December 30 :: Zechariah 13-14; Revelation 21

December 29 :: Zechariah 9-12; Revelation 20

I have been finding the book of Revelation really interesting/informative to read. There are so many small details in here about particulars of the end times and I have forgotten many, confused some, or perhaps just misunderstood in the past. So, it's interesting to note here (and correct me if I'm understanding this wrong) that only the saints who are beheaded during the rule of the beast will be brought back to life for the first resurrection to reign for the thousand years. I didn't know that!

{Revelation 20:4-5}

And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 

And here there are many things differentiated between, which often come to be seen as one in the same, such as "Hades," "death," and "the lake of fire," which is hell. So Hades is different than death and death is different than the lake of fire, for both Hades and death will be thrown into the lake of fire. Interesting huh?

{Revelation 20:12-14}

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.

December 28 :: Zechariah 5-8; Revelation 19

{Revelation 19:4}

The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: “Amen, Hallelujah!” 

Hallelujah: Hebrew for "Praise God" (written in picture)

Amen: Hebrew root implies "firmness, solidity, and sureness" - it can be used as a form of agreement

{Revelation 19:11-16}

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: 

   KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. 

December 27 :: Zechariah 1-4; Revelation 18

December 26 :: Haggai; Revelation 17

Recently, some friends and I have been greatly encouraged by this scripture from Hebrews:

“Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. 

{Hebrews 12:26-27}

The message it has sent to us is that sometimes things "shake" in our lives...and that's not a bad thing. What I mean by "shake" is, not everything in your life is going smoothly, the circumstances and situations around you are not easy to handle and require a lot of trust in God and a lot of prayer. So as we have felt our lives "shaken" recently, by way of difficult circumstances, we have also hoped in our Savior. We have hoped that the reason for these circumstances have actually been a way of refining us...taking out all the stuff that is "shakeable"...removing that which hinders or distracts us from our divine purposes on earth given by God...and leaving only that in our lives and consequently our hearts, which will be divinely used for His purposes and His kingdom!

In Haggai, today, we come across two more verses in which God is "shaking" the heavens and the earth. What do you think He is saying by way of these?

"This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD Almighty."

{Haggai 2:6-7}

...I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms.

{Haggai 2:21b-22a} 

December 25 :: Zephaniah; Revelation 16

{Revelation 16:15}

“Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”

Let us be like this person, watching...

December 24 :: Habakkuk; Revelation 15

December 23 :: Nahum; Revelation 14

December 22 :: Micah 6-7; Revelation 13

Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. And it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 

{Revelation 13:11-14}

Why do you think evil is given authority on earth?

December 21 :: Micah 4-5; Revelation 12

December 20 :: Micah 1-3; Revelation 11

{Revelation 11:3-13}

And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want. 

 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth. 

 But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on. 

 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. 

Thought this was a great graphic from Mars Hill: 

 

December 19 :: Jonah; Revelation 10

Jonah 2

 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. He said:

   “In my distress I called to the LORD,
   and he answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,
   and you listened to my cry. 

You hurled me into the depths,
   into the very heart of the seas,
   and the currents swirled about me;
all your waves and breakers
   swept over me.
I said, ‘I have been banished
   from your sight;
yet I will look again
   toward your holy temple.’
The engulfing waters threatened me,
   the deep surrounded me;
   seaweed was wrapped around my head.
To the roots of the mountains I sank down;
   the earth beneath barred me in forever.
But you, LORD my God,
   brought my life up from the pit.

 “When my life was ebbing away,
   I remembered you, LORD,
and my prayer rose to you,
   to your holy temple.

 “Those who cling to worthless idols
   turn away from God’s love for them.
But I, with shouts of grateful praise,
   will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
   I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the LORD.’” 

{Psalm 42:7}

Deep calls to deep
   in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
   have swept over me.

December 18 :: Obadiah; Revelation 9

A glimpse of how terrible those last days will be {Revelation 9:3-6}:

"And out of the smoke locusts came down on the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were not allowed to kill them but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes. During those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them."

But even then in the time of God's righteous judgment - people will not turn to Him {Revelation 9:20-21}:

"The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts."

December 17 :: Amos 7-9; Revelation 8

December 16 :: Amos 4-6; Revelation 7

{Revelation 7:1-4}

After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.

It is interesting to me how often angels are at hand in the workings of God...

December 15 :: Amos 1-3; Revelation 6

December 14 :: Joel; Revelation 5

{Revelation 5:6-9a}

"Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song..." 

What exactly do you think it means when this scripture says "the seven spirits of God?" I'm unfamiliar with God as having seven spirits - any thoughts?

December 13 :: Hosea 12-14; Revelation 4

{Hosea 14} This makes for a great summary of the gospel:

Repentance to Bring Blessing

Return, Israel, to the LORD your God.
   Your sins have been your downfall! 

Take words with you
   and return to the LORD.
Say to him:
   “Forgive all our sins
and receive us graciously,
   that we may offer the fruit of our lips.

Assyria cannot save us;
   we will not mount warhorses.
We will never again say ‘Our gods’
   to what our own hands have made,
   for in you the fatherless find compassion.”

“I will heal their waywardness
   and love them freely,
   for my anger has turned away from them.
I will be like the dew to Israel;
   he will blossom like a lily.
Like a cedar of Lebanon
   he will send down his roots;
 his young shoots will grow.
His splendor will be like an olive tree,
   his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon. 

People will dwell again in his shade;
   they will flourish like the grain,
they will blossom like the vine—
   Israel’s fame will be like the wine of Lebanon. 

Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols?
   I will answer him and care for him.
I am like a flourishing juniper;
   your fruitfulness comes from me.”

Who is wise? Let them realize these things.
   Who is discerning? Let them understand.
The ways of the LORD are right;
   the righteous walk in them,
   but the rebellious stumble in them. 

And in light of Revelation 4 :)

December 12 :: Hosea 9-11; Revelation 3

And God says...

{Revelation 3:1-3}

I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

{Revelation 3:9}

I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.

{Revelation 3:15-16}

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

{Revelation 3:19-20}

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 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 that person, and they with me. 

December 11 :: Hosea 5-8; Revelation 2

Wow, as I read the book of Revelation, I am just amazed at God. In chapter one, God comes to John and speaks to him with a loud voice like a trumpet {rev 1:11}. God proceeds to put His right hand on John while John lies at His feet in such a way that he almost looks dead {rev 1:17}. Here is something that popped out to me in chapter two:

"Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first."

{rev 2:4-5}

God here affirms the Church in Ephesus of the things they're doing well, but also explains what He needs them to be doing differently. He reminds them to not forget their first love...Him. How gracious is the Maker of heaven and earth to remind us of this over and again? Come. Sit down and delight in your Maker, tell Him all your burdens, ask for His forgiveness and help. Come.

December 10 :: Hosea 1-4; Revelation 1

{Revelation 1:12-16}

This book has been cited to having been written anytime between 60 and 90 A.D.

I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. 

Does this remind you a bit of what we just read in Daniel...?

{Daniel 10:4-6}

Written around 550 B.C. during Babylonian captivity.

On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like topaz, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude. 

Resource: Biblical Timeline 

December 9 :: Daniel 11-12; Jude

December 8 :: Daniel 8-10; 3 John

While reading Daniel 8-10, you'll find lots of visions from the Lord to good 'ole Danny boy. I never realized this before, but Daniel's visions are actually quite intense in the most experiential use of the term. Not only was his physical body involved, but also extreme emotions. It's very interesting! The visions consequently do things like terrify Daniel and make him fall prostrate (8:17, 10:7). The visions send Daniel into deep sleeps (8:18, 10:9), make him sick (8:27), and cause him to mourn (10:2). But even in his weakness during these visions, God strengthens him even physically (10:18).

But despite all the cool and amazing gifts God gave Daniel, Daniel remained humble, knowing that these things are only given to him through God's choice and for His purposes. Daniel prays on behalf of Israel in this humility:

"Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy."

{Daniel 9:18}

December 7 :: Daniel 5-7; 2 John

{Daniel 6:13-2}

Daniel in the Den of Lions

 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him. 

 Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.” 

 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” 

 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep. 

 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” 

 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.” 

 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. 

 At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. 

 Painting by :: Henry Ossawa Tanner

December 6 :: Daniel 3-4; 1 John 5

During the peak of Nebuchadnezzar's reign of Babylon, the Lord God of Israel gave him a dream. Only Daniel could interpret the dream for him. You can read the dream here if you'd like. Wow.

 

{Daniel 4:33-37}

 "Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.

 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.

   His dominion is an eternal dominion;
   his kingdom endures from generation to generation.
All the peoples of the earth
   are regarded as nothing.
He does as he pleases
   with the powers of heaven
   and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand
   or say to him: “What have you done?”

 At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble."

December 5 :: Daniel 1-2; 1 John 4

Jim LePage is an awesome artist - week by week, he designs a modern piece of artwork as a cover to each book of the bible. It's...pretty darn cool. Check out his notes on Daniel, they make for an interesting summary :)

To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. 

{Daniel 1:17}

During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said:

   “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
   wisdom and power are his.
He changes times and seasons;
   he deposes kings and raises up others.
He gives wisdom to the wise
   and knowledge to the discerning.
He reveals deep and hidden things;
   he knows what lies in darkness,
   and light dwells with him.
I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors:
   You have given me wisdom and power,
you have made known to me what we asked of you,
   you have made known to us the dream of the king.” 

{Daniel 2:19-23}

As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than anyone else alive, but so that Your Majesty may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind.

 “Your Majesty looked, and there before you stood a large statue—an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth. 

{Daniel 2:30-35}

Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.” 

{Daniel 2:46-47}

December 4 :: Ezekiel 47-48; 1 John 3

{1 John 3:18-22}

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

This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him."

Did you know that God is greater than even your heart? He knows exactly what's going on in it, even when we don't. And thus we can set our hearts to rest in His presence...for He is greater than them all.

December 3 :: Ezekiel 45-46; 1 John 2

Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them. 

{1 John 2:9-11}

I don't know about you, but if I heard this everyday, it would not be too much. Being in the light (aka being in relationship with God) means that I love people...all the time? Well...if I'm walking in the light (aka walking next to God in my daily life, listening to what He says and obeying such)...then...yes! WOW. That's huge. Can I get an amen? This is how I'd like to go about my daying...saying "hello God..."

December 2 :: Ezekiel 42-44; 1 John 1

 

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. 

{1 John 1:8-10}

Sometimes I forget about this simple, humble truth: that a lot of the time, I sin, out of pride - out of ignorance - out of whatever, and I forget to confess. I harbor on someone or something and forget that the reason I'm harboring in the first place is because I don't for the most part have a very deep insight into that person or situation. Personally, sometimes it's pretty nice to be reminded of the simple truth that we all sin and that we need to confess it. God is faithful. God is just to forgive. And sometimes - He'll even change your heart entirely :)

December 1 :: Ezekiel 40-41; 2 Peter 3

2 Peter 3:17-18

"Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."

Now just how do you grow in grace? Share your thoughts...

November 30 :: Ezekiel 37-39; 2 Peter 2

{Ezekiel 37:1-14}

The Valley of Dry Bones

"The hand of the LORD was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

   

I said, “Sovereign LORD, you alone know.”

Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’” enter you, and you will come to life.

So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.

Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army. 

Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.’” 

Not only does this passage refer to the literal resurrection of the whole of Israel - God's people - those who fall asleep in Him...but it also reminds me a lot of the way we spiritually feel completely stripped down to nothingness sometimes. Have you ever "hit the bottom" at any point in your life, where you really can't explain how you were able to survive except by the hand of God? I know I have been to a place spiritually where I would accurately be able to describe as bones in a desert, lifeless - and if there was to be any hope, it was going to have to come from the powerful hand of God. 

I love the way Ezekiel responded to God's question when God pretty much said, 'Is this creature beyond repair?' or 'Is death too much even for me to heal?' Ezekiel says in a way, 'You are God, only You really know.' Next time you believe something or someone is beyond repair, remember Ezekiel's response to God and then just watch God work! I dare you.

November 29 :: Ezekiel 35-36; 2 Peter 1

Grow

 

Ezekiel 36:25-27

I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 

And because the Lord has done this for you...

 2 Peter 1:5-8

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective  and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

November 28 :: Ezekiel 33-34; 1 Peter 5

 

Hey you, believer...do you know there is someone, somewhere out there, who is going through what you are going through right now? You better believe it - it's quite encouraging really. So humble yourself and give yourself over to the Lord (!):

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings."

{1 Peter 5:6-9}

November 27 :: Ezekiel 30-32; 1 Peter 4

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

{1 Peter 4:8}

Have you suffered for the name of Christ? I am reading a book right now called "Don't Waste Your Life" by John Piper. A great focus of it seems to be about suffering...and counting your trials, especially in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ on the cross...as good, because they draw you nearer to Him.

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

{1 Peter 4:12-16}

November 26 :: Ezekiel 27-29; 1 Peter 3

A good friend from New Zealand sent me this scripture last year in December when we were talking about how much of a struggle it is for women to find their worth in the Lord and not in outward appearance. It is so amazing to think that God has rescued us even from the belief that we need to look good to the world, to look like everyone else...

1 Peter 3:4-6

Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

 

November 25 :: Ezekiel 24-26; 1 Peter 2

1 Peter 2:23-24 - The Message

"They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you're named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls."

November 24 :: Ezekiel 22-23; 1 Peter 1

November 23 :: Ezekiel 20-21; James 5

November 21 :: Ezekiel 16-17; James 3

"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."

{James 3:13-18}

November 22 :: Ezekiel 18-19; James 4

November 20 :: Ezekiel 14-15; James 2

November 19 :: Ezekiel 11-13; James 1

Ezekiel 11:19

I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.

 

November 17 :: Ezekiel 5-7; Hebrews 12

“Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith.”  

{Hebrews 12:1-2}