Flash Forward 09/30/2009
 
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A couple of nights ago I watched the season opener of a Television series called FlashForward and it introduced an interesting topic that I’ve decided to use as inspiration for this week’s article.

In case you haven’t had the opportunity to see the show, everyone in the world blacks out for exactly 2 minutes and 17 seconds and everyone receives a glimpse of their future. And one of the observations that arose is that after seeing a piece of their future, everyone began to make choices not on what “Could” happen, but on what “Will” happen and it profoundly affected the way that everyone in the world lived their lives.

Now keeping this in mind, try to imagine the following moment that I’m about to describe:

It’s an average day. You’ve just returned home from work or school. You open the front door to your house to find that your husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, brother, sister, child, or whoever is closest to you and that you love the most – gone.

Soon after you discover that the Rapture has occurred and all children are removed from the world. And all adults found to be faithful are also removed but the numbers are far less than expected. They do not just “disappear” as has been depicted in many popular Rapture theories...instead, their bodies are left behind but their souls have left their bodies.

You go outside. There is chaos in the streets. Your own neighbors are now raping, pillaging and killing one another for food and water. You rush inside your home and close the doors and shut the blinds, your heart pounding within your chest. Armageddon has begun and you’re one of the one’s left behind.

So the question posed to you at this point dear reader, is that if you saw a glimpse of your future and this was the outcome? What would you do? What choices would you begin to make? How would you move forward in living your life? What would you do to change your future?

Romans 13:12 The night is nearly over, and the daylight is near, so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

We should always live each day as if this scenario or one like it could happen at any moment, and not so that we can go out and party and do all the things we never got to, but so that we might be counted among the faithful and righteous who will be rescued from this dying earth by the Rapture and before Armageddon begins. As it says at Romans 13:12, we must discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

We must begin to consider the future in a spiritual way rather than worldly one. Christ’s disciples served as an example of this mindset. They knew it would happen and they strove to live their lives each day as footstep followers of Christ. Somewhere between then and now this mindset has been lost – and it’s time to regain it. Knowing what WILL happen; we must change our behaviors and make different choices based on what we know will happen, not on what might happen. Because I assure you, it will happen.

If you know in your heart and your mind that it is and it will, your perspective on how you live your life changes and you begin making choices, like in the Television show, based on what will happen rather than on what could happen. Your perspective on life changes incredibly and suddenly the things of this world are unimportant and it’s the spiritual that becomes important. Knowing that the end of all things is near changes your priorities in a good way because you begin focusing on God rather than all the things of this world designed to distract you. You begin to prepare – your heart, your mind, your spirit.

1 Peter 4:7-8 End-Time Ethics Now the end of all things is near; therefore, be clear-headed and disciplined for prayer. Above all, keep your love for one another at full strength, since love covers a multitude of sins.

James 5:8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord's coming is near.

Remain clear-headed and disciplined. Make time for prayer if it hasn’t been a part of your daily life until now. In every situation consider first before acting what our Savior would do and look to Father and The Word for every answer to every question in your mind. Strengthen and guard your hearts, be patient, and most importantly, continue to love one another.

Genesis 49:18 I wait for Your salvation, LORD.
 
 
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The Definition of Believe:

1. to have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so: Only if one believes in something can one act purposefully.

–verb (used with object)
2. to have confidence or faith in the truth of (a positive assertion, story, etc.); give credence to.
3. to have confidence in the assertions of (a person).
4. to have a conviction that (a person or thing) is, has been, or will be engaged in a given action or involved in a given situation: The fugitive is believed to be headed for the Mexican border.
5. to suppose or assume; understand (usually fol. by a noun clause): I believe that he has left town.

—Verb phrase
6. believe in,
a. to be persuaded of the truth or existence of: to believe in Zoroastrianism; to believe in ghosts.
b. to have faith in the reliability, honesty, benevolence, etc., of: I can help only if you believe in me.

Yesterday, I was watching “The Mirror Has Two Faces”, a movie starring Barbara Streisand, when I was struck with some inspirational insight from Father Yahweh that I thought appropriate to share in this week’s article.

The discussion in the movie centered on love, and mankind’s pursuit of love, but what struck me was how Love and Belief are actually bound to one another. So in pondering this concept, I began to think about our Creator, Yahweh, who is Love. And also the Love that The Word / Michael the Archangel had for both Yahweh and Mankind that led him to pursue the mission of becoming Christ Jesus our Savior.

And it struck me that not only was there this immense Love, but also Belief because The Word had to not only love Yahweh, but also believe in Her as well as mankind in order to do what he accomplished for mankind. And, Yahweh had this same Love and Belief in The Word as well as Mankind to even consider allowing Her beloved son to take on this mission that would make him our Savior. So the conclusion that I came to with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, was that where there is Love there is also Belief.

One can say that they believe in Christ Jesus and in our Heavenly Father, but this belief I’ve found, is twofold. Not only is it a belief in the actual existence of, but also in their abilities and integrity. To believe in them is also to have faith and trust and loyalty to them and to fully support them in their decisions and ability to do what is righteous for all creation.

It goes much deeper than what is merely on the surface as simply an agreement made that yes, they do exist. It’s a belief that comes from a deeper part of oneself. Deeper than the mind all the way down into the heart that truly loves and believes in our Creator and loving Savior. To say, “I believe in you” and to mean, “I trust you, love you, have faith in you and am loyal and obedient to you and I’m behind you 100%.” To believe in your mind, but also in your heart lays the connection that makes your belief whole and complete.

Exodus 14:31 When Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and believed in Him and His servant Moses.

2 Chronicles 20:20 “Hear me, Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem. Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established, believe in His prophets and you will succeed.”

Matthew 18:6 “But whoever causes the downfall of one of these little ones who believe in me – it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea!”

Matthew 21:22 And if you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.

Mark 5:36 But when Jesus overheard what was said, He told the synagogue leader, "Don't be afraid. Only believe."
 
 
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World Health Organization numbers show that 450 million people suffer from mental disorders and disabilities, most in developing nations. An estimated 800,000 people commit suicide every year, 86% of them in low- and middle-income countries. Around 20% of the world’s children and adolescents are estimated to have mental disorders or problems. They predict in 20 years more people will suffer from depression than any other. And, in the U.S. as the financial crisis beings us ever closer to the same numbers that occurred during the Great Depression, it brings new meaning to the word as the numbers of depressed persons also continues to rise.

It’s really no great surprise to me to read statistics such as these – but perhaps it’s because whereas once I was a “live and let live” type of person, not seeing beyond my own front door and the realities of the deceptive world we live in. In part, I think it’s that with age comes wisdom but in my case it’s really more to do with Yahweh’s wisdom and guidance that my eyes have been opened to truth and reality, that I see a much different world we currently live in. I see a world that reflects the instabilities and unbalanced natures of those living in it. I see a world that does not work, because it is so far from Yahweh’s original plan. I see a world in which most everything in it and about it is futile. And yes, this world can be depressing – especially for those who do not have the hope of salvation or a full understanding of Yahweh’s purpose and plan for Her creation.

Last week sometime, I was given the opportunity to minister to a neighbor about End Times and the Tribulation we are all currently experiencing. She had been going through some rough times in regards to her employment, income and managing to keep a roof over her head and I realized that as I spoke with conviction and excitement about the things that are and will soon occur, the expression on her face changed and seemed to reflect a certain amount of distress.

As we continued to talk, she said two things that struck me as being most common amongst those who do not have a complete understanding of Father’s plan to restore creation. One was that she feared she hadn’t been the Christian she should be and might be left behind and two, was that she regretted that there were so many things she hadn’t yet been able to do, like marry and have children. I realized that as I spoke she was seeing her future dissolve before her very eyes and I knew that I had to explain further that it wasn’t something to be sad or anxious about, but hopeful, optimistic and joyful.

As for the first concern, I could only say that if she was feeling this way, now was the time to do something about it because it applies to the second of two conditions required to obtain salvation, one being a belief and acceptance of Christ as our Lord and Savior and the other, the second, being a good heart condition.

But as for her seeing the end as a horrible thing and a loss of hopes and dreams and opportunities lost, I had to take a little more time in helping her to understand that there is reason to be optimistic and hopeful when it comes to what is in store. That yes, it’s the end but not the end of creation, the end of an evil, self-destructive and depressing world and that it is all part of Father’s plan to restore creation to Her original design out from under the oppressiveness of Dawn Lucifer the Devil’s tin god rule.

It’s this loss of hope that affects the people of the world today in the way that it does; driving up the numbers in cases of depression and suicides. Hope is the flame that burns brightly when Yahweh is your focus and the center of your life and Dawn has done all that he can to extinguish that flame. While it may be harder for some to find in a world that has been darkened by his influence, it still burns brightly. When we believe, this flame of hope tells us that while the world we live in has it’s many problems, there is a better world in store for us. And it’s faith that tells us that our Creator will bring it into fruition. That while this world and everything in it will pass away, a new world is being prepared for us where we will all live in harmony, peace and happiness. And, it’s the Word that shows us that as it happened in the past, it will happen again.

Yahweh knew that the Israelites were not happy living under the oppressive rule as slaves to the Egyptian Empire, and She had a plan in place for their escape.

Exodus 23:20 [ Promises and Warnings ] "I am going to send an Angel before you to protect you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared.

Matthew 25:34 Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

John 14:2 In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you.

The above scriptures also tell us that while the world that we know will go away along with the evil that dwells within it, a place is being prepared for us – so there is much reason for HOPE. It was the same hope that the Israelites felt upon leaving Egypt and the same hope for the people of today, who exist in these End Times. We must not look at End Times and Armageddon as being the end of our hopes and dreams, but the beginning. The promise is alive and Yahweh will destroy death forever, and wipe away the tears from every face.

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.

So, do not be sad or depressed! Do not mourn for what might have been in a world in which true happiness does not even exist. Have hope and faith and be joyful in looking forward to the coming of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus, for the End is near; the End of Evil and the Beginning of Life.
 
 
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On the outside looking in
wondering what it might have been
if Adam and Eve had chosen love for You
rather than what set creation askew

I can count on one hand those who’d know
what the following words might mean
“one foot here and one foot there
existing somewhere in between”

Not of this world
not yet of the next
can leave a person
quite perplexed

On the outside looking in
Your truth has opened my eyes
this jewel has lost its luster
I watch its own demise

One foot here and one foot there
and a passage that I’ve yet to earn
not of this world, not of the next
for my sake You help me not to yearn

Your work is not yet completed
and it’s Your timing not mine
I am Your humble servant
who's faith says it will all be fine

Inside and outside
around and about
above and beyond
there’s no single doubt

a plan is in place to restore this fine gem
and whether I’m here or there
or existing somewhere in between
there will be a day when we convene

I await Your son, my dear Father
And the day all evil will be destroyed
for those who sow in tears
will reap with shouts of joy