Fires, Floods and Mudslides

Fires, Floods and Mudslides

“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.”                                   Matthew 24:7-8

To come up to today’s time; this year of 2018 has seen far greater natural disasters than I can remember in my lifetime. There have been unbelievable fires and so have died because of them. So many people have died because of shootings; people killing people for little reason at all. Many have died in floods this year alone and now there is concern about mudslides coming.

If God sees every little sparrow that falls, it’s hard to believe he doesn’t know about all these disasters.  While we watch this on the news, most of us can’t do anything about it, but we can pray and God hears the prayers of the righteous.  As we gathered around our tables thanking God for his mercy and grace this year on another Thanksgiving Day, how can we not think about those who lost so many loved ones?  Thousands lost their homes and everything they had is gone forever.

The above scripture in Matthew 24:7-8 should not surprise us.  As time speeds by we see more and more of these things happening and as bad as they seem, the Bible says that, “All these are the beginning of sorrows.”  You mean after all that has happened, there are worse things to come?

Have you read about “The wrath of God” in the Bible?  Revelation 16:1 “Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.”   There is a time coming when the true wrath of God will fall on this earth and what has not already been destroyed certainly will be. 

The times we live in today are only a preview of what is to come. These things are also a warning sign to those who are wishy washy about serving God.  I don’t say these things to scare you but to pass on what God has already told us. He has given us warning after warning in the Bible and most have not listened. What would you do if a red, blinking sign saying, Alert! Alert! Alert! Flashed across your TV screen followed by “It’s the end of the world!”  What would you do?  Would you start praying, swearing or screaming?

I think the real person you are would panic because you knew you were living a lie without Jesus.  The truth would come to the surface; you knew about salvation, but never accepted it.  There were too many fun things to do and places to go.  You never wanted to take the time to listen to what God was trying to tell you. Now is the time to listen to God’s voice, trying to tell you to turn your life over to Him.  He is your salvation; your way to escape the wrath to come; to be assured of heaven no matter of what’s to come and it will come.  Don’t wait!!!

To Everything There is a Season

To Everything There is a Season

“And a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up.” Ecclesiastes 3:3

Dear friends, I have really missed writing my blogs every week, but I have been taking time to heal and build up. I had a knee replacement and expected to heal quickly like I did two years ago when I had my other knee replaced.  However, nothing is ever the same; not even two knees.  However, I am on my way up and know that one day soon, I’ll be good as new, thanks to Jesus, my healer.

During my recuperation time, the season has changed.  We went from warm and sunny to cold and gray.  I watched the little green maple tree change to gold and red to bare branches.  Now it’s sleeping through the long winter time ahead, but when spring comes it will again sprout lovely green leaves and the birds will once again sing sweet songs in its branches. 

I find that I have changed as well during this time.  I have had time for thoughtful reflection and find myself lacking in different areas.  My heart’s desire is to listen to God’s voice more and to not jump ahead of him on things.  I’m an ‘idea’ person and when I think I have a great idea I tend to run with it.

I find I am lacking in patience.  So many things I’ve not been able to do for myself and I am so grateful for my wonderful husband who has taken care of me so well, even if he doesn’t do everything just like I would.  My loving family have been amazing on checking up on me, bringing food and doing all kinds of things for me.

I found myself feeling so alone at times, but so grateful to those who prayed for me, sent cards and checked on me.  I had to question myself on why I felt lonely.  I really wasn’t alone for the last few weeks.  I came to realize how blessed I am; blessed with family and friends. 

I miss going to church most of all.  No wonder the Bible says we “Should not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”  (Hebrews10:25)  It’s really true: you feel separated from the body when you aren’t staying in touch.  The smiles; the hugs and the cheery “Good Mornings” just start the day off right for me. Before you know it the worst of this season is past and the next is just beginning.

The next season is Thanksgiving and the best part about Thanksgiving is the family getting together.  The food and fellowship are awesome, but what is so amazing is that when the family begins to come together, we all greet each other like we haven’t seen one another in a month, even if we saw each other yesterday.  Our thankfulness shines through and we remember how great the Father’s love is for each of us.  Sometimes I read a funny story I wrote many years ago about ‘A Boy’s Thanksgiving”. I’m looking forward to it this year after being in the season of healing for so long.

This year we celebrate the births of new babies amongst us.  There are now 5 generations of us; all believer’s in the one true God and Jesus, his son, as were several generations before me. What a great inheritance and I give thanks to our heavenly Father for this.  Not every family has this and there is nothing special about this family except we all believe in Jesus and have received his gift of life.

This is the thought I leave with you today, as the season of Christmas is soon to follow, set aside to thoughts of tinsel, gifts and toys.  Think instead of that tiny baby who was born in Bethlehem one Christmas night and of the message of the angels. “Born today in the City of Bethlehem, a Savior who is Christ the Lord.”

            May the Lord bless each of you now and in the days to come.