Have you ever heard of "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day"? Even if you haven't heard of this children's book, you probably can relate. I was off last week and last Wednesday, I had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

I have told you before that my daughter is going to be part of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and Sam and I are going to be part of the Sons of the American Revolution, if it's the last thing I do. The hard part about joining has already been done for me. In my family tree, I have a patriot who fought in the Revolutionary War. It's been documented by someone else in my family up until my Great-Grandfather. All I have to is prove I'm related to my great-grandfather OJ Ryther, my grandfather, and my mom, and I'm in!

One acceptable type of documentation is tombstones, gravestones. So last Wednesday I set off down to Dixon, Missouri to find a small country cemetery and take pictures. We arrived in Dixon, went to the town funeral home for directions, but they were closed. Town of 1500, Funeral home only opens if someone dies.

So I went to the gas station. "Does anyone know where Seaton Cemetery is?" Several people spoke up. "Sure, everyone knows. You just drive up this road, go over the 3 dips in the road, turn at the yellow house, and make a sharp left by the cedar trees." Ok, we're off.

We didn't get there. So we stopped at church. The lady there seemed scared, but she said go up the highway, turn left on the gravel road, Cherry Street, and drive around. You'll see it. After an hour driving on a gravel road, we didn't see it. Starting to give up.

Then I see a man in his truck. I slam on the breaks, back up and ask if where Seaton Cemetery is. "Get out of your car." Oh, no. But I'm desperate. So I got out of the car. The cemetery is literally in his backyard. Then the man said, "Are you Ryther?" Yes, "You look like one. There's a guy in town who looks just like you." "That's kind of scary."

So we went to the cemetery, rubbed shaving cream on the stones to enhances the writing, and then took pictures.

On the way home, my transmission started to go out, but I was going to get back to Cape Girardeau. My car smoking, I made to Kingshighway and Cape Rock when my car died all together.. I'll be it was the gravel road. A very nice policeman came, the car was towed, people were yelling. It was a long day. It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad, day.

The Gospel reading talks about some seemingly terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days. Jesus is telling us about end times. We believe as Christians that we are living in the end times right now. From the Resurrection to Christ's second coming, we are living in the end times.

Jesus gives some very specific signs for us to notice as we await His second coming. Jesus mentions "spiritual deception" taking place. There will be false prophets claiming to the be the Christ. "Watch out that no one deceives you."

Jesus says there will be "wars and rumors of way…nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom." This world is marked by warfare and we will not see the end of it until the Prince of Peace comes.

Jesus mentions natural disasters. "There will be famines and earthquakes and pestilences in various places. All these are the beginning of the birth pains"

Jesus mentions persecutions, Jesus said that we "will be persecuted for His name's sake." We're so blessed to live in America, but in some Muslim countries you are thrown in jail for owning a Bible. But in the midst of persecution, Jesus tells us that "This will be your opportunity to bear witness." In the midst of persecution, Jesus may be placing you in a particular situation to tell someone else the Gospel, the cross, the resurrection. But there will be religious persecution.

It sounds terrible, horrible, no good, very bad. But let me give you 3 observations. First, these signs will be present in every generation. False prophets, wars and rumors of war, earthquakes, and the rest have been part of the last 2000 years. Therefore, we must not make the mistake of reading too much into one contemporary event.

However, Scripture is very clear that in the end times, the tempo of these events will increase. Matthew 24 refers to these as the "birth pangs." These signs will increase in tempo and in intensity. These signs will intensify as Christ's return is closer.

But there is hope in the Gospel. "By your endurance, you will gain your lives." Or the NIV version says, "Stand firm and you will live."

It reminds me of the Revelation 2:10 promise, "Be thou faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life."

If endurance is what is necessary, how does the Christian endure? Whether it would be religious persecution that we may one day face, or whether it is enduring pain and challenge of living in a sinful world, how do we endure? How do we stand firm?

I'm going to share with you the Bible's As of endurance. These are 4 ways the Lord empowers us to endure times of persecution and challenge!

First, Always keep your Attention on Jesus. The devil seeks to lead us astray. He wants us to take our eyes off of Jesus, rather than trusting in Him in each and every circumstance. Remember, all of history is actually HIS STORY. The focal point of all of history, is HIS STORY OF SALVATION. And when you keep you eyes fixed on Jesus and His cross where He died for your sins, nothing will forever discourage you.

What does the road of faith look like? It isn't easy. It isn't a bed of roses. But there is joy along the way, and eternal glory awaiting at the end -- all because of the sacrifice of Jesus.

Second, all believers are called to have a Biblical Attitude toward suffering. This week is Thanksgiving, and Scripture calls us to "give thanks in all circumstances." We certainly can rejoice that every day is a gift, and every day is one day closer to heaven. James 1 says, "Consider it pure joy when you face all kinds of trials." One paraphrase of this verse says puts it this way, "Whenever trials come, don't resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends."

If we can remember that God is involved in our suffering, that He is all-knowing, and all-powerful to help us, then He must have a purpose in allowing us to walk this way. Maybe, as Jesus suggested, our suffering will be an opportunity to let someone else learn for Jesus Christ. Maybe in the witness we provide even in difficult circumstances, we may be used by the good Lord as a sermon to someone who doesn't know Jesus.

When we don't have this Biblical attitude toward suffering, then we are putting God outside of the picture. We are trying to handle it all on our own, which contradicts Scripture which tells us to be persistent in prayer, and to trust in the Lord with all our heart. When we put God outside of our struggles, then we are saying that there is nothing spiritually edifying in our pain. And that leads to bitterness.

But when we have a Biblical attitude toward persecution and suffering, we see God at work, and we do have a reason to give thanks in all circumstances.

The 3^rd "A" of endurance is to Avoid Immorality and the Ways of the World! Our world is filled with sin, and it is quite easy to get enticed by smooth- talkers and ways of the flesh. When the ground we are standing on is shaky, it is easy to forsake the Lord. The only solid Ground is Jesus. In these last days, it is even more important that we surround ourselves with those who believe as we believe and live as we desire to live.

The first time I read through these words of the Gospel reading, I was discouraged by them. The future of this world sounds painful and at times frightening.

But as I read these words of prophecy over and over, I realized again that these words assure us that:

• God is in Control.
• God predicted these end time events.
• God ordained these events as warning to us.
• God is not caught by surprise.

Rather, these events are part of His plan.

There is joy in knowing that God is in control even when this world seems out of control.

In conclusion, when we face persecution, when enduring a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day is difficult:

Keep your attention on Jesus

Have a Biblical attitude toward suffering

Avoid immorality and fellowship with the corrupt, unbelieving world.

Hang on to the Assurance of God's Unshakeable Kingdom.