(Paul writes) My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.  1 Corinthians 2:4-6

 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.   1 John 5:20

 (Paul writes) My goal is that they (you and me) may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  Colossians 2:2-3

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  James 1:5

 …for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.  Proverbs 8:11

AMEN!!!

Ask God for His wisdom and believe in your heart he will give it to you! 

Nuggets of Wisdom will help you understand the heart of God, the mind of God, and the power of God!

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Nuggets of Wisdom … spread the Word

There is no such thing as diet Christ

 I have made a decision to diet. But, I have made this decision other times, as well. Why would this time be any different? I guess it’s just not meant for me. ~ The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. ~Mark 4:15 NLT

 I have made a decision to diet. I am very excited to see the results of it. I will do anything to win this battle. Everywhere I turn there is a temptation. But, that does not bother me. My mood has become poor, however, because my friends will not encourage me. They have dieted and failed. They don’t believe there is any hope. I guess it’s just not meant for me. ~ The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. ~ Mark 4:16-17 NLT

 I have made a decision to diet. Everywhere I turn there is a temptation. I still want those things. You know what, I think there might be an easier way. Maybe I can have both. I will say I’m on a diet, but I will keep visiting my secret hideaway, from time to time, where nobody will see me. No one will be the wiser! Just as long as I look like I am dieting. ~ The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. ~ Mark 4:18-19 NLT

 I have made a decision to live a new life. I will slip up, promptly admit it, and maintain my new path. I know it will not happen quickly. I know it will take time. It will be hard for me to see, but others will see the change. I will throw away the scale. I will never reach a point of satisfaction because I will set no benchmark. I will take it one day at a time and do the very best I can everyday. I will reward myself by knowing, that what once controlled me in this world, is no longer my master. I will encourage my friends with this new life. Most importantly, I will rely on the strength of God alone and praise Him always for the results. ~ And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted. ~ Mark 4:20 NLT

There is no such thing as diet Christ

The  massive 9.1 earthquake in Japan recently has many people fearing the worst-world end!  Combined with other world earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, famines, global warming , and extreme weather conditions there is evidence of other troubling issues across the globe.  There have been out breaks of new health threats like H1N1, and terrible diseases without known cure, pestilence problems like the recent epidemic of bed bugs, and a surge of violence and criminal activity greater than ever before.  Our economy seems to get worse by second and the crippling effects of hard financial times can be seen and felt all over the world.  Many fear these terrible things are clues that point out disaster.  Could this be a severe warning of catastrophe?  What can be done to prevent this horrible outcome, and is it too late?  What can we do as individuals and families  to ready ourselves and be prepared for the future?  Can anyone escape from this terrible threat?  With so many gripped  with fear and bracing for worst, these are the type of questions that fill the hearts and minds of people today.  The answers to these crucial questions have been discovered and the outcome is astounding and may come as quite a shock . 

 The bible warns of these same concerns and very issues.  It is written clearly for all to read.  These hardships and major world issues should not come as a surprise to the discerning person. All of the events that are taking place have been foretold in the bible and if you have not yet read these scriptures, you may be surprised to see how accurate and detailed these prophetic messages actually are.

Matthew 24:5-8 (Amplified Bible) ⁵For many will come in (on the strength of) My name [^[b]appropriating the name which belongs to Me], saying, I am the Christ (the Messiah), and they will lead many astray.   ⁶And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened or troubled, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. ⁷For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in place after place; ⁸All this is but the beginning [the early pains] of the ^[c]birth pangs [of the ^[d]intolerable anguish].

 It is amazing how these prophecies, written so long ago, so accurately depict the picture of our world condition today.  This world is definitely spiraling towards a great tribulation.  As seen in the previous scripture of Matthew 24:8 all of these things are just the beginning of a time of  the intolerable anguish that lie ahead.  As terrible as things are today, they appear to be just a taste of the great tribulation to come.  These words and promises are not meant as a source of fear and dismay.  On the contrary, these prophecies are words of hope and offer peace in a world of a turmoil.  There is another scripture that reveals salvation from the aweful terrors that are to come.   You see if we can identify the truth in these prophecies we should also not be oblivious to the hope that is available.  There is hope and there is a way of escape from the terrible times that are most certainly and rapidly approaching.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18   ¹³ And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died^[f] so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. ¹⁴ For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.  ¹⁵ We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.^{[g] 16} For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died^[h] will rise from their graves. ¹⁷ Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸ So encourage each other with these words. 

Clearly the ultimate source of hope for humanity is found in Christ Jesus.  He lived here on this planet amongst us and performed many great miracles.  He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, restored hearing to the deaf, cast out unclean spirits and raised the dead and still His greatest miracle was His greatest sorrow and greatest joy. 

He gave up His life for us.  He was brutally beaten and mocked and hung on the cross for death.  He died there in a place called Calvary.  Despite the fact that He had never sinned and remained clean His whole life, He took all of our sins upon Himself.    He  was buried in a tomb. Then just as it had been pre foretold, on the third  day He rose from the dead.  Jesus was resurrected from the dead!   Jesus is alive!  He later ascended to heaven and can now be found at the right hand of the Father.  He is our mediator, and friend.  He represents us earnestly with love and compassion.  That is the true message of Easter and by far the greatest news of this day and age. 

The events that are taking place right now in our world herald a great tribulation to come.  These events are the direct result of sin and evil.  No one on earth is perfect or without sin but according to bible there is a way to be saved from sin and the terrible events that are now unfolding right before our very eyes. 

Hebrews 9:28 (New Living Translation)²⁸ so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.

1 Peter 1:5 (New Living Translation)⁵ And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

Receiving the salvation and assurance of eternal life is as simple in believing in Jesus Christ and accepting the fact that you are in need of saving.  All one must do to be saved is ask Jesus to come into their heart and forgive   them of all their sins. Then God will make you a brand new creation and if you truly believe it, God will transform you and lead you and guide you during these uncertain times that we face.  Although we are not promised that we will not have to endure trials and tribulations, we are promised ultimate salvation through Jesus. 

Now is the time to pray and Jesus come into your heart.  He understands what you are going through and He will not be hard on you.  Jesus wants to save you.  But there is no guarantee how long we have before Jesus returns to get His people.  According to Matthew 24:36 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.
  All those wait, thinking that time is on their side live in jeopardy and face the dangers of judgement and punishment for all eternity. 

Please take time right now, while there is still a chance and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior.  Tell others about the ,hope and love you have found.   Want to learn more?  Read the bible and begin attending church and studying God’s word daily.  Read more articles like this on the Success and Failure website. You too will learn that no matter what terrible fate this earth may face that there is truly great hope and complete assurance in God.   

 Yours in Christ Jesus,

Pam Shekailo

Please write to me if you more questions or concerns.  I would be happy to hear from you.

Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.

1 Timothy 6:6 NLT

If your like me, when you see a group of factory workers that win the mega Powerball, it’s hard to not do a little fantasy spending.

But, as lengthy as the list may grow, we will forced to omit items. Certain things carry no price tag; no matter how high the bidding goes.

It is difficult to appreciate our great wealth, for we have been trained to value things in life with suggested retail.

“Money will buy a bed but not sleep;

a house but not a home;

medicine but not health;

amusements but not happiness;

religion but not salvation;

a passport to everywhere but heaven.”

A while back I gave a guy something he needed in his home. I think I was as blown away by his reaction as he was by getting it. He tried to pay me what he could and kept saying said he owed me. I assured him he owed me nothing and need not pay me back, it was a gift, no strings attached (no he didn’t need to listen to me preach before he could leave either).

So there’s the economy we carry from material world to every other part of our lives. We think that everything comes at a price. Trust me I’m just getting used to this myself. It’s kind of the “love without condition” carried further. If by doing something for you, I expect (even eventually) something in return, maybe it’s just your friendship, or admiration, then I’m not doing it for you at all, I’m just bartering for something for myself.

I think giving is easier with strangers, maybe people you will never see again, do a random act of kindness and walk away, never expecting to see them again, and they can never pay you back. It seems a lot harder among acquaintances, maybe hardest in relationships. We’ve been raised in this “point” system; I help you with your car, later when my computer dies you help me.

In relationships, try to remember the beginning, think back to when just being with that person was the goal, didn’t matter what you were doing, just being around them was enough. Let a relationship last long enough and we tend to put it to the “point system” more and more it becomes what we’ve done for the other or what we can do, or vise versa “what have you done for me lately” or “look at all I do for you and what do I get in return?” well if you’re looking for something in return you weren’t really doing it for the other person were you?. As our relationships with God are compared to a marriage I think we tend to go down the same path, we forget where our faith began, when just knowing he was there was enough.

I’m not throwing out acts of love or intentionality that come naturally through love. But if you buy your wife flowers on valentines merely BECAUSE it’s Valentines Day, it is in your heart, an empty gesture, really, just acting out of obedience or obligation. The same can apply to our faith lives.

So now I get to the point where I may be wrong. But… we are told to go out and spread the Gospel… Gospel means “good news” I’m pretty sure the good news isn’t “well Christ died on the cross now you should feel guilty and not do anything wrong and make sure you read your bible 5 times a day and here’s a check list of do’s and don’ts”.. I’m pretty sure the Good news is the price is paid, “it is finished” not “hey, now the ledger shows you in the red so you owe me”.

No other name has had an impact on more lives in the history of humanity than Jesus..
 Jesus Was Never Created Micah 5:2 
 Jesus Essence Has Never Changed Heb 13:8
 Jesus is God John 1:1
 Jesus is The Creator of Everything Col 1:16
 Jesus is All-Powerful Matt 28:18
 Jesus is All-Knowing Col 2:3
 Jesus is Ever-Present Matt 18:20
 Jesus is Holy Luke 1:35
 Jesus is Righteous Isa 53:11
Jesus is Just Zech 9:9
Jesus Had No Deceit 1 Pet 2:22
Jesus is Sinless 2 Cor 5:21
Jesus is Spotless 1 Pet 1:19
Jesus is Innocent Matt 27:4
Jesus is Gentle Matt 11:29
Jesus is Merciful Heb 2:17
Jesus is Forgiving Luke 23:34
Jesus Receives Worship by Demons Mark 5:2,6
Jesus Receives Worship by Men John 9:38
Jesus Receives Worship by Angels Heb 1:6
Jesus Receives Worship by Disciples Luke 24:52
Jesus Receives Worship in Heaven Rev 7:9-10
Jesus Will Receive Worship from Everyone Phil 2:10-11
Jesus Was Human 1 Tim 2:5
Jesus Was Conceived by the Holy Spirit Luke 1:34-35
Jesus Took On Man’s Nature Heb 2:9-18
Jesus Humbled Himself Phil 2:8
Jesus Was Subject To Human Emotions Heb 5:7
Jesus Raised His Body From The Dead John 10:18
Jesus Blood Brings Reconciliation With God Eph 2:13-16
Jesus Blood Brings Redemption for Man Rom 3:24-25
Jesus Blood Allows Man To Be Justified before God Rom 5:9
Jesus Blood Sanctifies Man Heb 10:29
Jesus Blood Brings Spiritual Victory Rev 12:11
Jesus Blood Brings Eternal Life John 6:53-56
Jesus Came to Save Sinners Luke 19:10
Jesus Will Bring in Everlasting Righteousness Dan 9:24
Jesus Destroyed the Works of Satan 1 John 3:8
Jesus Fulfilled the Old Testament Matt 5:17
Jesus Gives Life Now John 10:10
Jesus Is Our Advocate 1 John 2:1
Jesus Gives Eternal Life John 10:28
Jesus Is Eternal Life 1 John 5:20
Jesus Sends The Holy Spirit To Us John 15:26
Jesus Will Take His People To Heaven John 14:3
Jesus Will Return To The Earth After The Tribulation Matt 24:29
Jesus Will Return To The Earth In Power & Glory Matt 24:30
Jesus Completes Revelation Heb 1:1
Jesus Will Never Send You Away If You Come To Him John 6:37
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life John 14:6

HE never changes, is the only Saviour, he created the universe and earth by Himself, he is the Word. HE is the first and the last, he forgives sins., He is our redeemer, he is one. He has a Son. He is the Holy One, Only He is worshipped. He is Messiah. HE is from everlasting. Only He is glorified.. God is ‘I am’, God heals all diseases. He is the Judge of the whole earth. HE has life in Himself. Even the devils tremble by him, HE raises the dead, He is sinless and perfect, He is omnipotent with him everything is possible, HE is powerful.

Who is (God) He ……He is no one but only Jesus Christ! Only Jesus Christ

I and My Father are one. John 10:30

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test. Matthew 4:7

I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour .Isaiah 43:11

I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he. Isaiah 41:4

Jesus said, “Fear not; I am the first and the last:” Revelation 1:17

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…All things were made by him…He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not…And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us John 1:1, 3, 10, 14

Jesus saith…he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? John 14:9

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 1 John 5:7

Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39

That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. 1 Corinthians 8:6

At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure Luke 10:21

Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1

Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Luke 23:42

My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.” John 5:17

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life John 8:12

When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be John 8:28

If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. John 8:42

Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” John 9:37

You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” John 18:37

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Revelation 22:13

Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. John 17:11

Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:3

And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:11

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah…out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Micah 5:2

GOD…hath in these last days spoken unto us by his SON…who being the brightness of his glory, and the EXPRESS IMAGE OF HIS PERSON… Hebrews 1:1-3

WHO IS THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD, the firstborn of every creature: Colossians 1:15

They shall call his name EMMANUEL, which being interpreted is, GOD WITH US Matthew 1:23

The voice of him [John the Baptist] that crieth in the wilderness, PREPARE ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway FOR OUR GOD.” Isaiah 40:3

I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another… Isaiah 42:8

“… feed the church of GOD, which he hath purchased with his OWN BLOOD. Acts 20:28

Hereby perceive we the love of GOD, because he LAID DOWN HIS LIFE for us. 1 John 3:16

And they stoned Stephen, calling upon GOD, and saying, LORD JESUS, receive my spirit Acts 7:59

For unto us A CHILD IS BORN, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, THE MIGHTY GOD, THE EVERLASTING FATHER, The Prince of Peace Isaiah 9:6

CHRIST, who is the IMAGE OF GOD II Corinthians 4:4

Glory of GOD in the FACE OF JESUS CHRIST.” II Corinthians 4:6

Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me. Luke 8:46

Then He said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’ Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’”John 20:27-29

In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form. Colossians 2:9

But every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 1 John 4:3

Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through him in your midst…” (Acts 2:22).

Jesus said: “He who has seen me has seen the Father.” John 14:9

Whoever receives this child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me receives Him who sent me;” (Luke 9:48).

And Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins;…’” (Acts 2:38).

And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood; and these three agree in one.” Number 8

And he (Jesus) answered and said unto them, ‘Have you not read, that He which made them at the beginning made them male and female.’” (Matthew 19:4).

And when they (wise men from east) were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and (they) fell down, and worshipped him.” Matthew 2:11

I AM THAT I AM.” (Exodus 3:14).

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah. 1:5.

And there is no other God besides Me, A righteous God and a Saviour; There is none except Me. Turn to Me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other.” Isaiah 45:21-22

Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand Matthew 12:25

Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” Matthew 16:23

Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” Matthew 17:4

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible Matthew 19:26

Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. Matthew 21:27

In the first study of Ezekiel, we looked at who Gog is, what nations will be under his military control, and how and when they will attack. This next part is a study of the actual battle that is to take place.  Text is taken from the NIV translation of the Bible.

⁹ You and all your troops and the many nations with you will go up, advancing like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land.

Gog’s army will be like a cloud covering the land.  Imagine a dry dusty road that you drive down and picture the dust cloud behind your vehicle.  Now, picture an army of nations driving their vehicles and war machines.  There will be so many army movements that a cloud of dust will cover the land.  The imagery may also point to massive air forces.

¹⁰ ” ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: On that day thoughts will come into your mind and you will devise an evil scheme. ¹¹ You will say, “I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people—all of them living without walls and without gates and bars

Gog will plan this attack. It will not be a spur of the moment type attack.  It’s possible that it may be a retaliatory or a preemptive strike against Israel. In either case it will be premeditated.  We also learn that Israel will be a land of security and peace.  Israel will not be suspecting an attack from anyone, which leads me to believe that it will come after the peace treaty is signed with the Arab nations, facilitated by Antichrist.

¹² I will plunder and loot and turn my hand against the resettled ruins and the people gathered from the nations, rich in livestock and goods, living at the center of the land.” ¹³ Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all her villages ^[d] will say to you, “Have you come to plunder? Have you gathered your hordes to loot, to carry off silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods and to seize much plunder?” ‘

The attack will come at a time when Israel is resettled, rebuilt, and wealthy.  If you look at the map of Israel, the city in the center of the land is Jerusalem.  In verse 13 it would appear that Gog has come to pillage and plunder the wealth of Jerusalem.  Perhaps this is the reason for the attack: Greed.

The physical location of Sheba is disputed, however modern evidence points towards Yeman in Southern Arabia (wiki). Dardan is now known as a city of Arabia, modern Al-’Ula (wiki). Tarshish is the name of a village in Lebanon. The village is located in the Baabda Kadaa at an elevation of 1400m and is 50 km away from Beirut.  It is also a province of Jerusalem. It’s interesting to not that even the Arabs are threatened by Gog (Dedan and Sheba both located in Saudi Arabia), however in Genesis 15:18, God makes a covenant with Abraham that God will give him the lands between the river in Egypt (the Nile river) and the Euphrates.

¹⁴ “Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: In that day, when my people Israel are living in safety, will you not take notice of it? ¹⁵ You will come from your place in the far north, you and many nations with you, all of them riding on horses, a great horde, a mighty army. ¹⁶ You will advance against my people Israel like a cloud that covers the land. In days to come, O Gog, I will bring you against my land, so that the nations may know me when I show myself holy through you before their eyes.

The attack will come from the far North.  Where is a good question, and I have no good answer to that, other than to wait and see.  We can only watch and be ready.  The army will largely be mechanized and machinery, and will be a massive horde. In verse 16 we see God’s purpose.  God has allowed this massive attack on Israel so that He will in the end be glorified through the battle, and so that Gog will understand the power and glory that is God.  This is how God operates, by the way, if you do not know.  Everything that has happened and will happen, does so according to God’s thoughts - Isaiah 14:24: The LORD Almighty has sworn, “Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand’; and it does so for the Glory of God.

¹⁷ ” ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Are you not the one I spoke of in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel? At that time they prophesied for years that I would bring you against them.

God tells Gog that this is not news. God’s prophets have been prophesying against Gog for a long time.

¹⁸ This is what will happen in that day: When Gog attacks the land of Israel, my hot anger will be aroused, declares the Sovereign LORD. ¹⁹ In my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. ²⁰ The fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground.²¹ I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign LORD. Every man’s sword will be against his brother. ²² I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him. ²³ And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’

Verses 19-23 depict God’s retaliation to Gog’s attack.  It begins with a massive earthquake, so great that everything will be affected, even the birds and fish.  Mountains and cliffs will be flattened.  People will be terrified and there will be mass confusion and terror.  The armies of Gog will be so terrified that they will turn on each other. Gog’s army will suffer plagues and massive loss of life.   There will be torrents of rain and hailstone and burning sulfur, which could be in the form of a volcanic eruption. There are scientific reports of burning embers being in-cased in ice during volcanic eruptions from the blast shooting embers high into the atmosphere, giving one the impression of hail and fire falling from the sky, and many time massive earthquakes are contributed to volcanic eruptions.  The acidic plume of smoke that will cover the area is also known to cause skin sores, boils, and even death. Strangely enough, the nearest active volcanos are located around Madagascar, and South America.

As always, I would remind you that no one knows the hour nor the day. We can only watch and prepare.

God, open our eyes so that we may see the truth, and grant us wisdom to understand.  Amen.

I write a blog that studies the relation between current events and prophetic scripture.  With rumors of war (or peace)  in the Middle East becoming increasingly alarming,  a study of the War of Gog is prudent I believe.  The following is the first of two parts:

In the Vision concerning Gog, God reveals the the prophet Ezekiel that in the ‘latter-days’ Isreal will be invaded by a massive army lead by Gog, or the ‘chief prince’ of the next modern day Persia.  In the vision, it appears that the attack has already taken place, Isreal is occupied, and God is telling Gog that God’s will has been set against Gog, and He is going to pull them out of Isreal.  Ezekiel Chapter 39 gives account of the actual battle, and will be discussed in a later study.

Ezekiel 38 1-3 ¹ The word of the LORD came to me: ² “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; prophesy against him ³ and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal

Who exactly is Gog, this mighty king who will attack Israel with a mighty army in the ‘latter days’?  Gog is first mentioned in I Chronicles 5:4 as a descendant of Joel, son of Shemaiah.  We know that Gog is also the ‘chief prince’ of Meshech and Tubal.  Meshech and Tubal describe the people of ancient Anatolia which now is modern day Turkey.

The word given for ‘chief prince’ is ro’sh or ‘head’ and is used as an adjective (chief) in the passage. Some however relate the word ‘ro’sh’ as a reference to a country known as Rashu (or Reshu) which was an ancient land along the Tigris river.  Other’s have identified ro’sh as a people known as the Rus who lived in the region of the Taurus Mountains in present-day Turkey.  The reference to Russia comes only through resemblance in spelling or sound.

In verses 1-3 of Ezekiel’s vision, God reveals that he is against Gog.

^{Ezekiel 38:4-7 4} I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army—your horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords. ⁵ Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, ⁶ also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops—the many nations with you.⁷ ” ‘Get ready; be prepared, you and all the hordes gathered about you, and take command of them.

Here in verse 4, God tells Gog that he is going to turn him around as a horse is lead with a bit in it’s mouth and pull him out of Isreal.

The Ally’s of Gog:

• PUT - Phut or Put (Hebrew: פוט pûṭ; Septuagint Greek Φουδ Phoud) is the third son of Ham (one of the sons of Noah), in the biblical Table of Nations (Genesis 10:6; cf. 1 Chronicles 1:8). Put or Phut) is associated with r Phut) is associated with Ancient Libya by many early writers. (Wiki)
• CUSH – The existence of the historical Kingdom of Kush in what is now areas of southern Egypt, and Sudan cannot be reasonably questioned, although the term may later have been employed with some latitude. In addition, the modern Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family spoken by various populations in the Horn of Africa, is named after the Biblical Cush (Wiki)
• Persia – the empire included the modern territories of Iran,Afghanistan, Pakistan, parts of Central Asia, Asia Minor, Thrace and Macedonia, much of the Black Sea coastal regions, Iraq, northern Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon,Syria, and all significant population centers of ancient Egypt as far west as Libya. (Wiki)
• Gomer – According to tractate Yoma, in the Talmud, Gomer is identified as the ancestor of the Gomermians, modern Germans. (Wiki)
• Beth-Togarmah – In the Midrash compilation Genesis Rabbah, Rabbi Berechiah mentions Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah as German tribes or as German lands. (Wiki)

Ezekiel 38:8 - ⁸ After many days you will be called to arms. In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety.

‘In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war’, God reveals the state of Isreal before the attack. First Gog will invade a land that has recovered from war, which means that the attack will come when Isreal as settled and at peace.

‘whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety.’ The attack will come after Israeli has been restored.  It is believed that a mass pilgrimage to Israel will take place sometime before or immediately after the Rapture.  I believe it may occur once the Israeli/Arab peace treaty is signed.  At no point in History have the Jews lived in relative safety as they do now.

The NIV (New International Version Bible) has ‘In future years’ and the KJV (King James Version) has ‘in the latter years’. The prophecy concerning Gog was written sometime during 593 B.C and history shows that Gog, sometime between 670 and 570  B.C,  was an ally of the people of Gomer (Cimmerians) and warred in Northwest Asia during this period.

In the next part, we will study verses 9-17 and see what happens during the battle.

Shining Perspective

“Wow, Isaiah look at the sky!” “Oh. Umm…Mommy? What about the sky?” (Ok back up! It was spectacular! I’ve tried to capture it with words several times now and I just can’t seem to do it justice, so I will just say it was absolutely beautiful! It was stunning!) God’s glory shines in each new day; He gives us a freshly painted sky every morning. I had to stop, because it was clear that we were not looking at the same sky. As I looked at it, I looked at him and identified why we weren’t looking at the same sky. Sunglasses. I removed my glasses and when I did the sun was so bright that its light actually overwhelmed the picture. I gave Isaiah my glasses and he said, “Wow mommy, you’re right that is an awesome sky!” So often it is the same with my circumstances, if they are not viewed through the cover of God’s grace and mercy, if I am not wearing my faith glasses, my circumstances are too bright, they are overwhelming and they blind me.

What do they blind me from? Not what, but who? Jesus. I simply lose sight of Jesus. We live in a world that is overloaded with gizmos and gadgets, and over-available media cramming the next “big thing” down our throats. A world that is convincing us that we need far more than we do and teaching us to constantly live in a state of discontent, essentially we are distracted. I know I am. It’s no wonder to me that many of the most amazing works, testimonies and devotions I’ve read were written sometime prior to the early 1900’s. By now the obstacles that steal my attention shouldn’t surprise me and yet they still do. I find when sitting down with the intention to write, I can get distracted by the vast choices of where I can go with a click of a button. (Somehow that doesn’t happen when I sit down with a journal and a pen.) I have also learned that even while I am serving the Lord, I can get distracted from Jesus Himself.

I am coming out of a difficult season. It has been filled with nothing but surprise after surprise, some good and some bad.  God has answered some prayers in surprising ways and I have received what I can only describe (for now) as a mind-blowing miracle in the midst of it all. Through the tough moments and wonderful blessings one thing remains…I fall so short. I almost never land where I think I will when I jump. My own will often deceives me. I repeatedly find myself left with these challenging questions that surface when I’ve been tested. Can I be as diligent in thanksgiving, in seeking Him, in the simple beauty of tarrying with Him, as I am in persistently asking for what I think my needs (my desires) are? Can I just love Jesus with the same dedication as I give to acts of service? Can I surrender all parts of my life, at all times, not just in worship or at certain times of the day, but always?

In and of myself, no I cannot. (“In whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?” ~Job 12:10 NASB) I can’t make myself breathe. I can’t make my heart beat. I can’t grow the hair on my head.  I can’t do anything apart from Him. (“For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’”~Acts 17:28 NKJV. The NASB says it this way: “For in Him we live and move and exist…For we also are His children.” And the CEV says: “And he gives us the power to live, to move, and to be who we are.”We are his children…”)

When I choose to look at my circumstances, when I choose to look at the world, when I choose to walk by sight even though I know I’m called to walk by faith; I lose my clear view of Jesus. Once I take my eyes off of Jesus, essentially I lose my joy. (“…the joy of the Lord is your strength.” ~Nehemiah 8:10 NIV) I fail to see the details of my life, my circumstances through those indescribable faith glasses, where mercy and grace abound in Christ Jesus each and every new day.

What is the question that I should ask at the end of the day? The same one we all should be asking.

Did I walk with God today?

(“…walk humbly with your God.”~Micah 6:8 NIV “”…As God has said: ‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people’.” ~2 Corinthians 6:16 NIV)

“Christ is not so much interested in pointing us to a place or path as he is in pointing us to a Person and a relationship.” -Ravi Zacharias

Looking back over the past couple years and realizing that no matter how much I am becoming the man I want to be, sometimes the Man I didn’t want to be shows up.

It’s the awkward touchy feely things that make me uncomfortable around some situations, so when I’m standing on the side of the road hugging a homeless man after somehow I get him to voice his anger at God.  He cries/better yet/ wails into my shoulder.  The thought in my head “what the frell am I doing here?”

Earlier that year a Woman organizes a “prayer drive though” Corporate prayer is not my thing (please leave it at that) So I’m in the side of I 35 holding the signs, “Jesus Loves you”, and “free prayer”.  Again the thought in my head “what the frell am I doing here?”

The most shocking was early in my walk I was on mission to Biloxi. We were invited to join a small southern baptist church for wed night service, I did not want to go, I heard there was another church that played rock & more contemporary music.  I decided to got to the smaller church with the rest of my team. it was beautiful we walked in and they were all singing songs, no music or “hymnals” a lady sitting in front would sing a verse the rest of the people would follow.  It was beautiful so I just opened my bible and enjoyed the songs.  Then…. they stopped singing, the lady leading the worship looked over at our group and said “y’all…sing something”.  I jumped up in front of the whole church and sang “your love is amazing” 1 verse and the chorus, solo, a’capella, when I finished singing my Mission team looked like deer in headlights, I sat down and said to my team “that never leaves this room”.

Sometimes being worried about appearing to be one of those “wierd” people may deter us from experiencing something great or doing something great.

There are those who would “berate” people with the message “God loves you”. But I’ve been in in a bar talking to someone, and at the right point in the conversation I told a person just that. the reaction while still a little awkward was also met with gratitude.

Maybe it’s not so much what we say or do that turns people off.  But how we say it, why we say it, and what actions go with our words.  Is there meaning in it or is it just platitudes.

Not really sure how to tie this one up.   I guess there are 2 points… I think if we are living out our faith …to the full, there should be some “aw crap what am I doing here” type moments.  The second part is up for a longer debate.  Do we seek out these moments or allow them to be truly Spirit led… or do we constantly chase the wild goose (what Celtics (not the NBA Celtics) called the Holy Spirit), and thus mix the line between intentionality and spontaneity?

We were dancing

When the music stopped

I wondered where it had gone

I tried

to listen

to discern

What had happened to the beautiful music that had once played

The music that had

kept me

held me

Embraced me with so much love

I did not know where to turn

What would happen next

Would all the life be gone

Would I wake up and see that I was just another

Virgin without a lamp

Would I find out that I had

Chosen the wrong way

Taken a wrong turn

Taken my eyes off the One I love

Will I be the one

Who’s left

Never seeing

Never perceiving

Never knowing

Never Trusting

No I will NOT

Let this be said of me

I will be the one who

listens

hears

knows

I will be the one

giving

dancing

To the beautiful music

I will be the one embracing the One I love so…

Allow me this once more

To hear the music

Give me the freedom in You once more

To feel the rythm

To know the beat

To hear what others don’t

To walk that walk

Dance that dance

Love that love that I have known

~Bambi
March 30, 2010

A couple years ago I was on mission in Mexico. On the final night the Church we were partnering with had a long service. On this night my friend decided to buy a ice cold coke for a young local girl (maybe 9). This being a rare treat for her she gladly took it but nursed it down slowly. Later in the church service she pulled the bottle out, She offered a drink the same man who bought it earlier. He knew by now it had been shaken in dance,was room temp (close to 90), and maybe 50% backwash.

What a parable, God gives us everything, absolutely everything we have. We take it we use it and then we “offer” it to God, like it is something great. when in all reality it’s just a warm flat soda.

So to finish the story, My friend took the Coke and took a drink with a smile, not out of duty or guilt, but knowing this was all She had, and all she had to ofter, and she offered it in Love.

I know God Does the same thing. He accepts what we offer in joy, when we are offering in love, not just out of duty or ceremony.

Shining Perspective

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:14

It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. Lamentations 3:26

I’m waiting on the Lord. Tomorrow I may receive an immense blessing or it might not go the way I hoped. I’ve struggled through the waiting process, but God has kept me busy throughout. This past week has been one of extremes. I found myself rocketing full speed up mountaintops to reach a state of indescribable joy, only to come barreling just as swiftly down to the valley below. Every day has been this way. It is in times such as these I find I am so grateful for the stability that can only be found in Jesus Christ.

Whatever state I find myself in I know I can find comfort, rest and strength in Jesus. I’ve been weary and physically exhausted as sleeplessness is something that regularly afflicts me. This past week I had the privilege of not only watching thousands of people come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior, but I also had the honor of meeting a few of them and learning their stories. What amazing moments of pure joy. I also have the pleasure of teaching Sunday school and I’m not sure there is anything better on this earth than seeing the light go on in a child’s eyes as they get the lesson and it becomes real to them.

At the same time, I experience trials just like everyone else and sometimes they threaten to consume me. They knock me down, they test me in ways I never thought I’d be tested and I often fail in them. If there is one thing that I have learned it’s that success comes out of failure just as new life comes out of death. I have also learned that as much as I get scared of failure, my biggest fear really lies in this question: Am I missing the fullness of what God has for me?

In the light of a new day I may have to deliver a big disappointment to my six year old, maybe the biggest of his young life. I also might be stepping into a blessing I never saw coming. Whatever answer I receive and no matter what happens every day I find myself in the same situation.

The bible makes it clear, if there is one thing we are all doing in this life it is waiting on the Lord. “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him…” Psalm 37:7. “Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.” Jude 1:21. “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes…” 1 Corinthians 4:5

God in His mercy is faithful to remind me what I receive as I wait for the Lord: “We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.” Psalm 33:20 “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31 “Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” Isaiah 30:18

Breathe today by flyleaf contains some strong lyrics it starts with
“You can only move as fast as,
Who’s in front of you,
And if you assume,
Just like them,
What good will it do,
So find out for yourself
So your ignorance,
Will stop bleeding through.”

People tend to follow without looking at the leader. Whether secular or Christian or even another religion. who’s queue are you taking? I’ll make it clear, once again that if you claim to be following no one or nothing, you are even more foolish because you just are too proud to see who or what is shaping you.

In my pre-faith days I strove so hard to follow my dad, to the point that I would look the other way when he said or did something I knew in my heart was wrong. When he was abusive (verbally or physically) to my nieces or nephews. I strove so hard to be like what I perceived to be the image of a dad. I conformed to that for so long because I rarely looked at how other families lived. And if I did I thought they were the odd ones. Love and affirmation had no place in the family.

Oddly enough when I first started checking out church one pastor said “don’t take my word for it” and I live by that. I double and triple check what is taught to me. The thing about some “biblical” teachers is they will take a line of scripture and discard the chapter it lies in. I’ve visited churches that taught “vending machine” theology, literally where they teach if you want to have a child you have to sew a certain $ amount to the church. They would pull bits and pieces of scripture on the whole sewing/reaping idea to support this. I was angry but my anger is two fold one for the teachers who were lying and surely knew it, but also for the people in the church who didn’t read the bible on their own. Each one of us is responsible for our actions in life and salvation in the end. Paul makes two seemingly contradictory statements one in
1 Cor 12 and the other in 1 Cor 11, He tells us to follow Him but not to follow him. The point being we need to be responsible for our actions in the end, No leader/ role model/ pastor/ teacher, is without flaw. Yes, even I stumble. And churches for sure, get wrapped up in doctrine instead of relationship, same as secular groups get wrapped up in ideology, both groups will lift up a leader/speaker/teacher to the point it becomes their god.

While I don’t agree with everything my church teaches/does, I do know they have the 3 major things right, Love God, Love people, reach those who are far from God.

So, who’s in front of you, and are you brave enough to say “dude, I think your compass may be broken”.?