Who do you love more?

Who do you love more, God or family? The Christian life for some is an easy
transition, born in the church, come to know Christ and all is well. Then
there are those that had no choice, God or death, then dealing with the
consequences of that choice. Choosing between your family, who you have
idolized, and would of laid down your life for, or counting them dead for
knowing the greatness of Jesus is a hard decision. Jesus spoke clearly in
*Matt 10:34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace on the earth; I
have not come to bring peace, but a sword [of division between belief and
unbelief]. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a
daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her
mother-in-law; 36 and a man’s enemies will be the members of his [own]
household [when one believes and another does not].37 “He who loves father
or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or
daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.* Have you ever had that moment
when you realized that it is done? When your family will never be the same
because you chose to follow Jesus? I remember seeing my family through a
window, the woman who use to be my wife with another man, the children whom
I raised, the grandchildren I adored, sitting down to dinner as a family,
and I drove away in tears, because I followed after Jesus and they followed
the world. Since that time, my prayers have been more passionate, not for
my family to be reconciled to me, for them to be united with Christ. The
big decisions are never easy, though in the end, it is worth it. Love God
more!

Douglas 

Hebrews 13- Your assignment, if you choose to accept it!

18Pray for us; we are convinced that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. 19And I especially urge you to pray that I may be restored to you as soon as possible.

My fourth great grandfather fought in the Revolutionary War, I have his service records from the National Archives in which he filled out and signed to receive his $50 yearly pension.

One of the methods the militia used to help win the war was to purposely kill the officers (leaders) of the British Army and they weren't to happy about it. The British saw it as uncivilized behavior to purposely pick out and kill the officers (leaders).

Satan is trying to do the same thing, to kill and destroy the leaders of the church. He doesn't care which church you belong to, he's after them all.

Your assignment, if you choose to accept it is to pray for our leaders in the church. Pray that God keeps His hand of protection over them and their families, over the Elders and the church body as a whole. Pray that the Holy Spirit guides the church in its word and action. Pray that God uses your church to bring more souls to Jesus!

Blessings, David 

No One Knows. Matthew 24:32-36 NLT

As a side note, I am working next week and may be a little late getting these out, please bear with me.

The simple answer to the original question "Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?” From Matthew 24:3 is answered in Matthew 24:36 "However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself.  Only the Father knows. "

No One Knows. That's why we must be ever vigilant, that's why we must be always ready. That's why we must be in His word, seeking Him, following Him, loving Him, serving Him.

The events Jesus spoke of in the previous verses will take place BEFORE His return. Catastrophes and persecutions, the  abomination of desolation, a warning to Israel to flee, the great tribulation, and cosmic disturbances. THEN Jesus will return in all His glory!

Matthew 24:32-36 NLT

32 “Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near.  33 In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door.  34 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place.  35 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

36“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself.  Only the Father knows. "

Blessings, Cecilia

Hebrews 13- Assuming they have character!

17Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.

i. Sadly, some take the idea of submission to leaders in the church much too far. The “Shepherding Movement” was a clear example of this kind of abuse (which many seem to welcome, wanting someone else to be responsible for their lives). “A teacher should teach us to submit to God, not to himself.” (Chuck Smith)

Hebrews 13:7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.
We are to be submissive to the leaders God gives us (assuming they have the character mentioned in Hebrews 13:7). We are simply told to obey those who rule over us. When speaking on the authority of God’s Word, leaders do have a right to tell us how to live and walk after God. (Guzik)

How often do we see our elected officials passing laws for us to follow but exempt themselves from the law? David Guzik reminds us; "We are to be submissive to the leaders God gives us (assuming they have the character mentioned in Hebrews 13:7)". Recently in the news was a Catholic priest who turned himself in to authorities because he was wanted on sexual abuse charges.
It all comes down to "considering the outcome of their conduct".
Leaders are held to a higher standard (must give an account) to God because they watch over souls.

The leaders in your (our) church must live to a higher standard, if they aren't tell the Elders of the church. If there isn't a correction, find another church. I recall at our old church Calvary Tucson our pastor informed us an associate pastor was removed because he was bilking money from parishioners. Did he have the character mentioned in Hebrews 13:7?

Blessings, David

Looking Down, Not Up! Matthew 24:29-31 NLT

One thing I have learned about God, anything is possible. We can't limit what God can do by our limited imaginations. One thing I've learned about studying scripture is 'if the first sense makes sense, don't look for any other sense'. 

Matthew 24:29, Isaiah 13:10 and Joel 2:10 all speak of a celestial event that will occur before Jesus's return. Do I believe it will happen? Yes and I believe it will happen just as scripture tells us. 

When Jesus returns, there will be no doubt He is the true Messiah and the Son of Man. I believe everyone on the earth will know it because everyone will see Him descending from the clouds. Those that believe in Jesus will rejoice and those that still oppose Him will try to hide. 

What a glorious sight it will be! One I want to see looking down from Heaven, not up from Earth! 

Matthew 24:29-31 NLT 

29 “Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened,  the moon will give no light,  the stars will fall from the sky,  and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 

(Isaiah 13: 10 The heavens will be black above them; the stars will give no light. The sun will be dark when it rises, and the moon will provide no light. 

Joel 2:10 The earth quakes as they advance, and the heavens tremble. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars no longer shine.) 

30 And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 

(Joel 10: 13 As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence.) 

31 And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world —from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven. 

Blessings, Cecilia 

Whatever giant you are facing!

There are battles that we face everyday. Battles to be a better person, to
sin less, to love more, physical battles, emotional battles, spiritual
battles, etc.etc. The enemy tries to trip us up, beat us down, he whispers
lies into our ears, and tries to make us believe that we can never be
accepted by God because of what we've done. There have been many times that
I feel that I cannot win. I feel like a failure and just am not sure what
to do. I read something that said, "The army of Israel looked at Goliath
through the eyes of man and said he's to big to beat. David looked at him
through God's eyes and said he is to big to miss". *1 Sam 17:45 Then David
said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and
with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God
of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will
deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from
you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines
to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the
earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 Then all this assembly
shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle
is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”* Whatever battle you
are facing, realize that the God that helped David defeat his giant is with
you and able to help you defeat whatever giant you are facing. Christine
Caine wrote, “The giant in front of you is never bigger than the God who
lives in you.” Brethren, may we be encouraged and always remember *Phil
4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.* Trust in the
Lord and He will help you! My beloved, you are all in my thoughts and
prayers.

Douglas 

Hebrews 13- Are you bearing fruit?

15Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name. 16And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

During the day while outside doing chores I'm surrounded by Gods beauty, the forest, the singing birds and with the fruit of my lips I thank Him for His blessings. When someone comes to mind that I know who is struggling I pray for them.

· Praise that pleases God is the fruit of our lips, more than just thoughts directed towards God. It is spoken out unto the Lord, either in prose or in song. “What proceeds from the lips is regarded as fruit, which reveals the character of its source, as the fruit of a tree reveals the nature of the tree.” (Guthrie)

Praise isn't the only thing that pleases God. We also please God when we do good and share with others.

"the fruit of a tree reveals the nature of the tree."
Matthew 21:18In the morning, as Jesus was returning to the city, He was hungry. 19Seeing a fig tree along the road, He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. “May you never bear fruit again!”He said. And immediately the tree withered.

Are you bearing fruit?

Blessings, David