Jeremiah 35:15 "I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me." 

     Do you think God is saying that to this country (America) and to the Nations?

     2 Chronicles 20:20 "And they rose early in the morning and went forth into the wilderness of Te-ko-a and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established (kept safe); believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper (succeed)."

     When someone is encouraging you concerning living for Jesus and are sharing with you the gospel of Jesus Christ it would be wise to listen and do what they are telling you to do. As Jehoshaphat said, "Believe in the Lord your God so shall ye be established (kept safe) and believe his prophets so shall ye prosper." Get rid of that judgmental, critical spirit that causes you to refuse to listen to who God sends you. If they are leading you "to" a relationship with Jesus then they are for real. Maybe not perfect, we none are, but real. 

     I titled this, "What if you are trapped in a burning house? I ask this question because if you were trapped in your house and there is a raging fire and a fireman came to get you out, you would not say, "I don't need your help! I don't know you!" Or you wouldn't ignore him or her and say, "You are not perfect, I am not listening to you! Send me someone who is perfect! or Go away and leave me alone!" No! You would be a complete idiot if you did that! Seriously! 
     
     You know what is crazy? People are actually doing that every day, spiritually speaking. Their house is being totally destroyed by Satan because Jesus is not the head of their home! Their house is literally on-fire spiritually and not in a good way either, as if they are living in Hell already on earth! Are you one of those people? I hope not! If you have never invited Jesus to be the Lord of your life, you are trapped in a burning house and may not even realize it. You may get up every day and go to work and you may think you are a "good" person but if you haven't invited Jesus into your home his presence is not there and if God's presence is not there, what is? "Yourself and Satan" rules your home and that is not a good thing spiritually. It is serious! James 3:16 says, "For where envying and 'strife (selfishness) is, there is 'confusion (disorder) and every evil work." If you have not invited Jesus into your heart, your life and your home "self" is still on the throne of your heart where Jesus should be!
     

     God may have sent you many "firemen" in your day to deliver you but you have said, "Why should I listen to you? I don't know you so don't try to tell me what to do? Or you may have told someone who God has sent you to lead you into a relationship with him through Jesus and you have said, "Don't preach to me! You have criticized that one whom God has sent saying, "Don't ask me to go to church either! There are too many hypocrites there!" 
    

     If you are one of those who say those things to someone who God has sent you to keep you from a burning Hell for eternity, you need to be thankful for those spiritual "firemen" God sends you! You need to pray he gives you another chance! This is serious! If your physical (earthly) house was burning and you were trapped you would not say any of those things to whoever it was pulling you out of that fire! You need to be all the more thankful and less argumentative concerning who God is using to pull your soul out of Hell. Your soul is way more valuable than your earthly house! Don't you think?

     Also, what about when you go to the doctor, do you ask them or expect them to be "perfect"? Most of you do not even know your doctor and your doctor does not even know you on a personal basis! But yet you take every single thing they say as the "gospel truth"! Why is that? Now, don't get me wrong I have gone to doctors. I do believe God has given them the knowledge but I pray and believe Jesus is my Great Physician first as I go. I also get a second opinion too, because I realize they are not perfect. They are just as capable of being wrong as any of us. 

     In Conclusion, The next time (and I hope you pray there is a next time) God sends one of his prophets or messengers that care about your soul please listen to them! If they are truly leading you to repent of your sins and trust Jesus as your Lord and Savior, listen to them and believe! Don't worry about them being perfect or not perfect. And stop trying to figure out how "they" could be called by God thinking you are better than them. It's not about that! It is not up to you who God calls or not! You are not worthy to be judge, only Jesus is! It is God who ordains, not you! Be wise and listen and Believe and you will prosper!

     If you would like to learn more and be prepared for God's Storm of Judgment that is actually upon this world now register for my online course. You can go to my sidebar to register. It is a wealth of information to transform your life and help you prepare for the future. You do not have to live in Fear and Worry! You can go from Panic to Peace! This course will help you "Get Your House in Order" and give you the tools to "Build an Ark of Safety" for you and your family! Go to the sidebar to register. God Bless You! 

     

     "Fight to Keep the Faith!

     First off I would like to say Hello to everyone that reads this post. God Bless You! I appreciate you! I would also like to encourage you to Not Give Up! I know this world can be hard and it's a battle! A couple of times I have asked my Lord Jesus, "Lord, can I please have no battles for a while? Can I go on vacation from the fight? I will jokingly explain to him how even soldiers in the army are not out on the "battlefield" all the time, they do get to go on vacation. I would explain to him that I just need a little break, but I would immediately clear that up and say, Lord, I want a break from the battle but I don't mean "sick bay", please don't allow me to be put there, then I would chuckle. I am so thankful that Jesus does have a sense of humor! He loves us and understands. 

     As David says in Psalms 103: 13,14 "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. 14. For he knows our frame; he remembereth that we are dust."  The Lord knows our frame. He knows where we come from. He knows we are human. He knows how he created us. God is the Potter, we are the clay. He is taking us marred vessels and turning us into something grand and awesome! He knows what he is doing with us. He knows just how much heat we individually need to get all the cracks out, to smooth us out, straighten us out, or whatever he thinks we need to simply make us shine for his Glory!

"Make it or Break it"

I watched a vessel being molded

by a potter one day.

I talked with the potter about what he was doing.

Here is what he had to say.

He said,  "I take this clay and hold it,

with oh! such tender care. 

I hold it in my hands,

and it's not going anywhere!

The Potter said, "I mash it,

and I squeeze it,

and it changes

bit by bit. 

The Potter knows what he is doing

he's a master at his art.

He knows how to handle the clay

every single part. 

The Potter knows

exactly what to do.

He knows just how much pressure

to take the clay through.

He knows how much the clay

can stand the flame in the fire.

He knows what is good, for the vessel

and how much heat it doth require.

He keeps working on the vessel

after he does begin.

He keeps his eyes upon it.

Never to take them off again.

To make it or break it and shape it

into a beautiful design.

And then he puts his name upon it,

and says, "This work of art is mine!"

     

     I love that part in that poem God gave me. " He puts his name upon it, and says, "This work of art is mine!" Doesn't that make you want to shout? Knowing that God Almighty loves us and calls us "his", helps us get through whatever comes our way. We have to remember that we are not on this earth forever! We are just passing through, and whatever we go through, we are just "going through". No matter what we go through we have to Keep the Faith in Jesus Christ until we take our last breath! That is the one thing we have to fight for! Our Faith in Jesus! Sometimes we go through some kind of fire! Believe me, I have had what "I" believe is way more than my share! God knows I am saying the truth! Because I have often voiced my opinion to him on the matter! Until I realized I can either get bitter or better. I chose to get better, not bitter! I chose to let Satan and all of Hell know that I will never give up my faith in God! I love the story of Job, in the bible. Read the book of Job. I love the King James Version. Read how God was bragging about him to Satan. God had Faith in Job that Job was going to hang onto his Faith no matter what! Job was a man who lost everything. His children, his health, and his livelihood were gone! He went "through" a very horrible time!

       During those times when you are in the fire experiencing trials and tribulations and persecutions from the devil himself and it feels like all of Hell is coming against you, consciously choose Faith in God! You cannot be passive at this thing of keeping your Faith! We have to stay aggressive in this fight of faith! Job had to aggressively hang onto his faith in God. Job didn't have anyone except for God! Job's own wife was telling him to curse God and die. Job's friends were no comfort. They thought they were but they weren't. 

     We are to follow those who have held onto their faith until the very end. Hebrews 13:7 says, "Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the Word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation." We cannot never forget also, Jesus says in Matthew 28:20 "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." Amen! 

     I am here to tell you it is going to be a fight. The devil will come against you. He hates you because he hates God. He sees the awesome work God is doing in you and he knows why. He knows God is making an awesome warrior out of you and he is trying to stop it any way he can. 

Keep your Faith in Jesus unto the end brothers and sisters.

     You are a work of art and the devil knows it! The devil knows you are valuable! That is why he is fighting you!  

email at hopefulhappyandwhole@gmail.com

What does "Success" mean to you? When I was seeking an image for this post, I typed up free images of success. Not too many came up. This was one of four. They had a couple of high-rise buildings and this gentleman in a suit. I thought to my self, so this is what people think "success" is? High-rise buildings, a man in a suit, cars, houses, a woman in heels, all that stuff. That's all people think success is? How superficial is that? 

Many people have struggled to climb that corporate ladder and managed to get to the top and ring the bell, but are still empty, dead on the inside, greedy and still money hungry! That is what you call success? 

There was a man in the bible, who God chose to be one of Jesus' disciples. This man followed Jesus everywhere along with the other chosen disciples. However, this man was not following Jesus in his heart. His mind was on the money. He was not content, because of greed, pride, and lust for power. In the end, this particular disciple made the money. But it was by selling out on Jesus, the Son of God. It led him to go out and hang himself. This man's name was "Judas". For the money Judas betrayed Jesus. You can read this story in Matthew 27:1-8 KJV. 

We have to be very careful to not love money. We are to follow Jesus, not follow after money. Jesus says in Matthew 6:24, "No man can serve two masters; for either, he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and Money." 1 Timothy 6:10 says, "The love of money is the root of all evil; which while some 'coveted after (were greedy about), they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." 

Timothy was warning us in chapter 6 to watch out for and withdraw from those who say, "Gain is godliness." He tells us in 1st Timothy 6:6 "But Godliness with contentment is great gain. 7. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8. And having food and raiment let us therewith be content." And speaking of contentment, Paul (in the bible) learned the hard way. He says in Philippians 4:11-13 "Not that I speak in respect of want; for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12. I know both how to be 'abased (made low), and I know how to 'abound (be prosperous); everywhere and in all things, I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13. I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me."

Paul learned to be content and happy just walking with God. In verse 4:19 he says, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in Glory by Christ Jesus. 20. Now unto God and our Father be glory forever and ever. Amen." Paul could only say God would supply our need because he walked with him and knew by experience God could be trusted. I have learned by an experience like Paul's, true contentment comes from walking with God and loving him.

So, to those of you who are climbing that corporate ladder, or seeking to be rich. just make sure you are walking with God. Make sure you are seeking Jesus and his righteousness first as Jesus says in Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." 

If you don't have a relationship with Jesus and give Him the glory for all you have that he has given you, then you are not truly successful. It doesn't matter what you drive, or what kind of house you live in, or what kind of fancy clothes you wear, or where you travel, remember,

 "Success is not where you take your heart, but being content where your heart is right now!" Is your heart right with Jesus right now? If yes, and you are content and at peace, that is SUCCESS!

True success is walking and talking with God and having a relationship with him, whether we have two pennies in our pocket or two trillion in the bank, and giving him all the glory no matter what!

Listen to this song below by "Josh Turner called Me and God."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGZV2Sr1sTg

Visit my store for Valentine's Day gifts. Go here:
https://teespring.com/new-2020-happy-valentines-day?pid=658&cid=102941

     I titled my first blog on this site, "Passing the Torch of Faith". Because firstly, as a daughter of God (a Christian) and secondly, as a Mother, and thirdly as a GrandMother to those present and those to come, my main goal is to pass the Baton of Faith on to them!

The Who, What, When, Where, How and Why?

     I know my main goal and responsibility is to teach my family when they are going through trials and tribulations of their own, "what" are they to do? Have I taught them as a parent "who" to call on when they are in trouble? Have I taught them to put their "Faith" in Jesus alone for their life, whatever needs they may have, and especially for their need of salvation? Have I taught them "how" to pray and "how" to hear from God? I mean really pray and know that God hears them and loves them. Have I taught them by example how to pray and Believe in Faith for a miracle when they need one? And "when" they feel like their life is over and they can't go on any longer, have I taught them that is "when" Jesus steps in and takes over if they allow him to?
     Have I taught my children and grandchildren the best I could, how to take the Living Word of God (the bible) and use it as their own sword? When they are in pain, heartache, trouble or circumstances beyond their control, how to quote God's Word and send it to cut the devil's head off with it (combat the devil)? Have I taught them to be on guard because we are in a spiritual war? I am going to repeat that, "We are in a spiritual war!" That is the "why" of teaching them these things. It is serious! They have to know that we all are Spirit beings first. It is not that we have a body with a spirit. No! We are Spirit being first that has a body. It is our Spirit and Soul that will live on in one of two places, Heaven or Hell. We get a new body when we get to Heaven. This is "why" we must make teaching our family to love Jesus our #1 goal.

Be an Awesome GoalKeeper! 

     We covered the who, what, when, how and why but we didn't cover where. Well, we sure can't leave it up to the school to teach our children faith in Jesus, can we? No, it is not their responsibility! Some people think is good enough to drop their children or grandchildren off at church for them to teach them. Now, don't get me wrong it is better than not trying at all, however, can we trust the church "today" to teach them true faith in Jesus?  There is way too much false teaching going on even in the church! So "where" should it be taught or better yet, shown? In the home! It is the parent's responsibility!
     So, like that goalkeeper or goalie in the image above we have to fight and be determined to keep the goal of keeping the faith and passing it on to the next generation. Because the devil will try to steal your faith. Don't kid your self. He will try anything to keep you from passing faith in Jesus to your family. Believe me, if you truly know Jesus and have faith in him that is when the devil will fight you. He will do anything he can to stop you from doing that right there. That is the only thing he does not want you doing right there, Passing on the Torch of Faith to your children and grandchildren. He will even make you look bad in their eyes. He will use circumstances to cause misunderstandings and make "you" look bad. I tell you what if you are one of those who just go to church on Sunday's and think you are on your way to Heaven because you are so good and you have often said, "The devil never bothers me, I have no problems", you might check your self spiritually. Could it be that the devil may already have you? Maybe that is why he never bothers you. You aren't a threat to him and his kingdom if you are trusting in your own goodness. Have you truly been born again?

No Self-Righteousness!

     Going to church does not prove you have faith in Jesus or a relationship with him. There are "self" righteous and religious people who don't have a clue what I am talking about passing on the torch of faith to our children and grandchildren and those behind. They may sit on a church pew every Sunday, so self-righteous that the "pew" is starting to stinketh! That is why they call it a Pew! Lol. That is another post.

     

Hebrews 11:1,2 "Now faith is the 'substance (assurance) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by 'it (faith) the elders 'obtained (won) a good report." By faith, know God is there even if you don't feel him.

"Faith is the Substance of Things Hoped For"

See me holding you,

when you feel I'm not there.

See me holding you

when you have not a friend to share.

See at the end of the tunnel

past the dark, to the light.

See now the miracles you need.

Even though they seem nowhere in sight.

See past the valley

to the Mountain.

See past the dry desert

to the Fountain.

See in your life my hand

upon everything.

See in the trials

the blessings that I bring.

See now the grass is green

and not on the other side.

See now the Peace after the storm,

and after the raging tide.

See now the crown

at the end of the race.

See now I am!

Don't let anything else take my place.

See past the sky

that sometimes is gray.

See and understand, after the long night,

there is coming the day!

See already, the answer

that is on the way.

Past the doubts, the questions,

and dismay.

During the trials, see now the songs

that is coming out of this.

See past the pain and heartache,

to the Heavenly Bliss.

This is the point, my child,

I don't want you to miss.

The substance of things hoped for

is what faith is!

2 Timothy 4:6,7 "For I am ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my 'course (race), I have kept the faith."

     In the verse, above, Paul was speaking to young Timothy. He was letting Timothy know he was about to pass away and go home to Heaven. He said the time of his departure was at hand, and he had fought a good fight. He kept all his earthly possessions. He kept all his money and all of his awards. No! He said he kept his faith in God. That was the main thing he was passing on to young Timothy. The only award Paul was concerned with receiving was a crown of righteousness. 

     Paul said he had fought a good fight. Why do you think he had to fight to keep the faith? Because that is the one thing and the only thing that gets us a place in Heaven. That is the one thing Satan comes to steal from us. He knows who truly has faith in God. Satan doesn't care if someone sits on a church pew every Sunday, he just doesn't want us to put our faith in Jesus, and what Jesus has done for us on the cross.

     Too many people think that just because they may go to a church building that is showing their faith. Not necessarily! Faith is believing God is real, though you can't see him, and knowing that what he says in his word is the truth! Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Faith is knowing and believing that! Not too many people talk about God or Jesus dying on the cross for our sins, but I do and I hope you do too!

     They say when starting a new blog to write about what you are passionate about. Ever since I truly met Jesus at the age of 28, I am passionate about sharing him with others. That is why I titled this, "Passing on the Torch of Faith." I want to do my part in passing on my faith to the next generation. 

     You know, we are all racing to the finish line, whether we like to admit it or not. We none are guaranteed tomorrow! The clock is ticking for every one of us! So knowing that, are you concerned with passing on the faith to the next generation? Or maybe, you don't know what faith in Jesus means. If you don't I welcome you and would love for you to continue to join me, so we can pass this torch of faith to others down the line. God Bless You All.