Propitiation - The two-part act of satisfying the wrath of an offended person, and being reconciled to him.

   This is the most important word in the entire Bible, and its a shame how so few people have even heard of it. The definition says it is a two part act of satisfaction. The satisfaction of anger, followed by the reconciliation of the relationship itself. What does this mean in the Bible? First we must see something...

"How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered!"  

-Psalm 32:1

"He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord."

-Proverbs 17:15

"The LORD has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there are any who understand, Who seek after God. They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one."

-Psalm 14:2-3

  

   Do you see the problem here? At face value, this is indeed a contradiction. David writes in Psalm 32 that we are being justified because our sin is being covered. Yet, in Proverbs 17, Solomon is saying ANYONE who justifies the wicked is an abomination to the Lord. Because there is no one who does good, we are all technically wicked. Therefore anyone and anything that tries to justify us, is an abomination. So, is God Himself an abomination, because He justifies us? That would mean God is not just. This is the biggest problem in the entire Bible, and I hope to answer it. 

   The fact of the matter is, God is both "Love" and "Just." He is not only love, and He is not only just. So the main question is this,

"How can God be just, yet forgive sinners?"

   From the perspective of a human, it is impossible. God MUST judge sin, and the only wage of sin is death. The sinner MUST go to hell, despite God's love for them. God doesn't cut corners. God can not simply "forgive" sin by looking away or something. It would be against God's very nature to not pour out His wrath upon sin. So in reality, we are all supposed to be in hell when we die. All have sinned. All have fallen short to the glory of God. All should NOT make it to heaven. However, God had formed a simply genius plan. God actually found a way to redeem us. God actually found a way to satisfy His own anger on sin, so we could actually be declared "right with God." God found a way to be both "just" and the "justifier." 

"for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."

-Romans 3:26

   So then, what was God's plan? How did God do this? How could God possibly justify a sinner? The answer is Jesus Christ. 

"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

-2 Corinthians 5:21

What does this mean, "He who knew no sin to BE sin?" Does this mean the nature of Jesus Christ went from 100% Holy to 100% evil? No, not at all. What Paul meant by this was Jesus, who knew no sin, stood in the place of sin. Our sins were "imputed" to Jesus. Our sin was not given to Jesus, Jesus took it by force, because of His love. Imagine this,

   You are dead, your soul is standing before God, ready to face divine judgment. You are standing before God with your stack of papers in your hands. On your papers is your name, and a record of every sinful thought, action, intention, everything, and you are going to be judged. Hell is inevitable. You WILL go to hell. 100% going. God WILL bring justice, despite the fact He loves you. Then Jesus walks over to you and says "Do you want to trade with me?" On His papers it does not have a list of sins, rather, a list of every single thought and action He did for God the father. If you accept the free and undeserved offer, you take His papers and He takes yours. Jesus goes to the Father and gets judged according to YOUR sin. When God looks at Jesus, He sees you. When God looks at you, He sees Jesus. Because you have Jesus, you are "legally" declared right with God. It isn't that you become Holy and Jesus becomes a sinner, Jesus was always the spotless lamb, and you are always the sinner. The only difference is, you have your legal stamp of approval despite your corrupt nature. 

   This is why there is no other way to heaven outside of Jesus Christ. This is why denying Jesus Christ is the only sin you can not be forgiven for. If you deny Jesus, you are saying He died for nothing, and you go before the father with your sin papers saying "Okay! I'm ready for heaven!" God's like "Yeah, no. Bye." You should all be thankful that God found a loophole to even save you when you were beyond saving. Praise the Lord for His loving-kindness and long-suffering. 

   

   So then, what is the sinner saved from? hell? sin? The sinner is saved from GOD. The sinner is saved from the wrath of Almighty God. The Holy hatred of God. That's what the sinner is saved from.

"The LORD shall never be willing to forgive him, but rather the anger of the LORD and His jealousy will burn against that man, and every curse which is written in this book will rest on him, and the LORD will blot out his name from under heaven. Then the LORD will single him out for adversity from all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant which are written in this book of the law."

-Deuteronomy 29:20-21

   One of the things that really gets me is when Jesus movies are always putting to much emphasis on the Roman beating that Jesus went through, as if that atoned for our sins. People have said the reason Jesus sweated blood in the garden of Gethsemane was because He was afraid of what He was going to physically endure. Are you kidding me? How many times do you read in "Foxes book of Martyrs" that there were followers of Jesus going through the same beatings and singing hymns on the cross? Peter gets crucified upside down because he couldn't die in the same way as his Lord. You're telling me that Jesus, the fearless leader, is afraid of that?

   Jesus wasn't afraid of the Romans, Jesus wasn't afraid because He had to fulfill the "by His stripes we are healed" prophecy. Jesus constantly said "let this cup pass from me...nevertheless, Your will be done." What was in the cup? The wrath of God! That was His fate from the very beginning. That was what was in the cup. Jesus made God the Father's anger towards sin, satisfied. That's why it says in Isaiah 53:10 "It pleased the Lord to crush Him."

"In the hand of the LORD is a cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices; he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to its very dregs."

-Psalm 75:8

   Jesus had to drink the full capacity of God's wrath. However, God's master plan was surely nothing new. No, God gave us clues over a thousand years before Jesus was born. 

"He said, 'Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.'"

-Genesis 22:2

That language sounds familiar. I'm sure you all know Abraham had many sons. Why would God say "your only son?"

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

-John 3:16

"Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, 'My father!' And he said, 'Here I am, my son.' And he said, 'Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?' Abraham said, 'God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.' So the two of them walked on together."

-Genesis 22:7-8

Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son.  Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, "In the mount of the LORD it will be provided." 

-Genesis 22:13-14

   Do you all understand yet? Yes, surely the Lord's plan was not new. Isaac asked where the lamb was, because the lamb did not yet come. Abraham responded "God will provide for Himself, the sacrifice." Yes, surely only God was able to provide a sacrifice for our redemption. No man could have found Him. Do you think it is a coincidence that Abraham found something to sacrifice in place of his son? Do you think it is a coincidence that the name of the place was named "The Lord will provide?" God created foreshadowing.

   What was Mt. Moriah? Maybe you've heard of Golgotha. The place where Jesus was crucified. We were all an Isaac, going to be killed by the Father in heaven. God had to kill us even though He loves us. However, just before our death, God stopped the execution for He had found a ram in the thicket. He had provided for Himself a lamb that could actually save us.

Jesus Christ.

O Lord,

I was nothing but a caterpillar before I knew you. 

I was ugly and slow.

How defenseless I was!

I was a pest. An annoyance. 

I damaged Your creation. 

My vision was clouded.

I could not see well at all.

However, when You found me, Lord,

You had every intention to change me. 

You spun a cocoon for me and I was no longer distracted. 

Because of Your love for me, You took away everything.

Yes, to avoid distractions, you spun me a cocoon.

You wished to sanctify me from the very beginning.

How great is metamorphosis! 

To become a new creature!

Look at the butterfly!

How elegant and beautiful. 

How pleasing to the eye.

I thank You for Your sanctification. 

New Songs.
http://www.myspace.com/garrydavidandreano

Read my story here:

http://www.calvaryhuntersville.com/GS_Garry.php

Have you ever seen an infant try to walk? They take one or two steps, then they fall. They walk, then fall. Walk, then fall. Then, as the child begins to practice and practice, they fall less and less. Then, after 10 years, that same individual hardly falls at all. Does that mean the individual will never fall ever again? No, certainly not. However, the ratio from falling to not falling will grow greater and greater in favor of not falling.

In the same way, so is the Christian walk.

Have you ever seen an infant Christian try to walk? They take one or two steps, then they fall. They walk, then fall. Walk, then fall. Then, as the child in Christ begins to practice and practice the ways of the Lord, they fall less and less. Then, after 10 years, that same individual hardly falls at all. Does that mean the individual will never fall (because of temptation) ever again? No, certainly not. However, the ratio from falling to not falling will grow greater and greater in favor of not falling.

Change does not happen overnight. It is a growth process. However, you better be sure your method for growing is a Biblical one. You don't want to be going for 5-10 years doing the same things over and over and never growing.

Muse.

"Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." -Matthew 12:34


When speaking to the Pharisees, Jesus makes an interesting statement. "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." I haven't really meditated on this until last night when I was in bed. What did Jesus mean by this? Then, something came to me.

Have you noticed that you cannot learn and speak at the same time? You will always do one or the other. One will be present, and one will not. When you speak, you do not learn, for you take from your heart things you've already learned. And when you keep silent, you begin to learn by using your observation through the five senses. When you keep silent, you take information from the outside. When you speak, you take information from the inside. When you keep silent, the information you gather is sent to the mind, learned, and stored into the heart. When you speak, you take what is abundant in your heart, and you release it. Therefore, you only learn when you stop speaking.

"Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent." -Proverbs 17:28

"Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him." -Proverbs 29:20


I then began to think about why there is absolutely no record of Jesus Christ and what he did from the ages 12-30. Before Jesus started His ministry at 30 years old, the last record of Jesus was when He was 12 years old, asking questions to the priests of the temple. I personally believe that gap was Jesus' "observation years." Jesus seemed to be virtually invisible to the public. So much so that nothing was recorded. My mind's eye says that Jesus didn't talk much, rather, observed everything. Then, when Jesus was 30, His learning had become complete, His heart had become abundant on the things of God, and He began his ministry and spoke. This is just a theory of course. Nobody really knows why 12-30 was silent in the life of Jesus, but we can take a guess.

If you choose to observe evil things, your heart will absorb that evil, and so your tongue will speak evil, for it does not know where else to gather information. If you choose to observe things of God, your heart will absorb that light, and your tongue will speak things of the Lord.Where your body observes, that is where your heart will dwell. Where ever your heart will dwell, so will your mind, and so will your tongue.

May we all choose to observe the things of God, so our minds may be renewed and our hearts may dwell in clear waters so our speech may be that which is good and not evil, and may we think more about our words before we say them.

“But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’” -Matthew 14:30

What do you think about when you hear this passage of scripture? Do you simply think of a man who sank in the water and needed someone to lift him up? Did you ever think deeper upon that? You see, it wasn’t until Peter took his eyes off Jesus when he began to sink. In the same way, in our lives, we are constantly given the opportunity to walk on the waters that try to have dominion over our lives, yet we choose to sink. We choose to fall prey. We choose to take our eyes off the savior of the issue, and focus in on the issues themselves. Our focus is everything. However, this isn’t the only lesson God wanted to show us from Peter’s experience. No, there is more.

When I read Peter say “Lord, save me,” I was reminded of another scripture.

“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” –Matthew 11:12

Now, when people read where it says “…and the violent take it by force” speaking of the kingdom of heaven, people automatically assume one thing. They most likely think of this strong man of God who is 6’7 and has muscles starting at his ears, praying to God and God stopping the world and using him, jumping into battles guns blazing with explosions behind him taking out thousands of people by himself. First off, that isn’t what this scripture means.

To understand what it means to be “violent” and “taking by force,” I believe Peter gives us some insight. There is no better illustration than a person who is about to drown. When Peter was below those crashing waves, dominated by the waters, he had NOTHING. He was driven to a place of TOTAL and UTTER desperation. He was SO DESPERATE, that the ONLY thing on his mind, the ONLY thing he could say was “Save me!” He didn’t care about the waves anymore; he didn’t care about ANYTHING but his own survival. He looked for NOTHING but a hand to save his life and he VIOLENTLY grabbed the hand of Christ to save him. There was no thought involved. It wasn’t like Peter was thinking under the water “Hmm, should I reach for a hand or not?” No, Peter knew exactly where he was. He knew if he didn’t grab hold of a savior, he was going to DIE. So Peter, in his boldness, cried out for help and was saved.
Don’t you see? Listen to the language. Listen to what Peter says!

“Lord, save me!”

Yes, the Lord surely used Peter to demonstrate what He meant by this term of violence. It is the weak and desperate who are violent, not the strong…

Abraham was born 1948 years after Adam,

Jesus, "the last Adam", was born 1948 years after Abraham.

Israel was born as a nation in 1948 AD.

Is this a coincidence?

Reference
http://www.bible-codes.org/Letters-israel-1948_mirror.htm

---------

573 BC (Nisan 10) + 1260 years + 1260 years = 1948 AD Pentecost

Israel became a nation on Sivan 5th on the 360 calendar, but which was May 14 evening to May 15 evening in 1948.

Israel became a nation at midnight May 14th ending, in 1948, upon the termination of the British mandate.

Note: It can be shown that even the Jewish calendar of Iyar 6 could have been Sivan 6th {i.e., Pentecost} that year since the month began very late that year. Sivan 5th is Pentecost on the 360 calendar while Sivan 6th is Pentecost on the regular Jewish calendar. This is because the month of Iyar only has 29 days in it on the regular Jewish calendar, whereas the 360 calendar always has 30 days.

Ezekiel 40:1 (ASV) In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day, the hand of Jehovah was upon me, and he brought me thither. ( Nisan 10, 573 BC.)

Ezekiel 40:3 And he brought me thither; and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.

From the date when Ezekiel measured the visionary temple in Ezekiel 40 until 1948 when Israel became a nation are 1260 years plus 1260 years.

Question. Why did Israel become a nation on Pentecost?

Answer. Israel became a nation on Pentecost to fulfill the prophecies suggested in Ezekiel 36-37. (Also see Ezekiel 16.) Ezekiel refers to "an everlasting covenant," and both the old and new covenants came about on Pentecost, (1446 BC and AD 30).

Ezekiel 36:24-28 ...And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and keep mine ordinances, and ye shall do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

Ezekiel 37:26-27 And I will make a covenant of peace with them: it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for ever. And my tabernacle shall be over them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (Also see Ezekiel 34:25.)

Therefore we conclude that it is highly significant that Israel became a nation on Pentecost, the anniversary of both the old and new covenants, since these covenants are the theme of the previous chapters that flows into the text of Ezekiel 40 where Ezekiel measures the city and temple; and as said, from Ezekiel 40 unto Pentecost 1948 are exactly 1260 years times-two. (See also Ezekiel 44:7.) The measuring of the temple and the city in Ezekiel 40 are graciously revealed by God as both a fulfillment of the promises made by Him in the first covenant (on Pentecost 1446 BC) and by virtue of the coming results of the new covenant (also inaugurated on Pentecost AD 30). This is true also of Pentecost 1948, when Israel became a nation. God fulfilled his covenant to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (ratified at Sinai) by restoring Israel as a nation in 1948, however He showed this mercy on the basis of the New Covenant in that He only made the original promises to Abraham in the first covenant on the basis that God foreknew that there would indeed be another covenant built upon better promises. Thus it is very significant that Israel became a nation on Pentecost, the anniversary of both the old and new covenants, since these covenants are the theme of the previous chapters that flows into the text of Ezekiel 40 where Ezekiel measures the city and temple.


Question. Why did Israel become a nation on Pentecost on the 360 calendar rather than the Jewish calendar?

Answer. Firstly, I have already explained that both calendars can be Pentecost on May 15, 1948 anyway. However, 1260 years times-two represents the same in days as per the prophecies of Daniel 9, Daniel 12, and Rev. 12-13. The time span of 1260-times-two days equal a seven-year period on the 360 calendar, (i.e., 360 days times 7 {years} = 1260-times-two). Thus, to use the 360 calendar rather than the regular Jewish calendar is consistent with itself. For we have 'seven years' of years (as derived from the 360 calendar) from Ezekiel 40 unto 1948, 'Pentecost,' (which is also derived from the 360 calendar). The 360 calendar is consistently used.


Revelation 11:1-3 I was then given a stick that looked like a measuring-rod, and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count those who are worshiping in the temple. But do not measure the outer courts, because they have been given to the heathen, who will trample on the Holy City for forty-two months. I will send my two witnesses dressed in sackcloth, and they will proclaim God's message during those 1260 days." ("42 months" is 1260 days on 360 calendar; i.e., 42 x 30 days-in-a-month equals 1260 days, which is half-a-seven year period of 1260-times-two days.)

Revelation 12:4-6 With his tail he dragged a third of the stars out of the sky and threw them down to the earth. He stood in front of the woman, in order to eat her child as soon as it was born. Then she gave birth to a son, who will rule over all nations with an iron rod. But the child was snatched away and taken to God and his throne. The woman fled to the desert, to a place God had prepared for her, where she will be taken care of for 1260 days.




Question: Why is there not an exact 1260 plus 1260 years between the prophecy of Ezekiel 40 to when Israel becoming a nation to the very day? Why instead is the period from 573 BC Nisan 10 unto 1948 Pentecost? Should not Israel have become a nation on Nisan 10 as well to make an exact 1260 plus 1260 years?


Answer. Firstly, we have already seen that the old and new covenants that were both given on Pentecost are major themes in relation to Ezekiel 40. This would be reason enough that Israel was born-again as a nation on Pentecost. For Israel became a nation in keeping with those covenants. However, there is another reason why Pentecost is so important and how it connects to Nisan 10th.

Ezekiel received his vision Nisan 10th, 573 BC and importantly, "Nisan 10th" is the anniversary of when Israel entered the Promised land. And thus 1260 years times-two later Israel once again enter the Promised land (in 1948)! (Nisan 10 comes 55 days before Pentecost on the Jewish and 360 calendars.)

Joshua 4:19 The people crossed the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month and camped at Gilgal, east of Jericho.

Ezekiel 40:1 (ASV) In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day, the hand of Jehovah was upon me, and he brought me thither.


As said, Ezekiel received his vision Nisan 10th, 573 BC, and "Nisan 10th" is the anniversary of when Israel entered the Promised land. However, it was on Pentecost that God intended that Israel should enter the Promised land. God intended that Israel enter the Promised land about 40 years before they actually did. (God intended that Israel enter the Promised land one year after the covenant at Sinai, 1446-1445 BC, {Deut. 1:2})

Vision of new Jerusalem and temple revealed to Ezekiel in 573 BC, Nisan 10, (the anniversary on when Israel entered the Promised Land in 1406 BC); and 573 BC plus 1260 years times-two later the Promised land reverts back to Israel in 1948 as promised in Ezekiel 36-39!

And moreover, this happened on Pentecost (1948), the anniversary on when God intended that Israel enter the Promised Land in 1445 BC! Moreover, since God poured His Holy Spirit out on Pentecost AD 30, hence, Jesus brought a people, the "Church", into their 'promised-land' rest that day also. The Church was 'born', just as natural Israel was born again as a nation in 1948. Both entered a "Promised Land" on Pentecost.

Thus, there is an exact 1260 times-two years between the measuring of the temple in Ezekiel 40 on Nisan 10th, unto when Israel became a nation in 1948 on Pentecost in the sense that both Nisan 10th and Pentecost symbolize basically the same thing.

Question. What is significant about the time frame of "1260 plus 1260" days (or years) in relation to Ezekiel 40 or in relation to Israel becoming a nation?

Answer. There are a number of reasons why 1260 is significant: for this is the very time frame used in the bible to symbolize all that has been said so far as to what Nisan 10 and Pentecost represent! This is the time frame that matches the prophecy.

Firstly, the prophecy of the "1260 days" found in Revelation 11 directly ties into Ezekiel 40. Most any commentary on the bible will point this out. The one prophecy is adapted from the other. In both cases there is the measuring of the temple with a rod while in a vision. Thus, to have this very time frame of '1260-times-two' years between the measuring of the temple by Ezekiel unto when Israel again became a nation is most amazing! This is the time frame given in Revelation that concerns this prophecy in Ezekiel!

Revelation 11:1-3 I was then given a stick that looked like a measuring-rod, and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count those who are worshiping in the temple. But do not measure the outer courts, because they have been given to the heathen, who will trample on the Holy City for forty-two months. I will send my two witnesses dressed in sackcloth, and they will proclaim God's message during those 1260 days." ("42 months" is 1260 days on 360 calendar; i.e., 42 x 30 days-in-a-month equals 1260 days, which is half-a-seven year period of 1260-times-two days.)



More information along with questions and answers at the references below.

Reference
http://www.1260-1290-days-bible-prophecy.org/bible_prophecy-Israel-nation-1260-years-2x.htm#Note
http://www.1260-1290-days-bible-prophecy.org/bible_prophecy-Israel-nation-1260-years-x2-b-details.htm

Many people (including myself) have stressed out over finding "the one" whom God has in store for us. What if my person is in China? How can I know who it is? My eyes have been opened recently. That person isn't chosen by God. I'll explain.

You see, God has a sovereign (mountains, out of the way) and moral (the Bible) will for every person, but I don't believe God has an individual will (or "blue print") that we need to somehow figure out. God is sovereign, and His sovereignty extends beyond that. God will take care of things no matter what you do inside of the context of His moral will.

God's will isn't about WHERE you are, it is about the KIND of person you are. THAT'S God's will. There isn't some line that you're supposed to trace, Think of it like this,

Let's say your Grandmother bakes 3 different types of cookies for you, but you can only choose 1. There is chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, and rainbow. Now, what are you going to do? What should you do? You know your Grandma. You know she made them for you. Should you ask your Grandma what cookie you should eat? Is it necessary? Is your Grandmother going to say,

"Here, I made three different cookies but you BETTER CHOOSE OATMEAL or else you're wrong!"

No, of course not. Your Grandma wants you to just pick which one you like the most and take it. She doesn't care which one you pick, because they are all cookies made for you to choose regardless.


In the same way,


God has made many different men and women who are living within the context of God's moral will. You don't have to stress out about which is THE ONE that God wants for you. If they are in God's moral will, then God doesn't care which one you choose. Pick the one you like the most. God's sovereign will goes beyond that and we should be thankful for it. You want a husband or wife, make sure they are living by the word of God and choose the one you like.

What would make you feel more wanted, being the only option and then being chosen as a husband or wife or being one of many options and being chosen as a husband or wife? If you were the only option then it would degrade the value of the choice.

So then, when you choose, God has chosen, and when God chooses, you have chosen. The person you choose will be the person God chooses, and the person God chooses will be the person you choose. You must stay with that person until you die, for you have chosen to make that commitment. It is all done for the glory of God. The goal of men should be to love their wives as Christ first loved the church. The goal of women should be to submit to and respect their husbands as the church should submit to and respect our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.

You who are anxious,
Where is your faith?

You pace back and forth before the throne of God.
Your eyes are closed; Your hands cover your ears,
And you constantly yell,

"If only! If only!"

You desire a round two in your fight with what is now the past.
Your heart yells at your mind,
And your mind yells back.

The Lord sits on the throne,
Patiently watching your impatience.

You cry out to God to answer, then you cover your ears so you can't hear it!
Stop your nonsense!
Sit down and be quiet!
Take your hands off your ears and listen!
Look who you're talking to!

Look up at the sky.
The stars obey His every command.
Look over there!
The ocean also obeys! The tide cannot go passed that point.
Look! the mountains! they obey too!

Do they fear? Do they worry?
No, for they obey the one who created them.

But you,
You do not obey.

The Lord says "come" and you say "NO!"
You say "My situation is too overwhelming to speak to You!"

What foolishness!
Sit and learn.

What the Lord allows,
You should too, for it has gained His approval.

What more do you need?
Is it not enough?

1) The Apostle Thomas called Jesus God.

John 20:27-29 “Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

2) The Apostle Peter called Jesus God.

2 Peter 1:1 “Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ”

3) The Apostle Paul called Jesus God.

Titus 2:12b-14 “...we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

4) The Apostle John called Jesus God.

John 1:1-3, 14 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” See verse 14 for confirmation that this reference to the "Word" is a reference to Jesus.

5) God the Father called Jesus God.

Hebrews 1:8 “But to the Son He [God the Father] says: ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom. ’” Click here to visit our online store.

6) Isaiah the Prophet said the Messiah would be God.

Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

God the Father, in the Old Testament, is also called “Mighty God” in Isaiah 10:21, the same title that can be ascribed to the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

7) The Jews who crucified Jesus understood Him to be saying that He was equal with God.

John 5:18 “Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.”

John 10:33 “The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.”

8) Jesus called Himself “I AM”, the Old Testament name for God (Exodus 3:14).

John 8:58-59 “Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.”

9) Jesus calls Himself “the Alpha and Omega,” the title of Almighty God.

Revelation 22:12-13 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

10) Like God (Gen. 1:1) Jesus created.

Colossians 1:16-17 “For by Him [See context. This is speaking of Jesus] all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”

John 1:3 “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”

Yet God says in Isaiah 44:24, “I am the LORD, who makes all things, who stretches out the heavens all alone, who spreads abroad the earth by Myself”

11) Like God, Jesus forgives sin.

Mark 2:5-7, 10-11 says, “When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” “...But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”--He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go your way to your house.”

12) Like God, Jesus gives eternal life.

John 10:27-28 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”

13) Like God, Jesus received, receives and will receive worship.

Matthew 14:32-33 “And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” (also see Matthew 28:9, 17, John 9:37-38)

Revelation 5:13 “And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

Hebrews 1:6 “But when He again brings the firstborn [JESUS] into the world, He says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.”

Jesus never rebuked any of His followers for worshiping Him and yet worship of anything or anyone other than God is absolutely forbidden in the Bible . . .

Luke 4:8 “And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”

14) Jesus said that only God was good; and Jesus was good.

Mark 10:17-18 “And as He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and began asking Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.”

John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”

Jesus was as good as they come. He was “sinless,” “holy,” “righteous,” “innocent,” “undefiled,” and “separate from sinners.” (Hebrews 7:26) That’s pretty good!

15) Like God, Jesus can be present in more than one place at the same time.

Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (See also Matthew 28:20)

16) One of Jesus’ titles is “God with us.”

Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

17) Jesus’ blood is called God’s blood.

Acts 20:28 “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”

18) Jesus has the same nature as God.

Hebrews 1:3a “And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.”

19) Jesus spoke as God.

Jesus did not speak as one of God’s prophets: “thus says the Lord,” but as God: “I say to you.”

Matthew 5:27-29 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

Matthew 7:28-29 “And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”

20) Like God (Psalm 136:3), Jesus is called the Lord of Lords and King of kings.

Revelation 17:14 “These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” (See also 1 Timothy 6:15).


-Charlie Campbell

Who are you to say,
"God does not exist?"

You must be all knowing!
Tell me then, O wise one, the answers to my questions.

•In your world, what is your purpose for living? How do you know?
•How many hairs are on your head?
•In your world, what are the requirements for laying down the foundations of the earth?
•In your world, how is it that the ant knows its very job without an authority power?
•In your world, where does morality come from? Why do you have it?
•In your world, what is it that gives you a conscience to discern what is good from what is evil?

Surely you must have the answers to my questions, O ageless man from the beginning! You must answer all my questions since you are all knowing.

•In your world, you say man is good. Why then do you teach a young child something you claim it already knows?

Come, all who stand in opposition and think they have great knowledge! Answer my questions.

•In your world, why has darkness preceded light? Why does light hate darkness and darkness hate light? Why does opposition exist? Where has it come from?

Please show me your infinite knowledge!

•In your world, why do you have emotion? Why do you have sympathy for an abandoned cub, but the cub's mother has no sympathy for an abandoned child?
•Why do animals not share the same discernment as you?
•Why don't they have a moral law within them?
•In your world, why do you exist in a place where you are given the privilege of seeing the vastness of the universe?
•In your world, how was gravity created? Why is it so precise?
•In your world, can you explain the moral law within you?
•In your world, can you explain the void within your heart that you constantly try to fill?
•Can you explain where love comes from? Can you explain why everyone needs it?

This is what the Lord says,

If you don't even understand your world,
How then would you understand mine?

Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He will bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.

Deuteronomy 18:15-18
The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him. For this is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, "Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die." The LORD said to me: "What they say is good. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him.

How is Jesus like Moses:

Moses and Jesus narrowly escaped dead when they were born
Pharaoh killed all male children of Jews (Ex. 1:15-17)
Herod killed all infants younger than 2 in Bethlehem (Matt 2:16)

Moses and Jesus were saved by the faith of their parents
Moses' parents put him in a ark
Jesus' parents took him to Egypt to hide from Herod

Moses and Jesus fasted for 40 days
Moses: Ex. 34:28
Jesus: Matt 4:2

Moses and Jesus spoke with God face to face
Moses: Num 12:7-8
Jesus: John 1:18

Moses and Jesus took their closest followers up a mountain to meet with God
Moses: Ex. 24: 9-10
Jesus: Matt 17:1-5

Moses and Jesus faces shined with light after seeing God
Moses: Ex 34:34-35
Jesus: Matt 17:2

Moses and Jesus established a covenant between God and His people
Moses: Ex. 24:7-8
Jesus: Luke 22:20

Moses and Jesus are the only two who have ever fed a multitude of people
Moses with manna
Jesus with fishes and bread (on at least 2 occasions) - John 6:14 tells us that after Jesus performed this miracle, the people began to say "Surely, this is the Prophet (the one they are waiting for !) who is to come". The people were reminded of the prophecy that a "Prophet like Moses" will come - feeding thousands of people reminded them of the miracle of Manna in Moses' time
-------------------

Isaiah 9:6
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." This verse points out the inescapable fact that the Messiah is God Almighty appearing in human form

Isaiah 9:1
"Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali but in the future He will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea along the Jordan...'

Jeremiah 23:5-6
"The days are coming,' declares the Lord, 'When I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a king who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In His days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which He will be called; The Lord our Righteousness.'

Psalm 2:2
"The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers plot together, against Jehovah and against His anointed, saying..."

Psalm 2:7
"I will declare the decree of YHWH. He has said to Me, You are My Son; today I have begotten You."

Micah 5:1
"But thou Bethlehem Ephratha, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall One come forth unto Me that is to be Ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from old, from Ancient of Days."

Zechariah 3:8-9
'Listen, O high priest Joshua (Joshua and Jesus are the same in Hebrew)and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,’ says the LORD Almighty, ‘and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.’”

Zechariah 6:9-13
"The word of the LORD came to me: ‘Take silver and gold from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who arrived from Babylon. Go the same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. Take the silver and gold and make a crown, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua (Joshua and Jesus are the same name in Hebrew) son of Jehozadak. Tell him this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Here is the man whose name is the Branch and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the LORD. It is he who will build the temple of the LORD, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two."

Isaiah 52:13-14
"See my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at him - his appearance was disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness - so will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.

Isaiah 53:11
After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.

Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12 contains numerous description of what the Messiah must suffer, and some predictions about the Messiah (how to recognize the Messiah) - here is just a sample:

•He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth (Jesus was silent before Pontius Pilate)
•He will be pierced (Jesus was pierced on the cross)
•He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death (Jesus died on the cross among two wicked persons but he was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Aremathea - he was a rich man, who was part of the Sanhedrin and a (secret) follower of Jesus)
----------------

Psalm 22 by King David is a cry of a suffering man - judging superficially, one may think the person in this psalm is David. But look deeper and you see it is NOT David - his hands and feet were never pierced, see Psa 22:16 (They pierced my hands and my feet)

Psalm 22:1 God predicts through David
"My God, My God why have you forsaken me?"

Matthew 27:46 Jesus says
"About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi lama sabacthani?,' which means, 'My God, My God why have you forsaken Me?' "
---------------------

Psalm 22:6-8 God predicts through David
"But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by people. All who see me mock me. They hurl insults shaking their heads; 'He trusts in the Lord, let the Lord rescue Him. Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him.'"

Matthew 27:41-44 The people say
"In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the Law and the Elders mocked Him. 'He saved others.' they said, 'But He can't save Himself! He's the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him. He trusts in God, let God rescue Him now if He wants Him, for He said "I am the Son of God." ' In the same way the robbers who were crucified with Him also heaped insults on Him."

Psalm 22:14-15
"I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint, my heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death."
NOTE - This is a precise description of the crucifixion process where the hanging weight of a person's body would eventually cause his bones to come out of joint, and would make him as one lying in the "dust of death"

John 19:34
"Instead one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water."
Medically the flow of blood and water would mean that the heart of the person had literally burst , i.e. had "turned to wax" and "melted away"

John 19:28
"Later, knowing that all was completed, and so that the scripture may be fulfilled, Jesus said, 'I am thirsty.' "
------------------------

Psalm 16
"Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men have encircled me; they have pierced (kaaru) my hands and feet."

Jesus was crucified among two convicts.

(NOTE - This prediction was made when crucifixion did not even exist at the time! Crucifixion was invented by Alexander the Great around 350 BC.)
---------------------

Psalm 22:17-18
"I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. They have divided my garments and cast lots for my clothing."

John 19:33
"They did not break his legs" (to speed up death because Jesus was already dead - the soldiers checked and made sure of that when one of them pierced his heart)

John 19:23-24
"When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took His clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. 'Let's not tear it,' they said to one another, 'let's decide by lot who will get it.' "


--------------------------
READ THIS CAREFULLY
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Daniel 9:24-26
"Seventy sevens are decreed for your people and the Holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most Holy. Know and understand this; from the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One (Messiah), the Ruler comes, there will be Seven sevens and Sixty-two sevens. After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be cut off (i.e., die) and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. "

In other words: beginning with the moment of the decree that "Jerusalem will be rebuilt" to the moment that the Messiah will present himself, there will be "69 sevens."


Evidence that this prediction has been fulfilled:

•Artaxerxes decree to Nehemiah in 444 B. C. (see Nehemiah 2:1-8), to rebuild the city Jerusalem and the city gates as well as its walls:

•Neh 2:1 And it happened in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, wine was before him. And I (Nehemiah) took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence before.

•Neh 2:5 and I said to the king, If it please the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I pray that you would send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tombs, so that I may build it.
It clearly state that the CITY of Jerusalem will be rebuilt - not just the wall

•Nisan 1 444 BC is March 4, BC according to the Gregorian calendar

•The Hebrew and Babylonian calendar at that time used a 360 day year. So in the calculation of "year" referred by Daniel, we must use this "prophetic year" instead of 365 days of our current year.
The use of this 'prophetic year' in these prophecies is confirmed by comparing the 1,260 days (Rev 11:3, 12:6) with the 42 month (Rev 11:2, 13:5) and with the 'time, times, and half a time' or three and a half years of Dan 7:25, 12:7, Rev 12:14).

•The decree to rebuild Jerusalem was given on Nisan 1 in the year 444 BC (Nisan in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes)

•69 x sevens = 69 x 7 = 483 (years of 360 days)

•That is equal to 483 x 360 = 173880 days

•1 Solar year = 365.24219879 days, so 173880 days = 476.067663 solar years = 476 yrs + 24.7 days

•Working with the Gregorian calendar, starting from March 4, 444 BC and adding 476 Gregorian yrs + 25 days, we arrive at: March 30, 33 AD (Gregorian year)

•What happened that day is recorded in Luke 19:28-40:
Luk 19:28
And saying these things, He went in front, going up to Jerusalem. ...

Luk 19:37
And when He had come near, even now at the descent of the Mount of Olives, all the multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen, saying, Blessed is the King coming in the name of the Lord! Peace in Heaven and glory in the highest!
--- The Messiah had not been reveal until that moment !

Luk 19:39
"And some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to Him, Teacher, rebuke your disciples. And He answered and said to them, I tell you that if these should be silent, the stones would cry out. "

"After the sixty-two "sevens", the Anointed One will be cut off (i.e., die) and will have nothing. The people of the ruler (Roman) who will come will destroy the city (Jerusalem) and the sanctuary (temple). "

Jerusalem and the (second) temple were destroyed in 70 AD
--------------------------

--

•In "Science Speaks" by Peter Stoner the probabilities of a man fulfilling eight of the prophecies is estimated to be 1 in 10 to the 17th power which is 100,000,000,000,000,000.
•The Old Testament contains over 300 references to the Messiah that were fulfilled in Jesus - the odds of this happening is not worth mentioning.
----------------------------

Common skeptical arguments,

"The gospels on the life of Jesus were altered to make Jesus fulfill the prophecies."

Most disciples died a violent death because they preach a gospel that the Jewish authority did not like - it does not make any sense for the disciples to fabricate a fall gospel and then willingly allow themselves to be executed for a lie that they invented themselves.

"Jesus knew about the predictions in the Old Testament and deliberately maneuvered His life in a way to fulfill the prophecies.

That can be done, but only in regard to some prophecies. Jesus cannot control the fact that the Sanhedrin offering Judas 30 pieces of silver. Jesus cannot control the timing of his birth precisely at the time of Daniel's prophecy. There is a lot more Jesus can't do than can.

The Lord is my Matchmaker.
I will not worry.

Is it I who searches the heart of every woman in the world?
Is it I who knows the secrets of their hearts?
Is it I who convicts the hearts of people?
Is it I who puts myself on a persons heart?
Is it I who knew her from the beginning of time?
Is it I who guides her path?
Is it I who knows who she is?
Is it I who prepares her?

Of course not.

So why on Earth should I worry?
I am in no position to do so!

O Lord,

Thank You for showing me Your insights.
Help me always remember.
Don't let me forget Your truths.
I must always remember.

When I marry, remind me...

To think of her above my own life.
When I am tired, give me strength to help her clean.
If she washes dishes,
I will wrap my arms around her and wash with her.

Use me to show her how much I love her.
But more importantly,
Use me to show her how much You love her.
Use me...

Help me remember this moment!
I boldly come to your throne!
I bring everything in my heart to you.
May You pick and choose what doesn't belong!

Help me remember this moment.
For when I find a wife,
I will have found a great thing!

Even Adam had a time of singleness.

When man was alone,
He realized his loneliness.
When man saw woman,
He forgot his loneliness.

Lord, I don't want to forget.
In fear of taking my wife for granted.

When she is in Your word,
I will read with her.
When she cleans,
I will clean with her.
When she laughs,
I will laugh with her.
When she weeps,
I will weep with her.
When she sings songs for You,
I will sing with her.

May we truly be one flesh!


But Lord,
Don't let me forget...

O Lord,

Get this fear away from me!
Just because I have no company,
Doesn't mean I should be quiet.
Help me remember You are here!

Help me not care about what others think.
Help me to focus on You at all times!
Help me to once again speak with enthusiasm
Around all people, not just people I know.

Take these tired eyes and this tired body.
Throw it away for good.
Burn it.
Give me the energy I once had.
The energy of a child.
Replace it.

Please do this for me so I may express the love You have for me,
To others.
Help me to be more expressive.
Get me out of this shell.

If my legs are to blame, break them.
If my eyes are to blame, rip them out.
I would rather be lame and blind than not show people Your love.

Melt this clay with Your fire, so you can remold me.
It will hurt me for the moment,
However,
It will make me great.

O Lord,

Help me!
For I am losing focus.
I can feel my eyes begin to wander.
I hate every turn of my head.

May you reach down from heaven
And grab my face,
So I may look up to You
And be too shocked to look away.

Improve my focus,
So my attitude will be right.
Improve my focus,
So my love will be right.
Improve my focus,
So Your will be done.

Lord,
I still remember that time you came to me.
You are truly frightening.
Frightening indeed.
However, despite that fear,
You were the only thought in my head.
Yes, to fear the Lord is good.
It keeps us focused.

Lord, may I never lose focus!

When I am well,
Help me run to you.
When I am afraid,
It is all too easy...
When I do a mighty work through You,
Help me run to You.
When I struggle,
It is all too easy...

My Lord, move these legs!
May I never lose sight of You.
May I never forget for a second!

When all is well; help me remember,
"Where do good things come from?"
And I shall run into Your arms,
For You are the one who gives grace.

I will bow before You in thanksgiving,
Just as I bow in desperation.
May there be no difference!

Your son asks this of You,
Jesus.

My Lord,

Help me always remember this moment.
For I am single, and desire a wife who loves you.
I am housebroken, and desire a home for myself.
I am jobless, and desire a steady job.

Help me always remember this moment!

For I am weak, and I desire strength.
I am impatient, and I desire patience.
I am stupid, and I desire wisdom.

You know my heart, Lord.
You know my mind.
You know I love You.
You know I do.

"You are a man after my own heart."
You told me...
I began to cry back then.
I still do.

"Your faith really puts a smile on my face."
You told me...
I began to cry back then.
I still do.

How can it be, that You my Lord would say this about me?
I am just a lowly dog!
The mere thought always brings me to tears.
The wrinkled spots on the pages,
I still remember.
My eyes were to blame,
Weren't they...

Help me always remember this moment.
Because...

You will give me Your own daughter.
You will give me Your own home.
You will give me a job.
You will give me strength.
You will give me patience.
You will give me wisdom.

All of this simply because I love You?
You grant me my own desires in which I do not deserve!
What grace!
Who am I to ever complain?!

Help me always remember,
All I have is Yours.
You gave me everything.
Every single thing.

Who am I to ever complain?
There is nothing for me to fear.

Nothing!

O Lord,

I am overwhelmed by Your grace.
Who am I to get this undeserved love?
The presence of your spirit is too mighty.
It is too mighty for my eyes to bear.

So I cry...

It is all I am able to do,
When I feel your presence.

I can't speak.
I can't think.
I can't move.
I can only cry

My Lord,

Who am I?
I am just a lowly dog.
A foolish dog who only makes mistakes.
And yet, you love me?
I am overwhelmed!

I am like a newborn child.
I don't have the ability...

To speak;
To think;
To move;
To care for myself...
I can only cry.

I am a defenseless child.

Without you, Lord;
Who would protect me?
Who would love me?
Who would help me?
Who would save me?
I can only cry.

Yes,

No words
No thoughts
No actions
Are able to express my gratitude.

I can only cry...

O Lord,

Why must I feel such pain?
You gave me wisdom to survive.
Why does everyone want wisdom?
Don't they see?
One may have all the wisdom in the world
Another may have all the knowledge in the world
Without patience and hope through faith in you,
It means nothing!
Lord, you show me things.
Why is it so hard to wait?
Who am I, to question your timing?
I will no longer dwell in the future.
That is no place for man.

I will walk by faith, in the present.
Down the path you made for me.
I will look to the sky,
And never look away.
I will ignore satan and his demons that try to distract me.
I will say "Begone!"
And the coward will flee.
I thank you for your authority.
The authority to make satan hear Your voice,
Instead of mine.



My friends,

Ask God for patience.
He has shown me that the more I think I'm patient,
The more I'm shown how impatient I really am.
Patience is something all should request.

No man is patient.
Man lacks in everything.
No man can say,

"I don't need God in this area."

No, not a single one.

Be patient, and wait upon the Lord.
Have the patience and hope that comes from faith.
Do not question God's timing,
For you know nothing.

You get the chicken by hatching it,
Not by smashing it.
You get the butterfly by waiting for the caterpillar,
Not by ripping the cocoon open.

All beautiful things require patience.
Be patient and wait upon the Lord,

For you will be made beautiful.

O Lord,

How silly it is to worry.
What a lack of faith!
A simple mistake that fools so many!
How easy for satan to manipulate!

I have become like a child, Lord.
Unwavering faith is what you love most.
Trusting in you no matter the circumstance.
Having faith no matter the emotion.
Knowing that you will save me.
Knowing that you will.

I will swim in the waters during a storm.
I will trust that you will not let your lightning strike me.
I will walk through the fires of Hell.
I will trust that you will not allow a single burn.

You love innocence and all that is pure.
I know you will protect me.

I am like a child, running around a pool.
You are my lifeguard, waiting to rescue me.

You meet people at their level of faith.
I have no doubts.
As long as I know my job through you is not yet finished,
I will not die.

The Lord who has started a work is faithful to finish it!

Praise the Lord with all your heart!
You will be blessed!
If you give up on God,
Then you had no faith to begin with!

No matter the circumstance,
God is in control,
The creator of all things!

How silly it is to worry!

O Lord,

I live in a gray world...

Like a camera, weeping with every flash;
Searching for a capture that holds meaning.
Like a plastic fan, blowing out an open window;
Longing for the wind it produces to have meaning.

Trust is gone.

This world holds too much deception.
Not the doing of another,
I blame my own reflection.
My world is falling apart, right in front of me.

I am blinded.
I'm a screw up.
I'm a failure.
I'm not sleeping,
I'm dead.

That is my life without you, Lord...

...


However,
I have you within me!

Thank You! for always giving me life;
Allowing me to see colors, when I deserve gray.
Forgiving me, when I screw up.
Comforting me, when I shed tears of sorrow.
Being there, when no one else is.
Fighting my battles, and bringing victory.
Giving me strength.

Thank You, for being You!

Without you,

All is vanity.
All is meaningless.
I'm glad I have you...

You are my epiphany.
You are my Lord and my God.

Thank you, for everything,
Jesus.