Scoffing Will Increase

Scoffing Will IncreaseBy Glynda Lomax

Scoffing will begin to increase noticeably now, My children. Though there have always been mockers and scoffers in the earth, the increase of darkness in the hearts of men will bring also an increase in scoffing, and in persecution now.

From now until the end, persecution will be very prevalent in your world. This will cause many of My people to remain silent in an effort to protect themselves, but I tell you now, My children, there is no place to hide from what is coming. There is no place you can hide from persecution except in Me. If you abide in Me, and My Word abides in you, then you will be protected from more than in any other way.
  
Do not let the opinions of men or the threat of persecution make you fearful or fear will rule your heart and your mind. Any negative emotion you allow in now will take root and increase, as the increase of what is in your heart has already been ordained. You must guard your heart more diligently than ever before, for your enemy also knows this. He has been tempting men since the foundations of the world, but now he will increase his temptations and you must cast down every wicked thought as it comes to resist them.
  
Be vigilant, My people.

2 Timothy 3:1-8
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

1 Peter 5:5-10
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

Godly Guidance

It takes time to get godly advice, but it saves you time in the long run. We are in a battle for our faith, our families and our finances, so we are wise to engage wise counselors. These are men and women who are not perfect, but who have learned from their mistakes and who know how to process life. Godly guidance is a gift that keeps on giving. You pay it forward to friends and family who benefit as well.

Godly guidance gives you the grace to go far by faith. Your growth in grace allows you to understand what’s best.

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen” 2 Peter 3:18

Insight from others is an instrument they acquire from their intimacy with Christ. Go to those who have been with Jesus and you will hear from Jesus. He speaks through prayerful people.

Invisible Mother

I may be an Invisible Mom today. But God sees me, and having His gift of grace is what really matters today, on Mothers Day.

  Nicole Johnson-The Invisible Woman

1Samuel 2:1-2 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
² There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

Keep Going On!

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4

Did you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance and it isn’t automatic? We have to be taught that hardships develop our endurance. Our natural response to “trials of various kinds” is likely to be anything but “joy.”

David realized, like any good teacher, that knowing and doing are two separate steps. Knowing what God can do with trials isn’t the same thing as doing life with that knowledge. Second, he reminds us of our privilege to respond to God’s work by choosing joy...
~We all know there are other choices before us when hard times come. We can get angry with God for allowing a trial.
~We can get discouraged because we were expecting an easier life with Christ.
~We can even develop a bad attitude in a trial that keeps others from seeing our hope in the middle of what God is doing.

Joy is a much better choice. Not joy for the “trials of various kinds,” but joy over what those trials will accomplish in deepening our faith. White-knuckling your way through a difficulty is a certain kind of endurance, but endurance without joy is not a pretty sight. And choosing to be angry, to feed discouragement, or to push others away aren’t the kind of endurance God wants to develop in us. He longs for us to persevere joyfully.

Today when we say, “Keep going on!” To keep on means to continue doing what you have committed to doing, whether you feel like it or not. Don’t give up. In the Bible, we see this as endurance, perseverance, and steadfastness. Nothing is more essential to success in our life than to persevere, "to keep going on". This is a character trait you have to develop. Faith gets you started, joyful steadfastness keeps you going.

God is even more interested in growing your endurance than you are! Almost everything in your life has the purpose of developing your perseverance. That is why, the Bible says, your faith is tested. Not so your faith will fail, but to produce in you a perfecting steadfastness that results in supernatural joy.

Victory!

All things are possible to him that believeth. Mark 9:23 

The "all things" do not always come simply for the asking, for the reason that God is ever seeking to teach us the way of faith, and in our training in the faith life there must be room for the trial of faith, the discipline of faith, the patience of faith, the courage of faith, and often many stages are passed before we really realize the real moral fibre is developed through discipline of faith. You have made your request of God, but the answer does not come. What are you to do?

Keep on believing God's Word; never be moved away from it by what you see or feel, and thus as you stand steady, enlarged power and experience is being developed. The fact of looking at the apparent contradiction as to God's Word and being unmoved from your position of faith make you stronger on every other line. Often God delays purposely, and the delay is just as much an answer to your prayer as is the fulfillment when it comes.

In the lives of all the great Bible characters, God worked thus. Abraham, Moses and Elijah were not great in the beginning, but were made great through the discipline of their faith, and only thus were they fitted for the positions to which God had called them.

For example, in the case of Joseph whom the Lord was training for the throne of Egypt, we read in the Psalms: "The word of the Lord tried him." It was not the prison life with its hard beds or poor food that tried him, but it was the word God had spoken into his heart in the early years concerning elevation and honor which were greater than his brethren were to receive; it was this which was ever before him, when every step in his career made it seem more and more impossible of fulfillment, until he was there imprisoned, and all in innocence, while others who were perhaps justly incarcerated, were released, and he was left to languish alone.

These were hours that tried his soul, but hours of spiritual growth and development, that, "when his word came"(the word of release), found him fitted for the delicate task of dealing with his wayward brethren, with a love and patience only surpassed by God Himself. No amount of persecution tries like such experiences as these. When God has spoken of His purpose to do, and yet the days go on and He does not do it, that is truly hard; but it is a discipline of faith that will bring us into a knowledge of God which would otherwise be impossible.

Then comes the real Victory!

Let's Talk About It

Let’s talk about bondage to sin...that is, your battle with the flesh. Under the New Covenant, God allows situations to enter your life to show your helplessness and total dependence on Him to deliver you through faith. God never leads us into temptation but He allows us to come to our wits’ end at times.

If you have a besetting sin, lying spirits come against you continually with demonic lies, “You’re not going to make it. You’re going down! You will end up destroyed.” You wonder, “Lord, how will I ever get up from this? I’ve gone down so low!” You know you can’t outrun the enemy and you are no match for him in a fight. So you stand before him, cowering, trembling, terrified. Perhaps you run to friends or anyone who will listen as you weep and pray. You are doing everything except being still and trusting the Lord to bring deliverance.

The Bible gives us example after example of how we have no power in our flesh to fight spiritual battles. Our old person is utterly weak and powerless, but we have a new person inside us and we are to submit our life totally into the Lord’s hands. This new person understands there is no human way out and God must do all the fighting for us. We resist the devil by the power of the Holy Spirit, which is revealed in us by faith alone.

Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Stormy Seas

We went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.
Psalm 66:12

Paradoxical though it be, only that man is at rest who attains it through conflict. This peace, born of conflict, is not like the deadly hush preceding the tempest, but the serene and pure-aired quiet that follows it.

It is not generally the prosperous one, who has never sorrowed, who is strong and at rest. His quality has never been tried, and he knows not how he can stand even a gentle shock. He is not the safest sailor who never saw a tempest; he will do for fair-weather service, but when the storm is rising, place at the important post the man who has fought out a gale, who has tested the ship, who knows her hulk sound, her rigging strong, and her anchor-flukes able to grasp and hold by the ribs of the world.

When first affliction comes upon us, how everything gives way! Our clinging, tendril hopes are snapped, and our heart lies prostrate like a vine that the storm has torn from its trellis; but when the first shock is past, and we are able to look up, and say, "It is the Lord," faith lifts the shattered hopes once more, and binds them fast to the feet of God. Thus the end is confidence, safety, and peace.
--Selected

The adverse winds blew against my life;
My little ship with grief was tossed;
My plans were gone--heart full of strife,
And all my hope seemed to be lost--
"Then He arose"--one word of peace.
"There was a calm"--a sweet release.

A tempest great of doubt and fear
Possessed my mind; no light was there
To guide, or make my vision clear.
Dark night! 'twas more than I could bear--
"Then He arose," I saw His face--
"There was a calm" filled with His grace.

My heart was sinking 'neath the wave
Of deepening test and raging grief;
All seemed as lost, and none could save,
And nothing could bring me relief--
"Then He arose"--and spoke one word,
"There was a calm!" IT IS THE LORD.
--L. S. P.

The Promise of Liberty

While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.” 2 Peter 2:19 

This chapter consists of a strong denunciation of false teachers. They are, among other things, sensuous, beguiling, covetous, and accursed (v. 14). They desire personal wealth (vv. 15-16), but their message is empty, and even destructive, and will be judged (v. 17), appealing to the pride and lusts of their hearers (v. 18).

In our text we see the false teachers are quick to make promises. Promises are cheap; they cost nothing. Satan first revealed himself to mankind with a promise: “Ye shall be as gods” Genesis 3:5, and later attempted to seduce the Son of God with “all the kingdoms of the world” (Matthew 4:8). Empty promises are Satan’s golden hook, and many are the foolish ones who take the bait.

In this case, the false teachers promise liberty—liberty to act without the shackles of responsibility and moral law. But they themselves are “servants of corruption,” slaves of a most abhorrent mentality. And who are they to offer liberty? These are indeed “great swelling words of vanity” 2 Peter 2:18, for slaves cannot rightly offer liberty.

How is this promise kept? Bondage. Bondage to that which has overcome. The liberty that sin promises is slavery, and the greater the sinner, the greater the bondage to the sin. There is perhaps no more wretched a state than to be in bondage to abject corruption in the name of liberty. It is a bondage of the spirit; a captivity of the soul. Of all states of slavery, it is the most lasting.

On the other hand, through grace we can “stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free,” with no need to be “entangled again with the yoke of bondage” Galatians 5:1.

Something Happened on Inauguration Day 2017

Something happened.......on Inauguration Day that this was not covered on TV.

Robert Jeffress, the Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church in downtown Dallas, gave a private sermon for the President Elect (then) and VP Elect Pence and their families in St. John's Church, first thing in the morning, to set the tone for the day.
Here are the verbatim words that were given to Trump and his group. I am told that he was really moved by it, and especially liked the part about the wall.

When God chooses a leader: Nehemiah 1:11

Introduction:
President-elect and Mrs. Trump, Vice-President-elect and Mrs. Pence, families and friends, its an honor to be with you on this historic day.
President-elect Trump, I remember that it was exactly one year ago this weekend that I was with you on your Citation jet, flying around Iowa before the first caucus or primary vote was cast. After our Wendys cheeseburgers, I said that I believed that you would be the next President of the United States. And if that happened, it would be because God had placed you there.

As the prophet Daniel said, "It is God who removes and establishes leaders". Today  one year later  God has raised you and Vice-President-elect Pence up for a great, eternal purpose.

When I think of you, President-elect Trump, I am reminded of another great leader God chose thousands of years ago in Israel. The nation had been in bondage for decades, the infrastructure of the country was in shambles, and God raised up a powerful leader to restore the nation. And the man God chose was neither a politician nor a priest. Instead, God chose a builder whose name was Nehemiah. And the first step of rebuilding the nation was the building of a great wall. God instructed Nehemiah to build a wall around Jerusalem to protect its citizens from enemy attack.

You see, God is NOT against building walls!!
And the Old Testament book of Nehemiah records how Nehemiah completed that massive project in record time  just 52 days.
Why was Nehemiah so successful in building the wall and rebuilding the nation???

I. Nehemiah Refused To Allow His Critics To Distract Him

Someone has said there are three guaranteed ways to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.
Any true leader is going to face criticism.
President-elect Trump, you have had your share of critics from the day you announced you were running for President, but youve confounded them at every turn. First, they said you couldnt win the nomination, but you ended up garnering the most votes of any Republican in history. Then they said that was a fluke, but you couldnt win the election. And you handily defeated your opponent.  And now your critics say you cant possibly succeed in your agenda.

Nehemiah had his own share of critics. Two of his chief antagonists were named Sanballat and Tobiah. They were the mainstream media of their day. They continued to hound and heckle Nehemiah and spread false rumors while he and the Israelites were building the wall.

At one point, they said, Nehemiah, you need to stop the project and come down from the wall and have a meeting with us.

Nehemiahs response was classic: Im doing a great work . . . why should I stop the work and come down to you? (Nehemiah 6:3)

President-elect Trump, you, Vice President-elect Pence, and your team have been called by God and elected by the people to do a great work. It is a work far too important to stop and answer your critics.

II. Nehemiah Refused To Allow Setbacks To Stop Him

As you read through Nehemiahs journal, youll find that he faced tremendous obstacles as he attempted to rebuild the nation: an economic recession, terrorist attacks from enemies, and discouragement among the citizens.

But none of those setbacks was enough to stop Nehemiah.

Some years ago two sports commentators on television were discussing the late Hall of Famer, Walter Peyton, the running back for the Chicago Bears. One commentator said, Can you believe that during his career Peyton has run more than nine miles with a football

The other commentator replied, Whats even more amazing is that every 3.8 yards of those nine miles, Peyton got knocked down by a guy twice his size!! But he got back up every time and kept moving forward in spite of those bruising hits and hard knocks.

President Trump, you, your team and your families are going to face some bruising setbacks. But remember . The true measure of a leader is what it takes to stop him. And knowing you, I believe its going to take a lot to stop you.

Finally --- III. Nehemiah Sought Gods Help To Empower Him

Nehemiah was a gifted leader, but he knew he could not succeed without Gods divine help. And that is why as he began the great work, Nehemiah knelt before God and prayed:
O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant who delights in revering your name. Give your servant success today . . . (Nehemiah 1:11)
Mr. President-elect, I dont believe we have ever had a president with as many natural gifts as you. As you know, the reason I endorsed you, within weeks of your announcement that you were running, was because I believed that you were the only candidate who possessed the leadership skills necessary to reverse the downward trajectory of our nation.
And beginning with Vice President-elect Pence  a great and godly man  youve assembled an unbelievably talented group of advisers around you. But the challenges facing our nation are so great that it will take more than natural ability to meet them. We need Gods supernatural power.

The good news is that the same God who empowered Nehemiah nearly 2500 years ago is available to every one of us today who is willing to humble himself and ask for His help.

God says in Psalm 50:15, Call upon Me in the day of trouble. I shall rescue you and you will honor Me.

When President Ronald Reagan addressed the Republican National Convention in my city of Dallas in 1984, he said, America needs God more than God needs America. If we ever forget that we are 'one nation under God,' then we will be a nation gone under.

President-elect Trump, you had a campaign slogan that resonated with tens of millions of Americans because it spoke to their heartfelt desire: Make America Great Again.

Psalm 33:12 gives us the starting point for making that happen: Blessed  great  is the nation whose God is the Lord.

May God bless President-elect Trump, Vice-President-elect Pence, their families and advisers.
And may God truly bless the United States of America.

We Have Been 'Set Apart'

Recently, while driving through an area where a couple of nightclubs were located, I once again realized the necessity for myself to remain sober in these last days. As I drove through this area looking in through the windows at the people drinking and carrying on, I felt sorrow for those who do not know Christ at this hour. Right here in America, the greatest bastion of Christianity in the entire world, most don't know or trust that God has preserved our nation and our very lives to this hour.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Proverbs 9:10

Unfortunately, we live in a world that does not place much value on Godly wisdom. If you disagree, just turn on your television. It is horrifying what is considered 'normal' today. What passes for 'entertainment' today is indicative of a culture in absolute moral decay. To make matters worse, modern culture and human tendencies have developed a 'herd mentality.' Many choose to go with the flow of society and rarely question the status quo. Like the frog that sits in the boiling pot of water until it is too late, the majority of our culture is willingly submerged in decadence, whether we realize it or not. Try as we may, we cannot escape its grasp. This decadence fills the television and radio airwaves. It lies in wait for us on the internet. It winks at us from advertising billboards. It saturates our nation's marketing tactics and is even seeping into the churches. Some people have even fooled themselves into believing that they can live however they desire without fear of any negative repercussions. It has been called the ultimate fool's game: "I can live my way & win."

As Christians, we have been purchased by the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have been justified and sanctified. We have been 'set apart' for God's plans and purposes. We do not have the luxury of going along with the crowd, even though our 'flesh' may desire it. We have an important job in the Church to spread the good news of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection to an unbelieving sea of humanity. In today's homogenized culture, a commitment to Christ should make us stand out. In fact, as Christians, we are supposed to be different from this world. We are to be in this world, but not of it. Of course, I am not advocating that we should stand out solely for the purpose of standing out. Rather, as followers of Christ, this world should not feel like home to us. We are pilgrims, sojourners. Does this world feel like home to you? Have you become comfortable here?

We live in truly remarkable times. What a day and an hour to be living in! The lateness of the prophetic hour is staggering to the imagination. Each and every day, this present world is growing ever darker. We must do all we can to avoid strong attachments to the things of this world. Instead, we should seek to root ourselves in the Word of God and lose ourselves in His plans and purposes for our lives.

The time to dive into the things of God is now. You must make up your mind that you are going to follow Christ, no matter what happens in the natural. Financial disaster may strike, persecution may come, war may loom, but in all of those things we must CHOOSE to follow Christ and seek after His wisdom. With an attitude like that, you will be prepared for whatever may come. Readers, you are in my prayers continually. May the Lord richly bless you and may your faith be evidenced by your wisdom in these last days. Come, Lord Jesus!

The Potters Hand

Not until each loom is silent,
And the shuttles cease to fly,
Will God unroll the pattern
And explain the reason why
The dark threads are as needful
In the Weaver's skillful hand,
As the threads of gold and silver
For the pattern which He planned.

He that is mastered by Christ is the master of every circumstance. Does the circumstance press hard against you? Do not push it away. It is the Potter's hand.

Your mastery will come, not by arresting its progress, but by enduring its discipline, for it is not only shaping you into a vessel of beauty and honor, but it is making your resources available.

National Day of Prayer 2017

Exodus 20:1-6
1And God spake all these words, saying, 2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Thank You, God, that You show mercy and steadfast love to me and to a thousand generations of those who love You and keep Your commandments. We pray, Father, for our nation and many nations. Bring us into Your Truth, open eyes and ears to see and hear. Speak to our leaders and churches and give them discernment. Help them to choose Your way into Peace. Thank You, Father, for walking with us. Amen