Happy New Year! I love the beginning of a new year. I always feel a new hope and faith in my life and my dreams. I usually feel an excitement of looking forward to spring. This year has been very unusual and feels like spring when it's usually the coldest time of year. I've enjoyed warm walks in the sun with only a long sleeve shirt. I've seen buds on trees and wonder it that's not a good sign. I've heard that since we had so much water left over from last years unusually snowy winter that we should be ok. But I wonder what it means. I've never seen a winter like this in Utah.
But winter is not over yet.
My 11 year old son, who has autism, watched the preview to the movie "2012". He doesn't talk much but he thinks a lot more than most of us. I didn't realize how much he was thinking about it until one day in church he started crying and when I asked him why he said, "2012 the end of the world". I told him that it's not the "end of the world" and that it was just a movie. He's really worried about it quite a bit. I explained to him that we know that Christ will come again someday but if we follow Him, and keep His commandments, we don't need to worry and that only Heavenly Father knows when that will be.
One night my daughter was really upset about something and she was crying really hard. I was talking to her and said, "It's not the end of the world". My son overheard me and repeated, "It's not the end of the world". He went and got a tootsie pop and stuck it in her mouth and she stopped crying. Why didn't I think of that? He's such a wise kid. I think he really liked that statement because he's repeated it to me quite often. I love having him around. He has such a sweet and calming spirit.
So what do you think? Is the end near? We are suppose to study the scriptures and look for signs of what will happen before the second coming. In the New Testament Paul tells what will happen in the last days. ( 2 Timothy, chapters 3 and 4)
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy". (2 Timothy 3:1,2) One thing that sounds like something we hear on the news more and more is that men (and women) in the last days will be "without natural affection". I can't believe how often I'm hearing on the news of spouses killing each other or children being killed by their parents. Parenthood naturally brings feelings of being willing to die for your child not to end their life.
It also says that all nations will fight against Jerusalem right before Christ comes again. Zechariah 14:2 and Ezekiel 37 & 38. Have you noticed many nations ganging up on the Jews again lately?
The question is are we ready? Are we getting our houses in order? I always remember how it says when Christ comes again He will come like a "thief in the night". (1 Thessalonians 5:2) When we are off guard. Let's prepare and help those around us to know that they can prepare to and find peace in troubled times.
By the way, my painting that I tried to enter in the church art show was rejected. But I tell myself, "It's not the end of the world".
Friday, January 6, 2012
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