Month: January 2012

Posted on in 2012 Posts

Jesus IS Coming…We Just Don’t Know Quite When!

Yes, her foot is on her forehead, but isn't she adorable?!!

Yesterday in church I was sitting next to my daughter, Courtney who is pregnant.  As she was sitting there, her baby inside was kicking her up one side and down the other.  I giggled thinking about this little one who in a few short months will be bursting into our lives changing them forever.  Then my mind went to, “You think this is bad?  Wait until she’s a teenager!”  I can be a bit cynical now that I’ve raised 4 teens full or part time.  Raising two of them on my own makes up for the last two step children I got semi-part time!  Truth be told, I had at least one or more teens in my household for 13 consecutive years.  It has scarred me for life as I can’t look at a baby anymore without thinking about them being a teenager!  It’s been a perfect birth control if I ever thought I might want to adopt a child in my mid-life!

We went to lunch after church and Courtney was talking about getting a mattress for the baby and about the supplies she is gathering for its arrival.  You can see her eyes glisten when she talks about the hopes and dreams she has for her child.  You can find her at any given time sitting in her chair crocheting yet another blanket to wrap the little one in when it arrives.  She’s worrying about having the car seat in time and just pulling all of the details together for that upcoming day that no one but God knows at this point.  She knows it’s coming and she’s making sure she is ready for when it does.

There has been a lot in the news lately about the Mayans who have predicted the end of the world to be in December of this year.  I know the Bible says no one will know that day and time of Jesus’ second coming so these things don’t really resonate with me too much.  However, my mind started going to the thoughts of, “What if?”  What if God were to come back this December?  Do I have my affairs in order that I would be ready for Him if He did?  Just as Josh and Courtney are excitedly awaiting the arrival of their first child, I am also excitedly looking forward to the second coming of Jesus.  The big question remains however; have I made the correct preparations so I am ready when He does come?

If the baby were to arrive early and all of the preparations weren’t made yet thinking they had another 3 months, I am sure there would be chaos as everyone scrambled to get things together for the new princess’s arrival.  Just as if Jesus were to come today, I think He might catch many of us off-guard with more things on our “to-do list for Jesus” yet undone.  I have chosen to live 2012 as though there is no tomorrow.  Each morning when I rise, I am going to read my Bible and pray like today is my last day and ask for my instructions to make sure I am ready when He comes.

Won’t you join me in the preparation for His coming?  Who do you know that still needs Jesus as their Savior?  We need to pray for them now as tomorrow may never come.  Perhaps God is asking you to talk to them about their salvation.  Pray for doors to be opened for you to do just that.  Maybe He is just asking you to be their friend. Can you carve out time to make relationships that will count for eternity?  Are there things in your life you’ve been hanging onto for years–unresolved feelings, unforgiven wrongs against you, unconfessed sin?  What is it that would stand between you and God if He were to return today?

I am not typically a fanatic or alarmist about these things.  Though today in my spirit, I feel it’s time to get ready–time to start preparing for His arrival.  What can it hurt?  NOW is the time to get ready because some day—no one knows the day or the hour—Jesus will be here.  It can either be a time of chaos and regret, or a time of celebration and great joy.  The choice is yours!  Just don’t say I didn’t tell you so!

May there be a glisten in your eyes today as you ponder that day when we meet our Savior face to face!  Be blessed.

Mark 13:32-37  (NKJV)  32 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. 34 It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. 35 Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— 36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”

Posted on in 2012 Posts

I Was A Guest Today on Another Blog…

I thought you might like an extra treat this week.  Sometimes we bloggers are invited to share on each other’s sites.  Tristine Fleming asked me to contribute to hers this week and I did!  Since my writing was continuing to reflect on the scripture I blogged about this week, I thought it might be a good reminder for you all mid-week.  Perhaps seeing it in a different form will light a spark my first post didn’t…or continue to fan the flames already lit!

God has big things for us all this year…I can feel it in my spirit.  Check out Tristine’s blog today and let me know what you think!  As always, if you like what you read, feel free to pass the link along.  I’m committed to reaching many in 2012.  I’m so glad you’re here with me!

http://dailyremindersfromgod.blogspot.com

Posted on in 2012 Posts

God is Fanning the Flames for 2012!

Wow, do I ever feel pumped up and ready to go into another new year!  I’ve had some years that began with me digging my heals into the ground and saying, “No, I don’t want it to come!  I can feel a bad year on the horizon!”  Last year, I just kind of coasted into 2011 as I was not well and I really didn’t care one way or another.  However, 2012 is different.  I am a woman on a mission for God!

For 28 years, I knew God had something for me to do in this life other than just my everyday stuff.  I have prayed, hoped, dreamed, stepped out, felt blessed, stepped back, tired out, and even at times gave up on things I felt God leading me to do.  Of all of the things I have chosen to do in my life, it is those things that are eternal for which I am the most passionate about following.  I find that when I tire out and give up, it’s typically when I wasn’t really doing what I was put on this earth to do even when it seemed so right at one point.  For when you are serving God as you should, the Holy Spirit fills you up daily with passion and purpose for the day’s work.

Today, of this I am sure.  God’s plan has got to be my plan if I want to have more than just a mediocre existence in this life.  I want to do God’s will.  I want to minister to those He puts in my path.  I pray that the time that I spend writing is for His good and will reach many.  I want to help others find Him in an intimate way as I have, in my years of walking with Him.

In my reading this week, Paul was signing a letter he wrote in Colossians 4:17-18 and his words just jumped off the page at me.  He said, “…Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.  This salutation by my own hand Paul.  Remember my chains.  Grace be with you. Amen.”

Here was Paul, sitting in prison with his hands bound by chains, encouraging others to finish strong.  If he can be so positive while in such a place of great turmoil in his own personal life, so can I.  As a matter of fact, so can you!  You see, God didn’t put us in this world for everything to be easy and go our way.  He put us here to find Him, get to know Him, share Him, and learn to serve Him.

He has given each one of us a ministry of some kind that He wants us to fulfill.  He doesn’t really need us to accomplish our tasks; but He has allowed us the privilege to walk with Him and serve Him in these ways He puts before us.  I want to be like Paul.  I want to be an encourager, even when times are tough.  When I am down and out and bound by things of this world, I want The Holy Spirit to shine through me in a way that others will still want what I have.  I want to be victorious and faithful to the end, despite my circumstances.

Our pastor preached today on being either hot or cold and not lukewarm.  I want to be hot, Hot, scorching HOT for Jesus in 2012!  What about you?  Where is your walk in life taking you?  Have you asked God to show you where He wants you serving in 2012?  If not, take the time today to quiet your world before the hustle and bustle of the new year begins.  Shhhh…I can hear Him, can’t you?  He’s saying, “Keep praying so that I can keep you up on the latest details of what I need from you. Keep searching because sometimes My ways are not always obvious to a human mind.  Keep watching for where I am at work and come join Me when You see Me. My heart longs for you to know the blessings only I can give as you learn to serve Me.”

Well, I really don’t know if that’s what He’s saying to you…I just made that up!  It’s a Christian blog…I can’t lie!  The fact is, what He’s saying to me is probably not what He’s saying to you.  However, I do know Him well enough to know that He loves us.  He desires for us to have an intimate walk with Him while on this earth, reflecting His mightiness in the lives we live.

So how are your plans for 2012 looking?  Are you going to be hot, Hot, scorching HOT for Jesus this year?  What ministry has God given you to fulfill?  Can you conjure up just even a little bit of Paul’s faith and optimism even when times are tough? Are you ready to confidently claim the Holy Spirit’s power over you as you serve God this upcoming year in mightier ways than your mind can conceive?  I’m ready.  Bring on 2012!  Let’s run hard, act wisely, and let’s finish strong because that’s what God would want us to do.  We are His witnesses…let’s show His stuff in 2012!  God’s fanning the flames…is yours lit yet?