Be Ready! It’s Coming!
Father, thank You for Your presence throughout the day, from our time of worship together to our day spent together as a family. May tonight be a night of restful sleep for us all and may tomorrow be full of promise as we seek to follow Your will and guidance. Amen.
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There are times when we are caught unawares at the arrival of snow or ice where we live. Fog can be an unexpected issue, as well. Our leadership, i.e., our school superintendent and our transportation director, are responsible for making the determination if roads are safe enough for buses and student drivers to get to school. They take these duties very seriously. They are out on the road themselves to make the best judgment call on road conditions hours before bus drivers and students would be out and about.
Many times, it is a last-minute decision on whether to have a delay to the start of school or to cancel school altogether.
Recently, the storm didn’t sneak up on us, but we knew what was coming. Forecasters were warning of heavy accumulations of snow, and many schools actually canceled the night before school, giving parents and school workers ample to prepare for childcare and whatnot. Wisely, we were part of that group.
We are off for President’s Day tomorrow, but we have a pretty big snowstorm forecasted for our region. We may get 8-10 inches of snow, with some areas getting upward to 12 inches of snow! Time will tell. There’s a very good chance that we will not have school on Tuesday. But again, time will tell.
The last couple of days, we ran a few errands picking up some things for ourselves and Karen’s parents just to make sure we are prepared for whatever may come. Many places we stopped were packed with urgent shoppers. There were many bare shelves. We weren’t the only ones getting ready!
Over two thousand years ago, Jesus made a very reliable forecast. As recorded in Matthew 24:44, Jesus proclaimed, “You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” NLT
We know that He’s coming but…are we ready? He said we must be ready all the time…We prepare for a possible large quantity of snow – we have bread, milk, and toilet paper ready! …but are we ready for the guaranteed arrival of Jesus?
May we take seriously the admonition of the Apostle Peter as found in his letter to fellow believers.
The end and culmination of all things is near. Therefore, be sound-minded and self-controlled for the purpose of prayer [staying balanced and focused on the things of God so that your communication will be clear, reasonable, specific and pleasing to Him.] Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others]. 1 Peter 4:7-8 AMP
Be ready! It’s coming! Specifically, He is coming!
Feb 14th, 2021, Sun, 8:31 pm
A Real Home
Father, I continue to be amazed at how you put up with us. We can be downright nasty! But Your forgiveness continues to be extended from Your unfathomable reservoir of love. We don’t deserve a lick of it but it is given freely and abundantly!
John 1:12-13 (<<click here to read the passage)
I was poking around looking for an adoption success story and came across one on the Heart Gallery of America website. Their motto is “All Children Deserve a Family”. The article was entitled, A Real Home for Christmas. (<<click here to read the entire story)
Master Moore is the child in the story, and he went into foster care at four years of age, along with 2 brothers and several cousins who were found to be in neglectful care. His brothers were adopted early on but not Master. Instead, he found himself shuffled around the New Jersey foster care program for the next 10 years.
Then in early 2005 someone asked him to participate in The Heart Gallery of New Jersey, a traveling photographic exhibit of adoptable children in the state’s care. Master was told someone might see his photograph, read his story and want to adopt him. He shrugged. “Sure, why not?” he said. Master had heard people say miracles happen, but he had never seen one himself. Still, he decided to tell his story — if not for himself, then for all of the kids just like him. He felt regardless of whether he found a family it was important for people to know that even teenagers want and deserve families.
When he was featured in the first Heart Gallery exhibition in 2005, he was in his 12th placement. Foster care had not been overly kind to him. His foster mother at the time was unpredictable, sometimes nice, sometimes not… During the two years he lived there, she never kissed him goodnight. “As you can see, what’s missing in my life is a real home,” he said at the time.
But his situation was about to change. Master’s story had caught the eye of a kindly Newark man who coincidentally shared the same last name.
In a relatively short time, Michael Moore, raised in foster care himself, and his wife Tracy adopted Master as their own.
The first line of the article sums it up pretty well. Master Moore held his pen over the paper and paused. His mom had asked him to write a Christmas list. Ten things. No guarantees he would get everything he wanted. But as the boy pondered presents like a digital camera or an electronic keyboard, he realized nothing would ever compare to the gift he already had. A real home.
The entire story is well worth the time it takes to read.
We, too, every one of us, are orphans…at least spiritually speaking. Verse 12 begins with John saying concerning the Light…the Word…Christ,
But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name – who were born, not of blood [natural conception], nor of the will of the flesh [physical impulse], nor of the will of man [that of a natural father], but of God [that is, a divine and supernatural birth – they are born of God – spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified]. John 1:12-13 AMP
If we will but receive and welcome Him, we, too, can find our “real home” with all the authority and privilege that come with our adoption by Him. In doing so we receive a divine and supernatural birth. We are spiritually transformed, renewed, and sanctified, that is, we are set apart for His use in His love. For what more could we ask? For nothing could ever compare to the gift we already have!
Feb 11th, 2021, Thurs, 5:45 pm
Recognize
My mind and body are weary, Father, but I know even in that state You can use me. You can speak to me. May I hear Your voice strong and clear. Amen.
John 1:10-11 (<<click here to read the passage)
Around the holidays we happened to stop by the Kohl’s at which I worked to pick up a few things. I hadn’t worked there for two years but from at least a hundred yards one of the managers recognized me even with my mask on! Even though she was not the manager directly over me, we interacted on a pretty regular basis. I may have seen her once or twice over that span of two years since my employment ended, and yet she still could distinguish who I was from a distance with my face partially obscured!
God created everything through him [that is Christ – the Word], and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created…John 1:3-4a NLT
Christ knows every single thing about us…down to the molecular level. He even knows things about us that we don’t fully understand about ourselves. He created us, so why shouldn’t He?
Another example, my son Massey knows the ins and outs of the subject in which he completed his doctorate. He is currently wrapping up his third, and final, paper. He has had some conversations with his two advisors recently, and I tell you he can hold his own with them. For the last several years he has absorbed in great depth and detail the workings of the information he has handled day in, day out over that time period. He knows it!
Christ knows us so well because He was a part of all that brought us into being. It’s nearly impossible to fathom but He doesn’t just know about me…and you…but He knows each and every person who has ever existed just as well! He knows us!
…but unfortunately, many do not know Him. Though He created us all, we don’t even recognize Him. (verse 10)
It’s astonishing that even his own people – the Jewish nation – didn’t recognize him. In fact, they rejected him! His people failed in their mission. They were hand-chosen by God to prepare the rest of the world for the Messiah*– that is Jesus. The Old Testament is filled to overflowing with verse upon verse that pointed to His coming, and what that would look like in great detail!
But…they didn’t recognize him… they rejected him…
And before we start pointing fingers, they are in good company…with us!
We, too, are a chosen people. We, too, are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 NLT
And what have we truly done? Many have worked diligently to show others the goodness of God but to our own embarrassment many more…have not.
Lord Jesus, enable us to reflect Your light to a dark and lost world. Help to recognize You for who You are. May we embrace You and not reject You. Give us a burning desire to love you with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength! And to love our neighbors as ourselves. Amen!
*Life Application Bible New Living Translation
Feb 10th, 2021, Wed, 6:58 pm
Sing a New Song!
Father thank You for a wonderful day! An unexpected snow day, then the opportunity to do a little unanticipated celebrating of Karen’s birthday! My gratitude for Your wonderful love in which overflows us all !
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I’m eager to continue in John but a recommended video popped up on YouTube. I have never heard these groups before, but I took a moment and listened. I am so glad that I did!
I regularly listen to music as I type. Most of the time it is just a background filler for me but not tonight. I kept stopping to see who was singing. The video is almost four hours long(!) and as I write I am a little over 20 minutes in but already it has brought tears to my eyes as I have listened…and watched! (OK, by the time I was done, I had gone through over an hour.) It is an amalgamation of different acapella groups, comprised of people of all ages, races, and backgrounds. They are singing some old traditional things and some newer things, as well – it’s a great mix!
I, for one, often feel the need to be rejuvenated. I need to be fed, too. I am grateful that God can use me to feed those to whom He chooses the message He gives me to reach. But I am also grateful that He feeds me with the ministry of others.
I am writing nothing more but would encourage my faithful readers (and even if this is the first thing you ever looked at of my blog), take time to listen to at least a portion of this video. I pray it rejuvenates and feeds you, too!
Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music… Psalm 98:1-4 NIV
Feb 9th, 2021, Tues, 8:09 pm
I’m Your Moon!
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
….Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Psalm 34:8 NLT
John 1:6-9 (<<click here to read the passage)
Many, many years ago when I was but a little tike, my dad remembers me exclaiming, “Dad, I’m your moon.” I quickly back peddled and said, “I mean, I’m your son!”
That’s probably one of the shortest stories I’ve ever shared about myself, but it drives home a point for today’s passage.
There came a man commissioned and sent from God, whose name was John [that is, John the Baptist – not the Apostle John]. This man came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe [in Christ, the Light] through him. John was not the Light, but came to testify about the Light.
There it was—the true Light [the genuine, perfect, steadfast Light] which, coming into the world, enlightens everyone. John 1:6-9 AMP
Most of us learned in grade school that though the moon shines brightly in our night sky, that it does not radiate its own light but reflects the light of the sun. Interestingly enough, despite the fact that it sometimes seems to shine very brightly, the moon reflects only between 3 and 12 percent of the sunlight that hits it. (livescience.com)
Also, with a bit more research, I discovered that the moon is one of the dimmest objects in our solar system. Planets (Earth included) and other planet’s moons reflect light much more efficiently, mainly because of what is on the surface of those celestial bodies. Our moon consists mostly of rock dust and dark rocks that are similar in composition to rocks on earth. Because of this, it’s not as bright as other things in the heavens. (Science Questions with Surprising Answers)
In essence, we all are moons that reflect the Son. And as John the Baptist did, we are not the Light but our responsibility as followers of Christ is to testify about the Light.
And one thing that needs stressing, is the fact that we don’t have to be the shiniest light around to point others to Christ. I’ve never heard anyone complain about the moon not being the best “reflector” in the night sky. Many times, I have stood in awe of its beauty, doing what it does the way it does it.
From our perspective, there are lots of nights, when the moon is not obstructed by the earth, that its brilliance literally overwhelms our ability to see other lights shining in the night sky. All we see clearly is the moon!
As followers of Christ, we must give ourselves over to the sheer power of the Son and in so doing we can – and will be – used by Him to bring others into a closer relationship with Him…all that while doing what we do the way we do it.
And one more thing that the Lord is showing us. The moon is at its best when not obstructed by the world. We can learn from that, too. The less influence the world has on us, the more we can shine for Him! Lord, may it be so!
Feb 8th, 2021, Mon, 7:24 pm