Then She Spoke

“Therefore keep watch, for you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” Matthew 24:42

We have been waiting for thousands of years and at times it seems like we have all the time in the world. But this life is very short in comparison to eternity. Not a thousand years, not a million, but forever. Do you know where you will spend forever? Good or horrible we will one day see the face of God and eternity will be here. We may die tomorrow in an accident or Jesus may come to take his children home. Will you be ready? It is very easy to be sure and know without a shadow of doubt. It all depends on the life you live right now. Today. Does that mean you have to be perfect? No. Nobody is perfect. And our loving father knows that and he doesn’t care because he loves us. But he hates sin. So how do we as sinners get anywhere near God. We just believe that his precious son Jesus Christ did die to take all our sins away. It was the ultimate plan and though it was a horrible plan for God and his son, they did it anyway because we are so important to him. He wants everyone to spend eternity with him in paradise but many won’t take him up on his offer. They think they don’t need it. Such a sad mistake which lasts forever. Once you are banished from his presence there is no light and no goodness ever again nothing that you used to enjoy on God’s beautiful world. So think long and hard about tomorrow.

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lore has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” Job 1:27

So much can be learned by reading Job. I’ve studied it many times since my stroke because it gives so much insight to suffering and pain. There is a reason for everything. Sometimes only God can understand the reasoning at the time but I do believe that he works all things for the good of those who love him and are called to his purposes. They don’t always have to be pleasant to be good. If there was no pain then how would you know you felt good? If there was no dark why would you need light? If no evil would we know how much we enjoyed good things? I know that I can’t fix meals and I want to eat so I get what they serve me and it isn’t always something I might choose. The other day I had a donut and I was so excited. Well I hadn’t had one for a few years but it was Thanksgiving so it was a special occasion. It tasted so good. I don’t see my family much because they live out of town so when they come it’s a celebration. If they were here all the time it would be less exciting. I have had my share of pain since the stroke because physically my body has lost a lot of abilities. My mind however has never been better but I do things all day to strengthen my brain muscles. My body won’t get better and I’ve given up on it. I’m ok because I always seem to be able to do things I need to or want to do. Others do most everything for me. Kind of cool because I don’t have to clean, cook, do laundry, or go to work. I can read, play games, or sleep whenever I want. Something I have noticed is that I have had pains that doctors have found cures for and now I’m grateful to be out of the pain. But I am stronger and can tolerate even more than previously because I got used to the pain. You can see things as bad when things change but after time they don’t seem so bad anymore. It is what you get used to. When you have people to talk to it can brighten your day as long as you still have time to be alone so you can enjoy spending time with people again later. Too much of a good thing gets to be not so good after a while. Like I may love donuts but every day and I probably won’t like them for long. One thing I never get tired of is the presence of the Lord. The more I get, it seems the more I want. It is never enough. I could never do without it anymore. He gives me the strength I need to live every day to the fullest.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” Matthew 13:44

The kingdom is not something just anyone can see. It doesn’t make sense to many people until it is revealed to you and you begin to see it for what it is. But it is not something you have to purchase, but is the most valuable thing you could ever have. Until you find it and open up, the gift that is just lying there for anyone to find, you don’t realize what is right before your eyes. You can’t truly appreciate what is in front of you till you study it. I was razed up in the church so I knew God and my family was in church every week from the time I was born. Every week it was required that I would be in church. I knew the Bible stories well and won many contests throughout vacation Bible school growing up. My father would read a Bible story book after dinner every evening. I knew those stories well, but I didn’t really know God. Until I began to seek for him and all he had for me personally did I find him. It took reading everything I could about God, I committed to pray regularly and read my Bible every day. I also started going back to church with a friend every week. Slowly he became so real to me. The peace and comfort I felt was so overwhelming and the Bible started to come alive. It had always been a little confusing at times to me. All my life I thought I was a Christian but it didn’t change anything about my life. I just lived as good as I could and didn’t think about God much. Well once I realized what I had found. I realized that I could never ever live without what I found. I would do anything to never lose it and to get more of it, it became my every obsession. God knows us so well and he is drawing us to himself because he loves us so much. He knows just how we think and what it is going to take to wake us up. I know several people were used by God in my life to help draw me to him. Devine encounters made just for me. Well I have never been happier or more at peace and calm. Pain and troubles can annoy me at times, but they can’t shake my peace. That treasure is just waiting to be found so open your eyes it’s right in front of you.

“Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you, Away from me, you evildoers’”. Matthew 7:23

God knows us completely but he wants us to get to know him. He knows everything we have ever done or said, even to ourselves. Our deepest, darkest secrets that nobody knows, he knows. Nothing can be hidden from him. He knows our very hearts and what lies in them. Even Satan knows God very well. He lived with him in heaven for a long time. Leading praises to him. Until he decided he wanted to be powerful like God. Even though God created him he thought he could be better than God. And hell is made just for him and his angels to spend all eternity in. If he knew God that well and yet is the father of lies. What do we need to know? People think that saying a prayer to God is all they need to do to be able to get into heaven. But there are many that think they are guaranteed heaven and they will one day hear those awful words and be eternally cast away from God and all that is good. He wants your heart also. He wants to be your one desire. People can say that they want to be forgiven but are they willing to turn away from their life of sin and run to him. People think they can do what comes naturally and still sin and God will overlook it. Unless you can remember every time you sin and honestly ask God to forgive you believing in your heart that you do not want to sin anymore and turning away from evil. Then there is no guarantee you are changed. If you lose your life for Gods sake and all your sinful desires, then you can save your life from the final death. But no matter what you say or do God will know your very heart. Is he first in your life? Are you more concerned for his kingdom than your kingdom? Are your desires his desires? These are some very important questions you need to ask yourself if you want to spend eternity with God in paradise one day. If you want to see God one day and gaze upon his glory and thank Jesus for all he did for you? If you wish to see every person that’s in heaven just because of you and the life you lived? So much you don’t want to miss. Eternity really does matter.

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

Isn’t it good to know that God knows all that we can be before we are ever born and also all the mistakes we are going to make but he still very patiently keeps drawing us to himself. He will not push us but will continue to let us do things our way. He has all the time in the world to woo us and he knows exactly what will work for our unique life experiences. He begins wooing us from our first day of life because he loves us so. Different people have different challenges and different blessings so the time it takes to draw us to himself will be different with everyone. Generational curses and blessings effect that. Personally my grandfather was a Baptist minister so our family was in church every time the church was open. I’m sure my grandparents and my mother prayed for me often. But my father liked to go out drinking with the buddies and that’s where he was while my mother was having me, all alone. He didn’t really want to give up everything for his faith. It wasn’t bad drinking but that can be a strong generational curse which can lead to drunkenness and violence and irresponsibility. This can pass down through generations. Luckily he gave that all up when I was still very young and recommitted his life to the Lord and I had a very strong Christian upbringing. I didn’t have the problems that so many of my friends had. But as is normal we all go through some rebellious times in our teens and early adulthood and God can send us through different divine encounters to get us through this period. I accepted the Lord early in life and knew the Bible stories by heart but I didn’t know Jesus. Just about him. So when I was in my 30’s I had my rebellious period where I wanted what I wanted. Which led to my stroke where several divine encounters drew me to seek that relationship with Jesus I had never had. Once I found that I wouldn’t let go and just kept seeking more. The peace I found would not let me go and was so amazing. I found what I was meant to do which was write and encourage others and now God is using me as someone else’s divine encounter. To further their wooing. But one day he will not be able to woo you any longer because your time on earth will be up so don’t resist to long or it may be too late.

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Phillipians 4:4

Rejoice! Yes it is a choice but God is trying to tell us that it is very important. Not once but he repeated it and added an exclamation mark. In the home where I live they have a piece hanging on the dining room wall that says, ‘Thankful Grateful. Blessed’. It really does say it all. If you are just thankful and grateful you will be blessed. That’s Gods way. To truly be thankful just start thinking of things you are thankful for. First is salvation and what Jesus went through just for people who didn’t know or care about him. We can be very selfish and messed up but he loves us so much and couldn’t imagine a future without us. For the sun rising every morning with a brand new chance to have a good day. Who doesn’t like a do over when they have messed up. With God we can have a fresh start anytime. Delicious food, beautiful artwork, family love, friends, puppies, kitties, babies: you get the idea, you could think of things forever. Are you grateful when someone does something nice for you? Or even when they just show respect and are helpful now days that is a plus. That is why God has called us to take care of widows and orphans or anyone who is marginalized and needs help. Helping others to be grateful is such a blessing. One that keeps giving. When you are thankful and grateful you can’t help but be truly blessed. The peace that Jesus promised comes into your life and you can’t help but rejoice. Singing praises also blesses you and makes you want to rejoice. Rejoicing just fills your soul with contentment. There is no better feeling than peace and contentment in your soul. When you are struggling or hurting just start praising and you will feel the peace that comes with joy.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” Ecclesiastics 3:1

This world keeps spinning around and there is nothing new under the sun. Everything has a purpose. Everyone is born at just the perfect time for them. There purpose is for that exact period of time. This morning I welcomed my tenth grandchild into the world. It never gets old. But one day that child will grow up and God will call him home. Nobody enjoys saying goodbye to a loved one. But if they know the Lord it is a big promotion. Their very best days are ahead and if we truly love them we’ll realize all that’s ahead and be excited for them. There is a time to plant and uproot. We are told to sow what we wish to reap but if we sow anger and struggles we may need God to help us rip them out. So we can move forward with a good life. A time to kill and heal. We should pray when we need healing and believe that God is more than able. But sometimes the best healing comes through death and that can be a blessing also. A time to build and a time to tear down. I’m sure you have seen a building implosion torn down when it was no longer able to be patched. Well are lives can get to that point as well but God can and will rebuild what is broken. That’s his specialty. A time to weep and a time to laugh. We all enjoy laughter and good times. Times with family and a great vacation but we also have hurts in this world and it’s ok to be sad. A time to mourn and a time to dance. David danced before the Lord with all his might and sometimes when we a mourning we need to realize that God is so good to us and to start dancing and you will see a breakthrough. There is a time to search and a time to give up. Sometimes we can be so stuck in fixing a problem that we are only seeing what we ourselves can do to make it better and we need to give it up to the God who is in control and is so good. He knows the answer but sometimes he needs us to get out of the way. A time to be silent and a time to speak. This is a very important one. Have you ever felt God say, just keep quiet. Usually before we put our foot in our mouth. He can also have something we need to say to someone that they really need to hear. A time for war and a time for peace. Just as when the Assyrians came against the Israelites God had said it would happen because they wouldn’t repent from evil. He has also told us that in the last days there would be many wars. But he keeps his word and this is a time for us to be excited about. Because Jesus we be returning soon. We need to be praying for those who don’t know him. Now more than ever.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2

This is a multiple layered dessert that really needs to be broken down in small bites to be appreciated. Each bite has so much deliciousness in it. God has done so much for us and given us so much. He deserves all of our praise and adoration every day. Not only did he give us his very own son to move out of heaven and all the way to earth just so he could experience everything that we experience and so he could better relate to us and have greater compassion for us. He then could see people just like God does and care for them and teach them how to live God’s way and the very best way for them. He then allowed himself to be beaten and scourged and humiliated to the point of death paying our debt for our sins. So we wouldn’t have to. Buying for us that perfect mercy and grace as well as healing of Almighty God. Now we can become his very own children so he can lavish affection on us. He does not want us doing things that will harm us and ultimately can’t satisfy us. Do you desire to please yourself and those around you more than what is really good for you. I know I did at one time and it brought a lot of hurt and pain to me and my whole family. It almost destroyed everything I had worked so hard for. A you know what it all seams stupid and ridiculous to me now. How empty and shallow my life was. Now that my eyes are focused on my prize, Jesus, I can have so much more. The world holds nothing for me anymore just my friends and family and the people in my life matter to me. Yes, God made some really great things and I will enjoy them but I only live for Jesus now. His kingdom has so much to offer right here on earth that I could never explain. You have to taste it yourself to love it. Until you understand the real truth of God’s words and their transforming power and they come alive in your life you will honestly never understand. But just as we are his branches and he is our vine, or our true power source, we were never meant to be apart from his power. We can not really do anything good without him. Whether it’s good for us or those around us it all comes from him because he is the source of all goodness.