AN ATHEIST'S VIEW THAT THE CHURCH NEEDS TO "HEAR"

May all that visit here read these observant and honest words from a deceased atheist:.  If those that say they love God, and truly believe, will read this and "hear" the truth in it, then perhaps this atheist's life will not have been entirely in vain.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204791104577110880355067656.html

GOD'S TIMING, AND THESE LAST DAYS

GOD'S TIMING, AND THESE LAST DAYS

 

It is written that in the last days, knowledge will increase.  This is happening more and more  rapidly.  Wednesday night, we heard a message about God's timing.  We heard about how certain things had to be in place before Jesus was born.   Now in the 21st Century,  knowledge is increasing, and we have Google to search out the truth of things we hear that sound new to us.... things we may have never considered before.   I believe we now have the means to check out information for ourselves, instead of accepting or rejecting a thing because of our opinion,  or because we have always believed a thing, or because we want to keep on believing what we've always believed..... if it pleases us.  

What if God sends people like He has in the past, to prepare His remnant to separate themselves from the things of the world and to make known what HIS will has always been for His own. He does not change, but we do.   Has the separation  of the sheep and the goats begun?  Maybe not. That may come later.  But, what if God is trying to prepare a remnant to raise up in these last days to be His vessels in the earth, to spread The Truth, of His Word. And, not just The Word itself, but to confirm it with  signs following before His return?  Isn't that what we say we want?  But, what if they will NOT receive a thing that goes against what they have come to love and in which they  find so much good?  If we REALLY WANT to know a thing, we can now look it up for ourselves.    Just saying.

I have had to admit, there are some important things of which I have been ignorant.  I am glad I found the truth of things I had not known, even though they were things that had  been a big part of my life.  And, habits, even if we do NOT love them, can be difficult to give up, and there are things we may be convicted to give up......IF we knew the truth about them.   But, I had to stand on the truth, even though no one stood with me.  For, not too long before I "began" to learn a thing, God had asked me, one day........"Can you stand alone?"  And, I said, "Yes."  I stayed married for better OR worse for thirty years(until death did we part), because I told God I would.  Could I do any less in these last days?   I want all He has for me, and for Him I would give up everything in this world, for He is all I desire.  I believe there are more out there that would do the same for the same reason.  He has said that we would find Him when we search for Him with all of our heart.  What if it is Him trying to speak to us through members of His Body that we may have judged without really hearing all the evidence, or really knowing where they are coming from, because we did not hear them out, but only in part( Did we ask)?  We need to question people who  bring us a message sometimes to see what they are saying instead of assuming where they are coming from. We may learn some things we need to know.  And, THEN, if we hear any real error, should we not, rebuke that error?  Just asking, and I think this is a valid point, and a valid question.

NO GRASSHOPPER AM I

NO GRASSHOPPER AM I

No grasshopper am I
And here's the reason why:
My Jesus lives and reigns inside of me.
Though giants be in the land,
I stand at God's right hand.
A greater Army there could never be.

No grasshopper am I.
No need for me to cry,
For God is on my side both day and night.
When you belong to Him,
The path is never dim.
He'll go before and make the pathway bright.

No need for me to fear.
The Lord is always near,
Though there be giants as far as I can see.
I will not look at them.
Instead, I'll look at Him,
And watch His mighty hand deliver me.

I've set my face to go,
And neither friend nor foe,
Can stop me from reaching Heaven's Land.
I'll run through troops..they'll fall
I'll leap over any wall.
God holds me sweet and gentle in His hand.  

EMD  1979

MY TREASURE CHEST

MY TREASURE CHEST

My Bible is like a Treasure Chest
With my Father's Riches inside
T'was opened when I began to seek
Though it was locked when I'd tried to hide

I'd tried to hide from That I had sought
And, believed the world held my gold
But, I found it lay in God, Himself
When I took Him from earth's man-made-mold

I sought God, Himself, not man's concept
He spoke things I'd read, never "heard"
He revealed His Treasures in Jesus
As Gold, woven all through His Word

I love to pour through my Treasure Chest
Caressing Its Gems one by one
Knowing there'll always be Treasure there
The Living Word, Jesus, God's Son

EMD 9/5/80

RESURRECTION DAY PONDERINGS

RESURRECTION DAY PONDERINGS

I love fun. I love to see smiles on any aged face. When I was a kid, I loved Easter egg hunts. I still love "finding things." I like games, treasure hunts, and researching a few things. However, sometime in my adulthood, I learned where the egg hunt tradition came from...........It was from paganism, like most of our holiday traditions of men.   I wish that during our celebration,  that we say is about the death, burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, whom we call, "Lord,"  that we at least post and teach a disclaimer, saying something like: "We are having an Easter egg hunt for you, because we love to see you happy and having fun.  BUT, we especially want you to know that this is NOT what this season is about."  Then go on to tell them, plainly, what it IS about.  However, Paganism is darkness, and The Word of God says, "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." Eph. 5:11

The Word says that we are the apple of His eye. Is He the egg in ours? I know many will not like this, but I have held back saying what's been in my heart for a long time. This year, Love constrains me to just say it. I love you all. I love, adore and worship Him.

I have been there, done that too. And most seem to still think it is ok. That is between them and God. I have to be true to what I "hear." I have been hearing things contrary to many traditions for a long time.

Ecclesiastes says that there is a time for every purpose under the sun. This is my time to speak what is in my heart. I must. It has been there so long it hurts. I had to get it out.

LAY IT DOWN!

LAY IT DOWN

‎"It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." John 6:63

THE SPIRIT OF THE FLESH IS DECEIVING US! LET'S STUDY TO LAY IT DOWN! It is called, "sinful." It is represented by the serpent. That is why Moses lifted it up in the desert. Look! See this as true, and LIVE. The Word of God is Spirit. Seek to know THAT Word, and destroy the power of the enemy.  We must be steady and ready, praying about everything, not doing our own thing. We must develop unconditional love and pray for "keen" discernment.  We must be able to see the beam in our own eye and get it out, so, if need be, we can help those who just cannot see their own specks, much less their own beam. We do not get to choose our own faults........the ones we do not mind confessing. We ALL need to ask God, "What must I do, to be a vessel that is fit to be used to usher in Your Kingdom, Lord?" It is possible to have a big and very old beam in ones eye and not be able to see it. If someone points out a beam in our eye, will we be willing to look at it? Would we hold up the coming of The Kingdom,  just to hide our beam?
 

COME UP HERE

COME UP HERE

His heart was full of Music. His eyes were full of Love.
I wonder who all saw Him, remove to heights above.
I wonder who all sensed it. Who heard The Voice He heard,
Saying, "Come up here, My Son. We Are The Living Word.


In the twinkling of an eye, He reached His dwelling place.
His sunlight, now, forever, The Sonlight of His face.
My heart is full of longing. My eyes search for His face.
Who'll be next to rise up, to their dwelling place?


I wonder who will know it. Who all will hear Them say,
"Come up here, beloved one. You're home with Us today."
Where next will shine the lightening? My heart awaits the sight.
Soon will be Eternal Day. We'll be one with The Light.

CHANGED IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE

I have in this study, written out some scriptures, but have only made reference to others, so as to take up less space. All of those I have only made reference to, are very important also. I have put these in bold print and underlined them.  I had put links to them to make them easy to look up, but could not make them work here. So please do look them up, for it is what God had written down for us in The Word that is important. And I believe what is written in God's Word backs up what I have written here.  They are all VERY important to this study. Having heard a thing a certain way for a long time, often makes it difficult to "hear" in a different way.  It is my personal belief that many things we have been taught of men are misleading.  The Word of God is all true, but not all who teach it are.  It is important to know this.  And God will hold us responsible for how we handle His Word, for He has told us: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2Timothy 2:15 The scriptures that are written out and those that are not can all be looked up and verified at http://www.biblegateway.com/

Changed in the Twinkling of an Eye (A Picture From the Story of Gideon)

"And he divided the 300 men into 3 companies, and he put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers (vessels), and lamps (lights) within the pitchers (earthen vessels)." Judges 7:16. "And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon." Judges 7:20

We are the earthen vessels within which Christ dwells.  We must be broken if His Light within us is to be seen by a dark and dying world.  We ARE the Light of the World, but we must be formed within, in The Truth that will set The Light within us free.  "Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness."  Luke 11:3

In the last days, God will have a company, a mighty army, who will be vessels of clay, which have been emptied of self.  Inside, is The Light, The Life of Christ.  When the last trumpet sounds, the corruptible shall fall away.  We shall be changed (what's inside turned without).  "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver:  and he shall purify the sons of Levi,  and purge(empty of dross) them as gold and silver." Malachi.3:3   "I am also formed out of the clay." Job 33:6  "If a man, therefore, purge (empty) himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use and prepared unto every good work."  2 Timothy 2:21.  "If thine eye be single, thy whole body (vessel) shall be full of light." Matthew 6:22  "Then shall thy light break forth ............the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward." Isaiah 58:8 Please, right here, read Joel 2:1-11  

The Son's of God shall be revealed, in the twinkling of an eye it shall happen, just like God's Word promises.  It does not say we will be caught up into the sky.  It says we shall be caught up together in the air (This word being the Greek word, which refers to a blowing or forcing out "(God breathed into Adam's nostrils and he became a living soul)"  See Gen.2:7  Another word is used for sky.  We shall be caught up together, shall be of one mind, one spirit, one accord, one body (The Body of Christ). God will judge the world through this army, by His Word, in the earth.   Please see 1 Corinthians 6:2 and John 12:48 and Isaiah 26:9.   We shall behold His face, and we shall be in total awareness of our place in Him (in the air=heavenlies), while we walk the earth.  Please see 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18    Remember when Christ said to Mary, "Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended (caught up) unto my Father?" John 20:17  But, later they did touch Him. Later, He appeared in the room with His disciples, though the doors were shut.  It was then that He told Thomas TO touch Him.  Therefore they could see Jesus there with then, even though, through implication, He had been "caught up."  He had not "flown away."  Dare we who have been thinking differently about "caught up" begin to see the meaning of this in a different way?   Perhaps we all need to rethink some things we have been "taught" of men, and let God show us what HE is saying to us.  We all need to test everything against The Word to us by The Holy Spirit.  "And say, Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I am against thee O Zidon; and I will be glorified in the midst of thee: and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have executed judgments in her, and shall be sanctified in her." Ezekiel 28:22.  Shall He not be glorified in the midst of us....literally, as in: "the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple?"  Malachi 3:1 When He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day."  2Thessalonians 1:10.  Now, after the millennium, the Holy City will be seen descending out of heaven, but note, carefully: "And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for behold, the kingdom of God is within you". Luke 17:20-21.

We shall be shut in with Him during His wrath.  We will not, in a twinkling, "go out in haste," but be revealed. " For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your reward."  Isaiah 52:12  Please see Isaiah 26:20  The Israelites were shut in, in safety, during the plagues, but were  removed from one location to another.  Their feet were still on this earth. Note how John, in Revelation, was "in the Spirit and caught up."  Rev. 1:10   and Rev. 4:1  "Beloved, now are we the Sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Hinm, for we shall see Him as He is."  1John 3:2  (Not fly away, but be revealed)  Want Shelter?  Want Comfort?  Read Psalms 91, and believe God.  Not men. 

THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING THE WORD OF GOD FOR ONESELF

How many folks proclaim to know and serve God, but seldom, if ever, read His Word for themselves?  I've "lived" long enough to know there are many.  No wonder most of our churches are in such a lukewarm state.  Most of us are familiar with John 3: 16:  "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life."   But what about Revelation 3: 16:  "So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth." ???

 

Why is it important to know what is in God's Word?  How many of us have ever really just stopped and thought about this?  I do not think I really came to know how important it was, until I began to read it for myself.  My grandmother had given me a real "adult" Bible for Christmas one year. All I had before that was  the "Bible for Young Folks."  It was more of a rewrite of stories and pictures.  I was proud to have it, but quickly became annoyed by the "thees" and "thous" of this King James Bible.  At the time, I didn't know there were others.  Now, I am glad I didn't know that. But, that is another (rather long) story.  

 

Upon entering nursing school in 1960, I took my Bible with me.  It was my first year there, and after a while, I realized that I had not read from that Bible that I had made sure to bring with me.  One night, I took that Bible and went out into the hallway (for I had two room mates, and wanted to be alone), sat down in the floor, opened it up, and began to fret about the language style in which it was written.  I just had no desire to read that.  But, I thought it may be something I needed to do.  So, I prayed right then and there:  "God, if reading this book is something You want me to do, then I ask you to please make me want to read it, because I have no desire to do so."   And, right then and there, I began to develop the desire to do so.  I became very interested in what I found there, even though the style aggravated me for many more years.  The more I found things in that Book I had never heard before,  and the more other things were confirmed there that I didn't see happening in most "Christians" I knew, the more interesting it became.  I began to ask some questions that gradually led me on a journey, that I know I only survived by the Grace of God.  I thank God for the desire He put in me to read His Word, for it was laying a foundation, the importance of which, I did not understand, until many years later.  That is a story I hope to write someday.  I did write an eleven page summary of that story, but it is lost on a dead laptop that cannot be revived. I saw many things in that book that I didn't see happening in others. Years later, when I gained more understanding, I didn't see a great many of them in happening in  myself either. May I submit that it is ourselves for which The Book was written and compiled.  If any of us do not get anything else, we need to get that.  I am so glad that I finally did.

 

One may ask, "Why should I spend all that time reading, when I can just listen to preaching or just do what I feel is right?"  Here is one scripture and one simple reason why not,  for that question, and both of those options:  1.  Listen to preaching: It is written in The Word, itself, "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth." Timothy 2:15.    Preachers are humans, the same as we are.  Some are called of God, and some are not.  Some are true shepherds.  Some are true hirelings (in it for pay, power, respect,  lip service, or whatever reason).  Therefore, it is imperative for us to know, as individuals, what God said, and to seek out what He meant ..... for ourselves.  2.  Do what I feel is right: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9  Do we even need to expound here?  When there is no Ultimate Truth living within, all men do what is right in their own eyes.  Any of us who are honest with ourselves can just look at the mess the world is in and say that way is just not working.  I really feel that The Holy Spirit has been putting some things into perspective for me about this subject.  I would like to share some of this with others, because I do not know how many of us have considered these things:

 

It is written:  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God."  John 1: 1-2  If  Jesus Christ is the Word, and we do not read the Word, then how can we say that we know Him?  Who is He?  He is The Word.  So, what do we know of Him? What we have heard others say?  Is that a good foundation?   If we were blind and heard a voice saying, "Sit down quickly. There is a chair right behind you."  Would we quickly sit down?  First of all, how do we know who is speaking?  How do we know they are speaking to us?  How do we know there is a chair behind us?  This may be a rather lame example, but surely you get the point.  We need to know the God we serve.  We need to know He is speaking to us.  We need to know that He is Faithful and cannot lie, for He is The Truth.  How can we know this from another?  Do we take the word of a man who can lie, or of our Creator, who cannot lie?  "God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: has He said, and shall He not do it? or has He spoken,and shall He not make it good?" Numbers 23:19   "And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for He is not a man, that He should repent."  1 Samuel 15:29

 

If even one person for whom Jesus died reads this and begins to see how important it is to read, study and know, The Word of God for oneself, or if one that already knows that truth, shares this message with others,  my time here would have been well spent.  May God put into your heart His desire for you to truly know Him, The Word of God.

 

WHAT IS WATER BAPTISM/ SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING?
 

Just as taking communion is symbolic of the body and blood of Jesus,  I believe that the act of being baptized in the river, pool, lake, baptistry, or where ever, is symbolic of the real baptism that The Lord desires for us to receive, when we receive Him.  It is written:

 

 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." Ephesians 5:27 He IS The Word. To be immersed in The Word, is to be immersed in Him.

 

Baptize means to be immersed in.  He wants His Church to be immersed in The Word, for that is Who He is.  That is how the Church is to make Herself ready to receive Him when He comes.  How can we know His Will, unless we read His Word? His Word IS His Will.   It seems strange to me for people to say they love The Lord, but yet do not want to read His Word.  We make time for who and what we want the most. If we love someone, won't we want to know what they have to say to us? To be immersed in The Word is what is going to get rid of the spots and wrinkles, if we apply it to our lives. When we apply The Word to our life, it washes away the spots and wrinkles.

 

 "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."Ephesians 5:26-27.

 

The sooner we do this, the sooner He can come for us.  The world needs Him. He is the only hope for this world. God forbid that we who name His Name, should hold up His return.  He is waiting on us.  Remember?  He said, "It is finished!"  What are we doing?  The Israelites marched around the mountain for 40 years. Will we have to march around what he told us to do for 40,000 years? 

 

 "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" Luke 6:46

TILL LOVE SHALL LOVE RELIEVE

The Love, the Love, that I bespeak
Works wonders in the soul
When I'm whole, it makes me sick
When sick, it makes me whole.

I'm overcome, I faint, I fail
Till Love shall Love relieve
More Love Divine, the wound can heal
Which Love Divine did give.

More of the Joy that makes me faint
Would give me present ease
If more should kill me
I'm content, to die of that disease.

More On Seed ("My people perish for lack of knowledge.")

More On Seed  ("My people perish for lack of knowledge")

First, one has to believe that The Word of God is true.  What is known in the intellect has to drop down into the heart and become real and alive, personally.  Once we believe that there are no mistakes in God's Word, we are ready to begin applying it.  No matter if we do not understand all that we hear or read.  If there seems to be a contradiction, we now know that it is in our own understanding, and not in The Word.  Now, first we sow the seed we have (what we understand). Then, we reap a harvest of multiplied seed (more understanding). This is how we get understanding.  If seed is just held in our hand, or only eaten and forgotten, it will not produce a harvest.