Living in the Last Hour

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Spring came as usual

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Irm

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This new normal way of life does not stop the world from turning, or the seasons from  taking their turn. Spring is here and it brought a couple of friends. So, Saturday in San Antonio expects more rain, and a high of 53. Not too unusual, but rain? I believe it when I see it. One thing I don’t have to see to believe is the Lord goodness. He is so good when I have total trust in Him. I want to share something that the Lord did for me this morning.

Let me start with, I write, because it helps me process stuff. Writing has help me deal with divorce, death, rejections – you name it. Some people find it hard to believe that writing can be so therapeutic. Maybe it doesn’t work for everyone, but it does help me to get all sorts of junk out of my head – and when I write, read the Scriptures and pray – the Lord takes my anxious thoughts – and replaces them with His peace.

It took me years, but I finally learned that in prayer – God doesn’t want to hear platitudes, or vain repetitions, copy and paste stuff – He wants to hear from our hearts, from deep in the recesses our mind, where our deepest fears live. That’s why – when we don’t know how to pray the Holy Spirit steps in for us (Romans 8:26). Deep in the heart is where we toss all the junk that we don’t want too face. Deep down in the heart of our soul is where the real person lives. Only God and God alone can truly get down in there and clean out all that muck and mire that made us who we are. God is so good. He is patient with us. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard the heart and mind of those that are in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:7).

So this morning I woke up with the Psalms in my head. I love to read the Psalms, but to wake up and hear them in my head… I was like wow! Thy word have I hid in my heart…

So I woke and I heard bless the Lord oh my soul….

Psalm 103:1-5
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: He who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

v15-19 “As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes, for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But the mercy of the lOrd is everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children. The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.

Psalm 104: 1-2
Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty, who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, who stretch out the heavens like a curtain.

Psalm 105:1
Oh give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples!

Psalm 107:1
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

Psalm 111:1
Praise the Lord! I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.

Psalm 112:1
Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, Who delights greatly in HIs commandants.

Psalm 113:1-6
Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the name of the Lord, from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its going down the Lord’s name is to be raised.

The Lord is high above all nations. His glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God who dwells on high, who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth?

Psalm 118:1-3
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

vs.9 It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.

I pray everyone has a safe and blessed day.

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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!