Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: End Times (02/27/14)
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TITLE: Eye Shadow, Embroidered Velvet Big Shirt And Gaily Flowered Apron Trimmed With Lace. | Previous Challenge Entry
By Judith Gayle Smith-Owens Vitouswykegardinerclark
03/06/14 -
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ADD TO MY FAVORITES
Not to be confused with preparations for the end times. I attire myself prettily for . . . what? Who?
I have a delightful friend who not only dresses fancier than I do, but she puts sparkles in her hair and face. She says this is to gain attention to Jesus, glorifying God. She rides the city bus and prays for folks to ask her why she is so glamorous.
What does our Father-God want from us? How does He truly use us – fallen mankind – to glorify and praise His very Being?
Are we actually living in The End Times? Prophesies of earthquakes, wars, rumors of wars being fulfilled? Evil is called good and good is called evil? Matthew 24 KJV suggests it is close. But it was close over 2000 years ago.
Jesus promises to rule and reign for a thousand years – with an iron rod. Satan has been cast down to earth for defying his Holy God. Is Jesus truly ruling today? Did He rule during the Holocaust, the ethnic cleansing, pogroms? I want so much to believe that He is in full control NOW – but I ruefully admit to having difficulty finding the answers to these questions.
The Millenium – the thousand years, whereby His saints rule with Him – some people believe this is already happening. Others feel this is way off in future times, following an unscriptural “rapture”. Makes for great reading. Who wants to be left behind when we believers rise to meet Him in the air?
Many people speculate upon that which is inescapable – no man, not even Jesus, knows the date or the hour of His return. We are instructed to watch and be ready.
When and what exactly are the end times? If you have seven months to live – those are your end times. What you do with that time is what glorifies God. Imagine you have just one hour before your end comes – are you grieving over your great loss, or glorifying God because you are going home to Him?
It is frightening, enlightening and jaw-dropping to read all the prophecies regarding the end of the world as we know it. It is somewhat alarmingly amusing, presumptuous, to listen to the confused rhetoric of those who predict an exact date and time for our Lord’s return.
I truly yearn to be prepared for His return, and I know eye shadow and pretty clothes will not matter to Him, as He sees us from the inside. I want the heart He gave me to fly straight to His welcoming Arms. I will not speculate on the myriad how and when guesstimates of our Christ’s return; I will be consistently, kavanah focused on Him, walking His paths, declaring His truths.
Post, present, bi – wherever we stand on the millennium, if we are His we have His orders to be watchful, to not succumb to Satan’s futile attempts to change our hearts away from our holy wondrous Creator.
I have life only to my final breath – and I pray that my exhalation finds me in His Arms . . .
We tend to focus on the time of His return, when God would have us focus on Him.
It’s our choice. Do we tote our body of sin proudly, not wanting to shed the great weight of our actions against God?
There will be those who will continue to lie, cheat, steal, dishonor their parents, murder, break God’s commandments for their too easily agree-with-Satan self-aggrandizement.
Let’s hitch our proverbial wagons to those who love Him, who will continue to live in and by His righteousness, gathering stars as they bring folks to Christ.
Do I have all the answers to all the questions? No. But I have a risen Savior and His Holy Spirit to make His Word sing to my new heart . . .
The question hovers over us: “Choose ye this day Whom you will serve – as for me and my house - we will serve the Lord.”
Don’t speculate, JUBILATE.
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*author's note:
…translated from Koloblicin’s Journal
“The Pillars of Creation”
…by Terry Goodkind 2001
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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My hair and clothing choices are a tad left of center as it is, and now I want to start putting sparkles on my hair and face.
I attended a small Bible college and, goodness, did tribulation arguments get heated.
I loved this. I really try to offer red ink for those asking for it, but I just can't do it this time. I enjoyed this too much.
GOd bless~
I loved this. Perfectly written and expressed. Very good writing here.
I'm not good with red ink. I just know what is good.