Sick Days

I am sick.  :(  I took a sick day yesterday and another today because I am having a major fight with some strep throat.  I think I may be feeling a little better today, so I am going to catch up on the reading I missed yesterday!

Psalm 126
When the Lord restored fortunes the people were filled with laughter and joy and the nations said "The Lord has done great things for them."  The writer is asking the Lord to bring restoration again.
Psalm 127
If the Lord is not part of whatever you are doing, you are laboring in vain.  Children are a heritage from the Lord.  They are like arrows in a quiver and blessed is the man who fills his quiver.
Psalm 128
There are many blessings that come from fearing the Lord:  eat the fruit of your labor, wife will be fruitful, children like olive shoots, prosperity, see your children's children.

Proverbs 29:12-18
v. 15 "The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother."
v. 17 "Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart."

Hosea 10-14
The Lord is speaking more about the ways Israel have not been faithful, and how they will receive punishment.  But in the end, He graciously describes how He will take them back and love them and they will flourish.

Joel
This book begins by telling about a whole lot of locusts eating everything up.  So Joel tells the people to repent and then talks about a great and powerful people that will come on the day of the Lord.  Then the people return to the Lord and He has pity on them.  He tells them to rejoice and that He will restore them.  He tells them He will pour out His Spirit on all flesh, meaning all people.  God says that when He restores Judah, that He will judge the nations who treated them poorly.  The book ends by God telling the people what they have to look forward to in the future.

Jude
Jude wrote his letter to warn about those who did not follow the teachings that were given to everyone.  He reminds the believers that they were told not everyone would follow Jesus.  He also reminds them that they belong to the One who is able to keep them from stumbling.

Revelation 1
John received this revelation and was told to write it down.  He greets the seven churches, whom he was told to send this revelation to and explains that during a time when he was in the Spirit, he heard a loud voice say to him to write what he saw and send it to the seven churches.  The first thing he saw was seven golden lampstands with a man standing in the middle who had seven stars in his hand, a double edged sword coming from his mouth, and a face like the sun shining in its full strength.  The man tells John in many words that he is Jesus and explains that the seven stars are angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the churches themselves.