Not Tomorrow, but Today!

I am posting a second blog post this month that is a repeat of an old blog post. Why? Because the information that follows is just as necessary today as it was yesterday.

This post is not for tomorrow, but it is for today! It's very, very important!

"Behold, today is the day of salvation." You have no promise of tomorrow here in the land of the living on this earth. For you do know not when you will breathe your last breath and die. God breathed His life into us in the first place! He also gave the life of His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ for us.

There is only 1 Savior! Jesus Christ is the 1 and only Savior who gave His life for you to receive forgiveness and for you to be saved. Saved from what? From Hell! From everlasting separation from our Creator.

Jesus Christ took on all the sins of everyone, and ultimately, He rose again to live. Who other savior is there? Do you know of any other who has risen from the dead? What religion or spirituality offers a confidence of salvation? There is none. There is no religion that can save you. There is only a relationship with the true Savior, Jesus Christ, and the Father God.
 
Why wait? Do you not understand that It may be too late if you do not choose now! For today, and right now, at this moment, is the day of salvation! Behold, as the scripture begins with this word that is defined to mean: "to be able to perceive through apprehension."

You may not believe today, but if you die tomorrow, it will be too late! Choose now to believe and live in the newness of this life and through death into everlasting life. It will ultimately be either an everlasting eternal and wonderful life with God in Heaven or it will be an everlasting eternal death in terror with Satan. But it's your choice! I pray you won't reject God!

God won't force anyone to accept Him because He gave us all free will! Yet, He loves us all so very much, more than you'll ever really know. God will never force anyone to love Him back! He gives us the choice. This is true, unconditional love!

As we are given in The Bible: "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved." (Romans 10:9-10) — "... Indeed, the 'right time' is now. Today is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2)

If you have not received Him into your heart, I pray that today — now — you will accept His love for you! Then you may realize that there is purpose in this life, and it's all worth it in the end!

I'll take the risk that you may reject this message. Instead, I hope you'll embrace it if you haven't already done so. I am praying for you and sending you my love, in Christ, Patty

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

God's Word for Today: "And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord; it shall rejoice in His salvation." (Psalm 35:9)

Copyright © 2016 by Patricia Shehan

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

The 10 Commandments +2

I was describing an important Biblical concept in a discussion with my cousin this week about loving everyone, and he referred to this as “The 11^th Commandment.” I never quite thought of it that way before.

In fact, I had thought of it more like this: I believe there are actually 12 Commandments (the original 10 Commandments and the additional 2 that Jesus taught in the following scripture where they are stated exactly that way (as commandments).

“Then Jesus was approached by some Sadducees — religious leaders who say there is no resurrection from the dead. ...” (Mark 12:18) [There was a response from Jesus about that and then]: “One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, ‘Of all the commandments, which is the most important?’ Jesus replied, ‘The most important commandment is this: “Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” (Mark 12:28-31)

Now, if you know the first 10 Commandments, you know that we must believe that the Lord our God is our only God! There are no other gods. In addition, we must realize that the “11th and 12th Commandments” are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself.

When Jesus replied to the Jewish religious leader, he said that the second of these 2 equally important commandments is to love your neighbor as yourself.

Before I continue with the idea of the 11th and 12th Commandments, please allow me to say that if you don’t know the 10 Commandments, please get familiar with them. It’s important to know them and do our best to follow them.

The Bible refers to these additional 2 commandments many times in many verses:

“Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 19:19)

“Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” (Matthew 22:37-39)

“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:18)

“For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These — and other such commandments — are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Romans 13:9)

“For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” (Galatians 5:14)

“Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” (James 2:8)

“One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: ‘Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus replied, ‘What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?’ The man answered, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ‘Right!’ Jesus told him. ‘Do this and you will live!’ ” (Luke 10:25-28)

Now after reading all those scriptures, how would you say you’re doing on loving your neighbor, which can also be referred to as your fellow man. Good, bad, or in between? It isn’t always so easy to love others, to love strangers, most especially those who may want to harm you or kill you. Yet, God tells us to do just that and to forgive them for their ill actions or ill will against us. Why? Because we are all God’s creation and He loves all of us, even those who do wrong.

No one said it was going to be easy, just much better. Not only is it better to live in peace here on earth, but it’s better to know you will be with God in Heaven when you pass on.

Try loving others. Try leading them to God. Try being nice no matter how you’re treated in return.

Love. Remember, God is love.

I pray that each one of us can follow all the commandments. All 10 Commandments and also the so-called “11th and 12th Commandments” because as “God’s Word for Today” indicates below, all of the commandments are summed in this one: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

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

God’s Word for Today: “For the commandments say, ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.’ These — and other such commandments — are summed up in this one commandment: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” (Romans 3:9) (Jesus' words in red.)

Copyright © 2016 by Patricia Shehan

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

Seeing Beyond the Veil

“Seeing Beyond the Veil” in the context of God’s Word is very important for us to understand. Once the veil is removed, our mind, our vision, and our heart will be free to know, see, and understand the blessed truths of our Lord and Savior.

According to the Old Covenant of God, certain unblemished animals were presented to the Jewish Levite priests to be sacrificed as the atonement for the sins of the believers. These were annual sacrifices performed beyond the veil (or as it is sometimes referenced, curtain) in the Jewish Temple.

According to the New Covenant of God, Jesus Christ offered Himself as the final sacrifice for the atonement of our sins. Through an agonizing death, Jesus Christ, the unblemished Lamb of God, took on all the sins of every one of us so that we could be given the opportunity to be forgiven of our sins.

Now to receive God’s forgiveness, we must receive Jesus Christ into our hearts and minds to accept what He has freely sacrificed and done for us. Jesus Christ willingly took our sins upon Himself. When we receive God’s forgiveness, our sin is not only forgiven, but it is also forgotten. How amazing and wonderful is this?

Do you know what else this means for us? It’s an assurance of freedom. It’s freedom from guilt. It’s freedom from the effects of sin. It’s freedom from eternal death. It’s freedom to enter into the blessed eternal life after death from this life. We can have all of this by surrendering ourselves to God and believing in Jesus Christ. This freedom also allows us to see and understand the truth so that we may live a Christ-like life.

We must speak the truth with words from our mouth, but we must also believe them in our heart. We must truly believe and trust that God is real. We must believe that we can see beyond the veil by what Jesus Christ did for us. Our words regarding God cannot simply be spoken from our lips; the words must come from our heart, too. I realized that I used to speak empty words clearly explained in the following scripture:

“And so the Lord says, ‘These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.’ ” (Isaiah 29:13)

However, we can be made new by being cleansed through the blood of Jesus Christ that He shed for us on the cross. The following scriptures awakened me to the truth when God removed the veil from my eyes and my heart due to my willingness to believe, accept, and speak the truth:

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.” (Romans 10:9-10)

I got saved and you can, too!

“This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” (Hebrews 10:16)

“And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.” (Hebrews 10:18)

However, this does not give us the freedom to purposely sin! We must do our best (with God’s help) not to sin anymore. Please be sure to learn and understand the difference! It starts with being able to see beyond the veil.

When man sought the forgiveness of God in the days of the Old, the Jewish (Levitical) priests were the only ones allowed to perform the sacrifices in the Temple each year for the sacrificial ceremony to cleanse the people of their sins. This sacrifice would be made on the altar where the veil separated the Holy of Holies within the Temple.

The sacrificial ceremony of the priests is no longer required because Jesus Christ, Himself, came to take that place for us. This Old Testament sacrifice was replaced by Jesus Christ (God in the flesh). He became the sacrificial Lamb once and for all.

“Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.” (Hebrews 9:13-14)

“In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.” (Hebrews 9:22)

“If the old way, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new way, which makes us right with God! In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new way. So if the old way, which has been replaced, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new, which remains forever! Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold. We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory, even though it was destined to fade away. But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” (2 Corinthians 3:9-16)

Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God, the ultimate and final sacrifice necessary for us to be found right with God by accepting what He did for us through our belief in Him. We should be celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. “He is [has] risen!” (Mark 28:6, Mark 16:6, Luke 24:6, Matthew 28:7)

Jesus Christ, Himself, is the Word (that is, the Living Word of God, the Bible). He has revealed Himself in these words through the Bible, so that we may see beyond the veil.

The most wonderful gift we could ever receive in our entire life is the free gift that God offers through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who became that ultimate sacrifice, as the Lamb of God who shed His blood for us to receive eternal life!

“For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” (1 Peter 1:18-19)

According to Hebrews 10:12, “... Our High Priest offered Himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then He sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.” Jesus Christ is the High Priest!

As Jesus Christ breathed His last breath of human life as He hung on the cross: “Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.” (Luke 23:45)

“If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing.” (2 Corinthians 4:3)

“... Whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.”

I am so very grateful that God removed the veil from my eyes. I pray that God will remove the veil from your eyes, too. I pray that you will turn to the Lord today!

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

God’s Word for Today: “For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord — who is the Spirit — makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into his glorious image.” (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)

Copyright © 2016 by Patricia Shehan

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

Never Give Up!

The first time I thought of the subject for this month’s blog post was about 2 months ago. Actually, this post should have been completed in February, but it’s almost a whole week into March and I’m very behind my self-imposed schedule. It’s not because I gave up though!

I'm telling you this because 2 months ago, I had no clue that I’d feel the way I do now. I didn’t feel as though I needed to give up on anything then! I was actually feeling very good because I had not given up, and I believed that God had finally answered my prayer. That was then.

This is now. I am feeling defeated. I feel like giving up. I may spend some time in self-pity, but I can’t stay there. I seek to try to figure it out. Where did I go wrong? Did I go wrong? 

Maybe that was not the plan! I believe I may have taken the wrong path thinking that it was the right one. That can happen sometimes, too, especially when we jump into something just because we’ve been waiting for it for so long.

Just because I was praying when it happened doesn’t necessarily mean that it was the correct answer to my prayer. Things had drastically changed. I didn’t pause to pray. I didn’t verify it with God. Was it the correct path or not? I know that it was not the correct path now.

As difficulties came, several friends had recently and specifically told me: “Don’t give up!” I thought to myself, I’m not giving up! Now that would be so much easier to just give up and stop trying. Yet, I pressed on to win the race, as the Bible tells us to do.

So, I took a little time going along that road, and it was bumpy and difficult. It also had some excitement and wonder. It was different and somewhat encouraging, but then it began to become very discouraging with a few steep hills and a few very deep valleys. I started to want to give up. Then, what I thought I had gained was quickly snatched away from me.

I know I’m being evasive and not specific about what happened to me. Many times I share intimate details of my own life to help you with yours. This time I will refrain from sharing the details.

Within a very short time, suddenly, everything quickly changed! Any thing can change in the blink of an eye! Suddenly can be good news and suddenly can be bad news. This was suddenly bad news.

Yet, should we ever give up? No matter what came suddenly, we need to move forward. We need to keep trying. We need to stay close to God.

Are you giving up on your God-given dream? He gave you the extraordinary talent to perform some kind of creative thing and the ability to make that dream into a reality.

My Bible study teacher pointed something out to me. Not only is God the Creator of the world and the creator of every human being, but we were created in His image. As such, we were each given something special to create, too.

Furthermore, God will give us what we need, but we must make the effort. We must utilize the talents and fuel the ideas he has given to us. We must implement these ideas and make them a reality. Don't just dream it, do it!

Do you give up on eating for the fuel you need to live and move? No, of course not! Do you give up on getting out of bed each day? Maybe you do at times. But why does one stay in bed? Disappointments, failures, lack of belief in yourself, or lack of hope? Probably even more because of the lack of communion with God and seeking His direction first.

We all start questioning God. We tell Him, “If you loved me, then you’d answer my prayers.” If He doesn’t answer our prayer or doesn’t answer quite the way we expect, we seem to collapse. Why is it that God does not always answer our prayers? Or why doesn't the answer come with an affirmation in our favor?

Maybe we need to learn something. Maybe we need to learn how to be strong in the face of failure and disappointments.

Don't allow the enemy, the devil, who prowls around to kill and destroy to get you down. Just stop it!

I’d suggest you read the Biblical account of the widow who was seeking justice from the judge. That judge didn’t fear God or care about others. However, with righteous persistence and without giving up, the widow was able to receive her due justice.

With that account, “... Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.” (Luke 18:1 [added bold is my emphasis)

“Therefore, since God in His mercy has given us this new way,” [to see beyond the veil] “we never give up.” (2 Corinthians 4:1 — my emphasis in red and bold).

If you don’t understand my words in brackets: “to see beyond the veil,” maybe you can let me know by joining the site as a follower of my blog and posting a comment. I’d love to hear from you!

Here are several more Biblical scriptures about not giving up:

“So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up.”(Galations 6:9)

“... Have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, ‘My child, don't make light of the Lord's discipline, and don't give up when he corrects you.’ ” (Hebrews 12:5)

“But when the judge died, the people returned to their corrupt ways, behaving worse than those who had lived before them. They went after other gods, serving and worshiping them. And they refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.” (Judges 2:19)

“Satan replied to the Lord, “Skin for skin! A man will give up everything he has to save his life.” (Job 2:4)

“If you give up your lust for money and throw your precious gold into the river, the Almighty himself will be your treasure. He will be your precious silver! Then you will take delight in the Almighty and look up to God. You will pray to Him, and He will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows to Him. You will succeed in whatever you choose to do, and light will shine on the road ahead of you. If people are in trouble and you say, ‘Help them,’ God will save them. Even sinners will be rescued; they will be rescued because your hands are pure.” (Job 22:24-30)

“We know what real love is because Jesus gave up His life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.” (1 John 3:16)

“Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways.” (Isaiah 1:16)

“If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.” (Matthew 10:39)

“If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.” (Mark 8:35)

“If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.” (Luke 9:24)

In the last three Bible verses, three different disciples (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) are all telling us God’s Word in nearly the same way.

Do you believe it? I sure hope so, and I'm praying for you and for me, too. Then we won’t give up. We will keep trying. We will move forward. We will use our God-given talents to create something wonderful and beautiful that will count for eternity.

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

God’s Word for Today: “Think of all the hostility He [Jesus Christ] endured from sinful people; then you won't become weary and give up.” (Hebrews 12:3)

Copyright © 2016 by Patricia Shehan

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