The Alpha and Omega

November 13, 2004
Rev 1:8  "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the lord God.  He who is and who was and who is to come.  The Almighty (Ruler of All)"

God the Father is the Eternal Lord and Ruler of the past, present, and future.  Without You I have nothing that is eternal, nothing that can change my life, nothing that can save me from sin.  You are my reason for living.  I honor the One who is  the beginning and the end of all existence, wisdom, and power.

Just as God the Father finished the work of creation (Gen 2:1-3), so Jesus the Son finished the work of redemption (John 19:30), so the Trinity will finish the entire plan of salvation by inviting the redeemed into a new creation. 

I am so thankful for Your Trinity.  If You were not the Great Three in One, Father Son and Holy Spirit - we would be powerless and useless here in this world.  You created us in the beginning to love and have fellowship with You.  We broke that fellowship when Adam sinned but you planned for Jesus to come and redeem us. 

If you were not also the Holy Spirit who abides in use and works through us, the truth and the saving grace would not be told and passed down through the generations.  We would not and could not do it without Your abiding Holy Spirit.

That is how You are in the past, present, and future - the beginning, middle and the end:  Alpha and Omega. 

A Wall of Fire

November 8, 2004

Zechariah 2:5 "For I, says the Lord, will be to her (Jerusalem) a wall of fire round about, and I will be the glory in the midst of her."

My Lord, I continue to be amazed as to how much You love us, and how many different ways You protect Your own.  You dwelt in the midst of Your holy city, Jerusalem, and at the same time You were (are) a wall of fire around her (us) protecting from seen and unseen enemies. 

I believe this applies to us today as well.  To anyone who trust in You, an individual like me, a church, a body of believers, a city, or a country.  Our soldiers in Iraq need a wall of  fire protecting them from car bombers, snipers, mines, etc.  Our nation need a wall of holy fire around our borders so no enemy can penetrate it again like they did on Sept 11, 2001.  Our churches need that wall of fire to keep out the enemy and his lies and arrows of discouragement so they cannot do his dirty work in your people. 

Our city and country need Your protection in so many ways; our leaders, from local mayors, police, up to the congressional leaders, the President, his cabinet, the military.  O God be that wall of fire that protects - may the enemies see it and flee.  and may Your glory continue to abide in us that all may see and even the wicket must acknowledge you.

Thank You for Your daily protection.  I know we will all be amazed at how many times Your hand of protection was there, saving us from dangers we never were aware of.  May we always give You praise, in everything, and remember you are our Wall of Fire!