Rv14

"Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus."

The overwhelming call of christianity is to obey and endure. Obey God in the midst of difficulty. This has been christianity from the beginning and it is STILL true today. If you are embracing an "easy christianity", you might be holding on to a false gospel.

Following Jesus has never been easy. Don't hear me wrong, it is the blessed path, but it is also not the easy one. Jesus declared, "Enter by the narrow gate!" It is not easy, it is right.

Anyone who calls you to follow Jesus for "your best life now" is calling you to follow a false gospel. Live strong today. Make the hard choice of sacrifice and endurance.

Rv12

As I read Rev. 12, my mind keeps drifting to the events of these days! Unprecedented struggles in our nation and it seems the divisions are getting greater. NO human leader or institutions will bring unity or peace into these things. Only Jesus.

He is the King. Our job as His servants is to serve Him and bring Him glory. We will overcome through Christ. We will be those who "hold to the testimony of Jesus and keep the commandments of God."

We cannot control the events of these days any more than we could have changed the great war in heaven between Michael and Satan. Yet, we do determine our own actions, activities and words.

It's good that we pray! It is also good for us to obey.

Rv11

"We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth." v. 17-18

God is not out of control today. He never has been and He never will be. Today is yet another day that is firmly in His grasp. We trust in you God. We will follow your ways today. Make us a people who long for your reign today. We are your servants. Help us to fear your name and follow hard after you.

Rv8-10

I don't know what to feel this morning. A new president has been elected. A new era has begun. We didn't have a good option. Thank God He is still King of the Universe and he is returning soon.

God's plan has never been shaken. God's plan will never be shaken. We are not the center of the universe. Let's live our lives today in light of this reality. God is in control and He will continue to reign regardless of the events of our day.

Choose to obey Him today with our words and actions.

Rv7

Imagine a place where there will be "no more tears". No pain. No sorrow. No disappointment. No shame. No sin. No death. No grief. No evil. Only good.

That place actually exists. It is unbelievable but not unimaginable. We all long for that place. It is the place of peace. It is the place of rest. It is the reality of the presence of the rule of God. Today we have tears. In heaven that will all be gone.

Yesterday two officers were brutally murdered in DesMoines! So many tears. So much sorry. So much grief. The pain of death. It's unbelievable to think about the brokenness that surrounds us every day. Our souls are so broken. Our culture is desperately in need of Christ.

We long for heaven. The place of "no more tears".

Rv6

"The great day of wrath has come, and who can stand?" The voices of the martyrs has been heard and God is turned from his mercy and poured out his wrath on the earth! This will be a horrible and violent day. The stage is set.

When I was a child I used to fear the coming of Jesus. Every time I heard about Christ's return, I would tremble in fear. And I should have. I had no regard for God, his word or his commands. I was pursuing my own way.

Even today I tremble at the thought of God's wrath being poured out! If it was not for his mercy, no one would have a prayer. Yet, God, rich in mercy has been pouring out his kindness on us from the beginning. The cross was the ultimate act of mercy. Wow.

The days of God's mercy will soon end. Will we be among those who responded to his grace and mercy? I pray so.

Rv5

Jesus "was slain, and by his blood he ransomed people for God, and they shall reign on earth." V. 9

Jesus paid our ransom and has freed us from the wrath of God. Only he can save. Only he can rescue. Imagine how we would live if we truly thought about this daily and lived in its reality!

We were slaves to sin! We were under God's wrath and judgement! We were hell bound! Jesus changed all that through his sacrifice on the cross. Now we are free from sin's power. We are subjects of God's mercy. Heaven is our destination.

There is nothing better than this! These facts should change the way we live today.