When you get a kick up the bum from your Guardian Angel...

This is an easy quick one-hour-read which is likely to change your life for the better even if you only read the book.

‘LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE’ by writing your own eulogy.

Includes sample eulogy to-be, templates and reverse-engineer how to’s.

By the word of The Lord were the Heavens made

By the word of the Lord were the heavens made;
and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

So God created man
in his own image,
in the image of God
created he him;
male and female created he them.

God created the heavens and the earth by the breath of His mouth and we were made in His image.

What are you speaking out over your life today?

You can download POPCORN FOR THE SOUL ONE from here.

All of us live forever

Mimi believes in living forever, but even if you don’t believe in an afterlife, you will still leave an imprint and live forever in the hearts of your loved ones.

Religion does not have to come into it. As Tony Judt puts it so eloquently, we’re all responsible for the impact we have on the people around us.

The following is quoted from Tony Judt, historian, (02/91/1948-06/08/2010).

Just months before the historian Tony Judt died of ALS in 2010, he gave an interview to Terry Gross on NPR’s Fresh Air. When she asked him about his spiritual beliefs, he replied as follows.

I don’t believe in an afterlife. I don’t believe in a single or multiple godhead. I respect people who do, but I don’t believe it myself. But there’s a big “but” which enters in here: I am much more conscious than I ever was, for obvious reasons, of what it will mean to people left behind once I’m dead.

It won’t mean anything for me, but it will mean a lot to them, and it’s important for them, by which I mean my children or my wife or my close friends, that some spirit of me is, in a positive way, present in their lives, in their heads, in their imaginings, and so on.

In one curious way I’ve come to believe in the afterlife as a place where I still have moral responsibilities, just as I do in this life, except that I can only exercise them before I get there. Once I get there, it’ll be too late.

So no god, no organized religion, but a developing sense that there’s something bigger than the world we live in, including after we die, and that we have responsibilities in that world.

Few, if any, of our Facebook or Twitter friends will be at our death bed, or care either way.

How will we be remembered by our close friends and family members? How did we or do we impact their lives on a daily basis?

What unique task were we given and how did we live up to this?

I highly recommend downloading the template included in the book and following the instructions for guaranteed results.

DESCRIPTION

Why on earth would anyone ever want to write their own eulogy-to-be?

Well, sometimes life just sucks, and then consequently your eulogy would suck too. Double whammy.

The word eulogy-to-be is a concession we had to make because certain family members became quite traumatised when the subject of writing a eulogy popped up.

If a eulogy is a celebration of life then a eulogy-to-be is a write-up for the purpose of getting perspective on life so that we can adjust course if necessary, and celebrate life every single day, and not miss out on our own final party.

Mimi’s Guardian Angel did a fine job writing her eulogy-to-be and keep her on track. As in, “Hey there, is this how you would like to be remembered?”

Live Your Best Life By Writing Your Own Eulogy is a sample of how to write your own eulogy and includes a template with directions for anyone at any stage in their life to create a life filled with joy.

Is it possible to design a path to Joy and heal your Life?

How do we get the life we want? Sometimes we need a wake-up call to understand that “Our life does not just ‘happen,’ but whether we know it or not, it is carefully designed by us as quoted from Dr Covey’s bestseller.

Your Story creates a legacy; make it the best it can be!

Yes, you can continue drifting through life and allow things to ‘happen to you.’ Or you can grab hold of it and ‘make it behave!’

There is something miraculous about sharing your dreams and aspirations with the universe; Angels listen in…

Download Live Your Best Life to find out what happened after she experienced a medical emergency and wrote her eulogy-to-be.

REVIEWS

A MUST TO HAVE IN EVERYONE’S SPECIAL COLLECTION OF BOOKS!

By Elsa Mendoza on September 5, 2017

I found sweetness, beauty, hope, joy and love on every page of this short and happy book.
I paused, reflected and thought about my life as I live it on a daily basis and get to ask myself what my eulogy would be.
This is one of those special books that anyone should have.

Delightful, Captivating, Inspiring

By Carolyn Thomson Twaddle on September 6, 2017

A delightful read that is light yet profound. It’s easy to read and surprisingly fun especially when considering the topic. So well done! I could feel the lift in Mimi’s step as she lived her life on purpose. I’ve definitely been inspired by this book and the novel idea of writing my own eulogy to be!

An inspiring read with a practical application

By Amazon Customer on September 4, 2017

If you’ve wondered what you’re meant to be doing with your life, take stock and read this! What a great idea for getting your life back on track …. how to reverse engineer your life. Love it!

This delightful read is the perfect prescription for ‘getting it right – now.’

By Amazon Customer on September 5, 2017

Thank God above for fresh lingerie and ‘Bonus Moments!’ This delightful read is the perfect prescription for ‘getting it right – now.’ Don’t wait until later to figure out what your very best life, joy and happiness are meant to be. Mimi offers a fantastic template to help you think about what really matters, here and now. My only regret is the author lives on the other side of the world and isn’t available to jaunt around with. Because if she was I’d be at her house every day soaking up her enthusiasm. I look forward to more from Ms. Emmanuel.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mimi writes on health, faith and book publishing. All her books combined have become #1 bestsellers in more than 43 categories. Visit www.amazon.com/author/mimiemmanuel to find her other books.

She lives with her family in a tree house on volcanic rock overlooking the bay in Australia’s sunshine state, Queensland. She shares lunch with her friends the butcher birds and Layla Joy and Lilac Delite her puppies.

Mimi writes from her recliner with ear mufflers on, and a cup of chamomile tea beside her. For exercise, she wiggles her toes. You can find her free tutorials and say hello to her at http://www.mimiemmanuel.com

GET YOUR OWN COPY

Live Your Best Life by Writing Your Own Eulogy will be FREE during launch on September 6 and 7, 2017 and you can download it here from Amazon.

Also read, ‘How To Live Your Best Life Possible.’

ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications. Occasionally I partner with people because I like their products and you can read about that here.

ABOUT SCRIPTURE CARDS – If you want to send free Scripture Cards to your friends click here and you want to buy hard copies of Scripture Cards you can click here.

MY BOOKS AND A FREE VIDEO COURSE – To download a copy of MY STORY OF SURVIVAL click here. For a copy of MIMI’S BOOK LAUNCH PLAN, click here. For a copy of GOD HEALED ME click here. For a copy of THE HOLY GRAIL OF BOOK LAUNCHING click here. For a copy of LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE By Writing Your Own Eulogy click here. For a free video course on how to write a bestseller, click here. To join my launch party click here.

NEW BOOKS RELEASES, INTERVIEWS, AND REVIEWS – As a member of the Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance and as a member of the Christian Indie Authors Reading Group and as the current Administrator of Christian Authors Worldwide, This is FUN! Mimi’s Launch Party and co-administrator of OMEGA nonfiction writers I share new book releases, interviews and reviews with my readers. Stay tuned!

May 13, 2017
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Hey Mum, I love you. Happy Mother’s Day!

Happy Mother’s day

I keep thinking, “I’ll phone Mum and tell her,’ and then I don’t.

It is always the same around this time of the year, my Mum keeps popping into my head. My Mum who wrote notes for school so that I could take days off whenever I wanted to. I had a whole stack of these, written in advance. These notes got me into trouble and not for what you may think.

My bestie at primary, her name was Leony. Well, Leony’s Mum didn’t write absentee notices in advance. She never wrote these at all. So when Leony fancied a day off from school I said, “no worries, I know how we can arrange that.” It took me no time at all to copy my Mum’s note, replace my name with my friend’s name and hand this notice to my friend who handed it to the principal. I felt proud of my handiwork. I even forged my Mum’s handwriting so that the principal would read ‘adult’ and not ‘children’s’ writing.

The next day I was called to the principal’s office. How on earth did he know that it was me who wrote the note for my friend Leony? He unsuccessfully tried to hide his grin. He thought it was funny. I didn’t think it so funny, having to write down THREE HUNDRED TIMES that I was not to write absentee notes for my friends!

Thank you Mum!

Thank you Mum for recognising that children also need time out every now and then.

My Mum baked the best cakes, gave the best hugs, loved the most perfect.

Why do I keep thinking that I need to phone Mum?

Mother’s day has always been in May, as was my Mum’s birthday. Yes, her eightieth birthday was May 22. Mum had her eighty first, her very last birthday in hospital. I didn’t visit her. Was her funeral in May also? I cannot remember. I did not go. I wanted to go but was not able to. I was recovering from an inoperable ruptured appendix. Travel was out of the question.

For decades and decades I would phone my Mum daily and visit her on her birthday and Mother’s day and sent her cards and presents. And then, one day, it stopped. I cannot remember the exact day. It’s a bit hazy and I like to keep it that way. Because every now and then I want to phone my Mum and say,

Mum, I love you.

“Hey Mum, do you know that I love you. You’re best Mum in the whole wide world. No one makes cakes like you do, nor macaroni nor tomato soup. Your salads are out of this world and your pancakes deserve awards. I love you Mum for your care and your never ending love and your kindness and for always being there for me. I thank you for all the Jesus’ stories and parables. Whipped cream is still my favourite Mum. Thank you for bringing me up to appreciate the good things in life.

Hey Mum, are you there? Mum? Mum?”

The thought stops before it completes itself. Yes, Mum is there. She’s in my heart. She’ll live on forever in my thoughts and life. She lives on in me and my children. In my world my Mum lives forever.

I love you Mum. Thank you Mum. Happy Mother’s day, Mum.

ABOUT SCRIPTURE CARDS – If you want to send free Scripture Cards to your friends click here and you want to buy hard copies of Scripture Cards you can click here.

MY BOOKS AND A FREE VIDEO COURSE – To download a copy of MY STORY OF SURVIVAL click here. For a copy of MIMI’S BOOK LAUNCH PLAN, click here. For a copy of GOD HEALED ME click here. For a copy of THE HOLY GRAIL OF BOOK LAUNCHING click here. For a free video course on how to write a bestseller, click here. To join my launch party click here.

November 18, 2016
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Dying to Wake Up

BOOKS REVIEWS

Dying to Wake Up:
A Doctor’s Voyage into the Afterlife and the Wisdom He Brought Back

by Dr Rajiv Parti

BOOK DESCRIPTION

A rare glimpse into heaven, hell, and previous lives—Dr. Rajiv Parti’s near-death experience brought him on a journey through the afterworld, leading to a spiritual awakening that transformed his career, his lifestyle, and even his fundamental beliefs.

Before his near-death experience, Dr. Rajiv Parti was a wealthy man of science with a successful career as the Chief of Anesthesiology at the Bakersfield Heart Hospital in California. He demanded the same success from his son, whose failures provoked episodes of physical abuse from Dr. Parti. All in all, Dr. Parti was the last man to believe in heaven or hell—that is, until he saw them with his own eyes.

When Dr. Parti had his near-death experience on the operating table, he first watched his own operation from the ceiling—even recalling a joke told by his doctors during his surgery. He was greeted by archangels and his deceased father who led him through the tortures of hell and revealed the toxic cycle of violence that has plagued his family for generations. He even reviewed the struggles of his previous lives which, in many ways, reflected those he still faced in the present. Finally, he experienced heaven. From the angels, he learned lessons of spiritual health that they insisted he bring down to earth—to do so, Dr. Parti knew he had to change his ways.

After his near-death experience, Dr. Parti awoke a new man. He gave away his mansion, quit his career, opened a wellness clinic, and completely turned around his relationships with his family. To this day, he still converses with angels and spreads their wisdom to the living.

In this remarkable true story of spiritual transformation, Dr. Parti provides rare details of heaven, hell, the afterlife, and angels. In sharing the lessons and eternal truths from the Divine that changed him forever, Dr. Parti offers his audience the opportunity to attain peace and live a better life here on Earth.

EXCERPT from Dying to Wake Up

Was I dead? I felt like an astronaut who’d left his spacesuit, only to find that a suit was unnecessary to begin with. With rising panic, I looked back and forth at the two scenes — until both started to fade like a fast-setting sun. Everything went dark. I was relieved: I’m returning to my body, I thought.

Then came a jolt of pure fear. To my right, I heard screams of pain and anguish. I was drawn in, as if on a moving pavement, to the edge of a flaming canyon. Smoke filled my nostrils, and with it the sickening odour of burning flesh. I knew then that I was on the lip of hell.

I tried to turn away, but each time I took a step back, an unseen force moved me forward. A voice spoke to me telepathically. ‘You have led a materialistic and selfish life,’ it said. I knew that was true, and felt ashamed. Over the years, I’d lost empathy for my patients.

Standing on the rim of hell, I remembered a woman who’d come to my clinic for treatment of chronic arthritis. She was in considerable pain, but that wasn’t the reason why she was weeping.

‘I need to talk to you, doctor,’ she said to me. ‘My husband’s dying of lung cancer, and I don’t know what to do.’

‘I’d love to talk to you,’ I said, writing out a prescription for pain-killers and sleeping pills. ‘But I have several patients waiting.’

I was like a robot. I’d trained myself to blunt my emotions. Worse, I had trained myself to think only of myself.

As the smoke billowed and the burning souls screamed around me, I thought of my possessions and how meaningless they were. Why did I have all these things? Why did I need a home so big that, when we were in different parts of the house, we had to communicate through our iPhones?

I felt steeped in shame. But I knew my chance to change was gone: at any moment now, I’d be pulled into the pit of fire to burn for eternity. There seemed no way out, but I prayed for one anyway.

‘My God, give me another chance. Please give me another chance.’

Almost at that instant, I did get my second chance…

I found this book to be fascinating and couldn’t put it down. I found Dr. Parti to be very forthcoming with all of his personal imperfections and how he had to work through them in his life. I found the concept of forgiveness of our parents and grandparents to be very eye opening as we don’t always understand why our parents have treated us the way they did. His experience with his father was especially special to me as I didn’t always understand my father’s ways either.

There is a lot of information in the book, but I think that if everyone would take to heart the changes that he was asked to make in his life following his near death experience the world would be a much better place to live in. I think the world needs to make a huge shift from being so materialistic and ego centered to being heart centered.

AUTHOR BIO

Rajiv Parti, MD, is a world-renowned specialist in pain management with over thirty years as a cardiac anesthesiologist. In addition to being Chief of Anesthesiology at Bakersfield Heart Hospital for more than a decade, Dr. Parti is founder of the Pain Management Institute of California. Dr. Parti’s study in complementary and alternative medicine has led him to formulate an integrative approach to total wellness, especially pain management, stress, and depression. He tours the country extensively, holding workshops to demonstrate methods of healing to help others overcome addiction, depression, chronic pain, and even cancer.

Paul Perry has cowritten four New York Times bestsellers, including Evidence of the Afterlife, Closer to the Light, Transformed by the Light, and Saved by the Light.

GET YOUR OWN COPY

You can get a copy of Dying to Wake Up from Amazon.

ABOUT SCRIPTURE CARDS – If you want to send free Scripture Cards to your friends click here and you want to buy hard copies of Scripture Cards you can click here.

MY BOOKS AND A FREE VIDEO COURSE – To download a copy of MY STORY OF SURVIVAL click here. For a copy of MIMI’S BOOK LAUNCH PLAN, click here. For a copy of GOD HEALED ME click here. For a free video course on how to write a bestseller, click here. To join my launch party click here.

November 11, 2016
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Proof of Heaven

BOOKS REVIEWS

Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife.

The #1 New York Times bestselling account of a neurosurgeon’s own near-death experience.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Thousands of people have had near-death experiences, but scientists have argued that they are impossible. Dr. Eben Alexander was one of those scientists. A highly trained neurosurgeon, Alexander knew that NDEs feel real, but are simply fantasies produced by brains under extreme stress.

Then, Dr. Alexander’s own brain was attacked by a rare illness. The part of the brain that controls thought and emotion—and in essence makes us human—shut down completely. For seven days he lay in a coma. Then, as his doctors considered stopping treatment, Alexander’s eyes popped open. He had come back.

Alexander’s recovery is a medical miracle. But the real miracle of his story lies elsewhere. While his body lay in coma, Alexander journeyed beyond this world and encountered an angelic being who guided him into the deepest realms of super-physical existence. There he met, and spoke with, the Divine source of the universe itself.

Alexander’s story is not a fantasy. Before he underwent his journey, he could not reconcile his knowledge of neuroscience with any belief in heaven, God, or the soul. Today Alexander is a doctor who believes that true health can be achieved only when we realize that God and the soul are real and that death is not the end of personal existence but only a transition.

This story would be remarkable no matter who it happened to. That it happened to Dr. Alexander makes it revolutionary. No scientist or person of faith will be able to ignore it. Reading it will change your life.

As someone who has experienced an NDE, and struggled with many of the same things that Eben discusses here, I am not surprised at the response that many are having to this book. To say “people who have NDE experiences often find the telling of their story, while trying to impart the information they receive during their experience, a difficult task,” would be an understatement as vast as the universe.

The clinical aspects of Dr. Alexander’s experience are what make this story unique, along with his outright conversion from a “Scientific Reductionist” to someone who sees clearly that consciousness and the vast majority of “what is,” are found outside of our space/time universe and current medical or science books.

To get the most out of any book on NDEs, and especially one that intertwines a very personal journey to find family and self, you must start with an open mind and heart. Unfortunately, those who have already hardened their views on both sides of the spectrums of Science and Religion, will dismiss much of what anyone writes on this topic, because it doesn’t fit their narrow, dogmatic view of the world.

Even worse, it forces them to look outside of their safe little boxes, and take the effort to learn, while being open to the possibility that current models of both science and faith are a good starting point, but not the ENTIRE answer.

Einstein’s quote at the beginning of the chapter “A Final Dilemma” says it best…
“I must be willing to give up what I am in order to become what I will be.”

Whether you begin as a Christian, a Buddhist, Quantum Physicist or a simple seeker of knowledge beyond current understanding, moving outside of the constructs of your current ways of thinking is imperative to discovery.

Fundamentalism, whether it be religious or scientific, is really no different than intellectual bigotry, closed to expanded thoughts, or encompassing new ways of looking for expanded information. Eben’s book embraces both worlds, and does so gracefully, without discounting any specific ideology.

Eben’s experience was certainly deeper, and far more expansive than most I have read (including my own NDE). I do agree that the lack of detail about his time in “heaven” (a term that I find limiting) is frustrating to a point. And yet, the need to spend much of this book on the technical side of his coma, his quest and victory regarding his family (past and present), as well as touching on the scientific aspects of the current science regarding external consciousness, make this short book an excellent jumping-off point for deeper study and discussion.

And there’s the rub…

After experiencing my own NDE (in 1996), I spent almost two obsessive years trying in vain to “connect the dots of knowledge imparted to me,” before putting it all back “in a box” so that I could get on with living my life. Through a series of events over the past two years, I find myself very much back into “telling the story.” I now realize that no book, video, or movie is able to even scratch the surface of answering the great questions of life after death, consciousness, and how they all relate to quantum theory. Expecting “the answers” from a book of this size and configuration is naïve and lazy at best.

There is a reason that the section in this book called “Reading List” is expansive. Much has been written on this topic from both the spiritual and scientific approach. If you are a true seeker of the truth, you will not start or end your journey for knowledge with Eben’s book. Instead, you will appreciate the facts of his experience, the unique medical reality of his coma, and the amazing revelations about family, love and the eternal nature of consciousness, as the BEGINNING of the journey to true understanding.

While this book in not an expansive, all-inclusive answer to the melding of Science and Religion, I give it 5 stars for being an important, unique story, bringing focus to the need for a global change in the perception and understanding of reality, consciousness and the interconnectedness of everything in creation.

215 Comments 2,435 people found this helpful.

AUTHOR BIO

Dr. Eben Alexander III has been an academic neurosurgeon for the last 25 years, including 15 years at the Brigham & Women’s and the Children’s Hospitals and Harvard Medical School in Boston. Over his academic career he authored or co-authored over 150 chapters and papers in peer reviewed journals, and made over 200 presentations at conferences and medical centers around the world. He thought he had a very good idea of how the brain generates consciousness, mind and spirit.

In the predawn hours of November 10, 2008, he was driven into coma by a rare and mysterious bacterial meningitis-encephalitis of unknown cause. He spent a week in coma on a ventilator, his prospects for survival diminishing rapidly. On the seventh day, to the surprise of everyone, he started to awaken.
Memories of his life had been completely deleted inside of coma, yet he awoke with memories of a fantastic odyssey deep into another realm – more real than this earthly one!

His older son advised him to write down everything he could remember about his journey, before he read anything about near-death experiences, physics or cosmology. Six weeks later, he completed his initial recording of his remarkable journey, totaling over 20,000 words in length.
Then he started reading, and was astonished by the insights his journey brought to the world’s literature on near-death experiences, and to all phenomena of extended consciousness. His experience clearly revealed that we are conscious in spite of our brain – that, in fact, consciousness is at the root of all existence.

His story offers a crucial key to the understanding of reality and human consciousness. It will have a major effect on how we view spirituality, soul and the non-material realm. In analyzing his experience, including the scientific possibilities and grand implications, he envisions a more complete reconciliation of modern science and spirituality as a natural product.

He has been blessed with a complete recovery, and has written a book about this most powerful, life-changing story.

For more information, including video links and reading list, visit http://www.lifebeyonddeath.net

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November 4, 2016
by Mimi E Leave a comment

To Heaven and back

BOOKS REVIEWS

To Heaven and Back

A Doctor’s Extraordinary Account of Her Death, Heaven, Angels, and Life Again: A True Story

by Mary C Neal

BOOK DESCRIPTION

A kayak accident during a South American adventure takes one woman to heaven — where she experienced God’s peace, joy, and angels — and back to life again.

In 1999 in the Los Rios region of southern Chile, orthopedic surgeon, devoted wife, and loving mother Dr. Mary Neal drowned in a kayak accident. While cascading down a waterfall, her kayak became pinned at the bottom and she was immediately and completely submerged. Despite the rescue efforts of her companions, Mary was underwater for too long, and as a result, died.

To Heaven and Back is Mary’s remarkable story of her life’s spiritual journey and what happened as she moved from life to death to eternal life, and back again. Detailing her feelings and surroundings in heaven, her communication with angels, and her deep sense of sadness when she realized it wasn’t her time, Mary shares the captivating experience of her modern-day miracle.

Mary’s life has been forever changed by her newfound understanding of her purpose on earth, her awareness of God, her closer relationship with Jesus, and her personal spiritual journey suddenly enhanced by a first-hand experience in heaven. To Heaven and Back will reacquaint you with the hope, wonder, and promise of heaven, while enriching you own faith and walk with God.

The other day, I came across this book on Amazon and placed it on my to-read list. Below is an Amazon interview (from the product page) with the author.

Amazon Q&A with Mary C. Neal, M.D

Q. How did you feel when you died? Did you know what was happening?

A. I was acutely aware of everything that was happening. I knew that my efforts to exit the boat were not working, that I was out of air, and that I was too far from the riverbank for anyone to reach me. I knew that I would probably die. Having grown up with a fear of drowning, I was surprised to find my transition from life to death was seamless, peaceful, and beautiful. I felt quite wonderful.

Q. What was your faith life like before your death?

A. Before my near-death-experience, I believed in God and took my kids to Sunday school but was not particularly religious. Like many accomplished young adults, I felt like I was in control of my life and my future. Although I tried to be a “good” and “moral” person, my faith was not integrated into my daily life and the demands of work and family left little time to think about spirituality.

With my near-death-experience, the truth of God’s promises and the reality of eternal life became a part of my every breath. I am in constant prayer and regardless of what I am doing, I try to reflect God’s love and live for His glory. I try not to miss opportunities to uplift or encourage the spiritual life of others, and I live with gratitude and joy, knowing that I never face challenges alone.

Q. Why do you think you came back to life?

A. I certainly didn’t want to return to Earth, but was given information about some of the work I had yet to complete and wasn’t really given a choice. I was expected to share my experiences and my story with others, helping transform their faith into compete trust that God keeps His promises.

Q. Do you have any regrets about this experience?

A. I have not a hint of regret. In fact, my death and return to life is the greatest gift I have ever received, and I am continually grateful for having had this experience.

Q. How do you explain why this happened to you?

A. I have always been a private person, am not known to be a writer, and do not relish the attention of speaking. I have been asked this question many times. I do not know the answer, but I am a scientist by training, a skeptic by nature, and a very concrete, rational thinker. Perhaps, I was given this job because I have a developed a lifetime of credibility.

Q. How is your experience compared to others who’ve gone to heaven and come back to physical life?

A. I have not read many accounts of other people’s experiences, but I have had many patients over the years tell me about their own near-death experiences. It seems that most stories, mine included, contain some consistent elements–that of an overwhelming sense of God’s love and forgiveness, intense peace and beauty and no desire to return to Earth. Everyone recalls the details with precision and each person is profoundly affected by the experience. In these ways, my experience is quite similar.

Q. What do you want people to know about heaven?

A. God’s unconditional love for each of us is intense, complete, and is reflected in all of Heaven. Before we return to Heaven, our real home, we have an incredible opportunity on Earth to face challenges that will help us learn, grow and to become more Christ-like in the fruits of our spirit. Our time is so short that we need to be about God’s business every day.

At the same time that Dr. Mary Neal was drowning in a river in Chile, her husband, Bill, appeared to me in a dream. Bill is an old friend of mine from high school. We had shared many adventures and confidences over the years, but neither he nor any other friend had ever stared at me in a dream and woke me up. I shook it off at the time, only to learn a few days or weeks later why I had seen him.

The story of her experiences from the drowning, through the repeated revivals and her ultimate survival are the events upon which this book is anchored. But the meat and meaning of it are in the unfolding of her life as guided and protected by her God. I’m obviously no disinterested party. Skeptics can be reassured by my report that if it came from Mary’s pen, it will be the truth and the whole truth. I doubt, however, that her or anyone’s personal account can penetrate fully into the modern psyche. That is, into those who think that they need proof of what we call God. As an account of a brush with the Hereafter, here have been many others similar to it, and they’re well enough known to be used as shorthand in bad films.

What Mary and those like her have experienced are gifts from somewhere, given not just to them. She gives it back to us disguised as a simple offering. She doesn’t baffle the reader with melodrama, hyperbole, fantasy, or excessive adjectives. She tells her story in a concise & detailed way, with a voice of eloquent and unadorned sincerity. In this way, it’s easy to read and difficult to put down, vividly descriptive and completely convincing, humbling and inspiring.

Fortunately for us, she kept waking up in the middle of the night until she couldn’t keep from writing it down for us. The reason to read this remarkable account is witness, which is one of the few ways that we have left to hack a little hole in our jungle of unbelief.

82 Comments 1,030 people found this helpful.

AUTHOR BIO

Mary C. Neal, M.D. is an orthopaedic surgeon. She studied at the University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine, completed her orthopaedic residency at the University of Southern California and is fellowship trained as a spinal surgeon. She is the former Director of Spine Surgery at the University of Southern California and is a founding partner of Orthopedic Associates of Jackson Hole.

Her after-life experience has been featured on national media including WGN, Dr. Oz, and Fox andFriends. She has served as a church elder, on several non-profit organization boards, and created the Willie Neal Environmental Awareness Fund. Dr. Neal lives with her family in Jackson Hole, WY.

GET YOUR COPY

You can purchase To Heaven and Back from Amazon.

ABOUT SCRIPTURE CARDS – If you want to send free Scripture Cards to your friends click here and you want to buy hard copies of Scripture Cards you can click here.

September 10, 2016
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Living forever

About Living forever

The religious go to heaven and the non-religious go to hell. True or false? What does the Bible have to say about this?

According to Pope Francis, atheists can go to heaven and the Bible seems to agree. Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan to explain to his disciples what loving one’s neighbour is all about. Interestingly enough in this parable the two religious people didn’t perform so well.

Last week I wrote a post about Mother Teresa being declared a saint by the Catholic Church. I mentioned how this made me think about the legacy that I’m leaving behind. I changed the banner on this blog to reflect my thoughts.

Will all of us live forever?

I say yes. Believing in Jesus and following his teachings comes with a promise of afterlife. But what if we’re not religious, and we don’t believe in heaven and/or hell?

All of us, after passing on, will live on in the hearts and memories of the people that knew us. Even a one-day-old baby will make an impression on the people around him/her.

What legacy will we leave behind? Writing a book is one of many ways to leave behind a legacy. But regardless if we write a book or not, every single day we continuously make impressions on others and affect the lives of those around us. And this is true also for people who do not do much of anything at all. Be that by choice or because of illness.
Inaction can have as much, if not a greater impact than action.

Do you know the saying that people may not remember what you said or did; but they will remember how you made them feel, a long time after you’re gone?

Jesus the Greatest Teacher that ever lived.

Jesus was the greatest teacher that ever lived for sure. His teachings live on in the hearts of billions of people today and this is millennia after his Crucifixion. Religious and non-religious people alike admire his humility, strength, compassion and try to live according to his morals and teachings. Jesus disciples saw Jesus ascend up into heaven.
But if you’re non-religious and have difficulties believing this, there is no denying the fact that Jesus is living on forever in the hearts and minds of the majority of humanity.

So is there an afterlife?

My Bible tells me yes and I believe this. But let’s assume for a moment that you’re not religious and you do not believe in an afterlife. Your words and actions and the impressions you make on the people around you will live on long after you’ve passed on.
Food for thought, I think.

When it looked like I was going to die, at some stage I was desperate to just get my paperwork and ‘smalls drawer’ in order. I did not want to be remembered as someone who left a chaotic mess behind.

I was not able to get up and sort these things myself and had to rely on others to do so for me. This taught me to deal with ‘things’ as they come up because I learned that ‘later’ may never come.

During and after my long illness I looked for and found role models and mentors, people that have gone before and I can look up to and follow. Jesus and Mother Teresa are two obvious role models that are perfect traveling companions for my spiritual journey.

For my book publishing journey I’ve found other mentors and I will share some of their websites and services with you in a future blog post.

Do you know your life’s purpose?

The other day I stumbled across a book called ‘Destination Unknown’ by John H Clark III. I do not agree with the title of the book, because as mentioned earlier I believe that my destination is known. I acknowledge however that for many people this is not the case. And I agree with John that; no matter what the beliefs, there is a sense that contemplating the great unknown—what happens when we die—creates more meaning to the days we have left on this earth.

I understand where Missy Walters is coming from. She is one of the contributors from John’s book and she mentions,

quote by Missy Walters in Destination Unknown by John H Clark III

I have not read the whole book and may not agree with the majority of views but it is not about that. It is about human beings expressing their views on life after death and we’re all entitled to have our view on this without dogma getting in the way.
I post the description to John’s book below because it is an interesting exercise to read what other people’s beliefs are.

John H. Clark III wrote a book called ‘Destination Unknown.’ Below is the description of his Amazon product page.

Begin Amazon description

Do You Know Your Life’s Purpose?

Are you looking for more meaning in your life? Are you tired of just getting through each day instead of feeling a sense of purpose and direction? Sometimes the answer to a question is best explored in reverse. In order to find more purpose in life, perhaps we need to go to the end—death—and work backwards from there. Is it possible that contemplating death can lead to more meaning in life?

Is There Such a Thing as Life After Death?

What happens to us after we die? Do we see our loved ones who have passed? Do we enter a white tunnel of life? Do we go straight to Heaven or Hell? Or is there simply blackness? Since the dawn of time, human beings have been asking these very questions. The subjects of life, death, and purpose are arguably the most important we will ever encounter.

Questions of Death, Answers for Life

John Clark has tackled the weighty subject of life after death in his newest book, Destination Unknown. Through interviews with people all over the globe—Buddhists, atheists, Christians; men and women; young and old; school teachers, IT professionals, and military personnel—he has compiled a tapestry of views on death that are as diverse as the people themselves. Some believe in ghosts, spirits, and other dimensions. Some are sure they will meet God, be judged, and sent to Heaven or Hell. Some have had near death experiences. But no matter what the beliefs, there is a sense that contemplating the great unknown—what happens when we die—creates more meaning to the days we have left on this earth.

End Amazon description

Over the years I have studied and practiced different world religions and eventually embraced the Bible as God’s Holy Word and the authority in my life. As such I may share but can not endorse other views expressed on my blog.

ABOUT SCRIPTURE CARDS – If you want to send free Scripture Cards to your friends click here and you want to buy hard copies of Scripture Cards you can click here. To download a copy of my Story of Survival click here. For a copy of Mimi’s Book Launch Plan, click here. For a copy of God Healed Me click here. You can find my website here.

NEW BOOKS RELEASES, INTERVIEWS AND REVIEWS – As a member of the Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance and as a member of the Christian Indie Authors Reading Group and as the current Co-Administrator of OMEGA nonfiction Writers and Administrator of Christian Authors Worldwide and MIMI’s BOOK LAUNCH PARTY, I share new book releases, interviews and reviews with my readers. Stay tuned!

January 12, 2016
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Free course: How to become a bestselling author in 2016

FREE VIDEO COURSE ON HOW TO BECOME A BESTSELLING AUTHOR

FREE WEBINAR ON HOW TO BECOME A BESTSELLING AUTHOR

Live Forever how to

Remember a little while ago that I promised to go through the Bible and find all the references made to living forever, eternal life and life everlasting and bundle them up in a book? This book is now its way and you can sign up here to be notified when the FREE promo kindle is available.
But first, I’m celebrating!

Free Publishing Course

I am celebrating the fact that I have successfully written and published my book and that My Story of Survival became an Amazon Bestseller in more than seven categories! If you want to skip the whole read and sign up for the FREE video course on how to publish your very own Bestselling Book you can do so here.

If you want to view the FREE webinar on how to become a published author in 90 days, you can do so here.

At the bottom of the page I offer four free bonuses, including my complete launch plan on how I became Best Selling Author.

What happened to me

My Story of Survival

If you’ve read My Story of Survival, you know that I burned out pretty good and due to neglecting my health for a long time nearly ended up on the scrapheap. But GOD is good and heard my prayers and now I have all this bonus time available to write books.

I felt that I needed to tell what happened to me as a warning to other people not to neglect their health, because life is very precious and none of us is invincible.

When I started off writing the book I didn’t particularly enjoy what I was doing because, let’s face it, why write about illness once you are starting to feel better?

However, during the process of writing the book I got excited that little ol’ me would be able to help some people and possibly even prevent others from getting sick, just by telling my story.

This is indeed what happened, and I cannot even begin to tell you how happy that makes me. Here are a few reviews from the UK.

AMAZON UK REVIEWS

Useful book for eating disorders – if you know someone. buy it for them

By Amazon Customer on 19 Dec. 2015

Format: Kindle Edition

I got hold of this book for a friend of mine that has the same type of problem as Mimi. I think the book is very useful for people discovering how your bodies react to food. I am sure this book will help my friend. I recommend this book to anyone who has any kind of physical or emotional eating disorder. I gave it 4 out of 5 because I would like it to be longer. I hope the author writes more.

Some useful life lessons and nutritional advice. Also spiritually inspiring.

By Mrs Jones on 18 Dec. 2015

Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase

Half way through and loving it. Well written, thoughtful. Funny and marvelous moments with the Lord raising up too 😀

Inspiring book to design your own health diet plan.

By Shan on 20 Dec. 2015

Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase

I love this book. It is based on author’s experience of food intolerances. I find it is full of great information and notes on healthy diet which can be beneficial for everyone.

more reviews on Amazon.com here

All the way from the other side of the planet people are reading what I am writing down and gaining some benefit. How cool is that?

For long periods of time I couldn’t even handle the flickering of a computer screen or the soft buzzing of a monitor. I wasn’t able to sit up or lift my hands for any length of time. Who would have thought that I be writing my own book?

What I never expected in a million years is that I would actually enjoy the whole process of becoming a published author. Because that is what I am now; a published author.

I am having so much FUN!!!

I am not only a published, but a bestselling author as well. In seven categories! I am not saying this to brag. I am telling you because I want to share how much fun it is to be able to share my story so that others can benefit.

I have not had this much FUN in a long long time and I just want to share!

Because I enjoyed the whole process so much I decided to partner with the Self-Publishing School which helped me publish my very first bestseller and want to let you know about the same opportunity as well.

Free course: How to become a bestselling author in 2016

FREE VIDEO COURSE ON HOW TO BECOME A BESTSELLING AUTHOR

FREE WEBINAR ON HOW TO BECOME A BESTSELLING AUTHOR

FREE VIDEO SERIES ON HOW TO PUBLISH YOUR OWN BOOK

The School is having a special on at the moment and you can click here to receive a free video series on how to publish your own book.

This mini-course is broken down into 4 training videos and exercises that show you exactly how to cross off “write that book” from your bucket list — in just 30 minutes a day.

First it’ll show you the exact blueprint to go from blank page to bestselling author in just 90 days — even if you’re busy, bad at writing, or don’t know where to start.

The video then tells you how to build momentum and finally cross out “write a book” on your bucket list.

Bestselling Book Launch Blueprint

The video includes the Bestselling Book Launch Blueprint: How to turn your book into a bestseller, including Amazon’s “Rule of 3” Secret that maximizes sales.

Chandler also discusses case studies of bestselling authors and details the kind of royalty checks they have coming in every month.

I had already pretty much written my book when I signed up with SPS. Why would you need to do a course on publishing a book if you have already written one? You don’t have to. You can write to traditional publishers and I will pray with you that they’ll take you on as an author. You can publish as an Indie Publisher with Smashwords, Apple, Amazon, Lulu and a whole host of other publishers out there without having anyone help you. And I’ll wish you good luck and sincerely hope that it works out for you.

You can google anything nowadays and there are endless guides on how to publish your own book. As a matter of fact I just wrote my own official launch plan and you will get a free copy of this if you join my launch team.

What is so terrific about this School is that there is a proven Blueprint to follow and they help you from A to Z. They even help you with what to write about if you would like to become a published author, but do not know what to write about.

I had already written around 12,000 words of my book when I signed up with SPS. I had already paid for another course when I signed up with SPS. But there was something about this enthusiastic young kid, Chandler Bolt, that appealed to me. And without overthinking it too much, I signed up because there is a solid money back guarantee.

Best Selling banner

I am so pleased I did. It is without a shadow of a doubt one of the most FUN experiences of my life that I’ve now published a book and have people read and appreciate this.
And as a bonus for my efforts, I’ve received a bestselling banner from Amazon. How cool is that!

After three months, School is over. My book is now published, I get to keep the course and can repeat the process as often as I like. But I signed up to stay part of the group cause I am having too much FUN.

I wanted to let you know about this because, if you’re like me and always wanted to write and publish a book but didn’t know how-to, I’d love you to join me as a fellow student at SPS.

The course is FUN, the school is FUN, the TEAM is awesome and the students … each and every one of them hard working authors and/or authors to be. I have never before read so many good books in my life and met so many FUN people. Such a treat. I love everything about it.

Quick Tour of why I like SPS

I’ll give you a quick tour of why I like SPS so much.

Did I tell you that SPS helped me publish my first book My Story of Survival? I did, didn’t I?

My Story of Survival was published on 29.11.2015.

Digestive Organs

On 06.12.2015, that’s right, just one week later my book becomes number one bestseller in the category of Digestive Organs.

Short Reads Health, Fitness and Dieting

Shortly after My Story of Survival ranks number 2 in Short Reads; Health, Fitness & Dieting. Woopdiedoo!

Food Allergies

About one week later My Story of Survival ranks number one under Amazon Best Sellers in Food Allergies on 16.12.2015.

Science

A day later on 17.12.2015, My Story of Survival lists number one under Amazon Best Sellers in Science and Math. My daughter says that this is out of 226,303 books. I don’t know if this is true. I didn’t check the numbers.

And at some stage my book ranked #222 in the Free Kindle Store.

Yeeaahhh!!! Are you getting excited with me? Because what is possible for me, is possible for you too.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Less than ten days later on 26.10.2015 My Story of Survival ranks in another relevant category #1 Best Seller under Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Why is this so good? This is so good because all these categories are relevant to the content of my book and anyone who is suffering from any of these conditions would have come across my book if they were googling for this. That means that my wish and prayer of being able to help people, is being answered.

Chronic Pain

Amazon #1 Best Seller under Chronic Pain on 26.12.2015. And that just was like a huge band-aid on wounds for me and I couldn’t feel as much as a twinge of pain all day long on the 26th.

Viral Diseases

Amazon #1 Best Seller in Viral Diseases. Nothing wrong with going viral, is there?
So what if I didn’t agree with any of the labels I was given? The conditions attached to these labels still affect me one way or another and these labels are still being handed out to people today.

Thanks to Amazon, customers who are affected by similar labels can find My Story of Survival and hopefully benefit from reading it and join my pursuit for a clean bill of health.

I have only listed the #1 rankings. At various times My Story of Survival ranked also under Best sellers in the categories of Medical Books- Medicine, Diseases and Physical ailments and Nutrition. To be honest I couldn’t quite keep up with where my book was travelling.

Ranking #1 in Reference Books

Still ranking #1 half way through February 2016 and now also in Reference books.

Christian Books … Self-Help

On 29.12.2015 My Story of Survival received the Amazon Best Sellers badge in the category of Self-Help books.

I know that I had already mentioned that, but it is such a pretty banner I just couldn’t resist finishing on such a good note. Because that self-help was only possible for me due to the oodles of faith.

Whilst Amazon is taking care of business I can continue writing my next book. Did you know that GOD hath made me to laugh? Now you know another reason why this is so!! All I got to say now is Praise the Lord for being so good to me!!

Meanwhile, you can let me know if you want to receive a free kindle of my next book Live Forever how-to.

FREE BONUSES

FREE VIDEO COURSE ON HOW TO BECOME A BESTSELLING AUTHOR

FREE WEBINAR ON HOW TO BECOME A BESTSELLING AUTHOR

I am so jazzed about this course and my partnership with SPS that I will give away for FREE as a BONUS to anyone who signs up for the full SPS course (not just the freebie video course); your choice hard copy or kindle,

1. FREE copy of My Story of Survival

2. FREE copy of Glimpses of Light Anthology

3. FREE copy of Like A Girl Anthology

4. FREE copy of Mimi’s Launch Plan.

My Launch Plan is my official guide to easy peasy 31 steps on how I successfully and ‘flawlessly’ published my book. This plan includes an easy shopping guide for healthy and tasty foods and an elimination guide as well as 31 Useful Facts and 31 FUN Tips.

I wrote My Story of Survival and contributed stories to Glimpses of Light and Like A Girl and the profits of the sales of these anthologies go to good causes such as girl’s education and a Society for the Blind.

And you can click here to receive the FREE SPS video on how to write and successfully publish your very own Bestseller this year! And here to reserve a seat for the FREE webinar!

ABOUT THIS BLOG – We’re researching the truth of living forever according to GOD’s Holy Word; Sola Scripture. Popular opinion tells us that everyone who ‘believes’ and has ‘faith’ will go to heaven. Is this true? I decided to ask the prophets about the truth of it all. To be one of the first people to receive a free kindle at my next book launch you can click here.

NEW BOOKS RELEASES, INTERVIEWS AND REVIEWS – As a member of the Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance and as a member of the Christian Indie Authors Reading Group and as the current Administrator of Christian Authors Worldwide, I share new book releases, interviews and reviews with my readers. Stay tuned!

December 20, 2015
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Can we live forever? Science says perhaps .. GOD says yes!

Can we live forever? Science says perhaps …

A few months ago I came across an article by Annelise Corse, an Australian Medical Scientist and lecturer. She asked the question: ‘Can we live forever?’ and then answered this question by saying, ‘Medical science says perhaps.’

Annelise mentions that longevity medical science is an evolving field and that medical researchers are using powerful new technologies to identify, avert and manage aging and diseases traditionally associated with old age. She says that another recent breakthrough in age-reversal occurred in 2014, when scientists from Harvard University and the University of New South Wales discovered genes that fight against the aging process.

I reckon that’s good news! The Bible tells us that the world’s oldest person Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years. I’ll sign up for that any day … in good health that is. If I get to live on this planet for that many years I may be able to at least work through half the projects I’ve lined up on my to-do list.

‘Get rid of the word immortality’

Earlier in the year, Matthew Dunn wrote an article in the Science section of news.com.au titled ‘Researchers believe a biological revolution enabling humans to experience everlasting youthfulness is coming. In the article it states that the first person who will live to be 1,000 years old has already been born and that a biological revolution enabling humans to experience everlasting youthfulness is just around the corner. Aubrey Grey, a Cambridge gerontologist aims to undo the damage done by the wear and tear of life and he firmly believes that getting rid of the word immortality is a step in the right direction.

“The first thing I want to do is get rid of the use of this word immortality, because it’s enormously damaging, it is not just wrong, it is damaging,” he told Motherboard.

“It means zero risk of death from any cause — whereas I just work on one particular cause of death, namely ageing.” Mr de Grey said his research aims to undo the damage done by the wear and tear of life, as opposed to stopping the ageing process altogether.

“If we ask the question: ‘Has the person been born who will be able to escape the ill health of old age indefinitely?’ Then I would say the chances of that are very high,” he said.

“Probably about 80 per cent.”

A follow-up article by news.com.au explores the problems with humans living to 1000.

What does the Bible have to say about this?

It appears that Aubrey Grey proposes to deal with the concept of immortality by getting rid of the word itself. That is a novel way to go about it.

According to scripture the oldest man who ever lived was Methuselah who lived for 969 years (Genesis 5:27).

Other people listed in the bible who lived to a ripe old age were Adam who lived 930 years (Genesis 5:5). Seth lived 912 years (Genesis 5:8). Enosh lived 905 years (Genesis 5:11). Kenan lived 910 years (Genesis 5:14). Mahalalel lived 895 years (Genesis 5:17). Jared lived 962 years (Genesis 5:20). Enoch lived 365 years before God took him (Genesis 5:22–24). Lamech lived 777 years (Genesis 5:21). And Genesis 9:29 records that Noah lived 950 years.

Can we live forever? Science say perhaps … GOD says yes!

The Holy Word also tells us that, Enoch walked with God,

And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

Elijah was taken by a horse drawn chariot of fire in a whirlwind up into heaven,

And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

Everlasting life

After his Crucifixion Jesus was taken up by a cloud to sit at the right hand of God.

ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.

ABOUT SCRIPTURE CARDS – If you want to send free Scripture Cards to your friends click here and you you want to buy hard copies of Scripture Cards you can click here. To download a free copy of my Story of Survival click here.

December 15, 2015
by Mimi E Leave a comment

With GOD all things are possible (4)

About salvation

Will the rich get into heaven? This is what Jesus has to say about it. And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

With GOD all things are possible

Jesus’ words tell us that nothing is impossible with GOD and all things are possible with GOD. So if you find yourself in a tight spot .. don’t fret. Just exercise those knees and say, ‘Thank you LORD for helping me, because I know that nothing is impossible with Thee,’

Prayers answered

GOD hears prayer. It is as simple as that. After I ruptured my appendix and the surgeons decided not to operate .. all I wanted to do was get home to my girls. I thought if I must die, I will die at home. But I decided that, if it was up to me, this was not an option and enlisted GOD’s help.

Today is the official launch day of my book ‘My Story of Survival.’ I wanted to share with my readers what it means for me to believe in The Most High. I want you to know that whatever situation you find yourself in; GOD hears prayer. And not only that, but He answers too.

Today I’ll print up the last excerpt of my book, for now. You will be able to download my book for FREE from Amazon on December 15, 16 and 17 in 2015. Please share this link with anyone who may benefit from my story or my diet.

My message is, don’t give up! Trust the LORD! If there are answers out there for me, there will be for you too. May GOD bless you and yours richly with abundant health always!

EXCERPT FROM MY STORY OF SURVIVAL

GOD hears Prayers

Alleluia, Praise God, he heard our prayers, got me out of the hospital and into the care of my girls, who did an awesome job at keeping me going. It took the kids around a year to nurse me back to being able to simply get up from bed.

The hospital had sent me home with boxes of antibiotics to which I was intolerant, and with every breath I managed to take, I felt and looked as if it were going to be my last.

The surgeons had told me, “Come back when you’re better and we’ll take your appendix out.”

The kids phoned around and located a wonderful naturopath who did a home visit and prescribed the homeopathic remedy Pyrogen and Cleavers herb. These remedies, together with loads of TLC and mustard seed-sized faith, proved to be a lifesaver.

When I came out of hospital mid-2008 after rupturing my appendix, I could only suck slivers of ice for quite a while. I couldn’t drink, I couldn’t eat, and there was nothing I could keep down, not even water, unless it had been frozen and shaved.

The healthy diet I had been on of fresh, raw, organic vegs and fruit now caused me massive cramps and vomiting. After weeks, I was able to hold down some soups. After months passed, we discovered that I was unable to tolerate any kind of grain, including rice, or any kind of flour, meat, tofu, tempeh, cheeses (and I do like cheese), eggs, and so on. After a while, we figured out what I could tolerate.

In the end we came up with a ten-ingredient-diet which sustained me for a period of five years. Five ingredients only for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Below I show an example of how I arrived at the ten ingredient diet.

Guidance through prayer

Trial and error and oodles of faith.

It is true, when I said earlier that the diet came about 100% by trial and error. What is also true is that I received a lot of guidance with prayer. The problem was that I hadn’t exercised my knees much, and even though I received wonderful responses to my prayers, my follow-up left a lot to be desired.

For instance, one night I went to sleep asking for a solution to the infections that seemed to plague me non-stop. I woke up in the middle of the night thinking, ‘God says E, 6 times 3.’ Nice little rhyme, easy to remember, and a little intriguing. Naturally, I didn’t recall it in the morning and it was not till weeks later that this prompting popped back into my mind.

Dreams and prayers

At breakfast one day we were discussing dreams and prayers. Propped up against my pillows whilst chewing my bit of apple, I suddenly remembered the intense prayer for a solution to the infections, and just as I was about to open my mouth to say that I was still waiting for an answer, I remembered the little rhyme. Call me cotton brain if you like, but this happened a lot to me. I would intensely pray for a solution and completely miss the answer for weeks, if not months, on end.

I was not only dopey, but also untrained and unfamiliar with prayers being answered so readily and easily. I would often get an answer and not act upon it for quite a while.

Once I remembered the little rhyme I said it out loud, “God Says E, 6 times 3.” What does that mean girls? I looked around, and next to me on my bedside table was an orange little bottle of Goldenseal extract. Ha! (G)olden(S)eal (E)xtract. Tada!

Now you probably wonder why this was such a revelation, because obviously, if this bottle was on my bedside table I was already taking this supplement? Well, no. I tried, but hadn’t been able to take it because every time I took a dose I would end up with a massive migraine.

Goldenseal extract

Goldenseal extract is sometimes prescribed to help with the germ E coli, which of course had come into play with the septicaemia. It may have been mentioned to me by the friendly homeopath, I cannot remember, and we may have ordered it from Iherb. But the thing was that this supplement had been of no use to me because I was not able to tolerate it … till the answer to my prayer.

Once I remembered the little rhyme of ‘God Says E, 6 times 3,’ I decided to ignore the dosage instructions on the bottle, which was way more than I could tolerate, and took 3 drops at a time, 6 times a day. It did not take very long after this for me to be able to sit up more in bed without feeling nauseous and dizzy. Till that stage I had mainly been lying in bed not doing much of anything in particular because sitting up had been too much of an effort to me.

*** USEFUL FACT *** Goldenseal’s ability as a “natural antibiotic” has given this herb a great reputation in the herbal lore. Digestive secretions in the stomach are increased by taking the remedies made from the goldenseal. The remedy also has an astringent action on the mucous membranes lining the gut; this checks the spread of inflammation in the area at the same time. Do not use for prolonged period of time. See NOTES.

Little by little

And so little by little, step by step, I recovered eetsy weenie tiny bits at a time. This particular answer to a prayer taught me to ignore the dosages given on bottles because they were always too large for me. I learned to take things one drop at a time, even to the point where I would put one drop on my wrist and wait for a couple of days to see if there was a reaction, and after this maybe have a drop in a glass of water and wait to see if there was a reaction, and so on.

I had already learned that extracts were the way to go for me because they get absorbed easier and can be purchased without any additives. But many of these extracts were simply too potent for me to handle … till I learned to take it really easy. Literally one drop at a time.

It was in the same way that the trial and error with the diet came about. Trying out one bite at a time. Literally take one bite of carrot and wait for a day or so to see if there was a negative reaction. I know this sounds crazy, and indeed my life was pretty crazy. Crazy good, I am still breathing! And I am still around!

END OF EXCERPT MY STORY OF SURVIVAL

AMAZON UK REVIEW

This is the amazing true story of one brave woman’s fight against a …

By Miss D. J. Alsford on 12 Dec. 2015

Format: Kindle Edition

This is the amazing true story of one brave woman’s fight against a world of food intolerances.
How she coped and what she ate in order to regain her health is remarkable. A great read I can highly recommend it.

*

END OF AMAZON UK REVIEW

If I can help you in anyway; talk to me! Realise however, that I am not a health professional. Just a person with a story and a great LOVE for my Creator and His Son.

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ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.

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November 6, 2015
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Yikes, this is scary stuff!

The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.

The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

I used to write lots of poetry, sharp if not slightly sarcastic. Even won the odd award and prize here and there. I have mentioned this before.

What I found is that my own words fail miserably in comparison to GOD’s Word. I’ve lost the taste for writing up all sorts of stuff.

I rather spend my time repeating and sharing the awesome life-giving Word. This way I shouldn’t get myself into trouble and may even cheer someone up here and there. You can check out our free Scripture Card site where you can share your favourite Scripture Verses effortlessly with your friends and family.

I’ll share a Scripture Song with you which I wrote about the Oracles of God. I haven’t recorded it yet, but that’ll be next.

Oracles of GOD

It is written,
Man shall not live
by bread alone
but by every word that proceedeth out
Out of God’s mouth.
Matthew 4:4

Jesus said unto them,
Hear and understand
Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man
but that which cometh out of the mouth
this defileth a man
Matthew 15:10-11

Every man’s word shall be his burden
for ye have perverted the words
of the living God
of the Lord of Host our God
Jeremiah 23:36

Every idle word
that man shall speak
they shall give account thereof
in the day of judgment
For by thy words thou shalt be justified
and by thy words thou shalt be condemned
Matthew 12:36-37

If any man speak
let him speak
as the oracles of God
that God in all things may be glorified
through Jesus Christ
1 Peter 4:11

To whom be praise and dominion forever
and ever.

Amen.

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

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ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.

October 31, 2015
by Mimi E 1 Comment

What action to take, to be passed from death unto life?

Passed from death unto life

Last post we read how Jesus merely reiterated His Father’s Word. Jesus repeated this many times.

He continuously throughout his ministry let his followers know that he spoke His Father’s Word and didn’t make anything up himself.

What follows is another promise by Jesus. He tells us that anyone that hears and lives according to His teachings and anyone that believes in His Father, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, can lay claim to the promise of eternal life.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Out of this world!

That promise of eternal life is just out of this world! Who can wrap their mind around it?

Going to heaven? Sure, when I grew up in a Catholic family we all believed that we’d go to heaven; that is unless we were naughty and then we would end up in hell.

But this is a different thing altogether. This is God’s Word laying it out in detail: Eternal life, everlasting life, living forever … If you want to, you can sign up for it … yeahh! I like it. We’re actually given a choice and this choice is not just for the religious but open to anyone.

Are you comfortable?

I often enough hear people say that heaven … yeah whatever. And I’ve come to understand that this is what some people believe because they enjoy all the comforts that life has to offer and they have no longing for a better place. Why don’t these people long for a better place? Because life is quite enjoyable for them as it is. This reminds me of the following verses,

“There was a certain rich man who clothed himself in purple and fine linen, and who feasted luxuriously every day. At his gate lay a certain poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. Lazarus longed to eat the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Instead, dogs would come and lick his sores.

“The poor man died and was carried by angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.While being tormented in the place of the dead, he looked up and saw Abraham at a distance with Lazarus at his side.He shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I’m suffering in this flame.’

But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received good things, whereas Lazarus received terrible things. Now Lazarus is being comforted and you are in great pain. Moreover, a great crevasse has been fixed between us and you. Those who wish to cross over from here to you cannot. Neither can anyone cross from there to us.’

“The rich man said, ‘Then I beg you, Father, send Lazarus to my father’s house. I have five brothers. He needs to warn them so that they don’t come to this place of agony.’ Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets. They must listen to them.’

The rich man said, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will change their hearts and lives.’

Abraham said, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the Prophets, then neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’” Copyright 2011 Common English Bible(CEB)

Listen to Moses and the Prophets

Once more we’re told by Jesus to listen to Moses and the Prophets if we’re interested in the Good Afterlife. By telling this parable, Jesus even prophesied that people who don’t pay attention to what the prophets had to say, won’t pay attention to someone (such as Himself) who was raised from the dead either.

Don’t worry if you’re comfortable in this life, there is nothing wrong with that in itself. Just make sure that you take care of all the people around you as well.

And then as you take care of those around you, no need to tell the world about it because as Jesus said, the praise you receive for your good deeds will be all the reward you can expect.

“When you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.”

and also

Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

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October 23, 2015
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Is heaven just for Jesus’ friends?

What about those people doing wonderful work?

What about those people who do wonderful work in Jesus’ name? What did Jesus say about them? What about the people healing and donating and preaching and creating wonderful music all in Jesus name? Do any of these activities give us any brownie points?

Entrance requirements

“Not everybody who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will get into the kingdom of heaven. Only those who do the will of my Father who is in heaven will enter.

On the Judgment Day, many people will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name and expel demons in your name and do lots of miracles in your name?’

Then I’ll tell them, ‘I’ve never known you. Get away from me, you people who do wrong.’
[Common English Bible (CEB) Copyright 2011 by Common English Bible.]

Not funny!

It never ceases to amaze me how religious people tell me that all their sins are forgiven and their ticket-in is guaranteed. There must be many different heavens that I do not know about because the Prophets and Jesus’ words tell me that, regardless of your religion, unless you try your hardest to do the right thing, you’re gonna be toast.

Just the other day I was talking with an internet buddy and once more I was told that ‘following the commandments is not recommended’ or something like that. And her words implied that, ‘A curse is attached to the commandments and you should pray over it.’

You may think this is funny but it is not to me. I take my faith seriously and continuously bump into people who call me cursed because I choose to follow the commandments. Not funny!

So let’s have another look at this and see what the Bible has to say about the commandments.

I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses

So I prayed and opened my Bible once more on the subject of following God’s Commandments. Very early on in the Bible heaven and earth are called as witnesses against us,

This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live …

Life and death, blessings and curses … What was all this about? Let’s have a closer look at these words and the context in which they were given. I’ll give a synopses of Deuteronomy Chapter 30 where Moses prophesied, warned his tribe and told them to do the right thing.

Choose life … keep His commandments

Obey His voice, do all His commandments

And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the Lord, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day.

And the Lord thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good:…

If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.

For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off … But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.

Life and Good, Death and Evil

See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;

In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments … that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee …

Blessing and Curses

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: …

I don’t know about you, but it is pretty clear to me that Moses says that following the commandments is ‘a blessing and life.’

Moses pronounces a ‘curse and death’ over those who don’t attempt to do the right thing, and he calls this ‘evil.’

I’m sorry if this annoys you. The whole purpose of this blog is to highlight all the cases and instances where promises and prophesies are made for eternal life.
I know that there is church doctrine which disagrees with this and I respect that there are people who prefer to follow church doctrine.

I am quoting the Bible. And according to Moses and Jesus it is considered a blessing to follow the commandments.

On this blog I list where promises and prophesies are made with regards to eternal life in the Bible. And as we can see above, Jesus merely reiterated Moses’ words. Jesus said something to the effect of, ‘it doesn’t matter how religious and holy you think you are. And it does not matter whatever good deeds you think you are doing … if you don’t do my Father’s will and follow his commandments … you’re not part of my posse.’

The bottom line is that, according to the Son of God, calling yourself a Christian means nothing unless you’re prepared to abide by the house rules.

Is Heaven just for Jesus’ friends?

Not according to my Bible. As we say here in Australia, ‘do the right thing and she’ll be right mate!’

It’s all about love. By following the commandments we show love for our Creator and each other. Not that complex really.

What is love? This is love according to the prophets with a little help from ‘Moments in Love.’ Music courtesy of Art of Noise.

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ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.

blasphemy against the Holy SPirit shall not be forgiven Matthew 12

October 18, 2015
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Unpardonable sin … do we need to believe in Jesus to go to heaven?

Blasphemy against the holy Spirit

Do we need to believe in Jesus to go to heaven? last week we read that Jesus said that eventually The Word shall judge people.

What else did Jesus say about ‘believing in Him’ being a prerequisite for going to heaven?

Jesus said that people would be forgiven if they ‘spoke a word against Him.’ All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

You know what that means? It means that we’re not to speak bad about good people and good deeds. That is what is referred to as the unpardonable sin. Speaking bad about good will not be forgiven. Not now, not ever.

Jesus repeated what prophet Isaiah had mentioned centuries ago,

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil;

that put darkness for light, and light for darkness;

that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

This is a good reminder to not have opnions and judgments about everything and everyone; particularly not if we don’t entirely understand what is going on.

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ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.

October 10, 2015
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Do you need to believe in Jesus to go to heaven?

Not according to my Bible and not according to the Pope either. Think about it. If only ‘Jesus believers’ were to go to heaven … what about all of the ancient prophets and the people called righteous and just? For instance Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Job, Zachariah and Elizabeth are all mentioned as righteous and good people. But Jesus hadn’t been born yet when they where alive. So even if they would have wanted to believe in Jesus they couldn’t have.

Jesus himself indicated that, when he was alive, there were plenty righteous people around, I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Sure it is true that Jesus said if anyone disowns Him before others they will be disowned before the angels of God. This was Jesus talking to and about his own posse. A little bit I guess like how some kids will disown their parents in front of their friends. That’s not cool and Jesus says that there will be consequences for that.

His commandment is life everlasting.

But Jesus also said, And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

Jesus spoke his Father’s Word, just like the ancient prophets.

Do we need to believe in Jesus to go to heaven? This is what Jesus said about it:

And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not:
for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him:
the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me,
he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

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ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.

October 2, 2015
by Mimi E Leave a comment

FEAST OF THE LORD – Sukkot – Festival of Tabernacles – Feast of Booths

Another Feast of the Lord is Sukkot, which is also known as the Festival of Tabernacles and Feast of Booths.

Historically Sukkot (Hebrew for booths) commemorates the forty-year period during which the Hebrew people wandered the desert and lived in temporary chelters. Sukkot is also a harvest festival and referred to as the Festival of Ingathering or Chag Ha-Asif , . This holiday lasts seven days and this year (according to the Karaite calendar) starts at sunset September 30 and finishes sunset October 7. This is when Shemini Atzeret starts till sunset the next day. Shemini Atzeret שְׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת means “Eighth (day of) Assembly.”

Keep a feast unto the Lord

Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the Lord seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.

Rejoice before the Lord seven days

And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days.

Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:

That your Generations may know

That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

Adopting customs and religions from other nations

In ancient days The Lord told the children of Israel his Feast days and how to celebrate them but this did not always happen. Did you know that the word holidays comes from ‘holy days?’

Well, all those years ago for all sorts of different reasons, people didn’t celebrate God’s festivals as they were supposed to. One of those reasons for not celebrating God’s feasts was intermarriage. This meant that the Jewish people adopted the customs and religions from the nations around them.

Loved my husband more than God

I can relate to this because I was raised a Catholic and then married into a different religion. During this time the practice of my faith suffered much. My husband didn’t agree to marry in the church before God and suffice it to say that, in those days, I must have loved my husband more than I loved my Creator. To my credit I taught my children about Jesus. To my shame, this is called syncretism and this is exactly what the Jewish people at the time were guilty of; mixing and mingling religions and faiths instead of being faithful and loyal to the One.

At the time it did not seem a biggie to me to be married to someone of a different faith. And indeed, if I could have stayed loyal and continued to follow God’s rules … That didn’t happen however and therein lies the problem.

I have returned to my First Love

HE took me back. I’m happy to report that, according to His promises, God took me back and I have returned to my first love. Yeah!

It is mentioned in the Book of Ezra that intermarriage was a problem. This was because other faiths adhered to practices such as child sacrifice which obvisouly was/is against God’s law. Due to the mixing and mingling of different faiths and cultures, God’s directions and commandments weren’t followed. And it is mentioned that ‘since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so.’ For hundreds and hundreds of years the Feast of Sukkot had not been celebrated.

And they found written in the law which the Lord had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month: And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written^,So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim. And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness.

When the Jewish people realised that they had mucked up and not followed God’s law and directions as they were supposed to, they became desponded and remorseful.

and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength. So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved. And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.

The Levites (priests) told the people not to worry, but be happy and celebrate and do better from now on.

With all this history in mind we realise that the Feast of Booths is an awesome Feast!

It reminds us of God taking care of His people whilst they were in the desert.
It reminds us to love the stranger and take care of refugees.
It tells us to celebrate and share Good Harvest and give thanks for the blessings bestowed upon us.
It reminds us of God’s forgiving spirit and willingness to give us another chance.

Wishing that you shall have nothing but joy!

Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord shall choose: because the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice.

Ve-hayita akh same’aḥ! וְהָיִיתָ אַךְ שָׂמֵחַ Wishing that you shall have nothing but joy!

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ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.

September 26, 2015
by Mimi E 1 Comment

Atheists can go to heaven according to Pope Francis!

Atheists can go to heaven according to Pope Francis! (Part Two)

Catholic Online stated a little while ago that Pope Francis based his homily on scripture from the gospel of Mark where Jesus disciples attempted to stop a person doing good because he was not part of Jesus’ posse. And in response Jesus told his disciples to leave that person alone. Jesus did the same when Mary (not his mother) a ‘sinner,’ did good and was humiliated by those around her for doing a good deed.

What does scripture have to say about this?

The bible tells us to love one and other, and treat others the way we would like to be treated ourselves.

When a lawyer asked Jesus who to consider as his neighbour, Jesus told the following parable.

About Being a Good Person

A lawyer asked Jesus, Is it possible to live forever? What do I need to do if I want to live forever?

And Jesus answered, What do you think? What does the law tell you?

The man replied, The law tells me to love Go(o)d with all my heart and soul and strength and mind and to love my neighbour as myself.

And Jesus said, Well done. If you do this, then you shall live.

Who Is My Neighbour?

Then the lawyer said to Jesus, Who is my neighbour?

And Jesus answered; a person was traveling from a town called Jerusalem to another town called Jericho. And as he was travelling, a bunch of thieves attacked him; they took his clothes and beat him up so bad that he nearly died.

And when this poor man was lying on the road, half dead, a priest saw him there and quickly walked across to the other side of the road pretending not to see the poor man.

A little bit later a minister/pastor (levite) did exactly the same thing. He also saw this poor man who desperately needed help and then this minister also walked over to the other side of the road continuing his journey, without helping the wounded man.

Religious People Did Not Help

So here were two religious people, possibly leaders of churches and neither one of them helped the person who had been beaten up and robbed by thieves.

But a man called a Samaritan (Keeper [of the Law*]) saw the man lying on the road and he felt sorry for him and went over to him. He cleaned up and covered his wounds and put him on his own animal to take him to a motel where the traveler continued to took care of this wounded man.

And the next day when he had to continue his journey the Samaritan went to the person in charge of the motel, gave him some money and said please look after this man. And if you have to spend more money than what I am giving you now, then next time when I visit I will pay this money back to you.

After Jesus told this story He asked the lawyer, There were three people who all passed this poor man on the road which had been beaten up and robbed of everything he had by thieves. Now which of the three do you think was acting like a good neighbour? Was that the priest or the minister who saw the man laying on the road but pretended not to see him and crossed the road so that they wouldn’t need to help him? Or was it the Samaritan who cleaned his wounds and took him to a motel to look after him and make sure that he would recover?

Who was the good neighbour?

And the lawyer who had asked Jesus the question about eternal life answered, The good neighbour was the kind man, the Samaritan, the law-keeper who took care of the poor fellow who had been robbed and beaten up.

And Jesus said, You are absolutely right. Now you go and do the same.

I love to hear a good Samaritan story.

Many Christians believe that unless one follows Jesus one has no chance to enter heaven. Is this true? Not according to the Pope. And not according to the parable about the Samaritan, where we are told that it is our actions that count and not our religion.

THANK YOU for sharing your feedback and good Samaritan stories with me in the comments below.

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REFERENCES for the good Samaritan story.

Jesus asked, What does the law tell you?

Which law was Jesus talking about? Jesus was referring to the Jewish Law which includes the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5. For the Jewish nation God’s law is the law.

Who was this Samaritan?*

The Samaritans (Hebrew: שומרונים‎ Shomronim, Arabic: السامريون‎ as-Sāmariyyūn) derive their name not from a geographical location, but rather from the Hebrew term שַמֶרִים, “Keepers [of the Law]” from David Noel Freedman, The Anchor Bible Dictionary, 5:941 (New York: Doubleday, 1996, c1992).

A modern day true Samaritan story is told by Arianna Huffington from the Huffington Post on 24.12.2010 where she reports that, This year’s It’s A Wonderful Life Award goes to Gregory Schauer, the unemployed man who demonstrated the true Christmas spirit by taking in a homeless woman and her three children for the holidays. Remarkably, when we contacted Greg to tell him about all the people who had written in offering to help him, he told us: “Please let them know that the best thing they can do is pass it on so to speak. Instead of sending me anything, call a shelter, sponsor a family for Christmas, give to the food pantries, spread the spirit of Christmas to as many people as they can.

God works in mysterious ways. Another modern day true Samaritan story is told by Victor Perez who says that a higher power was involved in the rescue of an abducted little girl.

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September 20, 2015
by Mimi E Leave a comment

YOM KIPPUR BONUS

YOM KIPPUR DRAFT booklet

Next Friday is Yom Kippur. To celebrate Yom Kippur I like to share my draft booklet with you. You can download it by clicking on this link BOOK YOM KIPPUR MANUSCRIPT . It is an easy read at only 39 pages long in A5 format.

I wrote this booklet on Yom Kippur because I wasn’t able to find Yom Kippur guidance for people who like to follow the Bible instead of Jewish tradition or rabbinical tradition or Christian tradition. I just wondered what God’s Word has to say about the Holy Day of Yom Kippur and so far this is what I have come up with. If anyone is interested to find out how the Jewish people celebrate Yom Kippur there are many good references to be found on the Chabad.org site.

I like to follow what the Bible has to say about anything and this can be different from Jewish or Christian traditions. If anyone wants to comment on the booklet or make constructive suggestions on how to improve this booklet on Yom Kippur I love to hear about it. For now this is a draft and freely available to anyone who likes to comment and give their opinion. Once the booklet is polished I will publish it.

The difference between the dates that I mention for celebrating Yom Kippur and the dates advertised by most of the Jewish community is because I follow the Karaite (Jewish) calendar. This calendar follows the dates for the Feasts as is determined according to instructions that are given in the Bible.

Let me know what you think

Let me know what you think. Thank you all very much for your input and feedback. Click on this link BOOK YOM KIPPUR MANUSCRIPT to access the pdf.

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ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.

September 19, 2015
by Mimi E 4 Comments

Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement

Yom Kippur is also called the Day of Atonement.

In 2015 Yom Kippur is celebrated from nightfall on September 24 for the following 24 hours according to Karaite Jews.

it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

In the bible in Leviticus 23 it is written that,

The Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.

The Lord says, ‘these are my feasts.’

Concerning the feasts of the Lord.

Scripture states that Yom Kippur is concerning the feasts of the Lord. It does not say, ‘the feasts of the Jewish people’ and it does not say, ‘the feasts of the Christian people’ and it does not say, ‘the feast for followers of the bible.’ No, it clearly says, ‘Concerning the feasts of the Lord … these are my feasts.’

This means that anyone following the Lord, be they Jewish or Christian or followers of the bible are invited to celebrate these feasts. In fact even ‘strangers’ such as any people of any culture are invited to celebrate Yom Kippur as follows,

And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you:

Most Jewish people celebrate Yom Kippur on the 3rd of October this year but the Karaite Jews, who follow the biblical calendar, have calculated that the Day of Atonement falls on the 5th of October in 2014. Keith and Nehemia were on an interesting trip where they didn’t quite reinstate the calculating of the biblical feasts according to the moon calendar, but they certainly reminded all of us how it is supposed to be done.

A statute for ever throughout your generation

Yom Kippur is considered one of the most important, if not the most important and holiest feast day of the year and is mentioned by the LORD as ‘a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.’

And the Lord spake unto Moses, sayin g, Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord. And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the Lord your God … Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.

On the 10th day of the Seventh Month (Tishrei) is the holiday known as Yom Ha-Kipurim (or Yom Kippur), “The Day of Atonement”. This is a day dedicated to fasting and prayer on which we ask Yehovah to atone for our sins. You can read more about Yom Kippur when you visit Nehemia’s wall and Hebrew4Christians.

A statute for ever

Note the words: ‘it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.’

If you chose not to be part of this feast, according to scripture, you chose not to be part of God’s posse.

For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.

Christians seem to argue that the feast days ‘have been done away with’ when Jesus was crucified. However none of my Christian friends have been able to point out where in the bible Jesus or his Father specifically mention that the feast days ‘have been done away with.’

What we do know is that the feast days are called the feast days of the Lord, and were instigated ‘for ever’ throughout all dwellings and this includes the dwellings of the stranger. From this it follows that anyone choosing to be part of God’s posse keeps the feast days as proclaimed. By not keeping the feast days one automatically chooses not to be part of God’s posse.

The other thing we know is that Jesus himself kept the feast days and we are supposed to follow him and walk as he walked.

Live for ever .. feasts for ever

On this blog we examine who is invited to live for ever. Yom Kippur is another one of Yehovah’s feasts to be ‘kept for ever’ and we are invited to attend. You can click here for a guide on how to celebrate Yom Kippur. Each follower can decide for themselves if they want to be part of this feast, or not.

originally published on October 3, 2014 and amended and republished today.

September 12, 2015
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Yom Teruah or Feast of Trumpets

Yom Teruah or Feast of Trumpets or Day of Shouting

Are we to remember and celebrate this feast?

There is another celebration coming up! A Feast of The Lord! I know that God wants us to remember and celebrate His Feasts. How do I know that? Because; The Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts. In Leviticus 23 we’re told 5 times about the LORD’s Feasts, that

 it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in

 all your dwellings.

Yom Teruah

Yom Teruah is celebrated on September 15 this year (if moon is sighted on September 14, according to Karaite Judaism).

Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month,

in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath,

a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.

Ye shall do no servile work therein:

but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord.

The Bible tells us on the day of Yom Teruah to make a noise, no work and an offering of fire.

There are Jewish traditions which celebrate Yom Teruah as the Jewish New Year. This is not a Biblical but a Rabbinical tradition. How Yom Teruah became Rosh Hashanah is best explained by Nehemia Gordon. It is undeniable and recognised by the Rabbi’s that Exodus 12:2 states, This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. This reference is made when the Feast of Unleavened Bread takes place and this would be the Biblical New Year, not around Yom Teruah. Nehemia explains very well how Rosh Hashanah came about due to pagan Babylonian influences.

How to celebrate Yom Teruah?

More information on how to celebrate Yom Teruah can be found in the Book of Numbers 29.

The main thing to understand is; Noise-No work-offering and that Yom Teruah is ten days before Yom Kippur. And we are supposed to be contemplating during this period of time if we are living the life God intends for us. According to Jewish tradition these coming ten days we are to repent of our sins and ask to be forgiven so that God will include his true followers in the Book of Life.

The Feast of Yom Teruah reminds us to examine our actions to see if we are worthy of the promise of eternal life.

Many churches and believers think that the ‘Feasts have been done away with.’
However these Feasts are called ‘Feasts of the Lord to be kept throughout your generations in all your dwellings.’

These Feasts are not called Feasts of the Jewish people nor Feasts of the Christian people. No, these Feasts are called ‘Feasts of the Lord to be kept forever.’

I am accepting the invite; what about you?

For more on the Jewish Feasts and particularly on the Feast of Yom Teruah and how to celebrate this visit Hebrews4Christians.

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ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.

September 5, 2015
by Mimi E 4 Comments

How to live forever, as in for real.

How to inherit everlasting life?

On this blog we’re looking into what the Bible has to say about living forever. We’ve examined what the prophets in the Jewish Bible have to say about this and now we’re looking in the Gospels for answers.

Jesus said,

Every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters,
or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake,
shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

In the Book of Matthew as quoted above, Jesus promises everlasting life to anyone who has left everything ‘for my name’s sake.’ In the Book of Mark this passage is referred to as ‘for my sake and the Gospel’s’ and in the Book of Luke it is referred to as ‘for the kingdom of God sake.’

What did Jesus mean by that? He meant that the Gospel is more important than family or wealth or nationality. And there will be a reward for those who recognise this and live accordingly.

Keep the commandments, sell everything, give to the poor, follow Jesus

One person asked Jesus what he needed to do to have eternal life. Jesus told this guy to keep the commandments. When this young fellow said that he had kept the commandments, Jesus responded by telling him that to have treasure in heaven he would have to sell everything, give to the poor and follow Jesus. That was more than the young man could bear because he was very rich. So he walked away troubled, feeling unable to leave his riches behind. Jesus then said that it is near impossible for a rich person to enter heaven. When this surprised his disciples He responded with one of my favourite sayings which is that, with GOD nothing shall be impossible. Or rather, with God all things are possible.

And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

We all like quick fixes and many churches preach that the commandments have been done away with and all we have to do is, ‘believe in Jesus and all shall be well.’ As we’ve seen that’s not what Jesus himself has to say about eternal life.

Leave everything behind and become a follower

There are plenty other references in the Bible where people left everything behind to become ‘followers.’ There is the story of Elisha the prophet when he was called; the story of Levi the tax collector and Simon and Andrew the fishermen. On one occasion ‘one was called’ and asked Jesus if he could bury his father before he would follow Jesus. Jesus responded with, ‘Let the dead bury their dead, but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.’ On another occasion Jesus said, ‘He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.’

In addition Jesus pointed out that He considers people his family only when they do the will of his Father.

Before I started to read the Bible in earnest I didn’t understand how Scripture, which I thought to be mere text, could be more important than ones loved ones and country. I have since come to understand that Scripture is not mere text, but it is The Holy Word of The Creator of Heaven and Earth and therefore to be taken seriously.

What does the Gospel teach us?

The Gospel tells us to love one and other and to do the right thing by each other. The Gospel is our moral compass for when we’re in doubt as to what action to take. Are we to leave people just because they believe different from how we believe? I don’t think so. We just read that when people ‘are being called,’ such as Elisha the Prophet and the apostles, they are not to look back but keep moving forward. Once we have our hand to the plough, we’re not to look back. Remember Lot’s wife.

Do you feel that you’ve been called? Are only ministers and pastors and priest the ‘called ones?’ Or has anyone who claims to follow Jesus and/or The Father been ‘called?’ Scripture tells us that ‘The Father draws people.’

Regardless if we’re ministers or not, the message for all of us is to live according to the moral guidelines we’re given. And if people make this impossible for us to do, we have to make a choice: will we lower our standards so that we can stay with those we are familiar with; ‘our loved ones?’ or will we continue to live according to our moral guidelines, pray for those who choose to ignore those rules and keep moving toward the light?

Stick with the familiar or keep pressing on for what is right?

This can be a hard choice and there have been many cross roads in my life where I had to make this choice. Sometimes the decision of what road to follow is a minor one, but other times these can be major life decisions. For instance will we stick with an alcoholic partner or cut loose? This probably depends on their attitude. If they are willing to change we can work out a plan and stick to it. What if people merely say that they are wiling to change but continue drowning their sorrows despite our very best efforts? How is this affecting our life and our ability to go out into the world and do good?

What about people with drug problems or mental health problems? What about people who just have mean spirits or are abusive? Swindlers and con artists? What about the charmers and the like who continue leading us up the garden path with empty promises and broken agreements? Are they willing to change their destructive habits or are they attempting to drag us down into it? Does it matter if this happens deliberately or subconsciously?

Can we live the life God meant us to live with the people around us or are these people holding us back when we try to share the Good News? Is our ‘loved one’ making it hard for us to volunteer at the old people’s home or is our ‘loved one’ continuously holding us back when we try to get out there and share our talents with the world? Jesus said,

Whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven,
the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Are you being persecuted because you live in a country where the predominant religion is not Christian-Judaism? Did you have to leave your home because life was made impossible for you because you read the Bible, go to church and love God’s Word? Then Jesus promise and prophesy is for you.

Jesus’ message is for all of us

Ultimately Jesus’ message is for all of us, religious or not. What are you choosing? Are you choosing a life filled with sharing and caring and giving and loving or will you allow the people around you to drag you down into their arguments and disagreements.

The Gospel’s message is one of love and good deeds. Can you live that life filled with good stuff, if there are foul spirits around you continually getting you sidetracked? I find that it is impossible to pursue ones dreams and aspirations if there are people around you demanding all your attention because they refuse to stay ‘on track’.

Sure pray your heart out for those who choose different standards and morals to live by, but you don’t have to get caught up in other people’s drama’s to the point where you are not able to live the good life God intended for you.

This does not always mean physically leaving your house or family behind although at times it may well mean this. But when you’ve been called and respond to this call you have the willingness to do whatever is required of you according to God’s will. It means a change of heart, you’ve changed where your loyalties are. Are you in or are you out?

Inheriting everlasting life

Jesus mentioned ‘inheriting everlasting life.’ He did so in response to a question from Apostle Peter. Jesus told his disciples that it is near impossible for the rich to enter heaven. So much so that Jesus thought it were easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. His disciples were super amazed at this because they thought that riches equaled favour with God.

Peter wondered how this would work out for the disciples who all had left everything they had, to follow Jesus. And this is where Jesus told them that every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for his name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

Everlasting life for the faithful and loyal followers

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

To obtain everlasting life;
follow the right kind of profit Prophet

This blog is called ‘Live Forever how to.’ I go through the Bible to see where references are made to living for ever, everlasting life and eternal life. It is in the first book of the Gospels, in Chapter 19 of the Book of Matthew that Jesus refers to everlasting life. This is because someone plainly asks him what they need to do if they want to live forever. Jesus answers this person with very clear instructions; Keep the commandments, love one another, sell all your stuff, give to the poor, follow me. Jesus makes it blatantly clear that pursuing and enjoying ordinary riches on it’s own won’t get you there. That’s for sure.

If you want to be considered a candidate for the Good Afterlife, make sure that you follow the right kind of ~~profit~~ Prophet.

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ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.

August 29, 2015
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Everlasting life according to the Gospels

My last blogpost mentioned: God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. This week we’ll see what Jesus has to say about everlasting life in the Gospels.

This morning I listened to a podcast by Nehemia Gordon and Pastor A.J. Bernard. It was lovely to hear a Karaite Jew and Methodist Pastor in agreement about having the same Father walking along together in the journey of life and, for whatever reason, one has met the Son (been revealed to him) and the other one has not (yet?).

No biggie. In the end we’re all children of the same Father and what matters is what’s in our heart and how that manifests in our life. As far as I’m concerned that’s the end of arguments and discussions about different belief systems and world view. There’s a whole bunch of Torah Pearls that Nehemia has created with Methodist Pastor Keith Johnson and they are well worth listening to.

Everlasting Life in the Book of Daniel

Jesus repeatedly said that He came not to speak his own words but the words of His Father, and He always referred to Scripture. What I mean to say here is that Jesus did not make anything up himself. Whatever He spoke about was quoted from the prophets, as mentioned also last week where we quoted from the Book of Daniel,

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,
some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Everlasting life in the Gospels

In the Book of Matthew

The first reference made in the Gospels to everlasting life is in Chapter 18 in the Book of Matthew,

Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee:
it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed,
rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

Yikes, I find that scary. Isn’t the common perception that once we are resurrected, we’ll go to heaven (enter into life) and, regardless of our previous sins, we’ll all look like gorgeous sixteen year olds (minus the acne) and never look back?

Mmm, that is not what Jesus says here. Although some kind of transformation obviously takes place, having been resurrected.

When Jesus met with his Apostles after his crucifixtion we learn that He said to Thomas,

Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands;
and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side:
and be not faithless, but believing.

At that time, just days after His resurrection, Jesus’ wounds were clearly still showing. Mmm.

Everlasting fire.

My Bible teaching Pastor, whom I loved and adored, taught me that there is no everlasting fire.

Jesus said there is; so I looked it up. There’s no getting away from it. Jesus really said and meant everlasting fire.

How do I know that Jesus meant it? I know that for sure because in the Book of Matthew, Jesus did not refer to it just once, but he repeated his warning twice to make sure that we would really get it.

And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee:
it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye,
rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

In the Book of Mark

In Book 9 of Mark Jesus gives us three warnings,

And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me,
it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck,
and he were cast into the sea.

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off:
it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell,
into the fire that never shall be quenched:
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life,
than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out:
it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye,
than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

What we’ve just established here is that according to Jesus there is hell fire, and that is where you’ll end up if you cause offence. And particularly if you cause offence to a little child or newcomer to the faith.

What does it mean to cause offence?

What does it mean to cause offence? The varying Bible translations have translated as follows, ‘If your hand causes you to stumble,’ ‘If your hand causes you to sin or fall into sin,’ ‘If your hand causes your downfall,’ ‘If your hand causes subverts you,’ ‘If your hand causes you to lose your faith,’ ‘If your hand cause you to fall,’ and finally ‘If your hand scandalises you or serve as a snare to you.’

Don’t do the wrong thing

The first verse in the Gospels that refers to ‘everlasting life (enter into life)’ is immediately followed by a verse which refers to ‘everlasting fire.’

The warnings are very clear and specific. Don’t cause trouble with your hand, foot or eyes. With all your might, restrain yourself and do whatever is necessary to stop offending, even if this causes some kind of hurt or disability in your life. If you don’t restrain yourself and stop yourself from offending others or falling into sin, there’s a really hot place reserved especially for people just like you.

I believe that these verses also throw out of the window the doctrine of ‘once saved, always saved.’
Now what? If I make a blooper, and we all do, then what? Is that the end?

No, that is not the end. Our Father is a forgiving Father. And there are many instances in the Jewish Bible as well as in the Gospels were we are told that, feeling sorry about having made stupid mistakes, accounts for much.

The Book of Luke

In the Book of Luke we’re told that it is impossible to expect never to be offended. All I have to do is make sure that it is not me causing the offence!

This seems like a very hard thing to do. Especially considering that many believers defend their belief with all their might, misguided as we all at times may be. I have, unfortunately, offended people by telling Christian jokes such as the one told by Emo Philips which has been voted the funniest religious joke of all times.

If this joke was offensive to someone why would I give a link to it and refer to it and possibly cause offence again? Because the person who was offended by it, decided because of this joke, not to follow my blog any longer, and therefore won’t read about this again. And the joke simply points out the hypocrisy of certain believers. I posted the joke to say, ‘please don’t push me off the bridge just because I believe differently from how you may believe.’ And guess what? The first person who read the joke, pushed.

Jesus told parables and therefore I believe that it is fine to talk in parables at times to get certain points across. After the warning, about not causing offence, Jesus gives guidelines on how to deal with people who trespass. What does trespass mean? It means doing the wrong thing by people. It means to sin. It means to break God’s law.

Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come:
but woe unto him, through whom they come!

It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck,
and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him;
and if he repent, forgive him.
And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day,
and seven times in a day turn again to thee,
saying, I repent;
thou shalt forgive him.

If people genuinely feel sorry about doing wrong and genuinely ask for forgiveness, we are to forgive them. How many times? A lot of times. Why?
Because we all make mistakes.

In the end it always comes down to just plain old loving each other. What do you reckon?

Here’s another reminder of what Love is all about. I have a huge soft spot for the Commandments because they spell it out so perfectly.

Next week we’ll have a look at the second time that ‘everlasting life’ is mentioned by Jesus.

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ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.

August 21, 2015
by Mimi E 1 Comment

Everlasting life … raising people from the dead

Raising people from the dead

I sit up and listen when someone is able to raise people from the dead. Jesus is that someone. Not only is He able to raise people from the dead but Jesus foretold his own crucifixion, resurrection and ascension into heaven. In my books that makes Jesus, together with His Father, the authority on living forever.

Then when Jesus brought his friend Lazarus back to life, he told Lazarus’ sister Mary the following:

Never die
I am the resurrection, and the life:
he that believeth in me, though he were dead,
yet shall he live:
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.
Believest thou this?

I find this easy to believe because when death came knocking on my door, I called upon my Creator and His Son and they heard me. And they answered me. So, yes I am a believer.

ABC Scripture Cards

Last week we finished the free ABC Scripture Card series and you can find all the posts on Free Scripture Cards here and now we’re back looking at the occasions where ‘Living forever’ is mentioned in the Bible.

Living Forever

To find all the posts which have been written on living forever on this blog you can click here. So far I’ve noted all the occasions where the words ‘live forever’ have been mentioned. But that’s not all there is to it, obviously.

Nowadays we tend to think that ‘dead’ is well, yes ‘dead,’ gone, never to come back. There are some occasions mentioned in the news every now and then where people have been declared dead or buried prematurely but apart from that, in today’s news, we don’t really hear stories about people being brought back to life.

People brought back to life

The Jewish Bible mentions how prophet Elijah resurrected the son of of the widow in Zarephath. The Bible also mentions how prophet Elisha resurrected the son of the great Shunammite woman and how a dead man came back to life when he touched Elisha’s bones,

In the Gospels we’re told how Jesus resurrected the widow’s son at Nain, He raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead and also raised his friend Lazarus from the dead after he’d been already buried for four days.

Finally we read in the Gospels how Jesus rose from the dead.

Immediately after Jesus’ crucifixion we hear that

And the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had died arose.
And after His resurrection, they came out of the tombs and entered into the holy city,
and appeared to many.

This had been foretold by the prophet Daniel and later also by jesus:

They shall come forth
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming,
in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
And shall come forth; they that have done good,
unto the resurrection of life;
and they that have done evil,
unto the resurrection of damnation

Everlasting life

Jesus, like the prophets Elijah and Elisha, raised people from the dead. Jesus spoke about everlasting life. He made at least a dozen references to everlasting life and we’re going to go through them one by one.

I am not the only person who thinks that Jesus and the Father are the authority on everlasting life. Scripture agrees.

Next week we’ll have a look at what Jesus had to say about everlasting life.

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ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.

August 1, 2015
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Free Scripture Card – X – Become as little children

eXcept ye be converted and become as little children

Become as little children

Become as little children if you want to enter the kingdom of heaven. What does that mean?

The little children I know are full of enthusiasm, filled with wonder and without pre-conceived ideas about how things should be. Most little children I know take things at face value. Reading this verse in context is as follows:

In context

At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying,
Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

And Jesus called a little child unto him,
and set him in the midst of them,

And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted,
and become as little children,
ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child,
the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me,
it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck,
and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Jesus’ disciples wondered who would be considered the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus said that unless his disciples would become as little children, they had no hope to enter the kingdom of heaven.

The very fact that his disciples concerned themselves with ‘who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven,’ indicates that, at that time, they lacked the humility required to enter. A little child generally is not concerned with who will be the most powerful sometime in the future. Jesus answered that the most humble among them will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus continued and said that whosoever shall receive a humble and innocent person in Jesus name, will also be acknowledged by Him.

Warning

It has been written that “Worldly people are more clever than spiritually-minded people when it comes to dealing with others.”

Have you found that people are taking advantage of your trusting nature and your generosity? This could indicate that you may be on the right path. Because we are taught to be as little children. This does not mean that you ever should allow people to mistreat you.

But the message is to keep our heart soft and wide open and not worry too much about people who abuse your good nature.

The warning in these verses is for people who offend (new) believers. They are told to be careful not to offend unassuming souls who follow Jesus … “it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.“

I apologise for the cheeky X. If you can show me another Scripture verse with a better X, I would love to hear from you.

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ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.

June 19, 2015
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Rejoice in the Lord. Free Scripture Card – R –

Rejoice in the Lord.

Rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation says the prophet who wrote the Book of Habakkuk approximately 612-589 B.C.

I like the Book of Habakkuk and I’ll tell you why.

Habakkuk questions

Why do evil people seem to prosper?

Habakkuk’s name means ‘to embrace’ or ‘wrestle.’ Prophet Habakkuk wrestles with the question, Why is there so much evil in the world? And why does it seemingly go unpunished and not only that. But why do the evil people seem to prosper? Prophet Habakkuk has many questions like this and he puts them to the Lord.

The answer comes back loud and clear that the people referred to by prophet Habakkuk are arrogant and proud with inflated ego’s. Habakkuk was told by the Lord that the proud, the greedy, the idolaters and warmongers will all enjoy the fruit of their doings. But those who genuinely follow the Lord. they are the ones who have faith in Him and rejoice in the Lord, cause He will save them!

Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him:
but the righteous shall live by his faith.

Who are the righteous?

Those who faithfully keep my laws, live by their faith

The righteous shall live by his faith. Who are the righteous? According to the bible the righteous, or ‘just’ as they are also called, are those who follow God’s rules and laws. They are the ones who are promised life and salvation.

He follows my decrees and faithfully keeps my laws.
That man is righteous; he will surely live,
declares the Sovereign LORD.

God decides everything

Why do I like the book of Habakkuk so much? Because I’ve often been surrounded by people who mock my religion and my faith. I know plenty people who know better than to ‘believe.’ Why would they? They are comfortable in their big houses and with multiple cars and holidays and plenty money to throw around. They believe in their wealth and comfort and have faith in their own ability to produce whatever their heart desires. This is because these people haven’t as yet realised that it is God who decides e v e r y t h i n g.

I used to be a little bit like that too. Not a lot because I never had stacks to throw around but always enough.

Otherwise seemingly devout people often insist that the above scripture verses indicate that ‘faith’ on its own will get us there. What?

The scripture verses above indicate that ‘just’ behaviour is followed by faith; and not the other way around, as many would have you believe. Why does this matter? It matters because it is an arrogant stance to take to think that just faith is sufficient, as we will see below.

The Lord is my strength

Be not deceived. The above scripture verses make it clear that it is those who ‘faithfully’ follow God’s directions and make an effort to live according to his laws are the ones referred to. The ‘righteous’ shall live by his faith.

I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength …

Faith is a product of righteous living.

That is why I like the Book of Habakkuk. In one swoop Habakkuk deals not only with people living carelessly and proudly without having much regard for the people around them but he also deals with those pretending to be ‘devout.’ In addition he sets straight the people who lead others astray by saying that just faith is enough.

Faith without works is dead

Habakkuk tells us that faith is a product of righteous living and not the other way around. This is reiterated in the Book of James as below,

What doth it profit, my brethren,
though a man say he hath faith,
and have not works?
can faith save him?
…
Even so faith, if it hath not works,
is dead, being alone.
…
Thou believest that there is one God;
thou doest well:
the devils also believe, and tremble.
But wilt thou know, O vain man,
that faith without works is dead?
…
by works a man is justified,
and not by faith only.
…
For as the body without the spirit is dead,
so faith without works is dead also.

—-

ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.

mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting

May 24, 2015
by Mimi E 5 Comments

Celebrate Shavuot with me.

Feast of Weeks

What is the Feast of Weeks? I asked Google. Thank you Google!

Tomorrow will be the biblical Feast of Weeks for all of us who accept invitations and commandments from our Creator and Father. How do I know? Because His Holy Word tells me so. Thank you Bible Gateway!

Thou shalt observe the Feast of Weeks

And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the first fruits of wheat harvest,
and the feast of ingathering at the year’s end. Exodus 34:22

Thou shalt keep the Feast of Weeks

And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the Lord thy God with a tribute
of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the Lord thy God,
according as the Lord thy God hath blessed thee … Deuteronomy 16:10

Do not appear empty

Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God
in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread,
and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles:
and they shall not appear before the Lord empty … Deuteronomy 16:16

According to the commandment

Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses,
on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts,
three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks,
and in the feast of tabernacles. 2 Chronicles 8:13

A Holy Convocation … a statute for ever in all your dwellings

Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals;
they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the Lord
…
And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you:
ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings
throughout your generations. Leviticus 23:17-21

How do Jewish people celebrate the Feast of Weeks or Shavuot?

One of my favourite biblical scholars, Nehemia Gordon, tells us that ‘Shavuot is a pilgrimage-feast, in Hebrew chag. As a chag, Shavuot is one of the three annual biblical festivals on which every male Israelite is commanded to make a pilgrimage to the Temple.’ Nehemia then continues to explain in depth what Shavuot is all about on his website Nehemia’s Wall in an article called The Truth About Shavuot. As an aside, there is no temple today to make a pilgrimage to. More about that later.

Additional information about this wonderful Feast can be found on the Chabad.org site which tells us that ‘The Torah was given by G‑d to the Jewish people on Mount Sinai more than 3300 years ago and every year on the holiday of Shavuot we renew our acceptance of G‑d’s gift, and G‑d “re-gives” the Torah. On this day G‑d swore eternal devotion to us, and we pledged everlasting loyalty to Him.’

[edit] Also Jewish people read out the Book of Ruth during Shavuot. The story of the Book of Ruth is set during harvest time. Ruth is the ancestor of King David and Jesus as well as an example from the Bible of a Gentile who choose to join the God of Israel. According to the Karaite Jews, “Anyone who 1) is circumcised [males only], 2) accepts the God of Israel [YHWH] as their own God, and 3) accepts the People of Israel as their own people is a full-fledged Jew [Israelite], see Exodus 12,43-49 and Ruth 1,16.[finish edit 25/05/2015]

More info still on the Wikepedia site. Thank you Wikepedia!

Should or shouldn’t we celebrate Shavuot?

I’ve heard ‘Christian’ people say that they don’t feel it is necessary to celebrate any of the Feasts after Jesus’ crucifixion. And I’ve heard ‘Jewish’ people say that because there is no temple there is nowhere to celebrate or give the sacrifices. I also hear Bible students say that only males are to celebrate these Feasts and that God doesn’t like sacrifices.

Whose Feasts are these?

With regards to any of the Feasts: this is what The LORD says about them. He doesn’t call them Christian Feasts and He doesn’t call them Jewish Feasts and the Lord doesn’t call these Feasts Biblical either. No, what He says is instead that these are ‘The Feasts of the Lord, holy convocations, my Feasts.’

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them,
Concerning the feasts of the Lord,
which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations,
even these are my feasts.
…
Ye shall do no manner of work:
it shall be a statute for ever
throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

‘Being Jewish’ explains ‘Why we do no longer bring animal sacrifices’ and why we cannot bring sacrifices without a temple. Christianity stack exchange explains where in the bible it says that sacrifice can only be done in the temple.

And I collected a stack of Scripture references where the Lord in no uncertain terms expresses his displeasure with the sacrifices.

For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Accept the invite or decline?

Sacrifices or not, temple or not, male or not; what I read in the Bible is our Creator telling us to celebrate His Feasts f o r e v e r and OBVIOUSLY in the right spirit. Sure the LORD said that He is not interested in hypocrites who are trying to bribe Him by offering Him slaughtered animals. He also said that ‘His Feasts are a Holy Convocation, a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.’

The excuses given for not showing up to the party remind me of the wedding party story. In a nutshell: The King invites guests to his party and everyone has an excuse. All the initial guests end up in a bad place and a whole new crowd is being invited. Guess what? It appears that only those not wearing the right wedding garment are kicked out.

Sure you can decline and sure you can have an excuse. No doubt a very legitimate excuse too, just like the guests who couldn’t make it to the wedding and declined the invitation.

But when my Creator invites me, I brush up and I show up. And everyone else can do whatever their heart tells them to.

Many are called, but few are chosen.

How to celebrate Shavuot?

On this occasion we are to bring a gift (freewill offering). You can read about my favourite charity here. I’ve been told that Feed the Hungry.org provides one hundred meals to hungry kids for six bucks only! It’s the best value around. And not only that but 100% of donated funds ends up with the kids because all services such as transport as well as all food and administrative work are donated by volunteers.
To argue that we’re not to bring a freewill offering during this Feast strikes me as a bit, dare I say it? Pharisaical maybe?

The timing of this Feast coincides with the giving of the Law so what better time to commemorate the giving of the Law? A Pact of Love as far as I’m concerned. So here goes once more.

And God spake all these words, saying,

I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

1
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

2
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

3
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

4
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God:
in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant,
nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is,
and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

5
Honour thy father and thy mother:
that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

6
Thou shalt not kill.

7
Thou shalt not commit adultery.

8
Thou shalt not steal.

9
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

10
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.

And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.

And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.

And the Lord said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.

Happy Shavuot!

ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.

No man can serve two masters ... Matthew 6:24

May 22, 2015
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Free Scripture Card – N – No man can serve two masters …

No man can serve two masters

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one,
and love the other; or else he will hold to the one,
and despise the other.
Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Idyllic childhood

In one of my past lives as a child, my parents owned a beach shop in Hoek van Holland and I helped them in our shop and grew up on the beach. Apart from all the ordinary mayhem, I had a wonderful childhood and my Mum was there for us always, we were very blessed. Neither of my parents was overly ambitious, both were happy to take each day as it comes and just to raise their kids.

Working too hard … too many masters

Later on in my life as a wife to a medico, I managed the medical centres which we owned and this was an extremely stressful and hectic life. Neither one of us did this for the money. My husband as a doctor simply did what he did best and I as the wife helped out where I could. Because of our position, money flew in readily and out just as easily.

When my health crashed spectacularly I sought out the Lord with all my soul and all my heart and all my might. Cheap isn’t it? Only when I was down did I get back to my roots and prayed my heart out. This is when I learned that unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.

I never actively pursued money. In fact I chose to be there for my kids like my Mum was there for my brothers and sisters and I. This meant that I had a full-time job managing our clinics at the same time as being a full-time Mum educating our kids myself. This no doubt contributed to my crumbling health.

What I learned during the dark times is that no-one can perform two full-time jobs at the same time. I tried and I did and eventually I failed and paid for this dearly with my health.

Even though I was not pursuing wealth I was serving not two but three masters. My husband, our clinics and my children and all pretty much 24/7.

With God there is hope

With God there is hope however and what He says always works in my life. O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. I learned that I had my loyalties mixed up and nowadays I run everything past my Creator before I commit to anything.

The full verse from this week’s Scripture Card reads:

No man can serve two masters:
for either he will hate the one, and love the other;
or else he will hold to the one,
and despise the other.
Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

If you find yourself playing catch-up from dawn to dusk, have a quiet moment and ask yourself, ‘Who are you serving?’ and ‘Is this who you want to be serving?’ Do you have love, peace and balance in your life?

Seek ye first the Kingdom of God

The excerpt from the sermon on the mount then continues to tell us that it makes no sense to worry about anything at all other than seeking the kingdom of God first of all. The chapter in Matthew 6 finishes off with,

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;
and all these things shall be added unto you.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow:
for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.
Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.

May 1, 2015
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Living Forever according to Judaism

Do Jewish People believe in life after death?

Rabbi Evan Moffic

According to Rabbi Evan Moffic: yes, there is life after death. He states that

1. There is an afterlife which according to rabbinic tradition is known by various names.
2. Heaven has an open door for the righteous of any people and any faith.
3. The afterlife can take many forms, for instance as diverse as, living on in grandchildren.
4. Afterlife is here on earth … for more visit Rabbi Moffic’s website.

Rabbi Tzvi Freeman

Rabbi Tzvi Freeman from Chabad.org argues that there isn’t anything after life, because life never ends. He explains why, at the final resolution, all souls will return to physical bodies in this world.

Jewish Author Tracey Rich

Jewish author Tracey Rich from Judaism 101 mentions the afterlife as Olam Haba and states that traditional Judaism firmly believes that death is not the end of human existence. However, because Judaism is primarily focused on life here and now rather than on the afterlife, Judaism does not have much dogma about the afterlife, and leaves a great deal of room for personal opinion.

Jewish Scholar Nehemia Gordon

After listening to one of the podcasts from Nehemia Gordon and Keith Johnson I learned that apparently according to rabbinic tradition any one of around 70 different interpretations of religious text is acceptable as long as this interpretation is by a qualified Rabbi. This is explained in more depth by Allen S Maller courtesy of Jewish Bible.org in ‘A Torah with 70 different faces.

Seventy possible interpretations for each Bible verse.

How does that sit with you? Seventy possible interpretations for each Bible verse? The argument is that multiple interpretations of each verse of Scripture can be correct, even if they contradict one another.

I’ve often argued that there are as many religions as there are people and I still believe this. We all interpret according to our understanding and believe according to our heart. Therefore I think it is futile to ever have any kind of argument about religion as far as it concerns people’s ‘beliefs.’

Bible is a how-to manual

The Bible is however, as well as the history book of our earth and the Jewish people, also an instruction manual. The Bible teaches us about morals and principles and righteous living and love and how to live forever. None of the how-to manuals that I ever have come across allowed seventy different interpretations for every line in the book. Let’s face it, if any of them did, all the instructions would fall in a heap. I have a feeling that it is the same with the Bible and the instructions in the Bible should not be interpreted in many different ways. It’s fine if this works for other people but for me personally, no.

I believe that essentially Scripture is a message of love and that we’re not just told, but we’re commanded to love one and other. It is the message of love that I am keen to get across and the connection of this message with the promise of everlasting life. That’s why I will continue to post all that God’s Holy Word has to say about love and about living forever as mentioned in Scripture, so that everyone can come to their own conclusion about the truth of it all according to God’s Word.

***

ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.

ABOUT SCRIPTURE CARDS – If you want to send free Scripture Cards to your friends click here and you you want to buy hard copies of Scripture Cards you can click here.

***

April 24, 2015
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Free Scripture card – J – Let little children come unto me ..

Let little children come unto me ..

Jesus said, let little children come unto me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

We’re supposed to be like little children

We’re supposed to be like little children if we want to live forever. Little children muck up but never too bad. They’re often a pain in the .. but usually not to the extent that it cannot be overlooked. Little children don’t as a rule worry about tomorrow because they have no expectations about what tomorrow should hold and bring. For the little children I know and have known, every single day is a brand new day with brand new adventures.

Little children hug you like no-one else can, their smile is bigger than the sun and their trust in their parents in unequalled.

Can you jump?

Most little children can be a handful at times and I remember an occassion where I tried to distract my eldest, around two years old at the time. I asked her if she could jump. She nodded affirmitavely. I asked her to show me and she jumped whilst smiling broadly at me. The distraction worked and she seemd to enjoy the jumping game, so we continued. I asked her, ‘Can you jump with one leg at a a time?’ In response she jumped first on her right foot and after that on her left foot. Then she jumped with both her feet at the same time, first a little and then a lot.

For the grand finale I asked her to jump with both legs up in the air as high as she could. For some reason she took this to mean with both her legs out in front and she landed with a crash on her bum. Tears, hugs and cuddles and all was good. We still laugh nowadays when I ask her to jump with both legs at the same time.

When life, situations or people make us jump, and we fall flat on our face or on our bum, we are to be like little children and pick ourselves up and do it all over again with a little more wisdom and a little more knowledge. My daughter only ever once jumped with her legs out front, she learned very quickly that this doesn’t work. She didn’t blame me for falling on her bum although for a moment she did not know what happened and was surprised at the result of her, seemingly innocent, action.

Trust like a little child

Just like my two year old toddler, sometimes we do what is asked from us and we don’t get the result we’re after or we get hurt. Instead of getting mad, bemoaning our fate or blaming others; Jesus teaches us to live with the trust of a little child and keep on going. He tells us to take our worries to Him and know that in all things God’s will be done.

I believe that this is what’s meant by the Scripture verse on today’s Scripture card; the kingdom of heaven is made up of people as innocent as little children.

If you have a different take on this Scripture verse I would love to hear from you.

Man shall not live by bread alone Matthew 4:4

April 17, 2015
by Mimi E 2 Comments

Why Positive Thinking Doesn’t Work plus Free Scripture card – I –

Why Positive Thinking doesn’t work.

Below 8 short points why Positive Thinking doesn’t work.

Russell Bishop from the Huffington Post on why it doesn’t work.
Lifehack give us 4 reasons why positive thinking doesn’t work.
Laura Newcomer Senior Editor at Greatist on the subject.
Mark Morgan Ford mentions a study by Julie Norem.
None of these writers addresses the ‘faith factor.’
About the ‘believe’ factor.
It is written men shall not live by bread alone.
Perfect Peace.

Why Positive Thinking doesn’t work.

I make no secret of my love for the Word of GOD. Last week I wrote how my faith and reliance on the Word of God helped my family when we had to move house and weren’t able to find suitable accommodation. After praying and relying on the Word of God we received so much more than we ever imagined possible.

I like to share with you a little more about my history. I used to study Wicca, mythology, mysticism, various Eastern religions as well as every New Age practice under the sun, particularly the New Age positive thinking kind.

What I discovered is that positive thinking is the only way to go as long as this goes hand in hand with regular reality checks. But the crucial factor is that positive thinking on its own doesn’t work. Well it didn’t for me. Why doesn’t positive thinking on its own work? The following is what people in the know have to say about this.

Russell Bishop, author of ‘Workarounds that Work,’ wrote for the Huffington Post ‘Why Positive Thinking Just Doesn’t Work.’

Our friends at Lifehack give us 4 reasons why positive thinking doesn’t work and what to do instead.

Laura Newcomer Senior Editor at Greatist tells us that the trick is finding the balance between being optimistic and being realistic.

Mark Morgan Ford mentions a study by Julie Norem in her book The Positive Power of Negative Thinking.

All of these writers came to the same conclusion and that is that positive thinking on its own doesn’t work.

None of these writers address the faith factor.

Interestingly enough, none of the writers mentioned above address the faith factor. What it boiled down to for me in my life is that I discovered that many of the ‘New Age Thinking’ is as ancient as the earth but has been rehashed and regurgitated without the faith component. This may indeed work for some but it does not work for me.

About the ‘believe’ factor.

For instance the ‘believe’ factor is huge in New Age positive thinking and religious faiths alike. My book shelves were littered with dozens of how-to manuals telling me to ‘Believe and it will be so.’ Believe in what? Myself? That goes without saying doesn’t it? The universe? Believe in who or what?

What this kind of positive thinking is lacking is the support of HE Who is in Charge. If your objectives and endeavours aren’t blessed by our Creator you’re simply wasting your time. That is if you plan to ultimately end up in a good place.

Jesus says ‘Whatever you believe in your heart will be so.’ He says this to His followers, the people who believe in Him.
See, that’s the kind of instruction manual I can work with. Jesus says, follow me and then when our heart is being remodeled to do good for humanity as opposed to be self centered, we can ask Him for anything at all and the promise is that our Father will hear and respond.

How will our heart be remodeled? By following the prophet’s teachings and Jesus’ example, through prayer and by reading and applying the Holy Word.

It is written men shall not live by bread alone

It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

True wisdom and knowledge is found in The Holy Word and without this, no amount of positive thinking will get you anywhere you want to go. Yes, it may do so for you in this lifetime and if that’s all you’re after, all is good in your hood. If you believe in an afterlife however, I doubt that positive thinking on its own will show you the way.

Wordly wealth is not that hard to obtain but if you’re after a different kinda ~~profit~~ prophet, you’ll find that just the positive thinking on its own is not going to cut it.

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;
and all these things shall be added unto you.

Perfect Peace

Why do we utilise the power of positive thinking and prayer? Because we’re either trying to get away from a situation we’re in, or we’re aiming to go to, or we’re trying to attract to ourselves a more desirable place or situation. On the odd occasion we may utilise prayer to give thanks for all our blessings. Ultimately we all want peace, love and happiness in our life and we’re either actively working to achieve that or actively working to get away from where we don’t want to be.

It is without a doubt that some people become hugely successful in life without having a faith of any kind.

When I say that positive thinking does not work, I’m am talking for myself here and for me no amount of positive thinking ever got me the result I was after. Relying on God’s Holy Word however, is a different ballgame altogether. It has taken the anxiety out of everything because ultimately I pray that in all things God’s will be done. That means that all is in good order in my life because He is in charge.

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on thee:
because he trusteth in thee.

I’d love you to share with me if positive thinking works for you and how.

ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.

April 4, 2015
by Mimi E Leave a comment

What is the difference between Easter and the Passover?

Easter Buns
Priest calls for hot cross buns removal in Woolworths and Coles
too early for Easter

reprinted here with permission from the LORD’sPUB.

Hot Cross buns

Burnie priest Father Tony Kennedy said hot cross buns were originally eaten on Good Friday to remind people of the day Jesus died on the cross but they had lost much of their religious significance.

Sola Scriptura

We all have our traditions. Here at the Lord’s Pub we go by Sola Scriptura. That means that we check against scripture to see what God and His Son have to say about it. Is this a valid way to verify things? Obviously we think so and that’s why we do it.

Others follow the tradition of the various denominations, churches, synagogues, or their Granny, mysticism, paganism, or whatever the TV or their mates dictate, etc. etc..

Sola Scriptura is just what we do here at the Lord’s Pub.

Tradition of Easter

According to scripture, around the time of the year that Easter is celebrated by Christians is when God told his people to celebrate the Passover and chuck out all their yeast. Not bake buns with it. Nor put a cross on it. All we’re trying to say here is that the Easter tradition of baking buns is not biblical.

We’ve never quite been able to figure out what’s so ‘good’ about the day that Jesus was nailed to the cross. Celebrating the day of his resurrection .. yes, I’m with you all the way. But celebrating the day He was nailed to the cross for our sins? No, sorry, I am hanging my head in shame for that one.

About Easter buns

But hey, I’ve eaten tonnes of buns in my lifetime, hot with lotsa butter and thought that each and every one was very delicious and possibly holy. Never gave it much thought really .. till I started to read scripture, Gods Word, the bible and now, I kinda lost my appetite for them.

Each to their own tradition. Here at the Lord’s Pub, we don’t do buns.

Below we’ll give some key words so that you can make up your own mind.

A hot cross bun, or cross-bun, is a sweet, yeast-leavened, spiced bun made with currants or raisins, often with candied citrus fruits .. They are traditionally eaten on Good Friday.

Good Friday is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary.

Easter buns is another word for cross buns. Hot cross buns are not mentioned in the bible.

The significance of Easter and the Passover

According to the Gospel Jesus rose on the third day after his crucifixion.

In the end of the sabbath,
as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week,
came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
And the angel of the Lord descended from heaven ..
and said unto the women ..
He is not here: for he is risen ..

The Christian Feast of Easter

Christians celebrate Jesus resurrection on Easter Sunday. The word Easter is mentioned once in the bible in Acts.

The Biblical and Jewish Feast of the Passover

The word Passover is mentioned 72 times in the bible (26 times in the New Testament) with a command to commemorate it forever.

The Passover is around the same time of the year as Easter. People who follow God’s Word celebrate their main Feast of the year around this time. The Passover is celebrated according to biblical guidelines and correlates with the biblical feasts commemorating the story of the Exodus in which God’s people were freed from slavery in Egypt. God “passed over” the Jewish homes and spared the first born Israelites from the fate that was in store for their Egyptian counterparts.

According to he bible; for the duration of Passover bread without yeast is eaten; for this reason it is called “The Festival of the Unleavened Bread”. Matzo (flat unleavened bread) is a symbol of this Holy Feast which was celebrated during biblical times and still is celebrated by Jewish people worldwide today. You can go to Nehemia Gordon Wall to find a traditional recipe for Matzo bread.

According to Scripture

Summing up according to scripture about this particular time of the year,

Moses tells us in Exodus 12 about the significance of the Passover where a lamb is killed, roasted and eaten and the blood of the lamb struck on the posts of the door .. God’s people stand up and eat in haste, no time for the bread to rise .. as The Lord releases them from slavery, in the first month of the new year.

According to Moses,

And this day shall be unto you for a memorial;
and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations;
ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever …
It is the sacrifice of the LORD’s passover.

According to Apostle John

Now before the feast of the passover,
when Jesus knew that his hour was come
that he should depart out of this world unto the Father..

Apostle Matthew and Luke

My time is at hand; I will keep the passover …
He took bread, and gave thanks,
and brake it … saying,
This is my body which is given for you:
this do in remembrance of me.

Apostle John,

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him,
and saith, Behold the Lamb of God,
which taketh away the sin of the world.

From Revelation

And I beheld, and, lo,
in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts,
and in the midst of the elders
stood a Lamb as it had been slain,

Burnie priest Tony Kennedy and I have to differ on the religious significance of hot cross buns. We only differ because priest Tony Kennedy appears to be following Christian traditions whilst at the Lord’s Pub we follow biblical traditions and Christian customs don’t always correlate with what the bible tells us.

According to scripture, God’s Holy Word, we’re talking about a lamb .. not buns nor bunnies, nor easter eggs.

A Feast by an ordinance for ever

Some people say that Jesus’ crucification finished the celebration of all Holy Feasts. This maybe so according to Christian tradition but the bible tells me differently. According to Moses ‘ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever,’ and according to Jesus, ‘This do in remembrance of me.’ The bible does not tell me anywhere that one celebration cancels out the other.

In Exodus during the time of Moses we’re talking about a lamb being sacrificed in remembrance of deliverance from slavery and oppressors, and in the Gospels during the time of Jesus we’re talking about the Lamb of God who was sacrificed for the sins of this world.

For more on this subject read also, Why was Jesus crucified?

Which Feast, biblical or not, do you and your family celebrate and why? Share in the comments below please.

created in 2012 for the Lord’s Pub and edited and reposted and reprinted here with permission
April 2015 – copyright myemmanuel

ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.

REFERENCES

Jennifer Crawley, The Mercury 05 01 2012 9:10AM 101 comments
References:
Exodus 12 – Passover a memorial forever, first month of the year,
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+12&version=KJV
The Lamb of God,
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1&version=KJV
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+5:6&version=KJV
Call for removal of hot cross buns, too early
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/priest-calls-for-hot-cross-buns-removal-in-woolworths-and-coles-too-early-for-easter/story-e6freuy9-1226237077467
Sola Scriptura,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sola_scriptura
Passover
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passover
Easter,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter
Easter customs,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_customs
Good Friday
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Friday
English folklore includes many superstitions surrounding hot cross buns.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_cross_bun
Too early to get your Easter treats?
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/too-early-to-get-your-easter-treats/story-e6freoof-1226238607171

April 3, 2015
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Free Scripture card – G – GOD is good to such as are of a clean heart.

GOD is good to such as are of a clean heart.

The reference on this Scripture card is taken from Psalm 73 which is generally accepted to have been written by Asaph, a 10th-century BCE Levite. Asaph served in Jerusalem for all of David’s reign, and it is believed that he set to music many of King David’s psalms.

‘What does it mean ‘to be of a clean heart?’ Psalm 73 grapples with one of life’s most troublesome questions as to why the wicked prosper and seemingly avoid punishment. This Psalm addresses the present prosperity of evil people and the sorrows of those who are of a clean heart. The Psalm is a warning to us who may at times be envious of the rich. It is a warning not to fall into temptation and a reminder to the wealthy that their riches, enjoyable as they may be, are temporary.

I’ve certainly had a taste of that in my life. I’ve come to realise that if one has way more than those around them, this means that one is not sharing. One could say that I’ve fallen mightily and mainly through my own stupidity. I know that riches come and go but GOD and his love and powerful inspiring Word are forever.

There is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

Psalm 73 finishes with lines which are close to my heart:

Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
It is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God,
that I may declare all thy works.

Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit Matthew 7

March 20, 2015
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Aussie Celebs on Living Forever as well as a Free Scripture card – E – Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit

Aussie celebrities on Living Forever

When a bunch of Aussie celebrities was asked about living forever, only one of them, Wil Anderson, decided that he’d rather die tomorrow. The other answers ranged from living on top of a mountain with a pack of wolves eating cake and drinking gin to still having plenty fish to catch and wanting to see plenty more Crows premierships. To read more on our celebrities’ opinion on living forever visit Perth Now and News.com.au.

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit

How many times has someone pulled the wool over your eyes? This used to happen to me all the time. I simply believed whatever anyone told me. I know that this is not necessarily a smart thing to do and considered to be gullible or naieve but just the same I always gave everyone the benefit of the doubt.
Once I started to read the Bible in earnest I found many different guidelines as to how to determine if someone is honest and straightforward or not. This particular Scripture quote on Scripture card E gives us one of these guidelines.

Jesus tells us to beware of false prophets and he explains how to recognise them. It is rather straightforward; good people produce good results and bad people get bad results.

Have you ever seen anyone carefully selecting all the rotten apples to be taken to a good place? No, me neither.

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing,
but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

If you can think of other scripture quotes or non-biblical ways to find out cheats, I’ll be happy to hear about it.

ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.

February 6, 2015
by Mimi E Leave a comment

The Lord said, ‘You have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.’

God spake to us from heaven. wow! As in really, we have all these witnesses. That is an incredible story and wonderful witness account.

The Creator of the universe spake to us from heaven. What did He say?

I looked it up. It’s powerful stuff. He gave his kids some rules to abide by. Really simple. Just ten of them. That’s all. According to scripture these rules link in with living forever. Check it out. See what you think.

With Valentines day coming up I like to share with you what some of our prophets and apostles have to say about love. And this is a mere snippet of what has been said about love in the bible.

From the prophet Moses and other wise men.

What did the prophet Moses have to say about love?

What doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways,
and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
to keep the commandments of the Lord …
to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul,
that thou mayest live.

Moses said to love Go(o)d with all our heart and all our soul, to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments, so that we may live.

Moses also said to love the stranger as ourselves.

But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you,
and thou shalt love him as thyself …

Other wise men and prophets said the following on loving and obeying God. By Joshua, “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness.” From Nehemia, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments.” From the prophet Jeremiah: “But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.” Daniel: “O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments.” Micah: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

All these wise men agreed with Moses that it shall be well with us when we love God, which is akin to being obedient and following his directions.

Jesus repeated what Moses said about loving God and our neighbour

Jesus reiterated what Moses said about loving God, each other and how this ties in to eternal life.

When someone asked Jesus how to obtain eternal life he responded as follows according to the account of his disciple Matthew,

And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

On another occasion, when the Pharisees tried to trick Jesus and asked him to come up with just one commandment, Jesus summed the commandments up as follows:

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

The following account, on how loving ties in with eternal life, is from the Gospels by Luke,

And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength,
and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

In addition Jesus told us to not only love our neighbours but also love our enemies,

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good … Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Has anything changed with regards to love and obedience?

Around three and a half thousand years ago Moses told us that God said that He will be, shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Jesus reiterated this message when he said, if ye love me, keep my commandments. And he added, He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

A message of love

So what did God say when he spoke to us from heaven? He send us a message of love. He told us how to love each other. I like the commandments because it sets an easy moral standard to live by that we can all adhere to. The commandments are a message of love. It is a standard which was set in heaven for human beings to stick to. Living by this standard guarantees a loving spirit.

I know that there are churches nowadays that teach their followers that they have been made holy simply by believing and having faith. What message does apostle John have for these churches?

Apostle John on love

Apostle John said that he that loveth not knoweth not God: for God is love, and he also said the following,

He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments
… whoso kept his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

This is love that we keep his commandments

About love

And more from apostle John on love,

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments:
and his commandments are not grievous.

And this is love, that we walk after his commandments.
This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning,
ye should walk in it.

Let me know what you think. Share with me in the comments below.

*

ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.

ABOUT THIS BLOG – We’re researching the truth of living forever according to GOD’s Holy Word; Sola Scripture. Popular opinion tells us that everyone who ‘believes’ and has ‘faith’ will go to heaven. Is this true? I decided to ask the prophets about the truth of it all.

ABOUT SCRIPTURE CARDS – If you want to send free Scripture Cards to your friends click here and you want to buy hard copies of Scripture Cards you can click here. To download a free copy of my Story of Survival click here.

January 30, 2015
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Live forever … according to science. 10 scientific breakthroughs.

10 Scientific Breakthroughs … Cheat Death and Live Forever

This post is a collection of links to articles on living forever according to various sources which are not linked to the bible or any particular religion.

The first article mentions 10 Scientific Breakthroughs That Could Help Us Cheat Death And Live Forever and is from Business Insider. The article mentions that Google is working on a death defying initiative.

Rockstars of Aging

The second link leads us to a write-up about growing older by Marc Middleton . His book ‘Rockstars of Aging’ is interesting because it is made up of interviews and stories of hundreds of men and women who are or were to busy enjoying life to pay attention to society telling them that they’re supposed to be dying.

In contrast to the first link about scientific breakthroughs, Marc’s book is not based upon surveys, scientific research or the opinions of scholars. His book is based upon extensive, first-hand experience interviewing and observing active centenarians, nonagenarians and octogenarians. I thoroughly enjoyed the read because it is all about real life people simply living life to the fullest.

Many opinions on living forever

Research on the world wide web threw up stacks of opinions from various sources such as an article from Reuters, ‘Who wants to live forever? Scientist sees aging cured’ and an article on ‘How to Live Forever?’ by Frank Swain writing for Future BBC. The Economist in ‘explaining the world daily’ talks about ‘How to Live Forever?’ and How Stuff Works wonders if ‘Humans Can Live Forever?’ The Hollywood Reporter talks about ‘How to Live Forever: The (Mad?) Science Hollywood Is Using to “Cure” Death’ and the LordsPub tells us about Australia’s oldest person and how biblical figures such as Adam and Noah lived for hundreds of years, which to me seems like forever.

People’s Encyclopedia

This article wouldn’t be complete without asking the people, aka Wikipedia’s opinion on the subject of living forever.

Forever, eternally, never ending

The above articles from the web about living forever are according to science and worldly opinions. None actually, other than Wikipedia’s article on immortality, address living forever as in ‘forever, eternally, never ending.’
It is the last three forever’s that I am interested in finding out more about.

To find out more about the true ‘forever, eternally, never ending’ I turned to the experts, and our Creator and His Son tell us in-depth about this kind of living forever. I believe whatever they tell me about any subject because I’ve tried out their directions in my life and following their directions always brings the desired outcome. Not one of their directions has ever failed me.

History on living forever

History tells us that a whole bunch of people, a few million of them, witnessed God speaking from heaven with promises galore. His Son came to live out some of these promises and a another bunch of people eventually watched Him ascend up to heaven. This is after all the abuse HE copped for being a good guy.

About that last laugh …

ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.

January 16, 2015
by Mimi E 2 Comments

What is this blog about?

Thank you for visiting.

My name is Mimi and I am the editor of the Live Forever how to blog. Welcome and thank you for stopping by.

What is this blog about?

There is only one authority on living forever and to find out about eternal life I decided to go to The Authority. This blog is about the truth of it all according to Scripture, God’s Holy Word.

This may turn out to be different from what the different denominations, church doctrine and religious leaders tell us. It may not line up with the popular understanding of ‘everyone [sort of] goes to Heaven.’ Some common myths will be dispelled on this blog and any potential treading on toes will be unintentional. Don’t shoot the messenger, I’ll be merely quoting from Scripture and list together all the occasions where references are made to Living Forever.

There is only One who knows

There is only One who knows, Our Creator, and He wrote a manual. This manual is easily understood by the average layperson who has genuine interest and takes the time to read it, and this book really does not need a massive amount of interpreting. This howto manual is freely available to all of us and I’ll be quoting from this manual, which is also known as the Bible.

To view all posts so far on this topic click in the right column under ‘Categories’ the words ‘Live Forever.’

According to God’s Word

This blog is about living forever according to GOD’s Holy Word; Sola Scriptura. Not according to my own personal opinion or anyone else’s opinion either, but simply looking at what Scripture tells us about living forever. We all have an idea, or more accurately stated; we all have a personal opinion of some kind, of what Heaven is all about. But the intention of my blog is that I note wherever in the bible references are made to the words ‘living forever’ and variants thereof, so that eventually an understanding will emerge of the Truth of Living Forever according to Scripture.

Please don’t get me into trouble and read my disclaimer with regards to my authority on this subject.

Thank you LORD!

Over the past decade I’ve reflected on issues of life and death because of various close calls and because, days before he took his own life, my favourite cousin asked me, ‘How long do you expect to live for?’

I started this blog because … I am still alive!

Praise to GOD, thank you LORD for answering our prayers. Yep, GOD made me laugh alright! My entire life has been rebuild with the help of my faith and specifically GOD’s Word.

I doubt that I need credentials to be grateful and share with the people close to me, but I dug deep and found some just the same to share with anyone who wants to hear about my qualifications. I love nothing better than to share the joy, love and peace which my family and I enjoy because of the blessings of GOD’s Word. I truly am head over heels.

ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.

All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here.

January 9, 2015
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Life For Evermore

Life For Evermore … a blessing

I thought that I was going to die but instead I survived and found out that there is a manual that tells us how to live forever. How cool is that?

For the last six months or so I’ve listed all the occasions where the words ‘live for ever’ are mentioned in my bible. The amount of time these words are mentioned may differ in the various bible translations. In the bible translation I am using at the moment, the King James, the last six times the words ‘live for ever’ were mentioned are to be found in the book of Revelation.

In a search throughout the King James translation of the bible the words ’live for ever’ come up 28 times in total but only around 19 of these apply to living forever and around 7 of these occasions were royal greetings. That leaves 12 other occasions where the words ‘live for ever’ are mentioned.
Starting in July last year I’ve listed all of these occasions. The very first time the word’s ‘live for ever’ occur in the bible is where God said,

Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

This was after Adam and Even disobeyed God’s commandment which resulted in them being banned from the garden of Eden.

And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Adam and Eve discovered that living forever more goes hand in hand with obedience to our Creator.

I’ve reposted the video because I couldn’t even find it back on my own blog. It is embedded in the first post I wrote, which can be found at the bottom of this really long blogpost that contains all the posts I’ve done on living for ever. Or the video can be found as part of the first post, on its own when I explain where the concept of living for ever comes from.

The Blessing of Life for Evermore

Apart from the previous posts I’ve written, where the words ‘live for ever’ are mentioned, there are other occasions in the bible where living for ever is referred to. It is also mentioned for instance in Psalm 133 as quoted below. And what we discover here is that life for evermore is not to be taken for granted but is a blessing which the LORD bestows upon his faithful and loyal followers.

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

I like promises and blessings.

I like promises and blessings as much as the next person. What I don’t like is when people misinterpret very clear manuals and take things for granted. For the brief period that my family attended church we sat in pews next to well-meaning parishioners who all seemed pretty comfy in their ‘sureness of being saved.’

It must be wonderful to have such confidence in one’s salvation. All I can think of is the occasions were Jesus referred to a humble tax collector and a Samaritan, who both were doing the right thing and Jesus contrasted them against the so-called ‘religious’ folk.

Just saying that according to scripture ‘living forever’ is not set aside specifically and exclusively for the ‘religious,’ those with their bums on church pews or kneeling down in synagogues.

According to scripture the blessing of living forever is promised to any of us who wants to grab hold of it and decides to abide by GOD’s rules and be part of His posse.

Love to hear your thoughts. Thank you for sharing with me.

ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.

January 2, 2015
by Mimi E 1 Comment

Him that liveth for ever and ever

The last six times

The last six times (18-23) that the words ‘live forever’ are mentioned in the bible is in the book of Revelation.

The book of Revelation is understood to have been written by the apostle John when he was imprisoned on the isle of Patmos (app 85-95 AD) and the first chapter of the book of Revelation begins as follows,

The revelation of Jesus

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand …

Each and every time the words ‘live for ever’ are mentioned in the Book of Revelation refer to Him that liveth for ever.’ Him that liveth for ever is our Creator and His Son, as follows:

I am alive for evermore

I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Give glory and honour and thanks

And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

Worship him that liveth for ever and ever

The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Amen

And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

Who created heaven … and the earth … and the sea

And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer.

The wrath of God

And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.

The wrath of God? Why? What does the wrath of God have to do with living forever?

As we have seen in previous posts, the promise to live for ever is closely intertwined with living according to parameters set by our Creator. The book of Revelation stands as a warning to those who choose not to follow the moral guidelines which were set for humanity. It is comforting reading for those who try to do the right thing and feel thwarted in their efforts. The book of Revelation is also a loud and clear warning to all those who try to convey GOD’s Word to others, that one should never add to nor subtract from scripture, so as not to misrepresent God’s Holy Word.

Do not add nor subtract

For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

On that note please read my disclaimer where I beg my readers to please don’t get me into trouble and urge everyone to grab a bible and start reading. It is the best read!

On the last page of the last chapter in the book of Revelation it is mentioned that,

Blessed are they that do his commandments

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

On the very last page of the bible we’re told one more time by Jesus to follow God’s moral guidelines for the right to the tree of life.

Today’s post ends my search for the words ‘living for ever’ in the bible. Click here to read all the posts on living forever. And click here and here and here to read summaries on the posts about living forever.

Let me know what you think. I know that what the Bible tells us can be different from what the different denominations tell us. Share your thoughts below in the comments.

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ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.

December 12, 2014
by Mimi E 3 Comments

Recapping for the third time.

Live forever according to scripture

On this blog ‘live forever how to’ we’re going through the bible to see where the words, ‘live forever’ have been mentioned. I am no expert on this and that is precisely why I am going through GOD’s Word to see what the Expert on the subject has to say about eternal life.

I’ve so far recapped the posts on this subject twice. One on the twelfth of September and the other time on June twenty-fifth of this year. This is the third post where I am recapping all the posts on this subject. If you want to see all the posts that I’ve written so far this year on the words ‘Live forever’ you can also click on the categories list which can be found on the right hand side of the screen in the sidebar. This is where all the posts on living forever are bundled together in one long readout.

Recapping where in the bible the words ‘live for ever’ are mentioned.

Recapping

This is where you can find all the ‘recapped posts’ bundled together.
And here is collection one and two and this is three.

The Lord is my shepherd

In Psalm 23 we’re told that the LORD is our shepherd and this is another occasion in the bible where we are assured that we can live for ever.

Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement

We learn that Yom Kippur is a Feast of The LORD and is to be celebrated forever throughout all generations in all our dwellings.

Some to everlasting life

The thirteenth time the words ‘live(th) for ever’ are used in the bible we read that about many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life. We also read about Him that lives forever. The book of life is mentioned and some that shall shine as stars for ever and ever.

Curious about seo

In the seo optimised article we read that Christians believe that everlasting life is promised to them who will accept Jesus as their saviour and to have everlasting life you must be born again. And we’re assured that everyone shall be rewarded according to their work.

What is GOD’s name?

There are many differing opinions on the subject of God’s name but it is my understanding that the meaning of the name Yehovah is, ‘He who was,’ ‘now is’ and ‘is to come.’ Sounds like forever to me.

The prophets, do they live forever?

The fourteenth time the word’s ‘live forever’ are mentioned in the bible is in the book of the prophet Zechariah where he writes, ‘Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live forever?’ And we realise that it is GOD’s words that truly live forever.

He that eateth of this bread shall live forever.

The fifteenth and sixteenth time that the words ‘live forever’ are mentioned is when Jesus promises his followers that he’ll raise them up at the last day.

Do you believe that you’ll live forever?

Many, if not most people believe that they’ll live forever, as is evident from the responses and tributes of the team mates of late batsman Phillip Hughes.

With GOD all things are possible … true story.

Someone asks Jesus how to obtain eternal life and He responds by saying, ‘If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.’ When prompted Jesus adds to this advice by saying, ‘If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.’ For various reasons I left everything I had behind and when in need received a big fat check in the mail … with GOD all things are possible.

The Word of GOD lives forever.

The seventeenth time that the words ‘live for ever’ are mentioned in GOD’s Word, it is pointed out to us that GOD’s Word lives forever.

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November 28, 2014
by Mimi E 1 Comment

The Word of GOD lives forever!

GOD’s Word lives forever!

The seventeenth time we find the words ‘live forever’ in the bible is when they are mentioned in 1 Peter as follows,

Being born again … by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever … the word of the Lord endureth for ever .

The context is as follows from 1 Peter 1:22-25 ‘Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.’

The author of the book of 1 Peter is encouraging those who are born again by the word of GOD to love one and other fervently and sincerely. And we are to have an appreciation for the fact that as people we come and go, much like grass and flowers do too.

GOD’s Word is eternal

It is pointed out to us that in contrast to our bodies, God’s Word is eternal and goes on forever and ever which makes it more precious than anything else. It is this precious Word that we follow and the guidelines in this Word, given by God our Father, that we adhere to.

The Word of GOD liveth and abideth for ever.

There is much debate about the books of Peter and the question remains if they were written by Peter or not? Regardless if these books were written by the apostle Peter all those years ago, when the writer of the book of Peter links the truth with love and GOD’s Word being eternal, he echoes the words of the prophets of old. And when he mentions, ‘The word of GOD, which liveth and abideth for ever,’ these words are as true now as they were then.

The word of the LORD endureth forever

Around one third of the world’s population lives by and holds unto His Holy Word.

The writer then reiterates the words of the prophet Isaiah when he continues with, ‘For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever …’

Of all the celebrities in the world, of all the designers, sports people, writers, politicians etc etc. whose word lives on and on?

It is the Word of GOD, his prophets and His SON which lives on and on and is adhered to by over a third of our world population. Long after Jesus was crucified on the cross, His and His Father’s Word and actions live on in the hearts and minds of a couple of billion people world wide.

Around one third of the world’s population lives by and holds unto His Holy Word.

So yes, GOD lives and abides for ever, as does His Word and the legacy of His SON who promised those who follow him eternal life.

ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.

November 21, 2014
by Mimi E 3 Comments

With GOD all things are possible … true story

What good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

Someone asks Jesus how to obtain eternal life and He responds by saying, ‘If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.’

When the person says that he kept the commandments from his youth and asks if there is anything else left for him to do, Jesus responds by saying, ‘If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.’
When the young man hears that, he walks away feeling all sad because he is quite rich and probably finds it hard to imagine leaving all his stuff behind.

Jesus observes this and notes that it is nigh impossible for a rich person to enter heaven. When his disciples hear this, they fall over backwards in amazement, isn’t being rich equal to being good and blessed? If this is not the case, who then can be saved?

Jesus benignly looks at his disciples and explains that indeed, to be saved as a rich person is not a likely scenario, but with GOD all things are possible.

True story

Around fourteen years ago I left all my stuff behind, I’d become quite ill from working all hours in stressful surroundings for a similar amount of time. The only option I could see was to bundle my children and bedding in a trailer and to leave behind all I worked so hard for to find a more peaceful life for us. At times the going was pretty tough but we never looked back and kept on moving forward.

There were occasions where I hit rock bottom and one particular time stands out in my mind where my health was rapidly declining and I desperately needed medical attention and was not able to get the help I needed due to crippling debt and my frail health. I was not even able to get off the bed, let alone get in the car to find treatment.
I prayed with all my might. I wasn’t praying for riches, I had left all that behind and quite happily so. I wasn’t praying for myself, I was praying that my children wouldn’t become orphans. I prayed for survival. I prayed for treatment that would get me back on my feet. I figured at the time that I needed $15,000 to get me back up and running as well as get some of my creditors of my back.

With GOD all things are possible.

I said, ‘LORD, I know that with you all things are possible, and I need around $15000 and I need it right now.’ The next day I received a message that a completely unexpected $15000 cheque was being written in my name. Within days that cheque was in the mail and I was able to obtain the care I needed at the time and take some of the pressure off the financial woes and worries I was experiencing. My name was slightly different at the time, hence the black-out. But the cheque was written out to me. This is a true story. Within one day of praying for 15000 dollars I, completely unexpected and out of the blue, received that exact amount when I reminded the LORD of what his SON told his followers about the powers of GOD.

Jesus tells us that it is near impossible for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of GOD but that with GOD all things are possible. Jesus also tells us that every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for his name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

Whatever your situation

Whatever your situation, I’d like to remind you that with GOD all things are possible and GOD hears prayer. If GOD pays attention to someone like me, who continuously mucks up, he’ll be sure to hear you too when you call upon Him.

Free scripture graphic

Feel free to use the above scripture graphic in your life to remind yourself that with GOD all things are possible. If you’re like the apostles and left everything and everyone to follow Jesus or if you find yourself in a tight spot for whatever reason, it is good to remember that GOD is in control and with Him all things are possible.

When I used those powerful words all those years ago, when I said and believed with all my heart that with GOD all things are possible and I trusted in Him to bring about good results, I didn’t even have to wait a full day for my prayer to be answered. GOD has answered all my prayers always and I know that He’ll do the same for you too. Just ask.

I pray that GOD may bless you and yours and that you may live forever!

If you have any stories about God answering prayers for you and/or your loved ones, I would love to hear about it.

ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.

ABOUT SCRIPTURE CARDS – If you want to send free Scripture Cards to your friends click here and if you want to buy hard copies of Scripture Cards you can click here. To download a free copy of my Story of Survival click here.

.And hold unto His Holy Word.

November 14, 2014
by Mimi E 1 Comment

Do you believe that you’ll live forever?

Do you believe that you’ll live forever?

It is rather simple, we either believe that we may live forever or we don’t.

Terry is gone to heaven

A few months ago I spoke with a family member, Bob, after his dad Terry just passed away. I asked Bob how he and his family were dealing with the passing away of their patriarch. Neither Bob nor Terry were or are religious in any way that I am aware of. In actual fact I distinctly remember Terry to be very anti any religion of any kind. Just the same, I was not even mildly surprised when Bob replied, ‘oh the kids are fine, they know that Terry is gone to heaven.’

This is indeed my experience with most people, religious or not, everyone seems to think, or likes to believe, that everyone goes to heaven. It’s a lovely thought till you pause for a moment and realise that heaven would then look, pretty much like what we have here now. And what we have here now isn’t what most of us imagine heaven to be like.

I wonder if I’m the only one that feels something is not adding up when non-religious people state with conviction that we all go to heaven. I thought that heaven was a biblical concept but hey, I could be wrong and there may well be lotsa different heavens I’ve never heard about and have no knowledge of.

Guidelines for entry

Regardless of what I think, most people I know seem to believe that they’ll live forever but very few actually consider that there may be guidelines and parameters involved.
It’s a given that we all go to heaven, right? Not according to scripture. This is what my Bible tells me,

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way,
that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Many churches teach people that they are ‘saved’ as long as they profess to have faith and believe in Jesus. I know lotsa people who believe in Jesus and what did Jesus himself say about finding the way to life? He said, ‘few there be that find it.’

Jesus would not have said that ‘only a few of us will find life’ if just faith and belief in Him would do the job; because there are stacks of us who have oodles of faith and believe in Him as the Son of GOD. So there has to be more to it. For starters we may just have to do the blatantly obvious, and be a decent person.

Because we may have different opinions on how to go about that, Jesus gives quite specific instructions on how to treat each other. How about treating others the way we would like to be treated ourselves?

Jesus said,

And as ye would that men should do to you,
do ye also to them likewise.

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,
do ye even so to them:
for this is the law and the prophets.

As a Jewish prophet, Jesus refers here to his Father’s law and the teachings of the prophets.

For I have not spoken of myself;
but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment,
what I should say, and what I should speak.
And I know that his commandment is life everlasting:
whatsoever I speak therefore,
even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

If you know of any other prerequisites you can share these in the comments.

.Do

Names have been changed to protect the privacy of those mentioned in this article.

All rights reserved copyright myemmanuel 2014

November 7, 2014
by Mimi E 1 Comment

He that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

The fifteenth time that the words ‘live for ever’ are mentioned.

I am the living bread which came down from heaven:
if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever:
and the bread that I will give is my flesh,
which I will give for the life of the world.

The sixteenth time that the words ‘live for ever’ are mentioned.

This is that bread which came down from heaven:
not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead:
he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

In context the text reads

Then Jesus said unto them,
Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man,
and drink his blood,
ye have no.
life in you.

Whoso eateth my flesh,
and drinketh my blood,
hath eternal life;
and I will raise him up
at the last day.
For my flesh is meat indeed,
and my blood is drink indeed.

He that eateth my flesh,
and drinketh my blood,
dwelleth in me,
and I in him.

As the living Father hath sent me,
and I live by the Father:
so he that eateth me,
even he shall live by me.

This is that bread which came down from heaven:
not as your fathers did eat manna,
and are dead:
he that eateth this bread
shall live for ever.

.. Doth this offend you?

It is the spirit that quickeneth;
the flesh profiteth nothing:
the words that I speak unto you,
they are spirit,
and they are life.

But there are some of you that believe not.

Therefore said I unto you,
that no man can come unto me,
except it were given unto him
of my Father.

Jesus, thou hast the words
of eternal life.
And we believe and are sure
that thou art that Christ,
the Son of the living God.

*

ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.

ABOUT THIS BLOG – We’re researching the truth of living forever according to GOD’s Holy Word; Sola Scripture. Popular opinion tells us that everyone who ‘believes’ and has ‘faith’ will go to heaven. Is this true? I decided to ask the prophets about the truth of it all.

ABOUT SCRIPTURE CARDS – If you want to send free Scripture Cards to your friends click here and if you want to buy hard copies of Scripture Cards you can click here. To download a free copy of my Story of Survival click here.

October 31, 2014
by Mimi E 1 Comment

The prophets, do they live for ever?

Turn ye now from your evil ways.

When I just started reading the bible I wondered what was meant by ‘evil ways.’ Because the whole nation was addressed and I just could not imagine how a whole nation could be considered evil. When we read on however we’re told that refusing to follow God’s rules is considered evil. His main rules are pretty simple and easy to understand; love each other, do not lie, kill, steal, covet and so on. And yes we are ‘commanded’ to love each other. Not only those nice people that are easy to love but also complete strangers, people we don’t know or understand and those who hate us. All I can say is that I’m working on it.

What is love again? Following God’s commandments, that is love.

The fourteenth time

The fourteenth time the word’s ‘live for ever’ are mentioned in the bible is in the book of the prophet Zechariah where he writes, ‘Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?’ Below are the scripture verses relating to this text as quoted from Zechariah 1.

Your fathers, where are they?

In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, The Lord hath been sore displeased with your fathers. Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the Lord.

Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?

But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the Lord of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.

GOD’s words and laws live for ever!

The context of this writing highlights that people come and go but GOD’s words and laws live for ever. We can decide to follow Him or not and expect to be dealt with accordingly.

ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.

October 30, 2014
by Mimi E 3 Comments

What is GOD’s name?

What is GOD’s name?

How do we address the God of Israel, the God of our bible?

Most people I know, refer to our heavenly Father as GOD or The LORD. Many I know, including myself, address Him as ‘Father’ and refer to him as ‘our Creator.’

I know that people of Jewish ancestry don’t pronounce the name of our LORD but tend to refer to him as Adonai and write His name as G-d. I once read an explanation for this on a Jewish website which mentioned that God’s name is too holy for us to take in our mouth. In addition, if we don’t take His name in our mouth we cannot transgress the 3^rd Commandment which tells us not to take the LORD’s name in vain.

The King James translators of the bible refer to our Father as ‘God’ and ‘The Lord’ and ‘the Lord our God,’ as do most other bible translations.

Most people I know don’t call their parents by their first name either but use the generic ‘mum’ and ‘dad’ out of respect. For this reason I never took issue with the fact that hardly anyone refers to our heavenly Father by His name.

What has the bible got to say about the name of our Father?

Quite a few references are made in the bible about the name of our Father. We’ll have a look at three of them. The first one is where GOD spoke to Moses out of a fiery bush. The second occasion we’ll mention is at Mount Sinai where GOD introduced himself to his people and the third occasion is where King David refers to our Father as Jah.

In the book of Exodus Moses asked GOD, ‘What should I tell people who ask me what your name is?’ This was an occasion where the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he when he looked, Moses saw that the bush burned with fire, but the bush was not consumed. When Moses turned to look closer as to what was going on, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And God said, take your shoes off because this is holy ground.

At the burning bush

And Moses said to God, Behold when I am coming to the children of Israel and say ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you’, and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’, what should I tell them? And God said to Moses, Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh (I am that which I am), and He said, thus shall you say to the children of Israel, ‘Ehyeh has sent me to you’. And God said further to Moses, thus shall you say to the Children of Israel: ‘YHWH the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob has sent me to you, this is my name forever, this is my mention for every generation.

At Mount Sinai

If we look at how the bible translators dealt with what was said at Mount Sinai where our Father introduced himself to his people we notice that there are quite a few variations. Most translators translate as follows, ‘I am the LORD your God,’ others translated, ‘I am Jehovah your GOD’ and one translated as ‘I am Yahweh your God.’

Riding upon the heavens

Further on in the bible in the book of Psalms King David refers to our Father as Jah.

Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name Jah, and rejoice before him.

GOD’s name is important

Within history and the whole salvation story GOD’s name is important. We know this because it is referred to often in the bible in various ways.

When GOD himself places importance of his name, I sit up and listen.

When we address GOD and refer to him why don’t we call him by his name?

It doesn’t help matters much that some religious groups have kinda ‘hijacked’ the name Jehovah such as for instance the Jehova’s witnesses. By mentioning his name people may think that those who mention Jehovah’s name are associated with certain groups they may not necessary feel like they want to be associated with.

There are people who call God by his name and refer to The LORD as Yahweh or Jehovah. But if we want to call our Father by his name, it would be nice to know the correct name and how to pronounce it. How can we find out what God’s name is and how to pronounce it?

I have good news for you! Biblicar scholar Nehemia Gordon has done a study on just that.

Study on the name of the Most High by biblical scholar

The consonants of the name YHVH appear some 6828 times in the Hebrew text of Scripture, yet is hardly found in any bible; why is this so?

Biblical scholar Nehemia Gordon has done a study on this very subject and his study ‘The Pronunciation of the Name’ dismantles the ‘scholarly consensus’ that the name of God is ‘Yahweh’, and proves it to be ‘Ye HO VaH’ which is pronounced with the emphasis on the last vowel.

Nehemia says that, ‘When it comes to the name it is widely believed that the vowels were systematically replaced with the vowels of the word Adonai (Lord). So modern scholars deliberately ignore the vowels of YHVH which are actually written in the Hebrew text of Scripture and attempt to reconstruct what the “original” vowels were based on all kinds of external arguments and speculations.

As a result, scholars arrive at different conclusions as to how the name was originally pronounced. One of the most popular theories is that the name was pronounced Yahweh and there is a virtual scholarly consensus concerning this name. However, this consensus is not based on decisive proof. The Anchor Bible Dictionary explains: ‘The pronunciation of yhwh as Yahweh is a scholarly guess.’

If you want to know more about Nehemia’s study on this and other subjects you can visit him by clicking on any of the links provided. Thank you Nehemia for such an excellent study.

There are many differing opinions on the subject of God’s name and one more is referred to by Yahu Ranger below in the comments, but it is my understanding that the meaning of the name Yehovah is, ‘He who was,’ ‘now is’ and ‘is to come.’

Sounds like forever to me.

ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.

October 17, 2014
by Mimi E 1 Comment

Curious about SEO

SEO Optimised article

Beware the article below is seo (search engine optimised) and was written for this specific purpose by a guest writer.

Out of curiosity

Out of curiosity, to find out what the prevailing perception on the internet is with regards to eternal life, life everlasting and living forever, I asked an experienced seo writer to write me a 500 word article on the subject. Below is what came up. From this we can see that Christians like to hear and believe that God’s promises are true. Christians believe that everlasting life is assured to them who will accept Jesus as their savior. Christians believe that following Christ requires sacrifice, patience, and grace. And to have everlasting life you must be born again.

– This is the beginning of the seo optimised article –

God’s promises are true

Christians believe that God’s promises are true, and they come to pass. The scripture says; those people who have faith in Jesus Christ will attain an eternal life. John 3:16 (NIV) says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” It is wonderful to know that them who believe in Jesus Christ will live forever, long after leaving the earth.

Everlasting life is assured

Everlasting life is assured to them who will accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior. Christians should note that accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior has many challenges, and they ought to make hard choices and difficult decisions. Matthew 16:24, 25 (NIV) say; Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” Based on this scripture, you have to deny yourself the pleasures the world and follow Jesus Christ with all your heart. You have to emulate His way of life for you to live everlasting life.

Following Christ requires sacrifice, patience, and grace

Leaving our worldly life to follow Christ requires sacrifice, patience, and grace. But the reward for getting an eternal life outdoes the sacrifices. All the same, we need God’s grace in order to follow him wholeheartedly. It is clear in the scriptures that for man to live forever, it is by grace not by works. The Pharisees struggled to please God by bringing offerings yet they were ignoring the most important facets of great human existence like love and kindness. Matthew 23:23 (NIV) warns those who are after pleasing God with sacrifices like money and charitable works in order to live everlasting life. It clearly states; “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices- mint, dill, and cumin. But you have neglected the most important matters of the law- justice, mercy, and faith. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.”

To obtain everlasting life you must be born again

Jesus Christ told Nicodemus that if you have to live everlasting life you must be born again. Nicodemus wondered how it was possible for an old man to go back to his mother’s womb to get eternal life. In John 3:4-6 (NIV) Nicodemus asked, “How can a man be born when he is old? Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” 5Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth; no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the spirit.6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the spirit gives birth to spirit.” This scripture outlays to us that to enter the Kingdom of God we should accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior. Being born again in this context refers to deserting our old sinful ways and accepting to follow righteousness for us to live forever.

– This is the end of the seo optimised article –

God’s promises are true and come to pass

God’s Word tells us that God’s promises are true and come to pass.

The Lord gave them rest round about,
according to all that he sware unto their fathers
There failed not ought of any good thing
which the Lord had spoken …
all came to pass.

And yes we’re told that For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

However to think that this scripture verse stands on its own and that believe by itself will do is simplifying things a little. The seo article writer indeed goes on to clarify that more is expected of followers. James also puts it quite eloquently,

Thou believest that there is one God;
thou doest well:
the devils also believe, and tremble.

Obviously, as mentioned in the seo article, our behaviour will have to emulate Jesus’ walk in life or we’ll just be found out to be fakes.

Let us not love in word,
neither in tongue;
but in deed and in truth.

Jesus said that to obtain everlasting life one must be born again and he himself was baptised in his late twenties by his cousin John the Baptist. We’re supposed to walk as he walked.

Eternal life is not for sale

The seo article makes it very clear that eternal life is not for sale and cannot be bought with any amount of work or money when it states that, ‘It is clear in the scriptures that for man to live forever, it is by grace not by works.’

To be entitled to this grace Jesus tells us that we are to “practice the most important matters of the law- justice, mercy, and faith without neglecting the former.” With this Jesus tells us about the kind of behaviour expected from those who will be drawn by the Father.

No man can come to me,
except the Father which hath sent me draw him:
and I will raise him up at the last day.

For man to live forever

When Jesus was asked, ‘What to do to obtain eternal life,’ He told the story about the Samaritan. Jesus told the story about the Samaritan as an example of what is expected from people who may live forever. The Samaritan really went out of his way and worked hard to save a complete stranger.

According to research on the internet the Samaritans are also known as “Guardians /Keepers/ Watchers of the Law /Torah (from the Samaritan Hebrew: שוֹ‏מְרִים Samerim), Jewish Hebrew: שומרונים‎ Shomronim, Arabic: السامريون‎Sāmeriyyūn) are an ethnoreligious group of the Levant, descended from ancient Semitic inhabitants of the region.

When Jesus answered the lawyer’s question on what needs to be done to obtain eternal life, Jesus did not say that to obtain eternal life we need to have grace and faith and not works, quite the contrary.

Jesus said something to the extent of, ‘To obtain eternal life we must love God with our whole being, love our fellow human beings and keep God’s commandments. In addition we must act like the Samaritan.’
So work does come into it. Work just cannot be used as a bribe.

Wow, how clear are those guidelines?

Also in the bible the whole of chapter two of James explains in minute detail how faith without works is dead.

Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone
O vain man, faith without works is dead …
by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
For as the body without the spirit is dead,
so faith without works is dead also.

Sure it is GOD who determines our destiny and we certainly rely on his grace for anything in this life and possible afterlife but if any of us were to think that everlasting life can be bought or is assured for some and that just grace is sufficient to swing those pearly gates in our favour, we may be in for a surprise. Jesus promises to reward everyone according to their works.

There is only one Judge

My curiosity is now satisfied and the above quoted seo article confirms to me that there are gaps in the knowledge on the public domain with regards to living forever and everlasting life.

Yes, we need faith and yes we need grace and yes we also need to work hard to remain in that grace and keep holding on to that faith.

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

There is only one Judge and when we meet at the pearly gates I pray that they’ll swing wide open for both of us.

It continues to be my prayer for my readers that you all may live forever!

ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.

October 10, 2014
by Mimi E 1 Comment

Some to everlasting life

Thirteenth time the words ‘live(th) for ever’ are used

We’re going through the bible and finding out where the words ‘live for ever’ have been used and in what context. In chapter twelve of the book of Daniel the words live forever are mentioned for the thirteenth time in my bible. They are referred to in verses one, two and three and mentioned in verse seven where ‘a man clothed in linen’ swore by Him who lives for ever. I have copied and pasted the whole of chapter twelve so that these verses can be seen in context.

Chapter Twelve of the Book of Daniel

1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

²And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

³And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

⁴But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

⁵Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river.

⁶And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?

⁷And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

⁸And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?

⁹And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

¹⁰Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

¹¹And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

¹²Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.

¹³But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.

Everyone found written in the book

Daniel the prophet lived during the sixth and seventh century BC when he prophesied that there would be a saviour of the people, ‘Michael’ who will deliver all people as found written in ‘the book.’ What book? The book of everlasting life?

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Some awake to everlasting life

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Some awake to everlasting life; not all but some. And some awake to shame and everlasting contempt. We discussed in an earlier post who the wise are, the ones that ‘shall shine as the brightness of the firmament’ and those that ‘shall understand.’

The fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding …  A good understanding have all they that do his commandments.

Daniel’s prophesy come true.

We know that some of Daniel’s prophecy has already come true because throughout history people have been raised from the death. There are a few accounts of resurrection such as by the prophet Elijah and by Jesus, who is also referred to as Michael (verse 1), where boys and girls and daughters and friends were resurrected and this of course includes Jesus resurrection also.

Him that liveth for ever

And I heard the man clothed in linen … when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever …

The promise is that if we genuinely follow Him who lives for ever, we will also.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

We’re told to walk as He walked and Jesus said, ‘If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments.’

Daniel 12:3

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October 3, 2014
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement

Yom Kippur is also called the Day of Atonement.

In 2015 Yom Kippur is celebrated on September 24 (if the moon is sighted on September 14, according to Karaite Jews).

it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

In the bible in Leviticus 23 it is written that,

The Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.

The Lord says, ‘these are my feasts.’

Concerning the feasts of the Lord.

And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you:

A statute for ever throughout your generation

And the Lord spake unto Moses, sayin g, Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord. And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the Lord your God … Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.

A statute for ever

Note the words: ‘it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.’

If you chose not to be part of this feast, according to scripture, you chose not to be part of God’s posse.

For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.

The other thing we know is that Jesus himself kept the feast days and we are supposed to follow him and walk as he walked.

Live for ever .. feasts for ever

September 19, 2014
by Mimi E 1 Comment

The LORD Is My Shepherd

Psalm 23 – The LORD is my shepherd

King David is believed to be the author of psalm 23 which is titled; The Lord is my shepherd. King David of course was a shepherd himself when he was a youngster and famously slew a lion and a bear defending his flock.

Jesus called himself the good shepherd and explained to his disciples that good shepherds defend their sheep with their life.

My daughters gifted me the words, ‘Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever’ engraved for a special occasion. That makes these words from psalm 23 extra special to me.

One day we may get around to ironing out some minor hick-ups in the song. Meanwhile, this is another occasion in the bible where we are assured that we can live for ever. That’s pretty sweet.

May all my readers dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

The LORD is my shepherd

Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:

he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul:

he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil:

for thou art with me;

thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me

in the presence of mine enemies:

thou anointest my head with oil;

my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall

follow me all the days of my life:

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD

for ever.

September 12, 2014
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Recapping where the words ‘live for ever’ (חָיָה נֵ֫צַח) are mentioned.

The words ‘live for ever.’

We’re going through the bible to see where the words ‘live for ever’ pop up and in what context. We’re about halfway now.

I don’t know if you noticed but in scripture the words, ‘live for ever,’ are separated by spaces whilst on the banner on this website the last two words in the sentence, ‘live forever’ have no space between them but have been placed together. This was not deliberate but just happened with the designing of the banner. We could have changed it but decided to leave it because ‘forever’ is the more modern spelling and in the end it means the same thing as in, living forever more … eternally.

In our modern language we can spell the words live for ever in quite a few ways. For instance as in, live for ever, live forever, live4eva, even life4eva or liveforeva. No matter how we spell it, the meaning remains the same.

According to our Strong’s Concordance the words ‘for ever‘ such as in Psalm 49:9 translate from Hebrew as follows: נֵ֫צַח – netsach: eminence, enduring, everlastingness, perpetuity. A short definition of this is ‘forever.’

Recapping where in the bible the words ‘live for ever’ are mentioned.

Recapping

This post lists a few other posts which explain where the concept of living for ever comes from.

How many times is ‘live for ever’ mentioned in the bible?

This post addresses how many times the words ‘live for ever’ are mentioned in scripture and it also recalls the first time that the words ‘live for ever’ were mentioned in the bible by GOD. We learn that if we want to live for ever, we better do as we’re told by our Maker and the Creator of the universe.

Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak …

The second time the words ‘live for ever’ are mentioned in the bible is when Moses calls the heavens and the earth as witnesses to his speech and prophesy which once more tells us that our life depends upon following God’s commandments. And we are to teach our children this wisdom.

A greeting fit for royalty

The post ‘A greeting fit for royalty’ tells us about all the times that kings in the bible were addressed with the greeting, ‘Live for ever.’ We learn that this practice is still in use today and was used at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II around 60 years ago.

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

The desperate cry of ‘My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?’ was used by King David as well as by Jesus after he was crucified. This is the sixth time that the words ‘live for ever’ are mentioned. Both Psalm 22 and Jesus crucifixion and resurrection tell us that all those who trust in The LORD will be saved and may live for ever.

Hear this all ye people, give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world.

This is the seventh time that the words ‘live for ever’ are mentioned and this time all people, all inhabitants of the world are addressed. We’re told that eternal life is not for sale, men are like the beasts who perish and riches are temporary and fleeting and mean nothing in the larger scheme of things.

I think that most of us know that in our heart anyway, really. Just a reminder I guess. It’s not as if we can pretend that we didn’t know, is it?

September 5, 2014
by Mimi E 1 Comment

Hear this all ye people, give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world.

Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:

The sixth time that the phrase ‘live for ever’ is mentioned.

The sixth time that the phrase ‘live for ever’ is mentioned in the bible is in Psalm 49 verse 9.

So that he might continue to live for ever and not experience death.

There are bible commentators who credit King David with this Psalm whilst some say it is was written by the sons of Korah who were masters of the choir. Others say that the author is unknown.

All inhabitants of the world are addressed.

The author of Psalm 49 addresses all inhabitants of the world. The Psalmist addresses believers and unbelievers alike. The Psalmist says that he or she has profound wisdom to share which goes like this: without GOD we are as beast that perish and no amount of wealth will save any of us.

The author thinks that this information is so important that all people, all inhabitants of the world should hear about it.

Listen to this, all you nations! Pay attention, all you inhabitants of the world!

Why should I be afraid in times of trouble
when I feel overwhelmed by the bad treatment I receive from the wealthy?
Wise people die as do the foolish and unbelievers and all leave their wealth behind.
They are like animals that perish.
They will travel to their graves like sheep with death as their shepherd.
God is my shepherd, he will save me from death.
So that I may live for ever …
Eternal life is not for sale.

The message of Psalm 49.

In Psalm 49 the poor are comforted and told not to worry when the rich take advantage of them. The Psalmist tells the poor and disadvantaged that the rich already have their reward. And none will be able to take any of their riches with them to their graves. The graves of the rich, the foolish and spiritually insensitive will be their permanent dwelling place and they will never see the light again. Wealthy as they may be today, in the end they will die like animals. But there is hope for us who wait for Him and trust in The LORD for our salvation, He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces.

He that is our God is the God of salvation;
and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.

Jesus reiterates the message of Psalm 49

Jesus reiterates the message of Psalm 49 when he says,

Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled.
Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh …
But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.

My family has always been relatively well off and I never quite understood the, ‘Woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.’ What is wrong with being rich?
Well for starters, if you have more than the people around you, that means that you’re not sharing. Jesus told a parable to this effect about a rich man who did very well during his lifetime and a beggar ‘desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table.’ Long story short, the rich man ends up in hell and the beggar ends up being comforted by Abraham. When the rich man asks if the beggar can please come and help to relieve his torment a little, the rich man is told by Abraham,

Remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things,
and likewise Lazarus evil things:
but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

The advice given by Jesus in this parable is, to listen to Moses and the prophets to prevent this kind of scenario from happening in your own life.

Another parable tells about a rich person building bigger barns to store all his riches and this man dies before he gets to enjoy any of his wealth. With this parable Jesus warns his followers not to be covetousness,

Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

It is near impossible for the rich to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Jesus made it clear that it is near impossible for rich people to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I know what he is talking about because I’ve been that rich girl living in a mansion on the beach, driving my Jaguar flanked by a couple of massive pedigree dogs and super cute offspring, wearing designer gear and dining out most days. I’ve been there and done all that till I tumbled mightily when I became ill and hubby suffered from memory loss where he was found holidaying on De Nile with no recollection of a marriage contract. I know what it is like to live rich. I still do. Only this time it is by the grace of GOD and I take nothing for granted. My life and wealth are entirely in GOD’s hand and always have been. The difference between now and then is that, now, I have submitted to GOD’s will. Whilst, then, I was under the mistaken belief that my husband was the one.

After 27 years I received a long overdue wake-up call which cost me a mighty amount of money to the point where I am now what one would call flat broke. But never happier, never more blessed, never more content, never more loved or comfortable. All the money in the world does not make anyone happy. My joy and happiness are found in GOD’s Word, everything else comes second. I have experienced wealth and riches and I know that all is in GOD’s hand and everything in life is controlled by GOD always. With GOD all things are possible and I have no greater pleasure in life than to share that message.

And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

You cannot serve GOD and riches

This day is salvation come to this house.

We know that some people in Jesus day got the message too, because there is the story of Zacchaeus, a rich guy who became remorseful after he met Jesus and promised to do better.

And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

Take no thought for tomorrow.

Psalm 49 finishes as follows,

Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

All riches, health, wealth, joy and happiness come from GOD. Once more I was re minded of this when I was researching on how to become financially independent. I was learning how for instance to gain ‘followers.’ One of the recommended ways is to ‘follow’ other bloggers who in turn then will ‘follow’ me. But I just cannot get my finger to press that button that says ‘follow.’ My heart and mind keep telling me that I follow one and one only and that is The Father and His Son. And so these marketeers keep telling me that if I want to make any kind of profit I will have to get myself some followers. Stands to reason, doesn’t it?

I just cannot press that ‘follow’ button. I can click where it says ‘like’ and I can click where it says ‘sign up to receive updates or ‘get rss’, but I haven’t as yet been able to click the button where it says ‘follow.’ And as far as profits are concerned, yes I like pretty and fancy things as much as anyone else but I truly am after a different kind of prophet. His name is Jesus. And that’s the truth.

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

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This is an easy quick one-hour-read which is likely to change your life for the better even if you only read the book.

Includes sample eulogy to-be, templates and reverse-engineer how to’s.

By the word of The Lord were the Heavens made

All of us live forever

The following is quoted from Tony Judt, historian, (02/91/1948-06/08/2010).

Just months before the historian Tony Judt died of ALS in 2010, he gave an interview to Terry Gross on NPR’s Fresh Air. When she asked him about his spiritual beliefs, he replied as follows.

I highly recommend downloading the template included in the book and following the instructions for guaranteed results.

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Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife.

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Jesus the Greatest Teacher that ever lived.

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Is There Such a Thing as Life After Death?

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