Ok, I prayed but now what?

I pray that someone  would tell me this: ""God drew me to read  one of your posts about   salvation,, and  He drew me to read them all, over time,  and  as I read  them  something   inside me  changing my heart..  I was  finding  that I wanted   to know God, too.  So  I finally  prayed the prayer to receive Jesus   and I  do think a light has turned on inside me...  something is different anyway!   But  now what?""

  

Taking that  step  from darkness into the light  across the great divide!

I would answer this by saying, now  it is time to start  looking for God    .. if you're  a computer  person there is  so much you can find online,    but  I  would caution everyone..  There are great articles,  ...  with  wonderful  ideas  for study and  knowing God..  and there are  some that are  false teachings...  The new Spirit living in you will help you discern the good from the bad. Do not get carried  away  with   the    things  I might call  dramatic...  dwelling on spirits and    things not of this world..  there is a lot on here about that...  Many of them would lead you into dark places...      instead   look for ways, in particular, to  learn about God. 

           

Read the Bible ... Begin with  the book of John in the new testament. let the Spirit guide you  there after!

Keep a journal,  use a highlighter to mark scriptures you love and that speak to you directly ... put a date with a pen on that scripture in your Bible...  It is  ok to  make your Bible your own... 

 I will  list now some good sites online  that would be very helpful!

https://www.everystudent.com/menus/experience.html

https://www.guidelines.org/get/new-life/?utm_source=adwords&utm_campaign=&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1MXpBRDjARIsAHtdN-2oXbtqViL22rAzNzn9qHh2LQcWwS1zRijM3d64OpSI9Mop0_GtgywaAv_wEALw_wcB

https://www.focusonthefamily.com/faith/becoming-a-christian/how-can-i-be-saved/first-steps-in-the-christian-life

https://www.gotquestions.org/new-Christian.html

https://www.worldvision.org/christian-faith-news-stories/keys-powerful-prayer-life-2019

https://billygraham.org/story/prayer-101-how-do-i-talk-to-god/

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/prayer-for-beginners

https://www.exploregod.com/how-to-find-a-church

listen to some  great sermons  online
https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/most-recent-sermons/?utm_term=&utm_campaign=Pray+Big+Book&utm_medium=ppc&utm_source=adwords&hsa_src=g&hsa_acc=7949889639&hsa_cam=1769978875&hsa_kw=&hsa_tgt=aud-751880716493:dsa-740823337844&hsa_ad=345354374845&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_mt=b&hsa_ver=3&hsa_grp=71075847313&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1MXpBRDjARIsAHtdN-07KcN5BBYhIioQyF13r1a25nBbU4XRFQ6yaIMSkuqRq3-92iNRCJcaAgtgEALw_wcB

http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/viewcat.php?cid=206

https://www.desiringgod.org/messages

https://www.davidjeremiah.org/television

https://www.youtube.com/user/jentezenfranklin

Some very interesting  sermons    after  you have  dined on  the word through the above    pastors..
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0D1hUT6POa7BKG0XjBXADA

find some  great praise music and  listen to it daily!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8umfBRlwW8

Time is Short, Ladies and Gentlemen, part II

In part 1 of this  post  we saw  some of the proof of the coming of the last of days  through headlines and   news accounts. Now  let's look at another  passage from  God's Word!

ITimothy 3 stares:Evil in the Last Days

1But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come. 2For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good,4traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!

6They are the kind who worm their way into households and captivate vulnerable women weighed down with sins and led astray by various passions, 7always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.

How does this passage manifest today?   Click read more..  this is so important!!

Time is Short, Ladies and Gentlemen part I

God's timetable is clicking down... 
 How do I know?

  

Matthew 24 stares the following

While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”

Jesus answered, “See to it that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

Witnessing to All Nations
(Mark 13:10-13; Luke 21:10-19)

Then they will deliver you over to be persecuted and killed, and you will be hated by all nations on account of My name. At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another, and many false prophets will arise and mislead many.

These are    terrible forebodings of  the   last days  before the terrible day of the Lord..  click read more  to see the headlines!

Those What-if Moments

So , what if  you  are one whom has  received  some common grace  from God...   grace that is common to all people...  a respite from the  hot day  by a cooling shower,or perhaps  you've driven over the rise to see the most amazing view  of  God's handiwork,  and  you  actually felt blessed to be there at that moment in time to enjoy such majesty.  Maybe  you've been disappointed  to lose a loved one in a horrible  auto crash or disease,  and felt  where is God now...    loss comes to everyone..  but what about that  wonderful  memory you have when you were  miraculously  saved  from what could have been a horrific  accident..  when you just almost pulled on to the interstate    in front of a  car  driving full speed..  but  when you had looked back they had been  in your blind spot...  I know that has happened to me, more than once...  and I praise God  I didn't kill myself and  others.  I know  that,  for me I am praying,  for a dear family member to come to accept  Christ.  I think she blames God for taking her father  with leukemia when she was a girl..  and her husband  with   Lymes Syndrome  a few years ago..  That is a lot to  have endured...   God/Jesus is the light of the world, the giver of life..   death came into the world through sin...  Both of these men were good men...  I don't know if they were believers,  but  that  wouldn't have mattered. Death is not a respecter of persons, except for  Christians who will be caught up in the air  at the day of the Lord...  which could be   tomorrow  or  in one year of  20. No one knows the day or hour  but  that day is nearer than we think.  Death comes to all.. I do not want it to come to my dear family member  unless she has  given her heart and  mind to Christ and then will  inherit    eternity in heaven  where  we  will be together   beyond time..  
What about you, reader? I know  you can look back over your life and see where God's good grace  fell upon you...  and  you  had a "what, if" moment.

 ...If indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

 1 Peter 2:3

"If." Then this is not a matter to be taken for granted concerning every one of the human race. "If"--then there is a possibility and a probability that some may not have tasted that the Lord is gracious. "If"--then this is not a general but a special mercy; and it is necessary to ask whether we know the grace of God by inward experience. There is no spiritual favor that may not be a matter for heart-searching.

But while this should be a matter of earnest and prayerful inquiry, no one ought to be content while there is any such thing as an "if" about his having tasted that the Lord is good. A jealous and holy distrust of self may give rise to the question even in the believer's heart, but the continuance of such a doubt would be an evil indeed. We must not rest without a desperate struggle to clasp the Savior in the arms of faith and say, "I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me."1

Do not rest, believer, until you have a full assurance of your interest in Jesus. Let nothing satisfy you until, by the infallible witness of the Holy Spirit bearing witness with your spirit, you are identified as a child of God. Do not trifle with this. Do not be satisfied with "perhaps" or "if" or "maybe." Build on eternal truths; really build upon them. Let your anchor be cast into that which is within the veil, and see to it that your soul is linked to the anchor by a cable that will not break. Get beyond these dreary "ifs"; stay no longer in the wilderness of doubts and fears; cross the Jordan of distrust, and enter the promised land of peace, where the land ceases not to flow with milk and honey.

1) 2 Timothy 1:12

A devotional by Alistiar Begg

for your Future reading on Being a Christian

I  (Jesus) am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:5

Grapevine Network 

What Does A Christian Look Like?

We talked to a group of students to find out what they think makes a Christian a Christian. Here's what they had to say.

The above is an article from Christianity Today    Scroll over   to find the underlined  topic  to  find the link .  Click on the clink to read  about  what  people think of  when they think of Christian...very interesting! 

     

What Can I expect if I become A Christian?  THis  is an easy read and a short video...   but  full of  information ...  Please take time to  listen!

      

Questions  for atheists  and other  religious  people.  Wonderful questions to ponder  about    what it is you actually believe  and  are you sure  what you believe is the TRUTH

       

Jesus Paid it All

Jesus,    the God-man,    fully God,  fully man,,,  was born  over 2000 yers ago. God sent Him to  teach   the people  who God is..  John 5:19 says, So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.  He was our perfect example of love,    for God is love!
Jesus is pure and holy..  He never sinned...  He is the only person who can make such a claim...  He is likened unto a spotless lamb.   In order to stay  close to His heavenly Father He  secreted himself away from  others  in quiet communion with his Father.

Alone time with God is a  precious time of  prayer,   praise,    as well, as listening  for HIS small still voice, even for  us, believers.


Even on the night that Jesus  was betrayed HE knew  what  lay before HIM. That he would be arrested,    tried,   and   executed..  a cruel death on a cross..  He knew it meant a scourging,    and  horrible  suffering..    and being fully man,  he  cried out to HIS Father, to be  released from   the terrible  thing He had come to do...  But even so,  He relented and  said, " nevertheless, not my will, but your will b e done...'   He knew  He had to go through with it!

The Bible says, He sweated drops of blood in HIS anguish as He prepared for  what was coming.


The Bible says, "By HIS stripes we are healed!"

The  Crucifiction, Death, and  

At the moment of Jesus death, the sun darkened, and there was a terrible earth quake that  was felt by many    and the veil in the temple that separated the  Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple  was  split in two,  from the top down...  This was significant because previously only the High Priest of the  Jews could enter the Holy of Holies, the most sacred place where the Spirit of God  resided..    but once  Jesus paid it all,   all mankind  who  believed have full access to God..  We don't need to go to Jerusalam to be in the Holy place,  but  can   speak to HIM in our hearts!
Jesus walked among the people  for 40 days..  


  Many people witnessed and tesitified to  seeing the                                                resurrected  jesus!



HE did  some  amazing teaching  while HE walked with the people  during those 40 days...

• Instructions to inform other disciples about his resurrection (Mt 28:10; John 20:17-18)
• Demonstration that the resurrection was in a new body - thus showing that the new covenant age had begun (Lk 24:38-43; John 20:27)
• Explanation of how Jesus' death and resurrection fulfills the OT prophecies (Lk 24:25-27, 44-46)
• Blessing on those who believe in his resurrection (John 20:29)
• Foundation of the church with people from all nations as disciples (aka the Great Commission) (Mt 28:19-20; Lk 24:47; Acts 1:8; John 20:21, 23)
• Promise of the Holy Spirit and/or giving of the Holy Spirit (Lk 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8; John 20:22)
• Restoration and re-appointment of Peter (John 21:15-19)
• Unspecified teaching about the Kingdom of God (Acts 1:3)
• Unknown time of the fully restored kingdom (Acts 1:6-7)
• Promise to be with his disciples to the end (Matt 28:20)

And after 40 days  he was  raised up and acsended into heaven  where he  resides today!

                                                             

  Someday soon He will return the same way and everyone who remains on earth will see HIM.

What is Holding you Back from God

That is exactly  what I asked a cousin of mine  who  to my knowledge still refuses to seek God..she has  several degrees that she worked very hard for    under  difficult circumstances..   She worked  several jobs without a car   while getting her degrees from UVA and Duke.   She is a brilliant business woman  who travels  worldwide,  in  circles of the rich and famous.   It isn't unusual to see her  in Milan or  cruising around the Turks and Caicos Islands.  She lives  a footloose and care free life style  on a  South Carolina Beach and  parties often with other  people  from her  exclusive, gated community.  And sometimes she calls me...  still cousinly and loving  each other,,  but I do ask her  about  what  she expects out of life, and the end of life,  she  knows  I am a Christian..  This is her answer,  "Oh, I'm OK,,  I understand you need that  crutch, that's  alright for you,  but I don't need it..  I  make out just fine! "
So I wonder.. what does she mean..  ''My crutch?? Is it something I lean on  in a troubled world.  I know I'm not as smart as she is...  I'm certainly not as well healed as she is.   I can say I am about 10 years older than she is    and  I'll be 69 on Monday... these 10 years flew by. I know something I do have that she does not..  I have hope,  assurance, faith, freedom from fear of the here after, real joy  based on something inside of me,  not  some  artificial  something I seek after  day after day..  You see  I found the perfect  filler for my void...

I have heard pastors  say, and in essence this is true..  every human being is born with  a vacuum, or hole ..  some call it a God -shaped hole,  that yearns to be filled.. So  once  we reach the age of accountability  and  we are on our own,  we  unconsciously   seek  that  perfect  thing that will  fill that  ravenous, ever seeking  vacuum.. 

Now, if you know  anything    about the world,  there is  a god of this world, satan is his name, and his primary purpose is to  entrap as many unsuspecting  humans as he can.  He  definitely  does not want  anyone to  find the perfect  filler....  so the world  continues to offer  things that are  contrary to God..drugs, alcohol, sex, perversion, pornography, for others it is  pride,  greed, power, self sufficiency, and self seeking gratification.  You could probably name  other  distractions the world uses to  keep us  from  seeking  God,, but  little do  people understand  that whatever  is used to fill that  deep desire within becomes  a  god to them.  It is idolatry. .. for example, video games  and computers  can be  idols, because they steal  a person's time  that  God had  planned for  us to spend   with HIM .
 The God of the Universe  hates idolatry ,, He is a jealous God..  After all, He created us,  He loves us with an everlasting love and He  is worthy of  our whole heart and adoration.  When  we choose these other  much baser,  ungodly, or selfish  life styles  instead of seeking HIM,  then we are  actually falling right in line with the god of this world, God's adversary, the devil,  and his scheme to prevent us from choosing what God wants for us.

You see  there are only two choices..   One that  leads you to God, and one that  leads you astray and away from  God.  Perhaps you do not understand why you exist in the first place..   King David was inspired  by the Holy Spirit  when he wrote " "I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me." in Psalms 57:2.  This is key in understanding God's purpose for your life. God has numbered your days and will fulfill every purpose He has for you".  He purposes for every one whom He has created to  worship HIM alone.   To worship and glorify HIM.  Thereto, He sets  our  path   before us   to accomplish what He has planned for us!  When people chose their own way  they are  out of the Will of God   and unfortuantaely,  out from the  covering He had planned to hedge around His own..

GOd's own Spirit will reach out to  every human  and  draw them  at some time in their lives..  He offers every one of us  opportunities to  choose HIM,    and be saved  from our sins  and  come into communion with HIM..  But after a time , he will  give people over to their  sin nature, and  if they refuse to choose to  come to him,   over time their heart will be hardened .  If you  are   not a child of God's    and  have  read  this post,  don't you think it might be time to  examine your heart.. If you  have even an inkling of a sense that  you  need   to turn to  your Maker,  do not hesitate..  that is GOd's Spirit quickening you,  God is a gentleman,  He  never forces Himself on anyone,,  It pleases HIM for us to come to HIM  out of our desire   and need for HIM.

 I am praying that someone will indeed  at this moment decide to turn to God and say, "Here I am, a sinner,  I have lived a life unto myself and not given you  much thought,  but   I am tired..  Life has been a disappointment to me..  I have tried to fill  that hole mentioned above with  all kinds of things that I thought would make me happy  or even deaden my pain,,    and it does for  a little time...  until it  becomes an addiction and takes over my life and consumes me.   I am so tired.  Life seems hard and unfulfilled.. I had dreams,  but they have all gone awry. Nothing satisfies.. so I give in, Lord,  I do believe that you are  who they say you are... You are the Son of God,  that  you, Jesus, did come to die for me... and,  that  you were crucified  and died and was buried and on the third day, you  arose from the dead.  You ascended into to  heaven  and sit at the  right hand of God, the Father.   Save me, Lord and  make me new.  Redeem me with your  life giving blood and  restore me, Father, and I  do repent from my wayward life..  Help me to  lay aside  my  sinful  ways and  turn to you, into your marvelous light! Lead me  into  the new paths you  have purposed for me  that  my days  will  reflect your goodness and  I can breathe free from the  shackles of sin that have   bound me  into  the shell of a person I have become. Thank you , Lord for your love and provision to   save my soul and   bring into your  fold,  In Jesus name, Amen

If you prayed that prayer, it would be  great if you   left me a comment  that I might pray  specifically for you.    I would recommend that you find a   church  where you can begin  your new life of wholeness in Christ  and fine  a group  of other believers with whom you  can  grow in the knowledge of  who  you  really are in the sight of our loving Father!

Know the Redeemer

Online you can find many references about WHO Jesus is!

50 Names and Titles of Jesus:

Our Great Shepherd

1. Almighty One – “…who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Rev. 1:8  (He is eternal)

2. Alpha and Omega – “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Rev. 22:13

3. Advocate – “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” 1 John 2:1

(He sits in heaven interceding for His followers before God)

4. Author and Perfecter of Our Faith – “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb. 12:2

5. Authority – “Jesus said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Matt. 28:18

6. Bread of Life – “Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” John 6:35

7. Beloved Son of God – “And behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Matt. 3:17

8. Bridegroom – “And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” Matt. 9:15

9. Chief Cornerstone – “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner stone.” Ps. 118:22

10. Deliverer – “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” 1 Thess.1:10  (  Yes,  God's wrath is  building and will become manifest sooner than you think!)

11. Faithful and True – “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.” Rev.19:11 (Jesus will be the great Judge of Heaven, all who denied Him will be Judged on the  LAST DAY.)

12. Good Shepherd - “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11

13. Great High Priest – “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” Heb. 4:14

14. Head of the Church – “And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church.” Eph. 1:22

15. Holy Servant – “…and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus." Acts 4:29-30

16. I Am – “Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:58

17. Immanuel – “…She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel, which means 'God with us.’” Is. 7:14

18. Indescribable Gift – “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.” 2 Cor. 9:15

19. Judge – “…he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.” Acts 10:42

20. King of Kings – “These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.” Rev. 17:14  and the children of God say, "Amen!"

21. Lamb of God – “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29

22. Light of the World – "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12

23. Lion of the Tribe of Judah – “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” Rev. 5:5

24. Lord of All – “For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil. 2:9-11

25. Mediator – “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Tim. 2:5

26. Messiah – “We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ).” John 1:41

27. Mighty One – “Then you will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.” Is. 60:16

28. One Who Sets Free – “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36

29. Our Hope – “…Christ Jesus our hope.” 1 Tim. 1:1

30. Peace – “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,” Eph. 2:14

31. Prophet – “And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” Mark 6:4

32. Redeemer – “And as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth.” Job 19:25

33. Risen Lord – “…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Cor. 15:3-4

34. Rock – “For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.” 1 Cor. 10:4

35. Sacrifice for Our Sins – “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10

36. Savior – “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11

37. Son of Man – “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." Luke 19:10

38. Son of the Most High – “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.” Luke 1:32

39. Supreme Creator Over All – “By Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.…” 1 Cor. 1:16-17

40. Resurrection and the Life – “Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” John 11:25

41. The Door – “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” John 10:9

42. The Way – “Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

43. The Word – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1

44. True Vine - "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.” John 15:1

45. Truth – “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32

46. Victorious One – “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.” Rev. 3:21

47. – 50. Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace – “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Is. 9:6

All this…and so much more.    He alone is worthy.

A Crosswalk  Blogpost by Debbie McDaniel