Monthly Archives: August 2016

Revelations

Revelation 22:15-17

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Revelation 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely
 
The Scripture now is telling us what kind of world we live in now after showing us what the followers God have waiting for them in eternity. Verse 15 list pretty much every type of evil person and sin that can be committed even down to the one that loveth a lie, and do we know prominent people today who fit this category. But Jesus says next that ” I “, send an angel to testify unto you and to the churches that He is the only way to to the life eternal tha twe have seen in this last chapter. That He is the bright and morning star that will light that eternal city. Now a final invitation is given to those that hear these words and the ones that are athirst to come and drink of the water of life freely. You know this is the same message the church of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is trying to get our to struggling and hurting world. The sad part about a lot this is that most people do not know what they are looking for or where to find it.
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Walking Through the Fire

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(notes from August 2010)

This morning, during my Bible study time, I read through the first and third chapters of Daniel. I’ve always loved the stories about Daniel and his friends Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego.

The third chapter starts off with King Nebuchadnezzar building a large golden image for everyone to worship. Anyone who doesn’t will be thrown into a fiery furnace.

In chapter 2, Daniel had interpreted the king’s dream to him, and the king had acknowledged that the God of Daniel was great and mighty; he had also put Daniel and the other three young men in places of power.

But the king builds this golden image, and commands everyone to worship it, and everyone does; everyone except the three Hebrew men. The other ‘wise men’ report them to the king. He gets very angry, but gives them another chance. They tell him they don’t even have to answer him, that they aren’t going to worship the golden image. The next words are so powerful, I want to quote them:

“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. ” Daniel 3:17-18

Make sure you realize what that says: they know God is powerful enough to save them, but even if He doesn’t, they’re going to continue to serve Him, and not false gods.

The king has the fire built up seven times hotter than normal, and has the men tied up; they’re thrown into the fire by strong soldiers, but the fire is so hot, it kills the soldiers. The men who were tied up are now walking around in the fire, and another man is walking with them.

The king even asks his men how are four men in the fire, when they only threw in three. He realizes the extra man looks like the son of a god. He goes to the mouth of the furnace and tells the three men to come out; they have been kept safe – their clothes aren’t singed and they don’t even smell like smoke!

Once again, the king realizes that the God these men serve is the true God, and makes a new law that anyone who even speaks against God will be killed and their house destroyed.

For some reason, the part about their clothes not smelling like smoke is just as amazing to me as them not being burned; how many of you have ever cooked on a grill? You smell like smoke the rest of the day… smells seem to stick with us. I can remember a trip Randy and I took with Joey and Jennifer. We stopped for gas at a little convenience store. I went to take a potty break while Randy paid, and the kids stayed in the car. When we got back in, Joey immediately said, “did ya’ll get fried chicken?” When I asked him why, he said we both smelled like it. We were only in the store a few minutes, but the smell got into our clothes and hair immediately.

So God had his hands around those three young men so well that the smell couldn’t even get through. You know, He loves all of us just that much- enough to keep even the smell of smoke off of our clothes. Remember that, the next time you’re walking through the fire: whether it’s someone talking about you, or you’re having financial troubles, or your best friend has turned their back on you. All those things hurt, but God is with you all the way through it- and He’s powerful enough to keep you.

Revelations

Revelation 22:11-14

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Revelation 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
 
Verse 22 kinda goes back to just before the rapture because when that trumpet blows it is to late to change your mind to make the rapture and so whatever state you are in a saint or a sinner that is what you will be after the rapture. Again Jesus lets us know that when returns it will be quickly and those that stay true to the commandments of God will now receive their rewards. Which the greatest reward we can have is the opportunity to serve God in Heaven. Now Jesus lets us know that He has always been and will always be. God the Father. the Son, and the Holy Spirit have existed for all time and will eternally be and if you plan to spend eternity with them then the time is now to get on that narrow road that leads God’s saving grace. Another reward is that we get to eat from the Tree of Life and enter into the gates of that beautiful city. I know people say today they have heard it all their life the end is near, well just look around if you cannot see that it is closer than ever then you need to closer to God.
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A Cloud the Size of a Man’s Hand

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Do you ever have those times when you feel like Someone is trying to tell you something?

I remember a sermon our pastor preached, where  he mentioned some scripture about a cloud the size of a man’s hand – this wasn’t part of his main scripture, but he just mentioned it in a side illustration. Then a couple of days later, I heard someone on a radio station mention the same phrase – “a cloud the size of a man’s hand”.

The next day, a friend on Facebook used that phrase as her status .
I may not be the brightest bulb in the box, but I know when Someone is trying to get my attention. So I opened my e-Sword* software and found the chapter: I Kings 18. I started at the first of the chapter and read it, making notes as I went.
The chapter begins with Elijah going to see Ahab after a drought had been going on for three years. Elijah sees that Ahab, who is the king of Israel, has allowed pagan practices in the country. Elijah challenges the 450 prophets of Baal; the prophets of Baal will offer a sacrifice to their god, and Elijah will offer a sacrifice to God.
Whichever god consumes his offering with fire will be the true God. Baal’s prophets cry out all day, but nothing happens. When Elijah prays to God, the fire consumes not only the sacrifice, but the wood and stones of the altar, the water in the trench, and even the dust around the altar.

 

Some of the lessons I got from this chapter: one person standing up for what’s right is always in the majority; be willing to do what God asks you, even if you’re doing it by yourself; and just one person alone can call people back to God.

There are also some negative things to learn: Ahab was the king, but he allowed a woman (Jezebel) to lead him away from what he knew was right. Because he wanted peace between his kingdom and a neighboring kingdom, he allowed ungodly behavior into his house and his country. It’s good to be peaceable with others, but not at the expense of doing what’s right.
Of course, there are lots of other things to learn from this chapter; check it out for yourself!
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*e-Sword is a wonderful Bible study program – the main program is free, and there are lots of Bible versions, as well as dictionaries, maps, images, commentaries and other tools available – some are free, while others are very reasonably priced.

Revelations

Revelation 22:6-10

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Revelation 22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
 
Verses 6 to 9 takes us back to the early part of this book, when the faithful and true witness told us that He would send His angel to convey His message concerning the things that must come to pass. It starts off by emphasizing that the sayings of the book of Revelation are true and faithful that this is not a dream but the reality of what is going to happen. Next Jesus says behold I come quickly and all who keep the sayings or lives by the teaching in this book, the Bible, will be blessed. Because of what John saw and believed he fell down to worship the one who showed it to him, to many times today people want to worship a man because of their leading them to Christ, but just as the angel told John do not worship me worship God because all are servants to God for His gave and mercy shown to us. Also remember the state John was in when this all began, he had to be taken up into Heaven and his body totally healed to be able to see what he was shown. Then verse 10 he is told do not seal this up for the time is at hand and people need to understand the coming of our Lord an Savior is soon. For those that read this and never respond are you ready, and for those that do respond do you know people that are not ready?
A Note from Hope

Baby kittens everywhere! a Note from Hope

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baby kittens everywhere!Do you see what I see in this picture!? EIGHT baby kittens… EIGHT.

Do you remember the cat with fiery eyes? Well, these are her babies.  They really are cute; they smell like the other cats so I guess they’ll be OK. They just want to come up to me and smell me and touch me, so I have to dance around to stay out of their way (don’t forget, their mom slapped me a few weeks ago- I don’t want to make her mad again.)

I’ll be glad when they get big enough to really play with me- then we’ll really have fun!

Revelations

Revelation 22:1-5

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Revelation 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
 
We now learn a little more of what heaven will be like. There will be a river of life flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb and this river will be crystal clear. This water that flows is that same water Jesus told the woman at the well about. On either side of the river stood the Tree of Life, this is the first time this tree has been mentioned since the Garden of Eden, and it will bear twelve manner of fruit every month, and in eternity whet there is no night have you thought about how we tell time. The leaves of tree will be for the healing of nations,I have to believe this healing will be for the fellowship of the people because there will be no sickness in Heaven and to give us the energy to live a full an energetic life. There will be no more curse because all things have been restored to the way it was in the Garden of Eden at the beginning of time and God and the Lamb will walk with the people again and everyone will have access to Him anytime and we will be His servants. We will now be able to look in the face God and He will seal us with His name in our foreheads. Again it tells us ther will be no need for any light of any kind because the Lord gives the light and tells us also we will reign with Him forever an ever.
Revelations

Revelation 21: 22-27

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Revelation 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. 25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
 
Now we discover that there will be no temple, because there is no need for one. We will not need any kind of structure to worship God in other than the Holy City of God. There will also be no need for any light because the the Lamb of God will be all the light we need along with the glory of God. We will not have need of the the sun and moon. All that are saved and whose names are written in the Lambs book life will walk in the light of that shines all the time because there will be night. All will bring there glory and honor into the temple and can do it anytime because the gates of the city will never be shut. Even the nations, meaning all kinds of people no matter what nationality, will bring there glory and honor in. The gates do not have to be shut now because no one will have to worry about anyone stealing anything anymore, this is a place of peace and safety and refreshment where people can rest from labors. We are reassured that there will be no one that works any abomination or lies or sins in any way because all of that has passed away and everything has been made new and again only those whose names are written in Lambs book of life will be there.
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The Biker’s Creed

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(For Those Born Again to Be Wild)

I ride first and foremost because God has called me to do so.

But, I also ride because I enjoy the freedom I feel from being exposed to the elements, the vulnerability to the danger that is intrinsic to riding, and the pure pleasure of it.

I do not ride because it is fashionable to do so. Thus, I ride my machine, not wear it. My machine is not a status symbol—it exists for me by the grace of God.

My machine is not a toy—it is a mechanical wonder of steel and glass and rubber. As a good steward, I will treat it with all due respect. So, I will strive to understand all the inner-workings of my machine from the most basic to the most complex. I will learn everything I can about my machine so that I am reliant on no one but myself for its operation.

I will strive to constantly better my skills and control over my machine. I will learn its limits and use my skill so that I may ride safe and stay alive. I am the master of this machine, and it is my servant. Working together in harmony, we will become a team.

My machine should last longer than I do. Therefore, it is a legacy. I will care for it so that future bikers can enjoy it as much as I have.

I do not fear death for my life is in God’s hands. He has ordered the day and time of my death. Such fear must to be overcome with confidence in my Lord. I will, however, do everything possible to avoid death due to my own carelessness, inattentiveness, or recklessness.

I do not ride to gain attention, respect, or fear from those that do not ride, nor do I wish to intimidate or annoy them. For such non-riders that do not know me, I simply ask for them to try and get to know me. And, for those that do desire to know me, I will share with them the truth about myself so that they might understand me and not fear me nor others like me.

I will not judge other bikers on their choice of machine, their appearance, or their profession–I will see them only as bikers. I am thankful to God for who I am as a biker and for the machine that I ride, but I will not flaunt such before others. If others ask about who I am or what I do as a biker, I will share with them.

I will show respect to other bikers more experienced or knowledgeable that myself. I will learn from them all that I can. Too, I will not show disrespect to other bikers less experienced or knowledgeable than I am. I will teach them what I can.

It will be my task to mentor new riders in the biker lifestyle so that our lineage may continue. I will instruct them just as I have been taught– thus, preserving and honoring the traditions of bikers before me–and I will pass them on unaltered.

I will never pass by a biker pulled over on the side of a road, but I will stop and be ready to assist as best that I can any biker that truly needs my help.

I will never ask another biker to do for me what I can do for myself.

I will never be the aggressor on the highway; nevertheless, should others mess with me, their aggression will be dealt with in a manner that will both honor Jesus Christ as well as protect other bikers and myself from them.

I am not a part-time biker. I am a biker whenever and wherever I go. I am thankful to be a biker, and I hide my chosen lifestyle from no one. I ride because I love freedom, independence, and the movement of the ground beneath me as well as to better understand myself as God has created me to be. But the main reason that I ride is because I have been called of God to glorify Him by sharing the height and width and depth of His love to the bikers that He brings across my path.

(author unknown)

Revelations

Revelation 21:18-21

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Revelation 21:18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
Now we get to see the walls were made of and it was a material called Jasper which is a diamond like stone and the city itself was like unto pure gold like clear glass which will help God’s glory shine throughout the city. Now the foundations were made of different stones, first Jasper = Diamond, second Sapphire = A brilliant blue stone, third Chalcedony = Sky blue with colored stripes, fourth Emerald = Bright green stone, fifth Sardonyx = Red and white striped stone, sixth Sardius = Various shades of Red, seventh Chrysolite = Transparent gold or yellow, eighth Beryl = Shades of green, yellow and blue, ninth Topaz = Yellowish green, tenth Chrysoprasus = Gold tinted green, eleventh Jacinth = Blue or violet colored, twelfth Amethyst = Purple stone. All these stones will help set off a rainbow of beautiful colors because of the brilliant light of God’s glory. Now each gate to the city was one giant pearl, remember the walls are 1500 miles high and the streets were pure gold that were crystal clear. This is a city that the glory of God will shine through at all times and we will walk on streets of pure gold, something that is not even known to man today but the gold we have today is one of the most valuable things to man. To God it is just part of His kingdom because He owns everything. Today we place value on the too many material things and not enough value on spiritual things.