It's High Time

Daniel 2
Courtsey Pixabay.com

 I started the Book of Daniel this past week but couldn't read every day as I usually do. I had to go to my sister's to help her and take her to her infusion appointment every day. This will go on until September. 

Today I finished the eighth chapter and will start on nine tomorrow if all goes well. Daniel is an interesting book. If you've read it, you know the story of the Hebrew children in the fiery furnace and of Daniel in the lions' den. But for me, it's the visions Daniel has that fascinate. 

The image at right depicts the sort of statue mentioned in Daniel 2. His other visions were even more complex. They all relate to the same historical events that happened over centuries. They're all connected, but you don't get that at first. The Medes and Persians, Grecians, Romans, and modern Europe. The return of Jesus will shatter the feet and bring down the statue. I always get confused about the interconnectedness of the visions until I read them. 

Today in Chapter 8 I realized that what I'd heard all my life was here. I mean, I realized what the elders had spoken of for over 100 years was here, and I was now witness to the unfolding of an ancient prophecy. Come on. You've always known it, but have you truly realized it? It's more than 1000 years since Daniel saw it. 

I thought about it for a few minutes, and then I remembered something else. I remembered how all of us had prayed for God to save our loved ones. How we've asked for just more time for them to come to him and turn their lives over to him. We've prayed for more time to make things right within ourselves, too. Just a little more time, Lord! Please. Not yet! Just a little more time. 

Every day, every year, very decade of our lives we've prayed this. You haven't? Well, I'm honest enough to tell you I have. Today I had a revelation. 

Time is not the problem. We have plenty of time. Really, we do. We have just enough time to make our hearts right with God. There's just enough time to fix our problems and create a sanctified life. We have just enough time to create a better world, to reach a broken and dying world. Time abounds. 

The problem isn't time. The problem is me and you and them. We are the problem. Our lives are mapped out before we ever arrive. Every potential ability and gift is in place for us to make an impact. Even scripture records that a special clock plots our lifetime. Psalms 90:10 says that our life is 70 years or, if we're strong, 80 years. We know people who live much longer, but that's the exception, not the rule. So you have at the least 70 years to make an impact. We can both admit that life is not perfect and that many people die before the promised time. Health, accidents, and murder are life events. However, it takes only a moment to fix a soul. 

So, why do we need more time to find God? Why do our loved ones need more time? What makes us think there has not been enough time?

I've had plenty of time to find God and live a life pleasing to him. Micah 6:8 in the Amplified Bible says:

He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you Except to be just, and to love [and to diligently practice] kindness (compassion), And to walk humbly with your God [setting aside any overblown sense of importance or self-righteousness]?

That's under the law. Once Jesus came, he gave us a plan. It's outlined in the New Testement. On the day of Pentecost, the Jews ask Peter in Acts 2:37.

 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

They realized that their time had arrived. Jesus gave Peter the keys to the Kingdom, and he used them right then to open the Kingdom doors.

 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."

 The clock for the Jews' salvation started that instant. Your clock started the day you first heard the Gospel message. It's ticking. You have time. 

Romans 13:11 (NKJV) says:

"And do this, understanding the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed"

But time will end. We're almost there. If you can't see it, pray for revelation. If you are afraid, you should be. If you're not ready. Time is running out. Get dressed. 

There's going to be a party afterward.

The Search for Happiness

I've been missing Jerry a lot of late. I usually do between November and February. I suppose it came late this year. It isn't a continuous pain but a sudden, stabbing in the hollow places of my heart. 

Yesterday, as I drove home from work through a neighborhood with some lovely homes, I was assailed with longing for something I think I was unaware that I had ever possessed. The average-middle class homes arrayed along a gentle, curving street with neat yards that had received years of attention were a bit above the lower middle-class income we had but it wasn't about that. It was more.

Yearning is a little used word these days but that is the only word that works for what I was feeling. As I drove along, my mind filled in blanks with children tumbling on a green carpet and a small dog barking and scrambling to be a part of the excitement. The windows glowed with evening lights and the smell of fresh cut grass and barbeque seemed to drift on the air. But it didn't. It was all in my head and I ached with the thoughts of it all. 

I left the neighborhood and entered my own, slightly more modest section. As I did so, in the midst of all that painful yearning I heard myself say, "I've had a good life." There is a sense of disbelief even when I write it because I don't remember ever thinking that in my whole life. Life has been hard. At times, nearly impossible. There is not enough time, nor am I inclined to share the worst of it. 

Recently, my mind began to trot out memories that I didn't really forget but rather, had neglected in favor of less appealing ones. And ... the truth is ... I've had a great life. I'm overwhelmingly blessed and favored. I know this. That was a new feeling, an almost devastatingly painful feeling. It hurt terribly to think it. Not because it wasn't a wonderful realization but because I had failed to recognize it until I am an old woman. This is something we should know when we're young. Maybe other people do. I don't know. I just know I never knew it. At least, I don't think I did.

The feeling clung to me the rest of the evening and today but I still had trouble believing it. My life had so many twists and turns that it was hard to imagine it as "great".

I was given away to grandparents and it was the best thing that could have happened to me, despite a childhood filled with the ugliness of alcohol. I had wonderful aunts, uncles, and cousins, the memories of whom still make my heart smile. 

I was 17 when Mama died but I married a wonderful man who only wanted to make me happy the rest of his life. And he tried every day, for the next 35 years.

At 21, I was in Europe and I walked the halls of ancient castles and palaces. I climbed trails in the Bavrian Alps, slaked my thrist from an icy artisian well, and gazed over parapets at beautiful green valleys. I strolled the Champs Elysee, climbed the Eiffel Tower, and stared at the flying buttresses and stained glass of Notre Dame. I shopped in Germany. I lived in five US states. I've slept under stars, hiked woodland trails, and swam in the ocean. I've played in the sand, dug in the dirt, and laid on the grass and painted clouds. I've laughed, cried, and raged over wonderful, foolish, and dreadful things.

It is a mystery to me how I missed all that. Although, I think the truth is that I didn't miss it... then. I miss it all now. I crave the excitement and the laughter and the mystery that each of those days provided. I long for the feeling of walking along a Paris street on Jerry's arm. Now life seems so tame, so bland, so predictable. For someone who stood in the throne room of a once great king, today feels anticlimactic. 

Yet, today whispered a secret in my ear. "I've had a great life." I've been blessed with more than wealth, more than fame. I've rocked my babies and watched them grow into wonderful men. I sang to my grandchild and am amazed at her beautiful soul and smile that blinds me. I still have aunts, uncle, cousins, and siblings that shower me with love.  

No, I have not done all the things I wanted to do but I have done a lot of things I never dreamed I would do. So, perhaps happiness is not something you look for, but rather something you find. And a wonderful life is determined solely by your perspective.

Crucible

Courtesy Pixabay.com

I sat down to write something today that would fit in with my praise theme. I can't think of anything. The world is going through so much pain. Israel is under attack and that grieves me and people are so hateful toward Christians, who are blamed for everything that happens, but the accusers are the worst of the lot because they refuse to take responsibility for their own actions. It is a world gone mad.

We have corrupt leaders seeking to destroy the greatest country ever created, a country that up until the last 30 years has been blessed beyond measure. We've chosen to follow an evil path and watching the nation that I love, that my family has served, travel the road to destruction is a nightmare. Americans chanting for the downfall of a nation born from the desire for freedom from tyranny, forged in fires of wars fought to maintain that freedom, now led by cowards and tyrants. Has anyone stopped to think what they'll get once it is gone? It won't be freedom. It won't be a democracy. It won't be liberty and justice for all. What comes next is hell on earth and they're too blind to even see it.

I've turned a blind eye for a long time. I've given opportunities, sent messengers, averted disasters and still they rail against me and my laws. They destroy all that is holy and good in favor of perversion and evil.  They would wallow in the pig pen rather than live the palace. 

So I give them the pit. I've turned my back and they will not see my face until my return. I've closed my ears and they will not hear my voice until the day of judgment. They have broken down the barrier of protection I established and the enemy is now allowed to do as he wills. Until my time. I've withdrawn the covering and poured out the vails. The crucible has begun. 

I will still hold fast the good, Lord. I will still praise you. Keep me in the center of your will and surround me with your grace and mercy. Forgive us for all our sins. Protect your people. Preserve and protect and give peace to Israel. Surround her with a barrier of protection that can't be broken. And God have mercy on us all.


*****At times, I do not understand some of what I write on this blog. I don't plan it or write from notes. It is all spontaneous. Usually, I write with no effort and the responses to my own thoughts often surprise me. Today something is different. There is much troubling in the world that could stifle praise and thankgiving. My intention was to do as I always do but I simply couldn't find the words. This is what resulted. I do not know why, but I've always followed my gut when writing. So, for what it is worth, whether you like it or not, whether you agree or not, it is what it is.

#ConversationsWithHim