becoming Noah

I think it's quite obvious that everything is, in fact, NOT okay. I'm not one who is particularly keen on watching the news or reading newspapers but i have come to the knowledge that the earthquake in Chile (almost immediately following the earthquake in Haiti) is an unambiguous indication that we are living in "the signs of the times."

Everybody has heard of the story of Noah and the ark. It's found in the book of Genesis, from Chapter 6 to chapter 9. It tells about a righteous man, Noah, who was living in evil days where "God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."

11The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

12And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

7And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

Genesis is the 1st book of the bible and already GOD was starting to feel sorry that He ever created humans because it turns out "man's wickedness on the earth had become great, and every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time."

 8But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

 9...Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

13And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

And that's how it all started. They didn't tell it like this when i was in kindergarten but surely we're old enough to know that it wasn't a story about animals. 

Did you know that it took Noah and his sons 100 years to build the ark? He was 500 years old when GOD instructed him to build the ark, and when the flood finally came, Noah was 600 years old. (Wow, granpa got guns) That's 100 years of looking like an idiot because he was building a gigantic boat in the middle of a desert wilderness. He was also building this ark at a time when it had NEVER rained before. Can you imagine how crazy this flood sounded to everyone else? So they ignored Noah and they ignored GOD's warning. Everyone went on being happy, drinking and marrying and just living a good life--very much like what we're doing now. 

This is a blog entry about being ready. I can't write about the actual end of the world and life as we know it because it takes a lot of research and study. 

We are only given a specific amount of time to receive the truth about GOD and our own borrowed lives. And that time for "believing" is now.

What is it about apocalyptic end of the world movies that appeals to us? Why is it so easy to buy into Hollywood's imagination as opposed to GOD's word? 

GOD's word (the Bible) says that the end will come (1 Thessalonians 5:2) "like a thief in the night." We're not gonna know the actual time and date when everything will be destroyed and we would find ourselves coming face to face with either an eternity of damnation or an eternity of being with Jesus. But He is a good GOD, and like the time of Noah, He is giving us a clear warning today--as clear as a ridonculously large boat in an ocean of sand. 

"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come." Matthew 24:42

He is coming back and wants everyone to be ready. It'll be devastating and terrifying for those of us who will remain unready...but it will be a glorious homecoming for those of us who belong to GOD.

I want you to go with me to church every Wednesday night (for 5 nights, i think) at 7pm. There's a great series called "The end of times" where we will learn how GOD's gonna do it and what we can do to be ready. This is my way of getting you, my friends, to secure your own life so you can help your loved ones too. This isn't about religion. I would hate to try and "convert" you. This is about getting the truth out there for the glory of GOD.

I can probably fit 4 more people into my car :) hehe. But more is PERFECTION. Write me a private message if you wanna come. Have a very nice day! :)

play time!

Roxy Ggrrringston

I was meeting my mom the other day because i wanted us to take the jeepney ride home together. When i got to the street across from her, i noticed that she was smiling. It wasn't til i got there when i found out what it was all about. It was Roxy. Roxy Ggrrringston, i like to call her. She's a pure-bred Japanese Spitz that a friend of my mom's gave to us. She's 2 months old and promises to stay cute and not grow into an big, stinky dog. PERFECT. will post pics soon!

Not a lot of things have happened lately. Oh, except that i am a bad*ss park-er (if that makes any sense at all). I mean, i can park the car AWESOMELY now. Without scratching or possibly disfiguring my own car or those cars around me. So thank you readers, your prayers have been answered. But it really is because i have such an AWESOME GOD--who created the universe and everyone and everything in it--including the act of careful, accurate estimation required by parking and all parking spaces in the world. 

More than that, though, HE has been (and continues to be) my ever-present companion every time i'm driving. More than anything, even the privilege of being able to drive myself and my family to wherever we need to be, i think the most valuable change that has occurred is my appreciation for HIS protection.

Everytime i'm getting ready to pull outta the parking lot, i pray. Everytime i arrive at my destination, i pray. I have learned to give HIM the glory even for the mundane event of simply getting to where i'm going. My confidence on the road does not lie in "my excellent driving," (which has inadvertently become the recurring theme of my blog) but in MY GOD who loves me.

Cuz there's no sure fire way to keep yourself away from accidents. You can only go so far by being cautious. There are so many drivers out there who have very little concern for road-safety. Men complain about how slow women drive (i resent that). But when you think about it, how many accident d'you think we're prevented because of these cautious women drivers? Hmmm? HHHMMMM?

As i'm writing this entry tonight, i'm learning that GOD's goodness surrounds us everyday. It's not hard to find GOD. HE really, actually is everywhere. 

One of the things i really like to do whenever i'm with a group of people (my students or when i'm leading bible study) is ask them to say just 1 thing they're grateful for. I find that it's a great way for people to give GOD some praise. It doesn't have to be very long and they don't have to address GOD. But from my own experience i know that it helps to just acknowledge that the great weather outside, or your brother passing the nursing board exam, or your new dsLr, or your good health and even just feeling happy in your heart is a gift. Every single good and perfect thing that happens to you comes from GOD alone.

James 1:17  

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father...

I think that's a wonderful truth. Cuz now we know who to thank ;)

January 30, 2010 - Brand New in Christ :)

thank you GOD.

tada!

Perfection.