With the end of the year so comes the end of Revelation. It is not an easy book of the Bible but it is a jolting reminder to make sure your name is in the book of life. Read the Holy Bible for instructions!

Revelation 20:15

And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Bible Gateway link: Revelation 20:15 (ESV)

This is what is required. We can do this.

Micah 6:8

He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?
Bible Gateway link: Micah 6:8 (NKJV)

For so long I felt unworthy, but time is teaching me that God loves me. I no longer question why, but it still takes great strides of faith for me to believe it's true.

Psalm 144:3-4
Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?
Man is like a breath; His days are like a passing shadow.
Bible Gateway link: Psalm 144:3-4

It is a book full of mysterious things. But here is one thing in Revelation that is not mysterious: In red letters, "Fear not..."

Revelation 1:17

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last,
Bible Gateway link: Revelation 1:17 (ESV)

Truth seems so fleeting right now. It is not. As this blessing assures us believers, truth will be with us forever.

2 John 1:2-3
because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:
Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love.
Bible Gateway link: 2 John 1:2-3 (ESV)

With all the noise out there in the world, we need reassurance of the essential truth. Thank you Saint John, as always.

1 John 2:25
And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.
Bible Gateway link: 1 John 2:25 (ESV)

We are about to celebrate the fulfillment of this prophecy. Enjoy Advent!

Daniel 7:13-14
“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.
And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
Bible Gateway link: Daniel 7:13-14

It is remarkable how often sheep appear in the Bible and how often Jesus, descendant of David, appears to shepherd us. Thank you God, we badly need shepherding.

Ezekiel 34:22-24

I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep.
And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd.
And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken.
Bible Gateway link: Ezekiel 24:22-24 (ESV)

We will always falter in our faithfulness but He never does. However, we can stir up one another, and we should.

Hebrews 10:23-24
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
Bible Gateway Link: Hebrews 10:23-24 (ESV)

The guy who wrote Hebrews was pretty good with word pictures. He transforms the Holy Bible from a dusty book on your shelf to the living, piercing, discerning Christ. It is so exciting!

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Bible Gateway link: Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)

Are you feeling as anxious as I am? Prayer is available and a ready solace. Here is a good one for today. It is a good one any day.

Psalm 119:132-133
Look upon me and be merciful to me, As Your custom is toward those who love Your name.
Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me.
Bible Gateway link: Psalm 119:132-133 (NKJV)

I do think these are times of difficulty and these descriptions fit so well the people running for President. They each have good qualities too, but the advice to avoid such people is very sound. Would that we could.

2 Timothy 3:1-5
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.
For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,
treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
Bible Gateway link: 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (ESV)

Revelations about my past work have recently made me feel a fool for innocently (naively?) trying to do the right things for the right reasons. The verse below reminds me who taught me those precepts and where I would be without them.

Psalm 119:92-94

If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.
I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life.
I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts.
Bible Gateway link: Psalm 119:92-94 (ESV)

I can think of a couple of really good examples of this currently in the news.

1 Timothy 6:9

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
Bible Gateway link: 1 Timothy 6:9 (ESV)

I'm so grateful I have a faithful leader in this battle. I certainly can't fight it on my own. I've tried, it ends in tears.

2 Thessalonians 3:3
But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.
Bible Gateway link: 2 Thessalonians 3:3 (ESV)

We are so good at lying to ourselves and then believing the lies to the point of truth. The active work it takes to be honest with ourselves is God's work. And doing God's work is the only thing that pays off.

Jeremiah 17:9-10

“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.
Bible Gateway link: Jeremiah 17:9-10 (NKJV)

I rejoice that I am a tiny piece of dust in the sand that cushions the building blocks that are held together by the cornerstone, Christ. This is the Lord's doing.

Psalm 118:21-24

I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Bible Gateway link: Psalm 118-21-24 (ESV)

Yes He has and I am eternally grateful.

Colossians 1:13
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
Bible Gateway link: Colossians 1:13 (ESV)

It is so easy to get into a spiral of ugly thinking. You have to stop it before it takes over your life. Practice Paul's advice to the Philippians it will make your life so much better.

Philippians 4:8-9

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Bible Gateway Link: Philippians 4:8-9 (ESV)

With our current sensibilities some recoil in horror at this simple advice. Current sensibilities be damned. Follow this advice, it works.

Ephesians 5:33
However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Bible Gateway Link: Ephesians 5:33 (ESV) 

Sometimes I would like to plunge into the darkness and just wallow there. I can't do it though, I know there is light, I can't un-know it.

Isaiah 50:10

Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.
Bible Gateway link: Isaiah 50:10 (ESV)

I find it pretty easy to deceive myself. Fortunately, the more I study the Holy Bible, the harder it gets. Thank God, one of the things I do best is not giving up.

Galatians 6:7-9
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Bible Gateway link: Galatians 6:7-9 (ESV)

The harder you try to run your own life the weaker you get. Ask for some divine help and everything gets easier.

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

I have an endless supply of tears and I have an endless supply of grace. My tears never last, but my salvation is for eternity.

Isaiah 25:8-9

He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.

It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

Bible Gateway link: Isaiah 25:8-9 (ESV)

Hungry?

Psalm 107:8-9
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!
For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
Bible Gateway link: Psalm 107: 8-9 (ESV)

Omnipotence. He created the world, and filled it with light. Then He created a path for us to eternity. It makes sense to me.

2 Corinthians 4:6

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Bible Gateway link: 2 Corinthians 4:6

Think of the things that hem us in, hold us back, keep us from joy. They are usually of our own making, or at least a result of the choices we make. God has something better in mind for us.

2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
Bible Gateway link: 2 Corinthians 3:17 (ESV)

I was waived into this club by grace. Sometimes the dues seem high, but I'm not complaining, the alternative is unthinkable.

Isaiah 9:2
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
Bible Gateway link: Isaiah 9:2 (ESV)

My focus fades in and out, and at times my understanding is so very dim, but then I have the promise of this verse. It encourages me.

1 Corinthians 13:12

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
Bible Gateway link: 1 Corinthians 13:12 (ESV)

The original anti-aging strategy.

Psalm 103:1-5
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Bible Gateway link: Psalm 103:1-5 (ESV)

Ah yes, this is familiar.

Proverbs 23:29-30
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?
Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine.
Bible Gateway link: Proverbs 23:29-30 (ESV)

Who do we think we are? Job discovers the obvious answer when God shows up and starts asking questions. God is God and we don't have a clue.

Job 38:3-5

Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.
Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?
Bible Gateway link: Job 38:3-5 (ESV)

There is certainly no place for self-loathing in this equation.

1 Corinthians 3:16
Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
Bible Gateway link:1 Corinthians 3:16 (ESV)

Just when you think you have it figured out, you find it is the exact opposite of what you thought. The foolish/wise, strong/weak tension is a recurring theme in the Bible. Clearly God is trying to get through to us.

1 Corinthians 1:27
But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;
Bible Gateway link: 1 Corinthians 1:27 (ESV)

This is a great image and an even better blessing. Thanks Paul.

Romans 16:20

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Bible Gateway link: Romans 16:20 (ESV)

I forget to be grateful, I forget to pray, I forget that I am not in charge of my own life. But then I am reminded in those manifold moments of the world's exquisite beauty what Job describes here.

Job 26:14
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways, And how small a whisper we hear of Him! But the thunder of His power who can understand?”
Bible Gateway link: Job 26:14 (NKJV)

This is why having a good marriage is so critical. When one of you is falling apart, the other can provide perspective.

Job 2:9-10
Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!”

But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
Bible Gateway link: Job 2:9-10 (NKJV)

So something you have done is exposed and your reputation is ruined, your life's work is forever stained. Oh by the way, you get $40 million to go away in disgrace. Hmmm. I would take honor and God's favor every time.

Proverbs 22:1
A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, 
Loving favor rather than silver and gold.
Bible Gateway link: Proverbs 22:1 (NKJV)

I don't know what the plan is, but I'll take encouragement from someone who knows God is faithful.

Acts 27:25
Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.
Bible Gateway link: Acts 27:25 (NKJV)

The arduous journey of life! If only we stopped along the way and followed Ezra's example here. Instead we forge ahead without a prayer of finding the right way.

Ezra 8:21
Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions.
Bible Gateway link: Ezra 8::21 (NKJV)

Having a good day? I find when I pray on the good days, my days of trouble are fewer. He answers either way.

Psalm 86:7
In the day of my trouble I will call upon You,
For You will answer me.
Bible Gateway link: Psalm 86:7 (NKJV)

It is madness out there. Which is why the Psalmist offers us this gift: a promise that supersedes the daily details of our fallen world.

Psalm 85:8-13
I will hear what God the Lord will speak,
For He will speak peace
To His people and to His saints;
But let them not turn back to folly.
Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him,
That glory may dwell in our land.

Mercy and truth have met together;
Righteousness and peace have kissed.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
And righteousness shall look down from heaven.
Yes, the Lord will give what is good;
And our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness will go before Him,
And shall make His footsteps our pathway.
Bible Gateway link: Psalm 85:8-13 (NKJV)

This is what it feels like. Groping. Active, almost desperate, hands-on searching. We are all made from the same blood, we all seek the same thing. He is not far from us.

Acts 17:26-27

And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,
so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;
Bible Gateway link: Acts 17:26-27 (NKJV)

I reached a turning point in my spiritual life when I finally realized I had no idea what I was doing. Life is so much easier when I get out of the way.

Proverbs 20:24
A man's steps are from the Lord;
how then can man understand his way?
Bible Gateway link: Proverbs 20:24 (ESV)

With all the trouble we are seeing, it may be tempting to think God is losing His grip. Be reassured, He is not.

Acts 15:18

Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
Bible Gateway link: Acts 15:18 (KJV)

This is what He asks of us. God was very clear about it in this conversation with Solomon. God even sent His son to redeem us. I think He is still waiting to hear how it is going.

2 Chronicles 7:14
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.
Bible Gateway link: 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)

Here is an example of a politician getting some divine retribution. But notice, the truth goes marching on.

Acts 12:21-24
So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them.
And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!”
Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.
But the word of God grew and multiplied.
Bible Gateway link: Acts 12:21-24 (NKJV)

One day at a time I pray for wisdom.

Proverbs 20:1
Wine is a mocker,
Strong drink is a brawler,
And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
Bible Gateway link: Proverbs 20:1

The trees and fields don't frustrate themselves asking what God is up to, neither does the ocean. There is no desperate yearning to know the purpose of life. They just rejoice in what they were created to do. It is a good example to follow.

1 Chronicles 16:31-33
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
And let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
Let the sea roar, and all its fullness;
Let the field rejoice, and all that is in it.
Then the trees of the woods shall rejoice before the Lord,
For He is coming to judge the earth.
Bible Gateway link: 1 Chronicles 16:31-33 (NKJV)