Whole World in His Hands
A foggy morning greets me as I sit for our time together, Father. It is beautiful to behold. All the nuances of Your creation are a constant reminder of Your power and might and Your attention to detail. Your hand in creation is a great reassurance that Your hand is upon my life as well. Thank You, Father.
Revelation 5:1-5 (<<click the green)
In the midst of this scene of power and might and holiness, with everyone lifting praise deservingly to God, stands a strong and mighty angel. And in reference to a sealed scroll which God holds in His hand, he shouts in loud voice,
“Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” vs2
The Amplified Bible puts it this way,
“Who is worthy to open the scroll? And [who is entitled and deserves and is morally fit] to break its seals?” vs2
And because no one in all of heaven or earth or under the earth stepped forward, the Apostle John wept bitterly.
But one of the twenty-four elders said to [John], “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.” vs5
I realize that that is a lot of introduction but as I write, Lord, it must be stressed that only You, the Lion of Judah, are worthy. In all of eternity both forward and backward only You were able to live a life of perfect obedience to God. Only You were able to pay the penalty for the sins of all humanity by dying on the cross. Only You in Your resurrection proclaimed Your power over evil and death! And because only You “won the victory,” only You “can be trusted with the world’s future”!*
A song from my childhood comes to mind. The repeated line of the first verse says it all, “He’s got the whole world in his hands.”
No matter where we find ourselves in our life’s journey, Lord, we are safely in Your hands…and that is where I want to remain. Amen.
Aug 15th, Tues, 6:24 am
*Core concepts expressed in this paragraph are from the Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
Truly Worthy
Morning has come, Father, and You have so graciously awoken me. You know how important our time together is and I am eager to do so no matter how much my bed may call out to me. Bless our time together, Father. Amen.
Revelation 4:6-11 (<<click the green)
Lord, there is much symbolism here. Just reading it is overwhelming and I can only imagine how the Apostle John felt. Just trying to visualize the “four living beings” in my in mind sends it reeling. But reading my study Bible* notes enables me to focus.
The entirety of Revelation points to You, Lord – who You are, what You have done and are doing and what You will do. You are the creator of everything that is – regardless of what we try to say. You are the sovereign Lord of it all and if we acknowledge it now or not there will come a day when we all will do so for there will be no room for denial.
These “four living beings”? They symbolize Your attributes – Your qualities and character. They lead us in worshipping You by proclaiming Your holiness. The lion symbolizes majesty and power, the ox symbolizes faithfulness, the human symbolizes intelligence, and the eagle sovereignty.
They and the “twenty-four elders” show us “where, why, and how to praise God.” We stop focusing on ourselves and focus on You – our perspectives are lifted from the “earthly to the heavenly.”
May these words guide me to praise You as well,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—
the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” vs8
“You are worthy, O Lord our God,
to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created all things,
and they exist because you created what you pleased.” vs11
Amen.
Aug 14th, Mon, 6:26 am
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
I Need You
Good evening, Father. This weekend has been full. I am weary but it is important that I sit down with You. I am listening – may I hear what You would say to me. Amen.
I’ve begun a sermon series on the importance of the Holy Spirit playing an ever present role in our lives. As I preached through my sermon for the second time this morning, a closing paragraph grabbed my heart. I pray that those who hear what You lay upon my heart, Lord, are moved by You. Quite often I am moved in preparation and it is definitely not unusual that I am moved when I preach as well.
The paragraph, penned by Wes Humble when he was pastoring in Newark, Ohio some years ago, reads as follows:
“God I need you. I need you to keep changing me. I need you to make me more like you. I need you to help me love others like you. I need you to help me overcome my addiction. I need you to help me forgive. I need you to give me the right words to say at home, to my neighbor, to my friend. I need you to use me. I need you to work through me.”
The phrase “I need You…” occurs nine times in that short paragraph. I stressed to those listening this morning, that that concept is the crux of our walk with Christ. We lack the ability to walk alone. We will fail without You, Lord. We are utterly incapable of doing what we should do without You as a part of the equation.
As the week begins, Lord, I place myself squarely in line with You. You state in Your Holy Word,
“Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:29-30
Holy Spirit, guide me, direct me, stop me, encourage me, use me. “I need You…”
Aug 13th, Sun, 9:29 pm
Skunk!
Good evening, Father. Thank You for enabling me to get so much done today. Everything is ready for Sunday for the most part and I even had the opportunity to get ahead a little!
Skunks! Argh! From a distance, they may seem cute but you sure don’t want to get too up close and personal, though somewhere growing up I knew someone that had a de-scented skunk as a pet!
They come to mind in that I’ve had a couple of Facebook friends whose dogs have gotten a little too up close and personal in the last week or so. And then in the middle of the night, last night, the smell woke me up – it was overwhelming! When we got up this morning one had been hit on the other side of the road. I shoveled the remains into the opposing ditch but, oh how that smell lingers!
All this got me thinking, what aroma do I leave when I’m around people. Is it pleasant? Or is it something people would rather avoid. All of us cast forth an aroma of some sort – and it is one that bathing has nothing to do with. It has everything to do with who we are – and we can’t get rid of it. And my friend with the pet skunk? Even though the animal’s scent gland had been removed it still smelled like a skunk!
In reality, we can all be pretty stinky. How we treat people, our attitudes, the way we do certain things…they can be offensive. Again, I am definitely a work in progress, but Lord I know that You (and You alone!) have enabled me to be less stinky. You have helped me to develop the habit of stopping…and thinking before I do or say something. Quite often I change what was going to be done or said. And it always flavored with You. I welcome it, Lord. May I been less “skunky” and more like You. Amen.
Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. 2 Corinthians 2:15
Aug 10th, Thurs, 9:22 pm
Hesitant
This Throwback Thursday post is from June 18, 2015. Six people have viewed it since then. Thank you for all of your support!
Thank You, Father, for getting me up this morning for our time together. Direct my thoughts as we come together. I truly want my life to be guided by You, Lord.
Ephesians 1:15-23 (<<click the green)
Father, I want to know You more intimately! Your word states that if I come closer to You that You will come closer to me. (James 4:8) I know that You are eager for that closeness, create in me a burning desire for that closeness to You.
I would also ask that You would truly help me to believe and act upon Paul’s prayer that I would “understand the incredible greatness of [Your] power for us who believe in [You]…the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead…” vs.19-20
How much in life am I hesitant about? I comprehend the concept of Your willingness and capabilities to do great things beyond my understanding but do I really believe you will? (i.e. healing ailments, providing for the needs of my churches, the future of our world)
Lord, help me in faith to believe that you will do what you will and nothing can stop you! Please, help me not to hinder Your greatness but to be an instrument of Your power and might!
April 21st, Tues, 6:30 am