Something More for the Near End of Sept that’s Definitely Old But Maybe New for Some of You

 I just got to thinking, again… What does it mean to be a Christian. I had a conversation with a family member concerning recent tragic events that gave me cause to wonder about their salvation. While of course, I do not judge any persons heart, I do judge fruit. 

There’s an old song that I used to sing as a child, that has a repeating refrain, “Yes they will know we are Christian’s by our love, by our love. Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” So while Christians surely love, - does a Christian hate?

There are “things” that Christians surely hate - conceptual non-tangibles -characteristics. For example - injustice, abuse/mistreatments. We who speak the English language use words too glibly and so make words ineffectual. For example we say, “Oh I hate tomatoes” but then apply the word “hate” to abusive behavior imposed upon another human being or animal. Obviously the weight of the word is not the same and context is the determinant, but why go the extreme with tomatoes - when one could simply say, “I dislike tomatoes”?…. And so correctly use the full weight of the word hate when applying it to an abuse. The same “rule” can be applied for the word love. “I love ice cream” to  “I really like the taste of ice cream or its characteristics”. Conversely, “I love you”… Using the full weight of the definition of the word - I will serve/care and behave in a respectful manner and have a most high regard for your well-being. Big difference.

It’s elementary to say words have meaning. The what one means when spoken. When one says, “I am a Christian”. What does it mean? For example, is it Matthew 16:24-28 the living out one’s life as a Christian? There are a lot more verses, but not rocket science.

I’m not going to waste space and play the game, guess what I’m thinking… Here are my thoughts - not necessarily your thoughts but I surely have grace… Being a Christian it’s ALL about grace. Father God’s grace, because I can do NO thing to merit/deserve Father God’s love, let alone His mindfulness of me, being mere dust, but it the Gift of His Son, Jesus’ sacrifice - death - offering HIS BLOOD as payment for my sins - all sins. The Gift.

PERIOD.

This is love.

The receipt of this Gift is what it means to be a Christian.

Now as I ponder this in light of my conversation with a family member… Our differing opinion made me wonder about their receipt of the Gift. Father God’s grace does indeed cover a multitude of sin, Ephesians 2:8-9 and infirmities 2 Corinthians 12:9 - just to note two, but there are many verses on the word GRACE from Genesis to the Revelation. Indeed a beautiful word… This Gift is extremely perplexing to many, hence, why sadly so many resist, turn down; this amazing Gift. Some only see Father God in terms of their own humanity and being like us - They could never forgive sin, (important note: forgiveness is not excusing sin - there must still be an atonement-payment-punishment for sin - that would be Jesus’ sacrifice). 

However, some folks have their “Yeah, buts…”. I used to. There are many sins that are vile, and evil, even sins that are totally unnatural to the laws of nature, BUT GOD…. I’ve said it many times, this is why God is God and we are not… Father God does see and knows everyone’s heart. We do not. So all sin is sin to God. Also while it is not our good deeds that earns us any merit with Father God, (our goodness are as “filthy rags”), it is our actions as Christians, (as we do bare the title), that identifies us as belonging to Father God - being called a part of HIS Family - grafted in, adopted, (Romans 11:11 - the “church” gets to benefit from what was rejected. Our Jewish brothers and sisters are chosen of Father God to be His own people - forever, Deuteronomy chapters 7-27 - The Promise, (lots of Christian’s disagree - I am not one of them!). The Jews will have their time of reckon with Jesus, Zechariah 12:10 - an ah-ha moment).  The LOVE we profess to have because of Christ Jesus… and out of that LOVE - compels us to want to do Father God’s will… LOVE more - as He so LOVES… 

BE LIKE JESUS!

SO… When I see or hear of a Christian behaving contrary to Jesus whom they say they have in their hearts, they say they live for Him, they say they LOVE HIM… but the fruit is, dare I say rotten… What be this?

I repeat. I do not see into the heart, only the fruit… and I am saddened - greatly… Especially, when people “feel” justified in their hate and/or view of others… But the devil is the father of all lies… and feelings are surely deceitful… Because I see people totally ignoring the very Words Of God. 

How can this be?…

What does it mean to be a Christian? To receive the Gift of Jesus’ Blood for the remission of sin. It is a given - we ALL have sin… We are “ALL like sheep, have gone astray…”

Dear momma, when I used to do something contrary to being her child, aka stupid; would ask, “Whose child are you?” My actions were saying something contrary to whom I belonged… and I knew this to be true… Momma just had to give the look… 

Where are the shepherds asking their flock of sheep - “Do you really belong… Do you understand what it means to belong to Father God because of Jesus’ Blood… Are we reading the same Bible, the Word of God… Are you entertaining doctrines of man - aka demons… Whose child are you really?” Contemplate all the words of Jesus.

Beloved I simply have tears… I know not who these Christ Followers are - family, friends, strangers… anyone who professes to be a lover of God, but who “hates” fellow sinners like them and what are you actually hating… What does the Word of God say beloved? What does Father say in HIS WORD? 

1 John 4:20

Sigh!

Lord Jesus, help us all - we are all so lost… in this darkness. 

Come

Soli Deo Gloria

Nina

1 John 4:20 

Something That’s Never Old and Always New for Sept.

Dare I say, I just caught a thought, from the Lord… because I don’t think this way and it stuck in my head… Also, I don’t necessarily connect dots… I just think and wonder a bit, out loud…

SCRIPTURES:

First off - I do not like the hype that- however well intended, folks put out stuff about Rapture dates… I pray for that blessed call of the trumpet blast EVERYDAY… BUT scripture does say in Matthew 24:36 “But of that day and hour knoweth no man,…”

Well, concerning the recent interest in Sept 21-23, (Rosh Hashanah starting on the 23rd)-Father gave me a thought, but maybe it’s just my earnest prayer with some skin on it 🤷🏾‍♀️

You know in Matthew 27:52-53, after the resurrection of Jesus, many of the saints who were once dead appeared to many… AND in 1 Corinthians 15:6 Jesus was seen by 400 believers and lastly by Paul… over a short period time after His resurrection… AND in 1 Thessalonians 4:17  Father speaks of what will happen during His call for HOME… We will be with those who rose from the grave… and be with Jesus forevermore… 

THOUGHTS:

…The thought came, the dead in Christ may visit us -believers, (after all they have resurrected bodies - like Christ), perhaps to tell us the Rapture is soon to happen. I’m supposing they will not be clueless as to their momentary return before their and our final exit destination - Heaven. However, scripture does not state how much time will transpire between the dead in Christ rising and our ascent into Heaven. We only know that our bodies will be changed in a “twinkling of an eye”, 1 Corinthians 15:52. So perhaps we will have one last time to reach out to those unbelieving family members and friends to tell them it’s happening- that the Rapture is really imminent! Like Noah had opportunity to tell folks before he entered the ark. Of course, folks saw Noah building the ark for some years and made sport of him. I’m sure mercilessly, (Matthew 24:38). Lot had opportunity to tell his family, on the last day… So, we may have one last chance to tell about our Jesus one last time - maybe - I don’t know… through texting, calling, social media… one last time… Of course, shouldn’t we be speaking about Jesus everyday?… Just sayin’

I don’t know, but Father God does… and He doesn’t desire that any should perish… And I don’t think people would want to perish either, IF they believed that hell was a real place for the devil and that it is his, (the devil’s will), that you be with him in hell… forever- separated from God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit… Because he hates God that much… The devil wants to keep as many who willingly believe the lies he spews - that he does not exist and that hell is not a real place and that Father God means to keep you from knowing good and evil… 

Guess what. We all know good and evil. It’s inherent thanks to that Garden of Eden incident, but believe that Father God sent His Son Jesus to die, to offer His Blood as atonement/payment for our sin - the stuff we do wrong… because one day we will die - and our thoughts and deeds are the things we own! We get to answer for them - OR we receive Jesus’ sacrifice… We will all get to stand before Father God and either Jesus will be standing beside us because of our receipt of His Blood atonement or you choose to stand alone -on your own - in which case you will be casted into hell, because NO ONE but Jesus can clear your sins.

So the point of all this thought 🤔… Choose this day Whom you will serve. Rapture next week, next month, years down the road or death which is inevitable - we all get out that way, should Father tarry - but choose Jesus or the devil. My suppositions are just that… I am not god… I am dust and I just have ideas and wonders about what things may look like, because I get ideas squirreling around in my head that I don’t believe are my own… 

I do pray about what I write and share, and have trusted friends that I rely upon to pray with me and offer their godly advice… to which I am really grateful. They are Heaven sent to me and help me to remain grounded… I mean I have ideas about a lot of things that Father says - keep that to yourself Nina 🙄…

So I’m hoping to see you on the other side of the vale… The call for HOME… is sooner, I pray.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Nina

A dahlia on one of my walks…

An Addendum to Sept. 5th’s Posting…

 

Concerning Stories and Dreams

I’m slowly, finally, realizing how important words really are. And sadly, with today’s mass-disconnect many people do not bother to go deeper than surface - 5 -10 “thoughts” comprised of emojis and first letters of words that are supposed to be universally known, but aren’t always - especially with the “older” generation - i.e. SMH - which I still don’t know… 

Marriage is supposed to be for life, so that one grows, which means one learns about another. One learns to value another highly. One learns to sacrifice for another. One learns to develop -build dreams together… People, sadly do not bother to take the time to do this any longer, because they seem to believe that their time will run out and they won’t accomplish what they want - all the while forgetting that this development, this build - was to be done together…

My story, however, not completed - is still being read to me by Father God… While I have choice to do as I please - free will - Father God being Omniscient, already knows my book… For those jumping in mid-stream, they seem to neglect all that came before as a culmination to bring me, the readers into the present pages… and no one wants to look back… however, it should not be negated… When folks come together stories are doomed to fail if one or both parties pretend that either can step into the middle and under -stand - “Praytell, what are thee standing upon? Ye are sinking! And what it that smell?” The past is not always roses - there be thorns too. 

I recently got to thinking about dreams, (in truth, just this morning), and realized that I don’t have those anymore… Too many of my dreams have been broken, dashed, crushed, discarded, used, disregarded, abused; usually by others sometimes, some by my own undoing of possibilities …Some simply fall to the floor of my mind  and collect dust… Dreams in this life are temporal. Hence, they are subject to all that I listed above, because of living in a fallen world… This world can-not sustain the mere weightiness of unbelievable possibilities  - only Father God can. 

It is a blessing to be satisfied, to hope for the best, to achieve goals, but to have dreams and imagine them soaring even higher than one thought… Only Father God. Yes, I also think “dreams” are something that should be shared with another and very few people get past or go deeper into anybody’s story - Only Father God does this. In the Garden, Father God said, “…it’s not good for man to be alone…” I think this was because of service. Sharing in a job to do together, but also now that I think about it - to share in the impossibilities of dreams… Sadly that so got so messed up! Free will and sin… BUT it is only with free will that one can be truly loved, because of the sacrifice of one’s will… BUT it should be congenial - and it is so not. 

It’s crazy that Father God - waits - on us to love Him. That’s so crazy… BUT only Father God - LOVES that purely!!!  And being GOD! He knows ALL - of everything and everyone! And He delights in us! 

Lord Jesus! Totally unfathomable - because i am mere dust!

I think dreams are for Heaven not of this earth… Gravity holds dreams down.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Nina

To be clear - I have had impossible dreams - dreamt: Dreams of opening a restaurant/bakery… Working as a missionary… Life partner dreams… Even opening up a gun range - called Roses and Thorns… but life… 

I still have hopes - hopes aren’t so much dependent upon me, but really are prayers I pray for family, friends and fellow folks in this walk… but these are different… These are accomplished by Father God… I don’t think my dreams were His will - least they would be accomplished… 

This is a drawing I did for a collaboration
And testing markers

Something Old and New for Sept.: Mary and End Times aka Waiting

 

Morning Glory

Mary, the mother of Jesus, was indeed a very special woman, but not eternal, nor super natural… but a young woman that existed in a time and space who grew up to become the woman that Father God gave a very special calling… Similar to Abraham who was given the opportunity to leave everything and everyone he had known to receive a calling… When I think about some of the lives of the people from scripture that Father God used and what they went through - it seems crazy… Each being called at a specific time for specific “jobs” to accomplish details, if you think about it; that may have intersected with our lives today in this 21st century… Were you inspired by the youthful antics of David as a shepherd boy as he must have practiced slinging stones or from his later in life psalms of praise to Father God… or by the feisty words of Daniel to King Nebuchadnezzar or the cunning planning of Queen Esther, or the submission of Ruth… and there are many from New Testament, but I’m off script - again.   

 

Still, Mary, the mother of our Lord, had nine full months of waiting after her visit from a messenger of the Lord. I have heard and agree, that at the very moment she said, “… Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:38  - the waiting started…

After the angel departed… Was there angst?  What did Mary do? Did she begin to second guess herself, especially considering the possible consequences of her being pregnant by someone other than her betrothed?  I wonder was dear Mary an over thinker? What did she do in her head - where battles are often waged? She was no doubt a remarkable woman, similar to many people Father God chooses to use… Noble and humble, obedient and knowledgeable and yet bold. She took a major step in faith, similar to Noah building a boat on dry land and telling others about the Lord’s impending judgement…For years people mocked Noah and his family for his efforts. Still, Mary knew Old Testament and knew there was a promised Redeemer King coming. Had she spent regular time listening to the Pharisees, Sadducees and religious scribes speak about a King? 

Father God knew Mary’s heart and what was in her head. Subsequently the angel informed her that her cousin Elisabeth was with child in her old age. Mary went to be with Elisabeth for three months. No doubt to assist her - kind of busy work, (to take her mind off of what was happening to her), and for encouragement and affirmation, (Elisabeth’s baby, John; lept in her womb at Mary’s voice. Luke 1:44), and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. After the birth of Jesus she did ponder things in her heart after the shepherds visited she, Joseph and Jesus Luke 2:18-20. Then there was the surprise visit of the Magi, and their gifts...

As a new wife and mom to be, Mary had a lot going on initially being privy to some astounding news… and she had to wait and watch her body change. After her return from Elisabeth, she was approximately three moths pregnant… I wonder did Father God extend grace as far as how she felt physically. Although, I don’t think so because Jesus was 100 % man… and so along with Mary would have to go through all that entails… Literally, the growing pains… (btw, Jesus was still 100% God the Son - while being developed as a baby…)

I’m not going to detail all that I suppose Mary went through with being graced with carrying our Lord, her Lord, to term, and being His mother… My thoughts are focused on the pondering she may have experienced during the nine months… Knowing what’s to come and the gravity of it all… Of course, most women who give birth go through something similar, but perhaps not to the same degree, given that Mary was carrying the Son of God. One’s perspective is surely different with such knowledge…

Similarly, some believers are looking forward to something huge -with the anticipated Rapture of the church. As believers many, (not all), are overthinking - like Mary; what’s to possibly come. Some believers aren’t even anticipating this event, even though it’s clearly in Father’s Book. We don’t know the day… The event, not the date is alluded to in Isaiah 26; Daniel 9,12; Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 17; 1 Corinthians 15; Philippians 3; 1 Thessalonians 4; 2 Thessalonians 2; Revelation 3, 4; (I purposely didn’t give verses - READ the FULL chapters and this is not an exhaustive listing - just some scriptures). 

Something BIG is going to happen in a tinkling of an eye… How will Father God find you? What will you be found busily doing? While Mary couldn’t help being focused on the Baby growing in her womb, we have different birth pains that definitely catch our attention - sometimes… Sometimes we are lulled by trappings of the world, other times we are overladen with worries and cares, both take our eyes off of Father God’s Word and so we neglect prayer - communication/relationship building with Father God… and we loose Hope… We don’t anticipate as we once did… We grow weary and don’t give our Hope of Glory a second thought… Worst, we don’t tell others about Father God and the sacrifice of His Son Jesus for sin and what’s to come as a result of that Gift… We allow ourselves to be distracted and simply go about our very own business - our willfulness.

Of course, as some wait, the onslaught of life happens daily -  2 Corinthians 4:6-16, but by the grace of Father God we are not beaten. Despite it all - the worry and doubt and trouble - we keep the faith. Like Mary, we ponder and more importantly for us we share our faith. We walk and talk about our Blessed Hope in Glory. This is what we should do while waiting… We share why we are not beaten down despite life’s circumstances. We explain the deep cause for JOY - surely being sadden by what happens, but Father takes those times and promises to use them for His glory… Nothing is wasted beloved - not one tear… Granted everyone has troubles. I have them, but by the Grace of Father God He is the Lifter of my head… and I move on… 

Obviously, I do not know your journey, only my own. Without going into needless details know that I speak from the experiences of  2 Corinthians 4:8 and 9 - in a first world sense, but Father God has got me and I will always proclaim His love and goodness and His much anticipated call for Home. Like Mary, surely there is much that I ponder in my heart - the angst… The whys, and how can this be… and the need for reassurance - sometimes daily… but I have a Hope - Jesus. Do you?

…and I just had a final thought… It’s good that we don’t have a clue as to when this long awaited call for Home will occur… If we did, so many would wait aka live and let live -  and not have a genuine longing for Jesus, (So many believers act as if they don’t have much of one now - They say and believe that being “good” is enough - not that being super good is it either - it’s knowing and receiving Jesus’ good - Remember it is HE that takes our place for our due and sure punishment-hell - because we are ALL not good - filthy rags=our goodness). 

Probably, if believers knew the day and hour of our call Home, they would not speak of our Blessed Hope to those who don’t believe and wouldn’t even have a testimony of a life that speaks of Jesus… Like, there wouldn’t be a witness of a changed life or a life that was impacted by Jesus’ sacrifice,… Because believers, sadly, may be living similar to those who don’t believe and there would be no difference, (like now)… They too, would simply wait til the last minute…  

Many preachers/pastors/priests, don’t speak of Jesus’ call for Home and our Blessed Hope - Heaven - let alone hell… and even less believers speak of it… So many more would probably be lost - going to hell as a result of this foreknowledge… 

No - it’s good that we do NOT know the hour nor day… 

Be like Noah - carry the proverbial umbrella from now on - everyday. Tell someone why you believe Jesus is going to call us HOME.

Soli Deo Gloria

Nina ☂️