Heavy Hearts

Kind of how I am feeling this week.  First I hear of the horrible devastations that Japan is going thru since last Friday.  Horrible.  It is so hard to see the pictures and videos.  My heart aches and goes out to all of them.  But then my mind goes back to the Bible.  Prophesy is being fulfilled.

1. Matthew 24:7
   For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
2. Mark 13:8  
   For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
3. Luke 21:11  
   And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

 

Don’t get me wrong, reading this and seeing what is going on in the world today, scares the flesh.  Scared I am not doing everything I know to do to make Heaven my home.  Like I have pointed out in previous posts, James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.  Ephesians 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.  If we are in sin, we are not spotless, therefore will not make it.  Am I doing everything God is calling me to do?  Am I reading, praying, and fasting enough?  Am I being a light in this dark and dying world? Am I doing all I know to do to lead the lost to Christ?    To be honest, I think I have a lot of room for improvement.  I am not perfect, obviously.  I make mistakes, we all do.  Jesus Christ doesn’t ask us to be perfect, He just wants us to take up our cross and follow Him.  To die out to sin and the old flesh by repentance and water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ.  To rebuke the devil daily and live our lives for Him according to the scriptures.  Paul said in I Corinthians 15, I die daily.  We must choose daily to die out to sin, to rebuke it and to follow Him.

This might be overwhelming and I apologize, I am just very passionate at the moment and don’t mean to be confusing.  If you need clarification of anything or our beliefs, please don’t hesitate to contact me.  I am no Bible scholar and have learned everything I know in the recent years.  I just know time is short, He is coming quickly and if we are not ready to meet Him we will not make it.  There are no second chances on the Judgment day.

The second thing that has me feeling gloomy is I found out today that one of my coworkers lost their battle to cancer today.  It is a very somber day here at work and has me thinking on my walk that much more.  We don’t know the day or hour that the Lord is coming for HIS CHURCH.  Nor do we know when our final breath here on earth will be.  But I know the ONE who does, do you KNOW him?

God Bless each and every one of you!

Compromise

Definition:

1. agreement: a settlement of a dispute in which two or more sides agree to accept less than they originally wanted After hours of negotiations a compromise was reached.

2. something accepted rather than wanted: something that somebody accepts because what was wanted is unattainable

3. potential danger or disgrace: exposure to danger or disgrace

Something I have been thinking about and dealing with a lot lately....  But I think I have been dealing with different meanings of the word.  On one hand, I feel that is what my husband and I have to do a lot of, especially lately for some reason, COMPROMISE.  I struggle with it really cause it doesn't seem fair on one hand that we are constantly having to meet in the middle on subjects or issues.  For some reason anymore it seems we are on opposite ends and have to COMPROMISE our wants, desires, feelings, etc...  On the other hand I know that it takes lots of COMPROMISE in order for a marriage to work successfully so maybe this is God's way of seasoning our marriage ???.... 

But then there is COMPROMISING our beliefs which we refuse to do but seem like more and more people I never thought would ask us to, people that is supposed to be friends, family, who are there to support you, no matter what your decision is or if they agree or not, those are the ones asking us to COMPROMISE!  Why?  It is so frustrating.  People feel like I am judging because I don't cut my hair or wear pants and make up, I don't go to places that serve alcohol, I don't go to movie theatres, etc...  I am not judging, I am living my life the way I feel is right, the way my bible tells me I should live.  Yes, not all those things are in the bible but my bible does tell me to Obey them that have rule over me (pastor)(Hebrews 13:17), therefore if my Pastor has a guideline in place because he feels it is not expediant for my soul, then I MUST obey in order to not be sinning.  My bible also says obedience is better than sacrifice.( Samuel 15:22 & Proverbs 17:1).  Just because I don't go places you go or do things you do, does not mean I am judging you, I am simply doing what I believe and what my bible tells me is important to make Heaven my home.  If you feel judged, maybe it is your own convictions and if that is true, please don't turn them aside!  Search it out and seek God's truth!  He may be calling you!