I hate it!

 I'm sitting on my front porch this morning doing my Bible study. We have a house full, again. My daughter has taken another position serving the homeless, the forgotten, and the afflicted on SKID-ROW in Los Angelas, California.  She is back here to visit family before she embarks on this new adventure, this new calling. The half square mile in LA is filled with apporximately 10,000 of the poorest of the poor. Mckenzie and Jeff, my son-in-law, feel they have been called to this location. I hate it, but I understand we have no choice but to answer God's call wherever he calls us. I pray daily for their protection and God's hand in providing relief to the poor, the addicts, the homeless, the mentally unstable, the forgotten, and downtrodden, not just in L.A. but around our country and around the world. Even though I hate it, I am also proud of her. But, I also can honestly tell you, I am praying that God bring them home safely and give my daughter a mission closer to home. Yet, my waffling on her calling will tell you, WE NEED MORE OF HER and JEFF in this world, willing to make sacrifices to save a few. Last night in one of our discussions, Mckenzie shared a thought. She said, "We just want to keep them alive and healthy long enough that they can get to know JESUS." You can't argue with that. 

As I am reading the book or Revelation at the time, this FINAL BOOK in God's story holds so much mystery for the church and those who are awaiting Christ's return. There have been very heated debates about the meaning of the words, what has happened, what is happening right now in world affairs, and what is going to happen as Jesus arrives one last time. I have such mixed feelings about it. Sometimes the sadness, the pain, the attacks of the enemy are almost too much to bare. Yet, I am always thinking... Is there JUST ONE MORE we can help discover Christ before the FINAL JUDGMENT?

I was reading chapters 10-12 this morning and these verses stuck out in my mind:

"It has come at last -- salvation and power and the Kingdom of God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth -- the one who accuses them vefore our God day and night. And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. Therefore, rejoice, of heavens, rejoice! But terror will come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time." (Revelation12:10-12, NLT)

JESUS defeated SATAN on the cross. The blood of the Lamb guarantees our victory. But, the devil, knowing his days are nearing an end is attacking the earth. He is attacking the mosts vulnerable. He is attacking believers. He is attacking all of creation. He is desperate, because he knows the reign of Christ began after he defeated death and sin on the cross. 

While we ALL look forward to the days of no more crying, no more sorrow, no more death, and no more hate, we know our work is not done on the earth. Lives can still be saved and we are willing to do whatever it takes to save, even just one. 

I continue to pray for my daughter's protection in the midst of so much evil. I pray for protection for all my daughters, their families, and the followers of Jesus who are on mission to serve HIM. The DAY of JUDGMENT is at HAND!