Thoughts on Noah

This is not the post I intended tonight. I had intended to write about the churches in Revelation. And I will get to that by this weekend. In light of Hurricane Harvey, I want to talk about Noah right now.

Friday, August 25th is when we started receiving the rain.
Saturday it started flooding.
The 29th, Tuesday, it finally stopped raining, we maybe had sprinkles on Wednesday.

5 or 6 days of rain.

Noah was on the ark for 40 days.

I have a new found respect and admiration for Noah and those on the ark with him. My little family was able to get about Friday and Saturday some, but were home bound Sunday and Monday - there was no way to get out of our house. Our street didn't flood but the wind was horrible, and the rain came down so hard.

Total first world problem - but we hated being stuck in our home. Our kids didn't understand why they couldn't go outside. And that is with 2 out 6 days of really bad rain. God made it rain 40 days while Noah was on the ark:

Genesis 7:4 - For in seven days I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground.

I cannot wrap my mind around that. My family was able to play board games, read movies, do puzzles, build with legos, play with our mini-projector and play on the internet. We also napped a good deal. Forty days....

I am beyond grateful that we will never experience what Noah did.

Genesis 8:20-22

God's Covenant with Noah

20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse[a] the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. 22 While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”

Riding out the storm

Life is full of storms. Literal storms (like Hurricane Harvey) and personal/emotional ones.

Reflecting on the past few years, my husband and I, along with our children, have faced some personal storms that were devastating. We have had financial struggles, the loss of a child, the transition to new jobs (both of us). But through it all, we have been together. We have stood side by side, we have knelt together in prayer.

The rain is not letting up. It keeps coming, and every time I get back online, I see post from more friends who have lost belongings, some have 6 or more inches of water in their house. I saw a video of a dear friend and her family being evacuated from their home by boat.

Our house has not been the dream we envisioned 5 years ago when we bought it. We thought within a year or so we would renovate and upgrade and have a great starter home. Five years in and we have painted. That is about it. Due to the economy and many unforeseen experiences we haven't done much but maintain our house. And many of the unforeseen events were related to our house: foundation repairs, water heater going out, a/c going out, etc. Our dream starter turned out to be a lemon.

Right now though, I am thankful for this lemon. We haven't flooded at all. Our house seems to be in a great spot. I give glory to God. We have struggled with this house, my husband did not want to buy it, I was half way through my pregnancy with Abigail and was tired of looking - so we settled. And we have felt the burden of it.Even with settling though we decided to dream and make this home ours. We have, but not nearly as much as we had hoped.

But right now, I am very grateful for what we do have.

A home.
That is dry.
Power that is on
Food in the pantry.
And each other.

A Hurricane Named Harvey

I was born in 1985, and mainly lived in the Corpus Christi area all of my life, minus 11 months in Austin. Then in 2008 I moved to the Houston area. Three months later, almost to the day,  I experienced my first hurricane. Ike.

It truly is astounding that in 23 years living in Corpus Christi I didn't experience any hurricanes. I remember Ike very well. The time without power, how rude people were when it came to getting supplies and necessities leading to Ike's landfall. Luckily a cool front came through after and kept the temperatures bearable. People came together afterward, helped each other, you saw a true sense of community. Every year since, I have been mindful of hurricane season. I watch the news, I keep water on hand, and dry goods that area easily prepared.

When Harvey developed last week, I was mindful once again. Before any schools were cancelled I took a trip to the store for more water, snacks, dog food, and things of that nature.

And then on Thursday when schools started closing (mine included) I went back to the store. I remember us having to cook everything on the bbq pit due to losing power, and my husband was mindful of that too (we didn't know each other during Ike, but had similar experiences). So I went back to the store for charcoal and a few fun snacks for the kids. The lines were long, but people were being nice, helping each other, and no one was frustrated. People patiently waited. Then I picked up dinner, and again long lines, but again patience. And even more impressive - the people working, with no clue of when they would go home - they had patience, and smiles.

It is now Monday, and the rain has not stopped. It started heavily Friday evening, rained all day Saturday and Sunday (some spells of no rain, but those were few), and here we are almost done with the morning this Monday, and it is still raining. Not only have we had rain, we have had wind, and tornadoes. Night and day phone's are going off with warnings and watches. The emergency alert system breaks through every show telling people to seek cover, don't drive, hunker down. To say that the Houston metropolitan area has been devastated would be an understatement.

For people who are not familiar with Houston here is something information I have found:

For my non-Houston friends the below details may help you understand the devastation:

The Houston area is huge. The greater metropolitan area is circled by the Grand Parkway - which is 170 miles long. That makes the area of the circle inside the Grand Parkway over 2200 sq. miles.

2200 square miles of densely inhabited, urban and suburban, areas is flooded.

Imagine if the entire state of Delaware, with twice the population of Manhattan, was under water.

That's Houston.

It's still raining.

The pictures...they are sad but encouraging. Throughout this ordeal people have lost everything. Houses have flooded, cars have been washed away. I have read the accounts of friends who were dry and a minute later water was rushing into their homes before they had a chance to get stuff put up and way. Friends have shared images of the water in their houses, water covering their vehicles. Areas that have never flooded, well, did. But this is Texas. A beautiful, wonderful state that defies odds.

People are coming to Texas from all over the country to help. But even better, is that Texas is helping Texas. Communities near and far (Texas is a big state) are sending resources, and people to help. And its not just first responders, or those trained, but every day people, the average Joe's are loading up and heading our way. People with boats are driving to Houston (and just south of here, all the way down to Corpus Christi) to help people who are trapped on roofs. There was a nursing home with water in it, with residence still in it. And people posted about it, it got to the news, and they were rescued. 

Here is a great link by the NYTimes that shows how much water Houston has received: before-and-after-harvey

I sometimes bemoan social media, but I have seen it used wonderfully to help people in need. Anything can be a tool for good and for evil. And lately it seems like social media has been a big stick stirring the pot of discontent and discord in our country. But over the past 4 days I have seen it used to aide people in need, bring people together, unite communities in prayer. And even today, it is being used to encourage people that if you are at home, no water in your home - use your time to clean out your closets so you can help those who have lost everything. I have seen it used to update people on which grocery stores are open so people can replenish their supplies.

Projected rain still to come as of Monday 8/28/2017

Harvey isn't done yet. More rain is expected over the next SEVERAL days. A friend lives just a handful of miles away and she has recorded over 36" of rain at her house since this all started on Friday. Please continue to pray. Texas is showing the nation what community is about. We are helping each other, we are supportive, and we are mindful. 

Personally, we are well. We were able to get out and about Friday and Saturday and had dinner both evenings with my in-love's. There was food, fellowship, and games. It was a good distraction from being in our house for so long. The ditch behind our house yesterday was the highest I have ever seen

Ditch behind our house on 8/27/2017

it. And that was looking from our back door (part of our fence fell Friday). Here's the thing - Houston was built on bayou's. There is water all around. We expect flooding to happen with rain events. But this is unprecedented. Today, the ditch is so far down, we cannot see it from the back door, and I have no desire to put my rain boots on and go look where it is at. One of our local grocers did open this morning, and I saw a friend post about it. She grabbed us some milk and banana's - Brock drove up to meet her in the parking lot. We have food, and now having milk we can cook a few more things other than soup. We have power, there hasn't been flooding on our immediate street, and the drainage system we have is pretty spectacular. Neighbors are checking on neighbors. We might be bored somewhat in our house - the kids do have some cabin fever - but we are well. It could be so much worse - as it is for many that we know. And through the days ahead, I will place my hope in the One who created the storm. The One who has numbered days, and knows the steps I will take.

Isaiah 25:4 For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall,

Psalm 57:1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.

Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Pray for Houston, Pray for ALL who have been impacted

REVELATION: Who was John? Revelation Chapter 1

The Bible is our instruction manual. Our Creator, God, has given us all the information we need to live. And He selected certain individuals to write certain portions of it.When I think about the Book of Revelation, I do think about John, the man who God chose to reveal the Revelation to. Who is this man? What do we know about him? The great thing is, we do know who he is, and we do have information about him.

Revelation 1English Standard Version (ESV)

Prologue

1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

Greeting to the Seven Churches

4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia:

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail[b] on account of him. Even so. Amen.

8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Vision of the Son of Man

9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”

12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

 God's word tells us this about John when he was given the Revelation:

• It was given to him by an angel
• John bore witness to the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ - he was with Jesus when he was on earth
• He was on the Island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ
• He was in the Spirit
• It was the Lord's day

John received the Revelation during a period of great persecution of the church. The Roman emperor Nero officially sanctioned the torture and extermination of Christians, whom he blamed for the great fire in Rome in A.D. 64. After his suicide in A.D. 68, emperor worship grew, reaching its peak during the reign of Domitian (A.D. 81-96). During this time, the persecution of Christians intensifier. Early church tradition strongly favors the latter part of Domitian's reign )A.D. 90-96) as the date for Revelation.

Now this I want to add. Do not focus too much on John - he was the means by which God got his message out. I share with you who wrote the book, just so you can know. John led a life to where he was in the Spirit, his way of living was fully for God so he was able to be used by the Lord.

A Personal Note: A broken heart

There is a popular song on the local Christian radio stations that has the lyrics, "break my heart for what breaks yours." The lyrics are about believers asking God to let us see the world as He does, to break our hearts as His is broken so we can better serve Him and others.

I have prayed it a time or two. But I find it a scary prayer, somewhat like patience. Its' one of the request that if you are sincere, and God does as you pray, you are not the same after. 

Lately I have felt different. More compassionate, more sympathetic, more empathetic - towards others, myself, strangers, my family. But also a sense of urgency: share the Gospel, don't be quite about what Jesus has done in my life, reach out to others, we live on the edge of eternity, Jesus is coming soon - be ready!

Work is busy - tomorrow new teachers arrive, and Thursday all the rest of the staff & faculty return. We in the office are busy with admissions, computer/phone issues, vendor issues, orders arriving, submitting last minute orders, prepping for staff in-service...and soo much more. We are at our desks, we are up and down the stairs, we are on the phone (if they are working). In all of the busyness, one can get to distracted to see God in the day-to-day. 

Over the past few months, through trials and transitions in our family, I have striven to see God in all that I do. The unexpected blessing of a month of free bagels from Panera, gift cards randomly from people, free uniforms for my daughter's new school, double rainbows. I want to live in wonder of my Creator.

Jeremiah 29:13 "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."

In the busyness of today, I had to leave my office and check something in an other office. I just recently have received key copies to various rooms I need access to, but I haven't had time to try them all out. My coworker gave me her keys to take with me, we know her keys work, and I went up to where I needed to go. I got upstairs, and had my hands full. By the door I needed to enter, there is a sitting area, and so I placed my stuff down. And then I saw it.

A yellow post-it note, addressed to God. While I do work in a church/private school - this post-it was out of place. I started to read it, and the three post-it's after the original. And my heart broke. Whoever wrote it is mad at God, lonely, feels isolated, but seeking God, wanting restoration. I will not forget that post-it note prayer anytime soon. I turned it all in to who I thought was appropriate, and I know they will do what they can. 

But I have been emotional since then, somewhat on the verge of tears. And the lyrics, "break my heart for what breaks yours," keeps going through my mind. What breaks God's heart?

• 1st and foremost, sin
• widows and orphans being mistreated - James 1:27
• the poor being oppressed
• the righteous be persecuted

Just to name a few.

God made a beautiful world, and sin has corrupted it, made it ugly, and has warped humanity. Humans are so cruel to one another. I am not going to go into depth about what happened in Virginia this weekend. But Franklin Graham said it best on Facebook:

Franklin Graham

Yesterday at 5:20pm · 

Shame on the politicians who are trying to push blame on President Trump for what happened in #Charlottesville, VA. That’s absurd. What about the politicians such as the city council who voted to remove a memorial that had been in place since 1924, regardless of the possible repercussions? How about the city politicians who issued the permit for the lawful demonstration to defend the statue? And why didn’t the mayor or the governor see that a powder keg was about to explode and stop it before it got started? Instead they want to blame President Donald J. Trump for everything. Really, this boils down to evil in people’s hearts. Satan is behind it all. He wants division, he wants unrest, he wants violence and hatred. He’s the enemy of peace and unity. I denounce bigotry and racism of every form, be it black, white or any other. My prayer is that our nation will come together. We are stronger together, and our answers lie in turning to God. It was good to hear that several Virginia and Charlottesville leaders attended church today at Mt. Zion. CNN said, “The racial divides that fueled Saturday’s violence were replaced by unity Sunday…” Continue to pray for peace and for all those impacted by Saturday’s tragedies.

The words I read in that prayer let me know that there is someone in my community, in my church home who has been injured by others. I do not know that person's name, but I will be praying for them, that they heal, that they do put their trust in Jesus, and that they recognize the schemes of the devil. And as with the horrific events this past weekend, I hope that people will realize that the Love of Christ is the only thing that can bring healing: to individuals, to communities, to nations, to the world.

Living with Expectancy: Being Prepared but Living with Time

Over the course of the summer I have worked on summarizing two years of Revelation study into a timeline. And I have done it. It was a work of labor, took time, took reflection, and there was some frustration with technology. But I have a fabulous timeline that outlines the end of the age, the calling of the church home, the devastation that will be the tribulation, the millennial reign of Christ, and the Great White Throne Judgment.

I do not know a person who went through the two years of study who was not impacted or motivated to do more for the Kingdom of Christ. We know what is to come, and it for sure in me has stirred a fire to share the Gospel and make sure people know that if they do not choose Christ they are choosing to experience the Wrath of God poured out on the world. Also I now have a hunger for God's word, to know it, to live it, to see it manifested in my life. I am reading books:

• About the prophecies of the Old Testament that pointed to Jesus as the Messiah
• Evaluating the "I AM" statements of Jesus
• And on loving others

Here is what I want to share about the day and age we live in and the promises of the book of Revelation. The end of the Church Age has to happen before the Tribulation can occur. The Bible tells us this:

• Luke 12:56 (ESV) You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
• Matthew 24:42 (ESV) Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
• Luke 21:36 (ESV) But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
• Matthew 25:13 (ESV)Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

We do not know the date that God will call the saints of the church to heaven to be with Him. But there will be signs. And, as in the time leading up to the birth of Christ, the "knowledgeable" people will miss the signs.

Matthew 2 (ESV)

The Visit of the Wise Men

2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men[a] from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose[b] and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for from you shall come a ruler

    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

The wise men, whoever they may have been, they had been studying the skies, were familiar with the Messiah prophecy, and took action when they saw the stars pointing to the birth of the King. But the king's men, who lived in the area, who knew the culture, the scrolls, they were caught unaware. (This documentary is very enlightening for anyone who has the time The Star of Bethlehem Documentary 2007 .)

And so it will be before Christ returns. People, believers and unbelievers, are going to be caught unaware. But they don't have to be unprepared. 

Last night I heard a great sermon about God Preparing Us for the Judgement Day. Pastor Jon did an outstanding job about explaining the judgement of believers and the judgement of unbelievers. But for the believer, their judgement will not be for their sins, but for how they lived - were their lives built with gold, silver & precious stones, or wood,hay, straw (1 Corinthians 3:12). The notes I added in my Bible by this passage are this:

• Judgement of Believers is about our service: what is holy, right, & true will be rewarded.
• What will be burned up is this: wrong motives, anything we did that was not for God :
• 2 Chronicles 25 (ESV)
• Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. 2 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart.

The main scripture he preached from, and I want to expound on, was 2 Peter 3:10-

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

We do not know the date of the "rapture," but we know it is coming at any minute. If we knew when a thief was going to break in, we would have double checked the locks, and make sure the house alarm is set. But because we do not know for sure if and when we could be victimized, we take steps all the time to secure what is precious to us. But we do now that Jesus is returning, He promised He would:

• John 14:3 (ESV) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also

And because of His promise to us, we need to live everyday as if it were the day He was returning.We need to be sharing the Gospel, warning people of what is to come,  helping the less fortunate, showing the world the difference Jesus makes. We need to be in His word, we need to know the Gospel, and share. The sad reality is this: people are going to be left on earth to experience the wrath of god, known as the Tribulation. There is nothing we can do about that. But our responsibility is to make sure that we have told them what is to come. So that they cannot say they did not know; that the truth will be they chose to not accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

I believe I will be alive when the church is called home. I am not a conspiracy theorist, but it is hard to study Revelation like I have and not feel more aware. Events are happening. I believe the world (physically and culturally) is in the labor pains mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 5:

1 Thessalonians 5 (ESV) The Day of the Lord

5 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Let's evaluate some:

• Wars and rumors of wars (Luke 21:10 0 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.)
• North Korea launching missiles that have the U. S. in range July 29,2017 article
• Putin (Russia) has expelled 755 U.S. diplomats  FOX News Article July 30, 2017
• Trump sings Russian sanctions legislation CNN article August 2, 2017
• Iran warns U.S. over Syria Iran U.S. Tensions - NYTimes
• Weather (Luke 21:11 There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences.)
• India - dry in monsoon season - Link
• 60,000 evacuated from Moscow due to severe weather - Link
• Heat wave in Portland, Oregon - Link
• Ecologic Disaster
• The Great Pacific Garbage Patch - Link
• Radioactive water to be released from Fukushima - Link

I also want to add, there are events happening in Israel that most people seem to be ignoring or are completely unaware of occurring in the first place.

• On July 14, 2017 2 Israeli police officers killed in shooting in Jerusalem's Old City (Link)  From unsealed.org(Link ), "I'm not sure how to convey to you both the seriousness and awesomeness of what may be transpiring in Israel.  In short, the Jordanian Waqf has effectively lost control of the Temple Mount for the first time since 1967.  It is now in the hands of Israeli police.  Following the tragic shooting of two Israeli police officers on Friday by Palestinian terrorists, Israeli police assumed control of the Temple Mount.  They have since installed metal detectors on all entrances used by Muslim worshipers and the Waqf has called for a complete Muslim boycott until the metal detectors are removed." 
• Israel has regained control of the Temple Mount - where they will rebuild the Temple, King David's Temple, where the Abomination of Desolation will reveal himself at the beginning of the last 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation.

I trying to live very day as if it could be the day that the Lord could return. I am trying to not worry about things that do not effect eternity. But because we do not know when the Lord will come, I am living also like I have time: planning vacations, thinking up birthday party ideas for my kiddos, seeing if I can attend various Bible retreats. 

How are you living?