06/10/13

United and Set Afire

United and Set Afire
by James Robison

 

If I was the pastor of a church, I would encourage my people to build a charcoal fire until they were successful. Not with self-lighting charcoal, but the kind you have to soak and light.

 

One winter a friend of mine went out to build a charcoal fire and couldn’t get it lit. I went out and saw that the charcoal was scattered all over the grill, one little layer of charcoal. He was dousing it with the lighter fluid and putting a match to it. It would flare up and burn off, leaving him with dead, black charcoal.

 

Well, I had done this before and knew his approach wouldn’t work. I raked the chunks of charcoal into a little pile with my hands. Some of the briquettes trickled off and rolled down the side, but I meticulously picked up each one until I had a nice pyramid. As I was doing this, dirtying my hands as I worked so diligently to stack them, it was as though God Himself began chuckling at me.

 

“What are you doing?” I heard Him ask.

 

“I’m stacking this charcoal,” I said. “It won’t light unless you get it all together where each briquette is touching others. That’s what I’m doing, Lord.”
“Isn’t that something?” He said. “Why don’t you preachers learn to do that with my people?”

 

God said, “My people are scattered all over the earth, accusing and avoiding one other, seldom touching each other, and preachers are running around trying to soak them in the oil of the Holy Spirit. You just soak them and soak them and soak them, then wonder why they don’t get on fire.”

 

He said, “My son already prayed for unity: that you may be one as We are one. A new commandment He gave you ‘that you love one another even as We love one another’ and become ‘perfected in unity.’ And by this the world will know you’re My disciples – not Baptist, not Pentecostal, not Catholic, or anything else. My disciples, connected to one another and submitted to the Head – the Lord Jesus.”

 

Then God said, “You can soak them in teaching and soak them in the Holy Spirit, but until my people agree to come together, truly seeking to preserve the unity of the spirit into which they were born in Christ in a bond of peace, you need not expect Me to light the fire. Let My people come together with this purpose: seeking Me as they did at Pentecost, and I’ll light their fire. That’s what I want to see.”

 

I’m committed to that. May we all learn to love each other as Christ loves the church, so we can be a bright light in our dark world.

 

Adapted from James Robison’s 1984 message on unity

 

Charlene’s Source:  LifeToday : Words of Life

06/5/13

1 Thessalonians 5: The Day of The LORD

1 Thessalonians 5

 

New International Version (NIV)

 

 

The Day of the Lord

 

 

5 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

 

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

 

 

Final Instructions

 

 

12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

 

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

 

19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil.

 

23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

 

25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us. 26 Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.

 

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

 

 

       In a time in which we struggle to maintain our identity in the Faith, it is so rewarding to read this scriptural passage. It is an affirmation of who we are and can be in Christ. There is no room for wavering right nor left; there is only room for commitment to He who will come back for His Bride the Church. Let us all be diligent to The Word and all that He stands for.  We must be prepared for His coming much like the bride prepares for her groom with attention to detail and sincerity of purpose. Let us not be found wanting; ill-equipped for the tasks at hand. We work to further the Kingdom until the Day of His Coming. Then we will gain our rest and reward.

 

Charlene

 

New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide


05/27/13

Hebrews 10: Christ’s Sacrifice Once For All

 

Hebrews 10: Christ’s Sacrifice Once For All

 

          Sacrifice is hard, and it is not a part of the natural ways of mankind. As people, we tend to prefer the easier roads to travel, and sacrifice involves traveling the hardest roads without knowing where they may lead, just having a surety that the way will be hard. So how do we obtain the surety that our sacrifice is not in vain? We find it in clinging to Christ, the ultimate Gift of Sacrifice, where we find our joy and stability. It is through His Holy Spirit that we find the key to happiness–living for Him as our sole source of hope and strength. GOD the Father knew before the beginning of time that we would need a Savior, and Jesus, the son of GOD, volunteered to become the sacrificial lamb. Our sins can be forgiven; our hope can be restored.

Is life easy. Absolutely not. People often envy those who appear to have it all, but this is appearance only. Happiness evades those who are dependent upon the world for their identity and substance. Let us cling therefore to Him who is our everything, our identity, and our substance.

 

Praise Ye The LORD.     Charlene

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2013 Charlene Kirst
05/23/13

Demolishing Doubt by Randy Robison

We all doubt God at some point. In his brilliant apologetic book How Can I Know? Dr. Robert Jeffress tackles the five basic forms of doubt: natural, philosophical, experiential, spiritual, and empirical. He exposes the most common reasons for doubt, including suffering, betrayal, human intellect, and fear, then offers evidence that God exists and that Jesus Christ is who He claimed to be.

 

It’s easy to condemn the doubt of others or feel guilt about our own questions. But the Bible offers some encouragement on these two points. First, in the brief epistle of Jude, it says “have mercy on some, who are doubting” (verse 22). There is a difference between those who are hostile towards God and those who are struggling to believe. Certainly there are those who will never believe, but part of discipleship is encouraging those who are weak in their faith. We do not determine who will and will not come to Christ, so we should all maintain the attitude of 2 Peter 3:9, “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” This is not a position of passivity or weakness. It is a reminder that people are to be saved while ungodly ideas are to be demolished. Paul said, “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God” (2 Corinthians 10:5a). We rescue the lost by shining the light of God’s truth through our words and actions.

 

 

When it comes to our own doubt, we must realize that it does take some faith on our part to really know God. It may be as tiny as a “mustard seed,” but at some point we must make the choice to believe the fundamental truths in Scripture. One such truth is this: “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1:5-6).

 

 

This is not a contradiction. We don’t overcome our doubt by pretending it does not exist. Instead, this is a promise. When we take the initiative to believe God’s word and ask Him for wisdom, He promises to show up in our lives. It’s a bit like stepping onto a frozen pond, believing that it will hold you. Until you actually do it, you will never believe that you can skate.

 

So if you are struggling with doubt, ask God to show up in your life. Pester Him to show you His will. Read the Bible and implore the Holy Spirit to make it come alive. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Then your doubts will fade away as your faith becomes strong.

 

 

Dr. Robert Jeffress appears on LIFE TODAY May, 23, 2013, with Randy and James Robison.

 

Charlene’s Source:

LIFE Outreach International | P.O. Box 982000 | Fort Worth, TX 76182-8000

1-800-947-LIFE (5433) | WWW.LIFETODAY.ORG

05/21/13

May 21, 2013 Prayer For Oklahoma Victims and Victims World-wide

The tornadoes that have been devastating Oklahoma and surrounding states have caused immense devastation and loss of life. There are other places in the world that are also suffering. Many of the dead are innocent children. I ask for your prayers for all those  suffering and facing losses behind these natural disasters.  If possible, please find a charitable institution that will be a help in  giving aid to victims locally and worldwide.   Charlene

04/17/13

Words of Life: Unresolved Disappointment

Unresolved Disappointment

by Linda Godsey

 

I remember a time when someone disappointed me so deeply that I didn’t believe that life could ever be the same again. My heart also broke for others involved who were hurting that caused another whole level of pain. When I finally realized that I couldn’t physically or emotionally carry it any longer, I gave it to the Lord to carry it for me.

 

I was driving my car when a wave of emotion came over me that was overwhelming. I pulled to the side of the road, my body fell across the steering wheel of my car as I wept and cried out, “Jesus, help me! I am so disappointed – I bring that disappointment to you. I can’t carry it anymore!” And He took it, just as I asked him to. I felt the emotional pain lift from me and my body relaxed for the first time in days.

 

I’m sure you have experienced disappointment – we all have! Just as we have all experienced regrets that we wish we had the power to change. We’ve all thought, “If only” or “What if”.
Disappointment has been called the twin-sibling to regret. Regrets stem from our human nature to question the path our lives have taken because of the decisions we’ve made. Here is a helpful way to distinguish between regret and disappointment.

 

Regret focuses on the personal choices that contributed to the poor outcome.
Disappointment focuses on the outcome itself: such as failure, non-fulfillment, defeat or setback.

 

I challenge you to consider the “what ifs” and “If onlys” in your life? They will keep you stuck in the past until you deal with them. Does anything come to mind? Have you grieved those losses? Have you asked God to carry the pain? Have you asked God to show you how he sees your regret and disappointment? Jeremiah 33:3 says,“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”

 

Let God show you his heavenly panoramic perspective of what you are going through. I think you will be amazed!

 

Surely He has borne our grief and carried our sorrows (This represents both physical and emotional sickness and pain). Isaiah 53:4

 

Linda Godsey is the author of Letting Go

 

Charlene’s Source: LifeToday

 

Share This

04/2/13

Carman [High Praises] Lord of All, I’ve Made Up My Mind, Holy, Holy, Holy, They That Wait…, I’ve Been Delivered

As we continue to pray for Carman and his family–always remember that fervent, effectual prayer yields Godly results… All music credit to Carman Ministries    Charlene

Upload credit: thetamilianponnu+revscott06

Charlenes Source: youtube

03/5/13

I Met Truth at a Strip Mall

 

by Jim Munroe

 

The night before I went to the weird little church in the strip mall, I was out drinking on 6th street until 2 am. I wasn’t buzzed or tipsy, I was “passed-out-and-wake-up-in-Mexico” drunk. Luckily, I didn’t, and somehow, I managed to pull myself together, take a quick nap, hop in the shower, and jump in my truck.

 

I rolled into the back of the church with my hat pulled low, wearing my sunglasses. I didn’t want anyone to see my bloodshot eyes, and my hangover pounded away on the sides of my skull louder than the drum kit. The drummer, the lead singer, and the style of music were way different than anything I’d ever seen or heard in “church” before. They were African-American—this was a full-on Gospel music experience.

 

To say I was uncomfortable and out of my element would be a huge understatement … and yet … I stayed. I can’t explain it. I don’t understand why I didn’t find a reason to bail. Something was happening, but I knew too much to let it happen. I was a master of illusion, a psych major, keenly aware of the culture and psychological triggers ministers use to captivate their audience.

 

But it wasn’t about them. I was looking for something deeper. And suddenly, unexpectedly, miraculously, I found it.

 

Through the passion, the music, and the message, I experienced something new. It wasn’t a feeling. It wasn’t an emotion. It was more mysterious and profound. It was a supernatural connection, pulling at my heart.

 

My head couldn’t stop this. These weren’t facts that I was learning through the recesses of my mind. I don’t remember what was said. In that moment, the undeniable reality of God’s existence became so clear. He wasn’t a series of facts to be debated or researched. Truth wasn’t a set of right answers.

 

Truth was a person—and He and I met that morning.

 

I’ve never been the same since.

 

 
Excerpted from The Charlatan by Jim Munroe. ©2012 by Jim Munroe. Published by Inprov, Ltd. Used with permission.

 

Charlene’s Source:  LIFEToday with James Robison

 

 

Share This

01/25/13

Phillipians 4 Be Ye Steadfast in The Lord

     We all have needs in this life. They may vary from person to person; from family to family; from organization to organization–yet they are a motivating force. Where do we go when we have a need?  Jesus told us not to worry about provision–this in the hands of GOD. He is Jehovah Jireh, Yahweh-yireh, YHWH, “The LORD Will Provide”, and He always sees our needs as a priority.

 

 

Genesis 22:14

 

 

Paul the Apostle depended on The LORD to supply his needs, and he saw provision come his way out of the hearts of the people. In this time, when many expect the preacher to work without sufficient salary or provision, we are reminded that GOD will supply through the hands and hearts of those who understand Acts 6 verses one through four….

 

 

The Choosing of the Seven

 

 

6 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews[a] among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

 

Philippians 4

 

New International Version (NIV)

 

 

Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity

 

 

4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

 

I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

 

 

Final Exhortations

 

 

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 

 

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

 

 

Thanks for Their Gifts

 

 

10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

 

 

14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. 17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

 

 

20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 

 

Final Greetings

 

 

21 Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings. 22 All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.

 

23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.[a]

 

 

Footnotes:

 

 

  1. Philippians 4:23 Some manuscripts do not have Amen.

 

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

01/17/13

Back Against The Wall? There Is Hope in The WORD

Revised June 25th,2014

“For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body according to the working by which He is able to subdue all things to Himself.” 

 

Philippians: 3:20&21

 

 

   Does life seem to be pressing you and prodding you until you are ready to burst your containment? I know that change comes in life and that it can be stressful, but there are some changes that try you to the fullest measure.  Death of a loved one is an example. I’ve experienced this many times, but the death of my parents hit the hardest. Perhaps you struggle with a chronic or terminal illness, or have just been through a medical procedure and are waiting on the LORD for a miraculous healing.  Perhaps you have lost daughters or sons in the military, have handicapped loved ones, or are just facing a change in your job or in your marriage. My family is facing the reality of a daughter leaving the nest. Stress comes in many forms. Yet, beyond this level of everyday existence that produces change, thus stress, there are some who live an even more challenging lifestyle than what is considered the norm, especially those who are constantly in the public eye.

 

 

      The stress of everyday life can be over-whelming for people who live public lives. Public service can vary in scale from teachers to preachers; local officials, legislators, movie stars, rock stars, presidents, CEO’s, kings, and other persons of influence. It can become difficult to maintain family solidarity because of the revolving door of commitments and obligations. Too little resource can create a scramble to just stay alive. Too much resource can become a deterrent to depending on others, which can create a lucrative but lonely existence.

 

 

 

” For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Mark 8: 36&37

 

 

 

      All of us are born with a God-given desire to produce and to be creative.  It is in our nature to want to produce children and establish families, regions, countries, commerce, political societies, mores, and religion. It is also our nature to produce art, crafts, music and entertainment. Laughter and joy truly are the best medicines, and there is much joy to be found in the arts. As a testament to the importance of art, literature, music, politics, and religion as personal expression–when an invading force enters a city or country they immediately seek to steal, tear down, and desecrate the art, literature, politics, music, and places of worship. They forbid the speaking of the mother tongue in an effort to alienate the citizens one from another [divide and conquer], and those things that all hold dear are forbidden, such as sacred books. This is a controlling spirit. It’s objective is to steal, kill, and destroy. The art, literature, politics, music, and religious expression contain the heart and spirit of the people. What happens when that spirit is quenched? Where am I going with this?

 

 

 

“Do not quench the Spirit”

 

 

1Thessalonians 5:19

 

 

 

     In a world that is rapidly changing and shrinking to the extent that you feel as if your personal rights and choices are being compromised, it is natural to feel angry, and confused.You can feel as if  your back is being pushed against the wall. Nothing seems stable in this world. Everything is changing so rapidly that you are on a constant learning curve. New inventions and expressions crop up every day, and you are presented with so many choices as to make your head spin. So…do you give up the fight to maintain your own identity, or do you go where you can get help?  At one point in time this was a simple thing. You could rely upon churches, social agencies, and government agencies to be there when you had a legitimate need. You could depend on family in a time of crisis.  This is fast becoming a rarity. The cyber world has created a climate for a generation of persons who are self-contained. Some do not bother to engage the “world’ out there at all, but are content to do everything on their computers from shopping to forging personal relationships. Gaming engages our young people so completely that there is a down swing in dating and commitment. The human voice is no longer sought after as a comforting, guiding presence. Many are content to text instead of call. Companies can become so large or so busy that they employ technology to address business concerns instead of providing a human to relate to. It doesn’t matter how sophisticated an answering system is–it cannot exclusively take care of the details or questions that arise in the conduct of business. Thankfully, after much button-pushing you are usually given the option to speak to a person.

 

 

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of GOD, having a form of godliness but denying it’s power.  And from such people turn away.”

 

2 Timothy 3: 1-5

 

 

 

     My instinct is to go to The Source that never lets me down or refuses to relate to my personal needs. That source is GOD. Despite all of the hubbub and turmoil present in this world, I can find peace and answers to my questions in my Abba Father.  Jesus’  “Sermon On the Mount”, Matthew–Chapters Five through Seven, gives me the assurance of a Father who cares and provides for His children. His Holy Spirit is here on earth for those who are willing to seek him where He may be found. The world does not understand things of the Spirit because they do not possess GOD’s  Spirit. The ways of Christians appear foolish to the world. If only they could understand the joy and comfort The Holy Spirit brings. It is our responsibility as Christians to model the image of Christ to this world, and to teach and exhort the way of Christ. How will they know without a preacher?

 

 

“And I will pray The Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever–the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.'”  

 

 

John 14: 16&17

 

 

 

 

     I can anticipate world events and understand change by reading the Scriptures.This earth is truly in its last days. Pay attention to the prophetic signs. The seasons are changing. Last winter was more like spring, and this winter was a cold, frozen terror. We are now in the midst of one of the coolest summers in recorded history. We stand at the place of supplication as we observe the Tetrach of 2014-2015 (series of blood moons) and its application to future events.

Mankind has destroyed the ecosystem in our determination to have it all our way. Now we face trying to restore what should never have been abused or destroyed. Famines, earthquakes, and other natural disasters strip whole regions of their resolve and resources.

 

The clock is ticking, and the technologies that will separate the believers from the unbelievers are already here. Biometric implants under the skin are being used as a practiced technology to the extent that an economic system controlled by a world domination seems possible. There is a movement underway to create a one-world currency. What will be the result? The requirement that all “patch” into the system or go without? The technology to view the Two Witnesses on the street is here. As a child I could not imagine how the whole world would see this apocalyptic event occur.  Modern communications are so advanced that I can now understand. We read in the Book of Revelation that:

 

 

“And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”  

 

 

Revelation 11: 3

 

 

 

 

“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the Word of GOD, who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”  

 

Revelation 20: 4

 

 

 

    People are content to go from day to day searching for meaning in a failing system that demands more and more sacrifice as time goes by, and offers less and less reward for hard work. You may ask, “then where is the hope?”  The Hope is in Jesus Christ who is coming for His Bride “The Church”. Understand that the event in which the church is gathered to Christ’s bosom is known as ‘The Rapture’ . There are many theories about the Rapture of the Saints. Is the church to be removed from the world prior to, during, or after the Tribulation?  Scripture speaks for itself…

 

 

 

“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so GOD will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.For this we say to you by the Word of the LORD, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of The LORD will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the LORD Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of GOD. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet The LORD in the air. And thus we shall always be with The LORD. Therefore comfort one another with these words” 

 

 

1 Thessalonians: 4: 13-18

 

 

 

“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed–in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed, For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.”

 

“O Death where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”

 

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to GOD, who gives us the victory through our LORD Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the LORD, knowing that your labor is not in vain in The LORD.”

 

 

1 Corinthians 15: 51-58

 

 

 

 

The church is not a building–It is the heart and spirit of the saints world-wide who strive collectively to fulfill the “Great Commission”.  Jesus gave His disciples, and all of us as His disciples, the task of living our lives in His Spirit as an inspiration to others.

 

 

 

“And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe. In My Name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

 

 

 Mark 16: 15-20

 

 

 

 

Personal choice is still there for us all.  God’s arms are open to embrace His people. He does not expect us to be perfect, because only He is Perfect, therefore feel free to approach Him, surrender yourself to Him, and be accepted into The Kingdom of Heaven. Salvation is of The LORD. In this time in which Biblical events are unfolding rapidly, I believe that we must be prepared to meet The LORD in the air or remain on this earth to experience the Tribulation period.  We do not know the day or the hour in which Christ will come for His Church, but I believe that He will come.  I can choose to embrace those things of this world which do not feed my soul, spirit, and body– or I can embrace Christ, be full in Him, and refuse to live without hope. I choose not to live with my back against the wall.

 

 

GOD Bless You, Charlene

 

 

Picture credit: www.clipartof.com+Yahoo

 

Narrative Credit: Chaelwest/Charlene

 

©2013  Charlene’s Attic/Women Under His Wings

 

All Scripture quotes taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Thomas Nelson Publishers 1992

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2013-2014 Charlene Kirst