Prayer warriors, I know that 2020 has been a heavy year for many, and a year of constant prayer requests. But I come to you today to ask that you all add two names to your prayers this week. Please pray for Mr. Adam’s family. He just lost his mother to COVID-19, just weeks before Christmas, and his step-father is currently battling with the disease, so please lift them up in prayer. And this morning, I have also learned that one of my original supporters, my only friend to share his testimony to this project, Mr. Terry, has a parent who has just been diagnosed with COVID.
This disease is not going anywhere anytime soon. It continues to affect millions in this country. Yesterday, learning that my good friend was hurting due to the loss of his mother was painful. So today, let us pray for all those affected by COVID. Pray that this vaccine is what the vulnerable population of our country needs to stay healthy. And pray that we all have the clear understanding of our own mortality, that this side of eternity is fragile and not forever. Work on your forever, so that you can confidently walk through life knowing where you are going, and where your loved ones will be as well.
Sidewalk Prophets come in at Number #11 on my countdown with their song, “Hope Was Born This Night.” Never forget that fact my friends. Before that first Christmas, there was no hope for us. The pathway to eternal salvation was saved for the Jewish lineage and those lucky enough to become converts to their faith. But God was ready to show the entire world how to earn favor when He sent His one and only Son to live among us. Which brings us to the celebration that is Christmas morning, and The McClures, the talented couple from Bethel, give us our second song, a joyful sound proclaiming the good news that is “Christmas Morning!”
December 15
4People worshipped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?”…
18This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666. (Revelation 13: 4-18)
Chapter 13 includes our introduction to the beast and the mark of the beast, the most evil numbers in the Bible: 666. Where as the number 7 is the number of completion, the number 6 falls short of that heavenly number, much like satan did long ago when his pride led to his fall. I wonder if the beast is marked with three 6’s as satan’s answer to the Holy Trinity, three versus three.
Still not a fair fight, as I said yesterday. You would think the devil would know better by now. But the problem is us. We let the devil win more than he ever should. We have always been the problem, yet for some reason God and Jesus love us relentlessly. The beast can have his mark, I’ll always have my maker.
Reading plan: Revelation 15
Deeper reading plan: Zechariah 11
Prayer and meditation: We continue to pray that the world comes together to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We pray that the miracle of the child in the manger changes this world forever, as it should have nearly 2000 years ago. This week we will also add a prayer for all the lonely and those who mourn during the holidays. We pray they draw close to Jesus as Jesus is close to them.
Fitness challenge: We’re going to start doing AMRAP (As Many Rounds As Possible): Do a good stretch and then do as many round as possible of the following in 15-minutes:
- 10 x Jumping Squats
- 10 x Situps
- 20 x jumping lunges (10 each leg)
- 10 x Cross punch sit-up
- 20 x Flowsteps (10-each leg)
Run: Tuesday is our interval running: Run four miles, jogging for two-minutes, “sprinting” for 60 seconds.
Common Sense Reborn 