Excerpt from Cynthia Sowa's 'Wonderful Counselor'

 

"Revelation is the only book in the Bible that where we are specifically told that we are blessed if we read it (Rev 1:3). No wonder there is blessing in this book; it unveils Jesus as God, Jesus as victor over Satan and the grave, Jesus as advocate, Jesus as ruler of the universe forever and ever. Given that, it also stands to reason why Satan has invested so much effort into keeping us away from this book. It heralds his doom." -Cynthia Sowa, 'Wonderful Counselor'

I have been guilty of putting the book of Revelation off for many years now. I picked up some of it in high school, a little bit in college, and a few pages after. After been given this book, I realize now how important it is for me (and you) to put forth the effort to read it. It does amaze me that out of all of the books in the Bible, that God does pinpoint this particular book, and ONLY book, if read, to come with promise of blessings. Are those blessings for this life or for the eternal life? It doesn't say nor does it bother me to which side of glory I receive those on. What does matter to me is that I need to keep studying this book for my own sake and my family's.

Cynthia has a good point, doesn't she?

"Given that, it also stands to reason why Satan has invested so much effort into keeping us away from this book. It heralds his doom." (15)

Satan knows that his time is limited. One sign of this is his rapid involvement in our society, national and international. How many stories have you heard of babies being raped, sodomized, killed, and tortured on a daily basis? ISIS scoundrels burning men alive, raping children, marrying small girls, and beheading Christians. Sons and daughters turning against their parents in a fit of rage by stabbing or shooting them. Children going missing and babies bred only to be sold into human trafficking for the sole purpose of becoming a sex slave to one or more people. We must not forget that we are in his territory. Satan is an instigator. Satan likes to push God's buttons and what better else way to start but with children? Why children? God specifically had a warning for those who brought harm to children when Jesus said:

"But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." Matthew 18:6

That verse should bring fear to anyone who dares dream of harming a child. Children are innocent and they love unconditionally as Christ does. Satan chooses these children because he is evil and it is in his nature to not hold back when it comes to committing perverted acts upon them.

After diving into this book, given to me by my friends, the Griswold's, it is hard for me to put it down. I have regained a renewed interest in the book of Revelation. Everything within me wants to know what Jesus was trying to tell John about what was going to happen and the only way to do that, is to pick Revelation up and read it. Before you read it, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal God's Word to you. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the unyielding desire to pick it up time and time again. It is our responsibility to be able to discern the times that we are going through. Jesus will come back again. Are you ready? Am I ready? Dive into Revelation and if you are anything like me, it will not come easy but authors like Cynthia Sowa break it down for you verse by verse. She backs up everything she says with scripture from the OT prophets to the NT apostles. If you don't want the book, there are other ways that can help you study along with Revelations. Pray and ask God for guidance and remember, this is a book worth reading considering that God promises to bless you for reading the pages of it. Do you really want to make the devil flee? Start reading aloud Revelation and it will verbally remind the devil of his doom. Enjoy the journey.

A Love Worth Finding

I know it can be tough being single and especially tough when it falls on this blasted pagan day that we know as "Valentine's Day." Ugh, right? Well, don't fret too prematurely. Being single is not such a bad thing regardless of what society might tell you. Being single can sometimes be something that we have absolute no control over and that's okay, too.

Whether divorce, death, or choice leaves you alone this year, know that there is One who will never leave you. Out of all the boyfriends or girlfriends, husbands or wives you may have gone through, God WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU. Sometimes I think that we put too much emphasis on a person and in return, we lose sight of the One who loves us unconditionally.

I, unfortunately, am not an affectionate person...just ask my husband. Ever since the day we started dating, I never made a move. I was a single mom at that time and I was working 3 jobs with a child to raise and with bitterness hanging over my shoulder like a dead weight, I wasn't about to go chase some guy down for attention. No ma'am. I always allowed Dustin (my husband) to make the first move because I just never could focus enough to slow down and give that time of affection to him. Fortunately, my husband is super affectionate and has to have constant attention so it balances itself out in our situation (I still tease him to this day when I dub him as the woman of the relationship! lol).

So, if finding yourself single this time around, please keep in mind that you have someone who loves you and what's more delightful than knowing that He will never leave you nor forsake you. When I think of God's unwavering love, Romans 8:37-39 immediately comes to mind:

"Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Be patient. God will send you the one when you put Him as thee top priority in your life. Focus on Him, keep that nose stuck in God's Word, pray diligently, and you will find yourself slowly leading to a direction that is not only pleasing to you, but to God. So go out and have fun today and focus on what you should be focusing on. Take a friend out, a loved one, or just stay home and relax while you can! The 14th will pass soon and the 15th will be just another day, so enjoy each day fully as long as they last! Do a deed! :)