~Here Comes the Bride~

 We had camp meeting at our church last week.  It was an awesome, refreshing, recommitting, healing, life changing week.  It was Wednesday or Thursday that I knew what my next blog would be, I am sorry it has taken me so long to get on here and write it.

Jeremiah 2:32 

Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number

 

 

Jesus is coming for a bride who has made herself ready.  The church, His people, makes up the bride of Christ.  I keep picturing a bride preparing for her husband.  My cousin got married last month and I watched his wife preparing for that day, the day she would become his wife.  And I remember being the same way almost 7 years ago when I married my husband.  I tried on dress after dress looking for the 'perfect one.'  I wanted the shoes that looked just right even if my dress was so long no one would ever see them.  I wanted my hair just right, no fly aways for that day.  I wanted to know that everything was just right and when my husband saw me standing at the back door of the church, I wanted him to be proud.  I didn't want him to have to say it, I wanted to see it radiate from his face.

Could you imagine being at a wedding and the bride coming down the isle and stopping every so often on the way down the isle to make plans with someone else or not being able to wait until the wedding is over so she can go hang out with the girls or go shopping.  If that husband had any sense at all he would run fast in the opposite direction.  When we truly fall in love, that person has our full focus and our heart.  We do whatever we can to make sure they are happy and we want to make sure we keep ourselves in line because even the thought of ever hurting them breaks our own heart.  And when we are walking down that isle our groom is the only one we see.

If you are following Jesus you are part of his bride.  We are preparing ourselves for his return.  Jesus is coming back and I don't know about you, but I want everything to be just right.  I want my heart to be pure.  I want my thoughts to be his thoughts.  I want to be following his footsteps and I want my hands to be doing his work.  I want my eyes and my focus to be on Jesus.  He has to be my number one focus and if he is, everything else will fall into place.  When my Savior looks at me, I have to know that he is proud of me. 

Jesus is coming back for a bride who has made herself ready!

Matthew 25:1-13

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

~Jesus Speaks~

This is another Mommy moment post.  I hope you like them because I am praying for many more!  :)

I had the boys out playing the other day and I looked up at the sun starting to set behind the mountain.  It was breath taking.  The sun was this round ball of pinkish orange fire and out to each side were those flat looking clouds that had pink, orange, purple and grayish hues to them.  Above all that were those marshmellow puffy, fluffy pillow white clouds and above that were spotlight rays of sunshine shooting out.  It was beautiful.  I wish I had been able to take a picture.  I looked at Thomas and said, "Thomas look at that sunset.  Isn't that the prettiest thing you have ever seen?"  He said, "Mommy, I think Jesus talking to us."  I said, "I think you are right.  I think Jesus is telling us that he loves us."  With this grin on his face and a look that partly spoke for itself, he said, "No Mommy, Jesus saying, 'Good job Thomas!'"  It was priceless! Those are definitely the words I want to hear my Savior say!

We will be starting campmeeting at our church this week and sitting in church last Wednesday night I just felt the word restoration going over in my spirit.  I know God is going to move in a great way this week in many areas, but I really feel like there is also going to be restoration in many areas.  The sky is going to look bluer and the grass is going to look greener.  We are going to see hope where it looked like all hope was gone.  O taste and see that the Lord is good and His mercies endureth forever!

Psalm 23:3
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Galatians 6:1
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Psalm 51:10-12
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Restore-To bring back from a state of injury or decay, or from a changed condition; To make good; to make amends for; To renew.  To bring back to its former state; to bring back from a state of ruin, decay, disease, or the like; to repair; to renew; to recover. 
Restoration- The act of restoring or bringing back to a former place, station, or condition; the fact of being restored; renewal;
Renew- To make new again; to restore to freshness, perfection, or vigor; to give new life to; to rejuvenate; to reëstablish; to recreate; to rebuild. To make new spiritually; to regenerate.  To begin again; to recommence.

~Jesus IS the way and the truth!~

~What's Wrong With Living Right~

Click on the link above to view this song.  The viedo is a little shaky, but oh what a message! 




~'When you reach the end of your rope ... You will find the hem of His garment'~

~Family~

There are things in my life I wish I could change or that I wish I could go back and do different. I am so thankful for the blood of Jesus that covers all sin!  I am thankful that God allows U-turns and that I didn’t miss my opportunity.

One of my biggest regrets while running from God was the way I also ran from my family.  I hurt them and I wish I could take back all the hurt and worry I caused them.  There is nothing like family.  They are the ones who have ALWAYS stood by my side. They have been there through every circumstance and have always had my best interest at heart and mind. There is nothing like having a God fearing family. I think about the time I lost a lot and I am so thankful I was given the opportunity to get close to my family again. Not everyone gets that chance.

Life is a fragile thing and none of us are promised tomorrow. I could have left this world in my sin or I could have lost my family while I was busy doing things my own way and never had the opportunity to make things right. Time isn’t something we get back or get to do over. Our choices in this life are soooooo important. Our choices affect more people than we realize. Cherish your family and hold them close, don’t allow any circumstance in this life to take you away from them. Families are precious, and as sure as we allow a circumstance to pull us away from our family (especially a God fearing family), that same circumstance will pull us away from God. It is a sad thing to lose time with your family, but it is a tragic thing to miss God.

‘Families are precious, they are one of a kind and I am so thankful the Lord gave me mine!’

Psalm 61:5

For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.

~Food for Thought~

True happiness doesn’t have to be vocalized, it radiates.

~

For there is no other fountain

Where I can be more satisfied

Than in the arms of Christ my Savior

No blessing I will be denied.

I will draw my strength from Jesus

As I lay upon his breast

I will take my comfort from Him

I will find in Him sweet rest

For there is no other fountain

Where I can be more satisfied

Than in the arms of Christ my Savior

No blessing I will be denied.

All pain can leave my aching body

As His sweet healing virtue flows

And demons, they will tremble

In Jesus name, they have to go!

For there is no other fountain

Where I can be more satisfied

Than in the arms of Christ my Savior

No blessing I will be denied.

~

There is nothing or no one that satisfies that thing that my soul longs for, ONLY Jesus. He is the fountain that we can drink from and never thirst again. The river of living water, Jesus is our only hope and He is the only answer. What a great hope Jesus gives!

I’m not looking back at yesterday. There is nothing to go back to. I am pressing onward to that city whose builder and maker is God. I want to see Jesus. I want more than anything to know that he is pleased with me. Day by day I want this old Adam nature to fall off and Jesus to shine through more and more.

Is He satisfied?

Is He satisfied?

Is He satisfied with me?

Have I done my best?

Have I stood the test?

Is He satisfied with me?

 
 

The one and only living God doesn't share the stage with anyone.  He is either all or nothing.  The Bible tells us we cannot serve two masters.  We are too close to the end to get our eyes off of Jesus.  Nothing is worth missing heaven.  Time is running out to get things right with God.  Please don't wait until it's too late!

 

~

 

Matthew 24

 

And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.

And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Behold, I have told you before.

Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

~

Mark 13

And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!

And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,

Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?

And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

And the gospel must first be published among all nations.

But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:

And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house:

And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.

But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.

For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.

And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:

For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,

And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.

And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:

So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.

Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

~

Luke 21:5-36

And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,

As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?

And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.

Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:

And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.

And it shall turn to you for a testimony.

Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:

For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.

But there shall not an hair of your head perish.

In your patience possess ye your souls.

And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.

For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;

When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.

So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

~

Revelation 21:1-7

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.