Have you heard the news?

On September 23^rd the celestial alignment John prophesied as a great sign in heaven will appear: …a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. Revelations 12:1 (NKJV). Astrologers would tell you something about Virgo (the woman) being in Leo with Venus, Mercury and Mars (the 12 stars). John’s forewarning continues with a red dragon and the birth of child.  Some theologians support the biblical warning with precursors from Ezekiel, Isaiah, Zachariah and a count of Jubilee years. Astrologers say Jupiter and the moon and the other stars are completing a phase begun 9 months ago (the length of a pregnancy). Though there are several opinions on how rare an occurrence this is both biblical and astrological interpreters call it rare. Okay I’m not an astrologer or a doom’s day evangelist but what if…? What if the Rapture will happen then? What if the Tribulation will begin with the last trumpet sounded during this year’s Feast of Trumpets? Selfishly I’m happy to be saved from any more floods, earthquakes, fires, diseases and violence. But then that also means I must face my maker in the courts of heaven. Yes, I am made righteous by the blood and grace of Jesus Christ. Still, Matthew 12:36 warns that I must account for every idle (careless) word spoken. Whoa –that’s a lot of words. But there is hope. The next verse says that there is acquittal too! Acquittal comes with repentance. Rapture comes with belief. Believe and repent. I know that I’ll be saved because the only unpardonable sin is rejecting Him. I stand strong in my faith and shout the good news that Jesus Christ is my Living Lord and Savior. Hallelujah! Throughout the bible there are declarations that the end is near. Alright, it also says that no one is to know the time. But we shall know the season. Autumn begins with an exceptional planetary display this year. Will I watch the show from the backyard? What if this is the season? I have to wonder – have I done all I was meant to do? Have I fulfilled His plan for my life? Perhaps I was born only to write the words you are now reading. Perhaps the end is here and the second coming is only a few days away. What if it is? Have you made the good confession? Let’s be gathered to heaven together. Believe and repent.

We prepared and we prayed.

All outdoor decor and plants were moved to the garage. There was no lumber so we removed fence pickets and used them to board the picture window. We filled every closable container with water. We put batteries in every candle and flashlight we had. The cupboard was full of food we could eat without cooking. We had a cooler of ice for food that required refrigeration. We had a battery operated NOAA radio and battery operated fans. We hunkered down in front of the TV and watched the news.   Hurricane Harvey was forecast to hit as a Cat 1 or 2 with torrential rains. The wind came long before the rain. Well it was a breeze really. We watched the storm gain strength, the rain started and the breeze became a squall. As they declared Harvey a Cat 4 we lost power. As night approached we watched the destruction of our neighborhood begin. We saw sheets of rain tearing over rooftops, utility poles leaning and swaying, tree bowed until they broke or were pulled from the ground.  Roof tiles, mail boxes, trash cans, broken tree limbs and branches joined the wind and the rain and became Harvey’s weapons. The night brought darkness. Inability to see made the sounds of breaking glass and buckling fences terrifying. No pitter-patter, the rain sounded like buckets of water continually hurling. At the peak of the storm the house creaked and groaned as the wind thrashed. All night and well into the next day Harvey brutalized the gulf coast. When he’d had his fill of us he moved on to assault and devastate others. Irma is now stomping a path of devastation as grand as Harvey ever attempted. She is hurtling toward people I know and love and areas I adore. If I could I would pluck you all out of harm’s way.  Please prepare and evacuate but above all pray. I am.