Category: Family

Easter – A PAGAN Celebration!

Jesus Yeshua was crucified on “PASSOVER”! He is our “Passover Lamb”

This Sunday, March 31, 2024, marks the collective celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Yeshua across the Christian world. However, a sad undertone exists within this joyous occasion—a mingling of the sacred and the profane. It is poignant that the ancient “pagan” Easter festivities, intertwined initially with the veneration of the springtime goddess Eostre in eighth-century England, have become entangled with the profound significance of our Lord and Savior’s Resurrection.

The Jewish Passover this year is on April 22, 2024. Moreover, Jesus was crucified on Passover as our Passover Lamb and His Resurrection was three days after His Crucifixion.

Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

The three days and nights in the belly of the whale are the only references to the time that Jesus gave us when he would rise from the dead. What more do we need than Jesus’s own words? As humanity becomes more ingrained in this world order that has been taking over planet Earth since the fall(sin) of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, humanity is becoming more resistant to the truths found in the Bible. The attitude of “go with the flow” and “do not rock the boat” are becoming predominant in our thinking.

Though historically rooted, this fusion bears the weight of centuries-old traditions deviating from Christian doctrine’s purity. As we reflect on the origins of these observances, we unveil a narrative that blends beliefs and rituals, challenging the essence of our faith.

In delving into history, we confront the unsettling truth that the resonance of pagan rites still echoes within our modern celebrations. It beckons us to reevaluate our participation, to scrutinize the rituals we engage in, and to discern the authenticity of our worship. We’ve incorporated pagan rituals from around the world in the name of evangelism. As we share Jesus Yeshua, we’ve been more concerned about feeding the body than feeding the soul, so we say oh, it’s okay to continue in your pagan customs; as long as you believe, it doesn’t matter.

However! It DOES MATTER! It doesn’t make sense for Christians to evangelize the world and then tell people it’s okay for them to continue in their pagan ways. The fundamental principle of evangelism in Christianity is to share the Gospel and the teachings of Jesus Christ and invite others to follow Him. Evangelism involves encouraging people to turn away from practices contrary to Christian beliefs, including pagan rituals or customs. So, enabling individuals to continue in pagan practices contradicts the core message of Christianity, which emphasizes repentance (change of mind), transformation, and adherence to the teachings of Jesus

This knowledge should make us rethink how we participate and examine the traditions we follow. Easter is one of these pagan traditions. Then, we must consider whether our worship is truly genuine. This discovery encourages us to embark on a profound journey, urging us to reconsider our role in these ancient echoes, carefully examine our traditions, and find the true spirit of our faith. In understanding the past, we illuminate the path to a more profound and authentic expression of our devotion to the risen Christ.

The King James Version of the Bible was translated in 1611; by then, the idea of Easter used in the translation was already ingrained into people’s minds. However, we must correct this, as we’re all shown illumination the more we study the Scriptures. Although many say it is perfectly okay to combine Easter with the Resurrection, I reiterate that, in my opinion, this practice is wrong! I will not tell you that you will lose your salvation because if you “BELIEVE” and “TRUST” in Jesus Yeshua as the Son of God as He says He is, you are saved! However, it could deeply wound your relationship with God, creating an urgent need for reconciliation and healing between you and Him.

Once more, I’d like to express my viewpoint: When we journey alongside the Lord, immerse ourselves in His teachings, and gain enlightenment, we naturally shed remnants of paganism. It’s widely recognized that the work of Satan influences pagan practices and their associated celebrations.

Let’s not forget that Jesus Yeshua was Jewish, and the “Old Testament (Tanakh)” the WORD, points us toward Him. Additionally, Jesus has either fulfilled or will fulfill all the Feasts outlined in Leviticus by Moses. Jesus Yeshua fulfilled over 300 prophecies from the books of Moses and the Old Testament. So, why do we presume to have the authority to change the day of Jesus’s Resurrection?

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

I recognize that the following verse in Daniel pertains to the times of the “Tribulation,” and the people (saints) referenced are the Jewish people, but it does give us insight we can use into the workings of Satan. As long as he is the “prince of this world,” he will do all he can to take our eyes off of the truth, and that, in part, is why I am writing this blog. Here is the TRUTH: when we celebrate fertility with eggs, bunnies, and the spring equinox, we are NOT celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Yeshua!

Daniel 7:25 (KJV) And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time

Irenaeus recounts that Polycarp, born between 69 and 70 AD to Christian parents, supposedly learned about Jesus directly from the Apostles and became a disciple of St. John the Evangelist. He later assumed the role of Bishop of the church in Smyrna. Polycarp actively worked to discourage Christians from participating in the Pagan Rome Celebrations, facing numerous challenges. Many of these pagan traditions, which continue to influence our Christian practices, are deemed falsehoods perpetuated by Satan.

Revelation 2:8-11 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; 9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Modern theologians suggest that because the word “angel” in the Bible translates to “messenger,” Jesus’s references to angels in the Book of Revelation in His letters to the churches may allude to the bishops or ministers of the congregations in these regions. Therefore, the fact that Polycarp was doing his best to “change the minds” of these Christians should wake us up to the fact that Satan has his claws in our church and our traditions.

In navigating the intricate relationship between Christianity and pagan influences, the concept of discernment emerges as a guiding principle for believers. Discernment, rooted in scriptural wisdom, empowers Christians to distinguish between what aligns with Christ’s teachings and what deviates from His truth.

Scripture exhorts believers to exercise discernment in all aspects of life, particularly in matters of faith and worship.

Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

This verse underscores the necessity for spiritual maturity cultivated through discernment, enabling Christians to recognize and reject falsehoods that seek to infiltrate their beliefs.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

These verses urges believers to trust in the Lord with all their hearts and lean not on their own understanding, but to acknowledge Him in all their ways. This acknowledgment encompasses the application of discernment, seeking God’s guidance and wisdom to discern truth from deception.

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Paul instructs believers to “test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” Here, Paul emphasizes the imperative of discernment, urging Christians to scrutinize every belief and practice against the standard of God’s word, holding fast to that which is righteous and rejecting that which is contrary to His truth.

James 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

James assures believers that if they lack wisdom, they need only ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault. This divine wisdom enables believers to navigate the world’s complexities with clarity and insight, distinguishing between the sacred and the profane.

In light of these scriptural cautions, Christians are called to approach their faith with discerning hearts and minds, diligently scrutinizing the traditions and practices they uphold. By grounding themselves in the truth of God’s word and seeking His wisdom through prayer, believers can safeguard against the infiltration of pagan influences into their worship and maintain the purity of their devotion to Christ.

Therefore, in the context of Easter celebrations and the encroachment of pagan customs, Christians must exercise discernment, carefully evaluating the origins and implications of their observances. By aligning their practices with the timeless truths of Scripture and relying on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, believers can uphold the sanctity of their faith and honor the resurrection of Jesus Christ without compromise.

For more information, please read these blogs:

Thank You God for Resurrection Day!
Friday – Sunday Adds up to 3 days & 3 nights?

God means what He says and says what He means! My hermeneutics are “literal.” Take the initiative to study the scriptures yourself and make your own decisions! Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Unto Us a Child is Born (Isaiah 9:6)

Man chose the date for us to celebrate His birthday!

Since it isn’t mentioned anywhere in the Bible, the actual date of the birth of Jesus the Messiah – Yeshua HaMashiach. In all actuality, a day was appointed by man as the birth date of Jesus. Early Christians had addressed the discussion of a date for His birth, but it was never decided upon. By 336 AD, the emperor Constantine established December 25th as the date Christians celebrate Christ’s birth. We take this date for granted, not because we know it’s the actual date, but because December 25th has been ingrained into our Christian minds and traditions. Not all people recognize that the exact date of His birth is somewhat of a mystery. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t celebrate the birth of our Savior; however, every day, we should celebrate His birth date, His death, His resurrection, His ascension, and especially the fact that “HE LIVES”!

A few facts in the Bible could give us a clue to His birthday, but nothing concrete to point to a specific date. Possibly, He was born during the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot, a “seven” day holy celebration commanded by God in the Torah. It begins on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei. It’s interesting to note that Tishrei is also the 7th month of the Hebrew calendar, and the number “seven” has the same consonants as the Hebrew word for completeness or wholeness. Also, Sukkot or Tabernacles celebrates the deliverance of the Jews from the hands of the Egyptians. Contrast this with the fact that Jesus-Yeshua came to deliver us from the penalty of sin. Remember that when Jesus left behind HIS GLORY and the Heavenly Places to come to this Earth, he put on human flesh- the eternal deity who came to this Earth to “Tabernacle” with humanity.

When the Angel spoke to Joseph in a dream he was told this:

Matthew 1:18-23  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

This essentially says that when Jesus is born, he’s now tabernacling with man.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the intransitive verb tabernacling means to take up a temporary residence, especially to inhabit a physical body.

Jesus-Yeshua celebrated all of the Jewish feasts, as was His custom. He also attended the Synagogue on Sabbath (the 7th day of the week).

Here’s my question to you during this time of celebration that we as Christians are famous for saying: “Jesus is the reason for the season”. Did you invite Him to His party? Or was He just an excuse to get together and have a party without Him? It’s fantastic to be with family, exchange gifts, and express love and affection. However, if we’re going to dedicate a season and a specific day to our LORD and SAVIOR, then we need to make sure that we invite HIM to the celebration. Can you imagine what it would be like if you realized your friends had gotten together to celebrate your birthday and didn’t invite you?


If it’s all about shopping, the lights in and on the houses, decorating the trees, the wreaths, and the shopping trips to see Santa Claus, you need to ask yourself, what am I celebrating? Have you allowed Santa, the reindeer, and snowmen to dominate your Christmas decor? Do you participate in every secular activity, such as gingerbread houses, stockings, and so on? Do you leave milk and cookies out for Santa’s visit? Is the Christmas parade you look forward to honoring Jesus, or does it honor the world? Traditions are great for any family, but when the traditions outweigh the true “reason for the season,” you should think again and make room for the invitation to the Savior to His party. If it’s not really for the celebration of Jesus’s birth, then we need to call it a winter festival or some other secular name.

If this blog makes you think and you see that you’ve left Jesus out of your celebration, it may not be too late. If the Lord doesn’t come to take us home with Him before the next Christmas Season, you have time to invite Jesus-Yeshua to His birthday party next year.

 

Luke 2: 1-7 Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled. 2 This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; 5 to enrol himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child. 6 And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Take This to Heart

“Christ uncrowned himself,” William Dyer wrote, “to crown us, and put off his robes to put on our rags.”

Gentiles are NOT an Afterthought!

In the Beginning…

YES! From the very beginning of the Bible, our Heavenly Father and the SON made a plan to save us ALL from our sins! Some Christians like to say that the “OLD TESTAMENT” or “Tanakh” was written only for Israel and only pertains to the Jews today, but they are so very wrong! The covenant made with Abraham said he would be the Father of Nations, and through Isaac and Jacob (renamed Israel by God), the nation of Israel was born. What people seem to miss, though, is that we all originated from the seed of Adam, then through Noah after the flood and other figures in the Bible. People seem to have forgotten about all of the Gentiles in the Bible for thousands of years before the New Testament was written and before Jesus – Yeshua came down from His place in Heaven to die for ALL humanity. Most of today’s churches recognize Gentiles only from the New Testament.

First of all, do you know who or why we are called Gentiles? It’s because we aren’t Jewish/Hebrew; we aren’t a member of any of the nations of Israel. It also refers to those who participated in Pagan/Heathen rituals. But when a non Hebrew person in the Old Testament feared and trusted in God, they won God’s favor. So technically, if you’re not Jewish or of Hebrew descent, no matter what religion you may profess, according to the Bible, you are considered to be a Gentile. However, when you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, who died on the cross for your sins and was raised from the dead to sit at the right hand of God the Father, then you are SAVED!

I will include a couple of significant Gentiles in the Bible who are integral to the family tree of Jesus – Yeshua (means Salvation in Hebrew).

I will start with Rahab, who saved the spies sent to Jericho by Joshua (read the book of Joshua). Rahab feared God, acknowledged His Power, and hid the spies until they safely escaped Jericho. Rahab was not only a Gentile, but she was also a harlot, and she made a declaration of faith to the spies:

Joshua 2:11 “The LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below”.

When she made this declaration of faith, God saved her when Jericho fell to the Israelites and her entire family. Rahab went back to the camps of Israel after Jericho fell, and she married a man named Salmon from the tribe of Judah. If you look at the family tree of Jesus – Yeshua, you will see that Rahab and Salmon are the great-great-grandparents of David (King of Israel).

Have you read the book of Ruth? If not, it’s an awesome book to read. Every book in the Bible is Awesome; it’s the WORD of GOD! Ruth was a Gentile whose mother-in-law, Naomi, took her back to Bethlehem with her after Naomi’s husband and sons died. Ruth met and married Boaz, who was Jewish. Ruth and Boaz were great-grandparents of David (King of Israel), and Obed was their son. Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David, a humble shepherd whom God anointed King of Israel. David made many mistakes as King, but God said that David was a man after His own heart. In other words, when David messed up, and boy did he mess up more than once, he would humble himself before God and ask forgiveness.

Jesus is called the “Son of David,” even though he was born centuries after David.

When Jesus – Yeshua died on the cross for our sins, he shed both Jewish and Gentile blood.

So YES! Jesus is Jewish, and if it weren’t for the Jewish people of Israel, we would not have the Bible, and most importantly, we would not have Jesus – Yeshua, and we would not have a Savior!

So, if you’re reading this today and you don’t know Jesus Christ the Messiah – Yeshua HaMashiach, personally, my exhortation is for you to place your faith and trust exclusively in Jesus because God set up Israel to raise up a nation so that Jesus could come to planet Earth. Study your Bible and see everything God did to get the Gospel to us. The Gospel is good news, and it’s good news because Christ’s final words on the cross were “IT IS FINISHED,” and if it’s finished, there’s nothing for me or you to add to what he’s already done for us on the cross! The only thing left for you to do is to receive what he’s done for us as a gift. The only way to receive a gift from God (Romans 4:4-5) is to trust in the one that he has sent, and so my exhortation is for people who come under the convicting Ministry of the Holy Spirit as they read this is to place their faith in Christ alone for salvation. You don’t need to walk an aisle, join a church, or give money or anything else to receive this gift from Heavenly Father. He’s done ALL the work…the Gospel is so simple: BELIEVE in the one God sent to save us from our sins! 

God means what He says and says what He means! My hermeneutics are “literal.” Take the initiative to study the scriptures yourself and make your own decisions! Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Seek Ye the LORD While You Can!

God means what He says and says what He means! My hermeneutics are “literal”, however, that being said…study the scriptures yourself and make up your own mind! Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit…

Time is running out!

Matthew 7:7-8 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Hebrews 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Throughout the Scriptures in the both the Old Testament and the New Testament, Heavenly Father is letting us know that He’s there for us, but we need to SEEK HIM! What does that mean? How do you SEEK HIM? First of all…it’s a heart thing – a soul thing and finally it’s a mind thing to search Him out. He’s not hiding from us, this isn’t a game! We must know Him in order to find Him!

Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

2 Chronicles 15:2b The Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.

The first and best thing that you can do is to get to know him by reading your Bible. He’s provided for us in His WORD everything that we need to know about Him. He expresses to us exactly what He hates and what He loves. He leads us in the path of righteousness and guides us every step of the way…all we have to do is follow Him and listen for His voice. If we SEEK HIM FIRST and CHOOSE to PLEASE HIM we make better life choices, we will have a different attitude about everyone around us and people will say: what happened to him or her?. When you Seek and Allow God to have His Presence in your life, you’ll become forever changed and people around you will notice the change. The Holy Spirit will come to reside in you and with every breath you take, you’ll become more like Jesus – Yeshua.

Psalm 14:2 the Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.

Don’t you see that every morning when you wake up that this world is becoming a darker place and day by day mankind falls deeper and deeper into sin? Can’t you see that sin has become such a “normal” part of the human existence that we no longer recognize just how horrible it is and how much our Holy God – Heavenly Father hates sin? He’s held back the tide of His punishment for thousands of years! You ask WHY? The answer is simple and right to the point…because He LOVES us! Because He doesn’t want to feel the pain and anguish that He suffered when He destroyed the world and everything in it with a flood!

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Did you read that? Heavenly Father doesn’t want anyone to perish! We see how the world is doing its best to drown out the light, so we as followers of Him must PUT HIM FIRST in our LIVES! Everything we do and think must be for HIS Glory…not for ours! There are many of us who are crying out to the LORD to come and put an end to the suffering of those who Love Him and Follow Him. But can’t you see that we need to humble ourselves? That we need to fall to our knees, turn away from our wicked ways so that He will forgive OUR SINS! We need to recognize that we too are the problem!

2 Chronicles 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

The previous Scripture was spoken to the Israelites, but we are now the children of God too! So if we want to clean up the United States of America or any other place in this world, we can’t expect politicians to do it, we can’t expect the New World Order to make things better, we can’t expect the local authorities to clean it up! We can’t expect the church to do it because most people think of the church as a place you go on Sunday for 90 minutes or so a week.

Acts 15:17  That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

As Christians we have taken HIS NAME…the name of our Savior Jesus Christ! As the followers of Jesus – Yeshua we must recognize that God made us for His Glory and listen to and follow the instructions given to us in His Word. We must separate ourselves from what is going on in this world and ask God what He desires of us…how He would like us to serve Him. How we can Glorify Him? Nowhere in the Bible does it say that God wants us to pursue our dreams, he told us to be fruitful and fill the earth. It says that when we face judgement, we will be rewarded according to our “fruits”. ALL throughout the Bible it tells us the story of how HE pursues us, forgives us when we repent from our sins and ultimately He came to this earth to serve mankind and then died to save us from our sins.

We say we are covered in the Blood of Jesus – Yeshua, but we don’t often give the impression that this is the truth. If your neighbors were subpoenaed to testify against you in a court of law would there be enough evidence to convict you as a Christian? If not…WHY NOT? If you’re not walking in the WILL of GOD, then who’s will are your walking in? The Worlds Will? Satan is in charge of the World! Heavenly Father is Sovereign over all, but he warns us many times in His WORD that Satan is the ruler of this world: Satan is the force behind the darkness and the evil that envelopes the majority. Satan is the force behind divorce, lust, abortion, addiction and everything that goes against the WORD of GOD. Satan is out to devour and destroy us and many of us are giving him the opportunity to do so!

Jesus warns us in the Gospels as well as Revelation that the end will come, Satan and his followers are defeated and the battle will be beyond anything that we can imagine. Blood up to the horses bridles for 1600 furlongs –

Matthew 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

The Scriptures tells us that NO ONE is without SIN…the preachers and followers of Jesus Messiah – Yeshua Ha Mashiach are walking in sin too! So if we’re not LOVING GOD and our NEIGHBOR with all of our hearts, and if we are not obedient to Heavenly Father and if we’re not sharing the Gospel of Jesus – Yeshua, we are like the white washed sepulchers that Jesus – Yeshua described:

Matthew 23:27-28 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Those of us who spend our time pointing out that this is a sin or that is a sin…or that this person or that person is on the wrong path needs to wake up! We have to straighten our own path and clean up our own personal swamp! We need to REPENT! REPENT! REPENT! We need to PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! We need to ask forgiveness for our sins and we need to forgive those who sin against us! Then we have to give it all up to Heavenly Father.

1 Thessalonians 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

We need to SHARE the GOSPEL with everyone we can while there’s still time!

Matthew 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

Luke 18:7-8 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John,

Revelation 2:16 Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.

Revelation 10:6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:

Revelation 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Revelation 22:12 I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

Revelation 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Luke 21:32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

Yes! Time is Running Out! Choose your side! Choose LIGHT or choose darkness! Choose Heaven or Hell! Decide now who you are going to seek guidance and approval from. No matter where you’re at in this life, if your truly seek the LORD in Faith, Trust and with a genuine willingness of heart and mind, YOU WILL FIND HIM!

Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

A Sheltered Life

God means what He says and says what He means! My hermeneutics are “literal”, however, that being said…study the scriptures yourself and make up your own mind! Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit…

Have you considered that even though, the pandemic is still roaring it’s way around the world, as Christians…at least for the time being…we live a sheltered life in America!

It’s true, we definitely have our share of let downs and disappointments, but in most places in America we can sleep peaceful at night and when it comes right down to it, we wake-up in the morning to a day that isn’t a whole lot different than yesterday and 10 years ago…except for now, we’re wearing masks and social distancing again because of a new strain of the Covid Virus. Our nation’s working class has faced ups and downs in unemployment and the economics of this country has been on a roller coaster ride since it’s foundation. We’ve always had a population of poor and rich and some in between…we just need to keep the faith and trust that God our Father in Heaven has a plan!

I’m not saying that we should stop paying attention to what’s going on around us or lay down and play dead to the woe’s that do exist in the “Good Ole USA”. I’m not saying that we should just live in LA-LA land and sing that old Doris Day song – Que Sera Sera (Whatever will be will be). However, we need to remember that Whatever is God’s Will …will be…

What I am saying is: let’s go to bed each night being thankful to Heavenly Father for the protection he’s afforded us today and when we are blessed to wake up each morning we need to ask him…”How would you like me to serve you and my fellowman today?” There are millions of Christians around this world who don’t know the meaning of a peaceful night of sleep or the joy of waking up to another day. 1 out of every 8 Christians in this world live in countries where persecution is the norm.

All of that being said: Let’s not forget that as sons and daughters of the first Adam, we don’t deserve any of the blessings that Heavenly Father bestows upon us. However! He LOVES us that much! He actively works to “seek and save” us!

Scriptures from KJV ~ King James Version of the Bible.

Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Take into consideration that we have an enemy who is dangerous and his goal is to “seek and kill” he’s the power that perpetuates the virus, he’s the power behind our earthly governments, he’s the power who pursues us “like a roaring lion, seeking someone to destroy”.

1 Peter 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

WE must remain vigilant and aware of the fact that our adversary Satan will not stop pursuing us and as Christians, we need to expect and be prepared for persecution! We need to put on the full armor of God and stand against the enemy, the thief who’s out to steal our salvation, kill our faith and destroy our trust. We need to wake up one another to these facts, we need to wake up our children, our grandchildren, they need to know that there are extremist here in America that would do us harm.

Every pulpit in America needs to be preaching the fact that we’re in a mighty battle and without the armor of God, we have no chance of winning the battle. I’m not trying to put you in a down mood and if you remember your Scriptures you also remember that Jesus the Messiah – Yeshua Ha Mashiach warned us that we can’t be followers of Him without experiencing persecution, but he also tells us to be joyful and keep our eyes on Heaven.

Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

You might say…that’s a peculiar Scripture to use when talking about persecution, as it’s reminding us that God our Heavenly Father is to be feared…that is, if we give ourselves over to the enemy.

The minute, we equate such things as churches being closed because of the misplaced guidance of authorities over the virus as persecution, we’re taking away from the potency and reality of what is true persecution. I’m talking about the physical pain of wounds, hunger, sleeping in excrement and violence beyond anything anyone of us in America can imagine – even Hollywood with all of their writers wouldn’t get it right because they don’t have a clue. Then there’s the countries where there’s the death penalty just for owning a Bible or any other Christian related items. For those of us living in America and a few other places in this world, Satan is working out his plan in a more subtle manner using material things such as the movies, the internet and other means to separate us from God, WE MUST RESIST!

Persecution of the Church has been a part of Christian existence since Jesus – Yeshua walked this earth. Even Paul (Saul of Tarsus)one of the foremost Disciples of Christ, before his conversion was guilty of persecuting the church. So my question is: Who do we think we are as Christians that we are exempt from this possibility of persecution? There’s no way that I can see that America is a favored nation in the sight of God.

John 15:18-19 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

So no matter what happens tomorrow: Read the WORD of GOD, keep your faith and trust and let’s be there for one another for when real persecution comes and we must know…it will come! Maybe not today and maybe not tomorrow, but it’s inevitable.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Is Halloween Truly Harmless?

God means what He says and says what He means! My hermeneutics are “literal”, however, that being said…study the scriptures yourself and make up your own mind! Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit…

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

“PLEASE Allow me to paraphrase: ‘Don’t let the world force you into its mold.

As I write this blog today, I recognize that people who maintain to be “believers” are dressing themselves and their children in costumes of one sort or another. Many of these costumes are satanic and evil: witches, sorcerers, ghosts, goblins, ghouls, vampires, devils… Even the costumes that seem innocent such as Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Peter Pan, a bum, a pirate, etc are not good for you or your children. You are laying wide open a portal that will allow demonic forces to move into your and your children’s lives.

Halloween, like many other of “man” made celebrations consists of acts of evil: drunkenness, debauchery of all kinds of pagan rituals. The roots of Halloween can be traced back to over 2000 years ago to a Celtic celebration named Samhain on October 31st.

The Encyclopedia of Religion says, “Halloween, or Allhallows Eve, is a festival celebrated on 31 October, the evening prior to the Christian Feast of All Saints (All Saints’ Day). Halloween is the name for the eve of Samhain [pronounced sow-wn], a celebration marking the beginning of winter as well as the first day of the New Year within the ancient Celtic culture of the British Isles. The time of Samhain consisted of the eve of the feast and the day itself (31 October and 1 November)” (1987, p. 176, “Halloween”). “On this occasion, it was believed that a gathering of supernatural forces occurred as during no other period of the year. The eve and day of Samhain were characterized as a time when the barriers between the human and supernatural worlds were broken. Otherworldly entities, such as the souls of the dead, were able to visit earthly inhabitants, and humans could take the opportunity to penetrate the domains of the gods and supernatural creatures. “Fiery tributes and sacrifices of animals, crops, and possibly human beings were made to appease supernatural powers who controlled the fertility of the land … Samhain acknowledged the entire spectrum of nonhuman forces that roamed the earth during the period” (pp. 176-177). “Huge bonfires were set on hilltops to frighten away evil spirits … The souls of the dead were supposed to revisit their homes on this day, and the autumnal festival acquired sinister significance, with ghosts, witches, hobgoblins, black cats, fairies, and demons of all kinds said to be roaming about. It was the time to placate the supernatural powers controlling the processes of nature. In addition, Halloween was thought to be the most favourable time for divinations concerning marriage, luck, health, and death. It was the only day on which the help of the devil was invoked for such purposes” (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 15th edition, Micropaedia, Vol. 4, p. 862, “Halloween”).

As you can see from the previous descriptions, this is not a celebration that a Christian should take part in… It was changed from Samhein (pronounced Sow wn) to “All Hallow’s Eve” by the Catholics to appease the pagan converts who still wanted to celebrate it and eventually it took on the name “Halloween”.

I want you to observe that he root word of this celebration is “Hallow” which means “HOLY” and only our Heavenly Father – God is HOLY!

The Bible tells us in both the Old and New Testaments of the existence of evil spirits, led by Satan the devil, whom God holds responsible for great suffering, anguish and sorrow inflicted on the human race.

Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Isaiah 5:20  How horrible it will be for those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness into light and light into darkness, who turn what is bitter into something sweet and what is sweet into something bitter.

2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

“Satan has access to the domain of darkness, but he can only occupy those areas where mankind, through sin, has allowed him.” Francis Frangipane (an author of life changing books based on Scripture).

Our Heavenly Father wants us to run the other direction from things that harm us spiritually. The backdrop of Halloween is an abomination to God! He warns us to beware of the occult: Satan is the master deceiver and he’s the author of all wickedness! People who dabble with anything that has to do with Satan, whether they believe it’s just a so called “innocent” in a costume or just an evening of “fun”…they are literally playing with fire…they’re giving themselves over to idolatry and serious spiritual dabbling.

Don’t be fooled by our modern Halloween celebrations that appear on the outside to be harmless. When we participate in practices that honored false gods and stir up the occult such as voodoo, clairvoyance, black magic, etc, we unleash satanic forces and these practices are strictly forbidden in Scripture.

Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Granting the HOLY SPIRIT Sole Occupancy

This World is Temporary! We must ALL “REPENT” of our sins today, for tomorrow isn’t promised!

John3:3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the Kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

Are you ready to be born again? Are you ready to give up your old life and live a life for Christ? Are you willing to allow the Spirit to slay the flesh? If so, are you ready to repent of your sins so that your body becomes a desirable temple for the Spirit to dwell in? The fact is that there’s no room for flesh and Spirit to dwell within you. Are you a genuine follower of Jesus Messiah – Yeshua Ha Mashiach?

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Everyday when you wake up, do you say Thank YOU Heavenly Father for another chance to do Your Will on this earth? Do you say thank YOU Father for Your Holy Spirit which guides me in my thoughts and actions throughout my day? Do you say thank YOU for your SON who’s death on the cross was to glorify YOU and to save me and all the other sinners in this world from everlasting death?

Are you a good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:23)? Do you trust the Spirit to guide you? Do you resist temptation when Satan thrusts it in your path and do you run the other direction? Do you allow the Spirit to lead you to the path of righteousness instead the path to destruction? Have you lived your life of sin so openly that the “prowling lion” which is out to destroy doesn’t even have to try because you’re an easy mark?

If you’ve pretended to be born again to the point of even fooling yourself, keep in mind that Christ who is our advocate with Heavenly Father cannot be fooled! He knows our hearts and our minds whether they think good thoughts or whether we’re thinking evil…whether we’re doing good things for our fellow man or whether we’re ignoring the plight of those around us. If you’re feeling convicted now…it’s the Holy Spirit working in your heart and mind and this is the first step in changing your behavior.

Do you even know what the difference is to live a fleshly life instead of a spiritual life? Do you handle your money, your time, and your gifts with care? Is your conversations becoming more godly? This is a tough one: Are you more willing to forgive, to love your enemy? Are you changing how you relate to your spouse, your children and your parents? Are you changing how you relate to the world as a whole?

1 John 3:9  No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.

1 John 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Once you’ve truly made a home for the Holy Spirit, you will not only feel more peace than you ever dreamed possible, but you’ll also feel alive and know that you have VICTORY in Christ.

Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

When the Holy Spirit lives in you, then the pleasures and unfortunately many of the people in this world can’t be a part of your life! There’s no room for God and this world in your body ~ the temple.

1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Important Guidelines for Life Pt. 5a

God means what He says and says what He means! My hermeneutics are “literal”, however, that being said…study the scriptures yourself and make up your own mind! Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit…

Mind Your Emotions:

Every emotion that you are feeling whether it’s sorrow, joy, fear, etc should be brought to Heavenly Father in prayer.

Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

It’s been determined that there’s an almost unknown number of distinct human emotions, but in this blog, I’m only going to talk about the most common emotions that we experience almost on a daily basis: sadness, joy, anticipation, trust, disgust, surprise, anger & fear.

Scriptures from the KJV – King James Version of the Bible.

SADNESS: Equated with unhappiness, loneliness, depression and melancholy…etc.

From time to time, we all experience moments or even long periods of sadness, sometimes these times will evoke a gauntlet of feelings…the ones mentioned in the heading are only a few. Because we are human and we live in this sinful world, these feelings are normal and they can and will occur at one time or another during our lives. Some people might tell you that you need to see a counselor or get psychiatric help. But I’m here to tell you that God – Our Heavenly Father can handle it if we’re willing to humble ourselves and give it to him!

1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

God keeps His promises! When we keep our eyes on Jesus and our faith and trust in Our Heavenly Father, we have a future that is beyond anything that we are able to comprehend!

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Sadness has been equated to feelings of darkness, but keep this Scripture in your heart:

1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

JOY: Equated with happiness, contentment, pleasure and elation….etc

Once again, the feelings mentioned in the heading are only a small list. Joy is the emotion that we all look forward to! And Joy is the emotion that we are constantly seeking! Of course we want to feel this emotion, it’s the polar opposite of sadness! However, there are many ways to feed this emotion in the world that aren’t truly satisfactory and leave us seeking more ways to experience this feeling of elation.

It’s also true that “Joy” is one of the fruits of the spirit! So when we experience this feeling, we must pay attention to what has actually triggered it. If it’s from the Spirit of God our joy will last forever. If it’s because of something worldly, for example, there’s a new car in the driveway making you happy, it will be fleeting…you will soon need something else to replace and renew this feeling…which of course will lead you to the polar opposite when you feel like you need to feed your joy with something else from the world. Please don’t get me wrong…it’s okay to be happy with a new car or a new house, just don’t count it as your true joy in this life…cars get dented and houses need repairs. The JOY we receive from a relationship with Heavenly Father will last eternally!

 John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

John 16:24 amongst many other verses are often used by prosperity preachers to convince us that things and stuff and money will bring us joy. I do believe that it’s true that God wants us to grow and do well in this life, but He also tells us in a parable:

Matthew 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Jesus – Yeshua has a lot to say about riches…

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Mammon, biblical term for riches, often used to describe the debasing influence of material wealth. The term was used by Jesus in his famous Sermon on the Mount and also appears in The Gospel According to Luke. Medieval writers commonly interpreted it as an evil demon or god.

So when we think of growing, we need to think about growing in the faith, not necessarily growing our bank accounts. When it comes to doing well, I personally believe that it means that we will have a roof over our heads, warmth, food and clothing to cover our bodies and prayerfully enough left over to help provide these essentials for others. The fact is that the majority of those of us who live in the USA, have very few needs, but VERY MANY WANTS.

ANTICIPATION: Looking forward to, Hope, Confidence and Promise…etc.

When I think of anticipation, I immediately think of the hope that we have in Jesus Messiah – Yeshua Ha Mashiach and the promises of God!

God’s promises are to ALL of us! Jesus – Yeshua died on the cross for ALL sinners! But mankind must accept Jesus as their Savior and the Son of God as well as repent from their sins to reap these promises. God’s promises are laid down on a foundation of unshakable HOPE!!! Without hope we have nothing because Jesus is our only HOPE.

1 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;

Titus 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

We must never lose HOPE! When we do, we are losing our faith in Jesus as well as our trust in Heavenly Father! However, keep in your mind, that not everything you hope for is the will of God and that sometimes our anticipation takes us away from our one and only true HOPE which is found in Jesus Christ.

Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

1 Peter 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Our faith and trust in Jesus gives us eternal life and that is where our HOPE lies…not in the things of this world. God keeps his promises and through Jesus – Yeshua he’s keeping his promise of HOPE!

TRUST: Faith, Belief, Protection and to Rely Upon…etc.

It’s not easy for humans to truly put their trust in anyone…generally speaking man has a tendency to only trust himself. My question: how does that usually work out?

Romans 12:2 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Sometimes we have to be knocked down to our knees over and over again before we recognize that we can only trust in God and the plans He has for us!

Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV) For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Heavenly Father watches out for us all the time! To put it simply, if we allow HIM , HE has our backs! He will never forsake those who LOVE HIM, BELIEVE IN HIM and TRUST HIM!

John 14:1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

Proverbs 3:5  Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Psalm 56:3-4 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. 4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

The take away from these Scriptures is that TRUST is demanded of us as followers of Jesus and believers in God.

TO BE CONTINUED: Important Guidelines for Life Pt 5b

DISGUST:

SURPRISE:

ANGER:

FEAR:

Important Guidelines for Life Part 4

God means what He says and says what He means! My hermeneutics are “literal”, however, that being said…study the scriptures yourself and make up your own mind! Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit…

Mind Your Behavior: To put it simply…behavior is how we conduct ourselves around others as well as when were alone and believe no one is watching!

However…God our Heavenly Father sees all and knows our motives – whether good or bad! When we have asked Jesus Messiah- Yeshua Ha Mashiach into our lives, through our faith and trust we can change our behavior to please God. Mark 9:23  Then Jesus said to him, “‘If You can’? Everything is possible to the one who believes.”

The Bible…the Word is full of instruction as to how we are supposed to behave toward one another and toward God and how we will behave when we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us. The Bible often speaks of our lives producing fruit. Sometimes, we make it more difficult than it needs to be…some think that fruit and works are the same, but from my study, I believe that works are the natural outcome of the fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT that propels our lives after we have repented, believed and asked Jesus into our lives.

Galations 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Love:God loves us relentlessly or He wouldn’t have allowed His SON to sacrifice His life to cover our sins. God loves us so much that He’s given us the gift of mercy which none of us deserve! He’s given us the gift of Eternal life when we believe and trust in His Son Jesus!

John 15:12-13 This is My command: Love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends.

Joy: When the Holy Spirit enters into you, you will experience everlasting Joy! We will rejoice in Scripture, we will rejoice that we are alive! We will rejoice in the Love that the Father has shown us.

Sometimes, we foolishly connect our joy to the things of this world such as new car, new house, new, new, new… When we do this, we’re treading upon the true gift of Joy which is to be found in Jesus, our Savior!

Psalm 16:11 You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant JOY; in Your right hand are eternal pleasures.

Peace: I’m not referring to peace such as a treaty to avoid war. When we believe in Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us and that’s when for the first time, we become “WHOLE” or “COMPLETE”; this state naturally brings PEACE into our being.

Jesus told the disciples in advance of the gift of the Holy Spirit that they would receive after He would go to the Father:

John 14:27  “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.

Patience: God has been patient with man since Noah disembarked from the Ark. Another of His gifts that we truly don’t deserve. To think that His patience humbled Himself to actually serve and die for us! Yet as humans, we have very little patience for our fellowman; we become easily angered and intolerant of one another.

Patience is maybe one of the most difficult for us to allow the Holy Spirit’s work in us…because we are human, we allow the flesh to dictate to us when we should be listening to the Spirit.

1 Timothy 1:16 But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate His extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life.

So the next time that you’re feeling impatient with someone, stop, take a deep breath and think about your life and how Jesus has saved you by His extraordinary patience!

Kindness: We don’t have to look any farther than Jesus – Yeshua to see the embodiment of kindness! He was selfless because He came to serve mankind. He was compassionate and when Lazarus died, he cried tears for the pain the family and friends were experiencing. He was merciful when they were about to stone the prostitute when he told them that he without sin should cast the first stone.

Ephesians 4:31-32 All bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. 32 And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.

Goodness: Goodness is Godliness and as Jesus told us only God is Good!

Luke 18:19 “Why do you call Me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good but One—God.

Jesus wouldn’t allow himself to be called good!

Romans 8:28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.

So when something good occurs in your life or of someone close to you…remember the following Scripture:

Faith: The Biblical definition is belief, firm persuasion, assurance, firm conviction, faithfulness. Faith is confidence in what we hope for and the assurance that the Lord is working, even though we cannot see it. Faith knows that no matter what the situation, in our lives or someone else’s that the Lord is working in it.

We have all had times in our lives when our faith wavered…the loss of a job, the discordance of family, the death of a loved one…these amongst many others are can be faith shaking. Unfortunately, there are some who never recover their faith. No matter what happens in our lives, we need to keep our eyes on Jesus! Don’t lose our focus because when we do, Satan, the roaring lion is poised for attack. So no matter what happens…hang on to your faith and you will be rewarded.

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight for the faith; take hold of eternal life that you were called to and have made a good confession about in the presence of many witnesses.

Gentleness: The easiest way to describe gentleness is to tell you “what it isn’t”. Gentleness is NOT obstinate, hateful, harsh, unfriendly, unpleasant, thoughtless or insensitive!

Matthew 5:5 The gentle are blessed, for they will inherit the earth.

Matthew 11:29-30 All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Self Control: The first step to self control is your full surrender to God, our Heavenly Father! The secular world looks at self control as something that we can accomplish by physical and mental self-mastery. However, unless we have God, we are flesh driven and of the world: perpetuated by money/greed, lust, food, alcohol, drugs, shopping, sports…on and on it goes. Sadly, these are all “heart” issues. Until you give your heart fully and unconditionally to God, you will suffer from these worldly ailments. But if you have faith and trust in Jesus and study the Scriptures the temptation to follow your flesh and live in the world will fade.

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape so that you are able to bear it.

Genesis 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

When God brought judgement upon the world during the time of Noah, He was sorry that He’d made man… Then about 2000 years ago, He sent His Son to Save us from our wickedness which is sin and death with is the wages of sin!

John 3:16 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

Love & Kindness

I didn’t write this, but when I read it, my heart said to share it with YOU!

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought about just driving away, but instead I put the car in park and walked up to the door and knocked.. ‘Just a minute’, answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90’s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940’s movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware. ‘Would you carry my bag out to the car?’ she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness. ‘It’s nothing’, I told her.. ‘I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.’ ‘Oh, you’re such a good boy, she said.

When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, ‘Could you drive through downtown?’ ‘It’s not the shortest way,’ I answered quickly.. ‘Oh, I don’t mind,’ she said. ‘I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to a hospice. I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. ‘I don’t have any family left,’ she continued in a soft voice..’The doctor says I don’t have very long.’ I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

‘What route would you like me to take?’ I asked. For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she’d ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, ‘I’m tired.Let’s go now’. We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her. I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door.

The woman was already seated in a wheelchair. ‘How much do I owe you?’ She asked, reaching into her purse. ‘Nothing,’ I said ‘You have to make a living,’ she answered. ‘There are other passengers,’ I responded. Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.She held onto me tightly. ‘You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,’ she said. ‘Thank you.’ I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.. Behind me, a door shut.It was the sound of the closing of a life.. I didn’t pick up any more passengers that shift.

I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day,I could hardly talk.What if that woman had gotten an angry driver,or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don’t think that I have done anything more important in my life. We’re conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one. PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID ~BUT~THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.

Thank you, my friend… Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.

Robert Nauck Sr.