Our Blessed Hope

Jesus said to occupy till he comes to catch away his  bride .. Occupy ... hmmmm... with what?

   In 2016 I was eager to begin a Bible study, yet try as I may, I was hindered from sharing my study online via my blog.  It seemed that I could only read for myself and not even dig into a study, per se.  I could only read and listen to the LORD.  Does that make sense?  My mind was so continually bombarded by the events and situations going on in our life that I could not stay focused on study -- only reading to feed my soul the nutrition of the Word of Life.

So, here we are in 2017 and situations have calmed down, and my mind is a little stronger because the LORD is my strength! Oh .. yeah .. and .. time is short... so I am compelled to share with you as long as I am able ..

Short for what? The time when Jesus calls his bride unto himself .. that time .. the time of OUR BLESSED HOPE .

Titus 2:13 "Looking for that BLESSED HOPE, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ."

Jeremiah 17:7 "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is."

I Peter 1:3 "Blessed be the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his .abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a LIVELY HOPE by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

Jesus Christ and his glorious appearing is our blessed hope!

Our blessed hope is under violent attack.  It is common all known that Biblical Christianity is under attack more so now that's in years past.  All the 'morals' and 'values' once held dear are criticized at an astonishing rate.  But for the sake of a godless peace and false unity, churches and so-called Christians are compromising and bowing to the ways of the spirit of antichrist.  They are too in grossed in self preservation, promotion, and having little to no conflict, they will fight to hold on to the things of this world.


No longer are Christians taught that this world is tempral and that our treasure is in heaven where moth and rust can't destroy what the Lord has prepared for us.  They all want to be spoiled brats and have the treasures of this world, now -- because they spoke it so -- because they think God still likes them even as they consume on their lusts.  They don't want to die to self nor stop trying to save themselves.  (I digress.)

Our hope, our looking to, is Jesus Christ himself.  He alone can satisfy the longing heart.

Remember Hebrews 12:2 "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Well, of course, you may say...But do YOU look to Jesus your BLESSED HOPE? Or do you look to the gym? your essential oils? your coffee? your children? Or your money to bring you peace and satisfaction?  Jesus said, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in ME ye might have peace. Iin this world you WILL have tribulation. But, be of good cheer! I have overcome the world." -John 16:11

Anyone who says you can work yourself out of tribulation or think and talk yourself out of tribulation is selling you something.  (lies)

Let's look at I Corinthians 10:12-13. (Here's where you  pick up your Bible and flip the pages .. don't have a Bible? Click here )

That's our blessed hope! Hold on for HOPE! And here's another verse:  Luke 21:36 UIKEYINPUTDOWNARROW

As we begin our study of Revelation 1-4 (maybe thru 5), let's look at a few words and their definitions to strengthen our understanding.

HOPE:
BLESSED:
REVELATION:
WRATH:
ESCAPE:

Next, let's read --
Luke 17:26-28
Matthew 24:37

1. What did God do for Noah and Lot?
2. Was it before? During? or After God's wrath was poured out?
3. Were there any survivors of God's wrath?

Just asking....

Don't take someone else's opinion on the matter, ask the Holy Spirit to open YOUR understanding and give you what God has to say.  John 16:13-14UIKEYINPUTDOWNARROW. Remember, its the Holy Spirit who reminds us of all that Jesus said.   It is Jesus who is the WORD of God!! (Not man .. not pastor nor preacher)

With that, I'll let you get to studying...leave your comments and questions ..

LOOK UP our redemption draweth nigh!

We fly soon,

~Cristina

Amazing testimony!! Must watch

Curt and I watched this man's testimony and WOW WOW!!  It was so great that I must share it here on my blog.  I pray that you'll watch it and be convicted by the Holy Spirit to get right before the LORD.  

This past week, I've been reading the first four chapters of the book of Revelation and WOW! Again, I say WOW!  The Lord is so merciful to warn us and call us unto himself.  Do we have ears to hear? Do YOU have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church??????

WATCH this video.  We'll chat later about more stuff.

Whatsoever Things are Lovely

Snow .. snow ... snow .. this winter has seen record snow in our area.  That's ok by me.. I like to stay home and do homey things.  The Danish and the Nordic people call enjoying comfy home things as 'hygge'. (Read more about Hygge here) I love this!!   Curt and I just celebrated our 28th wedding anniversary and went out and bought new coloring books to enjoy together.  Our first married months, we bought a Bugs Bunny coloring book and a brand new set of crayons and colored to our hearts content. These adult coloring books are quite the trend nowadays...I'd like to think that Curt and I were ahead of the times...or maybe we helped to set the trend. (Hehehe) This makes me smile. Coloring books are very hygge. What's your word for 2017?  I saw a recent instagram post with this question which caused me to consider my own answer.  2016 was a difficult year in so many ways.  And I continually found myself struggling to keep my own attitude in check.  So, this year I see the great importance of obeying Philippians 4:6-8. 

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things  I've chosen the word LOVELY .. but at the same time, true, honest, just, pure and of good report are always running in the background.   What's your word for 2017? Share your story in the comments, I'd love to hear from you! ~Cristina

And so it goes

Are you kidding me right now?  Does anyone else see the significance of this??  This photo of the earthquake that was in Oklahoma earlier this month is so loud to me.  Ahhh... but it's the fracking...it's not God doing it... ARE YOU SERIOUS right now? I have continued to question if I was SUPPOSED to keep posting on my blog.  Who reads this anyway, besides myself??  I get interrupted or called away or the children are home and just want to talk to me...(and really that's okay with me .. my people are important to me).  OR I sit down and pick up my current handwork project and work on that.  Anything and everything but write.   And so it goes....life happening...continuing on as if the urgency of God's word does not apply to us .. AND THEN THERE'S THIS SCRIPTURE VERSE THAT JUMPS OUT AT ME:  Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."  -II Peter 3:3-4 Are you a scoffer?? We don't have the time later to do what must be done today.  Our stance before the LORD is so very important!  How do I stand before the LORD?  God knows, yet it is for me to keep myself humble, holy, and upright before him.  And to be ready to answer for the the Hope that is in me.  Time is limited.  Time is of the essence.  We are living in the end times and the Father God will send Jesus to catch away his Bride at any moment.  I must get off my duff and do something!!  And my doing is writing to those of you who read this blog. When the LORD put the ink on paper for us in LUKE 21:11, do you think he knew that the scoffers would say that God had nothing to do with earthquakes in various places all over the world at the same time ... because of FRACKING??!!   Do you truly believe that the LORD GOD Almighty didn't know well enough that everything in the world today would have some academic, scientist, expert, think-he-so-smart explaining away God's hand?? Even the so called Christian pastors are (from the pulpit) explaining away what Jesus himself said would happen.  OH MY!!! Several years ago I asked the LORD, 'what is it that I should be doing now? What is my part to play?' I was reading the book of Revelation -- in particular, the first 4 chapters.  These 4 chapters are specific to the church.  So..that's for me and you, if you are a Christian.  Then I read Jude and really paid attention to verses 20-23 ..

"But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 

keep yourselves in the love of God, 

looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.  

And of some have compassion, making a difference: 

and of others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."

 

I'll watch and pray. Write and encourage. Blog and pull others out of the fire of deception, vanity, and self....I pray that we will build ourselves up on our most holy faith and that we would be counted worthy to escape the wrath to come.

 

God is going to do what he said he would do!!  And that the end is now and there is a falling away going on among Christians, and time is of the essence for Jesus to catch us AWAY --OUT OF THIS WORLD -- ESCAPE THE WRATH TO COME!  

 

ARE YOU READY??

 

If you'd like prayer, have questions or comments, contact me.  ThisGrannysHouse@gmail.com

Hugs, dear reader,

 

~Cristina

 

 

Needlepoint, Flowers, and Noah

( N E E D L E P O I N T & Flowers ) 🌸Did I tell you that I really enjoy doing handwork? Well, I do..hehehe.. This little jewel, was sent to me last year by my mom. The flower was already stitched and I just had to choose a background color and stitch the rest. It has been so enjoyable! 🍂Much like this lovely weather we've been having here.

 🍂Autumn/Fall is such a pleasant season yet it brings the foreboding thought of winter. Most of us want to hang onto the friendly temperatures and cheerful activities and ignore that winter is to follow. 

💨It really caused me to think about what the LORD has planned for those who fear him and for those who reject Jesus as their ONLY Saviour. Then this Scripture verse pops into my head --

"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 FOREVER. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you." -I Peter 1:24-25. 

Jesus is our blessed hope! He is the Word of God made flesh and dwelt among us! -John 1:14. 

And Jesus Christ is coming soon to catch us away!  Revelation 22:7 

Those who reject Jesus are in for a very harsh winter! As in the days of Noah, they were eating, drinking, and making merry in their rejection of God Almighty enjoying their gross sin and well... They were destroyed.😳Only Noah and his family were saved..because Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD (Gen. 6:8). 

Jesus said it would be the same in the last days....here we are, dear one, in those very last days .. Please, I beg you to turn to, to turn back to God the Father as your only hope through Jesus Christ his only begotten Son and our Saviour.

 Time is running out -- "Today if you hear his voice, harden not your hearts" 💞
 #compelled #compassion #flowers #needlepoint#praywithoutceasing #wordofgod

School Days - don't be the fool

So, as other families are in the full routine of school and academics, we are not.  Our season of traditional mandatory school is complete. It's a little surreal, to be honest.  I have more time now to work on projects and study things that are interesting to me.  And with that, I am still continually asking the LORD what I should study.  I love the Psalms.  I've been studying there in my "A Year in Psalms"... but there is something pressing .. something in my heart that just doesn't stop..

It is so big and important that I've been leery of sharing online.  Because most do not want to read about it, hear about it, be reminded of it and are happy to stay in their little circles of #getyourearstickledhere.  Though most would ardently argue they don't belong to any such groups,  I have observed in my little town that they couldn't be more wrong.

When I was still in school and then when I began our own homeschooling, one thing that helped me in the subject of learning and teaching math was that math is constant.  It didn't change with the centuries, one plus one is always two.  Measuring, counting, and figuring was always the same.  If you know the formula, then you will find the answer.  and in principle -- easy peasy.

There is something of greater value and preeminence that is more constant, more stable, more sure than mathematics.  And yet, more and more have chosen to ignore the essential truth to life. . . are you ready for it? wait for it ...

GOD ALMIGHTY and His Written Word 

(Malachi 3:6, Psalm 119:160, Hebrews 13:8) 

Do you know what time it is?  

1.  politics?
2.  football?
3.  pumpkin everything and baking?
4.  three months of decorating and festivities?

  "While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation." -Hebrews 3:15

The time is HEAR THE VOICE OF THE LORD.  Why?  So that we will not be carried away by the wickedness of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, nor be given over to believe a lie.

You're probably saying right now, thanks Cristina, but I'm good...I'm ok... don't worry about me, I'm going to the ladies conference this fall, I've joined the media team at my church, I host a lifegroup...yada, yada, yada...bla...bla...bla...

WHATEVER!  my eyes are rolling....can you see them...so what..that only means you are joining the #getyourearstickledhere group.

I must speak abruptly, directly, and sharply because the time is URGENT and what needs to be said NEEDS TO BE HEARD.

JESUS IS COMING TO CATCH AWAY HIS BRIDE -- AT ANY MOMENT ..Jesus bride is the true Church of born again, Bible (only) believing Christians who are awaiting his return with joy.  This does not include those who have one foot or both feet in the world.

A very humbling and sobering reminder is that we MUST watch and pray that we might be counted worthy to escape the wrath to come.  Jesus said that.  And yes, I'm an escapist!!  Gladly.

Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. -Luke 21:36 

I strongly urge you to read Revelation chapters 1-4

• Do you agree that the Church of the New Testament is the body of Christ? Christians? the Bride of Christ?  

If so, to whom is Jesus speaking in the first four chapters of Revelation?

And since we read plainly that Jesus is speaking to the Church -- you and me -- if you are a Christian, then we MUST HEED HIS ADMONITION!!

Humble yourself, repent, watch and pray, don't be dull of hearing, don't be of those to whom the LORD will give over to believe a lie.

Search it out for yourself:

• James 4:6
• II Timothy 3:4 and 4:3
• Acts 28:27
• II Thessalonians 2:11
• Psalm 53:1
• Revelation 21:8
• Matthew 18:35

The LORD is merciful and it is his goodness that leads us to repentance. (Romans 2:4)

Call upon the LORD JESUS CHRIST and you shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)

Because God loves you to save you out of yourself and hell -- hell is very real and is reserved for all who refuse to repent, forgive, and fear God



DOWNLOAD and PRINT this to search the Scriptures for yourself

to everything there is a season

  ... and a time to every purpose under the heaven: Ecclesiastes 3:1

Hello, September!  Everyone is a buzz with the crisp air, blue skies, and pumpkin spice EVERYTHING!  A new season approaches as the northern hemisphere welcomes autumn...summer is nearly at it's close and ready to put away the flipflops and start wearing our boots.

Summer, for our family, was a flurry of adventures.  It's been a while since we've enjoyed the summer as much as we did this year.  We thank the LORD continually for his kindnesses!  Curt and I were able to enjoy some roadtrips.  All together we drove over 4,ooo miles in the month of August alone!  We visited family in Texas and in Washington state.  The LORD provided the means and opened the doors for us to be able to do so.

 the little cabin we got to stay in during our visit to the Seattle area

I finished and mailed the quilt I was working on for my little sister and her family.  (She loved it!)

If you love to read, you should check out the book section at your local thrift stores.  We visited lots of thrift stores along the way and found some delightful books!  I've really enjoyed sitting down and reading book-books. (paper not kindle )  These books have encouraged me to be a better wife, mama, granny, and keeper of our home...and that's a good thing!

Here are some of the titles we found: (also available on Amazon)

• HOME COMFORTS by Cheryl Mendelson (lovely and homey..excellent resource!)

• THE ITALIAN BAKER by Carol Field (and I thought I knew how to bake...)

• IN NONNA'S KITCHEN by Carol Field (comfort foods!)
• AT GRANDMOTHER'S TABLE edited by Ellen Perry Berkely

• IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF SHEEP by Debbie Zawinski
  (this book I'm excited about because she has patterns for knitting the socks she's made along her journey .. way cool!)

• SPLENDID SOUPS by James Peterson (just in time for autumn/fall!!)

As I have enjoyed this summer of rest and restoring my soul, the LORD has reminded me that it's now time to get back to posting encouragements here .. on this blog.  I asked the LORD many times these few months, should I even write online?  Does anyone read this?  But the answer is for me to write and if you stop by and pause to read, then that's between you and the LORD.  I am just to share what the LORD puts on my heart.  

And with that, I ask you, dear reader, how was your summer? Have you given the Lord God place in your days? Are you ready for the LORD to lead you, correct you, strengthen you, and be your hope?

God the Father is sending Jesus at any moment to catch away his Bride -- are your ready?  You should be! There is no time to waste!! and read your Bible :)

Make sure your heart is pure before the LORD.

As Jesus said in Luke 21:36  Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.