By Brenda McKee (www.brendamckee.com)

The curtains were drawn tight in the living room. Even when they were open, it was still dark in my little house—which reflected the condition of my heart. Before turning the lights in the house off, I went and grabbed the four pack of Michelob light beer from the refrigerator. Trouble, my dog, followed me back into the living room. 

I turned on the television not caring what was on. Sitting down in the middle of the floor with my dog and beer. I began to cry. Trouble laid tightly to my side as I opened a beer. My plan was to drown my sorrows.

Recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, I was physically better since being released from the hospital, but not strong. My doctor would not release me to go back to work full time and I was going to be let go. In my early twenties, with car payments and rent I was getting concerned about my bills.

As I finished my first beer, this guy on the television caught my attention. He pointed straight at me and said “GOD loves YOU!” I didn’t really want to think about God. I repented of my sins and was born again at 17 but was now doing my own thing.

The church I attended got another pastor when I was 18. This guy was legalistic and boring with a bunch of “thou shalt nots”. Everything I was, including who I was—was not what God wanted me to be—according to the current pastor. He said a woman should wear a dress, not slacks, keep hair long and wear no jewelry. I looked at my class ring, watch, and beige pants, then looked for the nearest door. I tried other churches in the next few weeks. The churches I visited had good coffee and donuts. That is the best thing I remember about them.

Opening my second beer, the guy on the television once again said “someone out there needs to know God loves you, just the way you are!” “How would you know!” I asked the guy on Television—as if he would answer. Suddenly something changed in my living room. There was a peace that passed my understanding. My heart felt like it was melting. I even thought I heard “I DO LOVE YOU MY DAUGHTER, I know YOU and you are my child,” like it came from inside my heart. I began to weep and tell the LORD that I wanted to know Him…

This was the first night I spent with the King, really seeking Him, reading His Word and praying. One night with King Jesus changed my life forever. It is true with every one who is seeking a relationship with King Jesus.

“But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Deuteronomy 4:29

That night, I knew that I knew He loved me for who I was. Knowing Him is different than knowing about Him, just as knowing Neil Diamond personally would be much better than simply knowing about him. Relationship is about intimacy. We cannot truly know someone without spending time in their presence and communicating with her or him. The most valuable relationship we can have is with our Creator God. It is only possible by true repentance and accepting Jesus Christ as our LORD and Savior.

You too, can spend a night with the King and every minute with the King when you choose a relationship with Jesus, our King of kings, and the LORD of lords.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28: 19

Coming Soon!

Stay tune. We willl keep you updated.

By Brenda McKee (hope4mckee@gmail.com)

This is the real deal….

Sometimes I think I know what is best for my life. I think if I were totally healed I could serve the LORD better and help more people. I think if I were successful in a business and made a lot of money I could help a LOT more people than sitting here writing a blog about my challenges.

In other words I don’t like the cards I got dealt. I want a new deal and start with a new deck please! Make sure they are shuffled well too! Sometimes I think if I can throw down a few really bad cards and ask God to deal me a couple good cards, maybe then I handle the couple of not so good cards in my hand. Have you ever tried to barter or bargain with God?

But this is the deal.  No new cards, no new hand.  I  finally made the choice to play it to the best of my ability by His grace. My prevailing hope is to be successful in God’s eyes and impact this world for His Glory.

The Word of GOD is full of real men and women who face great challenges with the “cards they were dealt” and their lives gave Glory to God forever. I think of Joseph especially; sold into slavery by his brothers, imprison unjustly yet in the end was a great success in God’s eyes and in the worlds!

What about you? How are you going to play your cards?  Or are you still hoping for a new deal? Will you play your cards with great faith that GOD has a plan for your life (He does)- as He did for Joseph  and everyone else. His plan will ultimately will bring you great success defined by Almighty God! True success is not measured by the world’s standards.

^{Romans 8:28} And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Life is not easy. We all face challenges. Some people seem to have it easy, while others have more than their share.Whether your pain is small or large, the truth is the same. There is Hope. Prevailing Hope -When Life Hurts is about how to face challenges head-on with a Living Hope that will not let you down.

About the author:
Brenda McKee learned from a young age that life is tough and sometimes it really HURTS. During her 30 plus year battle with Multiple Sclerosis and other severe health issues, along with the heartbreak of domestic violence, Brenda has endured with prevailing hope and been an inspiration to many! With her faith in a loving God and her service dog at her side, Brenda finds triumph in the midst of tragedy, with lots of laughs along the way. Her story gives something exceptional and beautiful to the world

About the book:
Prevailing HOPE is my story, and my heart – to give you hope in the midst of all we go through on this earth. It’s my journey, and how the Lord has shown me how I can be okay, even when life is not okay. My prayer is that all who read this, will draw closer to the Source of All Hope – the Lord Jesus Christ. This book is NOT a pity story, easy answers, or me saying it’s going to be okay; it may not – but WE CAN BE! This book IS ABOUT real stuff we face, hope in the midst of pain, finding REAL joy and strength, and how we can enjoy life every day.

“Prevailing Hope: When Life Hurts,” is now available to buy on Amazon. 

Graphic credit goes to:

Mount Hermon panorama – northern Israel

We are in the 2^nd chapter of Hosea. In the previous article we covered the naming of the three children of Gomer. Recall that Gomer is symbolic of the Northern Kingdom of Israel; her offspring the people of these ten Tribes of Israel. From the reading of chapter #1, it is probable that Hosea’s first born son was of his union with Gomer. There is debate per the next two children; Lo-Ruhamah, I will show no mercy. You are guilty as accused) and Lo-Ammi (You are not (no longer) my people because you have put a distance between me (God) and you.)

Chapter 3 [next article] ends the discussion of Hosea, Gomer and the three children as a family. Some of the language in these first three chapters applies to Hosea’s family literally. Some of it applies to the nation (all 12 tribes) figuratively. Some of the language applies to both but in different settings.

It is in Hosea 3:1-5 that Hosea is told to recover for a fee his wife from the slave market. She had fallen so far away and down that she was no longer just a prostitute of desire but a slave owned by a master. After re-purchasing her, she was quarantined by Hosea. This is about a future with which Hosea was not a part of…yet. Israel fell into bondage by totally mixing with those who were heathen; i.e. simply put non-believers but perhaps very religious. This is more than symbolism. It is prophecy; prophecy that has come true in part and some that remains in the timing of God the Father. Always remember that God identifies Israel as HIS bride. Jesus identifies the Church of believers as his bride.

The first born of Hosea, Jezreel, means two things per Israel as referenced in chapter three of Hosea. The ten tribes to the north plus the Kingdom of Judah to the south will be scattered to the four corners of the earth. This has been fulfilled. The Valley of Jezreel, also known as the Valley of Megiddo, is where Jesus will begin to regather the same Tribes of Israel. But a price had to be paid. That, my friends, is the Cross of Calvary. Now the price has been paid, but recall there is a hiatus between paying the price and full reunification of all Israelis. Hosea sequestered Gomer after buying her back from the slave market, but we cover this in our next article; chapter 3. [C.f. Read Hosea 1:11]

Back to Chapter Two

Back to Chapter Two

Note in the first verse of Hosea 2 that the “Lo” has been dropped from the names of LO-Ammi and Lo-Ruhamah. We can assume from this that we are no longer seeing God look at them as “LO”; i.e. NOT to any longer be HIS children scattered to the four corners of the Earth. This is a future tense as in prophetic. But then in the next two verses we see that Israel being stripped naked and made a wilderness was not fulfilled for another 120 years. This is when the Southern Kingdom of Judah was “stripped” of her people by Nebuchadnezzar. Now, all of the lands of David and Solomon were laid bare. Its occupants scattered abroad to the hinterlands.

Hosea 2:4-6 takes us back to prophecy and the path to it. “I will build a wall against her, so that she cannot find her paths. … Then she shall say, ‘I will go and return to my first husband, for it was better for me then than now.’

This wall or barriers to Israel finding her way to or out of self-destruction will be a path bordered by thickets, briars, dangers, and wanderings. Amazingly we see this coming together almost daily and in recent history.

We have discussed possible bible codes per names in previous articles. If we read Hosea’s children’s names as one statement it would read…”Retribution, the hour of punishment has come. I will show no more mercy. You are guilty as accused; no longer my children.”

Hosea 2:9-12 spells out the lack of mercy and the retribution. Verse 13 explains the WHY…but, in verse 14 we find an incredible forgiveness. “I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.” …and speak tenderly to her? This sounds more like affection than it does continued retributions. Hosea 2:14 gives us more insight.

“And there I will give her vineyards and make the *Valley of Achor a door of hope. And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt.”

*The Valley of Anchor takes us back to Joshua 7 and a man named Achan. Space does not permit but Achan had committed a sin for which all of Israel under Joshua was suffering. Here he paid the ultimate price as did his possessions and family. This released Israel from more retribution from God. This is why Hosea states that the Valley of Achor is a door of hope. It is where the wandering Tribes of Israel were released from additional consequences of Achan’s sin.

In Hosea 2:18, then through the end of chapter 2, we find the beginnings of rewards for being chosen by God. This passage is often quoted and pictures depict, but few today know the address of this NEW covenant mentioned in Hosea between God and Israel.

(ASV) And in that day will I make a covenant for them [Israel] with the beasts of the field, and with the birds of the heavens, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the land, and will make them to lie down safely. [Hosea 2:18]

This passage seems a bit of a stretch to parallel or juxtapose the world to this promise between Israel, God and nature itself. Hosea specifically points this covenant to Israel beginning in the Valley of Anchor.

It may be of particular value to understand this is END TIME Prophecy. V19 says in the NKJV…”I will betroth you to me FOREVER.” Forever means forever. It is the beginning of eternity; an eternal promise. The final verse in Hosea 2 is both exciting and promising.

Hosea 22:23b “Then I will say to those who were not my people, ‘You are my people!’ And they will say ‘You are my God.’” [C.f. Hosea 1:10]

Rev. Dr. Jstark
Written April 2020

PS: Gavin Finley, MD wrote the following in May of 2004. It is so pertinent to us today.

We want a revival. But we want it our way and on our terms. We forget that we serve a sovereign God. For many of us the very idea of God upsetting our carefully maintained command and control systems in the status quo is a real shock. Most of us are completely unaware of the end-time Revival and how it will happen in the trials and travails of the woman of Revelation 12. We have not been told about this before. But we must face the Holy Scriptures squarely and honestly here. We must search the scriptures and discover for ourselves what the Bible is telling us in true and faithful Berean fashion. Then we must believe what the Holy Scriptures and the Holy Spirit is telling us.

Feeling confine….

So do you feel restricted, shut in, bored, uneasy or as they used to say “got ants in your pants?” Well, you are not alone. At least by reading many posts on social media it seems the cornoravirus has really “upset the apple cart” of many lives. We have entered a new territory for many. Never before do I remember the Governor order people to stay home due to a virus. We are a Nation on the go. Before this most of us were out working, going to school, movies, sports, vacations, and the list goes on. In fact, a family usually meant a group of people who are related living under one roof but seldom seeing each other. Since the order of staying home, perhaps families will sit at the table and have supper together. Having supper together was the normal thing to do when I was a kid. We didn’t kill each other. We learned to get along. So there are some potential good things that can r esult fro having restrictions to stay home. Yet, there are many not so good results including loss of jobs, loss of businesses, loss of education, loss of mobility to those who need pool or other therapy.

Many have asked me how I am holding out being restricted/quarantine. Not much has changed for me. For many years the only places I went has been doctor appointments and to pool therapy. Sometimes I got out to church on Sunday. I do get out to the back yard daily to walk my Service dog Zilla. This whole thing has been an awakening to me how not normal I am. It is incredible how much other people get out. It seems to drive them crazy to stay home. Since I have had Multiple Sclerosis and many other issues that place limitations on my ability to get out; I want to share with you that we don’t have to allow restrictions to restrict us. I don’t and I won’t be restricted. To me, it is a heart issue.

Even when we are restricted to our homes we truly are a blessed Nation. Do we really know what living a restricted life is all about? Ask someone bedridden or in a wheel chair. Or how about a person thrown in jail in China, tortured or persecuted for their faith in Christ. When I start feeling confine by chronic pain and weakness, I think of my friend Bill Sweeny; he writes his blog using his eyes to type one letter at a time. He has ALS. Bill is a true inspiration to me. If you want perspective on being confine check out his blog at http://www.unshakeablehope.com Regardless if our only restriction is what the government puts on us or if it is our body that restricts us in every way, the truth is: we can be free. Totally free. When we choose this freedom; no chains can hold us, no disease can steal from us, no government can control us.

Jesus said the “Truth will make you free.” (John 8:32 NKJV) How? I will be celebrating Resurrection Day unrestricted but confine in my small apartment with my Service dog, Zilla and cat Abby. The Truth is Jesus set us free from death when He died for our sins and rose again. When we accept Him as LORD and Savior the chains of death are broken off. Life is fresh and our hearts are changed. As we build our relationship with the LORD through studying His Word and prayer we “SEE” differently, Things that used to be so important to us before are no longer important. The great thing is the things that used to upset us in life, no longer matter. Some of the most inspiring people in the world are those who have “lost it all in one way or the other” and found true freedom in their earthly losses. As a follower of Jesus Christ, we may be restricted by government but that is just circumstantial. We are free in Christ Jesus. Jesus went to the cross and He paid the ultimate price for our freedom. Knowing Him is freedom. He has a purpose for you and me as we journey in this life. We have joy unspeakable in the midst of grief over losses as it is not a joy the world gives. It is joy the Holy Spirit puts in our hearts. We can have peace in the midst of war. Restrictions or quarantine are things that will pass. Our Hope in Christ is knowing this life is but a vapor and then the party begins. We will be with the King of kings, LORD of lords. No more elections. No more fake news. No more pain or tears. We will have pleasures evermore and a freedom and love we never experienced on this earth. Why don’t the restrictions or quarantine bother me? My eyes are set and focused on the JOY set before me. Jesus. He is Life– unrestricted.. If you don’t know Him, you need to.

–Brenda McKee

http://www.prevailinghope.com

ARTICLE #32 – OUTLINE of each Chapter in Daniel
NOTE: The chapters of Daniel are not sequential as recorded

I. Daniel’s Dedication, 1:1-21
A. Daniel’s Circumstances, 1:1-7
B. Daniel’s Dedication, 1:8-16
C. Daniel’s Rise to Favor, 1:17-21

II. Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream: The Great Image, 2:1-49

A. The Dream received by Nebuchadnezzar, 2:1-6
B. The Dream revealed to Daniel, 2:7-23
C. The Dream recited then interpreted to Nebuchadnezzar, 2:24-45
D. The Promotion of Daniel in the Babylonian Empire, 2:46-49

III. The Fiery Furnace: A Lesson in Faith, 3:1-30

A. The Test of Faith, 3:1-12
B. The Demonstration of Faith, 3:13-18
C. The Vindication of Faith, 3:19-30

IV. Nebuchadnezzar’s Vision of the High Tree, 4:1-37 (chopped down but the stump remained).

A. The Vision Narrated by Nebuchadnezzar himself in the first-person, 4:1- 18
B. The Vision Interpreted by Daniel, 4:19-27
C. The Vision Fulfilled by God, 4:28-37

V. Belshazzar’s Feast, 5:1-31

A. Belshazzar’s Contribution to the Feast: Unrestrained Sensuality, 5:1-4
B. God’s Contribution to the Feast: Handwriting on the Wall, 5:5-6
C. Daniel’s Contribution to the Feast: Announcement of Doom, 5:7-29
D. Darius’s Contribution to the Feast: Destruction of Babylon, 5:30-31

VI. Daniel in the Lions’ Den, 6:1-28

A. The Position of Daniel, 6:1-3
B. The Plot Against Daniel, 6:4-9
C. The Prayer of Daniel, 6:10-11 [This is more like a prayer we should recite or follow as an example of prayer in church. The Lord’s Prayer was preceded by the command to do that prayer in a closed closet of private communion with God the Father]
D. The Prosecution of Daniel, 6:12-17
E. The Protection of Daniel, 6:18-28

VII. Daniel’s Vision of the Four Beasts, ten horns, little horn and the Ancient of Days, 7:1-28

A. Historical Data, 7:1-3
B. The Vision and the Interpretation, 7:4-15
C. The interpretation 7:16-28

VIII. Daniel’s Vision of the Ram, Goat, and Little Horn, 8:1-27

A. The Vision, 8:1-14
B. The Interpretation, 8:15-27

1. The ram, 8:15-20
2. The goat, 8:21-22
3. The little horn, 8:23-25
4. The effect on Daniel, 8:26-27

IX. Daniel’s Prophecy of Seventy Weeks of 7 Years each week, 9:1-27; i.e. the seventy 7’s prophecies. We translate the 70-7’s as 70 weeks but this is incorrect Hebrew. Not weeks but seven years per each of the 70 years: 7 weeks; 62 weeks; 1 week (End Time anti-Christ).

A. Historical Data, 9:1-2
B. Daniel’s Prayer, 9:3-19
C. The Prophecy, 9:20-27

X. Daniel’s Prophetic Landscape, 10:1-12:13

A. Daniel’s Vision, 10:1-9
B. Daniel’s Strengthening, 10:10-11:1
C. Prophecies Concerning the Nations, 11:2-45

1. Persia, 11:2
2. Greece, 11:3-4
3. Egypt and Syria, 11:5-20
4. Antiochus Epiphanes, 11:21-35 (nicknamed Epiphmanes: ‘the insane’by many of his vindictive but so-called friends and administrators)
5. Antiochus’s actions parallel those of the End Time Antichrist, 11:36-45

D. Prophecies Concerning Israel; Daniel 12:1-13

JIV Note: per my comments in bible classes or from the pulpit, God’s covenants with Israel and the covenants for the New Testament church can follow parallel lines but are not always in-common. Quick example: Israel is promised the “Promised Land;” physical property in the Middle East during the Millennial Reign. The church is promised a rapture and Heavenly Promised Land.

Ephesians 6:12, 13 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to [take a] stand.” (Emphasis mine)

Self-Discussion: The Book of Daniel discusses the battles between angels, angelic forces and the necessity to be prepared for such deception and attacks of the prince of darkness. This Old Testament book gives us a better understanding of why Paul tells us in Ephesians 6 to put on the full armor of God; not to fight fellow mankind believers, but to resist the devil and his fallen legions in spiritual warfare [See Daniel 10 for examples].

This discussion between the angel Michael and Daniel in chapter 11 actually begins in Daniel 10:14 where he tells Daniel… “Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people(Israelites) in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.” Daniel and the angel Michael are talking about Israel and the chosen people; not the church. What more could have happened to God’s chosen people since the split in the nation of Israel into two separate kingdoms; i.e. the total dispersion of the Northern 10 tribe Kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians into the hinterlands of the world and in Daniel’s time the Southern Kingdom of Judah to Babylon? These are latter day events yet to be fulfilled.

Only a very few of these Judeans (Jews) returned to Judah/Jerusalem with Zerubbabel, Ezra, and finally Nehemiah. The New Testament “Jews” are the descendants of those who returned from Babylon, not from the Assyrian diaspora or dispersion of the tribes from the Northern Kingdom.