The book outlines diligence as having 4 important components - constancy, instancy, exactitude, and carefulness. He plainly states that temporal obedience, delayed obedience, partial obedience, and careless obedience are all, in fact, forms of disobedience. Wow! That was an eye-opener for me. If you want to learn more about this topic, I invite you to watch the video below. 🎥
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I imagine the scariest time for a baby bird must be the day she gets pushed out of her nest. I imagine it's also the most exhilarating time. 😉 God's Word tells us there is an appointed time for everything - that sometimes we're in a season of building and sometimes we're in a season of tearing down; sometimes we need to search and sometimes we need to give up; sometimes we need to hold on to things and sometimes we need to throw those things away; sometimes we need to live in peace and sometimes we need to stand up and fight. There is a time for everything - a season for every activity under the heavens, God says. For 4 years, I stood by and watched helplessly as the life I knew was torn down and the people I love the most were taken from me. When I gave my life to the Lord, Satan, the accuser, took hold of the precious people in my life and I experienced a war like no other. Furious with my decision to leave his dark pit, the evil one waged war on me by attacking what I love (present tense) the most. And without the wisdom to know what was happening to me and without the armour of God to protect me from the constant attacks the enemy sent my way, I did the only thing I knew how to do well at the time - I walked away. There is a time for everything, God says. If I knew then, what I know today, I believe I would have done things differently. And if I was back then, who I am today, I think I would have been able to withstand the storm that was sent my way. But I was so broken. So confused. So hurt. And at that time, the only thing I knew for certain, was that when I sat in His presence, I didn't feel broken anymore. The hole that drove me to addictive behaviours was filled, the fear that kept me stuck in delay vanished, and the hurt I had held on too for so many years melted away. I felt safe with Him. Whole with Him. Seen and heard by Him. I felt a "peace that surpassed all understanding" and I was determined to protect the new relationship I had with the Most High God at all costs. 1 year ago, I walked away from anything and everything that tried to make me doubt the Lord Jesus Christ. I threw away everything I owed that dishonoured Him and I gave away everything that distracted me from His presence. The house my husband and I build with our own hands, the new career I had come to love, the city I had built so many great memories in, and the family and friends I cherished with all my heart - all gone in an instant. I secluded myself from almost every aspect of this world because I needed to drown out the lies I had become accustomed too in order to hear the voice of the One True Living God. I spent a year in the wilderness learning how to rely on the Lord for my help and my strength - and I am so glad I did. He healed me, gave me new life, and taught me His ways. He filled my heart with His forgiveness, my mind with His words, and my body with His Holy Spirit. I am a new creation because of Him. I have truly been transformed. There is a time for everything, God says. I picture myself as that baby bird I mentioned at the beginning of this post. Warm inside her nest with the comfort and care of her Provider. Safe under His wing. Sheltered by His authority. Loved by His grace and mercy. I want nothing more than to stay exactly where I am. Even though the nest continues to get smaller around me as I grow - even though the world I observe from my safe nest is calling to me for my help - even though I admire the other birds soaring with purpose above me; I would still rather stay where I am. It's safe here. And for someone who has never felt safe in her past, it's a hard thing to give up. But the seasons are changing. God says. "You are no longer the one who needs the nest." Even though I don't like it, I know what God is telling me is the truth. It's time for me to let go. Time for me to start something new. And as I listen to the voice of God and step onto the edge of my nest to fly for the first time, I am reminded of everything I left behind....... All the precious people who will always remain in my heart and in my prayers. Flashbacks of all the pain and all the joy I experienced in my younger years. All the memories, of a time before I knew Him, dance inside my mind today. I will never forget who I was or where I came from and I am grateful for every person who crossed my path and played a part in my story. I really do love you. But it's time for me to more forward now. It's time for me to stop looking back and wishing that things were different. It's time for me to say good bye and start again. God says it's time for me to build, to search, to hold on to the things of God, and to bring peace to those to seek it. It's time for me to walk the Christian walk. I am no longer a disciple, but an apostle of Christ, He says. So in steadfast obedience to His direction, I spread out my wings, praise Him for saving me from my own destruction, and step off the edge without looking back and with complete trust and faith that God, and God alone, will give me flight. You are deceived if you think you will enter into the presence of God at the end of your life, if all you have done with your time on earth is chased after your own selfish dreams, passions, and desires. If you think you will be rewarded for your disobedience, you are foolish, and if you have convinced yourself that God doesn't exist, you are disillusioned at best, mentally unstable at worst. I used to think that the position someone held regarding God and the after life was a matter of opinion and choice, but I was wrong. The truth is that whether or not you stand for God and His Word tells me something much more meaningful about you - it tells me whether you are friend or a foe, on the side of light or on the side of dark, a child of God or a child of the devil, a person who is saved by Grace or a person who is doomed by their sin. And as the time draws nigh, I need you to hear me when I say this, "there is a line being drawn in the sand and where you stand matters." One day you will stand before the Creator of the heavens and the earth and He will ask you 2 questions. What did you do with the life I gave you and what did you do with the Lord Jesus Christ? "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Hebrews 10:31) I pity the fool who ignores their conscience and the pleas from their well meaning Christian friends. My heart aches for the rebel that wars against the Lord and never comes to repent of their sins. My soul is filled with sadness for each person who gives up their chance to live with God forever because they "refused to love the truth and so be saved" (2 Thessalonians 2:10). What a terrible fate to behold. What stupidity and angst one must feel as they stand before the Holy of Holies with no one to blame but themselves; to look around and see nothing that resembles their wickedness amongst the shining light and fire of His Majesty would be despairing I'm sure. What a travesty one must feel trying to compare his own countless wicked deeds to the everlasting goodness of God. And lastly, the embarrassment one must feel as they finally bow their knee - only to realize their acknowledgement is too late. Because the gift of His grace was forever lost when they took their last breathe. It's not too late though. If you are reading this, you still have time. Here is the way to achieve salvation...... A - Admit Admit that you’re a sinner/you have done wrong and ask for forgiveness. Romans 3:23 "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness". B - Believe Believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose again as a payment for your sins. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life". C - Confess and Choose Confess that Jesus is Lord and choose to allow God in your life. Romans 10:9 "If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." God bless you, my friend. I hope you wake up from your slumber before it's too late. ❤️ I came across the YouTube channel, The Bible Project, this year and I wanted to share it with you because I personally find their content very educational and I really enjoy their animation and story-telling. The video below is one part of their Spiritual Being Series. If you like it, I recommend watching the whole series. They are approx. 5 minutes long, but jam packed full of information about God, the good angels, the bad angels, and the role of humans on earth. Happy watching ❤️ 👉 Spiritual Being Series Division within the family unit has been very prevalent since 2020, but this sermon reminds God's children that they have a home, siblings, and an inheritance through their adoption into God's family. This sermon is also a good reminder that our Lord knew what it was like to have family members call Him crazy and people in power call Him a liar - and no servant is better than his master, right?
Times are tough, but don't lose hope, OK? Endure until the end and hold on to the promises of God and His strength to get you through the tough times. If you've been born again and you've put your faith in Jesus Christ, there is light at the end of the tunnel for you and the best is yet to come. ❤️ I don't play video games, so if Ray Comfort didn't create this video then I wouldn't know this game even existed, but I thought I would share it with you because it's SUPER disturbing and I'm hoping I can prevent at least one child from playing it and opening a door to the demonic realm. I pray you are watching over your children and what they are consuming on their phone, internet, video games and television. Occult practices are entering into these technologies at lightening speed so please be on guard because "your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8) Stay prayed up friends. God bless. XO TJ Malcangi is an evangelist preacher anointed by the Holy Ghost to save this generation from the grips of the devil by sharing the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ. This sermon is absolute fire 🔥 If you are in need of a supernatural encounter with God - one that will crush the hold the enemy has over your life forever - watch this video from start to finish. Blessings friend. XO A very important deep dive into the prophecy of the end times written in the Bible. Jimmy Evans shares compelling evidence that the end of the world (as we know it) will likely come to an end in our lifetime. Watch the video below and let me know your thoughts. 💗 EDITED August 10, 2022: The original video is no longer available online. This 2 part series is a close second though. As a new born-again Christian, one of the most difficult concepts to get my head around was the concept of the Trinity - the Triune God. I remember thinking, "how can one God be three people? How is that even possible? I must find out what all this means!" I have since spent the past 5 years studying the Bible and listening to hundreds of sermons and Christian's speakers, and I have come to realize that the Trinity is a key aspect to the Christian faith. I like the way Bibles.net puts it..... "The doctrine of the Trinity is essential to the Christian faith. Believing in God’s Triune being is how the church guards against false interpretations of the biblical understanding of who God is, what he is like, how he works in the world, and how he relates to us. In short, the Trinity distinguishes Christianity from all other religions. The God of the Bible is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. To take away any one of these persons is to no longer talk about the God of the Bible at all." I agree with this statement. I also agree with Allen's position in the video below - that a new believer who doesn't fully understand the Trinity yet can still receive salvation from God (this was certainly true for me), however a person who calls Jesus their Saviour, but openly rejects the Trinity - meaning they have been told about God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, but reject this Truth when they hear it - is not a true believer. They are not saved because if they reject the Trinity than they believe in a different Jesus - and there is only one Jesus Christ that has the power to save - the LORD Jesus Christ who is the Creator of the heavens and the earth - the alpha and the omega - the great "I AM'. Only the One True Living God has the power to save you and He is the God of the Bible and the God of the Bible is a Triune God (three in one). If you are having a hard time understanding this concept, I encourage you to spend time seeking out additional resources and reading His Word for yourself. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. - Matthew 7:7 Below is a study guide created by Allen Parr. It provides scripture that highlights the parts of the Bible that talk about each person in the Godhead (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). I also advise you to stay away from "doctrines of devils" (1 Timothy 4). These include (but are not limited to) the following false teachings about Christ:
These religious groups teach doctrines that are contrary to scripture; salvation is works-based, Jesus is a created being, a priest can be your mediator, adoration of Mary is acceptable, praying to saints instead of Father God is not idolatry, Jesus and Lucifer are spirit brothers, people can become Gods, hell doesn't exist, Jesus isn't God, and so much other blasphemy that it makes my head spin...... If you are a new believer, I encourage you to learn from my mistakes and stay far, far away from these groups. They will confuse you and make it difficult for you to discern truth from lies. Visit my resource section for a list of Bible-believing, born again, historical Christians. I also recommended purchasing "Another Gospel" by Alisa Childers. This book really is fantastic. It taught me so much about the authenticity of the Bible and how to respond to the popular lies peddled by false teachers. Plus the back of the book is filled with additional resources to help you on your search for Truth. Finally, Allen did one more video that I think you should watch today. It's titled, "Is Jesus Really God". Again, I want to emphasis that only God can save you - so if you call yourself a Christian, but don't believe that Jesus is God in the flesh, then who exactly are you trusting to save you? My advice? Watch the video, seek for more information, read God's Word and pray for wisdom. God bless you friend, Carmen The topic of our LORD's name is a stumbling block for some people and it often leads to confusion and doubt (2 tactics the enemy uses to try to weaken our faith and divide the brethren). For questions like these, I really like Allan Parr from the Beat. I think his answers to confusing questions (see his explanation for the trinity HERE) are well researched and pretty easy to understand for the laymen. As for my take? The Lord Jesus Christ is my Saviour. He is the One I know. When I call upon His name, He answers me. I think His name is precious - a Name above all Names - and I call Him Jesus. He is my King - the One I laid my life down to follow. The One I pray to see one day in paradise and hear the most beautiful sound from His lips, "well done my good and faithful servant". 💗 "I pray the enemies of God receive a "preview of hell" for the purpose of driving them to repentance, confession, and a right relationship with our Father in heaven. I pray the LORD protects my personal enemies from anything they cannot handle. I pray they will come to see the Truth and the saving Grace that can only be found in Christ Jesus. I pray that God be vindicated - that His glory be seen and acknowledged by everyone I know. Whatever must happen to me in the process - so be it - thy Will be done my King. Please save my family from themselves and the devil, and use me in anyway you must to make that happen. Praise God for His goodness, mercy, and grace. Praise God that He would leave the 99 to find the 1 who went astray. I love you Father God. Amen" ❤️ I clicked on a video and this speaker came up in it's place (someone new to me and not even in my feed). When these things happen, I know there is a message I need to hear and pray about. I haven't watched it yet, but something in my spirit told me to document this day. The description sounds very aligned with my current situation.... "What if you saw the delays in your life as a "pregnant pause" that would ultimately create the momentum that would lead to an even greater outcome than if the delay had not been there?" Whatever the reason for this pause in my life, Father God - I hope it glorifies your Name and brings the masses to the foot of Your Throne. I hope I can make you proud and one day hear, "well done. My good and faithful servant." Time to watch the episode.... “And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.” (Revelation 14:3) You were made for such a time as this family, “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14) Shine brightly for the LORD brothers and sisters in Christ - the time is now 💗 GOD'S WORD
(life starts at conception) "When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby (Jesus) leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit." - Luke 1:41 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” - Jeremiah 1:5 “This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the LORD, the Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens, who spreads out the earth by myself" - Isaiah 44:24 "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb." - Psalm 139:13 “Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” - Psalm 139:16 Question: Ok leaving our stances against abortion to the side for a minute here… what happens to a child that’s been raped and now has to give birth to a baby they had no power to avoid? I’m talking like 10-15 year olds? Giving birth can utterly destroy their bodies for life if they even survive. Are we against this scenario for abortion as well? I’m truly curious, not here to start any beef. - Selena Answer: Rape is an evil crime. Murder is an evil crime. Committing either of these acts is evil in the sight of a Holy God. The situation you described is heartbreaking, but the emotional aspect of your story doesn't change morality (i.e. right from wrong). Murdering a baby in the womb is evil to God because you are destroying His creation. Understand that God chose that specific human life to be placed inside that specific woman for a reason (albeit your scenario is hypothetical - which is a problem in itself - I do hope you understand that everything God does is for a greater purpose). And while we may not understand His reasoning (because we are not God), who are we to say that He - the Creator of the heavens and the earth - is wrong? If you are having these types of thoughts (i.e. "I know better than God) - resist them - because that is the anti-Christ spirit! Placing your thoughts and beliefs above the Most High God is what Lucifer did - and its what got him kicked out of heaven. The beliefs of the secular world will lead you to damnation. Following the Word of God will bring you to salvation. That is the plain and simple Truth. I pray you chose the narrow path, Selena. God bless. - Carmen Reply: I didn’t say I’m better than God, in fact I’m probably going to go to hell. I live the best life I can and treat people with as much respect as I can but I don’t know if it’s good enough. And people that think they are righteous usually need to work on themselves as well, no one knows where we will end up in the end only God knows. I just think making a baby suffer through child birth for a heinous act they couldn’t prevent is disgusting in itself. And anyone that believes this child should suffer, I will always be against. Sorry but this is the only scenario I believe abortion is ok. - Selena Answer: When you say, “I think” and it contradicts the Word of God – you are saying that your thoughts and beliefs are more valid than God’s – that is what self-righteousness is. I did not share “my” opinion with you – I simply stated the commands and laws of the Most High God which can be easily confirmed by reading His Word for yourself. You can also listen to Pastor David Lynn for more clarity on the topic. He even addresses your opinion on murdering babies who are the by-product of rape by sharing what God has to say about that situation. (see video below) With respect to your assertion that “no one knows where we will end up in the end” that is simply not true. God says that “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing” – but those of us who have repented of our sins and have placed our full trust in God - have been given a new life. We have been born again into His spirit and so we know exactly where we will end up because God tells us in His Word that we are saved from damnation– and He does not lie. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) Your statement should read that YOU don’t know where you are going – and that is because you have not accepted God’s free gift of grace so you are still bound by your love of sin – that is why you reject the Truth that is right in front of you. “The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever practices the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be seen clearly that what he has done has been accomplished in God.” (John 3:19) I do pray you will turn away from your sin and put your trust in the Saviour of the world. Yes, it is true that you will go to hell if you die in your sins, but until death takes you, you still have the option to choose the path that leads to eternal life. Use this gift of life to seek God while you still can. Repent of the evil things you have committed against Him and ask for His forgiveness. God is merciful and compassionate to the humble, but those who place their own opinions above His commands and laws will experience the fullness of His wrath. I pray you will act on this warning and look into the things I speak of today before it is too late - but that is entirely up to you. Peace be with you, Selena. - Carmen My brothers and sisters in Christ are on FIRE🔥 in the music industry lately! You see, I love a good house beat - and I'm thrilled to see more and more DJ"s branching out and choosing to spend their time making sets that glorify the LORD - you rock! May the blessings of God be upon you, DJ Arox. Thanks for this set of Christian Summer Vibes - I am jamming to it right now while I work. 💗 Praise God forever and always. My goodness, is the LORD ever doing a work in me! So much has changed over the past 5 weeks. May 8th, 2022 marked the beginning of a whole new adventure for me and my husband and we couldn't be happier. God is using us in a pretty unique way and I'm looking forward to sharing the fruits of His labour with all of you - but for now, just know that I have not abandoned this blog.
I will be sharing more videos, audio files, and resources in the coming months. The purpose is to document our transformation on this life-changing adventure God has made for us and to share the truth of His Word and the testimony of Jesus with everyone we meet. I pray you will come to know the Creator of the heavens and the earth and that you will join us in sharing the Light of the world with all who seek His face. May the Spirit of the Lord be upon you and may you live forever in the shadow of His wing. God bless 💗 |
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