"The Sound of Many Waters And...Of Mighty Thunderings"

"And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, 'Alleluia!  For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!  Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come....Blessed are those who are called to the marriage Supper of the Lamb.'"

Every day, every season which passes brings us closer to this.  I used the word, "spec," yesterday as an abbreviation for, "speck."  Probably not correct, yet, at any rate, all is speck in the light of "The Eternal One."  He Who rules the Universe, "by the Word of His power," is He Who dwells in you and me, even Jesus, the Christ.  He has taken us specks and made us into sons and daughters of the Living Triune God.

I am finishing Revelation.  You cannot deny that the Bible is reminding humanity what, "the preacher," tells us in Ecclesiastes, "....It will be well with those who fear God."  Our text is describing some of what that, "well," is.  Romans describes some of it this way, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.  For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God....For the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God."

So there it is; all for you, coming for sure, coming from the Living Triune God, manifested in Jesus.  While all around is attempting to lie us out of this, "Blessed Hope," our Lord, "God, Who cannot lie," has spoken and has had it written down that you and I will not be left out of, "....the glorious liberty of the children of God."

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Please pray for Kate.  Joe has been somewhat stable, but Kate's white cell count has doubled.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Appearance Like An Emerald"

"And He Who sat there was like a jasper and sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald....And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices...."  (Revelation 4)

Maybe the "awe-factor," or maybe getting older and realizing my spec-existence on this spec-planet in this spec-galaxy is a reason that I can only find few words to express worship, prayer, etc. 

Prayer, worship, is much more than talk.  I find that I worship as "much," if not more, by the wonder factor than the words factor.  The song writer wrote, "when I in awesome wonder, consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made."  He goes on to say, "Then sings my soul," but it started with, "when I...consider...."

Perhaps one of the crucial things which the Pharisees never considered is that the Living Triune God is not a machine into which you enter some program or formula to get some "result."  The song says, "And He walks with me and He talks with me," and so should we with Him.  Friendship is manifest as much in be-ing together as in talking together.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You for allowing me, through and in the Blood of Jesus, to partake in scene of our text.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Beware "How-To" Religion

"Lord, teach us to pray...."  (Luke 11:1b)

I have to confess that my "prayer life" is not something you could sell in book form.  So many people who talk of their "time with the Lord," or, "quiet time," sound like they are saying something they are supposed to say.  Many are repeating what others have told them their "devotional life" should be like.  Personally I like, "And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at eventide."    

When the disciples said, "Lord, teach us to pray...," Jesus responded with what we call "The Lord's Prayer."  It reveals worship, asking for the Kingdom to come, asking for His will, daily provision, forgiveness, and deliverance from, "the evil one."  You have probably heard or read teaching of the Lord's Prayer as a pattern.  This does not, however, mean that we should all pray the same way, the same time of day, saying the exact same words in the exact same order.  The Bible tells us that we are the Body of Jesus Christ, "and individually members of it," unique, not so much as to assert our "rugged individualism," which is just another form of pride, but important and loved as a Child of God.  I wonder if it is something like what I used to do just before I would go on missions when the children were young.  I would take each one out to dinner, individually, just the two of us.

Well, didn't mean to go so long.  My purpose is to encourage you in your relationship in the Living Triune God.  You don't have to copy another's "walk."  The widow of Nain, Blind Bartimaeus, Zaccheus all reveal just how important each individual is to our Lord Jesus Christ.  He did not use "canned" phrases for everyone.  There are "differences" in our walks in Jesus, because Jesus sees each Follower as an individual, not a robot handed some pamphlet.  People should stop any cliche-quoting of others.  God did not create man as look-act-alike mannequins, but as, "the Household of Faith," His Family, each child unique, very important, and, very loved.  

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to not be out of line in this, but also to not just "follow the herd."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

The Missing 4

"'I'm going out to fish,' Simon Peter told them, and they said, 'We'll go with you....But that night they caught nothing....Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me...?'"  (John 21, NIV)

Two "words" to me today in John 21:  1. Where were the other 4?  2. The Biblical definition of love. 

1. There was the Cross, the Death, and the Resurrection, but the eleven were having difficulty "processing" it.  We read that 7 of the original 12 decided to go fishing.  One had killed himself, and who knows where the other 4 were at this time.  In some ways, it was a "sorry lot."  This is a picture of confusion, perhaps bewilderment, a sort of, "What do we do now?"  This can happen to us all at any time, and this is a reason we all need Pentecost. 

2. After Jesus appeared to them by the sea, He then asked Peter 3 times, "Do you love Me?"  Of course Peter's reply was in the affirmative, and, each time Peter said that he loved Jesus, our Lord said, in effect, "Then do something about it."  Again, love is not a feeling; it is action.

How many people have said, "I love you," to others, then abandoned them, whether spouse, children, friends, etc.?  The love of  God is not, "....so loved..," but a, "loved...this way..," Love.  There is no "so much" to God's love; it is Eternal Love, Everlasting Love, not "amount"-love.  O, how I pray the Church especially gets this. 

The Love of Jesus is demonstrated, not just spoken.  I can say, "I love you," all day long, but if my words are not accompanied by, "God loved the world this way," then it is not love.  Find another word for it.  We love our families, our friends, fellow Followers of Jesus.  What I am so impressed with today is that every time I say those "three little words" they should be accompanied by "three little actions."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that I might demonstrate more than reiterate.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2