Joining With the Elders + 4 Living Creatures

Aside from a detailed description of God, Revelation 4 paints a brilliant depiction of worship.  In the center of the awe-inspiring spectacle of Heaven's throne room, we read of these four living creatures.  They are covered with eyes in front and in back.  "The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.  Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings (Revelation 4: 7+8)."

To me, the most interesting thing about these creatures isn't there design.  Their design peaks my creative curiosity and leaves me awe-struck and fascinated by their Maker's creativity.  But the most interesting thing about these four living creatures is that "day and night they never stop saying, ''Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come'."

A few verses later it says that every time these four living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to God, there are 24 elders who fall on their faces and worship Him saying, "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."  So at any given second--right now--there are beings in heaven doing nothing other than worshiping God.  

A couple years ago I had a lot of stress because I needed student loans or else I wouldn't be able to continue my education (incidentally, these are the same student loans that are now the cause of a lot of my stress).  The recession was gaining momentum at this time and I remember a girl at my lunch table talking about how she was denied because of the economy.  I was overcome by fear.  That night as I was struggling to fall asleep, these verses in Revelation 4 came back to me.  So as I lay there alone in the dark I began repeating, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.  You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power forever and ever, amen."

As I repeated it over and over I realized who I was saying it with.  Those four living creatures actually exist and those 24 elders are actually laying their crowns before the throne.  What a sense of peace that brought me.  It makes me wonder why I don't say that more often.  Affirming God's glory, honor and power with all of heaven is a powerful weapon we have against fear and despair.   

I'll end by paraphrasing a sermon I heard Francis Chan give.  He said we have these four living creatures who would terrify any one of us and all they can think to do is say, "Don't look at me, I'm NOTHING. Give glory to God."  

He's Up To Something

I've been praying and trying hard to get a job for the past several months.  I keep asking God over and over for it, weighing my motives and wondering why it hasn't seemed to happen yet.  But this morning I was praying for a job and felt God say, "You are going into work today.  You've worked and earned money for all your bills in the past month or two.  How do you not have a job?"  And He's right.  I have been blessed to have work off and on for a while now.  I've never missed a payment.

And I know God knows what I mean when I say "job."  Matthew 7: 9+10 says, "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?" I'm God's son.  He's my dad and He'll provide.  And that's not saying that the work I've been doing is the same as a stone in exchange for bread.  Not at all.  I just mean that God cuts through my vagueness.  Maybe I ought to be more specific.  

 It's hard to say, and I feel a little stupid for thinking this way, but if I could go back in time and get a career in my field of expertise straight out of college I don't think I would.  I mean, I want one.  Badly.  But I have learned so much about myself, money management, God's character, accepting help, humility, waiting on God patiently, etc.  I'm sure could go on.  

I know God's up to something. I'm not going to be treading water forever.  It's really nerve-racking at times and the Enemy knows it gets to me.  Through this time I just want to once again affirm that God is good.  Even though His hand seems to be pausing me instead of taking me somewhere, I know He's got a plan.  I can rest in that.  

Funerals

My good friend Cam's grandpa died last week.  He said that they saw it coming because he wasn't doing very well.  But the grief was still evident in his face for a couple days.  

I went to his wake and funeral, and as funerals tend to do, it made me think about my own life.  Cam's uncle gave the eulogy and said that Grandpa Ray's life is marked more by his actions than his words.  I want to be remembered for that too.  

It also made me think of the event of my funeral.  I don't want just one person to speak, I want everybody to.  Not in a mandatory way, but similar to an open mic night, I want people to share as they feel led.  And I want pictures.  I have a lot of them.  I want my pictures displayed for people to see and take home.  

This is a strange thing to write about but I feel more comfortable having said what I'd like to have done.  In the past I just kind of assumed people could read my mind or imagine what I'd want.  Now its written for all to see.  Which means I'll never have to write about this again.