GOD SAVED ME FOR HIS GOOD REASONS:
The Lord wants each of us to have Salvation.
###(See Links at End of This Posting for Parts One and Three.)
(The Translation Button is to the right...)
Ephesians: Just as he chose us beforehand in him [Jesus] from before the foundation of the universe, that we shall be holy and without spot before him, and he ordained us beforehand in love for himself. (Ephesians 1:4)
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
(Ephesians 2:1-10)
###(See Links at End of This Posting for Parts One and Three.)
(The Translation Button is to the right...)
Ephesians: Just as he chose us beforehand in him [Jesus] from before the foundation of the universe, that we shall be holy and without spot before him, and he ordained us beforehand in love for himself. (Ephesians 1:4)
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
(Ephesians 2:1-10)
The Lord Jesus chose to save me from being killed in an auto accident
12 years ago as of this past August, 2014 (08/07/2002), for which I am always thankful to Him! Why did He do that for me?
I am sure I do not know every reason, but there are reasons of which I am certain: He knew I had work to do in His Name.
Jesus said to them, “You don’t need to know the time of those events that only the Father controls. But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world.” After Jesus had said this and while they were watching, he was taken up into a cloud... (Acts 1:7-9...)
I have become more and more aware that I am here for a Reason:
Jesus Christ and the Truth of His Good News, the Gospel~~~
to tell of His Salvation and to help in any way that I can to show Christ's love to those around me.
Likewise, very importantly, I believe that God saved me from the catastrophic car accident because He knew that my family needed me very much, as we deeply loved each other and needed to be together. He knew that Royce and I, our two very loved children who were becoming young adults, and others we meet would grow closer to the Lord because of our experience with life and almost-death.
People around us would see how our Great God in His mercy, tenderness, and plans for our lives, Who brought us through exceedingly dark and difficult times. Royce said recently to me, "He made better people out of you and me," referring to what, overall, the car accident had done for the good in us, through our Lord. Even if I had died that particular day or in the process of healing and surgeries thereafter, our God Almighty still would have loved me and my family and taken care of them.
12 years ago as of this past August, 2014 (08/07/2002), for which I am always thankful to Him! Why did He do that for me?
I am sure I do not know every reason, but there are reasons of which I am certain: He knew I had work to do in His Name.
Jesus said to them, “You don’t need to know the time of those events that only the Father controls. But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world.” After Jesus had said this and while they were watching, he was taken up into a cloud... (Acts 1:7-9...)
I have become more and more aware that I am here for a Reason:
Jesus Christ and the Truth of His Good News, the Gospel~~~
to tell of His Salvation and to help in any way that I can to show Christ's love to those around me.
Likewise, very importantly, I believe that God saved me from the catastrophic car accident because He knew that my family needed me very much, as we deeply loved each other and needed to be together. He knew that Royce and I, our two very loved children who were becoming young adults, and others we meet would grow closer to the Lord because of our experience with life and almost-death.
People around us would see how our Great God in His mercy, tenderness, and plans for our lives, Who brought us through exceedingly dark and difficult times. Royce said recently to me, "He made better people out of you and me," referring to what, overall, the car accident had done for the good in us, through our Lord. Even if I had died that particular day or in the process of healing and surgeries thereafter, our God Almighty still would have loved me and my family and taken care of them.
What happens to a person when she or he has rejected Christ at one or more times in a lifetime, and, then, indeed, that person dies from an illness or accident? In that individual's case, was the person prepared, truly, to realize where he or she would be headed? Would the individual have yelled out to say, "Save me, Jesus!" that quick second before crashing? Do we usually have time to take account of our afterlife to make that blink-of-an-eye decision: do I want to be with Christ in Heaven forever,
or do I want to be separated from Him forever in Hell? as we are leaving planet earth in that millisecond of death? The question grows even stronger, then: What if you have not accepted Christ’s gift of salvation before you die?
I was fortunate that I did not need to worry, whatsoever, that I would go to Heaven if I had died at the car accident that day. I do not boast of myself, only of Jesus Christ, that He died for every person and gave us Salvation. He simply asks that we believe in Him, trust Him, and ask Jesus to walk with us now and forever. He will not presume or force anyone that he or she MUST accept God, for He has given us our free will. The Lord is loving, longsuffering ("patient endurance" from the Greek- Paul described the behavior of love: "Love suffers long and is kind . . . [It] does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil"
1 Corinthians:13:4-5). Also, see James 1:19, kind, compassionate, and merciful.
Some years earlier in my life when our children were younger, there was an extremely frightening episode in my life where I might have died but was spared by God's most excellent grace and protection. I arrived at the parking lot where I worked, mid-morning one day. Getting out of my car to go inside, as I hurriedly grabbed my purse and books- without looking around to check my surroundings, a man holding a very long-nosed silver gun was right there standing beside me. He appeared stressed, maybe even sweating and sickly, a very sad and confused man I am sure, in retrospect. I could not help but notice his glazed-over eyes. He must have been desperate for money to get another drug fix, and this stranger robbed me at gunpoint. I cannot capably express the terror I felt inside as I feared in a way that I never had before. I only had change in my wallet inside my purse, and the thought ran through my mind that he might shoot me for not having ample money- I had heard such stories. I immediately began praying in my mind to Jesus for help because I kept thinking- I do not want my children to grow up without a mother!! I gave the man what I had, and he went away. He did not touch me whatsoever. I tried to identify this person at the police department- I also prayed he would stop taking drugs/find the Lord/and not hurt anyone else. It is only through the Holy Spirit of God Who lives within my spirit that gave me the wherewithal to pray to Jesus while being accosted. When all is said and done, the man let me go! Praise our Lord Almighty!
Never have I stopped thanking Jesus for saving me that day...how can I truly express His gift of continuing life? He saved me to continue mothering our children, loving my husband, teaching children, and I hope, sharing the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ, the Good News and doing my best living each day with Him in mind and in action!!
I prayed for the man many times, who had stolen a bit of money from me because I knew he was in grave danger of his eternal life. I have no exact knowledge if this sad, sick man was saved or not. I truly hope so.
When a person has truly accepted Christ's gift of Salvation (that Jesus paid in FULL for each of us~~~ the heavy price of His own blood because He was the only Man Who is completely God and Holy), he or she is SAVED for eternity. Then, that individual keeps God and walks each day with Him.
No one else could save us; we cannot do it for ourselves.
Shouldn't we each have as PRIORITY, to stop and take at least a few moments to be sure that we have done this for ourselves for our eternity, forever?
Is there anything more important for each of us?
I cannot think of another fact that is more urgent and essential, can you?
Read the Bible and see the passages that say once you are truly saved, you are sealed with the Holy Spirit of God forever, AND there are also Scriptures about following Him daily and having Him as the Lord of your life...running to the mark at the end of one's life to Jesus Christ.
Can you say~~~
that you would know where you were going if you died tonight?
I so hope and pray that you are saying: I am thankful beyond words and absolutely assured that I will go to Heaven! Why? Because the Lord Jesus Christ came to earth with the sole purpose of telling that He is our Lord and Savior and to die for all of our sins, to arise, to been seen by more than 500 people who had first-hand testimony (and the continuing testimony of his disciples today) that He was with them in different times and places during that 40 days before many saw Him arise into the Heavens to sit at the right-hand of God, His Father.
My pastor Chris Winn had a sermon where he gave us this scenario to think about:
You are driving down the highway, and you notice that cars are pulled over to the side because there is something up ahead that looks wrong. You pull your car over, too, to stop, then you get out of your vehicle to walk up a bit to see what the matter is. A bridge has become impassable, broken, and if you had continued to drive the way you were, you would have run off the road and plunged to your sure death! If you knew this fact, would you not wave people down to tell them to STOP! before they killed themselves?
You are driving down the highway, and you notice that cars are pulled over to the side because there is something up ahead that looks wrong. You pull your car over, too, to stop, then you get out of your vehicle to walk up a bit to see what the matter is. A bridge has become impassable, broken, and if you had continued to drive the way you were, you would have run off the road and plunged to your sure death! If you knew this fact, would you not wave people down to tell them to STOP! before they killed themselves?
The point is this~~~we should be telling our loved ones; friends in church and out of church at school, work, and play; neighbors and strangers; people here, everywhere and all around the world:
STOP! Listen to the Truth that is the Bible, The Word of God~
Jesus, the Son of God, Who is the sure Way to Heaven!!
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God. (John 1:1) ***(See end of posting for more full verses of John.)
Jesus Christ is the Word of God!! And the Word became flesh.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27)
STOP! Listen to the Truth that is the Bible, The Word of God~
Jesus, the Son of God, Who is the sure Way to Heaven!!
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God. (John 1:1) ***(See end of posting for more full verses of John.)
Jesus Christ is the Word of God!! And the Word became flesh.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27)
Do you want to be with God, our Heavenly Father; Jesus, His Son; and the Holy Spirit, The Lord Who made you? God is Spirit, and He is also Three Persons in One God.
Jesus promised us and is making an incredible mansion, especially for you in Heaven where you will live even greater and beyond any Joy, Love, Friendship, and Fun that you have ever, ever experienced here on earth as it is now!!
He gives us glimpses here, certainly. It will most certainly NOT be boring whatsoever, and you will never again experience grief, sadness, pain, loss of a loved one or pet, growing old and getting sick, humiliation, suffering, competition that is stressful and bad, illnesses, death, terror or war. Please look for my new posting coming before Christmas, PART THREE: Heaven. I will put that link at the bottom of this posting when I share it. Here is the link to the first part of this little series,
WHAT I WOULD SAY TO MY BELOVED FAMILY Whose Salvation is Unsure: Have You Committed Your Life to Christ Jesus? PART ONE
http://www.thehealingisalwayschrist.com/2014/09/part-one-what-i-would-say-to-my-beloved.html
The Lord Jesus created you completely- you can take not one smidgen/iota/morsel of pride that you are Amanda and Steven, Lana and Bill, Laura, Chuck, Tim, Meghan, or James, Stefanie, Patty. God made Eric, Sarah, and Tyler and each of the precious ones who are, have been, or will be on the face of the earth. He keeps you alive with health, provision, safety, jobs, a home, clothes, medicines and helpers for your health. He gives us air to breathe. You can see and walk, talk, laugh and eat and run and sleep and be of sound mind because the Father in Heaven makes that possible for you.
Jesus promised us and is making an incredible mansion, especially for you in Heaven where you will live even greater and beyond any Joy, Love, Friendship, and Fun that you have ever, ever experienced here on earth as it is now!!
He gives us glimpses here, certainly. It will most certainly NOT be boring whatsoever, and you will never again experience grief, sadness, pain, loss of a loved one or pet, growing old and getting sick, humiliation, suffering, competition that is stressful and bad, illnesses, death, terror or war. Please look for my new posting coming before Christmas, PART THREE: Heaven. I will put that link at the bottom of this posting when I share it. Here is the link to the first part of this little series,
WHAT I WOULD SAY TO MY BELOVED FAMILY Whose Salvation is Unsure: Have You Committed Your Life to Christ Jesus? PART ONE
http://www.thehealingisalwayschrist.com/2014/09/part-one-what-i-would-say-to-my-beloved.html
The Lord Jesus created you completely- you can take not one smidgen/iota/morsel of pride that you are Amanda and Steven, Lana and Bill, Laura, Chuck, Tim, Meghan, or James, Stefanie, Patty. God made Eric, Sarah, and Tyler and each of the precious ones who are, have been, or will be on the face of the earth. He keeps you alive with health, provision, safety, jobs, a home, clothes, medicines and helpers for your health. He gives us air to breathe. You can see and walk, talk, laugh and eat and run and sleep and be of sound mind because the Father in Heaven makes that possible for you.
WE WANT OUR BELOVED TO BE SAVED~~~
GOD IS LOVE AND JESUS CHRIST IS
THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE!
THE LORD GOD IS HOLY, RIGHTEOUS AND JUST!
Why are You Waiting?
For What are You Waiting?
There is No Good Reason to Wait
Take That Step of Faith in Christ Now.
There will be a moment, only a quick and sure blinking-of-the-eye moment when those of us who are still alive here on earth will be caught up, the Rapture, to be taken up with Christ Who will be in the clouds. He will not come down at that time to touch earth again- yet. There will be a 7-year Tribulation when Satan through the Anti-christ will make life more unbearable than it ever has been. The Bible says that if it were to continue unimpeded by God, there would no one left alive. Then, when Jesus in His Second Coming to earth, those who are already saved will go with Him; those who are not saved as of yet or will be later born, will stay on earth, and they will still have time to accept or continue to reject Him through His 1,000-year reign with the believers and angels by His side. The final battle where Satan and his minions will be chained in Hell (yes, a real and actual place) in a pit of fire forever, no more to plague God’s people. God will create a New Heaven and New Earth where we, who are with the Lord, will live in a bliss and greatness that no eye has yet seen!!
God is longsuffering, as I said earlier, and filled with lovingkindness. His mercies are new each day, and He says 365 times in the Bible,“Do not fear, (for I am with you).” Jesus gives each one of us the seeds, the growing time, the the harvest to come to Him if we will but say “Yes!” to Him. There is a time when the time has simply run out. Do you want to have that last time pass you by, stepping on and over Jesus all those times when you could have opened the Door Who is Jesus Christ; do you want to pass all of that up, taking the chance that you will still have another time,
and then it be too late? I am terribly sad to write these things, but Heaven and Hell are very real. GOD is very REAL and alive, a Living Water Who yearns to have you with Him, forever and ever!
Come, taste and see that He is good!
and then it be too late? I am terribly sad to write these things, but Heaven and Hell are very real. GOD is very REAL and alive, a Living Water Who yearns to have you with Him, forever and ever!
Come, taste and see that He is good!
Here on earth as it is now, we are finite. We do die unless the Lord comes first. Then, we live forever either in Heaven with Him and our other loved ones who wanted God, or we live in Hell with devils- it makes me sick even to say that, let alone fully fathom it…for we cannot now fully understand, but you are hearing and reading the Truth. I most joyously declare that I will never be separated from God!! I will be there with Him and my other beloved who chose Jesus Christ forever and ever and ever!
I so hope and pray that you will be in the sheepfold
with the Lord-
on His right side.
with the Lord-
on His right side.
An Earnest Prayer to Accept Jesus Christ~~~
Dear God, Heavenly Father, I have made a mess of things when I insist on doing it my way and not surrendering to your love and Promise in Salvation to accept the complete Life that you gave me. I believe in You and do accept You, Jesus, into my heart now and for the rest of my days, into eternity in Heaven with You and other beloved ones. I do not understand everything, but I have faith and will trust You to guide and to protect me. Thank You, for your Son, Christ, Who makes this possible for me.
In Jesus' Name, Amen, so be it.
WE WANT OUR BELOVED TO BE SAVED~~~GOD IS LOVE AND JESUS CHRIST IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE
John, Romans, Ephesians***(See the link just below for some key Scripture verses from the Bible how Jesus Christ is the Truth from Lord God Almighty- the One Way to Him and to Heaven one day.)
John, Romans, Ephesians***(See the link just below for some key Scripture verses from the Bible how Jesus Christ is the Truth from Lord God Almighty- the One Way to Him and to Heaven one day.)
How deeply and profoundly I have become aware of the Lord’s saving grace throughout my life! It is through the Bible, through the church and His fellowship- the body of believers, the Church established upon Jesus Himself and through Peter-through faith- that I develop. He keeps shaping me until my last day on earth, then on to Heaven where I will daily be in His complete Love and Light for eternity~ still learning, growing, loving and BEING in His care for always.
Many beloved fellow believers/friends/and in church fellowship have spoken to me to build my faith, to grow it, and to care enough to speak to me lovingly and truthfully in counsel about how to have faith and to speak or not to speak to the glory of God for my loved ones' sakes.
Read here for many encouraging Scripture verses that you may pray for your children and family's sake: claim them in the magnificent all-encompassing power and love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ:
http://www.scripturepromises.com/promises/family.pdf
Read here for many encouraging Scripture verses that you may pray for your children and family's sake: claim them in the magnificent all-encompassing power and love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ:
http://www.scripturepromises.com/promises/family.pdf
***The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. (John 1:1-18)
***One
Greek word— humpomonee —is translated "patience" in almost
all Bible versions and implies patient endurance., jealous for our
love for Him (that is, He does not at all want us to have false gods or
faiths), and He is holy, righteous, and just.
Part One: What I Would Say to My Beloved is Whose Salvation is Unsure
Part Three: Heaven
Blessings be with you in your walk with Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, the Maker and Creator of Heaven and Earth and all that is under Earth, including all the expanses of the universe and time…every creature, most including God’s beloved people- you.
Part One: What I Would Say to My Beloved is Whose Salvation is Unsure
Part Three: Heaven
Blessings be with you in your walk with Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, the Maker and Creator of Heaven and Earth and all that is under Earth, including all the expanses of the universe and time…every creature, most including God’s beloved people- you.
Donna M.
Thank you, lostseed.com, for your gracious free Jesus pictures, the many I have used on this blog, including this one:
"Jesus Cares"
Thank you, lostseed.com, for your gracious free Jesus pictures, the many I have used on this blog, including this one:
"Jesus Cares"
