Ray Mossholder: January 2015

8 Nobody"s perfect

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8 Nobody’s perfect

Adam and Eve sinned in the garden.

Noah got drunk.

Abraham twice put his wife in someone else’s harem.

Moses murdered a man.

Jacob was a liar.

David committed adultery and murder.

James and John kept losing their temper.

Peter ran away from the cross.

Thomas doubted Jesus Christ had risen.

I could fill in the blanks and mention every one of the major sins of men and women called by God or saved by Christ AFTER God had made himself totally known to them. So why does a husband or wife blame their spouse for being imperfect? We all have flaws as humans. That’s why Christ died for us and rose again for us. He’s not looking for perfection, but human’s who will take His direction, no matter how flawed they are. No one proves that better than a man who called himself “The chief of sinners” – the apostle Paul.

None of this excuses sin, but the blood of Christ canceled sin on the cross for every human who will sincerely ask Jesus Christ to be their one and only Savior (John 3:16–18). That’s all Christ asks so that He can forgive you of ALL your sins. If Christ forgives sins, shouldn’t we?

8 Nobody’s perfect

8 Nobody"s perfect

12 Christians live forgiven

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12 Christians live forgiven

There are two kinds of lifestyles that are equally destructive in any Christian’s life.

First is the self proclaimed “holier than thou” Christian who thinks their major role in life is to pick out everyone else’s flaws. They are egotists, big headed, puffed up, judging others from their high condemning perch of perfection. They are nitpickers. They believe the lie that they are better than anyone else and therefore have the right to be critical of anything they see in other Christians or non-Christians who do anything that they wouldn’t do, especially if it is something they consider sinful. They also believe that they have the corner on the market of truth and only exactly what they believe the Bible says is true. They aren’t open to changing their mind and expect everyone to do whatever they think they think they should. They can’t learn the truth because they think only what they believe is the truth. This person is in love with themself and so concentrated on what they believe is their perfection that they can’t really concentrate on Christ and His purpose for their life. They make life miserable for others.

Second is the Christian who at some point came to a place in their life when they began feeling inferior to everybody else. They feel inferior especially when they compare themself with other Christians. Deep down they believe there is some flaw in them, some sin they have committed, that on judgment day will send them to hell. They believe this in spite of the fact that they have sincerely asked Christ to be their one and only Savior. I call these kind of people, “Christians with ‘myopic eyeballs!"” They concentrate so much on the sins they are or have committed and on their self proclaimed imperfection that they have no real time to concentrate on Christ and His abundant purpose for their life. Besides, they don’t think they are at all “worthy” of His love. In fact they often tell other Christians how “unworthy” they feel. They don’t realize there is no one worthy of salvation and the gifts Christ gives them – no one at all.

The real truth is that Christ paid the entire price for every Christian’s sins. Christ summarized this truth with His last words on the cross – “It is finished.” Three days later He rose from death and conquered it. He did that so He could wash with his shed blood every person who honestly asks Him to be their one and only Savior (John 3:16.)

Let me tell you more about this right now on Take Time for God….. –Ray

12 Christians live forgiven

Revelation 18

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Revelation 18

After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory.

And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird.

“For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality.”

I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues;

for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.

“Pay her back even as she has paid, and give back to her double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her.

“To the degree that she glorified herself and lived sensuously, to the same degree give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, ‘I SIT as A QUEEN AND I AM NOT A WIDOW, and will never see mourning.’

“For this reason in one day her plagues will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong.

“And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of immorality and lived sensuously with her, will weep and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning,

standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’

“And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargoes any more–

cargoes of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet, and every kind of citron wood and every article of ivory and every article made from very costly wood and bronze and iron and marble,

and cinnamon and spice and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and cargoes of horses and chariots and slaves and human lives.

“The fruit you long for has gone from you, and all things that were luxurious and splendid have passed away from you and men will no longer find them.

“The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning,

saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls;

for in one hour such great wealth has been laid waste!’ And every shipmaster and every passenger and sailor, and as many as make their living by the sea, stood at a distance,

and were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What city is like the great city?’

“And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich by her wealth, for in one hour she has been laid waste!’

“Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her.”

Then a strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will not be found any longer.

“And the sound of harpists and musicians and flute-players and trumpeters will not be heard in you any longer; and no craftsman of any craft will be found in you any longer; and the sound of a mill will not be heard in you any longer;

and the light of a lamp will not shine in you any longer; and the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you any longer; for your merchants were the great men of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.

“And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth.”

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Revelation 18

I see dead people!

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#11 Take Time With God

I see dead people!

One of the most moving motion pictures in the past several years was a film that was anything but Christian. I’ve mentioned it before. It’s the movie “Sixth Sense” starring Bruce Willis. Some may call it an occult story. I would call it a science fiction story. The acting is top-notch and in one gripping moment a boy tells Bruce “I see dead people!” Now get ready – so do I! I see them all around me and the Holy Spirit grieves for them. What am I talking about? Join me right now to Take Time With God and I’ll explain…… –Ray

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Ray: raymossholder@gmail.com

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I see dead people!

Revelation 17

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THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”

And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered greatly.

And the angel said to me, “Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.

“The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come.

“Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits,

and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while.

“The beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction.

“The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour.

“These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast.

“These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”

And he said to me, “The waters which you saw where the harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.

“And the ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and will burn her up with fire.

“For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God will be fulfilled.

“The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth.”

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Ray: raymossholder@gmail.com

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Larry: larrymjackii@gmail.com

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Revelation 17

Georgia"s Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad

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I dove into my double-wide recipe box for a recipe to share with you and, BINGO, this is what I found–a 3 by 5 slip of paper with cursive handwriting by Agnes Cox of Albuquerque. She brought this salad to a gathering over 30 years ago and everyone raved about it and gobbled it down. But that wasn’t enough for me, I begged Agnes for the recipe. I think you’ll be happy she shared it.

BROCCOLI & CAULIFLOWER SALAD

INGREDIENTS:

1 Small head Cauliflower 1 bunch of Broccoli

½ Cup shredded Cheddar Cheese ½ cup Celery

6 strips fried & crumbled Bacon ½ cup Mayonnaise

½ cup Sour Cream ½ package Cheese & Garlic Good Seasons Salad Dressing

Instructions: “Combine and Refrigerate.”

As you will see, she didn’t exactly describe how to cut things up but I recalled the pieces were bite-sized or smaller. I just toss the vegetables and cheese and bacon into a bowl, Mix the mayonnaise and sour cream together with the salad dressing and put them all together. There isn’t a note on the slip of paper but I seem to recall that she said to let it wait a little while for the flavors to blend. She also added that you could personalize the recipe by including your own favorites like chopped onion, seeds, nuts, raisins, or craisins, etc. It just can’t get any easier than this!

Georgia"s Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad

7 - The Supernatural Power of a Praying Wife

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7 –The Supernatural Power of a Praying Wife

What can always do if she knows that her husband is doing or demanding something absolutely wrong and won’t reason it out with her? Who should she go to? Here’s God’s clear answer before she does anything else. –Ray

7 –The Supernatural Power of a Praying Wife

7 - The Supernatural Power of a Praying Wife

From death to life in one painless moment!

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From death to life in one supernatural moment!

Words you never want to hear, especially from Jesus Christ – He told the church at Sardis “You have a reputation for being alive, but you’re dead.”

Do you remember the little boy in the movie “Sixth Sense” who told Bruce Willis “I see dead people.” Well, I see them too, millions of them, in church and outside the church, people with no relationship with Christ. The tragedy is even deeper – they don’t know they are dead. So they don’t know what life is or that they need it. Real Christianity is not a religion, it’s a relationship with Christ or it is nothing. Larry and I will explain this on this edition of the Larry and Ray Show. Come join us now.

From death to life in one supernatural moment!

From death to life in one painless moment!

10 God"s Filling Station

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God’s filling station

10 Take Time With God

God’s filling station

Ephesians 1:18-23

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which he brought about in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet and gave Him as head over all things in the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

God’s filling station

10 God"s Filling Station

The Larry and Ray Show - Who says 78 is "old"?!!

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Ray will turn 78 on January 31. I can’t believe it and no one else can either. Maybe Ray has discovered the Fountain of Youth. If so, maybe he will share it with us on this edition of the Larry and Ray Show.

Did you know that Ray discovered the Beach Boys and gave them their start?! Do you know how Ray became a rock ‘n roll disc jockey? Do you know that Ray dated nearly 500 girls when he was in college?!!! You’ll learn all of these things and much much more on this edition of the Larry and Ray Show. Get ready for fun…… –Larry

The Larry and Ray Show - Who says 78 is "old"?!!

9 Take Time With God

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9 Take Time With God

The Awesome Power of Jesus Christ in Christians

Ephesians 1:18-23

9 Take Time With God

Revelation 16

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Revelation 16

Revelation 16

Then I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”

So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth; and it became a loathsome and malignant sore on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.

The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood like that of a dead man; and every living thing in the sea died.

Then the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of waters; and they became blood.

And I heard the angel of the waters saying, “Righteous are You, who are and who were, O Holy One, because You judged these things;

for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it.”

And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”

The fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given to it to scorch men with fire.

Men were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory.

Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain,

and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds.

The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east.

And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs;

for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty.

(“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.”)

And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon.

Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, “It is done.”

And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty.

The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath.

And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

And huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, came down from heaven upon men; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because its plague was extremely severe.

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Revelation 16

Revelation 16

Revelation 15

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Revelation 15

Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished.

And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God.

And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations!

“Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy; For ALL THE NATIONS WILL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE YOU, FOR YOUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS HAVE BEEN REVEALED.”

After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven was opened,

and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in linen, clean and bright, and girded around their chests with golden sashes.

Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever.

And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.

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Revelation 15

8 Take Time With God – Seeing with your heart

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8 Take Time With God – Seeing with your heart

Ephesians 1:18-23

8 Take Time With God – Seeing with your heart

7 Take Time With God – Do you know that if you are a Christian you are a saint?

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The New Testament calls every Christian a “saint”. But what if you aren’t feeling or doing what you believe would qualify you as a saint? Let’s look at God’s answer together right now…… –Saint Ray!

7 Take Time With God – Do you know that if you are a Christian you are a saint?

Revelation 14

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Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads.

And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps.

And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth.

These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb.

And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.

And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people;

and he said with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.”

And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality.”

Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand,

he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.

“And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!"” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.”

Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand.

And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe.”

Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.

And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle.

Then another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Put in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe.”

So the angel swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God.

And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of two hundred miles.

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Revelation 14

7 – Conversations with God: What happened on the cross?

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The hardest thing for me to understand is why Jesus Christ would suffer and die for a wretch like me. The author of the song “Amazing Grace” John Newton, must have wondered the same. No hymn writer ever expressed the human side of the answer as perfectly as he did. Still, no matter how we express what Christ did for us, we humans are incapable of understanding the fullness of the agony Christ went through for us before and on the cross in order to pay for all our sins. Our finite minds can’t grasp it. In this conversation with God, God tells us what it was like at the cross. Amazing Grace indeed! –Ray

7 – Conversations with God: What happened on the cross?

6 Take Time With God – What happened on the cross?

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In Matthew 19:16 a man asked Jesus the most important question anyone on earth can ask. He asked “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” If this had been a fairytale, Jesus would have said something like “Go slay a dragon.” But nothing in the Bible is a fairytale. Right now I’m going to give you the answer to this man’s question. –Ray

6 Take Time With God – What happened on the cross?

5 Take Time With God – Ephesians 1:7-12 God made you to be a winner

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God made you to be a winner

Ephesians 1:7-12

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to his kind intention which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.

5 Take Time With God – Ephesians 1:7-12 God made you to be a winner

Revelation 13

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And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names.

And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.

I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast;

they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?”

There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him.

And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven.

It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.

All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.

If anyone has an ear, let him hear.

If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.

Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon.

He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.

He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men.

And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life.

And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead,

and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.

Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.

Revelation 13

4 Take Time with God – Ephesians 1:1-8 Father God loves you

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Ephesians 1:1–8

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight

4 Take Time with God – Ephesians 1:1-8 Father God loves you

Revelation 12

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A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars;

and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.

Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems.

And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.

And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne.

Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war,

and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven.

And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.

“And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

“For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”

And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child.

But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.

And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood.

But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth.

So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

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Revelation 12

Revelation 12

Does a wife have to "Love, honor, and OBEY?" – Marriage Plus 6

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Wives aren’t dogs and they should never have to go to obedience school. Somewhere in the many years beyond recall, pastors began the mantra to each bride at her wedding “Do you promise to love, honor, and OBEY your husband?” That is totally un-biblical and was a sad mistake that is still being repeated by pastors and the brides at many Christian weddings. No wonder why so many Christian girls and women never want to get married!

I know why the word “obey” started being used. It happened because some versions of the Bible, including the King James, use the word “obey” in place of the English word “submit”. Both English words fall far short of saying what a wife is meant by God to do with her husband.

So, what does the word “submit” or the horribly misused word “obey” mean in God’s mind? How is a great marriage supposed to work between the husband and the wife? Here is God’s answer…… –Ray

Does a wife have to "Love, honor, and OBEY?" – Marriage Plus 6

3 Take Time With God – Ephesians 1:4–6 Did you know you are adopted?

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Did you know you are adopted?

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundations of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intentions of his will, to the praise of the glory of His will.” (Ephesians 1:4–6)

1 Corinthians 11:1 “Be imitators of me, just as I am of Christ Jesus.”

Galatians 2:20-21 “I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law then Christ died needlessly.”

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”

John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

3 Take Time With God – Ephesians 1:4–6 Did you know you are adopted?

Revelation 11

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And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty [and] two months.

And I will give [power] unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

And their dead bodies [shall lie] in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

The second woe is past; [and], behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become [the kingdoms] of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,

Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Revelation 11

Take Time With God 2 - Ephesians 1:3 Christmas every day

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Ephesians 1

3. Paul worshiped both God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who he says (from prison) had blessed the Ephesian Christians and himself“ with every spiritual blessing in the Heavenly places in Christ.” Underline in your understanding that we Christians (an extension of these Ephesians because the Bible is intended for every Christian throughout the ages) ARE RIGHT NOW receiving “EVERY spiritual blessing in the Heavenly places in Christ.”It is typical of Christians today to greatly question any hard moments in their lives. That is because they haven’t fully grasped the heart of Romans 8:28 – “ALL things work TOGETHER for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” Especially important in that verse are the words ALL and TOGETHER. It is not only the precious, wonderful, obviously blessed moments in life that a Christian should praise God for. The terrible moments, the hard days, weeks, months or years may seem chaotic to us but they are of every purpose in Christ to make us individually who we are meant to become IF we don’t despair and give up our faith in what Christ is doing (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Remember, God made this beautiful world out of chaos. To be blessed with every spiritual blessing is something those without Christ cannot experience.

Take Time With God 2 - Ephesians 1:3 Christmas every day

Revelation 10

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I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, clothed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire;

and he had in his hand a little book which was open. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left on the land;

and he cried out with a loud voice, as when a lion roars; and when he had cried out, the seven peals of thunder uttered their voices.

When the seven peals of thunder had spoken, I was about to write; and I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken and do not write them.”

Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven,

and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, WHO CREATED HEAVEN AND THE THINGS IN IT, AND THE EARTH AND THE THINGS IN IT, AND THE SEA AND THE THINGS IN IT, that there will be delay no longer,

but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets.

Then the voice which I heard from heaven, I heard again speaking with me, and saying, “Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.”

So I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. And he said to me, “Take it and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.”

I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter.

And they said to me, “You must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.”

Revelation 10

Revelation 10

Conversations #6 - Do your prayers matter?

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John 10:27; John 15:7; Matthew 6:7; Ephesians 6:18; Romans 8:26-27; Matthew 18:19 – 20; Revelation 5:8; Jeremiah 33:1– 3; Psalm 62:8; Hebrews 11:6; Ezekiel 22:29–31; Matthew 7:7–8; Philippians 4:6-7; Romans 8:28; Revelation 21–22:5;

Conversations with God #6 – How important is it for you to pray?

Conversations #6 - Do your prayers matter?

Revelation Chapter 9

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Revelation Chapter 9

Then the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him.

He opened the bottomless pit, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit.

Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man.

And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death flees from them.

The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle; and on their heads appeared to be crowns like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men.

They had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions.

They had breastplates like breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, of many horses rushing to battle.

They have tails like scorpions, and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt men for five months.

They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon.

The first woe is past; behold, two woes are still coming after these things.

Then the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,

one saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”

And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind.

The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them.

And this is how I saw in the vision the horses and those who sat on them: the riders had breastplates the color of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone; and the heads of the horses are like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceed fire and smoke and brimstone.

A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths.

For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they do harm.

The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk;

and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts.

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Revelation Chapter 9

Revelation 8

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When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.

Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne.

And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand.

Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.

And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them.

The first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

The second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood,

and a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed.

The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters.

The name of the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter.

The fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be darkened and the day would not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way.

Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”

Revelation 8

Acts 19:11–19 The seven sons of Skeva are stripped nude!

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Acts 19:11–19 The seven sons of Skeva are stripped nude!

Take Time With Christ #1 – Ephesians 1:1–2 - What To Do In Prison - Ray

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It is my prayer that you will join me for a very few minutes each day to take time with Christ. Some Christians would call these “Daily Devotions.” I am going to try to post these every morning at 8 AM Fort Worth, Texas, time. It will be a great way to start every morning. But you can join me at anytime of the day or night to share these few minutes together. God’s Word is powerful 24 hours a day, every day.

It was a great honor to write an entire commentary on the book of Ephesians which was originally breathed by the Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul. You won’t find this online anywhere else or in any bookstore. but you can download it with my love. – Ray

This book bears Paul’s style, is in total agreement with everything else he wrote, and it bore up to the most thorough testings by those who were led of the Spirit to choose the 66 books of the Bible.

The following verses should be studied with your Bible open to them.

EPHESIANS, CHAPTER ONE

1-2. How many Christians would heavily question God if they were imprisoned for their faith? John the Baptist did exactly that. But Paul wasted no time at all with self pity or doubt. Instead he lived each day of his Christian life to the fullest. He realized that he was in prison on assignment from and for Christ, not because Christ failed him. Paul spent eight years in prisons during his ministry. He never wasted a moment of them. They became his “rest stops” that gave him more time for talking to Christ (Colossians 2:1-3), hearing Christ respond (John 10:27), witnessing to the prison guards and everyone else (Philippians 1:13),and to write in his own words what the Holy Spirit dictated to him (2 Peter 1:20-21).

Colossians 2:1-3 – For I want you to know how great the struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

John 10:27 – My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

Philippians 1:13 – so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well-known among the whole praterion guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.

2 Peter 1:20–21 – For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you.

Take Time With Christ #1 – Ephesians 1:1–2 - What To Do In Prison - Ray

Daniel In The 21st Century - Ray

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by Ray Mossholder

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Consult every book, magazine or manual,

And you’ll never find a greater believer than Daniel.

At the Daniel whose name is the name of a Book

In the Bible, take a long look

At the courage, the faith, the true love of the Lord

That this Daniel had. His God he adored.

He had faith like a knight in shining armor.

He was handsome, wise, and a real charmer.

One day another Daniel was deeply engrossed in God’s Word

When a really cute girl said, “That’s so absurd

For you to be wrapped up so tight in that Book

That you haven’t taken a really good look

At me, ‘cause I love you and I want a kiss,

I don’t want to live the rest of my life as a Miss.

So put down that Bible and give me a smack

And you’ll find that I will kiss you right back.

We can go on and on like that for hours,

And when we’re done we’ll need cold showers!”

Now the girl was gorgeous and that’s the truth

Daniel had watched her at a kissing booth.

He’d not kissed her himself but just watched in awe

As guy after guy kissed her and then he saw

Them stagger away in ecstasy,

Delirious. Happy as can be.

Daniel told her flat out, “No,

You’re too fast for me. I want to go slow.

There’s a lot more I want to happen in my life

Before I find the woman I want for a wife.”

“Well, then quit talking about marriage, let’s make love

That’s what God is, so it comes from above.

He wants you to experience abundant life

You can’t do that without me.” She cut like a knife

At his willpower, because as she drew close

Her perfume got to him, she’d taken a dose

Of it and it smelled so sweet.

Daniel was suddenly swept off his feet.

“Pucker up, baby!” the Delilah said,

And Daniel thought, “I wish I was dead.

Because I know this isn’t God’s will for me,

But my sins are forgiven since Christ died on that tree.

Whatever I do is washed in Christ’s blood,

Why not make love?” Then came a thud

As Daniel’s Bible hit the ground

And like an alarm clock, that very sound

Got his attention and he suddenly prayed,

“God, help me!” And no time delayed

The strength came from the Lord to resist,

Later Daniel thought, “What if we’d kissed?

How far could temptation have taken me

Away from God’s will and His destiny

That He’s planned for me since before I was born?

Wow! Like Sampson, I was almost shorn!”

But the Lord is a mighty help in trouble

He’ll deliver you, and that goes double

For times of temptation that seem really hard

Until He has your angel set a guard.

It was Daniel’s angel that pushed the Book

From his hand that day and made him look

At what almost happened with that pretty girl

Who had his brain in such a whirl.

And to all who think guys like Daniel are geeks,

He’s getting married in just two weeks

To a Christian lady who in every way

Would blow that other girl away.

They’ll be partners for life, with joy every day,

Following Jesus, together they’ll pray.

And what if he’d instead married that lustful youth?

He’d have lost her forever at a kissing booth!

Daniel In The 21st Century - Ray

Revelation 7

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After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree.

And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea,

saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.”

And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:

from the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand,

from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand,

from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand,

from the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed.

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;

and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,

saying, “Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?”

I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

“For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them.

“They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat;

for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

Revelation 7

Marriage Plus: Men are not women. Women are not men.

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I know some won’t agree with that title, but in all fairness please watch this video and THEN tell me if you still don’t agree. These art aren’t generalities in this film, they show up with the same results in any honest study of human males and females. You should watch this too if you want a good laugh. –Ray

Marriage Plus: Men are not women. Women are not men.

What every divorced Christian woman should immediately know

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(From Crosswalk.com)

What Every Divorced Christian Woman Should Immediately Know
by Betsy St. Amant

I grew up in a culture where divorce was a major stigma. A permanent scarlet letter, a tattoo, a brand on your heart that never would quite rub off, despite repeated effort. Despite ministry and outreach and remarriage and every attempt at redemption. It simply stained and lingered.

Because of that, I had no idea how to handle it when the engulfing shadow of Divorce encroached upon my own life. Unwanted, unwilling, yet without a single choice or say in the matter, I was getting divorced. I was getting my first tattoo, scarlet red, like it or not.

I had no idea what to do and most people around me didn’t either—because it was shameful and awkward and embarrassing and one of those things of which we do not speak, one of those things of which we do not preach. Divorce had touched my family before, but the circumstances for me were completely different, and we were all a little lost.

But God began moving people into my life who did know, who spoke life into me. Men and women who had been there, who told me important truths about my future and my worth and my value. Men and women who told me there was an “other side” to this bottomless cavern, that there was life on the other side of divorce and guess what—it was good. Men and women who reminded me of God’s heart for me, who hugged me and cried with me and said one day I would be able to help others heal as they were helping me heal. Men and women who fought for me and refused to let me fall prey to Satan’s tricks and ploys and rebounds, who weren’t afraid to get dirty in the trenches with me, who weren’t afraid of my blood and tears and permanent mascara-streaked face. Who weren’t afraid to listen to me vent the exact same tired plethora of fears and doubts and regrets. Men and women who prayed over me and with me and for me when I couldn’t find the will to do it for myself anymore. True heroes of the faith, armed with the Word of God, frosty cans of Coke, Starbucks cups, Chex Mix and gift cards, fighting a war on my behalf when I was too exhausted to even raise my face from the mud.

So many people told me so many helpful things.

But there’s one thing that no one told me, that I’m going to tell you now. A crucial key factor to surviving this journey that seemed so long, so endless and so dark. A fact you can embrace, regardless of how far you are in the process.

Are you ready? Here it is.

It’s okay.

Not “it’s going to be okay” which you have already heard and don’t believe yet, but rather—“it’s okay”. Right now. Exactly where you are, exactly what you feel, in this moment, right this second – it’s okay.

It’s okay that you don’t believe a word of the encouragement people are sharing with you.

It’s okay that someone tells you “Jesus is enough” and you get frustrated, because right now, He just isn’t.

It’s okay that you want to kick the person who just said you were better off without your ex, because right now, even though you know in so many ways that might be true, it’s not true in your heart yet.

It’s okay that you miss your ex even though they treated you so badly and that person from earlier is right, that you are better off.

It’s okay that you miss your old life and your marriage, because even though so much of it was awful, it was what you knew—and familiar, even bad familiar, is more comforting and acceptable than the unknown leap of faith that you just got shoved into.

It’s okay that you want to hide away from the world and glue your sweatpants permanently to your body and never speak to anyone again. Ever.

It’s okay to change your mind the next day and want all of your friends around you, all day long.

It’s okay that you impulse-bought a musical instrument you might never learn to play.

It’s okay that you went on a date you weren’t ready for and cried the entire night after you got home.

It’s okay that you canceled the next one you were invited on because you recognize that feeling in your heart now as cautionary.

It’s okay that you didn’t eat for two days and then ate an entire candy bar and your weight in chips and salsa the next.

It’s okay that you thought you were completely healed and over it all, and then see a Hallmark commercial or Disney sitcom and cry hysterically over absolutely nothing for the next twenty minutes.

It’s okay that you feel super spiritually mature and pray for your ex to be made whole in Christ, and then five minutes later pray for someone to key his new truck.

It’s okay that you know God didn’t make you get divorced, that you know He gives men free will, and yet you feel angry anyway because He didn’t supernaturally stop it.

It’s okay that you bawled the first time your kids had to leave for shared custody, so you went on a retail therapy shopping spree.

It’s okay that you got your kids back from shared custody and were super irritable trying to adjust to life with children again. And then had to do it all again the next week.

It’s okay that you want to throat-punch people who have never been divorced and yet say they understand how you feel.

It’s okay that you hear a sermon on God working all things for good and wonder if a spitball could make it all the way to the pulpit from your pew.

It’s okay that you feel like you’re going to be alone forever and no one will ever want to marry you.

It’s okay that you wonder if you’re too broken to ever be healed.

It’s okay that you know God makes beauty from the broken but right now all these shards are just making you bleed.

It’s okay to put Band-Aids on your gaping emotional wounds before you’re ready to lie still and let God to do the needed major surgery on your heart.

It’s okay.

You’re normal.

Women who grew up like I did, who know the pain of the stigma of divorce, who recognize the helplessness in the gazes of the well-meaning people around her, who feel like they’re a burden to everyone they fall apart on, need to know that truth—it’s okay. It’s okay to feel exactly what you feel right now. You don’t have to spiritualize your way around the pain, mask your wounds, or hide beneath the Christian Good Girl cape. You can cry. You can express exactly what you want to express without fear or shame. You can be honest. You don’t have to have it all together this time. You don’t have to put on the show and the façade and pretend. You don’t have to sweep this mountain of dirt under the rug.

You have permission to bleed.

Because Jesus bled for you. He bled for your life and for your freedom and that means right now, not just in Heaven. He wants you to live passionately and intentionally and fully right now, even in your storm and trial and hurt. He’s there, He isn’t the least afraid of your raw emotions, and He will hold you nonstop if you ask Him to.

Remember—just because right now you don’t feel like any of the above listed heartaches will ever end, doesn’t mean they won’t. It will pass. I was there, and now I’m here, and some days I feel like I’m making my way back through that list all over again, but you know what? All those well-meaning people God put in your life are right.

God IS working all things for good—even your divorce.

There really IS an “other side” and you ARE going to get there one day.

You ARE most definitely valued and worthy of love.

Marriage Plus #4: When mom and pop must stop

The umbilical cord is an absolutely vital creation of God. But if it doesn’t get cut terrible things will happen. Parents are meant to raise their children, protect them in every way, and in almost every situation be their final authority except for God. The earthly buck stops with them.

But when does this end? When is a parent to stop being their grown child’s authority? And who does God intend to be the authority then? In other words, when does God demand that the symbolical umbilical cord be cut in a parent–adult child relationship? Here’s God’s answer…… –Ray

Marriage Plus #4 – When mom and pop must stop

Marriage Plus #4: When mom and pop must stop

Georgia"s Recipe of the week – Georgia"s Bar-b-Q spareribs

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GEORGIA’S BAR-B-Q SPARERIBS

Ray was after me for another recipe so I scoured my long double wide recipe box my son made for me many years ago. My mouth started to water when I saw this recipe. I have no clue where I got it, but it dates back about 50 years, long before people worried about the amount of sugar in ketchup. The recipe card which is in my handwriting is yellow with age, grease spots and has question marks regarding amounts of ingredients. No matter, the spareribs always seem to turn out “finger lickin’ good.” I love to serve them with corn on the cob since I’m a hands-on diner at heart.

Warning: It’s wise to provide your family or friends with lots of napkins or perhaps have a roll of paper towels on hand. That will let them enjoy diggin’ in.

INGREDIENTS:

Pork spareribs: I like the long bony ones because I love to gnaw away and slurp up the sauce. Meaty ones fill me up too soon. How many? I buy enough to fill my largest roasting pan.

3 or 4 lemons? 1 large Onion?

Ketchup: Amount depends on how much meat you are cooking. I use about 28 to 32 ounces?

Water? I use about ½ cup or more to get all the ketchup out of the bottle

1/3 cup to ½ cup Brown Sugar 1 teaspoon Chili Powder

3 Tablespoons Vinegar 4 tablespoons Celery Seeds

4 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 425˚

Slice your spareribs into single portions and place in your roasting pan. Sprinkle them with salt and pepper.

Thinly slice your onion and your lemons and spread over the spareribs. Use however many it takes to cover the meat.

Bake for ½ hour at 425˚.

While spareribs are baking, combine Ketchup, Water, Brown Sugar, Chili Powder, Vinegar, Celery Seeds and Worcestershire Sauce in a pan. Stir everything together and bring to a boil and then simmer ten minutes.

After the meat has roasted the first half hour, take your roasting pan from the oven and remove as much of the melted fat as you can. Turn ribs over and pour sauce over them. Make sure every one of them is coated. I use tongs to twirl them around.

Turn the temperature down to 350˚ and then return the ribs to the oven. You will be baking them for another 30 to 50 minutes and turning them several times to keep them coated with the sauce which gets thicker with time. I usually turn them over about 3 times or every 15 minutes.

I like to cook rice to sop up any sauce that escapes the ribs but potatoes would work just as well. I’m going shopping tomorrow so we’ll be havin’ spareribs, rice, and a spinach salad for dinner. Yum!

Watch for a new recipe from Georgia every Friday. She’ll be experimenting on me with new taste delights all through each week. Yum! Yum! Ray

Georgia"s Recipe of the week – Georgia"s Bar-b-Q spareribs

Marriage Plus: Cheating isn"t worth it

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Marriage Plus: Cheating isn"t worth it

Revelation 6

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Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Come.”

I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.

When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come.”

And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.

When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.

And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine.”

When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.”

I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.

When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained;

and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”

And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.

I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood;

and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind.

The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains;

and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb;

for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

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Revelation 6

Conversations with God: A warning for those who "know" their Bible

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Conversations with God: A warning for those who "know" their Bible

Marriage Plus – Arlyne Mossholder – Forgive to Live

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I invite you now to meet my former wife. I used to call her “My darlin’ Arlyne”. You may be calling her that too by the time you finish watching her teach. She gave me full permission to show this video or you never would have seen it.

The fact that my wife, Georgia, Arlyne and I visited warmly at Christmastime while Arlyne and my youngest son was marrying, and the fact that we did it on two different days, may surprise you. But if Arlyne lived next door to us, I think Georgia and her would become close friends.

Arlyne and I were married 43 years. Our children and grandchildren love the Lord and my leaving Arlyne didn’t change that. Arlyne and my divorce resulted in miracles that are seldom repeated when others divorce. Both Arlyne and I completely forgave each other years ago. Arlyne has been a close friend of mine by email ever since. Miracles began for us both and have continued ever since the moment we honestly forgave each other.

I don’t think anyone knows more about forgiveness that they fully practice than Arlyne does. This video is a classic. It was filmed more than six years before I left. Listen to Arlyne tell you what forgiveness is and what it isn’t. After you hear her, you should be equipped to forgive anyone for anything. Forgive to live.

Feel free to write a comment after this teaching. Also, ask any questions at all. Nothing is off-limits. Arlyne, Georgia, Larry and my full goal is to help you become everything Christ wants you to become whether you’re married or single so that you will be whole and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:4). -Ray

Marriage Plus #3– Arlyne Mossholder – Forgive to Live

Marriage Plus – Arlyne Mossholder – Forgive to Live