Tag: jesus

This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Ephesians 5:14 NIV

I was sound asleep, but in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, I was awake. Burt was standing by my bed barking.

Grumpily, I got up and turned on the bathtub faucet so Burt could get a drink. It doesn’t matter that there are three other water bowls placed around the house because Burt likes to drink out of the bathtub faucet. It doesn’t matter if you are awake or asleep because Burt wants you to get up!

When Jesus calls, it’s not going to matter if you are awake or asleep! Like Burt, he will expect an immediate response.

I Corinthians 15:52 states, “in a flash, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed”. In I Thessalonians 4:16-17, it tells us, “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever”.

I’m thinking that Burt’s bark will be tamer and a lot quieter than the trumpet blast of the Lord described in these verses. I’m also hoping my response won’t be as grumpy!

I want to be ready and expecting that trumpet call so I will respond quickly to meet Jesus in the sky. As much as it pleases me to make Burt happy by responding to his needs, my reward in heaven will be much greater.

So this sleeper wants to wake up and be ready! How about you?

To Donate to Help Animals in Need:https://www.luckydawganimalrescue.com

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. Isaiah 59:2 NIV

We live on a busy street about two blocks from an active railroad track. When our dogs get loose, besides worrying about traffic, I worry about them getting hit by a train. I try to give my fears to God and pray for their safety but I’m still searching for them and trying to ensure their safe return.

Recently, I found Burt at the end of the street circling a chicken coop after escaping out our front door. He was chased away by the chicken’s owners. He crossed the railroad track and disappeared into the weeds.

He soon resurfaced as I called his name but then I heard the clickety-clack of the train. He was on one side of the tracks and I was on the other with a train passing between us. I quickly got separation anxiety!

Separation anxiety is triggered when dogs are separated from their owners and experience distress and anxiety. I was the one with the anxiety, not Burt.

I went to the other end of the tracks and started back home with no sign of my runaway pet. Then on the main drag I saw him. He had traffic stopped in both directions with some out of their cars trying to catch him. I opened the car door and with his tongue hanging out and panting heavily, Burt jumped into the car and was safely on his way home. We were reunited!

Just like the train separated me from Burt, sin separates us from God. We are on one side of the track and God is on the other with sin making it impossible to cross over safely.

Thankfully, God is a loving parent searching for his children. 2 Peter 3:9 tells us that God is patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance. John 3:17 says God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him.

We can be standing in the middle of the road, tired and not knowing what to do and God will come by and offer you that open door. Just climb in and let him drive you to safety.

Don’t let sin keep you separated from God. Don’t live in anxiety and fear. 1 John 1:9 states, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”.

Just like I sought Burt to bring him home safely, God is searching for each one of us who is separated from him. He wants to bridge the gap, tear down the wall, stop the train of sin and bring you safely home to be with Him forever.

Don’t experience separation anxiety! Be reunited with God today!

Donate today to help animals in need: https://www.noahsarps.com/

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. II Peter 3:9 NIV

We’ve had two extra dogs recently, Idgie and Eleanor. On our group walks, I get the little Chihuahua, Eleanor, and doggie bag duty. I have a hard time keeping up and poor Eleanor wants to be with the big dogs. The other three stop periodically and look around while we try to catch up. It is as if they are saying,’No Dog Left Behind’.

I’m sure the phrase ‘No Man Left Behind’ has many meanings but I am used to hearing it with a military background. Movies and television show people in a military unit that are committed to each other. No one is forgotten or left behind. ‘No Man Left Behind’ represents a comaraderie. Each person is coming home no matter what it takes.

As the church of Jesus Christ, we also believe in the ‘No One Left Behind’ mentality. We are the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12 goes into detail about all believers being part of the same body. We all have different functions. We all have different gifts.

Verse 14 of 1 Corinthians states, “Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many”. Paul tells us that there should be no divisions among the body of Christ. We need each other.

When someone is sick or hurting, the church should have their back. When one person is in trouble, another should lend a helping hand. When we are having a slow day, the pack should surround us with love and pull us along.

No Christian Should Be Left Behind! The body of Christ is there to assure that this does not happen. We are the army of God marching forward to His orders and to ascertain that all soldiers of Christ make it to their final destination, eternity with Him!

Help animals by donating: https://www.longdogsrescue.org/