Blessings for God's People-Joel 3:16-18

Good morning to all,
As I awake today, I'm reminded of God's Blessings throughout my life.  Even when I've been unresponsive to His call, He has continued to protect and watch over me.  God's chosen ones have been persecuted from the very beginning and they will be persecuted until His return!  In Joel 3:16-18, He assures us that His people will be Blessed upon that return.  (16) The Lord's voice will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth will shake.  But the Lord will be a refuge for His people, a strong fortress for the people of Israel.  (17) "Then you will know that I, the Lord your God, live in Zion, My holy mountain.  Jerusalem will be holy forever, and foreign armies will never conquer her again.  (18) In that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk.  Water will fill the streambeds of Judah, and a fountain will burst forth from the Lord's Temple, watering the arid valley of acacias.  The here and now is only temporary and it is the preliminary stage for what is to come.  Christ assures His children that no matter what they go through (trials and tribulations), they will ultimately be with Him in paradise!  When you feel life is just too much for you and you want to quit, remember that He is ready to help you endure.  I can't think of a better way to Bless His people than to assure them that physical mess is just temporary and Spiritual reward is waiting!  He wants you to be Blessed way beyond your own imagination.  1 Peter 1:6 says it best:  So be truly glad.  There is a wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.  In closing today, I pray that you realize life is full of preparation (whether you like it or not) to prepare you for what is to come.  Stay close to Thee so that you begin to see the correlation between the now and the Blessings of your Lord and Savior!!!
Your brother in Christ,
p

p.s. Remember:  The past is history;
                           The future is a mystery;
                           Now is a gift!
                           That's why its called the 'Present!'