Jesus IS coming!
"Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book."
The River of Life
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. 6 The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”
Jesus Is Coming
7 “Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.”
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. 9 But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”
10 Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near. 11 Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy.”
12 “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen
Revelation 22:1-21
What could I, the writer, possibly add?? Except
AMEN!!!
Blessings~
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
NEEDING vs WANTING
In our daily lives we want many things and we are taught it doesn't hurt to want things. It is in reality the things we need that we should strive for in this world. Well maybe that is the catch, in this world..hmmm.
This morning I have struggled some as to what should be scribed, trying to quite myself as I am hurrying around I heard this song and it brought me back from all my rushing around. Part of the song lyrics are the trees respond to Him, the ocean waves respond to Him, the wind responds.
I began thinking on this and realized, God doesn't need me to respond to Him, he has every other creation of his that responds to Him with just the slightest thought from him. Now, humans are a different thing, we have our will.
The writer's thought or perhaps revelation is simply this;
We need God, without him we are nothing. It takes nothing from us to need. This bares repeating. It takes nothing from us to NEED. So for us to need God is nothing. Don't misunderstand, He knows we need him, but he wants us to WANT him. That, really takes an act of our will, to WANT HIM! It takes us seeking him, to WANT HIM.
He supplies our NEEDS, he lets us know that over and over in His word. So he lets us know He provides for our needs.
He even gives us the wants, in giving us the desires of our heart. But HE WANTS US TO WANT HIM!
Do You WANT HIM or do you just NEED HIM?
I need Him in every breath I take, with every heart beat I want Him more and more.
Blessings~
some of the lyrics from the song I listened to this morning.....
Trees lift their branches, the oceans send their waves, the sun shines and the moon lights the night, all as an act of praise. The birds sing their melodies and the wind whispers your name because that is the way you planned. Let all the earth proclaim, let all the earth sing out your praise.
This morning I have struggled some as to what should be scribed, trying to quite myself as I am hurrying around I heard this song and it brought me back from all my rushing around. Part of the song lyrics are the trees respond to Him, the ocean waves respond to Him, the wind responds.
I began thinking on this and realized, God doesn't need me to respond to Him, he has every other creation of his that responds to Him with just the slightest thought from him. Now, humans are a different thing, we have our will.
The writer's thought or perhaps revelation is simply this;
We need God, without him we are nothing. It takes nothing from us to need. This bares repeating. It takes nothing from us to NEED. So for us to need God is nothing. Don't misunderstand, He knows we need him, but he wants us to WANT him. That, really takes an act of our will, to WANT HIM! It takes us seeking him, to WANT HIM.
He supplies our NEEDS, he lets us know that over and over in His word. So he lets us know He provides for our needs.
He even gives us the wants, in giving us the desires of our heart. But HE WANTS US TO WANT HIM!
Do You WANT HIM or do you just NEED HIM?
I need Him in every breath I take, with every heart beat I want Him more and more.
Blessings~
some of the lyrics from the song I listened to this morning.....
Trees lift their branches, the oceans send their waves, the sun shines and the moon lights the night, all as an act of praise. The birds sing their melodies and the wind whispers your name because that is the way you planned. Let all the earth proclaim, let all the earth sing out your praise.
Friday, March 7, 2008
My Soul Thirsts
1 As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
3 My tears have been my food
day and night,
while men say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go with the multitude,
leading the procession to the house of God,
with shouts of joy and thanksgiving
among the festive throng.
5 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and 6 my God.
My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.
8 By day the Lord directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I say to God my Rock,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?”
10 My bones suffer mortal agony
as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
11 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
The psalmist here has been exiled from being able to worship in the temple. Unable to come together with others in worship, especially during feasts.
What would your psalm if you were exiled from being able to go to the temple/church.
Would you be downcast but still placing your hope and trust in God?
Would you feel as though God had forsaken you or remember he directs your love and gives you his song at night?
Would your soul thirst as the deer seeks out the water? Would you remember to be thankful always even in a downcast mode?
It is important here as I scribe on this to think of perhaps yet another lesson here, How important it is to our soul to be part of a temple, a body of born again believers.
As I write I am reminded that I am away from home and I miss my temple, in this day, my church, my church family, my tribe!
I am not downcast, but I miss them and hope that I am missed. I am thankful that I know always remember;
My God directs my life with his love and sings over me always. My hope is in Him and always will praise Him.
I will always thirst for more, even in the midst of Him, I will thirst for more, as the deer pants, my soul, it thirsts for more of you.
Blessings as always and remember to pray, seek /him in all things and put on your armor~
so my soul pants for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
3 My tears have been my food
day and night,
while men say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go with the multitude,
leading the procession to the house of God,
with shouts of joy and thanksgiving
among the festive throng.
5 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and 6 my God.
My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.
8 By day the Lord directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I say to God my Rock,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?”
10 My bones suffer mortal agony
as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
11 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
The psalmist here has been exiled from being able to worship in the temple. Unable to come together with others in worship, especially during feasts.
What would your psalm if you were exiled from being able to go to the temple/church.
Would you be downcast but still placing your hope and trust in God?
Would you feel as though God had forsaken you or remember he directs your love and gives you his song at night?
Would your soul thirst as the deer seeks out the water? Would you remember to be thankful always even in a downcast mode?
It is important here as I scribe on this to think of perhaps yet another lesson here, How important it is to our soul to be part of a temple, a body of born again believers.
As I write I am reminded that I am away from home and I miss my temple, in this day, my church, my church family, my tribe!
I am not downcast, but I miss them and hope that I am missed. I am thankful that I know always remember;
My God directs my life with his love and sings over me always. My hope is in Him and always will praise Him.
I will always thirst for more, even in the midst of Him, I will thirst for more, as the deer pants, my soul, it thirsts for more of you.
Blessings as always and remember to pray, seek /him in all things and put on your armor~
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Ask, Seek, Knock, Receive...huh?
Matt 7:7-12
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks the door is opened.
Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how it give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the prophets.
We are assured here, we are promised by the speaker, who is Christ Jesus, that we will be answered, we will receive, we will find, and doors will be opened. What a promise!!!!
But do we pursue with a wholeheartedness? Do we ask for foolish things? If we look at the emaples given here, the bread and the fish, we see these are things needed, things necessary for living. I wonder if this is something to think on. What is it you are asking for? What is it you are seeking? What doors are you wanting opened? Remembering; "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God" I believe will be utmost important here.
But my real question here right now is this~ How are you pursuing?
How is your FAITH in receiving a response?
How focused are you in your pursuit of a response?
What about your follow- through?
When you ask, seek or knock, and you don't get an immediate response do you give up or do you continue in your pursuit? Are you falling short in your follow-through?
When we attain the pursuit do we remember to who we give thanks to and praise to for the response?
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks the door is opened.
Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how it give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the prophets.
We are assured here, we are promised by the speaker, who is Christ Jesus, that we will be answered, we will receive, we will find, and doors will be opened. What a promise!!!!
But do we pursue with a wholeheartedness? Do we ask for foolish things? If we look at the emaples given here, the bread and the fish, we see these are things needed, things necessary for living. I wonder if this is something to think on. What is it you are asking for? What is it you are seeking? What doors are you wanting opened? Remembering; "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God" I believe will be utmost important here.
But my real question here right now is this~ How are you pursuing?
How is your FAITH in receiving a response?
How focused are you in your pursuit of a response?
What about your follow- through?
When you ask, seek or knock, and you don't get an immediate response do you give up or do you continue in your pursuit? Are you falling short in your follow-through?
When we attain the pursuit do we remember to who we give thanks to and praise to for the response?
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
What goes in......stays in
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.
Meditate on: truth, nobility, justice, purity, love, good reports, virtuous, everything praise worthy. You WILL have a great day!
Blessings~
remember to pray and put on your armor and always, always, Seek God first in all things.
Meditate on: truth, nobility, justice, purity, love, good reports, virtuous, everything praise worthy. You WILL have a great day!
Blessings~
remember to pray and put on your armor and always, always, Seek God first in all things.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
March Fourth nope March Forth
A lone time ago I did some side work for a CPA and her fav day is today. March 4th. Because you say it as March forth. Keep marching forward no matter what comes, march forth! I wonder if she realizes the impact that little comment about "March Fourth", has had on me.
No matter what "March Forth".
Happy March Fourth, a day to remember to march forth in all we do, in all we experience, march forth.
God's Grace~
How appropriate to be led to scribe on GRACE, HIS GRACE on this day, March 4th, 2008.
I did a little research this morning about Grace in the bible. In the KJV Grace is used 170 times in 159 verses. In the NIV, (my fav) it is mentioned 131 times in 123 verses.
20 times in the OT of which 6 is used in one conversation between Moses and God, referencing Moses having found grace in his sight.
The remainder is in the NT. The NT is full of Grace, full of Love, full of Compassion. But today, on March 4th, it is the Grace, I would like to write about.
In Dictionary.com- grace is defined as: the freely given, unmerited favor of God. the influence or spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them. a virtue or excellence of Divine origin. also called "state of grace" the condition of being in God's favor or one of the elect.
this, of course was the theological definition.
Now read what the remaining definition is listed as... again dictionary.com is my source for this..
elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action. a pleasing or attractive quality or endowment. favor or good will. a manifestation of favor, esp. by a superior. mercy; clemency;pardon; an act of grace. favor shown in granting a delay or temporary immunity. an allowance of time after a debt has become payable.
A manifestation of favor, clemency, pardon. Hmmmm, if this isn't theological, I am not sure what it would be.
I believe if we really take the time to read these definitions today that are posted on Dictionary.com that our hearts will realize that we walk daily in the Grace of God. We experience his grace everyday, in every way. This is an amazing tool of witnessing to those around us.
Now if we go one step further,
GRACE, GRACE. Grace, Grace. Grace, Grace. Grace, Grace. Grace, Grace. Grace, Grace. Grace, Grace.
2Cr 9:8
And God [is] able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all [things], may have an abundance for every good work.
Last night I began thinking about His grace. There are many things, many trials, many battles we all go through. We were never promised the easy road. this writer writes, today on march forth day, it has not been an easy road or path, but I have truly found in these 6 words all that gets me marching forth, "My grace is sufficient for thee". His grace, is all I need. and you know what, I already have it. Do you? Do you march forth in his grace daily?
Have you remembered your armor today?
Blessings~
No matter what "March Forth".
Happy March Fourth, a day to remember to march forth in all we do, in all we experience, march forth.
God's Grace~
How appropriate to be led to scribe on GRACE, HIS GRACE on this day, March 4th, 2008.
I did a little research this morning about Grace in the bible. In the KJV Grace is used 170 times in 159 verses. In the NIV, (my fav) it is mentioned 131 times in 123 verses.
20 times in the OT of which 6 is used in one conversation between Moses and God, referencing Moses having found grace in his sight.
The remainder is in the NT. The NT is full of Grace, full of Love, full of Compassion. But today, on March 4th, it is the Grace, I would like to write about.
In Dictionary.com- grace is defined as: the freely given, unmerited favor of God. the influence or spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them. a virtue or excellence of Divine origin. also called "state of grace" the condition of being in God's favor or one of the elect.
this, of course was the theological definition.
Now read what the remaining definition is listed as... again dictionary.com is my source for this..
elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action. a pleasing or attractive quality or endowment. favor or good will. a manifestation of favor, esp. by a superior. mercy; clemency;pardon; an act of grace. favor shown in granting a delay or temporary immunity. an allowance of time after a debt has become payable.
A manifestation of favor, clemency, pardon. Hmmmm, if this isn't theological, I am not sure what it would be.
I believe if we really take the time to read these definitions today that are posted on Dictionary.com that our hearts will realize that we walk daily in the Grace of God. We experience his grace everyday, in every way. This is an amazing tool of witnessing to those around us.
Now if we go one step further,
GRACE, GRACE. Grace, Grace. Grace, Grace. Grace, Grace. Grace, Grace. Grace, Grace. Grace, Grace.
2Cr 9:8
And God [is] able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all [things], may have an abundance for every good work.
Last night I began thinking about His grace. There are many things, many trials, many battles we all go through. We were never promised the easy road. this writer writes, today on march forth day, it has not been an easy road or path, but I have truly found in these 6 words all that gets me marching forth, "My grace is sufficient for thee". His grace, is all I need. and you know what, I already have it. Do you? Do you march forth in his grace daily?
Have you remembered your armor today?
Blessings~
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Not my Season
I was recently traveling with some friends and we got on the topic of favorite one-liners.....
Some were hysterical, some pretty sad, but one that really stuck to me was when she was visiting her very young niece just outside of Boston and they had gone outside in the snow and she looked up to her aunt and stated simply,"Not my season" and walked away.
While we were joking about all these one liners, this one from a young girl really stuck with me. What insight she has and doesn't even know it. "Not my season". While I know she was referring to the weather, I am thinking of how we often claim or believe this one liner spoke by this child for our self. "Not my season".
We struggle to do what we think we should be doing and when it gets a little tough or "it" doesn't happen soon enough we think, it is "not my season" apparently.
Well, it is a good thing Noah did not think that, or Joshua or Peter.
All too often I allow the enemy to come in and rob me of a great season in my life, how about you? I am just being real here, I am not the greatest at persevering, are you? I would love to think I am. But I would only be lying to myself.
I am on a short sabbatical and trying to do some soul searching of myself and am finding out there are many things I do not like about myself. I am praying for guidance in these areas. I believe that I easily say, "not my season" and move along as though nothing is different or that it does not bother me, that it is "not my season". Quite frankly, I am 51 and am wondering, when is my season God? MY answer.......I am in my season.
Just because something does not seem easy for us at times it does not mean we are not in our season. Where ever we are, God has placed us there for this season. It doesn't mean it is the only place we will ever be, but we/I need to make the most of it and do my best in it anyway. I have been so busy trying to look ahead to what I think is my destiny I have missed most of it. Does this strike a familiar cord in anyone else?
In the church I attended today the Pastor 's message was titled, "God can make your walls come down flat" Scripture used is Joshua 6:1-5. I have heard different takes on this passage before but, interestingly, no one has ever said the walls fell inward, as one would think in battle.
When God is in charge of the walls coming down, he does not allow them to fall inwardly, where we can rebuild them, they fall away from us or flat to the ground, therefore not allowing us to rebuild the walls God removed from us. I am hopeful at this season in my life to have those walls fall away, flat to the ground, not allowing this one to replace them again. My dear saints, it is always easier to see the walls someone else has built around them, it isn't always easy to see our own. I urge you to spend time, separate yourself from all things, fast, pray, really seek his face, his heart and get the walls gone. These obstacles are sometimes opportunities for God to work in our lives.
Remember we have victory in Christ read I Cor 15:57
We are never alone Heb 13:5
Always put on your armor daily, equip yourself daily with the word ; Eph 6
Blessings~
Some were hysterical, some pretty sad, but one that really stuck to me was when she was visiting her very young niece just outside of Boston and they had gone outside in the snow and she looked up to her aunt and stated simply,"Not my season" and walked away.
While we were joking about all these one liners, this one from a young girl really stuck with me. What insight she has and doesn't even know it. "Not my season". While I know she was referring to the weather, I am thinking of how we often claim or believe this one liner spoke by this child for our self. "Not my season".
We struggle to do what we think we should be doing and when it gets a little tough or "it" doesn't happen soon enough we think, it is "not my season" apparently.
Well, it is a good thing Noah did not think that, or Joshua or Peter.
All too often I allow the enemy to come in and rob me of a great season in my life, how about you? I am just being real here, I am not the greatest at persevering, are you? I would love to think I am. But I would only be lying to myself.
I am on a short sabbatical and trying to do some soul searching of myself and am finding out there are many things I do not like about myself. I am praying for guidance in these areas. I believe that I easily say, "not my season" and move along as though nothing is different or that it does not bother me, that it is "not my season". Quite frankly, I am 51 and am wondering, when is my season God? MY answer.......I am in my season.
Just because something does not seem easy for us at times it does not mean we are not in our season. Where ever we are, God has placed us there for this season. It doesn't mean it is the only place we will ever be, but we/I need to make the most of it and do my best in it anyway. I have been so busy trying to look ahead to what I think is my destiny I have missed most of it. Does this strike a familiar cord in anyone else?
In the church I attended today the Pastor 's message was titled, "God can make your walls come down flat" Scripture used is Joshua 6:1-5. I have heard different takes on this passage before but, interestingly, no one has ever said the walls fell inward, as one would think in battle.
When God is in charge of the walls coming down, he does not allow them to fall inwardly, where we can rebuild them, they fall away from us or flat to the ground, therefore not allowing us to rebuild the walls God removed from us. I am hopeful at this season in my life to have those walls fall away, flat to the ground, not allowing this one to replace them again. My dear saints, it is always easier to see the walls someone else has built around them, it isn't always easy to see our own. I urge you to spend time, separate yourself from all things, fast, pray, really seek his face, his heart and get the walls gone. These obstacles are sometimes opportunities for God to work in our lives.
Remember we have victory in Christ read I Cor 15:57
We are never alone Heb 13:5
Always put on your armor daily, equip yourself daily with the word ; Eph 6
Blessings~
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