we are living in a world where strange things are happening all around us You can sense it You can see it You can feel it Something is shifting across the globe And as believers we must be alert discerning the times through the lens of God's word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit These are not just isolated events They are signs that the earth itself is trembling under the weight of change The spiritual atmosphere is growing thicker The battles are intensifying And the groanings of creation are becoming more pronounced Even those who do not know
God can sense that something is happening that the world is not as it once was One of the most significant events that unfolded recently was the passing of Pope Francis on April 21st 2025 At the age of 88 he departed from this world His funeral held on April 26th became one of the most notable global gatherings in recent history Over 50 heads of state and 10 reigning monarchs came together in St Peter's Square Vatican City alongside more than 250,000 mourners The world paused The image of world leaders bowing their heads together regardless of politics and
national divisions was a powerful reminder that even the most powerful among us must one day return to the dust No matter how high we climb in this world death remains the great equalizer But in the backdrop of this monumental event another meeting took place that captured the attention of the world US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zalinski met privately at St Peter's Basilica just before the funeral proceedings But just minutes before the start of the funeral as we've been reporting a brief meeting was held inside St Peter's Basilica by President Trump of the
US and President Zalinski of Ukraine It was their first face-to-face encounter following a tense and contentious exchange earlier this year In the midst of sorrow political discussions still brewed While the world was watching the Vatican tensions elsewhere have been rising India and Pakistan two nations with a long and volatile history are once again experiencing escalations Border clashes have intensified Nationalistic rhetoric has stirred emotions on both sides Military forces have been placed on heightened alert And the world watches with baited breath praying that this tinderbox does not ignite into a broader conflict Jesus warned us in
Matthew 24:6 that we would hear of wars and rumors of wars This too is a reminder that the word of God remains true and unshaken History repeats itself but behind every conflict is a spiritual battle raging unseen Strange things are not only happening in the political realm In the spiritual realm we are witnessing the rise of false prophets as Jesus himself warned us would happen in the last days A man named Abba al-Sadi has recently emerged claiming to be the successor of Jesus Christ Boldly and blasphemously he speaks in the name of our Lord deceiving
many I am Abdullah the successor of Imam Mahisam the successor of the comforter Ahmed the successor of Simon Peter the successor of Muhammad the successor of Jesus Christ I am the true and legitimate pope I am the proof upon the Christians His rise has garnered a following among those who have itching ears who seek new revelations rather than standing firm in the truth But this should not surprise us Jesus warned in Matthew 24:5 "For many will come in my name saying I am the Christ and will deceive many." The spirit of deception is active in
the world today It is seducing It is subtle And it is drawing many away from the true gospel We must remain grounded in the true gospel unwavering and unshaken discerning the spirits and holding fast to the truth of the word of God Now more than ever we must be Bereans searching the scriptures daily to see whether these things are so We must not be swept away by sensationalism emotionalism or the allure of new doctrines We have the sure word of prophecy We have the unchanging foundation of Christ It is a time for vigilance for deepening
our roots in scripture for testing every spirit and for clinging to the cross of Christ alone As if political tensions and spiritual deception were not enough nature itself seems to be speaking Central Asia has been gripped by a historic heat wave with temperatures soaring up to 10° C hotter than average Regions in Kazakhstan and neighboring countries have experienced unprecedented temperatures affecting millions Crops are failing Rivers are drying up Livelihoods are being destroyed It is as if creation itself is groaning echoing what the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation
groans and labors with birth pangs together until now The elements are not behaving as they once did Patterns of life that seemed dependable have become erratic Seasons blur stability fades and the voice of creation seems to cry out "The King is coming The earth itself is preparing for the return of its rightful ruler The mountains the seas the winds they all testify to the coming of the Lord We must read the signs of the times with spiritual eyes wide open Strange things are happening indeed But beloved this is not a time to fear This is
not a time to be troubled Jesus said in John 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled You believe in God believe also in me." Though the world around us shifts and trembles though we hear of wars and rumors of wars though false prophets arise and strange events unfold we are not left as orphans We have the comforter the Holy Spirit dwelling within us His presence in our lives is our anchor in these turbulent times He is our steady hand our gentle whisper our bold encouragement The spirit of God within us reminds us that our foundation
is not shakable because it is built upon the rock of ages Let the Holy Spirit fill your heart and your home Let him wrap you in the peace of God the peace that surpasses all understanding Philippians 4:6-7 says "Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus It is easy to look at the news to see the strangeness of these days and to feel overwhelmed It is
easy to feel powerless but we are not powerless We have been given the spirit of God not a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind We are filled with divine power to overcome fear to be light in darkness and to proclaim the hope that the world desperately needs We are not of this world Our citizenship is in heaven Our hope is not anchored in governments in leaders in the environment or in the stability of nations Our hope is anchored in the eternal rock Jesus Christ When everything else fails
Christ stands When kingdoms crumble Christ reigns The same Jesus who calmed the raging sea with a word is the same Jesus who speaks to your heart today Peace be still Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts Let his spirit comfort you when the world seems chaotic Let his presence remind you that you are not abandoned You are not forgotten and you are certainly not alone No matter what headlines scream at us no matter what new crisis comes next no matter how strange things get you are hidden under the shadow of the Almighty Psalm
91:1-2 says "He who dwells in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the almighty I will say of the Lord he is my refuge and my fortress my God In him I will trust." We are a people who trust not in appearances not in the stability of worldly systems but in the unchanging promises of God The same God who walked with Daniel through the lion's den who walked with Shadrach Meach and Abednego through the fiery furnace walks with you today The same Holy Spirit who filled the disciples with boldness
in the book of Acts fills you now We walk by faith and not by sight We are a peculiar people set apart for a divine purpose Let your homes be places of peace Let your hearts be altars of worship Let your families be soaked in prayer and the word of God Let the atmosphere around you be charged with faith hope and love When you hear of strange things happening remember your savior is still seated on the throne His plans are still unfolding His return is closer today than it was yesterday We are not here to
panic We are here to proclaim We are not here to fear We are here to shine The darker the night the brighter the light The stranger the times the greater our opportunity to point people to Jesus May the Holy Spirit fill you and your family with the peace of God The peace that surpasses all understanding May he guard your hearts and your minds May he whisper to you in the stillness of the night Be still and know that I am God And may you walk boldly joyfully peacefully and powerfully through these strange days knowing that
God is with you for you and in you Fear not beloved Lift up your eyes
