Post by Cindy on Nov 27, 2023 12:44:40 GMT -5
By Hal Lindsey This was actually from an email Hal sent out, so I'll just include a link back to his website at the end.
As the Bible describes the days leading up to the Lord’s return, a word pops up over and over again. That word is “trouble.” The seven years of tribulation are known as “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7). But that won’t last. Isaiah 65:16 speaks of the millennium, a time after the tribulation when, “the former troubles are forgotten.”
The world is rapidly being prepared for the tribulation period. Christians are destined to be rescued from the world before the actual hurricane hits, but the outer bands are already kicking up quite a storm.
Whatever your view of the end times, you probably agree that the world is in a particularly troubled state right now. And it looks as though it could get much worse very quickly. I feel for today’s politicians, ordinary men and women trying to stave off chaos even as they watch the house around them rattle, creak, and break.
The Bible has much to say about God’s people in times of trouble. Psalm 9:9-10 says, “The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.”
Do you know His name? That involves knowing Him and the kind of Person He is — that He is ever faithful and ever true. Have you put your trust in Him? This is a good time to renew that trust, to remember who He is, and that you can always count on Him. Psalm 107:1 says, “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”
Psalm 69:30 says, “I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.” In the United States of America, our ancestors bequeathed many gifts to us — not the least of which is a special day set aside to do exactly what the Psalm says, “magnify Him with thanksgiving.”
Psalm 147:7 says, “Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving.” We sing because our hearts are full when we consider God’s goodness and graciousness to us. But even when our hearts don’t feel full, we sing anyway because His goodness and graciousness are real and true regardless of our mood or circumstance.
Maybe like Martha in Luke 10:41, “You are worried and troubled about many things.” If so, try to be more like her sister Mary. In verse 42, Jesus said, “Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Choose the good part, and it will not be taken away from you. Choose thanksgiving. Choose to see the infinite expressions of God’s love for you.
Never forget what Jesus said in John 14:1-3. “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
In verse 27 of that chapter, He added this. “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
That’s for you — a gift this Thanksgiving from the Lord of the universe.
Posted with permission: www.hallindsey.com/
As the Bible describes the days leading up to the Lord’s return, a word pops up over and over again. That word is “trouble.” The seven years of tribulation are known as “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7). But that won’t last. Isaiah 65:16 speaks of the millennium, a time after the tribulation when, “the former troubles are forgotten.”
The world is rapidly being prepared for the tribulation period. Christians are destined to be rescued from the world before the actual hurricane hits, but the outer bands are already kicking up quite a storm.
Whatever your view of the end times, you probably agree that the world is in a particularly troubled state right now. And it looks as though it could get much worse very quickly. I feel for today’s politicians, ordinary men and women trying to stave off chaos even as they watch the house around them rattle, creak, and break.
The Bible has much to say about God’s people in times of trouble. Psalm 9:9-10 says, “The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.”
Do you know His name? That involves knowing Him and the kind of Person He is — that He is ever faithful and ever true. Have you put your trust in Him? This is a good time to renew that trust, to remember who He is, and that you can always count on Him. Psalm 107:1 says, “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”
Psalm 69:30 says, “I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.” In the United States of America, our ancestors bequeathed many gifts to us — not the least of which is a special day set aside to do exactly what the Psalm says, “magnify Him with thanksgiving.”
Psalm 147:7 says, “Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving.” We sing because our hearts are full when we consider God’s goodness and graciousness to us. But even when our hearts don’t feel full, we sing anyway because His goodness and graciousness are real and true regardless of our mood or circumstance.
Maybe like Martha in Luke 10:41, “You are worried and troubled about many things.” If so, try to be more like her sister Mary. In verse 42, Jesus said, “Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Choose the good part, and it will not be taken away from you. Choose thanksgiving. Choose to see the infinite expressions of God’s love for you.
Never forget what Jesus said in John 14:1-3. “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
In verse 27 of that chapter, He added this. “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
That’s for you — a gift this Thanksgiving from the Lord of the universe.
Posted with permission: www.hallindsey.com/
Peace, what an incredible gift! Yet so few actually accept that gift from Him. Some folks don't even know He offers us that gift, because they don't know His Word and don't know the power of His Word. Others know His Word a little, but don't know how to apply it or how to "receive His gifts". The gift of salvation itself, comes with many other gifts as well, yet most don't realize that either. And yes, the gift of peace is part of it! We don't have to worry or fret or be anxious about anything because our Heavenly Father is in control. "But wait!," you say, "I worry because bad things have happened to me and I don't want them to happen anymore! Why would my heavenly father allow those things to happen to me?" Well, for one thing, God has never told us that bad things wouldn't happen to us. This world has been broken by sin. It no longer operates the way God originally intended it to. That's why there are birth defects and diseases, and death. Also, from the very beginning, God has given everyone free will. He doesn't force us to do what's right. Therefore people hurt other. They hurt babies, children, teens, the elderly and adults. God gave them a chance to do what was right, but they chose to injure someone instead. He's given you the choice of how you would respond to that, either His way, or the world's way. Sadly, most choose the world's ways.
However, for those who are really saved, God gives them many blessings, among which is peace. So the first question to ask is are you really saved? God says those who are saved will love Him love other people, and they will obey His Word. (The Bible). In order to obey His Word we obviously must know it, so it's imperative that we spend time reading our Bible every single day. That way we are putting God first in our life which is what He commands us to do.
But some wonderful, amazing promises belong to those who spend time in His Word daily. The foremost one says that His Word will not return to Him void, but will accomplish that which He desires (Isaiah 55:10–11). He wants us to have an attitude of gratitude, and when we do, we discover that we're much more at peace than before and actually happier! He tells us we don't need to worry or fret and that when we do, it only hurts us. Instead we're to trust Him. He will work everything out for our good, including those bad things that happened to us. And when God says He will do something, He does it! He gives purpose to our lives. No matter what happens to us, we can be sure that God will make something good out of it for us. There are more than 10 places in the Bible that tell us that God is the God of peace (I'll just give you a couple here so you can hover your mouse over them to read them: Judges 6:24, Judges 6:24). More tell us that He is the God of love (1 John 4:16, 2 Corinthians 13:11). We're also told He is a wonderful counselor to us (Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 28:29) and that He is the God of Hope (Romans 15:13, Jeremiah 14:8). I could go on an on, but trust me, with Him as your Father, you really can have peace! I used to worry all the time, but then I met the Lord and I don't have to worry anymore! I hope you can say that too.