Revelation 6:12-14

Good morning all! God is good all the time, all the time God is good!

Revelation 6:12-14 "I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place."

The sixth seal changes the scene back to the physical world. The first five judgments were directed toward specific areas, but this judgment is universal. Everyone will be afraid when the earth itself trembles.

The force described in this seal is overpowering fear. The first five seals were lead ups to the full fury of the Day of the Lord, beginning with the sixth seal. The events described in this seal opens the seventh, which contains the trumpet judgment and the bowl judgments.

great earthquake - all the earth's faults will begin to fracture at the same time resulting in a global earthquake.

moon became like blood - with the earthquake will be volcanic eruptions and large amounts of ash and debris will be blown into the atmosphere, blackening the sun and giving the moon a blood-red hue.

stars of heaven fell - In Greek "stars" can refer to any celestial body, large or small, and is explained as a massive asteroid or meteor shower.

late figs - winter gifs that grouw without the protection of leaves and are easily blown from the tree.

sky receded as a scroll - the earth's atmosphere will be somehow dramatically affected and the sky as we know it disappears.

every mountain and island was moved - under the stress created by the global earthquake, great segments of the earth's plates will begin to skip and shift, realigning whole continents.

Wow, a lot of action. So what will we, humans, do? Tune in tomorrow. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

What kinda ol' boy are ya?

Good morning everyone!! Another great day to be alive in Jesus Christ our LORD! God is good all the time, all the time God is good!

Galatians 2:20 "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

How have our old selves been crucified with Christ? LEGALLY! God looks at us as if we had died with Christ. Our sins died with him, we are no longer condemned.

RELATIONSHIP! We have become one with Christ, and his experiences are ours. Our Christian life began when, in unity with HIM, we died to our old life.

IN OUR DAILY LIFE, we must regularly crucify sinful desires that keep us from following Christ. This, also, is a kind of dying with HIM.

The focus of Christianity is on living. Because we have been crucified with Christ, we have also been raised with him. LEGALLY, we have been reconciled with God and are free to grow into Christ's likeness. In our DAILY LIFE, we have Christ's resurrection power as we continue to fight sin. We are no longer alone, for Christ lives in us - he is our power for living and our hope for the future.

Take time, ask forgiveness, praise God, ask and receive.Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Revelation 6:10-11

Good morning! God is good all the time, all the time God is good!

Revelation 6:10-11 "And they cried with a loud voice, saying, 'How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?'" Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed."

Remember, verse 9, these are Christians martyred for their faith.

God will answer their prayer for vengeance, but in HIS time. The martyrs call out to God asking how long to avenge. In the following chapters, the judgment comes at last. We may be distressed and impatient, but God has his plan and his timing, and we must learn to trust him to know what is best. Judgment is coming, we can be sure of that. Thank God for the time he has given you to turn from sin. Use the available time to work to help others turn to him.

We all need to be as Paul, who was called before the king. Paul did not plead his case, he simply told the king about Jesus. We accepted Jesus, who will return for us, but in the meantime we need to tell others, BOLDLY, about JESUS, GOD, salvation. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

YOU are in GOD's image!

Good morning everyone!! Another great day to be alive in JESUS CHRIST our LORD!! God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

Genesis 1:27 "So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them."

God made both man and woman in his image. Neither man nor woman is made more in the image of God than the other. From the beginning the Bible places both man and woman at the pinnacle of God's creation.

Notice, God created human beings (man) in his own image!! How many times to we want to make God into our image. We want God to be the God we imagine, our image. This is not what it is all about.

God saw that all he had created was excellent in every way. You are part of God's creation, and he is pleased with how he made you. If at time you feel worthless or of little value, remember that God made you for a good reason. You are valuable to him.

Are you living in God's image, or trying to make God in your image? Take time, visit with God, thank him for all he has given you, ask forgiveness for your sins, and live today for GOD! Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Revelation 6: 9

Good morning! God is good all the time, all the time God is good!

Revelation 6:9 "And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:"
The altar represents the altar of sacrifice in the Temple, where animals were sacrificed to atone for sins. Instead of the animals' blood at the base of the altar, John saw the souls of martyrs who had died for preaching the Good News. These martyrs were told that still more would lose their lives for their belief in Christ. In the face of warfare, famine, persecution and death, Christians will be called on to stand firmly for what they believe. Only those who endure to the end will be rewarded by God.

Where are you today? Can you stand up for Christ? Would you lose you life for Christ? Would you die so you would have everlasting life?

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Faith- how strong is yours?

Good morning everyone!! Another great day to be alive in Jesus!! God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
How is your faith? Remember how you felt when you were very young and your birthday was coming? Excited and anxious, because you knew you would receive gifts and other special treats. Some things would be a surprise. Birthdays combine assurance and anticipation, and so does faith! Faith is the confidence based on past experience that God's new and fresh surprises will surely be ours.

Whe we believe that God will fulfill his promises even though we dn't see those promises happening yet, we demonstrate true faith.

We have to believe in God, who He is, and that He will do what He says He will do! Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

One simple truth - God sent His Son for You

Hello all! Another great day to be alive in Jesus Christ our LORD and Savior. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

Romans 15:4 "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope."For centuries, prominent people of faith have influenced humankind with God's love and power. Their achievements and commitment are a testimony of God's mercy and grace.

In today's high tech world of electronic churches and video spiritually, we can easily miss the simple message of reconciliation to God through Jesus Christ. This message has been a historical focal pint of humankind from the beginning of time.

Generations of princes and paupers alike have experienced a simple truth that 'GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.'
The lessons from our spiritual heritage are that God is faithful. His love endures forever, and the great things He has done through the ages He will continue to do in us.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny
p.s. exerpt from "...and then God created golf

Revelation 6:7,8

Good morning everyone!! God is good all the time, all the time God is good!!

Revelation 6:7,8 "When HE opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, "Come and see." So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth."

pale horse - Chloros, the Greek word from which the English word "chlorophyll" comes describes the pale, ashen-green pallor characteristic of the decomposition of a corpse.

The riders described in verses 2-8 are commonly referred to as the four horsemen of the Apocalypse. the four riders are given power over one-fourth of the earth, indicating that God is still limiting his judgment-it is not yet complete. With these judgment there is still time for unbelievers to turn to Christ and away from their sin.

In this case, the limited punishment not only demonstrates God's wrath on sin but also his merciful love in giving people yet another opportunity to turn to him before he brings final judgment. We must not presume upon God's patience. Our repentance must be visible and authentic.

In what ways does your life reflect new and different behavior?

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Listen......Give thanks!!!

Good morning!! God is good all the time, all the time God is good! Wow! Another great day to be alive in JESUS CHRIST, SAVIOUR.

John 10:3 "The sheep hear the shepherd's voice. He calls his own sheep by name and lead them out."

Are you listening? HE is calling! He will lead us!

Psalm 30:12 "The psalmist wrote, "O LORD, my God, I will give you thanks forever."

Are you giving thanks? Daily? Hourly?

Do you hear HIM calling and heed HIS call? Do you give thanks for all you have?

Take time to listen, thank God for Jesus and your salvation. Turn everything over to God and follow HIS lead.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Revelation 6:5,6

Hello all! God is good all the time, all the time God is good! The Bible teaches that the world is headed toward a final, cataclysmic war called the Battle of Armageddon. Until that climatic holocaust, things will continue to deteriorate as the world falls deeper and deeper into chaos, confusion, and sin.

As the end approaches, wars will increase, crime will escalate, there will be economic upheavals, and the world will experience unprecedented natural disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, famines, and diseases. All those calamities will mark the outpouring of God's wrath on the fallen, rebellious world.

Revelation 6:5,6 "When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come and see." So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. (6) And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine."

black horse - Black signifies faine. Worldwide war will destroy the food supply and spawn global hunger.

pair of scales - The common measuring device - two small trays hung from each end of a balance beam-indicates that the scarcity of food will lead to rationing and food lines.

quart of wheat - the approximate amount necessary to sustain one person for one day.

denarius - one day's normal wages; one day's work will provide enough food for only one person.

three quarts of barley - Usually fed to animals, tis grain was low in nutrients and cheaper that wheat. A day's wages provides enough for only a small family's daily supply.

oil and the wine - Although the point could be that these foods will not be affected by the famine, a more straightforward meaning is that bare staples - oil was used in the preparation of bread, and wine was considered necessary for cooking and purifying water - suddenly will become luxuries that have to be carefully protected.

Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Risk - will you take it?

Good morning everyone!! God is good all the time, all the time God is good! What a way to wake up, knowing that God has something wonderful in store for you. A glass that is filled with water to the middle. The pessimist says it is half empty; the optimist says it is half full; and the engineer says the container was not properly designed for the volume of water it contained. Which one are you?

Acts 4:2,3 "These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead. They arrested them and, since it was already evening, put them in jail until morning."

Seldom will sharing the Good News send us to jail as it did Peter and John. Still, we run risks in trying to win others to Christ. We might be willing to face a night in jail if it would bring 5,000 people to Christ, but shouldn't we also be willing to suffer for the sake of even one?

What do you risk in witnessing - rejection, persecution? Whatever the risks, realize that nothing done for God is ever wasted. Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Revelation 6:3,4

Hello all! God is good all the time, all the time God is good! Well, internet problems dropped everything today so I am doing Revelation tonight.

Revelation 6:3,4 "When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come and see." Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword."

Another horse, fiery red - Its blood-red appearance speaks of the holocaust of war. God will grant this horse and its rider the power to create worldwide war. But as horrible as this judgment is, it will be only the "birth pains," the beginning pains of God's wrath.

People should kill one another - Violent slaughter will become commonplace.

Sword - Not the long, broad sword, but the shorter, more easily maneuvered one that assassins often used and that soldiers carried into battle. It depicts assassination, revolt, massacre, and wholesale slaughter.

Questions to ponder: Do you believe in a final judgment? Why or why not?

We have seen cartoons of a wild-eyed, bearded prophet holding up a sign that says: "Repent! The end is near!" Why is that type of thing often laughed at?

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Darkness or light?

Good morning everyone!! God is good all the time, all the time God is good!!

1 Thessalonians 5:8 "We belong to the day. So we must stay sober and let our faith and love be like a suit of armor."
Wow! We are citizens of spiritual daylight. We no longer need to hide ourself or our actions in darkness wher there is no real armor, only the constant threat of being revealed.

Because of the brightness God has given you, your impenetrable protection now comes from faith and love.

Think of this in your daily walk, what you encounter. You do not have to plan and strategize to advance to victory. It is your trust in God and care for others that exalts you.

Let your goodness shine into other people's lives. Thanks for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Revelation 6:1-2

God is good all the time, all the time God is good! Revelation 5:1-2 "As I watched, the Lamb broke the first of the seven seals on the scroll. Then I heard one of the four living beings say with a voice like thunder, "Come!" I looked up and saw a white horse standing there. Its rider carried a bow, and a crown was placed on his head. He rode out to win many battles and gain the victory."

The first seal! This is the first of three seven-part judgment. The trumpets and the bowls are the other two. As each seal is opened, Christ the Lamb sets in motion events that will bring about the end of human history. This scroll is not completely opened until the seventh seal is broken. The contents of the scroll reveal humanity's depravity and portray God's authority over the events of human history.

Four horses appear as the first four seals are opened. The horses represent God's judgment of people's sin and rebellion. God is directing human history - even using the enemies to accomplish his purposes. The four horses are a foretaste of the final judgments yet to come. Some view the chapter as a parallel to the Olivet Discourse (Mat. 24) The imagery of four horses is also found in Zechariah 6:1-8

Tomorrow, the second seal, peace taken from earth. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

What is leading you?

Good morning everyone!! Another great day to love JESUS!! God is good all the time, all the time God is good!!

Philippians 1:9-11 "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through JESUS CHRIST - to the glory and praise of God."

Our spiritual life is a multi-faceted experience. The world around us is constantly exerting on us forces that will affect our efforts to live for God. We need to be able to "read" these influences and make corrections accordingly.

We can depend upon the gentle leading of God - that still small voice, which speaks to our hearts of HIS corrections and adjustments - to get us lined up with HIS purpose and perfect will.

With God's help we can be aware of all the spiritual influences in our lives. We can know what is affecting us, what is pulling us one way or the other, what forces externally and internally are keeping us from enjoying an exciting walk with Him. Faith is partly a supernatural gift and partly the accumulation of experience.

Wherever you are, whatever the situation we may face in life, we can trust GOD. We can know by experience that HIS love and grace will supply all the confidence and faith we need to walk with HIM.

Where are you right now? Take time, stop and listen. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

chapter 5 questions

Good morning everyone!! God is good all the time, all the time God is good! Okay, to wrap up chapter 5 here are some questions, and then pleas read chapter 6 as we will do the complete chapter next week - the SEALS!

1. How did John describe the ONE "sitting on the throne?"

2. What creatures did John see around the throne? What were they doing?

3. What is the identity and significance of the Lamb in Revelation 5 that John saw standing?

4. Why was Christ worthy to take the scroll in chapter 5?

5. Describe the worship directed toward the Lamb in chapter 5. What is the mood around the throne? Read Ezekiel 1:4-14, 26-28 about his amazing visions of living creatures similar to John's vision.

Also, if you will go to Google and type in johnnybdaily you will see all the notes of chapter 5. Or, www.johnnybdaily.blogspot.com will work as well. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Be strong, be not afraid

Good morning everyone!! God is good all the time, all the time God is good. And WOW - God is really good!

Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of good courage, do not be afraid nor be dismayed, for the LORD YOUR GOD is with you wherever you go."

Often times we have trouble getting started with new commitments or changes in our lives. Expectations of other people, fear of the unknown, and lack of confidence give us those "getting started jitters."

Your relationship with God can prepare you for those moments when you must step up to a challenge and face it head on.

Overcoming apprehension doesn't just happen. It starts with a life transformed by a personal experience with God. Strength to begin again, or to just keep going in the face of adversity, comes from a heart that knows God is the true Source of courage.

Just pray that God prepares you for the new experiences of you new life in Christ by giving you confidence in Him. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Revelation 5:11--14

Good morning all! God is good all the time, all the time God is good! We will finish Revelatin 5 today, questions tomorrow, then chapter 6 on Monday.

Revelation 5:11-14 "Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!" And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power be to HIM who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!" Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped HIM who lives forever and ever."

Ten thousand times ten thousand literally myriads of myriads, this number is intended to express an amount beyond calculation. The Greek expression can also be translated "innumerable."

Angels are spiritual beings created by God who help carry out His work on earth. They bring messages, portect God's people, offer encouragement, give guidance, bring punishment, patrol the earth, and fight the forces of evil. There are both good and evil angels, but because evil angels are allied with satan, they have considerably less power and authority than good angels. Eventually, the main role of the good angels will be to offer continuous praise to God.

The scene in chapter 5 shows us that only the Lamb, Jesus Christ, is worthy to open the scroll. JESUS, not satan, holds the future. Jesus Christ is in control and HE alone is worthy to set into motion the events of the last days of history.

Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

YES in Christ

Good morning everyone!! Another great day to be alive in the LORD JESUS CHRIST! God is good all the time, all the time God is good!

2 Corinthians 1:20 NIV "No matter how may promises God has made they are "YES" in Christ."Just as there are fundamental in the game of golf, there are also fundamentals in our spiritual lives. You may face difficult challenges to your beliefs, but remember, your success in those situations is primarily based upon the fundamentals of your faith and your trust in God.

Sometimes you need the help of others to coach you and help you learn the basics of your faith. Whenever your life begins to deteriorate spiritually, you most likely need to get back to the fundamentals of your walk with God.

Just as we must learn to feel and memorize the basics of a good golf swing, so it is with the fundamentals of our spiritual lives. With the Holy Spirit as your helper, as you purpose to learn and to grow by consistently practicing these "fundamentals," you will become more and more confident in your daily walk of faith.

Are you walking so you will receive a "yes" in Christ? Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Revelation 5:9-10

Good morning all! God is good all the time, all the time God is good!

Revelation 5:9-10 "And they sang a new song with these words: "You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God and they will reign on the earth.""

People from everywhere are praising God before his throne. God's message of salvation and eternal life is not limited to a specific culture, race, or country. Anyone who come to God in repentance and faith is accepted by him and will be part of his Kingdom. Don't allow prejudice or bias to keep you from sharing Christ with others. Christ welcomes all people into his Kingdom.

The song of God's people praises Christ's work. He was killed, ransomed them with his blood, gathered them into a Kingdom, made them priests, and appointed them to reign on the earth. Jesus has already died and paid the penalty for sin. He is now gathering us into his Kingdom and making us priests. In the future we will reign with him. Worship God and praise him for what he has done, what he is doing and what he will do for all who trust in him. When we realize the glorious future that awaits us, we will find the strength to face our present difficulties.

The believers' song praises Christ for bringing them into the Kingdom and making them kings and priests. While now we are sometimes despised and mocked for our faith, in the future we will reign over all the earth. Christ's death made all believers priests of God- the channels of blessing between God and people. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Are you ready to tee off for the LORD?

Good morning everyone!! Another great day in the LORD JESUS CHRIST! God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of good courage, Do Not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your GOD is with you wherever you go."

When one plays golf, you have to tee off and then progress to the hole. The most challenging tee, especially for most of us, is the very first tee, close to the club house where people are watching and you want to hit a good shot, not a "duff."

To conquer the "first tee jitters" we must prepare ourselves both physically and mentally. On the practice tee they don't just hit some, but loosen up, stretch muscles, visualize the shots they want to make, and mentally prepare themselves for the first tee.

First tee shots aren't left to chance. They are prepared for and practiced. Every day when you begin a "new day" do you prepare yourself for the "first tee?" Do you loosen up in your fight for the LORD? Read your Bible, find scriptures, visualize what YOUR day in the LORD will be like? Do you prepare and plan ahead? God is ready for you to have a good tee shot for the kingdom of heaven. Are you ready?

Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Revelation 5:8

Good morning! God is good all the time, all the time God is good!

Revelation 5:8 "Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints."

Harp - These ancient stringed instruments not only accompanied the songs of God's people, but also accompanied prophecy. The twenty four elders, representative of the redeemed Church, played their harps in praise and in a symbolic indication that all the prophets had said was about to be fulfilled.

bowls full of incense - These golden, wide mouth saucers were common in the tabernacle and temple, incense was a normal part of the Old Testament ritual. Priests stood twice daily before the inner veil of the temple and burned incense so that the smoke would carry into the Holy of Holies and be swept into the nostrils of God. This symbolized the people's prayers rising to Him.

prayers of the saints - Specifically, these prayers represent all that the redeemed have ever prayed concerning ultimate and final redemption. This becomes a major theme throughout the book.

In Chrit's Love and Grace
Johnny

Failure!! How do you handle it?

Good morning all! Another great day to be alive in Jesus! God is good all the time, all the time God is good!

Failure! How do you respond to failure? Joshua 7:7 "Then Joshua cried out, "Oh, Sovereign LORD, why did you bring us across the Jordan River if you are going to let the Amorites kill us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side!"

Joshua first went against Ai, he did not consult God, but relied on the strength of his army to defeat the small city. Only after Israel was defeated did they turn to God and ask what happened.

Too often we rely on our own skills and strength, especially when the task before us seems easy. We go to God only when the obstacles seem too great. However, only God knows what lies ahead. Consulting him, even when we are on a winning streak, may save us from grave mistakes or misjudgments. God may want us to learn lessons, remove pride, or consult others before he will work through us.

Hiding your needs from God is ignoring the only one who can really help. God welcomes your honest prayers and wants you to express your true feelings to him. Any believer can become more honest in prayer by remembering that God is all-knowing and all-powerful and that his love is everlasting.

Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Revelation 5:6-7

Good morning! God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

Revelation 5:6-7 "Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God that is sent out into every part of the earth. He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne."Jesus Christ is pictured as both a Lion, symbolizing his authority and power; and a Lamb, symbolizing his submission to God's will. One of the elders calls John to look at the Lion, but when John looks he sees a Lamb. Christ the Lamb was the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all; therefore, only he can save us from the terrible events revealed by the scroll.

Christ the Lamb won the greatest battle of all. He defeated all the forces of evil by dying on the cross. The role of Christ the Lion will be to lead the battle where Satan is finally defeated. Christ the Lion is victorious because of what Christ the Lamb has already done. We will participate in his victory, not because of our effort or goodness, but because he has promised eternal life to all who believe in him.

"as though it had been slain," the scars from its slaughter are still clearly visible, but it is standing - it is alive.

"seven horns" In scripture, horns always symbolize power, because in the animal kingdom they are used to exert power and inflict woulnds in combat. Seven horns signify complete or perfect power. Unlike other defensseless lambs, this One has complete, sovereign power.

God has a plan for us all, and we can all rejoice in the fact we are children of God. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

God wants FULL CUSTODY!

Good mornging all!! Yes, another day to praise God. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

Sometimes we forget to give God praise, like last night when we had water coming into our house. God is our Father in Heaven, but so often we forget to go to him and thank Him for all we have.

So often we treat God as our divorced father, one who has weekend custody. Yet, with weekend custody we only wish to give our father a couple of hours on Sunday, because we have other thimgs to do.

God, our Father, wants to communicate constantly with us. He wants full custody, not just weekends. We tend to ask our Father for things mainly when we are in need. If we stay in constant communication with God, our walk will be upright, and the troubles and woes will all be something we can handle, with God's help.

Psalm 46:7& 11 "The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge, Selah."
Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."

Thank you for reading. Give God the glory, time, and praise. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Revelation 5:2-5

God is good all the time, all the time God is good! Revelation 5:2-5 "Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with aloud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?"
And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lon of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.""

Verse 2 - strong angel - the identity of this angel is uncertain, but it may refer to the angel Gabriel,whose name means "strength of God."

Verse 3 - heaven or on the earth or under the earth - A common biblical expression denoting the entire universe and not intended to teach three precise divisions.

Verse 4 - John was deeply upset because not one was worthy to open the seals.

Verse 5 - the Lion of the tribe of Judah - One of the earliest titles for the Messiah (Gen 49:8-10), it speaks of His fierceness and strength, which although glimpsed in His first coming, do not appear in their fullness until the moment anticipated here.

Verse 5 - the Root of David - Another clearly messianic title (Isa 11:1-10), it anticipates His being a descendant of David, who with devastating force will compel the wicked of the earth to succumb to His authority.

Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Beatitudes - Matthew 5:3

Good morning everyone!! Another great day to be alive in Jesus! Plus TGIF!! Yea! God is good all the time, all the time God is good!

Matthew 5:3 "God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs."

Evaluate where you are today. This is the beginning of the beatitudes. What are beatitudes? We can understand them in 4 ways: 1) they are a code of conduct for the believers; 2) they contrast Kingdom values (eternity) with worldly values (this that is temporary); 3)they contrast the superficial "faith" of the Pharisees with the real faith that Christ demands; and 4) they show how the Old Testament expectations will be fulfilled in the new Kingdom.

The beatitudes are not multiple choice where we pick what we like and leave the rest. They must be taken as a whole and they describe what we should be like as Christ's followers.

Jesus began His sermon with words that seem to contradict each other. But God's way of living usually contradicts the world's. If you want to live for God, you must be ready to say and do what seems strange to the world. You must be willing to give when others take, to love when others hate, to help when others abuse.

By giving up your own rights in order to serve others, yu will one day receive everything God has in store for you. God WILL BLESS YOU! Living for eternity is not an option, where you live is!! Thank you for reading with me today. Love you all. Just remember our Father in heaven wants full custody, not just weekend visits!

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Revelation 5:1

Good Morning! God is good all the time, all the time God is good! Let us go to Revelation 5:1 "And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back sealed with seven seals."

In John's day, books were written on scrolls, which are pieces of papyrus or vellum up to 30 feet long, rolled up and sealed with clay or wax. The scroll that John sees contains the full account of what God has in store for the world. The seven seals indicate the importance of its contents. The seals are located throughout the scroll so that as each one is broken, more of the scroll can be read to reveal another phase of God's plan for the end of the world. Only Christ is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll.

History lesson: Romans sealed their wills seven times-on the edge at each roll-to prevent unauthorized entry. Hebrew title deeds required a minimum of three witnesses and three separate seals, with more important transactions requiring more witnesses and seals.

Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Is your SOMEDAY on Auto-Pilot?

Good morning everyone!! Another great day to be alive in the LORD! God is good all the time, all the time God is good. Yesterday day we talked about "someday." Have you thought about YOUR someday?

We, humans, are like an auto pilot on an airplane. Yes, we leave one destination and are headed for another. However, did you know that the auto pilot is constantly correcting, so, the plane is actually on the true course about 15% of the time. Or, in reverse, off course 85% of the time. Yes, it is always correcting and coming back to the correct course but small adjustments are continually being made.

Isn't this like our life. We left one destination, going to another, and then have to constantly recalculate or correct our course? Let today be your someday, take off the auto pilot, don't worry, just trust God.

"So don't be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time." Matthew 6:34

We can follow God will, but we have to have a willingness to change, correct our course. Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Revelation 4:9-11

Good morning all!! God is good all the time, all the time God is good!

Revelation 4:9-11 "Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to HIM who sits on the throne, who loves forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before HIM who sits on the throne and worship HIM who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne saying: "You are worthy, O LORD, to receive glory and honor and power; for YOU created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.""
John describes these scenes in such detail because Chrsitians in the first century came from many backgrounds. Not all of them understood Jewish history or knew the glory of the Temple. Revelation instructs us in worship. It shows us where, why, and how to praise God. Worship takes our minds off our problems and focuses them on God. Worship leads us from individual meditation to corporate worship. Worship causes us to consider and appreciate God's character. Worship lifts our perspective from the earthly to the heavenly.

Verse 10 - cast their crowns - aware that God alone is responsible for the reqards they have received, they divest themselves of all honor and cast it at the feet of their King.

Verse 11 - the point of this chapter is summed up in this verse: All creatures in heaven and earth will praise and honor God because HE is the creator and sustainer of everything.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

SOMEDAY!!

Good morning everyone!! Wow! Great to be back on the 'net' as we were down almost all of yesterday. The day was one of frustration totally. I felt like I was just one step out of hell, the day the way went. But then, when I looked up ALL WAS WELL!

SOMEDAY! SOMEDAY!

Is your life built with "somdays" always in it. Or maybe "round to its" as in I'll get "round to it."

Someday I'll finish that project, or start this project. Someday I will call that friend with whom I have lost touch. Someday I'll be happy; take that trip; find that job; speak my mind; someday, someday.

We wait - just as we wait for others in our lives to "do the right thing." What is going on here. Are we in a rut? Let TODAY be your SOMEDAY!! There is not enough time in our 24 hour day to do everything we have hoped to do, but there is time to start making your dreams come true.

Ask God for guidance, take small steps in the direction of your choice, then you will be able to accomplish some good things in your life. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said, "Each indecision brings its own delays and days are lost lamenting over lost days...What you can do or think you can do, begin it. For boldness has Magic, Power, and Genius in it."

Psalm 95:7 "For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today if ye will hear his voice."

Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Burdened? Ask forgiveness-give it to God!

Good morning everyone!! I do hope all is well. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

"The psalmist wrote, 'In the day of my trouble I call on you, for you will answer me." Psalm 86:7

When we have troubles we need to remember to take time, pray, and call on the LORD. Many times we worry about everything. We are responsible for ourselves. We have to make decisions that are right for us at the time based on the facts we know.

Pride is a vast crevice that many times is too wide to build a bridge over without God's help. Many decisions are made in our personal life based on our emotions. We become angry because of our expectations. My expectations for you is that you will follow your own expectations, and you won't live up to my expectations.

If we wrong or offend another, we are only responsible to ask their forgiveness. If they do or don't, the decision lies in their hands. Once you ask for forgiveness from the offended, be sure and ask God's forgiveness, and then forgive yourself. It is done!!! LEAVE IT ALONE! Go on with your life.

Take time, ask God to heal your wound, and give it time to heal. IT WILL! God is good all the time all the time God is good!! Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Revelation 4:8

Good morning! God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

Revelation 4:8 "Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. day after day and night after night they keep on saying, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD GOD, the Almighty - the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come."

God is extoled in His Holiness in this threefold form, because it is the summation of all that HE is, His most prominent attribute.

God, the Almighty - the one who was, who is, and who will be. God in the past, present, and future.

Thanks for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Do you believe strongly in your heart?

Good morning everyone!! Another great day to be alive in the LORD JESUS CHRIST! God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

Does your faith come mostly from your mind or mostly from your heart?

Is reason (human logic) a barrier to our faith?

When is God most real to you? What reassures you of God's presence and care?

Sometimes we are as the father in Mark 9 whose son was possessed by a demon. When talking to the father, the father told Jesus, "......Have mercy on us and help us, if you can." Jesus said, "What do you mean, If I can?" "Anything is possible if a person believes."

Where are you today? Right now? Is your belief strong enough Jesus could cast the demon out? Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

We have much turmoil and controversy over our president, congress, state, etc.. Please pray for all the people in power in American-from the president on down. They do need our prayers and pray for each other.

Revelation 5:6,7

Hello all! God is good all the time, all the time God is good! Revelation 4:6 "Before thr throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back."

Glass was very rare in New Testament times, and crystal-clear glass was virtually impossible to find. The "sea of glass" highlights both the magnificence and holiness of God.

There is no sea in heaven, but the crystal pavement that serves as the floor of God's throne stretches out like a great, glistening sea.

Revelation 4:7 "The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle."

The "four living beings" represent the attributes, qualities and character, of God. These creatures were not real animals. Like the cherubim, they guard God's throne, lead others in worship, and proclaim God's holiness.

God's attributes symbolized in the animal-like appearance of these four creatures are: lion=majesty and power; ox=faithfulness; human=intelligence; and the eagle =sovereignty. The Old Testament prophet Ezekiel saw four similar creatures in one of his visions (Ezekiel 1:5-10). Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Spiritual fitness? Wisdom? Discipline?

Good morning everyone! Another great day to be alive in the LORD JESUS CHRIST!! The last week in our household has been a whirl wind. The good news is God is in control. I have learned a lot this past week.

Things are not as bad as they seem. Things are not as bad as they seem. Things are not as bad as they seem. Sometimes we are so close to the trees we fail to see the forest. We begin looking around and down; our Saviour is UP! We need to remember to look UP to JESUS!

What can we do when things look bad? 1 Timothy 4:7,8 "Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important for it promises a reward in both this life and the next."
Discipline requires time, effort, hard work, and even suffering. But these are like the efforts of a farmer who knows they will produce a harvest, or of musicians who know that their freedom to make music comes from their effort in practice.

A promise from God: Proverbs 1:7 "Fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. Only fools despise wisdom and discipline."
May your days be in wisdom and may you be disciplined; and may your spiritual fitness rise above all. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Revelation 4:4,5

Good morning everyone!! God is good all the time, all the time God is good. Okay, time to ask forgiveness from God, then forgive yourself. Ready?

Revelation 4:4,5 "Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. (5) And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God."
Who are these 24 elders? Because there were 12 tribes of Israel in the Old Testament and 12 apostles in the New Testament, the 24 elders in this vision probably represent all the redeemed of God for all time, both before and after Christ's death and resurrection. They symbolize all those-both jews and Gentiles-wo are now part of God's family. The 24 elders show us that all the redeemed of the LORD are worshiping him.

In Revelation lightning and thunder are connected with significant events in heaven. They remind us of the lightning and thunder at Mount Sinai when God gave the people his laws. This is not the fury of nature, but the firestorm of righteous fury about to come from an awesome, powerful God upon a sinful world.

The "sevenfold Spirit of God" is another name for the Holy Spirit. As in Zechariah 4:2-6, where seven lamps, like the seven torches, are equated with the one Spirit. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Choices-how we make them

Good morning everyone!! God is good all the time, all the time God is good! We make decisions every day in our life, some good, some not so good. What does the Bible say?

Johny 5:19 "Jesus replied, 'I assure you, the Son can do nothing by himself, He does only what he sees the Father doing.'"

If you, like Jesus, continually seek what God would have you do, then you are more likely to make good choices that honor him.

Galatians 5:22,23 "But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us; love joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."
Good choices are always in keeping with the fruit of the Holy Spirit, while bad choices often involve rejecting the Spirit's influence in you heart.

A good prayer would be Psalm 25:4 "Show me the path where I should walk, O LORD; point out the right road for me to follow."
Love you all.
In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny