Heaven Bound

 “Even in darkness light dawns for the upright”  Psalm 112:4

Yesterday, we discussed how Psalms 111-119 are acrostic Psalms, which encompass within them the Hallel; Psalms 113-118. Psalms 111 & 112 bracket one side of the Hallel with Psalm 119, the longest Psalm and the longest chapter in the Bible on the other.

I believe these Psalms speak specifically to Israel and the time of Jacob’s trouble, and perhaps, to us as believers, in the days preceding the rapture. And, if this is the case, what can we learn and what might we expect?

Six months in to the year, we all know that the dominant question in American and International politics is the situation in the middle-East.  For the past two years, pressure has been mounting on Israel for the creation of a Palestinian State with a divided Jerusalem as its capital.

But, the Bible makes it very clear that this is not the will of God. In fact, verses 5 & 9 of the 111th Psalm seem to correspond to the months of this present year, when, the pressure on Israel has been and will be the greatest (May and September).

“He provides food for those who fear him, he remembers his covenant forever”  Psalm 111:5

 “He provided redemption for his people, he ordained his covenant forever.”  Psalm 111:9

 He provides and he provided. God supplies us with what we need today, our redemption has already been settled. And, his covenant stands forever.

Important thoughts for holding on to as we move into the remainder of the year.

The 111th Psalm leaves us with these final words of advice –

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, all who follow his precepts have good understanding, To him belongs eternal praise.”  Psalm 111:10

On June 15, a blood-red moon will appear over Israel. A lunar eclipse which will last a full 100 minutes and is bracketed on either side by a partial solar eclipse on June 1 and one on July 1. Both, unusual in nature as the first one was visible only in the far northern regions of the globe and was a partial occlusion of the midnight sun and the one on July 1, visible only in the far regions of the southern hemisphere, where most likely it will only be witnessed by penguins, seals and of course, the eyes of God.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43365523/ns/technology_and_science-space/ 

 I’m not sure why, the lunar eclipse of June 15 is bracketed by a solar eclipse on each side except to say, that perhaps, if it is a sign, the indication would be, that it is global in scope, in other words – top to bottom. 

 Psalm 112 and the year 2012

2012, we saw the movie, we’ve heard the hype – but, is it really true?

The closer we get to the coming year, the greater the talk and the greater the speculation will be on what the coming year might bring.  Will there really be disasters of unparalleled proportion or will there be a shift in consciousness as New Agers would have us believe.

The Psalmist opens up the 112th Psalm with these words –

“Praise the Lord!  Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who find great delight in his commands”.

A thought echoed in Proverbs 1:7   –” The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but, fools despise wisdom and discipline.” 

 Proverbs 3, goes on to extol the benefits of wisdom – 

“My son preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or the ruin that overtakes the wicked. For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.” Proverbs 3: 21-26

2012 will be the year for sudden disaster and an unsuspecting world will be taken as in a snare. But, for those who are saved during this time; those who have the seal of God on their foreheads, these will be incredible words of comfort. 

If Psalms 109 and 110, set the stage for the final seven years, then, Psalms 111 and 112 provide the opening curtain to the first act.

Psalm 112

Even in darkness light dawns for the upright. ….. Surely, he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. He will have no fear of bad news, his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end, he will look in triumph on his foes.”  Psalm 112:4-8.

On the other hand –  “The wicked man will see and be vexed; he will gnash his teeth and waste away, the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.”

For those wondering what 2012 will bring, by all appearances, the coming year will not disappoint.  The truth of what lies ahead will be lost to some degree by the soothsayers, the New Agers, the Mayan proponents and all the others, who will seek to benefit and profit off the hype leading in to the next year. For most people, it will be a time of both skepticism and fear, but, the wise, they will understand.

What God begins in the 110th Psalm, he brings to a conclusion in the 118th.

Psalm 110:1  “The Lord says to my Lord: Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”.    Psalm 112:8 – “ … he will look in triumph on his foes”   Psalm 118:7 – “I will look in triumph on my enemies” 

What He promises in the 110th Psalm, he carries out in the 112th and brings to a conclusion in the 118th.  How cool is that!

In other words, the process is already underway. Keep your eyes focused on Jesus friends;  we’re going home soon!

** Be sure to check out the comment by Michael Wellman on my recent post, the Spirit of America, the Spirit of Babylon.  Michael presents some information comparing the fall of Babylon in 1600 BC to the times, we are living in now. Amazing!  You won’t want to miss it!

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper who love thee”  Psalm 122:6  Watching and waiting with YOU for the soon return of Jesus! Cindy

Today, for the first time in 2,000 years, Torah scrolls were marched from the Western Wall to a new neighborhood in Jerusalem situated at the foot of the Mount of Olives – a neighborhood surrounded by Arab neighbors.  I’m not altogether clear on the significance of carrying them from the Western Wall to the Mount of Olives, unless, it is to underscore the promise by God, twice re-iterated in Psalm 111:5-9, that the covenant he established with his people Israel (in spite of what the world says), is forever.

Psalm 111 5-9:

“He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever, he has shown his people the power of his works, giving them the lands of other nations, The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts trustworthy. They are steadfast forever and ever, done in faithfulness and uprightness. He provided redemption for his people ; he ordained his covenant forever – holy and awesome is his name.”

Right now, the world is consumed with the overwhelming issue over the state of Jerusalem and the state of Israel at large. Psalm 111, puts to rest that question – the covenant God established with his people Israel, is forever.

I have been looking closely at the Psalms again and am more convinced than ever that the numbering of the Psalms correspond to the current years we are in, particularly, when it comes to Psalms 111-119. 

Psalms 111-119 as many of you know, form an acrostic of the Hebrew alphabet, a set of Psalms, which, also contain what is known as the Hallel – (Psalms 113-118).  Psalms so important, that they are recited at each of the major festivals – Passover, Shavuot (Pentecost) and Sukkot (Tabernacles) and, if I remember correctly, were recited as the pilgrims made their ascent to the temple mount from the streets of Jerusalem each year for the various festivals.  

Therefore, I see this particular set of Psalms, (and, those that bracket them -111, 112, & 119), as progressive in nature, starting with Psalm 113 and culminating with the magnificent 118th Psalm, which, speaks in part of – “the stone the builders rejected,” becoming the chief cornerstone.

I have several thoughts regarding each of these Psalms and may not get to all of them in this post. For today, I would like to go back to Psalms 109 & 110 – as, I believe they set the stage for the rest of the Psalms (111-118). 

Not part of the Hallel or even the Psalms which form the acrostic, but, nevertheless important as a lead in to these other great Psalms and the events of which they speak.

On Monday May 18, 2009, President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu set down for their first white house talks. It was at this meeting that President Obama first pressed Netanyahu regarding a two-state solution.  From the headlines to the story regarding this meeting:

“U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday pressed a two state solution to the middle-East conflict but failed to win a commitment from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to back Palestinian statehood.”  :http//www.reuters.com/article/2009/05/18/us-israel-usa-idUSTRE54H0P520090518

Amazing, when you consider the first 5 verses of the 109th Psalm and that Israel has been our only democratic friend and ally in the middle-East, since the day the nation was re-established in 1948. 

“O God, whom I praise, do not remain silent, for wicked and deceitful men have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues. With words of hatred, they surround me; they attack me without cause. In return for my friendship, they accuse me, but, I am a man of prayer. They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my friendship.”  Psalm 109: 1-5

The remainder of the 109th Psalm is an appeal for deliverance from false accusers.

I remember some time back seeing and hearing the slogan “Pray for Obama – pray Psalm 109!  In my opinion, this is completely inappropriate and beneath the dignity of those of us who bear the name of Jesus.  As it says, in verse 28, “they may curse, but, you will bless.” It is God’s place to bring cursing or judgment, not ours! As believers, we are mandated to pray for our leaders, no matter “who they are or who, we think they are” – therefore, may our prayers for our leaders, always be prayers of blessing; – blessing in the sense that our leaders would turn from their iniquity and find salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

I think it is also important to keep in mind, that the cursing rendered throughout the remainder of the 109th Psalm, speaks not of just one man, (although, it may – as the pronoun “he” is in use) – but, Israel’s enemies in general and perhaps more specifically, the evil one, who is the driving force behind all of them. 

When you look at Psalm 110, God seems to follow-up the lament of Psalm 109, with a promise to make the enemies of Israel, a “footstool under his feet.”  It would be beyond the scope of this blog (and probably my ability) to attempt a verse by verse exposition of these passages, but, suffice it to say, that the 110th Psalm, establishes once again, that the covenant God has established with his people, –“he has sworn and will not change his mind,” is forever.  And, in due time, by the power of the Lord’s right hand, the nations will be judged and the Kings that oppose Israel, crushed forever. May his people find comfort in these words!

Important words, when you consider the increased pressure applied during 2010, by President Obama, Hilary Clinton and the Quartet.  Who can forget the terrible snubs the Prime Minister suffered at the hands of our esteemed leaders just a few short months ago.

And, this is just the warm-up, the prelude to the awesome and amazing work of God, as set to unfold in the not to distant future, as indicated in these equally amazing Psalms!  More on this tomorrow – God willing! 

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper who love thee” Psalm 122:6   Watching and waiting with YOU for the soon return of Jesus!  Cindy

    The woman in the harbor

Next to the American flag. I can’t think of any other symbol that stirs patriotism and love of country more than does the Statue of Liberty.  A gift from the French in 1884, it had been commissioned a few years earlier in honor of America’s one hundredth birthday.  Designed by a young french sculptor by the name of Frederic -Auguste Bartholdi, it was his ambition to build a sculpture reminiscent of the great Colossus that once stood at the greek island of Rhodes. It was constructed in Paris, France, took nine years to complete and was finally shipped to the United States in a total of 214 boxes.

The statue is 151 feet tall and together with its base reaches 305 feet in to the mid-Atlantic sky.  Regarding its design, it is said, –  that the face of the statue was modeled after the sculptors mother and the body after a prostitute.   http://www.aviewoncities.com/nyc/statueofliberty.htm  

On a bronze plaque inside the monument is a sonnet composed by poet Ezra Lazarus titled, The Colossus. Written in 1883, its stirring words, became the anthem for the poor and oppressed, who would leave everything behind, in the hope of finding a new home of freedom and liberty on these hallowed shores.

The Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

Beautiful, commanding words that stir the heart and spirit. But, I have to ask myself, “who is this woman who stands in New York Harbor” and more importantly –“to whom is it, she beckons?”

America is a multi-cultural society. A blend of people from around the world, who for the most part, gave up their native tongues, to be American.  With the collective skill and talent amassed from this great group of people, it seemed like there was nothing America could not accomplish; and America thrived.

But, before there was an America, long before there was an American, there was another group of people,  who, with a shared language endeavored to make a name for themselves by building a tower whose top would reach high in to the heavens. (Genesis 11:1-9).

The Bible tells us that when God, saw what they were up to, he came down and confounded or mixed their languages, so, they could not accomplish what they set out to do, for, if they were successful, (which, they would have been), history would have advanced at a rate not yet intended by God.  There was a time coming in the future, when he would allow it, but, at that time was not yet.

“They are one people and have one language and nothing will be witholden from them which they purpose to do” Genesis 11:5-8

And, from that time forward, until the discovery of this country known as America, the nations and their languages would remain divided.

There are those who contend that Mystery Babylon spoken of in Revelation 17 & 18 and Babylon of Jeremiah 50 & 51 are speaking not of Babylon of old, but, of a new Babylon, who until the time of the end would remain a mystery. And, I am more convinced than ever, that the Babylon spoken of in these chapters, is the latter day unifier of languages, the United States of America.

Revelation 17, has this to say about the woman who sits on many waters.

“One of the angels who had the seven  bowls came and said to me. ‘Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute – who sits on many waters. With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries ….. She held a golden cup in her hand filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. This title was written on her forehead:  Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth.”  Revelation 17:1-5

Bordered to the West by the great Pacific and the East by the great Atlantic, the gulf of Mexico to her south and the Great Lakes to the north, it would be a fair assessment, to say that America is indeed, a land, which sits among many waters.

God, in Revelation 17:1-5, has brought a serious charge against mystery Babylon. He calls her a prostitute; one, who has caused the nations of the world to share in her sorceries, her filthiness and sins. And, who can deny that we, are the world’s biggest exporter, when it comes to pornography, (and related materials, whether music or film) and the world’s best customer, when it comes to drugs. And, worst of all, children have been sold in the sex slave industry to customers, who more than likely have accrued their wealth from the activities above.

America has an appearance of being good, champion of freedom and liberator of the oppressed; we like to think of ourselves this way, but, the body has over taken the head, and, we, are anything but that.

When the merchants of the world witness the burning of Babylon, listen to their lament from Revelation 18:11-13: Do they care anything about her? No, what they lament is the money they will be missing out on by selling her goods. 

“The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes any more, — cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls, … wine and olive oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and carriages and the bodies and souls of men“.

But, this was not always the case for there was a time when Babylon is described as a gold cup in the Lord’s hand.

There was a time, when God poured out his blessing on this nation of immigrants. A time when the gospel was preached, mission work flourished and expanded around the globe, and the hungry were fed, both from the bounty of our great harvests and from the word of God; – and across America on Sunday mornings, church pews were full.

But, eventually, the chaste head of lady liberty gave way to her larger portion, the prostitutes body and the woman who was, became virtually unrecognizable, as the woman who is.

**************************

Day after tomorrow, on June 7, President Obama will  host a state dinner in honor of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. In reading through Jeremiah, 50, and 51, concerning the judgment of Babylon, I was surprised to find what I think may be an interesting connection to the date of the dinner.

If you have been following my blog the past few days, you know, that I (and others) have been looking at President Obama as a type of King Belshazzar.  We’ve discussed the handwriting on the wall in Daniel 5:24-28 and the meaning of the dire warning, Mene, Mene, Terkel, Parsin.  We’ve also looked at whether the date written by the President on 5/24/11 as 5/24/08 was deliberate, a pre-mature senior moment or a pointer to the Daniel 5:24-28 scripture.

In chapter 51:7, the Bible has this to say:

“Babylon was a gold cup in the Lord’s hand; she made the whole earth drunk, therefore, they have now gone mad.”  Jeremiah 51:7 

5 +1 = 6, which, I believe, could also be interpreted as 6/7 – the date of the state house dinner. 

If so, why this particular date?  And, then it began to dawn on me, that perhaps, it is not the date which is so important, but, rather the guest that it honors. 

On June 20, 1782, the bald eagle was chosen as America’s national emblem and appears on the great seal of the United States.  The German coat of arms also bears the image of the eagle as did the Nazi’s with their double-headed eagle.

The symbol of the Eagle dates back to ancient Egypt, where it symbolized the god Horus, god of sky, god of war and was viewed as the protector of Egypt. In fact, the eagle has a long history of being the choice symbol of pagan cultures.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_(heraldry)

When President Obama spoke before the German people at the Victory Column in Berlin, he made mention of “of our common history” and “our common destiny”. Leaving many to wonder, what common history and what common destiny, he was referring to.

I wonder, if under the auspices of the June 7 meeting, a “convergence of sorts” will take place.

The e-coli out break in Germany and the tornadoes in this country during the same month, (May) seem to link the two of them together, as Chancellor Merkel went on record as supporting President Obama in his call for a return to the 1967 borders, calling it a “a good path”. It’s been determined now, that the E-Coli breakout in Germany originated in Hamburg, the birth place of Chancellor Merkel.  You don’t say!

Without a doubt, judgment on “Babylon” is coming. How soon? No one knows, but, the general consensus is soon. In Jeremiah 51, it appears that the King of Babylon survives to receive the news from various couriers regarding the wide-spread destruction of his Kingdom.  Will he be the one, who, like a phoenix will rise up out of the ashes to take control of what will be a new world order? I wouldn’t be surprised.

I believe, that Israel still has hope that America will be her defender. The destruction of the United States will settle that question once and for all.  With no one to defend her, Israel may finally be willing to agree to the demands being placed upon her – but, it will be, as the Bible describes it – a covenant with death.  In the end, it will be the Lord God Jehovah who will come to her rescue.

I wish I could say that the spirit of America, is the Holy Spirit of God, but, that is simply not the case and we all know it. As I write this, I wonder how, we, who bear the name of Jesus Christ can look ourselves in the mirror any longer. Read Jeremiah 50, 51 and Revelation 17,18 and you will be able to see how (outside the blood of Christ), God views this once great nation.

 May we truly and fully repent.

Babylon, the hour of your destruction is near!

 “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper who love thee”  Psalm 122:6   Watching and waiting with YOU for the soon return of Jesus!  Cindy

   July 23, 2008

“Remember O Lord, what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell, ‘Tear it down they cried, Tear it down to its foundations”  Psalm 137:7

A heartfelt thank you, to several who contributed to the subject of today’s post. Jeane in the comments section of my blog, Steve at Anakypto forum regarding an e-mail sent to me yesterday, Jim Bramlett on yesterday’s Five Doves and Michael Wellman for his outstanding studies on Celestial events and their relation to Jewish observances.

I received an e-mail from Steve Coerper of Anakypto forum posing the following question –

Why is the Western Wall still standing, when Jesus prophesied in Matthew 24:2, that not one stone would remain upon another; all would be thrown down?

Good question!  And, to tell you the truth, not one I had thought about before. The most obvious explanation, – because the Bible is always true – is that the prophecy has only partially been fulfilled; so far.

On yesterday’s Five Doves, Jim Bramlett posed the question: Is Barack Obama an Edomite?  If he is, then, I would say the above photo says a lot.

On July 23, 2008, then candidate Obama, Junior Senator of Illinois was in Jerusalem, where he was photographed placing a small piece of paper (assumed to be a prayer, which it was – as later revealed) in to one of the many crevices of the ancient Western Wall, as is the custom during daily prayers.

 As he stood there, hand on wall, one of the Rabbi’s, who had joined their group, read from Psalm 122:

“I was glad when they said unto me, let us go in to the house of the Lord. Our feet are standing in your gates O Jerusalem …. There the thrones for judgment stand, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper who love thee.  May there be peace within your walls …”

Twenty four hours later, Obama was in Berlin speaking to an enthusiastic crowd at the Victory Column, symbol of German national pride in Tiergarten Park.  His speech though widely received, also, drew criticism for his choice in locations, as the Victory Column was not only a source of German national pride, but, Nazi national pride. In his address to the citizens of Berlin, he spoke of walls that must come down; something he knew would resonate with a people who knew what it meant to live life divided by a wall. To a crowd, rapt with attention, he said:

   Vintage Decoration Day Greeting Card

One of the benefits of getting older is the ability to go around saying, “I remember when.”  I just turned 56 recently, which may or may not qualify me as a bona fide “old timer” (yet) -but, I am certainly old enough to remember when life in this country was very different; when this was a different America.

I read in the news this morning that President Obama had spent the afternoon playing golf on Memorial Day after laying a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier; an activity, which, I believe most people would probably not question.  I think if people on the street were ask, most would think it much to do about nothing.  After all, it’s his three-day weekend too!  So, what if he wants to play golf or catch the latest raunchy flick, Hang Over II,(which as far as I know, he did not, but record number of people did – the movie raking in record amounts of cash over the long holiday weekend).

The problem is this: If our Commander-in-Chief cannot set aside even one full day to spend time with the families whose loved ones made the ultimate sacrifice, how can he expect his fellow Americans to?  When will this the Commander-in-Chief begin to lead by example?  When will he demonstrate in front of Americans, his williness to sacrifice – even if its just giving up an afternoon at the links.

Memorial Day previously known as Decoration Day originated on May 5, 1868 and was initiated as a time to remember America’s war dead.  When I was a child, my parents and grandparents still referred to it as Decoration Day. I’m not sure when the “holiday” became a three-day weekend with opportunities for boating, camping and other activities that began to over-shadow the original purpose for the day, but, I remember, every year when Decoration Day came around, we, would make the 60 mile trip to where my grandfathers parents and brother were buried, so, that they along with the war heroes buried alongside them could be honored. 

In 1915, Moina Michael came up with the idea to make and tie red poppys for placing on the grave sites of America’s war dead. She was the first to make and sell them to her friends, the benefits of which went to war veterans, their widows and children.  I can still remember as a child seeing the ladies making and selling those red crepe paper poppys which sold for a few cents each, later to be placed at the gravesite of each fallen soldier. An activity both beneficial and unifying. Americans acting together for a collective cause.  The idea for the poppys inspired by a poem Moina Michael had written that same year.

“We cherish, too the poppy red, that grows on fields where valor led, It seems to signal to the skies, that blood of heroes never dies.”  http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html

Well, time’s change and that’s a fact. 

Today, Springfield, Mass was hit by the latest in a round of destructive and deadly tornadoes to devastate the country in the last few days. Springfield, Mass as many of you know, is known for the development of  the famous Springfield rifle in 1777.  On googling the history of the Springfield rifle, I found this to be of  interest:

At the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, located 90 miles west of Boston, visitors can see a piece of United States history. This was the location of the Springfield Arsenal, which later became the Springfield Armory. Established in 1777, the arsenal manufactured ammunition for the Continental forces in the Revolutionary War and served as a storage facility for various types of weaponry. It was from here that many of the small arms, cannons and other weapons went out to the forces of the fledgling nation. After the war Springfield Arsenal continued to function as one of the Army’s main weaponry depots. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Springfield,_Massachusetts

Has today’s tornado any connection to the events of this past Memorial Day week-end and a President who failed to recognize in an  honorable way those who paid the ultimate price.  I don’t know. But, it certainly could be.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper who love thee”.  Psalm 122:6   Watching and waiting  with YOU for the soon return of Jesus!  Cindy

    Jerusalem of Gold

Tomorrow, June 1 is Jerusalem Day.  Each year since May 12, 1968, the 28th of Iyar has been set aside in recognition of the Hebrew date on which the divided city of Jerusalem was reunified.  After 2,000 years, the Jewish hope expressed each year at Passover  –“next year in Jerusalem” became a reality.

On June 7, 1967, 28 Iyar 5727, one day after the start of what has become known as the six-day war on June 6, 1967, the old city of Jerusalem was brought back in to Jewish control and the city became unified once again.  Later that same day, Israeli Defense Minister, Moshe Dayan, had this to say:

   USS Arizona Memorial, Oahu, Hawaii

By the time most of you read this, Memorial day will have come and gone. I’ve been thinking about this all day and finally had to sit down to write. Across the country, time is taken to remember those who gave their lives in service to our country; a time for remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice.  While many attended ceremonies where speeches were made, fallen comrades and loves ones remembered and tears shed; many did not. I was one who did not.  I wonder if it is enough that they have been on my heart and mind all day.

I remember years ago, when my children were small, my husband and I took our two daughters on a walk to the cemetery on Memorial Day. We were living in a small Colorado town at the time and on the way to the cemetery, we passed a small house with a plaque in the window, which read – USS Arizona survivor.  My husband and I pointed out the plaque to our daughters and then went on to tell that what it was all about.  How on December 7, 1941,  the men of the USS Arizona and others of the Pacific fleet lost their lives in the surprise attack by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor on an early Sunday morn. My daughters were about 7 and 9 at the time and I remember them listening with rapt attention, eyes wide as they listened to the story.

 When we reached the small well-tended cemetery, American flags fluttered in the breeze, the smell of freshly mown grass and flowers filled the air.  It was quiet and peaceful; a sacred place in many ways – the bodies of those beneath our feet resting in the dignity they deserve. Our conversation then turned to the history of our country and how indebted we are to the brave men and women who serve.

I’m not sure how many details my daughters remember from this day, but, I remember it being very important to us to make time away from the potato salad and the hot dogs to share this with our children.  Did it impact their lives?  I believe it did, as both of my daughters went on to serve four years in the Navy aboard the USS John C Stennis, a fact, of which I am very proud.

I could never have guessed at that time, that many years later, I would be living in Hawaii, where the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor is literally in view from many points on the island.  When I go to the shopping mall, I can see it.  When I drive to work, I can see it. From the patio of one of my friends homes, I can see it.  A daily reminder, of the sacrifice so many have made.

Thanking God tonight for his mercy and his grace, for the freedom that is ours;  purchased by the blood of brave men and women, who deemed it an honor to give all that they  had.  From the bottom of my heart, I say, thank you!

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper who love thee” Psalm 122:6    Watching and waiting with YOU for the soon return of Jesus!   Cindy

We’ve all seen it by now.  The three-year error, President Obama made when dating the guest book at West Minster Abbey on May 24.  The question is, was it an error or was it deliberate?  I think either possibility lends itself to some very interesting questions.

I have to admit, I have done the same thing – written the wrong date, and I’m not talking about the day but, the year – and, I’ve been off by as much as a decade!  A subconscious longing for a previous phase of my life or early Alzheimer’s, I have no idea, and I’m afraid to guess!

Yesterday someone on Five Doves made the connection between the date 5/24/2008, (the date of the entry on the guest book at West Minster Abbey on May 24, 2011) and the infamous handwriting on the wall verses from Daniel chapter 5:24-28. And, given the events of this past week, I believe this has to be more than coincidence.   http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/may2011/harveyt527.htm 

In Daniel chapter 5, verses 24-28 King Belshazzar is put on notice that his kingdom has been found wanting by God and for this reason will be divided.  This pronouncement was made in full view of both King Belshazzar and those in attendance at the lavish banquet he had thrown.  With the mysterious appearance of the fingers and the writing that appeared on the wall, there was no mistaking it.

When President Obama incorrectly dated his entry in the guest book at West Minster Abbey, his gaffe made world-wide headlines and became a puzzling mystery for everyone except those of us who understand the correlation between Daniel 5:24-28 and the speech made by the President six days earlier on May 19 regarding the dividing of Israel.

You see, President Obama is all about division. Even the way he signs his signature is indicative of this with the second letter of his surname, the b – dividing the O.

Handwriting experts have attempted to interpret the Presidents signature and have this to say regarding the way he signs his name:

Obama’s signature reveals similar traits. The vertical straight line of the B in Obama cuts through the large O — which is nonetheless smaller than the B in Barack. “The very large B shows he also has a very strong sense of his own ego,” Rubin said. “And he is crossing out his family name,” he added, recalling that Obama’s father left the family when the front-runner for the Democratic nomination was just a young boy.

Yet another graphologist had a different interpretation of the bisected O: “He draws that circle and a line through it, and it’s really like he has two different worlds,” said Paula Sassi. “I think it shows his black and white heritage.” The fluidity of Obama’s signature is a sign of high intelligence, while its illegibility shows he is protecting his privacy. The large letters in Obama’s signature show that he is ambitious, self-confident and views himself as a leader.   http://thestarryeye.typepad.com/newage/2008/05/handwriting-and.html

I would go beyond these observations to say that the divided O reveals two other things: 

 1) The underlying character of the President and his divided nature – he claims to be American, but, is not, he claims to be Christian, but, is not, he claims to support Israel, but, does not.  He is a double–minded man.  And, the Bible says, a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.

2) The actions for which he will be remembered – history will show that the man who seeks division, will reap division.

Another thing I found interesting was the smallness of the letters in the comments he wrote regarding the shared sacrifices of the British with the Americans.  This is what one website had to say regarding small tight letters:

The following sample (*see link for sample) shows several uptight tendencies. We see independence, a critical, rather severe attitude and an economy of feeling. http://www.graphicinsight.co.za/writingsamples.htm

I thought the words independence, critical, severe attitude and economy of feeling were quite interesting and based on those observations would question the sincerity of the comments made by the President.

Brothers and sisters, the hand writing is on the wall and in full view for all to see. Those who have eyes to see and ears to hear will know. May we be faithful in what the Lord has revealed to us.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper who love thee”  Psalm 122:6    Watching and waiting with YOU for the soon return of Jesus!  Cindy

              “Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, ‘Who is this that darkens counsel with words without knowledge”  Job 38:1-2

What a week it has been!  The devastation taking place across the mid-section of our country is like nothing I have ever seen before.  With relentless force, one storm after another has pounded whole cities and neighborhoods into oblivion leaving death and destruction in its wake with hundreds, if not thousands of people affected.  With my  heart in my throat I’ve watched these images come across my computer screen and I have to say, I can’t even begin to imagine what these people have lived through.

These storms follow in the wake of two important events that took place this past week. 1) The Obama speech calling for Israel to return to its pre-1967 borders and, 2) the widely publicized prediction of a May 21 rapture.

Most of us who watch Bible prophecy closely see a direct correlation between pressure on Israel for dividing the land to the destructive events taking place through out the heart of our country. But, I think there may be a secondary reason as well.

I was speaking on the phone to my daughter (Seven Stars) about the Joplin, MO tornado, when she pointed out to me that the name Joplin  is most likely a derivative of the biblical name Job.  Well, I thought that was pretty interesting and had to look it up for myself, and she was right.

 The on-line source I read, stated that the name Joplin is most likely related to the Biblical name Job, as Biblical names had become quite popular following the return of the crusaders in the 12th century. It also said, that the name could be related to the word joppe, a word used to describe a professional jester, in other words, a fool.  A jester was a professional jokster, prangster and mocker who was allowed to say through political parody what regular people were not. http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Joplin    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jester

I’m certainly not suggesting that the citizens of Joplin are fools or anything like it, but, I do find the connection between the names to be quite interesting; first to Job and all his troubles and secondly, to fools and their mocking.  All the more interesting, when you consider that Joplin, MS was name for Reverend Harris Joplin, the founder of the areas first Methodist congregation.  The godly foundation of our country, sadly, uprooted like the trees and homes of the city which bore the greatest brunt of the tornados great fury.

I was thinking about this the other evening, (the sad effects of the tornado, the great mocking which had been taking place following the Camping prediction), when I sat down to read my Bible. I prayed as is my custom before reading and ask God to show me some insight in to the things that were on my mind. I then randomly opened my Bible and I had turned to Proverbs chapter 1. I began to read, wondering what it was God wanted to show me. When I came to verses 22-27, I think I knew.

“How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?  If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you. But, since you rejected me when I called and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand, since you ignored my advice and would not accept my rebuke. I in turn will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity over takes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.”  Proverbs 1:22-27

The Bible has a lot to say about fools and mocking and I believe that God has spoken in response to the events of this past week.  No doubt in my mind.  The world continues with business as usual, oblivious to the truth of what is happening around them; clueless, they try to make some sense of what they consider to be crazy weather patterns and the constant barrage of disasters now hammering this nation week after week, but, we, who are watching know, it isn’t a mystery to us  – out of the whirlwind, God has spoken.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper who love thee” Psalm 122:6     Watching and waiting with YOU for the soon return of Jesus!  Cindy

There’s no mistaking body language. President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu are at an impasse. The frustration of both men clearly etched on their faces. The larger framed Netanyahu, the rock that cannot be moved against the smaller framed Obama – physical opposites when you consider the tiny state of Israel against the nations of the world, but, spiritually equivalent, when you consider it will be the God of Israel who will fight on their behalf of the Jewish people and win. 

In the last couple of days, two amazing things have happened. Real time Bible prophecy has been fulfilled and all the world is talking. Who would have believed that “the rapture” and the issue of Jerusalem would share headlines on the very same day.  And, while the rapture as prophesied by Harold Camping is turning out to be a non-event, the timing of it is not.

People are talking about these issues.  People who have never heard the word rapture before are using it in full sentences.  At work, at the hair salon, in the grocery store – every where!  First thing this morning as I sat down in the hairdressers chair, my hairdresser had no more than clipped the plastic drape around my neck, when she said, “have you heard about the rapture, do you think its going to happen today?”  And, as far as I know, my hairdresser is not a Christian, her usual topic, the latest on American Idol or Dancing with the Stars as she snips away at my unruly locks. Topics I have little or no interest in as I never watch these programs.

But, today was different. Today, she initiated a conversation that led to a spiritual discussion and I was able to share a little bit with her about what the Bible really says, and that was amazing!

The media has created a circus out of Harold Camping and his predictions, but, that is only half the story. What we haven’t heard about are the quiet conversations that have taken place one on one; conversations that a week or two weeks ago, may never have been possible.

The Bible tells us that all things work together for good and as misguided as Harold Camping may be, wouldn’t it be just like God to bring the issue of the rapture to the forefront before it actually happens?  I for one, welcomed the opportunity to hear a change in conversation from the usual tabloid patter that keeps people so pre-occupied that they are unable to see what is really happening in the world around them.

Most people have no idea why the middle-East is such a big deal.  Aside from the threat of terrorism and the price of gas at the pump, most people have only a vague idea why any or this matters.  It’s so much easier to just stay distracted.  Anything that threatens to shake us out of our complacency or rock our boat, is not welcome.

When the issue over Jerusalem begins to threaten our status quo, a great out-cry will be heard and Israel, the rock that cannot be moved will be hated by everyone; and most, if not all, will believe that if not for the stubborn Jews, world peace might be achieved.

President Obama and the other nations as represented by the Quartet and the UN have set out upon a course which will lead to disaster.  The road upon which they have set leads to one place and one place only – the valley of Meggido. And, it’s a very short road. 

Friends, in the last few days, God has provided opportunities for sharing the message of his soon coming in ways we had never expected. Tonight, LA Marzulli will be on the very popular night-time radio talk program Coast to Coast and he will be discussing the issue of the rapture with talk show host George Noory.  Please take a few minutes to pray for him, I know he would appreciate it. May God speak through him by the power of the Holy Spirit regarding the real truth of the rapture and the hope that is found in the soon coming of Jesus Christ.

Romans 9:33 

  “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble
   and a rock that makes them fall,
   and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”^[m]

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper who love thee” Psalm 122:6    Waiting and watching with YOU for the soon return of Jesus!  Cindy