Author: Jayne Lawson

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3

I know better than to start my day watching or reading about the news. When I do, a myriad of emotions swirl within me ranging from anger to sadness to astonishment to fear. Even when I go to social media to see the recent pictures of my family and friends, I am bombarded by the plethora of unwanted political ads that are inserted between the pictures of my friends’ vacations and the updates from family members. Rarely do I find joy and happiness when I am “informed” regarding current events. Instead, the steady downward trend of the society upsets me greatly.

There are a few things I can do about this problem. Since isolating myself completely from the world to keep myself from being affected by the news is impractical, I have to institute parameters.

First, I must remember it is best to begin each day reading the Bible. If I want peace in my heart, God’s Word is the source. “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” (Psalm 119:165) The Scriptures repeatedly tell me that God is the One who bestows peace, and I can depend on that. I do not need to be afraid of what is happening in the world because God is completely in control. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

The second thing I can do is pray. Pouring out my heart’s concerns to God is not a futile effort. In today’s verse, I am told that if I pray, God will do “great and mighty things.” Things I cannot even imagine! When I read about the political and cultural climate of America, I am fearful. When I see the atrocities happening in our country and the world toward Christians, I find myself shocked speechless. I cannot comprehend the hatred and violence toward the Lord Jesus Christ, His Word, and His followers. When I see the lack of respect, kindness, and general civility toward others in every corner of the world, I am stunned in disbelief. But when fear threatens to overwhelm me, and I cannot see a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel, God tells me in Jeremiah 33:3 to pray, because when I do, He will answer and “shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

I must never forget that God continues to omniscient and omnipotent. No matter how bleak things appear, God is in control of them all, and He uses humanity, both good and evil, to accomplish His purpose and plan. That means that for me and other Christians, God will take care of us through all of the turmoil. Deuteronomy 31:6 says, “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” When the Creator of all things, my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, says He will take care of me, I can trust Him to do so, and so can you.

Lastly, I need to keep myself focused on the Lord. I can start my day with Bible reading, and I can pray, but if I immediately return my attention to the world, it becomes easy to be overwhelmed by the evil and wickedness in this world. As a Christian, I do have a responsibility to know what is happening around me. Ignoring the problems doesn’t make them go away, but I do not need to immerse myself in them continually. In fact, quite the opposite is true. I need to dwell on the things of God. Philippians 4:8 reminds me, “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.” How do I do this? I listen to Christian podcasts, which give me information about current events, but from a Biblical worldview and godly perspectives. I have Christian music playing in my home and car that soothes my spirit and uplifts me. I read inspiring Christian works that both challenge and motivate me. I attend church where I get to fellowship with other Christians. Even on the worldwide web, there are good Christian blogs I can follow. I have found that reading the blogs of missionaries or certain Christian writers encourages me in my walk with the Lord.

When my focus is on Jesus, the world’s problems no longer trouble me because I am filled with the peace of God that truly passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7).

Peace, peace! wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above,
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray,
In fathomless billows of love.

(from “Wonderful Peace” by W.D. Cornell)

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

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“To get nations back on their feet, we must first get down on our knees.” – Billy Graham

 “When I awake, I am still with thee.” Psalm 139:18

God thinks a lot about me! The Bible says when I go asleep at night, I am in God’s thoughts, and when I wake up, He is still thinking of me! The Bible doesn’t only tell me that God thinks about me, but it also tells me what God thinks of me, and my value to Him. Here are a few verses that reinforce how special I am (and you are) to God.

*I am of more value to God than the sparrow.

“Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:31

*I was known by God before I began my life in my mother’s womb.

“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee;” Jeremiah 1:5

*I am part of a plan that God has made specifically for me.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11

*I am adopted into God’s family.

“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” Romans 8:17

*I have been redeemed by the blood of God’s only begotten Son.

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” Ephesians 1:7

It doesn’t matter where I go, what I do, whether or not I am awake or asleep, what the circumstances are surrounding me, God is always with me, and He is thinking of me. I find it mind boggling as to why this would be so, but I am so grateful that it is.

Ev’ry day He comes to me with new assurance;
More and more I understand His word of love.
But I’ll never know just why He came to save me,
Till someday I see His blessed face above.
No one ever cared for me like Jesus;
There’s no other friend so kind as He.
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me;
O how much He cared for me.

(from “No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus” by Charles Weigle)

“How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!” Psalm 139:17

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Jesus love me, this I know!

“Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.” Psalm 145:2

Have you ever noticed the natural world around you? God’s creation points to Him.

*Notice the mountain peaks… they point upward to God!

*Notice the trees… they point upward to God!

*Notice the flowers… they reach upward to the Lord!

*Even the waves… they point skyward until they can no longer remain upright, then they come crashing down, only to repeat it again and again.

Have you ever wondered why they do this? I think it’s their way of praising God. You may say that’s crazy, but did you know that in the Bible, it tells us many times that natural objects praise the Lord?

1. Mountains & Trees: “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” (Isaiah 55:12)
2. Rocks: “As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” (Luke 19:37-40)
3. Flowers: “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…” (Isaiah 35:1-2)
4. Ocean: “Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.” (Psalm 69:34)

The Bible tells us that we are to bless His name. To bless something or someone means to give praise, honor, or glory. Today’s verse tell us that we are to bless God daily!

1. He is our Creator: “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” (Psalm 100:3-4)
2. He commands us to praise Him: “Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.” (Psalm 150:6)
3. He has unending mercy toward us: “Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” (Psalm 118:28-29)
4. He has given us the gift of salvation: “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.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
5. He does so much for us: “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:” (Psalm 103:2)

However, these reasons are not necessary when it comes to praising God. Why? Because He is God. No other reason is needed. Blessing God is not contingent upon what He has done for us; it is simply because of who He is. “I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised:” (2 Samuel 22:4)

“Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.” (Psalm 48:1)

All praise to Him who reigns above
In majesty supreme,
Who gave His Son for man to die,
That He might man redeem!
Blessed be the name! Blessed be the name!
Blessed be the name of the Lord!
Blessed be the name! Blessed be the name!
Blessed be the name of the Lord!

(from “Blessed Be the Name” by William H. Clark)

“Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.” (Psalm 95:2-3)

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If you need a reason to praise God, look in the mirror!

“Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.” Isaiah 42:9

There are lots of prophecies in the Bible. If you study them, you will see that many have come to pass. Here are a few examples.

*Genesis 18 – birth of Isaac

*Deuteronomy 28 – Roman conquest of Israel

*Leviticus 26 – scattering of the Jews to other nations

*Isaiah 7 – miraculous birth of the Saviour

*Ezekiel 26 – Fall of Tyrus

*Ezekiel 30 – Fall of No (Egyptian city)

*Hosea 3 – no government, no sacrifice, no holy place in Jerusalem

*Micah 5 – birthplace of the Messiah

*John 2 – resurrection of Jesus

There are many more prophecies in the Bible that have been fulfilled, and this gives us the assurance that God will continue to fulfill His prophecies for the future. The next prophecy on God’s timeline to be fulfilled is what Christians refer to as “the rapture.” This event is spoken of by Jesus and the apostle Paul.

Jesus referred to it in John 14:2-3, when He said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

Paul spoke of the rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

History has shown that the prophecies in the Bible truly came to pass. If God was faithful to fulfill them in the past, He will be faithful to fulfill them in the future. The next prophecy that will come to pass is the rapture of the church. I can’t wait to “fly away!” How about you?

Marvelous message we bring,
Glorious carol we sing,
Wonderful word of the King,
Jesus is coming again!

Coming again, Coming again,
May be morning, may be noon,
May be evening and may be soon!
Coming again, Coming again;
O what a wonderful day it will be –
Jesus is coming again!

(from “Coming Again” by John Peterson)

“But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” Mark 13:32

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Are you ready?

“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.” Proverbs 30:5

Fake news, false accusations, hidden agendas, blatant lies. It seems like so much of what I hear or read about things in the world end up being grossly skewed, yet the true facts are not revealed before causing great turmoil in the hearts of the public. I imagine if every falsehood was somehow made known, the noses on the faces of the Pinocchio-esque liars would be constantly poking each other on a regular basis!

I admit when I read or hear about current events, I often get an unsettled feeling in the pit of my stomach. The longer I dwell on these things, the more intense the distress within me becomes, so I go to the only source of pure truth that I know – the Bible.

God’s Word gives me peace and comfort as I rest in Him, and that awful feeling within me dissipates as I am reminded who is really in control (Isaiah 14:24). Even if all the horrible stories I hear about were to end up being true, God is still the One who holds everything in His hands. Nothing catches Him off guard; there is nothing He is not aware of nor is there anything in which He lacks control. That includes the political situations both here and abroad, global warming, financial markets, health scares… everything is in God’s control. I can truly rest easy for the truth of God’s Word protects and shields me from the fears generated from the lies of the world.

Time to turn off the news, shutdown my computer, and open up my Bible. I need its sweet words to calm my spirit and restore peace to my soul (Philippians 4:7).

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.

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

“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.” Philippians 4:8

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“If we have not quiet in our minds, outward comfort will do no more for us than a golden slipper on a gouty foot.” – John Bunyun

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua 1:8

Many people who profess to be Christians really know little of God except what they have heard in a church service or a Sunday school class. They rely on the words and thoughts of others to know and understand God. I know. I’ve been there.

Don’t get me wrong. Church and Sunday school are vital in growing as a Christian, but they are not all-inclusive. If these are my only sources of “getting to know God,” I am severely limiting the relationship I am to have with Him. Think of it this way. It would be like having a friend tell me about a letter her grandmother had written, and then me believing that I had a close relationship with that grandparent because I had listened to my friend explain what was in that letter. It would give me a vague idea about my friend’s grandmother, but it would be impossible for me to have any sort of a relationship with her. The only way I could have a relationship with my friend’s grandmother would be to visit her, have conversations with her, spend time with her… often.

This is the exactly the same thing I need to do to cultivate a deep personal relationship with God. Once I’ve accepted Jesus as my Saviour, I must visit Him often through the reading of the Bible, His Word. I must have conversations with Him. I must speak to Him through prayer; He will speak to me through Scripture.

Start with one verse a day. It doesn’t take much time, but you could write that verse on a 3×5 card and put it someplace where you will see it throughout the day. Maybe a bathroom mirror or kitchen cabinet. Maybe in your purse or pocket. After you read it, think about it, and let the Holy Spirit of God speak to your heart. You might want to jot down a few thoughts on the back of the card, then at the end of the day, put that card in a box. If you read one verse each day, by this time next year, you would have read 366 verses (2020 is a leap year!), more if you read 2-3 verses every now and then! Think how much more intimate your relationship with God will become!

You can pick and choose the verses you want to read; there is no special way to get into God’s Word. Just make it doable for you, and then do it! I promise it will change your life.

More about Jesus in His Word,
Holding communion with my Lord;
Hearing his voice in ev’ry line,
Making each faithful saying mine.

More, more about Jesus,
More, more about Jesus;
More of His saving fullness see,
More of His love who died for me.

(from “More About Jesus” by E.E. Hewitt)

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” James 4:8

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Resolve to get to know God better today!

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

Recently, a friend gave me this card, and it made me think. Do I really want to be the author of my own life story? As an author, I create characters for my stories, and their “lives” are completely in my control. With the clickety-clack of a few keys on my computer, I not only create a physical image, but I design a personality as well. Their essence takes shape through my words, which also take them through their lives, and ultimately, their final outcome. (I confess I like happy endings, so my tales usually end that way although the journey is often bumpy!)

My life, however, is another story. (No pun intended!) It has its ups and downs. That plans that I have made are in no way guaranteed to come to pass. My life is definitely not under my control. I cannot type my day out, nor can I orchestrate happy endings on a daily basis. But I don’t have to worry about it because my life is being written by Someone who does order my steps every day (Proverbs 37:23), and He has promised a very happy ending in my future! The author of my life is Jesus! Hebrews 12:2 says that the Son of God is the author and finisher of my faith!

As an author, I often encounter obstacles when I write. Sometimes I hit the proverbial writer’s block, and a story may go unfinished for months. Why? Because I don’t know where I am going with a certain character or situation. Not so with the author of my life. Jesus knows exactly the path I need to walk, and in doing so, I have peace in my life. 1 Corinthains 14:33 states, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” Each step is taken by following in His footsteps! It’s impossible to get lost unless I purposefully stray from the narrow path upon which He leads. And even then, He restores me and brings me back to the paths of righteousness (Psalm 23:3).

Sometimes when I reread chapters that I’ve written, I make major changes because the writing has not turned out the way I had hoped. Revisions often take more time than the original writing! But Jesus never makes a mistake in my life’s story. I may veer off the major plot line, but He always brings me back to where I need to be to keep my story on track until it reaches that happy ending He has promised (Philippians 1:6).

Jesus knows every word of my life story intimately. He has written it in the deepest red, and it is imprinted in His hands, His feet, His side, and most importantly, His heart!

I can’t wait to see what’s in the next chapter!

In letters of crimson God wrote His love
On a hillside so long, long ago
For you and for me Jesus died
And love’s greatest story was told

(from “Written in Red” by Gordon Jensen)

“And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;” Hebrews 5:9

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Who’s writing your life story?

“How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Psalm 119:103 

One of the “sweet” things about the Christmas season is the abundance of candy. One of my favorites is the candy cane. I enjoy the minty flavor. There are other similar candies that I equally enjoy: peppermints, chocolate mints, butter mints, and maybe a few other kinds of mints as well.

You know the Bible is full of “mints” also, and I’d like to share a few of those mints with you.

The most important mint is atonement. Atonement means paying for a wrong done. Jesus did that when He died on the cross, but it was not His wrongs for which He died. He sacrificed His life to pay the debt for our sins. The Bible tells us, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement” (Romans 5:8-11). The Bible also says, “Whosever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). When we ask Jesus to become our Saviour, we are choosing to believe in His work of atonement on the cross, and by that, His forgiveness of sins.

Was there a time in your life when you called upon Jesus to forgive you? If you have never asked Him to save you from your sins, or you don’t remember if you have, you can do that today. Simply bow your head and pray. Ask Him to forgive you and become your Saviour, and He will!

If you do remember a time in your life when you asked Jesus to forgive your sins, you are saved by His grace and ready for the rest of these Biblical “mints.”

The second mint is enlightenment. Enlightenment means attaining or having attained spiritual knowledge or insight. We gain enlightenment through the Bible, which is God’s Word. “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: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints” (Ephesians 1:17-18).

Mint #3 is commitment. “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass” (Psalm 37:5). Commitment means being dedicated to something. If we dedicate or commit our lives to the Lord, He promises to be with us and help us always. He promises to give us the desires of our hearts as well as meet our needs when we make Him Lord of our lives. “Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established” (Proverbs 16:3).

The fourth mint is encouragement. Encouragement means giving support, confidence, or hope to someone. “Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 31:4). We all know others who can benefit by a word of encouragement, and we ourselves need encouragement. God encourages us through His Word. One of my favorite verses when I need encouragement is a short verse that speaks loudly to my heart. It is Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

The next mint is enjoyment. Enjoyment means to take pleasure in something. “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;” (1 Timothy 6:17). When you surrender your life to Christ, you decide to live for God. Those who delight in God will have their own desires fulfilled through Him. Acts 3:38 records the words of King David, “Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.”

Mint #6 is refreshment. “That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed” (Romans 15:32). Refreshment means the giving of fresh mental or physical strength or energy. God’s Word is rich with nuggets that perk us up… that refresh us, no matter what the circumstances are that we face. The book of Psalms is one of my favorites when I need refreshing. Many people have memorized Psalm 23 and dwell upon it when they need a time of refreshing from the Lord. Maybe you can remember a favorite verse that gives you strength and refreshes you.

The seventh mint is fulfillment. Fulfillment means the achievement of something desired or promised. Jesus was the fulfillment of God’s law. “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17). The Bible tells us that Jesus lived a sinless life, died upon the cross to become the sacrifice for sin, and then rose from the grave 3 days later to become our Saviour. Only through Him can we be completely fulfilled. When we ask Jesus to forgive us and become our Saviour, we begin the process of fulfillment as we serve Him with our lives. God has promised to continue the work of fulfillment in our lives until Jesus comes again (Philippians 1:6).

The last mint is contentment. Contentment is a state of happiness and satisfaction. “But godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6). The world would have us all believe that contentment comes with money, fame, or power. But that is wrong. True contentment comes only from the Lord. Even when times were hard, the apostle Paul was able to write, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11).

This year as you enjoy a mint now and then, remember the “mints” in the Bible, and how you can have a life full of “mints” with Jesus.

Sing them over again to me,
Wonderful words of life,
Let me more of their beauty see,
Wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty
Teach me faith and duty.
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life;
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life.

(from “Wonderful Words of Life” by Philip Bliss)

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

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Can you find some other “mints” in the Bible? If so, I’d love for you to share them with me!

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” Isaiah 55:8

When I was a parent, I did not always offer to my children explanations for things I said or did. When I told them to “Stop!” or “Don’t touch!” I expected immediate compliance. Why? Because I knew the possible ramifications of their actions. Time for explanations would come later when there was no longer a threat of danger looming. Sometimes I would say, “No peeking!” or “Not now” for reasons I did not necessarily make known at the time of utterance, but the joyous reasons again would become clear at a later time.

That’s how it works with God. He often directs me to do or not do something, and I am clueless as to the reason. I often ask why, when I should be obeying Him without question. I forget that his thoughts and ways are not my own. He sees what I cannot; He knows what I do not. He could be protecting me from some kind of danger or waiting to reveal a sweet surprise. In any event, I should trust and obey Him regardless of whether I understand or not. God will never lead me astray; He always does what is best for me.

In Luke 18:17, Jesus says, “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.” We often equate this verse to the open acceptability children have for God. They easily believe what the Bible says, but could “as a little child” mean more? I think so. I think it also means that I need to obey Him just as little ones wholly trust and obey their parents. When my dad called out, “Stop!” I did so immediately because even if I didn’t know the reason why, I knew he had a good one for crying out to me. I need to have the same mindset when it comes to God. When the Lord directs me to do something, I need to obey without hesitation.

The Bible says in Isaiah 55:9, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” It is a good thing for me to trust and obey God because He will only do that which is good, right, and best for me. To lean on my own understanding is foolishness; to trust in God is prudent and wise.

I can never go wrong when my faith is in the Lord.

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

(from “Trust and Obey” by John H. Sammis)

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

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“What God says is best, is best, though all the men in the world are against it.”
― John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress

“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”   Hebrews 1:3

I often hear people say “Jesus is still on the throne!” when emphasizing that God is in control of certain situations. But He is not… yet. Currently, Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God the Father, who is sitting on the throne of heaven. Jesus’ time is still in the future. Right now, Jesus sits to God’s right, and He waits.

Jesus is waiting for His Father to tell Him when to return to earth to gather all those who have trusted in Him as Saviour and Lord. He waits because only God the Father knows the exact time for this event to happen (Matthew 24:36). And it will happen!

When Jesus is told to go, He will come with great fanfare. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:” (1 Thessalonians 4:16), and we will then rise to meet Him in the air! (1 Thessalonians 4:17). This event, referred to as “the rapture” by many Christians, will happen fast… so fast in fact, that people will not have any time to prepare. There will be no time to “get right with the Lord.” The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:52 that it will happen “… in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye…” The next time Jesus comes, it will be so quickly that we must be ready! It could happen at any moment because every single prophecy that has to be fulfilled before the rapture occurs has already come to pass! The next event on God’s calendar is the return of Jesus for His own!

After the Christians have been “caught up” and taken to heaven, there will be a seven-year period of God’s judgment upon the earth referred to as the “Tribulation.” It will be a time when “…the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;” (Romans 1:18).

Thankfully, those of us who have accepted God’s gift of salvation and eternal life will never experience the Tribulation. We will be in heaven celebrating our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ! Oh what a day that will be!

But for now, Jesus is still waiting for God to send Him. Why? Because God is “…not willing that any should perish…” (2 Peter 3:9), which explains why He continues to wait in regards to sending His Son back to earth. God is waiting for everyone to have the opportunity to repent and accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour. But He won’t wait forever.

If you have never accepted Christ’s forgiveness of sins and His gift of eternal life, won’t you consider bowing before Him today and asking Him to become Lord and Saviour of your life?

If you are saved, please take the time to share the gospel with someone today, so they will have an opportunity to receive Christ’s forgiveness of sins and not be left behind when Jesus returns to take us back to heaven with Him.

Coming again, coming again
Maybe morning and maybe noon
Maybe evening and maybe soon
Coming again, coming again
O, what a wonderful day it will be
Jesus is coming again!

(from “Jesus is Coming Again” by John W. Peterson)

“And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 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 1:10-11

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It could happen today!