Living in the Last Hour

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The Sounds of normalcy

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Irm

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Well, it’s day number five of self-isolation. During Spring Break, we had driven up to NC to see my husbands folks. He wanted to go visit before this outbreak got even more serious. Well, even as we visited the concerns over infection and containment were growing worse. We weren’t able to visit with his siblings because they were battling stomach viruses, but it was a good visit. Anyway, as we were driving back, I was playing my games and I kept getting alerts from our local news stations. Situation had grown worse. I was remembering when the World Trade Center had been attacked. I heard it one the news on my way to class. By the time I got to class the second tower and the Pentagon had been attacked. It was horrible. So, when we finally made it home, my husband decided it was better for us to stay home and just wait out this pandemic. So we’ve been home. My daughter has been very patient dealing with all the craziness at the stores. Bless her heart.

While the whole country has gone crazy (That’s all I’m going to say.). I’m not too concerned about this new virus, though I am in the category of the most susceptible population, listening to the sounds outside, it sounds so normal. The noise from I-10 traffic can still be heard. The apartments behind our townhouse caught fire last year, and construction workers are working on gutting them out and they are making a lot of noise. My husband is sitting on the porch working on his wood crafts. It’s a bit overcast, but the sun is out. It’s very humid. I think we are suppose to get rain tomorrow, but who knows. I don’t believe it until I see it. I hear the sounds of everyday life happening. It reminds me of a scene from the movie 1951 The Day the Earth Stood Still, where the broadcaster is reporting on the alien and reports you can still see signs of normalcy.

My youngest daughter and my grandson share a home with us, so he’s home from school. He’s in the first grade. Now that school has gone online we are stepping in to help with his instruction. My daughter has the ability to work from home, so she was sent home yesterday for an indefinite period of time.

So, for an indefinite period of time, staying home, reading, praying, drawing close to the Creator of all things, getting creative in all we must do, waiting, watching, and constant washing of hands, keeping a distance from one another, for now that’s the new normal.

Praying, drawing close God, trusting in God, this things should not be new – to any believer. But if it is –  well – then it’s their wake up call.

Practicing good hygiene is not new, although people tend to be lax.

If you must keep the distance, but hold tight to the one that has the power of life in His hands. Blessing to all.

Reporting from San Antonio, Texas

 

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Hello,

I’m Irma

Welcome to my little corner of the blog world. Here, I share my thoughts on Christianity, the things of God, and the ways He has shaped and guided my path through life. My journey with the Lord has been long and transformative, marked by moments of peace and joy and periods of uncertainty. I write, first and foremost, for myself—to process what the Lord so graciously reveals to me in Scripture. Sharing some of these truths has become a mission of sorts, via blogging. His word urges us to bear witness and encourage one another.

As I reflect on my own transformation, I can say that the church itself has transformed over the years and not necessarily for the good. I speak about my own experiences with the church. One lesson the Lord impressed upon me this year is that “truth is not always truth.” What do I mean by that? There have been times when I’ve shared a biblical insight, only to realize that other faithful believers interpret the same passage differently. In that instance, I find that the Lord reveals according to our understanding. When I share the need for a Damascus experience understandings diverged sharply. Believers that have been raised in the church do not feel that such an extreme experience is necessary for spiritual maturity. Our faith is truly shaped by our backgrounds. Spiritual journeys are not for everyone. This taught me that early socialization deeply colors our grasp of faith; what’s true for me may not resonate in the same way for someone else.

Similarly, lately I considered how “ignorance of Scripture was its own blessing,” I remembered my early walk with Christ. I had a blind faith. I knew little of doctrine or debate. I trusted the pastor. In those days, my faith and trust in the church and church leaders was simple—I accepted what was taught from the pulpit without questioning. I did not have the knowledge needed to question any teaching. There was a peace in not knowing all the controversies or complexities. As I grew and studied the scriptures, and did some additional research, as the Lord gave understanding, I found myself questioning everything I had been taught. I did not question my faith, or the existence of God. That ignorance, while limiting, protected me from confusion and doubt, allowing me to rest in childlike faith.

The church itself has seen many changes over the decades. Self-proclaimed prophets have introduced new doctrines, some bordering on heresy, while believers wrestle with their flesh and what it means to follow Christ in a society with so many freedoms. I remember a time, more than thirty years ago, when I trusted every word spoken in church. Now, I understand how easy it is to accept teachings that stray from biblical truth. The Scriptures warned us this would happen in the last days.

2 Timothy 4:2-4 (NKJV) “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”

Current events—like the 2024 Election—have exposed deep flaws in American Christianity. Yet, through it all, Scripture assures me that God is sovereign. No wall built by human hands can withstand His judgment; no scheme crafted in darkness escapes His light. These lessons have become more real to me as I look back over my journals, filled with stories of God’s faithfulness during trials, tribulations and abundant grace. By sharing I hope those the Lord leads here will desire to seek God wholeheartedly, to find comfort knowing that He is always at work in our lives—often in ways we never considered.

Check out my books on Amazon for the Kindle App or in print.

Check out my latest title: Where are my Sheep? Available in Print & Kindle

The Diary of A Christian Woman

A Father Takes All: Four Generations of Growing up in Single Mother Homes – Grace Abounds

I Will Not Be Afraid: Living in the last Hour – Reflections of a Christian Woman

The Journey Endured: The Path to Meet God

Praise the God of the heavens!