BIBLE PREVIEWS OF COMING ATTRACTIONS!!!???

Tell us when will these things be?
And what will be the sign of
 Your coming... (Matt. 24:3)

Sisters, I hate to sound like some Dooms Day prophetess, but there's a lot of freaky stuff going on in the world today!
Tell me I'm not alone!

Like many of you I can accept the reasonable answer of global warming to explain the mild winters we've been having, but when Antartica broke a temperature record at 64.9 degrees Fahrenheit, it gave me pause!

I'm also concerned about the Coronavirus pandemic, the drastic changes in the stock market, the months long forest fires in the west, and don't get me started on the madness in our current political arena!  All I'm saying is that now may be good time for us all to pay just a little more attention to the Good Book in regard to present and future happenings.

If you're one who dabbles in the ancient arts (I truly hope you're not) you can put away your tarot cards and horoscopes.  And even though the Farmers Almanac has some good practical information, it doesn't compare with the Bible.  So let's just stick with The Word 

In regards to the End Times there are two passages of scripture most referred to: The signs of the Second Coming of Christ in Matthew 24 and the signs of the apocalypse in Revelation primarily chapters 3-19.  And before you ask.  No, I don't think we are in the Tribulation period and Donald Trump is NOT the Anti-Christ!.  Things are sho-nuff bad! But it's going to get worse!

The Holy Spirit believe it or not, is actually restraining evil! (click here) 2 Thessalonians 2:7
Chuck Smith, bible commentator for Blueletter Bible.org explains it like this:

The Holy Spirit is hindering, standing in the way, restraining these powers of evil. Until He is taken out of the way, and immediately the wicked one then shall be revealed. Now it is actually the Holy Spirit in the life of the believers that is the hindering force. Some say, well, it is just the Holy Spirit. No, it is the Holy Spirit in the church-in the life of the believers. And as soon as the church is taken out of this world, there will be no more restraining forces against evil-no more voices against evil. The restraining force of the church will be removed and immediately, once the church is removed, this man of sin will take over using his powers that will be given to him by Satan. And the world will be plunged into darkness such as the world has never seen before, or will ever see again, thank God!

All the things we are experiencing today, I believe are just bible previews of coming attractions.
Like in the cinema theater, while you wait for the main event, you become a captive audience for other movies that are soon to come!  These odd and supernatural occurrences are merely the birth pains described in Matthew 24:8.  But the baby's not here yet!

So, here's what I believe we can do while sitting in God's OB-Gyn Waiting Room:

→ Encourage our fear-driven sisters and others with the truth of God's word. No one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself.  Only the Father (Matthew 24:36)

→Remind people that we live in a fallen world.  Satan is its god and has power but not ALL power.     In which you used to live when you followed the ways of the world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.   (Ephesians 2:2).  BUT  Jesus came and spake to them saying, all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (Matthew 28:18)

→ Much of what we see is the exposure of false righteousness in pseudo-christians and the sinful hearts of those who never knew the Lord.  Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron (I Timothy 4:1-2) AND  But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will become lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving,slanderers without self-control, brutal, disposers of good. Traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

DOES THAT JUST ABOUT COVER TODAY'S WORLD?

To survive this increasingly violent and sin-darkened world we need not look for devastating signs of the apocalypse recorded in Revelation  (blood, disease, famine, death, etc.) we're already feeling the contractions!  Instead we should let our light shine even brighter (Matthew 5:14-16); Spread the Word wider (Matthew 28:19-20), and use this Lenten season to prepare with joy the next prophetic event the Rapture!  Live like Jesus is coming today!

Watch therefore, for you do not know

neither the day nor the hour in which

the Son of Man is coming!

(Matthew 28:25:1-13)

UNTIL NEXT TIME...

If you would like to leave a comment please send an email to: sisters4sisters@att.net OR  scroll to the bottom of my blog page at  http://alittlewiser63.blogspot.com  click on the no comments by the pencil and it will change to a writing space. 

NO GREATER LOVE: Reflections on Valentines Day!

But God demonstrates
His own love toward
 us, in that while we
were still sinners, Christ
died for us." (Rom. 8:5)

Some of us, I believe are in love with the idea of love.  I know I am.  Why else would I watch all those sappy movies on the Hallmark channel!  If you're a fan, then you know that after awhile you figure out that the plots and storylines are basically the same with little variation and are quite predictable!  But still I watch!

Although for me Hallmark provides a pleasant escape from the realities of some relationships I'm aware of; it does remind me that a lot of drama could be resolved if we only demonstrated genuine love!

Let me be clear.  I'm not talking about obligatory love recognition days: birthdays, anniversaries, and the most popular one--Valentines day.  These are times when our
significant others feel compelled to do something, even if their hearts aren't in it! 

When it comes to Valentines Day, I don't trip! The love I yearn for is 24/7, 365 days and it is felt even when I don't get jewelry, candy, or a card.  It is that agape love demonstrated first by Christ and then given to all Christians as a communicable attribute (divine characteristics that humans can also possess).  Years ago I had to adjust my thinking on this whole idea of Valentines Day when my husband failed to live up to my expectations.   Maybe you do too!

Are you ready for a quick bible lesson?

From the biblical worldview there are four kinds of love we experience.  They all come from words translated from the Greek:

💝 EROS - physical, sensual intimacy, sexual attraction, yearning or desire.  It is what I believe popular culture describes as having chemistry with someone.  Beware of basing relationships on eros alone for it is often impulsive and fleeting. It is not sustainable by itself but enhances the husband and wife relationship.  (Ex: Song of Solomon in the bible)

💞PHILEO - brotherly/sisterly love; close friendships, generous and affectionate.  A love that wishes the best, celebrates successes, is compassionate, shares your pain and grieves your loss.
These are your ride and die friends, committed to the end.  (Ex: David and Jonathan  I Samuel 18:1-3)

💗STORGE - affectionate love between family members. unforced love between husband and wife, or parent and child. (Ex: Jacob and Joseph or Mary, Martha and Lazarus)

💖 AGAPE -sacrificial, undeserving, a noble, powerful act of the will.  The kind of love that God had for sinful mankind when He sent His Son to redeem us. (Rom. 5:8). The kind of love Christ had for us when He willingly gave up heaven to live among us to suffer and die as the Perfect sacrifice for our sins (Phil 2:5-11).  

Agape love is the Valentines love gift!  that we can give to others any time. The kind that makes you stay in the relationship even if you don't like the other person's behavior or attitude.  However, It does not require a significant other.  We can even give it to ourselves.   It is described in I Corinthians 13:4-7 as this:

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; 

it is not arrogant 5 or rude.

 It does not insist on its own way; 

it is not irritable or resentful.

6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing,

 but rejoices with the truth. 

7 Love bears all things, believes all things, 

hopes all things, endures all things.

Does your boyfriend, fiance, husband, or significant other show this kind of love?  If not, then whatever you receive on Valentines Day will  not matter!  It makes no difference how pretty it's wrapped or how much it cost, it falls short of the grace of God!   There is no Greater Love than what Christ gave you upon salvation and it is a gift that continues to give!

13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, 

these three; but the greatest of these is love.

This Valentine's Day go ahead and celebrate! Even if you have to do so alone!  God is the Perfect Valentine's date and He promises never to disappoint you!

UNTIL NEXT TIME...

If you would like to leave a comment please send an email to: sisters4sisters@att.net OR  scroll to the bottom of my blog page at  http://alittlewiser63.blogspot.com  click on the no comments by the pencil and it will change to a writing space.