Tag: anxiety

Choose an Upward Song Not a Worldly Whine!

As we walk through our day, does our “song” (or attitude of our heart) become a whine? There are many voices through the course of our day, and often, the voices in our own heads speak and sing the blues.

There’s a battle to choose thoughts of the “highway,” as we trudge through this dry and parched, prickly, and thorny land of our day.

A simple turn to God, and His truth, with each step we takeHeartfelt surrender to His grace and gift of His Son changes everything.

Are you walking in circles? Are you tired of the whine? Give it all to God.

(And for the believer, each and every day.) We need a filling of the Holy Spirit.

Trust Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins and allow the Holy Spirit to lift your thoughts to be songs of heartfelt praise, no matter what is going on in the terrestrial path you walk.

We can’t choose the “highway,” on our own. We need to open our hearts and lives to the Shepherd of our Soul. The One who loves us most, and more, and beyond deserved. It’s time to cry out to God and ask Him in,

in Jesus’ name,

“Let it be, amen.”

Yes, thanks be to God . . . His Voice, His Word is greater and good news for all who believe. He alone is able to transform our whine into a “new song,” because He gives us His Spirit when we receive Jesus.

Yes, Jesus.

He alone has power to give us a new song:

But thanks be to God . . . His Voice, His Word is greater and good, and able to transform our whine into a “new song,” over and over again.

Put sound on this glorious song:

“Sing to the Lord a new song;
    sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
    proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous deeds among all peoples” Psalm 96:1-3.

Do we choose to live as Noah in his day, focused “up” on the eyes of the Lord, finding grace and goodness? Noah “proclaimed salvation day after day” to unbelieving people who mocked and enjoyed the joke of his build of the ark and his message.

4 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
    strength and glory are in his sanctuary.

7 Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    bring an offering and come into his courts.
9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of his[a] holiness;
    tremble before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
    The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
    he will judge the peoples with equity.

In my distress I cried to the Lord, and He answered me. Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue . . .

Woe is me, that I sojourn with Mesheck, that I dwell beside the tents of Kedar [as if among notoriously barbarous people]!

My life has too long had its dwelling with him who hates peace. I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war” Psalm 120: 1,2,5,6,7.

The ancient Word speaks as if written today. They prove to be an accurate prayer from our heart at present.

We have not experienced anything the Lord has not walked through and experienced. The old hymn,”O Sacred Head, Now Wounded,” makes this clear in our mind’s eye:

“With grief and shame weighed down. Now scornfully surrounded With thorns Thine only crown; How pale thou art with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!

Our Jesus, how He knows our sadness and losses, our persecutions, and abuses. He took all our shame and failures on Himself, on the tree:

“What Thou, my Lord hast suffered Was all for sinner’s gain; Mine, mine was the transgression, But Thine the deadly pain;

What is our response when we view so clearly His willingness to face our curse?

Do we take a hard look? Do we see Him now?

“Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ‘Tis I deserve Thy place; Look on me with Thy favor, Vouch-safe to me Thy grace. (O Sacred Head, Now Wounded. Based on Medieval Latin poem. Ascribed to Bernard of Clairvaux.)

Together, we speak aloud the next Song of Ascents as we press forward into 2021. We won’t lean on our own understanding, but boldly proclaim in an ever-growing faith:

I will lift up my eyes to the hills, . . . From whence shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made Heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip or to be moved; He Who keeps you will not slumber Psalm 121: 1-3, Amplified.

We can trust the Lord in all things. We remind ourselves these things:

The Lord will keep you from all evil;

He.

Will.

Keep.

Your life.

The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and for evermore. Psalm 121: 7,8. A Song of Ascents.

Laws are made by man to protect the people, but move to close the doors of God’s house.

God is Spirit. His Church is not a building. The hearts of His people speak in confidence continuously, . . .

despite the location:

“I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord! Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem . . . Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!

May they prosper that love you [the Holy City]! Psalm 122: 1,2,6.

“We pray for the peace of Jerusalem dear Lord!”

For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 

 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, Ephesians 2:14,15.

He is our peace? Our peace isn’t good circumstances. Our peace is a Person! What is His name?

God saves us once from sin and death for salvation in Jesus. And to all who receive Him and believe in His name, He calls us His children. Children of God.

He saves us daily from our “natural selves.” Our brokenness, our anxieties, doubts, jealousies, hatreds, and our rage. Jesus calms the wind and the waves. He can tame our flesh. In Christ alone . . .

  That He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity . . .

 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father Ephesians 2: 16,18.

We’re not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. We have access by the Spirit of God to the Father. These are not mere “positive thoughts.” God’s Word, the Gospel message is the power of God to salvation.

Step by step, breath by breath we speak, meditate, pray His Word, and become more and more empowered and hopeful:

[Earnestly] remember the former things which I did of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God and there is none like Me.

Declaring the end and the result from the beginning and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying,

My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure and purpose. . . Listen to Me. . . Isaiah 46: 3,9.

He, Jesus, keeps us in perfect peace when we keep our minds on Him! (Is. 26:3.)

Psalm 123. A Song of Ascents. Unto You do I lift up my eyes, O You who are enthroned in heaven . . .

Instead of worry, we worship and wait in ever-growing faith in God, the Creator of the Universe, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the lover of our souls:

Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
    the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
    from those whose walk is blameless. Psalm 84: 10,11.

We speak aloud and are changed from glory to glory being transformed by the renewing of our minds in Christ:

Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
 As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
    they make it a place of springs; . . .
    They go from strength to strength,
    till each appears before God in Zion Psalm 84: 5,6,7.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living
Just because He lives.

We can rest in our Jesus. He is our hope and stay. Do you join me in an “Amen?”

Amen!

Be My Vision, O LORD. Today

Jesus had no pointing finger—only arms stretched wide.
In silence.

Yielded.

His love letter to each of us was written with blood.

He rose from the dead. Ever-living.

In believing, we receive . . .

sight, salvation, freedom. Light. Hope.

Eternal life is given.

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art;
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Dear Lord, we remind ourselves today Your never changing Good News.

I Am the LORD, I “will fight for you; you need only be still,”Exodus 14:14.

I Am the LORD, I “give strength to the weary and increase the power of the weak,” Isaiah 40:29.

I Am the LORD, those who “hope in Me will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint,” Isaiah 40:31.

I Am the LORD, “So do not fear, for I am with you,” Isaiah 41:10.

Our Father in heaven, holy is Your name. We choose You, we are Your sons and daughters.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Remind us. Holy Spirit imprint on our minds, a picture of Jesus and His nail-pierced hands reaching out for each and every one of our sins.
For the sins of the entire world . . .

You willingly paid.

Give us the ears to hear Your words, throughout our day “Follow Me.”

And we respond, “I will follow You.”

We wait with great expectancy . . .
We choose to worship You now, and watch our anxieties flee. We choose to worship You Jesus, Be Thou our Vision. Restore Peace to our restless hearts.
Let us exalt the Lord as we take time to meditate and speak:

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tow’r:
Raise Thou me heav’nward, O Pow’r of my pow’r.

If I lose the world, but have You, I have the King of Heaven as my friend. No one can take that away. You are an ever-lasting love and hope.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heav’n’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
Be Thou My Vision, Irish Hymn, c.8th Century

Our Hope In God Will Not Be Shaken. Be Still My Soul.

The Word of God. Hymns. Music Therapy. God’s help and comfort for us right NOW.

In a shattered world, where do we find real, living, powerful, present comfort? The Bible tells us in Psalm 119, our comfort comes from the Word of life.

When we have no words to pray, Psalm 119 provides the prayers:

Deal bountifully with Your servant,
That I may live and keep Your word.
 Open my eyes, that I may see
Wondrous things from Your law.
I am a stranger in the earth;
Do not hide Your commandments from me.
My soul breaks with longing
For Your judgments at all times.
You rebuke the proud—the cursed,
Who stray from Your commandments.
Remove from me reproach and contempt,
For I have kept Your testimonies.
Princes also sit and speak against me,
But Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
 Your testimonies also are my delight
And my counselors Psalm 119:17-24.

Yes, God is not silent. He speaks. His Word shows us the way.

Do we desire to be children of light in a dark place? What do we do?

Ephesians 5: 18-20 gives us instruction:

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now is time to speak aloud truth. The Bible says, “Thy Word is truth,” John 17:17. We either believe this or not. God gives us choice. He sees each man’s heart, even if mankind thinks he’s his own person not needing Jesus.

He, (Jesus) came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God John 1:11-13.

Who is born of God? Those who believe in His name. What can we proclaim as true about Him regarding our lives today? Speak aloud Be Still My Soul by Kathrina von Schlegel:

Be Still my Soul, the Lord is on thy side. Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain. Leave to thy God to order and provide,

In every change, He faithful will remain.

Be still my soul, thy best and heavenly friend, Through thorny ways, leads to a joyful end . . . Be Still My Soul

Be still, my soul! for God will undertake
to guide the future surely as the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake;
all now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul! the waves and winds still know
the voice  who ruled them while He dwelt below. 

Maybe our hope and our confidence is shaken a bit, but we will not be greatly shaken. We will choose this minute, and move about by the power of the Spirit of God to know Him more and be still. 

Rejoicing always, praying without ceasing, and in everything giving thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us. ( 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.)

Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth” Psalm 46:10.

Are we on God’s side? 

He’s on our side. 

He will guide the future.

 Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
and all is darkened in the vale of tears,
then shall you better know his love, his heart,
who comes to soothe your sorrow and your fears.

Do we have His love? His hope?

 God’s heart beats with constant love for us. He doesn’t change. His ways are unsearchable. Do we believe in Jesus?

Be still, my soul: the hour is hast’ning on
when we shall be forever with the Lord,
when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.


Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,
all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8a.

 May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ -2 Thessalonians 3:5.

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with . . .  singing.
—Zephaniah 3:17

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.
—2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Our hope is our faith in a true and living God. 

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them – 1 John 4:16. 

You, me, we can trust Him always.

The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
—Romans 8:18.

Music Therapy of the Hymn Be Still My Soul and Psalm 18 is provided to meditate on God’s Promises. He alone is true to His Word: 

You O LORD, keep my lamp burning. My God turns my darkness into light. With Your help I can advance against a troop, and with my God I can scale a wall. As for God, His way is perfect. The word of the Lord is flawless and He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him. For who is God beside the Lord? And who is a Rock except our God? Psalm 18: 28, 29, 30, 31.

Be Still

“Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let Your glory be above all the earth” Psalm 57:11.

God, the Creator of heaven and earth, our holy Father says to those who have ears to hear His voice today: “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” Psalm 46:10.

 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns;
The world also is firmly established,
It shall not be moved;
He shall judge the peoples righteously”Psalm 96:10.

For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the Lord made the heavens.
 Honor and majesty are before Him;
Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary” Psalm 96:4,5,6.

Active worship brings victory over anxiety.

We will lift our eyes vertical instead of horizontal. We will seek His face. We cry out for mercy, justice, truth, provision, and protection. And we worship Him:

 “Give to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
Give to the Lord glory and strength.
Give to the Lord the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come into His courts.
Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!
Tremble before Him, all the earth” Psalm 96:7-9.

“Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
Let the sea roar, and all its fullness; . . .

For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth.

He shall judge the world with righteousness,
And the peoples with His truth” Psalm 96:11-13.

Amen! We will be still. God is faithful. Speak aloud

 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and give praise . . .

I will awaken the dawn” Psalm 57:7,8.

Amen. We will worship while we wait.

We will overcome, because Jesus has overcome.

In His name we pray, Amen.

No Need to Worry. The Eye Reveals Why.

I don’t need to worry. Plain and simple. Why? 

A young college graduate on graduation day spoke to a crowd about the eye:

“I would like to say that now that we have our degree, we will not run into problems that we can’t handle, but truthfully no matter the type of degree, the number of years of experience, no matter the location, the support groups, the family, or the friendships, there will always come a time when we just don’t know the answer. It’s inevitable, so I want to encourage you with a little anatomy lesson:

Did you know that there are 47 different structures that make up the human eye that all have a unique function?

Did you know that there are 6 extra-ocular muscles, 4 cranial nerves, and 1.2 million nerve fibers in each optic nerve?

Did you know that when light waves touch my eye, without even thinking about it I blink to protect them from too much exposure? And when the amount of light changes, my pupillary -light response reacts without a thought so that only the right amount of light is let into my eye.

Did you know that there are four out of twelve cranial nerves that work specifically for the eye so that they can not only allow me to focus on a object and read it but also so that they can move in different directions.

There are 9 different structures that all play a specific role in receiving light messages before they even get to the brain! And it is not until those messages get to the occipital lobe of the brain that I can interpret what I am actually seeing.

The eyes receive millions of light waves and messages everyday, but my brain has a specific area that let’s only the important and significant messages through so that the brain doesn’t get over-stimulated.

And did you know that the God who told me to cast all my cares upon Him, and that He will never leave me nor forsake me, that I should be anxious for nothing, was the very One who designed this whole system and hundreds like it so that we can live and move and breathe every second.

And did you know that He didn’t have to lift a finger and didn’t sweat a drop to think of it, He just breathed on one man and He said that He knit us together and formed us in our mother’s womb before you were even a thought in her mind.

And now you tell me, what are you worried about? 

What will you be worried about when you come up to those hurdles that are bound to cross you path?

I want you to think of your eye and tell me, that your situation, your problem, your worry is TOO big for the GOD who created you and the world you live in to handle.” 

 ( Carolyn Rypkema at Lamplighting Ceremony at PBAU May 3,2012).

So today, I confess, I am much like a sheep that tends to forget these wonderful thoughts.

So, I take a moment, to think of my eye. What a marvelous creation of God.

My anxious heart is put to rest, and my thoughts are tested now to trust and let go.

Let go of worry, strife, pain, and fear and to think of my eye, and the Creator who knows all that I need. Oh, yes, He knows . . . much more than I.

 

 

Prayer and Encouragement: Be Still My Soul

“Be Still my soul  . . .” The  old hymn reminds. 

How do I “be still?”

This is the question as the clock continues to move time.

Fears flood in an instant.

Stresses press on our back.

Pain wears down the weary body. There are tears on the inside, like rain no one can see.

We’re in this marathon race. It’s not how we start, it’s how we finish.

We must finish. We must finish well. But “How?”

With unity. Not isolated and alone. That spells defeat and loneliness.

Reminding each other to remind ourselves:

Be Still my Soul. The Lord is on thy side . . .
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.

Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heav’nly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.”

We must remember God is King over everything.

“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 
not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:22-25.

Our prayer to Jesus: “There is so much change. But You, O LORD remain.

We draw near to You, and You draw near when we do.

O God, help us, today in such darkness, take hold of Your light and believe and rest . . .
in Your faithfulness.

“Be still, my soul: Our God doth undertake
To guide the future, as You have the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

We pray in a hymn, dear Lord.

Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
Your voice Who ruled them while You dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart, And all is darkened in the vale of tears, 
Then shalt we  better know Your love, Your heart,
Who comes to soothe our sorrow and our fears.

Dear Lord, comfort the downcast with Your Spirit, we draw near.

“Be still, my soul: the hour is hast’ning on
When we shall be forever with You Lord.
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.”

Dear Father in heaven, we bow our heads together. The most important change that needs be, is inside of me—Increase my faith, that I might stand, and follow You, as You take hold of my hand.

“Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, believing,  You, O Lord on high; to
Acknowledge You in all our words and ways,
So shall You  view us with a well-pleased eye.

Be still, my soul: the Son of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.”

We bow our heads, we pray to You. We end our words  and whole heartedly say:  “Our soul is still, as we set our minds on the hill, where You laid down Your life, as a perfect sacrifice, forgiving my failures, Dear Lord Jesus, Thank You.“
(1) “Be Still My Soul” by Katherine von Schlegel. 

Mind craze in the maze …

You and I live in a broken world. The attack, the battle, the unrest is in our minds. Playing havok with our peace, our thinking destroys us, even in our sleep.
There are pressures just to  survive. Our physical needs must be met or we’re weak, our emotional needs need met or we weep, our spiritual needs? There’s no time for that…
at least, that’s how we’ve been taught by professors to think.
Add to that, through the course of the day, media at our eyes notice constantly to say,  “You’re incomplete, you now  need this!” “You need more, and more – come out to our store!”
It’s like we entered the fairgrounds, striving to win the biggest prize. But it all seems twisted somehow –  impossible – and instead of that wonderful prize, (that we just saw with the other guy) –  we simply get the dollar-store size.
But out of nowhere, a ‘voice crying in the wilderness,’ says, “Turn around’. Where it came from, I’m not sure. I never heard a sound!
I’ve heard these words before, John the Baptist, we all know:  “Turn around , the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (1) But the mind brings the battle. Thoughts bring me down, when, unlike a child, I rebel and twist things around. The maze has me spinning, I feel I can no longer stand …
unlike a child, who simply takes the father’s hand.
“He was a weird dude, and his word went against what’s natural inside. Anyway, what would people think? The mind, the crazy games, the battles divide – “I’m not going to listen! This is judgement on his part. Who is he to tell me what I should do, beside!”
‘Turn around, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ …
“What if that’s true? Plain and simple. What do these words mean anyway? The craze continues, confusion follows through.”
“Today! Today! Come follow Me,
Turn around once for salvation and grace.
Make Me your Shepherd, that I might give you all you need. I AM the one who will make you to rest, to lie down on green pastures and lead you in what’s best… I am the One sent by the Father, I am the Son,
I have come that you might have life, abundant and blessed.”
“What makes me hesitate? What makes me stall? The battle rages – is this all there is to life after all?”
“Trust in Me and feed on My faithfulness. Delight yourself in Me, I am able to give you the desires of your heart.” “Today, today , I call you by name, I lead you out, I don’t drive you alone. Dwell in My pastures, I protect and provide, and I love you more than My life.”
“Follow Me through the gospels on the shelf.  Open it up and read it yourself. I am there, come with Me… ‘Today’ is the first day, of the rest of your life.”-Jesus
 
(1) (Matthew 3:2, paraphrase, mine).

A time to increase awareness: Warning, "Mayday!" "Mayday!"

Anne Graham Lotz, the daughter of Billy Graham has a sense of urgency, (as so many of us do!) “Mayday! “Mayday!” is a call for distress – and the call is being made, right now, at this time. For 9 days, Anne is calling Christians to take time and pray! “Mayday! Mayday!” is the call. It is time to seek the Savior.  Do you have that same sense of urgency? We must have that urgency, and I will write why. (The prayer that Anne Graham Lotz would have us to pray is included at the bottom of my post today).
Just as in the days of Noah, he was given a warning from God. God sees it all, [past tense, present, and future as well(!)]. Way back when, in Noah’s day God reminded Noah that “the earth was corrupt before Him, and the earth was filled with violence.” (Gen. 6:11). God sees. “So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.”
This is only the 11th page in the whole of the Bible, Genesis 6:12! But this is today as well, just as the Bible said it would be: “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. “For as the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, “and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” (Matthew 24:37,38,39).
Violence, corruption… “They’ve been around since the fall,” you might say.
But today, ‘today’ is as the days of Noah! It is time to turn our heads to heed the warning signs, “Knowing this…,that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the  fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” (2 Peter 3:3).
We cannot forget, God’s word is true. Jesus spoke sitting on a hill, speaking to multitudes of people the ‘attitudes to be’, and He also said,” For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”
Jesus came, Jesus died, Jesus rose from the dead – but this is not the end…Jesus is coming again! Yes, in the Revelation of Jesus Christ chapter 22, He Himself says, “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” (Revelation 22:7). And not only once, but twice, “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” (Rev. 22:12).
The word ‘Behold’  according to Webster’s is: to hold in view; look at; see; regard.
The time is soon. Noah had the warning to all that the flood was coming! One hundred and twenty years of warning as he faithfully obeyed God and built the ark according to God’s instructions with his wife, boys and their wives. How could it be that NO ONE ELSE listened! How could it be that after ONE HUNDRED TWENTY YEARS, Noah was… only laughed at? We know now, that their laughter was turned to eternal death.  “Knowing this…, that scoffers will come in the last days…”, ‘So, as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” 
These words are written to increase awareness! Wake up! that ‘day’ is soon!
Just as the days of Noah, do we recognize what’s going on today: “men leaving their natural use of the woman, burned with lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with…” (Romans 1:27,28).
“It’s never fun to be around people like you, always filled with doomsday thoughts. We really don’t have time for this now,” these might be your thoughts. Jeremiah the prophet knew all about this. He was given the word of the Lord, and the earthly powers threw him in a pit to die! (But God protected him, saved him, and delivered him). There is a time to heed the warnings!
OK, this is hard, but God’s word is written for our instruction and we must not run every time things get uncomfortable! The Bible is called the Good News! It’s the message that will clean up the mess! Before the rainbow, we have to endure the storm…
So, ‘as the days of Noah’, let us finish the hard stuff, (in the International Children’s version, being a bit gentler), “They traded the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served things that were made by man. But they did not worship and serve the God who made those things…Because people did those things, God left them and let them do the shameful things they wanted to do…(Romans 1:25,26).
Does this look like our present day? This is not pretty or fun, but it’s important medicine to help remedy our dark hearts.
“People did not think it was important to have a true knowledge of God. So God left them and allowed them to have their own worthless thinking. And so those people do the things that they should not do. They are filled with every kind of sin, evil, selfishness and hatred. They are full of jealousy, murder, fighting, lying, and thinking the worst about each other. they gossip and say evil things about each other. They hate God.” (Romans 1:28-30). 
“Why heed the warnings now? What’s the urgent rush today?”
People, can’t you see the signs? Each and every day, ‘as the days of Noah’! “(People) They are rude and conceited and brag about themselves. They invent ways of doing evil. They do not obey their parents. They are foolish, they do not keep their promises, and they show no kindness or mercy to other people. They know God’s law says that those who live like this should die. But they continue to do these evil things. And they also feel that those who do these things are doing right.”(Romans 1:30-32, International Children’s Version, written for young children!) Little children, (young and old), who are we kidding? This is today.
“Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.” (Is. 55:6).Remember, the capital L, capital O, capital R, capital D, is the YHWH, the Yawhey, the unpronounceable One, the One who is your ‘all sufficiency’! That’s the all- caps LORD!
Are you thirsty? That is good! Are you hungry? That is good! On that mountain that Jesus sat and taught, He said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.”(Matthew 5:6).
That is the truth about God! Hear the Messiah’s invitation to you and to me: “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. 
“Incline your ear, and come to me. Hear, and your should shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you – “Is. 55:1-3).
“Why must this go on and on?!” you might be asking?
Because, ‘as the days of Noah, so  also shall  be the coming of the Son of Man be.’
If your heart is anxious and stirred up, ‘fret not’, simply turn to the One who calms the waters. He is God, He is able, He is alive, and that cross that He so horribly died on, He took on His flesh, the sins of the world. Your sins and mine, all of them. So, as easy as a child’s alphabet, if we ‘A’, Admit we are sinners and ‘B’ Believe in the provision of forgiveness given on the cross by the shed blood of Jesus, and ‘C’, call out to Him, He grants forgiveness and new life, once and for all. And for each day after that? “Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 peter 3:18). And pray!
We are called to pray. If you don’t have the words, or this is all too foreign and new, here are wonderful words to pray, especially for TODAY:
Anne Graham Lotz has given us  urgent words to  pray” “1 ELOHIM: THE STRONG ONE In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth…2 We worship You, great God of Creation, as Elohim, the Strong One. You were in the beginning. You will be at The End. You always have been and You always will be. You are the Creator who brings forth something out of nothing, who formed man from dust, who turns darkness into light, who makes the world turn, who sustains all things by Your powerful word.”
“3 When the nations rage and the people imagine a vain thing… When the rulers take a stand and gather together against the Lord…4 When the earth gives way… When the mountains fall into the midst of the sea… When the waters roar and foam… When nations are in uproar and kingdoms fall…5 When everything that is familiar unravels, You are the Rock on which we stand! You are our Stronghold. We take refuge in You.6 We worship You alone.”
“As we plunge into spiritual and moral darkness, You are our Light. As political, social, racial, financial, and environmental storms break out all around us, You are our Anchor. 1 John 17:11 2 Genesis 1:1 3 Hebrews 1:1-3 4 Psalm 2 5 Psalm 46 6 Psalm 18:1-3 2 As we face terrorism’s threat and vows of annihilation from our enemies, You are our Shield. When there are wars and rumors of wars—when nations rise against nations and there is rioting in our streets, You are our Peace. In our weakness, You are our Strength. As we grieve over lost freedoms and lost futures and lost values and lost loved ones, You are our Comfort.”
“In our despair over our lack of moral leadership, You are our Hope. In our confusion when truth is spun and exchanged for a lie, You are our Wisdom. In these days of desperation and confusion, we look to You, and You alone. I look to You as _________________ O God our Help in ages past, This is not just a distress call for prayer. This is a distress call to You! For one hour each day for nine days we choose to turn away from everything else and seek Your face. We turn to You—run to You—cling to You—hide in You. We believe You will hear and answer our distress call because… …We come to You in the name of the One by whom “all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
“7 …We come to You in the name of the Creator who became our Savior and who has ascended into Heaven to sit at Your right hand, with all authority placed under His feet.8 …We come to You humbly, yet boldly, because we have been invited to come.9 …We come to You with confidence because the way has been opened for us by the blood of Your Son who sits at Your right hand, who is in authority over all.10 …We come to You with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith that You will receive us, You will listen to us, and You will answer us.11 I come to You_________ Hear our prayers as we come to You in the name of Jesus. For the glory of Your name. Amen. 7 Colossians 1:16-17 8 Ephesians 1:20-23 9 Matthew 11:28-29; John 14:13-15).
If there is any reader that was urged by the Spirit of God to ‘admit and believe and call’  out to Jesus, the Lord and Savior of the world,  please let someone know,(today!) and begin to enjoy the hunger and the thirst that you feel in each new day for God. He is the living bread, and you will taste and see that the Lord is good as you ‘eat’ of his word daily! No longer a scoffer, but now a ‘delighter’ in God’s word. The promise or the ‘rainbow’ that you are given is: “…He (you) shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither, and whatever he does shall prosper.” (Ps. 1:3).
Hey, and the best news of all, is unlike Noah, where there were NO other believers saved except his family, we will see that we ARE the FAMILY walking through the Door! Safe and sound. (Well, perhaps a little smelly, difficult, and uncomfortable at times, but safe and protected and covered in HIs gracious love!

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