Living in the Last Hour

In this day and time many online users hesitate to expose too much personal information – and for legitimate reasons. I may not have anything to hide but someone with alterior motives may come along and take advantage of the information I do share. So, I limit what I share. Luke 12:39 says, 

“But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.”

1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

At the same time there are people who hide behind facades. These folks create fake or alternate profiles on any or all social media sites for less than honorable reasons. No doubt, it is much easier to attack someone if there is a wall of privacy to hide behind. The art of conversation and honest discussion is exchanged for the opportunity to publicly attack someone with different views and opinions. How can a shadow be held accountable? Let’s not forget the folks that brazenly attack fellow Christians who have different opinions. I am of the opinion that Christians are neither conservative or liberal. We are either like Pharisees, or like Jesus. I believe in God. And He knows everyone’s heart! God will hold us all accountable. He knows me by name. As He does all His children.

Let’s not forget that Christians are attacking fellow believers on these social media sites. Just as the Pharisees attacked the followers of Jesus, true believers should not be surprised if they find themselves a target of some Christian extremist. Beware of the Christian who spews out word vomit and considers it doing battle for the Lord.

So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.” Matthew 15

Glory to the God who always has a plan, moves mountains and opens doors, that no one else can open and no one can close.

Rev. 3:8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.”

I wanted to share a bit on the tremendous change that God has done in my life. This is an expression of joy for the blessings and unbelievable grace that the living God bestowed on one woman who surrendered all to believe in His promises. To God be all the glory!

The Lord Plants

Well… God’s ways are not our ways… (Isaiah 55:8) He plucked me out of my station and planted me somewhere else, somewhere – where He could teach me. It was a long tiring journey, but in the end the Lord was merciful.

I remarried after 22 years of living single – and single parenting. In the year 2013, I had determined to stay single choosing instead to focus on the things of God, to learn all about the God that saved this wretched woman (Diary of a Christian Woman, 2014, pg. 138).

In 2017, my first love reentered my life. We had met in 1981, dated for a few months and then he was gone. He was on his last tour of duty at Kelly AFB in San Antonio. We only dated for a few months, but they were the best months in my life. Without realizing it, this man had taught me two things about love, how to love and how it feels when someone truly loves you. 

Before he came back into my life, this man was going through his own struggles and coming to the end of another chapter in his life. Me, well…in 2013, the Lord was about to grab me, shake me and break me. Why did He have to break me? Well, He had a plan. God always has a plan and it’s not always the plan we expect, or hope for, or ever consider. And for God to use us, we must come to the end of our self. Yes – our flesh must die. Death to the flesh is not an easy thing to understand. It is not death as we know it. And it’s not an easy to put to death this flesh of ours. It’s desires, passions, lusts, the things of this world are very attractive – forever calling our attention. We always want things we don’t need, don’t want, and can’t afford. We want it bigger, better and bolder. I could imagine God bringing me a husband, even though I had given up the idea of remarriage. I could never have imagined He would bring back my first love. This man had not changed much. He was still the same sweet man I met thirty some years ago. He has blessed me and my daughters and grandchildren with his presence and his love.

Children are a blessing – grandchildren even more, and great-grandchildren well, that’s all grace.

Now a grandmother of ten, and great-grandmother of three, my heart is full, as are my days. It is truly a blessing to watch my children’s children growing up.

My daughters are all grown up. But in their adult years the Lord showed mercy on them by blessing them with a man they could call dad. That titled had been in reserve for decades. Their bio dad rejected it.

My husband and I love to travel, if for any reason, just to take pictures – to capture moments in time. The last few years I have been writing about my spiritual experiences, my journey with the Lord, and the relationship that He has nourished and nurtured. Yes. The Lord does it all. We can plant a few seeds, water a few, but it is the Lord that brings in the harvest, so that no one can boast.

“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:35-38

Every believer has opportunity, and a selection of platforms. Sadly, it is the one who puts himself in the place of God that is choosing to share fire, hell and damnation. We need to speak to the rock.

The Lord will give understanding to those that seek Him. In these last days there is too much false everything. While the love of many grows cold, God continues to work in the hearts of His people. Are we to prepare for His return? Well, preacher, after preacher say we have too. But the parable of the ten virgins tells us that even those who were prepared fell asleep (Matthew 25:1-13). What does that mean? Well, we all get caught up in the affairs of this world. The world demands much of our time. Even, the church, a worldly institution, is full of Martha’s ready to put everyone to work. The question is are you giving more attention, more credence, more diligence to the affairs of this world than you are to the things of God? It is not supposed to be a balancing act.

I keep journals to record how the Lord moves in my life. I started in 1994. Today, when I face various trials, I can go back and read how the Lord worked in my life to get me through many difficult times.

Every sunrise, every sunset, every ocean wave, praise His holy name. How great is our God!!!