Free Grace Women

Four days ago, we were sound asleep when the sky began to rumble. We could hear it from miles away and had no idea what was about to unfold.

“…flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder.…” Revelation 4:5b NASB

My husband stood on the porch, like men do, and watched as it rolled in, shook the ground and poured rain for a couple of hours. I laid in bed and prayed that the old tree in our yard would hold on to its branches (while Scott was praying the same thing on the porch). The 80 mph winds brought much damage to our area, and with it, thousands were left with no power from Arkansas down to Texas and into Louisiana. (Thankfully, we had no damage to our vehicles or house this time.)

Scott likes to be prepared, so we were able to crank up a generator to keep food from spoiling and we closed off half of our 112-year-old home to run one window air-conditioning unit. I must confess, I have complained about all the items we’ve purchased over the last few years in order to be prepared for an emergency just like this. But I am grateful now! Making some sacrifices meant we were ready for this, and were able to help a neighbor or two.

We have been taking our Bible study group at Cowboy Church through Revelation for about a year now, and a friend told our pastor how much he’d been enjoying it. To our surprise, Scott was asked to do the same on Wednesday evenings this summer–for 8 weeks. We had one week to prepare, and he likes to be prepared! I became a secretary, and he dove into the Scripture like he was back in school studying for a Greek course. Our dining room table is covered with books and if I walk through the room I am likely to get “a lesson” on whatever he’s reading at the moment.

Around day 4 of being without power, I began to feel like we were just seeing a fraction of what it could be like during the Tribulation. People won’t be able to get the normal things they have taken for granted. Long lines at gas stations filled with hot, angry people make things more stressful. Did I mention that it’s 111ºF right now in East Texas? People are in the shade hoping for a breeze.

A week has passed now, and power is restored, many people are the proud new owners of generators, and we could slide right back into being comfortable where we are, and with the stuff we have.

The Revelation study continues, and excitement is building! Have you felt this before? I hope you have, because it makes you long for our real home, as believers. We don’t fit in this world because we are citizens of another. I find myself longing for the day we’re taken up into the clouds to meet our Savior there.

There are just a few things I long for on this earth: a home on our land, time with family, chocolate, and dancing with my cowboy. But it all pales in comparison to the overwhelming desire to be with Jesus. So, until I am with Him, I will take His commands (and my husband’s advice) and prepare: I’ll tell people about the free gift of everlasting life through faith in Jesus, and follow Him in obedience and anticipation!

“He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”  Revelation 3:21 NASB 1995