THE GOD OF ALL TIME

 

THE GOD OF ALL TIME I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten. Joel 2:25 I've been thinking about regrets, bad memories etc. and wondering what kind of inspiration there is to help us with that? People struggle so much with tormenting thoughts… all the foolish, stupid, insensitive, selfish, clueless things we've done: they seem to pile up over the years and they don't let us forget it.  But I also thought of the verse in Joel where God told the Jews he would restore what the locust had eaten. And that's exactly what the bad memories feel like: constant pestering, gnawing and chewing on our minds and spirit. I focus on this one thing: forget the past and instead, look forward to what lies ahead. Philippians 3:13 In this verse, the Apostle Paul tells us "Don't look back."  He had good reason for saying that; the Bible tells us how Paul persecuted Christians until Jesus literally stopped Paul in his tracks and changed his direction. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 And here we have this wonderful revelation in Hebrews: Jesus is the LORD of all TIME; past, present and future! God is not restrained by time: He can work in our past, present and future to give us healing and restoration and forgiveness. Jesus has the same glorious power no matter where or when you need Him. Oh, Lord GOD! You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You! Jeremiah 32:17 So, what does Jesus say about my past? What is He doing about it? There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2 When we are overwhelmed by our regrets, let's look to Jesus instead and see the incredible power that He has! The God of all time doesn't want you struggling with your past. He promises to restore what was destroyed. It's well within His power to pull the plug on all condemnation. Jesus promises freedom from that poison. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. Romans 12:2 Be renewed in the spirit of your mind. Ephesians 4:23 Set your mind on things above, not on things of the earth. Colossians 3:2 God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

 

QUOTES FROM J.C. RYLE

 

QUOTES FROM J.C. RYLE John Charles Ryle (1816-1900) was an English Anglican bishop, preacher, and writer. The only way to be really happy in such a world as this, is to be ever casting all our cares on God. Beware of manufacturing a God of your own: A God who is all mercy, but not just; A God who is all love, but not holy; A God who has a heaven for everybody, but a hell for none; A God who can allow good and bad to be side by side in time, but will make no distinction between good and bad in eternity. Such a God is an idol of your own, as truly an idol as any snake or crocodile in an Egyptian temple. The hands of your own fancy and sentimentality have made him. He is not the God of the Bible, and beside the God of the Bible there is no God at all. Our prayers may be weak, stammering, and poor in our eyes. But if they come from a right heart, God understands them. Such prayers are His delight. Let us seek friends that will stir up our prayers, our Bible reading, our use of time, and our salvation. No one ever said at the end of his days; “I have read my Bible too much, I have thought of God too much, I have prayed too much, I have been too careful with my soul.” If you love Christ, never be ashamed to let others see it and know it. Speak for Him. Witness for Him. Live for Him.

 

THE SEVENTH TRUMPET

 

THE SEVENTH TRUMPET I was reading news headlines recently and decided the book of Revelation is not as scary as today's news! Our news media only predicts doom and gloom, but the book of Revelation takes time (again and again) to give us hope for the future. In fact, heaven is rejoicing as the hour of Christ's return draws nearer! REVELATION 11.15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and great voices in heaven followed, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!” 11.16 The twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God’s throne, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 11.17 saying: “We give you thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who was; because you have taken your great power, and reigned. 11.18 The nations were angry, and your wrath came, as did the time for the dead to be judged, and to give your bondservants the prophets, their reward, as well as to the saints, and those who fear your name, to the small and the great; and to destroy those who destroy the earth.” 11.19 God’s temple that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of the Lord’s covenant was seen in his temple. Lightnings, sounds, thunders, an earthquake, and great hail followed. -WEB Bible In this passage, angels announce that the seventh trumpet is the signal we've been waiting for: Jesus Christ will establish his righteous kingdom, and Jesus will destroy the destroyers! Are you sick of perversion, corruption and violence? Do you long to see righteousness on the earth? It is comforting to know that everyone in heaven is looking forward to it as well. Once again, we see a celebration as all those in heaven anticipate the joy of Christ's victory. This study of Revelation will continue next Thursday. IMAGE CREDIT: Jesus Christ in Glory, generated by SeaArt.ai and edited by C.A. Stevens.

 

GOD IS AN INFINITELY LOVELY BEING

 

GOD IS AN INFINITELY LOVELY BEING I ask affectionately, my beloved brethren, have you fully surrendered the heart to God, or is there this thing or that thing which distracts you from giving Him your full attention? I read a little of the Scriptures before I was saved, but preferred other books; but since that time when I surrendered my heart and God revealed Himself to me, He has become unspeakably blessed to me, and I can say from my heart, God is an infinitely lovely Being. When we have this relationship with God in our inmost souls, the more ready we are to trust Him. We are able to leave ourselves in His hands, satisfied with all His dealings with us. And when trial comes, we shall say: “I will wait and see what good God will do to me through this, for I am assured He will bring good from this situation.” Thus, we shall bear an honorable testimony before the world, and we will be able to strengthen the faith of others. Are you able to say, from the acquaintance you have made with God, that He is a lovely Being? If not, let me entreat you to ask God to bring you to this understanding, that you may admire His gentleness and kindness, that you may be able to say how good He is, and how God delights in blessing His children with good gifts. Oh, be not satisfied until in your own inmost soul you can say, God is an infinitely lovely Being! —George Mueller, 1805-1898

 

COFFEE THOUGHTS

 

COFFEE THOUGHTS Sip.. Happy Tuesday! A day of LIFE! For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:3-5 I feel like I spent most of my life trying to “Christian-ize” what Paul in the Bible pronounced dead. And that my friend is a tough life. It’s tough to take a bad boy that was supposed to be reckoned dead (in Christ), and turn him into a good boy. In fact, it’s impossible. The whole idea of Christianity is to be born again. Live out of the new life. There’s two of you and the secret to successful Christian living is to become aware of the two and learn to let God live through the NEW you. Now it is no longer you living, but Christ in you. When Jesus spoke of an easy yoke and a light burden He was speaking of THAT life. This is also called walking in the Spirit. Gerald D Hochstetler Jr. #coffeethoughts on Facebook Used with Permission