God Will Keep His Promises to Israel - Don't Miss This!
There was a timely message John MacArthur gave on November 19th of this year that Christians should listen to. God's keeping His promises to Israel in the future should encourage all believers. It's on the GTY website: In God We Trust (sermon by John MacArthur).
Natalie's Story
I have been following the story of Natalie (a child) for quite some time, and God has used what could have seemed tragic for His purposes. It's amazing to be reminded again about how God made the body in a wonderful way. Watch Here.
Free Psalms of Grace MP3 Files (available at the time of this post)
I saw that these files are still free which are good for those who want to use them. There are also ones available in Spanish! You can find them HERE.
Celebrating the Incarnation with Music
I often have shared music on here around Christmas, and here are some carols with violin and guitar for you to listen to.
What Hamas did in Israel on October 7, 2023, was horrific. I did not watch everything, but I saw some still photos that were gruesome. I've read and heard accounts. I know it happened. Deniers are liars...just like those who deny the Holocaust of Hitler's time. Some recently have said things like, "Do not look away." I understand, as some want to deny the truth.... deny reality.... pretend like there is a good excuse. They are deluded and blind to the truth.
I was thinking today about how I feel sometimes when I read the account of the crucifixion in the Gospels. I feel like I don't want to read that part even though I should want to. I don't like to think of the suffering and humiliation and the injustice. Yet I know that what Christ suffered...physically and also the wrath of God (which he willingly suffered for others as He was sinless) ...well, that was the only way that my sins could be properly atoned for. He was my substitute.
So, while I can't see the physical blood of Christ, or know the depth of His suffering of the wrath of God against my sins and the sins of all who would ever believe, it is necessary to remember and to see the reality with the spiritual eyes He has given me.
Have you seen Christ on the cross in that way? Have you seen the depth of your sins? Turn to Christ. Read His Word, and don't look away from the cross. Look to Jesus. Only in Him is forgiveness and eternal life.
Today I was reading Isaiah 10, and I was beginning to type out thoughts which lengthened into a blog post. I want to remind people that I'm not a man, and this blog is not authoritative.
It may give insight into what can go through my mind when I read Scripture and notes about it.
Is the axe to boast itself over the one who chops with it? Is the saw to exalt itself over the one who wields it? That would be like a club wielding those who lift it, Or like a rod lifting him who is not wood. Isaiah 10:15 NASB
The people that God used to punish His people boasted and would also be punished by God. Although not the point of the passage, and an aside, this verse made me think of those who are against guns...as though guns wield themselves. In the case of Isaiah 10, God's sovereignty is shown in directing an evil nation to His purposes. Sometimes God's purposes are punishment for evil as in Isaiah 10, but other times nations were used to bless His people.
The good news is that there is a remnant of believing Israel. There has been and always will be a remnant it seems, and the grafted in Gentiles in the New Testament don't take away from blessings God gave through Israel or the promises.
Paul sorrowed for those of his people according to the flesh that did not believe (and were not chosen). who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. Romans 9:4-5 NASB
Romans 11 lets me know that God still has a remnant of Israel, and so people should not be prideful toward the root or negative toward the Jews...who may be grafted back in if they do not continue in unbelief. I believe there will be a future for and blessings for believing Israel, and there are promises to them that are not yet fulfilled and will be in the future.
I know that others have different eschatological views, but this is my view from my reading of and understanding of Scripture.
I remember reading in the Bible some things that I knew were not fulfilled yet in the past.
I don't believe things just because I've been told how to believe, but I believe them because I have read it in Scripture as well as it helps when I hear Scripture exposited.
Yesterday afternoon (morning for those on the west coast of the U.S.) I was listening to a livestream of Grace Community Church where a guy who came from Northern Ireland gave a message on Exodus 1 where Pharaoh had Hebrew babies killed.
The Hebrews had gone to Egypt when Joseph had a high place in that government as second in command to Pharaoh (after first being sold as a slave by his brothers and wrongfully imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit). God had His plans, and Joseph was given the interpretation of dreams and was released and elevated by Pharaoh eventually after interpreting his dream.
Later a Pharaoh who didn't know Joseph made the Hebrews into slaves.
The new Pharaoh wanted population control much like those who are proponents of abortion. He was fearful of the Hebrews.
In America, Margaret Sanger's targets were the poor and black children.
Pharaoh's target was the Jews.
Some midwives who were instructed to kill the Hebrew baby boys at birth feared God more than Pharaoh, and they wouldn't do it ( Exodus 1:21 ).
Still, many babies were killed.
God increased the Jewish population despite the order for their babies to be killed - as the promise of God drew nigh for them to leave Egypt and eventually go to the land that was promised.
This wasn't discussed in the sermon, but some may bring up about the judgment of the death of the firstborn of Egypt.
God is patient, and He is also just.
This means that when He does something it is fair, no matter that your mind might not be able to understand.
Redemption was necessary for lives to be spared, and God passed over the houses with the blood on the doorpost. Really, this pictures the redemption plan of God through the blood of the sacrifice of His Son Jesus.
In China they have forced abortions for some people, though I have read there has been some relaxation (though not cessation) of the one child policy. Murder of babies in the womb by human beings is wrong. People are image bearers of God, and only He has the authority to give and take life.
There are so many people around the world who have their children butchered willingly for the idolatry of self (freedom from responsibility) or idolatry & fear of others.
It is horrific, and some even profit from the body parts of the dead babies.
Yes, they are human beings who had a chance of surviving, but the mothers and doctors snuffed out their lives instead of allowing them to stay on the natural life support God gave them through the mothers.
When evil seems to be reigning, God is working His Sovereign plan - even though it comes through suffering done by the choices of sinful people.
God judges a sinful people, but He will redeem His chosen ones.
Andrew Curry (John MacArthur has been taking some time off during the summer) shared some words that William Cowper wrote many years ago, and I looked it up and decided to share the whole thing with you.
I pasted the words below the video for you to read.
(The sound is a little garbled, but it's a unique video I found that has William Cowper words for the first song...though it has added lyrics.)
God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines Of never-failing skill He treasures up His bright designs, And works His sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take, The clouds ye so much dread Are big with mercy, and shall break In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust Him for His grace; Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour; The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err, And scan His work in vain; God is His own interpreter, And He will make it plain.
I did a couple of videos recently about reasons for my choosing to vote for Rick Santorum for President. I actually already voted in early voting here in the state where I live now. Even though no delegates were pledged to Rick already, he can have delegates appointed for him later.
I admit that I did have to read off what I wrote for the video, and the editing didn't work so well that I used. Still, I was so eager to share this that I didn't want to try my other program.
I hope that you will watch this, no matter if you are planning to vote for someone else. This video deals with some issues that are important to me especially as a Christian.
