Shhh

Shhh

Revelation 8: When the Lamb broke open the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. ² Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and they were given seven trumpets.

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When the door opened, the laughter and playing stopped. Moments before, everyone was up chattering and doing the opposite of what we were told. “Stay in your seats” the teacher said before leaving. When she got back, we hurried to our seats. There was silence.

 

• Our silence could have been followed by someone saying “Uh-oh!”
• Our silence was to see what would happen.
• Our silence was not going to be broken by us, but by the one in authority.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, saw the LAMB open the seventh and final seal. Every being in heaven stopped whatever they were doing to become silent for about thirty minutes. Then the seven angels were given seven trumpets. Something was about to happen.

 

My Observations:

• Silence in heaven showed a transition in tone.
• Silence meant something serious was about to happen.
• The seventh seal being opened meant the sentence was fully in affect.

Quieting down is sometimes hard to do. I mean, to escape the worries of the world, I use noisy things like movies, TV or music to drown out thoughts of problems and troubles. In fact, I was afraid of turning off music or talking when driving my car. BUT GOD enjoys when I can be silent with HIM.

Silence is important. There is a tone of serenity with silence, but in this case, it was to mark the start of the end of Satan’s full sentence. GOD’s people do not have to worry about this sentence, because JESUS has saved all who believe in HIM.

Challenge

• What do you think the writer was doing in that half an hour period?
• Have you ever been in a noisy crowd that suddenly got silent?
• Will you take some time to become silent before the LORD so you can hear what HE has in store for you today?

Valuable Time

Valuable Time

1 Peter 1: ¹⁷ You call him Father, when you pray to God, who judges all people by the same standard, according to what each one has done; so then, spend the rest of your lives here on earth in reverence for him. ¹⁸ For you know what was paid to set you free from the worthless manner of life handed down by your ancestors. It was not something that can be destroyed, such as silver or gold; ¹⁹ it was the costly sacrifice of Christ, who was like a lamb without defect or flaw. ²⁰ He had been chosen by God before the creation of the world and was revealed in these last days for your sake. ²¹ Through him you believe in God, who raised him from death and gave him glory; and so your faith and hope are fixed on God.

 

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Having a lot to do, I began my work. “Come to this event” was a challenge posed to me. I asked who would be there. But he insisted that I attend. I spent time driving to the event only to find out it was not what presented to me.

 

• I felt that I had been tricked.
• I felt upset that I could have been doing something more valuable with my time.
• I felt I wasted my time going to an event that had nothing to do with what I was working on.

 

Peter tried to present CHRIST to everyone in terms of “value.” He provides sage advice to consider how precious JESUS is to the living versus only thinking of HIM as a being who prevents us from Hell. He suggests that everyone spend the rest of life in reverence of GOD.

 

My Observations:

• Life can bring on challenges that require time, BUT GOD deserves much more of my time.
• Trying to sustain a place to live, clothes on my back and food to eat can take time, BUT GOD should be thought of before I think of myself.
• Pleasure can take time, BUT GOD is the one I should seek before I seek pleasure.

 

Valuing GOD can be difficult in a cynical world. I mean, when other people place value on the acquisition of things or the knowledge of humans, GOD can look like a magical genie who is made up to grant human wishes. This is a false presentation of the MOST HIGH.

 

GOD is the all powerful, all knowing being who is everywhere. HE is the creator who has no beginning and no end. HIS SON is the only way we can even believe in GOD. I gladly give my time in reverence of HIM.

 

Challenge

• What value is the writer trying to portray?
• What are your pursuits?
• Are they more valuable to you than your relationship with JESUS?
• Will you seek GOD’s kingdom through belief in JESUS, who died for your sins and has been raised from the dead to guide you to a better life today?

First Things First

 

First Things First

1 Timothy 2: First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, requests, and thanksgivings be offered to God for all people; ² for kings and all others who are in authority, that we may live a quiet and peaceful life with all reverence toward God and with proper conduct. 

 

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When the alarm sounded, I jumped out of bed with my mind racing! I calculated the time it would take to get to my destination so I showered, gathered my stuff and ran to the car. Unexpected traffic hit, so I listened to voicemail and responded to messages. Still stuck in traffic, I called into the meeting I was missing. Chaos and firefighting commenced throughout the day. I was exhausted that night.

 

• My mind was racing all day.
• I had not taken a moment to ease into the day.
• I placed the worries of the day over speaking to the LORD.

 

Paul turns from encouraging Timothy to providing him with valuable instructions on how to lead a group of people in a collected time of worship. “First of all” Paul says, probably meaning this is the most important thing you can do. Speak to the LORD.

 

My Observations

• Before I do anything, GOD wants me to speak to HIM.
• Before I begin my day, GOD wants me to ask HIM , pray to HIM, request from HIM and thank HIM.
• Before I start anything I do, GOD wants me to pray for those in authority, showing my willingness to agree with GOD’s appointment of authority so we can live in peace.

 

Prioritizing speaking to GOD is highly important. I mean, HE wants daily communication with me so I can be successful in all HE wants me to do. Unfortunately, I give in to the world’s pull and I focus on worry, or problems, or sickness or pain. My mind races without rest. BUT GOD gives me a way to have peace.

 

HE simply says “Give it to ME.” But how LORD? “Pray.” Prayer is the only thing that I can manufacture that can make it into heaven. My petition, prayer request and thanksgiving are heard and loved by the MOST HIGH! I am so glad GOD wants me to speak with HIM so HE can hear me and give us a “quiet and peaceful life.”

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the writer speaks about prayer first?
• Have you ever ignored GOD and had a bad day, month, year or decade?
• Will you place speaking to GOD first about your actions so HE will guide you and lead you to a quiet, peaceful life with all reverence toward HIM with proper conduct today?

 

Prayer

Dear LORD, please bless this reader with full knowledge of YOUR plan today. Please guide those who YOU placed in authority to follow YOUR ways so we may have a quiet and peaceful life. We revere and honor you LORD to guide our conduct today. amen

Make Time

 

Make Time

Acts 26: ²⁴ At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”

 

²⁵ “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. ²⁶ The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. ²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

 

²⁸ Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”

 

²⁹ Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

 

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After attending the meeting, I realized I would now have to work seven days a week to keep up. I mean, the pressure of the job required constant thinking to resolve issues right away. Soon, all of my conversations were centered around work. Even at the dinner table, work spewed out of my mouth. I had no time for anything else.

 

• One period of my life was spent worrying about money.
• One period of my life was spent dealing with life’s pressures.
• One period of my life was spent giving my all to those who demanded my time and giving none to those who needed it.

 

Festus interrupts Paul’s defense, saying he was “out of his mind.” Paul replied by appealing to King Agrippa by asking if he “believed.” King Agrippa questioned Paul by asking “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” Paul was willing to make time, short or long, to persuade the king and everyone around to believe in JESUS.

 

• GOD wants me to make time for HIM.
• GOD wants me to hope that everyone I come in contact with, believe in JESUS as our Savior.
• GOD wants me to see more opportunities to talk about JESUS than I used to.

 

Time is precious. I mean it can be spent on doing something that makes me great amongst humans or I can point my life to JESUS who deserves to be called Great. I can never get time back once I’ve spent it.

 

GOD loves when I spend time learning about HIM and loves it more when I take what I’ve learned and teach someone else about HIM. Short time or long, I pray that every reader believe in JESUS in a saving way.

 

• Are you too busy for GOD?
• Do you stay busy so you can be noticed by humans?
• Will you stop seeking to be noticed and start making time to speak about JESUS to many people today?

Make Time

Make Time

Acts 20: ¹³ We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot. ¹⁴ When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. ¹⁵ The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Chios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus. ¹⁶ Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.

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Clearing my schedule, I started doing lots of work. Three was a huge event at work that I had to prepare for. I spent a couple of days preparing. I then went to several people to see if I got all the information right. This one day was going to be special because I made time to prepare.

• I have made time for special events.
• I have made time for special occasions.
• I have made time for special celebrations.

Paul was on a mission to make it back to Jerusalem by the day of Pentecost. Perhaps he wanted to be in the place where Peter spoke so powerfully that tongues of fire appeared. Paul reserved time to remember what JESUS did when HE sent the HOLY SPIRIT.

• GOD wants me to make time for HIM.
• GOD wants me to remember HIM often.
• GOD wants me to seek HIS face daily.

Making time for GOD is highly important. Unfortunately, there have been many times when HE has come second or third or tenth in my life. I mean, when it came to listening to someone preach or to set up a convention where tens of thousands would attend, I chose the convention.

People would say, “It’s only that one time” but the next and the next times came quickly. Soon, speaking about GOD was only a distant memory which eventually turned into a “fear of offending someone.” GOD wants me to worship HIM in spirit and truth. I am glad HE is always available to me in prayer.

• Are you too busy to spend time with GOD?
• Has GOD called you to do something but you are too busy?
• Will you make time for GOD today?

Slip Away

Matthew 14: ²² Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. ²³ After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, ²⁴ and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

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Rock music blasted on one side, rap on the other. I could not concentrate with all of the noise so I slipped away to a quiet location to study. With no distractions, I could comprehend more.

• Sometimes I needed to get away from the distractions.
• Sometimes I needed to get away from the noise.
• Sometimes I needed to get away from everyone around me so I could concentrate.

Concentration sometimes requires solitude in a peaceful setting. JESUS chose a mountainside. My guess is that HE could see the people HE created and pray for them. HE needed total concentration so HE slipped away from the crowds often to pray.

• GOD wants me to slip away from people in order to have concentrated prayer.
• GOD wants me to sometimes have quick prayer and other times deep concentrated prayer.
• GOD wants me to dismiss the crowd, go to a place and pray for those around me.

There is no definition for “real” prayer. I mean sometimes I can only say a few words “Help me LORD” and other times I can feel praise while other times I can feel deep empathy. GOD wants me to take time to communicate with HIM on a regular basis. Slipping away to talk to HIM about anything definitely clears my heart.

• Are you flooded with thoughts?
• Is it very noisy around you?
• Can you slip away to a quiet place so you can concentrate on the LORD?

Peace in the Desert

Isaiah 32: ¹⁶ The Lord’s justice will dwell in the desert,
    his righteousness live in the fertile field.
¹⁷ The fruit of that righteousness will be peace;
    its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.
¹⁸ My people will live in peaceful dwelling places,
    in secure homes,
    in undisturbed places of rest.
¹⁹ Though hail flattens the forest
    and the city is leveled completely,
²⁰ how blessed you will be,
    sowing your seed by every stream,
    and letting your cattle and donkeys range free.

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Silence was the strangest sound I heard after being released from the high paced position that was eliminated in the reorganization. With no conference calls or fires to put out or people complaining about sagging profits, I felt strange. There was actually enough quiet to listen.

• There were times when my pace was so noisy that I could not hear.
• There were times when I did not have time to stop and listen.
• There were times when I had not time to listen to GOD.

“The Desert” is a symbolic place for me. I mean the Israelites were glad to leave Egypt because they were under someone’s forceful hand. But then they found themselves in “The Desert” and that felt even worse to them. No heavy hand, but no crumbs from the “master’s” plate. When I sat down for the first time with no appointments, at first it felt great, but weeks later I wondered, “Where is GOD?”

• GOD said to me “MY justice is in the desert which is right where I want you now.”
• GOD said to me “MY righteousness lives in the fertile field and I want you to seek out this field.”
• GOD said to me “MY reward to you will be peace and you will have quietness and confidence forever.”

It took some time to get used to the quietness. I learned to use it as lost time I had not spent with GOD, family and friends. I found the fruit GOD wanted me to seek in the first place and HE blessed me the entire time. GOD truly is great!

• Are you in “The Desert?”
• Do you feel lost?
• Can you quiet down and listen to GOD?
• Will you seek HIS guidance instead of yours?

Short and to the Point

Psalm 117: ¹ Praise the Lord, all you nations;
    extol him, all you peoples.
² For great is his love toward us,
    and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Praise the Lord.

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Shocked at the brevity of this chapter the words stand out that much more.

• GOD wants me to praise HIM on a daily basis for this reduces complaints.
• GOD wants me to extol HIM for this helps me recognize HIS great love towards me and to see HIS endless faithfulness towards supporting me.
• GOD wants me to praise HIM to remove the thing that makes me not want to praise HIM.

Something blocks me from praising GOD sometimes. Whether it is a circumstance that I’m pouting at or a sin that I have just committed, there are times I just don’t feel like praising GOD. BUT GOD understands. HE is not arrogant or needy. HE knows that when I can wake up and praise HIM, my stony heart will melt to see HIM as HE is, full of love for me. Praise GOD for HIS mercy!

• Are you feeling lost?
• Do you feel like you cannot praise GOD because of your circumstance?
• Do you know HE understands and does not have pressured expectations of you?
• Will you flow like a river today and allow GOD to do HIS thing?
• Will you open your mouth today and praise GOD with audible words?