Revelation 7:9 “After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands.”

This reminds me of Palm Sunday services in church.

We stand in our fellowship hall, each person holding a palm frond, waiting to process into the sanctuary.  When the time is right, we process and we sing praises and hosannas to the Lord.

One day we will stand in the true throne room, in the full presence of our Lord and our God.  We will join the great multitude from all nations, every tribe, and every tongue.  We will lift our hands and our voices in worship and in praise to the one who saved us.

I know many, myself included, who long for the day when this takes place but as I read and prayed over this passage I was reminded that we do not wait until that day to worship and praise his holy name.  We have been saved and he is worthy of our praise this moment; every moment until the new beginning and for eternity. Verse ten says “Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”  Hallelujah and Amen!

Lord,

I lift my heart and my hands in humble worship to you.  I lift my voice in praise to your holy name this day.  Hold my gaze Lord, I pray.  Keep my eyes focused on you, the one true God, today and forever.  Amen.

Matthew 5:14-15 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.”

Growing up in Colorado, like I have, I know very little about the real workings of a lighthouse.

Lighthouses sit on the edge of land, tall and sturdy.  They are built to shine light all around them dispelling darkness and fog that are dangerous to the ships and boats coming in to land.  They are not built in the forest glades or in a gully; they are purposely set on high ground so they are easily seen.

If we are the light of the world, as Jesus says, should we not also be easily seen, set on high ground to shine light?  Are we not called to dispel darkness and fog in the world so all can come home in safety?

We cannot shine our own light though.  We are shining the light of God.  Just as the lighthouse keeper gives light to the beacon for the ships, God fills us with his light and we are able to shine out to the world.

Shine your light for all to see.  If you do not have light then seek the safety of God’s light and come home to him today.  Then you, too, will be filled with his light.

Lord,

Thank you for filling me with your light.  Please use me on whatever shore, whatever hill... wherever you need me to shine and spread your light, dispelling darkness and fog until all come home to you.  Amen.

Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Two gates: one well maintained and a paved path leading to it and beyond it and another hidden in the ticket partially grown over and only a hint of a path.

Which gate would you use?

I used to tease my kids and their friends when they were just toddlers for taking the path of most resistance.  They were just learning to walk and it seemed like they would choose to walk through toys and over toys, risking a fall when they simply could walk around the toys with a free and clear path.  We are taught from early on not to make things harder than they need to be.  Here Jesus tells us something different.  He tells us to defy logic.  Take the hard path.

When I see obstruction and challenge and difficulty I am often troubled by it and wish for it to go away.  I want to lock this passage away in my heart so when I am stumbling along the difficult and narrow path I remember that this is the path leading to life, to God.  Will you join me on this ardent journey?

Lord,

We do not walk this narrow, difficult road alone.  Even though there are obstacles and challenges so big, you are with us; you promise that you are always with us.  Help us find and choose the narrow path to life; to you.  Amen.

Ezekiel 37:10 “I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.”

Most people don’t really breathe as well as they could.  We often just take in shallow breaths and manage with that.

Yesterday when I was out for my cardio walk I was seeing how far I could jog before I lost my breath.  I concentrated on taking in deep breaths.  Breathing in all the way to the bottom of my lungs and filling them with air as best I could to receive the most benefit of oxygen.  I jogged farther than I ever have before and I did not lose my breath.

How often are we like this spiritually as well?  We take in the bare minimum that we think we need and manage with that.  Sunday sermon or a daily verse and we go on without much more.  I am tired of getting by.  I am fed up with the bare minimum, settling for less.

Breathe deep!  Take in as much as you can for the most benefit that you can receive.  God wants us to live and live abundantly, not just sneak by.  I want to shout these words from a mountain top so all would hear – God wants us to live – live in Him and truly live!

Lord,

How do I share your love and your Word with more people?  How do I testify to the changes you have made in my life so more people will seek, find, and live too?  I long for the day when I stand among a vast multitude of deeply living souls and we can all celebrate true life in you together.  Until then, please use these words as you will.  Amen.

Daniel 8:19, 27 “He said, ‘Listen, and I will tell you what will take place later in the period of wrath; for it refers to the appointed time of the end.’” 27 “So I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days; then I arose and went about the king’s business.”

I like to know the plan.  I plan the day, the week; I plan out things.  I really like it when things go according to the plan too but that rarely happens.

When I was younger I used to pray that God would show me the blueprint of my life so I could live according to his plan for me.  I lamented that it would be so much easier if I could just see the plan!  As I have become more seasoned I realize the value in letting things unfold as they will.  I am learning that I do not need the blueprint; I need to keep moving forward.  I need to listen and trust in the Lord. 

When I look around at the world I could become like Daniel, overcome and sick for days.  He was distraught at the vision and he wrote that he did not understand it.

What I know is that God is faithful and eternal.  Whatever comes to pass, I will hold fast to him and remain in him to the end.  I pray this for all people through Christ’s mercy.

Lord,

Let us not be deceived or downtrodden by the things of darkness that we see today and that we read about for tomorrow.  Our hope is in you, Lord.  Keep us strong in you and compel us to grow in you each day so that when the end is here, we stand firm with you forever.  All glory, honor, and praise to you this day and all days.  Amen.

Psalm 119:130 “The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.”

The pages of a book are dark when they are hidden and closed within the binding.  The writings on the scroll are hidden in darkness until the scroll is unrolled to expose the words.

Do you remember cootie catchers?  It is a game kids use to tell each other’s fortune.  They unfold different flaps to find the clue to the next flap and after a few clues, unfolding a few flaps, the fortune is revealed.  If only...

Flowers open to the sun, plants turn their leaves toward light and our souls wait to unfold to the words and love of God.  We cannot receive understanding without study.  We must open to the word and be open the word to be enlightened.

As I gather things together in preparation for school I picture my kids unfolding to knowledge.  It is so rewarding to see the light of understanding in them when they learn something new.

We cannot gain insight or understanding from the cootie catcher.  Pull The Book off of the shelf, dust off the cover, unfold the pages and let light and understanding come to your heart.

Lord,

There is much to learn and understand, we have more than a lifetime to do it.  If we understand only one thing let us understand your unending love.  We hear it, we read it; help us truly understand and believe it.  Unfold our hearts to your light and love today and all days.  Amen.

Ruth 3:9 “He said, 'Who are you?' And she answered, 'I am Ruth, your servant; spread your cloak over your servant, for you are next-of-kin.’”

What a tender vision I saw when I read this.

Ruth came to Bethlehem as a widow with her mother-in-law Naomi.  They did not have much more than the clothes on their backs.  Ruth had been gleaning grain from fields to feed herself and Naomi and now, through the instruction of her mother-in-law, she sat at the feet of Boaz.

Mosaic covenant stipulated that the Hebrew community of faith would take care of the disadvantaged.  They were called to care for the poor, the widows, the orphans.  That call was passed on to us through Jesus.

We are still in the midst of summer and it is hard to imagine someone needing a cloak, or a coat.  The weather can turn quick in Colorado though.  It won’t be long before frost covers the grass and we will see our breath in the air.

Who is our next-of-kin?  Who sits at our feet waiting to see if we will spread our cloak over them in an act of love and protection?  We are all brothers and sisters through Jesus, our Lord.

Lord,

Give us hearts of compassion and the means to share with others what blessings you have poured out on us.  You know what our brothers and sisters need most.  Use us to provide for those needs.  Help us spread your love throughout the world as we spread love to those around us.  Amen.