The Bible declares Jesus Christ is coming to elope with His bride, the Christian Church. In a “twinkling of an eye”, without warning, millions of born again Christians are going to vanish. This imminent event could happen at any moment. How will the world function when myriads of its citizens suddenly disappear?
This week on the Prophecy Update Radio program, host Bill Salus interviews a panel of prophecy experts about the Rapture and other related end time’s events. The panel consists of Terry James, Don McGee, and Daymond Duck. This prophecy panel takes an in-depth look at the Rapture event and evidences why the momentous event could occur immediately without delay. (Picture of Bill, Terry, & Don Dallas Pre-Trib Rapture Conference)
Terry James is the author of19 prophecybooks and co-founder ofRaptureready.com, the world’s most visited prophecy website. Daymond Duck, is the author of “the Book of Revelation, the Smart Guide to the Bible series”. Don McGee is the founder of Crown and Sickle Ministries. All three of these individuals are internationally recognized for their end time’s expertise.
(Picture of Bill & Daymond Christmas in Dallas at Pre-Trib Rapture conference) This two part interview is riveting and informative.
Listen Now to Part One

Listen Now to Part Two
Part 2 includes a panel discussion about the fallen angelic principalities that Christians deal with daily. •

**********************************************
Enjoy friends! -Blessings! -Rev.Debbie ♥

Again, this is not the norm for this blog, but you know how sometimes I'll give you some different articles, being this world just isn't the norm that I can remember it to be anymore :

UFOs Over Utah Drop Flare-Like Objects

What were those bright, flare-like objects dropped from aerial red UFOs over Utah? No official explanation has been offered.

With so many small video cams and cell phones that include cameras, it's become more and more commonplace that people are videotaping weird things seen in the sky. And one of the latest comes from Utah.

Last week, strange lights in the sky were reported, videotaped and posted online by folks in the American Fork, Utah, area.

Three red lights appeared in the sky, hovered in formation for about 15 minutes and dropped bright, white-colored objects, reports ABC4.com.

A local resident, Lynette Chidester, noticed that the odd lights in the sky made no sound and didn't blink at all. "I don't believe in extraterrestrials," she said. "I noticed over the roof of the garage a red light and a white light, and the red light isn't flashing like an airplane light does -- that's what drew my attention to it."

Chidester said there ended up being three red lights, and she saw something strange happen.

"Out of the red light comes, like, a firework -- the phosphorescent silver -- it's coming down out of it and I thought, 'OK, I've never seen that before.'"

A few miles away, Mike Galbraith was in a shopping center parking lot when he also saw the lights, which he captured on his cell phone camera.

"I looked up and there were three red lights and then they started dropping what looked like flares or something bright was dropping straight down," he said.

"They looked like they were flying in formation perfectly together and then, whatever was dropping looked like it was burning real bright," Galbraith added.

Local airport and military officials report nothing unusual happened in the sky over Utah on the night in question, so the incident remains, for the time being, unidentified, in keeping with the definition of UFO: unidentified flying object. •

Defending The Pre-Trib Rapture

A Bible Study by Jack Kelley

Some body asked me a great question the other day. “Does Scripture actually promise a Pre-Tribulation Rapture, or is it just an opinion passed along from teacher to student?” Then he challenged me to cite even one Bible verse that would lead a person to believe the Pre-Trib position if they hadn’t already heard about it from some Bible teacher. He said that in all his studies he’s not been able to find one. Let’s see if he’s right.

First, Some General Points

The Rapture is not another name for the Second Coming. As 1 Thes. 4:15-17 and John 14:1-3 explain, the Rapture is an unscheduled secret event where Jesus comes part way to Earth to meet His Church in the air and take us to be with Him where He now is. I say unscheduled and secret because its specific timing will remain unknown until it actually happens. On the other hand, The Second Coming is a scheduled public event where Jesus comes all the way to Earth with His Church to establish a Kingdom here. I say scheduled and public because the general time of His coming will be known on Earth over 3 1/2 years in advance, and public because everyone on Earth will be able to witness His arrival. Matt. 24:29-30 says it will happen shortly after the Great Tribulation has ended and all the nations will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds in the sky. Membership in the Church and therefore participation in the Rapture is contingent upon having personally accepted the Lord’s death as payment in full for your sins. While His death actually purchased full pardons for everyone, we each have to personally ask to have ours activated. Everyone who asks for salvation receives an unconditional, irrevocable “Yes!” (Matt. 7:7-8, John 3:16, Ephes. 1:13-14) For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. (2 Corinth. 1:20)

It’s Greek To Me

And finally, although cynics can truthfully say that the word Rapture doesn’t appear in any passage of Scripture, the statement is not correct in its intent. Rapture is a word of Latin origin, not Hebrew or Greek, the languages of the Bible. (One of the earliest translations of the Bible was into Latin, and the word rapture comes from there.) Its Greek equivalent is harpazo, which is found in the Greek text of 1 Thes. 4:17. When they’re translated into English, both words mean “to be caught up, or snatched away.” Harpazo, the word Paul actually used, comes from roots that mean, “to raise from the ground” and” take for oneself” and hints that in doing so the Lord is eagerly claiming us for Himself. So while the Latin word doesn’t appear in our Bibles, the event it describes certainly does. There’s a similar situation with the word Lucifer, also of Latin origin. It doesn’t appear in any of the original texts either, but no one would be naive enough to deny the existence of Satan on such a flimsy basis. With that introduction, let’s go first to the best known of the Rapture passages.

According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (1 Thes. 4:15-17)

Most of us are very familiar with these verses. But notice they don’t tell you when the rapture happens, only that it does. Notice also that the Lord doesn’t come all the way to Earth. We meet Him in the clouds and then according to John 14:1-3 go back with Him to where He came from. If this was the 2nd coming, He would be coming here to be where we are, not coming to take us there to be where He is. Paul described the same event in 1 Cor 15:51-52. In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye the dead in Christ will rise and the living will be transformed. There he said that he was disclosing a secret, but the resurrection of the dead was not a secret. It can be found through out the Old Testament. The secret was that some would not die, but would be taken alive into the Lord’s presence following an instantaneous transformation. The rapture happens fast. In one instant we’re walking on Earth and in the very next, we’re in the Kingdom.

By the way, don’t try to use the trumpet reference in verse 52 to pin the timing of the rapture to some other event. Since both the Corinthian passage and the one from Thessalonians describe the same things, it’s safe to assume that the term last trump refers to the fact that the trumpet call of God from 1 Thes. 4:16 will signal the end of the Church Age, at which time the Church will disappear from Earth. So these two references both say that one generation of humans won’t die but will be suddenly changed from our earthly form to our heavenly one. And since both Matt. 24:31 (they’ll gather His elect from one end of the heavens to the other) and Rev. 17:14 (with Him will be His called, chosen, and faithful followers) say that we’ll be with the Lord when He returns, this has to happen sometime before the 2nd Coming. And it can’t be just the resurrected believers coming back with Him because the Rapture passages above say that we’ll be changed at the same time as the dead are raised.

So When Does This Happen?

In the New Testament, the clearest indication we get in the timing department is found in 1 Thes. 1:9-10. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. The Greek word translated “from” in this passage is “apo.” Taken literally, it means we’re to be rescued from the time, the place, or any relation to God’s wrath. It denotes both departure and separation. This is supported by 1 Thes. 5:9 that declares, “God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Some folks are fond of pointing out that you can’t use God’s wrath interchangeably with the Great Tribulation. They’re not the same, they say. And they’re right, the two terms are not synonymous. The Great Tribulation is 3 1/2 years long and begins in Rev. 11-13. God’s wrath is much longer, beginning in Rev. 6, as verse 17 explains. Post-trib. and pre-wrath rapture advocates try to deny this but the Scripture is clear. The time of God’s wrath begins with the Seal Judgments. The Bowl Judgments that come later don’t begin the time of His wrath, they conclude it. (Rev. 15:1) Being rescued from the time, the place and any relation to God’s Wrath means the Church has to disappear before Rev. 6, and that’s why we believe the Rapture takes place in Rev. 4 and the Church is the group of believers in view in heaven in Rev.5.

(...."He reserves wrath for His enemies." -this is from Nahum 1:2)

You Be The Judge

Now let’s apply my questioner’s litmus test. Could a believer, sitting alone on the proverbial desert isle with nothing but a Bible and with no pre-conceived ideas, conclude that there’s a pre-trib Rapture just from reading about it, or could he only be led into this position by first hearing someone teach him about it? Well, From Isaiah 13:9-13 and Amos 5:18-20, he would have learned that God is going to judge the Earth for it’s sins in a terrible time called the Day of the Lord when He’ll pour out His wrath on mankind. Reading Matt. 24:21-22 would have told him that this time of judgment would be so bad that if the Lord didn’t put a stop to it no one would survive. But the Lord will put a stop to it by returning in power and glory. Since he would know that the Lord hasn’t returned yet, he would know that God’s wrath is still in the future. When he got to 1 Thes. 1:9-10 he would see a pretty clear statement. Jesus rescues us from the coming wrath. In the “who, what, where, when, and why” methodology of the investigative reporter he would have the Who, (Jesus) the what, (rescues us) and the when (the time of the coming wrath). Reading on he would come to 1 Thes. 4:15:17 and get the where (from Earth to the clouds) and in 1 Thes. 5:9 the why (because we’re not appointed to wrath). From there he would logically conclude that since we’ll be rescued around the time of the coming wrath and since we’re not appointed to wrath, our rescue has to precede it. He could also answer another of the investigative reporter’s questions in 1 Thes. 4:15:17 and that’s how it would happen. The Lord himself will come down from Heaven into our atmosphere and suddenly snatch us away from Earth to join Him there. In chapter 5 he would learn that he would never know the exact timing of this event but only that it would precede the coming wrath. Of course there are many more passages I could reference but I think I’ve made my point and answered the question. In fact I’ll go one step further. I believe that since our hypothetical reader has no one to persuade him differently, he would assume that what he’s reading is to be taken literally. And if that’s the case, then the pre-trib position is the only conclusion he could logically come to, because every other position requires a moderate to massive re-interpretation of Scripture. I contend that left alone to work this out with only the Holy Spirit as his guide he would expect to be raptured before the wrath of God begins in Rev. 6. You see, God didn’t write the Bible to confuse us, but to inform us. It’s mankind that’s gotten everything all mixed up. If you give the Holy Spirit a clear minded student, uncontaminated by man’s opinions and prejudices, He would bring that person to the understanding of the rapture that’s most consistent with a literal interpretation of Scripture. And that requires a pre-trib rapture. •

HE COULD COME TODAY!

***********************************************************

I wanted to share that study with you today!

I also want you to look to the last post for your February's Studies of The Holy Bible!

Blessings! -Rev.Debbie ♥

February's Bible Studies


Here we start another beautiful month! Cold on the outside, but God's warm love on our insides!
Let's get a hot cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate and do today's study.
I'm excited! ♥









February 1st -Exodus 27-28 & Matthew 21: 1-22

February 2nd -Exodus 29-30 & Matthew 21: 23-46

February 3rd -Exodus 31-33 & Matthew 22: 1-22

February 4th -Exodus 34-35 & Matthew 22: 23-46

February 5th -Exodus 36-38 & Matthew 23: 1-22

February 6th -Exodus 39-40 & Matthew 23: 23-39

February 7th -Leviticus 1-3 & Matthew 24: 1-28

February 8th -Leviticus 4-5 & Matthew 24: 29-51

February 9th -Leviticus 6-7 & Matthew 25: 1-30

February 10th -Leviticus 8-10 & Matthew 25: 31-46

February 11th -Leviticus 11-12 & Matthew 26: 1-25

February 12th -Leviticus 13 & Matthew 26: 26-50

February 13th -Leviticus 14 & Matthew 26: 51-75

February 14th -Leviticus 15-16 & Matthew 27: 1-26

February 15th -Leviticus 17-18 & Matthew 27: 27-50

February 16th -Leviticus 19-20 & Matthew 27: 51-66

February 17th -Leviticus 21-22 & Matthew 28

February 18th -Leviticus 23-24 & Mark 1: 1-22

February 19th -Leviticus 25 & Mark 1: 23-45

February 20th -Leviticus 26-27 & Mark 2

February 21st -Numbers 1-3 & Mark 3

February 22nd -Numbers 4-6 & Mark 4: 1-20

February 23rd -Numbers 7-8 & Mark 4: 21-41

February 24th -Numbers 9-11 & Mark 5: 1-20

February 25th -Numbers 12-14 & Mark 5: 21-43

February 26th -Numbers 15-16 & Mark 6: 1-29

February 27th -Numbers 17-19 & Mark 6: 30-56

February 28th -Numbers 20-22 & Mark 7: 1-13

{on Leap Years: February 29th -Psalm 145}

*****************************************
Blessings to you as you continue on in your studies! -Rev.Debbie ♥


DID YOU KNOW? :

Wearing the wedding ring on the fourth finger
of the left hand, is due to the belief of the ancients,
that there is a vein in that finger which runs directly
to the heart. ♥

GOOD SABBATH EVERYONE!

GOOD SABBATH EVERYONE!

I hope everyone will be able to go to church services this weekend.
Our Lord Jesus will be there. He could sit next to you. Just invite Him.
He loves you. He always has and always will.

*****************************************************************




<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< ................................ ><>

{Don't follow the crowd if they don't lead you to the Savior.}

Who will be taken in the Rapture?

Matthew 7:21-23

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

This passage is not speaking about the Rapture - but I think we can still assume that only true Christians will be taken. Lukewarm Christians will be left behind.

Revelation 3:16
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Are you a 'real' Christian?

Many 'Christians' want to get to heaven, yet they want to live a mortal life forever. Someone told me those words recently, and it struck me hard because I had just had a similar conversation with a friend in reference to the Rapture and she had responded with "I do not want Jesus to come yet, I have many things I need to do first."

I told her, Jesus is only coming for the people that are ready and waiting for his return. So you need to decide what's more important to you "many things" or Jesus - because you can't have both.

If you say "I was saved a few years ago, got baptized, and joined the Church, but now it's not all that interesting to me, my faith is not what it used to be", then you are in danger of being left behind in the Rapture.

If your pastor told you after you got saved you don't ever have to worry about it anymore, you will go to heaven, then he 'lied' to you.

You must keep a renewed relationship with Jesus. You must fight a good fight, finish the course, and keep the faith if you want to be taken in the Rapture or go to heaven when you die.

He draws all but only those who are open to being drawn will come. •

Why will I miss the rapture if I am not an overcomer?

Please take this to heart friends. May God bless you all.
-Rev.Debbie ♥

<:))))><

May the Holy God of Israel bless and protect you. -Rev.Debbie ♥

OUT OF THE ORDINARY FOR THIS BLOG,
BUT...IT'S INTERESTING:

*******************************************
Denver murals, whales swimming in oil,
dead birds and Penguins!

Denver International Airport is a sinister place, in my opinion.
Yesterday by chance I stumbled once again on the murals and my jaw dropped as my eyes glanced over the paintings, are these murals a prophecy? Clearly seen below is a whale swimming in oil or blood (reference to the oil spill?), an extinct Penguin, Parrot and Quetzal (Penguin and Parrot, dead birds and fish we are seeing recently? Quetzal, 2012 and The Mayans? )
Dead animals, are they next? 200 hundred cows died unexplained in the US this week.
And most chilling of all, dead people! Is the Nazi type soldier depicted below going to strike us all down with his sword, The New World Order?
Have a good look at the paintings folks and then read the narrative added below, it will open your eyes!

Here is a brief UNCONFIRMED narrative: If you have more info please be sure to pass it along...

• The Queen of England has reportedly been buying up property in Colorado under a proxy.
• There is a lot of "secret society" symbology at the airport, an AWFUL lot in fact
• The symbolism apparent in the layout of the new Denver airport, some feel, says that it may be a control center for world control
• Specifically, those involved in some very unusual government projects in the past, have remarked that the Denver area is where the establishment of the Western sector of the New World Order will be in the United States.
• Denver is of very high altitude and ideal for safe underground building
• The dedication or capstone of the new Denver International Airport is a masonic symbol.
• If you visit the airport's south eastern side of the terminal you will find the Masonic Capstone in Granite.
• This part of the terminal is called The Great Hall, which is known in Masonic lingo as their meeting hall.
• On the Masonic Capstone is inscribed NEW WORLD AIRPORT COMMISSION.
• An eyewitness who has since "committed suicide" named Phil Schneider was a whistle blower re: Denver International Airport's underground facilities
• He helped build the underground facilities and reportedly "killed" himself via a double tie catheter behind his own neck strangling himself. It goes without saying that it appears that he was MURDERED.
• Phil also worked on other government underground facilities such as Area 51 and Dulce and more.
• In the same general area as the Masonic capstone, there are Masonic designs inlaid in the floor, such as the expression DZIT DIT GAII, [anyone know EXACTLY what that means?]
• Phil Schneider's father was a U-boat captain during the NAZI regime.
• Apparently DZIT DIT GAII refers to the BLACK SUN some sort of NAZI symbology.
• NAZI's apparently were into "BLACK SUN" worship, i.e. Saturn, i.e. Satanism, should not surprise us, I suppose
• There are many murals at the airport of an EXTREMELY grotesque and apocalyptic nature.
• After looking at the murals many come away saying that they may represent what the elites plan to do with us and world
• One of the murals depicts 3 caskets containing dead people, each person representing people who the elites may want dead
• Black woman, a Jewish woman, and an American Indian Woman
• The casket ritual is common in the Skull & Bones Club whose members include George Bush
• In the same mural is shown the destruction of city and forest, a little girl holding a Mayan Tablet that predicts destruction of Civilization
• Another Mural depicts a green giant "Darth Vader" like figure wearing a gas mask destroying a city
• In this mural women can be seen carrying DEAD BABIES
• Another mural depicts a German boy collecting from all the other children of the world, all of the worlds weapons
• the German boy has a HUGE IRON FIST and is pounding all the weapons into plowshares on an anvil
• Operation Paperclip was a plan wherein NAZI's were brought into the US to be brought back into power after being financed and appearance altered
• Many German nationals have been seen along Americans in more sensitive areas of the airport's underground facilities on a regular basis
• The LUFTWAFFE has long had an EXTENSIVE base in New Mexico complete with towns where all signs are in GERMAN
• The Artists who made the murals etc in DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT have been interviewed wherein they first claimed that guidelines WERE provided for their work
• Upon further investigation, they appear to have forgotten that they previously said guidelines were given
• Another mural depicts nothing but mind-altering or poisonous plants and animals all of which are recognized as Masonic symbols worldwide
• Most people are shocked by this weird art and are bewildered that such strange stuff is in the airport at all [not unlike the bizarre propaganda/art at the new IRS HQ]
• Phil Schneider claimed during the last year of construction that the underground airport system was being connected to a deep underground base
• At least 8 levels deep
• 4.5 square mile underground city
• 88.5 square mile base underneath the airport [HARD to BELIEVE, huh] Your tax money at work ?
• Rodney Stitch, author of Defrauding of America, claims to have a copy of a tape of a CIA agent paying off the mayor of Denver to get the airport built [$1.5 million payoff] •
• By the way, Denver's mayor is now Colorado's new Governor! (I'm just saying.)
  

*********************************************
ARE YOU READY FOR THE RAPTURE?

-Rev.Debbie •

Who Is Able To Stand? - Matt Leasher – www.raptureready.com

As the Age of Grace that we are currently living in draws nearer and nearer to a close and the lateness of the hour becomes more relevant to those of us who have our eyes on heaven and the coming of the Lord, we can’t help but be concerned about those that do not know their Savior and are living for the world and for themselves. Almost every saved Christian has some unsaved friends and family that do not accept the truth of the gospel and whom they know will be left here on earth to have to endure the soon to come Tribulation period that Jesus has clearly warned us is sure to come before He physically returns to Earth to set up His Kingdom, (see Matthew 24:3-31, Mark 13:3-27 & Luke 21:7-28).

The Book of Revelation lays out much of the horrific details of this forthcoming history-ending period. The actual beginning of the Tribulation itself begins in chapter 6 with Jesus (referred to as the Lamb), opening the seals of the scroll and beginning the seven seal judgments. Since Jesus is Lord, (see Hebrews 1:8), this is therefore the beginning of the wrath of God upon a Christ rejecting world. The first four seals are the four horsemen of the Apocalypse. The fifth seal is the cry of the martyrs and the sixth seal is of cosmic disturbances upon the earth. All of these seal judgments seem to happen very rapidly in succession because at the end of the description of the sixth seal it says:

And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” (Revelation 6:15-17)

We see from the last verse that it isn’t until the sixth seal that the folks hiding themselves in caves have realized that the wrath of God has begun! We know that the Church is gone at this point because “God has not appointed us to wrath”, (1 Thessalonians 5:9), and it clearly states that “the day of His wrath has come”, but it is the very last phrase of that verse that also reveals the absence of the Church where it asks the sobering question ­– “who is able to stand”?

There are some similar Old Testament prophecies about the dreadful Day of the Lord in the last days that are almost identical to Revelation 6:15-17 asking the same question of who will be able to stand? They are Psalm 76:7, Malachi 3:2 and Nahum 1:6. All of these verses imply that it will be impossible to stand at the time of God’s fierce anger. As I mentioned above we are still living in the Age of Grace. God is incredibly merciful and gracious to us even though the world continues to wax more and more in wicked opposition to Him. God has been longsuffering and patient but the inevitable day of His wrath is coming.

So what does it mean to not be able to stand at His coming? Most all of the verses where this is used it is referring as to being able to stand before Him in judgment. God is so holy and righteous that no sinful man can stand in His presence. Ezra 9:15 exemplifies this:

O LORD God of Israel, You are righteous, for we are left as a remnant, as it is this day. Here we are before You, in our guilt, though no one can stand before You because of this!”

Since all people are sinful it would seem that we are all hopelessly lost in the presence of the Lord but the good news is that we are not! Because of the loving sacrifice of Jesus Christ those who believe in Him can stand in the presence of the Lord and He doesn’t see your sins, He sees you through the lens of Jesus Christ standing before you! God the Father directed His wrath against sin upon His Son Jesus Christ while He was on the cross. Christ endured what we deserve. All we have to do is simply accept it. It is God’s free gift. It is not dependent upon anything that you can do but only upon all that Christ did for you. It is so simple yet so many people refuse it. They would rather believe that they can earn their own way to heaven through their own good works but the sad reality is that when you stand before a perfect and holy God without Christ, even if you sinned only once in your lifetime, you are guilty on judgment day.

But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness’s are like filthy rags; (Isaiah 64:6a)

So now that we’ve established what it takes to be able to stand before the Lord the question remains in Revelation 6:17 – who will be able to stand? In context this is after the Rapture and in the early part of the Tribulation. Immediately following this verse in chapter 7 we see the 144,000 Jewish witnesses being appointed and also a great multitude of martyred saints standing before the Throne of the Lamb arrayed in white robes which were washed clean with the blood of the Lamb. These are Tribulation saints! Those that came to Christ after the Rapture but undoubtedly had to suffer severe persecution. Nevertheless they are able to stand! Even while God is pouring out His wrath upon the Earth He is still merciful and all knowing to those that come to Him.

The mountains quake before Him, The hills melt,

And the earth heaves at His presence,

Yes, the world and all who dwell in it.

Who can stand before His indignation?

And who can endure the fierceness of His anger?

His fury is poured out like fire,

And the rocks are thrown down by Him.

The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble;

And He knows those who trust in Him.

(Nahum 1:5-7)

The will of the Lord is that we should come to Him today while His grace is still abounding. Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near, (Isaiah 55:6). Accepting Christ as your Savior is much more than just fire insurance from the coming Tribulation. When you become a born again Christian all things become new and He wipes away any guilt of sin that you may have been lugging around with you. Your life takes on new purpose as you joyfully serve Him. You will still have to endure the hardships of this world while we are sojourning here but we walk in His promises knowing that as we abound in the work of the Lord, our labor is not in vain in the Lord, (1 Corinthians 15:58). This current existence that we dwell in is only preparation for the real life that is to come!

So the question of who is able to stand can be answered individually amongst ourselves. God has granted us free will to choose our own eternal destiny. Are you choosing life or death? Will you be able to stand at His coming?

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe in the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3:36)

This may sound rather threatening but Jesus said, “he that is not with Me is against Me,” (Matthew 12:30). The message of the gospel is pretty straightforward. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. God does not strong-arm us to obey and follow Him. He allows us to make our own choices but there are consequences for our choices and He lovingly warns us of those consequences just like an earthly father or mother warns their child of the consequences of their choices.

As we currently observe the conditions of the world in relation to Bible prophecy there are several signs that are signifying that the Age of Grace is soon about to come to an end. I cannot express the importance of knowing and accepting Christ as your Savior this very day. There is soon coming a day when God’s grace will end and He is going to draw the line and receive unto Him what He bought and paid for, (Ephesians 1:14), and judge the remaining world with fiery wrath. In Luke 21:36 Jesus encourages us to be watching and to be ready for this day:

“Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Notice that Jesus doesn’t just warn us to be able to be counted worthy to escape the things that will come, (The Great Tribulation), but also to be able to stand before the Son of Man. This is a clear indication that those that take part in the Rapture are also worthy of standing before Him. This will be when the saints are given their crowns and rewards. The winner’s circle if you will. The apostle Paul expounds on this in his valedictory at the end of his life recorded in 2 Timothy 4:6-8:

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

In the above passage we see a reward for those that love His appearing but in 1 Corinthians 16:22 we are giving another warning regarding those that do not love the Lord Jesus Christ at His coming:

If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. (KJV)

The word “anathema” is Greek for “accursed” and according to the American Heritage Dictionary means to be banned or excommunicated. The word “Maranatha” was a popular Aramaic first century greeting among Christians that translates, “Our Lord Cometh”. So if we wanted to paraphrase that verse it could very well read like this:

If any man does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be left behind at the Lord’s coming!

My dear reader, don’t let this be you! Even if the Lord were to tarry for several more years or even decades you still do not know if you’ll be here tomorrow. Your dying day is your personal judgment day and you will want to be able to stand on that day! The Bible mentions nothing about any second chances after death.

I began this article mentioning those of us that know Christ as our Savior and have loved ones that we know that don’t. Sometimes no matter what we say or do we cannot get them to know and understand the eternal life saving grace of Christ. That doesn’t mean we are out of options. There is still prayer! In fact prayer should be our first option not our last and is probably the strongest thing we can do for them for we are not in control of who is saved and who is not, that has already been determined by God before the world was even created, (Ephesians 1:4). What we need to do is pray that it is in His will that they are saved, (Ephesians 1:11) and that they will be able to stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ and hear the words, “well done good and faithful servant come and enter into the joy of your Lord”.
Will you be able to stand? •

**********************************************************************
Wishing only the best for you & yours! -Rev.Debbie ♥

The Matchless Pearl

David Morse - American missionary to India - became great friends there with the pearl-diver, Rambhau. Many an evening he spent in Rambhau's cabin reading to him from the Bible, and explaining to him God's way of salvation.

Rambhau enjoyed listening to the Word of God, but whenever the missionary tried to get Rambhau to accept Christ as his Savior - he would shake his head and reply, "Your Christian way to heaven is too easy for me! I cannot accept it. If ever I should find admittance to heaven in that manner - I would feel like a pauper there...like a beggar who has been let in out of pity. I may be proud - but I want to deserve, I want to earn my place in heaven -- and so I am going to work for it."

Nothing the missionary could say seemed to have any effect on Rambhau's decision, and so quite a few years slipped by. One evening, however, the missionary heard a knock on his door, and on going to open it he found Rambhau there.

"Come in, dear friend," said Morse.

"No," said the pearl-diver. "I want you to come with me to my house, Sahib, for a short time -- I have something to show you. Please do not say 'No'."

"Of course I'll come," replied the missionary. As they neared his house, Rambhau said: "In a week's time I start working for my place in heaven; I am leaving for Delhi -- and I am going there on my knees."

"Man, you are crazy! It's nine hundred miles to Delhi, and the skin will break on your knees, and you will have blood-poisoning or leprosy before you get to Bombay."

"No, I must get to Delhi," affirmed Rambhau, "and the immortals will reward me for it! The suffering will be sweet - for it will purchase heaven for me!"

"Rambhau, my friend - you can't. How can I bear you to do it - when Jesus Christ has suffered and died to purchase heaven for you!"

But the old man could not be moved. "You are my dearest friend on earth, Sahib Morse. Through all these years you have stood by me in sickness, in want - you have been sometimes my only friend. But even you cannot turn me from my desire to purchase eternal bliss...I must go to Delhi!"

Inside the hut Morse was seated in the very chair Rambhau had specially built for him - where on so many occasions he had read to him the Bible.

Rambhau left the room to return soon with a small but heavy English strongbox. "I have had this box for years," said he, "and I keep only one thing in it. Now I will tell you about it, Sahib Morse. I once had a son..."

"A son! Why, Rambhau, you have never before said a word about him!"

"No, Sahib, I couldn't." Even as he spoke the diver's eyes were moistened.

"Now I must tell you, for soon I will leave, and who knows whether I shall ever return? My son was a diver too. He was the best pearl diver on the coasts of India. He had the swiftest dive, the keenest eye, the strongest arm, the longest breath of any man who ever sought for pearls.

What joy he brought to me! Most pearls, as you know, have some defect or blemish only the expert can discern, but my boy always dreamed of finding the 'perfect' pearl - one beyond all that was ever found. One day he found it! But even when he saw it - he had been under water too long... That pearl cost him his life, for he died soon after."

The old pearl diver bowed his head. For a moment his whole body shook, but there was no sound. "All these years," he continued, "I have kept this pearl - but now I am going, not to return, and to you, my best friend - I am giving my pearl."

The old man worked the combination on the strongbox and drew from it a carefully wrapped package. Gently opening the cotton, he picked up a mammoth pearl and placed it in the hand of the missionary.

It was one of the largest pearls ever found off the coast of India, and glowed with a luster and brilliance never seen in cultured pearls. It would have brought a fabulous sum in any market.

For a moment the missionary was speechless and gazed with awe. "Rambhau! What a pearl!"

"That pearl, Sahib, is perfect," replied the Indian quietly. The missionary looked up quickly with a new thought: Was not this the very opportunity and occasion he had prayed for - to make Rambhau understand the value of Christ's sacrifice? So he said, designedly, "Rambhau, this is a wonderful pearl, an amazing pearl. Let me buy it. I would give you ten thousand dollars for it."

"Sahib! What do you mean?"

"Well, I will give you fifteen thousand dollars for it, or if it takes more - I will work for it."

"Sahib," said Rambhau, stiffening his whole body, "this pearl is beyond price. No man in all the world has money enough to pay what this pearl is worth to me. On the market a million dollars could not buy it. I will not sell it to you. You may only have it as a gift."

"No, Rambhau, I cannot accept that. As much as I want the pearl, I cannot accept it that way. Perhaps I am proud, but that is too easy. I must pay for it, or work for it..."

The old pearl-diver was stunned. "You don't understand at all, Sahib. Don't you see. My only son gave his life to get this pearl, and I wouldn't sell it for any money. Its worth is in the life-blood of my son. I cannot sell this - but I can give it to you. Just accept it in token of the love I bear you."

The missionary was choked, and for a moment could not speak. Then he gripped the hand of the old man. "Rambhau," he said in a low voice, "don't you see? My words are just what you have been saying to God all the time."

The diver looked long and searchingly at the missionary, and slowly, slowly he began to understand. "God is offering you salvation as a free gift," said the missionary. "It is so great and priceless that no man on earth can buy it. Millions of dollars are too little. No man on earth could earn it. His life would be millions of years too short. No man is good enough to deserve it. It cost God the life-blood of His only Son to make the entrance for you into heaven. In a million years, in a hundred pilgrimages, you could not earn that entrance. All you can do is to accept it as a token of God's love for you - a sinner.

"Rambhau, of course I will accept the pearl in deep humility, praying God that I may be worthy of your love. Rambhau, won't you accept God's great gift of heaven, too, in deep humility, knowing it cost Him the death of His Son to offer it to you?"

Great tears were now rolling down the cheeks of the old man. The veil was beginning to lift. "Sahib, I see it now. I have believed in the doctrine of Jesus for the last two years, but I could not believe that His salvation was free. Now I understand. Some things are too priceless to be bought or earned. Sahib, I will accept His salvation!" •
(Author Unknown)

Hello Everyone!

I saw this article today and I've heard a lot about it recently; One man stating he knows the exact date that the world will end. Friends have sent me things regarding the date, and my daughter saw billboards showing the same date when she was driving home from Miami, so I thought I'd share this with any of you who might be interested:

In this Dec. 17, 2010 photo in Raleigh, N.C., Allison Warden poses with her car showing a message about the rapture. Warden, of Raleigh, has been helping organize a campaign using billboards, post cards and other media in cities across the U.S. through a website, We Can Know. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Radio host foolishly predicts 5/21/11 as date of Rapture – Joel Rosenberg – www.flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com

A radio host named Harold Camping is making headlines this month by publicly predicting that the Rapture -- the sudden disappearance of born-again followers of Jesus Christ from the earth, followed by the Biblical judgments described in the Book of Revelation as the "Great Tribulation" -- will occur on May 21, 2011.

The San Francisco Chronicle recently picked up the story and reported, "Camping, 88, has scrutinized the Bible for almost 70 years and says he has developed a mathematical system to interpret prophecies hidden within the Good Book. One night a few years ago, Camping, a civil engineer by trade, crunched the numbers and was stunned at what he'd found: The world will end May 21, 2011...."

Camping's declaration is deeply misguided. In Matthew chapter 24, the Lord Jesus Christ gave His disciples a list of signs to watch for that would indicate when His return for His true followers was approaching. Such signs included the rise of false messiahs, wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, other natural disasters, persecution of believers, the spread of the gospel to all people in every nation, the rebirth of the nation of Israel, and so forth. But in Matthew 24:36, Christ warned His followers not to try to speculate on exact dates of His return. "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone," Christ said.

If "no one" on earth knows the date of Christ's return, how then does Harold Camping know? He doesn't.

Yet this is not the first time Camping has been misled or misled others. In 1992, he published a book through Vantage Press in New York entitled, 1994? I actually have a copy because I have started a collection of books and pamphlets of false teachings about Bible prophecy. It's a 552 page volume with this conclusion: "The results of this study teach that the month of September of the year 1994 is to be the time for the end of history." In the following sentence he notes: "We must be cautious. There could be something that has been overlooked. In view of the many paths that I have found that focus on 1994 it seems extremely unlikely that we have overlooked something. However I modestly and humbly acknowledge that such a possibility exists." (emphasis added)

Such date-setting is not only unbiblical, wrong and misleading, it also invites ridicule, scorn and discredit upon followers of Jesus Christ who study the Bible seriously and teach the Word of God -- including prophecy -- carefully and soberly. Jesus Christ was very clear that He is coming back. See John 14:1-3. The Apostle Paul was very clear in describing the Rapture that "the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain [as born again believers in Christ] will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord." (I Thessalonians 4:16-17)

Teachers of Bible prophecy need to be very careful. Our responsibility is not to predict when Christ will return, but to help people be ready for the Lord's return, whenever that occurs, and especially if it is soon. We can do this by sharing the gospel, making disciples, spreading the Word, strengthening the Church, living lives of holiness and purity, becoming men and women of prayer and worship, caring for the poor and needy, and blessing Israel and her neighbors, to name just a few. We also need to do this by helping people to discern the difference between solid Bible teaching and false teaching. Let's ask the Lord to help us to serve Him wisely and humbly.

Let's also pray for Harold Camping and others that their eyes may be opened to the truth and they make a rapid course correction. •

*******************************************************
Blessings to you from Rev.Debbie ♥

You Tell 'im Harold!

Birds Falling, Fish Dying, and Earthquakes –
Joseph Chambers – www.pawcreek.org

HEADLINES: Forty Thousand Velvet Crabs Washed up on the Coast of Great Britain. Penguins Dying and Littering the Beaches of New Zealand. Crows Falling Out of the Sky in Sweden. Eight Thousand Turtle Doves Falling Dead to the Ground in Italy. Two Million Dead Fish Washed up along the Shores of the Chesapeake Bay. That is just a few places from a much larger number of headlines.

It appears to have started on New Year’s Eve and has been escalating daily for over two weeks. Brazil is dealing with hundreds of tons of dead fish. In state after state all across America, thousands of birds and millions of fish are mysteriously dying. There are numbers of reasons being given, but the answers sound emptier than not giving any answer. Is all of it more evidence that we are quickly approaching the Great Tribulation?

I believe 2011 will be a year of signs from heaven above and earth beneath. There is a Jewish proverb that states, “Accidents are not kosher.” The earth is the Lord’s and nature is God’s system — full of warnings and signs of the time. Absolutely nothing of human life is without cause or purpose. Nature does not exist out of God’s control but is a system of balance and design. Whatever is in our Creator’s plan is played out on a daily schedule. Jesus Christ warns us of man’s failure to discern the signs of the time. He stated, “And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?” (Matthew 16:3).

Earthquakes have always been viewed by Godly people as a warning from the Creator. The Son of God stated, “And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven” (Luke 21:11). The growing frequency of earthquakes is ominous. We are witnessing an increase of earthquakes that is above normal and that perfectly fulfills the End Time prophetic events. A scale of earthquakes over a span of the last ten years is scary. There were twenty-one earthquakes that were over a magnitude of 6.0 in the year of 2002, but there were 168 earthquakes over a magnitude of 6.0 last year in 2010.

Before the OBD radio broadcast this past Saturday, I went online at USGS to research the frequency of earthquakes. From midnight on Friday until 11:30 AM on Saturday (11.5 hours), there were twenty earthquakes over 2.5 magnitudes, nine of them were over 4.5 magnitudes. I just read a headline from Arkansas, where many of the birds and fish are dying. The state had thirty-eight earthquakes in 2009 and over 600 in 2010. Nearly 500 of them were during the months of September – December. Today, earthquakes are as clearly the voice of the Lord as the one that shook Jerusalem and Calvary when the Son of God said, “It is finished.”

Peter declared the voice of God, “And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath” (Acts 2:19a). The media is awash with terrifying reports out of the heavens. One headline stated, “Terrifying Scientific Discovery: Strange Emissions by Sun Suddenly Mutates Matter . . .” (Project World Awareness). Another headline said, “Earth’s Magnetic Pole Shift Unleashing Poisonous Space Clouds, Linked to Mysterious Bird Deaths” (naturalview.com). This report warned that a cloud of this nature covering a major city would cause a multitude to die instantly. When you know that the infallible Scripture has warned us that this kind of End Time phenomena is going to occur, why do we fail to discern that the end is near? My friends, you must get ready to meet God!

The death of such an unprecedented number of birds and fish all over the world denies a simple problem. A just released news report gave details of the death of two hundred cows in a single pasture in Wisconsin. These all died over a span of a few days. It is impossible to call all of this anything but alarming. The Bible must always be the factor in understanding what we are facing in our world. By the Holy Ghost, an Old Testament prophet spoke and said, “I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven and the fishes of the sea” (Zephaniah 1:3a).

The kind of judgments that are right before us are clear prophecies, given by the Holy Ghost and they cannot be erased. Our world is in such a slumber that the only way a Holy Ghost revival can occur is for all of us to be awakened. There is a great majority that will only hate God more as His wrath is revealed. But, a remnant will wake up and repent. That’s all we can hope for in these last hours before the Rapture. •

***************************************************♥

You Tell 'im Harold!

This following letter was written by an American Hero who is 95 years young and has earned the right to speak his mind and speak for his country. I think his message is worth sharing. I checked snopes.com and he and his letter are genuine.


Dear President Obama,
My name is Harold Estes, approaching 95 on December 13 of this year. People meeting me for the first time don't believe my age because I remain wrinkle free and pretty much mentally alert.

I enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1934 and served proudly before, during and after WW II, retiring as a Master Chief Bos'n Mate. Now I live in a "rest home" located on the western end of Pearl Harbor, allowing me to keep alive the memories of 23 years of service to my country.

One of the benefits of my age, perhaps the only one, is to speak my mind, blunt and direct, even to the head man.

So here goes.

I am amazed, angry and determined not to see my country die before I do, but you seem hell bent not to grant me that wish.

I can't figure out what country you are the president of.
You fly around the world telling our friends and enemies despicable lies like:
" We're no longer a Christian nation"
" America is arrogant" - (Your wife even
announced to the world, " America is mean-
spirited." Please tell her to try preaching
that nonsense to 23 generations of our
war dead buried all over the globe who
died for no other reason than to free a
whole lot of strangers from tyranny and
hopelessness.)
I'd say shame on the both of you, but I don't think you like America, nor do I see an ounce of gratefulness in anything you do, for the obvious gifts this country has given you. To be without shame or gratefulness is a dangerous thing for a man sitting in the White House.

After 9/11 you said, "America hasn't lived up to her ideals."

Which ones did you mean? Was it the notion of personal liberty that 11,000 farmers and shopkeepers died for to win independence from the British? Or maybe the ideal that no man should be a slave to another man, that 500,000 men died for in the Civil War? I hope you didn't mean the ideal 470,000 fathers, brothers, husbands, and a lot of fellas I knew personally died for in WWII, because we felt real strongly about not letting any nation push us around, because we stand for freedom.

I don't think you mean the ideal that says equality is better than discrimination. You know- the one that a whole lot of white people understood when they helped to get you elected.

Take a little advice from a very old geezer, young man.

Shape up and start acting like an American. If you don't, I'll do what I can to see you get shipped out of that fancy rental on Pennsylvania Avenue . You were elected to lead, not to bow, apologize and kiss the hands of murderers and corrupt leaders who still treat their people like slaves.

And just who do you think you are telling the American people not to jump to conclusions and condemn that Muslim major who killed 13 of his fellow soldiers and wounded dozens more. You mean you don't want us to do what you did when that white cop used force to subdue that black college professor in Massachusetts, who was putting up a fight? You don't mind offending the police calling them stupid but you don't want us to offend Muslim fanatics by calling them what they are, terrorists.

One more thing. I realize you never served in the military and never had to defend your country with your life, but you're the Commander-in-Chief now, son. Do your job. When your battle-hardened field General asks you for 40,000 more troops to complete the mission, give them to him. But if you're not in this fight to win, then get out. The life of one American soldier is not worth the best political strategy you're thinking of.

You could be our greatest president because you face the greatest challenge ever presented to any president.
You're not going to restore American greatness by bringing back our bloated economy. That's not our greatest threat. Losing the heart and soul of who we are as Americans is our big fight now.
And I sure as hell don't want to think my president is the enemy in this final battle.

Sincerely,
Harold B. Estes

*********************************************** •

The Dangers of False Worship

"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”– 2 Timothy 3:1-5

Casual readers of the Bible will tend to associate the verse above with the description of a non-believer. Truth be told, Paul was actually describing what the church itself will look like in the end times.
In the last days, there will be people in the church, instead of giving up their old selves and surrendering their sins, they see church as a means to achieve some personal agenda, may it be for wealth, health, or status.
Paul warned Timothy that people will be lovers of themselves instead of God and His will.
Sadly, this is already happening, not just here, but all over the world.
When we worship God to songs such as “I surrender all”, is that a true declaration of our hearts?
We tread dangerous waters when we offer up half true words to God.
Ananias in Acts 5 paid a high price when he wanted to be perceived for something he is not.
My hope is that if our hearts are not truly surrendered to God, let us not mock God with such words.
May we put an emphasis on getting our hearts right so that we can offer up true worship (John 4:24) to Him. •

*****************************************************

Many blessings to you and yours! -Rev.Debbie ♥

Hi Friends!
It's a cold but beautiful Colorado day today.
I hope it's nice and warm where you are.
*****************************
I have this for you today:

It is a horrible thought and sad to say, but cannibalism is not confined to some remote south sea islands.

Devouring of another's reputation and respect can be as lethal as a dagger to the heart. •

"Though shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." (Matthew 7:12)
"Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,
do ye even so to them." (Matthew 7:12)
"Speak evil of no man." (Titus 3:2)

***********************************

I found the following note from 1962,
it's more true today than EVER before! :

Men everywhere recognize the prevailing wickedness of our times. Drunkenness, gluttony, vice, crime, and debauchery have increased alarmingly. Selfishness and pride fill the hearts of men to the exclusion of righteousness. Civilization today is repeating the sins of the days of Noah. •

(I wonder what the author of that note would think today.)

**********************************************
Blessings to you and yours on this fine day.
-yours in the love of our Savior and Deliverer, Rev.Debbie ♥

Hello Friends!
I have a story for you....













THE PAINTER

Once upon a time there was a painter who had just completed his course under
the mentorship of a great painter. This young artist decided to assess his
knowledge of the skills he had been taught, so he decided to give it his best try ever.

He took 3 days and painted beautiful scenery.

Suddenly an idea flashed in his mind and he decided to display it on a busy
street-square of that small town he was a resident of. He wanted the people's
opinion about his painting skills.

He put his creation at a busy street-crossing. And just down below a board
which read-"Gentlemen, I have painted this piece. Since I'm new to this
profession I might have committed some mistakes in my strokes, etc.
Please put a cross wherever you see a mistake."

When he came back in the evening to collect his painting he was completely
shattered to see that whole canvas was filled with Xs (crosses) and some
people had even written their comments on the painting itself.

Disheartened and broken completely he went to his teacher's place and burst
into tears. Sobbing and crying inconsolably he told his teacher about what
happened and showed the pathetic state of his creation which was filled with
marks everywhere. Such was the state that colors were not visible, the only
thing that could be seen were crosses and correction remarks.

This young artist was breathing heavily and his teacher heard him saying "I'm
useless and if this is all I have learned, I'm not worth becoming a
painter. People have rejected me completely. I'll never paint again!"

His teacher smiled and suggested "My son, I will prove that you are a great
artist and have learned to paint flawlessly." The young man couldn't believe
it and said, "I have lost faith in myself, and I don't think I am good enough.
Please don't give me false hope..."

"Do as I say without questioning it. It WILL work! " the teacher told him.

"Just paint an exactly similar painting once again for me and give it to me.
Will you do that please?" Teacher instructed.

The young artist reluctantly agreed and two days later in the early morning he
presented a replica of his earlier painting to his teacher.
The teacher took it into his hands with much care and smiled.

"Come with me." Teacher said.

They reached the same street-square in the early morning and displayed the same
painting exactly at the same place. Now master took out another board which
read -"Gentlemen, I have painted this piece. Since I'm new to this
profession I might have committed some mistakes in my strokes, etc. I have
put a box with colors and brushes just below it. Please do me a favor, If you
see a mistake, kindly pick up the brush and correct it."
Teacher and his student walked back home.

They both visited the place the same evening. Young painter was surprised to
see that actually there was not a single correction done so far. But teacher
wasn't satisfied as yet and he told his student, "Maybe one day was too
little a time for people to come up with ideas and take out time out of
their busy schedules to correct it, so let us keep it here for one more day.
Tomorrow is the end of the week, so we can expect some corrections coming in."

Next day again they visited and found the painting remained untouched.
They say the painting was kept there for a month, yet no correction came in!

It is easier to criticize, but difficult to improve. -- Author Unknown•

***********************************
Blessings to you & yours! -Rev.Debbie ♥

A beautiful statue once stood in the market-place of an Italian city.
It was the statue of a Greek slave girl. It represented the slave as tidy and well dressed.
A ragged, uncombed little street child, coming across the statue in her play one day, stopped and gazed at it in admiration. She was captivated by it. She gazed long and lovingly. Moved by a sudden impulse, she went home and washed her face and combed her hair. Another day she stopped again before the statue and admired it, and got a new idea. Next day her tattered clothes were washed and mended. Each time she looked at the statue she found something in its beauties to admire and copy, until she was a transformed child. By beholding we become changed.

What change is wrought by beholding Jesus?

"But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Corinthians 3:18

******************<>< <>< <>< *********************************
May God richly bless each and every one of you! Good Sabbath! -Rev.Debbie ♥