Give Thanks to God :: By Nathele Graham

“O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy” (Psalm 107:1-2).

It’s good to give thanks to God for everything. Most children are taught at a very young age to thank people for kindness, but we especially need to learn to give thanks to God. People may fill a need for a moment, but God fills our eternity forever. God has given us everything. He’s given us the world and all that’s in it, but mostly He’s given us the way to eternal life. In terms of importance, eternal life should be what we are the most thankful for.

Think of what our salvation cost God. The Creator of the universe stepped into His creation in order to give the only way to bridge the gap between lost sinners and the Eternal God. He gave us a gift that only He can give. It’s a free gift given in perfect love. All anybody has to do is turn to Jesus and accept that gift. When you’ve done that, your heart should be filled with gratitude. In both good times and bad, our hearts should be filled with thanks. The good times add to our joy in the Lord, and the bad times cannot take our salvation away.

“In every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Scripture doesn’t say to be thankful “for” everything, but “in” everything. The world today can send some very frightening and unhappy things our way. Even though pestilence threatens our well-being, or we face financial ruin, or health issues bring fear, try praising God and thanking Him in spite of the situation in your life. You’ll find that praising God will strengthen your spirit and give you hope.

As we look into the past, we can see many periods of history where lawlessness, war, disease, famine, and more seem to have threatened life and safety. There have always been evil men and women who have tried to block God’s people from praising Him. All of the evil in this world is driven by Satan. He wants worship for himself and will try to draw your worship away from God. Sometimes it’s easy to allow our minds and hearts to stray from God. Only He deserves our thanks and praise.

“I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving” (Psalm 69:30).

Psalm 69 is one of many Psalms which King David wrote when he was in much distress. He began this Psalm by saying, “Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God. They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away” (Psalm 69:1-4).

Have you ever felt like that? I have. David was in deep despair, but as he poured out his heart to God, he allowed God to change his heart. He turned his thoughts to the Lord and His love. As King David voiced his anguish, his overwhelming despair turned to words of praise. David knew that animal sacrifices were an important part of the Law, but the praise of his lips was more pleasing to God.

“This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs. The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God” (Psalm 69:31-32).

Next time you’re in the depths of despair, try thanking God and praising Him. It just might turn your sorrow to joy.

Christians have a special reason for joy in the Lord. Sin had separated mankind from God, and the only way to restore fellowship was for God to shed His own blood. God’s love is pure and perfect.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).

When you stop and really think about those words, your heart should be filled with praise and thanksgiving. Because Jesus, God incarnate, willingly gave His life as the once for all sacrifice for sin, so you and I can have everlasting life. All you have to do is admit you’re a sinner and that you cannot obtain eternal life by your own efforts. Only the pure blood of Jesus, which He shed on the cross, can bring eternal life for anyone who asks.

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6-7).

Those are wise words from the Apostle Paul. God’s free gift of salvation should not be taken lightly.

King David looked forward to the coming Redeemer. He had many rough times in his life. He was known as a man after God’s own heart, and God greatly blessed him. David’s desire was to honor God in his life, but he had many struggles and failures at various times during his life. Just like us, his choices caused his failures. His greatest failure came because he followed the lust of his heart. Bathsheba, a married woman, caught his eye, and he impregnated her. This sin was compounded by even worse choices. David made sure her husband, a faithful soldier in his army, was stationed where he was sure to be killed in battle.

Yes, the man after God’s own heart was guilty of adultery and murder. Both of those sins were punishable by death under the Law. When King David fully understood the depth of his sin, he turned to the Lord for mercy. He turned to God in earnest prayer.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit” (Psalm 51:10-12).

David was genuinely repentant and sought God’s forgiveness, and he found it. It was a real possibility that God would have removed the Holy Spirit from David’s life and taken His hand of protection away. Because of David’s heartfelt repentance, God forgave him. King David gave thanks and worshipped God for the rest of his life.

Christians have more to be thankful for than David. The Holy Spirit is sealed within us. At the moment of our genuine acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice for our sin – accepting the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the atonement for our sin – our salvation is assured. If that isn’t something to be thankful for, then maybe you haven’t truly understood what a special gift He has given to you. No matter what trials you are facing or what fear grips your heart, give thanks to God.

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Without Christ, salvation and eternal life is impossible.

No matter what happens in the world, God is still with us. Talk to Him about your fears and listen for His answers. “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful” (Colossians 3:15).

Give thanks to God.

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.

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God Has This :: By Daymond Duck

I watched a little of the Kyle Rittenhouse trial last week. There was little to no reporting on the gun-toting terrorists, rioters, looters and arsonists (Antifa, Black Lives Matter, and others) that showed up at Kenosha, WI, two days before Kyle arrived. There was little to no reporting about what some of these people had done to Kenosha in the past, and no law-breakers were being punished. The lies of fake reporters in the mainstream media were drowning out the truth (Kyle didn’t kill even one black person, Kyle is not a white supremacist that went to Kenosha to kill black people, Kyle didn’t cross a state line with an illegal weapon, etc.), and I was saddened by the evil that I was witnessing in America.

Despite these feelings, I realized that world leaders have declared that we are in a new era, the nations have agreed to a new agenda, and the fundamental transformation of America is playing out. The madness in Kenosha is part of the step-by-step creation of a godless world government (the effort to disarm patriots and honest citizens, the empowerment of evil, the tolerance of wickedness and intolerance of truth, etc.). It is a spiritual war under the leadership of Satan.

Look up, world. God has this.

(Update One: On Nov. 20, there were demonstrations in Brooklyn, NY; Boston, Mass.; and Chicago, ILL.; and rioting, smashing windows, and attacks on the police over Kyle’s acquittal.).

(Update Two: On Nov. 21, Dave Hodges reported on The Common Sense Show that Sen. Jerry Nadler wants the Dept. of Justice to investigate Kyle Rittenhouse for Civil Rights violations. It seems to me that Nadler is deliberately stirring up trouble, especially since all the victims were white.).

(Update Three: On Nov. 23, 2021, it was reported that Antifa is urging members and friends to arm themselves to kill people before they are killed by armed people that try to defend their lives and property.)

Here are more events that recently caught my attention.

One, Dr. Thomas Jendges (managing director of Chemnitz hospital, East Germany’s largest municipal hospital, since April 2021; sole managing director since Oct. 1) died in a fall from the hospital building on Nov. 3. The death was ruled a suicide, and it is reported that he left no suicide note. The Lord Mayor of Chemnitz, Sven Schulze, said he “exchanged views with him for a long time about the difficult corona situation” the evening before his death. Why would this 55-year-old husband and father of two commit suicide in a fall from the hospital building, and without leaving a note? And what were his concerns about the coronavirus situation?

A report currently circulating claims that Dr. Jendges posted a video just before he died in which he said, “There’s no virus, it’s a dictatorship, disguised. Everything is happening at the same time. We have a dictatorship; there’s no other way to say it.” In reality, the video is from another German doctor, Guido Hofman, who posted the video in August of last year. You can view the video at this link: Dr. Guido Hofmann: ‘Coronavirus is an introduction to a ‘Worldwide Dictatorship.’

Many prophecy teachers believe a globalist dictatorship is gradually taking over the world for the purpose of establishing a godless world government.

(More: At the World Health Summit on Oct. 24-26, the Pres. of Bayer’s Pharmaceutical Division said the mRNA Covid-19 shots are cell and gene therapy marketed as vaccines. He believes favorable marketing is causing people to be vaccinated, not favorable results.).

Two, concerning world government and a global dictatorship: in mid-Nov. I watched a couple of videos (one by John Haller and one by Andy Woods) that revealed information about the World Economic Forum’s (WEF’s) “Leaders of Tomorrow School” (now called the “Young Leaders School”).

For about 28 years, the WEF has been training and indoctrinating politicians, CEOs of large corporations, billionaires, royalty, etc., to become leaders in a world government.

It now has more than 1,400 members and alumni.

Students in the first class (Class of 1993) included Angela Merkel (Chancellor of Germany), Bill Gates, Tony Blair (former Prime Min. of UK), Nikolas Sarkozy (former Pres. of France), and Viktor Orban (Prime Min. of Hungary).

The Class of 2005 included Gavin Newsome, Nancy Pelosi’s nephew and now the Gov. of Cal.

The Class of 2017 included Emanuel Macron, now the Pres. of France and a man that some believe could be the Antichrist.

The Class of 2019 included Peter Buttigieg, a gay man known by some as the wife of Chasten James Glezman. He worked in John Kerry’s campaign, became the Mayor of South Bend, Ind., ran for Pres. of the U.S., and is now the Sec. of Transportation. Some people want to dump Kamala Harris as V.P. of the U.S. and replace her Buttigieg.

Two other rich and powerful people that attended the WEF’s “Young Leaders School” are Jeff Bezos (founder of Amazon) and Chelsea Clinton (Bill and Hillary’s daughter).

This school, which really appears to be a globalist indoctrination center to me, is training the rich and powerful to think alike on Covid, lockdowns, vaccination mandates, proof of vaccination, etc.

Graduates are taught to bring about “The Great Reset” of society (Part of the “Build Back Better” goals of the Biden administration, the UN, Pope Francis, and others) that prophecy teachers believe will be cashless, track all buying and selling, be led by 10 like-minded globalists first, and ultimately the Antichrist.

It won’t be a better world or a wonderful new age; it will be “a time of great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matt. 24:21).

There is widespread agreement that Pres. Biden’s mental and physical health is in decline.

American citizens would be wise to ask if they want Pres. Biden’s potential replacement to be a confused person that was born as a male, identifies as a female, and has been trained to collapse America’s economy and establish a godless world government and religion (see Dan. 11:37; Rom. 1:18-31; II Tim. 3:3).

Three, in Old Testament times, Jewish priests made anointing oil to anoint priests, and the items used in Tabernacle (Ex. 30:23-25).

Later, they started making it to anoint prophets and kings (I Sam. 10:1).

On November 8, 2021, Israel365News reported that the Jewish Sanhedrin is preparing to make sacred anointing oil to anoint future High Priests and kings, and they intend to make enough oil to anoint their coming Messiah.

This writer believes Israel’s true Messiah will be anointed after Israel goes through the Tribulation Period.

The angel Gabriel told Daniel, “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy” (Dan. 9:24).

The fact that the Jewish Sanhedrin is preparing to anoint their coming Messiah (they may anoint the rebuilt Temple and the Antichrist) could be very significant.

Four, concerning hyper-inflation and an economic collapse: on Nov. 17, 2021, it was reported that the largest meat producer in the U.S., Tyson Foods, plans to increase chicken prices by 19%, beef prices by 33%, and pork prices by 38%.

Tyson attributed the increase to inflation caused by the Biden administration’s economic policies.

Five, also concerning hyper-inflation and an economic collapse, Pres. Biden has released 50 million barrels of oil from America’s strategic petroleum reserve to slow the rise of inflation and gas prices, a problem he caused by shutting down the Keystone XL Pipeline and choking off production in some parts of the U.S.

Democrat Joe Manchin calls this a “band-aid” that will not solve Biden’s “self-inflicted” problem.

Biden could cure the problem by reversing his policies, but he refuses to do that.

The cost of everything will keep going up, and it will hurt America’s poor and middle class (black, white, Hispanic, women, men, children, etc.) more than the wealthy.

It is part of the globalist climate change agenda (smaller vehicles, smaller houses, world government, etc.).

Six, concerning pandemics: on Nov. 19, 2021, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved booster shots for Covid.

Why are booster shots needed? Because the protection from regular shots does not last (an admission by Dr. Anthony Fauci on Nov. 16, 2021).

(Note: This writer has seen several stories that predict an increase in cancer, heart attacks and strokes in fully vaccinated people in the coming years.)

Seven, drugs will be one of several sins during the Tribulation Period (Rev. 9:20-21), and those that take them will not repent.

On Nov. 17, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that it is their estimation that 100,000 Americans have died in the last 12 months from an overdose of drugs.

Eight, concerning the tracking of all buying and selling, the Biden administration has nominated a woman for the position of Comptroller of currency that wants the government to take control of everyone’s bank accounts.

On Nov. 18, 2021, she had a confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Banking Committee.

It is too early to tell if she will get the job or not, but centralized government control of everyone’s bank accounts sounds like an effort to track all buying and selling.

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