The Trumpet Will Sound

5 anos

Spiritual Amnesia …

The news these days is filled with so many concerns! The spreading coronavirus, corrupt politicians, rising antisemitism, violence in schools, etc etc etc...but meanwhile there’s a spiritual problem of great concern that is plaguing the church today; We’ve forgotten all that God has done for us. And we’ve forgotten His power.

In fact, we shake our heads when we read about the Children of Israel wanting to go back to Egypt after all they had seen of God’s great deliverance. How does anyone witness the parting of the Red Sea, and celebrate their great escape from slavery, only to beg to go back for leeks? It seems ridiculous to us, but they had forgotten all God had done for them.
Likewise, shortly after the miracle of water being turned into wine, Jesus was with his disciples teaching thousands of people, when they realized it was getting late and they all needed to be fed. “What are we to do?” the disciples asked. Had they already forgotten that Jesus can turn water into wine? And that nothing is impossible with Him?

Friends, we get forgetful, too. How often we get caught up in the stress and pain of the present moment, forgetting all the past trials God has faithfully brought us through-many of them much greater than the trial that faces us now! It’s so wise to keep a mental account of all His goodness to us.
We have a Deliverer, a miracle working Savior Whose “eyes are still searching the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” - 2 Chronicles 16:9.

May we never forget Him.

5 anos

Rest your weary soul …

A young man named George Matheson, grew up in Scotland in a loving family, with three sisters. The gospel was taught from a young age, and George yearned to serve the Lord. But something was wrong...he was having a hard time seeing. It was far more than the need for glasses, by the age of 15, George was told by the best Dr’s that he was going blind.
He was determined to still go to the University of Glasgow, which he did, then went to Seminary to grow in his knowledge in serving his Lord. His dear sisters tutored him in order that he would do well. He graduated on top of his class, and had fallen deeply in love during this time. Life was beautiful!

But as his eye sight became worse, his girlfriend became distant. She ended their relationship as she was unable to see herself married to a blind man. George’s heart was broken. All he wanted to do was serve the Lord, but now he had lost his sight completely, and his deepest love had just walked away.

Shortly thereafter, his sister was getting married, and he travelled to the seaside wedding. Later that night, alone, he describes entering into a state of severe mental anguish, unlike anything he’d ever experienced. As sadness seemed to break him, a song came to him in less than 5 minutes. He knew it was from God, for he had never written poetry or music in his life.

“Oh Love, that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in Thee,
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in Thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be...
Oh Light, that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to Thee...
Oh Joy, that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee...”

This hymn was published in 1872 and is still sung throughout the world. Every weary soul knows exactly what George wrote about; that there’s rest in the never-ending love of God, and His Light never fades from sight.

5 anos

My Guardian,

As a parent we all know the immense responsibility that comes with being in charge of another human life, or lives. Are we teaching them all they need to know to handle life well? Have we taught them to be respectful and courteous? Have we made clear to them their need of a Savior? This list of questions could go on all day! It’s a huge responsibility!

Isn’t it thrilling to know that Jesus is Guardian over our souls and that it’s not all up to us? He has taken full responsibility to form us, to give us the lives we live, to conform us to His Image with each passing trial, and to continue to walk with us as our great Guardian, teaching us, and directing us with each new day. Peter wrote about this very thing...“Once you were like sheep who wandered away, but now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.” - 1 Peter 2:25.

What I really appreciate about Peter’s writing on this topic is that he speaks from his own story. He was prone to acting before thinking, and at times, his promises were bigger than his ability to follow through, and he wandered off track. But through it all he learned about great forgiveness and mercy from Jesus’ example. The result? He knew he needed to stay close to His Guardian, and he did.

Dear friends, may we wake each day committing the care of our souls to the One Who alone is worthy of guarding and guiding it. After all, we’re not our own to lead or protect...

6 anos

Do you know?

Elijah prepared for his Rapture. He appointed Elisha to take his place and did all that God asked him to do in his preparation for leaving. God’s promise to take him to Heaven had been private. No one else knew. But when the time came for the Lord to take up Elijah by a whirlwind, we read … “and the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take up your master from your head today?” And he said, “Yes, I know it; hold your peace.”

Nor were they the only ones. Then they went to Jericho and the prophets at Jericho knew also. How is it that everyone knew God was Rapturing Elijah? Because God revealed to them when the day and hour came. And they were watching, although the privilege was Elijah’s alone.

Jesus told the dead Church of Sardis, “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die … remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore you shall not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will come upon you” – (Rev. 3:3).

One day soon it will be our turn to go. Let’s prepare for it.

6 anos

A While … #suffering

“But the God of all grace, who has called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.” – 1 Peter 5:10

The first time I saw a planet comparison of our universe, earth looked huge. Then they showed us Uranus and the earth shrunk. Then they showed us Saturn and Uranus shrunk. Then they showed us Jupiter and Saturn shrunk. Then they showed us the Sun and Jupiter shrunk while the earth became a dot. Then they really blew our minds by showing us the Sun compared to Betelgeuse – and the Sun became a dot – and earth disappeared altogether.

In the same way, the comparison factor in the verse above is huge. In the infinite universe of ‘ALL grace’, ‘ETERNAL glory’ awaits after we have suffered ‘a while’. The Greek word for “a while” means, “little, small, few, or light; PUNY in - extent, degree, duration, number, or value”. Our sufferings that seem so huge today will be seen as a “dot” or disappear altogether … “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” – (2 Corinthians 4:17).

This hymn was written by James G. Deck, a British man who spent over half his life in military service. As a soldier He understood well …

“A little while” our Lord shall come,
And we shall wander here no more;
He’ll take us to our Father’s home,
Where He for us has gone before,
To dwell with Him, to see His face,
And sing the glories of His grace.

“A little while” will soon be past;
Why should we shun the shame and cross?
O let us in His footsteps haste,
Counting for Him all else but loss;
O how will recompense His smile
The sufferings of this “little while!”

Amen.