NEW YEAR! Ready Set Go!

Remember "one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready and four to go?" Who ever came up with that? I see that Warner Bros used it in three different cartoons during the 40's. Some say Elvis Presley bought it for one of his hits. Who did he buy it from? But as for us kids, it was always the thing to say that would get us to run, be first in line or whatever. I hated competition but this would always set us up to run the race. I read a sermon with that title, but can't remember now what he was talking about except for the Rich Young Ruler. Oh well! I guess it came to my mind because I wanted to talk about being ready.

Jim has a book called "Ready set Remember!' It gave him methods on how to remember faces, places and things. He was able to teach the whole church how to memorize the books of the bible through a picture method. Lots of fun and lots of people joined our Books of the Bible Club, just by using this method to memorize the books. The point is, to remember immediately through association. It enables us to be ready, set remember.

Whenever we are planning to go someplace, we are usually ready long before it is time to go. I hate waiting! I would rather be early and upset the host than to be on time or late. Mostly because when I am ready, I am ready to go, now! Did I say I hate waiting? Conversely, when whatever we have attended is over, I am ready to leave; after all we were there early enough to get our visiting done.

When baking a cake, we set the timer and when it goes off we know that the cake is ready to take out of the oven. Timers are good to alert us to something being done. However, life doesn't run on timers. If it did we would always be in the starting and stopping mode.

Were you ready to be married? Were you ready to become parents? Were you ready for the open house to sell your home? Are you ready for tomorrow? Are you ready for the kingdom? In the days of Noah and after the ark was finished, were the people ready for rain; the flood; the end? No! They were still eating, drinking and marrying and being given in marriage. The good book says the people were not ready and that's how it will be at the coming of the Son of man.

Remember Jesus talking about the thief who comes in the night and the householder who should be watchful and not let his house be broken into. "Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect." Matthew 24:44

Remember the story of the servant, who's master was delayed and so becomes unruly? "The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know." Matthew 24:50 Are you faithful and ready for His coming again? Or are you unfaithful; eating, drinking and playing the field thinking I will prepare for his coming tomorrow.

Remember the story of the 10 virgins? "And while they went to buy more supplies, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut." Matthew 25:10 That is a scary thought; "and the door was shut!" Will you be among the 5 virgins who stood at the closed door and said; "Lord, Lord, open to us!" Matthew 25:11b "Truly, I say to you, I do not know you. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour." Matthew 25:11-13

This is 2010; are you ready for the kingdom? There is no time like now! "For He says; At the acceptable time I have listened to you and helped you on the day of salvation. Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Corinthians 6:2 Yes, today is the day of salvation. Don't let the things of the world come between you and your being ready for the coming of the Lord. I realize it appears that He is taking His time, but in reality His timing is always perfect. It is our place to be ready! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 12/28/09