FOCUS on ONE WORD CONTINUES with ALERT

Let's continue to FOCUS this year on One Word each week!

April Fool's Day 
couldn't have a better 
One Word
than the one for this week
in this time
2024
ALERT

"Be on the ALERT. Stand firm in the faith. Be (wo)men of courage. Be strong." BSB 1 Corinthians 16:13

Other versions use:
Be on (your) guard (NIV, NLT, AMP)Be watchful (ESV)Watch ye (KJV) Be on the alert (NASB)Be alert (CSB, HCSB)Keep alert (CEV)Remain alert (ISV)Stay alert (NET)Watch! (WEB)
CEBtells us to
STAY AWAKE
We have to clearly be aware of what's going on around us.
Everywhere. Everyday. Everything.
[Strong's Concordance #1127 - one link with verse, but here's another]
Be vigilant (responsible, watchful) constantly.
"What does it mean to be watchful?"
{I particularly liked this part in the above linked article}

"To be watchful (ALERT) also means to be in a state of readiness." (Matthew 25:13) ... "We need to ensure, watch, be careful, that if our Lord were to return this very hour that we are ready and will not be ashamed or embarrassed to meet Him on that day."

Perhaps, you recall from last week during the Passion week of Jesus Christ, in the Garden of Gethsemane that Jesus begged the disciples various times to stay awake and ALERT and watch with Him.Yet they fell asleep.
So do we.
ButGod is clearly telling us, warning us to "stay awake" and be
ALERT
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A week from today, April 8th, 2024 
there will be a solar eclipse
as there was one back on August 17, 2017.
And there's even a designated path (Northeast to Southwest) that crosses the former one
*7 years ago, making an "X" across the United States of America*actually 6 years, 6 months, 6 dayskinda eerie
This "X" center point intersects in Little Egypt, southern Illinois.
There will be 8 total & 8 partial eclipses over 8 locations named Nineveh on April 8th:
Nineveh in Texas, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York & Nova Scotia
I find all this very interesting yet I am not trying to start any conspiracy theories orspread any prophecies, but let me tell you or ALERT you that there are ones out there.
UPDATE in Forbes already is indicating that the path has changed somewhat, including more and also excluding some "15 Places in the U.S. that Just Lost Their Total Solar Eclipse - While Texas Gained"March 31, 2024
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EVERYWHERE
ONLINE & ELSEWHERE
so my point is:
STAY ALERT
but do not be foolish
Matthew 24:36
"No one knows about that day or hour ..."
however
Jesus has told us, written for us in His WORD
STAY AWAKE
READY
ALERT
Keep OIL in your lamp - spiritual OIL
Matthew 25:3
"When the foolish took their lamps but did not take any oil with them."
Let's not be foolish today or April 8th or any day.
We must be ready!
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The book's devotional by Cleere Cherry Reaves
starts out on a totally different point & a fun fact on "bats"
yet what I have shared, is not what she shares
but her ending point works for both of us:

"... Now is the time to ready ourselves for battle. Now is the time to secure our foundation and read the Word. Now is the time to position ourselves and assure our heart of Who walks with us so that when the valley does come, we will eagerly anticipate His faithfulness."~Cleere Cherry Reaves, "Focus: How One Word a Week will Transform Your Life."

I promise I will not go on with all that this topic encompasses & my thoughts
but I must clarify that there is much talk on "WOKE" from various perspectives.
I cannot not write about us "staying ALERT" - being AWAKE without bringing up
this term "WOKE" and hopefully put some light and truth on its meaning, 
because I am so tired of so many lies & untruths that are around.
Merriam-Webster defines "woke" as slang meaning
"aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts & issues..."
[there is more in your dictionary]

"It's not a new term, but conservative politicians and pundits have co-opted "woke"... "Forbes
but the term originally meant
"to stay aware of racial injustices"
and we should, especially in the Church or as true Christians.
The term is being used incorrectly. Slanting our perspectives to untruths.
This is very sad at the impact this is having/ has had
normalizing "hate" and this we cannot have,
not as people, not in our society
and definitely, not in people
who follow Jesus
the Church
What Would Jesus DO? and SAY? is more relevant in this day and time than ever!
Please DO NOT allow yourself to be distracted from the real issues or understanding them and seek the truth, DO NOT be deceived!
It is causing global criticisms & being weaponized,
and besides causing divisions & being deceptive,
it is confusing many and we know who is
the author of confusion.
It isn't God!
Jesus
warns us in
Matthew 24:4-8 and so many places
DECEIVER of the whole world (Revelation 12:9)[one who misleads another or others by a false appearance or statement]
A "Deceiver" misleads someone else or persuades somebody to do something to benefit himself or herself.
So go back to the beginning of this blog post & reread the verse & the other words
for the One Word this week:
ALERT
"Be on your guard"
do not let your hearts be deceived or your minds
do not be a fool today or any day
do not be led by a deceiver
do not be confused
SEEK TRUTH
His Name is JESUS!
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JESUS
Keep me ALERT;
ready my spirit!
🙏
As you read God's Word
may it help you "prepare for opposition and the unexpected"
so you are ready - open your eyes,
put on the full armor of God
every morning for the day
STAY ALERT
* be woke
Jesus is coming back!
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* informed, educated, and conscious ...
for such a time as this


this day is also known as
Easter Monday
(always the day after the Resurrection but not always April Fool's Day)
50 days from the Resurrection is Pentecost
God must have done 
"Something In Between"
(this was a sermon message on Resurrection SONday)Matthew 28:1-10; Romans 8:28; John 19:18
...Jesus, in between...
continue to "celebrate
the hope & faithfulness of God"
"Jesus' death & resurrection remind us
that even when life is difficult & the outlook seems bleak,
God is at work..."
because 
HE IS RISEN