Be of Good Cheer

Ok, before I start, be sure to stop by my friend Patty's blog and wish her a "Happy 35th Birthday" ...I love that gal! Happy Birthday , Patty! http://bartlettx4.blogspot.com/


Several of my blogging friends have alluded to the "Last days" in the Bible and the signs of the times. Does anyone else tire of reading the headline in the news? I've never been much of a newspaper reader but I am hooked on the Charter Communication ( our server) start up page...news headlines. I know nothing is new under the sun, but look at a few I found this morning:

1. "Best Santa Ever" arrested in N.J. on child sex charges. ( Santa????)

2. Seven cops pulled from Philly streets over beating. ( These are the "good guys")

3. Oil prices $125.00 a barrel

4. U.S. Marine guilty of "wrongful sex act"

5. Charles Manson "hideout site" searched for murder victims of '69 massacre

Ok..I'll stop there, as if that isn't enough. I mean, come on, Santa has gone bad? It sickens my stomach especially when children are involved. I know the Lord told us that all these things shouldn't surprise us.

So...the bad news:

2 PETER 3:3-KNOWING THIS FIRST, THAT THERE SHALL COME IN THE LAST DAYS SCOFFERS, WALKING AFTER THEIR OWN LUSTS

Jude 18-HOW THAT THEY TOLD YOU THERE SHOULD BE MOCKERS IN THE LAST TIME, WHO SHOULD WALK AFTER THEIR OWN UNGODLY LUSTS.
1 Tim 4:1-NOW THE SPIRIT SPEAKETH EXPRESSLY, THAT IN THE LATTER TIMES SOME SHALL DEPART FROM THE FAITH, GIVING HEED TO SEDUCING SPIRITS, AND DOCTRINES OF DEVILS.

Jn 12:48-HE THAT REJECTETH ME, AND RECEIVETH NOT MY WORDS, HATH ONE THAT JUDGETH HIM: THE WORD THAT I HAVE SPOKEN, THE SAME SHALL JUDGE HIM IN THE LAST DAY.

“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." Matthew 24:7-8

"... in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
"...all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned..." 2 Timothy 3:1-14


And the Good news:

Job 19:25-I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVETH, AND THAT HE SHALL STAND AT THE LATTER DAY UPON THE EARTH.

Jn 11:24-MARTHA SAITH UNTO HIM, I KNOW THAT HE SHALL RISE AGAIN IN THE RESURRECTION AT THE LAST DAY.

Johm 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.



"...the waves of death surrounded me, the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.... In my distress I called upon the Lord.... His way is perfect...." 2 Samuel 22:5, 31

His way if perfect. I LOVE that. I get stressed over the little things..like trying to get my kids ready for school, make sure homework is done, I get my "church duties" finished, trying to be a good long distance daughter, trying to be a good teacher"....and sometimes I forget the bigger picture. I think the Lord doesn't want us "stressed" over the world headlines, but he does want us to be aware AND INTENTIONAL in our walk with him to win others...it's a sign that "things are about to happen"....he says to be alert and to "WATCH"...

"Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping.

And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” Mark 13:33-37