Let Others see Christ Through Your Marriage

 

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:14-16

If you ever attended church, I am certain you have sung, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.” When you think of this song, you probably automatically begin picturing all the hand motions, including covering and uncovering your “candle” (finger) to show you will not hide your light under a bushel.  Matthew 5 tells us we are not to keep our lights hidden.  We are boldly to display our relationship with Christ as a lighthouse, a beacon so those lost at sea can find their ways to the Savior.

One of the best ways we can be a good example of God’s love is through our marriages.  I know I have said it before, but I do not mind repeating myself: People frequently tell Mel and I are how adorable we are in our interactions with one another.  In June, we will have been married for five years, but our love never wanes.  People still ask if we are newlyweds and still tell us how much they enjoy seeing how loving and respectful we are with one another.  We have had strangers tell us so many times that they admire how we interact, that I cannot even count the number of compliments.  We keep our public affection decent, but we draw attention because of how we are so giving with one another.  We hold hands and hug (and yes, sometimes we tactfully  kiss), we use loving terms with each other, we do not argue, and the selfless side to our relationship always comes across as we put the other’s needs first.  People take notice.

(By the way, we are the genuine article, we treat each other just as lovingly and respectfully in private; we are not putting on a facade.)

The light shining forth from our marriage has often been a great opportunity to share the love of the Lord.  I was rarely approached for random dialogues when I was single, but when I am with Mel, strangers often start conversations with us, sometimes for 30 minutes or longer.  Although I am very shy and introverted and typically wary of people I do not know, when I am with Mel I feel less self-conscious and can open up and be friendly to strangers.  Being married to a bold extrovert is good for me.  I can more easily share the love of Christ with a husband by my side that helps me feel more comfortable in my own skin.  We have offered to pray for several people because of personal issues they have shared with us.  Our willingness to listen and show compassion makes people feel safe around us and let their guards down.  I fully believe it is only after they see how joyful and respectful our marriage is that they feel comfortable enough to approach us.  They want to know more about why we radiate so much love.  

This seems like such a basic message and not as “meaty” as some of my other blogs.  However, I felt it was important to remind you that someone is always watching; especially if you call yourself a Christian.  The way you and your spouse treat each other in public says a lot more than you realize.  You can either enhance or blow your testimony based on your public interactions.

I do not want to get into the countless poor examples of marriages I have seen from people who attach the title of Christian to themselves.  My point is not to berate other people or to be judgmental, but to make a point.  When others openly do not take their marriages seriously, they make a very loud statement they do not believe in practicing the basic principles of the bible.  They are a poor testimony of their faith.  Consider the following scripture verses, and see if you follow these teachings when in public.  The first one has to do with remembering you are married and to be loyal to your spouse even with your eyes.  The second is a reminder to all those who like to wear short shorts, tight leggings, low cut tops, etc.  Remember you are someone’s wife!  

 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  Matthew 5:28

…women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation…
which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.
II Timothy 2:9-10

Ephesians 5 says we are to treat each other with love and respect.  Each time someone insults their spouse in public or makes it clear they feel their mate is nothing more than a nag, they stomp all over the bible and bury it in the ground.  And trust me, everyone notices when you belittle each other or fight in public.        

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her…  So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it… “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh…” Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.  Ephesians 5:22-33

Always remember other people are watching.  If those people are already critical of Christians, they are watching extra hard, waiting for any excuse to insult believers’ actions.  They are anxious to say, “If that’s what being a Christian looks like, I don’t want any part of it.”  I want my light for Christ to shine even when I am alone, but especially when I am with my husband.  I want others to look at my marriage as a shining example of what pure, honest, respectful, and Godly love looks like.  I want them to see Jesus in us and intrigue them to want to know more.  Mel and I are both honored when we are approached and strangers open up to us and God presents an opportunity for sharing His love.

I want to end this with something we have not yet done, but plan to do in the future.  I read in an old issue of Guideposts where a reader said that he and his wife always tell their waiter/waitress that they are about to pray over their meal and ask if the server has any prayer requests.  He said they receive mixed results, but no one has asked them not to pray, and sometimes the server will even join in the prayer.  What a beautiful way to shine for the Lord!  May we always be thinking of more ways to be bold for Christ and let our marriage be our testimony!   

The Cross-Stitching Comparison

One of the hobbies I enjoy is cross-stitching.  The first cross-stich I made was for my Grandma in 2003.  I have made more projects than I can count; I seem always to be working on something as it keeps my mind from getting bored.  Since I have been extra cross-stich occupied this month, I began realizing how many parallels there are between cross-stitching and my Christian walk.  Sounds silly, I know, but read on and you will see what I mean.

Before I can even begin to work on a project, I must make sure my hands are clean.  I would not want inadvertently to transfer any dirt onto the nice clean fabric.  One little stain could ruin a lot of hard work. 

The same is true in the way I should approach my relationship with the Lord.  I must make certain my hands, mind, body, spirit, and heart are all clean on the inside and not just on the outside.  Sin can separate me from my Holy Father.  One mark can soil all my good works.  Yet, just as stain remover can save the cross-stitch, prayer and sincere repentance can restore me unto Christ.      

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence.
Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.  Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness, Matthew 23:25-28

 

If I want my project to be a work of art and not just something to do to occupy my restless mind, then I must follow the pattern.  I study it and formulate a plan of action, make notes, and have all my thread organized before I even begin.  I become so meticulous about the pattern, I sometimes even dream about my work.  I must stick to the pattern if I am to have a successful project.  If I try to set the instructions aside and veer off on my own, chances are I will have a messy outcome.

If I am to walk down paths of righteousness and not merely be a Christian in title alone, I must study the Word of God.  I must know Christ’s laws intimately.  I am not to merely read the Bible for unproductive entertainment, but to absorb all I read, make notes, and let it all sink in.  I am to be so obsessed with the words of Jesus Christ, I even dream in scripture verses.  If I stray away from what the bible teaches, I will end up with a mess.  I must follow through obeying Jesus’ commandments in order to successfully endure to the end.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. II Timothy 4:7-8   

 

As I work, it is fun to start to see a picture taking shape, but it is difficult to make out the complete picture until the project is farther advanced.

Just like life, right!  When we look at our life in segments, it sometimes makes no sense.  What is the big picture?  We often have to wait until something very specific happens to see the results.  For example, when the insurance company fired me in 2011, I felt like God had let me down.  It was not until I met Mel three months later that I realized all the time I had while I was unemployed was a huge gift from God.  It made it possible for us to spend a lot of time together so we were able to fall in love and get married three months after meeting.  If I had been employed when we met, I may not even have found the time to meet him in the first place.  What a huge loss that would have been!  Marrying Mel has been the best thing that ever happened to me (after my relationship with the Lord, of course).

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11      

It is inevitable that I will make a mistake at least once during my project.  My mind wanders easily, so sometimes forcing my brain to focus and properly count the little squares to place the stitches in the right places goes wrong.  Gratefully, I have a wonderful pair of scissors called “snip-a-stitch” (which, strangely enough, are identical in style to the suture removal scissors I used in veterinary medicine).  I can simply cut away the misplaced thread and correct my mistakes.

Not all mistakes in life can be undone.  Sometimes the damage we have caused is so severe a relationship is forever ruined.  However, with Christ, He will always take me back if I repent.  Revelation 2:1-7 speaks to the church in Ephesus that has lost its love for Jesus.  Yet, God tells them if they repent and do their first works over, He will take them back.  As I have said many times, grace is not automatic, we must ask for forgiveness and repent with a sincere and penitent heart, determined never to repeat the same sins.  When we do as such, Jesus is then gracious enough to forgive us.

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. Revelation 2:4, 5 & 7

When I look at the back of a completed cross-stich project, it looks like a mess!  I am certain the perfectionists out there follow all the rules and the flip side of their fabrics all look neat and tidy in the end, but not mine!  It is a jumble of knots and shows all the places my thread became tangled and snagged.  There is little resemblance of the design on the other side.  It looks as if I did not even begin to follow the pattern.  What is before my eyes is nonsensical.  Yet turn it over and, voila, a beautiful picture is now visible. 

I cannot count the times when my life felt like an ugly chaotic mess.  My heart was knotted and messy.  As I stated a few paragraphs ago, I cannot always see the big picture and have often been certain God has left me on my own with no directions.  However, when I step back and analyze the entire picture and not just one-side, I can clearly see God’s hand has always been present. 

In the series of novels I am writing (Mel calls them the “Zynastrian Chronicles”), in both books one and two (I am now currently working on book 3), one of the common themes is learning to recognize how God’s hand so beautifully guides our paths.  Zachariah, one of the main characters, has had a series of disappointments and heartaches in his life.  He is only able to heal from his past and learn to let go of his anger toward God after he realizes how each major stage in his life all happened for his own good.  I do not want to waste time going into Zachariah’s story since that is not the point of this blog, but basically his life was a tangled mess.  Yet when he is finally ready to see the other side of things, his heart heals and he is able to reconcile with God.  I must have this same attitude. 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28

The last step of every cross-stitch project is to add the backstitching.  These lines create the detail and make the picture more defined.  Without the added lines, the picture is pretty, but not distinct.

There are times in our lives we may assume we are finished, or have the attitude we are good enough, but there are still more details for God to add.  It may seem we are at a place where everything is right where it should be, but God is never fully finished working on us.  Unlike a cross-stich that eventually has an end, God is always adding the well-defined moments to our lives that make us complete.  We are always growing spiritually (or at least we should be), and God is always finding more and more ways to bless us.  The details only get better and better as our lives progress.   

Lord, You have searched me and known me.
You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.
You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.  Psalm 139:1-6 & 13-16  

As I mentioned in the first paragraph, I have made more projects than I can count.  Yet I have only made one project exclusively for myself. The above picture the gift I made for Mel’s birthday last year (I have also made him at least three other cross-stitches and I am currently working on a two-sided lighthouse bookmark for him). I do not have pictures of most of the presents I have made.  All of my projects have been gifts for others or for my husband and me to share.  I have wanted to make myself a bookmark for a while, but I am always working on something for someone else.  This is in no way a complaint.  It makes me very happy to create a work of art for someone else. I have always loved giving gifts, and being on a limited budget, cross-stitching is something I can easily afford.  It is personal, and while I am making it, I can take the time to pray over the person.  Sometimes God even calls me to make projects for people I scarcely know or for whom I have hard feelings.  Making such a craft is therapeutic.   

And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35

This is the way God wants me to approach my faith.  We are called to let our lights shine and not keep our faith hidden.  When we share the love of Christ more people than we may ever realize will benefit.  With such a perfect gift of love that Jesus has given to us, why would we want to keep it to ourselves? 

 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:14-16

The Wrestling Match, Written by Mel

The Wrestling Match, Written by Mel

Gal 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

 

We are all participants in a wrestling match. For our fleshly nature is contrary to God’s Spirit, and the two natures are in opposition to one another. Our flesh wars against God’s Spirit, and must be brought into subjection to God’s will. Many people say that we are only human and God understands, as well as, tolerates our carnal nature. This false belief is a lie and is contrary to God’s Word. God’s Holy Spirit is more powerful than sin and He has equipped us with the power to live a holy life, separated from the world. The battleground is our mind and our will is all that stands in the way from totally surrendering to Christ. If we purpose in our heart to love God more than the world, and are willing to yield our minds to the convictions of the Holy Spirit, then God will transform us into a new creation. All things are possible with God, if you will surrender  your will to his.

 

 Christ said, that if you love him you will keep his commandments. Paul said, that if you continue in sin you do not know the Father or the Son. No one is perfect by any means, for we have all sinned and fallen short of his glory. Paul is speaking of habitual sins, also known as bondages. A sinful lifestyle will lead you down the broad road to Hell. Christ made atonement upon the cross for sins committed in ignorance, as well as, for sins that are repented of. Grace is not automatic, grace follows repentance only. Repentance means that we are sorry for our sins and are turning away from them. If we stumble and fall, we should not get discouraged. We should get back up, dust ourselves off, and press forward in Christ. There is grace to help us overcome our fleshly nature. God does not expect a new believer to grow up overnight. God gives us time to grow in him. We enter the Kingdom of Heaven as babes on milk, but we are expected to grow up to strong meat in time. God is calling His children to bear much good fruit for His Kingdom. Galatians 5, lists the works of the flesh, as well as, the fruit of the Spirit. The works of the sinful nature will bar a person from entrance to God’s Kingdom. Gal 5:19-21 states that those who practice these sins, will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Christ said, that any tree that does not bear good fruit, will be cut down and thrown into the fire. God’s Word, states that some will produce thirty, sixty, and one hundred fold fruit. As we grow in Christ, we will produce different levels of fruit, but we must produce good fruit if we are truly born again. To be born again, is to become a new creation in Christ, through submission to the working of God’s Spirit.

 

Many years ago, I worked as a security guard in a large office building. I had a conflict with the cleaning crew over security issues. This conflict caused me to have a great amount of bitterness toward these people. The Lord gave me a dream about the bitterness that I was contending with. I dreamed that I was walking through a building and the lights went out. Later the lights came back on. The angel of the Lord walked up to me and said, “You could have been injured, or killed, when the lights were out.” I was told to remain plugged in to the power source, which is the Holy Spirit. I was then seated at a large banquet table, with candles and good food. The lady, who was the supervisor of the cleaning crew approached me and looked very irritated. I was eating a red pepper, which is symbolic of anger. I spoke to her with kindness and forgave her. I understood that when we have bitterness, or hatred, toward others, we are walking in darkness rather than light. Bitterness, or hatred, will cut you off from God, as well as, his protection. God cannot look upon sin, it will cut you off from His provision, until you repent. Ephesians 5, tells us to be imitators of God, and to walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us. Ephesians 5, also tells us that no unclean person has any inheritance in the Kingdom of God. That is why it is crucial, that we allow God’s Spirit to purify us, and separate us, from the sinful world. Without holiness, no man shall see the Father. We are told to walk in the light, bearing the fruit of God’s Spirit, as well as, to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

 

Ephesians 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light."

Recent Dreams of the Coming Judgments, Written by Mel

Before I share my husband’s newest post, I would like to add a few words.

I typically save the prophetic words for Mel’s blog (link), but the truth is, we are both called to a prophetic ministry, and I need to be more obedient to God by sharing all dreams He has given Mel and me.  My gifts are not as strong as my husband’s are, but that is because my faith is often not as strong.  At the times my faith is highest, it is usually when God speaks to me the most.  Anyway, my point is that I have also been called to share the warnings to all those who will listen.  I have had many dreams where I am warning people of the upcoming dangers about to hit this world.  Sometimes I know the people in my dreams, but not always.  Either way, I am often trying to lead people to safety and/or warn them tragedy is coming. 

The main reason I have not shared my own dreams or visions is out of fear.  It is very difficult to say when these tribulations will occur.  Whenever I have attempted to put a date on things, it seems to be inaccurate (though not always).  God is often very cryptic and hard to understand.  This makes it difficult to interpret that a date He has given Mel or me is not always the literal date of an event we believe will happen, but more of a sign of things to come.  With that disclaimer, I want to make it clear I do not know when these things will occur.  However, we both feel the time to get to remote areas will be between 5-10 years at the very most.  So, start making plans now.  I should also add that some a number of judgements will occur before the “official” start of the tribulation described in the book of Revelation.  Such as the earthquakes and bad storms, this very well could begin any day this year.

The sad truth behind the second reason I have been reticent in posting more than a few visions is that my family does support the calling I share with my husband.  They either believe in a pre-tribulation rapture, have “religious” beliefs that contradict our own, do not believe his (or my) insights are accurate, or all of the above.  They do not believe our mission is legitimate, which hurts both of us to the core.  Yet, I love my family very much, and I do not want to insult them in any way; we all grow spiritually at different levels.  I am in no way a spiritual giant, but neither am I asleep, and I pray God opens the eyes of those we love.  However, my husband and our very specific and very real calling come before all the skeptics.  I will always put God, Mel, and our ministry first.  Moreover, I want to encourage anyone that has a similar calling, to not let friends or family stand in the way or try to discourage you. (P.S.  We have a more specific calling for the future, but I will get to that at a later date.  I am also referring to this ministry to which our family scoffs.)

One last thing: I felt like I wanted to draw another picture depicting one of Mel’s dreams.  When Mel tells me his dreams I can see them so clearly in my mind, I have the need to interpret them on paper.  I wish I was a better artist!  The angels in his dream (see below) had black wings, but I wanted their wings to stand out a little more and not get lost in the stormy skies.       

Recent Dreams of the Coming Judgments, Written by Mel   

Whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven." Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:26-29

Recently, the Lord has given me more dreams about the coming judgments. Quite often, the Lord will show me tornadoes and earthquakes as symbolic of coming judgments. The tornadoes and earthquakes are literal, but they are also symbolic of the much greater judgments to come. I see the coming great tribulation as a very dark, immense storm on the horizon. In a dream, I saw many large black tornadoes drop from the sky. The tornadoes seemed to be targeting upscale neighborhoods. The upper halves of the tornadoes were angels of the Lord. The Lord spoke to me that the angels were directing the paths of the tornadoes. My wife drew the picture of the angel/tornadoes that I used as cover art for this teaching. These judgments are not random events; they come by the hand of the Lord. The Lord’s righteous judgments are meant to bring a wake-up call to repentance, to those who will respond.

I had another dream, where I heard civil defense sirens wailing and I saw flashes of lightening, accompanied by rolling thunder. I heard a voice shout, “Tornadoes! Take cover!” I understood that God is warning His children to prepare a place of safety to ride out the storm of the coming tribulation. Those who wait until the last moment to prepare may find themselves stranded in the wrong location. The Lord did not rapture Noah out of the earth, rather He instructed him to build an ark of safety. Because of Noah’s obedience to the Lord, we are here today. We should follow Noah’s example and seek the Lord with prayer and fasting as to where the safe havens are located. The major cities of America will burn from nuclear fire. Go remote!

In another dream, I was standing in front of a federal courthouse in a large city. There was a large, round, seal of the USA, on front of the building. The seal was the eagle with the olive branch and arrows in its talons, which was also the seal of the Roman Caesars. A strong wind began to blow trash from the street into the air. I could hear a loud, cyclonic sound approaching the courthouse. The sound was the hum and roar of an immense tornado. I began to call on Jesus for protection. This dream was very clear high definition quality, and I could hear the sound of the cyclone for a few seconds after waking. The tornado was approaching a federal courthouse. I believe that this indicates God’s judgment is upon this land, and that God’s laws trump man’s form of justice. Gay marriage and transgender bathroom laws are an example of man-made laws that will bring judgment upon this land. The wind was blowing trash into the air; I believe that this is symbolic of the sins of this nation. This nation has much blood on its hands. Illegal war campaigns, abortion of the innocents, sexual perversion pushed in the classrooms, the removal of God’s laws from sight and sound, are but a few. Many people are lovers of pleasure more than of God. The Lord hates materialism and he will destroy Babylon (USA) in a single hour. The merchants of the earth will weep over her, as her smoke ascends upward.

 In another dream, the Lord showed me tornado judgments coming upon the United Kingdom. The Lord showed me that their materialism would also result in judgments. I saw buildings of commerce, as well as places of entertainment. The Lord said that they are almost Americans. In other words, they have forgotten God as well. The tornadoes are symbolic of many forms of judgments. In another dream, I saw people hiding in a bomb shelter in Paris, France. They were hoping to survive the Great War to come. I saw a large nuclear explosion go off near the Eifel Tower. I was told that Paris is ground zero, and that no one would survive. The Day of Judgment is coming upon the entire world and our only hope for survival is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Many of God’s children will be martyred during the Tribulation, but others will survive to see the Lord’s return. Those who will survive are those who know God’s voice and are willing to relocate to wilderness or remote areas of God’s choosing. I believe that God is rising up prophets to be guides for his children into the wilderness (Revelation 12).

I believe that Babylon, described in Revelation 18 is a dual prophecy. It is a reference to Rome of old, as well as the modern Rome of the end time (USA). It is also a reference to spiritual Babylon, (Roman Catholic Church and her offspring, apostate Christianity).

After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury." And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her. In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, 'I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.'  Therefore her plagues will come in one day--death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her. "The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.' And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men. The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all. The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, and saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.' Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What is like this great city?' They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.' Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!" Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore. The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore. The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth." Revelation 18: 1-24                     

 

Let’s go Fishing! Written by Mel

(Photo taken in 2014 at the Boise Watershed - not real fish!)

Let’s go Fishing! Written by Mel

Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Mark 1:14-18  

If we truly believe that the Bible is the Word of God, then we should do everything within our power to persuade others to believe also. God’s Word teaches us that we are sinners in need of a savior, and Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation. Christ made atonement upon the cross for those who will repent of their sins and make him Lord of their lives. Apart from Christ, there is no hope of eternal life, only damnation. Luke 16: 19-31 Christ teaches a parable about Hell. Hell, also known as Hades, or Sheol, is the abode of the spirits of the dead awaiting the resurrection. Christ taught us that Sheol is divided into sections, separated by a great chasm. The righteous go into Paradise, also known as Abraham’s bosom, and the wicked into prison, or torment. After the second resurrection of the dead, there will be the great white throne judgment. The righteous will inherit the Kingdom of God, and the sinners will be cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death. Death and Hell, will also be cast into the lake of fire. I believe that the original Greek language of the New Testament indicates that this is the destruction or extinction of the unsaved. A proper translation of the Greek indicates a final and irrevocable decree, not eternal torment.

 The illustration of the rich man, being in torment, and Lazarus being comforted, should shake us to the core. If we believe that Hell is a real place, we should do everything possible to persuade everyone we know to accept Christ in order to escape this place of torment.  If we saw a child about to walk out in front of a semi- truck, would we not try to save them? Or if we noticed a burning car with people inside on the side of the road, would we not also try to save them? Every day we are among those in danger of Hell fire. Do you share your faith with them, or do you try to fit in with the crowd in order to please men rather than God?

There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.  But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate,  desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.  And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.  Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.'  But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.  And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'  Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house,  for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'  Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.'  And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'  But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.'  Luke 16:19-31

This life is like a vapor in comparison to eternity. Our lives are in God’s hands, and we don’t know when we will depart this earth. If you were killed in a car wreck today, are you prepared to meet your maker? God’s Word says that today is the day of salvation. This means that we have no guarantee of tomorrow, and we need to make Christ our Lord today. We must enter by the narrow gate that leads to eternal life, because wide and broad is the way that leads to destruction. God’s Word says that the soul that sinneth will surely die. This destruction is the second death.

When Christ told Peter and Andrew to follow him and that he would make them fishers of men, they immediately dropped their nets and followed him. The same call goes out to us today. In Matt 28:18-20 (The great commission) the Lord instructs us to go out into all of the world and make disciples, teaching them to observe all that he commanded. We are called to share our faith with all people. If we are ashamed of Christ, then he will deny us before the Father in Heaven. We need to be bold about sharing our hope of salvation with a dying world. We must also reflect Christ in our daily lives. Are you an example of true Christianity to your co-workers or family members? You may be their only lifeline of salvation. If you were in a boat and someone fell overboard, would you not throw them a life preserver? Jesus Christ is our lifeline, because he alone, paid the price for our salvation. Concerning salvation, 2 Thess 2:13 states that God chose us for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. Paul is saying that salvation comes through being set apart or purified by God’s Spirit, as well as by faith. Without holiness no man shall see the Father. Unless you are truly born again your faith is dead. We must teach the truth in regard to holiness or our message is in vain.  

But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 2 Thess 2:13

Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matthew 7:13-14


The entire world is a mission field and the Lord does not require us to be eloquent speakers to share our faith. We can plant seeds of faith with those around us. It's not up to us for them to believe, it is the job of the Holy Spirit to convict them of sin and lead them to the truth, but we should utilize every opportunity to plant seeds of truth. One person may plant a seed, then another will come and water that new tender shoot, then another will harvest the crop and bring it into the storehouse. Let us look at Luke 8:5-18. 

  
A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it.  Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture.   And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it.   But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold." When He had said these things He cried, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" Then His disciples asked Him, saying, "What does this parable mean?"  And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest [it is given] in parables, that 'Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.'   Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.  Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.   But the ones on the rock [are those] who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.   Now the ones [that] fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.   But the ones [that] fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep [it] and bear fruit with patience.   No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts [it] under a bed, but sets [it] on a lamp stand, that those who enter may see the light.   For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor [anything] hidden that will not be known and come to light.  Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him [more] will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him." Luke 8:5

We need to be a light set on a lamp stand, not hidden, that the world may see our good fruit, and desire to have the faith that is able to save their souls. Many people will fall away do to the cares or riches of this world, that is why it is so important to teach new believers of the importance of studying God's Word.  1 Thess 2:1-12 gives us good instruction on being a good role model to those we disciple in the faith.

For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain.  But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.  For our exhortation [did] not [come] from error or uncleanness, nor [was it] in deceit.  But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.  For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness -- God [is] witness.  Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.  But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing [mother] cherishes her own children.   So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.  For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.   You [are] witnesses, and God [also,] how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe;  as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father [does] his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12

 
The Apostle Paul was a great role model to the churches that he established, in both conduct, as well as, deed. His teachings did not come from error, uncleanness, or deceit. In order to be a good example to the churches, he worked with his own hands so as not to be a burden to those whom he preached to. Paul’s example of true Christianity is polar opposite of that of the modern day television evangelists and mega church pastors. Most of them live in multi- million dollar palaces, built from the money given by the poor, widows, as well as the disabled.  

Christ said that you cannot serve God and mammon (money), for only one will be your master. As Paul pointed out, our moral conduct should be blameless as well. We should live a life worthy of an ambassador for Christ, because the world is watching. We need to be the salt of the earth, letting our light shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. Let us all pray that the Lord of the harvest will send us out.


After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, "The harvest truly [is] great, but the laborers [are] few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.  Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. Luke 10:1-3

 

Dream of the Return of Christ, by Mel

Dream of the Return of Christ and Preparation for his Coming, Written by Mel

Shortly after the death of my nephew in 2013, the Lord blessed me with a dream of his return. I was also grieving over the death of my only brother and this dream brought me great comfort.

Throughout the entire dream I heard a song by Sandi Patti entitled, "We shall behold him." I also woke up singing this song. In my dream, I saw a great city descending from God, out of Heaven, it looked like many castles, shining brighter than the sun. This may have been the New Jerusalem, or symbolic of the Kingdom of God coming to the earth. Then I heard a loud voice shout, "Every eye shall behold him!" Then I saw the face of Jesus Christ fill the entire sky! His face was turned away from the earth because of wickedness, but as he was returning, he turned his face toward the earth. His face was transparent like that of a spirit, but you could clearly see his features. He was wearing a very large crown filled with many jewels. When the elect saw him, they fell to their knees, and lifted up their faces and hands toward him. Then their faces began to glow brightly, and soon their entire bodies were transformed into their immortal form. I know that the return of Christ will occur soon, because the Lord has spoken to me three times that I will never see death, yet will be transformed when he returns.

Rev 1:7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

1 Thess 4:13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words

The Lord is returning for a bride without spot or wrinkle. The Lord has spoken to me through many words and visions, that most Christians, are covered in the filth of sin from compromise. The church today, is a product of our wicked culture. The apostasy (great falling away) is a result of the distorted grace for everything message that is being preached by dead churches. When the preaching of holiness, was replaced, by the we are all sinners lie, God began to remove His Spirit from the churches. If you do not believe this, then ask yourself, why has demonic manifestations replaced the Holy Spirit in most revivals? Common demonic manifestations are, making animal sounds, crawling around on all fours barking, spiritual drunkenness, uncontrollable laughter, sticking to the floor, heads rotating, and spasms. I am in the deliverance ministry and I have witnessed these type of manifestations, from demons that were being cast out of the possessed. There is an invasion of demons within the church today because of sinful compromise. If the churches will start preaching holiness again, then God’s Spirit may return. However, there is grace for sins that are repented of. Repentance means to confess your sins to God and one another, as well as turn away from them. There are hundreds of verses in God’s Word about ceasing from sin and pursuing righteousness, but they are ignored by most churches today.

 The apostate church of the end times, is referred to as spiritual Babylon, which is translated wickedness. God’s Word tells us that the harlot church will be the dwelling place of demons, and the prison of every foul spirit, and unclean bird. God’s true children, are told to come out of her. The Roman Catholic Church is the mother of all harlots and the dead protestant churches are her offspring. Rev 18:2 And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! 3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury." 4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.

 I believe that the Great Tribulation will be a time of purification for the true church. When people are forced to take a stand for Christ, as well as, clean their lives up, then they will be ready for the Lord’s return. When electricity is no longer available to power televisions or the internet, then Christians will be forced to get this form of compromise out of their lives. The internet is good for Christian ministry, but if a person is viewing pornography, then it is spiritual death to them. Statistics show that as many as 50% of pastors are addicted to porn, as well as the majority of men within churches today. Unless, a person is delivered from this sinful bondage, they will go to Hell. The Lord has given me numerous visions and dreams that television is also spiritual death to believers, as well as Satan’s throne in most homes. It will take the purging of the Tribulation, to produce a bride wearing garments of holiness. Those who wish to live to be transformed, when the Lord returns, must be sanctified (purified, set apart). Ephesians 5:26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.                

There is much controversy as to the timing of the rapture, but God’s Word is very clear on this subject and we will explore what it really teaches. This is not a subject that should divide us, but it is critical that we be informed of the truth. The pre-tribulation rapture viewpoint is very dangerous because it teaches people that there is no need to prepare for the tribulation, or hard times ahead, because God is going to rapture you up to Heaven for seven years, then return again to establish his kingdom. This man made doctrine is contrary to God’s Word, and was created by taking scripture out of context, as well as making scriptures jump through many hoops in order to bring about a man pleasing belief.

The Lord Jesus Christ himself told us exactly when he will return, as well as when he will send forth his angels to gather the elect. Christ said that immediately after the tribulation of those days he would return and gather his elect unto himself. NKJV Matt 24:29  “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.  Christ said what he meant and was not speaking metaphorically. The pre-trib doctrine teaches that this passage is in reference to the second coming of Christ, seven years after the ingathering of the saints, but Christ said that at this time, he would send out his angels to harvest the elect. This passage alone is enough to establish that the rapture and the second coming of Christ are the same event and that this will occur immediately after the tribulation.

 The Apostle Paul taught that we will not be caught up to meet the Lord in the air until the the dead are raised first, then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them. Paul did not say that we will be caught up to Heaven, but that we will meet the Lord in the air as he returns, this is our transformation into immortality. 1 Thess 4:13  But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.  14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.  16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.  17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.  18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Cor 15:51  Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—  52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.   If we establish when the dead are raised, then we will know when the remnant who are alive, will be caught up and transformed. Christ said that he will raise the dead on the last day. John 6:39  This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.  40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”  Paul said that the dead are raised, and that we are caught up with them at the last trump. The last trump is a reference to the sounding of the seventh angel in the book of Revelation.  Rev 10:7  but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets. Rev 11:15  Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” When the trump is sounded then it is said, “ The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ”. As you can see, God’s Word clearly teaches that the dead are raised on the last day, at the last trump.

 Another interesting fact is that all those martyred within the Great Tribulation will have part in the first resurrection (resurrection of the righteous). If the rapture/resurrection occurred before the tribulation then they would have no resurrection. Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.  6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

God’s Word teaches us that he will protect many of his children in the wilderness during this time of tribulation, these will be the remnant that overcome and that will never see death.  Rev 12:13  Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.  15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood.  16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.  17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

  God did not rapture Noah out of the earth, nor did he build the ark for him, rather he instructed him how to build the ark.  Noah was obedient to God and although it took him 120 years to build the ark, he did not give up. Because of Noah’s obedience to the Lord, we are here today. Like Noah, we need to be making preparations for the soon coming tribulation. I believe that the Lord is instructing people to prepare communities in remote wilderness areas for the time of trouble ahead. We all need to be  seeking the Lord with much fasting and prayer concerning where to relocate. The cities, as well as populated areas are destined for judgment. This is not a time for fear but action. If we trust God as Noah did, then we will be obedient to him and follow his voice. God Bless!