God Overturns Nature

We need to study the pouring out of the seventh vial. The powers of evil will not yield up the conflict without a struggle.
In the midst of the angry heavens is one clear space of indescribable glory, whence comes the voice of God like the sound of many waters, saying: “It is done.” Revelation 16:17.
That voice shakes the heavens and the earth. There is a mighty earthquake, “such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.” Verses 17, 18. The firmament appears to open and shut. The glory from the throne of God seems flashing through. The mountains shake like a reed in the wind, and ragged rocks are scattered on every side. There is a roar as of a coming tempest. The sea is lashed into fury. There is heard the shriek of a hurricane like the voice of demons upon a mission of destruction. The whole earth heaves and swells like the waves of the sea. Its surface is breaking up. Its very foundations seem to be giving away. Mountain chains are sinking. Inhabited islands disappear. The seaports that have become like Sodom for wickedness are swallowed up by the angry waters. Babylon the great has come in remembrance before God, “to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.” Great hailstones, every one “about the weight of a talent,” are doing their work of destruction. Verses 19, 21. The proudest cities of the earth are laid low. The lordly palaces, upon which the world’s great men have lavished their wealth in order to glorify themselves, are crumbling to ruin before their eyes. Prison walls are rent asunder, and God’s people, who have been held in bondage for their faith, are set free.
Maranatha p. 280
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Prayer Requests
—-Pray that God’s will be done that if God wants us to go to the Amazing Facts College of Evangelism that He will provide the funds to do so. We want to work effectively for God. Esther
—–update— Praise the Lord I got a text from Crystal at 7:00 last evening and she said Jojo caught up to her at 9:30 this morning. I am so relieved, I don’t think it’s safe for her to be hiking alone on a remote trail, and I hope and pray it does not happen anymore! Linda
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Dear Friends,
Some years ago, Junior, a Chihuahua we used to have, slipped out of the door while we were buying some food from the Schwan’s man. None of us noticed Junior’s disappearance. An hour or two later, Ronnie Jay missed him. We searched the house to make sure that he was not sleeping in some little out-of-the-way place which he often did. He was not anywhere.
Ronnie Jay and I began searching the neighborhood. We drove very slowly, looking carefully between each trailer. No Junior. After searching the area where he usually goes, we decided to go by home and see if he had returned. As we drove by, there was Junior jumping and barking and trying to get into the gate. He knew he was in BIG TROUBLE. Ron heard his desperate barks and had come out to let him in just as we drove into the driveway. Had the gate been open, Junior would no doubt have pretended to have been there all the time just like Sandy (the dog we had before Junior) always did.
Evidently, Junior had seen us searching for him and knew he had better get home right away. He wanted to escape the punishment that he knew he would get for running away. How many times we are like Junior. We do those things that we know a Christian should in order to escape the punishment that is soon to follow. Outwardly, we look genuine, but inside our heart is not right. We are no more sorry for our disobedience than was Junior. Given another chance, he will escape again. Given another chance, we would fall right back into our old habits and sins.
Jeremiah tells us, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jer 17:9 David adds, “God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Ps 53:2, 3 Isaiah declares our condition, “the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.” Isa 1:5, 6
How much we need a Saviour! How much we need a change of heart. How much we need His cleansing power! Praise God! He has promised to give us this precious gift of grace! “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.” Eze 36:26, 27
When we recieve this new heart, we will desire to please our Great Creator more than we want to please ourselves. Our thoughts, our attitudes, our motives, our words, our actions will change. Paul declares, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Cor 5:17 John exhorts, “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” 1 John 3:18-24 Jesus assures us, “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.” “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” John 14:21; 15:10, 11
May we”take heed lest there be in any of [us] an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.” Heb 3:12 May we, out of a heart filled with love for our Blessed Redeemer, obey His Commands for He bids us, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15 May we, someday soon, see our Great Creator face to face, feel His Loving Arms around us in a joyful embrace, and hear Him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Matt 25:21
Rose