In memory of September 11, 2001, I will link to a post that I wrote 9/11/2011 and have updated most years since. You can read it HERE. I really don't feel like updating it or adding anything further to it today, but perhaps pause in silence as we remember all those souls that perished on that infamous day 23 years ago.
I posted this picture of our sunrise this morning, with the following verse attached:
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NKJV
"The Comfort of Christ’s Coming"
"13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words."
I thought that passage would be appropriate for today, as we think of so many who passed from this life into eternity on that terrible day. We don't know how many of those dear ones had faith in Christ unto salvation...we can only hope and pray that they knew Christ in their hearts and that they are with Him, safe in His loving arms today. For each of us it should be a reminder of just how quickly and unexpectedly our life can be taken from us, and we should be sure of our salvation now while there is still time. There is no time like the present to accept God's free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ His Son.
Acts 4:8-12 NKJV
"8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them,
“Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:
9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man,
by what means he has been made well,
10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead,
by Him this man stands here before you whole.
11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders,
which has become the chief cornerstone.’
12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Yesterday we were headed to do some shopping at "Ollie's" ("Good Stuff Cheap"), and suddenly right before us in the parking lot was this yellow tape, thankfully barring us from going any further and right onto this sinkhole!
After we safely parked our car farther away from this area, I tip-toed up to the yellow taped off area and took a closer picture. I didn't dare get any closer, as sinkholes are notorious for appearing suddenly and swallowing up anything and everything within a close proximity to it. There's no telling how far down one would fall, possibly into a bottomless pit. One poor soul did die that way several years ago in Florida when a sinkhole opened up under his house and swallowed his house with him sleeping in his bed. They were never able to recover him. You can read more about that story HERE. Sinkholes are not that unusual here in Florida, especially during periods of frequent rains. You can read more about how they happen HERE.
Again, it just reinforces the fact that no one knows when something could happen to call us "home" quickly and unexpectedly. It's best to be sure that we are ready to go.
Well, to close this post on a more pleasant thought, little by little I am starting to get some fall decorations out and about here and there. I figure if I do a little something everyday, by the end of September we should be completely decorated for the autumn season! After all, fall doesn't really start until September 22nd anyway, so I'm right on time! So here are some of my "Wednesday Treasures" for today:
'Tis the season to be "grateful" and to "gather" with friends and loved ones and enjoy every moment we can! So why not come on over for a cup of Pumpkin Spice tea with me? Maybe, if I know you are coming, I will bake an apple pie! (better give me lots of notice! LOL)
May God bless you my friends!
Until we meet again...
