Blogger: Traci LeBrun

I’ve been apprehensive all my Christian life to dig into the biblical book of Revelation. Mostly because it’s never made sense to me and seems daunting to try to interpret all the symbolism and then apply it to my life.

Many people suggest we’re in end times. I don’t know if that’s true. I do know the Puritans being persecuted for their faith by the “Church” of England felt they were in the end times and expressed such sentiments in early American literature.

What are end times and how long will they last? I don’t know if anyone knows that but God. But I think we can all agree that, if we are in end times, politics or any politician, are not going to get us through. To the contrary, I’ve seen politics dividing believers over the last few years. Social media doesn’t help either.

I had a friend encourage me to dig into the book saying that in no means should we be discouraged as believers, but we should be encouraged in knowing who holds the keys to life and death and all of this sordid stuff we see happening around us.

I’m glad my friend encouraged me to get back in the Revelation saddle so to speak.

As I read through the first chapters, there is hope revealed through John’s words. Hope that I couldn’t help blogging about.

John first tells us that we are blessed to read and hear and act on the words shared in this book. And we are I’m finding.

Revelation reveals the wondrous panorama of God's plan. But there is a warning to root out sin and anything that separates us from a relationship with him, along with a warning to those who have continually rejected him as their Creator.

In verse 4-5 of chapter 1, we learned that Jesus rules over the king’s of the earth but also loves us personally, and he released us from the bonds of sin by the shedding of his blood on the cross.

In verse 6, we learn that he made us as believers to be a kingdom and priests to God, administering God’s love to others.

In verse 7, we learn that Jesus will come down from the clouds. Every eye will see him, and people will mourn likely because they’ll realize they put their hope in something else and not the one and true living God.

In verse 8, we learn that Jesus is the Alpha and Omega meaning he was there at the beginning and created us and he will be here in the end.

I knew all these things before but what is said in the next few verses stood out to me.

In verse 12, we see Jesus standing among the seven golden lamp stands. My study notes tell me they symbolize the churches. Jesus is standing among them and protecting them. This gives me hope.

We learn the nature of Christ at this time and what he’ll be like when he returns. Verse 15 gives a visual description which can be interpreted that Jesus is wise, divine and will judge the people and their hearts. He is a high priest that will ask forgiveness on our behalf, if we have believed and repented of our sins, to God.

But the description of Jesus in verse 15 really struck me. There was no translation for this description in my study notes so bear with me. John says his feet are burnished bronze that glow in a fire. I believe this is saying Jesus’ feet, the foundation of any person standing, are stronger than iron and will resist the fire that is burning around him.

We know in end times there will be trials and 2 Peter 3:10 tells us that “the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works done on it will be exposed.”

We learn Revelation 1:15 also that Jesus’ voice at that time will be like the sound of many waters. He will give believers peace and calm through it all, and he has the power to put out any flames around us.

In verse 16, we see that he holds the seven stars in his right hand. Jesus has control over the Universe. From his mouth though comes a two-edged sword. His words are powerful and will bring judgment for those who put their hope in anything less than him.

Reiterated in verse 17 is that he is the first and last. Politics and politician won’t be hanging around to help us in the end. But Christ will.

Verse 18 tells us he holds the keys to death and Hades.

So if you think that a political party or a politician will help save you from anything (I’ve been guilty), think again. We know who holds the keys to death and Hades and who to put our hope in as is clearly explained in the ancient and prophetic words of the Bible.

We have nothing to fear but only hope of an eternal life with God and our loved ones who believe in a place much more glorious than even the Maldives.

I’ll leave you with a past blog post excerpt of a vision. It was a vision that I believe God gave me of my mother after she passed away and before I learned that she had passed away.

“There really is something beyond this life. Don't be deceived by the enemy saying there is nothing and attempting to draw you away from the Lord. There is much more than what we have here today.

I know beyond a shadow of a doubt.

I know this because I have faith in the Bible and what it says is true, and the Holy Spirit tells me so. But also because the night my mom passed away, before I knew she was gone, God gave me a dream of her. A dream like I never had before. She was running, even skipping, and swinging both her arms and there was green all around and sunlight and she was happy in a field of flowers, of daisies–her favorite. She was happy like I hadn't seen her happy in several years, especially since she had a stoke which left her unable to use her left side. I woke up that Sunday morning feeling happy because of the dream but wondering why I had it.

Before we left for church that morning, it was around 9:00 and I got a call from Dorothy, her neighbor in the apartment, saying she had found my mom and she had passed away. According to the coroner, she had died around 4:00 am. God gave me the dream after she had passed into His presence ... showing me exactly where she was and that she was okay–and with God more importantly. She was more than okay.”

I’m going to try to put into words what really can’t be expressed with words. Things that are better expressed with a hug, or a warm cup of coffee, or a “hello dear” on the other end of the phone. But I’m going to try.

Grandma Dorie was many things to many people, but this is my story and just

the tip of the iceberg of who she was and what she has meant to me.

Grandma lived through the Great Depression. The eighth grade was her last

year in school as she took a job in a sewing factory in Minneapolis to help
support the family. She never went back to school to earn her GED, but it didn’t
affect how she she thoughtfully gave advice and carefully gleaned information
from the world around her, often giving a witty retort on the subject of politics.

Grandma and Uncle Frank

She lived long enough to see the culture change, some ways for the better and

many ways for the worse she would say. In the 96 years she was alive, she

also lived long enough to have many heartaches. When her second oldest son,

my father, went into prison, it broke her heart. And likely broke my grandfather’s

heart in a more literal way as he died of a heart attack shortly after the event.

Grandma not only lost a son, who would spend the rest of his life in prison, but

also lost her husband. She was now a widow. But my mother was also a widow

in another sense. So their best option was to sell their homes and combine

households.

Mora was only an hour and a half from where they were but far enough away to

remove them from a painful past and start over. By the time we left the cities, I

was eleven. My grandma had bought me a pony, named Patches, when I was

five and too young then to enjoy an animal like that, but Grandma thought I was

old enough now.

My first pony given to me by Grandma and Grandpa Bailey

She got herself a horse and one for me as well to bring up to the farm. They

rented a trailer, borrowed a truck and headed up to Mora, the three of us:

Grandma, Mom and me. It had just been us for a few years prior to this, and it

would just be us after that on the farm.

Where my dad left off, Grandma stepped in. She taught me many “manly”

things as best as she could. I first learned to use a circular saw from Grandma

Dorie as she built stalls in the barn for the horses. She gardened, mowed the

lawn, stacked wood, stoked the furnace early in the morning before we woke,

cared for the horses, shoveled snow, cooked meals, cleaned, did laundry,

canned vegetables, and many other things. She was a true pioneer woman.

Grandma at our Coon Rapids house

As I grew into a teenager, I’m quite sure it was a challenge. But never did

Grandma complain. I don’t remember one time she was upset with me. Not

one raised voice. Unconditional love was all I felt from her.

Not only was she there for me, but she was there for my mom. Maybe she felt

responsible for us in the absence of my dad. I’m not sure. But she went above

and beyond to make sure we were taken care of. Many rides to town for sports

practices, 4-H meetings, choir concerts, play practices and many times picking

up the slack when I shirked my duties in the barn or around the house to run off

with friends.

A trip to Kansas

As I had my own family, she was more than just Great Grandma to my kids.

She would play with the boys, often having wrestling matches with them. I

don’t know many grandmas that do this. We purchased land from my mom

and grandma, moved back home, and lived in my old room while our house

was being built just up the hill from where I grew up. The kids would walk
down the hill from our new home to grandma's house, spending much

of their time there. Each school day, they would get off the bus at grandma's

house and watch cartoons and eat snacks. These were the best times I can

ever remember.

Her and my mom were often benevolent to those in their church who were in
need of a meal or companionship. That was their thing. They rarely missed a
ladies Bible study or church event.

We lived just up the hill from them in Mora for 11 years until my mom's health
deteriorated until the point where Grandma Dorie could no longer care for her.

She was a saint to my mom, being her caregiver and friend for many years.

As I got older, and my mom passed away, Grandma Dorie moved in with her

daughter, Annie. This brought her great joy. Grandma was still active and

helped around the house and did as much as she could for the family, and I

could tell enjoyed the doting that came with living with her only daughter. But

she was always just a phone call away and had now become both mom and

dad to me when I needed counsel or just to hear a voice that I’ve heard all my

life.

My mom, Luke, Ashton, Gracie and Grandma Dorie on a
boat ride in Duluth

Grandma was a role model. She was a hard worker working many jobs: one as

a housekeeper at the hospital and other jobs cleaning houses. This kept her

active and she would always say, “If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it.” She retired

from the hospital at the age of 80. And she was right, she kept going until the

end.

Just a week before she passed, she came back from congestive heart failure,

even after the nurse told me she had just hours to live. A few days later, we
were able to visit her in Kansas and she was back home walking and playing
with the dog and making coffee for the family again.

Grandma and her "shadow", Cuddles, just a week before
she passed away

But the last few days of her life, she was at peace. I wasn’t able to be there with

her then, but my aunt told me the pastor visited her. She told him that she had

been talking with God and saw Him and was ready to go home. Her breathing

wasn’t labored and she was at peace and singing songs as if to God himself.
Answers to prayer. And by her side, each holding a hand, was her oldest
son, Frank, who I was told called her faithfully every single night, and her daughter
who loved her dearly.

I am indebted to my Grandma for stepping in and taking the place of my father

and being there when he wasn't. She was always there, at every event, and

every turn of life. I will miss you more than you know, Grandma, but I know we

will see you on the other side if our faith is in the Lord Jesus.

Grandma and me at the Coon Rapids house

Grandma Dorie, me and Grandpa Chuck

Grandma as a newlywed

Grandma Dorie and my mom

Frank, Bobby, my dad, Annie and Grandma

In Coon Rapids with a new Bug

Me, Grandma and cousin Eric

Me and Grandma in Kansas

Grandma on the farm

Grandma Norlander and Grandma Dorie

Grandpa and Grandma Norlander, Grandma Dorie, me, and Mark

Grandma and Luke

Grandma, Ashton, my mom, and Gracie at a preschool concert in Mora

Grandma Dorie helping in the kitchen in our Fargo apartment after my college graduation

Grandma and baby Ashton at his baby shower at Fred and Barb's

Gracie and Ashton spent many hours in Grandma's room cuddling or getting spoiled with treats

Aunt Susie, Grandma and Uncle Frank at the farm

Grandma, Judy (Mark's mom), Eleanor (Lyle's aunt), my mom, me holding Gracie, Joli,
Barb and Irene (Lyle's mom) celebrating Mother's Day at Judy and Lyle's in Big Lake