Hard to describe, like nothing anyone has ever seen, yet in some ways, similar to things we do know here. We get glimpses into the heavenly eternal realm and we taste and see that there is a goodness beyond us here and now, that we must live and die for.
Have you been able to tell someone about the presence of God, or of the vast beauty of the Lord you have seen or experienced and describe it in enough detail to give the person the same sense you had when you experienced it? It is not easy to even tell one of the love of God, or the presence of God, or the power of God, yet we know we’ve seen it, heard it, felt it, known it, and experienced it. We also know we have to tell at least what we feel we do know. Yet someday it will become clearer and we’ll see it as it really was in new and opened understanding, that doesn’t mean what we shared was incorrect, it was just the portion of what we knew from our place of maturity and revelation in the spirit. Just because it can only be described with the understanding we have and in relation to what we presently know does not mean it is not real, in fact its reality is greater than what we do naturally know.
It takes revelation, a revealing, to know Him and who He is. To really see him and perceive Him is to know Him. There is a veil of the flesh that must be shed both naturally and spiritually in order to see and know Him as He is. This happens by the Spirit, which is why Jesus said I’ll not leave you alone, to your own human fleshly understanding, I’m sending you a Teacher, a Revealer who will reveal the Father and His will to your spirit eyes in the earth. Human reason and understanding does not get eternal things, eternal ideas do not come to the naturally minded man.
Have you received the Holy Spirit? The same spirit that raised Christ from the dead, and made a human body come alive unto God? If you’ve received Him do you yet rely on His power to open blind eyes of understanding to His word? Do you engage your spirit in oneness with His through prayer in His heavenly language gifted to humans in the earth by God to become one with heaven’s call? Do you exercise the spiritual gifts so freely given Christians in our day to bypass the flesh nature and to operate in the spirit nature of God the Father?
What keeps you from entering into this spiritually alive and active place? What prevents you from living this way each day?
You do know we are spirit beings living in earth suits for a time, right?
So what are we doing here?
Bringing the ways of heaven to earth, as much as is in us and as much as we are driven to by the fiery passion of His spirit in us.
The same spirit that was in the human like creatures was in the wheels, they were driven by the power of oneness, by the same spirit of Christ, led by the spirit, the same spirit. They had many appearances, yet were being led all in the exact same direction. How can ones be SO very different, become yet the same? Only one way, decisive unity.
One creature’s face, or appearance individually - a man, one - a lion, one - as an ox and another - as an eagle, all in appearance. Each of these have characteristics and different functions on earth, yet they moved the same.
How can 4 become one?
4 is the number of the earth. In earth man, God is looking for these 4 traits to display who He is in the earth.
Man, many yet one, decisively unified will glorify God. He represents earth’s order, God’s redemption in earth’s chaos. He can stand alone, or enter into covenant with others, it is up to him, but by God’s design he was not created or meant to be alone.
Lion – man with the characteristic of a lion is bold and victorious! He was created by God to overcome in this world. Jesus is the Lion of Judah. Each man needs to receive this Lion within and become as He is and was and is to come, an everlasting, eternally motivated being.
Ox- man must be as this character also, or else he is incomplete in his co-mission with God in the earth. The ox is strong in service, bearing the burden of servant hood. Jesus said to be great in the kingdom of God (on earth) be a servant of all! How strong we are in service is in direct relation to our heart’s motivation and the truth shows in the attitudes of simple service. When asked to do something, what goes on in the insides, especially if it is not self initiated and did not fit into your own plans comfortably? This is where the best test of a servant heart is taken. If you have every excuse in the book, or go ahead and do what is asked, but you grumble and complain all the way through, you are in need of further servant hood development. My suggestion: Put your head (yes the head is the leader of your body) in the yoke of servant hood. It is the very way of God, if one is not a servant they do not yet see or know or understand the spirit of God. Christianity does not skip over this attribute. Then there is a greater stance of service one graduates in with maturity. You do all you’ve been asked to do by others with joy, and then you offer service yourself without being asked.
Eagle – he rises up above circumstances, situations, he takes flight, soars. He is heavenly minded even while living on earth. He is operating in the supernatural power of God in his natural life. He rises above the day to day hum drum offers of the flesh earth nature to see beyond right now and today, into the future of eternity. His sights are on eternity while being on earth.
The wheels – a driving passion of revelation, the spirit of revelation, the eyes of understanding enlightened, seeing all, knowing all, within His lead. They go where He goes, they see Him as He is. He is God, and worthy to be followed, even while one still lives on earth. The heavens and earth are the same because they love the same, see the same, live the same. It’s a multiplication of same. Many being made one in the same, in Christ.
Their earth call is a throne room call. A call of passion, of burning, for the fire of God’s presence. They love Him and they love who He loves, here and now, as well as there, then. These time frames (earth time verse eternity time) are coming together, because of one ness, they are the same.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Ezekiel 1 Today
A Vision of Living Beings
1 On July 31 of my thirtieth year, while I was with the Judean exiles beside the Kebar River in Babylon, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. 2 This happened during the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity. 3 (The Lord gave this message to Ezekiel son of Buzi, a priest, beside the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians, and he felt the hand of the Lord take hold of him.)
4 As I looked, I saw a great storm coming from the north, driving before it a huge cloud that flashed with lightning and shone with brilliant light. There was fire inside the cloud, and in the middle of the fire glowed something like gleaming amber. 5 From the center of the cloud came four living beings that looked human, 6 except that each had four faces and four wings. 7 Their legs were straight, and their feet had hooves like those of a calf and shone like burnished bronze. 8 Under each of their four wings I could see human hands. So each of the four beings had four faces and four wings. 9 The wings of each living being touched the wings of the beings beside it. Each one moved straight forward in any direction without turning around.
10 Each had a human face in the front, the face of a lion on the right side, the face of an ox on the left side, and the face of an eagle at the back. 11 Each had two pairs of outstretched wings—one pair stretched out to touch the wings of the living beings on either side of it, and the other pair covered its body. 12 They went in whatever direction the spirit chose, and they moved straight forward in any direction without turning around.
13 The living beings looked like bright coals of fire or brilliant torches, and lightning seemed to flash back and forth among them. 14 And the living beings darted to and fro like flashes of lightning.
15 As I looked at these beings, I saw four wheels touching the ground beside them, one wheel belonging to each. 16 The wheels sparkled as if made of beryl. All four wheels looked alike and were made the same; each wheel had a second wheel turning crosswise within it. 17 The beings could move in any of the four directions they faced, without turning as they moved. 18 The rims of the four wheels were tall and frightening, and they were covered with eyes all around.
19 When the living beings moved, the wheels moved with them. When they flew upward, the wheels went up, too. 20 The spirit of the living beings was in the wheels. So wherever the spirit went, the wheels and the living beings also went. 21 When the beings moved, the wheels moved. When the beings stopped, the wheels stopped. When the beings flew upward, the wheels rose up, for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels.
22 Spread out above them was a surface like the sky, glittering like crystal. 23 Beneath this surface the wings of each living being stretched out to touch the others’ wings, and each had two wings covering its body. 24 As they flew, their wings sounded to me like waves crashing against the shore or like the voice of the Almighty or like the shouting of a mighty army. When they stopped, they let down their wings. 25 As they stood with wings lowered, a voice spoke from beyond the crystal surface above them.
26 Above this surface was something that looked like a throne made of blue lapis lazuli. And on this throne high above was a figure whose appearance resembled a man. 27 From what appeared to be his waist up, he looked like gleaming amber, flickering like a fire. And from his waist down, he looked like a burning flame, shining with splendor. 28 All around him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining in the clouds on a rainy day. This is what the glory of the Lord looked like to me. When I saw it, I fell face down on the ground, and I heard someone’s voice speaking to me.
1 On July 31 of my thirtieth year, while I was with the Judean exiles beside the Kebar River in Babylon, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. 2 This happened during the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity. 3 (The Lord gave this message to Ezekiel son of Buzi, a priest, beside the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians, and he felt the hand of the Lord take hold of him.)
4 As I looked, I saw a great storm coming from the north, driving before it a huge cloud that flashed with lightning and shone with brilliant light. There was fire inside the cloud, and in the middle of the fire glowed something like gleaming amber. 5 From the center of the cloud came four living beings that looked human, 6 except that each had four faces and four wings. 7 Their legs were straight, and their feet had hooves like those of a calf and shone like burnished bronze. 8 Under each of their four wings I could see human hands. So each of the four beings had four faces and four wings. 9 The wings of each living being touched the wings of the beings beside it. Each one moved straight forward in any direction without turning around.
10 Each had a human face in the front, the face of a lion on the right side, the face of an ox on the left side, and the face of an eagle at the back. 11 Each had two pairs of outstretched wings—one pair stretched out to touch the wings of the living beings on either side of it, and the other pair covered its body. 12 They went in whatever direction the spirit chose, and they moved straight forward in any direction without turning around.
13 The living beings looked like bright coals of fire or brilliant torches, and lightning seemed to flash back and forth among them. 14 And the living beings darted to and fro like flashes of lightning.
15 As I looked at these beings, I saw four wheels touching the ground beside them, one wheel belonging to each. 16 The wheels sparkled as if made of beryl. All four wheels looked alike and were made the same; each wheel had a second wheel turning crosswise within it. 17 The beings could move in any of the four directions they faced, without turning as they moved. 18 The rims of the four wheels were tall and frightening, and they were covered with eyes all around.
19 When the living beings moved, the wheels moved with them. When they flew upward, the wheels went up, too. 20 The spirit of the living beings was in the wheels. So wherever the spirit went, the wheels and the living beings also went. 21 When the beings moved, the wheels moved. When the beings stopped, the wheels stopped. When the beings flew upward, the wheels rose up, for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels.
22 Spread out above them was a surface like the sky, glittering like crystal. 23 Beneath this surface the wings of each living being stretched out to touch the others’ wings, and each had two wings covering its body. 24 As they flew, their wings sounded to me like waves crashing against the shore or like the voice of the Almighty or like the shouting of a mighty army. When they stopped, they let down their wings. 25 As they stood with wings lowered, a voice spoke from beyond the crystal surface above them.
26 Above this surface was something that looked like a throne made of blue lapis lazuli. And on this throne high above was a figure whose appearance resembled a man. 27 From what appeared to be his waist up, he looked like gleaming amber, flickering like a fire. And from his waist down, he looked like a burning flame, shining with splendor. 28 All around him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining in the clouds on a rainy day. This is what the glory of the Lord looked like to me. When I saw it, I fell face down on the ground, and I heard someone’s voice speaking to me.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Lena Journals to Proverbs 16
Plans Plans, Plans, many are the plans each man makes for himself each and everyday.
I personally believe we should be willing to take all of our own personal plans and set them on the priority scales of life and see if there is any conformity or unified with our local body action that weighs out with the kingdom of God. I believe we should be willing to allow God to weigh them out with and for us, telling us which is of eternal worth and which will take from our eternal worth and spend it elsewhere. It takes a willing heart that will weigh in His balances and see which of the plans will be of benefit to the vision He has set up and included our participation in or not.
If we decide to spend our lives on our own good goals, good visions or good plans, we can be too tired when His offers come along. That is serious. God will even be gracious to us and say, “Oh it’s ok, I understand you don’t have the time or energy (for Me - bottom line), go ahead with what you’re doing, I won’t bother you in this matter anymore!”, all the while we did not even recognize we may have missed His will, His perfect will and the plan He’d personally made for us to participate in.
Weighing and balancing is very important business. There is a lot that is good and goodness almost always looks like God to humans, but all that is good may not be in the will of God for us in the season we are now in. So we weigh for value sake. God’s value, not ours.
If you could choose to work for $50 per hour or $5, which would you choose to work for? This is where the scales of God’s will come to play. Which is of Godly increase, which area would bring Him more and more glory? Which might take less time, yet accomplish more? Only God knows, exactly! Ya know they say that the children of Israel; could have made the journey to Canaan in 11 days compared to 40 years! This is the example of what I’m speaking of. Its crossroads decisions to make. This is where many are the plans of a man, but God knows…, comes into play….
We are servants of God, and stewards of His desire. Many Christians have not yet entered into the place where they do His, or even ask of Him what His desire is that they can serve. We see what looks good to us and that is what we partake of, or eat (as Adam & Eve did).
If it looks good to us we don’t even think to consider not doing it or not eating it. So now He (God) possibly has something specific for us to eat, usually suggested to us by someone else, that’s why we did not see it coming at all, and when it is offered us we are already full (of goodness), and so we refuse politely, very politely, because it’s God and we’re really already full. We look at it as though that is ok, because we are polite, and it was good and our relationship with God has been based on our own needs anyway, so it’s actually great in our eyes that we have no real needs to ask of God, because we found our own way well and we’re really already satisfied. We feel good about this.
The only thing is, we decided what would satisfy us and we ate what we wanted, never saving room for the consideration of what He might want us to have room for, for it is not about us being satisfied with goodness, but it is about us satisfying His desires and even His need to be served and praised by those who are hungry for Him, and are thirsty for Him and who really want to eat and drink!
“Are you hungry?”
“Oh no thank you, I already ate….”
“Well then are you thirsty?”
“Oh my no, I’m so full (of my own pursuits) that I’m bursting at the seems and I have NO room at all for any other thing! Thank you though, for thinking of me and offering it to me. I appreciate the offer, but really, You don’t even have to consider me, I’m already satisfied, have no needs, am ok.”
Great, Great… So church for you is?.....
A place you do another good thing?
I see. It is this way for a lot of us.
Does it please you to go?
When people’s lives please the Lord, even their enemies are at peace with them.
Who’s standard is being raised in your life? Can God correct or change your standard of living? Is He able to correct you at all, or are you fine and doing ok like you’ve come accustomed to living by yourselves?
Can I tell you a new thing?
It is powerful and alive.
God’s kingdom on earth is ALL about change.
The change of me, of my mind, of my heart, of my faith, of my actions, of my will, and/or of my pursuits. They all must be weighed out, either now or later on, they will be weighed. It’d be better sooner than later on.
If you’ve settled in to a life of goodness, please awaken, be shaken, and come to a place where everyday you are in the same pursuit of change as He is, personal, lasting, and eternal change.
Wisdom will lead one righteously. Reason will lead one selfishly.
It is a humbled person who listens to others plans, and pursue those plansd rather than one’s own, purposefully.
I personally believe we should be willing to take all of our own personal plans and set them on the priority scales of life and see if there is any conformity or unified with our local body action that weighs out with the kingdom of God. I believe we should be willing to allow God to weigh them out with and for us, telling us which is of eternal worth and which will take from our eternal worth and spend it elsewhere. It takes a willing heart that will weigh in His balances and see which of the plans will be of benefit to the vision He has set up and included our participation in or not.
If we decide to spend our lives on our own good goals, good visions or good plans, we can be too tired when His offers come along. That is serious. God will even be gracious to us and say, “Oh it’s ok, I understand you don’t have the time or energy (for Me - bottom line), go ahead with what you’re doing, I won’t bother you in this matter anymore!”, all the while we did not even recognize we may have missed His will, His perfect will and the plan He’d personally made for us to participate in.
Weighing and balancing is very important business. There is a lot that is good and goodness almost always looks like God to humans, but all that is good may not be in the will of God for us in the season we are now in. So we weigh for value sake. God’s value, not ours.
If you could choose to work for $50 per hour or $5, which would you choose to work for? This is where the scales of God’s will come to play. Which is of Godly increase, which area would bring Him more and more glory? Which might take less time, yet accomplish more? Only God knows, exactly! Ya know they say that the children of Israel; could have made the journey to Canaan in 11 days compared to 40 years! This is the example of what I’m speaking of. Its crossroads decisions to make. This is where many are the plans of a man, but God knows…, comes into play….
We are servants of God, and stewards of His desire. Many Christians have not yet entered into the place where they do His, or even ask of Him what His desire is that they can serve. We see what looks good to us and that is what we partake of, or eat (as Adam & Eve did).
If it looks good to us we don’t even think to consider not doing it or not eating it. So now He (God) possibly has something specific for us to eat, usually suggested to us by someone else, that’s why we did not see it coming at all, and when it is offered us we are already full (of goodness), and so we refuse politely, very politely, because it’s God and we’re really already full. We look at it as though that is ok, because we are polite, and it was good and our relationship with God has been based on our own needs anyway, so it’s actually great in our eyes that we have no real needs to ask of God, because we found our own way well and we’re really already satisfied. We feel good about this.
The only thing is, we decided what would satisfy us and we ate what we wanted, never saving room for the consideration of what He might want us to have room for, for it is not about us being satisfied with goodness, but it is about us satisfying His desires and even His need to be served and praised by those who are hungry for Him, and are thirsty for Him and who really want to eat and drink!
“Are you hungry?”
“Oh no thank you, I already ate….”
“Well then are you thirsty?”
“Oh my no, I’m so full (of my own pursuits) that I’m bursting at the seems and I have NO room at all for any other thing! Thank you though, for thinking of me and offering it to me. I appreciate the offer, but really, You don’t even have to consider me, I’m already satisfied, have no needs, am ok.”
Great, Great… So church for you is?.....
A place you do another good thing?
I see. It is this way for a lot of us.
Does it please you to go?
When people’s lives please the Lord, even their enemies are at peace with them.
Who’s standard is being raised in your life? Can God correct or change your standard of living? Is He able to correct you at all, or are you fine and doing ok like you’ve come accustomed to living by yourselves?
Can I tell you a new thing?
It is powerful and alive.
God’s kingdom on earth is ALL about change.
The change of me, of my mind, of my heart, of my faith, of my actions, of my will, and/or of my pursuits. They all must be weighed out, either now or later on, they will be weighed. It’d be better sooner than later on.
If you’ve settled in to a life of goodness, please awaken, be shaken, and come to a place where everyday you are in the same pursuit of change as He is, personal, lasting, and eternal change.
Wisdom will lead one righteously. Reason will lead one selfishly.
It is a humbled person who listens to others plans, and pursue those plansd rather than one’s own, purposefully.
Proverbs 16 Today
1 We can make our own plans, but the LORD gives the right answer.
2 People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives.
3 Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.
4 The LORD has made everything for his own purposes,
even the wicked for a day of disaster.
5 The LORD detests the proud, they will surely be punished.
6 Unfailing love and faithfulness make atonement for sin. By fearing the LORD, people avoid evil.
7 When people’s lives please the LORD, even their enemies are at peace with them.
8 Better to have little, with godliness, than to be rich and dishonest.
9 We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.
10 The king speaks with divine wisdom; he must never judge unfairly.
11 The LORD demands accurate scales and balances; he sets the standards for fairness.
12 A king detests wrongdoing, for his rule is built on justice.
13 The king is pleased with words from righteous lips; he loves those who speak honestly.
14 The anger of the king is a deadly threat; the wise will try to appease it.
15 When the king smiles, there is life; his favor refreshes like a spring rain.
16 How much better to get wisdom than gold, and good judgment than silver!
17 The path of the virtuous leads away from evil; whoever follows that path is safe.
18 Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.
19 Better to live humbly with the poor than to share plunder with the proud.
20 Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the LORD will be joyful.
21 The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant words are persuasive.
22 Discretion is a life-giving fountain to those who possess it, but discipline is wasted on fools.
23 From a wise mind comes wise speech; the words of the wise are persuasive.
24 Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.
25 There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.
26 It is good for workers to have an appetite; an empty stomach drives them on.
27 Scoundrels create trouble; their words are a destructive blaze.
28 A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.
29 Violent people mislead their companions, leading them down a harmful path.
30 With narrowed eyes, people plot evil; with a smirk, they plan their mischief.
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life.
32 Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city.
33 We may throw the dice, but the LORD determines how they fall
2 People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives.
3 Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.
4 The LORD has made everything for his own purposes,
even the wicked for a day of disaster.
5 The LORD detests the proud, they will surely be punished.
6 Unfailing love and faithfulness make atonement for sin. By fearing the LORD, people avoid evil.
7 When people’s lives please the LORD, even their enemies are at peace with them.
8 Better to have little, with godliness, than to be rich and dishonest.
9 We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.
10 The king speaks with divine wisdom; he must never judge unfairly.
11 The LORD demands accurate scales and balances; he sets the standards for fairness.
12 A king detests wrongdoing, for his rule is built on justice.
13 The king is pleased with words from righteous lips; he loves those who speak honestly.
14 The anger of the king is a deadly threat; the wise will try to appease it.
15 When the king smiles, there is life; his favor refreshes like a spring rain.
16 How much better to get wisdom than gold, and good judgment than silver!
17 The path of the virtuous leads away from evil; whoever follows that path is safe.
18 Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.
19 Better to live humbly with the poor than to share plunder with the proud.
20 Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the LORD will be joyful.
21 The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant words are persuasive.
22 Discretion is a life-giving fountain to those who possess it, but discipline is wasted on fools.
23 From a wise mind comes wise speech; the words of the wise are persuasive.
24 Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.
25 There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.
26 It is good for workers to have an appetite; an empty stomach drives them on.
27 Scoundrels create trouble; their words are a destructive blaze.
28 A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.
29 Violent people mislead their companions, leading them down a harmful path.
30 With narrowed eyes, people plot evil; with a smirk, they plan their mischief.
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life.
32 Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city.
33 We may throw the dice, but the LORD determines how they fall
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Lena Journals to Psalm 147 Today
How delightful, how fitting – it looks on you! The King James Version says, “Praise looks comely on the upright”. I guess the British would tell someone who was wearing a garment they approved of, “You look quite comely”. In other words, as we wear the garment of praise we beautify ourselves, it looks better on us than other things we’ve worn do.
Everyday when we get up in the morning, we have a chance to dress for the day, to decide what to wear. Many a time it depends upon where we are going, who we’ll be seeing, or what we will do that day. The Bible is giving us an offer for the spiritual dressing room – Praise would be a garment to wear, guaranteed, it will look the best of all of the other choices, on you!
I know we’ve written of this before, but what does it mean to be humble? Humility before God is acceptance of His will alone. It is the decisiveness in His will. It is surrender and the plight to pursue His rather than our own, if a difference is found, and if one is not already after it, there is a seeking to make sure the wills match, with His.
It means, I lay down whatever else stands between His will being done in my life. I do His will and pursue it heavily, not because of have to’s , but because of want to’s. I bow down, because I want to. If I feel I have to, I am not humble.
Humility is a willing response to who God is. One of the definitions is “weakened”. Ya know how prideful people are insistent and stubborn? The stubborn insistence of self, is weakened in humility, I have no desire to stand up strong against God’s desire in me, for me, and through me. I’m weak with Him, I bow, rather than stand immovably erect.
For some to sing anyone’s praise other than their own, it takes humility. For some to allow a word of praise to come forth from their lips on a day to day basis, takes a yielding of the vessel of the will for sure. For some, to lift ones hands and to sing a song, as though one is thankful or joyful takes all they are, all the strength they have to muster it up.
It is time to pop the cork on praise. There is a well inside each of us that is waiting for a spring and a fountain to come forth. The pump of the soul needs to be primed and the old stagnant waters need to clear out the faucets of day to day life.
Today, it is definitely time, to praise the Lord!
Not only by the singing of songs, which brings much pleasure to the heart of God, but also in the everyday expression we exert, in our verbal dialog with others. What are we saying about God, about life, about ourselves, about others? Is it praiseworthy, and if judged, would we be found lacking praise?
Today is definitely time to praise the Lord. In all we do, Praise the Lord! In all we say, Praise the Lord!
Fear the Lord, trust and rely on Him. In this praise and blessing flow like a river.
Do we really know and understand How Great and How Awesome Our God is? Who He is?
If we do, how do we speak of Him? Do we ever hold Him to an account by asking questions like, “Why God”? (as though He owes us an explanation). Do we ever expect Him to give us “what we feel is fair”, and due us? (with an arrogant questioning heart).
This scripture is one of those to put us in our places as humans who God created to love and serve and obey Him as we get to enjoy who He is, and what He’s made and has made for us to do. Everything in perspective, everything in perspective.
Who are we? The wee little creation who God so extends Himself and His everlasting spirit to love! Eternal treasures in HIS eyes.
Wow, huh?
Everyday when we get up in the morning, we have a chance to dress for the day, to decide what to wear. Many a time it depends upon where we are going, who we’ll be seeing, or what we will do that day. The Bible is giving us an offer for the spiritual dressing room – Praise would be a garment to wear, guaranteed, it will look the best of all of the other choices, on you!
I know we’ve written of this before, but what does it mean to be humble? Humility before God is acceptance of His will alone. It is the decisiveness in His will. It is surrender and the plight to pursue His rather than our own, if a difference is found, and if one is not already after it, there is a seeking to make sure the wills match, with His.
It means, I lay down whatever else stands between His will being done in my life. I do His will and pursue it heavily, not because of have to’s , but because of want to’s. I bow down, because I want to. If I feel I have to, I am not humble.
Humility is a willing response to who God is. One of the definitions is “weakened”. Ya know how prideful people are insistent and stubborn? The stubborn insistence of self, is weakened in humility, I have no desire to stand up strong against God’s desire in me, for me, and through me. I’m weak with Him, I bow, rather than stand immovably erect.
For some to sing anyone’s praise other than their own, it takes humility. For some to allow a word of praise to come forth from their lips on a day to day basis, takes a yielding of the vessel of the will for sure. For some, to lift ones hands and to sing a song, as though one is thankful or joyful takes all they are, all the strength they have to muster it up.
It is time to pop the cork on praise. There is a well inside each of us that is waiting for a spring and a fountain to come forth. The pump of the soul needs to be primed and the old stagnant waters need to clear out the faucets of day to day life.
Today, it is definitely time, to praise the Lord!
Not only by the singing of songs, which brings much pleasure to the heart of God, but also in the everyday expression we exert, in our verbal dialog with others. What are we saying about God, about life, about ourselves, about others? Is it praiseworthy, and if judged, would we be found lacking praise?
Today is definitely time to praise the Lord. In all we do, Praise the Lord! In all we say, Praise the Lord!
Fear the Lord, trust and rely on Him. In this praise and blessing flow like a river.
Do we really know and understand How Great and How Awesome Our God is? Who He is?
If we do, how do we speak of Him? Do we ever hold Him to an account by asking questions like, “Why God”? (as though He owes us an explanation). Do we ever expect Him to give us “what we feel is fair”, and due us? (with an arrogant questioning heart).
This scripture is one of those to put us in our places as humans who God created to love and serve and obey Him as we get to enjoy who He is, and what He’s made and has made for us to do. Everything in perspective, everything in perspective.
Who are we? The wee little creation who God so extends Himself and His everlasting spirit to love! Eternal treasures in HIS eyes.
Wow, huh?
Psalm 147 Today
1 Praise the Lord!
How good to sing praises to our God!
How delightful and how fitting!
2 The Lord is rebuilding Jerusalem
and bringing the exiles back to Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted
and bandages their wounds.
4 He counts the stars
and calls them all by name.
5 How great is our Lord! His power is absolute!
His understanding is beyond comprehension!
6 The Lord supports the humble,
but he brings the wicked down into the dust.
7 Sing out your thanks to the Lord;
sing praises to our God with a harp.
8 He covers the heavens with clouds,
provides rain for the earth,
and makes the grass grow in mountain pastures.
9 He gives food to the wild animals
and feeds the young ravens when they cry.
10 He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse
or in human might.
11 No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him,
those who put their hope in his unfailing love.
12 Glorify the Lord, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!
13 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates
and blessed your children within your walls.
14 He sends peace across your nation
and satisfies your hunger with the finest wheat.
15 He sends his orders to the world—
how swiftly his word flies!
16 He sends the snow like white wool;
he scatters frost upon the ground like ashes.
17 He hurls the hail like stones.
Who can stand against his freezing cold?
18 Then, at his command, it all melts.
He sends his winds, and the ice thaws.
19 He has revealed his words to Jacob,
his decrees and regulations to Israel.
20 He has not done this for any other nation;
they do not know his regulations.
Praise the Lord!
How good to sing praises to our God!
How delightful and how fitting!
2 The Lord is rebuilding Jerusalem
and bringing the exiles back to Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted
and bandages their wounds.
4 He counts the stars
and calls them all by name.
5 How great is our Lord! His power is absolute!
His understanding is beyond comprehension!
6 The Lord supports the humble,
but he brings the wicked down into the dust.
7 Sing out your thanks to the Lord;
sing praises to our God with a harp.
8 He covers the heavens with clouds,
provides rain for the earth,
and makes the grass grow in mountain pastures.
9 He gives food to the wild animals
and feeds the young ravens when they cry.
10 He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse
or in human might.
11 No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him,
those who put their hope in his unfailing love.
12 Glorify the Lord, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!
13 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates
and blessed your children within your walls.
14 He sends peace across your nation
and satisfies your hunger with the finest wheat.
15 He sends his orders to the world—
how swiftly his word flies!
16 He sends the snow like white wool;
he scatters frost upon the ground like ashes.
17 He hurls the hail like stones.
Who can stand against his freezing cold?
18 Then, at his command, it all melts.
He sends his winds, and the ice thaws.
19 He has revealed his words to Jacob,
his decrees and regulations to Israel.
20 He has not done this for any other nation;
they do not know his regulations.
Praise the Lord!
Monday, April 16, 2007
Lena Journals to Psalm 84 Today
What is and who are His dwelling places? Let’s find out from His word….
Isa 66:1 This is what the LORD says: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Could you ever build me a temple as good as that? Could you build a dwelling place for me? (speaking with King David)
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—
John 15:17 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
Matthew 26: 61 "This fellow said, "I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days."
Matthew 27:51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,
John 2:21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body.
Col 1:18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
2 Corinthians 6:16 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
Eph 2:21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,
Romans 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
John 17: 20"I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony. 21My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father—that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me. 22 "I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are—23I in them and you in me, all being perfected into one. Then the world will know that you sent me and will understand that you love them as much as you love me.
Behold we are His dwelling place, the place of long ago he choose to abide in forever, human temples of the Holy Spirit, Temples made without hands.
Matthew 14:58 "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this Temple made with human hands, and in three days I will build another, made without human hands.'"
2 Samuel 7:5 "Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a temple to live in?
Amos 9:11 "On that day I will raise up The tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, And repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, And rebuild it as in the days of old;
Acts 15:16 'After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up;
Do we need to wait till we all get to heaven to rejoice in His temple, or His house?
If as it is, we are the house of God, what must come down in order to be joyful in the courts of our God?
Attitudes, doubt, unbelief, and unthankful-ness do.
So many (deceptively) wait for the outward in order to change their thinking. They’ve be taught naturally speaking in natural mindedness, we’re all born into naturally, that the outward will change the heart feelings inwardly.
Listen, the struggles on the outward are our opportunities to be the Holy House of God the place His glory dwells in, buildings on earth.
1 Peter 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Again I write, the outward is not what God is interested in developing in us. He’s a God of the heart, of the heart issues, out of the heart flow the true issues of life! He is into using the outward that comes, that already is, to purify the inward heart issues.
My Peace I give unto Thee, not as the world gives, give I unto Thee.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
It is not the desire of the Lord that we continue to think we just can’t wait to be taken away from here and brought straight to heaven, where the present problems go away, so we can get out and escape the present situations.
God is glorified in the fact that the midst of whatever, we are well in spirit, soul and body. We choose Him, we choose wellness, even when the outward is dark on all sides.
If it is well, if we are able, through Christ, to be made well and be made whole, and even be restored inside of chaos, in this He is glorified. That inside of a dark place, we can be made into light, and actually have light shine and enlighten us. In that place of reliance of faith and trust, He is made known, there He is greatly glorified, lifted up and exalted on high.
This is not a magic appointment made for us or a wad randomly waved over us, as appointed to blessings. It is for those who choose to believe in His power alive in them to overcome.
Our Father is glorified when a dead stick brings forth buds, which bring forth fruit.
What joy God has when His children choose to really believe Him and in any and every thing they rejoice in their faith in Him. What glory He receives from the children He has, arising in the power He’s provided and has been inviting them to partake in, for their earth journey. He receives honor when they live as He has made plans and provision for them to live, by faith in Him in.
How can a valley be a spring? Does it miraculously change into a spring? Or was it ever really a valley? Is what we walk through what it is, according to our faith and perceptive perception?
How does one get strong in a weak place? How do the weak become strong? Do supernatural muscles develop? Do their outward trials change? Or do the trails change into tests that they overcome and pass rather than fail?
Decisions, decisions!
Multitudes in the Valley of Decisiveness. We’re all here everyday.
He will.
He did.
I will?
I do?
When Jesus came to the earth, lived, and died, then rose from the dead and ascended to heaven, did the whole system on earth instantly change? Did the government instantly change and from then on to now, have all government systems changed into being righteously ruled?
Why not?
If He fought, and won, and overcame, why has it not physically changed?
He did not come to merely change natural governments, and deal with natural opposition. This will happen, but it was not and is not the prioritial order of His kingdom rule.
He had to deal with the root systems of corruption, change spiritual governments, that man could begin to choose, having the freedom to effect natural governments by being under Divine government.
If freewill man would choose to be governed spiritually speaking from the inside out, the world would change both inwardly and outwardly.
Why else is satan so interested in keeping man distracted and religious and focused on the outward?
If the inward is neglected and never dealt with, there will be no outward change made, no victories won, God will not be exalted on earth.
So, as Jesus said for example, when we love the unlovely, we begin to deal on the inward, on a personal level. If and when each of us deals with the inward on a personal level, we will begin to unify with Him. As enough of us are willing to deal on the inward man and setting up the Divine Government of God there, in the holy temple made without hands, the Temple of God who we are; then the world will begin to be effected without hindrance. His power flowing form the inside of us will be as a river, that will rise and it will build into a strong sweeping current, everything in its pathway will be swept away into it.
This has not really happened in a significant manner yet. Man has been too busy centering on the outward and has followed after deception, being led into thinking that if circumstance changes that is where there will be true peace. This is just NOT so.
Eternal peace is inward, and must happen on the inside first.
Outward peace is not the same as eternal peace. It is more like relief form say taking a pill for a neck ache, the pain leaves for a time, but the pill did not heal or deal with the problem.
World peace is waiting for sons and daughters of the Most High God to allow the inward dealing of the Spirit of Christ.
Once we all get this, watch out darkness, watch out evil, watch out circumstance, the flood waters of His Spirit will break forth!
The earth is waiting for men to allow the words of Christ to live within the true and Holy Temple of God.
Isa 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea.
Hab 2:14 For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.
Why shall they not hurt or harm or destroy? Is it because they don’t touch or approach to touch the righteous?
Or is it because the righteous are fully clothed and covered with the armor and the glory of God, is it because they can take sin upon them and be victorious over it, unaffected by its power over them, its power to take their lives and consume them?
Or is it because they forgive easily and do not hold a grudge? Is it because they bless those who curse, without struggle, and do not judge situations at face value? Is it because they can see beyond people to a greater fight, that of the stealing away of an eternal soul? Is it because they do not take things personally, and they live life as dead men, offering their lives to God continually, not as their own, but as His own (-ership)?
They are unhurt-able in Him. Yes, they make take a lickin’ or two, yes they may be mocked for being and doing good, they may experience loss, or be they may be imprisoned, but their love can never ever be taken, thus they suffer no eternal harm, which is the greatest harm a soul could suffer if allowed. They know this the harm their enemies are looking to inflict upon their lives.
Father make us One in this.
That we would love, that we would keep faith, that we’d believe in Your strength - no matter what. That we’d submit our lives to the inward dealings of God, and unify with others who will do the same, that we’d become a strong community of witness. Father Help us become one’s who exalt Your Holy Name in whatever we are involved in, whatever surprises us, or wherever we go in life.
Ezekiel saw the flood waters of the Spirit flow from the church sanctuary (who we all gathered together as one in Christ are), he then saw these same waters rise up and go outside of the Inner Temple. He saw them begin to fill and heal the earth. The earth needs healing from these waters, where men and women allow God to flow from their insides out.
Isa 66:1 This is what the LORD says: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Could you ever build me a temple as good as that? Could you build a dwelling place for me? (speaking with King David)
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—
John 15:17 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
Matthew 26: 61 "This fellow said, "I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days."
Matthew 27:51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,
John 2:21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body.
Col 1:18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
2 Corinthians 6:16 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
Eph 2:21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,
Romans 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
John 17: 20"I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony. 21My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father—that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me. 22 "I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are—23I in them and you in me, all being perfected into one. Then the world will know that you sent me and will understand that you love them as much as you love me.
Behold we are His dwelling place, the place of long ago he choose to abide in forever, human temples of the Holy Spirit, Temples made without hands.
Matthew 14:58 "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this Temple made with human hands, and in three days I will build another, made without human hands.'"
2 Samuel 7:5 "Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a temple to live in?
Amos 9:11 "On that day I will raise up The tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, And repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, And rebuild it as in the days of old;
Acts 15:16 'After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up;
Do we need to wait till we all get to heaven to rejoice in His temple, or His house?
If as it is, we are the house of God, what must come down in order to be joyful in the courts of our God?
Attitudes, doubt, unbelief, and unthankful-ness do.
So many (deceptively) wait for the outward in order to change their thinking. They’ve be taught naturally speaking in natural mindedness, we’re all born into naturally, that the outward will change the heart feelings inwardly.
Listen, the struggles on the outward are our opportunities to be the Holy House of God the place His glory dwells in, buildings on earth.
1 Peter 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Again I write, the outward is not what God is interested in developing in us. He’s a God of the heart, of the heart issues, out of the heart flow the true issues of life! He is into using the outward that comes, that already is, to purify the inward heart issues.
My Peace I give unto Thee, not as the world gives, give I unto Thee.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
It is not the desire of the Lord that we continue to think we just can’t wait to be taken away from here and brought straight to heaven, where the present problems go away, so we can get out and escape the present situations.
God is glorified in the fact that the midst of whatever, we are well in spirit, soul and body. We choose Him, we choose wellness, even when the outward is dark on all sides.
If it is well, if we are able, through Christ, to be made well and be made whole, and even be restored inside of chaos, in this He is glorified. That inside of a dark place, we can be made into light, and actually have light shine and enlighten us. In that place of reliance of faith and trust, He is made known, there He is greatly glorified, lifted up and exalted on high.
This is not a magic appointment made for us or a wad randomly waved over us, as appointed to blessings. It is for those who choose to believe in His power alive in them to overcome.
Our Father is glorified when a dead stick brings forth buds, which bring forth fruit.
What joy God has when His children choose to really believe Him and in any and every thing they rejoice in their faith in Him. What glory He receives from the children He has, arising in the power He’s provided and has been inviting them to partake in, for their earth journey. He receives honor when they live as He has made plans and provision for them to live, by faith in Him in.
How can a valley be a spring? Does it miraculously change into a spring? Or was it ever really a valley? Is what we walk through what it is, according to our faith and perceptive perception?
How does one get strong in a weak place? How do the weak become strong? Do supernatural muscles develop? Do their outward trials change? Or do the trails change into tests that they overcome and pass rather than fail?
Decisions, decisions!
Multitudes in the Valley of Decisiveness. We’re all here everyday.
He will.
He did.
I will?
I do?
When Jesus came to the earth, lived, and died, then rose from the dead and ascended to heaven, did the whole system on earth instantly change? Did the government instantly change and from then on to now, have all government systems changed into being righteously ruled?
Why not?
If He fought, and won, and overcame, why has it not physically changed?
He did not come to merely change natural governments, and deal with natural opposition. This will happen, but it was not and is not the prioritial order of His kingdom rule.
He had to deal with the root systems of corruption, change spiritual governments, that man could begin to choose, having the freedom to effect natural governments by being under Divine government.
If freewill man would choose to be governed spiritually speaking from the inside out, the world would change both inwardly and outwardly.
Why else is satan so interested in keeping man distracted and religious and focused on the outward?
If the inward is neglected and never dealt with, there will be no outward change made, no victories won, God will not be exalted on earth.
So, as Jesus said for example, when we love the unlovely, we begin to deal on the inward, on a personal level. If and when each of us deals with the inward on a personal level, we will begin to unify with Him. As enough of us are willing to deal on the inward man and setting up the Divine Government of God there, in the holy temple made without hands, the Temple of God who we are; then the world will begin to be effected without hindrance. His power flowing form the inside of us will be as a river, that will rise and it will build into a strong sweeping current, everything in its pathway will be swept away into it.
This has not really happened in a significant manner yet. Man has been too busy centering on the outward and has followed after deception, being led into thinking that if circumstance changes that is where there will be true peace. This is just NOT so.
Eternal peace is inward, and must happen on the inside first.
Outward peace is not the same as eternal peace. It is more like relief form say taking a pill for a neck ache, the pain leaves for a time, but the pill did not heal or deal with the problem.
World peace is waiting for sons and daughters of the Most High God to allow the inward dealing of the Spirit of Christ.
Once we all get this, watch out darkness, watch out evil, watch out circumstance, the flood waters of His Spirit will break forth!
The earth is waiting for men to allow the words of Christ to live within the true and Holy Temple of God.
Isa 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea.
Hab 2:14 For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.
Why shall they not hurt or harm or destroy? Is it because they don’t touch or approach to touch the righteous?
Or is it because the righteous are fully clothed and covered with the armor and the glory of God, is it because they can take sin upon them and be victorious over it, unaffected by its power over them, its power to take their lives and consume them?
Or is it because they forgive easily and do not hold a grudge? Is it because they bless those who curse, without struggle, and do not judge situations at face value? Is it because they can see beyond people to a greater fight, that of the stealing away of an eternal soul? Is it because they do not take things personally, and they live life as dead men, offering their lives to God continually, not as their own, but as His own (-ership)?
They are unhurt-able in Him. Yes, they make take a lickin’ or two, yes they may be mocked for being and doing good, they may experience loss, or be they may be imprisoned, but their love can never ever be taken, thus they suffer no eternal harm, which is the greatest harm a soul could suffer if allowed. They know this the harm their enemies are looking to inflict upon their lives.
Father make us One in this.
That we would love, that we would keep faith, that we’d believe in Your strength - no matter what. That we’d submit our lives to the inward dealings of God, and unify with others who will do the same, that we’d become a strong community of witness. Father Help us become one’s who exalt Your Holy Name in whatever we are involved in, whatever surprises us, or wherever we go in life.
Ezekiel saw the flood waters of the Spirit flow from the church sanctuary (who we all gathered together as one in Christ are), he then saw these same waters rise up and go outside of the Inner Temple. He saw them begin to fill and heal the earth. The earth needs healing from these waters, where men and women allow God to flow from their insides out.
PSALM 84 TODAY
For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah, to be accompanied by a stringed instrument.
1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
2 I long, yes, I faint with longing
to enter the courts of the LORD.
With my whole being, body and soul,
I will shout joyfully to the living God.
3 Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young
at a place near your altar,
O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God!
4 What joy for those who can live in your house,
always singing your praises.
Interlude
5 What joy for those whose strength comes from the LORD,
who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
6 When they walk through the Valley of Weeping,
it will become a place of refreshing springs.
The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.
7 They will continue to grow stronger,
and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.
8 O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies, hear my prayer.
Listen, O God of Jacob.
Interlude
9 O God, look with favor upon the king, our shield!
Show favor to the one you have anointed.
10 A single day in your courts
is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God
than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
11 For the LORD God is our sun and our shield.
He gives us grace and glory.
The LORD will withhold no good thing
from those who do what is right.
12 O LORD of Heaven’s Armies,
what joy for those who trust in you.
1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
2 I long, yes, I faint with longing
to enter the courts of the LORD.
With my whole being, body and soul,
I will shout joyfully to the living God.
3 Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young
at a place near your altar,
O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God!
4 What joy for those who can live in your house,
always singing your praises.
Interlude
5 What joy for those whose strength comes from the LORD,
who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
6 When they walk through the Valley of Weeping,
it will become a place of refreshing springs.
The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.
7 They will continue to grow stronger,
and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.
8 O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies, hear my prayer.
Listen, O God of Jacob.
Interlude
9 O God, look with favor upon the king, our shield!
Show favor to the one you have anointed.
10 A single day in your courts
is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God
than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
11 For the LORD God is our sun and our shield.
He gives us grace and glory.
The LORD will withhold no good thing
from those who do what is right.
12 O LORD of Heaven’s Armies,
what joy for those who trust in you.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Lena Journals to Psalm 72 Today
What is justice?
When one gets what they deserve. Justice -The constant and perpetual disposition to render every man his due.
I’ve heard responses to the hearing of this definition, as “Oh that is good, really good, that way I’ll get what I really deserve!”
Wait a precious moment there, let me tell you, no matter how good you’ve thought you’ve been in life, or how much you’ve given to others, you DO NOT want to get what you deserve!
Seriously.
Romans 3:23 says to us, ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (or of the responsibility due to God)
There’s a glory due His wonderful and highly exalted name. (The name Jesus paid for our sins with, to have us be able to receive Him and have the ability to be responsible to come to know and submit our lives to Him in.)
If at all I were found guilty of was either sinning, or of taking and using His name wrongly, or of not regarding His name at all, and I were given justice due His name, I’d be up in smoke forever. BUT, if I have believed Him, and in His work available to me, and live for His kingdom to come now and forever, I can stand before His justice uprightly and without fear.
In Him, no fear- except of Him and keeping unto His.
Outside of Him great fear and dread.
grace = getting what you don’t deserve
mercy = NOT getting what you deserve
justice = getting what you deserve
These are so good to really think about.
Have you ever gotten what you do not deserve? Forgiveness is a grand example of this. To be forgiven a debt or the payment of a wrong done, is an amazing feeling. I love to see the sense a person has when they work so hard to diligently pay something off and a grace comes and says, forget it, it is finished, done! WOW!
THAT is something to make one jump and shout and whirl about, and be thankful in heart. It is also a time when the enemy comes to offer us pride once again, for that which humbled or humiliated us was forgiven, it’s no longer held to our account. We must watch and offer the same grace to others, or we’ll find ourselves in a worse state if we cannot or will not turn and extend what was given us so freely to others!
What about mercy?
I flubbed up bad, I should have to pay, and no one requires it of me. What a feeling of love would fill my heart, an attitude of gratitude can increase my value in a gift so freely given in my life.
God has so freely offered us to stand before Him in all 3: Grace , Mercy, and Justice! Are we oh so thankful? Do we realize the high price He paid so lovingly and so freely, for us to have these so readily available to us?
Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.
Psalm 115:16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's; But the earth He has given to the children of men.
We are stewards of His glory (responsibility & burden of God’s heart, what weighs heavy on His heart), of His possessions (not to be mistaken as physical possessions, but possessional treasure is people, most of all people - If one ever is concerned for the stewardship of things above people, they have missed it! Wrong turn, turn around now, quickly, and begin to nurture people at the expense of a few things.)
He has given stewardship of the earth to us! Through grace, mercy, and justice. What are we doing with it and about it?
This is NOT an environmentalist speech, this is about ETERNAL stewardship. It is about saving the souls of men and raising children and disciples to love God and love people to the saving of souls during the allotted time frame that we/they have here as stewards of God’s green earth.
Who do you think He’ll use to deliver some?
To save some?
To heal some?
To set some free?
To help some?
To rescue some?
(Of any who want to be rescued….?)
Remember -
Grace-When you Get What you Don't Deserve
Mercy-When you Don't Get What you Deserve
Justice-When you Get What you Deserve
When one gets what they deserve. Justice -The constant and perpetual disposition to render every man his due.
I’ve heard responses to the hearing of this definition, as “Oh that is good, really good, that way I’ll get what I really deserve!”
Wait a precious moment there, let me tell you, no matter how good you’ve thought you’ve been in life, or how much you’ve given to others, you DO NOT want to get what you deserve!
Seriously.
Romans 3:23 says to us, ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (or of the responsibility due to God)
There’s a glory due His wonderful and highly exalted name. (The name Jesus paid for our sins with, to have us be able to receive Him and have the ability to be responsible to come to know and submit our lives to Him in.)
If at all I were found guilty of was either sinning, or of taking and using His name wrongly, or of not regarding His name at all, and I were given justice due His name, I’d be up in smoke forever. BUT, if I have believed Him, and in His work available to me, and live for His kingdom to come now and forever, I can stand before His justice uprightly and without fear.
In Him, no fear- except of Him and keeping unto His.
Outside of Him great fear and dread.
grace = getting what you don’t deserve
mercy = NOT getting what you deserve
justice = getting what you deserve
These are so good to really think about.
Have you ever gotten what you do not deserve? Forgiveness is a grand example of this. To be forgiven a debt or the payment of a wrong done, is an amazing feeling. I love to see the sense a person has when they work so hard to diligently pay something off and a grace comes and says, forget it, it is finished, done! WOW!
THAT is something to make one jump and shout and whirl about, and be thankful in heart. It is also a time when the enemy comes to offer us pride once again, for that which humbled or humiliated us was forgiven, it’s no longer held to our account. We must watch and offer the same grace to others, or we’ll find ourselves in a worse state if we cannot or will not turn and extend what was given us so freely to others!
What about mercy?
I flubbed up bad, I should have to pay, and no one requires it of me. What a feeling of love would fill my heart, an attitude of gratitude can increase my value in a gift so freely given in my life.
God has so freely offered us to stand before Him in all 3: Grace , Mercy, and Justice! Are we oh so thankful? Do we realize the high price He paid so lovingly and so freely, for us to have these so readily available to us?
Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.
Psalm 115:16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's; But the earth He has given to the children of men.
We are stewards of His glory (responsibility & burden of God’s heart, what weighs heavy on His heart), of His possessions (not to be mistaken as physical possessions, but possessional treasure is people, most of all people - If one ever is concerned for the stewardship of things above people, they have missed it! Wrong turn, turn around now, quickly, and begin to nurture people at the expense of a few things.)
He has given stewardship of the earth to us! Through grace, mercy, and justice. What are we doing with it and about it?
This is NOT an environmentalist speech, this is about ETERNAL stewardship. It is about saving the souls of men and raising children and disciples to love God and love people to the saving of souls during the allotted time frame that we/they have here as stewards of God’s green earth.
Who do you think He’ll use to deliver some?
To save some?
To heal some?
To set some free?
To help some?
To rescue some?
(Of any who want to be rescued….?)
Remember -
Grace-When you Get What you Don't Deserve
Mercy-When you Don't Get What you Deserve
Justice-When you Get What you Deserve
Psalm 72 Today
Of Solomon.
1 Endow the king with your justice, O God,
the royal son with your righteousness.
2 He will [a] judge your people in righteousness,
your afflicted ones with justice.
3 The mountains will bring prosperity to the people,
the hills the fruit of righteousness.
4 He will defend the afflicted among the people
and save the children of the needy;
he will crush the oppressor.
5 He will endure [b] as long as the sun,
as long as the moon, through all generations.
6 He will be like rain falling on a mown field,
like showers watering the earth.
7 In his days the righteous will flourish;
prosperity will abound till the moon is no more.
8 He will rule from sea to sea
and from the River [c] to the ends of the earth. [d]
9 The desert tribes will bow before him
and his enemies will lick the dust.
10 The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores
will bring tribute to him;
the kings of Sheba and Seba
will present him gifts.
11 All kings will bow down to him
and all nations will serve him.
12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
the afflicted who have no one to help.
13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy
and save the needy from death.
14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence,
for precious is their blood in his sight.
15 Long may he live!
May gold from Sheba be given him.
May people ever pray for him
and bless him all day long.
16 Let grain abound throughout the land;
on the tops of the hills may it sway.
Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon;
let it thrive like the grass of the field.
17 May his name endure forever;
may it continue as long as the sun.
All nations will be blessed through him,
and they will call him blessed.
18 Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel,
who alone does marvelous deeds.
19 Praise be to his glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen and Amen.
20 This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.
Footnotes:
Psalm 72:2 Or May he; similarly in verses 3-11 and 17
Psalm 72:5 Septuagint; Hebrew You will be feared
Psalm 72:8 That is, the Euphrates
Psalm 72:8 Or the end of the land
1 Endow the king with your justice, O God,
the royal son with your righteousness.
2 He will [a] judge your people in righteousness,
your afflicted ones with justice.
3 The mountains will bring prosperity to the people,
the hills the fruit of righteousness.
4 He will defend the afflicted among the people
and save the children of the needy;
he will crush the oppressor.
5 He will endure [b] as long as the sun,
as long as the moon, through all generations.
6 He will be like rain falling on a mown field,
like showers watering the earth.
7 In his days the righteous will flourish;
prosperity will abound till the moon is no more.
8 He will rule from sea to sea
and from the River [c] to the ends of the earth. [d]
9 The desert tribes will bow before him
and his enemies will lick the dust.
10 The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores
will bring tribute to him;
the kings of Sheba and Seba
will present him gifts.
11 All kings will bow down to him
and all nations will serve him.
12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
the afflicted who have no one to help.
13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy
and save the needy from death.
14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence,
for precious is their blood in his sight.
15 Long may he live!
May gold from Sheba be given him.
May people ever pray for him
and bless him all day long.
16 Let grain abound throughout the land;
on the tops of the hills may it sway.
Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon;
let it thrive like the grass of the field.
17 May his name endure forever;
may it continue as long as the sun.
All nations will be blessed through him,
and they will call him blessed.
18 Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel,
who alone does marvelous deeds.
19 Praise be to his glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen and Amen.
20 This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.
Footnotes:
Psalm 72:2 Or May he; similarly in verses 3-11 and 17
Psalm 72:5 Septuagint; Hebrew You will be feared
Psalm 72:8 That is, the Euphrates
Psalm 72:8 Or the end of the land
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Lena's Journalin' to Psalm 68 Today
Is it just automatic to see that which would lead one to participate in giving praises to God? Not at all. In fact, there is another vying for us to never give any acknowledgement of praises to God as Most High to us personally. In fact, his aim is the opposite, to disregard God worthy of our praises so that we will rather praise the praise due to God over to him, because he’s been successful in talking us into withholding what is due God.
Be aware the enemy of God and of our souls works in the seen realm. He’s good at convincing us that if we do not see it, it does not exist. He tries to play on our human senses and talks us into believing what we are not able, or may even never physically see, is not really real.
May I ask a silly question here? About 100 years ago, were you seen? I don’t think you were, but are you real?
How about technology, about 100 years ago there were no computer systems available to us to work on the internet and communicate together, does that mean it is not real? Ya know the people born before the 100 years could have been given this idea by God and it would have been quite foreign a thought to them. They had a natural choice back then, to regard it as impossibility, or to consider it by faith. There could have even been men or women back then who “saw” it, but did not know how to explain it or go about it, they may have believed it could be made, but they also may have passed on from this life, never ever seeing the likes of a day we are now in, where we have these machines in our own homes!
Just because we do not see it, does not mean it is not “there”. Where does every new thing come from?
I don’t see peace in my life, is it still possible and even available? That depends, on who you listen to and who’s words you mediate on.
Contentment is a choice. One can be content in ANY, yes I said that…ANY situation. Circumstances DO NOT dictate peace or contentment!
WHAT?
Right, in Christ our contentment and our peace lie in our belief and our love for God.
I bet God is very sad when He looks down upon His people, people who say they love and so appreciate Him, when they are so unhappy and discontented, blaming it all on every situation.
I had a dear friend say to me, things just have to get better than they presently are. As the friend stated this I had a comment rise up form my spirit man. I asked, “What if it (the present circumstance) never gets better, and it only gets worse?”
If that is the case, we should ask ourselves, will we always dwell in misery, depression, be ill at ease in body, soul & spirit, or will we LET GOD ARISE?
Who “lets” God arise inside of us?
We do
Who allows the LORD Jesus Christ, the anointed One, who came to out rightly destroy the power of every yoke of bondage in my life to tell me if I’m content or whether I’m at peace or not?
I do. You do.
Do you realize what God is here as this great revelatory part of our lives? If we come to know Him for who He is, He is our all sufficient One, our all in all. He does not necessarily intend to take us out of pain-filled situations, necessarily, and is not choosing to take us away from tyrannical rulers who are presently over us, and does not desire for us to just remove ourselves from the situations and make us hermits in life?
We are in the world and He’d like us to stay here and show others how to overcome inside of the same situations they are presently living in, situations that they may never be able to physically change or escape. The point is to be IN, stay IN and overcome with Him.
Is He great enough to arise in our lives, however hard, however things are set up, to be who and what we need without changing the situations?
Jesus clearly prayed to the Father for us. Father DO NOT take them out of the world, help make it clear in them that they are IN but not OF this world….
They don’t have to be miserable in miserable situations, they don’t have to curse those who curse them. They don’t have to pay people back for bringing pain on their lives., they don’t have to give back evil for evil, but they can willingly love the unlovely, they can bless the cursed, live in a storm and take authority over situations and circumstances through submission to the love of God which was freely given in Christ Jesus.
You do realize our enemies who scatter and flee away from us are NOT people, right?
The enemies He helps us so easily defeat are the one inside of our heads that yield to a wrong or deceptive spirit. The one that tempts us to hatred and strife with those who are seemingly contending with us.
The victory is to love and allow that blessing to fight for us, rather than us fighting for our peace ourselves. The victory is that there is quite the storm, but I’m not plowed down in spirit and soul, unrecoverable and brought down to a depressed state by what just went down. I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I speak to and ride through the storm, going to the other side of it, still in love with God and not measuring His love or favor of me on the storm coming or not coming towards me. The enemy uses this all the time, “if God really loved you, you wouldn’t even be in this storm!” THAT is an outright lie!
Jesus was in a storm, was tempted in every way, like me and more, was threatened, cursed, mocked, beaten, hated, scrutinized….all in a 3 year period! Why do I feel I need to escape any tests of my genuine faith in God? These tests are to prove me and see if I really am who I say I am.
In the world, you shall have tribulations, be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.
That is saying, you being in and not of, will show when you go through it all and come out with the love of God intact and your faith in Him kept holy unto Him. When you can and will praise anyway, when you can sleep and rest, even when it seems all hell is against your life. You trust completely in Him. The Lord Jehovah is your shield, your mighty fortress. He is your place of escape, without leaving. WOW, huh?
We choose to be at ease or diseased, it is all according to our faith, it is all according to the level of trust we walk in. Do we believe God is for us? Why so downcast, Oh my soul? Put your hope in God! Not that the situation will change, though that is always nice, but that you are able to retain your wholeness and become stronger inside of whatever comes your way, for we serve an awesome and a terrible God, and He is so proud of those who truly trust in Him, He arises for such as these who choose praise anyway.
This part about God placing the solitary in families, does not necessarily mean He will give you a perfectly modeled family as one imagines, a husband, wife and 2.5 American children.
No, you may be and feel alone, (this can even be a sense one has within a family unit), and you come to know God as Father, Jesus as brother, and the Holy Spirit as the Comforter of Your soul. You realize there is something much more eternal here on earth than that model picture, it is called the Body of Christ. You find where you never felt you belonged, you have been adopted by the choice of the One who could NOT resist having you in their family! You find as you lay what seemed like nothingness into the melting pot of the corporate expression of God as Father, Son and Spirit, and you begin to model this in the earth, you live by faith, not by the sight of the broken model, you are who you are in Him. In Him is all that matters, every other matter is so passing, so temporary, you enter into heaven’s model while on earth. You join yourself to the Lordship of Christ and engage your life as One with the only way He’s chosen to bring His kingdom rule to pass on earth, through His body.
I’ve seen many a person get angry at this passage and almost hold it in God’s face, like Your promised, I’d have a natural family. That dream, of a natural family, which God so wants you to have, needs to be offered as seed into the engagement of His body. Let it die, don’t be angry with God, don’t shake your fist at Him. He is for you, not against you. Are you for Him and His work?
It says the rebellious dwell in a parched land. If your land is parched, there is one way out- repent! Come back under the rain of revelation, that who and what you are is not based on natural situations, not anymore, if you now love and serve Christ!
Who sings the praises of God in the midst of the enemy plight? Kings and priests unto God Most High do, just because they choose to. If you can know it, that is who you are! The robes are awaiting those who so desire them, and He will not make them wear what they do not know or desire to wear. One must rise up decisively and put these robes of righteous living on themselves if they so choose. Praise is as a garment, we put it on or willingly take it off to wear another type of clothes, which would be sackcloth with ashes, - it says, woe is me, look at my bad world, I don’t see that my god is great enough to help me out of the thinking I’ve had in these situations. Look at me, I want more help from people than I believe I can get from God. I’d like people to attend to me more, it’s easier that way, to have people love and serve me, than it is to love and serve them as I serve an unseen God.
I love the stories of people like Corrie Ten Boone & Job. They were give to us by God to show us, if one is in a bad place who are they, while in a bad place, can they have peace? Can they see or willingly praise God anyway? This is our lives choices right now, today.
Ya know He is Mighty to save. Mountains even bow before Him.
There’s a certain connecting power that bring heaven to earth for us. It is called faith, hope, and love with obedient action.
Has that power arisen in you today?
If not, why not?
Do you sleep well? If not, why not?
Who has your peace? Who IS your peace?
Are you of or in and Not of, this world and the pull?
Be aware the enemy of God and of our souls works in the seen realm. He’s good at convincing us that if we do not see it, it does not exist. He tries to play on our human senses and talks us into believing what we are not able, or may even never physically see, is not really real.
May I ask a silly question here? About 100 years ago, were you seen? I don’t think you were, but are you real?
How about technology, about 100 years ago there were no computer systems available to us to work on the internet and communicate together, does that mean it is not real? Ya know the people born before the 100 years could have been given this idea by God and it would have been quite foreign a thought to them. They had a natural choice back then, to regard it as impossibility, or to consider it by faith. There could have even been men or women back then who “saw” it, but did not know how to explain it or go about it, they may have believed it could be made, but they also may have passed on from this life, never ever seeing the likes of a day we are now in, where we have these machines in our own homes!
Just because we do not see it, does not mean it is not “there”. Where does every new thing come from?
I don’t see peace in my life, is it still possible and even available? That depends, on who you listen to and who’s words you mediate on.
Contentment is a choice. One can be content in ANY, yes I said that…ANY situation. Circumstances DO NOT dictate peace or contentment!
WHAT?
Right, in Christ our contentment and our peace lie in our belief and our love for God.
I bet God is very sad when He looks down upon His people, people who say they love and so appreciate Him, when they are so unhappy and discontented, blaming it all on every situation.
I had a dear friend say to me, things just have to get better than they presently are. As the friend stated this I had a comment rise up form my spirit man. I asked, “What if it (the present circumstance) never gets better, and it only gets worse?”
If that is the case, we should ask ourselves, will we always dwell in misery, depression, be ill at ease in body, soul & spirit, or will we LET GOD ARISE?
Who “lets” God arise inside of us?
We do
Who allows the LORD Jesus Christ, the anointed One, who came to out rightly destroy the power of every yoke of bondage in my life to tell me if I’m content or whether I’m at peace or not?
I do. You do.
Do you realize what God is here as this great revelatory part of our lives? If we come to know Him for who He is, He is our all sufficient One, our all in all. He does not necessarily intend to take us out of pain-filled situations, necessarily, and is not choosing to take us away from tyrannical rulers who are presently over us, and does not desire for us to just remove ourselves from the situations and make us hermits in life?
We are in the world and He’d like us to stay here and show others how to overcome inside of the same situations they are presently living in, situations that they may never be able to physically change or escape. The point is to be IN, stay IN and overcome with Him.
Is He great enough to arise in our lives, however hard, however things are set up, to be who and what we need without changing the situations?
Jesus clearly prayed to the Father for us. Father DO NOT take them out of the world, help make it clear in them that they are IN but not OF this world….
They don’t have to be miserable in miserable situations, they don’t have to curse those who curse them. They don’t have to pay people back for bringing pain on their lives., they don’t have to give back evil for evil, but they can willingly love the unlovely, they can bless the cursed, live in a storm and take authority over situations and circumstances through submission to the love of God which was freely given in Christ Jesus.
You do realize our enemies who scatter and flee away from us are NOT people, right?
The enemies He helps us so easily defeat are the one inside of our heads that yield to a wrong or deceptive spirit. The one that tempts us to hatred and strife with those who are seemingly contending with us.
The victory is to love and allow that blessing to fight for us, rather than us fighting for our peace ourselves. The victory is that there is quite the storm, but I’m not plowed down in spirit and soul, unrecoverable and brought down to a depressed state by what just went down. I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I speak to and ride through the storm, going to the other side of it, still in love with God and not measuring His love or favor of me on the storm coming or not coming towards me. The enemy uses this all the time, “if God really loved you, you wouldn’t even be in this storm!” THAT is an outright lie!
Jesus was in a storm, was tempted in every way, like me and more, was threatened, cursed, mocked, beaten, hated, scrutinized….all in a 3 year period! Why do I feel I need to escape any tests of my genuine faith in God? These tests are to prove me and see if I really am who I say I am.
In the world, you shall have tribulations, be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.
That is saying, you being in and not of, will show when you go through it all and come out with the love of God intact and your faith in Him kept holy unto Him. When you can and will praise anyway, when you can sleep and rest, even when it seems all hell is against your life. You trust completely in Him. The Lord Jehovah is your shield, your mighty fortress. He is your place of escape, without leaving. WOW, huh?
We choose to be at ease or diseased, it is all according to our faith, it is all according to the level of trust we walk in. Do we believe God is for us? Why so downcast, Oh my soul? Put your hope in God! Not that the situation will change, though that is always nice, but that you are able to retain your wholeness and become stronger inside of whatever comes your way, for we serve an awesome and a terrible God, and He is so proud of those who truly trust in Him, He arises for such as these who choose praise anyway.
This part about God placing the solitary in families, does not necessarily mean He will give you a perfectly modeled family as one imagines, a husband, wife and 2.5 American children.
No, you may be and feel alone, (this can even be a sense one has within a family unit), and you come to know God as Father, Jesus as brother, and the Holy Spirit as the Comforter of Your soul. You realize there is something much more eternal here on earth than that model picture, it is called the Body of Christ. You find where you never felt you belonged, you have been adopted by the choice of the One who could NOT resist having you in their family! You find as you lay what seemed like nothingness into the melting pot of the corporate expression of God as Father, Son and Spirit, and you begin to model this in the earth, you live by faith, not by the sight of the broken model, you are who you are in Him. In Him is all that matters, every other matter is so passing, so temporary, you enter into heaven’s model while on earth. You join yourself to the Lordship of Christ and engage your life as One with the only way He’s chosen to bring His kingdom rule to pass on earth, through His body.
I’ve seen many a person get angry at this passage and almost hold it in God’s face, like Your promised, I’d have a natural family. That dream, of a natural family, which God so wants you to have, needs to be offered as seed into the engagement of His body. Let it die, don’t be angry with God, don’t shake your fist at Him. He is for you, not against you. Are you for Him and His work?
It says the rebellious dwell in a parched land. If your land is parched, there is one way out- repent! Come back under the rain of revelation, that who and what you are is not based on natural situations, not anymore, if you now love and serve Christ!
Who sings the praises of God in the midst of the enemy plight? Kings and priests unto God Most High do, just because they choose to. If you can know it, that is who you are! The robes are awaiting those who so desire them, and He will not make them wear what they do not know or desire to wear. One must rise up decisively and put these robes of righteous living on themselves if they so choose. Praise is as a garment, we put it on or willingly take it off to wear another type of clothes, which would be sackcloth with ashes, - it says, woe is me, look at my bad world, I don’t see that my god is great enough to help me out of the thinking I’ve had in these situations. Look at me, I want more help from people than I believe I can get from God. I’d like people to attend to me more, it’s easier that way, to have people love and serve me, than it is to love and serve them as I serve an unseen God.
I love the stories of people like Corrie Ten Boone & Job. They were give to us by God to show us, if one is in a bad place who are they, while in a bad place, can they have peace? Can they see or willingly praise God anyway? This is our lives choices right now, today.
Ya know He is Mighty to save. Mountains even bow before Him.
There’s a certain connecting power that bring heaven to earth for us. It is called faith, hope, and love with obedient action.
Has that power arisen in you today?
If not, why not?
Do you sleep well? If not, why not?
Who has your peace? Who IS your peace?
Are you of or in and Not of, this world and the pull?
Psalm 68 Today's Daily Bread
God Shall Scatter His Enemies
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song.
1God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;
and those who hate him shall flee before him!
2As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;
as wax melts before fire,
so the wicked shall perish before God!
3But the righteous shall be glad;
they shall exult before God;
they shall be jubilant with joy!
4Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;
his name is the LORD;
exult before him!
5Father of the fatherless and protector of widows
is God in his holy habitation.
6God settles the solitary in a home;
he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
7O God, when you went out before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness,
Selah
8the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,
before God, the One of Sinai,
before God, the God of Israel.
9Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad;
you restored your inheritance as it languished;
10your flock[a] found a dwelling in it;
in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
11The Lord gives the word;
the women who announce the news are a great host:
12"The kings of the armies--they flee, they flee!"
The women at home divide the spoil--
13though you men lie among the sheepfolds--
the wings of a dove covered with silver,
its pinions with shimmering gold.
14When the Almighty scatters kings there,
let snow fall on Zalmon.
15O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan;
O many-peaked[b] mountain, mountain of Bashan!
16Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain,
at the mount that God desired for his abode,
yes, where the LORD will dwell forever?
17The chariots of God are twice ten thousand,
thousands upon thousands;
the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.
18You ascended on high,
leading a host of captives in your train
and receiving gifts among men,
even among the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there.
19Blessed be the Lord,
who daily bears us up;
God is our salvation.
Selah
20Our God is a God of salvation,
and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.
21But God will strike the heads of his enemies,
the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways.
22The Lord said,
"I will bring them back from Bashan,
I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
23that you may strike your feet in their blood,
that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe."
24Your procession is[c] seen, O God,
the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary--
25the singers in front, the musicians last,
between them virgins playing tambourines:
26"Bless God in the great congregation,
the LORD, O you[d] who are of Israel's fountain!"
27There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead,
the princes of Judah in their throng,
the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
28Summon your power, O God,[e]
the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.
29Because of your temple at Jerusalem
kings shall bear gifts to you.
30Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds,
the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples.
Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute;
scatter the peoples who delight in war.[f]
31Nobles shall come from Egypt;
Cush shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God.
32O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;
sing praises to the Lord,
Selah
33to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
34Ascribe power to God,
whose majesty is over Israel,
and whose power is in the skies.
35Awesome is God from his[g] sanctuary;
the God of Israel--he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God!
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song.
1God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;
and those who hate him shall flee before him!
2As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;
as wax melts before fire,
so the wicked shall perish before God!
3But the righteous shall be glad;
they shall exult before God;
they shall be jubilant with joy!
4Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;
his name is the LORD;
exult before him!
5Father of the fatherless and protector of widows
is God in his holy habitation.
6God settles the solitary in a home;
he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
7O God, when you went out before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness,
Selah
8the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,
before God, the One of Sinai,
before God, the God of Israel.
9Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad;
you restored your inheritance as it languished;
10your flock[a] found a dwelling in it;
in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
11The Lord gives the word;
the women who announce the news are a great host:
12"The kings of the armies--they flee, they flee!"
The women at home divide the spoil--
13though you men lie among the sheepfolds--
the wings of a dove covered with silver,
its pinions with shimmering gold.
14When the Almighty scatters kings there,
let snow fall on Zalmon.
15O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan;
O many-peaked[b] mountain, mountain of Bashan!
16Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain,
at the mount that God desired for his abode,
yes, where the LORD will dwell forever?
17The chariots of God are twice ten thousand,
thousands upon thousands;
the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.
18You ascended on high,
leading a host of captives in your train
and receiving gifts among men,
even among the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there.
19Blessed be the Lord,
who daily bears us up;
God is our salvation.
Selah
20Our God is a God of salvation,
and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.
21But God will strike the heads of his enemies,
the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways.
22The Lord said,
"I will bring them back from Bashan,
I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
23that you may strike your feet in their blood,
that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe."
24Your procession is[c] seen, O God,
the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary--
25the singers in front, the musicians last,
between them virgins playing tambourines:
26"Bless God in the great congregation,
the LORD, O you[d] who are of Israel's fountain!"
27There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead,
the princes of Judah in their throng,
the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
28Summon your power, O God,[e]
the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.
29Because of your temple at Jerusalem
kings shall bear gifts to you.
30Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds,
the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples.
Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute;
scatter the peoples who delight in war.[f]
31Nobles shall come from Egypt;
Cush shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God.
32O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;
sing praises to the Lord,
Selah
33to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
34Ascribe power to God,
whose majesty is over Israel,
and whose power is in the skies.
35Awesome is God from his[g] sanctuary;
the God of Israel--he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God!
Friday, April 13, 2007
Lena's Journalin Today
Who?
BUT GOD MOST HIGH!
God is Great, and Greatly to be praised!
He is the King over ALL the Universe, and its vastness is guided by His very words, the very same words which are alive as they live in me!
All it takes for a human to have the power of God within is obedient yielding, an acceptance of an invitation to do and be.
It amazes me with all the Universal power of God Most High, that a mere human will can halt His blessings extended towards them forever!
It is all contained in the “want to’s”. Even a young child will say to his or her mother or father, ”I don’t want to”.
What exactly is it we do not want to do?
Follow the Creator of the whole universe?
Trust and rely on whatever He says, using the same words He made heaven and earth and all Creation within it?
Believe in what we do not see, though all the evidences are here, right on earth, and in the visible heavens?
Care to do what we deem is hard, living for, and as, another?
Lay down our own wills, on purpose?
God has given us such power!
He is so brave to risk giving it to those who may not choose to use it to bring Him more and more glory.
The glory of the Lord in man is a man who gives who and what he is to the use of God!
That IS THE glory due His name.
Oh that man would be willing to obey, and would choose to give His life to the King!
Oh that man would change his want to’s on purpose to serve the greatest purpose of all, the universal will of the Creator Father.
Oh that man would tell His mind what to think, than to all his mind to tell him what to believe!
BUT GOD MOST HIGH!
God is Great, and Greatly to be praised!
He is the King over ALL the Universe, and its vastness is guided by His very words, the very same words which are alive as they live in me!
All it takes for a human to have the power of God within is obedient yielding, an acceptance of an invitation to do and be.
It amazes me with all the Universal power of God Most High, that a mere human will can halt His blessings extended towards them forever!
It is all contained in the “want to’s”. Even a young child will say to his or her mother or father, ”I don’t want to”.
What exactly is it we do not want to do?
Follow the Creator of the whole universe?
Trust and rely on whatever He says, using the same words He made heaven and earth and all Creation within it?
Believe in what we do not see, though all the evidences are here, right on earth, and in the visible heavens?
Care to do what we deem is hard, living for, and as, another?
Lay down our own wills, on purpose?
God has given us such power!
He is so brave to risk giving it to those who may not choose to use it to bring Him more and more glory.
The glory of the Lord in man is a man who gives who and what he is to the use of God!
That IS THE glory due His name.
Oh that man would be willing to obey, and would choose to give His life to the King!
Oh that man would change his want to’s on purpose to serve the greatest purpose of all, the universal will of the Creator Father.
Oh that man would tell His mind what to think, than to all his mind to tell him what to believe!
Job 38 Today
Job 38
The Lord Challenges Job
1 Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:
2 “Who is this that questions my wisdom
with such ignorant words?
3 Brace yourself like a man,
because I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell me, if you know so much.
5 Who determined its dimensions
and stretched out the surveying line?
6 What supports its foundations,
and who laid its cornerstone
7 as the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?
8 “Who kept the sea inside its boundaries
as it burst from the womb,
9 and as I clothed it with clouds
and wrapped it in thick darkness?
10 For I locked it behind barred gates,
limiting its shores.
11 I said, ‘This far and no farther will you come.
Here your proud waves must stop!’
12 “Have you ever commanded the morning to appear
and caused the dawn to rise in the east?
13 Have you made daylight spread to the ends of the earth,
to bring an end to the night’s wickedness?
14 As the light approaches,
the earth takes shape like clay pressed beneath a seal;
it is robed in brilliant colors.
15 The light disturbs the wicked
and stops the arm that is raised in violence.
16 “Have you explored the springs from which the seas come?
Have you explored their depths?
17 Do you know where the gates of death are located?
Have you seen the gates of utter gloom?
18 Do you realize the extent of the earth?
Tell me about it if you know!
19 “Where does light come from,
and where does darkness go?
20 Can you take each to its home?
Do you know how to get there?
21 But of course you know all this!
For you were born before it was all created,
and you are so very experienced!
22 “Have you visited the storehouses of the snow
or seen the storehouses of hail?
23 (I have reserved them as weapons for the time of trouble,
for the day of battle and war.)
24 Where is the path to the source of light?
Where is the home of the east wind?
25 “Who created a channel for the torrents of rain?
Who laid out the path for the lightning?
26 Who makes the rain fall on barren land,
in a desert where no one lives?
27 Who sends rain to satisfy the parched ground
and make the tender grass spring up?
28 “Does the rain have a father?
Who gives birth to the dew?
29 Who is the mother of the ice?
Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens?
30 For the water turns to ice as hard as rock,
and the surface of the water freezes.
31 “Can you direct the movement of the stars—
binding the cluster of the Pleiades
or loosening the cords of Orion?
32 Can you direct the sequence of the seasons
or guide the Bear with her cubs across the heavens?
33 Do you know the laws of the universe?
Can you use them to regulate the earth?
34 “Can you shout to the clouds
and make it rain?
35 Can you make lightning appear
and cause it to strike as you direct?
36 Who gives intuition to the heart
and instinct to the mind?
37 Who is wise enough to count all the clouds?
Who can tilt the water jars of heaven
38 when the parched ground is dry
and the soil has hardened into clods?
39 “Can you stalk prey for a lioness
and satisfy the young lions’ appetites
40 as they lie in their dens
or crouch in the thicket?
41 Who provides food for the ravens
when their young cry out to God
and wander about in hunger?
The Lord Challenges Job
1 Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:
2 “Who is this that questions my wisdom
with such ignorant words?
3 Brace yourself like a man,
because I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell me, if you know so much.
5 Who determined its dimensions
and stretched out the surveying line?
6 What supports its foundations,
and who laid its cornerstone
7 as the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?
8 “Who kept the sea inside its boundaries
as it burst from the womb,
9 and as I clothed it with clouds
and wrapped it in thick darkness?
10 For I locked it behind barred gates,
limiting its shores.
11 I said, ‘This far and no farther will you come.
Here your proud waves must stop!’
12 “Have you ever commanded the morning to appear
and caused the dawn to rise in the east?
13 Have you made daylight spread to the ends of the earth,
to bring an end to the night’s wickedness?
14 As the light approaches,
the earth takes shape like clay pressed beneath a seal;
it is robed in brilliant colors.
15 The light disturbs the wicked
and stops the arm that is raised in violence.
16 “Have you explored the springs from which the seas come?
Have you explored their depths?
17 Do you know where the gates of death are located?
Have you seen the gates of utter gloom?
18 Do you realize the extent of the earth?
Tell me about it if you know!
19 “Where does light come from,
and where does darkness go?
20 Can you take each to its home?
Do you know how to get there?
21 But of course you know all this!
For you were born before it was all created,
and you are so very experienced!
22 “Have you visited the storehouses of the snow
or seen the storehouses of hail?
23 (I have reserved them as weapons for the time of trouble,
for the day of battle and war.)
24 Where is the path to the source of light?
Where is the home of the east wind?
25 “Who created a channel for the torrents of rain?
Who laid out the path for the lightning?
26 Who makes the rain fall on barren land,
in a desert where no one lives?
27 Who sends rain to satisfy the parched ground
and make the tender grass spring up?
28 “Does the rain have a father?
Who gives birth to the dew?
29 Who is the mother of the ice?
Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens?
30 For the water turns to ice as hard as rock,
and the surface of the water freezes.
31 “Can you direct the movement of the stars—
binding the cluster of the Pleiades
or loosening the cords of Orion?
32 Can you direct the sequence of the seasons
or guide the Bear with her cubs across the heavens?
33 Do you know the laws of the universe?
Can you use them to regulate the earth?
34 “Can you shout to the clouds
and make it rain?
35 Can you make lightning appear
and cause it to strike as you direct?
36 Who gives intuition to the heart
and instinct to the mind?
37 Who is wise enough to count all the clouds?
Who can tilt the water jars of heaven
38 when the parched ground is dry
and the soil has hardened into clods?
39 “Can you stalk prey for a lioness
and satisfy the young lions’ appetites
40 as they lie in their dens
or crouch in the thicket?
41 Who provides food for the ravens
when their young cry out to God
and wander about in hunger?
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Studyin' Time w/ Lena's Journalin' Today to Job 37
Has your heart ever pounded in anticipation of hearing anyone’s voice, and when it was truly heard, did glee rise from within?
About 14 years ago, I had a bad automobile accident. My husband was not with me and I was airlifted to our local hospital where I underwent many tests to see what should be addressed in making initial repairs to my body. There were things seen and things unseen. They were looking for the proper order of action. It took some time to get that order and then prepare me for surgery with the Dr. on call for the matter, etc. I went through many types of X-ray machines to make these determinations.
My husband was at work, which was an hour and a half away from the hospital, and after he found out what had happened, he had to drive the distance. Once he arrived, he had to find out where I was, (this is before having cell phones so readily available to everyone). It ended up, I would be in surgery for several hours. Even during pre surgery tests I was very groggy, just wanted to sleep and hope to awaken with all that was happening having been just a dream. I wasn’t crying out for him, or anyone for that matter, but I had not yet subconsciously known he was there. After he arrived he had to wait and I did not initially know he was there. I knew where my kids were, I’d heard the voices of some of our supportive friends, and knew they were staying there with me, but I was waiting to hear his voice. When I came out of surgery and made my way to recovery I was way “out of it”, more than sleepy, hardly conscious, they alerted him to be able to come wait and awaken me and be at my side when I did awaken. I guess he was sitting there for awhile, before I realized it. A friend of ours accompanied him to sit with me. The friends said while they sat waiting, the heartbeat monitor was showing a steady heartbeat, then my husband took a hold of my hand and my heart rate raised, then he spoke and it raised again. I was not responding to his presence or voice verbally, but I was alive and responding to his presence and voice on the inside!
How ready, willing and receptive are you to the voice of God? Do you know He is always speaking?
Many say, I’ve not heard His voice in ages. Why not? This is a question a disciple, a God pursuer, must honestly ask himself. If we are not asking this question and are unwilling to hear the answer, we need an increase of growth in our faith and in our relational walk with our Father and Lord.
I love the books of wisdom that tell us to incline our ears to get understanding.
Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Commit yourself to instruction; attune your ears to hear words of knowledge. As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut! Don't be a fool who doesn't realize that mindless offerings to God are evil. Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; I will incline mine ear to a parable: Give ear, O my people, to my law: Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, And not to covetousness. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice deeds of wickedness With men that work iniquity: And let me not eat of their dainties. So as to incline thine ear unto wisdom, And apply thy heart to understanding; My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings. My son, attend unto my wisdom; Incline thine ear to my understanding: Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And apply thy heart unto my knowledge.
It is clear who does or does not do this, and who actually chooses this. We do or do not. Many have had the thinking that God looks around, to see who may be worthy or they have thought that He some how randomly chooses some person to speak with or bless. This is just not so. He chooses all men, but not all men are willing to do or become what it takes to hear His voice, or follow His will, thus we show ourselves friends or just merely acquaintances of God. I choose the inclination of my own ear to what I really want to hear. In Hebrew the word “hear” actually means “Do”. There is not, hearing without corresponding action to follow. One knows they were heard as they see you go do what was spoken.
If one is a student and has to pass a test, they’ll most likely incline their ear, take notes, get the CD, listen, listen, listen again and memorize, etc. Is this how we pursue God and the hearing and understanding of His word? Ya know, there is a test to be given? It is called life! Are we passing? We can do better, ya know.
How mighty and awesome is His power towards you? How important are the works of God to you, do you notice the beauty and wonder and splendor of our God? Or are the problems in life larger to you than God is?
Just look at simple things like rain, can you cause it to fall at your every whim? Can you make a tree grow or flowers appear? These are the small daily reminders and opportunities we have to see who we are in comparison to who He is and then make a choice to stand in awe of Him and serve Him because we do stand amazed of how HUGE He is and how He has chosen us out of the whole universe to love and care for and as we follow after Him!
All of creation except for the freewill beings, automatically obey God’s voice, incline their ears to it. What an honor it is to God that the ones He made, the freewill ones, who do not have to do His will at all, don’t have to be thankful, don’t have to worship or express praise, would choose to anyway!
Jesus was so like that. He did not have to die an excruciating death on the cross, not at all, could have called angels to His own rescue and been excused from the whole deal till another was chosen and answered that redemptive call, but He chose to do what God wanted, because He loved His Father enough to obey Him. WOW!
Why does punishment come? Is it due to God’s love running out for whoever is punished? NO, never, His love is never ending, eternal. It is always grace to show the boundary lines of personal safety, just as an electric fence may shock (punish), but it clearly tells the person where safety lies.
No punishment is too stringent if it brings one to the saving relationship with the Father. Of course there is abuse, etc, but if one learns of His love through suffering, so be it. There is a better way to learn of Him and avoid the suffering brought on by punishment, that is, to simply obey. Obedience leads us to life and more life, disobedient rebellion may lead to punishment, which should lead to repentance, and if not, it could lead to death. There is a death far greater than of the physical sort, that is death after physical passing. This is what punishment is set up by God to steer one far from.
Why do men may a time question, in a contesting manner, the words and ways of the Lord? Do they not know that disrespect and lack of godly understanding would be their enemies? Annihilate the enemies of your soul, be wise, stop contesting God, and begin to be a learner, one who is taught how and where to walk with a wiling heart that knows who they are, the creation; and who He is, the Creator of all things!
About 14 years ago, I had a bad automobile accident. My husband was not with me and I was airlifted to our local hospital where I underwent many tests to see what should be addressed in making initial repairs to my body. There were things seen and things unseen. They were looking for the proper order of action. It took some time to get that order and then prepare me for surgery with the Dr. on call for the matter, etc. I went through many types of X-ray machines to make these determinations.
My husband was at work, which was an hour and a half away from the hospital, and after he found out what had happened, he had to drive the distance. Once he arrived, he had to find out where I was, (this is before having cell phones so readily available to everyone). It ended up, I would be in surgery for several hours. Even during pre surgery tests I was very groggy, just wanted to sleep and hope to awaken with all that was happening having been just a dream. I wasn’t crying out for him, or anyone for that matter, but I had not yet subconsciously known he was there. After he arrived he had to wait and I did not initially know he was there. I knew where my kids were, I’d heard the voices of some of our supportive friends, and knew they were staying there with me, but I was waiting to hear his voice. When I came out of surgery and made my way to recovery I was way “out of it”, more than sleepy, hardly conscious, they alerted him to be able to come wait and awaken me and be at my side when I did awaken. I guess he was sitting there for awhile, before I realized it. A friend of ours accompanied him to sit with me. The friends said while they sat waiting, the heartbeat monitor was showing a steady heartbeat, then my husband took a hold of my hand and my heart rate raised, then he spoke and it raised again. I was not responding to his presence or voice verbally, but I was alive and responding to his presence and voice on the inside!
How ready, willing and receptive are you to the voice of God? Do you know He is always speaking?
Many say, I’ve not heard His voice in ages. Why not? This is a question a disciple, a God pursuer, must honestly ask himself. If we are not asking this question and are unwilling to hear the answer, we need an increase of growth in our faith and in our relational walk with our Father and Lord.
I love the books of wisdom that tell us to incline our ears to get understanding.
Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Commit yourself to instruction; attune your ears to hear words of knowledge. As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut! Don't be a fool who doesn't realize that mindless offerings to God are evil. Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; I will incline mine ear to a parable: Give ear, O my people, to my law: Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, And not to covetousness. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice deeds of wickedness With men that work iniquity: And let me not eat of their dainties. So as to incline thine ear unto wisdom, And apply thy heart to understanding; My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings. My son, attend unto my wisdom; Incline thine ear to my understanding: Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And apply thy heart unto my knowledge.
It is clear who does or does not do this, and who actually chooses this. We do or do not. Many have had the thinking that God looks around, to see who may be worthy or they have thought that He some how randomly chooses some person to speak with or bless. This is just not so. He chooses all men, but not all men are willing to do or become what it takes to hear His voice, or follow His will, thus we show ourselves friends or just merely acquaintances of God. I choose the inclination of my own ear to what I really want to hear. In Hebrew the word “hear” actually means “Do”. There is not, hearing without corresponding action to follow. One knows they were heard as they see you go do what was spoken.
If one is a student and has to pass a test, they’ll most likely incline their ear, take notes, get the CD, listen, listen, listen again and memorize, etc. Is this how we pursue God and the hearing and understanding of His word? Ya know, there is a test to be given? It is called life! Are we passing? We can do better, ya know.
How mighty and awesome is His power towards you? How important are the works of God to you, do you notice the beauty and wonder and splendor of our God? Or are the problems in life larger to you than God is?
Just look at simple things like rain, can you cause it to fall at your every whim? Can you make a tree grow or flowers appear? These are the small daily reminders and opportunities we have to see who we are in comparison to who He is and then make a choice to stand in awe of Him and serve Him because we do stand amazed of how HUGE He is and how He has chosen us out of the whole universe to love and care for and as we follow after Him!
All of creation except for the freewill beings, automatically obey God’s voice, incline their ears to it. What an honor it is to God that the ones He made, the freewill ones, who do not have to do His will at all, don’t have to be thankful, don’t have to worship or express praise, would choose to anyway!
Jesus was so like that. He did not have to die an excruciating death on the cross, not at all, could have called angels to His own rescue and been excused from the whole deal till another was chosen and answered that redemptive call, but He chose to do what God wanted, because He loved His Father enough to obey Him. WOW!
Why does punishment come? Is it due to God’s love running out for whoever is punished? NO, never, His love is never ending, eternal. It is always grace to show the boundary lines of personal safety, just as an electric fence may shock (punish), but it clearly tells the person where safety lies.
No punishment is too stringent if it brings one to the saving relationship with the Father. Of course there is abuse, etc, but if one learns of His love through suffering, so be it. There is a better way to learn of Him and avoid the suffering brought on by punishment, that is, to simply obey. Obedience leads us to life and more life, disobedient rebellion may lead to punishment, which should lead to repentance, and if not, it could lead to death. There is a death far greater than of the physical sort, that is death after physical passing. This is what punishment is set up by God to steer one far from.
Why do men may a time question, in a contesting manner, the words and ways of the Lord? Do they not know that disrespect and lack of godly understanding would be their enemies? Annihilate the enemies of your soul, be wise, stop contesting God, and begin to be a learner, one who is taught how and where to walk with a wiling heart that knows who they are, the creation; and who He is, the Creator of all things!
Job 37 Today- really :-)
Job 37
1 “My heart pounds as I think of this.
It trembles within me.
2 Listen carefully to the thunder of God’s voice
as it rolls from his mouth.
3 It rolls across the heavens,
and his lightning flashes in every direction.
4 Then comes the roaring of the thunder—
the tremendous voice of his majesty.
He does not restrain it when he speaks.
5 God’s voice is glorious in the thunder.
We can’t even imagine the greatness of his power.
6 “He directs the snow to fall on the earth
and tells the rain to pour down.
7 Then everyone stops working
so they can watch his power.
8 The wild animals take cover
and stay inside their dens.
9 The stormy wind comes from its chamber,
and the driving winds bring the cold.
10 God’s breath sends the ice,
freezing wide expanses of water.
11 He loads the clouds with moisture,
and they flash with his lightning.
12 The clouds churn about at his direction.
They do whatever he commands throughout the earth.
13 He makes these things happen either to punish people
or to show his unfailing love.
14 “Pay attention to this, Job.
Stop and consider the wonderful miracles of God!
15 Do you know how God controls the storm
and causes the lightning to flash from his clouds?
16 Do you understand how he moves the clouds
with wonderful perfection and skill?
17 When you are sweltering in your clothes
and the south wind dies down and everything is still,
18 he makes the skies reflect the heat like a bronze mirror.
Can you do that?
19 “So teach the rest of us what to say to God.
We are too ignorant to make our own arguments.
20 Should God be notified that I want to speak?
Can people even speak when they are confused?
21 We cannot look at the sun,
for it shines brightly in the sky
when the wind clears away the clouds.
22 So also, golden splendor comes from the mountain of God.
He is clothed in dazzling splendor.
23 We cannot imagine the power of the Almighty;
but even though he is just and righteous,
he does not destroy us.
24 No wonder people everywhere fear him.
All who are wise show him reverence.”
1 “My heart pounds as I think of this.
It trembles within me.
2 Listen carefully to the thunder of God’s voice
as it rolls from his mouth.
3 It rolls across the heavens,
and his lightning flashes in every direction.
4 Then comes the roaring of the thunder—
the tremendous voice of his majesty.
He does not restrain it when he speaks.
5 God’s voice is glorious in the thunder.
We can’t even imagine the greatness of his power.
6 “He directs the snow to fall on the earth
and tells the rain to pour down.
7 Then everyone stops working
so they can watch his power.
8 The wild animals take cover
and stay inside their dens.
9 The stormy wind comes from its chamber,
and the driving winds bring the cold.
10 God’s breath sends the ice,
freezing wide expanses of water.
11 He loads the clouds with moisture,
and they flash with his lightning.
12 The clouds churn about at his direction.
They do whatever he commands throughout the earth.
13 He makes these things happen either to punish people
or to show his unfailing love.
14 “Pay attention to this, Job.
Stop and consider the wonderful miracles of God!
15 Do you know how God controls the storm
and causes the lightning to flash from his clouds?
16 Do you understand how he moves the clouds
with wonderful perfection and skill?
17 When you are sweltering in your clothes
and the south wind dies down and everything is still,
18 he makes the skies reflect the heat like a bronze mirror.
Can you do that?
19 “So teach the rest of us what to say to God.
We are too ignorant to make our own arguments.
20 Should God be notified that I want to speak?
Can people even speak when they are confused?
21 We cannot look at the sun,
for it shines brightly in the sky
when the wind clears away the clouds.
22 So also, golden splendor comes from the mountain of God.
He is clothed in dazzling splendor.
23 We cannot imagine the power of the Almighty;
but even though he is just and righteous,
he does not destroy us.
24 No wonder people everywhere fear him.
All who are wise show him reverence.”
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Lena Journals to Job 36
So how magnificent is your God? How great is He?
Do you know He is greater to some than He is to others?
How can that be?
It is always a matter of perspective and of choice.
The Psalmist says to each and every human being who has ever lived, “Oh magnify the LORD with me, let US exalt His name together…O Taste and see that the LORD is Good…etc.”
Does everyone magnify the Lord, do they all taste of His goodness?
Why, or why not?
Choice.
Praise, magnification, exaltation, is by freewill choice.
You down in the dumpsters?
Who put you there, mentally speaking?
Choice, did.
Ok, so what if your brother threw you down there imprisoning you there (as Joseph’s did)?
Can you choose what your attitude is while you are there? Could you exalt the Lord, if you chose to?
Ah, yes you could, but only IF you chose to, or maybe even wanted to.
God was really asking Job a series of questions.
How great Am I? to you?
We all know God IS great and it will be revealed who He is and how magnificent He is for all to see. On that revealing day, that the whole world sees, is His greatness seen because He changed and became that glorious that day, but all the other days before that time, He wasn’t so glorious?
What changed? Perspective did.
So again, Job, How great Am I?
To you?
Am I only great to you, if all is well with you?
Am I only great to you when it goes for you the way you felt it should go, or you perceive I am blessing you?
What if you perceive that I’m “cursing” you? What then? Do you curse Me back? Do you know, perceive and really understand who I AM?
If you did, would you choose what you have chosen?
Ok let’s switch now, “Who are you?” You’re NOT Job, but you are as he is in the earth, going from perceived blessing to perceived cursing, living and walking out your relationship with God. Is it based only on good outcome? Is it based on a give and take system? Do you only relate well with God when things are good?
THIS IS THE TEST of Human time!
If you get this, you’ll get the rest! Seriously.
You’ll walk through as a victor.
Listen, you’ve got to become Job, when you read about him. We are as he is. This “story” of a mans life and circumstance was written so graciously by God to us that we’d see another and make a decision for righteousness, not live the same life and go through the same ordeal, especially concerning the mental reasoning. We have been allotted the grace to learn from others!
The best learning is NOT to personally experience the situation, but watch or read of others and then through wise decisions, live!
So, in your situations, will you – live?
Or curse God and die?
That is a question some of Job’s friends asked of him, and how they advised him to be relieved of his present pain and suffering.
Suffering can make a man humble, humiliated if he isn’t willing to humble himself in it.
What would be the point? Can you, will you, do you, magnify the Lord?
No matter what?
No matter what?
O magnify the Lord with me, let us exalt His name together, let’s taste and see in every circumstance and in every situation, how great He is.
He made heaven and earth and all that is in it. Can any man that you know, do that?
Notta one.
He knows all about everything, everything He knows about.
Even what will happen tomorrow.
Wow.
The decision to make, in every trial and testing, situation and circumstance…Who will I continue to love, serve & bless?
Will I keep, or sell out and give up, my faith?
Is my faith based on circumstances or love that is eternal and unending?
Every trial has come to ask this question.
Now, who wins with you?
Do you know He is greater to some than He is to others?
How can that be?
It is always a matter of perspective and of choice.
The Psalmist says to each and every human being who has ever lived, “Oh magnify the LORD with me, let US exalt His name together…O Taste and see that the LORD is Good…etc.”
Does everyone magnify the Lord, do they all taste of His goodness?
Why, or why not?
Choice.
Praise, magnification, exaltation, is by freewill choice.
You down in the dumpsters?
Who put you there, mentally speaking?
Choice, did.
Ok, so what if your brother threw you down there imprisoning you there (as Joseph’s did)?
Can you choose what your attitude is while you are there? Could you exalt the Lord, if you chose to?
Ah, yes you could, but only IF you chose to, or maybe even wanted to.
God was really asking Job a series of questions.
How great Am I? to you?
We all know God IS great and it will be revealed who He is and how magnificent He is for all to see. On that revealing day, that the whole world sees, is His greatness seen because He changed and became that glorious that day, but all the other days before that time, He wasn’t so glorious?
What changed? Perspective did.
So again, Job, How great Am I?
To you?
Am I only great to you, if all is well with you?
Am I only great to you when it goes for you the way you felt it should go, or you perceive I am blessing you?
What if you perceive that I’m “cursing” you? What then? Do you curse Me back? Do you know, perceive and really understand who I AM?
If you did, would you choose what you have chosen?
Ok let’s switch now, “Who are you?” You’re NOT Job, but you are as he is in the earth, going from perceived blessing to perceived cursing, living and walking out your relationship with God. Is it based only on good outcome? Is it based on a give and take system? Do you only relate well with God when things are good?
THIS IS THE TEST of Human time!
If you get this, you’ll get the rest! Seriously.
You’ll walk through as a victor.
Listen, you’ve got to become Job, when you read about him. We are as he is. This “story” of a mans life and circumstance was written so graciously by God to us that we’d see another and make a decision for righteousness, not live the same life and go through the same ordeal, especially concerning the mental reasoning. We have been allotted the grace to learn from others!
The best learning is NOT to personally experience the situation, but watch or read of others and then through wise decisions, live!
So, in your situations, will you – live?
Or curse God and die?
That is a question some of Job’s friends asked of him, and how they advised him to be relieved of his present pain and suffering.
Suffering can make a man humble, humiliated if he isn’t willing to humble himself in it.
What would be the point? Can you, will you, do you, magnify the Lord?
No matter what?
No matter what?
O magnify the Lord with me, let us exalt His name together, let’s taste and see in every circumstance and in every situation, how great He is.
He made heaven and earth and all that is in it. Can any man that you know, do that?
Notta one.
He knows all about everything, everything He knows about.
Even what will happen tomorrow.
Wow.
The decision to make, in every trial and testing, situation and circumstance…Who will I continue to love, serve & bless?
Will I keep, or sell out and give up, my faith?
Is my faith based on circumstances or love that is eternal and unending?
Every trial has come to ask this question.
Now, who wins with you?
OOPs Job 36 Today not 39
Elihu continued speaking:
2 “Let me go on, and I will show you the truth.
For I have not finished defending God!
3 I will present profound arguments
for the righteousness of my Creator.
4 I am telling you nothing but the truth,
for I am a man of great knowledge.
5 “God is mighty, but he does not despise anyone!
He is mighty in both power and understanding.
6 He does not let the wicked live
but gives justice to the afflicted.
7 He never takes his eyes off the innocent,
but he sets them on thrones with kings
and exalts them forever.
8 If they are bound in chains
and caught up in a web of trouble,
9 he shows them the reason.
He shows them their sins of pride.
10 He gets their attention
and commands that they turn from evil.
11 “If they listen and obey God,
they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives.
All their years will be pleasant.
12 But if they refuse to listen to him,
they will be killed by the sword
and die from lack of understanding.
13 For the godless are full of resentment.
Even when he punishes them,
they refuse to cry out to him for help.
14 They die when they are young,
after wasting their lives in immoral living.
15 But by means of their suffering, he rescues those who suffer.
For he gets their attention through adversity.
16 “God is leading you away from danger, Job,
to a place free from distress.
He is setting your table with the best food.
17 But you are obsessed with whether the godless will be judged.
Don’t worry, judgment and justice will be upheld.
18 But watch out, or you may be seduced by wealth.
Don’t let yourself be bribed into sin.
19 Could all your wealth
or all your mighty efforts
keep you from distress?
20 Do not long for the cover of night,
for that is when people will be destroyed.
21 Be on guard! Turn back from evil,
for God sent this suffering
to keep you from a life of evil.
Elihu Reminds Job of God’s Power
22 “Look, God is all-powerful.
Who is a teacher like him?
23 No one can tell him what to do,
or say to him, ‘You have done wrong.’
24 Instead, glorify his mighty works,
singing songs of praise.
25 Everyone has seen these things,
though only from a distance.
26 “Look, God is greater than we can understand.
His years cannot be counted.
27 He draws up the water vapor
and then distills it into rain.
28 The rain pours down from the clouds,
and everyone benefits.
29 Who can understand the spreading of the clouds
and the thunder that rolls forth from heaven?
30 See how he spreads the lightning around him
and how it lights up the depths of the sea.
31 By these mighty acts he nourishes the people,
giving them food in abundance.
32 He fills his hands with lightning bolts
and hurls each at its target.
33 The thunder announces his presence;
the storm announces his indignant anger.
2 “Let me go on, and I will show you the truth.
For I have not finished defending God!
3 I will present profound arguments
for the righteousness of my Creator.
4 I am telling you nothing but the truth,
for I am a man of great knowledge.
5 “God is mighty, but he does not despise anyone!
He is mighty in both power and understanding.
6 He does not let the wicked live
but gives justice to the afflicted.
7 He never takes his eyes off the innocent,
but he sets them on thrones with kings
and exalts them forever.
8 If they are bound in chains
and caught up in a web of trouble,
9 he shows them the reason.
He shows them their sins of pride.
10 He gets their attention
and commands that they turn from evil.
11 “If they listen and obey God,
they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives.
All their years will be pleasant.
12 But if they refuse to listen to him,
they will be killed by the sword
and die from lack of understanding.
13 For the godless are full of resentment.
Even when he punishes them,
they refuse to cry out to him for help.
14 They die when they are young,
after wasting their lives in immoral living.
15 But by means of their suffering, he rescues those who suffer.
For he gets their attention through adversity.
16 “God is leading you away from danger, Job,
to a place free from distress.
He is setting your table with the best food.
17 But you are obsessed with whether the godless will be judged.
Don’t worry, judgment and justice will be upheld.
18 But watch out, or you may be seduced by wealth.
Don’t let yourself be bribed into sin.
19 Could all your wealth
or all your mighty efforts
keep you from distress?
20 Do not long for the cover of night,
for that is when people will be destroyed.
21 Be on guard! Turn back from evil,
for God sent this suffering
to keep you from a life of evil.
Elihu Reminds Job of God’s Power
22 “Look, God is all-powerful.
Who is a teacher like him?
23 No one can tell him what to do,
or say to him, ‘You have done wrong.’
24 Instead, glorify his mighty works,
singing songs of praise.
25 Everyone has seen these things,
though only from a distance.
26 “Look, God is greater than we can understand.
His years cannot be counted.
27 He draws up the water vapor
and then distills it into rain.
28 The rain pours down from the clouds,
and everyone benefits.
29 Who can understand the spreading of the clouds
and the thunder that rolls forth from heaven?
30 See how he spreads the lightning around him
and how it lights up the depths of the sea.
31 By these mighty acts he nourishes the people,
giving them food in abundance.
32 He fills his hands with lightning bolts
and hurls each at its target.
33 The thunder announces his presence;
the storm announces his indignant anger.
Job 39 Today
The Lord’s Challenge Continues
1 “Do you know when the wild goats give birth?
Have you watched as deer are born in the wild?
2 Do you know how many months they carry their young?
Are you aware of the time of their delivery?
3 They crouch down to give birth to their young
and deliver their offspring.
4 Their young grow up in the open fields,
then leave home and never return.
5 “Who gives the wild donkey its freedom?
Who untied its ropes?
6 I have placed it in the wilderness;
its home is the wasteland.
7 It hates the noise of the city
and has no driver to shout at it.
8 The mountains are its pastureland,
where it searches for every blade of grass.
9 “Will the wild ox consent to being tamed?
Will it spend the night in your stall?
10 Can you hitch a wild ox to a plow?
Will it plow a field for you?
11 Given its strength, can you trust it?
Can you leave and trust the ox to do your work?
12 Can you rely on it to bring home your grain
and deliver it to your threshing floor?
13 “The ostrich flaps her wings grandly,
but they are no match for the feathers of the stork.
14 She lays her eggs on top of the earth,
letting them be warmed in the dust.
15 She doesn’t worry that a foot might crush them
or a wild animal might destroy them.
16 She is harsh toward her young,
as if they were not her own.
She doesn’t care if they die.
17 For God has deprived her of wisdom.
He has given her no understanding.
18 But whenever she jumps up to run,
she passes the swiftest horse with its rider.
19 “Have you given the horse its strength
or clothed its neck with a flowing mane?
20 Did you give it the ability to leap like a locust?
Its majestic snorting is terrifying!
21 It paws the earth and rejoices in its strength
when it charges out to battle.
22 It laughs at fear and is unafraid.
It does not run from the sword.
23 The arrows rattle against it,
and the spear and javelin flash.
24 It paws the ground fiercely
and rushes forward into battle when the ram’s horn blows.
25 It snorts at the sound of the horn.
It senses the battle in the distance.
It quivers at the captain’s commands and the noise of battle.
26 “Is it your wisdom that makes the hawk soar
and spread its wings toward the south?
27 Is it at your command that the eagle rises
to the heights to make its nest?
28 It lives on the cliffs,
making its home on a distant, rocky crag.
29 From there it hunts its prey,
keeping watch with piercing eyes.
30 Its young gulp down blood.
Where there’s a carcass, there you’ll find it.”
1 “Do you know when the wild goats give birth?
Have you watched as deer are born in the wild?
2 Do you know how many months they carry their young?
Are you aware of the time of their delivery?
3 They crouch down to give birth to their young
and deliver their offspring.
4 Their young grow up in the open fields,
then leave home and never return.
5 “Who gives the wild donkey its freedom?
Who untied its ropes?
6 I have placed it in the wilderness;
its home is the wasteland.
7 It hates the noise of the city
and has no driver to shout at it.
8 The mountains are its pastureland,
where it searches for every blade of grass.
9 “Will the wild ox consent to being tamed?
Will it spend the night in your stall?
10 Can you hitch a wild ox to a plow?
Will it plow a field for you?
11 Given its strength, can you trust it?
Can you leave and trust the ox to do your work?
12 Can you rely on it to bring home your grain
and deliver it to your threshing floor?
13 “The ostrich flaps her wings grandly,
but they are no match for the feathers of the stork.
14 She lays her eggs on top of the earth,
letting them be warmed in the dust.
15 She doesn’t worry that a foot might crush them
or a wild animal might destroy them.
16 She is harsh toward her young,
as if they were not her own.
She doesn’t care if they die.
17 For God has deprived her of wisdom.
He has given her no understanding.
18 But whenever she jumps up to run,
she passes the swiftest horse with its rider.
19 “Have you given the horse its strength
or clothed its neck with a flowing mane?
20 Did you give it the ability to leap like a locust?
Its majestic snorting is terrifying!
21 It paws the earth and rejoices in its strength
when it charges out to battle.
22 It laughs at fear and is unafraid.
It does not run from the sword.
23 The arrows rattle against it,
and the spear and javelin flash.
24 It paws the ground fiercely
and rushes forward into battle when the ram’s horn blows.
25 It snorts at the sound of the horn.
It senses the battle in the distance.
It quivers at the captain’s commands and the noise of battle.
26 “Is it your wisdom that makes the hawk soar
and spread its wings toward the south?
27 Is it at your command that the eagle rises
to the heights to make its nest?
28 It lives on the cliffs,
making its home on a distant, rocky crag.
29 From there it hunts its prey,
keeping watch with piercing eyes.
30 Its young gulp down blood.
Where there’s a carcass, there you’ll find it.”
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Studyin' Job 29 w/ Lena's Journalin'
It was easier at one time, huh? Christianity was easier. The walk of faith seemed more glorious, no cares, no woes.
So what happens to you if a care comes your way, or a woe?
Who are you?
Who’s are you?
Does it shake you or change your faith?
Does your faith increase or decrease?
Who do you blame?
God, yourself, the enemy?
No matter who is to blame, the matter is, what will you do, who will you be?
For things are not the same, or are they, within you?
Will faith still be found in, and remain in you?
Everything in life comes down to faith, in God.
Is there any to be found among you, when it is easy, or when it is hard?
Which one? Is there a difference, an opportunity?
Yes, growth comes, proving comes, to see if the faith one began with, they will also end with…
Is it genuine?
Time WILL tell us all.
Will you serve and demnstrate love when you don't feel to, when nothing adds up, when things (even God) have seemed to be ill at ease?
When it is no longer convieneint or easy?
When you don't have to and can take it or leave it, easily? Easier than staying would be?
Againm time will tell us all.
So what happens to you if a care comes your way, or a woe?
Who are you?
Who’s are you?
Does it shake you or change your faith?
Does your faith increase or decrease?
Who do you blame?
God, yourself, the enemy?
No matter who is to blame, the matter is, what will you do, who will you be?
For things are not the same, or are they, within you?
Will faith still be found in, and remain in you?
Everything in life comes down to faith, in God.
Is there any to be found among you, when it is easy, or when it is hard?
Which one? Is there a difference, an opportunity?
Yes, growth comes, proving comes, to see if the faith one began with, they will also end with…
Is it genuine?
Time WILL tell us all.
Will you serve and demnstrate love when you don't feel to, when nothing adds up, when things (even God) have seemed to be ill at ease?
When it is no longer convieneint or easy?
When you don't have to and can take it or leave it, easily? Easier than staying would be?
Againm time will tell us all.
Job 29 Today
Job Speaks of His Former Blessings
Job continued speaking:
2 “I long for the years gone by
when God took care of me,
3 when he lit up the way before me
and I walked safely through the darkness.
4 When I was in my prime,
God’s friendship was felt in my home.
5 The Almighty was still with me,
and my children were around me.
6 My cows produced milk in abundance,
and my groves poured out streams of olive oil.
7 “Those were the days when I went to the city gate
and took my place among the honored leaders.
8 The young stepped aside when they saw me,
and even the aged rose in respect at my coming.
9 The princes stood in silence
and put their hands over their mouths.
10 The highest officials of the city stood quietly,
holding their tongues in respect.
11 “All who heard me praised me.
All who saw me spoke well of me.
12 For I assisted the poor in their need
and the orphans who required help.
13 I helped those without hope, and they blessed me.
And I caused the widows’ hearts to sing for joy.
14 Everything I did was honest.
Righteousness covered me like a robe,
and I wore justice like a turban.
15 I served as eyes for the blind
and feet for the lame.
16 I was a father to the poor
and assisted strangers who needed help.
17 I broke the jaws of godless oppressors
and plucked their victims from their teeth.
18 “I thought, ‘Surely I will die surrounded by my family
after a long, good life.
19 For I am like a tree whose roots reach the water,
whose branches are refreshed with the dew.
20 New honors are constantly bestowed on me,
and my strength is continually renewed.’
21 “Everyone listened to my advice.
They were silent as they waited for me to speak.
22 And after I spoke, they had nothing to add,
for my counsel satisfied them.
23 They longed for me to speak as people long for rain.
They drank my words like a refreshing spring rain.
24 When they were discouraged, I smiled at them.
My look of approval was precious to them.
25 Like a chief, I told them what to do.
I lived like a king among his troops
and comforted those who mourned.
Job continued speaking:
2 “I long for the years gone by
when God took care of me,
3 when he lit up the way before me
and I walked safely through the darkness.
4 When I was in my prime,
God’s friendship was felt in my home.
5 The Almighty was still with me,
and my children were around me.
6 My cows produced milk in abundance,
and my groves poured out streams of olive oil.
7 “Those were the days when I went to the city gate
and took my place among the honored leaders.
8 The young stepped aside when they saw me,
and even the aged rose in respect at my coming.
9 The princes stood in silence
and put their hands over their mouths.
10 The highest officials of the city stood quietly,
holding their tongues in respect.
11 “All who heard me praised me.
All who saw me spoke well of me.
12 For I assisted the poor in their need
and the orphans who required help.
13 I helped those without hope, and they blessed me.
And I caused the widows’ hearts to sing for joy.
14 Everything I did was honest.
Righteousness covered me like a robe,
and I wore justice like a turban.
15 I served as eyes for the blind
and feet for the lame.
16 I was a father to the poor
and assisted strangers who needed help.
17 I broke the jaws of godless oppressors
and plucked their victims from their teeth.
18 “I thought, ‘Surely I will die surrounded by my family
after a long, good life.
19 For I am like a tree whose roots reach the water,
whose branches are refreshed with the dew.
20 New honors are constantly bestowed on me,
and my strength is continually renewed.’
21 “Everyone listened to my advice.
They were silent as they waited for me to speak.
22 And after I spoke, they had nothing to add,
for my counsel satisfied them.
23 They longed for me to speak as people long for rain.
They drank my words like a refreshing spring rain.
24 When they were discouraged, I smiled at them.
My look of approval was precious to them.
25 Like a chief, I told them what to do.
I lived like a king among his troops
and comforted those who mourned.
Monday, April 09, 2007
Studyin' w/Lena's Journalin' to Ezra 10 Today
Sin is a violation of God and His ways. Confession means, to say what God has said. What God calls sin, one must also call sin in confession, err it is not a confession. So if God says to be unequally yoked together with a unbeliever is sin, and one is married to an unbeliever or in business partnership with one, or lives with one, or has continual fellowship and is deeply tied in soul, to an unbeliever, he can think he’ll save the person all day long, but until he says the same as God, there is no confession of sin and no repentance.
As long as one believes they have some sort of right in what they are doing or are self justified and excused from God’s kingdom laws, there will be no turning away from what has offended God.
To acknowledge He is right and I may be wrong, one must recognize and desire His law to be their law, His ways to become my ways.
The best way to live like this is to ask permission before making a decision with action involved. Hey what does God think of this, as I consider going into business with this unbeliever? Then humble one ’s self to believe the answer, and act on it. This type of living repairs many pains and hurts ahead of time. It is a higher form of living than to go ahead in our own thoughts and ways and then later have to separate a whole company and all of the ins and outs of its workings, as we begin to make a repair of our relationship with God.
Living by permission has everything to do with honor. If we honor God we care what He thinks and then we heed His thoughts above our own, even if we don’t initially understand or agree with them. We adapt ourselves to His ways, that is our venture as one’s who are Christlike. It is better to live by permission than by mistakes with grace, & forgiveness.
Do you realize what these guys had to go through and what they had to put other humans through to make their repairs with their Father? Divorce is never easy. It means separation, which is purposefully painful. To do it according to the law, meant one must act responsibly. They’d have to pay its price for the rest of their lives, with their lives (money represents a life given). They were fathers of children, there was a cost involved here in making separation. There’s always a cost involved.
We are not far off from being a part of this story. What have we done that we are living out the consequence of? What have we needed to separate from that we should have possibly never joined with? What carried a hefty price tag that we needed to give up to follow the ways of Christ?
As we read “stories” such as these, we need to place ourselves inside of the story. Every time we read the word we should stand scrutinized on purpose, placing ourselves in the center of the word. Is there anything at all we hold in higher esteem than saying what God says in our lives? How much have we excused ourselves from obeying His words personally?
These are important life saving questions to ask.
These men were priests, so are we. Kings and priests unto God, by the bloodshed of Christ Jesus.
Look at this list of sinners who were being brought to repentance and restoration before their Father this day.
Those who were fully willing to do whatever it took to be restored.
How willing are we to pay whatever it takes?
Jesus paid a HIGH price for us, through His blood.
God did not ask them to die to pay, but He did ask them to be willing to pay, willing to be restored.
Satan’s tool in the life of a believer is to excuse that believer and deceive him into believing he’s made it this far so has somehow arrived, and is a-ok. Contentment is an enemy of God. We may have come to a place of victory, but God is always calling us higher into a place of continual overcoming.
To he who overcomes and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and he will not be hurt by the second death, Him I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God, he will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne, he will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.
Do you see yourself in any of these men’s names? Maybe at one time you overcame, are you still on that track? Repentance will bring us back.
It is time to recognize, acknowledge, confess, repent, renounce association with whatever keeps one from that oneness with his Father, restore relationships, and overcome!
Ezra one who helps,
Shecaniah dweller with Jehovah,
Jehiel God lives,
Levites joined to,
Jehohanan Jehovah has graced,
Eliashib God restores,
Judah praised
and Benjamin praised,
Jonathan Jehovah has given,
Asahel God-made
Jahzeiah Jehovah views,
Tikvah hope,
Meshullam friend
Shabbethai sabbatical,
Jeshua Jehovah is salvation
Jehozadak Jehovah is righteous,
Maaseiah work of Jehovah ,
Eliezer God is help ,
Jarib he contends ,
and Gedaliah Jehovah is great,
Immer he hath said:
Hanani gracious
and Zebadiah endowment of Jehovah,
Harim dedicated:
Maaseiah work of Jehovah ,
Elijah my God is Jehovah ,
Shemaiah heard by Jehovah,
Jehiel God lives,
and Uzziah my strength is Jehovah,
Pashhur freedom:
Elioenai unto Jehovah are my eyes,
Ishmael God will hear ,
Nethanel given of God,
Elasah God has made,
Shimei renowned,
Kelaiah (also called Kelita) Jehovah has dishonoured,
Pethahiah freed by Jehovah,
Eliashib God restores,
Shallum retribution,
Telem oppression,
and Uri flame, light of fire …..
As long as one believes they have some sort of right in what they are doing or are self justified and excused from God’s kingdom laws, there will be no turning away from what has offended God.
To acknowledge He is right and I may be wrong, one must recognize and desire His law to be their law, His ways to become my ways.
The best way to live like this is to ask permission before making a decision with action involved. Hey what does God think of this, as I consider going into business with this unbeliever? Then humble one ’s self to believe the answer, and act on it. This type of living repairs many pains and hurts ahead of time. It is a higher form of living than to go ahead in our own thoughts and ways and then later have to separate a whole company and all of the ins and outs of its workings, as we begin to make a repair of our relationship with God.
Living by permission has everything to do with honor. If we honor God we care what He thinks and then we heed His thoughts above our own, even if we don’t initially understand or agree with them. We adapt ourselves to His ways, that is our venture as one’s who are Christlike. It is better to live by permission than by mistakes with grace, & forgiveness.
Do you realize what these guys had to go through and what they had to put other humans through to make their repairs with their Father? Divorce is never easy. It means separation, which is purposefully painful. To do it according to the law, meant one must act responsibly. They’d have to pay its price for the rest of their lives, with their lives (money represents a life given). They were fathers of children, there was a cost involved here in making separation. There’s always a cost involved.
We are not far off from being a part of this story. What have we done that we are living out the consequence of? What have we needed to separate from that we should have possibly never joined with? What carried a hefty price tag that we needed to give up to follow the ways of Christ?
As we read “stories” such as these, we need to place ourselves inside of the story. Every time we read the word we should stand scrutinized on purpose, placing ourselves in the center of the word. Is there anything at all we hold in higher esteem than saying what God says in our lives? How much have we excused ourselves from obeying His words personally?
These are important life saving questions to ask.
These men were priests, so are we. Kings and priests unto God, by the bloodshed of Christ Jesus.
Look at this list of sinners who were being brought to repentance and restoration before their Father this day.
Those who were fully willing to do whatever it took to be restored.
How willing are we to pay whatever it takes?
Jesus paid a HIGH price for us, through His blood.
God did not ask them to die to pay, but He did ask them to be willing to pay, willing to be restored.
Satan’s tool in the life of a believer is to excuse that believer and deceive him into believing he’s made it this far so has somehow arrived, and is a-ok. Contentment is an enemy of God. We may have come to a place of victory, but God is always calling us higher into a place of continual overcoming.
To he who overcomes and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and he will not be hurt by the second death, Him I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God, he will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne, he will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.
Do you see yourself in any of these men’s names? Maybe at one time you overcame, are you still on that track? Repentance will bring us back.
It is time to recognize, acknowledge, confess, repent, renounce association with whatever keeps one from that oneness with his Father, restore relationships, and overcome!
Ezra one who helps,
Shecaniah dweller with Jehovah,
Jehiel God lives,
Levites joined to,
Jehohanan Jehovah has graced,
Eliashib God restores,
Judah praised
and Benjamin praised,
Jonathan Jehovah has given,
Asahel God-made
Jahzeiah Jehovah views,
Tikvah hope,
Meshullam friend
Shabbethai sabbatical,
Jeshua Jehovah is salvation
Jehozadak Jehovah is righteous,
Maaseiah work of Jehovah ,
Eliezer God is help ,
Jarib he contends ,
and Gedaliah Jehovah is great,
Immer he hath said:
Hanani gracious
and Zebadiah endowment of Jehovah,
Harim dedicated:
Maaseiah work of Jehovah ,
Elijah my God is Jehovah ,
Shemaiah heard by Jehovah,
Jehiel God lives,
and Uzziah my strength is Jehovah,
Pashhur freedom:
Elioenai unto Jehovah are my eyes,
Ishmael God will hear ,
Nethanel given of God,
Elasah God has made,
Shimei renowned,
Kelaiah (also called Kelita) Jehovah has dishonoured,
Pethahiah freed by Jehovah,
Eliashib God restores,
Shallum retribution,
Telem oppression,
and Uri flame, light of fire …..
Ezra 10 Today
The People Confess Their Sin
1 While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and lying face down on the ground in front of the Temple of God, a very large crowd of people from Israel—men, women, and children—gathered and wept bitterly with him. 2 Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, a descendant of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God, for we have married these pagan women of the land. But in spite of this there is hope for Israel. 3 Let us now make a covenant with our God to divorce our pagan wives and to send them away with their children. We will follow the advice given by you and by the others who respect the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law of God. 4 Get up, for it is your duty to tell us how to proceed in setting things straight. We are behind you, so be strong and take action.”
5 So Ezra stood up and demanded that the leaders of the priests and the Levites and all the people of Israel swear that they would do as Shecaniah had said. And they all swore a solemn oath. 6 Then Ezra left the front of the Temple of God and went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. He spent the night there without eating or drinking anything. He was still in mourning because of the unfaithfulness of the returned exiles.
7 Then a proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles should come to Jerusalem. 8 Those who failed to come within three days would, if the leaders and elders so decided, forfeit all their property and be expelled from the assembly of the exiles.
9 Within three days, all the people of Judah and Benjamin had gathered in Jerusalem. This took place on December 19, and all the people were sitting in the square before the Temple of God. They were trembling both because of the seriousness of the matter and because it was raining. 10 Then Ezra the priest stood and said to them: “You have committed a terrible sin. By marrying pagan women, you have increased Israel’s guilt. 11 So now confess your sin to the Lord, the God of your ancestors, and do what he demands. Separate yourselves from the people of the land and from these pagan women.”
12 Then the whole assembly raised their voices and answered, “Yes, you are right; we must do as you say!” 13 Then they added, “This isn’t something that can be done in a day or two, for many of us are involved in this extremely sinful affair. And this is the rainy season, so we cannot stay out here much longer. 14 Let our leaders act on behalf of us all. Let everyone who has a pagan wife come at a scheduled time, accompanied by the leaders and judges of his city, so that the fierce anger of our God concerning this affair may be turned away from us.”
15 Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah opposed this course of action, and they were supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite.
16 So this was the plan they followed. Ezra selected leaders to represent their families, designating each of the representatives by name. On December 29, the leaders sat down to investigate the matter. 17 By March 27, the first day of the new year, they had finished dealing with all the men who had married pagan wives.
Those Guilty of Intermarriage
18 These are the priests who had married pagan wives:
From the family of Jeshua son of Jehozadak and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. 19 They vowed to divorce their wives, and they each acknowledged their guilt by offering a ram as a guilt offering.
20 From the family of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.
21 From the family of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.
22 From the family of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
23 These are the Levites who were guilty: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (also called Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
24 This is the singer who was guilty: Eliashib.
These are the gatekeepers who were guilty: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
25 These are the other people of Israel who were guilty:
From the family of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malkijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Hashabiah, and Benaiah.
26 From the family of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.
27 From the family of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.
28 From the family of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
29 From the family of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.
30 From the family of Pahath-moab: Adna, Kelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.
31 From the family of Harim: Eliezer, Ishijah, Malkijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, 32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.
33 From the family of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.
34 From the family of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel, 35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Keluhi, 36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu.
38 From the family of Binnui: Shimei, 39 Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, 40 Macnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 41 Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, 42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
43 From the family of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.
44 Each of these men had a pagan wife, and some even had children by these wives.
1 While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and lying face down on the ground in front of the Temple of God, a very large crowd of people from Israel—men, women, and children—gathered and wept bitterly with him. 2 Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, a descendant of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God, for we have married these pagan women of the land. But in spite of this there is hope for Israel. 3 Let us now make a covenant with our God to divorce our pagan wives and to send them away with their children. We will follow the advice given by you and by the others who respect the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law of God. 4 Get up, for it is your duty to tell us how to proceed in setting things straight. We are behind you, so be strong and take action.”
5 So Ezra stood up and demanded that the leaders of the priests and the Levites and all the people of Israel swear that they would do as Shecaniah had said. And they all swore a solemn oath. 6 Then Ezra left the front of the Temple of God and went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. He spent the night there without eating or drinking anything. He was still in mourning because of the unfaithfulness of the returned exiles.
7 Then a proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles should come to Jerusalem. 8 Those who failed to come within three days would, if the leaders and elders so decided, forfeit all their property and be expelled from the assembly of the exiles.
9 Within three days, all the people of Judah and Benjamin had gathered in Jerusalem. This took place on December 19, and all the people were sitting in the square before the Temple of God. They were trembling both because of the seriousness of the matter and because it was raining. 10 Then Ezra the priest stood and said to them: “You have committed a terrible sin. By marrying pagan women, you have increased Israel’s guilt. 11 So now confess your sin to the Lord, the God of your ancestors, and do what he demands. Separate yourselves from the people of the land and from these pagan women.”
12 Then the whole assembly raised their voices and answered, “Yes, you are right; we must do as you say!” 13 Then they added, “This isn’t something that can be done in a day or two, for many of us are involved in this extremely sinful affair. And this is the rainy season, so we cannot stay out here much longer. 14 Let our leaders act on behalf of us all. Let everyone who has a pagan wife come at a scheduled time, accompanied by the leaders and judges of his city, so that the fierce anger of our God concerning this affair may be turned away from us.”
15 Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah opposed this course of action, and they were supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite.
16 So this was the plan they followed. Ezra selected leaders to represent their families, designating each of the representatives by name. On December 29, the leaders sat down to investigate the matter. 17 By March 27, the first day of the new year, they had finished dealing with all the men who had married pagan wives.
Those Guilty of Intermarriage
18 These are the priests who had married pagan wives:
From the family of Jeshua son of Jehozadak and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. 19 They vowed to divorce their wives, and they each acknowledged their guilt by offering a ram as a guilt offering.
20 From the family of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.
21 From the family of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.
22 From the family of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
23 These are the Levites who were guilty: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (also called Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
24 This is the singer who was guilty: Eliashib.
These are the gatekeepers who were guilty: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
25 These are the other people of Israel who were guilty:
From the family of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malkijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Hashabiah, and Benaiah.
26 From the family of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.
27 From the family of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.
28 From the family of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
29 From the family of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.
30 From the family of Pahath-moab: Adna, Kelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.
31 From the family of Harim: Eliezer, Ishijah, Malkijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, 32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.
33 From the family of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.
34 From the family of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel, 35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Keluhi, 36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu.
38 From the family of Binnui: Shimei, 39 Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, 40 Macnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 41 Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, 42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
43 From the family of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.
44 Each of these men had a pagan wife, and some even had children by these wives.
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Studyin 1 Kings 18 w/ Lena's Journalin'
How do you think people feel about taking a message about things unseen, about declaring impossible feats about to happen? What does it take to present your life before an enemy and say what God has said that seems absurd to your mind?
Faith in God.
Not faith in what is, but faith in Who is, and who has spoken. Faith in the fact that you listened and heard Him.
How would you feel to tell someone else to risk their lives for the same word given you by God? They didn’t receive the word for themselves, but as with Esther, were given the word of direction from someone human, who is not God? What would it take to both deliver and receive and believe that kind of word?
Faith in God.
Trusting men, always takes faith in God.
God never told us to trust men directly. Follow them, while you trust God. What if they are mistaken or go the wrong way? Is God great enough to make the repair? Is He great enough to heal a wound their mistake may have inflicted on you? Is hHe great enough in your life to redirect you rightly? Or help them lead better?
Have you been summonsed to believe the unbelievable and follow human lead, all the while, trusting God?
What about to the risking of your own life, especially the making of adjustments of your own vision and plans?
Esther, who’d made it into the king’s palace, must have had a few ideas for what her life would now be, and when Mordecai came in with, “Hey Esther how about risking your life for the word God gave me?” She really had to consider it before diving in. What’d she mostly have to consider? Extending and risking her own life for the cause, which seemed to be someone else’s problem and vision.
Hey Obadiah, you go tell my enemy I’m here. That may sound like a funny game to you, but who’s life would be immediately at stake? The messenger, right? Risky business! Kingdom business always is.
You and your family are the troublemakers, for you have refused to obey the commands of the LORD and have worshiped the images of Baal instead.
Many times, we wonder why trouble is upon us. Can we honestly ask ourselves, “Do I wholeheartedly obey the voice of the Lord in every instance? How long does it take me to heed His voice, through either a direct line or an indirect line? Do I always give my time and attention to God on a first priority level, or have I put Him on the leftover cart, fitting Him into my life, if it works in all else I do in life?” (By the way, that is likened to worshiping “other gods”. It has everything to do with priority.)
These are important questions a humble heart is willing to ask of himself, daily. If we are honest within ourselves, we’ll not be deceived by an outward enemy, the enemy of our souls.
The devil hates when we choose to obey God, even in the smallest of things, for it releases us from His death grip and causes life to come flood us with blessing. He hates to see anyone be blessed, for he knows his eminent doom and wants recruits to be in the torment line with him! He’s all about taking captives into hells’ fire with him. He’s all about stealing God’s chosen ones, and making them his slaves and children.
How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!
Do you really think not deciding, is like being undecided? It isn’t with God, we are always either all in or all out, really. Once one chooses not to believe God they automatically chose to believe an unrighteous father figure.
Does His will and the building of His kingdom on earth consume you? If it doesn’t something else is, this is why fire licks up sacrifices. The life is given, consumed, all given, non-recognizable.
What does it take for one to give their life up to an unseen God or unto following imperfect men, to the point of major life change and consummation of what is, was, and what could be?
Faith in God. Trust in God.
Who is really your god?
You?
or
Baal (or “Other”)?
Jehovah – Lord of the universe, Lord of All (ultimately), Lord of you?
I have seen us so deceived, we answer far too quickly. We immediately say, “Oh God is My God”, but God wants us to see how we are living and gage it by how we do live, not how we intend to live.
To whom we obey, that is who we currently serve.
If God is God to you, serve Him, give your life, time, dreams, strength, love, etc., to Him. If not, don’t just go through the motion of doing so, when it is not so, just serve Baal.
I was thinking if we stopped going through religious dutiful motions and just did what our hearts are saying, maybe we’d see the true error of wrong thoughts or decisions, maybe it would cause us to run home to our Father quicker. When we act right, but aren’t right, we prolong our deception under the covering of religion. If we’d not allow ourselves the luxury of looking religious, it could be such a wake up call, we’d change quickly in the discomfort and true revelation of being on the fence.
Maybe we’d be more appreciative and more willing to rebuild what is torn down, even in other’s lives.
Do we believe in the power of God, in the most impossible of situations?
When we find who it is we really serve, and either strengthen that faith, or turn and serve who it is that is just, and true, and holy, we need to annihilate those who are against the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in our personal lives, we need to rid ourselves of the traces of his lies, past, present, and future, allow not one enemy to remain.
Why?
The promise needs to be fulfilled for us and for the world we live in. There has been a drought of those who overcome, there has been a drought of those who will go on to perfection, those who will continue in the walk of faith.
The world needs the rain of the Holy Spirit. It needs men who will command the times and seasons and look for, and bring the rain.
Faith in God.
Not faith in what is, but faith in Who is, and who has spoken. Faith in the fact that you listened and heard Him.
How would you feel to tell someone else to risk their lives for the same word given you by God? They didn’t receive the word for themselves, but as with Esther, were given the word of direction from someone human, who is not God? What would it take to both deliver and receive and believe that kind of word?
Faith in God.
Trusting men, always takes faith in God.
God never told us to trust men directly. Follow them, while you trust God. What if they are mistaken or go the wrong way? Is God great enough to make the repair? Is He great enough to heal a wound their mistake may have inflicted on you? Is hHe great enough in your life to redirect you rightly? Or help them lead better?
Have you been summonsed to believe the unbelievable and follow human lead, all the while, trusting God?
What about to the risking of your own life, especially the making of adjustments of your own vision and plans?
Esther, who’d made it into the king’s palace, must have had a few ideas for what her life would now be, and when Mordecai came in with, “Hey Esther how about risking your life for the word God gave me?” She really had to consider it before diving in. What’d she mostly have to consider? Extending and risking her own life for the cause, which seemed to be someone else’s problem and vision.
Hey Obadiah, you go tell my enemy I’m here. That may sound like a funny game to you, but who’s life would be immediately at stake? The messenger, right? Risky business! Kingdom business always is.
You and your family are the troublemakers, for you have refused to obey the commands of the LORD and have worshiped the images of Baal instead.
Many times, we wonder why trouble is upon us. Can we honestly ask ourselves, “Do I wholeheartedly obey the voice of the Lord in every instance? How long does it take me to heed His voice, through either a direct line or an indirect line? Do I always give my time and attention to God on a first priority level, or have I put Him on the leftover cart, fitting Him into my life, if it works in all else I do in life?” (By the way, that is likened to worshiping “other gods”. It has everything to do with priority.)
These are important questions a humble heart is willing to ask of himself, daily. If we are honest within ourselves, we’ll not be deceived by an outward enemy, the enemy of our souls.
The devil hates when we choose to obey God, even in the smallest of things, for it releases us from His death grip and causes life to come flood us with blessing. He hates to see anyone be blessed, for he knows his eminent doom and wants recruits to be in the torment line with him! He’s all about taking captives into hells’ fire with him. He’s all about stealing God’s chosen ones, and making them his slaves and children.
How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!
Do you really think not deciding, is like being undecided? It isn’t with God, we are always either all in or all out, really. Once one chooses not to believe God they automatically chose to believe an unrighteous father figure.
Does His will and the building of His kingdom on earth consume you? If it doesn’t something else is, this is why fire licks up sacrifices. The life is given, consumed, all given, non-recognizable.
What does it take for one to give their life up to an unseen God or unto following imperfect men, to the point of major life change and consummation of what is, was, and what could be?
Faith in God. Trust in God.
Who is really your god?
You?
or
Baal (or “Other”)?
Jehovah – Lord of the universe, Lord of All (ultimately), Lord of you?
I have seen us so deceived, we answer far too quickly. We immediately say, “Oh God is My God”, but God wants us to see how we are living and gage it by how we do live, not how we intend to live.
To whom we obey, that is who we currently serve.
If God is God to you, serve Him, give your life, time, dreams, strength, love, etc., to Him. If not, don’t just go through the motion of doing so, when it is not so, just serve Baal.
I was thinking if we stopped going through religious dutiful motions and just did what our hearts are saying, maybe we’d see the true error of wrong thoughts or decisions, maybe it would cause us to run home to our Father quicker. When we act right, but aren’t right, we prolong our deception under the covering of religion. If we’d not allow ourselves the luxury of looking religious, it could be such a wake up call, we’d change quickly in the discomfort and true revelation of being on the fence.
Maybe we’d be more appreciative and more willing to rebuild what is torn down, even in other’s lives.
Do we believe in the power of God, in the most impossible of situations?
When we find who it is we really serve, and either strengthen that faith, or turn and serve who it is that is just, and true, and holy, we need to annihilate those who are against the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in our personal lives, we need to rid ourselves of the traces of his lies, past, present, and future, allow not one enemy to remain.
Why?
The promise needs to be fulfilled for us and for the world we live in. There has been a drought of those who overcome, there has been a drought of those who will go on to perfection, those who will continue in the walk of faith.
The world needs the rain of the Holy Spirit. It needs men who will command the times and seasons and look for, and bring the rain.
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