Ancient Grains and Breads

When He spoke the plants of the field began to form their seeds.

I would like for you to think about all the different things we eat that are made from grains. There are so many items that we would not be able to list them all. Grains are one of the world’s largest food supplies. I could not imagine if we didn’t have just a few of the different types of grain we eat. The foods we buy would change dramatically.

There is a great story in the Bible about going through a famine. It is regarding a man named Joseph and how with God’s instruction saved many people by gathering up as much grain that was available to be stored because he knew a famine was coming to all the area. Because Joseph stored up all the grains, he was able to sell it to those who had none. You can find this story in the book of Genesis chapters 41-45.

I know that many areas are having fires, flooding and just no rain at all and it’s happening all over the world. These events can affect crops in many ways. Fires obviously burn the crops and too much water drowns them. Too little water and they don’t grow at all. However, God will see to it His children are taken care of by supplying their needs. I realize that there are those who believe their wants are a need and that is not the case. Needs are shelter, clothes, and food. Going back to God creating grains, grains were grown, harvested, bought, and sold just as it is today. That in turns gives people the means to buy what they need to live. Therefore, it is a circle that goes all the way around and meets right back to a field of grain. Without grains we would not have as many choices like we do now. 

Joshua 2:6 (NKJV)
6. But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.

Joshua 5:11 (NKJV)
11. And they ate of the produce of the land on the day after the Passover, unleavened bread and parched grain, on the very same day.

Judges 7:13 (NKJV)
13. And when Gideon had come, there was a man telling a dream to his companion. He said, “I have had a dream: To my surprise, a loaf of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian; it came to a tent and struck it so that it fell and overturned, and the tent collapsed.”

Ruth 1:22 (NKJV)
22. So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. Now they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.

Jeremiah 41:8 (NKJV)
8. But ten men were found among them who said to Ishmael, “Do not kill us, for we have treasures of wheat, barley, oil, and honey in the field.” So he desisted and did not kill them among their brethren.

Ezekiel 27:17 (NKJV)
17. Judah and the land of Israel were your traders. They traded for your merchandise wheat of Minnith, millet, honey, oil, and balm.

Matthew 12:1 (NKJV)

12. At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.

Edible Seeds and Nuts

When He spoke the trees began to make their seeds for new seedlings.

I think that pistachios and almonds are one of God’s creations most people like to eat or use in other food such as baking recipes, on top of salads and ice cream, or just eating them by themselves. I was a little curious about how many different edible nuts there were in the world. And here’s a list that I was able to find, There seems to be 53 edible nuts that we know of. (List Located at Bottom of Page)

It’s amazing that the same nuts that were used thousands of years ago still have the same name. It’s obvious that they must be good for you as a healthy food. If we ate more things like this we may stay a little bit healthier.

There must have been a lot of trees that grew these two kinds of nuts. I was able to only find verses about pistachios and almonds but that does not mean their were not more types of nuts in other areas of the world. As the list above shows there are many nuts that can be eaten. For the purpose of this post the subject is about nuts that were talked about in the Bible. I do all I can to find scripture to show you that God created so many things, we just don’t think about them as being a creation.

I wonder how they used these two types of nuts. Maybe a King sitting lounging on some big pillows eating them from a bowl designed of gold. Or maybe someone just walking past a tree that has some ripe nuts and pulls a few off and cracks them open to eat as they walk. Use your imagination to see if you can come up with something similar. People are basically the same no matter what time period they lived in. We could eat healthier and just maybe live longer.

Genesis 43:11 (NKJV)
11. And their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best fruits of the land in your vessels and carry down a present for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds.

Exodus 37:19-20 (NKJV)
19. There were three bowls made like almond blossoms on one branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower, and three bowls made like almond blossoms on the other branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower—and so for the six branches coming out of the lampstand.
20. And on the lampstand itself were four bowls made like almond blossoms, each with its ornamental knob and flower.

Numbers 17:8 (NKJV)
8. Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and behold, the rod of Aaron, of the house of Levi, had sprouted and put forth buds, had produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds.

Jeremiah 1:11 (NKJV)
11. Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?”
And I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”

1. acorn

2. akee
3. almond
4. beechnut
5. betel
6. black walnuts
7. brazil nut
8. butternut
9. cacao
10. calabash
11. candlenut
12. cashew
13. chestnuts
14. chinese chestnut
15. clurbita ficifolia
16. coconut
17. colocynth
18. english walnut
19. filbert
20. genuip
21. gevuina awellana
22. ginkgo
23. guarana
24. hazelnut
25. hickory
26. horse-chesnut
27. Illipe
28. java
29. kola nut
30. lychee
31. macadamia
32. malabar chestnut
33. mamoncillo
34. mangosteens
35. maya nut
36. momgongo
37. monkey
38. nutmeg
39. oak acorns
40. ogbono nut
41. pandanus
42. paradise nut
43. peanut
44. pecan
45. pili nut
46. pine
47. pistachip
48. sandalwood
49. shagbark hickory
50. sunflower
51. sweet chestnut
52. sy
53. walnut

Honey Bees and their Hives

When He spoke the bees began to build their home and created honey.

Honeybees are pretty great at what they do. They are very hard workers and the end result is that sweet sticky syrup we use for many different things. I bet there are some things you did not know about bees and honey. There are 20,000 different species of bees that are known about in the world. Honey does not go bad as far as I have ever known. It will look like crystal but you can still eat it.

I have heard about people who were told by their doctor to put honey on an incision that was infected or wouldn’t heal. It does work. Honey can be effective as a topical antibiotic treatment. There are many more uses I’m sure but don’t do any of them unless you are told to do so and know what will happen.

Honeybees are so important to our food supply, not to mention we would not have the beautiful flowering plants we like to look at all around us. I know so many people are allergic to bee stings but if we continue to kill them because we don’t want them in our back yards or gardens we all will have a big problem. Most often bees will just fly into you and bonce off, it’s when we slap them is when we get stung. That isn’t always the case but if they don’t feel threatened they usually don’t sting. There was a woman on a show that uses bees in an awful way. 

Deuteronomy 1:44 (NKJV)
44. And the Amorites who dwelt in that mountain came out against you and chased you as bees do, and drove you back from Seir to Hormah.

Deuteronomy 32:13 (NKJV)
13. “He made him ride in the heights of the earth,
That he might eat the produce of the fields;
He made him draw honey from the rock,
And oil from the flinty rock;

Judges 14:8-9 (NKJV)
8. After some time, when he returned to get her, he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion. And behold, a swarm of bees and honey were in the carcass of the lion.
9. He took some of it in his hands and went along, eating. When he came to his father and mother, he gave some to them, and they also ate. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey out of the carcass of the lion.

I Kings 14:3 (NKJV)
3. Also take with you ten loaves, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him; he will tell you what will become of the child.”

Psalm 19:10 (NKJV)
10. More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Proverbs 16:24 (NKJV)
24. Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.

Matthew 3:4 (NKJV)
4. Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Luke 24:42-43 (NKJV)
42. So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb.
43. And He took it and ate in their presence.

Read this story for more information:
http://www.imdb.com/news/ni47505517/ 

Read this story for more information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colony_collapse_disorder

Bring Back the Bees:
https://xerces.org/bringbackthepollinators/

Sugar and Spice makes everything nice

When He spoke trees and plants began to create the spices of many kinds.

Could you imagine what our food would taste like without the flavor of spices? I guess that the people thousands of years ago must have thought the same thing. No matter what country you live in we all use spices they just may be different for the kind of food you make. Food would be so bland and tasteless if we didn’t have spices. So many recipes we make today call for the same ancient types of spices they used long ago. 

I think it’s pretty awesome that God cared enough about us and what we ate to create flavorful spices to make it that much more enjoyable. We cook the way we do because we like it and the plants that were found all those years ago by generations past has contributed to how we eat today.

It’s an incredible way to think about all those bottles we now get from the store. It’s just full of any kind of spice and flavorings you would want. Many years ago it was picked, hung upside down and dried, then crushed with a tool by hand now we just go to the store and take it off a shelf. So next time you pick up that bottle of spice to shake on your food remember where it came from and who created it. It might make it taste that much better.

Exodus 16:31 (NKJV)

31. And the house of Israel called its name Manna.
And it was like white coriander seed, and the taste
of it was like wafers made with honey.

Exodus 30:23-24 (NKJV)
23. “Also take for yourself quality spices—five hundred shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much sweet-smelling cinnamon (two hundred and fifty shekels), two hundred and fifty shekels of sweet-smelling cane, ²⁴ five hundred shekels of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hin of olive oil.

Numbers 11:7 (NKJV)
7. Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its color like the color of bdellium.

Proverbs 7:17 (NKJV)
17. I have perfumed my bed
With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Song of Solomon 4:14 (NKJV)
14. Spikenard and saffron,
Calamus and cinnamon,
With all trees of frankincense,
Myrrh and aloes,
With all the chief spices—

Song of Solomon 4:16 (NKJV)
16. Awake, O north wind,
And come, O south!
Blow upon my garden,
That its spices may flow out.
Let my beloved come to his garden
And eat its pleasant fruits.

Isaiah 43:24 (NKJV)
24. You have bought Me no sweet cane with money,
Nor have you satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices;
But you have burdened Me with your sins,
You have wearied Me with your iniquities.

Jeremiah 6:20 (NKJV)
20. For what purpose to Me
Comes frankincense from Sheba,
And sweet cane from a far country?
Your burnt offerings are not acceptable,
Nor your sacrifices sweet to Me.”

Ezekiel 27:19 (NKJV)
19. Dan and Javan paid for your wares, traversing back and forth. Wrought iron, cassia, and cane were among your merchandise.

Matthew 23:23 (NKJV)
23. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.

Revelation 18:13 (NKJV)
13. and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men.

Birds of a feather, flock together

When He spoke birds of every kind were created.

Birds are both beautiful and ugly, or should I saw homely looking but they all serve a purpose. Some are amazingly colorful and gorgeous others are plain in color and have no marks to make them close to being pretty. It all depends on your likes and dislikes.

There are birds that have a song that will peacefully wake you up in the morning some are loud and annoying with their sounds they make in the morning like roosters. Anyone who tells you they only crow when the sun comes up is not telling the truth. They crow whenever they feel like it.

Well we have some birds that sing, some that annoy us and some that we actually sit and watch for hours. There are many bird watchers professional and those people who just like to watch for fun. Either way everyone has that one favorite bird no matter what part of the world you live in.

What is so amazing about birds is they each have their own way of traveling-migrating some fly some have to walk and some swim. It all depends on where they are from and where they are going. They each have different ways of making nests, hatching and feeding their young. Some birds know right from the egg what they are to do, others need their parents help to learn everything.

Birds are so different you can learn their calls and songs if you take time to listen. Once you learn their calls and songs, you can spot them in the trees. I know that not all birds or animals are welcomed to your backyard or window feeders but nature will find its way where there is food. And I believe they will pass on this knowledge to others in the flock. Just enjoy watching what happens when you put out some seeds in a feeder. You will be amazed at what will appear. Birds are here to stay, welcomed or not.

Genesis 8:8-9 (NKJV) Dove

8. He also sent out from himself a dove, to see if the waters had receded from the face of the ground.

9. But the dove found no resting place for the sole of her foot, and she returned into the ark to him, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took her, and drew her into the ark to himself.

Numbers 11:31 (NKJV) Quail

31. Now a wind went out from the Lord, and it brought quail from the sea and left them fluttering near the camp, about a day’s journey on this side and about a day’s journey on the other side, all around the camp, and about two cubits above the surface of the ground.

Deuteronomy 14:11-18 (NKJV) Different Kinds

11. “All clean birds you may eat.

12. But these you shall not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the buzzard,

13 the red kite, the falcon, and the kite after their kinds; 

14.. every raven after its kind;

15. the ostrich, the short-eared owl, the sea gull, and the hawk after their kinds;

16. the little owl, the screech owl, the white owl,

17. the jackdaw, the carrion vulture, the fisher owl,

18. the stork, the heron after its kind, and the hoopoe and the bat.

I Kings 17:4 and 6 (NKJV) Ravens

4. And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”

6. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook.

Psalm 84:3 (NKJV) Sparrow & Swallow

3. Even the sparrow has found a home,

And the swallow a nest for herself,

Where she may lay her young—

Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts,

My King and my God.

Psalm 102:6-7 (NKJV) Pelican, Owl, Sparrow

6. I am like a pelican of the wilderness;

I am like an owl of the desert.

7. I lie awake, And am like a sparrow alone on the housetop.

Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV) Eagle

31. But those who wait on the Lord

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.

Matthew 10:31 (NKJV) More valuable

31. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Precious Gemstones and Metals

When He spoke the earth began to create colorful stones and metals.

Precious metals and gemstones as we call them today were plentiful thousands of years ago so much so they were used for almost everything from jewelry, overlaying walls and important objects as well as a handcrafted ephod (Breastplate) for the High Priest. It is amazing how much of the precious metals and jewels could be found so easily.

We see reality shows of all kinds but lately it’s with people willing to risk their lives to find some small fragments of gold or dive for treasures just so they can hit it big by finding that one super valuable item to make them a lot of money or earn them a spot on the news.

Thousands even millions of years perhaps have gone by and it seems that the purpose of precious metals and gemstones hasn’t changed much in their uses. The only differences I can see is in the past people used them to honor God and His place of worship some people today think God isn’t that important any longer.

Most people today, not all, want to adorn themselves with it and the bigger the better. Showing it off to say look how much money I have. They may have the money the money to afford their precious things or they may have put themselves in serious debt. We all like the color of the stones and the gold, even silver. It’s shiny and the stones sparkle in the light. They are beautiful to look at that is why we wear what we wear.

With that thought in mind think of how beautiful heaven will be with gold, crystal and even gemstones with names we ourselves have never heard of. The glory of it all should make one wonder just how awesome it is going to be and I imagine there will be even more precious gems and metals we don’t know about we can only go by what has been written about in the Bible.

Maybe after reading this you will look at that ring, bracelet, necklace, or earrings with a new appreciation because what they are made of isn’t that easily found. We can like our precious metals and gems but don’t make them more important then God that was the biggest mistake of all those people so many years ago.

Genesis 2:11-12 (NKJV)
11. The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which skirts the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold.
12. And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and the onyx stone are there.

Genesis 24:22 (NKJV)
22. So it was, when the camels had finished drinking, that the man took a golden nose ring weighing half a shekel, and two bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels of gold,

Genesis 24:53 (NKJV)
53. Then the servant brought out jewelry of silver, jewelry of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother.

Exodus 28:17-22 (NKJV)
17. And you shall put settings of stones in it, four rows of stones: The first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and an emerald; this shall be the first row;
18. the second row shall be a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond;
19. the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;
20. and the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be set in gold settings.
21. And the stones shall have the names of the sons of Israel, twelve according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, each one with its own name; they shall be according to the twelve tribes.
22. “You shall make chains for the breastplate at the end, like braided cords of pure gold.

Exodus 32:2-4 (NKJV)
2. And Aaron said to them, “Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.”
3. So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron.
4. And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf.
Then they said, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!”

I Kings 6:20-22 (NKJV)
20. The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high. He overlaid it with pure gold, and overlaid the altar of cedar.
21. So Solomon overlaid the inside of the temple with pure gold. He stretched gold chains across the front of the inner sanctuary, and overlaid it with gold.
22. The whole temple he overlaid with gold, until he had finished all the temple; also he overlaid with gold the entire altar that was by the inner sanctuary.

I Kings 6:32 (NKJV)
32. The two doors were of olive wood; and he carved on them figures of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold; and he spread gold on the cherubim and on the palm trees.

Job 28:15-19 (NKJV)
15. It cannot be purchased for gold,
Nor can silver be weighed for its price.
16. It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir,
In precious onyx or sapphire.
17. Neither gold nor crystal can equal it,
Nor can it be exchanged for jewelry of fine gold.
18. No mention shall be made of coral or quartz,
For the price of wisdom is above rubies.
19. The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it,
Nor can it be valued in pure gold.

Proverbs 8:10-11(NKJV)
10. Receive my instruction, and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choice gold;
11. For wisdom is better than rubies,
And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.

Song of Solomon 1:10-11 (NKJV)
10. Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments,
Your neck with chains of gold.
11. We will make you ornaments of gold
With studs of silver.

Isaiah 54:11-12 (NKJV)
11. “O you afflicted one,
Tossed with tempest, and not comforted,
Behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems,
And lay your foundations with sapphires.
12. I will make your pinnacles of rubies,
Your gates of crystal,
And all your walls of precious stones.

Ezekiel 27:16 (NKJV)
16. Syria was your merchant because of the abundance of goods you made. They gave you for your wares emeralds, purple, embroidery, fine linen, corals, and rubies.

Matthew 13:45-46 (NKJV)
45. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,
46. who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

I Corinthians 3:12 (NKJV)
12. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

Revelation 21:19-21 (NKJV)
19. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,
20. the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.
21. The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

He's all the love you need

When He spoke love was already there for us.

Love is the one emotion none of us can get away from; we love everyday of our lives. It may be a person or even an object but we all have loved at some point in our lives. Most of us have been in love with someone so much our hearts ached, especially when they didn’t love you back or didn’t love you any longer. I can say that if you truly want a real love that will last, you can only get from one person, and that is from God Himself. God is love and He loves us more then we could ever love anyone or anything. His love expands beyond any love we have ever felt. His love will never hurt you or leave you. It will mend a broken heart and get you up on your feet emotionally to continue your life with joy and happiness.

I don’t believe there is anyone who could really comprehend or explain just how loving God is. Other then to say He sent His only son to die for us. How many parents could let their child go knowing that at a certain time and on a particular day in their life they would die a horrible death? I don’t think there are too many parents that would allow that to happen. But that is exactly what God did. His love is so massive He can love us all no matter how wrong or bad we think we have been. He will love you even when you do not love Him. He wants you to love Him back but He will not ever force you to do anything. Love is and always will be a two way street. You love someone and they love you. God is love and He loves you more then you could imagine. He’s just waiting for you to accept and love Him. It truly is a love you won’t find in anything or anywhere else. There are and never will be any substitutes for the love God has for everyone. Remember God Himself is love.

Deuteronomy 7:9 (NKJV)
9. “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;

Jeremiah 31:3 (NKJV)
3 The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying:
“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.

John 3:16-17 (NKJV)
16. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

1 John 4:8 (NKJV)
8. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

1 John 4:16 (NKJV)
16. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

Jude 1:21 (NKJV)
21. keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Lucifer, Light Bearer

When He spoke the most beautiful angel ever was created.

Just the mention of the name Lucifer makes people automatically think of the Devil or Satan. That is too bad because Lucifer really means “Light Bearer” in Latin and “Son of the Morning” means “Day Star.” Lucifer was a beautifully created angel perfect in every way. Just by the description, it sounds like he was so majestic and glorious to look at. Because he knew that he was prefect and beautiful, he became full of pride. He thought he was better then God and he wanted to be exalted higher then God. God loved Lucifer because he was one of His creations, but the arrogant, shallow, vain attitude Lucifer had is what got him cast out of Heaven because it is consider sin. Because there is nothing more important or higher then God.

God did not create hell for anyone other then the Devil. The other fallen angels that exalted Lucifer were cast out as well. God did not create hell to send people there. The sad thing is there are many people who believe that if God were such a loving God He would not send people to hell. First of all, good or bad, it does not matter. Anyone who is not forgiven of his or her sins will go to hell. I cannot imagine how it breaks God’s heart every time a person who is one of His creations dies and goes to hell because they have not heard the truth about Jesus dying on a cross for their sins or have heard and did nothing with that knowledge or truth. That is the last thing He wants for anyone who is living and breathing on this earth.

Those who believe that God sends people to hell have not read the Bible or if they have do not have the whole picture or the story correct. Sin sends people to hell. Hell was originally created for an angel who got a big ego and got a whole lot of other angels to worship him instead of God. God is loving towards those who love Him but Satan caused a divide between himself and God because of his sin. And do not think for one minute that God is a mean, terrible, hateful God who likes when people go to hell because that is the farthest thing from the truth. Our sin and unwillingness to ask for forgiveness is what causes Hell to multiply. There is only one true God and He deserves all our love and gratitude for what He did for us. Giving us a way to escape an eternity of torment through His son Jesus.

Exodus 20:3 (NKJV)
3. “You shall have no other gods before Me.

Proverbs 15:3 (NKJV)
3. The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
Keeping watch on the evil and the good.

Proverbs 16:5 (NKJV)
5. Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.

Proverbs 16:18 (NKJV)
18. Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before a fall.

Isaiah 14:12-15 (NKJV)
12. “How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
13. For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
14. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’
15. Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,
To the lowest depths of the Pit.

Ezekiel 28:13-17 (NKJV)
13. You were in Eden, the garden of God;
Every precious stone was your covering:
The sardius, topaz, and diamond,
Beryl, onyx, and jasper,
Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold.
The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes
Was prepared for you on the day you were created.
14. “You were the anointed cherub who covers;
I established you;
You were on the holy mountain of God;
You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones.
15. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created,
Till iniquity was found in you.
16. “By the abundance of your trading
You became filled with violence within,
And you sinned;
Therefore I cast you as a profane thing
Out of the mountain of God;
And I destroyed you, O covering cherub,
From the midst of the fiery stones.
17. “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty;
You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor;
I cast you to the ground,
I laid you before kings,
That they might gaze at you.

Matthew 25:41 (NKJV)
41. “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:

Luke 10:18 (NKJV)
18. And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

2 Peter 2:4 (NKJV)
4. For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;

2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV)
9. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise,
as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us,
not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Jude 1:6 (NKJV)
6. And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day;

Revelation 12:7-9 (NKJV)
7. And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought,
8. but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer.
9. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

As Time Passes By

When He spoke time was created and continues to pass by.

I often wonder why everyone celebrates so much when a New Year starts to be exact when the clock hits 12:00 am. January 1^st seems to symbolize a new way of thinking about a New Year. What are they celebrating anyway? A new day that will be like every other day. It’s just another celebrated holiday to allow people a day off work to have big parties and blow up fireworks but what is it all really for?

 Is it to escape from a bad year that has gone by? We all have had bad times and should put them in the past and look to the New Year with hope and the expectation that things will get better. God created the lights to divide the days and the nights and those days are what make up the months, seasons, and years. We don’t have to be worried or afraid of what the New Year will bring because there is a light that shines brighter than anything that could shines in the sky.

That bright light of this world is Jesus. If you except Jesus as your Savior then His light will shine through you for others to see. Even in this new uncertain year ahead, if you have Jesus in your life He will help you through all the hard times and be there in the good times as well. The years seem to be passing by at a very fast pace and we celebrate a New Year sooner and sooner, so it seems. Give yourself something to really celebrate and that is a new life with Jesus your hope for a better future. Now that would be the best New Year you could ever have. Time is going quickly don’t wait to make a decision it may only come once.

Genesis 1:14 (NKJV)
14. Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years;

Exodus 12:2 (NKJV)
2. “This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.

Isaiah 43:18 (NKJV)
18. “Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old.

John 12:35-36 (NKJV)
35. Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.
36. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.

Ephesians 5:8 (NKJV)
8. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light