My Second Blogiversary!
It’s hard to believe but this weekend was the two-year mark for the More than Useless blog. Altogether I have published 516 blogs that have had over 13,000 views from 85 countries! I realize that not every view from every country is someone who reads my post in its entirety. But…I also am a firm believer that some out there have unintentionally landed on my blog but God had other things in mind.
It is interesting how many people land on certain posts. Recently a lot of my international views have looked at Journey On. I imagine they are interested in travel destinations but find something else entirely. Music lovers seem to land on Conductor of Love. And some may need to check with their physicians in that several have clicked on Itching Ears.
I would ask that you, my readers – the intentional ones – that each day that you read my posts that you would pray for those who may inadvertantly come upon what I have put out there. Beyond the blog website, of course, I also post on Facebook, as well as, Pinterest, Google+, StumbleUpon.com, and Twitter. I have had many views from countries that would in no way count themselves a Christian nation. Only God knows what He can accomplish! Pray that More than Useless would provide one more door by which God can touch people who so desperately need to know Him.
Also, if you are encouraged by what you read, share it! It takes one click to share on Facebook. Forward the link to a friend. Send it out! This is simply me sharing what God has laid upon my heart. If it speaks to you, it surely will speak to others.
Thank you all so much! I count you all as one of my congregations – the largest by far. I pray that you will continue to be encouraged. Hang in there! God loves you more than you can imagine and you are definitely more than useless!
Not What I Expected
http://miniature-calendar.com/170520/
Thank You for a restful night’s sleep Father…and for waking me for our time together. Guide my thoughts both now and throughout the day ahead.
Revelation 1:12-16 (<<click green)
Lord, I’ve read and heard this passage many times in my life but what You look like here has not stuck in my mind. When I picture You, it is not like this. But I cannot box You in. I cannot limit You to my perceptions.
In these verses You, Lord, are the “Son of Man.” My study Bible* expounds on some of the detail. You are in “a long robe with a gold sash across [Your] chest.” This “reveals [You] as the High Priest who goes into God’s presence to obtain forgiveness of sin for those who have believed in [You].” Thank You, Lord, for the salvation You extend to me!
Your white hair “indicates [Your] wisdom and divine nature.” Thank You, Lord, for Your all-encompassing wisdom – know all You do, You still love us and embrace us!
Your eyes “like flames of fire” “symbolize judgment of all evil.” This brings to mind Charles Wesley’s hymn, “And Can It Be” and this verse,
Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray
I woke the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, when forth, and followed Thee.
Thank You, Lord, for freeing me from the evil that had me bound!
Thank You, Lord, that though You were not what I expected…but You surely are what I needed. Praise Your name!
June 15th, Thurs, 6:48 am
A Trumpet Blast!
What a nice day it has been, Father! Thank You for Your hand it all of it!
Revelation 1:10-11(<<click green)
It began just like any other Lord’s Day, I am sure. John, being in exile, probably didn’t have anyone else with which to worship. And as we tend to do as we get older, he probably had got himself into a routine. I can imagine him sitting quietly, eyes closed, maybe with his hands folded in his lap. Normal…peaceful…quiet…and then BAM! – the stillness is shattered by a voice so loud that John compares it to “a trumpet blast.”
I learned to play the trumpet in 5th Grade and played a brass instrument of some sort through my freshman year in college and from experience I can say, it is not known for its quietness! For many years brass instruments have played a prominent role in the military life. I checked out the Army Music website and there is a daily sequence of 25 potential bugle calls! (I clicked on several of them and surprisingly I knew many of them.) Trumpet blasts get our attention! And that is what the “Son of Man” did.
Lord, You quickly got John’s undivided attention and Your voice itself resounded like a trumpet blast – ATTENTION! You had a very important task for him and You had no intention of him missing a single bit of information. You had a message for “the seven churches” and John was going to make sure it got to where it needed to get to!
Lord, often we are timid about communicating Your directives. Much of the time we are quiet when we should be proclaiming Your message with great vim and vigor! People all around us are dying without knowing who You are. We cannot hold back. May we be forward! May we boldly proclaim Your salvation! May we parlay Your word with a mighty “trumpet blast” for all to hear – ATTENTION! May we not let You down!
June 14th, Wed, 10:51 pm
I Choose Joy
Sleep is heavy in my eyes this morning, Father, despite the cold water in my face. Help me to hear Your words for me this day.
Revelation 1:9 (<<click green)
If I were to ask anyone who has read the New Testament to any degree to give me a description of the Apostle John, I doubt anyone would describe him as dour, grumpy or melancholy. He most certainly would not be labeled with an Eeyore personality.
Even when I read today’s passage, Lord, I don’t see discouragement or anxiety – there is no doom and gloom mentality. Though I see the words “suffering” and “endurance” and “exiled”, in my mind’s eye I see a man of joy, determination, and love. The “disciple who Jesus loved” is much like his Master. His attitude toward life remains consistent regardless of his circumstances.
John was no more perfect that I am but at this point in his life – and he was probably in his 90’s – he had experienced enough of the ups and downs of life that there is no pretense. He is who he is – a man at peace with himself, his world and his Lord.
I pray, Lord, that I am like John – at least a good part of the time. I have never been imprisoned (Acts 4) or placed in exile but we all have our trials. I do lose my cool on occasion. I ponder my lot in life and wonder if it will ever change. Overall, I am content with wherever I find myself. But one thing I most definitely can attest to – this joy is not a natural response to my life and circumstances. My joy – as John’s – is found in my relationship with You, Lord.
The chorus of an old hymn comes to mind,
There is joy, joy
Joy in serving Jesus.
Joy that throbs within my heart
Every moment, every hour
As I draw upon His power
There is joy, joy
Joy that never shall depart.
May I ever draw upon Your power, Lord. Amen.
June 13th, Tues, 6:34 am
The Big Picture
Father, I am ever growing…ever learning. May I always be longing for more of You in my life… more of Your love… more of Your wisdom. I would claim John the Baptist’s statement in regards to You as my own, “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.” (John 3:30) Amen.
Revelation 1:8 (<<click green)
One of the difficult things of life, Lord, as we live it, is how limited it is. We are born and in the scheme of things, live a few short years and then we die. Some may leave a long-lasting legacy but for the most part, we are forgotten after a couple of generations.
We read King Solomon’s book of Ecclesiastes and has anything changed in almost 3000 years? He writes,
“Everything is meaningless…completely meaningless… Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content.” 1:2,8
We find absolutely no hope in the finite…
But You, Lord? You are not finite but infinite! Only in You do we find hope. This verse in Revelation proclaims Your all-encompassing existence. You are “the Alpha and the Omega (the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet) the beginning and the end.” As a footnote in the Amplified Bible puts it, “this verse is an expression of God’s absolute supremacy over all things.” Speaking of You it states,
“…Who is [existing forever] and who was [continually existing in the past] and Who is to come, the Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all].”
You, Lord, are what makes life worth living. In and of ourselves we are limited – You are unlimited. We can only see the here and now, and even that is quite often cloudy – You see everything – the big picture, all the little nuances, all the connections and overlaps – all inclusive, nothing missed. Where King Solomon saw only meaninglessness, You, Lord, in seeing it all, see the meaning!
We have meaning. We have purpose… in You. And as the old Gospel song goes. “We’ll understand it better by and by.” Amen.
June 12th, Mon, 6:18 am