Dear Ones,

This is for all of us who call ourselves a 'Christian.' I've been trying to keep myself from crying, so I can get this message out to you all. I've been very upset since yesterday...having a hard time shaking this feeling of impending disaster. I don't think it's due to the trauma of seeing the Asian disaster. I've been praying about it, asking the Lord, what it is that is tormenting my soul. I went to bed talking to the Lord about it last night (12/31, early am). It was hard to fall asleep. My sleep was anything but restful, tossing and turning, getting up, and trying to go back to sleep only to be awakened around 4:45 am. I tried to go back to sleep. I tossed and turned some more, until I finally asked the Lord...  What is it Lord, what's wrong?

Not getting an answer... I thought I should pray, but I had a hard time, not knowing what to pray about. I asked the Holy Spirit to help me to pray. I prayed for the people in Asia. Some other thoughts ran through my mind, but I can't remember them now. I heard Him say, "Write it." I leaned over to the nightstand in the dark, grabbed a pen and said, "I'm listening Lord." Here's what I heard Him say:

Stop your sinning!

Your filth...

You're whitewashed tombs.

Discard the dross.

Throw away the putrid.

Be not ensnared any longer.

Say no!

I have given you the Spirit of self-control...

Stop your sinning or I will come as a thief in the night.

The first 3 words scared me. I was indifferent to it. It crossed my mind that it wasn't from the Lord, because I'm not accustomed to hearing him speak this way. I asked Him to help me to accept what he was saying.

We must remember, the Lord disciplines those he loves and punishes everyone he accepts as a son/daughter. Hebrews 12:6

After writing down what he said, I rolled over back into bed, only to see visions, they came one after another. I won't go into those right now, as I feel the Lord's warning is what's most important at the moment.

Could he be telling us... that the 'belief' we have... that everyone who 'says' they believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, will be raptured, even though they're not walking with him, or obeying his commands? I believed this! If you're born again, you're going to heaven... that's it, period! But, what about the 5 wise and 5 foolish virgins Jesus talked about? The 5 foolish virgins believed in him, talked to him, prayed to him! They thought they knew him. They thought they had a relationship with him! But , Jesus said to them, "Get away from me you evildoers, I don't know you! Jesus shut the door! ... they were left on the outside, pounding on the door, asking him to open up and let them in, but he wouldn't. Matthew 25:1-13

I believe this is a warning to get ready. To be watching and waiting for His soon return. To wrap things up down here. Have we set our affections on Him, or on the world? We don't have much time left to decide. We have to choose! Do we want to be with Him, where he is, or do we want to stay here... in a dying world that will soon be burned up? Our Father is rebuking us, warning us and disciplining us.

Lord Jesus, please do your work in us...refine us in the fire and make us ready for your coming so that we won't be ashamed to meet you, or worse, be left outside the door. Help us in our weaknesses, help us to accept your discipline and change us! In Jesus' name. amen

FILTH - Foul or putrid matter, loathsome dirt or refuse, moral corruption or defilement.

James 1:21 Therefore get rid of all moral FILTH and the evil that is so prevalent, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Colossians 3:5-8 Put to death therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these things, the wrath of God is coming... But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: ANGER, RAGE, MALICE, SLANDER, AND FILTHY LANGUAGE FROM YOUR LIPS...Do not LIE to each other...

2 Peter 2:7 ... FILTHY lives of lawless men.

Isaiah 4:4 THE LORD WILL WASH AWAY THE FILTH...BY A SPIRIT OF JUDGMENT AND A SPIRIT OF FIRE.

Dross - The scum that forms on the surface of molten metal, waste or foreign matter, impurity.

Psalm 119:119 All the wicked of the earth you discard like DROSS...

Putrid - Rotten, to stink, more at foul, being in a state of putrefaction: rotten, morally corrupt.

Philippians 3:19 ...as I have told you before and now say again with tears, many live as ENEMIES OF THE CROSS OF CHRIST. Their destiny is their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ...

Romans 13:13 The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies or drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

1 Corinthians 6:18- 19 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins are outside his body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.

1 Corinthians 10:1-13 Do not be like the pagans. Do not test God. Those who did were killed. Please read whole passage.

Galatians 5:19-21 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: SEXUAL IMMORALITY, IMPURITY, AND DEBAUCHERY; IDOLATRY AND WITCHCRAFT; HATRED, DISCORD, JEALOUSY, FITS OF RAGE, FACTIONS AND ENVY; DRUNKENNESS, ORGIES, AND THE LIKE. I WARN YOU, AS I DID BEFORE, THAT THOSE WHO LIVE LIKE THIS WILL NOT ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

Ephesians 4:29 thru 5:1-7 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit all who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all BITTERNESS, RAGE, AND ANGER, BRAWLING AND SLANDER, ALONG WITH EVERY FORM OF MALICE. be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.... But among you there must not be even a HINT OF SEXUAL IMMORALITY, or any kind of IMPURITY, or of GREED, because these things are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be OBSCENITY, foolish talk or COARSE JOKING, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

For of this you can be sure: No IMMORAL, IMPURE or GREEDY person- such a man is an idolater- has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things GOD'S WRATH COMES ON THOSE WHO ARE DISOBEDIENT. Therefore do not be partners with them.

Jude vs7 Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.

Revelation 2:20-23 Jesus said, he has given plenty of time to repent, but they were unwilling...those who commit adultery will suffer intensely and he (Jesus) will strike her children dead! Please read entire text.

To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son/daughter. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars- their place will be in the sulfur... They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Oh how he loves you and me...He is faithful, patient with us and longsuffering. Our Father loves each and everyone of us with an everlasting love. Blessed be his Name forever.

In Christ's love and service,
maureen