the time

16 Then the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God. 17 They said, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and was, for you have taken your great power and enforced your rule. 18 The nations were enraged, but your wrath came. The time came for the dead to be judged. The time came to reward your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.” 19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the chest containing his covenant appeared in his temple. There were lightning, voices, thunder, an earthquake, and large hail. (Revelation 11:16-19, CEB)

The time came…

for the dead to be judged

for the servants to be rewarded

to destroy those who destroy the earth

So have hope and share love as you go.

Loving People. Loving God.

rule forever

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ, and he will rule forever and always.” (Revelation 11:15, CEB)

The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ, and he will rule forever and always.

Christ will rule forever. Best news ever!

Share love.

Loving People. Loving God.

Vision

Then I saw another powerful angel coming down from heaven. He was robed with a cloud, with a rainbow over his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet were like fiery pillars. 2 He held an open scroll in his hand. He put his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. 3 He called out with a loud voice like a lion roaring, and when he called out, the seven thunders raised their voices. 4 When the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and don’t write it down.” 5 Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. 6 He swore by the one who lives forever and always, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, and said, “The time is up. 7 In the days when the seventh angel blows his trumpet, God’s mysterious purpose will be accomplished, fulfilling the good news he gave to his servants the prophets.” 8 Then the voice I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the opened scroll from the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.” 9 So I went to the angel and told him to give me the scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will make you sick to your stomach, but sweet as honey in your mouth.” 10 So I took the scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. And it was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I swallowed it, it made my stomach churn. 11 I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.” (Revelation 10:1-11, CEB)

I heard the seven thunders and was ready to write about it, but was told to seal it up and not write about it.

We must remember that Revelation is a vision and sometimes those getting the vision do not include everything because we do not need to know all the details.

We get what we get and we believe even with the holes, because of the promises that were made that have been upheld we can have faith that all the promises are true and they will happen.

Loving People. Loving God.

what we want

31 Again the Jewish opposition picked up stones in order to stone him. 32 Jesus responded, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of those works do you stone me?” 33 The Jewish opposition answered, “We don’t stone you for a good work but for insulting God. You are human, yet you make yourself out to be God.” 34 Jesus replied, “Isn’t it written in your Law, I have said, you are gods? 35 Scripture calls those to whom God’s word came gods, and scripture can’t be abolished. 36 So how can you say that the one whom the Father has made holy and sent into the world insults God because he said, ‘I am God’s Son’? 37 If I don’t do the works of my Father, don’t believe me. 38 But if I do them, and you don’t believe me, believe the works so that you can know and recognize that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” 39 Again, they wanted to arrest him, but he escaped from them. 40 Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had baptized at first, and he stayed there. 41 Many people came to him. “John didn’t do any miraculous signs,” they said, “but everything John said about this man was true.” 42 Many believed in Jesus there. (John 10:31-42, CEB)

When what we want goes against what we believe we must choose to keep believing or what we want.

Sometimes what we want is so powerful that it blinds us from the truth and we will do whatever we can to keep the perceived power we have and not follow what we believe.

Those in religious power were afraid they would lose their power so they had to do something with Jesus, but the truth kept making it hard to know what to do.

The easy thing to do is follow God. even when it goes against the rules, because God gave us the rules, so it is God’s prerogative to bend or break the rules.

Loving People. Loving God.

healed

32 As Peter toured the whole region, he went to visit God’s holy people in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas who was paralyzed and had been confined to his bed for eight years. 34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and make your bed.” At once he got up. 35 Everyone who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. (Acts 9:32-35, CEB)

Do we follow God because of the miracles we see?

We may see something miraculous but that will not sustain us. It can turn our heads and get our attention, but faith comes through following when the miracles are not seen.

Peter healed people as God told him and we should too. We may not make a paralyzed man walk, but we will do wonders through God’s love.

Share love every day and help people know they are healed.

Loving People. Loving God.

end of anger

Then I saw another great and awe-inspiring sign in heaven. There were seven angels with seven plagues—and these are the last, for with them God’s anger is brought to an end. 2 Then I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mixed with fire. Those who gained victory over the beast, its image, and the number of its name were standing by the glass sea, holding harps from God. 3 They sing the song of Moses, God’s servant, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and awe-inspiring are your works, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, king of the nations. 4 Who won’t fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? You alone are holy. All nations will come and fall down in worship before you, for your acts of justice have been revealed.” (Revelation 15:1-4, CEB)

With the seven plagues, God’s anger is brought to an end!

After the victory, we will stand around the sea of glass and have harps and sing praises to God forever and ever.

Peace will come. We have faith and know the promises are true.

Share love and stand strong.

Loving People. Loving God.

Fooled

22 The time came for the Festival of Dedication in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple, walking in the covered porch named for Solomon. 24 The Jewish opposition circled around him and asked, “How long will you test our patience? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered, “I have told you, but you don’t believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you don’t believe because you don’t belong to my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice. I know them and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life. They will never die, and no one will snatch them from my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them from my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” (John 10:22-30, CEB)

I was scrolling through social media today and I found this image.

I think that goes with the reading here. The Jewish Religious Leaders who opposed Jesus wanted Jesus to plainly say who he was, and according to Jesus he had told them plainly, but they didn’t want to hear it.

They knew the truth, but refused to accept it, does that make them double fools?

Accept the truth and follow Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

worry

29 Don’t chase after what you will eat and what you will drink. Stop worrying. 30 All the nations of the world long for these things. Your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, desire his kingdom and these things will be given to you as well. 32 “Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights in giving you the kingdom. (Luke 12:29-32, CEB)

I worry about everything.

And I can come up with some interesting outcomes that will never happen. But I worry so it is what I do.

But does worry help at all? No. We shouldn’t focus on the bad that could happen, we should focus on the good that could happen and know that no matter what happens that God is with us through it all.

Don’t worry. Love.

Loving People. Loving God.

six seals

Then I looked on as the Lamb opened one of the seven seals. I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 So I looked, and there was a white horse. Its rider held a bow and was given a crown. And he went forth from victory to victory. 3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 Out came another horse, fiery red. Its rider was allowed to take peace from the earth so that people would kill each other. He was given a large sword. 5 When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” So I looked, and there was a black horse. Its rider held a balance for weighing in his hand. 6 I heard what sounded like a voice from among the four living creatures. It said, “A quart of wheat for a denarion, and three quarts of barley for a denarion, but don’t damage the olive oil and the wine.” 7 When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 So I looked, and there was a pale green horse. Its rider’s name was Death, and the Grave was following right behind. They were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill by sword, famine, disease, and the wild animals of the earth. 9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar those who had been slaughtered on account of the word of God and the witness they had given. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “Holy and true Master, how long will you wait before you pass judgment? How long before you require justice for our blood, which was shed by those who live on earth?” 11 Each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to rest a little longer, until their fellow servants and brothers and sisters—who were about to be killed as they were—were finished. 12 I looked on as he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became black as funeral clothing, and the entire moon turned red as blood. 13 The stars of the sky fell to the earth as a fig tree drops its fruit when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The sky disappeared like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place. 15 Then the kings of the earth, the officials and the generals, the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in caves and in the rocks of the mountains. 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the Lamb’s wrath! 17 The great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” 7 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth. They held back the earth’s four winds so that no wind would blow against the earth, the sea, or any tree. 2 I saw another angel coming up from the east, holding the seal of the living God. He cried out with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given the power to damage the earth and sea. 3 He said, “Don’t damage the earth, the sea, or the trees until we have put a seal on the foreheads of those who serve our God.” 4 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: one hundred forty-four thousand, sealed from every tribe of the Israelites: (Revelation 6:1—7:4, CEB)

six of the seven seals are opened.

The second seal with the fiery red horse whose rider took peace from the earth so that everyone was killing everyone else. Sounds like now. Of course, it also sounds like all time on earth.

This passage while we read it and wonder if now is the time was meant for comfort of the people it was given to, and we should see comfort in it also.

The angels on the four corners protect the earth and the people until they are marked. And when we are marked we will not be harmed.

Share love in a world that seems to always hate.

Show people there is a loving God that wants to be in a relationship with them.

Loving People. Loving God

worthy

Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one seated on the throne. It had writing on the front and the back, and it was sealed with seven seals. 2 I saw a powerful angel, who proclaimed in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or look inside it. 4 So I began to weep and weep, because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look inside it. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Look! The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has emerged victorious so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 Then, in between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders, I saw a Lamb, standing as if it had been slain. It had seven horns and seven eyes, which are God’s seven spirits, sent out into the whole earth. 7 He came forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one seated on the throne. 8 When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each held a harp and gold bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 They took up a new song, saying, “You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, because you were slain, and by your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe, language, people, and nation. 10 You made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will rule on earth.” (Revelation 5:1-10, CEB)

Who is worthy to open the seals on the scroll?

The Lamb is. The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David.

The Son of God, the one who has opened the way for all of us to be with God.

Know that the Lamb will open the scroll and has made a way for all of us to be with God.

We are all worthy because of the lamb.

Loving People. Loving God.