Something Wicked This Way Comes!

Harbinger as defined by Webster's dictionary means a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another. God is speaking but are we listening to what He is trying to tell us?

I've been doing quite a study on the end times and where we, as a nation, are headed. It seems that our country is sliding further and further into moral decline and it's happening while we are passively sitting back and letting it happen. What can we do? What are the signs of the times? Are they really that significant or is this simply a difficult time and it will pass?

The parallels between Israel and America are chilling. In fact if you take a look at Israel's history, you might be surprised at just how in sync the two countries are and why now, America's leaders are pulling away from their support of Israel, the tiny country that has had the Hand of God covering it since the creation of the world and why any country that allies itself with Israel and follows the ways of God will be blessed.

Looking back we can see Israel's own destruction and arrogance when they felt they could defy God and take control of their country without God's help. God allowed it to happen with signs that if they simply would turn back God would heal their land. But did they listen? No and thus Jerusalem was destroyed by the Assyrians and the Israelites were scattered upon the four corners. It was only in 1948 that Israel became a great nation again and in 1967, after the six day war, Israel gained Jerusalem back as their capital. So what that's ancient history right?

Look at America, and it's foundations. We were founded on Christian principles and those principals have slowly been eroded from our country bit by bit. When 9/11 struck this country it was the first sign of things to come as our country was slowly attacked by terrorists from the Middle East, much like Ancient Israel was attacked by the Assyrians who came from the Middle East. We failed to heed the warning.

We cannot simply keep pushing God out of our lives, being prideful and arrogant and think He will continue to without His judgement from the earth. We can not continue to live our lives thinking there will be no consequence. When we removed prayer and God from government buildings, courts and schools, we have have more violence than ever before happening in our schools. Coincidence? I don't think so.

God is speaking loud and clear and this country and it's leaders continue to shoot out to Him, "No thanks God, we got this. We don't need you to interfere."

Look at the parallels again between Israel and America:

The Israelites at one time sacrificed their children to the gods of Moloch and Baal. (2 Chr. 28:3, 33:6; Jer. 7:31, 19:2–6). We too, have sacrificed our children as more than 6 million of unborn babies are sacrificed through abortion centers.

Looking back at the prophecy of Isaiah 9:10 "The bricks have fallen, but we will build [all the better] with hewn stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put [costlier] cedars in their place. 

It was uttered by the Israelites who felt that they didn't need God's help to rebuild their city when the walls fell. They were going to make it better than it was before. They refused to turn to God and repent. Verse 11 - 12, picks up what happened next, "Therefore the Lord has stirred up the adversaries [the Assyrians] of Rezin [king of Syria]...and they will devour Israel with an open mouth. For all this, [God's} anger is not turned away, but His hand is still stretched out in judgement.

In the same way when our twin towers fell on September 11, 2001, we became a nation of defiance. We refused to turn back to God and instead took it upon ourselves to rebuild the site of 9/11 in an act of defiant spirit.

Two of America's leaders at that time, John Edwards and Tom Daschal both uttered the scripture of judgement on our country, picking out of all the scriptures in the Bible, Isaiah 9:10.

What we have done in essence is pushed God out of the equation and taken it upon ourselves to do things our way. We have pushed out marriage as God has established it and created what works for us, we have removed God from schools and government so we can feel good about what we are doing as a country. We have watched as our economy continues to struggle after 2008's great recession where our foundations were laid bare and our economic stability fell and has yet to recover.

Yet we still fly our unwillingness to repent thinking we can fix this. If we as a country continue in this act of defiance, we will the see the judgements of God continue to fall. We don't want to see what happened to Jerusalem and Israel happen to the US. God is revealing His signs all around and yet many refuse to believe.

There is only one hope.

If my people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and head their land. ~ 2 Chronicles 7:14

There is NO OTHER WAY! Each of us must find our way back to God and begin to turn back to what God's laws have stated otherwise, there will be no future for our country. God's timetable is running out, and by 2015, God will reveal another judgement on this country. What will it be? Revival or Judgement?

Natural Cure for A Sore Throat

So many people all over the world are suffering from the effects of the cold and flu season so I wanted to share my recipe for something that you want to use when you have a cough or sore throat that is 100% healthy and organic. It takes a bit of prep time but once you have it, you will always want to make sure you have it on hand.

First you will need about 3 medium sized lemons of your choice. I prefer Meyer's Lemons when we can find them but any will do. You will also need a small mason size jar or if you like you can use an old spaghetti or salsa jar washed and rinsed. I found if you go to Hobby Lobby, they sell them in all kinds of sizes for around $1 with the lids, no washing required.

Then you will want to slice your lemons. The thickness doesn't matter, but I like mine a bit on the thicker side.

Next you will want to quarter the slices.

Begin to add the quartered slices to your mason jar, and keep adding them til they reach the top.

Once your mason jar is filled with the lemon quarters, get a container of your favorite honey. I love Naked Honey since it's organic and pour it over your lemon quarters in the jar.

You might have to wait a bit for the honey to seep down in the air spaces until it reaches all the way at the bottom.

Be patient, it may take a few minutes.

You might even get a knife and make a space alongside the jar for the honey to make its way to the bottom.

Keep adding honey til it fills up the spaces in the jar and just below the top of the mason jar.

You can either use it right away or put it in the refrigerator. The honey and lemon juice will combine to create a watery mixture. That is what you want it to do.

When you are ready to use it, simply add about (4) quarters of lemon and about (2) tablespoons of the honey lemon juice mixture in a cup or mug. Add boiling water and stir. You may add additional honey to sweeten to your taste and enjoy hot. It tastes like hot lemonade but trust me when I say the moment I get a tickle at the back of my throat, a sure sign a cough or sore throat is on the way, I make some of this mixture and begin drinking as many cups as I desire. I've never had a cough or sore throat manifest once I start drinking this.

In fact everyone I have told about this, raves how well it works. I even had a Bible study teacher who was completely sore, swear it was the only thing that not only made her feel better after she had lost her voice but soothed her sore throat. I even had friends make it for people after they realized how good it was as a gift. You simply can add more lemon quarters or honey to your mixture as you begin to use it to make sure you have enough on hand.

There are some amazing benefits to using honey and lemons and this one for me works every single time!!!

The Trip of A Lifetime

Sometimes we can get so immersed in our favorite television shows that we would give anything to simply be on the set, watching the action unfold. I had the chance quite awhile to do just that when I worked installing cell phones in cars back in the day, when car kits were big. Our assignment was in Burbank, not sure where exactly and we found ourselves meeting with Jackie Cooper. Now some of you might be saying who? But if you're my age, you just might remember. He was one of the Little Rascals, he was also Perry White from Superman, and was on the television show Cagey and Lacy. When we pulled up, we meet him and he instructed us in where he wanted his phone to go in his car and when we were done, he took us inside to watch an episode being filmed. It was truly a great honor to be there not only because it was amazing seeing how filming of a television show happened, but we were treated like important people because we knew Mr. Cooper.

Often times people will flock to Universal Studios for the same purpose, to see where their favorite movies and television shows are filmed. It seems to make it all the more real instead of simply just watching it on television or on the big screen. Some even hope for their five minutes of fame and being discovered by some director or producer just looking for that right person.

God is much the same way. He created each of us with a unique purpose in mind. To be someone with a real purpose. He created us as a one-of-a-kind masterpiece and a true work of art. But if you ask yourself the real question, do you believe it, most of us don't see anything special about ourselves. So how do we remedy that problem?

I believe it's through spending time with God reading His word, the Bible. It's only in knowing more about Him that we can begin to see the truth that has been right in front of us the whole time. We can feel important, because in God's eyes, we are!

Each time, I hear about people taking a trip to visit the Holy Lands, or Israel I often am wishful in hoping one day I might get up the courage to go. I have an issue with flying on a plane so that is where my obstacle is for now, but I love looking at the pictures. I would LOVE to get a sense for how it feels to simply be in the places I've only read about but I know exist for real. To be baptized in the Jordan river, to take a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee, to pray in the gardens just outside the tomb of Jesus, to walk along the ancient streets where Jesus taught and walked with his people, to look upon the wailing wall, to visit Bethlehem at night, and so many other special places where I know Jesus as a man, lived and walked this earth. I know God is with me wherever I go, but for me, there is a sense of purpose in wanting to be there, to just breath the air and simply just sit and bask in the presence.

What about you? If you got the opportunity to visit the Holy Land, what would you like to see? Where would you go? What would you do when you got there? I'd love to hear your answers.

Is a Happy Marriage Possible?

So many of my friends have commented about the ongoing relationship I share with my husband Steve going over 16 years of marriage now but having dated and been friends for almost 19 years. Often times we can see the condition of our own marriage through the eyes of others, especially non believers. Often times we can think things are going along perfectly but when looked at through someone else's eyes the picture is completely different.

While sitting in church last night, the question was raised to husbands what would happen if you were asked to write a list of the things your wife loves the most, what makes her happy. How accurate do you think you'd be?

Then he asked, what if we asked your wife to grade your paper, how well do you think you'd be then?

Most men when challenged probably think they have a pretty good understanding to what makes their wife happy. In fact, it was overheard in a conversation some time ago, that if you want to make your wife happy, agree with her. Let her always be right.

I would have to disagree.

Wives don't want to be right, at least not all the time, and definitely when we are not right. That would be lying right?

So how can you truly find a way to make your marriage last not just exist?

I believe the first step is where our foundations are being built. If your marriage isn't founded on Jesus Christ, good luck in the odds of that working out for you both.

I'd take my chances with God over anything else anyone could ever promise me, including my own husband. You know why?

"Because with God ALL things are possible to those who believe." ~ Mark 9:23. (  Not just some things, ALL things. Who better to keep things together than the Creator who designed and blesses marriages!

God is the one who designed marriage to work and thus the one who will keep it together as long as we are willing to do our part. We can't sit back and expect it to grow without work. It takes a joint effort too, not just one person while the other sits back and enjoys the benefits.

God's Word pretty much helps us understand the work involved and He's pretty clear on what each of us needs to do to make it last.

1. "Husbands are to love their wives like Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word, that He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such things [that she might be holy and faultless] Even so husbands should love their wives as [being in a sense] their own bodies. He who loves his own wives loves himself. For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and carefully protects and cherishes it, as Christ does the church." ~ (Ephesians 5:25-29 Amplified)

What does this mean? Willing to do whatever it takes to ensure success and growth, even willing to die for her if necessary. It means putting her needs ahead of yours. There is no selfish motives within and he's not working to please her just so he can get brownie points either. It is the unconditional sacrifice of doing, expecting NOTHING in return. If we expect our efforts to be noticed, then our motives are wrong and selfish. Not honoring God in the process. Husbands are asked to go first, because according to God's law they are the leaders of their house, their wives are much more likely to follow suit if they set the example. Again without expecting ANYTHING in return for their efforts. Their hearts have to line up with God's.

2. "Wives are submit to their husbands. (Ephesians 5:33b) "and let the wife see that she respects and reverences her husband [that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, venerates, and esteems him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly.]". Amplified Bible.

There's that word submit. Some husbands interpret that to mean to be slave like and that is NOT what the Bible means. It means if the husband is being the spiritual leader in the house, loving his wife like is explained above, what wife wouldn't want to be lead to do things in the same way for her husband? Wives were never meant to be treated like doormats to walked on, stepped on and mistreated. They were meant to be cherished, nurtured and protected as well as loved.

Once these guidelines are willing to be filled by both the husband and wife, establishing a solid Christ foundation as their base, then the marriage will be on solid ground. But the minute one of us falls to the way side, the balance shifts. Think of it like a triangle with God being at the top of the triangle and the husband and wife and the bottom two corners. The more that each work towards their own relationship with God, the closer they each come to one another as they move up the triangle towards God. When one or both falls away from God, they fall further away from one another.

If you are struggling in your own marriage, these might be a great time to examine where you find either yourself or your spouse in relation to that triangle. Are you moving towards God or away from God, if so is it any wonder why the marriage is less than happy or problems are creeping in, conflicts are happening?

The solution is simple. Move back towards your right relationship with God.

There is a reason our marriage has stood the test of time. We both have committed our lives personally and together with God being our center. Without God, we will struggle like everyone else. We may even wonder if marriage is worth it, worth trying to hold on to in this rapidly disposable world where if you don't like things, change them.

I caution you if that is where you find yourself now. GOD CAN change anything and ANYONE, if you are willing to do YOUR part. God can restore marriages! He can restore right relationships! He can work in your life if you are willing to commit your relationship and marriage to God. Even if you are the only one willing, I've seen God restore marriages on the brink of divorce and even bring them back after divorce. But it takes faith and strength to walk the walk.

If you need prayer in this area, or want to talk, please send me an email and I'd be happy to pray for you in any way. I believe marriages can be better than all the fairy tales we've ever read about because I serve a God that created them. 

Oh and just in case your wondering, Yes! That is my official wedding picture from February 9, 1998! I love my husband more now that I did that day and I can't wait to spend an eternity with Jesus and him!

True North

Lately I've been debating just which quilt pattern I want to attempt next, but have always been drawn towards the Mariner's Compass. It's such a beautiful but complex pattern to attempt to quilt but I think there is a reason I've been drawn to the sea my entire life.

There is something amazing about the sea. It's endless, meaning it has no end and no beginning, It just is. Surely all the oceans are linked and they all stay within the borders of not overflowing onto the land masses on earth but it's more than that. People have long admired the sea. Not knowing what lies beneath the deep dark blue waters, or just how far it goes. One can simply set out on a destination and ride the wind blown waves to another shore given enough provisions and patience.

The sea calls.

The waves seem to beckon us to draw near and come in.

There is a lull to be immersed into the waters when we can be rocked by the waves.

I often wondered at the salt content in the water. Why God chose salt as the basis for water's unique taste.

The Bible says God carefully keeps every single one of our tears in a bottle and often times, I wonder if those aren't poured out into the oceans kept preserved until the end of the world.

Psalm 56:8 ~ "You keep track of all my sorrows, You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book." 

If God cares enough about each of our sorrows, each of our tears, you can surely believe He cares about whatever you're going through right this minute. 

But is also danger found in the ocean. When rogue waves come at us unexpectedly. When turbulent hurricane blow with unparrelled power threatening everything in its path.

Even an experienced captain has often found himself at the mercy of a storm and his only prayer is for God to save him.

And sometimes God saves and sometimes He doesn't.

There is a saying that a skilled mariner does not gain his experience and skill in calm waters, but in turbulent storms and I believe that is true. 

But throughout it all a captain would never venture into the ocean without his navigation equipment or his compass. Because despite what things look like around him, the compass will always point to true north. Once you know where true north is, you can find your bearings.

God is like that, being our True North. He is our ultimate destination. When storms of life threaten to overcome us, we can find comfort when we realize where True North is. We can use our compass, or Bible because it will always point to the truth. No matter what we find ourselves in the midst of, the Bible will always provide us with God's truth to endure and overcome our storms. It will never mislead us. If we are only willing to use it wisely.

We would never look at a compass and say, well I want this to point me to where I need to go, I'm not sure that's north or not, why doesn't it simply tell me where to go. No, we simply are given the choice to follow where it points and make the decision to use our skills to gain the insight to find our home port. Where safety resides.

I would encourage you if you are feeling lost, alone and out to sea without hope, that you'll find a Bible and search for the answers. I can promise you, you will not be disappointed in what you find inside. Your True North awaits.

Craving Salt?

I don't know about you but there are certainly times when I crave salt. From buttered popcorn in a movie theater, to adding a little extra to my pizza, I love salt. I love soft pretzels with salt and mustard, and it's a must on a turkey sandwich with mayo using Thanksgiving leftovers! Just thinking about it makes my mother water.

But have you really thought about why God uses the analogy of believers being the "salt" of the earth?

What would happen if all the Christian believers were to simply vanish?

Besides there being a mass, chaotic unrest in the world, after a while, people might begin to enjoy the fact that those so-called ignorant religious people with their version of right and wrong are gone and the world can now do what it wants without any consideration or thought to someone telling them it's wrong.

That is precisely the reason for Christians to become salty! We add flavor! We are meant to enhance the way things are in this world, making it better by showing people how wonderful life can be when you are walking in the truth of what the Bible has to say.

Oh I can just imagine some people cringe when they hear us read what the Bible has to say. There is conviction when light is shined on the dark, when our sins are revealed. We don't like that and want to flee into some place of safety, some place to hide.

We don't want to give up what we are doing and we feel justified and attempt to rationalize it anyone who will listen.

Don't believe me?

Why is it the very people who are in support of  abortion are against capital punishment?

They believe in the killing of innocent, unborn babies, but feel justified in not killing another person who deserves punishment? Why is it that those that support abortion don't realize that if their parents decided on abortion, they won't be among the living.

The Bible is very clear on a few truths people want to run from!

1. God created marriage. Not man/man or woman/woman but man and woman! He even defines it further after the creation of Adam and Eve with the 5th commandment, Honor your father and mother. Not father/father or mother/mother but parents, a father and a mother.

Genesis 2:21-24, "And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam; and while he slept, He took one of his ribs or a part of his side and closed up the flesh. And the rib or part of his side which the Lord God had taken from the man He built up and made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. Then Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man. Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall become united and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh."

Exodus 20:12 - " Regard (treat with honor, due obedience, and courtesy) your father and mother, that your days may be long in the land of the Lord your God gives you.

2. God created family which is why there is such an all out assault against what God has defined and formed. People now want you to accept that anything goes when it comes to family. But the Bible is clear on what God deems is a family.

3. Abortion is a sin and is murder of the unborn baby. Life doesn't begin at birth, it begins at conception.

Psalm 139: 13 ~ "For you did form my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are Your works, and that my inner self knows right as well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in secret intricately and curiously wrought in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days were written before every they took shape, when as yet there was none. "

Jeremiah 1: 5 ~"Before I formed you in the womb I knew and approved of you, and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you;"

You might not like God's laws, but they are true because He said so. Anything different from that is sin, simply stated.

You will hear people saying that they are born that way, that they can't change, well I would argue against that simply saying that just because we feel a certain way, doesn't mean we should act on those things that are clearly defined by God as wrong. I simply say we are all born sinners, but we are commanded by God to resist committing sin, whether that is homosexual urges, lust for anything outside of marriage, murder, lying, stealing, you name it. Just because we have the urge doesn't mean we are born that way.

We need to resist those temptations, even those that are stronger than others, but it doesn't mean we need to fall into that pattern of doing it. Everyone struggles in certain areas of sin but it is what we decide to do with those temptations that define whether we are following God's law or our own definition.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

For now, we need to remember that once salt loses it's saltiness, we are no longer effective. We must walk in the path's God has laid before us. We need to spread out, because like salt, it works better when it is sprinkled out not poured!

What Does Your Testimony Point To?

If we have lived in this life long enough, most of us have dealt with storms that have threatened to overwhelm us. We've all heard the saying, "God doesn't give you more than you can handle," or "what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger." We often question as believers where was God when our world came crashing down. Perhaps it was the loss of a job that has now placed you in precarious financial difficulty not knowing how you will make it from one month to another while the bills keep pouring in and unexpected situations come up when you need them the least. Maybe you have lost someone you love, a spouse, a child, a family member of some sort or a close friend. Now you wonder where God was when He could have healed them or prevented them from dying? Maybe you are watching your marriage disintegrate right before your eyes, taking that future love and hope with it, destroying your family and children in the process. Or perhaps its something you have done, that you are now dealing with the regrets of that decision, wishing you could go back and do it differently?

Why?

Why does God permit these situations to occur when clearly He can do something to prevent them from happening?

Someone once quoted, that God surely thinks I am one strong person, because He keeps giving me things I didn't think I could deal with.

But I believe that are to help others not only in their walk of faith, but to point others to God in the process.

Think about all the storms you have endured...you survived every single one. You made it through the other side.

Sure you may have been battered and bruised and barely breathing when you emerged, but you survived.

All the things we go through are meant to help us move from one stage of life to another and to help others move along as well. We show people that we might be barely hanging on getting through it minute by minute, but we are moving through it.

These all become part of our testimony. Our way of being able to share with people what it's like to have gone through it all and made it out the other side.

It is encouraging for people to see we can make it.

I know looking back on every single situation, often times decades later, every time I went through a storm, big or small God has EVERY SINGLE time, used it for good, for His glory and for me to be able to shine the light on Him.

From enduring an abortion at 17 and living with the bitterness and pain for 30 years later, God would give me a way to share that story to an adopted son who was questioning his own birth mother giving him up for adoption and thus struggling with forgiveness for her.

For realizing that despite a tough divorce and custody battle that created such heart break, I never thought I would survive by a man who was a Christian, who ultimately moved my only child at the time 3000 miles away keeping me from seeing her unless I wanted to pay to see her or wait for summer visits. I can now share with other parents and wives going through the same thing, you can survive. God will restore things to you if you remain faithful. Possibly not with the same person, but with someone you didn't even see coming that would bless your life in countless ways.

For enduring not only one job loss, but multiple ones, back to back that left us with the struggle of making our house payments and keeping our electricity on. We watched as God's accounting worked miracles that even looking back by staying diligent with our tithes to the church and believing God will work it out, we never lost anything, not even our home during the process.

When a bad loan threatened to take the home we worked so hard to keep during the financial downturn in 2008 and my husbands loss of a job within a week of that, God not only found us a better home, cheaper payments and restored a job to my husband that literally was twice as good as the one he left behind.

In all of it, our faith has wavered at times, but we never gave up believing in the midst of what we couldn't see, God did see and would bring us through it time and time again. It is so we can continually remind others, encourage others that God is always there. He will use it ALL for his good and His glory and without a doubt, you will come through it all if you are willing to hold on and keep your faith.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." ~ Philippians 4:13

I would love to know your testimony and how you made it through your storm if you would love to share it with me in the comment box below. If you are going through a storm right now, let me know how I can pray for you. I'd be most honored!

Wonder if God is Up to Something!

If you look around in the world today, you have to agree that things are changing. I believe sometimes it even changes overnight, but lately is seems in my heart and soul, God is getting ready to stir something big. Not sure when it will happen but here are some things I've noticed lately.

When I went to the movies over the weekend, there were some incredible trailers for upcoming movies, Noah, starring Russell Crowe and Heaven is For Real with Greg Kinnear are both coming out in 2014. Even some of the movie posters are reflecting the same thing, with Son of God with Roma Downey coming to theaters around Easter of 2014 as well as Left Behind with Nicholas Cage coming this summer.

Now I don't know about you, but this is a first for me seeing Hollywood taking a serious stab at bringing messages from God to the big screen. Will there be subtle changes to the overall message since it's coming from Hollywood? Without a doubt, but for me, this is the first time, you've seen such an influx of religious based movies all culminating from Hollywood in a single year.

Doesn't that strike you as odd?

Is God trying to say something to gain our attention?

Not only that but this year, there is a possibility of something happening in the nation of Israel with the culmination of the Fourth Blood Moon occurrence slated to begin this year. 

"The next time the Four Blood Moons begin to appear will be in April 2014. NASA has projected that the Tetrad will begin on April 2014 and end in September 2015. It will occur in the following sequence:

1. Passover, April 15, 2015
2. Feast of Tabernacles, October 8, 2014
3. Passover, April 4, 2015
4. Feast of Tabernacles, September 28, 2015

After the appearance of the second Blood Moon  and before the third Blood Moon where will be a total solar eclipse on March 20, 2015.

What is the significance of these Four Blood Moons?

It is very rare that Scripture, science, and historical events align with one another, yet the last three Four Blood Moon series of Tetrads have done exactly that. Remember, several Tetrads have occurred in the past five hundred years; only three have corresponded to the Jewish Feasts as well as being linked to historical events significant to Israel. Seven more Tetrads will take place in the twenty-first century, however only one of these seven, the Tetrad of 2014-2015, will align itself with the Feasts of the Lord.

"I will show wonders in the heaven and in the earth:
Blood and fire and pillars of smoke.
The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord." ~ Joel 2:30-31

A Shemittah year occurs every seven year; it's known as a time of rest for the land much like the Sabbath, which occurs every seven days, it is a time of rest for man. While observing Shemittah guarantees abundance, neglecting it leads to judgement.

Every seven years we experience a Shemittah year in which God allows something to happen that gets our undivided attention whether we are ready or not! Just look at what happened in the last several Shemittah years:

1973 - The Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade occurred, which has resulted in the deaths of more than 60 million unborn babies.
1980 - Saddam Hussein invaded Iran to signal the beginning of the Gulf War years.
1987 - A supernova that could be seen by the naked eye for the first time since 1604 occurred. That same year, the U.S. stock market crashed.
1994 - Yasser Arafat returns to the Middle East. A rare earthquake occurred in North America on the New Madrid fault line; it spanned the Midwest of the United States up to Canada.
2001 - America was attacked by radical Islamic terrorists killing nearly 3000 Americans on 9/11
2008 - America experienced a stock market crash on Sept 29 when the market fell 777 point in one day. It was the greatest decline in the history of Wall Street.

Now add seven years and that brings us to 2015, in which you will find the last two Four Blood Moons of 2014-2015. Remember God does everything at a "set time" (Psalm 102:13)

We know that only three Tetrads have occurred in the last 500 years that are significant to Israel and also fall on the Jewish Feasts. We also know that there are the only Tetrads that have had a total solar eclipse soemwhere within the series. The coming Tetrad in 2014-2015 will also contain a total solar eclipse within its series. But what is different between the previous Tetrads significant to Israel and the coming Tetrad?

Unlike the others, this series of Four Blood Moons contains a Shemittah year beginning September 25, 2014, and concluding September 13, 2015. Astoundingly, this Shemittah year will begin on the first day of the Jewish New Year (Feast of Trumpets) of 2014 and conclude on the following celebration of the Jewish New Year (Feast of the Trumpets) in 2015. Now this is where is gets interesting:

The occurrence of a lunar eclipse is common.
The occurrence of a total lunar eclipse is less common.
The occurrence of a Tetrad or four consecutive Blood Moons (total lunar eclipses) is rare.
The occurrence of a Tetrad with a total solar eclipse within its series is very rare.
A Tetrad with a total solar eclipse that is significant to Israel's history and the Jewish Feasts is very, very rare.
The occurrence of a Tetrad with a total solar eclipse historically significant to Israel and Jewish Feasts that includes a Shemittah year within its series is very, very, very rare.
But a Tetrad with a total solar eclipse, historically significant to Israel and Jewish Feasts with a Shemittah year that corresponds with the Feasts of Trumpets (Jewish New Year) within its series is astronomically rare!" (Four Blood Moons by John Hagee).

"Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." ~ Luke 21:28

I believe these occurrence are not concidental! This is the hand of God orchestrating something big is coming. Something that will change the world forever.

But the bigger question is, are we watching and listening?

Is God giving us one final opportunity to pay attention and make a decision to follow him?

I believe He is!


**You can find out more information about the significance of the Four Blood Moons by John Hagee and seeing how the first three Blood Moons impacted Israel in historically significant ways in his book Four Blood Moons at your local book retailer.

Do Something!

Just looking at the title of this post, what did you think it would be about? I'm curious what your first impressions would be?

When I looked at it after I wrote it, I thought it sounded a bit harsh. Like someone yelling at an inconsiderate driver, or should I say what appears to be an inconsiderate driver to them?

While I get ready in the morning, it's habit to take my Kindle and put on my Pandora station, Christian Contemporary and listen to whatever songs God brings my way while I get my hair and make up ready. I wasn't feeling in the most joyful mood because I wasn't happy about my attitude last night when I went to bed. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the travel my hubby has been doing and it's been H & G, Hi and Goodbye with him lately. So chores, errands, and everything else has been falling in my lap along with helping him pack and unpack between his trips.

I came across a song I hadn't heard before from Matthew West called Do Something. If you haven't heard it, I have included the video below and would encourage you to listen to it and see how or if it impacts you at all. I convicted me big time.

The words convey the simple truth the no matter what is happening in the world, we watch the news or listen to the radio and simply shake our head. Why isn't someone doing something to stop these things from happening. Homeless people continue to add to the growing population and we get our charitable moments in when we hand them some money hoping it will alleviate their burden to do something to help.

Now don't get me wrong it is something, but on a bigger scale, can't we as communities, churches, cities, states, do something much larger? Find solutions to help them get off the street and get back on their feet again. I look around and see all empty vacant buildings and wonder why we can't lease some of them out with the promise to start working around them to clean up neighborhoods and contribute to making our cities more pleasing to the eye.

I've read that if all the churches in every city took in one homeless person, there would be no more homeless people anywhere.

If all the people who could adopt a child, simply opened their homes, there would be no more adoptable children in the world. No more orphans.

If all the people in the world simply shared what God has blessed them with already, there would be no more hunger in the world anywhere.

So why don't we?

Because we are all waiting for someone else to do something.

We are all waiting for God do something.

But God has!

He created YOU!

YOU CAN DO SOMETHING.

What will you do to make an impact?

We all want to leave behind lasting legacies, imagine what would happen if we all did what we could, step outside of our attitudes and did what we could. If we ALL did what we could.

The possibilities are something!

I would encourage you to make a personal declaration like Andy Andrew's created in his book The Final Summit to "Do Something!"

"Knowing that all those who "arrive have to begin where they are. I choose to begin now. At this moment, I will do something.

For too long, I have allowed fearful thoughts to dominate my life. Now I recognize fear as a misuse of the creative imagination that has been placed inside me. In the past, I have allowed fear to shove all hope aside. No more! Fear no longer has any power to stop me from doing what I know to be right and true. I am no longer afraid. I am courageous. Right now, I will do something.

The person who faces hardships gains no strength. Though I do not look for hardships, I am grateful for its results, for I have grown mighty in soil mixed with troubles. My roots are not deep. My mind and heart have become powerful A beautiful flower cannot be created without fertilizer. A dazzling gem cannot be polished without great friction and am better because of it. Now it is time for me to do something.

I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I can do something right now. Never again will I allow what I cannot do to interfere with what I can do. Circumstances are rulers of the weak. I am not weak. Neither discouragement nor despair will stop me from doing something and doing it now. I am strong minded. I can make myself do something I would rather not do, in order to get a result that I do want. I will do something. And I will do it now.

My life, which was once a question mark, is now a statement. Stormy seas do not scare me, for I am the calm in the storm. My past is behind me and my future is bright because I now know the secret of the present. I will do something and I will do it now.

Right now. I will do something for my family. Right now. I will do something for my friends. Right now. I will do something for those who do not even know my name. For my family, my friends, and the strangers of the world are valuable in my Creator's sight. I will let them know that I recognize that fact by my actions. I now know that my smile, my words, my attitude are actions. They are all under my control. I am prepared to run my race. I am ready to hit the mark. I will now do my part in restoring humanity to the pathway toward successful civilization.

I will do something. And I will do it right now!"

But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? (1 John 3:17)

True servants are merciful. They care. They get involved. They get dirty, if necessary. They offer more than pious words. And what do they get in return? What does Christ promise? "They shall receive mercy."

Those who remain detached, distant, and disinterested in others will receive like treatment. But God promises that those who reach out and demonstrate mercy will, in turn, receive it---from other people as well as from God Himself.

Not about the Numbers, It's About the Message!

When I started blogging over 4 years ago, it was exciting when you watched your number of followers increase. First you were excited when you got to 10, then 25, then 50 and you even told yourself if 100 people started following me, I would be content. Knowing that I had to say people wanted to listen to. Now that Social Media has exploded in all kinds of various forms from Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Linked In, Instagram, you name it, people want people to join them. to follow them.

Not much has changed in the last 2000 years. People still follow but now its not so much about the numbers as it is the message behind the numbers. What does it mean? More importantly what does it mean to you?

My initial reason for blogging was to share what was going on in my life at a time when Blogging was a big deal, now a days, I think people are moving towards a more simplified way of communication with fewer words. Twitter gives you only 140 characters in each "Tweet" so you really have to slim down what your message is in order to send it out. Facebook allows you to do the same thing, big or small, add photos, video, you name it. Even some bloggers are trimming down their message because people don't have time to get to the point of what you're saying, unless you make it relevant to them.

Like a personalized radio station, WIIFM, What's In It for Me! Why do I want to take the time to read what someone is writing, sharing or conveying.

It makes you wonder how many followers of Social Media would Jesus have? After He commissioned us to go out and share His message, Social Media is taking on a different flair. We can literally gain Biblical insight at the touch of a finger. No more digging around in card catalogs, huge reference books, encyclopedias, when you can YouTube it and watch and listen instead.

But I think we are missing it. We are missing the message behind all the numbers we get caught up in. There are those that we can't track or trace. Those people that stop by and read what you wrote but you have no real idea where the true numbers are. Lately God's been sharing with me to give up the numbers and focus on the message. His message. What I believe He wants me to share in His way.

So many people believed 2000 years ago, when they killed Jesus Christ, that His message, what He said and did, would simply fade away into the sunset, but it hasn't. It is still reaching people on a broader scale, in powerful, life changing ways. Even when you have lost all hope, is when God can do the most in your life. You are exhausted by all YOUR efforts and you simply are spent. Willing to try anything. I believe at times, God brings us to that point so we can pay attention, because despite all OUR efforts, nothing is changing.

God is so life changing that you don't need a money back guarantee. You simply need to be willing to try and simply believe.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life!" ~ John 3:16. 

We only have to believe in that simple message. It's that simple. Buddha can't do it for you Allah, Mohammed, Confucius, whatever else you want to call it, the answer is Jesus Christ. Believe in Him and what He has done and You shall be saved. Ask Him into your life.

Don't believe it's that simple? Ask Him to reveal Himself to you. Take the challenge. You have everything to lose if you don't and trust me, when you get to the end of this life if you haven't accept Jesus, you won't like the alternative. There is ONLY ONE WAY, Jesus said it.

" Jesus answered, "I am THE way, THE truth, THE life. No one comes through the father except through Me." ~ John 14:6. 

I'm not saying how to get to Heaven, Jesus did.

I'm taking my chances on Him and so far, He hasn't let me down yet. The world may let me down, I know I will still have struggles and storms, but I don't have to face them alone. I got God on my side.

How about you?

What is the message your hearing today?