Are We There Yet?

May 22, 2010

While reading an article in the news on the Gulf oil spill disaster, something stood out to me that I would like to share. The article talked of oil washing ashore that is "red" in color.

A question came to my mind..."could this be what the Bible speaks of in Revelation 8:8?"

"And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;"

I don't know for sure if we are truly at this point in the scriptures. What we do know is that since the beginning of 2010, we have seen a frequency of disasters and unrest in our world that I believe is unprecedented. As I write this to you today, the oil is still billowing out under the sea...despite all efforts to stop it.

"You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled, for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." Matthew 24:6-8
(I understand that the word translated "sorrows" in this context means "birth pangs." As we know, birth pangs get closer and closer together, and more intense.)
Have we passed from the "beginning of sorrows" to the Tribulation?

We have already gone through what I call "fire drills" from the Lord. Things that have happened, and had the potential of signaling the end times...only to clear up shortly thereafter. Could this oil spill be another "fire drill" or the fulfillment of scripture? Only time will tell.

We know that time is short.

"And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom He hath chosen, He hath shortened the days." Mark 13:20

Live your life as if today may be your last day on this earth...because it very well may be...Jesus may come for His church at any time. Make the most of every opportunity to win people to the Lord. It could be their last chance! And if you don't know Him as Lord and Savior, I invite you to ask Him into your heart, to forgive your sins...and start living for Him.

Be ready...

"That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." Ephesians 5:27

Come quickly, Lord Jesus...

"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Revelation 22:17


Update: June13, 2010

Here we are, weeks later...and the oil continues to flow.

Images in the news, such as the bird shown here, covered hopelessly in oil, continue to assault our eyes and emotions. The true consequences of this disaster remain to be seen. We have already been informed that this disaster has surpassed the Exxon Valdez by being 8 times worse.

But Jesus does not want us to be afraid...for these things must come to pass.

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27

A new world is coming...

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." Revelation 21:4


until He comes...

A Time to Let Go

Sometimes letting go of people or things can be a hard thing to do.

I'd like to tell you a little story…

It was a beautiful day. The wind was blowing leaves around in circles, and he watched them twirling in the air, like birds doing summersaults.

As he watched the leaves, suddenly he heard a noise at the front door…a key turning in the lock. He ran quickly to the door, to see who it was. She closed the door behind her, and they were very glad to see each other. He purred, and she bent over to stroke his long silky hair.

“My beautiful, beautiful, Rusty…did you miss me?”

It was the end of a long day of work for Mary. She looked forward to the peace and quiet of the evening. As she headed for the kitchen to feed Rusty, the phone rang. She answered it and was pleasantly surprised to hear from a long time friend…they chatted away. Rusty, waiting patiently for his dinner, settled down on the rug. As he almost fell asleep, he heard the familiar words, which meant she was about to hang up, “Ok, you take care, talk to you later.” Rusty jumped up and ran to the kitchen. Mary laughed and followed him. She fed him, and settled down in her chair with a favorite book. Rusty went back to his window perch and fell asleep staring into the still darkness outside.

The next day Mary hurried off to work. She heard that a co-worker, Misty, had lost her beloved cat last night. She and her daughter were alone since her husband’s death, and losing their beloved pet must be heartbreaking for them.

Mary went about her work, but something was bothering her...she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She took her break, and went and sat in a quiet place so she could think. Then it hit her...she knew what she had to do. She would give Rusty to Misty and her daughter. He just had not seemed happy lately. She knew she had not been spending enough time with him, and he seemed to be getting depressed.

She went back to her desk and called Misty. She told her how sorry she was to hear about her cat.

“Mary, it's so sad to see my daughter…first her Dad, and now the cat.”

“I know, that’s why I’m calling…I want you to take my cat, Rusty, as my gift to you.”

“Mary! Rusty??? I can’t! I know how much he means to you.”

“I want you to have him.”

“Oh Mary, thank you! My daughter will be so excited.”

They made the arrangements for Rusty to change locations the very next day. Mary knew when she came home that night to an empty house, that things would never be the same. But she knew that it was best for everyone..

Mary changed jobs soon after, but she and Misty agreed to keep in touch. One day she started thinking of Rusty and decided to call. Misty's daughter answered and said that she wasn't home, but would return in about half an hour.

"I was just calling to see how Rusty is doing."

"Rusty? Oh, we don't have him any more. We gave him away."

Gave him away, she thought? How could they do that? She felt angry, hurt, and betrayed. She wanted her sweet Rusty back so badly at that moment, but she knew that this probably could never happen.

She waited the half hour to call Misty, alone and tortured with her feelings. Misty answered the phone.

"Mary!" "I've been meaning to call you, and let you know about Rusty. We don't have him any more. We gave him to my brother."

"Your brother?"

"Yes. Let me tell you. A few months ago his daughter, three years old, died in a sudden accident. She drowned. After Rusty came to live with us, my brother came to visit one day and they instantly took to one another. I had to give Rusty to him...it seemed the right thing to do."

Mary didn't know what to say. They talked for a while, and then hung up. Mary kept thinking about what had happened, and knew that Misty didn't know the whole story. Rusty had always been afraid of men. He would cower in fear if they came near him or tried to pick him up. For Rusty to take to her brother was an absolute miracle!

As Mary went to sleep that night, she rested, knowing that she had done the right thing in giving Rusty up.

Letting go...

Letting go can be a hard thing, but sometimes it can open the door to things that might not have ever otherwise happened.

There are things that we never want to let go of, people we never want to leave behind. But keep in mind that letting go isn't the end of the world; it's the beginning of a new life. Anonymous

(The story of Rusty is based on a true story)

until He comes...