My wife and I are blessed with three beautiful children.  My youngest is about to be 21 years old.

I had the incredible joy of experiencing the birth of each of my kids, and welcoming them into their family.   I was with my wife at every moment during the labor.

We often joke about the moments of labor, and how I tried to comfort my wife during the contractions.  It was certainly a painful experience for my precious wife, but also a beautiful time in our lives.   Most parents can relate to the difficulties of the birth process and the incredible joy that followed.

There is a growing intensity in everything right now.  To me, it is a reminder of the labor pains that we went through as our beautiful children were preparing to join our family.  They started with minor discomforts, and intensified quickly – as the time of their arrival drew near.

Our Messiah shares that during the last days we will experience difficulties, and then related them to the pangs of labor.  Obviously, I believe that means we will see increasing intensity as we draw nearer to His return.

“For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.”  Mark 13:8  NAS

I often think about the events that led up to the birth of my children.  What if I had not taken my wife to the hospital as she was entering into labor.  What if she and I had delayed in our preparations for our children?   It seems to reason that things would have been extremely difficult.

Preparation is vital – especially now in the beginning of the birth pangs.  The new birth is coming soon, and we have no more time to delay.