PROGRESS IN THE STRUGGLE

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57.

Today I walked through my neighborhood and talked with my neighbors. I came back home and put on some herbs tea to drink. A mixture of Father John, rhubarb, and Ginger. This is my internal cleaning medicine for my body today.

During this pandemic, people are struggling with the loss of love once, sickness, no food, or no jobs to support their families and get ahead. During my quiet time, this has caused me to look deeper into the importance of taking care of my internal and external body. This has also caused me to see what more can I do to help. For many, this has been a struggle. But they are learning to move ahead with the setbacks. Yet, they need our help if they are going to make it! It is said, "Imagine if you got what you want every time? No struggle, no hard work, no challenges, no hard work required.

Some of you are saying that would be great. (But,) you would be weak and then when something hard comes up in your life, you wouldn't know how to handle it because you have never gone through anything that strengthens you. You cannot grow without struggle. You cannot develop strength without resistance, without challenging yourself, without struggle.

Pain is your friend maybe not in the moment, but for the evolution of your soul, and for a long-term benefit of you. As a stronger human being, pain is your friend. If you didn't have failures, if you didn't have struggles, if you didn't have disappointment, you could have no strength, no courage, no compassion. How could you!

Those properties are made from (the school of) pain, and struggle. You are given pain because you are strong enough to handle it. You are given this life because you are strong enough to live it, because you are strong enough to drive through it, to thrive to it, to aspire others through it.

Then when they will look to you and say he did it, she did it, (than they will say,) I have the strength to do it too. You are stronger than you think. You (have) survived all your challenges to this point, and you will survive whatever is coming. (Because of your faith in God). But (the) next time a struggle comes; I don't want you to curse the skies. Know that it was sent for a reason and a lesson.

(Today your struggle) might be to make you stronger. It might be to teach you patience. It might be for you to show others your spirit. There is a reason. So, don't you give up. You have a purpose in this world and you will only find it if you keep going and keep growing.

Your struggle is a part of your story. Your struggle made you the person you are today. Your struggle is your life. Your struggle is your gift. Many people look at struggle like it's a bad thing. Your struggle will be the gift that the world falls in love with.

Nobody wants to hear a story of a man that was given everything. People want to hear the stories of men and women that endured pain and turned their struggles into a gift (for others). Do you want people to feel sorry for you, or (do) you want people to look up to (God through) you? Do you want to be a legend? Because legends are born in the valley of struggle.

Fear is only a fictional movie. But reality is a struggle. Reality is the struggle so take the struggle and change the reality. Because the whole time you were thinking that your struggle was to hold you back, it was really giving you the tools to become one of the greatest. No more second guess, no more blaming others for the problems you have in your life. It's a new day. (Your struggle is your ticket to your dreams.) Your struggle is your gift," to the world from God! Frederick Douglass once said, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”

In other words, “Nothing can be more helpless, nothing can be more dependent, than the soul that feels its nothingness and relies wholly upon GOD. The life of the sincere child of GOD is a life of warfare, and continual conflict. It is a battle and a march. But every act of obedience to GOD, every act of self-denial for His sake, every trial well endured, every victory gained over temptation, is a step in the march to the glory of final victory.

If we take GOD for our guide, He will lead us safely along the narrow way. The road may be rough and thorny; the ascent may be steep and dangerous; there may be pitfalls upon the right hand and upon the left; we may have to endure toil in our journey; when weary, when longing for rest, we may have to toil on; when faint, we may have to fight; when discouraged, we may be called upon to hope; but with Christ as our Guide we shall not lose the path to immortal life, we shall not fail to reach the desired haven at last.

Today we can push on! Because Christ Himself has trod the rough pathway before us and has smoothed the path for our feet. Isaiah 63:3 says, “I have trodden the wine-press alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.

The confidant word of God today is, “And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.” Isaiah 42:16

The narrow path of holiness, the way cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in, is illuminated by Him who is the light of the world. In John 8:12 Jesus applies the title of light of the world to himself while debating with the Jews and states: I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. As we follow in His steps, His light will shine upon us, and as we reflect the light borrowed from the glory of Christ, the path will grow brighter and brighter unto the perfect day.

We may think it pleasant at first to follow pride and worldly ambition, but the end is pain and sorrow. Selfish plans may present flattering promises and hold out the hope of enjoyment, but we shall find that our happiness is poisoned and our life embittered by hopes that center in self. But in following God through Christ, we are safe, for He will not suffer the powers of darkness to hurt one hair of our heads. He will keep that which is committed to His trust, and we shall be more than conquerors through Him that loved us. Romans 8:37.

When Peter P. Bilhorn wrote the song, (I will follow thee my Savior.) He never knew how widespread his song would go in strengthening the faith of the saints. But it has. Let us look at that song today.

1.     I will follow Thee, my Savior,
Wheresoe’er my lot may be;
Where Thou goest I will follow,
Yes, my Lord, I’ll follow Thee.

2.     Though the road be rough and stormy,
Trackless as the foaming sea,
Thou hast trod this way before me,
And I gladly follow Thee.

3.     Though ’tis lone and dark and dreary,
Cheerless though my path may be,
If Thy voice I hear before me,
Fearlessly I’ll follow Thee.

4.     Though I meet with tribulation,
Sorely tempted though I be,
I remember Thou wast tempted,
And rejoice to follow Thee.

5.     Though Thou leadest through afflictions,
Poor, forsaken though I be,
Thou wast destitute, afflicted,
And I only follow Thee.

Refrain:
I will follow Thee, my Savior,
Thou didst shed Thy blood for me;
And though all men should forsake Thee,
By Thy grace I’ll follow Thee.

Prayer for the day: Lord help me to continue with the great work that you have commission me to do despite my struggles!

Song of the Day: The Struggle Is Over - Youth for Christ

Do you have questions that have not been answered? Would you like to know more about the God of the Universe? Then contact me at Garden Ministry. Just email your questions today!

Thank you for your prayers for this ministry and may the blessings of the Lord rest on you, and your family always. If you have a comment, write to  comments  

Why not tune in to our newest ministry. It’s called, (YOU AND THE WORD). You can be seen on Facebook live every Friday evening from 7 o’clock, Eastern Standard Time, or 8 o’clock in Bermuda. YOU AND THE WORD is an open Bible study that you can join in to with your question or comments. Join me by name Kevin Santucci on facebook live.

Garden Ministry Devotionals are written by Chaplain Dr. Kevin J.T. Santucci

Blessings, Blessings, Blessing 

If you know of ten persons who need a word of encouragement, forward this to them today: https://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ 

Links to this post      

Happy Mother's Day

To All Mothers,

The world needs mothers like you who are mothers not merely in name but in every sense of the word. We may safely say that the distinctive duties of woman are more sacred, more holy, than those of man.

Even the king upon his throne has no higher work than has the mother. The mother is queen of her household. She has in her power the molding of her children's characters, that they may be fitted for greatness in this world, and the world to come.

The Bible speaks of some extraordinary Mothers. These mothers where great examples of righteousness. Such as Sarah, whose child when born brought to her everyone who heard about her miracle birth laughter. Genesis 21. Rebekah, the mother who believed. Genesis 25 / 27. Jochebed, the faithful mother who was honored for her faith for hiding her son for three months. She trusted God to care for her son after putting him in a papyrus basket with tar and pitch, placed him in the reeds along the Nile. Because of her faith, she was paid to nurse and raise her child until he was old enough to be adopted as Pharaoh’s daughter. Exodus 2.

We can speak of Samson’s Mother 1 Chronicles 4 / Judges 13, Naomi the book of Ruth, Hannah the mother who kept her promise 1 Samuel 1:5-6, Elizabeth the mother of the forerunner of the Messiah. Luke 1:13-31, Mary the mother of the Blessed Savior Matthew 1. These are only a few of the names of a long list of names of mothers who have taken their calling as a mother serious.

To the mothers of today. Like Charles Spurgeon once said, “I cannot tell you how much I owe to the solemn word of my good mother.” May you continue to rule your household wisely, in the dignity of your motherhood. May your influence in the home be paramount; and your word, law. May you move under God’s control, and command the respect of your children. 

Happy Mother’s Day to each one of you.... so well deserved.  Thank you!

Song of the Day:



May God always Bless You 

Thank you for your prayers for this ministry and may the blessings of the Lord rest on you, and your family always. If you have a comment, write to  comments  

Why not tune in to our newest ministry. It’s called, (YOU AND THE WORD). You can be seen on Facebook live every Friday evening from 7 o’clock, Eastern Standard Time, or 8 o’clock in Bermuda. YOU AND THE WORD is an open Bible study that you can join in to with your question or comments. Join me by name Kevin Santucci on facebook live.

Garden Ministry Devotionals are written by Chaplain Dr. Kevin J.T. Santucci

Blessings, Blessings, Blessing 

If you know of ten persons who need a word of encouragement, forward this to them today: https://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ 

Links to this post      

THE SEVEN OBSERVATIONS

THE SEVEN OBSERVATIONS

But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2

Good day my friend,

Today there are a number of things of which I would love for you to consider as we look at the COVID 19 pandemic. But first let us always remember that this Blogs purpose is to encourage and not to pull down. I read a statement that read, "The watchful Christian is a working Christian, seeking zealously to do all in his power for the advancement of the gospel. As love for his Redeemer increases, so also does love for his fellow men. He has severe trials, as had his Master; but he does not allow affliction to sour his temper or destroy his peace of mind. He knows that trial, if well borne, will refine and purify him, and bring him into closer fellowship with Christ. Those who are partakers of Christ's sufferings will also be partakers of His consolation and at last sharers of His glory." I am longing for that day when Jesus shall come! But until that time, we will all have to face our trials at times and afflictions. This leads me to days message on the seven observations. 

1. Up until the virus was made known to the world, only a small part of Asia and persons in the west knew about the work being done to create a super virus.

For more information go to:

Watch "Former AIDS Scientist Judy Mikovits PhD EXPOSES Anthony Fauci,Dr Birx & UNCOVERS Medical Corruption"

2. With the possibility of an outbreak of this virus. There was only one company working on a vaccine to counter the virus, where now there are many around the world.

3. There are men who are possessed with demons that are determine to destroy as many lives as possible at any cause. Because they are working for their father the devil. And he Satan, knows that his time is short. Wherefore he desires to kill thousands of people so they will not have an opportunity to give their hearts and minds fully to God.

4. Satan is working through men the secret societies to control the minds of the people and make war against the people of God.

5. But God in his Mercy, is giving the people an opportunity to hear his voice, and answer the call to accept him as their savior through Jesus Christ before many close their eyes in death, or time shall be no more.

6. There is a line in the leadership of the world that is called a noble lie. What is a noble lie? "In politics, a noble lie is a myth or untruth, often, but not invariably, of a religious nature, knowingly propagated by an elite to maintain social harmony or to advance an agenda. The noble lie is a concept originated by Plato as described in the Republic." In other words, this world is operated from the perspective of a noble lie. This is why John said, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever." 1 John 2:15-17.

We must renounce the Love of the World. The term kosmos (translated “world”) designates the universe, the

earth, humankind, the realm of existence, and the way of life opposed to God. The term occurs more than twenty times in 1 John and 2 John.

The world needs salvation 1 John 4:14, yet it is hostile to God and His people 1 John 3:13. It lies in the power of the evil one 1 John 5:19, and false prophets, antichrists, and deceivers are in the world 1 John 4:1, 3; 2 John 7. It is not wrong to possess the world’s goods, but be careful how we obtain the goods of the world, and they should be shared if needed with the needy 1 John 3:17.

Like it or not, the world needs to be overcome 1 John 5:4, 5. This has led many to prostitute their gifts and talents to obtain money. Even at the expense of stepping on the heads of their fellow man, and or taking their lives.

In the Johannine epistles the term world is predominantly a negative term, because the world is in rebellion against God. An interesting tension arises in Scripture regarding our relationship to the world. On the one hand, we are told not to love the world, but then on the other hand, the Bible is clear that God loves the world John 3:16. Meanwhile we are told not to love the things in the world, yet we are admonished, again and again in Scripture, to love people, and people are certainly in the world.

While verse 15 is quite a broad warning against loving the world, verse 16 now spells out some details. What does it mean to love the world? John mentions three things: (1) the lust of the flesh, (2) the lust of the eyes, and (3) the boastful pride of life.

John says that these three things are not of the Father but of the world; yet, our flesh, our eyes, and our life all come from God. What, then, is the problem?

What is John warning us against?

1.     Lust of the flesh, obviously, deals with passions, though it does not have to be limited to that alone (see Gal. 5:19–21).

2.     Lust of the eyes, though certainly linked to the flesh, takes it deeper, takes it to our thoughts, our desires, to the things that we see and want for ourselves (see Exodus 20:17).

3.     The pride of life” implies independence from God. It’s as if we created our lives, and hence the glory and honor of any of our accomplishments should belong to us. “Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves” (Ps. 100:3). In contrast, when we realize that every breath, every heartbeat, everything that we could ever have or be comes only from God, upon whom we’re utterly dependent, pride will be the last thing in our hearts. As sinful, fallen beings whose very existence depends totally on the grace and beneficence of our God, as beings utterly incapable of saving ourselves from eternal death and destruction, we should be humble and meek regarding our lives, not full of pride about them. It was pride that brought the fall of Lucifer in a perfect world; as beings in an imperfect one, we should flee it like the plague.

The things of this world are passing away; this should be obvious to everyone. Political solutions will never be the ultimate solution in a world that’s passing away. If the world is passing away, how can we survive? John answers that question in saying, “by doing the will of God the father.” 1 John 2:17

The Bible encourages us to stay away from the things of the world that will keep us from having a saving relationship with God.

7. We only have a moment of time, as it were, yet remaining in our probationary time. But while nation are already rising against nation and kingdom against kingdom, there is not a general engagement between them. As yet the four winds are held until the servants of God shall be sealed in their foreheads. Then the powers of earth will marshal their forces for the last great battle.” Revelation 7:1-3.

Probation Will End Suddenly, Unexpectedly

Right now, Jesus is pleading for the salvation of the world. But “when Jesus ceases to plead for man, the cases of all are forever decided.... Probation closes; Christ's intercessions cease in heaven. This time finally comes suddenly upon all, and those who have neglected to purify their souls by obeying the truth where found sleeping with those who had prepared. Matthew 25:1-13.

In other words, when probation ends, it will come suddenly, unexpectedly—at a time when we are least expecting it. But we can have a clean record in heaven today, and know that God accepts us.

When the work of the investigative judgment closes in heaven, the destiny of all will have been decided for life or death. Probation is ended a short time before the appearing of the Lord in the clouds of heaven.... Revelation 22:7-13

Example of probationary time ended and no one knew

While the man of business is absorbed in the pursuit of gain, while the pleasure lover is seeking indulgence, while the daughter of fashion is arranging her adornments—it may be in that hour the Judge of all the earth will pronounce the sentence: “Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting” (Daniel 5:27).—The Great Controversy, 490, 491

But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 1 Thessalonians 5:1, 2.

“The righteous and the wicked will still be living upon the earth in their mortal state—men will be planting and building, eating and drinking, all unconscious that the final, irrevocable decision has been pronounced in the sanctuary above. Before the flood, after Noah entered the ark, God shut him in, and shut the ungodly out; but for seven days the people, knowing not that their doom was fixed, continued their careless, pleasure-loving life, and mocked the warnings of impending judgment. “So,” says the Saviour, “shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Silently, unnoticed as the midnight thief, will come the decisive hour which marks the fixing of every man's destiny, the final withdrawal of mercy's offer to guilty men.” The Review and Herald, November 9, 1905.

“The people are fast being lulled to a fatal security, to be awakened only by the outpouring of the wrath of God.” The Great Controversy, 562. The Lord in judgment will at the close of time walk through the earth, the fearful plagues will begin to fall. Revelation chapter 15 / 16. Then those who have despised God's word, those who have lightly esteemed it, shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east; they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord and shall not find it. Amos 8:12. At this point, the few faithful ministers of God will have done their last work, spoken their last sermon, offered their last prayers, shed their last bitter tear for a rebellious church and an ungodly people.

The eye of Jesus, looking down the ages, to the time when He said, “If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace!” He was speaking about our day as well! It is still thy day, O people of the LIVING GOD, whom He has made the depositary of His law. This day of trust and probation is drawing to a close. The sun is fast westering. Can it be that it will set and thou wilt not know “the things which belong unto thy peace!”? Must the irrevocable sentence be passed, “But now they are hid from thine eyes?” Luke 19:42. May we remain focus and not be moved by the COVID 19. Yes do what is right health wise. But pray that GOD will find us in peace when HE comes.

Song of the Day: I Have Fixed My Mind

Thank you for your prayers for this ministry and may the blessings of the Lord rest on you, and your family always. If you have a comment, write to  comments  

Why not tune in to our newest ministry. It’s called, (YOU AND THE WORD). You can be seen on Facebook live every Friday evening from 7 o’clock, Eastern Standard Time, or 8 o’clock in Bermuda. YOU AND THE WORD is an open Bible study that you can join in to with your question or comments. Join me by name Kevin Santucci on facebook live.

Garden Ministry Devotionals are written by Chaplain Dr. Kevin J.T. Santucci

Blessings, Blessings, Blessing 

If you know of ten persons who need a word of encouragement, forward this to them today: https://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ 

Links to this post