this, their hearts will fail them, they will have heart attacks and die out of fear.

When you look the word "Wormwood" up it takes you to a study on pharmacology and leads you to a very fatal and toxic herb, a hallucinogenic, that used to be used primarily by the Europeans and most recently by now of the French, that was added to liqueur  to give you a tremendous buzz, rush or high, but it could also lead to a heart attack. But before it does that, it leads to great hallucinations. Do you remember when Jesus was on the cross, they offered Him vinegar mixed with gall?  It was a pain killer. When we look at the word "Wormwood" we have the pharmacology word, "thujone,"and it's fatal. It causes whatever it comes into contact with to turn extremely bitter, and it kills you. They actually did a study of what would happen if a meteor or comet struck the earth like what we see here, and evidence shows it would turn the waters of the earth to come forth and be bitter.  (NASA Indirectly Confirms Wormwood Prophecy).

On March 21, 1823, there was a volcanic eruption in the Aleutian21, 1823 Island and when the volcanic dust settled it poisoned the waters the dust came into contact with and it killed both animals and people.

When we look at the final verse in Revelation 8:13 ~ "As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice" "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blast about to be sounded by the other three angels."

In some Bibles we have the world eagle and in other translations it is the word angel, It means the same thing. You don't ever want to hear Jesus or an angel say, "Woe!" It means condemnation, grief, or danger! The word "Woe" in Greek, means damnation upon you. Jesus, meek and mild, says this word as well in Matthew 23:13 ~ "Woe to you, teachers of law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!"

He's saying, "Condemnation be upon you, religious people who know so much and don't practice it."

Matthew 11:21 ~ "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!" 

The city of Korazin has been annihilated from the earth. No one lives there. Jesus was warning these towns because they refused to believe when He came there. The towns of Korazin and Bethsaida are ghost towns, no one visits or stay there in Israel tours. 2000 years on the beautiful shores of the Galilee Sea.

Matthew 11:23 ~ "Woe to you Capernaum," 

What is left in the city of Capernaum is Peter's home and an old synagogue. Jesus warns this cities that of the miracle done there they should have believed but they didn't.

Luke 11:52 ~ " Woe unto you, lawyers," 

Matthew 23:16 ~ "Woe unto you, ye blind guides,"

These were people who wanted to lead others to spiritual enlightenment. Jesus proclaims damnation upon them.

Matthew 26:24 ~ "Woe unto that man who betrays the son of God" 

This is pretty serious stuff and you don't have to have anything to do with Revelation 8. It's your choice. No one knows how far away this time is, but the Bible says when the gospel is preached, you need to respond today.

Today is that day.

You know that Jesus died for your sins and He rose from the grave. Isn't it great to open your Bible and stand in the place of an empty tomb? To go to a place today that is carved like a skull, Golgotha or Calvary? What keeps you from trusting Jesus? You want more evidence? There is too much evidence! Evidence has nothing to do with it. It has nothing to do with your intellect either. If you'll use your brain, you'll become a Christian.

It has to do with a spiritual issue. Are you willing today to yield to King Jesus and to receive Him? That is my prayer to those of you reading this, that you never hear the words, "Woe unto you." For you heard the Word of God in the 21st century, and you saw the evidence, for some, you even stood in the place, but you would not believe. You rejected, neglected and denied, Woe unto you! That will only be your choice. May it not be your choice today.

Jesus isn't going around saying, "Eeny, meany, miney, Woe!" to people. Notice who He says, Woe" to. The Pharisees, the scribes, the lawyers," they had formed doctrinal beliefs that we not of God. They were not Biblical. In John 3, we read that God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it but to save it. The Bible says that we are all under condemnation because of our sins but that Christ has come to deliver us. All of us without Jesus are living under the sentence of condemnation, the woe! But you can have it lifted. the charges dropped, because someone has met the demands of God. All you have to do is believe and to put your trust in Him!

Can You Lose Your Salvation?

We all handle trouble differently when we encounter it, we either run to God or run from God. Here in the Book of Revelation, we see quite a bit is happening from angelic ministries and how they are involved and what their duties are, to the trouble that is about to befall those left on the earth. What do you do when you find yourself in trouble? From that pink slip your boss hands you, to that call from your doctor. Where do you run?

Now more than ever I believe we are seeing more and more troubling things in this world from global economies in trouble to trouble with meteorological conditions in America. We have racism in trouble, violence in trouble, doctrine in trouble, marriages in trouble, and even government in trouble. I believe this is unprecedented for the first time in the history of the world. Why? I believe it is so we can call out to God in the midst of our troubles, but if we, as believers, don't call out to Him, repent from what we've been doing, and seek revival, then the troubles will only continue and get much worse. I believe these are all warning signs from God. If you doubt what I am saying that's fine, but I would encourage you to read Joel 1 to see how God allows things to happen to get our attention. He allows things to happen so that we might call out to Him.

As you might remember when we picked up our study last week about Chapter 7 in the Book of Revelation that this breaks up the chronological events for us to gather a bit of very important information derived directly from God before we can move on. Kinda of like pressing the pause button in the middle of the movie to give you some background information that helps you understand what will be happening before we move forward through the rest of the Book. We know that the information we read in Revelation is all about the future insights into what is coming to the world. John sees the Revelation of End Times.

When we left off on Friday, we learned that God has ordained four angels to hold back the very elements of earth and has assigned them that very duty for this time.

Revelation 7:1-3 ~ "After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. Then I saw another angels coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea. "Do not hard the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." 

We learned that salvation is being prepared to be delivered to the world at this terrible and dark time. We saw that there is an angelic ministry relating to the powers of nature. These angels have the power to hold back the things we take for granted. Do you know when the weather is about to change, the wind will always blow first? It's making an announcement that a change is coming in the weather if you have ever studied up on weather events. Imagine God will command the angels to hold back the winds. There will be horrific fall out because of that.

We then learned that an angel has been given the duty to place a seal upon 144,000 Jewish Hebrew-speaking virgin men from each of the 12 tribes of Israel and this has to happen before the wrath of God continues. No one knows what the "seal of the living God" means but we have speculated on what it might be. Whenever you look up the word "seal or sealing" in the Bible it is a very strong word of authority. When anything of value was purchased or owned it was sealed by its owner. It has hot wax poured over it, like a knot and then embossed with a signet ring from the owner until the time of redemption. That means it was sealed until such time as the owner came and took it. Kinda like a layaway program. They put your stuff away with a small deposit and no one can purchase it because it has your name on it. When you pay it off, it's yours to take.

Esther 8:8 ~ "And a decree shall be written concerning the Jews, (1) as it pleases you, (2) in the king's name and (3) seal it with the king's signet ring; benefit = for whatever is written in the king's name sealed with the king's signet ring shall no one revoke." 

This means that anything that has been sealed has been accepted, approved and marked on the authority of.

2 Corinthians 1:20-22 ~ "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."

For those of you that struggle in your salvation, questioning whether you have it one day and then cover yourselves with yet another altar call just to make sure, never quite knowing if you are truly saved or not, trust in the assurance of this verse that you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit the moment you said "Yes" to Jesus and asked for forgiveness of your sins, and Jesus came into your life, how did God do that? How does God the Father implement the salvation of His Son worked out upon the cross, in the life of a believer today? God the Father sends forth the Holy Spirit in the name of God and according to the Bible, you are baptized into the body of Christ. The Greek implies strongly that it is a once and for all thing. You are either saved today or you're not.

You're either going to heaven or you're not. You either have the Holy Spirit in you or you don't. If you don't by the way, that can all change by the hearing of the Word of God. It is very important to be sealed by the Holy Spirit. It means to be stamped approved, accepted and under the authority of God.

Ephesians 1:13-14 ~ "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession - to the praise of his glory." 

I don't know about you, but I am going to heaven and it has nothing to do with what I have done. It has nothing to do with what I have said or didn't say. It has nothing to do with what I have given or haven't given. It has to do with the fact that I recognize that Jesus died on the cross for me, and that at that moment according the Bible, the Holy Spirit sealed me. The moment we come to faith, we are sealed! The moment any of us does it, the Bible says that angels rejoice in heaven over that! There is no where in Scripture does it say at any time you will be unsealed. The angels wouldn't rejoice if we kept getting our seal broken. That should be a comforting thing. If you have been saved, given your life to Jesus, been born again, the Bible strongly suggest that you will never been unborn again.

You may believe in Jesus just like you believe in George Washington, but you may not be trusting Jesus just like you don't trust George Washington in history. You believe in Jesus, you are religious, but you might not be going to heaven because of that. Have you come from that place of knowing all about Christ, and all the personal history of Christ, but have you come to personal know Christ by relationship? It's a big difference! To believe in Christ and then to come to trust in Christ! The Bible warns us that Satan and his demons believe in Jesus, and they tremble when they think of Him, but they are not saved are they? Have you put your faith in Christ?

Ephesians 4:29-30 ~ "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."

The Holy Spirit seals us and with that sealing that He does, there will be no break in it. You've been accepted by Jesus, regardless of how you feel. How many of us, really feel worthy of what Jesus has done for us? He loves us. He died for us all personally. You are THE one! It's not the righteous or self righteous. Do you think anything you have done is more powerful than Christ? He died for all of our sins not just some of them.

God adores us. He has numbered the very hairs on our head. He tells us these things so we know what is coming. Remember as a Christian, our vantage point is from heaven. We will not be a part of this time that is coming. If you are not a Christian now, it's not too late for you! You can be a Christian today, because Jesus wants a personal relationship with Him. He is waiting for you to come to Him.

Where Do You Put Your Faith?

Do you ever stop and consider how truly wealthy you are? Not based on the world's standards of defining wealth, but in God's eyes. You are rich in the things that matter in God's eyes, not in earthly standards or earthly achievements, Jesus reminds us not to lay up for ourselves treasures in this world, which can corrupt or rot, but we are to store up our treasures in heaven instead where nothing can threaten your investment. In order for God to really use us, we need to get our eyes off the fact, that this is money, and view it instead as tools. Some times we will have more tools or less, but they are all used to bring about glory and honor to God, and not we have more money than we know what to do with, we will have grown spiritually. We need to remember not to do that.

"What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul." ~ Matthew 16:26

Poverty means that they once had something, but then lost it all. This doesn't mean that they live from check to check, but this is not the kind of poverty that Jesus was talking about. This was a church that was so poor because they were mocked based on their faith in Jesus, they were considered losers, because they refused to worship Caesar, and they weren't receiving any monetary compensation but instead were ostracized by the people living there. They were rejected and considered outcasts while everyone else around them, had it made.

Philippians 3:8 ~ "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things."

Philippians 4:11-12 ~ "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

When Jesus told them they were rich, He was telling them that they had invested wisely in eternal things.

2 Corinthians 8:1-2 ~ "And now brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity."

When times of difficulty surround you, you will be able to rejoice. Verse 9.

Revelation 2:9 ~"I know your works while being blasphemed..."

Blasphemia means to vilify, to speak against, to go about slandering another person. To speak evil of another person.

God has a particular hatred for this type of sin, and He judges both the believer and non believer alike.

Matthew 5:10-12 ~ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Have you ever taken a stand for Jesus when it is biblical? How does that work out for you? 

Revelation 2:9 ~ I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan."

Remember the church of Ephesus, there was a warning to them about false apostles. Revelation 2:2 ~ "I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false."

These false apostles came in apostolic succession, that the apostles that Jesus founded, continued on in succession of church hierarchy to this day. "Those who say they are Jews."  These were a powerful group of Jews that came to Smyrna, while they claimed to be Christians. They believed themselves to be a special priesthood that was continuous (imposters). This was a false priestly system that tried to marry an elaborate legalism of Judaism to the simple grace of Christianity.

Revelation 2:6 ~ "But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate."

It means hierarchy, lordship, authoritative rule, a church serving the ministry, rather than the minister serving the church. Jesus said, "I hate that." This impostership has survived, in the merger of apostolic succession and a continuing priesthood. The Mormon church claims this apostolic priesthood. The Roman Catholic church claims this apostolic priesthood. A system of holy ordinances, performances, elaborate requirements, legalistic rights, and church dependence. It's all known as Romanism.

What kind of church are you, when eternity is an ever present reality in your life. Does that sound like you spiritually?

Revelation 2:10-11 ~ "Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let  him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death." 

When eternity is an ever present reality, you'll see Jesus Christ as your shepherd.

Revelation 2:10 ~ "Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer." 

Jesus tells us not to worry. If we go back to verse 9, we can see Jesus is saying, "I know...I have experienced it too!" That is supposed to translate to great peace in our life. We all want it to simply go away. Do you realize that 2 million people have died in the Sudan? Where is the U.N. on that issue? Where is the United States? Where is Europe? The Sudanese Christians are dying at a rate that is unbelievable. 2 million in 10 years, they are the persecuted church today. Churches are being burned with people in them. Locked in churches while bulldozers run over them. They hold onto their faith when that happens. This is real to them. Is Jesus your shepherd today?

Hebrews 4:15-16 ~ "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. "

Jesus feels and has felt everything you and I feel.

When eternity is an every present reality, you'll see Satan the devil as a tool in the hand of God.

Revelation 2:10 ~ " I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days."

He is a defeated enemy. God's got Satan right now under control. God uses everything he is doing, to bring about His will on the earth. No one knows what the precise meaning of the words "ten days." Jesus uses it specifically, because He is in reality. Some will suffer ten days. One day is like a thousand years to Jesus. When you keep your eyes on Jesus, time won't matter. It will pass. Jesus is basically saying, "I'm on it. That you might be tested, I'm on it." Remember Peter's sifting? You know that when you are enduring anything related to trials, time just seems to drag on by, but Jesus says, "I'm on it.!"

When eternity is an ever present reality, you'll see heaven, eternity as your next home.

Revelation 2:11 ~ " Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life."

First He wanted to close leaving them with a key thought, "I will give you the crown of life." Remember the citizens of Smyrna considered their city to be the crown of life. Jesus was reminding them they didn't belong here any longer. They had a new citizenship that could never be conquered. A crown that would be everlasting. Jesus mocks them, He says, "I will give you the crown of life." There is nothing God can't do!

The emperor isn't it. The city isn't it. The system wasn't it.

Let's look at the things that God promises to those that trust in Him.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ~ "Therefore do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

The Roman crown of victory was everyone to the Roman, but not to the Christian. What can I say to you, who are suffering? What can I say to you, who are about to suffer? I have one word. Bible. If the people who attend any church, gathered together to help you through your suffering, do you realize they couldn't do enough? To understand that if you had all the money in the world, that that money could not buy your health.

It is the Bible. It is His Word.

It was good enough for the church of Symrna. It was good enough for the apostle Paul. It was good enough for Mary. It was good enough for Jeremiah. It was good enough for Noah. It was good enough for John the Baptist. It was good enough for George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. It was good enough for the succession of Christians throughout the ages.

When suffering reaches the maximum, it is then, at those moments when the deepest of Christ's nature is translated into the life of His follower, until we are standing before Him in perfect peace.

Revelation 2:11 ~ "Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let  him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death." 

The second death is the worst of all. A Christ-less hell forever.

Without God. His blessings, His goodness, His mercies.

Among the apostle Paul's last recorded words are 2 Timothy 4:8 ~ "Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

Don't be afraid. To get you through your altar of difficulty and it leads you to death, He has engineered this moment of trial. He will be with you through it all, He will hold your hand, He will not leave your or forsake you. Remember He has died and came back to life, and if you believe in me, so shall you! Ever human being will die at least one time, unless the rapture happens. You are going to die! It's going to happen. Taxes and death! We will eventually die. If you are a Christian, you will only die once, in this world and live forever more with God in heaven. When He speaks of spiritual death, that is coming to those who don't believe in Jesus. When they are escorted upon their death straight to hell. To be born once, you die twice. If you are born twice, you die once.

Are you born again? Have you been born a second time? That is the greatest question right now! Jesus will be with you if you put your faith in Him.

Let's pray before we leave today.

Father, today Lord as we are here, I ask you Lord God to move across this body right now, and Father that You would minister to us, your comfort, your strength, your truth to all of us that are your children. And the beautiful thing is Lord, that You will do that, no matter where we find ourselves today. But Father, today for those who do not know you as Lord and Savior, I ask you Father that You would come upon them right now, and Lord only You can do this, that You would so speak to them, that they Lord God, would know these verses, these words and considerations are true from Your throne, and that You can be known personally. 

Would you consider Jesus Christ? He died on the cross to forgive you of your sins, but the problem is that you are still holding your sins, you're in trouble by the way for them, but Jesus is saying, "Give me your sin. I died for those sins on the cross." You have to give those sins to Him. You have to tell Him, "Lord, I give you my sinful life, and then Lord, I want You to be with me in this life, to save me, to watch over me, to keep me."

If this is your decision today, and you agree with this prayer, you want to know if you died today, you want to go to heaven, you don't need to worry about it anymore. You've heard about Jesus, you might even have a cross around your neck, but you have no assurance if you died today, you'd go to heaven. That can change right now. I'm going to lead you in a prayer right now, and if you mean it, God will hear you. In a moment you will leave this religious experience and enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, which is far better. Right now, the Lord has engineered this day for you, repeat this as you read it as you mean it,

Dear Lord Jesus, 

Forgive me of my sins, write my name in Your book of Life. I give You my life, I ask You to save me now, and give me Your Holy Spirit, that I might live for You, thank You for dying for me on the cross, in Jesus Name I pray, AMEN!!!

You are now a wonderful believer in Jesus Christ right now, and if you died today, you would be with Jesus in Heaven today! You have that blessed assurance that when this life ends, your eternal life begins.

God loves you so much that all that stuff that has happened in your life, He has brought about for this moment, to bring you to Him, through making your way here today. From this moment on, now, decide to follow Jesus.

Faith Like A Mustard Seed

Do you ever wonder about when Jesus speaks to his disciples and tells them that if they have the faith as small as a mustard seed, they can speak to a mountain and make it move?

I believe that I understand that clearly. There are always going to be tough times in our lives, especially as believers. We are the target of the spiritual enemy in this world, so we are his biggest threat. So when life tosses you the ultimate curve ball that is positioned to upset the apple cart you just thought was finally starting to look up for you, you question, "Why?"

It is so hard to maintain control of anything in our life. From our finances, our relationships, our health, even our jobs or family. We have bought into the illusion that we hold any control over it at all. So when things take a turn for the worse, we fall into panic mode trying to figure out how to solve it.

This is where that faith in the form of a mustard seed comes into play. All God is saying is that He will take whatever you have, a lot or just the smallest, tiniest bit. God loves to work on the smallest portions, because that is where the biggest rewards can come from. When we commit those walks in the deepest valley to God, that is where He shines through, because we know that when things change, it won't be based on anything we did or could do. It's all Him at that point. There are countless times in the Bible, God has asked his followers to reduce help down to the insurmountable odds. It's because He didn't want them to claim victory in that battle, but knowing it was all Him.

He loves to work in impossible situations, with the very least likely of odds turning out for the best. It's where He shines the brightest. Think of the most ultimate of all situations. Jesus on the cross, dead and all hope for His followers lost. They didn't remember what He told them of His death, until after He rose from the grave, 3 days later. If God can take THAT situation and make something out of the most impossible of all days, He can certainly work with whatever you can give Him.

I simply ask that you are willing to put that faith to the test. I've said it before that if you have a faith that hasn't been tested, then that is a faith that shouldn't be trusted.

Knowing my oldest daughter is going through a very deep dark valley right now, I told her to hold fast to whatever faith she had, no matter if her prayers feel pointless. God will be able to use that to His glory, and no matter the outcomes, He is still God of all in her life.

In fact my morning devotional today spoke to the moment in the Bible where Elijah was tasked with taking on the prophets of Baal. He challenged them to a display of their gods power to His God's power. Elijah was seriously outnumbered and he even went as far to build a trench around his altar and fill his pile of wood with enough water to thoroughly soak his pile and fill the trenches around his altar before praying to God. He wanted everyone to know that faith he had in God to do the impossible. To call down fire to consume the wood on the altars. Let's just say if you haven't read about it, God came through in a big way. Just like He always does.

Here is a quote, I sent her today from my morning devotional which is sometimes how God can use words to encourage us. "God does not despair over difficult situations. He delights in them because difficult situations are an opportunity for God to provide and prove His supernatural powers. That is why when we face difficult situations, we don't run away from them; we face them with prayer. The prelude to powerful praying is an impossible situation." Oh trust me, we want to run and hide from some situations. Often telling God, when you've fixed it let me know, and I'll come out.

While we may not be able to control anything about what we are going through, we do know that God can. Remember those times in your valleys, where you face impossible odds, because while they are not always possible with our efforts, God can use that tiniest bit of faith and open the seas before you. Just trust in Him. 

Matthew 17:20 "I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it WILL move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Born to Teach

The title sums it up.

I believe God has graced me with the ability to teach. From tackling homeschooling both my daughters, the youngest from 1st grade through 11th, yes she graduated a year early, to my job for 10 years as a Corporate Trainer and Senior Training Specialist to now heading up my own home based business, including managing and supporting a group of incredibly talented ladies in my wreath making private group.

I love not only just teaching a new skill to women, but to encourage and nourish their souls with the right dose of encouragement. I love doing that because I believe as women, we get beat up a lot, put our own needs on the back burner for awhile and also we serve so much, we often don't hear words of encouragement that would refill our emotional bank accounts. We are so busy all the time, that we fail to see what greatness we bring to our families, our jobs and even in our own life.

Isn't that the truth about our lives ladies?

Don't we just grow in the sunshine with just the smallest dose of praise?

I know I do.

There are those times when you just feel like a dying plant waiting for a drop of moisture so you can grow and thrive again. I know how much I adore that feeling of getting kudos for a job well done. Just the smallest dose goes such a long way and can pick you up when you're feeling blue and melancholy. I believe that not just women need it too, but also the men in our lives. The ones who work so hard at keeping us financially afloat could use that same praise for anything they do. They get beat up all day by people not appreciating them for what they do, because it is expected, yet I find that often times, praise and appreciation go further than a bigger paycheck. I know there are jobs that I look back on and I LOVED doing them because most days I got instant appreciation. From a floundering student who suddenly excels at something they've been struggling with, to a new employee who believes they're not cut out for the job, only to shine with just the smallest dose of encouragement and some time helping them where they're frustrated, to women who believe they're not cut out to do anything now that they believe their lives are growing to a close.

I believe if you're still breathing, God has you here today for a plan and a purpose and He doesn't make mistakes, In fact, throughout the Bible, God has used countless, "nobodies" to become major somebodies when He is finished. I mean if the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth thinks you're something special, shouldn't that be good enough? Yet it sure does something to us when we hear it! My challenge for you today is to find 3 people and encourage them, compliment them or find a way to show them, they're special. The interesting thing is that it does something for you as well by taking that time and making it something sincere.

Hope that you'll share how it went with me below with a comment. 

Oh yes, the wreath pictured at the top of this page is for sale. You can find out more about it on my Etsy store Etsy.com/shop/KatsCreations777 or messaging me at KatsCreations777@gmail.com

If You Are Faithful...

There is a verse in the Bible that has been part of what I'm working on in my own personal walk of faith lately. It is from the Book of Matthew 25:21, and it says, "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much." 

This has been the precedent over my entire business and personal life, when I can remember it. When I first started out in launching my business, I knew I wanted it to be centered on my faith. Sure there are those that take a beating when they mention their faith, but I wanted my to not be hidden, to shine like a light on a hill, not something covered up so I could possibly profit even more. I was determined that God would be the focus on what I am doing, and if anyone could make it succeed, the Creator of Heavens and the Earth would be a great foundation to build upon. 

I'm not saying it doesn't take a whole lot of work, but I find if I take time for God first, He will take care of the rest. So each day, I start with God first, and try to end it with Him as well. I want my faith to be front and center and it has always been a dream of mine to have a faith based business, and to be able to use my talents to encourage and help others to achieve their own level of success by building on the same character traits I hope to drive home. 

It has been a true blessing to help women to take a role in their own successes, to help encourage them in their efforts and most of all to step aside when it is their moment to shine. I believe that is what God has called me to do and for now, the business side of things is all up to Him. I simply use my creative talents to show others what is possible and along the way offer up prayer to those who need it. Without God at the center of this, I don't want any part of it. I can simply go back to quietly reading books and reviewing them as well as products. Until that happens, I will continue to walk in faith and give all the glory and honor to my Father in Heaven. I just need to continue to faithful in everything I do and keep working at it one step at a time. 

Keeping our Faith in our Business

With all the recent lawsuits regarding Christians in the business world, it makes you wonder if keeping your faith out of your business is something you should do. I kinda of frown on that because it then becomes a reflection of who I am in the business world. I have never had to hide my character, morals and integrity when I walked into a business place to work and it will also be evident of those that buy from me, that I keep my faith in the same way. It is who I am.

I had a comment the other day about how can I keep my faith if I am selling wreaths and products that don't line up 100% with my faith. For example providing Easter decor that depicts bunnies and eggs. I think we have to consider what the Bible says and how it was implied to prevent these items from becoming things we worship or replace Jesus with. In fact, we have to remember that Jesus came to save the sinner and not hang out with the religious leaders of the day. He came to save the lost. I have had more opportunities to share my faith now, than when I simply talked about Jesus all day in my blog posts. I have had opportunities to show the reason for my faith, like Paul takes about when people ask about me, what I do and where my faith comes into my business side of things.

Remember God can use us in any capacity to achieve what He has called us to do. I've prayed over my business and committed this to God. It's up to Him to shut it down or allow it to prosper. That's all any of us can do with our days, what we do, say or write, is let God use us as vessels to bring the gospel to people right where they are. In fact, my followers will be the first to share with you how evident my faith is in every aspect of what I do. Now while the symbolism of Easter can be traced back to is Babylonian pagan origins, the point is not to use these as a substitute for what Easter really means, to replace the resurrection with the eggs or bunnies. People are not using these products in some false idol worship and that is the point I am making. While I sell both religious and non religious home decor, God is the one directing people to me and what they decide to sell.

God can use us and our situations in whatever way He wishes to and I believe that I don't have to compromise what I believe in order to do what God has called me to create. I am curious, about what you think about keeping your faith in your workplace and look forward to your comments.

A Little Help From Your Friends

The job I adored and love doing was both managing a service team in Southern California back in the days when there were only 2 cell phone service providers LA Cellular and Air Touch. I had a small group of about 8 people but I loved helping them achieve their own levels of success no matter what that was. I was fiercely protective of them like there were part of my family and even taking that a step further when I was a Corporate Training Specialist for another 5 years, I loved encouraging people to believe in themselves when they didn't.

I loved taking the time to just show them how much I cared about them both as a person and a valued employee. In fact, I keep a book of those emails and letters from those one on one encounters that show me a little about what God has challenged me to keep on doing in my life. To encourage, motivate, and cheer those people on whom God places in my path. I love watching them achieve that next level of success in their life, even if it is just managing to make it into work day after day.

Don't we all need more cheer leaders in our lives today? I'm not talking about the fake ones you tell you what you want to hear just to keep you going, but those that really take the time to listen to your struggles, to get down to where you're at, to value you for simply being in their life as well. Those are the people I'm talking about, the real legitimate ones. The ones that are leading you through life, by being at the head of the line and pulling your forward, not the ones being pulled and barking orders to move faster because they are the boss.

I LOVE working with my small business group, both in the public Facebook forum and the Private Group of about 45 people who want to take that next step with someone who will have their back. Who will motivate and believe in them. Who will take the time to ensure no one gets left behind. I am that person and I get so much joy that it motivates me more each day I can encourage someone or give them the encouragement they need to step out in faith and share what I believe God's called them to do. I believe those are the people who impact us so much, we can never forget them. I can look back and see how God's been building me up to do just that both in my employment history but also in the things I volunteer to do like reviewing books or blogging! From leading a women's group of 40 Somethings through weight loss but even more by becoming their best friend in the process. Those are the relationships I can look back on and see how wonderful God's fingerprints have been along the way.

While I may never personally meet these people, I truly care about each and every one of them. Even though my small group is more intimate and gives me greater insight into how I can help these women, to the larger group of more than 3000 followers. I thank YOU God for the life you've given me and I only hope I can bring honor and glory to YOU, to point others to YOU and to have their courage and faith to take on the world! 

We All Need to Be Rescued!

Today, lives are once again forever changed. In an instant the decisions of one, now will impact the lives of many. Once again we are reminded that our lives are never guaranteed a tomorrow. They are mere vapors in the light of eternity. Today, once again being a day of change, we have the choice in how we talk about what has happened, how we move forward in our own lives, or how we will place blame and resolve the situation in our own minds.

The end result in all of it is that lives were taken, not just the plus 50 people who were gunned down by an armed man locked away in the safety of his hotel room for the time being, or the 500 plus people who were injured, but reach beyond that number to see the impact of the ripples being generated world wide. Today once again America is attacked. The once "united" states will be pulled apart from both those inside and outside the country. We are talking about the extensions of the family members that will have to deal with the loss of a loved one, family member or friend. Perhaps it was someone they worked with or just some random stranger that they stood next to when the hail of bullets began to fly.

There are those lives who will be forever changed by that moment in time. The first responders who ran in while others ran as far away as they could. Moments captured by cell phones and tablets that make it difficult to watch but those ripples now reach us as well. This will be a day remembered and not a day we will want to remember. There are those who will be tragically impacted forever and it is time as believers to pray. It's time to pray because now more than ever, our country will be divided by those who will place blame on what could have been done to prevent this attack at the heart of a popular tourist destination, not 3 hours from my home. They will once again raise the issue of gun control, or tighter security measures or perhaps now guests will now have to pass screening measures when staying at a hotel. None of this solves anything but to divide us.

We are a nation divided more than ever before, race, culture, gender, religious beliefs, political affiliations, you name it, continue to divide. So where does the blame go? Not to the one that should take the heat for all of this. The one who has been dividing kingdoms since the beginning. It's not God, but Satan. He is the one who comes to kill, steal and destroy and lately it seems as if he is having a field day at not only causing chaos, but also getting people to turn away from God, shaking their fists at Him wondering why He couldn't stop this before it began. But you know what, God is big enough to deal with the blame even though He isn't directly responsible. The actions of a man's willing and sin filled heart is. You can take away every gun in the world and destroy them, but unless you get at the heart issues, people will just use whatever they want to take a life.

Look at Cain and Abel, the Bible's first recorded murder. One brother killed the other one simply because perhaps his sacrifice to God was less than accepted. The motive began in the heart. There were no guns or assault rifles then. We need to understand that despite the chaos and destruction happening all around us as never before, the Bible predicts that in the end of days, things would begin to unravel. For violence to increase, for earthquakes and natural disasters to increase, for turmoil to increase in our workplaces, families and homes. Everywhere you look, we are a divided nation, even world wide and what we need more than blame is prayer. It is the one thing the enemy wants us to put out of our minds and will tell us, what will that do? Would have changed anything that happened today or tomorrow?

Just like the ripples of what happened span out and affect us all by what happened today, prayer does the same thing. It affects everyone we pray for. It affects everyone who is connected to us. It reminds us that God has a plan and a purpose and it is not one to harm but one to give us a hope and a future. I believe God is trying to tell us that the solution to our problems it not in the governments hands, not in our own hands, not in placing blame, but can only be found in Him. I pray that lives will be changed and at some point, God will bring about good from this tragedy. That people will see that heroes rise up in the midst of tragic circumstances, people who put aside their own safety and cared for the life of another, simply because they are humans, not of who they are or who they are affiliated with.

Let us put down our divisions and find hope again. Let us not try and figure out who is to blame, but instead lift up those who are struggling to come to terms with what has happened. Let us show the world what the love of Jesus looks like in times like this. Let us first begin with prayer above all!

"When God's people are in need, be ready to help them." ~ Romans 12:13.

All Saints - Movie Ticket Giveaway

From the makers of films like Miracles From Heaven and the War Room,  Provident Films and Sony Affirm Pictures once again has created what I believe will be another life changing movie. All Saints is coming soon to a theater near you on August 25th and with it the chance to win a pair of movie tickets to go see the film in theaters. All Saints is a movie based on true life events and takes a pastor, Michael Spurlock played by John Corbett who is sent to a small town to close the All Saints church due to low or what some might say is poor attendance. There are only 12 current members attending. Using his prior sales experience Michael is given inspiration to try one more time to see what he can do to generate interest in the church.

With the arrival of a group of Burmese refugees who understand the power of faith, they help inspire Michael to give God a chance to revive the church again. He is reminded that when Jesus started the church on earth, he began with just 12 people too and yet He did alright. Coupled with the faith and hope of those who can see God's hand in making use of their talents, from beginning a farm based on the great soil surrounding the church, and being reminded that we all have a purpose to serve by being created. Kind of like Matthew West's song, Do Something. Sometimes we all wait around in this world hoping for a better world and hoping that it will come about without us having to lift a finger. What if God's purpose is for us all to contribute while we still have breath in our lungs. That is what Pastor Spurlock will face when he struggles to understand his purpose by being assigned to save this church.

After all, what will happen if the church closes? Then what will those who attended do? Makes you consider what might happen if that very thing happened even within the doors of our own church, because we have come to expect that others will step up so we can have a place to worship. What happens when those around you go hungry and there isn't resources to feed them. Pastor Spurlock believes God has called him to do just that. To not only save the church, but to feed the people both the come to All Saints but even those in the community in hopes that a small spark will ignite into a flaming fire of redemption and restoration. From a seed of faith, grows hope!

I received this giveaway promotion compliments of Sony Affirm Pictures and LEV3L Digital. The giveaway winner will receive a Fandago code to purchase two tickets FREE to see it on the night of your choice. It's simple and I've done it in the past! The giveaway codes will be received in time to see the movie, so you won't miss out. What I need your participate in is to help spread the word about this movie. So often as Christians, we look for great entertainment for the entire family in light of what is currently being shown in movie theaters, so lets remind the world, we want more movies like this one!

So please visit all the resource sites below to copy and share banners and movie clips and trailers like the ones features in this post. Use your social media sites to help spread the word. For each share, simply copy and paste your links below in the comment box to be entered to win in this giveaway. From Facebook, to Pinterest, to Instagram, Snap Chat, Twitter and any other way to can think of, let's join forces as a Christian community and share the good news about this upcoming movie. The giveaway will end on August 18, 2017.

For more information about All Saints, Sony Affirm Pictures, or Provident Films please click on the links below:

All Saints by Sony Affirm Pictures and Provident Films

You can find All Saints on Facebook to stay up to date on all the latest about the movie.

Please find some great resources about the film like movie discussion guides, refugee information, and more by visiting All Saint's website.  

Altar Egos - DVD Review and Giveaway

So what does one do when taking over an existing church from his father's legacy? Well you'd think based on the lack of church attendance, you would consider making some changes to invite more people to want to join right? Well that is precisely what Pastor John (Robert Amaya, Courageous and Moms Night Out) wants to do. During the service the existing church choir makes it difficult for anyone to stay focused and awake including the elderly organist so he begins to look for ways to increase church attendance. His biggest obstacle is Mary Margaret, the head chairperson on the church board who believes that change isn't something that the church requires. She begins to question whether he is the right man for heading up the church after all.

She takes it upon herself to organize a strike against his leadership beginning with the removal of the church choir, which has the remaining church members in a fuss. They want the choir back. Mary Margaret has also called for a church board meeting to discuss Pastor John's removal and subsequent replacement. If only he could find a way to attend that meeting. He convinces his thespian son, Jack to help him find the perfect disguise so he can go unnoticed as an elderly man in their meeting. However Jack doesn't think his dad can pull it off simply because he looks like an older man. So Jack dresses up as an elderly man, called Frank while his dad goes under the name Milo and they walk the mall trying out their disguises.

Well the role play is a success in one right, they now find themselves committed to joining the church members for meetings, a Christmas party and even a dinner meeting with the potential new pastor all while remaining in disguise. I won't reveal all the high jinks and humor that comes along with this, but you can tell from the movie's title, this one was well thought out. The theme of loving the unlovable, reconciliation and change versus tradition will be one the entire family will enjoy. This movie also stars Erin Bethea, (Fireproof).

I received Altar Egos compliments of Bridgestone Multimedia Group and LEV3L Digital. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and know that if you are looking for a great comedy that is perfect for the entire family, you will want to check this film out. It is Dove Family Approved and I can't wait for you to see it. I would easily give this movie a 4 out of 5 stars. Check out this exclusive film clip below:

Now for the thanks to the generosity of Bridgestone Multimedia Group and LEV3L Digital, they are giving away a copy of this DVD to one lucky winner. Here are your guidelines to enter:

1. "Like" Altar Ego's Facebook page.

2. Be a resident of the US or have a US mailing address.

3. Leave a comment below telling me why you'd love to win a copy of this movie along with your email address. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

4. Share this link on at least one social media site of your choice and post that link in the comments.

I will notify the winner of the giveaway on August 29th by email. If you don't include your email address I have no way of contacting you if you are the lucky winner.

For more information about Altar Egos and where you can pick up a copy of the DVD which releases on September 5, 2017, please click on the links below:

Altar Egos by Bridgestone Multimedia Group

You can find Altar Egos on Facebook to stay up to date with all the movie fun.

To purchase tickets, access videos, photos, downloads, news, theaters, and more, visit Altar Egos website.

What Does a True Leader Look Like?

I had the opportunity this morning to watch a comparison between former President George W. Bush and current president obama over their speeches at the Dallas memorial service and was appalled but not surprised by the comments each of them made in regards to the quality and character of the leadership they possess. If you haven't seen it, you might wish to watch it, because today we complete our study on the three things believers need to survive and thrive in this world and the final point is developing a mind to lead.

There needs to be a leadership character and quality whether in a marriage, a county, a church, a community, a kingdom, a government, or even a home that is established. Yet, it can not be accomplished without first having a thankful heart and a submissive spirit.

In having a thankful heart as a leader, we will remember where we came from. We'll remember our sacrifices and hardships. We'll be thankful at heart.

In being submissive in spirit, a leader remembers that he is here to serve others. As a husband, he serves his wife. As a father, he serves his children. As a pastor, he serves his church. As a citizen, he serves his nation. As a statesman, you serve the people. There is a difference between a politician and a statesman. A statesman says and does what is right, not what is popular or politically correct. A statesman will sacrifice himself for the greater cause and for the what is best for the people.

You need to have all three of these qualities present in order to be an effective leader since they all build upon one another. Developing a leadership mind is a practice. It is a demeanor, whereby you are looking out for those around you, to be better off then yourself. To give them the picture of Jesus, in how we speak to our spouses and children, and even co-partners in the gospel. We should ask ourselves, have we exhibited the life of Jesus and His Word, in our words and actions? We are not perfect by any means, nor does God expect us to be.

In our study, we see that Israel failed to make the Lord their leader and it's a cycle they go through, throughout the Old Testament. It takes them decades before they are willing to repent as we see through the Book of Judges. They cry out to God in repentance, to deliver them from their sin. God delivers them from their enemy. He brings a good leader to them. They prosper as a nation. In their wealth and prosperity, they forget God. They begin to reject God and accept other gods. God sends them warnings through prophets. They blow those guys off. Then He sends them the invasion of their enemies, until they are in shackles. Decades go by and then they will cry out to God again. It's the cycle of the human heart and it's the cycle of nations as well. It's pretty pathetic.

We don't have to go through the same cycle however. We can go straight, fly direct, non-stop, from having committed a sin, as a nation or as a people. We can repent now, and get restoration. This is vitally important. You can see this throughout the history of the world.

Israel began to make their own decisions and forgot God. They created their own gods and worshiped them instead.

Now we need to develop a leadership mind. Let's look at what Israel did.

Judges 10:17-18 ~ "Then the people of Ammon gathered together and encamped around Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled together and camped around Mizpah. And the people, the leaders of Gilead, said to one another, "Who is the man who will begin the fight against the people of Ammon? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead."

We learn from others mistakes. They repented to God twice for their sins. They understood as their enemies surrounded them, they're in trouble. Some one says, "Who is the man who will deliver us?" Remember what God told Israel? "It will be a theocracy. I will be your God. You don't need rulers like those other nations. I will watch over you and take care of you." What did Israel respond with? "We want a king! All the other nations have kings, we want a king!!!" And God said, "Okay, you have rejected me, here is your king." God gave them Saul as king, and he was a mess. The people thought he was tall and handsome however and that is how Hollywood would pick a king or any of the other political parties. "He looks presidential!" What does that look like? A president is one who will bow down before God like George Washington did in the snow.

A leadership mind understands that we will never be leaders, until we are first followers. There are leaders who have titles, graduated from prestigious colleges or attend seminars but those are not leaders. King David, when he was a kid, became a leader. How? Through hardships and challenges. Saul was declared to be the leader, but he was a mess. God had groomed David all of his life to be a leader. What was his strength? He said it. "I want to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life!" You know why he said that? Because he was a follower. Only the person who is following the Lord can be a true leader.

Where are you going to take people if you're not following the Lord?

You can't take them anywhere! God says, "Let's go!" Every future leader will follow! That's why there is an inseparable relationship between a true leader and those who follow.

When you look at great generals and warriors in battle, what inspires people? When the bullets are flying? Napoleon was tenacious. He heard the gospel throughout his whole life, and understood mercy and he applied it to the man he was going to kill for betraying not only him, but the nation of France. When the man's mother pleaded to Napoleon for mercy, he gave it.

When we are followers, then we will become leaders. That's why Jesus picked 12 men. He told them to "Come and follow me and I will make you fishers of men." In other words, "Come and follow me. You are going to go to college in the wilderness for about 3 1/2 years. When you are done,  you will be able to lead."

We develop a leadership mind, by being willing to follow. You have to be willing to follow the Lord. The God-factor was missing in Israel and they looked for a man instead. Jesus was willing to take on the form of a man and follow His Father.

Philippians 2:5 ~ "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 2:8-11 ~ "And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Jesus was the model to follow. How did He humble Himself? Even though He was in the form of man in the flesh? Was He lower than God at the moment? No, this is where kenosis applies. It means He willingly took whatever attributes pertained to what was needed, like those who beat Him. He could have called down all the power from heaven, but He willingly took that authority and set it down. Absolute power. Jesus didn't pick it up to save Himself. Wouldn't you have? He absolutely humbled Himself and He showed us absolutely that God can be followed. That is our example!

Is that not your goal, as a believer, to be more like Him?

To develop a leadership mind, we need to be obedient to answer. When God calls, we need to respond. He is always talking, but our problem is that we are not always listening. We can tell that whenever we do something wrong, He speaks to us and tells us we need to stop. He is always talking! We need to develop an awareness and ask, "Lord, what do you want to say? " We need to be in tune like that. What is He saying to you today? Now?

If God were to stop speaking to us, as believers, it should cause us to be terrified!  We should be delighted, that God is speaking personally to us!

Finally in developing an leadership mind, we must be willing to serve. When He speaks, do it! In the crisis, what did Israel do? They called for a man, any man to lead them to victory. They never thought to call a prayer meeting, they called for a man. God's leaders are faithful to serve in God's business.

Galatians 5:13 ~ "For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."

Matthew 20:27-28 ~ "And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."

John 15:12 ~ "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."

How are you serving in your community? Christians have made a bad name for themselves. The world has had it with Christians. We have the ability to show others the love of Jesus. The days are upon us to stand up for Him and be obedient to Him.

Will you be willing to follow God?

What in the world are you living for?

Is it worth it in the end?