Redeeming Time

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“…The whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”
(John 21:25b, NIV)

Dear Jesus,
You seemed to be so busy.
But not the way we see busy.
The Son of God, You
spent Your days with people,
with the Father,
doing the Father’s Will.

“Be still,” You would say.
Removing people from shame and isolation,
You forgave. When it came to all sin debt,
You paid.

You are not a guru.
You rose from the grave.
And even Your death was not wasted,
not a second of those three days
was for nothing.

Isn’t it something?
I want to be more like You.
“Do more than I did, my child,”
You said.1
And then I feel my face turn red:
I have wasted many a moment
on me,
on sin,
on putting on chains marked
“Freedom”–
running to cisterns
filled with poisoned,
evaporating water.

Father, I don’t deserve to be Your Daughter!
Free me, Lord Jesus!
Help me to redeem the time
Make the most of every rhyme
–and mean it.

Annalee Hoover, 2018

1) John 14:12

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Looking Back at Prophecy: God is Faithful!

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On May 14th, 1948, Israel—a land that had been conquered and ravaged after the Israelites’ diaspora—became a country once again.

The world was in shock. But for those who know the Bible, it was just another prophecy coming to pass: a prophecy found in Ezekiel 36 and 37, explaining that the nation of Israel would one day the Hebrews would return to the land and that Israel would be rebuilt (source). Though seemingly extraordinary, this event coming to pass was just another situation where God kept His Word.

In a sermon by Amir Tsarfati, another amazing thing was brought up that I wanted to highlight. Most Christians know the passage in Ezekiel that most call “The Valley of Dry Bones.” For those who do not, this passage of scripture is in Ezekiel 37; in it, Ezekiel is in a valley of dry bones, and God asks him, “Son of man, can these bones live?” Ezekiel replies, “Sovereign Lord, You alone know” (Ezekiel 37:1-3).

God tells Ezekiel to speak and prophesy over the dead bones, saying that He will bring them back to life (Ezekiel 37:4-6). Shockingly, the bones are resurrected; flesh is put back on them, and God gives them the breath of life. This can sound zombie-ish, I know– but God goes farther than making half-dead, zombie-like creatures. He literally brings them back fully from the dead as human people!

breath

Why do I say all of this? Because God promised to bring life where there was once death; but Amir Tsarfati pointed to one way in which this true as he spoke today, and it’s a way I had never thought of before; a way that blew my mind and strengthened my faith.

In the 1940’s, 6 million Jews were placed into Nazi concentration camps, made to do forced labor to death. Whoever didn’t die from the hard work and lack of nourishment was gassed or tortured, sometimes used in medical experiments. Many, if not all of these people, became literal skin and bones.

dachausurvivor2

Courtesy of Jewish Virtual Library

But there are many Jews in those camps who evaded death and Nazi Germany, and later make full recoveries. These were the Jews who came back to Israel in 1948—Jews in the Diaspora. Dry bones, brought back from the brink of death to life.

As I heard Tsarfati speak about this, it placed more faith in me. God took so many, just as Ezekiel prophesied THOUSANDS of years ago, from death, and brought them back to life. The life of those who were only dry bones, resurrected.

It reminds me: God will do what He says He will do. There’s no stopping Him, though it seems that He is being stopped right now.

look

So, look up, friend: Jesus is coming soon! His purposes win out in the end. Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess Him as Lord (Philippians 2:10-11).

He will bring out the captives, and give freedom to those in oppression (Isaiah 49:26-Isaiah 62).
Do you trust that He is capable?
Do you trust that He knows what is good and what is bad?
Do you trust that He will always keep His Word?

philippians

Christ can do anything, friend. And He has told us what He will do in His Word.

I encourage you to subscribe to Behold Israel with Amir Tsarfati, who loves speaking about eschatology and end-times. It will blow your mind and encourage your heart.

What promises has Christ made to you that you are holding on to, right now? Where has God been incredibly faithful to you?

The Chibok girls will not be held captive forever, of that I am confident. I am also confident that He has Leah Sharibu in the palm of His Mighty, Sovereign Hands. I can rest in His Might. Can you?
Let’s trust Him, and rest.

Do you know Jesus?

Anyone who takes a good look at Bible prophecy will see that the Bible can be trusted.

But there is one thing, one event, that is of the utmost importance when speaking about Bible Prophecy, and that is the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Learn more about Jesus, and why He can be fully trusted, here.

Please pray for…

  • The Chibok girls. Pray that they would know the Truth, and that they would be free.
  • Leah Sharibu. Pray that she would be protected and freed.
  • Those who are currently suffering. May they cling to Jesus and His Promises.
  • The families of these young women, men and children in captivity. Pray that they do not lose hope.

Thank you for your prayers!!

 

 

Needing Home

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They were told it was safe. But on Saturday, September 8th 2018, the people who had just returned back to the city of Gudumbali, Nigeria were, once again, terrorized and forced out by Boko Haram. Continue reading →

Pray for Hurricane Florence AND Typhoon Mangkhut!

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As this storm gets closer and closer to North and South Carolina, we cannot also forget that the same storm has created typhoon Mangkhut, which is about to completely devastate the Philippines and China (source).

May these people be protected, and may both storms not bring about the human death and destruction that can happen so easily in storms such as these!

No matter the storms in our lives, Jesus is in control. Learn more about Jesus, and how He alone can save, here.

REMEMBERING THOSE IN THE 9/11 ATTACKS

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Today, on such a painful, painful day, I wanted to say a prayer for the family members and loved ones of those 2,977 people who passed away 17 years ago. Would you agree with me in prayer?

“Dear Lord Jesus,
You know better than anyone the pain, anguish, and grief so many people are going through today. We praise You and thank You for each and every life of those involved in the 9/11 terrorist attack, and we thank You for those on Flight 93 who fought back against the terrorists.

We pray now that You would comfort those who are, once again, grieving those closest to them. Show them that You are near, Lord Jesus, and give them vision of You.

Hold these people, Lord Jesus, and draw them to Yourself. Give them the strength they need to continue living through this tragedy.

Please end this war, God. Come back, and bring the Peace that only You can.

In Jesus’ Name we pray,

Amen.”

A list of the names of all 2,997 people lost in 9/11 can be found here.

Do you know Jesus?

God, Jesus, is “the God of All Comfort,” holding the hearts of all the broken (Psalm 34:18); Jesus offers rest to the weary (Matthew 11:28). Learn more about Christ, and how He can heal and comfort you in your brokenness, here.