Is the next pope of the Catholic church the last one?

An unheard of even happened a few weeks ago. Pope Benedict XVI resigned. It was the first time in history that death has not removed a pope from the Catholic Church. I found this very interesting. Especially in light of a prophecy given over 800 years ago by Saint Malacy. Though I'm not sure I believe all of this, I thought you might find it interesting! 

 

Saint Malachy was known as great prophet. During his life he received a vision showing him all the Popes from his day to the end of time.  Malachy assigned short descriptions in Latin to each pope when he committed his vision to paper. These mottoes usually refer to a family name, birthplace, coat-of-arms, or office held before election to the papacy. Some of the phrases are multiple prophecies, written with ingenious word play.

 

Normally, I wouldn't believe this type of thing, though I do very much believe in the gift of prophesy. However, the Bible tells us that we can spot a true prophet if his prophecies come true. And amazingly through the centuries, St. Malachy's papal prophecies have! 

Malachy's Prophecies - The Last 10 Popes

1. The Burning Fire. PIUS X. 1903-1914. This Pope showed a burning passion for spiritual renewal in the Church.

2. Religion Laid Waste. BENEDICT XV. 1914-1922. During this Pope's reign saw Communism move into Russia where religious life was laid waste, and World War I with the death of millions of Christians who were carnage in Flanders Field and elsewhere.

3. Unshaken Faith. PIUS XI. 1922-1939. This Pope faced tremendous pressure from fascist and sinister powers in Germany and Italy, but he was an outspoken critic of Communism and Fascism which enraged Hitler.

4. An Angelic Shepherd. PIUS XII. 1939-1958. This Pope had an affinity for the spiritual world and received visions which have not been made public. Peter Bander says Pius XII "has emerged as one of the great Popes of all time," and he "was in the truest sense of the word an Angelic Pastor to the flock..."

5. Pastor and Mariner. JOHN XXIII. 1958-1963. John was a pastor to the world, much beloved, and the Patriarch of Venice. The connection to "mariner" is thus remarkable.

6. Flower of Flowers. PAUL VI. 1963-1978. Paul's coat-of-arms depicts three fleurs-de-lis, corresponding to Malachay's prophecy. His coat of arms included three fleurs-de-lis (iris blossoms).

7. Of the Half Moon. JOHN PAUL I. 1978-1978. John Paul I was elected Pope on August 26, 1978, when there was a half moon. He reigned 33 days, that is, about one month, when he died, although many think he was murdered. He was the 109th Pope - is "De Medietate Lunae" (Of the Half Moon). The corresponding pope was John Paul I (1978-78), who was born in the diocese of Belluno (beautiful moon) and was baptized Albino Luciani (white light). He became pope on August 26, 1978, when the moon appeared exactly half full. It was in its waning phase. He died the following month, soon after an eclipse of the moon.

8. The Labor of the Son. JOHN PAUL II. 1978-2005. Pope John Paul II was the most traveled Pope in history. He circled the globe numerous times, preaching to huge audiences everywhere he went. He survived an assassination attempt. He has written a book which has enjoyed a large circulation. Like the sun which never ceases to labor and provides light daily, this Pope has been incessant. He was born on May 18, 1920. On that date in the morning there was a near total eclipse of the sun over Europe. Prophecy - The 110th Pope is "De Labore Solis" (Of the Solar Eclipse, or, From the Toil of the Sun). Like the sun he came out of the East (Poland).

9. The Glory of the Olive. The Order of St. Benedict has said this Pope will come from their order. It is interesting that Jesus gave his apocalyptic prophecy about the end of time from the Mount of Olives. This Pope will reign during the beginning of the tribulation Jesus spoke of. The 111th prophesy is "Gloria Olivae" (The Glory of the Olive). The Order of Saint Benedict has claimed that this pope will come from their ranks. Saint Benedict himself prophesied that before the end of the world his Order, known also as the Olivetans, will triumphantly lead the Catholic Church in its fight against evil.

With St. Benedict's recent resignation, we have only one more pope to come. Peter the Roman.

10. PETER THE ROMAN - This final Pope will likely be Satan, taking the form of a man named Peter who will gain a worldwide allegiance and adoration. He will be the final antichrist which prophecy students have long foretold. If it were possible, even the very elect would be deceived. The 112th prophesy states: "In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church there will reign Petrus Romanus, who will feed his flock amid many tribulations; after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people. The End."

 

Very interesting stuff!  Time will tell.

Wordless Wednesday!

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Is the ship sailing into friendly waters or enemy territory??  What do you think is going to happen?

Does reading your Bible produce Faith?

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  Romans 10:17

If you've been a believer for awhile, then you're probably familiar with this verse. It's used over and over again as a reason we should be reading our Bibles as much as possible. If we want more Faith, we must read the Word. If we want our prayers answered, we must read the Word. If we want to move forward in our walk with God, we must read the Word.

But what if I told you that the "word" in this passage does not refer to God's written Word??  There are two greek words for "Word" and they have completely different meanings.

Logos = Written Word (This is our Bible)
Rhema = Spoken Word - a specific word from God spoken to a specific person

Many people can know the Logos of God and never be saved. There have been countless Bible Scholars throughout the ages who have never truly known God. So, reading the Bible does not get you saved. You became a believer because of a Rhema word from God, a word the Holy Spirit put on your heart that led you to accept Jesus.

Before you click off the page, let me say that I strongly recommend you read your Bible every day and as much as you can every day. Leave it open on your kitchen counter, in your family room and read it whenever you have a spare minute. Knowing the Logos Word of God is very important to your understanding of God, His character, His love, and His plan for mankind. But this is completely different from receiving a direct specific Word from God.  As an example, you can read a history book on George Washington and really gain an understanding of him and what motivated him and his life, but can you imagine what you would learn if you could sit down in a room with him for an hour?

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4

Now, I'm sure you've heard this verse.  Yet did you know the word Jesus refers to is Rhema, not Logos?  Which would imply that He is telling us that we should make a specific Rhema Word from God each day as important as our meals.

Examples from Scripture

• Noah walked with God. He knew the Logos of God, but it was when he received the Rhema Word to build an ark, that he stepped out in faith and grew in his walk
• Moses knew the Logos of God, but it was his response to the Rhema Word to go back to Egypt and free God's people that sent him on his journey of faith

There are tons more examples I'm sure you could think of. Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, the prophets, Joshua, Rahab, Ruth, Esther, the apostles.  All received Rhema words from God and acted on them to increase their faith and receive God's blessing and will. 

When we run across struggles in life, modern Christianity tells us to pull out a verse from the Bible and stand on it in faith. But that's not what God says will build the faith you need to believe for a miracle. The Bible says to receive that Rhema word from God, stand on that, and watch what God will do!
How do you receive the Rhema, spend time in worship, in meditation, in study of the logos and ask God to speak out of that logos, a rhema word. This takes much more time and dedication than simply pulling out a verse and trying to believe it. You must get alone with God in order to hear His voice. 

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.  John 15:7

Again Jesus is speaking here of His Rhema words, not the written Scripture. Are you starting to see a pattern? God wants you to spend time with Him.   Knowing the Logos does not require fellowshipping with God, getting a Rhema Word does require fellowship and knowing God. I know which one I'm seeking!

Forsaken Dreams - Pre-Release Party Final Day!

Welcome to the final day of the Pre-Release party for Forsaken Dreams!!!   Every Friday this month I've posted something about the book and chosen a winner from among the comments. This week's winner is: Amanda Stanley  (chosen by random.org)  Congratulations,  Amanda!!  

Forsaken Dreams is now available on 
Amazon
BarnesAndNoble

If you haven't won yet, don't despair! You have one more chance this week when we play "Guess what the character will say next" !  This is by far my favorite game to play in these parties. It's always fun to see what everyone chooses.  Here's how it works. If you've read all the posts this month so far, you should have a pretty good idea of who the main hero and heroine of the story are...their personalities and strengths and weaknesses. Below I took an excerpt from the book wherein Blake and Eliza are having a conversation. At the end I ask you to choose what you think the hero, Blake would say next. Whether or not you choose the right answer has NO bearing on whether you can win the book.  (Don't forget to leave your email in your comment!) 

Okay, here we go. I won't provide an introduction but will let the scene speak for itself.

Swerving around, she knelt before him and placed a tray on the cot. “This will hurt a bit, Colonel. Would you care to bite down on a piece of wood?”

“I’ll manage, thank you.”

She drew a deep breath and threaded the needle. “How did this happen? Seems an odd thing to occur while hunting for pigs.”

“Boar.” Her scent filled his nose, tantalizing his senses. Blake cleared his throat. “I was hacking through the jungle when my blade slipped.”

“Hmm.” She slid the needle through his flesh.

It felt like she’d set his skin on fire. Blake closed his eyes, listening to the slap of water on the hull, the hammering and shouts from above, the screech of pelicans. Anything to distract him from the searing pain.

She must have noticed his discomfort for she uttered a “sorry” that sounded genuine.

Yet the pain was nothing compared to the suffering she had already caused him. “Pains of the flesh I can handle,” he muttered.

She met his gaze and swallowed before continuing her work. “I never meant to deceive you.”

Blake had never seen such lustrous eyes. “You didn’t even tell me your real name. How can that be unintentional?”

She slipped the needle through and tugged on the thread. Her lower lip trembled. “You are right. I should have been truthful.” She continued stitching his wound, but Blake could no longer feel the pain for the agony in his heart. He’d hardened himself to it.

“But then you wouldn’t have let me join your venture, would you?” she asked.

Lantern light crowned her head and glistened on her moist lips—lips he had almost kissed. He licked his own. “No.”

“I had to get away.” She clipped the thread and tied it. Then dipping her fingers into a poultice, she spread it over the stitches.

“We all needed to get away.” Blake couldn’t tear his eyes from the way her delicate fingers caressed his skin. “From Yankees.” He sighed. “You betrayed everyone on board.” Good, now the anger returned.

She cut a swath of bandage and wrapped it around his leg. “I was born and raised a Southerner just like everyone else on this ship.” She looked up at him. Her breath filled the air between them, her eyes just inches from his face. 

Blake looked away from the pain he saw in her gaze. He offered a caustic snort. “At least some of your story was true.”

“It was all true.” Her eyes narrowed. “Everything I told you about my past. I simply changed the names and omitted one year of my life.” 

“A year in which you betrayed your country.”

She jerked the bandage tight. Blake hid the pain from his face. With a huff, she gathered her tray and stood, turning her back to him. “Doesn’t my service as a war nurse count for anything?”

“Ah, so you hoped to make restitution.”

She spun around, her skirts knocking a tin cup to the deck with a clank. “No, that’s not why I served.”

 “Why didn’t you just stay with your husband’s family? I hear the Yanks love Southern traitors.”

“They tossed me out, if you must know.” She stooped to pick up the cup, her skirts billowing around her. “Although I wouldn’t have stayed anyway. They hated me for my Southern ties as much as you hate me for my Northern.” 

Blake tore his gaze from her, clenching his jaw against his rising sympathy, despite his best efforts to push it down.

She set the cup on the table. “I hope someday you’ll find it in your heart to forgive me.”  

Setting his injured leg on the deck, Blake rose, ignored the pain, and headed for the door. 

Now, choose what you think Blake said as he left the room



A. "You've given me much to consider, Mrs. Crawford. Thanks for tending my wound." 
B. "Perhaps someday, Mrs. Crawford, just not yet."
C. “I will never forgive you, Mrs. Crawford. Or any Yankee.”
D.  "How can I not forgive you after all God has forgiven me?"

  So, which one is it?  Leave your guess with your email and I'll draw a name and announce the winner next Friday!  

Have a GREAT weekend!! 

Wordless Wednesday!

Never Fear! The Battle belongs to the Lord!

Need Power over the Giants in your Life?!

We all remember the story of David and Goliath.  It's such a cool story! This kid (cause he couldn't have even been 18 yet) bravely faces a giant warrior all by himself with only a slingshot and some stones!  The entire Israeli army had stood there trembling in their boots for 40 days listening to this beast insult them and their God.  40 days!  (I would have probably just left and went home.)

Yet isn't that just like the enemy. He comes at us when we are weak and frightened and he starts taunting us. "You aren't good enough. You can't do this. Who do you think you are? You failed at xyz, you'll fail at this. You are unlikeable. You aren't strong enough. You aren't pretty enough. What makes you think God is going to answer your prayers? Your children won't be saved. Your marriage will fail...blaa...blaa...blaa"  Okay.. sorry, got carried away there. Mainly because I've heard them all! And so have you, I bet.

This is what this giant Philistine said to the Israeli army: “Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul?" I Samuel 17 NKJV


He called them servants of Saul over and over again for 40 days, until I think, they believed that's exactly what they were.. just servants of a lowly man. You see the enemy is desperate for us to think we are nothing. He wants us to believe we are just mortal and lowly and that there's really nothing we can do against him. How often have you said "I feel defeated. I'm being attacked. I'm depressed, worried, fearful. Who am I? I'm a nobody. What can I do?"

But what did David said about the Israelites?:  ". . .who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

You see, David knew something. He knew something deep within his heart that had been tested as he shepherded his father's sheep and fought off lions and bears. He knew that he, along with Israel, were in covenant with God. They were God's chosen people. That's why he called the Philistine "uncircimcised" That would be like us today calling someone a non-believer.  David KNEW that when he stepped on that battlefield, he was not alone. He had the living God on his side. He had a deal with God. David would serve Him, and God would have his back.That's what covenant is. Just like marriage, it's a promise of protection, provision, love, loyalty and faithfulness.

Yet aren't we just like the Israeli army most of the time? When the enemy attacks and bad things happen and life gets rough, we start trembling and believing all his lies about us, our lives and our families. When in truth, if we have believed in our heart that Jesus is the Son of God and confessed with our mouth that He is lord, we are in covenent with God. We are His chosen people. So, whereever we go and whatever we face, we have the backing of God and all His Holy angels. 

This should make the devil shake in his boots! And it does. Once we realize who we are!

The problem is most of us know that in our heads but we don't truly believe that in our hearts. We may defiantly tell the enemy to get lost or rebuke him in the name of Jesus, but behind our bold declaration we are sort of just hoping it works. We need to retrain our minds and hearts. We need to ask God to give us opportunities where He can show us this truth in the little things--to help us grasp it and believe it in our hearts. So that when the giant comes calling, we won't hesitate to go out on the battlefield and like David, say:

"You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”

Why not try saying that to the enemy the next time he comes calling. Even better, why not truly believe it?

 

Forsaken Dreams Pre-Release Party Week 3!

Welcome to week 2 of my pre-release party for Forsaken Dreams, which will be out in stores on March 1st! In celebration of this grand event, EVERY Friday in February, I'll be posting something about the book and giving away a FREE copy!!

The winner of last week's drawing is TANASIGIRL!! (Drawn by Random.org)  Congratulations! I'll be sending a signed copy of Forsaken Dreams to you ASAP.  And many thanks to everyone who entered. I really enjoyed your comments. But don't despair, you have another chance to win this week! 

So, share this post, tweet it, post it on facebook and join the party! Without further ado, please enjoy the video trailer for the book. I really love seeing these book trailers for the first time, getting a glimpse at my characters and the storyline played out on the screen. If any of you saw my Veil of Pearls trailer, it was the best I've ever seen. I thought they did a great job on this one too, though it was done quite differently from Veil. So, what are your thoughts?


Did you know the Escape to Paradise series was based on an actual historic event?

 After the American Civil War, the victors from the North swarmed down upon the South, a land already ravished by war, with one intent in mind--to make the South pay for what they'd done. You could hardly blame them. They felt they'd been dragged into a long war in which they had lost many of their young men. I am neither a North or South sympathizer. I hate any war, but what the North did to the South afterward, would make your skin crawl. 

This is why over 100,000 Southerners fled the South after the war. Some went north, some west, some to Mexico, and others to Brazil. Conservative estimates derived from newspapers, available numbers, and descendants tell us that perhaps close to 20,000 Southerners came to Brazil to resettle after the war. The crew of the ship, NewHope, in new release, Forsaken Dreams, harbor many of the same dreams and hopes as these historic people. And like these immigrants, they had no idea what they were up against!  Running away from God and from your problems isn’t always a good idea. Nor is believing that creating a perfect Utopia was going to be easy.  That is, if you even survived the journey to Brazil in the first place, a journey often fraught with disease, starvation, shipwreck, storms, thieves, and even violence on board the ship. After these hopeful Southerners landed in Brazil, they faced tropical diseases, bugs the size of men’s hands, crop failures, overwhelming heat, flash floods, and a host of other problem. Some Utopia, eh?  

Here are just a few of the other colonists aboard the ship!

Morgan Gale, conman and stowaway

Pampered daughter of a rich plantation owner

James Callaway - war doctor turned preacher who is terrified of blood

Wiley Dodd - Ex Lawman seeking Gold

Angeline Moore - seamstress harboring a sordid 

past

Mr. Harmen Graves - ex politician who dabbles in the occult

Captain Barclay

 To ENTER to win a copy of Forsaken Dreams,  leave a comment about anything on this post: the trailer, the history, the other characters. Don't forget to include your email address! And Thanks for coming by!


BONUS ALERT. A wonderful friend of mine is also offering the following in conjunction with my giveaway this week:   Ocean Blue Gift Giveaway includes: A lovely hand-made Victorian doll in a blue gown with lace shawl, a blue silk fan, an 11" X 15" basket of violets print suitable for framing (Feb. flower of the month), Godiva chocolate--and a copy of MaryLu's book Forsaken Dreams. 
If you're interested, head on over to her blog and leave a comment there too!  http://amhisbooks.blogspot.com/ 

 I'll announce a winner from this blog next Friday when we will play a FAN -favorite game of Guess what the character will say next!