Buddy is 16.5 years old and his eyesight has weakened, so his depth perception is off. He cannot climb down a staircase without risk of a misstep and tumbling down the stairs. He’s fine with me carrying him down the exterior stairs which must be scary looking to him, being pebbles set into concrete.
But he sure gets quite upset when I pick him up to carry him down the interior stairs. The photo above shows how it must look to him. But unless he permits me to carry him, Buddy is not guaranteed a safe journey to the lower floor.
After the arrest, merciless beating, crucifixion, and burial of Jesus Christ, his apostles were terrified of the future. The man they thought would establish God’s kingdom on earth and rescue them from oppression under the Roman Empire seemed utterly powerless to protect Himself from death.
They went into hiding, fearing the same, brutal death.
The future looked terrifying!
Maybe they wondered if they were wrong to believe He was the Christ. He died just like anybody else. Those who hated Him “without a cause (John 15:25)” had won!
“Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’”—John 20:19
Although Jesus had told the disciples on multiple occasions that He had to suffer but would rise again, they either didn’t believe or understand what He was really saying.
Even after His resurrection, the apostles still didn’t get that Jesus was establishing a heavenly kingdom, not an earthly one (per my Pastor Jon Bjorgaard this AM, thank you).
“Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him saying, ‘Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’”—Acts 1:6
Just as Buddy gets scared and doesn’t trust me to carry him safely down the interior staircase, so, too, we often get terrified at what lies before us. The unknown future looks frightening! We don’t realize that Jesus has total control, not only over our lives, but over history and the universe!
“The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all.”—Psalm 103:19
The apostles were afraid of the future because they didn’t understand God’s plan.
Just as you and I can be fearful when we look around at our deteriorating culture and the evil in our world.
But even though we don’t always understand how His plan is unfolding, we don’t need to be afraid.
Just as I won’t let go of Buddy and will get him safely down the staircase…
…God will carry you safely through the unknown future into Heaven.
He’s got this!
God bless you.
“You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me.”—Psalm 139:5
Much love from Dawn and Buddy
***
PS. I’m human just like you. I get scared as I see prophetic events unfolding, so I recall the psalms above to calm myself, remembering God’s power.
For a few years Buddy started knocking things over to get my immediate attention. I’ll never forget when he knocked the top off of my shredder onto the tile of my dining room; my friend must’ve jumped two feet in the air off her chair. Buddy likely loved the loud slamming sound.
Buddy stopped knocking things over for about a year. Then, above, he pulled my fleece jacket off the back of a high chair to the floor. No loud slam, but it elicited a laugh—and my attention.
I’ve recently returned to school to improve my design skills. However, there’s a lot of intense homework this semester; I’ve been stressing out and my severe insomnia has returned. I’ve realized that my focus has been on the time crunch and worrying about not doing well—my focus has been negative, rather than positive.
So I’m trying to focus on the fact that the school allows older adults into their certificate programs, I’m already learning useful and valuable information helpful for my artistic goals, I only need to pass and not get perfect scores, etc.
OK. My mind goes in different directions sometimes. But this experience has prompted me to consider how Satan works: he wants our attention focused on the negative, rather than the positive, to discourage and depress us.
The devil lives “to steal and kill and destroy (John 10:10)”, Jesus declared. He can only tear down and create chaos; he doesn’t want us focused on the beauty, creativity, and kindness of God—enjoying the Lord’s world. Satan wants us focused on his world of darkness, evil, and depravity.
As always, Satan wants to be the center of attention, rather than submitting to our Lord and Creator.
Satan’s self-centered desire to replace God in worship and attention never changes.
“You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly….I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’”—Isaiah 14:13-14
So, please, just like I need to, keep your focus on the blessings of the Lord.
Is Buddy still haunted by memories of the abusive behavior of his prior owners? He’s much more relaxed and demanding than he used to be, but when he’s whimpering and twitching during sleep, is he having normal doggie dreams or bad memories? Only God knows what’s in his mind.
Asaph begins Psalm 73 by reassuring himself that the Lord loves his nation and blesses the righteous:
“Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart (verse 1).”
But then his focus shifts to lamenting that the wicked and selfish seem to prosper, are able to bless their children with an inheritance, and suffer no punishment for their wicked behavior (verses 2-12).
What possibly could God have in mind by allowing the wicked to have happy lives yet continue cause so much harm to others?
I can relate. When I focus on world events and on US politics, it seems that wicked people are blessed: They continue to prosper although they murder the innocent, feather their beds with corruption, and spew lies and hatred. It seems their evil is not restrained at all. It’s easy to become angry and discouraged.
It’s as if I’m living in a haunted house, filled with ghouls and angry spirits and I cannot escape. The wicked appear to have free rein in this world, and there’s seemingly nothing good people can do about it.
And then I shift the focus to my own life and realize that God doesn’t give me what I deserve for my sin, but, instead, is gracious to me and permits me the time to grow and become a better person.
Asaph shifts the focus to himself, also, but wonders what’s the use of being a good person, when it seems evil people have blessed lives while he, trying to serve the Lord, suffers misfortune (verses 13-16, 21-22). He became embittered and angry.
And then he enters God’s house, which was the ancient Jewish temple where the Spirit of God rested above the ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies:
“Then I perceived their end (verse 17).”
Entering into the Lord’s house reminded him that his service ultimately was not in vain. As Christians, we need to keep an eternal perspective. This world and its material blessings are temporary. The haunted house that we currently live in will one day crumble in decay and be destroyed. People who refuse to acknowledge the Lord are choosing to spend eternity with the enemy of our souls.
Unbelievers will one day discover, to their dismay, that there is an eternal price to pay for their temporary happiness.
“For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You (verse 27).”
Asaph comes to his senses and stops feeling bitter for his suffering. He shifts his focus from his present circumstances to the future:
“With Your counsel You will guide me, and afterward receive me to glory…My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever (verses 25-26).”
Like Asaph, it’s easy to get dismayed at the present state of this world and wonder where God is. Why is He allowing evil to triumph while good people with the courage to stand for God and what’s right keep losing ground? It seems like America—and Western Civilization—continues its downhill slide into nihilism and self-destruction, while privileged elites prosper from corruption and oppression.
But Asaph reminds us to shift our view from our present time to the future. Jesus has already won the victory over sin and the devil at the Cross. And was resurrected to prove that He is God and can give eternal life to those who ask for it, desiring to be in His kingdom under His authority.
Jesus promised to return (John 14:1-3). Evil will not continue to prosper. God has a plan and will fulfill it.
“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”—the Apostle Peter, 2 Peter 3:9
God is working events to bring as many people to repentance as possible. And, unfortunately, it appears that many won’t repent till He allows the full expression of human evil to prevail to demonstrate our world’s need for Jesus to rule.
Stay strong. Jesus is returning.
Evil will be punished when God determines the time is right.
God bless.
Much love from Dawn and Buddy.
PS. I often feel unworthy to minister to you. Daily I fail and fall short, and am reminded that I am still Jesus’ work in progress. Failure reminds me to be humble and how blessed I am to be a child of the Great King.
***
Do you want to live forever in God’s house in heaven?
You see, many people believe that they can rebel against God’s rules their entire life and then knock on heaven’s door and demand entrance.
Heaven would be hell for them, as they don’t want to live under His rules.
The truth is, Jesus is knocking on the door of your heart, asking you to give Him permission to enter (Revelation 3:20). He wants you to voluntarily enter into His kingdom under His rule—because He’s the King! The Lord God Almighty!
Which side of the door Jesus stands on is decided in this lifetime.
If you’ve read this far, you hear God knocking on your heart asking permission for His Holy Spirit to enter. Will you ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior right now?
Please don’t delay.
I’ve never regretted asking Jesus to be my Lord.
If you’re ready, please say the below prayer, out loud if possible:
Dear Heavenly Father, I open the door to my heart and invite Jesus to enter. I’m sorry for my sin and ask for Your forgiveness and a new heart. I ask Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. Please grant me Your Holy Spirit. I want to live for You. Teach me how much You love me and how precious and valuable I am to you. Thank you for hearing my prayer and that Jesus gave His life on the Cross so that I could have new life. In the mighty name of Jesus, amen.
If you prayed sincerely, congratulations, you’re born again. Please start reading the Bible daily as it’s your soul food. Just as your body needs daily nourishment to be healthy, so does your soul.
Also, please join a Bible believing church or Bible study. And get baptized. If that’s not possible right now, I suggest these two ministries, which also have apps, if that’s your preference: http://www.LTW.org (Leading The Way) and http://www.AndrewFarley.org (The Grace Message). There are many other godly ministries, but it’s easy to be misled by legalism or false teaching till you know the Bible fairly well.
God bless you. May Buddy and I meet you in heaven one day.
When Buddy and I visit my parents, they have to hide the bag of paper slices produced by their paper shredder. When Buddy got upset, he’d head into their den and tear open the bag of shredding, then spread it all over the room. It was cute, watching him “go to town” in the pile of shredded paper—yet quite inconvenient to clean up. Fortunately, there was no permanent damage to anything but the black garbage bags.
We are living in scary times. I’m often realizing that I’m thinking SPOOKY thoughts; I’m imagining conversations that are not real, like transparent ghosts, because I’m fretting over foolish, ungodly, or ignorant attitudes of people I know.
And I imagine discussing with them why these attitudes are wrong.
But what does the Bible say?
“Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.”—King David, Psalm 37:8
What I’m engaging in are imaginary thoughts with imaginary people. Just like Buddy playing in the pile of shredded paper, I’m prancing around in shredded thinking. My imaginings are NOT changing anybody’s minds or attitudes, because my conversations are not real. I’m engaged in wishful thinking of what I might have the courage to say and speculating about what the other person might say.
I’m fretting.
And the Bible proclaims that it “only leads to evildoing.”
Firstly, I’m disrupting my thinking which could be focused, instead, on praying or whatever task is at hand. I’m wasting valuable mental energy that could be better engaged elsewhere.
I’m also damaging my body, causing stress reactions in my brain and, particularly, my shoulders and back which begin to clench up, creating soreness.
Secondly, I’m not only sinning against myself, but others.
I’m unintentionally thinking haughtily toward others. I know they’re deceived by the media and our culture. They’re not bad people. But I can treat them arrogantly if I don’t guard my attitudes.
Also, the wrong thinking can create the “simmering teapot” effect, where I can become impatient with others, and perhaps even explode in anger, because my internal pressure is already near the boiling point. Just one or two more degrees of aggravation and off blows the whistle.
So, if you’re struggling like me with spooky thinking, please read Psalm 37. Because David reassures us that evil does not last forever, nor evildoers. At least, not in their earthly existence.
I have to remind myself about Palm 37:8 and that, no matter what happens in this world, God’s got this. Nothing that’s occurring has caught Him by surprise.
“The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all.”—King David, Psalm 103:19
God bless you.
Much love from Dawn and Buddy
***
Do you want to have confidence that God is with you?
Yes, we cannot see God. The Father is spirit and His Son Jesus, Who came in the flesh (Matthew 1:23) over 2,000 years ago is at the Father’s right hand (Mark 16:19) till it’s time for His return.
But we can see the effect of His presence. Like the wind, we cannot see the Holy Spirit of God Himself, but we witness His impact on our lives and this world.
Jesus changed my life for the better, and I want that same blessing for you.
If you’ve read this far, I believe that the Lord is calling to you. Please accept His invitation to enter His kingdom and into a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus Christ.
You don’t have to “clean up your act” firstly. God knows you cannot meet His perfect standards. Jesus came to earth to take the punishment all our sins deserve. As the only perfect God in human form (John 10:30), He didn’t have to be punished for sin as He had known. So He was qualified to take it for us.
“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”—Apostle Paul, Romans 8:1
Are you ready to accept Jesus as Lord, Who has the authority to define right and wrong, and as your savior from punishment for your sin?
If so, please pray the following, out loud if possible:
Dear Heavenly Father, Please forgive my sin. Jesus died for me so that I can be forgiven forever and have eternal life. I call on Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. And fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Because Jesus was resurrected bodily from the dead, I am able to receive Your resurrection life. I give my life to You. Please help me understand how much You love me. In the marvelous name of Jesus, Your Son, amen.
If you prayed sincerely, congratulations, you’re born again. Please start reading the Bible daily. Just as your body needs daily nourishment to be healthy, so does your soul; the Bible is your soul food. I suggest starting with the Book of Matthew, as it’s easy to understand, and reading forward.
Also, please join a Bible believing church or Bible study. And get baptized. If that’s not possible right now, I suggest these two ministries, which also have apps, if that’s your preference: http://www.LTW.org (Leading The Way) and http://www.AndrewFarley.org (The Grace Message). There are other godly ministries, but it’s easy to be misled by bad teaching or legalism till you know the Bible fairly well. Sadly, I’m speaking from experience.
God bless you as you begin your journey in life with Jesus as your companion.
Somehow Buddy senses whether I’m leaving for a long or a short time. If it’s a short trip, he thinks I’m obligated to take him along. He gets angry when I don’t.
He starts barking as soon as he spots me returning across the courtyard. Then he gives me a good chewing out once I enter our home. Oddly, he doesn’t bark otherwise.
When I’m with him, Buddy feels safe and at peace. He’s distressed when I’m not around.
When you become born again, the Holy Spirit comes and takes residence within your spirit. You are made alive, because your heart is circumcised and made new by the indwelling power of God’s presence (2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 1:13-14, Romans 2:29, Ezekiel 36:26-27).
As a result, the Lord promises “‘I will never desert you, nor will I forsake you’, so that “we confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid, what will man do to me?’Hebrews 13:5-6)”
God also promises that anyplace we go, He has us in His grasp: “You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me (Psalm 139:5).”
The dictionary defines “forsake” as “to abandon in time of need.”
I cannot promise never to leave nor forsake Buddy. I’m human, so it’s not always possible to be with him nor foresee all potential dangers. And there’s also the possibility that I could die suddenly and he’d come into my family’s care.
People who do not know Jesus don’t have the guarantee of His help or presence in time of need. Therefore, it’s not possible for their hearts and minds to remain at peace. Jesus says that peace s a GIFT that He gives to His followers:
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful (John 14:27).”
People of the world find all sorts of ways to seek peace and freedom from anxiety: pharmaceuticals, drugs, alcohol, parties and sex, camping, vacations, reading, political activism, binging TV programs—and many other ways to forget their anxiety. The world is unsteady. Evil never rests so needless wars, corruption and economies erupt, with unanticipated gusts of rest. But all attempts to escape the anxiety of an uncertain world and future are only temporary fixes.
As Jesus said, His peace is not like the world’s. Because He is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent, He is always involved in our lives and aware of our circumstances. He loves each child of His and has each one in His embrace.
God promises a peace that is not based on circumstances:
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and the mountains slip into the heart of the sea (Psalm 46:1-2).”
A Christian’s peace comes from keeping our focus on the Lord. Anytime I or you turn our attention to what’s going on in the world, we become anxious because it’s really out of our control. We can do the best with what’s in our control—eat healthy, work hard, be kind—but even then, eating healthy becomes meaningless when a car accident takes our life, or a layoff in an economic downturn renders our efforts moot, and being kind can be misinterpreted or not appreciated by the recipient.
We know that this world and its evil and problems are temporary, a mere vapor of time (James 4:14). Each Christian is destined for heaven, an eternity of joy. Even Jesus kept His focus on the future, on the innumerable people who would benefit from His sacrificial death for our sins:
“Who for the joy set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2).”
So, my dear friends, when you feel anxious, remember:
“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:1-2).”
Because only God does not change, for He alone is a firm foundation, a solid rock to stand upon (Psalm 62:5). Our future is secure only in His hands. Cry out to Jesus when you’re anxious and worry, and find your rest in Him.
God bless you.
Much love from Dawn and Buddy
***
“Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28)” is an invitation that Jesus offers to everyone who is willing to accept Him as their Lord and God.
Jesus gives His rest from trying to prove you’re good enough to earn His love and freely GIVES His love to those willing to admit they can never be good enough to earn His love. Salvation is a gift earned for us by Jesus: He lived a perfect life so that He could suffer the punishment our sins deserved. If He had sinned, He could never have died for our sins, having to die for His own.
Thank goodness Jesus was the perfect God-Man (Matthew 1:23), so He met the standard FOR US to enter Heaven.
But God wants us to love Him freely, without force.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:20).”
Are you willing to open that door and permit Jesus to be your God, to advise what’s right and wrong, how your life should be lived?
His ways are the best ways!
If you’re willing, please pray:
Heavenly Father, I want the rest from worry and anxiety that You give, the peace Jesus gives that’s not dependent upon the circumstances of life. Please forgive my sin. I ask Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. And fill me with the Holy Spirit. I give my life to You. Please help me enter your rest. In the name of Your holy son, Jesus, amen.
If you prayed with sincerity, congratulations, you are born again. Please start reading the Bible. Just as your body needs daily food to be healthy, your soul needs the daily nourishment of soul food—the Bible. I suggest starting with the Book of Matthew as it’s easy to understand.
Also, please find a Bible-based church and get baptized. Ask the Lord to guide you to the right church for you. If that’s not possible right now, I suggest these three ministries, which are my favorites: http://www.InTouch.org, http://www.LTW.org and http://www.AndrewFarley.org. All three also have apps, if that’s your preference. There are other godly ministries, but it’s easy to be misled when you’re a new believer till you know the Bible well enough to know if someone is teaching you correctly.
Good bless you. May Buddy and I see you in heaven.
Buddy recently accompanied me on an eight day road trip. At home he sometimes sleeps by my feet if he’s on the bed with me. But normally he spends the night in his various dog beds scattered throughout our home.
However, on the last day of our trip, Buddy not only slept on the bed with me, he actually snuggled up against my chest, something he has never done before. He had been sleeping in his bed under the bathroom counter but in the middle of the night felt a need to be near me. Apparently he wanted to feel secure. I was very happy to accommodate him.
I know several Christians who have stormy lives but are not seeking the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), so they continue to feel angry or anxious. Jesus told His followers that: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”—John 14:27
Jesus never promised His followers an easy life (John 16:33). But He promised to GIVE us peace despite our circumstances by trusting in His love for us and His omnipotent power. But it’s only found in Him, the King of Kings, the Alpha and the Omega, the One Who was murdered and rose again from the dead, conquering death.
Jesus emphasized that His peace is different from what the world (the culture of humankind) offers.
The Apostle Paul warned: “See to it that no one takes you CAPTIVE through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.”—Colossians 2:8-9
When you look to the world system for your spiritual answers, you will find tribulation, anxiety, captivity to fear. You will become enslaved to false teachings or addictions that cannot bring peace. When you seek the Lord’s presence and advice, you’ll find the Peace Giver.
Reassurance that He’s in control, despite your circumstances, can bring joy. “The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all (Psalm 103:19).” Mature Christians have usually learned to trust God in all circumstances.
Much human psychology is not based on Biblical principles. Karl Jung, for example, had a spirit guide named Philemon who helped him form his philosophies. He even believed he might be in danger of becoming demonically possessed in his later life.
I know two people who are currently in counseling: one has a Christian counselor and the other is working with a governmental agency. Can you guess which person is handling life far better? The first is looking to the Lord, the latter is relying on a human being, who has sometimes been unavailable when greatly needed, and is becoming increasingly angry and moody.
I am not advocating that you should never seek counsel. We often cannot discern our own errors as our hearts are “more deceitful than all else and desperately sick; who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9)” But the counsel needs to be based on God’s word, not worldly wisdom, concocted by sinful humanity.
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death (Proverbs 16:25).”
People try to find peace through alcohol, drugs, shopping, food, entertainment, meditation, etc but they can never get enough to keep those anxious or negative thoughts permanently at bay. They will always return because peace is a gift from God Himself. It is not earned or purchased, but freely given to those who seek Him. I think we’ve all met people who are tied to their shrinks with an umbilical cord that they cannot severe, and seemingly never become emotionally healthy.
For years I was stressed out on the job and suffered nine of years severe insomnia that no doctor could solve. The best cure I discovered for my anxious thoughts was to take a walk during lunchtime and pray through Psalm 23 to the Lord. My anxiety level always plummeted after taking time to pray because I was focused on the Lord and His loving care for me, not on my problems. (Please see my post on praying through Psalm 23.)
So, in summary, to find true peace, seek the Prince of Peace by reading His word, the Bible, praying in the name of Jesus, and seeking counsel, if necessary, from godly people who are basing their judgments on God’s wisdom, not man’s.
May your heart be at peace in these troubled times.
Much love from Dawn and Buddy
PS. If you are deeply troubled, seek godly help. Don’t be afraid to reach out to others. But be sure they’re loving people who truly care about your welfare. Never be ashamed to admit you are struggling. I am not a medical doctor so this advice is not a substitute for medical care. I had an aunt who suffered from a chemical imbalance that caused depression. Don’t let pride get in the way of any assistance you need. No one is perfect; everyone needs help at times.
***
It’s impossible to hear God’s voice of comfort if your sin has separated you from His presence. God is perfectly holy and cannot tolerate sin, which can also be described as not acting in love. Are you ready to enter into a relationship with the Creator of the Universe? If so, please pray the following:
Dear Heavenly Father, Please forgive my sin. I ask Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I give my life to You. Be my loving Shepherd, my Father, my best friend, my Mighty Counselor (Isaiah 9:6) and my comforter. Thank you in Jesus’ holy name, amen.
If you prayed sincerely, congratulations. You are a born again child of God. You either just experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit entering into your spirit or will slowly come to an awareness of His presence. Please read the Bible as it’s your spiritual food; just as your body needs healthy food daily, so your soul needs to feed on the Bread of Life. I recommend starting with the book of Matthew as it’s easy to understand. Always ask the Holy Spirit to guide you when you read as it’s a supernatural book.
Also, please find a Bible-based church or Bible study. If that’s not possible right now, I recommend these three ministries which are my favorites: http://www.LTW.org (Leading The Way), http://www.InTouch.org and http://www.BasicGospel.net. All three also have apps for your convenience.
God bless you as you grow in a knowledge of God and His peace. Buddy and I will see you in heaven. I trust that the Lord will continue to work in your life.
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).”
I sometimes am clueless about what Buddy wants. I feel badly as I wonder if there’s some need or desire that he has that’s not being fulfilled.
I’ve noticed a lot of chatter on Social Media recently about the “Mark of the Beast”. Christians worry about unintentionally taking the mark which signifies enslavement to the AntiChrist during the End Times.
Christians worry because they love the Lord and want to obey Him. They don’t want to be tricked into following Satan or his servants.
“And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.”—Apostle John, Revelation 19:20
My pastor, Jon Bjorgaard, pointed out the following ironic coincidence in the Bible—or is it a coincidence? Perhaps God is trying to tell us something here.
“As a result of this many of His (Jesus’) disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.”—John 6:66
I really think it’s a waste of time and emotional energy to worry or speculate about what the “Mark of the Beast” is or to spend time researching or watching videos. The number 666 (Revelation 13:18) represents the AntiChrist, the man filled with the presence of Satan who will deceive the whole world into rejecting Christ to worship him alone.
John 6:66 points out that many of Christ’s disciples stopped following Him because His teachings became “difficult…Who can listen to it (John 6:60)?” Even after Jesus promised that “the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life (vs. 63)” they still stopped following after Him.
The twelve disciples did not turn away from listening to Jesus because they believed that He was the Messiah: “Simon Peter answered Him (Jesus), ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.’”—John 6:68-69
John 6:66 demonstrates those who don’t believe that Christ is the Messiah—God in the flesh (Matthew 1:23)—will not follow Him. As a result, they will be deceived by the AntiChrist and take his mark in the End Times. They won’t heed the warnings in the Bible because they already refuse to listen to God about sin, the world and the demonic. They are already lost and confused.
However, those who follow Jesus will not take the mark because “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”—Jesus, John 20:27-28
I honestly believe that, if you are a born again believer, you can relax because it will be evident to Christians what the “mark” is because we follow the Lord and will be warned by the Holy Spirit. I believe we won’t have to guess, when that time comes to refuse or accept the mark, because it will be self evident to us. The beast will demand that we worship him instead of Jesus. True believers will reject that demand.
Christians also have a seal on their hearts already, God’s mark: “having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, Who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, (Apostle Paul, Ephesians 1:13-14).”
So please relax, confident in God’s protection and ability to guide your soul safely into His kingdom. Whatever the future holds, He will be with His children.
“‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,’ so that we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me? (Hebrews 13:5-6)’”
Hope you found this post helpful and relieved some anxiety.
God bless you.
Love from Dawn and Buddy
***
Jesus frequently referred to Himself as the source of truth. Whereas, Satan and the world (culture and governing authorities) are referred to as deceivers. If you don’t know the Lord Jesus or His Word—the Bible—in my opinion you can be deceived by evil. The Apostle John warned back in the early days of Christianity that “many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist (2 John 1:7).”
If you’re ready to follow the God of Truth, please repeat the following prayer: “Dear Heavenly Father, I call on Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. Please forgive my sin. I want to live for you. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Teach me to discern right and wrong, and truth from error. Thank you for Your love and mercy. In Jesus’ mighty name, amen.”
If you prayed with sincerity, congratulations: You are a born again child of God. You either just experienced the presence of God in your spirit or will slowly be aware of His presence. Please start reading the Bible to get to know Him better. I suggest starting with the book of Matthew as it’s easy to understand. Always pray for the Holy Spirit to guide your understanding when you read the Bible as it’s a supernatural book.
Also, please find a Bible-based church or Bible study to attend. Avoid any church claiming to be “woke” or “progressive” as they are not teaching the historical truth. If that’s not possible right now, these three ministries are my favorite and have apps for your convenience: http://www.LTW.org (Leading The Way), http://www.InTouch.org and www. BasicGospel.net.
God bless you. Keep growing in the knowledge of God and praying. Every time you pray, you’re opening up a powerful connection with the omnipotent God of the Universe.
Buddy and I look forward to meeting you in Heaven one day.
Buddy doesn’t fret about whether I can take care of him or not. He actually expects that I meet whatever demands he makes—although he is often disappointed!
Buddy doesn’t have the full picture. But when I say “No,” it’s because, out of love for him and his safety, I am looking out for him. He just doesn’t see it that way because he doesn’t have my perspective on his life or surroundings.
The Roman Governor Pontius Pilate warned Jesus that he had the power and authority to crucify or release Him.
But “Jesus answered, ‘You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given to you from above;’”—John 19:11
Often we think we are the ultimate authority in our lives or that the government is—maybe even our friends and family if we’re more yielding in character—but Jesus is. In fact, He declared after His resurrection that “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (Matthew 28:18)”
Now Jesus had to suffer on the cross to die for our sins as the perfect sin sacrifice. He, and God the Father, permitted the Romans to kill Jesus to fulfill Scripture. The Roman leaders believed that they were in control and had made the decision over Jesus’ life, but it was an illusion. God was in control of events.
For God “works ALL things after the counsel of HIS will. (Ephesians 1:11, emphasis mine.)”
However, we don’t know the future. Even if you’re sitting on your bed at home, a pipe could suddenly burst, an earthquake occur, or an unanticipated knock could sound on your door.
God knows His will and plan for us.
So don’t fear the future, or be a masochist, suffering unnecessarily. Jesus had to go to the Cross to fulfill God’s divine will. It might be God’s will that you suffer in order to test you and refine your character. Or it might be His will that you prosper and be blessed mightily in an unanticipated manner.
Even the Apostle Paul was “let down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket (Acts 9:25)” to escape persecution in Damascus. He didn’t suffer needlessly.
It’s God’s plan. He’s ultimately in control of your life. Pray, read the Word, do the best you can—then leave the results in His hands.
God bless you. Love from Dawn and Buddy
***
Ultimately your eternal destiny rests in God’s hands. You are free to choose to follow Him and permit Him to be your Lord—or not. However, there is no escaping death or Judgment Day.
Not trying to scare you but, sometimes, there are hard facts in life that cannot be escaped.
Why not choose to willingly follow God now?
If you’d like to, please repeat the sinner’s prayer:
Lord Jesus, I call upon You to be my Lord and Savior. Please forgive all my sins—I want to follow and obey You. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. I give my life to You. Amen.
If you prayed that prayer sincerely, congratulations: You are reborn, a child of God. Please find a Bible-based church to fellowship with other believers. If that’s not possible, please check out these godly ministries (which also have apps to listen to anyplace): http://www.LTW.org (Leading The Way), http://www.BasicGospel.net and http://www.InTouch.org.
See you in heaven! (And, yes, I believe Buddy will be up there too!)
Buddy laying on makeshift bed in the kitchen, keeping me company.
Sometimes I become keenly aware how dependent Buddy is upon me. He was lying next to me on my bed tonight while I was doing my Bible study, moving his legs and whimpering, caught in a dream. I realized that I am his only support and comfort in our new home in Arizona. If I don’t take good care of him, physically and emotionally, he is left without any comfort.
I’ve been distressed lately because of the rioting and blatant lies being spread by media personalities and politicians. I’ve been allowing it to affect my sleep. I’m not trusting God when I’ve worrying. Jesus clearly said in His Sermon On The Mount (Matthew 5:25-34) that His children don’t need to worry because He’s in control, cares about us and has our backs.
So I confessed my sin of wanting to be in control instead of trusting Him to work things out. He states that “all souls are Mine (Ezekiel 18:4)”, that “God is King over all the earth…God reigns over all the nations (Psalm 47:7-8)”, and is “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named (Ephesians 1:27)”. He’s omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent.
I know all of this–and yet I still fret and worry.
My Bible study directed me to read Psalm 62 and then it hit me what my root problem is: I’m trusting in sources, other than God, to be my refuge and comfort.
“For my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken…God is a refuge for us.” King David, Psalm 62:5-8
Jesus warned about trusting anything in this world, that it was sifting sand. If a person’s life is built upon anything less than God and His Word will crumble when the strong wind and floods came against it. (Matthew 7:24-27)
I realized I was putting my hope on who does or does not win the next election, upon convincing my friends that they are deceived, on how many people are trusting in God or fighting to preserve our freedom, on encouragement from friends or fellow patriots–in people and not in God.
God does not change: He is “the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8)”. God is frequently referenced as a rock: immoveable, secure and strong. When I take comfort and refuge in Him, I can remain calm and steady in my emotions.
But when I am trusting in fickle and sinful humanity, who can be deceived by Satan or follow their lusts, I will never find secure ground to stand on, to find peace and rest and safety. The same crowd that welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem with great joy on Sunday, only days later on Friday enthusiastically called for His death.
I’m struggling with this tonight but at least God helped me pinpoint the issue. He’s got my back: We’ll work through this together.
Hope you sleep well tonight.
Love from Dawn and Buddy
***
We live in tough times. This year has not played out at all as I’d planned. It’s likely been tough for you too.
So where, or in whom, are you seeking your refuge?
God through Jesus Christ can give you a refuge to run to, because He cares for you. He encourages you to find comfort in Him (1 Peter 5:7).
But when you are not in fellowship with God, He does not guarantee to hear your prayers. We are all born separated from God, because Adam and Eve rejected God’s moral authority; therefore, all of their descendants are born spiritually dead. If you’re willing to accept Jesus as your Lord and His moral authority, as detailed in the Biblical scriptures, He comes into fellowship with you and accepts you into His kingdom as His beloved child.
You don’t do anything to earn salvation or fellowship with Him. You just need the humility to admit that you’re a sinner and accept His authority in your life. If you’re willing to do so, please pray the prayer below:
Dear Lord, I admit that I’ve sinned and done things that grieve your holiness. You love me and want the best for me and those around me. I accept that Jesus died on the cross for my sins, taking the punishment I deserve, because He loves me. He rose bodily from the grave, demonstrating that death cannot hold Him and that I too will be resurrected into eternal life. Please be my good Shepherd and give me life through the Holy Spirit. I don’t understand it all right now, but trust You to lead me and help me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you’ve prayed that prayer, congratulations. You’re a child of God. Please find a Bible-based church or Bible study to attend. If that’s not possible right now, these ministries are wonderful and will help you to grow in your faith till the pandemic is over: http://www.ltw.org, http://www.InTouchMinistries.org and http://www.BasicGospel.net
God bless you. May this be the beginning of a journey to bring hope and comfort into your life. But as you read in my blog, it’s a journey. Don’t get hard on yourself: only God is perfect. Change takes time, but God the Father through Christ and the Holy Spirit will be with you every step of the way.
Buddy is nearly always at my heels. He doesn’t seem to fear that I’ll drop something on him or step on him. He believes that it’s to his benefit to be near me. Or else he’s just extremely curious and needs to keep an eye on what I’m up to.
Cowardice appears to be a big problem in our society. Too many Christians rationalize being passive or not taking a stand. They don’t seem to realize that cowardice is a sin.
“Like a trampled spring and a polluted well is a righteous man who” gives way before the wicked.” Proverbs 25:26
“Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all the unfortunate. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.” Proverbs 31:8-9
I don’t believe that Jesus, when He asked His disciples to “turn the other cheek” (Matthew 5:39), He intended men to stand by while the Communists raped their wives during the Russian Revolution. Or to remain silent when anarchist groups are declaring that white statues of Jesus should be destroyed or churches set ablaze. The two proverbs above make it clear that God intends for us to stand up against evil and not let it prevail.
If you disagree, let’s also look to the New Testament:
“But for the COWARDLY and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolators and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death,” Jesus tells the Apostle John in Revelation 21:8 (emphasis mine). Please note that not only are cowards the first on Christ’s mind on the list of persons to go into eternal punishment, but are also considered as bad as murderers, etc.
I meet too many “suitcase Christians” who are packed and waiting for Christ to return and rescue them from evil or masochistic, fatalistic Christians who presume that our culture will go from bad to worse because we’re in the End Times. So the latter create self-fulfilling prophecy, not expending their energies to impact our culture for Christ and for good because it’s all going to Hell anyway.
Christians believed that Hitler was the anti-Christ. He rose to power in the 1930s. How many lives would have been saved if the Church had stood against his anti-semitism early in his political career? Even Mussolini hated Hitler for giving Fascism a bad name with his race-based National Socialism (though later aligning with him politically).
I’m not saying that I am free from cowardice. There are several occasions when I should’ve overcome my fear of starting an argument and stood up for Christ when I was outnumbered. But I am working hard at trying to be more courageous.
The apostle Paul told Timothy that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7).
Revelation 21:8 lists unbelief as one characteristic of those who are going into the lake of fire. The opposite of fear is faith: the more faith and trust in God a person has, the less fear and vice versa; they cannot coexist.
We live in a time in the USA (and other nations) when people are openly hostile to Christians and Christianity; Satan is the prince of this world (Ephesians 2:2) and is influencing our culture, politics and compromising church for evil. When I am trusting God has my back, I have the faith to step forward and “speak the truth in love” as Apostle Paul commands (Ephesians 4:15).
If you are born again, you have a mighty power working within you, the Holy Spirit, God Himself. God gives us the power to take back territory for His Kingdom. King David clearly had absolute faith that God had his back when he moved against his enemies (which were also God’s enemies):
“For by You (God) I can run upon a troop; by my God I can leap over a wall…He trains my hands for battle, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your help makes me great.” 2 Samuel 22:30, 35-36
David recognized that, as a child of God (His salvation), he could conquer evil.
Don’t let people intimidate you into being silent. YOU ARE A CHILD OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD, THE LORD OF HOSTS, OF ANGEL ARMIES. The Lord Who is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. Don’t ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit to stand for what is right. Don’t hide away from our ungodly culture, but invade and influence it for good.
You don’t know which souls you may meet in heaven one day because you took courage, trusted God and stepped out in faith when prompted by the Holy Spirit.
Remember, the criticism and opposition you encounter now will pass away; those who oppose you will have to answer to God on Judgment Day. Satan is loud and contentious and angry; he roars like a lion (1 Peter 5:8) and tries to intimidate us into being fearful.
“Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Jesus, Matthew 10:28
It’s hard, I know. But God does have our back, for He promises victory:
“I will build My church; and the gates of Hell will not overpower it.” Jesus, Matthew 16:18
God bless you.
Love from Dawn and Buddy
***
If you’ve read the blog post above and realized that you are bound by fear because you haven’t come to faith in Christ, please know that Jesus can help relieve your fears. Now, everyone has a different experience when they become born again: some people are immediately delivered from bondage to whatever is enslaving them and some, like me, have to go through a gradual learning process to get free. So I cannot promise immediate relief from fear, if your life is presently characterized by it. But faith in Christ can remove the fear of death, for Jesus conquered death when He rose from the grave and promises eternal life to His disciples.
If you’d like to begin a journey into freedom, please pray the below.
Dear Lord God, I have offended you by sinning, by deciding right and wrong for myself. It has only given me a life of fear and inner emptiness. I want you to be my Lord and be my Great Shepherd. I want to follow you. Please forgive my sin. I believe that Jesus is the Christ, God in the Flesh (Matthew 1:23) and rose bodily from the grave. I invite the Holy Spirit into my life to give me a new heart that follows You. Thank you for hearing my prayer. In the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
Please find a Bible-based church or Bible Study. Or if you’re confined at home right now, start reading the Bible. It’s best to begin with the first book of the New Testament, Matthew, because it’s easy to understand. There are also many godly ministries on the radio, TV and internet. I highly recommend Dr Charles Stanley’s ministry at http://www.Intouch.org, Dr Michael Youssef at http://www.ltw.org and Pastor Bob Christopher at http://www.BasicGospel.net.
Meditations About God and Buddy 