Author: Bill

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 1 Peter 1:7 So that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise & glory & honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. — Faith is complete trust or confidence in someone or something. Q? Faith in God? Faith is the substance of what is hoped for, & it is the evidence of that which is not yet seen or received. The closer we get to God the bigger our faith! So if there is a need for the unseen, the bigger, the more faith that is needed, then move closer to God! For you see He gives us faith when we seek Him! The bottom line is that true faith is our assurance in the true belief in our God! Be Blessed! Love Mel

Deut 32:6 Be strong & courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of “whatever”, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. Isaiah 46:4 Even to your old age I am he, & to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, & I will bear; I will carry & will save. John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world! — We sever an overcoming God who is willing to carry us in the troubled times! Praise His name! Love Mel

In 605 BC Israel had not observed the (one-year-in-seven) Sabbath rest for 490 years. The Holy Land and it’s people did not get their required Sabbath rest from planting and did not use that time to focus on God as they were supposed to. The prophet Jeremiah predicted the nation of Judah would fall to the Babylonian Empire and their temple destroyed and that after 70 years the Jews would return to Judah, repopulate Jerusalem, and rebuild their temple (Jeremiah 25:11 and 29:10). The Babylonian captivity was set at 70 years to make up for the missed annual Sabbaths. 2 Chron. 36:21 says, “The land (of Israel) enjoyed its Sabbaths, all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah.” (See Jeremiah 25:11). So we see that God required His people and His land to rest and pray – and they did not do so. Why does God care? Because His plan require our prayers!! I know God is not causing the evil in this world today, the evil one is responsible for that. But could one of the better things that will come from this time of self quarantine be that Gods people will have a Sabbath rest and will pray for what is to come? Do you owe God some time? Here is our chance to get ourselves on firm ground again and to pray for our leaders, our nation, and our world for what is surely to come in the short, and long terms.

Zechariah 14:12-15 Now this will be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the peoples who have gone to war against Jerusalem; their flesh will rot while they stand on their feet, & their eyes will rot in their sockets, & their tongue will rot in their mouth. It will come about in that day that a great panic from the LORD will fall on them; & they will seize one another’s hand, & the hand of one will be lifted against the hand of another. Judah also will fight at Jerusalem; & the wealth of all the surrounding nations will be gathered, gold & silver & garments in great abundance. Leviticus 26:21 If then, you act with hostility against Me & are unwilling to obey Me, I will increase the plague on you seven times according to your sins. — When I read this, my first impression is that I would NEVED war against Jerusalem! I want to keep my flesh, eyes & tongue! Oh & the seven times, I believe I will do my best to obey! Many plagues have come & gone over time! I don’t know if the corona virus is critical for most, but one thing I do know is I hate to be sick, & want to remain strong! So let’s all pray to our Lord for the healing of our land & mercy from this evil that is trying to destroy our country! Prayer does change things! Love Mel
And while your at it they are recommending some elderberry, vitamin C & zinc gummies to build your immune system up!

1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, & whoever loves has been born of God & knows God.  1John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from Him & proclaim to you, that God is light, & in Him is no darkness at all. Psalm 100:5 For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, & His faithfulness to all generations. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. Romans 15:33 May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.” —Look around you, all that you see that is good, that is God! God is Love! God is Light! God is Good! God is Faithful! God is Patient! God is Peace! God is our Everlasting Father & we are His Children!  —Awesome verse from my cousin Pastor Larry, John 1:16, NLT: “From His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another! — Have a blessed day! Love Mel