Heaven
Heaven Or Not

Heaven Or Not

Some idiot wrote these words; I’d rather reign in Hell than serve in Heaven,”.  He knew nothing about Heaven or Hell.  A movie I saw was another idiot’s version of Hell.  It was about four men who were friends, and they all four died and went to Hell.   They sat around a table, played poker, drank beer, and had a merry ‘ol time.  Well, folks, it isn’t going to be that way.  Friends will not be playing games with you, and there is no a/c in Hell.  People have tried to explain Hell.  One lady said, “It would be welcome after living in the cold and snow of Alaska.” NO.  Hell is unbelievably hot, and eternity is incredibly long.

People make plans for a day, a week, or a month but neglect plans for eternity.  How very stupid.  God is real, my dears, and eternity is long.  If you haven’t thought about eternity, now is a good time.  Unbeknown to you, maybe,  Satan has been dictating to you.  God has tried, but it’s like that joke about good and bad.  The man says sometimes I do right, and sometimes I don’t.  It is like two dogs living in me.  Well, who wins?  The one I say sic em to the most.  Well, my friend, who wins with you, God or Satan?  Who do you say sic em to the most?  God or Satan?  Don’t let Satan control your life. 

He will lie to you, distort reality, and send you to Hell.   Ask  God for boldness as you witness to friends and family.   Some will reject you or ridicule you, but most won’t.  In my many years of witnessing for Christ, I have been ridiculed only once, and that was in high school.  I was talking to a cute, popular, rich boy.  He asked me if I believed something, and I said, “Yes, I do.” He said, Why?” And I said, “Because the Bible says so.” Well, he laughed and laughed.  We then went out to the hall where his friends were waiting.  He proceeded to tell them what I  said and they all laughed, I was embarrassed.  That is the only time in 80 years I have been embarrassed of my faith.

Something happened to me that day.  I became bolder in my faith.  I knew those kids weren’t saved, and they would be embarrassed for their lack of faith someday.  Heaven or not?  They chose not.  That boy’s name was John, and I stopped thinking of him as cute or popular, and  I became convicted about praying for him.  Praying that God would be merciful and give John another chance.  I don’t know what happened that day, but I know I grew up a bit.  I know that Satan lost a battle with me that day.

I learned that he didn’t hurt me; he only embarrassed me, and that isn’t too painful.  I know that I haven’t been laughed at for my faith again.  You see, once I was challenged if I was going to Heaven or not.  I chose Heaven.  One day at school I fell and hurt my knee really bad.  My girlfriends laughed at me,  But they were kids, and they didn’t hurt me.  I still loved them.  It’s all relative; God saw me through it all, and I am saved, wiser, and a little more forgiving.  I don’t know what happened to John, and I hope God gave him another chance.   Heaven or not, I pray that you have chosen well.

Love, Marriage and Children

Love, Marriage and Children

Love and Marriage go together like a horse and carriage…horse and carriage.  That was a popular song back in the 50s.  Now, the song is long forgotten.  The concept is long forgotten, too. Fifty percent of marriages end in divorce.  Fifty percent of society believes that God’s commandments are obsolete.  As I see it, we have turned into self-centered people.  It takes a lot of selflessness to make a marriage work.  

Many of God’s people start off wrong. Society teaches that when you are attracted to someone you hunger for, that is love, but in actuality, it is probably lust. Then we marry and make vows, but you are married, and it isn’t easy to divorce. Now starts the hard work.

So many of us have lost our way. We need to regain a true definition of love. Love is not an emotion or feeling.  Feelings lie to you.  Satan can work through your feelings. Love, my friend is a choice. You can choose to love your mate even though you might not like him or her.  When you choose, it can bring about feelings, and then it will feel like love.

As a people, we fail to see the part that Satan plays in our lives. We fail to have daily devotions, Our prayer life is haphazard.  Then we wonder why our kids have become rebellious.  You tell your child to do the dishes, and they walk away.  Call them back and tell them you are Mom, and you tell them to do it.   When they say “why” you tell them ”because I said so, and God has given me the authority.”   

In order to make a marriage work, parents must be respected. Respect and love must be present for a marriage to work.  Don’t be afraid to show love in front of the children.  Daddy is kissing mama should be their delighted cry.  Your kids must know you love each other.  

Set rules for your house, such as no swearing and no name-calling.  We don’t call each other stupid or jerk.  No hitting Mom, as it shows disrespect.  I see that all the time in restaurants or stores.  The child is mad and hits mom.  Take control, the child is spoiled.  He might throw a fit, scream, hit Mom, and say “NO.” This is a critical time.  TAKE CONTROL.  Pick them up, walk outside where you can be alone, and spank their bottom.  Don’t be too violent. Calmly spank and tell them why they are being spanked.  That is love, my friend. Good grounds for a good marriage.

small group of multicultural kids reading the holy bible book isolated on white
Nurturing True Understanding in Our Children”

Nurturing True Understanding in Our Children”

Today I am going to challenge you with that which you hold most dear – your children.  I asked a boy about his faith, but he couldn’t tell me about it.  He actually said, “I  forget what they told me to say.  When I told his parents, they were mad at me for doubting his faith. It is far better to doubt and work with him until he understands than to assume he understands and doesn’t.  He could go through his whole life thinking he is saved, and he isn’t.  

Don’t ever be afraid to make sure your kids are saved.  You must question children.  They tend to say what they think you want them to say.  You can ask them to say “I love Jesus,” and they will say it freely.   They must understand that Jesus did it all for them. It is not what the child says that gets them saved, but what Jesus did.  They must get saved like everyone gets saved.  If they don’t understand, then they wait until they do understand, 

I knew a lady in college who had a 3-year-old daughter.  One day, the lady came to me all excited.  She said that her daughter got saved last night.  No matter how badly you want her saved,  a 3-year-old cannot understand substitution thought.  Now, try not to be anxious, be patient, and trust God.  He loves your kids more than you do.

Satan is a Liar

Satan is a Liar

Satan is a master liar.  He told Eve that nothing would happen to her if she ate of the fruit that God told her not to eat.  She had had no experience with him.  She listened, she ate, and sin came into being.  He lied.  She ate and sinned.  Today, nothing has changed.  He lies, we listen, and we sin. 

In New Zealand, we knew a man who killed his boss.  He told us that something kept telling him, “Do it, do it, do it, do it.”  Satan lied, and he listened and killed his boss, and the man is in prison today.  So Satan lies.  Our man shot his boss.  Satan lied; the man listened, did it, and sinned.  He is still in prison today.  

Do you think those thoughts are just your own?  No way.  They are put in your head, and you believe they are your own.  He will tell you all kinds of lies.  My aunt told me God told her which slot machine to use in Vegas.  Eve was not experienced with Satan, but you are.  But you had best be wise.  God will never tell you to do something wrong.  I know that you can argue that gambling isn not wrong, God tells us to put away every appearance of evil.  ( II Peter 2:7)  

If something is wrong, forsake it.  I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be a stumbling block to anyone.  I want people to see Christ in me.  It isn’t worth it for me to gamble.  When people look at me and see me gambling, they only see a woman of the world.  I cannot believe that Jesus gambled; if He wouldn’t, I wouldn’t either.  I do not want to be a stumbling block to anyone.  As Christians, we must give all to Christ and let Him use us.  People are dying and floundering without an anchor.  They need help.  They need us.  Put away all appearance of evil.  

Becoming Wise Men: Leading Others to Jesus This Christmas Season

Becoming Wise Men: Leading Others to Jesus This Christmas Season

As Christmas approaches, we all tend to reflect on the Christmas story and reflect on the Christmas story, and reflect we should.  No greater story was ever told.  We read of the 3 wise men who followed the star to where the baby Jesus lay. The 3 wise men are rightly labeled “wise”. They were called wise because they believed truth.

Did someone once lead you to the Lord Jesus? They can only lead you. You must accept and be wise…wise enough to accept the truth. I was only 11 years old when my Sunday School teacher approached me and asked how wise did I want to be? Actually, my mom began the process. Both my mom and my Sunday School teacher were my stars. My mom had me in church since I was 2 or 3.

Was someone your star? Did someone lead you to Jesus? If so, then you are blessed.

Now it is our job to lead someone else to Jesus. If you don’t know how then LEARN. That’s not so hard to do. Ask your pastor or staff, for starters. Ask your pastor to recommend a good book that is accurate and that will steer you straight. Not all books preach the truth. Many books out there will steer you wrong. Trust your pastor. There is no greater blessing in the world than to lead someone to Jesus. Just see their eyes light up as they see the truth. Usually, they are so thankful as they grasp your love for them. Not many people ever care for their soul.

This Christmas, give someone the gift of life. Eternal life. You can make a difference.

Angel Janet and the staff of Living Angels pray you will have a merry Christmas, and if you haven’t done so already, we pray you will be wise and accept the truth of Jesus as Lord and Savior.

God bless you until next time.

Finding Unshakeable Faith: Lessons from Noah’s Ark

Finding Unshakeable Faith: Lessons from Noah’s Ark

One of my favorite Bible stories is Noah and the Ark. It is intriguing and challenging.  God told Noah to build a boat big enough to hold two of every animal on earth and every human that wanted to go. 

He was told that it was going to rain enough to flood the earth, and no one would believe him.  No one would believe him.   No one except his family.  His wife and sons and their wives.  People laughed at him, ridiculed him, and didn’t believe a word he said.  Still, his wife stood by him.

His wife believed in the same God as Noah.  I wonder, would I believe that faithfully, that strongly, would you?  If all the world was against you, would you still believe in Him?  

Well, I believe that I would.  You see, I know how He has made me and you.  We as His children, are so much more special than we have ever thought.  So, we need to look at this for a minute.

We are victorious. Rev. 2:7, We are blessed.  Gal 3:9. The light of the world. Matt 5:14 The salt of the earth. Matt 5:13. The apple of His eye. Psm 17:6.  

We are beloved of God Rom 1 of 7.  We walk in Christ Jesus. Col 2:6.  Do not be fooled,  the ark did not save Noah, God alone did that.  Remember, He sealed up the door.  You can turn on the alarm in your house and lock all your doors and windows, but your house doesn’t keep you safe; only God does that.  

I sang as a child.  This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.  What is that light?  Well, it is Christ in me. The hope of glory. Col 1:27. I’m going to let Christ be seen in me.  

I believe that Noah knew all of this.  He believed when no one else did.  He stood amongst the laughter and jeers.  He did have his family with him.  He had God’s approval and blessing. He had all he needed.  We don’t need the unbelieving world when we have Him.

Now, take what I am about to say with heart; your life will make sense, and you will be safe and secure. We have the peace of God, which passes all understanding. Phil 4:7. Now you don’t need the world or the things of the world.  You have confidence, love, security, and the promise of eternity.  Jon 5:24. How much better can it get?

Hospitality Dinner
Hospitality

Hospitality

God gives every believer a gift. There’s the gift of teaching, giving or exhortation, and many more (ICor 12:8-11). A gift I don’t see working much anymore is the gift of hospitality. We don’t tend to have people in our homes but go out to restaurants instead. Why is that? I used to think I didn’t want people over unless my house was super clean.  

So, it stops you from asking others. We miss blessings when we don’t use our gifts.  

Many people in the church need a friend. Maybe a neighbor. Perhaps a family member. Pray about it. Ask God who needs an invitation. Older people often don’t get asked. It would be a huge blessing if you got to know them. Pray about who to invite.

When I was a pastor’s wife,  I decided to invite everyone over, one at a time, to share a meal. I asked them to get to know us better, one family at a time. I invited them after church. I prepared dinner on Saturday and put it in the slow cooker, and our meal was all done when we came home on Sunday afternoon.

The table was set. All was ready. I made it as easy as I could. I lit a candle. I wanted people to feel at home and special at our house.

You don’t have to be a pastor’s wife to be hospitable. God has told us, “whatsoever your hand findeth to do, do it with all of your might” (Eccl 9:10).

If hospitality Is your gift then you are blessed. To be used by God to minister to others is indeed a blessing. 

Beauty

Beauty

Elizabeth Taylor "Los Angeles, California, USA - March 25th 2011: Tribute in memory of Elizabeth Taylor at her star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a few days after her death."
“Los Angeles, California, USA – March 25th 2011: Tribute in memory of Elizabeth Taylor at her star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a few days after her death.”

He gave me beauty for ashes, and it is in that verse that my heart is today. I have been through a trial, and yet the blessing within has blurred the trial.  I have had a bad case of covid.

I was put in the hospital because I couldn’t walk.  It was part of covid.

After a couple of days, I felt better.  One night I couldn’t sleep.  At 5 am, God began to talk to me..  I had been searching for what to write about in my next blog, and God began to tell me, not verbally, but in a still small voice.  

At 5am I became so excited.   God was there and He woke me up.  I had not been so close to God in a long time.  He woke me up out of my stupor. He gave me beauty for ashes, and I want to talk about that.

God made me beautiful! He gave me beauty! God, the King of the Universe, gave ME beauty! And, yet, do I believe Him? Well, I wasn’t. I looked at my face and saw only flaws. My eyes are too small, and I have two ugly brown marks on my brow. My lips are not symmetrical. Obviously, I wasn’t agreeing with Him! 

Then there is the world’s idea of beauty. Everyone thought Elizabeth Taylor was beautiful, right? You looked at her and saw no flaws! Let’s look at your pastor’s wife. Beautiful? Flaws? Is she more beautiful than Elizabeth Taylor was? The world would laugh! How about you?

How about you? Are you beautiful? Do you look at yourself, and say, “No! I’m not beautiful!” like I did?

Well it is time to find the truth. Is the world right – was Elizabeth Taylor beautiful? How about the pastor’s wife? You? Me? Which is truth?

God is truth, and all men are liars (Rom 3:4). What does God say? He said He gave us beauty for ashes (Isaiah 61:3). He gave beauty to you and me. What about Elizabeth Taylor? I think there is a qualification, and that is you must be born again. We must look at people as God does – through His eyes. When He sees you He sees who you really are! He sees you in truth. He sees the beauty within, and He sees you perfectly! No flaws!

That is beautiful! So, who is right? God? Or the world? God or me? If I’m not seeing me through God’s eyes, I am wrong! Hey, guys! I AM beautiful! My heart is right, attitude is right, my yieldedness is right. I am saved! (Right, too!) The world sees my flaws, but God doesn’t see them.

Now with Elizabeth Taylor, she could have been saved, but I see no evidence of it. Her beauty was likely skin deep. So is our pastor’s wife more beautiful than Elizabeth Taylor? In God’s eyes, yes!

What about you? Yes! Yes! Yes!

Now we need a safeguard handle to hold on to. All around people are telling you to “think outside the box!”. What are they saying? I will put forth an opinion. To me, that box is God Himself! He created a place safe for believers. It is a hedge around us strengthened by His Spirit. His angels. Himself! He created a place safe for believers. Inside the box is security, protection, love, freedom and anything else we need. It is the Biblical world view, however, wolves in sheeps clothing have managed to infiltrate. They introduced the world view, and it is contrary to the Biblical world view. God is saying, why look outside the box? You need nothing else! Can you think of something better than I can provide? What answers are you looking for? Outside of God there are no answers. “Wake up, people!”, God is shouting in His still small voice. Listen!

Beauty is within His people, but His people believe the worldview too often. They think Elizabeth Taylor was beautiful, and “I am not”. Oh, if we could only just trust God, and nothing else, our world would change dramatically! We must return to trusting everything God says, and not think outside the box! Truth! God gave us beauty. Believe it!

Worry

Worry

My Mom was a good mom.  She got us 3 kids into church ASAP.  Her gift was that of a servant.  She seemed to love waiting on people.  I have no doubt that she was a Christian,  Her faith was real, but she had one fault.  She was a worrier.  She worried about things that might never happen.  We might have an accident, or we might be raped or get cancer.  She seemed to worry about everything.  Although she was a Christian, she had not been taught to trust God for everything.

I believe that level of trust is uncommon amongst Christians.  Christians haven’t heard it preached much except by my husband.  Total yielded is new to many.  We began to learn it when our 13-year-old son had anorexia.  In his conciliating, we were told that he and John, and I had self in the center of our lives, and God wanted to be there.  When we are in the center, we put ourselves above God.  We become wiser, more loving, and more caring, at least in our own imaginations. We forget that God is God and we are not.

Worrying is another act of putting yourself above God.  It is as though worrying can solve your problem, making you wiser and more clever than God.  However, In the end, you will see your problem is not solved.  Worry is a sin.   If we are believers, we know that sin is forgiven, but it can rob us of blessings and stunt our spiritual growth.  I don’t know about you, but I don’t want anything robbing me of my spiritual growth.  

If you have an unsaved or wayward child, don’t worry, PRAY.  Then trust God to answer that prayer.  He said in Matt 21:22, “Whatsoever you ask in prayer, believing you shall receive.”  Even if all feels dark and there is no end in sight, you still trust God and wait on Him.  You cannot trust your feelings, feelings can lie to you, and Satan can influence your feelings. All you can trust is God.

The Truth Will Set You Free

The Truth Will Set You Free

The Truth Will Set You Free

Years ago, at our church, we had a watch night service.  They asked us to bring our favorite Bible verse.   Well, I didn’t have one.  I thought about it and prayed, and God led me to John  8:32.  AND YOU SHALL know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”

At that time, John had been called to preach. We had planned on going to Missouri to go to Bible College.  We had just bought our new house.  I was conflicted.  I wanted to stay in our new house and make it a home.  I was tired of renting and moving, renting and moving, but I knew that God was in our moving.  I realized I had been worrying.  I had three kids to feed; we were leaving good jobs.  But I was young then and had many lessons to learn.  My verse once again set me free.  If I really trusted God, He would take care of our family.  Yes, He would set me free because that was the truth.

I started to apply for food stamps and let the government feed us.  After all, John hadn’t found a job, and our cupboards were bare.  However, I read Isaiah 31:1 in my reading, “Woe unto them that go into Egypt for help.” God had said don’t get the food stamps, and I will take care of you.   He sent a family to us with many groceries, then gave John a job.  The truth was that God would supply all of our needs, and He did.  That was the truth, and it freed me from worry, anxiety, and fear.  I learned that Egypt is a type of the world, and we are not to let the world take care of us.  Since that time, I have been set free over and over.  

God has given me a much more beautiful home, we eat all the time now, and He has restored all that I had held dear.  I trusted Him, and He never let me down.  I have finally learned that freedom is free.  All that I have didn’t cost me a thing.  Truth only costs you trust.