Will you hear His voice?

In surfing the web this morning, I came across yet another prediction for the exact day and time of the Lord's return.  For a second, I wondered, could it really be?-then the words came to mind-"No man knows the day nor the hour.."  This is not the only prediction for the rapture that we've heard lately.  The latest thing in the news is of course the Mayan prophecy of the end of days being on Dec. 21, 2012 which even spawned the 2009 blockbuster movie "2012".  When I hear these things, my first response is "does it line up with God's Word".  The bible gives a clear description in Matt. 24 about the coming of Christ and the signs that would show His coming was near.  It's important to pay attention to the news and when you see these scriptures coming to pass, take heed and prepare so you'll be ready.  That doesn't mean we physically sell all we have and just wait out in the backyard looking to the sky for Him to come.  We certainly have to use wisdom and care for our families.  But I believe it means we need to prepare our hearts and make sure we are ready, spiritually, for His coming.  Will we know His voice when He gives the call?  When the angel Gabriel blows that trumpet will we hear? When was the last time we picked up our bible or prayed?  In John 10:27 it says "my sheep hear my voice".  How can we recognize His voice if we hardly ever talk with Him?  When I hear these things it just comes as a wake-up call to me to not get complacent and content with the hum-drum and routine of our daily existence, but make sure we stay focused and keep our eyes on Jesus.  In Luke 21:34 it says, "And take heed to yourselves, lest at anytime your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares."  We can get so caught up with our trials and even successes, that we forget and take our eyes off the end goal-Heaven, and miss out.  That would be the saddest thing.  So, when you hear all these things, just dig in closer to God, read and pray more, take time to explain God's word to your kids and to pray with them.  Teach your kids to check what they hear with what God's word says about things, so they'll know the truth for themselves.  You'll be surprised how much they understand and will remember.  The bible also says that in the end day the devil would try to deceive even the elect (that's a topic in itself for another day) so know God's word.  Write it on the tables of your heart.  "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."  (Luke 21:36)  And also, "And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.  Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not." (Luke 12:39-40)    God Bless you today.

He Never Let Go

I was raised in a christian family and went to a born-again, mission-minded christian church for all of my childhood.  I took it all to heart, accepted Jesus as my savior and was water baptised when I was 12yrs. old. In my teen years, I faced some difficult choices but through the support of my family, friends and church, my faith grew strong.  Then, somewhere along the way, I began to lose it.  Things weren't going the way I'd planned, life took some turns, so I took things into my own hands.  I took God out of the driver's seat and put myself there instead.  Big mistake.  It wasn't long before I stopped attending church regularly and I didn't return for many years.  During that time, my family almost split up and I began to question who I really was.  Perhaps I was too "straight-laced" after all, perhaps I needed to loosen up a bit and have fun.  There's nothing wrong with having fun but I had learned to compromise and to justify doing things I once thought were wrong. I felt so alone. But, God was still drawing me.  He was that still, small voice in the back of my mind.  Thoughts would come to me about things I had learned as a child in Sunday School; I would remember something my Pastor had taught years ago; I would hear songs that would prick my heart; I would see old friends in the store and go out of my way to avoid them.  I knew I needed to get right with God. Still I waited. Then, I faced a crossroad, a trial that shook me to my core and forced me to really make a decision about my life.  What did I really believe?  What did I really want?  It was time to get serious.  I chose to go back to church and get my life right with God.  I knew that I would find my help there as I always had before, where the word of God that was brought always seemed to minister right to me, whatever my need was.  And it was still there. I was encouraged to really seek God for myself, to really have that personal relationship with Him.  I'm far from perfect, believe me, I mess up a lot. Like I said, I am a "work in progress".  But I know I'm heading in the right direction and I trust God who is once again in the driver's seat.  I encourage you to do the same-really make time to pray daily and read your Bible. If you don't know who God is, he's just a prayer away.  He loves you and wants to give you joy and peace in your life.  I served God for 20+ years and I find that only now do I feel I'm just beginning to get to know Him.  My desire is different.  I went through some things, learned some hard lessons, so I appreciate his great love for me so much more now.  Though I failed Him, still He never failed me.  He never let go of my hand. My desire is not to preach to you but to just share my experience, with the hope that you might gain something from it and be encouraged today.  Thanks for taking the time to read my post today.  God Bless you.