2011 Revelation

Dear Friend, Again, no family update, pictures, recipes or decorations…But… what God is showing me through my ponderings of the Christmas story. As I sent out my letter last year, my uncle mentioned that I should think about writing my next letter from the perspective of Revelation. I have been pondering that all year. What the Christmas story is, not from Luke or Matthew, but from the Revelation to John. Hmmm. So, here’s the nutshell…As I began to read Revelation, the first thing to hit me was the first 5 words, “ The Revelation of Jesus Christ.” Wow…this really is the Christmas story (and more). Next, 1:3 stood out as referring to Luke 11:28. Both are a warning to heed what is being said. I wonder if I heed what God is telling me. I sometimes get so caught up in my own little world that I think I miss many things God wants me to see. So, I need to focus on what God wants me to heed this Christmas and beyond. Then I began to thumb through Revelation passing up the messages to the churches, the throne, the breaking of the 7 seals in the book, etc. to find the woman. Chapter 12 begins with a description: a “great sign” appearing in heaven of the woman clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet and a crown of 12 stars. (This reminded me of Joseph and his dream in Genesis 37:9 when the sun, moon and 11 stars bowed to him. What is the connection here? I am not sure, but I know God connects all things and the same reference in the beginning of the Bible to connect it to the end is not surprising, just curious and worth pondering.) However, this image of the woman is a stark contrast to the quiet little Mary we see in Matthew and Luke. I wonder if this revelation to John is what God saw when He looked at Mary. I wonder what He sees when He looks at me. Is there a stark contrast between the girl I see in the mirror and the image of me in God’s eye? I wonder what He sees. I wonder what I should be seeing when I look at others. I want to see others through God’s eyes. Next, this woman cries out in the pain of labor, and, another sign appears in heaven. A red dragon having seven heads and ten horns and seven diadems appears. This image is accompanied by a description of his seemingly great power in which he took out 1/3 of the stars with his tail and threw them to earth. This is quite an image of what I take to be when Satan took 1/3 of the angels in a rebellion against God. Doesn’t this timeline seem mixed up? God…outside time, does not always order things the way we see them. His view is much different than ours. I cannot imagine having events jumbled instead of chronological, and this description is an interesting view of the fact that God is not constrained by time. I know it, but I do not understand it. Perhaps I never will. At any rate, it makes me think of my own jumbled schedule and priorities. Although it may make some sense to me, I wonder what my children think of my own timeline. My own priorities may be jumbled, especially with the busy Christmas season, but God’s are not. If only I would sit at His feet and always do His bidding, in His time and in His way. Now the dragon is standing by the woman so that he can devour the child when it is born. As she gives birth, it is said that He (her child) will rule the nations with a rod of iron. This is curious, since we see Jesus as a kind sacrifice, not ruling with a rod of iron. It made me think of the nails with which He was held to the cross. Were they the iron rod with which He rules? What sacrifice am I making so that His love can flow through me to rule the nations with the iron rod of sacrifice? Next, the baby is caught up to God and to His throne. What in the world does that mean? The woman flees to the wilderness to a place prepared by God where she is nourished for 1260 days. Is this when Mary and Joseph fled to protect Jesus? Or is there something else there also? God is such a God of double meanings that it is sometimes too difficult for my little mind to wrap around His thoughts. Then there is war in heaven, Satan is thrown to earth to contend with the woman and her offspring who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. Is this the description of Jesus’ life and death? How Satan contended. Can I expect less for my own life? Why do bad things happen to good people (although there is really on One Good)? Because, Satan is still contending with the offspring of God. So, when it seems that my world is crashing down around me and there is no light and no escape, I must remember that this is the contention that I must expect. But also remember that God prepared a place for Mary to be nourished. He took care of her in the midst of contention, and He will take care of me, because I am His. So, what have I learned this Christmas season? 1. As I heed the Revelation of Jesus Christ, not only to me, but in me, I pray that I can be a blessing to others and that they can see the Revelation of Jesus Christ through me. 2. I need to see others as God sees them, not from my own little perspective. 3. I need to sit at Jesus’ feet and always do His bidding, in His time and in His way. 4. I need to seriously look at what sacrifice I am making so that His love can flow through me to rule the nations with the love of the iron rod of sacrifice. 5. I need to remember that God will take care of me even though I am in constant contention with Satan. Please consider this Christmas season and listen to what God is teaching you. He wants us all to listen, obey, love and care for others. How can you do this right now? What is He calling you to do? Can you take time to read some of the Christmas story and get out of it what God is telling you today? May you be blessed and highly favored this season. May God pour rich blessing on you and your family so that the constant overflow fills the world with His love through you. May we all have the Peace promised in every moment of every day. Merry Christmas, Missy, Tim, Tina and Emmalee