August 31st -- John 12:37-50
Please go read the passage!
I'm 99% sure I've talked about people not believing in Jesus before... but just in case, basically the Lord can harden hearts against Him. He did so with Pharoah, for example. I love the way my pastor put it at church a few weeks ago. If we turn to God and over and over again say "God, I don't want you I want _______ (insert drugs, alcohol, money, sex, porn, too much food, lots of stuff, or any other thing we sinfully desire)! I am going to push you away! I don't want you!" over and over again, God will eventually say "Okay! Then I will not come after you! Have it forever, then!" (that's all paraphrased, obviously). Sometimes, we are so forceful about pushing God away, He finally lets us walk away, since that's what we so clearly ask for. So be careful. Don't push Him away assuming He's always going to pull you back. Sometimes we have to come back on our own. Do not let your heart be hardened against Him.
Also, obviously, trust in Jesus. Jesus is God, so when you trust one, you should be trusting the other. As Jesus said, also, those who don't obey won't be judged by Jesus. They will, however, be judged on the day of judgement. Interestingly one of the biggest problems people have with Jesus is when he says stuff like this. They get all "Who is he to self-proclaim all these things?" So just remember Jesus' reminder here - he speaks not with his own authority, but with God's. So don't question Jesus, or by questioning Jesus you question God.
Just some stuff to think on! God bless! Shalom!
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Friday, August 30, 2013
August 29th
August 29th -- Matthew 21:1-17
Read the passage, please!
Two quick things I wanna' focus on:
1) Why a donkey? And why did people seem to react so well to that? Well, the donkey was the symbol of King David. It was a sign of his family line. So, the fact that Jesus rode in on a donkey and its colt was actually fulfilling a prophecy and confirming his messianic royalty.
2) Jesus got angry in the temple, right? People always go "Oh, but isn't anger wrong? Isn't it the same as murder?" in an attempt to make it look like Jesus was sinning. However, in Jesus' case it was justified because it was righteous anger. It was not anger that was selfish, but it was righteous anger because those in the temple were sinning against God by turning his temple, where He was meant to be worshipped, into a market, where money was worshipped. God gets angry, too. His is right and justified. Not all anger is wrong. Some is right, when it is righteous. However, the borderline between right and wrong anger is slim. Additionally, for all I know, only anger shown by the 3 parts of the Trinity are acceptable, as God is completely right, and therefore He cannot feel wrong anger...
Sorry, hope that made SOME sense... God bless! Shalom!
Read the passage, please!
Two quick things I wanna' focus on:
1) Why a donkey? And why did people seem to react so well to that? Well, the donkey was the symbol of King David. It was a sign of his family line. So, the fact that Jesus rode in on a donkey and its colt was actually fulfilling a prophecy and confirming his messianic royalty.
2) Jesus got angry in the temple, right? People always go "Oh, but isn't anger wrong? Isn't it the same as murder?" in an attempt to make it look like Jesus was sinning. However, in Jesus' case it was justified because it was righteous anger. It was not anger that was selfish, but it was righteous anger because those in the temple were sinning against God by turning his temple, where He was meant to be worshipped, into a market, where money was worshipped. God gets angry, too. His is right and justified. Not all anger is wrong. Some is right, when it is righteous. However, the borderline between right and wrong anger is slim. Additionally, for all I know, only anger shown by the 3 parts of the Trinity are acceptable, as God is completely right, and therefore He cannot feel wrong anger...
Sorry, hope that made SOME sense... God bless! Shalom!
Oops!
So, my bad, my tired brain had a goof up so I did the wrong post. My apologies. I shall do August 29th instead of the 30th next.
August 30th
August 30th -- John 12:20-36
Please go read the passage!
Not too much to say on this... I always dislike reading about Jesus predicting his own death, is all, because I can only begin to imagine how horrible that would be - to know you were going to die and what a long, painful death it would be.
I will point out an interesting part at the end, though. And I would point out the part about those who love their life will loose it and those who care nothing for it will keep it, but I know I have talked on that in a previous post. So I wanted to look at the part about walking in the light and becoming children of the light. Jesus says to walk in the light while we still can. At the time, he meant himself. On a bigger scale, though, this may just mean to keep living for God before Jesus' second coming. It also tells us to put our trust in the light while there is still time. Come to know God while we still have time to. There's not an unending time for which people have to choose to find God - either their life ends or this world ends and their chance to be in relationship with God is up. Jesus was warning us not to wait 'til that time is up, but simply do it when we can, and therefore become children of the light, or, basically, become saved. So don't put it on hold. Don't wait until tomorrow. For all you know, tomorrow may not come. Do it now. Do it while you can. And if you already have that relationship with God - awesome. Make it stronger, then. Don't pull the "I'll work on it Sunday at church." So what if church is only one day of the week? We are still members of Christ's church every day of the week, so try and remember and act like that.
Think on it! God bless! Shalom!
Please go read the passage!
Not too much to say on this... I always dislike reading about Jesus predicting his own death, is all, because I can only begin to imagine how horrible that would be - to know you were going to die and what a long, painful death it would be.
I will point out an interesting part at the end, though. And I would point out the part about those who love their life will loose it and those who care nothing for it will keep it, but I know I have talked on that in a previous post. So I wanted to look at the part about walking in the light and becoming children of the light. Jesus says to walk in the light while we still can. At the time, he meant himself. On a bigger scale, though, this may just mean to keep living for God before Jesus' second coming. It also tells us to put our trust in the light while there is still time. Come to know God while we still have time to. There's not an unending time for which people have to choose to find God - either their life ends or this world ends and their chance to be in relationship with God is up. Jesus was warning us not to wait 'til that time is up, but simply do it when we can, and therefore become children of the light, or, basically, become saved. So don't put it on hold. Don't wait until tomorrow. For all you know, tomorrow may not come. Do it now. Do it while you can. And if you already have that relationship with God - awesome. Make it stronger, then. Don't pull the "I'll work on it Sunday at church." So what if church is only one day of the week? We are still members of Christ's church every day of the week, so try and remember and act like that.
Think on it! God bless! Shalom!
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
August 28th
August 28th -- John 12:1-11
Please go and read the passage!
Okay... so I really don't have much to say on this passage, because it was short and just a telling of events, really.
I do want to comment, though, about the perfume on Jesus' feet and Judas' comment on it. I find it fascinating that Judas points it out, but also fascinating that in this moment, we see Judas, who is so often hated/disliked by Christians for being the betrayer of Jesus, showing one of the most common traits among all people. He was being selfish. Self-absorbed. Self-concerned. Call it what you want, he was prioritizing himself over the others. How? He thought the perfume should have been sold because all the money would have gone into the money box, which he kept, and had been stealing from, apparently. The fact those wages went to perfume and not to somewhere he could have stolen some of them bothered him. (More about his stealing of the money and that being the reason for his reaction to the perfume can be found here) In that moment, instead of seeing the beauty of the act Mary was doing, he was concerned only with himself and what he felt he lost for it. We do that so often. Instead of being happy for what someone else has gained, even where we may have lost something, we gripe about what we lost and refuse to see any other side of things. I just wanted to point this out so we recognize two things. 1) We are just as human as Judas Iscariot and Judas Iscariot is just was human as we are. 2) We need to be less self-concerned and selfish all the time and allow ourselves to see all the sides of things and be happy for others instead of wallowing in self-pity.
Just think on it a bit! God bless! Shalom!
Please go and read the passage!
Okay... so I really don't have much to say on this passage, because it was short and just a telling of events, really.
I do want to comment, though, about the perfume on Jesus' feet and Judas' comment on it. I find it fascinating that Judas points it out, but also fascinating that in this moment, we see Judas, who is so often hated/disliked by Christians for being the betrayer of Jesus, showing one of the most common traits among all people. He was being selfish. Self-absorbed. Self-concerned. Call it what you want, he was prioritizing himself over the others. How? He thought the perfume should have been sold because all the money would have gone into the money box, which he kept, and had been stealing from, apparently. The fact those wages went to perfume and not to somewhere he could have stolen some of them bothered him. (More about his stealing of the money and that being the reason for his reaction to the perfume can be found here) In that moment, instead of seeing the beauty of the act Mary was doing, he was concerned only with himself and what he felt he lost for it. We do that so often. Instead of being happy for what someone else has gained, even where we may have lost something, we gripe about what we lost and refuse to see any other side of things. I just wanted to point this out so we recognize two things. 1) We are just as human as Judas Iscariot and Judas Iscariot is just was human as we are. 2) We need to be less self-concerned and selfish all the time and allow ourselves to see all the sides of things and be happy for others instead of wallowing in self-pity.
Just think on it a bit! God bless! Shalom!
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
August 27th
August 27th -- Luke 19:1-27
Please read the passage!
Woooooowwww. Interesting little piece at the end. Paraphrased, if you use what you're given you'll get more, but if you don't use what you're given it will be taken away. That immediately made me think of our individual God-given talents, abilities, and giftings. God's like the king in the parable and we are like the servants. The ten pounds would be our giftings, talents, and abilities. Some of us use them, doing great things and getting more out of them than what we had to begin with. Others of us just leave them be. We act like they're not there. I find the ones who use them are often the ones who are real, true Christians with a real, true relationship with God. Those who do not use them, taking them for granted, are like non-Christians who, like the worker in the stories, reject their master, which is why they gain nothing from what God has given them, and instead those gifts are lost and given to others. Now, it may seem harsh for them to be taken, right? Put it this way - God knows what needs to be done. If He has assigned certain gifts to someone in order for them to complete a very important task, He will ensure that task gets done. If the person He gave the gifts to doesn't use them for that task, He will take them and give them to another to ensure the task is completed. It's not a matter of meanness or anything, but a matter of the fact that there are things that need to be done for His Kingdom, so He will find those who are willing to do it and enable them to. We are all gifted differently, and sometimes we may not clearly know what God has given us to work with. Pray about it, asking God to help you see what He has given you, and also feel your way out - if you're not okay with public speaking and stuff, you're probably not called to Missions, for example. Don't just sit like a car on idle, though. Try a road just to be doing something. Worst comes to worse, you pick the wrong one, end up where you started, and know one road that's not the right one. Just use what God has given you - don't let it go to waste.
God bless! Shalom!
Please read the passage!
Woooooowwww. Interesting little piece at the end. Paraphrased, if you use what you're given you'll get more, but if you don't use what you're given it will be taken away. That immediately made me think of our individual God-given talents, abilities, and giftings. God's like the king in the parable and we are like the servants. The ten pounds would be our giftings, talents, and abilities. Some of us use them, doing great things and getting more out of them than what we had to begin with. Others of us just leave them be. We act like they're not there. I find the ones who use them are often the ones who are real, true Christians with a real, true relationship with God. Those who do not use them, taking them for granted, are like non-Christians who, like the worker in the stories, reject their master, which is why they gain nothing from what God has given them, and instead those gifts are lost and given to others. Now, it may seem harsh for them to be taken, right? Put it this way - God knows what needs to be done. If He has assigned certain gifts to someone in order for them to complete a very important task, He will ensure that task gets done. If the person He gave the gifts to doesn't use them for that task, He will take them and give them to another to ensure the task is completed. It's not a matter of meanness or anything, but a matter of the fact that there are things that need to be done for His Kingdom, so He will find those who are willing to do it and enable them to. We are all gifted differently, and sometimes we may not clearly know what God has given us to work with. Pray about it, asking God to help you see what He has given you, and also feel your way out - if you're not okay with public speaking and stuff, you're probably not called to Missions, for example. Don't just sit like a car on idle, though. Try a road just to be doing something. Worst comes to worse, you pick the wrong one, end up where you started, and know one road that's not the right one. Just use what God has given you - don't let it go to waste.
God bless! Shalom!
Monday, August 26, 2013
August 26th
August 26th -- Mark 10:35-52
Go read the passage, please!
So, today was actually my first day in a customer-service type job. I'm a cashier in a grocery store. Being in a customer-service business, my job is to serve customers in such a way that they choose my store where I work over other competing stores in the area. Where customers buy depends on what sort of service they receive. The better they are served the more likely they are to return. Really, it's sort of like how we are meant to be servants and have a servant's heart. In customer-service business, your whole focus is your customer - how you can please them and not yourself. This is the embodiment of a servant's heart and what it should look like. However, we are not just called to live it out in a work field where it applies to the field we are in, but to live it out 24/7. Jesus was the ultimate servant on this earth, but is next to God as ultimate ruler in heaven. Our position of eternity is not gauged by our position here. How we live will determine that. Having a servant's heart is hard, and also easily mixed up with becoming a doormat and letting people walk all over you. Just remember to act how Jesus did, and you will be fine. In situations you don't know how to handle - especially where you risk becoming a doormat - pray for guidance, and trust God will lead you where He means you to go if you are truly letting Him lead.
God bless! Shalom!
Go read the passage, please!
So, today was actually my first day in a customer-service type job. I'm a cashier in a grocery store. Being in a customer-service business, my job is to serve customers in such a way that they choose my store where I work over other competing stores in the area. Where customers buy depends on what sort of service they receive. The better they are served the more likely they are to return. Really, it's sort of like how we are meant to be servants and have a servant's heart. In customer-service business, your whole focus is your customer - how you can please them and not yourself. This is the embodiment of a servant's heart and what it should look like. However, we are not just called to live it out in a work field where it applies to the field we are in, but to live it out 24/7. Jesus was the ultimate servant on this earth, but is next to God as ultimate ruler in heaven. Our position of eternity is not gauged by our position here. How we live will determine that. Having a servant's heart is hard, and also easily mixed up with becoming a doormat and letting people walk all over you. Just remember to act how Jesus did, and you will be fine. In situations you don't know how to handle - especially where you risk becoming a doormat - pray for guidance, and trust God will lead you where He means you to go if you are truly letting Him lead.
God bless! Shalom!
Sunday, August 25, 2013
August 25th
August 25th -- Matthew 20:1-19
Read the passage, please!
The last will be first and the first will be last. This isn't a literal listing, but rather a general picture. I think this is Jesus' way of warning against becoming arrogant because you may have been a follower of God your whole life, while another may have only accepted Him with their dying breath. Jesus is saying that it doesn't matter who comes into relationship with God first, or who has been in one longest - we are all equal in the Kingdom of Heaven. Whether we serve in God's "fields" for a long or short time, and whether we bring in many or little "crop", we will all be given "a full day's wages". By this I mean that whether we have intentionally served God for years or minutes and whether we have brought many or only one or even none to find Him, He will treat us all the same and give us all the same, equal love and eternity. So don't become jealous - God is the kind landowner, and we should be thankful to get what we do from Him.
God bless! Shalom!
Read the passage, please!
The last will be first and the first will be last. This isn't a literal listing, but rather a general picture. I think this is Jesus' way of warning against becoming arrogant because you may have been a follower of God your whole life, while another may have only accepted Him with their dying breath. Jesus is saying that it doesn't matter who comes into relationship with God first, or who has been in one longest - we are all equal in the Kingdom of Heaven. Whether we serve in God's "fields" for a long or short time, and whether we bring in many or little "crop", we will all be given "a full day's wages". By this I mean that whether we have intentionally served God for years or minutes and whether we have brought many or only one or even none to find Him, He will treat us all the same and give us all the same, equal love and eternity. So don't become jealous - God is the kind landowner, and we should be thankful to get what we do from Him.
God bless! Shalom!
Saturday, August 24, 2013
August 24th
August 24th -- Mark 10:17-31
Read the passage, please!
Could you drop it all for God right now? Your family and friends forget you, and you just walk away from all you know with nothing but the clothes on your back? Could you?
If you're trying to convince yourself that you'd answer yes, don't. Don't convince yourself, because if you have to convince yourself it's not true. Honestly, there are probably very few people in history who could say yes and mean it. I'd say none, but we can see by the disciples, or even looking back, Abraham, there are some who can answer yes. However, most cannot. So, does that mean we cannot enter heaven because we have earthly possessions? No. It should mean that, but because there are no impossibilities with God, it doesn't mean that. The more things you treasure here, though, the harder a time you will have in entering the Kingdom of God, for your heart is where your treasure is. If your treasure is eternal, for your treasure is in Christ, then your heart will be there. If your treasure is earthly, though, it will draw you, and like it, you will fade and come to pass. So yes, the more one has, the harder it is for them to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. They begin to place too much value on their earthly possessions, idolizing them over God.
Be wary of where your treasure is - for there your heart is also...
God bless! Shalom!
Read the passage, please!
Could you drop it all for God right now? Your family and friends forget you, and you just walk away from all you know with nothing but the clothes on your back? Could you?
If you're trying to convince yourself that you'd answer yes, don't. Don't convince yourself, because if you have to convince yourself it's not true. Honestly, there are probably very few people in history who could say yes and mean it. I'd say none, but we can see by the disciples, or even looking back, Abraham, there are some who can answer yes. However, most cannot. So, does that mean we cannot enter heaven because we have earthly possessions? No. It should mean that, but because there are no impossibilities with God, it doesn't mean that. The more things you treasure here, though, the harder a time you will have in entering the Kingdom of God, for your heart is where your treasure is. If your treasure is eternal, for your treasure is in Christ, then your heart will be there. If your treasure is earthly, though, it will draw you, and like it, you will fade and come to pass. So yes, the more one has, the harder it is for them to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. They begin to place too much value on their earthly possessions, idolizing them over God.
Be wary of where your treasure is - for there your heart is also...
God bless! Shalom!
Friday, August 23, 2013
August 23rd
August 23rd -- Mark 10:1-16
Please read the passage!
Just gonna' look at the part about Jesus blessing the children (I don't like to get into the whole divorce topic because it tends to cause arguments). I think it's just a really great passage to have in the Bible. Sometimes I feel we imagine Jesus as some sort of ultimate rule-maker or supreme authority - almost a dictator personality, if you will. Often, I think that's because we so closely associate him with God, and more so the parts of God that are portrayed in the Old Testament - almighty power and judgement. Sometimes I think we forget that Jesus had a gentle side. He called little children over, probably pulling them up onto his lap like many pictures show, and he blessed them. When you try and live how Jesus did (as we're supposed to...), remember that side, too - not just the stern side that convicted people (although gently and correctly) when they were in the wrong.
Just something to mull over! God bless! Shalom!
Please read the passage!
Just gonna' look at the part about Jesus blessing the children (I don't like to get into the whole divorce topic because it tends to cause arguments). I think it's just a really great passage to have in the Bible. Sometimes I feel we imagine Jesus as some sort of ultimate rule-maker or supreme authority - almost a dictator personality, if you will. Often, I think that's because we so closely associate him with God, and more so the parts of God that are portrayed in the Old Testament - almighty power and judgement. Sometimes I think we forget that Jesus had a gentle side. He called little children over, probably pulling them up onto his lap like many pictures show, and he blessed them. When you try and live how Jesus did (as we're supposed to...), remember that side, too - not just the stern side that convicted people (although gently and correctly) when they were in the wrong.
Just something to mull over! God bless! Shalom!
Thursday, August 22, 2013
August 22nd
August 22nd -- John 18:1-14
Please read the passage!
I don't have much to say on this passage. Just a few small points. One is that I love how Jesus continues to fulfill prophecies. Even as he knew he was going to die, he did not want to bring any of his disciples with him, but instead chose to die alone. He really did not want any of us to come to harm. Now, I wanted to point out Caiaphas' words. "It's better that one man should die for the people." I may be wrong, but I think that shows that some of the religious leaders did honestly think they were doing the right thing - they felt this was best for those they were meant to lead. Sometimes, people can do wrong things with a right heart. Just try and always see the heart intent behind people's actions, instead of merely judging based on what appears to be clear.
Think on it! God bless! Shalom!
Please read the passage!
I don't have much to say on this passage. Just a few small points. One is that I love how Jesus continues to fulfill prophecies. Even as he knew he was going to die, he did not want to bring any of his disciples with him, but instead chose to die alone. He really did not want any of us to come to harm. Now, I wanted to point out Caiaphas' words. "It's better that one man should die for the people." I may be wrong, but I think that shows that some of the religious leaders did honestly think they were doing the right thing - they felt this was best for those they were meant to lead. Sometimes, people can do wrong things with a right heart. Just try and always see the heart intent behind people's actions, instead of merely judging based on what appears to be clear.
Think on it! God bless! Shalom!
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
August 21st
August 21st -- Luke 17:20-37
Read the passage, please!
I think that really all I can say for this is to be ready. Be ready for Jesus' return and the coming of God's Kingdom at any time. None but God Himself - not even Jesus - knows when Jesus' Second Coming will be. It will have some signs, as Jesus says, just like anything has signs. However, it will not have any sort of huge, formal warning or announcement. It will merely happen. It will be sudden. So just always be prepared for it. Don't wait until tomorrow to prepare. Prepare every second of every minute of every hour of every day. Just keep drawing nearer to God. Don't start packing or trying to gather stuff down here on earth, because that won't matter after Jesus has returned. Focus instead on your relationship with God. Put all priority on that and your faith. Look after your eternal life, not your earthly one, because for all any of us knows, this one here and now may just end here and now. Eternal, however, is eternal, so I know I, personally, want with more than I can express to spend that one with God.
That's all I've got for today! God bless! Shalom!
Read the passage, please!
I think that really all I can say for this is to be ready. Be ready for Jesus' return and the coming of God's Kingdom at any time. None but God Himself - not even Jesus - knows when Jesus' Second Coming will be. It will have some signs, as Jesus says, just like anything has signs. However, it will not have any sort of huge, formal warning or announcement. It will merely happen. It will be sudden. So just always be prepared for it. Don't wait until tomorrow to prepare. Prepare every second of every minute of every hour of every day. Just keep drawing nearer to God. Don't start packing or trying to gather stuff down here on earth, because that won't matter after Jesus has returned. Focus instead on your relationship with God. Put all priority on that and your faith. Look after your eternal life, not your earthly one, because for all any of us knows, this one here and now may just end here and now. Eternal, however, is eternal, so I know I, personally, want with more than I can express to spend that one with God.
That's all I've got for today! God bless! Shalom!
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
August 20th
August 20th -- Luke 17:1-19
Please go and read the passage!
Please go and read the passage!
Hm. Rather interesting bit here. Towards the end of this passage (before the part about the men healed of leprosy) there is a part about a master and servant. There is a situation portrayed to show the relationship between them. Jesus then says that like that servant, when we obey God we should simply be saying “We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.” It sounds harsh and mean, but isn’t meant to. It’s meant, I think, to remind us of where we stand with God. Often I feel we give ourselves far more status then we deserve. We almost begin to think of ourselves as equal with Him, and that is exceptionally dangerous. We don’t deserve anything from God – He owes us nothing. If anything we owe Him a debt we can never pay back. So, as servants, we should do all we can to live in obedience to Him, remembering we do it not to be rewarded, but merely because it is what we should be doing.
That's all! God bless! Shalom!
That's all! God bless! Shalom!
August 19th
August 19th
– John 11:37-57
Please go give the passage a read!
Another one where I don’t have much to say… it’s
just another retelling of some events. However, I do find it noteworthy that
Jesus points out that he stated Lazarus would rise only so that those around
would believe him. Sometimes, we see miracles happen, but we do all we can to
avoid giving credit to God, where it’s due. Jesus must have known that people
then may have tried the same thing, which is why he clarified and ensured
everyone heard him saying that Lazarus would be raised from the dead. It would
be nice some days if that still happened, so that the credit would go where it
was meant to, not to other things like science. There’s even the fact that
although science can no longer explain the complexity of life, they will not
credit it to God, but instead settle with calling it “Intelligent Design”.
People sometimes become so set on not giving the credit to God (which is funny
because half the time they are saying they won’t give it to someone they say
doesn’t exist anyways, yet deny it is His, implying they must think He exists
to deny Him the credit). This is why, although it would be thought that those
who saw Lazarus in the tomb for 4 days then up and about would know it was
Jesus, Jesus still clarified – he wanted to make sure they knew where credit
was due, and gave it to God as they should.
That shall be all! God bless! Shalom!
August 18th
August 18th
– John 11:1-36
It’s a long passage, so please go and give it a read
over or two!
Okay… not much I can say on this one, as it’s a
retelling of an event. Although I will point out one of the better-known
passages in the Bible. John 11:25-26 where Jesus says he is the resurrection
and the life, and that all who believe in him will never die. Anyone reading
this who already believes then understands and believes this. Those who do not
believe may be confused. The life Jesus speaks of is not an immortality on
earth here. It doesn’t mean that we can take a shot in the chest and just heal
up, stand up, and keep going. It means that after we die, though our bodies may
perish, we continue to live on with God (although our bodies will be restored
at Jesus’ second coming). Jesus was resurrected to offer us all the gift of eternal
life, for he overcame death. This is what he meant when he said that.
That’s all for today! God bless! Shalom!
August 17th
August 17th
– Luke 16:19-31
Please go read this passage!
This whole passage is just interesting. I mean, imagine you went to Hell - you'd want to warn those you loved not to make the same mistake, right? Here's the thing - they've already been warned. Really, even if they have never sat in church, they've still got plenty of reason to believe in God. So many passages talk about the heavens and earth declaring God's greatness and praising Him. They do, folks. They really do. So if they can not believe all the evidence around them, why should they any more believe a ghost? Additionally, I think it's also a matter of Jesus wanting believers to believe because they wanted to, not because they were frightened into it. A ghost would be just frightening them into it. Basically, there is no excuse for the ignorance of God. So, do all you can to save those you love now as you cannot later.
That’s all! God bless! Shalom!
Friday, August 16, 2013
UPDATE
Hey all. So I'll be away tomorrow until Tuesday evening. In theory though I have no internet where I'll be I'll be able to type my studies up. So I should be able to just post them all Tuesday night when I'm home. So expect them then!
Until then, God bless! Shalom!
Until then, God bless! Shalom!
August 16th
August 16th -- Luke 16:1-18
Please read the passage!
Wooooowww. Pretty clear message about money and worldly possessions right here, people. God or money. You can't pick both. Pick one. If you try and pick both, you will still end up swaying to only one in the end. You're either going to serve worldly possessions and feed your flesh, leading you away from God, or you will server God, feeding your spirit, and drawing you nearer to Him and an eternity with Him. Choose God. Additionally, this passage sort of talks about responsibility, and how important it is. It says that those that cannot be trusted with even small things can certainly not be trusted with larger things. How do you handle small things you're responsible for? Such as a chore? Do you pull through or do you shrug it off and forget about it? Also, if you are dishonest about little things, such as if you tried to lie about a reason for having shrugged off a responsibility, how can you be expected to be honest when it comes to bigger, more important things? You can't. So build up your responsibility and honesty - they are very important. Essentially, imagine God was the one who asked you to handle the responsibility, or to be honest, because I would hope you'd pull through for Him.
Well, think on it. That'll be all. God bless! Shalom!
Please read the passage!
Wooooowww. Pretty clear message about money and worldly possessions right here, people. God or money. You can't pick both. Pick one. If you try and pick both, you will still end up swaying to only one in the end. You're either going to serve worldly possessions and feed your flesh, leading you away from God, or you will server God, feeding your spirit, and drawing you nearer to Him and an eternity with Him. Choose God. Additionally, this passage sort of talks about responsibility, and how important it is. It says that those that cannot be trusted with even small things can certainly not be trusted with larger things. How do you handle small things you're responsible for? Such as a chore? Do you pull through or do you shrug it off and forget about it? Also, if you are dishonest about little things, such as if you tried to lie about a reason for having shrugged off a responsibility, how can you be expected to be honest when it comes to bigger, more important things? You can't. So build up your responsibility and honesty - they are very important. Essentially, imagine God was the one who asked you to handle the responsibility, or to be honest, because I would hope you'd pull through for Him.
Well, think on it. That'll be all. God bless! Shalom!
August 15th
August 15th -- Luke 15:11-32
Please go read the passage!
Sorry, but as much as I love this parable, I don't have anything to add really to my thoughts on those of yesterday's. God does indeed rejoice over those of us who are with Him, and have stayed with Him. However, His joy for those who have left and come back, or merely come to find Him, is so much greater. He recognizes that there is value in those who are here, but there is value in those that have been lost for a time but are now back, meaning they are no longer lost value. I mean, let's say you won $5000 off a scratch ticket. Then you lost $1000. You'd still be happy about the $4000 you still had, as it was more than the $1000 you lost. Yet, you'd still be upset by the lost $1000. If you found the missing $1000, you would celebrate for finding it. However, you would never celebrate after losing it for still having the $4000. I hope that represents the idea in a more understandable way...
Either way that's all I've got for tonight. So God bless! Shalom!
Please go read the passage!
Sorry, but as much as I love this parable, I don't have anything to add really to my thoughts on those of yesterday's. God does indeed rejoice over those of us who are with Him, and have stayed with Him. However, His joy for those who have left and come back, or merely come to find Him, is so much greater. He recognizes that there is value in those who are here, but there is value in those that have been lost for a time but are now back, meaning they are no longer lost value. I mean, let's say you won $5000 off a scratch ticket. Then you lost $1000. You'd still be happy about the $4000 you still had, as it was more than the $1000 you lost. Yet, you'd still be upset by the lost $1000. If you found the missing $1000, you would celebrate for finding it. However, you would never celebrate after losing it for still having the $4000. I hope that represents the idea in a more understandable way...
Either way that's all I've got for tonight. So God bless! Shalom!
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
August 14th
August 14th -- Luke 15:1-10 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2015:1-10&version=NLT)
Read the passage, please! It's short so it won't take long!
I've talked a lot about this parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin before. They are essentially just to emphasize how much God rejoices in one person coming to know Him. Sure the ones that do please Him, but He is so much happier when just one comes to know Him, because it is like finding a lost sheep or coin. Basically, just remember that you may not be able to convert the world, and never overnight, but even if you can bring one person to Jesus over your whole life, that brings God an inexpressible amount of joy. Which is all the more reason to try to.
Think on it. God bless! Shalom!
Read the passage, please! It's short so it won't take long!
I've talked a lot about this parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin before. They are essentially just to emphasize how much God rejoices in one person coming to know Him. Sure the ones that do please Him, but He is so much happier when just one comes to know Him, because it is like finding a lost sheep or coin. Basically, just remember that you may not be able to convert the world, and never overnight, but even if you can bring one person to Jesus over your whole life, that brings God an inexpressible amount of joy. Which is all the more reason to try to.
Think on it. God bless! Shalom!
August 13th
August 13th -- Luke 14:15-35 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2014:15-35&version=NLT)
Please go and read the passage!
I'm gonna' skip the parable of the feast and just look at the cost of being a disciple. It is quite a cost, after all. Nothing next to what Jesus paid, yet a high price nonetheless. He says we must hate everyone in comparison (as in in comparison to God/Jesus). That's pretty intense. I mean, we are called to LOVE our neighbour. SO, we SHOULD be loving them. Yet at the same time, how much we should love God should make that love for everyone - parents, friends, significant other, and self - seem like hate. That's a big call. He calls us to take up our cross, too. Also a big call. I mean, that "cross" represents every sin we have committed and ever will commit. I can only speak for myself, but I don't think anyone wants to try and tally up that list. I don't. He also points out it's something that needs to be intentionally thought on and through before acted on. That is because it is a huge commitment that means nothing if it is not finished, so therefore needs to be thought on to make sure it can be finished before it is begun for no reason. Basically, he is making it obvious and clear it is NOT an easy commitment, though more than worth it in the end, and it will take EVERYTHING you have to give. So think on it before you jump in. But jumping in is the best choice you will ever make.
That's all! God bless! Shalom!
Please go and read the passage!
I'm gonna' skip the parable of the feast and just look at the cost of being a disciple. It is quite a cost, after all. Nothing next to what Jesus paid, yet a high price nonetheless. He says we must hate everyone in comparison (as in in comparison to God/Jesus). That's pretty intense. I mean, we are called to LOVE our neighbour. SO, we SHOULD be loving them. Yet at the same time, how much we should love God should make that love for everyone - parents, friends, significant other, and self - seem like hate. That's a big call. He calls us to take up our cross, too. Also a big call. I mean, that "cross" represents every sin we have committed and ever will commit. I can only speak for myself, but I don't think anyone wants to try and tally up that list. I don't. He also points out it's something that needs to be intentionally thought on and through before acted on. That is because it is a huge commitment that means nothing if it is not finished, so therefore needs to be thought on to make sure it can be finished before it is begun for no reason. Basically, he is making it obvious and clear it is NOT an easy commitment, though more than worth it in the end, and it will take EVERYTHING you have to give. So think on it before you jump in. But jumping in is the best choice you will ever make.
That's all! God bless! Shalom!
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
August 12th
August 12th -- Luke 14:1-14 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2014:1-14&version=NLT)
Read the passage please!
I think the main point of the part about seating at a feast is that we are not supposed to lift ourselves up. That is pride. Pride comes before the fall. And that's what happens in Jesus' parable. They place them self so high up that they fall because they placed them self too high up. In this parable Jesus says to place yourself low and let your friend lift you high. Now, that doesn't mean they give you bragging rights. It still means you're not being prideful. However, I also take it as being that you should have a good enough reputation that your friend does lift you up higher. He should have reason to. So, just keep up a great reputation (that's also truthful and accurate) and display Christ well to the world!
That's all for tonight! God bless! Shalom!
Read the passage please!
I think the main point of the part about seating at a feast is that we are not supposed to lift ourselves up. That is pride. Pride comes before the fall. And that's what happens in Jesus' parable. They place them self so high up that they fall because they placed them self too high up. In this parable Jesus says to place yourself low and let your friend lift you high. Now, that doesn't mean they give you bragging rights. It still means you're not being prideful. However, I also take it as being that you should have a good enough reputation that your friend does lift you up higher. He should have reason to. So, just keep up a great reputation (that's also truthful and accurate) and display Christ well to the world!
That's all for tonight! God bless! Shalom!
Monday, August 12, 2013
August 11th
August 11th
– Luke 13:22-35 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2013:22-35&version=NLT)
Read the passage, please!
Wow. Scary thought. Many who try to enter will fail.
To think of even not being able to get in… but trying one day and being turned
away, leaving only hell… it’s a horribly scary thought. Now, Jesus says it is a
narrow door to the Kingdom of Heaven. It makes me think of the passage about
the road to life being narrow, but the road to death being wide. Getting in is
not easy. It IS worth it, but it ISN’T easy. And the wide road is far more
tempting. That’s why so many take it. But the scary thought is that Jesus says
there will be some who arrive and claim to know God but He will say He never
knew them. The thought is seriously absolutely terrifying. I want to get to
those gates and hear “Well done, good and faithful servant,” or, “welcome, my
daughter.” I don’t want to hear that He never knew me. I think that that’s the
“fear of the Lord” we are supposed to have. We are supposed to be fearful of
His judgement. We also need to love his mercy, though. That’s why some at all
will be able to enter – without His mercy, none could. But I know the idea of
reaching those gates and having God say He never knew me is a lot of why I try
so hard (even though I do fail often) to be a good follower of Him and light
into the world for Him. I know that the narrow way is hard, and sometimes the
wide road would be more fun for my human nature, but I know that in the end the
narrow road, though hard, is the only road that’s worth it. That’s why I’m
trying. That’s why I hope you are, too.
That’s all for tonight! God bless! Shalom!
August 10th
August 10th
– John 10:1-18 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2010:1-18&version=NLT)
Please go and read the passage!
I really do love the sheep and shepherd metaphor we
see so often in the Bible. God is our shepherd, Jesus is the gate so we can get
to Him and Him to us, and we are God’s sheep. Now, the devil would be like a
wolf - he comes to kill and destroy.
False gods would be like the hired hands that would abandon us to the wolf - when it comes down to it they are worth
nothing and are of no use. However, Jesus and God, our shepherds, will save us
from the wolf. This passage talks about the shepherd even laying his life down
to save his sheep – Jesus has done that. Also, like sheep, we need to learn to
recognize our shepherd’s voice. When a sheep is taken care of by a new
shepherd, it may take time to learn the right voice, and it may confuse many
wrong voices with that of its shepherd. This is like new Christians, who are
still struggling between distinguishing God’s voice from the many voices of the
devil. However, the more you hear it the easier it is to understand. Over time,
you come to know your shepherd. So, who’s your shepherd?
Think on it! God bless! Shalom!
August 9th
August 9th
– John 9 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%209&version=NLT)
It’s a long passage, so please go and give it a read
over or two!
So the Pharisees actually kicked out the blind man
from the Synagogue because he claimed Jesus must be from God, because he healed
the blind man and made it so he could see. It seems sort of ridiculous, right?
Well, it was. The Pharisees were even divided over Jesus. Some called him a
sinner because he performed miracles on the Sabbath. Others, still, thought he
must be from God because otherwise he would not be able to perform the
miracles. However, none would call them self a follower of him. They said they
were followers/disciples of Moses. Jesus points out later though that he has
come to show some that they are blind although they think they see and give
sight to those who are blind. However, this blindness is not meant as a literal
blindness but a metaphorical blindness representing a spiritual blindness.
Jesus says the Pharisees think they can “see” and tell all that they can,
however, he says they are guilty because they are only claiming they can but
truly they cannot. It’s an interesting thought – the religious leaders were
truly blind spiritually. They were like this because they were too literal and
legalistic about their faith. They refused to follow after Jesus, who is whom
God sent for us to follow. God sent him to be an example that we could follow,
so we need to be following him. Don’t get caught up in the legalism like the
Pharisees – focus on following more closely the lifestyle of Jesus.
That’s all for today! God bless! Shalom!
August 8th
August 8th
– Luke 13:1-21 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2013:1-21&version=NLT)
Please go read this passage!
I love these analogies about the Kingdom of God. I
think for me it just reminds me that often it can seem small, but it is
incredibly powerful. Often as Christians in this world we feel oppressed and
outnumbered. But, like the yeast in the dough, or the tiny seed growing into a
huge tree, that small thing can be powerful and grow into something big and
great. Also, like yeast mixed in with flour, or like a seed buried underground,
it can’t be seen. However, although it can’t be seen, it must be trusted that
it can and will do what it is supposed to – the yeast will make the bread rise
and the seed will grow into a tree. The actual Kingdom of God is something we
canont see. It is not here yet. However, it is like the yeast in the bread
ready to be baked or the seed planted deep underground – it will come out and
do what it is meant to in its own time, but until then we must rely on the
unseen. So, don’t doubt the Kingdom. Just have faith in it, for it will
accomplish its goal in God’s perfect timing.
That’s all! God bless! Shalom!
Friday, August 9, 2013
August 7th
August 7th -- Luke 12:49-59 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2012:49-59&version=NLT)
Please go and read the passage!
Okay, so just my own personal thoughts on this.
So often, I think we see Jesus as being somebody who was meant to bring world peace. We see God as some magic God of happiness and peace and love. People think He will fix everyone's problems, make everyone happy, and then leave us in some sort of utopia. No. That's not it at all. See, I like to think of it as a garden, or a plant at least. God could let it grow and bloom, and to anyone it may look nice just at a glance. However, on closer inspection, especially to a botanist (in this case being God) it would be clear that the plant was diseased in some parts. Some of the roots were diseased and are beginning to spread it through the plant. The disease would be sin. God knows we, as normal passerby to the flower, may not truly see the sin in the world for what it is, and may be okay with leaving it be, or may just want to leave it be for the sake of not having to damage the flower at all. We would rather ignore the problem and focus on the good than face the problem. God, though, would be the botanist who knows if it's left alone it will slowly eat away at and destroy the plant. He knows He can't leave this world be and just bring peace and happiness and leave us content with that. If He does, we are losing out on His Kingdom and settling for less, even if we can't see how much less. He knows the roots need to be trimmed, which will damage the plant, but will let it grow back better than it could otherwise. He knows the world can't just be left how us humans would like it, but needs to be divided in order to bring about a better world. That's how I see it, anyways.
Anyways that will be all for tonight! God bless! Shalom!
Please go and read the passage!
Okay, so just my own personal thoughts on this.
So often, I think we see Jesus as being somebody who was meant to bring world peace. We see God as some magic God of happiness and peace and love. People think He will fix everyone's problems, make everyone happy, and then leave us in some sort of utopia. No. That's not it at all. See, I like to think of it as a garden, or a plant at least. God could let it grow and bloom, and to anyone it may look nice just at a glance. However, on closer inspection, especially to a botanist (in this case being God) it would be clear that the plant was diseased in some parts. Some of the roots were diseased and are beginning to spread it through the plant. The disease would be sin. God knows we, as normal passerby to the flower, may not truly see the sin in the world for what it is, and may be okay with leaving it be, or may just want to leave it be for the sake of not having to damage the flower at all. We would rather ignore the problem and focus on the good than face the problem. God, though, would be the botanist who knows if it's left alone it will slowly eat away at and destroy the plant. He knows He can't leave this world be and just bring peace and happiness and leave us content with that. If He does, we are losing out on His Kingdom and settling for less, even if we can't see how much less. He knows the roots need to be trimmed, which will damage the plant, but will let it grow back better than it could otherwise. He knows the world can't just be left how us humans would like it, but needs to be divided in order to bring about a better world. That's how I see it, anyways.
Anyways that will be all for tonight! God bless! Shalom!
August 6th
August 6th -- Luke 12:22-48 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2012:22-48&version=NLT)
Read the passage, please!
I am a person who loves passages about worry. I am a very logical, analytical person, and I know that. I also know that means I like thinking things through and therefore overthink stuff a lot. When I do this, I end up worrying, often. Really, though, we don't need to worry. God takes care of the little things we take for granted, like lillies. So how much better of care does He take of us, then? Much better. He is always watching over us. We need to seek His Kingdom, and He will provide for us. It is not our job to be concerned with being cared for - that is God's. Our job is to wholeheartedly follow after, love, and serve Him. He will provide so that we can do that, when we are really, truly trying to do that.
In regards to the part of Jesus coming back, just be ready. God alone knows when - not even Jesus knows. So always be ready. Don't let yourself be caught off guard. Try your best to always be living so that Jesus will not return to catch you guiltily consumed in a sin, but instead be able to find you and say "Well done, good and faithful servant." For your own sake, just please always be prepared for Jesus' return at any moment.
That's all! God bless! Shalom!
Read the passage, please!
I am a person who loves passages about worry. I am a very logical, analytical person, and I know that. I also know that means I like thinking things through and therefore overthink stuff a lot. When I do this, I end up worrying, often. Really, though, we don't need to worry. God takes care of the little things we take for granted, like lillies. So how much better of care does He take of us, then? Much better. He is always watching over us. We need to seek His Kingdom, and He will provide for us. It is not our job to be concerned with being cared for - that is God's. Our job is to wholeheartedly follow after, love, and serve Him. He will provide so that we can do that, when we are really, truly trying to do that.
In regards to the part of Jesus coming back, just be ready. God alone knows when - not even Jesus knows. So always be ready. Don't let yourself be caught off guard. Try your best to always be living so that Jesus will not return to catch you guiltily consumed in a sin, but instead be able to find you and say "Well done, good and faithful servant." For your own sake, just please always be prepared for Jesus' return at any moment.
That's all! God bless! Shalom!
Thursday, August 8, 2013
August 5th
August 5th -- Luke 12:1-21 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2012:1-21&version=NLT)
Read the passage, please!
So, Jesus is just basically warning against hypocrisy and greed. Both of which are easy sins to fall into and hard sins to get away from.
However, I actually just wanna' focus on a totally unconnected part of the passage....
Verses 6-7 " “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows." I love this passage. I think sometimes we all lose perspective of how much and how well God really looks out for us. He takes care of the sparrows. Heck, really, He takes care of every individual blade of grass and look how well grass does! (weird of me to look at that of all things but anyways) Now think of how much more valuable than grass we are. A LOT. So then try and think of how much care He takes of us! It's really amazing when you actually think about it. So, when you start to worry over things, just remember that and that God's got a plan for you!
That's all for tonight! God bless! Shalom!
Read the passage, please!
So, Jesus is just basically warning against hypocrisy and greed. Both of which are easy sins to fall into and hard sins to get away from.
However, I actually just wanna' focus on a totally unconnected part of the passage....
Verses 6-7 " “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows." I love this passage. I think sometimes we all lose perspective of how much and how well God really looks out for us. He takes care of the sparrows. Heck, really, He takes care of every individual blade of grass and look how well grass does! (weird of me to look at that of all things but anyways) Now think of how much more valuable than grass we are. A LOT. So then try and think of how much care He takes of us! It's really amazing when you actually think about it. So, when you start to worry over things, just remember that and that God's got a plan for you!
That's all for tonight! God bless! Shalom!
August 4th
August 4th -- Luke 11:33-54 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2011:33-54&version=NLT)
Please go read the passage!
Love this light analogy. I like to think that we need to be like broken pots with candles in them. We're the pot, and God's the candle. SO many people try and fill in all the cracks and holes in their pot. We shouldn't though. We need to leave them there to let the light shine out. It always makes me think of 2 Corinthians 12:9 where God is speaking and says "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness...". Why hide a light? There's not point. So let it shine.
Then there's also Jesus criticizing the Pharisees. I love that he does this, honestly. There are so many people who do and say all the right things and for all intensive purposes look, act, and "are" Christian. Yet, when it comes down to it, it's all just an act. They get so caught up in nitpicky details and trying to make sure people look up to them for being suuuuuch good Christians, that it really doesn't mean anything to them because it just becomes basic routine. What Jesus is pointing out to them is something we need to remember better - "man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). Make sure you're faith isn't just religion, like it was to the Pharisees, but is a real relationship with God, that will change you from the inside out!
That's all! God bless! Shalom!
P.S. Late because of my portage trip.
Please go read the passage!
Love this light analogy. I like to think that we need to be like broken pots with candles in them. We're the pot, and God's the candle. SO many people try and fill in all the cracks and holes in their pot. We shouldn't though. We need to leave them there to let the light shine out. It always makes me think of 2 Corinthians 12:9 where God is speaking and says "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness...". Why hide a light? There's not point. So let it shine.
Then there's also Jesus criticizing the Pharisees. I love that he does this, honestly. There are so many people who do and say all the right things and for all intensive purposes look, act, and "are" Christian. Yet, when it comes down to it, it's all just an act. They get so caught up in nitpicky details and trying to make sure people look up to them for being suuuuuch good Christians, that it really doesn't mean anything to them because it just becomes basic routine. What Jesus is pointing out to them is something we need to remember better - "man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). Make sure you're faith isn't just religion, like it was to the Pharisees, but is a real relationship with God, that will change you from the inside out!
That's all! God bless! Shalom!
P.S. Late because of my portage trip.
August 3rd
August 3rd -- Luke 11:14-32 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2011:14-32&version=NLT)
Read the passage, please!
Okay... sorry, but I don't really know what to say on all this. I am like 99% sure I've done another post on this all-but-identical passage in another book... but I'll rejot main ideas quickly.
- Having power over evil does not mean the thing/person is evil, because otherwise they would be destroying their own "team"
- Don't just hear the Bible, but live it out as best you can. You will be blessed for/by it.
- Unbelief in God is incredibly dangerous and seems to stand as worse than even sin.
- The sign of Jonah thing is cool. Jonah spent three days in the belly of a whale before coming back. Jesus spent 3 days in a tomb before coming back.
That's all for tonight. God bless! Shalom!
P.S. Late because of my camping trip. I'll be doing catchup for a while...
Read the passage, please!
Okay... sorry, but I don't really know what to say on all this. I am like 99% sure I've done another post on this all-but-identical passage in another book... but I'll rejot main ideas quickly.
- Having power over evil does not mean the thing/person is evil, because otherwise they would be destroying their own "team"
- Don't just hear the Bible, but live it out as best you can. You will be blessed for/by it.
- Unbelief in God is incredibly dangerous and seems to stand as worse than even sin.
- The sign of Jonah thing is cool. Jonah spent three days in the belly of a whale before coming back. Jesus spent 3 days in a tomb before coming back.
That's all for tonight. God bless! Shalom!
P.S. Late because of my camping trip. I'll be doing catchup for a while...
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
August 2nd
August 2nd -- Luke 11:1-13 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2011:1-13&version=NLT)
Please go and read the passage!
I think the main point about this passage about prayer is persistence. I think so often we treat God as a genie. If our wish isn't immediately granted, we no longer need Him because we stop asking. That's often a common mindset, but it's a very wrong and dangerous mindset to have. God wants us to pursue a persistent prayer life. It's hard. I know. I'll be honest and admit my prayer life is one of the things I've been trying to work on, because it's not really the best. But we are told to ask, seek, and knock persistently to receive, find, and have the doors opened to us. When we pray, we need to do it persistently. Don't give up if you don't see immediate answers. Remember that God's got His timeline, that's what everything follows in the end, and His timeline is perfect. All things happen at the right time for the right reason in His plan, so keep praying as you wait on that time.
That's all! God bless! Shalom!
P.S. Late because of the camping trip.
Please go and read the passage!
I think the main point about this passage about prayer is persistence. I think so often we treat God as a genie. If our wish isn't immediately granted, we no longer need Him because we stop asking. That's often a common mindset, but it's a very wrong and dangerous mindset to have. God wants us to pursue a persistent prayer life. It's hard. I know. I'll be honest and admit my prayer life is one of the things I've been trying to work on, because it's not really the best. But we are told to ask, seek, and knock persistently to receive, find, and have the doors opened to us. When we pray, we need to do it persistently. Don't give up if you don't see immediate answers. Remember that God's got His timeline, that's what everything follows in the end, and His timeline is perfect. All things happen at the right time for the right reason in His plan, so keep praying as you wait on that time.
That's all! God bless! Shalom!
P.S. Late because of the camping trip.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
August 1st
August 1st -- Luke 10:25-42 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2010:25-42&version=NLT)
Please go and read the passage!
The Good Samaritan. I love this story. It's simple and easy to understand and gets the point across - we are all neighbours to everyone, meaning when we are told to "love your neighbour as yourself" that means love EVERYONE. (Not a romantic love, obviously, just show them love or love them like you love a friend or even family) We need to make sure we're the ones like the good Samaritan - not caring about who the person is, or what helping them may cost us, but just helping them anyways because we know it is the right thing to do, and we are called by God to treat them with love.
Also, this story about Martha and Mary used to confuse me. This is probably because I'm the eldest which means I tend to end up with most of the additional household chores and such while my sisters will watch TV or just relax. I used to understand Martha's point of view a bit, because it can really suck to feel like you're missing out and someone else should be helping but they're not and they're getting/doing what you wish you were getting/doing. As I got older, though, I started to understand it. Life gets busy. There's so much to do all the time. Often, one of the first things we tend to neglect and push aside is our faith life - our relationship with God. This should, obviously, be the last, but it is, sadly, the first. We become like Martha - "But why should I miss out because I have to do other more important things?" We need to be more like Mary. Mary sat and listened. She was not worrying about anything but focusing on Jesus and his teaching. We need to sometimes take a step back and remember God needs to be the center. Everything besides Him is not as important - it's all trivial. It can be easy to be caught up in trivial matters, but God needs to stay at the center. When it all comes do to it in the end, what will count is your relationship with God - that's why it should always be priority.
That will be all for today! God bless! Shalom!
P.S. It's late because of my camping trip.
Please go and read the passage!
The Good Samaritan. I love this story. It's simple and easy to understand and gets the point across - we are all neighbours to everyone, meaning when we are told to "love your neighbour as yourself" that means love EVERYONE. (Not a romantic love, obviously, just show them love or love them like you love a friend or even family) We need to make sure we're the ones like the good Samaritan - not caring about who the person is, or what helping them may cost us, but just helping them anyways because we know it is the right thing to do, and we are called by God to treat them with love.
Also, this story about Martha and Mary used to confuse me. This is probably because I'm the eldest which means I tend to end up with most of the additional household chores and such while my sisters will watch TV or just relax. I used to understand Martha's point of view a bit, because it can really suck to feel like you're missing out and someone else should be helping but they're not and they're getting/doing what you wish you were getting/doing. As I got older, though, I started to understand it. Life gets busy. There's so much to do all the time. Often, one of the first things we tend to neglect and push aside is our faith life - our relationship with God. This should, obviously, be the last, but it is, sadly, the first. We become like Martha - "But why should I miss out because I have to do other more important things?" We need to be more like Mary. Mary sat and listened. She was not worrying about anything but focusing on Jesus and his teaching. We need to sometimes take a step back and remember God needs to be the center. Everything besides Him is not as important - it's all trivial. It can be easy to be caught up in trivial matters, but God needs to stay at the center. When it all comes do to it in the end, what will count is your relationship with God - that's why it should always be priority.
That will be all for today! God bless! Shalom!
P.S. It's late because of my camping trip.
July 31st
July 31st -- Luke 10:1-24 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2010:1-24&version=NLT)
Go read the passage, please!
I personally find this quite an interesting passage. So often I think we tend to, on small- or large-scale focuses, not give up on any place that will not accept God's message. That's not how it should be, though. Some places simply will not hear the Good News and accept it. Jesus even says at one point in verse 21, while praying, "thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike." This acknowledges that it is indeed hidden to some people. Not all people will hear the news and accept it. Jesus says here that those who have heard but will not accept have rejected him and God. He tells the disciples that in those places they are to leave, even shaking the dust of the place from their soles of their shoes as they do. That was their way to show that they have washed their hands of them, similar to how Caesar washed his hands when Jesus and Barabbas were on trial. So, though we are called to spread the Good News, it is our job to tell but not to force to accept. Where we are not welcome, God is also not welcome, and we are to leave those places to their fate if we have tried and they have not listened. Spending all one's time and energy telling the Good News to those who won't listen is a waste - like casting pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6 - so look into Matthew 7 for more thoughts on it).
That's all! God bless! Shalom!
P.S. This is late because of my camping trip. I posted a notice. They'll all be late for a while. Posting 2 a day 'til I'm caught up.
Go read the passage, please!
I personally find this quite an interesting passage. So often I think we tend to, on small- or large-scale focuses, not give up on any place that will not accept God's message. That's not how it should be, though. Some places simply will not hear the Good News and accept it. Jesus even says at one point in verse 21, while praying, "thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike." This acknowledges that it is indeed hidden to some people. Not all people will hear the news and accept it. Jesus says here that those who have heard but will not accept have rejected him and God. He tells the disciples that in those places they are to leave, even shaking the dust of the place from their soles of their shoes as they do. That was their way to show that they have washed their hands of them, similar to how Caesar washed his hands when Jesus and Barabbas were on trial. So, though we are called to spread the Good News, it is our job to tell but not to force to accept. Where we are not welcome, God is also not welcome, and we are to leave those places to their fate if we have tried and they have not listened. Spending all one's time and energy telling the Good News to those who won't listen is a waste - like casting pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6 - so look into Matthew 7 for more thoughts on it).
That's all! God bless! Shalom!
P.S. This is late because of my camping trip. I posted a notice. They'll all be late for a while. Posting 2 a day 'til I'm caught up.
Thursday, August 1, 2013
NOTICE
Last night blogger wouldn't load, and this morning I am just about to leave for a 5-day camping/portage trip. I won't be posting until Tuesday (when I have returned) or Mon night at the earliest. Then I'll do 2/3 a day to catch up!
God bless in the meantime!
God bless in the meantime!
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