May 30th -- Daniel 2:25-49 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%202:25-49&version=NLT)
Please feel free to go read, so my comments make sense.
I like, might I say, that Daniel points out that is it not because he is wiser that he knows the meaning, but that his God is wiser and has told him. It would have been so incredibly easy for Daniel to take advantage of that moment. I mean, the king thinks highly of his magicians and such, which is why he called them first to learn the meaning of the dream. They let him down, though. Then Daniel comes in and tells him not only the meaning but also what he dreamt. This king is astounded. Daniel could have easily had his moment and been all "Thank you! Thank you! It was a pleasure performing one of my many talents for you!" and taken all the fame for it. This would have put him in favour with the king, benefitting his safety and comfort greatly. Yet, he humbled himself and remembered he was only the vessel, and the message was all God. Often, I think the saying "Pride comes before the fall" is incredibly true. Looking back to the post for yesterday, where we looked at how Satan used to be one of the three top angels of God, we see this truth demonstrated. See, Lucifer (aka Satan) became prideful, thinking he should be equals with God. This is what led to his being banished (with his 1/3 of angels) to hell. Pride literally came before the fall - it has since the beginning. So when we receive praise, where do we point it? To us, or to God? Think on it. Don't let yourself fall because you never saw yourself stumble.
God bless! Shalom!
P.S. Yes, this post is a day late. As I explained on the post for yesterday I was out late that night for some presentations at my school, and by the time I got home I lacked the time and energy to do my Bible Study. I'm catching up tonight.
Friday, May 31, 2013
May 29th
May 29th -- Daniel 2:1-24 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%202:1-24&version=NLT)
Go read, please.
I just want to say one thing about this whole passage ; the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers couldn't figure it out, but Daniel, with God, could. I think so often people see these enchanters and magicians and wonder why it is they seem to be able to do things that only God is supposed to do - or that we've been told only God is supposed to be able to do. But here is what we often forget: the devil is on the side of the enchanters and such. He used to be one of God's three top angels, in charge of a third of them. He was basically one of God's right-hand men. So, this means he does actually have power - and a good lot of it, too. This can account for why, often, even modern diviners and magicians can pull of what they can - they have the devil and his power working with them. Now, the mistake we make is when we think that that almost evens them out and makes them equal with God. NOT. EVEN. CLOSE. We see this demonstrated in this passage. The men of king Nebuchadnezzar have no idea what the dream means. Then, though, Daniel asks God for it to be revealed. There is no way Daniel could have even known what the dream was, but he knew the meaning. This just shows that even when the devil seems powerful, God is still far more so.
God bless! Shalom!
P.S. Yes this post was two days late. I was out VERY late on both Wednesday and Thursday night for some presentations at my school, and just didn't have the time or energy for my Bible Study when I got home. I am catching up tonight.
Go read, please.
I just want to say one thing about this whole passage ; the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers couldn't figure it out, but Daniel, with God, could. I think so often people see these enchanters and magicians and wonder why it is they seem to be able to do things that only God is supposed to do - or that we've been told only God is supposed to be able to do. But here is what we often forget: the devil is on the side of the enchanters and such. He used to be one of God's three top angels, in charge of a third of them. He was basically one of God's right-hand men. So, this means he does actually have power - and a good lot of it, too. This can account for why, often, even modern diviners and magicians can pull of what they can - they have the devil and his power working with them. Now, the mistake we make is when we think that that almost evens them out and makes them equal with God. NOT. EVEN. CLOSE. We see this demonstrated in this passage. The men of king Nebuchadnezzar have no idea what the dream means. Then, though, Daniel asks God for it to be revealed. There is no way Daniel could have even known what the dream was, but he knew the meaning. This just shows that even when the devil seems powerful, God is still far more so.
God bless! Shalom!
P.S. Yes this post was two days late. I was out VERY late on both Wednesday and Thursday night for some presentations at my school, and just didn't have the time or energy for my Bible Study when I got home. I am catching up tonight.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
May 28th
May 28th -- 1 Daniel (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%201&version=NLT)
Go read.
So I actually started (and then had to drop because I got so busy - but I am finishing over the summer) a Beth Moore study on Daniel. It talks about how Daniel resisted Babylon just like we need to resist today's tempting culture/society. Daniel and thousands (that's important) of other young men were taken from Jerusalem to be brought to Babylon, trained for the king of Babylon's service for a few years, then the best would be selected to serve. There are four men out of these thousands who chose not to give in to Babylon, and stand strong for God. These were Daniel (God is my judge), Hananiah (the Lord shows grace), Mishael (who is like God?), and Azariah (the Lord helps). They were re-named, upon arriving, to, respectively, Belteshazzar (Bel, protect his life!), Shadrach (under the command of Aku), Meshach (who is like Aku?) and Abednego (servant of Nego/Nebo). We already see how the Babylons tried to assimilate them by changing their names to ones that honored the Babylonian gods (idols).
Then we have the food. All men brought to be trained could eat from the king's table, which would have had feasts of the best food in the land. However, back then eating at another's table was like a covenant stating they were a friend not an enemy. Daniel and his friends refused to eat the king's food, recognizing they could not enter a covenant with him while serving God - instead they ate only of things grown from seed, keeping God's commands at the time. God blessed them for this and made them stand out as far better than the other men (stronger, healthier, learned better, etc) Daniel was also given the ability to interpret dreams. Now, in today's society, indulging in sin is like signing off a covenant with the devil, in a way, like eating at the king's table would have been making a covenant with him. When we willingly and knowingly sin, it's like eating off the devil's table - it seems to have all the best things, and would be incredibly hard to resist. Yet, like Daniel and his friends when they resisted, we will be blessed for resisting. Daniel and his friends were actually far better off than the men eating from the king's table. When we intentionally abstain from sin, God will bless us for that.
Babylonian culture was rich and indulgent, and very self-focused. It is a lot like a Biblical times version of today's culture. Society today becomes so caught up in focusing on our self and our own indulgences. It disguises sin as beautiful and tempting, when we are actually signing our self off by taking part of it. Like Daniel and his friends were attempted to be dragged into the culture, ours tries to lure us in. I mean, "L'Oreal - because you're worth it" or "Indulge yourself" in loads of chocolate commercials or even just "You deserve it". Society tells us we want it and are worth it all - we just have to go get it. Often, we do, too. But we need to learn to be more careful. Products are not evil, just because they use those sort of slogans, however indulgence can become dangerous. We begin to put ourselves above God, and pleasure over all else. This is when it becomes a problem. We are always being faced with things trying to lure us in, but if Daniel and his friends could resist in an unfamiliar environment, miles from home, with their lives threatened if people knew of their faith, then we can do it, too.
That's all for today! God bless! Shalom!
P.S. Check out that study. It is totally worth it.
Go read.
So I actually started (and then had to drop because I got so busy - but I am finishing over the summer) a Beth Moore study on Daniel. It talks about how Daniel resisted Babylon just like we need to resist today's tempting culture/society. Daniel and thousands (that's important) of other young men were taken from Jerusalem to be brought to Babylon, trained for the king of Babylon's service for a few years, then the best would be selected to serve. There are four men out of these thousands who chose not to give in to Babylon, and stand strong for God. These were Daniel (God is my judge), Hananiah (the Lord shows grace), Mishael (who is like God?), and Azariah (the Lord helps). They were re-named, upon arriving, to, respectively, Belteshazzar (Bel, protect his life!), Shadrach (under the command of Aku), Meshach (who is like Aku?) and Abednego (servant of Nego/Nebo). We already see how the Babylons tried to assimilate them by changing their names to ones that honored the Babylonian gods (idols).
Then we have the food. All men brought to be trained could eat from the king's table, which would have had feasts of the best food in the land. However, back then eating at another's table was like a covenant stating they were a friend not an enemy. Daniel and his friends refused to eat the king's food, recognizing they could not enter a covenant with him while serving God - instead they ate only of things grown from seed, keeping God's commands at the time. God blessed them for this and made them stand out as far better than the other men (stronger, healthier, learned better, etc) Daniel was also given the ability to interpret dreams. Now, in today's society, indulging in sin is like signing off a covenant with the devil, in a way, like eating at the king's table would have been making a covenant with him. When we willingly and knowingly sin, it's like eating off the devil's table - it seems to have all the best things, and would be incredibly hard to resist. Yet, like Daniel and his friends when they resisted, we will be blessed for resisting. Daniel and his friends were actually far better off than the men eating from the king's table. When we intentionally abstain from sin, God will bless us for that.
Babylonian culture was rich and indulgent, and very self-focused. It is a lot like a Biblical times version of today's culture. Society today becomes so caught up in focusing on our self and our own indulgences. It disguises sin as beautiful and tempting, when we are actually signing our self off by taking part of it. Like Daniel and his friends were attempted to be dragged into the culture, ours tries to lure us in. I mean, "L'Oreal - because you're worth it" or "Indulge yourself" in loads of chocolate commercials or even just "You deserve it". Society tells us we want it and are worth it all - we just have to go get it. Often, we do, too. But we need to learn to be more careful. Products are not evil, just because they use those sort of slogans, however indulgence can become dangerous. We begin to put ourselves above God, and pleasure over all else. This is when it becomes a problem. We are always being faced with things trying to lure us in, but if Daniel and his friends could resist in an unfamiliar environment, miles from home, with their lives threatened if people knew of their faith, then we can do it, too.
That's all for today! God bless! Shalom!
P.S. Check out that study. It is totally worth it.
Monday, May 27, 2013
May 27th
May 27th -- Ezekiel 37:1-14 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2037:1-14&version=NLT)
This passage... I don't even know how to respond to it. I often just sit there and re-read and gape and try and process it. I mean, it's something you expect from a movie. I often picture that scene in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor where the army rises out of the ground and suddenly becomes flesh from dirt. But seriously, God told Ezekiel to speak it, and he did and it happened. Now, I want to just point out a theme I'm seeing overall. Speech. God spoke the world into existence, the serpent spoke to Eve, disciples spoke in tongues, Esther spoke to the king, Ezekiel spoke the prophetic words and by that spoke the men back to life, etc. All spoke. Speech is such a powerful thing. Our tongues really have a huge impact on our life. They're like the rudder for our boat, folks (yes, I've talked about this before and I did use the same simile - I like it a lot). So when you speak, watch your words. I mean, we wash mouths with soap for swearing. What if we washed them for each thing we said that was not God-pleasing and God-honoring? I think on a whole we'd all have our mouths washed out almost every time we spoke. I know I let my tongue run away with me (I did so earlier today and greatly regret it) so I am not trying in any way to claim perfection. I'm saying I know I need to clamp down on my own tongue, and so I shall be trying to do that. I challenge you all to, as well. And if you don't believe me that it's important, just go take a look and see how significant it is in the Bible (I gave only a few of many examples above).
Well that's all! God bless! Shalom!
This passage... I don't even know how to respond to it. I often just sit there and re-read and gape and try and process it. I mean, it's something you expect from a movie. I often picture that scene in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor where the army rises out of the ground and suddenly becomes flesh from dirt. But seriously, God told Ezekiel to speak it, and he did and it happened. Now, I want to just point out a theme I'm seeing overall. Speech. God spoke the world into existence, the serpent spoke to Eve, disciples spoke in tongues, Esther spoke to the king, Ezekiel spoke the prophetic words and by that spoke the men back to life, etc. All spoke. Speech is such a powerful thing. Our tongues really have a huge impact on our life. They're like the rudder for our boat, folks (yes, I've talked about this before and I did use the same simile - I like it a lot). So when you speak, watch your words. I mean, we wash mouths with soap for swearing. What if we washed them for each thing we said that was not God-pleasing and God-honoring? I think on a whole we'd all have our mouths washed out almost every time we spoke. I know I let my tongue run away with me (I did so earlier today and greatly regret it) so I am not trying in any way to claim perfection. I'm saying I know I need to clamp down on my own tongue, and so I shall be trying to do that. I challenge you all to, as well. And if you don't believe me that it's important, just go take a look and see how significant it is in the Bible (I gave only a few of many examples above).
Well that's all! God bless! Shalom!
Sunday, May 26, 2013
May 26th
May 26th -- Jeremiah 38:1-13 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2038:1-13&version=NLT)
Go read. I am no longer typing summaries (unless I randomly get the urge to) because they take too long and stuff.
So Jeremiah, after already being thrown in prison, gets thrown in a cistern ( a big hole lined with rocks that would be used to collect rainwater). He could have died numerous ways done there - not one being in the slightest a nice way to die. Why was he down there? For doing what God asked. So don't think that doing what God asks will always be pleasant, and will never threaten to destroy you (literally or metaphorically). Doing what God's telling us may put us in a sticky place (literally, like Jeremiah in the mud, or again just metaphorically). HOWEVER, God will honor us for obeying Him, and (almost) always pull us out of that place. I mean, somebody happened to hear about Jeremiah's condition, and the king (who had just condemned him to that) had him rescued. Yes, he was put back in prison, but it was better than dying in a cistern. God was looking out for Him. God's always looking out for us. Yes, sometimes we feel like we're out of the fire and just back into the frying pan (after we went from the frying pan into the fire), but that's still improvement. Also, well, when you look at the fact that we deserve literal eternal fire, then jail doesn't seem so bad anymore. I'm not trying to make light of bad situations, merely pointing out that God has had our backs since before we even fell. We need to honestly remember that all the time.
That's all! God bless! Shalom!
Go read. I am no longer typing summaries (unless I randomly get the urge to) because they take too long and stuff.
So Jeremiah, after already being thrown in prison, gets thrown in a cistern ( a big hole lined with rocks that would be used to collect rainwater). He could have died numerous ways done there - not one being in the slightest a nice way to die. Why was he down there? For doing what God asked. So don't think that doing what God asks will always be pleasant, and will never threaten to destroy you (literally or metaphorically). Doing what God's telling us may put us in a sticky place (literally, like Jeremiah in the mud, or again just metaphorically). HOWEVER, God will honor us for obeying Him, and (almost) always pull us out of that place. I mean, somebody happened to hear about Jeremiah's condition, and the king (who had just condemned him to that) had him rescued. Yes, he was put back in prison, but it was better than dying in a cistern. God was looking out for Him. God's always looking out for us. Yes, sometimes we feel like we're out of the fire and just back into the frying pan (after we went from the frying pan into the fire), but that's still improvement. Also, well, when you look at the fact that we deserve literal eternal fire, then jail doesn't seem so bad anymore. I'm not trying to make light of bad situations, merely pointing out that God has had our backs since before we even fell. We need to honestly remember that all the time.
That's all! God bless! Shalom!
Saturday, May 25, 2013
May 25th
May 25th -- Jeremiah 36 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2036&version=NLT)
Go read, please, as I've basically decided to stop doing summaries... they just take so long and don't benefit me and you're better off to hear what's going on right from the passage itself.
So King Jehoiakim doesn't like what the scrolls have to say, or all the warnings they have. Due to this dislike, he goes right ahead and burns them. He pays for it later. Also, people did not listen, probably also because they didn't like what the scroll said. They suffered for it later. Really the scroll was, in a way, listing punishments they would receive if they didn't apologize for breaking the rules they did. It's like getting a warning from the school that unless your parents and teacher discuss and issue, and you write a formal apology, you will be suspended. You hold no control. Often we try and take some to change it to better terms for us. We can't. When we try to, it just gets messed up. Also, God is not okay with us trying to have the final say over His word. His word is right and is truth - that is that. We don't get to dictate things that counter what He says. When we try, we end up like Jehoiakim - in a bad place with God, and often punished for that sin of putting our self over Him. Also, when we suddenly try and dictate what we want those of us around us to hear and not hear (Jehoiakim burns the scrolls so they cannot be read to more people), the same thing will happen. The only time we are safe is when we are on God's side, like Jeremiah and Baruch, who God hid for doing His work. So make sure you're always on God's side, and don't let yourself get the better of you and do foolish things without regret, like Jehoiakim.
God bless! Shalom!
Go read, please, as I've basically decided to stop doing summaries... they just take so long and don't benefit me and you're better off to hear what's going on right from the passage itself.
So King Jehoiakim doesn't like what the scrolls have to say, or all the warnings they have. Due to this dislike, he goes right ahead and burns them. He pays for it later. Also, people did not listen, probably also because they didn't like what the scroll said. They suffered for it later. Really the scroll was, in a way, listing punishments they would receive if they didn't apologize for breaking the rules they did. It's like getting a warning from the school that unless your parents and teacher discuss and issue, and you write a formal apology, you will be suspended. You hold no control. Often we try and take some to change it to better terms for us. We can't. When we try to, it just gets messed up. Also, God is not okay with us trying to have the final say over His word. His word is right and is truth - that is that. We don't get to dictate things that counter what He says. When we try, we end up like Jehoiakim - in a bad place with God, and often punished for that sin of putting our self over Him. Also, when we suddenly try and dictate what we want those of us around us to hear and not hear (Jehoiakim burns the scrolls so they cannot be read to more people), the same thing will happen. The only time we are safe is when we are on God's side, like Jeremiah and Baruch, who God hid for doing His work. So make sure you're always on God's side, and don't let yourself get the better of you and do foolish things without regret, like Jehoiakim.
God bless! Shalom!
Friday, May 24, 2013
May 24th
May 24th -- Jeremiah 1:1-9 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%201:1-9&version=NLT)
Go read for a summary. I don't feel like summarizing (exhausted after my spring arts festival at school so doing this and then sleeeeeeeeeppppinnnggggggggg... *zzzzz*).
So we have these messages carrying on through a family line, until all those living in Jerusalem are one day taken as captives. Then Jeremiah gets a message from God saying God set him aside to be a prophet for Israel. Jeremiah tries to argue he is too young, but God will have non of it, telling him he must do as God tells him, and God will go with him and be with him. God even then reaches out to touch Jeremiah's mouth and speak through him (what he says wasn't included in this passage, but it's in verses 9 - the end of it - and 10). I find that awesome. I think one of the bigger problems with ministry nowadays is that adults seldom allow youth to be involved. We're either never encouraged or sometimes even outright discouraged to participate in ministry-related fields/events. Why? We're seen as young and therefore unable to be used for God's glory. That's obviously also what Jeremiah thought, too. God, however, thought otherwise, just as He does with other people. He realizes that age, size, name, culture, ethnicity, education, etc has no meaning in His plan, because He can use anyone - that's one of the many awesome things about our God; NOTHING is impossible for Him! So if you're like me, and you're often seen as incapable of making any difference for God because you're not yet an adult, just remember God uses ALL people who are willing.
Also, as a side note, I was at a youth retreat this past weekend (as I've mentioned before and I will honestly get around to posting on my personal blog about my experience there) and God confirmed my calling to ministry to me three times while I was there. Then I felt this need to fast forward so I could make a difference in ministry. Yet, by chance I met a girl from Tumblr and her friend wandered over so we ended up exchanging cell numbers and texting. She told me a lot about her past, and said God had told her she was going to find someone this weekend who was going to help her change her life/was going to make a difference in her life, and she feels that that is me. That was incredibly neat for me, because God was showing me He can use me even where I am. This girl and I had a really great discussion, actually, about her coming to know God, and she was saying that the retreat (which she was forced into attending) convinced her of His reality. Now we're more just working on breaking the chains of her past, and helping her come to know God as a friend, rather than some sort of existent but distant and unreachable entity. So if God can use me, He can use you, too.
That's all for tonight! God bless! Shalom!
Go read for a summary. I don't feel like summarizing (exhausted after my spring arts festival at school so doing this and then sleeeeeeeeeppppinnnggggggggg... *zzzzz*).
So we have these messages carrying on through a family line, until all those living in Jerusalem are one day taken as captives. Then Jeremiah gets a message from God saying God set him aside to be a prophet for Israel. Jeremiah tries to argue he is too young, but God will have non of it, telling him he must do as God tells him, and God will go with him and be with him. God even then reaches out to touch Jeremiah's mouth and speak through him (what he says wasn't included in this passage, but it's in verses 9 - the end of it - and 10). I find that awesome. I think one of the bigger problems with ministry nowadays is that adults seldom allow youth to be involved. We're either never encouraged or sometimes even outright discouraged to participate in ministry-related fields/events. Why? We're seen as young and therefore unable to be used for God's glory. That's obviously also what Jeremiah thought, too. God, however, thought otherwise, just as He does with other people. He realizes that age, size, name, culture, ethnicity, education, etc has no meaning in His plan, because He can use anyone - that's one of the many awesome things about our God; NOTHING is impossible for Him! So if you're like me, and you're often seen as incapable of making any difference for God because you're not yet an adult, just remember God uses ALL people who are willing.
Also, as a side note, I was at a youth retreat this past weekend (as I've mentioned before and I will honestly get around to posting on my personal blog about my experience there) and God confirmed my calling to ministry to me three times while I was there. Then I felt this need to fast forward so I could make a difference in ministry. Yet, by chance I met a girl from Tumblr and her friend wandered over so we ended up exchanging cell numbers and texting. She told me a lot about her past, and said God had told her she was going to find someone this weekend who was going to help her change her life/was going to make a difference in her life, and she feels that that is me. That was incredibly neat for me, because God was showing me He can use me even where I am. This girl and I had a really great discussion, actually, about her coming to know God, and she was saying that the retreat (which she was forced into attending) convinced her of His reality. Now we're more just working on breaking the chains of her past, and helping her come to know God as a friend, rather than some sort of existent but distant and unreachable entity. So if God can use me, He can use you, too.
That's all for tonight! God bless! Shalom!
Thursday, May 23, 2013
May 23rd
May 23rd -- Isaiah 53 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2053&version=NLT)
Please go read this on your own (link of pull out your good ol' paper Bible) because it's a prophecy, and I really don't want to mess up any of what it says...
PROPHECY! SO. COOL. Sorry, but I really just love prophecies. They're seriously so cool. I mean, God, like, tells us the future to tell others. He lets us know what is going to happen. At the time, that probably made no sense to anyone. We know now, though, that it speaks of Christ and his crucifixion, although it was long before even his birth. This talks about all the events of Christ's dying for our sins: he was plain, so rejected ; had the sins of all laid on him ; did no wrong but was condemned and killed like a criminal ; made it possible for many to be counted as righteous (or, made it possible for many to enter the Kingdom of Heaven) ; exposed himself to death ; was blessed hugely by God. It's really just so neat to see our Jesus being preached about long before he came for us, and it just goes to show how God really has been working to save us since the start - He set it all up LONG before it happened.
That's all, sorry. Not sure what else I can say on a prophecy - it speaks for itself. God bless! Shalom!
Please go read this on your own (link of pull out your good ol' paper Bible) because it's a prophecy, and I really don't want to mess up any of what it says...
PROPHECY! SO. COOL. Sorry, but I really just love prophecies. They're seriously so cool. I mean, God, like, tells us the future to tell others. He lets us know what is going to happen. At the time, that probably made no sense to anyone. We know now, though, that it speaks of Christ and his crucifixion, although it was long before even his birth. This talks about all the events of Christ's dying for our sins: he was plain, so rejected ; had the sins of all laid on him ; did no wrong but was condemned and killed like a criminal ; made it possible for many to be counted as righteous (or, made it possible for many to enter the Kingdom of Heaven) ; exposed himself to death ; was blessed hugely by God. It's really just so neat to see our Jesus being preached about long before he came for us, and it just goes to show how God really has been working to save us since the start - He set it all up LONG before it happened.
That's all, sorry. Not sure what else I can say on a prophecy - it speaks for itself. God bless! Shalom!
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
May 22nd
May 22nd - Isaiah 6 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%206&version=NLT)
Isaiah's cleansing and call.
In the year King Uzziah dies, Isaiah sees the Lord. He says He was on a throne, and his robe's train filled the temple. He was attended by seraphim, with six wings each (two over their face, two over their feet, and two to fly with). They called out, calling God holy, and their voices shook the temple and everything was filled with smoke. Isaiah assumed he was doomed, then, for he was a sinner (he particularly focuses on having "filthy lips" _and yet had seen God, but a seraphim brought a burning coal, touched it to his lips, and said his sins were then forgiven. Then God asked who He should send as a messenger, and Isaiah volunteered. God gives him a message to deliver to the people, that they will not hear nor understand God, and harden their hearts to Him. Isaiah asks how long this will go for. God tells him it will be until they have been scattered until Israel's land is deserted - but it's stump will be like a holy seed.
Can you just imagine seeing seraphim? Like, not even visualizing them as they are described, but actually, physically seeing them? It would be CRAZY. But, like, awesome crazy. Angels with six wings. Hearing them sing, too... it makes me shiver just thinking about it.
Now, on the other hand, imagine getting the message Isaiah got. I mean, he volunteers for the position. He's like Donkey in Shrek - "Oh! Pick me! Pick me!". Yet, when he got the position by hearing the message, I bet he probably started to think "What did I just get myself into....." (this is shown by his questioning about the events the messages speaks on). Yet, Isaiah doesn't back down. Why? Probably because he recognizes that God's way may not make sense to us, or seem good from our standpoint, but God's way is always best - if we saw from His same eternal perspective we'd understand that. We don't though, so we need to trust and accept.
That's all. God bless! Shalom!
Isaiah's cleansing and call.
In the year King Uzziah dies, Isaiah sees the Lord. He says He was on a throne, and his robe's train filled the temple. He was attended by seraphim, with six wings each (two over their face, two over their feet, and two to fly with). They called out, calling God holy, and their voices shook the temple and everything was filled with smoke. Isaiah assumed he was doomed, then, for he was a sinner (he particularly focuses on having "filthy lips" _and yet had seen God, but a seraphim brought a burning coal, touched it to his lips, and said his sins were then forgiven. Then God asked who He should send as a messenger, and Isaiah volunteered. God gives him a message to deliver to the people, that they will not hear nor understand God, and harden their hearts to Him. Isaiah asks how long this will go for. God tells him it will be until they have been scattered until Israel's land is deserted - but it's stump will be like a holy seed.
Can you just imagine seeing seraphim? Like, not even visualizing them as they are described, but actually, physically seeing them? It would be CRAZY. But, like, awesome crazy. Angels with six wings. Hearing them sing, too... it makes me shiver just thinking about it.
Now, on the other hand, imagine getting the message Isaiah got. I mean, he volunteers for the position. He's like Donkey in Shrek - "Oh! Pick me! Pick me!". Yet, when he got the position by hearing the message, I bet he probably started to think "What did I just get myself into....." (this is shown by his questioning about the events the messages speaks on). Yet, Isaiah doesn't back down. Why? Probably because he recognizes that God's way may not make sense to us, or seem good from our standpoint, but God's way is always best - if we saw from His same eternal perspective we'd understand that. We don't though, so we need to trust and accept.
That's all. God bless! Shalom!
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
May 21st
May 21st -- Ecclesiastes 12 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes%2012&version=NLT)
_____ ; Concluding Thoughts about the Teacher
Don't forget about God in youth, before you get to being old and saying life has no meaning. Remember Him above all else. Remember Him while you are young as opposed to solely when you are old so that your spirit will be fulfilled when you are young and so we do not waste all our youth not serving the kingdom of God.
Now, the passage then goes on to talk about the teacher, who I believe must be the one who taught about the lessons beforehand in this book. It says that the Teacher says everything is entirely meaningless, and this Teacher was found wise. Wise words are like cattle prods - they are painful, but they are helpful. In the end, though, just be wary to follow God's commands because we will be judged for every one of our actions, good or bad.
I think basically there are two focuses on this. One is not to forget how fragile life can be, and therefore not to delay finding God. Let's say you planned on bothering to look into religion when you were 60, but were - terribly - killed in an accident around the age of 40. You would not know God, and would end up in Hell. This could have been avoided had you met Him earlier instead of delaying it until you were older. If you had focused on God in your youth, you would have been fine. Also, when you focus on God in your youth, your life actually has a purpose. If you do not know God until after your youth, you have wasted all that time which could have been spent helping build His kingdom.
The other focus is on listening to God's teachings. Often, we may not like what God's saying is true, or real. Often we prefer a more lenient version, or simply a whole different story. However, as much as what God can say can hurt, it is always helpful. It is there to guide us and keep us away from harm like a cattle prod. Also like a cattle prod, it only hurts when it is resisted, but otherwise will cause no harm or pain. We just need to listen to God, taking what He says to be truth as the truth - no if's and's or's or but's about it. If we don't listen, we have to take it up with Him, so we're far better to just listen without questioning.
That'll be all! God bless! Shalom!
_____ ; Concluding Thoughts about the Teacher
Don't forget about God in youth, before you get to being old and saying life has no meaning. Remember Him above all else. Remember Him while you are young as opposed to solely when you are old so that your spirit will be fulfilled when you are young and so we do not waste all our youth not serving the kingdom of God.
Now, the passage then goes on to talk about the teacher, who I believe must be the one who taught about the lessons beforehand in this book. It says that the Teacher says everything is entirely meaningless, and this Teacher was found wise. Wise words are like cattle prods - they are painful, but they are helpful. In the end, though, just be wary to follow God's commands because we will be judged for every one of our actions, good or bad.
I think basically there are two focuses on this. One is not to forget how fragile life can be, and therefore not to delay finding God. Let's say you planned on bothering to look into religion when you were 60, but were - terribly - killed in an accident around the age of 40. You would not know God, and would end up in Hell. This could have been avoided had you met Him earlier instead of delaying it until you were older. If you had focused on God in your youth, you would have been fine. Also, when you focus on God in your youth, your life actually has a purpose. If you do not know God until after your youth, you have wasted all that time which could have been spent helping build His kingdom.
The other focus is on listening to God's teachings. Often, we may not like what God's saying is true, or real. Often we prefer a more lenient version, or simply a whole different story. However, as much as what God can say can hurt, it is always helpful. It is there to guide us and keep us away from harm like a cattle prod. Also like a cattle prod, it only hurts when it is resisted, but otherwise will cause no harm or pain. We just need to listen to God, taking what He says to be truth as the truth - no if's and's or's or but's about it. If we don't listen, we have to take it up with Him, so we're far better to just listen without questioning.
That'll be all! God bless! Shalom!
Monday, May 20, 2013
March 20th
March 20th -- Proverbs 5 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%205&version=NLT)
Go read, as I am not summing it up. Actually, I'm not even sure how much I'll talk on what it's talking about (avoiding immoral women) since it's advice aimed at guys...
Yeah, so, well, I'm really not sure I have much to say on this topic... doesn't really concern me... but, any guys reading this, LISTEN TO THAT PASSAGE. In the same way, fellow women, avoid immoral men.
Now, one thing I do just want to comment on is just a side thought relating to this passage. Immoral. Definition? "Violating moral principles; not conforming to the patterns of conduct usually accepted or established as consistent with principles of personal and social ethics." Whose principles? God's. Now I just feel the need to point out something, as I often feel it needs clarification. Sometimes, people confuse naïve and innocent. If you are not naïve, you are seen as immoral, to some people. Now, naïve implies that the person is. Definition of naïve? 1 "having or showing unaffected simplicity of nature or absence of artificiality; unsophisticated; ingenuous." and 2 "having or showing a lack of experience, judgment, or information; credulous" This suggests a lack of knowledge and/or understanding about the topic. Now, you can disagree with me if you want, but naïve and innocent are different. Naïve, as I said, is not knowing about or not understanding the topic - in this case it suggests they know nothing about sexual matters, and are prone to be taken advantage of because of that lack of understanding. Then we have innocent. Sure, often innocence and naivety go hand-in-hand, but they can be different. I mean, what if a Christian girl goes to a public school and is forced to learn (due to the school board) all the nitty-gritty details about sex? Is she suddenly immoral? NO. One can be educated on the topic, but still innocent. If she learns all about it in that class, because she has to for school, but never gets into trouble with it, or breaks God's laws in regards to it, she doesn't become suddenly immoral just for knowing it. She could very easily still be highly offended by sexual humour, become uncomfortable around it, and still "know how to blush" (as in still be able to be affected by that immorality, when it arises, instead of being immune or indifferent to it). Some people also study these topics to help others. Heard of a Christian marriage counselor? They don't have to be married, but they deal with married-couple issues, often involving sex. If they know nothing/are entirely naïve they cannot help - they need to be educated on the matter. Education doesn't have to be immoral. Sure I'm positive God's got lines as to what is okay to know and what He doesn't want us knowing (or not at that point on our life), but also remember that sex is something beautiful God created as a gift to mankind. The catch is it's for a husband and wife ONLY. So, please don't think a girl's all good, but then find out she knows stuff on the matter, and then suddenly decide because of that she's immoral and you have to avoid her. Recognize immorality is more an action, in this context. Yes, people may think many immoral thoughts, but that is between them and God. But watch for a person's actions - when that person's actions in that area are always/almost always ones that are clearly not pleasing to God, then you can decide that maybe they're immoral and you should avoid them so as not to flirt with sin by being around them.
God bless! Shalom!
Go read, as I am not summing it up. Actually, I'm not even sure how much I'll talk on what it's talking about (avoiding immoral women) since it's advice aimed at guys...
Yeah, so, well, I'm really not sure I have much to say on this topic... doesn't really concern me... but, any guys reading this, LISTEN TO THAT PASSAGE. In the same way, fellow women, avoid immoral men.
Now, one thing I do just want to comment on is just a side thought relating to this passage. Immoral. Definition? "Violating moral principles; not conforming to the patterns of conduct usually accepted or established as consistent with principles of personal and social ethics." Whose principles? God's. Now I just feel the need to point out something, as I often feel it needs clarification. Sometimes, people confuse naïve and innocent. If you are not naïve, you are seen as immoral, to some people. Now, naïve implies that the person is. Definition of naïve? 1 "having or showing unaffected simplicity of nature or absence of artificiality; unsophisticated; ingenuous." and 2 "having or showing a lack of experience, judgment, or information; credulous" This suggests a lack of knowledge and/or understanding about the topic. Now, you can disagree with me if you want, but naïve and innocent are different. Naïve, as I said, is not knowing about or not understanding the topic - in this case it suggests they know nothing about sexual matters, and are prone to be taken advantage of because of that lack of understanding. Then we have innocent. Sure, often innocence and naivety go hand-in-hand, but they can be different. I mean, what if a Christian girl goes to a public school and is forced to learn (due to the school board) all the nitty-gritty details about sex? Is she suddenly immoral? NO. One can be educated on the topic, but still innocent. If she learns all about it in that class, because she has to for school, but never gets into trouble with it, or breaks God's laws in regards to it, she doesn't become suddenly immoral just for knowing it. She could very easily still be highly offended by sexual humour, become uncomfortable around it, and still "know how to blush" (as in still be able to be affected by that immorality, when it arises, instead of being immune or indifferent to it). Some people also study these topics to help others. Heard of a Christian marriage counselor? They don't have to be married, but they deal with married-couple issues, often involving sex. If they know nothing/are entirely naïve they cannot help - they need to be educated on the matter. Education doesn't have to be immoral. Sure I'm positive God's got lines as to what is okay to know and what He doesn't want us knowing (or not at that point on our life), but also remember that sex is something beautiful God created as a gift to mankind. The catch is it's for a husband and wife ONLY. So, please don't think a girl's all good, but then find out she knows stuff on the matter, and then suddenly decide because of that she's immoral and you have to avoid her. Recognize immorality is more an action, in this context. Yes, people may think many immoral thoughts, but that is between them and God. But watch for a person's actions - when that person's actions in that area are always/almost always ones that are clearly not pleasing to God, then you can decide that maybe they're immoral and you should avoid them so as not to flirt with sin by being around them.
God bless! Shalom!
Sunday, May 19, 2013
May 19th
May 19th -- Proverbs 4 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%204&version=NLT)
A Father's Wise Advice
Please go read this passage, as I will not be attempting to sum it up. Things like Psalms and Proverbs are more like concepts than anything, so they're almost impossible to sum up and I'd hate to wrongly convey any part of it, so go read it, please.
I just came back from Overflow 2013. (Life-changing btw, but that is for another post on my personal blog). Now, at that place, God spoke to a LOT of people. That is INCREDIBLE, but it's not if we don't let it change anything - if we turn away. The first two verses say we need to pay attention to the wisdom from our father... and then NOT TURN AWAY FROM HIS INSTRUCTIONS. It then talks about wisdom, and how great it is. Then avoiding the ways of the wicked, for that will bring you down the wrong path. It then says to "pay attention to what I say", as well as listen carefully and let what they hear actually change their heart, because those words bring life. Action words are no good if we don't apply them into actions.
Also, I want to point out that in verses 23-27 it makes 3 big, but short points.
1) Guard your heart. This passage says it determines the course of your life. Be aware of what your heart is set on, because if it's not set on God, it's steering you away from Him.
2) Avoid perverse talk. Stay away from corrupt speech. I don't think that needs clarification. But I just want to point out, in a Beth Moore study, she made a great analogy. Our bodies are like ships, and our tongues are like rudders. They seem tiny and insignificant, but they can steer that whole ship. Where's your tongue steering you?
3) Look ahead, mark a path, and don't get sidetracked. We talked about this at Overflow. Living for God is like a race. We need to choose to mark off/follow that path, then fix our eyes on Jesus/the path, and not allow ourselves to be distracted from it.
When you hear God, folks, LISTEN. Listen and then DO NOT TURN AWAY FROM WHAT YOU HEAR.
That's all! God bless! Shalom!
A Father's Wise Advice
Please go read this passage, as I will not be attempting to sum it up. Things like Psalms and Proverbs are more like concepts than anything, so they're almost impossible to sum up and I'd hate to wrongly convey any part of it, so go read it, please.
I just came back from Overflow 2013. (Life-changing btw, but that is for another post on my personal blog). Now, at that place, God spoke to a LOT of people. That is INCREDIBLE, but it's not if we don't let it change anything - if we turn away. The first two verses say we need to pay attention to the wisdom from our father... and then NOT TURN AWAY FROM HIS INSTRUCTIONS. It then talks about wisdom, and how great it is. Then avoiding the ways of the wicked, for that will bring you down the wrong path. It then says to "pay attention to what I say", as well as listen carefully and let what they hear actually change their heart, because those words bring life. Action words are no good if we don't apply them into actions.
Also, I want to point out that in verses 23-27 it makes 3 big, but short points.
1) Guard your heart. This passage says it determines the course of your life. Be aware of what your heart is set on, because if it's not set on God, it's steering you away from Him.
2) Avoid perverse talk. Stay away from corrupt speech. I don't think that needs clarification. But I just want to point out, in a Beth Moore study, she made a great analogy. Our bodies are like ships, and our tongues are like rudders. They seem tiny and insignificant, but they can steer that whole ship. Where's your tongue steering you?
3) Look ahead, mark a path, and don't get sidetracked. We talked about this at Overflow. Living for God is like a race. We need to choose to mark off/follow that path, then fix our eyes on Jesus/the path, and not allow ourselves to be distracted from it.
When you hear God, folks, LISTEN. Listen and then DO NOT TURN AWAY FROM WHAT YOU HEAR.
That's all! God bless! Shalom!
May 18th
May 18th -- Psalm 145 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20145&version=NLT)
Please go read it using the link or in your Bible. I am not gonna' summarize it, because Psalms just can't be summarized well at all.
This passage is all full-out praising God. It says that "I" (referring to David, whose Psalm it is) will exalt the Lord, talking about how His greatness cannot be measured. Then, like yesterday, some reasons are given. It talks about how God is merciful and compassionate. It says that His children will praise Him and people will speak of His mightiness and He will rule all generations. Now, it then goes on to talk more about God. One thing it mentions is that it says "The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads. The eyes if all look to you in hope;". Now, at Overflow, (I will probably put up a big post - or a bunch of smaller posts - about it tomorrow or Monday on my personal blog - http://emeraldsandstones.blogspot.com ) we talked this morning about enduring hope. God/Jesus is the source - the only source of the enduring hope. Our God is so incredible... and SO powerful... beyond our comprehension... yet He loves us.
Verse 21 "I will praise the Lord, and may everyone on earth bless His holy name forever and ever."
God bless you all. Shalom!
Please go read it using the link or in your Bible. I am not gonna' summarize it, because Psalms just can't be summarized well at all.
This passage is all full-out praising God. It says that "I" (referring to David, whose Psalm it is) will exalt the Lord, talking about how His greatness cannot be measured. Then, like yesterday, some reasons are given. It talks about how God is merciful and compassionate. It says that His children will praise Him and people will speak of His mightiness and He will rule all generations. Now, it then goes on to talk more about God. One thing it mentions is that it says "The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads. The eyes if all look to you in hope;". Now, at Overflow, (I will probably put up a big post - or a bunch of smaller posts - about it tomorrow or Monday on my personal blog - http://emeraldsandstones.blogspot.com ) we talked this morning about enduring hope. God/Jesus is the source - the only source of the enduring hope. Our God is so incredible... and SO powerful... beyond our comprehension... yet He loves us.
Verse 21 "I will praise the Lord, and may everyone on earth bless His holy name forever and ever."
God bless you all. Shalom!
Saturday, May 18, 2013
May 17th
May 17th -- Psalm 139 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20139&version=NLT)
Not summarizing - please go read using the link or your Bible. Thank you.
This passage is just wonderful. Overall, but definitely on a very personal note right now. See, in chapel at school today, we watched a Louis Giglio video from the "How Great is our God" series. Can I just say that by the end my head was hurting at trying to take in the expanse of the heavens God breathed into existence. Yes, BREATHED. A God who breathes stars and makes galaxies knows us each and cares. We cannot escape Him, and He will always support us. It also talks about how He knit us together in our mother's womb. This is the guy who runs EVERYTHING, yet He made sure to be there to make sure you got put together right. That's a hugely impossible task by human standards - I mean have you SEEN how complex the human body is? Also, look at verse 17. His thoughts about us cannot be numbered. It's not like He drops in, puts us together, then leaves like "here, you're on your own from here, kid!" He's always thinking about us, in the most loving way possible. Then at the end it it ends with (verses 23-24) asking God to search out our heart and test us, then point out our sin and help us to follow His everlasting path. Those verses... just hit me hard personally. I tend to find that I don't really have any "monsters in the closet" (meaning any secret addictions or anything), but I know I still have sin in my life. I often pray that God will help me see those areas in which I often struggle, so that I can fix that for His glory. He's been doing that. Sure I hate seeing that sort of thing in me (those sins, I mean), but it's better painfully uprooted than left to slowly creep in until it is too late to keep it from festering and destroying you slowly.
That shall be all, as I am super sleepy from being back so late from Overflow. So God bless! Shalom!
Not summarizing - please go read using the link or your Bible. Thank you.
This passage is just wonderful. Overall, but definitely on a very personal note right now. See, in chapel at school today, we watched a Louis Giglio video from the "How Great is our God" series. Can I just say that by the end my head was hurting at trying to take in the expanse of the heavens God breathed into existence. Yes, BREATHED. A God who breathes stars and makes galaxies knows us each and cares. We cannot escape Him, and He will always support us. It also talks about how He knit us together in our mother's womb. This is the guy who runs EVERYTHING, yet He made sure to be there to make sure you got put together right. That's a hugely impossible task by human standards - I mean have you SEEN how complex the human body is? Also, look at verse 17. His thoughts about us cannot be numbered. It's not like He drops in, puts us together, then leaves like "here, you're on your own from here, kid!" He's always thinking about us, in the most loving way possible. Then at the end it it ends with (verses 23-24) asking God to search out our heart and test us, then point out our sin and help us to follow His everlasting path. Those verses... just hit me hard personally. I tend to find that I don't really have any "monsters in the closet" (meaning any secret addictions or anything), but I know I still have sin in my life. I often pray that God will help me see those areas in which I often struggle, so that I can fix that for His glory. He's been doing that. Sure I hate seeing that sort of thing in me (those sins, I mean), but it's better painfully uprooted than left to slowly creep in until it is too late to keep it from festering and destroying you slowly.
That shall be all, as I am super sleepy from being back so late from Overflow. So God bless! Shalom!
Thursday, May 16, 2013
May 16th
May 16th -- Psalm 103 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20103&version=NLT)
Read to see. I am not summarizing. Too short to bother, and summarizing Psalms is like summarizing poems - that's not done for a reason.
Let all that I am praise the Lord. Not, "Let all I am on Sunday praise the Lord" or "Let all I am when my parents are around praise the Lord" or even "Let all I am when I am at school praise the Lord." Simply, "Let all that I am praise the Lord." This means that no matter where you are, what you are doing, and who you are with, you should be praising God. This can be by sharing the Good News, singing praise songs, using God's talents He gave you, or just intentionally avoiding sin. The point though, is that you don't worship Him 99% of the time, or when it's easy, or when it's not going to endanger opinions of friends - you worship ALL the time so that you worship with ALL of you.
Then, in case reasons why we should weren't clear, a TON are listed in this passage.
For example, He:
-forgives us of sins
-heals diseases
-redeems us from death
-crowns us with love and mercies
-fills life with good things
-gives righteousness and justice
-loves unfailingly
-doesn't constantly accuse (though He has all good reason to)
-doesn't punish us for all our sins, even though that's what we deserve
-removed our sins from us as far as the east is from the west
-etc.
I used that last one as my last one for a reason. HE HAS REMOVED OUR SINS FROM US AS FAR AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST. Where ^ is north then > is east and < is west. Now, the distance between < and > ? Well, it's sort of endless. We have all sinned, and deserved eternal Hell (literally) for that. Yet, God has forgotten those because His son has redeemed us, and now our sins are endlessly removed from us. Wow. Just wow. We're just messed up people, born into and often - knowingly- choosing the path of sin, but HE LOVES US THAT MUCH. I hope that all of me praises Him. I know I mess up, but I want for ALL of me to praise Him, because all is still far less than He deserves, but it's the best I have to give.
God bless! Shalom!
P.S. I have Overflow (a youth retreat) this weekend. I'm staying in a hotel. In theory, it has Wifi, so I should be able to do Fri and Saturday nights' posts while up there (bringing my laptop). However, I may a) not have Wifi or b) not be back until way too late and not have time to do the posts (curfews >.< ). SO, if I CAN I will, but if I CAN'T, I'm not skipping them - just expect three on Sunday night!
Read to see. I am not summarizing. Too short to bother, and summarizing Psalms is like summarizing poems - that's not done for a reason.
Let all that I am praise the Lord. Not, "Let all I am on Sunday praise the Lord" or "Let all I am when my parents are around praise the Lord" or even "Let all I am when I am at school praise the Lord." Simply, "Let all that I am praise the Lord." This means that no matter where you are, what you are doing, and who you are with, you should be praising God. This can be by sharing the Good News, singing praise songs, using God's talents He gave you, or just intentionally avoiding sin. The point though, is that you don't worship Him 99% of the time, or when it's easy, or when it's not going to endanger opinions of friends - you worship ALL the time so that you worship with ALL of you.
Then, in case reasons why we should weren't clear, a TON are listed in this passage.
For example, He:
-forgives us of sins
-heals diseases
-redeems us from death
-crowns us with love and mercies
-fills life with good things
-gives righteousness and justice
-loves unfailingly
-doesn't constantly accuse (though He has all good reason to)
-doesn't punish us for all our sins, even though that's what we deserve
-removed our sins from us as far as the east is from the west
-etc.
I used that last one as my last one for a reason. HE HAS REMOVED OUR SINS FROM US AS FAR AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST. Where ^ is north then > is east and < is west. Now, the distance between < and > ? Well, it's sort of endless. We have all sinned, and deserved eternal Hell (literally) for that. Yet, God has forgotten those because His son has redeemed us, and now our sins are endlessly removed from us. Wow. Just wow. We're just messed up people, born into and often - knowingly- choosing the path of sin, but HE LOVES US THAT MUCH. I hope that all of me praises Him. I know I mess up, but I want for ALL of me to praise Him, because all is still far less than He deserves, but it's the best I have to give.
God bless! Shalom!
P.S. I have Overflow (a youth retreat) this weekend. I'm staying in a hotel. In theory, it has Wifi, so I should be able to do Fri and Saturday nights' posts while up there (bringing my laptop). However, I may a) not have Wifi or b) not be back until way too late and not have time to do the posts (curfews >.< ). SO, if I CAN I will, but if I CAN'T, I'm not skipping them - just expect three on Sunday night!
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
May 15th
May 15th -- Psalm 51 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2051&version=NLT)
Read on your own, please, because it is yet again too short to summarize. Basically, though, David's pleading with God for mercy and forgiveness.
I really love this passage. Like, a lot. I mean, have you ever had one of those times where you did something wrong, and KNOW it was wrong, and then you feel like the guiltiest most awful person on the face of the planet for a few hours (or longer)? I have! To me, that's kind of what this passage comes across like - begging for mercy because we've messed up and we know it, and really do want to change. He's begging God to restore Him, and not leave, or take the Holy Spirit. He's begging for forgiveness, and for help from God to change. It all just sort of rings with me on a personal note. See, I have an EXTREMELY guilty conscience. So, when I sin, and I recognize that I have, I feel guilty, like what David says in verse 3. I mean, we're really just sort of stuck being sinners, and knowing it. The only way to NOT have it eat us alive (or, well, in my opinion at least) is acknowledging it, and crying out to God for His mercy, and help to change, because we know He hears us. Also, I love that he points out that God doesn't want a sacrifice, but a "broken spirit". Basically, God doesn't want any form of sacrifice (like the olden times cows, or like newer tithing, or even the good deeds stuff), not really, because what He wants is us to come to Him with empty hearts and spirits so He may heal and fix them. We all start with a broken spirit, really, since the fall, but we have to acknowledge it before we can bring it to Him. I also find it good to re-acknowledge it when I know I mess up, so that I am aware of it when I pray. I guess what I mean is, unless or until you're really coming in that state David is in, God may reject your "offering", because it won't be the broken spirit He wants. When your spirit is fixed, then it may be followed by the others sorts of offerings (well, not the animal sacrifices... that was Bible times, and Bible times only).
God bless! Shalom!
Read on your own, please, because it is yet again too short to summarize. Basically, though, David's pleading with God for mercy and forgiveness.
I really love this passage. Like, a lot. I mean, have you ever had one of those times where you did something wrong, and KNOW it was wrong, and then you feel like the guiltiest most awful person on the face of the planet for a few hours (or longer)? I have! To me, that's kind of what this passage comes across like - begging for mercy because we've messed up and we know it, and really do want to change. He's begging God to restore Him, and not leave, or take the Holy Spirit. He's begging for forgiveness, and for help from God to change. It all just sort of rings with me on a personal note. See, I have an EXTREMELY guilty conscience. So, when I sin, and I recognize that I have, I feel guilty, like what David says in verse 3. I mean, we're really just sort of stuck being sinners, and knowing it. The only way to NOT have it eat us alive (or, well, in my opinion at least) is acknowledging it, and crying out to God for His mercy, and help to change, because we know He hears us. Also, I love that he points out that God doesn't want a sacrifice, but a "broken spirit". Basically, God doesn't want any form of sacrifice (like the olden times cows, or like newer tithing, or even the good deeds stuff), not really, because what He wants is us to come to Him with empty hearts and spirits so He may heal and fix them. We all start with a broken spirit, really, since the fall, but we have to acknowledge it before we can bring it to Him. I also find it good to re-acknowledge it when I know I mess up, so that I am aware of it when I pray. I guess what I mean is, unless or until you're really coming in that state David is in, God may reject your "offering", because it won't be the broken spirit He wants. When your spirit is fixed, then it may be followed by the others sorts of offerings (well, not the animal sacrifices... that was Bible times, and Bible times only).
God bless! Shalom!
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
May 14th
May 14th -- Psalm 23 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2023&version=NLT)
Go read, if you want to read it, because it's too short for me to summarize here.
This is one of many passages about how God is like our shepherd and we are like his sheep. I actually taught my Sunday School class on this topic this past Sunday. The main point I wanted to emphasize what a shepherd is, and if God is our shepherd, what that means for us (they're an SK class, so I have to keep lessons simple). Shepherds tend constantly for their sheep. Also, if one goes missing, straying off the right path, a shepherd will look until he finds it. He doesn't ever give up on us, thinking we're too far gone to be found - God knows no one is ever too far gone for Him to save them, so He never stops pursuing those who have strayed from His right path. God also keeps account, and knows each of us by name and cares for each of us. He would never not notice if one of us went missing. He knows who is there and who is missing. My mom gave me a story to use while teaching, to help get the point across. See, when I was a kid (this is years ago, before anyone thinks it still applies now) I used to keep between 50 and 100 stuffed animals in my bed at night. I knew them all by name and tucked them all into their proper places and said goodnight to them. I had a dust allergy, though, and after this was discovered, my mom wanted to clear some of the toys out in order to help with the dust. She said she came in while I was at kindergarten and took away one small toy, from a far back corner, where she thought I wouldn't notice. Apparently that night, when she went to put me to bed, within a minute I looked right at her and asked where the toy was, using it's name and pointing to exactly where it should be. It seemed small and insignificant among the many, but I knew it was gone. God's like that with us. We may see ourselves as just 1 of 7 billion, but God sees us as 1 of His 7 billion. No matter how insignificant the world's standards may see us as, we are all important to God. There is not one of us who can stray without His knowing, nor one who He would ever stop searching for to bring back to Him. He is our shepherd, and that means He will never stop caring for us, His metaphorical sheep.
God bless! Shalom!
Go read, if you want to read it, because it's too short for me to summarize here.
This is one of many passages about how God is like our shepherd and we are like his sheep. I actually taught my Sunday School class on this topic this past Sunday. The main point I wanted to emphasize what a shepherd is, and if God is our shepherd, what that means for us (they're an SK class, so I have to keep lessons simple). Shepherds tend constantly for their sheep. Also, if one goes missing, straying off the right path, a shepherd will look until he finds it. He doesn't ever give up on us, thinking we're too far gone to be found - God knows no one is ever too far gone for Him to save them, so He never stops pursuing those who have strayed from His right path. God also keeps account, and knows each of us by name and cares for each of us. He would never not notice if one of us went missing. He knows who is there and who is missing. My mom gave me a story to use while teaching, to help get the point across. See, when I was a kid (this is years ago, before anyone thinks it still applies now) I used to keep between 50 and 100 stuffed animals in my bed at night. I knew them all by name and tucked them all into their proper places and said goodnight to them. I had a dust allergy, though, and after this was discovered, my mom wanted to clear some of the toys out in order to help with the dust. She said she came in while I was at kindergarten and took away one small toy, from a far back corner, where she thought I wouldn't notice. Apparently that night, when she went to put me to bed, within a minute I looked right at her and asked where the toy was, using it's name and pointing to exactly where it should be. It seemed small and insignificant among the many, but I knew it was gone. God's like that with us. We may see ourselves as just 1 of 7 billion, but God sees us as 1 of His 7 billion. No matter how insignificant the world's standards may see us as, we are all important to God. There is not one of us who can stray without His knowing, nor one who He would ever stop searching for to bring back to Him. He is our shepherd, and that means He will never stop caring for us, His metaphorical sheep.
God bless! Shalom!
Monday, May 13, 2013
My 13th
May 13th -- Psalm 8 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%208&version=NLT)
Not going to summarize, again, so please read it on your own through the link or in your Bible.
Okay, does it ever just hit you in the face sometimes that God cares about you? Yes, the guy who made the heavens and the earth. He's outside of time, He's impossible yet He is, and He has every moment of existence written. Yet, he cares about you. Really, though, who are we that he should bother? Each one of us is one of 7 billion or so on the planet. That's people, only. God's in charge of the plants, animals, earth and water, moon and stars, and everything else, too. We're like a speck of dust on the surface on the earth in a whole galaxy. Scientifically, each of us is tiny and simply insignificant. We're nothing, according to science. We're just a pile of cells that made tissues, that made organs, in a working, walking, talking if sometimes rickety contraption of a body. We simply decompose and are recycled into some sort of magical cycle of all living things when we die. That's all we are to science. Now, God's much bigger than science, but we still matter to Him. Each of us, individually, for every moment of our lives here, matters to Him - enough that He had His only son die on the cross, bearing all our sins, so we would not be condemned to Hell for them (if we choose that redemption). Instead of leaving us, though, insignificant pieces of the cycle as credited by science, He loves us, even setting us just a little below him and the angels. He is so incredible. There are really just no words to describe God. I mean, have you ever sat and just looked at stars. They're gorgeous. Even cooler, though? They make noises. Yep. They basically sing. I watched this incredible Louis Giglio video in school once, and I still love it. Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zWKm-LZWm4 My point is, though, never forget how incredible our God is. Yes, OUR God. He's OUR God. We can call Him ours. That on it's own is amazing, even without the rest. So, when you feel overwhelmed, or upset, just take a minute. Look at the sky, and all the tones of blue in it and the clouds and how they are shaped, or even just look at your hand with all its complex and intricate lines running through it, unique to each person. Let them remind you of how incredible our God is, then remember He is your God and my God - OUR God. He is always with you. He will never leave you. His majestic name fills the earth.
God bless! Shalom!
Not going to summarize, again, so please read it on your own through the link or in your Bible.
Okay, does it ever just hit you in the face sometimes that God cares about you? Yes, the guy who made the heavens and the earth. He's outside of time, He's impossible yet He is, and He has every moment of existence written. Yet, he cares about you. Really, though, who are we that he should bother? Each one of us is one of 7 billion or so on the planet. That's people, only. God's in charge of the plants, animals, earth and water, moon and stars, and everything else, too. We're like a speck of dust on the surface on the earth in a whole galaxy. Scientifically, each of us is tiny and simply insignificant. We're nothing, according to science. We're just a pile of cells that made tissues, that made organs, in a working, walking, talking if sometimes rickety contraption of a body. We simply decompose and are recycled into some sort of magical cycle of all living things when we die. That's all we are to science. Now, God's much bigger than science, but we still matter to Him. Each of us, individually, for every moment of our lives here, matters to Him - enough that He had His only son die on the cross, bearing all our sins, so we would not be condemned to Hell for them (if we choose that redemption). Instead of leaving us, though, insignificant pieces of the cycle as credited by science, He loves us, even setting us just a little below him and the angels. He is so incredible. There are really just no words to describe God. I mean, have you ever sat and just looked at stars. They're gorgeous. Even cooler, though? They make noises. Yep. They basically sing. I watched this incredible Louis Giglio video in school once, and I still love it. Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zWKm-LZWm4 My point is, though, never forget how incredible our God is. Yes, OUR God. He's OUR God. We can call Him ours. That on it's own is amazing, even without the rest. So, when you feel overwhelmed, or upset, just take a minute. Look at the sky, and all the tones of blue in it and the clouds and how they are shaped, or even just look at your hand with all its complex and intricate lines running through it, unique to each person. Let them remind you of how incredible our God is, then remember He is your God and my God - OUR God. He is always with you. He will never leave you. His majestic name fills the earth.
God bless! Shalom!
Sunday, May 12, 2013
May 12th
May 12th -- Psalm 1 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%201&version=NLT)
Not gonna' sum this one up - you may go read it.
I needed this chapter so much today. I've had a swamp-load of work, and people keep throwing more on. I would have had more time to do it all except that I spent half of Saturday volunteering at a farm and I taught Sunday School this morning, so as much as having the extra hours to work would have been great, I couldn't. However, in both of those things, I was doing them for God. I was loving my neighbour as myself when I volunteered on the farm, and I was teaching children about God, which we are commanded about in the Bible (one example is Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."). So, it could be said I was "delighting in the law of the Lord". Now, I kind of panicked earlier about all the work I had to do, and was worrying I may not finish. I feel better now - as this verse promises, those who delight in God's laws are " like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do." So basically I see this as when what you are doing is for God, because you then stand with Him, he then stands with you. It's like a "you help me, I help you" sort of thing. Delighting in God's law may not seem like you're helping Him, but that's just about as good as witnessing gets - saying you believe something AND acting like it. So, because you are doing that for Him, He will bless you, so that you may prosper. That's quite comforting, when you realize that means that when you are putting Him first, all else will fall into place.
That's all! God bless! Shalom!
Not gonna' sum this one up - you may go read it.
I needed this chapter so much today. I've had a swamp-load of work, and people keep throwing more on. I would have had more time to do it all except that I spent half of Saturday volunteering at a farm and I taught Sunday School this morning, so as much as having the extra hours to work would have been great, I couldn't. However, in both of those things, I was doing them for God. I was loving my neighbour as myself when I volunteered on the farm, and I was teaching children about God, which we are commanded about in the Bible (one example is Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."). So, it could be said I was "delighting in the law of the Lord". Now, I kind of panicked earlier about all the work I had to do, and was worrying I may not finish. I feel better now - as this verse promises, those who delight in God's laws are " like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do." So basically I see this as when what you are doing is for God, because you then stand with Him, he then stands with you. It's like a "you help me, I help you" sort of thing. Delighting in God's law may not seem like you're helping Him, but that's just about as good as witnessing gets - saying you believe something AND acting like it. So, because you are doing that for Him, He will bless you, so that you may prosper. That's quite comforting, when you realize that means that when you are putting Him first, all else will fall into place.
That's all! God bless! Shalom!
Saturday, May 11, 2013
May 10th AND 11th
May 10th AND 11th (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2038&version=NLT and http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=job%2042&version=NLT respectively)
The Lord challenges Job (10th) ; Job responds to the Lord (11th)
So, I'm not gonna' summarize this all, because it's hugely long, and can't really be paraphrased, so maybe just read it off the link or out of your Bible for today. Basically, though, Job did finally start to complain, and God called him out for it. When Job began questioning Him, He answered with more questions, knowing Job could give no answer to them. He essentially challenges Job, intending to remind him of how He is in control of EVERYTHING. He also wants Job to see that what He sees is beyond Job's level of understanding, so even if Job doesn't see any rhyme or reason to the circumstance, God does.
Job, (after about 4 chapters of God speaking to him) answers God, then. Again, if you want to read it, please feel free to, but it would take to long to sum up on here. Job, though, basically apologizes to God for his ignorance. When God finishes talking to Job, He then goes and asks for sacrifices from Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar for speaking inaccurately about Him. Job prays for his friends, though, and God then gives him twice the fortune he had before. Then all his family came to feast with him and comfort him over the trials he had faced. Job also later had seven more sons and three more daughters. He lived 140 years after that, seeing 4 generations of children and grandchildren, before dying after a good, long life.
Two things to point out:
1) Job messed up, even though he seemed so perfect before. That's just proof that no man is perfect (other than Jesus, who was). However, when he did, God did forgive him. God sees our hearts, and He recognizes we struggle. It's never an excuse to wrong God in any way, of course, but God is loving and merciful. He knows that due to our human nature, and the sin that sometimes consumes us, we are bound to mess up, and situations such as Job's (or more minor versions of Job's, when we're talking day-to-day basis like a fight with a friend) tend to make us mess up a lot more. But, when we realize it and repent, and are honestly upset by our mistake, like Job was, then He knows that. He does forgive.
2) Job's friends. Well, they got in trouble. Why? For wrongly conveying God. Or rather, for not speaking accurately about Him. See, between chapter 2 (where we were on the 9th) and chapter 39, it's all Job and his friends talking. Evidently somewhere in there they all said something wrong about God and who He is. They got in some major trouble for this. I guess what I am saying it be careful you do not misrepresent, or alter God when explaining Him to people. Be cautious that you are being honest about who He is. Don't lie, or speak wrongly out of bitterness or anger. Speak only the truth. Also, I feel if you spoke what you genuinely thought was truth, but were wrong, God would know your heart and know you meant to only speak truth, and not be so angry with you as He was with Job's friends. But still always be careful what sort of character you are writing God as to those around you.
That's all for today! God bless! Shalom!
P.S. Yes, I did two today and put them in one post. I wasn't home until midnight last night from my school dance, so I sort of just crashed when I got home (upon promising myself to do yesterday's today). Plus, clearly it worked better to have these two in one post anyways. God knows what He's doing, after all!
The Lord challenges Job (10th) ; Job responds to the Lord (11th)
So, I'm not gonna' summarize this all, because it's hugely long, and can't really be paraphrased, so maybe just read it off the link or out of your Bible for today. Basically, though, Job did finally start to complain, and God called him out for it. When Job began questioning Him, He answered with more questions, knowing Job could give no answer to them. He essentially challenges Job, intending to remind him of how He is in control of EVERYTHING. He also wants Job to see that what He sees is beyond Job's level of understanding, so even if Job doesn't see any rhyme or reason to the circumstance, God does.
Job, (after about 4 chapters of God speaking to him) answers God, then. Again, if you want to read it, please feel free to, but it would take to long to sum up on here. Job, though, basically apologizes to God for his ignorance. When God finishes talking to Job, He then goes and asks for sacrifices from Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar for speaking inaccurately about Him. Job prays for his friends, though, and God then gives him twice the fortune he had before. Then all his family came to feast with him and comfort him over the trials he had faced. Job also later had seven more sons and three more daughters. He lived 140 years after that, seeing 4 generations of children and grandchildren, before dying after a good, long life.
Two things to point out:
1) Job messed up, even though he seemed so perfect before. That's just proof that no man is perfect (other than Jesus, who was). However, when he did, God did forgive him. God sees our hearts, and He recognizes we struggle. It's never an excuse to wrong God in any way, of course, but God is loving and merciful. He knows that due to our human nature, and the sin that sometimes consumes us, we are bound to mess up, and situations such as Job's (or more minor versions of Job's, when we're talking day-to-day basis like a fight with a friend) tend to make us mess up a lot more. But, when we realize it and repent, and are honestly upset by our mistake, like Job was, then He knows that. He does forgive.
2) Job's friends. Well, they got in trouble. Why? For wrongly conveying God. Or rather, for not speaking accurately about Him. See, between chapter 2 (where we were on the 9th) and chapter 39, it's all Job and his friends talking. Evidently somewhere in there they all said something wrong about God and who He is. They got in some major trouble for this. I guess what I am saying it be careful you do not misrepresent, or alter God when explaining Him to people. Be cautious that you are being honest about who He is. Don't lie, or speak wrongly out of bitterness or anger. Speak only the truth. Also, I feel if you spoke what you genuinely thought was truth, but were wrong, God would know your heart and know you meant to only speak truth, and not be so angry with you as He was with Job's friends. But still always be careful what sort of character you are writing God as to those around you.
That's all for today! God bless! Shalom!
P.S. Yes, I did two today and put them in one post. I wasn't home until midnight last night from my school dance, so I sort of just crashed when I got home (upon promising myself to do yesterday's today). Plus, clearly it worked better to have these two in one post anyways. God knows what He's doing, after all!
Thursday, May 9, 2013
May 9th
May 9th -- Job 2 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%202&version=NLT)
Job's Second Test ; Job's three friends share his anguish
One day the members of the heavenly court again came to God, and Satan came with them again. God asked where he had come from, and Satan said he had been down on earth, observing what has been going on. God again asks if he has noticed Job, a man of complete integrity, who fears God and is blameless. God points out that Job kept this integrity, even when the devil harmed him without reason. The devil then says that a man will give up everything to save his own life, so if he loses his health, he will curse God. God agrees to let Satan do as he pleases, so long as he spares Job's life. So Satan causes Job to be covered in boils, from head to foot. Job scraped his skin with a pottery shard as he sat among the ashes. His wife told him to curse God and die instead of trying to maintain integrity. Job, though, says she is foolish, asking why we should accept good from God, yet not also bad? Job had still done nothing wrong in all this.
After three of Job's friends hear of Job's tragedy, they come to console him. These three friends were called Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. When they find Job, though, they can hardly recognize him. So they tear their robes and sit with him on the ground for seven days and nights. Nobody even speaks to him, because they can see how much he is suffering.
I really don't have much to say on this except for more like what I said yesterday. This is just astounding. I mean, I'd have been whining to/about God after having lost all my possessions, probably (not proud of it but I'll admit it), and if not then then certainly after having lost my family. Then to be covered in boils on top of it? It's no wonder he was too sad to speak for a week. But this man did no wrong in all that. I have no idea how. I wish I had that sort of conviction, I really do. I have seen improvement in my faith, of course, but I'm not at a Job level yet, exactly... maybe still in elementary school. (Get it? Haha, sorry, that was lame.) Although, I can say, when I start to find myself being whiny, or way too negative, I actively remind myself of Job. If he could only mourn and not be bitter over that, I can be joyous in whatever I'm facing, or, if I cannot be joyous, I can mourn without bad-mouthing God in any way.
That's all for tonight, folks! God bless! Shalom!
Job's Second Test ; Job's three friends share his anguish
One day the members of the heavenly court again came to God, and Satan came with them again. God asked where he had come from, and Satan said he had been down on earth, observing what has been going on. God again asks if he has noticed Job, a man of complete integrity, who fears God and is blameless. God points out that Job kept this integrity, even when the devil harmed him without reason. The devil then says that a man will give up everything to save his own life, so if he loses his health, he will curse God. God agrees to let Satan do as he pleases, so long as he spares Job's life. So Satan causes Job to be covered in boils, from head to foot. Job scraped his skin with a pottery shard as he sat among the ashes. His wife told him to curse God and die instead of trying to maintain integrity. Job, though, says she is foolish, asking why we should accept good from God, yet not also bad? Job had still done nothing wrong in all this.
After three of Job's friends hear of Job's tragedy, they come to console him. These three friends were called Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. When they find Job, though, they can hardly recognize him. So they tear their robes and sit with him on the ground for seven days and nights. Nobody even speaks to him, because they can see how much he is suffering.
I really don't have much to say on this except for more like what I said yesterday. This is just astounding. I mean, I'd have been whining to/about God after having lost all my possessions, probably (not proud of it but I'll admit it), and if not then then certainly after having lost my family. Then to be covered in boils on top of it? It's no wonder he was too sad to speak for a week. But this man did no wrong in all that. I have no idea how. I wish I had that sort of conviction, I really do. I have seen improvement in my faith, of course, but I'm not at a Job level yet, exactly... maybe still in elementary school. (Get it? Haha, sorry, that was lame.) Although, I can say, when I start to find myself being whiny, or way too negative, I actively remind myself of Job. If he could only mourn and not be bitter over that, I can be joyous in whatever I'm facing, or, if I cannot be joyous, I can mourn without bad-mouthing God in any way.
That's all for tonight, folks! God bless! Shalom!
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
May 8th
May 8th -- Job 1 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%201&version=NLT)
Prologue ; Job's first test
There was a man named Job, who lived in Uz, and was blameless. He feared God and kept away from evil. He had seven sons and three daughters, as well as many servants, 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He was the richest person in the area. Job's sons would prepare feasts and would invite the family to celebrate with them. After these sometimes-several-days-long feasts, Job would purify his children by getting up early in the morning and sacrificing a burnt offering for each of them, just in case they had sinned. This was a regular practice for Job.
One day, some member's of the heavenly court came to God, and Satan along with them. God asks where Satan came from, and Satan says from earth where he watched what went on. God asked if he had noticed Job, who is blameless, and fears God. Satan says he has reason to, because God has always protected him, but if God took it all away from Job - everything Job had - Job would curse God to His face. The Lord agreed to let Satan test Job, saying he may do whatever he wanted with all Job's possessions, but he was not allowed to harm him physically. Satan left God's presence. Then one day, when Job's sons and daughters feasted at the older brother's house, a messenger arrived at Job's home to tell him the oxen were plowing and the donkeys fed with them, but they were raided by Sabeans, who took all the animals and killed all the farmhands, with himself being the only one to survive. Before this messenger even finished, a second arrived to tell Job that fire from heaven fell and burned all the sheep and shepherds, with himself being the only one to survive. As this messenger still spoke, a third came to tell Job that three bands of Chaldean raiders stole all the camels and killed all the servants, with himself being the only one to survive. Before this man finished, a fourth messenger came to Job and told him that a powerful wind hit his eldest son's house, where all his sons and daughters were feasting, and the building collapsed and killed them all, with himself being the only one to escape. Job tore his robe in grief, then shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. He said (paraphrased) that he came into the world with nothing and will leave with nothing ; God gave him what he had and has not taken it away ; praise God. Through all this, Job did not sin by blaming God.
Okay, I have a love/hate relationship with this book. I love how we see a man who is so godly that he stands so strong, but I hate that it makes me feel extremely convicted over just about everything. I mean, let's just understand this. This would be the equivalent of you being at school or work, and having a teacher pull you out of class to tell you your room burnt down out of your house. Then another comes to let you know that the whole house burned. Yet another comes to inform you they just found out it was actually your whole property. Then of course a fourth one comes along and explains your whole family burned in the house. Am I the only one who has a hard time picturing myself bowing down and worshipping? I'm certain I can't be. Job was so incredibly faithful, that he worshipped, despite having just lost EVERYTHING (short of his life). I can't honestly say that I could do that. I think my first reaction would be to break down, bawl for a few hours until I physically could not cry more, and then start yelling at God (internally or externally - doesn't matter). I would be upset. I may look back after and regret having done that, but I would probably do that as a first reaction. I want to reach a point, though, like Job was at, where I wouldn't. I want to reach a point where my life is so focused on God, that I can worship Him after being stripped of everything.
Sorry that was a bit random, but I just sort of thought the message was in the reading, really - worship God through everything. God bless! Shalom!
Prologue ; Job's first test
There was a man named Job, who lived in Uz, and was blameless. He feared God and kept away from evil. He had seven sons and three daughters, as well as many servants, 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He was the richest person in the area. Job's sons would prepare feasts and would invite the family to celebrate with them. After these sometimes-several-days-long feasts, Job would purify his children by getting up early in the morning and sacrificing a burnt offering for each of them, just in case they had sinned. This was a regular practice for Job.
One day, some member's of the heavenly court came to God, and Satan along with them. God asks where Satan came from, and Satan says from earth where he watched what went on. God asked if he had noticed Job, who is blameless, and fears God. Satan says he has reason to, because God has always protected him, but if God took it all away from Job - everything Job had - Job would curse God to His face. The Lord agreed to let Satan test Job, saying he may do whatever he wanted with all Job's possessions, but he was not allowed to harm him physically. Satan left God's presence. Then one day, when Job's sons and daughters feasted at the older brother's house, a messenger arrived at Job's home to tell him the oxen were plowing and the donkeys fed with them, but they were raided by Sabeans, who took all the animals and killed all the farmhands, with himself being the only one to survive. Before this messenger even finished, a second arrived to tell Job that fire from heaven fell and burned all the sheep and shepherds, with himself being the only one to survive. As this messenger still spoke, a third came to tell Job that three bands of Chaldean raiders stole all the camels and killed all the servants, with himself being the only one to survive. Before this man finished, a fourth messenger came to Job and told him that a powerful wind hit his eldest son's house, where all his sons and daughters were feasting, and the building collapsed and killed them all, with himself being the only one to escape. Job tore his robe in grief, then shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. He said (paraphrased) that he came into the world with nothing and will leave with nothing ; God gave him what he had and has not taken it away ; praise God. Through all this, Job did not sin by blaming God.
Okay, I have a love/hate relationship with this book. I love how we see a man who is so godly that he stands so strong, but I hate that it makes me feel extremely convicted over just about everything. I mean, let's just understand this. This would be the equivalent of you being at school or work, and having a teacher pull you out of class to tell you your room burnt down out of your house. Then another comes to let you know that the whole house burned. Yet another comes to inform you they just found out it was actually your whole property. Then of course a fourth one comes along and explains your whole family burned in the house. Am I the only one who has a hard time picturing myself bowing down and worshipping? I'm certain I can't be. Job was so incredibly faithful, that he worshipped, despite having just lost EVERYTHING (short of his life). I can't honestly say that I could do that. I think my first reaction would be to break down, bawl for a few hours until I physically could not cry more, and then start yelling at God (internally or externally - doesn't matter). I would be upset. I may look back after and regret having done that, but I would probably do that as a first reaction. I want to reach a point, though, like Job was at, where I wouldn't. I want to reach a point where my life is so focused on God, that I can worship Him after being stripped of everything.
Sorry that was a bit random, but I just sort of thought the message was in the reading, really - worship God through everything. God bless! Shalom!
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
May 7th
May 7th -- Esther 6-7 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther%206-7&version=NLT)
The king honors Mordecai ; The king executes Haman
That night (after Haman has decided to kill Mordecai) the king can't sleep, so he has his attendant read him the book of his reign's history. In this book was recorded how Mordecai exposed the plot of two of his servants to kill him. He asked what Mordecai received as reward or recognition for this, and was informed nothing had been done. The king asks who is in the outer court, and upon hearing it is Haman (who had come to ask the king to impale Mordecai), he summons him. The king asks what he should do to honor someone who pleases him. Haman assumes the king means him, and tells him he should do this: bring out the king's royal robes, and a horse he has ridden with a royal emblem, let these be handed to one of the king's most noble officials, who will see that the man the king wants honored is dressed in the robes and led through the city on the horse. As they ride, the official should shout "This is what the king does for someone he wishes to honor!" The king says this is excellent, then tells Haman to ensure all that is done - no details missing - for Mordecai. Haman did so, but as Mordecai returned to the palace gate after, Haman went home humiliated and dejected. When Haman tells his wife and advisors of this, they tell him because Mordecai is a Jew, opposing him will lead to his own death. As they were still talking, the king's men arrived to take Haman to Esther's banquet.
So Haman and the king go to Esther's banquet. The king then of course asks Esther yet again what she wants, reminding her he will give her half the kingdom if that is what she asks. Esther then asks that the lives of her and her people be spared, as her people have been sold to those who would wipe them out. She said she would not have said anything if they had been mere slaves, as that is not such an important deal. The king then demands to know who would possibly touch her. She tells him Haman, explaining he is their enemy. Haman becomes frightened and the king, angry, goes out to the garden. Haman pleads with Esther for his life, falling, in despair, onto a couch where Esther was reclined just as the king returned. The king was shocked, bewildered Haman would seemingly assault Esther right there in front of the king. His attendants, as he spoke, covered Haman's face, which signaled his doom. One of the king's attendants then tells the king that Haman had a 75-foot pole set up which he had planned to impale Mordecai on. The king ordered Haman be impaled on it, and he was, and the king became less angry after that.
I would say this contains two important lessons. One is to never act out of pride. Haman pridefully assumed that the king wanted to honor him. So, he came up with these big, elaborate plans to esteem himself. In the end, the king wanted to honor Mordecai, not Haman. We need to be humble. The world does not revolve around us, as much as we act, at times, like it does. When we assume things are all about us, we may end up like Haman - finding ourselves set beneath others. God doesn't want us to be prideful, so when we lift ourselves too high, He may just knock us back down a bit for it. He doesn't want our ego to become so big it's all we know.
The second lesson would be that in a way, really all you do comes back to you. Not karma. Try Galatians 6:7-8: "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." Haman reaped out of pride and hatred, and the seeds he sowed brought death. What do we sow? Do we sow seeds of God's love, or do we sow seeds of hatred? Seeds of God's truth, or those of lies? Seeds of God's greatness, or our own pride? Think on it. We make thousands if not millions of huge to tiny choices every day. Whenever we do, we plant one seed instead of another - so what seeds have you been planting? Ones that will reap destruction or ones that will reap eternal life? I know what I'd rather harvest when the time comes. So you really do need to be conscious of what you do, because as much as we know 'karma' isn't real, we know that reaping what you sow is.
That's all for today! God bless! Shalom!
The king honors Mordecai ; The king executes Haman
That night (after Haman has decided to kill Mordecai) the king can't sleep, so he has his attendant read him the book of his reign's history. In this book was recorded how Mordecai exposed the plot of two of his servants to kill him. He asked what Mordecai received as reward or recognition for this, and was informed nothing had been done. The king asks who is in the outer court, and upon hearing it is Haman (who had come to ask the king to impale Mordecai), he summons him. The king asks what he should do to honor someone who pleases him. Haman assumes the king means him, and tells him he should do this: bring out the king's royal robes, and a horse he has ridden with a royal emblem, let these be handed to one of the king's most noble officials, who will see that the man the king wants honored is dressed in the robes and led through the city on the horse. As they ride, the official should shout "This is what the king does for someone he wishes to honor!" The king says this is excellent, then tells Haman to ensure all that is done - no details missing - for Mordecai. Haman did so, but as Mordecai returned to the palace gate after, Haman went home humiliated and dejected. When Haman tells his wife and advisors of this, they tell him because Mordecai is a Jew, opposing him will lead to his own death. As they were still talking, the king's men arrived to take Haman to Esther's banquet.
So Haman and the king go to Esther's banquet. The king then of course asks Esther yet again what she wants, reminding her he will give her half the kingdom if that is what she asks. Esther then asks that the lives of her and her people be spared, as her people have been sold to those who would wipe them out. She said she would not have said anything if they had been mere slaves, as that is not such an important deal. The king then demands to know who would possibly touch her. She tells him Haman, explaining he is their enemy. Haman becomes frightened and the king, angry, goes out to the garden. Haman pleads with Esther for his life, falling, in despair, onto a couch where Esther was reclined just as the king returned. The king was shocked, bewildered Haman would seemingly assault Esther right there in front of the king. His attendants, as he spoke, covered Haman's face, which signaled his doom. One of the king's attendants then tells the king that Haman had a 75-foot pole set up which he had planned to impale Mordecai on. The king ordered Haman be impaled on it, and he was, and the king became less angry after that.
I would say this contains two important lessons. One is to never act out of pride. Haman pridefully assumed that the king wanted to honor him. So, he came up with these big, elaborate plans to esteem himself. In the end, the king wanted to honor Mordecai, not Haman. We need to be humble. The world does not revolve around us, as much as we act, at times, like it does. When we assume things are all about us, we may end up like Haman - finding ourselves set beneath others. God doesn't want us to be prideful, so when we lift ourselves too high, He may just knock us back down a bit for it. He doesn't want our ego to become so big it's all we know.
The second lesson would be that in a way, really all you do comes back to you. Not karma. Try Galatians 6:7-8: "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." Haman reaped out of pride and hatred, and the seeds he sowed brought death. What do we sow? Do we sow seeds of God's love, or do we sow seeds of hatred? Seeds of God's truth, or those of lies? Seeds of God's greatness, or our own pride? Think on it. We make thousands if not millions of huge to tiny choices every day. Whenever we do, we plant one seed instead of another - so what seeds have you been planting? Ones that will reap destruction or ones that will reap eternal life? I know what I'd rather harvest when the time comes. So you really do need to be conscious of what you do, because as much as we know 'karma' isn't real, we know that reaping what you sow is.
That's all for today! God bless! Shalom!
Monday, May 6, 2013
May 6th
May 6th -- Esther 5 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther%205&version=NLT)
Esther's request to the king ; Haman's plan to kill Mordecai
So on the third day of the fast, Esther entered the inner court, as she said she would. When the king saw her, he welcomed her by holding out his golden scepter. She approached and touched the end. The king asked her what she wanted, saying he'll give it to her even if it is half the kingdom! Esther asks if he and Haman may come to a banquet she has prepared for him. The king tells his attendants to have Haman come for the banquet. As they drank wine, the king asked Esther what her real request was, repeating that even if it was half the kingdom he would give it to her. She says that she wants him and Haman to come to the banquet she will prepare for tomorrow, and then she will explain what this whole situation is about.
Haman was happy leaving the banquet, but when he saw Mordecai at the palace gate not shaking in fear at him, he got mad. However, he kept his cool and went home. Haman gathered his friends and wife and boasted about lots of things (wealth, family, being appointed above the other nobles). He also said that Esther had invited him to a banquet tomorrow with the king, and had invited her to another one tomorrow! Then his wife and friend suggest taking and sharpening a 75-foot pole and impaling Mordecai on it, so he can go happily to the banquet. Haman likes the idea, and orders the pole be set up.
Sometimes my own lack of faith in God at times astonishes me. I always worry that I will face obstacles I cannot overcome. I always think that I won't be able to do what He's asked. Sometimes it's as if I think He'll forget to move an obstacle out of my way or help me over it. I need to remember Esther at these times. She could have been killed just for walking into that court without permission. She did so anyways and was welcomed. In fact, not only was she welcomed, but the king asked her what she wished, saying he'd even give her half the kingdom! The king was not only not cruel to her, but he was being incredibly kind! He had no reason, to be, leaving the only explanation to be God. I think we sometimes feel that another person will get in the way of God's plans, because they're not Christian, so why would they help accomplish His will? Yet, in those moments, we forget that our God is the God of ALL people, not just those who choose to follow Him. God will not let an unbeliever stand in our way when we work for His will - He will simply change the circumstances for our benefit. I find this hugely encouraging, as I always feel the biggest threat to believers is non-believers. However, God is entirely in control of them, too, as shown by the king's strange amount of kindness that day... It's great to remember this - our God is bigger than ALL problems and is in control of ALL things. He works for His good plan, and nothing shall stop Him from accomplishing it. We can't get in the way, don't worry.
That will be all for today! God bless! Shalom!
Esther's request to the king ; Haman's plan to kill Mordecai
So on the third day of the fast, Esther entered the inner court, as she said she would. When the king saw her, he welcomed her by holding out his golden scepter. She approached and touched the end. The king asked her what she wanted, saying he'll give it to her even if it is half the kingdom! Esther asks if he and Haman may come to a banquet she has prepared for him. The king tells his attendants to have Haman come for the banquet. As they drank wine, the king asked Esther what her real request was, repeating that even if it was half the kingdom he would give it to her. She says that she wants him and Haman to come to the banquet she will prepare for tomorrow, and then she will explain what this whole situation is about.
Haman was happy leaving the banquet, but when he saw Mordecai at the palace gate not shaking in fear at him, he got mad. However, he kept his cool and went home. Haman gathered his friends and wife and boasted about lots of things (wealth, family, being appointed above the other nobles). He also said that Esther had invited him to a banquet tomorrow with the king, and had invited her to another one tomorrow! Then his wife and friend suggest taking and sharpening a 75-foot pole and impaling Mordecai on it, so he can go happily to the banquet. Haman likes the idea, and orders the pole be set up.
Sometimes my own lack of faith in God at times astonishes me. I always worry that I will face obstacles I cannot overcome. I always think that I won't be able to do what He's asked. Sometimes it's as if I think He'll forget to move an obstacle out of my way or help me over it. I need to remember Esther at these times. She could have been killed just for walking into that court without permission. She did so anyways and was welcomed. In fact, not only was she welcomed, but the king asked her what she wished, saying he'd even give her half the kingdom! The king was not only not cruel to her, but he was being incredibly kind! He had no reason, to be, leaving the only explanation to be God. I think we sometimes feel that another person will get in the way of God's plans, because they're not Christian, so why would they help accomplish His will? Yet, in those moments, we forget that our God is the God of ALL people, not just those who choose to follow Him. God will not let an unbeliever stand in our way when we work for His will - He will simply change the circumstances for our benefit. I find this hugely encouraging, as I always feel the biggest threat to believers is non-believers. However, God is entirely in control of them, too, as shown by the king's strange amount of kindness that day... It's great to remember this - our God is bigger than ALL problems and is in control of ALL things. He works for His good plan, and nothing shall stop Him from accomplishing it. We can't get in the way, don't worry.
That will be all for today! God bless! Shalom!
Sunday, May 5, 2013
May 5th
May 5th -- Esther 4 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther%204&version=NLT)
Mordecai requests Esther's help
When Mordecai learns about what had happened, he tore his clothes, putting on burlap and covering himself in ash to symbolize mourning. Many other Jews did the same when they heard the news. Mordecai sat at the gate of the palace (one could not enter while in clothes of mourning) and when Esther heard of these she sent clothes to him. He refused them, and she was worried so she sent someone to ask him what was wrong/why he was in mourning. Hathach, whom Esther sent, went to Mordecai and asked this. Mordecai told him the whole story, including the money Haman had promised for the Jews' destruction, giving Hathach a copy of the decree and asking him to show Esther and explain the situation. He also said to ask Esther to plead with the king for mercy. Esther sent a message back explaining she hadn't been summoned in thirty days and if she entered his inner court and was not welcomed by having his gold scepter held out would be killed. Mordecai answered by saying even if she kept quiet she would end up dead, but instead deliverance will come from another place, but she and her family will die. He says maybe God made her queen for this reason. Esther answered by telling Mordecai to gather all the Jews in Susa and have them all fast three days and nights for her, and she and her maids will do the same. She says that then she will go to the king, and if she must die, then she must die. Mordecai does as she instructed.
Can you imagine that faith? Esther trusted God so wholly, she did not wait for a sign, but instead set up a plan, deciding no matter what the end was, it would be God's. I can't honestly say that I would have the strength to do that. I would like to think I would, but I would never know unless placed in those (or similar, at least) shoes... and I hope I never am.
As a second point, we recognize that Mordecai seemed to know Esther had been set up there for a reason. Now, whatever the reason, it must be acknowledged that (for those who know the story you know this) Esther was indeed made queen for a reason. God always sets things up for a reason. Nothing happens that is not within His control. I think it's especially important to remember that when our circumstance or situation seems grim, that's when God's got big plans for us, because He never places us in hard circumstances without reason. So have faith, that though what God asks may sometimes seem impossible, He has probably put you there for a reason, and therefore will not let you down.
Well that will be all. God bless! Shalom!
Mordecai requests Esther's help
When Mordecai learns about what had happened, he tore his clothes, putting on burlap and covering himself in ash to symbolize mourning. Many other Jews did the same when they heard the news. Mordecai sat at the gate of the palace (one could not enter while in clothes of mourning) and when Esther heard of these she sent clothes to him. He refused them, and she was worried so she sent someone to ask him what was wrong/why he was in mourning. Hathach, whom Esther sent, went to Mordecai and asked this. Mordecai told him the whole story, including the money Haman had promised for the Jews' destruction, giving Hathach a copy of the decree and asking him to show Esther and explain the situation. He also said to ask Esther to plead with the king for mercy. Esther sent a message back explaining she hadn't been summoned in thirty days and if she entered his inner court and was not welcomed by having his gold scepter held out would be killed. Mordecai answered by saying even if she kept quiet she would end up dead, but instead deliverance will come from another place, but she and her family will die. He says maybe God made her queen for this reason. Esther answered by telling Mordecai to gather all the Jews in Susa and have them all fast three days and nights for her, and she and her maids will do the same. She says that then she will go to the king, and if she must die, then she must die. Mordecai does as she instructed.
Can you imagine that faith? Esther trusted God so wholly, she did not wait for a sign, but instead set up a plan, deciding no matter what the end was, it would be God's. I can't honestly say that I would have the strength to do that. I would like to think I would, but I would never know unless placed in those (or similar, at least) shoes... and I hope I never am.
As a second point, we recognize that Mordecai seemed to know Esther had been set up there for a reason. Now, whatever the reason, it must be acknowledged that (for those who know the story you know this) Esther was indeed made queen for a reason. God always sets things up for a reason. Nothing happens that is not within His control. I think it's especially important to remember that when our circumstance or situation seems grim, that's when God's got big plans for us, because He never places us in hard circumstances without reason. So have faith, that though what God asks may sometimes seem impossible, He has probably put you there for a reason, and therefore will not let you down.
Well that will be all. God bless! Shalom!
Saturday, May 4, 2013
May 4th
May 4th -- Esther 3 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther%203&version=NLT)
Haman's plot against the Jews
King Xerxes promotes a man named Haman above the other officials, making him the most powerful one in the empire. All the king's officials bowed to Haman out of respect, as the king had commanded them to, except Mordecai would not. Mordecai was asked why he refused to and they spoke to him daily but he still refused to bow. The men then spoke to Haman, to see if he would tolerate it, since Mordecai was a Jew. When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow, he became very angry and when he learned Mordecai was a Jew, he decided to punish not just Mordecai but all the Jews. Haman had lots cast in his presence to choose the best day. Haman then approached the king and told him all about a race who was scattered in his provinces who had different laws and wouldn't obey the kings. Haman went on to say it wasn't in the king's best interest for them to live. He says that if the king will, then issue a decree for them to be destroyed, and Haman will have 10,000 given to the royal treasury for it. The king agrees, even giving Haman the signet ring as a symbol of agreement, and telling him the money and people were his to do with as he pleased. So Haman had a decree written exactly as he dictated, and it was sent out among the provinces. This decree told them that all Jews had to be killed on March 7th of the next year, and that the one who killed the Jew would receive their property. The decrees were sent out everywhere, so all knew of it. The king and Haman sat down to drink, though, leaving Susa in confusion.
I think sometimes we like to think that people have some good in them that will always save them. We think that no matter how bad someone may seem, that the good in them will always win out in the end. We like to hope, because we know that we are people, and so they're like us and we're like them. We don't want to see them fall and be ruined by wrong choices, because we realize that we'd be just like them without God. "But for the grace of God, there go I." That's kind of the main idea of a tragedy, or at least by Aristotle's definition of a tragedy, which requires a catharsis, or the idea expressed in that quote. Haman's story is kind of a tragedy. He's not portrayed as a horrible guy, but his flaw is his pride, which is boosted by those around him. So when he faces Mordecai, who treats him as an equal, he's mad, and more so when he realized Mordecai is of a race that they considered lesser at the time. This causes him to make the stupid decision to slay all Jews, which leads him to ruin. It's sad. We'd love for all people to be saved, and for us to be able to say, with certainty, "that's okay, I'll see ya' in heaven", but not all will be saved. Not all will enter heaven. When that hits me - the real true gravity of that - I understand fearing God as we should. Love him, for His mercy, that any of us may enter, but fear Him, too, for His judgement, that many of us will not enter. Just realize, that all people have good, yourself included, but not all people are good, or will turn good. Some people will simply make bad choices and do wrong things - they may not have a moment of goodness and suddenly change their mind and become a better person. Just ensure that you don't become one of those people.
That's all for today! God bless! Shalom!
P.S. May the 4th of God be with you (Sorry, I've seen so many "May the 4th" jokes today I had to make one....)
Haman's plot against the Jews
King Xerxes promotes a man named Haman above the other officials, making him the most powerful one in the empire. All the king's officials bowed to Haman out of respect, as the king had commanded them to, except Mordecai would not. Mordecai was asked why he refused to and they spoke to him daily but he still refused to bow. The men then spoke to Haman, to see if he would tolerate it, since Mordecai was a Jew. When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow, he became very angry and when he learned Mordecai was a Jew, he decided to punish not just Mordecai but all the Jews. Haman had lots cast in his presence to choose the best day. Haman then approached the king and told him all about a race who was scattered in his provinces who had different laws and wouldn't obey the kings. Haman went on to say it wasn't in the king's best interest for them to live. He says that if the king will, then issue a decree for them to be destroyed, and Haman will have 10,000 given to the royal treasury for it. The king agrees, even giving Haman the signet ring as a symbol of agreement, and telling him the money and people were his to do with as he pleased. So Haman had a decree written exactly as he dictated, and it was sent out among the provinces. This decree told them that all Jews had to be killed on March 7th of the next year, and that the one who killed the Jew would receive their property. The decrees were sent out everywhere, so all knew of it. The king and Haman sat down to drink, though, leaving Susa in confusion.
I think sometimes we like to think that people have some good in them that will always save them. We think that no matter how bad someone may seem, that the good in them will always win out in the end. We like to hope, because we know that we are people, and so they're like us and we're like them. We don't want to see them fall and be ruined by wrong choices, because we realize that we'd be just like them without God. "But for the grace of God, there go I." That's kind of the main idea of a tragedy, or at least by Aristotle's definition of a tragedy, which requires a catharsis, or the idea expressed in that quote. Haman's story is kind of a tragedy. He's not portrayed as a horrible guy, but his flaw is his pride, which is boosted by those around him. So when he faces Mordecai, who treats him as an equal, he's mad, and more so when he realized Mordecai is of a race that they considered lesser at the time. This causes him to make the stupid decision to slay all Jews, which leads him to ruin. It's sad. We'd love for all people to be saved, and for us to be able to say, with certainty, "that's okay, I'll see ya' in heaven", but not all will be saved. Not all will enter heaven. When that hits me - the real true gravity of that - I understand fearing God as we should. Love him, for His mercy, that any of us may enter, but fear Him, too, for His judgement, that many of us will not enter. Just realize, that all people have good, yourself included, but not all people are good, or will turn good. Some people will simply make bad choices and do wrong things - they may not have a moment of goodness and suddenly change their mind and become a better person. Just ensure that you don't become one of those people.
That's all for today! God bless! Shalom!
P.S. May the 4th of God be with you (Sorry, I've seen so many "May the 4th" jokes today I had to make one....)
Friday, May 3, 2013
May 3rd
May 3rd -- Esther 2 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther%202&version=NLT)
Esther becomes queen ; Mordecai's loyalty to the king
After the King banishes Vashti, his attendants suggest a new plan : bring in beautiful women from many provinces, give them all a beauty treatment, and let the king see them all and choose whom he finds most beautiful to be his new wife and queen. The king likes this idea and gets it started. At this time there is a man names Mordecai in the fortress of Susa, where the women were to be brought, and he had a beautiful cousin named Hadassah - more commonly called Esther. Esther was one of the women brought due to the king's decree. Hegai, the woman in charge of all those being brought in, was impressed with Esther and so she favored her. Mordecai checked on her daily, and she also told nobody of her nationality and family background, because Mordecai told her not to.
Each woman would be given twelve months of beauty treatment, and then taken to the king's chambers for one night, after which they would live in the second harem, where the king's wives lived. She would never see the king again unless he specifically requested her by name. When Esther was taken to the king's chambers, he was so happy with her he put the crown on her head and declared her queen. He gave a public holiday and held a banquet for her honor, giving gifts as well, all to celebrate the occasion. Even when all the women had been put into the second harem, and Mordecai was a palace official, Esther kept her nationality a secret as Mordecai still told her to.
One day, Mordecai is on duty at the king's gate, and two of the king's eunuchs, who guard the king's private quarters' doors become mad at the king. They plot to assassinate him, but Mordecai heard about it. Mordecai told Esther, who then told the king, giving Mordecai credit for the report. When the king found Mordecai's story to be true, the men were killed. All these events were recorded in The Book of the History of Xerxes' Reign.
Mordecai did not agree with the king, or his practices, necessarily, yet he was still loyal. Why was that? God calls us to respect authority, as I said yesterday. We need to ensure we are respecting those God has put in authority over us. We also need to make sure that we do our duties honorably as servants to those who have authority over us. By servant I don't mean slave, as in grovelling at their feet for almost nothing. I mean a servant in our heart attitude. We need to be humble, and have a servant's heart. Serving is when acts for the person are done out of love and normally also a desire to do so. Slaving is when you're forced/you have to. See the difference? We should serve, not slave. We need to ensure we serve, though, and why? Well, we are told in the New Testament in various books that whatever we do for others we are doing for Christ. He wants us to treat those around us how we would treat him, because really, whatever we do to anyone around us, we are also doing to him. Hurting those around us hurts him. Loving those around us loves him. SERVING those around us SERVES him. It is important we do this, because we need to be the hands and feet of Christ, or His servants, in order to spread the gospel. So stop slaving, start serving - even if you hate the job, remember you're doing it for God, and He'll remember it, so put a smile on your face and find your joy in knowing that!
All for tonight! God bless! Shalom!
Esther becomes queen ; Mordecai's loyalty to the king
After the King banishes Vashti, his attendants suggest a new plan : bring in beautiful women from many provinces, give them all a beauty treatment, and let the king see them all and choose whom he finds most beautiful to be his new wife and queen. The king likes this idea and gets it started. At this time there is a man names Mordecai in the fortress of Susa, where the women were to be brought, and he had a beautiful cousin named Hadassah - more commonly called Esther. Esther was one of the women brought due to the king's decree. Hegai, the woman in charge of all those being brought in, was impressed with Esther and so she favored her. Mordecai checked on her daily, and she also told nobody of her nationality and family background, because Mordecai told her not to.
Each woman would be given twelve months of beauty treatment, and then taken to the king's chambers for one night, after which they would live in the second harem, where the king's wives lived. She would never see the king again unless he specifically requested her by name. When Esther was taken to the king's chambers, he was so happy with her he put the crown on her head and declared her queen. He gave a public holiday and held a banquet for her honor, giving gifts as well, all to celebrate the occasion. Even when all the women had been put into the second harem, and Mordecai was a palace official, Esther kept her nationality a secret as Mordecai still told her to.
One day, Mordecai is on duty at the king's gate, and two of the king's eunuchs, who guard the king's private quarters' doors become mad at the king. They plot to assassinate him, but Mordecai heard about it. Mordecai told Esther, who then told the king, giving Mordecai credit for the report. When the king found Mordecai's story to be true, the men were killed. All these events were recorded in The Book of the History of Xerxes' Reign.
Mordecai did not agree with the king, or his practices, necessarily, yet he was still loyal. Why was that? God calls us to respect authority, as I said yesterday. We need to ensure we are respecting those God has put in authority over us. We also need to make sure that we do our duties honorably as servants to those who have authority over us. By servant I don't mean slave, as in grovelling at their feet for almost nothing. I mean a servant in our heart attitude. We need to be humble, and have a servant's heart. Serving is when acts for the person are done out of love and normally also a desire to do so. Slaving is when you're forced/you have to. See the difference? We should serve, not slave. We need to ensure we serve, though, and why? Well, we are told in the New Testament in various books that whatever we do for others we are doing for Christ. He wants us to treat those around us how we would treat him, because really, whatever we do to anyone around us, we are also doing to him. Hurting those around us hurts him. Loving those around us loves him. SERVING those around us SERVES him. It is important we do this, because we need to be the hands and feet of Christ, or His servants, in order to spread the gospel. So stop slaving, start serving - even if you hate the job, remember you're doing it for God, and He'll remember it, so put a smile on your face and find your joy in knowing that!
All for tonight! God bless! Shalom!
Thursday, May 2, 2013
May 2nd
May 2nd -- Esther 1 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther%201&version=NLT)
The king's banquet ; Queen Vashti deposed
Now king Xerxes is in power. He ruled over 127 provinces out of a fort in Susa. During the third year of his reign, he threw a huge banquet for all his nobles and officials, as well as military officers and foreign princes and nobles. The celebration lasted 180 days and showed the extreme wealth of the king. (see the passage for details on the wealth) After this huge banquet, the king threw another banquet, lasting a week and open to all the people who were in the fortress of Susa. As he held a banquet for the men, Queen Vashti held a banquet for the women in the royal palace.
On the last day of the banquet, Xerxes was drunk and told his attendants to bring him Vashti, wearing her crown, basically to show her off the all the men, as she was quite beautiful. However, Vashti refused to come when she heard the orders, and the king became furious. He consulted his advisors, asking what must be done to her for what she had done. The advisors said she had wronged him, and it would cause rebellion of all wives against their husbands, as they would see that she had done it and try it themselves. They suggest he banish her and pick a new queen, better than her. Plus then all husbands will be respected by their wives. The king and nobles felt this made sense and listened to the advice. The king sent letters all over the country proclaiming that every man should be the ruler of his house and may say what he wants.
There is just a LOT wrong with this. I mean A LOT. Sure he's the king, but he DEMANDS that his wife be brought out to let a bunch of men look at her, and he gets mad when she refuses? Nowadays isn't the bigger idea to keep them to yourself, because you worry if they flaunt themselves somebody else will take them away? Well, Xerxes lost her anyway. Also, he made this decision while drunk. That right there just shows a good reason why NOT to make decisions when you are drunk. These decisions tend to be very foolish ones.
Now, as a note on the "every man should be the ruler of his own home and should say whatever he pleases." For a woman, listening to her husband went from choice of love to command by law. Yes, Biblically women are supposed to respect their husbands as the head of the household. Yet, husbands are also called to be godly heads of the house, and to respect their wife. See, people are still equal. Men and women are equal because that is how God created us. NOBODY, though, short of God has ANY right to command anyone, wife or husband, in that manner. People are constantly assuming authority for whatever reasons. Some people think they should be in higher power because of their gender, skin color, first language, or cultural background. All wrong. God does appoint certain people to higher levels of authority, such as parents over children or a husband over his wife. However, He does so commanding those in higher authority to respect that (speaking of the passage about Nehemiah as ruler from a few days ago...). He also wishes for us to remember He is ALWAYS the final authority. If you know something is wrong, but someone in authority over you tells you to do it, you don't have to - God is the final authority, so He has final say when He says it is wrong. Just always remember to respect authority, and God especially so.
That's all for today! God bless! Shalom!
The king's banquet ; Queen Vashti deposed
Now king Xerxes is in power. He ruled over 127 provinces out of a fort in Susa. During the third year of his reign, he threw a huge banquet for all his nobles and officials, as well as military officers and foreign princes and nobles. The celebration lasted 180 days and showed the extreme wealth of the king. (see the passage for details on the wealth) After this huge banquet, the king threw another banquet, lasting a week and open to all the people who were in the fortress of Susa. As he held a banquet for the men, Queen Vashti held a banquet for the women in the royal palace.
On the last day of the banquet, Xerxes was drunk and told his attendants to bring him Vashti, wearing her crown, basically to show her off the all the men, as she was quite beautiful. However, Vashti refused to come when she heard the orders, and the king became furious. He consulted his advisors, asking what must be done to her for what she had done. The advisors said she had wronged him, and it would cause rebellion of all wives against their husbands, as they would see that she had done it and try it themselves. They suggest he banish her and pick a new queen, better than her. Plus then all husbands will be respected by their wives. The king and nobles felt this made sense and listened to the advice. The king sent letters all over the country proclaiming that every man should be the ruler of his house and may say what he wants.
There is just a LOT wrong with this. I mean A LOT. Sure he's the king, but he DEMANDS that his wife be brought out to let a bunch of men look at her, and he gets mad when she refuses? Nowadays isn't the bigger idea to keep them to yourself, because you worry if they flaunt themselves somebody else will take them away? Well, Xerxes lost her anyway. Also, he made this decision while drunk. That right there just shows a good reason why NOT to make decisions when you are drunk. These decisions tend to be very foolish ones.
Now, as a note on the "every man should be the ruler of his own home and should say whatever he pleases." For a woman, listening to her husband went from choice of love to command by law. Yes, Biblically women are supposed to respect their husbands as the head of the household. Yet, husbands are also called to be godly heads of the house, and to respect their wife. See, people are still equal. Men and women are equal because that is how God created us. NOBODY, though, short of God has ANY right to command anyone, wife or husband, in that manner. People are constantly assuming authority for whatever reasons. Some people think they should be in higher power because of their gender, skin color, first language, or cultural background. All wrong. God does appoint certain people to higher levels of authority, such as parents over children or a husband over his wife. However, He does so commanding those in higher authority to respect that (speaking of the passage about Nehemiah as ruler from a few days ago...). He also wishes for us to remember He is ALWAYS the final authority. If you know something is wrong, but someone in authority over you tells you to do it, you don't have to - God is the final authority, so He has final say when He says it is wrong. Just always remember to respect authority, and God especially so.
That's all for today! God bless! Shalom!
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
May 1st
May 1st -- Nehemiah 8 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%208&version=NLT)
Ezra reads the law ; The Festival of Shelters
In October, after the people had settled, they all gathered at the square just inside the gate. They asked Ezra to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses. Ezra brought the book before the assembly (men, women, and all children old enough to understand) and read aloud from morning to noon. Everyone listened closely. Ezra stood above the people with some others who were well-known and followers of God. Ezra began praising, and everyone chanted amen. The Levites then instructed the people in the Law, reading it all and explaining what each part meant. People wept as they heard the words of the Lord, but Nehemiah, Ezra, an the priest and scribe told them to be glad, as it is a sacred day before God. Nehemiah told them to celebrate with a feast. The people did so, because they were glad they had heard God's words and understood them.
On October 9th, then, the family leaders as well as the priests and Levites gathered with Ezra to go over the law in more detail. While studying it, they realized God had commanded them to live in shelters through the festival that would be held that month. A proclamation was to be made to go into the hills and gather many kinds of leafy branches that would be used to build shelters to live in during the festival, as the law commanded. So the people went out and got branches and used them to build shelters. Everyone lived in the shelters during the festival and was filled with joy. The Israelites hadn't celebrated that way since the days of Joshua. On each of the seven days of the festival, Ezra read from the Book of the Law, and on the eighth there was a solemn assembly, as the law required.
The idea of shelters for a festival seems sort of silly, right? Why not just live in their houses? Why bother wasting branches on building a shelter when they had a perfectly good home? Why? Simply because God told them to. He gives no reason - He just gives them that command. The best part is, they listen. They listen and do it. They don't question and ask why, but they instead go to the hills, get branches, and build shelters.
Are we like this? Or do we tend to question God the moment He speaks and we don't understand it? Do we just hear Him and go "God, but why should I ____ ? That makes no sense!" I know I do that sometimes. I am a very logical person, who likes facts and reason a lot, because they make sense to me. Sometimes, when I know God's putting something on my heart, or telling me to do something, I just think there and internally I'm going "But God, this doesn't make sense. Doing ______ would make FAR more sense than _____! Why can't I just do that instead?" I SHOULD be saying "God, this may not make sense to me but I know you have a reason for it," then getting up and doing it. We need to remember those Israelites. They got up and did as told, no questions asked. When we hear God's voice, we need to respond in the same way.
That's all for tonight, folks! God bless! Shalom!
Ezra reads the law ; The Festival of Shelters
In October, after the people had settled, they all gathered at the square just inside the gate. They asked Ezra to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses. Ezra brought the book before the assembly (men, women, and all children old enough to understand) and read aloud from morning to noon. Everyone listened closely. Ezra stood above the people with some others who were well-known and followers of God. Ezra began praising, and everyone chanted amen. The Levites then instructed the people in the Law, reading it all and explaining what each part meant. People wept as they heard the words of the Lord, but Nehemiah, Ezra, an the priest and scribe told them to be glad, as it is a sacred day before God. Nehemiah told them to celebrate with a feast. The people did so, because they were glad they had heard God's words and understood them.
On October 9th, then, the family leaders as well as the priests and Levites gathered with Ezra to go over the law in more detail. While studying it, they realized God had commanded them to live in shelters through the festival that would be held that month. A proclamation was to be made to go into the hills and gather many kinds of leafy branches that would be used to build shelters to live in during the festival, as the law commanded. So the people went out and got branches and used them to build shelters. Everyone lived in the shelters during the festival and was filled with joy. The Israelites hadn't celebrated that way since the days of Joshua. On each of the seven days of the festival, Ezra read from the Book of the Law, and on the eighth there was a solemn assembly, as the law required.
The idea of shelters for a festival seems sort of silly, right? Why not just live in their houses? Why bother wasting branches on building a shelter when they had a perfectly good home? Why? Simply because God told them to. He gives no reason - He just gives them that command. The best part is, they listen. They listen and do it. They don't question and ask why, but they instead go to the hills, get branches, and build shelters.
Are we like this? Or do we tend to question God the moment He speaks and we don't understand it? Do we just hear Him and go "God, but why should I ____ ? That makes no sense!" I know I do that sometimes. I am a very logical person, who likes facts and reason a lot, because they make sense to me. Sometimes, when I know God's putting something on my heart, or telling me to do something, I just think there and internally I'm going "But God, this doesn't make sense. Doing ______ would make FAR more sense than _____! Why can't I just do that instead?" I SHOULD be saying "God, this may not make sense to me but I know you have a reason for it," then getting up and doing it. We need to remember those Israelites. They got up and did as told, no questions asked. When we hear God's voice, we need to respond in the same way.
That's all for tonight, folks! God bless! Shalom!
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