Encouragement

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“RETURN TO ME”

“Rise up!”

It wasn’t a booming, ear-splitting voice that woke me up from my sleep. It’s more of a gentle whisper, as soft as a baby’s breath, yet as powerful as a mighty wind. The Voice beckoned me to get up and heed intently to His very crucial and urgent message.

“Blow a trumpet in Zion,
And sound an alarm on My holy Mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the Land tremble,
For the day of the Lord is coming;
Surely it is near” (Joel 2:1).

My spirit grew restless within me. Inexplicable feeling of both tranquility and eeriness engulfed me.


It’s like any Sunday morning. Except today, I'm not at the house of worship, instead I'm resting in my bed, exhausted after working a 12 hour night shift. The Lord will surely understand. God heard my excuses many times before . But instead of rebuking me, He just said gently, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).


While the world around me is shaking, while mountains are trembling, while the sun and the moon grow dark, and stars lose their brightness, while heavy storms and winds are swiping away a great camp, He woke me up from my slumber and summoned me to listen intently to His Word.

“Yet even now, “ declares the Lord,
Return to Me with all your heart,
And with fasting, weeping and mourning;
And rend your heart and not your garments” ( Joel 2:12 ).

My Lord is calling me. He is calling everyone who is willing to listen. He is sounding the trumpet with a resonant sound. No more time for my timidity, my complacency, my lukewarm heart. It’s time to say, “Yes, Lord!”

“Come, let us return to the Lord.
For He has torn us, but He will heal us;
He has wounded us, but He will bandage us” ( Hosea 6:1).


“Lord, I pray that You may not find me sleeping again. Please spare your children and Your children’s children. Help us to be faithful to You till the end.”

Brethren, our Sovereign, Merciful God is calling you and me.

“Take words with you and return to the Lord.
Say to Him, “Take away all iniquity
And receive us graciously,
That we may present the fruit of our lips.” – Hosea 14:2

“So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord,
His going forth is as certain as the dawn;
And He will come to us like the rain,
Like the spring rain watering the earth” ( Hosea 6:3).

Return to Him. It's a "wake up call."

May God’s mercy, peace and love surround you as You listen to His Voice and follow His leading. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

In His Service,
Gloria Tiquia

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