CUSP of something

 

Habakkuk 2:3

King James Version

3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, 

but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: 

though it tarry, wait for it; 

because it will surely come, 

it will not tarry.

You know that saying, "being in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing"?

Well, in my case, I seem to be in the right place, listening to the right thing, from the right person, about the right event, and then something happens.

Let me explain, through SEVEN separate instances:

I was just about to graduate from Architecture in 1984.

The university was just getting into computers.

I left, wondering why it skipped our batch.

Then the Internet age happened.

I was technical designer at an export processing zone in 1985.

Somehow, I was happier being in the assembly line.

I left, because I wasn't allowed to.

Five years after, a devastating 1990 earthquake hit my city*.

I was managing editor for the American chamber in 1989.

One tech manager excitedly spoke of "fiber optics".

How it would revolutionize communications.

Fiber-optic communication technology boomed, as I left.

I resigned from the chamber in 1990.

My replacement was excited about using computers for editing.

When I left, she did just that, for she was adept.

The whole office succumbed to the Internet age, as I left.

My friends and I were in Thailand in 1997.

Saw lots of new condominiums by the highway.

Units were vacant, and I wondered why.

The Asian financial crisis hit in 1997.

I had been out of sorts in the big city from 1998 until 2001.

I struggled to stay on, despite personal crisis, dwindling work, and disturbing dreams.

On to my last penny, I was forced to go back to my smaller city.

A family health issue hit in 2002, showing I was badly needed at home.

I was in the U.S. in 2008.

Again, lots of new condos and townhouses.

Mostly vacant, and again, I wondered why.

The Global Financial Crisis (GFC) occurred between 2007 to 2008.

Now, those couldn't just be coincidences.

A pattern has been set.

Wherein, just as I was about to leave, something important was about to happen.

Or something was already in the works.

But not immediately apparent, UNTIL I left.

Then, what was being contained, or restrained, gave out.

But GOD "plucked" me out, on time.

I can say that now, as I review those events.

For, like I said, there seemed to be a pattern.

Did I miss out on those?

You know, like leaving, when it's just about to happen?

Hardly.

I was "plucked" at just the right time.

Even as I wasn't born again then, some things seemed clear --

GOD definitely doesn't want me going ga-ga over tech.

Neither does He want me caught up in the things of the world.

You know, stuff like trends, materialism, greed, pride, vanity.

Understandably so:

Matthew 6:24

King James Version

24 No man can serve two masters: 

for either he will hate the one, and love the other; 

or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. 

Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Luke 16:15

King James Version

15 And he said unto them, 

Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; 

but God knoweth your hearts: 

for that which is highly esteemed among men 

is abomination in the sight of God.

1 John 2:16

King James Version

16 For all that is in the world, 

the lust of the flesh, 

and the lust of the eyes, 

and the pride of life, 

is not of the Father, 

but is of the world.

Look, I don't plant myself anywhere.

I just do what I need to do normally, leisurely, or work-wise.

And things happen.

GOD makes me notice, then He plucks me out -- right at that point.

JUST when everything was on the CUSP of "something".

"Cusp" simply means:

a point of transition (as from one historical period to the next) : TURNING POINT

also : EDGE, VERGE

   -- Merriam-Webster

A synonym for cusp could also be "inflection point":

a moment when significant change occurs or may occur : TURNING POINT

mathematics : a point on a curve that separates an arc concave upward from one concave downward and vice versa

   -- Merriam-Webster

GOD's plans were clear.

He wanted me to write.

He wanted my testimony.

That's why He made me a curious cat.

A tenacious researcher.

A voracious reader.

A perpetual note-taker.

He knew I'd file away all my observations, and experiences.

He knew I would piece it all together, one day.

Well, that's what GOD created me for.

As He created you, for a specific purpose.

Do you know that purpose yet?

I've always said I don't want to miss out on a thing.

Especially things that matter.

I'd grieve if I was asleep at the wheel.

And something important happened.

So I kept awake, aware, alert.

All this paying attention seemed to please the LORD.

The more I listened, the more He gave me stuff to listen to.

The more I observed, the more He gave me stuff to observe.

The more I studied, the more He gave me stuff to study.

The more I hungered for truth, the more He gave me clues.

The more I asked questions, the more He gave me answers.

The more I prayed, the more He gave answers to my prayers.

The more I wrote, the more He gave me stuff to write.

Isn't our GOD, a MAGNIFICENT GOD?

I guess I was just hungry for truth.

All that listening, studying, and observing paid off.

GOD likes people who pay attention.

GOD likes those who keep track of things.

Especially those who literally take down notes.

And try to make sense of things.

Turning things over in their heart.

And praying for His will.

For He does give us TONS of clues.

Through SPIRIT, and Scripture, I'm now able to piece them all together.

And found THREE important things to pay attention to.

Especially right this moment:

The REDEEMER.

Matthew 17:5

King James Version

5 While he yet spake, 

behold, 

a bright cloud overshadowed them: 

and behold a voice out of the cloud, 

which said, 

This is my beloved Son, 

in whom I am well pleased; 

hear ye him.

John 14:6

King James Version

6 Jesus saith unto him, 

I am the way, the truth, and the life: 

no man cometh unto the Father, 

but by me.

The RAPTURE.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

King James Version

16 For the Lord himself 

shall descend from heaven 

with a shout, 

with the voice of the archangel, 

and with the trump of God: 

and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain 

shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, 

to meet the Lord in the air: 

and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

And REPENTANCE.

Mark 1:15

King James Version

15 And saying, 

The time is fulfilled, 

and the kingdom of God is at hand: 

repent ye, 

and believe the gospel.

Remember all three:

The REDEEMER.

The RAPTURE.

REPENTANCE.

Lastly, for sometime now, I've noticed the wickedness of the world.

I've taken down notes, 97 blogs, to be sure.

Giving warnings, and all.

Will I be "plucked" out, and things will happen?

Am I on the "verge" of something, again?

I did say a pattern has been set in my life.

Well, I sure am paying attention.

More than ever.

JESUS did say:

Mark 13:32

King James Version

32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, 

no, not the angels which are in heaven, 

neither the Son, but the Father.

Mark 13:33-34

King James Version

33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: 

for ye know not when the time is.

34 For the Son of Man 

is as a man taking a far journey, 

who left his house, 

and gave authority to his servants, 

and to every man his work, 

and commanded the porter to watch.

Mark 13:35-37

King James Version

35 Watch ye therefore: 

for ye know not 

when the master of the house cometh, 

at even, or at midnight, 

or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, 

Watch.

JESUS always has the LAST WORD.

Amen.

*Note: While it took another five years, in 1990, for the terrible earthquake to occur, the building I used to work in at the processing zone was flattened like a rectangular cake, as with the rest in the area.

One of the owners, the wife, perished.

Related material:

I Used To Wear Many Hats Once

URGENT event to LOOK OUT FOR

The RAPTURE

END times

REPENTANCE

HOLINESS

Image: Clipart Library

52-month review

 

B-52 in flight

It is a habit with me.

To stop, and review, before a birthday.

To stop, and review, as we face a new year.

Well it's 2024.

Time for a review.

Of self, work, and direction.

Not on accomplishments, for it's not about that.

Scripture humbles me.

At how little I know.

Save for SPIRIT, I'd be lost.

He does all the leading, guidance, and direction.

That this writer may be pure, perfect, and precise.

The ideal, of which I have a long way to go.

Nevertheless, I'm on track.

What have I learned these past 52 months as born again?

All that, you can find from over 90 blogs.

I can't produce that much, unless SPIRIT guided me.

As it is, we have burgeoning blogs.

Not that I'm burping, for there's still tons to learn.

Some days, I feel like we're just warming up.

And maybe, we are.

The WORD of GOD is magnificent.

It's rich with GOD's story.

Rich with man's fallible ways.

Rich with GOD's mercy.

Rich with His promises.

Rich with His TRUTH.

That was what I was searching for anyway.

Right from the start -- only ABSOLUTE truth.

For the world presented me with half-truths.

Diluted truths, corrupted truths, manipulated truths.

Would that be truth at all?

So, I kept searching.

And this I must say.

If you really want truth, there's something you need to do.

LEAVE the old self behind.

DROP all previous knowledge.

That old self has been programmed.

HUMBLE yourself, and accept you're lost.

That you know nothing.

That you're sick of sin.

That you want real change.

Those are the things GOD wants to see, hear, and witness.

No pride, no vanity, no sense of self-importance, no baggage.

I went through that 57 months ago.

And I lived to tell the most wonderful tale.

But it starts with one thing:

GOD wants to HEAR your declaration to self.

That you're sick of self.

Sick of sin.

Sick of your old ways.

Then, He waits for you around the corner.

(He showed up five months after my April 2019 declaration.)

As you reach that corner, these things occur:

He doesn't laugh at you.

Okay, maybe He hugs you tight.

Smiling at His funny, lost child, rumpling your hair.

He doesn't blame you.

He knows you kept trying.

Even as you listen to anyone BUT Him.

He doesn't say, "I told you so."

He knows you'll come around, at His own perfect time.

When you've lost everything.

He doesn't show you a displeased frown.

Your abject self is enough.

He knows you got the message.

He doesn't make you feel bad, period.

How can a WONDERFUL FATHER ever do that?

He just hugs His long-lost prodigal child.

First thing He does is give you a sense of peace.

And then you become frantic, wanting to take hold of a Bible.

Which you devour, hungry as a starved child.

And you really begin to understand His WORD.

Marveling at the simplicity of it all.

His SPIRIT makes sure you do.

That's the process.

That's how it works.

Consider the tone, and conversation:

First, pride: "I can do it. Leave me alone!"

Second, humility: "I can't seem to do it. What am I doing wrong?"

Third, delight: "You mean, You've been there all along, and I didn't know it?"

(And then, you silently kick yourself.)

Now you see why there's laughter in the end.

Both you and GOD laugh at your foolishness.

Relieved, that all is well.

The mark of a true convert?

You laugh at yourself, the hardest.

You remember your foolish ways, and laugh.

You remember your foolish ways, and cringe.

You remember your foolish ways, and cry.

But you smile, too.

You smile at others, knowing they'll come around, too.

At GOD's own perfect time.

Like GOD, you don't laugh at them.

The true born again has lost all cruelty.

You just do your best to be a witness for the LORD.

Yes, there are tons of pain, too.

You grieve at how you've hurt others.

You grieve at how you've hurt yourself.

You grieve at how you've displeased GOD.

You grieve at how ignorant you were.

Sure, you didn't know Him then.

But once you know Him, you can't have enough of your GOD.

You want Him to teach you, night and day.

You never want to stray again.

You stay close by His side.

You hang on His EVERY word.

You watch His face, all the time.

And you're relieved to be saved, on time.

Lastly?

You can't wait to share His WORD.

That's what I've been doing.

All 52 months of it.

Four years, and four months.

Non-stop writing, and sharing.

Sure, I had a five-month waiting period.

After the declaration, a period of waiting.

That waiting period was necessary.

GOD wants to make sure your heart is right.

That you have firm resolve.

That you want REAL change.

That you're ready to hear about His Son, JESUS.

And if you are, and you do, boy, get ready!

GOD knows it, too.

And He's on it.

Proverbs 13:10

King James Version

10 Only by pride cometh contention: 

but with the well advised is wisdom.

P.S.

In looking for an image for this post, first thing that comes to mind is the word B-52. 

Of course, I knew what it was.

But I didn't know it was also called the "Stratofortress".

Yup, that's the humongous bomber. 

Curiously, it also had all the "52s" in it. 

The design number, and first tested on 15 April 1952.

Had to be it.

Related material:

GOD's GLORY blogs

BORN AGAIN articles

BORN AGAIN classics

Image: processocreativo on Pxhere