1 Cor. 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Category: Salvation

Who is the Rock? Day 1

Photography by Chris Michaud

(Deu 32:4)  He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

Good morning, Reader! This picture totally blesses me! It amazes me that no two clouds are the same. They may appear the same but there’s always a slight difference. As sunrises and sunsets are one of my favorite sceneries, I thought it would be appropriate to start off this new devotional series.

There are many titles for Jesus Christ. In fact, I did a series on this in 2008. If you’ve never studied this topic, it’s totally a blessing! However, today I am looking at the verses which contain the word “Rock” (capitalized) and how it applies to Christ. The Holy Spirit put these words in the Scriptures for a reason. It’s when we dig for gold that we find the nuggets, amen?

When we look at this verse in context, we find that this was part of a song of Moses. Each of the different names for God meets a specific need in man. What need does today’s verse provide for us? What do you think of when you envision a rock? I think of the coastline at Heceta Head Lighthouse in Florence, Oregon.

Photography by Linda Dunlap

The rocks and mountainsides are so beautiful! They remind me of strength, stability and longevity. These rocks take the crashing of the waves without falling apart! When visiting there, they had pictures from when it was first built. The same three rocks are there today and they have not diminished throughout the years.

There is no better way to honor God than to recognize His strength in our lives. The believer needs to wholly lean on the Lord in times of desperation. It is these times that He draw us to Him. He is our strength. So how can Jesus Christ be the Rock in today’s verse? Let’s take a look at:

(Psa 27:1)  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

David says that the LORD (when capitalized like this, it refers to Jehovah, the Lord) is his light and salvation. We will not only find Jesus here but we will also see that Jesus is God. All Scripture fits together and there are no contradictions found in its pages.

(Joh 8:12)  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

David said that the LORD is his light. Jesus said in the verse above, that He is the light of the world.

David also said that the LORD was his salvation.

(Act 4:10-12)  Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. (11)  This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. (12)  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. There is no other but the LORD, Jehovah the Lord, Jesus Christ the Saviour of man! He is our Rock!

(Deu 32:4)  He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

Jesus Christ’s work is perfect – He came to earth in human form and lived a sinless life. He lived the perfect life so that He could be the perfect sacrifice for mankind’s sins. Only His sacrifice can forgive sins.

(2Co 5:21)  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

(1Pe 2:22)  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

(Heb 4:15)  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

So, dear reader, we know that our LORD, the Rock, has the strength to save us – to guide us – to help us in our every need! Because He is our Rock, we don’t have to rely on our own strength but wholly lean on His strength! Praise be to God in the highest! Thank you, LORD Jesus, our Rock and our Deliverer!

Solid Rock by Edward Mote

1 My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Refrain:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:
all other ground is sinking sand;
all other ground is sinking sand.

2 When darkness veils his lovely face,
I rest on his unchanging grace;
in every high and stormy gale,
my anchor holds within the veil. [Refrain]

3 His oath, his covenant, his blood,
support me in the whelming flood;
when all around my soul gives way,
he then is all my hope and stay. [Refrain]

4 When he shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in him be found:
dressed in his righteousness alone,
faultless to stand before the throne. [Refrain]

Most precious Heavenly Father, I cannot imagine my life without Christ in it! I would not be here if it weren’t for His sacrifice on the cross for my sins. I praise You for being there in the whelming floods of my life. All honor and glory belong to You, Lord! There is none like You, God! Thank You for Your precious Gift, my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

If you happen to be reading this and are not saved, it is no coincidence. God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Are We in the End Times? Day 6

Photography by Chris Michaud

(2 Ti 3:2)  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

Good morning, dear reader! It’s still dark outside and the house is so very quiet. It’s a wonderful time to sit and write what weighs heavily on my heart. My heart aches because those bygone years of “The Andy Griffith Show” are gone and we are seeing our beautiful world not getting better but rotting from sin.

As we go through mankind’s attitude and sinful displays, I see that today’s word has seriously grown worse with time. I walk into a store and music from a rap artist is filling the air with cursing and explicit sexual content. My goodness, what has this world come to? I have grandchildren growing up in these end times and this weighs on me so heavily! Oh how I beg the Lord to protect their innocent hearts and ears!!

Blasphemy is no small matter. The original meaning means to blaspheme God. Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines this as:

BLASPHE’MER, n. One who blasphemes; one who speaks of God in impious and irreverent terms. 1 Tim 1.

Blasphemy does not just surround God but anything involving Him, such as an unborn child. Christian, do you actually see any reverence of God in your life other than at church or amongst your Christian friends? Television, radio, podcasts, etc. are filled with indignation. All of these have a root problem and that is sin; in this case, blasphemy. They don’t have to speak a blasphemous word – their actions speak volumes! We see this indignation in the laws that are being past in our own country as well as around the world. God Almighty destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah for the sin of homosexuality. Yet, mankind has grown so cold toward sin that it is now law that allows this to be legal, along with marriage. Furthermore, the liberals now claim there are 112 genders! 😯 The Bible says differently:

(Gen 2:7)  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

(Gen 2:18)  And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

(Gen 2:22-24)  And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
(23)  And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. (24)  Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

The fact that this has taken over our country proves that the Bible is the furthest thing from people’s minds. God created male and female – none other. Period. Only a female can bear children – none other. Period. Only a male can provide the seed to create that baby – none other. Period. Set aside the fact that adoption is out there for these people who claim otherwise. Get to the root of this issue and it comes down to male and female. Period.

This liberal belief blasphemes God. They defy what a Holy God created by being deceived by the father of lies, Satan. Satan is rejoicing because of the downhill spiral of morality on this earth. Friend, God would have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah for destroying them. God is righteous and would not contradict His word.

You may say this is my opinion. But let’s see what the Bible says as it is the Final Authority on what is sin and what is not. Some say that this condemnation was in the Old Testament and not stated in the New Testament. The Apostle Paul said the same thing in the New Testament:

(Lev 18:22)  Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

(Rom 1:26-27)  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
(27)  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

God can and does help homosexuals to forsake this sin. I know this from experience. I shared the gospel with a co-worker in 1984 and she kept insisting that God could not possibly forgive her and that she had to “clean herself up” before He would forgive her. As I continued sharing the gospel, she finally admitted she was a homosexual. I explained what salvation is and where she spends eternity was the most important thing at this point. God’s Holy Spirit would clean her life up after she was saved. She accepted Christ that evening and bit by bit, I saw her change before my eyes. She set aside living with her roommate and began to blossom into a beautiful Christian woman, growing in God’s word. Today, she’s married with four children and a grandchild! Today’s homosexual battles leaving their lifestyle because they will be harassed and their name, phone number and home address will be published by those who don’t want to admit their sin. This is a scare tactic but nothing is more disturbing than spending eternity in Hell, where there is burning and gnashing of teeth.

(Mat 13:42)  And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

It may seem as though it is too difficult, but it is not impossible. God can and will help anyone with any addiction or sin!

Is it any wonder we are discussing the state of mankind today? Can you not see how sinful our nation (and world) has become? In no other time in history has it been this bad! God’s Word is in print in every language and is available everywhere, including the internet. Yet, with His Word being everywhere, man is becoming more depraved. Mankind will be without excuse because God places people, even His creation, before every single person on earth so they can see who He is and how to have a relationship with Him.

(Rom 1:20)  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

If you happen to be reading this and are not saved, it is no coincidence. God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Jump to Day 7.

Mini-Manna for Little Lambs

When John and I were raising our sons, we discovered that there weren’t any devotionals that we could use for little ones. There were Keys for Kids, but they were for ages over 5 or so. A friend of ours just had his second daughter and asked me if I knew of any devotionals for young children. I researched quite a bit and never did find anything he could use. That’s when the Lord impressed upon my heart to start the “Mini-Manna for Little Lambs” series in 2007.

I began working on this series of devotionals that parents could use with their “little lambs” up through toddler years a year or so ago. I have only 27 days but if you have any ideas for topics you would like to teach your baby/toddler, please leave a comment and I will be sure to write a devotional on that topic for your use!

The Joy of Spring

The trees with tiny buds await the call to bloom
The robin begins to sing its melodius tune
The signs of Spring are in the air, life all anew
The daffodils swaying as the sun dries the dew

Creation applauds as Spring’s entrance is made
Announcing to all rebirth beautifully portrayed
By the hand of the Master Creator on high
He whispers His love through His beauty divine

This new birth spills forth to mankind through His grace
Salvation is free to all and their sins are erased
A new life in Christ where old things have all passed
Born again of the Spirit, reconciled at last

Kate Plourde, March 18, 2008

The Comforter

I remember that day like it was yesterday.
I realized I was doomed, pretty hopeless I’ll say.
But The Comforter entered and brought me such peace.
I knew I was different, that burden released.

Those tears just kept coming, His Love could it be?
How precious and sacred that time was to me!
He washed me and saved me from sin and despair.
I was heading for hell, it seemed no one did care.

But my Heavenly Father loved a wretch such as me.
That He sent His Dear Son to shed blood on a tree.
He took upon Him all my sin and my shame.
That some day with Him I would be able to reign.

Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow.
How wonderful these words which bless my soul.
Too great for me is this Act of Great Love.
Provided by my Father from Heaven Above!
Thank you Lord for saving my soul!

Kate Plourde

1981

That Great Reunion Day

Just thinking about that day to come
When we all will be set free
Makes me simply want to burst with joy
And get on bended knee

How thankful we should be for this
That Jesus had to die
So we could sing and praise His Name
On that blessed day in the sky

Yes, that day is foremost in our minds
We Christians, one and all
It’s our payment for our work for Him
No more will we ever fall

Thank you dear Father for this great gift
The price Christ had to pay
We all look forward to our meeting
On that Great Reunion Day!

Kate Plourde, February 1981

Praise the Lord, All Ye Saints

Praise the Lord, all ye saints
His Goodness ever sing
Glory to God in word and deed
Give honor to our King

Share his blessings every one
Shout acclamations too
Worthy is the Saviour
For what He’s done for you

The God of all creation
Came down in form of man
To open Heavens pearly gates
With His own loving hands

There’s none other like our God
The victory is won
We serve the God who’s living
The Bless-ed Three in One!

Shout from the highest mountains
What the Lamb of God has done
For all who seek will surely find
The wonderful Father’s Son!

Kate Plourde
February 14, 2007

My Bless’ed Worn Bible

Just reading Your Word is a privilege

I never dreamed would be

So much a part of my daily life

And impossible to shake free.

It’s become a vital food for me

To feed my hungry soul

It quenches the thirst I have for truth

And lets mysteries unfold!

It ministers to every single need

No one does He overlook

Our questions have all been answered

In this Solitary Book!

My Bless’ed Worn Bible, a miracle indeed

The way it all seems to flow

The same Spirit authored each single word

So we would all be able to grow!

So if you want wisdom then read God’s Book

And He’ll never let you down

Be persistent in your search for truth

And your foundation will be sound!

Kate Plourde

My Heart is Full

There is no other who can fill my heart
The way You can, dear Lord.
There is nothing else that can satisfy
Like a drink from Your precious Word.

Each page has just what I need to read
To guide and to light my way.
When my heart is heavy or overwhelmed
Your words are fresh like winter air.

There is none other like you my Lord
You know exactly what I need
On each page Your Spirit whispers truth
And the waters of doubt recede

You raise me up when I am down
My spirit you cause to soar
As I look unto the hills for You
I find Your love and so much more!

Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour is.
So deserving to be adored.
The Alpha, Omega, first and last,
And King of Kings forever more!

Kate Plourde
October 24, 2007

Six Ways to Show that I am Saved

Written in May 2007

I have been overwhelmed at work as of late and not added to my devotional series on God’s Goodness for quite a few days now. I will finish it – I promise. I wanted to take a break today, however, to share with you a topic that recently resurfaced at Fundamental Baptist Forum which I had shared in June 2006. As I re-read it, the blessing was stirred again and I wanted to share it with you.

I took these notes on a message preached by Evangelist Hal Webb at our revival in June 2006. It was an awesome message! It was the first time I had ever seen a check list, so-to-speak, of how to prove your own salvation. We’ve all been there, haven’t we? Moments of doubt arise within us at times of spiritual failures and defeats. Also, we’ve all met people who live like the devil but claim to be saved. They prayed a “prayer-ette” and thought this gave them insurance against hell. The born again creature is a new creature with new desires, desires for righteousness – if this is not true, then God is a liar. But God does not lie – man does. God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; (Rom 3:4a)

Re-reading my notes blessed me so much that I expanded on it and added verses. I have put it in my Bible so that I can share that with those who “think” they are saved but their lives don’t show it. I hope it is a blessing to you!!!

Six Ways to Prove That I Am Saved:

  1. I have no desire for habitual sinning in my life. If I smoke, my desire will be to quit and I will succeed with Christ’s help. If I struggled with lying, my desire will be to stop and I will be under conviction each time I do so.

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (1 Jo 3:9) Our soul is converted at the time we are saved. This soul is no longer bound by sin but free. It is the “house,” our flesh, which desires to sin. That is why we battle sin in this body. No one explained that better than Paul himself in Rom. 7:14-15, For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. (14) For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. (15)

The born again believer will hate the fact that he has sinned. 1 Jo 3:9 is not talking about the flesh but the soul. Our flesh is corrupt and will not enter Heaven. It is our soul which will enter. God sees Christ’s blood upon us – He sees His Son when He looks at us. As Paul battled, our own soul battles daily with the flesh. The more we feed this flesh with the Word of God and the things of God, the flesh will sin less.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 Jo 1:9)

  1. I have a personal belief in Jesus Christ. I truly believe He is God Who left Heaven to come to earth; in His virgin birth; His sinless life on earth; He is the Messiah of mankind Who shed His blood on the cross of Calvary for my sins; He was buried and on the third day, He arose from the dead; He ascended into Heaven and now sits at the right hand of the Father awaiting His return to reign on earth.

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. (1 Jo 5:1)

I was raised catholic and I learned about Jesus Christ. However, I never knew Jesus Christ. I had a head knowledge of who He was but I did not possess Him in my heart so He was just knowledge to me. It did not phase me in the least to use His name in vain. I did not have a desire to even “think” on Jesus Christ. However, after I was saved, I had a deep desire to get to know everything about Him. I could not stop reading the precious milk of the Word – the Gospels! I would call my spiritual mother almost daily with new things I had discovered and was excited to tell her what God had shown me in His Word! All these were golden nuggets to me and I was energized each time I read one!

  1. I live righteously.

If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. (1 Jo 2:29)

I will have a different holy life. Do I try to please Christ every day? Do I find myself trying to please Him? Am I doing His will? Do I avoid evil? The greatest joy in life is the joy of serving Christ.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Co 5:17)

Those who doubt their salvation can many times attribute this doubt to a lack of righteous living or doing God’s known will. Pastor Eugene Zorbas, of Tabernacle Baptist Church, preached a message on a similar topic last week. He said that being a Christian is not about keeping a list of rules but it is all about developing a relationship with Jesus Christ. The better our relationship, the better the results will be – keeping those rules because of your relationship with Him. Your desire will be to please Him with righteous living.

  1. I will have a love for fellow Christians.

We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. (1 Jo 3:14)

I can tell I’m saved by the crowd I choose to hang around with. Am I eager about Christian things? Do I desire to be around other Christians more than my worldly friends?

After I got saved, I wanted to be with other believers. I was so anxious to attend church for the first time just so I could share with others who believed as I believed!

I also discovered that this new nature caused my old friends to feel uncomfortable. It was not too soon after that they did not wish to “hang around” me any longer. As well, I did not enjoy being around them either. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (2 Co 6:14)

  1. I’m overcoming the world.

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (1 Jo 5:4)

There’s always some Christian you know that “everything in their life is always going wrong”! Are they overcoming their circumstances? This is not to say things won’t go wrong, but what is their attitude as they go through these circumstances? Are they overcoming or are they defeated?

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (Joh 16:33) Jesus said that we shall have tribulation – not maybe. Christian, we will have tribulation in our life time here. However, Jesus said to be of good cheer! The Christian who does not overcome his circumstances does not fit here. That Christian has a “poor, pitiful me” attitude and is defeated already. However, Jesus said to be of good cheer! If it was not “do-able,” would Jesus have told us to be of good cheer? Of course not. Jesus went on to say “I have overcome the world.” Now put that with the following verse: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Phi 4:13)

This is the Christian’s recipe for overcoming the world – through Jesus! Look at this example with me: A man had two dogs which he raised since they were puppies. They were kept in separate parts of the property away from each other. One dog was fed good dog food and nurtured with love and care. The other dog was given bits which would fall from the table. The nurtured dog was solid – sound muscular structure – and full of energy. The other dog was scrawny – his rib cage was noticeable – and he had no zest at all. One day, the two dogs were roaming free on the property and met each other for the first time. As their instincts took over, a territorial battle took place. Who do you think won the battle? Yes, the strong and nurtured dog won.

It is the same with Christians. If we feed our flesh with worldly things, we will be weak when it comes to spiritual battles. However, if we feed our spiritual nature with the Word and righteous living, we will be strong, ready and prepared for battle.

The world’s opinion is not to be my standard of living. My standard is the Word. I am not to please the world but I am to please the Lord, Jesus Christ.

1 John 2:15-16 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (15) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (16)

  1. I will have a desire for purity.

We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. (1 Jo 5:18)

I am to care for my soul and protect it from evil. The flesh desires to sin. So protect yourself from evil. Whichever you “feed” the most will thrive in your life. If you feed your soul more, you will desire to be pure. If you feed your flesh more, you will desire the lusts of the flesh. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1 Jo 2:16)

Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph. (Amo 5:15)

Abstain from all appearance of evil. (1Th 5:22)

I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. (Psa 101:3)

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Eph 5:16)

Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure. (1Ti 5:22)

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (Phi 2:12)

I’m so glad I was brought to read this again this morning. Once again, I was blessed by Brother Webb’s words from a year ago!

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