An Old Fashioned Classic Christmas Girl!

In keeping up with my Christmas Trivia Posts on Facebook, where I pose a trivia question based on some of the favorite Christmas movies to date. I have often times been asked to share what some of my favorite movies are so I thought I would share some of them with you. Mind you, they have changed over the year and as I have gotten older, my tastes have been refined a bit by the classics most people don't even know about. In no particular order they are:

1. White Christmas: I mean nothing gets better than Bing Crosby. I prefer the simplicity of the story. The tale of love that is struggling to find a place in people's hearts, in this case Bing's character. It also blends the story of Bing's past serving in WWII, and we find him returning back to help his old General save his historic inn. The music is beautiful and the wardrobe is classic in every way. When women still dressed up no matter what they were doing.

2. It Happened on Fifth Avenue. I actually found this one while looking for Christmas Classic movies that I might have missed and it truly does offer something that will embed itself in your heart long after you finish watching it. It tells the story of a homeless man who finds lodging during the Christmas season by taking advantage of wealthy homes that are left vacate. It is a true classic comedy in every way with a compelling message.

3. Holiday Inn: Once again back to Bing Crosby in which case you can never go wrong. He stars with Fred Astaire as a couple of entertainers who have now decided to break up their act. Bing decides to open an Inn that is only open on holidays. It isn't so much a Christmas movie but it wraps up with the opening at Christmas time in which old relationships are mended and new ones formed.

4. The Bells of St. Mary: Another Bing Crosby classic. This movie tells the tale of a home for wayward boys who suddenly find themselves looking for funds to rebuild. Bing plays the Catholic Father O'Malley for the home and soon finds himself at odds with one of the Sisters played by Ingrid Bergman. They hope that a wealthy real estate man will offer to donate a new home for the boys if they can only persuade him to give up his latest project which is adjacent to their home.

5. It's A Wonderful Life: Life truly doesn't get any better during Christmas than watching Frank Capra's beloved classic about George Bailey (James Stewart) and Mary (Donna Reed) who fall in life during their childhood and soon marry after George returns home from college to handle the Bailey Building and Loan for his ailing father. The message of hope and redemption is a clear as the ringing bell on the Christmas Tree and this one is by far one of my all time favorites.

6. Miracle on 34th Street (1994) I love the more recent remake of this movie over the classic 1947 version. There is something wonderful of watching an underdog rally the city and it's residents to help fight the greater good in the belief of Santa Claus. I love watching this one during Thanksgiving and love Richard Attenborough, Elizabeth Perkins and Dylon McDermott. Their chemistry gives you the "Ah!" factor.

7. The Shop Around the Corner - This is the original movie where You Got Mail was remade. Once again James Stewart plays a shop clerk Alfred Kralik and Margaret Sullivan plays Klara Novak who find that the person they have been writing letters to are actually the same person.

That wraps up my Christmas Classic Movie list. If  you haven't taken the time to watch any of these, trust me you'll want to add them this year. Let me know what your favorite Christmas movies are in the comment box below.

Christmas Traditions

I love traditions. There is something about being able to spend some time looking back fondly and recalling a particular event that means something more than simply the act of doing it. Christmas traditions are just like that. Place markers in your past that signify a powerful emotion instead of merely doing something with your family.

In today's ever increasing technology gadgets I am finding some of the traditions, I've grown to love are slowly becoming extinct. I cringe when I think that one day, Christmas Cards will simply be a thing of the past. Looking back at my Christmas Memories book that holds the last 18 years of celebrations, I can definitely see where it has fallen by the way side. Now I struggle to find just one Christmas card to post in my book. Sadly it seems most people are either too busy to find time to send them out when a Ecard works just as well. I don't think this should ever be replaced. Now you find commercially produced family Christmas postcards, e-Cards or Printed Family Newsletters are becoming the new norm. I was thrilled when my favorite Aunt sent me one unexpectedly and she is in her late 70's. She is a firm believer in not succumbing to the loss of those family honored traditions. I agree with her on that point. In fact I just mailed out a handful of cards today.

Here are some of my families favorite traditions and I look forward to having you share some of yours with me in the comment box below:

1. See the light display in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. We park the car and stroll the streets looking at the beautifully decorated houses, stop and listen to Christmas carols being sung by people, and purchasing some hot cocoa or soft pretzel. We take the entire family and then head out for dinner afterwards before driving back home. ( This was one of the homes from last year 2013.)

2. Painting Christmas village houses. My husband actually incorporated this tradition in our home and we add more houses and buildings every year. What an incredible way to look back at our lives through this unique one of a kind creations. (Steve's hard at work!)

3. Christmas Eve presents. My family gets to open one gift the night of Christmas Eve. It is always a new set of warm cozy pajamas and socks. When they were younger, I used to include a new Christmas book. (From 2012).

4. Christmas Ornaments. Each year my family decides which ornament best represents them or something they hope will happen in the year ahead and we initial and date them and add them to the Christmas tree each year. (The one above is Caitlyn's, our oldest daughter who loves owls.)

5. Christmas Cookies. I bake tons of cookies a few days before Christmas and include must haves of Chocolate Chip, Sugar Cookies, Magic Bars, Snickerdoodles, Pecan Balls, Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls, Candy Canes, Candy Coated Pecans, Fudge, and Chocolate Covered Caramel Kisses. (Pictured above Snickerdoodles. These never make it to the end of the day before there is only an empty plate!)

6. Egg nog. Enough said. It goes in everything. Pancake batter, French Toast, morning coffee and just drinking it cold with some cookies.

7. Sugar Cookie Contest. This actually got started last year. My daughter's boyfriend suggested we have a contest and each person picks one sugar cookie they decorated to enter the annual Facebook Cookie Contest. Where we ask Family and Friends to pick their favorite without disclosing which cookie goes to which person. The ones above are last year's entries! The star won!

8. Christmas Cards. Yes, I do still send these out. No Christmas Letters, Mass Printed Family Postcards with the Christmas Photos attached or e-Card. Nope, prefer snail mail with handwritten sentiments inside. If you're interested in being part of the Christmas Card bunch. Send me an email at Stevenkat27@verizon.net.

9. Christmas Lights! The more the merrier. I love adding to our outside Christmas decorations and this year I found garage sales were the perfect place to score some one of a kind outdoor decorations. They simply don't make them like they used to. I'll post some pictures later for you on what it looks like. We're waiting for the remainder of the leaves to fall from our Willow tree so you can see it all at once. (The photo above was from 2012 where we had a window painting company come around and paint your window for about $20).

10. Christmas Eve. We always order food to be delivered for dinner and then we simply sit around all day and watch our families favorite Christmas Movies. They change every year. Not sure what will be on the movie play list this year, but I know The Muppet Christmas Carol is always playing.

So in a nutshell is some of our families Christmas traditions. What are some of yours? Remember if you want to do a Christmas Card Exchange with me, email me at Stevenkat27@verizon.net

Kat is Back with a Twist!

I was just telling my hubby today how long it's been since I wrote a blog post, while I update my status in Facebook several time throughout the day. Why is that?

I think it's simply because I feel the need to write something profound or spiritual that I feel led by God to share, when the real reason I created my blog was more as an online journal for me, than simply feeling the need to share something with readers. That is initially what drew me to decide to create a blog in the first place. It would allow me to look back on the way God has worked in my life every day and see the highs and lows and the way He has brought me through it all. It would be a place to share prayer requests and also answer them if I could. It would allow you to see what an almost 50-year old mom of two is doing in her day to day life with a busy husband who works much harder than he should. So I am taking on the commitment to do so.

So what have I been up to lately?

Well, without sharing all the details of 2013, lately I've been diligently streamlining my book review process. After almost 4 year of reviewing books and taking on the challenge in the last couple years of reading a book or more per day, I am limiting what I really want to read. I am eliminating those books that I don't feel represent who I am or what God has called me to do. So does that mean no more non-Christian books?

No, because I truly believe God has given me this desire to read and review books in order that I may shine the light on the dark places people find themselves once they pick up a book. There have been several books that look amazing, the synopsis on the cover doesn't covey what lies hidden within and then you are completely shocked by what you get on the inside.

So that will continue to some degree but now I am simply being a whole lot more selective. I love giving first time authors a shot at having their books reviewed and LOVE being able to help in any way. Yet again, I am still being selective at what I choose to read. I can't see giving an author a fair evaluation of their book if I don't have the heart to read what they wrote, so I am only being fair in that regard. Just this year alone, I have read 249 books this year even though my initial goal was only 200.

What does that mean? I am not reading as many as I have in the past, which gives me more time with my family. My hubby travels quite a bit so the downtime there is now being filled with reading to help pass the time.

I am also home schooling my youngest daughter in her first year in high school and I am thrilled that she is maintaining perfect A's in her freshman year. This means that as the semester draws to a close, all her teachers have given her the option of not having to take the final exams in all her subjects as a way to show her what the consequences of hard work are. She is over the moon with that and is finishing up her final weeks in all her subjects.

We are looking forward to incorporating some new Christmas traditions this year and are planning our trip to see the Christmas lights in the middle of the month. I will share those with you.

From this point on, you'll see a bit more of the personal side of who I am along with what God's doing in my life and what He has to say when He shares something with me. Hope you are all staying warm and cozy and I send my California sunshine your way today!

Disposable Relationships?

I love it when things that I see day in and day out suddenly have new meaning. God's once again blessed me in the quiet of my morning watering today and I have to share what He showed me. During a recent storm we had and knew was coming a few days in advance, my hubby and I knew the winds were expected to be around 55-70 mph so of course that meant taking our plants off our pot shelves so they wouldn't tip over. There are two morning glory plants we have been blessed to grow this year that we couldn't take down because they have wound their vines along our porch pillars. My hubby suggested in taking some velcro and securing them around the pots to the posts. Sounds great right?

Only problem with a great idea is when you don't implement it. Not sure where we got busy but that great idea never materialized and of course that evening as the winds picked up their speed. Things look pretty great. But evil happens in the darkness when we sleep and that is just what happened. When we woke up and opened our blinds from our bedroom that overlooked our back porch, my hubby said, one of the morning glories didn't make it.

Not understanding his point, I asked him to clarify his statement. He pointed out that one of the morning glories had blown off.

"I thought we were going to put velcro on that? Didn't you do it?"

"No, but it's too late now. I think it's gone."

When we rushed out back, (I  know for a plant right?) but if you understood my new admiration for this beauties, you'd get my point with the concern.

There hanging by the vines were the morning glory plants still wrapped around the post but the pot and the soil were on the ground.

Not sure how long that poor plant hung in there but the roots were void of all remaining soil and the poor thing looked so bad.

We immediately went into rescue mode and got a bag of soil and the pot and began trying to re-pot this plant and water it. We secured the plant's pot to the post and while the leaves hung limp from the post, no new blooms were present that day.

To understand the importance of morning glories blooms are that they only bloom in the morning and are gone by mid-day. So to not see it bloom at all was downright disheartening. We prayed for the best since this was our best plant out of the two.

After two days of waiting, my hubby said he thinks the poor thing isn't going to make it. It went through too much. I wanted to believe in miracles and asked God to restore my plant if it was according to His will. I know God can literally do anything, even bring that poor lifeless plant back from the dead.

So this morning while I am watering it, I notice the leaves are still drooping and browning. The poor thing looks so miserable. I wondered if it was worth continuing my efforts. It would be so much easier to simply grab more seeds and begin replanting before the frost is due in. Ready for the eye opener now?

When I glanced up, I noticed on the plant, that two blooms have opened. Are you as excited as I was? I mean here I was, considering simply scrapping the poor thing and putting it out of its misery when despite all appearances it was making a come back! Two blooms is something to get excited for! It means despite everything on the outside, it was slowly working its way back to being a healthy plant again.

See where this is going? God moment!!

God showed me that too often we look at the relationships in our life as being like that plant. Sometimes they are vital and thriving, beneficial even! Then at other times, they look like my poor plant, dying a slow death. Even despite all the best intentions to nurse it back to health, it looks easier to put it out of its misery and replant it. How easy relationships become disposable when they no longer serve our purpose. They might not look the way we want them too, they might not be producing anything that is nice to look at any longer, or even they aren't simply worth the extra effort they need to thrive and survive. We are simply to busy to invest the time to bring them back and restore them.

What about you? Are you doing the same thing in your own relationships? How invaluable have people become in your life when they no longer do what you want or need them to do? How far are you willing to go to heal them? Are they even worth it?

This could be the relationship you have with your spouse. Suddenly things don't look as vibrant as beautiful as it did when you married. Stress has eaten its way into the very leaves of your plant, causing them to shrivel up and die. Perhaps it no longer looks as beautiful as it did when it first started growing. Perhaps the leaves are yellowing and falling off, perhaps it isn't producing new blooms. But deep down inside, life still grows. As long as you are willing to try, God is able to make ALL things new again. He is the great restorer and redeemer of life. We aren't meant to go through this life alone, thus the reason for my plants vine to intertwine and enable it to grow stronger in order to move forward.

Even the tiniest of vines need help to grow and move forward.

Isn't it worth the time and effort to try and save it rather than simply taking the approach of most and simply throw in the towel, and find or grow a new plant?

People are the most valuable thing in our lives. They are worth it and need our time and energy in order to thrive again. They are simply waiting for you to take notice and not give up no matter how long it takes. Trust in God and believe and like me, soon you'll look up and see life growing again. I encourage you today, before it's too late, take some time and work on those relationships. Pray over them and trust God to make a positive change in them.

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:  If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?Though one may be overpowered,  two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning." ~ Ecclesiastes 4: 9-13

There is simply a life within us all wanting to shine!

Weak Spots

Being a first time home buyer, my husband and I were super excited to jump in and begin working to make our home truly ours. Since it wasn't a brand new home, there were some things that needed improvements and some things we wanted to see incorporated into our home that were important to us. Both my husband and I are very outdoorsy people and we truly looked forward to spending time outside working on our landscaping both in the front and back yards of our home. We wanted trees our kids could lay underneath on hot days to escape the heat and perhaps ponder the wonders of the universe by looking up at the sky from beneath the leaves of a tall tree. We wanted our home to have "curb appeal" and to offer an invitation to make visitors and even strangers feel welcome. We wanted to add fragrant flowers to entice birds and butterflies to stop by on their way to another place as a haven of rest for the weary.

We wanted the sound of water to be a significant feature in our backyard, a place to simply find a getaway just outside out sliding glass doors, an oasis, a garden of eden perhaps in the making. We knew the vision we wanted and it would take time to make it happen, in fact it took well over 10 years and we both think it wasn't complete, of course lack of finances and manual labor will do that to you, but we both knew what we wanted.

Marriage is a lot like home improvement. It takes time and effort to make is successful and it's a work that will never be complete because like our home, it is always changing. New products come out on the market that we never considered before to incorporate into our home but that would make welcome additions.

In fact just laying in bed this morning, I believe God gave me such an insight into what goes wrong in marriages and results in either affairs or divorce. I call them weak spots. Those are the areas that we all have where we simply wish that things were better. For me, I often tell my husband I wish he were more romantic, the kind of characters I often read about in my romance novels, the ones that possess a certainness about their future, they know what needs to be done, they are strong leaders and never fear when things go wrong, they always have a plan and that is to protect and care for their loved ones. Now don't get me wrong, my husband does all that, but on occasion I wish that he would plan something unpredictable that shows me just how valuable I am in his life, a romantic getaway that shows planning, and is geared to the things he knows I love. For him, he needs that physical confirmation to let him know he is loved, either though a hug or lots of physical touch, cuddling on the couch while watching a movie together or just knowing at any point of his day, that I think the world of him.

When we avoid dealing with those potential "weak spots" it opens our marriages up for the enemy to use those to gain entry into our lives and marriages. He finds people he can utilize to satisfy those needs in the way we can only dream about. Rather than realize those weak spots as what they are, we will often times, willingly sacrifice our marriages for that one thing that is missing in our marriages instead of simply having that need met by our spouse.

No one would neglect a leaky roof to work on the other areas of the house while each storm continued to wear away at the roof, ceiling and destroy the house beneath it, thinking it's simply something we don't want to work on right now. I'd rather have a new bathroom than deal with a leaky roof.

Yet that's just what is happening to our marriages. We all have those "weak spots" if we are honest and willing to admit the truth. Those can also change throughout our years together. If we don't fix our "leaky roof" now, we only have ourselves to blame when the roof caves in. That's why it is so important to work effectively as a team to strengthen our marriages and eliminate those weak spots. For me, it means putting 100% commitment into making sure my husband's weak spot is met by me and not by someone else who can easily turn his head. The same hold true for him, he needs to commit to fixing my weak spot, even if he thinks it's foolish or dumb. Both of these areas are important to us in different ways and if we value our marriage and our spouse, we will want to make those areas stronger and not weaker.

I often wonder just how many affairs could have been prevented if we simply addressed those needs first instead of blaming our spouse for their faults. It's take two to make a marriage dissolve. One to walk away and the other to do nothing to fix it. Aren't our marriages and our spouse worth the effort? Can we agree to work together much like a home improvement project to see that things are fixed now before it's too late?

If you found this message insightful, I would encourage you to thank God for this insight. He provided it this morning and for us, we are working on daily projects to improve our marriage. It's the small things that matter today, and over time, we'll soon see that the efforts we make now will only benefit us later and will make our marriages stronger and ones that outlast all the others.

Stick To It!!

Oh now that we find ourselves quite literally on the cusp of what could be the next World War, there is so much going on in the debate issue. Some people are claiming Armageddon is coming, others are claiming it needs to be addressed and still others refuse to acknowledge anything at all, preferring to take the same stand they always have, that this has nothing to do with religion and just how is telling us the truth anyway.

Which got me to thinking about all the recent Facebook arguments when it comes to what people believe. You know that's always going to be up for debate, but lately it seems more so than ever before that even when you talk about your beliefs in Jesus, you are almost threatened with those that don't want anything to do with what you have to say or even for that matter that you'll pray for them. It can often get downright hostile.

Yet it all boils down to one thing. Who's right? Who is telling the truth?

Jesus was debated by Pilate on who Jesus claimed to be during his inquistion with this very question in the book of John 18, beginning with verse 37:

"You are a king, then!" said Pilate. 

Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

Did you catch that?

"Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

That means people who believe in Jesus Christ and who believe He is whom He says He is. In other words believers in Jesus Christ.

One thing to remember is that "truth" is fluid in the world by most people's standards. It is not absolute but is relative to those who believe it is. It is their perspective that is their fact or their opinion.

We, as Christians, are people who rely on absolute supreme truth, not in feelings or opinions.

When we look at Psalm 119: 1-6 we read,

Look upon my suffering and deliver me, for I have not forgotten your law. 
Defend me cause and redeem me; preserve my life according to your promise. 
Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek out your degrees. 
Your compassion is great, O Lord; preserve my life according to your laws. 
Many are the foes who persecute me, but I have not turned from your statutes. 
I look on the faithless with loathing, for they do not obey your word. 
See how I love your precepts; preserve my life O Lord, according to your love. 
All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal." (NIV)

So why is absolute truth necessary?

There has to be a measuring stick that defines truth from opinion. We need stabilization that is something outside of ourselves that we can rely on to tell us what the absolute truth is.

John 14: 6, " Jesus answered, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 

Romans 7:12 " So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good."

What does this mean?

That God's Word is from the Creator of Heaven and Earth and He alone answered that very question.

What do we gain from absolute truth as believers?

1. Redemption or deliverance from our burdens in this life, the storms we encounter.

Psalm 116:8 ~ "For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling." (God has delivered my soul from dying from eternal death to eternal life.)

John 1:1 ~ "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (The truth has been around from the creation of the world).

Exodus 15:13, "In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.( God brought you to Him).

2 Timothy 4:18, "The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom."(He will redeem you from evil).

Afflictions in this life can wear on us and make you question your faith, your belief in God's Word and in His promises. That is why we need to draw on God's Word to strengthen us in those difficult times.

2. Revival - we need vitality and faith in our lives to help us deal with tough times and from calamity.

Psalm 51:12, "Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." (God will restore your joy and lift you up from your difficulties. We don't have to stay where we are.)

Isaiah 57:15, " but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite." (You can revive your heart and spirit, by spending time in God's Word).

Psalm 143:11, "For your names sake, O Lord, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble ." 

Only God's truth can revive us! We need to get back to God because it's right. It's NOT about YOU, it NEVER is! In your life, what we do, what we say, it's all for God, NOT YOU!

The world wants truth that centers on their opinion, they are their own god.

Isaiah 59: 1-8 defines how the wicked believe. See if this doesn't sound like the way most of the world nowadays sounds.

" Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt. Your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue mutters wicked things. 

No one calls for justice; no one pleads his case with integrity. They rely on empty arguments and speak lies; they conceive trouble and give birth to evil. They hatch the eggs of vipers and spin a spider's web. Whoever eats their eggs will die, and when one is broken, ad adder is hatched. Their cobwebs are useless for clothing; they cannot cover themselves with what they make. Their deeds are evil deeds, and acts of violence are in their hands.

Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are evil thoughts; ruin and destruction mark their ways. The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads; no one who walks in them will know peace."

3. Reassuarance and restoration are given to those who believe in the absolute truth.

Proverbs 13:12, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life."(The right way according to the world leads to death).

No matter what the opinion, the only thing that makes a difference is to hold on to God's Word.

1 Samuel 12:20-21, "Do not be afraid, Samuel replied, You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you because they are useless."(Turn from God and you will go after empty things that will never satisfy).

It will not bring you admiration but division, destruction, and hatred by sticking with God's absolute truth. Even within our own homes whenever people are confronted with the absolute truth, don't give up!

The darkness does not like the light.

No matter what the cost, it must be done. Stick to God's truth. Doesn't matter how things look like or what others are saying, if God says it, He'll make it happen.

Psalm 118:6 says it the best, "The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

God is my reassurance and confidence, not what the world deems is right.

God works the impossible.

God sees the unseen.

Without God's assurance, we have no peace.

Truth that is not absolute is speculation, theory, opinions, feelings.

It's like saying a tofu burger is a burger, no matter how you dress it up, it's still tofu!

So endure and keep on sticking to God's Word. We'll be able to face whatever comes our way holding on to what God says and what His promises are. He is never changing and never fails. 

Do You Pay Attention to Warning Lights?

Hopefully the answer to the title is yes! Or for some of you it could be "well it depends on just what the warning lights are saying and where they are!"

But I think it's safe to say we all pay attention to them right? I mean who would ignore their cars engine warning light right? Could you imagine if it bothered someone so much, but they didn't want to address the problem, they merely covered it up with a piece of electrical tape so they didn't have to see it glow any longer? Kinda funny right?!

What about freeway warning lights or signs? Perhaps warning you that the road is closed or the bridge is out? I guess people might say when they wound up in the river, they didn't see the sign warning them that the bridge is out or that the road is closed.

But warning signs are just that. A wake up call for us to pay attention to what's going on.

So have you been paying attention to what is happening in the world today?

Does it concern you that we could be literally sitting on what could be our final days as believers on Earth?

What? What are you talking about?

All the news talks about is stuff that doesn't concern us or it's not anything we should worry about.

"BRIDGE IS OUT!"

Believe me, every single person, especially believers should be concerned with what is happening right now in the Middle East. Here's a slight recap just in case you've taped over the warning light or weren't paying attention and why it matters anyway.

Civil unrest has been breaking out all over Egypt.

As a result, a terrorist threat was issued for ALL US Embassies in the Middle East to close. ALL of them. (Odd, has that ever happened before  you ask, NO! Not all the US Embassies in the Middle East at the same time.)

Syria is believed to have used chemical weapons against their own people. No evidence at this time has been confirmed, although some say it has.

Russia meanwhile has been supplying enriched uranium to Iran to help them power up their "Nuclear Power Plant." (Yeah, sure that its for a power plant. Perhaps so they can become a world power!)

The US has issued a threat by Obama that if in fact Syria used chemical weapons against their people, we would launch a military strike against Syria.

Iran has announced along with the ally, Russia that if the US launches a military strike against Syria, they will launch an all out attack on Israel.

Israel has said it will defend itself against any attacks that come their way.

The UN and Britain announced they don't support a military strike against Syria and if the US does so it will be all on their own.

So what, big deal, what's all this got to do with me. It's half a world away. 

Really, doesn't something special a bit fishy here.

First of all let's look at what the Middle East looks like where the US has closed all it's military bases.

Algiers, Algeria, Sana'a, Yemen; Tel Aviv, Israel; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Dhaka, Bangladesh; Kuwait City, Kuwait; Ankara, Turkey; Muscat, Oman; Doha, Qatar; Cairo, Egypt; Kabul, Afghanistan; Baghdad, Iraq; Amman, Jordan; Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Manama, Bahrain; Tripoli, Libya; Nouakchott, Mauritania; and Doha, Qatar.

If you located any of these places on a world map, they pretty much all surround the tiny country of Israel.

Next, our own President doesn't even announce he remains loyal to Israel since taking office. Often times pushing Israel off to the side. (No love loss there!)

Next we have to take a look at the only document that has a 100% accuracy rate of predicting world events. That's right, the Bible.

You might be rolling your eyes, but name one Bible prophecy that hasn't come true when it was predicted? NONE, even scientists now are beginning to back pedal their previous claims made that the stories in the Bible are in fact now coming true, as historical and archaeological proof continues to be discovered that validate what it says. 

So if we go to Ezekiel 38, where believe we are sitting and waiting for an event like no other to culminate, we are seeing the players getting ready to perform the war of all wars.

"And the Word of the Lord came to me saying, Son of man, set your face against Gog (ruler of Magog), of the land of Magog ( Muslim countries comprised of Azerbajian, Afghanistan, Turkestan, Chechnya, Turkey, Iran, Sudan and Dagestan), the prince of Rosh, of Meshech, and of Tubal, and prophesy against him.

And say, Thus say the Lord God: Behold I am against you, O Gog, chief prince ruler of Rosh, of Meshech, and of Tubal.(Rosh - Russia, Meshech - Moscow and Tubal - Tobolsk)

And I will turn you back and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you forth and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them handling swords -

Persia (Iran), Cush (Ethiopia), and Put or Libya with them, all of them with shield and helmet,

Gomer and all his hordes, the house of Togarmah in the uttermost parts of the north and all his hordes - and many people are with you.

You (Gog) be prepared; yes, prepare yourself, you and all your companies that are assembled about you, and you be a guard and a commander for them.

After many days you shall be visited and mustered (for service); in the latter years (last days) you shall go against the land that is restored from the ravages of the sword, where people are gathered out of many nations upon the mountains of Israel, which has been a continual waste; but it's people are brought forth out out of the nations and they shall dwell securely, all of them (Isaiah 24:22).

You shall ascend and come like a storm; you shall be like a cloud to cover the land, you and all your hosts and many people with  you.

Thus says the Lord God: At the same time thoughts shall come into your mind, and you wil devise an evil plan.

And you will say, I will go up against an open country (the land of unwalled villages); I will fall upon those who are at rest, who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls and having neither bars nor gates,

To take spoil and prey, to turn your hand upon the desolate places now inhabited and assail the people gathered out of the nations, who have obtained livestock and goods, who dwell at the center of the earth. (Jerusalem is claimed to be the very center of the Earth)."

Let's skip to verse 14....

"Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog, Thus says the Lord God: In that day when My people Israel dwelll securely (Israel lives in confidence that they can counter attack any one who comes against them, look at their military status now), will you not know it and be aroused?

And you will come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great host, a might army.

And you shall come up against My people Israel like a cloud to cover the land. In the latter (last) days I will bring you against My land, that the nations may know, understand, and realize Me when My holiness shall be vindicated through you, O Gog, before their eyes."

So what does this all mean?

WARNING SIGNS!!!

First look at all the players mentioned in scripture.

They are ALL muslim countries that hate Israel or ally with countries that do.

If the US launches a military strike against Syria (we know they have NO world support to do so), Iran and Russia will launch an attack against Israel and the proverbial match has been lit.

Of course, this is merely my speculation on what I glean from reading Ezekiel 38 and what is happening even now in the world, I believe there are no consequences. More than ever, I believe we are living in what could be our last days on earth.

If you aren't a believer, now more than ever, you should WAKE UP!

If you are not for Christ, the Bible says you are against Him. If you are, you will never see your loved ones you have gone on before you. They may be in heaven but if you don't believe in Christ, you will NEVER see them again. Are you ready for that?

Make a choice, believe Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to Heaven. Accept what He came here to do, 2013 years ago to die for your sins, so you won't have to.

Ask Him into your heart and ask Him to forgive you sins.

Believe that He was raised from the dead and in doing so, can raise you from your dead life into a new one with Him as your Savior.

Turn from your former ways, pick up a Bible, get plugged into a church, tell others what you have committed your life to, and welcome to the home of God. Without Jesus, there is NO OTHER WAY to Heaven.


Then keep your eyes on the horizon because God could be coming back for His people and we surely don't want to be left behind when He does. It will literally become Hell on Earth for those left behind. Hope you make the right choice today.