There IS a Bigger Plan

How easy it is to get focused on the small things of life like, well... my own small little world. Is anyone else plagued with the tendency to get burdened under the 'everydayness syndrome'? That's my very own made up phrase. Hey! Sometimes you have to do that.

And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY

is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY,

WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME." Rev. 4:8

"Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power;

for You created all things,

and because of Your will they existed, and were created." Rev. 4:11

We go about our daily routines loaded down with our current stresses. We are all caught up in trying to 'get it all done' in the 24 hours we've been given. It is so easy to be consumed with our own affairs, our own troubles, our own ideas, our own families, our own jobs, our own desires... you get the picture.

After that I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse [appeared]!

The One Who was riding it is called

Faithful (Trustworthy, Loyal, Incorruptible, Steady) and True, and

He passes judgment and wages war in righteousness (holiness, justice, and uprightness).
His eyes [blaze] like a flame of fire,

and on His head are many kingly crowns (diadems);

and He has a title (name) inscribed

which He alone knows or can understand. Rev. 19: 11-12

I can so clearly remember when my three children were growing up and it seemed like every minute of my day was consumed with their needs. It felt like it was all I could do to get to the end of each day with some semblance of sanity. Even in those intense days I felt the tug of the Holy Spirit in my heart leading me to begin praying for God to broaden my vision. I wanted to be able to see beyond my own needs which seemed so great at the time. It was my desire to have more capacity for the bigger plan of God. I wanted to have God's heart for the world, for the nations, for the church, for His people, for His kingdom and just what was my part in all of this?

He is dressed in a robe dyed by dipping in blood, and the title by which

He is called is The Word of God.
And the troops of heaven, clothed in fine linen, dazzling and clean,

followed Him on white horses.
From His mouth goes forth a sharp sword with which He can smite (afflict, strike) the nations;

and He will shepherd and control them with a staff (scepter, rod) of iron.

He will tread the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath and indignation of God the All-Ruler

(the Almighty, the Omnipotent).
And on His garment (robe) and on His thigh He has a name (title) inscribed,

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Rev. 19:13-16

One of the ways God began to answer this prayer was by leading me to read the book of Revelation. I won't go into the sequence of how this came about for the sake of time but suffice to say that to this day - so many years later - when I find myself caught up in my own troubles, my own agenda, the requirements of life, my own small world ... it never fails that I hear the prompting of the Holy Spirit leading me back to those same passages in the book of Revelation.

THEN I saw a new sky (heaven) and a new earth,

for the former sky and the former earth

had passed away (vanished),

and there no longer existed any sea.
And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem,

descending out of heaven from God,

all arrayed like a bride beautified and adorned for her husband;
Then I heard a mighty voice from the throne and I perceived its distinct words, saying,

See! The abode of God is with men, and He will live (encamp, tent) among them;

and they shall be His people, and God shall personally be with them and be their God.
God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more,

neither shall there be anguish (sorrow and mourning) nor grief nor pain any more,

for the old conditions and the former order of things have passed away.
And He Who is seated on the throne said, See! I make all things new.

Also He said, Record this, for these sayings are

faithful (accurate, incorruptible, and trustworthy) and true (genuine).
And He [further] said to me, It is done!

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.

To the thirsty I [Myself] will give water without price

from the fountain (springs) of the water of Life. Rev. 21:1-6

Now, mind you, I don't even begin to understand all this book offers. But there is something about the visions given to John of Jesus and heaven and the worship that takes place in heaven and the way the book ends that puts me in a completely different frame of mind. It transports me instantly out of my small world and its supposed issues and reminds me of God's big plan, of His love for the WHOLE world, of the price Jesus paid, of His soon coming return, of kingdom business, of what is most important in life.

I, Jesus, have sent My messenger (angel) to you to witness and

to give you assurance of these things for the churches (assemblies).

I am the Root (the Source) and the Offspring of David,

the radiant and brilliant Morning Star.
The [Holy] Spirit and the bride (the church, the true Christians) say, Come!

And let him who is listening say, Come!

And let everyone come who is thirsty

[who is painfully conscious of his need of those things by which

the soul is refreshed, supported, and strengthened];

and whoever [earnestly] desires to do it, let him come,

take, appropriate, and drink the water of Life without cost. Rev. 22: 16-17

I've had my nose in this book of late.