“Prepared?”
Blessings Folk!!
Are you preparing?
Preparing for what?
Difficult, difficult times are immediately ahead of us.
- the current “economic crisis” is deepening. Do not believe the phrase of the day - “green shoots”. We are experiencing a “false rebound”, much like occurred in the 1920s-30. More economic chaos is on the horizon. Nearly one hundred trillion in unfunded mandates in our nation alone. You think the “housing crisis” is bad? Wait until the commercial property hits. Derivatives are a $500 trillion nightmare of which most people are unaware.
- officially, unemployment is around 9.5%. The actual figure today is somewhere around 15-18%. This will increase dramatically.
- food shortages will soon occur. Food riots will take place.
- diseases will increase...this is already occurring in many metro areas.
- political chaos will increase
- varied forms of secession and reorganization will occur
- chaos and terror are just over the horizon
- gangs will increase...already more than one million are involved in such
- there will be an increasing demarcation between the true Body of Christ and the “false professors”… believers vs. deceived; wheat vs. tares.
I believe that we are seeing the beginning of all these.
I believe that they will be in full bloom within 2-3 years.
We are bearing, and will continue to do so, the fruit of the evil deceptions of 1787, 1850-60’s, 1913, 2008-2009 and the like.
Encouraged?
Perhaps not.
But, we should rejoice that the Lord has called us to this time.
We are to be the salt of the earth.
Matt 5:13
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
KJV
We are to be the light of the world.
Matt 5:14
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
KJV
The Lord has brought each of us to this point for such a time as this...
Est 4:14
14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
KJV
Our hope is not in man and his strategies and answers.
Our hope is in the Lord.
Ps 39:7
7 And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.
KJV
We must have a Warrior mentality…though not in the manner of the world.
Eph 6:12-13
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
NASU
We must aggressive seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
Matt 6:33
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
KJV
We must consistently pursue holiness.
1 Thess 4:7
7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
KJV
We must always die to self.
Rom 8:12-13
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
KJV
We must live and breathe and have our very being in the Lord alone.
Acts 17:28
28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
KJV
We must trust the Lord.
Prov 3:5
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
KJV
We must be obedient.
2 Cor 10:5-6
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
KJV
Take a couple of questions before the Lord...
Are you preparing...in the spirit...dying to self...in the Word...living completely and totally in the Spirit, or, are you still exhibiting patterns and practices of the world?
Ask the Lord to purge you of all attitudes, thoughts, concepts, understandings, etc. that are not truth from Him.
Are you allowing all things to be used of God as a “training ground” for that which is yet to come?
Ask the Lord to use you today and in the darker days yet to come.
Then, rejoice!
The Lord is with us!
We will shine as the stars in the firmament.
Dan 12:3
3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
KJV
We know the outcome. What? You do not know. Immerse yourself in the Word…
Press on and fear not for the Lord our God is with us!!
Blessings!!
Today’s reading from the “So That’s Why” Bible consists of pp. 1285-1290.
“Strangers - Slaves?”
Blessings Folk!!!
Well, well...our most recent time together precipitated some interesting conversation.
As you will remember, we recounted a couple of stories of ‘strangers’ amongst us… ladies selling some rather expensive children’s books.
Here is one of my favorite responses...hope it is ok to forward
One of these sweet ladies came to our house. My husband mentioned we had a birthday celebration for our son the day before. When we were discussing the fact that she gets college credit for showing these things, she mentioned the birthday. She said, “Do you have any cake left?”. I told her we sure did and asked if she would like a piece of cake. She said yes – and we still talked while she ate the cake. I explained to her that we are on a fixed income and would not buy the things she was selling, since we have no little ones. She was very gracious and said she understood. When she got ready to leave, she asked if maybe she could have another piece of cake. I asked if she would like to take it with her and she said, “I’ll eat I here if that’s o.k.” Bottom line: I thoroughly enjoyed her visit and hope she does well with her project.
A precious encounter.
But, there may be a darker side to all this than we knew.
Someone I trust without reservation, who is in a realm of endeavor that leads to such knowledge, forwarded the following…
It really sounds like they are part of what is called modern day slavery. This is an issue we are really trying to help change. Thousands of women are trafficked each year to different countries being promised a better life and only find out that when they get there they are forced to work laborious jobs if not sex jobs and then only given minimal food, clothing and supplies. There's a group in Birmingham that works to rescue women and children in this slavery. They are called Rescue and Restore Alabama and they are on FB (Facebook). If someone there is willing, bring these ladies in and try to gain their confidence. Give them a meal, offer them help contacting folks back home...anything. But first get in touch with this organization. Perhaps you will be rescuing a woman who was trafficked from her country to America only to find she was lied to. I'll be home in 3 weeks, so if they are still around, I'll talk with them, but they move a lot...I am going to forward this to Laura Mitchell who now lives in B'ham. She's all over this issue.
Well now…
We know not what the Lord may be doing.
We may simply be providing a cup of water that is needed.
We may used to “set the captive free.”
Luke 4:18-19
18 "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,
19 TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD."
NASU
John 8:31-32
31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
NASU
Listen to that “twinge” within your spirit. We are so easily distracted by the “cares and concerns of the world” that we do not see that something far more significant is taking place before our very eyes.
Mark 4:18-19
18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
KJV
May we see with the eyes of the Lord.
May we speak with the Words of the Lord.
May our hands and hearts execute the deeds of the Lord.
Share of the resources with which the Lord has blessed us.
Impart the Life of the Most High God - proclaim the Good News of salvation in the Lord Jesus.
Move only in the Spirit of the Lord and watch what He does!
Fear not, the Lord our God is with you.
The Lord is setting the captive free - in the spirit and in the natural.
Heb 12:12-13
12 Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble,
13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.
NASU
Blessings!
Today’s reading from the “So That’s Why” Bibles consists of pp. 1279-1284.
“Strangers…”
Blessings Folk!!
Been having an interesting thing happen locally...several lessons to be discerned.
For those of y’all distant...we live in the middle hole of the Bible belt…it is a blessed and special place. Things that are “normal” elsewhere are “unusual” here. There is nowhere else I’d rather be.
Here is what is occurring.
Apparently there are two women who are going from house to house selling children’s magazines. In and of itself not that unusual...though less a common occurrence today than in days past.
A couple of things make these encounters different.
First, the ladies “ain’t from around here.”
I was told that they spoke with accents and that one said she was from “Astonia”….I suspect the reporter meant “Estonia”. Estonia is a former Soviet Union conquest that has a long, rich history of independence and liberty. A wonderful people. Get the movie “The Singing Revolution.” It is an account of how the people of Estonia defeated a repressive government...hummm...with a song. Yes, with singing. This happened in our life times. Yep, I know. Most likely you have never heard about it. Watch the movie.But, I digress.
So? A couple of hard-working individuals. What is the big deal?
Some of their actions have been interesting...described as “weird”, “strange”, “freaking people out” and the like.
On one occasion one of the ladies asked for some toothpaste.
Another asked for a sandwich or a granola bar.
Another asked for a drink.
Different? In our community, yes. Folk here would do anything for each other, but it is a little outside the norm to have a door to door salesperson (I’m so PC!) to asked for food.
But, should be be fearful? Should we be offended?
No. In most of the world this would be common.
In many places in our society we see such...beggars, those who work street corners, etc.
The Word of the Lord tells us about such situations.
The Lord tell us what to do.
There are dozens of verses in the Word which speak to meeting the needs of those who are poor, who are homeless, the stranger among us, the traveler, the hungry, the thirsty.
Deut 15:11
11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.
KJV
2 Cor 9:7-15
7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;
9 as it is written, "HE SCATTERED ABROAD, HE GAVE TO THE POOR, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER."
10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness;
11 you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.
12 For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God.
13 Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all,
14 while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you.
15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
NASU
We are to meet the needs of the poor.
We are to feed the hungry.
We are to give drink to the thirsty.
We are to give as we have purposed in our hearts...that is an interesting phrase…
We are to give cheerful...not by compulsion, manipulation, witchcraft.
Even if it is a “scary” Estonian children book saleslady…
Who knows when we may be entertaining an “angel unawares”?
Heb 13:1-2
13 Let brotherly love continue.
2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
KJV
Do not forget to entertain strangers.
Do not be fearful.
Certainly, be wise in the Spirit.
Let the Love of the Lord be manifest in your life.
Aggressively sow the seed of provision from the Lord through us to others…
Blessings!!
Today’s reading from the “So That’s Why?” Bible consists of pp. 1274-1278.