Focus

Pay attention to the tension in your body. Let go of it and any expectations to do anything other than God’s will today. Prepare yourself to hear God’s word.

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Read

Revelation 11:16-19 (NRSV)

Then the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, singing,

“We give you thanks, Lord God Almighty,
who are and who were,
for you have taken your great power
and begun to reign.
The nations raged,
but your wrath has come,
and the time for judging the dead,
for rewarding your servants, the prophets
and saints and all who fear your name,
both small and great,
and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”

Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple; and there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.

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Reflect

Recently in worship, there was a distinct and intentional ringing of a bell after each scripture reading. The Old Testament was read and then there was the sound of the bell, followed by an unseen little girl’s voice that said, “Ding, dong.”

There were snickers and smiles among the congregants and even more so by the little girl’s Mother, I was told.

Then the Epistle was read and again there was the clear sounding of the bell. Once again, but not quite as loudly as the first time, the little timid voice cried, “Ding, dong.”

A few more snickers and smiles as we all stood for the reading of the New Testament and at the end, we heard the expected bell, and then we also heard the welcomed, “ding, dong” of the little worshiper.

When the 7th angel’s trumpet sounded in heaven, the 24 elders who had been seated, fell prostrate on their faces and praised the Lord. They were joining the loud unseen voices in the heavens (Revelation 11:15) in their praise for the Lord.

As the trumpets and bells resound in our lives, may we be quick to join the unseen voices that welcome the sound and repeat it over and over again to heaven’s delight.

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Pray

We give you thanks, Lord. Hear our cry as we join the unseen voices of heaven and continually sing and worship you, our Lord God Almighty!

Go with God.