It’s day one of 2024 and we’re all still here. As a long time watcher myself, I am very surprised, to say the least, that we’re still here. However, this being said, I am not so much looking for a Rapture as I am for the Christ; and I find Him everyday in my personal devos, Bible reading, study, and personal prayer and worship. Who wouldn’t want to leave this earth and be joined together with the Master and all of those who love Him in heaven; we all greatly desire this. Alas, this is not the plan of the Father as of yet. We still have work to do, a life to live, and we must live it and do it to the fullest. We must enjoy the many blessings the Father has bestowed upon us and win as many to faith as possible while we do.
While it can be easy to become discouraged and a little sad at the disappointment of not being with the Lord; we can, however, be hopeful that we will be with Him, soon. I will be launching my YouTube channel soon where I will upload podcasts and sermons that will encourage and build up the faith in those who tune in. I am also purposing in my heart to be a better believer in Jesus and follower of Christ this year. I hope to be a better husband, a better father and grandfather, and a better person overall. I have begun a regiment of weightlifting and eliptigoing over the past few months leading into 2024. I am on a good trajectory to improve my overall health and stamina as I progress forward. Ever since I got a ‘clean-as-a-whistle’ prognosis from my proctologist, I feel it necessary to improve in other areas of my life and body. (TMI). This year I turn 60 and I want to get in better shape for that day; since my birthday happens before this next Rosh Hashanah.
It’s not a bad thing to create personal goals for yourself as we wait on the Lord. It can actually help in your witness of Him; after all, our bodies are His temple. While bodily exercise may profit little in this life, it does profit something, and this close to the Rapture, every little bit helps. I think that taking good care of yourself pays off in the long run. One older man said it this way, ‘If I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself.’ That choice starts today and continues daily until we die or are raptured.
I should like to give you 10 really good Rapture waiting tips that will help to enhance your waiting, watching, and witnessing prowess for the Lord in 2024. I am doing these myself and I invite you to join in and live!
1. Do your devos first thing in the AM. Every morning I am into God’s Word, a great a cup of coffee, and enjoying the devo Perhaps Today by Tim LayHae, and Jesus Always by Sarah Young. I read a part of the Bible, mark it up where I read that day, and when I’ve read through that Bible, I get another and do it again.
2. Drink lots of water. More than the other beverages you may enjoy throughout your day. Water tends to equilibrate you mind and body and it gets your PH back into balance. Most people are dehydrated and don’t even know it. This part of my blog is brought to you by water, it’s everywhere, get used to it.
3. Exercise daily. Even a little bit of walking, calisthenics, or weight bearing exercise helps the bones to strengthen as they mature. If you lean toward osteoporosis, this is a must. The more you move, the better you feel. To put it another way, if you stop moving, you’re dead. Now get out there and move it move it!
4. Be careful what you set before you eyes. There is a lot of media inlets that can cloud our perspective, especially for men. It seems like we can’t get anywhere in the media without seeing cleavage, booty, legs, or other parts of the female anatomy that God intended to be covered. Brothers, we must respect the ladies.
5. Love those who are closest to you, but be intentional about it. You only have them until you don’t. I lost my dad 8 years ago this very day. He was 81 years old and had a lot more life left in him. He lost is moxy along the way, but he didn’t have to. If we can love Jesus, we can love those He has entrusted to our care. Love on!
6. Go to church regularly and support that fellowship biblically. Be quick to serve the people, support the pastor, give your tithes and offerings, and above all, be willing to be the church. We all need to be Jesus with ‘skin on’ There’s no better place to train for this than church, where everyone else is just as messed up as you.
7. Plan to do great things this year. Short term projects, long term projects, trips, home improvements, and good overall habit upgrades. It all helps when you waiting, watching, and witnessing for the Lord. Plan short, plan long, start small and go big. Ask the Lord to show you where to start; if that doesn’t work, ask you wife.
8. Be a good witness to everyone you meet. Let your life be a beacon of life for all those who are around you. They may see it as ‘positive energy,’ but you know that it’s the Holy Spirit working in you, doing what He does best – drawing people to Jesus through you. It’s amazing that God uses guys like us to do His bidding.
9. Be quick to forgive, be wrong, and not be offended. Let the other guy through, move to the right, and pray for those people who put themselves before you. It’s as if God is saying, ‘I need you to pray for this person.’ Even though it goes against you flesh nature, you got this. Your spirit man will have a party in the process.
10. Let each day be the first day of the rest of your life. That way when you make a mistake, (and you will) you can honestly say, ‘So sorry, it’s my first day.’ I am sure that others will understand that it’s really not your first day, but you’ll know that from your perspective, it really is. This is a key to staying young.
Let’s make this year, 2024, the best year of watching, waiting, and witnessing for the Lord. Who knows, He may return before the end of this year, or even the end of this blo…
Maranatha!
Encouragemen is a blog written by Pastor Rob Lee, recently relocated to Northern Missouri. He lives with his wife of 34-years, near their three adult children, their spouses, and children (their grandchildren). Pastor Rob is an Ordained Assemblies of God minister, a former Lead Pastor (25 years), police chaplain, and community advocate. He continues to serve, consult, and disciple men of God, including those who are in the ministry.
Encourage Men 
Thank you, Pastor Rob! You’re such an encouragement, especially how when there is such a daily increase of all things ugly in this world. Praying every day, talking with God and Jesus throughout the day.
I have projects I need to wrap up when it warms up enough to do it (finish painting the edges of my garage ceiling, garden stuff, move plants). I never run out of projects inside or outside. Mostly small but satisfying ones. 😁
There are times I feel overwhelmed and cry my eyes out over the state of the world, so many lost souls! While I hate their works, I pray for their souls. The disgust and subsequent nausea over so much is sometimes debilitating in my mind. Pray! Pray some more! I avoid going out more than I have to. Fortunately, I do have some lovely neighbors and nice places to buy my groceries where (so far) nobody has threatened us.
I’m not afraid for myself, but I am afraid for others who don’t know Jesus.
I’m going to incorporate some of your suggestions that I don’t already do.
Those of us who are single may need a blog from your wife, even though some of us are 64-year-old women 😁
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