The other night, our sleepy little hamlet received about eight inches of snow. We woke up to a beautiful, wintry wonderland. Blue took Meadow and Forest to town, so me and my big O (that is our nickname for Ocean), went for a walk. I was walking down a gravel road, and was a little, shall we say 'spaced out'. I had a lot on my mind. Ok, anyway, I glanced up and see a large, yellow, front-loader headed straight towards us. I immediately grew animated, because Ocean loves big machinery. I was excitedly talking and pointing when I see the drivers eyes grow wide and the back-end of the overwhelmingly large machine start to slide. It was then that I noticed a car had come up behind me and the danger became apparent. I jumped backwards into the ditch, pulling the Chariot with Ocean in it. Of course, the whole incident only lasted a couple of seconds, but my heart was beating fast as I watched the loader come to a stop where we had been standing and the little car, apparently none the worse, whip around and off down the road.
As we began our walk back home, my thoughts wandered to the coming Christmas season and the celebration of Christ's birth. Over two thousand years ago, God came to earth as a humble servant to save man from his sin. I thought of that loader sliding toward us, and realized that Christ's return to earth is just as imminent. This time He will not be coming as a humble servant, but as a conquering King. Anyone who has not accepted and believed on Him as Jesus Christ, the Son of God, will pay a very high price when He returns.
I was caught off guard and was not completely prepared for that front-loader but I am ready for Christ's second return, and I want to tell as many people as I can of the imminent return of my Lord.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
just praising the Lord
About two months ago, a good friend of mine invited me to an IHOP convention. Now, I know you are thinking what I was thinking, and that is, "about time we had a convention to celebrate pancakes!" Well, the convention was this past weekend, and when she called to remind me, she informed me that the acronym was actually "International House of Prayer" not "International House of Pancakes". Ok, I agreed to go.
I arrived a few minutes late, and the evening had already started, so my friend and I slipped into the back row. I looked around, and was immediately uncomfortable. There was a band up front, leading the crowd in some praise songs. I didn't recognize any of them, and the music was fairly loud and a little...shall we say crazy, for my tastes. Many people were swaying, arms raised, or even jumping up and down. I was about ready to lean over and whisper to my friend that I wasn't really comfortable, when I felt God's spirit telling me to close my eyes. Ok.
His next words to me were, "Worship Me." Ok.
He reminded me of what I had read that morning in Psalms 56:12,13 "I will render thank offerings to Thee. For Thou has delivered my soul from death, Indeed my feet from stumbling, So that I may walk before God In the light of the living."
He reminded me of what I had read in Isaiah 12:1
"I will give thanks to Thee, O Lord, For although Thou wast angry with me, Thine anger is turned away..."
and verse 4 and 5,
"...Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; Make them remember that His name is exalted. Praise the Lord in song, for He has done excellent things; Let this be known throughout the earth."
I raised my arms to the One who is so worthy of my praise. I gave Him clap offerings. For over 2 hours, I praised God. I thanked Him for "delivering my soul from death", for turning His anger away, and for His excellent deeds. Let me tell you, two hours wasn't enough.
When we finally sat down, a speaker from IHOP told us about a small church in Kansas City. This church felt convicted nine years ago to spend more time in personal communion with God. So, for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the last nine years, this church has had a room that is committed to praise and prayer. WOW! Of course, they work in shifts, but one shift a week would be life-altering, and for NINE YEARS!!
I think back on how fast that two hours went. I was created to worship. He desires my worship. He is so worthy of my worship. This week, I am going to try to just keep praising my Lord.
I arrived a few minutes late, and the evening had already started, so my friend and I slipped into the back row. I looked around, and was immediately uncomfortable. There was a band up front, leading the crowd in some praise songs. I didn't recognize any of them, and the music was fairly loud and a little...shall we say crazy, for my tastes. Many people were swaying, arms raised, or even jumping up and down. I was about ready to lean over and whisper to my friend that I wasn't really comfortable, when I felt God's spirit telling me to close my eyes. Ok.
His next words to me were, "Worship Me." Ok.
He reminded me of what I had read that morning in Psalms 56:12,13 "I will render thank offerings to Thee. For Thou has delivered my soul from death, Indeed my feet from stumbling, So that I may walk before God In the light of the living."
He reminded me of what I had read in Isaiah 12:1
"I will give thanks to Thee, O Lord, For although Thou wast angry with me, Thine anger is turned away..."
and verse 4 and 5,
"...Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; Make them remember that His name is exalted. Praise the Lord in song, for He has done excellent things; Let this be known throughout the earth."
I raised my arms to the One who is so worthy of my praise. I gave Him clap offerings. For over 2 hours, I praised God. I thanked Him for "delivering my soul from death", for turning His anger away, and for His excellent deeds. Let me tell you, two hours wasn't enough.
When we finally sat down, a speaker from IHOP told us about a small church in Kansas City. This church felt convicted nine years ago to spend more time in personal communion with God. So, for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the last nine years, this church has had a room that is committed to praise and prayer. WOW! Of course, they work in shifts, but one shift a week would be life-altering, and for NINE YEARS!!
I think back on how fast that two hours went. I was created to worship. He desires my worship. He is so worthy of my worship. This week, I am going to try to just keep praising my Lord.
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