Turn Your Pity Into Praise

If we look in the Bible there is an account of someone having a pity party. But, what can we learn from his mistakes. The Bible tells us about Elijah in 1 Kings 19:1-18.

Elijah’s Five mistakes

Mistake #1 He tells God, “I’ve had enough Lord!

How many times have you done that, I know say it a lot. The problem with having a pity party is we don’t usually party alone, we usually invite others.

Mistake #2 Elijah was living in the past.

Many pity parties involve past hurts. We think we’ve gotten rid of the past, but it rears it’s ugly head when we have a pity party. Even if we think we’ve put the past behind us.

In two places, verse 10,13 we hear Elijah say but “I’ve been very zealous for the Lord.” We think we’ve done good things, so why is this still happening.

Sometimes we realize that things weren’t that good like we have made up in our minds. We think we have glory in past accomplishments so we shouldn’t have to fight for the future. Sometimes i think I’ve fought long and hard to survive the past, why aren’t things better.

Mistake #3 Elijah began to compare himself to others.

Elijah says, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of Hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown does your alters, and killed your prophets with the sword. I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” Jezebel angrily swore to have Elijah killed, forcing him to flee for his life.

Mistake #4 He began blaming others for his troubles.

How many times do we blame our troubles on someone else? We need to take responsibility for ourselves

With Elijah, jezebel was chasing him.

The Israelites had abandoned God (so he thought).

Mistake #5 He exaggerated the problems.

You know the difference between a Big problem and a little problem don’t you? A Big Problem is anything I’m going through and a little problem is anything you are going through,

Elijah said, in verse 10 and 14, “I am the only one left.”

We need to start turning our pity to praise.

Here are some ideas I have put forth in my life, when I start to have a pity party.

1. Check your pulse. There are people who didn’t wake up this morning.

2. Look at the conditions in the world, so many have it way worse than you do.

3. Be careful what you say.

4. Remember life and death are in the power of the tongue.

Ephesians 4:29 in the New Living Translation, says “ do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for others up according to their needs (us too), that it may benefit those who listen.” We née to start doing what God has shown us to do. Our lives and the world is a huge mess.

5. He careful what you think upon. Our thought’s determine our lives.

Philippians 4:8, finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.”

I walked into the room the other day, and saw a woman. My father thought was oh my he’s ugly. She didn’t smile. She had squinty, puffy eyes. She wasn’t very attractive. Then I realized it was a mirror. She was me.

How often to we think awful things about ourselves in that manner? She yourself as God see’s you. Fearfully and Wonderfully made.

I’m not saying that really difficult times won’t come. What I’m saying is rather than throwing a pity party we should learn to praise God.

Our greatest problem we could ever have is facing eternity without Jesus.

Six Keys To Unlock God’s Blessing

We all want to live blessed lives and experience the promises and blessings of God. I want to revise that are free from sickness in disease, our relationships are thriving, money isn’t a struggle, debts and bills are paid, and we are blessing others. Many believers struggle with how to get a hold of these blessings. In the Bible, God gives us the key over and over again, to unlocking his lessons. That he, is the phrase, is, delight yourself in the Lord. Psalm 112:1 says it this way, “ Blessed is the man who fears the Lord who delights greatly in his commandments.

If you’re waiting for God to bless you, below are six keys to delighting yourself in the Lord that will help you unlock the blessing in your life.

1. Realize that God is the source of our blessing

Hopefully by now you’ve figured out that God isn’t some Santa Claus and this guy who comes down your company. I need you exactly what you want under the tree. He isn’t a genie in a bottle, who appears at some cats moment to grant you three wishes in life. No, God is so much more he is the Alpha and the Omega, the one who was, who is and who is to come (Revelation 1:8). He is a source for all things -including you, we were created.

Genesis 1:2 says, “ in the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth.” The Hebrew translation of that verse is, “In the beginning, The Blessed One created the heavens and the earth.” God is the Blesser, blessing originated from Him. Every good and perfect gift is from Him (James 1:17). Better than Santa Claus, a genie in a bottle, wishing on a star, or going your own way. God has a Blessing plans for you to experience everything He promises.

2. Realize that the choice to be Blessed is yours

Here’s how the Bible tells us how to lived blessed:

Today I have given you a choice between life and death, between blessings or curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choices you make. Oh. that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live. (Deuteronomy 30:19).

God tells us in this scripture that He has called heaven and earth, as witnesses 262 choices before us: blessings or curses, life or death. If we choose life, we will be blessed, and will will live. So, we have a choice. Do we want to be blessed and live? Or be cursed and die? Of course, we all want to be blessed and live. There is a person alive who would say they wanted to be cursed and die.

If that’s the case, we have to ask, why aren’t more people living blessed lives?

Well, that’s because you have to choose. God can’t do it for you. Your spouse can’t do it for you. your parents can’t do it for you. And you don’t get to sit this one out and expect to be blessed. You can’t say, “well, I haven’t made up my mind about God. I’ll make my decision later, after I’ve had all my fun.” No, not choosing life and blessing is the same as choosing death and cursing. So, if you haven’t chosen life, you aren’t experiencing the fullness of abundant blessings. God has promised you.

How do you choose life and blessing? You choose by making a conscious decision to honor God and obey His commands. You choose to delight in Him and His ways His commands. Choose to delight in Him and His ways. You choose Psalm 112:1. This is the key to unlocking the blessing of God in your life.

3. Realize that fearing the Lord leads to blessing

It can be confusing to read and encouragement to “fear the Lord.” in Scripture. This phrase seems to contradict God’s edict to “fear not,’ this command is listed 365 times throughout the Bible. However, the fear reference in the scripture is not the terror and anxiety that God tells us to avoid it’s not, being afraid of the Lord. Look at the more detailed translation from Psalm 112:1, “ praise the Lord! (Hallelujah) Blessed (Fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God is the man who fears the lord, with the art, inspired reference, and worships Him with obedience, Who delights greatly in His commands. (Amplified Bible).

God promises that we will be blessed when we revere, worship and obey Him. He doesn’t want you quaking in fear at the thought of Him or exchanging I’ll effects from interacting with Him. He simply want you to recognize who He is – the creator of the universe, the Alpha and the Omega, and your Heavenly Father.

4. Realize that delighting in His commandments leads to blessing

We often think of God’s commandments, or His laws, immediately return to the Big 10, The one Moses brought down on the towers from Mount Sinai. But God’s commandments aren’t limited to those. In fact, there are hundreds of command in the Old Testament alone.

However, as it became glaringly clear under the Old Testament, God’s people have always been unable to follow His laws in their own strength. It took Jesus’s sacrifice to erase the stain of their sin.

Thankfully, Jesus showed gods people another way, way beyond rote obedience, and a way into a relationship with Him. In Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus summed up all the Old Testament commandments in one word -love.

Jesus replied, “you must love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is equally important, “ Love your neighbor as yourself.” The entire law and all the demands of the profits are based on these two Commandments.

Loving God, wholeheartedly and loving others is you’re #1 command. When we endeavor to keep the command of love, with a pure motive, we are delighting in God’s command.

Still, considering Psalm 112:1 let’s take a look beyond the letter of God’s Word and reflect on it’s spirit. It’s worth every verse aggression. Gratitude for your faithfulness to God’s command, reflect a deeper, calling to treasure His Word. Second. Timothy 3:16 says, “ all scripture is inspired by God and it is useful to teach us what is true, and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It cracks us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.”

We don’t have to walk around wondering why we’re not blessed. God gave us His Word to help us understand Him and His ways, and assist us in living lives that reflect our salvation.

5. Realize that God’s commands are there to bless us

Purpose of God’s command, if you set us up for the blessing, and prevent us from cursings that lead to death. Most light parents give their children instructions that will prevent them from hurting themselves when they don’t know any better. God gives us instructions to keep us from getting hurt in this life. And He does it for one reason and one reason only – Because He loves us.

Let’s look back at Psalm 112:1, Do you like in the Lord’s commands? If His commands are burdensome, it’s probably because you haven’t yet understood just how much He already loves you,

You might say, ‘ I know God loves me.”

Perhaps that’s true. But there’s a difference between mentally asserting to God’s love, and really believing it with your heart when you really believe from our heart that God loves you with a deep, passionate love, you will understand that His commands are given to you out of love. You might do you like your soap in them because you trust God’s love for you. You know that He’s not holding back and trying to punish you, but instead, His commands will lead to abundant life, protection from evil, and you will be blessed.

6. Realize that God loves you and wants you blessed

Call love you so much, and He desires an intimate relationship with you. 1 John 4:19 reminds us that “ We love each other, because God first loved us.’ It is only out of that love, God’s love, that His blessings are possible. In fact, God demonstrated His love for us, and that Christ died for us while we were sinners (Romans 5:8). You are so important to God that He sent Jesus to ensure that you have the choice to live in relationship with Him forever and be blessed.

It is God desire that none should perish, but He will not force His live on you. That’s why you were given a choice.

Memorial Day



Memorial Day: A time to pause, reflect, and pay tribute to the extraordinary men and women who have selflessly served our country. Remember so that their courage and dedication will forever etched in our hearts. Today we honor their memory and every day.

The Mark Of The Beast. Why Would Anyone Accept This?

Why would anyone agree to be marked with a number that has evil implications? Even if people who have never read the Bible are generally uneasy with the number 666 because of the attention it has been given in movies and such. Hollywood uses it to invoke terror and mystery. Some people even joke about the mark, but Satan’s demonic activity is no laughing matter.

So why will the world accept this mark during the tribulation? To answer to that question, we must first understand the power of words and persuasion of the Antichrist. So, how will this mark be implemented?

Many are surprised to learn that the “Mark of the Beast,” will not be implemented personally by the Antichrist- the beast that rises from the sea (Revelation 13:1). The Apostle John explains that this mark will be initiated by a second beast, the “beast coming out of the earth” who is identified as the False Prophet in Revelation 16:13.

While the False Prophet will be the implementer of the mark, he will be acting on the authority that comes from higher up. John tells us in Revelation that the False Prophet exercises all authority of the first beast (Revelation 13:13). The first beast (the false prophet) gets his power from the Antichrist (the dragon). Satan himself gave this power, his throne, and great authority (Revelation 13:2). Satan himself will instigate all the terrible evil of the tribulation period and with the Antichrist and the False Prophet acting as his diabolical agents.

If you look closely at the world and its economic system you can see this already happening. Chips that go into your hand so you can buy food and the things you need to survive. Their are some that are using this today.

John tells us in Revelation that “he will cause all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive the mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has this mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name”(Revelation13:16-17).

The False Prophet will be a religious leader, the kind Jesus warned of when He said, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you In sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15). Many false prophets have come and gone, but none will have had the devastating impact on the world’s population that the False Prophet of Revelation will inflict. He will use religion to deceive the world, and once deceived, he will use the mark of the beast to enslave all people economically, forcing them to endure the unrelenting tyranny of Satan and the Antichrist.

Refusing the Mark will lead to financial ruin

Revelation 13:17 tells us what the mark will do on a day-to-day basis. “No one may but or see except the one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Only those who have the mark of the Antichrist’s name or number, identifying them as followers of Satan, will be able to buy or sell goods and services to support themselves and secure what they need. Any one refusing to wear the mark will struggle to survive.

The word mark is translated in Greek as charagma. The charagma was a symbol used somewhat like notary seals are used today. This symbol used to be used as a portrait of the emperor and the year of his reign. It was required in ancient times to complete commercial transactions on official documents in wax to authenticate their validity. The mark of the Beast will function in a similar way. Identifying those who bear it as worshippers of the beast and permitting them to conduct financial transactions.

The fusion of government and religion will put the squeeze on rebels (who do not take the seal), leaving them nowhere to turn. Those who refuse the mark will be shut out of society altogether. No one will buy their products or services. They will barred from employment and from shopping in stores or online, they will face bankruptcy and starvation.

BRICS (look it up), is trying to implement a cashless society right now. Which is headed to the mark of the right hand (chips) soon. The Bible makes it clear that Satan’s intent is not only to keep believers from means of survival, but also to force them to a decision.

Will they continue to stand for Christ, refusing the mark despite the promised hardship? Or will they succumb to the loyalty demands of Satan and take the mark to relieve that hardship?

Today there are many Christians that face persecution and death when they stand for Christ. During the Tribulation these questions will be put before the entire world’s population, without exception.

The mark will come in the form of the offered mark, supposedly to promote the good life, but with the intent to make clear who will live for Christ and who will yield for Satan.

It’s coming sooner than we think.

Many Are Called But Few Are Chosen. What’s That Mean?

When I read this verse in my young Christian days, I used to think “Well, that discriminating” I never really understood that verse.

But then, I got a revelation the other day. In Matthew 22:1-14 Jesus gives the parable about the wedding guests. Jesus teaches that heaven is like a king who prepared for a wedding banquet for his son. He send out His servants to those who have been invited to tell them to come, but they refused to come. They paid no attention because they were too busy with other things. So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find to come, both good and bad and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

But when the king had come to see the guests he noticed a man there who not dressed for the wedding. He asked the man how did you get in without wearing wedding clothes and threw him out into the dark of night.

The man came to the wedding, but was not ready. When we are called even if we say we will follow, many of us take the name, but refuse to make the transition to truly follow God.

Many Are Called But Few Are Chosen

Pentecost Sunday

Today commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and other disciples following the Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus.

Pentecost comes from a Jewish harbors festival called Shavuot. A sound like a very strong wind that looked like a tongue of fire. Which then forced the Apostles speaking in foreign languages that were inspired by the Holy Spirit.

The Apostles prayed for 10 straight days before this came to pass.

We cannot expect to see God’s blessings until we are doing the will of God.

Our Words Have Power

“Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care, for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.” -Buddha

Understanding the power of words is like a magician’s inclination, they can become a spell even when we don’t realize it. We can use the power of words to make our world a better place. I’ve seen in many domestic violence situations what the words of another has done. If you’re told you’re ugly, stupid many times it takes a toll on you. It changes people.

With words we can create new things but also break things down. Our words can begin to take root in people’s minds.

Many political battles are highly strategized language wars. What someone says can influence how we perceive it. The gay marriage debate shifted when it was reframed as marriage equality. How about abortion? Are you pro-life? Who could possibly be anti-life, want to takes innocent life? Or pro-choice? A woman should not be told to do with her body, with her life choices, right? Each side is well framed with words.

This isn’t trivial. The vocabulary we use for our causes can help determine the future.

The power of words brand and legalize.

Branding something had become a issue of practice, it makes it more real, and reinforces its legitimacy. The more people hear the phrases, the more it becomes important. And something they should consider supporting or not.

The power of words can expose the wrong or the right. I think of coffee franchises lets take Starbucks and Black rifle Coffee Company. I remember a news report I heard about Starbucks kicking police officers out of the building because they were “making people uncomfortable.” Then at Black rifle coffee company the name really says it all they believe in “the right to bear arms.” They are veteran owned and support Veteran organizations. Very different coffee companies, different belief systems,

We live in a world of finite resources. Changing how we consume these resources will either safeguard or jeopardize them for generations. But doing so will require not only changing our behavior, but learning a new language.

Movements usually create their own unique practices and vocabulary. The power of words, practices that would have otherwise gone unnoticed are getting exposed, mostly because of social media and the increase of information we can find on our phones.

Our words can create new paths for society.

It used to be the we could depend on the news media to research and find out if the information they aired was true. Well, those were the good old days. That is not the case anymore. They can say whatever they want to make people believe lies as truth. Or truth as lies. It all had to do with the power of words, and probably a lot more to do with the power of money. “Money talks” anymore it has nothing to do with the truth.

Our every day choices gives us power to create a world we would like to live in. We can boycott a company or store that discriminates against people or up funds efforts we don’t like, and we can intentionally buy things from businesses that does things we agree with. We vote for the future of the world with our dollars “Money talks.”

The difference between the all right word and the right word is a really large matter. It difference between a lightning bug and the lightning. The language of world change is all around us. Do you hear it?

As we work to move our cause’s forward our words matter.

The Blessings Of Obeying God

“ it shall happen, if you shall listen to lead to the Lord, your God‘s voice, to observe, and do all his commandments which I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of earth.” -Deuteronomy 28:1

We cannot rely on God‘s promises without obeying His commands.

Obedience is the attitude of submission to instruction and authority. Most of God’s promises of blessings are contingent upon following His instructions and keeping them. He says what He means. It is possible for believers to attain God’s blessings, if you live in obedience. Blessings shall come upon you, and overtake you, overwhelm you, run ahead of you, and exceed our expectations. Deuteronomy 28:3-14 Identifies God’s promises to bless His people and all places, home, city, field, as we go out and come in daily for work, He will prosper our efforts and out victories over our enemies and supply rain for all seasons for crops and drinking and all we put our hands to because we obey the Lord our God.

Obedience is the only key that unlocks God’s treasures of blessing in our lives. Obeying reaps rewards, While disobedience brings consequences. The active obedience is of the heart. Our God required wholehearted obedience from us,. Half hearted just won’t cut it. We cannot carry out, call instructions if it’s done, according to how we feel, what is deemed convenient, or on our own terms. You must observe God’s statutes, commands, and judgments, carefully with all our heart and soul (Deuteronomy :26:16). One of you are in doing, so it should not be a choice. Whatever we do or become in life is based on the choices we make.

God allows everyone to freedom to choose. He is always with us to guide, protect, and support us. However, he does not force anyone to do what they don’t want to do. (Deuteronomy 30:19-20). He cannot have made it any clearer than that. The choice is between life and blessings, or death and cursing, eternal life or eternal death, salvation or condemnation.

Obedience is an attitude, our attitude determines our lifestyle. Our attitude builds character. Jesus cultivated the attitude of obedience. God demands a lifestyle of allegiance from all of us. (John 13:17). Most of the hindrances to disobey Him are self manufactured. A few hindrances might be, rebellion, excuses, relationships, fear, and pressure.

Obedience is learned. The Bible teaches that Jesus learned obedience (Hebrew 5:8), by the things He suffered (Hebrews 5:8).

In Deuteronomy 28:1-14, The Lord reminded Israel, that obedience brings blessings, is rewarded, brings glory to His name, is a witness to other nations, while building godly character in people.

The Dark Trinity

A Cultural Revolution

What’s happening in our world today? A cultural revolution seems like it’s be like a runaway train for years. The uprise in non-godly marriages, sacrificing children and the push for transgenderism.

We have become a nation without God. Like Israel 2000 years ago we have become a pagan nation. In doing so, we have opened up a 2000 year old warning warning involving a house of spirits that foretells what will happen if America turns to pagan gods.

In Jonathan Cahn book, he explains these spirits have changed our culture. The “Dark Trinity” involves 3 dark spirits are being revealed in America and they are initiating social upheavals and cultural revolutions that are in dwelling our politics, and transforming our world and our lives.

We can no longer pretend that the world is covered under Gods protection. This dark trinity is taking over.

The parable in Luke 11, Jesus talks about “ When evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through original places. She can rest and does not find it. Then it says, I will return to the house I left. When it arrives if I find the whole house, swept clean, and put an order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits, more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. In the final condition, and the man is worse than the first.

The parable tells about a man possessed by the devil with Jesus like a naked, like to be messy and a dirty house (America today) But when the evil spirit is cast out (accepting Christ). His life becomes clean and well swept and orderly. But if a the man refuses God, after some time the evil spirit returns and repossesses the man and brings seven more spirits worse than him. This is how it will be with this wicked world today.

The clean enough and orderliness of the house has nothing to do with the sad facts of the relapse. But rather the house, our house, empty oh, God and the evil spirit returns and bring back seven fold evil with him.

Jonathan Cahn talk about the Dark Trinity that has taken over the world:

1. The Possessor

2. The Enchanter

3 The Destroyer

Could these be the three who have been appearing in our world today? The ancient gods and the hidden inscriptions found in the Mesopotamia?

Could these three entities lie behind what our screens and computer monitors, what our children are being taught in their classrooms, current news event, new, and the movement of our times? This could explain what’s behind all the strange transformations happening to our culture today. This mystery goes back to the tablets of ancient Sumer.

When we think of gods of the ancient and pagan worlds, we think in terms of mythology and fantasy. But the Bible reveals that behind the ancient gods and idols, were entities known in Hebrew as the shedim or spirits, and in the New Testament as the Daimonia. It’s where we get the words demons.

Jonathan Cahn, Is an American Messianic Jewish Rabbi who has written many books on what’s happening in our modern societies in the spiritual realm. This post was written based on his book, “The Return Of The Gods.