Lord, Come Quickly!

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.  Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,  because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.  For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.  For we live by faith, not by sight.  We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord  So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 

2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Do you ever long for the day that Jesus will come, and this earthly life will end?  Sometimes I do.  I grow weary of the "stuff" of life - the problems, the busyness, the schedules, the trials - and Heaven sounds so much better.  And it SHOULD sound better to Christians, and we SHOULD long for that day!  But, while we are here on earth, we must live our lives here on earth.  We shouldn't ever be so comfortable on earth, in this physical body, that we don't want to leave it, but we should live it in a way that pleases God, and in a way that brings others to Him.

I used to work for a doctor who would sometimes get a little frustrated at people who seemed negative and were having a pity party for themselves.  We had many blind patients that never acted as if they were blind, but then had many seeing patients that didn't realize all they could see.  I remember him saying about one particular person, "You live until you die!".  In other words, don't stop living while you're still alive.  There is something you can do as long as you are still here.

Another quote I remember was from a lady at a Bible class teacher's workshop.  She would say, "When can you stop serving the Lord?  When you die!"  And that is so true, too!  

As long as we are living, we must live for Him.  The scriptures above prove these two statements, but the last one gets straight to the point.  We will be judged on what we do in this body - whether those things were good, or bad.  So, how we use our body now matters.  Not that we should be content in our body on earth, but that we use it entirely for Him.

Lord, come quickly!  That is my plea.  There was a time when I wouldn't have been able to say that.  I was selfishly wanting to live this life for myself. My children were little, and I couldn't bear the thought of not getting to raise them.  But the older I get, and the older they get, I would be just fine with Jesus coming back right now.  And, in fact, with the troubles and trials I see in the lives of those around me, I'm anticipating that day even more.  On that day, the troubles of this earthly life with be gone.  Those who have been found faithful will live with Him in eternity.  How could we not long for that day?  It's a glorious thought!

The Oklahoma Snow Storm

I was all excited at the first of the week as weather reports predicted several inches of snow for the southwest corner of Oklahoma. Even more was predicted for further north.  Because I get so excited about snow (unreasonably more excited, that is!), I "punished" myself and only allowed myself to look at the forecasts for a short amount of time.  Otherwise I get so excited that I can hardly sleep!  Crazy, I know!

I was busy studying for my Wednesday night Bible class yesterday morning, occassionally looking out the window to see if the rain had turned to snow.  I began to think we weren't going to get any, but of course, was thankful for the rain. Around noon, I got a text from my husband that said, "Snow!".  He works about a mile and a half north of our house, so I knew the snow would be here soon.  I watched out the window and, sure enough, it came!  I was so excited!  It snowed off and on for several hours - some big, beautiful snowflakes - but as soon as it hit the ground it melted.  I figured that eventually it would start to stick, but it didn't.  I guess the ground was too warm for that.

Towns all around us got several inches.  Many schools were closed or got out early.  Many schools are closed still today, or at least going in a few hours late.  Not us.  There's no need.  The kids were disappointed!  Many of us adults were, too!!

One of my friends wrote that they had close to 20 inches of snow...just a couple of hours north of us.  Even 30 minutes away people got 3 or 4 inches.  Some friends are trying to dig out of their homes due to huge drifts.  Many are without electricity.

Anticipation of something exciting - like a pretty snow - made me think about awaiting Jesus' return.  What if we waited and waited and waited and it never happened?  How would we feel if we never saw Him come like the Bible 'forecase' says He will?

We don't have to worry about that or be anxious about the fact that He is coming.  And yet, while we shouldn't "worry" about it anyway, we should be prepared at all times.  No, it may not happen during our lives here on earth, but it will happen.  God said it would happen, so it will.  The Bible is truth - there's no doubt about it!

I saw several photos of the bread aisle at Walmart the day before the "storm".  There was no bread, or only one or two loaves.  There were mostly empty shelves.  People hoarded food and water and supplies to prepare for the impending snow storm...not knowing if they would be able to get out or not.  Other did not prepare, believing they had nothing to prepare for, but then found themselves snowed in without necessities, such as batteries.

Matthew 25:1-13 tells us of some foolish virgins who also weren't prepared to meet the bridegroom.  This parable Jesus taught His followers is a lesson for us today.  A lesson for us to prepare and to always be prepared for the return of Jesus and for the Judgement Day.  We don't know the hour.  We don't know the day.  But He is coming.  He expects His people to keep watch and be prepared.  Not worry, but be ready. He wants us to be ready on that day so that He can take us to live with Him for eternity.  Isn't that a 'forecast' we're longing to see come?  I am! I pray you are, too!

Homecoming

It's spirit week at our school, leading up to Homecoming that will be held tonight before the football game.  If I haven't "bragged" already, our football team is ranked #1 in the state of Oklahoma for Class C, which is 8-man football.  So, it's an exciting season.

Homecoming is a time where school alumni comes back "home".  They come to cheer for the team. They come to support the Homecoming candidates.  They come to see friends and family.  Those of us who live hear enjoy greeting those who come.  Everyone is excited and there is a "celebration" feel in the air.

Some day there will be a huge homecoming.  When Jesus comes back, it will be like nothing else we have ever seen or heard.  That Day will come.  That day - that HOMECOMING day - God's children will reach their eternal home in Heaven.  What a great homecoming celebration that will be!!

The apostle Paul writes, "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise . . ." 1 Thessalonians 4:16.  And Jesus Himself says:

Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.  Matthew 24:30-31

We don't know when, but we can know it will.  No one can predict His return.  The Bible says so in Matthew 24:36. And because it says so, we must be ready for this day.  We know it's going to happen, but we don't always live like it could happen today.  Sometimes it's as if we want to wait until the last possible moment to do His Will, so that we can go on doing our own will.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. 

Hebrews 10:23-25

So, how should we live waiting for this day?  THE DAY?  HOMECOMING?

2 Peter 3:10-18 (total passage is below.  It's long, but so very worth reading!) tells us how to live as we wait for that day. It also says that God is patient.  He's waiting for some to make the choice to follow Him.  He's waiting for some to turn their lives over to Him, to accept His gift of salvation, to have their sins washed away in baptism and to become one of His children. He wants all of us to be ready for that wonderful Homecoming celebration!  Maybe He is waiting for you.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
¹¹ Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives ¹² as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. ¹³ But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
¹⁴ So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. ¹⁵ Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. ¹⁶ He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
¹⁷ Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. ¹⁸ But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

What is He Waiting On? Perhaps, YOU!

Have you ever wondered why it is that Jesus has not come back yet?  Have you ever wondered when he will come back?  Maybe you are one who actually wonders if he really will come back.   I assure you, he is and he will!  Why am I so confident in saying that?  Because the Bible tells me so!  

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

The day of the Lord will come!!  It will come without warning.  Men and women who make predictions about Him coming are wrong.  They are teaching false doctrines.  Don't follow their teachings.  Only trust in God's Word and what it says.

 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

2 Peter 3:10

So, what is He waiting on?  Why hasn't God said, "It is time!"?  Why hasn't Jesus already come back?  Well, maybe he is waiting on YOU!  Maybe he is waiting on YOU to become one of His children.  Maybe he is waiting on YOU to tell someone about Jesus.  Maybe he is waiting on YOU to come back to him.  Maybe you've fallen away.  He doesn't want anyone to be lost!

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives ¹² as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. ¹³ But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

¹⁴ So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

2 Peter 3:11-14

God wants you and everyone else to be saved, but He will not force you to follow Him and follow His Word.  He is patient and waits.....for you....for others.  Not everyone is going to be saved.  Not everyone is going to heaven, although He wants everyone to live there with Him in eternity.  Unfortunately, some decide to follow Him, but then turn away from Him.  They decide to live a life based on what they believe is right, instead of living their life for Him.  Many believe false doctrine that teach things that aren't true.  Be on your guard, the Bible says.  Read for yourself about salvation.  Find out for yourself what you must do to be saved.  

¹⁵ Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. ¹⁶ He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

¹⁷ Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. ¹⁸ But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

2 Peter 3:15-18

Yes, perhaps He is waiting on YOU!  Don't make Him wait any longer.  Some day He is coming and He wants to take YOU with Him!

The Worst Days of My Life

Have you ever had a bad day?  How about a "worst" day or several "worst" days?  Yeah, me, too.  In fact, there are five days that I consider to be the five worst days I've had in my life.  Of course, I pray that the number stops there....at five.  I don't want any more bad days.  None of us do, do we?? However, most likely, I will have more bad days and so will you.

As bad as any of those five days were at the time, none of them would compare to having a bad day on Judgement Day.  On that day, no one will want to have a bad day.  God doesn't want anyone to have a bad day on that day, either.  He wants everyone to go to Heaven to live with Him for eternity.  Sadly, the Bible tells us that this won't be so because many reject His Word and His teaching.  Many reject His Son, Jesus, and His forgiveness and His gift of eternal life.

What about you?  Have you given your life to Him?  Have you obeyed the gospel?  Don't let Judgement Day be a day you have to fear.  Don't let it be the ultimate worst day of your life.

Judgement Day scriptures (click on each passage to go to the link at Bible Gateway.  For some reason they are not all underlined, but you can still go to them):  Matthew 25:31-46, John 12:48, Acts 1:9-11, Acts 17:30-31, Romans 2:4-11,  Romans 14:10-12, 2 Corinthians 5:10, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 2 Thessalonians 1:5-9, Hebrews 9:26-31, Revelation 20:11-20, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14