Signs of the Time

In Luke 21 (see below for chapter) talks about the Son of God returning. Today was a Lunar Eclipse and I don't know if you got to watch it, but it was beautiful. I was thinking about when people didn't know what was happening and what could cause such a thing to happen, but today we are told that it is the earth shadow that covers the moon. It removes the mystry of it all. When the Bible talks about the end times, it talks about things such as this, I don't know when Jesus is returning, but I do know He will be back. This year a lone there will be 2 blood moons, there are 2 lunar eclipses. This is a rare event, sending people into worry and causing all the websites to go crazy with theories and all, but what does the Bible talk about fear? Are we to be afraid when Jesus returns? No, we are to stand firm in our faith.

One of my struggles is fear, fear of so many things, fear of rejection, fear of being hurt, fear of standing out in a crowd, fear, fear, fear, but who is the author of fear? Who was sent to us to save us from our fear? 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind"  I am learning that I need to stand and be counted, that Jesus was sent to save me from myself and in doing so, He was sent to save me from my fear. Fear can hold us back from seeing what God has, or I can allow God to overcome the fear and except that I will be free from it. This time I am finding is a time of learning for me and I am allowing God to tear down the walls of fear in my life.

Another verse of scripture that has really caught me this morning is this 2 Timothy 3 "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents,ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people."

We do not know the day or hour of His return, but we do know that He is coming back. He will return and my question for you is... Are you ready? (If there is anything I can do to help, anything you need prayer for, my e-mail is attached, you can always just e-mail me.)

Today is a new day and God has given us another day to live on this earth, isn't it time that we allow God to fill us up with His full power that He has for us. Do not be afraid, for He is with us, He is our Rock and our Steadfast love, He is the beginning and the end, He does not change.

Luke 21
"The Widow’s Offering

1As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3“Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times

5Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6“As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”

7“Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”

8He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. 9When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

10Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

12“But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13And so you will bear testimony to me. 14But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17Everyone will hate you because of me. 18But not a hair of your head will perish. 19Stand firm, and you will win life.

20“When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near.21Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. 22For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. 23How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

25“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

29He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

32“Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

34“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

37Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, 38and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple."