A HORRIBLE STENCH

WE ALL GET OFFENDED BY AND TRY TO AVOID A TERRIBLE SMELL.  THE SMELL OF A DEAD SKUNK LYING ON THE ROAD, TRASH CANS BEFORE SCHEDULED GARBAGE PICK UP, PAPER MILLS AND CHEMICAL PLANTS ALL CARRY AN OFFENSIVE ODOR.  LAST NIGHT AT CHURCH, BRO DAVID DELIVERED THE WORD.  HIS SERMON WAS BASED ON JOHN 11, THE DEATH OF LAZARUS.  IT WAS A TRULY AWESOME MESSAGE.  BY THE TIME HE GOT TO JOHN 11:39, I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT I WOULD WRITE ABOUT TODAY, THE WORDS OF THIS "NOTE" WERE ALREADY FORMING THEMSELVES IN MY MIND. 
  
JOHN 11:39 SAYS JESUS SAID,"TAKE AWAY THE STONE."  MARTHA, THE SISTER OF HIM WHO WAS DEAD, SAID TO HIM, "LORD, BY THIS TIME THERE IS A STENCH, FOR HE HAS BEEN DEAD FOUR DAYS."  THIS SCRIPTURE REALLY DEALT WITH MY MIND AND SPOKE TO MY HEART LAST NIGHT.  IN FACT, AS SOON AS I GOT HOME FROM CHURCH, I BEGAN TO LOOK UP THE WORD "STENCH."  I FOUND THAT THIS WORD IS ACTUALLY USED IN 20 SCRIPTURES THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE.  AS I LOOKED AT THE VARIOUS SCRIPTURES, THE LORD SHOWED MY HOW EACH ONE, EVEN THOUGH USED IN A DIRRERENT CONTEXT, BASICALLY MEANT ONE THING. 
  
A STENCH IS DEFINED AS A BAD SMELL, AN OFFENSIVE ODOR, A STINK.  BEFORE I REPENTED OF MY SINS AND RECEIVED THE ULTIMATE GIFT OF SALVATION, I WALKED AROUND CARRYING A HORRIBLE STENCH.  I MIGHT HAVE LOOKED PRESENTABLE AND CARRIED THE SCENT OF AN AWESOME PERFUME, BUT ON THE INSIDE....I STUNK!  NO PERFUME COUNTER AT DILLARD'S OR ANYWHERE ELSE COULD TAKE AWAY THE DECAYED ODOR OF MY SOUL.  JOHN 11:39 TELLS US THAT LAZARUS LAY DEAD IN THE TOMB FOR FOUR DAYS.  MY SOUL HAD BEEN IN A SERIOUS STATE OF DECAY FOR YEARS!  I CONTRIBUTED DAILY TO THE STENCH.  EVERY LIE I TOLD, EVERY DRUG I CONSUMED, EVERY MOMENT OF ANGER AND EVERY DENIAL OF WHAT IS GOOD FED MY ODOR OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION. 
  
NOTHING HERE ON EARTH COULD HAVE RESTORED MY INNER BEING.  THERE WAS NOT A HUMAN BEING AROUND WHO COULD HAVE CLEANSED MY SOUL.  I MIGHT HAVE BEEN PLEASING TO THE EYE, BUT LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING.  AT THE COMMAND OF JESUS, LAZARUS ROSE FROM THE GRAVE, STILL BOUND WITH GRAVE CLOTHES.   HAND, FOOT AND FACE.  ONCE AGAIN, AT THE COMMAND OF JESUS, LAZARUS STEPPED OUT OF HIS BINDINGS AND RETURNED FROM THE DEAD!  JESUS RESTORED MY SOUL IN THE SAME MANNER.  IT WAS ONLY BY HIS COMMAND THAT I SHED MY GRAVE CLOTHES AND LOST THE STENCH OF DEATH.  THROUGH THE SHEDDING OF HIS BLOOD, MY SINS WERE WASHED AWAY.  AT THE COMMAND OF JESUS, I WAS SET FREE!  BY HIS FORGIVENESS, HIS GRACE, HIS MERCY AND HIS LOVE, I WAS BORN AGAIN AS A NEW CREATURE IN CHRIST!  IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DESCRIBE THE WAY I FEEL TODAY. 
  
WE SERVE SUCH A MIGHTY GOD!  HE LOVES TO CLEAN UP OUR MESSES.  MY MESS WAS HORRIBLE, WITH A HORRIBLE STENCH!  HAVE YOU ALLOWED HIM TO REMOVE THE STENCH OF SIN FROM YOUR SOUL?  JESUS CHRIST RAISED LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD.  HE CLEANSED MY SOUL AND RESTORED MY MIND.  IF HE DID IT FOR ME, HE CAN AND HE WILL SURELY DO IT FOR YOU!

ONE OF A KIND

MY MOTHER IS TRULY ONE OF A KIND.  IF YOU ARE READING THIS AND YOU KNOW HER, YOU KNOW I AM SPEAKING THE TRUTH.  SHE REALLY IS AN AWESOME WOMAN, PERSON, MOTHER, AND DAUGHTER.  TODAY IS MY MAMAS BIRTHDAY AND I FEEL THE NEED TO EXPRESS MY LOVE AND APPRECIATION FOR HER THIS MORNING. 

GROWING UP, I COULD NOT HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER MOTHER OR ROLE MODEL.  MAMA TRULY LOVED HER LITTLE FAMILY.  MY DAD KNOWS HE RECEIVED A BLESSING WHEN HE MARRIED HER AT 17 YEARS OLD.  HER FAMILY HAS ALWAYS MEANT EVERYTHING TO MY MAMA.  MY CHILDHOOD MEMORIES OF BIRTHDAYS AND HOLIDAYS WERE ALL MADE EXTRA SPECIAL BY THIS VERY DEDICATED WOMAN.  AS A CHILD, BEDTIME WAS SPECIAL.  SHE WOULD COME INTO MY ROOM FAITHFULLY EVERY NIGHT TO LISTEN TO MY PRAYERS AND TO KISS ME BEFORE SHE TURNED OUT MY LIGHT.  EVERY MORNING WAS SPECIAL TOO.  SHE WAS MY ALARM CLOCK AND WOULD WAKE ME UP WITH A CUP OF COFFEE MILK.  JUST THINKING ABOUT THOSE DAYS MAKES ME SMILE.  I HAD AN AWESOME CHILDHOOD.

ONCE I GREW UP AND DECIDED TO ACT LIKE AN IDIOT, MY MAMA LOVED ME JUST AS MUCH AS EVER.  SHE NEVER TURNED HER BACK ON ME, EVEN WHEN SHE SHOULD HAVE.  MY MOTHER DIDNT LIKE THE THINGS I CHOSE TO DO, AND SHE DIDNT AGREE WITH MY ACTIONS, BUT SHE LOVED ME UNCONDITIONALLY.  NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I HURT HER OR LET HER DOWN, MY MOM HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE TO PICK UP THE PIECES.  SHE HAS DEFENDED ME AND TOOK UP FOR ME COUNTLESS TIMES.  I AM SO THANKFUL THAT THE LORD SAW FIT TO BLESS ME WITH A MOTHER LIKE MINE.  SHE IS TRULY ONE OF A KIND. 

IT IS HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE THAT ANYONE COULD EVER LOVE ME MORE THAN MY MOTHER DOES.  A LOVE LIKE THAT IS SO VERY RARE.  WHEN I THINK OF THE LOVE OF MY MOTHER, I CANNOT HELP BUT BE REMINDED OF THE LOVE THAT JESUS HAS FOR US.  JUST AS MY WONDERFUL MOTHER LOVES ME, JESUS TRULY LOVES US ALL IN AN EVEN GREATER WAY.  NO MATTER WHAT WE HAVE DONE, WHERE WE HAVE ENDED UP OR WHAT WE HAVE CAUSED, JESUS LOVES US ALL UNCONDITIONALLY.  NO SIN IS TOO GREAT TO BE UNFORGIVEN.  HIS LOVE FOR US KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES.  HE ONLY ASKS FOR US TO REALIZE THIS.  TO COME TO HIM WITH AN OPEN MIND, A REPENTITIVE HEART AND A WELCOME VESSEL IN WHICH HIS SPIRIT MAY LIVE. 

I AM SO GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO WRITE THIS "NOTE" THIS MORNING.  MY MOTHER IS AWESOME AND I HOPE SHE HAS A WONDERFULLY BLESSED DAY.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA!

PROVERBS 23:25  MAY SHE WHO GAVE YOU BIRTH BE HAPPY
PROVERBS 31:28  HER CHILDREN STAND AND BLESS HER.  HER HUSBAND PRAISES HER

STOP AND THINK

HOW MANY TIME HAVE YOU HEARD:
"I HAVE BEEN THROUGH HELL AND BACK"
"SHE HAS GIVEN ME HELL"
"HE IS HELL ON WHEELS"
"OH, GO TO HELL"
I AM PRETTY SURE THAT WE HAVE ALL HEARD ONE, IF NOT ALL, OF THESE STATEMENTS.  WE HAVE PROBABLY ALL SAID THESE SAME WORDS AT LEAST ONCE OF TWICE.  I KNOW I HAVE.  I WOKE UP THIS MORNING THINKING ABOUT HOW EASILY WE ALL PROCLAIM THE CONCEPT OF HELL.  I HAVE EVEN HEARD PEOPLE LAUGH AND SAY "GO TO HELL" IN A JOKING MANNER.  AT ONE TIME IN MY LIFE, THESE STATEMENTS WOULDNT HAVE BOTHERED ME.  I WOULDNT HAVE GIVEN IT A SECOND THOUGHT.  BUT TODAY IS A DIFFERENT STORY.  WE NEED TO STOP AND THINK ABOUT WHAT WE ACTUALLY ARE SAYING AND CALLING INTO OUR EXISTANCE WHEN WE USED THESE SEEMINGLY HARMLESS WORDS.
THE BIBLE IS FULL OF SCRIPTURES WHICH WARN US OF THE REALITY OF HELL.  HELL IS NOT A FICTIONAL PLACE.  IT IS NOT A LAND OF ENDLESS PARTYING AND HANGING OUT WITH REBELLIOUS FRIENDS.  IT IS A PLACE CREATED FOR SATAN AND HIS DEMONS.  HELL WAS NEVER INTENDED FOR US.  BUT, MY BIBLE TELLS ME THAT JUST AS GOD CLEANSED THE EARTH IN THE DAYS OF NOAH BY FLOOD, HE WILL INDEED CLEANSE THE EARTH AGAIN AND THAT HELL IS CONTINUOUSLY ENLARGING ITS BOUNDARIES. 
EVEN THE WORDS USED TO DESCRIBE HELL MAKE ME FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.  MY MENTAL IMAGES OF HELL INCLUDE ENDLESS FIRE AND BRIMSTONE, ENORMOUS FLAMES AND A HOT, CONSTANT, BURNING WIND.  WE HAVE A HARD TIME STANDING NEXT TO A BONFIRE, ETERNAL FIRE IS UNIMAGINABLE.  IMAGINE A HORRIBLE PIT OF DARKNESS AND ETERNAL PUNISHMENT ALONG WITH UNQUENCHABLE THIRST.  I CAN ALSO IMAGINE ENDLESS SCREAMING, BEGGING AND TEARS.  FOREVER. WITHOUT END.  PEOPLE IN HELL HAVE NO REST, DAY OR NIGHT.   NO HUMAN BEING ALIVE CAN RELATE TO SUCH TORMENT. 

HELL WAS DESIGNED TO SEPERATE THOSE WHO HATE OUR GOD FROM THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.  HELL IS NO JOKING MATTER.  JUST THE OTHER DAY, A FRIEND OF MINE SAID HE WISHES HE COULD TALK TO SOMEONE IN HELL AND ASK HIM IF HIS SINFUL LIFE WAS WORTH IT.  I BET THE MENTAL ANGUISH OF A PERSON IN HELL IS UNSPEAKABLE.  I BET HELL SNUCK UP ON MANY PEOPLE WHO HAD NO INTENTION OF BEING CALLED BY THE ANGEL OF DEATH.  SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CAUGHT UNAWARE.  HELL IS ETERNAL.  NONE OF US HAVE BEEN THERE, NOR DO WE WANT TO GO THERE. 

WE NEED TO STOP SPEAKING OF HELL IN SUCH A CASUAL MANNER.  IT IS NOT AN ADJECTIVE.  IT IS NOTHING TO JOKE ABOUT.  STOP AND THINK. THE FIRES OF HELL ARE ENLARGING DAILY.  OUR LORD DOES NOT INTEND THAT ANY OF US SUFFER.  DEATH COMES WHEN WE LEAST EXPECT IT.  LETS PROCLAIM ETERNAL LIFE AND THE BEAUTY OF HEAVEN INSTEAD.  EVEN THE WORDS SOUND SO MUCH BETTER.  WE HAVE A GOD THAT LOVES US AND WANTS TO SEE US HAPPY, JOYOUS AND FREE!  HIS YOKE IS EASY AND HIS BURDEN IS LIGHT.  TURN AWAY FROM HELL TODAY.  SHARE INSTEAD IN LIFE EVERLASTING! 

IT CANT BE EASY

I DONT KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT WHEN THINGS GET ROUGH, I AM QUICK TO CALL MY PASTOR AND ASK HIM TO KEEP ME IN HIS PRAYERS.  I AM ALSO QUICK TO TALK TO MY PASTOR WHEN I AM FEELING DOWN, AGGRAVATED OR UPSET.  HE IS ALWAYS THERE TO LISTEN TO MY PROBLEMS AND I KNOW HE HAS SPENT ALOT OF TIME PRAYING FOR ME.  I AM SO THANKFUL TO HAVE THE PASTOR THAT GOD HAS CHOSEN TO LEAD ME HERE ON THIS EARTH.  HE IS READY, WILLING AND AVAILABLE TO LEAD AND GUIDE ME IN THE BEST WAY HE KNOWS HOW.  I FEEL SURE THAT I CAN SPEAK FOR MY ENTIRE CHURCH FAMILY WHEN I SAY THAT OUR PASTOR IS TRULY A GODSEND!
JUST AS WE HAVE DAILY PROBLEMS, ANXIETIES AND FEARS, SO DOES OUR PASTOR.  WE SOMETIMES SEEM TO FORGET THAT OUR BELOVED PASTOR HAS MANY OF THE SAME TROUBLES IN HIS DAILY LIFE.  OUR PASTORS ARE HUMAN BEINGS, WITH WEAKNESSES, SORROWS AND TEMPTATIONS, JUST LIKE US.  WORRY, FEAR AND ILLNESS ALSO KNOCK AT HIS DOOR.  IT IS QUITE EASY TO SAY THAT WE STAND BEHIND OUR PREACHER.  I THINK WE SHOULD ALSO STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH HIM AT TIMES AS WELL, SOMETIMES EVEN STANDING IN FRONT OF HIM TO BLOCK ATTACKS OF THE ENEMY, TO HOLD HIM UP IN TIMES OF TROUBLE.  OUR PASTOR NEEDS US, JUST AS WE NEED HIM. 

MY PASTOR OFTEN USES ROMANS CHAPTER 12 IN HIS SERMONS IN ORDER TO TEACH US TO BE MORE LIKE JESUS.  HE URGES US TO BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD AND TO BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWAL OF OUR MINDS IN THAT WE MAY BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE WILL OF GOD.  HE EMPHASIZES HUMILITY AND SOBER THINKING.  THIS CHAPTER ALSO TELLS US WE SHOULD BE MERCIFUL, CHEERFUL AND GIVING.  WE ARE TOLD TO CLING TO WHAT IS GOOD, SHARE IN BROTHERLY LOVE AND TO REJOICE IN HOPE.  ABOVE ALL MY PASTOR TEACHES US THAT WE MUST REMAIN STEADFAST IN PRAYER, BLESS THOSE WHO CURSE US AND REPAY NO ONE EVIL FOR EVIL.  WE ARE OFTEN REMINDED THE IMPORTANCE OF REMAINING IN ONE ACCORD, LIVING PEACEFULLY AMONG EACH OTHER AND TO LEAVE VENGEANCE TO THE LORD.  THIS CHAPTER OF THE BIBLE TELLS US HOW TO BECOME A LIVING SACRIFICE UNTO THE LORD.  IT ALSO TELLS ME SO VERY MUCH MORE.  THIS CHAPTER DESCRIBES MY PASTOR.  HE IS A VERY HUMBLE MAN.  HE TRULY LOVES THE LORD AND THE CHURCH FAMILY UNDER HIS DIRECTION.  I LOVE MY PASTOR!

THIS MORNING, I AM THANKING THE LORD FOR MY PASTOR, BRO JERRY ODOM.  HE TRULY IS AN AWESOME MAN OF GOD.  BRO JERRY IS IN MY PRAYERS TODAY, NOT FOR ANY PARTICULAR REASON, I JUST APPRECIATE HIM AND HIS GUIDANCE.  HE NEVER GAVE UP ON ME, EVEN WHEN I SEEMED HOPELESS.  HE TRULY MUST SEE US ALL AS GOD SEES US, AND I AM SO THANKFUL FOR THAT. 

HE REALLY DOES SAY NO

I DONT KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I LOVE IT WHEN GOD QUICKLY ANSWERS MY PRAYERS.  WE TRULY SERVE A PRAYER ANSWERING GOD AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR EVERY PRAYER THAT HE HAS ANSWERED.  I HAVE NEVER BEEN ONE TO LIKE OR EVEN TO UNDERSTAND THE WORD "NO" WHEN I ASK FOR SOMETHING.  I THINK WE CAN ALL IDENTIFY WITH THIS TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.  A FRIEND OF MINE RECENTLY BECAME VERY DISCOURAGED BECAUSE OF UNANSWERED PRAYERS.  THIS PERSON ACTUALLY FELT UNLOVED AND ABANDONED BY GOD AND COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE LORD REFUSED TO ANSWER. 

WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF INSTANT GRATIFICATION.  WE HAVE BECOME SPOILED AND DEMANDING.  WE WANT WHAT WE WANT WHEN WE WANT IT AND REFUSE TO WAIT.  WE HAVE BECOME IMPATIENT AND SELFISH.  OUR LIVES ARE FAST PACED AND WE HAVE ALL BEEN BRAINWASHED BY THE AMERICAN DREAM.  AS CHILDREN, WE ARE TAUGHT TO BE INDEPENDANT AND SELF SUFFICIENT.  AS PARENTS, WE HAVE SPOILED OUR CHILDREN BY GIVING THEM ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THEY MIGHT DESIRE.  IT IS NO WONDER THAT WE COME TO GOD WITH OUR EARTHLY DEMANDS AND EXPECT HIM TO IMMEDIATELY ANSWER OUR PRAYERS AND REQUESTS. 

GOD HEARS ALL OF OUR PRAYERS. HE LISTENS TO EACH AND EVERY REQUEST.  I LOVE A QUICKLY ANSWERED PRAYER, BUT I ALSO KNOW TODAY THAT SOME PRAYERS TAKE LONGER THAN OTHERS TO BE ANSWERED.  I HAVE LEARNED TO ACCEPT THAT.  I HAVE ALSO LEARNED THAT GOD CAN AND WILL TELL ME "NO", JUST AS ANY PARENT MUST DO FROM TIME TO TIME.  THROUGHOUT MY LIFE, I HAVE PRAYED FOR CERTAIN THINGS AND STILL TO THIS DAY, I HAVENT RECEIVED WHAT I PRAYED FOR.  THIS DOESNT MEAN THAT GOD DOESNT LOVE ME.  HE LOVES ME ENOUGH TO SAY NO.  OUR GOD HAS INFINITE WISDOM AND KNOWS THE END FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.  AN UNANSWERED PRAYER MIGHT JUST BE AN ANSWER IN DISQUISE.  OUR LORD LOVES US BEYOND MEASURE AND HOLDS THE ANSWERS TO EVERY SITUATION WE MIGHT ENCOUNTER. 

THE BIBLE TELLS US TO REMAIN PRAYERFUL AND VIGILANT.  IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE LORD TO IGNORE US.  THE LORD LOVES US ALL AND WOULD NEVER LET US DOWN.  WE ARE HIS MASTERPIECE.  WE ARE THE APPLE OF HIS EYE.  OUR PRAYERS WILL NEVER BE REJECTED OR NEGLECTED.  GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS IN HIS TIME, NOT OURS.  OUR LORD IS ALL POWERFUL AND ALL KNOWING.  HE ONLY WANTS WHATS BEST FOR US, EVEN WHEN HE TELLS US "NO." 

THE WORLD WAS WATCHING

 BEFORE THIS DAY IS OVER, I FEEL SURE THAT EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY ARE, WILL HAVE SEEN OR HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE ROYAL WEDDING WHICH TOOK PLACE TODAY.  THE WHOLE WORLD SEEMS TO HAVE WATCHED THIS EVENT.  IT WAS BEAUTIFUL AND ELEGANT, EVERYTHING THAT WE WOULD HAVE EXPECTED SUCH A ROYAL EVENT TO BE.   I FEEL SURE THAT COUNTLESS MOTHERS TOLD THEIR LITTLE GIRLS THAT THEY WERE SEEING AN ACTUAL FAIRY TALE PRINCESS GET MARRIED TO A REAL PRINCE.  GINA IS FIFTEEN YEARS OLD AND WE HAD THE SAME CONVERSATION THIS MORNING.

THE PRINCE WAS CHARMING, HIS PRINCESS WAS BEAUTIFUL.  SHE APPEARED TO BE CONFIDENT AND WELL PREPARED FOR THIS HISTORIC EVENT.  IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY LAST CITIZEN OF EUROPE FILLED THE STREETS OF LONDON TODAY AND THE REST OF THE WORLD WAS WATCHING IT TAKE PLACE ON TELEVISIONS OR COMPUTER SCREENS.  THIS UPCOMING WEDDING HAD BEEN DISCUSSED FOR MONTHS.  THE WORLD BUSILY PREPARED FOR THE EVENT.  NO ONE WAS UNAWARE OF ITS APPROACH AND IT WAS ANXIOUSLY ANTICIPATED BY MILLIONS.

THERE IS ANOTHER UPCOMING EVENT WHICH WILL PUT THIS ROYAL WEDDING TO SHAME.  THE GLORY OF THIS EVENT WILL MAKE THE WEDDING OF PRINCE WILLIAM LOOK LIKE A LAS VEGAS WEDDING PERFORMED BY AN ELVIS IMPERSONATOR.  THIS UPCOMING EVENT HAS NOT BEEN IN PREPARATION FOR ONLY A FEW MONTHS, IT HAS BEEN BEING PLANNED FOR OVER TWO THOUSAND YEARS.  THE EVENT IS STILL BEING ORCHESTRATED AS OF THIS VERY MOMENT.  OF COURSE I AM TALKING ABOUT THE UPCOMING WEDDING OF JESUS AND HIS BRIDE. HE WILL OUTDO THE PRINCE, HE WILL ARRIVE AS KING!  EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US HAVE BEEN INVITED TO THIS UPCOMING WEDDING, BUT, NOT ONLY AS A GUEST OR AS A SPECTATOR.  WE WILL ALL HAVE THE PRIVLEGE OF BEING CALLED HIS BRIDE! 

IMAGINE THE BEAUTY OF THIS MONUMENTAL EVENT.  THE ROYAL PLANNERS AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE CANNOT POSSIBLY HOLD A CANDLE TO THE OPPULANCE WHICH WAITS FOR US ALL.  THE WORLD WILL TRULY BE DAZZLED BY THE RETURN OF KING JESUS.  OUR BIBLE HAS TOLD US OF THE WEDDING WHICH WILL SURELY TAKE PLACE.  WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED.  MATTHEW 22:2-14 TELLS THE PARABLE OF THE WEDDING FEAST.  IT CLEARLY STATES THAT ALL ARE INVITED.  ALL OF US.  NO MATTER WHAT OUR POSITION IN LIFE OR REGARDLESS OF OUR SOCIAL STATUS.  JESUS IS COMING BACK FOR HIS BRIDE JUST AS PRINCE WILLIAM MARRIED HIS TODAY. 

IT IS MY PRAYER THIS MORNING THAT WE ALL BE PREPARED FOR THE RETURN OF KING JESUS.  WHEN HE PARTS THE EASTERN SKIES, I WANT TO BE IN THE MULTITUDE TO RECEIVE HIM.  HIS WORD IS REAL.  HIS SPIRIT LIVES AMONG US.  HEAVEN IS PREPARING OUR WEDDING FEAST.  WE MUST ALL GET READY FOR HIS RETURN.  I DO NOT WANT TO BE ONLY A SPECTATOR.  LETS ALL GET READY!

REVELATION 19:7  LET US BE GLAD AND REJOICE AND GIVE HIM GLORY, FOR THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB HAS COME, AND HIS WIFE HAS MADE HERSELF READY

MISSING SOMEONE

NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, I CAN PRETTY MUCH GUARANTEE THAT YOU HAVE MISSED SOMEONE AT ONE TIME OF YOUR LIFE OR ANOTHER.   WE HAVE ALL BEEN CLOSE TO PEOPLE THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES WHO HAVE SOMEHOW DRIFTED AWAY FROM US.  PEOPLE WE ONCE TALKED TO EVERY DAY SOMETIMES JUST GET ADDED TO OUR EMAIL LIST.  A FRIEND WE ONCE THOUGHT WE COULD NOT LIVE WITHOUT MIGHT ONLY EXIST TODAY IN OUR MEMORIES.   FAMILY MEMBERS WE ONCE LAUGHED AND JOKED WITH DAILY MIGHT ONLY BE SEEN OCCASIONALLY ON HOLIDAYS OR AT FAMILY REUNIONS. 

A VERY CLOSE FRIEND OF MINE EMAILED ME YESTERDAY.  SHE AND I ONCE SAW EACH OTHER ON A DAILY BASIS.  WE WERE AT ONE TIME CLOSER THAN SISTERS AND HAVE BEEN THROUGH BOTH HAPPINESS AND SORROW TOGETHER.  LIFE HAS CARRIED US OFF IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AND SOME OF MY BEST MEMORIES INCLUDE THIS FRIEND.  EARLIER THIS WEEK, I ALSO HEARD FROM ONE OF MY COUSINS.  SHE AND I LITERALLY GREW UP TOGETHER.  OUR PARENTS WERE INSEPERABLE AND SO WERE SHE AND I.  WE NEVER WOULD HAVE EXPECTED TO ONE DAY INTERACT ONLY THROUGH FACEBOOK.  IT IS TIMES LIKE THESE THAT I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT I MISS SOMEONE.
 THIS BRINGS ME TO THE POINT OF MY "NOTE" TODAY.  JUST AS WE BECOME LONESOME AND MISS THOSE THAT WE TRULY LOVE, OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST SURELY FEELS THE SAME WAY.  WHEN WE SLACK OFF IN OUR PRAYER TIME, SKIP A FEW CHURCH SERVICES OR FORGET TO STUDY HIS WORD, WE GROW DISTANT FROM HIS LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP.  JUST LIKE WE DO, JESUS HAS MEMORIES OF ALL OUR HAPPINESS AND SORROW.  HE KNOWS OF EVERY HEARTACHE, EVERY SUCCESS AND EVERY MOMENT OF JOY THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED.  HE HAS BEEN THERE WITH US THROUGH IT ALL.  I HATE TO EVEN THINK OF THE SADNESS OUR BLESSED JESUS MUST FEEL WHEN WE SHUT HIM OUT OF OUR LIVES. 

UNLIKE FRIENDS OR EVEN FAMILY MEMBERS, LIFE WILL NEVER CARRY JESUS AWAY FROM OUR PRESENCE.  HE IS THERE FOR US NO MATTER WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, HOW OR WHY.  EVEN ON OUR LONELIEST NIGHT OR OUR DARKEST HOUR, JESUS WILL NEVER LEAVE OUR SIDE.  HE PATIENTLY WAITS FOR US TO REALIZE HIS PRESENCE AND TO ACCEPT HIS EVERLASTING LOVE.  NOTHING WE DO CAN POSSIBLY CAUSE HIM TO TURN HIS BACK ON US OR PUSH US TO THE SIDE.  ONLY JESUS WILL NEVER LEAVE US OR FORSAKE US.  HIS ARMS OF PROTECTION AND HIS ENDLESS MERCY ARE ETERNALLY AVAILABLE.  HE TRULY MISSES US WHEN WE LEAVE HIS SIDE. 

I AM SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE LORD IN MY LIFE TODAY.  HIS PRESENCE IN MY LIFE HAS CHANGED EVERYTHING.  I SAW YESTERDAY THAT SOMEONE HAD WRITTEN, "IF YOU KNEW WHERE I HAVE BEEN AND WHAT I HAVE COME THROUGH, YOU WOULD CONSTANTLY BE PRAISING HIS NAME TOO."  AGAIN, I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD!  WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE HOW I FEEL INSIDE.  PLEASE MAKE SOME TIME FOR JESUS IN YOUR LIFE TODAY.  I PROMISE YOU WONT REGRET IT.