“The RoseBouquet”

A time will come (and is already here to some degree), when people will say, “Christ is out in the desert; let’s go meet him there!” Or, “No, he’s in these certain inner, private rooms; you have to have passwords or guides to take you to him.” Jesus warned the disciples - and us now - not to go out looking for those “antichrists.” They are not the real Christ. How will anybody know which is the real Christ then?

Jesus explains that when He returns it will be as suddenly as a flash of lightening across the sky, and will be visible to all the world. There will be no doubt it is Him!

We can set it before us as a general rule that any “christ” that has to hide and have followers persuade others to come to his hiding place, is NOT the true Christ Jesus, the Son of God. Unfortunately, there will be many who will be led astray. They will be duped and unscrupulous people will take advantage of them. Even, I’m afraid some who think of themselves as Christians, if they have not studied the Bible and are not familiar with passages such as this one in Matthew.

We who know and study the Bible must share and spread the truth, so that at least some will be kept from falling for that foolish nonsense.

Jesus added, “Wherever there is a carcass, there the vulture will gather.” I suspect He meant that figuratively as well as literally. There are always vultures where there are gullible souls.

PRAYER: Oh Lord Jesus, I’m glad I know and talk with You even at this time when You are still invisible to our eyes. I do believe that I shall rise up in the rapture to meet with You in the air before that great Tribulation period. I also believe that You are coming again to this earth to reign here. You will be like lightening, visible to all at once, and You will bring Your Bride, the Raptured Church, with You to reign here on earth for a 1000 years. No evil will be allowed! Peace will be everywhere, and the earth will become productive as all creatures obey only You.

+++++Jesus is my King+++++Jesus is my King+++++

Blessings on you Today!
Ruth Marlene Friesen

P.S. What would it look and feel like to be a young woman who calls upon God in every crisis and always seems to get answers? You can vicariously experience this through the novel, Ruthe’s Secret Roses. .

You know how folks always seem to drop by - well, those that do - on days when you don’t have the house all in order? Well, I usually clean house on Saturdays and by late afternoon, although I’m exhausted, I often think, “Okay, right now would be a good time for guests to drop in. I’ve got things tidied up about as much as it will be all week.” Of course, they seldom do.

However, over Easter weekend I cleaned up and tidied harder than I have for years! This house is now about as neat as I can get it considering what I have to work with. I’ve packed a lot of stuff and tried to hide the boxes in the bedroom closets on the main floor, and am truly running out of hiding places.

I need to start packing in the basement, but I did do a super job of cleaning up a lot of mess and dust and clutter in Dad’s workshop on Good Friday afternoon, and then the next day in my own long bed-sitting room down there. This was all in preparation for the realtor coming to take photos of the rooms in this house to put on the multiple-listing site on the internet to help sell it. My parents never got matched sets of furniture, and things often got crowded, but I was taught to keep clean what was there. (We all have our own standards, right?)

But now I have to be careful not to mess up even my own desk, or tuck things away quickly when done with them, because as potential buyers come through to see the house, they expect to see that same level of “tidy” they saw online. It’s beginning to feel like I’m living in a fish bowl.

One realtor’s office has already called and asked permission to bring a buyer through this evening at 8 pm. Naturally, I’ll try to be helpful… but I realize I may expect more interruptions over the next few days and perhaps a few weeks. I hope for grace to be a good example.

By the way, for Easter supper I went to the city and Tom took me out to a fine restaurant nearby. I didn’t have to cook after all.

Well, we have a realtor for this house. George Descalchuk of Century 21 came on Sunday to take measurements and pictures of all the rooms, and he put his sign up on the deck rail. I haven’t found it on the mls.ca site yet, but it should be there shortly.

On Monday I met a couple from church, and Alvin, the owner of the house I’m calling “my mint green cottage” in the city. Ron and Shirley have a lot of experience with renovating older houses and were able to assure me that this one would be worth fixing. Mainly it will call for a huge helping of elbow grease! Cleaning and painting would be the main jobs. The roof needs a fix, and the windows need to be replaced. This has reassured me again, that the Lord is holding this particular house for me.

The owner is still willing to wait to see what miracle God will do for me, as long as he has tenants in that house.

For my part, I am more convinced every day that the Lord will come through with a miracle $48,000 for me. My part is to keep praying and holding on in faith. I also believe it will come with perfect timing when we need to give a possession date to the buyers of this house here.

You’re still praying along with me? Great!

Some living expense funds have come in this week, for which I’m grateful too.

Now, to turn to news of my work. The daily devotional blog I began 29 weeks ago in August, is coming to an end this Friday. Somehow I had thought it would take longer to go through the Matthew study. I am sorry to disappoint my regular daily readers (Monday - Friday), but I have not had time to prepare the next study yet, so there will be a silent period while I try to get that organized. I do have finished studies of other books in the Bible, like Joshua, Judges, and Isaiah, but they need looking over and polishing and setting up in the blog and ezine format.

In a way I’d like to beg off for a few weeks so I can use my mornings to focus on the packing and of course, once I can move into my dream cottage, I’ll be spending long days there cleaning and painting, etc. as well. With friends, of course.

Feedback: It’s a thrill to get encouragement notes like this from subscribers;

“The Lord is definitely speaking to you as you pray and this little green dream house will be yours, I am sure. I know He is working on the price of your current home continuing to go up.” (Barb D.)

“Loved the poem and the image of a door is super. I like doing watercolors of doors and the adobe houses of the southwest, especially New Mexico, are so beautiful. You have captured and expanded on the metaphor so beautifully. Thanks for including it in this edition! I’m printing it and keeping it where I can see it.” (Gerry M.)

If you want luscious green indoor plants, place them in sunny windows, in rooms with little or no drafts, and water them with rain water or melted snow.

I really don’t bother with fertilizer, although I’ve tried it occassionally. In fact, I neglect my plants and only water them on Saturdays. If I have to be away one Saturday, they manage to live until the second Saturday.

It’s taken me some extra hours here, but I’ve just managed to use both my photos and the ones the realtor took on Sunday afternoon to produce a tour of Dad’s house the way prospective buyers will see it now as they come. One party is coming through tonight already!

At first it was just going to be one page, but it has become four. Start with this one; Tour Dad’s House

I hope you enjoy it.

Once I have possession of my new home, I’ll give you some before and after photo stories there as well.

Jesus continues His warnings concerning the end times. A major event will be the abomination foretold in Daniel. This is a time when a wicked ruler (Satan inspired), will abolish the daily sacrifice in the temple, and set up worship to himself in the holy place instead. When these things start to happen, Jesus says it is best to flee to secret hiding places in the desert. Don’t even stop to pack - hurry.

In fact, He adds, pray that that it won’t happen when you’re pregnant, or nursing, or anything that will slow you down. Get out with all speed!

Jesus said never will have been as much stress and frightening difficulties as will happen at that time. So much destruction will be havocked and lives killed that if God won’t step in, which He will, then everyone will be killed off the face of the earth.

If false prophets arise, who call out, “Here is Christ!” or “He’s out in such and such a place,” do not believe them. Don’t follow them, even if they do signs and miracles. It is all meant to deceive you.

Jesus has warned us for a reason. So we won’t be misled. I am grateful for this serious warning. Personally, I believe that the Lord Jesus will rapture those of us who are part of His Holy Church, just at the beginning of that terrible Tribulation time, but there are many others who will be left behind. They need this warning too.

On the other hand, we have degrees of torment and the call of false prophets today too. Some of them seem so very Christian, so plausible. We also need to be on guard, and believe only God and His Word. We need to discern and reject when we hear lies, even if these preachers and writers of books guarantee that they are true prophets of the end times.

PRAYER: Thank You, Lord Jesus, for this warning. We need to be very careful what we accept as Your truth. Help me to study Your Word, and know it well, so that when I hear counterfeits, I can tell, and avoid falling for their counsel.

+++++Jesus is my King+++++Jesus is my King+++++

Blessings on you Today!
Ruth Marlene Friesen

P.S.Watching your friend die is HARD, isn’t it? Ruthe handles it fairly well for her first time. You should read this book - you could learn from her.

As Jesus and His disciples were walking away from the temple, they pointed out to Him the beautiful architectural features of the temple with some pride. Jesus assured them that not one stone would be left on top of another. This would all be destroyed.

When they arrived back at their quiet haunt, the Mount of Olives, the disciples ask Jesus privately to explain what He had said about the temple’s future.

So Jesus began to prophecy of what was to come. He warned them of the signs of the end of this age.
1. there would be many pretending to be Christ,
2. there would be wars and rumours of wars,
3. nations would rise up against nations,
4. famines and earthquakes in various places.

All these, He said, would be like the beginning of birth pangs, however they should not despair. Even though His followers would be persecuted and martyred, and they would be hated in many nations, and many believers would turn away from Him because of increased wickedness - the gospel still has to be preached to all nations. Then the end will come.

In recent years I’ve read and studied more on these signs of the end of this stage of earth’s history, so these verses do not strike fear into my heart any more. Now I see Jesus’ encouragement in all this, and take comfort in His knowledge and love for us despite the worst that can come. If Jesus is not worried, why should we be?

As very God Himself, Jesus knows what the enemy will do, but also, how He will use their attacks against them, and how He will destroy all our enemies in the end.

PRAYER: I’m so glad, Lord Jesus, You know the future and it holds nothing that unsettles You. Thank You too, for warning us. We need some indication that You know and see our crises; it doesn’t mean You have failed and deserted us. Help us to be strong and to trust and love You, no matter what. You’ll triumph at last!

+++++Jesus is my King+++++Jesus is my King+++++

Blessings on you Today!
Ruth Marlene Friesen

P.S. So much fiction nowadays focuses on ‘reality’ - the ugliness of life, the raw pain. Ruthe’s Secret Roses is different in that it focuses on what life should be and can be like if someone has a lively relationship with God. True, there is a lot of suffering in this world, and the book doesn’t hide from that reality, but shows how one young woman deals with it in victory. Wouldn’t you like to see how she does it? Read about the book here

This is a strong, prophetic message addressed to the crowds and His disciples about the sins of their leaders. This chapter has a tone of righteous anger - such as I believe God has toward these sins;

1. Their teachers and Pharisees had Moses’ official position, but they did not do what they preached. They gave burdensome instructions, loved attention, and wanted to be honoured.

2. The teachers and Pharisees did not enter God’s kingdom themselves, and wouldn’t let others who wanted to come in.

3. They traveled and worked hard to win a convert, and then turned him into a twice-as-bad son of hell.

4. Blind guides! They fussed about the more effective oaths in the temple, ignoring what made those things holy in the first place.

5. They tithed their minute spices, and neglected the weightier issues of justice, mercy and faithfulness.

6. They fussed about table cleanliness but inside were spiritually full of greed and self-indulgence.

7. They were dressed beautifully like whitewashed tombs, but spiritually inside, they were full of dead bones and rot.

8.They honoured the dead prophets but said they would never have made the same mistakes as their fathers who killed them, proving they were their father’s descendants.

Jesus cried out in love to Jerusalem, and would have gathered them as a hen her chicks, but they were unwilling. He said their House would become desolate and they wouldn’t see Him again until they could say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

PRAYER: Oh Lord, may You find my heart tender and willing to humbly learn from these, to avoid the wrong and to do the right. I want to please and obey You!

+++++Jesus is my King+++++Jesus is my King+++++

Blessings on you Today!
Ruth Marlene Friesen

P.S. I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses, and the voice I hear, falling on my ear…. Ruthe’s Secret Roses, my novel, illustrates that dear song!

Today is Good Friday, and I would like to wish you and your loved ones a Blessed Easter time. May you take much joy from the thought that Jesus suffered all that He went through for you. By faith you and I are free of every sin and guilt we have ever carried! But not only that - Jesus also rose again, so that we may share in His new eternal life too! Amazing Grace, isn’t it?

If you have been following in your Bible, you’ll notice that we are nearing the end of Matthew. There are only five more devotional studies left for next week. I do have other studies but they are not ready yet, and I’m in the midst of a packing and moving period in my life, so I will have to let you know when they will start up again on a daily basis. Perhaps in June.

This was the quiz to end all quizzing from the Pharisees. While they were still gathered near Him, Jesus asked them a question. “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is He?”

Studying up on the Messiah (Christ is the Greek name of same), was their main occupation and purpose. They had an immediate answer ready. Their Messiah would be a son of King David.

But Jesus knew there was more to it. He quoted Psalm 110:1, which is a Psalm David wrote, and in which he says, “The LORD says to my Lord;..” He asked them why that was. No doubt Jesus knew the Pharisees had puzzled over that long and often.

It certainly appears that God, represented by the full capitals in LORD, is speaking to David’s Son, the Messiah or Christ to come, and is addressing Him as Lord. This implies that the son of David, (Lord), is also the Son of God, (LORD).

It turns out no one of them dared answer Him. From that day on, they didn’t ask Jesus any more questions. Don’t we sometimes wish we could shut up our accusers with just the right retort or question? Jesus had the ultimate skill in this.

That doesn’t mean His questions were all rhetoric or slight of tongue. He always spoke the truth. So His question is still valid to us today; whose Son is the Christ? Or, in today’s vernacular; where does Christ come from? If He is King David’s descendant AND He comes from God, then we ought to fall on our faces in awe and worship, for He meets all the prophecies of this God-Man that was to come. More, we are seeing God Himself in the flesh!

PRAYER: Oh God, help me not to be as obtuse and obstinate as the Pharisees; rather to recognize You as the Son of, - and God - Yourself! If I accept this, it will make a huge difference in my life. If I reject You, that will make a huge difference too! I will be eternally lost, for You will reject me then too. Ah, but I already know I want to accept and worship You, dear Lord Jesus Christ! Thank You for saving even me! I want to be a better worshiper!

+++++Jesus is my King+++++Jesus is my King+++++

Blessings on you Today!
Ruth Marlene Friesen

P.S. Muriel’s older sister Cathy has gone to a party with plans to elope from there. But their mother is dying and wants to talk to Cathy. What is there to do but find her and bring her back - even against her will. How do you suppose Ruthe handled that? Find out by reading, Ruthe’s Secret Roses. Available in e-Book edition Softcover edition.

How the grapevine does get news around, yes? No sooner had the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees with His answer, then they decided to put their heads together, and trip Jesus up with their own word play. One of them, an expert in the Jewish law, tested Jesus with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?”

Jesus replied without hesitation, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” But then He added that there was a second one just as important. “Love your neighbour as yourself.” He explained that all the laws and the messages from the prophets of the past hung exactly on these two points. In other words, if they kept these two commandments, they would in effect be keeping all the rest.

This reminds me of when I was a new leader in Pioneer Girls Clubs back in the 1970s. We were trying to teach a club of rowdy 12-13 year old girls manners and how to plan parties. Another Guide who had been to a finishing school when she was a teen, clarified all the problems with table rules, and all etiquette issues, by giving us this one rule which covered them all. “Always do and always say the kindest thing in the kindest way.” That little rule has come to my aid many times when I wasn’t sure what was appropriate.

I can see where these two commandments Jesus quoted from the vast 600 plus, that the Jewish people tried to keep, really took care of all those that were of God and important in God’s mind.

Simply worship God wholeheartedly and with all your being, and care for those in your life, no matter what their role, just as much as you care for and protect yourself.

PRAYER: I confess, Father, I have not always kept these two commandments in the forefront. I do see their great value as the sum and essence of Your commandments. Help me to worship You as fully and thoroughly as I can, and to love everyone else in my life, as much as I love myself and to know whom to prefer first.

+++++Jesus is my King+++++Jesus is my King+++++

Blessings on you Today!
Ruth Marlene Friesen

P.S. God tells me I am His own - does He ever tell you that? You can find out how by reading my novel, Ruthe’s Secret Roses