I Wonder

Our church recently upgraded from old-timey bench style pews to more comfortable chairs with cushions and gave the old pews away.

My wife and I were fortune it enough to get one of the pews and we placed it on our back deck. We occasionally sit in it and marvel at God’s beautiful creation.

I sometimes wonder how many people gave their life to Jesus sitting in that very same pew that we use to gaze upon God’s creation, with a command of His voice, that I am in awe of. I wonder how many people sat there and cried during a sermon that pricked their hearts. I wonder how many couples, male and female, sat there holding hands being preached to about God’s design in marriage covenant between man and wife. Or how many young men and women sat in the very same pew and marveled at how God, Himself, took on flesh and died on the Cross for our sins, defeating sin and death through His descension into hell and resurrection and ascension into heaven for you and me.

Paul writes in Ephesians 4:6 “One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”[a] 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?[b] 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)

I wonder how many sermons have been preached in that church with that old church pew. And how many people sat on that old-fashioned church pew. And now my wife and I and children get to sit on the same pew that saw people give their lives to Jesus, the most important decision you will ever make, to spend eternity with Jesus.

But there is still something about sitting in an old uncomfortable traditional pew that can’t be replaced. I wouldn’t trade that memory for anything.

Like There is No God (in Israel)

Do you give yourself too much credit? I know I do. I think I can take care of problems without God’s help, like there is no God (in Israel). Our pastor was preaching a sermon the other day and he said the same thing. We often take God for granted and think we can do it, anything from small issues to big issues, without Him.

We should pray over everything and worry about nothing. Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Bible gateway ESV 2024) Our church is hosting a blood drive, that I signed the church up for and I am stressing out that we don’t have enough people signed up. When you host a blood drive, the Arkansas Blood Institute goal is 12 and I have six signed up seven days before the blood drive. What I need to do, is pray about it and I have been, but we have a tendency to put God in a box, like He can’t do anything! This is such a great opportunity for God to show up and show out, when this blood drive is a success, and we get way over the goal of 12. And of-course we can’t forget to give God all the glory for the successes in our lives.

I have been posting on Facebook, I have been talking to people at work and sending messages on my phone. We have been announcing it at church. I’ve hung up signs and left small brochures with QR codes to make appointments everywhere. I’m to the point that I don’t know what else I can do, except pray and give it to God.

The point is we should be praying over everything, from the time we wake up till the time we go to bed.

And when this succeeds because I have faith, that it will, give All the glory to God. Because there is a God and He is good, all the time.

Do Something (Devotion)

Have you heard the song by Matthew West called Do Something? I just happen to have the words to the song, let me read them to you:

“I woke up this morning
Saw a world full of trouble now
Thought, how’d we ever get so far down
How’s it ever gonna turn around
So I turned my eyes to heaven

I thought, God, why don’t You do something?
Well, I just couldn’t bear the thought of
People living in poverty
Children sold into slavery
The thought disgusted me

So, I shook my fist at heaven
Said, God, why don’t You do something?
He said, I did, I created you
Now listen

If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now
It’s time for us to do something

If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
Oh, it’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something

Na-na, na
Na-na, na
Na-na, na
Na-na, na

I’m so tired of talking
About how we are God’s hands and feet
But it’s easier to say than to be
Live like angels of apathy who tell ourselves
It’s alright, somebody else will do something

Well, I don’t know about you
But I’m sick and tired of life with no desire
I don’t want a flame, I want a fire
I wanna be the one who stands up and says
I’m gonna do something

If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now
It’s time for us to do something
Yes, it is, c’mon

If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something

We are the salt of the earth
We are a city on a hill
We’re never gonna change the world
By standing still
No we won’t stand still
No we won’t stand still
No we won’t stand still

If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now
It’s time for us to do something

If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something (na-na, na)

It’s time for us to do something
It’s time for us to do something (na-na, na)”

Songwriters: Matthew West. For non-commercial use only.

Men, we can’t sit on our hands, we need to be the leaders of the church. Let’s see what the Bible says about Men in the church:

As leaders of the church, men have a great responsibility. Paul told the elders at Ephesus “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which he purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28 Bible Gateway NKJV 2024)

And elder must hold “fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict: (Titus 1:9 Bible Gateway NKJV 2024)

Peter said, “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by constraint but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; not as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:2, 3 Bible Gateway NKJV 2024)

“Younger Christians are to submit to their elders: “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5 Bible Gateway NKJV 2024)

Can we change the world? We may not be able to singlehandedly change the world, but we can change someone’s world.

The floor is open to any suggestions on how we can serve the church and the community?

God Chose Us

God Chose us first! Let that sink in. We didn’t choose God. God came running after us. John 15:16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” (Bible Gateway ESV 2023) What! God Chose me, and I didn’t choose him? Why is this blowing my mind? It shouldn’t blow my mind. God knows everything!

Revelation 13:8 says “And all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. ⁹If anyone has an ear, let him hear (Bible Gateway ESV 2023)

Our names were written in the book of life of the Lamb before the foundation of the world.

That is mind boggling to me.

This begs the question what about the people that were not chosen by God. Why were they not chosen by God? The only way I can answer this question is that God chose us because He knew we would choose Him.

My wife is from Germany. We moved from Germany to my hometown in Arkansas. And I had strayed from God. A prodigal child if you will. My wife started working for someone at a homestead farm and thank God she did! She was constantly being invited to church and I kept saying I am not ready to go back to church fighting it, knowing that attending church is a commitment. And finally, she convinced me to go. You can feel the love of the church when you walk in. I am so glad and blessed to be back to worshipping and following Jesus Christ.

Most of my wife’s family doesn’t understand why we go to church so much and worship God and why it takes up so much of our time. We are supposed to put God first in everything we do. Her family says we are in a cult and we have some of her family visiting us, they hope the returning family members don’t come back in a cult like we are in. (we know we will be ridiculed and made fun of for our beliefs). So, my point is, God knows who will choose Him, and who will not. If we are not going to choose God, then we are already not chosen, and He already knows who will choose Him.

That doesn’t mean God doesn’t want everyone to come to the saving grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ as 2 Peter 9 says “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,^[^a^] not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (Bible Gateway ESV 2023)

The only sin that can’t be forgiven is denying God. Luke 12:10 says “And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.” (Bible Gateway ESV 2023)

Q“ How many sins can you list that God won’t ever forgive? I worry about this, because I know I’ve not been a very good person, and some of the things I’ve done are probably on that list.

A: Only one sin that can’t be forgiven is on God’s list—and that is the sin of rejecting Him and refusing His offer of forgiveness and new life in Jesus Christ. This alone is the unforgivable sin, because it means we are saying that the Holy Spirit’s witness about Jesus is a lie (see Luke 12:10).

Why is it so serious to reject Christ? The reason, first of all, is because of who He was. He wasn’t just another religious teacher; He was God in human flesh—but when we deny this, we limit Him and assume He is unable to save us. But the Bible is clear: “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known” (John 1:18).

The main reason why it’s so serious to reject Christ, however, is because He is God’s appointed means of salvation. Our greatest need is to have our sins forgiven; if we don’t, we have no reason to expect God to welcome us into Heaven. But by His death and resurrection Christ provided the way for us to be forgiven and cleansed of all our sins.

How Hot Is Hell?

It’s starting to get hot here in Arkansas. Yesterday’s high temperature was in the 90’s but it felt even hotter. Last weekend my family and I were camping at Gilham Lake, and I was in the sun longer than I should have been, fishing, playing, and swimming with my girls. At the end of the day, I felt terrible. My face was burning hot, and I felt like I had heat exhaustion. My wife said I looked like I had a 2^nd degree burn on my ears. I laid down to go to bed and I just didn’t feel good. I had a cold bottle of water on my chest to cool me down and another cold bottle of water to drink. I thought I needed to go to the doctor, but I laid down and prayed that God would make me feel better and that I would be alright.

Have you ever felt this way? Did you ever get too much sun and just feel terrible? Maybe some of you have had heat exhaustion or heat stroke. I can’t imagine what hell will feel like, but I wonder if that is anywhere even remotely close to what hell will be like? Probably not, hell will probably be much more intense, and it lasts forever, for eternity. There will be no relief from it.

What perplexes me is when people say they don’t care if they go to hell or not. WHAT! You don’t care if you go to hell? You must not understand what hell is? That scares the hell out of me, people that (think) they willingly want to go there. Elon Musk, I would submit that he is not as smart as people give him credit for. Or maybe he is too smart?

Elon Musk

@elonmusk

Replying to

@Almisehal

Thank you for the blessing, but I’m ok with going to hell, if that is indeed my destination, since the vast majority of all humans ever born will be there.

5:57 AM · May 9, 2022·Twitter for iPhone

Elon Musk on Twitter: “@Almisehal Thank you for the blessing, but I’m ok with going to hell, if that is indeed my destination, since the vast majority of all humans ever born will be there.” / Twitter

The Bible says there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. People in hell will be in so much agony that they will gnash their teeth down.

Mark 9:42 ^“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe and trust in Me to stumble [that is, to sin or lose faith], it would be better for him if a heavy millstone [one requiring a donkey’s strength to turn it] were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. ⁴³If your hand causes you to stumble and sin, cut it off [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]! It is better for you to enter life crippled, than to have two hands and go into ^[g]hell, into the unquenchable fire, ⁴⁴^[h][where their worm does not die, and the fire is not put out.] ⁴⁵If your foot causes you to stumble and sin, cut it off [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]! It would be better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell, ⁴⁶^[i][where their worm does not die, and the fire is not put out.] ⁴⁷If your eye causes you to stumble and sin, throw it out [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]! It would be better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, ⁴⁸where their worm [that feeds on the dead] does not die, and the fire is not put out.” (Bible Gateway Amplified Bible 2022)

We just had someone die in our family. My Sister-in-Law’s Father-in-Law and we weren’t sure of their salvation. We are questioning ourselves, did we do enough. Did we talk enough about Jesus? Did we shine our light? I believe that people can be saved through the loss of others, so I pray that his death is not in vain. I pray for people that do not know Jesus Christ as their savior. I pray that someone will be sent into their lives to set an example to at least plant a seed so that God can do the rest.

Hell according to the Bible

Heather Riggleman 2021 says “Hell is a place of sorrow and torment. This truth is seen throughout the Bible in the Old and New Testaments. The Bible clearly and explicitly teaches that hell is a real place to which the wicked/unbelieving are sent after death. Hell is this infinite and eternal death which we have earned because of our sin. Christ talked a great deal about this subject. He describes “Gehenna” as a place where “their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:44, 46, 48). He spoke several times about weeping and gnashing of teeth for those who are “cast into outer darkness” (Matthew 8:12, 13:42, 22:13, 24:51, 25:30). He also gives the parable about inhabiting a “place of torment” (Luke 16:28). Jesus spoke about hell more than anyone else in Scripture.”

Heather goes on to say “As of right now, whether or not you believe in God—you are still experiencing His blessings. Even if your life is less than ideal. Even if you are sick, poor, or suffering in some way. You woke up this morning to the blessing of His breath in your lungs. He is ensuring your needs are met. If you’re alive and living on this planet, you have already benefited from God’s grace and goodness. Every sinner, saint, atheist, agnostic, and doubter have all received His gifts of being alive, witnessing God’s hand-painted sunsets, the breath in their lungs, or the love of a parent. Everyone has benefited from the goodness in this world that God not only created but provided. He’s given you free will and in Him, you live, move, and have your being—mind, body, soul, and spirit.”

“Hell was created for the rebellion of Satan and the angels that followed him (Matthew 25:41; Romans 6:23). Scriptures indicate God never intended Hell and the lake of fire for mankind but that is where all will go who choose not to put their faith in Jesus Christ. The most important question is not where hell is or even when it was created but how to avoid going to hell. We avoid hell when we choose to believe in Jesus Christ—the One who died to pay for your sins and all who choose to put their trust in Him.” (Heather Riggleman 2021)

When I started out writing this article, I certainly didn’t mean for Heather’s article to take over, but her article is so good.

And finally, how do we insure we don’t go to hell?

“One day each of us will stand before God and Jesus will say, “Depart from me for I never knew you.” After God’s judgment, seated on the ‘great white throne, (Revelation 20:11), anyone whose name is not found written in the book of life [will be] thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15). God has been patiently waiting as He does not want any of His children to perish. We can avoid hell by choosing to love God—by accepting His plan of salvation (Mark 1:15).” (Heather Riggleman 2021)

Here is a link to her entire article. What Does the Bible Say about Hell – Location and Description (crosswalk.com)

Hell is real and it is a place of constant sorrow and constant torment. It’s a place I don’t want to go. And anyone that wants to go there, quite frankly, scares me. It’s hard for me to believe they even have a clue as to what they are talking about. Don’t be like Elon Musk and believe in the saving grace of Jesus Christ who died for you and me, so that we don’t have to endure the agony of hell. How hot is hell? I don’t know and I don’t want to find out! However, I do know that the rich man wanted a drop of water to cool his tongue. Luke 16:24“And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in severe agony in this flame.’ ²⁵But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things [all the comforts and delights], and Lazarus likewise bad things [all the discomforts and distresses]; but now he is comforted here [in paradise], while you are in severe agony.” (Bible Gateway Amplified Bible 2022) God Bless You!

IS God Real?

I struggled with the title of this devotion. I went back and forth between three titles, God Is Real, Is God Real and another one, but every fiber of my being KNOWS that God IS Real!

The reason God laid this devotion on my heart is I saw a post on Facebook. I can’t remember the group I was in. I hope and pray that the Holy Spirit will guide me back to that post, but someone wrote God is not real in the comments, and it broke my heart to think that there are people out there that don’t believe in God, that deny his existence, that deny him.

And there may be someone in this room that hasn’t accepted Jesus into their lives. I pray that if you don’t have a relationship with Jesus, you would ask Jesus into your heart before it’s too late. There is a lot going on in this world right now. We are not guaranteed tomorrow. You could die in a tornado, there could be a Hurricane, or flood. We are having wildfires. You could die in your sleep. You could have a heart attack, or a stroke. You may not make it home from this event. I may not finish this devotion. If you don’t have a relationship with Jesus. I implore you to ask Jesus into your heart and accept him as your personal savior before it is everlasting too late.

I am not bragging. I give all the glory to God. But I have heard God (the Holy Spirit) talk to me and I have felt the Holy Spirit’s presence. Have I seen God, no I haven’t, but that’s where faith comes in.

Now I don’t always do what the Holy Spirit wants me to do, but I have heard the Holy Spirit talk to me and you guys may have too. I was coming back from (you guys can fill in the blank) fishing on Highway 88E and there was a truck broken down on the side of the road and I passed the vehicle, and something told me to turn around and go back, turn around and go back. And I had to ask for forgiveness for not doing what I was told. The Holy Spirit told me to stop drinking and I stopped drinking alcohol about three years ago.

And I’ve felt the Holy Spirit. You may have felt the Holy Spirit in church or when you are praying, or during singing church hymns. The last time I encountered the spirit I was praying. It seems like Manuela’s whole family had COVID and her sister’s father-in-law is in (was) ICU with COVID pneumonia and not doing very good at all and Manuela was talking to her sister and her sister didn’t know what to do so she told her to pray. So, Simone said she prayed, and we are not sure of Simone really believes in God, so she prayed that if you’re real God show me a sign, and the next day Berndt’s health improved. So I was praying for God to heal Berndt and not only would you be performing a miracle and saving Berndt’s live but you would be possibly saving other lives by proving that you are real and you do perform miracles and the Holy Spirit started at the top of my body in my arms and went down my back and in my spine and stayed there for a little bit and ran down my legs and I was just thanking God for the gift of the Holy Spirit and it felt like goosebumps but they were inside my body and it lasted for a two or three minutes. So don’t tell me God’s not real.

1 Corinthians 6:19^“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own [property]?” (Bible Gateway Amplified 2022)

Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one [the only God]!” (Bible Gateway Amplified 2022)

1 Thessalonians 5:19 “Do not quench [subdue or be unresponsive to the working and guidance of] the [Holy] Spirit.” Bible Gateway Amplified 2022)

Acts 20:28 “Take care and be on guard for yourselves and for the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd (tend, feed, guide) the church of God which He bought with His own blood.” (Bible Gateway Amplified 2022)

2 Timothy 2:8 ^“Remember Jesus Christ [the ever-living Lord who has] risen from the dead, [as the prophesied King] descended from David [king of Israel], according to my gospel [the good news that I preach], ⁹for that [gospel] I am suffering even to [the point of] wearing chains like a criminal; but the word of God is not chained or imprisoned! ¹⁰For this reason I [am ready to] patiently endure all things for the sake of those who are the elect (God’s chosen ones), so that they too may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it the reward of eternal glory. ¹¹This is a faithful and trustworthy saying:12 If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we deny Him, He will also deny us;13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful [true to His word and His righteous character], for He cannot deny Himself.” (Bible Gateway Amplified 2022)

John 3:16“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] ^[^a^]only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. ¹⁷For God did not send the Son into the world to judge and condemn the world [that is, to initiate the final judgment of the world], but that the world might be saved through Him. ¹⁸Whoever believes and has decided to trust in Him [as personal Savior and Lord] is not judged [for this one, there is no judgment, no rejection, no condemnation]; but the one who does not believe [and has decided to reject Him as personal Savior and Lord] is judged already [that one has been convicted and sentenced], because ^[^b^]he has not believed and trusted in the name of the [One and] only begotten Son of God [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, the One who alone can save him]. ¹⁹This is the judgment [that is, the cause for indictment, the test by which people are judged, the basis for the sentence]: the Light has come into the world, and people loved the ^[^c^]darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. ²⁰For every wrongdoer hates the Light, and does not come to the Light [but shrinks from it] for fear that his [sinful, worthless] activities will be exposed and condemned. ²¹But whoever practices truth [and does what is right—morally, ethically, spiritually] comes to the Light, so that his works may be plainly shown to be what they are—accomplished in God [divinely prompted, done with God’s help, in dependence on Him].” (Bible Gateway Amplified 2022)

Men, and women we are here to praise and worship God, thank God, and spread the good news of Jesus Christ so that they would not perish but have everlasting life.

We are the apostles, Hebrews 3:1 says “Therefore, ^[^a^]holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, [thoughtfully and attentively] consider the Apostle and High Priest whom we confessed [as ours when we accepted Him as Savior], namely, ^[^b^]Jesus;” (Bible Gateway Amplified 2022)

Matthew 28:16“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.” (Bible Gateway Amplified 2022)

Is God real? I know I am not supposed to use explicit language especially at church, but you darn right God is Real! I’ve experienced things that you cannot explain happen to me. I’ve had friends and family members experience miracles. I’ve heard of miracles. Neil Taylor is a walking example of a miracle. Just look at our prayer chain. There have been many examples of answered prayers and miracles on our very own prayer chain. We see it over and over again and I would submit that if God doesn’t heal someone, then it was his will.

God heals people. He saves people. He moves mountains.

There is a song by Jon Reddick called God Turn it Around and the Bridge goes like this:

He is Healing Someone, He is Saving Someone, God is Doing Something Right Now, Right Now, He is Moving Mountains, making a way for someone God is doing something Right Now, Right Now.

There’s another song called Too Good to Not Believe by Brandon Lake, listen to that song when you have a chance.

It pains my heart to know that people deny the good news of Jesus Christ!

I’ll leave you with this quote: “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and un-prayed for.” Charles Spurgeon

Go talk to someone about Jesus, plant a seed and let God do the rest. Romans 10:13 states “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord [in prayer] will be saved.” (Bible Gateway Amplified 2022) God Bless you! Just Believe Please! Before it is too late!

No Storms In Heaven

I would say natural disasters are intensifying, God is pouring out his judgement on us.

Today on earth, the storms seem to be intensifying. In December 2021, a tornado traveled 227 miles on the ground 200 miles in Kentucky with a death toll of at least 70 people. In 2020, we had so many hurricanes we had to start the Greek alphabet over naming them.

The Bible says there will be earthquakes in diver’s places. We are having a record number of natural disasters including devastating wildfires. On March 30, 2022, the USGS lists 50 earthquakes over 2.5 magnitude in the past day and 21 tornadoes in the last 14 hours according to Tornado HQ site by Hayley (2022). And as of this writing on 30 March 2022 there are 604 wildfires in 19 states of the United States that have burned 404,797 acres of land according to 2022 Fire, Weather &Avalanche Center. You don’t think God is pouring out his judgment on us for turning away from him, from taking him out of our schools etc., etc.? See below Bible scripture:

Matthew 24:1 “While Jesus was seated on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, and said, “Tell us, when will this [destruction of the temple] take place, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end (completion, consummation) of the age?”

⁴Jesus answered, “Be careful that no one misleads you [deceiving you and leading you into error]. ⁵For many will come in My name [misusing it and appropriating the strength of the name which belongs to Me], saying, ‘I am the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed),’ and they will mislead many. ⁶You will continually hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end [of the age]. ⁷For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs [of the intolerable anguish and the time of unprecedented trouble].” (Bible Gateway Amplified Bible 2022)

But there is good news, there will be no fires, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, and storms in Heaven. There will be no more sickness, disease, and death in Heaven. There will be no more wearing a mask or getting a booster shot. There will be no more fear in Heaven. No one will steal your identity in Heaven. Heaven will be perfect. We won’t even need the sun in Heaven because the glory of God will illuminate it, see Bible scripture below:

Revelations 21:22 “I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all] and the Lamb are its temple. ²³And the city has no need of the sun nor of the moon to give light to it, for the glory (splendor, radiance) of God has illumined it, and the Lamb is its lamp and light. ²⁴The nations [the redeemed people from the earth] will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring into it their glory. ²⁵By day (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed [in fear of evil]; ²⁶and they will bring the glory (splendor, majesty) and the honor of the nations into it; ²⁷and nothing that defiles or profanes or is unwashed will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices abominations [detestable, morally repugnant things] and lying, but only those [will be admitted] whose names have been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” Bible Gateway Amplified Bible 2022)

Oh, how we long to be in the presence of our almighty Lord and Savior! Bur until then, comfort each other with these words; see Bible scripture below:

1 Thessalonians 13 “Now we do not want you to be uninformed, believers, about those who are asleep [in death], so that you will not grieve [for them] as the others do who have no hope [beyond this present life]. ¹⁴For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again [as in fact He did], even so God [in this same way—by raising them from the dead] will bring with Him those [believers] who have fallen asleep in Jesus. ¹⁵For we say this to you by the Lord’s [own] word, that we who are still alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede [into His presence] those [believers] who have fallen asleep [in death]. ¹⁶For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the ^[b]archangel and with the [blast of the] trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷Then we who are alive and remain [on the earth] will simultaneously be caught up (raptured) together with them [the resurrected ones] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord! ¹⁸Therefore comfort and encourage one another with these words [concerning our reunion with believers who have died].” (Bible Gateway Amplified Bible 2022)

Until Jesus returns comfort each other insuring them that Jesus will indeed return and if we believe in him and have a relationship with him and have repented from our sins, we will be with him for eternity.

Fish/Jesus Sign Fell Off (Ichthys)

On the way to work today, I got behind a car. It was an older Honda that had the fish/Jesus sign (Ichthys, Greek word for fish) removed, or maybe it fell off. It was an older car. I couldn’t help but think that since it was an older car that either the sign that portrays the sign of Jesus being a fisherman either fell off or perhaps it was sold to someone that didn’t have a relationship with Jesus and didn’t believe in Jesus and took it off. Either way, a non-believer or the Jesus/fish sign falling off breaks my heart.

It made me sad. I wanted to talk to the person driving the car and ask them what happened to their sign, did they still believe in Jesus. Did they ever believe in Jesus? Is there any thing I could do to help them restore their relationship with Jesus?

All I can do is pray that they will put their Fish/Jesus sign back on their car and display their belief in our Savior Jesus Christ proudly.

Where Did All The People Go?

Imagine you wake up one day and one third of all the people you know are gone. They disappeared into thin air, off the face of the earth. It’s as if they were abducted by aliens.

You go to your neighbor’s house and they don’t answer the door. Their dogs are barking. Their cats need in.

You call your Aunt, and she doesn’t answer the phone and she always answers the phone.

You send a message to a friend on Facebook, no reply.

You send another friend a text and they don’t get back to you and they always do.

The person that watches your children is missing. You are forced to take them to work with you.

On your way to work you notice cars on the side of the road abandoned. You go to work and half of the people you work with are missing. They didn’t show up to work. And they are very punctual. Their always on time!

You turn on the news and the news is talking about some alien abduction, because that is what they are going to say. The news is claiming that millions of people are gone (abducted).

You go to have your car repaired during your lunch break and his shop is closed. The person that repairs your car is missing.

You have an appointment to get your hair done, not today they are gone.

Your favorite bank tellers are gone.

You want to order pizza and your favorite pizza place is closed because so many people didn’t show up to work.

I could go on and on forever, but you get the picture. And there is way more than just these examples that will be impacted, according to Mary Fairchild (April 16, 2020) there are 2.5 billion Christians in the world. If that number is accurate and they do believe in the birth, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and they have repented of their sins, then around 2.5 billion people “shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (Bible Gateway KJV 2022)

1 Thessalonians 14 “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

¹⁵For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

¹⁶For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

¹⁷Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

¹⁸Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (Bible Gateway KJV 2022)

What happened to all these people? Where did they all go?

Susie, Jennifer, Rob and Dave all tried to talk to you about Jesus, but you brushed them off. Saying “I don’t have time for that kind of talk”.

You dismissed them as Bible-beaters or do-gooders. Maybe you even thought they were naïve to believe a book written over 2000 years ago with crazy stories in it like Adam and Eve, Noah and the Ark, Jesus walking on the water and turning the water into wine. And Jesus healing people and throwing out demons.

When Jesus returns will you be caught up in the air? In a twinkling of an eye…

^{1 Corinthians 52 “}In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

⁵³For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

⁵⁴So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

⁵⁵O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

⁵⁶The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

⁵⁷But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁵⁸Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (Bible Gateway KJV 2022)

Will you be asking yourself, Where Did All The People Go?

God Places People in our Lives for a Reason Devotion

A few weeks ago, the Lord laid on my heart to give the fourth Sunday church devotion. I texted my Sunday school teacher and asked who was giving the devotion, he wrote back that his wife was giving it, so I thought it was a done deal until he wrote back saying that she was willing to let me have her spot and she will give her devotion at Youth night, which is in the evening of the same day, anyway this is how the devotion unfolded.

See the notes below for the devotion:

Prayer – Thank God for the Church and the church visitors and the church members. Thank him for all my blessings…thank you for sending Jesus, your only Son to die on the Cross for our sins. Thank you for Brother Dickie (interim Pastor, every two weeks) and family, for sending him to fill in, in our time of need, thank you for using Brother Dickie as a vessel to deliver the message you’ve laid on his heart and may we have an open mind and an open heart to receive that message. Dear God, send us a pastor, the one you have picked out for us. Give me the words to say, the message you have laid on my heart. We love you, in Jesus name we pray, Amen

Good Morning Church family. It’s an honor to be standing before you today.

Start out with scripture John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another, as I loved you, that ye also love one another. ³⁵By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Amplified ³⁴I am giving you a new commandment, that you ^[^f^]love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too are to love one another. ³⁵By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another.”

We have this written on our refrigerator door “Love Like Jesus”

Talk about the church and how we love one another, that we help each other out. That’s why I love this church. I wouldn’t want to be a part of any other church.

Tell the story of Luke and Dee inviting Manuela to church. My wife helped at Luke and Dee Dee’s farm and they invited her to church and that is how this wonderful relationship with God started or continued for me.

Tell the story of how we met Miss Lori Goodner. And that she is at Church and what a blessing it is to have her here and to have her friendship, that God puts people in your lives for a reason. He used an innocent child to crawl up in her lap and blessed us with her friendship.

Last year when we were registering the girls, Charlotte, 4 and Julie 7, at school. We were going from one station to the other, signing the kids up for car rider, school bus, lunch meals, etc., etc. and we noticed Charlotte climb up onto someone’s lap. Embarrassed we apologized, but the lady was not put off by the innocent little one making herself at home in her lap, she said it was fine. We were able to finish registering the girls and spoke to Mrs. Lori and got to know her, made friends with her on Facebook, making it official, and invited her to church.

Manuela met Travis at an arrowhead digging school event. Somehow, we put two and two together and figured out that Travis is Mrs. Lori’s Son.

We met Neil and Sheila at Jenssen Park at their granddaughter’s birthday party. Funny story, did you know, Sheila’s maiden name is Taylor, when she married Neil, she didn’t have to change her last name. We knew Leah Taylor from school which is Neil’s daughter-in-law. Again, God’s hand in, blessing us with them in our lives. We get to be blessed with specials from Neil and Sheila at church.

That’s what we are supposed to do, Love one another and invite people to church.

Second verse: Romans 12:6

⁶Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

⁷Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

⁸Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

⁹Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

Amplified Version: Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them accordingly: if [someone has the gift of] prophecy, [let him speak a new message from God to His people] in proportion to the faith possessed; ⁷if service, in the act of serving; or he who teaches, in the act of teaching; ⁸or he who encourages, in the act of encouragement; he who gives, with generosity; he who leads, ^[^d^]with diligence; he who shows mercy [in caring for others], with cheerfulness. Love is to be sincere and active [the real thing—without guile and hypocrisy]. Hate what is evil [detest all ungodliness, do not tolerate wickedness]; hold on tightly to what is good.

God gives everyone a special gift and my wonderful wife has been blessed with the gift of giving. She has a Big, loving, generous heart filled full of love, and all she wants to do is give, generously, you would much rather give that to receive and I love you for that. I thank God every single day that he put you in my life. That’s what God does, he strategically places people in our lives for reasons, like Luke and DeeDee, like Mrs. Lori, and Travis, and Neil and Sheila and the rest of you.

Close out with a prayer, thank you God for putting all these people in our lives, for Luke and Dee Dee inviting Manuela to church, thank you for using an innocent child to climb onto Miss Lori’s lap, thank you allowing us to meet Travis and his family and for bringing Neil and Sheila and Leah and her family into our lives. Thank you, God, for all the visitors and the members of this church and that hopefully the visitors will be members someday. Thank you for all your blessings and forgive me for all the many times I have failed you. We love you Lord, in Jesus name we pray Amen.