Evil Disguises Itself A Something Good

Revelation 17:17-18 -    For God will put a plan into their minds, a plan that will carry out his purposes: They will mutually agree to give their authority to the scarlet animal so that the words of God will be fulfilled. And this woman you saw in your vision represents the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”

John was taken by an angel to see what he described as a battle between the kings of the world and the city of Babylon…which the angel described as a notorious prostitute. The evil in the world would use her as long as she could provide them with what they wanted.  But they would discard her and ravage her as soon as she had lived out her usefulness to them. 

What a great reminder that evil disguises itself as something good for us until it has no more use for us. Then it reveals its true self and destroys what it had taken control of.  Evil takes the form of what looks the best to us at the time we think we need it.  Instead of relying on God…who is always in total control…we are tricked into trusting some earthly thing for a time.

John’s message is clear…if we allow evil to trick us….destruction of something in our life will follow.  God will ultimately use it for good in the end…but the consequences of our choices may stay with us till we die. One other negative is that God’s timeline of re-purposing the choice we made is not always easy to wait for.

I have been tricked many times by satan’s ability to convince the soul that something evil is really not evil at all. When I am weakest….he is right there tempting me with a choice that looks good at the time…but has proven time and again to be a destructive thing to my faith. Thank God that he will use all of my bad choices for good…some I have seen re-purposed for good…and some I must use faith to wait  patiently on him to reveal his plan.

Father…thank you for the reminder that you are in control of all things.  Forgive me for not looking close enough at some of my decisions and seeing the wolf beneath the sheep clothes that tricked me into a wrong choice. Thank you for the promise that you will use every one of those choices for good in your timing. Help me to see beneath satan’s lies and discern who he really is before I make a decision.  Help me to wait patiently to see how you are going to use my wrong choices to bring about your ultimate good. Amen.

Watch...And Be Ready

Revelation 16:15  -  “Take note: I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are awaiting me, who keep their robes in readiness and will not need to walk naked and ashamed.”

John watched as the 7 angels were given permission to pour the flasks of judgment upon the earth. Everything from horrible malignant sores…rivers, oceans and other water sources turning to blood….other water sources being dried up completely….heat from the sun scorching the skin of all men left at this time….the creatures being thrown into the deep of the earth….to earthquakes, lightning and thunder announcing the last moment of life on earth as we know it…was poured out of the 7 flasks.

God’s message to me came much later than my usual early morning time with him.  The snooze button on my alarm is way too close to the dismiss button… so I found myself choosing between writing and church.  Opting for church …I realized on the way to meet with my church family which scripture God was using to remind me from this bleak story of the end of our world as we know it.

I wasn’t ready this morning…I let the temptation to hit the snooze button lull me into a complacency that became a vivid life lesson of what might happen if I do not take the words of Revelation 16:15 seriously. If I am not ready for the surprise return of Christ and this moment of time when His father will unleash his judgment on the world …I might just find myself dealing with some of these horrible outcomes.

If I want to be truly ready there is not a moment that I am alive that I can afford to be complacent anymore.  Time is closer than it has ever been…I need to be watching and serving so God will find me ready to go whenever he calls me….whether it be the next moment in time…or years from then.

Father…thank you for the reminder that you are coming again to judge the earth and rid it of all evil forever.   Forgive me for the times that I have let life create in my spirit a false sense of security. Help me to be acutely aware of every task you need me to do for you…and keep my heart ready to embrace you at any moment you might appear.  Amen.

Only God Can Give Us Peace And Courage To Make The Right Choice

Revelation 15:2-4 -   Spread out before me was what seemed to be an ocean of fire and glass, and on it stood all those who had been victorious over the Evil Creature and his statue and his mark and number. All were holding harps of God,  and they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb:

John sees another pageant unfolding in the next part of his vision. Seven angels came down from Heaven with 7 flasks in their hands. The flasks contained the last 7 plagues that God would use to show his deep anger to those that followed the beast and received his mark. Those that had been victorious over the beast were given the honor of singing songs of praise and playing harps to accompany the great choir.

I have always loved to sing...music seems to take me quickly to a place of inner peace and comfort. These victorious believers must feel that inner peace too…for they are able to sing praise and worship God in a moment that terrible things will be unleashed on those who are left…those that chose to follow the beast.

God offers that inner peace and confidence to us even now.  The choice to believe in him gives us access to courage and the peace that passes all understanding that Paul talks about in Philippians 4:7.  It says… “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” He is our way to the strength we will need to make choices for him when the time comes.

Father…thank you for the reminder that you hold the key to peace and courage in times of great stress and trial. Forgive me for the times that I get going so fast that I forget to stop and ask for your guidance and wisdom to give me direction.  Help me to hold so tightly to your hand that I always remember to look up and let you guide me through the pathways you allow me to walk.  Amen.

Cling To The Positive Promises Of God

Revelation 14:12 -13 -  Let this encourage God’s people to endure patiently every trial and persecution, for they are his saints who remain firm to the end in obedience to his commands and trust in Jesus.”    And I heard a voice in the heavens above me saying, “Write this down: At last the time has come for his martyrs to enter into their full reward. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for now they shall rest from all their toils and trials; for their good deeds follow them to heaven!” 

John’s vision continued with a glimpse of the glory of heaven and the reward awaiting those that endure to the end. He heard an encouraging voice from heaven give two of the keys to standing strong to the end….obedience and trust.

It is a reminder to me that as bad as it will get… we need to concentrate on the positives of our relationship with God to withstand anything else that might ty to harm our physical body. As the psalmist wrote long before John’s vision in Psalms 30:5… “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Two ways to stay strong are to obey God and to trust his decisions for our future.  We may not agree with everything he asks us to do…or feel good about everything that happens in our life….but we can cling to the promises of Jeremiah 29:11.  God’s plans are to prosper us…not to harm us in the future.  He alone can give us hope. 

Father…thank you for the reminder to cling to the positives of your promise to protect our spirits until it is our time to join you in heaven. Forgive me for the times that I forget your power to lift me up and sustain me and dwell more on the negatives around me.  Help me to think more on the prosperous plans you have for my future…so I can continue in obedience and trust you completely with my life.  Amen. 

Stand Strong...God Has Already Won The Victory

Revelation 13:9-10 -  Anyone who can hear, listen carefully:  The people of God who are destined for prison will be arrested and taken away; those destined for death will be killed. But do not be dismayed, for here is your opportunity for endurance and confidence.

John’s vision continued with the revealing of two more beasts. One rose up out of the sea…and one came from the land.  They performed deceitful miracles…and required all that lived to worship them. They eventually marked all their followers with a tattoo on their right hand or forehead….no one without it was able to buy or work.

It won’t be a pretty …or easy time for those that refuse to worship the beast. They will be persecuted terribly….some imprisoned and some will die for Christ. Only those that have their names written in the lambs book of life will be protected spiritually from eternal death and harm. Satan will only have control over the physical part of their existence.  Nothing he does can separate these true believers from God.

I admit…I don’t have the confidence to know for sure I can stand for Christ no matter what.  Perhaps if I keep on studying and praying for guidance and wisdom I will on the day that I need it. Perhaps the thoughts of Paul in Philippians 1:21 should be our mantra…. “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Jesus found his strength in quoting scripture during his temptation…so I know that I can find the confidence I need to stand for Christ by doing the same. How about Philippians 4:13… ^“ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” ….or Romans 8:28 … “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

This Thanksgiving I choose to be thankful that I can claim the power of Christ to sustain me through all things …good…or perceivably bad.  He holds the key to my everything…I just have to learn how to speak his name whenever I feel threatened or alone.

Father…thank you for the reminder that you hold the power to help me through anything. Forgive me for the times that I let my flesh weaken my resolve to call on you for help.  Help me to stand strong in these times of turmoil and uncertainty.  Give me new confidence today to know that you are waiting for me in heaven…arms open wide to receive me when I have accomplished all that you sent me here to do. Amen.  

The War Against Satan Will Be Won

Revelation 12:13-14 -  And when the Dragon found himself cast down to earth, he persecuted the woman who had given birth to the child. But she was given two wings like those of a great eagle, to fly into the wilderness to the place prepared for her, where she was cared for and protected from the Serpent, the Dragon, for three and a half years.

John called the next part of his vision a ‘great pageant’  of the things to come. The central character was a lady giving birth being attacked by satan as he was cast out of heaven.  God allows her to grow wings and escape to a protected place…and there he cares for her as long as satan roams the earth.

I may not understand the symbolism or literal meaning of this chapter…but I am sure of  a couple of things it teaches me.  Satan can only attack our physical being…God puts a covering of protection around the spirit of each of his children. I am also sure that satan attacks the weakest of God’s children…just as all animals of prey. They single out the one least likely to run away or fight back.

Paul reminds us that this protection comes in the form of various armor in Ephesians 6:10-13..  It says… “Last of all I want to remind you that your strength must come from the Lord’s mighty power within you.  Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand safe against all strategies and tricks of Satan.  For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against persons without bodies—the evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings and great evil princes of darkness who rule this world; and against huge numbers of wicked spirits in the spirit world.”

One last thought. This war between God’s children and satan will continue till Christ returns in glory to claim his final victory.  We are guaranteed victory with him in that moment. We may lose small battles along the way…but the closer we stay connected to God …the less damage satan will be able to do to our physical body.  The more we rely on God’s strength…the less the loses will affect our ability to ove God no matter what.

Father…thank you for the reminder that we will win the final battle with you against evil.  Forgive me for the times that I have given up the fight…or not prepared myself for battle properly.  Help me to learn how to wear your full armor so I will be ready and strong for any battle that satan can create against the ones I know and love.  Amen.

Hold Fast To Your Faith

Revelation 11:11-12 -  But after three and a half days, the spirit of life from God will enter them, and they will stand up! And great fear will fall on everyone. Then a loud voice will shout from heaven, “Come up!” And they will rise to heaven in a cloud as their enemies watch.

John records a most gruesome picture.  The two prophets that God considers worthy and strong enough to preach repentance in these last days will be attacked and killed by the beast when their allotted days are up. Their bodies will lay in public view ….while parties of victory happen all around them. No one sees the real victory coming. They all watch in disbelief and horror as the spirit of God raises them to life and whisks them away to heaven for their obedience.

It gives me great comfort to know that evil has a definite end.  I may not be around to witness this moment….I may even have to endure some of the evil coming …but I know that I know that I know that God will bring an end to evil in this world when he sets up his earthly kingdom.

There is another promise in this chapter. The ones who believe in God and hold tightly to the faith he builds in them will be protected from spiritual harm.  They will suffer physically….but none of the physical destruction will take their faith away.  Even physical death will be temporary….God showing his power in the end and raising all believers who hold fast to their faith up to heaven in the end.

Father…thank you for the reminder that you will call me to heaven on the day that you conquer evil for all eternity. Forgive me for the times that I let my faith weaken….seeing and letting the world influence me to give up on your promises.  Help me to hold fast to my faith in you so that I may be included in the number of believers that will someday join you a in a great victory party over evil.  Amen

The Final Days Will Come....In A Moment No One Knows

Revelation10:5-7 -    Then the mighty angel standing on the sea and land lifted his right hand to heaven  and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and everything in it and the earth and all that it contains and the sea and its inhabitants, that there should be no more delay,  but that when the seventh angel blew his trumpet, then God’s veiled plan—mysterious through the ages ever since it was announced by his servants the prophets—would be fulfilled.

John saw another angel come down from heaven with a small scroll in his hand. When he spoke the thunder answered with words John was not allowed to reveal. What he was allowed to write was the words of the angel that the time of final judgement should begin…that God’s complete plan for the world as we know it should be revealed in its entirety.

John was told to swallow the scroll….perhaps to keep the secret until that day comes.  Matthew 24:36 and Mark 13:32 both record the same words…. “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” John was simply given a charge to prophesy of this time to the ones that he would meet…people….nations…tribes…and kings.

We don’t have to prophesy.  We have John’s words…and Jesus’ words from our Bible to use to remind ourselves of this time. Our job is to share its coming with those around us. We can remind believers that a day of final judgment is coming …in case they need to repent of any backsliding.  We can also warn those who don’t believe at all ….in case God can use something we say to soften their hearts enough to believe.

The time is closer than it has ever been. Many believe it is just around the corner. I am sure that John felt the urgency of the message he had been given to share as soon as he woke from his vision. I admit that the events that are unfolding in our world lead me to think it is very close indeed. I needed the reminder to feel the importance of sharing God’s love as much as possible… to feel the urgency of what is coming as if it could happen even as I write these words.

Father…thank you for the reminder that the final days are coming. Forgive me for not feeling the urgency of sharing your love to all those I meet. Help me to be more aware of the ones around me and take the time to share you with more and more people every day. Amen.

Keep Praying For The Lost...Till Time Is No More

Revelation 9:20-21 -  But the men left alive after these plagues still refused to worship God! They would not renounce their demon-worship, nor their idols made of gold and silver, brass, stone, and wood—which neither see nor hear nor walk!  Neither did they change their mind and attitude about all their murders and witchcraft, their immorality and theft.

John describes the horror of the plagues that will be unleashed when the 5^th and 6^th angels blow their horns. Locusts with scorpion like tails and demons with the power to kill 1/3 of mankind will take over the earth and torture all who do not wear the mark of God on their forehead.

How horrible that time will be. I admit that I hope my family and friends…including myself… will be taken to heaven way before this day. This 5 months will not be pleasant for anyone that does not wear the mark of God on their foreheads.

It is so out of my ability to reason that even after all this torture…the ones remaining will cling to their disbelief. I have a hard time understanding why anyone would choose to believe in anything other than God…but there are many.

This truth speaks to my idealistic heart.  It tells me to just accept that my calling here on earth is to share as much of God’s love as I can. It is not my job to make sure everyone believes the same as I.  God controls the world…but he allows each of his creations to accept or reject the one who made them.

My hearts hurts so bad for those that reject Christ…especially if they are family…or people I have come to build relationships with.  I may not be able to change their minds…but I can continue to lift them up in prayer and intercede on their behalf. Only God knows if there is any one word or happening that will convince the ones I have come to know and love that God is real.  All I can do for those who reject him is pray that God keep revealing to me and the other believers in their lives to keep modeling his love to them.

I admit that sometimes I don’t even bother to pray for the ones I don’t know yet. I read about their deeds and think that they deserve whatever bad consequences come their way. But some of these people could come to know Christ if someone takes the time to model Christ for them.  Only God knows the one situation and the words that will speak to the reason they chose not to believe.

Father thank you for the reminder that one of my jobs for you is to never give up on the lost and unbelieving that cross my pathway. Forgive me for the times that I have ignored the lost for any reason. Help me to take the time each day to intercede for any soul that is destined for this picture that John paints of ultimate death.  Amen.

The Beginning Of The End Will Come In Silence

Revelation 8:1-2 - When the Lamb had broken the seventh seal, there was silence throughout all heaven for what seemed like half an hour.  And I saw the seven angels that stand before God, and they were given seven trumpets.

John’s vision continues as the Lamb of God opened the 7^th seal. As soon as he broke it a hush of silence came upon the whole of heaven’s occupants.  The silence seemed to go for at least a half an hour. The he saw these 7 trumpets be given to 7 angels…and they began to blow them one by one…God unveiling a partial piece of his judgment on the world with each one.

It’s not going to be pretty.  Hail…fire mixed with blood…burning mountains throwing themselves into the sea…stars falling from the sky destroying our water supply…the sun darkening and giving more darkness control of the land…until 1/3 of the earth is completely destroyed. Lightning….thunder and earthquakes brought a solitary eagle that flew over the scene and kept crying woe…woe…woe to the people of the earth.

I had a hard time imagining the silence…it is something I rarely participate in unless I am forced...but these creatures were so overcome by the appearance of these angels and their trumpets…that it took every word of praise and worship from every creature that already lives there.  They just stood there….no words for the sight of those angels…as if they knew the moment of judgment had finally come.

That moment that the angels broke that silence began in motion God’s final play… the decision to stop giving his creation more chances to repent and come to him made for all eternity. Once that 7^th seal is broken there will be no turning back the clock.  Time is up…and 1/3 of the world better be ready to meet Jesus and join that silent crowd of heavenly creatures. 

God doesn’t want panic ….or fear in that day.  He wants his perfect love to give us the strength and the courage we need to be ready.  We might be part of that 1/3 taken quickly by one of these calamities….but we might also be one of the 2/3 that need to stay till his full judgment is unveiled. That 2/3’s will need him more than they have ever needed anything in their life if they are going to remain faithful till the end of that horrible time of history on the earth.

Father…thank you for the reminder that you have a moment of time reserved to stop giving me chances to draw closer to you.  Forgive me for the times that I have wasted opportunities to build strength and courage ..and let you create a faith in me that is unwavierable…even in the realization that you are beginning your final days on the earth. Help me to take my second chances more seriously….and seek you in silence to plug into you….seeking wisdom and strength and courage from your word and soaking up all you have to say to me through prayer.  Amen.

We Can Experience Victory In Our Trials

Revelation 7:14-17 -  “No, sir,” I replied. “Please tell me.”  “These are the ones coming out of the Great Tribulation,” he said; “they washed their robes and whitened them by the blood of the Lamb. That is why they are here before the throne of God, serving him day and night in his temple. The one sitting on the throne will shelter them; they will never be hungry again, nor thirsty, and they will be fully protected from the scorching noontime heat.  For the Lamb standing in front of the throne will feed them and be their Shepherd and lead them to the springs of the Water of Life. And God will wipe their tears away.”

As John continues his tour of heaven he saw a great crowd of people in white robes ….all consumed with praising the lamb of God who gave them the faith and strength to persevere through a period of time John named as the great tribulation.  They made it through this hard time because they allowed Christ to build a lasting faith that gave them the strength they needed to walk through any test satan could set before them.

They started with a choice to believe in Christ…and the salvation they received in return strengthened them beyond any human capability to endure hardship. Each time satan was given permission to test them…they turned to God for exactly how to persevere through each trial.

I admit that it is hard to think of this time coming in our future.  I may not understand what it will be fully…or just who God will leave on this earth to be his warriors of faith.  But this passage tells me that the people who stand firm during this time and do not waver in their belief…who cling to their belief in God no matter what will be honored with a close seat next to Christ’s throne so they can shout their praises for the victory he will give them.

The cool thing about their victory is that God will wipe away every memory of pain and suffering.  The tears…the hunger pains…the thirst they had….it will all be erased.  And in its place will be a feeling of deep gratitude for all God did to help them win over satan’s tricks …. lies…and misery.  They will drink in the water God provides from the spring of life and forever sing his praise right next to him in heaven.

Father...thank you for the reminder that you can give us the faith and courage to walk through any time of trial and hardship.  Forgive me for the times that I give up on myself….and fail to call on you to help me endure the things that get me down. Show me how to stay so connected to your love that I never fail to call on you again when I feel I am slipping into a time of weakness.  Help me to use the faith you have given me to muster the courage and strength I need to walk through the trial you have allowed…so I can experience the joy of victory when I am finally through the test.  Amen. 

More Martyrs To Come...Are You Ready To Be One Of Them?

Revelation 6:9-11  -   And when he broke open the fifth seal, I saw an altar, and underneath it all the souls of those who had been martyred for preaching the Word of God and for being faithful in their witnessing.  They called loudly to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long will it be before you judge the people of the earth for what they’ve done to us? When will you avenge our blood against those living on the earth?”  White robes were given to each of them, and they were told to rest a little longer until their other brothers, fellow servants of Jesus, had been martyred on the earth and joined them.

John continues to write down the details of his vision of the future. The lamb begins to open the scroll and as it unrolls further and further a seal is broken to unveil vivid pictures of what is to come. Horses of different colors with riders carrying weapons of battle and judgment…signs of great earthly distress like earthquakes and moons that turn red…and stars that appear to fall from the sky. The one that caused the most reflection for me as I read last night was the altar he saw.  Underneath it were the souls of many Martyrs….calling out to God for vengeance for their deaths.

A martyr is defined as one who dies for their beliefs. These martyrs died because they preached the gospel…or allowed the faith they had in Christ to allow them to stand for him…even in the face of death.  I don’t know them all by name…but I can think of the moment in the news when they passed to this honor. At the top of my list are those children of Columbine… and many others are listed in the pages of history books…like the apostle Peter. 

I was drawn to how they called out to God for vengeance for their unfair death. God answered them quickly with not yet…many more are yet to join you. It got me to wondering if I have the kind of faith they have….and if I could be as brave and strong if I am called to join them. They let God take first place in the moment they needed him the most…trusting their very life to the salvation he gives us all.

I want to be that honored…but know in my heart that I need much more faith to be ready for a moment of testing like that. The epiphany of the morning is that I just can’t feel confident in my own beliefs in to think I could join them.  But I know that God can do all things through the blood he sacrificed to save me…so I guess I have more prayer and study to figure out how to tap into that great wealth of faith and confidence.

Father…thank you for the reminder that you can give me the strength to do all things. Forgive me for the times I allow my human weakness to limit my thoughts and actions. Help me to stay so connected to you that I can increase moment by moment that you are within me to help me realize the great faith of those that have died before me.  Help me to be ready to die for you in any moment that I am called to take a stand for my belief in you.  Amen.

Every Knee Shall Bow And Exclaim The Lordship Of Christ

Revelation 5:13-14  -   And then I heard everyone in heaven and earth, and from the dead beneath the earth and in the sea, exclaiming, “The blessing and the honor and the glory and the power belong to the one sitting on the throne, and to the Lamb forever and ever.” And the four Living Beings kept saying, “Amen!” And the twenty-four Elders fell down and worshiped him.

John writes about the first moments of his visit to Heaven.  The Christ…called both a lion and a lamb…is center stage as every one of the four creatures….the 24 elders….all the angels…as well as all the living and dead humans that exist bow down to worship and praise him for being the only one worthy to break the seal on God’s plan for the end of evil’s reign of control on the Earth.

How can you read these words and not get goosebumps trying to imagine the pure joy of that moment? Every person of faith hopes in this meeting of God face to face.  We read about the awe of the home we get to share with him…but forget that we won’t notice much of it at first.  We will be much too busy falling at his feet to worship him and thank him for the sacrifice he made to allow us to be there at all.

In the last days…it clearly says that EVERY knee will bow and in that moment all of the living and dead will realize that God is the only one worthy of such praise and honor. EVERYONE will believe…but the sad part in this is that for some that moment will bring eternal death. It will be too late for them to ask him to become their Lord and savior.  The epiphany will bring the realization that they were wrong all along.

John is not the first to give us this news.  Romans 4:11 says…. “ It is written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.'" That scripture is based on Isaiah 45:23… “By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear.”

Perhaps John’s words were not written so much to allow us to see a glimpse of our hope in the future…but to give us a reason to spread his truth as much as we can to the lost. All those atheists…agnostics….crazy cults…every non-believer still has a chance to accept Jesus as their Lord until that moment.

Father…thank you for the reminder that my focus should be completely on you and what you did to save and give me hope for my future.  Forgive me for not seeing the urgency of sharing your love and gift with those who do not believe. Show me how to use every encounter with people in my path to stretch their understanding of who you are and what you can do to heal … comfort…and save their soul. Amen.

It's All About You...Jesus

Revelation 4:8-11  -    Each of these Living Beings had six wings, and the central sections of their wings were covered with eyes. Day after day and night after night they kept on saying, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty—the one who was, and is, and is to come.”  And when the Living Beings gave glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne, who lives forever and ever,  the twenty-four Elders fell down before him and worshiped him, the Eternal Living One, and cast their crowns before the throne, singing,  “O Lord, you are worthy to receive the glory and the honor and the power, for you have created all things. They were created and called into being by your act of will.”

John turns from delivering the pure words of God to the churches…to describing the honor of peeking into heaven. He is given a wonderful vision of Christ on his throne….glittering and shining in glory in an array of beauty and color. He saw 4 living creatures that resembled things he knew…but yet were nothing like anything he had ever known.  He saw 24 elders that took their place around the throne. The picture was completed with the sighting of 7 lighted lamps…which he was told represented the seven fold spirit of God.

The thing that drew my thoughts this morning was the fact that all of the living beings in John’s vision were praising and glorifying God in some way. The Creatures spoke a repeated mantra of “Holy… Holy …Holy…the Lord God Almighty…the one who is and was and is to come.” Then the elder joined in with a chorus of,  “O Lord, you are worthy to receive the glory and the honor and the power, for you have created all things. They were created and called into being by your act of will.”

My brain has always imagined my crossover into heaven as a sort of reunion…..all the loved ones that have gone on before me welcoming me…hugging me.  The visons are always centered around me and how wonderful and complete I will feel as I join them on the other side of earth. John’s vision points out to my heart how very wrong I have been.

John sees a picture of how it will truly be…all creatures...everything that God has created and honored with a place close to him…praising and glorifying God.  Everything will be about God.  All my thoughts will finally be able to focus completely on honoring him...giving the praise he deserves with no interruptions form the world. I will be so overcome by his presence that I too will fall to my knees and find a chorus of praise to sing for all eternity.

It gives this old woman cause to reflect on just how much praise and honor I give to God now. I need to stop defining my praise to God in earthly terms...and begin to understand how continual praise and honor to God can increase my faith and strength to persevere through the hard times God is allowing in the world today. Evil will not win in the end.  All things will someday praise and honor God.

Father…thank you for the reminder that you are sovereign… and that I am to be about praising you in everything that I say and do.  Forgive me for letting the world distract me once again into ever believing things are about me. Help me to focus more on you and find more ways to honor and glorify you while I am still on this earth.  Amen. 

Heat Up Any Lukewarm Attitudes

Revelation 3:15-17 - “I know you well—you are neither hot nor cold; I wish you were one or the other!  But since you are merely lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth!  “You say, ‘I am rich, with everything I want; I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that spiritually you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.

John continues his messages to the three other churches with warnings and encouragement. He encourages one church for using the small amount of faith they have to obey God …but warns severely the churches that have let indifference overtake their spirit. His warnings included a promise of punishment if not corrected.

It’s hard to believe that God feels cold is better than lukewarm…but think about that for a moment. Cold means that you have no feelings…that lack being a blank slate for God to write exactly what he wants when you decide that he is the way to life. Cold can heat up quickly and become hot when God is the fuel for the fire.

Lukewarm is another issue.  Lukewarm means you have spent countless hours using your own wisdom to justify the things that you do. You have left the basics of the faith and created a faith that lets you do what you want.  The things around you that make you so comfortable are the very things that will destroy you.  The material things replace your need for a relationship with God so slowly that many do not even notice it.

Perhaps it’s not as hard to stay hot as we think. If we stay connected to the word in Bible study….have a routine of prayer…. and fellowship as often as we can with other believers …our relationship to God will naturally increase the temperature of our spirit. John says obedience is another key to staying connected…just a small amount of faith going a long way. 

Father…thank you for the reminder that you want us to be spiritually alive. Forgive me for the times that I have let the world crowd out my need for you and make me even the least bit indifferent to my need for you. Help me to increase the love you placed inside me when I gave my life to you…and pass it on to others that need you.  Amen. 

Have You Lost Your First Love?

Revelation :2-4   -    I know how many good things you are doing. I have watched your hard work and your patience; I know you don’t tolerate sin among your members, and you have carefully examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but aren’t. You have found out how they lie.  You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.  “Yet there is one thing wrong; you don’t love me as at first!

John’s second chapter is written to four of the main churches of his time and day.  It addresses four attitudes that God saw were weakening the good that they were doing in the world. They had lost the enthusiasm of meeting Jesus for the first time….let false teachings justify compromising their faith….tolerating idol worship and sexual sin among the church members…..and failed to speak out against leaders like Jezebel….that supported all these practices.

Things haven’t changed. We could change the names of all those churches to a current one and find all of the same attitudes.  God can find good in all of them….but his concern is in how the wrong attitudes weaken our faith…weaken our power to help him love others...weaken the pure love we experienced when we first gave our heart to him.

The biggest problem with these attitudes is that they take our focus off of God and support the fleshes need to please our self. All the work God has done in our lives to create a humble attitude he can use to power the world with his love slowly is replaced by pride …. and self-centeredness. Just do one google search with the words bible and pride and you can read around 100 verses that describe the problem it creates when you let it have any foothold in your faith.

God’s call with John’s words were to change.  Change our attitudes …back to the pureness we felt in our first moments of knowing God in our heart….back to the enthusiasm we will need to face the future of unknowns. There was a consequence if we don’t…verse 5 says God will remove the candlestick from its place among the churches.  I’m no scholar….and have no clue exactly what that means…. But my heart tells me it won’t be something that is comfortable for anyone who doesn’t comply.

Father…thank you for the reminder that even though you see good in my life…the imperfections and attitudes of the world that you see in my heart weaken my ability to love you and the others around me.  Forgive me for allowing any attitude into my heart that takes my focus off of you.  Give me strength and discernment to identify them all….so you can help me remove them completely….and fill the space with more of your love.   Amen.

Do Not Be Afraid...God Is Among Us

Revelation 1:12-13 and 17-18     -    When I turned to see who was speaking, there behind me were seven candlesticks of gold.  And standing among them was one who looked like Jesus, who called himself the Son of Man, wearing a long robe circled with a golden band across his chest.

….When I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead; but he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! Though I am the First and Last, the Living One who died, who is now alive forevermore, who has the keys of hell and death—don’t be afraid! 

Revelation….an intimate glimpse of the end of the story started in Genesis 1….given to his obedient servant John.  John paints for us the end of earthly existence….and the final triumph and victory over evil. It isn’t the end for those who believe in the power of God … the sacrifice of the son…and the sustaining ability of the Holy Spirit.

My daily studies bring me to this book in a season of increased turmoil and destruction in the world. The news saturated with the freshest attack on innocent people by evil terrorists in Paris…new fear threatening to rip the promised hope of God from every weak believer. But this is no time to let evil rule our thoughts and prayers…it is a time to remember that God is in control of every action…and will judge them when his timing is complete.

My heart felt immediate peace when I read these verses in John’s first chapter. The first verse doesn’t say that God is up in Heaven watching the destruction.  It says that he is ‘among’ the churches. I can’t explain the particulars about the trinity….it’s just one of those things that I know because of the faith God has built into my heart.  God and Jesus may be sitting up in Heaven….for now….but the Holy Spirit’s home is in every heart that believes in them. He was given as our comforter…cause Jesus could see how hard these days would become.

The second verse provides a directive for all of us who want to give in to fear and start collecting the supplies we might need to survive when things get worse in our corner of the world. John recorded it correct…  Jesus told him not to be afraid….because fear is the enemy of the peace he wants us to feel in our relationship with him.  Fear keeps us from claiming the promises of God. Fear takes our focus off of sharing the gospel with others…and puts it on self-preservation.

It’s only hard if you continue to focus on the bad news...and stop searching for answers by study of his word and prayer. Don’t just pray for Paris….pray for the peace of God to cover everyone that is gripped by fear this morning.  Pray for the ones that can’t stop watching the feed on the TV and continue with normal life because fear is taking root in their hearts. Pray that God place peace and comfort in all hearts that believe in him so that God’s love will continue to be shared.

Father…thank you for the promise of peace in a time of turmoil and evil destruction. Thank you for the promise to be among us…and placing your spirit here on earth to help us conquer the fear satan is trying to plant to destroy the faith of those that believe.  Help me to cling to the peace you promised and find ways to share your love with others….so more of the world can live through what is coming before you come in glory and conquer evil for good.  Amen.

The Fine Line Of Love With No Compromise

Jude 1:20-22 -  But you, dear friends, must build up your lives ever more strongly upon the foundation of our holy faith, learning to pray in the power and strength of the Holy Spirit. Stay always within the boundaries where God’s love can reach and bless you. Wait patiently for the eternal life that our Lord Jesus Christ in his mercy is going to give you.  Try to help those who argue against you. Be merciful to those who doubt.

Jude packs all of his words into one chapter. He wanted to write about salvation…but chose to address the problem of false teachers instead. His day dealt with the rising acceptance of a sect known as Gnostics…who denounced Christ’s lordship…and embraced all material pleasures as good and spiritual experiences. His words are just as relevant to us today….the gnostic attitude has gained strength if anything.

Jude’s words here speak to one of the most important reasons we should study the Bible that God gave us to live by.  We need to know the truth for ourselves…so that the subtle changes that false teachers make to justify their beliefs don’t trick us into sinning too. Many of the false teachers know the scriptures better than the believer they are trying to convince of their opinion.

But my thoughts turned to another problem that distresses my spirit every time I experience it. Sin can twist our thinking in more than one way. We can be tricked into sin that the Bible clearly teaches against. But think about this for a moment.  How many of us are tricked into being so self-righteous….our sin is the way we treat others that don’t agree with our definitions of what is sin?

The more I study my Bible…the more I understand how important it is to separate the sin from the sinner.  Just read the next verse…23... “ Save some by snatching them as from the very flames of hell itself. And as for others, help them to find the Lord by being kind to them, but be careful that you yourselves aren’t pulled along into their sins. Hate every trace of their sin while being merciful to them as sinners.” Jude clearly says here to hate the sin …but love the sinner.

I admit that it is hard to do. There is a very fine line between compromise and standing for a belief. The bottom line is how we take that stance. It’s one thing to believe a certain thing…and support that belief with scripture.  It is another to judge all of those that chose to disagree with you.  Believers who cross that line ….and fail to love and show compassion and kindness as Jude suggests…. drive more people into the arms of false teachers than they rescue and save.

Father…thank you for the reminder that you are love in its purest form.  Thank you for the love and mercy you have shown this sinner.  Forgive me for the times I have let pride and self-centeredness create in my heart a spirit of self-righteousness. Wash all the pieces of that judgmental spirit out of my heart so that I can show only the love that attracts a lost heart to your salvation.  Amen.

Hospitality....The Cure For Someone's Loneliness

3 John 1:11 -   Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do what is right prove that they are God’s children; and those who continue in evil prove that they are far from God.

 

John uses his last words to reinforce the dangers of letting the wrong people influence our thinking and actions.  He says to weigh our decisions carefully against the truth….and follow only what is good. John’s concern here was the support and kindness we show to travelers who have dedicated their lives to teaching and preaching the gospel…and how hospitality should be a central part of any believers’ routine.

 

My Life Application Bible started me on a vein of thought this morning that has tweaked my understanding of the importance of reaching out to others with hospitality… even if they are not a traveling teacher or speaker. It said … “because of our individualistic, self-centered society, there are many lonely people who wonder if anyone cares if they live or die.” Nothing but truth in that statement….I have met several of those people in person.

 

I am guilty… of not reaching out enough...of justifying an occasional card….of letting a visit to a friend in the hospital tell my head that I already follow John’s directives. This morning I am struggling with whether I could use even more of my time in retirement to search out more of these lonely people. I sure understand how loneliness works…even though I know that I am loved more than I deserve.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that I am the cure for someone else’s loneliness. Forgive me for letting my own needs and desires cloud my eyes from the ones around me that need to feel a good dose of support and love. Help me to open my eyes and heart to the clues you send to help me know who to help and what to do for them.  Amen.

Watch Out For False Teachers That Twist The Truth

2 John 1:7-9 -  Watch out for the false leaders—and there are many of them around—who don’t believe that Jesus Christ came to earth as a human being with a body like ours. Such people are against the truth and against Christ.  Beware of being like them and losing the prize that you and I have been working so hard to get. See to it that you win your full reward from the Lord.  For if you wander beyond the teaching of Christ, you will leave God behind; while if you are loyal to Christ’s teachings, you will have God too. Then you will have both the Father and the Son.

John’s second letter is short and sweet….with one more reminder of the importance of loving each other and one to watch out for the many false teachers that would try and twist the truth of what Christ taught when he was here.

It’s not hard for many of these people to quickly become leaders.  They are very careful to include just enough Bible to make their arguments seem valid. Most claim to love God….the problem comes when their version of the Bible is twisted beyond the truth. 

John is clear….first we have to know our Bible well enough to know if what they are saying is supported by the Bible.   Second…if it differs at all….don’t listen to them…and definitely don’t support them with our resources. If we do…we run the risk of letting their false teachings dilute our faith into less than God intended. And once our foundations have been compromised….it isn’t hard for satan to weaken others areas of our faith as well.

Here’s one last point …found in both Titus 3:9 and 2 Timothy 2:14 and 23.  It is important that we don’t get caught up in meaningless debates with others about who these people are. The arguing itself not only damages the listener….but weakens our credibility to the lost. Perhaps that is why John reminded us of the importance of loving each other before his warning about false teachers. Have your list…and a quick Bible supported reason for your opinion…and let the other person do the thinking and research after that. Agree to disagree and walk away.  Hold on to the promise that God is in control of every false thing that is said…and has plans to use it for his good in the end.

Father…thank you for the reminder to watch out for those that want to twist the truth you have tied to hide in my heart. Forgive me when I take their word and don’t search out whether what they say is truth according to your word. Help me to make my decision about what is taught with careful prayer and study to prove or disprove to my own heart it validity. Help me to only teach what I have proved to my own heart is true.  Amen.

Be Not Conformed To This World

1 John 5:14-15   -    And we are sure of this, that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will.  And if we really know he is listening when we talk to him and make our requests, then we can be sure that he will answer us.

John closes out his first letter with reminders that our belief on Jesus gives us eternal life…..to make sure we guard our hearts from any sin that might lessen God’s importance in our heart….and to remember that we are God’s children….and can tap into his power to fight our daily battles any time we need them. One way to be confident in this is to make sure that everything we pray for aligns with his will.

I admit that this is one of the hardest things for any believer to do. The balance of what we want for ourselves and what God needs us to want in our life is blurred with the world’s standard. When God reveals something we think will be bad or hard to do our flesh takes over and tries to convince our heart we can’t possibly be thinking right.

God left us instructions. Romans 12:2 says…  “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 8:27  says …. “And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” These verses tell us to pray….not with the world’s view of things…but to search our hearts for the unselfish…humble spirit of Jesus…ready to die for man’s sin.

Is it possible then… that our failure to find his perfect will in our lives is rooted in our inability to separate completely from the world’s view of what that should be?  John writes later in verse 18-19 …. “No one who has become part of God’s family makes a practice of sinning, for Christ, God’s Son, holds him securely, and the devil cannot get his hands on him. We know that we are children of God and that all the rest of the world around us is under Satan’s power and control.

That tells me that one of the keys to staying in God’s will is to make sure the world controls none of our thoughts. Sin is something we should run from… our thoughts should be constantly consumed with ways to share God’s love with others so that arguments about the color of coffee cups ….whether Christmas trees and decorations should be visible before Thanksgiving….or any number of other soap boxes that appear to go viral each day that do nothing to help others learn about the one person that can give them eternal life.

Father…thank you for the reminder that the world is not my home and should control zero of my thoughts.  Forgive me for getting caught up in useless debates of worldly issues that take my heart and energies away from seeking your will for my life.  Help me to run away from the things that are of the world and won’t help me know you in a deeper way. Show me how to channel all of my energy and thoughts into searching for you and how to share you with others.  Amen.

Practice Loving Each Other

1 John 4:7-9 -  Dear friends, let us practice loving each other, for love comes from God and those who are loving and kind show that they are the children of God, and that they are getting to know him better.  But if a person isn’t loving and kind, it shows that he doesn’t know God—for God is love.  God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into this wicked world to bring to us eternal life through his death.

John speaks to the core of what those who believe in Christ should feel for everyone around us. He says to practice loving each other. This shows that we indeed belong to God….who practiced loving us by sending his son to die for our sins.

Love is a choice and an action. Go back and read 1 Corinthians 13 for the full lesson from Peter. John is just repeating what we should already know by now. John is just stating the obvious….once you have felt God’s love…you naturally want to share it with those around you.

The more you love…the stronger God takes hold of your heart….the more of the world’s selfishness melts away from the heart that God controls. Kindness and love become second nature…so the world gets to taste and see the kind of love God had for us through our actions to others.

Father….thank you for the reminder that you are the source of pure love. Forgive me for the times that I have taken that love for granted. Help me to find even more ways to share your love with others…so more people will see who you really are. Amen.

Stop Saying IT And Do It

1 John 3:18-19 -   Little children, let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions.  Then we will know for sure, by our actions, that we are on God’s side, and our consciences will be clear, even when we stand before the Lord.

John breaks the concept of love down to the key ingredient. If we truly love…then our words become the hands and feet of Jesus here on earth. If we fully embrace the meaning of love…..humility and sacrifice become the driving force behind loving others in everything we do.

He uses Cain as an example of what not to do. Cain gathered his leftovers in a basket and tried to pass them off as his best….then he got mad at his brother for doing it right. Jealously caused the first murder….and gave satan the foothold he needed to convince Cain he was doing the right thing.

I had to stop and think about it.  When was the last time I gave up something I really wanted in order to show love to someone else? I can gather up my leftovers all day long….when God has blessed me with an abundance.  But am I really showing sacrificial love to others….by giving when I am not sure I have enough for me?

John is teaching us that one way to get closer to God is to give sacrificially to others. We can justify all day long that we are doing enough…but John is saying that if we reach the point that we think that…we are missing the real lesson that enough is never enough.

Father…thank you for the reminder that you require us to give your love to others in a sacrificial way. Forgive me for the times that I have justified my giving as enough….and stopped just short of sacrificing what I wanted in my gift. Help me to think more like you…and think of ways to help others even before I help myself.  Amen. 

Love One Another....Even The Evilest Of Hearts

1 John 2:7-8 - Dear brothers, I am not writing out a new rule for you to obey, for it is an old one you have always had, right from the start. You have heard it all before. Yet it is always new, and works for you just as it did for Christ; and as we obey this commandment, to love one another, the darkness in our lives disappears and the new light of life in Christ shines in.

John affectionately refers to his readers as his children. He writes to them to plead with them to remember that loving others is the one way we can know that Christ is in total control of our lives.  He knew that love was and is the strongest weapon we have against the darkness of satan.

The love that Christ plants in our hearts goes beyond the worlds standards.  It is based on self-sacrifice….and ultimately leads to servanthood.  Christ’s love reaches beyond our friendships and reaches enemies and persecutors.

John also touches on the one thing that lessens our ability to love more than anything else….the emotion of hate. Any amount of hate will keep Christ’s love from growing to its fullest potential.  Hate plants seeds of lust…pride….and materialism that keep God’s sacrificial love from taking root as deep as it needs.

I admit that it is hard to stay completely void of any hate.  It goes against our inner being to love some of the people we read about in the paper…or hear about on the news each day.  But if God loves them then I must find a way to love them too. The Bible clearly states that I can’t be his child if I don’t.

Father…thank you for the reminder that I must use your love to love everyone around me. Forgive me for the times that I have picked who I wanted to love….and kept a bit of hate in my heart for some. Help me to clean out my heart of all hate…so you can replace it with love and light and truth. Show me how to love even the most evil of hearts so they too can someday come to know your light and love. Amen.

Confession...Good For The Soul

1 John 1:8-9 -  If we say that we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth.  But if we confess our sins to him, he can be depended on to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. And it is perfectly proper for God to do this for us because Christ died to wash away our sins.

John spends a few minutes explaining the basics of the Christian faith.  We are all sinners…but God allowed is precious son to die for all those sins. The blood he shed from his sinless life washes away all the dirtiness of our sinful one.  All it takes is one statement of our own corruption…and the faith we have in Jesus Christ will forgive our many sins.

Think about this…God already knows every sin we have ever committed. Nothing is hidden from him. The confession isn’t for God….it’s for us…to begin the work that humility does to transform that sinful life into something that God can use.

I loved the note in my Life Application Bible….it said…. “Confession allows maximum fellowship with God.” The more sin we confess and let out of our proverbial closet…the closer we can draw to Christ. The closer we draw to Christ the more peace and joy we feel on a daily basis.

Father…thank you for the reminder that I need to confess every sin that creeps into my heart. Forgive me for allowing some sin to stay tucked away in a closet…thinking if the world doesn’t know about it… it won’t hurt anything. Help me to confess every sin to you…so I can draw as close to you as possible…and shine bright with the light that you reflect in my life. Amen.

Hurry That Day Along

2 Peter 3:11-13-  And so since everything around us is going to melt away, what holy, godly lives we should be living!  You should look forward to that day and hurry it along—the day when God will set the heavens on fire, and the heavenly bodies will melt and disappear in flames. But we are looking forward to God’s promise of new heavens and a new earth afterwards, where there will be only goodness.

Peter ends his letter to the church with a reminder that our home is not of this world. We should be looking forward to the day that God calls us home to live with him….while living the best life for him we can while we are still here. The troubles and sorrows we face here will disappear as we cross the threshold into God’s glorious kingdom of goodness.

It will come….like a thief in the night….so we need to be prepared at all times.  He says to use our time here to spread the word of his coming to others…and try to grow as much as we can spiritually between now and then….letting peace rule our decisions each day.

It is one of the easiest trips I have ever prepared for when you think about it.  I don’t have to pack a bag…arrange for the mail to be stopped…..or have someone check on the house.  I won’t be coming back to any of that. I prepare for this trip by letting God control more and more of my heart each day….his will directing me to more and more people that need to hear how God can change their life too.

I am guilty of taking my ticket to Heaven for granted….and not trying to grow spiritually each day. Peter says the way to do that is to let peace rule my decisions each day…and spread his love as much as I can to the people God allows to cross my path each day. Each time I share God with others I will grow as a result.

Father…thank you for the reminder that I need to prepare my heart each day for the ultimate trip to Heaven that you promised to all believers. Forgive me for taking my ticket for granted so many times and not allowing you to help me grow each day.  Show me how to share your love more freely with those that cross my path.  Help me see all the ways I can grow closer to you each day. Amen.

Choices Now....Judgement Later

2 Peter 2:7-9 - But at the same time the Lord rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a good man, sick of the terrible wickedness he saw everywhere around him day after day.   So also the Lord can rescue you and me from the temptations that surround us, and continue to punish the ungodly until the day of final judgment comes. 

Peter was writing to warn the church about the false teachers of the day that preached what men wanted to hear….just to make money. They lived in a world that permitted many sexual sins as acceptable…but Peter wanted to remind them that these sins would never be something that God saw as good.

We still live in a world that permits many sexual sins that the Bible clearly teaches is not God’s way. The problem is the same as in Lot’s and Noah’s day…God would would love to rescue them from the sin that controls them…but many choose not to believe.

The choice we make now will either make us better people…or weaken us into puppets of sin. The proof is in the judgment that only God will provide in the end. Those who ignore the word of God will understand the cost of their choice in the end. Those of us that make the right choice will transition into Heaven to be with God in all his glory.

Father…thank you for the reminder that my choices now will determine my future with you.  Forgive me for the times that I ignore you…or make a wrong choice….knowing that the Bible tells me better. Help me to stand strong and make only choices that you would approve….so my time with you in Heaven will be it fullest. Amen.

Do you want more and more of God’s kindness and peace?

2 Peter 1:2-3  -  Do you want more and more of God’s kindness and peace? Then learn to know him better and better.  For as you know him better, he will give you, through his great power, everything you need for living a truly good life: he even shares his own glory and his own goodness with us!

Peter asks a question that anyone would be smart to answer yes. Everyone can benefit from a little more kindness and peace in their lives….and the way to get it is as easy as getting to know God in a deeper way. What’s even more awesome is that the peace God gives also imparts his power… unleashing everything we need to live a truly blessed life.

Getting to know God means spending time doing the things God loves.  Reading and studying our Bible…praying for the needs of others…. doing acts of love that generate God’s power to heal the pain all around us. We need to spend time in worship with other believers…. and share the testimonies of how God has transformed our hearts.

I am guilty once again….for I am reminded that I take so much of God’s provisions for granted. My testimony these days is how he is letting me rest in a wonderful home….and spend all the time I want with family and friends.  Retirement has given me the time to do the things I love like sew…and quilt…and crochet….and read….and enjoy his creation on my wonderful deck.  God has given me an amazing  season of life that is truly as Peter says…..a truly good life. It makes me want to draw even closer to him….and find more ways to serve him in helping others.

Father…thank you for the reminder that drawing closer to you gives me peace and power to love you even more. Forgive me for the times that I take the great love you give me for granted.  Help me to praise you more often for all you have done…and draw even closer to you so I can be more of a vessel of your love.  Amen. 

Watch Out For Attacks

1Peter 5:8-9 -   Be careful—watch out for attacks from Satan, your great enemy. He prowls around like a hungry, roaring lion, looking for some victim to tear apart. Stand firm when he attacks. Trust the Lord; and remember that other Christians all around the world are going through these sufferings too.

Peter takes a moment as he closes his first letter to warn his readers of the sure attacks that satan will bring now that they are a threat to his control of the world.  The more we understand our true calling and use for God…the more satan wants to interrupt our fulfillment of that calling.

His attacks are not always obvious and easy to spot.  Sometimes they are hidden in the things we love….the people we love… and the pleasures that create the most satisfaction to our lives.  Satan sneaks his attacks in ways that make us think we have done good things…until God reveals the dangers and damage our choices made after the fact. 

Peter makes one other great point that I am guilty of forgetting sometimes. Satan’s attacks make you feel so alone and battered.  You feel like you are the only one he is picking on…you just want him to go pick on somebody else for a while…but in reality he already is.  We are never alone in our suffering.  Someone else is going through a fire …somewhere.

I will stretch that thought one more ad say that I believe this suffering is one of the reasons God allows satan to attack us in the first place. We build skills to love deeper….hold on tighter….and endure more so we can help each other survive till Christ’s return.

Father…thank you for the reminder that I need to watch more closely for the attacks of satan so I can call on you to help me fight him off each time.  Forgive me for the times that I allow satan to control the fight for too long…and weaken the faith that you are trying to build in me. Help me to stand firm and trust you during the battle so you can control the outcome.  Amen.

What Is Your Special Gift?

1 Peter 4:10-11 -   God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God’s many kinds of blessings.  Are you called to preach? Then preach as though God himself were speaking through you. Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies so that God will be glorified through Jesus Christ—to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.

Peter speaks to one of the reasons God allows us to live in His great creation. He created us with purpose and intention…..each one of us given a special ability to serve him in some way.  Peter is clear here….ALL of us were given this …not just some.  We are to use them to spread God’s love and give him the glory that he deserves.

Some people discover their God given ability early in life…using it even before they become a child of God. It becomes a battle of pride to turn the gift God gave them over to him…so he can redirect the use of it for him.  Others falsely think they have no ability…even after coming to know God. They forget that God’s gifts can sometimes be humble and subtle.

Once you realize the gift you have been given is to be used for God…or finally admit that he gave you one at all….the key is to learn to use it to spread the love of God to as many people as possible.  We are even closer to the deep conviction of Peter that the end is near and Christ is coming soon in verse 7. Our goal should be to tell everyone the good news of his love and salvation before he does.

Father…thank you for the reminder that I have been given a special ability to use for you.  Forgive me for the times that I fail to use it for your glory…or try to lessen its importance in the lives of those you called me to use it. Help me to love others through this gift and give you all the glory for any salvations that result.  Amen.