WITHOUT EXCEPTION

Here are a few pictures of our new living quarters. Furthest to the right is the Assisted living building in which we are renting a small apartment shown in the middle. The Gazebo is a place to sit and enjoy the premises. The first is a portion of the complex of buildings for seniors housing near to 500 people. In our next blog we'll share some pictures inside. AND NOW: a word from God's Word: Without Exception

In God’s sight, according to the Scriptures, there is not one single righteous person on this earth. What’s more, the Scriptures say that there is no one that understands, or seeks God, and that everyone has gone astray and become unprofitable. There is not even one single person that does good, no, not even one! It continues to say that man’s throat is like an open grave, whose tongue has been used for deceit. It continues ta tell us that poisen, compared to that of a viper is under their lips, and whose mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are quick to shed blood: destruction and misery are in their ways, and no one seeks after God, and they have no fear before Him.
Dearly beloved friends, loved by God Himself, the above declarations may be read in the Bible in the book of Romans, chapter 3, and verses 10-18. These words were written for the Jews, as well as all the rest of mankind. I would like to encourage you to read them slowly with all due reverence to the Lord, our God. The truths mentioned were not written to condemn only, but written to lead us to the only way of salvation that God, our Father Himself has provided for us. This includes the Jews who had the law, and the rest of mankind, including all, who are living in Aruba, Bonaire or Curaçao.
The answer is so clear in the Bible, that is for sure. However, without the help of God, none of us will understand. And the reason for that is clear in the Scriptures. The Bible declares that in our human nature we are dead in our sins; that is, we are dead spiritually speaking.
On one occasion during our Lord’s ministry while on earth He said the following words: " Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come unto condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (Read John 5:16-30)
Friends and brothers & sisters in the Lord, these words were spoken by our Lord, when He was in a body just like ours, but without the sinful nature that every single person in the human race has been born with. That is why our Lord was called "The last Adam". (Read 1 Cor. 15:20-22 and 1 Cor. 14:45-49). In a sense we can say that we did not choose to be born with the sinful nature, but we can now choose eternal life or eternal perdition. We can choose salvation or condemnation. This is a choice we must make.
That is why we are writing this short message on our blog today. Choose life! We trust that the Holy Spirit of God will do the work of convincing many precious souls of sin, righteousness and judgment. (Read John 16: 5-16). That is why dear friend, no matter what age you be, Christ died and rose again for us.
If you hear His voice as you read this message, do not let your heart become hardened by neglecting or postponing your decision. We do not know what tomorrow may bring. According to the Scriptures we were bought with a price. The Lord Jesus Christ carried our sins in His own body on the cross, that we being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness, by Whose stripes we were healed. (Read 1 Peter 2:20-25; 1 Corinthians 7:23 and Ephesians 1:3-14.)

IS MY FATHER AT THE HELM?

We have said Goodbye to our beautiful Aruban sunsets, but now we are enjoying the incredible sunsets of the Saskatchewan prairies!

Good morning on this June sunshiny morning! Here we are back in a smaller suite at Bethany Manor, but in the new section called Bethany Place, a four story building designated for assisted living. It is incredible what a smooth journey we had home, which to us was rather intrepidating. Through our niece Verna Ratzlaff careful planning ahead, we sense our Heavenly Father at the Helm all the way. It reminded us of this tract Bicento wrote many years ago in the Papiamento language. I translated it into English, so here it is. Read it and be encouraged in your day today knowing that Your Heavenly Father is at the Helm of your life - if not, then heed His beckoning to Come Unto Him - read Matthew 11: 28-30

Considering the international unrest that exists today with all its injustice and violence that is taking place in different parts of the world, we may ask:
"Why is God quiet?"
"Why does He permit so much injustice to triumph?"
"Why does He not punish the rebellious that are disquieting the world?"

The Psalmist Asaf must have passed through similar experiences when he wrote the following words in Psalms 74: 10,11: "How long will the enemy mock you, O God? Will the foe revile your name forever? Why do You hold back your hand? Take it from the folds of your garment and destroy them." Why? Why? For what reason?
We ask today: Why does God not reveal the insaneness of communism?" "Why does he permit for them to blaspheme His name?" Listen to what God says in Psalms 110:5,6: "The Lord is at your right hand; He will crush kings on the day of His wrath. He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth." It is important for us to consider and understand that TODAY God is slow to punish, but quick and eager to forgive. However, if the Lord would punish sin today without showing mercy, who would be able to withstand? It is as the prophet Jeremiah entreated in Lamentations 3:21-23. "Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness."

We are warned again and again to not become impatient, but to trust the Lord. He cannot err. He cannot fail. He cannot contradict Himself. No matter how tempestuous the storm, or how much the nations rant and rave, our Heavenly Father is the great captain of the universe! He formed the heart of man, and of a certainty the wrath of man will yet praise Him.

There was this time when a large ocean liner crossing the Atlantic Ocean from England to the United States found themselves confronting a formidable storm. Soon it was tossed from side to side by enormous waves. All the people on board were in panic and hysteria with the exception of one little eight-year old girl, the daughter of the captain. "What is happening?"she asked abruptly awakened from her sleep. Her mother explained to her the danger they were in. "Is my father at the helm?" she asked. Assured that she was, she said: "Then I am going right back to sleep." She crawled under the covers and in no time was fast asleep.
What a lesson this should be for us today as we see and watch the uproar of the nations! We need to ask ourselves the same question the little girl asked: "Is my Father at the helm? If my Father is at the helm, there is then no need for me to be afraid." Listen to what Psalms 4:8 says: " I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety."

Any king can err, and any great and powerful ruler or leader can blunder, but our Heavenly Father can never fail. All His blessings are within our reach today through His Son Jesus Christ. Through His death on the cross, and by His resurrection, the sinner can be forgiven of all sin and have peace with God and the peace of God. Our world is full of pain, and the worse is yet to come; but we who are in Christ have joy and peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

Though the angry surges roll
On my tempest driven soul,
I am peaceful and I know,
Wildly though the winds may blow,
I love an anchor safe and sure
That can forevermore endure.

And it holds my anchor holds,
Blow your wildest then, O gale,
On my bark so small and frail
By His grace I shall not fail,
For my anchor holds, My anchor holds. Song by W.C.Martin

IS MY FATHER AT THE HELM?

Good morning from Canada on this beautiful sunshiny June day! This is our first opportunity to post a blog as it took a little time to get reconnected in our new suite. Our address is: Bicento & Betty Henriquez, #158, 211 Pinehouse Drive, Saskatoon, SK., S0K 5G0, Canada. And our phone Number is (306)978-5882.

We surely experienced the heading of our POST today in our travels from Aruba to Saskatoon "IS MY FATHER AT THE HELM? He was surely at the Helm all the way! We sensed His help, through others, all along the way! We felt we could not have made it in our own strength and endeavour. We are greatful especially to our niece Verna Ratzlaff, my nephew Bruce's wife, for all the unseen preparation she did to make our trip so smooth. The Airline special service to us, Verna and her daughter Wendy meeting us in Newark and flying back to us to Calgary, and then the prayers of many Aruba and Canadian believers. We are thankful to our Heavenly Father Who was at the helm all the way. Now sit back and enjoy the message Bicento wrote in Papiamento many years ago in his early Christian experience, and I translated it into English, and we will also post it on the Papiamento blog. The picture is Bicento and I posing with Lucy Semeleer Blanca with her sencond son named Samuel. It was the first time and the last time we say him - a day or so before we left. And in an email this morning she said, "I left my heart in Canada!" She said our letter to her mom and dad had made her homesick.

IS MY FATHER AT THE HELM?
Considering the international unrest that exists today with all its injustice and violence that is taking place in different parts of the world, we may ask:
"Why is God quiet?"
"Why does He permit so much injustice to triumph?"
"Why does He not punish the rebellious that are disquieting the world?"
The Psalmist Asaf must have passed through similar experiences when he wrote the following words in Psalms 74: 10,11: "How long will the enemy mock you, O God? Will the foe revile your name forever? Why do You hold back your hand? Take it from the folds of your garment and destroy them." Why? Why? For what reason?
We ask today: Why does God not reveal the insaneness of communism?" "Why does he permit for them to blaspheme His name?" Listen to what God says in Psalms 110:5,6: "The Lord is at your right hand; He will crush kings on the day of His wrath. He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth." It is important for us to consider and understand that TODAY God is slow to punish, but quick and eager to forgive. However, if the Lord would punish sin today without showing mercy, who would be able to withstand? It is as the prophet Jeremiah entreated in Lamentations 3:21-23. "Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness."
We are warned again and again to not become impatient, but to trust the Lord. He cannot err. He cannot fail. He cannot contradict Himself. No matter how tempestuous the storm, or how much the nations rant and rave, our Heavenly Father is the great captain of the universe! He formed the heart of man, and of a certainty the wrath of man will yet praise Him.
There was this time when a large ocean liner crossing the Atlantic Ocean from England to the United States found themselves confronting a formidable storm. Soon it was tossed from side to side by enormous waves. All the people on board were in panic and hysteria with the exception of one little eight-year old boy, the son of the captain. "What is happening?" he asked abruptly awakened from his sleep. His mother explained to him the danger they were in. "Is my father at the helm?" he asked. Assured that he was, he said: "Then I am going right back to sleep." He crawled under the covers and in no time was fast asleep.
What a lesson this should be for us today as we see and watch the uproar of the nations! We need to ask ourselves the same question the little boy asked: "Is my Father at the helm? If my Father is at the helm, there is then no need for me to be afraid." Listen to what Psalms 4:8 says: " I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety."
Any king can err, and any great and powerful ruler or leader can blunder, but our Heavenly Father can never fail. All His blessings are within our reach today through His Son Jesus Christ. Through His death on the cross, and by His resurrection, the sinner can be forgiven of all sin and have peace with God and the peace of God. Our world is full of pain, and the worse is yet to come; but we who are in Christ have joy and peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7
Though the angry surges roll
On my tempest driven soul,
I am peaceful and I know,
Wildly though the winds may blow,
I love an anchor safe and sure
That can forevermore endure.
And it holds my anchor holds,
Blow your wildest then, O gale,
On my bark so small and frail
By His grace I shall not fail,
For my anchor holds, My anchor holds. Song by W.C.Martin