Roy’s Blog: “No More Pain”

https://bphowlett.wordpress.com/?p=4196(opens in a new tab)

Romans 8:22 “For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.”

Nowhere on earth can we go that God’s creation is not suffering birth pains. Natural disasters occur every single day-from wildfires to earthquakes, hurricanes to tornadoes, and then there are pestilences and drought. Every day the earth is in a constant state of pain yearning for the birth of that glorious day when all pain is gone.

Many people will tell stories of how constant pain racks their bodies. Others have stories of the constant pains of trying to cope with the struggles of life. They groan every day seeking relief. One glorious day that relief will come. Halleluiah! Revelation 21:4 “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.”

“The whole earth groans and suffers.” That’s why Jesus Christ came, died on the cross, and rose from the dead. He came to free us and all creation from the curse of sin and to provide us with eternal protection from the disasters of life.

One day He is coming, and He will create a new heaven and a new earth free from the pain we all endured everyday. The earth will be freed from the storms and pestilence.

God rules over every area of life. Trust Him with yours.

Roy’s Blog: “You Are Mine”

https://bphowlett.wordpress.com/?p=4192(opens in a new tab)

Isaiah 43:1b-3a “…Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord your God…”

As surely as God has kept His promises in the past, He will keep His promises to the followers of Jesus Christ today, tomorrow, and forever. We are so blessed that we have been given such a wonderful gift of His grace.

Hebrews 13:5 “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.” John 14: 1-3 (paraphrased) “Do not let your heart be troubled…I go to prepare a place for you…I will come again and receive you to Myself..” What a wonderful testimony of His love for us.

The Bible teaches over and over that God will never fail us, if we have put our trust in Him. What an encouraging reminder this is for us living in the “last days”. He is our Rock in times of trouble. Our Fortress and Redeemer. God knows you by name. You can rest from the fiery trials, for you are His!

Roy’s Blog: “Freedom”

https://bphowlett.wordpress.com/?p=4188(opens in a new tab)

John 11:4 (NASB) “The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go.'”

Lazarus was a beloved friend of Jesus. He was the brother of Martha and Mary and was one of the believers. Jesus loved spending time at their home when He came near their town. Following Jesus is always exciting and many times challenging as we see in this particular portion of scripture.

Lazarus had taken ill and died. He was put in a tomb and was there for four days. But he didn’t stay there. He was raised from the dead by the power of Jesus Christ when Jesus called out, “Lazarus, come forth!”

The miracle, however, was incomplete until Jesus commanded, “Unbind him and let him go.” Though raised from the dead, Lazarus needed to be freed from the graveclothes which bound him. If you are a believer, then you have been raised from the deadness of a life without Jesus to a new life free from the grave, a life to be spent eternally in God’s presence.

Like Lazarus was bound in the graveclothes, though you are alive unto God, you may be bound by your worldly past. But there is no need for that for Jesus says to you, “Unbind him, and let him go.” Then in Hebrews 8:12b Jesus says, “I will remember your sins no more.”

John 8:36 “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

Roy’s Blog: “Stay Ready”

https://bphowlett.wordpress.com/2021/02/28/roy’s-blog-stay-ready/(opens in a new tab)

Luke 21:34,36a “Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day will not come upon you suddenly like a trap. But keep on the alert at all times…”

On your mark, get set, go! This is a familiar announcement to all. I can remember running track when I was in school and those words were shouted at the starting line. Running the hundred yard dash was exciting because the guy who left the starting blocks first usually finished first and won the race. But, you had to remain focused and ready.

Getting started made the difference in the outcome of the race. One of the best ways to guarantee a great start and to finish well was to always be prepared and be ready.

This is a great principle for the believer. If we are going to win our race in this life, we need to always be ready, waiting and watching for the Lord Jesus Christ to return.

Stay ready!

Roy’s Blog: “Downcast Eyes”

https://bphowlett.wordpress.com/2021/02/27/roy’s-blog-downcast-eyes/(opens in a new tab)

Titus 2:13 “Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

With everything going on around the world, you would think more people would be excited about the future like they would if they were going on a wonderful vacation. Instead of “We’re going to Disneyland!” (where you have to have a trunkful of money) you are headed to “paradise”. You can’t imagine what this place will be like, but its description in the Bible sounds amazing, and it won’t cost you a dime! You don’t have to worry about unpacking, or washing clothes when you get back. You won’t have to worry about returning to all the headaches and heartaches, or the struggles you face ahead. They will be gone–forever.

Yes, you would think people would be looking up filled with anticipation and wonder about their coming trip. Instead, they walk around with downcast eyes, slogging through the muck and mire of this world, filled with sadness and fear for the future.

Did no one tell you? Have you not heard? (If you are reading this, you have now.) We don’t have to be downcast with no hope. In Titus it tell us we should be looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Look up. You may be just in time to see Him coming!

Roy’s Blog: “It’s All Coming Together”

https://bphowlett.wordpress.com/2021/02/26/roy’s-blog-its-all-coming-together/(opens in a new tab)

Luke 12:40 “You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect Him”

Most of the news today is absolutely shocking. The local news in Israel reported that there were advanced contacts between Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Jerusalem (Israel), Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Manama (Bahrain) on the establishment of a NATO-like strategic regional defense alliance.

The family of Abraham is lining up in ways we have never seen before. They all have a common enemy–Iran. Iran is now feeling very emboldened against these countries realizing they can no longer rely on the United States for support. Iran has “told” the United States to removed the sanctions against their country, and are even so bold as to demand a reparation fee of a trillion dollars.

Meanwhile Russia is feeling the pain of demonstrations against their regime, corruption and the falling worth of the ruble. The unrest is growing every day with no end in sight and no options to revive their economy.

The wealth of Israel and the oil and gas discoveries in the Mediterranean make Israel more and more attractive to those countries looking for a way out of their problems. The end time players are lining up exactly as the Bible says they will.

Are you ready? Do you expect that He could come at any minute? If not reread Luke 12:40.

Roy’s Blog: “Left Behind”

https://bphowlett.wordpress.com/2021/02/25/roy’s-blog-left-behind/(opens in a new tab)

Revelation 13:16-17 “And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.”

A new headline in Israel is, “Whoever Does Not Get Vaccinated Will Be Left Behind.” Israel has raced ahead with the fastest Covid-19 vaccination campaign in the world, inoculating nearly half of its entire population with at least one dose. But, something bigger is happening now. The country has turned into a live laboratory that is setting the rules for a vaccinated society.

For the first time in many months gyms, cultural events, hotel and swimming pools will reopen…for some. Under a new “Green Badge” system the government is making leisure activities accessible only to those who are fully vaccinated or recovered from having the virus, starting Sunday. Customers or attendees will have to carry a certificate of vaccination with a QR (quick response) code so their information can be scanned quickly. For many being “Left Behind” is not far away. This may not be the “Mark of the Beast” but it is definitely a foretaste of what’s to come.

For many others being “Left Behind” when Jesus Christ returns is not far away. Those who are His will not need a card or a code. He knows their names. Is your name one that will be called?

Roy’s Blog: “Be Still”

https://bphowlett.wordpress.com/2021/02/24/roy’s-blog-be-still/

Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

W live in a chaotic world. There seems to be something always distracting us from being still. We go to bed just to toss and turn trying to find some slumber until the alarm buzzes to wake us up and start our day. There is nothing but worldly noise pounding in our heads. Work, bills, the news, the weather, and of course social media overwhelm us daily and keep us wrapped up in the concerns of the day.

That stillness in God is not even a fleeting thought in our heads. You look at your watch. It’s late and you haven’t even texted back to…

Take a step back. Find a corner. Sit and be still. If you can’t stand not answering your phone, leave it somewhere else or turn it off. If you can’t stand to do that, you are way too focused on the world. Have you pushed God so far into the backseat of your life that you can’t even hear Him? He says, “Be still, and know that I am God…”

John 14:27 Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” In the stillness we can hear that “still small voice” and know the peace of God.

Roy’s Blog: “One Week! What A Difference”

https://bphowlett.wordpress.com/2021/02/23/roys-blog-one-week-what-a-difference/(opens in a new tab)

I Corinthians 15:52 “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will all be changed.”

What crazy weather! Last week (in Texas) we had the coldest weather in recorded history. It’s hard to prepare for something most in the state have never experienced. But, we had almost a week to prepare. We were warned this was going to be a big one. Many didn’t pay attention. Of course, some had little options with no resources and no extra money. It was tragic for some. In Noah’s day they had 200 years. Still, they were unprepared for tragedy. They were warned, but paid no heed.

Texas has its own power grid. A lot of expectation was put on that fact. It failed–for reasons that will be investigated. We should never have run out of power in a state that leads the world in oil and gas production. Even so, people need to prepare as best they can for any emergency, whether it’s weather, fire, or something totally unexpected.

One week we were in a deep freeze, the next week we were in a thaw. High sixties and seventies. Frozen pipes thawed and spewed forth. Mud now covered the ground where the snow and ice melted. But, within a week most have heat and running water and are celebrating.

It’s hard to imagine the difference one week will make when this world moves from the everyday trials we all face to the glory the “Bride of Christ” will experience in the “twinkling of an eye”. For some it will be from snow and ice, for others it will be from the hot dirty city streets to the beautiful glorious “Day of the Lord”.

The question is have you paid attention. The warnings have been there for many, many years. Are you prepared?

Roy’s Blog: “The Proof”

https://bphowlett.wordpress.com/2021/02/22/roys-blog-the-proof/(opens in a new tab)

Ezekiel 36:24 “For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land.”

This was prophesied by Ezekiel 2608 years ago!

Israel is not normal. Israel is a miracle. People forget that for two millennia, Jews were scattered across the whole globe with no place to call home. They migrated into a variety of civilizations, but at their core, they remained the same. They remained a unique people, because God promised they would. God brought them back into their own land in order to uphold His word and to honor His name.

Today Israel may look like other nations as it faces all kinds of problems. Its leaders make mistakes, and there are pockets of corruption. The nation has allies–and enemies. Yet, against all odds they have a thriving economy, and under their care we have see the surrounding desert blossom, just as God said it would.

But that’s not the biggest miracle. The biggest miracle is that Israel even exists. To be completely scattered as a people, with no base to call home, you would think there is no way, that they’re gone just like the Mayans or the Incas. But Israel is proof that God will do everything He said He would. It was put into prophecy now it is history. Israel is home again and that is proof that God keeps His promises, and the Bible is the infallible Word of God.