FROM THE HEART OF DR. REXELLA VAN IMPE

This article was written before the homegoing of Dr. Van Impe in 2020

Remembering

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you (Philippians 1:3)

In the past few weeks of the holiday season, Jack and I have heard from so many of our friends and partners. How we enjoyed receiving all the beautiful cards, notes, letters and e-mail. Every personal message was appreciated, especially those which said, “Dr. Van Impe and Rexella, I’m thinking of you and praying for you.” I treasure these precious expressions of love.

And at the same time, what a special joy it was for us to remember many of our friends, sending cards, letters and small tokens of appreciation. When Jack and I see what God is doing through the outreaches of this ministry, we always remember special people like you who have helped make it all possible with your prayers and faithful support.

Remembering is a wonderful thing. It is the means the Lord has provided for us to relive and enjoy anew the special experiences, people, and blessings He sends into our lives. Remembering can fill us with joy over and over again as we recall and give thanks for what God has done.

During the past year, we’ve all had occasion to observe the news coverage of great calamities such as hurricanes, floods, fires and other disasters in which people lost all their possessions. One thing that always strikes me is that the victims do not mourn over the loss of cars, houses, furniture and other “things.” The most bitter loss, it seems, is the destruction of personal momentos, family pictures, children’s scrapbooks, heirlooms and other items with relatively little monetary value. But they were priceless and irreplaceable because each item was inexorably linked to a memory. These keepsakes were important because each time a family member looked at them, he or she remembered a part of the family’s heritage – a person, place, or event – with loving and significant meaning. People grieve over the loss of such treasured items because of the threat to their ability to remember what is really important in their lives.

As a child, I loved to get my dad or mom started by recalling special stories from their childhood. I’d sit in rapt fascination as my parents remembered simple, down-to-earth stories about life and living in their generation – how things were different, and yet how things are still the same. I truly learned so much from their memories.

Remembering the good things – the important values of life – is tremendously important. It is especially essential for us to remember the work of God in our lives.

I started singing when I was five years old, and one of the first songs Mother taught me was a wonderful message wrapped up in a lovely melody. It said – Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done. One reason that song was so powerful is that it caused one to stop and remember! God is so good to us. In fact, some of my childhood friends used to change the words of that song a bit to say, “Count your blessings, weigh them ton by ton.”

Have you been blessed? Has God blessed you and your loved ones? Remember … and be thankful.

Remember, too, the instructions and directions of the Lord. For example, God’s Word says in Galatians 2:10, remember the poor. We are to remember those in affliction – and minister to them of our means, encouraging them and lifting them up. I’ve found that reaching out to bless others comes almost naturally IF we first remember what God has done for us. Jesus said, freely ye have received, freely give (Matthew 10:8).

I love the beautiful words of the Psalmist David – I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old (Psalm 77:11). Throughout the rest of his song, David gave thanks and praise to God as he remembered Who He was and what He had done. He recalled that God is the Maker of all things, including such wonders as the waters, the sky and the clouds, the lightning and thunder. How great and wonderful is our God!

Remember to forget

Certainly it is good for us to remember certain specific events and blessings and the great things about God. But there are also times in our lives when we must remember to forget! Hear the thrilling words of Paul: “Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13,14). What are we to forget? Things of the past! Things like faults, failures, mistakes – things that would hinder or discourage us in pushing forward to fulfill God’s calling for our lives. Forgetting doesn’t mean that yesterday’s mistakes didn’t happen – that they’re not a part of history. In this context, forgetting means not allowing the past to negatively impact the present. To remember yesterday’s sins that Christ has forgiven is to carry a burdensome weight that hinders our efforts and slows us down.

Paul said, in effect, “Forget the sins and failures of the past. Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily bests us, and run with patience the race that is before us” (see Hebrews 12:1).

Do you suppose the sin that so easily trips us up could be the heaviness of remembering the past? It seems to me that so many people cripple themselves and make their efforts ineffective by allowing memories of the past to make them bitter. One thing is for sure – if we are brooding over the past, we cannot be pressing on to attain the prize of Christ’s high calling in our lives.

Why should we keep dragging up the sins and failures of the past? Christ doesn’t. Once He has forgiven us, He forgets our transgressions and never remembers them again! Read – and remember – God’s remarkable promise in Hebrews 8:12 – For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities I will remember no more.

The Bible is filled with examples of things that God does for us, but this is one thing He refuses to do: He will not recall the sins of the past! The record of all those shameful, hurtful, sinful deeds is no longer on the books. It has been washed away by the blood of Jesus.

Perhaps you’re saying, “But Rexella, how can I expect Him to keep on forgiving me when I come back again and again – ten times … eleven – with the same failure, the same sin?”

If you have honestly confessed that sin to the Lord and accepted His forgiveness, forget it! Why? Because He also remembers to FORGET your sin. He wills not to recall it. And if He will not, why should you? I love this saying that Jack shared on our program recently: when we confess our sins God takes them and buries them in the depths of the sea and puts up a “NO FISHING” sign.

What a great weight you can lay aside! Never again do you need to agonize over the lie you told, the angry outburst, the date with a sweetheart in which you allowed things to go too far, the jealousies, the broken promises – whatever haunts your memories. Remember to forget the sins of the past. Once you have accepted Christ’s forgiveness, the past can be forgotten forever.

Start a brand new year with a brand new record

Starting a new year is one of my favorite things. It always seems to me that each January is a fresh start, a new opportunity, a clean slate. And I look forward to it with faith and joy.

Of course I’m aware that crossing this new threshold takes me into the unknown. I’ve never been there before. I don’t know what to expect or what lies ahead. Will Jesus come back this year? Will death strike a loved one? Will I face unseen hardships or unexpected blessings? In the words of an old gospel song – “Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand, but I know Who holds tomorrow, and I know Who holds my hand.” God knows what is ahead, and He is walking by my side. He is with me … and with you.

So we can walk boldly into the new year, not with trepidation or dread, but with glorious expectancy. We can choose not to allow the ghosts of the past to haunt us in this new year. Because He remembers our sins no more. Remember when the Lord speaks this year, it will not be with a voice of accusation.

Yet, we have the assurance that God remembers us – He knows who we are, where we are and what we’re going through. He never forgets us in times of need, but comes to us just when we need Him most.

What more can we ask than the assurance that comes from remembering the good things and the unfailing promises of God? And what an exciting challenge to start a brand – new year with a fresh, clean record! Something inside me tells me that 2018 is going to be a year to remember!

So begin this month, this week, this day expecting good things from the Lord. His will for you is GOOD. Remember to let God be your guide in 2011, and it will, indeed, be a happy new year.

A CLASSIC MESSAGE OF HOPE FROM DR. JACK VAN IMPE

Triumphant in Travail

When in January, 1949, all fighting ended in the War of Independence, the small, ill-armed Jewish militia had developed into a seasoned fighting force supported by armor and fighter planes. Not only had the Jews survived, but they had increased their territory by six hundred miles. The final armistice gained them 21 percent more land than they had originally been given in the U.N. partition. They had been triumphant in their travail, and the world took notice.

Following the birth of the nation, the first official act of the State of Israel had been to set aside the white paper quotas, opening the doors of immigration to Jews everywhere. In the eighteen months following that action, 340,000 Jews arrived in their homeland. They poured in even during the war, and by June 30, 1953, the population had doubled. By the end of fifteen months following statehood, fifty-two displaced-persons’ camps in Europe had been closed and all the inhabitants sent to Israel.

The prophesied return to Palestine of the children of Israel was happening. Isaiah had written: “Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 43:5,6).

Coming Home

And from all directions they came.

They came from the east. The largest group arriving from the east came from Iraq, the ancient land of Babylon. At the time of the War of Independence, 135,000 Jews lived in Iraq. After the war, when they were allowed to return to Israel, they were required to leave all their wealth behind. It is estimated that they left assets worth five million dollars. Speaking of that exodus, Dr. Weizmann said, “Now we see the end of the Babylonian captivity.”

They came from the west. Jews arrived from the west more slowly than from other directions because the largest group of Jews there had settled in the United States. Being comfortable in America, they were not eager to leave. However, the financial resources of American Jews allowed them to invest heavily in founding the national home.

There are nearly 6 million Jews in the United States, a number that exceeds the population of Israel (5 million). Their success here may have been the blessing of God for the very purpose of enabling them to give financial support to those settling in the State of Israel.

They came from the north. From Hitler’s camps and the displaced-persons camps they came. From all the nations of Europe they came. Having learned the lesson of the holocaust, they came to Israel. They came home.

They came from the south. They came from Yemen and other lands south of Israel. The story of the Yemenite Jews and their return is a tale in itself.

Considering themselves exiles in Yemen, the Jews eagerly received the word that the State of Israel had been established and that a new David was in power (David Ben-Gurion, the first prime minister of Israel).

Gathering up what possessions they could carry, great numbers of them started the journey to Israel. When their countrymen in Israel heard of it, an airlift was organized. Converted bombers were prepared to bring the Yemenite Jews home. In his book, Israel, the Key to Prophecy, William L. Hull described the scene:

Large planes, converted bombers, were flown to Aden. They contained only benches running lengthwise in the plane and thus enabling up to 130 of the small undersized sized Yemenite Jews to be loaded into one plane. It was all new to the Yemenites. They were a primitive people and entirely unacquainted with machinery or modern scientific development. Only a handful of all the Jews in Yemen had ever seen a plane before or even an automobile. With considerable trepidation, the crew prepared for the first flight from Aden. What would be the reaction of these primitive people? Thousands were to be transported. The first flight would indicate what might be expected.

Slowly men, women, and children made their way up the steps, took their places on the benches, sitting cross-legged, and waited in wonder. The crew was wondering, too. The roar of the motors, the movement of the plane, the sudden lifting from the ground, any of these could cause a stampede in the plane. A rush to the door, a crowding of all to one side or an attack upon the crew might wreck the plane. But nothing did happen. Everyone sat quietly, open-mouthed, breathless. Then the plane moved off and was airborne. Soon it was flying smoothly with its strange human cargo. The Yemenites just smiled and explained that God has promised that “they shall mount up with wings as eagles.” Here were the eagle’s wings provided to bring them back to Zion. Surely it was time for the Messiah to come. Maybe He awaited them in Israel!

All together 48,000 Jews were flown to Israel from Yemen.

The Jews, a people noted for their business ability, made a total investment in the State of Israel. They came burning their bridges behind them. Sometimes they were required to leave the labor of a lifetime to start anew as pioneers in a new land.

And yet this land was not new! Something within had called them back to the land of their fathers. At last the Jews were coming home.

But are they home to stay? We will cover this in our next newsletter.

CHANGED LIVES-one at a time

Hello, my name is Cheryl H. and the Lord directed me to watch your show about 10 years ago. I was struggling with drugs, alcohol and cigarettes, believing that was the only way to live. I lost care of my children and respect of my family. But God, through Jesus Christ, saw fit to introduce Himself to me and my family, and today we are all doing well. I want to praise with you as I see Him working with you and through you to enlighten us of how to prepare for His return. I love to hear you both speak and am very glad you are on audio and video. God has got a way that’s mighty sweet! I pray strength for both of you and will be on guard to hear what the spirit is saying to the church! Bless you!!

Cheryl H.

HIGHLIGHTED MINISTRY OFFERS

The Rapture Generation

Prophecy experts Drs. Jack and Rexella Van Impe lay out the evidence that YOU are part of the Rapture generation — the people who will see the coming of Christ and be caught up to meet Him in the air!

In this power-packed teaching, you’ll get answers to critical questions such as:

• What does Armageddon really mean?
• What do recent natural disasters have to do with Jesus’ prophecies of the latter days?
• What are some examples of recent Islamic terrorist attacks?
• What does this have to do with their obeying the Koran?
• Could this be the year that the Lord will return? What are the signs?
• What does the Bible say about terrorism being one of the major signs before the Lord comes back?
• And Many More!

Addictions

Rampant addictions; a sign of the times? Now you’ll understand how God’s Word previews the bondage of alcoholism and drugs, tobacco, pornography, gambling, and more that we see all around us today as a sign of the soon return of the Savior and the approaching Tribulation.

In this insightful video, Drs. Jack and Rexella Van Impe also reveal hope for you or a loved one who is struggling with a life-controlling addiction, through the power of Jesus Christ. Learn about the biblical perspective on substance abuse – the roots of addiction – how to overcome addictions as notorious as alcoholism or as overlooked as gossip, lying or cursing.