Rapture: the Noah factor

 Rapture: the Noah factor by ric gustafson

According to Matthew 24, the coming of the Son of Man be. Only God the Father knows when his Son will be coming back. In the days of Noah, people were drinking eating giving in marriage until the day Noah entered the ark. Jesus explained that right before the Rapture, people will be focusing on the present. Even with warnings and predictions, People will only be focusing on the present and their physical comfort. There will be prophetic warnings. People will ignore them.

Right now we are living in a corrupt generation. The earth is corrupt and violent. When the Rapture comes, the current generation will be caught off guard. Jesus explains that one will be taken and one will be left. Our hope is that we will be the one taken not left.

Jesus loves us more than anything else. 

research help: ' The Great Disappearance' by Dr David Jeremiah

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

The Story: Sarah laughed

 The Story: Sarah laughed by ric gustafson

According to Genesis 17, Abraham laughed at being a father at 100. According to Genesis 18, Sarah laughed at the thought of being a mother at her old age. God delivered on his promise that he would give the couple a son. They named their son Isaac. Isaac means laughter.

God fulfilled his promise to Abraham and Sarah. He will do the same for us.

God loves us more than anything else.

research help: ' The Story 365 devotions' by Zondervan

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

The Story: worth the wait

 The Story: worth the wait by ric gustafson

Are you in a season of blind obedience?. Will you act on a bare bones call?. Will you put one foot in front of the other and watch for God's reassuring presence?. According to Genesis 21, At the age of 100, Abraham and Sarah had a son. They named him Isaac. 

God had promised Abraham a son as an heir and descendants as countless on the seashore. Abraham and Sarah were blessed with Isaac. God asks that we step out in faith.

God loves us more than anything else.

research help: ' The Story 365 devotions' by Zondervan

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Rapture: the Rapture in 3 passages

 Rapture: the Rapture in 3 passages by ric gustafson

There are 3 passages in God's Word that talk about the Rapture. We begin with John 14: 1-3. Jesus is talking with his disciples in an Upper Room four days before he is crucified. He tells them to not let their heart be troubled. He tells them he is preparing a place for them. Then he tells them that he will come again and receive them to himself. The second passage is I Corinthians 15: 51-58. The Apostle Paul says that we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet. Paul says that the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised. Paul says we will be changed. The last bible passage is I Thessalonians 4: 13-18. The Apostle Paul comforted the members of this congregation by saying that God will bring all of his children to himself even those who have already fallen asleep. He told them that the dead will rise first on the day of the Rapture. Then those still here will be caught up with Jesus. Paul reassured them that we will always be with God and Jesus. Praise God's name.

research help: ' The Great Disappearance' by Dr David Jeremiah

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

The Story: blind obedience

 The Story: blind obedience by ric gustafson

When has God called you to blind obedience?. When has God called you to a bare bones call or command?. God wants us to put one foot in front of the other in faith and wait for his presence. God told Abraham to go. He did not tell him where. He did promise him a son as an heir. He promised descendants as countless as the sand on the seashore. When we ask questions to God that don't get answered, that is room for faith and trust. God will not disappoint us. God is faithful. God gives us grace.

research help: ' The Story 365 devotions' by Zondervan

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

the Reluctant Beatle page 14

 the Reluctant Beatle page 14 by ric gustafson

At the time that Brian Epstein was talking to Parlophone's George Martin, the band was scheduled to fly to Hamburg Germany. They were to help open a new club called the Star Club. George caught German measles and had to fly out the next day with Brian Epstein.

While waiting at the Manchester Ringway Airport, the two were met by the mother of Stu Sutcliffe. She informed George and Brian that her son had just passed away. Sutcliffe was a close friend of John Lennon. He was a member of the band in it's early days. George was always friendly with Stu.

In Hamburg, the band helped open a new 2000 capacity club called the Star Club. Performing with the Beatles was Tony Sheridan, pianist Roy Young and Tex Roberg and the Playboys.

The new club's employer was Manfred Weissleder. He was feared by the whole Reeperbahn district. He was the area's biggest strip club operator. It was rumored that Weissleder had close ties with the Hamburg mafia. Keeping the boys safe on this trip was Horst Fascher. He was a bouncer now employed by the new club. The Beatles knew him from previous working trips to Hamburg.

research help: ' George Harrison the Reluctant Beatle' by Philip Norman

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Rapture: A Great Day

 Rapture: A Great Day by ric gustafson

There is a Great Day coming. It won't be long. It will lift our spirits. The truth is Jesus Christ is coming back for us and soon. In II Timothy, the Apostle Paul described a great day of the Lord is near. That great day is the day of the Rapture. That date is circled on God's calendar. 

The Rapture is an event when all of us living or deceased who have put their trust in Jesus Christ for salvation and eternal life will be caught up with Jesus in the heavens. There we will be united with loved ones. We will be met by Jesus himself. Then Jesus will usher us into Heaven. There we will live in perfect fellowship with God. The Rapture is a central event in biblical prophecy.

The Rapture is a great day of hope. The Rapture is a great day of homecoming. The Rapture is a great day of healing. The Rapture will bring us a great day of happiness. The Rapture will be a great day of holiness. On that day, we will leave behind our faults, failures, shame, weaknesses and woes. On that day, we will become holy in every thought, word, deed and attitude.

The Rapture will be the greatest of all great days.

God loves us more than anything else.

research help: ' The Great Disappearance' by Dr David Jeremiah

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

The Story: Helping God

 The Story: Helping God by ric gustafson

Sarah was only trying to help God. God doesn't need our help. Sarah knew about childlessness. God's ways and our ways are not the same. Sarah suggested that Abraham sleep with their maid Hagar. Abraham agreed. Hagar conceived. Sarah was now jealous. Sarah sent her away. 

Life became very complicated for Sarah, Abraham, Hagar and her son. Complications from that union have extended to today. Muslim, Jew and Christian conflicts still abound today.

God does not need our help to fulfill his plans.

God loves us more than anything else.

research help: ' The Story 365 devotions' by Zondervan

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Rapture: chaos on earth

 Rapture: chaos on earth by ric gustafson

An event is coming that will change everyone and everything. That day will start just like any other day. People will be eating, drinking, marrying and celebrating birthdays. The news will be the same. Wars, earthquakes, famines and nation rising against nations. People will be out walking, worried about their relationships, their money, sports and music.

One day, there will be a Great Disappearance. Billions of people gone in a flash. Bodies will disappear from coffins. Patients will vanish from hospital beds. Babies from their cribs. Children from their classrooms. Cars will have missing drivers. Planes will have missing pilots. Churches will be nearly empty. 

People will be frantically searching for their loved ones. For those left behind, it will be total chaos. 

What is the Rapture?. In the twinkling of an eye, Jesus will come back for his people. A trumpet will sound and Jesus will shout with authority. As a believer, I can't wait for that moment.

research help: ' The Great Disappearance' by Dr David Jeremiah

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

The Story: count the stars

 The Story: count the stars by ric gustafson

God had promised Abraham that he would be a great nation. Abraham and Sarah were childless. So how can God keep his promise?. Abraham asked God how he was going to keep his promise?. God took Abraham outside. God told Abraham to look up and count the stars if indeed he could. God promised Abraham that so shall his offspring be. 

God gave Abraham no specific time. God did not give Abraham a due date. God gave him no real specifics. 

Sometimes, God will answer with only his presence. His presence will sustain you. 

Abraham believed God. It was credited as righteousness.

God loves us more than anything else.

research help: ' The Story 365 devotions' by Zondervan

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

the $2.15 Thanksgiving dinner page 1

 the $2.15 Thanksgiving dinner page 1 by ric gustafson

Agnes Schon walked through the swinging door from the kitchen. She stopped along with the other servers. She straightened her serving apron. She felt her threadbare jeans. She could not afford a new pair. She yawned. She was tired. This was her second meal to help serve today. Even though she was tired, she smiled. Today was Thanksgiving Day. For the shelter, it was an important day. 

She did not believe in God. But Agnes knew somebody was watching out for her. Somebody led her to the shelter and away from the streets.

Shelter Director Yvonne Nickles quietly walked out to the group. She nervously straightened her badge. She stopped and smiled.

" Happy Thanksgiving".

Everyone smiled.

" Here are your serving station assignments for the Thanksgiving meal?". She smiled. " Duncan will be serving turkey, Agnes will be in charge of mashed potatoes and gravy, Franklin will be in charge of cranberries, Otto will be in charge of dessert and I will serve coffee".

Duncan pointed. " Looks like people are coming".

Yvonne grinned. " Everyone to your serving station".

research help: shelter advertisement

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric