Wednesday, October 24, 2007

A Vivid Reminder

I have been busy of late, so for the first time in some time, I clicked on some of the major news sites this evening, and was stunned to see California burning. Allot could be said, but this is not the time. If anything, what is happening in California at this hour, should serve as a vivid reminder to all of us how quickly the things we tend to trust in can become nothing more than ash, scattered by the wind.
If our hearts are tethered to things, if our hope is rooted in this earth, when the things are gone, and the earth is aflame, all that will remain is emptiness, an emptiness that will suffocate us like so much smoke, and bring us to our knees crying out in desperation.
Oh, that our hope would be rooted in eternity, and our hearts tethered to Christ! Oh, that we would stand on the sure foundation of His promises, nothing will shake us, and come what may we will rest in the knowledge that by His strength we will overcome.
Remember the people of California in your prayers tonight, during your time of devotion, as you hope they would remember you if it were your home that was destroyed, and your possessions turned to soot.
Now is not the time to cry out 'we told you so', for what is happening now is merely a preview of what is to come, for the repentance that was perpetually offered was continually rejected, and the grace that was freely given was so shamefully abused.
Now is the time to pray, to feel, to hurt, to weep with those who weep, to empathise, and to be thankful to our heavenly Father that He has seen fit to spare us these tragedies, that we have seen the depth of His mercies, and have felt the touch of His love.
The years of plenty are well behind us dear friends, the years of feasting and reveling, of pushing the boundaries of excess and opulence, of living only for ourselves, only for the flesh, only for the now. Dark days are on the horizon, when reality will shatter the imaginary world, and the imaginary gods so many have fashioned for themselves, and we will know His righteous judgment, and see with our own eyes that He is a consuming fire.
Tonight I weep with those who weep, tomorrow we resume the battle for truth and righteousness, for godliness and sanctification, but tonight, if only tonight, I weep.

With love in Christ,

Michael Boldea Jr.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amen, Brother Michael, Amen.
Mrs. Pugh

Anonymous said...

Michael-

I used to anticipate and hope that Yahveh will one day punish the ungodly of this nation. The closer I come to Him, the more I grieve that He has to do it, and feel His grief at His needing to do it. I no longer look forward to the outpouring of His justice, as I know He takes no pleasure in it Himself. He deeply mourns the need to pour out His wrath, even upon those whom it falls. It gives Him no pleasure to destroy the ungodly.

He deeply desires mercy, and longs to show Himself gracious for those He loves so much, even those who will never care for/ know of His love.

God desires to pour out mercy rather than wrath, graciousness than destruction. We need to remember this, and be vessels of His mercy, even as His wrath begins to fall.

ch

Anonymous said...

Mike,

Very well spoken. There is a time laugh and a time to cry...

I remember when you and your grand dad came to North West Florida and shared what the future held for this country.

God Bless

Chuck N.
Mobile, Al (now)

Anonymous said...

Amen

Anonymous said...

i don't think there has ever been a time when we could see what is happening before our eyes as it happens.
I watched as the news chopper's filmed the incredible inferno swallow the estates and homes of the wealthy and not so wealthy around Lake Arrowhead.
I was stunning to see such oppulent homes destroyed in such short time with everything they owned,the people having only enough time to flee.
I wonder why the Lord told us to remember Lot's wife ?
I heard a shaken,crying homeowner saying she had just enough time to grab her bible,the most important possession she had she said.
It was the most moving moment of all.
I know this terrible event has caused many people to re-examine the foundations they have built their lives on.
Thankfully ,the number of death's is very,very low.
I can't help but see it as another of God's warnings before the sudden destruction comes from Him.
If we have been given to comfort and careless ease ,this is meant to awaken us from our slumber as this earth is in final confrontation,war with it's Maker.
The Lord has promised to hide us under His wings because we trust in Him.
---------
With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments [are] in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
Isaiah 26:9

The storms Jesus warned us of are here.
We don't know where they will hit next.

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Matt.7:24

Elm Street Chapel said...

It is true that this is only the beginning. And if that is not enough to make us cry out then I don't know what is.

Although I do pray that the Lord would be with His and have mercy on these people, I also pray that this would cause those who have slumbered to wake and seek God as never before. The day of darkness is soon upon us, but as we know, many sleep.

God give us wisdom to know what it is you require of us, give us the faith to stand in the days to come, and give us confidence that we would never hold back the words that you have spoken to us.

God be with us both now and in the days to come.

Ryan
ryancfrench@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

It occurred to me that in all the upheaval, and displacement of so many people, that God may in his mercy actually be moving some out of harm's way. We all know that much greater devastation in the form of earthquakes, and tital waves are coming to that area. So many are asleep even in the warnings, and some he may be actually moving them, before the greater disaster comes upon them. May that wake up, and here the Lord. He is merciful and kind, even in his righteous Judgement, and no man can receive anything except it come from the Lord. In other words he is in control, even if it is the work of the enemy. It will be to the good us his own, even if on the face of things, it appears as a disaster. Praise God !!!

Elm Street Chapel said...

Michael,
I don't know what to think about these times. Waiting on God, hearing, warning, seeking what the Spirit is saying. I read your thoughts and have a slightly different take. The people who ask why, don't know. The people who say why me, exclude themselves. The people who just accept, are clueless. Judgement unto repentence requires knowledge of both. No one rejoices in the judgement of the wicked. No one with a right heart would say "I told you so", like the message or event was of themselves or their doing. The responce to that hautiness would certainly cause anger, not that the messenger is ever loved (except by the wise who will thank him). Being caught flatfooted, as so may saved and losted are, will never be pleasant. It almost seems that not hearing the cry, "come out and be seperate", is the same for the saved and losted as well. These signs and wonders are for those who have ears to hear. They (ears) are the virgins, or those who are are seperated. It puts me in mind of the bread shortage in Romania when God told your grandfather 3 days prior to buy bread. The righteous see trouble coming and are prepared (By the hand and grace of God).

No the question in my mind is when will we set our face like flint in doing what must be done. If we allow emotion to move us we will ever be torn between sorrow and Spirit (not to say we won't be obedient). It's as though one who is warned escapes the city, but the sword follows, or famine, or pestilence, or beast. It seems the only constant message would be, "come out and be seperate and be not partakers of the wrath to come".
L,J,P&HG
Dave

Anonymous said...

With respect to California burning, my first thought was the wrong one. I then began to pray for those in it's wake. This is only the beginning of much sorrow and pain for America.

Anonymous said...

Ya should check out this website www.nasa.gov/wildfires on the day October 24 and look at the satellite pictures of the wildfires see if you can see the face in the smoke that I saw.A battle in the heavenlies like is mentioned in Daniel. pray against the evil over that part of our country here. Love lil sis in Jesus