God's Grace

I called this painting "Grace".  Since this is a painting of ballet dancers "Grace" would naturally be a fitting name.  Not for the reason you may think.  Yes, the ballet dancers are graceful, but more important is the Grace of God through Jesus because when I fall He is there to catch me, save me and deliver me.  I am really grateful to Jesus for the gift of salvation.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast."  Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV

Let's pray:  Dear Lord Jesus, I lift up my friends, family and all of you out there in cyberspace who read these words.  I pray that you all will accept and appreciate the gift of God's grace and that the Lord will open the eyes of those who do not believe.  I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

www.karenejklein.com

Teachers

"Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good.  In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us." Titus 2:6-8 NIV

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6

Let's pray:  Dear Lord Jesus, I pray for all the children in school now.  Please protect their hearts and minds from the enemy.  Please guide and give courage to their parents to stand up for You and for what is right according to Your Word--the Bible.  I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

www.karenejklein.com

I Wish

I wish everyone in the whole wide world know the Jesus of the Bible.  I wish everyone could be free in Jesus!  The reality is that many do not know the Jesus of the Bible.  Those of you who read my blog regularly know that I am an ex-Mormon. For those who are new to my blog I have written in older posts about how I got into Mormonism and how I got out. Anyway with that said...Way back in my youth (33 years ago) when I was a Mormon I thought I had it all together.  I was engaged to a good Mormon guy and I was planning my wedding.  I did not understand spiritual blindness back then.  Then one night while doing dishes with my mom she said this to me, "Jesus didn't come for the "perfect" people, He came for everyone.  Your dad and I won't be able to see you get married in the Mormon temple because they keep "unperfect" people out."  The Lord used this one sentence to open my eyes and the spiritual blindness that had gripped me went away.  This Bible verse came to my mind, "On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice.  For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Matthew 9:12-13, NIV.  We all fall short of the Glory of God and we all are sinners in need of a savior.  Unfortunately, the world has many false saviors, but the truth is there is only ONE Savior and you will only find Him in the Bible.  For some reason that message is offensive to many people.  I think it bothers them so much because they don't like to think of themselves as sinners.  Some do not even acknowledge or accept that there is sin in the world.  This battle that born-again Christians face is a spiritual battle, "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.  The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.  On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds." 2 Corinthians 10:3-4, NIV.  So spiritual blindness is part of the world and speaking words from the Bible and prayer is the only way to break the chains of spiritual blindness.   For many in the grips of a false religion they don't believe the Bible is really the only book that speaks the truth.  So for those deep in confusion we need to pray that the Lord will break through and open their eyes.  When I was a Mormon I read the Bible and the Book of Mormon along with the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price.  I was taught that the Bible is only accurate in as far as it is correctly translated.  How convienent that Satan would put forth this lie to keep people in the dark and not trust God's Word--The Bible.  The man that I was engaged to way back in 1979 has since died.  I saw his obituary online and was sad to see he died still in the darkness of Mormonism.  I wish that were not so, but sadly it is.  I have been praying for his children and the wife he left behind for their salvation.

 Please join me in praying for the salvation of all those lost in darkness.  I know this is a general prayer, but we worship a BIG GOD who is MIGHTY TO SAVE, JESUS CONQUERED THE GRAVE! (thanks Laura Story for that wonderful praise song!)  I will be eternally grateful for the grace of God in protecting me and saving me. "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.  I and the Father are one."  John 10:27-30, NIV.  I know the world and media will say that Mormonism is just another Christian denomination, but this is NOT TRUE.  The Mormons have changed who God is and their version of god does not match up with the God of the Bible. They can't see this because they don't trust the Bible, but that is part of spiritual blindness.  So in saying that let me leave you with this verse:

"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel--which is really no gospel at all.  Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.  But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!  As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!" Galations 1:6-9, NIV

Let's pray:  Dear Lord Jesus I pray for Your Mighty Hand to protect us from the enemy and his lies. I pray that Your wisdom and favor will be upon Your people and I pray for those lost in darkness that the truth found in the Jesus of the Bible will touch their hearts and start them on a journey toward You and Your grace and the gift of salvation.  I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

www.karenejklein.com

Jesus Heals

"Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.  News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, the eplieptics and the paralytics, and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him."
Matthew 4:23-25, NIV

""When Jesus came into Peter's house he saw Peter's mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever.  He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.  When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.  This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
"He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases".  Matthew 8:14-17, NIV

"Surely he took up our infirmities and carried or sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.  We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all."  Isaiah 53:4-6, NIV

"Is any one of you in trouble?  He should pray. Is anyone happy?  Let him sing songs of praise.  Is any one of you sick?  He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the LORD.  And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the LORD will raise him up.  If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.  Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."  James 5:13-16, NIV

Let's pray:  Dear Lord Jesus,  thank You for healing us from disease, pain and broken hearts.  I pray for those who are reading this that they will turn to You, Jesus, and be healed from whatever is wrong.  I pray they will have hope in You, Jesus, and not in things of this world or philosophies of this world for You are the ONLY ONE who can heal us.  In Jesus' name, amen.

www.karenejklein.com

Flawless Words

The Bible is God's Word.  If you want to get to know God then you need to read His Words found only in the Bible.  Other books that claim to be God's Word written by people who believe they are "special" or modern-day "prophets" do not know God.  They only know that God exists, but don't know Him. God clearly says that you cannot add to or take away from His Words and those who do this will be rebuked by Him.  If they did know God they wouldn't have written those "other books" in the first place.  My heart weeps for those people who are lost in spiritual darkness.  Spiritual darkness is not a good place to be because it robs you of joy, freedom and peace.  You can only find love with the God of the Bible.  Anywhere else and you will find emptiness, bondage, anxiety, NO peace and frankly, hell.   Heaven is real and so is hell.  If you want to find what God's plan for your life is then you need to read His Bible and give Him your life. At some point in your life you will have to decide which road will you choose, the wide gate or the narrow gate.  I choose the narrow gate.
(Matthew 7:13-14)

These past few weeks at my church the pastor has been talking about Christ in the Old Testament.  This has been a really good series and I have learned a whole lot.  There are verses in the Bible that  refer to "The Angel of the Lord" over 20 times in the Old Testament.  Which person of the Trinity is The Angel of the Lord, or rather who is this? The Angel of the Lord is Jesus Chirst, the second person of the Trinity.  The last time The Angel of the Lord is mentioned in the Bible is in the first chapter of Matthew (I have typed this out down below).  After that Jesus is born and The Angel of the Lord was here on earth in person.  So when people say that Jesus never talked about things in the Old Testament they are wrong for The Father, Son and Holy Spirit (One God, the Trinity) has always been with us and always will be with us.  I would encourage you to go to the Northcreek Church's website and listen to this sermon.  Here is the website:  www.northcreek.org  the title of the sermon is "The Pre-Life-of-Christ  Life of Christ, Part 2 by Pastor Kent Dresdow. 

Bible verses:
"Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.  Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar."  Proverbs 30:5-6 NIV

"I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book:  If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.  And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book."  Revelation 22:18-19 NIV

"The Angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him." Psalm 34:7-8

"This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.  His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.  Becasue Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the LORD appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.
All this took place to fulfill what the LORD had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" --which means, "God with us."
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the LORD had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.  But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son.  And he gave him the name Jesus." Matthew 1:18-25 NIV

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.  I and the Father are one."
John 10:27-30 NIV

Let's pray:  Dear Lord Jesus, I pray for those who believe those "other books" that are not from You.  I pray that You, Lord would open their eyes to see the truth found only in Your Word the Bible.  In Jesus' name. Amen.

www.karenejklein.com

Pride

I always hear the word "pride" attached to so many things.  People say they take "pride" in who they are or in their work or in their children.  In thinking about this I decided to see what the Lord has to say about "pride".  Turns out the Lord has a whole lot to say about it and these Bible verses are just the tip of the iceberg:

"Pride goes before destruction,  a haughty spirit before a fall." Proverbs 16:18 (NIV)

"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." Proverbs 11:2 (NIV)

"Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice." Proverbs 13:10 (NIV)

"To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech." Proverbs 8:13 (NIV)

"A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor." Proverbs 29:23 (NIV)

"In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God." Psalm 10:4 (NIV)

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9(NIV)

Let's pray:  Dear Lord Jesus, I pray for this broken, prideful world.  I pray that we as a people would humble ourselves before You so You will heal us and save us.  I pray for Your favor and that Your wisdom will be upon us.  For salvation is only through Jesus.  There is nothing we can do or accomplish that will save us.  I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

www.karenejklein.com

Suffering

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

"Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14

"Jesus answered, "It is written:'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only." Luke 4:8

"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters." Luke 11:23

"Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment."  Matthew 22:37-38

"He who belongs to God hears what God says.  The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God." John 8:47

"On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Mark 2:17

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all;  no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.  I and the Father are one." John 10:27-30

"No one can serve two masters.  Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and money." Matthew 6:24

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will."  Romans 8:26-27

"Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray.  Is anyone happy?  Let him sing songs of praise.  Is anyone of you sick?  He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well:  the Lord will raise him up.  If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.  Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."  James 5:13-16

Let's pray:  Dear Lord Jesus,  I lift up those who are suffering and in pain.  I pray that You Lord would strengthen their faith.  I pray that You will give them hope as they see Your Mighty Hand move in their lives.  I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

www.karenejklein.com