Prophecy Update Newsletter
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
The Ghost of a Good Thing - By Pete Garcia -
https://rev310.com/2019/09/the-ghost-of-a-good-thing-2 Recently, I was thinking of the woman Emily Letts, who gained her five, brief minutes of fame, by filming her own abortion. Through the murderous process, she smiles tentatively and tries to put a positive spin on the act of infanticide. Though admittedly, I could not watch it all, I kept thinking, what a broken people we are. How it must truly grieve God to see all the horrible things we do to ourselves and to each other. I realize that she is just one of many examples I could have pointed out, but Emily to me highlights the level of total depravity we humans go through just to get a little attention these days. Having recently just watched Captain America: The Winter Soldier (and liked), the theme was surprisingly relatable and apropos for life in America today. In the film, the American government's willingness to trade freedom for security resonated eerily with all the issues we see going on in the news these days, over the NSA bugging, Internet monitoring and censorship, and mass data collection on everyone in the planet. Of course, in the movie, the superhero prevails. But it's failing, and all superhero movies failings are the erroneous idea that evil comes in the form of giant monsters or villainous villains. The reality is that evil primarily comes wrapped in the name of tolerance, and often moves at the speed of rust. It's a slow rot, an infecting agent that spreads from one organism to another. Just as it was with Adam, who in defiance did eat, did not die the day he sinned, but began the process of dying from the moment the forbidden fruit entered his mouth, so it is with the death of this sin-stained world. We understand this process in the Second Law of Thermodynamics, in which; The entropy of an isolated system never decreases, because isolated systems always evolve toward thermodynamic equilibrium, a state with maximum entropy. IOW, over time, everything breaks down. In the movies, if some alien force came down and threatened to kill 50 million people, the X-Men would be lining up, or the Avengers' would be assembling to battle said foe. But when we allow 50 million babies to get murdered in the womb, well, that's just the way things are. Whelp, can't do anything about that because some judges back in 1973 made it legal. Even though it is the acceptance of this supposed 'eventuality' that bothers us at our core, we just accept it as a fact of life. In make-believe, the good guys win and the bad guys lose, but in reality, good is compromised and evil is ever pervasive. This is why so many people go to movies these days; just to escape the routinely wicked life our existence here on earth has come to be. The constant grinding down of this world's system on Christian's is particularly taxing. Do you know why it doesn't bother the unregenerate? Because they're unregenerate. Their spiritually dead and aside from the clearly wrong things (to them that is), like murder (of the born), violence, corruption, and theft, their discern-o-meter doesn't send up any red flags when a Planned Parenthood abortion mill sets up in a neighborhood. It has to be something really, overtly, unfathomable for them to wake up and see the wrong in what's going on. Take the news coverage of Kermit Gosnell's trial for example. I think if it were not for just a handful of journalists reporting on it, the world at large would have never known. But because the discovery of it was so ghastly and so revolting to the senses, which was the only reason that anyone noticed at all. I guarantee you, there are plenty more 'Kermit Gosnell's' out there in the world. But people today have become so deadened to the oppressive Babylonian nature of this world. It's as if they know deep down that things aren't right, but they can't quite put their finger on what exactly is wrong...so they escape. They escape into a world of fantasy either through drug, drink, book or show. They escape because everyday life, with its bills, taxes, problems, defeats, inevitability, and all the other things we dread dealing with, doesn't mesh with what the world is promising. In other words, marketing isn't living up to reality. Do you really think that is how God designed this all to be? I don't. Satan has sold everyone on this lie that this is the way life is and will continue on as it always has been, routinely and unexpectedly. The 'normalcy bias' lie is that the way life is today, is the way it should be. There is no heaven, no hell, and that is why you must take life by the horns and get what you can get out of today. And many people fall for that, and they pursue all their worldly lusts, only to find them vapid and unfulfilling, they get disappointed and restless. Satan keeps man constantly chasing after the ghost of a good thing, in hopes that they will finally grasp it, not realizing that it is only a whispy air of a dream they had been chasing all along. Their fleeting pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. But even if things did work out for them, the pot of gold cannot satisfy. Man was, after all, built for eternity. Temporary things can never satisfy. Man is unique in that we are the only creatures created, that have a "God-Shaped" hole in our beings. The only person who can fill that is God and nothing else will satisfy that deep desire we have. Drugs and power can't fill it, religion can't persuade it, sex and money can satiate it, and things (clothes, jewelry, cars, houses) could never be big enough or fulfilling enough to fill that empty space in our hearts. Nothing can capture the longing and satisfaction that only a meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ can bring...because nothing else fits. Like inserting the proverbial square peg into a round hole, it just doesn't work. What makes Christianity so unique? It is night and day different from every other belief structure on the planet because Christ says, "I will take you as you are no matter how broken you think you might be, and I will fix you from the inside out and make you new". Other religions, particularly cults, deceptively draw people in who are lonely, not through revealing truth, but through friendship in the form of identity...identifying with a group and feeling like you finally belong. And when they finally get their hooks into these lonely people, then they bring out their crazy, ritualistic, works-based method of salvation. Do this, don't do that, wear this, don't wear that, give up your money, time, friends, family, etc., etc. People are so desperate to find meaning to their lives in the here and now, they are willing to do just about anything to either fit in or escape from the burden they currently carry around. That burden is loneliness, which is brought on by the loss of identity and sense of purpose, which comes from being separated from the One who created them. It is indeed, a heavy cross to bear. Christ said, 'come to Me all ye that are weary and heavy-laden, take my yoke for it is light'. In identifying with Christ, we have finally, for the first time in our life, the ability to identify with Someone who will never leave us nor forsake us. We aren't just followers, or disciples, or even servants, but we become family. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. Romans 8:14-17 Part of the reason I think so many out there in Christendom struggle with the idea of a Pre-Tribulation Rapture is that it seems too fantastical to fit into today's mundane existence. It seems too good to be true, and we as human beings have been let down so many times over the course of our lives, that it's easier to believe it's not real than to believe that it is. We don't think we are good enough, or that we deserve that level of deliverance, but rather, we should suffer first and 'purge' our sins. But there it is in scripture, and yet so many go out of their way to do the mental gymnastics of making it more complex and more unattainable than it really is. That is the "blessed hope" to me. It's not about escaping this world, although that's an added bonus, it is about finally being in a reality where things are made right. And that reality can only exist for us when we are finally freed from sin. And our freedom from sin can only be by one Person, the man Christ Jesus. When He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me"...He meant it. Not simply because He wanted to be exclusive and shut people out, but because His blood was the only thing in the entire universe, that could forever wash man's sinfulness away. And although as Christians we are forgiven and we have our sin-debt paid for, we still have to contend with the flesh. Even the Apostle Paul admitted the struggle is real in Romans 7. But when He comes, we will finally become the people, who from the foundation of the world, were destined to become. So friend, if you're struggling today to find peace in your life, and joy in this fallen, and increasingly decaying world we live in, take note... Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Prophetic Realities - By Daymond Duck - https://www.raptureready.com/2019/09/01/prophetic-realities-daymond-duck/ First, the U.S. was giving the Palestinians (PA) millions of dollars a year through the UN, but the PA refused to discuss Pres. Trump's peace proposal. On Feb. 1, 2019, Pres. Trump cut off the money, so the PA is now hurting financially. They cut the salaries of their officials, released officials, cut benefits to their people, etc. On Aug. 18, 2019, Pres. Trump said the PA attitude is changing, and he thinks they will cut a deal to get the U.S. money restarted. Getting Israel and the PA to agree to a peace treaty is not going to be easy, but some believe there is a slight possibility that it could happen. Second, Pres. Trump's statement that he will probably release his peace plan after Israel's elections on Sept. 17, 2019, is catching the attention of prophecy teachers that believe the Rapture will be on Rosh Hashana. They are not predicting that the Rapture will happen this year, but they realize that Rosh Hashana is about two weeks after the Israeli elections (Sept. 30-Oct. 1). Many significant events have happened on Jewish Feast Days, and these prophecy teachers are wondering if Pres. Trump will release his peace proposal on Rosh Hashana and if something significant will happen around that time (another major fulfillment in Bible prophecy, the Rapture, war, what). Who knows, but it is interesting that Pres. Trump's peace proposal has been delayed several times, the first Israeli election failed to produce a new government, the election will be repeated, and now Pres. Trump is talking about releasing his peace proposal as Rosh Hashana is approaching. Third, Jerusalem will be a cup of trembling and a burdensome stone for the whole world at the end of the age (Zech. 12:1-3). On Aug. 21, 2019, someone described as a senior Israeli official said Prime Min. Netanyahu will reject Pres. Trump's peace proposal if it calls for the division of Jerusalem. Two days later, PA Pres. Mahmoud Abbas said the entire Palestinian nation will enter Jerusalem as millions of fighters along with Arab, Islamic and Christian nations (perhaps a misguided reference to the Islamic Mother of All Battles, also called the Battle of Armageddon by Christians). What Pres. Trump's peace proposal says about Jerusalem will be significant, and the Middle East is already like a ticking time bomb (ready to explode). Fourth, on Aug. 21, 2019, an article by a prominent Saudi Arabian political analyst (Abdul Hameed Al Ghabin) was printed in Israel's most widely read newspaper suggesting that Jordan should be officially recognized as the Palestinian state, and control of the Temple Mount should be transferred to Saudi Arabia. This is not a new proposal, but this is the first time this writer has seen it coming from an important source in Saudi Arabia. There was a time when a person could lose their head for saying something like this. Fifth, God promised to bless those that bless Israel and to curse those that curse Israel (Gen. 12:1-3). On Aug. 21, 2019, the U.S. signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Israel to strengthen the ties between the two nations in several areas (praise God). Sixth, the Bible teaches that there will be a world government headed up by a man called the Antichrist during the Tribulation Period. A reader sent me part of podcast with Rush Limbaugh talking about world government. In essence, Limbaugh said world government is not a conspiracy theory; it is coming out of the EU, but it is active all over the world; power mad, money crazy globalists are trying to eliminate nations and the borders of nations; the one obstacle in the world is Pres. Trump and the U.S.; Pres. Trump has busted their globalist dreams, but things could be different in 20-30 years, etc. I am not well-informed on political systems, but I am thankful for Democracy. I think it is good for the people to be in control. But to have a shadow government instead of the people deciding who is qualified to run for office, giving mega-bucks to their person of choice, writing the laws, dictating what is right and wrong, trying to overthrow those that were elected (Russian collusion), etc., is dangerous for any nation. Seventh, several articles have appeared in the news lately saying that archaeologists think they have found evidence that the Biblical account of Babylon's destruction of Jerusalem and Solomon's Temple is accurate. Archaeology and prophetic fulfillment are constantly proving the accuracy of the Bible. Everyone is strongly advised to recognize the reality of what is happening, and make their salvation sure. Prophecy Plus Ministries, Inc. Daymond & Rachel Duck [email protected] Israel Facing Possible War On Multiple Fronts - By Israel Kasnett - http://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=3439 The big news in Israel is not that Iran attempted to send kamikaze drones into Israeli territory last week or that Israel targeted that terrorist cell in Syria; these are not completely out of the ordinary or even unexpected. Rather, what was quite the unusual occurrence took place in central Israel when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered officials from the security establishment to brief his chief rival, former Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, who serves as leader of the Blue and White Party. Why so? It's a rare move to brief a rival like Gantz and a possible signal that Israel may be readying itself for a major conflict on one or more fronts. Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip show no signs of reining in their efforts to attack Israel, and whispers and murmurings can be heard about an imminent Israeli land incursion into the coastal territory. At the same time, the Lebanese border could explode at any moment, depending on the actions of Iran and Hezbollah, while the situation in Syria continues to remain tense amid the Iranian buildup there. Given the tensions on these fronts, is Israel on the verge of an all-out war with Iran and its proxies? Yoel Guzansky, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies, confirmed to JNS that the attempted drone attack was Iran's attempt "to retaliate" for various Israeli operations against Iranian forces in Syria. But the real story, according to Guzansky, is in Iraq, where Israel reportedly bombed a weapons depot recently, as well as other targets. He said Israel's decision-makers had "no other choice" but to do so. Guzansky noted that while Israel may have had to take action, at the same time the complications of those kinds of operations "are quite severe." "You open an account with the Shi'ite militias in Iraq with whom you were not No. 1 on their priority list--and now you are on their list," he said. "It is complicated because U.S. forces are there, and you need to coordinate." Guzansky also pointed out that now Iraq's political arena is in an uproar, with some parties calling for the expulsion of U.S. troops, blaming them for coordinating with Israel. "I really hope that those attacks in Iraq were more about 'mowing the lawn,'" said Guzansky. "In Syria, we have the upper hand. In Iraq, it is a different story. Shi'ite militias can retaliate against us from Iraq, from Syria and elsewhere." With regard to the threats facing Israel and whether Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani will seek to take further action against Israel now, Guzansky said that the political situation in Lebanon places a lot of pressure on Hezbollah, preventing it from acting too freely. "Soleimani has more freedom of action elsewhere, in Syria, Iraq or Gaza," he said. There are a few possible avenues open to Iran, he said, but "I am not sure Lebanon is the more attractive one." What Guzansky is certain about is that Iran has reached its limit of "holding back." He said that Soleimani and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah have now "committed themselves to respond. I do not know when and where, but I think it will come." On Tuesday, Netanyahu told Nasrallah to "calm down" as Israel braced for a possible retaliation from the terror group. "I heard Nasrallah's speech. I suggest he calm down," Netanyahu said at a ceremony in Jerusalem, referring to rhetoric on Sunday that promised revenge on the Jewish state for Saturday's airstrikes. However, Guzansky said he fears that Iran and Hezbollah can do "many things," and "not necessarily in the Middle East." "They have capabilities in South America and in the Far East, and they tried in the last decade in India, Azerbaijan and many other places," he said. "They try all the time." 'Sanctions will determine the cost of adventurism' Nevertheless, while Israel appears to have had the upper hand against Iranian buildup in Syria so far, the Iranians appear to be continuing their efforts, despite the setbacks. According to Guzansky, if Iran's aim is to establish itself militarily in Syria, it can be viewed as "quite a failure." On the other hand, he said that Iran's presence in Syria cannot be isolated from the sanctions the Trump administration has placed on the Islamic regime. The IRGC has proved itself rather capable, under trying conditions, in obtaining and moving mass amounts of manpower and equipment, ever under Israel's watchful eye. This may not necessarily be termed a success, though it might not be considered a failure either. David Adesnik, director of research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank (which was threatened by Iran over the weekend for its hawkish stance towards the regime), agreed with Guzansky, telling JNS that "Iran's persistent efforts in Syria and Iraq show that its failures have not resulted in defeat. The depth of Iranian influence in Syria and Iraq means that it can keep trying to build up offensive capabilities for as long as it has the necessary resources." Adesnik also pointed to the significant role the Americans can play in reigning in Iran. "In that regard," he said, "it is the U.S. which has a decisive role to play since its sanctions will determine whether the cost of adventurism across the Arab world becomes too much for Tehran to bear." An 'enduring' campaign With regard to Israeli attacks on the weapons caches of Iranian-backed militia in Iraq, Adesnik said this serves to "prevent the emergence of more advanced capabilities or the transfer of such capabilities to partners at other points along the land bridge to the Mediterranean Iran is now building." Looking westward, he said that "Iran wants Syria to become a second front on Israel's northern borders, alongside Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon. Beyond propping up [Syrian President Bashar] Assad, Tehran has consistently sought to develop offensive capabilities in Syria." Answering the question of whether Soleimani seeks revenge or is managing a larger plan, Adesnik confirmed that it's all "part of a concerted and enduring campaign--not mere retaliation for Israeli actions in Iraq or Syria earlier this summer." Circling back to whether Israel will find itself at war in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria or all three, Adesnik said that he doubts Iran seeks an all-out war at the moment. Rather, he said, "Tehran is trying to shape the rules of the undeclared war, or 'gray zone' conflict, that Israel and Iran are already fighting in Syria." Those rules, he noted, have already been established in Lebanon, where Iran has built up a significant arsenal of missiles without any retaliation or preemptive attacks by Israel against targets there. On the Syria front, Adesnik said that Israeli airstrikes "seem to have prevented Iran from establishing anything like the capabilities the pro-Iran 'axis of resistance' has in Lebanon." Still, speculation abounds as to whether Netanyahu's order to brief Gantz is a sign that Israel is preparing for a major conflict on one or more fronts. "We need to be careful and open our eyes," cautioned Guzansky. "I think something is coming up. This is the quiet before the storm." Israel Watch: Stop Worrying About Israel - Jim Fletcher - [email protected] I will never understand the Christian worldview that worries about Israel. We are told to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6-"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee."). We can read about the trials facing Jews past, present, and future. Yet, God's Word literally tells us that He watches over His people. He preserves them and rescues them, time and again. As always, we can translate this reality to our own situation to some degree. If God can achieve such grand things on such a grand stage (all of history), then He can and will see you through your trials. Trust Him in this, every day, all day. Let me digress here for a moment before getting to the meat of this week's discussion. Many of you are facing unimaginable pain, unbearable circumstances. I have, like every human has and does. But I have always simply believed Scripture. God reigns supreme. He is sovereign. I don't, for example, subscribe to the garbage theology called "Open Theism," that alleges God doesn't know certain things. He knows more in the first five minutes of each day than man will ever know. He knows you and where you are. He is interested in all your circumstances. He is the holy, vengeful God of the Old Testament and at the same time the Man of Compassion we see in the gospels. It's not even that "nothing is too hard for Him." It's that nothing is hard for Him at all. We can read history and read Scripture and know that God has preserved the Jews just as He said He would. He told us as far back as Moses what would happen and that He would not falter in His promises. I marvel at that and exult in that. I love it. Every day I think about it. You can't sleep at night for worry? Your son has wandered far from the Lord? Your mother-in-law is causing problems? Your husband has strayed? What is your problem?; I have two meanings here. First, What is your problem that you need help with? Secondly, What is your problem? Believe the Lord! Take your issue to the Lord. Just as Jesus promised in Matthew 11:28, your burden is so great that you can't handle it. But He can and will and He said so. Just believe it. Just make up your own mind, which you are able to do, that you will believe Jesus and receive the supernatural, peerless help that He promises. Do you understand how insanely amazing it is that everything He promised about Israel and the Jews has happened, is happening, and will happen? That's staggering. It's astonishing. Remember all this as you perhaps have a few minutes to think over Labor Day. Now, let's give the backstory to all this. A few days ago, Israel took out facilities in Syria related to an imminent Iranian drone attack on northern Israel. At least two Hezbollah terrorists were killed, along with the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' collective ego. It was a dramatic statement by the IDF, punctuated by the extraordinary publishing of photos of two of the terrorists on a plane, on their way to training in Iran! The almost comical photo of the two smiling stooges underscores the vast gulf between Israel's capabilities and those of her enemies. Remember Entebbe? Remember June 1967? Remember Osirik? Remember, remember, remember? Take your time and go back as far as you need to. How about Gideon? How about Joshua? How about the establishment of modern Israel a mere six years and five months after the infamous Nazi conference at Wannsee? The German leadership was going to wipe out every Jew on Earth, and three years later Hitler blew his brains out, Goering and Himmler swallowed cyanide, and Germany went into the Dark Ages for a half-century. Israel flourished. Now, note the Jerusalem Post's analysis of the drone strike: "With Monday morning's jaw-dropping sharing of a wealth of IDF intelligence about the Iranian drone crew it struck in Lebanon, the power of Israeli intelligence became ever clearer. "The key to the IDF thwarting the planned attack by Iran on Israel was not merely that it identified the Lebanese operatives working with the Iranians who were en route to carry out their attack, but that it traced the presence of particular operatives involved in using drones on their way to the area before they got there. "Let's analyze the information put out by the IDF. First, there were three casualties from the strike, two of whom were Hezbollah operatives being trained by Iran's external intelligence Quds Force: Hassem Yussuf Zabib from Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, born in 1996, and Yasser Ahmed Tzahr from Beleide village, born in 1997. "According to the IDF, the two visited Iran several times this year and went through training to operate unmanned aerial vehicles and explosive drones at the Quds Force base. "Stunningly, there are pictures of the two onboard a flight and near an airplane headed to Iran to take part in some of the training sessions." God's promises are breathtaking, far-reaching, and eternal. Not least, they are impervious to the nonsense wrought by evil. Please do something this long weekend. Think on these things. Then determine that you will believe God that evil will not win in your life. This is about winning and losing. Thank the good Lord this weekend that the victory is already yours. Let me know how it goes. Daily Jot: Democrats officially become party of the godless - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com The Democratic National Committee (DNC) passeda resolutionadopting the "religiously unaffiliated" as the largest religious group within the Democratic Party. In a pointed underscore of the dying Church in America, the DNC resolution opened with the following statement: "WHEREAS, the religiously unaffiliated demographic has tripled in the last two decades, now representing 25% of the overall American population and 35% of those under the age of 30; WHEREAS, religiously unaffiliated Americans overwhelmingly share the Democratic Party's values, with 70% voting for Democrats in 2018, 80% supporting same-sex marriage, and 61% saying immigrants make American society stronger; and... "WHEREAS, the religiously unaffiliated demographic represents the largest religious group within the Democratic Party, growing from 19% in 2007 to one in three today; and WHEREAS, the nonreligious have often been subjected to unfair bias and exclusion in American society, particularly in the areas of politics and policymaking where assumptions of religiosity have long predominated; and WHEREAS, those most loudly claiming that morals, values, and patriotism must be defined by their particular religious views have used those religious views, with misplaced claims of "religious liberty," to justify public policy that has threatened the civil rights and liberties of many Americans, including but not limited to the LGBT community, women, and ethnic and religious/nonreligious minorities; and "WHEREAS, the Democratic Party is an inclusive organization that recognizes that morals, values, and patriotism are not unique to any particular religion, and are not necessarily reliant on having a religious worldview at all; and WHEREAS, nonreligious Americans made up 17% of the electorate in 2018 and have the potential to deliver millions more votes for Democrats in 2020 with targeted outreach to further increase turnout of nonreligious voters; and WHEREAS, a record number of openly nonreligious candidates are running for public office; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE recognizes: "1. The value, ethical soundness, and importance of the religiously unaffiliated demographic, a group of Americans who contribute in innumerable ways to the arts, sciences, medicine, business, law, the military, their communities, the success of the Party and prosperity of the Nation; and 2. That religiously unaffiliated Americans are a group that, as much as any other, advocates for rational public policy based on sound science and universal humanistic values and should be represented, included, and heard by the Party." There is so much wrong with this Resolution. Where do morals come from, certainly not the immoral? The resolution condemns the religiously affiliated for trampling the rights of almost everyone. In other words, if you are religiously affiliated, you are likely a bigot, a misogynist, a homophobe, a racist or worse. See where this is headed? For the Democratic Party and for America, this is historic. Democratic leadership has chosen to embrace those who are "not reliant on a religious worldview at all" at the expense of those whose religious beliefs define their "morals, values and patriotism." The DNC states that those who are nonreligious "overwhelmingly share the Democratic Party's values." While not denying God, the party is embracing the godless as more moral and sound than believers. The DNC is admitting that godless values are Democrat's values. Christians who would vote for Democrats, be forewarned: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.(Galatians 6:7)." More analysis in upcoming Daily Jots. Daily Devotion: The Grapes of Cash - by Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. Johnny Cash had an interesting father. A hard case with a short fuse, Ray Cash lived on wit and grit. And when he did work, it was as a day laborer, scraping out a hardscrabble existence through a variety of odd jobs and back-straining work in the midst of the Great Depression. Ray was far from a model father, but Johnny loved him and spent his lifetime craving his approval. Ray grew up in hard times, and hard times make hard people. We are all, to a certain extent, products of our environment. Maybe Ray Cash didn't have much of a sensitive, nurturing side, but he didn't abandon his family. And for the most part, he did the best he could. But there were times-even into Cash's adulthood-where his ugly nature would rear its ugly head. Even before Johnny was born, worthlessness, defeat, and inadequacy were already preprogrammed into the family and would form the backdrop of Johnny's relationship with his father throughout his lifetime. The good news is that God is a heavenly Father who loves, forgives, provides, protects, and disciplines His children. Because of the work of Christ on the cross, we already have the approval of the Father as Christ's righteousness has been placed in our spiritual account. We are in good standing and have an open door of communication with our gracious and loving Father in Heaven. Samuel saw Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD'S anointed stands here before the LORD." But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either." Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, "Nor has the LORD chosen this one." Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, "The LORD has not chosen these." So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse answered. "He is tending the sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives." So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; this is the one." (1 Samuel 16:6-12 NIV) Apparently, David wasn't much in the estimation of his father, just like Johnny Cash. What kind of father did you have growing up? Were you constantly seeking his approval? Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! (1 John 3:1 NKJV) No matter what your earthly father was like, you have a heavenly Father who loves you. Does that give you a sense of peace, purpose, or contentment? Now the Angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites. And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, "The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!" . . . So he said to Him, "O my LORD, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house." And the LORD said to him, "Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man." (Judges 6:11-12, 15-16) Though we may see ourselves as small, helpless, and unworthy-and others may view us that way as well, God sees our potential. He knows what we can become. What can you accomplish for God if you truly believe you have His favor and approval? 
FROM THE HEART
IF YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED THROUGH THIS MINISTRY, THEN WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD PLEASE REMEMBER PROPHECY UPDATE IN YOUR GIVING - WE ARE TRULY, TRULY, THANKFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT Prophecy Update has no corporate sponsors. This ministry is paid for and prayed for by readers and supporters. Without your support, there would be no Prophecy Update, Please pray about becoming a monthly supporter - thanks! If ever there was a time to invest in God's Kingdom, it's now! What on earth are you doing for Heaven's Sake? "Share in the Blessings and Rewards that will last Forever!" "Folks, it's all beginning to unravel. America is in more danger of falling than at any time in its history. But I believe Bible prophecy predicts this very decline. From this point on, we believers have to get serious. We are going to face discouragement, disillusionment and, most certainly, persecution in the time between now and the Rapture. But don't be discouraged or disillusioned. The coming turmoil will provide us unrivaled opportunities to share the good news of the Gospel. So be ready to share your faith and your hope with those who need Christ. We still have time to reap a great harvest of souls for God's kingdom!" - Hal Lindsey 1) We need your prayers!- We proclaim the Truth of the Word of God and we are under constant spiritual and sometimes even physical attack. 2) We need your encouragement!- We need to hear from you, let us know how the Lord is blessing you through this ministry so that we can share it with others. 3) We need your input! - If you have a prophetic article or story or if there is a news related item we missed, let us know. 4) We need your financial support!- To put it quite simply, without your support, there would be no Prophecy Update. I ask that you would prayerfully consider partnering with us to get the Word out and keep the world informed. Remember, your gift, no matter how small, does make a difference! You will be helping to touch lives, around the world, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, thanks to the internet your generosity carries a global impact! - Thanks! Our Prayer for You- "Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else." 2 Corinthians 9:10-13 If you have been blessed by Prophecy Update and would like to help support this ministry financially. You can make a secure donation online by going to: DONATE NOW Or Visit our website: http://prophecyupdate.com/donations/ Or write us at: Prophecy Update P.O. Box 40516 Bakersfield, CA 93384-0516 
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