Roy’s Blog: “The Prophetic Hour”

https://bphowlett.wordpress.com/?p=5228(opens in a new tab)

Genesis 17:7a,8 “I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants…I will give to you and your descendants all the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”

The number one prophetic sign I see today for the coming of the Lord is the “budding of the fig tree“, Israel. The second is that we live in days that parallel the “days of Noah” where people were caught up in everyday worldly things and were far from God. They were filled with every evil thought and deed. Sounds like today to me.

The third prophetic sign, I believe, is the pope’s recent treacherous dealings with God’s chosen nation, Israel. The fact that the Vatican, whomever the pope is, sees Israel as having lost any and all rights to claims of God’s prophetic promises. This so called “vicar of Christ” continues to expand the boundaries of the Catholic church’s replacement theology. He continues to perpetrate the false declaration that the Catholic church has replaced the Jews and the nation of Israel in God’s view, because the Jews rejected and murdered Christ.

In fact, many other nations look at the Jewish state as an illegitimate “occupier” of land belonging to the so called “Palestinians”. Pope Francis is leading the drive to “divide the land” of Israel (Joel 3:2), pointing to the lateness of the prophetic hour in which we live.

Roy’s Blog: “God’s Neon Sign”

https://bphowlett.wordpress.com/?p=5225(opens in a new tab)

Matthew 24:34 “Truly I say to you, this generation [that sees the rebirth of Israel] will not pass away until all these things take place.”

Why “neon”? Why do motels, stores, bars put up neon signs? Neon is an inert gas, found in the air, that produces a bright light in the “red spectrum”. They use the neon signs in order to draw attention from far away. Put a neon sign up high and it can be seen from a long distance even though you may not be able to read the words until you get closer. It catches your attention.

As I read my Bible and look at what is going on today, I can tell, no matter how you cut it, we are living in the “last days” of the “last days”. How do I know? God’s neon sign. When Israel became a nation again on May 14, 1948 (the budding of the fig tree), that started the clock moving forward. This generation, our generation, saw this happen, meaning this generation will not pass away until all the things described in the Olivet Discourse happens. The Olivet Discourse was given by Jesus Christ. It is recorded in the books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. He was teaching us what to look for (neon signs) that point to the nearness of His coming. He wanted you to have time to prepare, not be caught off guard.

The character of today’s society around the world is a sign that is happening in conjunction with the “budding of the fig tree”, Israel. Apathy toward God, disruption of morality, chaos in governments all are neon signs shouting, “The Lord is coming soon”! Be prepared for His coming!

Roy’s Blog: “He Makes It Possible”

https://bphowlett.wordpress.com/?p=5222(opens in a new tab)

Luke 1:37 “Nothing will be impossible with God.”

Today most newly built houses have air handlers conveniently located to move either cold or hot air. It’s wonderful compared to the old days or older houses where you have open windows and fans in the summer and space heaters or fireplaces in the winter. Praise the Lord for central heat and air and the air handler that makes it possible to be comfortable no matter what the weather outside.

Of course, everything reminds me of God and His provision for us. He works in our lives no matter what we are facing at the time. He made provision to take away the sin that caused Adam and Eve to be removed from the Garden of Eden…sin that has stained and corrupted the earth.

That provision was His only Son, who died that we might have eternal life. He made the impossible (removal of the stain of sin), possible through the blood of His Son who freely gave His life for us.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Roy’s Blog: “Wrestling With The Devil”

https://bphowlett.wordpress.com/?p=5218(opens in a new tab)

Ephesians 6:12 “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.”

“We wrestle.” These two short words spell out the intensity of every believer’s struggles. Wrestling is face to face, hand to hand, combat. One person exerting their full force and strength against another. Like it or not, the spiritual battles you and I face are up close and personal. Believe me, we need help, because our enemy, the devil, desires to take you down, and he will use every dirty, low down trick in his book to do it.

The Apostle Paul said he wasn’t ignorant of Satan’s devices and we shouldn’t be either. Never think he is not interested in you. Behind all those struggles you are facing, there are spiritual forces at work, telling you “not to fight it”, “just give up”, “blame God”, it’s all His fault…or…”He doesn’t care about you.“

Ancient wrestlers oiled their bodies to prevent their opponent from gaining a hold. How do you prepare for battle?

Anoint your mind with prayer before your feet hit the floor every morning and all through the day.

Coat your heart with the Word of God, in order to keep the devil from gaining a hold on your life.

Roy’s Blog: “Travel Woes”

https://bphowlett.wordpress.com/?p=5215(opens in a new tab)

Psalm 121:1-3a “I lifted up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let you foot be moved…”

The older I get the harder it is to travel. Years ago driving all day was no big deal. Start early and go long hours to get there as soon as possible. Now it’s- start a little later, go for maybe six hours and find a motel for the night…I’m pooped. I’m sure the amount of traffic and the speeds they go around me have a lot to do with making me tired; the “white-knuckle driving”. I’ve driven from Texas to California, Texas to Florida, and Texas to Long Island New York. Now, Hallsville to Dallas is a fairly long trip.

A friend of mine used to drive a truck ten to twelve hours a day and it was no big deal. Now just a five or six hour trip is exhausting. In fact, many truck drivers who finally hang up the keys, just don’t want to travel anywhere, not even an hour or two.

Praise the Lord the furthest trip I will be called on to make one day soon will be the easiest of all. It will be a breeze for in the twinkling of an eye, I will be taken up to heaven to meet my Savior. It will be stress free and I’ll have all the “Bride of Christ” as traveling companions. Will you be with us?

Roy’s Blog: “The Trim”

https://bphowlett.wordpress.com/?p=5210(opens in a new tab)

Matthew 23:28 “Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

Yesterday, we had some old rotten trim replaced on the house. It took a good while to get new trim at the lumber yard (they had to wait for a new shipment). They finally got the new trim, pulled the old trim off, and…the fascia board was rotten underneath. It had looked alright from the outside, but uncovered, you could see that it was rotten as well.

You see this in many things, from the bridge across the Mississippi that had a structural crack for years before it was discovered, to the apartment building in Florida that was faulty long before it collapsed. To the eye everything appeared fine just days before the bridge was completely closed down for repair. People were unprepared for the apartment complex to collapse. Looks were deceiving.

This is what it says in Matthew, and it holds true today. People may look pretty good. Their lives and their surroundings appear wonderful. Nice, clean, and shiny. But peel away the veneer and their hearts are dark, dirty, and rotten. They are filled with the world. The light and righteousness of the Savior is absent.

1 Samuel 16:7b “…for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”

Roy’s Blog: “The Puzzle”

https://bphowlett.wordpress.com/?p=5206(opens in a new tab)

Jeremiah 17:14 “God, pick up the pieces. Put me back together again. You are my praise!”

My wife likes to work puzzles, whether it is a crossword puzzle, jigsaw puzzle, or trivia. She’ll work on those little metal things they stick together and you have to figure out just the right angle to turn them to get them apart. In the evenings she may be sitting watching a show on the television, but part of her time is spent on word puzzles or trivia.

Much of our lives is like trying to put a puzzle together without having a picture to go by. Sometimes it’s slow and confusing, while other times the pieces seem to fit so easily and perfectly. What causes this difference?

Years ago, I remember being very confused and searching for what I wanted to do. I got so frustrated, until I finally did what I should have done to start out with…I turned to the Lord and allowed Him to put the pieces together. Sometimes I had to wait, but by waiting I was rewarded in ways I couldn’t foresee.

Life is less confusing and frustrating when you let the Lord direct the pieces. Call out to Him today to pick up the pieces of your life!

Roy’s Blog: “Listen For The Trumpet”

https://bphowlett.wordpress.com/?p=5201(opens in a new tab)

I Corinthians 15:51-52 “Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 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 be changed.”

I have always enjoyed hearing the sound of a trumpet being played. There is something about it that turns heads and draws the attention of people. Sometimes they are featured in marching bands. Sometimes they are played alone.

It is interesting how trumpets have played a roll in many things throughout history. For anyone who has watched a western movie, you have heard the trumpet sound to the cavalry to charge or to retreat when it was time to pull back. Even in recent times “Taps” is played at the end of the day to signal lights out and at military funerals “Taps” is played to signal the end of a veterans time on earth and time for the person to be at rest.

There will come the sound of a trumpet in the near future. It will be the sweetest sound ever heard for it will be the “Last Trumpet’ of the Lord calling us home. Listen for the trumpet! Will you be able to hear that call?

Roy’s Blog: “The Break”

https://bphowlett.wordpress.com/?p=5197(opens in a new tab)

Psalm 6:4 “Return, O Lord, rescue my soul; save me because of Your lovingkindness.”

People today are working so hard they barely have time to look up. Businesses are shorthanded from either some being out sick, vaccine mandates, no incentive to work so they stay home and draw more money than they would if they worked. It’s hard on those left to carry on. Some have said they don’t even get a break all day.

We went to the dentist yesterday and I have never seen the parking lot so full. Inside almost every seat was taken. Everyone was busy either working on being worked on, or waiting for their turn. Later in the day I tried calling our local pharmacy and could not get through. I called another part of the store, thinking the phone must be out in the pharmacy area. The woman that answered said, “No the phone is working , but they are just that busy. You’re probably the fiftieth person to call me checking on their phone.” Finally I was able to get through and when I got there to pick up my medicine, I was amazed at how busy they were. Gone were the days when you chatted with anyone; they were too occupied to even look up, much less be sociable. It was all business and on to the next person in line.

I know it’s all a part of this day and circumstances, but it’s really hard on people not having a break, to stand back and take a breath.

But, I know a break is coming soon, one where we can lay down our worries, lay down our struggles, and breathe in the fresh air as the Lord brings home His people. Are you ready for that eternal break?

Roy’s Blog: “Uncertainty In Life”

https://bphowlett.wordpress.com/?p=5192(opens in a new tab)

Psalm 18:2 “The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer. He is my God and my Strength, in whom I will trust. He is my Buckler, the Horn of my Salvation-my High Tower.”

Uncertainty is a part of life. There is even a town in Texas named “Uncertain”. No matter how hard we work, or what we do, the dark shadow of uncertainty follows us. Even as children we have those things that cause us to be uncertain, moments when we first start school, when we meet other kids (will they like me?); uncertain what our teacher is going to be like (grandma type or stern and demanding?) It’s the same as adults. Will my boss be okay to work for; can I do the job well enough? Uncertainty plagues us.

Years ago when I would come home from school, I had moments of uncertainty that caused me to feel a bit of panic. But, as soon as I heard my mother’s voice, the panic and uncertainty flew away. At that time she (and my dad) we my rock and fortress. I felt safe. But as the years passed I realized I needed to trust Jesus with my life. From that moment on, he became my Rock, my deliverer.

Even men and women of the Bible faced uncertain times that threatened to overwhelm them. Daniel in the lion’s den and David being chased by his former mentor are two good examples. The three men who faced walking through the fiery furnace did so with certainty because Jesus walked beside them.

There is one place we can be certain of and that is in the nail-scarred hands of Jesus. He is the “Horn of my salvation–my High Tower.” Psalm 91:2 “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.”