There IS a Natural Cure for Cancer!

     Back in March I wrote several posts about my sudden diagnosis of lung cancer. At that time I refused conventional cancer treatment and the already scheduled surgery which would have removed many of the lymph nodes in my chest and possibly as much as one lobe of my left lung. Instead, I opted for a natural cancer therapy called Gerson Therapy. I wrote another blog post in June titled "Fifteen Weeks on the Gerson Therapy," saying that I was feeling pretty well so far and that my blood work up to that point was looking good. Now, after six months on the therapy I am extremely happy to announce that a CT scan of my chest shows much improvement. All lymph nodes look normal. For those who like medical terms, there are "no pathologically enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes," and the "left hilar lymphadenop-athy seen previously has resolved." Also, the mass in my lower left lung has shrunk from 1.3 x 1.2 cm to 0.8 x 0.5 cm. That may not sound like much to some, but just the fact that the lymph nodes are no longer enlarged and the tumor is shrinking proves to me that the therapy is working. I am elated and praising the Lord!

     Some people have even mentioned the word "miracle" in light of this wonderful news. Now, don't get me wrong. I give God all the glory for the healing I am experiencing because without Him it would not have been possible; however, I also believe that the therapy itself is the nuts and bolts of my healing. It is what God is using to bring the healing about. I would not call this a miracle in the usual sense of the word. Let me explain.

     I believe there are actually many divine interventions involved here. First of all, it is a miracle to me that Dr. Max Gerson developed this therapy back in the 1930's through 1950's. Reading the story of how it came about was amazing to me. The second miracle I see is that God built the human body with such miraculous healing power within. The next miracle I experienced was the fact that my doctor ordered a CT scan of my abdomen for a totally unrelated problem, and that scan showed the mass in my lower left lung. I was having no symptoms of any lung problems. Then, a friend of mine suggested the Gerson Therapy to me. Thank you, Beth Kay, and thank you, Lord for letting me cross paths with Beth at just the right time! The last miracle I want to mention is that God gave me the faith and the strength of will to go against all of the conventional medical advice and do what I believed He was leading me to do, a natural therapy that would boost my own immune system that He had already built into my own body.

     Yes, the healing I am experiencing is a miracle, but not in the sense that most people think of as miraculous. God didn't just zap a supernatural healing on me, although He certainly could have if He chose to do it that way, but then, what would I have learned? What could I now share with all of you about how to be healthier and how to take care of this marvelous body that God has created for us? I would probably just get sick all over again because I would continue to eat the same foods that made me sick in the first place. The Gerson Therapy is tough, demanding, and monotonous, but I believe it is well worth the effort. I expect to be fully healed in the near future.

     The best blessing I have received through all of this is that God has drawn me closer to Him. He has shown me that He is my Shepherd, leading and guiding me every step of the way. He has confirmed to me, personally, that He will never leave me or forsake me. His love is sure, for God is love! He loves you, too, and wants you to be healthy in body, mind, soul and spirit. He alone can show you how to achieve that. Seek Him above all else!

     "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you." Matthew 6:33

Feast of Tabernacles

     The seventh feast of the Lord is the Feast of Tabernacles, also called Sukkot (Hebrew for booths) or Feast of Booths. It is celebrated five days after the Day of Atonement. Here is the biblical description of this feast: "On exactly the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the crops of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the Lord for seven days, with a rest on the first day and a rest on the eighth day. Now on the first day you shall take for yourselves the foliage of beautiful trees, palm branches and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days." Leviticus 23:39-40

     The Israelites were to take these branches and build temporary shelters or booths to use during the week of the feast. This feast is a beautiful reminder of the forty years that Israel spent "camping out" in the wilderness following the presence of the Lord, following the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. See Exodus 40:34-38. When they would set up camp the tabernacle where God's presence dwelt would be set up in the midst of the camp, thus God dwelt among His people.

     A tabernacle is a dwelling place, and right now, during this Church Age, God's tabernacle or dwelling place is in the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit dwells in each believer. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. This is the present fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles. Devout Jews still celebrate this feast today by building little shelters or booths outside their homes and worshipping in them during the week of the feast, and, of course, there is a huge celebration of this feast every year in Jerusalem.

     One future fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles will be when Jesus returns at the end of the Great Tribulation, and sets up His kingdom in Jerusalem where He will reign for 1,000 years, but the ultimate fulfillment will come at the end of the 1,000 years when there will be a new heaven and a new earth, and Jesus will tabernacle with men forever. "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them.'" Revelation 21:1-3

     So, with this ultimate fulfillment of the seventh feast of the Lord, all of prophecy will have finally been fulfilled. Oh, what a glorious day that will be! "...but just as it is written, 'Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.'"             I Corinthians 2:9



    

    

Yom Kippur - the Sixth Feast

     Okay, we're still here! The Rapture did not happen on September 5th, the Feast of Trumpets, but I still will be expecting it to happen every time the Feast of Trumpets rolls around.

     So, now we come to the sixth feast, Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement.
     "On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the Lord." Leviticus 23:27

      I should explain that the word translated "feast," does not necessarily always indicate chowing down on a bunch of food. The Strong's Concordance tells us that the Hebrew word "chag" means a festival gathering, feast, pilgrim feast, or festival sacrifice. The Day of Atonement is actually a very solemn day of prayer, fasting, confession, affliction of soul, and sacrifice for the sins of the people of Israel, individual as well as national. Before the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, this was the one day of the year when the High Priest actually went into the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the sins of the people. Today the sacrifices are impossible due to the lack of a temple. They are also no longer necessary as Jesus has already made the ultimate sacrifice for sin, but most Jews do not realize or accept this. That is the reason they must rebuild their temple, but that is another topic for another day.

     It was very important that the Israelites follow God's instructions for this feast. There were severe consequences for anyone who did not. "Neither shall you do any work on this same day, for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement on your behalf before the Lord your God. If there is any person who will not humble himself on this same day, he shall be cut off from his people. As for any person who does any work on this same day, that person I will destroy from among his people." Leviticus 23:28-30

     The fulfillment of this feast will not have anything to do with the church, since we are looking to Jesus as the atonement for our sins. The fulfillment will come at the end of the Tribulation Period when Christ returns to Earth to save Israel. Zechariah prophesies of this momentous occasion. "And it will come about in that day that I will set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him, like the bitter weeping over a first-born. In that day there will be great mourning in Jerusalem..." Zechariah 12:10-11

     The affliction of souls on the Day of Atonement is a foreshadowing of the mourning that will occur when Jesus returns to save the Jewish people who have survived the Great Tribulation, and they realize that Jesus truly is their Messiah. I believe this will happen on the actual Day of Atonement, just as the first four feasts have already been fulfilled on the actual days of those feasts.

Will the Rapture Fulfill the Feast of Trumpets?

     We have already seen that Jesus' first coming fulfilled the first four feasts of God exactly on the days when those feasts were being celebrated. What a miracle and certainly a sign from God that we should expect the last three feasts to be fulfilled in a similar fashion.

     The next feast that we should expect to be fulfilled is the Feast of Trumpets, which is always celebrated in the fall on the seventh new moon of the Hebrew calendar. "Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'In the seventh month on the first of the month, you shall have a rest, a reminder by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.'" Leviticus 23:24  The period of time between the Feast of Pentecost and the Feast of Trumpets appears to represent the Church Age, the time between the coming of the Holy Spirit and the Rapture of the Church. When God determines that it is time to call the Bride of Christ to her wedding feast with Jesus, her Bridegroom, the trumpet will sound, and the Church will leave this Earth to attend the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Revelation 19:9

     Why do I believe that the Feast of Trumpets predicts the Rapture of the Church? There are two New Testament passages of scripture that speak very plainly of the Rapture, and they both refer to the blowing of trumpets!

     "Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed." I Corinthians 15:51-52

     "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord." I Thessalonians 4:16-17

Many believe that the story of the conquest of Jericho in the Old Testament is also a picture of the Rapture. A key part of that story was the blowing of trumpets.

     Whenever the time of year comes around for the Feast of Trumpets, I always wonder if this will be the year of the Rapture. I'm not date setting, and, of course, we should all be ready to meet the Lord at any moment because we never know when our last breath will be, but I do believe that when the Rapture occurs it will be on the Feast of Trumpets. What year it will be, I can't say, but the signs of Jesus' soon return are all around us.

     The Feast of Trumpets for 2013 is on September 5th. I just thought you might want to mark your calendar. :)

     "Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. I John 3:2-3

 "But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Luke 21:28

The Coming of the Holy Spirit Fulfilled the Feast of Pentecost

     The fourth of the seven feasts of Israel, the Feast of Pentecost, occurs exactly fifty days after the Feast of First Fruits. See Leviticus 23:15-21 It is also called the Feast of Harvest and the Feast of Weeks. It is a celebration of the second harvest of the year, the summer wheat harvest, and also traditionally a celebration of the receiving of God's Law at Mt. Sinai.

      The Feast of Pentecost was first celebrated in the year that Israel reaped their first wheat harvest in the Promised Land, approximately 1,500 years before the time of Christ. Just as the first three feasts foreshadowed what was to come, so the Feast of Pentecost foreshadowed something that God had in store for His people.
    
     Coincidentally, it was on the very day of the Feast of Pentecost in Jerusalem, fifty days after Jesus' resurrection, that the Holy Spirit was poured out on the new believers in Christ, or was it just a coincidence? Was the pouring out of the Holy Spirit the prophetic fulfillment of another feast of Israel?

     In what way does the Holy Spirit's arrival fulfill the Feast of Pentecost? First of all, Pentecost was a harvest feast, and when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Day of Pentecost, after Peter preached the gospel, there was a harvest of 3,000 precious souls. (Acts 2:41) It is also interesting to note that 3,000 souls died when Moses came down the mountain with the Law only to find that the children of Israel were partying with the Golden Calf. (Exodus 32:28)  As Paul explains in II Corinthians 3:6, "....for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." but that is a topic for another day.

      There is another way in which the Feast of Pentecost is fulfilled by the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Jewish tradition is to celebrate the receiving of the Law on the Feast of Pentecost. Why, you might ask, would someone want to celebrate receiving God's Law? It is because with God's Law, the people of Israel would be able to know what God expected of them. They would be able to walk in a way that pleased God because He made it very clear to them what they were to do and not do. God would use the Law to teach the people about Himself and help them to draw near to Him.

     With the coming of the Holy Spirit there was a new way for man to walk in communion with God. Since the coming of the Holy Spirit, believers no longer walk according to the letter of the Law written on tablets of stone. We now walk by the Spirit, and the Law of God is written on our hearts.

     "But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the Lord, "I will put My law within them, and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." Jeremiah 31:33

     Before He left, Jesus told His disciples, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you." John 14:26

     And so, all of the spring feasts have been fulfilled in a miraculous way, exactly on time. There are three more feasts that have yet to be fulfilled, and those are the three autumn feasts: Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Feast of Tabernacles. These feasts just might be able to give us a glimpse into the future.....
    

Jesus Fulfilled the Feast of First Fruits

     The third feast of Israel, the Feast of First Fruits, always occurs on the Sunday following the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the sons of Israel, and say to them, 'When you enter the land which I am going to give to you and reap its harvest, then you shall bring in the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest. And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord for you to be accepted; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.'" Leviticus 23:9-11

     This feast was a way for the Israelites to acknowledge God's provision for them in the land of Israel. It was on the Sunday after Jesus' crucifixion, while the Jews were celebrating this very feast, that Jesus was raised from the dead. This was no coincidence but according to God's preordained plan that Jesus was raised on this particular day. Jesus was fulfilling this feast just as He had already fulfilled the two previous feasts on the exact days that the feasts were being celebrated. Jesus had become the First Fruits of the Resurrection!

     "But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive, but each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming."  I Corinthians 15:20-23

     And so, Jesus became the fulfillment of the Feast of First Fruits on the very day that the feast was being celebrated. A first implies that there will be more, and truly one day all believers will also be resurrected to live for eternity with Christ.

     "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words."          I Thessalonians 4:16-18

     Now that we have seen that Jesus fulfilled all three of the first feasts of Israel with perfect timing, what about the fourth feast? Was it fulfilled with the same precision?

    

Jesus Fulfilled the Feast of Unleavened Bread

     "Then on the fifteenth day of the same month, there is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread." Leviticus 23:6

     The second feast of Israel begins on the next night after Passover. For seven days the Israelites are required to eat only unleavened bread. So, how did Jesus fulfill this feast? First of all, Jesus was born in Bethlehem which means house of bread in Hebrew. Secondly, Jesus taught that He was the Bread of Life.

     "I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread also which I shall give for the life of the world is My flesh." John 6:48-51

     Leaven is a symbol of sin and evil, which is why the bread in the Passover meal and the Feast of Unleavened Bread is unleavened. This bread is symbolic of Jesus, who was God in the flesh, the perfect man who was totally without sin, totally unleavened. During the Last Supper with His disciples, Jesus took the bread, broke it, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." Eating unleavened bread for seven days is symbolic of a pure and holy walk with the Lord.

     There are two interesting facts about the bread used in the modern day celebrations of the feasts of Unleavened Bread and Passover. The Jewish matzoh bread is not only unleavened, but it is also striped and pierced, even as the body of Jesus was. Also, during the Feast of Passover, a piece of this bread is broken, buried, and then resurrected, even as the body of Christ was. It is so sad that most Jews do not even understand the symbolism they are performing when they do this.

     Jesus was buried at sundown of Passover Day, at the beginning of the fifteenth day of Nisan, the First day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. He had exactly fulfilled the first two of the Jewish feasts which God had instituted to foreshadow what Christ would one day accomplish. Would He also fulfill the third feast in the same miraculous way?

Jesus, Our Passover Lamb

          The first of the seven feasts that God commanded the Israelites to observe is the Feast of Passover, which commemorates the last night that Israel spent in Egypt before their exodus. During that last night the Lord brought the tenth and final plague to bear on the Egyptians, killing all the first-born of Egypt, of man and beast. The Israelites were saved from the plague by putting the blood of a lamb on the doorway of their house, according to the Lords' instructions. "And the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt." Exodus 12:13 

     God's instructions regarding the first Passover were explicit. Each family was to take a lamb into their house on the 10th day of Nisan. The lamb was to be an unblemished male a year old. On the 14th day of Nisan, they were to kill the lambs at twilight and apply the blood to the doorposts and lintel of their house. Then they were to roast the lamb and eat it, all of it, without breaking any of its bones. Any leftovers were to be burned. They were even told in Exodus 12:11 exactly in what manner they were to eat it: with loins girded, sandals on their feet, staff in their hand, and in haste.

     In fulfillment of this feast, Jesus, our Passover Lamb, was crucified at the time that the Jews were observing the  annual Passover Feast. His blood paid the penalty for our sins so that if we apply His blood to ourselves by faith, we are given eternal life with Him, and the death angel passes over us. In fulfillment of the prophecy in Psalm 34:20 and the instructions for the Passover lambs eaten each year in the feast, none of Jesus' bones were broken when he hung on the cross, even though the soldiers broke the legs of the two men who were crucified with him.  John 19:32-33

     It is interesting to note that Jesus fulfilled what the Passover Feast was foreshadowing on the very day that Israel was celebrating the feast, but most of the Israelites were oblivious to the connection. Unfortunately, most of the Jews today are still unaware that Jesus, their true Passover Lamb has already come. John the Baptist tried to announce this fact to Israel 2,000 years ago when he said of Jesus, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29 Jesus sets us free from the slavery to sin and the world, even as Israel was set free from slavery in Egypt so many years ago. Praise God for his wonderful gift, the gift of His precious son, Jesus.

     "And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.'" Matthew 26:27-28

    

The Prophetic Seven Feasts of Israel

     "...I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things which have not been done..." Isaiah 46:9-10

     The bible is the most amazing book I have every read, and the more I read it, the more convinced I am of its divine inspiration. In its pages God reveals who He is, who man is, and how God and man have interacted since man's creation. He also reveals what His eternal plan is for mankind.

     One of the most amazing things about the bible is that approximately one third of it is prophetic, foretelling future events. Many of these prophecies have already been fulfilled and those events are now in the history books, but many have yet to be fulfilled. There is no other book in the world that has foretold the future with such detailed accuracy. In fact, I don't know of any other book that has foretold the future at all.

     One of the most interesting bible studies I have done is regarding the seven feasts of Israel. In Leviticus 23, approximately 3,500 years ago, God instituted seven annual feasts that the Israelites were supposed to observe perpetually. These feasts are a prophetic picture of events beginning with the crucifixion of Christ and ending with Christ's return to Earth to rule and reign here. Four of these feasts have already been fulfilled with amazing accuracy. Three of them have yet to be fulfilled.

     Four of the feasts are celebrated in the Spring, and three of them in the Fall. The Spring feasts were fulfilled when Jesus came to Earth the first time. The Autumn feasts will be fulfilled in the second coming of Christ. Each of these feasts contains rich symbolism that teaches us something about Christ. I will attempt to give you a brief overview of each of them, describing the symbolism in each of them, and how they either were fulfilled or will be fulfilled in the future. Hopefully, after reading my posts you will be interested enough to do your own study. Zola Levitt wrote a small booklet titled "The Seven Feasts of Israel" that is very helpful in understanding this topic.

The Ecumenical Movement - Unity or Truth?

     In my previous post, I talked about the fact that Jesus brings division because He is the truth, and the truth divides. There is a big push in the world today and in the church for unity, because people believe that unity will bring peace, and most people want peace, but this brings us to an important question: Can we have unity without compromising the truth?

     The ecumenical movement today is trying to bring all religions together in unity. This movement sounds like a great idea except for two big problems. The first problem is that in order to come together, each religion must compromise its beliefs. If you believe, as I do, that there is only one way to God, and that is through belief in Jesus, then any compromise of that belief jeopardizes ones eternal soul. The scriptures warn Christians not to be yoked with unbelievers because it leads to compromise and apostasy. II Cor. 6:14-18

     The second problem with ecumenism is that this one world religion of peace and unity that people envision will prepare the way for the antichrist, the one who will pretend to be the true Christ. In Revelation, chapter 13, we read that ultimately all will have to worship him or be killed. The ecumenical movement is laying a foundation for that ultimate one world religion. Many will be deceived and sucked into it willingly because it will look so good and sound so right. II Thess 2:1-12  Remember that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. II Cor. 11:14  The antichrist will appear to be the ultimate humanitarian. He will promise peace and safety for all, but the scriptures warn, "While they are saying, 'Peace and safety!' then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." I Thess. 5:3

      We can't have it both ways. We can't expect unity with the world or those outside the Christian faith if we are going to uphold the truth. The only unity Christians can have on this earth is with other true believers in Jesus Christ who are walking in the truth by the power of the Holy Spirit of God.

     Jesus tells His disciples, "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." John 15:18-19

Truth, Peace and Division

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me." John 14:6

     Jesus claimed to be the truth, and truth divides because some believe it and some do not, so does Jesus, by His very nature, cause division? Did Jesus, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) come to bring peace on the earth? Division certainly does not bring peace, and in His own words Jesus denies that He came to bring peace, and admits He will cause division. "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword, for I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man's enemies will be the members of his household." Matthew 10:34-36 How can these things be?

     In John, chapter 10 Jesus speaks what we call the "Parable of the Good Shepherd." He is contrasting Himself with Satan, the thief who comes only to steal, kill and destroy. When He finishes speaking, verse 19 says, "There arose a division again among the Jews because of these words. And many of them were saying, 'He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to  Him?' Others were saying, 'These are not the sayings of one demon-possessed. A demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can he?'" Jesus' words caused division on many occasions, as they still do today. "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

     Did Jesus, the Prince of Peace, come to bring peace on the earth? Ultimately, the answer is yes, and for those of us who have chosen to follow Jesus, we have peace with God already, and that is the most important kind of peace to have. "And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:7 But at the present time, Satan is still the god of this world; therefore, we do not have peace on earth. There is a battle raging. The truth exposes the lie. The light repels the darkness. One day, the Light will overcome, and Jesus, our King, will rule. Then, there will truly be peace on earth, but for now, the truth divides, and we must make a choice. Which side will we choose? Light or darkness? The truth or the lie? Can you hear the voice of the Good Shepherd calling?

     Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." John 10:27

Spiritual Pride in Giving

"Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. When therefore you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will repay you."  Matthew 6:1-4

     Beside the fact that tithing is not commanded in the New Testament, there is another reason why it should not be taught, and that reason is spiritual pride. Like the Pharisee in the story of Luke 18:12, too many tithers fall into the trap of self-righteousness and spiritual pride.

     In Matthew 6:1 Jesus tells us to beware of practicing our righteousness before men to be noticed by them; yet, I have heard numerous church leaders announce that not only do they pay tithes, but they "tithe on the gross," meaning that they calculate the ten percent on the amount of their paycheck before taxes are deducted. Usually, these people are not the ones who are struggling financially, and usually their reason for tithing on the gross is the old adage, "better safe than sorry," implying that God is going to punish them somehow if they don't tithe on every penny, just like the Pharisees tithed on every mint leaf (Luke 11:42). These kinds of comments, especially when made by leaders in the church, can really put the fear in believers who are not tithing. Is that really what God wants? Is that the kind of relationship He wants to have with His children?

     Jesus said don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, but that your giving should be in secret. Should any one else know what you give? Should the pastor know what everyone in the church gives? Wouldn't that tend to make him think twice about offending certain people in his messages? There is really no reason for anyone else to know what you give. Just give what the Holy Spirit tells you to give to whomever He tells you to give it, and don't let someone else steal your joy of giving because according to them you don't give enough. That is between you and God alone. No one else has a right to know what you give or tell you what to give.

     "Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver." II Cor. 9:7

Tithing in the New Testament?

     Does the New Testament teach that believers are still under the law of tithing? There are only seven places in the New Testament where the word tithe is used.  Let's look at each one of them and see what they mean for us today. 
 
     First of all, the references to tithing in Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42 are both referring to the same instance in which Jesus rebukes the Pharisees because they tithe down to the last penny, and yet, their hearts are not right.  Some use these two scriptures to justify tithing today because Jesus told the Pharisees "these are the things you should have done (tithe) without neglecting the others." What these people seem to forget is that Jesus was speaking to Jews who were still under the Law because Christ had not yet gone to the cross. The New Covenant was not yet in effect; therefore, to apply Jesus' rebuke to Christians today is erroneous.        

          Another reference to tithing in the New Testament is in Luke 18:12 where Jesus is telling a parable about a Pharisee who is boasting before God that he paid tithes of all that he got.  God was obviously not impressed because Jesus tells us that the other man in the story, a repentant tax-gatherer, went away justified rather than the proud Pharisee.  Again, this story does not justify tithing for today. The people in this story were still under the Old Covenant.

          The only other references to tithing in the New Testament are all in the book of Hebrews, chapter seven, where the priesthood of Christ is compared to that of Melchizedek.  The writer of Hebrews is not trying to say anything about tithing in the New Testament church.  He is merely trying to make a point about the superiority of the priesthood of Christ to that of Melchizedek by pointing out that even Levi paid tithes to Melchizedek while he was in the loins of Abraham. Please keep in mind that the tithing mentioned here all took place under the Old Covenant.  This passage is certainly no justification for carrying the law of tithing forward to the New Covenant.

        If the Apostle Paul believed that the new gentile converts were subject to the old Jewish laws of tithing he would certainly have made that clear to us in at least one of his letters to the churches.  As it is, even when discussing the subject of giving he made no such assertion. In fact, in the book of Acts we have a ruling from the council at Jerusalem regarding what was to be required of the gentile converts to Christianity.  In a letter to the churches from the apostles and elders in Jerusalem, it says in Acts 15:28-29, "For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well."  Please read the whole chapter to get a clear picture of what was going on here. If tithing were as important an issue as some try to make it seem today, surely it would have been mentioned here.

     These are the only scriptures in the New Testament that speak of tithing. None of them state that Christians today are under the law of tithing. Of course, Christians should give, and should desire to give generously, but not because someone says that they have to. There is much joy in giving, but Satan loves to steal our joy by putting us under the Law.

     "Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver."  II Cor. 9:7

     It is difficult to give cheerfully when someone tells you it is mandatory.

Cursed for Not Tithing?

     Am I cursed if I don't tithe, based on Malachi 3:8-9?  Is that really what the scriptures teach? I have certainly heard that very thing from lots of pulpits, or heard it implied. I have a problem with this.
    
     Since I am not under the Old Covenant, I am also not under the Law. Galatians 3:24-25 states, "Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor." I am not an Israelite, I am not under the Law, and there is no longer a Levitical priesthood, a physical temple, or a storehouse, so why would I be cursed for not tithing?

     Since I am not under the Law, I am also not under the curse of the Law. Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the Law when He hung on the cross. Galatians 3:13-14 states, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us-- for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree'-- in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."

     Ironically, quite the opposite of what I have been told is true. If I choose to, I can put myself back under the curse of the Law by trying to be justified with God by keeping the Law. "For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, to perform them.' Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, 'The righteous man shall live by faith.' However, the Law is not of faith..." Galatians 3:10-12

     Does this mean I am free to just do whatever I want to?  Paul answers this question in Galatians 5:13-14. "For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"

     "If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law." Galatians 5:18

    

Tithing, an Old Covenant Command

     "Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, 'How have we robbed Thee?' In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you!" Malachi 3:8-9

     Have you ever had someone tell you that you are cursed if you don't tithe based on the Old Testament scripture I have just quoted?  This scripture is used a lot to scare people into giving ten percent of their income. There are numerous problems with doing this which I will try to address in the next few posts.

     The first problem with using this scripture to justify a tithing message is that this is an Old Testament scripture referring to the curse of the law for the nation of Israel if they failed to be obedient to God. The blessings and curses of the Old Covenant that God made with Israel are enumerated in Leviticus, chapter 26. Leviticus 26:46 states, "These are the statutes and ordinances and laws which the Lord established between Himself and the sons of Israel through Moses at Mt. Sinai." Notice that this was an agreement between God and the nation of Israel. It had nothing whatsoever to do with anyone else.

     When Jesus instituted the New Covenant in His blood by dying on the cross, the Old Covenant became obsolete. See Hebrews, chapter 8, especially verse 13.  If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you are not under the Old Covenant, but the New. If you still think you are under the Old Covenant, then a study of the Book of Galatians should be very enlightening and liberating!

     Please keep in mind that I am not telling anyone not to tithe! You are free to give as much as you want to whomever you want. Give 20 percent, give 50 percent, give it all! Listen to the Holy Spirit and do whatever you believe He is leading you to do. Give it to whomever He tells you to give it. My disagreement is with the twisting and manipulating of scriptures to pressure other people to give under compulsion, contrary to the New Testament model for giving which is in II Cor. 9:7. "Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver."

     "...who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."  II Cor. 3:6

     "Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."  II Cor. 3:17

     "and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32



    

Did Jesus Tithe?

     The statute or ordinance of tithing for the Israelites was established in Numbers, chapter 18. Here, God set apart Aaron and his sons as priests and the rest of the tribe of Levi to serve the needs of the priests and the tabernacle. Because of their special consecration to the Lord, the Levites were not allowed to own or inherit any land; therefore, they were given the tithe of the land of Israel from the other eleven tribes for their support.

     "And to the sons of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform the service of the tent of meeting." Numbers 18:21

     The tithes consisted of oil, wine, grain, and animals, the produce of the land. (Numbers 18:12, 15) Never in scripture will you see anything else being tithed besides the produce of the land. The tithe was never of wages or money. It was always only the fruit of the land; therefore, the only Israelites who tithed were the farmers and herdsmen. The people who did not own land and did not farm or raise animals were not expected to tithe.

     "Thus all the tithe of the land, of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's; it is holy to the Lord." Leviticus 27:30

     Did Jesus tithe? No, since Jesus was a carpenter and not a farmer He did not tithe.

Did Abraham "Tithe?"

     One of the scriptures that is used to promote the present day practice of tithing is Genesis 14:18-20 where Abraham gave a tenth to Melchizedek. People who teach that tithing is still required today like to use this scripture to try to prove their point because it seems to counter the Christians who have realized that New Testament believers are not under the Mosaic law of tithing. Truly, certain Israelites were commanded in the Mosaic Law to tithe the produce of the land for the support of the Levites who were given no land, but Abraham tithed before Moses even came on the scene, so, they say we are obligated to tithe just like Abraham did because Abraham tithed "before the Law."

     So, let us look at what actually happened with Abraham and Melchizedek. The story in Genesis 14 tells us that Abraham's nephew Lot and his family had been kidnapped by some kings after a battle in which Sodom, where Lot was living, was defeated. Abraham, being the good uncle that he was, went after them and rescued Lot and his family. He also took back all the things that these kings had stolen from Sodom. After the battle was over Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils of the war to Melchizedek. Then, he gave the rest of the stuff back to the king of Sodom. 

     Now, for the purposes of our discussion here, there is a very important question we must ask ourselves. Did Abraham tithe in the same sense of the word "tithe" as we use it today? Obviously, he did not. He gave a tenth to Melchizedek (who this man really was is still in question) one time, and what he gave a tenth of was not even his own stuff! It was the spoils of war. Then, after he gave a tenth of it to Melchizedek, he gave the rest of it back to the king of Sodom. He did not keep ANY OF IT for himself! There is no evidence that Abraham ever gave anyone a tenth of anything ever again. Is this a proper pattern for New Testament giving? I don't think so. If you think it is, be sure the next time you win a battle that you give all the spoils of the war away.

     "Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." II Cor. 9:7

What is a Tithe?

"Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."  II Cor. 9:7

     Technically, a tithe means a tenth, and most of us who have been to church know that when you hear the word "tithe" that means that you are expected to give ten percent of your income that week to the offering plate, and offerings on top of that.

     There was a time, a short period of time, when I believed what I was told, that God expected me to give that ten percent, and I would be "cursed with a curse" (Malachi 3:9) if I didn't give it. God expected it, and that was all there was to it. I had no choice in the matter, no free will about it. The only choice I had was choosing which "church" to give it to, but, of course, I was told that should be the one I was attending at the time.

     When my husband was saved, twenty-five years ago, we began to study the scriptures together. Now, he is very good at asking questions, so he began to ask about this practice of tithing. Where was the command to do this in the scriptures? I was sure I knew the answer to that question, so I began to show him all the scriptures I had been taught about tithing, but as we really began to study these scriptures we realized that all was not as we had been taught.

     In my next few posts I would like to address some of the scriptures that we typically hear being used regarding tithing. It is important for us to understand what the scriptures have to say on this subject. Be a Berean! Acts 17:11 "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32

Fifteen Weeks on the Gerson Therapy

     Hello again! It's been over a month since my last post. I have been very busy doing my therapy. It is extremely time consuming, and I can understand why people would not want to do it, but I can testify that for me it has been totally worthwhile. So far, I have avoided having a costly, risky, painful surgery, possibly losing half a lung, then probably having chemo and/or radiation, and we all know what kind of side effects those can cause, and I would still have no guarantee of a cure.
    
     I am still convinced, at this point, that God has led me to do this therapy. I am feeling more healthy all the time. I am working 20 hours a week right now, and my energy level is good. I am not feeling toxic like I did at the beginning, which is a sign that the cancer is on the run. I really have no symptoms of lung cancer, no cough or shortness of breath. It has been six months since I had that first CT scan that told me I had a problem. If the cancer was spreading I would surely be feeling worse by now. At this point, I am guardedly optimistic.

     The blood work I had done after four weeks on the therapy showed my white blood cell count to be a little low, but after ten weeks of the therapy it was in the normal range, although at the low end of it. I will have more blood work done sometime in July, and I expect the results to be even better.

     I am so thankful to God for leading me in this direction. I would recommend the Gerson Therapy to anyone who has any kind of degenerative disease, not just cancer, as it works by boosting the immune system. It is known to cure many other diseases besides cancer. We don't give our own immune system enough credit or support. God made a body that can heal itself if given the right raw materials and care. I am disappointed in the medical establishment that they have neglected to investigate this alternative. I don't think most doctors are even aware of this possibility.  

     On the  spiritual side of things, there are two scriptures that have been especially dear to me in the last few weeks, Psalm 23 and Psalm 91. I take them personally! God is so good!!

     In closing, if you want more info on the Gerson Therapy, watch these videos on Netflix, or they may be available on YouTube:
                                                        The Gerson Miracle
                                                         The Beautiful Truth
                                                          Dying to Have Known
                                                          Food Matters

Can We Be Sure of Our Salvation?

     The same preacher who said regarding salvation, "You didn't do anything to get it, so you can't do anything to lose it." also said "You are safe. Don't let there be any doubt in your mind."

 

     It is dangerous to try to assure someone of their salvation when they are not sure of it themselves. Perhaps we should remind them of the true gospel message in case they are confused about it. They need to know that salvation comes not by their own works, for self-righteousness is like filthy rags before God (Isaiah 64:6) but by our faith or belief in Jesus; however, once the true basis for salvation is made clear to someone, and they have decided to follow Jesus as their Savior, then begins the process and the journey of their making sure of their salvation. Paul admonishes us to examine ourselves to see whether we are in the faith. (II Cor. 13:5) This is a necessary process, and we should not be discouraged from doing this very healthy self-examination. By it, we adjust our lives constantly to conform them to the image of Christ. (Romans 12:2) Certainly, we should not live our lives in constant fear of losing our salvation, for in order for that to happen, we would have to forsake Christ, but we should always be encouraged to move closer to our Lord in thought, word and deed, rather than be given the license to do as we please, with no possibility of ever losing our salvation no matter what we do. Unfortunately, this is the extreme to which some have carried the doctrine of OSAS.

          If someone is unsure about their relationship with God, is it really up to me to assure them? Do I have that right? Do I know their heart? Why are they unsure? Have they moved away from Christ? Once someone begins to slip away from the Lord, it is not an easy path for them to make their way back. All the more reason to encourage believers to stay close to Him for Paul told Timothy, “Some have already turned aside to follow Satan.” (I Timothy 5:15)  People need to hear the warnings that are in the scriptures. Isn’t it much better to err on the side of caution and warning rather than to err on the side of license and assurance? Wouldn’t you rather make someone uncomfortable here in this life by challenging them to make sure of their salvation if it meant that he or she would be forever in heaven with the Lord rather than to give someone comfort and peace of mind falsely here on earth only to see them in torment for eternity? These are the stakes, and they are high, higher than any other issues we face in this life.

          Yes, we can have an assurance of our salvation. Romans 8:12-17 tells us, “So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh- for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.” In Galatians 4:6-7 we also read, “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.” Does your heart cry out to God as your heavenly Father? Yes, God has provided a way for us to know that we are His, that we belong to Him, and that nothing can separate us from His love. (Romans 8:35) The witness of His Spirit in our own spirit and heart assures us that we belong to Him.

          So, it is not necessary for anyone else to assure you that you are on the road of salvation. Only the Holy Spirit of God can truly give you that assurance, and when you live your life for Him, as He asked you to do when he said, “Take up your cross and follow Me,” then no one will be able to keep you from having the assurance that you desire. The fellowship that you have with Him will speak louder than any other voice. Don’t look to man to tell you that you have a home in heaven. Go to God, and seek His face with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength, and He promises that when you seek Him, you will find Him.

          “And if you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each man’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay upon earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” I Peter 1:17-19

You Must Believe

     "and after he brought them out, he said, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' And they said, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household.'" Acts 16:30-31

      I once heard a very popular preacher say regarding salvation, "You didn't do anything to get it, so you can't do anything to lose it." This is the extent to which some preachers are willing to go to justify the doctrine of OSAS; however, if you think about it, logic will tell you that if you didn't have to do anything to receive salvation, then everyone must have it, because God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34); so, if He saved you without you having to do anything, then He must do the same for everyone else, unless He is the God of the Calvinist who believes that God arbitrarily picks out only certain ones to save, but that is a topic for another day.

      My argument against this preacher's statement is that there IS most certainly something you MUST DO to receive salvation. You must BELIEVE! Does everyone receive salvation? The obvious answer is no, unless you happen to be a Universalist. According to the scriptures, only those who CHOOSE to believe and put their trust in the atoning sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross will be saved. That is something each individual person must actively and willingly DO in order to be saved! Anyone who believes otherwise has not read their bible very closely. Also, as I stated in a previous post, we must CONTINUE to believe if we want to be saved. 

     In John 6:28-29, Jesus was asked the question, "What shall we do that we may work the works of God?" His response was, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." My prayer for you today is that you WILL BELIEVE!!!!

If We Hold Fast

     "Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain." I Corinthians 15:1-2

      "Take care, brethren, lest there should be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart, in falling away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called 'Today,' lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin, for we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end;" Hebrews 3:12-14

      In my previous post regarding apostasy, I said that my next post would be about salvation being conditionally based on our continuing in the faith. As you know, if you have read the posts that followed, my plans were interrupted. I have been dealing with other issues, but I am ready to return to this very important topic once again. There are a few more scriptures I want to share with you on the topic of OSAS, just to be sure you understand that the scriptures abound with warnings to believers that we must continue in the faith in order to be saved.

     There is a parable that Jesus told that gives us a picture of what happens when different people hear the word of God. It is commonly called the Parable of the Sower and is found in Matthew 13:3-23, Mark 4:3-20, and Luke 8:5-15. I would encourage you to read the whole passage in all three of these gospel accounts. In this parable the seed is the word of God, and the soil is the heart of man. In all three accounts, after telling the parable, Jesus says, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." Not everyone responds to the preaching of the word in the same way. Some people hear the word, but their heart is so hard that it goes in one ear and right out the other. It does not take root at all, and Satan snatches away what was sown in their heart. Another group of people hear the word and receive it joyfully. Luke tells it this way,"And those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away." Luke 8:13. Mark 4:17 says of the same group, "they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away." A third group hears the word, but "the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful." Mark 4:19 The last person in the parable is "the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit, and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty." Matthew 13:23 This parable teaches us that not everyone who initially receives the word of God continues to follow after Christ. I definitely want to be in that last category, don't you?

          There are other scriptures that tell us that we must endure to the end in order to be saved. Paul tells us in I Timothy 4:1, "...the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons." Jesus, when speaking of the last days, told His disciples, "And at that time many will fall away and will deliver up one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many. And because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end shall be saved." I Timothy 6:10 speaks of those who have "wandered away from the faith," and I Timothy 6:21 speaks of those who have "gone astray from the faith." What does that mean? I think I will play it on the safe side and believe it means just what it says. I do not want to be found anywhere but IN the faith when I come face to face with Jesus! I hope that is your goal also, so keep on keepin' on! Don't get sidetracked! Don't let Satan trick you! Listen to the Holy Spirit, and be obedient. It will all be worth it some day!!!!
         
         

Easter or Passover?

          In Chapter 12 of Exodus, God told the Israelites how to save themselves from the last plague which He was about to pour out on the Egyptians. That plague was to be the death of all the first-born in the land. The Israelites were told to take a one year old, unblemished male from the sheep or the goats into their house on the 10th day of the first month, the month of Nisan, and they were to keep it with them in their house until the 14th day of the month, at which time they were to kill it and eat it. That sounds quite cruel, doesn't it, to take this young, innocent animal into your house, make a pet of it, and then kill it and eat it? They were also told to put its blood on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the house so that the death angel would "pass over" them. This is where the Jewish feast of Passover originated.
          Skip ahead in time about 1500 years to the time of Christ around 30 A.D.  When John the Baptist saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." John 1:29  John was proclaiming to all the world that Jesus was the ultimate fulfillment of the Passover which the Jews had been celebrating every year for about 1500 years, ever since they came out of their slavery in Egypt. Jesus was the ultimate Passover Lamb who would keep the death angel away from the door of all who would trust in Him for salvation from their sin.  Those who believed would never know spiritual death. The physical death of the ones who trust in Christ would only be a passageway into eternal life with Him.
          There is so much more meaning in the Passover celebration which I won't elaborate on right now, but I just want to express my disappointment that the church today is mostly ignorant of the meaning of Passover. Instead, I see churches celebrating something called Easter, named for a pagan Babylonian goddess of fertility called Ishtar, with chocolate bunnies and colored Easter eggs, symbols of her fertility. How it must grieve God's heart to see those who call themselves Christians openly celebrating a pagan holiday and yet, ignoring the very feast that He instituted to point to His Son, Jesus, as our Passover Lamb.
          It is true that some Christians have tried (mostly in vain) to change the name of Easter to Resurrection Day, but wouldn't it be even better to teach our children about Passover so they could learn the rich meaning behind it? The only way we will rid ourselves of the pagan aspects of Easter is to make a clean break from it. Unfortunately, even the Jews who still celebrate Passover don't understand what it is all about, but Christians have not helped in that department either. Maybe if we Christians understood the true meaning of Passover, we could better help the Jews to see that Jesus is the Savior they have been looking for, since it is their Passover celebration that points so dramatically to Him.
          I am challenging all Christians to do some study regarding Easter and Passover to see which one truly honors God. I believe we would all be blessed if we would do this. "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32  You may never want to call it Easter again!

Temporary Body, Eternal Soul

          "Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And He answered and said to them, 'Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered this fate? I tell you, no, but, unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.'" Luke 13:1-5

          What is more important, the temporary physical body or the eternal soul? We spend our lives catering to this physical body, feeding it, clothing it, possibly exercising it, nursing it when it is sick, pleasuring it ....etc. Is that wrong? That is certainly what comes naturally to us. We all have that innate self-centered, self-serving, self-preserving programming that tells us what to do all the time, but, as a Christian, I believe I must get past that. The flesh is not supposed to be in control! It is the spiritual side that must be exercised, nurtured, and strengthened. Gal. 5:16-25
          Yes, it is important to take care of the body God has given me. It is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and God expects me to treat it as such, but there is something about me that is much more important than my physical body, and that is my eternal soul. This physical body that my soul dwells in is only going to last at the very most about 100 years. None of us will get much past that, if we even get close to it, so shouldn't we be preparing for what comes next, after our physical bodies have given out? Shouldn't we spend at least as much time cultivating the spiritual side of life as we do caring for the physical? What is 100 years, more or less, compared with eternity? It is the snap of a finger!
          I think that is what Jesus was trying to say in the passage quoted above. Don't we realize that sooner or later our life here on earth will end? That is inevitable, but what comes next? This is a very important question that we would be foolish not to ask. Not contemplating what comes after physical death would be like blindly walking off the edge of the Grand Canyon with no thought of the obvious consequences; only worse, because eternity is forever, and forever, and forever.....
          "A voice says, 'Call out.' Then he answered, 'What shall I call out?' All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field, the grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass, the grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever."  Isaiah 40:6-8
          Let's do all we can to be sure we will be with the Lord forever! Believe! Have faith! Submit and be obedient to His voice. Walk with God.
         
         

My People Perish

        
"My people are destroyed (perish) for lack of knowledge." Hosea 4:6

          I know that the scripture above is speaking of more than just our physical bodies perishing. It is our souls that God is most concerned about, but I believe that God is able to give us the knowledge to make our lives better in many ways if we will only listen to Him. He is able to give us knowledge and wisdom that will help us not only spiritually, but also physically, economically, and every other way you can imagine.      
          As you know, if you have been reading my blog, I am experiencing some health problems. I feel fine, and would never know anything was wrong with me if I had not had a scan of my chest a couple of months ago. How did I get to this point? What happened? I thought I was taking care of myself. After all, the scriptures address those of us who are believers with this admonition, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body." I Cor. 6:19-20 So, it is my responsibility as a believer in Christ to take care of the body He has given me. That is what I have tried to do. I walk a mile each day, try to eat right, and try to get enough rest. I was feeling fine until all of this hit me like a ton of bricks. How did I get sick?
          Now that I have been doing The Gerson Therapy for about three weeks, I have been noticing my body responding to the nutrients I am pouring into it! It is amazing! I didn't know that my body was starving for some good food. Only time will tell what the results of all this effort will be, but I feel great most of the time.
          Now that I have learned a lot more about the foods we eat and have had time to reflect back on what I was feeding my body, I realize that I was not treating it very well after all. Most of the foods we eat today are so far from natural that they can hardly be called food. They have been so processed, and they have so many preservatives and other chemicals added to them that they are poisoning us, and we don't even realize it. At the very least, they are not giving us the nutrients we need to stay healthy. The cancer statistics alone will bear out this fact, not to mention the diabetes and heart disease epidemics. I watched a video on NetFlix called "Food Matters." What an eye-opener! Also, all the material I have read in order to do the Gerson Therapy has opened my eyes to how we are poisoning ourselves, not just with the food we eat, but also with the water we drink and bathe in, the air we breathe, and the chemicals we come in contact with every day. I realize we have no control over a lot of this, but some things we do have control over, and we need to start taking control where we can.
          Satan is the god of this world, and he is doing all he can to pollute and poison it. We have a responsibility to inform ourselves for our own sake as well as for the sake of our children and grandchildren. Let's all do our best to get healthy and stay that way. As Christians, I believe this will glorify God. The world is watching us to see if we are different. I want the world to see that my life is not only different spiritually, but physically as well.

Does God Test Us?

          No one likes to go through trials and tribulations! Some of them we bring on ourselves, others come through no fault of our own, but regardless of the source, trials have a way of bringing out who we really are and show us a lot about ourselves. The mask comes off!
          God has used trials to test most, if not all, of the people we read about in the bible. For example, Abraham was tested when asked to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, a foreshadowing of the sacrifice of Jesus, God's only Son. (Heb.11:17) Job was sorely tested and came through with quite a testimony! Joseph was tested when he was sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers. (Ps. 105:17-19) The children of Israel were tested in the wilderness for forty years. (Deut. 8:2) By the way, the number of testing in the bible is forty. After Jesus was baptized by John, he went into the wilderness for forty days where He was tested and tempted. Even though He was the perfect Son of God, He, too, had to be tested. (Isaiah 28:16) In fact, His whole life here on this Earth was a test. Thankfully, He passed the test so that He could become our great High Priest. "In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation..." Hebrews 5:7-9 If even our Lord Jesus had to be tested, should we think that we should not have to be?
          Does God test us to see what we will do in the test? I seriously doubt that, since He already knows exactly what we will do in the test. He knows the end from the beginning! (Isaiah 46:9-10) He is omniscient God! No, I believe He tests us so that we will know where we stand with our faith, and it also serves as a witness to the world when and if we stand up under trials.
          James says, "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance, and let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James1:2-4
         I am going through a test right now, as you know if you read my previous post. It is not the first time God has tested me, and it probably won't be the last, but it is in the times of testing that we learn the most about God and about ourselves and our relationship to Him. I look forward to every day that I have here on this earth in which I can get to know Him better and be more prepared for the day when I will see Him face to face. I am determined to come through the testings, more like Christ each time I am tested. I realize, too, that it is only by His grace and mercy that this is possible. God is so good!