Thursday Devotional - God is With Us in Labor and the End Times 3/24/22

God helped my sister, Jane, give birth to twins (Michael and Margaret) on Monday night! There were several different days Jane thought she was going into labor, but it wasn’t quite time. However, when it was finally time, it happened quickly and was obvious!

Jesus said it will be similar for His second coming and the end times.

Matthew 24:3-8, 26-27   ³ As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” ⁴ Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. ⁵ For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. ⁶ You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. ⁷ Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸ All these are the beginning of birth pains…

²⁶ “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. ²⁷ For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”

We might think it is close, but it won’t be quite time. Then, when Jesus returns and it is time, it will be evident to all!!!

There will be tough times before Jesus returns, but God will be with us through it. We can be certain of that and certain of Jesus’s return!

P.S. – please pray for Michael, as he has been in the NICU. We know God is with him and we’re trusting God will help his body regulate all he needs to function properly.

Alice

Thursday Devotional - Belong to Who?

Well, the twins moved in last Friday (September 4)! It’s hard to know what all they understand, but they came with all their clothes and toys and knew it was different than just a “weekend” visit like all the previous weekends.

One of them came down with a cold the first day and gave it to several others by the end of the weekend, including James, with all his asthma issues. So, it’s been a rough first week!

I was already nervous about the transition, mostly for the twins, but also for all of us. As rough as the first week has been, the first day went really well and much better than I expected. It ended on a high note with God giving us several layers of timely truths for all 6 of us.

First, as we read in our children’s Bible before bed that first night, the reading Providentially “happened” to be about Abraham, Hagar and Ishmael. It talked about how God was faithful to Hagar and Ishmael and provided for them as they moved to a new home!!!

After reading the Bible story and talking about it, I then opened our children’s devotional and read:

James answered the first question right away saying “God!” Then, as we were discussing it further afterwards, I asked again who we belong to and Edmund said: “Jesus!” Since then, Edmund has especially wanted to read from the devotional book and says “We belong to Jesus!” before we read each day’s devotion.

John 17:1-6 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. ² For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. ³ Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. ⁴ I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. ⁵ And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. 6 I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 

Who do you belong to?

Alice