Posted in encouragement, theology

Seeking His face as the solace for turbulent times

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

We live in scary times. This isn’t anything new…the ’60s were scary, a civil & societal revolution took place between generations. Plus, there was the Viet Nam war. The 40’s were scary, WWII. The Great Depression and the Great Migration in the decade before that. And before that, the Great Influenza. And so on. Any times we have of peace and prosperity are illusions that exist between the turbulence. It’s the turbulence that’s normal. Continue reading “Seeking His face as the solace for turbulent times” →

Posted in Sunday martyr moment, theology

Sunday Martyr Moment: Persecution under Domitian

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. According to this summary from Christian Book Summaries,

Writing in the mid-1500s, John Foxe was living in the midst of intense religious persecution at the hands of the dominant Roman Catholic Church. In graphic detail, he offers accounts of Christians being martyred for their belief in Jesus Christ, describing how God gave them extraordinary courage and stamina to endure unthinkable torture.
Continue reading “Sunday Martyr Moment: Persecution under Domitian” →

Posted in encouragement, theology

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

The other evening I was standing at the edge of the hayfield, and the blue cornflowers gave a wonderful tinge that mirrored the sky, and the burnt sienna hay tips rustled in the breeze, showing where the wind had been. The birds swooped over the field looking for insects and I thought, how peaceful, how peaceful. This is my life, and it is wonderful.

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.” (2 Thessalonians 3:16) Continue reading “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace” →

Posted in books, theology

Top 5 books I’d recommend (plus 5 more)

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

quotes books

Yesterday a friend who is doing a project asked me to list top five books I would recommend every Christian to read. I asked, ‘modern or older’ and he said maybe make two lists, one for each. That’s great because I had a hard time excising my 6th book from the top 5 already, lol.

I spent some time pondering and then compiling, while browsing my own bookshelves to see what lifted my heart and mind as I scanned my titles. Continue reading “Top 5 books I’d recommend (plus 5 more)” →

Posted in theology

It’s the 1960s all over again. I hated the ’60s

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

On Twitter, an account named @backcreekpastor posted this:
“This sojourn into “online worship” has made me exceedingly glad we will not experience a disembodied eternity.”

Amen to that! A heartening reminder. We will experience the heavenly eternity on a physical world, bodily. All our experiences, emotions, spiritual feelings will be washed through a sinless, glorified BODY. We won’t be floating around on clouds, but instead be fully conscious, sentient, in a body, and worshiping and working (“ruling and reigning”) with Christ, who by the way is also in His body and will be present with us on our home, the New Earth. Continue reading “It’s the 1960s all over again. I hated the ’60s” →

Posted in theology

Living the Ecclesiastes life

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

ecclesiastes

By the 1990’s I wasn’t tempted by the American Dream anymore. My 90s decade, one in which I was thirty to forty years old were a reaction to the 1980s and 70s and 60s. See, I grew up being taught the American Dream, American exceptionalism, and nationalism. That I could attain anything I wanted, it was there for the taking because we lived in the best country and we were the best people. Continue reading “Living the Ecclesiastes life” →

Posted in summer reading, theology

Why you should read Pilgrim’s Progress, and Summer Book-A-Palooza sites

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

I love the book The Pilgrim’s Progress. I have a hard time with allegory and symbolism, being so literal, but I love the book and many of its scenes stick with me in my mind. If you’ve been wanting to read the book but are unsure of which edition to choose, or are intimidated like I was for so long, here are some helps and guides to spur you in reading this marvelous book. Spurgeon read it over 100 times! That’s something, right?!

At the bottom I offer a list of fiction Christian books, too. Continue reading “Why you should read Pilgrim’s Progress, and Summer Book-A-Palooza sites” →

Posted in discernment, theology

Why General Revelation isn’t enough to get you into heaven

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

pineapple top

I was saved from God’s wrath because God in His uninfluenced will decided before the foundation of the world that He would create me and then save me in His perfect timing. Salvation comes through the work of Jesus on the cross, to die for our (my) sin as having lived as the spotless holy Lamb, which God requires of every person, but which we cannot do, except for Christ. Once resurrected, Jesus became the Door through which all of God’s elect arrive in heaven’s glory. (Ephesians 1:1-5, Romans 3:23, Hebrews 10:14, John 10:7). Continue reading “Why General Revelation isn’t enough to get you into heaven” →

Posted in foxe's book of martyrs, goose, john huss, martin luther, martyr

Sunday Martyr Moment: John Huss, “The goose is cooked”

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By Elizabeth Prata*

John Huss was burned at the stake on July 6, 1415. The following below is excerpted from Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. John Huss was killed by the Roman Catholic Church for the ‘heresy’ of proclaiming that Christ is the Head of the church and that salvation is in Christ alone. The martyrs died proclaiming Jesus is the head of the church and so many foolish people today have wantonly substituted idols for Him instead. Continue reading “Sunday Martyr Moment: John Huss, “The goose is cooked”” →

Posted in go in and com out, I am the door, threshing floor, winepress

Jesus is the Door: They will go in and come out

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata*

I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. John 10:9

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary says:

Many who hear the word of Christ, do not understand it, because they will not. But we shall find one scripture expounding another, and the blessed Spirit making known the blessed Jesus. Christ is the Door. And what greater security has the church of God than that the Lord Jesus is between it and all its enemies? He is a door open for passage and communication. Here are plain directions how to come into the fold; we must come in by Jesus Christ as the Door. By faith in him as the great Mediator between God and man.

What does ‘go in and come out’ mean? Is it that we will go in and come out of salvation? Not so! Our salvation is eternally secure.
Continue reading “Jesus is the Door: They will go in and come out” →