I'm not very good with waking up. It's not really a battle with the blankets--more of a battle of the determination. I like to make excuses for why I don't have to get up and then I don't, and then I don't really get to talk to you at all, especially now that I'm chatting with Brazilian guys late at night.
Anyway. This is awesome. So much stuff to think about. Jesus crucified, Jesus born, Jesus as a teen staying to listen to men in the temple. God showing favor to the unlovely. God is my fortress. God is preparing the fields now for that great harvest. Soon this will all disappear. Lord, help me to do everything you need me to do. Thank you for everything.
Love,
Revelation 14-15
It's getting to the end here, isn't it?
Revelation 14:1515Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, "Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe."
O Lord, help me be aware of the ripeness of my generation, and be ready to reap wherever I find ripe souls.
Proverbs 14-15
Verse 7 reminds us to limit our talk and time with fools. Just like what we learned at the Ignite conference.
Verse 10 is true. No one can truly understand what is going on in another person's heart because You made them completely different. But you "have examined my heart and know everything about" us (Ps 139:1). So we can always share our joys and sorrows with you.
Verse 18 the simple inherit folly. If a parent is foolish, they will pass that folly to their children. Example: Mrs. Bennet and Lydia.
Besides all the "be wise" and "righteous men will prosper" treasures, here's one passage that really stuck out.
Proverbs 14:26-27 26 He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge. 27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death. You are a refuge. You are a fountain of life. If I turn to you when I'm down, you will care for me and love me and give me wisdom. Even though the Christian walk is not about what one can get from you, but what one can give to you, it's still good to know that you are a secure fortress that we can run to.
Proverbs 15:16 So often there's people that say that if one is a Christian, one will have great wealth and safety and all of that. So basically people should become a Christian for material gain. But the bible makes it clear (here and other places) that a Christian might have only a little, but they'll have God, so it's all okay. I have great wealth. Not in financial means, but in my relationship with my King.
Proverbs 15:23 A man finds joy in giving an apt reply—and how good is a timely word! I definitely know the truth of that statement. What I don't like is when I'm trying to think of an apt reply to something, but I can't. Then 2 minutes later I think of one, but it's no longer timely. That's annoying.
A Cheerful Look gives joy to the heart. For some reason, I thought of work. Give everyone I meet a Cheerful Look, even at closing time. Even if they were just rude.
Mark 15-16
15:29-30 I love how they mock You with the destroying temple thing, when you still are going to do it, the temple is being destroyed at that very moment.
Thank you Jesus. I know I can't thank you enough, feel grateful enough for what you did. I still get chills when I read about the curtain tearing. That's my favorite image of the pathway to God becoming open.
I love that there was a strong presence of women at Your crucifixion. Your compassion and acceptance of everybody really did a lot. (Wow, that's an understatement.)
Mark 16:15-16 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. It doesn't get much clearer than that. Why is this one not as popular as Matthews? Ok, I can kind of see why, but why is this one not talked about much at all? I like this. I might MEMORIZE it if I remember.
Luke 1-3
So Luke wasn't actually with Jesus from the beginning. But he's interviewed tons of people
Thought: I wonder if there were people who were baptized at the first revival (so I guess that would be... vival?) who were like, I heard about Jesus. He even came near where I lived. Some of my friends actually went to him to hear him. I didn't even consider it, and now I just have to learn about Jesus from other people. I regret not going. I know I would. If I had the chance to see Jesus, but I didn't go, and then I learned that he was the Messiah? I'd be so mad at myself!
Ah so we're starting with John.
Zechariah didn't believe the angel. The angel. Really. I need to believe. I need to be like Mary who accepted it. If I can't be like her, I need to be like the centurion who said "help me with my unbelief." I can always pray that one.
So Luke gets more into Jesus' birth and everything there. Good. SOME people *coughjohncough* like to just jump right in to Jesus' ministry. Oh. Wait. That's fine too. haha
"45Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!" Because you're not mute. oh dears.
62And they made signs to the father. He's mute. Not deaf. Oh dears.
Luke 1 is really quite remarkable. Ridiculous.
And Luke 2? Well, I've heard it so many times, I hear it in different voices from Charlie Brown to random people at church.
God is working in unexpected ways. He shows favor to women and shepherds, first. That's not the right way to do it. Women are lowly and shepherds are eww. Nope. Not to God.
I love the story of Simeon. and Anna too. It's so good and true and full of God's promise.
Jesus stays behind in Jerusalem and hangs out in the temple. The parents need to remember that this isn't their child. He's God's. But yeah, still.
I love how different occupations came up to ask John what they should do. Be honest and content, and give generously.
Jesus could trace his lineage back to God. How ridiculous is that! Nowadays, people are lucky if they know the names of their great-grandparents.
Sheesh this is long.