Watch ye therefore, and pray always. Luke 21:36.
The days in which we live are solemn and important. The Spirit of God is gradually but surely being withdrawn from the earth. . . .
The condition of things in the world shows that troublous times are right upon us. The daily papers are full of indications of a terrible conflict in the near future. Bold robberies are of frequent occurrence. Strikes are common. Thefts and murders are committed on every hand. Men possessed of demons are taking the lives of men, women, and little children. Men have become infatuated with vice, and every species of evil prevails.
Everything in the world is in agitation. The signs of the times are ominous. Coming events cast their shadows before. The Spirit of God is withdrawing from the earth, and calamity follows calamity by sea and by land. There are tempests, earthquakes, fires, floods, murders of every grade. . . . Rapidly are men ranging themselves under the banner they have chosen. Restlessly are they waiting and watching the movements of their leaders. There are those who are waiting and watching and working for our Lord’s appearing. Another class are falling into line under the generalship of the first great apostate. Few believe with heart and soul that we have a hell to shun and a heaven to win.
The crisis is stealing gradually upon us. The sun shines in the heavens, passing over its usual round. . . . Men are still eating and drinking, planting and building, marrying, and giving in marriage. Merchants are still buying and selling. Men are jostling one against another, contending for the highest place. Pleasure lovers are still crowding to theaters, horse races, gambling hells. The highest excitement prevails, yet probation’s hour is fast closing, and every case is about to be eternally decided. . . .
Solemnly there come to us down through the centuries the warning words of our Lord from the Mount of Olives: “Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.”
Maranatha p. 35
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Prayer Requests
—–We are in _____. We will be holding meetings in many places in that region until almost the end of August. This will be quite a marathon for us since we will be in different churches or schools, or involved in other training experiences almost every day, and thus solicit your prayers. Please also pray that God will help both of us with the French language. . . . I am somewhat fluent in French. However expressing the fine nuances necessary when speaking on spiritual topics takes more than normal fluency. Accordingly I especially solicit your prayers for my command of the French language. Also for Rose who has been busily learning French in preparation for this trip. I hope she returns home having some fluency. Dan
—–Please pray for safe travels for Brian and Esther and little ones as they drive home today. Also pray for BJ who is going through some difficult times. Rose
——Please pray for the following meetings: Kaneohe, HI (Jun 5 – Jul 5) Taj Pacleb Canon City, CO (Jun 6 – 28) “Startling Prophecies for America” with Mark Fox Fresno, CA Jun 14 – 21) Korean Visitors Fresno, CA Jun 14 – 21) Cesario Loma Linda, CA (Jun 15 – 19) VBS pray for the prayer rotation (teaching kids to pray). Diane
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Dear Friends,
While at campmeeting this weekend, Esther invited some of her friends to have lunch with us after church. In the course of the conversation these young people in their early thirties began talking about how different the college kids are today as opposed to the way it was when they were in school. I must have had an amused look on my face because one of them said, “You must have seen a lot of changes in your lifetime.” I answered that having been born in 1945, I had indeed seen many changes. She looked amazed and exclaimed. “You were born before microwaves! Things must have been so different.” I replied that sometimes I feel like I’m on a different planet things have changed so much. When I was a child, life was simple and safe.
As I was musing over the incident, I thought of all the differences in my lifetime that were much more dramatic than being without microwaves ovens. If I had gone into all the changes, I don’t think she could have understood the half of it.
Later, I was complaining to Esther about the way people say “more easy” instead of “easier,” “more fast” instead of “faster,” etc. She reminded me of the fact that language is fluid and thus changes over time. I had to agree. I’ve seen it in many instances over the years, but it still irks me.
Praise God there is One Who never changes! He is “the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Heb 13:8; Rev 1:8 He assures us, “I am the LORD, I change not.” Mal 3:6 James tells us, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17 David sang, “Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.” Ps 102:25-27
May we, in these changing times, cling to the One Who loves us so. May we dwell in the sunlight of His love. May we, as did faithful Abraham, look for that unchangeable city whose builder and maker is God is my prayer. (Heb 11:10)
Rose