It's The Thought That Counts?

I’m sure you’ve heard that saying "it’s the thought that counts" but sometimes you have to wonder. There are times that I have. I’m sure we have all opened Christmas presents and wondered about the gifters’ thought process in the gift they wrapped up for us.

Here are some odd, funny and unusual gifts I have received over the years:

Ice Scraper for Windshield - I immediately think back to this one whenever this subject comes up. A co-worker gifted me this one year. A few things to note here. I was living in Macon, Georgia at the time which was not really big on ice problems and I parked in a garage. Not sure what the thought process was on that one.

Jumbo Box of Dolphin-shaped Goldfish crackers - Yeah, this happened. I love dolphins and somehow I was getting lots of dolphin-themed things at the time. This one bottomed it out. The awkward part was when I was unwrapping it and the gifter was watching in anticipation of my reaction. I had to immediately put on the best fake happy face I could.

Book on how to deal with difficult co-workers - At the time, I was part of a small group of IT people in the office. The four of us decided to have our own Christmas party and gift exchange. One of our co-workers gifted us all with the same book about how to deal with difficult co-workers. The ironic thing was that SHE was the difficult co-worker.

Christmas letter - One co-worker thought it was a good idea to give each of us a copy of her annual family Christmas letter which detailed the highlights of what they had accomplished over the past year. Most of us "filed" it away after the gift exchange.

Mannequin hands - One year at an office Christmas party I received a trash bag full of mannequin hands from a local department store. Why you might ask? At the time I was an assistant to an office of eight investigators. During times when they were all demanding something from me at the same time, I would often say that "I only have two hands." One of the investigators was funny with his gift of more "hands" for me.

Strange right? And the gifts I described above were not "white elephant" or gag gifts.

I have also had some very nice gifts over the years and very thoughtful gifts. Unfortunately, I have somehow become one of those people which are difficult to buy for. I wish that wasn't the case. Just don't get me an ice scraper or floor mats from Weather Tech. As one former pastor used to say, "You can never go wrong with money. It's always the right size and right color." Some are hesitant about gifting gift cards too but I am never offended by that. I'd rather get a gift card than a jumbo box of dolphin shaped goldfish crackers.

Is the Rapture Next?

When I was a child growing up in the church, several of us viewed the movie "Thief in the Night" which was a Christian movie about the rapture. This movie stirred a lot of people at the time with anticipation that the rapture would take place at any moment. All of my life I have heard about the rapture and that Jesus is coming soon. Events have come and gone where people were expecting this prophetic event to happen but it hasn't.

Here we are.

We are closer to it now. Many experts in Bible prophecy have concluded that nothing else needs to happen for the rapture to take place.

So what is the rapture?

This is an event where Jesus returns to take his believers from the Earth. Many refer to the Bible passage in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 which says that the Lord will come down from heaven with a loud command and the dead in Christ will rise first then those believers who are alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord.

Sounds a bit far-fetched doesn’t it?

Well, if you are looking at the prophetic map there would be a sign that indicates that "we are here".

The rapture is for believers, not a specific church denomination.

How will this happen? Will believers just disappear?

The only clue we have is in Matthew 24:39-41 where one is taken and the other left behind. I will admit that I do not have a scientific explanation on how this will happen. In many depictions I have seen or read about the rapture is that the physical bodies will suddenly disappear. I have also wondered if maybe the souls would be taken and physical bodies were left behind. I don't think anyone knows for sure. I can only image the media coverage of this event will spin this one out of control with their own theories and what they are told to say about it. Regardless of how it happens, it is definitely the next event to happen now that it appears that the Anti-Christ or the one who makes the way for the Anti-Christ will soon emerge.

Of course the experts do not agree on when the rapture will take place. There is a "tribulation period" which is a seven year period when God's judgment will come upon the Earth and many differ on where the rapture is on that timeline. Some think the rapture will take place before the tribulation, some think in the middle of it and others at the end.

I know this is difficult to believe and understand. It's a lot and there are so many different interpretations regarding the rapture and end times prophecy but the fact remains that Jesus foretold of his return. Here's what He told the disciples when they asked Him about signs to look for:

"Watch out that no one deceives you.  Many will claim to be the Messiah or Chosen one and deceive many."

I think it is pretty clear that we have seen recently - and will continue to see this played out in world politics.

"There will be wars and rumors of wars. Nation will rise up against nation and kingdom against kingdom."

Currently there are 110 wars going on across the world.

"There will be famines and earthquakes in different places."

A total of approximately 1.9 million people experiencing some form of hunger right now in the world. There have been 1,374 earthquakes so far this year.

Do I write all this to scare you? No, not at all. We just need to be aware of what's going on in our world and be informed of how it all is playing out in Biblical prophecy. Again, I am no expert in this area. I don't think anyone knows for sure. What I do know is that the United States of America is weakened now and has elected a deceiver who will lead us down this path. We are definitely closer now than we have ever been before.

When You Feel Less Than Perfect

I am a believer in Jesus Christ. I have been my whole life. That isn't going to change and I am not ashamed of that.

Before you scroll past, let me assure you that even though I am a Christian, I am not one of THOSE Christians. I am not a believer who follows a politician or preacher. There is no one else but Christ. No other "chosen one" but Him.

Let me tell you that even though I am a believer, I do screw up sometimes. Sometimes they are huge. I don't have it figured out and many times I have to come back and repair the damage I have made. Being a Christian doesn't make me not human. I'm every bit human. I mess up but I don't give up. Many days I wake up and wipe the slate clean and begin with a new mind and focus.

I am not alone. The Bible is filled with less-than-perfect people.

Noah got drunk
Jonah ran away
Moses stuttered
Abraham was old
Lazarus was dead
Peter had a temper
David had an affair
Zaccheus was short
Martha had anxiety
Paul was a murderer
Jacob was a cheater
Gideon was insecure
Sarah was impatient
Elijah was depressed
Miriam was a gossiper
Thomas was a doubter
Rahab was a prostitute

We all have limitations and conflicts.  Even the Bible "heroes" had their issues but God still used them.  Becoming a believer in Christ doesn't make you above everyone and it certainly doesn't mean you have to be crazy.  

To be honest with you, I have some days when I just think I'm a failure.  How can God use me?  What good am I to Him?  There's nothing special about me.  I'm not a preacher, missionary or anything dynamic.  I'm just me.  Sometimes being me isn't easy.  I look at my life many times and see why God didn't give me any kind of ministry or calling.  I floundered so much with that early in my life.  I'm not sure I have found it but I just live one day at a time.  Some days are good and some days aren't so good.  

One thing I do is that I press forward.  It may not always be easy but it will be worth it in the end.  I refuse to give up.  I always think of that old hymn:

"I am determined to hold out to the end,

Jesus is with me, on Him I can depend.

And I know I have salvation, for I feel it in my soul,

I am determined to hold to the end."

God doesn't use perfect people, He uses people who don't give up and those who rise above their imperfections.