Malachi 1-4; Psalm 2; Revelation 9

“I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert. Id Edom says, “We are shattered but we rebuild the ruins,” the Lord of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.” Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!” Malachi 1:1-5 ESV

I think about how quickly I can doubt God’s love for me. When I am having a bad day, many times it’s because I forget to be grateful. But, God is still pursing me, showing me how much he does love me… My six year old daughter found a small notebook of mine and started to write in it. As I looked through it, I realized that it was a gratitude journal from 2014. It is small enough that I would keep in my purse and jot things down when they came to my mind. As I started to read it, I was filled with praise over God’s faithfulness in my life. God knew that I needed that reminder, on that cold rainy day. Because not very long after, the garage door broke and my van was stuck inside. Instead of worry, I was able to change my attitude to thankfulness in the midst of frustration. I wish I could say that was always the case in my life. But, just like the Israelites, I am so forgetful.

“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.” Malachi 3:6 ESV

Sometimes when I read these verses about the Lord’s judgement, I forgot about his goodness. That he is merciful. And he never gives up on me, never. He wants hearts to turn towards him.

“They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone. And in those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them…The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plaques, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.” Rev 9:5&6; 20&21 NLT

“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?” Malachi 3: 1-2ESV

Thank you Father for caring about the small and large details of my life. That you love me with an everlasting love. I eagerly wait for your return. Amen.

“As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, And I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession…Blessed are all who take refuge in him” Psalm 2:6-8, 12B ESV

Amy(amyctanner)

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