Good morning, siestas. Today is the day my Curtis comes home and I want to thank you for praying for us. I know he had a very powerful experience in India and I can’t wait to hear all the details. I’m sure he will want to share his experience with you, too. Jackson and I did great. We had one 48 hour stretch that was pretty tough, but other than that we did better than I thought we would. God was faithful to meet our needs every day.
I also want to share something that I wrote yesterday. Up until a few days ago we were one of the families with a missing loved one from the Galveston area. Praise God, our loved one has been found. Then I had a dream two nights ago that I was one of the people who didn’t evacuate the island in time for Hurricane Ike and it was so upsetting. God used those things to burn this on my heart.
The National Weather Center issued the stern warning to those living on the coast: “Those living in one or two-story single family homes must evacuate or face certain death.” It was debated whether the wording was too dramatic. For some, maybe it was, but the words were sadly appropriate for what may amount to hundreds of others. Unbelievably large numbers of people did not heed the warning. They wanted to stay with their homes and be able to protect their belongings after the storm. What they didn’t consider was that there would be nothing left to save, regardless of their presence. The hurricane would not make landfall until Saturday, but they didn’t plan on the storm surge reaching the coast as early as Friday afternoon. With the sun still shining, the gulf waters began overtaking Bolivar Peninsula, making a last minute evacuation impossible for hundreds of people. They drank in the sight of water covering the roadways and were forced to swallow the bitter pills of regret and dread. They called for help, but only a fraction could be rescued before the winds became too strong for the helicopters. They called their loved ones and said, “I made a mistake. I’m really in trouble here.” They were helpless. And their loved ones are left traumatized. Emergency operators would receive countless calls for help during the storm. They would not be able to offer any hope. It was too late. In complete and utter darkness, people were swept to sea in their own homes. Their broken, swollen bodies are currently being recovered all along the coast amid debris, alligators, water moccasins, and swarms of mosquitoes. The Houston Chronicle reports that hundreds of people are unaccounted for. You can go to their web site and search the names and faces of missing fathers, mothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, sons and daughters. It is horrifying.
In the midst of this, while many in this region remain mercifully unaware due to lack of power and/or cable TV, our country is on the verge of financial disaster. And while the coast is still cleaning up, we will elect a new president and proceed to change administrations in the middle of a war. Simply put, it is all very scary.
People, look around and see that the storm surge of Hell is rising around us. It is lapping at the Sea Wall. It is beginning to flood the only road off the island. We stand on the decks of our fancy beach homes built on sand and watch the water rising, submerging the pillars we trusted to keep us safe. We’ve already been warned of disaster. Scripture says “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). And “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Our sin – the thing inside us that makes us do wrong – has earned us spiritual death, an eternity apart from God. Indeed, an eternity in hell. The hell on earth around us now is only a shadow of what is to come when we will reap the terrible harvest of the sin we sowed on this earth. It is a dire message. A terrible thing to have to hear. But true.
My friends, the good news is that we still have time to call the Emergency Operator and ask to be saved. While the Bible says that we deserve death, it also says “But the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). We can call upon Jesus to save us – from ourselves and from the unquenchable fire of hell that is eager to overtake us all. There is a way out, but there is only one way. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Call on Jesus.
“Therefore [Jesus] is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.” (Hebrews 7:25-26)
Jesus made a way for us to be saved when He came to earth and lived a perfect life. He was fully man and at the same time fully God. He was completely without sin. He laid down His life for us while we were still doing everything wrong and spitting in His face. He loved us that much. He was tortured, then nailed to a cross and died. On that cross He bore the wrath of God for all of humanity’s sin. He suffered and died in our place.
He was resurrected on the third day and appeared to many men. This is one of the most well documented facts in history. All of time revolves around His resurrection. At this moment He sits on a throne in Heaven next to God. He waits for us to call upon Him for salvation, to surrender our lives to Him, to put our hope and trust in Him. Romans 10:9-12 says, “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, ‘Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.'” He waits with open arms for the Saved, the Forgiven, the Rescued to enter into the splendor of an eternity with Him. There, the foundation is solid and there is no fear. There is only joy and the fulfillment of every need of your immortal soul in the presence of the One who created you.
Just like the hundreds of people who died needlessly when they did not heed the evacuation orders on the coast, we will suffer in hell needlessly if we do not take Jesus Christ up on His offer of salvation. What? You think you don’t deserve to be rescued? Well no one does. It is all by grace, no matter how “good” you seemed or how “bad” you were. What? You want to stay in your house and protect all that you’ve gathered for yourself on this earth? It will all be destroyed anyway. What? Your husband won’t go with you? You’d rather stay behind with him and ride it out? How foolish. Take your children and go. Call upon His name before it is too late.
Hurricane Hell is in the gulf. It is churning. It will certainly make landfall for each of us, but we are not given a forecast. We do not know when it will hit, but we do know that it brings with it “certain death.” Will we say the warning is too stern? Or will we call upon the Savior and be rescued?
Wow Amanda – powerful words you bring from our Lord, yet so comforting to know we have a life line out of here. I pray that those who needed to hear those words will heed and obey. Bless you and your sweet family as you continue to share all that God has given you to challenge us with. In Christ’s love 🙂
No truer words!
Listen, can I just say how much I appreciate that you all talk to us- to me? I love this blog, I love Beth’s 2-minute word. It’s an encouragement as I run out the door. And I LOVE the 30 minute teaching. It is often part of my quiet time. Thank you for continuing to do all you do. I know it must be a lot- overwhelming at times. But we are a hungry bunch out here. You must have a clue of what Moses felt trying to feed his thousands. Bless you girls, and all at LPM, for serving us such a banquet! It’s absolutely delicious!
Wow…AMEN!
Strong Words…AMEN!
Preach it Sista! AMEN!
Thank you for this wonderful post.
Thank you sweet sister for sharing your heart, mind, and soul with us.
A friend asked me these questions yesterday – it was posed to him in his men’s study:
“When was the last time you wept over someone’s spiritual condition? And were you so moved to do something about it?”
When I read this post, I was convicted of not really realizing (and I’m wondering even truly caring) the kind of eternity some folks are facing.
When WAS the last time you wept over someone’s spiritual condition?
Julie
GA
Whoa!! Powerful! Preach on sistah, or should I say siesta! terri
Amen! The Lord continues to show how His love endures forever! He, through you, expressed greatly how He wants to be our Ultimate Savior, Rescuer and our Heavenly Father! Thank you for dedication in serving the Lord. Through your ministry for the Lord, many lives are being transformed, and I was one of them. Praise God because I now have that huge desire for others to seek Him and be rescued for the new earth before Hurricane hell comes!
Much love to you all!
Lea
Dear Amanda,
Your post was incredibly profound. Praise God for using you to give a practical visual to deeply touch all who read it. You touched me.
I'm so glad Curtis is home safely and that you and Jackson survived. You are a noble servant to let Curtis travel so far from home to minister to those in such dire need. I can't wait to hear his stories on Tuesday. It's so hard for us to fathom selling our children as sex slaves. Tragic.
Thank you, also, for sharing Curtis with us on Tuesday nights.
And you know, you would be a great substitute if he's ever away again! 🙂
Bless you, Jackson, & that BGJ (Baby Girl Jones)!!
ann
thank you for speaking such Truth, Amanda.
Lord, Jesus, let us feel the urgency…may Your Holy Spirit empower us to warn all that we can in the time we have. Have mercy, Lord, please. In Your Saving Name, amen.
Amanda,
Hello! Out of 162 posts I really hope you read this one! I was on the Living Proof website today and saw that Curtis is now on staff! When I saw his picture my jaw dropped! I went to Kindergarten with Curtis here in Springfield/Willard Mo.
The funny thing about this is, he was my first crush!Heehee He gave me my first Valentine( a Choc. heart) and sat with me on the bus, just the other day I found a photo of us and was showing my 6 yr old daughter my “first boyfriend”. What a small world!!! I wanted to share my story about Curtis, and let you know.. Your mother’s ministry has been a huge blessing to my life and I love you and Beth my sisters in Christ!!!!
No need to post this, unless it benefits…it’s really too long. That is OK, I really just wanted to communicate with you, Amanda, to say, Oh, GOODNESS! Today’s blog reminds me of a dream I had a few years back that put a panic in me. I think about it occasionally, not really sure what to do with it, in my current stage of life. This blog entry has re-igited that fire! UFDA! (yes, I’m from MN!)
I had a dream that I was standing on one side of what would be thought of as the grand canyon. This was the side of the Lord. I was on His side and I was safe (saved). On the other side, however, there were people that were NOT safe (saved). In this dream, I knew I was procrastinating. I was to go over to get them and help them (encourage them)to walk this really narrow path that crossed over the canyon to the side of Jesus. I was to tell them of the “something” bad that was coming if they stayed on that side. They were in danger. There was a path, but it was very narrow. (stray but a little…ouch) I kept looking in one direction as I FINALLY started out to go “bring others over” knowing that SOMETHING was coming. I just knew it was about to appear, so I kept looking over again and again as I walked that scarey path. When I finally got to the other side and started leading people over, there appeared in the horizen between the two sides of the canyon a HUGE surge of water coming, like a giant wave that was going to completely cover the path back. In my mind, I kept thinking “oh,no! It’s too late. I waited too long to help them…” The water gets closer and closer as we’re in the middle of the path crossing over…then I woke up. With a panic. It makes me wonder- when will I heed the Lord’s warnings to “GET BUSY” even as He uses these things of nature to speak to us. Your blog entry referring to the tragedy surrounding the hurricane, was so vivid in the urgency to heed the warning that once He returns, the ONLY way to be saved is GONE. It’s too late.
Thanks for the stirring entry!
Wow! What a powerful way to present the gospel. I love it. I hope many unsaved people read it and turn their lives over to God.
All I can say is “AMEN, Sister” Preach on!! Thanks be to God for His infinite Grace!!
Dana
Amanda…thank you for this word. It will help me as I minister to those who feel that they have all the time in the world…that they are secure.
With so much going on in this world right now, the ONLY security we have is in Christ!
You put this so well, I’m sure that I will use the words God gave you to deliver a storm warning to others!
Bless you!
Thank you for your writing! – We are doing Judgement House at our church in the coming weeks and I have been on the alert for devotions to provide for some of the actors as encouragement – this is perfect – We are not promised tomorrow on this earth and need to share the message with so many!