The End Times

"You will hear about war and threats of war, but do not be troubled, for these things must happen, but it is not yet the end. Nations will fight one another, and kingdom oppose kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in several places, but all these are only the beginning: the first pains of childbirth. Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches grow tender and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all that I have told you, know that the time is near, even at the door." - Matthew 24:6-8,32-33

I've read through this chapter so many times in my life wondering when the end of the world would come. War and threats of war… I would go back to this constantly during the 90's when Clinton had the missile strikes and especially after 9/11 and all that has happened. And now, after Afghanistan and Iraq, there's turmoil in Iran and Bush says it could be the start of WW3. Two weeks ago we were dealing with horrible wildfires in California, while a hurricane just hit the Caribbean and our polar ice caps are melting. And before that, the tsunami devastated South East Asia and hurricane Katrina wiped out New Orleans. There was even a tornado in Brooklyn this summer!

How could we not look at this and not wonder if we are at these first pains of child birth? It's so clear that something is going on and we should all be prepared. Jesus goes on to say in this chapter that there will be great distress in the world, the sun will grow dark, the universe will be shaken, and He will send His angels to gather all His people. But will we be of those He gathers? Or will we perish because our faith, the way we led our lives, just wasn't enough? If this were to happen tomorrow, and given the way things seem it could be soon, are we worthy of Him? Have we led a life in which our actions, words, conscience, love, and values all line up?

I'm not sure what my answer is right now, but I will make sure that I am ready and am worthy for when that day comes because I don't want to be left behind.

Today's Prayer:
Dear Jesus, only the Father knows that date and time of the end, but I see the signs and want to be prepared. Help guide me, mind, body and soul for Your return. Keep me on Your path, even if its not the time so that I can live a life worthy of You regardless. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Lights, Cameras & Superficiality

"Do not love the world or what is in it. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in Him. For everything in the world - the craving of the flesh, the greed of the eyes, and people boasting of their superiority - all this belongs to the world, not to the Father." - 1st John 2:15-16

I have to say that this verse reminds me of the Lindsay Lohan's and the Paris Hilton's of the world. Being in the right scene, having the right clothes and accessories, sucked them into a world where all that exists for them is superficiality. Someone like Britney Spears is losing her children but still manages to hit the Hollywood hot spots the same day as her trial. It's not that God doesn't want us to go out and have fun, it's that there are people who turn this into their entire lives. They live to be on the scene, going out, being seen, being admired. Their hearts are in the wrong place. They are Godless people and not because God has abandoned them, but because they have abandoned God, making themselves their own Gods. Thinking themselves better than others, never thinking they need God or anyone else. God cannot reside in the heart of such a person. You know there is a deeper meaning to our lives than just being on the scene. Get right with God because when the lights stop flashing, He is the only one who remains there for you. When the lights stop flashing, you are left alone with your own mistakes to try to clean up after. And when the lights stop flashing, is it honest and fair for you to then turn to God?

And it's such an easy thing to get sucked into. I just read that we know we are in good standing with God if our conscience and what God wants align…and we know very well that if we think about it, there are things we are doing well with and there are things we can improve on. Remember, you ONLY need to see yourself the way God sees you.

Today's Prayer:
Lord, it's very hard to resist the desire to be seen with the right people and have the right accessories. Help remind me that at the end of the day, none of this matters except what You think of me. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Be The Belt Around God's Waist

""For just as a belt is to be bound around a man's waist so was the people of Israel and Judah bound to me - it is the Lord who speaks - to be my people, my glory and my honor; but they would not listen.'" - Jeremiah 13:11

I have to admit that I feel so sad right now. As you know, I've been keeping all of these emails in a blog (http://tres-lumineux.blogspot.com/) and today I decided to do some research into videos and news about God, Christianity, or even some cool websites to blog about. My search results were pretty sad. Then I went into the social bookmarking site del.icio.us and searched for words like God, Jesus and Christianity and I found that some of the top sites bookmarked were articles talking about how God doesn't exist, or sites making fun of Christianity.

So many people ask what's wrong with the world when the problem is that mostly all have abandoned God. Nobody listens. Religion is now whatever people want it to be. They justify their own desires and then believe in whatever philosophy backs up their own selfishness. Then there are those that see the poverty, violence and hurt in the world and ask "Why would God allow this!". Well, in all honesty, a person who asks this kind of question does NOT know God or they'd know that our Creator is a God of love. Just like the belt Jeremiah had around his waist, God told him He wanted us to be, so close to Him. God is a nurturer, all goodness comes from Him and He wanted to hold us right there with Him. We're the ones that stray and abandon Him, and for what? To go out to parties? To go out and get drunk? To spend a whole day in front of a video game? Or spend hours gossiping about people? Or holding on to hate in our hearts that propagate even more sin? What do you have left after you've done these things? Emptiness. This is what's wrong with the world. So much pain exists because nobody invites God in anymore and the only thing He does not do is interfere with our free will. We do this to ourselves. Think about this - when was the last time you prayed? And when you prayed, what did you pray for? Did you only pray because you needed something? Did you pray in a way to test God to see IF He's really there? Or did you pray because you recognize He is your creator and you need Him in your life? We should always ask Him for things, but more importantly, instead of just asking and asking when we're in a bind, we need to find a way to get back around His waist.

Today's Prayer:
My Lord, forgive me and forgive others for our lack of love and attention for You. I am so sorry for having strayed but please have mercy on us and help us to win back Your favor and be Your people. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

The Ways of The World

"Don't let yourselves be shaped by the world where you live, but rather by the will of God: what is good, what pleases, what is perfect." - Romans 12:2

It's very hard to be a follower of God today. The music we listen to, the movies we see, the TV shows we watch contradict what has been taught to us by the bible and what we know Jesus wants us to do. It all seems outdated and the people around us are too "modern" - religion is viewed as an option and no one is sure if God exists or not. Society's liberal views are valued over the values Jesus would like us to have. However, you have received a call from God by being chosen to receive this message. You have believed, so as St. Paul says, do not let yourself be shaped by the things of this world. This world puts value on vices and things that lead to evil, but you have already been told that God wants to give you life and peace. Instead, focus on what is good, what is pleasing, what is perfect, for God alone is good, serving God pleases, and God alone is perfect.

Today's Prayer:
My God and my Savior, please have mercy on me while I wander through this life. Guide me so that I do not fall into the ways of the world, but rather that I live according to Your will always. In Your Name we pray, Amen.