EPHESIANS 2:1-8

 

EPHESIANS 2:1-8 1 It wasn't so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. 2 You let the world, which doesn't know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. 3 We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It's a wonder God didn't lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. 4 Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, 5 he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! 6 Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah. 7 Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. 8 Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! From THE MESSAGE version of the Bible, by Eugene H. Peterson

 

VICTORIOUS LIVING IS POSSIBLE

VICTORIOUS LIVING IS POSSIBLE Nothing shall be impossible for you. Matthew 17:20 It is possible, for those who really are willing to reckon on the power of the LORD, to lead a life in which His promises are taken as they stand and are found to be true. It is possible to cast all our care upon Him daily and to enjoy deep peace in doing it. It is possible to have the thoughts and imaginations of our hearts purified, in the deepest meaning of the word. It is possible to see the will of God in everything, and to receive it, not with sighing, but with singing. It is possible by taking complete refuge in Divine power, and become strong through and through; so that our greatest weaknesses no longer have power over us. This is His work is us; such victories cause us to thirst and long for even more of Christ's victory in our lives. We cannot possibly be satisfied with anything less—than to walk with God each day and hour and moment. Handley Moule

 

THE FOURTH TRUMPET

 

THE FOURTH TRUMPET Continuing the Study of Revelation REVELATION 8.12 The fourth angel sounded, and one third of the sun was struck, and one third of the moon, and one third of the stars; so that one third of them would be darkened, and the day wouldn’t shine for one third of it, and the night in the same way. 8.13 I saw, and I heard an eagle, flying in mid heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe! Woe! Woe for those who dwell on the earth, because of the other voices of the trumpets of the three angels, who are yet to sound!” -WEB Bible.  There are many things that might cause a haze to obscure the sun, moon and stars; and dim their light. If one of the super volcanoes erupted (such as Yellowstone), the resulting ash cloud would do it. Or, a giant meteor such as Wormwood could throw up a huge dust and ash cloud. The event would have to be catastrophic to cast one-third of our celestial lights into darkness. Whatever the cause: the sun and moon will be dimmed by one-third, and only the brightest stars can be seen through the haze. And, something else would happen: without full sunlight the earth would cool off dramatically! You can read about the "Year without a Summer" on Wikipedia. It happened in 1816 and was most likely caused by two major volcanic eruptions. As a result of the cold weather, crop failures across the Northern Hemisphere caused severe food shortages. Later in Revelation 12:4, we will read again how 1/3 of the stars fall to earth. If that event is the same as this one, then the darkness may be due (in part) to the war and conflict going on in the heavenlies when Satan will be thrown out of heaven. The Tribulation will be in the final stages at that point, and the spiritual battle will be more intense than at any time in earth’s history. In the image above, an eagle warns that the three remaining trumpet blasts will be especially violent and destructive. There will be much suffering. And, the very backbone of earth's financial and political systems will be destroyed by the three woes which are coming. Mankind's power cannot hold up against the wrath of God! This study of Revelation will continue on Thursdays. IMAGE CREDIT: Photo composition by C.A. Stevens.

 

WHAT IS LENT?

 

WHAT IS LENT? Begins February 18, 2026 and Ends before Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026 Lent is a 40-day, reflective Christian season of prayer, fasting, and alms-giving starting on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, and concluding on the Saturday before Easter (April 5, 2026). Lent prepares believers for Easter by recalling Jesus' 40-day fast in the wilderness; focusing on repentance, self-examination, and spiritual discipline. KEY ASPECTS OF LENT DURATION: 40 days (excluding Sundays) from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday. SIGNIFICANCE: A time to repent, reflect, and prepare for the celebration of Jesus' resurrection. FASTING/ABSTINENCE: In the Latin Catholic tradition, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory fast days and days of abstinence from meat. COMMON PRACTICES: FASTING & SACRIFICE: Giving up luxuries, habits, or specific foods. PRAYER: Deepening spiritual life, attending extra services, or Stations of the Cross. ALMS-GIVING: Donating to charity or helping those in need. REFLECTION: Bible study and self-examination. ORIGINS: The name comes from the Old English lencten, meaning spring. Lent is observed by many Christian denominations, and is an admirable discipline for any who wish to participate. (Sources are partially from Google AI and the United Methodist Church.)

 

GOD CAN MAKE YOU STRONG

 

GOD CAN MAKE YOU STRONG But as for you, be strong; don’t be discouraged, for your work will be rewarded. 2 Chronicles 15:7 God had done great things for King Asa and his kingdom of Judah, but they were still a weak people. Their walk with the Lord was unsteady, and their hearts were hesitant, so they needed to be reminded that the Lord would be with them as long as they were faithful in obeying Him. They were also reminded of how poorly their sister kingdom (Israel) fared in its rebellion against God, and how the Lord showed grace when Israel repented. The Lord’s purpose was to strengthen them in His way and make them firm in righteousness. This should also be our aim. God deserves to be served with all the energy we have. If serving God is worth anything, it is worth everything. We will find our greatest reward in the Lord’s work if we do it with determined diligence. Our labor in the Lord is not in vain, and we know this. Halfhearted work will bring no reward, but when we put our whole soul into it, we will see the LORD prospering the work. This text came to the author of these notes during a terrible personal storm, encouraging him to press on with full strength, confident of reaching the safety of the harbor successfully. By Charles H. Spurgeon