Saturday July 9 2016  THE KING IS COMING

Writing a blog is not wasting time, however coming down to my office over an hour ago, and not having even started, is a waste of time.  I have many goals to accomplish today in order that I will be able to do tomorrow what I hope to do!  You see, tomorrow will be a play day!  Do you ever feel like you need one of those days?

We attended a Prime Time dinner (for the old people) last evening and had a great speaker!  John Ruck was a pastor at our church for many years and the interim Senior pastor for our church for several years and has since retired and moved away.  He and his wife came back for the evening so John could be the guest speaker at our dinner.  His speech was serious, funny, informative, eye opening, and spirit building.  He shared a few comments regarding the state of the affairs of our country as well as quips about old age.  Just in case you haven’t noticed, the attitudes of our country have changed considerably over the past 50 years.  The mindset is different, as are the challenges, the dangers, the work ethics, and so much more. 

Hearing John’s speech gave me pause for thought in regards to the one thing that isn’t different.  God is not different.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

“Hebrews 12:8-9 reads:

⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. ⁹ Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.”

Good advice to follow.  John quoted a passage Helen Keller once spoke,

“FOUR THINGS TO LEARN IN LIFE:

To think clearly without hurry or confusion;

To love everybody sincerely;

To act in everything with the highest motives:

To Trust God unhesitatingly.”

 

Just think how different our world would be if each person did what Helen Keller suggested we do.  Yet, in today’s world it seems that SELF is the motivating factor. If we as a society followed her advice our country might not be in such turmoil as the news churns out each evening.  Instead of the killings, revenge, retaliations, and outright evil, perhaps there would be more compassion, love, and grace to go around.  We cannot change the world, but perhaps if we began with ourselves and follow Helen Keller’s recommendations, we would then influence another, who would influence another, and so on.

What would happen if hate and discrimination was not PURPOSELY TAUGHT from one generation to the next? 

What would happen if we hadn’t taken prayer out of public gatherings such as schools, politics, etc.?

What would happen if we, as a country and society could again build on the ethics of the Ten Commandments?

I’m not talking about a universal “religion” or the right or wrong way to worship God, but rather, just the common sense of having values and truths in place as a yardstick for our country which was built on such principles?

Many things have changed over the past 50 years and the decline of the morals and morays of our society have been eroded as God was eliminated from our culture and family units.  Broken homes, broken hearts, confusion, lack of love, lack of integrity, and lack of trust, have eroded as God has been removed from our public arena.  Lack of God in our schools and the political arena has undermined the very foundation upon which our country was founded.

What we must do as followers of Christ is to daily “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

I believe our country is dying and facing its demise (look up the fall of the Roman Empire).  Regardless of what is to come, realize that though God has given man freewill, and He has a plan for the ultimate outcome, and will use it to fulfill His purpose.  I choose not to fear or worry, because you see, I know the ending.  And it can all be found in the Bible between Genesis 1:1 and Revelation 22:21.  If you are not familiar with the prophecies and promises in God’s Word, you may want to check it out.

My sympathy and condolences go out to all the families grieving for the loss of their loved ones who were the targets of the recent retaliation in Texas.  And my sympathy also goes to all those living in this, once-amazing country, who don’t yet know the “ending”.  In many ways our country is still amazing but it is spiraling downhill, fast!

 

OH, THE KING IS COMING

By Kathleen Martens

July 9, 2016

 

Oh, the King is coming

But we don’t know when.

We need to be ready

And free from sin.

 

So much chaos

Churned by hate.

To comprehend why

You must not wait.

 

Live not in confusion,

But love fellow man.

Reach out to another,

And hold his hand.

 

Live in integrity.

Trust God each day.

Study His Word

To know His way.

 

Yes, the King is coming

And we don’t know when.

Again, I say be ready

And live free of sin.

 

For we know not the time

When He comes for His own,

And delivers the righteous

To His Father’s throne.

 

Thank You God that You are the same yesterday, today, and forever.

God, thank You for Your Holy Word.

Thank You Lord that You have laid out Your plan in Your Holy Word.

Thank You God that You still wait so that others will be able to come to You.

Thank You God that there are still people in the world who reach out and love others.

 

A few moments ago I sat before my computer and prayed that God would give me a topic for my blog.  I happened to see John’s email which included the notes of his message from last evening.  I only read the first page and then my blog poured from my fingertips, sentence by sentence, unknowing where it would take me, or how it would come together, much less end.  I used John’s scripture verse from Proverbs and Helen Keller’s quote as the inspiration for my blog.  And now I’m finished.  Maybe I should read the blog over once to make certain it makes sense.  God doesn’t make mistakes, but I SURE DO!

 Thank You John for sending your notes so timely.  You inspired me greatly as I listened to your presentation last evening.  I’ll close with a quote which John quoted last evening.

“THE BIGGEST LIE I TELL MYSELF IS…”I DON’T NEED TO WRITE THAT DOWN, I’LL REMEMBER IT.”

Maybe that is why I like to write so much, so I can remember it later!

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU!