revelation

"...These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.

They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat.

For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Revelation 7:14-17

I am amazed by the God who can wash garments in blood. I am amazed by the God who uses a Lamb to be our shepherd. He baffles me by His kindness in choosing to reveal Himself to a wretch like me.

I have been thoroughly blessed by the reading of His Word this year. I want to urge you, as the year approaches its end, to consider your life without His Word. The Creator of the Universe has chosen to reveal Himself to us. This fact by itself is incredible. The fact that many choose to pay so little attention to it--many "Christians"--is unfathomable. How else should we expect to know the God in whom we believe?

For many, many years, I was an extremely lazy Christian. I believed in Christ as my Savior. However, I am embarrassed to admit that I did not pursue Him as my Lord. I would give him this or that area of my life, but insisted on keeping lordship over other areas. How could I have known He was worthy to be Lord over my whole life when I did not spend time seeking Him through His Word?

He has been so merciful to me.

I am unspeakably thankful that God has given me a new love for His Word. In my understanding, this desire to read and study is not something you can muster up in your flesh. The desire is a gift, nothing else. If you do not have it, beg Him for it. He promises not to turn you away.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8

Hope for Today

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord;
O Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.

If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness;
therefore you are feared.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
My soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.

O Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.
He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.
Psalm 130

I'm not sure where one is to find strength for today if not in the Lord. All other attempts to satisfy myself come up empty, void of hope. He is the One who satisfies me with His unfailing love.