The Beginning ... or the beginning of the end?

 WOW!!! Has it been a while! 

     So much has happened since 2020! That is that last time that I actually spent time here. For which, I am very sorry. 

     Life has been an adventure hasn't it? We survived COVID and now we will hopefully survive the election. But in all of the trials of the last 4 years, God has been faithful. I have seen a few come to Christ, and a few go home. I have seen marriages and births and life goes on. Summer, Fall, Winter and Summer seem to pass and the world just gets darker. BUT ... God has a plan!

     My husband and I voted early today. It was our first time, early, I mean. There was an amazing turnout! The lady that verified my ID (I live in Idaho, LOL) said that over 1400 turned out yesterday and that was day one! Praise God! Yesterday was a pretty cold and dreary day too. GO IDAHO! Anyhow, it was a good feeling to be doing our part. God does instruct us to get involved. So we should be obedient to that calling. There is still time. If you have not voted, PLEASE vote. It is our duty. Not only as a Christian, but as a citizen of the United States of America.   

     Well, the title of this post means I have more to say than just "Go Vote". I do feel very strongly that is could be the beginning of the end. Or maybe even the middle of the end, that the election from 2020 started. It truly is all up to God Almighty. Whether we believe it or not, He has a plan. If it ends up being a reprieve, Praise God. We have more time to give out the Gospel!  If it ends up being the nail in the coffin, then we had better get busy!! Actually, either way, we had better get busy! Four years goes by SO fast. Seriously, look how long it has been since I posted last! LOL!! Anyhow, to think that America will survive another four years of communist dictatorship is foolishness. It may not be too long before we don't have the freedom to share our beliefs and to give out tracts. 

     Whether it be the beginning of a revival OR the beginning of the end, the Biblical Truth is the same: Tell someone about Jesus!! Throw them a life preserver! Have the confidence that when you stand before the living and True God, our Lord and Savior Jesus, that you did everything you could to offer others the gift of Eternal Life. This IS the Great Commission. Now go VOTE and while you stand in line, tell someone about Jesus!         

 

  

Solitude

     How many times have we hoped for more time to spend either in prayer, in the Word or both? I know I always feel like I never have enough time to dedicate to real in-depth study or prayer. It is usually 20 mins here, 30 mins there. Doing BSF, I set aside an hour once or twice a week to get my lesson and children's prep done, but it isn't extra time to just pour myself into wherever God would lead. 

     I listen to Skip Heitzig every morning on my way to work and he is currently teaching with the COVID situation in view. His lessons have been about Biblical quarantines, abiding by the authoritative decisions of our government and the idea of time alone with God. This made me think about all the people who are currently sequestered in their homes. One of the women in my BSF group mentioned that she has divided the Bible into 21 sections (based on the number of days that our state has declared "shelter in place") and is focused on reading through the Bible in that time. She said it takes her about 2 hours every day to read each section and she is having a blessed time. Wow! What a great idea!

     I am not sequestered at home. Work for me is still Monday-Friday 40 hours per week. Part of me wishes that I was one of the ones laid off so I could spend that precious time with the Lord. But would I? I have time that could be set aside for more study or prayer, but I don't. When I have a free day, I usually plan projects. But do I ever plan 1 or 2 hours to just be with the Lord? Rarely.
     Are you sequestered at home? If so, how are you spending your time? Pastor Heitzig reminded his listeners of the time that Jesus spent in the wilderness and that Paul, prior to starting his ministry went to Arabia for some time to prepare for the Lord's work. As well, Jesus broke away from the crowds on many occasions to be alone with his Father. What great examples of the need for and the importance of solitude. So, if you are faced with solitude, be thankful and seek the Lord's plan for that time. You know He has one and it is probably filled with doing more than cleaning, painting, reading a novel or watching TV.
     If you are like me and are blessed with the opportunity to still be working, it doesn't allow us an excuse to ignore the need for solitude. We need to MAKE that time happen. Today, I took my dogs for a long walk then went fishing in a snowstorm! It was a great day spending time alone with my heavenly Father. As the world get crazier and crazier, quiet time with the Lord is ever more so important. How will you make that time today?