I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to You among the nations.
For Your steadfast love is great to the heavens,
Your faithfulness to the clouds.
Psalm 57:9-10

stacked papers, clouds: Heavenly Kristmess by Kristmess Designs

Heavenly Father, I can't speak for other people, but for myself, I am looking forward to that pure language that you will be giving us so that we can all worship only you in unity with fitting words and glorious songs of praise.  For now, we are so grateful that your Spirit within those of us who have become your children searches our hearts and prays for us as we would if we could find the words to adequately express what needs to be said, in alignment with your higher ways.  We are indescribably awed by the miracle that He dwells in us, enabling us to desire to please you and to know and do your good, perfect and pleasing will in all things.  Thank you from the bottom of our humble hearts.  In the worthy and unspeakably beautiful and beloved name of our precious Savior, Jesus, Amen.

 “For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the LORD and serve him with one accord." Zephaniah 3:9

 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.  And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.  And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:26-28

Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2

Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and whosoever had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. Revelation 20:4

I thought this verse was especially appropriate for today, since it is my 1,000th post on this blog.  All glory be to God--may He make use of my very humble offering in whatever way He chooses, to accomplish His good purpose, according to His perfect plan, which will never fail.  Hallelujah!  (Highest praise to God.)

Heavenly Father, We know that to you a thousand years is as a day--that you exist outside of time and this dimension to which we're confined during our earthly lifetimes. Many of us believe that what you taught us in Genesis about the six days of creation was meant to be combined with Psalm 90:4 and 2 Peter 3:8 to arrive at 6,000 years before the beginning of Christ's millennial reign of peace, for He is our Sabbath rest and you rested from creation on the seventh day. That being the case, we are eagerly anticipating His return as we get closer to 2,000 years since the arrival of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost (the final two "days" before the "Sabbath"?) We reject date-setting and fear mongering, but we do recognize the signs of the times and that inspires us to get ready, to be found faithfully waiting and watching as your word instructs us to do. Please help us to know and do your will, to put your kingdom first in everything we do, say and think, and to be steadfast, selfless, tireless and trustworthy like Jesus even if His return may appear at some point to be delayed, as His parables cautioned us.  In His glorious, worthy and mighty name, Amen.

As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. Matthew 25:5

Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 2 Peter 3:1-18
kit: Every Day a Miracle by Feli Designs

"You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships You."   Nehemiah 9:6

stacked papers: Heavenly Kristmess by Kristmess Designs

Heavenly Father, How marvelous are your works!  You have designed and made everything that exists from nothing.  You preserve and maintain it all and you alone give life.  Please let us never lose our sense of wonder at all you have done.  You alone are worthy of our praise.  We await  with great anticipation the day when everyone knows that.  Please fill our lamps with oil so that we burn brightly for the world to find their way to you, the only one who saves.  We rejoice in our salvation and want to share our joy with the lost so that we can all praise you together for eternity.  In the highest name of all names, Jesus, who ransomed us with his precious blood, Amen.