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Forgotten

Go Cart Track by Cered is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0

I sat patiently at the table…positioned so I could see our driveway and the gravel road that led to it.

Being 11 years old, I had never been go-carting before and was more than a little nervous. My money was tucked carefully into my pocket. I felt it just to make sure.

They should be here any minute.

And so I waited, patiently waited…and waited.

They must be running late. I just needed to be patient.

My eyes, which were glued to the driveway, occasionally strayed to the clock on the wall.

5…10…15 minutes late.

Maybe I misunderstood?

30 minutes later I went up to my room and put my crumpled money away. I had been forgotten.

The next day at church there were stories of how much fun they had. I said nothing.

I determined then that I would never forget someone who was counting on me.

Now I wait…patiently…5…10…15 years. Waiting for Christ to come back again and take us home. My goal is to use my time well. To warn others of His soon return.  I don’t know when, but I am sure He is coming as He promised. There is no worry that He has forgotten me.

“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 14:3 (See also Acts 1:9-11)

He has already come once. To seek and to save that which was lost….me…you. (Luke 19:10) He calls us to Himself. He is delaying so more will respond to His tender call. He is waiting so you will respond. He is patiently waiting, but He will not wait forever. Time is running out. Won’t you respond in faith today?

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

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Be Ready

It was a morning ritual for her. Our daughter, Anna, would run to the window, pull back the curtains and announce. “I don’t see Jesus coming today!”

It made me smile, but now at the memory it makes me hopeful. In Luke 12 Jesus tells the disciples to be ready, watchful… Do I live my life as if He might come back today? How is my life different because of it?

Do I look for opportunities to tell others of the hope that lies within me? Do I live my life absorbed in His word? Do I live my life furthering the gospel or my own bank account? Is my life lived for the here and now or am I looking to a better country?

Jesus has some startling words for the inattentive servant who is taken by surprise. (Luke 12:45-47) Those who expect an inheritance and yet do nothing to serve their King will have a rude awakening. A true servant wouldn’t be sitting down on the job. A true servant wouldn’t be filling his own pockets without any regard for the needs around him. A true servant would be sitting at the feet of their Lord daily…like Mary in Luke 10:38-42.

So today I recommit my life to that end. To be a faithful servant, watchful and ready for Christ’s soon return. Jesus might come today.  Are you ready?

For further study:

Luke 12:35-48

Romans 10:9-11 “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed,”

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Rise, My Soul, and Stretch Thy Wings

Robert Seagrave 1693-1759? (England) / James Nares (1715-1783)

Rise, My Soul, and Stretch Thy Wings

Rise, my soul, and stretch thy wings; Thy better portion trace;

Rise from transitory things toward heaven, thy native place;

Sun and moon and stars decay, Time shall soon this earth remove;

Rise, my soul and haste away to seats prepared above.

Rivers to the ocean run, nor stay in all their course;

Fire ascending seeks the sun; both speed them to their source:

So a soul that’s born of God pants to view His glorious face,

Upward tends to His abode to rest in His embrace.

Cease, my soul, then cease to mourn, press onward to the prize;

Soon the Saviour will return triumphant in the skies.

Yet a season, and you know Happy entrance will be given;

All our sorrows left below, and earth exchanged for heaven.