The Door.

"I looked, and behold; a door open in heaven." Rev. 4:1

"Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut." Rev.3:8

Jesus is the Door.

"I am the door, if anyone comes through me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture." John 10:9

Heaven is always open to us. God wants us to come in. But we must open the door of our hearts also.

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him, and will dine with him, and he with me." Rev. 3:20

The Law of Love.

Today, I read on the website of 'Our Daily Bread' that the law of Heaven is love. This is true. It is the only law that is needed in any government. If we are ruled by love we will not harm others in any way. If we are ruled by love we will help those who are in need. If we are ruled by love we would not harm animals or the earth.

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
Anyone who does not love, does not know God, for God is love."
1 John 4:7-8

The Strength of Eagles.

"...I bore you up on eagles wings, and brought you to myself."
Exodus 19:4

"Yet those who wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not be weary,
They will walk and not faint."
Isaiah 40:31

"When the dragon (Satan) saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child.
But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place where she was nourished..."
Rev12:13-14


"Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
Who pardons all your sins,
Who heals all your diseases;
Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with loving kindness and compassion;
Who satisfies your years with good things,

So that your youth is renewed like the Eagle.
Psalm 103:1-5

Our Hearts.

1 John 3:20

"If our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our heart and knows everything."

I am thankful God is greater than our hearts. Sometimes my heart condemns me, reminds me of my failures, or tells me I am stupid. But God is greater than my heart. He knows me and loves me just as I am.

Thank You God for These Gifts.

Some wonderful things happened this Christmas. My sister's son was able to come home from the oil rigs for Christmas Eve and Day. Thank you, God.

Some of us had the flu before Christmas, but no one was sick Christmas Eve or Day. Thank you, God.

There was love, happiness and good times in our home. Thank you, God.

Jesus' first miracle was at a social gathering - a wedding. He supplied more wine when it ran out. For the food and drink we enjoyed this holiday, I Thank you, God.

Christmas.

It has been difficult to post lately as I have been either sick or shopping for presents. Now I am helping my daughter a bit, who is sick with the flu.

Shopping for groceries after having the flu was a difficult day and I was feeling very sorry for myself. Sometimes the fibromyalgia affects my legs and it is hard to keep on truckin'.

Now, when I feel self-pity, I do what Joyce says and quote scriptures and remember all the blessings God has given me and the whole world.

I'm especially thankful for Christmas because the family can all be together loving one another in a special way. I'm thankful we live in a warm house, snug and cozy while the snow falls outside. I'm thankful we have enough food to eat.

I'm thankful that God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him may not die, but have eternal life. I thank God that Jesus came and died for those who never heard about him, and will save them too if they listen in their hearts to his Spirit.

What was it like for Jesus to leave Heaven and become a little baby? Some day I will know the answer to this question and all my other questions. Sometimes I am so tired of this world, but I know that is ok because Jesus got tired of being here too. The Bible says so.

We weren't created for a world like this. We were created for a perfect world, and I believe that is what we are all longing for and why we feel so empty and lonely here. We were made for God and Heaven. Some day we will be where we truly belong.

Jacob's Dream.

Jacob had to leave home because his brother Esau was planning to kill him. His parents sent him to his uncle Laban's house in order to find a wife. On the first night of his journey, Jacob lay down on the earth and had a dream. He saw a ladder set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven, and angels of God were climbing up and stepping down on it.

Then he saw the Lord standing above the ladder who said, "I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants...and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed." Genesis 28:13,14

God also promised to be with Jacob wherever he went and that he would bring Jacob back to his homeland.

When Jacob awoke he was frightened and said, "Surely the Lord is in the place, and I did not know it." In the morning he made a pillar and poured oil on it and called the place, Bethel, and promised that God would be his God and he would give him a tenth of all he had.

When Jacob left home, he must have felt discouraged and ashamed of what he had done to his father in decieving him. Perhaps he was afraid of the future and what would become of him. Kindly, God sent him a dream to tell him that he was with Jacob wherever he went. This must have encouraged Jacob, for now he knew his sin was forgiven and God was with him as he had been with his father Isaac.

The ladder from earth to heaven shows our connection with heavenly angels and the heavenly city and the Lord who is above all. The angels are constantly going back and forth from earth to heaven in order to help and encourage us. They are God's messengers and guardians to people. We are not alone. Wherever we are; God is there.

Wait For the Lord.

Isaac and Rebekah asked God for children, and when Rebekah was pregnant she felt the babies move so much that she asked God what was happening. God told her she would give birth to two nations. He also said, "The older shall serve the younger."

Esau and then Jacob were born to Rebekah. The Bible records, "Now Isaac loved Esau, because he had a taste for game, but Rebekah loved Jacob." It is never a good thing to love one child over another. This was perhaps the beginning of the trouble in this household.

In those days the oldest son received the greatest share of property and also became the spiritual head of the house. Esau, as the oldest, was the one to whom these blessing would go. But Esau had sold his birthright blessing to Jacob in exchange for food. Jacob also wanted the spiritual blessing.

When Isaac was ready to give this blessing, Rebekah decided to trick him into giving the blessing to Jacob. Isaac had asked Esau to go hunt game for him and make him a meal, so Rebekah did this quickly and sent Jacob into the tent. Jacob lied and said he was Esau. Isaac believed him and spoke the blessing over him. When Esau came in later Isaac said, "Who was he then that hunted game and brought it to me, so that I
ate of it all before you came and I blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed."

Esau was furious and decided he would kill Jacob after their father was dead. Rebekah heard of his plan and sent Jacob away to stay with her brother.

Jacob and Rebekah believed it was God's will for Jacob to be the head of the family, and they were right. But they didn't wait for God to do this himself. They cooked up a plan of their own which separated them for the rest of their lives. They never saw each other again.

Waiting for God is a testing time. He does not want us to force issues, lie to people, or hurry things along with our own big ideas. Abraham was to wait patiently for a son, he did not do this and it caused heartache and pain. Rebekah and Jacob did not wait patiently either; this resulted in the fracture of a family and great sorrow.

"Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:14

Should We Ask For Signs From God?

When Abraham's son, Isaac, became a man, Abraham sent his servant to his family in a far off land. He wanted Isaac to marry a girl who knew about God. He didn't want him to marry a girl from the Caananites, for these people worshiped idols which had human sacrifices.
His servant went to Nahor and came to the well. He prayed to God and asked him for a sign so he could find Abraham's family and a girl for Isaac. Immediately, God gave him a sign and the servant found Rebekah. He now knew where to go and what to do.

I once asked God for a sign. At the time, I was living in Vancouver babysitting my grandsons. They had grown now to the age of 12 and 13. They no longer needed me after school. But my daughter in Kelowna did need me. She wanted to go back to work part-time and needed a sitter for her young children. The problem was my husband had a good job in Vancouver and was going to be promoted. His salary would be quite large and it was a job he wanted.

We didn't know what God wanted us to do. It was such an important decision that I told my husband we wouldn't go unless God gave us a sign. So we prayed and waited. A few weeks later I had a dream. In the dream I was on a plane with my mother and we were moving back to Kelowna. As I looked out the plane window, I knew this was where God wanted us to be. When I woke up, I told my husband the dream and we decided it was a sign from God. He began to look for work in Kelowna.

At the time, my husband's company had no work here. But soon the company decided to open up a shop in Kelowna and started hiring. My husband applied and was accepted. I moved here first, my husband followed later. Even though we lost a lot of money and my husband took a much lower job, we have never regretted our decision. Our daughter in Kelowna needed us badly and we have been a great help to her.

Should we ask God for signs? I have only asked the once as far as I can remember and God did give us a sign. The few times it is mentioned in the Bible people asked for an important reason. I wouldn't ask God for signs every day, but I think once in a while it is a good idea.

Why Did God Test Abraham?

"God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" and he said, "Here I am."

God said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you."

God had spoken to Abraham many times, so there must have been no mistake in Abraham's mind that this was God. He must have been shocked and asked why and tried to argue with God, but the scriptures don't record it.

Why did God test Abraham in this way? After Abraham obeyed God and took Isaac and was about to kill him, God prevented it and came and said, "Now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me."

At first, I thought this was an unusual test for one man. But things have happened in my life to show me that is not true. I now believe this test is given to every person.

Many years ago, when my daughters were young adults, something happened that caused them great suffering. I began to question God's love and goodness. I decided that if he could allow such suffering I wanted nothing to do with him. I left him for five years. I couldn't bear to speak to him. But one thing I did do; I read every book I could find on why God allowed suffering.

Finally, at the end of that time, I gave up. I hated living without God. I understood more thoroughly why God allowed suffering and asked him into my life again. I told him I might possibly get mad at him again and I heard him speak to my mind, "I can take anything you can dish out."

A few years later, my daughter Christine contracted strep throat. She became very ill and none of the antibiotics would work. They said she had one of those new "super bugs." They had to take her tonsils out. After she was home she began spitting up blood. She grew pale and shaky and her husband took her to the hospital. As they drove away, I knew she could die. I had known she could die of this illness at Christmas time when she was in the hospital and couldn't swallow, then got allergic to penicillin and her tongue swelled up.

She had suffered terrible pain, and I didn't know what would happen now. I looked up to God and told him I trusted him. If he let her die, I would accept it. I prayed for her, but I said, "Your will be done, not mine." It was an awful day.

When Christine went to emergency blood began to spew out of her mouth. They had to do an emergency surgery right then and there. Apparently, the surgeon had nicked something in her throat and it had now opened up. If she hadn't made it to the hospital on time, she would have died.

I think we are all tested on whether we will trust God when someone we love is suffering. Whether our children have an illness, or our husband leaves us or our mother dies or we have an illness ourselves. Will we blame God and hate him for it? Will we turn from him, or will we trust him. Do we love our family and ourselves more than God?

Jesus addressed this in Luke 14:26 "If anyone comes to me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple."

Since Jesus had already preached how we must love everyone, including our enemies, he must not have meant we should hate people. He must have meant we are to put him first in our life above all others, even our own lives. Will we trust him in the face of death and suffering?

I was a tough case, it took me a long time to learn to trust God, yet he waited patiently for me. Then I was tested again. In the beginning, I thought I had loved and trusted God, but I didn't. When sorrow came, I turned away. This was shown to me and then it was up to me what to do about it. I hope I have truly learned to trust him.

Abraham and Fear.

Abraham married his half-sister. She was so beautiful that two kings wanted her for a wife; one was a Pharoah of Egypt, one was Abimelech, King of Gerar. Abraham had asked Sarah that when they traveled together to tell people she was his sister, not his wife. He was afraid men would kill him to have her.

Twice, God had to save Sarah from the kings who had taken her. Twice, he kept her from having sex with another man. She was to be the mother of a new nation and was to bear a child given to her by God. This was God's plan for Sarah and he would let no one change it.

Abraham did not trust God to protect him when it came to Sarah. He feared for his life, so he lied. Later on, his son Isaac did the same thing with his wife Rebecca.

How do we find faith when we believe our lives are threatened? How do we stay calm and believing in a situation like that? There are some statements from Jesus and God that can help us.

When the authorities were wanting to kill Jesus, the scripture says, "So they were seeking to seize him; and no man laid his hand on him, because his hour had not yet come." John 7:30

There was a time and an hour for Jesus to be arrested and to die. Many times people tried to kill him, but God did not allow it. Jesus lived as a man, he lived how we must live: dependent on God. After praying in Gethsemane, he said to his disciples, "It is enough; the hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners." Mark 14:41

In Psalm 91:7 it says, "A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not approach you." This verse doesn't mean we will never die when thousands around us are dying. But it does mean that if God doesn't will it, you will not die at that time. David also said, "My times are in your hands." Psalm 31:15

Abraham may have had an excuse for lying about his wife once. But why after God intervened with the King of Egypt did he do it a second time? He had still not learned to trust God with his life. But what is wonderful about this story is how God looks. He comes through shining in glory and goodness. He protected Sarah, he forgave Abraham, he talked with pagan kings and was kind to them.

Thank you Lord that you are a loving, patient and kind God. We are so fortunate to have you ruling the Universe. Be with us God as we live on this dark planet. Keep us from the evil one as you have promised. In Jesus name, Amen.

Helping the Poor.

Yesterday, I wrote how God said one of the sins of Sodom was that they were rich, yet they did not help the poor. This is a grave sin in the sight of God. All through the Bible God tells us to help the poor and needy. In Leviticus chapter 19 he told Israel not to reap all the food, neither grain nor fruit, but to leave it for the poor. Here are some more verses on helping those in need.:

"How blessed is he who considers the helpless; the Lord will deliver him in a day of trouble." Psalm 41:1

"He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker, but he who is gracious to the needy honors Him." Proverbs 14:31

"He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be answered." Proverbs 21:13

"The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor, the wicked does not understand such concern." Proverbs 29:7

"Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and needy." Proverbs 31:9

"What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the face of the poor? declares the Lord of hosts." Isaiah 3:15

"The people of the land have practiced oppression and committed robbery, and they have wronged the poor and needy and have oppressed the sojourner without justice." Ezekiel 22:29

"For I know you sins are many and are great. You distress the righteous and accept bribes and turn aside the poor in the gate." Amos 5:12

Jesus said, "Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back...Give and it will be given to you." Luke 6: 30 &38

"Sell your possessions and give to the poor; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:33,34

Helping Strangers.

Abraham was sitting under a tree in the heat of the day. Three men walked by and Abraham got up and asked them to come aside, have a drink and eat some food before they continued with their journey. Genesis 18

At first, Abraham did not know these three men were God and two angels. He merely wanted to help them and show hospitality. I have read that this custom is still practiced in the Middle East.

We don't do this often in western society. We barely speak to strangers, never mind asking them to eat with us. It is too bad we have become such an isolated people. Most of us don't even know our next-door neighbors.

My Spanish professor used to tell us what it was like growing up in Mexico. Every city has a town square where important events are celebrated - like a wedding. Every weekend people gather to sing and dance. People know each other.

I wish it was this way in our towns and cities. Once you know people, you find out what problems they have and can perhaps help them. If you are having a bad time or a good time, you can share this with your neighbors.

We help strangers by giving to charities, and that is a good thing. But when I think of Abraham giving lunch to God because he was just walking by, I feel like we are all missing something important.

Do We Deserve to be Sick?

John Chapter 9.

As Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?"

Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work."

"While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." Then Jesus healed the blind man.

While Jesus was in the world he was showing what God was like. He healed every person who asked. He does not do that now. Jesus went back to heaven and he hears all prayers, yet he does not heal everyone now.

My husband has Carcinoid Syndrome, I have fibromyalgia, some people are paralyzed, and some are blind. I have known some Godly women who have died; one of diabetes and one of breast cancer. They both had small children. Many prayers were said for these women. They were anointed with oil, yet God did not heal them.

Sometimes I hear sermons on TV and preachers say that God doesn't want us to be sick. God will heal us if we will only believe. But I disagree. I think the reason God doesn't heal everyone now and didn't heal everyone before Jesus was a man on earth is because if he did - all sick people would come to God just to be healed. No one would die, because if faith can always heal us then we would never die.

We are not sick because of our sins. Jesus himself said this. We are not being punished and God is not mad at us. Jesus said that that this man's blindness was so God's works might be displayed in him. What did he mean?

My husband has been asked time and again why he is so cheerful when he is always in pain and constantly feels weak. This has given him the chance to tell people how God has helped him through his illness. God has given him peace and joy in spite of how he feels. He has learned to lean on God for strength and patience. What Jesus said has happened; God's works have been displayed through his illness.

Many people come to God when they are sick or dying. The pleasures and trinkets of this life pale in comparison to the unknown ahead of them. God can take something negative, like illness, and use it to bring people to an eternal life with him where there is no pain, no sickness and no death. Therefore, God's works are displayed.

Life can make us bitter. Chronic illness can make us bitter. Both my husband and I wish we weren't sick, we have both been tempted to feel angry about it and bitter about all the things we can't do any more. But we have both talked with God about our feelings and he has given us peace and acceptance. We believe God will always bring good out of evil for people who trust him.

At the Right Time.

"For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a good person - though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die - but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Since therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life." Colossians 5:6-

Hope

"May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing with hope." Romans 15:13

Joy is never released through unbelief, but it is always present where there is belief. Believing is so much simpler than not believing. If we do not believe God, his word, and his promises, then we are left with the labor of reasoning and attempting to work out matters ourselves. (From the book, New Day, New You, by Joyce Meyer)

"Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and over burdened, and I will cause you to rest." Matthew 11:28

I have been a Christian for many years, yet hope eluded me. So many awful things had happened in my life, I just gave up and hoped for nothing. But Joyce Meyer taught me to hope again by believing God could give me good things.

I began trusting God and believing he would work for me, that he would make my life happier. I started quoting the Bible each morning with words of praise for God and his power and goodness. Very soon I experienced happiness and hope, and soon God brought things and people into my life that made me happier and gave me the feeling of accomplishment. I no longer believed my life was useless.

Believe God loves you, believe he wants nothing more than to help you, and you will see some marvelous things happen.

The Whole Armor of God.

"Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and as shoes for you feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints."