Sadly, I have seen several Christian bloggers choose to discontinue posting at their blogs. I can certainly understand why. The evil, sin, hatred towards Christians and Jews and awful deaths done by the radical Islamic terrorists in the world has increased exponentially over the past 6+ years! Such things can be difficult to deal with on a daily basis. Most of us would rather shut our T.V.’s off and also ignore the bad news given every day via the internet. After all, it’s more fun just to play video games, post on social media, and text to our friends on our iPhones!
One of the most recent blog shut-downs that I have noticed is Muddy Streams: When the Crickets Stop Singing…
All that the author wrote was this:
After being a cricket chirping in the reeds for years, this is the 1,000th chirp from the Muddy Streams swampland, and quite possibly the last. We could write and read and talk about the muddy streams of spiritual convergence all day, but there are more important things to do. Can you hear the winds of change blowing in the reeds? A storm is coming, it’s time to get ready.
Get Right With God . . .
There are two videos there. The second one entitled, “The Only Hope in the Coming Storm” is quite sobering…to say the least! However, it ends with a powerful message for the Church of Jesus Christ in what can seem to be alerting us and reminding us that we are closer to the end times with each passing day. I read comment sections where people fear that the U.S. might be approaching its final hour.
However, we are told in Scripture that we do not know the day nor hour when Christ will come for His own and whisk us away from this fallen world. We know that Christ’s kingdom is NOT OF THIS WORLD. He has specifically told us this in the Bible.
Jhn 8:23
And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
Jhn 18:36
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”
However, He has given all of us “assignments” – if you will – in this world; and we are to remain faithful until He brings all to the completion that we so desire!
Jesus provides many Scriptures of comfort for us. Among them are:
Jhn 11:9
Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. [italics mine]
Jhn 11:10
“But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”
He gives us Scriptures of warning:
1Jo 4:3
and every spirit that does not confess that [fn] Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
Rom 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
And, He gives us Scriptures of encouragement and blessing, like those in 1 John 4!
Below are just a few of the verses from that chapter, but the entire chapter (link above) describes God’s love towards us perfectly and how we are to continue our work until the day of redemption.
1Jo 4:2
By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,
1Jo 4:4
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1Jo 4:6
We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
1Jo 4:9
In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
1Jo 4:10
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1Jo 4:11
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
My comment over at Muddy Streams is still awaiting moderation, but wanted to share it here.
on April 21, 2015 at 11:21 pm | Reply christinewjc
Your comment is awaiting moderation.I hope that you will change your mind and continue your excellent blogging!
I know it can be taxing – especially when so much evil, sin, and death is happening at such a higher rate than ever before! Sometimes it helps to take a week off (like I recently did) and come back refreshed to continue posting the TRUTH.
People NEED to hear and read the TRUTH of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and they need to be reminded of what God’s Word – the Bible says!
As bloggers, we have no idea how many people may have been blessed by our online work for the Lord. Perhaps we will learn of this in the future in heaven?
I, for one, truly appreciate the work you do here at this blog!
In Christ,
Christine
Tags: Bible, Christian apologetics, Jesus Christ, Muddy Streams, radical Islam, redemption, salvation, truth
Talk Wisdom 
April 22, 2015 at 10:05 pm |
It gets really difficult sometimes. There’s unbelievable pressure to just sit back and say, “okay, maybe Evangelicalism is right, and I’m being too tough…” There’s pressure to accept everyone who names the name of Christ, because swimming upstream all the time is tiring.
It gets tough when the Evangelicals are telling me I’m unloving and need to stop judging, the atheists are calling me every name in the book, the heretics are slamming me because i’m daring to call them heretics and urging them to get saved to avoid Hell.
So I pray, read the Bible, and right about then God will send me a reminder in something someone writes on their blog or website that reminds me of the incredible price people will pay if we stop talking, stop writing.
Many, Many, many people will pay the ultimate price, for all eternity.
That’s sadly going to happen because people refuse to come to Christ to be saved.
But if I right 10,000 blog posts, and finally someone says, “he’s right… I need to turn to God and ask forgiveness….” it will all be worth it. To meet someone at the marriage supper of the Lamb and have them say “You helped me make the choice…” that will make EVERYTHING worth it.
A lot of people get burned out on fighting on many fronts at once. The temptation gets too great to say, “Every man to his own house!”
Think of the alternative if we give up…
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April 23, 2015 at 1:23 am |
Phillip Dean!
First, I want to say that I really appreciate all that you have written in your comment and also what you write at your blog! I need to catch up on your recent writings about proper doctrine. THAT is a big issue in today’s world of Christian apologetics. Too many Christians tend to ignore the importance of sound doctrine. Thus, they turn away from what God has to say via the Scriptures and, instead, insert their own opinions about it from the angle of man’s flawed wisdom.
The message of the Gospel is foolishness to those who are perishing. That is why there is so much hatred, animosity, rebellion, and excuses (e.g. the elevation of the idea of “discrimination” over God’s holiness and righteousness) in order to hide the need for confession of sin and repentance at the foot of Christ’s Cross.
The book of Jude warns us of ” certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God [fn] and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 1:4
This is now happening at a greater rate than ever before in my lifetime!
Keep up the great work that you are doing for Jesus at your “Narrow is the Way Ministries” blog! I encourage all who visit here to read your blog!
In Christ,
Christine
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April 23, 2015 at 9:16 pm |
Hey Christine!
I have to agree with you and the gentleman … it does get tiring and frustrating when all you’re getting is a brick wall. The only issue I take is the “doctrine” thing. Please don’t take me wrong though, I know as well as anyone sound doctrine is crucial in the on going work in progress called Salvation.
However, and I believe this is important. I really think we need to be in prayer for those Christians in the Middle East who are being slaughtered by the thousands by the Islamists. Yeah, I know many are Catholics and other denominations whose doctrines we probably don’t agree with … but … these folks are being slaughtered for their faith in Christ. Many won’t “convert” regardless of the denomination … they die with “Jesus” on their lips. It’s breaking my heart and I’m thinking of starting another blog dedicated to making folks aware that these people need our prayers. We Christians in the U.S. need to pray for those people. It’s easy enough to see that we’re on the eventual list for slaughter as well.
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April 23, 2015 at 10:41 pm |
I agree that we need to be in continuous prayer for those in the Middle East who are being horribly persecuted and killed because of their faith in Jesus!! It’s horrifying! A Christian holocaust is going on and too many so-called “leaders” are doing NOTHING!
I think that an awareness blog on the need for prayer for the victims of the jihadist massacres going on is important and I support you in that as well.
As far as “doctrine” is concerned, I think that denominational differences usually just have different traditions. I grew up Catholic; so I know that some traditions do not agree with the Bible. But of course I would side with any Christian denomination against Islamists!
Here in the U.S., the need for proper doctrine often involves what does, or does not constitute as “sin” in people’s minds. The desires of the world often overtake our obedience to God. This is where proper doctrine sets us straight.
On another topic, have you researched or blogged about the 4 blood moons phenomenon? I saw the movie about it which showed the historical, scientific, and biblical connections and it was quite interesting! Many people think that something “big” is going to happen by the 4th blood moon coming up on Sept. 15th (I think it’s the 15th – whenever the next Jewish holiday occurs). The movie demonstrated how blood moons appeared in history at the voyage of Christopher Columbus, the rebirth of the State of Israel in 1948, and the 7-day war against Israel in 1967. Big happenings in the past when blood moons appeared! I looked for a “search” button on your blog to see if you had mentioned them at some point but could not find a search button.
I really think that if the Supreme Court decides in June to declare homosexual “marriage” as a “right,” America will be in line for huge trouble. As a writer elsewhere stated, we won’t be called “Christians” anymore. We will get a new title …like “bigots,” or “haters” …oh wait! We are already being called those names!
Jesus told us that the signs of the times will include “as it was in the days of Noah and Lot.” Both had murder, sexual immorality (including homosexuality), unbelief in God, and worship of idols in common. Jewish scribes (according to the Babylonian Talmud) also wrote that one of the things that led up to the flood was “men marrying men.”
As Solomon tells us in Scripture…there is nothing new under the sun!
But Jesus did tell us that such things would increase the closer we get to His return!
God bless you Steve – you have a big heart for the suffering Christians and I pray that the “big change” coming up soon will be positive for both Israel and the United States!!!
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April 24, 2015 at 3:36 am
Hey Christine. I have to admit I haven’t looked into the “blood moon” thing too much. I don’t put much stock in predictions and things of that sort … not to say they don’t mean anything. But I do know that the Lord told us what to look for in the last days and I believe they genuinely are here.
Look Christine, I’m nothing. But I learned long ago that we can’t put God in a box. He is far above what our little finite minds can conceive. All the little “standards” different groups adhere to … “required for salvation” … never cutting the hair … baptism in Jesus name only … gifts of the Holy Spirit … outdated … not outdated …
I think we need to focus on the weightier matters … but not leave the other undone.
I don’t think the “other” undone will determine our eternal destiny … but the weightier matters will.
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April 24, 2015 at 4:01 pm
I understand, Steve. I don’t see the blood moons as “predictions” so much as I see them as “signs” that occur in the sky where past history has shown significant events have happened. It wasn’t until I read about what the authors were saying (and there is disagreement among them as was evident by the astronomer in the movie who thinks that blood moons are too common to be deemed useful for pointing out significant events) about them that I became interested in their findings.
Steve, I think it is wise to have a healthy skepticism about certain things being presented within Christendom. Heck – I was almost fooled by Rick Warren’s writings, even though “The Purpose Driven Life” contained some good advice. The lack of an explanation for the need to be born again in Christ in that book concerned me. Then, Warren went over the deep end (IMHO) when he started pushing “Chrislam!”
This is why the Bible should always be our most important guide for our faith. God’s Written Word, and His Living Word – Jesus Christ – is foremost and crucial in our walk.
Speaking of “weightier matters,” my new post will share a very sobering article about the Christian Armenian Genocide written by David Kupelian of WND. In fact, some of it absolutely shocked me! Learned a LOT of information that I had never previously known!
Well, my friend, as always, I appreciate your insight and opinions – even if we disagree on the less “weightier matters.”
The Gospel of Christ is what matters most – and it is clear enough so that when presented – even a child can grasp the importance and meaning of it all.
God bless and enjoy the upcoming weekend!
Your friend in Christ,
Christine
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