Revelation 3 - 2.24.25

Scripture

“I know your deeds…” -Revelation 3:1b; 8 and 15

Observation

This chapter continues Jesus’ letters to the 7 churches.

The churches in Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea are being addressed through angels (or messengers) of Jesus. Every message begins with Who Jesus is. Jesus is described as holding the 7 spirits of God and the 7 stars (vs. 1); He is holy, true and holds the key of David where what He opens no one can shut and what He shuts, no one can open (vs. 7); He is the Amen, the faithful, true witness and the ruler of God’s Kingdom. (Vs. 14). Then, it begins with Jesus’ personal words to the churches and it always begins with, “I know your deeds.”

Application

We must earnestly repent to the Lord of the ways we are falling short. He knows it all anyway!

If Jesus were to say to me and you, “I know your deeds,” what would we want his following statement to be?

I love how Jesus gave encouragement to each of the churches and an admonition (or warning) regarding what they needed to change. What would He say we are doing well and what we need to work on, individually and corporately? WE are the church (not the building or programs) and change always begins with the hearts of His people first.

“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 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 that person, and they with me.” -‭‭Revelation‬ ‭3‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The book of Revelation is usually a challenging book for me to understand; however, this chapter is very clear and convicting with certain areas that I need to change in myself personally, specifically about needing to wake up due to unfinished deeds and also remembering that even those who are “rich” in this life are still “wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”  We continue to need Jesus and must have compassion towards those who need Him too!

Prayer

Dear Lord,

Thank You for Your Word and for admonishing those You love. I pray that I would earnestly repent of any ways that I have fallen short from what You expect from me. Help me to keep Your Word and not deny Your name. May I endure patiently and always remember You as my first love. May I also continue to have a heart for the lost, knowing that I was once “wretched, pitiful and blind” before You took a hold of my life. In Your name I pray Jesus, Amen.

-Michelle Gaddi

2 Kings 8 - 2.21.25

Scripture: 2 Kings 8:3-6

3 At the end of the seven years she came back from the land of the Philistines and went to appeal to the king for her house and land. 4 The king was talking to Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, and had said, “Tell me about all the great things Elisha has done.”5 Just as Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had restored the dead to life, the woman whose son Elisha had brought back to life came to appeal to the king for her house and land.

Gehazi said, “This is the woman, my lord the king, and this is her son whom Elisha restored to life.” 6 The king asked the woman about it, and she told him.

Then he assigned an official to her case and said to him, “Give back everything that belonged to her, including all the income from her land from the day she left the country until now.”

Observations:

The woman and her family had obeyed Elisha’s warning and went to the land of the Philistines to escape the famine. The woman’s land had been taken during their absence. She may have been wondering,  “Why did this bad thing happen.? We obeyed God.”

However, she did not sit and sulk. She went to the king.  God had a perfect plan to give her even more than she was asking for.  She arrived at the very moment Gehazi was telling the King about “the servant of God” and how he had raised the dead back to life. This is her story. The King asked her to tell it. 

Then the king assigned an official to her case giving her back everything they belonged to her, even the income her land earned!

God always prepares the perfect way for us. It may look like our obedience cost us or even put us in a place of peril.  However, we can go to the King of Kings and make our plea. He will restore or give us even better. If we continue to walk through a hard time, He uses it to teach and prepare us. 

Nothing would have happened if she did not make an appeal.  It can be hard to step out and speak to those in authority. The king gave her an advocate to get back what was hers.  An extra blessing, she had someone to do the hard work for her. Whoever had her land could not argue with the official. Especially when told to give back the income her land had earned. 

Application:

I have seen God do divine appointments. I end up at the right place at the right time.  But during hard times, it is easy to be distracted and forget all that God had done or believe that He will do more. 

This stood out to me because God is always looking out for us and setting up encounters like this.  Most of the time we may not even recognize it. 

It takes our being and bold. She had to go to the king. We know she and her family were farmers, not nobles. Also, the obvious - she was a woman!  They were not business people in that day.  Still she went to make her appeal.  She wanted for her family the land that had been theirs for generations. 

I want to not shy away from taking action. It usually requires stepping out of my comfort zone. Even as RK shared on Sunday, we may be going among the wolves.  God will direct my path and have the best prepared as I follow Him. 

Prayer:

Lord God, Thank you for all you have done in my life. Just like the Shunammite, there have been miracles. You are not done. Please help me to continue to press in, push through after a time of famine and make an appeal to the one who can bring about the change needed. You have prepared a path for me, people to tell my story to. Please help me to look for those you have for me to speak to and go where you’ve called me to go. Your ways are amazing. Thank you Lord. May I shine Your light.  Amen

- Cindy Howard

Psalms 20 - 02.20.25

SCRIPTURE :Psalms 20:7 NIV

“Some trust in their chariots and some in horses,

but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

‭‭

OBSERVATION

This is a Psalm of David, and what beautiful lessons we glean here.

A Psalm of Great Encouragement for a battle that King David is being sent off to face.

There is ONE name that commands ALL power in heaven and on earth.

God puts high value on His name because it represents His character and reputation. To evoke the name of ""the God of Jacob"" is to call on HIS power and majesty.

To trust in God's name— is to trust in Him.

David, the king of Israel, was intimately acquainted with the power of God's name.

So were the people of Israel. In this interesting Psalm, the people and the king had come together to call on God's name in prayer—and—to proclaim their trust IN HIM.

APPLICATION

Jesus is The SAME, Yesterday, TODAY, and FOREVER

We still face battles. In ancient times when the enemy would advance with their chariots and horses—the loud sounds of whipping, and rattling, and rumbling of the wheels along with the hooves of the thousands of horses racing down were enough to cause horrific fear and trembling. The earth literally shook.

Though we don’t face Horses and Chariots we CAN still experience the “earth shaking” under our feet spiritually.

And we have all had Or currently are facing battles that “appear in the natural” to be overpowering and overwhelming.

But even as a very young Shepherd, David knew as he faced Goliath that any GIANT (no matter how seemingly terrifying) was NO match for God. (1 Samuel 17: 45-49).

In psalm 20, we also see the importance of Intercessor Prayer support. The entire believing community has come together praying and believing for Victory THROUGH God.

Some Trust in Chariots, their money, power, or influence.

But, we as believers place our Trust in God, Alone.

If we are seeking God’s will for our life, If we are living by His word and Holy Spirit,

If we are daily praying and yielding our lives to HIS Lordship,

Then—Like David we can be confident—of Victory-

TRUSTING in the NAME of JESUS.

“Now this I know:

The Lord gives victory to His anointed.

HE answers him from his heavenly sanctuary

with the Victorious Power of His right hand.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

They are brought to their knees and fall,

but we rise up and stand firm.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭20‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Blessings of Psalm 20 apply to us; He is a refuge and a fortress that surrounds us (Psalm 91) a very Present help in time of need (Psalm 46:1)) When our prayers are in alignment with Him, He answers our prayers and gives us the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:4).

PRAYER

LORD JESUS,

Thank You for saving knowledge in who YOU are. The God of Jacob, The King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, The Sovereign Authority over ALL. If God is for us who can ever stand against. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit, Thank You for Your Word that is Truth and Life, Power and Authority to strike down the enemy and be Your Witness.

Thank You for All You are doing in and through Desert Streams. Here we are, Lord, send us to Santa Clarita and beyond. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Tina L Kudelka