This was the first thing that came to mind when I saw the word for today. If we think about it John was wishing for a world just like the world that is promised in the millennial reign of Christ. There will be a heaven and hell still but there will be peace, no religion, no possessions, and no death or sickness. I wonder if he knew that was what he was describing. It is a possibility, he was an intelligent man.
I can't wait for that time, I am so tired of the wars and battles that are fought today. Not just the big ones that effect our lives on a global scale, but all the little ones we face personally everyday. I am not going to post Revelations 20, it is long and you can ready it by following this link if you want too. At the end of the 1000 years Satan will be allowed to try to turn the hearts of man again... and then will be defeated completely by Jesus. Like I said I can't wait for there to be peace.
Before the reign of Christ happens there will a time that we either face Jesus because of death or because He calls us out of this world before the time of tribulation. Then what will that be like, what will I do when I come face to face with my Lord and creator. The Bible does give us a hint...
Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelation 19:9-10
If John, Jesus' closest disciple, fell at His feet and worshiped Him then I am very certain we will also. It seems here to me Jesus is saying "dude, get up... I am a servant just like you, worship my Father not Me!" Our Lord is so cool!
Another example is this....
"Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!" Revelation 5:11-12
We will worship... everyone will bow to Christ!
"Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:9-11
Our imaginations can run wild at times, we imagine all sorts of things. Imagining what life will be like with Christ is limitless, timeless, and awesome. I can only imagine what life will be like... much better than here for sure, it will be the world John Lennon spoke of... a world of peace and harmony in the presence of our King, Lord, and God!
Have you ever had
someone with good intentions and well-meaning try to comfort or reassure you
and it be more of a hindrance or seem to cause more issues? I know that I have,
and I have been that person I am sure many times. It can be frustrating to say
the least on both sides of this situation.
The Bible version I use
does not use the word reassure, a synonym would be comfort I think so I am
going with that.
There is only one thing
that is always reassuring at any point in our lives, and even then, to us it
might not seem as though it really accomplishes that goal. The Word of God is
our comfort, it reassures us and will bring us hope. We only must learn to use
it or allow it to work in the correct way.
We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples
of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor
for his good, leading to edification. For even
Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of
those who reproached You fell on Me.” For whatever things were
written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience
and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience
and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ
Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth
glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:1-6
I know these verses
speak first about "we who are strong" or "adult"
Christians; I mean mature, maturity in a Christian can be found in any age.
Those who are strong should provide comfort and bear the hesitations or doubt
of those who are weak, but it goes on to say that the word was written for
hope. That when we are like-minded, even if it is awkward, then the patience
and comfort of the Lord through His Word will help us. As a result, we can
Glorify God!
With the
Bible being alive and speaking in different ways
at different times, by its design (isn't God awesome); sometimes it must stomp
on toes before it can comfort. That is part of edification. See in those verses, there is a very important word.... "learning"! We have to learn from the Word, that is why it was written. Then there is patience, then
there is comfort. I think that order is important.
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into
various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But
let patience have its perfect work, that you may
be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.If any of
you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and
without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in
faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and
tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose
that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a
double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:2-8
I learned at a young age
not to ask for patience in my prayers, because I would get it, but it comes
from trials. To grow as a Christian and to be a comfort or to be
comforted we need patience, and we need to not doubt our God. We can't expect very thing to be simple.
I guess my point is not simple either... If we want to be comforted, or if I want to be a comfort it comes from God's Word. We need to study and allow it to work in our lives in a way that leads to our edification and the edification of others. That may cause us trials before it causes comfort, but no one ever said it would be a cake walk. We should remember that through His Word, God teaches us and allows us to learn to live an abundant life. The key is allowing it to happen...
As usual this probably makes no sense... sorry.
Thanks for reading. God Bless You All! One Comfort I have is that God is on my side even if it takes a while to remember it...
Last night, I had the
pleasure of doing something for a friend. I wanted them to get a blessing from
me, but I was the one that was rewarded...
Many times, we look at
the things we do, or others do as obligations. I am not obligated to do anything for anyone. In my mind obligation requires that I have too. It is demanded, at
least for me it does. When we want to be a blessing or do things because we
want to then it is not an obligation.
I think when God tells
us to love to others, to use our spiritual gifts, to read His word, to pray, or
to give, He wants us not to give it out of obligation but because it is what we
want to do to bless Him and others. As a result, I think that He rewards those
behaviors.
11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which
is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if
anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious
stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s
work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will
be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it
is. 1 Corinthians 3:11-13
I believe that when we
do things to get something in return, or we do them out of obligation our
rewards are different. When we do something like give a gift to get a gift,
there is the reward for giving. If you expect something in return, when you get
it, that is the reward. If you do things because you want to with a heart of
unselfishness you get a reward that cannot be taken away.
Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before
men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your
Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a
trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets,
that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have
their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left
hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be
in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you
openly. Matthew 6:1-4
I want to receive my
reward later if I get any at all. The things I do and the people I
"try" to bless mean a lot to me, I do it because I want to not
because I am obligated. I want to have rewarding experiences of giving and
sharing of being blessed because I had fun doing it, not because I am getting
something in return.
Life can be so rewarding
if we stop look for ways to be rewarded. Learn to do things because it is
right, or you want too, not because you must!
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:1-5
Our faith overcomes the world... that is what the verse says... in context it is talking about keeping the commandments and loves others. I believe the commandments spoken of are the two that Christ gave as He walked on the earth...
But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying,“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’This is the first and great commandment.And the second is like it:‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:34-40
Our faith is made strong but loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind, and loving others as we love ourselves. Then the faith we have helps us have victory to overcome the world.
We can have minor victories through out our lives here on earth, but the ultimate victory is over death and Satan in the end. I get to live eternally with my Lord and Savior because I have faith in His victory on the cross and death. That is the ultimate VICTORY!
I believe God put this word here for me today. Yet, there may be some of you who need it also.
It is hard to stand steadfast and strong in the face of life at times. It can hit you hard from so many directions and Satan is good at drudging up the past making standing so much harder. Satan is a jerk, he messes with my ability to see my life clearly to often.
I know some of you are thinking WAIT!... your a Christian, Satan shouldn't be getting to you like that... hmmmm tell that to Job! Satan can't touch my life, but he can manipulate my circumstances and bombard me with my past through outside sources, just like he did Job. Satan used Job's family, possessions, and even his friends, to cause him to become unstable, I am glad he could stand mostly unwavering. I can't!
I can get in a tail speed faster than anyone I know. Sometimes it only takes one thing to make me collapse into a puddle of unworthy mud in my mind. Satan has so many things at his disposal to do this... I try to fight back. I write this blog, I read the Bible, I pray, I quote scripture, I sing.... Sometimes nothing helps! Let me rephrase that... Sometimes I can't feel, see, or acknowledge, the help!
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 1 Peter 5:8-10
For the past few months I have been dealing with a lot of the very stuff that causes me to waver. I never doubt my God or that He can help me through it... it is myself I doubt, my worthiness of His help. A feeling that I don't deserve anything of worth. I do because I am a child of the King! He wants to give me all that I could ever need and then some. He wants me to live abundantly.... So why can't I!
I know now that this season probably isn't going away by itself, or through my working on it alone. I am going to have to find someone to talk to, yet here is the bad part of doing that... I don't trust people. I let people get to "know" me, I love all people, but I don't trust... That is part of the issues Satan sends my way... he reminds me how many people have destroyed my trust!
I will rise over this, it will take some time. I hope you can be unwavering in your love for God, your love for others, and in understanding yourself! The last one is my problem... but I am working on it... Be Strong and unwavering!
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; I Peter 3:15
There are many things that we believe right or wrong. We have the right, the free will, to believe in anything we want to believe in, I have written many times about what I believe. I believe it is important to stand up for your belief system and be proud (not in an egotistical way) of your beliefs. As the verse above states, I (we) am to be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks about our reason for the hope we have, who asks about what we believe. You didn't really ask but I will tell you anyway.
I believe God created the Heavens and the earth, the whole universe. I do not believe that this world came into existence just by a big bang... someone (God) made that big bang happen. I also believe that since the earth was created by God and He created Man not child, that he created the earth to seem older than it is...
While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, Or the primal dust of the world. Proverbs 8:26
I believe that because of man's sin and ability to take things too far God flooded the earth and killed all mankind and animals except for Noah, his family, and the animals saved on the ark. There is evidence of a great flood in the earth itself, even though God's word says it happen and that is enough for me to believe it.
Now the flood was on the earth forty days. The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. The waters prevailed and greatly increased on the earth, and the ark moved about on the surface of the waters. And the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth, and all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered. The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward, and the mountains were covered. And all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man. All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died. So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive.And the waters prevailed on the earth one hundred and fifty days. Genesis 7:17-24
I believe that Israel was chosen by God to be His people. He raise them as children through the desert with Moses teaching them His will and His statutes. They like all children rebelled many times, they wanted to exercise their "free will" and have what they wanted. They threw tantrums just like children do and cause God to "disown" them. A parent never totally disowns a child, at least I don't think they can, there is always going to be a connection. God sent them to captivity and for a while it seemed that was going to work, they came back to their land willing to serve, it didn't last long. All the while God knew He had to do something more, He already told them what it was...
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. Isaiah 9:6-7
I believe God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to this earth to save all mankind from themselves. He was born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, and called twelve men to be His disciples. He taught them all that God tried to teach the Israelis but they did not heed. Jesus had a few issues along the way and many tried to do away with Him, but it wasn't His time. Jesus knew what was going to happen and He told His disciples to be prepared. Then His day came and He was crucified and the sins of the world were placed on Him, He cried out...
After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!”Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. John 19: 28-30
I believe that on the third day after His Crucifixion, Christ rose victorious over sin and death. He is sitting at the right hand of the Father (God).
But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.” Mark 16:6-7
I believe Jesus promised to come back to set up a kingdom here on earth. And because of His gift of life we will live for 1000 years in peace.
And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. Revelations 20:4-6
I believe all people of all the earth and of all time will be judged by Christ, as a result they will be eternally separated from God in Hell or live eternally with Him in Heaven.
“Letnot your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.In My Father’s house are manymansions; if it were not so,I would have told you.I go to prepare a place for you.And if I go and prepare a place for you,I will come again and receive you to Myself; thatwhere I am, there you may be also. John 14:1-3
I believe that if you believe these ten words, this one statement about Christ and His sacrifice you can live eternally with Him...
"Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead."
"For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve" 1 Corinthians 15:3-5
Of course this is not all I believe, there are to many things to share just about God that I believe, but these are important to me because they show why I have a hope. God provides for His people, and I am one of those people. He loves all and wish that none should perish, and neither do I. If you don't know Christ as your savior, please consider that today, and if you do, please reach out and share the gospel with your friends, family, and even random people you meet.
"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9
Smile... it takes less muscles to smile than it does to frown... Have you ever heard that statement? I have many times. The thing is that sometimes you can be happy and smiling on the inside but your face is "resting". I smile more with my eyes that with my mouth, anyway.
A smile can be deceiving also. I can be smiling and be so very angry at someone, or can be so depressed it is hard for me to manage the smile, but I do it anyway. Even if a person is smiling, I think not assuming all is well is a good thing.
There isn't much more I can say about smiling. There are only 3 times the word is mentioned in the Bible (NKJV), once in 1 Samuel, and twice in Job....
“Now my days are swifter than a runner; They flee away, they see no good. They pass by like swift ships, Like an eagle swooping on its prey. If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face and wear a smile,’ I am afraid of all my sufferings; I know that You will not hold me innocent." Job 9:25-28
If anyone had a reason not to smile, Job was that person. I don't believe God expects us to be happy all the time and to show a smile on our faces all the time. If He did I don't think people like Job, David, and Jeremiah would be in the Bible. I also don't believe that we should wear a frown all the time either. There are some Christians I know that never smile... and that is sad.
I pray that even when I am happy, joyous, depressed, or anxious that I can show my true feelings, smiling when I should and not smiling when I should. I know right now sometimes I mess it up...
