Thought for December 5, 2023

  •  1360: French franc created
  • 1492: Columbus discovers Hispaniola
  • 1525: Anabaptist Hans Schlaffer arrested for refusing to recant his opposition to infant baptism-burned at the stake.
  • 1776: Phi Beta Kappa forms at William & Mary--proud member
  • 1854: Folding theater chair patented
  • 1893: Electric car built with range of 15 miles
  • 1932: Einstein receives a visa to enter the US
  • 1933: Prohibition ends
  • 1955: Birmingham bus boycott begins
  • 1992: First SEC championship game--Alabama 28, Florida 21
  • 2008: OJ Simpson sentenced to 33 years for kidnapping and armed robbery
  • Born: Martin Van Buren, George Armstrong Custer, Walt Disney, Otto Premingerr, Little Richard, James Cleveland [gospel singer], Jim Messina [Loggins & Messina]
  • Died: Mozart, Alexandra Dumas, Claude Monet, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Al Gore Sr., Don Meredith, Dave Brubeck, Nelson Mandela, 
On this date in 1907, Priscilla Jane Owens died. She was a school teacher in Baltimore for 49 years and a committed member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She wrote "Jesus Saves" for the anniversary celebration at Union Square Methodist Sunday School. So today we sing--"this our song of victory, Jesus saves, Jesus saves."

Thought:
Most of us hope for a pre-Tribulation Rapture. None of us really look forward to living during the Great Tribulation. The timing and order of the events described in Revelation have occupied the thoughts and study of many. When I read Revelation 7:9-17, it is hard for me to understand that no Christian will face the Great Tribulation. Read these verses this morning--
  • There is an uncountable multitude standing before the Lamb clothed in white robes.
  • The multitude is from every nation and tribe and tongue. 
  • Their proclamation is "Salvation to our God and to the Lamb."
  • They are the ones who have come out of the Great Tribulation [7:14]
  • They are blessed of God
    • They stand before His throne
    • They serve Him day and night--we have not come to the New Heavens and New Earth because in the New Jerusalem there is no night.
    • God spreads His Tabernacle over them [covered by the power and presence of God].
    • No hunger, no thirst, no tears.
    • Jesus is their Shepherd leading them to the living water. 
What does that mean to me today? Even if I face the Great Tribulation, my loving Father has a plan for me and my future. That plan is for me to be with Him. I wonder if Priscilla Jane Owens was thinking about this when she wrote "Jesus Saves." For here, those brought out of the Great Tribulation have only one thing to say--Jesus Saves--He is my Savior. Salvation is found in no other. Satan tried to destroy us, Satan tried to defeat us--but this our song of victory--Jesus saves!

That is a real encouragement to me. We may not face the Great Tribulation, but we face trials and temptations, troubles and woes. We face illness, disease, aging, broken relationships, doubts and fears--but in all of those we can sing--Jesus Saves! Maybe Gene Bartlett had this in mind when he wrote "Victory in Jesus." "Some sweet day I'll sing up there the song of victory." Just reflect for a moment on the change Jesus made for these saints standing in white robes---one moment feeling all the pain and wrath that Satan could pour out--the next standing before the throne of grace singing Salvation to our God and to the Lamb. That is the power of Christ! Lord, allow me to know the power of Your presence today. 

Blessings
Larry

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Thought for July 19

History: 1553: Lady Jane Gray deposed after 9 days 1692: 5 people hung during Salem Witch Trials 1848: First women's rights convention -Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. Wesleyan Chapel at Seneca Falls NY 1910: Cy Young wins his 500th game 1941: US Army flying school at Tuskegee AL dedicated 1945: USS Cod saves 51 sailors from Dutch sub--only sub-to-sub rescue 1957: Firing of first rocket with nuclear warhead-Nevada 1984: Geraldine Ferraro is first major party female VP candidate 1996: Olympics open in Atlanta 2007: Madmen debuts 2018: Duck Boat sinks in Table Rock Lake killing 17 Born: Samuel Colt, Edgar Degas [painter], Lizzie Borden, Charles Mayo [Mayo Clinic], George McGovern, Al Haig, George Hamilton IV, Vikki Carr, Ilie Nastase, Stuart Scott, Benedict Cumberbatch,  Died: Syngman Rhee [President South Korea], Clyde Beatty [circus animal trainer], Mary Jo Kopechne [passenger with Ted Kennedy], Jack Warden, Frank McCourt [Angela's Ashes], James Garner, Garry Marshall
Read more

Thought for November 23, 2023

Happy Thanksgiving!  1664: Blaise Pascal is converted following a vision. He wrote the date and time of his conversion and said, "Fire. The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob. Not of philosophers and intellectuals. Certitude, certitude, joy, peace. The God of Jesus Christ." Laid the foundation for the law of probabilities; genius in hydrodynamics and hydrostatics developing Pascal's principle of pressure; taught the experience of God through the heart rather than reason; mathematician and philosopher. 1783: Annapolis Maryland becomes U.S. Capitol until June 1784 1863: Patent for making color photographs granted 1889: First jukebox debuts in Palais Royale Saloon in San Francisco 1897: Pencil sharpener patented 1904: Summer Olympics in St. Louis close [1st Olymics in U.S.] 1921: President Harding signs an Act prohibiting doctors from prescribing beer or liquor for medicinal purposes 1923: Cecil B. DeMille's first "The Ten Commandments" premiers
Read more

Thought for April 5, 2024

1722: Easter Island discovered 1792: First Presidential veto 1815: Mt. Tambora erupts. Largest eruption ever witnessed. Created year without summer in 1816--frost and snow in North America in June and July. Largest part of eruption on April 10th. Killed 10,000 in initial blast.  1906: Mt. Vesuvius erupts killing 100 1923: Firestone begins producing inflatable tires 1936: Tupelo almost completely destroyed by a tornado--216 die 1972: Baseball strike costs 86 games 2063: On "Star Trek", earth has its first contact with the Vulcan species Born: Thomas Hobbes, Joseph Lister, Booker T Washington, Spencer Tracy, Bette Davis, Gregory Peck, Arthur Hailey. Gale Storm, Frank Gorshin, Colin Powell, Pharrell Williams Died: Robert Raikes [Sunday School], Douglas MacArthur, Howard Hughes, Abe Fortas, Sam Walton, Allen Ginsberg, Saul Bellow, Charlton Heston, Honor Blackman Thought: Reading Daniel 1:5-7 this morning. Continuing with the thoughts about Nebuchadnezzar's plan. Having brough
Read more