A tree fell and it caught our TV cable that made it snap and resulted in a 2-day cable-less existence. That was ok. No big deal. But when our internet connection, for whatever reason it was cut off, that’s another story. It affected me, my work and the kids…their assignments and all! Now that’s a big deal! One day without it…it was okay. 2nd day, it’s still kind of ok, but when it was 3rd day, we all started squirming, feeling restless, incomplete that we can’t connect. Yes, Globelines took a long time coming to fix it. But then, I realized something. Those times without TV cable and internet connection were actually a good thing. We had more time together as a family, more time with the Lord in prayer and His Word, more time with just thinking, meditating, just there being still before the Lord. And I really began to like it.

“Our modern age suffers from a great lack of depth in our walk with the Lord…”

I think of the early church that had not much distractions like we do today. What we have in this present time produces shallow relationship with God. Our modern age suffers from a great lack of depth in our walk with the Lord. Many distractions work against a deep, substantial relationship. Jesus said that in the last days, the love of most would grow cold (Matt. 24:12Matt. 24:12
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12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.  

WP-Bible plugin). He warned about the traps that would hinder a deep relationship with Himself. He mentioned the cares of this life: the pressures of making a living, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desire for more and more things (see Matt. 13:3-23Matt. 13:3-23
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3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; ⁴ And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: ⁵ Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: ⁶ And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. ⁷ And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: ⁸ But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. ⁹ Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. ¹⁰ And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? ¹¹ He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. ¹² For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. ¹³ Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. ¹⁴ And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: ¹⁵ For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. ¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. ¹⁷ For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. ¹⁸ Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. ¹⁹ When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. ²⁰ But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; ²¹ Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. offended: he relapseth, or, falleth into sin ²² He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. ²³ But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.  

WP-Bible plugin).

“We know a little about everything, but not much about anything…”

Our electronic age brings further distractions. Television, telephones, cellphones, the world wide web and computer games constantly flood our minds with all kinds of stimuli and ideas, gobbling up time we might have spent in meditation upon God. We are living in an age when man has become very, very broad, but not very deep. Through the mass media we can now bring up many subjects. We know a little about everything, but not much about anything. And our relationship with God has suffered as a result. In many ways, the days of the apostles were far better to our own. More readily than today, they were able to have the kind of communion and fellowship with God that creates character God can use. Think about Paul, the apostle, when he walked from Jerusalem to Caesarea, about a three-day journey. He wasn’t listening to music or keeping up on the local news. He was surrounded by nature - by the trees, the flowers, the animals. At night he would wrap himself in his blanket and look up at the stars. How could he not think about God and His creation and His works? Solitude is very conducive to communion with God, to meditation on God.

” In Solitude… Stop, look and listen to the God who made you… He wants an intimate relationship with you.”

Today, in a fast-paced, crowded, information-overload generation, you’ve got so much stimuli coming into your brain that you can’t commune with God and have a time of real spiritual enrichment. Our whole society and manner of living has taken us away from simplicity. We are not as close to God as the saints of old, and that may be one reason why we do not see much of His power evidence today as it was back then. Because a prayer-less Christian is a powerless Christian. A deep-abiding faith in God is nurtured in solitude.

So, beloved, from time to time, turn off that TV, close that computer, shut off that cellphone…and listen. Stop, look and listen to the God who made you – He who desires to be with you and show you things in His Word; He who loves you and wants an intimate relationship with you.




The entire study on the book of Revelation is available here to listen to or download.

Visit this section regularly if you want to better understand Revelation.

• Chapters 1 to 4 are on the right hand sidebar and the Archive section of this page.

• Below are Chapter’s 4:4-11 to Chapter 10.

• For Chapters 11 to 14 please click here:

Click here to listen to Revelation Chapters 11 to 14





(Please hover over Bible Texts to see full reading then click box to close)




Now that our H4U Ozamiz is already done and is now a part of our church history, never think for a moment that the warfare we are engaged in is over. For life as a whole, much more the Christian life is a life of warfare! We are called to a battle, not to a life of ease; to a battle, to a warfare, to a wrestle, to a struggle” (see Ephesians 6:10-12Ephesians 6:10-12
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10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. flesh…: Gr. blood and flesh spiritual…: or, wicked spirits high: or, heavenly  

WP-Bible plugin). The word which Paul uses here actually refers to wrestling. It’s the kind that you see in a high school or college gymnasium, the kind where two guys are entwined with one another and are trying every kind of move that they can think of to pin the other guy to the ground. It’s the kind of battle where you have extremely close contact with one another. And yes, sometimes, if not most of the time, the struggle hits close to home…it’s very personal.

We cannot afford to put our guard down. We need to be in constant look out in prayer of the fiery darts that the enemy throws at us. Our enemy is relentless looking for opportunities at our weakest point to attack us. And one of the most dangerous places and times for temptation, for the Devil to attack is when we feel comfortable, successful, easy and light – just like King David’s fall when he was feeling secure, successful and comfortable! Of course, our ultimate rest from it is when we finally see Jesus face to face, but until then, we are engaged in a spiritual battle – whether we like it or not; whether we accept it or not! That’s the hard reality of life!

So how do we face this? Paul wrote, “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” (Eph.6:10). The human will does not generate this strength. It is not mere resolve, determination, or self discipline. While all of these are inherent in spiritual life, they are derived from true strength. There is a human attempt to be strong. We have all tried this. However, there is no ability in us to be strong in the face of a spiritual warfare. The strength is from the Lord. We have no sufficient strength of our own. All our sufficiency is of God. It is not our strength that equips us to stand; it is God’s strength invested in us when we submit to God.

To be strong in the Lord is to surrender and fully submit our heart, mind and will to Him. That is why James 4:7-8James 4:7-8
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7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.  

WP-Bible plugin tells us that the power of resisting is found through submitting to God (“Submit to God, resist the Devil and he will flee from you”). The devil does not flee from your power, but from God’s power within us that overcomes him. We have the promise that when we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. Resistance is no longer measured by our strength, but the strength of God who draws us out of temptation.

So, beloved, as Jesus said, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” Always be in prayer mode and know that His strength is our strength!

Most of us were glued to our Television last Wednesday as we watched another historic event in our country, the inauguration of our 15th president, Benigno Aguino III. We heard his speech, simple and straight to the point, promises were made, as usual, but spoken straight from the heart, to the heart of the Filipino people…a people longing for true change. So, we all wish, hope and pray. And we can certainly contribute to this change as citizens of this country. But one thing is missing, one thing is lacking, one thing never emphasized…and it’s the most important of all – the God of the change! For only He, through Jesus Christ, can bring true change. It all starts in the inner recesses of man – the heart. And only He, who searches hearts and minds, He who weighs every motives and intentions of the heart can reach it, mold and shape it….even cleanse it – making it new. And that is through the gospel of Jesus Christ! Nothing less, nothing more, nothing else.

This is then we, who call ourselves followers of Christ, come in to effect change. How? Colossians 4:5-6Colossians 4:5-6
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5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. ⁶ Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.  

WP-Bible plugin tells us how (Go read it) - First is PRAYER – Pray for open doors (and hearts) to share Christ in your workplace, neighborhood, home and wherever you are. Always be in prayer mode. Second is BE WISE IN THE WAY WE ACT – To be wise in the way we walk means that we’re careful not to say or do anything that would make it difficult to share the gospel. Often this simply means that we need to remember that those who don’t yet know Christ are watching us. Beloved, we need to be careful about the way we act because people are making decisions about the validity of Christianity based upon how we’re living. Somebody wrote – “I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day, I’d rather one would walk with me than merely tell the way, the eye’s a better pupil and more willing than the ear; Fine counsel is confusing, but example’s always clear.” When we pray, God will give us open doors, let’s not shut them by our behavior! But rather, allow our behavior to be the means that God uses to open doors.

Third, MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY - This phrase is a commercial term and means to “buy up.” It’s the picture of finding something on sale and buying all you can afford because the price is so good. Likewise, we’re to buy up every opportunity to speak for Christ when we see one. Time is short, life is short. Every moral decision is important, every opportunity is important. It’s going so fast. Make it count. How? Redeem it. Find ways in which you can say, `I don’t need to waste this time because I don’t have a lot of time left!’ And fourthly, GRACIOUS SPEECH - Our wise walk should lead to wise words. If our actions are right, then we will earn a hearing. Don’t blow that opportunity by using words that are harsh, judgmental and hard to understand. Use words that are gracious, merciful and will make people want to hear more. How can we make the gospel attractive to them if our talk doesn’t match our walk? May our confession match our profession!

Beloved, we are not called to be so heavenly minded with no earthly good, for we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Live it out and true change will happen through the power of the Spirit of Christ!

At the time of this writing the H4U team is all set for our Ozamiz outreach, all geared up for another battle…the battle for souls of men. It is not easy to fight battles. We can’t imagine the how hard it is unless we’re in the middle of it. But we know this in some degree – in the battles we fight each day. Some battles are a bit closer to home. Sometimes neighbors disagree; sometimes people battle not with guns or fists, but with words. There are also battles of ideas. If you believe in God and the Bible, you may find your beliefs under attack in the college classroom or in conversations with unbelieving friends. But I believe some of the fiercest battles are those fought inwardly—within oneself. They are private battles with pain or physical illness, depression, financial difficulty, grief, worry, stress, frustration, loneliness, temptation, and you could go on and on.

The question is: How are we going to find our way through? Well, the Psalmist, David the king, gives us the answer. His day, too, was one of trouble: “May the name of the God of Jacob protect you” (Psa.20:1b). There is where our refuge lies — in the name of the God of Jacob. Only God is adequate for the situation. If you are not resting upon the God of Jacob, you will never make it. What do you and I do when we face a day of trouble? We tend to panic, don’t we? We want to cast about for some kind of maneuver to accomplish what we want. We tend immediately to start manipulating, bringing pressure, trying to use trickery or dishonest methods in the situation. But the God of Jacob is our refuge and trust. David closed his psalm with these words – “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm (Psa.20:7).”

Chariots and horses were the most dreaded war machines of David’s day. The world today has its sources of confidence, too. But they will not suffice. There is nothing wrong with them, as such, except that they are not adequate for the task. David well knew that horses and chariots are needed in battle, but he also knew that if they are all you are going to trust in, you will not have much of a chance. Horses and chariots are not enough without the Lord of glory behind them.

What do you trust in today? What are you relying upon? There are many modern equivalents to these horses and chariots. You could say, “Some trust in ancestry and education; but I will rely on the Lord my God for power.” “Some trust in tranquilizers and pills but I will rely upon the Lord my God.” “Some trust in wealth and property, but I will trust in the name of the Lord my God for provision.”

Here is the note of faith, the quiet, confident expression of a man who has learned where true power lies, the only source of power in the world. And so he says, “I am not going to trust in anything secondary, but I will trust ultimately in the working of the Lord my God.” David’s confidence in the saving power of Jehovah assured him of victory. Beloved, we do well if we do the same!

Somebody once said, “Anyone can have a child, but it takes a special man to be a father.” I wholeheartedly agree and even add that ‘it takes total submission to our Father in heaven to be a father!’ Being a father is much more than performing a biological function. It is about loving and caring, guiding and sharing.

A father recognizes the importance of making time for those he loves…

A father is the head of his family. He does this, not out of insecurity, selfishness or pride, but out of the desire to be an obedient servant of God. (Eph. 5:22Eph. 5:22
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22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.  

WP-Bible plugin) A father offers wise counsel so that he may lead his children to a path of righteousness. He is slow to anger, yet demands respect. “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; …” (Genesis 18:19Genesis 18:19
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19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.  

WP-Bible plugin) A father is strong, reliable and confident. But, a father is also tender, loving and understanding. “In everything, do to others what would you have them do to you…” (Matt. 7:12Matt. 7:12
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12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.  

WP-Bible plugin; Psalms 103:13Psalms 103:13
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13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.  

WP-Bible plugin). A father is a good provider. As long as he is capable, he is willing to labor hard to provide shelter for his family, and food on the table … “if any would not work neither should he eat” (II Thess. 3:10ss. 3:10
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10 He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem.  

WP-Bible plugin).

A father recognizes the importance of making time for those he loves. A study shows that fathers of preschool children on the average spend 37.7 seconds per day in real contact with their youngsters. In contrast, the study indicated that children watch television approximately 54 hours per week. The average teen in our churches spends only 2 minutes a day in meaningful dialogue with his dad. 25% of these teens say they have never had a meaningful conversation with their father—a talk centered on the teens’ interests. “Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6Proverbs 22:6
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6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Train…: or, Catechise in…: Heb. in his way  

WP-Bible plugin) A father is not judged by how much he earns or how many material goods he provides. What does matter to his children is if he has been a “father” to them.

Does your child need your love and forgiveness today?

There’s a Spanish story of a father and son who had become estranged. The son ran away, and the father set off to find him. He searched for months to no avail. Finally, in a last desperate effort to find him, the father put an ad in a Madrid newspaper. The ad read: “Dear Paco, meet me in front of this newspaper office at noon on Saturday. All is forgiven. I love you. Your Father.” On Saturday 800 Pacos showed up, looking for forgiveness and love from their fathers! Does your child need your love and forgiveness today?As what you have abundantly received from our heavenly Father (the knowledge of Him, His grace, mercy forgiveness, and love), which are far more important than silver and gold, give them NOW to your children. HAVE A MEANINGFUL FATHER’S DAY TO YOU DAD!

Come April 27 we depart to Bangkok for a mission trip. Including Uganda Mission last 2004, this is the 4th time we sent a mission team outside of the country. It’s the third time in Thailand. God uses people to accomplish His purpose. And you are that people, dear church. With your generous help and support, responding to God’s call, you have made yourselves partners with us. And with that, thank you!

Oh how great our God is! He is our sufficiency. He specializes in using the weak to shame the strong! He is expert in the impossibilities – for what is impossible with man, is possible with God! Remember the story of Gideon? Gideon’s force was already hugely outnumbered. The Midianite army was 135,000 strong, while Gideon’s force numbered a mere 32,000re 32,000
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Izbrano poglavje ne obstaja! Štetje svetopisemskih vrstic se začne z ¹! Vrstica ⁰ ne obstaja!

WP-Bible plugin. Gideon must’ve been pondering his slim chance of survival. Yet God said, “That’s too many.” The downsizing resulted in a vulnerable 22,000e 22,000
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Izbrano poglavje ne obstaja! Štetje svetopisemskih vrstic se začne z ¹! Vrstica ⁰ ne obstaja!

WP-Bible plugin man reduction-in-force. Gideon was left with a meager 300 troops. His only option was to trust God or perish. He was left virtually without an army. God’s reason for this downsizing is so that they would not glory in themselves, that they would not say it’s their own strength that gave them victory. You know the story - God gave the victory!

Now God frequently trims our resources to get us to depend entirely on Him. Sickness, financial reversal, family conflict, and other difficulties cause us to turn our lives over to God. Unlike popular psychologists, God does not propose that we should believe in ourselves. Our self-centered society celebrates self-reliance. But God strips us bare, forcing us to recognize our frailty and inadequacy. God shows us that human resources are insufficient for the battles we face. God then teaches us the lesson of dependence, which results in confidence. Here’s the truth of the matter: When the odds seem overwhelming, God overwhelms the odds!

Missionary statesman Hudson Taylor had complete trust in God’s faithfulness. In his journal he wrote: Our heavenly Father is a very experienced One. He knows very well that His children wake up with a good appetite every morning… He sustained 3 million Israelites in the wilderness for 40 years. We do not expect He will send 3 million missionaries to China; but if He did, He would have ample means to sustain them all… Depend on it, God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply.

And I say, “Amen” to that!

This is the theme of our recently concluded Pastors and Wives Conference. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:3-12Matthew 5:3-12
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3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. ⁵ Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. ⁶ Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. ⁷ Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. ⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. ⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. ¹⁰ Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹ Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. falsely: Gr. lying ¹² Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.  

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BLESSING. We like that word. Besides God is God of blessing. He does want to bless His people. Just about every time I pray for someone, for anyone, I pray that God may richly bless them. But what do I mean with that? Depending on what our understanding of blessing is, it can mean very different things. So in the Sermon of the Mount, Jesus gives us a whole other meaning to the word “blessing”. There are two basic measures of blessing. There are worldly measures, and there is a Godly measure. Jesus only has one measure. But the world has many. The Jews of Jesus’ time used worldly measures of their blessings. By the world’s measure, if you are rich, successful, happy and popular, that means you are blessed by God. By the same token, the world says that if you are poor, miserable, ugly and rejected, you have a disability, then you or someone in your family has done something to displease God.

Blessings, by worldly standards, are understood as circumstances. There are possessions, independence, fame, power. All those things are located in the realm of this world. Now don’t misunderstand, of course, God blesses us materially or financially too but that’s only a part of a greater blessing that cannot be measured by what we see nor touch. It’s within. It’s an attitude. This we see from the Beatitudes. Notice it’s a BE-attitude not a DO-attitude. It’s not a means to salvation but rather characteristics of those who have received salvation; those who are subjects of God’s kingdom, those who have submitted their lives to the King, Jesus!

The word “blessed” means “How satisfied, how fulfilled, how truly happy you are.” However, we must be careful not to reduce blessedness to merely being happy. To be “blessed” means to be approved or to find approval. In this case approved of God. And there can be no higher “blessing” than to have God’s approval, God’s favour, undeserved favour! The fundamental question is, who’s approval will you seek? Will you seek man’s approval, or God’s approval? And in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus describes the characteristics of one who has God’s approval. How? By trusting in Christ as one’s saviour and totally submitting to His lordship over our lives. That produces in us the characteristics of blessedness. Are you blessed?

Few days ago the Thai government put the nation under state of emergency due to the protesters briefly forcing their way into the parliament compound wherein Lawmakers fled and several senior government figures were airlifted by military helicopter to safety. You see, in a spiritual sense, being Christians in a hostile world we are always in a “state of emergency.” We cannot put our guard down for our enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Pet.5:8). Eph.5:15-16 says, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

“Be very careful” - These are words which are very familiar to all of us. In fact, we use these words to exhort one another quite often. When our children leave the house, we often say, “Be careful.” If one is driving the car, we might say, “Be careful, drive safely.” What we are saying is “Watch out! Don’t do something foolish! Look out for the other guy! Watch your step!” You see the words “Be careful” comes from two Latin words which mean “Looking around” which literally means, “exactly, uprightly.” It’s to keep our eyes wide open, looking around, and discerning the times. The Christian’s walk is to be one that is given careful consideration. It is one that is to be the outgrowth of thought, of purpose, of deliberate and disciplined action. The opposite would be walking carelessly and without proper guidance and forethought.

I read of a news about the senseless injuries and deaths of men and women soldiers after the Persian Gulf War ended. It happened because these soldiers were lulled into a false sense of safety and security. Sometimes in the course of duty, and other times in the pursuit of souvenirs, soldiers carelessly went about in places where mines and booby traps had been placed by the enemy. And this carelessness led to injury and death for some. Now how would you walk when you know that there are booby traps and mines buried somewhere in the ground? You would walk very carefully not carelessly. Christians live in a fallen world, in a hostile and dangerous world. We dare not live our lives in a haphazard fashion. We must give careful thought to our attitudes and actions and decisions. This is what God’s Spirit calls for, nothing less.

With these words Paul is telling us to look down the road before we make our choices, to consider the consequences of our actions before we act. We all know how easy it is to become distracted. We also know what can happen when we are distracted. Think of driving a car. It’s dangerous when you’re driving and you allow yourself to be distracted by anything. Our walk with God should be one that is given great care. We need to watch what we are doing. We need to watch our steps, giving attention to circumstances and consequences, by guarding against everything improper and unbecoming for a Christian. Look first, consider the situation before you take a step! So Paul says, “Don’t be unthinking when you make those choices. Think! Be wise! Look out for detours that take us away from God – and keep your guard up!

It’s such a blessing to come together as a church family to celebrate the most important event in the history of man. In this very day the whole nation and millions all over the world celebrate the best news man has ever heard – that Jesus Christ rose from the dead! This is the single greatest event that changed the world permanently. The world has never been the same again. Indeed He is Lord of all!

And because it’s the first Sunday of the month we will break bread together. Today we also remember the cross for before the resurrection is the cross. What does the cross of Jesus mean?

In the days of Jesus, the Roman Empire had a strict and ruthless justice system. They glorified courage and viewed mercy as a sign of weakness. A popular philosopher called mercy “the disease of the soul.” Jesus came into this heartless society teaching the benefits of mercy. In the Sermon on the Mount He said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Matt. 5:7Matt. 5:7
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7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.  

WP-Bible plugin). Mercy is a characteristic of God, an essential part of His nature. The psalmist declares: “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy” (Ps. 103:8Ps. 103:8
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8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.  

WP-Bible plugin). Mercy can be defined as providing for people in need, ministering to the miserable, helping the hurting… in essence , offering people what they don’t deserve.

God is also completely just. The psalmist reveals: “God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day” (Ps. 7:11Ps. 7:11
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. judgeth…: or, is a righteous judge  

WP-Bible plugin). Another word for justice is righteousness. It means to render everyone their due. Therefore, you might logically say, “I don’t understand! How can God be both just and merciful at the same time? If God is completely just, shouldn’t He punish sin? If He’s completely merciful, doesn’t that negate His justice?” Good questions! But God had the answer: Jesus Christ.

At the cross, both justice and mercy were accomplished. Justice was served when Jesus died, paying the price for our sins. Mercy was extended through Christ’s atoning death. We did not receive the punishment we deserved, but were offered eternal life instead. God is truly the Supreme Judge! Beloved, as we partake of the bread and drink of the cup, remembering the Lord this morning, thank God for being both a merciful and just judge. For if He’s not, we won’t even be here today!

It was an interesting week. Interesting in a sense that, within a week, there were a number of deaths that occurred to loved ones of whom we’re directly or indirectly connected to. Now, I know deaths are occurring every day, it’s just that it reoccurred to my mind that we’re indeed dying; how life is so fragile and short. And the thing is – life is fragile and short and so many people are not living their lives to the full. And when they leave the earth, with wasted lives, directionless and meaningless, no joy nor bliss nor glory await them but ultimate suffering.

That is what God has decreed upon men – for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The only way to have life and live life to the fullest is surrendering one’s life to Jesus Christ, who is the Resurrection and the Life. But for us who have been born-again, who have this hope of eternal life, what kind of life should we be living here and now? How can we live the life to the fullest? When we live for the glory of God (1 Cor.10:31). “So we make it our goal to please Him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it (2 Cor.5:9).”

This world is not our home…

There is no other way. And be reminded that we are strangers and aliens in this world (1 Pet.2:11). This world is not our home. All the great blessings of life would not necessarily be found in this present time but we’re waiting for them in glory. Therefore we do not need to be distressed if we do not have everything that those around us are trying to get in this life. That is the truth that will deliver us from the pressures of the times. We must hold things lightly. We must not think that houses, cars, money and material gain is all that important. Even if we lack these things, the great treasures of our life remain untouched. To strive constantly to gain what everyone else has is a mistake. God teaches us to hold these things lightly. We must never forget that we are in the world but not of it. We are never to settle down here for good. C.S.Lewis has put it: “Our kind heavenly Father has provided many wonderful inns for us along our journey, but He takes special care to see that we never mistake any of them for home.”

We are pilgrims and strangers, passing through this world…

We are pilgrims and strangers, passing through this world. We are involved in it, deeply sometimes, but we are never to see ourselves as a part of it. And one day, we’ll be home just as He promised! “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Cor.4:18). “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory (Col.3:2-4).”



Artwork from peterolsenart.com





Revelation 2:18-29Revelation 2:18-29
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; ¹⁹ I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. ²⁰ Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. ²¹ And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. ²² Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. ²³ And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. ²⁴ But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. ²⁵ But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. ²⁶ And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: ²⁷ And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. ²⁸ And I will give him the morning star. ²⁹ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.  

WP-Bible plugin (New International Version)


To the Church in Thyatira
18”To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. 20Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. 24Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): 25Only hold on to what you have until I come. 26To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—
27’He will rule them with an iron scepter;
he will dash them to pieces like pottery’[a]— just as I have received authority from my Father. 28I will also give him the morning star. 29He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.




Congratulations to the Graduates! To the College students (and to the parents’ wallet also!) there’s always that feeling of relief and release! All the time, energy and money spent will culminate in graduation day. Alas! Whew! They’re not a waste after all. Praise God! Another chapter of their lives is done and another chapter will be written.

Following Jesus is not a one hundred meter-dash run but it’s a marathon…

“What’s next?” is the big question. Some might have the idea already but many may still be standing on the crossroads of life wondering which way to take. May our Lord Jesus give them wisdom and guidance as look to His guidance. The Christian life is like that. Following Jesus is not a one hundred meter-dash run but it’s a marathon. It’s a lifelong assignment. Empowered by His Spirit and guided by His gracious hand, we go from chapter to chapter, phase after phase, change after change, from faith to faith until we reach the finish line. And there at the finish line, is our graduation day. We graduate from this life either by translation (via rapture airlines) or by physical death. The Bible calls our “graduation day” the “Bema Seat of Christ.” It’s a judgment not unto condemnation but unto rewards or lost of rewards (1 Cor.3:12-15).” For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done in the body, whether good or bad (2 Cor. 5:102 Cor. 5:10
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.  

WP-Bible plugin).”

Until that day, like the apostle Paul, by the grace of God we must FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, FINISH THE RACE AND KEEP THE FAITH (2 Tim.4:7).” If we do there is in store for us the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to us on that day - to all who have longed for His appearing (2 Tim.4:8).”

Crossroads…

For those who are on the crossroads, let me share this with you:



“Sometimes, when I look back and think of all the “could-have-beens” in my life,

I often wonder: did I make the right choice? Did I miss a road sign?…

Am I on the right track?… CROSSROADS…

They happen all the time — saying goodbye to some, choosing only one.

Letting go, holding on… settling for now, but facing what must come…

Yes, in life we all reach a crossroad sometime.

We make painful decisions and take some risks as we pursue our dreams.

But one should not stay at the CROSSROADS too long.

For even the birds have to leave their nests sometime and learn how to fly.

Life’s road is long and rough, and there are stretches when one has to do it all alone.

And should you meet the cross at the road, be consoled.

Yes, more often than not, the road less traveled will surely bring you home.

Face the light and the shadow falls behind you.

Turn your back and the shadow stays in front of you.

Indeed the truth hurts, but it will surely set you free.

The bitter pangs of parting will give birth to another moment called growing.

So grow on… until it’s time for you to move on…and face the crossroads again,

knowing that God loves you and is in control of everything. Be strong at the crossroads.” 




Artwork from peterolsenart.com






Revelation 2:12-17Revelation 2:12-17
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; ¹³ I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. ¹⁴ But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. ¹⁵ So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. ¹⁶ Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. ¹⁷ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.  

WP-Bible plugin (Part 1) (New International Version)




To the Church in Pergamum
12”To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 13I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. 14Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. 15Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.




No. This is not about the boxing match between Manny Pacquaio and Joshua Clottey dubbed as “The Event.” It is about the next great event that will take place in the world – the rapture of the church! Just to remind us as His people of that blessed hope that will soon come – lest we are caught sleeping when He comes. What is the rapture? It’s the church being “caught up” to meet the Lord in the air –1 Thess.4:15-17 – “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.”

…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.

Now that word “caught up” is the Greek word harpadzo. We got the word “rapture” from the Latin word, ”rapare” which means “to take away” or “snatched out”, which is the literal meaning of the word, “caught up.” It’s a snatching away with force – by the collar, like what the angels did to Lot. Beloved, there’ll be a great snatching away that will occur anytime! And it’s going to be quick! 1 Corinthians 15 describes it like the twinkling of an eye. That’s how fast it’s going to happen. Blinking and twinkling are not the same. See how fast you can blink your eye. It’s not that. That’s about one four hundredth of a second. The twinkling of an eye is the time it takes your eye to see someone you are looking for and recognize them–that’s the twinkling of an eye.

Some people think when Jesus comes to rapture the church, they are going to have time to get on their knees and repent. They think He’s going to come floating down on a parachute. “Hello, Lord. I want to get saved!” No it’ll be so sudden. 1 Thess.5:9 – “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” What an awesome truth! The word “appoint” means “a destiny, an appointed end.” You know we all plan for the future. Most of you have already planned where you will eat lunch after church today. Our plans don’t always work out the way we intend, but God’s plan for us is so certain that we can call it a destiny, or an “appointment.” And if you have trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, we have nothing to fear because God didn’t save us from our sin and call us to follow Jesus only to pour out His wrath on us. No. He died to save us not only from hell but from the God’s judgement that will upon the earth! Rom.5:9 – “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!”

Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus come!

Beloved, the coming of Jesus for His bride is indeed our blessed hope! With all what’s going on in the world today, there is hope for us who believe in Jesus. It may look bleak and black but the brightness of His coming will change all that! Nobody knows the day nor the hour of His coming for His bride, but we know it is coming soon and very soon! Don’t fall asleep. Be watchful. Be faithful. Be light and salt. Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus come!

Revelation 2:12-17Revelation 2:12-17
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; ¹³ I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. ¹⁴ But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. ¹⁵ So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. ¹⁶ Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. ¹⁷ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.  

WP-Bible plugin (Part 1) (New International Version)



To the Church in Pergamum
12”To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 13I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. 14Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. 15Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.




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Revelation 1:9-20Revelation 1:9-20
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. ¹⁰ I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, ¹¹ Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. ¹² And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; ¹³ And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. ¹⁴ His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; ¹⁵ And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. ¹⁶ And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. ¹⁷ And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: ¹⁸ I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. ¹⁹ Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; ²⁰ The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.  

WP-Bible plugin (New International Version)

One like a Son of Man
9I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”

12I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,”[a]dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.





17When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

19”Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels[b] of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.





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“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.” (Psa.62:1). If you are of average weight and height, here is what you will go through in an average 24-hour period: Your heart will beat 103,689 times. Your blood will travel 168 million miles, as your heart pumps approximately 4 ounces per beat. You will breathe 23,040he 23,040
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
Izbrano poglavje ne obstaja!

WP-Bible plugin times, inhaling 438 cubit feet of air. Your stomach will take in 3.5 pounds of food and 2.9 quarts of liquid. You will lose 7-8 pounds of waste. If you are a man, you will speak 4,800 words. If you are a woman, you will speak close to 7,000 words. You will move 750 muscles, and exercise 7 million brain cells. No wonder we’re tired!

“How long would this continue…how long should I hold on…would this ever end?”

But there is weariness much more draining than physical fatigue. It’s the kind of weariness you feel when you just don’t know if you can go on another day. It’s the weariness a father feels when his child is doing wrong. It’s the weariness a friend feels who has been abandoned or misunderstood. It’s the weariness a wife feels whose husband has rejected her. It’s the weariness which can take a toll on even the most seemingly successful individual – even a child of God, a servant of God.

Have you ever become so weary, so tired of life’s battles? And worse, all your resources – material, emotional and mental are already depleted that you have nothing left so you just want to give up? If anyone was ever weary, David was (read Psa.62). He had grown weary from the constant assaults of his enemies! He is so worn out and tired that he is about to fall down and collapse. David asked what we also ask when we are in the midst of troubles, “How long?” “How long would this continue…how long should I hold on…would this ever end?” Yet in the midst of his weariness he is able to find rest – where? In a Liquor Bar? In Drugs? In Entertainment? No. In God alone (read vs.1) –

Beloved, there is place of rest for the weary – and it is in God alone. Jeremiah 6:16Jeremiah 6:16
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.  

WP-Bible plugin – “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.” When we are in the weary times of life, it is as if we have reached a crossroads and we must now choose which way we will go. In this passage God is telling us that we must choose the good way because that is the only way to “find rest for your souls.”

He listens. He cares…. simply REST in Him!

The opposite is there is no rest for the weary when they will not listen to God and choose to go their own way rather than “the good way.” What is “the good way” that Jeremiah wrote about? It is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I am the way” (John 14:6John 14:6
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  

WP-Bible plugin). He also said, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28Matthew 11:28
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  

WP-Bible plugin). Truly, Jesus is the good way — the only way — that provides rest for our souls. Call on Him. Pour all your heart out. Let go. Let Him fill you with love and grace. He listens. He cares….and simply REST in Him!

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As I was watching a basketball game the other day a thought came to my mind, as if the Spirit of God gently reminding me – that Life in general is not a game! Oh we wish it is! But not so! Most of the time it’s a battle, it’s a struggle; a lot of tears and pain, heartaches and hurts. Beyond the smile and the laughter is a hurting and weeping heart – crying out for love, pleading for help, begging for relief! We live not in a fantasy world nor in video game world, but in a real world of sin and trouble! What do we do when life turns to the worst? When the battle rages and we’re in the thick of the fight? When our enemy is gaining ground and we’re losing our grip? Psalm 46:1-3Psalm 46:1-3
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
46 To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. for: or, of ¹ God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. ² Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; midst…: Heb. heart of the seas ³ Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.  

WP-Bible plugin - God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

When life presses in upon us, when trouble comes, then we can know that we have a place to run to. God is our refuge and strength. It does not matter what form the trouble takes, or how it is delivered, or how long it stays. God alone is our accessible, protected place of refuge and retreat. We can hide there and know that nothing can get through to us unless it goes through Him first. In any battle you need a safe place…a fortress where you can go to rest and recoup and think. One of the most beautiful pictures of spiritual refuge is found in Psalm 91:4Psalm 91:4
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.  

WP-Bible plugin where it says, “God will shield you with His wings.”

Have you ever seen little chicks hop around, chirping, pecking, doing “little chick stuff”? If the mother hen becomes aware of a predator or a threat to her offspring, she responds by lifting her wings and within seconds, all the baby chicks disappear underneath them. Now, the predator sees nothing but one mean-looking mama who just dares the enemy to take a step forward! She is a refuge for her children…..she is their protection. Now eventually, the chicks will have to crawl out and face the real world again. But for a season, there is nothing quite like the soft shelter of those wings — -the downy feathers caressing their heads; the mother’s warmth stilling their shakes; her heart’s steady beating gradually calming their fears.

And God delights in spreading His protective wings and enfolding His frightened, battle-weary children. God is our refuge! And one way that we let God be a refuge for us is to simply talk to Him about our struggles. Psalm 62:8Psalm 62:8
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.  

WP-Bible plugin says, “Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.” So the passwords that open the gates into the refuge of God are the soul - wrenching words that flow out of our hearts, when we finally decide to trust God enough to tell Him about our struggles. Somewhere in the middle of taking that step of faith, the gates open, and God’s wings extend.

God delights in spreading His protective wings …enfolding His frightened, battle-weary children…

Jesus is our refuge even when what seems permanent and unchangeable changes. When the world seems to crash in around us, He is still there. When the world does not make sense, He is still there. When the problems overwhelm us, when we are afraid, when we are hurting, God is still there. He’s an ever-present help! Thank You Lord!

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Revelation 1:1-3Revelation 1:1-3
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
The Revelation of St. John the Divine ^{1 1} The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: ² Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. ³ Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.  

WP-Bible plugin (New International Version)

Prologue
1The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.








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