The Pearl

While participating in an introspective, thought-provoking series, "The Rest of Your Story" by Dayspring and Holley Gerth (link given, below left), a question presented brought back some interesting memories for me.

The question was, "What's one little thing that helps you give God the red pen and make peace with who you are?"

When I was younger, and not yet walking in the salvation of our Lord, I was caught up in the ways of the world. I listened to what the world said, and since this world demands perfection, I strived to be good enough. Perfect looks, stylish clothes, perfect hairdo, outgoing personality, and the right possessions...all of which promised to give popularity to the girl who had them. But I, like so many others, didn't have them.

I loved jewelry. But one piece of jewelry that I could never wear was a pearl necklace. There was just something about those gleaming white, beautiful iridescent pearls. I felt that I wasn't pretty enough to do them justice. So I would never wear them.

I was listening to the message of the world..."you're not pretty enough, you're less-than."

When I received Jesus as Savior and Lord, I was finally able to accept that I am made perfect in Him, and was able to move forward to be the me that He created me to be. No longer did I hear the world telling me that I'm not good enough...because now, I was a child of the King!

And yes, I am able to wear pearl necklaces now...but only because of the One who is, the "Pearl of great price."

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it."
Matthew 13:45-46

until He comes...

Like a Thief in the Night

A couple of days ago, on my way home from work, an unusual thing happened.

As I drove up the same street that I have driven many, many times before, I saw something that I had never experienced in the sixteen years of traveling that road.

As I drove, I saw from the corner of my eye something coming towards me. I looked, and it was a huge hawk! He swooped down to the small patch of grass separating the middle of the street, and snatched something up in his talons. All I could imagine was that it was some small animal. He lifted from the grass and flew right in front of my car as it moved. He was so close that I could see his feathers and the warm brown coloring underneath him. He was a bit off balance, and righted himself quickly and lifted into the air, barely missing my car hitting him.

As I kept traveling, it took me a few moments to realize what had just happened. Then a thought came in my mind...

"Like a Thief in the Night..." It kept repeating over and over in my mind.

Then it hit me as to the significance of the thought coming to me, connecting to this event. Jesus will come just as the hawk did, suddenly, and snatch His children out of this world...at the last moment, before the horrors of the tribulation times hit this world!

For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 1 Thessalonians 5:2

He's coming brothers and sisters...Be ready!

until He comes...



(Photo by Bobbie Peachey...About.com:Web Clip Art)

God is Good

Is God good?

What is His true nature?

Jesus said in John 14:9 -
"Jesus answered: "Don't you know Me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father?"

Jesus is saying then that He and the Father are the same. So let's take a look at the persona of Jesus ...

"Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:29

We now know that the Father is the same...gentle and humble in heart.

What about the God that we read about, who threw Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden, and later in the Bible rained down judgement upon Sodom and Gommorah? Where was His gentleness then?

Let's look at one other scenario in which Jesus shows another facet of His persona..

"On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts." Mark 11:15,16

Jesus...gentle and humble in heart, now shows another side...righteous anger at people who are mocking the sanctity of His Father's house.

We can surmise then that the Father, like His Son, feels righteous anger when the laws of the universe, created for the goodness of all, are mocked.

When man originally sinned in the Garden of Eden, he turned his back on his Creator, and everything he had given him, and broke the laws that were originally meant to give him life. He was now dead spiritually. He had created a wide chasm between them...separation from his loving Father.

Then God, gentle and humble in heart, created a plan. This plan would be the only legal way, without breaking the laws of His universe, that He could bring man back to Himself. It was a plan that would cause Him grief, as He would see His only Son suffer unimaginable torture, pain, and death. Jesus would pay the price for man's sins, and man would have another chance to come back to the loving Father.

The price has now been paid. Jesus paid it all in full. But man must still accept the gift that God has given him...the chance to be restored.

Would a gentle and humble God send man to hell, if he doesn't accept this gift?

No. His nature is gentleness. He will not send man to hell.

God has paved the pathway for man to return...but man must choose to walk that path. To choose otherwise, is to choose to continue in spiritual death. God will not send man to hell...but man will send himself, by again turning his back on his God and His precious gift.

God is good.

Accept His gift today. He's waiting for you...

until He comes...