Worthy Is The Lamb!

SCRIPTURE
Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels,

numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand

times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the

living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang:

"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power

and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and

glory and praise!" Revelation 5:11-12


OBSERVATION
WOW!! What a powerful visual picture this gives us of the

awesome praise and worship going on in heaven. My mind

is trying to picture that many angels, in a circle singing praises

in a loud voice.

Jesus teaches us how to pray in Matthew chapter six.

In verse ten of chapter six it says "your kingdom come,

your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

We are establishing God's kingdom here on earth

when we sing praise in a loud voice just as the angels are

doing in heaven.

APPLICATION
At times my praise and worship is spoken to the Lord in a

whisper, or a soft song, but this verse reminds me to chime

in with the angels in a loud voice and sing praises to the

Lord giving Him honor and glory to His name. As I do this

I am establishing His kingdom here on earth.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father,

I thank you for my voice. Thank you that I live in a country where

I may sing and shout your praises in a loud voice without fear.

Thank you that I may join in with the angels in heaven giving you

all honor and glory! Worthy is the Lamb! AMEN!

Give the Best Gift

SCRIPTURE

Revelation 4:9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever...

Revelation 4:11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."


OBSERVATION

When we worship our Father it's like when a child shows appreciation to their parent. When we worship, when we praise, it's the best earthly gift we can give to our father our creator. It's our offering to God.


APPLICATION

I need to be what God has created me to be and to do what God has asked me to do. To show God my appreciation and Love every day.

PRAYER

Help me not to take you for granted. I truly appreciate all the blessing you have delivered to me. I pray that I am the person you have created and want me to be.

Listen for the knock

SCRIPTURE

Rev.3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

OBSERVATION

Jesus does not barge in. He waits until the door of my heart and mind is open to let him in. He is always willing and ready. It is I who need to take action to open myself to his presence. It is Jesus who will take in my meal FIRST ...he will hear me, hear what I have to say and offer. Then He in turn will provide the meal I am lacking and need for the journey that I am on. It is like in Ezekiel 4:14-15 when Ezekiel presented his concerns and God listened and heard and allotted the change according to his plan for Ezekiel.


APPLICATION

God will listen and will hear ...if I just open up and take in His leading.

PRAYER

Thank You, Jesus, for allowing me to hear and see that You are there and ready to hear and lead me to Your perfect plan in my life.

Discipline's rewards

SCRIPTURE

Hebrews 12:11 "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

OBSERVATION

Jesus wants us to discipline ourselves in our lives and get the most out of it. Discipline in any area is difficult, therefore painful. But, as the scripture says, one will reap the rewards for being trained to abstain. If discipline can lead to achieving the great goals that we have set for ourselves, it is worth traveling that bumpy road.


APPLICATION

There are a lot of areas in my life where I need discipline. Those areas include planning my day, praying to and thanking God more often, not giving in to sin (even in the slightest area), do what I propose to do, and strive more to get ahead. Even though I am a law abiding man, that is not enough. It's not fair to God if I obey man's law, and ignore the ways in which God wants me to be more like Him.

PRAYER

Dear Lord, thank you for thinking I can be a more disciplined person in your eyes. Teach me to be more disciplined and how not to give in to the temptation away from the road of a disciplined life. Forgive my failures and help me in my weakness. I know this is the correct road as it will lead to your gate. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

He is coming!

SCRIPTURE

Behold 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. “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 1:7,8


OBSERVATION

He is coming, not in secret, not just for his children to see but for every eye to see. Every man woman and child will see Jesus coming in the clouds in all His glory to claim His children.


APPLICATION

As my life is full of busyness I need to remember that Jesus is coming back soon. The Alpha and Omega, The Beginning and the End is coming back for me. What is so important that I do not remember my Savior, my Lord is coming back to take me to be with Him forever.

PRAYER

Oh Lord help me so I should never forget that the same Jesus that saved my soul, that washed my sins away is coming to take me home with Him forever. No more pain, sorrow or sadness, it will all be exchanged for joy and peace that comes with being with Jesus for eternity. Amen

Words vs. Actions

SCRIPTURE

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.

1 John 3: 18

OBSERVATION

The letters in 1 John were applicable in the past, are an applicable truth today, and will also be applicable in the future. His truth is not a fad, but a definate truth. Actions always speak louder than words. This is an evident truth.

APPLICATION

As a teacher I am unable to use words to share about God's love, but I can show His love on a daily basis. I can be an example by spending extra time tutoring a student that needs extra help. I can give encouragement to a student in need. I can remind them that they are special, and although each person may have different challenges to overcome, I will be there to help them overcome their challenges. I can go to a ball games, or attend a family funeral to show them that I care about their celebrations and grief. I can be the good morning waiting for them, and the I can't wait to see you tomorrow. I even have an opportunity to teach them how to be kind and forgiving. Over the past 16 years I have had a wonderful opportunity to share God's love to children of many nationalities and religions by loving in truth.

PRAYER

Dear Lord, I pray for opportune moments to share the love of God to those He sets in my path. Help me to minister beyond words. May those in my path receive love and truth through my actions. Please help me remain strong, and not weary so that I can reach out to those in need. Quicken my spirit so that I will recognize opportunities to share the love of God. Give me wisdom to know how to express your love and truth.

Focus on His Goodness

SCRIPTURE

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My life makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble and afflicted hear and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:1-4

OBSERVATION

My mouth reflects the attitudes of my heart. I must and will keep His praise as the focus of my speech. As I keep His praises as my focus, others will hear and join me in the praise of the Lord. As a result of seeking to keep His praise my focus, He will deliver me from ALL my fears.

APPLICATION

I must keep the focus of my conversation the praise of the Lord. As I keep His praises foremost in my mind and heart and word, He inhabits my praise and His Peace is my portion.

PRAYER

Lord, help me keep my heart, mind and words focused on Your goodness. I believe that You are faithful to deliver me from ALL my fears. Amen

His Promises Will Never Fail

SCRIPTURE

Jeremiah 33:25 – 26 This is what the LORD says: 'If I have not established my covenant with day and night and the fixed laws of heaven and earth, then I will reject the descendants of Jacob and David my servant and will not choose one of his sons to rule over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. For I will restore their fortunes and have compassion on them.'

OBSERVATION

Jeremiah was in jail and he was listening to God tell him why things were happening around him. Judah and Jerusalem were at war. Everything around him was being destroyed. Yet in all of that God tells Jeremiah what will happen. He asks Jeremiah to not give up and to not give in, but trust him because his promises are true and unfailing.
At the end of the chapter God tells him that he will keep his promises until day and night cease to work in unison. If you think about it, when will night and day cease to stop working. I would think that that wouldn't happen until something catastrophic happens, or until God decides for his creation to stop working. Then and only then will his promises cease to be true.

APPLICATION

When times seem overwhelming, when situations seem unable to be solved, when life is hitting you on the left and right, when divorce is staring you in the face, when you or your children are sick, when friends leave you, when your family disowns you, when you are trying to do all you can but at the end of the day nothing seems to go right, we need to remember that God's promises, for healing, salvation for your family, provision, deliverance, protection, etc., etc., will not cease to be true until the earth ceases to operate the way God designed it. there will always be a way out, always be something taht happens that can only be explained by the hand of God.

PRAYER

God, even though I always try to do everything on my own and it seems that it takes me getting to the point where I can't physically or spiritually do it, I know that you will provide for all that I need, you will answer my prayers for salvation and protection for my family, you will be my God until you send your Son back. Help me to, even thou I am in the middle of the struggle, remember your promises and draw my strength from your strength.

That IS What We Are!!!

SCRIPTURE
1 John 3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!


OBSERVATION
Again, I love these verses. We have been given a great compliment; a huge favor of the Lord! He calls us "children of God". Does it get any better than that? It speaks to His great love and regard for us. It speaks to His generosity towards us. And then John goes on to declare 'that is what we are'. What's also interesting to me is that these two verses have exclamation marks. They're not used extensively in the Bible so this tells me that John is adament about these two statements.


APPLICATION
My take away is that I am to fully realize that I am a highly regarded child of God. That I am blessed by an Almighty Father. That I am to act like a princess of the Highest King. I should claim my heritage and all the power and love that comes with it. Each day should begin and end with this awareness.

PRAYER
Thank you, Father, for this gift! I want to always remember the love and wonder of my Father. I want to claim all that goes with the title of 'child of God'. Let me live up to that humbling and beautiful title. Amen.

Blessings and Praises

SCRIPTURE
Psalm 67:1-4 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. May the people praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth.


OBSERVATION
The psalmist asks for God's blessings for His people. They pray, in turn, that because of the people's praises to God, the nations see and praise Him as well. They see that God provides for his people and that He is a just and guiding God.


APPLICATION
The blessings of God are many, from material to emotional to spiritual. To me, one of the greatest gifts we have is hope - hope that comes from a loving Father who is with us through good and bad times . . . hope that allows us to endure daily struggles of life and relationships . . . and a hope that we have a perfect eternity ahead of us through the price paid by Jesus. How do people make it through life without hope? I don't want to know.

PRAYER
I pray that people who do not know Jesus will see hope demonstrated in my life. Father, let me model reliance and hope in You to my children, my friends, and all those around me. Amen.

Three Important Reminders

SCRIPTURE
Psalm 105:1-4 Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.


OBSERVATION
In just four verses, the psalmist reminds to do so many things regarding our Lord, I feel that I'm falling short. Thank Him. Call on Him. Speak to others about Him. Sing to and praise Him. Tell. Rejoice. Rely on the Lord's strength, seek His face always. Alot of reminders! But if I group them, I come up with 3: PRAISE, RELY UPON and TELL OTHERS. The psalmist gives us several examples of how we can do these three things. But, looking at the three main reminders - it sums it all up for me . . . praise Him, rely upon Him, tell others about Him.


APPLICATION
Am I doing all that I can each day to accomplish these three things? Am I spending enough time each day praising my Lord? Am I relying upon Him with ALL things? Or do I lean on my own strength and understanding? And, finally, am I doing all He has called me to do to tell others about the amazing God I serve? Daily reminders (in His Word) can do alot to keep us on track.

PRAYER
Lord, keep me on track. Keep putting reminders before me that you are a God worthy of praise, omnipotent so as to be relied upon with all things, and certainly worthy of telling others. Thank you for your Word. Amen.

By Believing, Life in His Name

SCRIPTURE
John 20:30-31 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.


OBSERVATION
I love these verses because they tell so much in just two sentences. First, we're told that the book of John tells only some of the miraculous signs are included and that not all are recorded. Verse 31 then tells us that these words are written for us to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and therefore have life everlasting.


APPLICATION
This tells me that God included enough, but not everything, in His Word to convince all of us of truth. It also points me toward blind faith - in not only what is written, but in what I know in my heart to be true.

PRAYER
Lord, let me continue to draw and learn from Your Word, but continue to remind me that You have given us Your Holy Spirit to lead us to the truth. Please help me to become less proof-led and more Spirit-led. Amen.

Does God Still Speak Today?

SCRIPTURE
(John 16:13) "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come."


OBSERVATION
Jesus spends this discourse telling His disciples that He is about to die. They do not have to fear because the Spirit of God will come and comfort them and lead them by speaking the heart of God to them. God speaks to us today through His Holy Spirit. The question is, do we really want to hear Him?


APPLICATION
Jesus said the Spirit will only say to us what He has heard the Father say. Paul in I Corinthians 6:17 says that when we join ourselves to Jesus we become one spirit with Him. His spirit is united with our spirit and His spirit speaks what God is saying and where He is leading. Are you listening to your spirit?

PRAYER
Lord, I know Your spirit desires to commune with my spirit, but I often restrict the communication by focusing on worldly distractions. Keep my eyes focused on You, so I can hear Your voice.

And it was Going So Well!

SCRIPTURE
(John 15:1&2) "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit."


OBSERVATION
Hearers of the Word of God that do not bear fruit will not be allowed to remain a part of the true vine. Jesus says in this passage that God will cut them off and discard them. Those who are bearing fruit will go through times of limitation or pruning, for the purpose of being more effective for the kingdom of God.


APPLICATION
When things are hard or difficult in life experiences, God is most likely pruning you or preparing you for the future harvest. To develop a discontent disposition or a bitter heart will require more pruning to get rid of the non-productive growth. We can rejoice in momentary light affliction because we know it is producing eternal glory.

PRAYER
Have Your way Lord in my life. I submit to Your molding and shaping of my life so that You might be glorified. I want to bear fruit in the most productive way that you see fit.

You Want Me to do What?

SCRIPTURE
(John 14:12) "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father."


OBSERVATION
There are instances when Jesus raised the dead, worked physical healings, and defied the laws of nature. He says that if we believe in Him and the works that He did, then we will be able to do even greater things. The key is belief in Him and to know the source from which He was able to do what he did.


APPLICATION
When I worry because things become tight with my finances, or I doubt God's ability to work through me to achieve great things, what I am saying is that I question the validity of who Jesus said He was. Mark 9 says all things are possible to him that believes. I do not have to worry about my family, my finances, or my calling because God is in control of it all and He has given me His authority through Christ Jesus.

PRAYER
God, I do not want to doubt the power and authority of Your Son. Help me to become more aware of the authority that You have given me through Jesus, and to act upon it.

Why Should I have to Do That?

SCRIPTURE
(John 13:4&5) "Jesus rose from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself about. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded."

OBSERVATION
Jesus, the manifest power and earthly form of God, humbles Himself and washes the dirty feet of His disciples. Jesus was symbolically acting out His mission on earth: to wash away the dirt or sins in our lives so that we can have full access to a Holy God. He models for us an attitude He would like displayed: humility and a concern for the well-being of others.


APPLICATION
In the kingdom of God, some of the tasks that are needed are basic and dirty. Some times we may think they are beneath us. The servant is not above his master. When we are tempted to ask, "why should I have to do that," it is because Jesus did it before us and asks us to have the same servants heart.

PRAYER
God, I am willing to do whatever You ask. Keep my heart pure and my motivations right before You.

Are You Afraid of the Dark? You Should Be!

SCRIPTURE
(John 12:46) "I have come as light into the world, that everyone who believes in me may not remain in darkness."


OBSERVATION
Jesus is informing the crowds that He is the light of God sent to expose and lead them out of darkness. His purpose is not to judge but to redeem. We each have a free will to chose to follow the light or remain in the darkness. Darkness is seperation from God, a place of torment, loneliness and regret. A place to be afraid of.


APPLICATION
In Matthew chapter 5, Christ says that we are now the light of the world, and that we should let our light shine in such a way that people will see our good works that glorify God. Light has to be generated from a source. Jesus is the light and the source of our light. If we share Jesus, that light shines brightly. Fear or intimidation from man seeks to dampen the light. Don't fear man, but fear the judgement (imposed darkness and seperation) of an eternal God.
PRAYER
God, let your light shine in me that people may see Your good works and redemtive power.

SCRIPTURE

Jesus wept.

John 11:35

OBSERVATION

In the verses leading up to verse 35, Jesus continues to express his intention to raise Lazarus from the dead.  Those around him don't understand what he is going to do, but Jesus obviously does.  In spite of this, Jesus is moved with great emotion (v. 33) by the mourning of Mary, Martha and the others.  He cries upon seeing the body of Lazarus.  Jesus knows that he is going to move in a miraculous way, but he is still emotionally connected to the event.

APPLICATION
This verse seems to teach us that Jesus is full of great emotion stirred by love.  He doesn't simply look at the world with foreknowledge, knowing with confidence how things will turn out.  He is emotionally involved.  Like us, Jesus has emotions and feelings.  He understands our emotions.  In fact, he created them.  He can sympathize with us in the midst of difficulty, stress and sadness.  How cool is that!

PRAYER
Jesus, I praise you for your 'realness'.  That you aren't an impersonal, distant God.  You are close, personal and relationally connected to your creation.

Lost Sheep

SCRIPTURE
"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me."

John 10:14

OBSERVATION
This is one of the great "I am" passages in John.  Here, Jesus is stating that he is the good shepherd.  There is a natural inclination to recall Psalm 23 while hearing the words of Jesus.  In Psalm 23, God is called a shepherd, and indeed a good shepherd.  He leads his sheep in the midst of darkness and threat.  He leads the sheep through the valley to quiet waters and green pastures.  He provides for all the needs of his sheep.  Because of the presence of the shepherd, the sheep have no need for worry or fear.  They have great faith in the love of their shepherd, and his ability to protect them.  Jesus says that he is the good shepherd, that he will lead us to quiet waters and green pastures.  He will restore our soul.

APPLICATION
I need to remember that I am a sheep.  That I need to follow.  That I am weak and fallible and dependent.  Left to myself, I am lost and lonely.  However, Jesus extends an invitation to become my shepherd.  He expresses his desire to lead and love.  All I have to do is accept the invitation and begin to follow.

PRAYER
Jesus, you are the Good Shepherd.  When I follow you, you lead me to places of peace and joy and provision.  Forgive me for those times when I don't follow.  Help me to follow you more fervently and earnestly.  

God in a Box

SCRIPTURE

Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath."

John 9:16

OBSERVATION
The Pharisees missed it. They missed the Messiah. They were so caught up in keeping their religion in a nice box with neat categories that they missed connecting with the Son of God. Their expectations for God's move were defined by lists and rules, rather than an organic relationship with the living God. They refused to push past their assumptions about the nature of God. They allowed pride in their religious knowledge hinder their understanding of God. As a result, they missed the most profound expression of God on earth.

APPLICATION
I'm afraid that I have Pharisaical tendencies. Like the Pharisees, I sometimes place God in a box and limit His action to my preconceived notions of who He is and how He moves. We obviously need to have notions and knowledge of who God is, otherwise, anything might become God. However, we can also become so cautious with when, why and how God works that we miss it when He shows up because he doesn't fit in our neat, comfortable box. I want to be surprised by God. I want to allow my worldview to stretch beyond my past experiences and see God in fresh ways. I want to loose my Pharisaical tendencies.

PRAYER
Father, surprise me. Stretch my conception of you so that I may know you more fully. Soften my heart and open my mind to further comprehend your character.

Becoming a Student

SCRIPTURE
"You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings."

John 8:31

OBSERVATION
A disciple is a student. Someone who sits at the feet of another in order to learn how to do something. If you want to learn Tae Kwon Do, you must become a disciple or student of an expert in the Korean martial art. And, if you want to be successful, you must obey the teachings of your instructor. The same is true of our spiritual life with Jesus. We become disciples of Jesus because he lived fully in the kingdom of God. As Christians, we too are called to live fully in God's kingdom. Too often, we live on the border, with one foot in the kingdom of the world and one foot in the kingdom of God. Sometimes, we move entirely out of God's kingdom an plant our feet fully in the world. Jesus teaches us how to move into God's kingdom. How to stay there. How to live there. And to do this, we must obey his teachings. We must do what he tells us to do.

APPLICATION

How frequently do I straddle the border? How often do I allow my life to be compartmentalized, with part of me pursuing things of this world while other parts pursue God. I am called to pursue God with all of me. All my thoughts, my actions, my will, my words... In order for this to happen, I have to become serious about being a disciple of Jesus Christ! Just as a half-hearted Tae Kwon Do student will never move beyond basic martial arts, the half-hearted disciple of Jesus Christ will never experience the fullness of God's kingdom. It's time to give up half-hearted Christianity and fully pursue obedience to my Lord and Savior.

PRAYER
Jesus, forgive me for being a half-hearted disciple. Help me to fully embrace my call to be your disciple.

SCRIPTURE
On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."  By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.  Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

John 7:37-39

OBSERVATION
During the Feast of the Tabernacle, Jesus makes this interesting claim.  He says that anyone can come to him and drink and that streams of living water will flow from those that believe in him.  I can only attempt to image what those who were listening to Jesus were thinking.  What does he mean?  How can my thirst be quenched by this man?  What is living water?  How can living water flow from me?  While they did not fully understand the promise given, one thing was clear, Jesus was central.

APPLICATION
Water is key for life.  Everything that lives requires it.  And Jesus makes a claim that he, like water, is needed.  Jesus tells us that he is central to life.  But he doesn't leave it there,  he invites us to come and receive from him.  To drink of the "living water."  What a great reminder!  Jesus is constantly inviting us to come to him, the one thing that is truly needed.

PRAYER
Jesus, you are the one thing that is needed.  Help me to remember this.  Help me to pursue you.  Give me a sensitivity to the spiritual thirst within.  Help me to look to you to quench that thirst!