That's Popcorn, Peanuts, Soda Water & Chewing Gum. Like my faith journey and life – a little bit of everything and jumbled sometimes.
Sobering Times
After watching news and news-shows the other day, my husband asked me, “Remember when news used to be boring?”
When I was young, I could not stand to listen to the news. It was always about things I couldn’t necessarily process as a child and it made me fearful.
Today, (4-29-11), I was watching the news about the tornadoes in Alabama. A mile-wide tornado that traveled 300 miles? And, the largest spawned storm of tornadoes ever recorded? Some 200+? The count for the US was recently 300+. What does that do to the count? We still remember Jarrell, here in Central Texas, 1997. When I saw the photo of the Alabama tornado that was a mile wide, I thought of disaster movies and all the talk of climate change and 2012. I used to dream of tornadoes, hundreds of them dotting the sky. That was back in the early 90’s. Before all the special effect movies of our current times.
So, the other day, I wrote something, then rewrote it and now, here I am with it again.
After hearing all that is alleged and actually happening in our world, I have been asking myself, “am I disbelieving? Numb? Or, am I reacting in calm faith?” In 2003, when I was just gathering momentum in seriously studying God’s, I could vaguely recall things about prophecy but that was it. However, I had this feeling that a world-wide stage was being set. It was like watching the pieces come together but I didn’t know why. Shortly thereafter, I had this feeling that soon our (USA) government would be different and never the same again. Ever. That was in late 2004.
I began to study prophecy seriously about then, and entered the Book of Daniel. It was in 2007, when I got to looking at the captivity of Jerusalem, I thought, if that could happen to God’s chosen, and it had God’s purpose, then, can it happen to the USA? Could we (USA) face rulers as we’ve never known? I had this feeling the answer was ‘yes’. I know there will be an ultimate despotic ruler one day. The antichrist.
I remember just a few years ago when we were looking at world news. There was enough unrest to cause people to be alarmed and comment that it looked like world war three was upon us. Now, there’s so much more to add to that unrest, including extreme weather, earthquakes and Tsunamis, that it makes those times look … calm. Are we quite alright watching disaster movies and yet stumped when it begins to look like a disaster movie all around us? Are we willing to think “2012” or other apocalyptic thoughts without seeing and believing Jehovah God’s Word? He has told us what will come. A lot has happened since then. One way or another, the world has been undergoing changes and has been for quite some time. A lot of us have been asleep. I was.
One day, I was watching the news and there were all these images of events, one bad thing after the other. Then, the commercials came on. Fancy and fast-food restaurants, soaps and cleaners, cars and trucks, beauties and beasts, sleek and sexy everything, and the latest techno gotta-have-it gadgets were advertised. Then, back to the images on the news. It was numbing in its own way. Information overload. And yet, numbness can also set in because events that used to shock us may now become so commonplace that it barely gets our attention. I remember someone commenting about how disturbing the Columbine shootings were (and they were) and that they noticed when other shootings began to occur, it wasn’t so shocking. Horrible things have been shifting into commonplace. Because they were too much to handle? Because it is interwoven with beautiful images and things you want? Plus, we can’t seem to recover from one bit of information before the next one’s coming in. Several years back, I made the comment, that if we could just drop in from the “(tumultuous) 70’s”, we’d be blown away. Oh my what would I think today if that were the case?
So, indeed, what would I think? What do I think? Today?
These viewpoints are not from, or because of, a political standpoint, but from looking at God’s Word and watching the world-at-large. Will things find “normal” again? I remember being so oblivious in the 90′s, yet also aware of how calm, or quiet, the world seemed to be. Just generally speaking, our world is so ‘afire’ that nothing short of something, shall I say, cataclysmic would seem to be able to reset our own country, not to mention the world.
If God’s Word were holographic as we turned the pages and read the prophetic events of the future, I think we’d see the way it takes place in today‘s events. Years ago and then in more recent years, when reading prophecy, I, and I’m fairly sure I’m not alone here, would wonder how things would go from normalcy to chaos. From quiet into the storm. No, we don’t have the day and time of the beginning of the end, but God showed us the access ramp to and through world events, including weather and earth-related events, leading up to it. We seem to know now that it’s not going to be “wonder world” right into “the tribulation”. You know, cold into hot? Shocking? I would be asleep and plain-old-numb now, if it weren’t for God.
Today, it is almost like a holographic Word of God. There, where I used to wonder how it would happen or what the details might be. Today, I can see them. How long does our world have? I don’t know. God’s Word tells us what’s going to happen. There’s an ugly time coming, one that Jesus said would be like nothing ever to have happened in the history of the world, or to happen again. Stick the thermometer in, get a good reading. It’s as real as you might think it is, or maybe more real than you do.
I don’t know about you, but I have been fairly disconnected, personally, from despotic rulers and violence of epoch proportions, including weather-related and earth-shaking events. I know there are those who could be reading this who are very well aware of such things. But I have not been, personally speaking. I asked a history teacher one time about real history, where’s the Bible in all this? I don’t recall his answer but it was rather empty. So, I just always had questions. God’s been answering those questions as I’ve been intent on asking them, and then some.
I enjoy the pleasantries of life and wonder, how long? I don’t want to be gruesome or morose or depressing about it, just realistic. Not being realistic and anchored is how I fell asleep here and there in my life in years past.
I think that the answers God gave me in 2004, still stand today. Seek first His kingdom. Don’t forget what He’s done for me and be patient because He’s coming soon. And that, gives me hope despite the gloom-and-doom realities, controversies, chaos, etc.
I love … clouds … rain … sunrises … sunsets … baseball … pets …. birds, whales, dolphins, laughter, children, family, friends, fun, flowers, butterflies, and so much more. I love the hope that is within in times like these. I love the Lord. I’m so glad He told us the good stuff as well as the bad stuff. And, that He has a plan for it all.
2 Responses to “Sobering Times”
Hi Jenn, I just happened on this tonight and you are so right on. We are asleep! I am praying, praying that we will wake up and do what is required of us and that God would have mercy on us and hear and answer our prayers. Thanks for being a bright spot! Blessings!
I love what you wrote here Jenn, and I do understand your thoughts on the troubling times we’re living in right now. Unfortunatly its getting late and I have to spend some time in the Word this evening as I prepare for the Lord’s Day tomorrow, so can’t comment like I’d like to right now. I am just getting to the point where I’m able to get back to Facebook for awhile-I tried to find you tonight, but can;t seem to find the right “Jenn”. Anyway just want you to know I’m thinking of you & enjoyed taking a peek at your blogs. I’ll be back.
Love Ya!-And yes-come quickly Lord Jesus!