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Get Back To GOD, Wood Dale, IL (2026)

10/15/2026

Words from the Book of Jeremiah, Day 3

Top cultural and Spiritual Idols;

Today I wanted to put the writing from yesterday into some bullet points and explain them deeper...according to Lifeway Research survey of Protestant pastors and modern cultural studies, common examples of modern-day idols include:

Top cultural and Spiritual Idols;

1) Comfort and Ease: Prioritizing personal convenience, safety, and a trouble-free life above growth or duty (identified as the top idol by 67% of pastors).
2) Control and Security: Obsessively managing outcomes, financial backing, or future guarantees instead of practicing trust (56%).
3) Money and Materialism: Valuing wealth, status symbols, and gadgets to feed the ego or establish self-worth (55%).
4) Approval and People-Pleasing: Craving the validation, praise, or agreement of others at the expense of personal integrity (51%).
5) Career and Productivity: Deriving core identity, meaning, and self-esteem from professional output, titles, or achievement.
6) Political Power and Ideologies: Placing extreme faith in political parties, national identity, or ideological movements to fix human brokenness (39%).
7) Smartphones and Technology: Constantly tethering attention to screens, tracking social stats, or using digital escapism to fill quiet or reflective time.

Quote by John Calvin: "Idolatry does not exist because the Lord is unclear about His existence but because of our own vain imaginations. Sin makes us prone to trust gods other than the one true Lord of all, but when we do that we become captive to fear and the destructive results of putting our final hope in any but God.... God renders his glory conspicuous everywhere, so that it ought to engage and occupy the thoughts of all men; and it would do so were they not led away by their own vanity."

Ezekiel 18:20...The soul who sins will die. The son will not bear the iniquity of the father, nor will the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.....

But if we Repent and turn back and face God the Father and "if we confess with our mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved" Romans 10:9

Ezekiel 18:21-22... “But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has done and keeps all My statutes and does justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die. All his transgressions which he has done will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has done, he will live.

10/14/2026

Words from the Book of Jeremiah, Day 2

Could we be caught up in "Modern Day Idolatry."

Idolatry is a major theme in the Old Testament, and a sin...

Modern idolatry is the practice of placing any person, desire, object, or achievement above God as the ultimate source of security, identity and worth...

What are examples of modern day idolatry? I have taken some information from Gotquestions.org and paraphrased it. Please take some time and reanalyze whether or not you have an idol of some sort...

Our world doesn’t tend to build or purchace many golden statues, like the ancients, so the world no longer explicitly bows down to idols and images, yet we are not immune to idolatry in other forms.... Instead we worship at the altar of the god of self. This brand of modern idolatry takes various forms.

First, we worship at the altar of materialism which feeds our need to build our egos through the acquisition of more “stuff.” Our homes are filled with all manner of possessions. We build bigger and bigger houses with more closets and storage space in order to put all the things we buy, much of which we haven’t even paid for yet. Most of our stuff has “planned obsolescence” built into it, making it useless in no time, and so we consign it to the garage or other storage spaces. Then we rush out to buy the newest item, garment or gadget and the whole process starts over.

Second, we worship at the altar of our own pride and ego. This often takes the form of obsession with careers and jobs. Millions of men—and increasingly more women—spend 60-80 hours a week working. Even on the weekends and during vacations, our laptops are humming, and our minds are whirling with thoughts of how to make our businesses more successful, how to get that promotion, how to get the next raise, how to close the next deal. In the meantime, our children are starving for attention and love. We fool ourselves into thinking we are doing it for them, to give them a better life. But the truth is we are doing it for ourselves, to increase our self-esteem by appearing more successful in the eyes of the world. This is folly.

Third, we idolize mankind through naturalism and the power of science. We cling to the illusion that we are lords of our world and build our self-esteem to godlike proportions. We reject God’s Word and His description of how He created the heavens and the earth, and we accept the nonsense of atheistic evolution and naturalism. We embrace the goddess of environmentalism and fool ourselves into thinking we can preserve the earth indefinitely when God has declared that this current age will have an end: “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare

Finally, and perhaps most destructively, we worship at the altar of Inflating our own achievements, status, or abilities, or the fulfilling of our self excluding all others and their needs and desires. This manifests itself in self-indulgence through alcohol, drugs, sexual sins, and food. Those in more affluent countries have unlimited access to alcohol, drugs (prescription drug use is at an all-time high, even among children), and food. Obesity rates in the U.S. have skyrocketed, and childhood diabetes brought on by overeating is epidemic. The self-control we so desperately need is looked down upon in our insatiable desire to eat, drink, and medicate more and more. We resist any effort to get us to curb our appetites, and we are determined to make ourselves the god of our lives.

In Ezekiel 7:8...God warns that His wrath is poured out against moral corruption, violence, and persistent idolatry. Know this, God tells us He is the same yesterday and today, He never changes... He has given us a way to be forgiven and not suffer His wrath, but His wrath will still come, and those who choose to continue in sin, and refuse as Israel, (specifically the southern kingdom of Judah) did in Jeremiah's days, many will suffer this same wrath God talked about in the old Testament....

As Jesus said "Repent and be saved" Luke 13:5...Jesus warns, "Unless you repent, you too will all likewise perish", presenting repentance as essential to avoiding spiritual death.... It is time today to repent, as tomorrow may never come...

10/13/2026

A few words from the Book of Jeremiah...

Jeremiah weeps because of all who have rejected God!

Coming off our study on Revelation and the 7 churches, we have seen Jesus telling us things we need to do if we are going to spend time in Heaven with Him for Eternity.

As I am reading through the book of Jeremiah, and I see these same thoughts. These things are shown to us because of what God has done to those who rejected His word after He has told them how much He cares for them and what it is that they need to do to inherit the kingdom of God... Repent and wash themselves of their worldly Idols...

Jeremiah 1:5...“Before I formed you in the innermost parts I knew you...He was speaking to Jeremiah, but this goes for us also... before we ever took our 1st breath, Isaiah 43:1... I have called you by name; you are Mine!, Luke 12:7...But even the hairs of your head are all numbered!...David tells us in Psalm 139:13-14...For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. Leading to Ephesians 2:10...For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Jeremiah 2:32...My people have forgotten Me Days without number...... after looking at the verses above, how can we forget Him and create an Idol that replaces Him... We do not tend to forget what we truly love... What captures our hearts and captures our time and energy...

As I say over and over again, God wants a relationship with us, not just a place on our schedules once a week....this is something an Idol can not do...

Tomorrow just incase you don't think you have an Idol...I will share a list of what Idols can not do, and we will wonder why do we spend our time with them...

10/12/2026

The Book of "Revelation", The 7 Churches, Review of Jesus, findings...

If you have an ear to hear, be doers of His word, Repent!

In the last few verses to each of the churches..."He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’"

If you have an ear to hear...Isaiah 55:3...Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that your soul may live; And I will cut an everlasting covenant with you, According to the faithful loving kindnesses of David.

"Come to Me" can only be done through repentance...The message is "Repent", as all have either turned away or have become complacent...We need to light the fire, rekindle the flame...that once burned in our hearts, and once lit, we need to endure till the end with this bright light that the fire produces as we are told by Jesus in each of the 7 messages, that He has prepared a place for us...

(1) Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7) - the church that had left its first love, repent and turn to Christ (2:4).
(2) Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11) - the church that would suffer persecution and was told to endure to the end (2:10).
(3) Pergamum (Revelation 2:12-17) - the church that needed to repent and turn to Christ(2:16).
(4) Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29) - the church that had a false prophetess and need to repent and turn to Christ (2:20).
(5) Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6) - the church that had fallen asleep, wake up, repent and turn to Christ (3:2).
(6) Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13) - the church that had endured but was only relying on some of God's power (3:10).
(7) Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22) - the church with the lukewarm faith, repent and turn to Christ (3:16).

All of these letters are saying "Repent, turn back to Christ, and endure till the end" and if we hear, listen and do as we are told in James 1:22..."be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves", Jesus has promised us much, as stated above in Isaiah 55:3...that your soul may live; And I will cut an everlasting covenant with you, According to the faithful loving kindnesses of David.

Repent today, as tomorrow may be too late...

10/11/2026

Song Sunday, The Lord's Day!

"Revelation Song"

We have been looking at Revelation chapter 2-3, Jesus telling us He see's all we are doing, and tells us what He wants us to do to repent before the church is taken...Chapter 4 and on through the book no more mention of the church again till Revelation 22..."to testify unto you these things in the churches" Chapter 4 is where the church has been taken up to our true address...Per Jennie, the writer of todays song...She meditated deeply on Ezekiel 1:26–28 and Revelation 4, which describe the throne room of God. As she looked at the descriptions of rainbows, lightning, and sapphire thrones, the words came flowing out spontaneously: "Clothed in rainbows of living color, flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder...". Let us Repent which was and is Jesus' message to us and look for His coming, when we will also see the throne room of our King as John The Apostle seen. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. Who was and is and is to come

Revelation Song" was written by Jennie Lee Riddle in 1999, based on Revelation 4-5 recorded here by Kari Jobe in 2009
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQexgLMMyL8

"Revelation Song"

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Holy, holy is He
Sing a new song to Him who sits on
Heaven's mercy seat

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Holy, holy is He
Sing a new song to Him who sits on
Heaven's mercy seat

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come
With all creation I sing praise to the King of kings
You are my everything and I will adore You

Clothed in rainbows of living color
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor strength and glory and power be
To You: the only wise King

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come
With all creation I sing praise to the King of kings
You are my everything and I will adore You

Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder
At the mention of Your name
Jesus, Your name is power, breath and living water
Such a marvelous mystery

Oh, You're worthy, mystery
You are worthy

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come
With all creation I sing praise to the King of kings
You are my everything and I will adore You
I will adore You

10/10/2026

Poem Saturday!

"God Wants To Give!

As we have been looking at the 7 churches from Revelation the last few weeks, we see that many of the messages that were given to the churches involved "Repentance".... He wants us to repent and turn back to Him and have a relationship with us... We are needing to repent because we have turned to face the world, which points our back side to Him...He is directing us, and waiting for us to turn back and face Him today, and every day...Try it this morning, Father I repent of my sin and turn back to you right now, In Jesus name we pray, Amen and Amen!

God Wants To Give ~
By Deborah Ann Belka

Blessing upon blessing,
God wants to give
He wants you to repent
so He can forgive.

God wants your heart,
He wants your soul
in Him He wants you
to be made whole.

Mercy upon mercy,
God wants you to receive
He wants your faith
so in Him you’ll believe.

God wants your troubles,
He wants your prayers
He wants you to trust Him
with all of your cares.

Grace upon grace,
God wants you to know
He wants your love
so His peace can grow.

God wants your battles,
He wants all of your deeds
He wants you to believe
He’ll take care of your needs.

Blessing upon blessings,
God wants you to accept
His mercy and grace . . .
for the tears you’ve wept!

~~~~~~~~~

Psalm 84:11

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield:
the Lord will give grace and glory:
no good thing will he withhold
from them that walk uprightly.”

King James Version
Public Domain

Copyright 2024
Deborah Ann Belka

~ to GOD be the GLORY ~

10/09/2026

The Book of "Revelation", The 7 Churches...Church #7, To the Church in Laodicea

He will vomit us out!

Today, Church #7 of 7... The church in Laodicea

Revelation 3:14...“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s new creation."

Again these beginning verses tells us He knows all things that we do... So this is the 7th time we have heard this...Hope we all have this part figured out, He knows everything we are doing, yes even behind closed doors, or when your whispering!

Vs. 3:15...“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other!.... I see this as a spiritual Lukewarmness...again complacency, and indifference, and also active devotion ("hot") or total rejection ("cold")

Doing some research of the area, Laodicea had a tepid aqueduct water supply, unlike the refreshing cold water of nearby Colossae or the hot springs of Hierapolis. Just as lukewarm water is unpalatable and useless for drinking or healing, a passive, apathetic faith is seen as unacceptable

Vs.16 (NLT)...But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!... one of the thoughts are you can't ride the fence, sitting on one side, and sticking your toes on the other, sort of like being holy for 2 hours on Sunday and living in the world for the balance of the week....The Greek word used for "spit" or "vomit" in Revelation 3:16 ("I will spit you out of my mouth") is ἐμέω (emeō), which literally means to vomit or spew out....

Not making a decision for Christ, is like making a decision for the world or Satan... and yes He will vomit us out or spew us out away from Him...

Vs.17...You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked".... Many think they have everything they need, yet their lives are so empty... and do not know or even want to accept that they need Christ, I, I, I can do it syndrome...and until they do have Him, they will be unholy, wrenched, miserable and poor in spirit.

Vs.18...My advice to you is to buy from me that gold which is purified in the furnace (“gold” here stands for faith.) so that you may be rich, and white garments to wear ( to put on honor and humiliation.) so that you may hide the shame of your nakedness, and salve to put on your eyes to make you see (They were blind, they were proud of their intellectual wealth, and they boasted of their deep knowledge, insight, and clarity) All those whom I love I correct and discipline. Therefore, shake off your complacency and repent..... Yes we know that Father God disciplines us, to correct our evil ways and bring us closer to Him, as we seek him more and more, realizing how much we need him in all things.

Laodicea is another church that needs to repent, and turn back to God completely, not half way to God!

Monday we will close with 1 last note from Jesus for the churches, and a recap of all that Jesus desires we do to grow our relationship with Him.

10/08/2026

The Book of "Revelation", The 7 Churches...Church #6, To the Church in Philadelphia

To be commended, yet with a gentle reprimand...

Today, Church #6... Revelation 3:7...
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: (FYI, The town of Philadelphia derived its name from Attalus Philadelphus, the king of Pergamos, who died B.C. 138)

This is what He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says:

‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have given before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.....Again God knows their deeds, as He does the other 6 churches, and our church, and our deeds...but here with this church He does not find anything wrong in His eyes!

The church in Philadelphia is commended, yet with a gentle reprimand. Although Christ accepts when we have a little strength, believers must not rest satisfied in just a a little, but strive to grow in grace, to be strong in faith, giving glory to God. Christ can give his blessing to his people, so that our enemies shall be forced to acknowledge it....

Vs 10...Because you have kept the word of My patience (the patience He requires of us), I also will keep you from the hour of testing (a future time of global testing and trouble) which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth (those meaning people whose loyalties are fixed on the world, those who reject God.

11-12a... I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it... Meaning once we have Christ, and have repented and He is living in us, we need to hold tight to Christ so no one will deceive us, by feeding us another Gospel that is not true, or we will loose any and all crowns we have acquired. We need to become victorious, as we will have finished the race strong and become a "pillar", which represents strength, support, and an unshakeable position in heaven with God, and Jesus, and will never have to leave it, means we are with Them for eternity!

Vs. 12b...And I will write on them (4 marble Pillars) the name of my God, and they/we will be citizens in the city of my God, the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them (the 4 marble pillars) my new name (which has not been revealed as of now)...... On the sides of the four marble pillars which survive, as ruins of Philadelphia, the inscriptions are to be found. The writing would be the name of God, the name of the heavenly Jerusalem and the new, unknown name of Christ Himself that has not been revealed to us yet...If we are to be a pillar or column in the temple. The name of God would be easy to see and worn by us to show all that we belong to God....

We have learned every day this week so far that we are to repent, and turn back to God, this church never turned away from God, and only thing lacking was that God offers great power and strength, and Philadelphia has only used a little of this power... We need to be stronger in Christ, and use everything He has given us to use, not just a little of it. Like someone giving you a $200,000 sports car and you only start it up, and drive it up and down in your driveway... How would someone feel about the way you used the gift? How does God feel the way we use our gifts from Him?

Vs. 13... “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

10/07/2026

The Book of "Revelation", The 7 Churches...Church #5, To the Church in Sardis

Wake up, and strengthen Yourselves or be removed from the book of life.

Today the 5th of 7 Churches listed in Revelation: Sardis

For a reminder:
#1 Ephesus, You have many good things you are doing, but "I have this against you, that you have left your first love."
#2 Smyrna, Satan will test you, Hold your faith, and he who overcomes will never be hurt by the second death. (meaning some will not)
#3 Pergamum, "Repent" turn back to God, and do not fall or stumble and you will receive, Manna, a White Stone, and a New Name
#4, Thyatira, Like Ephesus, have become complacent, but even more so... fruits are dying, along with habits towards God. They must Repent to be saved

Today, #5...“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: This is what He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says:

Revelation 3:1...‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead....meaning: The ministry of this church had a name, they where reported as famous for their faith, diligence, and holiness; but their faith, without suitable works, was dead, and they were no better than hypocrites...If your faith is true, you will want to perform works to further God's Kingdom.

3:2...Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of My God...... This means against sin, and it was their duty to perform it in a better manner than they have before ( To whom much is given, much is expected" or "much will be required") ...and we are to strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die...we also are to improve how we use our spiritual gifts and our good habits... which have left us.... or are faint and ready to die....especially if we don't not look for an improvement and strengthening of them...."For He has not found our works perfect before God"

3:3...So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent....We need to remember what the Gospel is all about and what it means to act like a Christian , act like Jesus more and more every day in our ways, mind and thoughts... And a warning if they, or we don't repent...It is an echo from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. It speaks of the coming of Christ to judge His Church, and it would be in an hour we are not ready for unless we are waiting.

3:4-6... We are told some have remained living in Christ and have not become complacent, just as the ones from Ephesus who have lost their first love. If we remain in Christ, "They (we) shall walk with me in white, for they have deserved to do so. The victorious shall wear such white garments, and never will I erase his name from the book of life. Indeed, I will speak his name openly in the presence of my Father and of his angels. Let the listener hear what the Spirit says to the Churches....

White garments symbolize spiritual purity, righteousness, and being counted worthy through Christ,

Never erased from the book of life...this is a guarantee of salvation rather than a threat that names can actually be removed. By saying He will not, for eternity!

I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels, Jesus will tell father God about us and our Righteousness in the presence of His angels...,

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches....

10/06/2026

The Book of "Revelation", The 7 Churches...Church #4, To the Church in Thyatira

Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come!

Today the 4th of 7 Churches listed in Revelation:

#1 Ephesus, You have many good things you are doing, but "I have this against you, that you have left your first love."
#2 Smyrna, Satan will test you, Hold your faith, and he who overcomes will never be hurt by the second death. (meaning some will not)
#3 Pergamum, "Repent" turn back to God, and do not fall or stumble and you will receive, Manna, a White Stone, and a New Name

Today...“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: This is what the Son of God, the One who has eyes like a flame of fire and His feet are like burnished bronze, says... ‘I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your last deeds are greater than at first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and deceives My slaves so that they commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.

The woman Jezebel, used as a symbolic figure, which also refers back to the wicked Old Testament Queen Jezebel, a Phoenician princess married to King Ahab of Israel, who promoted the worship of Baal and persecuted God's prophets...Here Jesus speaks of her misleading servants into sexual immorality (porneia) and eating food sacrificed to idols (idolatry) and Jesus condemns the church of Thyatira not just for her actions, but because they tolerate her presence and false teaching... Question, do we tolerate the actions of others that we know are not Christian? Are we not to Edify, enlighten, instruct, teach, educate, uplift, nurture... this is not judging, it is teaching what scripture says....

Christians were frequenting Jezebel's church services, in addition to continuing to meet for church and worship Jesus. That was scandalous because those idolatrous worship services featured “priests” and “priestesses” who led their congregations in lewd sexual or**es as a means of “worship.”

It says here that Jesus gave her time to repent but she refused...and serves His punishment: I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her (spiritually) into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.

And for those who do not follow Jezebel in her ways, and the deep things of Satan, there was to be no burden on them or us and told...It is written, "nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come. And he who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from My Father; and I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

The Morning Star...signifies receiving an intimate share in Christ's own glory, spiritual enlightenment, and royal authority....

So we need to stay true to Jesus, choose to stay away from evil thoughts and actions, not just the ones listed above, overcome these temptations and keep a Godly way about you. God knows all, knows our hearts, and our deeds, and if we do, we will rule with Him in eternity, and be gifted with Christ's own glory, spiritual enlightenment, and royal authority....

And as all the letters end...He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

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