24 Encouraging Scripture Verses for when we face BIG trouble with our health.

The Healing Power of Prayer; 24 encouraging Scripture verses for people with major illness

A friend of mine, let’s call her Isabella, was recently diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening condition. After weeks of anxiety, tests and an operation, Isabella will now undergo radiation treatment.

It is an awful thing to be diagnosed with a major illness. And often we are at a loss as on how to proceed. The doctors say one thing. Friends, family, and neighbours all want to have their say also and the whole process of testing and treating can be a confusing and challenging time.

Our Lives are in God’s Hands

As friends, we may not always know what to do and how to help. All I really want to do is hold Isabella in a tight hug and tell her that it will be OK. I want to tell her that our lives are in God’s hands and that he has good plans for her.

I think about my friend often and as usual, when I’m distressed about something, I find comfort in God’s Word. Prayer is known to reduce stress and inflammation in the body.

There is Healing Power in God’s Holy Word

People who pray are found to heal faster and have more peace of mind than people who don’t pray. And the same goes for people who are prayed for, regardless if they know that they are prayed for or not. Mmmm, interesting, isn’t it?

Does the strength of the healing power depend on the faith of the person praying? Sometimes, yes. But not always.

There is healing power in God’s Holy Word which is as true today as it was thousands of years ago. We can claim the promises from God’s Holy Word as our own. It is as easy as that.

24 ENCOURAGING SCRIPTURE VERSES FOR PEOPLE WITH MAJOR ILLNESS

Isabella told me the other day that 25 radiation treatments have been scheduled ‘as a precaution.’ I found 25 Scripture verses to encourage my friend and others on a similar journey. One for each day of treatment.
The first Scripture Verse is below and the others will follow to help and encourage anyone needing comfort and encouragement during medical treatment of any kind.

The Lord Will Keep You

You can right-click your mouse on the Scripture Verses to ‘save image as’ to your computer and use them as a screensaver.

The Lord will keep you from all harm.. Psalm 121:7

May the Lord hold you close, Isabella. And may he comfort you and others who are on a similar journey, and carry you through this period of therapy.

Much love to you my dear friend. I’m looking forward to our next gettogether.

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 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!

Various translations of the Bible were used in the creation of these Scripture Verses. These include the ocasional Australian translation as well as the following: King James Bible: Pure Cambridge Edition. Young’s Literal Translation Section Headings Courtesy BereanBible.com © 2013, 2014 Used by Permission. New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. GOD’S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God’s Word to the Nations. Quotations by permission. Copyright 1995 by God’s Word to the Nations. All rights reserved.

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Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness

December 3, 2017
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Blessings (3) for the Holiday Season, Christmas and New year

Blessings

I pray for God’s blessings over all my readers.

Blessings for righteousness

According to Jesus, Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

News reports often fill me with anxiety because it appears that there are so many injustices in the world. Sometimes it is possible to write a letter here and there or make a donation, but often enough the best we can do is sink to our knees, and send our heartfelt prayers for a better world up high.

I pray that my readers may be filled and all the good promises coming true soon.

You can send free Scripture Cards to your friends and family 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 click here or visit www.mimiemmanuel.com. For a free video course on how to write a bestseller, click here. To join my launch party click here.

December 2, 2017
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Blessings (2) for the Holiday Season, Christmas and New year

Blessings

I pray for God’s blessings over all my readers.

Blessed are the meek

According to Jesus, Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.

What does meek mean? Quiet, patient, gentle, benevolent, kind, unassuming, humble and courteous are the words that come up in google when I search for alternatives to the word ‘meek.’

Let’s just say that I’m working on it…

I pray that my readers may inherit the earth.

You can send free Scripture Cards to your friends 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 click here or visit www.mimiemmanuel.com. For a free video course on how to write a bestseller, click here. To join my launch party click here.

Merry Christmas, Blessings for 2018 and a Happy New Year

December 1, 2017
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Blessings (1) for the Holiday Season, Christmas and New year

Blessings

I pray for God’s blessings over all my readers.

Who are the blessed ones?

According to Jesus, Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted.

I’ve mourned plenty over lost health, lost friends and fortune and many other things that have gone awry in my world. Do I feel comforted now? Very much so.

I mourned when I had to leave my old town, which I loved a lot. Now I’m feeling warmly embraced by my current new town. Praise the Lord!

If you’re mourning now, I pray that you hang in there, and soon will be comforted.

You can send free Scripture Cards to your friends 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 click here or visit www.mimiemmanuel.com. For a free video course on how to write a bestseller, click here. To join my launch party click here.

September 11, 2017
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Hearing His Voice: Meeting Jesus in the Garden of Promise

by Meredith Swift

DESCRIPTION

Do you feel lost and isolated, as though you don’t matter?

Do you feel tired and stressed, in need of replenishment and refreshment?
Do you want to find out more about the One who loves you more deeply, and knows you more thoroughly, than you could ever imagine?
Do you want to find out practical ways to grow your faith and walk more closely with Jesus?
Then this book is for you!

Written during recovery

Meredith wrote this book during recovery from an extremely challenging time in her life – having gone through a divorce, resignation from her long term teaching job and relocation to a different city to access better services for her autistic daughter. Her daughter was also very unwell at this time, becoming bedridden by a mystery illness. All of this had left Meredith feeling exhausted, fearful, alone and very isolated.

Guidance of Scripture

Meredith knew she needed to strengthen her fragile spirit and overcome the fear of this time. She sought the guidance of Scripture and the assistance of the Lord Jesus Christ, knowing that only He could bring comfort and healing at the deep levels required. Meredith knew that her relationship with her Creator meant He was available 24/7 and so she started to schedule regular time where she communicated with Him.

The Garden of Promise

Covered with prayer and Scripture, Meredith visualised meeting Jesus in a beautiful garden that she came to know as the Garden of Promise – so named for the promises of goodness and grace found liberally throughout the Scriptures.
This book is the result of these communications – an unforgettable and inspiring journey of encouragement and healing, where Jesus spoke new life into Meredith’s being. Her feelings of isolation lifted and she felt herself soothed, replenished and deeply loved by spending this time with the Lord Jesus Christ.
You, too, are invited to go on this journey through the pages of this book as you hear His voice and meet Jesus in the Garden of Promise.

REVIEWS

I will treasure this book forever!

I will treasure this book forever! The Scripture verses filled with promises warm my heart and lighten my days. Meredith’s travels through dark times have been transformed into this wonderful gift, uplifting many. Thank you Meredith from the bottom of my heart!

More reviews here.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Meredith Swift was born and raised in rural Victoria, Australia, the fourth of five children. She has travelled and lived in many different places and now resides in sunny Townsville, North Queensland, Australia.

Meredith accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour in 2010 and began establishing a close personal relationship with Him. In 2016, she wrote “Hearing His Voice – Meeting Jesus in the Garden of Promise” during a difficult and challenging season of her life, which included a divorce, resignation from her teaching job, relocation to a larger city and the mystery illness of her daughter who was bedridden for three months. Meredith leaned in especially closely to Jesus and communicated regularly with Him during this time. This book is the result of these communications.

Meredith has two daughters, three stepdaughters, a golden retriever and two cats. She enjoys participating in the life of her church, walking, travelling, reading and cooking.

It is her deepest desire that all should come to know the transforming love of the Lord Jesus Christ and invites you to hear His voice in the Garden of Promise.

GET YOUR OWN COPY

Hearing His Voice: Meeting Jesus in the Garden of Promise is FREE during launch on September 11 and 12, 2017 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 copy of THE HOLY GRAIL OF BOOK LAUNCHING click here. For a copy of MIMI’S EULOGY TO-BE & LEGACY click here. For a free video course on how to write a bestseller, click here. To join my launch party click here.

February 10, 2017
by Mimi E Leave a comment

24 Scripture Verses just for Parents(2)

Previous 12 Scripture Verses in the series can be viewed here at 24 Scripture Verses just for parents

You can find out about the greatest compliment given to mothers here.

24 Scripture Verses just for Parents (2)

1 John 4 tells us that perfect love has no fear. Think about how that frees us up. No need to fear, simply love wholeheartedly with boldness and confidence. God is love, if you experience fear, you’re not expressing God’s love. How wonderful to be laying aside fear, these False Expectations Appearing Real, (FEAR).

Perfect Peace

This Scripture Verse helps us live in perfect peace. There is only one requirement for those who want to live in perfect peace.
How do we live in perfect peace? By trusting in The Lord. When we trust in The Lord we’ll be in constant communication with him. When we trust in The Lord, we run to Him when we find ourselves or our children in trouble. God’s Word, His love and presence give us constant peace.

There have been many times in my life where my husband was not available because of work obligations, distance and all sorts of reasons.

Whenever I am not sure how to respond to my children’s needs I call to The Lord and He answers, too easy!

Darkness and Light

There have been periods in my life where I travelled through endless dark valleys with seemingly no light on the horizon.
You know, when one day, all of a sudden your children know everything better than you? They have more wisdom, more knowledge, more street smart, or so they think… than their parent.

One moment I am their bestie and they will love me f o r e v e r . And the next moment I am seen to be the evil witch from hell who n e v e r had their best interests at heart.

What happened? It’s called ‘the teenage years.’ We all live through it, parents as well as children, and come out the other end. Don’t despair like I did in my ignorance.
These were dark periods for me because I was unprepared for the sudden change of affection. This Scripture Verse tells me that God is light and there is no darkness in Him at all.

As His child I can live up to that and not be deceived by apparent momentary darkness.

I am the light of the world:
he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness,
but shall have the light of life.

When all appears dark, look to The Lord, He is light and in Him there is no darkness at all.

In God’s Hand… the breath of all mankind

Have you ever been woken up by a reverse charge phone call like this at 11 pm at night? “Mum, I lost my purse and mobile phone and cannot find my way back to my unit.”
I have.

How about, “Mum, I don’t want to live anymore.”
I have.

Or, ‘Today is the last day you’ll hear my voice. You’ll never see my smile again.”

OK that’s enough sharing. I’ve had many hair raising calls where I literally feel my heart throbbing in my throat. People tell me that it gets easier when your children get older. Does it? When my children were toddlers I always managed to kiss their pains away and hug them tight and keep them safe.
Now they’re older and can get themselves into real trouble out in the big wide world, now what?

This is when I remember that everyone’s life is in God’s hand, not mine. Phew, that’s a load of my mind.
Amen, thank you Lord. It is not my job to keep other adults safe and alive:

In God’s hand is the soul of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.

Thank you Father!

Always Pray

“But they promised Mum, they said they would give me the promotion.”
“He promised to repay the money.”
“My horse trailer was stolen right under my eyes.”
“I worked so very hard to get and keep this job, how can they cancel the contract?”

So much unfairness and what can we do to shield our children from this? Other than raise them well and make sure that they’ll do the right thing by others… not much usually.

Hold on. How about we use the tried and trusted, most effective method of all? Prayer! Always pray, not to faint. When this unjust judge wouldn’t give this lady what she was entitled to, she continued hassling and bothering this judge till he gave in.

If an unjust judge eventually delivers justice… how much more will our Heavenly Father hear us and deliver justice to His people?

The tree is known by its fruit

Either make the tree good, and his fruit good;
or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt:
for the tree is known by his fruit.

Set the right example for your children. It is as simple as that.

Submit to God

“I cannot help it Mum.”

” I keep doing the wrong thing by people and I don’t want to.”

“I don’t know what made me do this.”

Yes, you do.Your behaviour is caused by an attitude of laziness and ‘I cannot be bothered’ and ‘finding an easy way out’ and ‘this works for me.”

Don’t try to confuse me with conflicting messages. If you genuinely want to do the right thing by people and struggle to do so, I suggest that you pray over it and ask for help.

If you genuinely think that you cannot stop yourself ftom doing the wrong thing by people, you pray for a change of attitude. Go, see a therapist, read some books, follow a course, take supplements, improve your attitude with the help of The Lord, family, friends, therapists and health professionals.

All actions that involve lying, cheating, stealing, damaging other people’s property, hurting their soul, heart and spirit can easily be avoided.
How?

Submit to God and resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Thank you Father for chasing all spirits of laziness, hatred and liars out of my family. Thank you for chasing these foul spirits out of my children as well as me.

The Lord bless thee

Do you ask God to bless your children daily? It is a good idea.

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.

God made me laugh

The Lord blessed Sarah and Abraham with a child after she had turned 90 years old!

What is there not to laugh about? If we ever wondered if our Heavenly Father is able to grant us our request… wonder no more. Sarah received a child from the Lord when she was already a very old woman. She said that God made her laugh. Amen to that.

God made me laugh too.

No greater joy…

What is the greatest joy in life? To have children? No, it is to have our children walk in God’s Word, in The Truth.The greatest joy is to know that our children do the right thing by others and serve the Lord wherever they go with a smile on their face.

And on that note, we are to teach our children.

Teach your children

Teach our children what? Teach our children God’s Word.

On a regular basis, preferably daily, we sit down and read God’s Word and sing Scripture Songs to remind us of God’s goodness and keep us on the straight and narrow.

It shows our innocence if we carefully keep all these commandments as God requires from us.

My spirit that is upon you

The Lord made an agreement with us that, if we agree to be part of his posse, His spirit will be on our mouth (words) as well as on the mouth (words) of our children.

Thank you Father for your Spirit being with us continuously.

My daughters who loves me

The story of Ruth in the Bible tells us about a lady who lived a pretty tough life. Her daughter in law stuck with her, and proved to be a life saver to her.

I LOVE these examples in the Bible of what is possible. I love the promises that are available to us when we live according to God’s directions. Naomi suffered much but her daughter in law took care of her and proved to be better to her than seven sons.

I have my own version of this, which makes me feel very blessed indeed:
“My daughters who love me, are better to me than seven sons each.”

Amen, praise The Lord!

You can find the other twelve Scripture Verses in this series for parents here.

You can find out about the greatest compliment given to mothers here.

You can browse more Scripture Verses and send them to your friends and family from www.freescripturecards.com or purchase them at www.mosaichouse.co

For more help with raising children I highly recommend the website Empowering Parents for excellent professional advice without even leaving your home.

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 – Visit www.mimiemmanuel.com or Amazon
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.

A Prayer for PEACE ON EARTH from Mimi Emmanuel

December 17, 2016
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Silent night holy night

A payer for Peace on earth for my readers and merry days filled with Love and Joy.

Jesus is born

Once upon a time around the year 0 there was a woman called Mary and her husband Joseph who lived in a place which was called Nazareth. Together they travelled to the place Bethlehem.

When they got to Bethlehem it was nighttime and all the motels and hotels were full and there was nowhere for them to sleep.Mary was also pregnant and that night gave birth to a baby who she wrapped up in a little bit of fabric and laid down in a box in a horse stable because that was the only place available for them to rest.

The Son of God is born

A little bit further away outside in a field there were shepherds looking after their sheep and an angel came to these shepherds and said to them, I have good news for you and everyone else in the world, it is reason to be very happy because today the Son of God was born. You will find Him in a horse stable.
And all of a sudden with the angel there were many more from heaven all saying how good God is and peace on earth and good things for all of us.

Christ the Saviour of the world is born

The shepherds then ran to the stable to visit Mary and Joseph and the baby and afterwards they told everyone that Christ the Saviour of the world was born.
Because Jesus’ birth was such a big event in all the time that the world has existed, people started to number the years after Jesus was born. It is now the year 2014. That means that Jesus was born 2014 years ago and the dates of our calendar tell us everyday how long ago Jesus was born.

The Son of God came to earth

And when people talk about when something happened they say, This happened so many years before or after Jesus was born (BC or AD.) All over the world once a year people sing songs and celebrate that very special day that the Son of God came to earth.

Below are the lyrics of a popular song which people sing to celebrate Jesus’ birth.

SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT

All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

*

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 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!

*
Bedtime stories – Jesus is born – Australian translation from Luke 1 and 2 ~ reprinted with permission from babesandlittlechildren.com original 05.12.2014

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.

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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.

August 7, 2016
by Mimi E 2 Comments

WHAT IS LOVE? Does the Bible tell us?

Read disclaimer here.

He interrupted my writing as he was hitting away at my tap. I could see him accidently drop a washer down the gurgler. That’s when he exclaimed;

“I HATE religion!”

“Why is that?” I asked, wondering if some of the Scripture verses on my walls could have triggered that comment.

“Because religion is the cause of most of the wars and hatred in the world,” my newfound friend Brad said.

I asked him if he really believed that and without even thinking about it, he shot back at me, “I do not believe it, I’m convinced of it!”

“All religions?” I asked him.

Without hesitation, he responded, “ALL of them.”

I said, “Funny that because my religion tells me that we are to love each other.”

“What religion would that be?” He quizzed.

“I love God’s Word,” I said.

“Mmpphh, you’re one of those Christians,” He said.

Clearly, Brad was assuming things. What was I to say to that? I did not know what he meant when he said, ‘one of those,’ but I wanted him to like me and not hate me because of my religion. But more than that, I wanted to convey to him that my religion is one of love. And I was not quite sure how to go about that because Brad clearly had preconceived notions about Christianity and what it entails being a Christian or being someone that loves God’s Word.
I didn’t know what his preconceived ideas were, other than that they weren’t positive.

So I repeated what is true for me and said, “I love God’s Word.”

Brad came over and sat down next to me. “You mean the Bible don’t you?”

I nodded affirmatively.

Well, that really got him going. He stood up again and walked up and down my living room with the spanner in his left hand, waving his arms up and down in despair. “The Bible has caused more wars and deaths and calamity than all other religions combined! How anyone can believe in fairy tales like that is beyond me.”

Maybe it was premature when earlier I referred to Brad as my newfound friend. My daughter had brought him over to fix a couple of leaky taps and a gate that had come off its hinges. I treated him as a friend because I was grateful that he came to fix a few things for a reasonable fee but I do not like it when people refer to God’s Word as fairy tales. At the same time, I recognise that this reference is generally used by people who have never read God’s Word.

I did not want him to go on a rant of no return. For the sake of our now seemingly fragile friendship, I decided to find out what got him going like that.

“You seem pretty passionate about your anti-religion stance Brad. Where is all that coming from?”

He sat down next to me again. “Mimi, come on, you can see what’s going on in the world, surely? If it weren’t for religion…”
His voice trailed off and as he was about to take in a breath of fresh air, I noted,

“Religion doesn’t do anything Brad. It’s people and their interpretation of religion that can be a problem.”

He got up again, down. Up once more. He sure was passionate about the subject.

“So Mimi, you’re saying that the Bible doesn’t tell people to kill each other if they don’t believe according to the teachings?” And before I could answer, he continued. “You do know about the Inquisition and all the ‘Holy Wars’ that have been raging throughout the ages?”

“Yes, I do Brad,” I said. And then I asked him, “Do you know about God’s Commandments?”

Brad shook his head as he walked back to the tap. “What do they have to do with anything,” he asked. “Does anyone even care about those anymore?”

“Good question Brad and pertinent too. You’re absolutely right. For all sorts of different reasons lots of ‘believers’ indeed don’t think that these Commandments apply to them. Many are of the opinion that their faith sets them above the law.

To get back to your other questions Brad, yes, I know about the Inquisition and all the ‘Holy Wars’ and as far as I’m concerned the Commandments have everything to do with this. And you know why?”

He just stood there looking at me not quite sure where the conversation was going. So I continued,
“I tell you why the Commandments matter. They matter because the Commandments tell us not to kill, not to steal, not to lie, not to commit adultery, not to covet, to honour our elders and so on. This is what God’s Word teaches us right from the very beginning. The Commandments set a moral standard for the whole of society.

We were taught to be nice to our neighbour and to treat foreigners with kindness and the Bible tells us that those simple ten rules constitute love. They are a benchmark, a measure to live by and live up to.”

Brad looked at me and said, “Sounds wonderful. Mimi. Here’s a reality check for you, NO one is paying any attention or listening to any of those rules, nor following them.”

“Exactly my point Brad. It isn’t for me to judge if anyone is following God’s rules; what I notice however is that many believers follow all kinds of rules but not necessarily The Ten. Wouldn’t it be wonderful indeed if we were to follow those ten simple rules? There’s nothing wrong with those rules, is there? There’s nothing wrong with the Bible either. What’s wrong is that all through the ages and still today, people interpret God’s Word any way they like to suit their own purposes.

The Bible tells us to love one another. We’re taught that Jesus’ disciples will be known for their love for each other, we’re encouraged to turn the other cheek, bless our enemies and we’re taught that God is love and if we do not love we do not have God in us.

Can you find fault with any of that Brad?”

He looked bewildered. “But Mimi, no one is DOING that ‘loving thing.’ All these so called religious people are killing each other!”

“I know that Brad,” I said.

“Does that make the Commandments wrong or the people?

Brad scratched his head as he asked; “What are these again, the Commandments?”

So Brad, my friend, this is for you.

God’s Holy Word from the very beginning from Mount Sinai.

Does the Bible tell us what love is? Yes, the Bible tells us what love is.

God is love and He tells us that not lying, killing, stealing etc constitutes love.

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

I write about this all the time because I am passionate about it. Here is another article that gives you biblical references and here also for our ‘love’ theme.

And here is a repeat of the disclaimer for my fellow religious friends who believe differently from me; I love you.

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.

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July 17, 2016
by Mimi E Leave a comment

GREAT SHALL BE THE PEACE OF YOUR CHILDREN

BIBLE PROMISE

GREAT SHALL BE THE PEACE OF YOUR CHILDREN

Aren’t your children behaving today? Aren’t they acting according to what you taught them? Do they find themselves in undesirable situations?

This is a good time to take hold of GOD’s promise that, ‘Great shall be the peace of your children.’

Thank you Father, for keeping our children safe and out of harm’s way. I’m praying for both my children today that

The LORD will bless them, and keep them:
The LORD make his face shine upon them, and be gracious unto them:
The LORD lift up his countenance upon them and give them peace.
And I pray that the LORD will put His name upon my children and bless them.

Just for fun I’ll share the song that I wrote for each of my children.

The first one is called, ‘Mother of an Angel.’

And the second one is called, ‘Brighter Than The Sun.’

You can find both these tracks also under my favourite people credits and links.

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.

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!

March 19, 2016
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Mary and the Alabaster Box

Mary and the alabaster box.

Her sins are forgiven for she loved much.

Some say that there are a couple of different eyewitness accounts of the event of “Mary and the alabaster box” in the Bible. We think that there may be four versions. The first account is by Matthew, the second by Mark and we believe the third and fourth accounts are given by Luke and John. Have a read and see what you think for yourself.

Dr James Tabor who is Professor of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina (Christian origins and ancient Judaism) has an interesting blog post on Mary for those who like to read a more in-depth study on the different versions.

What we know is, that when Jesus says that we’ll be remembering Mary, he isn’t talking about his mother. Jesus is talking about another woman called Mary and he says that “her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much.”

Mary and the alabaster box

We love the story about Mary and the alabaster box so much that we decided to do a song about it. Years ago when we started to read the Bible in earnest we were so excited to discover GOD’s rule book. As in, pfew … there are indeed standards in place that we are supposed to live up to as lovers of GOD’s Word. And we were no less excited to find that, hey, there is forgiveness if you do the best you can and yet occasionally muck up.

Mary and the alabaster box
lyrics from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

She put the ointment of spikenard very costly.
She put it on his body for his burial.
Mary wrought a good work on Jesus.
Let her alone.
She done what she could.
Mary wrought a good work on him.
An alabaster box of very precious ointment.
She poured it on his head as he sat at meat.
She done what she could.
She wrought a good work on him.
Mary wrought a good work on Jesus.
Let her alone.
She done what she could.
Spikenard very costly.
With her hair she wiped his feet.
She did it for his burial.
It’ll be told for a memorial.

Matthew’s version

She hath wrought a good work upon me.

Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, there came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.

When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.

Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

Mark’s version

Let her alone; why trouble ye her?

She hath done what she could.

And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.

And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.

Luke’s version

Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much

Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?

And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

John’s version

Mary anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair.

The poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

Then Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

Jesus reiterated what the prophet Ezekiel told us centuries ago.

All of Scripture tells us about GOD’s grace and his forgiveness and long-suffering nature. On the Sabbath yesterday, we listened to another excellent Torah Pearl hosted by Jono from TRUTH2U Radio with guests Keith Johnson and Nehemia Gordon. And one of the references which was mentioned with regards to God’s forgiveness is in Ezekiel where we are told that what counts is the actions we take today. What matters is not where we were or what we did in the past. What matters to the Creator of Heaven and Earth is who we are today. And the actions we take this very day is what determines our destiny.

Jesus prophesied that Mary’s actions would be remembered.

Jesus said, “this, that this woman hath done, shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.” If we assume that the four different versions mentioned above all relate to the same event, then Jesus spoke about Mary the sister of Lazarus when he said these words. Jesus did not say that we’ll be remembering and honouring his mother, who was also called Mary.

I want to make this distinction because I was raised a Catholic. As a Catholic I was taught to pray to Mary the mother of Jesus. This meant for me that I kneeled down in Catholic churches in front of mother Mary statues. As a child, on my way to school, I would often walk into the church, light some candles in front of a mother Mary statue and kneel down on a pew before I’d say my ‘Hail Marys’. This is all right and proper according to the Catholic faith.

During my childhood after we’d been to ‘Confession’ we were told by the priest to say a certain amount of ‘Hail Marys’ and ‘Holy Fathers,’ in order for our sins to be forgiven. The amount of these prayers depended on the multitude and size of our sins. I was educated by nuns. My sins were many, as you can imagine for any primary school aged kid, and therefore my affinity with Mary with the alabaster box great.

What did Jesus say about Mary?

What I am interested in today is not what the Catholic church says about who to remember and how but what God’s Word and particularly Jesus himself says about remembering Mary (and the alabaster box). Jesus does not tell us to kneel in front of a statue of his mum and pray to her. Jesus tells us that we’ll remember Mary the sinner, a woman who made mistakes, just like I did as a child and most of us still do a lot of the time.

The good part.

The great part about this event described in scripture is that Jesus tells us that Mary did a good work, that she did what she could and for the people around her to leave her alone and not criticise her actions. Mary is called a sinner which shows us that she mucked up and probably more than once. Yup, I can relate. And this Mary anointed Jesus ahead of his burial and kissed and washed His feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Jesus says, don’t trouble this woman, she has done a good work on me.

We’re told by Jesus that we’ll remember a Mary who made mistakes but also loved much and had faith. She simply did what she could. And we’re told that because of her good work, love and faith, her sins were forgiven her and Jesus tells her to go in peace.

That means there is hope for all of us. And I reckon that is Good News, if ever I heard any.

Song of Mary and the Alabaster Box – lyrics by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – Sung by babes and little children composed for people is grass – all rights reserved – copyright Elias label –
originally published 2 years ago and reprinted with permission.

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 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 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.

***

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 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 12, 2015
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Is Anything Too Hard For The LORD? (1)

Is everything going your way?

Is everything going your way today? No? Funny, that, for me neither. But you know what gets me
through? The fact that nothing is too hard for the LORD! Therefore, I know that whatever struggles I face can be overcome .. by application and persistence and diligence and oodles of faith and prayer.

I know this for a fact because I lived through it. I didn’t live through it for a few moments or a day. No, I lived through it for years and years; a few decades actually. And I’ve found out, along the way, that nothing is too hard for the LORD. If an eighty-year-old lady such as Sarah can get pregnant and give birth with his help .. guess what? Nothing is too hard for the LORD!

And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.

And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son.

And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? Is any thing too hard for the Lord?

At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

Terrifying Premonition

Last week I printed an excerpt of my book ‘My Story of Survival‘ about how my daughter had a terrifying premonition. Below is another excerpt.

The warning that had come to my daughter in her ‘dream’ was that, at the time my survival was at stake, I shouldn’t take anything that would be offered to me. My daughter remembered and heeded this warning, which resulted in her refusing the morphine I was offered to cope with the relentless hurting of a ruptured appendix. Only after an abundance of prayer and a night of intolerable pain would my daughters yield and allow the nurse to give me a morphine injection.

I am now convinced that this may have saved my life because, considering the state I was in, I am pretty sure that a morphine shot would have allowed me to sink into blissful oblivion, never to return.
As it was, the hideous hurting kept me on edge and alert enough to want to stay around for my kids. I believe that if the inevitable relaxation that a morphine shot eventually did bring on had happened earlier, this potentially might have allowed the septicaemia to spread more than it did and cause more damage.

END OF EXCERPT

AMAZON REVIEW BELOW

amazing personal story

By Osvaldo Q on December 1, 2015

Format: Kindle Edition

What an amazing story. I wanted to give this book to someone that would benefit from the diet tips, but found myself reading the personal story and engrossed in the trials the author went through.
The writing is clear and concise and breaks down subjects in bite size pieces.
Apart from the fascinating true story, there are Useful Facts notes distributed throughout the book which are great to investigate ingredients further.
The actual diet is also very useful and sets out ingredients and typical weeks which I would try just for the health benefits alone.
A fascinating read for anyone wanting to learn about health and read a person’s interesting journey.

END OF REVIEW

Praise the LORD for sending us messages in our dreams,

For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men,
in slumberings upon the bed;
Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction …

***

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.

Bless the LORD who heals all my diseases

November 28, 2015
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Thank you for praying with us for our friend.

Bless the LORD who heals all our diseases!

Last week one of our friends was taken to the hospital by ambulance and for a few days we weren’t quite sure what was going on. The doctors at our local hospital performed endless tests and after a day decided to fly him to one of our major hospitals for specialist care. This morning we heard that he was being prepared for surgery.

Thank you for praying for our friend

We promised to pray for him, and we are using one of the prayers which we use regularly for healing purposes.

If you come across this post, thank you for praying with us for our friend who is undergoing surgery.
We pray that he may heal quickly.

Bless The LORD Who Healeth

I Will Hasten My Word To Perform It

Jesus Said,
The scripture cannot be broken
And Thy Word is Truth
According to your faith be it unto you
Knock and it shall be opened to you
John 10:35, John 17:17, Matthew 9:28, Luke 11:9

REFRAIN
Bless The LORD Who Healed All My Diseases
Bless the LORD who healeth thee
Bless the LORD who formed me from the womb
Bless the LORD who (fashioned) made me.
Psalm 103:3, Exodus 15:26, Isaiah 49:5, Psalm 119:73

When I Was Made In Secret, In The Depths Of The Earth
And you wove me in. my mother’s womb
Your eyes saw my embryo and in your book
All my members were written
Oh how precious are your thoughts to me.

REFRAIN
Bless The LORD Who Healed All My Diseases
Bless the LORD who healeth thee
Bless the LORD who formed me from the womb
Bless the LORD who made me.

Behold, Saith The LORD, I Have Graven Thee
Upon the palms of my hand
Thy walls are continuously before me
I have called thee from the womb.

REFRAIN
Bless The LORD Who Healed All My Diseases
Bless the LORD who healeth thee
Bless the LORD who formed me from the womb
Bless the LORD who made me.

Thus Saith The LORD That Made Thee,
Fear ye not, neither be afraid,
For I’ll pour water upon him that is thirsty
And floods upon the dry ground.
I’ll pour my spirit upon thy seed
And my blessing upon thy offspring

Sing, O ye heavens: for The LORD hath done it
Shout, ye lower parts of the earth.

REFRAIN
Bless The LORD Who Healed All My Diseases
Bless the LORD who healeth thee
Bless the LORD who formed me from the womb
Bless the LORD who made me.

Jesus Said, This Man He Did Not Sin,
but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
But for the glory of God Jesus-said,
This sickness is not unto death.
John 9:3, John 11:4

REFRAIN
Bless The LORD Who Healed All My Diseases
Bless the LORD who healeth thee
Bless the LORD who formed me from the womb
Bless the LORD who made me.

And who’ll perfect that which concerneth me

Performing all HIS pleasure.
Psalm 138:8

***

UPDATE
we’ve been informed that the surgery was successful and our friend is on his way back home.

THANK YOU to all who prayed for our friend, and

PRAISE THE LORD who heals all our diseases.

***

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 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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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 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.

***

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.

***

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.

***

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.

***

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 video – Jonah goes to Nineveh

Traditionally on Yom Kippur the story of Jonah is read out to remind us of God’s mercy.

Jonah goes to Nineveh

Jonah goes to Nineveh settings quality on our screen is best on 240p but may differ on different screens and can be adjusted on bottom right of screen by adjusting the little wheel next to youtube symbol on the left

Jonah goes to Nineveh

When GOD told Jonah to go to Nineveh to give the inhabitants a chance to save themselves, Jonah tried to run away from the task that he had been given. So much so that he didn’t really care if he would live or die as long as he did not have to tell the wicked people in Nineveh that they could be saved.

As far as he was concerned they were bad people who deserved what was coming to them and he was not prepared to help save them from their fate.

Jonah tried without much success to hide from GOD; he was thrown out of the boat, swallowed by the whale, spat out on the beach and eventually did as he was told.

Jonah sulked when people were forgiven

Soon after Jonah delivered his message to the people of Nineveh they felt bad enough about their wicked deeds to ask GOD to forgive them. And GOD forgave them. This made Jonah even more upset than he had been before and he went to sulk outside of the city in the shade and told GOD, “It is better for me to die than to live.” Jonah wished death upon himself because he was so very angry that GOD forgave wicked people after they asked him for forgiveness.

Jonah experienced GOD’s compassion himself when he was forgiven after running away from GOD. And when he consequently was thrown into the sea and swallowed by a whale and yet lived. GOD even grew Jonah a large plant to shade him from the hot sun whilst Jonah was feeling sorry for himself. Yet Jonah struggled to understand why GOD would forgive evil people even though they showed some measure of remorse for their bad deeds.

Jonah felt sorry for a plant which withered but couldn’t forgive people who showed remorse after they had done the wrong thing.

GOD is merciful and responds to remorse

Jonah said “I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.”

The book of Jonah teaches us about God’s mercy and is read in its entirety during the Feast of Yom Kippor which is the day of atonement as mentioned in the bible.

Jonah – A Lesson in Compassion by Rabbi Dr Greg Killian

Rabbi Dr. Greg Killian tells us in his study “Jonah – a lesson in compassion” that “Yonah son of Amittai was the son of the widow from Tzorphath with whom Elijah the prophet stayed during the years of famine, and that it was this boy that Elijah revived.”

Yonah’s mother was from the tribe of Asher, and his father from Zevulun.

Amittai is derived from the Hebrew word: ‘emet’, meaning truth. From this we understand that Jonah (Yonah means dove in Hebrew) is a man of truth. Truth, as Jonah understands it, demands that evil never be overlooked; evil must be punished. Jonah is the “son of truth”, a man of unbending commitment to the truth. This may explain Jonah’s stance that evil must be punished. He was struggling to comprehend GOD’s compassion for evil people even though he experienced GOD’s mercy himself.

The story of Jonah teaches us to be compassionate towards one and other.

Jesus said, blessed are the merciful because they shall obtain mercy.

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– This post about Jonah was first posted on June 24 last year and
reposted today because of the Holy Day of Yom Kippur coming up next week. –

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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 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 19, 2015
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Oops … draft post sent by mistake

Apologies to all who received draft notes on ‘Everlasting Life (17) Eternal Life (30)’, please delete and wait for the final polished post.

I may have to perform some excorcism to get these goblins out of my computer system.

As an apology for this blooper please accept some joy in return and download a collection of verses from the Prophets on Joy and Pleasure by clicking on this link. The book is good to go, just click zero.

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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August 15, 2015
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Free Scripture Card – Z – Zion heard and was glad

Zion heard and was glad

The quote on this Scripture Card tells us to be glad that God is in charge because He will not fail nor be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth.

Psalm 97

The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice;
let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.
Clouds and darkness are round about him:
righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
Confounded be all they that serve graven images,
that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.

Zion heard, and was glad;
and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O Lord.

For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth:
thou art exalted far above all gods.

Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints;
he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.

Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous;
and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

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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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Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God

July 25, 2015
by Mimi E Leave a comment

24 Powerful Bible Promises – Free Scripture Card – W –

Wait on the Lord, be of good courage and He’ll strengthen thine heart.

Action required

Many of the promises in the bible require some action for them to be fulfilled. At all times it is a good idea to wait on the Lord and be of good courage because the promise is that our heart will be strengthened in doing so.

The above Scripture quote was taken from Psalm 27 and the author of this Psalm is King David. King David experienced many problems throughout his life; some self-imposed and other problems not of his own doing. Just like most of his.

When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.
Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path …

Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies …

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart:
wait, I say, on the Lord.

King David had servants and armies to help him out, yet he said that he would have fainted if it wasn’t for his faith in the Lord, and it was the Lord he called upon when he was in a tight spot.

God hears prayer

I absolutely love this particular verse because I used to think that I have to sort all my troubles myself. Eventually life took me to such tight spots where I realised that I cannot sort everything out myself.

The other day I told one of my nearest and dearest that if the problem seems too big or too hard, Our Father in Heaven loves to hear about it.

“Relax,” I said, “God hears all prayer and I cannot think of one request that has not been answered for me.”

And this is the confidence that we have in him,
that, if we ask any thing according to his will,

he heareth us:

My loved one shot back at me with, “God has given you a brain to think for yourself, aren’t we supposed to be using this brain to sort out our own problems?”

Good comeback and I totally agree. Whenever there is any kind of problem, I do whatever I can to sort this myself or with the help of others. Sometimes, however, mere human effort does not seem to cut it. Those are the times that I am super grateful that My Creator has blessed me with a brain that is able to discern which problems to sort out myself and which problems to hand over to Him who knows and sees all. Meanwhile I just pray my little heart out.

24 Powerful Promises

I love all the promises, the words are so powerful. And the reality for me in my life is that all God’s promises are being fulfilled always. Whenever I call upon the Lord I get an answer. That’s why I am so keen to share because, before I started reading God’s Word and relying on His promises my success rate was very much a hit and miss affair. I explained in an earlier post why positive thinking does not work for me.

I’ll share some of my favourite Bible promises. You can let me know what your favourite promises are in the comments below.

Some favourite biblical promises

The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
Exodus 14:14

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go:
I will guide thee with mine eye.
Psalms 32:8

The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him,
and delivereth them.
Psalms 34:7

The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth,
and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
Psalms 34:17

Delight thyself also in the LORD:
and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Psalms 37:4

Call upon me in the day of trouble:
I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
Psalms 50:15

The mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting
upon them that fear him,
and his righteousness unto children’s children;
Psalms 103:17

They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed;
for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee;
yea, I will help thee; yea,
I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 41:10

When thou passest through the waters,
I will be with thee; and through the rivers,
they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire,
thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Isaiah 43:2

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper;
and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
Isaiah 54:17

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,
saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil,
to give you an expected end.
Jeremiah 29:11

I will restore health unto thee,
and I will heal thee of thy wounds,
saith the LORD…
Jeremiah 30:17

Call unto me, and I will answer thee,
and shew thee great and mighty things,
which thou knowest not.
Jeremiah 33:3

Because he hath set his love upon me,
therefore will I deliver him:
I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him:
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him, and honour him.
Psalms 91:14-15

Submit yourselves therefore to God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7

Is any sick among you?
let him call for the elders of the church;
and let them pray over him,
anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick,
and the Lord shall raise him up;
and if he hath committed sins,
they shall be forgiven him.
James 5:14-15

A new heart also will I give you,
and a new spirit will I put within you:
and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh,
and I will give you an heart of flesh.
And I will put my spirit within you,
and cause you to walk in my statutes,
and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Ezekiel 36:26-27

Have not I commanded thee?
Be strong and of a good courage;
be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed:
for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Joshua 1:9

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do,
that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
And I will pray the Father,
and he shall give you another Comforter,
that he may abide with you for ever;
John 14:13-16

If we confess our sins,
he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment;
and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life,
but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Revelation 3:5

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock:
if any man hear my voice, and open the door,
I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Revelation 3:20

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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.

July 18, 2015
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Free Scripture Card – V –

Till Heaven and Earth pass …

Wat does this Scripture Verse mean?

To understand what this Verse means we need to understand what a jot and a tittle is. A jot (in Greek) or yod (in Hebrew) is the smallest letter in the alphabet. And the tittle is the smallest accent or quotation mark used.

In context

When Jesus gave his famous Sermon on the Mount he addressed many of the misconceptions which had been floating around with regards to how people were supposed to be following the law.

“I came not to destroy the law.”

Jesus made it very clear that he had not come to earth to destroy the law; he came to uphold it and show people how it is supposed to be done. In him is no sin.

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets:
I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

For verily I say unto you,
Till heaven and earth pass,
one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law,
till all be fulfilled.

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments,
and shall teach men so,
he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven:
but whosoever shall do and teach them,
the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

For I say unto you,
That except your righteousness shall exceed
the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees,
ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus said, ‘Don’t even break the smallest of the Commandments if you don’t want to get into trouble.’

Bible Verses from Biblehub

Let’s have a look at what other Bible Translators have to say about this Verse.

The quotes below are courtesy of Biblehub, It’s wonderful to be able to find so many parallel translations all in the one place.

New International Version
For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

New Living Translation
I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.

English Standard Version
For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

New American Standard Bible
“For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

King James Bible
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For I assure you: Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass from the law until all things are accomplished.

International Standard Version
Because I tell all of you with certainty that until heaven and earth disappear, not one letter or one stroke of a letter will disappear from the Law until everything has been accomplished.

NET Bible
I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter will pass from the law until everything takes place.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Amen, I say to you that until Heaven and earth will pass away, one Yodh or one Taag and will not pass away from The Written Law until everything will happen.

GOD’S WORD® Translation
I can guarantee this truth: Until the earth and the heavens disappear, neither a period nor a comma will disappear from Moses’ Teachings before everything has come true.

Jubilee Bible 2000
For verily I say unto you, Until heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle shall pass from the law until all is fulfilled.

King James 2000 Bible
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

American King James Version
For truly I say to you, Till heaven and earth pass, one stroke or one pronunciation mark shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

American Standard Version
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled.

Darby Bible Translation
For verily I say unto you, Until the heaven and the earth pass away, one iota or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all come to pass.

English Revised Version
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished.

Webster’s Bible Translation
For verily I say to you, Till heaven and earth shall pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Weymouth New Testament
Solemnly I tell you that until Heaven and earth pass away, not one iota or smallest detail will pass away from the Law until all has taken place.

World English Bible
For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.

Young’s Literal Translation
for, verily I say to you, till that the heaven and the earth may pass away, one iota or one tittle may not pass away from the law, till that all may come to pass.

You can let me know in the comments below how you read these verses.

Considering Jesus’ words and actions and from reading the above translations it seems clear to me that God’s law (The Ten Commandments) will stand as long as we have heaven and earth.
Amen.

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Isaiah 30:14-16 In Quietness and rest shall ye be saved

June 12, 2015
by Mimi E Leave a comment

In Quietness and in confidence shall be your strength. Free Scripture Card – Q –

In Quietness and in confidence shall be your strength

For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

What does this mean?

What does that mean, ‘In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength ..?’

It means that whenever you experience turmoil in your life, your best bet is not to put your confidence in man but pray and trust in the Lord. History tells us to heed God’s warnings.

Through the prophet Isaiah, God makes an extra-ordinary prophesy to the Jewish people under siege and they are told, not to collaborate with other nations, not to run. But instead to return to the LORD.

These Scripture verses in Isaiah are a warning of what happens when we don’t follow God’s guidance and at the same time these Scripture verses are a wonderful reminder of God’s promises and the benefits which flow from obedience.

Warnings

In Isaiah 30, 32 and 36 and 39 we’re told what happens to those who wait for the Lord in contrast to those who follow their own counsel and the counsel of false prophets.

Prophet Isaiah is told by the Lord to write this warning down so that it will be known for eternity,

in a table, and note it in a book,
that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:
That this is a rebellious people, lying children,
children that will not hear the law of the Lord …

Isaiah prophesied when the country was under siege,

For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel;
In returning and rest shall ye be saved;
in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength:
and ye would not.

But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses;
therefore shall ye flee: and,
We will ride upon the swift;
therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.
One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one;
at the rebuke of five shall ye flee:
till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain,
and as an ensign on an hill.

Isaiah told the people that God would save them as long as they promised to trust in Him and repent of their sins. And indeed history tells us that those who fled ended up in BIG trouble and those who heeded the warnings of the prophet and stayed put, quietly praying and trusting in the Lord, were saved.

Prophesy fulfilled

An army of 185,000 mysteriously fell, as predicted, not through the effort of men.

Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword,
not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man,
shall devour him: but he shall flee from the sword,
and his young men shall be discomfited

…

Then the angel of the Lord went forth,

and smote in the camp of the Assyrians
a hundred and fourscore and five thousand:
and when they arose early in the morning,
behold, they were all dead corpses.

Promises

I reckon that the Bible is the best history book in the world: ‘Wie zich aan een ander spiegelt, spiegelt zich zacht.’

And the work of righteousness shall be peace;
and the effect of righteousness
quietness and assurance for ever.

And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation,
and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;

And therefore will the Lord wait,
that he may be gracious unto you,
and therefore will he be exalted,
that he may have mercy upon you:
for the Lord is a God of judgment:
blessed are all they that wait for him.

Or ‘Felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum.’ Which is the equivalent of ‘Wise men … learn by others’ harms, fools scarcely by their own ….’ by Benjamin Franklin.

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 4, 2015
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Content in this post
1. Knock and it shall be opened unto you.
2. Trust in the LORD and His Son.
3. Promises, promises.
4. Promises made in Psalms.
5. Promises made by prophet Isaiah.
6. Promises made by prophet Jeremiah.
7. Promise made by prophet Amos.
8. Jesus reiterated what the prophets said.
9. Promises made by Jesus.
10. So what else did Jesus say?
11. Sixteen part Formula.
12. The full promise made by Jesus as partially quoted on the Scripture Card.

Knock and it shall be opened unto you.

Fulfilled promises.

A little while ago I told you how we prayed for a place we could afford and where pets are allowed. I mentioned also how New Age positive thinking doesn’t work for me because it lacks the faith component. In contrast I like the promises made in the Bible and by the Son of God because of the proven track record.

There have been so many fulfilled promises in my life that I’ve pretty much lost track of a lot of them but I certainly remember all the big ones including the ‘upgrade in residential comforts,’ because I enjoy these comforts every single day.

There were a lot of factors that came into play for this promise to be fulfilled, such as right time, place, residence, fine friends giving appropriate references, receptive and kind landlord and so on.

And don’t forget faith. Lotsa prayer and lotsa faith. Whilst we were on the Sunny Coast we couldn’t find a suitable place for love or money and I remember telling the girls not to fret. I distinctly remember saying that these kind of things have a way of turning around quickly and I said, “Before you know it, the tide may turn and people will offer us somewhere to stay for free or something like that.”

Soon after a family member as well as a very kind ‘health professional’ friend offered us accommodation. When we arrived in our new town there were offers for rentals ‘free for the first month’ and so on. We had faith, we committed all to Our Father and we trusted that everything would work out well and, Praise The LORD, things worked out really well for us.

Trust in THE LORD and His SON.

When Jesus gave his famous sermon on the mount he told his listeners that if we knock, it shall be opened unto us. But this wasn’t all he had to say about this wonderful promise. There was plenty more. And I wonder if other prophets said a similar thing. After all Jesus, as a Jewish prophet, taught from the old Scriptures. Let’s have a look to see who else told us about this promise.

Promises, promises.

Promises made in Psalms

The following verses are, apart from one, all credited to King David. King David mucked up plenty times but he was confident, that as long as he repented and continued to commit to and trust in the LORD, GOD would hear him. no matter what his situation or his failures, David would always eventually turn to the LORD for repentance and forgiveness and strength to keep on going despite his failures and inadeqacies.

Asaph, with his verses from Psalms, contrasted the trust and commitment shown by King David with the nonchalance and entitlement of the (wicked) pretenders and hypocrites.

I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.

Trust in the Lord, and do good …
Delight thyself also in the Lord:
and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Commit thy way unto the Lord;
trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble:
thou wilt prepare their heart,
thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:

Call upon me in the day of trouble:
I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
But unto the wicked God saith,
What hast thou to do to declare my statutes,
or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?

The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him,
to all that call upon him in truth.
He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him:
he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

As a King, David was rich with many servants and resources, yet his trust and strength was always in God and not in his wealth nor in men.

Promises made by prophet Isaiah

Prophet Isaiah taught that we should always seek God who will abundantly forgive anyone who is genuinely remorseful.

Seek ye the Lord while he may be found,
call ye upon him while he is near:
Let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts:
and let him return unto the Lord,
and he will have mercy upon him;
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Till I read the Ten Commandments I didn’t even realise what I had to be remorseful for. This had much to do with the circles I used to move in and the fact that western societies celebrate covetousness. Around the concepts of stealing and lying there were many blurred lines in my life. And what about honouring your parents, sure I was nice to them, but ‘honouring’ them? What? Honour God and Go(o)d alone. Huh? I used to mix all religions and thought this was a smart thing to do. Swearing … why not? Doesn’t everyone? And hating is akin to killing? Oops.

When I started to read the bible and I came across the word wicked I initially thought this meant murderers and the like. It wasn’t till later that I realised that the pretenders and hypocrites were referred to as ‘the wicked’ as opposed to those who make a genuine effort to do the right thing according to the guidelines set by our Holy Father.
Reading the Commandments made me realise that it is a good thing to follow my gut instinct over and above society’s norms and guidelines and peer pressure. So, yes I have plenty to be remorseful about. The Commandments are literally a godsend to me because they are transparent, easy to follow and set a universal standard for human morality and decency.
I just love them!

Promises made by prophet Jeremiah

Prophet Jeremiah prophesises that when people look for God, they will find Him; with mighty promises attached for doing so.

You will seek me and find me
when you seek me with all your heart.

Call unto me, and I will answer thee,
and show thee great and mighty things,
which thou knowest not.

Promise made by prophet Amos

Prophet Amos says that seeking God assures life.

For thus said the LORD to the house of Israel,
Seek ye me, and ye shall live:

Prophet Amos makes the connection of seeking THE LORD with eternal life.

Jesus reiterated what the Prophets said

As we can see above from the quotes by the prophets, what Jesus said was nothing new and He merely reiterated what the prophets had been saying all along. The above scriptural references made by the prophets of old was likely the kind of text that Jesus quoted from. I am only quoting a few references here; there are plenty more quotes in GOD’S Holy Word about seeking Him and how to go about it to get marvellous results. After reading all these promises I can see a pattern emerge and some kind of formula appear.

Promises made by Jesus

It is good to keep in mind that the promises are made to followers of Yehovah and His Son. And we should also remember that any of us at any time can choose to be part of God’s posse. Faithful believers who make a genuine effort to do all the right things can expect good results when they apply the teachings from the Holy Word and live by the rules which are set by the Creator of our universe.

Applying ‘positive thinking’ without the ‘faith component’ does not work for me. It may work for others. But for me, life is more about the intimate relationship I have with my Creator and His Son than it is about ‘wanting this and/or wanting that.’ Anything that flows from the relationship I have is an extra, a bonus and very much welcomed and graciously accepted. But these extra’s and bonuses are certainly not what motivates me.

I like how Keith Johnson puts it; “When we have vision, God will make provision.”

So what else did Jesus say?

Jesus said, if you remain true to me, I’ll be true to you.

If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Again I say unto you,
That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask,
it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them.

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer,
believing, ye shall receive.

The Formula

The ‘Knock and it shall be opened unto you’ promise is well known and no secret at all. But few people realise that there are many components to this promise that need to be heeded if we want a positive result. Some people think that it is possible to get something for nothing but as we just read, if we want a positive response when relying on this promise we need to make sure that we do our part to the best of our ability.

What is our part? The above verses tell us to trust, commit, call, seek and ask humbly. We’re told to do good and call upon Him in truth with all our heart. If necessary return to Him, if possible be in agreement with your nearest and dearest. Keep His words and commandments and ask according to His will. We’re told to pray and to believe. There is a minimum of sixteen steps to this formula.

1. Trust.
2. Commit.
3. Call.
4. Seek.
5. Ask.
6. Be humble.
7. Do good.
8. Call in truth.
9. With all our heart.
10. If necessary, return to Him.
11. Be in agreement with nearest and dearest.
12. Keep His Words.
13. Keep His Commandments.
14. Ask according to His will.
15. Pray.
16. Believe.

As you can see, there are many components to the knock-and-you-shall-find promise. If you have been knocking for a while with limited results maybe check if all the boxes are ticked before you start banging that door down.

And this is the confidence that we have in him,
that, if we ask any thing according to his will,
he heareth us:

And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him,
because we keep his commandments,
and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

The full promise

The full promise as given by Jesus reads like this,

“Ask, and it will be given to you;
seek, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened to you.
“For everyone who asks receives,
and he who seeks finds,
and to him who knocks it will be opened.

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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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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.

March 27, 2015
by Mimi E Leave a comment

Free Scripture card – F – Forgive and ye shall be forgiven

About forgiveness

Speaks for itself.

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.

Joshua 1:9 Be strong and of a good courage

February 27, 2015
by Mimi E 2 Comments

Free Scripture card – B – Be Strong and of a good courage

Promises from the bible.

My Mum told me all the Jesus stories and I absolutely loved them. But when she told me those stories, all these years ago, I didn’t realise that Jesus was a real person. The way I understood the stories as a child was that Jesus was more like a mythical figure. It wasn’t till years later, when I started to read the bible in earnest, that I came to understand the significance of Jesus’ life and the promises and lessons to be learned from the bible.

Scripture cards

So even though throughout my life I’ve carried around handwritten scripture cards with me and found comfort in them, it wasn’t till much later in life that I recognised the real power and energy of the promises made by our Creator and his Son and the fulfilment of these promises in the lives of real people as mentioned in the bible.

What is love again?

I never thought, like some do, that the stories in the bible are fairy tales. But for most my life I didn’t recognise the reality of the biblical history and the message of the Jewish people. It was only when I became seriously ill and at death’s door that I saw the pitiyfulness of life unless it is filled with true love and dedication to this love. What is love again? According to the Holy Word,

This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments
and his commandments are not hard to keep.

You may well be thinking; what is it with this girl and the commandments? I tell you why I love the commandments so much. My life wasn’t filled with rules and regulations, in my life pretty much everyone did whatever was good in their own eyes. It didn’t work for me. It got me in trouble and it got me ill. As you can imagine in a family where everyone just makes up rules as they go along you’ll find sheer anarchy. Once I ‘discovered’ God’s rules for loving each other, and consciously started to make an effort to stick with those rules, my life just changed miraculously.

Rule number four, rest one day a week

For instance, we’re told to rest one day a week. I don’t know about you but I certainly didn’t ever, rest that is. Once I started to obey the commandment to rest, my whole life started to change around for the better. What follows when we obey this commandment is the peace and knowledge which comes with the understanding that God is in charge and there is nothing you can do by working 24/7 that is going to change that.

God himself rested on the seventh day, after he created our universe. What’s good enough for my Creator, is good enough for me. I’m not arguing with a day of rest but gratefully accept this blessing in my life to completely rest and hang out with friends and family and read scripture and maybe even fit in a good deed here and there.

Be strong and of a good courage

The scripture verse quoted on the second scripture card is taken from the Book of Joshua and we’re reminded in the first book of Joshua to follow all of God’s rules. The promise is, as was given to Joshua and fulfilled, that as long as we follow God’s commandments, we will prosper, have good success, find that God will be with us wherever we go and He won’t fail nor forsake us.

When anything goes awry in our life and this happens in my life all the time, don’t freak out, panic or allow your emotions to take you on a roller coaster ride, just remember that God is in charge and all we need to do is be strong and of a good courage.

I so wish that I had these cards when my children were little and instead of too many hours of counselling sessions and time spent in therapy I could have kissed away their tears, handed them a bible and this card, and said, ‘Darling, just do the right thing and be strong and of a good courage.’

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 20, 2015
by Mimi E Leave a comment

FREE Scripture Alphabet – A –

As a present to my faithful readers I’ve created a Scripture ABC.

Feel free to share these scripture ABC graphics with anyone you like. Enjoy and use these scripture verses to teach your children. I will release these cards one by one over the next few months. If you cannot wait to get your hands on the whole pack go visit Mosaic House where there’s a special on right now for the hard copies, and you can for a limited time only, get two packs for the price of one with free postage! They are a nice large size, easy to hold for little hands. This is to celebrate the opening of my brandnew shop which was launched on the same day my world was rocked by a 5.2 earthquake.

GOD hath made me to laugh! How? He kept me alive against all odds. He pulled me out of the miry clay, He set my feet upon a rock, He established my goings. He leads, guides, directs and protects me. He takes care of my family and He tells me to teach my children.

Another amazing scripture verse

One of the most amazing scripture verses I’ve come across is where we’re told to ask and it shall be given to us, to seek so that we shall find.

The other day I shared with you one of my favourite scripture verses, ‘With God all things are possible’ and I told you how applying this verse to my life got me a, near enough, instant response. I mentioned that I asked for $15000. The amount just popped in my head. At the time I had bills to pay and I needed treatment for various ailments. I had asked for plenty things before but never been so bold as to ask for a sum of money as large as that.

This money, plus more, was actually owed to me because shared property had been sold off. I didn’t know this however at the time of my request. The next day I boldly repeated my request and very much to my surprise a cheque was written out in my name. Without my prayer and bold request I doubt if I ever would have found out about this money that actually belonged to me.

Ask anything according to His will

What I learned is that GOD’s WORD is true and He never speaks idle words. I want my children to experience the same comfort and help I get from reading and applying scripture verses in my life. To remind us all of our favourite verses I used to write them on cards and place them in strategic places such as in front of the bathroom mirror, in our purse and on our desks and so on. How I wish that I had known about these wonderful verses when my children were younger. Not to worry though, we’re certainly making up for lost time now.

Instant antidote to depression and anxiety

These verses are an instant antidote to depression and anxiety. Till I read the bible I didn’t have an authority figure in my life to whom I could go to with my woes and worries for feedback and advice. Now I’ve finally mustered up the courage to go to and ask the highest authority, my only problem is to keep the small stuff to myself and not sweat it. I don’t even have to wait in line. I’m pretty sure this goes for all of us, as long as we ask according to His will, we can be pretty sure that our wishes are heard and will be fulfilled; how good is that? To know this with absolute certainty has brought a lot of peace to my life.

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that,
if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask,
we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

All the promises in the bible are true and if you don’t believe me I suggest that you try them out for yourself and see what happens. I asked to be kept alive and I was, I sought for holistic treatments and received these, I knocked on many doors and I’ve received such wonderful responses that some days my cheeks are barely big enough to carry my grins.

Ask and it shall be given you

Ask, and it shall be given you;
seek, and ye shall find;
knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
For every one that asketh receiveth;
and he that seeketh findeth;
and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Reading through the bible gives me an enormous amount of comfort and inspiration and I like to think that these verses will do the same for you. Feel free to share and use these scripture graphics for personal use anytime you feel a little stuck or in need of a helping hand. You may be surprised to find that help is just around the corner. What have you got to loose? Just ask.

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.

.- alll

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.

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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.

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 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.

.

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 19, 2014
by Mimi E Leave a comment

The birth of Jesus was like this

Found with child of the Holy Ghost

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

The Angel of the LORD appeared.

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Prophesy fulfilled

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.

The LORD himself gave us a sign

the Lord himself shall give you a sign;
Behold, a virgin shall conceive,
and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel …
GOD with us

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 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 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.

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 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 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

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

The Healing Power of Prayer; 24 encouraging Scripture verses for people with major illness

Our Lives are in God’s Hands

There is Healing Power in God’s Holy Word

The Lord Will Keep You

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Blessings

Blessings for righteousness

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Blessings

Blessed are the meek

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Blessings

Who are the blessed ones?

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Hearing His Voice: Meeting Jesus in the Garden of Promise

DESCRIPTION

Do you feel lost and isolated, as though you don’t matter?

Written during recovery

Guidance of Scripture

The Garden of Promise

REVIEWS

I will treasure this book forever!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

GET YOUR OWN COPY

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24 Scripture Verses just for Parents (2)

Perfect Peace

Darkness and Light

In God’s Hand… the breath of all mankind

Always Pray

The tree is known by its fruit

Submit to God

The Lord bless thee

God made me laugh

No greater joy…

Teach your children

My spirit that is upon you

My daughters who loves me

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Jesus is born

The Son of God is born

Christ the Saviour of the world is born

The Son of God came to earth

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To Heaven and Back

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

BOOK DESCRIPTION

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

AUTHOR BIO

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GREAT SHALL BE THE PEACE OF YOUR CHILDREN

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Mary and the alabaster box.

Her sins are forgiven for she loved much.

Mary and the alabaster box

She hath wrought a good work upon me.

Let her alone; why trouble ye her?

She hath done what she could.

Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much

Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

Mary anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair.

The poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

Jesus reiterated what the prophet Ezekiel told us centuries ago.

Jesus prophesied that Mary’s actions would be remembered.

What did Jesus say about Mary?

The good part.

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