Maranatha - Awaiting Christ's Return

1 Cor. 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Tag: 2 Corinthians 6:2

Hymns 2.0 – Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling

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On October 18, 2023

In Devotionals, Hymns 2.0

Lyrics (click here to hear instrumental)

  1. Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
    Calling for you and for me;
    See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
    Watching for you and for me.
    • Refrain:
      Come home, come home,
      You who are weary, come home;
      Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
      Calling, O sinner, come home!
  2. Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
    Pleading for you and for me?
    Why should we linger and heed not His mercies,
    Mercies for you and for me?
  3. Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
    Passing from you and from me;
    Shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
    Coming for you and for me.
  4. Oh, for the wonderful love He has promised,
    Promised for you and for me!
    Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon,
    Pardon for you and for me.
Will Thompson

The History Behind the Hymn

I didn’t find anything in this hymn’s history that related to “a story behind the hymn.” However, I did find this:

Will Lamartine Thompson (1847-1909) was born in Pennsylvania and died in New York City. He attended Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio, and the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, before continuing his musical studies in Leipzig, Germany.

Hymnologist Ernest Emurian told a story associated with this hymn: “When the world-renowned lay preacher, Dwight Lyman Moody, lay on his deathbed in his Northfield, Massachusetts, home, Will Thompson made a special visit to inquire as to his condition. The attending physician refused to admit him to the sickroom, and Moody heard them talking just outside the bedroom door. Recognizing Thompson’s voice, he called for him to come to his bedside. Taking the Ohio poet-composer by the hand, the dying evangelist said, ‘Will, I would rather have written “Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling” than anything I have been able to do in my whole life.’”

https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-softly-and-tenderly-jesus-is-calling

A Lesson for Me

1 Kings 19:11-12  And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:  (12)  And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

Although today’s hymn revolves around salvation, the phrase “Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling” is what stood out to me. Jesus doesn’t come out in full force, screaming to get your attention. We see in 1 Kings that the LORD (Jehovah) was not in the noises and frightful views. No, God was in a “still small voice.”

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.

Message for today

Jesus doesn’t force anyone to be born again. No! In fact, I have heard a saying that I love: “He is a Gentleman, not forcing Himself on anyone”! Reader, how many times has your heart been stirred in a message in church or something you’ve read? That’s the still small voice! Did a long-lost friend come into your life and told you about the changes that came over him when he was born again? Did you feel a nudge? That’s the still small voice!

Times are getting difficult in this world. Two significant wars are currently underway and rumors of wars on the horizon. There is no comfort to be had in this world at this moment in time.

2Co 6:2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Isa 55:6-7  Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:  (7)  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

There is a still small voice waiting to speak to you! You only need to crowd out life’s noises and sit still. Hear and listen before it’s eternally too late for you!

Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
Pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not His mercies,
Mercies for you and for me?

If you are not truly born-again, there is coming a time when it will be too late for you to repent and be saved. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Rapture and End Time News – The A.I. Genie Is Out of the Bottle

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On June 30, 2023

In Devotionals, Rapture and End Time News

Dan 12:4  But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

Today, man may think he is full of knowledge. His original creations may not be what he/she intended to be in the end. Take Artificial Intelligence (AI), for example. It’s been years in the making; step by step man has designed something better, faster and greater than its predecessor. AI is getting more complex – there are no regulations in place to pull the plug if necessary. Elon Musk said it best:

“If you’re not concerned about AI safety, you should be. Vastly more risk(y) than North Korea.”

In fact, it seems that ever since Artificial Intelligence has come out in the news, it’s all we are hearing about! I doubt very much it is a “fad” and will eventually go away. I believe it is here to stay and will grow exponentially! CBN’s news item on Artificial Intelligence, AI, is excellent and has some poignant questions and points. Watch the video until the end; you won’t regret it.

“We have to make sure when designing this that humans stay in the pilot seat, and actually make sure that God is in the pilot seat.”

https://www2.cbn.com/news/world/ai-genie-out-bottle-can-it-be-shifted-threat-gospel-tool

Do you see how AI could be an issue in the future? We are only skimming the surface in our knowledge of its use. The average person has no idea what it takes to keep AI moving into the future. But the greatest scientific minds knew what could happen.

“The development of artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race,” according to Stephen Hawking. 

The renowned theoretical physicist isn’t alone with this thought.

“[AI] scares the xxxx out of me,” Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk once said at the SXSW tech conference. “It’s capable of vastly more than almost anyone knows, and the rate of improvement is exponential.”

We are in an age where knowledge seems to be out of control. Ground-breaking discoveries are made daily in this field and believers can’t help but wonder how it will culminate into the rise of the Antichrist.

Pro 1:7  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Men’s pride is foolish – they don’t want to be told what to do. In the end, it is God who will have the last word. Instead of seeking after God and His Word to gain wisdom, men would rather be prideful and seek after their own knowledge and that of their fellow man.

Daniel prophesied what would happen in the end times. Imagine living in Daniel’s time (3304-3399 B.C.) and seeing the future? How would one even describe A.I.? How about describing a plane? When you read biblical books on prophecy, you have to put yourself in the prophet’s shoes to understand to what they are referring.

Is it any wonder that God told Daniel to shut up the words and seal the book until the end of time? The words would not have made sense any other time than now. Born-again believers are longing for the Lord to return in the clouds to come get us.

1 Cor 15:50-57  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.  (51)  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,  (52)  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  (53)  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  (54)  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.  (55)  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?  (56)  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.  (57)  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

If you are not born-again, you will miss this blessed event called the Rapture! Don’t delay your salvation. NOW is the day for you to be saved! (2 Corinthians 6:2)

The time is coming when it will be too late for you to repent. You will remember each opportunity you were given by God to be saved; you will remember each time you laughed it off and ignored it. Please Reader, repent and accept Christ into your life. (Act 16:31, Rom 10:9) I want to be sure that anyone who reads the posts on this blog can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are going to Heaven. Have you received Christ as your Saviour? If no, your sins are not covered by His sacrificial offering of Himself. You have not been redeemed by His blood. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

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