Good Morning Gorgeous!

It’s a brand NEW day. A fresh NEW start!

And it is December 21st!!!!!

I wrapped presents for about 3 hours today. I turned on worship music and just wrapped and prayed and spent time with the Lord.

Today’s Bible reading of Luke 21 is nearing the end of Jesus’s ministry. You can tell this because chapter 22 opens up with, “The time was also approaching for the feast of unleavened bread.” This was Passover and then it begins to speak of the betrayal of Judas.

Chapter 21 is intense and you can see why. There is not much time left for Jesus in His earthly body, and He has things to tell His followers about what to expect in the future.

The chapter opens up with the rich people giving to the offering out of their surplus and a widow giving just 2 coins.

Luke‬ ‭21:1‭-‬4‬ ‭NLT‬‬
[1] While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. [2] Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. [3]  “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. [4] For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”

The 2 coins from the widow count more in the spiritual realm than the large offerings from the rich. This is because the Kingdom ways are completely opposite from earthly ways. And the ways of the Kingdom are purity of the heart and giving from a genuine heart actually stores up treasures in heaven. Giving to the kingdom of God is an eternal investment! God sees what we sacrifice for Him.

He sees your tears you’ve cried in the secret place.

He hears the prayers you’ve prayed and prayed and prayed.

He reads your heart when you have no more words to say.

He sees the sacrificial giving when you gave and didn’t even have it to give.

There is a spiritual economy that we can access when we live and give counter culture. And when we live from this spiritual economy, we shake up things in the spiritual realm that move things in the natural realm. God sees and God rewards.

After this lesson, His disciples comment on the beauty of the temple and then he tells them of the coming destruction..

They ask the question we are all asking!

When Lord?

‭‭Luke‬ ‭21:7‬ ‭NLT‬‬
[7] “Teacher,” they asked, “when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these things are about to take place?”

Instead of answering directly, He gives MORE prophecy and He tells them what to look for, and what is to come in their lifetime, and what will come at the end times.

As He speaks the two are so interwoven that it is hard to make out which prophecies are end times and which are for that very generation. When He speaks of the temple being destroyed, He is speaking to that generation specifically because they experienced major destruction in 70AD.

The majestic temple built by Solomon was completely destroyed in 70 AD.

And then when you read about the coming of the Son of Man on a cloud in power, that’s the 2nd coming!

These Words of Jesus are multi layered as much of scripture is!

I am including the full prophecy from Luke 21 here. As you read it, ask God to help you read it from a place of great expectation and excitement at His coming versus fear.

And as you read Luke 21, you can see that Jesus is telling His followers what will happen.

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‭‭Luke‬ ‭21:8‭-‬28‬ ‭NLT‬‬
[8] He replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and saying, ‘The time has come!’ But don’t believe them. [9] And when you hear of wars and insurrections, don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place first, but the end won’t follow immediately.” [10] Then he added, “Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. [11] There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and plagues in many lands, and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs from heaven. [12]  “But before all this occurs, there will be a time of great persecution. You will be dragged into synagogues and prisons, and you will stand trial before kings and governors because you are my followers. [13] But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me. [14] So don’t worry in advance about how to answer the charges against you, [15] for I will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply or refute you! [16] Even those closest to you—your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends—will betray you. They will even kill some of you. [17] And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. [18] But not a hair of your head will perish! [19] By standing firm, you will win your souls. [20]  “And when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know that the time of its destruction has arrived. [21] Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. Those in Jerusalem must get out, and those out in the country should not return to the city. [22] For those will be days of God’s vengeance, and the prophetic words of the Scriptures will be fulfilled. [23] How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days. For there will be disaster in the land and great anger against this people. [24] They will be killed by the sword or sent away as captives to all the nations of the world. And Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the period of the Gentiles comes to an end. [25]  “And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. [26] People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken. [27] Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory. [28] So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!

Notice some of the positive things He prophecied!!

Don’t worry when you are called out or persecuted for your faith, Holy Spirit will tell you what to say!

You will have opportunities to tell others about me!

Not a hair on your head will perish! You will protected from eternal harm!

Many souls will be WON!

When this happens, STAND and LOOK up! Salvation is NEAR!

So friends, don’t be caught off guard by wars and rumors of war, these are the signs of the times. Our Lord is returning! And He will come with a suddenly moment just AS HE was born suddenly after 400 years of quiet.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You that YOU let us in on what to look for at the end of the age. You didn’t leave us in the dark, but You came as the LIGHT of the World and You let us in on what was to come at the 2nd coming. This Christmas we celebrate Your birth, but we also look ahead for the 2nd Advent when You once again come and save Your people!!

In Jesus’s Name, Amen.

Blessings!

Vanessa Lynn