"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.
The heavens will disappear with a roar;
the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare."
2 Peter 3:10
The heavens will disappear with a roar;
the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare."
2 Peter 3:10
Saturday morning while enjoying our first cup of coffee at our grandson’s home in Kailua, Hawaii, suddenly everything came to an abrupt halt when one-by-one our phones screeched an alert. At first, I ignored it because I was busy playing with our young great-granddaughters, and I knew if it was anything to be concerned about, I would know soon enough. But, when I saw the look on my grandson’s face, I knew something serious was going on, so I quickly grabbed my phone and sure enough, the message was one I’d never seen before. To say the least, it was startling: “Emergency alert. BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.”
Ron and I had arrived in Hawaii on Thursday afternoon to spend a few days with our grandson and his young family before going off to a resort to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We had had a wonderful day on Friday, observing our grandson teach his 7th grade students, listening to them sing in four-part harmony, playing with our two young great-granddaughters and enjoying a delightful dinner out with our grandson and our granddaughter-in-law, Mark and Rachel. Everything was perfect, even the weather. But suddenly on Saturday morning everything changed, and for 35 minutes life was up in the air.
As I watched Mark and Rachel and heard their end of several telephone conversations, I knew it was serious and Rachel, who had been busy fixing breakfast, began to fill water bottles as we were instructed to stay in the center of the building, away from windows. Only my husband was lighthearted as he encouraged Rachel to finish preparing breakfast, for if we were going to die, he said, he’d like to go out with a full stomach!
Even in the midst of his upbeat attitude, it was scary to say the least, for we knew we could lose our lives at any moment, and especially being in Hawaii, there was no place to run! Even our son-in-law, who lives on the mainland, sent a text saying that according to the news, it was not a hoax. But, as you know, it was in fact, a false alarm. Even so, I will never forget those intense moments as a thousand thoughts ran through my mind including the truth that one day Jesus will come again to take us to heaven. He will come just as suddenly, and if we want to spend eternity with Him, we must be ready, for He will only take with Him those who know Him, those who have received Him as Savior.
Be ready! He could come on just such a peaceful Saturday morning!
Mahalo!
Love and blessings,
Judy Gruaugh
Ron and I had arrived in Hawaii on Thursday afternoon to spend a few days with our grandson and his young family before going off to a resort to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We had had a wonderful day on Friday, observing our grandson teach his 7th grade students, listening to them sing in four-part harmony, playing with our two young great-granddaughters and enjoying a delightful dinner out with our grandson and our granddaughter-in-law, Mark and Rachel. Everything was perfect, even the weather. But suddenly on Saturday morning everything changed, and for 35 minutes life was up in the air.
As I watched Mark and Rachel and heard their end of several telephone conversations, I knew it was serious and Rachel, who had been busy fixing breakfast, began to fill water bottles as we were instructed to stay in the center of the building, away from windows. Only my husband was lighthearted as he encouraged Rachel to finish preparing breakfast, for if we were going to die, he said, he’d like to go out with a full stomach!
Even in the midst of his upbeat attitude, it was scary to say the least, for we knew we could lose our lives at any moment, and especially being in Hawaii, there was no place to run! Even our son-in-law, who lives on the mainland, sent a text saying that according to the news, it was not a hoax. But, as you know, it was in fact, a false alarm. Even so, I will never forget those intense moments as a thousand thoughts ran through my mind including the truth that one day Jesus will come again to take us to heaven. He will come just as suddenly, and if we want to spend eternity with Him, we must be ready, for He will only take with Him those who know Him, those who have received Him as Savior.
Be ready! He could come on just such a peaceful Saturday morning!
Mahalo!
Love and blessings,
Judy Gruaugh