Who shall roll us away the stone? Cine ne va prăvăli piatra?

[EN] They said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. Mark 16:3-4 

We are all alike. Even these holy women on this most sacred errand went forward expecting trouble. There was a stone in the way that must be rolled aside, and they had not strength to do it. Naturally enough, they began to be anxious as to the removal of this obstacle. When they came near they saw that the obstacle had been already removed. The Divine love had been before them, preparing the way. An angel had rolled the stone aside. The lesson is very simple and beautiful. We go forward worrying about the difficulties that lie before us, wondering how we can ever get through them, or who will remove them out of our way. Then when we come up to them we find that they are gone. Someone has been there before us and has taken them away. God always opens the way of duty for us if we quietly move on.

This also applies to someone beginning a Christian life. Many people shrink from it. They say, “I never can be faithful. I never can do the duties. I never can bear the burdens.” But as they enter and go on, they find that an unseen and mighty Helper goes on before and prepares the way. The hard tasks become easy, and the heavy burdens grow light. It is so all through the Christian life. God’s commandment seems impossible to obey. Walls of stone seem built across the path we are required to walk. But as we go on, the commandment is easy, and a gateway is opened in the wall. 

Love and faith always have an advance of angels to roll away stones. The practical lesson is that we are never to hesitate or shrink back because obstacles seem to lie before us. We are to go right on, and God will take them away for us. 

When he wants us to go anywhere he will open the path for our feet. Knowing this, we may go on feeling confident of our own safety.

 [RO] „Cine ne va prăvăli piatra…?… au văzut că piatra… fusese prăvălită.” Marcu 16: 3, 4.

 

Noi suntem cu toţii la fel. Chiar şi aceste femei sfinte, aflate în cea mai sacră misiune, s-au dus aşteptându-se să dea de necaz. Era o piatră în cale care trebuia rostogolită şi ele nu aveau puterea să o dea la o parte. După cum era de aşteptat, au început să se îngrijoreze cu privire la îndepărtarea acestui obstacol. Când s-au apropiat, au văzut că obstacolul fusese deja înlăturat. Dragostea divină fusese acolo înainte, pregătindu-le calea. Îngerii dăduseră piatra la o parte. Lecţia este foarte simplă şi frumoasă. Noi mergem înainte, îngrijorându-ne de dificultăţile care ne aşteaptă, întrebându-ne cum vom putea să le depăşim sau cine le va înlătura din cale. Apoi descoperim că acestea au fost deja înlăturate. Cineva a trecut pe acolo înaintea noastră şi le-a îndepărtat. Dumnezeu ne deschide întotdeauna calea datoriei, dacă mergem liniştiţi înainte.

Aceasta se aplică cuiva care se află la începutul vieţii creştine. Mulţi se dau înapoi de la aceasta, spunând: „Nu voi putea niciodată să fiu credincios. Nu voi putea niciodată să fac ceea ce sunt dator să fac. Nu voi putea niciodată să port poveri.” Însă, odată ce încep această viaţă şi merg înainte, descoperă că un Ajutor nevăzut şi puternic merge înaintea lor şi le pregăteşte calea. Sarcinile dificile devin uşoare, iar poverile grele se uşurează. Este la fel pe tot parcursul vieţii creştine. Poruncile lui Dumnezeu par imposibil să fie ascultate. Ziduri de piatră par să se ridice de-a curmezişul căii pe care ni se cere să păşim. Însă, pe măsură ce înaintăm, porunca devine uşoară, iar în perete se deschide o poartă. 

Dragostea şi credinţa au întotdeauna îngeri care merg înainte pentru a da pietrele la o parte. Lecţia practică pentru noi este aceea că nu ar trebui să ezităm niciodată sau să dăm înapoi din cauza obstacolelor care par să se afle înaintea noastră; noi trebuie să mergem drept înainte, iar Dumnezeu le va da la o parte în locul nostru. 

Când El vrea să mergem undeva, va pregăti calea sub picioarele noastre. Ştiind aceasta, putem merge înainte, având încrederea că vom fi în siguranţă.

Time Changer/ The Changing TImes

"Without the authority of Christ, mankind is merely left to compare ideas. A morality becomes a matter of opinion. One person says it is wrong to steal, the next person says it is not. No standard is set." - Norris Anderson

This movie speaks about the truth and authority of Jesus Christ and the power in using His name. God has not given us another name under the Heavens by which we should call upon to be saved other than Jesus (Yeshua)- Acts 4:12. So when it comes to sharing the Word of God and His teachings we must do so with giving Him all the glory. He's so worth it! I wholeheartedly agree to this standard and command. The Holy Spirit comes to guide us into all Truth and exalt Jesus Christ and His teachings and also convict the world of sin, God's righteousness and judgement. If those those things are not being done.. then its not the Holy Spirit. Salvation is of the Lord and only He can change the heart and mindsets of His people.

The year is 1890 and Bible Professor Russell Carlisle has written a new manuscript. His book is about to receive an unanimous endorsement from the board members at Grace Bible Seminary until his colleague, Dr. Norris Anderson, has a “difficulty with something.” Dr. Anderson believes what Carlisle has written could greatly affect future generations. Using a secret time machine, Anderson sends Carlisle over 100 years into the future, offering him a glimpse of where his beliefs will lead.

The Blind Spot

<< I have been driving for 50 years and I have never had an accident! But this is only the grace of God. Anyone who drives knows that avoiding an accident depends not only on him but also on the actions of those around him.

Every year hundreds are caught in another driver's blind spot resulting in an accident for which they are not responsible. It is estimated that this is the cause of as many as two-thirds of all accidents. The term "blind spot" describes a portion of one's field of vision that, in spite of the use of mirrors, is blocked from one's view.

Blind spots can also appear in our lives. In spite of taking every precaution to protect ourselves, just as in traffic accidents happen. The Ten Commandments and other Bible teachings can be seen as traffic regulations designed to direct us to our heavenly destination.

Rather than being an annoyance, as some seem to think, these regulations guide us through each day, helping us to avoid damage to ourselves and others.

Regarding this subject there are two opposing views. Some choose to rely completely on God's grace, while others completely on His laws. Some people try their hardest to live in accordance with God's law as they perceive it, in every situation, while others depend on the freedom they have in the Messiah. They see adherence to biblical laws and regulations as Old Testament "legalism".

Accidents, however, seem to occur to both groups of people, those who follow the path of law and those who adhere to grace. True believers can, among other things, get embroiled in divorce, greed, criminal activity and sexual promiscuity or perversity.

How can such things happen to believers? Do they take advantage of the grace they have in the Messiah (to escape the consequences of sin), or is legalism not working for them?

This is where the "blind spot" comes into play. It is not enough to simply rely o grace, thinking that everything will work out in the end, or to depend on our ability to keep God's laws; we also need to have a completely clear field of view. Even though we think that we have everything covered, that we have checked all the "mirrors" in our lives so to speak, the is still that dangerous "blind spot" to contend with. That is why we must be extra cautious, and look very carefully, before making what could be dangerous moves or turns (decisions).

For this we need to be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. This does not mean that we should operate as robots, acting as if governed by remote control. Allowing the Holy Spirit access into every area of our lives will help keep us from falling into self-righteousness if we are close adherents of the law, and from falling into sin because of the freedom provided by grace.

In James 2:20 we read that "faith without works is dead". In other words, faith is expressed through works. Here again we come to the blind spot, that straight and narrow path between law and grace, that we need to keep constantly in our sights. Anyone who builds his life solely on one or the other is not taking heed of the blind spot and is therefore endangering not only his own faith but also that of his fellow men.

Therefore, we need the leading of the Holy Spirit, the comforter whom Yeshua (Jesus) said would "teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you" (John 14:26). Onlyy then will we be able to say together with Paul, "My conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 9:1). It is neither a feeling of being obedient to a religious tradition that guarantees me an exemplary life nor a blind adherence to grace. It is the Holy Spirit. >>

(Ludwig Schneider, israeltoday.co.il)

Speak and go forward

Why do we worry? Why do you wonder? Why do you wait? Speak and go forward. Don't cry out, say, "O Lord, is it Your will to heal today?" Sure, it's Your will. “Thus saith the Lord” it's His will.

"Can I receive the Holy Ghost today?” “Is the days of miracles past?" Certainly the days of miracles is here forever. The Holy Spirit is here.

"Does men speak with tongues today?" The Bible said so, "These signs shall follow them that believe."

"Does men interpretate messages?" The Bible said they do. That settles it.

"‘Thus saith the Lord,’ speak, don't cry. Speak and go forward." God doesn't want a bunch of crying babies. He wants men that's got backbone, not wishbones. "Wished I had it, wished I could do this." Backbones that'll stand in the breach (Amen.), claim the victory, claim a called out in the midst of darkness. No matter what anyone says, we speak and go forward. Believe the Message.

God's here; He'll vindicate His Message. God's here. He's the same God that He was back yonder on Galilee. He's the same God that He was in the days of Moses. He can't fail. Do you believe it?"

W.M.Branham

Facing the Giants / Înfruntând uriașii

"And if we win, we praise Him; and if we lose we praise Him. Either way. We honor Him with our actions and our attitudes." ( Coach Grant)

"If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord." (Romans 14:8)

"With God, nothing is impossible." (Luke 1:37)

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrew 11:1)

Part 1 Link


Part 2 Link

David vs. Goliath

"A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span. He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels; 6 on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back.  His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer went ahead of him.

Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle?[...]

Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel![...]

Now David was the son of an Ephrathite named Jesse, who was from Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons, and in Saul’s time he was very old. Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul to the war: The firstborn was Eliab; the second, Abinadab; and the third, Shammah. David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul, but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.[...]

Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.

“I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.

 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. (1 Samuel 18)

He is the North Star

It's like Elisha of old said, "If God be God then serve Him." And if Jesus is the Center of all things to the Christian, then I think we ought to let loose of everything else and cleave to Him. 

Remember, He is the Center; He is the North Star; He is the Ultimate; He is the Absolute. And if He is the North Star... There's only one thing that'll point to the north star; that's your compass that you're sailing with. And the Compass that I'm trying you to sail with is the Word, and the Word always points to Him.

And we feel like that we're going through a great time of distress and trials, perplexity of the time and distress between the nations, and all kinds of things happening, and sometimes I get engulfed like I... Everywhere I look it's like in a ship out on the sea.

 And I've been give charge of the Boat. And how we going to make it? And here comes one with a white cap, hundred times bigger than my ship, but we'll crest them, every one. We are more than victors through Him. The Captain, the Chief Captain, has got a hold of the string on the end of the ship, He'll pull it through. We'll crest every one of them".

W. M. Branham

I have everything

Can we have everything...
...or should having plenty be enough?

The biblical story of Jacob and Esau teaches us an important difference between having plenty (rav in hebrew) and having everything (hakol) - and this could change the way we think about and appreciate what we have.

We all know how the classic story begins with Jacob grasping the heel of his brother Esau in order to try and be the firstborn. God had warned Rebecca that: "Two nations are in your womb; and two peoples  shall be separated from your body; and one people shall be stronger than the other; and the older shall serve the younger" (Genesis 25:23). When the boys grew up, Esau became a skilful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a peaceful man, living in tents" (Genesis 25:27).

Jacob eventually outwits Esau and 'steals' his brother's birthright in exchange for  a bowl of lentil stew. Jacob then flees from Esau and goes to live with his uncle Laban in Haran, and as the years passed by, each brother becomes the head of a large, wealthy and successful family. When they finally meet up again,  it is instructive that the first thing the brothers want to show each other is how much they have and how rich they have become.

In their dialogue (Genesis 33:8-11), we read that while they embrace and weep in each others arms, Esau marvels at Jacob's large family. "What, are these your wives and children?" he asks, Jacob introduces his family and explains, "These are the children whom God has graciously given your servant," Still feeling unsure, Esau wants to know why Jacob is parading all of his wealth before him." What do you mean by all this company (family) which I have met?" he asks. Jacob tells him that he only hopes, "to find favour in your sight." But Esau will have none of it and gloats to his brother saying, " I have plenty, my brother. Let what you have to be your own." Jacob however, insists and implores Esau, "Please take my gift which has been brought to you because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have everything."

It was hard for the older Esau to accept a gift from Jacob. He wanted his younger twin brother to see that he had also made something of himself. Describing his wealth, Esau claims, "I have plenty". It was as though he was boasting to Jacob, "Don't worry, I am rich too and will even surpass you one dau, I don't need your help."

Jacob tells his brother that he is not doing too badly either, and says, "I have everything." What a difference! Jacob is satisfied with what he has and feels that he already has "everything." Content with what God has given him, he can offer his older brother some of his wealth. Esau, on the other hand, says that he has "plenty," but he clearly wants more, at least more than his brother.

For Esau, "plenty" describes an amount that can be counted, calculated and compared with others. Believing he has "everything," Jacob has found contentment with what he already has. He knows that the source of his full and abundant life is God, and that is why he tells Esau:"Because God has dealt graciously with me, I have everything."

Aviel Schneider

Without Him Ye Can Do Nothing

Without Me, You Can Do Nothing

If you’re Sick- He is the great Physician
If you’re Poor - He is your Riches
If you’re Weak - He is your Strength
If you’re in Trouble - He is your Deliverer
If you’re Fearful - He is your Peace
Without Him we are Helpless, Hopeless, and Powerless 

Whatever God call us to do ...He will give us the ability and tools to do it! 
If you don’t have the ability..  He’ll give it to you 
If you don’t have the resources.. He’ll provide them for you 

"My God shall provide all my needs according to his riches in glory by Jesus." Phil. 4:19 

We all put limitations on ourselves and upon God when we say, “I can’t do that because- 
I don’t have the education...
I’m not smart enough..
I don’t have enough money...
I’m too young...
I’m too old... 
Our problem is we put limitations on ourselves and God!  Just as Paul said in Romans, Chapter 1, we worship God – not as God – but as a man, as a human being like ourselves: 

“Because that when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God,. Neither were thankful; but became vain (futile) in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened.
“Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 
“And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man. . . Romans 1:21-23 

If we can’t do it – we don’t believe God can do it either. 
God has promised to “heal ALL our diseases” (Psalm 103:3) ‘IF we follow His laws, His commandments, and His decrees.”  Deut 7:11-15

God promises to “heal ALL our diseases” but only if we do it His way, which includes learning to know Him so well that we are willing to “believe” that what He has promised – He WILL do.  And we must act on our beliefs by following His Health Plan with 100% commitment. 

Atheists can reject God, blaspheme God, curse God, and deny that God exists.  But they can’t do any of these things - - without God.  The only place they get the life and breath to reject, blaspheme, curse, and deny the existence of God - - - - is from God! 
They just end up looking downright silly.  That’s why the Bible says,

“The fool has said in his heart, There is no God.” Psalm 53:1

God runs everything in our life.  He has planned every day of the life of each of us before He created the earth.  He is the vine; we are the branches.  Without an attachment to Him, we would be unable to do anything, including living and breathing. 

“Look to Me and be saved (healed – sozo). . .” Isaiah 45:22  

“I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abideth in Me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me, you can do nothing.”  John 15:5  

“I can do anything through Christ which strengthens me.” Phil 4:13 

In all your ways acknowledge Him and HE will direct your paths.” Prov 3:6  

“God is operating ALL according to the counsel of His own will.”  Eph 1:11  

“In Him we live, and move and are (have our being).” Acts 17:28  

“Christ in you – the expectation (not “hope”) of glory.” Col 1:27  

“Be anxious for nothing.” Phil 4:6 

“Without God - - - no one can do anything.

He sleeps in a storm

"And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep."

A man seeks employment on a farm. He hands his letter of recommendation to his mew employer. It reads simply, "He sleeps in a storm."
The owner is desperate for help, so he hires the man.

Several weeks pass, and suddenly, in the middle of the night, a powerfull storm rips through the valley.
Awakened by the swirling rain and howling wind, the owner leaps out of bed. He calls for his new hired hand, but the man is sleeping soundly.

So he dashes off to the barn. He sees, to his amazement, that the animals are secure with plenty of feed.
He runs out to the field. He sees the bales of wheat have been bound and are wrapped in tarpaulins.
He races to the silo. The doors are latched, and the grain is dry.
And then he understands. "He sleeps in a storm."

My friends, if we tend to the things that are important in life, if we are right with those we love and behave in line with our faith, our lives will not be cursed with the aching throb of unfulfilled business. Our words will always be sincere, our embraces will be tight. We will never wallow in the agony of "I could have, I should have." We can sleep in a storm.
And when it's time, our good-byes will be complete.

Have a little faith - Mitch Albom

A time for everything

I learned a long time ago that everything has its right time, and that time and the goal both serve and wait on one another.
This reminded me of the story of Jacob's dream  (Genesis 28).
It took a long time before Jacob's dream was fulfilled. Despite the seemingly positive vision he'd received, Jacob's life quickly entered a downward spiral. He leaves the country, is separated from his family, flees from his brother, Esau, and fears for his future.

But we see Jacob reach terms with God. "If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father's house in peace, the the Lord shall be my God (Gen.28:20-21).

In effect, jacob places conditions on God:"Do You have a will? Do You want to be my God? Do You want to give me an inheritance? Well, I also have desires and a will. If You fulfill everything, then I, too, will fulfill my part in our covenant."

And what does Jacob wants? His demands are fairly basic: safety, food, clothes and a warm home. With this stipulations, Jacob begins his journey.

It is amazing to see how flexible and willing God is to negociate. God fulfills His part completely. He guards Jacob and his family, He provides food for Jacob and sees to his clothing. And then He waited for Jacob to do his part.

Waiting and patience are important elements in getting the timing right. It is not enough to know one's mission or goal, you have to be ready to realize it.
Life, marriage, children, work- it all seemed to make Jacob forget his part of the contract.

Something reminds us who we are, where we came from, and where we're going. It makes us realize that there is something better for us than were we find ourselves in the present. The birth of Joseph, to his beloved Rachel, seemed to be the beginning of Jacob's awakening. Jacob realized that he was living in a foreign country, working for foreigners, raising his children in a land that was not his own.
He was far from the land of his fathers, for from his God, and far from himself.

Jacob realized that he had nothing to bequeath to his heirs living whre he was. Then remembered the contract he had made with God, and the moment had come for him to do his part. He turned to God, to his life's goals and understood his mission once more.


Anat Schneider (Israel Today)

Faithful To The End

There in the stillness right from the start You were the ember that lit the dark Over the heavens and galaxies God, You were there singing over me There in the silence and mystery You were the constant that stayed with me Never a moment that You withdrew God, You were there when I need You Oh, my soul sings You are faithful You are faithful To the end Let my heart sing Because You know me And You love me To the end Into the shadows I wandered off You were the shepherd that sought my heart Where would I hide that You couldn’t see Ready or not, You would come for me Ready or not, You would come for me I was never on my own I was never far from home I was always in Your arms You were there You were there I am never on my own I am never far from home I am always in Your arms You are here You are here Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah To the end Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah To the end

Acting Out Your Faith

The Greatest Question of All

The Greatest Question of All

  In any conversation, I was taught, there are at least three parties: you, the other person, and the Lord.

  I recalled that lesson on a summer day in the small office when both the Reb and I wore shorts. My bare leg stuck with perspiration to the green leather chair, and I raised it with a small thwoch.
   The Reb was looking for a letter. He lifted a pad, then an envelope, then a newspaper. I knew he’d never find it. I think the mess in his office was almost a way of life now, a game that kept the world interesting. As I waited, I glanced at the file on the lower shelf, the one marked “God.” We still hadn’t opened it.
  “Ach,” he said, giving up.

  Can I ask you something?
   “Ask away, young scholar,” he crowed.
  How do you know God exists?
   He stopped. A smile crept across his face.
  “An excellent question.”
  He pressed his fingers into his chin.
  And the answer? I said.
  “First, make the case against Him.”

   Okay, I said, taking his challenge. How about this? We live in a world where your genes can be mapped, where your cells can be copied, where your face can be altered. Heck, with surgery, you can go from being a man to being a woman. We have science to tell us of the earth’s creation; rocket probes explore the universe. The sun is no longer a mystery. And the moon—which people used to worship? We brought some of it home in a pouch, right?
  “Go on,” he said.

   So why, in such a place, where the once-great mysteries have been solved, does anyone still believe in God or Jesus or Allah or a Supreme Being of any kind? Haven’t we outgrown it? Isn’t it like Pinocchio, the puppet? When he found he could move without his strings, did he still look the same way at Geppetto?
  The Reb tapped his fingers together.
  “That’s some speech.”
   You said make a case.
   “Ah.”

  He leaned in. “Now. My turn. Look, if you say that science will eventually prove there is no God, on that I must differ. No matter how small they take it back, to a tadpole, to an atom, there is always something they can’t explain, something that created it all at the end of the search.
  “And no matter how far they try to go the other way—to extend life, play around with the genes, clone this, clone that, live to one hundred and fifty—at some point, life is over. And then what happens? When life comes to an end?”
   I shrugged.
  “You see?”
   He leaned back. He smiled.
  “When you come to the end, that’s where God begins.”

Have a little faith - Mitch Albom

The Hidden Enemy

If you're asking yourself, as I did, what aggressive scularism and radical Islam have in common, then you need to read The Hidden Enemy. 

Our Civilization is under assault from without- and from within.
We face an external threat from radical, political Islam. The enemy without wants to sweep away Western civilization and impose a global caliphate.
We face an internal threat form a coalition of secular humanists, atheists and leftists. The enemy within wants to erase the Judeo-Christian values our Western culture was founded on, replacing them with false dogmas and secularism, sexual liberation, hedonism, and moral relativitism.

The enemy without and the enemy within have almost nothing in common. Radical, political Islam seeks to impose a theocracy that, according to strict Islamic law, calls for the oppression of women and the execution of homosexuals. The secular left is fanatical about church-state separation, feminism and gay and transgender rights.

The enemy without and the enemy within could not be more opposed to each other. You'd think they'd constantly be at each other's throats. Yet the secular left defends and supports Islamism and the two groups join forces to attack our Christian faith, Judeo-Christian values, Western culture and the nation of Israel.

Often, the alliance between these groups goes largely unnoticed. Not long ago, however, representatives from the two groups publicly marched in solidarity. Like many leftist protest events, the Women's March on January 21, 2017, demanded reproductive rights (unrestricted abortions), LGBTQ rughts and wide-open borders- the usual progressive agenda. The march featured the standard collection of leftist sponsors: Planned Parenthood, the AFL-CIO, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, MoveOn.org and more.

Oddly, however, the march organizers chose as co-chair an Islamist, Linda Sarsour, whom the New York Times dubbed the "Brooklyn homegirl in a hijab" in a flattering 2015 profile. She's a darling of the left, whom President Obama honored as a "champion of change"- yet she advocates Sharia law in America. Her sale pitch: "You'll know when you're living under Sharia law if suddently all your loans and credit cards become interest-free. Sounds nice, doesn't it?
Sarsour neglects to mention that Sharia is incompatible with democracy, human rights, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, equality for women, LGBTQ rights and other causes liberals claim to support.
The progressive left's fawning adoration of Ms, Sarsour is a vivid demonstration of the strange alliance between these two ideologically opposed groups. But this is far from an isolated pheonomenon. The secular left and fanatical Islam have made a devil's bargain. Their mutual goal: the overthrow of Western culture and Judeo-Christian values.

How do we confront these enemies- the enemy within and the enemy without? Should we form a political action committee; hire a lobbying firm in Washington, DC; hold a protest march and flex our political muscles? Should we try to beat the Islamists and the secular left at their own game?
No. As God's Word tells us, there is only one way to win: We must "be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power" (Ephesians 6:10). 

We must never forget that Jesus taught us to love our adversaries, pray for them and do good to them (Luke 6:27-28). The battle against Islamic and secular extremism is not one we can win with weapons of hate. The battle for truth can be won by the power of Christlike love. Without His love, we're just clanging gongs and cymbals- making a lot of noise while accomplishing nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1)

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God is Our Safety

“You are a shield around me, O LORD, my Glorious One, who lifts up my head.” Psalm 3:4

We live in a world of great unrest: riots and terrorist attacks in many places, train bombings and shootings in broad daylight…How can we feel safe?

Late in his reign King David, was forced to flee for his life from Jerusalem because of a revolt led by his rebellious and arrogant son Absalom and a host of traitors. He could have trusted his army to protect him and defeat Absalom but instead He trusted God. “You are a shield around me, O LORD, my Glorious One, who lifts up my head,” he wrote.

Even at night, in the wide open desert without concrete walls around him and a comfortable bed, David was able to sleep. In the morning, he may have shaken his head in surprise as he said, “even here I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.”

The fact that God was His protection was very real to King David for he often wrote about it in the Psalms. “My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—from violent men you save me. You give me your shield of victory; you stoop down to make me great.”
(2 Samuel 22: 3, 36).

Those comforting words are also for us. During times when we feel vulnerable we can say with David, “My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart” (Psalm 7:10). “He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge” (Psalm 144:2).

For a shield to do any good we must use it. We must dwell in the fortress (God) and take up His shield. “Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one,” Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:16.

Dear Father, we thank you that you are greater than anything that could harm us. We trust in your protection and deliverance.

By Helen Lescheid

Closer to God. Happy New Year !

God is our strength.
Let Him be the strong foundation of our life 
so that we will not stumble when things go bad.
Give everything to God and 
He will give you everything, too!
May this New Year give you 
more hope and reasons to live happily!
Happy New Year!

God bless this New Year
in which love overcomes
He is always with us
and unfolds great possibilities
all the best for the coming year


! God doesn’t measure our relationship with Him by how many verses we can quote from the Bible, or whether or not we read His Word from beginning to end each year. Yes, we should study Scripture and commit God’s Word to memory, but our relationship with God is mostly about spending time with Him.

Resolution One: I will live for God. Resolution Two: If no one else does, I still will. ~ Jonathan Edwards

Dumnezeu ne așteaptă acasă!

Cu ce rămânem din viața aceasta? 

Trăim și murim. 

Ne naștem, ne învățăm cu lumea aceasta și punem atât de mult suflet în toate lucrurile ce pier, nu ne dăm seama că totul e în zadar, că aici toate sunt cu durere.

Ce câștigă omul cu adevărat din toată truda lui?

Am văzut oameni care au muncit atât de mult doar ca să poată să trăiască. Am văzut oameni bătrâni consumându-se și oameni tineri albind. M-am văzut chiar pe mine fără vlagă. 

Toți ne-am consumat pentru același lucru, pentru viața aceasta. Toți ne-am gândit măcar o dată, cum să facem să ne fie mai bine.

De atâtea ori momentele prețioase au fost încolăcite cu cele triste, cele care ne-au umplut inima de durere.

În vuietul acestei lumi, în zgomotele care se aud din depărtări, ați reușit vreodată să vă ascultați inima?

Inima mea mi-a vorbit, nu o dată, de mai multe ori. Mi-a spus că e obosită, că nu mai poate și că mă lupt degeaba. Cât timp voi exista pe acest pământ voi avea necazuri, la fel și voi. Aici totul este cu jumătăți de măsură.

Știu, i-am spus eu înapoi. Știu și uneori îmi vine să las baltă totul, dar apoi îmi amintesc de El. Îmi amintesc că viața nu se termină aici, că Dumnezeu ne așteaptă acasă!

Nu fiți triști, muncim și ne chinuim, îi vedem pe cei dragi cărunți și slăbiți dar știm, știm că nu se termină totul aici, știm că într-o zi lucrurile se vor schimba, într-o zi lacrimile ne vor fi șterse pentru că Dumnezeu ne așteaptă acasă!

Lavinia Humeniuc :lavii-osperanta.blogspot.com

The Playground Parable

There once was a father who had two daughters. He loved them both equally and wanted the very best for each of them. They lived beside a vast park and every day they would walk over to the playground. The father would kneel between them, an arm around each, and tell them the rules.

“You must stay in plain sight,” he explained. “Do not go in the woods surrounding the playground. Do not even go near them. Instead, play where you can clearly hear my voice. There are dangerous things beyond this place, but if you stay close, you will be perfectly safe.”

The younger daughter felt nervous. How could she know if she was close enough to hear her father’s voice? She spent the afternoon looking fearfully over her shoulder, wondering if she was okay. “Is this where you want me?” she would ask him every time she started toward a new place. The only problem was that she never quite made it where she was going. Her heart was too fearful and her steps too timid.

The older daughter chose to race from the swings to the slide to the monkey bars. She laughed and played. Every little while she would glance over at her father and wave. At one point she wandered too close to the woods but spun around when she heard his voice. “Back this way, child.” He said. She apologized and hurried off toward the swings again.

The father loved both of his daughters the same. He delighted in them. Yet, one could not help but notice the way he watched his younger daughter with a bit of sorrow tinging his expression. It was important that she obey the rules and stay in the circle of safety—but he sorrowed at her fear. He longed for her to simply trust his voice, and to learn to trust her ability to hear him. “I’ll tell you if you start to wander too far,” he explained to her. “Trust me.”

In Christian circles there is much talk about finding “God’s calling” for our lives, and most of it is good! He does have a will for us. We have been created for a specific purpose. But too many times I think we take that truth and create chains of fear. Like the younger daughter in the story, we never quite make it to where we’re going…because we’re too afraid to take the next step.

There needs to be a level of trust. God is not some secret-keeper in the sky, hiding your purpose from you. He is a loving Father who delights in you. Yes, you need to listen to Him! Absolutely.

Using the playground analogy, if He says, “Child, I want you to stay on the swings right now.” Then listen! If He says, “Go to the monkey bars today.” Do it! But if He says nothing, don’t stand there in fear. Trust that if He needs you a certain place, He’ll tell you.

Go swing—and point your friends on the swings toward your loving Father.

Go slide—and point your friends on the slide toward your loving Father.

And while you’re going here and there, enjoying the things you’re doing today, just remember there are some pretty basic boundaries. God may give you the freedom to choose who to marry, but I guarantee that dabbling in sexual immorality will take you right off the playground and into the woods. He may not say, “Go to North Africa as a missionary,” but He does say that you are to be light and salt to a dark and lost world.

Follow the basic guidelines and trust Him to speak if you need to do something different.

He will. I promise.

Keep looking to His face, keep your ear tuned to His voice—and walk in confidence.

Natasha Metzler - manofdepravity.com