LOOKING FOR THAT DAY!

LOOKING FOR THAT

DAY OF REJOICING!

As I was writing this piece, I was looking out the window and watching billowing clouds, heavy and dark.  The sun comes out and then goes behind the clouds. Along the horizon, to the west, there are layers and layers of thick clouds. The showers come with a little bit of hail. Then the sun shines through the clouds.  You all have seen that kind of day, especially in mid- winter, as it was when I wrote this blog.

 I remember as a small child there was an old picture on the wall of my grandma’s house, with dark clouds and the sun shining through, and I thought it was a picture of what the day would be like when Jesus came back.  We were taught in our church that Jesus was coming at any time. Even as a little girl I understood that.  And on cloudy days, like today, I would get all excited thinking that this was the day that Jesus was coming back.  Here I am now in my senior years, still looking at the clouds and wondering if this is the day!

Then my mind goes back over the past week and the people I have visited, the prayer requests received, and am reminded of the dark clouds in peoples’ lives.  On some days, it seems the sun comes out, and they are blessed, then another day, pain and sickness may come and bow them down.  Sometimes it seems they cannot see through the rain and storm around them.  But we who love the Lord have a hope within us, a great day is coming when those clouds will roll back and we will see our Beloved Savior face to face.  Oh, Praise the Lord!

I look upon those clouds on a day like today and try to imagine what it will be like to see Him step though those clouds of Heaven.   The disciples in Acts, Chapter One, saw Him leave with clouds and the Angels there said He would return in the same manner.  But I wonder if the clouds He returns with will be the saints returning with Him?  Oh, what a joyful day that will be!

 WHEN WE ALL GET TO HEAVEN

“Sing the wondrous love of Jesus, sing His mercy and His grace; in the mansions bright and blessed, He’ll prepare for us a place.

When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!  When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory.

 While we walk the pilgrim pathway, clouds will over spread the sky; but when trav’ling days are over, not a shadow not a sigh.

Let us then be true and faithful, trusting, serving every day; just one glimpse of Him in glory will the toils of life repay.

 Onward to the prize before us! Soon His beauty we’ll behold; soon the pearly gates will open, we shall tread the streets of gold.”  (Eliza E. Hewitt)

“In my Father’s house are many mansions:  if it were not so I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also” John 14:2-3.

Yes, dear friends, let us sing and rejoice and look heavenward, for He has gone to prepare us a mansion, and promises to come again and receive us to Himself, to be with forever.  And our minds cannot fathom what glories He has prepared for us! “For it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.  I Corinthians 2:9.

Yes, we are walking a pilgrim pathway.  And sometimes that pathway is steep and narrow, and dark clouds over shadow our way.  There may be rocks of fear and doubt, pain and suffering.  The winds may howl around us, but someday those traveling days will be over, we won’t sigh any more in pain, or face days of shadow and darkness.  For some of us traveling days may be over soon.  For others of us we may be the ones who meet Him in the sky, what a blessed thought!

So we are called to be faithful in our service to Him.  He calls us to be faithful in prayer, be faithful in reading God’s Word, and walking close to Him.  “So we don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen.  For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever” 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NLT).  Just one glimpse of His dear face, and all the troubles and trials of this life here will fade away!

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day:  and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” 2 Timothy 4:7-9.

And what is the prize before us?  It is to be able to say that we have finished the race, the pilgrim journey here, kept the faith.  And there is promised to us a crown of righteousness.  It will be given to all those who love Him and anxiously awaiting His appearing.

And I like to imagine what it will be like when millions upon millions of saints see His face for the first time.  The shout of joy and the shout of victory will “shake the universe.”  Oh, what a glorious day!

I pray, as you read this, that you have this hope within your heart.  If you do not know Jesus as your Savior, ask Him right now to come into your heart and prepare you for that blessed day, so you, too, will be among the saints as they see His face and be with Him forever!

In Jesus’ Name,

Pastor Sharon

ARISE SHINE! YOUR LIGHT AND SHELTER HAS COME!

ARISE!  YOUR LIGHT

AND SHELTER

HAS COME!

 As I write this today, the nation is in turmoil, hearts are grieving, and people shake with terror at the events that have taken place.  We ask ourselves if we should just stay in our houses, not go into public places, because of the evil that has overtaken our world.  One never knows when darkness will overtake them.

 And we hear of a dear brother in Christ who has gone on home to be with Jesus this day.  And our hearts sorrow with his precious wife and the family.  But we have that “Blessed Hope.”  We know that this dear brother is home with His Lord, well again, no more pain, sorrow or tears. 

 Yes, as we continue to walk this journey of life, many sorrows will beset us here, but we who walk with Jesus down that path know who holds our hands, who brings comfort in sorrow, and gives us hope for all our tomorrows.  My heart goes out to those who have not accepted Christ as Savior.  We live in dark times, darkness all around, and where can we hide if we do not know Jesus?  I beg of you, if you are reading this and have not made the most important decision of your life, please do it now.  Where you will spend eternity depends on that decision.  As I have said before, “Life has many choices, eternity has only two.” Ask Jesus to come into your heart and be Lord of your life.  And when these troubled times come, you have a Shelter to run into.  When the storms beat around you, you can hide in the Shelter of the Rock, Christ Jesus!

 A SHELTER IN THE TIME OF STORM

“The Lord’s our Rock, in Him we hide, a shelter in the time of storm; secure whatever will betide, a shelter in the time of storm.

 Oh, Jesus in a Rock in a weary land, a weary land, a weary land; oh Jesus is the Rock in a weary land, a shelter in the time of storm.

 A shade by day, defense by night, a shelter in the time of storm; no fears alarm, no foes affright, a shelter in the time of storm.

 The raging storms may round us beat, a shelter in the time of storm; we’ll never leave our safe retreat, a shelter in the time of storm.

 O Rock divine, Refuge dear, a shelter in the time of storm, be Thou our helper ever near, a shelter in the time of storm.”  (Ira D. Sankey)

 As my husband and I traveled to the Midwest recently, we traveled for miles and miles through deserts, with brush and dry ground.  Here and there one might see a green tree.  And as we entered Utah, we entered the great salt areas, with barren land as far as we could see.  And as I looked up, there all around the great deserts were rocks and canyons.  Some were shades of gold or grey.  Some were flat on the top.  It was truly a desolate scene.

As we travel through this life, down the road and up over the mountains with Jesus, we too, will walk in desolate places, places of dryness.  But Jesus is our Rock, who towers over all the situations of our lives, and in Him we hide.  We can hide in Him, and remember that He is also our Living Water, in the dry times of our lives.  In one area, for instance, there are many green trees, even though it is considered High Desert, so there must be water there, living water to nourish those areas.  Or one might see a desert area, and in spots there are green areas, where the water flows.  When our lives our dry and troubled, He becomes our oasis in our “desert times.” 

And as we traveled through these areas, we would suddenly come around a curve and view a valley below, with miles and miles of green pastures and running streams.  Isn’t that like our lives as Believers?  We go through these dry times, and then our Lord will take us down into places where the streams flow, times of refreshing from the Lord.  Oh, Praise the Lord!

And as we look around our world, it is indeed dark and seems to be getting darker.  Evil times are all around us, but God has as a great promise in His Word.  Listen to His words in Isaiah 60:1-2:

“Arise, shine; for your light has come!  And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.  For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.”

Yes, our “Light” has come in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.  But He has also asked us to be his “Lights” in this darkened world (Matthew 5:14-16).  We are shine amidst the deep darkness of this world, and His glory will be seen by those who are lost in darkness.

So on this day, look to the Rock, Christ Jesus, our Shelter in these dark, dark times.  He walks ahead of us, lighting our path.  Even though we may go through dry places, He promises to bring times of refreshing and springs of water to refresh our way, as we continue our journey home.

 In Jesus’ Name,

Pastor Sharon

A GREATER REUNION COMING.........

A GREATER REUNION

COMING!

 Summer is a great time for family reunions.  And my husband and I just returned from the Midwest celebrating his family’s reunion, a large family of 14 children. And there were many cousins, nieces and nephews.   Not were all present, but most of them were there.  We met at a lovely campground, and visited many places together.  As we traveled I was reminded by many comparisons to our walk with the Lord, and our journey “Home.”  Sometimes the way was through steep mountains, through valleys, across deserts.  And we, as His children also walk through steep mountains passes, through valleys of refreshment and across deserts, where our lives seem dry without the refreshment of the Living Water flowing through our desert place.

We arrived home from this journey very tired, but with many happy memories of great family times of fellowship around the table.  And we also experienced God creation everywhere we traveled.  We saw the great Salt Lake, the high deserts of Eastern Oregon, beautiful rivers flowing through fertile farmland, and experienced Thunderstorms that only happen in the Midwest.  And then there were the glorious skies with fluffy clouds, and the high mountain peaks with snow.  What a marvelous God we serve!  But sometimes we have to open our eyes and really see the beauty He has created.

But then reunions come to an end on this earth.  The time soon comes to head back into our lives, pack up and head home, wherever that may be.  And these are the sad times, these “goodbyes.”  As some of the brothers and sisters are very elderly, we may not meet them on this earth again.  One just never knows if we will see our dear friends again.  We had the wonderful opportunity to meet with dear friends on the way home, what a blessed time of fellowship we had.  But again, the “goodbyes” are so hard.  I am reminded of the hymn,   “If We Never Meet Again This Side of Heaven.”

“Soon we’ll come to the end of life’s journey and perhaps we’ll never meet anymore ‘til we gather in heaven’s bright city –far away on that beautiful shore.

If we never meet again this side of heaven as we struggle through this world and its strife.  There’s another meeting place somewhere in heaven by the side of the river of life.

Where the charming roses bloom forever and where separation comes no more.  If we never meet again this side of heaven, I will meet you on that beautiful shore.

O they say we shall meet by the river where no storm clouds never darken the sky.  And they say we’ll be happy in heaven in that wonderful sweet by and by.

Where the charming roses bloom forever and where separation comes no more.  If we never meet again this side of heaven, I will meet you on that beautiful shore.”  (as sung by Johnny Cash).

Some of our loved ones and friends will come to the end of their journey before another reunion is planned.  Their struggles on the journey home will be over.  I think of one dear loved one who is the eldest of the 14 children and his struggle with age, and my dear sister-in-law, also very aged, and how precious she is, and someday, just around the next bend, over that mountain there, will be their heavenly home, and we will meet them again someday in the greatest reunion of them all, and there won’t be any more separations and saying “goodbye”.  Are you ready for that day, my friends?  I pray that you will be prepared spiritually for that great time coming, because time is indeed short.  And some of us will remain until that great day when Jesus Christ returns in the clouds for His own, and what day that will be.  “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.  And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And thus we shall always be with the Lord” I Thessalonians 4:16-17.

Try to imagine with me what that reunion will be like.  All our family, who love the Lord will all be together again, laughing and sharing again, never to be parted again.  I think of my husband’s dear mother, and my mother, and others who have gone on, what a time that will be.  How can one describe that joyous time, and to see Jesus face to face, at last!

And then, just as we gathered around that table at the campground, sharing and laughing, sharing a wonderful meal, we will gather around the Lord’s table, with our families and loved ones, and the saints from the ages.  “Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

Yes, we will gather around that table with the Lord Himself, and what a gathering that will be!  And we will all be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white.  We have great family times here, but try to imagine what it will be like to gather with the Lord’s family, multitude without number, praising and worshiping our God!

So our reunions here end, but there is this great reunion coming of all God’s children, no more sadness, sickness or pain and where we will never grow old.  Our journey here will be completed at last, and we will be home forever, Praise His Holy Name!  If you are not ready for this great reunion, please make that decision now before it is too late.  Just ask Him to come into your heart, He is waiting for you and He loves you, He died for you, and He will prepare a place just for you in His eternal home, come now!

Pastor Sharon

Dear Friends,

I am off on another journey, and will be back with you on the 17th of July.  And I will be looking for more insights from the Holy Spirit regarding our journey here as pilgrims to share with you.  So keep looking up and no matter what the storms may be that come your way, He promises that He will never leave you, even though the way my be dark and dreary for you at that moment. But always remember that His Light shines through the darkest days.

We have that "Blessed Hope" and we look for His soon return, but He also calls us to "Occupy till He comes," so keep working for Jesus, praying, walking in the Spirit and telling others about Jesus.

The world is dark out there, people desperately need to hear about the hope that only Jesus can bring.  So we need to be reminded of the Cross of Calvary and His sacrifice for our sins and His love for us, and to share the message with others who may not even know Jesus loves them, as I shared in a previous blog.

So God bless and keep you in His special care;

In Jesus' Name,
Pastor Sharon



LOOKING FOR THAT

DAY OF REJOICING!

As I was writing this piece, I was looking out the window and watching billowing clouds, heavy and dark.  The sun comes out and then goes behind the clouds. Along the horizon, to the west, there are layers and layers of thick clouds. The showers come with a little bit of hail. Then the sun shines through the clouds.  You all have seen that kind of day, especially in mid- winter, as it was when I wrote this blog.

I remember as a small child there was an old picture on the wall of my grandma’s house, with dark clouds and the sun shining through, and I thought it was a picture of what the day would be like when Jesus came back.  We were taught in our church that Jesus was coming at any time. Even as a little girl I understood that.  And on cloudy days, like today, I would get all excited thinking that this was the day that Jesus was coming back.  Here I am now in my senior years, still looking at the clouds and wondering if this is the day!

Then my mind goes back over the past week and the people I have visited, the prayer requests received, and am reminded of the dark clouds in peoples’ lives.  On some days, it seems the sun comes out, and they are blessed, then another day, pain and sickness may come and bow them down.  Sometimes it seems they cannot see through the rain and storm around them.  But we who love the Lord have a hope within us, a great day is coming when those clouds will roll back and we will see our Beloved Savior face to face.  Oh, Praise the Lord!

I look upon those clouds on a day like today and try to imagine what it will be like to see Him step though those clouds of Heaven.   The disciples in Acts, Chapter One, saw Him leave with clouds and the Angels there said He would return in the same manner.  But I wonder if the clouds He returns with will be the saints returning with Him?  Oh, what a joyful day that will be!

 WHEN WE ALL GET TO HEAVEN

“Sing the wondrous love of Jesus, sing His mercy and His grace; in the mansions bright and blessed, He’ll prepare for us a place.

When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!  When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory.

While we walk the pilgrim pathway, clouds will over spread the sky; but when trav’ling days are over, not a shadow not a sigh.

Let us then be true and faithful, trusting, serving every day; just one glimpse of Him in glory will the toils of life repay.

Onward to the prize before us! Soon His beauty we’ll behold; soon the pearly gates will open, we shall tread the streets of gold.”  (Eliza E. Hewitt)

“In my Father’s house are many mansions:  if it were not so I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also” John 14:2-3.

Yes, dear friends, let us sing and rejoice and look heavenward, for He has gone to prepare us a mansion, and promises to come again and receive us to Himself, to be with forever.  And our minds cannot fathom what glories He has prepared for us! “For it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.  I Corinthians 2:9.

Yes, we are walking a pilgrim pathway.  And sometimes that pathway is steep and narrow, and dark clouds over shadow our way.  There may be rocks of fear and doubt, pain and suffering.  The winds may howl around us, but someday those traveling days will be over, we won’t sigh any more in pain, or face days of shadow and darkness.  For some of us traveling days may be over soon.  For others of us we may be the ones who meet Him in the sky, what a blessed thought!

So we are called to be faithful in our service to Him.  He calls us to be faithful in prayer, be faithful in reading God’s Word, and walking close to Him.  “So we don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen.  For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever” 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NLT).  Just one glimpse of His dear face, and all the troubles and trials of this life here will fade away!

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day:  and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” 2 Timothy 4:7-9.

And what is the prize before us?  It is to be able to say that we have finished the race, the pilgrim journey here, kept the faith.  And there is promised to us a crown of righteousness.  It will be given to all those who love Him and anxiously awaiting His appearing.

And I like to imagine what it will be like when millions upon millions of saints see His face for the first time.  The shout of joy and the shout of victory will “shake the universe.”  Oh, what a glorious day!

I pray, as you read this, that you have this hope within your heart.  If you do not know Jesus as your Savior, ask Him right now to come into your heart and prepare you for that blessed day, so you, too, will be among the saints as they see His face and be with Him forever!

In Jesus’ Name,

Pastor Sharon