Honest Reflections

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Zechariah 8:1-23 ESV, Revelation 16:1-21 ESV, Psalm 144:1-15 ESV, Proverbs 30:29-31 ESV

Daily Verse: “And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!” (Revelation 16:7 ESV)

PANTOKRATOR (3841): “Almighty, or ruler of all” (pas, “all,” krateo, “to hold, or to have strength”) is used of God only.”[1]

Ruler of all.

God’s sovereignty reigns over all creation; He alone judges the earth.  Understanding our sinful nature, God clothes us in righteousness when we believe in Jesus, giving us new life in Christ.  Sin’s punishment, death, ended with Jesus rising again, overcoming its sting.

Understanding the ever-reaching, never missing, all-encompassing power of God baffles me.  Trying to make sense of a chaotic world full of heartache and tragedy does no good.  Persevering and trusting the Lord’s promises helps us keep moving forward when the load seems too heavy to keep going.

One day, God will make all things new, eliminating the suffering of our world.  But until then, Jesus calls us to follow and obey.

Believe the Almighty.

Whether we understand all of God’s workings or not doesn’t matter as much as trusting what He says.

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” (Psalm 55:22 ESV)

God will sustain us.  Each day, when we ask for our daily bread from above, God renews our spirit and spurs us forward.  Life will bring many difficulties, but with Jesus, we can overcome them.

When an unexpected wave knocks you off your feet, employ forward-thinking instead of focusing on the pain.  Ask God, “How can I overcome this?”  Think about what you can control now and re-center yourself as you wait for God’s answer, knowing He has one.

Almighty Father in heaven, the sustainer of life, adores you.  In Him, you can trust.  Wherever God guides, He provides, never does the Lord leave you alone.

Sovereign over all creation; the Almighty reigns forever.

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 188) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Zechariah 6:1-7:14 ESV, Revelation 15:1-8 ESV, Psalm 143:1-12 ESV, Proverbs 30:24-28 ESV

Daily Verse: “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name?  For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” (Revelation 15:4 ESV)

DOXAZO (1392): “As a verb, primarily denotes in the NT “to magnify, extol, praise,” especially of “glorifying”; God, i.e., ascribing honor to Him, acknowledging Him as to His being, attributes and acts.”[1]

Magnify praise.

Only God deserves His name glorified.  No human compares to our heavenly Father.  In Him, we find the peace we can find nowhere else.  When we enter the pits of life, God goes with us, helping us paw our way out of it.  Each step gently lifting us further to victory.

Indeed, God’s guidance and direction in life come moment by moment.  How badly I wish I knew what God plans for me, but He doesn’t let me in on those details.  Instead, God asks me to lean into Him, moment by moment, trusting, He’s got this too.

Find something.

Like Corrie Ten Boom thanked God for the fleas in her Natzi prison camp, we can find something to give God glory, even in our darkest moments. 

Praise God for my husband, who walked through our door five minutes before I received the phone call notifying me of my nephew’s death.  His arms wrapped around me, God in the flesh comforting me as I wept.

When we think of worst-case scenario’s in our lives, we must remind ourselves of God’s presence.  Wherever we go, so does He.

“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. (Psalm 139:7-10 ESV)

Glorify God today, thanking Him for the air we breathe and the life He gives.  Let the Lord’s light shine brightly as we lean into Him, following minute by minute.  In Jesus, find life to the fullest.

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 72) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Zechariah 4:1-5:11 ESV, Revelation 14:1-20 ESV, Psalm 142:1-7 ESV, Proverbs 30:21-23 ESV

Daily Verse: “And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps,” (Revelation 14:2 ESV)

PHONE (5456): “Through the idea of disclosure; a tone (articulate, bestial or artif.), most frequently “a voice.”[1]

Articulate bestial.

Many theories exist about the voice’s origin in today’s verse, but none conclusive.  However, the sounds coming from heaven carry a melodious tune of victory.  Living in God’s presence means experiencing eternal joy with the Creator.

People articulate similar joy when their football team gets a touchdown in the last seconds of the game, making a miraculous comeback.

Or when Richmond’s college basketball team won the title as my flight landed in their city.  Joyous noise erupted from the entire plane as the team scored the winning basket.

Joyful noise.

Angels’ chorus grows larger every day as God calls people home.  A spiritual mentor of mine gained her wings after a long battle with cancer.  Kim lived her life passionately for Jesus and discipled me with love and care.  Now reunited with her son, she sings joyfully from heaven.

Joy comes when we gain our spiritual address with God.

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”  (Revelation 21:4 ESV)

Accepting death as part of life allows us to enjoy the present moment in eternity.  No one knows when God will call them back home, but we do know the day will one day come.  Until then, we can live fully for Jesus, not wasting a moment.

Let the peace that surpasses all understanding rule your life as you submit to Jesus.  Sing joyfully with the heavenly choir, allowing God’s spirit to connect us with those who have moved into the spiritual realm.

No more tears in heaven, nor pain, for the former things no longer exist.  God wipes away our tears, with joy we sing.

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 268) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Zechariah 2:1-3:10 ESV, Revelation 13:1-13:18 ESV, Psalm 141:1-10 ESV, Proverbs 30:18-20 ESV

Daily Verse: “If anyone has an ear, let him hear:” (Revelation 13:9 ESV)

AKOUO (191): “As a verb, is the usual word denoting “to hear.”[1]

To hear.

Communication requires two people: one sending information and one receiving it.  Right off the bat, we have a problem.  Because everyone’s different, we send and receive information differently.

My husband requires time to process the information he receives; I tend to conclude quicker.  However, Ron teaches me to analyze a situation from as many perspectives as possible before concluding.  Working out our communication differences in our relationship takes time and effort to listen to each other instead of assuming we know.

Active listening.

Nothing will improve your relationship with God and others more than becoming an active listener.  Set aside preconceived notions, don’t interrupt, and listen carefully.  Ask questions, but don’t take over the conversation when you need clarity.

When they finish speaking, repeat back to them what they just said.  Make sure both people have the same understanding.  Then move forward in the conversation, but not a moment sooner.

God does speak to us, but we must quiet our hearts and minds to hear.  If we spend our entire time with God telling Him what we want, we’ll never listen to what He wants from us.

For all that have ears, let them hear God’s voice.  Whether He whispers in the wind or screams from the mountaintop, may we hear what He has to say. Allow our spirit to connect with His, God’s peace within us.

People don’t hear because they don’t listen, not because God’s not speaking.

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 12) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Zechariah 1:1-21 ESV, Revelation 12:1-17 ESV, Psalm 140:1-13 ESV, Proverbs 30:17 ESV

Daily Verse: “And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” (Revelation 12:1 ESV)

STEPHANOS (4735): “Primarily, “that which surrounds, as a wall or crowd” (from stepho, “to encircle”) denotes of triumph Rev 12:1.”[1]

Denotes triumph.

John’s vision of a woman clothed with the sun wearing a crown denotes triumph over the evil of this world.  God does win the battle, even though it might not seem so from our perspective. 

Sometimes, the tragedies of this earth make me wonder why God doesn’t stop them.  War, famine, natural disasters, untimely deaths, heartache after heartache, the world chugging along on its eternal course.  Pain, the universal language we all share.

But in the end, God wins.  No matter what the storyline, Jesus wears the crown of victory, overcoming the world with the greatest act of love known to man.

Cross vision.

Keeping our eyes on the cross, where Jesus wore the crown of thorns on His way to victory over death, gives us hope.  Amid our heartache, Christ’s beaten, and bloody body reminds us this, too, shall end.  One day, we will enter paradise with Jesus.

Until then, God’s Spirit resides within us, strengthening us for the battle.

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17 ESV)

God crowns us in victory when we place our faith in Jesus, allowing the Holy Spirit to reside in us.  Tapping into divine strength happens when we connect with God.  In our darkest hour, God will carry us through, one way or the other.

Gaze upon the cross today, remembering the battle Jesus won for you.  Imagine the empty grave; Christ made new as He overcame death.  When the devil attacks, remind him of the truth, he loses every time.

Victory comes through Jesus!

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (pp. 233-4) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Haggai 1:1-2:23 ESV, Revelation 11:1-19 ESV, Psalm 139:1-24 ESV, Proverbs 30:15-16 ESV

Daily Verse: “These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.” (Revelation 11:4 ESV)

LUCHNIA (3087): “This is the stand (“the stick”) upon which a portable light sits (is stuck); not the candle (the light producer).”[1]

Portable light.

People who study Revelation believe the lampstands mentioned in today’s verse refer to witnesses who served God by telling them about God.  Sharing how the Lord works in our lives with others makes us a witness to the Lord.  We become portable lights to the world with His light shining through us.

Wherever we go, we can shine God’s light brightly.  Whether serving meals to the homeless, visiting sick friends, or celebrating a new birth, we can witness God’s goodness to the world around us.

However, we must let Him fill our lampstands to impact the world for Christ.  In our backyard, we have several tiki torches.  Once or twice a summer, I must refill the bottles so their lights will continue to shine.  In the same way, we must let Christ pour into us so we can continue to pour out to others.

Refuel regularly.

Becoming a bright light for Christ takes regular refueling.  Each morning you connect with God by spending time with Him; He fills you up.  Laying your burdens at Christ’s feet empties you and gives God room to fill you with His grace. 

On days when I can barely drag myself from bed, God begins to work when my knees hit the floor.  As I pour out my sorrows and miseries, His life-giving Spirit renews me.

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31 ESV)

When weariness sets into your bones and your lampstand begin to flicker, fall to your knees and ask God for help.  Wait on the Lord to fill your soul and give you strength to carry on the battle.  As the spiritual battle rages around you, God’s divine power will make your flame burn ever bright.

Let your light shine to the world around you by refueling daily with God.  Relish in His gift of grace and mercy, then share it with the world.

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 154) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Zephaniah 1:1-3:20 ESV, Revelation 10:1-11 ESV, Psalm 138:1-8 ESV, Proverbs 30:11-14 ESV

Daily Verse: “Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire.” (Revelation 10:1 ESV)

IRIS (2463): “This rainbow “round about the throne, like an emerald to look upon (Rev 4:3), is emblematic of the fact that, in the exercise of God’s absolute sovereignty and perfect counsels, He will remember His covenant concerning the earth (cf. Gen 9:9-17). In Rev 10:1, “a rainbow,” suggests a connection with the scene in Rev 4:3.”[1]

Remembered covenant.

John’s mention of the rainbow as part of his vision reinforces God’s sovereign character.  In Genesis 9:9-17, God made the rainbow a symbol of His agreement with humankind and all beasts of the earth; never again would a flood destroy the world.

God remembers His promises to us and keeps them.  And scripture records over 7,400 promises God makes to humanity.  The Creator cares for us intimately, and God does what He says.

Stable God.

In a world of instability, God offers stability.  As Solomon reminds us in Ecclesiastes, nothing new exists under the sun.  Technology may change, but the human condition doesn’t.

Visiting a small church on vacation, we sang songs from the hymnals.  Singing “More Love to Thee,” written by Elizabeth Prentiss in the 1850s, made me think about her. She wrote the song after losing two children.  Thinking about her grief as I sang the lyrics gave me a glimpse into her faith:

“More love to thee, O Christ,

More love to thee!

Hear thou the prayer I make

On bended knee,

This is my earnest plea:

More love, O Christ, to thee.

Losing a child carries a heartache only mothers can know.  Yet in her grief, Elizabeth turned to God and begged Him to help her love more, knowing stability came from the Creator and no one else.

Life’s journey involves unspeakable heartache.  But when we ground ourselves on the solid rock of Christ, He helps us weather the storm and find divine comfort, creating an unbreakable, eternal bond, one God never forgets.

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 122) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Habakkuk 1:1-3:19 ESV, Revelation 9:1-21 ESV, Psalm 137:1-9 ESV, Proverbs 30:10 ESV

Daily Verse: “The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still to come.” (Revelation 9:12 ESV)

OUAI (3759): “Exclamation of grief.”[1]

Exclamation of grief.

Amid John’s revelation, we find today’s verse talking about troubles yet to come. How all of these things come to fruition, I don’t know. But I do know that exclamations of grief happen in life.

My first woe came when my father died, another when I lost my sister, yet another when mom died, and another when my nephew joined them in heaven.  Exclamations of grief and groans of pain that don’t have words to describe them happen in life.

Understanding why pain remains such a crucial part of life challenges me.  We grow from the things that make us hurt.  Change occurs after we experience pain, often to avoid experiencing it again.  Partnered with Jesus, our pains become transformations.

Transcendent peace.

What Christ offers, grace and mercy, fill our souls with peace.  Whatever woes come our way, we know Jesus goes through them with us.  In Revelation, Christ conquers the world’s evils, protects His children and rights the world’s wrongs.  We can trust God.

Life’s struggles don’t end until we gain a heavenly address.  Recently, we bought firewood from an 87-year-old man who had a meticulously run business.  Gnarled hands helped us load the bundles in our truck.  As we drove away, I watched him hobble back to his house with his cane.  Physical pain plaguing his elderly body.

Whether physical or mental, everyone struggles with pain and heartache.  Persevering in joy with the Lord requires leaning into Him heavenly.  Faith leads the way when we put into action God’s promises, holding on for dear life sometimes.

Christ helps us move through our woes as we journey in life.  When grief knocks us to our knees, God helps us back up.  One day, we’ll have no more pain, but until then, Jesus gives us His peace.

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 183) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Nahum 1:1-3:19 ESV, Revelation 8:1-13 ESV, Psalm 136:1-26 ESV, Proverbs 30:7-9 ESV

Daily Verse: “When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.” (Revelation 8:1 ESV)

SPHRAGIS (4973): “Denotes literal, a “seal” on a book or roll, combining with the ideas of security and destination those of secrecy and postponement of disclosures, Rev 8:1.”[1]

Security and destination.

Hallmark gives away gold stickers with each card purchase.  Placing the round, metallic seal on the tip of the envelope flap secures and protects the card until it reaches its final destination.  Upon opening, the beauty from within makes another soul smile.

Whatever the contents of the seventh scroll, heaven became quiet at its opening.  God only knows what it contains.  Because my faith lies with Jesus, I don’t have to worry about what it says.

Becoming a follower of Christ puts a seal on your life.  You become His, and nothing can take you away from the Savior.  God protects His children from the woes those who choose to turn their back on Jesus suffer.  The Lord doesn’t want anyone to perish; people make a choice.

God’s seal.

When you come under God’s protection, you will still have troubles.  People will hurt you with their actions and deeds, sometimes intentionally.  Circumstances will cause havoc in your life, unforeseen problems you didn’t see knocking you off your feet.  Life still happens. 

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 ESV)

Submitting your life to Christ gives you God’s seal. Whatever troubles you face, Jesus will help you overcome them.  Our good and bad days will come to an end.  We will rest peacefully with Jesus in the afterlife for much longer than we suffer here and now.

Troubles and woes plague the world we live in today.  Following Jesus will help you find peace, no matter what the circumstances.

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 244) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Micah 5:1-7:20 ESV, Revelation 7:1-17 ESV, Psalm 135:1-21 ESV, Proverbs 30:5-6 ESV

Daily Verse: “Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” (Revelation 7:13 ESV)

PERIBALLO (4016): “As a verb, (in 23 of the 24 uses) means “to cast around or about, to put on, array,” or, in the middle and passive voices, “to clothe oneself.” It is most frequent in the Apocalypse, where it is found some 12 times.”[1]

Cast around.

John’s unifying vision of people from all tribes and nations standing together as one body in Christ before God creates a picture of heaven.  All skin colors, and all ethnicities, united because of the love of Jesus. 

Ron and I live in a little piece of heaven on earth, surrounded by neighbors from all different parts of the world.  Our pale skin color a minority where we live, and I love the people we get to share our lives with daily.  Learning about their different backgrounds and cultures helps me grow and love better.

Love unites.

Hate divides, love unites.  Christ brought love into the world that cold morning in the manger.  Throughout Jesus’ life, He set an example of how to love. If you spend time with God’s Son by reading the stories written about Him by people who knew Him, you will learn how to love well.

“When you turn people inside out, we all look the same.” Mom

My mother often said those eleven words. Colorblind, my mom loved everyone to the best of her ability.  And her wise words speak the truth. We all bleed red, just like Jesus did.  Christ clothes us all in the same unconditional love.

Clothed in Christ, we dawn our white robes, everyone equal at the foot of the Cross.  How exciting to have people from all over the world worshipping Jesus, loving God and one another.

Following Jesus into eternal life starts when you decide to believe in Him.  Rethinking how we think by learning how Jesus thought.  Imitating Christ’s actions towards others, loving the people around us to the best of our ability.  Staying humble and hungry for more Jesus, less us.

Wrap yourself in Jesus today; let Him clothe you in His grace and mercy.  Stand tall,  knowing God loves you unconditionally and wants you to live life to the fullest, confident of His affection for you.

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 197) Thomas Nelson