Success and Failure Blog

The Entire day of May 21st commenced and ended- Rapture-less! This date will most assuredly go down in history as a day of misguided beliefs! The world makes mockery of the bible and the biblical prophecies of the Rapture. Nay Sayers claim to hold victory in their adamant stand against the reality of the Rapture and future apocalyptic events. While the forces of evil rage unsuccessfully against all who claim the promises of God to be real and indisputable, there is a larger group of people who are successfully deceived. These people maintain that world will never face judgment or tribulation from God. Sadly the rapture-less day of May 21st lends false support to the ongoing claims of non-believers, atheist, and other worldly views. Happily, true Christians are unscathed by mockeries, false claims, false predictions, false prophecies, false beliefs and worldly views! God has given to us a Truth and that Truth is everlasting!
True Rapture Believers are not displaced or dismayed by the lack of Rapturous events on May 21st. Fully Expecting Christian people look forward joyously, ever still and with increasing faith to the Glorious Rapture! As the May 21st failed predictions reinforces for scoffers and unbelievers the self-affirmed skepticism, it strengthens the cords of faith, hope, and love for believers world-wide! The desires to live freely without fear of future judgment, is falsely assumed by non-believers due to these uneventful predictions. While Bible Believers hold firmly to their unswerving beliefs in the Rapture!
For Christian Believers, the failure of May 21st does not rest upon the bible or God. These failed predictions are not failed prophecy from God they are attributed to man’s failure and lack of understanding. These failures and shortcomings are man’s alone and do not attest to contradiction of the bible and Christian beliefs. Uplifted is the Truth which is Christ Jesus and admonished is the holy bible and Living WORD of God which is also Christ Jesus.
I must share with you what all biblically sound Christians know to be true. No portion of the bible tells us when Jesus will come and the Rapture will take place. There is no set time written within the bible that these events are set to take place. There is no alluding to it or helpful derivatives of conclusion to be gleaned from the bible. There is no help for anyone on earth to learn of this vital information on their own. There is no way to make accurate calculations or reasonable deductions of when the Rapture will happen. In Matthew 24:36 we learn:
36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[a] but only the Father.
We also are told this:
1 Corinthians 15:52 (New International Version)
52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-3
The Day of the Lord
1 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
It is not necessary to know when the Rapture will take place in order to be ready for this event.
1 Thessalonians 5:4-5 (New International Version)
4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
The day of the Rapture will come upon believers as a thief. True believers will not be caught off guard or surprised they will be waiting and fully expecting and joyously prepared to meet Jesus.
Lastly we are encouraged and fully educated in how the Rapture will take place:
13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Please do not let anyone or anything deceive you! The Rapture is still set to take place. I believe, as many others do also that it will not be long before it happens. Yet we must proclaim only what the bible tells us. That being said, we know that no one can accurately predict the exact day and exact hour. Only our Heavenly Father knows that.
To believers, keep watchful and remain vigilant knowing that it is in Jesus that we are made ready. And to non-believers, I give the same word of advice. If you want to be ready for this great day you must first believe! Turn to Christ Jesus in prayer and ask for forgiveness of all your sins. Please ask Jesus to come into your heart and make you a new creature without spot or blemish. Jesus WILL Accept you. He loves you, no matter how bad you may think you are or how terrible you image yourself to be. Your prayer of true repentance is beautiful to Jesus and precious! Accept Jesus as your Savior and know that in Him you are safe! I pray that the Holy Spirit will open the hearts and minds and eyes of all, and I hope that I have brought the bright light of Jesus to shine TRUTH upon the subject of the Rapture.
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing in Christ Jesus,
Pam Shekailo

While thinking deeply, and on multiple levels from planes of intellectualism to spiritualism, I found profound thoughts buried there within my heart. This truth is evidenced best and most wholly by my life’s resume, which is a resume that represents more than one aspect of a person’s life. It is a resume that actually represents every aspect of one’s life.
I realized that the qualifications that seem the most impressive to peers, employers, and people in high places, mean very little to the Most High God. For instance, I am sure that God truly does care about every aspect of our lives, including our education and work history; however I believe He cares more about how we act on and articulate every innate, expressive and unique ability, talent and skill that He has given to us. So often the gifts that God so graciously bestows upon us are misused, abused and taken for granted. Because of this fact, I have a rather distressing admission to make!
Sadly, I must openly and embarrassedly admit my severe failure in this life. I am blessed with so many talents and skills, yet I allow most of these to lie dormant within me. All too often, I have ignored my abilities instead of yielding great fruits from them. I have also, many times in this life misused my talents for all the wrong reasons. I have wanted to gain attention, riches, and even power. I am guilty of this and much more. I am sometimes so displaced by this world that I have failed to my job as a human being. I have let God down many, many times, by not promoting Him and His greatness above my own desires. Miserably, via greed and selfishness I have fallen far short of God’s Glory. I have not always sought first to edify the kingdom of God in everything that I do. I have declined to proclaim God’s goodness and faithfulness when and where it matters most-everywhere.
What I realized today and wish to share with you is that we cannot beef up our Life’s resume before God. God knows everything about us and there is no way to fudge it, pad it, tell little white lies or make up euphemisms about ourselves in order to make our lives more appealing to God. All we can hope to do is prepare ourselves rightfully for the day of our great and final interview, by allowing God to be the center of all we do. We must strive past the usual criteria and onward toward true greatness. To do this we must first realize that it will not matter how much money we have earned. It will be pointless to brag about our careers, and our great knowledge. For compared to God’s Greatness it will be nothing more than fools’ gold.
We each have the ability to do more than simply realize our own dreams and goals. True, honest to goodness success in this life is achieved by realizing God’s dreams and goals for us. Instead of searching for ways to uplift ourselves and make ourselves great among men, we must allow God to be uplifted before all men, through us! We must ask God to utilize and promote our talents according to His will. We must permit God access to every part of us including and especially our finances. We must be willing to give up anything and everything for Him, even our hearts’ desires and the dreams we have for ourselves. When we do this it will becomes obvious that we can each do far more by touching others and becoming great inspirations, motivators, and the deliverers of the truth. Every person has within them the raw and instinctive capability to physically, spiritually and emotionally reach others, and actually help transform lives, soften hard hearts, and move literal mountains!
The day of our greatest interview that shall determine our ultimate position for all of eternity approaches closer with each day. Where will you choose now to spend all of eternity? What will God place you in authority of based upon your life’s resume. It is particularly comforting to know that God searches our hearts and minds and knows all that they contain. This means if we turn everything over to Him we cannot fail.
Matthew 25:23 (Amplified Bible)
23His master said to him, Well done, you upright (honorable, [a]admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the [b]blessedness) which your master enjoys.
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Pam Shekailo

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 (New International Version, ©2011)

¹⁵ According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

 I have a favorite expression. Every time I am preparing to leave from work or when ever I am about to go anywhere, as I am saying my goodbyes, I like to say,”See you tomorrow (or next time), unless the LORD comes before then!” You see, for me this is extremely exciting! However, I have learned that not everyone gets excited about the thought of Jesus coming. I also mention Jesus coming often because it is a great source of hope for me and to all of us that wait for Him to return. I can always tell when someone is not ready to meet Jesus, should He come. When I say, “Jesus could come any second now” the people that are not ready will usually let me know right away. They usually reply,”Oh, I hope not because I’ve got to do x and o”, or “I don’t really want to go anywhere yet”,or “I have too much life left to live!” This concerns me and I pray for them.

Are you ready? If Jesus came right now, even before you had a chance to think about it, would you be going with Him or would you be staying behind? Are you too bogged down with work and your earthly goals, dreams and ambitions?  Are there things that you have become attached to?  You see there will be no time to look back, and we will not have time to load up a moving truck with our big screen TVs, or material things. We won’t have time to stop and get a cup of coffee, or grab that last bite or say those last words. We have to be ready then and there. We will not even be taking the clothes on our backs. Jesus will come and when that trumpet call of God sounds, it will be too late to even change your mind. Ready or not Jesus is coming soon. 

We will be blessed with wonderful and unimaginable, new gifts from God. We will have a glorious new home in heaven with God and all of our loved ones, friends and Christian family. We will be given new adornments and a new white robes. Everything we could possibly want or need is all ready provided for us in advance. Isn’t that Super?

If you do not have a relationship with Jesus and have not yet accepted Him as your Savior, please do so right away. Pray from your heart of hearts and ask Him to forgive you of all your sins and come into your heart. Ask Jesus to wipe your slate clean and give you a whole new life. He will, because He has been waiting patiently for you. He loves you and wants to give you eternal life and all the wonderful blessings that come as priceless gifts upon believing in Jesus and calling upon His matchless name.

So please don’t allow anything to keep you from being ready should the LORD JESUS come today. Jesus is coming soon! Be looking for His return and waiting for this wonderful day. Be excited in the promise that He will return for us and we will be with Him forever.

John 14:2 (New International Version, ©2011)

2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

John 14:3 (New International Version, ©2011)

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Praise God! Jesus went to prepare a place for you and me. He will come back and take us with Him so we can be with Him and remain with Him forever. What an exhilarating promise. I can hardly wait! Hope to see you in that meeting in the air!

Yours In Christ Jesus,

Pam Shekailo

Key #9 to Happiness – Putting God First

We all have priorities in life.  When it comes to happiness people all have different goals, needs, hopes and desires.  What makes one person happy may not even come close to satisfying another.  Whatever is most important to us will always come first in our lives.  That which we love the most will always be our highest priority.  The things and people that bring us joy and happiness will always get the most of our time and attention.   So, the question is this, what matters most to you?  What is the first priority of your life? Is it your family, children, career, money, material things?  Is it achieving fame or status?  Maybe your appearance is most important to you?   First identify what you are actually putting first in your life.  Discover why it so important to put God first and what happens when other things and people come before God.  Lastly learn specific ways to put God first and help you begin to put God first in your life right away.

Lamentations 3:40 (New International Version)

Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.

Psalm 26:2 (New International Version)

Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;

Identifying what you really put first in your life:

Learning what your true priorities are in life is really pretty simple to do.  Start by asking yourself this, “what do I spend my time, energy and effort on most?”  If you have to, grab a piece of paper and pen and roughly write out a list of what you generally do each day, from start to finish, first thing in the morning to bedtime.   Can you recognize any patterns or things of special interest? Whatever you devote most of your time, money, energy, and efforts to is what you are putting first in your life.  God knows the truth and He knows your heart.  He knows what means the most to you and where you’re true devotion lies.

Deuteronomy 6:5 (New International Version)

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Jeremiah 17:10 (New International Version)

“I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.”

Do not worry God is so full of love.  God is faithful to forgive us.

1 John 1:9 (New International Version)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Putting God first is important for obtaining happiness:

Putting God first is extremely important for many reasons, but one of those reasons is that it does produce happiness in our lives.  The reason we should put God first is because of our love for Him.  We should find happiness and joy in putting God first.  Happiness is not the reason or the motive it is the reward, it is the harvest, and it is the blessing.  How exciting and wonderful this is.  Our reward for making God our first priority is happiness and joy and blessings.

Psalm 37:4 (New International Version)

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

If you delight in the Lord he will give you the desires of your heart.  There is true happiness in delighting in the Lord.

Psalm 35:9 (New International Version)

Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation

Psalm 65:4

Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whom You choose and cause to come near, that he may dwell in Your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple.

Psalm 112:1 (Amplified Bible)

PRAISE THE Lord! (Hallelujah!) Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who fears (reveres and worships) the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments.

Matthew 6:32-34 (Amplified Bible)

For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all.  But seek ([a]aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness ([b]His way of doing and being right), and then all these things [c]taken together will be given you besides. So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.

Putting God first is more than a goal to keep in mind.  Putting God first is the main ingredient to happiness. Without God being first in your life the recipe for happiness will not ever come out right. No matter how hard you try, you can not make yourself happy and other people (all in themselves) can not make you happy either. It also makes sense that no inanimate thing can bring happiness either. Only God can give us an abundant and fruitful life.

The outcome of failing to put God first in our lives:

When we fail to put God first we fail miserably.  We do not reach happiness.  We then turn to other things and try to replace the missing ingredient in our lives.  We turn to habits, addictions, we try to fill our time and entertain our minds and we seek alternate means of pleasure.  We discover that nothing else could ever be enough.  It is like trying to bake a cake without flour.  It is like a turkey sandwich without turkey.  It could never satisfy because it is missing the main ingredient!

God wants for us to seek Him first and to delight in Him.  He wants to be the one to give us happiness, joy and abounding blessings!  When we try to please ourselves or seek out happiness on our own apart from God, not only do fail to find it, we also slip farther and farther away from Him and our only real hope of happiness. We end up angry, sad, depressed and feeling unloved and unaccepted.

Cain is not a favorite of most people.  He is known and remembered for killing his brother Abel out of cold blood.  We can actually learn a lot from the story.  Take a moment and read it.

Genesis 4

AND ADAM knew Eve as his wife, and she became pregnant and bore Cain; and she said, I have gotten and gained a man with the help of the Lord.  And [next] she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.  And in the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground.  And Abel brought of the firstborn of his flock and of the fat portions. And the Lord had respect and regard for Abel and for his offering, But for Cain and his offering He had no respect or regard. So Cain was exceedingly angry and indignant, and he looked sad and depressed.  And the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry? And why do you look sad and depressed and dejected?  If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.

Cain felt dejected, and when God did not respect or accept his offering it made him exceedingly angry and indignant, and he looked sad and depressed.  This is the same outcome for us when we fail to put God first.  We end up allowing sin to master us and we achieve the exact opposite of happiness.

Specific ways to put God first in your life:

In looking at the story of Cain again we read that God saw how Cain was behaving, and He noticed how Cain was feeling.  He came to Him in love much the way any loving parent would go to their child.  He asked Cain why he was feeling that way, even though He all ready knew the answer. He questioned Cain saying, “If you do well, will you not be accepted?”  He also explained that if he didn’t do well he was only opening himself up to trouble.  Sin is there waiting at our door, it desires us but we must master it through Christ Jesus.

Here are some specific things we can do to put God first, but be creative, and find new ways to show God you love Him and you are so happy and full of joy because of Him.  The basic idea is to put Gods will above your own.  If you really want to you can think of endless ways to demonstrate how much God really means to you.

Keys to happiness exercise:

1. Read the Word of God and desire to do well and follow God’s commands.  Find happiness and joy and take delight in God.
2. Begin each day in devotion to God.  In prayer, study, and praise.  Offer God your first time.  It is a very special time of day to seek God and pray.  We are rested and alert and blessed to have a new day.
3. Offer thanks to God for your food and drink and give God of your first fruits.  Be sure to give to God and toward the Kingdom of God. Give as Abel gave.  Give God of your first and best.  Give with a glad heart and offer up your praises to God too.
4. Trust God to provide your heart’s desires and all of your needs.  God promises that if we seek the kingdom of God first that God will make sure to provide all we need.
5. Seek God first in all aspects of your life.  Seek God first in regard to relationships, finances, dreams, hopes and desires, in your career and in every part of your life.
6. Attend Church (if you don’t all ready)
7. Begin a spiritual journal devoted to bible study and prayer.

In conclusion, God loves you and wants you to be happy.  God wants to provide you with all you need and even your heart’s desire.  God has proved His great love to us by giving His only Begotten Son so that our sins might be forgiven and so that we can have life everlasting in Christ Jesus.  He gave His ALL for all of us.  Jesus gave His all.  He willingly and lovingly gave His life on the cross as a perfect, sinless sacrifice for our sins.  There is no greater love than the love of God.  His love, His salvation, His happiness and joy are all gifts from God to you.  All you have to do is believe it, accept it, confess it and live it.   Begin to put God first right now and begin to live life more abundantly!

John 3:16 (New International Version)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 6:47 (New International Version)

I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.

John 10:10 (New International Version)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Previous Happiness Lessons:

How to find Happiness – 15 Lesson Series – Overview

How to find Happiness – Introduction

How to find Happiness – Key #1 – A relationship with God

How to find Happiness – Key #2 – Being Thankful

How to find Happiness – 15 Lesson Series – Overview

How to find Happiness - Key #4 – Learning How to forgive others

How to find Happiness - Key #5 – Living in the present

How to find Happiness - Key #6 – Overcoming fear

How to find Happiness - Key #7 – Giving of your money

How to find Happiness - Key #8 – Giving of your time

May you find happiness through giving of yourself!  Check in next week for another key to happiness.  Get notified via e-mail

Was it a dream or a nightmare?  Was it a vision of some sort? Did it really happen?  I do not know.  I only know that the event and all the things that I am about to describe to you seem as real to me now in the day light as they did in the darkness.  I imagine it was all a dream, but I feel the reality of it in the deepest crevices of my heart and soul.

It began in a large white area that reminded me of a hospital.  It was immaculately clean and more tranquil than any hospital I had ever been in or visited.   I peered inside through a large gate with intricate and ornately designed carvings and emblems.  I saw a very tall man.  I don’t really think it was a man.  It was a very tall and broad creature with masculine features and a beauty that is not usually found in men.  He sort of floated or glided to the gate and opened it to let me in. He went back to where he had been and motioned for me to follow.  I did, with shaking knees and goose bumps on my arms. It was a strange eerie feeling that I felt in this place.  As I got closer to where to man stopped, I noticed that the entire area was filled with little clear cases or cube like carriages.   Each case had a teeny tiny little being inside.  Some were too small and fragile to even be seen with the human eye.  For each of them there was one or more attendants or care givers.  These care givers smiled as they saw me and smiled at the little beings as they handled them and cared for them and I could tell that the attendants shared special strength and a wonderful love with the little ones in the cases.  I could feel that the little beings were weak and that the smiling care givers helped them and gave them continual strength and that strength seemed to compound and accumulate the longer I stood there nearby watching.  The tiny beings looked almost identical to infant children.  They varied in size and shape and there were so many.  There were billions upon billions, at the very least.  For as far as I could see, this area was filled with the small clear cases and the little, innocent beings inside.

The man that had let me spoke to me with out opening his mouth.  He asked me to follow him and to take still a closer look.  I was led quickly on the man’s heels by my growing curiosity.  As we approached the first row of clear cases I saw that each little one had a name written beautifully on their case.  Each one had jewels and intricate designs upon it.  The cases were bright and shiny and they shimmered and so did the little ones inside.  They glowed! How beautiful, I thought.  The man spoke again.  This time he spoke aloud.  “Gently touch your fingers to this case”, he said, pointing with one long finger to a nearby case.  I did, and as my fingers touched a story began to unfold to me.  It was the story of the one inside.  It was a male child.  He was to become a medical scientist and discover the cure for cancer.  He was also to be a big brother, husband and father.  He would have been loved by many and he would have made a difference in the lives of others.

I touched many cases at the man’s command.  Each one told another story. I heard stories of love and purpose and stories of things that should have been and never were.  I heard stories of the one’s who would have saved people from burning buildings, traveled and made great discoveries, invented interesting and invaluable creations.  I learned of loving relationships that never formed and miraculous deeds of bravery and thoughtfulness that would never get to be done.  I even saw great triumphs for both humanity and in the kingdom of God and in heaven.

“Why”, I asked? “Why can’t these little babies do all of those great things?”  My heart was heavy and tears overflowed like a waterfall from deep within me.
The man did not answer me.  Instead he said, “Now, take my hand.”  When my hand went into his I saw the most terrible thing yet.  I saw one of those sweet, innocent babies growing comfortably within their Mother’s womb.  I could feel everything that the little baby felt.  I felt its tiny heart beat, small and low.  I felt the growth of strength in its little body.  I felt the safety and security of being there.  It was so warm.  It was so restful.  It was so very peaceful.  Then without warning I felt the Mother’s heart beat escalating and I heard loud but muffled voices.  It was all happening so fast.  The baby was startled awake from a wonderful dream.  Then some kind of machine came into the darkness.   The loud device entered the secret places inside the womb and began to devour the little baby.  I felt the baby’s pain.  Terrible, it was just awful.  It was too terrible to describe with words.  I felt a great pressure and an inner pain that surpassed that of the physical pain.  I felt the little baby’s sadness and all the hurt from of betrayal.  I felt the life being jolted away from the baby!   The baby’s life was stolen!
The baby was snatched!  It was too painful!

I pleaded with the man.  “Please make it stop!”  I tried to wrench my hand out of his hand but the man did not let go.  The terrible thing was still happening.  The little baby was so sweet and although the thoughts were not in words like our thoughts come to us, the baby had thoughts.  It wanted to say something, but there were no words or any way for the baby to speak.  It wanted to cry out for help, and for comfort but it could not cry.  The baby was so helpless to save itself and I found myself wishing and praying that there was something-anything I could do.  I watched helplessly as the hopes, dreams and opportunities to live and achieve and love and laugh were stolen too. Now the little baby had no more thoughts.  There were no more sweet dreams or hopes.  There were no tears and there was no more life in that womb. There was nothing more than emptiness and darkness, and the little baby was destroyed and discarded as nothing.

“What can I do’, I cried?  “Please just tell me!   What can I do?”  I heard no answer and I felt my hand being released.  I unclenched my eyes and slowly opened them. I was back in the area where all the little cases or baby carriages were at.  I don’t know why I had not noticed it before.  It was so quiet.  Not one baby whimpered or cried.  Other than my own, not one cry came from this place.   I now saw many attendants coming and going with many more aborted children, ministering to them, loving them and caring for them.  I now recognized them to be angels of God.  I was in heaven!  I looked for the angel that had let me in and could not find him anywhere.  Then, I looked and saw Jesus.  I saw the scars that the nails had left in His hands.  I saw the love in His eyes as He looked at me.  I heard love in His voice as He spoke, “You must be a voice for the unheard cries.”

The writing above is fiction and did not actually happen.  I just wanted to bring important attention to a very important issue. It is terrible to know how many children are aborted.  The reality is far worse than any nightmare.  The facts are startling!  According to bound4life an estimated 46 million abortions happen every year all over the world, (1 baby is killed every 2 seconds) and approximately 50 million babies have been aborted in the United States since 1973. There are many other numbers and statistics but one of the most upsetting is that the reason for 98% of all abortions is reportedly personal choice or inconvenience.

Scriptures that support the fact that unborn babies or fetuses are living children:

Psalm 139:14 (New International Version)

¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Genesis 25:23 (Amplified Bible)

23The Lord said to her, [The founders of] two nations are in your womb, and the separation of two peoples has begun in your body; the one people shall be stronger than the other, and the elder shall serve the younger.

Job 31:15 (Amplified Bible)

15Did not He Who made me in the womb make [my servant]? And did not One fashion us both in the womb?

Jeremiah 1:5 (Amplified Bible)

5Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.

Psalm 139:13 (Amplified Bible)

13For You did form my inward parts; You did knit me together in my mother’s womb.

God creates us very carefully and with great thought and love for us.  We are made special by God’s own design. Even before we are born, God has created us for a purpose.  God knows our future even while we are still inside the womb.  God fashions us all from within the womb.  God forms us and knows us and approves of us before we are born.  God has great plans for us even before we are born. God creates us both inside and out and we are alive at the time of conception.  From the moment we are conceived God is at work creating us according to His plan for us.

If you are pregnant or know someone that is pregnant and considering having an abortion, please seek help in making a good decision before aborting your unborn child.  Please know that the child you carry inside of you may be small but that child is alive and God has plans for every child before they are even conceived in the womb and born into this world.   God loves you and that little unborn baby very much.  There is nothing too difficult for God.  He will help you and see you through.

Please pray for the unborn children.  Please join me and be a voice for the unheard cries.

May your life be blessed and a blessing in Christ Jesus.

This morning, as my husband and I were heading to the car we heard the beautiful music of a song bird.  The sun was not yet on the horizon and the morning was still cloaked in darkness.  The moon, still mostly full, was shining as brightly as it could fully prepared to give way to brighter light of sunrise.  There were many birds chirping and singing. It was a symphony of music that uplifted me and took away my dread of going into work.  Although I am grateful to have a paying job, I admit I do not exactly like the job that I have.  The beautiful songs of the birds made me smile unexpectedly.  There was one bird that was very close right in the middle of our street in front of our house.  It was as if God had sent that bird to sing the song it was created to sing just for us.

I marveled at that little bird and this Friday which is Good Friday.  Are you wondering what is so good about Good Friday?  I wonder about many things that happened on that day.

Had Jesus even slept the night before? What was that morning like for Him.  Was He filled with the dread and fear of a man or did He carry the peace and courage of the Father and as The Son of God, God among us?  Did He hear the songs of birds? Did He see any beauty around Him?

What is so good about Good Friday?
We know that Jesus had already been beaten, flogged, and treated with dis-contempt and hatred.  We know that Jesus had already suffered.  He was probably hurting awful physically and extremely sore.  He must have felt each movement of each of His muscles.  He must have hurt way down deep in His soul as the ridicule, mocking, and terrible slanderous slurs assaulted Him and rang in His mind.  To hear the people shouting, “Crucify him!”

²² Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”  They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”  ²³ Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?”  But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!”  Matthew 27:22 & 23

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

What is so good about Good Friday?

Jesus went through the most awful inhumane treatment I have ever heard of. He was mistreated worse than any criminal!  What Jesus experienced that day is unimaginable.  What was He thinking about as He struggled to carry the cross up the hill to Calvary?  What did he notice? What was He feeling in His heart?   What was Jesus really thinking and feeling as they drove those long nail spikes into His hands and feet?  What would that feel like?  How did Jesus cope with that pain?  How did Jesus feel as they cast lots for His clothes?  Did Jesus find any comfort at all in His last moments on Earth?

³⁵ Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet:

“ They divided My garments among them,
And for My clothing they cast lots.”

Matthew 27:35

Jesus did not do anything in His whole life to deserve what happened to Him. He was pure in mind and spirit. He was without a single sin. He was innocent of all crimes.  Yet He is the one that paid the ultimate price for all crimes and for all sin. Jesus gave His life for us on the cross. He gave everything He had for us. He loved us so much that the thought of us being separated from Him and the Father was worse than the punishment He now endured. He loved us so much that He took all sin upon Himself and all the consequences of sin upon Himself. He died in sin so that we can live in righteousness. I don’t know what He was thinking or feeling inside but I know that He was brave, full of love and blessings, and that actions speak more highly than words. He is the good of Good Friday.

Just like that little bird that was singing so beautifully this morning, Jesus did what He was born to do. Jesus fulfilled His life’s work and accomplished that which He had been born to do. He was born to be our Savior, and to save us from our sins. He accomplished this with great strength, unsurpassed courage and all encompassing love.

“[Jesus Again Predicts His Death] Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”- Matthew 20: 17-19

Jesus did not remain dead. He rose from the dead on the third day. He is Alive! There is life and victory in Jesus.

The victory of the cross and our salvation was what was good about Good Friday for Jesus. This victory through trials and persecutions and terrible brutality stands as the hope and promise for each of us even unto this day and for all time. What Jesus accomplished was more than anyone else could possibly bear. Only Jesus could do what needed to be done, and He did so willingly and with honor.  Jesus wasn’t interested in what was in it for Him.  Jesus wasn’t considering Himself, His desires, or His needs.  Jesus was more concerned with pleasing the Father.  Jesus was most concerned about us.  As He gave His life that day on the cross He was thinking about the man or woman in-prisoned for crimes, or on death row convicted of murder.  He was thinking about that young lady or young man that comes to the alter for the first time.  He was thinking about me and you and our salvation.  I bet He smiled inside knowing that any one who would believe in Him and all that He had done would be saved.   What He did for us is proof that He loves us just the way we are…sin and all.

Have you accepted Jesus as your personal savior?  Do you believe He died on the cross for you and to save you from your sins?  Today is Good Friday, and it is a great day to get to know Jesus better and to accept Him as LORD of lords and KING of all kings.  It is a great day to find salvation in Jesus Christ.

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16 (New King James Version)

May your life be blessed and a blessing in Christ Jesus.

Importunity is a new word to my vocabulary. I learned that this word means wearisome persistence or of persistent demand. The word itself sounds like two words combined and I will probably remember it this way. It sounds like the word important and word opportunity combined. To me and through God the word importunity means an important opportunity. That is what we have right now in prayer for our nation. We have an important opportunity to pray for our nation and seek God on behalf of our country. We have an important opportunity and responsibility through prayer to see our land healed, to see the sins of our land forgiven and have the mercy, loving-kindness, peace, joy, revival and complete salvation and restoration of God in America.

However, before we can see these blessed results and favorable consequences, we must apply the true meaning of importunity to our prayers and our need for God and His presence in our country. You see before we can be blessed as a nation our prayers must go up to God with wearisome persistence. We must continually pray for God’s healing in our nation. I have heard this verse many times. I have seen it on t-shirts and such. But up until now, with God’s revelation, I have never understood it the way I do now.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
It is all here. God’s people, the church and body of Jesus Christ must humble themselves and pray with the importunity of prayer in their hearts. We must pray with wearisome persistence and unrelenting urgency. We must seek God with all our hearts in harmony with one another, in perfect unison, and in combined strength of faith. We must crave and need God’s presence in America in the same manner, with wearisome persistence, and with all our hearts and souls, together as one giant cry unto the Father in heaven. We must turn from our wicked ways and stop putting other gods before Him. Then and only then will God hear from heaven and forgive America and heal America.
Our country, the United States of America was founded as one Nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Our money is printed and stamped “In God We Trust.” Today, America is a nation of many people of from many different nations, beliefs, races, religions and creeds that all call America their home land. We all sin and we all fall short of the glory of God. In our land there are many sins, too numerous to list. Common things and seemingly simple and harmless things have taken precedence in the American way of life. One such example is the use of technology and the use of cellular phones. In reality these are examples of things that we have become dependent on, and in need of here in the USA. It may seem harmless but any time anything takes prevalence over God- it is idolatry. There are many other critical issues of concern and sin. The main issue of importance, dire need and in great demand right now is a great turning away from sin and a true repentance of sin. If one person prays this prayer of repentance and turns away from sin it is great for that person because they when they search for God with all their heart and soul they will find Him and they will be saved. But if a group of a hundred or a thousand or a million pray in repentance and turn away from sin to God, it is beautiful beyond words. We must come together in the importunity of prayer! Please take a few moments to pray this prayer along with me and pass this prayer on to as many as you will.

Dear Heavenly Father,
We acknowledge that our nation has turned away from you. In our greed and independence we have become financially, spiritually, physically and morally bankrupt. In our need to be self-sufficient and powerful and famous as individuals and as a nation, we have failed miserably and come to the end of all our own resources. In our desire to be free and powerful we have become enslaved and weakened in our sins against you. Our nation is falling apart. We have tried to replace you and put other gods of money, material possessions, and ease of life style above you and the precious sacrifice provided for us at the cross. In doing so, we have fallen away from you and the all sufficient grace that comes only from you. Now with humble, weary, and persistent hearts and souls we turn to you for forgiveness of all our sins. Forgive us for putting other gods before you and for turning to other things and other ways of life instead of turning to you. Right now we, as individuals and as the brothers and sisters and family in Christ Jesus, and as believers all join together, united in one accord and with one voice. As one voice we turn away from everything that would stand between us and you. As one people serving as one nation under God, we pray LORD that you will hear our prayer. We need your presence now more than ever. Please come and make your wonderful holy presence known to America in new and profound ways. We pray, seek, crave and require of necessity your face. As we submit ourselves to you, we pray that you will hear our nation, heal our nation, and make us your nation. We pray for a great restoration in America and a huge revival in America and all across the globe. As one nation and one voice we cry out for deliverance and we claim all of the indisputable promises found in the word of God. In these times of darkness, O LORD you are our only light. You LORD are the only hope of our nation. We pledge allegiance to you LORD God. We pray this prayer in the wonderful matchless name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

May your life be blessed and a blessing in Christ Jesus.

I used to live near to two different gas stations. The closer of the two stations generally always had the best prices per gallon. The other station was only a block down and the gas prices were only slighter higher. Naturally, I would often choose the closest location due to location and price value. I did, that is, until the day I noticed something strange and distressing. One day, with my gas tank on E, I pulled in and purchased enough to give me at least a half of a tank full. After I pumped the gas, I hopped back into the truck and prepared to drive away. Only I noticed that the gas gauge was still on E. I looked back at the gas pump. I had definitely pumped the gasoline and I had pumped about 10 gallons worth. So why did my gas tank still read empty? I went in and felt very embarrassed as I explained this to the attendant. The attendant only shrugged his shoulders and printed out a receipt of the sale. “You pumped it, and paid for it”, he stated indignantly.

I didn’t know what to believe. Obviously, I had pumped it and I had paid for it but my truck was simply not acknowledging these facts at all. The gas tank in my truck still registered empty. My husband, who was with me, said not to worry that maybe the gas gauge was stuck or that maybe, after I had driven for few minutes the gas was register in the tank. I had never had this happen before and it made no sense to me. I pumped the gas, so unless they had found away to cheat people at the pump, it should register in my tank! As high as gas prices were at the time, and still are for that matter, it was extremely concerning. I wasn’t sure what to do, but it was easy to see that I would not feel right about everything until that gasoline registered properly in my truck. I wouldn’t be sure how far I could drive in my vehicle if the gas gauge remained unaffected.

I decided to drive to the other gas station and put just a little bit more gasoline in the tank just to see what would happen. I only added about a gallon or two. To my surprise that little bit of fuel was all that was needed. The needle on the gas gauge raised up to over half full. So what had happened? Why had this fuel not only registered but caused the other fuel to finally register as well? There must be a difference in the type of fuel, I thought. Then, as I am always inclined to, I asked God if there was some other, more vital lesson in this for me. God used this situation to teach me a very important lesson.

It doesn’t matter what you spend your time doing or eating or drinking. If you do not get the right fuel, you may be full to overflowing with food, drink, and other substances however your spiritual fuel gauge will remain untouched and unaffected. Just the way my truck would not register the gas until I added a different fuel to the tank, our bodies can not register fullness and happiness and joy until we first fuel up with the type of fuel needed to fill the emptiness within ourselves.
A million pizzas, burgers, hot-fudge ice creams, sodas, books and magazines, beers, cigarettes, drugs, and other things can not and will not raise the needle of our spiritual fuel gauge. How can we be certain how far we can go in life and what great works we can really do in God, if we still go around feeling empty inside. The answer is we simply can not. How can we sate the emptiness and feel full of life, motivation, and a great passion to go about doing God’s will in our lives and for others. We must learn how to fill up correctly, and in such a way that the terrible emptiness disappears and frees us to do God’s will and find fulfillment in our lives.

If no food or drink or other substance will help me to feel full of vigor and purpose for life, what will? What type of fuel do I need? These are the questions that I asked myself. God’s answer amazed me. If we want to feel full of life and vibrancy, and if we desire to shine for God, we need more of God’s fuel! The fuel that God designed for us, and provided for us is His holy, powerful, and precious WORD. Without the WORD of God we can thrive and find the inner fullness we need to survive in this life. It was so simple and yet, I had repeatedly overlooked it.
John 6:35 (Amplified Bible)
35Jesus replied, I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me will never be hungry, and he who believes in and cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me will never thirst any more (at any time).
Matthew 4:4 (Amplified Bible)
4But He replied, It has been written, Man shall not live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
Luke 1:37 (Amplified Bible)
37For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment.
John 7:38 (Amplified Bible)
38He who believes in Me [who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said, From his innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs and rivers of living water.

True fulfillment comes from God and the His WORD which is Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life and the Living Water. The things of this world are not enough to satisfy us and sustain us. We must accept Christ as our Savior, read the bible and partake of the Bread of Life freely, and frequently. We must partake in the Living Water of God. Once we discover how to live according to God’s will and by His commandments, things change in our lives. We will become completely satisfied and truly filled. We will never be hungry or thirsty any more or at any time. That is a great promise.
We don’t have to go around full with a great emptiness. There is true fulfillment and immeasurable energy in Christ Jesus. It is a great fullness and meaningful purpose that will register in your smile, sparkle in your eyes, shine forth from your heart and overflow from your innermost being. It is a deep and glowing beauty that others will see in you and wonder of. If you feel empty inside after filling up on worldly things please accept the wonderful fulfillment and immeasurable energy of Jesus Christ today and share the unequalled beauty of it with others.

May your life be blessed and a blessing in Christ Jesus.

Have you ever had someone irk your nerves? Is there someone in your life that completely unravels your resolve with a single word or deed? Maybe it is someone you don’t even know very well or even at all? Out of no where, someone zaps you with unmerited meanness, un-thoughtfulness, disrespect, hatefulness and down right evil behavior! Our first instinct may be to get them back. It seems so natural to just zap them the way they zapped you. It is easy to reason that someone needs to give them a dose of their own, awful medicine, and that they should definitely be taught a lesson. It is even easier to think that you should be the one to put them in their place. After all should you just let someone walk all over you and not take a stand? I think we have all been there before. It is a part of the natural and physical nature (of our flesh) to desire setting others straight when they try to do us harm or deal with us deceitfully. It is in our physical nature to want to repay others with the same terrible treatment they gave us. Often times, we envision that we deserve to be treated better. After all, should we not be treated with same kindness and respect that we freely give others? It just seems like zapping them back will make you feel better. But does it really make us feel better to that? What does God desire of us during moments like that? What is the right thing do when someone hurts us, makes us mad, or upsets us royally? Should we revenge and repay like with like-you know-an eye for eye? Or, should we just ignore it all together when someone does us wrong?

Neither one of these responses are the correct way to deal with a situation like this.   It is definitely God’s will for you help Him teach others (that have done you wrong) a lesson. The only thing is it may not be the same lesson you imagined or desired to teach them. What God desires of us is more original and requires a spiritual response not a physical or fleshly response.   The response that God desires of us is even more difficult and humbling than ignoring insults and harmful deeds.  God is clear in how He requires us to respond.  God does not want us to ignore or to return evil for evil or insult for insult.  God wants us to do something grand.  God wants for us to give blessing in return for evil and insult.

1 Peter (Amplified Bible Version)

⁸Finally, all [of you] should be of one and the same mind (united in spirit), sympathizing [with one another], loving [each other] as brethren [of one household], compassionate and courteous (tenderhearted and humble).

⁹Never return evil for evil or insult for insult (scolding, tongue-lashing, berating), but on the contrary blessing [praying for their welfare, happiness, and protection, and truly pitying and loving them]. For know that to this you have been called, that you may yourselves inherit a blessing [from God--that you may obtain a blessing as heirs, bringing welfare and happiness and protection].

¹⁰For let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days [good--whether apparent or not] keep his tongue free from evil and his lips from guile (treachery, deceit).

¹¹Let him turn away from wickedness and shun it, and let him do right. Let him search for peace (harmony; undisturbedness from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts) and seek it eagerly. [Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!]

¹²For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God), and His ears are attentive to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who practice evil [to oppose them, to frustrate, and defeat them].

This describes what God’s will is concerning the matter of treatment of others.  The Golden Rule does not teach us to do unto others as they have done to you.  No, it teaches us to do unto others as we would have them do unto us.  Whenever others do not keep this rule it is up to us to teach them this lesson of blessing and love and kindness, instead of showing them the same treatment they have shown toward us.  As believers in Christ we are called to demonstrate this principal to others.  If we hope to inherit blessing from God, we must be willing to share blessings with others whether we feel they are deserving of blessings or not.

What would it have been like if Jesus had responded to the wrongful treatment He was given with that same hateful and evil doing?  What if Jesus just stopped, called upon God, and said,” Father, I will not do this.  These people are undeserving of such an ultimate sacrifice.  I curse them with the very fate and sentence they have awarded me-death?”  Instead, even after being whipped, beaten, spit upon, and crowned with thorns, He blessed us.  He cried out to the Father, “Father forgive them, they don’t realize what they are doing.” (Paraphrased)

^{Luke 23:34 (Amplified Bible)}

³⁴And Jesus prayed, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And they divided His garments and distributed them by casting lots for them.

Jesus suffered for good.  He suffered for our sins and He gave up all He had, even His very life, even though we are sinful and undeserving.  Jesus loved us even though He already knew that many would never accept Him and love Him in return.  That is true unconditional love, and it is the true and right response we should have for others.

So remember, no matter how badly someone treats us, it is up to us to treat them right and know that God is with us.  Our reward for suffering for good and our blessing comes from God and through Jesus.  If we have to suffer for good or suffer in Jesus’ name, we are still and all the more blessed.  Not one of us deserves any blessings and a good life based upon our own actions, on account of all our sins.  We are blessed through Jesus and due to the price He paid.  He freely and lovingly gave His life and His blood was shed at the cross so that we could truly live and have a life full of goodness.   He gave us everlasting life through Him, in exchange for our sin.

I challenge you, as my challenge myself also; please think of God’s love.   This is my prayer for everyone, including myself.    The next time someone steps on you and I to get a promotion, let’s not step on them and knock them back down, let’s encourage them and uplift by promoting Jesus. Let us consider what Jesus did for us when someone cuts us off while driving on the highway and give them free clearance (not a scowl or angry gesture).   When people curse us, steals from us, belittles us, or betrays us, let’s bless them, share with them, uplift them, and be faithful to them in Jesus’ matchless name.   Even if someone beats us up and takes our lives, I hope that we can shine for God and be an example of Jesus even in our last breaths, and that our last words and deeds will be gentle and life giving actions of love and forgiveness.

May your life be blessed and a blessing in Christ Jesus.

All throughout the bible, from the beginning, of creation, and in creation itself, we are told of many great miracles.  Man made from the dust and clay and given life by the breath of God.  There were miracles in the burning bush, parting of the Red Sea, and Manna from heaven.  There were great miraculous healings of the blind, sick, lame, demon possessed.  Women of old age conceived and birthed healthy children.  These are just a few examples of the many miracles in the bible.

I also find wonder and awe in how God heard Joshua and caused the sun to stand still once in the sky. (Joshua 10:13)(NIV version) says: So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar.  The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day.  Joshua 10:12-14  How incredible! How wonderful are the miracles of God! But do these types of miracles still happen? Do miracles so great still occur in this day and age?

Many people claim that miracles like that just do not happen anymore.  People are beginning to lose hope for miracles.  Some people believe miracles are simply a thing of that past. So what do you believe?  Do you believe in modern day miracles? I think it is up to us to look closer, take a longer, deeper look around us.  If we do, we will find that miracles do still happen.  God still rescues His people.  God still supplies us with surprise and wonder.  God still moves in mysterious ways to bring us joy and show us that He is still there, and very much a part of us.  For example, the women that are medically unable to conceive or unable to carry a child that pray and cry out to God and our given the gift of a beautiful, precious, child.  The doctors can’t explain it any other way.  When the impossible happens-it is more than just a medical mystery it is a demonstration of God’s awesome power.  Gods hand is at work there.

Another example: I heard a story of a soldier that was at war and needed to get across the battlefield to the other side.  In reality, with all that gun fire and the bombs exploding, it would impossible to do that.  So this soldier closed his eyes and prayed that somehow and someway God would help get to safety on the other side of that hill.  When he opened his eyes he was no longer in the same spot where he had knelt and prayed. God had done exactly what he had prayed for.  God had somehow, someway, got him to safety on the other side of that hill.  That was a miracle, indeed!

I personally have seen and experienced many miracles in my family, church, and in my own life.  It is amazing to see the work of God unfold in the lives of people all around us.  Recently while watching the coverage of the earthquake in Chile, and the following tsunami, I witnessed one such miracle.  It was not only the power of God but also by the mercy and grace of God that the tsunami passed over Hawaii with no real damage and no lives taken by terrible waves.  In fact, the waves that were expected to be devastating were described as small.  To many people it was a question of science and reason, but to my surprise, while discussing the current conditions of Hawaii shores, one man from Hawaii described it as a miracle that no one was hurt and that the tsunami basically passed right by Hawaii without causing any real damages.  He then gave thanks to God right there on the air.  With all the coverage that I seen and heard this stood out in my memory and forever will.  Glory to God for His miraculous mercy and saving grace!

In my own life I have seen a great miracle that I want to give God glory for.  In April two years ago, while at work, the people in our office learned of a tornado that had touched down in a near by neighborhood.  The electricity went out and the only light was that of gloom coming in from the windows in the front of the building.  We all gathered up near the front of the office in a hallway where we could see what was going on outside.  Trees were bent over as the winds came through and the sky was nearly black.  It was frightening.  It all came up so fast.  Then a strange noise growled threateningly at us and a change in the atmospheric pressure occurred causing our ears to pop.  I began to pray aloud.  The doctor I worked for said, “its okay, we will be alright,” but still I prayed aloud, “LORD, please help us and keep us safe.”  Then just as quickly as it happened upon us, the winds died down, the pressure lifted, and our ears popped again.  The tornado had passed by our office.  I went with another doctor to the back door and we watched as the dark swirling mass of rubble and the evidence of its destructive nature went by low in the sky.  It had hit another office near ours and then proceeded on a path that hit another office further down on our street.  It continued on down on a path that went through an elementary school and then several neighborhoods, other medical buildings, a strip mall and the local hospital. It was later classified as an F-3 tornado.

Many of the other people that experienced this considered us merely lucky or fortunate, but there were others like me that knew, without a doubt, it was a miracle of God that not one person was killed or terribly injured from the tornado.  I knew that the tornado had passed by my work and my home and my sister’s home because God had heard my prayer and all the prayers of others, and he had done a great miracle in keeping us safe that day!

Do you need a miracle?  Are you face a terrible situation or circumstances and see no way out except by way of a miracle?  Maybe there are people reading this that are facing life threatening illness and disease and are need of healing?  There are many in need of financial miracles and the miracle of having a safe home to live in.  There are people here in the United States that fall asleep and wake up hungry every day.  Perhaps you think that the miracle you need is too great or too small.  The truth is there is nothing too great or too small for God.  The miracles of God are not reserved for only for a select few or for specific people, they are meant to be for everyone.  Anyone can experience a life changing and totally transforming miracle of God.

Would you like to learn how?  The foundation of all miracles is found in accepting and believing in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the greatest miracle of all and He was sent by the Father for all people.  According to Hebrews 13:8 (New King James Version)  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  This means that all the miracles of the past are possible today and in the future to all those who accept and believe in Jesus Christ.

Have you accepted Jesus Christ into your heart and Confessed that He is your personal savior?   The beginning of all miracles begins with this act of faith.   Asking Jesus to come into your heart and wash away your sins is that foundation of miracles I speak of.  When Jesus was on the cross He took all of our sins and the consequences of sin upon Himself, in our place.  When we have faith in Jesus and place our trust in Him, we discover freedom from sin and we are given the gift of everlasting life through Jesus. 

Isaiah 53:5 (New King James Version)  But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

It is through our heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit of God that the awe and wonder of all miracles is made possible.  Job 5:9 (New International Version)  He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.  If you have not yet done so, on faith please accept Jesus today.  As you put your faith and trust in Him, believe that through Him all things are possible!

1 Corinthians 9:22 (New International Version)  To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.  Matthew 19:26 (Amplified Bible)  But Jesus looked at them and said, With men this is impossible, but all things are possible with God.  Notice this scripture does not say that some things are possible.  It says that with God, all things are possible!   

Know that God loves you.  John 3:16 (New International Version)  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  All you need to do is ask and believe and claim the promises of God, in Jesus’ wonderful name, and you too shall see the miracles and wonders of God in your own life.

May your life be blessed and a blessing in Christ Jesus.