Category: Our Exceptional God

The Book of Revelation Matters Today

Why the Book of Revelation Matters Today

The Book of Revelation matters today

Over the past several years, I’ve studied the Book of Revelation many times.

Admittedly, and in the beginning, I was completely overwhelmed.

The symbolism and prophetic narrative were both fascinating and challenging at the same time.

Even so, I didn’t give up!

Rather than shying away from learning about these dramatic future events, my thirst for what God wants to tell us has only become stronger.

If you haven’t taken the time to start a Revelation study, I’ll link to (what I believe) is one of the best at the end of this post.

Revelation and Today's World

The Book of Revelation Matters Today: Prophecy Insights

You may wonder, why it is that the Book of Revelation matters today?

What we see happening in the world (the good and the bad) is historically falling right into place.

In His Sovereignty, this is in God’s timing.

Here in the United States, disturbing headlines frequently dominate the media coverage.

However, political unrest, violence, and turmoil . . . is not just “our” country’s problem, but everywhere.

Israel

Russia

Ukraine

Iran

Syria

You hear about these countries frequently on the evening news.

What we are witnessing (and that God allows) is the spiritual battle between Good and Evil.

This is all the result of SIN.

Because of our original sin, the world continues to live under a curse.

We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. – 1 John 5:19, (NASB).1

Did You Really Mean to Post That?

It may look like our future depends on one political party versus another, but it doesn’t.

In fact, the outright hostility that some people display on Facebook and other social media ultimately helps no one.

Please remember who the “real enemy” is.

It’s not other people.

Through the temptation to sin, Satan manipulates people to carry out his plans for evil.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. – Ephesians 6:12, (NASB).2

The same devil who prowled around in earlier biblical times is prowling around today.

Our best battle weapons against the Enemy’s warfare are utilized while we pray.

I will keep asking God for a spiritual revival, and that all people will come to realize “who” the real Enemy is.

A Helpful Guide to the Book of Revelation

The Book of Revelation matters today because there’s a prophetic message in it for all of us.

The sooner we trust in God for our eternal future, the more peace we can have during the disturbing headlines of our day.

While we wait on our Lord’s return, is there a helpful Revelation commentary somewhere?

Yes, actually there are several, but the most helpful one (IMHO) is the following:

The series is called, “Tick Tock . . . Prophecy & the News” from Pastor Trey Graham of First Melissa Baptist Church.

You can find it here: “Tick Tock” sermon series.

This Revelation Study is free, easy to access online, and at the end, you’ll have a deeper understanding of the text.

I suggest you pull up the video tab and skip towards the middle of the service where the sermon actually starts.

Also, I recommend you pull up his “notes” as well. 

It’s easy to follow along as he refers to the provided maps and Bible verses.

The Book of Revelation is not one to fear.

Rather, it’s to prepare us for what is to come.

One day these awful headlines will be a thing of the past.

Worldwide turmoil will end because Jesus Christ is coming again (His glorious Second Coming) in victory.

Now “that” is a headline we can rejoice about.

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1 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

2 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

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It’s A New Day

Rise and Shine: It’s a New Day!

Every morning there’s this reassuring thought that comes to my mind: It’s a new day.

It’s a simple little phrase, but it’s based on a passage from the Bible.

21 I recall this to my mind,
Therefore I wait.
22 The Lord’s acts of mercy indeed do not end,
For His compassions do not fail.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness. – Lamentations 3: 21-23, (NASB).

As the first morning light filters through the window shades, I find it encouraging to think that, no matter what’s happened the day before, each new day offers hope and potential.

God is sovereign, and He is the Author of all of our tomorrows.

In fact, He’s already there.

Of course with the Bible, it’s important to read the entire chapter, but I wanted to point out why this particular passage in Lamentations struck a chord with me.

When you consider what the prophet Jeremiah had witnessed in the city of Jerusalem, you realize that his words in that passage are an incredible expression of faith.

Jerusalem and Judah had ignored all prophetic warnings, terribly sinned against God and, as a Righteous Judge, God allowed the Babylonians to destroy it.

What kinds of sins?

Idolatry was a big one.

Our Sovereign God shares His throne with no one.

People nowadays like to forget this, but there are consequences for sin and rebellion.

How would we feel if we saw our own cities destroyed right now?

Can you imagine?

It would mean that everywhere we looked, we would see destruction. What we knew yesterday as “home” has burned to the ground.

No wonder the prophet grieved.

It’s a New Day: Hope Renewed

Did you know that Lamentations is considered one of the saddest books in the Bible?

That being said, those verses above are filled with so much assurance.

God is great and He is faithful.

His compassions never fail.

Look at verse 21 again:

“I recall this to my mind,
Therefore I wait.”

That is an incredible example of faith.

What did Jeremiah do?

He waited and remembered God’s faithfulness and past blessings.

He knew that, in God’s timing, He will “wipe away every tear.”

We can rest in that promise too.

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1 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

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Pray For Kerrville

 

Please Pray for Kerrville

Like many of you, I woke up Friday morning to the terrible news of catastrophic flooding in the Texas Hill Country.

After heavy and consistent rainfall and thunderstorms, raging floodwaters overtook the banks of the Guadalupe River in Kerr County. The San Gabriel River in Georgetown – over an hour away – also overflowed its banks sparing nothing in its direct path. Other counties nearby suffered loss as well.

Photo in the Public Domain

The death toll continues to rise, and the search for the missing continues.

My heart breaks for families who lost their loved ones, including young children, in this flood.

They desperately need our prayers. 

Can you imagine the terror of being in your bed asleep, a wall of water crashes in, and suddenly you’re being carried down a river?

The more videos I am seeing and the interviews I’m listening to, the more my tears start to fall.

A different blog post was scheduled to run today, but I quickly changed my mind when I saw the news.

Instead, I would like to simply ask you to please consider adding these flood victims and their families, the “missing”, and first responders to your prayer lists.

Like any disaster that happens anywhere, those directly affected by it need your support.

This disaster hits so close to home. I know someone who lost a friend in this tragedy.

Pray For Kerrville and Others Affected:  You Can Help

Many people watching the news wonder how they can help in a situation like this.

Prayer is key, but if you feel that you can do more, donations are sincerely appreciated.

Here are a couple of options, although there are many more organizations in need of help.

Texas Search and Rescue

TEXSAR – Texas Search and Rescue

GoFundMe – There are several pages dedicated to the flood relief efforts. You can find them here.

Texas Hill Country Flooding July 4

Pray For Kerrville – Don’t Make This Political

On another note, considering the rising death toll and the ongoing search efforts for missing people (including children), the LAST thing that’s needed are political rants.

I’m sure you’ve probably seen some of these terribly inappropriate, lack of compassion, diatribes by some who utilize social media to politicize everything – including a tragedy.

Instead of spreading negative posts, it would be more helpful for them to ask people to pray for the victims or even make a donation – don’t you think?

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1 Photo Credit: Flooding of the Guadalupe River near Kerrville Texas, Courtesy of Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

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From Talents To Testimonies

From Talents to Testimonies: Reflect God’s Light

My favorite ministry ever was at a former church we belonged to when we first moved to Texas.

The ministry was called “Outside These Walls.”

From talents to testimonies

A group of us would volunteer on the weekends to sing gospel and country songs to the residents of nursing homes around town. My husband would bring along his guitar to accompany us.

The joy expressed on the faces of the elderly residents was a priceless memory.

Don’t you love bringing joy to other people?

What a fantastic way to share love with these precious senior adults who often feel isolated from the outside world.

Singing is just one idea.

Using our God-given abilities and talents

From talents to testimonies – sharing your spiritual abilities and stories help to reflect God’s glory to the world.

I read a poem recently that encourages all of us to do the same in our own spiritual walks.

Arise, Woman Of God

Rise up, O woman of God
In what He has given you,
The things God has laid on your heart,
Rise up, go forth, and do

Unlock what God has placed within,
The potential you have inside
The world is waiting for your release
To expand your wings and fly

Arise in your God-given gifts
For this is your finest hour
Arise in the Lord’s holy might,
Ignited and empowered

For God is calling you to come forth
To impact this world for Him,
Don’t hold back or limit yourself
Let His power arise within

And take His message to the world
To those that have lost their way,
For you can surely make a difference
If you’d hear His voice and obey

You shall be strengthened in the Lord
As you begin to arise,
Conquering those doubts that pull you down
And believe who you are in Christ

For you shall surely be transformed
As, in you, God increases more
And become a woman of true excellence
Bringing honour to her Lord.

© By M.S.Lowndes

Let’s embrace our God-given abilities and talents and use them for His glory.

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1 Poetry courtesy of M.S. Lowndes. “Women’s Poem: Arise, Woman Of God – Christian poem on rising up to our full potential in God” [online post]. From Heavensinspirations.com, ©M.S. Lowndes, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, n.d. Web. Accessed June 5, 2025.  https://www.heavensinspirations.com/arise-woman-of-god.html

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Gratitude Every Day

Gratitude Every Day: Thanking God for Keeping Us Safe

If you were to ask me about a time I was really scared, I’d have to tell you about our unforgettable nightmare hotel experience.

Although I believe in having gratitude every day, some days I‘m better at it than others!

Case in point . . .

This was several years ago, but I remember it well.

My father-in-law had passed away.

After an emotional funeral service for him in San Diego, we headed to a second memorial service in San Antonio where the family grave sites are located.

That meant travel for us, first by plane to San Diego, and then by car to South Texas.

The logistics were overwhelming for our family, not to mention the emotional aspect of losing a loved one.

On top of all that, it was a holiday weekend, and a bad snowstorm was expected in Dallas.

Snow showers on the way

Could it get any worse?

Due to the holidays, it was too late to board our dogs, so we had to take them with us in the car.

Have you ever tried to get a hotel out of town that takes dogs on a holiday weekend?

We could only find one.

Hotel Nightmare: Thanking God for Our Safety

We booked the reservation to “Hotel Nightmare” (as I later called it) and drove on to San Antonio.

When we got there – let’s just say – the area was less than desirable. It was located right off of the interstate.

A lot of “interesting” characters were hanging out everywhere.

I wanted to leave, but we had no other option. We had to stay there.

It’s not an exaggeration when I say that I was scared out of my mind.

We got into our hotel room as quickly as we could.

For the times we had to exit the room and meet up with family, we tried to be as quiet as possible so as not to draw attention.

Later that evening, after 11pm, our dogs decided they wanted to go outside.

No matter how much we tried to convince them otherwise. Lol.

It was pitch black dark and creepy.

I pulled my hair up tight into a ponytail and wore a ball cap and sweats to look less conspicuous. 

Maybe not as tough-looking as I thought.

We found the one little area of grass off the parking lot to walk our dogs to do their thing.

Of course, they had to sniff every blade of grass that night.

“Hurry up!!!” I whispered as we looked nervously over our shoulders to see if anyone was heading our way.

Looking back, I realize the actual risk we took staying at that hotel. A good friend of ours who works in drug enforcement told us that particular area is a known gathering spot for drug deals, and just about everything else you can imagine.

I give all my thanks to God for keeping us safe.

I knew that He was with us and, whatever the outcome, good or bad, He would see us through anything.

Cultivating Gratitude Every Day

Over and over in the Bible, it says to “Fear not”, and “Do not be afraid.”

How many different times and contexts?

Try “hundreds.”

Isn’t that enough to stop fear in its tracks the next time we feel threatened?

Admittedly, I’m not the best at “fearing not” – especially when faced with potentially dangerous situations.

The fact is that our creator God instilled in us human emotions and instincts, and that includes fear.

Those red flags you sometimes feel are God-given for your own protection.

So, what kind of fear should be avoided?

When the Bible tells us, “Do not fear,” it means we are not to allow anxiety or fretfulness to rule our lives or take root in our hearts. We are not to be people of panic. We are to be people of faith. – gotquestions.org1

It’s comforting to know that God is always with us and He hears our prayers.

God doesn’t forget about us; and we shouldn’t forget about Him.

His grace and countless blessings in our past are an encouraging reminder that our future is in His hands.

Gratitude every day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With that in mind, I still try to make it a point to have gratitude every day.

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1 Quotation from gotquestions.org from “What does the Bible mean when it tells us to fear not”? n.d., para. 4. Web. Accessed May 28, 2025. Retrieved from Fear Not.

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