anvils out of heaven

anvils
out of heaven

The
other day, one of the most intense rain storms I’ve ever experienced
rushed over the hill and right up to our Romanian valley house. I
thought, what a perfect time to go for a run!

It
was one of the most radical experiences of my life. The rain was
flying so hard that I could only run in one direction. The wind was
so powerful that it was difficult to breathe. My neck was red from
the drops of rain that were falling like anvils out of heaven. I
pulled my shirt up over my head, and used my hands to guard the areas
of my face still exposed. The field I was running through instantly
flooded, and each stride I struggled to find a secure step amidst the
mud and water. At one point it was so bad, that I paused to take
shelter behind a concrete pillar. On the way back, I had to run
directly into the wind and rain. I was probably running slower than
most people walk on a normal day. When I got back I had so much
pressure in my head that I seriously considered the possibility that
I got struck by lightning. I reasoned that since I was listening to
music, I might not have noticed…

On
the way back I started to shout to God. Here are some declarations I
made while running through the falling flood:

-I
will accomplish everything that You have called me to

-I
will be patient for the love of my life

-I
will love You as You have loved me

-I
will love others as You have loved me

God’s
reply was this:

There’s
no time to waste. There’s no time to waste. There’s no time to
waste.

So God spoke, and He kept speaking.  God had more to say.  In the distance there was the siren of a train.  Trains can be alarming, they are so loud and fast and powerful.  While the train was sounding in the distance I heard,

“I’m coming”

First I thought God was again referring to the help that He is sending me.  But there was more that followed which changed that thought…

“Prepare the way”

“I’m coming soon”

Wow.  In the stillness, in the quiet, in the solitude of the lake, God decided to speak to me.  And He said

“I’m coming.  Prepare the way.  I’m coming soon.”

And when He does come, it will be like that train.  Loud and fast and powerful.

So my question for you is

‘Are you ready?’

And if you’re answer is no, email me so I can help you get ready.

And if you’re answer is yes, my question is

‘Are they ready?’

And if you’re answer is no, help them to get ready.

And if you’re answer is yes, find someone who’s not ready, and get them ready.

Because Jesus is coming back.  And we need to prepare the way, because He is coming soon.  And when He comes it will be like that train, Loud and Fast and Powerful.

“For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man… At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn.  They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.  And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.  Now learn this lesson from the fig tree:  As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.  Even so, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, right at the door.  I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.  No one knows about the day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.  For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away.  That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.  Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.  Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.  Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.  But understand this:  If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.  So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Jesus Speaking, as recorded in Matthew 24:27-44)