For Such a Time as This

What do you think when you think about time? Does it feel like time is passing you by? Maybe you’ve discovered that time is what you make of it. You may not think you have enough time to accomplish what you need to do, much less what you want to do, but setting priorities really helps. However, even when priorities are set, time can be disrupted by unexpected events.

Have you ever wished you could escape time? No more days, weeks, months, or years. No more hours, minutes, or seconds to count down. No more clocks.

Although maybe counting down the seconds to the New Year is exciting because it represents the chance for a new beginning. But we should realize that we can do this any day or time of the year.

Maybe you wish you could just create more time in each day. If you just had a few more hours each day, you could achieve so much more.

It is possible that you don’t treat time with any care whatsoever? Maybe each day blurs into the next. Hour by hour you find yourself lazy and inattentive to anything in particular. Maybe no ambition utilizes your time. I have found myself in days like this. You can admit it, too. We’ve probably all had at least a few days in our lives like these. Most certainly when we’ve been awfully sick.

At this age in my life, I wish I had already accomplished a whole lot more than I have so far, and yet, I have accomplished quite a bit. Maybe not what I would have hoped to have completed so far, but there’s always now!

We have to realize it’s important to focus on today – not on yesterday or the future either. It’s important to focus on the present.

God tells us that we cannot be certain of our plans tomorrow: “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog − it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, ‘If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that [tomorrow].’ ” (James 4:14-15)

God gives us a present and it's free. It’s called salvation, and once we accept it, we will receive the Holy Spirit. Then we can move forward in His presence with His present to live and accomplish much for such a time as this!

There are a lot of things occurring in the world today that could cause you to live in fear – things, I believe, you never expected to see in your lifetime. This is truly a time to have faith for such a time as this in which we need to act.

If you knew that the time we are all living in would be such a very special time in the world today, would it change anything for you? Would it change the way you spend your time? Your days? Your hours? Your moments?

If you knew that you could have effectual changes in the course of someone else’s life for eternity, would it change the way you spend your time today? Now? It should!

Why? Because we were created for such a time as this! What does this mean? This is a special time. History is gone. The future is ahead. Now is the time to have victory for God.

Victory to defeat your enemies. Victory to overcome death through Jesus Christ by accepting and receiving salvation for eternity. Victory to live a fulfilling life to bring the Good News to all. Victory to be successful in matters of importance. This kind of victory only comes from God because He gives us the strength and the success to prevail and live victoriously for Him. It is through His strength and power of the Holy Spirit for every person who has obtained the salvation of God. There is power in our temple, which houses our body, spirit, and soul together with His Holy Spirit.

We were born for a time, and the time is now. It is for such a time as this to accomplish the greatest thing of all time. To tell others about God’s love and God’s wrath. To tell others that God saves through Jesus Christ. To tell others that they can be forgiven. To tell others that it’s not too late, but the time is short. We were born for time such as this. The clock is ticking, ticking, ticking. Don’t waste any more time.

Read the chapter of Esther in the Bible to learn about how she was born for the time in which she lived. She is told: “Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)

Who knows if you were made the person you are today for just such a special time – for such a time as this? God says you were, and I’d say you were and you have a very important Godly mission to accomplish. However, if you have not been saved, you must accept God’s free gift of salvation first. Then you can achieve mighty works for the Lord. After all, you were created in His image to fulfill His plan for your life for such a time as this. There is no more time to waste.

“But the time is coming − indeed it's here now − when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.” (John 4:3)

“That is why the Lord says, ‘Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.’ ” (Joel 2:12)

It’s all a matter of the heart. Like I have shared in this blog, I didn’t have the salvation of God until I could believe in Him with my heart. When I could come to love Him first and foremost with my heart, I became a new person in Christ and I pray this for you, too: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

It’s time to realize what God wants for our lives because we were born for a time such as this for a reason and a purpose.

Until we virtually meet again, may God call you to Himself.

God’s Word for Today: “Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.” (James 4:17) – I believe this can include something as simple, but most important, as accepting salvation. I believe it can be as simple as taking the time each day to pray and read the Word of God (that is, the Bible). I also believe this can be something as great as accomplishing our purpose in Christ for our life with the talents he bestows upon us. Will you fulfill your purpose in life? For we were born for such a time as this!

Copyright © 2015 by Patricia Shehan

All scripture is quoted from various translations of the Holy Bible (God’s Word) and is set in italics and quotation marks.

 

Seeing the Light through the Dark

With today’s world headlines, many people can’t help but speak about the darkness and evil they see growing all around them. Some may say, well the news can now reach most everyone on the globe with modern technology. Therefore, we are just hearing things we’ve never heard before because the news is now so far reaching in its scope. No, I say! No!

This is not about technology and the news we’re able to receive nowadays because of it. This is about the prophecy of God telling us about something that will definitely happen in the future, and I believe as many others do, too, that the future is now. The evil occurring today is dark and it’s growing due to sin, disbelief, evil, compromise, lack of commitment, tolerance, and so forth.

Why? Because the Word of God has warned us: “... Woe to the inhabitants on the earth ... terror will come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time.” (Revelation 12:12) – (Please note that this scripture is a combination of Bible versions and is not the entire scripture verse.)

What does the devil have little time for here on earth? Why is the devil so angry?

Because he has little time to dissuade you from the truth of God’s love. He wants your soul! The devil wants you to follow him instead of God. He is angry because He never got what he wanted. He never got his own way. He wanted to take God’s place. He wanted the highest honor and control. He wants to take everyone else down with him into the depths of Hell and the Lake of Fire. You know that saying, “I sold my soul to the devil.” Well, it’s real! It’s very real, and I am here to tell you: Don’t do it!

It is important to understand that God has allowed the devil the ability to terrorize those who live here on this earth to test each and every individual. Do you believe in God? Have you given your heart to God? Will you obey God or not? If you do obey God (after having believed in Him in your heart and accepted what He has done for you, and after asking and receiving His forgiveness and love, having repented of your sins, and giving your life to Jesus Christ, then believe that you now have this promise):

“Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown.” (Revelation 3:10-11)

I believe this time has begun. I believe we are living in the very beginning of a time of tribulation that will grow in intensity until the anti-christ is revealed on the world stage. Then there will be further tribulation, and some will know God’s wrath during the latter 7-year period described in Daniel. I don’t want to get side tracked into discussing this period of time. If you do not know what I mean by it, then please study the Bible, do some research, and ask a true Biblical-based preacher.

“You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake.” (2 Corinthians 4:5)

“If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing.” (2 Corinthians 4:3) Those who are perishing are not saved by God. Choose life instead! Seek God to have Him remove the scales from your eyes. Then the devil cannot blind you from the truth. Don’t choose to perish in eternal suffering! No matter what I say to you, the bottom line is that it is your choice!

You must come out of darkness and evil to be able to see the light.

“Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:4)

Why? Because they choose to run their own life for their own evil pleasures and desires. These individuals reject a belief in the God who created them who can also save them.

I believe when the Christians recognize that our days have much evil and it’s sometimes difficult to see the light through the dark, we must remember that God will protect His own and we must continue to be strong in our faith and our calling in this life until we see Him someday face to face. But until then, we know the Bible is true and it is the living Word of God. We can see that we must be living in the last days, described as follows:

“You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! They are the kind who work their way into people’s homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires. Such women are forever following new teachings, but they are never able to understand the truth. These teachers oppose the truth just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. They have depraved minds and a counterfeit faith. But they won’t get away with this for long. Someday everyone will recognize what fools they are ... .” (2 Timothy 3:1-9)

Where do you stand? Do you stand on the side of evil, defending sin, compromise, tolerance, and so-called peace? Or do you stand on the side of good and God, defending your faith?

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it [or] understand it.” (John 1:5) – (This scripture is also a combination of versions.)

Until we virtually meet again, may God call you to Himself.

God’s Word for Today: Seeing the light through the dark: “For God, who said, ‘Let there be light in the darkness,’ has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.” (2 Corinthians 4:6-7)

Copyright © 2015 by Patricia Shehan

All scripture is quoted from various translations of the Holy Bible (God’s Word) and is set in italics and quotation marks.

Recognizing Your Idols

When you think of idols, do you who live in the United States think of American Idol? How about in Europe? Do you think about British Idol and Pop Idol? There are other TV shows in other countries just like these. They are all produced for the public’s viewing and hearing pleasure and entertainment. The audience in the studio and at home can vote to choose the singer they think should be idolized. The singer whose voice is voted as best is chosen based on individual taste and appeal.

May I please tell you something very important? If you don’t know this already, the only One who should be idolized is our God, the creator of every human being, and the creator of Heaven and earth.

“… We know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but One.” (1 Corinthians 8:4)

In fact, in The Holy Bible, we can read what God told Moses: “I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. You must not have any other god but me. You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind, or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea.” (Deuteronomy 5:6-8)

Whoa! We have idols all around us. People, things, and places are idolized. Even those we think are deserving of our adoration and special attention are idolized. What do I mean by that?

When I was growing up in the religion of my youth, I was taught to kneel down in front of statues. These statues represented Mary and Joseph (the human parents of Jesus Christ [our God in the flesh]). I was taught not only to kneel down in front of them, but also to pray to them. I was also taught to place money in the box for the poor in honor of my prayers.

This religion taught me that Mary and Joseph were praying to God on my behalf. This teaching is incorrect! This is not Biblical! These teachings and practices have been created and taught by man, not God!

God’s Word (The Bible) teaches us the truth:

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5) “Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is One.” (Galatians 3:20)

I never felt very comfortable kneeling down and praying to those statues. Somehow, something within me was telling me that it was not right, but I didn’t know why. What was wrong? My parents taught me that it was correct, good, and holy. But my conscience and my heart were struggling with what I was being taught.

I’ll tell you why I was struggling. It was because these statues are idols! That gnawing feeling I had inside of me was meant to make me question this practice. In reality, I was idolizing Mary and Joseph, and I was praying to the dead. Yes! That’s correct! They are dead, and we are not to put anyone in between God and ourselves. We are to only to give God our love and our prayers, and adore only Him.

When I was reading my Bible diligently, I came across this scripture and everything became quite clear: “... and you saw their abominations and their idols which were among them — wood and stone and silver and gold.” (Deuteronomy 29:17)

“Then God gave the people all these instructions:” (Exodus 20:1) ... “You must not have any god before me.” (Exodus 20:3)

Giving someone or something other than God any idolization is placing that person or that object as a god before the real God. We cannot do this! We must not do this!

We may or may not realize we’ve been doing this. We must be very careful. All of our love, adoration, and any type of idolization must be given only to the One and only Almighty God.

Otherwise: “... You shall serve other gods... — [of] wood and stone.” (Deuteronomy 28:64)

These are “idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk.” (Revelation 9:20)

This is what has been done: “You took the very jewels and gold and silver ornaments I had given you and made statues of men and worshiped them. This is adultery against me!” (Ezekiel 16:7)

If we idolize a person or an object (even if it represents a person), then we are committing adultery against our God! We must be careful. We must seek forgiveness for our idolizations.

“You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected — even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.” (Exodus 20:4-6)

After having left that religion of my youth (that I had actually continued on throughout most of my adulthood and through marriage...), I realized that I had sinned against God. I had committed “adultery” through my idol worship (through my religious upbringing). How awful, I realized, as I repented of my sin. Although I was not certain why I felt uncomfortable when being taught and following the actions of my parents in praying to these statues (these idols), God was faithful in showing me the truth. He will show you, too, if you are open to Him.

That discomfort when bowing and kneeling down to statues was there for a reason. I simply needed to find out why. God will lead. We simply need to seek Him for He is calling you to Himself.

Although my parents’ instructions were wrong, I believe it’s because they never really sought God out enough to really know Him. They would pray the rote (repeated) prayers they were taught, and they would follow the church’s man-made teachings, but would they come to know the truth? According to the scriptures, “... the entire family is affected...”

God allowed me to understand the error of my ways from the error of my parents when I diligently sought Him and His Word. He allowed me to learn, to repent, and to be saved.

It is really quite simple to earnestly seek God and His truth with all our heart. Let go of the world and everything in it, and stop and seek your Creator!

God tells us: “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

I pray you will seek God with all your heart. I pray you will see the truth, too. I pray you will not allow any idols to pull you in the wrong direction away from God. I pray you will repent of any idolization in your life that is not of God.

For God says in His Word, the Bible: “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.”

Don’t be left out of your eternal salvation to enter into Heaven. I want to see you there someday!

Until we virtually meet again, may God call you to Himself.

God’s Word for Today: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols [or] from anything that might take God’s place in your heart.” (1 John 5:21)

Copyright © 2014 by Patricia Shehan

All scripture is quoted from various translations of the Holy Bible (God’s Word) and is set in italics and quotation marks.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

"The Savior -- yes, the Messiah, the Lord -- has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!" (Luke 2:11)

"Glory to God in the highest, and peace to those with whom God is pleased." (Luke 2:14)