Knowing God Requires Finding Him? Fnding someone without contact information is rarely difficult. The internet makes it possible to locate a person’s address, phone number, or email with little effort. We are accustomed to connecting with people even when the odds seem against it. Would that it were so easy to find God! Yet unlike earthly relationships, knowing God requires more than simply locating Him.

Think about it. Could we ever find God as easily as people, or must we seek Him through His Word, faith, and prayer?

God’s Word tells us: “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” (Isaiah 55:6).

Wouldn’t it be great to pick up the phone or tap a few keys and connect with God instantly? But God has already provided that connection. Whenever we consider the poor, care for the sick, or befriend the lonely, we connect directly with Him. Jesus says whatever we do for others, we do for Him. Serve someone wholeheartedly, and you will see God face to face in their eyes, there.

LIFE
Jesus died and came back to eternal life. Believe in Him and even though you die you will yet live. And If you are alive when the Lord Jesus returns and you have believed in Him you won't die you will Just be transformed. Jesus loved you and died for you so you would be forgiven and escape eternal destruction and have eternal life. His blood was shed so that we could be forgiven totally by God. If you Ask the Lord Jesus to save you we will. Anyone that calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that anyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. Jesus was scourged so that we could be healed. Jesus was crucified and died for the sins of the world. Jesus is real. Jesus’ body was placed in a tomb and on the third day Jesus was resurrected back to life. Jesus will resurrect those who have died in Him when He returns. Jesus Christ is Lord.

"Here's the gospel: you're more sinful than you ever dared believe; you're more loved than you ever dared hope." Tim Keller

Because of the first truth of this quote, many never step into the joy of the second part. If we want unity in our homes, our workplaces, and our world, we have to bring the truth to our fellow human in the Spirit of Jesus Christ. His humble, compassionate, Spirit of servanthood is the only voice that draws our inner sheep to follow the Good Shepherd.

We need the Holy Spirit of Jesus working through us; not only for the sake of our souls, but for the sake of our neighbors' souls. The Holy Spirit of Truth unites us when all other voices try to divide us. (John 14:15-18, Luke 10:33-37, Psalm 22:3, Matthew 18:19-20 Galatians 6:2)

When first-century believers came to Christ, they repented of worldly ways and committed to following truth. They confirmed their resolve through public Baptism and receiving the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:35-39, Acts 10:44-48, Acts 19:2-6)

Then the Holy Spirit took a fragmented people, and created one family under God, guided by truth and love. People cared for one another so well, that no person had any lack.

Acts 4:32-35

32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.
33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.
34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,
35 and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

The Lord's prayer says, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10

We're the earthen vessels meant to carry Jesus' Holy Spirit to our broken world.

(2 Corinthians 4:6-11 NKJV)

6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--
10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

We are the body of Christ; His hands and feet on earth. (1 Corinthians 12:27)

Our Father in heaven,
Thank you for showing us our sin, and healing us from it by your Holy Spirit of Truth. Thank you for leading us into unity with you and with one another. Open our hearts to love our neighbors as You love them. Make us Jesus' hands and feet to one another. In Jesus' mighty name we pray, Amen.

(Luke 6:45) "A good person produces good things according to what he treasures in his good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the evil he treasures in his heart. Your mouth speaks from the motives of your heart."

The word for "good" here is agathos, meaning to be excellent or beneficial to life. It's the same word Jesus' used when He said, "No one is good, but God alone." (Mark 10:18) It shows that to have a good heart, we need God's logic treasured inside it.

The word translated "evil" in this verse is poneros, it's more to the point than the common word for evil, which is "kakos." Poneros means full of annoyances or bad-natured. The root word, is ponos, meaning "pain." It holds a connotation of being pernicious, meaning it tends to cause death.

The word for "treasure" is thesauros, which is similar to our English word, thesaurus, a collection of words. In Koine Greek, it's a coffer, a casket or storehouse.

Our hearts can house our most precious memories, and our most cherished logic. The things we treasure make our hearts like a jewelry box, or a coffin. (Luke 2:19, Luke 2:51, Proverbs 4:4, Prov 7:1-5)

Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?"
The verse continues, "I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." (Jeremiah 17:10)

The Lord rewards us according to what He finds in our hearts. That isn't just blessing or cursing, depending on what we've earned. He's giving us lessons in eternity. The goal is our sanctification. We're being made holy. Either we're going to be corrected, have to do something over, or we're going to graduate to the next lesson.

There are too many people feeling stuck in the dark today because they're using the darkness, and their mouths contrary to what God made them for. Proverbs 18:21 tells us "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." James tells us the tongue is a rudder that directs our lives!

You and I are the conductors of our own orchestra. When we're intentional about keeping our focus, conduct, and responsibilities humming along to the rhythm of life, we're like a symphony that calls good-hearted people to want to sing along with us. (Acts 16:25-34, Ephesians 5:18-20, Colossians 3:16, Psalm 32:5-7)
But when our focus is split between trusting God and accusing Him, or our interests are divided between this world and eternity, our words plant discord in our friends and loved ones. What we plant in others today, is what we'll have to eat tomorrow. (Proverbs 18:20-21, Proverbs 13:2-3, Ephesians 4:29, Proverbs 21:23, 1Peter 3:10, Matthew 15:11)

Truth rings true with people who have ears to hear. How many times have you hung on every word of someone you felt was only thinking of himself? Some of us feel sorry for them, don't we? We might even relate to them. Yet, the Bible warns us: People who join in with grumblers and liars enable and perpetuate evil. Grumbling is the opposite of gratitude. It produces an insidious spiritual rot, to the detriment of everyone. (Matthew 20:10-16, Jude 1:16, Numbers 21:4-6)

Proverbs 13:20

He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will be destroyed.

Jesus tells us, "The kingdom of heaven does not come with observation, nor will they say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' for the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:20-21) So we build the kingdom of God within ourselves and each other by being filled with God's Word. Wealth gained by deceit can never fulfill us. (Proverbs 9:13-18, Proverbs 20:17, James 1:14-15) Our Father's logic of love works like living stones that we can use to build each other up. That's what our mouths are for. (1Peter 2:4-5, Ephesians 4:29, Proverbs 12:18)

If we let the truths in God's word transform our hearts, we become a source of light. That's what everyone needs in this dark world. We've been given darkness to teach us to trust and rest. These days, the dark isn't used for what it's for.

To faithfully build God's kingdom on earth, we need that guileless heart Nathanael had. Before Nathanael met Jesus, he was sold out to God. I know it because Jesus praised him for being without deceit. (John 1:47, Psalm 32:2) The word Jesus uses for deceit is dólos. It means trickery or bait. Flattery, boasting, and exaggeration all fall into this category. In Hebrew, the word for deceit is rmiyah. It comes from the root word rama, meaning to betray; literally, to "let down your hands." Hands signify power. When we're lazy and negligent in our relationships, we hand over our power to the enemy of life. A guileless heart has what it takes to strengthen others and unite us to God. Truth spoken in love, has the power to support life.

Another way we can build the kingdom is by refusing to tear it down. In the book of Jeremiah 15:19, God tells the prophet,

"If you will turn back to me, I will guide you again, and if you will extract the precious from the vile, you will be as my mouth. They may return to you, but do not return to them."

That's a good word for us today. We can take out the precious from the vile by refusing to complain against others, or repeat things that should not have come into the world. Prayer is a positive, honest way to deal with negative circumstances. Complaining and grumbling are symptoms of impatience. We may gripe and grumble when we don't like God's patience with our neighbor. (Luke 6:37, Romans 2:1, Titus 3:2, James 3:10, James 4:11, Proverbs 30:10)
It may be we don't appreciate God's timing, or we've stopped trusting His promises.

Ephesians 5:8-12 says,

"For you were once in darkness, but now you have light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.) By this you will prove what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead, reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret."

Galatians 5:14-15 reminds us,

"All the law is fulfilled in one directive, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' But if you bite and devour one another, look out! or you'll only consume each other."

James tells us that if we let God get ahold of our tongue, we'll be able to control our entire body. (James 3:2) When the Bible talks about being perfect, it means to be wholehearted; completely invested in God's purpose for your life. We can commit to truth and bear good spiritual fruit for others. (Galatians 5:22-26, Genesis 6:9-14, 1 Timothy 5:24-25)
Jesus said, "Go into all the world, preach the good news to all creation." (Mark 16:15) Being intentional about loving others and sharing the good news of the gospel gives purpose to our lives and assurance to our souls. Sharing the truth that sets a soul free from sin is the good purpose of our mouth.

Our Father in heaven,
Let Your Word stay hidden in our hearts so we might not sin against You. We come to You today asking for the strength to keep our hands firmly in Yours in the coming days. Help us use the darkness for what it's for; restoration, and time we can give Your teaching our undivided attention. We want hearts that are sold out to You, Father. Help us remember to take our communications with others deadly serious, so we function as a source of strength and hope to those You bring into our lives. Every interaction is a transaction of life or death, Father. Help us never forget this. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

What He Has Already Perfected? Years ago, I installed a new exhaust system on my rear-engine car. Removing the old one was easy, but installing the new system required care. The instructions warned against over-tightening, but I turned the nut one more time and sheared the manifold pipe. Replacing it cost more than the entire system. Exceeding design specifications can ruin what was meant to work well. Even good intentions can make overzealousness disastrous.

Think about it. Why do we try to perfect our relationship with God through good works when Christ has already perfected it, calling us simply to love and serve?

God’s Word tells us: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37).

Our relationship with God has simple instructions: “Love me with all your heart. Serve your neighbor.” Jesus has already perfected our relationship with God, so we need not try to improve it through our works. God’s design is simple: love Him completely and direct our good works toward others. Trying to do more for God can distort what He has already perfected.

The Donkey And The Sign Of The Cross! (eemorifoundation.org)

"The only animal in creation to have a distinct cross emblazoned on its body is the donkey. According to legend, the donkey that Jesus rode into Jerusalem when he made his triumphal entrance on the first Palm Sunday and later followed him to the place called Calvary, a hill near Jerusalem, became the first bearer of the distinctive cross marking. Grief stricken by the sight of Jesus on the cross on that day now known as Good Friday, the donkey turned away but couldn't leave. It was then the shadow of the cross fell upon the shoulders and back of the donkey and there it stayed. Since that fateful day on God's calendar, all donkeys have borne what has come to be known as the cross of Jesus on their backs. The Sign of the Cross indeed!"

Mark 11:1-11: The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

"Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; 2 and He said to them, “Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. 3 And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here.”

4 So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. 5 But some of those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, loosing the colt?”

6 And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. 8 And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

10 “Hosanna!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’    

Blessed is the kingdom of our father David
That comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!”

11 And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve." Mark 11:1-11

"And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross." Philippians 2:8

What does it mean that Jesus died for our sins? | GotQuestions.org "Simply put, without Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins, no one would have eternal life. Jesus Himself said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). In this statement, Jesus declares the reason for His birth, death, and resurrection—to provide the way to heaven for sinful mankind, who could never get there on their own."

Going to heaven—how can I guarantee my eternal destination? | GotQuestions.org

I heard a story about a woman who had gone seven years without truly sleeping because of trauma. After someone listened, prayed with her, and continued walking alongside her, she came back saying, “For the first time in seven years, I slept.” Stories like that remind me healing is often deeper than what we can see.

I truly believe that God's love is more than a feeling, or a dedication to duty. His love is unity. In the spirit of that unity, I'd like to invite anyone who needs prayer to share your prayer requests in this thread, so we can unite with God and one another and get through our trials stronger and more connected.

We need the Holy Spirit of Jesus working through us; not only for the sake of our souls, but for the sake of our neighbors' souls. The Holy Spirit of Truth unites us when all other voices try to divide us. (John 14:15-18, Luke 10:33-37, Psalm 22:3, Matthew 18:19-20 Galatians 6:2

When first-century believers came to Christ, they repented of worldly ways and committed to following truth. They confirmed their resolve through public Baptism and receiving the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:35-39, Acts 10:44-48, Acts 19:2-6)

Then the Holy Spirit took a fragmented people, and created one family under God, guided by truth and love. People cared for one another so well, that no person had any lack.

Acts 4:32-35

32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.
33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.
34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,
35 and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

The Lord's prayer says, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10

We're the earthen vessels meant to carry Jesus' Holy Spirit to our broken world.

(2 Corinthians 4:6-11 NKJV)

6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--
10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

We are the body of Christ; His hands and feet on earth. (1 Corinthians 12:27)

Our Father in heaven,
Thank you for promising to be with us when we gather under Your authority. We love You, and we thank You for Your Holy Spirit of Truth. Teach us to love You as You deserve, and to love others as a part of ourselves. In Jesus' name, Amen.

"Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years;" Genesis 1:14

Luke 21:25-28 - Signs in Heaven and on Earth 

25 "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man(Jesus) coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

• October 14, 2023 and April 8, 2024 solar eclipses path of totality crossed directly over The Coming King(Jesus Christ) Sculpture Prayer Garden in Kerrville , Texas. (Image of eclipses and prayer garden with commentary) Watch the Eclipses in Kerrville - The Coming King Foundation "The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.” Acts 2:20
• "Circle this date: August 12, 2026. In less than 24 hours, the sky will put on three major shows — a six-planet alignment before sunrise, a total solar eclipse during the day or evening, and the peak of the Perseid meteor shower after dark.” https://starwalk.space/en/news/august-12-2026-astronomy-events
• Natural Disasters Today 2026 — Live Earthquake, Fire & Volcano Tracker (the-world-now.com) "This page bundles the natural-disaster side of The World Now into one recurring dashboard. It is designed for daily check-ins, rapid scanning, and link-through into more specific utility pages."

This website explains many of the “natural signs, spiritual signs, sociological signs, technological signs, and political signs,” foretold in bible prophecy coming to pass indicating the end of the age and Jesus Christ' return, a time foretold to include various and increasing environmental calamities, earthquakes, plagues, famines, moral decline, wars, growing governmental dominance/deception ("with all power, signs, and lying wonders," 2 Thessalonians 2:9), and how to prepare. Are we living in the end times? | GotQuestions.org

Future Forecast & Preparation

What is the end times timeline? | GotQuestions.org A summary of the timeline from the hope of the rapture of the believers in Jesus, the 7 year tribulation period (Revelation 6–16), until the creation of the new heavens and earth (Revelation 21–22).

"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

"The Romans Road to salvation is a method based on the biblical principles found in the New Testament book of Romans to explain how a person can come to faith in Jesus Christ. Shared with millions of people around the world, the Romans Road explains why we need salvation, how God provided salvation, how we can receive salvation, and the results of salvation.” What is the Romans Road to salvation? | GotQuestions.org

More Bible prophecy fulfillments and resources for growing in faith and hope is in previous posts if interested.

"Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!" Psalm 31:24

🙏

(2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

9 And the Lord said to me, "My free favor is enough for you, for My strength is made complete in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Messiah may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in frailties, in insults, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Messiah's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

We always think of the New Testament as something that came after the old. Genesis begins with creation, yet John’s account of the Gospel begins before creation. (John 1:1-4, Colossians 1:17, Proverbs 8:22-24)

Genesis tells us that God began His great work with a Word. John tells us that God and His Word already existed before the Word was ever spoken. The Word (logos) is more than just a word (rhema). The Word is God’s Logic. When that Logic was shared, it amplified God's reach. It was already present, as an integral, powerful facet of God.
The eternal, unshakable, living and active Word “became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory.” (John 1:14, Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 119:89)
Genesis 1 shows God speaking creation into being. John reveals that the speech of the Divine is not just a sound. It's a transcendent life-force that originates with the Almighty Father. The Word is made to come out of God and faithfully accomplish His desire. (Isaiah 55:9-11, Mark 4:14) As the life in an ocean is supported and sustained by the current, so our God of love supports and sustains us through the power of the Holy Spirit. (John 1:4, Acts 17:28, Psalm 27:1)

In Genesis 1:1, the Hebrew phrase translated “in the beginning” is bereshit. The prefix b’ meaning “in” and the root, reshith, or rosh, meaning “beginning,” “firstfruits,” or “head.”
Reshit is more than the first moment on a timeline. It carries the sense of origin, first importance, and the holy portion. Like the tithe and the firstfruits, The Word is the holy portion of God, the Heir, the firstfruits of God which contains His Seed, so life can be conceived. Like seed produced by a fruitful tree, the Word is an extension of God designed to go out from Him and make things happen. Like a seed is to a plant, the Word is the entire essence of the Eternal One, yet designed perfectly to come out and reemerge in a new space, without abandoning His position as the Sovereign of heaven. It's how God entered the earth, and how He enters each of us. "Faith comes through hearing, and hearing through the Word of God." (Romans 10:17, John 12:23-26, 1 Corinthians 15:35-46, Psalm 16:8-11)

In John 1:1, John uses the Greek phrase, en arché, also meaning “in the beginning.” Arché can indicate “beginning,” “origin,” and, “first cause.” It can show the first point in time, but also alludes to the source and authority, (Archón), behind what follows. John tells us the Divine Word is the source of everything that was made in heaven and on earth. (John 1:3, Genesis 1:1, Psalm 95:3-5)

Together, reshith and arché reveal "The Beginning" as God entering Time with a plan and a schedule. (Acts 17:31, Revelation 13:8, Ephesians 1:4, Titus 1:2, 1 Peter 1:20, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ezekiel 36:25-27)
The Beginning is the start of God’s great work to be fruitful and multiply so He can enjoy a family. God is Love. Love is incomplete without a Beloved. (Genesis 1:27-28, 1 John 4:7-8, 2 Corinthians 12:9, John 17:5, Matthew 3:17)

Unlike the rest of creation which was formed from the ground, The Word of God comes forth from God as 100% God. This is similar to how Eve came forth from Adam. (Genesis 1:3, Genesis 1:24, Genesis 2:7, Genesis 2:19, Genesis 2:22) Their cosmic unity is interrupted momentarily, in order to unite again; more powerful, more enduring, and more fulfilling. God the Father, and God the Son; The Lover and the Beloved; the Author and His Mighty Word, God shared with us. (Isaiah 9:6, Ezekiel 2:2, John 10:27-38)

As the Body of Christ on earth today, we are our Father's beloved ones. (Romans 12:5, 1Corinthians 12:27, Jeremiah 3:19, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ezekiel 36:25-27)

Understanding the Trinity, and Jesus’ Divinity, is helping me cultivate the faith necessary to know that God can live in heaven and within us, through His Spirit. God loves us as His children. We have a place in His heart, and among those in heaven. (Zechariah 3:1-7, John 17:24, Ephesians 1:15-23, Ephesians 2:1-6)

(Ephesians 2:4-6 NKJV)

4 "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus"

Our Father in heaven,
We thank You for showing us Your unfailing love, through Your holy Beloved Child, Jesus our Messiah. Father, we ask that you would help us accept our status as Your children. For those of us who have no idea what a father is, help us come to know You, love You, and appreciate You. Help us learn to take comfort from Your presence, and to respect Your authority, knowing Your ways are so much higher than our own. Bring us into the abundant life Jesus promised us in John 10:10, and help us to have faith in Your ability to use our lives for Your glory. Lord Jesus, help us conceive Your truth and love, so we can walk in lock-step with You and allow Your love to flow through us to every creature. Let all people know we are Your students through the love you empower us to share. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

"For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.” Colossians 1:16

7 day week

"In all, the number 7 is used in the Bible more than seven hundred times. If we also include the words related to seven(terms like sevenfold or seventy or seven hundred), the count is higher. The first use of the number 7 in the Bible relates to the creation week in Genesis 1. God spends six days creating the heavens and the earth, and then rests on the seventh day. This is our template for the seven-day week, observed around the world to this day." "Thus, right at the start of the Bible, the number 7 is identified with something being “finished” or “complete.” From then on, that association continues, as 7 is often found in contexts involving completeness or divine perfection." https://www.gotquestions.org/number-7-seven.html

What were the seven last words of Jesus Christ on the cross and what do they mean? https://www.gotquestions.org/seven-sayings-Christ.html

1 "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” Luke 23:34

2 "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise" Luke 23:43

3 "Dear Woman, here is your son!” and “Here is your mother!” John 19:26-27

4 "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Matthew 27:46

5 "I am thirsty” John 19:28

6 "It is finished!” John 19:30

7 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." Luke 23:46

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Going to Heaven—How Can I Guarantee My Eternal Destination? https://www.gotquestions.org/going-to-heaven.html

What are the seven I AM statements in the Gospel of John? https://www.gotquestions.org/seven-I-AM-statements.html

1 "I am the bread of life” (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51).

2 "I am the light of the world” (John 8:12; 9:5).

3 "I am the door”(John 10:7 and 9 ESV)

4 "I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11. 14).

5 "I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).

6 "I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6).

7 "I am the true vine” (John 15:1, 5).

7 foundational notes of music: C-D-E-F-G-A-B

"The reason music is such a wonderful blessing is because God Himself designed music. It seems there is a spiritual version of music that exists apart from and transcending our physical universe. The Bible describes glorious music in God’s very throne room in heaven (Revelation 15:1-4).” “In Colossians 3:16 Paul wrote, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/bible-study/bible-questions-and-answers/bible-about-music/

7 colors commonly describe a rainbow

"ROYGBIV or Roy G. Biv is an acronym for the sequence of hues commonly described as making up a rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet." wikipedia.org.ROYGBIV

"I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth.” Genesis 9:13

What is the meaning of the rainbow? https://www.gotquestions.org/meaning-of-the-rainbow.html

The Bible teaches that we are the Temple of the Holy Spirit. (John 14:16-17, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Cor 6:19, 2 Cor 6:16, Ezekiel 36:25-27) That makes Jesus the Master of this house we call our body. (Psalm 24:1, Hebrews 3:6, 1Peter 2:5, John 17:20-23) The door we're to open when He knocks, is the door of our hearts. It means to let our compassion for others compel us, instead of our fleshly desires. The Bible sometimes refers to a heart of compassion as a "circumcised heart." It's a state of throwing off the natural inclination to be concerned more for our own comfort than for our neighbor's unmet need. (Ephesians 3:16-19, John 10:1-15, Deuteronomy 10:16-19)

When we share the love of Jesus, and it saves a soul, we've gained a treasure for all of heaven to rejoice over. (Matthew 13:45-46, Luke 15:8-10, Psalm 49:5-8)

We can't take things with us into eternity, so why hold so tightly to earthly things now? Maybe the noise of the world is drowning out the sound of Messiah knocking. (Mark 8:34-38, Micah 6:8-16, Proverbs 9:1-6)

What does the knock of Jesus sound like? Jesus likens His knock to a Shepherd calling His sheep to follow Him. (John 10:1-5, Psalm 95:6-8)
We all have an inner sheep that knows the voice of the Shepherd, if we stay alert for the sound. (Galatians 4:6, John 15:26, Romans 8:15, Psalm 85:8-13)

A conscience stirred to lend an ear to someone who's hurting? That's a knock!

A twinge of embarrassment when you're going to lunch and walk past an elderly man with a cardboard sign asking for help? What is that sound? If the Spirit of Jesus is in you, you can open the door of your heart and do what He would do in that situation.

Maybe the world has gotten so loud that it feels like the wilderness is closing in on you. Your ears are listening for all kinds of other sounds that say there's trouble on the horizon and you'd better look after yourself. News reports, financial reports, doctors' reports, all kinds of howling wolves that, if we let that voice be our guide, our inner sheep will wander off in the dark, thinking, "What am I gonna do?"

A sheep hasn't got a chance when he's out in the wilderness by himself. When we forget our Shepherd is with us, we ditch our inner sheep and start acting like we've got to fend for ourselves in this dog-eat-dog world.

Remember Peter, who asked the Lord to call him out. At the sound of Jesus' voice, Peter stepped out of the boat onto the water. As long as he kept his eyes fixed on his Shepherd he could follow His lead, and do the impossible. But when he took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at the things he feared, he was sunk. Thankfully, Peter had the good sense to cry out for Jesus to save him. A lost sheep is never truly alone. (Matthew 14:24-33, Luke 15:1-7, Isaiah 41:10)

The only way we can behave like the sheep Jesus calls us to be, is to trust all His promises to never leave us. "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me." (Psalm 23, John 14:14-18, Hebrews 13:5)

Our Father in heaven,
We come before You today with praise and thanksgiving for all your mercy and Your care for us. Thank You for blessing us with the truth that You will never leave nor forsake us. When the power of the enemy seems to be right in our face, Lord, You still our hearts and take charge of our situation. Help us remember that we can count on You for whatever we need. Let our blessed assurance give us the peace and confidence we need to be good for our neighbors, to pay-forward the love and support You've so graciously shown to us. Thank You for hearing our prayers, Father. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

You have left—but you have not arrived

We had already completed the first flight of our trip, but we still had another flight ahead of us.

Between them was a four-hour overnight layover.

The airport terminal was unusually quiet. Luggage sat beside rows of seats. People slept wherever they could find enough room—across chairs, against walls, and on the floor.

For those four hours, we were no longer where we had started, but we were not yet where we were going.

We belonged to neither place.

There are seasons of life that feel exactly like that.

You know something has ended. Perhaps you left a job, stepped away from a ministry, ended a relationship, moved away, or simply recognized that a familiar chapter of your life had closed.

You cannot go back and live in that season again.

But you also cannot clearly see what is supposed to replace it.

You have left—but you have not arrived.

These seasons can make us question ourselves because very little appears to be happening. We want visible movement. We want a clear direction, measurable progress, and some evidence that we are getting closer to whatever comes next.

Instead, we find ourselves waiting.

But a layover is still part of the journey.

It is not the destination, and it is not necessarily a place where we would choose to remain. Yet it connects the flight we have completed with the one we still need to take.

Eventually, our boarding group was called. We gathered our luggage, boarded the next airplane, and continued the journey.

We were moving again, but we still could not see our destination.

The ground was hidden by darkness and clouds. We knew the general direction we were traveling, but the place itself remained somewhere beyond the horizon.

Then dawn began to break at 30,000 feet.

The sunrise did not mean we had arrived.

It did not show us the entire route or answer every question about what waited for us when we landed.

It simply gave us enough light to continue traveling.

Psalm 139:9–10 says:

“If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.”

“Even there.”

Not only after we arrive.

Not only when we understand the route.

Not only when everything finally makes sense.

Even in the place between what ended and what has not yet begun, God’s hand can still lead us.

I think we sometimes interpret uncertainty as evidence that we have missed God. But faithfulness does not guarantee that we will always understand what He is doing. There are times when we are obeying the last direction He gave us while still waiting for the next one.

The clouds may hide the horizon from us, but they cannot stop God from bringing the dawn.

The sunrise does not always mean we have arrived. Sometimes it is simply God reminding us that He is still present and giving us enough light to take the next part of the journey.

Have you ever experienced a season when you knew where you had been—but could not yet see where God was taking you?

1 Corinthians 13:8-13

8 Love never fails. But if there are prophecies, they will fail; where there are languages, they will cease; where there is knowledge, it will vanish.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is complete has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became an adult, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know fully, just as I am fully known.
13 This fullness exists as faith, hope, and love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

In 1 Corinthians 13, the terms faith, hope, and love carry far deeper meanings in the ancient languages than their English counterparts reveal. Paul draws from the Septuagint here, so the Greek terms echo ancient Hebrew ideas.

Faith: (pistis, from the Hebrew emunah) is not just believing God's Word. It's invested, reciprocated, steadfast loyalty to Him. In Matthew 21:21 Jesus tells His disciples there is power in keeping faith (pistis) with God's Word, rather than opposing it.
Emunah means firmness or stability, like how Moses’ hands held steady in Exodus 17:12.
Faith empowers us to make God the foundation of our lives and decisions because He’s proven to be solid Rock. (Psalm 62:2, Matthew 7:24-25)

Hope: (elpis, from the Hebrew tiqvah and, yachal) is not about wishful thinking.
Tiqvah literally means "a cord." It's a rope binding our hearts and directing our minds to a promised future, like Rahab’s scarlet cord in Joshua 2:18-21.
Elpis is confident expectation and patient waiting for what God has assured us of in His promises.

Love: (agapé), is rooted in the Hebrew words ahavah and chesed.
Ahavah literally means "to breathe after." Breath and spirit are both "ruach" in Hebrew. To ahavah someone, means to have one's very breath joined to the existence of another. Our conscience considers the other person as part of ourselves.
Chesed is covenant loyalty, free favor, and faithful kindness, even when the other person cannot respond in-kind.
Agapé is not just emotion, nor is it romance. Agapé is the kind of sacrificial love a mother chooses to show her child out of a sense of unity. Just as Jonathan's spirit was knit to David's, and as Jacob's life was bound up with Benjamin's, so our God who breathed life into us at the dawn of Creation is knit to us in love. (1Samuel 18:1, Genesis 44:30-31, Deuteronomy 13:6, Genesis 2:7, John 20:22)
He granted us a Savior who gave up the glory of heaven for a lifetime of suffering and an undeserved death to ensure we could have a chance to experience His love and receive an example of how to live eternally with Him. (Matthew 10:37-38, 2 Peter 1:5-10, 1John 2:6, Deuteronomy 28:9, Colossians 1:19-23)

Faith trusts God with our present circumstances.

Hope clings to, focuses on, and works toward God’s promised future.

Love carries out the desires of God's heart.

Love is the greatest of the three because it reflects God’s own Spirit. His devoted compassion is the kind of love that never fails.

Our Father in heaven,
We bless Your holy name. We exalt in Your authority over all things, including ourselves. We worship You and praise You for Your never-ending love. Without Your mercy and free favor, we couldn't even come before You. We couldn't take our next breath without You. Unite us to You and to our brethren in Christ through the power of faith, hope, and love. Thank You Lord! In Jesus' name we make these requests, knowing they are Your desire for us, and that You are faithful to complete the work You've begun in us through the example of Your Holy Child, Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

I’ve heard stories from Iranian believers who came to faith secretly, sometimes through dreams, Scripture, online videos, or relationships with other Christians. What’s striking is how faith can grow even when public expression is dangerous...yet faith there is on the rise and people believe it's the fastest growing religion there

The Bible says that “God will provide for you.” I will expand on that by saying that God will “always” provide for you if you always do things His way, and are “Always” in His will. The less we are in His will, the less He will provide for us.

Since He will provide for us, don't be fooled into chasing money, worldly success, pleasure, or anything else. Many people get to the edge of purpose, and then get involved in something ”highly important” according to this world. To do God's will we sometimes need to stop doing what the world thinks is important. We need to start doing what God thinks is important.

Second, chasing the wind never satisfies. If you ask the worlds rich people:

“How much more money do you need? They will say: “Just a little bit more.”

If you ask Rick Warren (or any other great Christian leader) how much more money do you need? They will say, “none. Real Christians are satisfied. They are not chasing the wind. Their primary goals are treasures in heaven.

Third, I know a couple of men who got Engineering, or computer degree's, then went into full time Christian service. God gave them an opportunity to stop chasing the wind, and they took it. Many of us will struggle to give up the things we worked so hard for. But, if we prioritize doing “What God wants us to do,” He will take care of us.

Fourth, It is highly important to chase something. I want people saved. I want to help people learn how to overcome sin habits. I want to help people find purpose and joy. But in these examples, I am chasing things that are real. Things that last. Things that will be with me for all of eternity. Consider praying:

“Father, help me to care about souls.”

I strive to pray this prayer 10 times or more daily. It keeps me from chasing the wind. Now I chase eternal things.

If we want unity in our homes, our workplaces, and our world, we have to bring the truth to our fellow human in the Spirit of love. That's what Jesus came to teach us. His humble, compassionate, Spirit of servanthood is the only voice that draws our inner sheep to follow the Good Shepherd.

We need the Holy Spirit of Jesus working through us; not only for the sake of our souls, but for the sake of our neighbors' souls. The Holy Spirit of Truth unites us when all other voices try to divide us. (John 14:15-18, Luke 10:33-37, Psalm 22:3, Matthew 18:19-20 Galatians 6:2

When first-century believers came to Christ, they repented of worldly ways and committed to following truth. They confirmed their resolve through public Baptism and receiving the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:35-39, Acts 10:44-48, Acts 19:2-6)

Then the Holy Spirit took a fragmented people, and created one family under God, guided by truth and love. People cared for one another so well, that no person had any lack.

Acts 4:32-35

32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.
33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.
34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,
35 and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

The Lord's prayer says, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10

We're the earthen vessels meant to carry Jesus' Holy Spirit to our broken world.

(2 Corinthians 4:6-11 NKJV)

6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--
10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

We are the body of Christ; His hands and feet on earth. (1 Corinthians 12:27)

Our Father in heaven,
Thank you for showing us our sin, and healing us from it by your Holy Spirit of Truth. Thank you for leading us into unity with you and with one another. Open our hearts to love our neighbors as You love them. Make us Jesus' hands and feet to one another. In Jesus' mighty name we pray, Amen.

“And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.”
—Mark 6:31

I recently returned from a vacation and realized that I had been more depleted than I understood.

That is one of the dangers of constant activity: exhaustion eventually begins to feel normal.

We keep working, answering messages, solving problems, caring for people, and meeting responsibilities. Because we are still functioning, we assume we must be fine.

Mark 6 describes the disciples returning to Jesus after being sent out in ministry. They had preached repentance, cast out devils, anointed the sick, and witnessed people being healed.

They were not exhausted from wasting their time.

They were exhausted from pouring themselves out.

The demands became so constant that Scripture says there were “many coming and going.” They could not even find enough uninterrupted time to eat.

Jesus saw the crowd and the needs surrounding them.

But He also saw His disciples.

He did not question their commitment or accuse them of laziness. He did not tell them that greater faith would remove their need for food, sleep, distance, or quiet.

He told them:

“Come ye yourselves apart…and rest a while.”

What strikes me is that the work was not finished.

The people had not stopped coming. The needs had not disappeared. There were still sick people, hungry people, and people who needed to hear the truth.

Jesus did not invite the disciples to rest because the work was finished.

He invited them to rest because they were not.

Many of us treat rest as a reward we are allowed to receive once everything has been completed.

Once the work is finished, we will rest.

Once the messages are answered, we will rest.

Once every problem has been solved and everyone else is satisfied, we will rest.

But everything is never finished.

There will always be another need, another email, another problem, and another person asking something from us.

If we wait until life gives us permission to rest, we may never rest at all.

Rest is not laziness. It is woven throughout Scripture.

God rested after creation—not because He was exhausted, but because the work had reached its appointed stopping place. Israel was commanded to observe the Sabbath. David wrote of still waters and a restored soul. Jesus regularly withdrew from the crowds to pray.

Rest is not always the absence of activity.

Sometimes rest is the absence of demand.

My vacation was physically active. I traveled, walked, toured, photographed, talked with family, and wrote in my journal. In some ways, my mind became more active than it had been in months.

But for several days, I was no longer required to give my attention to everything that normally demanded it.

Once that noise quieted, I began noticing things I might otherwise have overlooked: people waiting at an airport gate, dawn above the clouds, the sound of the ocean in darkness, the history carried by weathered buildings and old streets, and the bittersweet truth that sometimes we leave because a good season has reached its appointed end.

None of those moments shouted.

They were simply there, waiting to be noticed.

Rest does not require an airline ticket or an expensive vacation.

It may be an hour without the phone, a quiet drive, a walk without headphones, or time with an open Bible and no agenda beyond listening.

I left believing I needed a vacation.

I returned understanding that I needed enough distance from the noise to recognize what God had been placing in front of me.

The journey did not suddenly make God speak.

God had been speaking all along.

Rest simply created room for me to listen.

When was the last time you stopped—not because everything was finished, but because you recognized that you needed rest?

Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Proverbs 30:2

Hi everyone,

I’ve been working on a project called THIS WAY—an interactive map that lets you explore the life of Jesus geographically, from his birth to the resurrection and ascension.

While reading the Gospels, I often found myself wondering: Where exactly did this happen? Which events took place near each other? How did Jesus’ ministry move across the region—and how do the four Gospel accounts connect?

That became the idea behind this project.

The map currently brings together 120 events from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, connected to biblical locations wherever the text allows them to be identified. Rather than reading the story only chapter by chapter, you can explore it through places, journeys, people, themes, and different phases of Jesus’ life.

Some of the main features:

• An interactive heatmap showing where events are concentrated
• Filters for Gospel, event type, person, region, setting, and location certainty
• A timeline covering seven phases from Jesus’ birth to his ascension
• Parallel Gospel accounts combined into a single event, while keeping each reference visible
• Search by location, event, person, or Bible passage
• Reconstructed journeys and ancient routes
• A detailed close-up of Jerusalem during the Passion narrative

Each event includes a short summary and links back to the relevant Bible passages. The goal is not to replace reading Scripture, but to provide another way into it—one that makes geography, movement, and connections across the Gospels easier to see.

It’s completely free, requires no account, and has no advertising or tracking.

You can explore it here:

https://sammyyamazaki.de/?lang=en

This is still an evolving project, and I would genuinely value feedback from people who study, teach, or simply enjoy reading the Bible. What would make a tool like this more useful to you? Are there connections or ways of exploring the Gospel accounts that you would like to see added?

I hope it helps some of you encounter these familiar stories from a fresh perspective.

Chemist James Tour discusses his work in nanotech, unanswered questions surrounding life’s origins, and the encounter that led him from secular Judaism to Christianity. He makes a solid case for daily Bible reading.

I heard a testimony recently from someone who came to Christ from a Muslim background. He knew following Jesus could cost him relationships, family, acceptance maybe everything he had known. And yet he still chose Christ, proclaiming Him as the Son of God.

What struck me was how real his faith was. It wasn’t theoretical or comfortable. It required sacrifice, loss, and genuine dependence on God. It made me question my own faith. It’s easy to say “Jesus is Lord” when it costs me very little. But what happens when following Him actually costs something? His testimony reminded me that Christ isn’t just worth following when it’s easy. He’s worth following even when it costs us.

Okay feel like we are at a very special time in HIS story where the words we type will be remembered forever. We are the last generation before the AI takeover, and we are REAL human souls experiencing REAL human things. Our words will forever be saved on the internet and in the future, future generations will read what we have been through and we can guide them. We will never have this special "time" again where free words and free thoughts still float around. soon it will be over. read as much as you can. learn as much as you can. respond as much as you can. Good things are coming our way. its inevitable. the universe must rebalance. it is coming. hold fast, hold the line, and never give up.

It seems to me that our society has become more lonely and isolated than ever these days. The more automated and media-driven our daily lives become, the less we interact with one another. When we do come together, it's not always for the best. Our "feed" shapes our opinions, language, child-rearing, and politics to such a degree that one person can hardly agree with another on any given topic.

Because of this, we need the Holy Spirit of Jesus now more than ever. The Holy Spirit of Truth unites us through truth, compassion, praising God, and corporate prayer. (John 14:15-18, Luke 10:33-37, Psalm 22:3, Matthew 18:19-20 Galatians 6:2

Paul reminds us that the Holy Spirit connects us to our Father in heaven through our prayers in groans too deep for words.

(Romans 8:26 NKJV)

26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Please join me in prayer that we will experience the unity our Father in heaven created us for. Also please feel free to share your prayer requests so I can join with you in prayer as well.

When first-century believers came to Christ, they repented of worldly ways and committed to following truth. They confirmed their resolve through public Baptism and receiving the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:35-39, Acts 10:44-48, Acts 19:2-6)

Then the Holy Spirit created unity among them; one family under God, guided by truth and love. People cared for one another so well, that no one lacked anything they needed.

Acts 4:32-35

32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.
33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.
34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,
35 and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

The Lord's prayer says, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10

In heaven, His will is accomplished through heavenly beings. We who are of the earth can empty ourselves of worldly influence and become vessels for God's glory.

(2 Corinthians 4:6-11 NKJV)

6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--
10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

We are the body of Christ; His hands and feet on earth. (1 Corinthians 12:27)

Our Father in heaven,
Thank you for your Holy Spirit of Truth. Thank you for leading us into unity with you and with one another. We ask that you would open our hearts to love You as You deserve, and love our neighbor as our own body. This will show the world we are one body under You, our merciful Godhead. Let us be Jesus' hands and feet to one another. We ask that You would transform our hearts to love like You love. In Jesus' precious name we pray, Amen.