Author: Jayne Lawson

“I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemies.” 2 Samuel 22:4

I’ve faced lots of “stuff” in my life that have been difficult to get through. If I were to list these “giants”, I’m sure a lot of what I’ve been through would be on the lists of others as well. Sometimes, I had a really good hold of my faith and other times, my faith seemed so small, it was almost nonexistent. But no matter what befell me, God always saw me through it. He was faithful as He said He would be. He was comforting as He said He would be. He held me in His arms as He said He would do. He whispered words of encouragement as He said He would do. He never left me nor forsook me, and He was with me always as He said He would be.

I’ve faced financial problems and career setbacks. I’ve faced medical challenges such as cancer and chronic respiratory disease. I’ve faced the death of loved ones, saved and unsaved. I’ve endured unbearable sorrow and great heartbreak as a child and an adult. Yet, through all of these and more, God has never left my side. He has saved me from all of these “giants” in my life even when I didn’t have the faith to throw one single stone.

Sometimes, He has given me strength from others, sometimes from His presence alone, sometimes through music, and sometimes solely through His Word. Sometimes He has delivered me immediately, but most of the time, He has led me through each trial by the hand.

To say He is worthy of my praise is such an understatement, yet I will continue to praise His name for He truly is worthy. Not because of what He’s done for me, but for who He is. It is incomprehensible to me that He cares so much for me, but I am so glad He does!

I don’t know when the next “giant” in my life will loom its ugly head, but I know it will happen, and when it does, I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I know I will be saved from my enemies!

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God

Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God.

Standing, standing, Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing, I’m standing on the promises of God.

(from “Standing on the Promises” by R. Kelso Carter)

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

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God is bigger than any virus!

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12

There are so many American men and women that are fighting around the world today for our freedom. Every day, they face unknown dangers, and many of our brave military personnel pay the ultimate price.

God has an army, too. There are two parts to it. One part is the special forces unit. Those in this group fight those battles for us that take place in the heavenly realms. Their battles are not against flesh and blood, but rather “…against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

The second division consists of the troops here on earth. You may have heard of some of God’s soldiers who never wavered from their stand for Christ, even giving their lives for Him. People like William Tyndale, Jim Elliott, John Bunyan, and so many others. There are also many in the Bible who were killed for their faith. (Hebrews 11:36-37)

Paul writes to Timothy that he should “fight the good fight of faith.” No matter what, Timothy should stand up for Christ despite the temptations of the world that seek to destroy the Christian. Timothy is reminded that things like lust, love of money, pride, inerrant teachings must also be fought against to preserve the faith.

I realize that I, too, must fight to preserve my faith. There are factions in this world that seek to destroy everything that my faith in Jesus represents. I cannot be a passive Christian. I have to take my stand just like those who fought so hard to protect it long ago. What can I do? First, I must be sure of what I believe and why. 2 Peter 2:1 warns “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”

Christians should always compare what they are taught against what is actually written in the Word of God. We are to be as the Bereans in Acts 17 because “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Part of my fight to preserve my faith is to be sure I am receiving the true Word of God.

My pastor always has Scripture references throughout the messages he brings to us. This enables us to check what he says against what God has recorded in the Bible. We are reminded that we should have our Bibles with us in church, and we should make it a practice to read it daily. It is part of the armor of God, and like any good soldier, we must be fully equipped for the battles we are sure to face. In Ephesians 6:17, we are told the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. No one goes into a fight unarmed. We must be prepared because we are in the fight of our lives! It is our very practice of faith and worship that is on the line!

While it is true that God will not be defeated, that doesn’t mean we are to be complacent in our Christian life. I know Revelation records that in the end God is the victor, and I know the “battle belongs to the Lord,” but that does not mean we are to be passive in our Christianity. Quite the contrary, in Ephesians 6, we are instructed to be ready for battle!

If we choose to be on the sidelines, we will lose so much. For example, if we do not vote for individuals who uphold godly principles, the result will be a nation that will embrace everything wicked and evil, while criminalizing Christianity. We’ve already seen that happen in other countries around the world.

Maybe you’re thinking, “How can I fight for my faith?” Well, for starters, use the things of the world to your advantage. Use social media to share the gospel, to make known your positions on certain issues. Invite people you know to church; share your testimony of how Jesus changed your life; support causes that promote Biblical godliness. Learn about issues that impact our practice of faith and worship. Be a voice for Christ, but be a voice that is bathed in love. Words of anger and hatred will not further the cause of Christ. Ephesians 4:15 tells us “But speaking the truth in love…” While it may be cliché to use this phrase, I try to ask myself, “What would Jesus say or do in this situation?” Then I try to act accordingly.

Is it easy? Nope. I make lots of mistakes. But like a faithful soldier, I cannot quit. I have to get my act together and continue the fight. I am not called to be a general in the Lord’s army. I am called to be a foot soldier. I must follow my orders and uphold my code of conduct. Both are found in the Bible. I must obey my commanding officer, and that is Jesus. I am to obey and follow Him to the front lines and beyond.

Our ability to practice what we believe is at stake. We must all take a stand and “fight the good fight of faith” or one day there will be nothing left in this country for us to stand up and defend. If that happens, what kind of world will our children and grandchildren face in their lives? One without God? May it never be!

Stand up, stand up for Jesus! ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss:
From vict’ry unto vict’ry, His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.

(from “Stand Up For Jesus” by George Duffield, Jr.)

“And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S…” 1 Samuel 17:47

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God’s army is all volunteer. Will you join?

“What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” Psalm 56:3

I’m afraid of a lot of things. At the top of my list is spiders, but the list is long after them. Here are some of the things of which I am fearful.

• late night phone calls that only mean one thing
• fire ants (allergic to these monsters!)
• creaks and groans from my house when I am alone
• medical test results (especially the cancer-related ones)
• hurting someone’s feelings with my words (happens way too often)
• my pride

If I trust God, He will take care of them all. I often forget that, and when I do, that’s when fear creeps in. And when fear replaces trust, it’s… well, it’s pretty scary. The feeling of being alone with overwhelming fears is terrifying!

So what do I do? I go to the Bible. Why? Because it speaks truth to me. In addtion to Psalm 56:3, there are several other verses that I cling to in times of fear. Jesus said, “…I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:20) When I remember that God is with me in that very moment, the fear lessens. A sense of peace begins to calm my trembling heart when I trust God and take Him at His word. Isaiah 43:1-2 states, “… Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

Isaiah 41:13 tells me, “For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” I remember as a little girl holding on to my father’s hand. His large fingers would tightly curl around mine, and I would be safe and protected. Nothing could harm me when my dad was with me! That’s how it is with my heavenly Father! He is holding on to my hand always, and He promises to help me in every situation! I am safe in His hands and nothing can pluck me out! (John 10:29)

Fear can be crippling, but if I remember that God is always with me, helping and protecting me, I can face my fears. It’s not always easy to overcome them, but it is possible. The Bible reminds me, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” (Luke 1:37) and that “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)

In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face
While the storm howls above me, and there’s no hiding place
‘Mid the crash of the thunder, Precious Lord, hear my cry
Keep me safe till the storm passes by

Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more
Till the clouds roll forever from the sky
Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand
Keep me safe till the storm passes by

(from “Till the Storm Passes By” by Mosie Lister)

“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” Joshua 1:9

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If I am following after Jesus and not running ahead of Him, I never will run into my fears alone.

“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Revelation 22:12

Lately, I’ve heard a lot about the corona virus. I’ve read about the rapid spread of the disease, and how people are in a frenzy trying to buy everything they might need to prepare for its onslaught here in America. Stores are running out of face masks, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and anything else deemed necessary for survival. There’s a worldwide movement to be prepared because it’s coming… we just don’t know when!

Too bad there isn’t that same type of passion to get ready for the coming of Jesus. We all know it’s going to happen, and by the looks of things, His coming may be very soon, but I haven’t seen a lot of people getting ready for that, certainly not at the magnitude in which they are preparing for the corona virus. Imagine if we knew for a fact that Jesus was coming tomorrow. What would we be doing today?

I know what I would be doing. I would be telling everyone I knew that Jesus was coming! I would be praying that my lost friends and family would be open to the gospel! I would be begging God to open their eyes to the truth of who Jesus is and why they need Him. I would be praying for their salvation! I would be doing so much more than I am doing right now. Wouldn’t you?

Mommy, won’t you come and hear what I learned in church today?
They told me about a man who could wash my sins away!
She said something ‘bout the healing of a man who had been blind,
I smiled and told her sweetly that I did not have the time.

Mommy, won’t you come with me to Sunday school this week?
They said there’d be a missionary coming there to speak.
She looked at me again and asked if I would like to go
But I had dirty clothes to wash and so I told her no.

I wish I took the time to hear the things she had to say
I wish that I had knelt with her at night to hear her pray
She tried so hard to tell me of the love that God had shown
I know I would have listened if I had only known.

Mommy, did you know that Jesus said He’d come again
To take us all o heaven where we’ll be with Him,
And then she ran off singing something about the glory land
I watcher her go then shook my head ‘cause I did not understand.

One day while we were walking in the park, her hand in mine,
She shouted as she pointed to the sky
Mommy, see the angels there! I tried, but couldn’t see,
I looked at her, then she was gone… in the twinkling of an eye

I wish I took the time to hear the things she had to say
I wish that I had knelt with her at night to hear her pray
She tried so hard to tell me but I never took the time
And now my little girl is gone, and I’ve been left behind.

(from “Mommy, Did You Know” by J. Lawson)

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:52

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I wonder what I’m going to do today…

“He who gains Wisdom loves his own life; he who keeps understanding shall prosper and find good.” Proverbs 19:8

If something is mentioned only once in the Bible, is it important to know? Of course, it is! The entire Bible is the Word of God. Every single thing in the Scriptures is given to us for a purpose… to open our eyes to our own depravity and draw us near to God through His redemptive plan. There is nothing we can arbitrarily throw out of the Bible. It’s critical to remember that even If something is only made manifest to us in one verse, it is still vitally important in our relationship with God.

What about something that has more than 200 occasions where it is mentioned in the Bible? I would consider that something of which God really wants me to take notice. According to the Christian Bible Reference site, the word “wisdom” is written 234 times in the KJV Bible! Clearly, this is something to which I need to pay attention.

Psalm 111:10 tells us that “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom…” Understanding who God is, having a reverential awe in regards to the Lord, is the start of attaining wisdom. When we understand that we are the creation and He is the Creator, our journey toward wisdom begins. Proverbs 9:10 confirms this. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”

Why should we desire wisdom? Here are just a few reasons mentioned in the Bible.

• Wisdom makes us happy.
  • “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.” Proverbs 3:13
• Wisdom helps us remain humble.
  • “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.” James 3:13
• Wisdom helps us obey the Lord.
  • “The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.” Proverbs 10:8
• Wisdom helps us know God better.
  • “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:” Ephesians 1:17
• Wisdom will protect us.
  • “Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.” Proverbs 4:6-7
• Wisdom enables us to listen and receive godly advice.
  • “Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.” Proverbs 19:20

How do we get wisdom? First, we pray and ask God for it. James 1:5 states, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” From beginning to end, the Bible is filled with God’s wisdom that He readily makes available to us.

Second, we seek godly instruction for our daily lives. Proverbs 8:33 tell us to “Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.” We receive Biblical instruction from Sunday school classes, worship services, godly devotionals, and of course, from God’s Holy Spirit as we read the Scriptures ourselves. Colossians 3:16 states, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

Wisdom is more precious than gold and better than rubies (Proverbs 16:16, 8:11). It is also available to each of us, but it is not acquired passively. It is a conscious choice we make to obtain it. “So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;” (Proverbs 2:2).

Choose wisely.

Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.

(from “Be Thou My Vision” as translated by Mary E. Byrne)

“And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” Job 28:28

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Is your house built upon the solid rock?

“…If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Matthew 17:20

Have you ever seen a mustard seed? It’s very small, only about 1-2 mm in diameter. If conditions are right, that tiny seed will grow into a huge bush that could be anywhere from 6-20 feet tall and 20 feet wide!. It will be large enough for birds to nest in its branches, and in addition to the seeds that are ground into mustard, it will yield a bounty of bright yellow flowers.

It was this little seed that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 17. For the longest time, I read this parable as a chastisement from the Lord, but lately I’ve seen His words in a different light. He did state that it would take only a small amount of faith to do great things, and He used the impossible task of moving a mountain to compare what we could do with a small amount of faith. Moving a mountain would require an enormous amount of effort, more than humanly possible, but He went on to say that just a small amount of faith could result in the greatest of difficulties being overcome.

God knew we would face huge trials in our lives, and these trials would surely test our faith. I know that when I have faced hard times in my past, it was so hard to hold on to what my heart knew was true. When I couldn’t see God working, I admit my faith wavered, but I still had a sliver of hope. When I cried until no more tears could come, when I saw no possible way for my prayers to be answered, when I felt utterly defeated, I could still cry out to God because I had the tiniest seed of faith that refused to die.

I learned that when times are hardest, and my faith is weakest, and I am only holding on to a tiny little thread of my faith, it can “move mountains.” I don’t have to have the faith of Daniel or Paul; I can have the smallest flicker of faith, and it can still do wonders through the power and grace of God!

As I nourish my faith with the richness of God’s Word, my faith, like the mustard plant, will grow more and more! The more my faith grows, the more trust I will have in God, and that will influence my prayer life, making it stronger also. Remember, prayer is not an exercise in futility. It’s the way we touch the heart of God. When God’s heart is touched, He moves, and when He moves, mountains crumble!

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul

It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul

(from “It Is Well With My Soul” by Horatio Spafford)

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10

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“Faith is not knowing God can, it’s knowing God will.”

“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Acts 16:31

Becoming saved, that is having your sins forgiven by Jesus, is pretty easy to do. In fact, it is so simple that people have trouble accepting that, so they sometimes make it extremely difficult for a person to accept Christ as their personal Saviour.

I’ve been told that there were certain words that must be said or certain things that must be done in order to be saved, but I have not been able to find anything mandated for us to say or do to earn our salvation. In fact, the Bible says just the opposite.

The Bible states that to be saved the only requirement is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Who is He? Jesus is the Son of God. He was born of a virgin as was prophesied in Isaiah 7:14. “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Jesus lived as a man without sin for about 33 years preaching and teaching people about the need to repent from sin and follow God. Eventually, He was crucified and then buried in a tomb. Three days later, He rose from the grave, victorious over death and sin, fulfilling God’s plan to redeem us. Jesus proved that He is the Saviour of the world, and only He can forgive sin and give us eternal life. All we have to do is ask Him!

That’s it. Once you determine in your heart that what the Bible states is true, and you believe it, you simply need to call upon the name of Jesus for salvation, and He will forgive you of all your sins, past, present, and future. You then become a child of God, and your future in heaven is secure.

Nothing else will save you. Not anything you can do, for the Bible tells us that our works are as filthy rags. “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6) Baptism doesn’t save you; church attendance doesn’t save you; tithing doesn’t save you. Works will never save you. Jesus said the only way was through Him. John 14:6 records the words of our Saviour. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

In fact, the Bible specifically says that we are saved through His grace alone. Ephesians 2:8,9 states, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” It is God who gifts us with salvation if we but believe in the work of His Son, Jesus. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,” (Titus 2:13)

It also doesn’t matter where you are when you get saved. You can be in a church, your home, your workplace. I even know a person who got saved while sitting in a deer tree stand! Remember the thief on the cross who asked Christ to remember him? Jesus forgave him on the spot, and that thief had never done any works for his salvation. He simply believed that Jesus was who He said He was (Luke 23:43). Salvation is a free gift from God to all who choose to believe in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Another thing that is irrelevant is your age. Children can get saved; teenagers can get saved; young adults can get saved, and the elderly can get saved. Jesus even said we were to come to him with the faith of a child! Matthew 16:3 records Jesus’ words. “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” When a person understands that his or her sins need to be forgiven, they are able to ask for Jesus’ forgiveness no matter what their age.

If you want to be forgiven of your sins, all you need to do is believe in Jesus and ask Him to save you. When you do that, He will forgive you and become your Lord and Saviour forever! From that point on, He will always be with you, and His Spirit will help you grow as a Christian through the Word of God.

Accepting God’s gift of salvation is the most important thing you’ll ever do! It’ll change your life forever, and you’ll never regret it!

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

(from “Nothing But the Blood” by Robert Lowry)

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20

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If you have questions about salvation, feel free to leave me a note. I would be happy to answer them (or find out the answers if I don’t know them!).

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

Every now and then I find myself driving down the freeway and someone cuts me off. What do I do? I yell at the driver, who, of course, cannot hear me… thankfully. Sometimes I’ve said things out of anger to someone I really cared about that I later regretted, but it was impossible to take those hurtful words back. Shamefully, I have even caught myself gossiping about another person.

The Lord heard every word.

What about my thoughts? Ever catch yourself thinking something you really shouldn’t? I have. Maybe it was when I saw a teenager with hair the color of cotton candy, or maybe the time a crying child disrupted a church service. Or maybe it was the bitter thoughts that erupted every time I saw someone who had hurt me in the past. Maybe it was simply the thoughts generated by a particular television show or movie.

The Lord knew every thought.

Psalm 139:2 states, “Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.” When I am thinking of things, whether positive or negative, good or bad, God knows. He is aware of every thought I have.

God also hears every word I speak. Jesus said He was always with us (Matthew 28:20), so everything I say is heard by God. Whether it is complementary or destructive in nature, it falls upon the ear of the Lord. He hears everything that comes from my mouth whether it is intended for Him or not!

The book of James states that the tongue is like a fire and full of deadly poison! We must exercise control over it continually. In Psalm 34:13, God instructs us to “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.” Proverbs 15:4 reminds us that “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.” It can be difficult to bridle our tongues, but a sincere desire to do so can yield positive results. The Bible reminds each of us that “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)

Likewise, God tells us what we are to think about in Philippians 4:8. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” If we fill our mind with these things, there will be no room for evil thoughts, gossip, or hatred. Allow the Holy Spirit to purge your mind of sinful thoughts and replace them with those that are godly.

Search me, O God, and know my heart today,
Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray;

See if there be some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from every sin, and set me free.

(from “Search Me O God” by James E. Orr)

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” Colossians 3:23

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God knows every thought and hears every word, so let’s fill our minds and our speech with His Word and His words!

“For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.” Isaiah 64:4

I’ve traveled a lot and seen some amazing places. I can still remember how glorious the Matterhorn appeared as the morning sun reflected off its snow-covered summit. In my mind’s eye, I can still see and hear the cascading waters of the Iquazu Falls in Argentina, and I will never forget the breathtaking beauty of the sunrise over the Sea of Galilee.

God has created so many spectacular things to see in this world, but I imagine they will all pale to the glories we will see in heaven. While the Bible speaks of jeweled gates and walls, a city of pure gold, a river whose water is as clear as crystal, and the light of God shining eternally (Revelation 21 & 22), I cannot even begin to imagine the splendor of heaven. Its beauty is beyond my comprehension. Isaiah tells us that we cannot fathom what God has prepared for us in heaven!

I do know I have a home there that Jesus is readying for my arrival, and soon He will come to get me and take me back to heaven to live forever in the presence of God. I know that there will be family and friends who have gone before me, and the reunion will be sweeter than I could ever imagine. I will be introduced to those whom I have only read about… Noah, David, Ruth, Paul, and so many more! Oh, what a moment that will be!

But the most wonderful sight to see in heaven will be my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. I cannot imagine what it will be like to finally see Him face-to-face, but I will see those wounds that were a result of my sin, and I believe I will finally grasp the depth of love that Jesus has for me. I will see His eyes full of love and compassion for me, and I will fall at His feet thanking Him and praising Him. I will see Him as He is, and I will be amazed that He could love someone like me. And then I will join all the hosts of heaven as together we sing praises to Jesus, the Son of God.

Can I imagine what it will be like? No, I cannot, but I do know that when I do get to heaven, it will be the most glorious moment of my existence, and it will never end! I can’t wait to get there!

I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene,
and wonder how he could love me, a sinner, condemned, unclean.
How marvelous! How wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
How marvelous! How wonderful
Is my Savior’s love for me!

(from “I Stand Amazed” by Charles Gabriel)

“And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” Revelation 5:13

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The invitations have been sent. Will you be there?

“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,in a moment, in the twinkling of  an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

When we lived in California, we were advised to anchor heavy furniture to the walls and keep a supply of freshwater and canned goods in our homes in the event of an earthquake. Because earthquakes were few and far between, there wasn’t much thought given to them until after one had happened, and frankly most people did not heed the warnings to be prepared, so when an earthquake of significant magnitude occurred, most people were not ready for it.

Now that I live in the southeast, preparations for natural disasters are quite different due to the fact that both tornadoes and hurricanes can be predictive, thus allowing for the opportunity to be more prepared for these weather events. When news of impending storms is broadcast, scores of people flock to the grocery and hardware stores to purchase items deemed necessary for survival. People take shelter; cell phones are fully charged to receive weather updates; generators are fueled, and pantries are stocked. When the storm hits, they are ready!

There is a very significant Biblical event on the horizon that will be more similar to an earthquake than a tornado when it comes to preparedness. Like an earthquake, there will be a few indicators of its coming, but there will be no one to say that it will happen in the next day or week. The only thing we can determine at this point is that will happen very soon. I am referring to the moment when Jesus appears and takes all of those who have trusted Him as their Saviour to heaven to live with Him forever

Recently, there has been a renewal of life in the region around Israel’s Dead Sea due to the unprecedented rainfall in the region. These signs of reawakening are the precursors to the most anticipated post-Resurrection-of-Christ event in the Bible… the Rapture!

• Isaiah 35 tells us that “The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.”
  • This month there have been reports that the region surrounding the Dead Sea is blanketed with blossoming flowers. According to Prophecy Today, the increased rainfall in Israel had awakened the long-dormant seeds in the desert and wildflowers are blanketing the area.

• Ezekiel 47 states, “And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.”
  • En Gedi is located on the western shore of the Dead Sea, and Eneglaim is thought to be an ancient city also on the shores of the Dead Sea.
  • Recent rains are overflowing the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River impacting the underground water table as far south as the Dead Sea. Flashfloods are sending torrents of water into the Dead Sea.
  • Breaking Israel News reports that sinkholes around the Dead Sea are now filling with freshwater and fish are reappearing.

• Isaiah wrote in chapter 2:3, “And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”
  • Israel is near completion of its high-speed train from Ben-Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Jews can come from all over the world and within 30 minutes of landing, they can be at the western wall in Jerusalem.

When we see the signs of a prophetic event coming to pass, we need to take notice! Although there are other signs of which people are more familiar, such as those mentioned in Matthew 24:6-7, these three are the most recent that have come to fruition. God is reminding us that His Son is coming soon, and we need to be ready, or we will be left behind. Titus 2:13 tells us that we should be “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”

Jesus’ return is closer than ever, and when He does comes, it will happen so quickly that there will be no time to get ready. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15 that Jesus’ coming would be “in the twinkling of an eye”! If you don’t believe you are ready for the return of Christ, you can change that today. Simply accept Christ’s free gift of salvation! You can pray to Jesus right now, admitting that you’re a sinner who needs the forgiveness that only He can give. Accept that forgiveness and invite Him to be the Lord and Saviour of your life. Romans 10:13 states, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Some glorious morning sorrow will cease
Some glorious morning all will be peace
Heartaches all ended, school days all done
Heaven will open – Jesus will come.

Some golden daybreak Jesus will come
Some golden daybreak, battles all won
He’ll shout the vict’ry, break thro’ the blue
Some golden daybreak, for me, for you.

(from “Some Glorious Daybreak” by Carl Blackmore)

“Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11

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The signs are all around us. Are you ready?