Closer Than Ever To The Return Of Christ

No one knows the day or hour that Jesus returns, not even Jesus  knows says Matthew 24:36, Mark 13:32 only God Himself.  However, we can know the "season" surrounding His return by witnessing certain signs and events. And those signs can be seen now in 2026!  This is a trumpet call. This blog is a plea for anyone who happens upon this page. Time is short. Jesus' return is not only inevitable but nearer than ever because we are in the season. Let me elucidate what I mean. Jesus gave us an example of how the word "season" and HIS RETURN would be tied together. And although He often used parables as analogies, one isn't even needed to understand what He meant because it is simplistic enough.  Refer to these three records: Matthew 24:32, Mark 13:28, and Luke 21: 29-30. To break down those three verses by disciples who where present with Jesus and heard Him speak, let me say it is simply understood EVEN TODAY. Here it is, when you see buds coming out on the trees, you know summer is coming. Everyone does.  The season we call spring reveals the next event .. Summer. Seasonal changes are signaled by nature ... and Jesus mentioned His "signaling signs" preceding His imminent return. Each one are written throughout scripture as: global deception, intensified natural disasters, false misleading preachers, fake miracles, wars and also rumors of war, earthquakes increasing in numbers and size, pestilences, famines occurring in various places, persecution of Christians, perilous times, social disorder, hatred of Israel, apostasy, betrayal from those you love, hearts of many growing cold, numerous antichrists, cosmic signs, knowledge increasing (Daniel 12:4), era of rapid technology/global communication and quick sharing of knowledge, computers, rebellion of the youth (Timothy 3:1-5) and rampant insurrection in several cities. And while Jesus emphasized these signs indicate the time is near "even at the door" the precise day or hour may be  unknown but the season is certainly apparent! Metaphorically, buds are springing out all over. For anyone that is curious, keep reading. I'm going to show you how we are in the season moments before the Lord's return. Hopefully after reading this lengthy blog (necessary to get you to open your eyes), you will see it too and adjust your life accordingly.

The scriptures tell us earth will experience great trials and calamities before His coming (as mentioned above). Our Heavenly Father wants us to be prepared for these troubles. I want you spiritually prepared. He also expects us to be spiritually ready when the Savior comes in His glory. Therefore, He has given us signs, which are events that will tell us when the Savior’s Second Coming is near.  He said all faithful followers of Christ will know what the signs are and will be watching for them. Are you watching? Can you see them? I'm going to give you a list of events happening in 2026 that Jesus spoke of over 2,000 years ago.

There are sceptics, I get it. I understand. Even Jesus said people would begin to doubt because of a so-called "delay." Example is 2 Peter 3:3-9 where scoffers ask, "Where is the promise of His coming?" People are still scoffing 20 centuries later.. So why am I even addressing this subject? What confidence do I have to claim WE ARE CLOSER THAN EVER TO THE RETURN OF CHRIST? Because there is a key clue in the scriptures that most everyone misses that literally proves  we are very close NOW. 

 Here it is. READ AND WATCH carefully to the words Jesus answered in Matthew 24:33 (KJV) when His disciples asked Him these two direct questions: "Tell us," they said,  when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of your coming and of the end of the world?" (Matthew 24: 3). Here is the key (the season) I mentioned most people miss: Jesus said, "when you see ALL these things (those I listed above) know the end is near, even at the door."  Did you catch it? Every seasonal sign Jesus gave regarding the future (represented as buds before spring) are ALL happening now ..the key word is ALL .. at the same time, not spread over years, decades, or centuries but happening now! People scoff daily, "there's always been famine and wars and earthquakes." And they always use that argument to backup their disbelief. Yes, there has always been famine, war, and disasters throughout the centuries, BUT ..  not all at once in the same era of time! Theses signs ALL cumulated INTO ONE .. NOW! HAPPENING PRESENTLY. Look around you. "When you see ALL THESE THINGS" (at the same time) IT IS THE SEASON before He returns. Jesus answered His Disciples directly, "So likewise, when you see all these things, know that it is near, even at the door."

Consider "ALL these things" which Jesus words warned would be happening to the breakdown of present day, 2026.

1. global deception: Systematic manipulation of information today through A-I content, deep state, geopolitical propaganda, deep fakes/bots, state-controlled media, trolls, false "green" initiatives, fringe theories, untrustworthy media outlets, voter fraud. TELL ME.. doesn't this describe global deception today?

2. increasing intensified natural disasters: JUST a/o today May 6, 2026.. 

a. earthquakes in the Philippines, USA (5/6/26), South of Kermadec, New Zealand, Indonesia, Mexico, Japan, Taiwan, Papua New Guinea, Mongolia

b. tropical cyclones in Hagupit, Sinlaku.

c. floods in Indonesia, Turkey, Peru, USA(Kilauea-HA), Kenya, Tajikistan, Algeria, Dem Rep of Congo, South Africa, India, Brazil, Canada

d. volcanoes in Mayion, Kanlaon, Philippines x4, Vanuatu, Russia x4, USA x2, Peru, 

e. droughts in Madagascar, Australia, Central USA, SE Asia, South America, Central Asia, Mexico (northeast),Venezuela, Argentina, Uruguay, Angola/Zambia/Gabon/Congo Central Eastern Europe, Libya, Tunisia

f. forest fires in Czech Rep, Nepal, USA, China, Vietnam, Poland. India, Thailand, Bangladesh,India

3. false misleading preachers- "Wolves in sheep's clothing" (described in Matthew 7:15) and for those who know I will only list their initials: KC, JO, BH, TDJ, CD,PWC, SF, TW, JP, 

4. fake miracles by so-called men of God and false prophets using staged actors/actresses (you decide) initials only: TBJ, PP, BH, AL, VK, SB, LD, CO, DO, CD (there have been several arrests!)

5. wars and also rumors of war ..Russia-Ukraine, Iran-Israel, Sudan-Myanmar, Israeli-Gaza, CONFLICTS IN: Sahel, Afghan-Pakistani border,  THEN OTHER LOW INTENSITY: armed conflicts, civil wars, organized crime, etc 

6. earthquakes everywhere in different places around the world just in MAY alone, this month- 2026 Iran, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, Alaska, California, Indonesia, Sumba

7.  pestilences such as Dengue fever, ongoing Covid 19, Cholera, Mpox, Avian flu H1N1, Zika, Yellow Fever, Chikungya, Ebola, Measles, Polio, Nipha virus, Antibiotic Resistant bacteria, Salmonella, Powassan virus, Bird flu, Oropouche virus, NEW HANTAVIRUS THIS YEAR

8. famines occurring in various places Sudan, Gaza, Darfur, Haiti, Mali, Yemen, Congo, parts of Cuba

9.  persecution /beheading, killing, torture of Christians in Nigeria, Somalia, Pakistan, Yemen. Eritrea, Libya, Iran, China, Sudan, North Korea, Congo, Mozambique, ALSO BY: Isis, Al Shabaab.

10.  perilous times - intense social collapse, intense moral decay, societal and governmental pressures, rampant narcissism, greed, violence, spiritual deception, hatred of good normalized among many, increased hatred of authority from parents to the police, chaos, riots, extreme right and left ideologies, fascism, communism, anarchist, totalitarianism, dehumanization, irrational religious groups, cults, terrorism, fanatical organizations, human trafficking, pedophilia at an all time high.

11.  social disorder as psychiatric conditions of irrationalities- "Karen's," people with a sense of entitlement, self-centered, people who make unreasonable demands, weaponizes their social or racial status to demand their way considering no other, obsessive and or irrational anger or rage, "do as I say, not as I do" attitudes, the uniformed spreading misinformation, toxic behaviors cancel culture.

12.  hatred of Israel is increasing exponentially in the USA among college students, progressives, among Democrats and a growing number of younger Republicans, youth-led movements, regional hostilities of the Middle-East: Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen. Antisemitism vs Anti-Zionism.

13. apostasy of Christians - UNFORTUNATELY many Christians are leaving the faith, but even this was predicted in the Bible to happen as well! Some well known examples are Marty Samson, a prominent Hillsong worship leader (even this one shocked me), many many young adults raised in Christian homes are disengaging because of seeing hypocrisy in the church. Remember, this is people causing division and hypocrisy NOT JESUS. You cannot blame Jesus for people who distort His words or teaching. Those that leave the faith are like the seed in the parable Jesus warned about the sower (Matthew 13:22, Mark 4:19, Luke8:14, Micah 7:5-6). These are they which are like seeds that fell on rocky ground, but do to lack of depth, fall away .. like seed lacking deep soil and needed to take root but could not because THEIR FAITH WAS SHALLOW. 

Then there is disillusionment. Many are turning cold after being hurt by leaders or encountering moral failure in the church, eventually giving up prayer, Bible reading, and their faith altogether. Conflicts with truth and false teachers begin to make others doubt fundamental biblical teachings and adopting world views or even turning to atheism, agnosticism, or even drawn away to go back to the pleasures of the world outside of God's boundaries.  These are SEEDS SOWN AMONG THORNS being "choked by pleasures of the world. Seeds wither and die being choked by "thorns" that take all the nutrients to keep growing, keep going.

14. betrayal from  those you love can be found in Luke 21:16-17, Matthew 10:21, Mark 13:12. Jesus warned that in the last days persecution will even come by family members as they will "tell on you" "turn you in" for your faith. Christians will be rejected  and hated because of their belief in Jesus, dividing families.. mother against daughter, daughter against mother as an example (Luke 12:53) for adherence to their faith in Christianity. You've heard the saying .. a man's enemies are of his own household?

15. hearts of many growing cold, the first and best example would be Judas Iscariot! He allowed sin and greed to harden his heart in disillusionment (which I mentioned we see today) and he turned his initial devotion to Jesus into an icy betrayal. Jesus predicted increased lawlessness which WE SEE TODAY WHICH IS OUT OF CONTROL, and that it would cause many people's love to turn cold. And it has.

16. antichrists will be numerous and have always been here according to the Bible (are and growing). This can be found 1 John 4:3. The "spirit" of antichrists (not THE Antichrist yet to come- future) and there are many. Those whose spirit do not confess, do not believe that Jesus Christ came in the flesh are also called deceivers as well as  ANTI Christ (against Christ). 2 John 1:7.

17.  cosmic signs are listed in Luke 21:25, Matthew 24:29, Joel 20: 30-31 are to be before "the day of the Lord." We've seen them! We are told to look up and watch .. for these sign because they are indicators, sign, alarms, warnings, and hints Jesus returning is near. I'm going to list all of them from the last 10 years:

Eclipses:

Jan 31, 2015

July 27, 2018

January 20-21 2019

May 15-16 2022

November 7-8 2022

March 13-14 2025

March 3, 2026

-------

MAJOR SOLAR Eclipses:

March 8-9 2016

August 21, 2017

July 2, 2019

December 14, 2020

December 4, 2021

April 4, 2021

August 12, 2026

-------

Other Notable Sky Events

Ring of Fire Annular Eclipses:  Feb. 26, 2017, December 26, 2019, June 21, 2020, June10, 2021, October 14, 2023, October 2, 2024, February 17, 2026.

Great Conjunction December 21, 2020: Juniper and Saturn appeared closer than they have in nearly 800 years.

Comet Neowise  July 2020

Comet Leonard  December 2021

Comet ZTF February 2023

Meteor Shower Geminid 2021, 2022, 2023

Meteor Shower Perseid  2025 and expected this war

Supermoons December Christmas Supermoon 2025 and Blue Micromoon Coming May 31, 20262026

THERE ARE SO MANY MORE, THESE ARE JUST A FEW 

18.  knowledge shall increase (Daniel 12:4)  With the era of rapid technology/global communication and quick sharing of knowledge-computers, Boy has knowledge increased!! Especially with AI TECHNOLOGY. Besides AI, there is high-speed connectivity, quantum computing, advanced automation, Siri and Alexa, the Cloud data computing and collection, self driving cars, rockets that reverse and return to launching pad, smart devices, 5G 6G connectivity, advanced medical procedures, robots, EV'S, cyber security advances, sophisticated encryption methods, gene editing, wearable health tech like smart watches, mRNA vaccines, etc

19. rebellion of the children and youth  and severe decline in moral values (Timothy 3:1-5)  ANYONE should be able to see this today. TEENS and young adults are lovers of self (me me me pictures of self with phones), disobedient to parents among a catalog of sinful behaviors will mark the final, difficult times, alongside arrogance, disrespect, recklessness, ungratefulness, lawlessness, with lack of self control. I see all this today and more.

And while Jesus emphasized these signs indicate the time is near "even at the door" the precise day or hour is unknown but the season is apparent! Buds are springing out all over.

Many of the signs are terrifying and dreadful. The prophets have warned that the earth will experience great turmoil, wickedness, war, and suffering. The prophet Daniel said that the time before the Second Coming would be a time of trouble such as the earth has never known (see Daniel 12:1). The Lord said, “The love of men shall wax cold, and iniquity shall abound”. “And all things shall be in commotion; and … fear shall come upon all people." We can expect ever multiplying earthquakes, disease, famines, great storms, lightning's, and thunder (Matthew 24:7). Hailstorms will destroy the crops of the earth and be it weighs approximately 75-100 pounds a piece- or weight of a talent Revelation 16:21).

Jesus told His disciples that war would fill the earth: “Ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars. … For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (Matthew 24:6–7). 

Many of these signs are being fulfilled as I have laid out. Wickedness is everywhere. Nations are constantly at war. Earthquakes and other calamities are occurring. Many people now suffer from devastating storms, drought, hunger, and diseases. We can be certain that these calamities will become more severe before the Lord comes. Can't you see it? Feel it? C0an we remain calm and at peace even when some of the signs are terrifying and dreadful?  The Lord gives these signs to help us. We can put our lives in order and prepare ourselves and our families for Jesus' soon return. We have been warned of calamities and told to prepare for them, but we can also look forward to the coming of the Savior and be glad. The Lord said, “Be not troubled, for, when all these things [the signs] shall come to pass, ye may know that the promises which have been made unto you shall be fulfilled.” Please, look around you. The signs are there. Get right with God. Time is running out.

Until He Comes-

-Pat-

 

How do you know you are saved?

 

I have heard some Christians says they don't feel they are really saved. So, How do you know you are saved and belong to God? We can see three distinct markers of salvation in scripture. 1 John gives three signs of a real spiritual life and none of them are feelings. MARKERS YOU CAN LOOK AT IN YOUR OWN LIFE.

Think of it like vital signs. When a doctor checks your pulse, your blood pressure, your temperature, he's not asking you how you feel. They are reading markers that tell them whether the body is working the way it should. John did the same thing for your soul. 

Marker one: BELIEF. 1 john 5-1 " Whosoever  believes that Jesus Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of Him." John wasn't talking about general belief in God, he was talking specifically about Jesus being the promised Messiah. God the Son who came in the flesh. The false teachers of Jesus day denied that. They said Jesus did not come as God in a human body. So the 1st marker is easy enough. Yes or no. Do you believe the scripture that says who He is? Not do you feel it, but do you believe it?

Marker two: OBEDIENCE. 1 JOHN 2: 3-4 "And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. Whoever says, "I know Him" but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him." This isn't legalism or perfectionism. John already said in chapter 1:8 "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." So John is not saying you never sin, he's saying the direction of your life matters. A saved person isn't perfect but they're bothered by their sin. They don't make peace with their sin because they can't. They repent when sin is exposed. Obedience isn't the price of salvation, it's the pulse of salvation. If you're fighting your sin, if it bothers you when you fall, you keep getting back up, that's not failure, that's a vital sign.

Marker three: LOVE. This is the one John hammered the hardest. 1 John 3:14 "We know that we have passed from death into life, because we love the brethren. Whosoever does not love abides in darkness." Not because we feel alive, or because we had an emotional experience at a youth camp, but because of our love of fellow believers. And John got specific in John 3:17 "But if anyone has this worlds goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?" He didn't say love is a feeling you have toward other Christians. He said love is what you do when you see another believer struggling and you have the ability to help. You need to understand.

These three markers:  belief, obedience, and love don't earn salvation, that's already done. Jesus paid for that on the cross. These markers don't create life they confirm it. If belief is there, if obedience is the direction you're pointed,  the love for Gods people shows up in actual life, and not just your feelings. Those are the vital signs of salvation. John said it plainly in 1 John 5:13 "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may KNOW that you have eternal life." Not hope. Not feel. KNOW. Assurance of salvation isn't built on your feelings, it's built on a life that faithfully pursues Jesus.

Until He Comes-

-Pat-

I'm Too Dirty Too Be Saved

 

Have you ever felt because you've done so many bad things in life that you are beyond saving?  That, not even God could help you now? I'm here to tell you nothing could be further from the truth! No one is beyond saving regardless of what they've done or are still doing at the present time. Luke chapter 10 verse 19 says, "For the son of man came to seek and save the lost."  Notice: not only to save, but to SEEK the lost. He knows you are a wandering soul in need of salvation. This verse implies active rescue. Jesus actively seeks out sinners, rather than waiting for them to come to him. Follow this ..

Do you have a child who was ever caked from head to toe from playing in a mudhole? Or perhaps you remember doing so when you were a child.  I'm talking covered from head to toe .. even in the hair and ears? Everywhere, just all over mud! Hopefully as a parent you would laugh a little bit, maybe you were a little annoyed, or even somewhat disappointed because you told them not to play in the mud but they did anyway. You have to go through all those emotions but at the end of the day as a parent, you're not going to look at your child  and say, "You disgust me. Get out of my house you are no longer mine because you're covered in mud." NO. You aren't going to say, "You disgust me-get out of my house-you no longer belong to me because you're so filthy."

That dirt, yes, it changed their appearance, maybe it changed the condition of what they looked like and the condition of their clothes, but it didn't change the relationship you had with your child. Hopefully, after you got through those emotions and laugh a little bit, you looked with mercy and said, "Come on, let me help you get cleaned up." That is the picture of God, the heavenly Father.

When you feel like you're covered in the mud of life, from the muddiness of betrayal, the muddiness of addiction, or pornography, molestation, homosexuality, drunkenness, sexual affairs, or any dark secret you keep, you feel dirty because of sin. God doesn't look at you and say, "You disgust me! How dare you get dirty? Get out of my house you don't belong here anymore." That's not the heart of our heavenly Father. The enemy is going to lie to you. The enemy is going to tell you that God doesn't want you because you're dirty. The enemy is going to tell you that you should be ashamed. The enemy is going to tell you that you're beyond saving, you're too far gone, too dirty, and too hopeless to deserve the forgiveness and love of Jesus Christ. Satan can also convince you there's no way you deserve heaven  because of the things that were done to you. Satan will whisper in your subconscious that God doesn't want you now.

Our heavenly Father is looking down on this earth today. Right now. He sees YOU. And He's saying, "Come on, let me get you cleaned up. Just because you got dirty doesn't mean you have to stay dirty."  Sadly, too many people get hung up on how dirty they are, like they are different somehow. You may be thinking: 'but you don't know what I've done. You don't know what's been done to me.' You're right. I don't but God does and we are all dirty. He told us in His word, Romans 3: 10-12, " There is none righteous, no, not one."  And why? He tells us again, Romans 3:23, (because)"ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." No sin is worse than another in God's eyes. Sin is sin. Black is black. Wrong is wrong. It is sin, any sin, that keeps us separated from God not the degree of it. Don't let the devil convince you that your sin is greater than mine. So instead of being concerned how dirty you are. What you should be concerned about is .. WILL YOU LET HIM CLEAN YOU? If you don't know where you stand with God, or how to approach or ask Him for help, drop a comment below. I would be happy to talk to you and point the way. 

Until He Comes-

-Pat-

Let This Sink In

 

The Bible tells us Jesus died for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2). Let that sink in. Really sink in. It  doesn't say Jesus died for just "good" people, only those who go to church, those who tithe 15%, just the ones who say morning prayers regularly, or one country over another, etc. He died for the sins of the WORLD-  you! Regardless of anything you've ever done. Anything. He offered His life while people were yet (and are) sinners. He didn't ask nor does He require you to fix yourself or straighten up first then He'll accept you.  "While you were yet sinners Jesus died for you" (Romans 5:8) This demonstrated His unconditional love for humanity.

To the atheist, the agnostic, the hypocrite, the doubters and sinners as a whole. Did you ask to be saved? No, you didn't. But Jesus laid down His life for YOU already, shedding His blood as a living sacrifice for you as  A GIFT.. His gift of eternal life without fear of damnation. And  if you believe it, turn from the evil you're doing, repent of it, follow Him, because He alone is the pathway to God. Here's a simple way to understand it. Someone buys you a gift. You never asked for a gift, but because they love you bought something of great value. You may not have heard that was done, maybe you did. Nonetheless,  that gift was placed on your kitchen table with your name on it. You heard from others you were given a gift and where to find it. Curios, you go to see what this could be about. The gift is there. It's yours. No cost to you. The question is, 

1. "Will you accept it?" Will you open and receive it? You have free-will to ignore it and walk away. No one will force you to open it. 

2. "Will you laugh, shake your head, and refuse the gift thinking there's a trick behind this kindness. Again, walking away.

3. "Will you accept it" even though you didn't deserve such a valuable gift? It's free. No gimmicks. No payback. Someone loves you dearly.

There are people that hear, "Jesus died for your sins." But instead of asking why, they respond back, "well I didn't ask Him to" -like it was forced on them.  The Bible says "all have sinned" all fall short of the His glory. The truth is, an unwashed sin life keeps us completely separated from God. Sin was not a small issue. It was a real problem and instead of leaving humanity there, God stepped in. This is the point: if you had to ask for salvation first then it wouldn't be Grace, it would have been a transaction and the gospel is not a transaction, The gospel is a gift. 

Jesus didn't die because you asked Him to. He died because you needed Him to! Before you even have the awareness to ask, God had already made a way. That is not control. That is mercy.

Don't reject a gift because you didn't ask for it. You decide what to do with it once it's in front of you. Because whether you ask for it or not, the offer still stands: forgiveness, restoration, new life. Not earned. Not negotiated. Given. So don't miss it as many do. Actually hear the truth clearly. You need Jesus for absolution. He is the only .. Way, Truth, and Life and He has made the way for you if you will accept His gift.

Until He Comes-

-Pat-

Christianity or Islam

 

Christianity or Islam

(Reasons and evidence for choosing Christianity)

1. "Muhammad said, "Kill the infidel." 

*Jesus said, "Love your enemies." Hmm, I prefer Jesus over murder. The Prince of peace.

2. "Muhammad before he died said, "May Allah curse the Jews and the Christians." 

*Jesus before He died on a cross said, "Father, forgive them, they don't know what they are doing." HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO KILLED HIM!! He was forgiving them.

3. Muhammad waged 84 wars and raids in a span of 12 years of his life.

*Jesus did not have any wars or raids in His whole lifetime. In fact when the disciples wanted to start a war in a city that wanted to reject Him, and did reject Him, Jesus rebuked the disciple, and He said (basically) 'Don't do that, that's not how My Kingdom runs.'

4. Muhammad had 11 wives and sex slaves. 

*Jesus had no wives. He honored women. He protected women. Women loved and love Jesus now because He was and is holy and pure in every interaction He had. Children as well! 

5.  Muhammad married a 6 year old, had sex with her at 9.

*Jesus - the children ran up to Him In purity, holiness, and meekness. Jesus was gentle as a bold masculine man. And this is where people need to understand Jesus as a bold man-- how could children run up to you? You must be very meek, humble, and loving for children in ancient times to love you as a man. 

So Jesus, born in Bethlehem, is for me the most beautiful figure across history. There is no one to compare to Jesus. There is no one like Him. Not only that .. don't forget that JESUS HEALED THE SICK. That is is actually recorded in history. WHO on earth could  do what he did?

He did heal the sick.

He did raise the dead.

He did walk on water.

He did cast evil spirits out of people.

He did die on the cross.

He did rise from the dead

AND HE'S COMING BACK. He said he would. He never told a lie.  I believe Him.

Extra Biblical evidence is easy to look up if you want. Forget Islam, forget Christianity- forget any religion. Just look at history! It's recorded. There were 500 eye witnesses who saw Jesus afer His crucifixion too. The choice should be a simple one.  Pay attention to words and actions of Jesus and Muhammad. 

People ask me why I'm a Christian? THAT'S WHY  I AM A CHRISTIAN.

Until He Comes-

-Pat-

SIGNS YOU HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT

                                SIGNS YOU HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT

                 (The Heart Of The Father For The Christian Lifestyle)

You think it's signs and wonders, dreams, goose bumps, and prophetic chills. You think it's tongues on command or fire that makes you look powerful, but the Spirit doesn't show up to impress.  He shows up to correct. The Holy Spirit doesn't  make you feel chosen. He makes you feel convicted and safe enough to change. You know you have the Spirit when repentance becomes daily hygiene not public apology. When 'Lord, search me' is harder than 'Lord, use me.'

The fruit isn't flashy, it is actually inconvenient. Love that stays when it could leave. Joy that survives bad news. Peace that doesn't need control. Patience that bites its tongue. Kindness with no audience. Goodness when nobody is watching. Faithfulness when quitting would be easier. Gentleness that doesn't mean weak.  Self control that shuts doors before sin finishes knocking. And here is the plot twist.. The Spirit doesn't give you power to sin safely. He gives you the power to say no quietly.

You have the Holy Spirit when you stop asking, "How close can I get to the edge" and start asking why does this grieve Him? You don't just confess sin, you turn away from it. Not because you're scare of hell, but because you're scared of losing intimacy.

You don't justify anymore. You don't blame anymore. You don't call conviction shame just to keep your habits. 

THAT IS THE SIGN! Not perfection, not performance, but a heart that breaks fast and runs home faster. If repentance is alive the Spirit is present. And if that fruit is growing, even just slowly, He's already working. 

No checklist.

No hack.

Just evidence.

Until He Comes-

-Pat-

Let's Go For A Walk

The devil cannot make hell look beautiful, so he makes beautiful roads that lead there. These are roads that we've all walked, believer and non-believer alike. Unfortunately, some Christians are still walking those roads. They can't seem to find the exit ramp, but then, maybe they don't want to? Hear me. You can know the truth and still not be walking in it.

How so?

You can understand alignment, you can hear the teachings, you can even agree with everything that's being said, and you still live the exact same way. There's a difference between knowing the truth and walking in the the Spirit. Galatians 5 tells us to, "WALK IN THE SPIRIT AND YOU WILL NOT FULFILL THE LUST OF THE FLESH." The Bible doesn't say if you "think" about the spirit or you "just learn" about the spirit.  It says WALK IN THE SPIRIT..  

So how do we walk?

First, let's look at general terms. Walking means movement. Specifically, you're in touch with the ground. It connects you to your surroundings, it propels you forward, When you walk you improve your  health. You think more clearly. Walking helps to reduce mental chatter from everywhere around you, stress, and anxiety. Simply, it's movement toward a goal. And guess what? So is WALKING IN THE SPIRIT.

SO ..

Believers in Christ? That should be our goal moment by moment. 

We have knowledge, but we haven't built the walk. We know what's right but in a moment we still react. We still fall. We still have the same thoughts. We still move due to of the same habits. And it's not because we don't love God. It's because we haven't learned to walk with God in real time.

Your thoughts? They are seeds.

Your seeds become beliefs.

Your beliefs shape your actions.

The actions you do become habits.

The habits will shape the direction you take in life.

If we don't deal with how to control our thoughts or our habits, we're gong to keep living the same way. Walking in the spirit is not a feeling. It's not emotionalism. It's not waiting for something to come over you or walking around with constant tingles. It's learning how to respond in alignment with God right in the middle of real life, even when you're frustrated, when you're tempted, when you're emotions are overwhelmed, and when old thinking patterns are holding you back. That is where the walk really happens. 

Now, let's look at "walking" in spiritual terms .. Walk in the spirit specifically means, you're in touch with Jesus which grounds you and connects you to the Father in heaven, it propels you to move in His Word, to learn more, and desire to be more like Jesus. When you walk in the spirit  and follow biblical guidance there, it often leads to better physical outcomes and well-being- improving your  health. You think more clearly too as the Word refreshes your mind to become perceptive and discerning. Walking in the spirit also helps to reduce mental chatter the world is always throwing at you through deception and distraction, stress, and anxiety. Simply, walking in the Spirit is also movement toward a goal; heaven. And guess what? When you walk in the spirit as the Word lays out as your guide, you will find the sinful habits or things you used to do or agreed with- that same old lifestyle where Satan kept you a prisoner will no longer have the same appeal. Following Jesus involves a profound lifestyle shift ("go and sin no more" John 5:14, John 8:11), where true believers are called to deny selfish desires .. a new nature that leads to a transformed heart that desires righteousness and attitude toward sin, to hate what God hates (take up your cross and follow Me). And though we  can struggle under the weight of the cross (our old ways and habits) we fight sin and sinful tendencies with the help of the Holy Spirit.  The new nature now is that we no longer have the desire to live a lifestyle of willful, habitual, or unapplogetic sin.

Following Jesus involves a continuous process of being refined and moving away from sin rather than claiming instant flawless perfection. If we don't get this part, all the rest is just information. I don't want to just know truth. I want to WALK in truth! 

 Until He Comes,

-Pat-

How Can An Ancient Text Still Be Relevant Today?

 

I have been confronted many times by non-believers who say the bible is outdated, antiquated, and therefore not in touch with modern society. I disagree. SO .. how can an ancient text be relevant today?? Well, despite being written thousands of years ago, the Bible continues to speak to modern concerns:

identity

justice

love

fear

purpose

hope. 

The cultural details may feel distant, but the core human experiences are strikingly familiar. People still struggle with moral decisions, relationships, and the search for meaning, do they not? The Bible’s enduring influence comes from its ability to address those universal questions while pointing readers toward principles that transcend time. Its relevance isn’t found in mirroring modern life exactly, but in illuminating it from a deeper, often challenging perspective. One clear way the Bible remains relevant is in how it speaks to personal identity and purpose—questions people still wrestle with in the 21st century. In a world shaped by social media, career pressure, and constant comparison, many people ask, “Who am I, really?” and “What gives my life meaning?” Biblical themes emphasize identity rooted not in status or achievement but in relationship with God and intrinsic worth. 

Here's an example, teachings found in Psalms explore:

human emotion 

fear

joy

doubt

confidence

.. all in ways that feel strikingly modern. It's why I personally find myself reading the book of Psalms often, People still turn to those passages during anxiety, grief, or uncertainty because they articulate feelings that haven’t changed across centuries. It’s also highly relevant in how it addresses relationships and ethical living. Issues like forgiveness, justice, humility, and love are just as complicated now as they were in ancient times. These principles show up in modern conversations about restorative justice, reconciliation, and even mental health, where letting go of bitterness can have real emotional impact.

And what about the subjects of suffering, anxiety, and hope—things that haven’t disappeared with technology or progress? Despite advances in medicine and science, people still face loss, depression, and uncertainty about the future. The Bible doesn’t pretend those struggles aren’t real; instead, it gives language and perspective for enduring them. Books like Ecclesiastes wrestle openly with questions about meaning, mortality, and the seeming randomness of life—questions that sound very similar to modern existential concerns. At the same time, the Bible offers a long-term view of hope and restoration through a relationship with Jesus Christ, which many people find grounding when life feels unstable.

Finally, the Bible continues to influence larger cultural and societal values, even for people who don’t consider themselves religious! People are still asking questions the Bible does address if people would take the time to read it! Its relevance today isn’t about being ancient or modern—it’s about continuing to speak into questions that haven’t gone away.

Until He Comes-

Pat

Are You Being Deceived?

 

Here is an important question for everyone. How was Eve tricked by Satan in the garden? The same way many are being deceived today. Are you being deceived?

How was Eve deceived? Satan simply altered/changed through partial truth the words of  God. God commanded Eve regarding not eating the fruit of just ONE tree and Satan  exaggerated God's command to EVERY tree. Eve caught and corrected Satan by responding with the original truth that God said they were told not to eat of just one particular tree .. the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Satan, however, was determined to carry out his plan of deception by enticing her flesh, ADDING (that if they ate), "your eyes will be opened and you'll become as god's knowing good and evil."  This was a false promise of enlightenment. Again, Satan used "partial truth" because their eyes were opened, but to their own nakedness and shame. This moment marked the beginning of the fall. Just as the Word continues to be altered today. 

A. In the garden: The alteration-the lie- the enticement- the promise-the fall from grace. B. Today: the alteration- the lie- an enticement- and the promise you can be your own your own god/your own gender/anything you want. This is Satan's voice; a spirit of error - the desire for independence from God's moral authority.

When anyone rewrites, adds to, leaves out, or alters the Word of God to change and become a lie and then you believe it, you are being tricked by Satan. You cannot possibly know what's true or not true unless you study the Bible yourself. Let's take an example of altering God's Word that's relevant to today to get a clearer picture of what I mean.

There's a lot of talk in 2026 that the Bible supports gender nonconformity. Let me say conclusively, no, it does not. This is exactly how unread, un-studied, and unlearned people are misled, and making claims with zero biblical foundation. Let me be very clear, the Bible does not celebrate modern identity categories whether transgender, pangender, xenogender, genderqueer, non-binary, to name just a few. Scripture reveals who God is and then it calls us to align with Him, not the other way around.

I heard a trans person (his words in capital letters) say, "THE HEBREW PHRASE DESCRIBING JOSEPH'S GARMENT IN THE BIBLE, KETONET PASSIM, LITERALLY MEANS A DRESS WORN BY WOMEN."  This is lie, and it is what I mean by you have to diligently study the Word to discern truth from falsehood (2 Timothy 2:15). The Hebrew term used in Genesis is ketonet passim, that is correct. However, it does not mean "dress worn by women," it refers to a long ornamented robe and it's typically to distinguish authority, royalty or special favor. Genesis 37:3 -Joseph's father favored him so he made him a robe/coat/tunic of many colors. The gay community has associated and compared  this robe on Joseph to a male wearing a dress, and the "many colors"  as representing the LGBTQ+ rainbow flag (red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet). Can you see the deception? The unlearned and the deceived alike seem to pull from one verse and make it transform into what they want. But you can read in 2 Samuel 13:18 a royal daughter wears a similar garment. She was royalty not transgendered. But look at the leap misguided people make today:  "SHE WORE IT. IT IS A WOMAN'S DRESS, SO THEREFORE JOSEPH WEARING IT MEANS SOMETHING ELSE". No, that is not what the Word means and that's not how context works! This is what happens when you take one verse, ignore the context, and force a modern idea into ancient text. (I will write a blog at a later date on how an ancient text can still be relevant today). What was changed here concerning the  ketonet passim (robe) worn by Joseph? The  change in the Word of God which I heard spoken was  propagating and encouraging the lie, "JOSEPH'S FATHER EMBRACES HIM FOR WHO HE WAS, DIFFERENT, QUEER AND GENDER NON-CONFORMING."  Oh my. Surprise, surprise! That is not in the text at all. Nowhere in the Bible is there even a hint Joseph was different, queer, trans, or non-conforming! Again, the Word of God was spoken in partial truth-- Joseph WAS wearing a long, colorful robe, but in no way was it a woman's dress! The untruthful language is a deception by Satan to fit the LGBTQ narrative as a whole.

Finally, what the Bible does say is that Jacob loved Joseph more than his other sons (Genesis 37:3). Joseph wasn't favored because of some identity claim. He was favored because he was born later in Jacob's life, and was the son of the wife Jacob most loved. The robe was not about identity. The robe was about favoritism. AND that favoritism is exactly what caused tension between Joseph and his brothers. THIS is the pattern yet again! Take a real moment in scripture and then insert something that was never there. The unlearned man continued, "JOSEPH'S BROTHERS, HOWEVER, THEY REACTED VIOLENTLY, TRYING TO ERASE HIS IDENTITY. SOUND FAMILIAR?" No, reader, they did not try to erase Joseph's identity as this man is suggesting happening today. He is misinformed and misleading. Joseph's brothers were jealous (Genesis 37:4, 37:11), that's it.. Joseph was clearly favored. He was given status. He was set apart from them. Because of that they hated him. This is not about identity politics! This is about jealousy, family conflict, and ultimately God's plan unfolding through suffering. None of these transexual claims come from text. They come from projecting modern ideas INTO BIBLICAL TEXT and that's dangerous because it doesn't just confuse people, it rewrites what God actually says and leads other astray. Scripture warns us about people like this! They will turn away from listening to the truth and they will wander off into myths (2 Tim 4:3-4) -- a falsehood, the spirit of error. The man I pointed out today distorted scripture. You don't reshape scripture to fit your life! You let scripture reshape you! 

Until He Comes-

Pat Phillips

Sin and Iniquity

 

The words sin and iniquity are terms often used  in scripture.  Do  they mean the same thing? Yes and no. Both are related to doing bad things or going against what is considered right. They have slightly different meanings and scripture makes a  distinction  between the two, so it is important to know this difference when walking out our faith. Let's break it down.

**Sin can be defined as  a wrong action that goes against God's rule of law or His moral principles. It is usually seen as something you do, think, or feel. Sin is an individual wrong. It’s the moment  you lie, steal, commit adultery, harm someone, take the Lord's name in vain, etc. It's desire or lust turned into action. In each of these cases, a person makes the choice to do something wrong. This is the world. We are  all guilty of sin.

**Iniquity on the other hand  is a deeper and more serious kind of wrong  especially concerning a so-called person of faith.  Iniquity is when a person doesn't commit just any sin but he or she develops a likeable, intentional, repetitive cycle of that unabashed sin, continuing in it without remorse, guilt, or any forward intention of repenting or wanting to change (AND HERE'S THE KEY ) ..  it's habitual despite knowing God's law regarding what they are doing.   

Simply said:

Sin = A wrong action against the law of God. We've all missed the mark (Romans 3:23)

Iniquity = A pattern of doing wrong and repeatedly doing wrong when you know it's against God's WORD. 

Word  to the growing Christian, If you steal something once (sin) even if out of need, you might feel bad about it and not do it again. You repent, ask forgiveness, and move on. But that same Christian, if you steal something as an example, do it over and over and over knowing it's wrong and without ever feeling convicted, guilty, or repentant,  it’s more than just a bad action, it’s iniquity. A quick example might be pre-marital sex but the excuse is made, "but we're in love and we're going to get married anyway so it can't be wrong." Dear Christian, fornication is fornication. God never compromises His laws.

It's important to note, though the word "iniquity" appears in scripture several times, it does especially when God is describing judgment or punishment. God is angered by iniquity and addresses habitual or deeply ingrained sin warning it leads to judgment.  In Luke 13:27 Jesus is speaking, "Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity." Meaning? The following verse is similar: Matthew 7:23 Jesus said He will say to people who desire to be let in heavens door and who believe their on claim to have followed and believed in Him,  "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, you that work iniquity."  Notice Jesus didn't say He knew them once, or a long time ago, He said NEVER KNEW! Habitual sinner you were never saved even if you went through all the motions. Iniquity keeps you outside the Kingdom walls. Jesus uses the words, "you that work iniquity" OR "workers" of iniquity, indicating  habitually working in sin often masking their behavior under a pretense of goodness. Further, a "worker" is someone who invests effort into doing, planning, and practicing evil deeds.. Psalm 6:8 points this out as does Matthew 7:23. It implies lifestyle of repeated active rebellion against righteousness, rather than just occasional mistakes, slips, or a temporary lapse in judgment or failure. If you claim to be Christian, faithfully going to church each week, studying the Bible, being a good person, even being baptized, yet you are habitually sinning without repentance and turning from it, you are caught up in iniquity. You need to repent while there's still time. Jesus is coming soon.

Until He Comes-

-Pat-

Why Does God Allow Suffering?

 

One of the most common questions people wrestle with has been: “Why does God allow suffering?” This question shows up everywhere—from personal tragedies to global disasters—and it can shake faith at its core. Have you ever asked yourself or heard another say, "why did she have to die like that" or " why would God allow an innocent baby to get brain cancer?" The hard truth is, we learn and grow from suffering directly or indirectly, and the Bible doesn’t give a single, simple answer, but it offers a layered perspective. It teaches that human freedom plays a role; from the earliest stories, people are given the ability to choose and with that comes the possibility of harm. At the same time, suffering is not presented as meaningless. Many passages point to growth, perseverance, and a deeper dependence on God emerging through hardship. While that may not erase pain, it reframes it as something that can be transformed rather than wasted. Examples:

Job, Joseph, and Daniel. 

1. Job lost children, wealth, and his health yet remained faithful to God despite immense suffering and pressure to curse God.

2. Joseph endured betrayal by his brothers, slavery, and false imprisonment but trusted God's providence and became second-in command of Egypt.

3. Daniel was thrown into a lions den and saved.

and there were others: Naomi, Jeremiah, Hannah, even Paul the Apostle.

These individuals often faced situations where they had to abandon self-reliance and rely completely on God, often discovering His power through their weakness 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10. The question becomes especially intense when the suffering involves people who seem to have done nothing to deserve it—children, the vulnerable, or those caught in circumstances beyond their control. The Bible doesn’t ignore that tension; in fact, books like Job are built around it. Job is described as righteous, yet he loses everything, and the story deliberately resists the idea that suffering is always a direct punishment for wrongdoing. His friends try to force that explanation, but they are ultimately corrected. The message there pushes us away from simple cause-and-effect thinking and toward humility about what we can fully understand. One way the Bible approaches innocent suffering is by placing it within a larger, broken world rather than tying it to individual guilt. From early on, it presents humanity as living in a condition where things are not as they should be—where injustice, disease, and death exist alongside good. In that sense, suffering isn’t always targeted; it’s often the result of living in a reality where freedom, natural processes, and human choices intersect in painful ways. That doesn’t make it feel fair, but it shifts the question from “Why this person?” to “Why is the world like this at all?”—a deeper and more complex issue.

Another point is that the Bible portrays God as entering into suffering rather than remaining distant from it. Jesus was described as a man of sorrows acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3), a man who weeps with those who mourn (Hebrews 2:18), and John 11:35 described as a sympathetic High Priest sharing in human weakness to provide comfort. In the New Testament, the life of Jesus Christ centers on someone who is described as innocent yet experiences betrayal, injustice, and death. That doesn’t answer every philosophical question, but it reframes the issue: God is not depicted as detached from human pain but as participating in it. For many believers, that becomes a source of comfort—not because it explains suffering away, but because it suggests that suffering is seen, shared, and ultimately not the final word. I suppose this question doesn’t have a fully satisfying  answer—and maybe it’s not meant to. Any explanation that neatly justifies innocent suffering risks minimizing its weight. What the Bible seems to offer instead is a combination of honesty and hope: honesty that suffering, even of the innocent, is real and often inexplicable; and hope that it is not meaningless or permanent. It invites trust without demanding blind acceptance, and it leaves room for lament, questioning, and even protest. Which admittedly I have done some myself. In that way, wrestling with the question may actually be part of a deeper kind of faith rather than a failure of it.

Until He Comes-

-Pat Phillips-

A Lost Sheep

 

LUKE 15:4

“What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine… and go after that which is lost, until he find it?” 

When first reading this years ago, I didn't understand  leaving 99 sheep for one? It sounded like an  irresponsible thing to do. But as I've studied over the years, verses have become more clear.  Why leave ninety-nine sheep for one? It feels inefficient. But picture it in everyday terms. If a mother has three children and one wanders into danger, she doesn’t say, “Well, I still have two.” Love doesn’t calculate percentages. The value of the one isn’t reduced because there are many. The shepherd isn’t neglecting the ninety-nine; he is revealing his heart. The sheep isn’t rescued because it was the smartest, strongest, or most deserving, It was rescued because it was His.

Now think about the sheep. Sheep don’t usually rebel dramatically; they drift. They nibble a little farther, get distracted, look up , and suddenly they don’t recognize where they are. This is what happened to me. I became too distracted by Face Book, spending too many hours distracted by updates, posts, showing off my beloved dogs, visiting pages, commenting, etc.

That’s how most people wander. Not with fists raised at God, but slowly, subtly, preoccupied. And when a sheep is lost, it doesn’t find its way back by strategy. It needs to be found. The shepherd goes searching. That tells you something powerful: God’s pursuit is not passive. He doesn’t just stand at the gate hoping you’ll figure it out. He moves toward the lost.

And here’s the part that undoes people: when he finds the lost or wandering sheep, he lays it on his shoulders rejoicing. Not scolding. Not lecturing. Carrying. The shepherd absorbs the weight of the wandering sheep. That’s grace. The ninety-nine represent those who already know they’re safe with him. But heaven celebrates over one who is restored. The story isn’t about math — it’s about mercy. And the heartbeat behind it is this: no one is too small, too lost, or too far for Him to go after. I know. He came for me!

Until He Comes-

-Pat Phillips-

"Cleanse me from secret faults."

Hmm, secrets faults? What are secret faults? God’s law shows what sin is (Romans 7:7; 1 John 3:4). Looking into the law helps us to see ourselves and what we need to change (James 1:23-25).

Still, David realized that we have blind spots. We may not recognize some sins in our own lives, but they are not secret to God. Asking God to cleanse us of secret sins implies more than just asking Him to forgive them. We need God to reveal them to us so we can commit to change and seek His help to overcome these sins.

The godly man is not only concerned about avoiding committing sins willfully, but also with extracting those hidden sins that are committed unknowingly: 

jealousy, arrogance, selfishness, laziness, desire for control, passive-aggression, inability to apologize, lying to avoid a conflict or protect our ego... all flaws often kept "secret."

Because we so often allow our carnal natures to dominate us, we remain blind to many of our sins and character flaws until God reveals them to us through the Holy Spirit. Sometimes “secret faults” can even be wounds, defenses, habits formed long ago that operate automatically. We don’t consciously choose them  they just run in the background.

 Notice the order in this Psalm right after asking cleansing from secret faults, David says: “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins…” (verse13). There’s a progression ... Secret faults → hidden, subtle/Presumptuous sins → willful, bold, rebellious/Hidden things, if not cleansed, grow into hardened things. And this goes right along with  Psalm 139: “Search me, O God, and know my heart… and see if there be any wicked way in me.” That’s spiritual maturity ... inviting examination. “I may be wrong in ways I don’t know. Cleanse even those.” That’s safe ground spiritually.

Until He Comes-

-Pat Phillips-

 

Neither cast ye your pearls before swine

 

Matthew 7:6 taught, "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you." I understand the first part, but what is meant by "lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you."

This is a part of the Sermon on the Mount taught by Jesus Christ and is a metaphor (“don’t give holy things to dogs” & “don’t cast pearls before swine”). The second part "lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you" explains why. Imagery is being used. Pearls are something valuable (wisdom, truth, sacred teaching). Swine (pigs) are creatures that cannot recognize the value of pearls. Dogs (in the ancient context anyway) are often wild scavengers, not beloved pets. Let's break it down:

A. “Lest they trample them under their feet…” If you throw pearls to pigs, they don’t recognize them as valuable, treat them like dirt, and step on them or crush them. Meaning people who cannot appreciate wisdom or sacred truth may treat it with contempt, mockery, or indifference.

B. "And turn again and rend you.” The word rend means to tear apart or attack violently. The idea is that once the pigs realize the pearls aren’t food, they may become frustrated or aggressive or turn on the person who threw them. Not only will some people reject or disrespect valuable truth, they may also attack, ridicule, or harm the person who offered it. Putting the whole verse together the full thought is essentially ... don’t offer sacred or valuable things to people who are incapable of appreciating them, because they will both destroy the value and may turn against you for giving it.

You could translate the whole idea like this: don’t waste profound truth on people determined to scorn it—they’ll trash it and may attack you for saying it. Subtle point many miss. This verse isn’t saying never share truth. In the broader teaching of Jesus, it’s about discernment—recognizing when someone is genuinely open vs. hostile and determined to ridicule. Knowing when not to engage is part of wisdom. Proverbs 4:7.

Until He Comes-

-Pat Phillips-

How Do You Really Know If You're SAVED?

 If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I really saved?” You’re not alone. 

Some people are confused when it comes to this subject.  I get it. Some people will tell you it's a matter of “just believe” (just agree Jesus is your Lord and Savior). Others believe they have to do more and earn it. Still others simply believe the act of walking to the front of a church after the altar call is sufficient. So which is it? 

" Am I saved"  is one of the most important questions anyone could ever ask. And the answer isn't found in opinions or denominations. It's found in the words of Jesus Himself. Start with John 14:6. Jesus said, "I am The Way, and The Truth, and The Life. No one comes to the Father except by Me." THAT'S IT. Jesus didn't say He was "a" way, or "one of many ways," He said, " I am THE way." Salvation begins and ends with Jesus. It is not earned by your behavior. It is RECEIVED by belief! Genuine faith by the Son of God who died and rose again for you.

Here's where people get confused. Salvation is not about doing more. BUT, it is also isn't about repeating a prayer and then walking away unchanged. When you truly give your life to Jesus something inside you changes. Your desires, your heart, your direction. You don't become  perfect overnight. But your spirit is made new. That's what Jesus meant in John 3:3 when He said, "Truly truly, I say unto you, unless a man be born again, he will cannot see the Kingdom of God." The word born-again doesn't mean a checklist. It means transformation. It's the moment God takes you from spiritual death to spiritual life. And yes, real faith produces fruit (the 9 characteristics of a life led by the Holy Spirit- see Galatians 5:22 for that list).  Matthew 7:17-18 also reminds us, every healthy tree bears good fruit. Now, fruit doesn't save you, it's the manifestation you're direction has changed. You're new. Alive.  "Born-again."

So to the person wondering, Am I truly saved? Here's what to remember: you don't get saved by doing more. You get saved by surrendering more. You don't earn God's love, you respond to it. You don't climb  your way to heaven! Jesus already brought heaven down to you. If you've accepted Him, REALLY accepted Him trust what he said in John 10: 28, "I give them eternal life and they will never perish. And no one pluck them out of my hand." That's security. That's assurance. But don't mistake that grace for permission to live however you want. If Jesus is your Savior, he is also your Lord. That means we follow Him. Not to be saved, but because we ARE saved!

If you're still wondering if you are really saved, ask yourself this:  "Did I just say the words or did I surrender my life? Because when Jesus moves in, He does not rent space. He takes over.

Until He Comes,

Pat

Why Me, Lord?

 

Have you ever asked yourself, "Why me?" For whatever reason have you ever said, why did I get the short end of the stick? What did I do to be punished like this? Why does everyone else get a break but me? Why did I get cursed with cancer when there are worse people than I? What hardship, misfortune, or a health crisis are you facing that you want the "why me" answers to? Where do we start? First, are you aware these type of questions within ourselves are actually a spiritual inquiry? Think about it! Who are you really asking? God! He holds all the answers and His answers to everything lies in His Word. 

Mistakenly, people have a tendency to evaluate and judge their own behaviors by measuring the behaviors and actions of others. For example, we might attribute certain flaws in others as the very measuring stick to excuse our own imperfections! When we judge someone's actions as worse than our own then comes the "why me" when we are struck with tragedy. Understand, God does not measure sin by its severity. Read that again. Man does that! God does not. Sin is sin in God's eyes. Stealing is not more severe than rape, nor murder more than extortion, or sexual perversion more than using God's name in vain. A thief who has been caught stealing $500.00 or $5,000 is guilty of theft, and theft is a sin. Period. James 2:10 is saying, Whoever obeys and keep the whole law, yet screws up in one point, he is guilty of disobeying all the laws. For Jesus who said,  "Do not commit adultery, yet even if a person never commits the sin of adultery but commits murder, he has become a transgressor of the law and is just as guilty if he broke every law in the book." Why? Adultery or murder, all is transgression. Big or small, all is wrong. GOD SIMPLY JUDGES TRANSGRESSIONS NOT DEGREES OF IT! The Bible tells us in Matthew 5:45, "It rains on the just and the unjust alike." God's love, provision, and even  judgment extends to everyone, regardless of their moral standing.

By this we know, a person's behavior (good or bad) does not exempt us from tragedy or misfortune. Man creates his own bad luck through tragedy, adversity, hardships, etc. It's not God punishing you and overlooking the sinful person who breaks all the rules. EVERY result, mishap, disease, illness, disorder, bad-luck, misfortune, problem, difficulty or issue originates from us! Think that through. I had a lady really get angry with me regarding this subject. She snapped, "So you mean to tell me my husband purposely gave himself cancer? You're crazy." I asked, "Did he smoke? Did he abuse alcohol? Did he often dine at McDonalds or any other fast food restaurant? Did he consume a lot of sugar? We cause our own illnesses and if not purposely, then look into genetics." She was silent. Personally, I was no angel growing up either. I've committed sins I am not proud of. But I changed! From age 40 I came to Christ with my sins, repented, and began a new change. 

Life was great!! Great until 15 years later and learned I have a disease that destroys the myelin sheath around the nerve fibers in my body. Without that protection, my muscles could not and cannot receive messages from my brain to move and function properly. Peripheral nerves are now damaged throughout my body. I went from stumbling, to tripping, to falling, to a cane, then a transport chair, wheelchair, electric wheelchair, to a hospital bed unable to walk, sit up on, roll over, or move on my own. Numbness has resulted in paralysis in several areas of my body. "Why me, Lord?" Did I ask that? You bet I did. And I was sure to remind Him of many more people much more "evil" than I ever could even imagine being so why was I being punished especially after giving my life, soul, heart, and mind to Him. God wasn't punishing me while "real sinners" (I thought of them) got away with everything. No, my disorder is GENETIC. It's called Charcot, Marie, Tooth disorder (CMT for short), and named after those three doctors who discovered it. Basically, it's a screw up in a gene or chromosome caused by a mutation. I inherited mine from my dad. So see, God was not punishing me for past sins. My problems are simply a genetic flaw.

You may ask, when you were diagnosed didn't you get mad at God? My answer is no. But I did cry because up to the point of being totally disabled, I was a very active woman ... taking care of house repairs, mowing, weed-eating, gardening, swimming, hiking, camping, traveling every 3 weeks to a new place etc. Now, I have very little movement left. In fact, I have one index finger remaining that isn't completely numb I'm typing this blog with. It will take about 4 hours to complete writing. Recent discoveries have shown CMT can now move to the internal organs affecting heart, lungs, digestion, bowels. You can guess where that might lead. Am I bitter? No. Mad at God? No. When I gave my life to Jesus, I was given the promise of eternal life, a new glorified body free of disease, and the promise of an eternity with Him that will surpass anything we can imagine. This life is short and temporary. I'm preparing for the next!

Until He Comes.

-Pat-

Enabling Wrong Doing

                               

Question: If your parents approved of everything you wanted to do when you were 13 years old, would they have been loving? No, of course not. Love doesn't mean approval! Love doesn't mean enabling people to do what is wrong.  Love means You are STANDING IN THE WAY OF WHAT'S WRONG. If you approve of everything your child wants to do, you're not loving, you're unloving. You're an enabler. In fact, there is a passage from the Bible that everybody reads at their wedding, but nobody obeys, it is 1 Corinthians 13. Here is what Paul said about love: Love does not rejoice in wrongdoing. Love rejoices in the truth. Love always protects. Love always perseveres." You don't protect people when you approve of the wrong they're doing, you're doing the opposite! Hear me. In fact, Jesus who went to the cross for us gave us one new command. Do you know what that is? It is this: "A new commandment I give you, to love one another as I have loved you" (1 John 13:34). How did Jesus love us? He sacrificed Himself for us. So what is love for us?? It means sacrifice. It doesn't mean approval.

You know, when people fail to tell others what they know to be true it's because they don't want to hurt your feelings. They are afraid you'll get mad. They feel you might get your friends to disapprove of them, or you might cut them off forever. Do you know what people like that are doing? They are enabling you to do what is wrong. And a lot of times we withhold the truth because we don't want people mad at us. And do you know why we do that? We want to take the easy way. We will sacrifice them for our benefit rather than sacrificing ourselves for their benefit. That's what love is! To sacrifice yourself for the benefit of others! So you need to tell people what the truth is even if it means losing them forever. LOVE does not mean approval. Thomas Sowell once said, "When you want to help people, you tell them the truth. When you want to help yourself, you tell them what they want to hear." How often do we tell people what they want to hear? Oh, we don't want to risk the relationship, right? What kind of relationship do you have anyway if you can't tell them the truth? 

When, as Christians of faith, we know someone's actions or beliefs are biblically wrong, we are to speak the truth in love. I recently witnessed this within my own family. Oh how it hurts to see 2 people you love drifting apart. When you see one following and standing on Christian principals and the other actually agreeing blindly to worldly concepts opposite of Biblical truth it's hard to watch. Oh how clever Satan is to ever convince us wrong is right and right is wrong. Approving a persons homosexuality is not loving that person, it enables them to believe wrong is right. Approval of an abortion is not loving that person, it enables them to believe wrong is right. So many people are mistaken that if they approve of another persons sin they are actually doing Gods will by "loving one another." This is a deception of Satan! Yes, we are to love everyone BY TELLING THEM THE GOSPEL TRUTH of these matters. Jesus told the truth and they killed Him!

It's interesting to note, scripture tells us in Paul's writings, that the devil actively blinds the minds of those who don't believe in Jesus. Notice, Paul was not speaking about the eyes when he refers to blindness. He's telling us our minds are kept in the dark from truth, from God's spoken Word WHEN WE DON'T BELIEVE JESUS. The Bible testifies that "Jesus was the WORD made flesh." Not believing therefore, means you don't believe THE WORD (the Bible), for the Word clearly states homosexuality is wrong (Leviticus 18:22) and literally calls it an abomination. It's mentioned again in the New Testament Romans 1:26-29, explaining how men change from lusting after women over to lusting after men. It's written. God said it in the Old and New Testament. If you are of the mindset (an actively blinded mind) to this truth, you are not loving that person you are enabling them to continue in the error of their way. The same holds true if you follow the crowds worldly concept regarding abortion when God has something to say about this again in both the Old and New testament. Abortion is the shedding/murder of innocent blood and once again God refers to it as an abomination (Proverbs 6:17). God knows every spirit/baby BEFORE WE ARE EVER FORMED IN THE WOMB because He is our creator (Jeremiah 1:5) and Psalm 139 refers to Gods involvement in the development of a fetus. Exodus 21:22-23 refers to the pregnant woman and the fetus as 2 separate lives. God tells us we are more than just a clump of cells. Satan has convinced the blind you are a clump of cells and nothing more. We are given life/a spirit at the moment of conception!

For those who say they are Christians yet support the worldly concept God made homosexuals the way they are have been tricked, deceived, and manipulated by Satan himself and have called the WORD of GOD (Jesus) a liar when He has said and showed us differently as I pointed out in the scriptures above. By "accepting" this lie, you are enabling sin and encouraging the person to remain there in that sin. The same goes for those who approve of abortion. Abortion is murder. Murder is different than killing. Murder is INTENT! Killing can be an accident. Murder is never an accident. Abortion is something thought out, an act one INTENDS to do: "Get this thing out of me." "If my parents find out, I'm dead." "I'm too young to be a mother." "My husband cannot find out this isn't his." "I know I'm in my 9th month but I've changed my mind. I don't want it now." All these are INTENT to do harm and end a life, and that is murder!

If you say you are a Christian, if you say you believe God's Word (do you even read it thoroughly?), if you pray for others, if you go to church each week, if you wear a crucifix around your neck but still believe homosexuality is okay, abortion is okay, if you  believe, follow, or vote for those that promote those sins you are assisting an evil work across this nation. I would encourage you to read the Bible more thoroughly and ask God to forgive the path you've been on and quickly turn to truth, READ THE BIBLE, research these subjects, renew your mind, and come to the light. Don't allow yourself to be closed minded. Only darkness hates light. Don't run from light. Read the Bible, know the Bible. See if what you believe agrees with or contradicts God's Word. Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God (James 4:4-8). If another Christian,  spouse, friend, or even a family member asks why you support such anti-biblical ideas, they are doing so out of love. At least have a conversation. Don't close your mind. Don't shun or push them away. After all, they are sacrificing themselves. It's called love.

Until He Comes,

-Pat-

Well Done My Good And Faithful Servant

 

I don't know about you, but I long to hear these words when I pass from this earth onto the next life, "Well Done My Good And Faithful Servant." I have actually imagined the exact picture you see above of myself and Jesus. When I saw this picture, I had to use it for this weeks blog! I can hardly wait to run into His arms! Have you ever questioned what Jesus meant by the three words My faithful servant?  I mean, how do you know if you're being a faithful servant? Is it by being nice to everyone you see?  Always attending Sunday services? Never gossiping, holding your temper, or your faithfulness to tithe? Jesus told us how we can know. To begin, Jesus said, "One who is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much" (Luke 16:10). As an example, I think a modern illustration of this might be the following:  A newly hired man was in the lunch line at a company cafeteria.  As chance would have it, he was just ahead of the CEO, but when the CEO saw the man slide a 3 cent pat of butter under his dinner role, the CEO realized the company had hired the wrong man. How could that act determine the CEO's conclusion? If the employee wasn't going to be honest enough to pay for a 3 cent pat of butter, he certainly couldn't be trusted with more. Right? Are YOU faithful in the little things?  If not, how can the Lord expect you to be faithful in the big things He wants to reveal or give you authority over?  If we're being faithful to Jesus, this means we're being faithful to His Word. It means we are obeying His Word, all of His Word, and developing the character of Christ. He said, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep my Word, and my Father will love him, and We will come to him and make our home with him" (John 14:23). 

So you're thinking... "Okay, what are the 'little things I should be faithful in?'  They are the small things we often give no credence to! Are you faithful to commune with God on a daily basis through prayer, through reading His Word, meditating on Him or simply conversing with Him? You said you love Him, right?  Don't you commune with your spouse daily? Do you also make time for God whom you say you love? How about the disciplines of self-control or giving back to God? Do you keep the promises you made to God? Are you a faithful witness of the Truth even when remaining silent would be easier? Do you step forward to help a fellow brother even if it's an inconvenience? These are examples of "little things" which exhibit the character of a true follower of Jesus. If you cannot do the little things, how can you expect God to entrust bigger things to you? You see, small things such as these often prove a servants heart! It is in the small things that we grow into the character of Christ. We are tested in these areas. The Master is temporarily away and has given us, His servants, talents to use wisely.  We are not to hold onto them, we are to use them to gain more people for the Kingdom -- I call it spiritual interest (refer to Matthew 25: 14-30 ---parable of the talents).  Jesus said, "For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance.  But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."  It's simple to understand if you use money as an allegory to this parable. Invest your money and you'll gain interest.  Invest in the Kingdom and you'll gain people for the Kingdom of God. Hide your money in a nightstand drawer and it gains no interest.  Hide the talents God has given you and no one will hear the gospel or see the character of Christ in you that the world so needs to see.  Nothing is gained!

What I share with you through my blogs can be compared to a biblical "talent"  (not a skill) that the Lord freely gave me with the purpose of investing, that if I invest, I will gain interest on my investment. Just like the Kingdom, God entrusted me with His Word and I am investing it in YOU!  Therefore, I build the Kingdom and earn interest on my investment through gaining people for Christ! Bottom line, THE PROOF OF BEING A FAITHFUL SERVANT is doing what God says. It's simple to understand.  And though none of us do it perfectly, we are still motivated by love to obey Him. Jesus summed it up, "If you love Me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15).  And it's good to keep His Word.  Why?  Because, Jesus assured, "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in His love" (John 15:10). You can't say you love Jesus and continually disobey Him. Disobedience does not allow the character of Christ to develop in you. That makes no sense for a child of God. I think we can understand that Jesus and the Father's will are one in the same ... they always agree perfectly in everything, including the will of the Holy Spirit, so we know that the Father's will is Jesus' will, and that Jesus always did the will of the Father, so Jesus has some joyous news for those of us who do the will of the Father: "For whosoever does the will of My Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother" (Matthew 22:50). Wow!  How about that? If you are faithful to Jesus' teachings, then you are actually being faithful to the Father's will because they are the same!  They agree on everything.  If we do what Jesus commands, we are doing the will of God and are "good and faithful servants."   Whoever does God's will is going to be blessed by God, but they will also be full of joy, knowing they are doing their Master's will. Whatever we do for Jesus, we are doing for the Father and vice versa!

What else makes us faithful?  I believe if you are a servant of Christ, you cannot help but speak about Christ. That does not mean you have to teach, preach, write books or blogs, or even have eloquent words. You can simply "speak what you have seen and heard" (Acts 4:20).  If you were among your family or friends knowing you've learned something from the Word of God, and their conversation opposes WHAT YOU KNOW TO BE TRUE, you shouldn't be ashamed to speak the truth you learned from scripture.  There's no need to argue your point, simply share what God has said.  It could be one line or one scripture.  By doing so, you have stood up for the truth and spread the gospel by planting a seed in their heart. It's not up to you to harvest, just plant and God will water as He sees fit. Everything we have is from God. We are all simply stewards of what God has given us and He expects us to be faithful with what we've been given, whether little or much: 30, 60, or 100 fold (Mark 4:20). Here are some things you might consider.  

1) Do you wish you had the same knowledge and understanding of the Bible that your preacher/pastor has? How much time are you devoting to reading, learning, and searching to understanding Scriptures? It's the little things.

2) You would love to be a part of an overseas mission your church has begun involving feeding third world children. That's all good and well, but have you considered taking a couple sacks of groceries to your next door neighbor who lost his job months ago? It's the little things.

 3) You're assisting your mother who has fallen ill with cancer.  Have you ever given a donation to support the local children's hospital?  Or do you figure someone else will step up and do it? Besides, you have already given a "Sunday tithe."  It's the little things.

These are the "little things" that display the character of Christ.  If we are not faithful as Christians with the little things God has shown us and given us, how can He trust us with the bigger responsibilities of the Kingdom? We are to be faithful with what amount we were given, but also in keeping His Word wherever we go and whatever we do; doing His will and not denying His Name before others because we are all only stewards, really owning nothing at all.  It is all from God and so to God we owe all! It is our duty to be good and faithful servants, and if we are, we too will hear those precious words, "Well done, good and faithful servant.  You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much.  Enter into the joy of the Lord" (Matthew 25:23).  

Until He Comes,

-Pat-