Got Results?

Got Results?

I was once talking to a friend about physical fitness. 

I told her, "I'll never be addicted to going to the gym." She said, "You don't get addicted to the gym, you get addicted to the results." 

And what she said registered in my brain. Going to the gym isn't fun and never will be, but the results are worth the time it takes, the sleep that is lost, and the energy that it takes.

The same is true with Spiritual Fitness. 

Spending time in God's word takes discipline, determination and self-control. You will probably have to give up some things including sleep to spend time with The Lord. 

The results will be His guidance, joy, wisdom, and a peace that passes all understanding.  

When I Lost All Of My Excuses

I Found My Results

 "The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple." Psalm 119:130

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women encouraging women

Pride Will Be Your Downfall

Pride Will Be Your Downfall

The other day I witnessed such blatant pride I really haven't been able to get it out of my head. I was at the grocery store and the lady checking me out was asked by her manager to turn off her lane light and as her manger walked off, the woman proceeded to mouth off and completely disregard what she was instructed to do. 

I so wanted to correct her in love by telling her... if it's not already that Pride will be your downfall. 

Beloved Sisters, submitting to authority is not a sign of weakness but a respect and honor for their position and trust of The One who put them over you. There are many blessings that come with a pleasant attitude and swift obedience towards authority.

"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will be dishonest with much." Luke 16:10

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

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women encouraging women 

Resurrection Sunday!

Going Beyond - Revelation
Carri Lynne Pratt

Jesus Is Coming Soon!

Today's Reading: Revelation 22:6-21

 “And behold, I am coming soon. 
Blessed is the one who keeps 
the words of the prophecy of this book.”
Revelation 22:7

Ladies, today we celebrate both Resurrection Sunday, and the promise that Jesus will soon return to earth to right every wrong and take us to His Kingdom, a place He has prepared for every born again Saint.

Jesus gave us the book of Revelation so that we would know and could be blessed by choosing Him as our personal Savior.

If you have never accepted Jesus as the Lord of your life, do it today!

     A - Acknowledge that you are a sinner in need of a savior

     B - Believe that Jesus is the son of God & rose on the 3rd day

     C - Confess that Jesus is the Lord of your Life 

It is a simple choice of faith. Repent of your sin, take yourself off the throne and put Jesus on the throne of your life.

Ladies be blessed by reading the conclusion of the book of Revelation.

Thank you for taking this journey with us.

Tell someone about Jesus today!

God bless you,

Carri Lynnne Pratt

Lent Season April 15

Going Beyond - Revelation
Carri Lynne Pratt

The River of Life

Today's Reading: Revelation 22:1-5 

"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.  

No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.  And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever."

Revelation 22:1-5 

Give Your Love Away

Give Your Love Away

"Let us love one another, for love is of God." 1 John 4:7

One evening before Mary Martin, the great Broadway musical star, was to go on stage in South Pacific, a note was handed to her. It was from Oscar Hammerstein. He had written it to her from his deathbed: 

"Dear Mary, a bell's not a bell until you ring it. A song's not a song until you sing it. Love in your heart is not there to stay. Love isn't love till you give it away."

After her performance, a number of people rushed backstage, exclaiming, "Mary, what happened to you out there tonight? We have never heard anything like that performance! You sang with more power than you've ever sung! 

Blinking back tears, Mary read them the note from Hammerstein and added, "Tonight I gave my love away!" 

The poorest person in the world has something to give others if he or she has love in their heart. Love's gifts take many forms- a smile, a hug, a gift, a note of thanks, a hand up, and just being there in tough times. 

Love is the one gift that always fits, is always appropriate, and always in season. Jesus said, "By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another and to all." 

"May the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all." John 13:35

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God." 

1 Thessalonians 3:12

(This message is from the Daily Devotional- The Word For You Today)

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women encouraging women

Good Friday April 14

Going Beyond - Revelation
Carri Lynne Pratt

The Words of Jesus regarding End Times: Part Two

Today's Reading: Matthew 24:21-51

 "Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." Matthew 24:44

Today we will conclude our look at what Jesus had to say about the end times. Again, the words of Jesus about the end times are very powerful. They provide full credibility to the book of Revelation and insight to the reader. As you read today's passage imagine Jesus speaking directly to you.

Things Jesus wants His followers to know:

 - There will be great distress unlike any time in history.

"For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be."  Matt 24:21

 - God purposely cut the days of the tribulation short for the elect. 

"And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. 
But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short." Matt 24:22

 - False prophets will perform great signs.

"For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect." Matt 24:24 

 - Do not be fooled, everyone will know at one time when Jesus returns.

"See, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." Matt 24:25-27

 - Jesus will come on the clouds of heaven - many will mourn w/regret.

"Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." 
Matt 24:30
 

 - The Elect will be gathered at the trumpet call!

"And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." 
Matt 24:31

  - No  one knows the day and hour, only God.

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only." Matt 24:36 

Reflection: Meditate on the words of Jesus. Are you ready for His return?

 

Reflections Journal Aprill 11 to April 14

Going Beyond - Revelation
Carri Lynne Pratt

 Reflections Journal

 

Click Here for Journal April 11-14

Lent Season April 13

Going Beyond - Revelation
Carri Lynne Pratt

The Words of Jesus regarding The End: Part One

Today's Reading: Matthew 24:3-20

"As Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?” 
Matthew 24:3 

The words of Jesus about the end times are very powerful. They provide full credibility to the book of Revelation and insight to the reader. As you read today's passage imagine Jesus speaking directly to you. This message is for you. (Consider listening to this scripture @ Biblegateway.com)

We are going to take a couple of days to look directly at what Jesus had to say to His disciples shortly before His crucifixion and resurrection. This was an urgent message He wanted to share before He returned to God.

Things Jesus wants His followers to know:

 - Watch out! Do not be deceived by others claiming to be Messiah.

  ^"And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray."

Matthew 24:4-5

  - Do not be alarmed by wars/rumors of wars, this is the beginning.

 "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains." Matthew 24:6-8

 - Christians will be persecuted for their faith in Jesus.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake." Matthew 24:9

 - Many Christians will fall away because of the persecution.

"Then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another."

Matthew  24:10  

 - The love of many will grow cold.

"And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold."

Matthew 24:12  

    

 - The Gospel will be preached in all the world, then the end will come.

"And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." Matt 24:14  

 - Satan will stand in the temple (We looked at this in Daniel's 70 Wks)

“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains." Matt 24:15   

It is truly amazing how all of Scripture works together as a testimony of God's plan. Jesus is giving an urgent message but He is also quoting the prophecy God gave to Daniel as well as verifying what John will write in the future in the book of Revelation.  To God be the Glory!

Reflection: Meditate on the fact that Jesus wants you to know this urgent message. How will it change the way I live? 

Lent Season April 12

Going Beyond - Revelation
Carri Lynne Pratt

The New Heaven & The New Earth

Today's Reading: Revelation 21:1-27

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." Revelation 21:1-2

This is it! The moment creation has been groaning about and waiting for has arrived!  Everything is being made new; free from the bondage of sin!

We can look forward to a day when there will be no more pain, no more death and no more tears:

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:3-4

Reflection:  Can you even imagine this day? 

   

Lent Season April 11

Going Beyond - Revelation
Carri Lynne Pratt

The Great White Throne Judgment

Today's Reading: Revelation 20:11-15

 "Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne... And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done."  Revelation 20:11-13

Every person will stand at this judgment before Jesus Christ. This event will either be terrifying (for unbelievers) or full of great joy (for believers).  Notice that there are several "books" which are opened.  The most important being the Book of Life. If your name is not written here, you are expelled from the presence of God forever.

We are told the other books are the "works" or righteous deeds of the Saints. Please understand, our works do not save us. 

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God," Ephesians 2:8

However, we will be rewarded for those things we did on earth in anticipation of God's Kingdom. Deeds that pointed others to Christ and expressed our love for God.

Reflection: Consider what you should do to prepare for your personal judgment.

Lent Season April 10

Going Beyond - Revelation
Carri Lynne Pratt

The 1,000 Year Reign

Today's Reading: Revelation 20:4-10 

"Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years." 

Revelation 20:6

In today's passage we see two major events. The first being the reward of a 1,000 year reign with Jesus Christ to those who made it through the Tribulation and "had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. " Rev 20:4

Apparently, this 1,000 years does not include any who died prior to this time period as we read:

"The rest of the dead did not come to life until 

the thousand years were ended."  Revelation 20:5

Could this have something to do with Satan being bound for 1,000 years?

We then read about the second event; that Satan is released to once more deceive the nations and gather his troops for one last battle.  Fortunately this battle lasts a very short time and God sends down fire from heaven to consume them.

This seems so very peculiar. Just a thought:  Think of how many generations 1,000 years would be. If you divide it by 20 that would be 50 generations. Let's say each generation represented a year, we could then parallel this time period to the year of jubilee found in Leviticus:

"And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his clan." Leviticus 25:10 

This would then make perfect sense, the land of the earth would be given back and Finally! The end of Satan arrives, 

"and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." Revelation 20:10

Reflection: Why do you think Satan has such a strong belief he can conquer over God? Do you think the 1,000 years has a special significance?

Lent Season April 09

Going Beyond - Revelation
Carri Lynne Pratt

Satan is bound for 1,000 Years

Today's Reading: Revelation 20:1-3

"Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while." Revelation 20:1-3

This is a very intriguing passage from Revelation. The Earth has been through so much! Why would God release Satan after 1,000 years?

Reflection: Meditate on the fact that God's ways are higher than mine. I will never know everything He knows. Simply Trust Him.

Lent Reflections Journal Apr 7- 10

Going Beyond - Revelation
Carri Lynne Pratt

Reflections Journal

Click Here for April 7 - 10 Reflections Journal

Lent Reflections Journal Apr 3-6

Going Beyond - Revelation
Carri Lynne Pratt

Reflections Journal

Click here for April 3 - 6