How important is it for you to make it to Heaven?

Hello!

There are so many things in our lives that we deem important. It was important for me to make good grades when I was in school; so I devoted time and effort in my studies, meeting with teachers and professors for additional questions and/or ways to increase my grade. I did all that I knew to increase my chances of having the best grade if not the highest because it was important to me. In both of my pregnancies, it was important to me to have good easy pregnancies, births and healthy children, and I did. I did all my physician instructed me to do. I searched the web for articles and tips to have healthy pregnancies and births (understand all this was done in addition to prayer). Even with my marriage, in addition to prayer, I began to get spiritual books about being a wife/woman God called me to be – it was and is important to me. All I knew about being a wife was what I’d seen others do, and TV (which is not a good model);I’d never been a wife; I wanted to be a wife that God called me to be. Because these things were and are important to me, I did not leave them chance. I got in there, and I studied, developed relationships with teachers/professors, listened to my physician and obeyed, sought out additional ways to have healthy successful pregnancies, birth and children, ways to better myself as a wife. We all have things in our lives that we put a high level of importance. But how important is it for you to make it to Heaven? How often do you think about Jesus’ return? What are you doing to prepare for the return of our Lord Jesus? Do you truly believe that He is coming again? If so, are you ready to go be with Him? If Jesus were to come back as you read this sentence, are you ready? Only you can answer these questions. Only YOU!

Let’s talk about how often we, you think about Jesus’ return. Now there was a point in my life where I did not want to think about this AT ALL. I was not in the will of God nor was I doing things that were pleasing in His sight. You know I’ll tell it on myself first. No, I am not perfect. But when you know better you do better; and that I am. But thank God that I’ve been delivered O Praise the Lord. But I did not want to think about Jesus’ return – I was not ready! Though I went to church, I was not living fully according to God’s will, His Word. I know I’m not the only one who has dealt with this or is dealing with this. But the good thing is that you still have time to get it right on this side – before Jesus returns! The Word of God tell us to consider Jesus:
1SO THEN, brethren, consecrated and set apart for God, who share in the heavenly calling, [thoughtfully and attentively] consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest Whom we confessed [as ours when we embraced the Christian faith]. Hebrews 3:1 (AMP). It tells us, we who are consecrated and set apart for God, to “thoughtfully and attentively” consider Jesus – not only who He is and what He has done and is doing, but about what He will do. He will and is coming back. We don’t just consider some, but ALL. We are to press forward to the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14 – AMP). The Word of God tells us, instructs us in Philippians 4:8 (AMP):

8For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].

I think that Jesus and His return are all these things, and we need to think on, weigh, and take account of Him and His soon approaching return. We need to fix our mind on it! I think if we do this, it will help us stay on the path He has ordained for all our lives.

When you/we began to think about Jesus coming again, it should prompt us to prepare for His return. What are you doing to prepare for His return? Are you reading God’s Word or you praying? Better yet, are you doing the Word of God. I hope that you are. I ask the Holy Spirit to stay on me all the time. I love the Lord’s correction in my life; I ask for correction. It’s important for me to be in His will. I make sure that I read His Word and pray. I’ve set “rules” for myself. For example, I don’t watch TV or get on the internet unless I have prayed (now, I will look at the weather if the kids and I have to get out early in the morning, but I don’t watch the entire program). I’ll pray in the spirit while I do housework. I make the decision everyday to give God some time, just He and I. It helps me to maintain my relationship with Him; it’s important to me. I have to have a relationship with the Lord; my very life depends on it – my salvation depends on it – eternal destination depends on it. But during my time with God, I, every now-and-then, take a self-evaluation of myself. In Haggai chapter 1, it tells us to take a good, hard look at our lives, for us to think it over. And why? Because while we run around caught up with taking care of our own house (our own thing), God’s house is in ruins. Now this is a message that the prophet Haggai had given to King Darius, but God is telling us this as well; it’s put in the Bible so that we don’t make the same mistake; for us to remember. This is why it is important for you to take a self-evaluation of yourself, and be honest. Take that self-evaluation to make sure you are on the right path, in God’s Will, that will prepare you for Jesus’ return. Take care of His House and His business. Whatever you believe God is telling you to do you do it. This is why I do this blog. I want to do my part in getting the gospel out to all who will receive it. I want to do my part in building and taking care of God’s House, the church, His people – not so people can look at me; I could care less. I’m a vessel that is used by God. I asked God to use me, and I am allowing Him to use me. There is nothing in and of myself, but God in me – not my words, but His.

Because you’ve now decided to consider (think) about Jesus and His soon approaching return, you have determined your actions, and those actions are mentioned in Proverbs 4:23
23-27 Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts. Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust.

1 Peter 1:13-25 talks about our future in God, and it states:

13-16So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that's coming when Jesus arrives. Don't lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn't know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, "I am holy; you be holy." 17You call out to God for help and he helps—he's a good Father that way. But don't forget, he's also a responsible Father, and won't let you get by with sloppy living.
18-21Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ's sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. It's because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God.
22-25Now that you've cleaned up your lives by following the truth, love one another as if your lives depended on it. Your new life is not like your old life. Your old birth came from mortal sperm; your new birth comes from God's living Word. Just think: a life conceived by God himself! That's why the prophet said, The old life is a grass life, its beauty as short-lived as wildflowers; Grass dries up, flowers droop, God's Word goes on and on forever. This is the Word that conceived the new life in you.

This says it all. But I will say this, if you are reading this blog, then you know better. DO IT – DO BETTER – DO GOD’S WORD!

I hope for your sake that you truly believe that Jesus is coming again. It may be sooner than you think! I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – whether you believe it or not, Jesus is coming! How important is it for you to make it to Heaven? Make the decision to give thought to Him and His return. Start preparing for His return while there is time to get it right on this side – before He comes, and it’s too late. I really don’t know what more to say to you. I pray God that as you read this that it pricked your heart, and you decided to seriously walk with the Father. Jesus is coming! He is coming! Prepare now! This is not to scare you, but to warn in love. You’ll not be able to say that you didn’t know when you stand before Him. Be ye therefore warned, in love!

Did you put your armor on today???

Be Encouraged Today!!!

Scriptures for www.biblegateway.com

When Jesus Returns, What state/condition will you be in?

Hello All:

I will start this one off with a scripture; it is talking about the second coming of Christ. Believe it or not, we are living in the last days. And believe it not, Jesus is coming again and sooner than we all think. Get it right on this side while He can still be found. I know you’re saying we’ve heard this from you before. I’m gonna keep reminding you every now and then until you get; until He returns, and I go to be with Him and can no longer write.

36"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[a] but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. (Matthew 24:36-39 New International Version)

Now don’t get me wrong, there is nothing with marrying, marriage, eating and drinking. I’m married; marriage is good. But all too often we allow things to consume our time; we put the things of God on the “back burner” when we should be putting Him first. Now is not the time to have things consume us taking up all our time. Now, if you are getting married or planning on getting married, GREAT! Congratulation! But don’t leave God out. Don’t forget to pray, to study His Word, to pay your tithe or forget to do things He has instructed you to do. To many times we allow things that are harmless to take precedent over God. We’d rather hang out with friends than get before the Lord and pray or we’d rather rest or maybe our favorite show is on and God puts a scripture in our heart or wants us to come away and pray (ouch hallelujah!). The people in Noah’s day are just like us; we are busy doing our “own thing” or the things that make us happy. But while we are doing these things that are harmless, they’re not bad things, what if Jesus comes back? We see in the Word of God above that we, nor the angels, nor the Son knows the day or the hour of the coming of the Son of Man, Jesus.

The Word of God tells us over and over that Christ is coming back. Take a look:

13May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. 1 Thessalonians 3:13 (New International Version)

Jesus Is Coming

7"Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book." Revelation 22:7 (New International Version)

10Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. 11I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take our crown. 12Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. Revelation 3:10-12 (New International Version)

Some of you might be thinking “I’ve heard this all before, and we are still here, and if this really true, when will it be?” Matthew 24 talks of the signs of the times, and I believe that before there were only a couple of the sign, but look again all are happening together at the same time; but wait, this is only the beginning. God has warned us, in His Word, to be watchful. He’s given examples and stories (parables). Have you heard of the saying “Better safe than sorry”. Would you take the chance thinking that all this is not true, live anyway you want, and it happens – Jesus Returns! Would you take that chance? Can I tell you when He’s coming, No! Do I believe that He’s coming back? Yes. I want to be ready at all times. I have settled it – I will do all that I need to do to be ready. I don’t care if it’s not tomorrow, or next week, or next month, or next, or ten years from now; I will be READY! It’s not like living your life for Christ is bad or hard. I think I have a better quality of life because I choose to serve Christ and only Him completely; I’m a little nicer too (wink). So many times we try to have one foot in the Kingdom of God and the other in the world, but it can’t work like that. Take a look……

Watchfulness

35"Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. 39But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." Luke 12:35-40 (New International Version)

1"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6"At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'
7"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'
9" 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'
10"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11"Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!'
12"But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'
13"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. Matthew 25:1-13 (New International Version)

1 Thessalonians 5:2 and 2 Peter 3:10 tells us that the Lord Jesus will come like a thief in the night. We are to be ready at all times. We should make sure that we have enough oil for ourselves. No one can get you to Heaven, but YOU! Momma and Daddy can’t pray you into Heaven. You can’t get into Heaven on your spouse’s oil; it has to be the oil that you’ve acquired on your own. You can’t work your way into Heaven. We all have to make the choice to serve and live our lives for Him. We have to choose to give God the level of importance that He deserves and that we want Him to give to us. He tells us over and over again, but do we heed His words? Don’t take my word or anyone else’s word; you search the scriptures for yourself – you get your own oil. You study to show yourself approved. 2 Timothy 2:15-19 (New International Version) states:
15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. 19Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his,"[a] and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.

So I ask – How will Jesus find you when He returns? Will He find you faithful to His Word or will find you like those mentioned in Timothy 3:1-5 (New International Version)
1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. Now I know you’re thinking “The world has always been like this.” True, true, but it has gotten to this extreme level that it is now; just take a look around you. When Jesus returns will he find you in one of these conditions? Are you allowing any of these to operate in your life? Have you become a Christian mentioned in Revelation 3:15-16 (New International Version): 15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Luke chapter 18 asks when the Son of Man, Jesus, comes will He find faith here on this earth? When Jesus comes will He find you doing everything else or will He find you faithful to His Word? Hebrews 10:35-38 states:
35Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward.
36For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and [a]carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised.
37For still a little while (a very little while), and the Coming One will come and He will not delay.
38But the just shall live by faith [My righteous servant shall live [b]by his conviction respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, and holy fervor born of faith and conjoined with it]; and if he draws back and shrinks in fear, My soul has no delight or pleasure in him. When Jesus comes will He have delight and be pleased with you? Will you be patient and endure so you can perform and FULLY accomplish the will of God? Jesus is coming………… Will He say “Well done thy good and faithful servant; enter into the Kingdom of Heaven? Our confession should be as it is in Galatians 2:20-21, 20I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
21[Therefore, I do not treat God's gracious gift as something of minor importance and defeat its very purpose]; I do not set aside and invalidate and frustrate and nullify the grace (unmerited favor) of God. For if justification (righteousness, acquittal from guilt) comes through [observing the ritual of] the Law, then Christ (the Messiah) died groundlessly and to no purpose and in vain. [His death was then wholly superfluous.]

Some of us think we are ok. We go to church every time the doors are opened, we pray, we live at peace with man as much as we can; yet we only have form of godliness that’s not the real thing. 1 Corinthians 10:12 (New International Version): 12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!

Don’t be like the Pharisees in Luke18:9-14: 9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood up and prayed about[a] himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
13"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
14"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

I know that I have given a lot of scriptures here, but I wanted you to see what the Word of God says; these are not my words but the Word of the Lord. Take the time and take out that Bible, blow the dust off if needed, but get in God’s Word. Get that oil for yourself. How many times does He have to say that He’s coming back before you will prepare yourself? See that no one deceives you. Jesus is coming back, and He’s coming back for those who look like Him; those who have remain faithful to His Word. What state/what condition will He find you? Salvation is available now – grab hold of it, take it to heart. Choose life so that you may live and have a place with Him for all eternity.

Did you put your armor on today????

Be Encouraged Today!!!!!

All scripture used from http://www.biblegateway.com/

Troubles..........No Problem

Hello:

There was a time when I wished that life would smooth and easy, free from pain, sickness, and sorrows – free from troubles. I always thought “If I could live on my own personal island, just for me, life would be as it should. I look at my kids and wish they’d never know a day of pain, sickness or lack. Children should be free to run, skip, jump, and play without “bad stuff”. I use to say “I’m never having children. Why would I want to bring a living person into this world?” The world is not always fair, kind or without heartbreak or hardships. When I was growing up, the older people would say “If you haven’t been through anything, just live awhile”. I didn’t know what they were talking about then, but now that I’m grown, have my own husband, children – my own life – I get it! Even the Bible tells us that we, Christians/believers - will have troubles. All people will have problems; we are not exempt. Matthew 5:45 says that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. When trouble use to come, I would throw the biggest “pitty party” – oh woe is me. I’m sure none of you have thrown this type of party. I hated to go through anything. I mean, I’m a pretty good person. I try to live at peace with every man as much as I can. I try my best to be kind, to have good things to say. Yet; I still had troubles. I still went through things (some I know was my own doing, but some I just couldn’t understand “WHY ME!”)

I thank God for His Word, His grace and His mercy. I thank God that His mercies are new every morning towards me (Lamentations 3:22-24). I thank God that His has graced me during the times I strayed away, saying and doing things that were not pleasing in His sight. But I am so very thankful for His Word; I’m thankful that the eyes of my understanding have been enlighten to His Word, and the more I hear His Word the more I increase in the learning/understanding of His Word. I’ve learned and understand that there isn’t anything I will ever go through that is bigger than my Father God. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in this world. I GET IT! I know and understand that God is for me, Shan, and NOTHING and NO ONE can or will ever be successful against me. Isaiah 54:17 says ‘No weapon that is formed against me shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against me in judgment I shall condemn. This is my heritage as a servant of the LORD, and my righteousness is of the Lord, says the LORD’. Now, it did not say that the weapon would not form or that troubles would not come, but it is saying that the weapon formed will not prosper; it will not accomplish that which it was sent to do. But you’ve got to know the Word of God. We’ve been deceived by the devil too long. God has given us a powerful weapon to stand up to anything the devil might bring up. He has given us His Word! My pastor (who is also my mother) reminded us that it’s not enough to just say the Word of God. Joshua 1:8 states ‘Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful’. Meditating on God’s Word allows our faith to gain strength so that when we speak/confess it out of our mouths, it will have the impact and gain the result of God’s Word spoken. Example, you meditate on a healing scripture because your faith is not quite developed in this area; so you meditate on by the striped of Jesus I am healed. Your meditation on that healing scripture allows you to strengthen you faith in that which the scripture is suppose to bring about (healing), you gain an understanding of what it should do, and you gain strength in the confidence that God can bring about the results of healing from the faith in the words that was meditated and confessed. You follow? Meditate of God’s Word, get it into your spirit (gaining understanding and strengthen your confidence in God's ability to perform His Word), and release that faith in the confessed Word of God.

Only a few of you may know the “troubles” that have tried to prosper in my life (my family’s life). We had been jobless since November ’08 –yes ’08. Now if this had happened to me about seven (7) years ago, I would be throwing one of those “pitty parties” I told you about. But before all this happened, I had been tithing, meditating and confessing scriptures of prosperity – God is my provider, He is a God that is more than enough for me and my family, He supplies all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus, He is my shepherd – I want for nothing, I look unto the hills which comes my help – my help comes from the Lord the maker of Heaven and Earth. I could go on and on of what I confess. I bound up lack and poverty – all of this I’d made a part of my daily confession not knowing what was ahead, BUT God did. With this happening, I had a choice to make – either I could through the pitty party of a lifetime – dwelling on the negative, allowing doubt to come in, just let the devil eat my lunch OR I could draw my Sword of Spirit, God’s Word, keeping my eyes on Him standing firm on His Word to see the salvation of the Lord. Of course I chose the latter. I’ve been here before, and I have learned to trust God. I tell you the Lord God Almighty kept my family. I mean we did not miss a beat. We were still eating and buying the same foods. We were able to buy us things we wanted, able to buy the kids toys and clothes (not cheap stuff either). We, well Aaron and Angie, still went to the movies when they wanted; we still ate out (not as much, but when we wanted). The Lord is awesome, and he is worthy of MY praise, and I give it to Him every time I think of His goodness. He is the reason for my praise, He is the reason that I sing, shout and dance! The devil is a liar and a defeated foe where the Pirozzi’s are concerned. He, the devil, is the losers, and we are the victor! We win – he loses in Jesus Name. I said, I win, I win, I win! Glory…….Hallelujah!

The Word of God tells us to count it all joy when we go through test and trials. I no longer do I see troubles as yet another trial, or battle to fight. I now look at it as an opportunity to increase my faith in my God, my trust in Him. I see it as an opportunity for God to show up and show out on my behalf. I look at it as an opportunity for God to show Himself real to me and my family, and for me to see and know that He is the God His Word says that He is, and that He can do the things His Word says He can do. Not only for us see, but for those around us to see just how GOOD our GOD is. They’ll begin to look at me and my family and begin to think “Well what are they doing? They look as if things (troubles) don’t bother them.” And I’ll say “It’s nothing of me or any member of my family, but it is the God that we serve. He is an AWESOME GOD!” Do I love having troubles? No, I wish they wouldn’t come at all. Do I seek for troubles? No! But because I know that they will come, I look unto the hills which cometh my help; my help cometh from the Lord God Almighty, the maker of Heaven and of Earth. I am no longer afraid when troubles come my way; I stand firm in the confidence of MY God! My God is able to do the impossible – there is nothing He can’t do. My God is able to see me through. He is a good Father that gives good gift unto His children, and I am a child of God – a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. I am the righteousness of God through Christ Jesus. I know WHO I am and WHO I belong too. My Father God owns all the cattle on a thousand hill (Psalms 50:10); His streets are paved with gold (Revelation 21:21). There is nothing he can’t give me or do for me. So now I say “Troubles……………. No Problem!” I feel “the preach” coming on, but I’ll stop right here. Glorrrrrryyyyy…….Hallelujah……, I told the devil about messing with me and mine. He better back up off of us……….. Be blessed of the Lord God Almighty this day in Jesus’ Name……. And everybody say………….AMEN! Let me go…………..

Did you put your armor on today????

Be Encouraged Today!!!