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"For the Son of Man in His day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other" (Luke 17:24).

We awoke this morning to bitterly cold temperatures with a realfeel* temperature of -27 degrees Fahrenheit. The projected high today is only 13 degrees. Today, for the first time this year, I dealt with some frozen water pipes in a section of our home subjected to the howling winds coming from the west. Thankfully I was able to easily unthaw the pipes. Yesterday I spoke to Jesse, an Amish dairy farmer, who is having a great deal of trouble with frozen pipes in his dairy barn. Now that is a real problem!

We indeed are in the extremely low temps of winter and many in our area long for warmer climes. But this season will soon pass as many locals remind themselves by counting down to spring (28 days)! In the meantime we resolve to enjoy the variety in God's creation.

In the internet world becoming "viral" is highly sought after. That happens when an email, Facebook meme or video is forwarded on and on and on. For instance a viral video is a video that becomes popular through a viral process of Internet sharing, typically through video sharing websites such as YouTube, social media and email.

Early this week a video became viral of Jim Cantore, a weather reporter for the Weather Channel demonstrating his unrestrained excitement and marvel at snow thunder while reporting during a snowstorm in New England. We are quite sure some of our readers have seen it. (See below for link to view.) If you've ever experienced lightning and thunder during a snow storm you recall it is one nature's marvels. Just last week Ester heard thunder during one of our snowfalls, a first for her, and she was excited to hear it. Cantore ends his report by exclaiming, "You can have your 500 million dollar jackpot in Powerball, but I'll take this baby!!!"

Now that's an interesting perspective but let us consider a far greater lightning show that awaits us who believe in and follow Christ. Let us consider it the ultimate lightning!

The subject of snow thunder got me to musing about future demonstrations of lightning and thunder. One day, with great certainty, I declare the Scriptural truth that there will be a cosmic event with lightning which flashes and lights up the entire sky from one end to the other. The first daily text is from a teaching where the Lord is proclaiming His second coming. The NASV heads the section, "Second Coming Foretold".

When it comes to the end times earnest Christians may differ in regard to specific details. There are a variety of views that expound the way things will unfold. Based upon my studies I have a particular outlook, but I realize others who have earnestly studied these things may have a different one. The specifics are not something I am dogmatic about.

But with certainty we look forward to the glorious time when the event our Lord Himself describes in the daily text will take place. "For the Son of Man in His day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other." It will happen, perhaps today. That's a perspective we want to live with and encourage you to do the same! Weather reporter Jim Cantore was excited about snow thunder.  How will we respond to the ultimate lightning described in our daily text! Will we be as excited?

A great hymn that we so enjoy is titled "One Day" and it goes through the life of Christ from His birth to His second coming. It has a triumphant final verse that declares:



Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Lord Jesus, I want to live today in glorious anticipation of Your second coming.  Because You buried my sin into the deepest part of the ocean I do not live in condemnation. Rather I am freely pardoned by Your completely selfless and merciful death upon the cross. It brings unspeakable joy because You have broken the bondage of sin that held me captive for years. I'm also overjoyed in knowing that You, Lord, will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God to take me to be caught up with You in the air. I am greatly encouraged in knowing that I will forever be with You in the presence of Almighty God and the saints who've gone ahead of me. Keep me faithful, trusting, and anticipating that great day. Amen.

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Note from Brooksyne: I did not make a commitment to Christ until I was nearly 15 years old. I had been raised in church and was often reminded of the Lord's second coming through the many sermons I heard from our pastor and evangelists.  I was fearful that I would not be ready should the Lord return suddenly. I Corinthians 15:52 was quoted often that describes the Lord's return as "a flash, in the twinkling of an eye…"  In my immaturity (and youthful rebellion) I would practice the words, "Jesus forgive me" as fast as I could recite it while I blinked my eyes. I wanted to get into heaven…but just barely...because I wanted to choose my own way of life which didn't always line up with the Bible. Now, if that's not a rehearsed foxhole prayer I don't know what is.  What a tremendous burden was lifted when I finally surrendered my heart to the Lord at a youth camp. I no longer feared the Lord's return nor did I continue to rehearse my quick exit line timed to the "blink of an eye". Instead I have anticipated with great excitement the Lord's second coming ever since.

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* RealFeel Temperature® "AccuWeather's exclusive RealFeel Temperature® combines more than a dozen factors to provide an accurate measure of how representative the current or forecast weather conditions really "feel" to an appropriately dressed person. In contrast, other indices such as "Feels Like" simply report either the Wind-Chill Index or the Heat Index, depending upon the temperature. Thus they only consider two weather factors: temperature and either wind speed or humidity."

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Tuesday I shared about my dad's birthday and a special memory of a pickup truck. Yesterday I spoke to both of my older brothers and we reminisced about our own teenage vehicle memories. Mike recalls racing a car down a long stretch that ended in a T and how close he came to being unable to stop which would have taken him headfirst into a ditch. Pat recalls an older pickup and going out one day and having quite a good time making donuts until he looked up and saw Dad, who just happened to be driving by. He recalls really "getting it" when he got home! Those were new stories to me and made me chuckle. Maybe you have some lesser told stories to share with your siblings.

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Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

A weather reporter's unabashed excitement at snow thunder  Video  (The video referred to in our message)

"Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)"  Video  Casting Crowns This is a modern version of the old hymn quoted today which we both really enjoy.

"One Day"  Video  Dallas Christian Adult Concert Choir  A nice rendering of the traditional version

"Almost Morning"  Video  The Perrys

"Voice Of a Savior"  Video  Marshall Hall

"Mercy Said No"  Video  Greg Long

"What Salvation's Done For Me"  Video   The Booth Brothers