A NUGGET OF TRUTH.
IS SATAN IN CHARGE OF HELL?

“2 Corinthians 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

Have you heard people say there’s a keeper that torment those who are dead and put them in the hell fire? This agenda is pushed by Hollywood. Their movies depict these scenes, a underworld where people are burning and being tortured. It is also portrayed that when a person dies and was a sinner, the devil and his angels throw him into the burning flames. These are even a few description of the distorted view and misconceptions propagated by the Jesuits and Hollywood. Are these true? Is hell controlled by Satan? Is Satan subjected to hell or in charge?

The Bible Is the only armor against all the devil’s falsehoods and all the Hollywood movies portraying burning hell and the devil being its keeper are all lies. It is doctrine of devils. These are all from the father of lies. He(Satan) was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. John 8:44

The truth: Satan is a creature and he’s under the power of the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, God Almighty. No one is in charge of hell as portrayed by Hollywood and popular belief. The devil himself is subjected to the lake of fire and he’s not the keeper. The lake of fire is purposely meant for the devil and his angels and not for humans but because of disobedience many shall go down with him(Matthew 25:41). And it’s his earnest effort to send many humans into the lake of fire together with him so he has perverted God’s word and all who are not firmly anchored in God’s truth will be blown away by the devil’s deceptions.

The Bible clearly shows that God will destroy Sin(Nahum 1:9). Satan is the root of sin and sinners are the branches(Malachi 4:1). There’s no burning hell now. It is when Satan and sinners surround the Holy City, New Jerusalem to invade it, That God will rain fire and brimstone to destroy them all(all will burn and turn into ashes). Satan and sinners will be destroyed and sin will never rise up again(Nahum 1:9). Don’t be deceived that Satan is the keeper of hell. He’s rather a subject of the lake of fire that’ll come. Revelation 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

The day has come that shall burn as an oven. The elements melt with fervent heat, the earth also, and the works that are therein are burned up. Malachi 4:1; 2 Peter 3:10. The earth’s surface seems one molten mass—a vast, seething lake of fire. It is the time of the judgment and perdition of ungodly men—“the day of the Lord’s vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion.” Isaiah 34:8. DD 59.3

The wicked receive their recompense in the earth. Proverbs 11:31. They “shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts.” Malachi 4:1.Some are destroyed as in a moment, while others suffer many days. All are punished “according to their deeds.” The sins of the righteous having been transferred to Satan, he is made to suffer not only for his own rebellion, but for all the sins which he has caused God’s people to commit. His punishment is to be far greater than that of those whom he has deceived. After all have perished who fell by his deceptions, he is still to live and suffer on. In the cleansing flames the wicked are at last destroyed, root and branch—Satan the root, his followers the branches.The full penalty of the law has been visited; the demands of justice have been met; and heaven and earth, beholding, declare the righteousness of Jehovah. DD 59.4

Creation Delivered from Sin

Satan’s work of ruin is forever ended. For six thousand years he has wrought his will, filling the earth with woe and causing grief throughout the universe. The whole creation has groaned and travailed together in pain. Now God’s creatures are forever delivered from his presence and temptations. “The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they [the righteous] break forth into singing.” Isaiah 14:7. And a shout of praise and triumph ascends from the whole loyal universe. “The voice of a great multitude,” “as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings,” is heard, saying: “Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” Revelation 19:6. DD 60.1

While the earth was wrapped in the fire of destruction, the righteous abode safely in the Holy City. Upon those that had part in the first resurrection, the second death has no power. While God is to the wicked a consuming fire, He is to His people both a sun and a shield. Revelation 20:6; Psalm 84:11. DD 60.2

“I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away.”Revelation 21:1. The fire that consumes the wicked purifies the earth. Every trace of the curse is swept away. No eternally burning hell will keep before the ransomed the fearful consequences of sin. DD 60.3 (DD: Dark Before Dawn)

A NUGGET OF TRUTH.
SUNDAY WORSHIP IS A MAN MADE INSTITUTION, NOT GOD'S.

Sunday sabbath is an institution of man, NOT of God. Nowhere in God's Word is the first day of the week exalted. Nowhere in God's Word is the 7th day Sabbath (our Saturday) replaced with any other day. In fact, the Word of God UPHOLDS the 7th day Sabbath, explicitly stated for all to understand in the 4th commandment. But instead of following a 'thus saith the LORD,' the leaders are pushing for the traditions of man to be exalted above the express commands of Jehovah. And this was all prophesied to take place in God's Word. Daniel 7 told us of a 'little horn' power (Papal Rome) which would seek to 'change time and laws.' What time and laws? God's time and laws of course. And Revelation speaks of the same power (first beast of Revelation 13) which would have its mark enforced around the world. What is the Roman Catholic's professed mark of authority?

"And they make this Sunday institution the seal or mark of their power and authority that renders valid their laws and enactments among Protestants Says Cardinal Gibbons, who is at the head of the Catholic Church in the United States:- "Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change was her act. . . . And the act is a MARK of her ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters." (American Sentinal, Feb.10, 1898, p.86)

Sunday is NOT the Sabbath of Jehovah. Our Saturday (the 7th day of the week) is the holy day of our Creator.

God's remnant church have been proclaiming for over 150 years that Protestant America would set up an image to Papal Rome, uniting church with state to enforce religious laws, including a Sunday law. And what will this bring about? Persecution, just like in the dark ages of Papal supremacy.

That religious laws, enforced by the state, including SUNDAY LAWS, would be the only hope for recovery from all the world's troubles. This is EXACTLY what God's remnant have been proclaiming would take place, look:

"The spirit of the papacy ... the veneration for human traditions above the commands of God,--is permeating the Protestant churches, and leading them on to do the same work of Sunday exaltation which the papacy has done before them ... Yet this very class put forth the claim that the fast-spreading corruption is largely attributable to the desecration of the so-called 'Christian Sabbath,' and that the enforcement of Sunday observance would greatly improve the morals of society ... Through the two great errors, the immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring the people under his deceptions. While the former lays the foundation of Spiritualism, the latter creates a bond of sympathy with Rome. Protestantism will yet stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of Spiritualism; she will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, our country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience." (The Spirit of Prophecy, p.390-405)

The movement we are seeing take place in America right now is a response to the decline in society. But just as God never forced man to keep His laws, due to the free will that He gave us all, neither should any church or government force man to keep God's laws. Because as history shows, it only ends in persecution. God will judge all before the return of Jesus Christ, and all who choose not to serve Him, will lose out on eternal life and be destroyed in the final lake of fire. All mankind are to FREELY CHOOSE to serve God and keep His laws or not. Forced obedience will NEVER make a saint out of anyone! It HAS to be a free choice.

1 Kings 18:21 ...'And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.'

Joshua 24:15 ...'And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, CHOOSE you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.'

Do you see? FREE CHOICE! But that choice will determine your future!

What we see taking place now was prophesied to happen. America will unite church and state and the church leaders will use the state power [TRUMP SAID THE CHURCH WILL HAVE POWER LIKE NEVER BEFORE], [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XxJpt2UNIeM] to cause the world to bow to the Sunday sabbath and false trinity god of Rome. It's coming! And we need to be ready. Our lives need to be fully surrendered to Jesus, so that He can get us through the persecution, the no buying and selling and the time of trouble coming. Get ready!

You Were Created to Move Forward
The Australian coat of arms depicts a very insightful image, one that I hold dear since I was born and raised in Australia and because it speaks volumes to me personally. There are two animals portrayed holding up a shield—the red kangaroo and the emu. They were chosen not only because they are indigenous to Australia but also because they were created to move forward.

The emu, a large, nonflying bird slightly smaller than its cousin the ostrich, is known for its speed, covering as much as nine feet in a single step when running full throttle. It is the only bird with calf muscles—much like a human. Nonetheless, it can’t walk backward. It can only move forward.

The red kangaroo—like all kangaroos—moves by a hopping motion called saltation, which literally means “to leap.” They push off with both of their large feet simultaneously and use their tails for balance. The combination of their muscular legs, big feet, and tails helps the kangaroos move forward effectively. But again, they can only move forward—not backward.

When I think of them, and the fact they are creatures God made that cannot walk backward, I can’t help but think of us—people made in the image of God, another marvel of creation designed to move the same way.

I understand that we need to step back from time to time and remember the past so we can move forward, and life sometimes hits us and we feel like we have gone backward, but God is faithful to pick us up and keep us moving forward. We are all on journeys no matter where we are. In some seasons we move forward quickly, and in others we move more slowly, but overall, we keep pressing on. Though we might pause and look to the past, we don’t want to get stuck in the past, right? How often have we allowed a season of disappointment, hurt, rejection, offense, or fear to stop us from moving forward? Today is a good day to take the hand of Jesus and, like the emu and the red kangaroo, take the next step forward.

Let’s take Paul’s advice to the Philippians, forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead. We can’t change the past. Not one bit. But we can affect our future. We can keep enduring in faith, reaching for all that God has planned for us. We can keep moving in the only direction we were created to move.

The emu. The red kangaroo. And you. All created to move forward. Never backward. Let’s be who God created us to be so we can do all that He’s called us to do!

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You that even in nature You give us examples. You give us insight. Help us move the way You created us to move—forward, and never backward. In Jesus’ name, amen.

TODAY'S MESSAGE


SERMON TITLE: “3 SIGNS GOD IS WORKING IN YOUR LIFE — EVEN WHEN YOU DON’T SEE IT”


There are seasons in life when heaven feels silent…
Prayers seem unanswered…
And nothing around you looks like progress.
You fast, you pray, you believe—but it feels like God is absent.
But hear this clearly:
God is often doing His deepest work in your life when you see the least evidence of it.
Just because you don’t see movement doesn’t mean there is no activity.
God works behind the scenes before He works in public.
KEY BIBLE VERSES.

1. Isaiah 45:15
"Truly, you are a God who hides Himself, O God of Israel, the Savior."
God is not always loud or obvious. Sometimes He works in hidden ways—shaping, aligning, preparing.
2. Romans 8:28
"All things work together for good to those who love God..."
Not some things—all things, even confusion, delay, and pain.
3. John 5:17
"My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I too am working."
Even when nothing seems to be happening, God is still actively working.
3 SIGNS GOD IS WORKING IN YOUR LIFE
1. YOU ARE EXPERIENCING UNCOMFORTABLE CHANGE
Things are shifting…
People are leaving…
Old habits no longer satisfy you.

This is not loss—it is divine pruning.
John 15:2 – God prunes the branches that bear fruit so they can bear more.
Spiritual Insight:
God will disrupt your comfort to align you with your calling.
If everything feels uncomfortable, don’t panic—you are being repositioned.
2. YOU FEEL A DEEP INNER RESTLESSNESS
You can’t settle anymore.
Things that once excited you now feel empty.
That restlessness is not confusion—it’s divine dissatisfaction.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 – “He has set eternity in the hearts of men…”
Spiritual Insight:
God places a holy dissatisfaction in you to push you toward purpose.
You’re not lost—you’re being redirected.
3. DOORS ARE CLOSING UNEXPECTEDLY
Opportunities disappear.
Plans fail.
People reject you.
It feels painful—but it is often protection and redirection.
Revelation 3:7 – “What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open.”
Spiritual Insight:
Every closed door is God saying, “This is not My best for you.”
Sometimes God says “no” because He sees what you cannot see.
BIBLICAL CASE STUDY: JOSEPH

Look at the life of Joseph (Genesis 37–50):
Betrayed by his brothers
Sold into slavery
Falsely accused
Thrown into prison
At every stage, it looked like God was absent.
But in Genesis 39:21, the Bible says:
"But the Lord was with Joseph…"
Even in prison, God was working.
And eventually, Joseph rose to become a ruler in Egypt.
Genesis 50:20:
"You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good."
Lesson:
God was working all along—in silence, in suffering, in delay.
🛠 PRACTICAL ACTION STEPS

1. Trust God’s process, not just His promises
Don’t quit because you don’t understand the season.
2. Stay spiritually consistent
Keep praying, studying, and serving—even when you feel nothing.
3. Interpret your situation spiritually, not emotionally
Feelings fluctuate—God’s plan does not.
4. Document your journey
Write down what God is doing—you’ll see patterns later.
DEEP SPIRITUAL INSIGHTS

God’s silence is not His absence—it is often His strategy.
Delay is not denial—it is preparation.
Hidden seasons produce visible glory.
God works in you before He works through you.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. What uncomfortable changes am I resisting that God may be using?
2. Where do I feel restless—and could it be God calling me higher?
3. What closed door am I still complaining about instead of trusting God for?
4. Do I trust God only when I see results?
POWERFUL PRAYER POINTS

Father, open my eyes to see Your hand even in hidden seasons.
Lord, give me grace to trust You when I don’t understand.
Every delay in my life, turn it into divine preparation.
Remove every fear and doubt that weakens my faith.
Align me with Your perfect will, even when it is uncomfortable.

CALL TO ACTION

Don’t misinterpret your season.
Just because it’s quiet doesn’t mean God is inactive.
Just because it’s hard doesn’t mean God has left you.
God is working. Right now. In you. For you. Through you.
So stand firm.
Stay faithful.
Keep moving.

Because one day, what feels confusing today will become your testimony tomorrow.
Trust the unseen work of God—your breakthrough is already in motion.

If you have not given your life to Jesus kindly do so by joining a Bible believing Church.
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Mystical Gardens Tale

The man did not enter the garden by accident. He'd heard whispers of it. He heard the tales of peace, of healing, of answers, but he didn't come for any of those things. He only came because he had run out of places to hide.

The moment his foot crossed the threshold, something in the air shifted. The scent of life with sweet blossoms, fresh earth, and something almost like rain embraced him as if it meant to welcome him, but he recoiled.

“No,” he muttered under his breath, already turning halfway as if to leave. “Not for me.”
His boots sank into the soft soil slightly, but each step felt wrong. The ground did not crack beneath the weight of what he had done. The garden did not spit him out. Instead, it yielded, as if it knew him. That made it worse.

“You don’t understand,” he said, though no one stood nearby. His voice was rough, like it hadn’t been used in a while. “I’m not like the others who come here.” The leaves rustled, not with wind, but with something quieter, almost as if something was listening.

He clenched his fists. Faces flickered through his mind. Some angry, some broken, some that would never look at anything again. Words he couldn’t take back. Choices that had carved permanent scars into lives that were not his to destroy. “I knew better,” he whispered, his voice cracking. “That’s the worst part. I knew, and yet, I did it anyway.”

The path curved gently ahead, lined with flowers that should have felt out of place beside a man like him. Their colors were too alive. Too innocent. He hated them for wanting, or daring to bloom around him.

“I’ve heard the stories,” he went on, louder now, almost defensive. “Forgiveness. Mercy. Grace.” He let out a hollow laugh. “That’s for people who made mistakes.” His gaze dropped to his hands. “These…” he swallowed hard, “…these were choices that I made.”

The garden did not argue. It did not correct him. It did not list reasons he might still be worthy. That silence pressed heavier than any judgment. Good, he thought bitterly. At least here, the truth isn’t dressed up. No empty promise of forgiveness if I would just do better.

Instead of leaving the garden, he walked deeper into it, though every instinct told him to turn back. Not because he believed he would find peace, but because something in him needed to stand in a place that was good, pure, holy, and finally admit that he was not.

“I didn’t come to be forgiven,” he said at last, his voice steadying with a strange resolve. “I came so there would be no mistake.” He lifted his head, eyes hard, despite the grief behind them. “I already know and accept that there is no redemption for me.”

The garden stilled. Even the soft rustle of leaves seemed to pause, as if the very breath of the place held itself in quiet attention. And for the first time since he entered, the path did not lead him forward. It led him to a tree.

The tree stood at the center of the garden, its branches stretching wide. One was heavy with a fruit that seemed to carry it's own quiet light. The man stopped several paces away. He would not come closer.

Even here, or rather especially here, he knew where he stood. “I won’t touch it,” he said firmly, as if the tree itself might accuse him. “I’m not here for that.” The bark shifted, not in movement, but in presence. Like something ancient had turned its attention fully toward him. Still, it said nothing.

That silence began to scrape against him. “Say it,” he snapped suddenly, anger breaking through the grief. “Say what everyone else would say if they knew!” His voice echoed farther than it should have. “Say I don’t belong here. Say this place isn’t for people like me.”

The leaves stirred, soft as a breath. And then a voice. Not loud. Not harsh. But in his mind. It felt like it had always been there. “That is only what you believe, that doesn't make it the truth.”

The man froze. His jaw tightened. “I believe it because it’s true.”

A pause. Then, “Tell me what you’ve done.”
The words hit him like a blow.

“No.” He shook his head immediately, stepping back. “No, you don’t need to hear that.”

“Tell Me.” There was no force in it. No demand. And somehow, that made it impossible to refuse. His chest tightened. His thoughts scattered.

“It doesn’t matter,” he said quickly, trying to push past it. “You already know, right? Isn’t that how this works? You see everything?”

The branches above him shifted slightly, filtering light down in fractured patterns across the ground. “I might not, but the Father does.”

“Then why—” His voice broke, frustration rising again. “Why would you even allow me to come here?”

The answer came without hesitation. “Because Jesus saw it, even before you did it.” That stopped him. Completely.

“What?” he asked, quieter now.

“Every choice you made. Every wound you caused. Every moment you knew better and did it anyway.”

The man’s breathing grew shallow. The memories pressed closer now, sharper, harder to escape.

“Then you understand,” he said, almost desperate for the conclusion he had already accepted. “You understand why there’s no place for me here.” A long silence followed. Not empty. Heavy. Full.

And then the voice came again, softer. “Jesus understood exactly who you were and the choices you would make when He chose the cross. He chose to pay the price for you, for those choices you would make, so you would not have to.”

The words began to fill him. They settled. Deep. The man’s knees weakened, but he didn’t fall. He couldn’t. Not yet. “No,” he said, shaking his head, but the certainty in his voice was cracking. “No, that was for… that was for sin, yes, but not—” He gestured helplessly at himself. “Not mine. Not for all of the things I've done.” The light through the branches shifted again, falling across his hands. Hands he had already condemned.

“You think there is a part of your sin that He did not see?” The man said nothing. “A weight He did not feel?” His throat tightened. “A cost He did not count?” The man’s vision blurred.

“I would have—” he started, then stopped, because the truth burned too much to say cleanly. “If I had known… if I had really believed…”

“You did know.” The words were not cruel. But they hit with great impact.

He flinched. There it was. The thing he could never outrun. “I chose it anyway,” he whispered.

“Yes.” No softening. No excuse. Just truth. Tears finally broke free, hot and unrelenting.

“Then why?” he demanded, his voice collapsing under the weight of it. “Why would He choose to do that for someone who would choose this?”

For the first time, the branches above him lowered slightly. Not in judgment. But in nearness. And the answer came, steady and unshaken: “Because your sin is not greater than His love.”

The man shook his head violently. “You don’t understand how far it goes—”

“He does know.” That stopped him again. “There is nothing in you that was hidden from Him when He gave His life.” The words pressed in, leaving no space to hide. “Not the worst of it.” The man took a sharp, ragged breath. “Not even the part you refuse to name.” His legs gave out this time. He fell to his knees in the soil, hands trembling.

“I can’t undo it,” he said, his voice breaking completely now. “I can’t fix any of it.”

“He did not ask you to.” The simplicity of it cut deeper than anything else.

He bowed forward, pressing his hands into the earth. “I don’t deserve this,” he said.

And this time, the answer came gently. “No.”

The man stilled. That was not the answer he had expected. Not the answer he wanted. But somehow, it was not the rejection he deserved either. The leaves whispered softly overhead as the voice continued: “That's why it is called grace.”

#christianwriter #christianfiction #christianfantasy #MysticalGardens #stacyfrantz

Chapter 7

A sunny afternoon in Hell

Jude

22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

You may be intrigued by the title, how can it be sunny in Hell.

As I have said earlier, I was born in Bradford and they have a football team called Bradford City, I remember standing behind the goal at City's valley Parade ground many times, it was an old ground, with crumbling terraces and an old wooden main stand.

They were the first winners of the FA Cup in 1911, but they had fallen on hard times, they were in the third highest league in England, but in season 1984-85, they had a young and exciting team, they stormed to the division title and the last game of the season on the 11th May was to be a celebration.

I wanted a ticket, so I called my brother, he was going with his children, but was unwilling to get me one, so I phoned up and got one, I went by car and got my ticket.

The ground was swarming with people, it was a joyous occasion, I sat in the far end of the main stand, it was a sunny day, but the wind was blowing down the valley, the ground was situated in.

It was a terrible match, there was a serious injury to one of the players, it was boring, it was five minutes to half time, I wanted to go to the toilet, but something stopped me, don't go, this was the Lord stopping me. If I had gone to the back of the stand, I would of been killed.

No sooner had I returned to my seat, that I heard laughing behind me, there was smoke arising from the seats behind me, someone had dropped a cigarette and it had gone down the crack in the flooring and ignited the rubbish under the stand, we were pushed forward and soon, we had to climb or be pulled over the wall and go onto the pitch, the flames by now, were overwhelmingly, the flames had now reached the roof, which was made of felt cladding, which is very combustible.

I wandered around on the pitch, searching for my brother and family, who had been in the next section to me, I remember asking myself, If this is the heat of a fire, what will Hell be like, total fire and destruction for those who don't trust Christ.

Fifty six people died that day, lives, were never the same after that day.

Devotional thought

For Christian's reading this, please listen to the comments I have placed below

This should be the Christian's greatest motivation, we have ourselves been pulled out of the fire, so we should seek to rescue those from the fire of hell.

Some people on that day were heroes, they helped people on fire, I remember walking past the goalmouth, two bodies were just lying there, this is the situation with the world today, people are dying every minute of every day and the church and Christians are idly standing by and doing nothing.

I remember hearing the story of a man who was interviewing for a job working as an usher in a cinema, showing people to their seats, he was asked

"what would you do in if a fire broke out"

His answer was like this:

" I would be ok, I would make sure I would be safe"

That is how many Christians live.

They have salvation, they have places in heaven or so they think, but they have no care or compassion for those who are dying every day all around them.

Spurgeon said

The world lies in darkness: this great city still pines for the light: your own friends and kinsfolk are unsaved, and they may be dead ere this week is over. Oh, if you have any humanity, let alone Christianity, if you have found the remedy tell the diseased about it. If you have found life, proclaim it to the dead; if you have found liberty, publish it to the captives; if you have found Christ, tell of him to others. My brethren in the college, let this be your choice work while studying, and let it be the one object of your lives when you go forth from us. Do not be content when you get a congregation, but labour to win souls, and as you do this God will bless you. As for us, we hope during the rest of our lives to follow him who is The soul-winner, and to put ourselves in his hands who maketh us soul-winners, so that our life may not be a long folly, but may be proved by results to have been directed by wisdom.

This memory is still with me, it is a day of regret for the people who died but also thankfulness for the Lord preserving me.

Let me tell you, it is not enough to go to church, to give to missions, even to belong to social media groups or even to write devotions.

For anyone, who has not trusted Christ, life is very short, those people who died that day, many of them were young, looking forward to a long life, but suddenly life was gone, please don't delay, the day of salvation is now.

2 Corinthians 6:2
(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

CHAPTER 8

THE WORLD'S GRASP

1 JOHN 2

15 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.
16 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.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
During the final two years of me working at the hospital (1987-89), I went to night school to study Business studies and Computing, I got my Basic diplomas in both, so as my job finished, I was going to take the National diploma at my local college, meaning that I could still live at home.

But I saw an advert in the Bradford Newspaper for a two year full time course at Bradford and Ilkley community college, So I returned back to my birthplace.

I loved the day to day lectures, I was really stretched, these were subjects I really enjoyed.

In our first year, we had to put in place an investment portfolio and we had to formulate a business plan for an actual business, myself and two other students, Mark and Jacqui decided to open an Organic restaurant, costings, locations and menus had to be thought out, and then we had to submit our plans to our lecturers for marking. We got distinction for our plan.

In my final year, I got five distinctions out of seven subjects.

Although I loved college, my life completely forget God and the church, although I didn't live a bad life, God was not part of it, I used to love going to concerts, theatre etc, my friend Mark, used to call me a culture vulture.

During my second year, I got involved with a girl, nothing ever happened between us, we went for coffee, to the theatre, but it just ended.

We graduated in June 1991, I keep applying for jobs, no one was interested. Many of my peers were doing the BA In Business studies at the college, but foolishly and seeking to impress this girl, I decided to do Accounting qualifications at City College in Norwich for 1991-92, this led to terrible failure, I went back hope to Morecambe, but my eldest brother insisted I go back to Bradford, so job hunting went on in earnest, I tried everything.

My Mother who was on a world cruise with her rich sister, had a stroke on the last day and Philip said I had to live away from her, so I ended up in a variety of contract jobs but nothing permanent.

I lived in some bad places, one especially.

The landlord lived at no 3 and his son and I lived at no 1, one Monday morning I met the landlord coming into no 1.

"Where's Mark, he should of been at work"
Oh he's asleep in the living room

We went in, he had fallen off the sofa and had choked on his own vomit, his body was filled with 634 mg of alcohol, there had been a late night drinking session at the local pub, they had encouraged him to drink the powerful spirit Pernod.

An inquest happened and I had to testify, my mum said " when drinks in, wits out"

We had many people live at No 3, one night I came down to the kitchen and met our new lodger, a talkative guy, who I tried to get away from, but he continued talking, he kept receiving phone calls from somewhere, strange I thought.

He came in and out, and then one day, he was gone, to be honest I was glad he had gone, then one night, in came my landlord with five police officers, one of them came and talked to me, what do you know about this guy?
Why I asked, has he done something wrong?
Well he has been accused of murder.

Little did I know that this man in our house was a rapist and murderer, and I had talked to him, on my own for over one hour.

I managed to go and see my brother in Canada and he strongly advised me to get out of Bradford, so soon after Mum returned from her trip, I returned to Morecambe.

During this time, I had been on anti-depressants, very strong and addictive ones.. Cipramil 15mg, I was to remain trapped by these for many years afterwards.

Devotional Thought

The prodigal son in Luke 15, had to experience hard times before he remembered what he had lost.

I had lost much in those eight years since I left Morecambe in 1989, the early 1990's were not a happy time for me.

I lost my innocence, I regret deeply what happened especially in the years 1992-97, I remember especially years later meeting up with a fellow student, she had been far below me in the class, she had got a degree a 2.1 and it just filled me with sadness and sorrow, we truly make mistakes, mostly because we go our own way, I can and will blame no one but myself.

Remember that there is forgiveness from God, he does forgive, the real question we have to face is do we forgive ourselves.

To do this, we do have to take responsibility and admit our mistakes and then we can be cleansed of the guilt and pain, IF ONLY, are small words, but we cannot dwell of what might of happened, it didn't.

I'm actually glad all this pain happened, it has allowed me to see life in a true way and to be honest with myself about how fallible I really am. Also It has allowed me to help others, people reading this will have made terrible mistakes, that they feel are life ending, but they aren't, they are life enhancing.

Do not dwell on your failures, the apostle Paul didn't dwell on his past, in Philippians 3 he said this and I echo these words.

7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;


That time was probably the darkest in my life. Praise God, he brought me through it.. only HE COULD.

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐝
“𝘕𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘴, 𝘯𝘰 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴—
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴."

We often live drained and exhausted—running hard, yet running empty. We push through fatigue, hide our weakness, and try to recover on our own, because we hate to wait. In a world of instant results, we have lost the grace of standing still. Whether we are burned out or barely holding on, the question is not whether we can keep going, but whether we are willing to wait on God.

🕮 𝐈𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐚𝐡 𝟒𝟎:𝟑𝟏 declares, “𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘶𝘱𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘖𝘙𝘋 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩; 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘶𝘱 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘢𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘴…” Spoken to a weary people, this promise reveals God’s provision—not borrowed strength, but renewed strength. To “𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵” is not idleness but dependence—trusting God in stillness, surrender, and expectation.

An eagle does not fight the storm—it rides it. It spreads its wings and allows the current to lift it above the winds. It does not create the wind; it rests in it. This is what waiting on God means. Stop flapping in panic, striving against the storm with our own strength; just spread our wings and start trusting. God lifts what we cannot carry. Waiting is not wasted—it is where strength is renewed.

Scripture confirms this strengthening grace. “𝘏𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵; 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩” (𝐈𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐚𝐡 𝟒𝟎:𝟐𝟗). “𝘔𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦: 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴” (𝟐 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟏𝟐:𝟗). “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘖𝘙𝘋 𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩” (𝐍𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐚𝐡 𝟖:𝟏𝟎). God strengthens those who depend on Him.

Like a branch drawing life from the vine, we do not generate strength—we receive it. “𝘈𝘣𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘦… 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘺𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨” (𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟏𝟓:𝟒–𝟓). “𝘉𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵” (𝐄𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟔:𝟏𝟎). Strength is not achieved—it is supplied.

Christ secured this renewal through His finished work. “𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘺𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰” (𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟏𝟒:𝟏𝟗). Because He lives, our strength is not temporary—it is sustained. What we cannot produce, He provides. What we cannot carry, He bears. In Him, waiting becomes rising.

Where are you still striving instead of waiting on God? You may keep moving, yet remain inwardly empty. You don’t need Christ just to help you endure—you need Him to renew your strength. Come to Him, wait before Him, and let Him lift what you cannot carry.

𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫: Heavenly Father, we confess that we often strive in our own strength. Teach us to wait upon You and depend fully on Your power. Renew our strength, lift us above our weariness, and make us strong by Your grace alone. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Remember, a dose of God’s Word a day will keep you going all day!
𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐆𝐨𝐝...
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All scripture references were taken from the KJV Bible.
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From; Brenda Walsh Ministries.
Activate Your Faith
Christians talk about “faith,” but few truly understand the real meaning. As long as everything is going great in their life, their “faith” is strong, but at the first sight of trouble, they jump on the worry wagon, and faith is thrown out the window! You simply cannot be pacing the floor, biting your nails, spending sleepless nights weighed down with worry, and have complete faith in God! Hebrews 11:1 sums up the meaning of faith: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” When your life is falling apart, and you’re helpless to make things better, that’s when faith sustains you . . . knowing with absolute certainty you are in the hollow of God’s hand! It’s one thing to “know” you serve a trustworthy God, but when you actually witness faith in action, your love and trust is off the charts! Someone once said, “When God pushes you to the edge of difficulty, trust Him fully... because two things can happen. Either He’ll catch you when you fall, or He will teach you how to fly! That’s a powerful reality because our God is trustworthy, loving, all-powerful, and wants what’s best for us, so there’s no need to worry when we allow God full control of our lives! Activate your faith today, and start by believing God will do what He says He will do … even in the bad times! Text: Matthew 17:20, Ephesians 2:8-9, Matthew 15:28, Mark 11:22-24

GUIDELINES FOR LIVING.
April 14th, 2026

How Can I Inherit Eternal Life?

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Luke 18:22



Anyone who has ever visited ancient Jericho can testify to the fact that in the summer it can be unbearably hot. Locals are convinced that hell itself is only ten degrees hotter than Jericho. There is an old aphorism that in China only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noonday sun. That surely applies to Jericho as well—which is why a drama that unfolded as Jesus approached the city on His way to Jerusalem is so remarkable.

So vivid was this happening in the life of Jesus that three of Jesus’s biographers, Matthew, Mark, and Luke: they all wrote about it. Now, the story itself is simple enough. A young man, having heard that Jesus was passing by, came running and knelt before Him, voicing a question that was perplexing to him.

There is an element of urgency in the encounter. The man made no appointment. Neither did he bother to consider whether the interview was convenient. He simply knew this was his opportunity to get something off his chest; he took advantage of the moment.

There is also an element of drama in the situation. All three of the writers of the Gospel point out that this man was very wealthy, and people with lots of money don’t run in the sun. They snap their fingers and give orders and other people do the running for them. Furthermore, there is an element of desperation as well. Now, people with money are used to other people deferring to them, but humiliating himself before Jesus, he knelt in the dusty road. Looking up into Jesus’s face, he asked, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Now, in the event you’ve never read the Gospels (meaning Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), you need to know that each one represents a different viewpoint. Mark is called the Gospel of Action. Reflecting a Roman viewpoint, he goes right to the heart of things. He never wastes words. Mark points out something that his colleagues Matthew and Luke omit. At this point, Mark says, “Jesus, beholding him, loved him!” (Mark 10:21). Now, there are two Greek words which could have been used for “to see” or “behold”. The first means to casually observe someone, but the other word—and the one that Mark used—means to gaze intently at someone. So, Jesus looked intently into the face of this troubled young man who knelt before Him; He loved him, knowing full well that the great wealth he had would be a stumbling block.

“You still lack one thing,” said Jesus, adding, “Go sell everything you have and give to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Luke 18:22).

So, he immediately got rid of his money, forsook his easy lifestyle and became a disciple, right? Dead wrong. The record says he walked away very sorrowful because he was very rich.

So, what’s the issue? It’s simple. Who or what comes first? Your money, your position, or your God? Earlier, Jesus had said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).

Andrew, my grandson, aged seven, shocked his mother, saying, “Mother, I’m afraid I’m going to go to hell!” “Why?” asked Bonnie, somewhat perturbed. “Because I’m afraid I love my little blue bucket and shovel—a birthday gift—more than God!”

Whether it’s your pride, your wealth, or your little blue bucket that stands between you and doing the will of God, Jesus wants to come first. “Come …, follow me,” is still the invitation He makes to those who ask, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” It is still true.



Resource reading: Luke 18:18-30

The post How Can I Inherit Eternal Life? appeared first on Guidelines International.

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April 14, 2026

Commit to 5 Minutes a Day with God

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved … who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15



OK, you’ve decided to take five minutes a day and spend with God. You’ve made the decision to try it. What can you expect? For one thing, you’ll discover that Murphy’s law, “Anything that can happen, will happen,” has your name on it. You will oversleep. You will discover that your socks don’t match. You will have extra work that keeps you up late, so late that as soon as you close your eyes, you are instantly asleep. You will set the alarm early, and an alarm that has never failed before, will not go off! You will settle down with an open Bible or a notebook and begin to ponder your relationship with God, and the phone will ring, or you will immediately think of things that need your attention right now, so you push aside the Bible and skip your quiet time with God.

How do I know? I’ve tried it at least a hundred times, but I’ve started at least 101 times. In other words, I haven’t quit. Interested in five simple guidelines that can help you develop a quiet time or a time of spiritual meditation and study? They are:

Guideline #1: Make the commitment to take at least five minutes a day and spend with the Lord. I’m sure I don’t have to sell you on the importance of the idea. The vast majority of people believe that being in the presence of God is important, but not important enough to make the commitment to include time in His presence in their daily schedule. Remember, the longest journey in the world begins with the first step, and your commitment to enrich your life by taking five minutes a day is the beginning that can change your life.

Guideline #2: Be definite, but flexible, in your plan to schedule five minutes a day. When’s the best time for this? Anytime, right? Dead wrong! Anytime is some other time, and some other time never gets scheduled. So, look at your schedule, or daybook. Determine when you can take five minutes a day and make it a habit. For some, the first thing in the morning is the best time, but for you night people, five minutes at the end of your day is a lot more productive.

Guideline #3: Have a plan. Three ingredients should fit into that plan. First, Scripture, or God’s Word, the Bible. Here you find the strength of the ages; through these pages, God speaks to us. Then, you need some moments of reflection or meditation as you ask yourself, “How does what I’ve read apply to my life, to what I’m facing right now?” Then you need a few minutes to talk to God in prayer. Here you connect with Him by sharing your heart.

Guideline #4: Stay focused. It is so easy to let your mind wander. You read a chapter, close the Bible, and you can’t remember a word or a thought that you’ve read. Do you know why? All of the time, your mind was going over your schedule for the day. You were thinking about your broken-down car, or the problems confronting you. How do you stay focused? Possibly by reading out loud. Perhaps by journaling, or writing down your thoughts, by making the conscious decision to put your mind where your body is, and worship God.

Guideline #5: Discipline yourself, and, if necessary, cut something else out of your overburdened schedule. When it’s all said and done (and usually more is said than done), we have time for what we really want to do. Nobody can honestly say (myself included), “I don’t have at least five minutes a day to nurture my soul and refresh my mind.” But you don’t just find time, you must take it.

What are the rewards? An amazing sense of clarity in your thinking. You begin to see life from a different perspective. You slow down enough to realize you are in the presence of the Almighty. You realize your problems are not so big after all. Five minutes can change your life.

Resource reading: James 4:7-10

KISORO COMMUNITY CHURCH || Sunday Service
YOU WILL FINISH THE RACE
Matthew 28:9–15

The message today is clear and powerful: you will finish the race. No matter what stands before you, what God has created and designed carries within it the power to complete its assignment. Your life is not an accident, and your journey is not without purpose. As long as you remain in the Lord, there is a divine strength working inside you that will push you forward until you reach the finish line.

In the scripture, we see a moment that changed everything. What seemed like the end of the story became the beginning of victory. Jesus had been crucified, buried, and sealed behind a massive stone. To the world, it looked final. Hope was gone, and expectation had died. But heaven had a different plan.

There was no one expecting Jesus to rise again. Even those who loved Him struggled to believe that resurrection was possible. The stone that covered the grave was not just physical—it represented impossibility, finality, and human limitation. From a natural perspective, nothing could move that stone.

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