For the Lord himself, with a word of command,
with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God,
will come down from Heaven,
and the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then we who are alive, who are left,
will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
Thus we shall always be with the Lord.
Therefore, console one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
With the trumpet of God... Gabriel will blow! Oh, so many years ago I was introduced to a delightful woman of God. She had just published an uplifting book entitled "He's Gonna Toot and I'm Gonna Scoot." Learning how to place one foot in front of the other until we are called home can be unbearable, it can be made easier with the help and prayers of others... and sometimes it takes a good laugh to release the stress and turn over the burdens that are weighing us down.
Those who are alive...are living in the every day "stuff" of life. Waking each day, walking through the day with strength (praying, reading the word of God, and praising Him). We are laying down in the evening (reading, praying, and resting). We are all rushing here and there with meals, cleaning, laundry, activities...sports...meetings...church, and grabbing a few of those "precious moments." Those of us on vacation, visiting friends, at the movies, or simply reading a book are enjoying a few moments away from the hectic schedules of living a "full" life. At some point in time, everyone of us are engaged in a moment of joy, sorrow, grief, or pain. Yet, until then we prepare for God's appointed moment, in which, we will all be gathered "alive" in His presence and awaiting His judgement. Before then we have been given His discernment through the Holy Spirit and God's word. We can be ready, not caught off guard, for the promise of our Lord Jesus Christ return... or when Gabriel is given the go ahead to blow that final trumpet.
We have been taught about these days... we have praised Him for His promise to return... we have read and studied the book of Revelation... we are the His "watchmen" during these days of peril... and yet... how many of us are truly ready for our Lord to return?
Many years ago, a dear friend of mine lovingly insisted that I should read the best seller "Left Behind." At the time I thought, "Why in the world would I want to read about the worst book of the Bible... those end times... all of that chaos?" Although this series is a fictional account of what God's truth will be in the last days before our Lord Jesus returns, it changed the way I thought of myself... my calling... what I chose to know as truth... and what I was willing to stand for.
Barbara Johnson (1927-2007) died July 2nd, 2007 of cancer (Central Nervous System Lymphoma) after a valiant 6 year fight against the disease. During her illness, she added four more books to her long list of published works, including one that takes humorous pokes at her life with cancer. Affectionately called the “Geranium Lady,” a title taken from her bestselling book, Stick a Geranium in Your Hat and Be Happy, her homespun humor and hope in God in the midst of tragedy, ministered to millions.
A strong Christian woman who relied on her faith in God and her sense of humor to persevere through many devastating experiences, her life was plagued by a string of tragedies. Her husband was in a near fatal accident and slowly recovered from debilitating injuries. She lost one son in Vietnam and another son to a drunk driver. Her third son was estranged from the family while pursuing a homosexual lifestyle. But, she emerged from these experiences having learned that though pain is inevitable, people can choose to pick flowers instead of weeds.
Her compassion extended far beyond the pages of her encouraging books. Wanting to use her own pain to help others, she and her husband Bill founded Spatula Ministries, a unique organization that uses a “spatula of love” to help parents “peel themselves off the ceiling” and begin on the road to recovery. She wrote her first book after reaching the age of 50 and was voted “Celebrity Mom of the Year” for 1996. Prior to being diagnosed with cancer, she toured across the country as a popular conference speaker and part of the "Women of Faith" tour. Her many books have comforted millions of women, bringing them hope and humor in times of distress. She will be missed by many, but her life will live on in her numerous books.
Those who are alive...are living in the every day "stuff" of life. Waking each day, walking through the day with strength (praying, reading the word of God, and praising Him). We are laying down in the evening (reading, praying, and resting). We are all rushing here and there with meals, cleaning, laundry, activities...sports...meetings...church, and grabbing a few of those "precious moments." Those of us on vacation, visiting friends, at the movies, or simply reading a book are enjoying a few moments away from the hectic schedules of living a "full" life. At some point in time, everyone of us are engaged in a moment of joy, sorrow, grief, or pain. Yet, until then we prepare for God's appointed moment, in which, we will all be gathered "alive" in His presence and awaiting His judgement. Before then we have been given His discernment through the Holy Spirit and God's word. We can be ready, not caught off guard, for the promise of our Lord Jesus Christ return... or when Gabriel is given the go ahead to blow that final trumpet.
We have been taught about these days... we have praised Him for His promise to return... we have read and studied the book of Revelation... we are the His "watchmen" during these days of peril... and yet... how many of us are truly ready for our Lord to return?
Many years ago, a dear friend of mine lovingly insisted that I should read the best seller "Left Behind." At the time I thought, "Why in the world would I want to read about the worst book of the Bible... those end times... all of that chaos?" Although this series is a fictional account of what God's truth will be in the last days before our Lord Jesus returns, it changed the way I thought of myself... my calling... what I chose to know as truth... and what I was willing to stand for.
After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in Heaven:
and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me;
which said, Come up hither,
and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
Revelation 4:1
I began this journey, this quest for His will in my life. Was I truly looking for His return? Would I begin learning about His returning in fulfillment of the Word of God (book of Revelation)? Was I longing for His return in order to bring an end to all of the deception, pain, suffering, and selfishness within our world? Was I so in love with Him, that I loved His promise to return... even if it meant that the worst times of our world... would be turned over to an evil... so devastating that everyone will be forced to choose Jesus or life with the Antichrist?
Behold, I shew you a mystery;
We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,
at the last trump;
for the trumpet shall sound,
and the dead shall be raised incorruptible,
and we shall be changed.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52
In the "twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound.." What must I be looking for? I know, that I know that I must be in God's word daily. God's word is my manual for living. There is no "gray" area. Either it is all truth or it isn't. Either His word is our history and our future... or man is wiser. God's first commandment warns us against having any other gods before Him (Deuteronomy 5:7). This includes picking and choosing which parts of the Bible to believe in. It includes changing what His word says in order to ease our conscience. It means that we accept His words, His will, and His truth. We must turn "off" what is in our culture today or on our news in order to know His truth. We have a choice... to follow the "pressures" of the media or to learn more about what God has promised in the book of Revelation? What does the second coming of Jesus mean?
Given all that is happening in our world today, we will need to stand together in faith. We can be watching, always ready with God's word for those who are in need, always ready to check with the Bible that which could be deceiving those around us. When all is said and done... we believe in prayer, God's word as truth, and that we are not alone....
Given all that is happening in our world today, we will need to stand together in faith. We can be watching, always ready with God's word for those who are in need, always ready to check with the Bible that which could be deceiving those around us. When all is said and done... we believe in prayer, God's word as truth, and that we are not alone....
Watch ye, stand fast...
1 Corinthians 16:13
The Days of Elijah sung by Judy Jacobs
Take a moment to laugh while we are walking out this life...
Barbara Johnson (1927-2007) died July 2nd, 2007 of cancer (Central Nervous System Lymphoma) after a valiant 6 year fight against the disease. During her illness, she added four more books to her long list of published works, including one that takes humorous pokes at her life with cancer. Affectionately called the “Geranium Lady,” a title taken from her bestselling book, Stick a Geranium in Your Hat and Be Happy, her homespun humor and hope in God in the midst of tragedy, ministered to millions.
A strong Christian woman who relied on her faith in God and her sense of humor to persevere through many devastating experiences, her life was plagued by a string of tragedies. Her husband was in a near fatal accident and slowly recovered from debilitating injuries. She lost one son in Vietnam and another son to a drunk driver. Her third son was estranged from the family while pursuing a homosexual lifestyle. But, she emerged from these experiences having learned that though pain is inevitable, people can choose to pick flowers instead of weeds.
Her compassion extended far beyond the pages of her encouraging books. Wanting to use her own pain to help others, she and her husband Bill founded Spatula Ministries, a unique organization that uses a “spatula of love” to help parents “peel themselves off the ceiling” and begin on the road to recovery. She wrote her first book after reaching the age of 50 and was voted “Celebrity Mom of the Year” for 1996. Prior to being diagnosed with cancer, she toured across the country as a popular conference speaker and part of the "Women of Faith" tour. Her many books have comforted millions of women, bringing them hope and humor in times of distress. She will be missed by many, but her life will live on in her numerous books.
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