I wonder, how many of us here on this forum, are afraid of the events that are about to unfold. As we spend time pouring over the clues and signs that God has given us, and as we become more and more convinced that Jesus will be coming for us soon, isn't it natural to become afraid on some level that we may get caught up in some of the catastrophes that are going to begin happening?

I want so much to be able to arrive in heaven and have the Lord say that I really trusted him, even when things were getting scary down here. I really want that! Especially when he has revealed so much to us at this late hour.

It's as though the Lord were giving us this special window of time to really bolster our trust in him, by revealing things to us, as though he were saying, this is going to happen - do you believe that it will?
Okay now, do you trust that I can take care of you as these things happen?

I don't want to let him down. If we are here for any of it, I want to be a last minute pillar of strength for those, who's eyes will only be opened by shocking catastrophes that cause them tremendous fear.

Let's not forget to pray for each other as we pray for the unsaved of this world. Love you all!

I want so much to be able to arrive in heaven and have the Lord say that I really trusted him...

LisaDawn...

I don't think I am as much afraid as I have been feeling numb. With the avalanche of info pouring on us, to disect and ponder, I grow so weary of it at times. Then for me the numbness can turn to doubt and frustration. But I too pray that we all will keep trusting Him no matter what things look like to us or no matter what transpires or doesn't according to what we think we see or know.

JoyfulHeart...

I've been stocking up extra food for the past few weeks as well. My reasoning for it is thinking that we have no idea what we may have to go through in the meantime. Thinking of Hurricane Irene that hit the east coast here. I'm in Rhode Island and even though we were without power for just a day there were others just a town over that were without for almost a week. And Irene hit us as only a tropical storm. I can't imagine if it had been a category 1, 2 or worse.

So with thinsg like storms in mind and whatever else may befall us in the meantime, I thought it wise to have extra food and water on hand.

Dave, we should hang out.  how about early to mid October? =)

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am tired.  Tired of the constant onslaught of evil that permeats this world.  It is so subtle...and non-stop.  It just keeps chipping away.  Pastors are tired.  Parents are tired.  People are just tired.   I met with my pastor the other day and he shared with me that he is very tired.  He has been preaching for over 35 years.  He is not tired of preaching; he is at the point where...church - are you even hearing what I am saying?  He gives amazing sermons, and trust me...he puts it right out there.  And then later...some people in the church will question why he said what he said in his sermon.  I was laying in bed last night and said to our Lord, Jesus...I am so tired.  Let it be now.  His timing is perfect!!!!!!  And I know He hears us!  We are such impatient creatures.  I think we all need to take a deep breath, release the tension and let the Lord do "what  is written".  Let's just sit back for a moment and reflect and praise and TRUST.  Thank you all at RITA.  You continue to be a blessing to me.

Nic:

my greatest fear:

that nothing changes.

that after everything we've seen, after everything that has happened that seems to point the way, and then nothing changes and it's business as usual.............

And everything else you said there... I concur.

That is what I find so unsettling in me as well. What if we are wrong in our interpretations and understandings and the Lord doesn't come as soon as we want? I can't bare the thought of going back to business as usual either!

I am so drained in so many ways and feel so tired and worn out. As a graphic designer by trade I've felt so unmotivated and my creative juices are zapped. I contacted one client, a good friend, yesterday, and told him that I cannot continue doing work for him for a few weeks, that I need to take a break.

I can't get excited anymore of making plans for next week let alone a year from now. So many things I find myself doing these days, I think this will be the last time I do this. We closed up our pool yesterday and put the summer things away until "next year."

It is such an unsettling time for most of us I'm sure. The Lord hasn't revealed all the details to us. Seesm just enough to keep hungering for Him and His appearing.

And really, when you think, the good news if He does tarry longer than we'd like, it can mean more opportunities for those lost to come to know Him. Yet the selfish side of me says, "I want to go now!"

my greatest fear:

that nothing changes.

I'm with Nic.  I've thought about every scenario, the storms, the earthquakes that might threaten.  We just had a big heatwave here in Oregon (nothing like what most of the country had to endure, mind), but I have faith that God will protect my family through it all.  I'm not afraid of the coming birthpangs that might wake more people. 

But I am terrified that the end of September will come and go, and the beginning of October will come and go, and we'll be past that "perfect" scenario for Daniel's 70th week.  If that happens, then nothing of what's been happening will make sense.  If God decides to delay again, then the lunar tetrads in '14/'15 mean nothing.  The other signs in the heavens are nothing as well.  "Business as usual" as Nic puts it.

If nothing happens, then maybe climate change is really what's going on.  Maybe God's not controlling the earthquakes, maybe there IS some HAARP conspiracy earthquake weapon.  Or maybe it's HAARP controlling the weather too.  If nothing happens, then this entire year has been nothing but wishful thinking on my part, in my desire to leave this world so I don't have to face "the rest of my life."

If nothing happens, then I have absolutely NO clue what to look for with regards to signs of Messiah's coming, because at the moment, it all seems quite obvious to me.  But if the Rapture does not come, if the Tribulation isn't at our door, if the UN divides Israel and the Lord lingers, then... how can I possibly know when That Day is actually approaching?  It would seem the Lord would have to do it all again, even bigger and better than today.

And another fear of mine: becoming bitter or jaded if nothing comes to pass.  Either filled with disappointment or depression that might drive a wedge in my relationship between me God.  I will try my hardest to trust and clutch onto His robes so I don't fall behind, but I've grown so deeply in love with our Lord that if He doesn't come, I will probably have myself a good cry for having to wait for my Beloved indefinitely.  It will be like getting a phone call and a letter that your lover is returning from the war, only to find out when he doesn't show up that, nope, he's been deployed for another few years and isn't coming home.

I'm terrified I'll have a broken heart...

~~Becka

i hear you, becka.

all i can say is, "Faith beyond reason." 

we need to have Faith beyond all reason.  in the face of every argument and what we see with our own eyes, still, we have faith.

Faith beyond reason.

"For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." -1 Cor. 1:21-24 (NKJV)

Fellow Ritans,

I'm in sync with all of the thoughts above.  However, in those moments of weakness, I keep handy this Scripture (I personalize it) and it gives me great reassurance:

"Yet I do not waver through unbelief regarding the promises of God, but am strengthened in my faith and give glory to God, being fully persuaded that God has the power to do what He has promised!"  Romans 4:20-21

Hope this blesses you as much as it does me!

Love and blessings,

Lynn

it sure does, dave!

and hey brother, don't you ever feel "less than."  that's straight from the enemy.  you were chosen from the foundations, called to believe in the only Son of God, to believe AND HAVE NOT SEEN!  there is no greater honor in creation that i can think of save the honor of Christ Himself, in which we share by His good grace.

"Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” -John 20:29 (NKJV)

"When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven." -Matt 16:13-17 (NKJV)

you are a brother to Christ, a Son of God, and Heir to the Kingdom.  you are less than no one save God.  it is your birthright by His good pleasure.

all the other stuff is just details.  if there is any power to found in these other things you see, that power comes from God for His purposes to the edification and salvation of others. it has nothing to do with us.

as far as i understand it, there are only two distinctions among men.  those who are willing to follow, and those who are not.

follow and you do as well as any man, if not better.

God bless you brother.

i don't think you sound harsh, atpeace. =)  i've been less active on the forum for that very reason.

speculating can go on forever, but little of it is fruitful.  by and large i get the message to Be Still and know that He is God.

this is enough.  i abide, i wait, i love, i believe, i hold firm to the rock. =)  therein lies peace.

And another fear of mine: becoming bitter or jaded if nothing comes to pass.  Either filled with disappointment or depression that might drive a wedge in my relationship between me God- Becka

Yes Becka. I can identify with this!!! My prayer last night and quite frequently lately is... LORD, I don't want to let you down, I want to be pleasing to you.

For some reason Im not fearful, afraid or anxious.  I wondered why last night.  One reason is because Im ready.  I've disconnected from the WORLD last year and have replaced the world with the WORD of the Lord because this is what the Bible teaches us and trains us for.  I will say that I sometimes get fustrated about wheter Im doing enough for others who arent aware.  Whenever I think about what if it doesnt happen this month... I think if the Lord needs more time for more people in the Kingdom then I can wait.  Part of me is like... BUT Im ready and then Im reminded of people who arent, people that I know and love. So like a good bridesmaid I keep my light burning and keep refreshing my oil with PRAYER, PRAISE & WORSHIP. 

PS Sometimes when Im alone in my house I pretend Im already heaven!!!  It's a good thing to listen to worship music whenever you get overwhelmed, make sure your spiritual armor is on tight.  Enjoy everyday while your here on earth.  Look at the flowers, hug people with you earthly body because soon and very soon...

I don't know if many of you were with RITA last year when we thought it was rapture time on RH 2010.  We thought it was a perfect set up then.  We couldn't see anything happening in 2011.  And when nothing happened there were so many frustrated and disappointed watchers, me included.  But then things were revealed.  Signs were put in place.  Egypt fell, Turkey turned on Israel, the PA put in their bid for a state, Elenin was discovered, the weather went wild and EQ's were everytwhere.  None of these signs existed last year and God showed us all that we were way off with the 2010 guess.  So what if 2011 passes with nothing happening?  Then imagine what we will be shown next year!!  Yes, we are tired and want to go home.  But if we are so sick of sin, imagine how our God feels. 

He is bringing us on a faith journey.  He is taking us step by step through His plan.  His plan may lead to our rapture in a few days.  It may lead to it in a few years.  But I do believe it will be in our lifetime - so we will see it!  But if He is teaching us faith and perserverance, we cannot give into disappointment and doubt.  If He does not come this month, we have got to let this grow our faith in Him, not destroy it.  Yes, things look perfect this year.  But if this isn't the time, imagine how even more perfect it could look next year!  Have faith!  Let God grow your faith! And remember: Without faith it is impossible to please God!

I find myself in agreement with everything that is said here. I also dread the thought of going into October, and all being as it is now - if now worse... that being said, we need to trust in HIM... for He has a time and purpose for everything under heaven..

To every thing there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heavens:

Ecc 3:2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pull up what is planted;

Ecc 3:3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

Ecc 3:4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

Ecc 3:5 a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

Ecc 3:6 a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away;

Ecc 3:7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

Ecc 3:8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Ecc 3:9 What profit does he have who works in that in which he labors?

Ecc 3:10 I have seen the task which God has given to the sons of men to be humbled by it.

Ecc 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in His time; also He has set eternity in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God makes from the beginning to the end.

Fine, I'm the scary-cat here! I totally believe he's coming this year. Not even worried that he won't.

But volcanos! Meteors! Earthquakes! Loss of power (and air-conditioning)!!! Maybe getting separated from my family in the mayhem! No Internet service! WHAT? Are you kidding me?!

Nic, I like how you put it. When I think of dates down the road, they don't seem real. Just darkness.
I agree. It seems that way to me too.

He'll be here. We'll be ready. Seriously, if I get cut off from this forum, I'll be feeling that.

No power outages....No power outages...No power outages...

"Fair Use For Information or Discussion Purposes"

LisaDawn, my dear “LilSis”, thank you so much for starting this thread.  You and what everyone else here ( I’ve read them all) has said has resonated with my heart and spirit.

‘Man-O-Man‘, I am so grateful to the Good Lord for this and other Watchers Oases where ALL of us can come and fellowship together to receive these special comforting support messages for today.  

Thanks again LisaDawn and Blessings to you and yours.

“Many things about tomorrow, I don’t seem to understand, but I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand.”  

http://youtu.be/gAiqKTpzeok

Your brother in Christ’s Wonderful Love and Faithfulness,

Joe  
 

Hi Joseph!

Can't wait to meet you!

I'm gonna keep remembering that God gave us this forum like a gift from above to help us spend our last few days here looking forward to HIM and our upcoming departure.

We have SO MUCH to look forward to. It's like being a little kid again.

We are indeed like little children!

I feel some of your concerns also ~ I think tho that because there have been past disappointments, that I am ready if there is another in the upcoming days. 

How we all long to be with the Lord!  There has to be great significance in the fact that we all share not only a deeper longing to be with Him, but in sensing that within our spirits, we have put this world behind.  We no longer feel a part of it as we once did, not all that long ago.  We all sense it because we are one in the Spirit ~ so let's not lose heart!  Prepare in your hearts that it may not be, but be joyfully ecstatic and gleefully surprised if it is!

At first, I was so excited and wanted to share with my family and friends everything I'd learned about the rapture possibly being this year. Only to hit walls left and right. Then, I felt the need to write left behind letters and stock food. Then, to pray and agonize for those who are unsaved and would be left behind. Now, all I feel is an intense longing to be with Him and nothing more. I don't think I have an ounce of strength left of my own. I'm just hanging onto Him. I even find myself begging Him, "Please, Please God, let it be today!" Then, I ask for forgiveness because of my selfishness.

The only fear I feel is the same as Becka. What if it isn't this year? Can I go another year or even longer? Can I go on pretending to be engaged in activities that I've lost interest in? Putting a smile on my face and pretending to care about things I just don't care about anymore? All I know is that God is God, and I'm not. I trust Him with everything, providing me with the strength to stick it through, trusting Him to bring me along where He wants me to be and how He wants me to be when I get there. I love Him. I am more certain than anything that Jesus wants to be with us as much as we want to be with Him, and as soon as He gets the okay, He will come and get us. Just holding onto Him and Him alone.

Maybe the Lord's allowing us this time to get to know one another better before we actually meet in person. Some days I feel excited another fearful then excited again. This morning as I was praying I had such a peace come over me, I douth I could even explain it. I should be really strung out as I'm getting all my paperwork, insurances and bill paying setup in a file for my grandaughter to be in charge of my affairs if I should die or become unable to carry on myself. Normally things like this makes me edgy because of all the changing of beneficeries,etc. But I just have such peace knowing that no matter what happens he's in control. He's promised to never leave us, even through the valley of death, he's there. If we go through the fire, he's there. If in his mercy and the pleading of moms,dads or whoever he decides to hold off, I will not lose faith. If he waits another yr. I'll cook a wonderful thanksgiving dinner for family and friend and be thankful. I'll shop for gifts for my beautiful little grandaught and lite the tree and sing carols and praise his holy name, but oh if he does come it will be the most wonderful thing in the world. What ever your will is dear Lord, I'll praise you. Please help us all to trust you with your timing and to praise you. How it must grieve our father to know when he removes his lights how very dark this world will become. May your all knowing, loving will be done dear God.

Peace and love to all

Beckabecks wrote:

 

but I've grown so deeply in love with our Lord that if He doesn't come, I will probably have myself a good cry for having to wait for my Beloved indefinitely.  It will be like getting a phone call and a letter that your lover is returning from the war, only to find out when he doesn't show up that, nope, he's been deployed for another few years and isn't coming home.

I'm terrified I'll have a broken heart...

~~Becka

Ditto..seriously....this pretty much sums it up for me....I'm not fearful...just extremely weary and  the thought of more delay ..... I don't want to think about it.

LookingUp

Good thread !!!

 What encouraged me for this year was the endless earthquakes of Christchurch , over 5000 !!!

Add those to all the other incredible signs and you have blast off !!!!

 when my Father was dying , message from The Lord :  "The END of all things is near ...GO OUT and shout and tell everyone you see ! "

That was November , 2002 ...he passed to glory on the 19th !

 Each year  I was surprised that we went into the next !

So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. ¹⁷Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgement, because as he is, so are we in this world. ¹⁸There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.⁹We love because he first loved us. ²⁰Those who say, ‘I love God’, and hate their brothers or sisters are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. ²¹The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.