Take My Life, Lord :: By Nathele Graham

Published on: by RR10 Category:General Articles, Nathele Graham

It’s no secret that I love hymns. Since I was a child, I loved singing hymns. When I was a child, I didn’t really think about the words, but they were written on my heart. As I grew, the hymns I learned at a young age took on a deeper meaning. One of my favorites was written by Frances Havergal in 1873. It’s called Take My Life and Let It Be.

Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days
Let them flow in endless praise.

Each and every person who has ever lived has been given a valuable gift from God. Life. No matter how short or long a person’s life is, it is valuable. Unfortunately, too often, we forget who the giver of life is and choose to ignore Him. Scripture is quite clear in telling us that God created everything, including humans. The first chapter in Genesis explains that God created all things, but the Apostle John makes it even clearer.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:1-4).

Jesus is God and the Creator of all that is. How can we withhold our life from Him? More than just intellectually knowing that there is a God, we need to wholeheartedly give our life to Him. After all, He gave His life for us. Life is made up of moments, seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, years, etc. How we use that time is very important. We can use our gift of life to live in opposition to God, or we can choose to allow Him to use each moment of our life for His glory. God has a purpose for you, and you will always feel on edge until you let Him reveal that purpose to you. The prophet Jeremiah was called by God, but he made every excuse he could in order to not allow God to use him. God’s words to him are important, and He has the same words to us.

“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest from out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations”(Jeremiah 1:5).

Not everyone is ordained to be a prophet, or a preacher, or a songwriter, but God has a purpose for each of us. Jeremiah made excuses because he felt inadequate, but God told him why he didn’t need to fear.

“Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee saith the LORD” (Jeremiah 1:8).

Give each moment of your life to God and stop being afraid.

Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

Think of the evil we see all around us. You can be sure that kidnappers, murderers, and those who riot and cause pain and loss in others are not moving at the impulse of God’s love. They are being influenced by the god of this world. Satan hates people simply because God loves us. What do you think would happen if every person who claims to be a Christian would use their hands for His glory instead of hurting others? What if we went where He led us rather than walking into sin? Instead of watching wickedness on television or the internet, what if Christians would start reading Scripture? What if, instead of listening to songs that glorify sin, Christians listened to songs that glorify God?

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways: then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

If you call yourself a Christian, study that verse; you’re called by His name.

Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.

One of my regrets in life is that I’m not a great singer. Fortunately, God doesn’t require us to have perfect pitch in order to praise Him.

“O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms” (Psalm 95:1-2).

What is a joyful noise that God likes to hear? Our praises of His glory. Praising Him for what He has done. We have life, and there is beauty all around if we just open our eyes to see it. The birds don’t care if they live in the wide-open spaces or in a city. They sing. They nest in trees, whether that tree is in a forest, a city park, or on a concrete sidewalk. We can sing His praises wherever we live. His praises don’t necessarily need to be in song. If we use our lips to spread the Gospel or encourage someone who is struggling, then we’ve used our voice to praise God. We’ve shown His love. Do you use your voice to share His love, or do you use His name as a cuss word? It’s difficult to praise God and spew filthy language at the same time.

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29).

The word “communications” comes from the Greek “logos,” which means speech. The Apostle Paul tells us not to let corrupt talk come from our lips but to use words to share God’s love to all who hear.

Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

I have to admit that I don’t have a lot of silver or gold. There are many people who have been investing in precious minerals, but I’m not one. I don’t even have much paper money or a large bank account. God wants us to use whatever we have for His glory. If you have riches, then you shouldn’t be stingy. There are many people in need. Use what you have to glorify God. The Apostles weren’t rich, but they had a treasure entrusted to them. They were to spread the Gospel. One day Peter and John were in the Temple when they were approached by a man who was lame. The man asked for money.

“Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6).

We all have gifts from God. I must confess that I would love to have the gift of healing. Whatever your gift, use it for God’s glory. He may have entrusted you with riches; use them for His glory. Give your life to God and let Him use you as He sees fit.

Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own
It shall be Thy royal throne.

Submission to God isn’t always easy. He may ask you to step out of your comfort zone in order to serve Him. Scripture is filled with accounts of people who submitted to Him and accomplished great things for His glory. I think of Queen Esther, of Jeremiah, of Daniel, and so many others. The greatest example of submission was given by our Lord, Jesus Christ. He stepped out of Heaven and into this fallen world in order to be our only way of salvation. He set aside the glory He had with the Father and humbly submitted to being human in order to be our Kinsman Redeemer. Did He want to be beaten, spit upon, mocked, whipped, and crucified? No, He didn’t. His body felt the pain. Still, He submitted to God the Father. On the night He was betrayed by a friend and arrested, He knew what was to come. What was His example to us? Prayer and submission.

“And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine be done” (Luke 22:41-42).

Thank You, Jesus, for Your sacrifice of love. Because Jesus submitted His will, He went to the cross. He died, was buried, but then came the resurrection. He conquered death for us. Not death of these human bodies in which we live, but faith in Him brings eternal life with God. We have the opportunity to submit our fears to Him and share the Gospel with others. Don’t let fear silence you.

“And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ” (1 Peter 3: 13-16).

The word “conversation” here means a way of life. If God is sitting on the throne of your heart and you are submitting to the King, then you will be living a life that others may mock, but you will not be ashamed of their accusations. You will be living in submission to Christ, and your will will be lost in His.

Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.

Love. There is no greater love than God’s pure and perfect love for us. How can we repay His love for us? As hard as I try, I fail in loving others as I should. I want God to sit on the throne of my heart. I want to allow Him to use me to show His love to others. When I come across a person who irritates me to the point that I’m thinking very unchristian thoughts, that’s when I need to take a step back and remember that person is a sinner in need of hearing the Gospel. I’m a sinner saved by grace, and for that, I’m very thankful.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the git of God: not by works lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

There are many people all around us who haven’t found grace and forgiveness from God. That’s why I need to allow God’s love to flow through me.

Heavenly Father, I pray that I will turn my will over to You. I pray that You will help me to submit my will to Your will. Please give me boldness to share Your Gospel with others. Take my life and let it be, consecrated, Lord to Thee. In Christ’s name I pray. Amen.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com
ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

If you’d like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.

Before It Is Too Late :: By Daymond Duck

Published on: by RR10 Category:Daymond Duck, General Articles

On July 24, 2023, it was reported that Marshall, Minn. Pastor John Tramm wrote a letter to Minn. Gov. Tim Walz that was signed by 20 Minn. Pastors and hand-delivered to Gov. Walz by Pastor Tramm and Pastor Eric Anderson.

The letter urged Gov. Walz to “Repent, change your ways before it is too late.”

It was prompted by three bills that Gov. Walz signed:

  • One that promotes part of the LGBTQ agenda.
  • One that could threaten the freedom of speech of professionals that want to warn patients and children about the potential dangers of “conversion therapy.”
  • One that grants unrestricted access to abortion.

Tramm said he is praying for Gov. Walz, and he urged other pastors and Christians to stand up and speak out.

Is it possible for people to run out of time to repent and be saved?

It is a debatable subject.

We know that a multitude too great to be counted will hear the gospel, repent, and be saved during the Tribulation Period, but:

  • When God shut the door on Noah’s Ark, it was too late for multitudes.
  • When the hand wrote on the wall, it was too late for King Belshazzar and thousands of Babylonians.
  • When a certain rich man decided to build bigger barns to store his bountiful crop, it was too late for him to do it.

Not everyone agrees, but I believe that those that have heard the gospel but refused to believe it, accept Jesus, and repent of their sins, are running out of time to get saved before they are struck with strong delusion (like the blinding of the Jews or the hardening of Pharoah’s heart).

The Bible clearly teaches that people need to be ready to go on a moment’s notice because:

  • The Rapture could happen at any moment without warning (called the doctrine of imminence).
  • The Rapture will happen in the twinkling of an eye.
  • The Rapture will come upon the earth like a snare.
  • People will perish for not receiving the love of the truth, that they might be saved; that God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; and that all of them might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Anyway, not all of God’s people agree that someone can run out of time to repent and be saved, but all of them agree that God is a God of grace, and He will gloriously save those that truly repent and accept Jesus before the Rapture.

So, make your salvation sure now, reach your loved ones now, etc., and you won’t have to be concerned about it being too late later.

Here are some recent events that may relate to the end of the age Bible prophecy.

One, concerning natural disasters: on July 28, 2023, it was reported that two-thirds of the U.S. (almost 200 million people) is experiencing an extreme heat wave.

In many places, the heat index ranges between 100 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

(Note: The temperature in Pheonix, AZ has exceeded 110 degrees for 30 consecutive days, and the heat index has been higher.)

(Note: On July 28, 2023, UN Sec. Gen. Guterres said, “The era of global warming has ended; the era of global boiling has arrived.” He added that “July 2023 is set to be the hottest month ever recorded in human history.” He wants “dramatic action” to combat it, but that appears to be a push to empower the UN, the WHO, the WEF, and other globalist organizations to control the world.)

Two, concerning an economic collapse: due primarily to high taxes and a high cost of living, California’s population has declined three years in a row.

Businesses and jobs are leaving the state, and it is losing hundreds of millions of dollars of income from tax revenues every year.

Three, concerning the right to buy and sell: in June 2023, UK Brexit Leader Nigel Farage was de-banked, meaning the bank where he was banking (Coutts) canceled his accounts.

Farage believed his accounts were canceled for “political” reasons, and he believed it was wrong for banks to have the ability to control people’s access to their own money.

At first, officials where Farage banked denied that they de-banked him for political reasons, but he filed for and received a report that showed that he was, in fact, de-banked because of his politics, and two of the bank’s top officials were forced to resign.

On July 27, it was reported that Farage said, “Banks should not be and must never become political organizations.”

It sounds to me like Farage was saying he doesn’t believe politically correct bank officials should be allowed to deny people the right to buy and sell because their views are not politically correct.

Students of Bible prophecy can see that this is headed toward the Mark of the Beast.

Here is a similar story, but this one happened in the U.S.

On July 26, 2023, it was reported that Dr. Joseph Mercola’s business (Mercola Market), some of his employees, and some of his employees’ relatives were de-banked for an unspecified reason that the bank refuses to reveal.

Mercola wonders why the bank would de-bank some of his employees and their relatives if it is not political.

The CEO of Mercola’s business said, “It’s just hard to believe that your family, your wife, your kids can’t have a bank account because of the opinions of your employer, and they’ve never done anything wrong.”

Have you got that? JPMorgan Chase Bank not only de-banked the CEO of Mercola’s business, but they also went after his wife and kids, who have nothing to do with the operation of the business.

As we approach the end of the age, isn’t it interesting that two different, very large banks in two different nations (the UK and U.S.) de-banked customers at close to the same time?

Four, concerning a global pandemic: on July 30, 2023, it was reported that the Director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently said the CDC will likely announce in early Sept. that citizens should take an annual vaccination for Covid-19.

Many studies now confirm that the jab has caused heart damage in some patients, so requiring people (including children) to be jabbed every year could be problematic.

Five, concerning Joe Biden’s crime, lies and deceit in Washington, the media, etc.: on July 30, 2023, Zero Hedge reported that an investigative journalist that uses the name KanekoaTheGreat on Twitter said:

  • From Rep. Comer: “This is like organized crime” when the corporate media foolishly asks where is the evidence that the Bidens committed crimes?
  • American banks have submitted hundreds of suspicious activity reports on the Biden family, alleging their involvement in human trafficking, money laundering, and tax fraud. 
  • Congressional investigators have obtained bank account records and wire transfer statements on twenty shell companies owned by the Bidens, which were allegedly used for laundering illegally obtained money from China, Russia, Ukraine, Romania, and Kazakhstan as unregistered foreign agents. 
  • This evidence is supported by hundreds of thousands of emails, tens of thousands of text messages, photographs, audio recordings, calendar statements, and ten years of data from Hunter Biden’s laptop, which the FBI took into its possession in 2019. @MarcoPolo501c3 published a comprehensive “Report on the Biden Laptop,” documenting 459 alleged crimes involving the Biden family and their associates, including 140 business crimes, 191 sex crimes, and 128 drug crimes.
  • A $1,000 reward is offered for any verifiable corrections, but thus far, no crimes have been disputed.

Here is a link to the article:

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/organized-crime-multiple-banks-filed-over-170-suspicious-activity-reports-bidens

Here is a link to another article by Townhall:

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/rebeccadowns/2023/07/28/suspicious-bank-reports-n2626334

This is just part of the report, and if these things are true, honest people must wonder how the DOJ, CIA, FBI, and others can cover all of this up if they are not corrupt.

(Note: It has reached the point that a few Republican members of Congress have called for the FBI to be defunded or shut down altogether.)

(Note: On July 26, 2023, the district judge that was presiding over Hunter’s sweetheart plea deal with the DOJ threw it out, and some pundits believe panic is beginning to grip Washington, DC. One pundit suggested that the DOJ, FBI, CIA, and others may be going after Trump like they are because they fear what he will do to them if he gets back in power.)

(Note: On July 31, 2023, one of Hunter Biden’s most trusted business partners told the House Oversight Committee that is investigating the Biden corruption that Joe Biden is the “Big Guy” that is mentioned in several texts and e-mails. In the past, it was reported that the “Big Guy’s cut of Hunter’s take was 10%.)

(Note: On July 31, 2023, highly respected law professor, Jonathan Turley, said, “I think this is shaping up to be one of the greatest corruption scandals in the history of Washington, and that is saying a lot.”)

Six, concerning a global population reduction: on July 31, 2023, Dr. Robert Malone, internationally recognized scientist and mRNA researcher, said he has reluctantly concluded that the COVID-19 jabs were a CIA operation to depopulate the world.

(My opinion: This will not sit well with those that want to force everyone to get a global ID and be jabbed. And there is little doubt in my mind that Dr. Malone will soon be accused of spreading misinformation.)

FYI: God does not send anyone to Hell (all of us are born with a sin nature and destined to go to Hell because we sin), but God has provided a way (Jesus) for everyone to go to Heaven (and He is the only way to get there; John 14:6).

Finally, are you Rapture Ready?

If you want to be rapture ready and go to heaven, you must be born again (John 3:3). God loves you, and if you have not done so, sincerely admit that you are a sinner; believe that Jesus is the virgin-born, sinless Son of God who died for the sins of the world, was buried, and raised from the dead; ask Him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, come into your heart and be your Saviour; then tell someone that you have done this.

duck_daymond@yahoo.com