Romans 5:2-4 “Also through Him, we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, 4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.”
The Definition of Affliction
–Noun
1. A state of pain, distress, or grief; misery: They sympathized with us in our affliction.
2. A cause of mental or bodily pain, as sickness, loss, calamity, or persecution
Syn: Calamity; sorrow; distress; grief; pain; adversity; misery; wretchedness; misfortune; trouble; hardship.
Usage: Affliction and sorrow are terms of wide and general application; grief and distress have reference to particular cases. Affliction is the stronger term. The suffering lies deeper in the soul, and usually arises from some powerful cause, such as the loss of what is most dear -- friends, health, etc. We do not speak of mere sickness or pain as "an affliction," though one who suffers from either is said to be afflicted; but deprivations of every kind, such as deafness, blindness, loss of limbs, etc., are called afflictions, showing that term applies particularly to prolonged sources of suffering. Sorrow and grief are much alike in meaning, but grief is the stronger term of the two, usually denoting poignant mental suffering for some definite cause, as, grief for the death of a dear friend; sorrow is more reflective, and is tinged with regret, as, the misconduct of a child is looked upon with sorrow. Grief is often violent and demonstrative; sorrow deep and brooding. Distress implies extreme suffering, either bodily or mental. In its higher stages, it denotes pain of a restless, agitating kind, and almost always supposes some struggle of mind or body. Affliction is allayed, grief subsides, sorrow is soothed, and distress is mitigated.
Psalm 6:6 “I am weary from my groaning; with my tears I dampen my pillow and drench my bed every night.”
How many times have you felt this way? Been suffering from pain, distress, grief or misery and asked God, “God, why is this happening to me? It’s not fair! What have I done to deserve this? When will it end?”
It took me quite a while to more fully understand why Father would want us to rejoice in our afflictions, and how we were expected to do so. When I read Romans 5:2-4 which is quoted at the start of this article, I understood completely that afflictions produce endurance and endurance produces proven character. I could see how each affliction endured was like a hurdle we must jump and how there were lessons along the way that make us stronger and wiser. But rejoice? How could I possibly be GLAD that I’m experiencing pain, distress, grief or misery? I could endure…but how much character did I need? And how long would it take to obtain proven character?
And then late one night as I prayed for strength during a time of mental stress and suffering, I heard within my mind, “rejoice in your afflictions, for they bring you closer to Me.”.
And I’d have to say that’s when it hit me. Who do I turn to when I’m suffering and affliction? Father. She’s the one who provides comfort and who speaks to and guides my heart in any given situation. And while afflictions do definitely produce endurance and proven character, they also bring us closer to Her when She is the one we turn to when we’re experiencing these afflictions – She hears our prayers and sees our tears. And they also bring us further along the narrow path in making it home to Her for Eternity, which is yet another way of coming closer to Her.
2 Kings 20:5 "Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of My people, 'This is what the LORD God of your ancestor David says: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Look, I will heal you. On the third day [from now] you will go up to the LORD's temple.”
So now I understand why we should rejoice in our afflictions, knowing that Father is there to comfort, guide, counsel and support us each and every step of the way. Rejoice and continue looking to Her and thanking Her for each day that goes by regardless of if it's a day with or without afflictions. Rejoice in knowing She’s the One who is always faithfully there for us and She is the One who sooths our sorrows, allays our afflictions and mitigates our distress and rejoice in knowing that through it all we grow ever closer to Her.
And finally, rejoice in knowing that it will not be forever… for the LORD has also spoken the following words:
Isaiah 25:8 “He will destroy death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove His people's disgrace from the whole earth, for the LORD has spoken.”
I’ve been inspired by so many happenings as of late that it’s hard to know where to start this week’s article. If I could write two full pages of all the ways in which Father amazes me I would… but the list is truly endless and it would not accomplish my duty of ministering to Christ Jesus’ extended flock. What I can say though, is that over and over again the bottomless depths of Her love has been shown to me and it’s a true testament of Her faithfulness and loyalty to Her creation and how all glory belongs to Her.
Each day, we must go through life and life is a series of ups and downs, happiness and joy and sadness and disappointments. Life is not easy and it is not always fair either and dealing with these ups and downs can be quite a challenge. At times the worries and anxieties of life in this world currently belonging to Dawn Lucifer can be overwhelming. Whenever we encounter a crossroads, we can often initially feel boxed in, confused, hopeless, lost, discouraged, depressed… and it’s at these times that we must master our emotions and exhibit self-control and cling tightly to our faith and trust in our heavenly Father and creator.
I think most of us have encountered situations in which we’ve tried to solve on our own without seeing Father’s guidance and in turn we find ourselves hitting one or more brick walls on the path we thought was the best to take. We may even feel with all that we are that this path is either the only path, or the correct path in which to travel down. But that may not be so.
At any point when we encounter a difficult situation or decision that we must make, is the time in which we must slow down, take a deep breath, carefully consider all our options, and simply wait. What? Yes, I said wait! We must patiently wait for Father to work through us, or those around us, to show us the path that She wills us to take and we must also have faith, that Her will, will be revealed in perfect timing and we must trust in Her that the path, regardless of what it is, is the right one for us.
Proverbs 4:26 “Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established.”
At each crossroads of life, we must stop and consider the path our feet are taking. Take time to pray to Father and meditate and ponder our options, always listening to our hearts and feeling sincere surrender to Father’s will for us. Careful consideration is what will open yourself up to hearing and feeling Father’s love and direction, so that we may then walk forward without fear. Surrender is required because the path revealed may not be one in which we initially thought it might be. Father hears all our prayers, but Her wisdom surpasses anything we could possibly imagine.
Proverbs 5:21 “For a man's ways are before the LORD's eyes, and He considers all his paths.”
So once we’ve done this, how do we know that a path is right? To put it most simply, there are no brick walls. Things move along smoothly and sometimes even swiftly, and suddenly we find ourselves carried away in Father’s will. Everything comes together, and we are able to find peace can calm in knowing that we are doing the right thing, because Father makes a way where before none existed.
Psalm 23:3 “He renews my life; He leads me along the right paths for His name's sake.”
Are you not fully convinced that Father can and will make a way when before none existed? Think of the Israelites and the parting of the Red Sea. No path existed for them either, and yet Father made a way for them to escape Egypt; which was essentially a path, across the dry bed of the Red Sea.
Isaiah 43:16 “This is what the LORD says— who makes a way in the sea, and a path through surging waters,”
In times of difficulty, have hope. Have faith. Have trust and surrender to Her will. Know in our hearts that when we go to Her for Her guidance, the waters will be parted and the right path will be revealed and She will tenderly love and care for us each step of the way as Her beloved child.
John 15:1-8 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vineyard keeper. 2 Every branch in me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.
5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.
Many people have speculated as to who or what, God is. In truth, God is our Father Yahweh, our Creator, our Mother and Father, and the energy source of all life on earth and in the heavens. She is symbolized as a great tree and we are the branches that extend from Her out in all directions. You can see Her signature in the branches of every tree that extend out in a Y, which represents the first initial of Her name, Yahweh. Without Her, none of us and none of anything in both the visible fleshly realm and invisible spiritual realm, all of which are in fact also energy, would exist.
This is evident in John 15:1-8, in which Christ Jesus is explaining that like a branch that has been cut off from a tree cannot exist, neither can we exist without Father. And, if it weren’t for Christ’s sacrifice for us we also would not exist, as we would not have had our ransom paid which affords us the opportunity of eternal life – which is why we must remain in him via our faith and in being his footstep followers. One cannot obtain eternal life without an acceptance of Christ as Lord and Savior, so without Christ and the sacrifice he made, we would have lost the opportunity of existence and without Father Yahweh we would not exist at all.
Seem deep? It’s really quite simple. Father is like an outlet that provides energy for appliances to run off of. Without the outlet, the appliance is rendered useless. In the same way, should a person “pull the plug” and become disconnected from Father, whether it be by choice or because they’ve unknowingly been snared by Dawn Lucifer, because Father is symbolized as a tree and we the branches of that tree, that branch is then rendered as being useless and must be pruned. If there were too many branches on a tree that are dead, that tree would soon die as well. Because Father is righteous, those unrighteous which are like a cancer within Her body, cannot continue to live within Her. Those branches and limbs that do not bear fruit must be pruned so that the tree itself may live.
This and much more is the purpose behind the Spiritual War, End Times, the Tribulation, Rapture and Armageddon. Certain things must take place before creation can co-exist in complete harmony within Father and these things are scary to think about. Some prefer to believe that it will not happen in their lifetime and many others have been led to believe that it will not happen at all, but that is not truth. The world as we know it will end, and it will end in our lifetime, but earth itself will not pass away and it will usher in a time in which peace and harmony will reign under our loving Lord and Savior Christ Jesus during the Millennium. This is the reason behind the pruning and chafing – so that eternity can exist without the influence of evil.
So whether you believe, do not believe or are unsure as to whether God exists, the human soul exists or life after death exists, it applies to us all but the choice is for each of us to make; to either remain on the vine, or off the vine. Those of us who do believe and have faith, must also make every effort to be fruitful in our daily lives, so that we may bring glory to Father and be pleasing in Her sight. We do this by being footstep followers of Her son Christ Jesus as branches of the vine, who walked the narrow path before us and led by example a righteous and sinless life.
As the powers of darkness fight for control by injecting lies and falsehoods into the world that are meant to mislead, one thing is for certain, and that is that we cannot go it alone. We need Father Yahweh in order to continue to exist, but She does not need us. It is out of sheer love for mankind and Her creation that She allows each of us to make the choice via our own free will. And it was out of sheer love for mankind, his Father and his Father’s creation that Christ Jesus came to earth to show us the Way and teach us the truth. And while I cannot convince anyone to believe, I pray that some do, so that Father, our vineyard keeper, will gain another child that was previously lost from the vine.
Without Your Direction
I am Lost
Without Your Knowledge
I am Ignorant
Without Your Understanding
I am Immature
Without Your Wisdom
I am Foolish
Without Your Protection
I am Vulnerable
Without Your Guidance
I am Hopeless
Without Your Strength
I am Weak
Without Your Compassion
I am Misunderstood
Without Your Love
I am in Darkness
Without Your Patience
I am Unforgiven
Without Your Forgiveness
I am No More
Without You
I am Nothing
You Are
I Am
“Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.” Ephesians 6:11-13
The Definition of the word Courage
–noun
1. the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery.
2. Obsolete. the heart as the source of emotion.
—Idiom
3. have the courage of one's convictions, to act in accordance with one's beliefs, esp. in spite of criticism.
Does it take strength and courage in this day and age to be a true follower of Christ?
Most of us have read or heard the stories recorded in the Scriptures of the strength and courage of those who served God and followed our savior Christ Jesus. Men and women like Abraham, Moses, Aaron, Ruth, David, Mary, Joseph, and all of the apostles just to name a few.
There was an article released recently, in which a man named the son of the man who founded the Hamas militant group shared his personal story which involved a stint in an Israeli prison, renouncing of his Muslim faith, departure from his family and conversion to Christianity. He is quoted as saying that when he read the words of Christ which said, “Love your enemies”, it was like his medicine for the suffering he’d been enduring for so long, while Islam in comparison is like a drug. This man now lives in the United States, but he also has a death warrant on his head for his defection.
This is an exhibition of strength and courage in this day and age of a Christian; but he is only one man. There are thousands and perhaps millions of people all over the world who face persecution for their Christian beliefs in places like China, India, Indonesia and many others.
Do not be blinded to the fact that this hatred towards Christians is only in far off places. It exists here in the United States as well. I have personally read news article after news article that give accounts of hatred and persecution towards Christians, including a man in Colorado just this week who was shot and killed after responding to his assailant that he was a Catholic. This hatred towards Christians is here, on our own soil, and it is growing and will continue to grow.
In addition to this hatred, there also exists the influences around us that condone un-Christian-like behavior and morals. Everything from the way we treat and speak to one another, the entertainment that we view on television, in movies, the internet and listen to on the radio, what is accepted in regards to relationships and sex, to politics and in those things and people that we (society in general) idolize.
There also exists the spiritual war that rages around all of us in which the forces of darkness which consist of fallen angels and converts working on the side of Dawn Lucifer are permitted to test mankind via thought injections intended to ensnare mankind and bind them forever to the eternal chains of darkness and cause the ultimate loss of their eternal lives. These demons and converts have nothing to lose, so their goal is to bring all they can with them into the pit of destruction with them.
And let us not exist the struggle of the spirit versus the flesh that also rages within each of us, and how as innately sinful people, must exhibit self-control on a daily basis in following The Way of Christ Jesus and our heavenly Father’s will.
I hope that I have managed to paint a true and realistic picture of all that we, as footstep followers of Christ are up against and why it takes strength and courage to be Christ’s followers and that as the definition of the word courage explains, that we must all “act in accordance with one's beliefs, esp. in spite of criticism.”
And in this evil day, where is this strength and courage to be found? Because we all exist within God, it can be found in God and inside our very own hearts as it is where Father and Christ reside.
“Be strong and courageous; don't be terrified or afraid of them. For it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will not leave you or forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6
Obedience. Faith. Loyalty. Love. Strength. Courage. Endurance. They all go hand in hand. And they all reside within us already. We only have to seek them out in order to find them. We are provided with all we need and Father will not leave us or forsake us. So in this evil day, we move forward as soldiers and defenders of truth, wearing the armor of God and knowing that where we go, God goes with us for Her word is truth and She is the source of our strength and our courage.
“Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
forward into battle see his banners go!”
Matthew 7:11 “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”
Every child in the United States wants to wake up Christmas morning and see their stockings bulging with presents and wrapped gifts beneath a tree sparkling with lights with limbs decorated with ornaments and garland. This is because this holiday is one that has become synonymous with giving. It does seem appropriate seeing as even the three wise men brought gifts to our savior:
Matthew 2:11 “Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
Father gave us the gift of Her beloved child who would eventually take on the sins of the world and suffer a horrible death on the cross so that we may be saved. It was the greatest act of compassion and he was and is the greatest gift mankind will ever receive. However, this gift from Father was not a material thing. It was a gift of love.
It was a news story on Good Morning America along with our heavenly Father that inspired me to write this article. The news story, was reporting on all the letters to Santa that were arriving at the Post Office. A few of them they opened and read on the air and it occurred to me, how letters to Santa Claus, a fictional character have somehow replaced our prayers to God and because the world has become so focused on material things, many have effectively been blinded as to what the greatest gift of all even is.
Many people are suffering right now. Those who have lost their jobs, their homes, are in danger of losing their homes or just fighting to keep the lights on. Some are living without lights and heat, transportation, medications and medical care, necessities for their children like diapers and formula and others are unable to feed their families at all. And…many children, more than usual, will be going without Christmas presents this year.
Yes, there will be tears or sadness and disappointment this year on Christmas day. A lot of parents are in distress, not only because they are struggling to make ends meet, but because they will be unable to give their children the material things that they want this Christmas. Children will cry because they did not receive what they wanted for Christmas and parents will cry because they were unable to give them their hearts desire. They will cry because they are being forced to live without the material things they desire. They may even feel that God has abandoned them.
What so many of us fail to see is that Father gives each of us gifts not just one or two days of the year, but every moment of every single day. This earth we live on, the air that we breathe the food that nourishes us and the clothes on our backs are all gifts from Father and that is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all that She has given us. Father is constantly giving and giving and giving…
Ecclesiastes 3:13 “It is also the gift of God whenever anyone eats, drinks, and enjoys all his efforts.”
The gifts Father constantly lavishes upon us cannot be purchased with money, gold or silver because they are all gifts of love and love cannot be purchased. But of all the gifts Father gives, the greatest gift of all is quite simply Her love.
Her love is so precious and it should be shared. So I urge all who are reading this right now who may be in a situation where they are unable to give or receive material gifts that you remember and actually feel within your heart the gift of Father’s love. Then, share the gift of Father’s love by saying the words “I love you”. Her love is great and cannot be measured, and if it weren’t for Her love we would not be here today.
If you are unable to give your loved one’s the material things they want, give them the gift that lasts forever, for the material things of this world will soon pass away, but Father’s love is eternal. It truly is the only gift any of us really needs. God’s love is the greatest gift of all.
1 Corinthians 13:13 “Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
Remember this Christmas season, that God loves you, that while your situation may seem hopeless that She has not forgotten you, and that She loves you as Her unique and precious child.
Want I for simpler times…
For starlight and tinkling chimes
For winds that whisper softly
And the canopy above me
At the end of the narrow road
Where all the stories told
Are stored in a Great Hall
To be read by one and all
And...remembered.
Where love is the norm
And there is no lukewarm
When the light has expanded
And all evil disbanded
When the current is past
There’s no first and no last
Only unity...for Eternity.
“He will cover you with His feathers;
you will take refuge under His wings.
His faithfulness will be a protective shield.” Psalm 91:4
Psalm 91 is my favorite of all Psalms in the Bible, and it’s because of the sheer comfort and peace that it brings to my heart each and every time I read it. It never gets old, and the words renew me from the inside out every time and for this reason I begin my article this week with a verse from it in the hopes that it will bring you peace and joy.
There are many scary things taking place in our world right in this day and age and if our lives weren’t already filled with anxieties and worries they are doubled or quadrupled now. The unrest that is seen in the daily pages of our newspapers and news programs on our televisions is replicated within each of us as we each wonder what is to come of us in the near future.
For those of us ministers with the Light of Life Ministry, we act, as observers to things that we were informed would come to pass as our economy slowly dies, taking jobs, homes and livelihoods with it. We watch as natural disasters grow stronger and more frequent, displacing families who have nowhere else to go. And as plagues, wars and pestilence brings calamity upon many worldwide. And as if the lives of mankind weren’t already riddled with worries and anxieties, suddenly if you haven’t already been affected by the Tribulation there’s the fear that you might be next.
These things that we are witnessing, are the very things that we have warned mankind about since the establishment of our Ministry nearly four years ago in the Kingdom Message of Salvation. These worries, anxieties and fears that are byproducts of the Tribulation cause as much spiritual damage as the events themselves cause physical damage, as they can also turn friend against friend, family member against family member and bringing with it stresses that can cause a person to lose all self control and act out against one another due to their frustrations and fears. So where are we to find peace and joy amidst the Tribulation we are all currently witnessing and experiencing first hand as Father makes Herself known?
The answer can be found in the Word and that peace and joy are found in Father and Her Holy Spirit.
It’s not about finding peace and joy in a situation, it’s knowing that regardless of the situation you find yourself dealing with, that She is there. It is via our faith and in knowing without a doubt that Father is there for us, that peace and joy can be found; in knowing that when we call out to Her, She is there and She will rescue us. It is found in knowing, regardless of what we are going through, that She knows, sees and hears our every prayer. Peace and joy come from knowing our God, our Creator who lovingly, tenderly and patiently watches over us, protects us and provides for our every need.
It is in knowing that while our situation may seem hopeless, that our God is a God of hope and that all things are possible through Her.
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
Peace and joy are found in BELIEVING.
Believing that She is our God and our Creator and that She loves us.
Believing that while we may not be able to see it or understand it right now, that She has a plan for us.
Believing that in our time of need, She is there to strengthen us so that we will continue to endure.
Believing that regardless of how bad it may get, She has not forgotten us and that She will rescue us.
Believing that if we remain obedient, faithful and loyal to Her and to Her son Christ Jesus that She will not desert us.
“Because he is lovingly devoted to Me,
I will deliver him;
I will exalt him because he knows My name.
When he calls out to Me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble.
I will rescue him and give him honor.” Psalm 91: 14-15
Peace and Joy amidst the Tribulation are found in Father, through Father and with Father, the God of all Creation. May you be lovingly devoted to Her and may Her peace and joy be with you in your time of need and may She bring you the strength to endure. In Her son Christ Jesus' name I pray, our loving savior and vindicator of righteous rule, Amen.
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