As I have watched/read the news in the past several days, I’m astounded at the evil that is rampant in this country and the world. My heart is heavy for the four Marines killed. My heart is heavy for their families and friends who won’t see them again on this side of Heaven. My heart aches for the children they will never see grow up, graduate and marry. Sons, daughters and wives who will never again hear “I love you.” I can’t wrap my mind or my heart around this type of loss, sadness and pain. I cannot fathom the evil that entangled this kid in its clutches and enabled him to take the lives of these brave men.

It’s times like this, I long for Jesus to return. I long for Him to step out of Heaven and say those words I’ve been yearning to hear: “Come up here.” I know that’s selfish, because there are so many lost ones in this world who need Jesus. There are so many who don’t know His Love, and there are so many who haven’t accepted His precious gift of salvation. The selfish part of me wants to go home. However, my spirit longs to take as many as I can to Heaven with me. My spirit longs to save them all.

I still struggle with getting up in the mornings to spend time with my Father. I know the time of His return is close. So close, in fact, I’m feeling it stronger and stronger with each passing day. And the time we have left to minister to as many as we can, is short. I’m ready to go, but there are so many who aren’t; so many who need Him. Or should I say too many. In the past, I have often said I don’t know how God doesn’t just wipe us all out and be done with it. But praise His name, He doesn’t. No matter what a person does, God loves them. He loves them but hates their sin. I need to see everyone through His eyes. I have a hard time looking beyond the evil people do, to the lost soul buried beneath. Every person has a story, and only God can know a person’s heart. He is the only Judge. We just have to pray, love and follow His lead and example. Jesus said He didn’t come for those who were well. He came for the sick; He came for the lost. “And when Jesus heard it, He said to them, ‘Those who are strong and well have no need of a physician, but those who are weak and sick; I came not to call the righteous ones to repentance, but sinners (the erring ones and all those not free from sin).'” Mark 2:17. I see so many people every day, and I find myself wondering, “Do they know Jesus? Do they REALLY know Him?” I wonder, “Are they saved?”

So often, I have allowed fear to keep me from telling everyone I meet about the Love of Jesus. People who know me, know I’m a Christian. But those who don’t couldn’t possibly know, because we’ve met in passing or in a grocery line. I am asking God for open doors to tell of His Love and forgiveness. I am asking Him to open doors to talk about my Jesus and the courage to do so. No fear. No fear. NO FEAR!!! It comes back around to Love again. I John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection].” There you go…where God’s perfect Love is, fear cannot be.