From Before the Beginning

Revelation 21:6 - And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts."

These words never fail to excite me or cause me to become emotional. It's like I can't breathe. 

The First and the Last, Beginning and the End, Alpha and Omega. All encompassing. God has created all things and provides life; He knows the number of our days also. He knew before the beginning of time when we would be born physically. He knew before the beginning of time He would come to earth as a man to offer us the free gift of eternal life because man would royally mess up the perfect life they had in total communion with Him in the garden. He knew before the beginning of time there would have to be an end. And He is working out His plan. He is the Way, Truth and the Life. He is the only way to heaven.

Just imagine, walking and talking with God...the God of the universe...the First, the Beginning and the Alpha. What a privilege for Adam and Eve. 

He also knew sin and disobedience would enter and what the outcome would be. He knew we would all  fall out of His grace. But He knew, again, that He would offer us a way to return, by grace through faith, not works, in His Son Jesus Christ...who was in the beginning, is now and who will return some day soon. The Beginning...and the End.

He is also the Supreme and ultimate Judge and in the end, for some, there will be an end that does not involve eternal life. 

Jesus made this claim numerous times: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last..." (Revelation 1:11)

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” (Revelation 22:13)

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)

...who is to come. He was in the beginning. He will be in the end. Every part of His existence from Old Testament to New was that we might be saved, that we might see Him and believe, obey. My mind cannot fathom the Alpha and Omega. 

In the beginning, God...said...and it was...good...for a time. From before the beginning God knew He would have to bring what was supposed to be good, until man botched up perfection, to an end.

Then these words come to mind that so describe an ending: 

In the beginning God created...and it was good. Amen. Done. So be it. 

At His crucifixion Jesus said "It is finished." He gave His life as THE way to overcome sin, temptation and death. He gave us Himself. It is a done deal for those who call on Him, who follow Him. 

Then in a prophetic moment in Revelation, after a time of His judgment upon those who have rejected Him, Jesus will say: ...“It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts."

Even in the Old Testament He made this claim:

"Listen to Me, O Jacob, and Israel, My called: I am He, I am the First, I am also the Last. (Isaiah 48:12)

“Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; besides Me there is no God.'" (Isaiah 44:6)

Do you believe this? Can you wrap your head around the truth that Jesus was, is and is to come? That He is the only way, truth and life? That heaven is only for those who admit they are sinful beings in need of a Savior? Do you hunger and thirst for something only to find when you think you've found it you are not satisfied? In the beginning God...knew you, knew your needs, knew your sins, even knew whether you would seek Him or reject Him. If you do not walk closely with God you do not know Him. You can receive Him and live or put Him out of your mind and...hard word...perish. 

Only Jesus can take your sins away. You cannot do it yourself. His blood washes you of all unrighteousness. His blood cleanses. He will wrap you in a white robe of righteousness. Without Him we are nothing. He has done it to innumerable people. Be counted among them. Receive Christ. You needn't be an addict or hardened criminal. You may believe you are right with God because you go to church. If you have not received Chist and can't say you know you have changed, you may still need to give your life to Him. 

Isaiah 55:1-3 - “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you...”

Revelation 1:8 - I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

First, let me remind you...the words in red are from Christ! The Word is truth. 

All I know is God/Jesus knows the beginning from the end in any and all situations from the minutest thing to the largest. 
What man can do this? 
Don’t think He doesn't know the outcome of elections, our hearts’ motives, each of our demises? Don’t think He knows about “climate change?”  He has a purpose, that all men should know Him. He both knows...and cares.

Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. (Matthew 10:29)

I have this sign in my kitchen. 

We are to love Him above all other things. We are to trust in His Son, Jesus, which means turning to Him in repentance. God wishes none to perish in this world. Not even terrorists! If we all go to Him with hearts humbled, asking for Him to forgive us of our sins, He is so willing to do this. We need not go to any other person. We go directly to God. He is never too busy to hear heartfelt prayers. He doesn't want our good works. He just wants us...to come to Him. 

He is the Alpha and Omega, as seen above. He has shown us what the days will be like prior to His return. We are beginning to see evidence of this. I know...we've heard for thousands of years He is returning soon. When do you think He will have seen enough evil, enough rejection of Him and His Son, enough rejection of what His Word says is wrong that the world today ignores as truth? When is enough enough?

All He wants for us is good. This good will come when He returns. It comes with dedication to Him and in the very end with eternal life. Not everyone will have this life if they have not put Him first, believed His Words, trusted in His Son only, not works, for the salvation of our souls. 

He is the Alpha and Omega. He is the first, as Creator God and the last, as Christ our conquering Savior, King of kings and Lord of lords. We can live in the same victory, through Christ. 

Today it would be wise to know these truths in our heart. His truths are the best and surest. What He says, He will accomplish...and I believe it will be soon. Do you really know Him? Have you really given your life to Him? Have you ever thought about your life and looked at the things you've done that might have been or are not quite on the up and up? Have you ever felt guilty about what you've done or have you dismissed it as "everyone else does it?" God does not grade on a curve. If it's wrong in His eyes, it's wrong. 

He knows the beginning from the end. He knows our hearts. He knows who needs saving. He's wanting that none should perish. Will you be part of that group? Can you be humble? Can you ask your Heavenly Father for forgiveness? Today's a good day...before it's too late. (Just an aside...yesterday's terrorist attack in Manhattan (October 2017)...I wonder how many of those victims, despite their innocence in this act and not deserving of their deaths, knew God? I wonder how many met Him? I wonder what they know right now? There is no place where they wait and see if the good they did in their lives outweighs the bad. God is just and without our receiving His Son we are toast! 

Matthew 24:29-30,36-38,42,44 - Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark...
Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

God Had a Plan

In the beginning, God...
Before creation, God...
At creation, God...
At the creation of man, God...
At the time of the first sin, God...
When Cain killed Abel, God...
When the Great Flood destroyed all the land, God...
When Pharaoh's heart was hardened, God...
When Israel was set free from captivity, God...
As Israel finally approached the Promised Land, God...
Always in the midst of Israel's sin, God...
While all the prophets sent out warnings, God...
While people continue to disobey and worship their own idols, God...

...God had a plan.

And God still has a plan. He has always and will always be in the midst of things. In the good, in the bad, in righteousness, in sinfulness. He will use any and all circumstances to bring about His will. You can count on it...because He has said it. Because He is God. Because He was in the beginning and continues to be. For this reason we should praise Him. 

Psalm 113:1-9 - Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its going down the Lord’s name is to be praised. The Lord is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens. who is like the Lord our God, who dwells on high, who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth? He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap, that He may seat him with princes—with the princes of His people. He grants the barren woman a home, like a joyful mother of children. Praise the Lord! 

All throughout the Bible He has shown us examples of good and evil, how when sin entered into the world and He was dismissed as THE God, He was still there. He had and still has a plan for those who want it. He has seen the denigration of this world...and our nation...but He is still here. Somehow throughout all of time His Word continues. It stands the test of time.

What some don't understand is how He is able to lift people out of a sinful condition...out of pride in believing we do not have a sinful condition or we aren't so bad because our neighbor is worse...or even, that Christian is worse (because he/she is a poor example of a Christian). God will deal with each if us.

God can lift us out of our sin. He can raise poor out of the dust or bring a barren woman the feeling of family. We don't need government to do this!! It doesn't happen in man's way but in His way, through His Way, Jesus.

There's one thing God has kept, THE one thing many people have rejected throughout life...His plan. When people rejected Him in the Old Testament He had a plan. In the beginning He was, and today He still is. In the New Testament He revealed Himself once again to all through His Son, Jesus, who was with Him all along. In the beginning, God... In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. (John 1:1,4)

God and His Word (Jesus) stand the test of time. While people reject Him He will never go away. In the beginning, God... In the end, God... He is to be praised...for His wondrous and perfect ways. 

Who has performed and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? ‘I, the Lord, am the first; and with the last I am He.’” “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; besides Me there is no God. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."  And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. (Isaiah 41:4, Isaiah 44:6, 
Revelation 1:8, Revelation 21:6, Revelation 22:13)

From Before the Beginning

Revelation‬ ‭21:6‬ ‭- And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts."

These words never fail to excite me. It's like I can't breathe. 

The First and the Last, Beginning and the End, Alpha and Omega. All encompassing. God has created all things, provides life and knows when life is over. He knew before the beginning of time when we would be born physically. He knew before the beginning of time He would come to earth as a man to offer us the free gift of eternal life because man would royally mess up the perfect life they had in total communion with Him in the garden. He knew before the beginning of time there would have to be an end. And He has carried out His plan. 

Just imagine, walking and talking with God...the God of the universe...the First, the Beginning and the Alpha. What a privilege for Adam and Eve. 

He also knew sin and disobedience would enter and what the outcome would be. He knew we would all fall into sin. But He knew, again, that He would offer us a way to return, by grace through faith, not works, in His Son Jesus Christ...who was in the beginning, is now and who will return some day soon. The Beginning and the End.

He is also the Supreme and ultimate judge and in the end, for some, there will be an end that involves eternal life and for others not so much. 

Jesus made this claim numerous times:
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last..." (Revelation‬ ‭1:11‬)
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” (Revelation‬ ‭22:13‬)
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation‬ ‭1:8‬)

...who is to come. He was in the beginning. He will be in the end. Every part of His existence from Old Testament to New Testament was that we might be saved, that we might see Him and believe, obey. My mind cannot fathom the Alpha and Omega. 

• In the beginning God...created...and it was good. Completed. Done. Finished.
• At His crucifixion Jesus said "It is finished." He gave His life as THE way to overcome, as He did, sin, temptation and death. He gave us Himself. It is a done deal for those who call on Him, who follow Him. 
• Then in a prophetic moment in Revelation, after a time of His judgment upon those who have rejected Him, Jesus will say...again: ...“It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts." (‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21:6‬)  He will have defeated the enemy. All who have remained faithful to Him will finally live a life of peace, no pain, no sorrow. 

Do you believe this? Can you wrap your head around the truth that Jesus was, is and is to come? That He is the only way, truth and life? That heaven is for those who admit they are sinful beings in need of a Savior? Do you hunger and thirst for something only to find when you think you've found it you are not satisfied? In the beginning God...knew you, knew your needs, knew your sins, even knew whether you would seek Him or reject Him. Do you know if you walk closely with God? Do you know that you know Him? You can receive Him and live or put Him out of your mind and...hard word...perish. 

Only Jesus can take your sins away. You cannot do it yourself. His blood washes you of all unrighteousness. His blood cleanses. He will wrap you in a white robe of righteousness. Without Him we are nothing. He has done it to innumerable people. Be counted among them. Receive Christ. You needn't be an addict or hardened criminal. You may believe you are right with God because you go to church or are kind and generous. But if you have not experienced a touch from God and can't say you know you have changed, you may still need to give your life to Him. 

He knew you before the beginning of time. Do you truly know Him?

Isaiah‬ ‭55:1-3‬ ‭- “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you...”

Idols??

Leviticus 26:1 - You shall not make idols for yourselves; neither a carved image nor a sacred pillar shall you rear up for yourselves; nor shall you set up an engraved stone in your land, to bow down to it; for I am the LORD your God.

What is your idol? It doesn't need to be the things listed above although God is warning His people not to bow to any of those things listed. What do you put before God? Your children? Your family? Your job? Your hobbies? Your sports? Your television? Your iPhone or iPad? Your food? The list can go on. 

We can all learn from this, including me. What is the first thing we do when we arise in the morning? What's the first thought? Who's the first thought?

If our first thought is not of God, our gratefulness for yet another day that He has given us, another day to hear from Him, we have idols. He is to be the Lord our God. Tomorrow can be a new day to begin this. 

I was at a memorial service the other day. This woman lived for God in the smallest of details. The pastor said something that really impacted me. He said she was always busy doing something. A neighbor and her children attested to this. Always busy. She always maintained a calm demeanor and peace. She always had a smile on her face. Despite it all, he went on to say, she was never distracted from God. How easy it can be to become distracted from the most important part of our life. 

The pastor admitted he hasn't been able to achieve this. It was as if she just walked side by side with the Lord. If that's the case I know she was praising Him with every step she took. I myself had heard her do that. She may have been a perfect example (though she was not perfect, something she'd confessed to me a couple times!) of one not having made idols for herself. He was the Lord her God. 

She was strengthened by His might and given peace and joy in the midst of troubles. He was her Rock. She was by no means without trials. As the pastor said, He walked with her in the midst of them. (Like the three young men in the fiery furnace.) That is why she was able to withstand them. Nothing came between her and her Savior. What an example. She endured to the end and is no doubt before her Jesus now worshiping Him. [He was to her] the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” (‭Revelation‬ ‭22‬:‭13‬) 

Just as He is to be our first thought in the morning, He should be our last thought at the end of the day.

Time to tear down those idols...

Isaiah 44:8 - Do not fear, nor be afraid; have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.

BEHOLD! The Word

Nothing says it better than the Word of God.

The beginning:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God SAID, “Let there be light"; and there was light.

Then God SAID, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.”
Then God SAID, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so.
Then God SAID, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so.
Then God SAID, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years;
Then God SAID, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.”
Then God SAID, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind”; and it was so.
Then God SAID, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” (‭Genesis‬ ‭1‬)

And God SAID it was all good. God the WORD, which word He spoke and it was accomplished. And He brought forth His Son Jesus, the one and the same WORD. I can't think of the One without going back to the beginning. Jesus, Alpha AND Omega, Beginning AND End because the WORD spoke the Word. Jesus, the light of the world which was rejected then and still is. What a great time to receive Him.

The truth, good news and the promise:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word WAS God. He was in the beginning with God. All things WERE MADE through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was LIFE, and the life was the light of men. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, AND THE WORLD DID NOT KNOW HIM.
[Then] the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭1-4,10,14‬)
Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. (‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬)

And the light shines in the darkness, AND THE DARKNESS DID NOT COMPREHEND IT. But as many as RECEIVED Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who BELIEVE in His name: who were born, NOT of blood, NOR of the will of the flesh, NOR of the will of man, BUT OF GOD. ...“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"(‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭5,12-13,29‬)

More good news and conclusion (end):

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (‭2Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬)

Behold, [some day soon] He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. (‭Revelation‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬)
"Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." (‭Revelation‬ ‭3‬:‭11,20‬)

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” ...And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts." (‭Revelation‬ ‭21‬:‭5-6‬)
“Behold, I am coming quickly!... “...behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work." (‭Revelation‬ ‭22‬:‭7,12‬)

We are about to celebrate the Word who became flesh just for us, for our sins. Do not forget who this season is truly about. Santa can't save, government can't save, good works and all our giving can't save, money can't save. But the Word who is Jesus can. Behold! The best gift is the gift of eternal life in and through Jesus Christ.

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬)

Spoiler Alert!

Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭1-3 - In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, “..."

Movie reviews sometimes warn one that the ending might be given away. There is a Book that I want to report on. The Word of God. It is powerful. It gives us the real truth. It brings life.

"In the beginning..." was God. Was creation. Was the first man followed by the first woman. Followed by communing with this all powerful, all knowing, ever present God. Followed by temptation. Followed by sin.

And so the story goes. God continues His account, this handbook for life, for anything one needs, this sacred Book of commandments..and truth...of proverbs...of parables...of psalms...of judgments...of forgiveness. Many men of various degrees of intellect, personalities, frailties were used over the span of about 1600 years to complete it.

The point of this Book? That we might have wisdom. That we might be made aware what sin is, who has it (everyone), how there is nothing we can do to overcome our sin, how time after time man struggles with their devotion and worship of God, how God is merciful, and best of all how we can be forgiven. In beginning was pure, sinless man, who fell into sin. Near the end we can be made pure, forgiven of this sin.

But there is a time the Bible calls the last days.
This know also, that in the last days...2Timothy 3
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days...2Peter 3
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord (last day)...1Thessalonians 5
...whereby we know that it is the last time. 1John 2
...and then shall the end come. Matthew 24:14
...[even] to the time of the end...Daniel 12:4

The great misconception is that life will go on. It will come to an end someday. If we complete some of the verses above we'll see what it will look like.
...perilous times shall come. 2Timothy 3
...scoffers, walking after their own lusts...2Peter 3
...as ye have heard that antichrist shall come...1John 2
...this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations...Matthew 24

In the last days things get pretty nasty. There are wars and rumors of wars, pestilence and disease, scoffers, self-centered living, evil, no desire anymore for God. And God will one day have had enough. He has been merciful for a very long time. His Word has been preached to the nations. We see wars, hear rumor of wars. We see diseases and disasters. And today we see wickedness and rampant sin as everyday, normal life. Evil is good, good is evil.

Spoiler alert! If you don't want to know the end of the Book, stop here. Read no further. But it is a
vital message.

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In the end...the judgment...for the pure and impure. Jesus is coming quickly! There will be a time for His judgment. Those seeking Him as well as those who do not will bow before Him, will stand (if that's even possible) before Him to give account for each one's deeds. There will be a separation between believers and non-believers, and those whose names are written in the book of life, or not, and final resting places determined. It's all written about in this Book. It's there for the reading.

If anyone does not know Jesus, right now, today, it's time. Time's running out and this is where the scoffers come in. Oh, we've heard this all before. Men have predicted Jesus' return and it hasn't happened so why believe this? I am not saying the exact time He will return only that judging by the condition of the world today, it's getting close. Besides, if one were to die today, which side of Christ might they be on? Does the family know this God? Do they revere Him or scoff Him? Have they confessed their sins to this almighty God? Do they even know they can go directly to Him with a sincere and broken heart for this confession? Do they realize that it is not an embarrassing step to take but a life giving one?

He is waiting. He wants to change lives and futures. He wants to bring freedom, to open His words up, to give wisdom. He wants to change all beginnings into better last days. And time is running out. Pick up a copy of this Book some time. Test the scriptures.

Revelation 22:20-21 - He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. 

The True Vine

John 15:1-6

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine dresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.


Ouch. A word for us all. On one hand a wonderful word; on the other, not so good.

Jesus says He's the true vine. He used a lot of illustrations people would understand because of the culture back then. He spoke what the people would understand, to their occupations. He spoke of sheep and shepherds; sowing, reaping; fishing; landowners...and more.

Anyone familiar with growing grapes for wine would understand this. Even a gardener would understand. In order to produce a good crop or good plant or multiple flowers, pruning must be done. It all starts with one main, healthy vine. If branch growth from that vine is to remain healthy, all dead or weaker branches must be removed so the stronger, healthier ones can grow and produce the desired crop. Think about this next time you are working in your garden!

Jesus starts out by saying that these disciples of His are already clean because of the word He has spoken. Remember, He had been with them for three years teaching them His words. They had been abiding in Him. They had received Him, followed Him, obeyed. Almost all of them would go on to bear more fruit.

Jesus says that He is that main vine. It all begins with Him. And we choose to abide in Him as one of the branches or we do not. We hear His words and are made clean (the washing of the Word...Ephesians 5:6), even bear fruit, or we do not. He knows! He knows who He needs to prune, or who He needs to cut completely off. Each of us needs pruning in our walk with Him. I definitely do!

His idea of bearing fruit is not so much the things in the world, but what we are doing to show Him to others. We do not bear fruit in our work, hobbies, friends...unless through these things He is known. Do people hear about Him or know that we are part of that true vine? That is true bearing of fruit.

He says we can do nothing without Him. If we rely on self or others, or money, status, He is not the true vine. We are branches about to be cut off if we do not look to Him. Judas, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, was a branch utterly cut off. He was with Him for three years, heard His words, but in the end was a withered branch.

Here's the scariest, true part...the words remind me of what we have been told will happen if we do not seek the Lord. In Him, and only Him, is eternal life. (There is an afterlife for all of us.) But we must first recognize Him as that vine and become one of His branches that abides in Him. We do not have eternal life without HIM, despite the doctrine of other religions. It's not about the good we do in this life. He must be the center of it all...the main vine.

Without Him we will be cut off and thrown in the fire. It's reminiscent of the scriptures:
And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (‭Revelation‬ ‭21‬:‭6-8‬)

He is the true Vine...the Alpha and Omega, Beginning and the End, the holder of eternal life. He created our beginning. Will He be our End? We are ALL guilty of one or more, maybe all, of the sins listed above and deserving of eternal death, that lake of fire. But the good news is: He IS the Good News! He has come to seek and save the lost, which we all are, like those lost sheep He talks about. Lost until we enter by the Door to come into relationship with Him, the True Vine.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (‭John 3:16,3‬)

Declared and Proclaimed

Isaiah 48:3,5 - I have declared the former things from the beginning; they went forth from My mouth, and I caused them to hear it. Suddenly I did them, and they came to pass. Even from the beginning I have declared it to you; before it came to pass I proclaimed it to you, lest you should say, "My idol has done them, and my carved image and my molded image have commanded them."

I've said this before. Our God has used His Word to give an account of who He was, is and will be. He has given it to us for a very good reason...that we should know Him and His glory. We should know that He is who He says He is and will do as He says He will do, as He has done throughout the pages of His Book. He has done this that we know there is no one else...no idol or image...and an idol can be something we trust so firmly in...money, entertainment, sex, food, alcohol, religion. We are to trust only in Him.

God has shown us examples of people who have believed, received, trusted and obeyed Him. And He has shown us what happens to those who do. He also has shown us people who have not heeded His Word and how He has reacted toward them. If our God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, how can we even consider that this does not apply to us today?

He is more powerful than we can imagine. Life has gone on year after year in what seems to be our own power. But remember that He is Sovereign. He can use both good and evil to allow His plans to succeed...or fail, if it is in His better interest that it does.

Our God never slumbers nor sleeps. He is fully aware of all things. He knows evil is growing by leaps and bounds. He is calling people...He is invading their lives and spirits in ways we cannot understand but, if we know what this God is capable of, we can only be in awe of Him.

Let me give you an example! A friend was telling me how her sister led a coworker to Christ. She asked him to see the Passion of Christ several years ago. He was deeply moved. He did not want to watch as Jesus was being whipped and bloodied and as he turned his head away in his spirit he heard, I don't want you to turn your head away. Turn back and see what happened to Me for your sake. As he got into his car he began to weep and when got home he gave his life to the Lord. Oh that more would weep for God's presence.

This man has a father in his 90's who is an atheist. I'm certain this son has talked to his father about Christ and has been met with resistance, which in many cases between believers and unbelievers happens. One day not long ago the man was visiting his father when his dad very seriously shared: I had a dream last night. I was told, "I am coming soon." In the dream I asked, "When?" I was told, "Very soon...and My wrath will be upon those who have done evil." This old man knows, or knew, nothing about God nor the fact that He will return and will pour out His wrath. But God....

And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. (Acts 2:17). Don't think He won't or can't. We cannot know just what our God is capable of. If He can cause a donkey to speak (Numbers 22), He can do anything....all things are possible with God.

The world is spiraling down toward those last days. We are close but we are told two things: we cannot know the day and...yet it will come quickly. He will pour out His Spirit in ways we couldn't possibly invent. Some will get it, some will reject it. We need to be ready, receptive and know just who this God is...now...not when it's too late. When the last days are solidly here we need to have our belief in Him and trust in Him settled already so anything that will happen won't come as a surprise and we will know how to put complete faith in Him for our needs in those days. It's what we should be doing even in better times.

He has declared the beginning from the end. He has proclaimed it. Has it been received? Has it penetrated spirits? Our minds are to be kept on Him. We are to know His ways, commands, promises...good or bad. We must understand salvation is of the Lord and no idol, image, person or religion...only in in Jesus Christ. That means relationship.

If God is going to come and pour out His wrath, we need to understand that many who say they are not wicked compared to someone else, are believing a lie. None are righteous, not one. Wickedness can be worded this way...sin...and that can be even in the security we place in our own wisdom, power or strength, believing we do not need God's help. He knows and sees even if no one around us does. If we rely more than we ought in ourselves and believe that nothing can harm us, we have no wisdom. He is calling people. Praise God He is because He wishes none to perish...yet many still will. And remember, He calls Himself I AM.

While the verses I've chosen talk about people bound in forms of witchcraft, I see how it also relates to other scriptures about people in the last days (1Thessalonians 5:3, Revelation 9:20-21, 17:2) and about anyone who trusts in themselves, things and/or others over God.

Isaiah 47:8-11 - “Therefore hear this now, you who are given to pleasures, who dwell securely, who say in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one else besides me; I shall not sit as a widow, nor shall I know the loss of children’; but these two things shall come to you in a moment, in one day: The loss of children, and widowhood. They shall come upon you in their fullness because of the multitude of your sorceries... “For you have trusted in your wickedness; you have said, ‘No one sees me’; your wisdom and your knowledge have warped you; and you have said in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one else besides me.’ Therefore evil shall come upon you; you shall not know from where it arises. And trouble shall fall upon you; you will not be able to put it off. And desolation shall come upon you suddenly, which you shall not know.'"

Give Ear, O My People

Psalm 78:1-4 - Give ear, O my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.

Children of God. People of God. His peculiar people. A chosen generation. A holy priesthood. His inheritance. Saint of God. New creature. God's workmanship. Citizen of heaven. Chosen of God.

How is it we had not heard at an early age? Where were the people? Where was the Church? How is it there are so many differing opinions on the idea of salvation and what the Bible proclaims? Why isn't there just one heart, one mind and one God?

And yet, somehow, the message was passed on. Somehow on one day God presented to many His Son Jesus for the very intent of saving yet another soul. The message was spoken, it was heard, it was taken in, it changed one more person, then another and another. Why not more? God knew long ago that the road would be narrow and few would follow it. And that's just the way it is.

Yet He has given so many a chance to receive that Word, the sayings of old, the message that never quits and never changes.  Now we must take that same word and message and perpetuate it. Teach it to not only those around us but the next generation. Teach the parables and the laws. Teach them Jesus. Teach them that in Him is life an no other life is as great at what He has to offer.

Teach them creation, in it's truth. Teach them all God has done for His people, of which some are now included as. Teach that He saved and healed, that He was with them through thick and thin, as long as they were obedient to Him, that He is with us through thick and thin, as long as we are obedient to Him. Like a (good) father to a child...that's what He is. Not all of us have experienced a good and loving father. But He is there to be the replacement, the One who will love unconditionally.

Remind that when stubbornness and rebellion are present in a life or a country or a world, judgment will come. God will not leave His people but our desires can often lead us to leave Him. His love is unconditional; our has conditions, generally focused on self.

Remember all He did for past generations. He longs to do this for us. He parted seas that Israel might cross on dry ground. He longs to part the seas in our lives that we might cross over to a better life...leave the oppressed lives we don't even realize we have for a real life, a fulfilling life. He longs to protect us from our enemies. He longs to provide for us. All He has can be ours if we only submit to Him.

God's anger will be provoked soon enough. He will not let us live as we are much longer if His name is sullied, mocked, ignored, spat upon or blasphemed much more. Hard words? Look around.

As His anger against His people was before, it will happen again. But God...is merciful to those who seek Him. His love is everlasting to those who heed Him. He asks us to seek Him while He can still be sought, before His wrath is so great and the doors close forever to His kingdom...like the doors on the ark...and the people who scoffed perished without. His story has a perfect ending for those willing to submit and serve Him...something the pride of the world has a hard time accepting.

Yes, a perfect ending.

Revelation 17,14 - And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

Glory to God, Lord of All

1Chronicles 29:11 -  Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head over all. 

Do you see a world full of anger and/or fear? Are you concerned about the things occurring in this nation or in the world? Do you wonder how it might affect you? Do you think of these things or do you ignore it? I praise my God that He is the First and the Last, that He is in control and He knows the outcome of all circumstances whether personal, in our country or in the world. The time is now to seek Him and trust in Him for all things.

...if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2Chronicles 7:14)
For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. (1Corinthians 14:33)
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Hallelujah!! To God be the glory.

We see a world of confusion, discontent, uprising. If anyone doesn't have peace, they don't know the One who can bring it. He offers peace in a turbulent world by giving the assurance of a perfect hope, one which man cannot give. Our future is secure in Him, no matter what the world looks like around us. It's time for taking heads out of the sand! Look around. What do you see? Anger, killing, blaming, arguing, lying, cheating, stealing, unhealthy, ungodly lifestyles. And it grows. It's like leaven...which is defined as a substance used to produce fermentation. Evil has been fermenting for thousands of years. How much longer will it be able to before God intervenes?

How did that fermentation begin? With fall in the Garden of Eden. Although we can suggest it was Adam and Eve's fault, there is no excuse today when we have a God who is trying to get our attention, whose Word shows us what we need to do to avoid the leaven to grow in our lives. We live in a fallen world with people determined to live as they wish without consideration for God. And so...we see what we see in the world. That is why some have chosen not to follow in the things of the world but in the things of God. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1Corinthians 5:8)

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:14-16,19-23)

Can you see yourself even in the slightest bit in any of the fleshly evidence? Be honest. I do. And what is the fruit of the Spirit? Read it again. Might we be remiss in some of these as well? The things of the flesh will get to the point where God will not tolerate any of it. Like in the days of Noah...He will bring judgment upon this earth.

Lord, I sing praises to You for all You do, have done and are about to do. Because I know You, despite not knowing exactly when or exactly how (And He said to them,"It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority." Acts 1:7), I know the beginning (In the beginning God created...Genesis 1:1) from the end (Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him...Revelation 1:7). 

The world crumbles and people balk or rise up. We takes sides in the world but don't seek the side of He who holds the world and our future in His hands. But He even knows this. He has known this from the first and He knows who will be on His side at the last. I would want to be counted as one who knows my days will be for good and my future secure in the One who will determine how all people's lives will end.

Lord, fill me every morning with Your Spirit that I might walk with You to the end of my life. I praise You for being Almighty God and for knowing the beginning from the end. Let Your kingdom. Let the world behold Your glory and rejoice. Let Your people humble themselves and seek Your face. We already know that Your will will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Open eyes of unbelievers to see this.

Even so, Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)

Psalm 16

Psalm 16 - Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust.
O my soul, you have said to the Lord, 
“You are my Lord,
 my goodness is nothing apart from You.”
As for the saints who are on the earth,
 “they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.”
Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god;
 their drink offerings of blood I will not offer,
 nor take up their names on my lips.
O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
 You maintain my lot.
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
 yes, I have a good inheritance.
I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel;
 my heart also instructs me in the night seasons.
I have set the Lord always before me; 
because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;
 my flesh also will rest in hope.
For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,
 nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
You will show me the path of life;
 in Your presence is fullness of joy;
 at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

This is what those who are in unbelief are missing.

I put my trust in God alone. Man or government cannot provide the true hope, protection, provision. Only God can.

Man or government cannot provide the excellent goodness that God can when we allow our hearts, minds and souls to submit to Jesus Christ as THE Lord.

Yes, I am, through and in Christ, counted as one of the excellent ones. Excellence isn't your job, your money, your status, your stuff. It is Jesus Christ. It IS comforting to be counted as among the excellent ones.

As my hope and happiness in Christ continues to grow, for those who know not this Man of salvation, their sorrows will be multiplied...if we begin to see the unrest in the world continue. Their plans, schemes, desires and attempts at good works without Christ will be nothing.

Jesus is my lot, my portion, my inheritance...my hope. In Him I will prevail. Let my cup runneth over.

It is He I will bless for the wisdom He gives, my discernment.

Because I seek Him He stands beside me always. I may not always sense it but I can have confidence and rejoice just the same. I will have rest for my soul.

The path of life is the straight and narrow road He offers, the road less traveled. It is a life of real joy and those treasures only He provides...pleasures forevermore.

I will praise my God in all things. I will trust in Him and stand by Him. He is the Rock of my salvation, the Tower I run into for safety, the Hope for life eternal, my Strength in difficult times. Jesus is my all in all. Alpha, Omega, Beginning and End, First and Last. I'm glad I know Him.

Rejoice in the Lord Always

Exodus 15:12 - The LORD is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.

I’m sure this is not the first time I have used this title for a blog. I can’t think of any better way to put this. 

Try this out: Rejoice (delight, glory, give joy to) in the Lord (one having power and authority over others, a man of rank or high position, king, lion, prince...God or Jesus) always (at all times, consistently, incessantly, night and day, perpetually, continually, unfailingly). 

Get the message? How are we doing, we who know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives? How are those doing who don’t know Jesus in this way? How many can say that in this day and age we can truly rejoice, even though we have no idea what our future holds, or the future of those children and grandchildren who have many more years that others to live in uncertainty?

We are to delight in Him in good times and bad. Words that have been hovering in my mind for weeks now are “I am the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, Beginning and the End.” When I read those words in a class one Sunday morning I absolutely broke down in tears. He’s our all in all. And we are to glory in this, be joyful in Him. 

A lord is of high rank or position. That’s our Jesus. He is our Prince of Peace, the soon coming King and our Lion of the tribe of Judah. He holds all the authority over us, as much as man wants to believe that they control their own destinies. Revelation 1:18 - I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. There IS Someone who holds our life in His hands. And it is He in whom we should rejoice. We should rejoice over what He has done for us. 

We all go through struggles in life. We are, according to God’s Word, to rejoice in our tribulation. We are to delight in them. Why? Because that brings glory to God. It shows our trust in Him; it shows where our strength lies. I can’t imagine having a life threatening disease and fearing the outcome. If we know that we know Jesus, we can know that even if we aren’t able to win the fight with the disease, we’ve won the battle knowing we will be in the arms of our Lord. That alone would be an encouragement. Those who don’t know the Lord don’t have that satisfaction. They fight in their own strength, which pretty much is futile...1Corinthians 1:25 - For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

We are to praise Him always. In good times and bad. We are told to continually (incessantly) be in worship of Him. How? By having our minds constantly on Him. If we have our five senses, there is no excuse to not recognize God in all things. The sounds of nature, the sights of nature, the smell of a beautiful flower...or the soft, warm paws of a cat... All reminders of the creativeness of God. Even in bad times, we can be thankful for the good we’ve had. I believe God/Jesus is in the back of my mind all day long, not always in the forefront, but lingering...like those words hovering in my mind.

This world is both a blessing and a curse today. We see tough times ahead. But if we know that God is our Alpha and Omega, we know He has control over it. If we know Jesus, we can be assured that He is by our side, even now. 

This devotion came to me and I wanted to share. It is well worth the read. 

http://www.worldchallenge.org/en/node/15242?src=devo-email

“The magnitude of the disasters does not seem to sink in.” I tend to agree with this statement. It reminds me of the scoffers talked about in the last days. Yes, we must continue to live, but we must also not have our heads buried in the sand, believing that we will always come through the trials we face. Sometimes we don’t. That’s where the strength in Jesus and the joy of the Lord comes in. Don’t ask me how it works, it just does. It’s the peace that passes all understanding. Peace amidst the troubles. We can have hope, as Wilkerson alludes to in his last paragraph.

Rejoice in the Lord always! 

2Corinthians 12:9 - “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”

The God of Jacob

Psalm 46:7 - The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah 

It was a beautiful, quiet morning. The cool air and warmth of the earth mixed to produce a haze low to the ground. As I drove to church for a 9/11 commemoration service I thought about this day ten years ago and recalled the horrifying haze produced by the collapse of the World Trade Center buildings.

Like the sunlight was burning off the haze and bringing brighter light, so can the light of Christ burn through tragedy's darkness and through the darkness of sin. Darkness fades as the Light of Christ emerges.

We have seen the twin towers come down in this nation. It brought people to their proverbial and literal knees seeking God for answers and comfort. Churches filled up again...for a time...till the dust of the tragedy settled and life once again went on as usual.

Sometimes, like the walls of those towers came down, we need to tear down the walls of our hardened hearts to seek and see God in our lives.

First in prayer and then throughout the morning at church the power of the Lord was evident. Pastor Andy Horn read Psalm 46, a prayer President Obama read at a memorial service that morning in New York City. What was so amazing were the words he read that proclaimed that the God in this Psalm was the God of Jacob. This is a proclamation that for some Christians needs no explanation. It is a proclamation that this is the one true God. It was in the line of Jacob from which our soon coming King came. 

This is the God of the Bible. He is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble (Psalm 46). It is He who is in control of all things and although the nation, the world or our own lives seem to be shaken, He is the one who is in the midst of it all. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Not only is He in the midst but surrounding.

As this Psalm was read in prayer I was reminded that His word will not return void...and those words of Psalm 46 read Sunday morning were spoken in the hearing not only of the God about whom they were written, but also by this country and probably abroad as well. If they were spoken in God's ear they will not return void. He honors those words.

In Sunday school I was touched by the awesomeness of this same God as we read Revelation 1 to get a glimpse of Who this God really is. I was asked to read a portion of the chapter. I came to these words in verse 8:  "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty" and was completely undone, so moved by His words of strength and conviction I had to stop for a moment.

Our study for that morning was on perspective. In the very grand scheme of God's plans, we are minuscule. As we discussed this, admitting that we ALL look at our own circumstances as being monumental compared to that of others (Nobody knows the trouble I've seen, crooned Pastor Andy!), it needs to be seen in perspective. Yes, our God is in control; yet we must be in control of our own choices...and one is to choose to just trust God with our circumstances...knowing He's in control. To Him all problems are important and none too great for Him to handle...in His way in His time.

While the discussion went on my head was still wrapped around the Alpha and Omega! When the opportunity became available I told the little class what I had envisioned. Here we are in the middle of our little drama of life but putting it into perspective I saw us standing in the midst of the Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End, His arms surrounding us. He is our Center, too; yet we who know Him intimately are centered in Him. In Christ and He in us (2Corinthians 13:5 and Galatians 2:20). The Alpha and Omega...a huge concept, all encompassing.

He needs to be the Center of our lives today, not just at moments of tragedy. Look again at 9/11. None of these people knew what was about to transpire that day and we don't know how many of them who were lost had the Lord as their Center. How awful to not know the Hope in their death. 

Even with the events of 9/11 God knew what it would bring. It would bring a, sadly, short-lived return to Him, a new perspective of Him in some lives. Some would continue drawing strength from Him. If only we would live each day like this we might see an outpouring of His love, grace and mercy upon not only individuals but nations.

He is the Author (Beginning, Alpha, First) and Finisher (End, Omega, Last) of our faith. Being these He surrounds us, IF we let Him. There's always that choice to be made. He later tells us in verse 17 we need not fear because He is the First and the Last and "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen."

Is He the First and Last in each of our lives? He should be. Our eternal life rides on this. He is our refuge and He is with us if we choose Him as Alpha and Omega, First and Last and Beginning and End.

Psalm 91:1 - He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 

Thank You, Lord

Revelation 1:8 - I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Lord God, thank you for this day. This is the day You have made! Thank You for the sunshine and thank You even for the aches and pains which prove I am alive! Thank You for the new songs You give to Your people and the one You gave me last night. Thank You, Lord!

I am reminded that You are the giver of life and You are the taker of life (Job 1:21). In between life and death, you are the upholder of life (Psalm 54:4). From beginning to end You provide for Your people. 

You came to earth as Emmanuel, that You might be with us. In Spirit You reside with us. You have given us Your Spirit that we might know You are with us. Thank You for Your Spirit. You have given us discernment for these days we see approaching. Day after day we see one more thing that immediately reminds us of You and Your plans that are unfolding before us. Thank You for discernment. These plans are both dreadful and wonderful. Dreadful because of the people who will never know You and what they experience now amid the death and destruction will be eternal and even worse for them without You.

Wonderful for those who are in Christ and await Your return. Wonderful because with the wars and rumors of war, we know You are planning Your return. Wonderful in that we know where our security is and where our eternal life will be spent. Death may take us out, but only out of this world...and into Your welcoming arms. Thank You, Lord. We remain steadfast in our trust that You will provide here on earth, just like You will be greeting us someday in Heaven. What we see happening today only shows us how much closer we are to seeing Your return. Come, Lord Jesus, come.

Strengthen Your people and continue to provide in time of trouble. We know that it is under Your wings we can be sheltered. It is Your tower that we find refuge. At the name of Jesus the devil must flee. At the name of Jesus You are there as our protection. We thank You Lord.

I so thank You that in the midst of difficult days I am covered in peace. That peace that passes all understanding. How can You do that? I'm totally amazed. I trust in You that You will uphold me. I trust that Your hand will reach out to grab me out of the hands of my enemies. You are our Redeemer. You are whatever we need You to be. 

I thank You, Lord, that You are Truth. When we know Truth we are in the right hands. You shelter us from the storms of life. You strengthen us. You give us wisdom and knowledge. You give us, above all, discernment. So thankful for that discernment.

All You have done for us, Lord. It's incomprehensible. And all You desire is that we receive You and trust what You have already done for us. Beginning and the end. Of all things. Creator, Savior. Giver of life, taker of life. Alpha and Omega. All things. What new words can be spoken to give thanks other than thank You Lord. It doesn't seem like enough. 

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD; it shall rejoice in His salvation…I have trusted in Your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. (Psalm 107:1, 63:4, 35:9, 13:5)