As some of you are already aware, I fully stand with Israel which is very connected with my uncompromising faith in the Lord. I keep on praying to Him for Israel to overwhelm its enemies, rescue the hostages and recover from the effects of the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks committed by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas which is sponsored by terrorist state Iran. I can assure all of you that nobody from the evil Islamo-Leftist mob, nobody from the pro-Palestine radicals and nobody from any evil society would stop me from supporting and loving Israel.
For the newcomers reading this, Hassan Nasrallah was a religious murder who led Hezbollah for decades and organized several acts of terrorism against Israel . To learn more about the dead Nasrallah, read The Jerusalem Post’s article by clicking here.
To put things in perspective, posted below are selected YouTube videos for your viewing. Watch and pay close attention to the details.
Hassan Nasrallah had been in power for DECADES committing murders and terrorism. So many men, women and children got killed because of him and Hezbollah’s evil moves. There are so many people who became victims and saw their lives disrupted or ended. Think about that very carefully.
While the people who were brainwashed with political correctness keep on failing to see the evil in Nasrallah and his terrorist group, there is no doubt that the evil is real. Terrorist state Iran’s involvement with Hezbollah only made their evil more real and clearer.
Nasrallah’s elimination was inevitable. Not only that, other top officials of Hezbollah and a few Iranian generals died with him during the precise strike by Israel at the terrorists’ headquarters in Lebanon. Knowing how much Iran-sponsored Hezbollah attacked Israel for so long, the elimination of Nasrallah and his top officials proved that vengeance is the Lord’s (Romans 12:19) and He has always been with Israel’s side. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel is the world leader in the fight against terrorism while the IDF is clearly the most moral army in the whole world. Again, God is with Israel!
Israel’s war is with Hezbollah, not the people of Lebanon. Remember that.
Also be reminded that shortly after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, Hezbollah in Lebanon fired rockets at Israel. Without their top leaders, the remaining Hezbollah terrorists know that their days are numbered and they could lose their grip of Lebanon someday (note: the people of Lebanon who seek freedom from Hezbollah need prayers of support). Those evildoers should realize by now that God truly exists and that Israel’s government and the IDF have God on their side. Islamic terrorists and their useful idiots (Islamo-Leftists) should realize that God is watching them all.
Today, the axis of evil in this world is Iran-Turkey-Russia.
Before ending this post, I want to share with you all the relevant holy scriptures below. These scriptures should remind you that the Lord will never abandon His people and His faithful believers. The Word of God is eternally holy and eternal.
Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6 (NKJV)
Now the Lord had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Were there many people in your local community whose lives got disrupted by the weather effects of Typhoon Enteng?
Recently New Life Community Care Foundation International, Inc. (NLCOM) – the compassion arm of New Life Philippines located inside Alabang Hills Village in Muntinlupa City – announced through social media that it has provided assistance Typhoon Enteng victims in Bataan province and New Life Balanga was involved.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the September 18, 2024 social media post of NLCOM. Some parts in boldface…
NLCOM’s heart to help has always gone beyond reaching the nearby communities only. In coordination with @newlifebalanga , we were able to respond to severely impacted families of flood in Townsite, Cabcaben, Mariveles, Bataan last September 13, Friday. They are still reeling from the effects of the Severe Tropical Storm Enteng.
Flooding has been a usual sight in the area during common heavy rains due to its weak flood control infrastructure, but Enteng’s onslaught is said to be one of the biggest after Super Typhoon Josie in 2018, according to the residents, as the flood gushed with strong current and mud on September 2. We were able to distribute 100 relief bags along with pre-loved clothes, shoes, and toys for children to these severely affected families who were temporarily sheltered in the town’s elementary school a week ago.
The townspeople expressed how they were grateful for the help we have extended to them. Your partnership with us will allow us to reach more communities in need like Barangay Cabcaben – not just by bringing essentials but by being there to remind them of Jesus’ love and the hope He brings.
For the newcomers reading this, I previously blogged about NLCOM back in 2020 which you can read by clicking here and my most recent blog can viewed by clicking here, here, here and here. As mentioned earlier, NLCOM has an established record of providing relief to disaster victims and helping them rebuild their lives and communities as they recover.
NLCOM is committed to organizing activities from disaster preparedness trainings, relief goods distribution, mobile kitchen feeding operations, Psychological First Aid to kids and adults traumatized by a disaster, and rebuilding of damaged houses. To get to know NLCOM better, I recommend you watch their official YouTube video below…
If you have decided to help people through NLCOM, be aware that New Life’s compassion arm is accepting donations. You may send your monetary donations to:
For more information about NLCOM, visit https://nlcom.org.ph/ or visit their office at 2 Don Manolo Boulevard, Alabang Hills Village, Barangay Cupang, Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Contact them at landline 88091542 extension 426.
In ending post, let me share with you a few holy scriptures that should remind you that God is our source, our provider and the blessedness of giving is absolutely true. Be remind that Lord Jesus is the hope of all nations.
Mercy to the needy is a loan to God, and God pays back those loans in full.
Proverbs 19:17 (MSG)
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Welcome back, my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.
#1Darlene Zschech’s newest worship music videos – In recent times, pastor Darlene Zschech released through her official YouTube channel the latest worship music videos of the songs Testament, Shout to the Lord and Cry of the Broken. For the newcomers reading this, Darlene Zschech is a Christian worship leader as well as an accomplished worship musician. She is based in Australia and she and her husband are with Hope Unlimited Church (HopeUC). She is a truly anointed woman of the Lord God and you can learn more about her by visiting her official website. Enjoy the worship music videos below.
#2 Grandia retrospective videos – I had a lot of fun playing and completing the Japanese role-playing game Grandia on PlayStation way back in 1999. I recently bought Grandia HD Collection which has Grandia and the sequel Grandia II (this I have yet to play) with enhanced visuals. That said, I have been replaying Grandia on my Xbox Series X and I can say that I am enjoying it. The gameplay features, the game design, the writing and visual presentation of Grandia have aged well. To get to know more about Grandia, watch the selected videos below.
#3 HolyLandSite’s newest Mount of Olives tour video – HolyLandSite published their latest video about their Mount of Olives tour in Israel. This time around, the video includes Mary Magdalene Church, Tomb of Prophets, the Chapel of Ascension and other sites. To truly grasp the relevance of this video of HolyLandSite, you must have strong faith in the Lord and in His Word. Be aware that as the world turns chaotic and more people turn to evil, Rapture could happen anytime and that means the return of Lord Jesus will follow. I encourage you to watch the video with faith and you will realize it is more than a tourism video. Pay close attention to the bible teachings.
#4 Popcorn in Bed’s sports-related movie reaction videos – Recently, YouTuber Popcorn in Bed published two movie reaction videos that happened to be sports-related. One was about ice hockey and the other was about running and the 1924 Olympic Games. While the films Miracle and Chariots of Fire are inspiring, be mindful that creative liberties were taken at the expense of historical accuracy which is often the case with movies. Still, Popcorn in Bed’s reactions are amusing to watch and II encourage you watch the videos below.
#5 Rocky (1976) movie reaction/review videos – Still on the topic of sports-related movies, Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky is arguably the most iconic of them all. Not only did it bring fame to Stallone, it also won the Academy Award for Best Picture and was selected by the Library Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”. Naturally, Rocky has been featured in a lot of movie reaction/review videos and you can watch some of them below.
#6 Israel’s Prime Minister points to terrorist state Iran and its useful idiots – During his speech to the United States Congress (both lower and upper houses of Congress) in Washington, D.C., Israeli Prime Minister mentioned the truth about terrorist state Iran which has terrorist proxies around the Middle East as well as many brainwashed supportive protesters (the useful idiots) composed of Islamists, Communists, socialists, Marxists, liberals, the woke and other Islamo-Leftist elements. Netanyahu is correct that Iran’s axis of evil exists and there is a clash between civilization and barbarism (this points to Iran, the terrorists and woke extremists who support terrorism). It is also clear that all the people who hate Israel and sided with Islamic terrorists are on the wrong side and God is watching. Watch and learn from the video below.
To all the fellow people of faith reading this, be aware that the next Hillsong Conference will be held from July 8 to 10, 2025 at the Hillsong Hills Campus in Norwest, New South Wales, Australia. Already, online registration for the next year’s conference is open and you can register now by clicking here.
For the newcomers reading this, Hillsong Conference is the annual worship event of Hillsong Church which draws a lot of people from around the world to worship Lord Jesus, to deepen their faith in Him and to interact with other faithful people. This should remind you that the family of God is spiritual, not biological.
The conference will have lots of activities about worship, Holy Bible studying, servant leadership, faith-led mentoring and more. There will also be pastors and other worship leaders who will be orienting participants who intended to deepen their faith in the Lord and realize their true purpose in accordance to God’s plan.
Attending Hillsong Conference is NOT about getting into religion at all. It is all about developing and edifying your faith in the Lord, to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit and realize that Lord Jesus is the way to God the Heavenly Father.
For a greater understanding about Hillsong Conference, posted below is the official message from Hillsong Church’s Global Senior Pastors Phil and Lucinda Dooley…
Hillsong Conference has always been a gathering dedicated to equipping and encouraging the Body of Christ and advancing the Kingdom of God on this earth. Over the years, we’ve experienced a beautiful and profound move of God that has impacted our lives, families, churches, and communities – for which we are eternally grateful.
As we look ahead to 2025, our mission remains unchanged. We gather to witness His wonder, to catch a glimpse of His Glory, to continue to learn of His ways and discover more of Him, the Great I AM – JESUS!
In Exodus 3:14-15, God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” God also said, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers – the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob – has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.” Through every season, He is there. Amidst the noise, He is our Shepherd. To every anxious heart, He is Peace, and at every ending, He is the Beginning.
This conference is for anyone who wants to grow in their spiritual formation, build the Kingdom of God, and engage effectively with the world around us. As a church we are dedicated to delivering a God breathed conference that is designed to bless, inspire and equip you regardless of your area of Kingdom endeavour. Whether you’re passionate about church leadership, excelling in the marketplace, deepening your spiritual formation, or enhancing your community impact, there is something for everyone. Through authentic worship, insightful Bible teaching from diverse contributors, and space for reflection and ministry, Hillsong Conference 2025 will deepen your sense of purpose and propel you forward into the mission God has for you!
We are filled with excitement and anticipation for the coming year and hope you and your family can join us for what we believe will be a truly impactful Hillsong Conference.
About Hillsong Church – Hillsong is a contemporary Christian church. Overwhelmed by the gift of salvation we have found in Jesus, we have a heart for authentic worship, are passionate about the local church, and are on mission to see God’s kingdom established across the earth.
Hillsong Church was founded by Brian and Bobbie Houston in 1983 in the western suburbs of Sydney, Australia. Now Hillsong has churches in city centres in 27 countries around the world.
As some of you are already aware, I fully stand with Israel which is very connected with my uncompromising faith in the Lord. I keep on praying to Him for Israel to overwhelm its enemies, rescue the hostages and recover from the effects of the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks committed by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas. I can assure all of you that nobody from the evil Islamo-Leftist mob, nobody from the pro-Palestine zealots and nobody from any evil society would stop me from supporting and loving Israel.
Now, on with the news…
Recently, the Office of the Prime Minister of Israel announced that officials approved a quota of over ninety thousand foreign workers to come into Israel to fill vacant jobs in the industry, agriculture, hotels and restaurant sectors, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
Seeking to address a labor shortage, Israeli officials approved a quota of 92,000 foreign workers to fill jobs in agriculture, industry, hotels and restaurants, the Prime Minister’s Office announced on Tuesday.
This marks the first time Israel has authorized foreign workers for the restaurant industry.
Seventy percent of the quota is specifically set aside for agricultural laborers. Israeli agriculture is facing staggering losses in production and manpower.
Before Oct. 7, Israel had 29,900 foreigners, mostly Thais, working in farms, orchards, greenhouses and packing plants.
Israeli workers who might have filled the gaps have been called up for military reserve duty while Palestinian laborers are currently banned as security risks.
Many growing areas are within two kilometers of the Lebanese border where farmers have not been able to freely access fields and orchards.
“Despite the challenges of the war, the packing house works around the clock, with the aim of providing fresh Israeli produce continuously, while dealing with the directives of the Home Front Command,” said Asaf Keret, CEO of Beresheet, a fruit-packing business jointly run by several kibbutzim in the Upper Galilee and Golan Heights.
Keret was addressing a delegation of fruit growers and agricultural officials touring Beresheet’s orchards.
He called on the government to boost agriculture with further measures, such as grants for planting, raising lang quotas, and other incentives.
“The fruit growers are at the height of the picking season and are faced with picking under the fire of Hezbollah, and we are prepared to market the produce of the farmers of the Galilee and the Golan to the marketing chains and wholesale companies. Thanks to our dedicated farmers and workers, I am sure that we will be able to supply the produce to the residents of the State of Israel,” Keret said.
The remaining foreign workers will fill gaps in industry, and hotels, with 2,000 to work for the first time in restaurants.
Israel is making moves to revive its economy which was affected by the October 7 terrorist attacks. There are gaps that need to be filled up and we will find out soon enough how many foreign workers will turn out to enter and work in Israel legally.
To my fellow Filipinos reading this, I encourage you to accept the truth that Israel is the land God designated specifically for the Jewish people (read Genesis 35:10-12) and His command must be followed without hesitation. If you want to be blessed further by the Lord, do so by loving and blessing the Jewish people (Genesis 12:1-3). I did my part when I was in Israel. Also, let me remind you all that the ties between the Jews and Christians are truly biblical!
We live in a very divided world. Around the world, Leftist forces have been supporting evil forces like the current regime of Iran which is known for supplying and arming the Palestinian terrorists, Hezbollah and other terrorist groups around the Middle East. The Leftists and terrorists always go together and their anti-Semitism is clearly obvious. Hamas is purely evil and they are being protected by not only their fellow terrorists but also by mainstream news media outlets who are linked with Leftist forces and people who hate Israel and the Jewish people. Beware of the evil union of the Islamo-Left which is wicked deep within.
With all that said, I encourage you all to pray to the Lord God in support of Israel and believe that He will guide the Israeli forces to another victory which means finishing off Hamas, crushing Hezbollah and forcing Iran and its terror proxies to give up. Read Joshua 11:1-20 in the Holy Bible for relevance and truth. Pray to the Lord to support Israel, its government officials, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and other stakeholders.
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from my personal experiences and observations during the Israel pilgrimage tour I joined and what happened during my free time. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back, readers and fellow followers of the Lord! This is the 8th chapter of my ongoing series of articles about the holy nation of Israel with recollections about the experiences and discoveries I had during the pilgrimage tour I joined with my local church (hosted by strategic partner Behold Israel). To see my previous Israel tour articles, click here, here, here, here, here, here and here.
Before moving on, may I request to you readers to pray to the Lord in support for the nation of Israel as it has been at war with the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas (which committed the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks) in the Gaza Strip, as well as with Hezbollah in the north. Prayers are also needed for the hostages (taken by Hamas) and for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) which has been working so hard and long. Israel’s economy and people also need prayers of support. I will always stand with Israel and my faith in the Lord remains uncompromising!
In this latest edition of my Israel 2023 series, I share with you my observations about what happened during our group’s one and only rest day. Instead of just resting at our nice hotel in Jerusalem, I decided to take advantage of the day to visit the Temple Mount for the first time ever, return to the Western Wall/Jewish Quarter/Upper Room, and visiting King David’s Tomb to name some.
Having revisited the Upper Room as well as King David’s Tomb (located just below), I took the rare opportunity of visiting the grave of the late Oskar Schindler which is located inside a Catholic cemetery just a few hundred meters away by foot. Look at the Google Map screenshot below…
This should give you an idea as to how close the Upper Room and King David’s Tomb sites in Israel are to the cemetery that has Schindler’s grave.
Who is Oskar Schindler?
For the newcomers reading this, Oskar Schindler was a German industrialist and a member of the Nazi Party who is best known for saving more than one thousand Jews during the Holocaust by having them employed in his business of enamelware and ammunition (across different locations in Europe). His costly efforts of saving the Jews from certain death during World War II became his most defining legacy to world initially chronicled in the novel Schindler’s Ark (later retitled as Schindler’s List) written by Thomas Keneally, and most famously dramatized in cinematic form in Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List (1993) with Liam Neeson portraying him. I myself saw Schindler’s List in the cinema here in the Philippines on April 2, 1994, and it was the most engaging movie theater experience I ever had.
The real-life Oskar Schindler (1908-1974).(photo source – Yad Vashem)
The cinematic Oskar Schindler portrayed by Liam Neeson in the Steven Spielberg-directed film Schindler’s List. (photo source – IMDB.com)
Schindler was born in 1908 in Zwittau, Austria-Hungary (now referred to as the Czech Republic). After the end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, he became a citizen of the Czechoslovak Republic. He married Emilie Pelzl in 1928 and went on to work in different occupations ranging from farm machinery to selling government property. He also served in his republic’s army and eventually made his way into the German Armed Forces specifically through its military foreign intelligence office. In 1939, Schindler joined the Nazi Party and eventually arrived in Poland (after the German invasion) and established himself as a businessman. It was in Poland where he established the enamelware business and hired Jewish people as his workers.
A lot happened to Schindler and his wife after the end of World War II. He faced danger of being arrested as a war criminal. Schindler and his wife endured lots of difficulties moving back to Germany. In the years that followed, Schindler had a series of failed business ventures and declared bankruptcy in the early 1960s. Thanks to his Jewish friends from the war, he survived on donations sent by the Schindlerjuden (the people he saved during the Holocaust).
Schindler visited Israel for the first time ever in 1961 and was welcomed warmly. A tree was planted in his honor at the Avenue of the Righteous at Yad Vashem in 1962 (note: his wife Emilie got recognized as among the Righteous Among the Nations in 1993).
Before dying in 1974, he lived partly in Israel and partly in Germany. Schindler was buried in Jerusalem in Mount Zion and his grave has been visited many times by Jews and other people from around the world.
How I made it to Schindler’s grave
Having prayed to the Lord for a meaningful and blessed day-off, I got ready for the places to visit in ancient Jerusalem and that includes a precise study of maps and where the significant sites are located.
As mentioned above, coming from the Temple Mount, the Western Wall and the Jewish Quarter, I exited through Zion Gate of the old city of Jerusalem heading towards the Upper Room (the traditional site of the Last Supper that involved our Lord Savior Jesus) for a return visit (note: my first time there was with our tour group with a guide) and for my first-ever visit at the King David’s Tomb site (on the ground floor level so nearby).
That being said, it was easy to find the nearby cemetery (note: there was one other cemetery nearby) for Schindler’s grave coming from King David’s Tomb by foot. After walking down a short road leading to a major road outside and crossing it, I found the entrance of the cemetery which even had a small sign that says “To Oskar Schindler’s grave.”
The cemetery gate with a sign confirming that Schindler’s grave is inside.
My time at Schindler’s grave
So I entered the cemetery all alone, walked further and climbed down some steps until I reached the very area of Schindler’s grave which was actually located by a cemented walkway. Posted below is the shot I took before approaching the grave.
A wide shot of the lower area of the cemetery where Schindler’s grave is located (in the distance).
Finally, I made my first-ever approach to the grave of the one German businessman who saved the lives of many Jews and I captured it all by video as you can see below along with the pictures I took right there. Schindler’s grave was full of stones placed in thanks to him, remembrance of him and in honor for him. I noticed one particular stone even has a “Thank you!”
The grave of Oskar Schindler with lots of stones placed on it by visitors and by those who remember him for saving over a thousand Jewish people during the Holocaust.
A diagonal shot of the grave with a good amount of sunlight captured during the moment.
This is me taking a picture of myself near Oskar Schindler’s grave.
Visible on the grave was the German inscription which in English means “The unforgettable lifesaver of 1200 persecuted Jews.”
Being right there at the grave brought me strong memories about the final sequence of the movie Schindler’s List which was presented in color. That scene turned out very powerful to watch as a line of people – including the Jewish survivors who encountered Schindler during the war plus the actors who played many of them – took turns placing stones at this very grave. The late Leopold “Poldek” Pfefferberg himself was present in the scene at the grave which is very significant because he personally encountered Schindler and was crucial with both the publishing of Schindler’s Ark and the filming of Schindler’s List. Pfefferberg was an advisor to Spielberg.
Holocaust survivor Poldek Pfefferberg with Oskar Schindler in the 1960s. (photo source – United States Holocaust Memorial Museum)
This is my 4K Blu-ray copy of Schindler’s List. This is the best and most definitive way to watch it at the comfort of home. So much better than streaming.
The placing of stones or pebbles on a grave has an important part in the Jewish ways. The Jewish Virtual Library describes it as follows (some parts in boldface):
As opposed to the common practice of burying loved ones with flowers and placing flowers by the tombstone, Jewish tradition instead puts an emphasis on placing stones on graves.
Jewish authorities likely objected to the flower ritual because of its proximity to pagan customs.
The origin of the stone custom is uncertain, though it may relate to ancient times when a pile of stones was used as a marker. The most common explanation is that placing stones is a symbolic act that indicates someone has come to visit and the deceased has not been forgotten.
A superstitious rationale for stones is that they keep the soul down, based on a belief that souls continue to dwell for a while in the graves in which they are placed.
A more common theme, however, is that stones last for eternity – as opposed to the short life span of flowers. Like the memory our loved ones, stones will never die.
As Oskar Schindler was German, the placing of stones at his grave is notably exceptional and if you wish to feel the impact of the colored scene near the end of Schindler’s List, you will have to endure the film first from the beginning. After all, the Spielberg-directed movie gradually shows how the German businessman got connected with the Jewish people as his laborers, and the turning point of him deciding to save them from death by sacrificing so much (read: lots of money spent and use of influence with German officials) and taking huge risks along the way was powerful to watch.
Even though I’m not Jewish and not a survivor of World War II, I still placed a stone on Oskar Schindler’s grave to thank him for saving many Jews long ago. As a person faith, my love for Israel and the Jewish people remains uncompromising in relation to my unwavering faith in the Lord and His Word.
Significant lessons about loving, blessing and helping the Jewish people
Having been to the Holocaust museum at Yad Vashem prior to the rest day, I learned there that Oskar Schindler was one of many others who took risks to save Jews during the Holocaust. The Schindler Jews of more than one thousand survivors have since multiplied into thousands more people through the decades.
The Holocaust and the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks should remind each of us faithful ones that we cannot simply ignore the tragedies and do nothing. People of the Jewish State need our help and praying for them is a solid way to start. Ask the Lord for signs on how to help Israelites in additional ways. Do not rush and wait for Him to send you a command or a clear message on what to do next. Right now, Israel is fighting the enemy inside Gaza while defending itself from the other enemy on the north.
Around the world, there are millions of young protesters and activists who were brainwashed into supporting the terrorists while attacking Israel so blindly. Indeed, the world is chaotic and all the people who attack Israel while empowering the terrorists are doing the dirty works for Satan. It is also not surprising to encounter a pro-Palestine believer or an anti-Semitic person who openly rejects the Word of God or even mock Lord Jesus. The people – the brainwashed activists and terrorists specifically – who wish to destroy Israel in this modern age are becoming more like the Nazi Germans who were led by Adolf Hitler (who dreamed of wiping out all Jewish people). These unfortunate events should compel you to stand up for Israel and the Jewish people as you live on with unwavering faith in the Lord and His Word.
You might be wondering what are the biblical lessons to learn with regards to loving, blessing and helping the Jewish people. We can start by acknowledging the sovereignty, authority and the holiness of the Lord God and remember always that Lord Jesus is the Anointed Mediator. Read the following holy scriptures below…
“Therefore, give the people of Israel this message from the Sovereign Lord: I am bringing you back, but not because you deserve it. I am doing it to protect my holy name, on which you brought shame while you were scattered among the nations. I will show how holy my great name is—the name on which you brought shame among the nations. And when I reveal my holiness through you before their very eyes, says the Sovereign Lord, then the nations will know that I am the Lord. For I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land.
“Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.
“And you will live in Israel, the land I gave your ancestors long ago. You will be my people, and I will be your God. I will cleanse you of your filthy behavior. I will give you good crops of grain, and I will send no more famines on the land. I will give you great harvests from your fruit trees and fields, and never again will the surrounding nations be able to scoff at your land for its famines. Then you will remember your past sins and despise yourselves for all the detestable things you did. But remember, says the Sovereign Lord, I am not doing this because you deserve it. O my people of Israel, you should be utterly ashamed of all you have done!
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When I cleanse you from your sins, I will repopulate your cities, and the ruins will be rebuilt.
Ezekiel 36:22-33 (NLT)
Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine and all the hills shall melt [that is, everything heretofore barren and unfruitful shall overflow with spiritual blessing].
And I will bring back the exiles of My people Israel, and they shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards and drink the wine from them; they shall also make gardens and eat the fruit of them.
And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be torn up out of their land which I gave them, says the Lord your God.
Amos 9:13-15 (AMPC)
For God is not unrighteous to forget or overlook your labor and the love which you have shown for His name’s sake in ministering to the needs of the saints (His own consecrated people), as you still do.
Hebrews 6:10 (AMPC)
For there [is only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
1 Timothy 2:5 (AMPC)
They answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved—you and all your family.”
Acts 16:31 (TPT)
My beloved friends, if you see a believer who is overtaken with a fault, the one who is in the Spirit should seek to restore him in the Spirit of gentleness. But keep watch over your own heart so that you won’t be tempted to exalt yourself over him. Love empowers us to fulfill the law of the Anointed One as we carry each other’s troubles.
Galatians 6:1-2 (TPT)
For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 (NKJV)
The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
Matthew 13:41-43 (NKJV)
“I am a true sprouting vine, and the farmer who tends the vine is my Father. He cares for the branches connected to me by lifting and propping up the fruitless branches and pruning every fruitful branch to yield a greater harvest. The words I have spoken over you have already cleansed you. So you must remain in life-union with me, for I remain in life-union with you. For as a branch severed from the vine will not bear fruit, so your life will be fruitless unless you live your life intimately joined to mine.
“I am the sprouting vine and you’re my branches. As you live in union with me as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you—but when you live separated from me you are powerless. 6If a person is separated from me, he is discarded; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire to be burned. But if you live in life-union with me and if my words live powerfully within you—then you can ask whatever you desire and it will be done. When your lives bear abundant fruit, you demonstrate that you are my mature disciples who glorify my Father!
John 15:1-8 (TPT)
Also, never forget that Israel is the land that God the Heavenly Father designated for the Jewish people and He always has great plans for them. Read the scriptures below…
Now the Lord had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Genesis 12:1-3 (NKJV)
Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.”
Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!”
Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him.
And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.” Then He finished talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.
Genesis 17:15-22 (NKJV)
Again God said to him, Your name is Jacob [supplanter]; you shall not be called Jacob any longer, but Israel shall be your name. So He called him Israel [contender with God].
And God said to him, I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come from you and kings shall be born of your stock;
The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and to your descendants after you I will give the land.
Genesis 35:10-12 (AMPC)
Now therefore, if you will obey My voice in truth and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own peculiar possession and treasure from among and above all peoples; for all the earth is Mine.
And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation [consecrated, set apart to the worship of God]. These are the words you shall speak to the Israelites.
Exodus 19:5-6 (AMPC)
Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord.’”
Exodus 6:6-8 (ESV)
“Yet hear now, O Jacob My servant, And Israel whom I have chosen.
Thus says the Lord who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you: ‘Fear not, O Jacob My servant; And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring;
They will spring up among the grass Like willows by the watercourses.’
One will say, ‘I am the Lord’s’; Another will call himself by the name of Jacob; Another will write with his hand, ‘The Lord’s,’ And name himself by the name of Israel.
Isaiah 44:1-5 (NKJV)
Conclusion
During my final moments at the cemetery, I carefully touched Schindler’s grave and went on marching all the way to Mahane Yehuda Market in the city.
I am very thankful to the Lord for the significant visits and favors He blessed me with during the rest day in Jerusalem. The visit to Schindler’s grave was a worthy conclusion to the time I spent visiting the sites inside and outside of the walls of the old city of Jerusalem during the cold morning. After Schindler’s grave, I marched all the way to Mahane Yehuda market (with a coffee break at Tmol Shilshom on the way).
I cannot say that Schindler’s grave is a holy site to visit, but it still carries great historical significance in relation to the saving of Jews during the Holocaust. To those of you who get to visit the grave, do not be surprised to see the many stones placed on it. Finally, be mindful that when you visit the Upper Room or King David’s Tomb site just outside of Zion Gate, the cemetery that has Schindler’s grave is only a few hundred meters away by walking. Ask your tour guide about the location and what time the cemetery opens in the morning.
While Oskar Schindler remains a controversial person of history as his legacy continues to be debated between varied people with specific beliefs and reasons (note: there are people who admired him as well as others who condemned him), his efforts (aided by his wife Emilie and his Jewish assistant Itzhak Stern) on protecting the Jewish workers from certain death during World War II should always be remembered.
It should be noted that Schindler’s List has been criticized for having fictionalized scenes, deliberate omissions of historical facts and its portrayal of Oskar as a hero whose personality developed over time. In reality, wife Emilie Schindler was much more involved with her husband on rescuing the Jews which is a significant fact that Spielberg’s movie ignored.
Emilie and Oskar Schindler in Argentina after the end of World War II. Emilie was much more involved with her husband on sparing over a thousand Jewish people from certain death during the Holocaust. (photo credit: Yad Vashem)
The German businessman’s legacy is clearly connected with the 1993 film which itself made tremendous impact by making people aware of the Holocaust and the six million Jews who got killed. The said impact, in my view, is much bigger than the many Academy Awards the movie won! Spielberg’s movie marked the beginning of my learning about the Holocaust and back in 1994, I was not even aware of the biblical significance of Israel and the Jewish people. In my old life of rituals, traditions and idolatrous religion, no person of religion ever taught me to love and bless Israel, nor did anyone religious tell me about God’s covenant with the Jewish people. Reading the Bible back then was only occasional.
In the year I got born again, I gradually learned about the significance of Israel, the Jewish people and the biblical ties between Jews and Christians as I immersed myself with God’s Word. Studying the Holy Bible and living by His Word helped me understand God’s covenant with Abraham whose rightful heirs have always been Isaac (his son) and Jacob (his grandson who later got renamed Israel). Just months after getting born again, I prayed to the Lord a lot for His plan for me related with Israel as I wanted to deepen my faith in Him by visiting the Holy Land and witness the Bible come to life. The 2023 Israel pilgrimage tour I joined with my local church was the Lord’s anointed answer and blessing to me. It is also the greatest and most significant foreign trip I ever had.
Israel is a great and holy place to visit! Visit Israel with the Holy Bible! Pray to the Lord wholeheartedly and reveal to Him your heart’s desire to visit Israel to deepen your faith in Him. Always be the fearless and aggressive church of Lord Jesus! Follow the light of Lord Jesus, keep on praying for the peace of Jerusalem and live on with unwavering faith in Him!
Watch out for more Israel 2023 travel articles here. There is more to come!
Welcome back, my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching.
For this edition, I am doing the Holy Week Special. Today is Good Friday and I have prepared for all of you a selection of YouTube videos about God, His Son Lord Jesus and the nation of Israel where the holy sites are. The videos are all sourced from the HolyLandSite YouTube channel which is rich with Israel sites and their connections with the Holy Bible.
As some of you may know by now, I myself had been to Israel on a pilgrimage tour with my local church New Life in early 2023 and I already blogged about some Holy Land sites, and I still have more to blog about in the future. That being said, I can relate a lot with specific Israel videos posted by HolyLandSite. And now, I hope you will enjoy what I selected – plus a few of my own videos during the 2023 pilgrimage tour – for your faith in the Lord and for your viewing pleasure as well.
#1Capernaum tour video – Along with my Israel pilgrimage tour companions, I visited Capernaum which is the very ancient town where Lord Jesus preached the good news from God and taught many who came to learn from Him. This video by HolyLandSite is very in-depth details and the bible lessons should be absorbed.
#2 The Pool of Siloam videos – I could never forget our visit to the Pool of Siloam in Jerusalem and you can read my feature article of it by clicking here. The Pool of Siloam, which is accessible to visitors today, is the very site where a man who was born blind got healed and gained sight because he followed the very instructions Lord Jesus gave him. The Messiah helped him by putting mud on his eyes and told him to go to the Pool of Siloam to wash. This video by HolyLandSite is a must-see and I pray it will deepen your faith in the Lord and teach you to follow His commands without hesitation. I also added the video I personally recorded at the site.
#3 Jerusalem history video – Jerusalem is the holiest city in the world and I am thankful to the Lord that our pilgrimage tour had its last five day there. The Old City of Jerusalem (with ancient walls intact) is a very significant place to visit as it has the Western Wall, the Church of Holy Sepulchre, the Temple Mount and many other holy sites frequented by Christians, Jews and Muslims. This video by HolyLandSite explains in detail the history and deep significance of Jerusalem.
#4 Garden of Gethsemane videos – I could never forget the day our tour group climbed down the Mount of Olives by foot and entered the Garden of Gethsemane together which was already full of visitors. After exploring a populated part of the garden (which contains several olive trees that are centuries-old), our group found vacant space at the steps of the Church of All Nations where we had a bible lesson taught to us by our local church pastor. It was at the Garden of Gethsemane where Lord Jesus prayed to His Father God, and later was arrested by the Romans as a result of Judas’ betrayal. To learn more about the significance of this holy site, watch HolyLandSite’s video and check out the video I personally recorded on-location.
#5 The differences between Christianity and Islam and more explained – For this part, we focus more on the topics of faith, the differences between Christianity and Islam, Lord Jesus and Muhammad, and the Holy Bible and the Quran. As usual, Pastor Todd of HolyLandSite explains the differences in great detail and he really did a lot of research for the video below. This is a must-see video and always remember that our Lord Jesus is truly holy and the definitive hope of all nations. If you have accepted Lord Jesus as your savior and you have been faithful to Him and the Word of God, then you are part of His Kingdom. Never let the worldly and the unholy ones pull you away from Him.
#6 The significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls video – Our pilgrimage tour group visited Qumran which is the very site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. The discovery is tremendously significant because the Dead Sea Scrolls proved that the Holy Bible is real and definitely anointed by the Lord. Watch the video below to find out more…
#7 The Chapel of Ascension video – Once I return to Israel in the future, I would make it a priority to visit the Chapel of Ascension located at the top of the Mount of Olives. This is the most likely site where Lord Jesus last stepped on and ascended to Heaven with the promise that He will return. This video by HolyLandSite examines the Chapel of Ascension itself and Pastor Todd precisely explains the biblical records as well as the anticipated timeline with regards to Rapture and the return of Lord Jesus.
#8 The Upper Room videos – The Upper Room is another significant site to visit on pilgrimage. It is located just outside of the wall of the Old City of Jerusalem and the nearest gate is Zion Gate. The Upper Room is often identified with The Last Supper (refer to Luke 22:14-20 and Mark 14:12-26 in the Holy Bible). To learn more about the holy site, watch the HolyLandSite video plus my own video below…
In ending this post, I share with you four holy scriptures.
Again God said to him, Your name is Jacob [supplanter]; you shall not be called Jacob any longer, but Israel shall be your name. So He called him Israel [contender with God].
And God said to him, I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come from you and kings shall be born of your stock;
The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and to your descendants after you I will give the land.
Genesis 35:10-12 (AMPC)
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26 (NKJV)
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3 (NKJV)
Jesus said to him,
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
John 14:6 (NKJV)
Thank you for your time. Always move forward with uncompromising faith in the Lord. Always remember that Lord Jesus is the hope of all nations as He is God’s son as well as the Anointed Mediator between the Heavenly Father and men (1 Timothy 2:5). Also always pray to the Lord for Israel, its people and the peace of Jerusalem.
2024 is finally here. Whether you look back to the year that passed or look forward in the new year, never let anything nor anyone separate you from the Lord and His Word (the Holy Bible).
In my experience, 2023 was a very blessed year. The Lord blessed me when I visited Israel on a pilgrimage tour with my local church New Life Alabang. Together, we visited several significant sites in the Holy Land such as the Pool of Siloam, the Dead Sea, the Yardenit baptismal site, Hezekiah’s Tunnel, Caesarea Philippi, Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee and its region, and, of course, Jerusalem. Following God’s Word, I arrived in Israel to love and bless the Jewish people for the rest of my natural life. My support for Israel is uncompromising!
For those of you who enjoyed my Israel 2023 tour feature articles, I will be posting some more this year. As it was a blessing from the Lord, the Israel 2023 pilgrimage tour I joined was truly a blessing from Him and along the way I witnessed the Holy Bible come to life right there at the holy sites we visited. What was written in Matthew 6:33 is absolutely true!
This image of the sun rising in the distance was from my early morning visit at the Dead Sea beach (Ein Bokek) during the Israel 2023 pilgrimage tour I joined. I took this picture.
This was me touching the pillar inside the Upper Room during the Israel 2023 pilgrimage tour. I’ll soon be posting new articles of Israel 2023 sites I visited.
I am also thankful to the Lord for other blessings in the past year such as the establishment of a new business entity (my first-ever registered), the successful selling of comic books from my collection (click here to see more), the very anointed New Life Conference 2023 I attended, and the continuing reach of my official website and blog at www.CarloCarrasco.com
Speaking of my website, I am thankful to our Lord and also happy to share with you what was achieved in 2023. Over 136,000 hits (page views) worldwide were achieve in the past year with over 97,000 visitors worldwide recorded. The top f nations of hits and visitors are the Philippines, Cambodia, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. The 2023 numbers pushed my website’s lifetime hits to over 940,000 worldwide and I hope the figure will reach the 1,000,000 hits mark this year.
When it comes to newer developments online, I am thankful for the first-ever online donations the came in related to my website and I wish to thank all the donors for trusting my online publishing. Those who wish to donate can do so at https://carlocarrasco.com/donate/. Your donations will be very helpful in keeping my website and blog going.
January 4, 2024 will mark the 5th anniversary of my website. Looking back to the day it all started – January 4, 2019 was a Friday – I am very happy with what was achieved with www.CarloCarrasco.com through the years. The blogging of local community developments, magnified news articles or reports, special features, Christian teachings, Christian music appreciation, entertainment pieces and other forms of content helped me achieve good connections (and the trust) of varied communities, organizations, businesses, local churches and many other people. My thanks to the Lord God for these growing achievements and connections, and I am also grateful to you readers, the local government units, the homeowners’ associations, local churches, the local news media outlets and other private entities your trust in my website and blog.
For 2024 and the future, I urge all of you readers to never lose faith in the Lord and keep living on with unwavering faith in Lord Jesus who is truly the hope of all nations! Keep moving forward with faith in Him and the Word of God. May the following scriptures below help you all…
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
John 8:12 (NKJV)
For God is one, and there is one Mediator between God and the sons of men—the true man, Jesus, the Anointed One.
1 Timothy 2:5 (TPT)
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6 (NLT)
For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
John 3:16 (AMPC)
For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father [of Eternity], Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6 (AMPC)
Therefore, the honor that belongs to the Father he will now share with his Son. So if you refuse to honor the Son, you are refusing to honor the Father who sent him.
John 5:23 (TPT)
Always trust, honor and praise the Lord God as His love for the us the faithful children is endless and He made plans for each and every one of us which clearly means He will not abandon us. God’s mercy is real and His promises never fail. Learn from the scripture below…
Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Psalm 103:1-5 (NKJV)
Always remember to maintain unwavering faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus to move on with the year 2024. Reject the evil ways of the world, push the idols out of the way, and reject religion, political correctness, wokeness, atheism and secularism so that you can clear your path of faith in the Lord and make room for Him in your heart. In addition, I request you all to pray for Israel to overwhelm its enemies, rescue the hostages and ultimately push back against the forces of evil. Always be the fearless and aggressive church of Lord Jesus!
Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.
#1The 6-minute explanatory gameplay trailer of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes – Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, the upcoming Japanese role-playing game (Japanese RPG) set for a global release on April 23, 2024, was in the spotlight recently as publisher 505 Games released a 6-minute trailer that showcases and explain to gamers what to expect in terms of game play and features. What long-time gamers enjoyed so much about Suikoden and Suikoden II can find them also in Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. Watch the whole trailer below…
#2 Lord Jesus lived as a Jewish man and NEVER was a Palestinian – There is so much chaos in this world and you can see that through the Palestinians (a displaced people whose leaders have long engaged in terrorism and hatred against Israel and the Jewish people) and their brainwashed supporters (the pro-Palestine freaks). In many parts of the world, a lot of pro-Palestinian believers (activists who are often rowdy, arrogant, violent and ignorant at the same time) kept shouting the big lie that Lord Jesus was a Palestinian (an overblown fantasy that spreads wickedness and deception). To push back against the lies of the pawns of the enemy (Satan), watch Israeli YouTuber Oren explain in detail the truth that Lord Jesus truly lived as a Jewish man, was born into an existing Jewish society and had Jewish people as His believers/followers (the early Christians).
#3 2023 Batman Returns reaction videos and more – For some time now, I’ve been watching varied movie reaction videos from YouTubers Ashleigh Burton, TBR Schmitt, Jen Murray and EOM Reacts. What I found very surprising was the fact that each of them published reaction videos of the 1992 superhero movie Batman Returns this year, and three of those videos were just weeks apart from each other. I posted those Batman Returns reaction videos below and I added two more related videos that should orient you about the movie.
#4 Get to know the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, Israel – This past February, I visited Israel on a pilgrimage tour. It was indeed the greatest overseas travel experience in my entire life as it was blessed and anointed by the Lord who answered my prayers to visit Israel to deepen my faith in Him. I also visited the Temple Mount in Jerusalem which is one of the most significant places to visit in the entire world. That being said, I posted below the Christian Broadcast Network’s Temple Mount special video and my personal video of my first-ever moments at the holy site.
#5 Pro-Palestine believer exposed as a LIAR! – The people who support the wicked causes of the Palestinians are clearly ignorant, misled, pretentious and dishonest. A lot of pro-Palestine people have posted videos on varied networks to spread lies and misinformation regarding history, and some of them are very young people (Generation Z) who clearly do NOT know all the details, who were fed lies by their Islamo-Leftists superiors and they are clearly not intelligent. The Palestinians are truly a displaced people and they were NEVER the indigenous people of the land of Israel! Watch the video below and enjoy.
Merry Christmas to all of you reading this! Wherever you are or whatever you are doing right now, I encourage you to look beyond the worldly view of the season and celebrate Christmas by praising and honoring Lord Jesus. It is Lord Jesus who is our Savior and He is truly the hope of all nations!
Over the past few years, I wrote that Christmas is truly all about Lord Jesus and we should be rejoicing with Him every Christmas. Every time the season happens during the final month of the year, a ton of distractions happen around us such as the endless stream of disorienting news, toxic social media updates, shopping promos, social engagements, rushing to appointments and more. When you are not careful, these distractions could pull you away from Lord Jesus and you would end up having a hollow Christmas. Obviously, we the faithful children of God don’t want to be separated from Him.
That being said, we all should view Christmas through Lord Jesus as God the Heavenly Father sent Him to us to save us from darkness and to fulill the plan He made for us all. It is only right for us to honor Lord Jesus eternally. Learn from the scriptures below…
For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
John 3:16 (AMPC)
For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father [of Eternity], Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6 (AMPC)
Therefore, the honor that belongs to the Father he will now share with his Son. So if you refuse to honor the Son, you are refusing to honor the Father who sent him.
John 5:23 (TPT)
But give reverent honor in your hearts to the Anointed One and treat him as the holy Master of your lives. And if anyone asks about the hope living within you, always be ready to explain your faith with gentleness and respect. Maintain a clean conscience, so that those who slander you for living a pure life in Christ will have to lie about you and will be ashamed because of their slander. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if it is in God’s plan, than for doing evil.
1 Peter 3:15-17 (TPT)
Christmas is about who we are celebrating – Lord Jesus Himself – and His birth remains very significant. A lot of people who have not submitted to Him celebrate Christmas by focusing more on the seasonal elements (examples: the partying, enjoying gifts received, and others) without even acknowledging His birth and holiness. The birth of Lord Jesus should be honored with all our hearts and with unwavering faith in the Word of God. Learn from the scripture below…
And Joseph also went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the town of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
To be enrolled with Mary, his espoused (married) wife, who was about to become a mother.
And while they were there, the time came for her delivery,
And she gave birth to her Son, her Firstborn; and she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room or place for them in the inn.
Luke 2:4-7 (AMPC)
As mentioned earlier, Jesus is the hope of all nations. God sent Him here on Earth (Israel where the Holy Land is) thousands of years ago to walk among the people, preach the good news, preach the heavenly truth and fulfill the plans that the Heavenly Father made for humanity. Learn from the scriptures below…
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
John 8:12 (NKJV)
Then Jesus went over to their synagogue, where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?” (They were hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.)
And he answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out? Of course you would. And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.”
Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.”
So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one! Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus.
But Jesus knew what they were planning. So he left that area, and many people followed him. He healed all the sick among them, but he warned them not to reveal who he was. This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him:
“Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen.
He is my Beloved, who pleases me.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
He will not fight or shout
or raise his voice in public.
He will not crush the weakest reed
or put out a flickering candle.
Finally he will cause justice to be victorious.
And his name will be the hope
of all the world.”
Matthew 12:9-21 (NLT)
My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God’s Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion. And how bold and free we then become in his presence, freely asking according to his will, sure that he’s listening. And if we’re confident that he’s listening, we know that what we’ve asked for is as good as ours.
1 John 5:13-15 (MSG)
For by grace you have been saved by faith. Nothing you did could ever earn this salvation, for it was the love gift from God that brought us to Christ! So no one will ever be able to boast, for salvation is never a reward for good works or human striving. We have become his poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny he has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it!
Ephesians 2:8-10 (TPT)
Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.”
John 4:13-14 (MSG)
As for us, we have all of these great witnesses who encircle us like clouds. So we must let go of every wound that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into. Then we will be able to run life’s marathon race with passion and determination, for the path has been already marked out before us. We look away from the natural realm and we focus our attention and expectation onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!
Hebrews 12:1-2 (TPT)
With the above scriptures, it is clear that Jesus deserves all of our praise whenever we celebrate Christmas. Those who are not fully aware of Him and His Word tend to idolize (which is foolish and unholy) people, objects, money, religion, the pawns of evil and other elements that are not worthy. Being worldly is unholy and this truth should remind you all that as children of God, we have the responsibilities to worship and honor His Son Jesus. Why? Because without Lord Jesus (our Savior and hope), we cannot reach the Heavenly Father. Learn from the scriptures below…
For God is one, and there is one Mediator between God and the sons of men—the true man, Jesus, the Anointed One.
1 Timothy 2:5 (TPT)
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6 (NLT)
As Christmas is all about Lord Jesus, we the faithful children of God also have the responsibility to look forward with Him, follow His teachings and anticipate His return from Heaven. That being said, we must always honor the Resurrection of Lord Jesus (His victory over death) as much as we honor Him on His birth. The Lord will bless and reward the faithful, and He always keeps His promises. Learn from the scripture below…
Behold, I am coming soon, and I shall bring My wages and rewards with Me, to repay and render to each one just what his own actions and his own work merit.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last (the Before all and the End of all).
Revelation 22:12-13 (AMPC)
From this point on, I would like to reach out to all the lost and the unsaved people reading this. You can save yourselves by submitting to Lord Jesus willingly and realize He is the Light! Glorify only the Lord!
There is no force and no coercion here. You have time and freedom to decide to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior. For those who have decided to get born again now and gain salvation, please read the instructions and follow the prayer that I learned from my first pastor.
Are you ready? Firstly, open your heart to the Lord and pray this simple prayer in sincerity from your heart:
Father God,
I thank You. I believe Jesus is Your Son. I believe that He died for me and redeemed me from all of my sins. He took my sins and, Father, thank You for loving me and You demonstrated Your love for me through Your Son Jesus Christ. Forgive me for all of my sins. Jesus, I open my heart to You. I welcome You to enter into my heart. I confess today that You are now my Lord and Savior. Thank You for forgiveness. I receive forgiveness. Thank You for Your blood that cleansed me from all of my sins. I will follow You, Jesus. Thank You for Your plan. I receive the Holy Spirit. And Holy Spirit, help me to follow the will of God in my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Congratulations! You are now a child of God! You have received Holy Spirit in your heart! This is easily your greatest decision ever made and also the greatest miracle of your life. Always praise, thank and honor the Lord. No more darkness in your life caused by politics, radicalism, toxicity, rebellion, religion, unbelief, evil, idolatry, traditions and rituals! Leave behind the darkness of your life and don’t look back to it. Remember that idolatry is evil, Purgatory is a lie, penance is a deception and Satan always used religion, lies and unbelief to prevent people from being saved by the Lord.
With Lord Jesus, you are already moving forward and the best is yet to come! You also have a personal relationship with God, a relationship that is strictly off-limits to others (even to your household members or biological family members).
With your new life realized, make an effort to get yourself copy of the Holy Bible (start with New King James Version), study it and apply its lessons into your life no matter what situation you are in right now. I also recommend you to join a local Christian church that God has chosen for you (note: ask Him for a local church!) and find your place in the spiritual family (God’s family!). Be planted when the Lord shows you the way! Worship the Lord together with them and always remember that faith, not religion, is essential in your personal relationship with God.
The Holy Bible is the ultimate authority and nothing else comes close to it for it is the Word of God. Remember always that Lord Jesus did not die on the cross to start religion at all. He died to redeem us all and showed that we must be led by faith in Him, faith in the Holy Spirit and faith in God the Heavenly Father. He rose from the dead and made His earthly presence felt once more to those who believed in Him. Lord Jesus ascended to Heaven and He promised to return in the future. His return is what we must always remember and keep living with holiness under the watch of God.
We can do our part in building up God’s kingdom here on Earth by preaching His Word, blessing the Jewish people and saving the countless lost and unsaved souls around us by leading them to Lord Jesus. Living as a Christian is always about the personal relationship with the Lord, and it is certainly not about religion. Never let the idolaters, the idol makers and other sinister forces fool you into becoming unholy.
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. Sharing this Christian piece means spreading the good news of the Lord to others. It can help you save the unsaved and the lost souls out there.
Author Carlo Carrasco 