Hey
everyone!
On
Dec. 29th I wrote something along the lines of
how I wished I’d “done other things” with my time &
talents over these past 20 +/- years….. “in addition” to
watching!!
Fay
& Laurie, you both gave me much to think about!
{I ponder things deeply & I may literally think about
your comment/s all week long! heh!! Just the
way I am….}
Fay,
I’d love to sit down to iced tea with you – what do you
mean you prefer hot? What do you mean you prefer
Earl Grey & crumpets?! 😉
Just joshing with you! Love your quick, to the punch
analysis you provide here weekly! I seriously
considered what you wrote about “watching being a calling”
~ and though I love you so, I do not totally agree with
that. Here’s why: Luke 12 says if
a person will NOT watch ….. in other words, it’s
clearly up to him/her – whether to watch…. Or not……
[in that parable, the person HAD BEEN watching….
Till he finally said to himself, “My lord DELAYS his
coming!!”
Hmm!!
So much like the 5 UNWISE virgins – who DID have their
lamps burning, (it’s not that their lamps were never
lit!!) but theirs were “GOING OUT”
And
over & over & over, we are told (commanded)
to…..what?? TO
WATCH!!!!!!
But just cause it’s a command does not necessarily mean
people are going to do it!! Some will, most will
not.
And
mostly the reason I do not agree is because there’s
literally a heavenly crown given to those of us who choose
to watch – seems it’s THEEE easiest crown to be awarded –
and yet, most will miss out on it!! If watching was
a calling, then we’d all be crowned simply for following
our calling. But it’s something we CHOOSE to
do. And I just wanted to clarify: I personally
never will quit watching! Nor was I suggesting
anyone do the same. My main thoughts were those who
stand on a street corner with a sign…. Yet don’t do
anything else in life. Though honestly that’s not up
to me to judge.
This
Scripture just came to me:
Revelation
3:11 I
am coming soon. Hold fast to what you have, so that no one
will take your crown.
Pulpit
Commentary
Verse
11.
- I come quickly. Contrast μαι
σοι
(Revelation
2:5, 16),
which is a threat,
with ἔρχομαι
πρὸς
ὑμᾶς
(John 14:28;
comp. Revelation
16:7;
Revelation
17:11, 13)
and ἔρχομαι
used absolutely (Revelation
3:11;
Revelation
22:7, 11,
29), which is a
promise.
Here the declaration is one of encouragement to the Church
- her trial will be short; her reward is near at hand (see
notes on Revelation 1:1). Hold fast. The same verb (κρατεῖν
with the accusative) as in Revelation
2:1, 13, 14, 15, 25.
The epistle of Ignatius shows that this warning was
needed. Owing to the stubborn Judaism of some in the
Philadelphian Church, the central truths of the gospel
were in danger. Take thy crown. Not merely "take away" (α{ρῃ)
from thee (1 John 3:5),
but "receive" (λάβῃ)
for himself (Matthew
5:40).
Context,
context, context!!!! Which verse immediately
preceeds v. 11? Revelation 3:10
Because
thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep
thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon
all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Oh
my word & to the Lord’s glory & honor!! If
them ain’t rapture goosebumps…. I don’t know what
is!!!!!!!
All
those who DWELL (ahem, “live”) on this earth
ARE going to be tested? How? The Lord Jesus
Himself comes forth to give a butt-whuppin’ (pardon,
I’m from the south!)….. to those who chose to sin…..
And
“they” ahem, SAY that the rapture concept didn’t start
till the 1800’s!! Big haha on them!! ISAIAH
was written WAAAAAAAAAY before the 1800’s!!!
From
Isaiah 26:
Go
inside and lock the doors, (who?)
my
people.
Hide there for a little while,
until the Lord
is
no longer angry.
21 The
Lord will
come out
to punish everyone on
earth
for
their sins.
And when he does,
those who did violent crimes
will
be known and punished.
MUCH
violence will sweep this entire planet once The Restrainer
is removed!!!! There will be NOWHERE to
hide!! The Lord Jesus Christ Himself says it
will be THEEE WORST time in human history & if He did
not put an end to it when He does, that ALL MEN would be
wiped out…… E V E R Y O N E!!!!!!!!!!
The
other BIG huge test that will occur for all the world’s
inhabitants will be the test to say yes or not to the mark
of the beast. You see, the false prophet….. no,
THEEE FALSE PROPHET [1 John 2:18] (has got to
be worldwide known ahem, “religious” leader with many
followers….. anyone POP
Ento
your mind??!! (hint: play on
words!! This is my not-so-humble opinion anyway, as
well as that of many other watchers… that “he” may well
indeed be the pope) will cause (FORCE)
everyone on earth to take a certain mark on either their
right hand or forehead which swears their allegiance to
worship the main WORLD LEADER at that time!!!!
This world leader will be THEE AntiChrist. Not
just any ol’ antichrist who teaches wrongly. But
THEE AntiChrist who will rule the world “in place of” the
real Christ.
People
LISTEN UP!!!!!!! It’s not only Dr. Oz who did
a vid PROMOTING the “ease” of a chip in the RIGHT HAND
just a few years ago – NOW AMAZON is on board,
too!!!!!! And digi-cash is starting to be
accepted in many countries!!!! (as they go
cashless!!)
This
is all just a hop, skip & a jump to people the world
over THROWING THEIR MONEY INTO THE
STREET!!!!!! Because there will come a day –
some day VERY SOON, when cash won’t buy as much as a
stick of bubble gum!!
Ezekiel
7:19 “They
will throw their money in the streets, tossing it out
like worthless trash. Their silver and gold won’t save
them on that day of the LORD’s anger.
The
ones who’ve lived plush lives (think America as well as
Europe) who love their toys – and spend much time, money,
and brain cells wondering who’s going to win the Super
Bowl may be the ones with the toughest time making a
decision to either worship the AntiChrist & take the
mark, [because they’ve lived their lives at ease &
chocked full of comfort] or to say no to all of it &
be tortured, then likely killed. Scripture is very
plain that heads will be chopped off. Sigh!
I’ve heard some throw their chests back & roar
of how happily they’ll die for the Lord. OH
REALLY? When you won’t LIVE FOR HIM NOW????
And
you thought they had it rough in the Dark Ages?
Honeys! That was a mere picnic. I can’t paint
a bad enough picture – except to say that TAKE ALL THE
WORLD WARS, the U.S. Civil War, the Korean war (have
a friend in his late ‘80s who, bless his heart, to this
day still has NIGHTMARES from the Korean
War!!! ☹
Very sad, I’m just glad he’s a Christian & some day
all those horrible memories will not beat him up any
more!)…. The Vietnam War, take ALL WARS this world over –
combine them, and nothing will compare to what’s coming
upon this earth!!!!!
You
say, well thanks a lot you rag-tag old lady for
“depressing me”! Where’s the hope in that??!!!
Titus
2:13!!!! I have this Scripture plaque on my
wall: “Looking
for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the
great God and our Savior Jesus Christ”
THIS
kind of hope ~ we are LOOKING for!!!!!! (as in
WATCHING for the Lord to come!!!) And it is
BLESSED HOPE!!!!!! {not blasted hope – as in
you’re going to get all beat up in the Tribulation and
THEN the Lord is going to rescue you!!} Nope, folks,
that is for (only) the Tribulation Saints!! And
being compassionate, we are sorry even they must go
through that, but hey what’s Biblically prophesied WILL
Come to pass. And if the rapture is what it
takes to wake people up….. then so be it.
“Now
there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which
the Lord, the righteous Judge will award to me on that day
--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for
his appearing..” 1 Tim 4:8
We
did W H A T????? Hid our heads in the
sand? Whiled away precious time?
The
Living Bible puts it this way: for all who
eagerly look forward to his appearing.
Are
we watching? Are we watching EAGERLY??
Do
we realize that the Lord’s coming – though we feel we’ve
waited ‘a long time’ could very possibly be RIGHT AT THE
VERY DOOR???? That it “may” even be as close
as this spring?? [I’m not setting dates, but this is
certainly my hoped-for window!!]
I’m
sorry, I know this writing is just all over the
place. See, my brain is just piston-firing here,
because I am very excited about the Lord’s soon
appearing!!! No matter how bad – no matter “how
good” things are “down here” – there’s just a dark, void
in my soul – until I am finally AT HOME WITH
HIM!!!!!!!!! Absolutely nothing else
can begin to compare!!!!
Like the woman at the well I was seeking
For things that could not satisfy:
And then I heard my Savior speaking:
” Draw from my well that never shall run dry”.
There
are millions in this world who are craving
The pleasures earthly things afford;
But none can match the wondrous treasure
That I find in Jesus Christ my Lord.
Refrain
Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;
Bread of heaven, Feed me till I want no more–
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!
Laurie,
Dear, on your post, I quote you: Instead
of focusing on the hustle and bustle of what is happening
in the big world, I realized my little world was of
supreme interest to God. There were those that would
need encouragement or someone to walk alongside
them. Some would need my laughter-I’m told I have an
infectious laugh:)
Cannot
WAIT To hear your infectious laughter!!! Did you
ever know prophecy expert, Zola Levitt? Oh my, I’d
nearly roll on the floor any time I’d hear that man
laugh!!!! Truly a DELIGHTFUL laugh, a joyful noise
unto the Lord! I look forward to
spending eternity beside him.
And
I AGREE with what you say here!!! Yes, OF
COURSE “our little world” is of supreme interest to
God!!!! You see, this was part of my
discontent. For the past 45 years, I was going to
write a novel… romance, whatever, just something “good”
people would want to read. I do know some best
selling authors, by the way, and am friends with
one. Perhaps some of you ladies have read her
stories. Me, I would start & stop over the
years: start & stop, start & stop….. life
always had a way of well “getting in the way”! We’ve
endured what often felt like a mountain of challenges so
my writing was always put on the backburner. So
alas: “my” novel never got written. The Lord
had other plans for me! I’ve had a letter writing
ministry. True! I have a box I’ve kept over
the years where relatives & friends would often say,
“your letters saved my life!” ~~ “I could never have
made it without your letters!”.
I’m
NOT bragging!! I’m just deeply grateful &
humbled that the Lord so chose to use this vessel in this
way. BUT I will admit to – you know how we’re told
to run the race??? Till we finally hear our “well
done good & faithful servant”?..... well my mistake
was I was wanting to get out of my own lane & run in
my friend’s lane! I have this secret hope that
since, by my own opinion, I failed to accomplish what I’d
hoped to do down here, that the Lord will allow me to
write for all eternity in heaven!! That & take
care of the animals!! And gawk – just purely gawk at
the Lord & His radiance. Oh, I just cannot
believe we’re gonna’ be there so soon now!!!
(as in yes, I CAN believe it – this is why I’m on fire!!)
Laurie
& others: as far as focusing on what’s going on
in the world……As we’re told, there is a time and a season
for everything under heaven – it’s true, some days I “am”
watching what is happening in the world. Other days,
I cannot “take” another single news story!! Even my
local news depresses me. Murder – murder – robbed –
beaten – raped, child molestation, child abuse….
Oh!! Now time for the weather!! /news anchor
smiles…. Ugh, ugh, ugh, it just beats down your
spirit.
Even
the sites I would normally surf to get the latest prophecy
info or to find out just HOW BAD things are “inside” the
church these days – some times I’m just not “up” to
it. How can the joy of the Lord possibly be my
strength when I’m beat down lower than a snake’s belly??
One
person who posts here regularly called it “NONSENSE” to
not keep up with the news. Well, let me tell you,
crass comments like that caused me to stop reading this
person’s posts all together. It is NOT nonsense to
take a much needed break from the horrendously awful
last-day news!!!!! Jesus told His disciples to
come apart & rest for a while!! {they’d been
busy trying to meet everyone’s needs & nothing wears a
person out more!} If we do NOT rest….. do we
simply “come apart”? I’ve heard others say
that as well, it’s not original.
If
you’ve read this far along – heh, probably my all time
longest post here, well again I apologize for being “all
over the place” with this. But I just wanted to
shout it from the rooftops!! JESUS
IS COMING SOON!!!! And we’re going HOME at
last!!!!!!!!!
WATCH
AND PRAY ALWAYS “to be” accounted worthy to escape all
these things & to stand before the
Lord!!!!! Luke 21:36
“This”
on fire enough for ya’, Coach Corey?! BIG
SMILE!!!! I smiled at getting a pep
talk!! I’ve never been a quarterback
before!!! Smiles!!
Also
thanks to Terry James who, this past week, reminded us of
Scripture TO WATCH!!!!! Simple as that!!!!
And
thanks to David Cloud who recently wrote about the
rapture.
And
thanks to some of the wildest news stories I’ve ever seen
in my life – do not have time to post them right now, but
it’s what ignited me to realize just how very close we are
now!!!!!!
RAPTURE!!!!!!
Are you all in?? To go up soon??
Jesus
IS coming!!! He is coming soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!