"Only Life Changes"

“My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 12:9
{Prayer}
God help me to be aware of my limitations and to be willing and ready to ask for help in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me.

Psalm 23:4
{Prayer}
Heavenly Father, when the darkness comes over us and storms beat around us, shelter us under Your wing in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

Father God, let this touch someone’s heart today and let them know You, are for them in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

When I go home to be with Jesus, I look forward to seeing my loved ones again who made an impact in my life and were Jesus to me. I am believing that I can be Jesus to others, and they will know Jesus when I leave them behind. Being with the Lord in eternity is my destination. I appreciate what prayers can do and all the good God has done in others’ lives and my own. I have many siblings. about half of us are believers, the other half are not. So, I continue to pray for their salvation and a return to the faith we were brought up in. I just share that because we can trust the Lord to deal with the terminally ill & also with loved ones, in a way beyond our knowledge & feelings. He does all things well & how much more when a soul is at the entrance to eternity. Even as David acknowledged, “My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me. My future is in your hands. Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly. (Psalm 31:15); he knew full well, whether, through illness or the onslaught of the enemy (as the Psalm suggests), Thank God for our family and church family. All those who make an impact on Jesus. God is the One in control & He will give or take away according to His Will. Is old age a punishment? Or should one be allowed to elect death instead of enduring extended suffering? Now, I’m in that old-age bracket; life has slowed down some, few more aches, pains & stiffness, but I don’t regard it as punishment, but to use our days to give thanks to the Lord for His Goodness, to live for Him, to be a witness to the ‘younger’ ones ( Older women are to teach the young women to love their husbands and children. They are to teach them to think before they act, to be pure, to be workers at home, to be kind, and to obey their own husbands. In this way, the Word of God is honored. Also, teach young men to be wise. Titus 2:4-6 ESV) of God’s Faithfulness, that this life is passing, yet it’s a time to be ready for an eternity with the Lord, who has given us His all for us. Actually, the punishment was shortened life.

Genesis 6:3, NIV Then the LORD said, ‘My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.’
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth. ” Ephesians 6:1-3 NIV So we need to teach our children by loving them and teaching what is sin and what is not sin. So being truthful and showing them right from wrong. We can be right up in their business without scaring them away from righteousness. Protecting them from predators on social media and keeping them accountable in deeds and actions. Also, we are accountable to them. It reads in Psalm 103:5 NIV who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.

The way that I can understand this verse (in Isaiah 45:7, NIV: I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things.), is to see the contrasts given therein. The Lord God says that He forms (creates) light. If that light is removed, the result is darkness. So, in a sense, He has also created darkness (or, at least chosen not to remove that darkness by some other means, other than using light). Likewise, God makes (or, gives) peace. If He chooses to remove that peace, that absence of peace is unrest, war, and turmoil (evil). So, I don’t believe the verse indicates that God specifically chooses to create evil (sin?), but when He removes peace & serenity from a person or from the world, the result is not good at all. Maybe we could ask, ‘Why would God want to remove the peace He gives?’ It could be for accomplishing His purposes in man or in the world & to show man how deep his wickedness can go when God is not in his view & His Peace is not in Him. And we remember that these words were spoken to Cyrus (verse 1), a Persian ruler, whom God used to accomplish His purposes on behalf of Israel. So, these words came to remind Cyrus who this God of Israel was with Whom he was dealing. I think that people that think that the big bang is not smart, but I look at it this way… God said it and BANG it happened. Here I think God our creator is warning us about the worship of false gods and to be faithful and believe in him.”Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be you shall be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger, for the Lord their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.” The Nation of Israel and the Nations of the whole world shall bear their punishment for their sins, and the earth prepared for the Presence of the LORD. We all need to pray for each other and trust God in all things. Amen. I believe it! Not only is Christ at the door, but He is also crossing the threshold. Hold on to your faith, brothers and sisters, we are almost there!! Praise GOD in the highest forever more. A world without end.
It reads in Zephaniah 2:14, NIV Flocks and herds will lie down there, creatures of every kind. The desert owl and the screech owl will roost on her columns. Their hooting will echo through the windows, rubble will fill the doorways, and the beams of cedar will be exposed.” . This may be symbolic of nuclear fallout because it hangs above humanity in the jet stream. When a nuclear detonation occurs, people, plants, and animals can be exposed to the fallout in several ways. Livestock may eat contaminated plants or drink contaminated water. I believe Jesus is at the door! With love and truth tell everyone to get right with him, read his word daily and pray unceasingly! He is the truth and the only way! God is against the churches. GOD is telling us to turn away from everything that is not of Christ, and turn to Him only, His word, and worship him. to cry out to HIM for mercy. This world and everything in it is perishing. An exhortation to repentance. (Zephaniah 2:1-3) Judgments upon other nations. (Zephaniah 2:4-15) The prophet calls for national repentance, as the only way to prevent national ruin. A nation not desiring, that has no desires toward God, is not desirous of his favor and grace, has no mind to repent and reform. Or, not desirable, not having anything to recommend them to God; to whom God might justly say, depart from me; but he says, gather together to me that you may seek my face. We know what God’s decree will bring against impenitent sinners; therefore, it highly concerns all to repent in the accepted time. How careful should we all be to seek peace with God, before the Holy Spirit withdraws from us, or ceases to strive with us; before the day of grace is over, or the day of life; before our everlasting state is determined! Let the poor, despised, and afflicted, seek the Lord, and seek to understand and keep his commandments better, that they may be more humbled for their sins. The chief hope of deliverance from national judgments rests upon prayer. Those are really in a woeful condition who have the word of the Lord against them, for no word of his shall fall to the ground. God will restore his people to their rights, though long kept from them. It has been the common lot of God’s people, of all ages, to be reproached and reviled. God shall be worshipped, not only by all Israel, and the strangers who join them, but by the heathen. Remote nations must be reckoned with for the wrongs done to God’s people. The sufferings of the insolent and haughty in prosperity, are unpitied and unlamented. But all the desolations of flourishing nations will make way for the overturning of Satan’s kingdom. Let us improve our advantages, and expect the performance of every promise, praying that our Father’s name may be hallowed everywhere over the earth. Love the sinner and pray in believing for them to repent and turn from their sin.

In this chapter it is basically what happens if people keep sinning what will happen! Homosexuality and marriage thereof: Gender Dysphoria or Transgender, Divorce and remarriage, Grief, living out of wedlock, suicide, self-harm, abortion killing of babies, this chapter spoke volumes I just want to share its truths.

(Zephaniah Chapter 2) God keeps His angels around His children who believe and do righteous walking in God;’s path.
{God Asks People to Change} V’s 1-3
Gather together, you unwanted people. Do it before it’s too late. Do it before you are blown away like chaff. Do it before the Lord’s terrible anger reaches you. Do it before the day of the Lord’s anger comes to you. All you who are not proud, come to the Lord. You who obey his laws, come to him. Do what is right. Learn to be humble. Maybe you will escape on the day the Lord shows his anger.

{Philistia Will Be Punished} v’s 4-7
No one will be left in the city of Gaza. The city of Ashkelon will be destroyed. Ashdod will be empty by noon. And the people of Ekron will be chased away. How terrible it will be for you who live by the Mediterranean Sea, you Philistines! This message from the Lord is for you, people of Canaan, land of the Philistines. “I will destroy you. No one will be left.” You live in the land by the Mediterranean Sea. It will be a place for shepherds and sheep. Your land will belong to the descendants of Judah who are left alive. There they will let their sheep eat grass.At night they will sleep in the houses of Ashkelon.The Lord their God will come to be with them. He will give them back their riches.
{Moab and Ammon Will Be Punished}v’s 8-11
“I heard the country of Moab insult my people. The country of Ammon threatened to take their land.” So the Lord of heaven’s armies, the God of Israel, says, “As surely as I live, Moab will be destroyed like Sodom. Ammon will be destroyed like Gomorrah.Their land will be covered with weeds and salt. It will be destroyed forever. Those of my people who are left alive will take whatever they want from them. Those who are left from my nation will take their land.” This is what Moab and Ammon get for being proud. This will happen because they insulted and made fun of the people of the Lord of heaven’s armies. Those people will be afraid of the Lord. He will destroy all the gods of the earth. Then those people in faraway places will worship the Lord in their own countries.
{Cush and Assyria Will Be Destroyed} V’s 12-15″
“You Cushites also will be killed by my sword.” Then the Lord will turn against the north and punish Assyria. He will destroy Nineveh. It will be dry like a desert. Sheep and goats will lie down there. Wild animals will live there. The owls and crows will sit on the stone pillars that are left standing. Their calls will be heard through the windows. Trash will be in the doorways. The wooden boards of the buildings will be gone. This is the happy and safe city. It thinks there is no one else as strong as it is. But that city will be destroyed. Only animals will stay there. Those who pass by will make fun and shake their fists.

“Let’s Pray”

Father God, I delight in your works and reflect on the wonder of your gracious deeds. You have been loving and compassionate to many generations. You have shown your people over and over again your almighty power. Amen. Lord, as I pray today for those that do not know Jesus, I ask that You can break whatever it is that has control over their heart that takes them away from knowing You. Psalm 119:67 says, “Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I obey your word.” I thank You for You blessing them today. Thank you for all you do for us, especially for being our redeemer I thank You, praise and give You all the honor and glory Lord Jesus Amen.

“Power Verse”

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”1 John 1:9, NIV

The one who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son. {Daughter}
Revelation 21:7 NIV
{Prayer}
Burn through me, O fire of God, and cleanse me of all dross in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

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Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
Isaiah 58:9
{Prayer}
Thank You, heavenly Father, for Your plan of prayer. We are glad You want us to keep in close touch with You in Jesus’ Precious Name Amen.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever
John 14:16 NIV
{Prayer}
Dear Father, thank You for the Holy Spirit and for the help He gives. Teach me how to fix my thoughts on You and Your love and power in Jesus’ Precious Name Amen.

“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
Psalm 91:14 NIV
{Prayer}
Lord, help me always to look to You in any difficult situation, knowing that whatever my need, You will in some way supply it in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.
Mark 8:35
{Prayer}
Lord God, I expect great things from You; please help me to attempt great things for You in Jesus’ Precious Name Amen.

Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.
Isaiah 60:20
{Prayer}
Father, things can so easily get out of order. I don’t want them to. I need Your help to get through today in Jesus’ Precious Name Amen.

It reads in Zephaniah 1:15-16; That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers. An Army of Insect Soldiers ( Joel 2) is a more complete description of this nation of insects that have overrun Judea, describing the individual soldiers and their actions. We must read these verses carefully to notice that he is describing the locusts metaphorically to raise the reader’s emotional response.
{This locust army is a metaphor for the armies that God sends upon Israel when He judges them for their disobedience. God took credit for raising up the Assyrian army against Israel. He took credit again for raising up the Babylonian army against Judah.}
“An Army of Locusts” (1-11)
Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming. It is close at hand, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was in ancient times nor ever will be in ages to come. Before them, fire devours, behind them a flame blazes. Before them the land is like the garden of Eden, behind them, a desert waste, nothing escapes them. They have the appearance of horses; they gallop along like cavalry. With a noise like that of chariots, they leap over the mountaintops like a crackling fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army drawn up for battle. At the sight of them, nations are in anguish; every face turns pale. They charge like warriors; they scale walls like soldiers. They all march in line, not swerving from their course. They do not jostle each other; each marches straight ahead. They plunge through defenses without breaking ranks. They rush upon the city; they run along the wall. They climb into the houses; like thieves, they enter through the windows. Before them, the earth shakes, the heavens tremble, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine. The Lord thunders at the head of his army, his forces are beyond number, and mighty is the army that obeys his command. The day of the Lord is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?
{“ Rend your hearts and not your garments ” means that we must look inward to make changes before that which we do on the outside will be seen as a legitimate exercise to serve. Are our hearts torn?}
“Rend Your Heart” (12-17)
“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and relent (Abandon) and leave behind a blessing, grain offerings, and drink offerings for the Lord your God. Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, and call a sacred assembly. Gather the people, consecrate the assembly brings together the elders, gather the children, that nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber. Let the priests, who minister before the Lord, weep between the portico (Porch) and the altar. Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the people, Where is their God?’”
{These verses are a future prophecy about the return of Jesus Christ, the battle of Armageddon. symbolizes the final battle between God and Satan. This battle will occur at the end of time and will result in the destruction of Satan and his followers. The Tribulation will end with a series of battles in the distant future. The battle of Armageddon will be fought at Mount Megiddo, north of Jerusalem. Just saying.
The Lord’s Answer” (18-27)
Then the Lord was jealous for his land and took pity on his people. The Lord replied to them: “I am sending you grain, new wine and olive oil, enough to satisfy you fully; never again will I make you an object of scorn to the nations. “I will drive the northern horde far from you, pushing it into a parched and barren land; its eastern ranks will drown in the Dead Sea and its western ranks in the Mediterranean Sea. And its stench will go up; its smell will rise.”Surely he has done great things! Do not be afraid, land of Judah; be glad and rejoice. Surely the Lord has done great things! Do not be afraid, you wild animals, for the pastures in the wilderness are becoming green. The trees are bearing their fruit; the fig tree and the vine yield their riches. Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten, the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm, My great army that I sent among you. You will have plenty to eat until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed. Then you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the Lord your God, and that there is no other; never again will my people be shamed.

“The Day of the Lord” (28-32)
“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, even among the survivors whom the Lord calls.
{last verse, Joel 2:32, is most interesting, as it points out that those who call upon the Lord shall be delivered and saved. Here is how James Moffatt { James Moffatt (July 4, 1870, Glasgow – June 27, 1944, New York City) was a Scottish theologian and graduate of Glasgow University. Moffatt trained at the Free Church College, Glasgow, and was a practicing minister at the United Free Church in Dundonald in the early years of his career.} {translates it: “But every worshipper of the Eternal shall be saved, for Sion hill shall hold those who escape, as the Eternal has declared, and the fugitives whom the Eternal calls shall be inside Jerusalem.”}
{Let’s Pray}

Father God, I thank You and praise You that Your Word is true and stands fast forever. I thank You and praise You that You told us the end from the beginning and that we know that Christ’s victory on the Cross and the full power of the Resurrection, will be realized in the promised kingdom of heaven on earth when the earth will be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea. Your many precious promises to Your people, Israel, and that despite their rejection of Christ as Messiah, You have not rejected them or any of Your children. I thank You that in Your grace, I thank You that this wonderful prophecy that You will pour out Your Holy Spirit upon all flesh and the hearts of all who trust Jesus Christ as Savior. I thank You for that one day that is finally and fully fulfilled. Until that time, use me to talk about the good news of Jesus Christ. Give me the urgency to tell all who are unsaved the good news that Jesus has paid the price for the sin of the world, through His sacrificial death and glorious Resurrection. Use me to go and proclaim the good news of the gospel of grace to those You put in my path, while there is still time in Jesus’ Precious Name Amen.
{Power Verses}
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13–14 NIV