Rev 8:6-12 First Four Trumpets

Rev 8:6-12 NIV
As the angels sounded the first four of the seven trumpets there came destruction to a third of the
land, water, and sky. There are many theories as to how this could occur. God could directly bring destruction. It could come in the way of a meteor or some other such catastrophe. The destruction might also could come through the work of man or rather the lack of the conscientious work of man by not caring for our natural God-given resources and continual polluting of the air, land, and water.

There are many theories. The reality is; though, that we have not done a real good job caring for those things that God made us stewards of. We have not taken real good care of those things that we and future generations need to survive.

May God help us to better care for all things He has created.

God's Peace - Pr. J

John 19:28-37 Witnessing To The Truth

John 19:28-37 NIV
 "It is finished." Jesus' last words on earth were a declaration that his life; his work here on earth, was complete. He had fulfilled the prophecies of old.

There were witnesses to his death. The soldier who pierced him with a spear saw that he was already dead. There was a witness who testified that he had seen water and blood flow from the wound made by the spear. This man saw this and testified to them so that we might also believe. It is upon the testimony of this man and many others that we have the truth of what happened to Jesus. The testimony of this man has been passed down for generations so that all might believe.

I know that this testimony will not be stopped. The Spirit of God has empowered generations to speak the truth about Jesus. Even in the face of much persecution, themselves, the truth has been proclaimed to generations and will continue to be shared with those who do not know him.

I pray that you will be a witness of all that Jesus has done for you, for all humankind. Be not afraid; rejoice and share the Good News of the Kingdom through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.

God's Peace - Pr. J  

Song of Songs 6 - Can Men Really Love That Many Women?

Too many wives and concubines! Admittedly, my reading of Songs of Songs is tainted with the doubts I have toward anyone, even Solomon, having the ability to keep so many wives happy and even from killing each other out of jealousy. Sure the courting may be awesome for the one who is being courted; however, I cannot imagine what the other wives are thinking as he pursues yet another woman. How much jealously is there? And once this woman is conquered how will she fit in to the harem? Once married, will she be content to share her husband with multitudes of others?  On the other hand, once they realize that this man is just that - only a man who over indulges himself - the wives are grateful that there are so many of them that they don't have to deal with him too much.

On the other hand, God is not like man, in that He can and does love the multitudes. His love is not the kind of love that would cause us to be jealous over His love for others. His love will fill us with love for His whole church on earth, for all people. He does not neglect one to chase after another. He will not leave one to go chasing after another. He is fully capable of loving and caring for all people, at any given time and all at the same time, according to our individual needs.

A closing prayer from St. Paul for the Ephesians (and you):
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.  (Eph 3:14-21 NIV)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 146 - Purpose of Life

I woke up this morning wondering, again, what the purpose of life really is. We are born. We live. We die. Life, here on earth, is so short! And... there is so much pain and suffering here in this world. The truth is the pain and suffering is mostly brought on by our own desires to be more than we are. It is brought on by our desire to be our own god. We think we can do this or that. The reality is, without God, there is nothing. Our plans will come to nothing. But, God has a plan...  He has a plan because He loves you. We can't always know what that plan is. But, we can trust that He has one.

Those who trust in His plan and not our own, praise the LORD all the days of their lives and they will find peace in the midst of the most confounded times. Praise the LORD! That is enough purpose for any of us. Praise the LORD; sing His praises as long as you shall live!

Thanks be to God. "The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord." Psalm 146:10 NIV

Pr. J

Cross references:

1. Psalm 146:1 : Ps 103:1; 104:1
2. Psalm 146:2 : Ps 104:33
3. Psalm 146:2 : S Ps 105:2
4. Psalm 146:2 : S Ps 63:4
5. Psalm 146:3 : Ps 118:9
6. Psalm 146:3 : Ps 60:11; S 108:12; Isa 2:22
7. Psalm 146:4 : S Ge 3:19; S Job 7:21; Ps 103:14; Ecc 12:7
8. Psalm 146:4 : Ps 33:10; 1Co 2:6
9. Psalm 146:5 : Ps 33:18; 37:9; 119:43; 144:15; Jer 17:7
10. Psalm 146:5 : Ps 70:5; 71:5; 121:2
11. Psalm 146:6 : S 2Ch 2:12; Ps 115:15; Ac 14:15; S Rev 10:6
12. Psalm 146:6 : S Dt 7:9; S Ps 18:25; 108:4; 117:2
13. Psalm 146:7 : S Ps 37:17
14. Psalm 146:7 : Ps 103:6
15. Psalm 146:7 : Ps 107:9; 145:15
16. Psalm 146:7 : S Ps 66:11; S 68:6
17. Psalm 146:8 : Pr 20:12; Isa 29:18; 32:3; 35:5; 42:7, 18-19; 43:8; Mt 11:5
18. Psalm 146:8 : S Ex 4:11
19. Psalm 146:8 : S Ps 38:6
20. Psalm 146:8 : S Dt 7:13; S Job 23:10
21. Psalm 146:9 : S Lev 19:34
22. Psalm 146:9 : S Ps 10:18
23. Psalm 146:9 : S Ex 22:22; Jas 1:27
24. Psalm 146:10 : S Ge 21:33; S 1Ch 16:31; Ps 93:1; 99:1; Rev 11:15