after it's all over

This morning I became convicted.

I got to thinking how obsessed as a culture we (and I am not excluded from this) are with The Hunger Games/Divergent/all Zombie apocalypse movies. And since watching all of these movies, we are so ready for the ever nearing end of time. Whether you are eager to join a district and fight to the death for what you believe, or join a faction leaving behind what you know for a new group, or if you are ready for the zombies when they come with your cardio & double-tap (forgive my zombie references—I've only seen Zombieland), we are ready for THAT type of end.

Source1  Source2  Source 3

...but how many of are ready for Jesus to come back? How many of us are sharing Jesus like He could come back tomorrow? For no one knows the day or the hour ("But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only." Matthew 24:36), He'll come like a thief in the night. Now I don't know about you, but that scares me. I think we are so wrapped up in the here and now that we forget about our true purpose—making disciples and sharing the Good News. Do you know the Good News? Jesus chose to come to earth and a human, live a perfect life, and die, so that you and I could live. That is the truth in the simplest form. Now why aren't we going out and telling that to everyone we encounter? 

Because the world is not going to end in zombies. There might be a civil war like in Divergent (not for the same reasons), probably over Jesus. Are you ready to stand up for what you believe in? "So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven." Matthew 10:32-33

We've been ready through "Follow Me" by David Platt and he has really been kicking my butt. If we don't share the Good News, we are basically condemning our family and friends to Hell. Telling them that we are okay with them burning for all eternity. We had better get off our lazy bums and start speaking truth and life into these peoples' lives. Someone spoke life into us at one point or another, and for that we had better be eternally grateful. Who are we to not speak up? Jesus commanded us to do so. "And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'" Matthew 28:18-20

#prayerforukraine

As many of you know, Ukraine has a special place in my heart. Since I spent the summer there in 2011, the country and quite a few of the people there are very dear to my heart. Which is why the recent turmoil in the country has left me broken-hearted. 

The majority of the revolution is happening in the capitol, Kiev, which is not near my the people I love. But Ukraine is not a big country, so this is clearly affecting the whole country. 

Please say a little prayer for a country I love very much. Pray for: peace in general, resolution, God to reign supreme in that country, no more fighting, no more death, wholeness, unity.


These are some of the people I love, and want to see protected from harm.

This is just one picture from the troublesome times.

(source)

Read more about the revolution: CNN Article on Ukrainian Revolution

night of worship

Last night at church, we had a night of worship. It was a much needed time to spend in fellowship with my Lord. To be free to sit/stand/lay down/just be free in the presence of Jesus. Why shouldn't we give Him some undivided attention every once in awhile? He really deserves it all the time, but we can't focus for that long. We sang some songs that we hadn't sang in a while, with words that got me thinking about the majesty and glory of Jesus. It's always nice to be reminded of that. Letting the Holy Spirit fall. Man, it felt so good.


My God is BIG. My God is great. My God will stand when all else fades. He never ends. He was, is, and always will be. He stays by my side and never leaves me even when I run away. He is the healer and there is great power in His name. It's better to spend one minute in His presence than ten million elsewhere. He deserves nothing less than everything I have to give Him.


Yesterday, I lost a special lady in my life, my great-aunt Jackie, aka my old maid. When I was 8 or 9, my family went on a trip to Texas and she & I played the card game "Old Maid" the whole way. Since then, I've always called her that. She was a sweet lady that really loved Jesus. Lately she had been having some health issues, and was really ready to meet Jesus. Since I have really experienced the Lord and have a relationship I have hope. There is a plan and a purpose for everything under heaven. I no longer question why things happen. I know she is no longer hurting and she gets to be with Jesus. In reality, she is the lucky one. She will always be special to me, and will always have a special place in my heart.

Aunt Jackie & Grandma Freda (a few years ago at Aunt Jackie's birthday party)