Signs of the Time

Recently, we've heard numerous reports and speculations of the end of the world being today - September 23, 2017.  Doomsday.  The Great Apocolypse.  Nibiru Cataclysm. 
Planet X's great appearance.  The Rapture... and the terminologies go on and on.  Many are speculating that there is no more time left for us as Christ will soon return to judge the earth.  We see strange phenomena happening all over the world: devastating fires, over-active hurricane seasons, earthquakes, rising death tolls, the hatred and brewing evil living in the heart of men and even the missing bodies of water! Huh? What's happening???😳😦👀


But recently, the speculation of the end of the world has been felt even stronger than it was ever felt before.  These speculations are centered around a passage of scripture found in Revelations 12:1.  More than 2,000 years ago, the Spirit of God revealed this to John as he was exiled on the Isle of Patmos.  The following is the account:

And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:

2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.

16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (KJV).

Astronomers have stated that the signs in the heavens, due to appear on September 23, is a clear fulfillment of the biblical prophecy.  

But what does this mean for us, both Christian or non-Christian alike?  It simply means that we ought to ready ourselves for the return of our King.

 This does not mean that it will be tomorrow or even tonight but we must still be on our guards. 

Christ said in Matthew 24:36, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only" (KJV).  Therefore, we must always be ready for whatever happens.

This world is not a permanent habitat for us; it is merely a preparation ground for where our Heavenly Father really wants to take us.  And where we're heading, THERE'S NO ROOM FOR FEAR. There's absolutely no need to be afraid! 

Be reminded that these signs are just those - signs.  However, it is our responsibility to ensure that we do not take for granted the warnings that we receive daily.

God does not have destructive or evil plans for us; He is preparing a place of peace for us all only if we believe in Him.  

Speak to Him today in your own quiet way and tell Him just how these things make you feel.  Make no mistake - He will hear you and answer your prayers.

#RelationshipOverReligion

I was about ten years old when I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Saviour.  I remember going to a big service at the pavilion in Simon (commonly referred to as Seamoon) where a Trinidadian minister shared the word.  I don't remember everything he spoke about, but I remember him making an altar call and I remember poking my mom to ask her if I could go.  I can clearly remember her telling me that it was my decision but she would go with me.  It was a school night.  I was ten years old.  I wasn't thinking about my friends or people looking at me but for some reason, I was thinking about this relationship I was about to build. 

I was born and raised in church; I remember there were times when a few of my classmates in the primary school referred to me as a church rat but for some reason, those words didn't do anything to me.  Name calling was something I suffered from a lot in school and I was constantly teased; however, being labelled as a church rat didn't seem to phase me.  As the years went by, I remember gaining a bit of respect from my peers because I openly confessed my love for Jesus. 

Before long, my denominational status seemed to mean more than my relationship.  It was all about the right doctrine, the right day to worship and the few bible verses I knew that pointed to us being right and them being wrong.  As I dived into the scriptures to memorize the ones that would give me the upper hand, it didn't take me a long time before I lost my way and I became enlightened. I was the typical in-the-pond-out-the-pond kinda gal as I struggled with trying to understand this true religion. 

My college experience placed a dent on spiritual surface and at that time, I could have been described as someone who completely lost her way - except for going to church. Oh! That wasn't an option in my parents' house.  You had to; there were no questions asked - you just had to!  I was no longer an influence to my friends but they were influencing me.

It was in my first week of University at a chapel session where Rev. Paul Bunsee spoke, that I had a rude awakening.  I was at a place where I desperately needed God in my life again.  I was at a crossroad where I saw that everything in my life was about to go wrong if I didn't make it right with God.  It was like I had Him, but at the same time, I didn't. Crazy right? 

I took me eleven years after becoming saved and water baptized to realize that my search for that true religion was not about to save me for eternal damnation; my relationship with God was what mattered most.  My church couldn't save me, my friends couldn't save me, my interest in other religions and sects couldn't save me and my parents weren't about to save me.  My salvation came solely from my Saviour, Jesus Christ.  

I arrived at a point where I had to spend less time searching the scriptures to prove someone else wrong and focus on searching the scriptures to edify my spiritual mind and body.  I had to spend less time praying because it was a ritual but praying because I needed to strengthen my relationship with my Heavenly Father.  I had to spend less time fasting to prove that I could do it too and fast because I needed my breakthrough.  I had to let go of the hurt I was feeling and forgive some difficult people with the reminder that Christ forgave me with His life as a price, for things I did that were far worst.

That is what your relationship is all about, and until we get to a place where we see that and we practice it and get it right, there's so much that we can miss.  God wants us to look past our religious (denominational) difference and beliefs and focus on creating and maintaining a relationship with Him.  

I once heard a saying that God doesn't want to be our sugar daddy but He wants to be just what He should be to us - our Heavenly Father.  He doesn't want us to only come to Him when we need something but He wants us to develop such a relationship with Him that we are always in constant contact and conversation with Him.  He wants to be so close to us that we don't have to wonder and question if He's really there.  He wants us to know Him so well that when the enemy comes around we don't have to fiddle with the pages of our bible to read our counterattacks to Him - He wants us to be so in tune with His word that we know them like the back of our hands.  That, friends, is where the importance lies.

Consider, as your read this, to build a relationship with God or if you have already done so, strengthen your relationship with Him.  At the end of this lifetime, the church you go would not matter - your relationship with Him is what is most important! Be Blessed !