Plants that will clean the Air in your House

Did you know there are plants that will clean the air of toxins!?

I never knew this until today.  Here are the plants that will do this:

Plant, Top remover of:	benzene (NASA)[1]	formaldehyde (NASA)[1] (Wolverton)[4]	trichloroethylene (NASA)[1]	xylene and toluene[4][5]	ammonia[5]	Poisonous or Edible?[6]

Dwarf date palm (Phoenix roebelenii)	No	Wolverton	No	Yes	No	Non-toxic to cats
Areca palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens)	No	No	No	Yes	No	Non-toxic to cats
Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata "Bostoniensis")	No	Wolverton	No	Yes	No	Non-toxic to cats
Kimberly queen fern (Nephrolepis obliterata)	No	Wolverton	No	Yes	No	Non-toxic to cats
English Ivy (Hedera helix)	Yes	Wolverton	No	Yes	No	Toxic to cats
Lilyturf (Liriope spicata)	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Non-toxic to cats
Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)	No	NASA	No	Yes	No	Non-toxic to cats
Golden pothos or Devil's ivy (Scindapsus aures or Epipremnum aureum)	Yes	NASA	Yes	Yes	No	Poisonous if eaten or chewed by pets or children[7]
Peace lily (Spathiphyllum 'Mauna Loa')	Yes	Wolverton	Yes	Yes	Yes	Toxic to cats
Flamingo lily (Anthurium andraeanum)	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Poisonous[8]
Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema modestum)	Wolverton[9]	Wolverton[9]	No	No	No	Toxic to cats
Bamboo palm or reed palm (Chamaedorea sefritzii)	No	NASA, Wolverton	No	Yes	No	Non-toxic to cats
Broadleaf Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa)	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Non-toxic to cats
Snake plant or mother-in-law's tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata 'Laurentii')	Wolverton	NASA	Wolverton	Yes	No	Toxic to cats and dogs [10]
Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron oxycardium, syn. Philodendron cordatum)	No	NASA	No	No	No	Toxic to cats
Selloum philodendron (Philodendron bipinnatifidum, syn. Philodendron selloum)	No	NASA	No	No	No	Toxic to cats
Elephant ear philodendron (Philodendron domesticum)	No	NASA	No	No	No	Toxic to cats
Red-edged dracaena (Dracaena marginata)	Yes	NASA	Yes	Yes	No	Toxic to Dogs and Cats [11]
Cornstalk dracaena (Dracaena fragans 'Massangeana')	No	NASA	No	No	No	Toxic to cats
Janet Craig dracaena (Dracaena deremensis 'Janet Craig')	Yes	Wolverton	No	Yes	No	Poisonous if eaten or chewed on by dogs[12]
Warneck dracaena (Dracaena deremensis 'Warneckii')	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Toxic to cats
Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina)[13]	No	Wolverton	No	Yes	No	Poisonous if eaten or chewed by dogs, cats and horses[14]
Gerbera Daisy or Barberton daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)	Yes	Wolverton	Yes	No	No	Non-toxic to cats
Pot Mum or Florist's Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium)	Yes	NASA, Wolverton	Yes	Yes	Yes	Poisonous if eaten or chewed by dogs, cats and horses[15]
Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)	No	Wolverton	No	No	No	Toxic to Cats
Dendrobium orchid (Dendrobium sp.)	No	No	No	Yes	No	Non-toxic to cats
Dumb cane (Camilla) (Dieffenbachia)	No	No	No	Yes	No	Mildly toxic to children and pets if eaten or chewed[16]
Dumb cane (Exotica) (Dieffenbachia)	No	No	No	Yes	No	Mildly toxic to children and pets if eaten or chewed[16]
King of hearts (Homalomena wallisii)	No	No	No	Yes	No	?
Moth orchid (Phalenopsis sp.)	No	No	No	Yes	No	Non-toxic to cats

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_air-filtering_plants

Getting Closer to Heaven

Sometimes I wonder if I'm headed in the right direction. Then light shines through the trees and I know where I'm going might just lead me somewhere I'm meant to go. That doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be good or bad. I'm certain it will be interesting. Quite interesting. I'll learn something.

Because isn't God teaching us? Cultivating us? One lesson after another, until we learn it. We are often stubborn and don't want to learn the lesson, but it keeps confronting us until one day we finally give in, and learn that hard lesson. I think this goes to an under discussed topic: God wants us to learn. Doesn't he? Isn't it obvious from all these lessons? Are we not being prepared for heaven? We're being shaped into righteous individuals, I believe.

The trail goes left, the trail goes right past golden fields of wheat and dark murky bogs all the while the moon and the stars shine down like beacons and reminders of the beauty that surrounds us. We walk steadily through our daily lives, and we are confronted with situations that baffle us. I think we aught to thank God for our struggle.

The next time you find yourself with a problem, thank God for it. Because it will teach you something that will bring you closer to heaven.

Bible Passages on Answering of Prayers

• Matthew 7:7 (NLT) Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.
• Matthew 18:19 (NLT) I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.
• Matthew 21:22 (NLT) You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.
• Mark 11:24 (NLT) I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours.
• John 14:13 (NLT) You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father.
• John 15:7 (NLT) But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!
• John 15:16 (NLT) You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.
• John 16:23-24 (NLT) 23 At that time you won't need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. 24 You haven't done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.
• James 1:5-6 (NLT) 5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.
• 1 John 3:22 (NLT) And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.
• 1 John 5:14-15 (NLT) 14 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

Positive Affirmations of God's Promises

God will restore my creative abilities.
God will restore my compassion for others.
God will restore my sense of self worth.
God will restore my trust in others.
God will restore my love for my neighbors.
God will restore my love of music.
God will restore me financially.
God will restore my wisdom.
God will restore my peace of mind.
God will restore my loyalty.
God will restore strength.
God will restore my confidence.
God will restore physical body.
God will restore dignity.
God will restore my sense of family.
God will restore my appreciation of nature's beauty.
God will restore my connection to him completely.
God will restore my quiet heart.
God's word will dance on my lips.
God will place light in my eyes again.
God's love will flow from me like a river.
God's truth will give me peace.
God's joy will have it's place within me.
God's armor will adorn me daily.
God's friendship will make me smile.
God's light has shown into my life.
God has restored my life to rightness.
God works on me daily.
God lights the way in my struggles.
God commands his angels to watch over me.
God is a beacon and my anchor
God has restored the light in my eyes.
God has given me abundant gifts.
God has restored my love for music.
God has restored the life in my heart.
God has entered into my soul.
God cultivates me in the image of Christ.
God stands firm as a barrier between me and my troubles.
God fills me with the desire to praise him.
God fills me with the desire to seek him out.
God replaces sadness with contentment.
God adds piety to my character more and more.
God prunes me and pulls away the weeds and troubles of the past.
God holds me close when I pray to him.
God guides my eyes to things I need to read.
God restores the pleasure in me for life.
God sees my struggle and smiles down on me.
God is rewarding me for obedience.
God fills the mouths of others with the words I need to hear.
God takes over when I put my iPod on random.
God has restored my zeal for life.
God takes control when I fall into sadness.
God answers my prayers abundantly.
God whispers into my dreams.
God is happy when I make the right decision!
God is a father to me, caring and joyous, yet stern and powerful.
God has provided a spiritual family for me.
God now provides for all my needs day to day.
God teaches me to walk on water.
God puts truth in my mouth to tell to others.
God guides me down the winding path of life.
God is the friend who speaks well of me.
God is in the darkness of the night.
God is in the light of the day.
God is in the space between atoms.
God is in the awesome essence of the universe.
God is everywhere, yet is a person and an entity that sees us and is with us.
God restores my love, everyday.

Five Bible Passages to Help Us Understand John Chapter 4

13 Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

Jesus was in Sychar, which is in Samaria. He was resting at Jacob's well and asked a woman for a drink of water. The woman was confused because Jesus was a Jew and she was a Samaritan. Jews wouldn't share the same cups and bowls as Samaritans. Jesus metaphorically offers her a "life giving water." She then asks him if he thinks he is greater than Jacob the prophet. Jacob built the well they were at. Jesus replied with this passage. People who drink from the well of Jacob will become thirsty again. But Jesus offers us salvation. Through this salvation all our needs are met, and we will never be spiritually thirsty again. This salvation, this water that Jesus gives us freely will well up inside of us and bring us eternal life. We are reminded that once we receive the gift of salvation from Jesus it ought to overflow within us!

21 Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

The woman Jesus was speaking with asked him why the Jews says everyone ought to worship in Jerusalem, when Samaritans believe they must worship on a nearby mountain. We learn that we may worship God wherever we are in the world. We learn that during and after the time of Jesus, God then started to receive the worship he truly wanted, which was in spirit and in truth. What does this mean: worship in spirit and in truth? Well Jesus tells us that God is the spirit. So when we worship we ought to have the holy spirit active in the forefront of our minds. Worshiping in truth refers to the individual being in the word of God mentally, and repentant of their sins.

Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true."

Jesus while speaking to the woman asked her to call her husband. Jesus did this to test her, and she passed the test. She confessed to him that she didn't have a husband. Jesus then told her about her life, and how she had been with many husbands and was with a man now that wasn't her husband. Jesus did this for two reasons I believe. He did this to test the woman and see if she would be honest. He also did this so should would believe that he was the messiah. Jesus had to perform many miracles and wonders to get people to even believe in him! After hearing this the woman testified to the people in Sychar that Jesus was the messiah and many came to believe.

34 "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."

Several of the disciples returned to find Jesus speaking to the woman at the well. They offered him food but Jesus told them that he had food they knew nothing about. The disciples were confused, had someone given him food? In fact Jesus was using parables to communicate his message. Jesus tells his disciples that the fields are ripe for harvest. We could probably assume that John the Baptist had at least a small part in preparing the way for Jesus. The sower is Jesus himself, and the reaper is the people of Israel. Jesus sows eternal life for all. We see that eternal life is a free gift, and that all we have to do is accept the bounty of it.

48 "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe."
This is an interesting passage at the end of chapter four. A roman officer came to Jesus and asked him to heal his son who was sick. Jesus spoke this to him. Jesus then told the man that his son would live. Later the man learned that his son became well the very hour that Jesus spoke those words. But why did Jesus say this to the officer? We don't really know for sure. It could have been that Jesus was speaking his frustration at people only coming to believe because of seeing wonders and miracles. I don't think so though, personally. Jesus didn't whine or complain. He wasn't mean or condescending. Jesus loved and does love us. It is interesting to note though, that the Roman officer trusted Jesus at his word and left without seeing the miracle. He was only later informed that at that hour his son returned to health. And because of this him and his family came to believe. It's open to interpretation.

Five Bible Passages to Help Us Understand John Chapter 3

3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. "

This first passage is from a conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, one of the pharisees. This passage is also where the idea of "born again Christians" comes from. It's something I do hold with, for I have seen myself personally born again in Christ's love and mercy. It's something that has been taken by society and confused. We need not be confused. Before we know Christ we are a prisoner of sin. Jesus sets us free, and we are born into a new spiritual life. We then become children of God, and we are no longer of the world!
12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven-the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

This passage is also from the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. This passage reminds us that only Jesus has been to heaven with God. He came from heaven and heaven is where he returned to. When Jesus talks about Moses hes referring to a time in the Old Testament when God instructed Moses to put a snake on a pole in the desert. He told Moses that whenever anyone looked at it they would live. In the same way Jesus saves us from sin. Jesus often referenced Old Testament scripture because the people of that time we raised on that scripture and knew well of it. We see that through the sacrifice of Jesus we receive eternal life.

16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

This is one of the most well known passages in the Bible. This is a really important passage because we are reminded of God's incredible love for humanity. He could have left us in our sin, but he allowed those sins to be wiped away for all time. I never really understood the love of God in my early spiritual life. This lead me to abandon it! The love of God is something that ought to be taught more prevalently because it's not something easily received by the human mind. We are raised in a way that shuts us off, and we feel little or nothing but misery. If we train ourselves to constantly be aware of God's love, we start to feel it at all times, and nothing is better than living in that mindset. People think God is a punishing, vindicating entity. He is not! He overflows with love for us. God did not send Jesus to condemn the world, but to save it!

19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

I love this passage, as it starts with the phrase "This is the verdict." What a great way to start a passage. There is no lie in these words! Jesus is the light of the world, and through Jesus we become the people of the light. Humans love darkness, because they have to constantly hide their many sins. We learn that many of the reasons atheists feel the way they do, is because they don't want to come clean of sin. They think their sins are so bad they have to bury them. All sins are equally forgiven by accepting Christ. So as Christians we become the people of the light. We do so by living by the truth, which is the Bible. The light shines on us, and by our example others choose to accept Christ.

27 To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.' 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.

This passage is from a moment when several of Johns followers were telling him that Jesus was baptizing and more were following him. John tells them plainly that he completely obeys the will of heaven. He reminds them of his testimony that he is not the Christ. John was sent ahead of Christ to prepare the people to receive the savior. John explains that the meeting of Israel with Jesus is a time of joy for him! He is extremely happy that Jesus is in the world working. He explains that his mission is now complete, and he must become less important in the scheme of things.

Five Bible Verses on John Chapter 5

14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you." 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.

This passage relates to the beginning of Chapter five. Jesus saw a man who could not walk. He told the man to pick up his mat and walk. The man was healed. The pharisees saw this man walking with his mat on a sabbath which was illegal. They asked him who had healed him, but he didn't know. Later Jesus found the man at the temple. This simple passage gives us a wealth of knowledge on the source of many such illnesses and ailments. Jesus told him to stop sinning or something worse might happen to him. It seems that often God will give us trials and troubles so we are taught to better obey him.

19 Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

The pharisees found Jesus and questioned him on why he was healing on a sabbath. The pharisees hated Jesus and wanted to find a way to kill him. Jesus was against the grain. He followed the laws of God, not the laws of men. He knew God had given him authority to heal as he saw fit. We learn several interesting things in the passage. He tells the pharisees that he only does what God the father wants him to do. We also learn that God himself judges no one, and all judgement is reserved for Jesus. We also learn that if we do not honor Jesus Christ, we do not honor God in turn.

24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. 25 I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.

This is a great passage about eternal life. We see that before we accept and follow Jesus Christ we were dead in our sins. In accepting and following Christ we cross from death to new life. "The dead will hear the voice of the Son of God." This is probably referring to events in the book of Revelation. Those who die will hear the voice of Christ and be lifted up. Those who do not, will be judged. Jesus is often called the son of man. What does this mean? It implies that Jesus was human. In fact the term "Son of Man" was how Jesus most commonly referred to himself as. Jesus was born of human parents, and was God in human flesh.

36 "I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

Jesus was still speaking to the pharisees when he said this. He mentioned how John was like a lamp burning bright, and they had enjoyed his light for a time. Jesus tells them that the work he is doing, which was all of good and peace testified on his behalf. He also tells them that God had already testified concerning him. This is a reference to Old Testament passages that predicted the coming of the messiah. Jesus points out that the pharisees study the scriptures intensely, yet refuse to see that his arrival was predicted.

45 "But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. 47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?"

Jesus really took it to the pharisees. He didn't mess around or play nice with them. We learn that Jesus is not the one that will be the prosecutor at their trials before God. Moses himself will accuse them before God! He reminds the pharisees that Moses himself wrote about the coming of the messiah. Jesus tells the pharisees flat out that he knows they don't even believe in what Moses wrote. Jesus knew they were false and cared nothing for scripture. All they wished was to be seen as holy and have great power.

Six Bible Verses on Peace of Mind

1. Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Philippians says "Do not be anxious about anything!" We are commanded by the creator of the very universe to stop being anxious. Anxiousness and worry does no God. God demands that you stop being anxious. Some people assume that they have to be anxious at certain. You do not! As we progress on our spiritual journeys we know more and more the true peace of mind that God offers us. We are reminded that if we are anxious about anything we should pray. This is also a great message here: "Prayer with supplication with thanksgiving." What does that mean? It means why you pray, be thankful knowing that your God loves you and will give you the requests you make! Joyously call out "Thank You Lord for bringing me this which I ask for, thank you for the peace you offer me!" God is active and always with us.
2. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

In 2 Thessalonians we are told that God is a God of peace! He gives us peace at all times, we have only to train our minds to receive it. Often people get a spiritual connection with God, but lack that peace and harmony. Remember never give up! The more we press forward in our spirituality the more we receive the peace of God. And this isn't something we just receive sometimes, it's something that ought always to be with us.
3. 1 Peter 3:11 Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.

This passage tells us to turn away from evil and do good. We should pursue peace in all things. We need peace with our family, with friends, with our congregation, and with our own lives. The more we spread peace in the world, the more we receive it as a gift from God. We need to pursue peace! Peace of mind is out there waiting for us. God constantly offers the reassurance of his word, we ought to get into it. The Bible is there and ready to be read. Let no one tell you that you can't understand it. It's for us to read!

4. 1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7 gives us some instruction on what to do when we find ourselves stuck in anxiety. Cast that anxiety on the Lord. He is fully willing to receive it. God loves us so much, and he wants us to be happy. Pray that God take away the anxiety in your mind, then wait on the Lord to act. Sometimes it doesn't come right away, but when we ask God for things he gives them, as long as they are within his love and will. Don't let people tell you that you shouldn't pray for yourself. How can we become better Christians if we neglect asking God for things? We ought to also offer great thanksgiving and praise to God for what he does in our lives. But we also must ask! This doesn't mean asking for a new car or a new job. It means asking God to add things to us, like wisdom, truth, morality, honor, love, compassion, and peace of mind!

5. Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

In Isaiah we see that God keeps us in peace if we focus our lives on him. This has personally been the case for me, and I feel blessed that God has given me the drive to pursue his word and will. So we know from scripture that if we build our very lives around our great creator he in turn gives us peace of mind. This doesn't just mean outward things. It means inward meditation! I try to constantly talk to God, whether at work or driving or walking around my house. Acknowledge him in the sunset, in the snow, in the sky, in the people, and in everything. God wants our love and praise! If you find yourself lacking the inner drive to do this in your life, pray to God and ask him to give you that drive to make him the center of your life. He will answer! This is a wonderful verse because it also tells us that when we focus on God, and make him the center of our lives God trusts us. What a wonderful thing!

6. John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

This is a classic line from John. These are the words of Jesus. Jesus tells us that all his teaching and his sacrifice for us is so we have peace. We can have peace through Jesus Christ! He died for us and he also taught us how to live peaceful lives. His teachings give us peace of mind. What a wonderful gift! So through the acceptance of Jesus Christ as our personal savior, and taking on his values as our own we find peace of mind. The world is full of tribulation and we will have troubles, but we don't need to get anxious or wild about it. Jesus overcomes the world everyday. He overcomes it for us and through us. When we are saved, what do we need to fear? What could possibly make us anxious? We know that once we accept Christ, God provides for all our daily needs. We never need to worry again. God be praised!

The Answer is God

God walks me through dark places,
So I may better perceive his light
God cultivates my soul,
As he delivers me from grief and sorrow,
God lifts me up,
When I am at my lowest,
To show me that I need him in my life,
God sees me roaming the wilderness seeking an answer,
And calls out to me "This Way!"
God is like the butterfly I chase through the dark murky forest
God stands at my bed side,
As I sleep quietly he touches my mind,
I see dreams of his glory and peace,
His angels stand guard over me as I wake up groggy,
He watches as I make coffee and let out my dog,
He smiles as I read his book,
He touches my computer and leads my eyes,
To wondrous truths of his presence,
God points out the window to the snow falling,
Urging me to see the beauty of his creation
God hears my every word, inward and outward,
So he may know my soul through and through,
He follows me as I drive and listens to the thoughts I have,
His presence fills my heart when I meditate on his love,
He opens my heart with profound revelation,
He adds to me slowly, the things he knows I can be,
God sees my journeys about the town,
Always suggesting to me the right way to go
God allows me to walk through dark sadness and trials,
To build my faith and trust in his works,
Time and again he appears,
As Jesus on the water,
To remind me again and again,
That in the hardest times he will appear,
To save me from utter destruction
God suggests to me peace of mind,
Though I struggle to receive it,
God gives evidence constantly of his grace for me,
So that I may have that peace,
Of knowing that no matter what- I will always be under his care.
God is in the cavern in my dreams,
Showing me the places where Jesus dwelt,
God is in the writing on the walls speaking truth and mercy,
God holds no punishment for me, only teaches me through trials,
God is a loving God, a whole God, a complete God of wisdom,

He is always with me, I am never alone,

His love like a light shines within me. 

Five Bible Verses on Winning Souls

1. Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.

So when we live righteous lives it is like a tree of life. We bear much fruit and the fruit gives eternal life to those who accept it. Proverbs is ripe with great passages like this, it is a great book of the Bible to study. I find so much incredible wisdom within the pages of Proverbs. Whoever captures souls is wise! It's not easy to bring people into the fold of Christianity. Humanity is by nature very rebellious. We want to prove that we can do it our own way and succeed. This is a mistake that's repeated over and over again. It was constant in my life. So one who can approach someone in a way they can understand and plant the seed that is salvation is quite wise!

2. Mark 16:15 And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

These are the words of Jesus himself. Go into the world and proclaim! This was at a time when the church was in it's infancy. The first twelve had to go out into the world and turn it into a God loving world. This could simply not be done without the help of God, the holy spirit, and Christ. If the trinity had not been behind the twelve disciples it would not have spread. In this way, in our own lives when we do not walk with God achieving anything is very difficult. God has a way of making things flow in the proper way to bring about positive results abundantly. We are required even today as Christians to win souls through proclaiming the word of God!

3. Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

We see from Revelation 20:6 that we are blessed who share in the first resurrection. And thus those that we bring with us are also blessed! By doing this, by spreading the word and holding the course til the end we will be priests of God and of Christ. What a wonderful thing! We will reign with God and Christ for a thousand years. I've often wondered about what happens after the 1000 years, but it's not really important at this point. That fact doesn't stop me from wondering though! It's a very cryptic book, the book of Revelation but as I've said it's important to read. Some Christians consider it a "sealed" book. Incorrect, it's written to be read!

4. Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

We are reminded once again in Matthew that we ought to go out as disciples of Christ and make disciples of the world! Yes there are many Christians in the world today, or those who call themselves Christians. However it seems the church is crumbling and the enthusiasm has all but left the inside of churches. We are reminded that baptism is important in this passage as well! Is it a requirement for salvation? No it's not. But it is recommended in scripture!

5. Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Just before the authorities came to seize Jesus he told his disciples that a helper would come and join with them. He told them it would assist them in times of trouble and it would guide their hearts in the right ways. Through the holy spirit we are able to effectively share the good news of Christ. It speaks through us and has us say things that will touch others. So don't be nervous about sharing with others. The holy spirit directs us in these endeavors. To the very end of the earth Jesus instructed his disciples to spread the word and we must do the same!

Five Bible Verses on Worship

1. Psalm 95:6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord , our Maker!

In this Psalm we see the basic instruction from God through his servant David. Let us worship and bow down! I love reading David's Psalms because he was always so excited and enthusiastic about his creator. He was never one to be luke warm in his praise. He was excited about the love of God. And through that excitement and that firm foundation he knew through and through that praising God was a great thing. it brings us closer to God! In praise for him we are given a glimpse of how it feels to be close to God.

2. John 4:24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

God is the holy spirit. God is Jesus Christ. They are all one in another. In this passage we are reminded that the holy spirit is God. And so we must be in the spirit when we worship. We must be in a mindset where we feel the connection to God. The holy spirit connects us to God. So we must be in the holy spirit, in our minds when worshiping. This is a good tip for prayer as well. Our worship must be sincere, and this is where the truth comes in. Truth could also refer to being clear of mind and sober minded. So how do we get into the spirit? As I always say, asking God is a great thing to always do. His answers are often quick! I know many times I don't feel in the "mood" to worship or pray. So I ask God to put me in that place, and he does!

3. Colossians 3:14-17 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

In Colossians we are reminded that love is a powerful ally. God is love after all. In this troubled world we tend to be systematically stripped of all the love in our hearts. We're discouraged from showing affection to our friends, as that's "bromance." We're encouraged to have skin deep friendships. We're encouraged to put on appearances. Often tragedy in our lives strips us of our love. People who betray us take our trust. People who harm us add fear to our hearts. The news scares us to death every night. I don't think anyone ever said it would be easy. But the more we put on love in our hearts the more we add God to our hearts. The passage says "be thankful." It would seem in this passage that it's a minor side note. Incorrect! There are no minor side notes in the Bible! It's why I pick apart small passages because every word has a wealth of meaning! BE THANKFUL. The more we look around ourselves and think, "Wow, this is really something" the more we add joy and happiness to ourselves. This in turn increases our love for others. It also increases our love for God. Being thankful is the starting point where love can build from to blossom in our lives. I myself often struggle with a jaded view of society and people. When I get into that mindset it harms my walk with God. The more I try to see the good in people the more I start to see the good in everything. This brings me closer to God. This passage really says so much. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly! Let your mind take in the wonders of the word and let that grow you into a new person. I know it has for me. Teach each other the word! Admonish, or warn each other against sins and transgressions. We are told to sing vocally the songs of God. Then we have a song in our heart. I know at first I found it hard to sing at church, but eventually I just gave in and did it, and now I love it. Once again we are reminded near the end of this verse to be thankful! Do everything for Jesus, as he would want you to do it.

4. Isaiah 12:5 "Sing praises to the Lord , for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth.

In this passage in Isaiah it is most likely referring to preaching and speaking the word of God. It could also refer to vocal singing, but more I think it means to praise God's actions to others. Let the whole earth know about it! Do not hide it. In our modern culture its often considered taboo to talk politics and talk religion. Well politics is one thing, but we can't let unspoken rules keep the truth of God caught in our throats. We must tell others. That doesn't necessarily mean approaching random strangers, though there are some who are called to that ministry. We ought to start with our friends and family. Why not tell them of the good it has done in our lives? So we often worship God by telling others about his great works. Amazing.

5. Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

In Romans an appeal is made to us by Paul. Present your bodies as a living sacrifice! We ought to fully commit ourselves to the Christian life. We must show our lives as a living act of worship to God. The words "holy and acceptable" are used. Holy and acceptable is something we could never be before God because of sin. And through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ we find ourselves in the place of being holy and acceptable without even earning it! How wonderful! So while we hold this place, despite our actions we ought to aspire to be that individual that is holy and acceptable in God's presence. So by living the life God wants us to we offer a great spiritual worship. We show God that we are obedient to him through and through. We show him that this is the way we ought to live and we know it.

Five Bible Passages on Revelation Chapter 1

1. Revelation 1:1-3 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw-that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

The book of Revelation is a book shrouded in mystery, but as I've said before it was written to be read! Are we so far from God's gift of wisdom? Definitely not! This is a revelation that was first given to Jesus Christ and through him it was given to John. In Revelation we often see the words "soon" and "near." We are to live as these things could happen any day. In this passage we see that John is the writer, but the vision comes from Christ. Verse three tells us that those who study this chapter are blessed, as long as they take it to heart. Why? Because the time is near!

2. Revelation 1:7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.
In Revelation verse seven we get some wonderful statements about the return of Christ. He is coming with the clouds or in some translations "in the clouds." This is a metaphor and means Christ will return from heaven where he is now. Truly we see that no one will miss this great event. The righteous and the evil will both know of his return. We see that all the people of the earth will mourn because of him. What does it mean? Well at that time the earth will be full of evil. And Jesus will return to judge those who have done evil and not accepted him.

3. Revelation 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

Some people are confused by this verse. What does alpha and omega mean? Well alpha is the first letter of the greek alphabet and omega is the last letter of that alphabet. God transcends beginning or ending. He simply is. No one created God, and from our perspective this is impossible to fully understand. Perhaps we will understand more completely in the next life. We are often wondering who created what in this world. We are taught to believe everything is created. Well God simply is. He is the almighty! He has all power.

4. Revelation 1:9-11 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea."

This is a wonderful passage because we are reminded that John was suffering at the time of writing these words. He was imprisoned at the time, yet he was not sad and he was proud to be under persecution for Christ. We see no undertones of sadness in John's writing. It is full of joy, even while he is imprisoned! We see that while John wrote this he was in the spirit, most likely in deep meditative prayer. Christ delivered this message to John through an angel, that he was to write down what he saw and send letters to the seven ancient churches of that time spread out across what is now the middle east.

5. Revelation 1:17-18 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

When John saw the angel before him he fell at it's feet and worshiped. We see that the angel may have been Christ himself given the words spoken that he was dead and now lives. Once again the words "the first and the last" are used. The right hand being placed on John may be symbolic of power, since often power is associated with the right hand. We see here that this being holds the power of death and Hades. What does this mean? Well it means that all the things that he will be shown are under his power. He has the power of life and death. He has the power to send some to the lake of fire, through his judgement.

The Three Holy Angels Mentioned in the Bible

1. Michael

Daniel 10:13 But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia.

Daniel 10:21 but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince.

Daniel 12:1 "At that time Michael, the archangel who stands guard over your nation, will arise. Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence. But at that time every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued."

Jude 1:9 But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"

Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.

Archangel Michael is the most highly mentioned angel in the Bible. These are the five passages in which he was mentioned. We see in Daniel 10:13 that Michael protected the prophets in the Bible. Michael answered the requests of God, and did not act on his own accord. In Daniel 10:21 we see that Michael is the only one who supports Israel in war. And that's certainly all the help they'll need! Michael also delivers great trouble to those whose names were not written in the book of truth. Michael was also a messenger of God, delivering his messages to humanity. A wonderful passage in Jude talks about Michael coming for the body of Moses when the devil sought to defile it. Some suspect that Archangel Michael is actually synonymous with Jesus Christ but there is little evidence of this. Finally in Revelation 12:7 we see that in the final battles of the end times Michael leads the angels in war against Satan and his angels once again.

2. Gabriel

Luke 1:19-20 The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time."

Luke 1:26-28 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

Daniel 8:15-17 While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there before me stood one who looked like a man. 16 And I heard a man's voice from the Ulai calling, "Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the vision." 17 As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate. "Son of man," he said to me, "understand that the vision concerns the time of the end."

Daniel 9:20-23 While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the Lord my God for his holy hill- 21 while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 He instructed me and said to me, "Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. 23 As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Therefore, consider the message and understand the vision

Gabriel was the angel charged with informing various prophets about the birth of Christ. Gabriel was obviously a messenger of God and loyal to him. In a lot of Christian lore Gabriel is considered the second most powerful angel and a lot of speculation is made but I like to stick close to scripture. Gabriel got to tell Mary that she would bear Christ, which must've been a very exciting task indeed! In Daniel we see Gabriel interpreting visions. We also learn from Daniel that angels can appear in our visions and dreams. Angels don't mince words and they're not very verbose. They say exactly what they must, then depart. It's also very fascinating that as soon as Daniel prayed for understanding Gabriel arrived. There is no wait sometimes for prayers to be answered. The Lord is swift in his responses sometimes!

3. Raphael

Tobit 12:15 "I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand ready and enter before the glory of God"

Enoch 10:4-6: And again the Lord said to Raphael: 'Bind Azazel hand and foot, and cast him into the darkness: and make an opening in the desert, which is in Dudael, and cast him therein. And place upon him rough and jagged rocks, and cover him with darkness, and let him abide there for ever, and cover his face that he may not see light. And on the day of the great judgment he shall be cast into the fire.

Raphael was not mentioned in the canonical Bible. He was mentioned only in the book of Tobit, which is part of the Apocrypha. Some Bibles do include the Apocrypha, but not a lot at this point in history. Catholics and Orthodox Christians generally consider the book of Tobit to be canonical. Lutherans consider Tobit helpful to read. Raphael is also mentioned several times in the book of Enoch which is not even part of the Apocrypha. It is generally considered non-canonical, but an interesting resource non the less. In Jewish lore Raphael is often portrayed as a healer. However from non-canonical scripture we see that Raphael appears to be a sort of warrior and servant of God in all things. We see that Raphael is part of a quire of seven angels who are very close to God. There is a lot of lore and mysticism related to the quires and what they mean, but as far as scripture it's fairly mysterious. Many things will be revealed in the next life.

Five Bible Verses on Trust

1. Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

Trust is a huge part of scripture. But what does it mean? How can we trust God? Proverbs here says trust in the Lord with all your heart! Our hearts are easily swayed as humans. In our spiritual journeys we are to throw ourselves into love with the Lord. Don't hold back! Personally I didn't feel it right away on my journey. I struggled going to church and connecting truly to God. That's normal, very normal. If you're early in your journey just trust that God will add that love to you one step at a time. He helps us learn to love him. We just have to seek him!

2. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord , plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

The Lord knows the plans he has for us. He has great plans for us as long as we follow him! You may question if things will work out because before conversion you constantly faced death in destruction. And this was true for me as well. I lost faith in everything as God brought me to rock bottom. And early in my spiritual journey with Christ I still wondered, well God can do anything how do I know he won't just have me step in front of a bus? That isn't what happens in our lives with Christ. I was thinking of things that happen to non believers, and to people that God knows will never come to him. God protects his own! Jeremiah 29:11 was a great source of hope for me during my struggles. I kept it as my Facebook cover for my timeline so I'd constantly be reminded that this won't last forever, this will pass. God's plan for me isn't destruction, it's for good things! We can achieve some happiness here. God has a future for us. And this passage is a great reminder for when you're in that dark time of trial and you literally can't see past it. Because God can see past it, and he reminds us that we will have good things in this passage.

3. Psalm 56:3-4 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

This message in Psalms tells us that when we're afraid we should stop, and think. It's always good to stop and just slow down when afraid. I recall an experience I had early in my faith. For a moment I truly felt a place of absolutely no fear. I knew at that moment that I never had to worry about a single thing again because I was saved through Christ. I knew God would take care of me. It was like God was giving me a piece of what it would be like to truly trust God. Trust is a very hard thing and time and again humans harm our trust. At the end of the passage the question is asked: "What can flesh do to me?" This is a great reminder that this life is temporary and no harm can come to our souls aside from being lead astray. So why fear earthly things?

4. Psalm 13:5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

This is another passage from Psalms about trust. David had incredible trust in God. David also had incredible love and excitement for God. We ought to try and mimic that! This passage reminds us that God truly really does love us. He loves us a lot. He loves us so much we can't even understand it. It is also said that we shall rejoice in our salvation. We ought to be happy because God loves us so much. Through all these actions we grow in trust for God.

5. Psalm 40:4 Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!

Finally in Psalms 40:4 we see that we ought not to trust the proud. We can trust humans, trust is a good thing, but watch for pride. Pride leads so many astray. Pride is what keeps so many humans from ever approaching God despite the disaster of their lives. They can't humble themselves. If we see pride in our fellows it should set off warning signs. Pride comes before the fall. Blessed in the man who makes God his trust. The more we trust God the more he rewards us. This is completely true in my life. The closer I get to God the better things seem to get. Persecution does also happen, and it's never easy. But it can be joyful and peaceful too.

Five Bible Verses on Fallen Angels

1. Genesis 6:1-22 When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. Then the Lord said, "My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years." The nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown. The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

This is a passage from Genesis that has sparked a lot of debate and discussion. Originally the first men had live hundreds of years. Eventually it was down to around 300 years that they lived. Then God decided that it would be 120 years. This verse is interpreted that angels that served God came down to earth and were taken by the beauty of human women. The term "fallen angel" actually never occurs in the Bible. It is a term coined for Satan's angels, angels that turned against God The women impregnated by these evil angels then gave birth to creatures called nephilim. They were giants that walked the earth and they were entirely evil. This led God to flood the earth and start over with Noah and his family.

2. Numbers 13:33 "And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, "The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them."

This quote is from the tribe of Israels time in the wilderness when they were lead by Joshua. Caleb was at work as well. Scouts returned and told of great giants and explained that they could never defeat them. We know that the Nephilim are the children of fallen angels. The corruption of human women mating with fallen angels made them completely evil, with no good thoughts of any kind. Everyone in the tribe was afraid, but Joshua knew that through God they could do anything. That is how leaders are formed, they know something, a truth that no one else knows. And as such they become leaders.

3. Ezekiel 32:27 And they do not lie with the mighty, the fallen from among the uncircumcised, who went down to Sheol with their weapons of war, whose swords were laid under their heads, and whose iniquities are upon their bones; for the terror of the mighty men was in the land of the living.

I included this passage from Ezekiel because it mentions the nephilim briefly at the end when it says "the terror of the mighty men was in the land of the living." Once again we see that the offspring of the fallen angels was utterly corrupt and terrifying. This gives us a good glimpse into the idea of fallen angels, or demons. They are fully evil, with no ability for retribution unlike man kind. Everything they produce is evil, and they sow such in the world.

4. 2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment

In 2 Peter we see that God has no forgiveness for angels when they sin. So if they sin once, they are doomed. Why is this? We don't really know. We learn that God does not spare them even, and casts them into hell where they wait for judgement day. We get an interesting glimpse into hell as it is referred to as "gloomy" and chains are also mentioned. Is this literal or figurative? Often in the Bible both is true. So there may be literal chains. And indeed it must be very gloomy. What happens to them once they're judged on judgement day? We don't really know. We know that through accepting Christ we avoid judgement of any kind. But what is the penalty for those who fail to accept Christ and are judged on their actions? We'll have to wait and see.

5. Revelation 12:7-9 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world-he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

This is a verse from Revelation that is very exciting. The earth had been swept over with disaster after disaster, plague after plague. And finally Michael and his angels are unleashed and defeat the dragon who is the devil. This passage always gives me chills when I read the part that refers to Satan as "that ancient serpent." It just has such a finality to it. Like finally! At last, the ancient beast who has so plagued man kind is defeated. It seems to indicate that the serpent who tempted Eve in the garden of Eden was in fact the devil himself. The interesting part of this passage is that it occurs in Revelation which is prophecy about future events, the end of the world. But what's interesting is that it also seems to reference the story of creation when there was war in heaven between Satan and his 1/3 of angels that joined him which was possibly before even the creation of the Earth itself. It's also possible that this infers that the war in heaven had been going on constantly since the creation of the earth and in the end times is finally concluded. It's hard to say, but we'll know someday.

Five Bible Verses on John Chapter 1

1. John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

The book of John is the first book of the New Testament. This is where we get our knowledge of Jesus Christ. This is right from the beginning of the book of John. We learn that during the beginning of creation Jesus was with God in the heavens. We start to get into the connection between Jesus and God right away. It's a perplexing connection because Jesus is a separate entity yet also is God. Many see it as God came to earth in the form of Jesus . It is most likely more complex than that, but it isn't necessary for us to understand everything at this point. We learn that through Christ the world was made. Through Christ is the salvation of man kind. This translation says the darkness has not understood it, but some translations say the darkness has never put out the light.

2. John 1:6-9 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

Here we get our introduction of John the Baptist. John was holy and was sent from God. He could be considered the prophet that came before Jesus to prepare the way for him. He witnessed for Christ and baptized in the wilderness. John the Baptist is a personal hero of mine, because he worked outside the bounds of society. He lived in the wilderness and worked there. One could say John prepared people to meet Jesus and receive his sacrifice.

3. John 1:10-13 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

We learn here that Jesus came into the world, but it did not recognize him. People didn't just see Jesus and know that he was the son of God. Many just assumed he was another human man going about his business. In the city where Jesus lived he was not well received. We also learn that a wondrous thing here. Before Jesus we were not children of God. God watched over and supported people before Jesus but we were not actually saved. Jesus gave us the right to become children of God. Through Jesus God becomes our father and we are no longer of the world. Through Jesus we are no longer of our parents or grandparents. We are of God.

4. John 1:22-23 Finally they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" 23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'"

The pharisees heard that John was baptizing in the wilderness so they sent some priests and Levites to question him. He told them he was not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet. When they insisted on answer from John about who he is, John quoted Isaiah. We see that John the Baptist was very humble. This is a great thing to notice about John and all the prophets. They were humble and did not testify on their own behalf. The quote from Isaiah is a powerful one. John's purpose was to take a messy situation of lack of faith and make the people ready to receive Christ. John preached and baptized to prepare the way for Jesus. He allowed their ears to be able to hear the words Christ spoke. Jesus compared John the Baptist to a lamp, burning bright!

5. John 1:29-31 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel."

This is one of my favorite passages from scripture. John saw Jesus coming and was awe struck! He called him the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This is a great way to understand God's gift to us in Christ's sacrifice. In the Old Testament when people sinned they offered burnt sacrifices to pay for their transgressions. Animals were often sacrificed, like lambs. John calls Jesus the "lamb of God." God's offering is no ordinary lamb, but his own sacrifice to pay the cost of all sins then and forever. John mentions again that Jesus existed before he did. John tells us that he baptized so that Jesus would be received by the people of Israel.