IF YOU COULD ONLY IMAGINE WHAT'S COMING

The 2001 hit single, "I Could Only Imagine" by Mercy Me is one of my all time favorites.  The words in the song are so powerful, so full of description.  I'm particularly fond of the third verse as it's so right on...

"Surrounded by Your glory

What will my heart feel

Will I dance for you Jesus

Or in awe of You be still

Will I stand in your presence

Or to my knees will I fall

Will I sing hallelujah

Will I be able to speak at all

I can only imagine

I can only imagine" 

But, let's not put the cart before the horse.   There's still a whole lot of imagining to take place.  If you're reading this you're still on this earth.  Breathing, waiting, planning and hopefully praying.  So let's imagine this.  You're at your job facing challenges to your workday.  It's been hectic.  There's been a myriad of phone calls, emails and texts.  The noise in the office is buzzing at a high level.  But suddenly there comes silence.  A pregnant pause kind of silence.  Which means this: "A pause that builds up suspension in the listener/viewer for a greater dramatic effect of what follows after the pause."  

Now picture this.  You can see a field.  One with rolling hills full of every color of the rainbow.  Majestic to say the least.  You make out a figure in the distance.  It's unlike any one you've seen before.  You know it's definitely not a human form.  On his right side, the figure is holding onto something bright and shiny.  Blinding really.  Most likely brass in nature.  There is a feeling of intensity in the air.  Like something special will soon happen.  

You squint a little harder and see that the figure is looking off in the distance at what appears to be a raised hand.  You look back at the figure and see it lift with both hands the object from his right side.  Lifted right in front of its mouth.  You can make out the dryness of the lips and hear a motor-boating sound to prepare for the moment of a lifetime.  This moment has been talked about for a long, long time.  Longer than anyone can imagine.  Perhaps that's why you also sense nervousness too.  How can you practice for something like this?  It's a one-time chance to nail it for all to hear.  The bright radiant object is now pulled into the moist, pursed lips of the figure.  Off in the distance you make out the raised hand dropping quickly downward.  The sound begins. Not a blaring, but a note that resonates like nothing ever heard before.  It's the sound of the trumpet signaling the beginning.  Yes, the beginning.        

            

1 Thessalonians 4 13-18 brings it all into focus.  13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.  14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.  15 According to the Lord's word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.  16  For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  17  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And so we will be with the Lord forever.  18  Therefore encourage one another with these words. 

 Look around you.  Take a real gooooood look.  Who looks ready?  Can you see anyone in that imagination state?  Most likely not many. The common thought among believers is that Jesus is coming back.  Just not any time soon.  Not me.   I'll grant you I have no secret information on when the time will be.  But if you look at the Bible and you see how things are lining up....time is close at hand.   So close that not only can I see it...I can almost taste it.  Of this I can imagine.

YGG,

John 

P.S.  Not sure if you thought about this, but I know I have.  One of the first questions I want to ask when reaching heaven is, who sounded the trumpet?  Which ever angel it was, they deserve some serious accolades!!!

     

J.D. FARAG SHARES PROPHESY DESPITE MOST CHURCHES REMAINING QUIET

I've sung the praises of Pastor J.D. Farag of Calvary Chapel Kaneohe in Hawaii for some time now.  And for good reason.  He doesn't pull punches.  He is straight forward with his wisdom and talks about the state of our country and our world and what that means in end times.  Each week he delivers a message on prophesy.  He's done so for over 14 years.  14 YEARS.

Are you ready for what's to come? 

I feel compelled to share his most recent YOU TUBE delivery.  It's not for the faint of heart.  His message offers little in the way of life as we know now.  But that's in this world, not what God has promised us. Farag states so eloquently "the United States is dying.  In fact, the World is dying".  If that's not enough to get your attention, I'm not sure what is.   But it offers these questions to our churches....those who are remaining silent on prophesy.  "Why do you keep the sheep from knowing what's ahead?  Can't you see the storm on the horizon?" 

So where is the first prophesy in the Bible.  Try Genesis 3:15.

"15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."  To help this make sense,  the woman is Eve, her seed Adam and the serpent is Satan.

I have attached a link of the Pastor's message from Sunday, the 7th.  Take an hour of your time and let his words sink into your heart and mind.  Times are drawing near.  The trumpets are near to sound.



J.D. Farag Prophesy


"Remember, then, what you received and heard.  Keep it and repent.  If you will not wake up,  I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you"-Revelation 3:3

YGG,

John

HOPE YOUR HOPER IS STILL WORKING

I know I've been working the "Hope" thing a lot lately.  But there's a really good reason.  If you haven't noticed, the wheels are coming off of most everything we used to hold near and dear.  Things like justice, fairness, safety, the American Flag and the Anthem are becoming a thing of the past.

So what do we have left?  HOPE.  That's what.  Four little letters that can move anything and everything.  Because without it, why exist.

I came across this image from Nikki Banas, a writer, encourager and creator.  She hit on some pretty good points.  Ideas that we need to start implementing if we haven't already.  HOPE is what's going to carry us through all the carnage that is happening in our World.  Rest assured, it's not going to go away.

Nikki hit on some pretty good thoughts to live by 

What are some of the biggest Hopes we have in our lives?  The following comes from the Billy Graham Library.  Below is a short thought.  I have provided a link to the entire article below it.

"Sometimes it's difficult to see hope in a situation.  But, the Bible says that true hope is unseen.  And if we can be hopeful for one thing, such as our salvation, which is also unseen, then we can be hopeful for others things too.  It's just that simple!  For in this hope we were saved.  But hope that is seen is no hope at all.  Who hopes for what they already have?" -Romans 8:24

https://billygrahamlibrary.org/blog-5-things-the-bible-says-about-hope/


YGG,

John 

HOPE YOU REMEMBER THOSE WHO SACRIFIED

Today is a day for remembrance.  A day when memories should be front and center.   In truth, every day should be a Memorial Day.  A time to reflect on the freedoms we enjoy provided by those that serve.

We've had two of our children serve, Kristopher and Jonathan.  Without question we are proud of the commitment both made at such a young point in their life.  Kristopher served in Afghanistan in 2010-2011.  Jonathan served state side.  In many ways, we are thankful that he did.  Our family knows all too well what sacrifice means.  It's not just the soldier.  It's family and friends as well. So this is a day to remember their part in the process.

Serving those that Served.........

I've known a few soldiers who have deployed and were killed in action. None intimately.  One I knew was when I was in high school and the others were part of the 400 Iowa and Nebraska troops that deployed to Afghanistan with our oldest.  What does this day mean to those people that knew someone first-hand?  My hope is a lot.  My bigger hope is we look deep down and make Memorial Day something other than time off and family outings.  Make it a holiday.  You know what a holiday is, right?  By definition, " A holiday is a day set aside by custom or by law on which normal activities, especially business or work, including school, are suspended or reduced.  Generally, holidays are intended to allow individuals to celebrate or commemorate an event of  tradition of cultural or religious significance".   Hopefully a deep meaning becomes custom to you.

Today, I think of a solider who served.  Who saw some horrific things and brought that battle back to the states.  His name is Ryan Whitt.  Specialist Jeffrey Ryan Whitt.  I think of his family today.  I'm sure this day is like one of many days they ache for him.....birthdays, holidays, wedding day, and the day of his death.  Remember Specialist Whitt today.  He was a fine young man that left this earth far too early.  That's what I will remember.  I hope you have someone you can remember in the same way.       


Jocko Willink, a retired Nay SEAL offers some unique thoughts on this Memorial Day.  Hope you realize a deeper appreciation in viewing his interview:

https://video.foxnews.com/v/6159024891001?playlist_id=6097749916001#sp=show-clips


YGG,

John

HOPE YOU'RE NOT BEING DECEIVED

Gosh.  Where do I start?  There's so much to unbox regarding the times we're in.  How about I start with perhaps the most important part?  Don't be DECEIVED.  Keep your eyes and ears open because there are a myriad of critics offering advise as to how we need to live or lives. 

The biggest question in their suggestions should be, "where does your wisdom come from?"  If it's from an educated position, theory, model or a gut feeling we'd best run the other way.  Where should our answers come from?  There is only one place.  It's called the Bible.  It's here where we've been told what's in store....and it's called Prophecy.  Inspired declaration of what's to come.

Here is one thing that's for certain.  Things will never be like they were before this coronavirus hysteria.  Don't expect a new normal.  There will be no such thing as normal.  This is not a time to hide in the sheets and hope things will go away.  They won't.  YOU and I need to wake up...and rely more than ever on JESUS CHRIST.  If we don't we'll be deceived.  Evil is working feverishly.  It's that old axiom.  Strike now while the iron is hot.  That's where Satan is operating from today.   So, how do we combat that?  Ask, ask and ask again for Ears to Hear and Eyes to See.  We're going to need both senses as acute as they've ever been.

Pastor  Ernest Amstalden, from Victory Christian Fellowship Church in Jewell, Iowa offers some great insights on the art of deception. "The first thing that goes is truth", he offered.  And the Pastor suggests that when people are "under attack, like this virus thing, people become scared and do things they wouldn't normally do.  Just where Satan wants us.  He wants deception....one of his biggest disguises. We need to see clearly.  Almstalden's following words provided just that.

"We live in an electronic concentration camp.  Call it what you will.  The meaning is the same; in our quest for less personal responsibility, a sense of greater security and no burdensome obligations to each other or to future generations, we have created a society in which we have no true freedom."

Will you be Deceived? 

Almstaden suggests we can look to 2 Corinthians 6-10 for a wing dinger of wisdom.

"6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as your were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. 9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness.  He is the head over every power and authority."

In the coming days, weeks and months you'll see businesses shuttering their windows and doors.  People will see their jobs being phased out and unemployment will be long-term and not a small stoppage in monies.  Our political will be more combative, if that's possible. Churches will fall to wayside.  A vaccine will be offered for the coronavirus despite being only 40-60% effective but in
essence will provide the microchipping IT heads and some medical groups have clamored for.  And let's not forget a one world government will be talked about as the saving face to our world.  Far-fetched?  Take a look back what the world was like several months ago.  We are closer now than we've ever been before in seeing the return of Jesus Christ.  If you don't believe me, check Prophecy.

Which leads me to a comment from JD Farag, Pastor of Calvary Chapel Kaneoh in Hawaii when asked by a member of his congregation who was fearful of end times and what will take place on earth.  "I'm afraid", he said.  Farag was straight forward in his response.  "Don't be.  Because you and I won't be here".

And that's not Deception.  Rest in that.

YGG,

John 

HOPE YOU'RE LOOKIN UP!

I made the decision yesterday that I'm going to return to posting "My Father's Voice" to Facebook.  It's been a long time since I've taken our stories and placed them on the social media giant.  The biggest reason I left FB was that I felt that most posts had become way to political and confrontational.  It had become clutter....and confusion.  Frankly, I didn't want any part of it.  So I jettisoned.

Recently, I came to the conclusion, that despite any backlash that my posts would receive if I returned, it's far better than doing nothing at all.  Because the way I see it, we are in desperate times where desperate action is needed.

Here's where my challenge came from.  A Des Moines, Iowa author, Galyn Wiemers, who is founder of Generation Word, a Bible teaching ministry, penned a book in 2007, entitled "Hope for America's Last  Generation".   One of many paragraphs got my attention.  But this is the one that really made an impact.  "God rewards believers for their faithful service. The believer who has been saved for many years and lived a faithful life will have more opportunities for rewards than one who got saved at the last minute or one who never truly walked in obedience to God.  It is possible to spend your life thinking you are serving the Lord but earn no reward in the end (1 Corinthians 3:15; 9:27).  Rewards are only given for actions that involve:

1.  Pure or sincere motivation-(doing the right thing for the wrong reason won't earn a reward)
2.  Serving God in truth-(having a sincere motive but doing the wrong thing won't get a reward)

So I asked myself, and you might do the same thing....am I doing all I can to tell people about what prophecy is telling us about the times were in?  My immediate and sad answer...was NO.  I've always thought of myself as one who tries to walk faithfully, but never one that talks much about God and my relationship with my creator.  I've never felt comfortable talking about it.  My wife on the other hand looks for any opportunity there is to spread the word. 

It made me think..."My Father's Voice" impacted many during the time our son was deployed to Afghanistan.  People from over 150 countries came to our site to see what God's voice was instructing.  It helped people....it challenged people.....and it changed people.  So I asked myself.  Couldn't this be a way to increase my motivation and means of serving God?  That's where I'm at.  And going forth, that's where I'm going to be.  A distributor of Truth, offering No Confusion.  There will be a whole lot of Hope in my messages.  My book, "Hope is a Weapon", was the centerpiece behind this line of thinking.  In these times, there is only one Hope.  And it's not in anything but Jesus.

I will say though.  You'd better be looking up.  Times are close at hand.  A LifeWay Research article offers some insight with this quote, "Almost 9 in 10 pastors see at least some current events matching those Jesus said would occur shortly before he returns to Earth".  Now, if that's the case then, why aren't they talking about it from the pulpit?  Why are they not telling their flock?   Shouldn't they be educating their audience as to what's at stake? 

There's a very good reason to be looking up

 
These words might say why:

"But concerning that day and hour no ones knows, not even the angels of Heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.  For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.  For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the Ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man". -Matthew 24:36 

Now you know why I say, "I Hope You're Looking Up".

YGG,

John


           

THE HOPE OF PROPHESY FULFILLED

My last blog post dealt with the Rapture.  The word itself has people up in arms.  And well they should be.  Raised as high as they can!!  Now, let's take things a little deeper, should we?  What does prophesy say?

A recent article in the Washington Post posed this picture:

"Chuck Pierce's son was concerned, like a lot of other people looking out on a world of ransacked grocery stores and canceled sports seasons and eerie lines of people standing six feet apart from one another.  So he asked his dad:  'Is this the end of the world?'

That's a question you can ask when you have a dad who calls himself an apostolic prophet and leads a prophetic ministry.  'No', said the elder Pierce, who is based in Corinth, Texas. 'The Lord's shown me through 2026, so I know this isn't the end of time."

That would lead me to the biggest question there is.  Why?  And then a few more. Why do you think or know that, Mr. Pierce?  Why 2026?  Frankly, I'm not in that camp.  I believe we are much closer than that.  MUCH.  For several years now, my wife and I have been faithful listeners of J.D. Farag.  Farag is pastor of Calvary Chapel Kaneohe in Hawaii.  For over 14 years now, he has been giving weekly prophesy updates.  His most recent You Tube message from Sunday, I believe, nails it.  Take 30 minutes and watch and let it sink in.  Farag mentions, he'd rather overstate and be wrong, than understate and be right.  In not sounding the alarm, it could mean thousands of people, maybe hundreds of  thousands wouldn't be awake.  But most importantly, BE READY.

              

But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man"-Luke 21:36

I'm going to rest in that.  Why not join me?  Are you READY?

YGG,

John