encouragement – Page 86

encouragement, grace, jesus, majesty, throne

The throne of Majesty, the throne of Grace

Posted on April 6, 2014May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

I was listening to a S. Lewis Johnson sermon on Hebrews 4 the other day. He was expounding on the following verse-

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

The Queen of England in 2004 delivering a speech.
Cleveland Plain Dealer photo

Thrones are usually seen as majestic. Thrones are large and high-backed, stately, usually covered in finery, adorned with jewels, and lifted up. Of course the Lord’s is no different, it is THE most majestic throne of all! This verse from later in Hebrews attests to its majesty and the one who occupies it.

Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man. (Hebrews 8:1-2)

In the Hebrews 8 verse we see the throne of majesty and the Lord performing His holy duties. It is such a comforting picture, to think of Jesus administering His holy duties! However such a throne would not be so approachable.

The protocols surrounding meeting the Queen of England, Elizabeth II, are formal and strict. Only the politest of questions are suggested, such as “Is Your Majesty enjoying the performance?” She is to be referred to as Your Majesty, and Ma’am thereafter.One does not turn one’s back to the Queen, and curtsies are expected. One does not touch the Queen, and if she extends her hand, one must not grip it or pump it. These are indicators of respect and obeisance to the Sovereign.

The photo below is of Pope Benedict on his throne, richly adorned and atop marble steps. It is not an approachable throne.

Pope Benedict

Though man tries to emulate a sovereign throne of majesty, they all pale in comparison to the one described in Hebrews. Such majesty the Lord’s throne must emanate! I can see Him in my imagination through the biblical description as Priest performing His duty. Isaiah was given a sight of this:

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!”

4And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” (Isaiah 6:1-5)

Now THAT is a throne of majesty!!! One would hardly dare to approach in confidence and boldness as the Hebrews 4 verse says!

So the Lord in His mercy and wisdom inspired the writer of Hebrews to encourage us, when we need to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need, to approach the throne of grace.

In the times where we have a need, we are encouraged to approach with confidence not the majestic throne, though it is, but to draw near to the throne of GRACE.

How merciful is our God, who demonstrates again and again his wisdom and His mercies! When we need Him, His throne is one of grace, approachable and ready for us to receive His gift. It was S. Lewis Johnson who pointed to that distinction between the Hebrews 8 throne of majesty and Hebrews 4’s throne of grace.

I hope you ponder the majesty of our Holy God and also delight in His throne of grace, which stands ready to be approached by us, His little children, to weep for help and to be the beneficiary of His grace in our time of need. He is a tremendous God! Praise Him today, with your mouth, in your songs, and by your heart with love to Him the Worthy One.

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Creation Grace: Clouds

Posted on March 30, 2014May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

Look in the bible for how many times clouds are mentioned. The word is used for different reasons and in different ways. It is fun to think of His grace in giving us the literal clouds, which shield us from the hot sun, or which gives us rain. The variety and wonder of the different shapes of clouds: nacreous, cumulus, tubular, cirrus, etc, and the different reasons for clouds, both literal and symbolic, is a study in itself.

The best reason to think of clouds is that Jesus will return in one!

encouragement, grateful

Interlude: Gratitude

Posted on March 29, 2014May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

I’m so grateful for my salvation! I am so blessed to be a new creation in Christ! He came down from Glory to die on a cross, and ascended to heaven again to prepare a place for us. He adopted me as His daughter, His heir, unconditionally. I’m thrilled to love a savior such as this. It’s been ten years but it never gets old! As a matter of fact, life with Jesus gets better and better.

The overwhelming feelings of gratitude and humility that He loved me while I was still a sinner can’t be put into words, can’t even be contained on a blog or in my body or to the earth. My feeling of joy in the Lord is eternal, infinite, expansive, never-ending.

Thank You, Lord, that You were mindful of us, that You sought us, that You saved us. I am ever Your humble daughter seeking ways to glorify You- the only worthy One! What a privilege you gave me, eternity to worship You forever!

EPrata photo

encouragement

Here’s some fun stuff

Posted on March 25, 2014May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

I finished reading through 1 & 2 Kings. Phew. A wonderful but difficult slog. Tumultuous, really. I’m starting Philippians.

In keeping with lightening things up a bit, here is some fun stuff.

Watching these dogs confused by a magic trick is sweet and funny. Watch through to the last dog.

Creation Ministries International has a 1-minute video on the irony of the science that says a global flood occurred on Mars, despite the fact that there is no water, but not on on earth, which is 70% water.
Here is their summary in case you can’t watch:

“In recent years, NASA probes have sent back images of our nearest planet Mars. These images have prompted some scientists to suggest that a global flood once carved the Martian landscape, even though no liquid water has yet been found. The Bible records and event that certainly sounds like a global flood on Earth. Genesis records that, “All the mountains under the heavens were covered.” Jesus himself, referring to those not on Noah’s Ark, said, “The flood came and took them all away.” Unlike the elusive water on Mars, water covers 70% of the earth’s surface and water deposited sedimentary rock covers much of the land surface. So isn’t it strange that many people who are open to the possibility of a global flood on Mars, despite the absence of water, immediately dismiss any suggestion that a global flood occurred on earth.“

Yes, they suppress the truth in unrighteousness. (Romans 1:18)

I liked this quote posted by Sunny Shell, a blogger worth following here and here.

Don’t be afraid to stand up for the truth! What you’re doing is standing up for Jesus. This is from Chris Rosebrough:

I can’t wait until Jesus glorifies us and we stop sinning! I hate my sins!

We know that in the last days apostasy will rise to pernicious levels. (2 Timothy 4:3). One thing that I hate about apostasy is that it blasphemes the name of Jesus. Don’t we all long for the day when every knee will bow in acknowledgement of Him who is King?! I do. But the other thing about apostasy is that it sweeps away loved ones. The tide of Catholicism is returning, with tsunami force. So many people I know are flirting with it. This is so dangerous. Others are simply devoured by it as they return to it, the religion they once knew, and reject Christianity once for all.

(Jeremiah 3:20; Isaiah 1:21; 57:8; Ezekiel 16:30, (Hosea 2:2–5…)

Flirting with a false religion could take the form of trying a labyrinth, or lectio divina, contemplative meditation AKA breath prayer. (Catholicism). Or circle making (Wicca). Just trying a practice from another religion, just to try it, or for no reason. That’s flirting.

One brother I know thought that my use of the term ‘flirting’ with Catholicism was funny. Funny as in weird, not ha ha funny. But going after strange gods is spiritual adultery. A person is being unfaithful to God when thy accept other gods. You go too deeply into a false religion and God calls you a whore or a prostitute. And how does apostasy start, seeking after these false gods? By flirting. So the metaphor is apt. You stick a toe in, then your foot, then you find out an alligator has your leg in his teeth and you’re dragged under. (Revelation 17:15; Isaiah 57:3).

Mike Gendron was a Catholic for much of his adult life. Then he realized he wasn’t saved. He is now an expert in apologetics to Catholics. Read his bio here, on how the Holy Spirit lifted him out of the darkness of Catholicism and saved His soul. Meanwhile, Mr Gendron posted this essay which is a quote from a man who wrote about Catholicism 100 years ago.

Catholicism is Satan’s Best Counterfeit

Speaking of counterfeits, another of my favorite writers, Robin Schumacher wrote about the ways Christ is counterfeited. He wrote about 7. It’s not just about Jesus. It’s all about WHICH Jesus!

The Dangers of a Counterfeit Christ
by Robin Schumacher

I’m not a professional photographer, but even I know how to take appealing pics. These are from Bad Real Estate Photos.

The property has been recently upgraded
to withstand the forthcoming zombie apocalypse.
Follow on Twitter @BadRealtyPhotos

From Laura Smith on Pinterest titled Clean Funny Stuff

I opened with Dogs Confused By Magic Trick. Let’s end with a dog, this one another sweet and cute series of photos about a little girl and her dog. A Young Girl Who’s Best Friends with an English Bulldog

Have a wonderful rest of the week!

creation, encouragement, God, Lord, sun

Creation Grace: Dawn and the Sun

Posted on March 23, 2014May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

The sun comes up to the left of my driveway. As I leave for work and head down the driveway and stop to look left for traffic, I often see the first rays peeking up over the hill. In spring, the sun shines through the blossoming trees, illuminating them so they look like fiery snowflakes.

The Lord made the sun for His own good pleasure and for us as a useful time-marking tool

“And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.” (Genesis 1:14-19)

At one point He made the sun stand still:

“And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day.” (Joshua 10:13)

At another point He made the sun go backwards ten steps:

“And Isaiah said, “This shall be the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do the thing that he has promised: shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?” And Hezekiah answered, “It is an easy thing for the shadow to lengthen ten steps. Rather let the shadow go back ten steps.” And Isaiah the prophet called to the Lord, and he brought the shadow back ten steps, by which it had gone down on the steps of Ahaz.” (2 Kings 20:9-11)

And at a still future point, He will blink out the sun entirely:

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken“. (Matthew 24:29)

Our Lord is Lord of Creation! This is who we worship:

“For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): “I am the LORD, and there is no other.” (Isaiah 45:18)

encouragement, fearing the Lord, hezekiah, prayer

How to pray: an example in Hezekiah

Posted on March 17, 2014 by elizabethprata

Prayer is important. I hope you all have a vibrant and active prayer life. I don’t pray as often as I should and I know I don’t pray as I ought, but I do pray and I’m not ashamed to pray at any place at any time for any reason. I just love talking with Jesus.

Very often essays or sermons on prayer focus on the Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6:5-13). This is good and reasonable, after all, the Disciples had asked how to pray and Jesus answered them. We have a point-blank lesson from Jesus on how to pray.

But there are other important and wonderful prayers in the bible we can see as a Godly model. Hannah’s prayer, (1 Samuel 1:10-18), Mary’s prayer, (Luke 1:46-55), and Hezekiah’s prayer.

I’m reading 2 Kings. Hezekiah, 13th King of Judah, was a king like no other before him or after him. The LORD was pleased with Hezekiah. In the fourteenth year of Hezekiah’s reign, a situation occurred. In the throes of the situation, Sennacherib king of Assyria sent Hezekiah a letter indicating he was about to invade. Hezekiah’s response and his prayer are recorded both in 2 Kings 19 and in Isaiah 37. Here is the prayer from Isaiah 37:14-20,

Hezekiah’s Prayer for Deliverance

“Hezekiah’s Prayer for Deliverance

14Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. 15And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: 16“O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. 17Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. 18Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands, 19and have cast their gods into the fire. For they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed. 20So now, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the Lord.”.”

Isn’t that just beautiful! How humble and loving and God-fearing!

I’ll add some comments from the MacArthur study bible.

Verse 14: Godly Hezekiah returned to the House of the Lord as he should have, whereas Ahaz in a similar crisis refused to even as for a sign from the LORD.

Verse 16: The basis for Hezekiah’s plea was God’s role as Sovereign and Creator of the Universe, not Judah’s worthiness to be delivered.

Verse 17: hear…see…hear…- in contrast to the gods of other nations the God of Israel heard and saw all.

Verse 18-19: Hezekiah exploded the Assyrian theory that the LORD was no different from other gods of the other nations that they could not deliver their worshipers.

Verse 20: Hezekiah displayed the highest motivation of all in requesting the salvation of Jerusalem- that the world may know that the LORD alone is God.

I just love that mental scene of Hezekiah spreading out the letter before the LORD. It is so beautiful, such intimate conversation between God and His servant, the LORD being so real and alive to Hezekiah. I love how he went immediately to the Lord for help. We can learn much from Hezekiah’s example.

Please consider these wonderful things as you pray. Remember that God said of Hezekiah,

“And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done. … He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him. For he held fast to the Lord. He did not depart from following him, but kept the commandments that the Lord commanded Moses. And the Lord was with him…” (2 Kings 18:3, 5-7a)

encouragement, jesus, new jerusalem

We will be with Jesus, personally

Posted on March 12, 2014 by elizabethprata

We long for Jesus, don’t we? We want to be in heaven where things are beautiful, and perfect, and where we won’t sweat or toil. We want peaceful rest and perfect fellowship with the saints. We definitely don’t want to sin any more.

But above all, we want JESUS!

We like to picture Him on His throne, reigning with an iron rod, in perfect peace and justice. (Revelation 2:27). We mostly picture this in the Millennium Kingdom because the bible says almost nothing about life after the 1000 year kingdom concludes, our eternal state. Prophetically the order of things to come at this point is

—The Rapture. This is when the saints who believed in the Resurrected Jesus all throughout the Church Age (between Jesus’s ascension/Pentecost and the rapture) will be translated alive or resurrected from the dead into perfect bodies able to withstand gazing upon His glory. We live in New Jerusalem which for the time being is in heaven. We enjoy the Rewards ceremony for the things done in Christ (Bema Rewards) and the marriage supper of the Lamb. Down below, the tribulation is happening,
—The Tribulation AKA the Time of Jacob’s Trouble. Jesus will unleash His stored-up wrath upon the sinning inhabitants of the world and also punish Israel. This time of wrath and punishment will last 7 years. It will be a time of hell on earth, the antichrist and false prophet will be allowed a very long leash, many thousands or millions of salvations occur, and just as many martyrdoms.
—The Second Coming. Jesus will return from heaven, with us and also the angels, put a stop to the carnage on earth. He will judge the nations. (Sheep and Goats judgment)
—Millennium Kingdom. Judgment concluded, those who are saved will be allowed entry into the kingdom. This will be a time of the prophesied 1000 years of Jesus reigning on earth, which will be a renewed earth, and the church age saints living in New Jerusalem which had descended to earth. Satan will be bound in the pit during this time. At the end of the 1000 years, he will be let our for one last, very short battle, and then satan is thrown forever into the lake of fire.
—The Eternal State. Earth will be melted. We continue on in eternity with Jesus forever.

Here is a question. Jesus came to live in a body and He was killed in a body and when He was resurrected, He still had that body. He is man AND God but He is in a body. That was the sacrifice.

During the Millennial Kingdom period, when Jesus reigns from His throne in Zion (Isaiah 9:7), will Jesus be in only one place? Will those who live in Egypt or Assyria be able to be with Jesus even though they live far from Mt. Moriah? Do they lose out in being able to petition Jesus or worship Jesus or be with Jesus personally?

And what about us? The Millennium Kingdom will be vast, with all Israel’s originally promised borders finally unmolested and intact, and peoples re-populating the world, and all the Church Age saints living in New Jerusalem…with so many people around worshiping and sacrificing to Jesus, will we be able to be with Jesus personally? Have one-on-one time, in His presence, worshiping Him or just gazing in adoration?

Yes, we absolutely WILL be able to be with Him and personally, too. He is with every person who believes right now, whether they are in Greenland or Australia, Chile or Germany. How? I don’t know. But He is. (Matthew 18:20, 28:20; Hebrews 13:5).

Psalm 55:22 says He sustains us, and this means each one of us. He personally knits together every babe in the womb.

We see that He is personally involved with us now, from womb to death and beyond, and when we get to heaven, He will be personally available to us as well, but even better because He will be bodily there. 1 Corinthians 13:12 says we will see face to face. He will personally wipe each tear from our eyes (Rev 21:4)

If each person who ever lived will stand before Him to be personally judged individually by their deeds, how much more glorious will it be when we share eternal joy with Him, standing with Him at the bema seat to be rewarded! (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20). We will be with Him, with Him, with Him…

He is the creator of all dimensions. How could Paul be in the body on earth but also in the spirit seeing the third heaven, (2 Corinthians 12:2) which is so beautiful no man can say the things that went on there? How can John be both on Patmos but also among the lampstands speaking with Jesus? (Revelation 1:12-13). How can Peter be on the mountain but suddenly out of another dimension he sees Moses and Elijah with them on the mountain, too? (Matthew 17:3). Which reality is real, the one where Elisha’s servant sees only the army coming to conquer them, or the one that Elisha asks God to show, the chariots of fire which were there all along? (2 Kings 6:17). God makes it happen, in heaven there are no space constrictions, and no time worries!

Have no fear, in heaven there is no disappointment, only joy. Therefore since Jesus is our joy, we will be with Him. (Matthew 25:21). He will not forsake us, ever. If he is with us now, He will be with us then, and face to face.

encouragement, rapture

The Rapture of the Church

Posted on March 10, 2014May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

I love visuals. Of course, putting Jesus on a visual is always fraught with biblical issues (Second Commandment). Trying to picture the worst horrors of hell or the Tribulaton is unwise. And how does one capture some of the more nuanced concepts that can really only be seen in the Word? It’s called the word for a reason. Not ‘The Picture”. Even the Apostles and Prophets who saw what they saw still struggled with ways to say it in words. “It was like a…” and Daniel simply became ill after several of the visions.

There are three artists I can think of who seem to have done the best job In my opinion in capturing biblical concepts visually. Annie Vallotton, (and Vallotton here too) Chris Koelle, and Action Jones (AKA Chris Powers).

“…He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”

Action Jones

Annie Vallotton via ArtBible.net

Go to the link for Chris Koelle to see his work. It’s copyrighted. A couple of years ago he completed illustrations for the Graphic book of Revelation. he also illustrates some of John Piper’s poems, and has recently finished a series of illustrations showing the History of Redemption from Genesis to revelation. his work is available for purchase or for church events at a discounted price. His Revelation illustrations are actually chillingly, spiritually otherworldly for me to look at and so I don’t look too often.

Trying to envision the rapture is one of the hardest concepts to get right. After all, the bible says it will happen in the blink of an eye. (1 Corinthians 15:52). How do you capture that? I see lots of art that depicts Christians with arms outstretched and jet marks under their feet as they’re launched off the ground…kind of literal and corny if you ask me.

I did like this one from a short youtube video showing us a points of glory light zooming off earth into the universe:

40-second video here

Then I came across this one today. It is a free wallpaper. Someone had added the words at the bottom. I liked it because it showed the suddenness of the rapture, via the lightning. The storm clouds bespeak wrath. In my interpretation, the first Horse of the Apocalypse will ride immediately after the rapture or coinciding with it, because once the church is removed, God will unleash His stored-up wrath upon the inhabitants of the earth. So the galloping horse also is going to be part of the event at or immediately after the rapture. See what you think:

The rapture of the church, explained. 14 minutes.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Let’s be encouraged!

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

beauty, encouragement, jesus

Light and color in the bible

Posted on March 6, 2014May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

Our flesh is restricted to seeing only in this dimension. Even at that, God created a world that is astounding in variety and beauty. We can view His handiworks every day, no matter where we are.

Sunset. EPrata photo

I often think about the glimpses we are given in the bible of the new dimension to come: heaven. Whose mind isn’t blown in reading Ezekiel’s description of the angels with eyes all around? (Ezekiel 10:12). On the Mount of Transfiguration, the disciples saw that when Jesus prayed,

“And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.” (Matthew 17:2)

“his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.” (Mark 9:3). Imagine seeing a white so bright it wasn’t even earthly!

God painted the sky with a covenant, the rainbow. (Genesis 9:13). He could have made the world monochrome and us colorblind, but He didn’t. I think of this following scene a lot. When I pray I picture it. The emerald rainbow entrances me.

At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. (Revelation 4:2-6)

What colors! What beauty! We know Jesus is beautiful and since heaven will reflect Him, heaven will be inexpressibly beautiful.

“And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.” (Revelation 21:23)

“But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Cornflower blue. EPrata photo

We know that God cares about color because he set the world ablaze with it, and the animals. He is also very specific about color when describing how the Old Testament priests should dress. Colors mean things to God, for symbols and for beauty.

“And the screen for the gate of the court was embroidered with needlework in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen.” (Exodus 38:18).

For example, blue. The color blue. Will it be the same in heaven? Will it look different? Will it be mixed with other colors we can’t even detect now because we are in this dimension and become a totally different hue? We know it will be better, everything in heaven is better. Revelation 21:19 says that the second foundation of the city walls will be sapphire.

Me taking a photo reflected in a blue yard crystal ball. EPrata photo

Variegated blue pattern on a Jay. EPrata photo

Though we live in a fallen and sinful world, cursed actually, and there is so much ugliness, there is beauty too. Much is beautiful. The colors of the planets, a sunset, the changing hues of the sky as a storm drifts in, the colors of the sea, and the fish in it … from above to below God has given us beauty by giving us color.

EPrata photo

The Great City to come, New Jerusalem will sparkle and be glorious in color.

“The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.” (Revelation 21:18-21)

Blue Skies above. EPrata photo

I heard Dr. MacArthur say once that he believes the city will be transparent so that God’s glory will be seen by all inhabitants and there will be nothing to inhibit it from permeating everywhere.

When you go about your day and you see vivid colors in nature and man-made, think about the coming deepening coloration of all that we see and all that we are. Maybe even new colors. Charles Spurgeon wrote in his sermon “The Lamb- The Light“

“Light is the cause of beauty. That is obvious to you all, Take the light away, and there is no beauty anywhere. The fairest woman charms the eye no more than a heap of ashes when the sun has departed. Your garden may be gay with many colored flowers, but when the sun goes down you cannot know them from the grass which borders them. You look upon the trees, all fair with the verdure of summer, but when the sun goes down they are all hung in black. Without light no radiance flashes from the sapphire, no peaceful ray proceedeth from the pearl. There is naught of beauty left when light is gone. Light is the mother of beauty.

And Jesus is the Light (John 8:12). The source of all beauty is Jesus because He is the source of light, without Light, there is no beauty.

Amen.

christian life, encouragement, son of god movie

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, and other thoughts

Posted on March 5, 2014May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

Here are a few eclectic things for your consideration today.

I had a great burst of creative energy a few years ago and I made collages in my art journal. That burst seems to have gone away but I still have some of the results. The compositions and even the execution are rudimentary, but they served a purpose for a while.

This first collage is a scene of how unsaved people play a game with their lives, not knowing there are eternal consequences at stake. Blinded, they try this or that, until the day they die and then they discover that the truth they had suppressed in all their game playing was the only truth. I was one of those game-playing people.

Again, satan blinds the minds of those who refuse to believe in Jesus, but satan makes the blindness seems so delightful but underneath it is deceitful. Sin is sweet- for a season, but the only trajectory is down to hell, and satan has his cords attached to all those who won’t believe.

“Though evil is sweet in his mouth, though he hides it under his tongue, though he is loath to let it go and holds it in his mouth, yet his food is turned in his stomach; it is the venom of cobras within him. (Job 20:12-14)

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Please read this excellent essay by Erin Benziger at Do Not Be Surprised, on the latest troubling issue surrounding Beth Moore. In my opinion her apostasy is deepening fast and satan is directly using her to deceive millions. She concluded the essay with:

As a final note, the reader is strongly encouraged to listen to apologist Chris Rosebrough’s review of Beth Moore’s teaching. Rosebrough’s commentary can be accessed here.

Benziger: Beth Moore Prophesies a Coming ‘Outpouring,’ Warns of ‘Scoffers’

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I liked Tim Challies short essay on the importance of the Sabbath

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Yet another reason not to see the Son of God movie. And there’s this reason not to see the Son of God movie. And this reason

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I’ve been reading through 1 and 2 Kings for a while. It’s slow going for me, because I don’t have a context for the history and it’s hard to keep the kings’ names straight. It is also like watching the tide roll in and out. The kings were good, the borders enlarged. The kings were bad, the borders closed in. Repeat. And repeat. O, Israel! Joel Rosenberg reports this week from the AIPAC conference.

Quoting the Bible, Netanyahu says Israel must “choose life” in “historic” conflicts with Iran & Palestinians. Day Three report from AIPAC conference.

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The darker the world becomes, the faster I run to the Light. Jesus is my eternal light, praise His holy name. John 8:12-

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

It is so sweet to trust in Jesus. It really is. Here is the story behind the hymn ‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus