Revelation Sequences

The following was shared in several Facebook groups I am apart of, and I felt a strong prompting to share here.

A big thank you for a post by Sally Ann Medina shared on Bible KJV and Devotions -Facebook page. Sharing post on this page. Read more below

REVELATION SEQUENCES 🕊

As stated in Matthew 24... The 'Rapture' is an event that will occur 'Seven (7) Years' prior to the 'Second Coming of Jesus Christ' ... The events of the 'Rapture/Caught~Up/Snatched~Up/Taken~Up/Harpazo' (which is a silent even known only to God's children, they will be the only ones to hear that trumpet call) are as follows:

In the Book of Revelation Chapter 4:1 ~ The 'Bride of Christ' is Raptured and during the first half (42 months) of the Tribulation, chapters 6 through 19 will take place! ♥️

The 'Wrath of God' ... Please remember that the 21 Judgments begin in Revelation chapter 6 ... Therefore, as children of God, we are NOT appointed to His 'Wrath' ~ (1 Thessalonians 5:9) ~ "For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." ... Therefore, God will save us from that hour! Understand the following analogy: Jesus will ~N~O~T~ 'Beat His Bride to a Pulp' and then take Her 'Home!!'

Also please note, that the 'Church/Bride of Christ' is never mentioned again between chapters 5 through 18... Why? ... Because the 'Bride of Christ' has been Raptured and while the '7 Years of Tribulation' are in full bloom with all of its of horrors... The 'Bride of Christ' will be in heaven at the feast of the 'Supper of the Lamb' ... ~S~O~ pray always that you are found worthy to escape all of those things which shall come upon this 'Wicked and Fallen World!'

The "Throne In Heaven" ~ Revelation 4:1 States: ~*~

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this."

We are experiencing the prophesied painful 'birth pangs' ... The "Seal, Trumpet and Vial Judgments" occur after the Rapture! They are the following:

"Seal Judgments" ~*~
This Is The Beginning of The Program of God to Pour Out Judgments Upon The Earth. They Include:

1. The World's Greatest Dictator (Revelation 6:1~2)
2. The World's Greatest War (Revelation 6:3~4)
3. The World's Greatest Famine (Revelation 6:5~6)
4. The World's Greatest Death Blow (Revelation 6:7~8)
5. The World's Greatest Persecution (Revelation 6:9~10)
6. The World's Greatest Ecological Disaster (Revelation 6:11~12)
7. The World's Greatest Hour of Fear ... Actually The Lull Before The Storm (Revelation 8:1)

"Trumpet Judgments" ~*~
The Trumpets of Heaven Sound An Alarm Throughout The World Announcing The Public Judgments of God. Each Blast Ushers In An Added Judgement.

8. The World's Greatest Fire (Revelation 8~7)
9. The World's Greatest Oceanic Disturbance (Revelation 8:8~9)
10. The World's Greatest Pollution of Water (Revelation 8:10~11)
11. The World's Greatest Darkness (Revelation 8:10~11)
12. The World's Greatest Pestilential Invasion (Revelation 9:1~6)
13. The World's Greatest Army (Revelation 9:16)
14. The World's Greatest Storm (Revelation 11:15~19)

"Vial Judgments" ~*~

15. The World's Greatest Epidemic (Revelation 16:2)
16. The World's Greatest Contamination By Blood (Revelation 16:3~7)
17. The World's Greatest Contamination By Blood Continued (Revelation 16:3~7)
18. The World's Greatest Scorching (Revelation 16:8~9)
19. The World's Greatest Plague (Revelation 16:10~11)
20. The World's Greatest Invasion (Revelation 16:12)
21. The World's Greatest Earthquake (Revelation 16:18)

Reminders: ♥️♥️♥️

~1 Thessalonians 5:9; "For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ."

~1 Thessalonians 4:16~17; "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

~Revelation 3:10; "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."

2020: To Stand. To Serve.

It is a new year. For most, the start of the new calendar year means resolutions, new starts, fitness goals, ambitions, and the such.

And this is all fine and good, but those of us who have secured our salvation we need to remember this:

Lamentations 3:22-23  (NASB)

22 The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,

For His compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness

New every morning. As believers we get to have a fresh start every day. Not that consequences don't continue, but we can wake each day excited to serve the Lord anew. We just need to stay with Him, continue walking with Him, have that relationship with Him that shows that we are the good seed.

I find resolutions to be daunting, maybe even intimidating. I like goals, like praying more, reading a Psalm a day, essentially small steps to get closer to God ad further from my old self. But I even admit this is pretty vague. I do like the notion that has developed in Christian circles the past few years of claiming a word for the year. And many Christian websites have quizzes to help you find a word.

Claiming a word to guide my year has been very beneficial for me. For 2019 I chose "intentional" - I wanted to be intentional in my reading, relationships, my comings, my goings, in all I did. And I would say I was. I did it. Maybe no as good as I could have, but when it came to interacting with others, I know that the word "intentional" would come to mind repeatedly making sure that I made eye contact, used the persons name in the conversation, the word "intentional" helped me to become more genuine in my interactions.

So here we are, day 3 of the year 2020 and what word will define me, define my life?

I took one of those quizzes I mentioned previously 20202 Word Quiz and it gave me the word: Stand

I decided to look up the word "stand":

stand

/stand/

Learn to pronounce

verb

verb: stand; 3rd person present: stands; past tense: stood; past participle: stood; gerund or present participle: standing

1. have or maintain an upright position, supported by one's feet.

2. (of an object, building, or settlement) be situated in a particular place or position.

3. be in a specified state or condition. adopt a particular attitude toward a matter or issue.

4. withstand (an experience or test) without being damaged. INFORMAL be able to endure or tolerate.

noun

noun: stand; plural noun: stands

1. an attitude toward a particular issue; a position taken in an argument.

2. a rack, base, or piece of furniture for holding, supporting, or displaying something.

3. the place where someone typically stands or sits.

4. a large raised tiered structure for spectators, typically at a sports arena.

5. a cessation from motion or progress.

6. a group of growing plants of a specified kind, especially trees.

For me, for my Christian walk in the year 2020 I am going to stand for Christ, for His commandments. I am going to solidify my position, my faith, what I believe. I will make my stand for Christ and not be moved.

Before I took that quiz, the Lord had been placing another word in my heart and I feels strongly that the two go together. 2020 for me will be defined by 2 words, and the second is serve.

serve

/sərv/

verb

verb: serve; 3rd person present: serves; past tense: served; past participle: served; gerund or present participle: serving

1. perform duties or services for (another person or an organization).

2. present (food or drink) to someone.

3. LAW deliver (a document such as a summons or writ) in a formal manner to the person to whom it is addressed.

4. be of use in achieving or satisfying.

5. (in tennis and other racket sports) hit the ball or shuttlecock to begin play.

6. NAUTICAL bind (a rope) with thin cord to protect or strengthen it.

7. MILITARY operate (a gun).

How the word serve came to me is beautifully woven through my interactions and life with two beautifully, godly women who I admire.

The first woman is Mrs. Diane. I want her energy and her zest. She is hard on herself, she sees her shortfalls, but oh friends, the fire and passion in her - you not only see it but you feel it when you are anywhere near her. She will fill in from time to time in my connection group when our main teacher needs to be out. And when she teaches? It stays with me in ways I cannot explain. My main teacher has fed my soul, and her messages have impacted my life, but Mrs. Diane feeds a different part of my being. I am thankful for both these lades.

Awhile back Mrs. Diane subbed in for a few Sundays, and over time she went over numerous women
in the Bible. Wow, it was amazing. And when she went over Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazarus, God inspired me. Any woman who has had walk with Jesus for any length of time has studied these two godly women. And identified more than likely, with a self-negative perspective, with sister Martha.  And then longed, with doubt of aspiring, to be more like Mary.

The lessons she taught, reaffirmed that Jesus needed both of these ladies in His life, and hat humanity needs both types of women. The house Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived in was Martha's house.

Luke 10:38  (NASB)

38 Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.

This lesson was so eye opening. Martha wasn't just a woman running around doing all the work, she was a business woman, who owned a home big enough to house her, her sister, and her brother, and host Jesus and the disciples. She was business savvy enough to be able to afford to feed this large group. Which makes her appeal to Jesus a bit more understandable. Martha provided for Jesus a resting place, as He was a man with no earthly home. 

And then Mary. In light of her sister we can say she was lazy. But oh friend, both these sisters were socially abnormal, and what examples they set for us. Martha owning property as she must have, was not the normal. And for Mary to sit at the feet of Jesus was socially taboo. Men and women did not sit together as such. Mary was at Jesus' feet. She risked ridiculed and tisked, but she chose Jesus. It is implied that Mary was rooted where she was. And Jesus was her light and her water, His words and His teachings fed her spiritually for her to produce fruit that would later serve her well in her Kingdom task.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

I was so inspired by the idea of Mary rooted at the feet of Jesus I even did a drawing for Mrs. Diane. I haven't draw in ages, but I was happy with the final product.

After I finished this drawing, the week of my church' Christmas program, I ran into Mrs. Lynne.

She is the wife to our Minister of Music, and caretaker of the banners. Oh my favorite part each year at the Singing Christmas Tree is the presentation of the banners. Each one represents a name or attribute of Jesus, and they are brought into the worship center with ceremony. It is breathtakingly stunning.

Her and I had a private conversation as she was mending one of the banners to be used, but it got my mind thinking about the drawing I did of Mary at the feet of Jesus. In my mind there was a flip, and it wasn't Mary at His feet, but it was Jesus at the feet of the disciples  He wasn't rooted, but he was serving. And until then, I am not to sure I had given much thought to that attribute of my Lord and Savior.

Matthew 20:28 (NASB)

28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:45 (NASB)

45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His [a]life a ransom for many.”

John 13:1-17 (NASB)

The Lord’s Supper

13 Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them [a]to the end. 2 During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, 4 *got up from supper, and *laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself.

Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet

5 Then He *poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 So He *came to Simon Peter. He *said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” 8 Peter *said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” 9 Simon Peter *said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” 10 Jesus *said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord; and [b]you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

Jesus came to serve. And from the definition above, when we serve, we have someone in authority over us. Jesus had God the Father. And as a Christian we serve Jesus and God. 

Jesus came to serve. Oh, He came to do more, and He did and He will. But He served as part of His ministry. And He is calling me to serve.

I have this blog, which I must and will do more with. This is but one platform I can utilize to do my part of the Great Commission.

Matthew 28:16-20 (NASB)

The Great Commission

16 But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

I have also felt God put on my heart to do an in-home Bible study on the Book of Joel, and a few other tasks. I am willing and waiting.

So in 2020 I will stand and serve God.

Swaddling Clothes

I saw this online yesterday and was blown away. How many times have I read Luke 2 and not caught on to the significance. Luke 2:12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” The baby wrapped in cloths is/was a sign.

Mary wrapped Jesus in at the time of his birth? Specifically, "WHERE" did she get the swaddling? Have you ever wondered about "swaddling clothes"? Thought this was interesting.....

Everyone knows that Jesus was born in a manger, and the 2nd chapter of the gospel of Luke says that he was wrapped in "swaddling clothes" and laid in a manger. Even today, hospitals use a cloth that they call a "swaddling" cloth. Unfortunately, it's a misnomer that will soon be over 2,000 years old, because "swaddling clothes" have nothing to do with a child being born!

In the Middle East, people traveling long distances were often met with many hardships and trials on their journeys. In the event of a death in travel, the body could not continue to be transported for many days. For that reason, travelers wrapped a thin, gauzelike cloth around their waist many times. If someone died on the journey, the others would use this cloth, referred to as "swaddling clothes" to wrap the body in before burying them.

When Jesus was born, there was no room in the Inn, and so Mary and Joseph used a nearby stable for Jesus' birth. With no other cloth to use, Jesus was wrapped in Joseph's "swaddling clothes" - the cloth normally reserved for a person's death.

The King of Kings and Lord of Lords came into this world in a lowly manger and was wrapped with burial clothes - in truth, He was born to die. To die for the sins of all mankind.

When you celebrate Christ's birth this Christmas season, keep in mind that even in birth, He was preparing for death - his ultimate reason for coming to earth....

To save us from our sins.

The end of the book...

Every story has some basic components that are universally agreed on.

• A beginning
• A midpoint
• An ending
• Setting
• Plot
• Characters
• Conflict
• Theme

Your story, my story, our story - this does not differ. When/how/where these components are laid out - that can very. One component that is universally the same: we all have the same author.

Hebrews 12:2  (NASB)

2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

We are not an accident. We have a purpose. God has known us since before our birth. I remember hearing recently that the word "formed" doesn't give the right context - we miss what is being conveyed. Several translations imply knit (as with 2 knitting needles), but actually it is more along the lines of crochet.

Neither of which is exactly easy, both require a great deal of focus and attention.

Did you get that? When God made you, made me, in our mother's womb - it wasn't just cells bumping together by chance. God crocheted our form together with great focus and detail - making us a unique individual.

Jeremiah 1:5 (NASB)

5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

And before you were born I consecrated you;

I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Where am I going with all of this?

Our story will one day end: by death or Jesus returns.

If you have not read the Bible, you might be confused about what I means when I say Jesus returns. There is rich book of the Bible that is filled with description of a vision the Apostle John had. It is at the end of the book. It is the last book of the books of the Bible.

The Book of Revelation.

Yes, singular. The Apostle John saw many things, but it was a single revelation, a single event occurrence. 

I came to salvation through the preaching and teaching of the Book of Revelation at a revival when i was 13. Since then, I have read it numerous times individually, had it preached through (all 22 chapters) once, done the Precept study on it (took 2 years), and am again listening to it preached from the pulpit. 

The Book of Revelation outlines events yet to come (prophecy). God has outlined His plan to redeem Israel and the events that must occur for that to happen. What kicks off this redemption of the apple of God's eye, is the church being raptured - where Jesus meets believers in the air before the wrath of God is poured out in order of seals, trumpets and bowls. 

Zechariah 2  (NASB)

God’s Favor to Zion

2 Then I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 So I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see how wide it is and how long it is.” 3 And behold, the angel who was speaking with me was going out, and another angel was coming out to meet him, 4 and said to him, “Run, speak to that young man, saying, ‘Jerusalem will be inhabited without walls because of the multitude of men and cattle within it. 5 For I,’ declares the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’”

6 “Ho there! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the Lord, “for I have dispersed you as the four winds of the heavens,” declares the Lord. 7 “Ho, Zion! Escape, you who are living with the daughter of Babylon.” 8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, “After glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye. 9 For behold, I will wave My hand over them so that they will be plunder for their slaves. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me. 10 Sing for joy and be glad, O daughter of Zion; for behold I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,” declares the Lord. 11 “Many nations will join themselves to the Lord in that day and will become My people. Then I will dwell in your midst, and you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you. 12 The Lord will possess Judah as His portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.

13 “Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord; for He is aroused from His holy habitation.”

All believers in this current age, The Age of Grace, The Church Age need to reconcile with is the fact that yes God set about to redeem all of mankind - Jew and Gentile, but Israel is the apple of His eye. And though we gentiles have been adopted into the family, and receive all the richness and glory and blessings of salvation - Israel is set apart. Israel has been sanctified apart from all the other nations. And even though they have repeatedly turned their back and fist towards God, He has never, not once given up or stopped pursuing them. And the end of the book tells us how He plans to redeem them, bring them back to them. 

In the next few days and weeks I will share my notes on the Book of Revelation from the sermon series we are going through.I do have notes that I will share from other sources that enriches the notes I have from my pastor. I do not currently have sermon notes on the letter to the churches - our pastor plans to do those at the end of the sermon series. But, I do have notes from the precept study I did, and will share those. We believers need to be familiar with all parts of scripture, even the end of the book because we have a duty as watchmen to warn others about what is coming. 

Ezekiel 3:16-21 (NASB)

16 At the end of seven days the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 17 “Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me. 18 When I say to the wicked, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that he may live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 Yet if you have warned the wicked and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered yourself. 20 Again, when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I place an obstacle before him, he will die; since you have not warned him, he shall die in his sin, and his righteous deeds which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. 21 However, if you have warned the righteous man that the righteous should not sin and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; and you have delivered yourself.”

Thoughts...

This is not going to as well thought out as I like to usually post. But so many revelations, ideas, and scriptures have to come to me lately, and I feel that I must share.

I feel I give this "disclaimer" often, but I want you to know where my heart is. I have looked at current world events through the lens of scripture (Joel, Isaiah, Daniel, Revelation, James, John, 1/2/3 John), and what I see is God's word fulfilled. I see that the only thing left is for the trumpet to sound.

Now think on this:

Matthew 24:37-39 (KJV)

37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be

I live on the Gulf Coast and currently we are experiencing Tropical Depression Imelda. This system is worse than Hurricane Harvey from two years ago, and that is saying something. The images in my news feed are just heart breaking. But it has me thinking. What if the trumpet sounded now?

The trumpet is going to sound as we all go about life. But these days life includes all these weather issues and mayhem. So in the middle of chaos, which we are all be acclimated to, a major portion of the earth's population disappears.Right now, cars are stranded, buildings flood, stores have feet of water in them - and then the trumpet.

It is not going to be easy when the Church is gone. It's going to be devastating, and if it comes on the heels of a hurricane, tropical depression, fire, earthquake, or tornado (or a combo of these)....try and wrap your mind around that. People will be in mourning, confused, but knowing that they need supplies, but they might not be available. The world that will be is going to be ugly.

Just some thoughts as I work at a school, and parents have been calling all day checking on if we are closing, early dismissal, etc. It's a private Christian school. When the trumpet sounds, most to a majority of our school will be gone. But as an evangelical school, church membership is not required, and we know many of the parents are not believers. They are going to be calling to find out how their child is, and no one is going to answer the phone.

Chaos. Heartbreak. Devastation.

Generation Innocence Taken

Being a parent in this day and age is a challenge that I don't think any of us are prepared for. And if you are a Believer, a Christian, it is even harder. I do remember a time in my life when I said I would not have children; that the world was crazy insane and it wasn't worth it. 

Now, that being said, being a parent is 100% worth it! I love my children. And you can call me a mama bear, you can call me a tiger mom, I would like to think I'm somewhere in between.

I'm going to go with a lion mom who is protecting her cubs. In my connection group we've recently read "In the Middle of the Mess" by Sheila Walsh. Near the end of the book, Sheila talks about how somebody described her as a lioness, with the loyalty the, fierceness, the passion. And she couldn't handle that for a long while. That description, it was too strong to describe her Christian walk/life.

But that is what we need to be as mothers and if you're a guy who's reading this, you need to be a lion, be in charge of your pride: protect them, fight for them. There is a battle going on and our children are in the middle of it. The battle is for them, for their hearts, their minds, their bodies, but oh so more crucially it's for their souls. Jesus said the kingdom of God will be the children's, you have to have a childlike Faith to be in heaven and therefore Satan is going after our children.

Matthew 18 (NASB)

Rank in the Kingdom

18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, 3 and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

Stumbling Blocks

7 “Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!

8 “If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire. 9 If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the [h]fiery hell.

10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven. 11 [For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.]

I have a hard time understanding how those that are not believers do not see the attacks that are happening to our children. Now there are actual literal attacks. In the Houston area there have been numerous children who have been murdered. Straight up, no question about it: a little girl was cut apart by her mother's boyfriend and that entire situation, while it united the city, the details though they are heartbreaking. Then another little boy was gunned down in the middle of a home invasion robbery. From there there's the drag queen story time issue (I have previously written about it: The Battle Line Has Been Drawn) that is going on nationwide and many of these individuals are sexual predators. And within the past few weeks there was a teenage sponsored drag queen event and a parent tried to remove their child and the parent was arrested.

And then there's the TV shows and movies pushing the LGBTQ "lifestyle".

• My Little Pony:
• My Little Pony Introduces Its First Lesbian Charters with Same-Sex Couple Making Cartoon Debut
• My Little Pony brings lesbians to Equestria - just in time for pride week
• Arthur
• 'Arthur' Creator Defends Gay Marriage episode Following Backlash
• 'Arthur' Opens Season With a Same-Sex Wedding and a Cake
• Toy Story 4
• There's an LGBTQ Moment Lurking in "Toy Story 4"
• Toy story 4 Promotes LGBTQ Agenda
• One Million Moms Protest 'Toy STory 4' Over 'Dangerous' Lesbian Scene

The entertainment industry is doing everything it can to make it seem normal. In regards to Toy Story 4, I took my kids to see the movie; I never heard a peep about the scene. I will say it was very discreet, nothing flashy or over the top, but that is how they're doing it. They're not always dressing up as demonic drag queens with glitter and paint. They're just making it look so normal as a couple dropping their child off for kindergarten and then picking that child up.

I want to say not everybody who is lesbian or gay is demonic or deranged. I've read the studies, a lot of people who fall into the LGBTQ lifestyle/movement have had a trauma or an abuse and my heart breaks for them it really does. And what I will also say is Jesus loves everyone, salvation is for everyone and Jesus does not want anyone to sin and He doesn't want anyone to perish. 

Now back to the children. Moms and dads we have got to stand up, enough is enough! We are the parents, we have a say in what our children are exposed to. My Little Pony is not a cartoon that will be allowed in my house anymore and I will not spend my money on the items. Now we already have items in the house: toys, books and pajamas but we are not going to buy more. And because My Little Pony decided to introduce a lesbian couple getting married I had to explain it to my six and a half year old what is same-sex marriages. I will say having a child whose as is as inquisitive as my six and a half year old is has definitely taught me how to have conversations about the deep spiritual things at a childlike level. 

So say a prayer for your preschool and Elementary ministers right now because kudos to them. They do this on a semi-regular basis and wow. 

I'm dubbing my children's generation as innocence taken because that is what the enemy is trying to do. If he can steel their innocence, in a sense he's gotten them. If our children are no longer innocent at a young age they become hard, they they grow up too fast. 

And I am so grateful that this summer that I have been able to keep my children at home. They are spending one to two hours a day outside in the sunshine: playing with chalk, trucks, bubbles; collecting lizards, flowers, snails, and frogs. It's beautiful and they're watching way too many movies, eating way too many snacks, taking naps. I love it. They are getting to have a childhood, one that is reminiscent of mine which is fabulous, but also they are getting to spend time with your grandmother and that is time, that is precious. And not only have they been at home, they went to Vacation Bible School (now called Kids Camp). They've had swim lessons, we had a family reunion. And next week my Nugget is going to spend time with his dad for a few days: swimming, fishing going to  the movies. And then my daughter is going to go to an amazing week-long camp at our church. She will have the time of her life and I'm so excited she gets to experience it and then before you know it schools going to start and back to life like that but I really am grateful that I have been able to give my children an innocent childhood summer experience. 

Here is what we need to do to ensure that this summer of innocence carries over into the school year. 

• We need to be praying.
• We need to be not spending money on items, toys, movies that promote ideas/beliefs that go against God's word.
• We need to explain to our children why will not be spending money on such things. It's okay to let them know that while the show might be funny, pretty, awesome (pick your adjective,), anything that goes against God's word is not okay.
• We need to make sure that our children understand God's word, that they know God's word.
• It needs to go beyond just the simple Bible story knowledge. They need to know what Jesus tells his Believers, how they're supposed to live, who the apostles were and how they spread the gospel
• Don't put it past your children, they can learn scripture. Plant those seeds. I am so grateful that my husband and I have managed to send our children to a Christian private school. It has been a sacrifice, but it is one that is well worth it. Last year our daughter (in kindergarten) learned 26 versus, one for each letter of the alphabet, additionally Psalm 100 and 23 along with John 3:16 and 17. She is working on her scripture memory for this upcoming school year: she has ten sets of scriptures to learn about 6-8 versus long each. She is already memorized month 1 and has month 2 about 45% of the way done. She is 6.5 and her 4.5 year old brother, he's picking up pieces of it. And the other great thing about it, since I'm working with her to get her to memorize the scriptures, I'm learning the scriptures also.

Investing in God's word planting the seeds in your mind will not return void and it's a great way to help keep your children innocent. Friends be mindful of the movies, the music, the games, the books. Be mindful of everything. We have to be super vigilant, we cannot be lazy. God put the word "intentional" on my heart this year.

I need to be intentional in:

• my marriage 
• my parenting 
• my friendships
• my relationships.

And when it comes to parenting it's knowing what my children are being exposed to if we want to keep our children innocent and not have their innocence stolen. It is time to step up.

Homemaking

Homemaking. It has been on my mind a good deal here lately. Most people when they think of homemaking , they think of June Cleaver from "Leave it to Beaver."

And you know what, that is not necessarily a bad thing. Being a mom to three children, wife to a husband who is working three jobs, being employed outside of the home myself, my home needs to be a sanctuary. My home needs to be more than just a house.

And God has put it on my heart here lately that yes, I need to be good employee, I need to be at your daughter, daughter-in-law sister; but most importantly my main mission field right now is my home. I need to focus my energies on my husband ,my marriage, and my children.

The past few weeks have been a struggle realigning our home with God's will. Focusing on those things that make our home a sanctuary. I am trying to keep up with laundry which is never ending. And I want to have a joyful spirit about it. The dishwasher daily needs to be loaded and reloaded. Groceries always need to be purchased and it's hard to take three kids to the grocery store. It is doable though as I am learning.

I want my home to be a place where my children know comfort,love and peace. When the world outside is going crazy, I want them when they are within these walls to breathe easy, to sleep peacefully, to be happy.

"So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander."

1 Timothy 5:14 ESV

"Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled." 

Titus 2: 3-5 ESV

And these two verses will be my guiding verses. Homemaking is biblical. And it is what God is calling me to focus on.