“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” – Revelation 21:4

The tear bottle tradition has endured for more than 3,000 years. Tear bottles, or lachrymatory, were common in ancient Middle Eastern societies. Even today they are still produced in that region. Tear bottles were prevalent in ancient Roman times when mourners filled small glass vials or cups with tears and placed them in burial tombs as symbols of love and respect. Sometimes women were even paid to cry into "cups", as they walked along the mourning procession. Those crying the loudest and producing the most tears received the most compensation, or so the legend goes. The more anguish and tears produced, the more important and valued the deceased person was perceived to be.

In the Old Testament, a reference to collecting tears in a bottle appears in Psalm 56:8 when David prays to God, "Thou tellest my wanderings, put thou my tears in Thy bottle; are they not in Thy Book?" David is referring to the belief that God keeps a record of human pain and suffering and always remembers our sorrows.

In Heaven, all of our tears will be turned to joy when we are found with our Savior. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He will turn our tears into joy.

"You're amazing God, You're amazing God

You can bear the weight of every heavy heart

You can heal the pain, You can clean the stain

You can turn our tears into songs of praise

You're amazing God!" - Brenton Brown

God’s Word: “For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” – Revelation 7:17

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS  †

"They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings--and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers." - Revelation 17:14

At the age of 19, Theodore Roosevelt’s father died while Theodore was in college. Devastated, the young Roosevelt read passages of Scripture, copied a hymn in his diary, and confessed “nothing but my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ could have carried me through this, my terrible time of trial and sorrow.” 

Teddy went on to serve as the 26th President of the United States from September 1901 until March 1909. In 1909, President Roosevelt, who attended Grace Reformed Church, stated: “After a week on perplexing problems...it does so rest my soul to come into the house of The Lord and to sing and mean it, 'Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty'... (My) great joy and glory that, in occupying an exalted position in the nation, I am enabled, to preach the practical moralities of The Bible to my fellow countrymen and to hold up Christ as the hope and Savior of the world.”

Jesus Christ is the “King of Kings” and He changes lives. Today in prayer, give praise to the King of Kings.

"And He shall reign forever and ever,

King of kings! and Lord of lords!

And He shall reign forever and ever,

King of kings! and Lord of lords!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!" - Georg Friedrich Handel

God's Word: "to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time--God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords" - 1 Timothy 6:14-15

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS  †

“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.” – Revelation 20:11-12

The Library of Congress tracks the historic list of overruled Supreme Court cases in its report, The Constitution Annotated. As of 2020, the Supreme Court had overruled its own previous, precedent rulings in an estimated 232 cases.

One of these rulings led to the now-known “Miranda Rights”. It was a 1966 case that was heard before the court, Miranda v. Arizona. In a 5-4 opinion, Chief Justice Earl Warren concluded for the majority the opinion that police violated Ernesto Miranda’s rights by not informing Miranda that he could remain silent and also he could ask for an attorney during interrogations. The ruling invalidates two previous Supreme Court rulings from 1958: Crooker v. California (1958) and Cicenia v. Lagay (1958).

Jesus Christ will have the final word when He judges our lives. Today in prayer, Praise the Lord that when you trust your life to Jesus, your name appears in the book of life!

“Tomorrow’s history has already been written. At the name of Jesus every knee must bow.” – E. Kauffman

God’s Word: “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.” – Matthew 16:27

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS †

"After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God" - Revelation 19:1

Spud Alford was determined to be an Olympian decathlete. A knee injury and a U.S. boycott kept him out of the 1980 games, but he began to train for the 1984 Olympics. He also began to drift from God.

“I was on the campus at Southern Mississippi one day, and I was in front of the Student Union in my car. I heard this gentleman singing with his guitar out in front there on the lawn.”

A young evangelist named Rice Broocks was there speaking to anyone who would listen.  

Spud said: “I listened to the songs, and I began to cry. When Rice Broocks got up there with his Bible and began to preach the word unlike I’d ever heard before in my life, I knew that day that my life would never be the same.”

Broocks invited the students to a meeting that night, where Spud accepted Christ.

“I maybe for the first time ever, earnestly, spoke with God and said, ‘I believe in You. I’ve always believed in You. I just had things I wanted to do first that I thought were more important than making You the complete Lord of my life.”

Spud said, “I’ve tried a lot of things in Spud’s ability in my life, from the decathlon to relationships to companies. I’ve failed at most. I eventually realized that yes, He is, in fact, concerned about everything in our lives and does want to be Lord of our lives, because obviously He’s been here longer and He knows better.” 

God is in the rescue business. He hears our cries for help and saved us with His finished work on the Cross. Today in prayer, praise Jesus Christ that He is your Savior!

"Seek not to explore the heights of the divine majesty, but to find salvation in the saving deeds of God our Savior." - William of St. Thierry

God's Word: "And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." - Revelation 7:10

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS  †

“From the sky huge hailstones of about a hundred pounds each fell upon men. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.” – Revelation 16:21

The capital of Libya, Tripoli was hit by an unprecedented severe supercell storm on October 27th, 2020. The storm produced exceptionally large hail, possibly more than 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter. The first reports indicate that hailstones could be one of the largest ever recorded.

Such hail size would definitely fit into the world’s Top 3 giant hailstone events reported globally. Besides the Vivian (South Dakota) hailstorm from 2010 and the so-called ‘gargantuan’ hailstorm in Argentina in 2018.

The event occurred on the afternoon of the 27th when an upper trough was moving across the Mediterranean. A trough axis with a frontal boundary was moving from west to east across the southern portions of the Mediterranean Sea.

And one of the storms along the front brought an intense organized storm in the early evening hours. Social media were soon flooded with pictures of numerous giant hail stones.

In the end days, the hailstorm described in Revelation 16, will be larger than any previous storm ever recorded. But with this coming event comes the good news that a New Heaven is coming. Today in prayer, praise Jesus that He uses nature to drive us into His loving arms and in Him, we can find peace in the storm.

“Jesus taught men to see the operation of God in the regular and the normal – in the rising of the sun and falling of the rain and growth of plants.”  – William Temple

God’s Word: “Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm.” – Revelation 11:19

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS   †

“and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: ‘Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages.’” – Revelation 15:3

The Christian song, "Goodness of God" is a song written by Ed Cash, Ben Fielding, Jason Ingram, Brian Johnson and Jenn Johnson. Jenn shared the song originated in 2018 during the process of adopting their fourth child, Ryder. Jenn explained to have a baby again when she and Brian had "been out of baby season for eight years," was "such a blessing." One day, in the midst of the adoption process, Jenn found herself driving along a long country road singing to the Lord. Out of her impromptu worship session came a song about the "faithfulness" and "kindness of God," which she recorded on her phone. She said: "I wrote and sang most of 'Goodness of God' as an overflow of my heart at that moment." The song was developed and released in 2019 and became a popular worship song.

In heaven, there is constant worship of Jesus.  Today in prayer, praise the Lord for His love towards you.

“And all my life You have been faithful And all my life You have been so, so good With every breath that I am able Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God” – Jenn Johnson

God’s Word: “And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” – Revelation 5:9

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS  †

“Then I heard a voice from heaven say, ‘Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.’” – Revelation 14:13

The image of death differs from culture to culture. Sometimes this personage is dressed in white, sometimes in black. In Germanic/English folklore he is male; in Latin folklore death is female. In Roman Catholicism, the archangel Michael is viewed as the angel of death as he carries the souls of the deceased to Heaven. 

On one of the Tarot cards, the Tarot of Marseilles/Mar-say, there is a skeleton with a scythe. In the Hindu scriptures known collectively as 'Vedas', the lord of death is called Yama, or Yamaraj (literally "the lord of death"). Yama rides a black buffalo and carries a rope lasso to carry the soul back to his abode. 

In Mexico, a popular Catholic "cult" regards the personification of death as a saint, known as Santa Muerte. One image in America is the Grim Reaper, who is hooded, black-robed, with a sickle in his hand. 

In 1976, the rock band Blue Oyster Cult released their biggest hit "Don’t Fear The Reaper". For Christians, we should not fear death, for we will be with Christ. 

Death awaits us all, but as we pass through death, Christ greets us. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He has conquered death and with Him we are conquerors. 

“It ought to be placed in the forefront of all Christian teaching that Christ's mission on earth was to give men Life. "I am come," He said, "that ye might have Life, and that ye might have it more abundantly." And that He meant literal Life, literal spiritual and Eternal Life, is clear from the whole course of His teaching and acting.” - Henry Drummond

God’s Word: “who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:10

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail    

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS  †

“He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.” – Revelation 13:16-17

Pastor Ray Comfort wrote the following: “I was invited to the Dr. Phil show this week to speak about microchipping and the mark of the beast. I was nervous, but God was faithful.

Would you ever allow someone to put a microchip in your brain? How about in the back of your hand so that you can have the convenience of never having to use a credit card, or never losing your password, or your identity?

People have been having microchips put in dogs and cats for years. Over 10 million animals have already been chipped in the United Kingdom, and Japan is going to make chipping mandatory in animals in five years’ time.

Despite that, human microchipping is not so popular. Many states in the U.S. have already passed legislation forbidding employers to make it mandatory for their employees to be microchipped. Then there are those who say that there’s nothing to fear. “This is technological progress,” they say. 

Thousands in Sweden have already had a chip inserted in their hands, and they’ve stopped having to carry vaccine cards, keys, ID cards, and travel tickets.

But for most, human microchipping opens bigger privacy issues than having public cameras watch us or having our spending habits tracked. Having a chip inserted into our hand or brain is “hacking” into our body.” 

Christians need to live by faith that only God will provide and not any implanted chip. Today in prayer, ask the Lord for wisdom and fully give Him your heart this day.

“The seal of God marks out people belonging to him, and so for preservation for his kingdom. The mark of the beast similarly identifies men as his servants, and this mark they cannot live.” – G.R. Beasley-Murray

God’s Word: “A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.” – Revelation 14:9-10

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS  †

“Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: ‘Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.’” – Revelation 12:10

Joseph Goebbels was born on 29 October 1897 in Rheydt, Germany. Both of his parents were Roman Catholics with modest family backgrounds. During childhood, Goebbels experienced ill health, which included a long bout of inflammation of the lungs. He had a deformed right foot that turned inwards, due to a congenital disorder. He underwent a failed operation to correct it just prior to starting grammar school. Goebbels wore a metal brace and a special shoe because of his shortened leg and walked with a limp. He was rejected for military service in World War I because of this deformity.

Goebbels was a top student and his parents initially hoped that he would become a Catholic priest, but once he was in college, Goebbels had begun to distance himself from the church.

By 1933, he was one of Adolf Hitler's closest and most devoted acolytes, known for his skills in public speaking and his deeply virulent anti-Semitism, and attacks on the Christian churches.

Before his death, Goebbels declared: “We shall go down in history as the greatest statesmen of all time, or as the greatest criminals.”

Satan, the Great Accuser, has been hurled down through Christ’s victory on the Cross. Today in prayer, rejoice and praise God that He is Lord of all and the Great Accuser has been vanquished.

“His (Satan’s) accusations against the righteous continue day and night. But by the virtue of the death of Christ he is unable successfully to lodge a charge against God’s elect.” – Robert H. Mounce

God’s Word: “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him.” – Zechariah 3:1

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS   †

“The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood--idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.” – Revelation 9:20-21

In 2017 at The Hague, Netherlands, an unrepentant Ratko Mladic, the bullish Bosnian Serb general whose forces rained shells and snipers' bullets on Sarajevo in the 1990s and carried out the worst massacre in Europe since World War II, was convicted of genocide and other crimes and sentenced to spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Defiant to the last, Mladic was ejected from a courtroom at the United Nations' Yugoslav war crimes tribunal after yelling at judges: "Everything you said is pure lies. Shame on you!"

He was dispatched to a neighboring room to watch on a TV screen as Presiding Judge Alphons Orie pronounced him guilty of 10 counts that also included war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Human-rights organizations hailed the convictions as proof that even top military brass long considered untouchable couldn’t evade justice forever. Mladic spent years on the run before his arrest in 2011.

Unrepentant sin cannot only harden our hearts but can give us a false sense of self-identity. Today in prayer, confess and repent of any sin in your life and thank the Lord for His gift of grace.

“A noble mind disdains not to repent.” – Alexander Pope

God’s Word: “I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.” – Revelation 2:21

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS  †

“And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth.” – Revelation 9:3

In May 2022, huge swarms of locusts wreaked havoc on the Italian island of Sardinia. The worst affected area was the province of Nuoro, where the winged insects decimated crops across 62,000 acres of land.

Leonardo Salis, the president of the Nuoro unit of Coldiretti, the Italian farmers’ association, said their passage destroyed the crops of an entire field, sending months of farmers’ work and investments “up in smoke”.

Christian Solinas, the president of Sardinia, told L’Unione Sarda newspaper: “The invasion of locusts devastated the Nuoro countryside, bringing several companies to their knees. Compensation is essential to allow farmers to cope with a sharp decline in their income, guaranteeing concrete support in the face of an emergency that has added to their difficulties of recent years.”

During natural calamities, Christ is still Lord of all. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that no matter what calamity may occur, God is always in control.

“Oh! For a spirit that bows always before the sovereignty of God.” – Charles H. Spurgeon

God’s Word: “Moses then left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD. And the LORD changed the wind to a very strong west wind, which caught up the locusts and carried them into the Red Sea. Not a locust was left anywhere in Egypt.” – Exodus 10:18-19

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS  †

“The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.” – Revelation 8:7

New York City’s Great Fire of 1835 occurred in the midst of a cholera epidemic. On the bitterly cold night of December 16, 1835, a downtown warehouse caught on fire. Strong winds fanned the flames, leveling over 17 city blocks and setting part of the frozen East River on fire as turpentine leaked from storehouses onto the water.

By 10 PM, everything seemed to be engulfed: “The bells ringing—the fire engines rolling—the foremen bawling—the wind blowing—the snow driving—the whole heavens above illuminated, formed altogether a terrific spectacle,” reported the New York Herald.

The blaze indiscriminately destroyed the grand Merchants’ Exchange, homes, churches, banks, and stores, the heat so intense it melted metal shutters, doors, roofs, and gutters. One reporter said: “a terrible explosion occurred nearby with the noise of a cannon. The earth shook. We ran for safety, not knowing what might follow.” Soon “a second explosion took place, then another and another.” The blasts were produced by bags of saltpeter stored in a warehouse. Liquor casks also exploded, as did barrels of gunpowder. 

In the end, the fire consumed 674 buildings and destroyed much of the city’s business district.

Horrific events continue to occur, but in these tragedies, Jesus can be found. Today in prayer, pray for those who have been through a terrible event so they may find comfort when they place their faith in Christ.

“In this picture of terror John has the vision of God using the elemental forces of nature to warn man of the final destruction to come.” – William Barclay

God’s Word: “The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire.” – Revelation 16:8

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS  †

“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.” – Revelation 7:9

After World War II, Dallas and Kay Washer became frontline soldiers in the great twentieth-century army of missionaries that left the United States to serve around the globe. In 1954, they moved to Niger in Africa. After 18 years of serving in Niger, the Washers had set their sights on the country of Benin.

When they encountered several closed doors in Benin, the Washers and their survey team had no choice but to move on.

They were thrilled to find that Togo was different. “[The Togolese] eagerly accepted literature we passed out and requested Bibles in their own language. Children and young people mobbed us as we handed out tracts,” wrote Kay.

While in Togo, they found that the blind were ignored. Compassion for the blind, who could only provide for themselves by begging, led Kay to take courses in Braille during one family vacation, then to teaching a few blind boys how to read, then eventually to the establishment of a blind school where students got regular academic education plus learn certain crafts or skills. She was honored with the civilian medal of honor by Togo’s President Eyadema.

There will be believers from every tribe and nation in heaven. Today in prayer, give thanks that the Gospel is traveling throughout the earth. Pray for those who are delivering its eternal message of Good News. 

“God had only one Son – and He was a missionary.” – David Livingstone

God’s Word: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:19-20

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS  †

“When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.” – Revelation 6:9

Levels of Christian persecution are at a record high globally, according to the watchdog organization Open Doors. Their 2020 report revealed that more than 340 million Christians suffered high levels of persecution for their faith, representing 1 in 8 Christians worldwide.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has turned a bad situation into an unbearable one,” said David Curry, president and CEO of Open Doors USA. “This public health crisis created an opportunity to expand faith-based discrimination and violence in regions where religious persecution had already reached alarming rates.”

For the first time in the 29-year history of the World Watch List, every country in the top 50 is ranked as experiencing very high or extreme levels of persecution.

In 2020, extremist attacks spread further throughout sub-Saharan Africa, from Nigeria and Cameroon to Burkina Faso, Mali, and beyond. In Nigeria alone, 10 Christians a day were murdered on average due to their religious beliefs. As the total number of Christians killed for their faith rose 60% for the year—from 2,983 registered cases to 4,761. It was found that 91% of the violent killings for religious reasons occurred in Africa.

Many Christians throughout history have suffered and died for their faith in Christ. Today in prayer, give thanks to those faithful Christians who have died for the faith. Pray for those who today are facing persecution in the world.

“You can kill us, but you cannot hurt us.” – Justin Martyr

God’s Word: “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” – Matthew 10:22

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS  †

“In a loud voice they sang: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!’” – Revelation 5:12

In Senegal, Ladoum sheep can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Measuring up to four feet tall, they're prized as pets and status symbols.

Sheep are usually raised for their wool, and sometimes their meat. But in Senegal, some of these animals are prized as expensive pets—and even compete in beauty pageants.

The breed’s tall stature is part of the reason for their appeal.

The animals are majestic and large, unlike the smaller, drabber sheep.

Known for their good looks, tall stature, prominent muzzles, and curved horns, they can weigh up to 400 pounds and measure four feet in height. The sheep, which are raised by a select number of breeders, are in high demand: Wealthy Senegalese often pay $10,000, and sometimes significantly more, for a single animal, with records going up to $80,000.

The majority Muslim population on the holiday feast of Eid-el-Kebir often sacrifices Ladoum sheep.

Jesus Christ is the perfect Lamb of God, who has taken away our sins by His death on the Cross. Today in prayer, give thanks to the Lord for His triumph over sin and death.

“The precious Lamb of God gave up his precious fleece for us.” – Christopher Nesse

God’s Word: “Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!’” – Revelation 5:13

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS  †

“the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say” – Revelation 4:10

In his thoughtful book, “Our Good Crisis: Overcoming Moral Chaos with the Beatitudes”, Jonathan K. Dodson shares a funny, yet poignant encounter:

“I had the crazy idea that going on a five-hour field trip to NASA with fifty fifth-graders would be a good idea. As a chaperone to three kids, I was tasked with not letting them out of my sight. On the way to NASA, one of them told me about a summer camp he went to.

He said, ‘I didn’t really like it because they made us sing to God every night and listen to someone talk about him. I mean, I believe in God, but I just think you should keep him on the side.’

I thought about what he said and replied, ‘If God is the most important person in the world, don’t you think he should be more than ‘on the side’?’ He stared at me blankly for a moment, then looked away and said, ‘I guess.’

When we sideline God, something has to take his place. Up sprouts the Big Me.”

We need to look to Jesus and make Him the center of our life, the center of our worship. Today in prayer, actively worship the Lord, adoring Him as Lord of all.

“Here I am to worship Here I am to bow down Here I am to say that You're my God You're altogether lovely Altogether worthy Altogether wonderful to me.” – Tim Hughes

God’s Word: “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker” – Psalm 95:6

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS †

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” – Revelation 3:20

In June 2016, a woman in Colorado saved her five-year-old son by prying open a mountain lion's mouth after the animal attacked the boy in their front yard, officials say.

The mother heard screams and raced outside the house near Aspen, where she found the animal on top of her son, the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office said.

The boy suffered face, head, and neck injuries but survived his injuries.

The unidentified woman said she grabbed one of the animal's paws and stuck her right hand in its mouth to pry it open and free her son's head, Pitkin County Sheriff's Deputy Michael Buglione said.

The mother had bite marks on her hand and scratches on her leg from the lion.

The Lord has taken the scars to save us; we only need to open the door to our hearts to Him. Today, open your heart and let Jesus live and reign in you. 

“True conversion will involve the mind, the affection, and the will.” – Billy Graham

God’s Word: “Jesus replied, ‘If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.’” – John 14:23

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS  †

“You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” – Revelation 3:17

The author John Steinbeck once wrote a letter to the diplomat Adlai Stevenson, which was later published in the Washington Post in January of 1960. In it Steinbeck wrote of two Christmases:

“There is one kind in a house where there is little and a present represents not only love but sacrifice. The one single package is opened with a kind of slow wonder, almost reverence. 

Then there is the other kind of Christmas with presents piled high, the gifts of guilty parents as bribes because they have nothing else to give. The wrappings are ripped off and the presents thrown down and at the end the child says—”Is that all?” Well, it seems to me that America now is like that second kind of Christmas. Having too many THINGS they spend their hours and money on the couch searching for a soul. A strange species we are. We can stand anything God and nature can throw at us save only plenty. If I wanted to destroy a nation, I would give it too much and would have it on its knees, miserable, greedy, and sick.”

Money does not make us rich. Knowing Jesus Christ makes us truly wealthy. Today in prayer, confess any sin that takes your heart away from Jesus and seek Him in all that you do.  

“Temporal prosperity is very unfavorable for spiritual development.” – Charles Simeon

God’s Word: “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.” – 1 Timothy 6:9

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS   †

“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.” – Revelation 2:10

The body of Pastor Seetoud was buried on October 24, 2022, in Laos.  His body was found in September with signs that he was tortured and killed for his faith. Christian leaders and police in central Laos’ Khammouane Province believe Pastor Seetoud, who went by a single name, was killed for spreading the Gospel amid rapid church growth in the country. The pastor had been expected to attend a meeting of Christians on October 20 in Thakhek, about 62 miles from his home in Don Keo village, Nakai District, Khammouane Province, a journey of three and a half hours on his motorbike. When he failed to arrive more than three hours after the start time for the meeting, more than 20 people searched for him on the mountain pass near Don Keo village and at a local hospital, without success.

He leaves behind a wife and eight children, the youngest a 1-year-old. Pastor Seetoud led a congregation of the Lao Evangelical Church, one of three officially recognized denominations in Laos along with the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Roman Catholic Church.

Christians still face persecution in this world. Today in prayer, pray for believers that face persecution so that they may be faithful to Jesus.

“The servant of Christ must never be surprised if he has to drink of the same cup with his Lord.” – J.C. Ryle

God’s Word: “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” – 2 Timothy 3:12

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS  †

“Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” – Revelation 2:5

In his book “A Month of Sundays”, Eugene H. Peterson writes: “There is an interesting history of the word repentance. The word in Hebrew means originally “to take a deep breath and sigh.” A deep feeling of sorrow, of remorse. Repentance at the root, at the very beginning, seems to have the idea that you realize that you have done something wrong and you feel badly about it. And you feel it deeply; it gets down deep inside you, and you groan or sigh or you breathe deeply.

All of us know how that works. We know that part of repentance. We know the part that has to do with our feelings. The interesting thing is that use of the word didn’t last long in the Bible. Very quickly the writers began to substitute another word for the same action, and this other word meant “return” or “turn around and go.”

Not a word of feeling at all, but a word of action. Under the influence of the prophets, repentance became not something you felt but something you did. And it’s essential you get that through your head if you are going to understand what the Bible means about repentance. You don’t repent by taking a deep breath and then feel better.”

Have you been going down the “wrong road”? Then repent by turning to Jesus. Today in prayer, confess any sin in your life, repent and turn away from sin and follow Jesus.

“A Christian is not one who never goes wrong, but one who is enabled to repent and begin over again after each stumble—because of the inner working of Christ.” – C.S. Lewis

God’s Word: “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.’” – Matthew 4:17

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS  †

“John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne” – Revelation 1:4

In his book Illustrations of Bible Truth, H. A. Ironside included the story of a new convert who gave his testimony during a church service. With a smile on his face and joy in his heart, the man related how he had been delivered from a life of sin. He gave the Lord all the glory, saying nothing about any of his own merits or what he had done to deserve the blessings of redemption.

The person in charge, who was very legalistic, didn't fully appreciate the reality of salvation by grace through faith alone, apart from human works. So he responded to the young man’s comments by saying, “You seem to indicate that God did everything when He saved you. Didn't you do your part before God did His?”

The new Christian jumped to his feet and said, “Oh yes, I did. For more than 30 years I ran away from God as fast as my sins could carry me. That was my part. But God took out after me and ran me down. That was His part.” Commenting on this testimony, Ironside wrote, “It was well put and tells a story that every redeemed sinner understands.”

There is no greater gift than God’s grace! Today in prayer, praise the Lord for His Amazing Grace to you.

“The ultimate test of our spirituality is the measure of our amazement at the grace of God.” – Martyn Lloyd-Jones

God’s Word: “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 1:3

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2023, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS †