Category Archives: The Last Days

Christian Growth, Holy Spirit, Political, The Last Days

The Election is not about WHO; it’s about WHAT

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Although I started my blog, Treasure in Earthen Vessels, in 2012, it took me four years to write and post my first political writing. I have written only six posts about political issues in those 12 years and 216 writings. Why so few? Because I have had little desire to use my blog to influence my readership in political matters—until today. But God has gotten my attention, and He speaks loud and clear about the election at hand. I do not write this to be critical of either party or candidate, but rather to share with you the things God has shown me from His Word.

Like me, many of you are a product of your family’s beliefs. Thank God that in America we still have the right to disagree and openly speak what we believe. While I highly respect everyone’s personal viewpoint, I am greatly compelled to share with you what God has spoken to me about this election. In the years that I have been married to my husband (a much deeper and more serious thinker than I am), I have on many occasions confessed to him that I was wrong on an issue, be it political or religious. And he has done so as well. We are all in a place of growing up in order to become the people God has called us to be. If I am wrong, I want to know it. I do not want to bury my head in the sand and say, “I’m right because my way of thinking can’t be wrong.” I cannot honestly say that—because I have been wrong. I continually thank God for every truth He brings to me. I diligently try to keep an open heaven above me so I can see truth, grasp truth, accept truth, and once again be made more in the image of Jesus. I would think every child of God would want the same.

For a scripture reference that we can sink our teeth into and be confident that we are making a good application of God’s Word, we are going to read Joshua 5:13-15 from the New King James Version. These verses have something monumental to say to us.

Joshua 5:13 ~ And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?” 14 So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?” 15 Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so.

If the readers of my blog are like the political polls taken during this election, then half of you are on one side and half is on the opposite side. My greatest desire is that you will hear for yourself how the Commander of the Lord’s army answered Joshua. Joshua merely asked: “Are You for us or for our adversaries?” To make this question more applicable to the election, I am going to rephrase it like this:

“Which side are you on, God, ours or theirs?”

Even more telling is the response the Commander of the Lord’s army gave to Joshua. He simply answered, “No….” I like the New Living Translation for this response better. It says: “Neither.” Did you see that? Did you get that? Can our hardened, calloused souls hear the words from the mouth of God to us today? I’m going to paraphrase this one also:

God said, “NEITHER! Neither Right nor Left, neither Democrat nor Republican, neither Liberal nor Conservative. Period.”

God is on neither side of our petty differences; our outdated reasonings about who is right or wrong; or what generations before us viewed and held as important. We are living in a different day, a different culture, and a totally different political climate. We are living in the last of the last days, dear ones, and there is one critical thing that we must catch here. It is this:

“…but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.”

I joyfully announce to you today that Commander Jesus has now come to help us maneuver our way through this mind-boggling battlefield, not against each other, but against the onslaught of demons from hell that are attacking us, our faith, our freedom, our nation, our friendships, and our churches! And trust me, the enemy intends to fight dirty and win at all costs.

But praise be to God, Jesus has now come to help us!

God has His own opinion, purpose and plan for our world, our nation, and our individual lives. And, it is immensely higher than anything that we think we know. God’s mindset is always more godly, pure, and noble than our earthly mind can comprehend. That is the mindset you and I must seek before we cast a vote in this election.

I believe the biggest mistake we are making in this election is in trying to decide “who to vote for” rather than “what to vote for.” Isn’t that just like the enemy to get us focused on the wrong thing? Forget personalities. Take all of the name calling out of the decision criteria because both sides are doing much of it. The devil is having a hay-day at the expense of our unity.

Please know that the Devil is a deceiver and he is cleverly making us think that everything we see and hear is true. If your only source of news is the mainstream media, you have little awareness about what is true and what isn’t. I recommend a mixture of news. Also, please you look up some well-known and respected Christian leaders of today and see what they are saying about this election. For example, find Franklin Graham, Anne Graham Lotz, or Max Lucado.

For us to get a Biblical grip on deception, let’s explore another scripture: Galatians 6:7-8. I’ve chosen the Amplified Bible mostly for the clarifying words in brackets.

Galatians 6:7 ~Do not be deceived, God is not mocked [He will not allow Himself to be ridiculed, nor treated with contempt nor allow His precepts to be scornfully set aside]; for whatever a man sows, this and this only is what he will reap. 8 For the one who sows to his flesh [his sinful capacity, his worldliness, his disgraceful impulses] will reap from the flesh ruin and destruction, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

The first thing for us to discern in Galatians 6:7 is this: If it is in the Bible, then it is spoken to us—to you and me. When the Word of God says, “Do not be deceived,” it clearly means that good, godly, precious Christian people are capable of being deceived. In this case, regardless of whether you are politically red, blue, or purple—you can be deceived. Accept it. Next, do the very thing we should do about all Biblical statements: ASK GOD IF WE ARE SEEING THINGS CLEARLY and THEN LISTEN FOR HIS ANSWER.

We have all fallen for deception at some time in our lives. It is a characteristic of the fallen human race. Our forefathers were deceived and believed the lies of Satan. It has happened in all generations. Yet, it is no high-crime to be deceived. Let’s make a short trip down memory lane to prove it. Have you ever fallen for a lie that a fast-talking salesperson talked you into? Have you ever misjudged someone’s character and loaned them money that you never saw again? Have you ever believed you might win the lottery and get a million dollars? Have you ever bought into a “get-rich-quick” scam? Have you ever trusted a person who turned out not to be the person you thought they were? Have you ever been disappointed in a friend or spiritual leader that misled you?

WE HAVE ALL BEEN DECEIVED, and the only thing we can do about it is to call on Commander Jesus, repent and accept that His blood has taken care of our mistakes. We must humbly accept that we did not see or know that everything we swallowed wasn’t true. It is a low blow to our pride, but we must repent and get beyond it. It is important to seek for truth in any area in which we are susceptible to the lies of our enemy. Those are generally the areas we are so sure about.

The next phrase in Galatians 5:7 is “…God is not mocked.” I chose the Amplified version for these very words: [He will not allow Himself to be ridiculed, nor treated with contempt nor allow His precepts to be scornfully set aside]. Clearly, people will not get away with mocking or ridiculing God. And His principles cannot be set aside; such as reclassifying abortion as health care. He will not allow this.

Here is what we must consider: What policies does each side support that clearly align with God’s Word and God’s principles? With God’s Word as the only measuring stick, carefully weigh the issues, and determine if the platform and policies of the political party you are leaning toward align with Biblical values. While there are many issues, the ones that Christians must know about before voting are these: abortion; same-sex marriage; number of genders; lawlessness; and support for Israel? If their position on such key issues is opposite of the Bible, then you will be voting against God’s Word and His principles.

I want us to look again at the conversation between Joshua and the Commander of the Lord’s army in Joshua 5:14b-15 ~ And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?” 15 Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so.

We must ignore the political jargon and recognize that along with Joshua, we too are on holy ground where the Commander of the Lord’s army is standing. It’s highly possible that like Joshua we need to fall on our faces, worship Him, and ask what He has to say to us. This ground is holy because God is there. Holy because principles matter to God. Holy because God’s people are called upon to stand where God stands. (Don’t miss that one!) Holy because each of the issues considered are godly principles—not just made-up views to help a candidate get elected.

It is interesting to note that Joshua was told: Take your sandal off your foot. Do you wonder what those sandals might represent? I believe our sandals are what got us to where we are today—to where we have walked thus far. Could that perhaps be our ideas and beliefs that have gotten us to this place—politically and spiritually—such as our teaching, doctrines, and family traditions? Could the angel have told Joshua to remove them because they won’t serve him well here on this holy ground? We simply cannot come into the presence of a holy God with unholy beliefs and values. It is important to notice that: And Joshua did so. Can we or will we obey like Joshua did?

We all need to understand that here in this place God is requiring us to grow up, reach further, and rise to a higher place of thinking; of discernment; of responsibility; of accountability—to a place that is holy—where our personal opinions and preferences must be taken off and left behind. As Christians and Americans, we are in this very hour being compelled to put aside our feelings, thoughts, and family traditions; and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to us God’s mindset about this election. We are promised in John 16:13 that He will lead us into all truth.

Undoubtedly, we will soon see more about God’s higher plan because Christ’s coming is closer than we know. But for now, we must seek to know what things the Commander of the Lord’s Army would have us do—including how to vote in this election. So, our question for today is this: Are we willing to seek God so that all of us—as God’s beloved children and the largest voting-block in America—will be united and vote as the Holy Spirit leads us to vote?

Dear one, please understand that you are very precious in the eyes of our Heavenly Father. And you are also precious to this servant girl of the Lord who does her best to seek His face continually, to hear His sweet and tender voice, and to obey her beautiful Lord. Until next time, blessings to you all ~ Sarah Jane

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Encouragement, Reflections, The Last Days

What Will We Focus On—A Messy World or A Majestic God?

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I was late coming outside for my morning walk with God because of lingering too long in a book by my newest favorite author, Lilias Trotter. She had quoted Augustine of Hippo’s striking words about our origin: “Thou has made us for Thyself, and the heart rests not till it rests in Thee.”1

As I hurriedly stepped off my porch, walked past the trees and out into the opening, I quickly realized being late simply meant that I was just in time to see God’s glory splashed on the mountainside across the valley from where I stood. What I saw is called a temperature inversion. It is opposite of normal atmospheric conditions, where air is warmer near the ground and colder at higher altitudes. It took my breath away as I hurried to snap a few pictures.

I glanced at the sun and saw majestic sunbeams peeking through the trees as if to catch a glimpse of that cloud inversion over on the mountains. My heart erupted: “O God, I see you. I sense you. I feel you.” I heard His soft response, “Be still and know that I am your God.”

Can I? Can we—be still? We must know Him as our God, if we want to live forever. It’s that simple—believe He is who He says He is and trust Him. In the cool morning breeze, geese flying south interrupt the quietness with loud quacking. I scarce can take it in. It is refreshing moments—far away from the disturbing hatred that quacked from the television last night. God knew I needed a mind reset.

I never dreamed I would live to see America on the brink of collapse, destruction, and ruin—things that threaten the very foundation of our nation. It is hard to comprehend, yet it lurks powerfully in front of eyes that can see it. Things feel upside down—inverted one could say—like when cold air and warm air change places. Good people support bad leaders and things God would never condone. Strong believers are being deceived to accept another gospel. I struggle to wrap my mind, much less my heart, around it all.

Last evening the news reported an attack on one who fights for our country. I did some research and discovered that more than one million service men and women have fought and died for this country since the Revolutionary War. I wonder if I will be willing to fight when the fight comes to me. Only God knows.

God woos my thoughts back to Himself, “Keep your mind stayed on Me; focus on My Kingdom.”

As I struggle to redirect my thoughts, His invitation came, “Rest your heart in Me.”

True heart-rest comes only from God. Which will I choose today—to focus on a messy world or a majestic God? It’s my choice as well as yours. Our choice determines our state of mind: a state of peace or a state of turmoil. No matter what comes or goes, we must be on the side of God to have any chance of finding peace. We must practice His presence with us daily—perhaps hourly as the prophesied hour approaches. I perceive this is the only way to survive the last days on earth.

There are two worlds at war. According to Augustine of Hippo, we were made for only one. We belong to only one. Our lives can find peace in only one. Only one offers eternal life. So, we must let go of the other—the one we don’t belong to.

Our life is hidden with Christ, in God, according to Colossians 3:3. That is where we belong. Focus on that life because the other is but a vapor—like the inverted clouds on the far mountainside. With every passing moment, it is slowly fading away and almost out of sight.

James 4:14 tells us, “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.” (NLT)

We all have a choice of what we will focus on today. I highly recommend the Majestic God, especially since He made us for Himself.

~Sarah Jane

1 Lilias Trotter, The Way of the Sevenfold Secret, Lilias Trotter Legacy Inc., 2023, Mt. Dora, FL, p 14

Encouragement, Faith, Lordship of Christ, The Last Days

King of the World

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If only we could turn off the blaring problems around the globe like we turn off the television set, we would likely give a big sigh of relief. There are certainly plenty of issues that cause us to fear—such as war, turmoil and hatred reaching explosive levels in many countries. But isn’t this what we’ve always thought the “last days before Jesus comes back” would look like?

Regardless of our political or religious differences, we can all agree that these are serious times. We generally look for someone on the main stage to stand up and say, “Don’t be afraid! I know what to do. Everything will be alright.” Yet, like me, you could believe that most politicians are untrustworthy; true leaders with character and courage are scarce; and what is terrifying is called good, and what is good is called terrifying.

I can’t help but share with you some amazing words that I came across just this morning. They are perfectly fitting for today!  I believe our faith in God will be refreshed and encouraged as we find instructions for what to do in times like these. Naturally, they come from God’s Word—the Words of Life—as found in Psalm 96. The Passion Translation is just that—passionate about the person being described for us.

 Psalm 96 ~ King of the World

“Go ahead—sing your new song to the Lord! Let everyone in every language sing him a new song.

Don’t stop! Keep on singing! Make his name famous! Tell everyone every day how wonderful he is. Give them the good news of our great Savior.

Take the message of his glory and miracles to every nation. Tell them about all the amazing things he has done.

For the Lord’s greatness is beyond description and he deserves all the praise that comes to him. He is our King-God and it’s right to be in holy awe of him.

Other gods are absolutely worthless. For the Lord God is Creator-God who spread the splendor of the skies!

Breathtaking brilliance and awe-inspiring majesty radiate from His shining presence. His stunning beauty overwhelms all who come before Him.

Surrender to the Lord Yahweh, all you nations and peoples. Surrender to Him all your pride and strength.

Confess that Jehovah alone deserves all the glory and honor. Bring an offering and come celebrate in his courts.

Come worship the Lord God wearing the splendor of holiness. Let everyone wait in wonder as they tremble in awe before him.

Tell the nations plainly that Yahweh rules over all! He is doing a great job, and nothing will disrupt him, for he treats everyone fair and square.

Let the skies sing for joy! Let the earth join in the chorus. Let oceans thunder and fields echo this ecstatic praise until every swaying tree of every forest joins in, lifting up their songs of joyous praise to him!

For here he comes, the Lord God, and he’s ready to judge the world. He will do what’s right and can be trusted to always do what’s fair. ~ Psalm 96:1-13 (TPT)

While it looks as though the whole world is in disarray, take heart. King Jesus will be coming soon to set up His kingdom on earth! Never doubt that He will put all things in order when He comes. We could say, “He will square things up!” The bizarre nonsense will disappear, and King Jesus will reign in peace, truth and righteousness. What is good will be called good, and what is evil will be called evil, as judged by the King Himself.

Victory days are just ahead for all true followers of Jesus Christ! I hope and pray that you are one of them. If so, go ahead and give that big sigh of relief, and then share the good news in this psalm with your friends and family. If you’re not a follower of Jesus Christ, tell a Christian friend or acquaintance that you’d like to meet Him. They will be happy to introduce you to the true King of the World!

~ Sarah Jane

Holidays, The Last Days

The Most Overlooked Story of Christmas

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The Christmas story comes to us in all shapes and sizes, yet it is always a warm reminder of why we celebrate the season. As the whole world sat in darkness, mankind was utterly unable to help ourselves. And then—Jesus came for us! His coming would change the course of human history as God’s Son became our Savior-Redeemer. So, it is perfectly fitting for us to rejoice at the Babe in a manger, Mary and Joseph, star-struck shepherds, dazzling-white angels, and wise guys from afar. But wait! Isn’t there a part of this miraculous story that is mostly overlooked?

Just eight days after the birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph took him to the temple to fulfill Jewish Law. That is where something miraculous happened: “At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God.” (Luke 2:25-28)

But there was yet another surprise waiting for the young couple: “Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple….she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God….She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:36-38)

These seem like strange events, since we naturally think the religious leaders would have been the ones to recognize the Son of God—but not so. They missed Him completely, while the quaint elderly man and woman got it right! How could this be? Apparently, Simeon and Anna knew what had been foretold about the coming Messiah, and thereby recognized the signs accompanying His birth. Their eyes beheld what they already knew in their hearts.

And what about us? Isn’t our world filled with strange events? As the days grow darker, does it not seem as though we cannot help ourselves? If we read what the Bible foretells about the days before Jesus comes the second time, we might recognize signs that describe this very generation (Matthew 24). Are we alert to the signs in our time? Are we watching and waiting as Simeon and Anna were, or are we more like the religious leaders—mostly blind to the day that is upon us? As we celebrate this joyful Christmas season with our family and friends, may we share the good news that Jesus is coming for us—again!

“Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door!” (Matthew 24:32-33 NLT)

Christmas Blessings to all ~ Sarah Jane Kellogg

Christian Living, The Last Days

A Christian’s Greatest Challenge in Today’s World

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A Christian’s greatest challenge in our world today is to hear God’s voice above all other voices. There are many voices out there, but here is a list of things we need every day in order to survive as Christians and to live godly lives. Without them, our personal space and place would be in disarray and our sanity greatly challenged. I purposely placed each one on a line by itself to give us time to ponder the deep meaning each one has for us. I cannot imagine a world without the voices of God. See if you can.

The voice of truth

The voice of freedom

The voice of righteousness

The voice of reason

The voice of wisdom

The voice of life

The voice of mercy

The voice of forgiveness

The voice of hope

The voice of love

The voice of joy

The voice of peace

The voice of patience

The voice of kindness

The voice of goodness

The voice of faithfulness

The voice of gentleness

The voice of self-control

The voice of triumph

I fear that we have taken for granted the goodness of God. We have simply thought that America would always be free and decent. That is the very reason millions flock to our nation every year. Yet today, we are living in a very different America. Ungodly voices have been allowed to rise to a near unbearable roar, attempting to shut down any opposition whatsoever. Our children’s future is at stake, while even common sense has been pushed aside.

The Word of God tells us that the last days will be evil. Friends, those days are upon us here and now, and we must not be deceived by the voices of the Evil One. We can no longer depend on others to keep us informed. Therefore, when voices arise that promote death, deceit, destruction, hatred, cruelty, lawlessness, turmoil, fear, murder, theft, intolerance, perversion, false accusations, injustice and anger, we must be aware that these voices are not of God.

As Christians we love to quote the wonderful promise God gives us in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (NLT)

My personal belief is that that verse of scripture is not talking about when we get to heaven. God has always intended for man to have a good life right here on planet earth, and for those men and women, and even nations, who have loved God and followed His teachings, a good life has been experienced.

Yet today, the plans some have for our beloved USA are not the plans God promised us. His plans are always good, whole, healthy, kind, peaceful and loving. We must not be deceived.

Oh, be careful little ears what voices you listen to today! Your very life and freedoms depend on it. Blessings to all ~ Janie

The Last Days, Vision

A New Church Emerging ~

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For decades there has been much division in the church—we are divided into various denominations, sects, and beliefs even when we use and follow the same Bible. Today, Americans are also deeply divided politically. We are divided into various parties, races, and convictions even when we use and follow the same American creed. And where does division come from—the evil one. A house divided will not stand. Our great enemy knows that better than we do, else we would fight against division.

Yet, we have embraced the division rather than seek to eliminate it. We follow our parents & grandparents lead, yet those denominations and parties of our forefathers are not what they used to be. Corruption has sprouted in the highest levels of government, academia, and religious organizations. The grab for power and money have blinded many great leaders, and today we are far away from the best intentions of spreading freedom, winning the lost, and bringing God’s kingdom to earth.

We are all guilty of participating in the “my group has it right” mentality. This group-think mindset has caused us to believe that if everyone thought like we think, it would somehow be a perfect world. But GOD is in the process of shaking EVERYTHING. Your beliefs; my beliefs. Your convictions; my convictions. Your doctrines; my doctrines. Your way of thinking; my way of thinking.

When we only promote our religious affiliation and political party, we are guilty of causing division, even if we don’t want to believe it. Jesus said, “Whoever is not against us, is for us.” I sometimes believe our handed-down beliefs are so engrained that we will never be able to forsake them. But I see the mighty hand of God calling His children to join together against the evil that has been unleased around the world. What we mutually believe about the Cross of Christ outweighs everything else!

This is what I see on the horizon: A new church emerging right in front of our very eyes. It is the Bride of Jesus Christ. She has a wedding to get ready for and currently she is NOT ready. Why? Because of the DIVISIONS among us!

In Joshua 5:13-14 Joshua asked the Commander of the Lord’s Army: “Whose side are you on—ours or our enemies?” He replied, “NEITHER!” Let that soak in for a minute. Do you know how peace happens? When both sides lay down their weapons, guns, arrows, etc. A better description for us might be to lay down our words, ridicule, accusations, pointing of the finger, or name calling. Could we even be guilty of calling “evil” that which God has called “good?”

If we, dear Christian brothers and sisters, are going to save our nation from destruction, we must lay down our weapons against the Body of Christ. Let’s face the truth: We have work to do. We have changes to make. We have battles to fight and win. It’s high time we come together and prepare ourselves for the grandest wedding in all of history!

Blessings to all ~ Janie

Prayer, The Last Days

POWERFUL WORDS FOR TROUBLED TIMES: TRUTH AND LIGHT

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As I was praying for a particular situation a few weeks ago, the Lord spoke two words to me: Truth and Light. He told me to pray for those two things in that current circumstance. As I did, my understanding was opened to how those two words were indeed the answer.

Each of these words have a magnitude of power resident within themselves, but together they are dynamite! I soon began to pray for truth and light in every area of my life and my world.

When light is allowed to shine upon something, the cover of darkness is removed. It is then and only then that truth can be revealed. And what’s so great about truth? Well—the truth will set us free! Truth that is known, understood and acted upon will set men free from the lies of the enemy of God who dwells in darkness and desires that all of us dwell in darkness with him.

I recently challenged each of us to pray for ourselves that God would open our eyes, ears, mind and spirit to whatever we need to know that we currently do not know.  Remember—we don’t know what we don’t know, and we can’t see what we can’t see. Let that soak in.

In Jeremiah 33:3 the Lord tells His people to “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”

Truth and light come to us when we seek to know what God is doing behind the scenes—that which is not in clear sight or hearing.  

Truth and light are our only hope if this nation is to survive the current crisis. If truth and light do not prevail, our American way of life will be lost. It will be unrecoverable when it is declared that America is no longer a capitalist nation with individual freedoms of speech, religion, the right to bear arms, and a two-party democracy. If that happens, and it is totally possible, it will be because we the people did not seek for truth and light.

Once again, I ask us all to pray that God will open our eyes, our ears, our minds and our spirits to whatever we need to know that we currently do not know. Christians around the world are praying with us and for us! Surely we can pray for ourselves.

The Word of God is always the basis for truth, and Jesus Himself is the light of the world. Simply ask yourself what does God’s Word say and what would Jesus do?

Dear Ones, if God’s people seek for truth and light—God will give it!

Anxiety & Depression, The Last Days

See yourself on the winning side

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I have come to realize by experience that if we don’t see ourselves on the winning side during these difficult days before Jesus comes for His church, we will be weak and fearful. Anxiety will overwhelm us. Doubt and insecurity will wreak havoc with our faith. In short—we will not be well. I suspect there are multiplied thousands, if not millions, of us who already fit this description.  

People all over the world have experienced the agonizing effects of COVID-19. In the United States, we are just beginning to see what damage the lockdowns alone have done—especially to the young and the old. My heart breaks as I think of the vulnerable children who are locked inside their homes with angry, depressed, and perhaps abusive parents or relatives. And my heart breaks equally as much for what has happened to the elderly.

Yesterday, I saw a Facebook post about the residents in a nursing home in Colorado who staged a protest to the lockdown. They were outside, lined up in wheelchairs and holding signs that said, “We’d rather die from COVID than to die from loneliness.” It is shameful what has happened to them.

Even before the onset of the pandemic, I had determined to prepare myself mentally, spiritually, and emotionally for the last days. You don’t have to look very hard to find a description of the last days in God’s Word (Matthew 24; Luke 21), and let’s face it—those days won’t be easy. I began asking God to lead me to books, people and programs on Christian Networks that would strengthen my faith.  

God has clearly answered that prayer. I have watched my faith grow and my confidence flourish. Powerful truths in God’s Word that I have known for 40 years began to come alive in my spirit once again. Apparently, I had stifled and stuffed down those truths because I was afraid if I voiced them or taught them, I wouldn’t be “politically or doctrinally correct.” I asked the Lord to forgive me, and today I no longer care whether or not I am considered correct by the world’s standards.  

Now before you criticize me, perhaps you have done the same thing. Haven’t we Christians toned down our beliefs on sin, so we won’t be out of touch with our culture? Aren’t we afraid to speak our true feelings about certain issues that cause division? Yep, it seemed best not to take a stand. And what we see today is a wanning church reaping the results of preaching a “weak gospel.”

Last week I spent two full days praying about one particular situation. During the early hours of the first day, I heard God speak to me: “Truth and Light. Pray for truth and light.” I began doing that very thing. Throughout the day, my eyes began to open to what a huge difference those two words could make in the situation for which I was praying. Next, I began applying those two words in other situations. It eventually became very clear: Truth and light could make a huge difference in every aspect of our lives—our nation, schools, churches, families, jobs, health, faith—in fact, our everything!

My friends, we desperately need TRUTH AND LIGHT in our world. There is distrust everywhere we turn. We clearly have a “trust” issue. COVID has taught us to not trust what our government is saying, what doctors are saying, and what scientists are saying. Politicians have deceived us. Our nation’s history is being torn down and destroyed before our eyes. Clearly, what is good is now called evil, and what is evil is now called good.

The Lord has spoken many encouraging things to me in the past few weeks. The words “truth and light” have exploded on the pages of my journals. God has shown me the “lies” that have been taught down through the ages deceiving millions of people, including God’s very own people. I will share these things with you in my future posts. But between then and now, I ask you to do three things:

1) Dare to believe that God is for you. He is not against you.

2) Begin to see yourself on the winning side during this unprecedented time in which we live. Jesus told us these days would come so we could be ready.

3) Pray that God will open your eyes, your ears, your mind and your spirit to whatever you need to know that you currently do not know.  

Pray this prayer for yourself: Dear God, in these strange and unsettling days, I desperately want to believe that you are for me and that I am on the winning side. I ask you to begin right now to open my eyes, ears, mind and spirit to whatever I need to know that I currently do not know. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” ~ John 8:32

Blessings to all ~ Janie

Coronavirus, The Last Days

In a World Gone Amuck!

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“This world has gone amuck,” was a phrase that came to mind as I prayed for my nation during my morning walk with God. Amuck means to behave in a wild, frenzied, uncontrolled, and unrestrained manner. In short, it means: berserk!

In case you haven’t noticed, we live in a world that has gone berserk!

There seems to be no rhyme nor reason for the destruction going on in many American cities. Policemen are shot point-blank while sitting in their cars, just because they are policemen. The word is called “lawlessness,” and we are clearly told that lawlessness is a sign of the end times.

I have recently ordered three books on the subject…and all three say the same thing. On Sunday I watched my favorite television preachers…and all three said the same thing. I communicated with several friends last week…and all three said the same thing. I told one of them that I’d see her in the rapture. Her response was: “Grab my hand on the way up!” I smile as I think of the nearness of that possibility.

Are we listening? Are you listening?

This is what I heard from writers, preachers, friends, and family members that I respect: We are living in the last of the last days when Jesus Christ will return to earth to gather His people. According to the signs that define this hour as clearly laid out in the Bible,1 it is this time. Everything is in place. Everything points to the next big event on the world stage to be the return of Jesus for His church. And this next big attraction is coming soon!

Remember when we were kids and we played hide and seek?  The person who was doing the seeking would hide their eyes, count to ten, and then holler out, “Ready or not, here I come!”

Could that be Jesus’ words to us—the residents of the world in 2020, during this strange season with everything about life turned upside down: “Ready or not, here I come!”

Oh, dear readers, please be sure you are ready for Christ’s return! If you think this world is gone amuck and berserk right now, it can’t compare to what it will be when the Holy Spirit of God, dwelling in the hearts of believers, is removed from this world. When believers leave here in the rapture of the church, the Holy Spirit goes with them.

A lawlessness will be unleased that the world has never known. What we see on our television screens today will seem like child’s play. Amuck and berserk will take on new meaning as the Anti-Christ is unleashed while no longer hindered by the church and the Holy Spirit. The Bible says in those days that men’s hearts will fail them because of fear.

If you have a cell phone, a television, a computer, or any other device with the ability to inform you what is going on in this current day, even now reading my blog, you can never say that you didn’t know what was happening. No excuse will hold up in God’s court that claims you couldn’t get prepared for the upcoming events because you didn’t know what was happening.

It is here! The Bible tells Christians that when you see these things happening, then look up for your redemption is near! What things? The things that are happening this very day: Lawlessness; deception; peace accords! It is near, my dear readers, it is here! (Luke 21:28)

If your heart feels disturbed because you are not sure if you are ready for this hour, then do something about it. Talk to God. It’s not too late! Ask Him to show you what you must do to be ready for His coming.

You have many options—call a Christian friend or co-worker; find a pastor; call a church; call a TV ministry helpline; call a Christian parent or grandparent; leave me a comment on my blog. God has many, many helpers waiting to help YOU find HIM!

All you have to do is reach for help, and God will meet you in this moment of need and insecurity. He longs for you to call out to Him. His desire that no one be lost is the very reason for the delay of Christ’s return.2

Apart from God there is NO peace in a world gone amuck! And this world has unquestionably gone amuck! ~ Janie

1Matthew 24:1-51; Luke 21:7-36; 1 Thessalonians 4:13 thru 5:11

22 Peter 3:9

 

Coronavirus, The Last Days

Another Spiritual Dream ~ What Does It Mean?

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I have never put much emphasis on spiritual dreams, mostly because I never had any—until a year ago when I dreamed about the rapture of the church.1  But a few months ago, I had yet another spiritual dream. I knew instantly it was from the Lord and had meaning I should not ignore. I’m sure some will think I’m weird or ate too much Tex-Mex for dinner. Still, I feel the message is too important not to share.

 

In this dream, I was in a familiar place with no cause for alarm. My twelve-year-old granddaughter was with me in what I believed to be a safe place. However, I began to notice a questionable force moving toward me; and within seconds I knew I was in trouble. As I tried to fight off the attacker, I discovered that I had little strength. I kept saying to myself, “Why don’t I have any power? Where has my strength gone?”

 

When I saw an opportunity to run outside the building, I did. I ran as hard as I could—again questioning why I had such little strength. I finally stopped to catch my breath, looked back, and saw that the pursuer was not following me. It was in that moment when a gut-wrenching realization came to me—I had left my granddaughter behind. She was now in the presence of the attacker and I was not there to help her. At that point, I woke up with my heart pounding inside my chest.

 

There was no small stir in me, and immediately I ask the Lord what the dream meant. God was faithful to reveal its meaning. I will attempt to relate that meaning to you by addressing the different components of the dream.

 

First, the familiar place in the dream is reflective of the modern-day church as a whole, not singling out any group, church or denomination. What I thought was a safe place was actually not safe; but because it was familiar to me, I was oblivious to the danger. This speaks of where the modern-day church is in relation to our nation’s declining culture. For any of us who have lived in the 21st Century, we should clearly know by now that some organizations and institutions we once thought safe for our children, are actually not safe at all.

 

We have been tolerant of accepting the ways of the world into our own church culture. In short, we have become worldly. We have been lulled by years of complacency and trusted ourselves to hierarchical systems that tell us what we should read and believe. We no longer know how to hear from God for ourselves. We rarely, if ever, hear sin preached against from modern-day pulpits—but rather how to have the happiest life possible while on our way to heaven.

 

Secondly, my granddaughter represents the next generations—our children and grandchildren. They are right there with us. They are watching us and trusting our judgment. They believe we are doing what is in their best interest. And why shouldn’t they? The teachings and programs of the church have worked for us, why wouldn’t it work for them? The next generation has no clue whether it is safe or not, and sadly, they have not been taught to seek God for themselves.

 

As Christians, we find ourselves in this vulnerable situation because we have been asleep. We refuse to hear any doctrine except our brand. We criticized the movement of God in any group other than our own, thereby offending the Holy Spirit. As a result, we have lost our strength, and we wonder where it has gone. The culture around us has declined to a dangerous point, and because we participate in group-think mentality—we are confident that our group is okay. Of course, we know what God wants, and of course, we have correct doctrine. We refuse to look outside our religious box to see where we are and what is happening around us.

 

As current events rock our world with a pandemic, a faltering economy, protests and lawlessness flowing into our homes through our television sets, we could think this is the end-time shaking the Bible speaks about. “This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.” (Hebrews 12:27, NLT) I suspect that “all” includes modern-day churches and modern-day denominations.

 

If we believe this describes the day in which we live, perhaps it is time to pray: “God, have I been asleep? What do You want to say to me and show me during this time? What about my life is out of sync with You and Your Word? Have I been guilty of group-think and not sought You and You alone? In these unusual and critical days, give me eyes to see and ears to hear. For the sake of my children—wake me up!”

 

Rest assured, those are words our Heavenly Father longs to hear from His complacent children. But don’t take my word for it. Ask Him for yourself. Lean in closely to hear His voice. Allow the Holy Spirit to rend your heart. At that point, a good old-fashioned time of repentance might be in order. You know, that word we have dismissed as non-essential for the church—R.E.P.E.N.T.

 

God’s message is clear. A good place to begin is 2 Chronicles 7:14. That four-step pathway to God is something we all can do: humble ourselves, pray, seek, and turn. And, if the leaders of your group/church/denomination tell you that you don’t have to repent of your sins or seek God for yourself, you should probably check things out. And if you decide to run, remember to take your children with you. ~ Janie Kellogg

1“What Has Happened to the Rapture of the Church” at www.TreasureinEarthenVessels.net.