Category: Teachings From The Word… (Page 10 of 16)

A weekly teaching series designed to encourage, challenge, and better inform those seeking a relationship with the Lord, or those who want to simply just come and hear what the Lord is saying to His people

No More Excuses.

October 2, 2021 / ministermaryellen@gmail.com

I have found it challenging to rest over the last couple of months if I’m honest. One only needs to open their eyes and look around to see that the world is not okay right now. I mean, maybe it never was, but as days go by, I see the reality of it more and more clearly. While I have personal issues that I am working through, it seems as though the aches and pains of this world overshadow those trivial things that I consider problems. Yet, in all the chaos, I must remind myself to turn my eyes towards Heaven, asking God for His perspective. His vantage point. As I consider all the uncertainty in the world, I am reminded of Romans 8:22. It reads, “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” The Apostle Paul, the writer of Romans, was referring to this present hour when he wrote this book.

This tells me that the earth has been groaning for a long time, in fact, for thousands and thousands of years. Long before I became aware of the rapidly decaying state of our world, the earth has been groaning in preparation for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet this passage is oozing with hope when we read it through today’s lens.

God is not surprised by anything. He has been managing crises since the beginning of time. Since the dawn of creation, He has been working things out for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). We have hope in Jesus that, although the earth is groaning, He is still preparing a place for us in our eternal home, in Heaven. While this hope exists for the believer, my heart aches thinking of the people in the world who choose to reject Christ. I’m sure that’s why my heart has been heavy as I’ve been preparing to share a word with you this week; I have not been able to shake the finality of Romans 1:26 from my mind. “God gave them over to shameful lusts…”

As I tried to digest just this sliver of Romans 1, I asked God what He’d have me to say concerning it. And, as uncomfortable as it may be, I believe the answer is this: It is a warning for mankind.

I feel such a sense of urgency as I sit to write about this. Here is the full context of the passage above: “The wrath of God is being revealed from Heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness. For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile, and their foolish hearts were darkened [they] exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over to the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator who is forever praised. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another.”

This Book of the Bible was written thousands of years ago, which tells me that the world wasn’t a wonderful place back then either.

When God throws His hands up and says, “have it your way. I’ll give you over to your sinful desires”, that’s never a good thing. The standards set forth in God’s law, the 10 Commandments, exist for a reason. They’re given to us as a safeguard- much like a guard rail on the side of a road. I also see them this way: dietary recommendations that exist to keep us healthy. If we load ourselves with saturated fats, poorly digestible carbohydrates, sugar, processed foods, and the like, we may feel great while we’re indulging, and we certainly satisfy our cravings. However, as a result of our indulgences now, years down the road, we will experience diseases that poorly impact the quality of our lives. Diseases that may have been prevented had we kept to the dietary standards recommended by doctors.

In like fashion, Biblical standards act like spiritual guardrails or like diets for our souls. The Bible gives us crystal clear directions from our Maker on what is required to make us function optimally. Sin is cancer to our souls. It eats away at our very being. And though often unrecognizable at first, in time, it will ultimately kill us. I’m sure when the above passage in Romans was written, it was intended to address what God calls “wickedness.” And, since God doesn’t change, the same wickedness that existed in that day is still considered wickedness in our day.

As I read these verses, I saw patterns emerge throughout history—patterns of evil days, and then times of revival. And where there was a revival, prosperity followed quickly behind. Look at the first Great Awakening; shortly after the Great Awakening of the 1700s came the Industrial Revolution. The Second Great Awakening was in the 1830s, then, in the 1850s, we saw the gold rush followed by a great economy in the US. I believe that where the Spirit of God is alive and well, people prosper. Not just in riches but also spirit.

We look around our world right now, and we see economies are failing. People are desperate for hope. Depression and anxiety are rampant as fear grips the heart of man, a byproduct of Covid-19. This world needs Jesus! We need to repent and turn from godlessness. The answer to our aching world is Jesus. We need revival; where the souls of man wake up from mediocrity’s stupor and turn towards the fear of God once again. Most people worldwide are so removed from the God of the Bible, Elohim, that they are merely existing. My friends, we were not created to merely exist. We were created to live in the family of God: in a state of belonging, fulfillment, and purpose.

So I urge you, now, to turn from godlessness and run to the Father. These verses are not past tense; instead, they accurately describe God’s heart towards wickedness. Yes, God is good, and yes, He is kind and merciful and loving and a gracious provider for His children. The Bible tells us that He does love the world! You’ve heard this verse I’m sure, it’s John 3:16: “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.”

And, “That while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” — Romans 5:8. God still sees the world He created, and He loves every person in it. He will forgive the sins of anyone who sincerely repents, but, His greatest blessings are reserved for those who obey Him.

Here’s the hope we have in Jesus: God will not expose us without providing a remedy.

Living in sin does not have to be your story. If you feel you can identify with the wickedness mentioned in the verses above, I beg you not to fall into the trap of “oh well! I guess I’m just going to hell then” and wrongly accept that lie. You do not have to go to hell! I repeat, you DO NOT have to go to hell. Repent of your sin, ask Jesus into your heart, and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in the way of His salvation. I promise there is more joy and peace in living for Jesus than in the life you’re currently living. In Romans 2:7, the Bible says, “To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, He will give eternal life.” And Ezekiel 18:21 reads, “But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die.”

This verse isn’t just talking about our last breath on earth. “He shall not die” refers to eternity. You shall not spend eternity in hell; if you repent and accept Jesus as Lord of your life, you shall spend eternity alive and well with the Father. The hour is now, no more excuses. I pray that this heavy word spoke to you, pushed you even, towards accepting Jesus and living for Him. You’ll have an eternity to not regret that it did.

Jehovah Jireh—Yesterday, Today, Forever

September 25, 2021 / ministermaryellen@gmail.com

“He fed you manna in the wilderness, [a substance] which your fathers did not know, so that He might humble you [by dependence on Him] and that He might test you, to do good [things] for you at the end. Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth’ –Deut. 8:16-17.

Outwardly, their grumbling was directed at Moses and Aaron. In truth, however, the Israelites were grumbling against God. It was God’s abilities they were calling into question—not Moses’. God’s ability to provide for them. It had started at the edge of the Red Sea when the Egyptians, Israelite’s savage oppressors, had them hemmed in—in front, a wall of charging chariots and fierce soldiers in hot pursuit, and behind, an impassable sea. “Then they said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What is this that you have done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?” –Exodus 14: 11. The Israelites’ persisted in their grumbling at Marah when the only water for miles was bitter. And the grumbling continued during their barren desert trek concerning what they’d be given to eat. Then again at Rephidim, also concerning water, “So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?” –Exodus 17:2.

Until the time of His death, the Israelites were relentless in their tetchy grumbling against Moses.

As modern-day Christians, how like the Israelites of old many of us can be, waspish in our complaining—often petulant and unbelieving, even while professing our faith in the God who knit us together in mother’s womb. We complain about our jobs or our boss, or our lack thereof. We complain about the size of our house or the lack of desired clothing not hanging in our wardrobes. We complain about the weather—it’s too hot, too cold, too rainy, too dry. We complain about where we live. “Why couldn’t I have been born in Hawaii or Fiji or Spain instead of ________?” All the while, precious brothers and sisters are being martyred for their faith in Afghanistan.

And like the Israelites before us, we too forget, at times, that at the heart of our grumbling, at its core, is our professed dissatisfaction with God—our complaining aimed at Him. Our unrelenting questioning of His motives, intentions, those things He allows to touch, influence, or straight-up change life as we’ve known it, is, too often, tinged, not with honest questioning, but with lack of faith. As if we, His creation, somehow know better than God, our Creator, which experiences, and paths are best for us. As if we, in our overinflated sense of self-importance, feel, somehow, that we know better than God what will ultimately bring about His plan of our being fashioned into the image and likeness of His Son—our purpose.

Am I the only One who finds themselves murmuring of late?

Whispering complaints under my breath against any host of circumstances, people, or events—praying, in one instant, that God has His way in my life. That He builds-up or tears down whatever needs reworking in me, that I might draw closer to Him, serve Him with a pure heart? While in the next minute forgetting, momentarily, that my God is Sovereign. And His Words command me to give thanks in every circumstance in which I find myself—regardless of how I feel. “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God” –1 Thessalonians 5:18.

There are no accidents in life, not even in those events our finite-limited minds define as such. In God’s economy, He has already made provision for our perceived losses before they could ever affect us. “We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose” –Romans 8:28.

To believe otherwise flies in the face of God’s Sovereignty.

Our God is not caught off guard by where we find ourselves right now, whatever our circumstance—be that employed, unemployed, clothed in the finest, or in second-hand clothes. Belly full or empty, body toasty warm or bone-chilling cold, wet, dry, vaccinated, or not, joy-full, or in mourning. “I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation— to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” Philippians 4:12-13. El Roi, the God who sees me, the very same God who saw Hagar laying on a hot and dusty desert floor, knows where each of us is right now. And, He has already made a way out of this place in which we now find ourselves, though we can’t see it quite yet. For me personally, that’s day two of mourning the loss of my only brother—my beloved friend. The One I sat laughing with just two weeks ago as he recounted childhood tales of adventures we’d shared.

Though frail then, he bravely did all he could to shield my sister and me from the pain cancer was causing in his body. There is no way I could have put this teaching out today and not mentioned one of the most significant, most hard-hitting, darkest valleys I have experienced to date; witnessing my brother die.

To tell you that it was not difficult would be a bald-faced lie. It was agonizing, as anyone who has witnessed a loved one inch away daily can attest. But it’s not towards my brother’s struggle or pain or even his passing that I want to point you; instead, it’s towards God. Towards the One who provides for our every need, even the strength to let go when all we want to do is selfishly hold tight. I want to point you towards His waterfall of mercy, grace, peace, and provision—towards His faithfulness. Both towards my brother, in God never once leaving him to walk through the dark and unfamiliar valley of death alone, always ensuring that he had everything he needed right when he needed it, down to our being with him as he took his final breath, and towards us. Giving each of us His strength in place of our human weakness. This leads me to God’s faithfulness to me personally. To one of the greatest blessings of my life, indeed, one of the most bittersweet. The sure knowledge that the God of the 11^th hour answered my prayers for my brother’s salvation and met him as he lay dying in his bed. And, in His great mercy, quenched my brother’s parched soul with Living Water, washing him white as snow.

“But whoever drinks the water that I give him will never be thirsty again. But the water that I give him will become in him a spring of water [satisfying his thirst for God] welling up [continually flowing, bubbling within him] to eternal life” –John 14:4. God met my brother in his dry and solitary bed of suffering as assuredly as He’d met Hagar as she lay crying out to Him on that hot, arid desert floor.

That’s our God. The One who comes and provides those things we didn’t even realize we needed.

I have peace in the knowledge and the greatest of blessings knowing that in my brother’s darkest hour, the Light of the world came and did for him what none of us as his family could. He drew close to my brother and lit the way before him, leading him to the place He had prepared for him. I know this because our God is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Our God is faith full. Yesterday, today, and forever. A Pillar of Fire by night and a covering of Cloud by day—our Protector.

My family and I may have been blessed in having had the great privilege to care for our brother in his final hours, but clearly, it is Christ Jesus alone who deserves all the glory. In His Sovereignty, God orchestrated all things to work together for the good of all involved—according to His will, and for His glory.

Friend, if you have yet to ask Jesus into your life as Lord and Savior, do it today, please. No man is promised tomorrow. “But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 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. For with your heart, you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved” –Romans 10:8-10.

In Loving Memory of Richard M. Murphy

A New Heart, a New Life.

September 18, 2021 / ministermaryellen@gmail.com

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” – 1 Corinthians 1:18.

It was June of 2009, and every few minutes, I peeked through the auditorium to see if there were open seats available for when my family would arrive. Dominican families have struggled to be punctual for events, that at this point, it’s been accepted as a cultural norm. I was anxious about their arrival and worried they would miss most of the ceremony. Patiently waiting in an uncomfortably warm foyer while wearing a cap and gown sure didn’t help with my internalized bundle of nerves, especially since I was asked to deliver a speech. My mind was in disarray from reading over my speech lines, wrestling with my gown in the muggy air, engaging in sidebar conversations while anxiously waiting for my family’s arrival. From a distance, a few minutes shy from the start of the graduation ceremony, I recognized my family members walking towards the venue. “Yes!” I thought loudly inside my head. A few minutes after their arrival, the loud processional music played. As I walked into the auditorium, with the classical music in the background playing, what felt like a frozen, shrink of time, the faces of everyone in the crowd disappeared. I envisioned my future in a small window of my thoughts, standing behind a podium, like I was prepared to do, delivering a moving speech like a politician—end memory.

I asked, “Lord, why are you having my mind revisit this episode of my life, and so detailed for that matter?” The Lord responded, “To show you how much has changed. To show you how much you’ve grown.” I admit I had to sit with this memory for hours to reflect on my changes and growth. With more profound reflection, I realized how distant I felt from that version of myself. In high school, I became consumed with politics, and the envision of moving people’s emotions through political means was a pursuit I obsessed about. That high school version of me wanted grandiose plans to reform the world as a politician, and my family persuaded me to travel that dream path into college. In college was where my fiery passion for politics became dim in exchange for the study of theology. Unlike high school, my college setting introduced me to the gospel and the pursuit of new dreams. My political goals dried up like a raisin in the sun. While I still had a few more years ahead of me to understanding, developing, and committing a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ, it became more precise in what God revealed to me in saying, “To show you how much you’ve grown.”

You see, before I truly knew about Jesus Christ, I was very self-absorbed and prideful. It was the love of my achievements and personal aggrandizement that controlled me. My daily bread was my success of traveling and speaking in various places, earning good grades, and being granted many awards. And while they were all great deeds, the pursuit of worldly pleasures never leaves you satisfied, for there is always a hunger for more. I relate to the bible passage that says, “I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was my reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun” –Ecclesiastes 2:10-11.

The more I pondered the precise remembrance of speaking behind a podium as a future politician; it became ever so clear. The Holy Spirit revealed that “growth” had more to do with my heart behind the podium. Behind the podium of this vision was a 17-year-old heart plagued with selfishness, entitlement, and pride, and like a heart surgeon that grafts a healthy artery to a blocked one; since that time, it has been the grafting of the holy spirit that has brought fresh blood into my heart. “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” –Ezekiel 36:26. Behind the podium was a heart that desired and lived in the pursuit for the applause of men. But the applause of men is short-lived, whereas the applause of God rings for all eternity! “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ” –Galatians 1:10.

To put it simply, Christ in me changed me and continues to. My heart becomes tender when I think of how the Lord saw my prideful, 17-year-old heart, and yet in His faithful nature remained close for my heart’s return to Him. In the moments where my stone-cold, wintered heart abstained from anything related to Him, it was the extension of His unexplainable blessings over my life that summered my soul, one piece at a time. In the moments where my rebellious heart basked in the things that grieved God’s heart, it was to Him my heart searched for help when I didn’t want to confront the inevitable, uncomfortable consequences of my actions. And when my heavy tears cascaded down my cheeks, in a dark room of despair, it was the hearing that He keeps track of my sorrows that brought me comfort, even if it didn’t last for the entire day. “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book” Psalm 56:8.

He saw me, He heard me, and He lifted me out of the slimy pit I made and carried my heavy, orphaned body to shelter. It has been His presence that has stood as my fortress and the place my soul delights taking residence. It’s been His love and His rescue of myself where the posture and dreams of my heart changed. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” –Corinthians 5:17.

Since that high school memory, a lot has changed besides my dreams. I changed, thankfully. My gratifying desires have been exchanged for a life devoted to magnifying the heart and life of Christ. My heart’s content is no longer amassed with rebellion and pride but instead with humility and selflessness. How can the Holy Spirit enter in me and yet, continue to live like the world? I live for the eternal gratification of pleasing the Lord, and it is His applause and standing ovation that remains fixed as my eternal reward. Evidently, the Lord did so much work in my life, and while it took years, He was patient and faithful, and I am thankful and joyful because of it. And, since you’re reading this, be assured that the Lord knows your life’s end from the beginning. “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from the ancient times the things that are not yet done…” –Isaiah 46:10. The maker of heaven and earth, your creator, designed you with intention and purpose, according to His will. Surrendering your plans and dying off yourself may feel wild, but the satisfaction of that act is beyond anything the world has ever tried to offer. I pray that you open your heart up to God so that He may do “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” – 1 Corinthians 1:18

“Even if we as clay are broken by the very hand of the Potter, know that you’re in good hands and you are His” –Jeremiah 18.

I found treasure in His heart more than my dreams. I chose the narrow way, and it has made all the difference. I pray for you to seek His heart above all things and allow it to wonderfully change the course of your life as it did with mine. And, if you have not invited Jesus into your heart as Lord and Savior, I encourage you to do that today. Repent of your sins and ask God into your heart, and trust that He will make all things new in your life.

Be Still.

September 11, 2021 / ministermaryellen@gmail.com

Life is filled with cycles of mountain top highs and valley lows. It’s just a fact of life that we can’t escape. We do great, and then a problem comes, and we’re out for the count in a valley again. Then we overcome the problem and climb our way back to the beautiful views of the mountaintop where life is good. The cycle repeats itself repeatedly; it’s just a matter of time. I have learned not to get too comfortable on the mountaintop. I get premonitions, of sorts, when I’m about to approach a valley. It’s a strange feeling. It’s just a “knowing” that something’s coming. I couldn’t tell you what, but it’s that feeling of impending doom.

I recently got this premonition, and within weeks I found myself in the valley, and as I’m sitting here, I’m asking the Lord what I could share with you at a time like this. His gentle whisper just said, “you need only be still.” These beautiful words directly from Exodus 14:14 were brought to my memory, and I knew there must be more people who need to “be still.” I have this image in my mind of sitting in a boat, holding on for dear life as a storm rage around me. I sit, eyes fixed on Jesus, knowing that He is my only hope. As I have this mental image, I remember a similar story in the Bible where Jesus was actually in a storm that could have claimed the disciples’ lives in the boat.

“… He said to his disciples, ‘Let us go over to the other side.’ Leaving the crowd behind, they took Him along, just as He was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke Him and said to Him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’ He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down, and it was completely calm. He said to His disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’ They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!'” — Mark 4:35-41

You must understand something here: Jesus had just finished teaching the crowd about the Kingdom of Heaven. He was telling parables of growing in the word of God, He spoke of shining our light of salvation to expose what’s hidden in darkness, and, encouraging them, He spoke of the Kingdom of God in us that grows as we exercise our mustard seed faith.

He spoke in parables that not everyone understood, but His disciples had VIP access to His teachings to understand them fully. They had explanations that the crowd didn’t get. “When he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.” — Mark 4:34. This same Jesus who taught that faith the size of a mustard seed could move mountains (Matthew 17:20) is the one who calmed the storm. I imagine that the disciples would proudly walk by Jesus as He taught these jaw-dropping sermons and did miraculous signs and wonders, but when it came down to it, the disciples didn’t have the words that Jesus spoke in their hearts. They knew in their heads that they needed to have faith, but the heart connection could only come through the trial.

I don’t know about you, but it’s easy to find opinions on everything nowadays for me. We live in a world where you can get someone’s thoughts quickly. The voices of others begin to consume our thoughts, becoming our point of reference. We know what the Bible says, but we tend to rely on what people say instead. It’s easy to say things like, “God is enough for me.” We know that; we believe it. But what happens when things start to get stripped away from us? Does panic set in? Do we resort to fear? Anxiety? Worry? Or do we remember His words and stand firm on His promises?

“God is my refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.” —Psalm 46:1.

“The Lord is my shield; my rock; my deliverer; my defender” —Psalm 18.

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul.” — Psalm 23.

What do you resort to when the storm comes?

In this story, right before Jesus and His disciples were caught in this storm, Jesus told them to go to the other side of the lake where they were at. Without hesitation, the disciples brought the boat through the lake, knowing their destination. They didn’t stop to prepare for the possibility of inclement weather. They just went. When there is no threat, it’s easy to choose obedience to Jesus. Had they known the storm was awaiting them in the middle of their journey, maybe they wouldn’t have set off. You see, Jesus wasn’t surprised by the storm. He rested through it. He knew the authority that the Father had given Him to command the elements, so He wasn’t worried. The disciples, on the other hand, went from bringing Jesus over without hesitation to complete despair. They literally thought they were about to die. They KNEW that faith could move mountains and that faith could heal the sick, but when the moment came to rest in their revelation of Jesus, they resorted to panic. I honestly don’t blame them because that seems like a very human thing to do. But what if Jesus was testing them or teaching them a lesson, knowing what lay ahead?

Suddenly, we see Jesus almost aggravated that they’re afraid. He says, “why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” —v. 40. I believe Jesus is making a point here. While we can often feel the emotion of fear, we are not to be fearful, allowing the fear to overtake us. Fear and faith cannot coexist. You either have one or the other. The storm doesn’t worry you if you have faith because you know that God will deliver you. If you are afraid, then the storm will overwhelm you because you believe that the power in the waves is stronger than Jesus. Jesus’ authority in commanding the storm to cease amazed them, causing them to wonder who He is. Again, they KNEW in their minds WHO Jesus was. But the knowledge had not yet made its way to their hearts.

As I look at the world around us, I feel like the disciples in the boat. The world seems to be in chaos, but I sense that Jesus is in the boat. He didn’t tell us to go without Him; instead, as with the disciples, He is right here with us. We have an opportunity to respond to trouble with faith, not fear, as the disciples did. While it is easy to believe the words of panic from the world, it is crucial to put our faith in and believe the words of stability found in God’s Word instead. In this season of uncertainty, I am reminded of Exodus 14:14, which reads, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still.”

Be still. The exact words that Jesus violently commanded the waves are the words that God used to comfort the Israelites in Exodus as they were running from their oppressors. In a time where the only logical thing to do is to run or to fight, God tells them to be still. I sense that same calling in these times as we see so much quandary around us. If I could encourage you today in whatever you’re going through, it’s this: have faith and be still. Replace the echoing voices in your mind of worry that come from the world with promises from the word of God. Read your Bible and hide its precious Words in your heart. It is there where the renewing of the mind takes place. There is where your mustard seed faith is strengthened, and standing on His words becomes second nature. If you don’t know Jesus as the one who calms your storms, I invite you to ask Him in today. Ask Jesus to forgive your sins, for He is faithful and to do so. He will command the unsteadiness in your heart to be still and will bring into alignment every maligned thing.

Be encouraged. God bless you!

Living Prepared, Part 2.

September 4, 2021 / ministermaryellen@gmail.com

Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority” –Acts 1:7.

Last week we found ourselves in Matthew 25 because, the week before last, as I sat doing my morning devotion, something rustling around outside of my window drew my eyes away from the page I was reading. Then suddenly, I heard the Lord whisper these two Words: “Be Ready.” And by what I am sure was Divine revelation, I instantly understood what the Holy Spirit meant by them: A time is coming—soon and very soon was my sense, when we will not have time to “get ready”; we will need to “be ready. Hence, why we explored Jesus’ teaching regarding the Kingdom of heaven and how He likened it to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. We unearthed nuggets of wisdom and Truth found just below and scattered about the surface of this parable. One primary Truth being, not one of those virgins, wise nor foolish, knew the exact time the bridegroom would arrive to claim his bride. All any of them did know—was that his coming was indisputable. And as 21^st-century believers, that’s what we know regarding Jesus, our Bridegroom’s return as well—it’s indisputable.

Before we dig into part two of this teaching centered around Paul’s charge to Timothy—2 Timothy 4:2, I’d encourage you to stop here and go back instead to last week’s teaching, “Living Prepared,” and begin reading there. Why? For continuity’s sake. You won’t want to miss out on having a firm grasp of the genesis of this two-part teaching inspired by a Rhema Word from God. Then, come back, please, and finish up strong!

And for those who may not be familiar with the term Rhema, allow me to explain:

Within many Christian denominations, The Word of God is often referred to as Logos, the infallible, inerrant, written Word of God, given us by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit via the Holy Bible. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” –Hebrews 4:12. Or, it’s referred to as Rhema. A “right now” spoken Word from God, one typically given to someone regarding a particular season, a calling into ministry, to accomplish God’s good purpose, or offering His Church direction and guidance, naming just a few. There are many examples throughout the Bible, both Old and New Testament, where God speaks a Rhema Word to a prophet, priest, an apostle—or someone He’s calling to Himself. In Genesis 12:1-3, we read that Father Abraham received such a Word, so did Saul of Tarsus. “As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do” –Acts 9:3-6.

And in Acts 9:10-12, Ananias, the man God used to heal, commission, and baptize Saul, received a Rhema Word from God as well. “Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” Get up!” the Lord told him. “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

Yet of this fact, be sure: A true Rhema Word will never contradict God’s written Word—His inerrant Logos Word. God is not a man that He can lie, and He is not the author of confusion. So if someone speaks a Word over you or says that God shared a Word with them concerning you, starting with the one I’ve shared here, and that Word doesn’t line up with God’s written Word, spit it out quickly, lest you get poisoned!

In Paul’s final ministry command to a young preacher named Timothy, his son in the faith, Paul lands a lasting and unflinching charge that stretches far beyond young Timothy. A charge that reaches and rests squarely at the feet of every minister of the Gospel today. If Jesus is Lord of your life, Paul’s charge is meant to spur you on as well. Encouraging you to remain faithful to the Truth found in God’s Word—His commands and leading, to “Be Ready,” come what may. “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction” –2 Timothy 4:2. And to those who will say,” but I’m a Christian, not a pastor!” or “I don’t know how to talk to people about Jesus.” know this: you are by no means exempt from spreading the Gospel, the Good News of salvation, to everyone you know. There’s no such thing as, “I’m not a pastor!” or “I don’t know how to talk to people about Jesus.”

Being prepared “in season and out of season” means, in part, sharing the Truth of the Good News of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, whether you’re comfortable sharing it or not. Whether you’ve had time to prepare or not. Feel called, or not. To “Be Ready” means genuinely trusting God, having your lamp filled to overflowing with oil from time spent at His precious feet, and not living according to how you feel or by what you witness going on all around you. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” –Proverbs 3:5-6.

And though I’m not big on definitives when speaking about another believer’s walk, certain aspects of our collective walk as believers are and must be unalterable. One of those being, the only way a believer can ever truly “Be Ready” for whatever comes their way: from sharing Jesus’ love with that one the Lord has placed in right in front of you in line at the market—to walking through the dark valley of losing a child, spouse, a mother, father, sibling, or beloved friend. Shambling through a divorce or some horrific, life-changing event or diagnosis is if we are firmly rooted and grounded in Christ Jesus. If Christ alone is the Chief Cornerstone of our faith, our sure foundation. If we are a doer of God’s Word and not hearers only. If we genuinely put legs beneath everything, we profess to believe concerning God and His Word—walking it out by faith, come what may.

Even if that means pain-filled moments spent tearfully crying out to God for the strength needed to take one laboring, agonizing step forward —think Gethsemane here. “And going a little farther, He threw Himself upon the ground on His face and prayed saying, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will [not what I desire], but as You will and desire” –Matthew 26:39.

By His grace alone, I continue to learn to work out this level of obedience in my walk with the Lord. Pray for me, please.

So that is the crux of the message I received from the Lord regarding: “Be Ready.” The Logos confirming God’s Rhema Word as I read each of the Scriptures He’d dropped in my spirit, Matthew 25:1-13 & 2 Timothy 4:2. Friends, we are living in the last of the last minutes of human history as we’ve known them. The very next event to take place on God’s prophetic calendar is the rapture of His Church. When Jesus, our Bridegroom, comes, at last, to take us, His Bride, to the place He has gone ahead to prepare. A place where, face to face with Him at long last, we’ll spend eternity basking in His presence—soaking in all of Him, spilling over in eternal praise for the only one worthy to have redeemed our sin-soaked lives: restoring us, pure white and gleaming, back to our God.

Are you ready to meet Jesus face to face, friend? Is Jesus the Lord of your life? The cornerstone of your faith? I’m not talking about religion; I’m talking about a relationship with the one who knit you together in your mother’s womb. If you don’t have that, you can have it now, if you’ll but ask Him to come into your life and repent of your sins. “As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion” –Hebrews 3:15.

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” –Matthew 24: 42-44.

Living Prepared.

August 28, 2021 / ministermaryellen@gmail.com

“The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut” –Matthew 25:4-5;10.

Preparedness: the state of having been made ready or prepared for use or action; the quality or state of being prepared.

Staring out my window that morning, this is what I heard in my spirit: In the days to come, there will be no time to get ready; you must “be ready. On the tail of those two words came Matthew 25 and 2 Timothy 4. “Show me, Lord.” I opened my Bible and began reading. Now to say that no two words had ever reached their hand that far inside of me would be a lie; God had certainly done this before. Reached within me, pulling me out of myself somehow and to Him. But one never quite gets used to God “suddenly” speaking with us, do we? At least, I pray we shouldn’t. It has been my experience that when God speaks in this “suddenly” way, I need to give His Words my full attention. Firstly, because God is talking to me; secondly, experience reminds me something is about to happen/shift/manifest or change entirely. And that is what I shared with the church last Sunday.

A week has passed since that “be ready” Word was given to me, and this I know, I need to sit with His Word awhile longer as He continues to unfold its layers for me. Also, that a Word given in season is seldom for my ears only; sure, it first pours through me. Cleansing, realigning, correcting, convicting me, as only God’s Word can. Yet its other purpose, another reason it’s been entrusted to me, is to share it with you and you and that group of people gathered over there, like some warm, delectable tear-away loaf. Offering “whosoever will ” the opportunity to reach out and break off a piece for themselves. Allowing all of God’s goodness to do within them what only His Words can.

My foundation laid then; we’ll delve in today by looking into the first Scripture that dropped in my spirit, Matthew Chapter 25. Into our need as believers and those yet to believe for self-examination. And we’ll conclude next week by unpacking 2 Timothy 4 and our responsibility as believers towards those who have yet to receive God’s Word. I say “yet believer/s” because Scripture assures us that no one has drifted so far from God that He cannot draw them back to Himself. No one is too sin-full for God. “He did this so that they would look for him, and perhaps find him as they felt around for him. Yet God is actually not far from any one of us” –Acts 17:27.

As I read Matthew 25, the parable of the wise and foolish virgins caught my attention. Reading through these thirteen verses, I knew I was precisely where the Holy Spirit wanted me to be. “The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut” –Matthew 25:4-5;10. I understood these verses were speaking to the state of our relationship—or lack thereof, with Jesus. As I read, I immediately grasped Holy Spirit’s Words “Be Ready” to mean the one thing that separated these wise and foolish virgins had been their state of readiness. Sure, all ten had closed their eyes in the natural. Weariness had set in. The lateness of the hour had caught up with them all. I can relate, can’t you? Yet the five wise virgins had come prepared. Having with them everything they’d need to keep their lamps lit in the event the bridegroom was somehow delayed.

And so, the moment the Shofar blew, announcing the bridegroom’s arrival, the extra jar of oil they’d carried along with them was at the ready. Trimming their lamp’s wick, these five wise virgins were up on their feet, lamps ablaze, and following close behind the bridegroom the moment he appeared. These wise virgins represent those who sit daily at the feet of Jesus, drinking in His Word, His presence—filling up their lamps and their jars both. They always want more and more of Him. Offering up their bodies, living sacrifices, pouring out their very lives to Him again and again, their honor. Hearts postured before their Bridegroom as John the Baptist’s once was, in humility and deference, in love. “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less” –John 3:30. And yet, like John, while these wise ones wait and keep watch, they are not idle; they continue to work while it is still day, putting hands and feet to their faith if you will, “He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was stranger and you took Me in” –Matthew 25:34.

These five wise ones represent those who know, in the very marrow of their bones, in their heart of hearts, as Peter did, as John did, only Jesus matters in this life. His will and plan—no distractions. In this world, there’s only Jesus and service to Him. Pointing everyone they know to Him. Living flat out, sold out, forsaking all else for Him—”no turning back” as the song so aptly directs us. “Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You [alone] have the words of eternal life [you are our only hope]” –John 6:68.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you” –Matthew 28:19-20.

Sadly, the five foolish virgins in our parable knew only enough of Jesus, gave only enough of themselves to Jesus and to those around them to keep the meager, barely alive flame on their wick, burning. Maybe it was distractions that overtook them? Selfishness, laziness, the cares of this world, or pride, perhaps? It could be they were so chuck full of religion—of knowing their Bible inside and out, there was no room left within to nurture a passionate and lasting relationship with its Author? They had no reserve from which to pour, no Resource to store from no ember to fan into flame. They had nothing available to them to burn when what little fire they did possess was dying out. These foolish virgins are much like that soil described by Jesus in Mark, Chapter 4. “But they don’t develop any roots. They last for a short time. When suffering or persecution comes along because of the Word, they immediately fall [from faith]” –Mark 4:17.

One commentator expresses it this way: Jesus explains that the ground represents a shallow person who quickly accepts the gospel and seems to grow in faith very quickly. But their character is weak. They can’t absorb the spiritual truths they need to grow in faith. And so they “fall away.” To “fall away” doesn’t just mean to reject the gospel; it means to return to a life of sin. The parable of the bridesmaids serves as a call to self-examination. Are our priorities aligned with God’s priorities, or are we so distracted with secondary concerns that we risk missing what is most important — Jesus. And our living for Him?

And to these foolish ones who have neither time nor inclination to prepare for or pursue Jesus now, He speaks in such a way that makes the very blood of the wise run cold: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord …’ Then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers” –Matthew 7: 21-23.

I thank God for His unfathomable mercy. Knowing, trusting, that while there is still breath in our lungs, there is hope. Why am I thankful? Because of family members and some friends who have yet to accept Jesus as Lord—because of you too, friend, if you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus. Please, if this is you, don’t allow another moment to pass before asking Jesus to come into your heart. Repent of your sins, we all have them, and let Jesus do what only He can. Wash you completely clean of everything you’ve ever done, filling your lamp and jar to overflowing by placing His Holy Spirit within you, your assurance that you’ll not run out of oil. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour” –Matthew 25:13.

Face it, Afraid.

August 14, 2021 / ministermaryellen@gmail.com

I found myself on the shoreline of the most beautiful beach I’d ever seen; one might call it by happy accident. With only one way in and one way out, you’d never know this beautiful beach was even there except fate lead you, as it did me, and, once discovered, it was truly a sight to behold. Encircling the steep shoreline were cliffs that hold back an ocean that seemed to come alive as the wonder of what lies beneath its surface beckons onlookers. Copper sand sifted between my toes while my curiosity led me down the steep coastline that continued to descend rapidly into the water, a swimmer’s dream. With its splintered walls and four decaying posts, a hut stood not too far in front of me. It served as a resting spot for tired surfers and swimmers. “There is no way that thing is safe,” I thought as I observed the veteran swimmers hop up onto its deck. I could sense the power of the ocean as its banks tried their best to hold all that power back just long enough for me to be able to absorb the beauty before me. But the feeble ability of the shoreline proved no match for the powerful might of the ocean. So, its efforts at holding back the more sea didn’t last awfully long.

The receding water was the ocean’s way of communicating that trouble was on the way, or so I thought. I sensed impending doom. A tsunami-type wave was approaching. Panicking, I RAN to try and get everyone to safety. To hurry them out towards the only tiny opening available for everyone to escape through. This once beautiful oasis quickly became my nightmare. And yet, no one else seemed phased by this enormous wave that was mounting up higher now than my eyes could see over. Then, just as that terrifying wave crashed, I woke up, heart pounding, gasping for air!

In my dreams, I found myself on this beach several more times. Each time I wondered what my being there meant. On one such night, I pushed the limits of my fear and feelings of doom and just stood on the shoreline. And this time, like everyone else in the dream, I didn’t move when the wave finally came. Yet the anxiety that stood with me in my dream felt as powerful as that tsunami-wave had looked, and it told me it had come to take me away. And just as I braced for its crash, nothing. Nothing happened to me. The wave crashed, and it didn’t take me out. It didn’t destroy the hut, and everyone else just continued with their day.

The once anxiety-inducing tsunami, which had become a regular occurrence in my dreams, lost its power once I faced it afraid.

I’ve shared this dream in-depth with you because it marked me. Since I was a child, I have found comfort in the Bible stories of Joseph of Samuel. If you read their stories, the former proves that God can speak to us in dreams, and the latter proves that His voice is not partial to adults. Yes, even children can hear His voice, just as young Samuel did in the Old Testament. Like Joseph, I believe God was teaching me something about bravery in my dream.

Anxiety can often feel as real, terrifying, and overwhelming, inescapable, and larger than life, as that wave in my dream felt to me. But alas, God is not surprised by our anxiety or stress. He is aware of this very human condition and gives us guidance on how to handle it—with Him. In Joshua, we find a young man who has suddenly been raised to power in the wake of his predecessor, Moses, death. God is about to lead His people (the Israelites) into the land He promised to them. But before Joshua can get his men ready for battle, the Lord God gives him explicit instructions and a directive: Be “strong and courageous.” In fact, God gives Joshua this same directive three times within Joshua, Chapter One. God knew that this would be a high anxiety situation for him. Any human heading into battle, weighing victory or defeat, would be anxious imagining what lies ahead.

I imagine God knew Joshua’s mental state of mind required one of the greatest pep talks we see in the Old Testament. “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” -Joshua 1:7-9.

Culture tells us that we can’t help feeling anxious. We can’t do anything to help with our anxious thoughts. It tells us that we can’t control what we think or feel. But this verse says otherwise. Within it, God instructs Joshua to go against his anxious thoughts and feelings and choose strength and courage instead!

Now, I’m not saying we’ll never have moments of fear or anxiety, but I am saying this: God will always give us the power not to have live-in, stay stuck in our anxiety. Through His Word, He gives us the tools not to allow our emotions to cripple us. Instead, He empowers us to face our fears with courage and strength. It’s as if this passage is our “how-to” on living courageously.

Obedience is at the helm of God’s instruction.

After telling Joshua to be strong and courageous, the next thing God tells Joshua is to “obey all the law Moses gave” (v. 7). Remember, before his death, Moses, one of the most important prophets of all time, was Joshua’s mentor. The laws that Moses passed on were given to him directly from God himself. So when God tells Joshua to obey Moses’ law, God is, in fact, telling Joshua to obey His law. There is order. God didn’t give Joshua a new set of laws; He told him to honor what had already been set before him. Furthermore, God tells Joshua not to “turn to the left or the right” (v. 7), speaking of having a singular focus. If Joshua had allowed the many voices that I’m sure were clamoring for his attention to distract him, he wouldn’t have been able to fix his focus on God and was He was speaking to him. So what is the takeaway? First, we must obey the Word of the Lord. Not looking to the right or left, we must focus solely on Him, honoring His commands.

The next thing outlined in this passage; we find in verse 8. God reiterates His first point: “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” In this world riddled with distraction, it is easy to forget what the Truth is. We hear numerous self-affirmations, motivational speakers’ thoughts and ideas, and good vibes sayings, and we almost believe those things to be the truth. Yet so much of what the world says is true does not align with God’s perfect Truth. To give one example, how many times do we hear, “do what makes you feel good?” But the Bible says this regarding the world’s truth: “the heart is deceitful above all things” -Jeremiah 17:9. This Truth is just one of the many such examples found in Scripture concerning our feelings. Yet, in this one verse, we learn that although something may “feel good,” that doesn’t always mean it’s the right thing to do. Truth is found only in God’s Word. So if you are searching for The Truth, not others’ opinions or some feel-good message, spend time learning the Truth found in the Word of God. Listen to Godly podcasts and read books that will help you to grow in your faith.

Spend time in prayer. It is there, and only there, where God promises you will be prosperous and successful.

Finally, God seals this segment by promising Joshua His presence. He’s not giving Joshua an ultimatum in it by saying, “only if you’re not afraid, will I be with you,” or “don’t be afraid, or else I won’t be with you.” I understand this instead to be a comforting saying, “I’m with you; therefore, you have nothing to be afraid of.”

When I was younger, the house I lived in with my parents was located within the woods. I was so afraid of the dark. I would not go outside by myself under any circumstance. Yet, whenever my dad was with me, my story changed. I had nothing to be afraid of if dad were with me because I knew he would take care of anything that might attack or harm me. I think this is the same sense of security that God was trying to instill in Joshua. God gives Joshua his instructions, and then God rewards Joshua’s obedience with His presence. A presence that did not and does not fail—any of us.

Maybe you’re in a place where you feel you can’t face the waves of anxiety that are coming at you in life. Yet if you’d dare to stand on the shore and allow yourself the experience that the wave won’t kill you, after all, you’d find that fear truly doesn’t have to own you. Maybe you’re like Joshua, and you need to be reminded several times over to be strong and courageous in your present circumstance? Whatever it is, the apostle Paul reminds you to “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” -Philippians 4:6.

So if you’re anxious or fearful today, I encourage you to respond to your fear with prayer. Respond by reading and meditating on the Word of God. Start by surrendering your heart, whether for the first or the hundredth time and humble yourself before God. Repent of your sins. Ask God for His forgiveness and that He leads you in His ways. Pray these verses to God. And as you dedicate time to learn His Word and commands, He will bless and prosper your faith. I pray your heart’s desire is for God to be with you all the days of your life. I pray that you find the courage to face your wave and fulfill the God-given purpose you were created to, even if it means you do it afraid.

And, if you have not yet asked Jesus into your heart and life as Lord and Savior, please “be strong and courageous ” and do it now. The same promises God made Joshua can be yours today. Why wait another day?

That’s It. One More Step Now.

July 31, 2021 / ministermaryellen@gmail.com

“Let us seize and hold tightly the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is reliable and trustworthy and faithful [to His word]” –Hebrews 10:23.

A brief recap: Back in January of this year, our church entered a 21-day corporate fast. Our pastors chose several leaders to oversee online mid-week prayer groups to encourage those who would join us in this fast. I had the great privilege of being selected as one of those leaders. I share this tidbit of history only to offer you a glimpse into some understanding of the heart and genesis of this teaching. And because last night was our final night of gathering as said prayer group.

In this season, at least, it was our final night to link arms, storming the gates of heaven, lifting up the needs and requests of the Body, covering our pastors and leaders, our teams, families, and encouraging each other to keep on going. To keep pressing into all that God has for us, come what may. Regardless of the times, the persecution, the rejection, the naysayers, or ridicule that comes our way, resulting from our faith in Jesus. To say that our hearts have been knit together in Christ as a result of these many months of praying and pressing in would be an understatement.

This teaching is the full version of the bite-sized bit of reminding and encouragement the Lord had me share with my church family on our last bitter-sweet night together. So, now that you’re all caught up, we can jump right in!

I pray this teaching blesses and encourages you.

What I was given to share with the group came out of John 17. As I said, Jesus’ “Farewell Prayer.” His High Priestly Prayer: what He prayed for the friends who had walked alongside Him during His earthy ministry—and, what He prayed for us, His Church. Those of us He has called to leave our proverbial nets behind us, pick up our cross and follow Him—as decidedly as Peter, Andrew, James, and John once did.

But before I get into the thick of this message, you may be asking why I used Hebrews as the Scripture verse if this teaching was taken from John 17? My answer? This verse in Hebrews is a confirmation. A witness to what Jesus prayed in John 17. It reminds us, fortifies within us, points us towards the surety and hope found within Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer. In essence, it’s another layer of Truth and hope.

Jesus’ prayer exposes some of what is hidden within His heart sometime before He broke bread with His friends, one last time; before He would take Peter, James and John, the sons of thunder, with Him to pray in Gethsemane’s Garden, one final time. Before, Jesus was beaten beyond recognition and unjustly condemned to die a criminal’s death having been nailed to a tree.

With its rich tones of unplumbed and eternal reverence, deep, abiding love, and a submissive foreknowledge, Jesus lifts His prayer, this confirmation, this eternal Truth, His request up before our Father. An aside: I wonder if Jesus had prayed this prayer, or something like it, on one of the many occasions when He would go off to some quiet place to pray and spend time with the Father? But that rabbit hole is for another day.

The heartbeat of this High Priestly prayer is Jesus’ Pure, sacrificial Love. Jesus is God’s guarantee to us that what binds us to Him can never be broken. “…Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals” –Revelation 5:2-5.

This prayer is saturated in encouragement, full of promise and hope. And who doesn’t need the hope only Jesus offers to just pour over them, their family and ministry, their every dry and trembling place right now!

This prayer drips earnestly off Jesus’ tongue, drops lovingly, intentionally, into our parched places—breaking open the dry and barren places in our hearts. New hope then, a renewed exuberance is restored, made fresh. Bursting forth from us as sure and readily as closed-up bud’s spring open after the rains.

In His Sovereignty, Christ knows not only what we need but precisely when and where we need it.

So, as you read this, be re-minded that this same High Priest is interceding for you still—and always. And, be re-minded too, of the Life-giving, Resurrecting, Transforming Power of the Holy One who has taken up residence within your fragile, human frame—if, you have made Jesus the Lord of your life.

Hear and be encouraged then by what “Thus says the Lord” concerning you.

In John 17:6, we hear Jesus re-minding us that we have always been His. In Him, even as He is in the Father. “I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word.”

You were in Jesus as He stood over the dark void speaking suns and moons, plants, and planets into existence. As He separated one thing from another, you and I were in Him. A mystery far too great for this writer’s finite mind to take in. Yet how grateful I am to serve a God I cannot fully take in! We hear Paul echoing this Truth back to us in Ephesians 1:4-5. Listen: “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.”

And in verse 12, Jesus re-minds us that we are protected and guarded in Him—by Him. Nothing can come to us, no accident or harm, no sickness, or loss, no “painful” thing, can touch our lives without Jesus’ permission. “You speak as a foolish woman speaks,” he told her. “Should we accept only good from God and not adversity?” Throughout all this Job did not sin in what he said” –Job 2:10.

This is a hard Truth. But it is Truth, nevertheless. “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger” –Job 1:9-12.

Because you belong to the Living God, you will suffer in this world. Jesus Himself assured us of this. But He also re-mind us to have courage, stand firm, rejoice, be strong, and courageous when all manner of evil comes against us because you are His; He has overcome this world. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” –John 16:33.

We also hear Jesus re-mind us that we have been chosen and created to live holy lives. “Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth” –John 17:17-18. Once again, Paul echoes this same Truth in 2 Corinthians 7:1. “Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”

To say the world we live in is divided would be a gross understatement. Yet in verse 21, we hear Jesus re-mind His children to live in unity—in oneness. We are God’s living Epistles. What kind of a message would we share with a lost and dying world if we act as disjointed and divided as it does? Hear Jesus’ heart for us: “I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.” And I’ll turn to Paul yet again to help solidify this Truth in our hearts, “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification” –Romans 14:19.

In 1 Corinthians 13:12, Paul tells us that now we see in part, but soon and very soon, we’ll see fully and clearly. “Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” We have Jesus’ assurance that those who are His will one day be with Him eternally. Jesus wants us for Himself. We are His Bride. He bought and paid for us with His Spotless Blood. “Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!” –verse 24.

This is your destiny, Beloved of God. To be where Jesus is, with Him, singing His praise, drinking in His beauty, His Majesty, eternally.

It’s getting darker by the day, friends. The Restrainer is pulling His hand back. Rejection and persecution are amping up in ways we’ve not witnessed in our lifetime. Church doors are closing daily, and the chaotic, confusing messages of the world are getting louder and louder. Wars and rumors of wars. Gender confusion. Plagues and masks, fear and isolation. Economic instability and social unrest—it all sounds like something out of a bad novel. Yet Jesus re-minds us in His Word not to be surprised by all these things we’re witnessing. Not to lose hope because of what we see happening around us. These things must happen. Instead, look up! Take courage and rejoice because your redemption, your long-awaited desire to see Jesus face-to-face, is about to be fulfilled!

Keep your lamps filled, child of God!

But until then, brothers and sisters, until He comes for us, keep loving each other—your neighbor as yourself. And don’t stop showing hospitality to those around you—give and give and give some more; you can never out-give God. Pray—always, for your loved ones, for that one in prison, and those behind bars. Pray for the one the Holy Spirit is calling in these final hours and minutes. Pray for yourself. Repent of your sins and turn to the only one who can save you. Jesus Christ. Eternity is a long time to have gotten it all wrong. So if you have yet to ask this Jesus into your heart and life as Lord and Savior, allow me to share this final reminder with you. “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”—John 14:6.

Please, ask Jesus into your heart today. We are not promised tomorrow. This is not a scare tactic, friend; it is the Truth spoken in love. Listen! You who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this city and stay a year and make money.” You do not know about tomorrow. What is your life? It is like fog. You see it and soon it is gone” –James 4:13-14.

Sacred Spaces.

July 17, 2021 / ministermaryellen@gmail.com

“God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us” –Acts 17:27.

“For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you. “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else” –Acts 17:23-25.

I love God’s written Word. It reveals His character and His kindness to Me. It has the power to remove scales from my eyes, and it softens areas in my heart I never even knew existed. God’s Living Word enables me to drink deeply and often from the very Source of my life.

I love meeting God in His Word, discovering Him there, being drawn into the very depths of Him.

Understanding His Justice and being ever thankful for the laws He gave, all that I might live free, safe, and protected. He is a Loving, intimate, deeply caring Father. A Father who, according to His Word, so loved me, so wanted to ensure that nothing, here and now, nor in eternity, ever separated us, that He gave His only Son in exchange for me, to demonstrate the depth of that love. He then placed His Holy Spirit in me, into this clay vessel, as surely as if He had slipped an engagement ring on my finger. Because He did, He has—I Am my Beloveds, and He is mine. “But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!” –Romans 5:8.

And yet, I also love those Kairos moments when I’m lost in Him.

When God sends His Spirit to enliven that one Word or sentence, when eternity lays exposed for the briefest of seconds, opening my understanding and forever changing me. These moments leave in their wake some intuitive understanding that I’ve just been given a most precious gift. A Pearl of Great Value. Some intimate “knowing” of Him. And all because I serve this Beautiful, Wonder-filled, personal God who loves me and desires that I know Him through His Word and His Spirit both. Relationally—Spirit and Truth, One.

My God, our Father, desires for us, all of us, to want Him, long to be with Him; He wants us to seek His face, look deeply into His eyes as only lovers do, and to witness the unplumbed depth of Him—to be one with Him. And no, I am by no means suggesting that a Pure and Holy God relates to us sexually. But what I am saying is this. The highest form of oneness expressed via human intimacy is between man and wife. And so, our God deigns to bend down to our level and use a language that will leave no doubt in our minds as to the depth of the connection He seeks with us, His beloved. The Song of Solomon is replete with such language and imagery. Solomon penned his love letter to his betrothed, the Shulamite woman. It foreshadows the intimate connection, the sacred love bond between Christ, our King, and His beloved bride. Listen to the bride’s heart-cry to her beloved: “Take me away with you—let us hurry! Let the king bring me into his chambers” –Song of Songs 1:4

Jesus Himself shared this Truth of the Father’s desire for such intimate connection with a Samaritan woman while talking with her near a well. A Truth as radical, liberating, as tradition-shaking, chain-breaking, and ceiling-raising as He Himself was when He walked amongst us—as He is, still. “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth” –John 4:23-24.

Friends, our God doesn’t parcel Himself out to us. A wink here, a nod there. No, He is an exceedingly, abundantly, more than we can ever think or image, God. A God who still desires you and me. To be with us—Emmanuel, and to be seen by us. And though no longer with us in the flesh, now He openly shows Himself daily, through His creation. That we might catch some glimpse of His love and tender care for us through what He has created for us—wooing us to fall more and more in love with Him because of our seeing Him ever before us. “Of old You founded the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. “Even they will perish, but You endure; And all of them will wear out like a garment; Like clothing You will change them and they will be changed. “But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end” –Psalm 102:25-27.

“Sacred Spaces.” These two words have been stirring in my belly for the past several weeks now. These places God has created, carved out, that He might transcend time and space as we under it and intimately unveil Himself, show some aspect of Himself, His favor or will, His goodness, mercy, or great love, some personal attribute of His, to you and me. Imagine! Yet this awareness of sacred spaces isn’t new to me; only God has enlivened it, breathed on it, allowing me to see afresh, something I have been aware of for many years. I’ll explain.

From the beginning, literally, in Genesis 2, verse 8, we witness God create a sacred space to fellowship with His children, His beloved. A place to meet with them, sharing, displaying the many facets of Himself that they might witness Him, and drink Him in. Creator God. Abba God. God, our Provider. The Omniscient and Omnipotent God. A Tender, Merciful, Loving Father. The Sole Giver of every good and perfect gift. Supreme Artist and Author. A Jealous Lover of His own, to name but a few. And because of who He is, has proven Himself, shown Himself to be from the beginning. From somewhere back before, He stood over the dark void when He chose me in Himself before the very foundation of the world has even lain. Faithful and True, time and time and time again; I stand firmly on, and take deep comfort in, the Truth found in Matthew 28:20: “…surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age”.

Knowing this Truth, believing it, assures me that contrary to how I may feel on any given day, my ability to sense Abba’s nearness, or not, God is nevertheless closer to me than my own breath.

Still, there are moments and places where, whether for seconds or minutes, maybe hours sometime, God pulls back the veil, and His palpable presence surrounds me—is undeniably with me. And, because of His being “with me,” all else melts away, is melting away still—especially time. I wonder if Adam and Eve ever felt this way when God walked with them in the cool of the day?

So, whenever I am blessed to catch the sunlight settling on some leaf, setting it ablaze, transforming its everydayness into something fiery, glowing, and alive. Or when the full weight of the sun gives itself over to the surface of the water, and a trillion sparkling tiny diamonds bursting forth because of that union. Or when the branches dance just so with the wind. When the morning birdsong fills the air swirling about my backyard, or when I float on my back in the sea, imagining it is God’s own hands, not buoyant force, at work cradling me—upholding me. When the intoxicating fragrance of some flower awakens something in me, allowing me to catch some watered-down heavenly scent of the prayers of the saints that have clung to Him as He passed before me. Sacred spaces each of these; places where God dropped a ladder from heaven to earth, and, in so doing, the things of heaven mingled with earth for one sacred moment, transforming everything in its wake. I know I have witnessed some aspect of my Jesus in those moments.

I know my God has revealed Himself to me in the way only dear and trusted friends do with each other, drawing me ever deeper into Himself as a result. “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known” –Jeremiah 33:3.

So let me ask you: “Has the Lord been in your midst, wooing you, loving you, calling out for you to come and sit awhile with Him? Has He carved out some sacred space for the two of you to meet, and, like Adam and Eve maybe, you hid from His nearness?” Feared coming too close to His Beauty, His passion for you—His presence? If so, you’re in good company. Moses feared meeting the Lord face to face too. Yet before you turn away entirely, consider this, please. The very God that created you wants you, all for Himself! And He wants you to have an eternal, loving, and wide-open relationship with Him.

Lorraine Espenhain says this concerning God’s wanting us for Himself: How swift was Heaven’s intervention in the day His jealousy was aroused, when He saw you loving, needing, trusting, desiring, enjoying, and reaching out for something other than Him! From His temple He saw you giving to another what solely belonged to Him, and His jealousy was ignited in Heaven. Said scripturally: “I belong to my beloved, and his desire is for me” –Song of Solomon 7:10.

How awesome and humbling it is to know that our God loves us with such a fierce, intimate, and passionate love. That He created—creates still, these sacred spaces, these transformational moments in time when His Holy Spirit overshadows us—Mary-like, enabling us to conceive of Him—some part of Him alive in us! The impossible made possible. A miracle for sure. God allowing mere men to take inside of themself their Creator! Who but God could make such a thing happen! To enable finite man to take into himself the Divine. The Apostle Paul said it this way: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” –1 Corinthians 4:7. And who but God could weave together the 66 books of the Bible, threading the 39 books of the Old Testament seamlessly into the 27 books of the New Testament?

Dear friend, if you’ve yet to experience this kind of love, this God who so loved you that He made sure you’d be reading this today so that you might ask Him to show Himself real to you right now. He’s patiently waiting just for you. His creation leaves us without excuse on that day; every man will stand before the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. So won’t you come to Him now? “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge” –Psalm 19:1-2.

Living In The End Times.

July 3, 2021 / ministermaryellen@gmail.com

“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled, for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places” –Matthew 24:6.

Are we living in the end times? Have current events signaled a push closer to the second coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ?

Worldwide, and within the Christian community, surely, these questions are being asked now, more than at any other time in recent history. One cause: the swiftness with which global events are moving, causing even some of those who are not followers of Jesus Christ to question their lingering unbelief and skepticism. Questions once thought unrealistic seem somehow less farfetched, worthy of a closer look. The COVID-19 pandemic caused many unanticipated shifts in life as we knew it, especially within our workplaces, homes, and our connections to friends and loved ones. Sadly, church attendance declined due to many churches having closed their doors—social gathering restrictions having played some part in this. Yet, one positive that did emerge is how many people bought a bible. Several news outlets shared that Bible publishers noticed a spike in Bible sales during the pandemic. They attributed this is to people seeking comfort—searching for peace, hope, and healing, in a Savior that is close to the suffering and broken-hearted; amid chaos and uncertainty, they longed to find meaning and experience a connection with God.

Unquestionably, this past year was a season plagued by spirits of fear, division, confusion, distrust, and lawlessness. Added to this were the unprecedented political tensions; it was evident something within our world had shifted; indeed, an awakening of some sorts, felt by almost everyone.

Circling back to the original question – are we living in the end times? My opinion? Yes, we are. Scripturally speaking, we have been since Jesus ascended back to the Father. And, yet, while we certainly shouldn’t attempt to predict the day of His return nor interpret every earthquake or other natural disaster as signs of the end, physical and political evidence nevertheless continues to point towards the fulfillment of many of the end-time prophecies. For instance, one that jumps to mind tells us this: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good…lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” –2 Timothy 3:1-5.

We’re there, people! We’re living in that age where being “lovers of self” is witnessed daily in the barrage of self-portraits, coined “selfies,” being splashed across most social media platforms. Their purpose? Self-validation perhaps? Empowerment? Insecurity assuaged by/ grounded in likes and followers, maybe? We’re indeed living in an age where those who “blaspheme” what God calls holy and seemingly take pride in or promote the very pleasures that mock and grieve the heart of God. We’re living in that age where the objective, solid, immovable Truth of the Word of God has become subjective somehow, second to how a person feels, their perspectives, and opinions. The Bible clearly foretold of this generation, listen: “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” –2 Timothy 4:3-4.

In one sense, we see these things arise due to New Age followers—those who promote many gods and the paths to them, themselves included. In a considerable number of people rebelling against God. Evidenced in a society that has all but thrown God, and His commandments, out of the public square. It’s challenging for some of us to grapple with the notion that we live in such a critical time in history, more so as the days grow darker and evil seemingly prevails. Yet the question I continue to ask myself is this:

“As a Christian, how does Jesus command me to live my life in the face of those who so vehemently oppose my Christian values?”

I ask this question with great seriousness as many in the world continue to voice their dislike/dare I say, disdain of Christians and Christian values. Values such as marriage being solely between one man and one woman. The sanctity of the unborn human life, or sexual purity before marriage, to mention but a few. Or that God created us male and female, period. In such a world, then, is it any wonder that God’s transformative, powerful Word, His Truth, is somehow heard or wrongly carries with it the sting of hate speech? Yet concerning our remaining faithful to God’s Word, regardless of the social climate in which we might find ourselves, the Bible reminds us of this powerful Truth. “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they would persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they would obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.” –John 15: 18-21.

Jesus makes it starkly plain that as His followers, we’ll be hated. Equally, however, the Bible also makes clear how we are to live while we wait. How we must respond to those who do not believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. And the signs we must watch for that will signal Jesus’ return for His Church.

Over the past two years, I’ve experienced some uncomfortable and tense conversations with close friends, family, and work colleagues who have either questioned or attacked my Christian faith. I reminded them that while Christian values may seem countercultural to those who don’t share them, the Word of God is nevertheless solid, unchanging, and Truth-full regarding these values. I also reminded them of another Truth found in Scripture, my Truth: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” –Galatians 2:20. Moreover, while my faith demands that I defend and live out the Truth of Christ, my Savior, I’m also called to model Jesus—how He loved, lived, and served others.

That said, I’ll share two biblical Truths that may help us as believers live with and respond to those who may not believe or live their lives as we do: Firstly, we must Love the unbeliever. When I was an unbeliever, I didn’t see much of an issue with fornicating, getting drunk, and cursing here and there. I was once lost in the crowds, helpless without a shepherd, and it was Jesus that saved me from my distress, brought me out of darkness, and broke me free from the chains that had me bound. I, too, falsely believed that I would be right with God if I treated others well. After all, I was a good person, yet the Bible says, “There is none good but One, that is, God” –Mark 10:18. And after accepting Jesus Christ into my life, I soon discovered that one of the devil’s biggest lies is that following Christ is synonymous with missing out on what others are doing “out in the world.” When in fact, it was indeed my encounter and experience of God’s Love for me that had awakened my heart and opened my eyes to see that I was being deceived.

Therefore, we must…

1). Pray for those who have yet to accept Jesus into their hearts. On the cross, “Jesus said, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” –Luke 23:34. Similarly, Jesus prayed for those who persecuted Him; as followers of Jesus Christ, we must do the same. Again, Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” –Matthew 5: 43-48. Praying for someone you’d instead retaliate against is easier said than done, yet the Holy Spirit reminds us of and empowers us to love them. Why Love? Because only God’s Love is powerful enough to transform the hearts and minds of those who hate us.

2). We must be mindful that unbelievers need a Pure Love only Jesus can offer; God uses us certainly, but only His Love rescues a soul from sin and death. It should never surprise us, then, that sinners will sin. We need only remember how we lived before Christ came into our lives. Remember that the Bible reminds us: “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” –2 Corinthians 4:4. Their hearts have yet to be softened to the things of God. “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” –Romans 3:18. They are blind. As followers of Christ, we ought to pray that they begin to have a distaste for the things of this world. Pray that they start to see their need for a Savior. That, as it says in Ezekiel 36:26, “their hearts of stone are replaced with a heart of flesh.” Yet being ever mindful of the Truth found in Ephesians 6:12. “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood because it’s against spiritual forces and the power of evil.”

Friends, the Bible says, “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold” –Matthew 24:12.

The spiritual temperature of many has grown cold. As believers, however, we ought to be burning hot. “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” –Luke 24:32. We should be burning hot for the things of Jesus, interceding for others, overcoming evil with good, and sharing the good news with the lost; John 3:36 says, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” Those who do not accept Jesus Christ as their Savior will remain under the Lord’s wrath.” As Christians, regardless of how the world grows in their distaste or hostility concerning biblical values, we ought to be the most hope-filled and joyous people around because we know how the story ends – God wins! Rather than living in fear or outrage, we ought to love others with all we have in us and seek every opportunity to be kind. The Apostle Paul shares this reminder: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience… encourage one another and build each other up… Be kind to one another” –Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Ephesians 4:32.

The end is swiftly advancing. Yet the fantastic news is that you still have time to choose eternal life, to choose Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. You can do nothing to earn His grace; Jesus has paid the price for you. “Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins” –Romans 3:24.

God desires to have a relationship with you, personally. All you must do is accept, by faith, the gift of God’s grace. I hope and pray that together, we’ll be ready for the Lord’s return, which will come soon and very soon! “But understand this: If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. For this reason, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect” –Matthew 24:43-44.

Category: Teachings From The Word… (Page 10 of 16)

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Living Prepared, Part 2.

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Face it, Afraid.

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That’s It. One More Step Now.

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Sacred Spaces.

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Living In The End Times.

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