I just had the pleasure of watching “Do You Believe?” on DVD and thoroughly enjoyed it. This movie touches on many lives during the course of the movie and many in different situations and from different walks of life and all of them are wanting MORE. A multitude of things begin to happen in the lives of 12 people and eventually their lives will intersect during the movie and each one of their lives are touched by the cross after a pastor of a church is rocked to the core by the visible faith of a street-corner preacher. The power in the cross of Christ is stronger than any of them thought, but one by one each of them come to the realization that there is a God who loves them.
What does the cross mean to you? Is it just a piece of wood or have you experienced the power in the cross?
There was a gal in my sister’s store one day last week who was looking at purses on display and she came across one that had a cross on the side of it. She made a comment to me that kind of surprised me, but I listened to what she had to say – “I do not understand the cross – why would anyone want to carry one on their purse or around their neck or in your car when the cross is what killed Jesus?” I replied to her that the cross is a symbol of what Jesus did for us on the cross and that the cross was not who killed him, but all of us who have sinned. She was so stuck on the symbol of a cross being an evil thing that she could not see the gift that Christ gave while dying on the cross. I was not able to convince her otherwise and she left the store. I pray for her daily that she will come to know what Christ sacrificed for her and that there is beauty and love in the cross – it is not an evil thing, it is only an instrument used and because Christ does not hang on that cross anymore, it means Jesus is alive. In no other religion has any god ever died for their followers and rose again!
Are you struggling in your life today, are you searching for something MORE? There is power in the CROSS! If you would like to give your heart and life to Jesus, please pray and thank Him for dying on a cross for your sins, ask him to forgive your sins and ask Him to come into your heart to live. Let him know you love Him and appreciate what he did for you and ask Him to help you grow in your faith with Him and then watch Him work in your life as you begin a new journey! I am praying for God’s hand in each persons life who reads this and may He work in your life and bless you!
If you have not seen this movie – it is a good wholesome film that is a must to see!
I have been reading more and more about preachers and lay people stating that a Pre-tribulation Rapture is a lie. It is very evident to me that there are a lot of false teachers and wolves in sheep’s clothing trying to convince people Jesus is not coming for them and they will have to go through God’s wrath on earth for those who have no chosen to accept Christ into their hearts. Shame on them! I would not want to be those who have led people astray by their lies and deception when they stand before Christ on Judgment Day! We are living in the age of false prophets more so than ever and it is all because Satan wants to deceive people and keep them from a solid relationship with Christ. Always, always check what others say against God’s Word and always question what you are being told. If it is in the Bible and it is sound teachings – embrace that, but there are many out to deceive you. “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4.
How do I know there is going to be a Pre-tribulation Rapture? My Bible has many verses that tell me so. I have over the years questioned the Rapture and the truth of whether Jesus will return for me before the Tribulation, but I am now solid in the belief that He will return for me and the rest of the Church (believers in Christ) before He pours out his wrath on this world that has gone so deep into sin and rebellion against God.
It states in 1 Thessalonians 5:9 – “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.” If you have accepted Christ into your heart and believe He is who He says he is and repented of your sins – this verse tells us that God hath not appointed you to wrath. The Church has to be removed before the Antichrist can rule – thus all those who believe in Christ will be spared from God’s wrath. DO NOT BE LEFT BEHIND!
* Mark 13:32 – “But of that day and [that] hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” None of us know what hour God will return for The Church, but His Word tells us He will and gives us signs of what to look for before it happens.
* 1 Thessalonians 5:2 – “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.” A thief in the night – when the Church leaves the earth I am certain many will wonder where people have disappeared to and many may believe UFO’s took us away, but those who thought they were right with God will know and will mourn.
In 1 Thessalonians 1:10 – “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, [even] Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” We will meet Jesus in the clouds – rapture means to RISE!
* Luke 21:36 – “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Is your heart and soul ready for Christ to call you to Him and to save you from the coming wrath of God? Have you been searching and seeking something that will fulfill your life? Christ is the answer – He knows all about you and understands what you have been through – He wants only to help and heal your brokenness!
* Matthew 26:64 – “Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”
* Matthew 24:27 – “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”
* Matthew 24:30-41 – “…and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. “Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. “Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.”
* “I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.” (Luke 17:34-35)
* Revelation 4:1 – “After this I looked, and, behold, a door [was] opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard [was] as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.”
* Revelation 3:10 – “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”
* 1 Corinthians 15:52 – “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed (the Church).”
* Revelation 1:7 – “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they [also] which pierced him: and all kindred’s of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.”
Remember the story of Noah and then of Sodom and Gommorah? These are both times that Luke 17:26-30 talks about – they are both reminders to us that people were given a choice to get on the ark or leave the cities of Sodom and Gommorah, but many did not leave and they went on doing as they had always done, but a flood came and destroyed all on the land except Noah and his family. Again in Sodom and Gommorah many were given the opportunity to leave these cities, but fire and sulfur rained down from heaven because of the rampant sin and turning backs on God was taking place. Two events in the history of this world happened just as the Tribulation will happen. God is calling you to change your heart and mind in regards to HIM – will you ignore his call or will you answer it and turn your life over to Him? Time will soon run out, as it did in both these events and I pray you will change your heart and mind towards God before it is too late.
There will be people who tell you that the Rapture of the Church is not for real, that there is no God or heaven, that you will have to go through the Tribulation – they are lying to you and whatever you do – DO NOT LISTEN – they are false prophets working for Satan to lead you astray and keep you from God! They may mix some Bible verses into the mix and make it sound convincing, but always check what someone says against the Bible – it tells the truth!
Here are three videos by Jack Van Impe about The Rapture and where in the Bible the verses can be found to support that the Rapture is true and will happen and there is a coming day of Tribulation for those left behind!
ARE YOU READY FOR CHRIST’S RETURN FOR THE CHURCH – DO NOT BE LEFT BEHIND??
I saw a video the other day and it moved me to share it here.
We all have a story to tell, but often times we do not want others to know about our past. They might not like us or they might sit in judgment of our choices or how we choose to live our lives. But there is not one of us who is perfect and we all make mistakes. In God’s eyes not one of our mistakes or choices is worse than another – although by the world’s standards there seems to be a measuring device where others decide one sin is worse than another, but that is simply not how God views it. Sin is sin, bad choices are bad choices, we all make them in our lives and we all unfortunately live with them and sometimes the weight of them gets very heavy and the burden gets so heavy we cannot carry them anymore. We might think we are not good enough for God and that He might reject us too, but He is not that way!
God has an answer for anything that we struggle with or ails us and we can have a new life if we choose to accept Him into our hearts. He wants to relieve you of the load you carry, He wants to take the weight of your past choices and mistakes and replace them with Him. He does not want you to carry the weight of that any longer, He only wants good things for you.
In 1 Peter 5:7 it states, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” If you feel that no one cares, He does!! If you trust in God, this is His promise to you: “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord.” “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11.
In Psalms 31:7 He tells us: “I see your hardships and I care about your suffering.” In the world today there are so few people who care about what happens to others, most are thinking about themselves only and they do not even see the people who are hurting and need a friend, a shoulder, a hand up, a way out of their life choices and they pass by them every day in their travels.
Please watch the video and see that it does not matter what you have been through, what you are going through now, what you cannot seem to get free from, what you cannot overcome and see that others have found an answer to those problems and are free of what kept them from experiencing life as God intended.
Please feel free to share if you would like! I am praying for those who are struggling with bad choices or life circumstances that have you doubting whether God cares – asking that God will show you that life is not hopeless and there is joy in knowing Him! God Bless all who read this.
I have great memories of visits to our Iowa Great Lakes area as a kid and as an adult. There are many things to do while there and this small town comes alive in the spring and summer months. I thought I would share about this area, as on the 4th of July they have a spectacular fireworks display and if you can catch it from a boat on the water that is an even more fulfilling experience!
Okoboji is a city in Dickinson County in Northwest Iowa and in 2010 their population was 807. It is located along the eastern shore of West Okoboji Lake. Pikes Point State Park is located within the city limits. It is a major tourism area for the whole family to find something to enjoy while vacationing here or visiting. Surrounding cities are Milford, Arnolds Park, Lake Park, and Spirit Lake, Iowa. Driving from Milford to Spirit Lake or Milford to Lake Park gives you the feeling that you have never left the city limits, as there are quaint shops and business all along the way to Spirit Lake and Lake Park.
I recall spending some summers in this location enjoying their amusement park, small though it be, there is something there for everyone. Arnolds Park Amusement Park is home of “The Legend” – the 13th oldest wooden roller coaster ride in America that is still in operation. They celebrated their 80th anniversary in 2007. They have many rides to choose from, miniature golf, Go-Kart racing, and so much more to enjoy within the Parks walls. If you are not into amusement parks there is entertainment most evenings on the weekends in the way of various bands and music artists, there is “The Queen II” a steamer boat that was commissioned and built in 1986 after “The Queen I was retired finally in 1973 after 89 years of service. This new steamer was designated as the “Flagship of the Iowa Navy.” You can take a ride on this steamer boat around West Okoboji Lake and learn all about the history of the area while you enjoy an hour long trip. There is summer theater productions, camping areas and bike/walking trails throughout the area, fishing, boating, miniature golf/golf, art centers to visit, activities during the summer where you can learn a new art, and so much more! There are a variety of places you can stay to roughing it or renting something much more luxurious. There is shopping and places you can get souvenirs to take home from your trip. You can rent boats and water sport equipment to enjoy the water. There is something for everyone at the Iowa Great Lakes! Here is a link to the Arnolds Park Amusement and other things available to do at the Iowa Great Lakes: http://http://www.arnoldspark.com/explore/queen.php
Okoboji refers to several lakes and then the town that is named after it in the Iowa Great Lakes region. There is also an East Okoboji Lake that people boat and fish on and Spirit Lake, Iowa is located along the north tip of the East Okoboji lake. Spirit Lake also has a large lake called Spirit Lake and on the northern side of this lake there is a road that runs east and west. Cross to the north side of the road and you are in Jackson County, Minnesota and cross back south on that roads center line and you are back in Dickinson County, Iowa. Good place to throw your line in for fishing I have heard.
Spirit Lake and Okoboji became notable after the Spirit Lake Massacre of 1857 when a renegade band of the Sioux tribe attacked the frontier settlements, in part for food, as they were starving due to a severe winter with heavy snows. It was the last Native American attack against settlers in Iowa. Here is a link to learn more about the area: http://http://www.iagreatlakes.org/
When I was in my late 20’s I was involved with a singles group up near the Lakes area and one 4th of July we rented a pontoon boat and took it out and boated for a few hours before the fireworks display. We had so much fun and from the water the fireworks display was very beautiful! There are various places to rent boats and other water craft and if you are interested in learning how to scuba dive – they have a place on the waterfront where you can do that as well. All these small towns come alive in the summer months and their population rises considerably, but there is so many places to visit there and things to do, that you do not note that it seems overcrowded, unless you are ever there in the winter when things are quiet!
In the winter months they hold their Okoboji University Winter Games and so if you love winter sport and activities outside this is something you might want to make a trip to this area! The name Okoboji University is fictitious, it was created back in the early 1970’s but three brothers (The Three Sons) who printed t-shirts with that name and a school crest and it started the joke and craze for this fictitious school, but they do good and hold many fundraisers throughout the year for charities, bike rides, a marathon, and their winter Olympics. Even a local radio station KUOO is in on the joke and they call themselves the campus radio station. They offer all kinds of fun activities including: Broomball, Flag Football, Softball, Bag Tournament, Chili Cook Off, Chocolate Classic, Ice Hockey, Snowmobile Fun & Radar Runs, Polar Plunge, Fireworks, and Burning of the Greens. For more information on their winter activities and schedule – check out this website: http://http://www.uofowintergames.com/
In early August each year they hold the Okoboji Lakes Bible and Missionary Conference or Browns Conference. This is a great event to check out. They have various speakers, musicians, and performers this year from August 2 through August 10, 2014 this year. It came into existence for the soul purpose of glorifying God and developing within individuals a growing love for God and others. There are missionaries who come and share about what they have been doing in the areas of the world that they serve, some are from Iowa. It is a beautiful opportunity to fellowship with others of like mind and a place that will help you to grow and aid you as you head back to where you live and serve in your own communities. There is wonderful entertainment and lots of opportunities to grow spiritually. I have been there a couple of times and always leave inspired, empowered, and stronger in my faith. There is something for the whole family to enjoy at this conference. Truly a blessing you will receive while attending this 9 day conference! To check out more about this conference, please check out this link for their schedule of events and a history of how it got started back in the 1930’s. http://http://okobojiconference.org/
Wishing you all a Happy and Safe 4th of July – may God watch over and protect you as you enjoy this day celebrating our independence and may you know how blessed you are to live in America!
I watched a video this evening by Ken Davis called Fully Alive. I found it to be very inspiring and encouraging with much good humor throughout.
Do you ever feel like your life is in a rut or you are going through the motions, but you are living in a silent hopelessness or despair and you have lost your Joy? Do you feel that somewhere along the way you have lost your fire and passion that once lived in your soul? Then it is time to rekindle that flame!
Ken shared some very powerful stories about his life from the point of resignation to living life vibrantly. He uses humor to share about his adventures in life, about eternal joy, spiritual renewal and perfect health. He shares about not wanting to live his life any other way except “fully alive” now that he has turned 65 years old.
If you choose to view this one, I do not think you will be disappointed.
Is God sending a warning to the world that He is not pleased that people are turning their back on Him and they are only thinking of themselves? It is not just happening in America, but all over the world. Some believe in God, but do not truly have a relationship with him. Some are allowing false prophets to direct their paths and leading them away from God. It speaks of this in Matthew 24:24 – “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” – Proverbs 14:12
A great turning away will happen in the end times as stated in the Bible – read 2 Timothy 3-17.
This video shows the strange and unusual occurrences that have been taking place all over the world and it does make you stop and think – who is trying to tell us something? I truly believe these are warning signs from God to repent and turn back to Him before he comes like a thief in the night and takes the church home.
Some of what you will see…strange loud sounds in the atmosphere, strange clouds in the sky, unusual colors in the sky, the ocean freezing over in Europe, Beirut River turns blood red, birds falling dead for 2 years in a row in January, massive amounts of herring wash ashore dead, dolphins and turtles are found dead along the banks of oceans and lakes, birds dropping from the sky, large whale appears on a beach with no explanation as to what caused its death, unusual weather in locations that do not typically see snow, more deadly earthquakes, unusual lights or objects floating in the skies overhead, solar flares or tornadoes off the surface of the sun, strange animal behavior, super pods of dolphins, large number of beached dolphins, phenomenal flooding, winter tornadoes, large out of control forest fires, tsunamies, strange halo’s around the sun, dust storms not seen for years, trains carrying large tankers and other military vehicles – large quantities of them in some states in the US, and so much more.
Hosea 4:2-3 – “2 There is only cursing,[a] lying and murder,
stealing and adultery;
they break all bounds,
and bloodshed follows bloodshed.
3 Because of this the land dries up,
and all who live in it waste away;
the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky
and the fish in the sea are swept away.”
This website gives the signs to look for as the End of Time nears and Christ returns for his Church. Bible prophecy to watch for…it is all happening today! We are living in those times because they are all happening.
I close with this Bible verse and pray for those seeking answers. May God bless you!
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” – 2 Chronicles 7:14
I thought this poem by an unknown author was quite humbling.
We might be tempted to think we know who will be in heaven one day with us, but doesn’t that mean we are playing God? I know I am not qualified to judge who gets into heaven or not – I leave that in God’s hands! I should only be concerned with my walk and whether or not people see Christ in me – not whether I think someone needs work or is not where they should be. I pray for God to light my path and direct me in the way He wishes me to go and hope that they see Christ in me – a light in this dark world.
~~~ I Dreamed of Heaven ~~~
I dreamed of Heaven the other night
And pearly gates swung wide,
Jesus with halo bright
Ushered me inside.
And there to my astonishment
Stood folks I judged and labeled
As quite unfit, of little worth
And spiritually disabled.
Indignant words rose to my lips
But never were set free.
For every face showed stunned surprise –
No one expected me.
This is a story of second chances and how one piece of paper will change the lives of 12 people forever!
Kate McConnell wonders if she has done enough with her life. She questions if she could have done more. She had written a series of Bible verses onto a piece of paper in neat handwriting and with love. Her son has walked away from God and she wants to encourage him to return to Him. She had placed the piece of paper in the pocket of his coat. That morning she had a number of errands to run and dinner to take to a friend. She had gone to the grocery store, dropped off the clothes at the dry cleaners, had run lunch over to a friends house, and for some reason was on her way back to the dry cleaners when the roads got really treacherous from a winter storm that was descending upon the area. She wakes up and wonders where she is. She is on the way to the hospital and not in good condition. The EMT tells her what happened and she fades in and out.
In the mean time one of the articles of clothing is her son’s coat with the verses of the 23rd Psalm. One of the employees discovers it and reads it and decides to wear this young man’s coat home. In the process the wind takes the Psalms 23 verses with a gust of wind and eventually makes it into the hands of a new person who either shares it with another or it gets dropped or blown away. Each person that reads the verses realizes one of the lines of the verses is speaking to them and what they are experiencing. It starts a transformation in their lives and their return to God. At the very end of the book, I will not tell you what happens and ruin it all for you, but the handwritten Psalms returns to the hands of the person it was intended for and changes his life as well. The book hops around first telling each person’s encounter with the piece of paper, but later ties up the story of each person who encountered it. It is an enjoyable read.
It is written by two sisters and they usually write children’s books, but they decided to write an adult book. This book is not gender based! Words can transform a life, they can also injure and destroy a life as well and the words in the Bible are healing and can transform you if you are open to receiving what it is saying to you. If you do not understand what the verse(s) mean, seek out someone who is solid in Bible teaching and they will direct you and help you understand it.
Psalms 23
The Lord is my Shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through
the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
I watched a DVD called The Isaiah 9:10 Judgement created by Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, who leads the largest Messianic Jewish Temple in the USA. He has written a book called “The Harbinger: The Ancient Mystery That Holds the Secret of America’s Future,” which I have not read yet, but hope to soon.
This video made the hair on the back of my neck stand up – the verse Isaiah 9:10 speaks of the judgement of Israel and this man noticed that while he was studying this verse, the attack on America happened on September 11, 2001. He began to note that there was a correlation with what happened and signs he saw around the area of the attack in New York City to what happened to the Israelites back in ancient times and then as time passed he began to put the pieces of the puzzle together and learned that this was God giving America a warning to turn back to God, as he gave the same warning in ancient times to Israel. Rabbi Cahn states, America is following in the same footsteps and making the same mistakes as Israel did and this country is not heeding the warning God is giving to this great nation and its leaders. He walks you through the events that happened on 9/11 and then about the events that happen from that point on and the signs he witnessed, what people said and how it correlates with the 9:10 verse in Isaiah. I was amazed at what this man had to say and how eerily it correlates with what the verse says.
God is warning this great nation of ours to turn back to Him and change and America is not heeding that warning. If you have a chance to watch this amazing DVD – do not hesitate to grab a copy of it – it is a truly eye-opening documentary. I have included in this posting a video of Rabbi Cahn talking with Pat Robertson on the 700 Club and he explains in detail what his book is about, but the DVD delves more into the events and signs that have happened so far and speaks of a final warning that is yet to come. We are living in the era when the final warning will come to be.
New Orleans may be known as the “Big Easy,” but none of it was easy for Chole Ledet, international business etiquette expert. She left New Orleans, her parents, and their famous French Quarter restaurant behind. She learns that her father has been shot and she rushes back home to be by his side and handle his affairs. She soon finds herself being charged with murdering her father’s lawyer, his best friend, but she learns of long hidden secrets that changes all she knew to be true about her and her family and is not sure she can trust anyone.
A person from her past helps lead her on a search for priceless treasure that is part of the roots of Louisiana, but can she trust him or will this only put her in greater danger? Can she learn to lean on God or will this drive her further away from His love and grace?
This story keeps you guessing to the end about who is behind the murders and disappearances of people dear to her family. It has history all the way from France to the first settlers on American soil. A full, enjoyable read and loved how it kept me wondering who was behind it all until the last 3-4 chapters of the book. It was difficult to leave this book lie until I had time to come back to it. If you like mysteries, you would enjoy this book!
Lorlyn's Ramblings 