Blood moon

The world has seen a great light. It all started Sunday, September 27^th 2015 when I was watching a Blood Moon total lunar eclipse that won’t happen again in my life time. The usual full moon that should have crested over the mountains was three quarters blocked out by the shadow from the earth. It seemed to rise very quickly at first as it flew past and above the silhouette of distant mountains that were turning purple in the twilight of the sun. As the moon rose higher and higher above the horizon, it also was being eclipsed by the earth’s shadow turning into the Blood Moon that some have been anxiously waiting for. 

Soon the moon was completely covered by the earth’s shadow, casting an eerie glowing orange mask that seemed to pulsate with each solar flare. The lunar face we all know as “the man in the moon” went missing for an hour and a half as he decided to jump ship for a long deserved vacation from the billions of eyes that were fixed on him. As the sun continued to set below the horizon, an eerie orange mask turned to shades of red transforming it into the “Blood Moon” that astronomers had promised us.

Later, as I stared at the moon, there was only a small, thin crescent of a shadow left on the upper right-hand side. With each passing minute our normal full moon slowly reappeared to illuminate the night and cast a moon shadow on the ground behind me. My moon shadow seemed to follow me wherever I went like it was attached to me just like my invisible spirit. I posed with closed fists at my hips looking more like Peter Pan for the moment then a middle aged Michelin shaped man. 

In the book of Genesis 1:14, God inspires Moses to write the reason He hung all those lights up in the night sky “Then God said ‘Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth.’ And it was so.”

So, here in the very first chapter of the bible, God explains that He would use the celestial objects, the sun, stars, moon and planets, as a billboard signaling the beginning of the end. We know that Jesus talked about heavenly signs pointing to a future period of history referred to as “the end of times” or “tribulation”. “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and waters roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” Luke 21:25-28

So I don’t care what flavor of Christian you are, what denominational label you attach to yourself or even if you are an atheist because the return of the King is imminent. One day Jesus Christ will return to the earth for His bride in the same way that He left by reappearing from the clouds. It’s not just a myth or some kind of fairytale but a promise spoken from God. These prophetic events were written and recorded ahead of time for us to study and build up our faith. It does not take much for me to see God in the details; the way in which stars are born and grow older as they revolve around as clusters inside of a galaxy. But you don’t have to look to the stars to see the fingerprints of God. On a human scale, design can be observed in the way our organs heal when they are injured. The healing process is the fingerprint of a divinely loving God.

Two thousand years ago a very bright star guided the wise men to where Jesus had been born and was currently living. Seven hundred years before Jesus was born, God inspired the prophet Isaiah to write “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;” Isaiah 9:2-7

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be on His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of his increase of His government and peace there will be no end.” Jesus Christ is the Light of the World.

Harvest

Labor Day is gone and so is summer. Air conditioners have been turned off as windows are opened to let in the crisp, fresh autumn air. In North America the fall season officially begins. Boxes of holiday decorations will be brought down from storage in anticipation of the festivities that are right around the corner. Thoughts of pumpkin pie, rhubarb tarts and young children trick or treating are beginning to materialize in our minds as school buses once again begin hauling our kids back to school. Hard working mothers rejoice, thanking God for answered prayers of peace and quiet as a long deserved vacation begins.

Fall happens to be my favorite season of the year. I love to sit in my front yard at twilight when cool evening breezes begin to make their appearance. These old friends gently blow my hair back, bring fallen leaves back to life, while pushing them across the canvass that is stretched out directly in front of my swinging lounge chair.  I’m always thrilled to watch as orange light begins to dance upon the rock faces of the mountains. Soon, even the clouds join in the choreography as their soft textures are illuminated in hues of orange, pink, red finally settling down into shades of purple. A myriad of song birds begin to praise the Creator as the star of the show, our sun, disappears behind the night’s curtain unwilling to return for a final encore.

It’s important to take the time to relax and just sit and soak it all in. Our lives can be so busy, full of many trips up and down the hill that many times we arrive back at home dragging ourselves through the door, spent like a worn out shoe. If we are not careful to enjoy every minute connected to God, family and friends, we will suddenly find life has become only a meaningless schedule full of unimportant events. Then one day we wake up and realize we are ten years older, weak and exhausted. As the dust settles and another sunset disappears we discover our lives evaporating like a vapor. Abiding in Jesus Christ, staying connected to God and remaining as a supple branch connected to the vine is the only way to draw up all the spiritual nutrients we need to flourish and produce lasting fruit in our lives and the life of others.

Take a moment to sit down, unwind, grab a warm cup of coffee or tea and listen to Jesus tell a story about staying connected to the “True Vine”.

 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” John 15:1-8.

While many use this text to engage in endless, useless debates about the issue of eternal security, I prefer to just simply stay connected to the vine abiding in Christ. If we willingly choose to yield our lives to the Vinedresser, then He is more than able and willing to prune the dead wood off of our branches. As we surrender to the leadership of God’s Spirit, then He is able to guide us into all righteousness. God is the source of all life. Jesus Christ is the True Vine and source of all the spiritual fruit that we bear for the Kingdom of God.

   

There is a great battle that rages inside every person who is a believer in Jesus Christ. We must recognize the works of the flesh; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambition, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and allow God to remove them from our lives. Taking every thought captive we allow God to produce the fruit of the Spirit in our lives which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Doomsday

Worrying is an activity that wastes precious time and energy. In the big picture there are many things out of our control that will eventually come to pass. The sun will one day run low on hydrogen causing it to cool and at the same time expand out to the earth’s orbit.  Flying around through the earth’s orbit are rouge asteroids, pieces of rock and metal, that will eventually impact the earth causing dramatic climate changes and extinctions. Did I mention that the earth’s ice caps are melting which will raise the ocean water temperature fueling catastrophic hurricanes and typhoons? 

There is a mountain of trash that continues to be dumped into our oceans. This debris has birthed a floating island of plastic out in the western Pacific Ocean that is already the size of the state of Texas! All over the world coral reefs are dying which is causing a cascade effect on the ocean’s food chain. A chain of consumers that eventually leads to us.

The fact of life is everything born will eventually die. It’s not a question of “if” but more of a question of “when”.

On a less dramatic note, it’s very likely that you will at sometime in the near future misplace or lose your car keys and or wallet, get a speeding ticket, pay excess taxes and keep many unwanted dental appointments.

Doom and gloom is waiting for us, it is perched like a giant vulture ready to scavenge the remnants of any joy we might have had remaining. Let us watch diligently as the latest blood moon gives rise to the ides of September. While it’s entirely possible that the world could end on September 16^th 2015 the truth is the sun will continue to rise and give its light to a new day.

So what are we to do? We are not to live in fear but we are told by the Lord to be prepared and use every twist and turn in the road as an opportunity to encourage, help, save and minister to someone in need.  Preparation is good! David was prepared as he went out to face Goliath. He had used his sling many times before to protect his father’s flock from the lion and bear. David’s preparation included picking up five smooth stones as he came out to face the giant on the battlefield.

Jesus told many stories about being prepared. “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened unto ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five of them were foolish. Those that were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard; ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go and meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered saying ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” Matthew 25.

Are you ready and prepared for the return of Jesus Christ to the earth? Being prepared for a possible earthly disaster is one thing; however, being prepared for eternity and where your soul will spend it is an entirely different matter! 

If you have never asked God for forgiveness why don’t you ask to receive His Son, Jesus Christ, as your Lord and Savior? It’s really simple just admit to Him that you have lived life your way but now you want to turn and walk with Him through life. Just confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead and you will be saved!

If you are already a follower of Jesus Christ then re-examine your life. Do you love others the way Jesus did? Are you kind to other people and seek to encourage and help whenever God calls on you or do you have a hard heart? Ask God to soften your heart by filling your lamp with the oil which is the Holy Spirit!