2 Peter 3:8-15a: Don't overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn't late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn't want anyone lost. He's giving everyone space and time to change. But when the Day of God's Judgment does come, it will be unannounced, like a thief. The sky will collapse with a thunderous bang, everything disintegrating in a huge conflagration, earth and all its works exposed to the scrutiny of Judgment. Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life? Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival. The galaxies will burn up and the elements melt down that day—but we'll hardly notice. We'll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness. So, my dear friends, since this is what you have to look forward to, do your very best to be found living at your best, in purity and peace. Interpret our Master's patient restraint for what it is: salvation. Our good brother Paul, who was given much wisdom in these matters, refers to this in all his letters, and has written you essentially the same thing. Some things Paul writes are difficult to understand. Irresponsible people who don't know what they are talking about twist them every which way. They do it to the rest of the Scriptures, too, destroying themselves as they do it.

After a major earthquake and sleepless night of orange county fires and burning ember living in the air, the earth as we knew it remains the same. The nature of God presence is still over shadowed by self will and a human determination to control the outcome of everything. In the movie “ The Day the Earth stood still”, released December 12, 2008, here an alien supernatural power comes to warn earth about its bad environmental habits. Scientist today are convinced that we have galactic neighbors throughout the universe. The excepted belief is that earth is not the only planet with intelligent life. This devotional is about invasive persuasion and the movement of God to reform his creation. Biblical history tells us that invasive persuasion was used to motivate or provoke change! At what point do we consider the mighty hand of God to handle his own creation. Two months ago during a mission at South Park in Los Angeles, we reached out to the poor and the lost. There was a powerful movement of the Holy Spirit. However, not everyone wanted to be saved. Some rejected prayer and the opportunity to give their lives to the Lord. A few days later, I received a phone call that one of the participants at South Park died of drug use. During the day of the outreach at South Park, the earth stood still and a chance for redemption was placed before each person. The window of opportunity closed for one soul who felt he needed more time to make up his mind. My question today is, what can we do today that prepares the end time.

A great theologian once expressed that anger is the dark side of God's love and judgment the dark side of God's mercy. It is believed that God could not love us if he didn't hate the sin that brought us to harm. God

sent his Son to die on the cross in order to save us from sin that would destroy us for all eternity. What we do in our lives matters, both now and forever. Should we hold ourselves accountable for who we've been and what we've done? Why should we wait for time to stand still? The setting is clear; our victory over death must begin with the victory over the life that God has created us to live.

Prayer: Dear Father, thank you for your mercy and grace. Thank you for waking us up this morning. Thank you for Jesus who was born to bring salvation to a world lost in sin. We are lost without you Father. We are spiritually poor and broken without your presence in the church. Forgive us if we have taken your creation for our own glory. Have mercy dear God on the souls who are still learning how to please you. Teach us how to love YOU more. Amen.

"Pass This On to A Friend"

Please pass this devotional message to a friend or a stranger that does not know how much God loves them!

 May God Bless your families at Christmas..

Danny Smith and Family