READY

 Happy Sunday!

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:"(Hosea 4:6 KJV).

When you hear anyone preaching Gloom and Doom, remember this, even Jesus did not know when the world as we know it would end.  In Matthew 24:36, Jesus said, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only."(KJV).   What Jesus stressed more than fear was readiness.  Matthew 24:44 says, "Therefore be ye also READY: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."(KJV).  Read Matthew 24 for yourself.  Yes, I have to admit the things that Jesus described are definitely happening in our world today.  He said there would be wars, and rumors of wars, famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes.  But in Matthew 24:8 he warned that, "All these are the beginning of sorrows."(KJV).  WOW!  That's scary!  This is only the beginning?  Yes, he goes on to describe even more trouble..."Then you will be arrested and handed over to be punished and killed. People all over the world will hate you because you believe in ME. During that time many believers will lose their faith. They will turn against each other and hate each other.  Many false prophets will come and cause many people to believe things that are wrong. There will be so much more evil in the world that the love of most believers will grow cold.  But the one who REMAINS FAITHFUL to the end will be saved.  And the Good News I have shared about God’s kingdom will be told throughout the world. It will be spread to EVERY nation. Then the end will come."(Matthew 24:9:14, Easy-to-Read Version).  

Don't miss this!  1 John 3:8 says that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil.  When we follow Jesus, his mission becomes our mission!  Our purpose and life goal should be to destroy the works of the devil every day!   In Matthew 24, Jesus said the Good News that he preached would be preached to the entire world, then the end will come.  Each day as you do your part to fight poverty, ignorance, sickness, injustice, homelessness, hopelessness, depression, sadness, and sin...you are helping to bring the return of our Lord closer.  

It will take time and effort to study the Word for yourself.  But in the Bible times, even the blind and lame were made to work.  OK, I know what you are thinking...she's really lost it now!  But read it for yourself.  The blind and lame were taken to the local thoroughfares by their families to beg.  Sounds like work to me.  No disability checks!  No welfare!  They were expected to use what they had to improve their lives, even if it was just their voice used to ask for money!  Jesus told a story in Luke 16:19-20, "There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:  And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was LAID at his gate, full of sores,"(KJV).   Mark 10:46 says, "And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, SAT by the highway side begging."(KJV).  And Acts 3:2 says, "And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they LAID daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;"(KJV).  So there is NO EXCUSE for us!  If you miss out on God's BEST because of your own laziness and ignorance don't blame the Man. 

Love and prayers, Cynthia

All Night, All Day, Angels Watching Over Me

 Happy Sunday!

"Don’t forget to be kind to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!"(Hebrews 13:2 TLB).  

What is the ministry or assignment of angels? Great question. I'm so glad you asked!

Angels are assigned to PROTECT US. Psalm 91:11-12 says, "For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will steady you with their hands to keep you from stumbling against the rocks on the trail."(TLB).  Do you remember the story of Daniel?  Targeted by haters, thrown in the lion's den. The next morning when the king ran out to see what had become of Daniel, Daniel replied, "My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths so that they couldn't hurt me. He did this because he considered me innocent. Your Majesty, I haven’t committed any crime.” Daniel 6:22 (GW).  Don't take this story for granted.  Those same lions devoured Daniel's accusers.

The King of Syria was out to get the prophet Elisha. Elisha's servant went out and discovered they were surrounded by the Syrian Army. Elisha told his servant, "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them." 2 Kings 6:16 (KJV).  He prayed that the servant's eyes be opened. The servant looked again and saw, "The whole mountainside full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha!" (2 Kings 6:17 Message).

Angels RESPOND to the Word of God.  One Pastor said, "Get your angels out of the unemployment line!"  Angels respond to prayers that line up with the Word!  When you speak the Word, you give the angels something to work with. Proverbs 18:21 says, "Words have power in matters of life and death, and those who love them will savor their fruit."(Voice).  Angels are sent to minister to you.  Did you hear that?  These are not little fat babies with wings! The normal response to seeing an angel was fear and dread. Every time an angel appeared to a person in the Bible the angel had to say, "Fear not!"  The prophets saw angels and fainted or fell as dead men.  Angels are fully equipped, capable, and strong enough to do what must be done! Hebrews 1:14 says, "Did God ever say to any of the heavenly messengers, sit here, at My right hand, in the seat of honor; and I’ll put all Your enemies under Your feet? No, of course not. The heavenly messengers are only spirits and servants, sent out to MINISTER to those who will certainly inherit salvation."(Voice).

How can I put my angels to work?  Great question! Get the Word in your mouth and speak it OUT LOUD.  If you are experiencing financial difficulty, don't moan and complain about how broke you are! Speak out loud..."The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack."(Psalm 23:1 AMP).  Are you having problems at work or in your business? Speak the Word...Psalm 1 says that those who follow the Lord and obey..."Everything they do is successful."(Psalm 1:3 ERV).  Are you sick? Speak the Word to your body... “Through His wounds, you were healed.” (1 Peter 2:24 Voice). 

Love and prayers, Cynthia

GREATER

 Happy Sunday!

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because GREATER is he that is in YOU, than he that is in the world."(1 John 4:4 KJV).

Does this scripture encourage you?  I hope so!  It encourages me in so many ways.  First, the Apostle John wasn't teaching a Children's Church, but he referred to the readers as "Little Children".  When we are Born Again, we are the children of God.   We can be as close to God as little children.  "Jesus called a small child over to him and set the little fellow down among them, and said, “Unless you TURN to God from your SINS and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, anyone who HUMBLES HIMSELF as this little child is the GREATEST in the Kingdom of Heaven."(Matthew 18:2-4 TLB).

Second, the Apostle understood that there are some unsavory characters in the world.  There are obstacles that we face, and issues will arise.  He wrote, "My dear friends, don’t BELIEVE everything you hear. Carefully WEIGH and EXAMINE what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God COMES from God. There are a lot of lying preachers loose in the world."(1 John 4:1 Message).   Mark 4:24 says, "And He said to them, be careful what you are HEARING. The MEASURE of THOUGHT and STUDY you give to the TRUTH you hear will be the measure of VIRTUE and KNOWLEDGE that comes back to you—and MORE besides will be given to you who hear."(AMPC).

Don't miss this!  We have a part to play in the Greater!  The Apostle Paul told Timothy, "STUDY to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY dividing the word of truth."(2 Timothy 2:15 KJV).  Study the Bible and learn the Truth.  Then do what James 4:7 says, "SUBMIT yourselves therefore to God. RESIST the devil, and he will flee from you."(KJV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

By Grace

 Happy Sunday!

"God saved YOU by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is NOT a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it."(Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT).

"Once you were DEAD because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, OBEYING the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is THE spirit at work in the hearts of those who REFUSE to obey God.  ALL of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature.  By our very NATURE we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

BUT God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us SO much, that even though we were dead because of OUR SINS, he gave us LIFE when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he RAISED us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 

So, God can point to US in all future ages as EXAMPLES of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as SHOWN in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus."(Ephesians 2:1-7 NLT).

Love and prayers, Cynthia