Recycling, clean eating, self-care, global warming, bullies storming…the list is unending of the issues that need tending.

Not to mention the people who need helping, the pets that need petting, the weeds that need pulling, the halls that need decking.

It’s overwhelming when I write just these little snippets.

Where do we start the day? Today’s passages say.

Daniel 7

It’s a terrifying nightmare. Daniel, the man famous for interpreting dreams, now has one of his own, and it’s not clear to him what it means. Commentators make a stab at deciphering it, and they’re easy enough to find. But what’s here for my walking-around-life is the courtroom scene at the end, Da 7:9-14.

Thrones were set up and “the Ancient of Days” sat down. He was dressed in white, and “his hair was white like wool.” His throne was on fire, including its wheels, and “a river of fire poured out” from it. There were thousands serving him and tens of thousands standing at attention before him. Then the court sat down with him, and “the books were opened,” Da 7:9-10 MSG and NIV.

The most terrifying monster of the dream was killed and the others lost their power.  Then someone “in human form, a son of man” rode in on clouds and came before The Old One.  He was given all power and authority and “all the glory of royalty” and everyone, everywhere served him.  His rule as king would last forever and “never be replaced,” Da 7:11-14 MSG.

In his dream, Daniel asked a bystander what it all meant. The monsters represented kingdoms that rise and fall on the earth, he explained. Three times, he said that God’s people would inherit his kingdom and rule there forever, “the royal rule and the authority and the glory of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the people of the High God…” And every other ruler “will serve and obey them,” Da 7:16-18, 22, 26-27 MSG.

There’s so much that’s not explained in this explanation, but there’s enough here to suggest that people of faith ultimately have nothing to fear. Though there’s persecution that comes when a loud-and-mouthy king tries to get rid of worship and morality, it won’t go on indefinitely. It’s limited to “a time, two times, half a time,” Da 7:23-25 MSG.

In Daniel’s dream of the end of time, God opens his books to judge mankind, and Jesus rides in and is given honor and glory as the one who is King forever.  The bad guys get what’s coming to them, and God’s people reign with him forever, Da 7:9-18.  

I get World magazine weekly, but I rarely read it.  I’ve got it standing by in case I get wind of something and want to know more about it.  I don’t listen to the news, don’t read any newspapers.  I’m just not interested and here’s why:  I can’t do a darn thing about any of it. 

Knowing a lot about what’s going on “out there” makes me anxious and afraid “right here.” I don’t think God wants me living that way. He says I’m to occupy myself with his word and prayer and loving other people. He says I’m to trust him with everything. I can’t do those things and keep up with the world scene daily.

I’m not able to know all there is to know about what’s going on, let alone know what to do about it. But God is able. And prayer is how I come alongside him and support what he’s doing. It’s his agenda that I most want to be a part of. Spending time with him is how I learn what that agenda is and how I fit into it.

I’m comforted to know that God is on his throne, and there’s a happy ending ahead for his people at the end of time. One day, God will set things right forever. In the meantime, he tells us to love him and love others, Mt 22:37-40.

When Jesus returns in those whirling clouds and the sky rolls back and the stars fall, suddenly everything we’ve been doing here will either stand or collapse before the Father who judges all. Like you, I want my days on earth to count for what matters most, and he says what matters most is to love him with all that I’ve got.

I’m starting here.

1 John 1

The bottom line of Jesus’ message through John is this: “God is light; in him there’s no darkness at all.” If God is pure light, then those who walk with him will be filled with light, too. And they’ll have fellowship with other light-filled folks, 1 Jo 1:5-6 MSG.

But if they “continue to stumble around in the dark,” they’re lying about sharing life with God. They’re not living what they claim, 1 Jo 1:6.

It’s not perfection that John’s talking about here, “a claim like that is errant nonsense.”  Obviously, everybody sins.  But when we sin, we admit it, and God forgives and cleans us up again.  More light comes in, 1 Jo 1:8-10 MSG.

Is it your experience, to have a light-filled life with others? It’s not mine. I have a sticky spot with someone, and I haven’t been able to make sense of it. But these verses throw light on the problem: a talked-about faith isn’t enough. We’ve got to spend real time with God to get along with others.

So here’s another starting line–spending time with God.

Psalm 119:145-160

The writer is so troubled, he’s up before sunrise, hollering to God “at the top of my lungs.” Some nights, he’s awake all night, crying out for help, Ps 119:145-147 MSG.

“Save me…listen to me…keep me alive,” he begs. “Take a good look at my trouble and help me…take my side and get me out of this…give me back my life.” His cries are heartbreaking, Ps 119:146-152 MSG.

But here’s the ground he stands on to make them: God’s word. He says he pays attention to what God says, “I haven’t forgotten your revelation.” He believes in God’s promises. He doesn’t ignore God’s directions. His commitment to them is so strong, that he loves God’s words, “I love what you tell me,” Ps 119:145-160 MSG.

Because he knows God’s word, he knows God’s near and listening and helping, “…you’re the closest of all to me God, and all your judgments are true,” Ps 119:145-160 MSG.

I’m up very early this morning, looking for encouragement, needing God’s help. I’m not shouting yet, but maybe I should. There’s something about hollering to God that helps me believe him more.

When I’m troubled like this, God’s words are loud—there’s nothing like pain to open up the airwaves. And these are the words that shout at me, “Your mercies God, run into the billions; following your guidelines, revive me,” Ps 119:156 MSG.

I can’t use up all the mercies God’s got stored up. I’m sure he’ll come through, because he always does. And here’s another starting place for me—the waiting-for-God-line, which looks a lot like the loving-God-most-line and the spending-time-with-God-line. Aren’t these all really the same thing? I love it when these passages come together for me.

Proverbs 28:23-24

Honest words are more welcome than those that suck-up (note taken).  
The one who robs his parents is worse than a crook.

Prayer

God, pour out your Spirit through your people and into the hearts of those who are hurting. There are wounded, broken people everywhere I go. I’m wounded and broken, too. Thank you for the pain that brings me to you. Give me eyes to see you, wisdom to understand, and a heart that’s open to my sticky people, because of Jesus.

In Jesus’ name.

Wes King’s “Excavate” says it like this: https://youtu.be/SbRXUO3sQTo?feature=shared

Passages in Daniel, 1 John, Psalms, and Proverbs are selected for today in The One Year Bible.