Mockers

Peter continues the discussion of the last days:

“Knowing this first, that in the last days mockers shall come 

with mockery, walking after their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where 

is the promise of his coming? For, from the day the fathers 

fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning 

of the creation...they are willingly ignorant...that the world that then 

was, being overflowed with water, perished.” (2 Peter 3:3-6)

Back in the 1970’s, it seemed that most Christians were speaking 

about the Rapture, which means “the catching away.” There was 

an excitement, an anticipation of an event that would bring about 

tremendous change for both those who were taken to heaven and 

those who were left behind. Books were written on this subject. 

Today it seems that no one is interested in the Rapture and those 
who believe in the immanent return of Jesus, are scoffed at. In fact, 
the comments made sound very much like what Peter speaks of in 
the verses above. 

When I feel the warmth of the sun on my back, hear the birds singing, 

the laughter of my grandson, everything feels normal; I cannot imagine 

that it will not continue indefinitely. But scripture declares that all things

 have not stayed the same because there WAS a real flood, and it 

destroyed the world.

It could happen tomorrow. So what do we do with today?

Check out the story pages

http://www.hisvictoriousindwelling.com/stories.html

It Could Happen Tomorrow!

In the words of Jesus concerning a future event:

“But of that day and hour knoweth no one, not even the 

angels of heaven, neither the Son, but the Father only.  

And, as were the days of Noah, so shall be the coming 

of the Son of man. For as in those days which were before 

the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving 

In marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, 

and they knew not until the flood came, and took them all 

away; so shall be the coming of the Son of man. 

Matthew 24:36-39)

I often hear people saying, “Well, no one knows the day or the 

hour,” thus ending the conversation on both the rapture and the 

tribulation. But Jesus is pointing out that since no one knows, 

we need to be alert and watch for the signs of His coming and 

the signs of the tribulation.

I watch Noah play and I think about the people in that day, who came 

outside to bask in the sunshine and took the building of an ark on dry 

land as a joke! Then the door was shut and no amount of clamoring 

gave entrance to safety. The coming of Jesus will take most people 

by surprise, including Christians.

Dear Reader, consider both the cross and the blood as the way into 

the Ark of Protection and choose eternal life by repenting of your sin. 

“TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION.” 

Tomorrow may be too late for that day could come tomorrow!

Check out the story pages

http://www.hisvictoriousindwelling.com/stories.html

Heavy Seismicity

I came across an article a couple of days ago talking about the
number of earthquakes over the weekend:

Alaska had numerous small quakes and a 5.8 earthquake in
Anchorage yesterday.
Iran a 4.5
Romania a 4.6
Hawaii a mild jolt
Indonesia a 4.6
South America a 4.5
Afghanistan a 4.1
Vanautu Islands, located between Australia and Fiji, a 6.4 followed
the next day by a 6.0
Sichuan, China a 4.8

Written on December 2:
"As it stands, there have been twenty earthquakes today, 207 
earthquakes in the past seven days, 822 earthquakes in the past
month, and 17,474 earthquakes in the last year."

I went back over an eight day period in November and counted
eight earthquakes over 6, three of them over 7!

Why is this important to talk about? Because of the words of Jesus:

"Then he said unto them, 'Nation shall rise against nation and 
Kingdom against kingdom:  And great earthquakes shall be in
divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights
and great signs shall there be from heaven.'" (Luke 21:10,11)

The disciples had asked Jesus in Matthew 24, "Tell us,...what
shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world."

As I go about my daily life I am also listening for the sound of
the trumpet! The hour is late, a time is coming when every thing
will shift. We can use the Mayan Calendar, and the date of
december 21, not as a place of truth, or fear, but as a wake up call
"to watch."

Live Wisely

Paul continues to give encouragement to the Colossians:

Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the best
use of the time. (Co. 5:5)

As I look at this verse, I find myself examining how I have
lived out the last 24 hours. I come up with a lot of failure.
Tender spots are touched and protective flesh rises to the
surface. I express an opinion about something that does
not really matter and it causes offense, distance. Paul is
addressing something far deeper here than speech. He has
discussed details in the previous verses. I am reminded of
a verse that seems to summarize wisdom:

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do
all to the glory of God. Give no offense...
(I Corinthians 10:31)

Papa, I cannot live this Christian life wisely so I turn
to you in my need and say, "help."

Open Season

In Colossians 5:3,4 Paul says: “At the same time, pray for us...”

What does he want them to pray for? Release from prison, a clean 

cell above ground, a hot shower, health? Does he pray that the

persecution of Christians will stop? No! He prays:

“that God may open to us a door, to declare the mystery of Christ,

on account of which I am in prison--that I may make it clear, which

is how I ought to speak.”

I have heard it said that there were more Christians killed for their

faith in the last century then all the previous centuries combined. 

There are an estimated 400,000 Christians in North Korea today,

of which 100,00 are in prison for their faith. It is also open season

on Christians in Iran where scores are coming to Christ every day.

China has killed numberless Believers.

Papa, I sit in the warmth of my study and I ponder Paul’s prayer for

You to open a door so that the mystery of Christ, the Gospel, would

continue to reach out to those who are imprisoned in the darkness

of despair. So, this is my prayer also. May you open doors for the 

message of the Gospel to be declared in all of the hidden places

across the earth, but especially in the prisons.

See my stories:

http://www.hisvictoriousindwelling.com/stories.html

Thanksgiving Day

When I was growing up, Thanksgiving was a very special holiday for me.
Bigger than christmas in SOME ways. I loved getting together with extended
family for a turkey feast. Then, adults worked in the kitchen while children
played. Now, most of those adults have died and our relatives, including our
children, are scattered across America.

Yesterday we invited a couple of people to join us for an early dinner. It was
a beautiful day. I so enjoyed getting the table ready for my guests. I carefully
set out my wedding china, my mother's wedding crystal, and my great grandmother's
silver. Memories flooded my mind as I worked, so many sweet memories.

Our guests came early and we laughed together as we prepared the food. There
was a discussion about the turkey. It had been baking far longer than the directions
suggested but the temperature was not moving past 160. Raw turkey was not acceptable.
During this time it was noted that the refrigerator was not working. (We hustled around
to find ice and moved the freezer items into a small freezer in the basement.) Turkey
with all the trimmings and no place to put the leftovers? It turns out that the
thermometer was broken and the bird was completely cooked through, the meat
absolutely delicious. A guest took the left overs home and today we discovered
that all we needed to do was reset the temperature. It was not the compressor after all!

After a sumptuous meal we pitched in and had the kitchen cleaned up in a record
15 minutes leaving us plenty of time to take the dog on a long walk in a wooded area.
After some light refreshments we played a rousing game of cards. Laughter flowed
like water. What a perfect day to give thanks.

The Pilgrims--some unknown facts

When I was in grade school I loved the celebration of Thanksgiving because

we got to dress up as both Indians and Pilgrims, and we got to taste some of

the foods they ate. We also heard their story every year. 

There were about 102 passengers and 30 crew members on the Mayflower,

but some of the passengers were called Strangers because they were not

part of the Pilgrims and were not coming to the new world to escape 

persecution. The Mayflower sailed from Holland where the Pilgrims lived 

for a number of years after fleeing England. (One Thanksgiving we visited 

Leyden and attended a Thanksgiving service in the church where the 

Pilgrims had worshiped.) Two died on the 65 day voyage in a very stormy 

crossing. The ship was forced by storms to go further north than intended  

and landed in an uninhabited area in November of 1620. They built a common 

house which was destroyed by fire in January of 1621 which meant losing 

supplies and  forcing them to shelter on the cramped ship. William Bradford 

said of that winter: “...soon a most lamentable blow fell upon them. In two or 

three months time half of their company died...scarcely 50 remained, and 

sometimes two or three persons died in a day. In the time of worst distress, 

there were but six or seven sound persons, who, to their great commendation 

be it spoken, spared no pains night or day, but with great toil and at the risk of 

their own health, fetched wood, made fires, prepared food for the sick, made 

their beds, washed their infected clothes, dressed and undressed them; in a 

word did all the homely and necessary services for them which dainty and 

queasy stomachs cannot endure to be mentioned.”  Approximately 55 people

survived the voyage and that awful winter but in March when the ship sailed, not 

one of the Pilgrims was on board. 

May you have a blessed Thanksgiving Day!