TITLE: Winds of Opportunity--Revision By Teresa Marshall 11/18/05 |
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I have been thinking about the multitudes people going through hurricane Katrina. The emotional and spiritual trauma they are experiencing. When I see all the horrendous massive devastation, and the magnitude of the wind, it causes me to consider what is it going to look like when the Rapture takes place. The Rapture will be global devastation. This spurs me on to witness to my friends and neighbors who don’t know Jesus.
The ones who are suffering from the hurricane are asking and searching for spiritual answers, too. The big question is "WHY?" My personal opinion is with each disaster God is speaking to our nation. This is a wake up call to return to Him, and to restore the values this nation was built upon. "If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face. Then will I heal their land."
II Chronicles 7:14...Healing starts with asking for forgiveness of personal and corporate sin by God's people
Our nation no longer values life and therefore the souls of people have no value either in society’s eye. I ask myself, “Have I slid so far off the foundation of value's that anything goes that is anti-Christian?” Do I no longer value human life? Therefore do I no longer respect the soul of that person whether they are an unborn baby or a Senior Citizen? I do value someone's soul. Then am I willing to invest my time, to develop a relationship and share Jesus?
Who is there to help when a disaster strikes and I lose everything materially in a matter of seconds. As I begin to reflect, maybe this is right where Jesus wants me to be. So I can spiritually see my sinful greedy heart that is eternally desperate for a Saviour.
He desires to clothe me in His garment of righteousness and forgiveness of sin. When I ask Jesus into my life., He becomes my provider. David says in Psalms 37:5, “ I once was young, now I'm a graybeard - not once have I seen an abandoned believer...”(The Message Bible). I maybe standing in a line for food, but I’m not begging.
My possessions do not fill that void within. Relationships are so shallow. I use them to promote and achieve my wants and goals. Afterwards it is onto another shallow relationship to help me climb the corporate ladder. Or I may even be advancing the socially acceptable stairs of doing good within a local church. It's all for self recognition. Yet deep down there is a yearning for a secure relationship. So when nature’s winds of adversity blow, there is Someone who holds me in the darkest of nights. He brings peace to the uncertainty when the re-building will transact floods my mind. The Lord calms my worried mind with His words of "Don't be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you," " Hebrews 13:5 (The Message Bible)
As I grow in my relationship with the Lord and desire to put Him first. I find assurance in Matthew 6:33, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (NAS) When I put the Lord first, He will see that I have food, shelter, and clothing. What more do I require to maintain life here?
When I am secure in knowing the Lord as my Provider, then I can focus on others who are suffering and share with them about Jesus. How that He willingly and lovingly gave of Himself on the Cross. Therefore, He is extending salvation and eternal life to all who come and ask for forgiveness of their sins. Jesus is all one ever needs for this lifetime and most importantly for all eternity.
I saw on the news where a woman’s diabetic mother was rescued and had no shoes. Due to lack of medical supplies, she died. I wondered, “Did she know Jesus?” It would be better to die with no shoes and to be clothed as a daughter of the King.
It breaks my heart when I see pictures of those covered with a sheet. Did they die alone without family and friends? Did Jesus send His angels to carry them to Heaven? Or did Satan and his demons drag them screaming into hell? The Lord spoke to my heart saying, “The fields are while unto harvest, but where are the workers? John 4:35 (KJV) So as winds of opportunity blow, I must go sharing precious seeds of the gospel.
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