It’s not the obstacles we face, but how we handle them that count the most. How do we react or respond to them? How we answer that question reveals how Christ-like we have become. It will be revealed in our response to difficulties. Choose to turn adversity into advantage over the enemy through an open door, difficulties into doors of opportunities, crisis into circumstances for winning souls through meeting needs or confronting problems in a way that reveals the love of Jesus. 

We don’t attack people – we attack problems. Keep God’s perspective in all of life. We are not victims – we are victors. 

Choose to turn suffering into service and be a world changer. Tell the world about Jesus! 

Let’s read Phil. 1:12:

“Now I want you to know, Brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.” (NIV)

Paul’s difficulties became doors by which the Gospel made steady advancement. How about you? How about in your life? Do you attack or attract people to Jesus? Do you attack people or turn and align them to the Word of God through loving them?

Do you rise above the problem and know that you are seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus, or do you stoop to the level of the enemy and engage in a war of words? Do you respond or react? 

Choose your words wisely…and make sure to respond as Jesus would…by depending on the Holy Spirit of God. 

Tell the world about Jesus by the way you live….respond wisely.

God loves you with an everlasting love…and He gave His Son for you and me….

When we understand the high price Jesus paid, we see every person as highly valuable! God wants us to love people back to life!

 HIS LOVE AND MINE, 

DEBORAH 

BOOKS FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH BY DEBORAH STARCZEWSKI

GOD’S PRICELESS TREASURE (How To Overcome Challenges, Be Transformed And Know Your Purpose)…published 2011 Creation House Press/Charisma …… Learn how to move from drama to destiny, pain to purpose, a mess to a message, from trials to triumph through turning to Jesus Christ. 

A LEAP OF FAITH (25 Days At The Mercy Seat)…the full account of life and death situations, with the account of how the Holy Spirit led us through 25 days at Mercy Hospital. God raised my husband from death, healed him from two strokes, and walked with us through two open-heart surgeries. This book will give you increased faith to believe God for anything.

THE MIDNIGHT HOUR (Will America Turn Back To God?) …a must read for every pastor and leader, a great family devotional and gift for friends, family and associates. 

The above mentioned books are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, www.starministriesinc.com and other distributors. 

SHIFT HAPPENS…anthology….available at events. 

We need to look at what Jesus said the times would look like just prior to His return, and learn what we MUST do. We must love the Truth and learn to depend upon the Holy Spirit in every detail…to hear the still small voice of God, and recognize His Hand in our lives. The Holy Spirit is the One who convicts the world of sin.

What will it take to succeed in these times? Endurance. 

What is endurance? It is not a very popular word nor one that is understood very easily. However, in order to succeed in battle, we better understand it and learn to endure. It is obvious that we are living in times when it is increasingly important that we understand what it means to us as individuals. 

The King James Version of the Bible was translated well over three hundred plus years ago, and the meaning of some English words have changed. The KJV uses the word patience where we would use the word endurance today. Nobody likes that word—patience. People cringe when they hear someone mention that they prayed for patience. Many say that asking God for patience brings tribulation and all kinds of trouble. 

Where we talk about patience, the King James Version uses the word long-suffering. Patience or long-suffering means to be willing to put up with irritating people, circumstances and situations without losing your temper—to remain in good character, composed, and not fly off the handle like a volcanic eruption. It is a highly valuable Christian virtue…and satan knows best how to trigger each person to lose their temper. Hello?!?!

I am well aware that I could use more of it myself when it comes to injustices, lies, betrayal and long-suffering. It’s blatantly obvious that the whole world needs it desperately. Never think you have arrived to some special place of achievement or honor in the things of God—we are always learning and growing…and will be till the day Jesus calls us home—through death or when the Trumpet sounds. 

When the King James Version uses the word patience, the modern day word would be endurance or perseverance. 

The verb form that the King James Version of the Bible uses is “to endure.” 

We need to look at what Jesus said the world would look like immediately prior to His return. Jesus gave a prophetic preview on the Mount of Olives. Many of the things He spoke about are coming to pass before our very eyes… right now. 

What I want to focus on is what we are going to need to get through these days. “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 24:12-13). 

Pay close attention and notice the direct connection between lawlessness and lovelessness. It’s obvious that when people become lawless, they become loveless. We sometimes think of love as spontaneous, a natural response to others, as something free, something that requires no laws and no discipline. But that is far from truth. Love and discipline go hand in hand. Think about what it is like to raise a family. You love your kids, but they have to be disciplined. A good father disciplines his children. God disciplines us. 

Think about this with me. When discipline and law break down, love grows cold. We have watched it manifest for some time now in America…and across the nations. The word for love in verse 12 of Matthew 24 is agape, which refers to the love of Christians. Jesus is not talking about the love of the world growing cold, but the love of Christians growing cold. 

We are witnessing this terrible tragedy today—presently—lawlessness abounding and love growing cold—Jesus says: “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” We have to endure to the end. The original Greek says this, “He that has endured unto the end, it is he who will be saved.” 

In Mark’s rendering of the same Olivet Discourse—Jesus’s prophetic preview on the Mount of Olives—we find this warning repeated:

“Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” —Mark 13:12-13

This is a bleak and somber picture of lies, deception, betrayal, rampant treachery and disloyalty within family relationships and toward Christians who will be hated by all. This is what Jesus warned us about….

This is happening today…and has been happening. People are being persecuted for their faith abroad and here in America. Adult children have risen up, like Judas in the Bible, to betray their own parents. That same deception is going on in marriages, legal battles, in businesses, and even in church and among believers. 

Never forget, in the Book of Revelation Satan is called “that serpent of old…who deceives the whole world” (Revelation 12:9). And Paul warns in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11 that this satanic tactic will find its ultimate expression in the Antichrist, who will deceive with lying signs and wonders all those who “did not receive the love of the Truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:10).

Our only protection is to receive the love of truth. All who refuse this will not merely be deceived by Satan; God Himself will send them a strong delusion…to those who chose not to believe the Gospel of Christ..the Truth. 

Love of the truth is not a mere conformity to religious tradition, imitating man, or using the latest worldly methods and strategies to draw a crowd in a church. It is not even reading your Bible and having a “quiet time” before the Lord on a daily basis. It demands a total, unreserved, unwavering commitment to believe and obey God’s Word—one that rules out all forms of compromise. 

It’s where we allow the Holy Spirit to reveal any areas in our own lives that need purifying…where we allow Church services to be led by the Holy Spirit, instead of man, where families and businesses are committed to God and Holy Spirit-led. The Holy Spirit reveals all hidden truth and shows us things to come. He empowers us, sanctifies us, and equips us to stand strong and to succeed. 

What Paul would tell us today is this……he knew Satan was terrified of his calling. The reason Paul was attacked repeatedly and recurrently is that the devil was fearful of the enormous progress Paul would make if he didn’t face opposition and adversity. Paul would remind us right now, for today, that his anointing, his calling, and his potential were the factors that triggered demonic attacks in the first place. 

Paul suffered many horrific and crazy things during the course of his ministry because he was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. You see, Satan was terrified of what would happen if Paul could operate in his divine call without hindrance and opposition. 

It’s starting to make sense to you now, isn’t it? Think about it. How much could Paul do without any opposition? How much territory could Paul take without opposition and resistance? If Paul was able to do all the incredible things he did with God for God’s Kingdom in the face of such evil opposition, what kind of Gospel advancements could he have made with no opposition! 

Satan stirred up trouble, threw every obstacle he could in Paul’s way to slow him down, to ruin his name, to discredit him, to destroy his relationships, friendships, and, if possible, to even kill him. Satan hated the call of God on Paul’s life…and he hates it on mine and your’s too. 

It’s obvious that Paul had a made up mind—a firm decision—that he would not stop, not quit, and not give up until he had apprehended that for which Christ Jesus had apprehended him (Philippians 3:12). You will have to do the same thing—have a made up mind—make a firm decision—so that you will be able to resist the enemy’s attacks and successfully achieve all God has called you to do with Him, by determining, right now, never to stop, until you have accomplished your divine destiny. Jesus taught that those who “endure to the end” are the ones who will receive the prize (Matthew 24:13). 

So..what are we to do?  Resist the devil. Don’t give in. Hold out. Endure. I firmly believe that God is speaking that word to us today. I pray that God, through His Holy Word, will put steel in your soul, increased boldness in your heart, and give you a spiritual backbone to endure if you do not already have one. 

I pray GOD will give you a holy boldness to stand strong, stand apart, and step out to represent Him well in the earth. 

BOOKS BY DEBORAH STARCZEWSKI

GOD’S PRICELESS TREASURE (How To Overcome Challenges, Be Transformed and Know Your Purpose) …learn how to move from drama to destiny, a mess to a message, from trials and troubles to triumph through turning to Jesus Christ. 

A LEAP OF FAITH (25 Days At The Mercy Seat)….a miraculous story of hope and healing that will keep you turning the pages. God raised my husband from death, healed him from two strokes, and walked with us through two open-heart surgeries. This book will give you increased faith to believe God for anything and has a Confession Prayer inside that will change your life. 

THE MIDNIGHT HOUR (Will America Turn Back To God?)…a must read for all. 

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, xulon.com bookstore, www.starministriesinc.com and other distributors. 

Suppose it were your last hour! What would you choose to be doing? But let me tell you, it is the last hour. God is giving us warnings and signs in the heavens and in the natural. 

“Little children, it is the last hour…” (1 John 2:18). John penned those words almost two thousand years ago. If John were writing today, he would probably say it is the last seconds of the last hour. If anyone thought they only had an hour left, I seriously doubt they would be concerned about things…they would be concerned about where they would spend eternity and those they love. Living with eternity in mind brings all of life into proper perspective. 

When I heard about the recent evacuation at the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and the story of a line being cut at a bridge that ushered in darkness and loss of power for three days…my mind thought about the evacuation that will happen in a twinkling of an eye when the Trumpet sounds. 

When we don’t renew our minds in the Word of God and stay connected in close communion with God, and with other believers, we can live in the world and be unaware of the times. Anyone can lose their power if they live in denial or do not stay plugged into God and His Word. 

With the power outages and evacuation that occurred due to power lines being cut, I also thought about how the law has been changed to go against God’s Word, and how He is warning America to return and repent. The enemy wants to destroy all mankind through destroying our connection with God. My third book THE MIDNIGHT HOUR (Will America Turn Back To God?) is a wakeup call for everyone. America was founded on God’s Word. Jesus is the bridge for all mankind to heaven…and it is our choice if we receive the gift of eternal life or not.

With the next event happening on August 21, 2017, with the narrow path across America where the total eclipse will be visible, I learned that it has only happened once before in 1776. What is significant about 1776? It is the year that is celebrated as the official beginning of the nationhood of America. 

People are converging from all over the place to watch this total eclipse of the sun. Hotel rates have skyrocketed and mass productions of eyewear are available. People are being warned to check the safety of their glasses as viewing the sun without proper eyewear can cause permanent damage. 

The constellation that is forming on September 23, 2017 is the first time since Creation. We are getting signs in the heavens of warnings, and those warnings are getting bigger. (Take time to read Revelation 12). In between, on September 11, 2017, is the Feast of Trumpets on the Jewish Calendar. One day the Trumpet shall sound and we will be called to meet the Lord in the air. We are not called to predict dates of the return of Christ. However, we can surely see the signs and warnings for all to repent and be ready for His return. 

It is obvious that we are much closer to the end every single day. Paul saw it that way too: “Knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed” (Romans 13:11). 

The Bible’s message is that our days are “numbered”….not numberless. The Church must awake out of slumber, sleep, and sinful ways and be more concerned with the battle that rages—the war with Satan and the salvation of souls. We have to check our own hearts and be prepared at all times. The Bible says, “Pursue the enemy, and without fail you shall recover all” (1 Samuel 30:8). In THE MIDNIGHT HOUR, you can see the principles that are time tested that still work for today…if we will repent and return. David wept before the Lord, he worshiped, he inquired of God, and God gave him strategic instructions….David obeyed and recovered all. 

We also know David was also the one who chose to tackle the enemy. First Samuel 17:48 says that David “ran” toward the Philistine champion—the Giant. The believer in the army who tackled the enemy was the one who carried the anointing of God. It’s time to stand up, stand apart, and step into battle…with faith in God! Magnify the Lord over all. 

We must humble ourselves and repent and return to the Lord. The Good News of Jesus Christ, the Gospel, is eternal, but we do not have eternity to preach it….time is short. It is the last hour for someone today. Somebody is crying out to God for help. No one is good enough to make it to heaven on their own. We all are in need of Jesus. He came, he gave His life for all mankind, but we must believe on Him, confess our sin, and experience a heart change. Knowing about God is not enough. 

If you are not born again, if you are living in sin and you are reading this, it’s not too late. Repent and believe. Read the Bible for yourself. God says, “My people perish for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). 

The warnings have hit America. Weather patterns are changing, wars and rumors of wars, increased violence, chaos, confusion, and fake news. Lack of respect for authority to betrayal of all kinds. The spirit of antichrist permeates human thinking and society. It is has created havoc and caused moral collapse. But God… God has His answer. The outpouring of His Holy Spirit is His amazing and special provision for the last hour.

No one knows when the Trumpet will sound…no one knows when the Church will be caught up to be the with the Lord in the air. When that evacuation occurs, everything will change forever. All of The Feasts of the Lord are appointed to a certain day. When the stars and planets are lining up, these are signs in the heavens from the Lord. God does say, “Surely, the LORD GOD will do nothing, unless He reveals His secrets to His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:8). 

God sends warnings. He warned the people through Noah of the flood that was coming. He warned Pharaoh by Moses. The list goes onward. He is still warning. He warns through dreams, visions, His Holy Word, through His Servants, and through signs in the heavens. He goes to extreme measures to get our attention. 

“And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; …before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD” (Joel 2:28, 31). 

The Body of Christ, armed with the Word of God, will be mobilized for the last onslaught of the enemy. Satan will lose again. We know the end of the story. 

It’s time for the harvest of souls and Satan can see his opportunities are slipping away. He knows his time is short. The greatest outpouring, the greatest revival of all time, the greatest anointing of God’s power is coming upon us. Revelation 12:11 says, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” 

The future has been written and settled beforehand by God. The last hour is determined and has a glorious conclusion. Make sure you are standing with Jesus. Look at the what the Bible says: 

“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.” (Revelation 12:9-10). That’s a good ending. 

If you are born-again, witness to your family, friends, and foes. Walk in God’s love. Sow mercy and grace. If you are not sure, or if you are caught up in sin, repent and return to the Lord. Don’t allow darkness to cover your heart. 

The total eclipse that is coming is a warning for every person to make sure their heart is right before the Lord. Light and darkness do not mix. Check your own heart. This is the heart of our heavenly Father God—for those who will hear.

He loves YOU with an everlasting love. Worship His holy name! 

Deborah 

BOOKS BY DEBORAH STARCZEWSKI

GOD’S PRICELESS TREASURE (How To Overcome Challenges, Be Transformed and Know Your Purpose)….learn how to move from drama to destiny, from a mess to a message, from pain to purpose, from trials, tribulation, and trouble to TRIUMPH through turning to Jesus Christ.

A LEAP OF FAITH (25 Days At The Mercy Seat)….the full account of God’s miraculous intervention—God raised my husband from death, healed him from two strokes, and walked with us supernaturally through two open-heart surgeries and 25 days at Mercy Hospital. He gave signs in the natural to reveal His hand at work behind the scenes. This story will keep you turning the pages—and give you hope and faith to believe God for yourself, for your family, and the nations. 

THE MIDNIGHT HOUR (Will America Turn Back To God?)…a must read for all. 

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, www.starministriesinc.com and other distributors.