Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1.

God made two great lights – the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set these lights in the sky to light the earth, to govern the day and night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:16-18.

Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Psalm 46:10-11.

And continuing our 351 Old Testament prophecies fulfilled in Jesus Christ, we come to number 14: The Bridge to heaven. Genesis 28:12: He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And, John 1:51: And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

This morning in our Friday Zoom Retreat, we watched a video by John Ortberg about encouragement. He talked about a man named Joe (Joseph), who was renamed for what he was for the early church, Barnabas – a son of encouragement. He encouraged Paul’s acceptance into the early church, no small ask given his former name was Saul, the persecutor of the faith. He encouraged John Mark who went on to become an encouragement and strength for Paul. What about us? In our small Friday morning Zoom group we are blessed beyond measure because we have found a home, a family of people who love Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, and are not afraid to ask for and give encouragement. I asked for prayer for family about to embark on a trip in these troubled times and for my negativity in worry for them that weighs me down. And I realized that in me trying to hold everyone safe, my heart is shaking much like my arms would shake were I to try to hold up 100 lb. weights. I can’t sustain that. In helping me to realize that, God is helping me to see my need to be with Him in quiet. The noise of all the confusions and problems in our world is overtaking my ability to cope, which is pulling me away from trusting God. And I need to relinquish all control and trust Him for everything. I realized a few days ago in listening to the war of words between my country, the United States, and Iran, that that must have been how it sounded between empires of old – Assyria and Israel, Babylon and Judah. Rome and whatever nation they conquered. It helped put it all into perspective because God was at work then and He is at work today and tomorrow and for all eternity. I need to relinquish control to the Creator who holds all things together and let Him hold me, and those I love, together as well. Trusting Him is my encouragement and He is faithful! How many stories will all of us have to tell when we are finally in God’s Kingdom with Him? In an in-person Bible study yesterday, one of our group remarked about the angels of God who see all that we go through and fight for us day and night. What lessons are they learning as we learn our own lessons? Are we learning to trust God and sharing that with one another? Sons and daughters of encouragement. I pray we see the big picture not just of empires through time but of God’s faithful love and protection and purpose at just the right time. In joy, in sorrow, in hardship, in pain – in finding God and His love for us and for our fellow brothers and sisters all, so in need of Him. This world will continue its downward spiral. We can be with God and one another and find help and encouragement and strength. And we can be there for others who need the encouragement God Himself provides through us if we are willing. God lifts us! It is so good to be with Him.