LookUp | Kristi's Morning Devotional

September 15, 2024September 15, 2024

Changing Times

Last week I ordered some new calendar pages for my Day-Timer. Do you remember the helpful, organizational calendars called Day-Timer?

I like to see things written down in front of me. Not in my phone or on my laptop, I need something I can flip open and see the month, change things as needed, move them to another day if necessary. Yes, I guess I’m old fashioned.

Well, the pages came, and I spent a good portion of yesterday morning adding birthdays, anniversaries, doctor appointments, etc. Today I’ll enter work dates and activities. As I flipped the pages it made me realize how quickly time is passing.

Even my morning routine is changing. Dave and I have been walking in the cool mornings. However, for the last several mornings we’ve had to wait a bit: it’s been too dark. I lament because walking at 6 a.m. still gives me time to get home, eat a bite, shower and be to work on time.

Yes, time is changing.

It’s changing spiritually too.

“You can be certain that in the last days there will be some very hard times. ²People will love only themselves and money. They will be proud, stuck-up, rude, and disobedient to their parents. They will also be ungrateful, godless, ³heartless, and hateful. Their words will be cruel, and they will have no self-control or pity. These people will hate everything good. ⁴They will be sneaky, reckless, and puffed up with pride. Instead of loving God, they will love pleasure. ⁵Even though they will make a show of being religious, their religion won’t be real. Don’t have anything to do with such people.” II Timothy 3:1-5 CEV

Those of us who know Christ sense that His return is near.

“This same Jesus Who was taken from you into heaven will return in the same way you saw Him go up into heaven.” Acts 1:11b NLV

He promised when He left earth that he would come back again and take those of us who are alive to heaven with Him. That day is coming. When? We don’t know for certain, but we are told to watch the signs.

“When you hear about wars and riots, don’t be afraid. These things will have to happen first, but this isn’t the end. ¹⁰Nations will go to war against one another, and kingdoms will attack each other. ¹¹There will be great earthquakes, and in many places people will starve to death and suffer terrible diseases. All sorts of frightening things will be seen in the sky.” Luke 21:9-11 CEV

Those are Jesus’ words. The message is not one of fear but one of hope.

^”When these things begin to happen, stand up tall and don’t be afraid. Know that it is almost time for God to free you!” Luke 21:28 ERV

“Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Don’t be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me. ²… I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. ³After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together.” John 14:1-3 CEV

There isn’t a date we can put on the calendar.

“But no one knows the day or the hour. No! Not even the angels in heaven know. The Son does not know. Only the Father knows.” Matthew 24:36 NLV

The heart of every Christian should be excited. The times they are a changing and the Lord is coming soon!!

September 1, 2023September 1, 2023

Warning Signs

Last night I was awaken to the sound of the emergency weather warning going off so where in the house.

When we were watching the nightly news the weather man said that there was danger of high winds later in the night. He was apparently he was right.

The thing we have here in the desert with the high winds is blowing dust that takes you 0 visibility immediately and at night you rarely have the opportunity to see it coming from the distance.

When I was little we lived in a small Arizona town called Gila Bend. I was down playing at friend’s when my Mom saw a dust storm coming. She sent my older brother to find me and bring me home. Before we got to the house the wind hit us. My brother was smart enough to have us turn our backs to the wind. He stood directly behind me and since he was taller, he was able to shield me from the stinging sand.

As soon as the winds lightened we ran for home. Safe!

Society has given us so many warning signs. They’re on the highway – Narrow Bridge Ahead, Watch for Elk/Deer, Icy When Wet. We see them in our vehicles – Check Engine, Tire Sensor, Back Up beepers.

Our homes have motion sensors, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide readers. Restaurants publish food allergy warnings on their menus and don’t even get me started on the “side effect” warnings on the prescription medication commercials.

Warning Signs, they’re everywhere and with their frequency comes a deafness to the seriousness of the warning.

Some people are deaf to the warnings of the Bible too.

²⁵“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;²⁶men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.²⁷Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.“ Luke 21:25-28 NKJV

These things are happening all over the world – they are warnings signs to those who are without Christ. “Look up your redemption draws near”.

They are also warnings to those who do follow Christ.

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. ²In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:1-3 NLV

We’re not supposed to be frightened by what we see. Instead, we are to be wise in our manner of living, reaching out to reassure those who are anxious and afraid. We should be delivering a message of hope and faith. Trust in the Lord!

The morning and evening news should be our ”emergency broadcast system” warning signal. But there’s no need to be afraid; let’s put our trust in God.

July 12, 2023July 12, 2023

Fine Tuning the Details

Yesterday I spent a number of hours working on the itinerary for our trip to Greece.

For almost five years Dave and I have dreamed of and planned for a real vacation in the Greek Islands. At first, we thought we would need to use a travel agent to put it all together but the more we thought about all the little details we wanted to include we decided to do our own planning.

We are now seven weeks and two days from departure…but who’s counting!

Yesterday time was spent on ferry reservations, inter-island flights and finalizing hotel reservations. We are so excited! We want the trip to be as near perfect as possible and so every detail needs to be considered.

At one point yesterday Dave had a number of questions. That’s what he does; he thinks of all the little stuff that others overlook. It was then I had to say, “Trust me, I’ve got it taken care of”.

Have you ever planned a bucket list event? The details seem to be endless. I wonder if that’s how Jesus feels.

“Jesus said, ‘Don’t be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me. ²There are many rooms in my Father’s house. I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you.'” John 14:1-2 ERV

There it is – Trust in God, trust in me!

God, the Father, Jesus, the Son and the Holy Spirit have lived in the perfection of heaven since eternity past and still Jesus said to His disciples, and to us, I have some more preparation to do before you come.

The streets are paved with gold, the Father’s throne is in the center so all will come and worship Him. The gates are made from a single pearl and the walls are precious stones.

I feel very confident that the great gathering of those who follow Christ isn’t too far off. The final preparations are almost complete.

“‘There will be special things to look for in the sun and moon and stars. The nations of the earth will be troubled and will not know what to do. They will be troubled at the angry sea and waves. ²⁶The hearts of men will give up because of being afraid of what is coming on the earth. The powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with power and much greatness. ²⁸When these things begin to happen, lift up your heads because you have been bought by the blood of Christ and will soon be free.’” Luke 21:25-28 NLV

I don’t know if Christ will return in my lifetime, but details are falling into place. Final preparations are being made and it’s almost time to go. Keep looking up, He’s coming soon!

March 7, 2023March 7, 2023

Crystal Clear Clarity

Allow me one more teaching on focus.

When I was ten or eleven my mom realized I was having trouble seeing clearly. I had to sit close to the tv, my nose was almost always on the page of my piano lesson and my grades were falling in school. She took me to the optometrist and sure enough, I was near-sighted. Glasses became my closest friend.

Although I was an embarrassed six grader, I could see clearly. Things were in focus. I hope you are beginning to understand that God’s word brings focus and clarity to our lives.

“And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. ²We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. ³Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.” Hebrews 12:1-3 NLT

These verses make me think of the eye exams where the optician says “tell me when this object is in focus”. Then they flip the lens one way or the other until the image before my eyes is clear.

When we keep our eyes on Jesus, like the verse says, we gain a clarity of spiritual vision that we previously lacked.

“So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.” Colossians 3:1-3 MSG

Are you looking up today? Are you looking beyond yourself and finding God’s directive on how you should function today? It’s easy to get discouraged and even depressed with all the world’s happenings and Jesus knew that these days and times we are living in would be taxing to our mental peace at the very least, so He gave us this command.

“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:25-28

Looking “around” at all that’s occurring on the earth causes heart failure and fear. Looking up makes things crystal clear – our redemption is near!