"For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places." Matthew 24:7
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The happy years wearing aprons, cleaning my houses here in New York, ones I turned into vintage places of rest.
The walks I've taken around blocks of homes built in the early 1900's, imagining bobbysoxers rushing from front doors in the mornings and women shaking rugs from porch railings.
The 1920's diners where Tom and I ate breakfast, drank coffee and soaked in the retro ambiance.
The afternoons when Naomi's Monkees and Beatles records spun 'round, wafting down the stairs while I painted walls in autumn colors.
The teary-eyed times while shopping for groceries because the joyful presence of God followed me there. The afternoons with books (or just my dreams) upon all our front porches. The sun-soaked hours in my gardens.
Oh my. These 22 years in New York are stuffed with hundreds of such memories and often I pray that I'll remember each one. And notice new blessings as they happen.
To take nothing for granted.
To give thanks to Him from whom all blessings flow.
For it's this kind of super-gratitude which I believe will help get me, all of us, through a trying, difficult future of reaping what we, the United States, have sown. And it's a very real sense of God's presence that will gird us with strength, wisdom and hope in dark times.
God warned Joseph 7 years ahead of time about a famine. (Genesis 41)
It was 10 years after Agabus' vision in Acts 11 that a famine hit full force.
I believe it was 8 years ago that God first nudged me to prepare, but at first I dabbled, half-heartily stored what we needed. Three years later, Tom was laid-off and I regretted my piddling around.
Two years later, I seriously began preparing, in all ways. Three months ago the loose ends began tying themselves together when I searched-out ways to learn more. To ready us, as much as possible, for a future the Bible, especially Matthew 24, speaks of.
Always, God warns the listeners ahead of time. Seekers of Him do not go around saying, "Oh, we've heard this all before and nothing happened." No, seekers recognize that, because of incredible mercy and wishing no man to perish, warnings come long before hammers and judgements fall.
Long enough so to prepare. In all ways, so that we need not be blown away, but instead, found ready. Standing in God's strength because we knew Him well in the good times.
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But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!" ... 2 Timothy 3:1-5
It's recalling how God got us through before which will help get us through again.
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Do you love this milk jug lamp, or what?
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Missing the free kindle books I used to post here? I've just not felt the grace to list them lately. My reading and listening are in other places currently.
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I love this Debra. And what you said in the last line just before the picture of the house, is right on. We need to make sure our hearts are right with the Lord and that we are trusting him in the good times and the "bad." Then we can endure whatever comes our way, because we know HE holds the future.
ReplyDeleteYOU are a very wise woman!
Blessings!
Hey Debra, I just heard Ted Koppel being interviewed about his new book, "Lights Out" (he talks about how it's not "if" but "when" America's power grid will be attacked). Made me think about your preparations for the future. Koppel has purchased enough dehydrated food (and other stuff) to feed his entire family for one year. He researched for one and one-half years prior to writing the book. Ironically, Homeland Security agreed that Americans should take responsibility for this type of event, and not rely on the government to bail them out. Wow! I have started buying extra stuff, but I don't have a year's worth. Guess we'd lose some of our excess weight...gotta hold onto our humor.
ReplyDeleteRobin--thank-you so much and you are a wise woman, as well! You and I are very often on the same page and I do appreciate your encouragement these past years. God bless you as you continue to prepare for Jesus' return...
ReplyDeletePam--thanks for mentioning that book! I'd just that same day read about it at amazon and it looks like it's repeating much of what I've heard in my research. Scary stuff, but true. You're so right about keeping our sense of humor! It will be easier to do that for those of us who prepare ahead of time.
Thanks, Ladies! Blessings, Debra