Retired School Superintendent and Bible Church Pastor
|
Links BOOKLET INDEX ARTICLES-LESSONS-STUDIES EASTERN GATE At HIS Feet THE WORLD WAS MADE BY HIM AND THE WORLD KNEW HIM NOT THE LORD GOD OMNIPOTENT REIGNS WHO IS ISRAEL? - LOST TRIBES CHRIST'S MILLENNIAL KINGDOM ON EARTH WARNING SEEK YE THE LORD by LINDA MARIE TESTING THE SPIRITS by LINDA MARIE POEMS by LINDA MARIE GOD'S PLAN FOR OUR SPIRITUAL WARFARE CHRIST'S RETURN UNFATHOMABLE TRUTHS FROM GOD’S WORD FRED'S PAGE - GOD ANSWERS PRAYER POEMS, DREAMS AND TESTIMONIES BY VISITORS LINKS AND BANNERS MARTYRDOM OF THE SAINTS THE SIXTH BOWL WATCH OF THE SAINTS THERE IS A RIVER THINKING ABOUT THE LOSS OF LOVED ONES GOD'S WHIRLWIND OF CHARIOTS AND FIRE |
  My sister became so ill that she was taken to the best doctors available but was sent back home with no improvement. The primitive scopes that were available in the late 30's revealed some kind of lung congestion. This problem continued for some time and since she was only about a year old her coughing and gagging scared us very much. Finally one night my Dad placed my little sister in the center of our living room floor and had my Mother, myself and two older sisters kneel around her while he prayed to God for help. The next morning Mother went downstairs to do the washing and while there heard a loud coughing noise upstairs. She rushed up and found my sister had spit up a large glob of decayed watermelon seeds from her lungs. The little tyke was completely restored to clear free breathing. I was five years old at that time and can truthfully say now, close to sixty years later, that I have never doubted that God answers prayer. Shortly after I was born my ear drum burst as a result of a severe case of measles. I was sick many, many days every month. At the age of seven I bowed my head and prayed in school at my desk, in the second grade, and asked God to heal me. I did not get healed. I repeated the same prayer over and over dozens of times but did not get healed. This problem continued until it was corrected by modern surgery and antibiotics when I was thirty years old. I never stopped believing God answers prayer. At the age of ten I asked Jesus Christ to be my Savior. Like so many others I repeated that prayer many times after that, just to make sure. Some of my prayers were answered so fast it is still a surprise to me when I think of it. Like the time a foreign object got caught in my throat and I was forced to pull over to the side of the road. Some prayers have never been answered and as time has gone by, I can no longer even remember what they were. Regardless, I still believe God answers prayer. Doctors told me I had cancer and needed surgery or radiation treatment or it would get worse. Of course I prayed. I prayed with close to sixty years of experience. I prayed for healing. My church prayed for my healing in a special service just for the sick and needy. A good feeling came over me during that prayer. When I returned to the doctor for additional tests he told me my cancer was no better. I went in for seven weeks of radiation after which I received a favorable report and must continue to have observation the rest of my life. To this day, I honestly believe God answers prayer. I now look back over my prayer experience of close to sixty years and share this with you, the Readers, to encourage you to pray and trust God. To me, unanswered prayers no longer mean God does not answer prayer any more than answered prayers mean God answers all prayer. Prayer is an act of trust - a conversation with our Heavenly Father Who cares and knows what is best for us, more than that, it acquaints us with Him. Revelation 8-l4 Let's talk a little about the Return of Christ and the Trumpets. Paul teaches that Christ will return when the last Trumpet sounds. Question! Why does Paul say last Trumpet? Paul is teaching that other Trumpets will sound before the last one. He knew what John knew from his vision of the last days of this Earth Age. John saw seven angels sounding seven Trumpets. Now notice what is written about the last of the seven Trumpets. When the last or seventh Trumpet sounds, many events take place, most important of which is, Christ Returns to Earth. That is most significant! Then notice that He gathers His Saints unto Himself. Take note that the word gather is in Scripture - what a beautiful thought - what a good word choice. Yes, gathers - meets His Saints in the spirit. Two words that are often wrongly used or substituted for gathered and spirit are rapture and air - like in the sky. Questions! Why do people use the word rapture when it is not in the Bible? Why is the word air used and not the word spirit? Why would Christ Return to the Earth, to live for the next one thousand years, meet us in the air? He does not! God's angels gather us to meet Christ in spirit bodies on Earth. The last or seventh Trumpet sounds the Return of the True Christ our Lord Jesus Christ to gather His Saints - His Church - His Elect, as they are still on Earth. But, look out! Questions! Why have we been taught that the false christ comes after the True Christ (rapture teaching) if, as you can clearly see, he comes before the seventh Trumpet? The false teaching that the True Christ comes in a 'rapture' before the false christ, helps the false christ pull off his big plan to get the world to worship him. Can anyone think of a better way to fool the world, and maybe, even some mistaught Saints? Just reverse the order of the Trumpets, that is, teach the True Christ comes before the false christ (which no man has the authority to do) and you play right into the hands of the false christ. What a terrible thing to do. In Old Testament Days a system was developed over a long period of time that was referred to as Tithing. In the New Testament this was changed to Cheerful Giving. As legalism moved into the Church this Cheerful Act was changed to a frightening system, enforced by the Church. In both Testaments about ten per cent was the base figure used. Abraham gave a one time gift to God of ten percent. Also, in both Testaments the money was used to support the Temple or Church and to help the poor. Both poor strangers and relatives received help. The United States of America was founded on the Bible and has become the greatest Nation in the history of the world. This is a Christian Nation to this day. Of course the Christian part is slowly slipping away, but many aspects are very much alive. Many hard working families have been made to feel guilt about not giving enough to the "Lord", as they say. Many people have tried the TV Church prosperity teaching and found it be false. Not only does it not work, but when it fails they have more guilt. "Give, give, give", they are told, but "guilt, guilt, guilt", they receive. When A Christian pays social security tax he is giving to the poor and needy older generation, that is a tithe. When a Christian pays income tax in this Country, a part goes to the poor of the world, which is also a tithe. Volunteer time and community service, such as Hospice, are a form of tithe. If Christians would add all this up, they would be surprised how much they give before they even get to Church. Jesus said, "MY YOKE IS EASY."
 Get your own Free Home Page |