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Are You Ready For What is Coming?

Ready or not

We have all heard the saying, “Ready or not here it comes”.  This is so true when winter is coming.  It is going to come whether you are ready or not and it is up to you to be ready.  This was my experience this winter.

The weather app was predicting snow.  And it wasn’t just like 25, 30, or even 50% chance.  It was predicting a 100% chance of snow and with an accumulation.  We had known this for a few days.  And I even said, “I need to get my studded tires on.”

Now I know for those that don’t live in snow country and mountains you may not even know what I am talking about but for where I live it is necessary.  For me to get home, I have to either have studded tires or put chains on to go up to our mountain home.  I put chains on for a few years but I have no desire to do that anymore.  And I don’t even own chains for my car.

Yep, it happened

You know you always question and wonder if the weatherman is right.  Are you going to trust what he says or just take your chances?  Well, some people keep hoping for another day and don’t follow through with what really needs to be done.

The morning of the prediction I went to work as usual.  No snow and the roads were fine.  But when I came out of work there was a good 5 or 6 inches of snow on my car and I knew that meant even more where I live.  I did have a coat and gloves but I was not equipped with boots (always a good thing to carry with you in case you can’t make it home and you have to walk).

The frustration kicked in as I started to clean my car off, knowing I would have to drive home with tires that were not fit for winter driving.  The roads were one aspect but the worst was being able to drive up our long hill to our house.  But I had no choice at this point.  Thankfully I made it home without a huge amount of trouble.

It made me…

My experience made me start to think.  We knew the snow was coming but made no effort to get prepared.  What about Jesus soon coming?  We know it is coming!  We don’t know exactly when He is coming but we know it will happen.  The same is really true of the snow.  There may be a prediction but a lot of times they are off by hours and sometimes days.  But we know the season and recognize the signs that winter is coming soon.

The reality is that we also know the signs of Jesus coming and it is at hand.  Are we preparing like He is coming or are we too caught up in life to notice?  We might even be ignoring it because we aren’t ready and we don’t want to take the time and effort at this point in our lives.  I think we need to start rethinking our priorities, at least I know I do.

I didn’t get my tires on in time and it was a struggle to get home but I made it.  But if we are not prepared when Jesus lays down His Priestly duties of interceding for us to come and get us to take us home and we are not ready, what a sad day that will be.  I can feel that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach when I think about it.  But does it make us seek Him more?  Are we ignoring the signs?

This hit home

For me this illustration God showed me hit home hard.  It is so easy to get caught up in day-to-day life that we miss the signs or just plain ignore them.  And it is so easy to get distracted by the things around us.

So what should we be doing?  Should we be keeping up with all that is going on around us so we can “see the signs”?  What about my job should I quit?  Should I stop doing and living a somewhat normal life?

Although I don’t know whether God would want you to quit your job and do something different, one thing I do know is that we do have to keep living even though things around us may seem to be falling apart.  I still had to go to work even though I knew it was going to snow, but I could have been prepared.  And just like I should have been prepared for the snow I can be prepared each day for Jesus coming.  We never know when our last day will be, we have to be prepared always.

Dear Father,

We know that Your coming is soon.  But it is so easy to get caught up with all the things around us that we don’t even give You the time of day.  Surround us with Your Angels that can keep back the one that wants to distract us.  Prompt our hearts daily with your Spirit, helping us to keep our eyes focused on You.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Come to the cross each day and surrender your life to the One who can bring you through.

Love you all!

Share a time when you should have been ready for something because you knew it was coming and you weren’t ready? What did you learn?

 

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“The Partial Rest of the Story!!”

What about internal?

Last week I talked about distraction and the external damage that takes place.  “We can get distracted with life and quit exercising and before we know it our bodies are out of shape.  We can get distracted eating what looks appealing and the next thing we know we have some extra pounds that we are carrying around.”  What about the internal damage?  A lot of time what is going on inside can be what is coined a “silent killer”.

The reality is there are people that can eat all the junk, garbage food they want and never exercise and look slim and trim.  But they are a walking time bomb.  It is just a matter of time before everything is going to fall apart and when it does it is not going to be pretty.

Internal

When I went off the road last week my husband did not want me to drive the car.  He wasn’t sure how much damage there might be.  So I drove our van.  The van that is questionable.  We have been driving it with care for a while knowing that there is a questionable head casket.

I made it to work without a hitch.  After work, I headed to an appointment.  When I was heading home I notice a light that had come on the dash.  I call it a check engine light but technically there is another name for it.  I asked my husband if it had been on before now.  He thought it had but couldn’t remember for sure.  I didn’t think I saw it that morning but I wasn’t sure.  Thankfully, I made it home without a problem.

The next morning after the van had warmed up I went out to go to work.  When I got into the van the light was now blinking.  I told my husband so he checked a couple of fluids and said it should be fine.  He didn’t know why it was blinking but he told me to go ahead and go to work and hopefully everything would be fine.

When I got to the end of our driveway I just could not bring myself to drive it to work.  Because was worried,  I got out the book for the van and started to do some looking.  I didn’t want to be late to work so I called my dad and he took me.  On my way, I looked in the book some more and found that when the light was blinking you could lose power at any time and that you should take the vehicle in immediately.  I was glad I did not take the van.

External versus internal

In all appearances, everything looked okay on the outside of the van.  In fact, it looks quite nice.  But on the other hand, the car looked concerning to drive.  What the outside looks like maybe an eyesore but it doesn’t affect how the car runs.  Of course, there is the exception if you have had a major wreck it could have done internal damage.  But I am just talking about the looks.  We always buy used cars and yes we like it to look nice but what means most to us is how the internal parts are.

We can even go back to people.  The kinds of people you want to spend time with and be around are those that have good internal qualities.  If you are just looking for a person that is perfectly shaped and has great looks to be around you will probably be disappointed.  It may make you feel good to be seen with them, especially if they are popular. But what is their character like.  That means more than what they look like.  Many young people get caught up with wanting to be with the most popular and beautiful or handsome kids but a lot of times they are treated badly by them.

What about spiritually?

Can we, as a Christian, look good on the outside?  We come to church looking happy and everyone may think we are doing great.  We eat healthily, dress modestly, worship God, go to midweek service, involve ourselves in all the church activities, etc.  But the question would be what is going on inside.

There may be someone else that doesn’t look so good on the outside.  Maybe they don’t eat the way we think healthy eating requires, dress like we think a Christian should dress, come to midweek service, get involved with all the church activities, etc.  But they seem so on fire for the Lord and we don’t understand it.

So now we have the outside that looks good like my van does.  And we have those that look cosmetically bad like my car does.  But the question becomes what about the inside?  Just because someone looks cosmetically good does that mean he or she is in a saving relationship with Jesus?  And if someone looks cosmetically bad does that mean they do not have a saving relationship with Jesus?

The bottom line is what the cosmetic of my vehicle does not tell me what the true car condition is.  The same is true for people.  The cosmetic does not tell us the true heart condition.  God is working with each person and you do not know where they are in their journey and they could be in a better saving relationship with Jesus even though you are doing all the “right” things.

But Jesus said…

You may be saying, “But by their fruits, ye shall know them.”  Yes, this is true.  But we need to be very careful.  If we are sitting in the judgment seat we are already where God doesn’t want us to be and we are on dangerous ground.  As Jesus warned a few verses before, “Judge not that ye be not judged.  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again” (See Matthew 7).

We need to be examining ourselves and making sure that our hearts are where they should be.  If our hearts and not just our exterior are right with God we will look at people like Christ look at people.  And it will not be with a judgmental, critical attitude but with love and compassion.  We need to pray, love them, and be a living example.  It is easy to overlook our own faults as we look and dwell on others faults.

We cannot even be of service and help to others if what is on the outside does not match what is on the inside.  And we need to go to God in humility and let Him lead and guide us with how to reach those around us.  A moment of wrong actions can destroy a person for a lifetime.  That is why God has given us warning about us being on the judgment seat for others.  Self easily gets in the way.

Dear Father,

Please forgive us for not always representing You as we should.  Help us to make sure that we are not cosmetically following You but that our hearts are surrendered to You.  And that we are doing everything we do because of our love for You and what You have done for us.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Make sure you are right with God today in every area of your life.  It is the heart condition that counts the most.  As your heart is right the works will follow.

Love you all.

What vehicle trouble have you had?  And what spiritual lesson came out of it?  Share below I would love to hear your story.

As a note, I still don’t have the outcome on my vehicles so I am still on this journey.  I don’t have the full rest of the story but someday soon.  And when I do I may share it with you.

 

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“Distractions Cause Damage!!”

Distractions!

We live in an overly complicated world.  There are distractions everywhere.  We can get distracted with life and quit exercising and before we know it our bodies are out of shape.  We can get distracted eating what looks appealing.  And the next thing we know we have some extra pounds that we are carrying around.

Most people think and worry about what things look like on the outside.  But the damage that happens on the inside is way more concerning.  What is on the outside is just a symptom of the root problem.  And until we see those visible symptoms we tend to ignore those things that are bringing a lot of harm to us.  It also comes so gradually that we tend to not focus on it until it is major and we realize if we don’t make a change it is going to be a life or death matter.

Damage

The other day there was some snow coming down on my way to work.  I was thinking that I should probably be more careful but since it was just starting to cover the road I thought it probably was not that bad yet.  The one thing that I had not taken into account was what the weather had been doing before there was a skiff of snow on the ground.

As I was heading down a hill that curves to the left as you go down, I did not go in a lower gear as I normally do.  And as I was going down I got distracted with something else along with my thoughts and I was going faster than I should have been.  I ended up not curving to the left but straight into the bank.  I was unable to back the vehicle out so I had to call my husband.

Help arrived

When my husband arrived he and my daughter got in front of the vehicle and started to push. By this time we had an audience.  All the little children that stand out for the bus had arrived and they were staring.  Soon there were some parents that showed up as well and were asking if we needed help.  How embarrassing!

Finally, my husband and daughter had me pushed out.  After the school bus passed by and all the children were loaded up and gone, I pulled the car across the road to a parking lot.  My husband came and looked things over.  Surprisingly the right side of the car that went into the bank the most appeared to have no damage but the left-hand side had enough damage he was afraid to have me drive it until he could check it out.  The left side already had damage from my father-in-law when he was driving it years ago so it had more weakness but also the chunks of snow appeared to be larger and harder than the ones that hit the right side.

Spiritual distractions

What about spiritually?  Do we realize how bad the road of life is?  Are we going through life carefully or are we being distracted?

We are living in a time in earth’s history like never before.  The “road” is getting more dangerous to travel.  It seems like things are okay and we go oblivious on our way not staying focused and “driving” to fast for the conditions.

We are so busy with work, the pleasures of this world, keeping the house in order, doing church duties (oh, but church those are good and right things, correct?), maybe staying fit and maybe even having “family” time that we forget the most important thing that keeps us on the “road”.  Here is the question, Are we on the right road?

Which road is right?

When my son heard which direction of our loop road I had been traveling on he let me know he never goes that way this time of year.  It is steep and more likely to be a problem in the winter time.  For me, I have traveled that road for more than 25 years and never had a problem.  But that day I was so distracted with my thoughts as well as looking away.   Looking away from your driving is hazardous.  I had already almost hit a deer because I was adjusting my heat.

You might say that we are living in the “winter” of this world’s history.  We don’t have time to be taking the wrong road.  We need to be taking the road that is safer, leading us to heaven rather than taking the road that leads to destruction.  “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life and few there be that find it” Matthew 7:13, 14.

The most important

The first and most important thing in life is keeping our relationship with Christ.  The devil wants to keep us distracted by the things of this world that we forget our connection with Christ.  And he can keep us distracted even with good and right things.  But we have to make God our priority.  We need our priorities straight.

You may be asking but isn’t my family supposed to be my priority? There is a place for family but not before God.  “If any man come to me, and hate (love less) not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple” Luke 14:26.  We need to love God above everything and everybody including ourselves.  He needs to be the priority in our lives.  And the reality is we cannot truly love others or ourselves without Jesus dwelling in our heart through His Holy Spirit.  Our own love is filled with selfishness.

Prioritize

Taking care of ourselves is a priority after God.  You may be saying,  “Isn’t that selfish?”  Making our priority God is taking care of ourselves first spiritually but we also should take care of our physical needs as well.  Many people will say I don’t have time to exercise or eat right because I am too busy trying to take care of everyone else.  Wrong thinking!  We cannot properly take care of others if our physical and spiritual life isn’t in order.

After our spiritual and physical has taken priority then our family comes next.  If you’re married your wife or husband is your next priority and then your children.  If you’re not married yet your parents and siblings are your next priority.  We have to keep our priorities in the right order.  Now we cannot neglect our family by saying that we are taking care of our spiritual and physical needs and we don’t have time for the family.  We have to cut things out of our lives so that we do have the time to do what God intends for our lives.  It starts by making a plan, making out a schedule, and following it.

Dear Father,

We need Your help in prioritizing our lives.  I know from experience that as I set my priorities to spend time with You and to take care of my body temple, that You want to dwell in, my time multiplies.  But I still struggle to trust You.  Give me Your strength and courage to follow Your ways.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Don’t let the things of this world distract you.  Make a commitment today to take the right road and to stay focused on the priorities.

Have you ever gone off the road?  What did you learn?  I would love to have you share below in the comments.

Stay tuned for my next blog to hear, as Paul Harvey would say, “The rest of the story.”

 

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“What is Whiter Than Snow?”

Snow!

I don’t know about you but I love this time of year to see all the beautiful snow that covers the earth.  Yes, there is a love-hate relationship with the snow because it takes so much work.  What I love about it is how it covers all the ugliness and makes everything look clean and white.

Although, if the truth is known, snow is rather deceiving.  It may look white but it is very dirty and unclean.  It amazes me that it even has a semblance of white when it gets to the ground.  But if you look at it really closely it is not really white.  It is absorbing all the toxins and dirt in the air.

This makes me think…

This makes me think of the Christian life.  We think that all the good things that we do are for the glory of God “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags…” Isaiah 64:6.  We may think that we look as “white as snow” but if we look a little deeper we can see all the dirt mixed in.  I think of that dirt as self-woven into the Christian life.

Whiter than snow

How many of you have studied a spider web?  It amazes me every time I look at one and study it.  Spider webs are so intricate.  It reminds me of the way a life of a Christian should be.  But we cannot weave a web that is that intricate or perfect.  We need to let God do the weaving.  As we draw near to God, humbling our hearts, He will draw near to us.  It is God that does the work in us, by us, and through us to the glory of His name.  But if we weave self into the web, the beautiful pattern that He can create will be spoiled.

Our part is to allow Him to do the work in our lives and to follow Him as He leads us.  God does not just want to make us as white as snow.  He wants to purge us with hyssop so that we can be clean: wash us and make us whiter than snow. (See Psalms 51:7)

When we try to do the work on our own the “snow” is polluted with the “toxins” of this world and self.  We need to let go and let God do the work in us and cooperate with Him.  It is our decision but it is His power.

Dear Father,

Forgive us for trying to do things on our own.  Please help us to surrender all to You and to cooperate with Your leading in our lives.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Surrender all to God today and let Him “weave” your life to be like Him.  And then you will be whiter than snow.

Love you all!

What memories do you have about snow?  And what spiritual lesson have you learned?  I would love to hear your experience.