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“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.”- Daniel 12:1

The End Times feel many with fear. And it should, if we planned to be here. But we don’t. Notice at the very beginning of Daniel 12 it says, “at that time thy people shall be delivered”!

We may indeed stand at the Beginning of the End, but even if we do, God has a plan those who believe 🙂

Although George Whitten of Worthy Devotionals wrote this in 2013, it has much to share with us today. We need rest 🙂

“With all the political craziness regarding Israel and her less than friendly neighbors, we’ve been receiving numerous emails expressing concernt. Thank you for all your love and prayers!

Even in this climate of anxiety, we now prepare to enter, along with all of Israel, into the Shabbat (Sabbat). And as we do, we remember yet again, the deep lesson of entering God’s Perfect Rest.

The word Shabbat comes from the Hebrew verb “shavat”, which literally means “to cease”. Shabbat implies that we need to stop working–stop trying–stop doing–stop worrying and being anxions…simply, cease–be still and rest. In a way, oddly enough, it takes efford. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews puts it this way: Heb 4:11 “let us, therefore, make every effort to enter into that rest, so that no many will fall through byfolliwng their same example of unbelief.”

My Friends, this Shabbat, let’s make the effort to rest in Him, and embrace the profound lesson of His Shabbat…let go, and let God! If you’re dealing with fear of the future, rest along with us–choose to give it to the Lord! Our future is already secure in the finished work of the Messiah! We can trust Him, in faith, knowing that not a single hair of our head can fall to the ground without Him allowing it. Shabbat Shalom!”

When I attended Mount Zion AME church, there was a woman in the choir who sang the most beautiful version of Way Maker.  Even now, years later, I can hear her sing it.  That’s how amazing it was! That’s how amazing she was!

Covid brought some very difficult times and Mount Zion was forced to close it’s door and do their services over the phone.  Truly a tragedy, for both the Preacher and the People truly loved Jesus and were filled with the Holy Spirit!  I wish more people could have attended church there!

They could not have been more kind and loving at Mount Zion and for years I was so grateful to attend such a loving church.  I was the only white person attending an all African American church.  And I loved it 🙂 

The media will show us pictures of violence and hate. It screams with headlines that frighten us all. But the majority of people, both black and white, are good and they are kind. But because the media does not make money on that headline; they don’t report it. Instead they try to frighten us because Fear Sells.

Flash forward a few years, and our country is filled with racial tensions, but I assure you that Heaven is not!  Did I disagree with some who attended Mount Zion on certain issues?  Sure.  But that was not because of our color, it was because we had different life experiences, histories and beliefs

But those differences should never interfere with our ability to love God and love each other.  And at Mount Zion – they didn’t!  And that is the model we all need to follow.

The government and the media seek to divide us.  In some cases, they even seem to seek to persuade us to hate one another.  But we do NOT have to listen because God Loves ALL people!

Instead, we can follow our Lord Jesus and focus on loving God and each other.  It matters not to Jesus what country we are from or what color we are.  It matters not how much money we have, or how much we don’t.  And it does not matter to Jesus how we dress, lol. 

What matters to Jesus, is do we accept His Great Gift of Salvation?  Do we love God and love each other?  Do we do our best, with the Help of the Holy Spirit to read and understand the Holy Bible?  These are the things that matter.  And in the end, they will be all that matters!

Because it is in the end that the real beginning starts.  Home in Heaven with God, together.

God uses things in this world to remind us that He is with us and knows exactly where we are, emotionally, physically and mentally 🙂

A rainbow, a song on the radio, a hug from an old friend, the smile from a new friend. A person who carries more burdens than we do, but reaches out to help us carry our own.

God is with us. He finds a way to remind us every day, because He loves us! We just have to remember to look for them 🙂

A friend sent this and I found it truly helpful. We’ve all lost someone who we really love. Sometimes to death, sometimes they just take another path. One that leads out of our life. But God can and will help us!

Dealing With Grief

“Grieving the death of a loved one is an individual process. Some initially feel numb and disoriented. Others feel anxious and have trouble sleeping. Sudden outbursts of tears are common in grief, triggered by memories or reminders of a loved one. Even those who are confident that their loved one IS with the Lord struggle with sadness over their loss. Dealing with grief IS essential in order to come to terms and move on with your life. To do that, you need to be honest in your grieving and ask God the tough questions that help. As always, prayer and God’s Word ARE Good Resources. An example of the prophet’s anguish and hope can be discovered in Lamentations 3. The circumstances of a loved one’s death can affect your grief. Because of a long period of time spent if anticipating death, this kind of bereavement differs from the intense grief over someone who dies following a brief illness, surgery or accident. Over time, this intensity of your grief will likely subside, but do NOT try to rush the grieving process – do NOT expect your feeling and emotions to be like anyone else’s. God, your Father, made you unique, and your grieving process will be a personal journey.

But keep in mind that the weight of grief IS lighter when shared. Support from others can help you to handle the aftermath of your loss. God also offers His Comfort in these times. Jesus said, “I will not leave you comfortless: I WILL come to you.” Truly, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit IS Good like that!

If grief threatens to overwhelm you, try saying with the psalmist, “My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to Your Word”. Cling to God’s Promises as you work through your grief. “He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases Strength.” Take the emotional energy you would have spent on the loved one who died and reinvest it in God’s Will and Purpose for you while on earth.

If your loved one and you have sought our Lord and know Him, not only will you see that person again in the Eternal Spiritual life to come, but that person who has gone Home IS in an immeasurably better place – in the Lord’s Presence, with no more pain or fear or sorrow. This IS True for ALL who die in the Lord!! “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Then He who sat on the throne said, Behold, I make ALL things new”. Therefore, we mourn for ourselves, not for our Christian loved ones. They are where we yearn to be.

A friend sent me this story, it brought tears to my eyes and I just had to share 🙂

“Once there was a farmer, who like all the farmers around her, raised their own food to sustain them. She milked cows for their milk to drink, also raised steers for meat and chickens for eggs and meat too. One of her favorite hens, that she raised for chicks, was the one whom was most protective. When she had her chicks out with her, anything that was a threat – she would immediately create such a noise, ruffling her feathers and run towards the suspected intruder – most would run the other direction! Other times, when she thought that her chicks were getting a little too far away from her and a possible threat around, she would create a very specific sound, that her chicks would come running back to her and hide under her body. To say the least, it was quite a spectacle to witness either event!

One day, when the mother hen was out with her chicks, scratching around in the field getting bugs and worms to eat for them, a storm came up very quickly. The farmer was in the barn milking her cows, heard a huge clap of thunder and knew that lightning must have hit very close. She ran out of the barn and seen that the lightning had hit a tree in the field, caught it on fire and the grass around it. She quickly filled a bucket full of water and grabbed an old feed sack, soaked it in the water and ran out to the field to put out the fire. While she was running, she prayed to God to help her put out the fire! The fire moved very quickly across the field, but she kept fighting it – slapping the line of flames with her sack. It was a miracle she was able to keep the fire from spreading farther and eventually put it out.

As she walked around through the burnt field, to make certain all the fire was out, she seen the charred remains of her favorite hen. Her eyes were immediately filled with tears, for she thought that her chicks had also fallen victim to the flames. But as she got closer, she could hear little peeps, that seem to coming from under her. As she carefully removed her carcass, her eyes widen with amazement, for the bulk of the mother’s body had covered them from the searing flames. Though the heat was enough to consume her, it allowed her babies to find safety underneath. Even when the pain reached its most unbearable moment, she made herself stay through the raging flames. She gave the ultimate sacrifice to save her young. The farmer thanked God for helping her put out the fire and saving the chicks!

This illustrates an even Greater Story – this One almost incomprehensible. It IS the Story of the Creator of heaven and earth, your Heavenly Father, who does exactly the same thing to rescue His wayward children from their own destruction. He sent His Only Son, Jesus Christ, whom also gave the Ultimate Sacrifice for His Children on the cross. Even when the pain reached its most unbearable moment, He made Himself stay, so you would not have to suffer through the raging flames of hell.

My thoughts and prayers are that you surrender and ask Him to help you learn how to Trust Him for EVERYTHING in your life! Stop and search for His Awesome Outstretched Arms! When you find them – let go, let Him give you the safety of eternity with Him! Truly, there IS no safer place! In Jesus’ Name. Thy Will be done. Amen. Peace.”

“Thus says the Lord, “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches. But let him that glories in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, which excercises loving kindness, judgement, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight”, says the Lord.” – Jeremiah 9:23

Need more be said? 🙂