Ecclesiastes 3
There is an occasion for everything,
and a time for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to give birth and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to uproot;
3 a time to kill and a time to heal;
a time to tear down and a time to build;
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance;
5 a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing;
6 a time to search and a time to count as lost;
a time to keep and a time to throw away;
7 a time to tear and a time to sew;
a time to be silent and a time to speak;
8 a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war and a time for peace.
9 What does the worker gain from his struggles?
10 I have seen the task that God has given people to keep them occupied.
11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts, but man cannot discover the work God has done from beginning to end.
12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and enjoy the good life.
13 It is also the gift of God whenever anyone eats, drinks, and enjoys all his efforts.
14 I know that all God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it. God works so that people will be in awe of Him.
15 Whatever is, has already been, and whatever will be, already is. God repeats what has passed.
16 I also observed under the sun: there is wickedness at the place of judgment and there is wickedness at the place of righteousness.
17 I said to myself, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked, since there is a time for every activity and every work.”
18 I said to myself, “This happens concerning people, so that God may test them and they may see for themselves that they are like animals.”
19 For the fate of people and the fate of animals is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; they all have the same breath. People have no advantage over animals since everything is futile.
20 All are going to the same place; all come from dust, and all return to dust.
21 Who knows if the spirit of people rises upward and the spirit of animals goes downward to the earth?
22 I have seen that there is nothing better than for a person to enjoy his activities because that is his reward. For who can enable him to see what will happen after he dies?
“Turn! Turn! Turn! – The Byrds – With Lyrics”
“When We All Get to Heaven – piano instrumental hymn with lyrics”
jcsouthwest 
New Post From Ali — 1/19/17
http://awatchmanonthewall.blogspot.com/2017/01/silently-plans-that-have-been-fomented.html
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Daily Devotional — 1/19/17
ONE BIG FAMILY IN CHRIST
The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death. Isaiah 57:1-2
I was reading this scripture on January 19th, 1994, the day Bishop Haik Hovsepian-Mehr mysteriously disappeared en route to the airport in the capital of Iran. He had spoken out courageously against the persecution of Iranian Christians and the closure of the Iranian Bible Society as well as the closing of a number of churches across Iran. He had campaigned vigorously for the release of Rev. Mehdi Dibaj from prison and had acted as substitute father for Mehdi’s four children during his imprisonment in addition to his own four children. Days later his dead body with multiple stab wounds was identified.
Iranian Christians reported that the bishop was a brave and humble man who was much loved and respected by the church community in Iran. They added that in his last few weeks of life, he would often speak about his possible martyrdom for which he was prepared. At his memorial service one of his taped sermons was played which spoke about giving your life for the sake of Jesus. One of his statements regarding the possibility of losing his life was made to Brother Andrew just weeks before he died, “I will not die a silent death!”
Today’s verses from the Bible gave me great encouragement as to the purpose of God in allowing martyrdom among His people. They rest in peace. But what about their families?
This day and event changed the life of Haik’s son, Andre, forever. He says, “As a pastor’s son growing up in Iran, I got used to the fact that sometimes my dad would be gone for a day or two for interrogation. But then on that dreadful day in January ’94, my father left the house and never came back.”
Looking back, Andre testifies that God used the love and support of the body of Christ to bring the Hovsepian family courage during the dark days following his father’s murder. “It meant a lot to me that someone I didn’t know from another country was praying for me and was caring for me.”
Andre and his mother, Takoosh, now live in the United States where they use their freedom to continue ministry to Iran via satellite. They produce programs, movies, teaching materials and music to air in all the Farsi-speaking nations like Iran, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Andre and his family really value your prayers as, following in the footsteps of Haik himself, they work to advance the kingdom in those countries where still today faith costs the most.
He concludes, “I learned we are one big family in Christ—and I think that was the number one thing which gave us courage and helped us heal.”
RESPONSE: Today I will accept the purposes of God in the martyrdom of His saints and pray for courage and healing among the members of the families left behind.
PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, for the way you are using the Hovsepian family in ministry back to their original homeland and region. May their efforts greatly expand Your kingdom.
Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.
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The thing is that as humans we are sometimes if not always limited to the perception of self and our surrounding. We have difficulty to set our mind to understand the omniscience of the Lord and how he works like in the example above.
By reading our bible we get a glimpse of how it all works but it still does not remove our fears of what might happen to loved ones without us, especially if you are a mother or father!
So we have to pray for the protection and clarity of our family and minds and understand how limited and yet blessed we are in this reality our world!
Who’s to say if i was to be martyred what the Lord would make of my sons&Daughter, only he knows and if we pray and bless them like the patriarchs of the Ot the Lord might just bless them more than we know!
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Daily Devotional — 1/20/17
FIX YOUR EYES ON JESUS
Hebrews 12:2-3
2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.
3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you won’t grow weary and lose heart.
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The letter to the Hebrews was written to first century Jewish background believers who were being severely persecuted. Some were even considering giving up their faith in Jesus. The unknown author pens what many Bible scholars feel was originally a sermon about the superiority of Jesus over anyone else and everything else.
He slowly builds his case to culminate in the great faith chapter. In this chapter, he also points out that some great men and women of faith lived to see the fruit of their faith while many others—also men and women of faith—died prematurely because of persecution. Now in chapter twelve, the author makes what I think is his critical statement or main point of the letter.
How do we walk by faith? We walk by faith by keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus! Not fixed on our problems or difficult environment of opposition. Jesus was the pioneer and perfecter of faith. He endured opposition to the point of crucifixion. So we follow His example and we will also patiently endure because of the joy we know that is yet to come.
In a communist country, a Christian girl named Viorica was beaten harshly in school because she had invited her schoolmates to church. She fainted during the beating, and an ambulance had to take her to hospital. Two days passed before she regained consciousness. When she did, the doctor at her bedside said, “You poor girl, at last you’ve opened your eyes. All this time I’ve been thinking of the cruelty of the director who beat you like this. My heart has been bitter with hatred. I wish I could take revenge on him.”
Viorica smiled. “There is no need to hate him,” she replied. Jesus taught us to love everyone. Just before I opened my eyes, I saw Him and talked to Him. He asked me whether it still hurts. And He told me that in heaven I will receive a very beautiful crown, which is reserved only for those who have suffered for Him. He told me to pray for those who mistreated me, and to love them, because our influence will help them to give their lives to God and so become His children.”
From the mouths of children! Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus!
RESPONSE: Today I will take my eyes off my surroundings, my problems, my fears and my suffering. I will keep them fixed on Jesus my Lord.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me keep my focus on You and in so doing bring glory and honor to You.
Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.
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This song goes with today’s devotional “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”
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1/20/17 Note of Concern: Many giving out prophetic words of either “Peace and Safety” or “New Political Dooms”.
Clarity, Discernment and Wisdom still needed in all areas. God is Holy, he never lies and doesn’t issue 1/2 truths!
Again, we can’t ignore the truth in scripture because it makes us uncomfortable. Yes, the Lord forgives us of all our sin — that does not give us the freedom to modify the Commandments as outlined by Jesus himself. Be very careful! Our wants may not be in the Lord’s Will! We may find ourselves being like those that are giving out “Sugar Coated” messages from church pulpits — those are the ones who ignore the truth in scripture and focus only on the things that really sound good.
We need to stay alert in what is going on, but also be very careful in not falling into a state of delusion or following those giving out false prophecies. We need to listen to what the Lord is telling us individually, as we will need to hear these words from him in the days ahead.
We are never to place ourselves in Judgment of others by thinking we know for sure who is going to heaven and we know for sure who isn’t.
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1 Peter 5:8 Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12
10 and with every unrighteous deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth in order to be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe what is false, 12 so that all will be condemned—those who did not believe the truth but enjoyed unrighteousness.
Jeremiah 14:14 But the Lord said to me, “These prophets are prophesying a lie in My name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, worthless divination, the deceit of their own minds.
Ezekiel 13:6 They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘This is the Lord’s declaration,’ when the Lord did not send them, yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message.
Matthew 24:24 False messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
1 John 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
John 3:16-18
“For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.
Isaiah 43:25 “It is I who sweep away your transgressions
for My own sake and remember your sins no more.
John 5:24-30
24 “I assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.
25 “I assure you: An hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
26 For just as the Father has life in Himself, so also He has granted to the Son to have life in Himself.
27 And He has granted Him the right to pass judgment, because He is the Son of Man.
28 Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come out—those who have done good things, to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked things, to the resurrection of judgment.
30 “I can do nothing on My own. I judge only as I hear, and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
Joel 2:12 Even now— this is the Lord’s declaration— turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
Revelation 2:5 Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
Revelation 3:4-6
4 But you have a few people in Sardis who have not defiled their clothes, and they will walk with Me in white, because they are worthy.
5 In the same way, the victor will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name before My Father and before His angels.
6 “Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
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Momentary peace&safety is a big part of the deception that is coming. Warfare has incorporated into itself that lulling an opponent into a safe feeling can and will make his concentration and focus disappear.
Even in peaceful times there is always war in the background! The devil is a master of subterfuge and occupying deception as Jc pointed out the other day in his writing about time and listening to that voice that wants our attention in all this business!
“All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.”
― Sun Tzu, The Art of War
tags: deception, strategy, tactics, war, warfare
Galatians 5:16-26 – [This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Proverbs 11:3 – The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
Romans 12:2 – And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Integrity consists of an mind on a solid foundation(The Word).
Renewal of mind is prayer and immersion and absorbing the Word!
I have always studied the ways of war since a young man and it has fascinated me the game of minds that exists between generals. The sad part is that it kills men and women who will go to an Christless eternity without knowing Jesus and thats why i like the concept of war but abhor it in function!
But studying war gives you a grasp of wholesome situations and Sun Tzu depicts the dragons tactics perfectly!
Chinese culture is based on worship of dragons, their royal family was said to be descended from a dragon who took the first chinese empress as his wife! Genesis 6:4 anyone?
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Daily Devotional — 1/21/17
ENDURE HARDSHIP AS DISCIPLINE
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?…No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12: 7-11
As we see in Hebrews chapter twelve, once we “keep our eyes fixed on Jesus,” we will be aware of how we should then live. Now he teaches us about the value of hardships and discipline that does not seem helpful but in the end produces a harvest of righteousness and peace.
Alexander was on his first research trip to Cuba for Open Doors. He asked a Cuban pastor what his needs were. He expected the response to itemize the many material needs that the churches in Cuba obviously lacked.
“The first thing we need is your prayers,” he replied, “to know the Body of Christ is with us.” Then he went on to list their tremendous need for Bibles, teaching aids, Sunday school materials and printing supplies. Then he concluded with the statement that they could use anything and everything. “If you send us just a bar of soap, we’ll be grateful,” he confessed. “We’ll praise God for it!”
Alexander says, “I felt a big lump in my throat as I thought of all the Bibles, literature and freedoms I enjoyed. Yet even with all my blessings, my testimony was not as strong. So I struggled to articulate my feelings. ‘Pastor,’ I said, ‘I can only begin to sense and imagine the difficulties you have encountered.’”
The pastor’s eyes became misty and he softly responded, “Oh yes brother, we have been through the most difficult years. Yet we don’t fear persecution. As a matter of fact, we welcome it because it purifies us!”
Freddie Sun spent years in prison in China because of his Christian faith. Prison was literally a trial of fire for him. He worked in a factory making tee-joints from pig iron. Every day he loaded and unloaded the furnace which fired up to 2700 degrees Fahrenheit. In the midst of this hell on earth, God spoke to him. “I have put you in this high-temperature furnace. Don’t worry—you won’t melt. But your impurities will be removed so you can become a useful tee-joint!”
RESPONSE: Today I will receive God’s discipline with the awareness that it is refining me to be more like Jesus.
PRAYER: Lord help me to accept hardship as Your discipline for my life. I look forward to the harvest of righteousness and peace.
Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.
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