Lent Season April 08

Going Beyond - Revelation
Carri Lynne Pratt

The Rider is called Faithful & True

Today's Reading: Revelation 19:11-21

"Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! 
The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True,
and in righteousness He judges and makes war."
Revelation 19:11  

Our Lord came as a Suffering Servant the first time, living as a human being upon the Earth. He, however, lived a perfect and sinless life; taking upon the sins of the world and overcoming death to Resurrection for our benefit. Hallelujah!!!

The Second Coming of our Savior will be as a Mighty Conqueror!  He will make war with the Beast and will overcome him.  Jesus is Worthy, He is Faithful and He is True!

It is easy to become distracted with the details of our daily lives. Although life can be unfair, and we sometimes suffer from the actions of others, we need to focus on that fact that  Jesus is coming as the righteous Judge! We can leave it to Him to right every wrong.  

We look around our world and see evil and injustice everywhere. Although God wants no person to suffer the torment of Hell, many will choose that destination by failing to accept Jesus as Lord of their lives.  Jesus tells us in the Gospel of Matthew that mankind will be separated, evil from good:

"So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous." Matthew 13:49

Reflection: Today I will focus on the fact that Jesus is coming as a Mighty Warrior to right every wrong. What personal injustice have I experienced that I can release to Him knowing that He will make it right?

Speak In Wisdom

Speak With Wisdom 

It always hurts my heart when I see those who are mature in age but not in wisdom.

Before you speak please 

THINK

Is what you are saying

 True

Helpful

Inspiring

Necessary

Kind

Oh Lord, Give us the wisdom to love and encourage one another. 

"Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips." Psalm 141:3 

"The tongue has the power of life and death.." Proverbs 18:21

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women encouraging women

Lent Season April 07

Going Beyond - Revelation
Carri Lynne Pratt

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb

Today's Reading: Revelation19:6-10

"And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those
who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. . . These are 
the true words of God." Revelation 19:9 

The most anticipated event in all of history is the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Every Christian desires a seat to partake of this joyous occasion. 

"Let us rejoice and exult

and give Him the glory,

for the marriage of the Lamb has come,

and His Bride has made herself ready;

It was granted her to clothe herself

with fine linen, bright and pure"

Revelation 19:7-8  

Matthew 22 tells us of the parable of the wedding feast as told by Jesus. We know that it was originally prepared for the Jews, but they would not come, that is believe that Jesus is Messiah. Fortunately, the King then opened the invitation to everyone. There is one frightening warning told by Jesus in this parable:

"But when the King came in to look at the guests, He saw there a man

who had no wedding garment. And He said to him, "Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?" . . . Then the King said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen." Matthew 22:11-14

This is a strong warning to all Christians to make sure they are wearing their wedding clothes.  Here is a scary thought: research shows that about 50% of people who believe they are Christians are not going to the wedding banquet.  Why?? you ask, because there is just one way to the banquet and it is not by heredity, good works, if your parents are Christians, going to church or anything else we can do for ourselves.

Listen closely, the only way we receive our invitation is by accepting Jesus Christ as the Lord of our lives. We need to recognize why we even need Jesus. It is because we are sinful, and God is holy and we would never survive a second in God's presence without the blood of our Savior to wash us clean.  Accept His free gift, turn towards Him, make Him the Lord of your life and attend the marriage supper of the Lamb with great joy!

Reflection: Will I be attending the Marriage Supper of the Lamb? 

Lent Season April 06

Going Beyond - Revelation
Carri Lynne Pratt

Rejoicing In Heaven

Today's Reading: Revelation 19:1-5 

 "After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice 

of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,

"Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power

belong to our God,

for His judgments are true and just." Revelation 19:1-2

 

Reflection: Do I believe that all of God's judgments are true and just?

Lent Season April 05

Going Beyond - Revelation
Carri Lynne Pratt

The Fall of Babylon

Today's Reading: Chapter 18:1-24

Fall of Bablyon - Painting by John Martin 1826

 "Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more." Revelation 18:21

Today's reading is interesting for several different reasons. The first being the history of Babylon itself. At one time Babylon was the largest city in the world covering four square miles in approximately 600-500 BC with a population of nearly 200,000! (britannica.com) Today it stands in ruins near Baghdad in Southern Iraq (see picture below).

Babylon ruins from Saddam Hussein's summer palace - wikipedia.com

Another item of interest is the comparison of the stone found in Revelation which is thrown into the sea and the stone in Daniel's interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream regarding the statue of gold, silver, bronze, iron and clay:

"a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold."

Daniel 2:45  

Finally, there is a debate over whether or not Babylon would need to be rebuilt in order to fulfill this prophecy of it being destroyed, similar to the temple being rebuilt to fulfill the prophecy of the anti-Christ standing in the temple for the abomination of desolation.  Some consider it to be a philosophy based on capitalism.

One thing is obvious, although the entire world mourns her destruction, the angelic beings find it to be a fair judgment by God.

Reflection: What do you think, is the Babylon spoken of in Chapter 18 an actual city which will be rebuilt or a philosophy/way of life? 

Lent Season Aprl 04

Going Beyond - Revelation
Carri Lynne Pratt

The Woman on the Beast

Today's Reading: Revelation 17:1-18

"I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations." 

Revelation 17:3-4

Ladies, the readings today and tomorrow are full of symbolism. Again, this is a 'read and reflect' so we will not be attempting to interpret what each symbol or character means. We do know that this woman represents immorality and possibly an evil world system (gotquestions.org).  The beast she is riding is mentioned in Revelation 13 as the anti-Christ and the horns/heads could be symbolic of his association with the 'kings' that are in control. We also know that everything 'she' stands for is against the will of God.

Our goal in this study is to read through the book of Revelation, reflect upon our relationship with Jesus Christ and take from it a rock solid sense of hope and peace that we are saved through  justification from our precious Savior. We need to understand that we do not need to be terrified if this period of time were to occur in our generation. We should teach this to our children so they, and their children, can experience that hope and peace.

"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord,

and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead,

You will be saved." Romans 10:9  

Reflect: How much influence does the 'world' have on my life? Am I living in the will of God?

Lent Season April 03

Going Beyond - Revelation
Carri Lynne Pratt

The Day of the Lord

Today's Reading: Revelation 16:13-21

"And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew 

is called Armageddon." 

Revelation 16:16

We read in this passage that three unclean spirits depart from the dragon, the beast and the false prophet to go out and perform signs, and to gather the kings of the world for battle. 

Armageddon is translated Tel Megiddo and is an actual location in Israel. It was used several times by Egypt, Solomon and Assyria. (megiddo.com)

The Scripture then records a strong warning from Jesus:

"Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and 

be seen exposed." Revelation 16:15

We receive this same warning in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

The Day of the Lord

5 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. ² For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³ While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 

⁴ But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. ⁵ For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. ⁶ So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. ¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Reflection: Who can I encourage today knowing that the Day of the Lord is coming?

Lent Season April 02

Going Beyond - Revelation
Carri Lynne Pratt

The First Six Bowls Poured Out

Today's Reading Revelation 16:1-12

 "Just are You, O Holy One, Who is and Who was, for You brought

these judgments. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,

and You have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!"

Revelation 16:5-6

Please notice a huge difference in Revelation 15:5, God has been referred to as "Who is, was and will be" this is the first time that the angelic beings recognize that God has now come to reign on the Earth and state, "Who is and Who was" with no "will be" associated.

Blood is very symbolic in the Bible. Blood was shed for sacrifices, blood was painted over the door posts so the angel of death would pass by (Exodus 12) and the blood of Christ was shed for all humanity. Here we see God turning the sea, rivers and drinking water into blood.  The inhabitants of the Earth were "bloodthirsty" or 'eager to shed blood' so it was given to them in abundance.

We should think about what we want and pray for in our lives. We just might get it in abundance and realize we don't want it at all!

Reflection: What do I deserve because of the sinful things I have done in my life?  Ask forgiveness and thank God for His abundant mercy.

Lent Season April 01

Going Beyond - Revelation
Carri Lynne Pratt

7 Bowls of God's Wrath

Today's Reading: Revelation 15:1-8 

"And one of the four living creatures gave to the 

seven angels seven golden bowls

full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever." 

Revelation 15:7

 

Sir Isaac Newton's third law of physics: Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. The bigger the push, the bigger the pushback.

 

The first law of thermodynamics is: Matter can be neither created nor destroyed, it remains constant.

 

Why do I bring up laws of physics when we are discussing end times? Good question. Because in our limited understanding of why this horrific event must occur we merely need to look to physical laws we can understand.  

 

God's wrath is the pushback to the collection of all sins by all people on the Earth who ever lived. (imagine that!) The fact that there is a Heaven and Hell is in direct correlation to the fact that matter is not created nor destroyed - we go somewhere.

 

The bigger question is why hasn't it happened already? The answer to that one is God is being mericiful, as Jesus said, "So it is not the will of My Father who is in heaven that  one of these little ones should perish." Matthew 18:14

 

Every person ever created has the opportunity to escape the coming wrath. It is a simple choice to place Jesus as Lord of one's life to forgive our sins. Unfortunately many people see themselves as good rather than sinful and don't recognize that every reaction has an equal and opposite reaction.

 

Reflection: We should look forward to the coming of Christ and to His Kingdom on Earth, but think if this were to happen today, how many people do you know that would experience the wrath of God? Would you escape?

 

 

 

Intentional Living

Intentional Living

Intentionally living your life will change everything. 

Being the best version of myself meant I had to not just let go of all the things that were thwarting me, I had to all out reject them. I had to change my mindset, perspective, thoughts and habits.

Once I did these such good fruit came afterward: 

~Stop believing the lies that I was not good enough or capable. 

 ~Visualize the life I wanted and prioritize. 

~Stop focusing on my hubby's faults, but instead love and respect him unconditionally.

~Forgiving and no longer holding record of wrongs.

~Stop over-reacting, defending myself, and trying to control that was all rooted in fear, but fully trust the Lord in his plan.

~Delight in my children and build them up with my words and tone. 

~Being grateful and positive not speaking against myself, my family, or my situation.

~Exercise being an important & valuable part of my day. 

~Eating whole & healthy food.

~Joyfully and Intentionally staying on top of the house work and making our home an inviting place of blessing, comfort and rest.

"The wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands." Proverbs 14:1

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women encouraging women

Lent Season Mar 31

Going Beyond - Revelation
Carri Lynne Pratt

 The Wrath of God

Today's Reading: Revelation 14:14-20

"The hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the Earth is fully ripe. . .

So the angel swung his sickle across the Earth and gathered the

grape harvest. . . and threw it into the

great winepress of the wrath of God." Rev 14:15 & 19

Many people ask, "If God is Love how can He have wrath?"  Let me ask you, if you love your children/spouse can you still have wrath against them? Let's define wrath: "anger aroused by something unjust, unworthy or mean." Do you think mankind has done anything unjust, unworthy or mean against God?

Let us consider the words of Charles Spurgeon, one of the greatest preachers of all time, about the coming Wrath of God: 

"The wrath of man is sometimes very terrible; but what must the wrath of God be like? O dear people, I have tried, these many years, humbly yet earnestly to preach the love of God, and I have never yet reached the height of that great argument, for his love is boundless; but so are all of his attributes; and if you consider any one of them, you must say, “It is so great, that I cannot fully comprehend it.” Therefore the just indignation of God against sin must be commensurate with his absolute purity. A man or a woman may think that right and wrong are mere arbitrary terms, and have no concern when wrong is done; but it is not this way with God; God is infinitely pure and holy and cannot — it is not possible that he can — look upon sin without hatred and disgust and anger. God says, through his servant Jeremiah, “Do not do this detestable thing that I hate!” [Jeremiah 44:4]. God is not indifferent to sin, rather he hates it, and he pleads with men and women not to do it because it is so abominable and so hateful in his sight.

What will “the coming wrath” be like? If God barely touches a man or a woman, as it were, with only his little finger, the strongest must at once fail and fall, the mightiest can scarcely open their eyes, and the seal of death is quickly imprinted on their forehead. Now imagine what it will be like when the hand of God will begin to plague the ungodly, when he will pour out all the vials of his wrath upon them, and crush them with his power. What will happen to them when God says, “I will remove my adversaries and severely punish my enemies?” Think, too, what must be the meaning of that terrible passage of scripture—let me repeat it to you slowly and solemnly—“Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with none to rescue” [Psalm 50:22] Thus have I faithfully tried to set before you “the coming wrath.”  Charles Spurgeon

(Read more @  Flee from the Coming Wrath! October 23, 1881)

Reflection:  What do I think the coming Wrath of God will be like?