The Napkin

This little story is so jam pcked with faith! As you read it, try to imagine what went through John’s mind when he entered the tomb and saw the very napkin laying there folded,  that had been used as a facecloth on his beloved Jesus just hours before. Claim for your own hearts and minds the truth in it’s message. 

The Gospel of John (20:6-9) Then Simon Peter came, following him and they went into the tomb He saw the linen clothes lying there, and the face-cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen clothes, but folded up in a place by itself. 8. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed, 9 for as yet, they did not understand the scripture, that He must rise from the dead.

~ This scripture tells us that the napkin, which had been placed over the face of Jesus, was not thrown aside like the grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded and placed separately from the grave clothes.~

Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection? 

Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and John, the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, "They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they put him!" Peter and John ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple outran Peter and got there first. he stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. 

Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side. 

Was that important?

Absolutely! 

Is it really significant? 

Yes! 

In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about the Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. 

When the servant set the table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way that the master wanted it. 

The table was furnished perfectly and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch the table until the master was finished. 

Now, if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it on to the table or the floor. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, 'I'm done.'

But if the master got up from the table, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because....

the folded napkin meant, 'I'm coming back.'  

HE'S COMING BACK!!!

Don't be afraid...just continue to look up and watch for signs and wonders!

Luke 21:35-38 

The Return of the Son of Man 

25. "And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26. people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now, when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."  

Sanctuary of Tranquility: Being a Warrior

Sanctuary of Tranquility: Being a Warrior: Ephesians 6:11-17  Put on the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.12 For we wrestle not ag...

Being a Warrior

Ephesians 6:11-17  Put on the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

I read some place or another quite recently that there are over 60 Bible Verses about Praising God in the Storm. So it must be pretty important to Him that we do it. 

My experience with storms has taught me that although things may get really rough, almost unbearable at times, there is always a blessing of some kind that comes with them. 
During those seasons I sometimes think it is never going to end and when it finally is behind me I feel like a new person. So I can say this without any question in my mind... 

Praising Him in the storm is important for us too. It keeps us going and makes us more aware of the things He is doing to help us get through it and how much more He appreciates us if we are fighting a tough fight. 
But the fact is this...God doesn't like us to be cry babies. He likes us to be warriors.

He wants us to be warriors and warriors have no time or desire to have self-pity or anxiety attacks (at least none that last longer than 5 - 10 minutes) and no room for self-doubt, even if we're scared to death. 
Being a warrior means putting on that whole armor every day and going out into the world and stepping up in His Holy name. It means fastening on that belt of truth and facing the music...whatever it is and no matter how loud or angry or shocking or devastating it gets...
Face-the-music. Because that's what God's warriors do.      

Being a warrior can mean facing a bill collector, answering the phone when you don't want to talk to the person calling and talking anyway, telling a friend the truth about their behavior even if that truth may end your friendship for a season...or forever. 
That James kind of honesty where being a friend is more important than having a friendship... tough stuff.    
It means doing those difficult things because it needs to be done...it is what's right.

Sometimes facing that really tough stuff is unavoidable. But we are given a little choice. When those unavoidable things pop out in front of us like a deer on the highway. I'm talking tough stuff like losing your job or your home. Getting the news that you have lost someone you love or learning that you are facing the unthinkable,  terminal illness. 

Those are the times when we need to praise him the most. He's waiting to hear it and He will be delighted with your faith in Him! 

Our Bibles remind us that 'We know of the plans He has for us, plans for our welfare and not for a future without hope.' (Jeremiah 29:11)
We demonstrate our devotion to Him when we call upon Him and pray to Him and trust in the knowledge that He will and He does hear us.
We who belong to Him know instinctively that when we Trust in the Lord with ALL of our heart and lean not on our own understanding, He will direct our steps. (Proverbs 3:5-6) 
Because He promises us that... when we seek Him with all of our heart, we will find Him and when we acknowledge Him in all ways He will be our director...He will be Our Guide in life.
He even says this about US...
My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they will never perish and no one will snatch them out of my hand.' (John 27) 

Praise God, 
For your wisdom and love are without boundaries and your comfort is huge! 
Trusting in the knowledge that He will and does hear us takes a lot of faith! 100% warrior Faith is what He desires from us because, without it, we can't even begin to form the kind of relationship with Him that He so desires. Faith is so huge it is mentioned 475 times in the Bible. That means we have to have faith that everything is going to turn out for the good for those who love Him. Even on the darkest conceivable days...

It's gonna be alright. 

Have you ever stopped and looked at a Mustard seed? Wow, they are so tiny. 
Yet God told us that if we have the faith the size of one of those tiny seeds we can move a mountain!
Can you imagine what we could do with faith one-quarter that size, or even one tenth?
That certainly puts our level of faith in perspective, doesn't it?

The really wonderful thing I have found about having faith (even the shamelessly small amount I must have) is that it always comes full circle. He never lets us down, He is always on time and He knows exactly what we need!

It is all too easy to lose sight of the fact that Our God is a Sovereign God. Nothing escapes Him. He listens to our conversations, and He knows everything that we think about, and everything we pray about even in silent prayer. 
We are exactly where we are supposed to be each and every moment. Everything is under His rule and control! Nothing, I mean nothing, happens without His direction or permission. 

The book of Ephesians is a good place to start reading if you want to understand who He is and just what He is doing in our lives. 

In Ephesians, Paul wrote: In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will. 12. so that we, who are the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14. who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory.   

That tells me that God has my life pretty much covered and that feels pretty darned good to me!

Stay Blessed & Trust in Him...He has this. Please take a moment and read John Pipers excellent article entitled, 'Don't Waste Your Cancer."   It may be just the salve you or a loved one needs today. 

This blog is dedicated to Steve and Marsha.
May your Armour Of God bring you strength in the days ahead.  

Blessings. 

Sanctuary of Tranquility: We Were Born For Such a Time as This.

Sanctuary of Tranquility: We Were Born For Such a Time as This.: I am growing weary from seeing article after article saying that marriage was redefined. Marriage was not redefined. Homosexuals are now leg...

We Were Born For Such a Time as This

I am growing weary from seeing article after article saying that marriage was redefined. Marriage was not redefined. Homosexuals are now legally able to wed in all 50 states, but marriage was not, nor can ever be redefined.

It is important that we stop and realize the desired outcome by the gay community was to gain the ability to have a binding contract which would enable them to have insurance and like benefits as a couple. That plea has now been acknowledged and taken care of. As Christians, we must remain compassionate, empathetic and full of the love that our Father, God desires, and display it to ALL of our fellow men. Remembering that our goal as part of the Great Commission is to kindly, gently; using the Grace only He can supply us with, make every effort to save. This is never accomplished with anger or hate. It is done with kindness, gentleness and truth and the truth is this...

God made marriage and only He can redefine it. People can push their agendas and attitudes around all they want and believe that they can change things to suit themselves, but God...the creator of ALL THINGS is the only one who can redefine the things He created and put into place at the beginning of time.
It is time for Christians around the world to stand up and come together as one. We are in the position we are in right now, with the leaders we have leading right now because we made poor choices and disappointed (angered) God! Why else would He allow the greatest country on earth to be led by the people who are leading it? People who really do not love this country at all and want to see it crumble.
We are stronger and tougher than we are indicating. We are more secure in all things and all ways because WE have the greatest, most powerful defender in all of the world, and His name is Jesus!





The world is indeed changing and more and more things are going to be happening that are ungodly, but the  WORD of GOD never changes. It is the same yesterday, today and forever.                      Know this in your heart and mind and soul and do not allow the things of the world to mess with you. Instead, open your Bibles and read, and then listen to a good news source. We are living out prophecies. 
Psalm 2 prepares us in Gods mighty and prophetic way for the times we are living in right now. Keep in mind, first and foremost, that we live and move and breath under God's Law, no one can change that! The Supreme Court cannot legislate law from the bench. Only the great Almighty God, the creator of Heaven and Earth can change the laws He wrote. Although they may try, no man, not one is mighty enough to change them. The word of God stands forever, and ever, and nothing, not even one thing can change that. 


Please read "Do Courts Have Law-Making Powers?" 
It was taken from the Liberty Works website. It is an excellent article. 

I've read the last page...we win! Don’t ever give up the fight, God has this! 

1.Why do the nations rage and the people plot in vain? 2.The Kings of the Earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His anointed, saying, 3"Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us." 4.He who sits in the Heavens laughs: the Lord holds them in derision (contempt). 5.Then He will speak to them in His wrath, and terrify them in His fury, saying 6." As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill." 7.I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, "You are my son; today I have begotten you. 8.Ask me and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your position. 9.You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."  10.Now, therefore, Oh Kings be wise, be warned oh rulers of the earth. 11.Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12.Kiss the Son, lest he is angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him. 

What a perfect summation of 2015. We are indeed living in end times. But don't lose heart and never grow weary from defending Him and His laws. He is a sovereign God and nothing escapes Him. He knows you inside and out, what your thinking, what you speak of and where your heart is. Don't ever be afraid to defend Him. He will see these things and He will reward you. And never lose sight of the fact that we were all born for such a time as this...