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Posted on 01/01/2024 3:15:48 PM PST by luvie
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Stay as cool as possible!
Bible in a Year :
They cried, “Amen, Hallelujah!”
Joy was apparent in their voices as the high school choir sang the Argentinian song “El Cielo Canta Alegría.” I was enjoying the performance but couldn’t understand the lyrics because I don’t know Spanish. But it wasn’t long until I recognized a familiar word as the choir began to jubilantly declare, “Aleluya!” Repeatedly, I heard “Aleluya,” a declaration of praise to God that sounds similar in most languages around the world. Eager to know the background of the song, I went online after the concert and discovered the title translates “Heaven Is Singing for Joy.”
In a celebratory passage in Revelation 19, we’re given a glimpse of the reality expressed in that choral song—all of heaven rejoicing! In the apostle John’s vision of the future in the last book of the New Testament, he saw an enormous gathering of people and angelic creatures in heaven declaring gratitude to God. John wrote that the chorus of voices celebrated God’s power that overcame evil and injustice, His reign over the whole earth, and eternal life with Him forever. Over and over again, all the inhabitants of heaven declare “Hallelujah!” (vv. 1, 3, 4, 6), or “Praise God!”
One day people “from every tribe and language and people and nation” (5:9) will declare God’s glory. And with joy all our voices in every different language will shout together, “Hallelujah!”
Reflect & Pray
What is a reason you can say “Hallelujah” today? Why is it vital to regularly praise God?
Hallelujah! I’m so grateful for the joy I know because I’m loved by You, my God.
Bible in a Year :
The Lord turns my darkness into light.
The army wouldn’t give Tony Vaccaro a chance as a photographer, but that didn’t stop him. Between terrifying moments of dodging artillery shells and shrapnel that seemed to rain from the trees, he took pictures anyway. Then, as his friends slept, he used their helmets to mix the chemicals to develop his film. The nighttime forest became the darkroom in which Vaccaro created a timeless record of World War II’s battle of Hürtgen Forest.
King David lived through his share of battles and dark times. Second Samuel 22 says, “The Lord delivered [David] from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul” (v. 1). David used those experiences to produce a record of God’s faithfulness. He said, “Waves of death swirled about me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me” (v. 5).
David soon pivoted from desperation to hope: “In my distress I called to the Lord,” he recalled. “From his temple he heard my voice” (v. 7). David made certain to praise God for His unfailing help. “The Lord turns my darkness into light,” he said. “With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall” (vv. 29-30).
David turned his difficulties into an opportunity to tell the world about his faithful God. We can do the same. After all, we rely on the One who turns darkness into light.
Reflect & Pray
When have you felt most desperate? How will you tell others about God’s faithfulness to you in that moment?
Dear God, please help me to see the many ways You protect and help me—especially when it’s darkest.
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Bible in a Year :
Believers . . . testified about your faithfulness to the truth.
When Dr. Lee, my seminary professor, noticed that Benjie, our school custodian, would be late in joining our lunch gathering, he quietly set aside a plate of food for him. As my classmates and I talked, Dr. Lee also quietly placed the last slice of rice cake on a dish for him—adding some grated coconut as a delicious topping. This kind act of an eminent theologian was one of many—and what I consider an overflow of Dr. Lee’s faithfulness to God. Twenty years later, the deep impression he made on me remains.
The apostle John had a dear friend who also left a deep impression on many believers. They talked about Gaius as one who was faithful to God and the Scriptures, continually walking in “the truth” (3 John 1:3). Gaius showed hospitality to traveling preachers of the gospel, even though they were strangers (v. 5). As a result, John said to him, “They have told the church about your love” (v. 6). Gaius’ faithfulness to God and to other believers in Jesus helped further the gospel.
The impact my teacher had on me and the impact Gaius had in his day are powerful reminders that we can leave an impact on others—one that God can use in drawing them to Christ. As we walk faithfully with God, let’s live and act in a way that helps other believers walk faithfully with Him too.
Reflect & Pray
How do you know that you’re walking in the truth? What can others learn from your life?
Dear God, I need Your help to be faithful to You and Your truth. Please help me to live in a manner that will draw others to You.
For further study, read Walk with Me: Traveling with Jesus and Others on Life’s Road.
Sofas suck them in! :)
Yes indeed.
The flip side of “Civilization”.
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Good for you! I have been meaning to ask if it had been nice enough to go out for a ride or two! Where is your favorite route...well, generally. Don’t want TMI. :)
Southeast MAassachusetts, loop around through farm country down to Buzzards Bay and back up by Cape Cod through Cranberry Country, and, eventually back home again.
It sounds lovely!
All nice smooth paved roads just two lanes with a solid line down the middle.
Perfect! Lots of curves? My hubby loved going around curves on his bike.
curves AND hills!
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