Last year, something happened that seemed to flip a switch in my brain. I’m not sure precisely what it was, but what I think it might have been was, my cynical or rather, extra logical husband had a rapture dream and the very next morning the fires started – which you know, was just one of the most surreal, eerie events I’ve ever experienced. Remember the crazy dark sky in the middle of the day – it was nuts! Anyways, something about the collision of all these events last year – the pandemic, the unrest, the weird natural disasters all over the world – something about him having that dream was the exclamation point my head needed to wake up! It’s the strangest thing, but now I get SO EXCITED talking about all things end times related and how they could possibly fit into the events surrounding us. Greg’s horrified that I’ve actually turned into my mother! ;) We often discuss why bother even looking or telling others about all the signs since “no one knows the day or hour,” but my logic is, God’s heart is that no man may perish and if we do see things that are pointing to His potential soon return, why aren’t Christians sounding the alarm and being even more vocal about the need to repent and turn to Him? What is the worst thing that can happen? People wake up, look at their selfish miserable lives and realize their need for a Savior from all this? I suppose the scare is that discussing it at all will lead to false hope if nothing happens and ultimately lead more people astray but the beauty of Jesus is not only that one day He will return and set all things right, but that He is the key to the life we were meant to live now – regardless of the state of the world. A life lived for Him and for others, free from fear and from the poison of our self obsessed culture! I’ve been greedily reading my Bible lately, having this unquenchable thirst of just wanting to know everything about Him, and what I see over and over besides His undeniable goodness, is LOOK UP! LOOK UP! when you see these things happening, LOOK UP! I never saw just how much His return was mentioned all throughout the Bible. It’s amazing! Thousands of years ago, Paul was begging people to look up, to live rightly and to seek Him so why does it seem like the church has swung the opposite way? They are so afraid of naming dates so they avoid the topic altogether so much so that most of the people I talk to – including Christians! – don’t even know what could be coming! They’re so concerned with offending anyone, it seems like people don’t even know what sin is or that they need to turn from it! The fact is, no matter what happens in the days ahead, no one is guaranteed another day. All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. If you haven’t accepted the gift of Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice taking your place on the cross, you will not be saved – it’s as simple as that but the acknowledgment of your need for a Savior and the acceptance of what He did for you is necessary. Being a good person is not enough. I’ve been reading The Cross of Christ by John Stott and if you’ve been around me lately, you know how much I’ve been enjoying it even though I’m only halfway through cause oi it’s a lot of theology talk – but it’s been such an excellent book in helping me understand the importance of His work on the cross – why it had to happen, why God is still a good and loving Father despite the seemingly cruel aspect of it, why it’s not enough to just be a good person etc. It’s an excellent book – I highly recommend it. Anyways, it sure does seem like things are heating up and perhaps it’s just another day in a fallen world and all will go back to normal, but my hunch is that it won’t. We shall see! Regardless, I would implore you to look into it for yourself. I am convinced there is enough evidence to indicate the Bible is the true, inspired Word of God, and if I am correct in that statement, which is something I am willing to bet my life on, it says He will return one day to judge the earth and rule it perfectly. Please, please, do your research. It is not something to take lightly. Seek and you will find! And I pray that you will be blown away by His greatness and goodness in all things and by how much He adores you and wants you to be with Him forever. Whenever he comes to get His bride, may He find her pure and without fault, eagerly anticipating His glorious return!

Also, happy birthday Israel! :)