Tsunami

Mark 13:32-33 (NIV84)

 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come…

Good morning Zebras,

Last night we watched the movie Impossible.  It is about the 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean that killed an estimated 150,000 people. It was a rather intense and depressing movie and not really what I would call entertainment but I can’t stop thinking about it.

This morning during my quiet time I came across today’s verses.  It is amazing how many times Jesus warned people to be ready for His second coming.  He said it would come on a day when no one expected, when people were marrying and giving in marriage, when everything seemed to be very normal.  And that reminded me of the movie. Everyone was laughing and having a great time, swimming and drinking by the pool but then the wave hit and things were never the same.

In the movie it seemed like the wave just appeared, but I did some research.

There was a lag of several hours between the earthquake and the impact of the tsunami but because there were no tsunami warning systems in the Indian Ocean to detect tsunamis or to warn the general populace living near the ocean, most of the victims were taken by surprise.

But there were other signs. Right before a tsunami the ocean recedes quickly.  It sort of “sucks out” before it crashes back in and that can give you about five minutes to get to high ground.  This one was no exception. One man saved his entire village, 1,500 people, because he had seen the National Geographical special Killer Wave and sounded the alarm. Plus many survivors reported seeing animals fleeing to high ground before the wave hit and some followed suit.

But others, ignorant of what all this meant, went to the beach to investigate what was happening.  They were front and center when the first wave hit.  There was no time to run for high ground once they saw the wave. And I can’t help thinking that is the average American Christian, shell picking with the tsunami on the way.

Jesus has warned us over and over again that He is coming again.  Some of His last words, recorded in Revelation, include warnings to the church.

He told them to “wake up”, repent and find their first love, quit tolerating wrong teaching, quit doing deeds without the Spirit, and stop being lukewarm but we seem to be ignoring Him.  We seem to be going on our merry little way totally oblivious of the tsunami that is coming.  And we are going to suffer the consequences.

Dear Heavenly Father, forgive us. Forgive us for not taking You seriously enough, for not putting You first in our life, for not trusting the promise of Your Word that You will give us all things if we will only seek You first. Forgive us for the idols we have allowed in our lives and for getting distracted by the things of the world. Help us this day Lord to live for You and You alone letting the chips fall where they may because we know that living a life that is honoring to You is the most important task You have given us to do.

Love,

Jill

 

Iron Zebra

Good morning Zebras,

This one is for my high school girls at West Coast Honor Camp.

Girls remember…we are dirty rotten sinners, saved by grace, protected by the armor of God, empowered by the Holy Spirit and dedicated to fighting evil in the heavenly realms.  We are…Iron Zebras.

Love you!
Mrs. G

Walk With God

Matthew 10:29–31 (NIV84)

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Good morning Zebras,

Yesterday I was struck by Oswald Chambers’s entry in My Utmost for His Highest. He reminded us that God is always in complete control and that He has looked down through time and ordained each and every moment to be just as it is. 

The sovereignty of God is such an awesome thought, too big really for us to fully understand, but one that is wonderful to thinking about none the less. Nothing magnifies God more than acknowledging that He knows everything and controls everything. With that thought rolling around in my head, I went out to walk the dogs.

Now normally when I walk the dogs, I give them my full attention. They are rather little and easily distracted so I focus on keeping their leashes untangled and looking ahead for dangers. I pick them up if there is something scary. I take off anything that gets stuck to their paws and of course pick up their poo. 

Yesterday I was distracted. 

I was texting a friend about a lunch meeting and I was giving the dogs only half of my attention, needless to say, it didn’t go smoothly. They got tangled, lunged after other dogs and I ran out of poo bags. 

But because I was thinking about the sovereignty of God, rather than getting upset, I was immediately grateful that God does not take me on the “walk of life” without paying full attention to what is going on.

Love,

Jill

Loyal Dog

Ephesians 4:1 (NIV84)

 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

Good morning Zebras,

I saw this sign in the story yesterday I thought it needed a rewrite:

He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog.  You are his life, his love, his leader.  He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart.  You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.

How about:

He is your friend, you Lord, your defender, your God.  He is your life, your love, your leader.  He has been faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart.  You owe it to Him to worthy of such devotion.

Love,

Jill

Raindrops

Job 5:18 (NIV84)

For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal.

Good morning Zebras,

Yesterday I was sad.  It doesn’t really matter why, and I am fine today, but I spent most of the day yesterday crying.

In an effort to get myself under control, I ran some errands.  While I was out I saw two people who had way more reason to cry than me.  One of them had been disfigured in a fire and although they no longer had any fingers on their hand they were running a cash register and doing their job.

My mom used to say “I thought I had it bad because I had no shoes, until I saw a man who had no feet.”   And although it flashed through my mind, I no longer think the best way to cheer myself up is to find someone who has it worse.

Instead I need to grieve and refocus. 

Nothing happens to us that our loving sovereign God does not allow and although it may not make sense to us, it makes sense to Him If we can trust Him enough to give Him back our pain and disappointment He can carry us through.

For those of you going through a sad time, God knows your heart is broken and He is right there with you.  Let Him help you through.

Love,

Jill

Enjoy.  This is a great song.
Blessings