Millsap Marvels

1 Samuel 27-28

2009-05-28T12:27:00.001-07:00

1 Samuel 27-28
5 When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. 6 He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.
First of all, what a great message from Carlynn today on TRUSTING God! Vs 5, Saul was afraid and terror filled his heart. He inquired of the Lord but He didn’t answer to instead of waiting patiently for Gods answer, Saul sought out a ”medium” or a spiritist.
Vs 11-13 show that the “medium” wasn’t used to people responding when she’d call on the dead! She cried out (vs 12) and Saul said to her “don’t be afraid, what do you see?”
Having her summon Samuel, Samuel didn’t have good news for Saul! He reiterated what Saul already knew, that God had turned away from Saul because of his disobedience when he didn’t destroy the Amalekites. On top of that, Samuel told Saul that he and his sons and his army would all be destroyed by the Philistines.
Acts 9-
Here is a person in History that God CHOSE, predestined to do His will and who fully repented/turned from his life of sin! Saul was a persecutor of Christians and God blinded him on the road telling him what he needed to do. (vs 6)

When God called to Ananias (vs 10) he was hesitant to obey the Lord and said (vs 13) “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” God replied to Ananias “Go! In other words, don’t ask questions, I have a plan and know what I’m doing! Vs 15 “This man is my chosen instrument.”
Reading through this passage, Paul hadn’t received the Holy Spirit yet until Ananias arrived at his home (vs 17).
The Disciples were afraid of Saul too until Barnabas told them how the Lord had spoken to him.
Paul’s life is a testimony of true faith, he turned from his life of sin and vs 22 “22Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.” He became more and more powerful, PROVING Jesus is the Christ! Vs 27 says Paul “preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus” and vs 28 he “spoke boldly in the name of the Lord.” Thos are powerful words! He had confidence, assurance in what he believed!

Because of Paul’s testimony, the church was strengthened, encouraged and it grew! (vs31) That verse also said they were “living in fear of the Lord.” The people were fearing God more than man! Matthew 10:28 "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
The woman Docas (vs 36) had died and Peter, got down on his knees and prayed! God heard Peter’s prayers and raised her from the dead and as a result MANY people believed in the Lord!
God, I thank you that you hear our prayers and that you answer them God!

2 Samuel 21-22 Acts 21-

2009-05-21T08:59:00.001-07:00

2 Samuel 21-22
This is the first chapter in a few chapters where David consults the Lord again and it's because of a famine!

17 But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David's rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him. Then David's men swore to him, saying, "Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel will not be extinguished."

This sentence makes so much sense to me! Why did the Kings always go out into battle with their men?

David writes a song to God describing His greatness! I think these were my favorite verses. 31 "As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. 32 For who is God besides the LORD ? And who is the Rock except our God?

Acts 21-
Paul's friends tried to persuade him not to go to Jerusalem because of the persecution he would face there! Instead, Paul answered, "vs 13 Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."

Paul goes on to preach and the people of the city seized him, dragged him out of the temple and tried to kill him! Roman troops saved Paul as he was being beaten. The bound him and carried him to the barracks because the violence of the mob was so great! It's just amazing to see what Paul endured over and over again for the gospel. Even when facing physical pain, he preached!

God, thank you for this day you've created! God, help me to be more like Paul, when faced with conflict of persecution, to persevere because YOU God are more important than what man thinks!

2 Samuel 19-20 Acts 20-

2009-05-20T21:14:00.001-07:00

2 Samuel 19-20

Joab sure wasn't afraid to speak his mind against the King whom God had anointed! Sometimes we need that friend who'll confront us harshly with what needs to be said! "6 You love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that the commanders and their men mean nothing to you. I see that you would be pleased if Absalom were alive today and all of us were dead.7 Now go out and encourage your men. I swear by the LORD that if you don't go out, not a man will be left with you by nightfall. This will be worse for you than all the calamities that have come upon you from your youth till now."

18 They crossed at the ford to take the king's household over and to do whatever he wished. When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell prostrate before the king 19 and said to him, "May my lord not hold me guilty. Do not remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind. 20 For I your servant know that I have sinned, but today I have come here as the first of the whole house of Joseph to come down and meet my lord the king."

After wronging the King, Shimei was quick and humble to apologize! He fell prostrate at the king and confessed his sin.

3 When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to take care of the palace and put them in a house under guard. He provided for them, but did not lie with them. They were kept in confinement till the day of their death, living as widows.

This is so sad! Because Abasalam had publicly humiliated the concubines of David, they lived out the remainder of their days as widows!

(vs 1) Now a troublemaker named Sheba revolved against David, taking men of Israel with him! David said he would be more trouble than Absalam was and to hunt him down. Upon arriving at Abel Beth Maacah they started to destroy the city trying to get in to get Sheba. A "wise woman" asked to speak with Joab and found out that he only wanted Sheba! They cut his head off and threw it over the wall of the city!

Acts 20-
(vs 1-2) Despite all that Paul encountered or knew what was coming, he spoke words of encouragement to the disciples! Paul has such a testimony!

24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. "

Paul warns the men too that wolves will come to try and destroy the flock and to beware of them! 30Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

God, help me to guard against whatever wolves might come, help me to speak words of encouragement like Paul did, and to remember my life is yours to do whatever you want with it! Help me to share the gospel with those who need to hear and that their eyes may be opened to the truth. When trouble comes too God, help me to be wise, like the woman in 2 Samuel who saved her whole town by simply asking Joab what he wanted! Thank you for the friends in my life who exhort me in the truth! Lord, most of all, when I sin like Shimei did, help me to fall prostrate and confess it to you right away God!

2009-05-19T14:39:00.000-07:00

Acts 17-
The first Century church faced so many things that I've NEVER seen today. Speaking in tongues, laying on of hands, evil spirits that dwelled inside of people and then physically attacked other Christians!

14 Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel." For the LORD had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.

God listened to the prayers of David and Ahithophel gives Absalom advice to attack David! This would have been horrible for Absalom's group if they proceeded to do that! Ahithopel then commits suicide because Absalom didn't follow his advice.

It's good to see David's men warning him, staying loyal to them, hiding in a well to get the information to David, and how people brought David pottery, bedding and food too!

David wants to ride out with his troops but his men say it's better for him to stay home. We then see David say "I will do whatever seems best to you." We don't see David inquiring of the Lord!

Absalom, while attacking the Kings men, was riding a mule and his head got caught up in a tree. David had asked his men not to kill him (even though he was a threat). Davids men killed him and David says at the end of the chapter he wishes it was him that died instead of his son. (vs 33)

Lord, help me to be bold like Paul, who spoke out dispite opposition! Help me to seek guidance from you, Like David used to do.

2 Samuel 13-14 Acts 17-

2009-05-18T00:44:00.002-07:00

2 Samuel 13-14

David's son did a horrible evil thing to his sister Tamar yet David didn't punish his son! Absalom (another of David's sons and Tamars brother) decided to take matters into his own hands and had Amnon killed.

Absalom (vs 33) isn't accustomed to waiting around for answers! He sends for Joab, twice, so he can send a message to the King. When Joab doesn't come, Absalom has his field burned down! That got Joab's attention and the King then met with Absalom! Poor Tamar, that her father wouldn't avenge the wrong doing and for living her life desolate and with her brother. She'd even spoken out against the act Absalom was about to do! He sinned against her and it effected her the rest of her life :(

14 Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But God does not take away life; instead, he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him.

Just like 2 Samuel reminds us, we will all die on this earth. Still, God provides a way for us to not be estranged from Himself, if we repent of our sins and live with faith and trust in Jesus Christ!

Acts 17-
I just read through this chapter last night while reviewing Partners chapter 1!

11Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 12Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.

30In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.

God, help me to examine the scriptures daily and with eagerness! Help me to repent of my sins, to throw off the things that so easily entangle and let me run with perseverance the race marked out for me.

2 Samuel 11-12 Acts 16-

2009-05-18T00:44:00.001-07:00

2 Samuel 9-10 Acts 14-

2009-05-16T00:44:00.001-07:00

2 Samuel 9-10

I've been noticing most passages that David inquired of the Lord. He doesn't say that in this passage. He sends his men to the Ammonites and his men are captured and come home humiliated.

The Israelites had enemies in front and behind them yet Joab knew God was in control. He said "12 Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The LORD will do what is good in his sight."

Acts-

Vs 8, Peter is speaking about whether or not the Gentiles are saved and need circumcision. He writes "God who knows the heart." Vs 8 says how "God made a choice" and gave them the Holy Spirit just like He'd given the Holy Spirit to the Jews. Vs 11 says "We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved."

Verse 39 says that Paul and Barnabas had "such a sharp disagreement that they parted company." To the best of our ability we should try to promote unity among the church and try to be like-minded with our Christian brethren.

God, I am so thankful to know you know my heart and for salvation! Help me Lord to promote unity and stay away from disagreements that cause division.

2 Samuel 7-8 Acts 14

2009-05-15T00:04:00.000-07:00

2 Samuel 7-8
10 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning 11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. " 'The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me ; your throne will be established forever.' "

I assume God is telling David about Jesus, how Jesus will be punished for our sins and how God will set up an eternal kingdom through Jesus. (Vs 10-15) and that when God refers to a place where the Israelites won't be disturbed, he's talking about heaven? It's good to read through the 2 gospels that show the line of David and how Jesus came through them.

David had a high view of God! God continued to bless David and gave him victory wherever he went. (vs 14) 22 "How great you are, O Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.

23 And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? 24 You have established your people Israel as your very own forever, and you, O LORD, have become their God.
28 O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. 29 Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, O Sovereign LORD, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever."

15 David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.

Sovereign Lord, You are God! Thank you God for being in charge, for being trustworthy, for promising us eternal life in your kingdom. Thank you for giving life to the gentiles and now just the jew. Just as David did with his people, help me to do what is just and right in Your sight.

Acts
2But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.

The words that we say effect other people! Here we have disgruntled Jews who "stirred up and poisoned minds"! We see this too when Stephen was stoned, men bringing false witnesses to testify against him!

Still, despite the opposition, Paul and Barnabas "spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord." (vs 3) God enabled them to perform signs and miracles for the people. Paul walks over to a lame man and was able to SEE how he had faith to be healed. (vs 9) I wonder what that looked like? A crippled man looking intently by, could Paul read his thoughts or see his soul?

Paul was persecuted for speaking boldly and then asked the people....15"Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. Their response (vs 19) They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 20But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe. 21They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. 22strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.

27On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

After being stoned, Paul got up and walked right back into the city! Wow. He continued to preach the good news through various places, he strengthened and encouraged the disciples and testified that we as Christians will face hardships, in fact, it says "MANY" hardships!

2 Samuel 3-6 Acts 12-13

2009-05-13T00:53:00.000-07:00

God, I thank you for an awesome care meeting today, that you're growing the ministry at CBC and blessing us with more people to serve!

1 The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

So interesting to see that David demanded his wife (Saul's daughter) be returned to him!

Poor Abner was trying to help get David into his rightful position as King over Israel and was murdered because Joab didn't wait on the Lord for revenge but sought revenge for his brothers death himself.

2 men set out on their own agenda to kill Ish-Bosheth without consulting David. When they kill the man, David doesn't respond they way they thought he would! 11 when wicked men have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed—should I not now demand his blood from your hand and rid the earth of you!" David had them put to death!

Acts 12-
King Herod had Peter arrested (after killing James, brother of John). He had LOTS of men guarding Peter in prison! (vs 4 four squads of four soldiers each)

5So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

The reaction to the woman at the door stating Peter was there, it's so funny! They are praying God will release Peter and God hears and answers their prayers and they don't believe it!

12When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!" 15"You're out of your mind," they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, "It must be his angel."16But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.

God, when I pray, help me not to doubt that you 1) hear my prayers 2)can and will answer in your timing.

2 Samuel 5-6

4 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years.
10 And he became more and more powerful, because the LORD God Almighty was with him.

12 And David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

19 so David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?" The LORD answered him, "Go, for I will surely hand the Philistines over to you."

23 so David inquired of the LORD, and he answered, "Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.
24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the LORD has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army."

How cool to hear (vs 24) the sounds of marching in the tops of the trees because God was with them, striking down the enemies in front of them.

Again and again we see David coming before the presence of the Lord asking for guidance before making decisions.

16 As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart.

I really feel for Michal in this passage. Her father had given her away in marriage to David, then took her back and married her off to another man. Then David says he wants his wife back after 7 years and he'd already married 2 other women. Then, he becomes king and takes on more wives and concubines! She sees David happy and blessed and vs 16 says "she despised him in her heart." She ends up speaking out to her husband in disrespect (vs 20) and God didn't allow her to have any children because of it.

Sometimes the attitudes we have in our hearts can be SIN too! It's not always an outward act. We need to be fully aware of our thoughts and as Paul says in 2 Corinthians "5We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 6and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete."

2 Samuel 1-2 Acts 11-

2009-05-11T23:03:00.000-07:00

2 Samuel 1-2
It’s interesting that 2nd Samuel is named 2nd Samuel, even though Samuel died in 1st Samuel ☺

13 David said to the young man who brought him the report, "Where are you from?" "I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite," he answered. 14 David asked him, "Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?" 15 Then David called one of his men and said, "Go, strike him down!" So he struck him down, and he died. 16 For David had said to him, "Your blood be on your own head. Your own mouth testified against you when you said, 'I killed the LORD's anointed.' "

Ignorance of the law is no excuse….when God tells us not to do something, we should obey and be in fear if we don’t! This man killed Saul and for that, it cost him his life!

1 In the course of time, David inquired of the LORD. "Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?" he asked. The LORD said, "Go up." David asked, "Where shall I go?" "To Hebron," the LORD answered.

Here again we see David inquiring of the Lord before he makes any moves!

4 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. When David was told that it was the men of Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul, 5 he sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead to say to them, "The LORD bless you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him.

After Saul had been beheaded and his body hung on a wall, the men of Jabest Gilead buried Saul. Because they did that, David asked God to bless them for showing kindness.

I thought ALL of Sauls sons died on the battlefield but Vs 9 says there was another son. 8 Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul's army, had taken Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim.

We have 2 Kingdoms, Judah (David) and Israel (Saul/Saul’s son) This fight between the Israelites and men of Judah/David is so weird. Let’s stand across from each other and fight one another! Whoever has the most men at the end of the fight wins the battle, really? Amazingly, 360 men with Abner (Israel) were killed and only 20 of David’s men were missing.

Acts 11-

17So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?" 18When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."

22News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

He encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.

26and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

I liked how verse 26 says the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

Thank you God for saving both Jews and Gentiles. Help us to encourage our fellow Christians to remain true to You and true to Your word. Psalm 119:11 “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

1 Samuel 29-31 Acts 10-

2009-05-10T23:57:00.001-07:00

1 Samuel 29-31
Things looked bad for David. The Philistine army didn’t want David and his men to fight with them even though David had done nothing wrong. When they returned home, their village had been burned and the wives and children captured. David’s men were bitter and wanted to stone David. Then, vs 6 says “but David found strength in the LORD his God.” Vs 8 “David inquired of the LORD”.

Pursuing the Amalekites, they found a slave who’d been abandoned. David was kind to him, giving him food and water and in return, the slave led them to the Amalekites! God always provides! ☺ Vs 18, David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken (vs 19) nothing was missing.
It’s sad to see in chapter 31 the deaths of Saul and his 3 sons and what was done to their bodies.

Acts 10-
Cornelius is a man we should model after! Vs 2 “He and all his family were devout and God fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.”
Vs 9 Peter went up on the roof to pray. I can imagine that would be a very peaceful place free from distractions!

This verse to me says we shouldn’t be praying to people other than God (Saints). Peter says to Cornelius “I am only a man.” We also shouldn’t be prejudice!
25As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence.
26But Peter made him get up. "Stand up," he said, "I am only a man myself." 28He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. 4Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.

Lord, thank you for Mother’s Day! Help me God to find my strength daily in You as David did and to inquire of you as I raise my children and try to honor my husband. Help me not to show prejudice or favoritism or exult some people more than others, but to view everyone as equal, sinners in need of a Savior.

1 Samuel 27-28 Acts 9-

2009-05-09T23:00:00.000-07:00

1 Samuel 27-28
5 When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. 6 He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.
First of all, what a great message from Carlynn today on TRUSTING God! Vs 5, Saul was afraid and terror filled his heart. He inquired of the Lord but He didn’t answer to instead of waiting patiently for Gods answer, Saul sought out a ”medium” or a spiritist.
Vs 11-13 show that the “medium” wasn’t used to people responding when she’d call on the dead! She cried out (vs 12) and Saul said to her “don’t be afraid, what do you see?”
Having her summon Samuel, Samuel didn’t have good news for Saul! He reiterated what Saul already knew, that God had turned away from Saul because of his disobedience when he didn’t destroy the Amalekites. On top of that, Samuel told Saul that he and his sons and his army would all be destroyed by the Philistines.
Acts 9-
Here is a person in History that God CHOSE, predestined to do His will and who fully repented/turned from his life of sin! Saul was a persecutor of Christians and God blinded him on the road telling him what he needed to do. (vs 6)

When God called to Ananias (vs 10) he was hesitant to obey the Lord and said (vs 13) “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” God replied to Ananias “Go! In other words, don’t ask questions, I have a plan and know what I’m doing! Vs 15 “This man is my chosen instrument.”
Reading through this passage, Paul hadn’t received the Holy Spirit yet until Ananias arrived at his home (vs 17).
The Disciples were afraid of Saul too until Barnabas told them how the Lord had spoken to him.
Paul’s life is a testimony of true faith, he turned from his life of sin and vs 22 “22Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.” He became more and more powerful, PROVING Jesus is the Christ! Vs 27 says Paul “preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus” and vs 28 he “spoke boldly in the name of the Lord.” Thos are powerful words! He had confidence, assurance in what he believed!

Because of Paul’s testimony, the church was strengthened, encouraged and it grew! (vs31) That verse also said they were “living in fear of the Lord.” The people were fearing God more than man! Matthew 10:28 "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
The woman Dorcas (vs 36) had died and Peter, got down on his knees and prayed! God heard Peter’s prayers and raised her from the dead and as a result MANY people believed in the Lord!
God, I thank you that you hear our prayers and that you answer them God!

1 Samuel 25-26 Acts 8

2009-05-08T22:33:00.000-07:00

Ok so David is married (to Saul’s daughter!) and then meets Abigail who’s also married. Vs3 His name was Nabal and his wife's name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband, a Calebite, was surly and mean in his dealings.
Ya don’t find many beautiful AND intelligent women ;) Her husband was a mean man, hurling insults at David’s men and he wasn’t generous either. Vs 17 calls him a wicked man! Abigail’s servant said to think over what could be done to right the wrongs her husband had done to David and wasting no time she sprung into action. Abigail saved the life of her “foolish” husband by being humble and bowing down before David with gifts for his men. When Abigail told her husband what she’d done for David, God ended up taking his life 10 days later! Since Abigail’s husband died, David asked her to be his wife and married another woman named Ahinoam. Saul gave David’s wife 44 But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David's wife, to Paltiel son of Laish, who was from Gallim. I totally don’t get the whole multiple wives thing of the Old Testament! I understand the great commission but when did that all change to one wife, one husband!?
I thought in the last two chapters we read that Saul decided not to pursue David anymore! Here in this chapter, he’s still following David and again at the end of the chapter he says “I will try not to harm you again.”
Acts-
3But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
God, so often to I think of this sort of thing happening someday in the United States! People going house to house, dragging the Christians into prison. I thank you God that for now, we live in a free Country where we can worship you and read your Word!
What a powerful work you performed in Saul, transforming his life God!
People were baptized, then they came to the apostles and they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
15When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
We’re also unable to “buy” God. Simon offered to pay to receive the gift of giving the Holy Spirit to others. We need to be aware of our motives and be sure to
“ your heart is not right before God. 22Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin."
(vs 26-29) Here we see Philip obeying the Spirit of the Lord and the Eunuch was saved because Philip did what the Spirit said! When the Holy Spirit prompts us, we need to be prepared and obedient to do what it says!

1 Samuel 23-24 Acts 7-

2009-05-08T00:14:00.000-07:00

1 Samuel 23-24
When things went wrong with the Philistines, “David inquired of the LORD”. People would question David, saying they were in fear and again, David inquired of the LORD!
God, I need to inquire you more! You have all the answers, I stupidly assume I know the right answers. God, I need to depend on you, rely on you, ask you!
Vs 14, Day after day Saul searched for David but God did not give David into his hands!
It’s awesome to see that God had a plan for David’s life and Saul wasn’t going to thwart that!
16 And Saul's son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. 17 "Don't be afraid," he said. "My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this."
What an encouraging friend Jonathan was to David. He told David just what he needed to hear, he “helped him find strength in God”. Lord, I pray that you’ll give me the right words to help encourage others who need it.
Saul had this sick obsession to kill David when he hadn’t done anything wrong to Saul! As he got closer to David, the Philistines raided their land. Saul made a choice whether to continue pursuing David or rid the Philistines of the land and he chose to fight the Philistines. (Vs 28) Once the Philistines were gone, Saul went right back to chasing David.
10 This day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, 'I will not lift my hand against my master, because he is the LORD's anointed.'11 See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. Now understand and recognize that I am not guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life.
God gave David the opportunity here to kill Saul yet David knew killing the anointed King whom God had chosen was wrong! Instead, David confronted Saul, Saul wept (vs 16) and resolved not to pursue David any longer. (vs 22)
Acts 7-
The history of the Old Testament is just amazing, how God orchestrates everything that happened! From Joseph being sold into slavery who then became high in command in Egypt, to Moses being born, protected then raised in Egypt and led the slaves out of Egypt! I love reading vs 9 how “but God was with him”. Joseph’s been sold into slavery. Genesis 50:20 "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.
At 80 years old, Moses proceeded to lead the people out of Israel (34I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.')
People stopped thinking about Moses and God and turned to their own idols (41That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf. They brought sacrifices to it and held a celebration in honor of what their hands had made.) We constantly need to be directing our thoughts and prayers to God…if we don’t, it can bring about sin and destruction!
Vs 50 Has not my hand made all these things?'

Stephen testified, he shared the truth of the Bible, he said that these people had killed the prophets (vs 52) and they’d killed Jesus (The righteous One) and the people stoned him for it. Still, even when dying, Stephen called out to the Lord “do not hold this sin against him”. It’s so weird too to see that Saul was present at Stephens stoning.
Vs 53 reminds us that we’ve received the law but we need to obey the law! We need to not resist the Holy Spirit (vs 51). If God has called us to do something, we need to do it and with a right attitude.
God, thank you for this passage of scripture that I needed to read today. God, I need to pray more to you and not take things all on myself. Thank you that we can come to you at anytime and that you hear my prayers!

Samuel 21-22 Acts 6-

2009-05-06T20:32:00.001-07:00

Samuel 21-
vs 12 David was very much afraid of king Achish and pretended to be insane and acted like a madman! Why? So they would send him away unharmed?

WOW! Saul was so intent on capturing David that when a priest had given David bread and Goliath's sword, Saul killed him and 85 others!

David had a very sad group of people following him "2 All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him." Then, the son of Ahimelech (Saul had killed his family) also stayed with David because David said vs 22-23 "I am responsible for the death of your father's whole family. 23 Stay with me; don't be afraid; the man who is seeking your life is seeking mine also. You will be safe with me." David didn't know what could happen to Ahimelechs family yet still took responsibility for Saul's actions. In truth, Saul really was responsible for his actions and murders!

Acts 6-
When a need came up in the church, the disciples delegated to other men who could accomplish the tasks at hand! in this chapter, the widows were being overlooked and weren't receiving food! They chose 7 men to look over them. What a great reminder that we need to be serving the church body in whatever way is needed so that the preachers and teachers can attend to their jobs, instructing the flock! :)

It's so sad to see in this chapter that a man of God, who was filled with faith and the holy spirit (vs 5) would be blasphemed about! They lied, spread rumors and untruths, and "stirred up the people and elders and the teachers of the law" vs 12. They had false witnesses, the men were liars!

God, we know that Satan is the father of all lies. He lives to thwart the truth of your Word! I'm thankful that he will be punished someday for all the grief he's put on the people of this world. Help me God to share truth with people who claim to not know the truth!

1 Samuel 19-20

2009-05-05T08:56:00.001-07:00

1 Samuel 19-20
Jonathan tells Saul all of the good things David has done for him and how he shouldn’t hurt Saul. Saul makes an oath that he won’t put David to death yet we see he doesn’t try and keep that promise!

We need to be careful what we say, that it matches our actions! Don’t make promises I can’t keep.
This chapter talks a lot about the spirit coming upon people and how they started prophesying…
Saul really had an anger problem and I don’t think I would have kept spears near the King because he was prone to throw them at people! In vs 34 we see that Saul threw a spear at Jonathan, his own son!

Acts-
19But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out.
They were jailed for preaching, the Lord released them from prison and they went right back to teaching! (vs 25) Even a jail couldn’t contain men who were doing God’s will! He opened the doors!
Vs 28 We must obey God rather than men!
39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." 40His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

I liked verse 39, if these people are from God, you won’t be able to stop them, you’ll only be fighting against God. I need to remember we’re in a battle here on earth and have my armor ready and prepared to fight! My best weapon is knowing the Word of God.
The Disciples rejoiced because they’d be persecuted for Christ! They knew the truth and couldn’t withhold the news from people! They’d been commanded by God to proclaim the good news and that’s what they did! They feared God more than man!
Lord, help me not to be afraid of what others may say or think, help me to speak up, to be bold, to be willing to suffer persecution so that the good news can be proclaimed!

1 Samuel 17-18

2009-05-04T08:30:00.001-07:00

10 Then the Philistine said, "This day I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other." 11 On hearing the Philistine's words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified

26 David asked the men standing near him, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?"

Goliath was over 9 feet tall. For 40 days Goliah came out and challenged the Israelites. Nowhere does it say that Saul ever tried to consult the Lord during this time! They were afraid! Goliah was insulting God!

David wouldn’t take no for an answer, he knew he could triumph. He knew that God was on his side, no matter how small he was or hor large Goliah was! He had faith and trust! What an awesome testimony that David wasn’t afraid and spoke out against Goliath! He had such assurance!

37 The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you." 45 David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."

I like too how David said in front of everyone what was going to take place. Goliath was going to die and he was going to cut his head off!

9 And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. 10 The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully upon Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the harp, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand 11 and he hurled it, saying to himself, "I'll pin David to the wall." But David eluded him twice. 12 Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had left Saul.

Here we have David and Saul, God had taken his spirit from Saul and given it to David. This made Saul jealous and afraid (vs 15) of what David could accomplish. He tried to kill David and plot against him by having him fight the Philistines for Michals hand. All that Saul planned for David’s destruction didn’t happen. Vs 14 talking about David, 14 In everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him. If Saul could have put his feelings aside, he probably could have been a good mentor to David, having reigned in power for so many years and having known what upsets the Lord from his past experience. Instead Saul became David’s enemy!

Vs 28 When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David, 29 Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.

Lord, help me not to get caught up in my feelings that would hinder me from doing your will. I don’t want to be fearful of anything, I only want to fear You who can kill body and soul and want to do your will for my life. Help me to be confident like David.

1 Samuel 15-16

2009-05-03T22:32:00.002-07:00

Samuel SPECIFICALLY tells Saul to destroy EVERYTHING and he blatantly disobeys and makes excuses for his sin!!

9 But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs—everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.

10 Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel: 11 "I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions." Samuel was troubled, and he cried out to the LORD all that night.

Samuel goes to meet Saul and found Vs 12 he set up a monument in his own honor. I believe it was GOD that made Sauls battle against the Amalekites successful so why would he need his own monument?

We see that unless we FULLY obey, it’s sin and disobedience and it grieves God. Also, we can’t applaud ourselves for the good things that come into our lives, they are all from God and He deserves the glory and praise.

Samuel goes on to say that Saul was in rebellion against God and arrogant! Vs 23 The excuses Saul makes are so sad, “the men brought back the cattle and plunder” vs 22 and 24 e confesses he’s sinned then blames the people vs 24 saying he was afraid of them so he gave in to sin! We shouldn’t make excuses for sin!

I am thankful that God is a God that doesn’t lie or change His mind. He’s not a man, He is God! (vs 29)

1 Samuel 16

1 The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king."

God doesn’t want us to mourn for long, or wallow in the guilt of our sin. He wants us to move forward, confessing sins or coming to the understanding that things only happen when He wills it to happen. We need to move forward and do His will. Nothing is a surprise to God.

7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

We need to not look at the outward appearance of man but to try and view people as God views them!

13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah. 14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. 23 Whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would take his harp and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.

I thought these verses were interesting that God sent an evil spirit to torment Saul! Then, to bring relief, Saul would call on David (who’d been announced King and Saul didn’t know it!) and the evil spirit would depart him.

Samuel

2009-05-03T22:32:00.001-07:00

7He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.
The Disciples were asking Jesus questions and his response was, it’s not for us to know the dates and times. I think this is a good reminder to not ask WHY so much, God tells us to do something or if something happens we should respond the way He wants and not ask why.
11"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
Oh Lord, just as you left in the sky, you’ll come back through the sky! God, I pray in my lifetime to see you return! I want to be part of hearing those trumpets sound and seeing you return for your children to take us home to our eternal dwelling place! I anticipate that day!
12 The people then said to Samuel, "Who was it that asked, 'Shall Saul reign over us?' Bring these men to us and we will put them to death." 13 But Saul said, "No one shall be put to death today, for this day the LORD has rescued Israel."
I thought this passage was great! Paul had the peoples support in killing the men who mocked him! Instead though, he really let God deal with those people since vengeance is the Lords! He decided to focus the day on how the Lord had saved them instead of making it about how he’d been wronged by others.
14 If you fear the LORD and serve and obey him and do not rebel against his commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the LORD your God-good! 15 But if you do not obey the LORD, and if you rebel against his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your fathers. 16 "Now then, stand still and see this great thing the LORD is about to do before your eyes! 20 "Do not be afraid," Samuel replied. "You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. 21 Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. 24 But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.
Just like the Israelites, we need to 1) fear the Lord 2)obey Him 3)serve Him will all our hearts. Do we serve God with all our hearts? Have we given over every part of Him for His use and guidance? Have we turned away from whatever useless idols we may have in our lives?

6 When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came upon him in power, and he burned with anger. 7 He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel, proclaiming, "This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel." Then the terror of the LORD fell on the people, and they turned out as one man.
What does this verse mean, turned out as one man???

John 21- Samuel 9-10

2009-05-01T00:18:00.000-07:00

I don’t think I realized before that Saul was from Benjamins line.
This passage reminds me that I need to CONSULT GOD FIRST! Saul’s donkeys were missing and searching on his own, he didn’t find them! Then his servant says let’s go ask this man of God (prophet, seer) who was Samuel. Before Saul even asked about the donkeys, Samuel informed Saul that they had been found (vs 20).
Nothing in the Bible happens just by chance! The donkeys got lost, the servant says lets ask the man of God, Samuel is told by God that Saul is coming the next day….everything is God ordained!
Vs 27 how amazing would it be to have been given a message from God FROM a real prophet!
Vs 6 The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. 9 As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul's heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day. 10 When they arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came upon him in power, and he joined in their prophesying.
Samuel lists off very specific things that were to come and they were fulfilled!
22 So they inquired further of the LORD, "Has the man come here yet?" And the LORD said, "Yes, he has hidden himself among the baggage."
I wonder why Saul hid? Was he afraid of what the people’s reactions would be? God appointed him King!
John 21-
The disciples are fishing but haven’t caught any fish. As soon as Jesus tells them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat, their nets are FULL of fish!
18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go."
19Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"
I love verse 19. Wow, it brought tears to my eyes to see that Peters death glorified God. Our whole purpose on this earth is to bring glory to God but to die for the faith, that’s the ultimate sacrifice.
God, I thank you so much for today. Help me God to consult you before making plans and for you to be glorified in all that we do.

John 20- 1 Samuel 7-8

2009-04-29T07:39:00.002-07:00

John 20-
22And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
Prior to Jesus’ death on the Cross, the Holy Spirit wasn’t able to dwell inside of people. (John 14)

29Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
Jesus was speaking to Thomas in this verse but God is referring to US today! We are believers who haven’t physically seen Jesus!

2 Samuel-
3 And Samuel said to the whole house of Israel, "If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the LORD and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines."

For 20 years the Israelites mourned and sought after the Lord YET STILL they had idols in their homes!!! How often do our actions not match up to what we’re saying??? Vs 4 says they “put away their Baals and Ashtoreths”, really they needed to DESTROY them!

3 But his sons did not walk in his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.

Samuel was the son of Hannah who’d prayed for a son and gave her son over to full time ministry at the temple under Eli. We see that Samuel had sons and vs 3 “but his sons did not walk in his ways.” It is imperative that we teach and train our children Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it. I still remember Lisa Reed’s message at WBS last year on Hannah and how she only had a few years with her son! We need to make the most of the years that we have with our children, raising them up in the Lord and praying for them.

The people of Israel asked Samuel for a King. Vs 7 And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.

8 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day." 19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want a king over us.

Here they had the ultimate ruler, God as their King. They were able to consult with Him through the Priest yet still they looked at other nations and wanted what other men had! They rejected God as their King.

Lord, thank you for this new day. Help me today to remember you are King and in charge of my day-to-day activities! Help me to instill I my children what you want them to know God and I thank you for giving me the opportunity to teach them.

John 19- 1 Samuel 5 and 6-

2009-04-29T07:39:00.001-07:00

John 19-
Vs 3 they struck him in the face.
I’m always saddened when I read the crucifixion, the gory details of what Christ endured on MY behalf, because of MY sins. God, I’m sorry for my sins and I thank you for the forgiveness you give me daily!

10"Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?" 11Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."

21The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, "Do not write 'The King of the Jews,' but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews." 22Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."

From this chapter, it seems that Pilate believed that Jesus WAS in fact the Son of God! Just like Pilate, we think we can do things…we don’t acknowledge God or depend on Him or consult Him. We need to give God the glory He deserves and know that He controls our life!

1 Samuel 5 and 6-
I love this chapter how, in the presence of the ark, the Philistines “god” had “fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD”

1 So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, "Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people." For death had filled the city with panic; God's hand was very heavy upon it.

19 But God struck down some of the men of Beth Shemesh, putting seventy of them to death because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. The people mourned because of the heavy blow the LORD had dealt them,

I’ve always been SO curious as to what happened with the ark. God sent plagues and tumors, made cities break out in chaos, and if you looked inside, He killed people for that! I know it was captured but other times when it was captured, they sent it back!!!

Ruth 3-4 John 16-

2009-04-25T22:47:00.001-07:00

I love the story of Ruth and how she is such a good example for women to follow! In these 2 chapters, we see her being patient and also humble. Laying at the feet of Boaz then waiting to hear whether or not he was going to marry her I’m sure wasn’t easy for Ruth! You can tell too that Ruth respected Boaz, where he says, “you have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor”. He also calls her “a woman of noble character.” We also see how God rewarded Ruth for her faithfulness by placing her in the line of Jesus. Vs 17 they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. The elders had also prayed a blessing on her, that Ruth would be like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel (vs 11).

John 16:7
Jesus explains to the disciples how the Holy Spirit can’t come until He has departed and ultimately has paid the penalty for sin. Vs 7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:
God, I thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to help guide and convict us and intercede for us!
20I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
What a great depiction, the mother giving birth in pain but once the child is born, her anguish turns to joy! I love how vs 22 says “no one will take away your joy”. Nehemiah 8:10b “This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." We can always find joy because “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)
33"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Great verse that I’ve memorized! We’re not promised an easy life here on earth, vs 33 says we “WILL” have trouble. Still, God is good and He’s in control and says we can still have peace through times of tribulation. I really enjoyed studying James last year in how we can persevere through trials!

John 13- Judges 17-19

2009-04-22T10:08:00.003-07:00

Judges 17-19
6 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.

Since there wasn't a King, I assume there wasn't an enforcer to punish wrong or uphold the law.

Micah made idols for himself which then became the idols of the Danites. Today is "Earth Day" and people worship creation rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25) Even though Micah hired a man to be his "priest", since he was worshiping idols, this wasn't pleasing to the Lord and his idols and priest were taken away.

A man had a concubine who became unfaithful then went back to her fathers house. The man went to retrieve her and bring her home. On the journey back, staying in this foreign town, men of the city wanted to have sex with the man but raped and abused the woman instead. Had this woman been faithful and not left the man, this whole scenario would have been different. Sometimes we really have to examine what actions we will take because they can have grave consequences.

John 13-
1It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.

He showed us the full extent of His love by saving us from sins through dying on the cross!

14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

Jesus has given us an example how to act, how to serve and how to show love so we can follow His example.

Reading verse 21, "Jesus was troubled in spirit" how difficult to be Jesus and know in advance everything that is to come. To know that Peter, the one who Jesus loved vs 23, was going to deny Him 3 times. To know that Judas was going to betray Him. Also, to know that Satan had entered into Judas and was in His presence.

The devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot (vs 2). As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. "What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him. (vs 27)

Here's Judas who had been in the presence of Jesus, seen His miracles, yet didn't believe and left himself unguarded where the Devil used him as his tool. Those who aren't Christians need to know that if they aren't with God, they are against God and that Satan can and might use them to do evil things! Revelation 3:16 "So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth."

34"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Galatians 5:13b "Serve one another in love"

Our life as Christians should show a genuine love for others and a service to them!

John 12-

2009-04-22T10:08:00.001-07:00

Judas stealing money, Mary sitting at Jesus' feet, Martha serving.

23Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

24I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

25The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

26Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

27"Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.

28Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again."

29The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

30Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine.

31Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.

32But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."

37Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.

42Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue;

43for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.

47"As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.

48There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.

Judges 15-16

2009-04-21T13:29:00.001-07:00

Samson served Israel for 20 years. Some of the things he did in life weren't very "God pleasing". Staying with a prostitute, and then falling in love with a Philistine girl who ended up betraying him. It seems that his weakness was women, and it was the love for the wrong woman that ultimately cost him his life. He could have led Israel longer had be not confided in Delilah. Still, when captured, God heard Samson's prayers and restored his strength one last time and Samson was able to destroy more Israelites through his death than he did while alive!

Again, we see a manipulative woman and can learn how not to act towards the men in our lives! ""How can you say, 'I love you,' when you won't confide in me?" Vs 15 and vs 16 "with such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was tired to death."

We see too in this chapter that Samson seeks "revenge" a lot! Ultimately we know that vengeance is the Lord's! (Hebrews 10:30)

John 11- Judges 12-14

2009-04-20T21:37:00.001-07:00

Judges 13-
Even before Samson's birth, God had specific rules that the Angels of the Lord gave to his parents. I find it interesting that this passage doesn't say the "wifes" name, she's just Manoahs wife. I think too that it's great that Manoah believed his wifes story and wanted to know more from the Lord so he prayed "8 Then Manoah prayed to the LORD : "O LORD, I beg you, let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born."

Judges 14-
This passage with Samsons wife is so sad. It's a great reminder for me not to pressure or nag or bother my husband!!!

16 Then Samson's wife threw herself on him, sobbing, "You hate me! You don't really love me. You've given my people a riddle, but you haven't told me the answer." "I haven't even explained it to my father or mother," he replied, "so why should I explain it to you?" 17 She cried the whole seven days of the feast. So on the seventh day he finally told her, because she continued to press him.

Vs 19 says that the Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson in power. He then killed 30 men. It also says that he was "burning with anger". This verse reminds me of Ephesians 4:26 "In your anger, do not sin".

20 And Samson's wife was given to the friend who had attended him at his wedding.

Does this verse mean that Samson gave his wife away to someone else???

John 11-
What a great passage of scripture where Jesus shows His power to others! Lazarus was sick, Jesus knew in advance he'd died. He comes to Martha and says "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

I thank God for that eternal truth! If I believe in God, I will never die a Spiritual death, I'll continue to live on in Heaven with God!

Both sisters had faith, believing if Jesus had been present during Lazurus' sickness, that Jesus would have been able to heal him. He says to take away the gravestone which people questioned! Jesus says vs 40 "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see he glory of God?" He then prayed to God...such a beautiful prayer (John 11:41-42)

Lazarus came out of the tomb very much alive and not all who witnessed this miracle, put their faith in Jesus!!! How do you see a man raised from the dead, who's been dead for 4 days, and not believe that Jesus is God's Son? What did people think He was???

I also had to point out something SO awesome about Scripture. We know there were 40 different authors and hundreds of years between Genesis and John. Reading today, Jesus went to a Village called "Ephraim" which is the same name mentioned in Judges 12 :)

God I thank you that you hear me, and God that you always hear. I thank you for the scriptures, that we can read them and compare them and understand them and believe in them!

John 10- Judges 9-11

2009-04-20T00:46:00.001-07:00

Judges 9-11
Abimelech approaches people and asks if it's better to be ruled by 1 person or 70 people. He then took the liberty of murdering the 70 except for one!

22 After Abimelech had governed Israel three years, 23 God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem, who acted treacherously against Abimelech. 24 God did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal's seventy sons, the shedding of their blood, might be avenged on their brother Abimelech and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers.

31 Under cover he sent messengers to Abimelech, saying, "Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you. 52 Abimelech went to the tower and stormed it. But as he approached the entrance to the tower to set it on fire, 53 a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull. 54 Hurriedly he called to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and kill me, so that they can't say, 'A woman killed him.' " So his servant ran him through, and he died. 55 When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they went home. 56 Thus God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers.

Judges 10:31 says that people were stirring up the city against Abimelech. A good reminder that words and grumbling can accomplish a lot of good or harm!

I love when God uses women to accomplish His plans! Here, people have gathered into a tower and as Abimelech approaches to burn it and all the people inside, a woman dropped a millstone on his head!

10:6 Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD. They served the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites and the gods of the Philistines. And because the Israelites forsook the LORD and no longer served him, 7 he became angry with them. He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites, 8 who that year shattered and crushed them. For eighteen years they oppressed all the Israelites on the east side of the Jordan in Gilead, the land of the Amorites.

Judges 10:6-16 Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, "We have sinned against you, forsaking our God and serving the Baals." 11 The LORD replied, "When the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, 12 the Sidonians, the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you and you cried to me for help, did I not save you from their hands? 13 But you have forsaken me and served other gods, so I will no longer save you. 14 Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!" 15 But the Israelites said to the LORD, "We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now." 16 Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the LORD. And he could bear Israel's misery no longer.

The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord. They served idols, again!
18 years, the Israelites were oppressed. They served other gods and forgot God! God said to cry out to the gods they've chosen but, they repented of their sin, throwing the idols out and God showed grace and mercy again.

11:27 I have not wronged you, but you are doing me wrong by waging war against me. Let the LORD, the Judge, decide the dispute this day between the Israelites and the Ammonites." I like that this verse Jephthah has a clear conscience and is able to say with truth, "I have not wronged you". I need to be careful of whom I wrong so I can say that too with a clear conscience!

Jephthah's family drove Jephthah away but when they needed help, they searched for him and asked him to be their leader!

This chapter, Jephthah made a vow to God that he'd sacrifice the first thing that came out his door if the Lord would let him win the battles against his enemies. This reminds me to watch what I promise the Lord! The first thing out of his door was his only child, his daughter. This is different from when God tested Abraham with Isaac. Verse 39 says that her father did to her as he had vowed, meaning he sacrificed his daughter to God!

John 10-
14-15"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—
15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 17The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30I and the Father are one."

The Jews ask Jesus to tell them if he's the Son of God. He responds saying "I and the Father are one" and the Jews pick up stones to stone him! (Vs 31)

Thank you God for the gift of eternal life! Thank you Jesus for laying down your life on your own accord! Thank you that no one can take me away from you Lord.

John 9- Judges 8-9

2009-04-18T21:37:00.001-07:00

John 9-
1As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.

4As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.

When things happen that we don't expect, we should see it as an opportunity that God's work might be displayed in our life! Also, verse 4, what a great reminder for US that as long as it is day, we must do the work of God!

31We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. 32Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."

Judges 7-8
Gideon started out with 32,000 men and God told him to keep 300 of them! Vs 8, So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents but kept the 300. Vs 10, God tells Gideon that if he's afraid to attack, go hear what the men in camp are saying. A man had a dream that confirmed Gideon should attack! With trumpets, jars and 300 men, they defeated the Midianites.

Judges 8-
22 The Israelites said to Gideon, "Rule over us—you, your son and your grandson—because you have saved us out of the hand of Midian." 23 But Gideon told them, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The LORD will rule over you."

Gideon gave God the glory for his wins over Midian and knew who really was in charge and would rule over the people! They experienced 40 years of peace.
33 No sooner had Gideon died than the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They set up Baal-Berith as their god and did not remember the LORD their God, who had rescued them from the hands of all their enemies on every side.

If we always start off our prayers with thanksgiving, we should never forget the things the Lord has done! The Israelites forgot God! Help me Lord to always remember your blessings, especially the gift of your Son!

Judges 5-6 John 8-

2009-04-17T07:43:00.001-07:00

Judges 5-6

2 "When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves— praise the LORD!
9 My heart is with Israel's princes, with the willing volunteers among the people. Praise the LORD!
31 "So may all your enemies perish, O LORD! But may they who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength." Then the land had peace forty years.

1 Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, 6 Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the LORD for help. 7 When the Israelites cried to the LORD because of Midian, 8 he sent them a prophet, who said, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 9 I snatched you from the power of Egypt and from the hand of all your oppressors. I drove them from before you and gave you their land.

God, help me Lord to not worship anything but you, if there are idols in my life (5:6), convict me of it Lord and any evil I may have in me(5:1)! Help me to continually willingly and voluntarily offer myself for your service God(5:2,9)!

10 I said to you, 'I am the LORD your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.' But you have not listened to me." 12 When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior." 13 "But sir," Gideon replied, "if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, 'Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian." 14 The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" 15 "But Lord , " Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." 16 The LORD answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together." 17 Gideon replied, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me.

25 That same night the LORD said to him, "Take the second bull from your father's herd, the one seven years old. Tear down your father's altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.29 They asked each other, "Who did this?" When they carefully investigated, they were told, "Gideon son of Joash did it."
30 The men of the town demanded of Joash, "Bring out your son. He must die, because he has broken down Baal's altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it." 31 But Joash replied to the hostile crowd around him, "Are you going to plead Baal's cause? Are you trying to save him? Whoever fights for him shall be put to death by morning! If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself when someone breaks down his altar."

(Judges 6:25-31) We notice in this passage that Gideon's FATHER was a Baal worshiper. Here he'd heard all that God had done for the Israelites but his own family had turned away from worshiping God and did what was detestable in His eyes, idol worship. For Gideon too to ask God "WHY" all this had happened to Israel.

34 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him. 36 Gideon said to God, "If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised- 37 look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said." 38 And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, "Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make the fleece dry and the ground covered with dew." 40 That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.

(Judges 6:34-40) God was SO patient with Gideon! An angel of the Lord appeared to him and said he'd be the one to save Israel and yet Gideon on multiple occasions asks questions and asks for signs! Also, after being told to tear down the Baal idol, he fears man so much, he takes it down at night when no one is watching!

Psalm 56:4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

God, when you come to me wanting me to do something, help me to have the right response! Help me too God not to get caught up in the "why" but to try to focus on the task at hand and what You want accomplished.

John 8
3The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" 11"No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

What words did Jesus write in the sand? Knowing the hearts and minds and deeds of ALL the people gathered around, He convicted each of them and that's why they walked away. God, we are ALL guilty of sin, help us to realize that we're no better than anyone else.

Pharisees 21Once more Jesus said to them, "I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. 23But he continued, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins." 29The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him." 30Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him. 31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 34Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

"You will die in your sin" and believe "the father of lies." (Vs 21 & 44) Thank you for sending Jesus who's not of this world, to save us! (vs 23)

45Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? 47He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God." 50I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death." 55 Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word.

Lord, help me to keep your word (51) and to not seek the glory of men.(vs 50) Help me to live a life that pleases you (vs 29) Thank you God for setting me free (vs 32). Help me cling to the truth (vs 43). Remind me that only Jesus Himself is the only person who can ever say "can you prove me guilty of sin?" (vs 46)

Judges 3-4 John 7-

2009-04-16T19:50:00.001-07:00

4 They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the LORD's commands, which he had given their forefathers through Moses.
We are not supposed to test God but we see in vs 4 here that God tests us! We need to learn how God wants us to respond during those times of testing, are we going to pass or fail?

Judges is all about the Israelites following God, then doing evil in His sight forgetting God then crying out to God and the cycle repeats itself!
6 They took their daughters in marriage and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods. 7 The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD; they forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs. 8 The anger of the LORD burned against Israel so that he sold them into the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram Naharaim, to whom the Israelites were subject for eight years. 9 But when they cried out to the LORD, he raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, who saved them.

Sometimes in life we just need someone to lead us! Vs 28, Ehud said "Follow me" and the people did!
28 "Follow me," he ordered, "for the LORD has given Moab, your enemy, into your hands." So they followed him down and, taking possession of the fords of the Jordan that led to Moab, they allowed no one to cross over.

In Judges chapter 4, God uses 2 women to accomplish His plans!
4 Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time.
Vs 9 Deborah said, "I will go with you. But because of the way you are going about this, the honor will not be yours, for the LORD will hand Sisera over to a woman."

21 But Jael, Heber's wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died.

John 4-
4No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world." 5For even his own brothers did not believe in him.

It's sad to think that the people from Jesus' home town and even his family members didn't believe He was the Christ!

17If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.

I like seeing how the minds of the people at the feast were trying to figure out exactly who Christ was and decide that if He wasn't Christ if someone more fitting could come along!
31Still, many in the crowd put their faith in him. They said, "When the Christ comes, will he do more miraculous signs than this man?"

Verse 39 tells us that the people were still under the old Law and hadn't received the Holy Sprit yet because Jesus hadn't been crucified and the atonement for sin hadn't been made yet.
39By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Luke 23- Joshua 11-12

2009-04-09T00:12:00.001-07:00

Joshua 11-12
6 The LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them over to Israel, slain. You are to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots."

Having God on your side saying, don't be afraid, what peace and assurance that must have given Joshua and his men.

7 So Joshua and his whole army came against them suddenly at the Waters of Merom and attacked them,8 and the LORD gave them into the hand of Israel. They defeated them and pursued them all the way to Greater Sidon, to Misrephoth Maim, and to the Valley of Mizpah on the east, until no survivors were left. 9 Joshua did to them as the LORD had directed: 15 As the LORD commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses. 16 So Joshua took this entire land:

Joshua was obedient and God was faithful to fulfill His promise of inhabiting a great land!

20 For it was the LORD himself who hardened their hearts to wage war against Israel,
God chose what people would be saved and what kingdoms would be destroyed.

23 So Joshua took the entire land, just as the LORD had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Then the land had rest from war.

Vs 23 I love how it says "then the land had rest from war." We know that till the end of the earth, there will be wars till Jesus comes back!

12:24 Joshua's army ended up defeating 31 kings!

Luke 23-

5But they insisted, "He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here."

It's so sad to see that Jesus was put on trial by his teaching! "He stirs up the people!" Instead, the crowd wanted a murderer and opposer of the law to be released!

8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle.

Herod wasn't interested in believing that Christ was the Son of God, he just wanted to be amused. This reminds me of the passages 2 Timothy 4:3 says people won't put up with sound doctrine, they just want to have their ears tickled Matt. 16:4/Luke 11:29 says that a wicked generation seeks after signs and none will be given!

We see here too that Pilot sent Jesus to Harod who then sent him back to Pilot!

34Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
In all His pain and agony, He endured it all and asked for forgiveness for me, a sinner. Thank you God for sending your Son to die on the cross so that we might live for Your glory! 1 John 4:9 This is how God showed His love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

35The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."
Again, here the people just wanted to see a sign. Christ had the power to save Himself!

47The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man."

Here's one person who was affected by Christ's crucifixion. Jesus showing mercy and asking for forgiveness for others while on the cross had an impact on the centurion.

Joshua 9-10 Luke 22-

2009-04-07T23:44:00.001-07:00

Joshua 9-10
14 The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD.
24 They answered Joshua, "Your servants were clearly told how the LORD your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this. 25 We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you." 26 So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them.
This story is so interesting. The men feared the Lord and didn’t want to be wiped out by the Israelites so they deceived Joshua rather than just come to him asking for mercy! Then, Joshua doesn’t “inquire” the Lord who I’m sure would have said these men are trying to deceive you! Still, Joshua spares there life after making an oath with them.
2 Gibeon was an important city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were good fighters. 6 The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: "Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us." 7 So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army, including all the best fighting men. 8 The LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you." 11 As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the LORD hurled large hailstones down on them from the sky, and more of them died from the hailstones than were killed by the swords of the Israelites.
5 kingdoms attacked the Gibeonites! How awesome to have had the confidence going into battle knowing the Lord was on their side and had given these 5 armies into their hands!!! Then, God thew STONES from the sky that struck more of the retreating soldiers!

12 On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel: "O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon."

13 So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. 14 There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a man. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel!
The sun stopped moving till the battle ended!
25 Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the LORD will do to all the enemies you are going to fight." 26 Then Joshua struck and killed the kings and hung them on five trees, and they were left hanging on the trees until evening. 27 At sunset Joshua gave the order and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had been hiding. At the mouth of the cave they placed large rocks, which are there to this day.
The 5 kings ran and hid in caves and Joshua pursued them! God said he’d delivered all the men into their hands!
As Joshua and his men conquered kingdoms, they left no survivors! This was because (vs 42) the LORD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.
40 So Joshua subdued the whole region, including the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills and the mountain slopes, together with all their kings. He left no survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded.

Luke 22-
3Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.
This is something I haven’t studying at all! Satan’s ability to possess people, demons able to possess people and be cast out of people by the disciples.
In this chapter we see numerous examples of Jesus foretelling the future!
10He replied, "As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11and say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' 12He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there." 13They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. Then, Jesus says one of the 12 will betray me!
This reminds me of Pastor Mike’s message Sunday “Jesus came to serve, not be served.” 27For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
31"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."

Jesus PRAYED for Simon. If Jesus prayed for people, what an example for US to pray for other people!

How appropriate to be reading Luke during the week of Easter!

Luke 18- Joshua 1-2

2009-04-03T21:34:00.000-07:00

Vacation to Cambria, no Internet to post!

Luke 18-
1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

I was just listening to Rob Biagi’s song this week about prayer. God answers prayer 3 ways, He says yes, no, or not today. I am so thankful that we’re able to come to God with requests! We don’t have to have an appointment, we can talk to Him anywhere, anytime! This verse is a great reminder for me to not give up on my requests, so I can see the full answer to prayer.

Luke 18: 8 when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?
Wow. We know that Jesus is coming back. Carlynn did a great WBS message on, do we doubt His return? He could come back today! We need to make sure we’re doing the work of God when He returns! We need to be evaluating our time and priorities, seeing where we’re serving, who are we witnessing to?

9To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:
13"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
14"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

God thank you for this reminder how 1) we’re not to look down on others and compare ourselves and 2) how we’re to be humble, remembering we’re ALL sinners. Lord, help me as I struggle with this sometimes, I am a sinner, we’re all the same.

16But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

Thank you for the blessing of my children and for allowing me to raise them and teach them and train them. I thank you God for Abigail especially, who’s trying God, she’s learning obedience, listening, and mostly, I thank you that she wants to pray God and is already memorizing your Word at 3! I pray God that my children will be saved by you, that you will call them to yourself God. Help me DAILY to instill YOU into their minds God. Give me endurance and patience Lord and forgive me of my sins when I’m impatient and frustrated.

18A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
19"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone.

How true, there is NONE righteous, no not one. Romans 3:10. Help us to remember that NO ONE is good except you God and Lord, that none of us deserve anything good!

22When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
23When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.

Vs 22 says you lack ONE thing. For this man, it was his love of wealth that kept him from following Christ. I think sometimes in our own life, we can make idols of things and people, a desire for material things, or making our children our first priority over God and spouse. We need to make sure we’re not holding on too tight to the things God has blessed us with. I love the song “Blessed Be Your Name” because it’s so true, He gives and He takes away. Just like in the days of Job, job lost so much! “When I survey the wondrous cross” the lyrics say “my richest gain I count but loss”, He demands my soul, my life, my all.” Vs 28 Peter said to him, "We have left all we had to follow you!" Help me God to constantly be examining my life to purge what needs to go and to follow when and where you lead.

27Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."

Joshua 1-2

What a great encouraging passage of scripture!
No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
The truths God shares here with Joshua!
I am with you! Don’t fear! Be courageous! Don’t turn to the left or right. Don’t be terrified! Don’t be discouraged! Meditate on the Book DAY and NIGHT! Wow.
16 Then they answered Joshua, "Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you as he was with Moses.
Just as the passage in Luke we read how we’re all sinners, I like reading how God uses people of all circumstances to perform his will. Here in Joshua, the two spies are hidden by a prostitute! She feared the Lord more than she feared the guards and their King.

To read what Rahab shared with the spies, how the truth of God’s mighty works had been heard throughout the lands, people who weren’t God’s people feared Him 9 "I know that the LORD has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.
Also, Rahab knew that God was (and still IS) the God in heaven and on earth and had the power to save her family! (vs 12-13)

Luke 7- Deut. 13-14 and 17-18

2009-03-23T07:17:00.001-07:00

Luke 7-
7That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." 9When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel."

Robby was just talking last night about God thing 1's and God thing 2 that Pastor Mike has taught on. Instant miracles performed through God just speaking a word. This man understood the power Jesus had!

21At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.
Here Jesus claims that He fulfills the O.T. Law and tells the men to testify to John what they've seen with their own eyes.

39When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner."

47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." 48Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" 50Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
OH the pride the Pharisees had! The woman is a sinner! We are ALL sinners!!! To have been in the presence of Jesus, knowing the miracles He performed and power He had, and the Pharisees still scoffed and questioned His authority!

Deut. 13-
1 If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, 2 and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, "Let us follow other gods" (gods you have not known) "and let us worship them," 3 you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. 5 That prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he preached rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery; he has tried to turn you from the way the LORD your God commanded you to follow. You must purge the evil from among you. 6 If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, "Let us go and worship other gods" (gods that neither you nor your fathers have known, 7 gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, from one end of the land to the other), 8 do not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity. Do not spare him or shield him. 9 You must certainly put him to death. Your hand must be the first in putting him to death, and then the hands of all the people. 10 Stone him to death, because he tried to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

Just like we studied in 2 Peter at WBS, false prophets and false teachers are present and are looking to sway our beliefs and take the focus away from God! We need to KNOW the truth in our hearts by reading and memorizing scripture, fully understanding it so when someone brings it into question or says something false, we'll be able to call them out on it!!! We're also not allowed to make excuses for the false prophets! "Show him no pity. Do not spare him or shield him." Purse the evil from among you. God says here in this passage, I don't care if it's your child, your spouse, your sibling, if they tell you to worship someone other than Me, kill them! God has no tolerance for idol worship! Verse 2 says God tests us to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. It's God I must always follow, Him I must revere, his commands I'm to obey, and He is the only one I'm to serve and hold fast to!

16 Gather all the plunder of the town into the middle of the public square and completely burn the town and all its plunder as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God. It is to remain a ruin forever, never to be rebuilt. 17 None of those condemned things shall be found in your hands, so that the LORD will turn from his fierce anger; he will show you mercy, have compassion on you, and increase your numbers, as he promised on oath to your forefathers, 18 because you obey the LORD your God, keeping all his commands that I am giving you today and doing what is right in his eyes. 18 because you obey the LORD your God, keeping all his commands that I am giving you today and doing what is right in his eyes.

Here, God warns us to not hold on to things He's condemned! There are unholy things in this world and God wants us to have NOTHING to do with them! Burn it!

God help me to always examine myself for anything I might have put before you! Help me to make wise use of my time here on earth. Search me God, find whatever you don't want in my life, convict me of it God so I can purge it from me!

Deuteronomy 14
1 You are the children of the LORD your God. Do not cut yourselves or shave the front of your heads for the dead,
2 for you are a people holy to the LORD your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the LORD has chosen you to be his treasured possession.

I just marvel at the creations of God! He's made animals all unique! Some have split hoofs, some don't. Some animals chew cud, some don't. GOd had a plan for EVERYTHING He's created on this earth!

6 You may eat any animal that has a split hoof divided in two and that chews the cud. 7 However, of those that chew the cud or that have a split hoof completely divided you may not eat the camel, the rabbit or the coney. Although they chew the cud, they do not have a split hoof; they are ceremonially unclean for you. 8 The pig is also unclean; although it has a split hoof, it does not chew the cud. You are not to eat their meat or touch their carcasses.

22 Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.
Here in the O.T. we are reminded to tithe, bringing a tenth of what we've earned and giving it to God because He's blessed us!

29 ...so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

God, we want to live life so we will be blessed, whether it's in this life or the next life! Thank you for calling me your child!

March 25th
Luke 9-

Deuteronomy 17-18
2and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
3He told them: "Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic.

Jesus tells His disciples to go out into the world and to take NOTHING with them. What an act of faith, trusting that the Lord will provide food, shelter and clothing for them on their journey!

16Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to set before the people.
17They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
God thing 1's! Jesus is able to multiply fish and bread for thousands!

At the end of the chapter, 3 men come to Jesus and say they want to follow Him yet give 3 different reasons why they can't follow right away! He then says vs 62 "no one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kindgom of God." Jesus doesn't want our excuses, He wants us to follow Him like the disciples did, ready to leave everything behind!

23Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
24For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.
25What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?
26If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels

Vs 23, daily is the key word here to me...some days are tougher days than others but we can't use that as an excuse, we must strive daily to glorify Him! There are people in this world who are perishing, we can't be worried what people will say if we share the gospel! We can't be ashamed of the Bible!

Luke 6- Deut. 11-12

2009-03-22T23:58:00.001-07:00

7The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. 8But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Get up and stand in front of everyone." So he got up and stood there. 9Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?" 10He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He did so, and his hand was completely restored. 11But they were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.
Here Jesus had the opportunity to heal the mans hand in private but instead He was bold and spoke out in front of everyone and healed the man! Jesus didn't care what the Pharisees thought of Him, He wasn't worried what they'd scheme and do to Him, He wanted to demonstrate the power of God through Himself and wasn't ashamed to do so!

12One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:
Here we see Jesus about to make a MAJOR decision in His life, He was choosing His 12 disciples. What example does he give? He spent the night in prayer. When we have choices in front of us, we should always be following Jesus' example, pray!

22Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. 23"Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.

19and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.
God, you are ALL powerful! You spoke words and people were healed! I can't wait to see your great power face to face someday!!!

27"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. 35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

40A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.

41"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
42How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

43"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.

45The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
46"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? 47I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice.

Lord, what great words of wisdom. God, I want to be a student of your Word so that as I grow, I can help teach others! Thank you for giving me opportunities to teach now in the lives of my two children. Lord, I want to apply your words in my life, putting them into practice daily! I want to produce good fruit and store good in my heart. Help me to love those who persecute me. Help me to be vulnerable towards non Christians God and bold to speak your truth so they may hear and respond! Help me to give when others ask God or when they're in need.

Deuteronomy 11
Here God tells us what He expects from us, obedience and wholeheartedly serving Him!
13 So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul-
22 If you carefully observe all these commands I am giving you to follow—to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways and to hold fast to him-
18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
I like these visual reminders! Keep things in front of you, keep God continually on our mind!

We as parents are given a HUGE responsibility to teach our children! We want our kids to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven someday and hold God's truth in their souls!
19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
20 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates,

God can either bless or curse us! We can follow and obey His commands or disregard them.
26 See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse-
27 the blessing if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today;
28 the curse if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known.

He also gives us a warning about worshiping other gods.
16 Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them.

Deuteronomy 12

12:23

23 But be sure you do not eat the blood, because the blood is the life, and you must not eat the life with the meat.
This verse reminds me of what Pastor Mike said, the first death in the Bible was after Adam and Eve sinned and God covered them with animal skin. Blood is the life and through death of Jesus on the cross, our sin has been covered.

Talking about idol worship
4 You must not worship the LORD your God in their way.
5 But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go;
6 there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks.
7 There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you.
8 You are not to do as we do here today, everyone as he sees fit,
9 since you have not yet reached the resting place and the inheritance the LORD your God is giving you.
13 Be careful not to sacrifice your burnt offerings anywhere you please.
14 Offer them only at the place the LORD will choose in one of your tribes, and there observe everything I command you.
18 Instead, you are to eat them in the presence of the LORD your God at the place the LORD your God will choose—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levites from your towns—and you are to rejoice before the LORD your God in everything you put your hand to.
31 You must not worship the LORD your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.
32 See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it.

These verses made me think about 1) where we worship 2) what we devote our time to and
I know this passage is talking about idol worshipers and we're not to follow their example for worship.
This passage makes me think about where I go to serve the Lord. I'm so thankful for a church that preaches truth from the Bible! The warning in verse 8 made me think about what "society" finds acceptable and how Christians are not of this world and live to please God, not man. And, verse 14 made me think about how I need to really consider what I do, when I do it and who do I do things for! I should do ALL things for the glory of God, verse 7 & 18 (rejoice in everything you put your hand to) but I should also be sure I'm serving my church body, not just the PTA or local Mom's group but prioritizing God's service above all else!
As for worship, don't worship in their way, God really points out the importance of WHO we worship and HOW we worship. Again, reviewing the chapter, it should be wholehearted, genuine, from the heart, in full service to God! We bring all of ourselves to worship, our best, our tithes, our full attention...time with God should be taken seriously and not lightly. We come to church to learn and grow but also to worship a holy God who deserves praise and adoration!

Luke 5- Deut. 9-10

2009-03-22T00:26:00.000-07:00

Luke 5-
Peter (Simon) was always willing to be the one to step out in faith...here he tells Jesus we haven't caught anything but because you say so...! They catch an astonishing number of fish (vs 8) and Peter realizes with God, all things are possible and realizes his sin. (vs 8)

Lord, let me always be willing to leave everything so I can follow and serve you. Peter had a boat, Levi had a home and banquet! You spoke and they got up!
11So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him. 28 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.

16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
If Jesus went away by himself to pray, we TOO must NEED this in our life!

Jesus is SO powerful, He knew the THOUGHTS of the Pharisees. (vs 22) 21The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, "Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
22Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?

24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." He said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. He also heals a man with leprosy in this chapter. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, "We have seen remarkable things today."

Love vs 31Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Deut. 9-10

GOD'S FAITHFULNESS.
But be assured today that the LORD your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire. He will destroy them; he will subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as the LORD has promised you.
29 But they are your people, your inheritance that you brought out by your great power and your outstretched arm."

SIN!
4 After the LORD your God has driven them out before you, do not say to yourself, "The LORD has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness." No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is going to drive them out before you.
5 It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these nations, the LORD your God will drive them out before you, to accomplish what he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
6 Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.
23 you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. You did not trust him or obey him.
24 You have been rebellious against the LORD ever since I have known you.
27 Overlook the stubbornness of this people, their wickedness and their sin.

Despite our sins, our stubbornness, God still forgives! He's chosen people to love! It's not because of our righteousness that He saves us!

GOD HEARS OUR PRAYERS AND THEY MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
I feared the anger and wrath of the LORD, for he was angry enough with you to destroy you. But again the LORD listened to me.
26 I prayed to the LORD and said, "O Sovereign LORD, do not destroy your people, your own inheritance that you redeemed by your great power and brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand.
20 And the LORD was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him, but at that time I prayed for Aaron too.
10 Now I had stayed on the mountain forty days and nights, as I did the first time, and the LORD listened to me at this time also. It was not his will to destroy you.

HOW WE SHOULD RESPOND!
12 And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
13 and to observe the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?
16 Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer.
The Lord is our inheritance, just as it was the Levites inheritance.

HOW WE SHOULD LIVE!
19 And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt.
20 Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name.

HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD?
14 To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.
15 Yet the LORD set his affection on your forefathers and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations, as it is today.
17 For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.
18 He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing.
21 He is your praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.
22 Your forefathers who went down into Egypt were seventy in all, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky.

2009-03-20T22:46:00.000-07:00

Luke 4-
Jesus tempted.

Lord, help me to remember that when I'm tempted to sin, I can stand strong and refuse my urge to sin!

Vs 8 "Worship the Lord your God and serve him only."
God, as this verse states, we're only to worship you! Help me remember that I live for your glory and not the glory of others.

Vs 14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit.
I wonder what this means? Does this mean he felt so encouraged by triumphing over sin? That's how I think I'd feel if I resisted temptation, empowered in the Spirit!

Wow, to hear scripture read from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah then for Jesus to say "today it's fulfilled!" I think too how, just as Isaiah wrote, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news..." We too have been given God's truth and have been called to share the good news with others!

Seeing the power and authority Jesus has over demons. (vs 34, 41). The demons possessed people and knew who Jesus was and had to obey Him!

From this passage too we learn that Simon was married (at one point) an because he had a mother in law who was ill. (vs 38-39). Thinking of all the service Simon did for Jesus, having had a wife and possible family at home too...good reminder how Peter's service was also his wife's service. (Pastor Mike did a sermon on that in 08!).

Vs 42 At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. 2 things here for me to remember, Jesus went out at daybreak (the time in the morning when light first appears) AND went to a solitary place (separated from or unfrequented by others; remote or secluded; lonely place)

Deut. 7-8
God tells the Israelites He's going to conquer 7 nations that are larger and stronger them the Israelites and is going to deliver them over. They needed to be destroyed, and not to marry into their families because they'd start to serve other gods and that'd make God angry!

6 For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. 7 The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. 8 But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. 10 But those who hate him he will repay to their face by destruction; he will not be slow to repay to their face those who hate him. 11 Therefore, take care to follow the commands, decrees and laws I give you today. 2 If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the LORD your God will keep his covenant of love with you, as he swore to your forefathers.

TO be called "his treasured possession." The Lord loved these people. How hard to see the people He loved the most, sin against Him. Thank you God for being a faithful God, for loving us despite our sin, forgiving us.

18 But do not be afraid of them; remember well what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt. 19 You saw with your own eyes the great trials, the miraculous signs and wonders, the mighty hand and outstretched arm, with which the LORD your God brought you out. The LORD your God will do the same to all the peoples you now fear.

21 Do not be terrified by them, for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God.

23 But the LORD your God will deliver them over to you, throwing them into great confusion until they are destroyed.

God warns the Israelites not to bring idols, silver or gold into their houses...this is also how we should view sin, it's detestable to the LORD your God. 26 Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction. Utterly abhor and detest it, for it is set apart for destruction.

He didn't ask for much. Don't take part in idolatry, don't fear just trust the Lord. Verse 21 God WHO IS AMONG YOU is a GREAT and AWESOME GOD! Amen!!!

2 Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. 4 Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years.

The love God had for the Israelites- Bless you, increase your #'s, fruit of your womb, crops, grain, wine, calves, no disease. Everything!

God, as I read this passage, a family has been brought to mind who's struggling to provide food. I pray God that they'll cling to you during this trial and that you'll enable me to help them during this tough time.

Lord, I know that even if we didn't have food, your word alone is enough! Luke 4 said Jesus went 40 days without food!

5 Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you.

Thank you God for disciplining me. It shows you love me and that you're refining me to who you want me to be! Help me too to discipline my children the right way, so they know that you love us too much to let them continue in their sin.

This passage, God tells the people about the good land He's going to bring them in to after all these 40 years of testing and hardship. This reminds me to of our promise of heaven!

9 a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing!

10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.11 Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. When we've been blessed 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 17 You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." 18 But remember the LORD your God, for it is HE who gives you the ability to produce wealth"

God, help me to never forget that You alone are the provider of every good thing in my life! Thank you for giving Robby the ability to provide for our family and God that we've never gone a day without a roof over our head and food in our stomachs! Let us not be proud God but always say that You God gave us everything.

Chiara posted a great comment-
Luke 4: 13When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

This passage struck me because I thought about how Satan did not waste time tempting or ridiculing Christ unless it was a good time–such as Christ hungry in the desert or before His crucifixion. This reminded me that spiritual warfare is much more intense and effective when I create “opportune times” for temptation and sin–I might skip being in the Word that day, I might shortchange my prayer time, or I might be gratifying my sinful nature that day by choice. Whatever the reason, spiritual warfare can be more easily fought when I have been growing in my knowledge of God, when I am choosing obedience and when I am being consistent in my spiritual disciplines.

God, when I am weak, that's when Satan wants to swoop in and tempt me! Help me to stand strong against the devil!

Luke 3- Deut. 5-6

2009-03-20T21:54:00.001-07:00

Luke 3-
2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.

3He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

4As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.

This is a little off topic but, here John has been given the task of preparing the way for the Lord, informing others of His coming. I also think about how WE prepare the way for others, if we use every opportunity to talk to people, we don't know where that leads. Planting seeds.....

vs 5 The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. 6And all mankind will see God's salvation.' "
Crooked road will become straight, rough ways smooth. Complicated will become simple! We'll be able to know the way, God's laid it out for us!

8"Produce fruit in keeping with repentance." 9The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." 7His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

God, help us to examine our lives to see if we're bearing good fruit! The warning here is bad trees are cut down and burned.

18And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them. Exhorted: To urge by strong, often stirring argument, admonition, advice, or appeal.

John rebuked Herod because of his sin and evil things he'd done and was locked in prison and eventually beheaded for speaking the truth! (vs 19-20) Do I rebuke people when they're doing wrong? I should!

Reading vs 21-22 Jesus prayed and the heavens opened up and the holy spirit descended on him. What a great visual to think about when we pray! All distractions are gone and we have direct communication with God!

Vs 22 To have your heavenly father say "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

I want to hear these words too someday, well done good and faithful servant, child who I love, I am well pleased!

Jesus was on this earth for 33 years. I'm 28. How much work have I done for the Kingdom in my time here??? Verse 23 says he was 30 years old when he began his ministry.

It's so neat to read the line of Jesus through Joseph going all the way back to Shem (son of Noah) to Seth (son of Adam)!

Deut 5-6

1 Moses summoned all Israel and said: Hear, O Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them.
We can't just KNOW the Laws, we have to learn them, study them, memorize them.

10 Commandments Vs 7-22

Vs 15 Mighty hand and an outstretched arm. What a visual! God brought them out of Egypt with a mighty hand an and outstretched arm!

God I pray that you will help my children to honor and obey me as I tried to honor and obey my parents!!! (vs 16)

29 Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!

Lord, help me to fear you and to teach others to fear you as well! You are a JUST God, who punishes for sin!

32 So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. 33 Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.

Help me Lord to walk in the way you want me to!

Luke 2- Deut. 3-4

2009-03-20T21:27:00.001-07:00

Luke 2-

This first part of the chapter talking about Jesus' birth and the angels appearing to the shepherds and singing. What a breathtaking site to have been able to see that!

29 "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.
30For my eyes have seen your salvation"

To have been this man Simeon, who'd waited his whole life to see Jesus then to say he was ready to die, I've seen salvation!

51Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them.

I love how verse 51 said that Jesus was obedient to his parents. This is definitely the hardest thing to get my children to do right now :) For Jesus to have grown in wisdom, he'd need instruction, which is a great reminder and encouragement to me to continue teaching my children what the Bible says!

52And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
51 But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.

I need to sometimes sit as Mary did and just take in and ponder all the good things God has blessed me with and treasure them in my heart!

Deut 3-4
2 The LORD said to me, "Do not be afraid of him, for I have handed him over to you with his whole army and his land. Do to him what you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon."

3 So the LORD our God also gave into our hands Og king of Bashan and all his army. We struck them down, leaving no survivors.

Despite all obstacles the Israelites faced, they triumphed! God was faithful! I'm sure they were afraid but God said, "don't be afraid"! High walls, gates, bars, men who were LARGE! Vs 11 says King Og's bed was made of iron and was more than thirteen feet long and six feet wide! That's a LARGE man!

21 At that time I commanded Joshua: "You have seen with your own eyes all that the LORD your God has done to these two kings. The LORD will do the same to all the kingdoms over there where you are going. 22 Do not be afraid of them; the LORD your God himself will fight for you."

God is so assuring with his words, I WILL fight for you! (vs 22)

9 Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. 10 Remember the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, when he said to me, "Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere (respect) me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children."

Lord, help me to teach the children you've blessed me with about You! They need to learn about your saving grace, your love and also to fear You and hate sin!

Vs 4"but all of you who held fast to the LORD your God are still alive today." God spared the people who didn't worship idols! 15 Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, 16 so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman,17 or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air,
18 or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below.
19 And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars—all the heavenly array—do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven. 23 Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the LORD your God has forbidden. 24 For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

Help me Lord to not make anything an idol above you! My children, my spouse, my home, I know they are all gifts from you God and I don't ever want to hold them higher than You! Worshiping an idol is (vs 25) doing evil in the eyes of the Lord and provokes him to anger!

Talking about idols, God will drive them away from the Jordan if they worship idols. 28 There you will worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell. 29 But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and obey him. 31 For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath.

God still says that if we turn and worship idols, if we seek Him with our whole heart, we'll find Him and can return to obey Him! I LOVE verse 31, God is a merciful God.

35 You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other. 39 Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.

There is NO other God! These things were shown that we might KNOW that the Lord is God. Amen!

Deuteronomy 1-2, Luke 1-

2009-03-18T00:14:00.000-07:00

Deuteronomy 1-2

8 See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land that the LORD swore he would give to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—and to their descendants after them." 21 See, the LORD your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the LORD, the God of your fathers, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

Taking with them some of the fruit of the land, they brought it down to us and reported, "It is a good land that the LORD our God is giving us." 26 But you were unwilling to go up; you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. 27 You grumbled in your tents and said, "The LORD hates us; so he brought us out of Egypt to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us. 28 Where can we go? Our brothers have made us lose heart. They say, 'The people are stronger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the sky. We even saw the Anakites there.' "29 Then I said to you, "Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them.
30 The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, 31 and in the desert. There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place."

(Caleb) vs 36 he followed the LORD wholeheartedly."

39 And the little ones that you said would be taken captive, your children who do not yet know good from bad—they will enter the land. I will give it to them and they will take possession of it.

Everyone under age 20 was allowed to enter the Promised Land.

2:7 The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast desert. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything.

God was SO faithful to the Israelites, giving them everything they needed for 40 years, leading them despite their grumbling and sin, their lack of trust and belief.

So often, I think HOW could the Israelites ignore God when He's hovering as a cloud in front of their eyes? HOW can the Israelites ignore God when DAILY they'd go out and find food just laying on the ground for them. The words He uses to describe all He's done, He carried them (31), He fought for them (29).

God, help me to constantly remember you are present in my daily life, even though I don't have an obvious cloud or manna on my lawn! Thank you God for being with me and, for making sure we haven't lacked anything. Lord, help me to follow you and serve you wholeheartedly.

Luke 1-
13But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard.

I thank you God that you hear our prayers! Sometimes God you don't answer how MY will would be but you have a plan!

17And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

Lord, we don't know the day of your return but you've called us to help make ready a people prepared for the Lord. (vs 17)

An angel of God appears to Zechariah, he's afraid. The angel speaks to him and Zechariah ends up questioning the angel, how can this prophesy happen?! The angel punished Zechariaih's unbelief by making him unable to speak till the baby arrived!

What an honor for an angel of God to come to you and say "You have found favor with God (vs 30). Vs 28The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Then, to see Mary's response in vs 38 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. The humble spirit, ready to do God's will. I'm sure Mary was ridiculed for being pregnant before being married but, it didn't matter to her, she was doing God's will!

51 he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. God KNOWS our inmost thoughts, He knows what we're thinking even when we don't express them!

37For nothing is impossible with God." This is the MOST powerful verse in the chapter! So true! Nothing is impossible with God! I thank you God that you are in control of everything and that nothing is impossible for you!

Proverbs 31-

2009-03-17T23:10:00.001-07:00

Proverbs 31-
8 "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. 9 Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."

The Proverbs 31 wife :)
My parents gave me a ruby purity ring after having me study this chapter in High School. I still have it :) It was a gift to remind me what kind of woman God wanted me to be! I'm still working on it!!!! Oh this is going to be tough, seeing what areas I'm lacking!

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.

11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
I pray that I can be this wife to my spouse, bringing him good and not harm but know sometimes I fail at this.

13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
Eager hands. Sets about her work vigorously. (vs 17) Remembering the work I do is done for the glory of God does help me to set about my tasks with a better attitude!

15 She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. Yikes! Still having a tough time with this one! I like vs 18 "her lamp does not go out at night!" Getting up before my family is up is on my "to do" list! I'm usually up before the kids but Robby's usually up before me!

16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. (I have no earnings!)

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. I'm not always laughing at the future but memorizing scripture from Matthew 6 definitely has helped me worry less and laugh more!

26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. Need to work on!

20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Lord, most of all, I want my children to grow up knowing you, loving you and serving you. You've put this great task on my heart and I pray Lord you help give me the patience to instill in my children these important virtues!

Proverbs 30- Numbers 34-35

2009-03-16T00:06:00.000-07:00

Numbers 24-25
God clearly marked out the boundaries of the promised land to Israel.

Vs 12 "This will be your land, with its boundaries on every side.'"

Chapter 35 is all about murderers and refuge. There were 6 cities set apart for people who've killed someone accidentally can flee to. (vs 6)

Vs 12 They will be places of refuge from the avenger, so that a person accused of murder may not die before he stands trial before the assembly.
(Pastor Bobby today just mentioned how God is the great avenger, He's the punisher for sins!)

If you strike someone with an iron object, a stone, a wooden object or with malice aforethought shoves another or throws something at him intentionally so that he dies, or if in hostility he hits him with his fist so that he dies, that person shall be put to death; he is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.

On the other than, (vs 22) "if without hostility someone suddenly shoves another or throws something at him unintentionally or, without seeing him, drops a stone on him that could kill him, and he dies, then since he was not his enemy and he did not intend to harm him, the assembly must judge between him and the avenger of blood according to these regulations.

Vs 32 Anyone who kills a person is to be put to death as a murderer only on the testimony of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness. (have to have multiple witnesses to convict)

31 " 'Do not accept a ransom for the life of a murderer, who deserves to die. He must surely be put to death. (don't accept bribes!)

34 Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell, for I, the LORD, dwell among the Israelites.' "

The Lord DWELLED among the Israelites!

Proverbs 30-
"4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know!"

Who has established all the ends of the earth? Just reading about how magnificent our God is just amazes me! That's right, He's established EVERYTHING!

5 "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
Every word of God is flawless, don't add to his words! We need nothing more. He's given us EVERYTHING for life and Godliness in His book!

8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.

12 those who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not cleansed of their filth;
13 those whose eyes are ever so haughty, whose glances are so disdainful;

Todays sermon was so great! Pastor Bobby speaking on adultery and also how spouses should love their spouses (just as Jesus loved us)! Let our spouses love how we're to be loved so that no one will choose adultery. 20 "This is the way of an adulteress: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, 'I've done nothing wrong.' 23 an unloved woman who is married.

32 "If you have played the fool and exalted yourself, or if you have planned evil, clap your hand over your mouth! 33 For as churning the milk produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife." What visual on verse 33 twisting the nose produces blood! Ouch.

Lord, I am guilty of stirring up anger and strife at times! God, keep my eyes from being haughty and full of distain, my heart is convicted of this also. I confess, Forgive me.

Thank you Lord for always giving our family just what we need. We're not in poverty or rich but you've always provided our daily bread and I thank you!

Provebrs 29- Numbers 30 31, 32-33

2009-03-14T23:59:00.000-07:00

Numbers 30-31
This chapter speaks of the responsibility husbands have over their wives and fathers over their young daughters. A great reminder that we're to be subject to our spouses!

Numbers 31
God has Moses send 12,000 men to take vengeance on the Midianites. Here Balaam son of Beor was killed. (talking donkey, man who wouldn't take a bribe from Balak or curse God)

Numbers 32-33-
3 The LORD's anger burned against Israel and he made them wander in the desert forty years, until the whole generation of those who had done evil in his sight was gone. To think of all the generations that have passed since Moses' day and to think how many have done evil in his sight.

14 "And here you are, a brood of sinners, standing in the place of your fathers and making the LORD even more angry with Israel. As our Fathers and Grandfathers and Great Grandfathers did, we still continue to sin! Lord, help us to strive for holiness!

23 "But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out. God, you know my sins and thank you for your forgiveness for them as I try to be who you want me to be.

Numbers 33-
The Israelites set out from Rameses on the fifteenth day of the first month, the day after the Passover. They marched out boldly in full view of all the Egyptians,

They marched out BOLDLY...after seeing God display His power through the 10 plagues, I can imagine they were walking boldly out of the city. It's when the tough times come that prove true faith!

Aaron was told by God to go up to the mountain and die! He wondered the desert with Moses for a full 40 years! 38 At the LORD's command Aaron the priest went up Mount Hor, where he died on the first day of the fifth month of the fortieth year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. 39 Aaron was a hundred and twenty-three years old when he died on Mount Hor.

50 On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho the LORD said to Moses, 51 "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, 52 drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places. 53 Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess. 55 " 'But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. God warns the Israelites "if they don't obey vs 56 "And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them.' "

When God tells us to do something, we'd better be quick to obey, wholeheartedly and with the right attitude!

Proverbs 29
Again, this Proverb is about anger and discipline!

1 A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy. 2 When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people

10 Bloodthirsty men hate a man of integrity and seek to kill the upright.
People of this world WILL hate us and this verse says seek to kill us!

11 A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.
22 An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.
16 When the wicked thrive, so does sin, but the righteous will see their downfall.

15 The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother. 17 Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul. groan.

Lord, let the righteous THRIVE, let us know be stiff-necked and refusing to take rebuke from others. Help me not to VENT but to be self controlled (so hard!).

God thank you for trusting us with two little souls to help raise up in your word. Help me not to take my responsibility as a parent lightly or for granted.

Proverbs 28- Numbers 28-29

2009-03-12T10:44:00.001-07:00

Numbers 28-29

To see the amount of animals used as an atonement, I think how the Lord provided all these animals to the Israelites and it was up to them to obey and sacrifice to make atonement for their sins. These animals were to be the best animals, without defect (vs 31).

How much do we sacrifice to the Lord? Are we serving the Lord with our time? Are we giving the Lord tithes off of the good He's blessed us with?

It's also mentioned over and over in this passage how the people were to deny themselves and do no work. Do we dedicate our schedule to the Lord? Do we prioritize our Sunday as the Lord's day? Are we regularly committed to our small group or just a casual attender? God commanded the Israelites not to work! Vs 40 says Moses told the Israelites all that the LORD commanded him.

Proverbs 27-
1 The righteous are as bold as a lion.
3 those who keep the law resist wicked
5 Those who seek the Lord understand justice fully
13 He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
14 Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
27 He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.
28 When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.

Help me God to speak out against wrongdoing, to not ignore people who need help, to have a soft heart, to be bold with my faith, to obey your laws God and most importantly to confess my sins Lord so I may continually find your mercy!

Proverbs 26- Numbers 26-27

2009-03-11T22:16:00.001-07:00

March 11-
Numbers 26-27
Men who rebelled against the Lord were swallowed by the earth and devoured by fire! 250 men! (vs 10) "They served as a warning sign."

The total number of the men of Israel over 20 and able to fight was 601,730. All the male Levites a month old or more numbered 23,000. That's a LOT of people!!! God cared for each of their needs too! Food for their livestock and manna for the people. Of all the men over 20, only Joshua and Caleb would live to see the promised land.

The 5 daughters of Zelophehad came to Moses and asked for property because their father didn't have any sons. 'If a man dies and leaves no son, turn his inheritance over to his daughter then to his brother then his father's brothers. give his inheritance to the nearest relative in his clan, that he may possess it. This is to be a legal requirement for the Israelites. I love that the women had value then! Give them their inheritance!

Because Moses didn't honor and obey God at the rock with the water, he wasn't allowed to enter the promised land. Joshua was appointed leader by God so the people of Israel wouldn't be sheep without a shepherd.

Proverbs 26-
is a man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I was only joking!"
This reminds me of when you say something mean and then try and cover it up by saying you were joking! That's still a lie!!!

20 Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down. 21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. 22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts.

Lord, help me not to give wood to the fire so that quarrels and gossip end with me.

Numbers 24-25 Proverbs 25-

2009-03-10T07:03:00.000-07:00

Numbers 24-25

Balaam blesses the Lord vs 9 "May those who bless you be blessed and those who curse you be cursed!" and Balak sends him home saying vs 11 "I would reward you handsomely, but the LORD has kept you from being rewarded." Balaam's response is vs 13 'Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD -and I must say only what the LORD says'?

Numbers 25-
The people of Israel started to sin against the Lord by indulging in sexual immorality and sacrificing to other gods. (vs 1 and 3) vs And the LORD's anger burned against them.

God had no tolerance for sin! He told Moses vs 5 "Each of you must put to death those of your men who have joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor." A plague hit Israel and vs 9 those who died in the plague numbered 24,000.

Proverbs 25-

Neighbors and enemies...
8 Don't be quick to take your neighbor to court.

17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house— too much of you, and he will hate you.

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. 22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.

15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

24 Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

28 Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.

Lord, help me to be self controlled and not quarrelsome. Help me to be patient.

Proverbs 24- Numbers 22-23

2009-03-09T10:43:00.001-07:00

Men can ask us to do things that are wrong, against God. Here's the response that Balaam said to Balak: But Balaam answered them, "Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the LORD my God. 21:8 How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the LORD has not denounced?" Even when offered great riches, he said he couldn't go against God!

This chapter has the talking donkey in it too :) Chapter 21- The donkey spoke and Balaam spoke right back to the donkey!

Then the LORD opened the donkey's mouth, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?" 29 Balaam answered the donkey, "You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now." 30 The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?" "No," he said. 31 Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.

19 God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?

Great verse! God doesn't lie, He doesn't change Him mind, He fulfills promises!!!

Proverbs-
10 If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!

I LOVE this VERSE! If I falter in times of trouble, how small is my strength??? God is able to give me the strength to accomplish what's been put in front of me. Help me to remember this and not to falter when things are tough!

12 If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?

God knows my life! He knows what I've done and will do. Thank you God for loving me and caring about me and hearing me when I call out to you!

17Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, 18 or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him.
19 Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of the wicked, 20 for the evil man has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

We're not to fear man and what they can do to us, God will judge. Matthew 10:28 And be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

27 Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.
33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-
34 and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.
The Bible has called us to work and to do our best with the work we've been given! If we rest and discard the work we've been given, we're sure to have poverty! We're to prepare and ready ourselves for whatever work God is calling us to do.

Proverbs 23- Numbers 20-21

2009-03-09T00:03:00.001-07:00

Numbers 20-21

2 times in these 2 chapters the Israelites complain spoke out against the Lord! t seems that all the Israelites did was complain! He provided water when there wasn't any and He saved them from the venomous snakes by saying all you have to do is look at the serpent on the staff!

Vs 16 and vs 21:3 both talk about how the Lord heard their cry and the Lord heard their plea. God thank you that you hear our prayers! 20:6 "but when we cried out to the LORD, he heard our cry and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt, 21:3 The LORD listened to Israel's plea and gave the Canaanites over to them. They completely destroyed them

God, vs 21:5 talks about how they grew impatient on the way. Lord, I too become impatient but know you want to reform my character and grow in patience!

Moses lost both of his siblings in this passage. God also explained that because Moses didn't follow his instructions 100%, that he wouldn't be allowed to enter into the promised land.

Proverbs 23-
2 put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony. 3 Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.

Oh Lord, lately I've been so discouraged about food. I do crave certain delicacies. Help us to be responsible with our eating habits!!!

9 Do not speak to a fool, for he will scorn the wisdom of your words.
This verse is SO true. I've spoken with fools and have been scorned by them!

13 Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die. 14 Punish him with the rod and save his soul from death. 22 Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. 24 The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him. 25 May your father and mother be glad; may she who gave you birth rejoice!

God, help Robby and I to discipline our children so they may be spared from spiritual death!!! Help guide their hearts and guide us as parents as we try to mold them into who you want them to be.

Proverbs 17- Numbers 7-8

2009-03-08T23:13:00.001-07:00

March 2-
Numbers 7-8
It's hard to picture this many sacrificial animals!!! 88 The total number of animals for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering came to twenty-four oxen, sixty rams, sixty male goats and sixty male lambs a year old. These were the offerings for the dedication of the altar after it was anointed.

"Moses, Aaron and the whole Israelite community did with the Levites just as the LORD commanded Moses." Whatever God said to Moses and Aaron to do, they did it! They purified the Levites, washing and shaving them, giving their firstborns to God, without complaint in this chapter.

Men over 25 were to help serve and men over 50 needed to retire from service and assist the younger men in doing the work. This is how to assign the responsibilities. (Vs 26) This reminds me of Titus where the older women have been instructed to teach the younger!

Proverbs 17-
What great reminders from Proverbs!

13 If a man pays back evil for good, evil will never leave his house.

14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. and (vs 19) He who loves a quarrel loves sin. 27 A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered. 28 Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.

22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. My Bible said a "Joyful" heart :)

Lord, help me not to be quarrelsome and to restrain my words! Help me to always be cheerful! :)

Numbers 11-12 Proverbs 19-

2009-03-08T23:11:00.001-07:00

Numbers 11-12
"Now the people complained about their hardships". The Lord heard the people complaining and it made him angry. God then consumed some of the outskirts of the camp, the people cried out to Moses, Moses prayed and the fire died down.

When the dew settled on the camp at night, the manna came down. The Lord was faithful DAILY to provide food for the people. The rabble began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said if only we had meat to eat." Moses would hear them wailing then would tell complain to the Lord about his troubles which made Him angry.

15 Moses said "If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin." God responded "Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat. The LORD heard you when you wailed, "If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!" Now the LORD will give you meat, and you will eat it. You will not eat it for just one day, or two days, or five, ten or twenty days but for a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and you loathe it—because you have rejected the LORD, who is among you, and have wailed before him, saying, "Why did we ever leave Egypt?" ' "

When God's said people will have meat, Moses questions where it will come from? (Vs 23) The LORD answered Moses, "Is the LORD's arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you." God help me not to question you or doubt what you say!

The Lord sent quail into the town and it was flying as low as three feet from the ground! While the meat was still in their teeth and before it'd been consumed, the anger of the Lord burned against the people and he struck them with a severe plague. They buried the people who had craved other food.

Vs. 25-26 says that the Holy spirit came down on to the elders to help carry Moses burdens and they prophesied (only once).

Aaron and Miriam spoke out against Moses. The Lord heard and struck Miriam with leprosy! Moses then cried out for he Lord to heal her.

Proverbs 19-
A prudent wife is from the Lord (vs 14)

Discipline your son, for in that there is hope, do not be a willing party to his death. (vs 18)

Listen to advice and accept instruction and in the end you will be wise. (vs 21)

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. (vs 22) Help us to know God what YOUR plans are for our lives.

Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge. (vs 27) Keep me continually under instruction so I'll never stray from growing in knowledge.

Help me not to have a hot-temper (vs 19) I don't want to be a sluggard (vs 24). Help me gain knowledge through your word and gain patience. Help me not be a quarrelsome wife and a constant drip (vs 13). Help me not be lazy (vs 15).

Numbers 15, 16, 17 Proverbs 21-

2009-03-06T07:28:00.000-08:00

Numbers 15, 16, 17
'But anyone who sins defiantly, whether native-born or alien, blasphemes the LORD, and that person must be cut off from his people. 31 Because he has despised the LORD's word and broken his commands, that person must surely be cut off; his guilt remains on him.' 9 You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. 40 Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God.

God, I am guilty of defiantly sinning. Continue Lord to work in my heart, conform me more to whom you want me to be. I want to keep your commands! I want to obey and remember what you've commanded, not going after the desires I might have in my life that aren't pleasing to you. Consecrate me, sanctify me.

41 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God.' " God you are ALL powerful. Thank you for creating us in your own image and help us to remember who's in charge. Not my will but yours be done. Luke 22:42

16:1- became insolent and rose up against Moses., well known community leaders who had been appointed members of council.
It is against the LORD that you and all your followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble against him?"

These were leaders, well known people of their community who rose up against Moses. God help us to call out false teachers and people who have their own selfish motives rather than desiring what you want from their lives.

God you took the lives of men who spoke out against Moses! Keep me fearful of you.
30 But if the LORD brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the grave, then you will know that these men have treated the LORD with contempt." 31 As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, with their households and all Korah's men and all their possessions. 33 They went down alive into the grave, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. 49 But 14,700 people died from the plague, in addition to those who had died because of Korah. This is a reminder that sin has consequences.

38 the censers of the men who sinned at the cost of their lives.

The sin these men committed cost them their lives. God, thank you for forgiveness of sin. Help keep me from sinning, for you've commanded
Go and sin no more"! John 8:11

Proverbs 21-

Lord, help guide my paths, help me to do what is right, help me not to have a proud heart because it's sin God. Help me to be purposeful with the time you've given me, to plan and be diligent!
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Vs 2 All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
Vs 3 To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Vs 4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin!
Vs 5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.

Vs 6 A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.
Help me God to only speak the truth, even when it might seem to cost me something, knowing that you reward truth and not lies! Help me not to compare ourselves to others who seem to have prospered by lies God, knowing their punishment awaits because God hates lying lips. Proverbs 6:17 Proverbs 12:22

7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is right.
Help me God to not refuse what is right. James 4:17 For him to know to do good and not do it, to him it is sin.

9 Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
19 Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife.
God help me to be a good wife to my husband that you've blessed me with. Keep me from being quarrelsome with him but to talk to him with reverence and respect. I looked up ill tempered and it says annoyed, irritable, crabbed. God, work in my heart, help me not to be annoyed by things or have a temper towards my spouse.

Vs 13 If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.
Help me to hear the cries of people in need, give me a spirit filled with compassion.

21 He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.
Help me God to pursue righteousness with my whole heart! Let everything in me be well pleasing to you!

23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.
Help me to think before I speak, to watch what I say Lord.

25-26 The sluggard's craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work. All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.
I want to deny my sluggish side, deny the sinful cravings within and instead make the best use of my time.

28 A false witness will perish, and whoever listens to him will be destroyed forever.
Lord, help me to remember that people who distort your word will be punished and destroyed and held accountable for what they teach and we'll be held accountable to what good bereans we are. Help me to study your word because your word is truth John 17:17.

Numbers 13-14 Proverbs 20-

2009-03-06T07:27:00.001-08:00

Numbers 13-14

Moses gave specific instructions to his spies. The men came back saying the men there were too powerful. The Israelites also claimed that the people of great size were descendants of the Nephilim vs 33 (Genesis 6:4: The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them.) Stephanie Schwartz did a great message on remembering the days of Noah, and taught about the Nephilim in WBS.

Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it."

The people were weeping, saying they should have stayed in Egypt. Seeing how Joshua and Caleb spoke against the people and rebuked them saying not to rebel against God! I love seeing how these 2 men had faith that God would would lead them in to the land (vs 8). The people then spoke of stoning Joshua and Caleb!!! God had to come down and speak with Moses about the people! Chapter 14 is such a great chapter!

God is so angry with the people, He says that only Joshua and Caleb and the people under 20 years old will enter in to the promised land. They had to wait 40 years and for each person who wasn't allowed to enter, to die in the desert.

Vs 22 not one of the men who saw my glory and the miraculous signs I performed in Egypt and in the desert but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times-
23 not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it.

Here are the pleas made by Joshua to the Lord-

18 'The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.' 19 In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now." 20 The LORD replied, "I have forgiven them, as you asked.

Then, the people said, we've sinned, we'll go take the land! Moses warns them, I am not with you, don't go up, you'll be defeated! Still, they rejected His word and attacked and were beaten back!

Proverbs 20-
To sum up Proverbs, I'd say a lot of it is about watching what you say and don't be lazy!!

Vs 3 It is to a man's honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.
19 A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much.

Great verses against laziness!
Vs 4 A sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing.
Vs 13 Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.

This verse reminds me how God is in control, not me :) Vs 24 A man's steps are directed by the LORD!

God, thank you for for your love, for forgiving my sins and for being slow to anger with me as I strive daily to become more of who you want me to be. Help me to know You are in control of ALL things and that I count on you ONLY and not myself or others! Give me energy throughout my days so I won't love sleep or be a sluggard!

Numbers 9-10 Proverbs 18-

2009-03-06T07:26:00.000-08:00

Numbers 9-10.

"That man will bear the consequences of his sin." Thank you God for bearing the consequences of MY sin on the Cross.

21 Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening till morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out. 22 Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. 23 At the LORD's command they encamped, and at the LORD's command they set out. They obeyed the LORD's order.

What an awesome site to have seen a cloud leading you through a desert by day and a pillar of fire by night. Wherever the cloud went, they followed! Waking up daily, trusting that the cloud would be there to show the way :)

Trumpets sounded, this was a sign to the Israelites they were to start moving. This reminds me how in the New Testament Jesus will come back with the trumpets sounding and we'll all get moving! :)

Thank you God for the promise that Jesus will come back!

Proverbs 18-
I love Proverbs! There are so many great illustrations on things we should do and shouldn't do!

Don't have- Selfish ends, defy sound judgment, airing own opinions, take no pleasure in understanding, have a proud heart, not listen.

12 Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
13 He who answers before listening— that is his folly and his shame.
15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out.
21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

Lord, help me not to be proud, to make sure I listen rather than speak, knowing that the tongue is such a powerful tool that can be used for good or evil! Thank you for being the strong tower I can run to and take refuge in!

Exodus 5-6 Matthew 27

2009-01-27T01:10:00.001-08:00

Exodus 5-6
Pharaoh said "Who is the Lord, that I should obey him? (vs 2) "Make the work harder for the men." Pharaoh did not fear God!

The Israelites who were crying out to God for help, then asked God to to look upon Moses and judge him! Then Moses cries out to God and says "Why have you bought trouble upon this people? Then he said to God "you have not rescued your people at all." WOAH! I'm surprised God didn't strike Moses dead right there!

The Lord said to Moses "Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh."

God tells Moses to go speak to Pharaoh and Moses says, the Israelites don't listen, why would Pharaoh? Moses in essence, talked back to God!

Lord, help me today to watch my responses, to think before I speak and to make sure that I obey you and do not question when you ask!

Matthew 27-

I can't remember who spoke on this at Compass....
Peter had sinned by doubting Christ, Judas had also sinned by betraying Christ. Peter repented of his sin and was a founder of the churches! Judas, seized with remorse went away and hanged himself! We too need to be careful we don't wallow in our sin and guilt but be prompt to confess it and turn from it!

Jesus standing silent as people accused him of lie after lie...how often am I quick to defend, speak my mind? Too often.

I never noticed this verse before (vs 19) While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him." After trying to persuade the crown and saw he was getting nowhere, he washed his hands of the responsibility and released Barabbas.

Jesus was mocked, spat on, his clothes taken, beaten, given bitter drink, then crucified on a cross.

Reading farther in the chapter, we see a great earthquake happened. People who'd died were raised to life, coming out of the tombs. Then, Pilate has Jesus' tomb guarded because they were afraid that Jesus would come back in 3 days as He promised!

God, thank you for sending Christ to die on the cross to pay the price for my sin. Help me to glorify you today.

Exodus 1-2 Matthew 25-

2009-01-25T22:33:00.000-08:00

Exodus 1-2
Vs 8. then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power in Egypt.

Vs 17. Here's an example of women who disobeyed the Pharaoh because it went against God's laws. He's asked the midwives to kill all boy babies born but instead, "feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live." God then blessed these women with children because they feared God.

This chapter tells of how Moses was born, then raised by an Egyptian. There's no mention of the name Miriam in this passage, it just says Moses' sister.

God hears us :) He heard the Israelites groaning in their slavery and how they cried out for help. (vs 23)

Matthew 25-
This chapter reminds us again of how "we don't know the day or the hour" when the bridegroom will return. (vs 13)

Then we have the parable of the talents. 1 man was given 5, 1 man was given 2, one man was given 1. The men who'd received the most money, put it to work and gained more money! The one who'd received 1 talent buried it in the ground and did nothing with his talent. God's given us talents and abilities and gifts and we need to make sure we're using them, not burying them! Jesus went so far to say that the man was wicked and lazy! (vs 26)

You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. (vs 21)

Then you have Jesus giving us a picture of generosity and care. "when I was hungry you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you visited me." (vs 35-36) When we care for others, it's as if we're caring for Christ Himself! (vs 45).

Genesis 48-50 Matthew 24-

2009-01-25T00:10:00.001-08:00

Genesis 48-50
YEY! WE completed the first book of the Bible! :) Only 65 to go ;)

How sad would it be, your Father is dying and he calls you in to give you a blessing and instead says things like "you'll no longer excel, I will scatter you, cursed be your anger."! When we meet our Father in heaven, we're praying for a response of "well done, good and faithful servant!"

Then, you have a sibling and the father says "your brothers will praise you and will bow down to you."

Jacob asked to be buried with Leah, instead of with Rachel.

50:20 "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." WE should have this similar outlook whenever something unpleasant comes our way, remembering that God is in control and can intend it for good!

Joseph lived to be 110 years old and told his brothers not to bury him in Egypt but to carry his bones up from this place. Eventually, they were placed inside of the Ark of the Covenant that held the ten commandments!

Matthew 24-
The disciples ask of the end times and Jesus warns US, watch out that no one deceives you for many will come in my name claiming 'I am the Christ'! There will be wars, these things must happen! Nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes! Pastor Mike gave such a GREAT message the first week of the new year on this very topic!!! I loved too how Carlynn this week reminded us that "Jesus could come back today!" We need to have that mindset daily that today could be "it"! What good are we going to do today for the kingdom?

Jesus goes on to warn us that many will turn from their faith, betray and hate each other, some will be persecuted and put to death and be hated by nations.

Because of increased wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. I assume that means that you become numb to sin.

Vs 13 says "but he who stands firm to the end will be saved". How great it will be to "finish well."

I need to study up more on the "elect" in Matthew.

The coming Jesus describes is the same as the coming in Thess!

This world is dying. "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." vs 35

So as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. We read in Genesis that every thought of mans heart was wicked!

We won't know the day or hour. Just like the people in Noah's day didn't know when the flood was coming! "Keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come." vs 42 He'll come at an hour when we do not expect him. We want to be found by our master, doing the masters work!

Genesis 46-47 Matthew 23-

2009-01-23T22:55:00.000-08:00

Genesis 46-47

There are a few things that are said in this passage that caught my attention. First, God tells Jacob to not be afraid and that it's ok to go to Egypt and that he'll still be able to return to his own land. This makes me think that Jacob was afraid to leave his home, then Jacob tells Joseph that he can die now because I saw for myself that you're still alive. This makes me think he doubted his sons and God because God said "and Joseph will close your eyes". Jacob lived to be 147 years old and made Joseph promise not to bury him in Egypt.

Jacob's direct descendants numbered 70, not including the wives of the sons. Wow! What a family tree! Of course, he did have numerous wives!

Pharaoh trusted Joseph so much that when he presented his brothers to Pharaoh, he asked that if any of his brothers had special ability to be in charge of his own livestock!

Joseph's family settled in the district of Rameses.

Joseph set up a system where the Egyptians gave 1/5 of their crops to Pharaoh and were able to keep four-fifths to themselves. This again reminds me of tithing, how we need to give back to God what He has blessed us with!

Matthew 23-
Practice what you preach! Jesus warned against the Pharisees, "do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach." (vs 3) Everything they did was done for men to see. Remember to always be humble (vs 12.) Verse 27 says how we're not to look beautiful on the outside and have our insides dead and unclean. Vs 26, if we clean the inside then the outside will also be clean :) We need to make sure our hearts are right with God.

Genesis 44-45 Matthew 33-

2009-01-22T23:47:00.001-08:00

Genesis 44-45

Josephs servants really stand out in this chapter. They didn't question why Joseph was having them entrap his brothers, they obeyed.

The honesty of Judah, (except saying Joseph was dead) disclosing all truth to Joseph of what transpired and offering himself as a slave in the place of Benjamin. How willing are we to give up our freedom for someone else?

For Joseph to tell his brothers that God had a plan through all that Joseph had gone through. (vs 5) He sees that "it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you". Also (vs 8) "it was not you who sent me here, but God."

Matthew 33-
We learn in this chapter about taxes (give unto Caesar) and tithes (to God what is Gods). What a great reminder as tax season approaches to be honest with our income and expenses. Also, are we remembering to give tithes back to God after all that He's given us?

Verse 30 talks about how there won't be marriage in heaven and also implies that the angels aren't married either :)

Jesus gives the two greatest commandments
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and to love your neighbor as yourself. (vs 37 and 39).

Are we loving God with everything we have? Are we loving others as much as we love ourselves? Jen Gray gave me a good JOY analogy years ago, Jesus, Others, You! We should love God and other people more than we love ourselves.

Genesis 42-43 Matthew 21-

2009-01-21T21:06:00.000-08:00

Genesis 42-43

I love how Jacob addresses his sons in verse 1! "Why do you just keep looking at each other?" They're standing around idol, not accomplishing anything and so he sends them off to Egypt to "buy some food for us, so that we may live and not die"

Again, we see Jacob's favoritism. He didn't send Benjamin with his brothers because he was afraid harm might come to him. (vs 4)

Vs 6, Joseph's dream comes true! His brothers bowed down with their faces to the ground.

Reuben said in vs 22, "now we must give an accounting for his blood." Reuben seems to me like a good man. He said in vs. 37 that if Benjamin didn't return that Jacob could kill both of his sons. He said entrust him to my care, and I will bring him back.

Joseph loved his brother Benjamin and wept uncontrollably. How many years had passed since they saw each other last? I wonder too how long Simeon had to stay in jail while the rest of the family finished off the grain they'd brought home from Egypt! I'm looking forward to tomorrow when I can read the rest of the story!

Matthew 21-
Jesus tells his disciples exactly where to go for a donkey, and, the donkey was there! We see Jesus' power, with a word and it happened!

This passage reminds me of Pastor Mike's message on hosanna from Palm Sunday last year!

In verse 21, Jesus says "if you have faith and do not doubt", Carlynn's WBS message was so great this morning, teaching on how we as Christians should not doubt God! It's a sin, a very bad sin!

Vs 32 "even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe". We're to respond to God with repentance and faith! The Pharisees did not believe or respond with repentance to what Jesus instructed!

Genesis 40-41 Matthew 20-

2009-01-20T22:12:00.001-08:00

Genesis 40-41

This chapter is a good reminder to me to remember to give thanks to those who do good to me! Joseph interprets the dream of the cupbearer and asks him to remember Joseph and mention him to Pharaoh. Verse 23 says that the cupbearer did not remember Joseph; he forgot him. It was 2 years before the cupbearer remembered Joseph.

Joseph also gives glory to God and doesn't take credit himself for interpreting Pharaoh's dream! (vs 16)

This chapter also shows how God knows what's going to happen before it happens. Vs 28 Joseph said to Pharaoh, "God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do". The matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon. (vs 32)

This is also a good reminder to be responsible with what God has given us! Seven good years came before the seven years of famine.

Joseph was 30 years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh. He was 17 when he was sold by his brothers and 17 years had passed!

Matthew 20-
"I am not being unfair to you". "Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money?" The last will be first, and the first will be last.

Jesus knows the future and tells his disciples what's going to happen.

The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve...what a great reminder that we ALL should be serving!

Genesis 38-39 Matthew 19-

2009-01-19T22:59:00.000-08:00

Genesis 38-39

Vs 7 Judah's son Er, was wicked in the Lords sight; so the Lord put him to death!!! The Bible doesn't say what Er did that was evil. Then Onan, Judah's second son, was wicked in the Lord's sight, so he put him to death also. (vs 9).

Judah withheld his 3rd son from Tamar so she wasn't able to have children. She decided to pretend to be a prostitute, Judah gave in to Tamar who was pretending to be a prostitute and she got pregnant.

Vs 2 The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered.

Vs 6 The master didn't worry about anything other than what he ate because Joseph took care of everything!

Joseph was right in vs 9 when he said he couldn't do such a wicked thing and sin against God by taking his masters wife. The wife lied to Joseph's master and Joseph was put in prison. But verse 21 said the Lord was with him, he showed him kindness and granted him favor. God had a plan for Joseph despite his horrible circumstance.

Matthew 19-
This chapter has a lot to say about marriage and divorce. Vs 9 says if anyone divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery. We're to remember how it was in the beginning. 2 became 1 flesh and what God has joined together, let man not separate.

Vs 17 we learn that NO ONE IS GOOD except God! "I'm a good person", surely I'll go to heaven. That's not the case, there's none righteous!

Vs 26 With man this is impossible (being saved), but with God all things are possible. We're saved by God! It's not anything that we do that gets us into heaven!

Genesis 36-37 Matthew 18-

2009-01-18T22:20:00.001-08:00

Genesis 36-37

We learn about the line of Esau in chapter 36. Pastor Mike spoke this morning about Korah and how he revolted against Moses! God had the earth open up and swallow his people! (Numbers 17) Is this the same Korah??

In chapter 37, we learn about Joseph! Jacob had a favorite son out of his 12 sons and gave him this special robe which made his brothers hate him.

We see lots of sin issues in Jacob and his sons. Favoritism, jealously, plots to murder...Reuben was instrumental in thwarting his brothers plots to kill Joseph. He planned on rescuing him from the cistern but his brother Judah decided to sell Joseph for profit instead. He was 17 years old.

Matthew 18-
We're not to look down upon little children, be humble, rejoice when the one who's wandered off returns, and approach our brothers and sisters in Christ one on one regarding sin. Throw out things that cause you to stumble in your spiritual walk. Be forgiving and merciful towards others. Remember, God is with us, regardless of how many or how few of us gather (vs 20).

Genesis 34-35 Matthew 17-

2009-01-17T23:14:00.001-08:00

Genesis 34-35
2 of Jacob's sons (Simeon and Levi) took revenge on Hamor for defiling this sister Dinah. I wonder why the other 9 brothers weren't listed in this plot.

God instructed Jacob to get rid of all their idols. Once they obeyed and buried the treasures, Vs 5 The terror of God fell upon the towns all around them so that no one pursued them.

This chapter reminds me again how earth is such a temporal. We read about Jacob moving so often from place to place. His wife was buried on the way to Bethlehem and he moved on and pitched his tent beyond Migdal Eder. (vs 21) We need to remember that we're just dwelling in a tent, being fully prepared to move whenever God tells us!

Isaac lived to be 180 years old and his sons, Jacob and Esau buried him.

Matthew 17-
Peter James and John were the three disciples who were privileged enough to see Moses, Elijah and Jesus transformed. Most importantly, they heard the voice of God! The feared the Lord and fell face down on the ground.

Vs 27 is so cool! Jesus tells Peter to cast his fishing line and the fish he catches will have money to pay the taxes!

Genesis 32-33 Matthew 16-

2009-01-16T20:35:00.000-08:00

Genesis 32-33

How wise of Jacob to approach his brother in a nice manner. He wanted to find favor in his brothers eyes.

Also, in Jacob's moment of fear, he responded correctly and prayed to the Lord! (vs 7 and 9) He reminded himself of the promises God had made to him.

After so many years apart, Jacob is greeted affectionately by his brother Esau, hugs, kisses and weeping.

Matthew 16-
This chapter teaches us that we're not to ask for signs from God! A wicked and adulterous generation looks for miraculous signs.

We need to be cautious what teachings we take in, comparing them to the word of God.

Even with all the miracles Jesus performed, people still didn't know He was the Christ! His disciples knew :)

Jesus knew what was going to happen to him in Jerusalem. He told his disciples in verse 21 that he'd be killed and on the third day raised to life.

If we want to follow Christ, we need to deny ourselves, submitting our lives to Christ's service.

Vs 26 is my favorite verse in the chapter "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?"

Genesis 30-31 Matthew 15-

2009-01-15T22:29:00.001-08:00

Genesis 30-31

There’s so much we can learn from Rachel. We need to not be jealous of others! Jacob responded correctly to Rachel’s dismay. He knew that it’s God was keeping her from getting pregnant.

These ladies fought! They quarreled over their spouse, they competed for attention and children. Both women did consent to leaving when Jacob said that God had commanded them to return to Jacob’s native land. Their response was “do whatever God has told you.” (vs 16)

Jacob finally left Laban, telling his wives that he’s “cheated” him! (vs 7). Jacob served Laban faithfully for 20 years! He endured hardships and loss but still served despite his circumstance.

Matthew 15-
We need to watch the words that we say. vs 18 “things that come out of the mouth come from the heart.” Evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.

Why did Jesus tell the Canaanite woman that He was only sent to the lost sheep of Israel? (vs 24)

Again, after Jesus had given thanks, God took 7 loaves and some fish and fed all the people!

Genesis 28-29 Matthew 14-

2009-01-14T22:54:00.001-08:00

Genesis 28-29-
Isaac commanded Jacob not to marry a Canaanite woman. Vs 7 "Jacob obeyed his father and mother. Then, Esau realized how displeasing Canaanite women were to his father and decided to marry another wife! I love verse 15 "I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go." Jacob says "Lord, give me food to eat and clothes to wear" and you will be my God. Jacob humbly asked for necessities

Laban was the brother of Rebekah. We recall that Laban didn't want his sister to leave right away, hindering God's will for his sisters life! Then, Jacob comes to take his daughter for a wife and Laban deceives him! Laban has him marry Leah after working for 7 years, then works another 7 years for Rachel.

How Jacob and Rachel met :) He saw her watering sheep. We know that the Bible said she's beautiful. He goes up to her.....29:11 "Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep aloud." She ran and told her father and Laban hurried to meet him. Jacob was in love with Rachel. (vs 20). He genuinely loved Rachel :) He served 14 years but "they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her." I love "love stories" :) Sniff

As for Jacob's other wife, Leah, she was unloved by Jacob. He loved Rachel more than Leah so God opened Leah's womb and blessed her with 4 children.

Matthew 14-
Jesus feeds over 5,000 people after giving thanks to God for the 5 loaves and 2 fish. We see that he went away by himself often to pray.

Also, even though Peter stepped out in faith to meet Jesus on the water, Jesus still said to him "you of little faith".

Genesis 26-27 Matthew 13-

2009-01-13T23:46:00.001-08:00

Genesis 26-27
A famine hits, Isaac wants to go to Egypt for supplies. God says, stay here and I'll bless you. Vs 6, Isaac stayed. Then, Isaac followed in the footsteps of his father by lying to Abimelech saying his wife was his sister! We see Abimelech warn the men not to molest Rebekah or Isaac, showing that homosexuality was still taking place then!

In chapter 26, there's a lot of arguing and disputes about water and wells. For shepherds and herdsmen, water was life! This reminds me so much of Christ who says "whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst." (John 4:13)

In vs 34 and 35, we see that Esau married two women and that they were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah. What kind of child are we to our parents? How good of a son-in-law or daughter-in-law are we? Do we try and seek the approval of our parents, trying not to cause grief?

Chapter 27 has a lot we can learn! Jacob and Rebekah conspired and deceived Isaac. Jacob stole from his brother. Esau held a grudge and said he'd kill his brother!

Matthew 13-
Which seed are we? There's the seed along the path, the seed in the rocky places, seed among the thorns, and the seed on good soil. I want to be the seed that fell on good soil that produced a crop! I want to hear the word and understand it! (vs 23) We don't want to get caught up in the worries of life that then cause us to be unfruitful. We don't want to receive the word with joy but have no root! When troubles and persecution come, we need to be ready to withstand and prepared for it! We need to be sure we understand the word so that the evil one won't snatch us away! I love that our church is ready and willing to answer any questions we as a church family might have!

Vs 16, people's hearts have become calloused. They don't hear, they've closed their eyes.

In verses 36-43 we see Jesus foretelling what's to come through the parable of the weeds in the field! He also fulfilled O.T. prophesy in verse 35 by speaking in parables. Jesus is going to send his angels who'll weed out everything that causes sin and all who do evil! (Vs. 41) They will separate the wicked from the righteous. (vs 49)

Vs 58 "And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith." How often too do we doubt God by having little faith? What miracles do we miss out on by not having faith?!

Genesis 20-21 Matthew 12-

2009-01-12T21:32:00.001-08:00

Genesis 24-25
Abraham had some very specific instructions for his servant concerning a wife for his son. Don't take my son back to the land where we've come from, bring back a woman from there. This was a very specific prayer that the servant prayed and God totally fulfilled it! Seeing how God had answered his prayer, the servant was quick to praise Him! Vs 26 "Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord, saying Praise be to the Lord" How quick are we to thank God for His answered prayers!?!

In this passage, we see too that Laban has given permission to take Rebekah "This is from the Lord; we can say nothing to you one way or the other. Here is Rebekah; take her and go." The next day, the servant goes to leave and Laban asks for her to stay for 10 days! They ask Rebekah if she would leave right away and go with this servant and she replied "I will go." How quickly life can change in a day! You're watering camels and the next, riding that camel to meet your future spouse, someone you've never met before. Rebekah had great faith and courage!

Abraham lived 175 years and his body was buried with Sarah his 1st wife.

Vs 67 "Isaac loved her". I love seeing in verse 21 that Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife. She was barren and the Lord answered his prayer and Rebekah became pregnant.

Vs 23 We see Rebekah's having twins and God already knew that the older child would serve the younger child! These babies were born 20 years after Isaac and Rebekah had been married!

Matthew 12-
Vs 12 "How much more valuable is a man than a sheep!." Jesus healed on the Sabbath, saying He is the Lord of the Sabbath which upset the Pharisees.

Vs 30 "He who is not with me is against me."

There's the seeds song "Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks"! What we say is a reflection of what's in our heart. We need to be careful when speaking, quick to listen and slow to speak! V 36 "men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken." How often do we say things that hurt, without thinking of the ramifications? Not only do we hurt someone we love or care about, God also hears it and will hold us accountable for it!

Vs 40 says that Jesus will spend 3 days in the heart of the earth?

Vs 50 Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." Let us be faithful to do God's will in our daily lives!

Genesis 22-23 Matthew 11-

2009-01-11T23:39:00.001-08:00

Genesis 22-23
Vs 12 "Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son". Vs 14 "The Lord will provide."

We see Abraham completely obeying God in this passage. The next day he saddled up his donkey knowing the task before him.

How often do we value our family before God? It's a sin for us to hold tightly to the blessings God has given us! We're not to have any idols, nothing is to be held in higher esteem than God!

Sarah lived to be 127 years old!!!

Matthew 11-
Vs 15 He who has ears, let him hear......people in cities were refusing to believe after witnessing miracles!!! Vs 20 Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.

Vs 28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." "You will find rest for your souls" vs 29 We can be so thankful for a Savior who we can bring our burdens to! We can find rest for our souls, peace and joy in any circumstance!

Genesis 18-19 Matthew 12

2009-01-10T23:52:00.001-08:00

Genesis 20-21

In verse 12 we learn that Abraham was Sarah's brother, they had the same father!

"The Lord was gracious to Sarah...and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised." God is faithful to fulfill His promises!!!

Abraham was 100 years old when his son was born!

Hagar and her son were sent off into the desert. As their water ran out in the desert and all looked grim, they started sobbing. :( "God heard the boy crying". He took care of them, told her not to be afraid and gave them a well to drink.

Sometimes the sins we commit effect other people. Abraham did not wait for the Lord to fulfill his promise by giving him a son through Sarah. Instead, he had a son with Hagar and Hagar and Ishmael suffered for Abraham's sin. We have to be careful of the choices we make and how they effect others.

Matthew 10-
Jesus told the disciples to preach the message "The kingdom of heaven is near." This is still a true statement today! We don't know when his return will be, but He's coming!

I like how Jesus gives this visual for us, that if we're un-accepted, shake the dust off your feet when you leave.

We've been sent out like sheep among wolves. Be shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves. "All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved." vs 22

Vs 20 Jesus says when the disciples are arrested that the Spirit of the Father will speak through them.

"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." vs 28

God knows the # of hairs on our head and we're worth more than sparrows to Him :)

Vs. 37 reminds us again not to put anyone or anything above the Lord!

I think Matthew is becoming my favorite book of the Bible!

Genesis 18-19 Matthew 9-

2009-01-10T01:12:00.001-08:00

Genesis 18-19
vs 14. "Is anything too hard for the Lord?"

Sarah questioned the Lord by saying she was old and wouldn't be able to have a son. But with the Lord, anything is possible!!! Sarah learned this when Isaac was born and Sarah was

We see in verse 15 that she lied to her husband about laughing about what the Lord had said. God hears all, sees all and knows all :)

The two men who were with the Lord, who are we to think that they are??? We see they had power to strike men blind!!!

The story of Lot, had he chosen a better place to call home, his life would have been very different. His wife disobeyed the words of the two men and became a pillar of salt. Lot and his two daughters ended up living in a cave! (vs 30)

The main sin listed here regarding Sodom and Gomorrah was homosexuality. The men of the town wanted to have sex with the two men whom God had sent!

I'm not positive but, I believe that by this time, it was a sin for daughters to sleep with their husbands and become pregnant by them! One of the daughters had a son named Moab, who the Moabites descended from. Ruth (who's in the line of Jesus) was a Moabite woman :)

Matthew 9-
Vs 4 Even though he'd taken on human form, Jesus knew the thoughts of the people!!!

Vs 13 Jesus said "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. This brings to mind Romans 3:10, "there is none righteous, no not one"!

The word fast appears again in this chapter. Jesus tells them that a time of fasting will come, when they're mourning the bridegroom being taken away. I need to do a study on the word fast!

This chapter shows at least 3 examples of people who had great faith and hope in the power of Christ! The woman who'd been bleeding, the man who's daughter had died, and the man who was paralyzed lying on the mat!

Vs 29 "According to your faith it will be done to you" and just like that, people were healed by Jesus words! Amazing!!!!

Vs 37 "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few". It's our job as Disciples to tell as many people about Jesus return, the sin they are living in and God's redemptive power!!!

Genesis 16-17 Matthew 8-

2009-01-08T22:50:00.001-08:00

Genesis 16-17
In Genesis 16 we learn about the lack of faith Sarai and Abram had in God's promise. How often do we fail to wait on the Lord for answers and come up with our own solutions???

Sarai wasn't happy with the plan she'd come up with and after her mistress became pregnant, mistreated her! God saw the misery Sarai's mistress was going through and sent an angel to speak with her and named the boy Ishmael.

17:9 God instructs Abraham that he and all his descendants and generations much keep the covenant God gave, which was circumcision. Anyone who wasn't circumcised was to be cut off for he had broken the covenant.

vs 16 God tells Abraham that Sarah will have a son. vs 17 Abraham laughed, doubting that a man and woman of their age (100 and 90) could have children! (Abram was 86 when Ishmael was born, this was 14 years later) When God says He's going to do something, we need to have faith and believe that He will fulfill His promise! That's wise for us to remember too, to not be full of empty promises! When we say we're going to do something, we need to do it! Let your yes be yes and your no, no. (Matt. 5:37 and James 5:12)

Matthew 8-
vs 10 "I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith". I want to be a person of such GREAT faith, fully trusting and relying on the Lord for everything! I want to be free from all doubt and worry, anxiety, anger, impatience, and have the peace of God in every moment of my day! I strive to be holy because He is a holy God!

This is the first time I really thought about verse 21. A disciple said to Jesus "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead. This is an example of how we're to continually put Christ FIRST in our lives! God's comes before family obligations!

With a word, Jesus was able to control the wind. This reminds me of Genesis, God spoke and the world was created!

The Disciples reacted in fear when the storm hit. A great reminder of the message this weekend! Tonight during Thrive, we had an earthquake and no one in the room panicked! It was great to see how we didn't go running for the kids classrooms to check on them, everyone stayed calm! We were in the house of the Lord, what better place to be during an EARTHQUAKE! :) What great POWER God possesses over this world!

Here's another example of demon possession in the New Testament- 2 men were demon possessed and violent and Jesus cast them into a herd of pigs. It also said the demon possessed men were coming from the tombs? I love how verse 31 says that the demons BEGGED Jesus. Jesus is in control despite whatever power the Devil may have!

Vs 34 When the people who were tending to the pigs ran into town, the whole town went to meet Jesus. They then PLEADED with him to leave. I wonder what was going on in their town that after seeing His power, they wouldn't want him there?

Genesis 14-15 Matthew 7

2009-01-07T22:29:00.000-08:00

Genesis 14-
In this chapter, we have the first war, we have people rebelling after being subject to power for 13 years, and, we have the first mention of a "10th" being given :)

Genesis 15-
God tells Abram not to be afraid. Abram asks for a child and God said for him to count the stars and so shall his offspring be!

Matthew 7-
Judgement! Don't be judged or you'll be judged according to how you judge others! Remember to first check your own sin before confronting others on their sin (specks and logs).

Ask, Seek Knock :) Vs 11 How much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to hose who ask him! 12 Do unto others as you'd have them do to you! Vs 14 Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it.

Vs 15 Watch for false prophets! We've studied this in 2 Peter in WBS this year and tomorrow's message for Thrive is also partly on false preaching from the book of Timothy! Knowing the truth of scripture is the way to guard against false prophets and false teachers! Also, vs 16 says by their fruit you will recognize them!

Not all who call Him Lord will enter the Kingdom. vs 21

Vs 26 We need to not just hear the words, we need to put them into practice! James 1:22 also says we need to be doers of the word, and not merely hearers!

We also need to have Christ as our foundation of our lives, He is our rock! Vs 25

Genesis 12-13 Matthew 6

2009-01-06T22:07:00.000-08:00

Genesis 12 and 13-
God told Abram to leave and that God would show him a new land. Abram obeyed God, he had faith and left his country, his family and set out to follow God! What a great example for us to follow when God tells us to do something!

Even with the great faith Abram showed by leaving when God told him to, there was still fear and doubt. We learn of this when he and Sarai were able to enter Egypt. God had promised Abram he'd make his nation great and that he'd have offspring. Still, Abram told Sarai to lie to the Egyptians fearing for his life. God then punished the Egyptians, forcing Abram to tell the truth! No harm came to Abram.

In Thrive we learned about Lot and how he moved outside of Sodom. In vs. 13 we learn that the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord. Still, this is where Lot chose to raise his family and, two of his daughters became engaged to men of Sodom!

Matthew 6-
Vs. 1 "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness" before men, to be seen by them. This verse is really difficult. You really have to search your motivation for all that you do, whether you're answering a question in front of the BIble study group, posting a status update that states what you're up to, writing comments even on the blogsite! We're not to do things to be showy towards others but to help encourage others and spur each other on to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:25).

Again, vs. 2, when giving to the needy or tithing at church, we're not to be showy about it! Don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your giving may be in secret. God knows...

Going through Partners, I really had to examine myself with praying out loud in group settings. What's my motivation? The hypocrites loved to pray out loud and have people see them.

Then Jesus gives us the prayer to pray, again, Partners was so great in defining prayer!!! We're not to use the actual words written here as a ritualistic prayer but praying to God...praise to you God, let your kingdom come let your will be done (I LOVE that worship song) thank you for providing food for today, forgive me from my sin, keep me from temptation and sin!

Vs. 17 Fasting is something I haven't done much although the Bible does talk about fasting!

Vs. 19 Remember that things on this earth are temporary. When we die, we won't be taking anything with us! Store up treasures in heaven, not on earth!

Vs. 24 Choose who you're going to serve, you can't serve both God and Satan! You need to live your life for God alone!

Vs. 25 Don't worry :) It's as simple as that! God's told us to be anxious for nothing but by prayer make our requests known to Him (Phil. 4:6)! He loves us, He created us in His image, He'll care for us. vs. 27 Who by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Vs. 30 O you of little faith. God knows what we need. He's also given us an awesome church body of believers who can help in times of troubles and need. Shelter, clothing, food, God has given us SO much!!! We are truly blessed!

There's no WAY to paraphrase these verses! Jesus tells us so clearly here...vs 32-34 Seek after the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Genesis 10-11 Matthew 5

2009-01-05T23:02:00.000-08:00

Genesis 10-
Vs 25, I don't know what this meant??? One was named Peleg, because in his time the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan.

Genesis 11-
Verses 5-7 The Lord came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. The Lord said, "if as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other." I assume in verse 7 again God's talking with the holy spirit and Jesus!

Matthew 5-
Vs 11 and 12 stand out the most. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.

We are the salt of the earth, don't lose your saltiness! We are the light of the word, a city on a hill can't be hidden. We don't put lights under a bowl! Give live to everyone!!! Let your light shine before men!!! (vs. 16)

If your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. There are warnings in this chapter against looking at women lustfully and also about divorcing spouses!!! (vs. 28 and 32).

Vs. 42 a good verse for generosity "Give to the one who asks you".

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (vs. 44)

Genesis 7-9 Matthew 4

2009-01-05T00:37:00.001-08:00

Genesis 7-

I think God likes the # 7 :) 7 days in the week, take 7 of every kind of clean animal, seven of every kind of bird, in 7 days I'll send rain, go into the ark with the other 7 people :)

This chapter is scary because is shows exactly how God can wipe out the earth! This isn't just a story in the toddlers Bible with the cute animals that fit inside the ark. This was a real event!

Again, this chapter shows (vs 5) how Noah did all that the LORD commanded him. He was an obedient servant of the Lord.

(vs 16) This verse, depending on what translation you read it in, says "Then the Lord shut him in. God closed and sealed the door of the ark after Noah entered!

The highest mountains under the entire heavens were covered (vs 19, in water). The waters rose and covered the mountains to a depth of more than 20 feet! Thinking of the tallest mountain covered in water then adding 20 more feet of water to completely submerge it! Wow! What power God has!!!

(vs 23) Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out. Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark.

Genesis 8-
(vs 21) The Lord...said in his heart: " Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done." This verse gives us a promise from God and lets us know that from childhood, we are sinners!!!

Genesis 9-
We learn that if anyone sheds blood, his blood also will be shed (vs 6) and again God says "for in the image of God has God made man".

God gave us a sign, an everlasting covenant saying he'll never destroy the earth by water again! That sign is the rainbow, given to us to remember!!! (vs 16).

Matthew 4-
Did Jesus know he was going to be tempted prior to entering the desert? The verse said he was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted...And, was he tempted so that later writers could say he was tempted but didn't sin? (Hebrews 4:15, 1 Peter 2:22)

Jesus gives us some good reminders... in verse 7. "Do not put the Lord your God to the test". (Deut. 6:16) Also in verse 17. "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." We don't know when he'll be returning! Be ready!

(vs 11) The devil left him (Jesus), and angels came and attended him. I wonder what the angels did? I'm sure that Jesus was famished from not eating and fatigued.

Verse 20, after Jesus had called the disciples, they immediately responded to him! "At once they left their nets and followed him" (vs 20) and again "immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him (vs 22). How quick are we to respond when the Spirit compels us?

Something I've never looked in to that is mentioned a lot in the gospels is demon-possessed people! Jesus and the disciples were able to cast out demons....are there people today that are demon possessed? If so, who's able to cast them out?

Genesis 5-6 Matthew 3

2009-01-04T00:04:00.001-08:00

Genesis 5-

When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed them.

I find it amazing to think that people used to live so long! Adam 930 years, Seth 912 years, Enosh 905 years, Kenan 910 years, Mahalalel 895 years! Also, that after Noah turned 500 years old he became the father of 3 sons! We learn in Genesis 6:3 that God limits mans days to 120! This just reminds me of 2 Peter 3:8 "With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." Our timing is not God's timing!

"Enoch walked with God". (vs. 24) How great would it be to have something written about you saying that "you walked with God". What an honor!!!

In WBS this past year Stephanie taught about Genesis 6:2 and 4 and I had never heard about this before. "The sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful and they married any of them they chose." "The Nephilim were on the earth in those days...when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them.". These were heavenly beings (not angels, not cherubim, but Nephilim) on the earth that ended up committing this huge sin by marrying humans and having children!!! This upset God and He flooded the earth!!!

Vs 6. The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. Through ONE righteous man, mankind was spared! Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. He also walked with God. And because he was a righteous man, he did everything just as God commanded him (vs. 22) in regards to building the ark and assembling the creatures and food!

The Lord saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. (vs 5) the earth was corrupt and full of violence. It doesn't sound much different from what the world today is becoming and how we need to be prepared as the day approaches when Jesus will return!

Matthew 3-
John the Baptists message is still true today "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near" This passage also reminds us that we are to be producing fruit in keeping with repentance (vs. 8) because a tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. (vs. 10).

Genesis 3-4 Matthew 2

2009-01-02T22:59:00.001-08:00

Genesis 3-
I always found it interesting that the serpent is never called "Satan" or the "Devil" in the passage of Genesis.....

Thinking about yesterdays passage too, God had told Adam the rule about the tree before Eve was created. I wonder if Eve doubted her husband, since he would have had to tell her God's rule about the tree?

It's sad that a lie from the serpent made Eve doubt enough to drive her to sin.

Verse 8- How awesome it would have been to hear the sound of the Lord walking! I yearn for the day when I can be in God's presence, experiencing Him the way He'd intended!

Verse 22- God I believe is referring to the trinity, when He said "the man has now become like one of us". The "us" must be Christ and the Holy Spirit!

I wonder what happened to the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? Were they destroyed in the flood? Verse 24 says that a flaming sword and cherubim are guarding them.

Genesis 4-
In this chapter, we learn that God looked with favor on Abel and in verse 5, He did not look with favor. This reminds me of "why does God save any of us"? If God created us, doesn't He have the right to choose who He'll give His favor to and who He'll refuse? Then for Cain to LIE to God after committing murder! (vs. 9)

It's so sad too to see how sin can progress. First, can was very angry (vs. 5) and then in verse 8, he killed his brother! God even personally warned Cain in verse 7. "If you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." What a good warning for all of us to avoid sin!!! (James 1:15)

Verse 16 says Cain went out from the Lord's presence...this verse I find interesting because, God is omnipresent! It's also interesting how the last verse says "then men began to call on the Lord".

Matthew 2-
I love reading all the fulfilled prophesies in Matthew. Vs 6 "In the land of Judah....for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Isreal." "Out of Egypt I called my son" vs. 15. Vs 18, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more. and Vs. 23, "He will be called a Nazarene."

I love too reading the obedience of Joseph. God tells them to GO! They went to Egypt, to Israel, Go to Galilee, go to Nazareth and Joseph faithfully led his family!

A new year

2009-01-02T00:09:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

Time to start reading through the Bible in a year :)

Genesis 1-
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

I love how plainly God explains the entire universe!
The earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

So clearly the Truth has been written. Why do people search for other answers? In the beginning GOD! God said it, and it was so! Enough said.

I love verse 17 about the stars...God set them in the expanse of the sky! This chapter just proves how much we need to be in awe of our Creator!

And, verse 27-28a...God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them...

Genesis 2-
The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. How amazing is it...the thought that from DIRT, God created man! He then created woman from man's rib (vs. 21)! Bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.

In verse 15 we learn that God "put him in the Garden of Eden to WORK"! That was before the fall of man :) What a great reminder for me to work and to do my work as unto the Lord.

It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him. I'm so thankful to have the honor of being a spouse and being called to be a helper to my spouse!

Matthew 1-
Jesus' genealogy

There are 5 women mentioned in the lineage of Jesus!
Tamar (3) Ruth (5) Rahab (5) Uriah's wife (6), Mary (16).

Just recently I realized that the book of Matthew points out the lineage of Joseph and not Mary (that's found in a different gospel) and how Joseph is referred to as the Father of Jesus when really, that's God!

I love verse 21, the words of the angel of the Lord "he will save his people from their sins". That's the whole reason Jesus came to earth! Thank you God for sending your Son into the world!

Target Opportunity!

2008-11-01T15:26:00.000-07:00

Hi friends!
I haven't blogged this week tsk tsk! I need to!

A girlfriend of mine did post some awesome witnessing tips which I've asked if I can link to...and, have tried to use them this week!

Yesterday at Target, I was presented with a perfect opportunity to share the gospel with someone but ended up inviting her to church and am praying she'll come! I still need to work on being BOLD!

As Abby and I were in the PHONE aisle yesterday, a woman asked what were doing Halloween night. We'd passed out ALL of our Fall Fest flyers so I told her that our church was hosting a Fall Fest! I then asked "do you go to church"? I'd hoped this would lead to deeper conversation.

"No, I haven't been to a church in a long time. I used to go when I was a little girl and I've been meaning to go back". "I grew up Methodist but, we didn't read the Bible a lot there" She told me she believes in God and that she's definitely not Catholic because, no pope is going to tell her what to do.

"You should try our church! Our Pastor teaches straight out of the Bible and, teaches us how to apply what we've learned in our life!" We also have great groups where you can meet other people, like our Heritage group. They also do fun events and go on trips together. She then asked me what the dress code was :) I told her too how great it is that we can pray to God without having to go through a priest, that we can have a relationship with Jesus! I was really hoping that she'd ask more questions about that too!!! By then, Christian had started melting down after a long 2 1/2 hours of shopping...

I didn't have a Compass pen or flyer BUT, she gave me her phone # so I could call her and give her the specific information! We live blocks away from each other too.

Today, I called and gave her all the churches info. I got her email address also and sent her an email :) I asked if she'd want to go tomorrow...well I might try it, not tomorrow but maybe someday.

Yesterday, she seemed so eager to get involved, to go to church! Today when I called, she sounded hesitant, procrastinating almost, I might go someday and said it's hard for her to get around (she has some sort of a walking handicap and was riding a Target cart when we met). I didn't want to sound pushy but did volunteer to give her a ride to church too if she'll just call me :)

Why can't I speak up more? I got my Partners Umbrella chapter out, my Bible ready to go, I'd prayed before calling her...what keeps me from speaking out!? I left my phone conversation with, I hope to talk to you again soon! I pray she comes, I pray she calls or emails me...I wonder should I call again...my heart is still beating fast!!!

DBR

2008-10-25T23:46:00.000-07:00

2 Thessalonians 3
Jeremiah 49
Jeremiah 50

2 Thessalonians-
Lord, let us continue in this present age to spread your word rapidly! (vs 1) We thank you that you are faithful and will protect us from the evil one. (2)

God, help us take heed to the warning of idleness that's listed three times in this passage (vs 6, 7, and 13)! Help us to never tire of doing what is right. (vs 13) Let our church stay busy serving you!

Jeremiah-
You are so powerful and capable of mass destruction! "the earth will tremble, their cry will resound to the Red Sea." 21 "I will scatter to the winds those who are in distant places and will bring disaster on them from every side" declares the Lord (vs 32)

Lord let us be filled with sorrow for the sins we have committed. Sin grieves you, it angers you! "the people of Judah and the people of Judah together will go in tears to seek the LORD their God." (4-6). "They will ask the way to Zion and turn their faces toward it. They will come and bind themselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten." (vs 5)

God, convict us of our sins and help us commit our lives fully to you!

"My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray and caused them to roam on the mountains. They wandered over mountain and hill and forgot their own resting place." (vs 6)

Thank you God for sending your son, the Good Shepherd to pay the penalty of our sin! I praise you that we are no longer lost sheep! Help us follow our leaders, give them wisdom to guide us Lord so we may never wander!

...defied the LORD, the Holy One of Israel (vs 29). "See, I am against you, O arrogant one," declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty, "for your day has come, the time for you to be punished. The arrogant one will stumble and fall and no one will help her up; I will kindle a fire in her towns that will consume all who are around her." (vs 31 & 32).

We see from this passage that the arrogant one will stumble and be punished! Keep us humble Lord, remembering that you sacrificed your son to save us from sin. Keep us from being arrogant and from defying you!

DBR

2008-10-24T14:27:00.000-07:00

2 Thessalonians 2
Jeremiah 47
Jeremiah 48

* RED text indicates the passages read from the Daily Bible Reading passage

2 Thess. 2:8- “And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.”

How powerful is our God that with the breath of his mouth he destroys evil???

This passage helps warn against false prophets and tells us that people are perishing

“because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” vs 10

People who don’t believe in Christ and refuse Him as Savior

“will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” vs 12

Let us not exchange truth for lies and let us not delight in evil and wickedness so we won’t be condemned. Let us fix our eyes continually on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2) and stand firm (vs 15)!

Reading through this passage of Jeremiah just made me so sad, some of the verses brought me to tears. God is angry at the Moabites for not obeying Him and has set out to destroy them. You picture your family…

Jeremiah 47:3 “Fathers will not turn to help their children; their hands will hang limp. Jeremiah 48:4. “little ones will cry out”. Death and destruction is all around and our children are crying out for help and we’re unable to save them. Vs. 46 your sons are taken into exile and your daughters into captivity.

How imperative it is for us to teach our children how to be saved!!! One day there will be a day of judgement and we want our children to stand with us in safety!

"vs7 Since you trust in your deeds and riches" My version (NASB) says verse 7, “because of your trust in your own achievements and treasures, even you yourself will be captured”.

May we never be cocky or arrogant or prideful, but instead be humble, desiring knowledge and wisdom from God!

29 “We have heard of Moab’s pride— her overweening pride and conceit, her pride and arrogance and the haughtiness of her heart.

30 I know her insolence but it is futile,” declares the LORD, “and her boasts accomplish nothing.

Let's respond correctly!

James 4:6 “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble”

Proverbs 16:18-19 “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling. It is better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.”

Vs 8. “The destroyer will come against every town, and not a town will escape. The valley will be ruined and the plateau destroyed, because the LORD has spoken.”

Our God is a just God and there will be punishment for sins committed. Thank the Lord for Christ who’s our redeemer, who saves us from death, who paid for our sin!!

The day of judgement is coming! Christ will return! Are you ready???

Witnessing Opportunities- Part 2

2008-10-24T12:55:00.000-07:00

We went to Target and passed out some more flyers!

There are three women Abby and I talked with! The first woman is new to the area and has twin 20 month olds! Her family has been looking for a church to attend and had heard of Compass when I gave her the flyer! She said they wanted to try out! Compass has so much to offer, we were able to chat about WBS, Thrive, Theology Proper and how we proclaim a Biblical Gospel through reading through the Bible and applying it to our life!

The second woman, we gave her a flyer and she said, "oh we have plans that night". As she went to hand it back (Abby had given it to her, much harder to say no to a two year old!) I said, well if you're not able to make it that night, maybe you'll check out our church, there's lots of info on our flyer! Thinking back to my earlier post this morning, I wrote that people who refuse flyers are the people who might need a flyer the most! I was hoping this would lead to further discussion.....it turns out she goes to Calvary Chapel. Anyhow, that got us to talking about how we're working on being BOLD for Christ :)

The third woman, we talked twice throughout the store. It turns out she and Abby were born on the SAME day! She said she was interested in the Fall Fest and, I gave her my # and email hoping to do a play date where we can talk more!!!

I wrote to our Facebook friend asking for tips too! :) I shared this last night with our group...my friend who's such a great witness and shared with the fed ex man. Our fed ex man came to the door and I couldn't think of a way to converse with him about the Gospel! My mind went BLANK, searching forever to try and come up with a sentence! Usually it's "sign here?. thank you!" How do I work God into conversation? Same thing with the checkers at the stores!!!

Well, I'm off to clean house after a fun morning of trying to be BOLD!

Witnessing opportunities

2008-10-24T09:49:00.000-07:00

Our study in Thrive last night had us discussing what hinders us from sharing about God. We were encouraged to write down why we don't proclaim God everywhere we go and to write scripture verses to refute it!

I wrote two answers:

First, I make up an excuse that I really don't know any non-Christians :) And, the non-Christians that I do know, I'm afraid of how they'd react! I also said that there aren't really any opportunities for me to share the gospel!

A few verses that came to mind to refute my excuses were-

John 12:43 "for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God"

Psalm 56:4b "In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?"

I need to make sure I care more about what GOD thinks than what others may think of me for proclaiming Him.

Matthew 10:33 "Whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven."

Even living in conservative Orange County, there are families here who are unchurched and need God in their lives!

Matthew 9:37 "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few"

This morning, we were COMPLETELY out of milk. Before exiting the car, the kids and I prayed for witnessing opportunities. Abby just so happened to be wearing her Compass shirt too ;) We brought Fall Fest flyers and 2 out of 3 people were very excited about it! In fact, one lady said she'd attended the Eggstravaganza (our Easter outreach) hosted by Compass Bible Church.

The last woman I approached said she had plans the evening of the event. I started to say, oh, it's hosted by Compass Bible Church...and she said well, thanks for the info and walked away. My mind started thinking, this woman probably needs to hear the gospel! She walked away when I brought up church...aren't the people who refuse our flyers probably the people we need to speak with the most???

I have one friend who, whenever I read her facebook status, it always says something like "just shared Christ with the Fed Ex guy" just "invited the grocery store worker to church Sunday". I want to be BOLD for Christ like that and equipped with the words to help lead others to repentance and faith! I'm going to write that friend later today for advice to see what words to speak to help lead in to conversation about God! I'm just at such a loss for words!

Three years ago, I couldn't picture myself even handing out a flyer to a church event. I then started going with groups of other women to pass out flyers and now, the kids and I go out on our own to find families we can invite to church!

I want to look back at this present time in my life in a few years and say, back then, I didn't know how to talk to people about Christ, I only invited them to church! I want my goal to be that I'm able to talk to everyone I meet about God, His love for us and how He sent His son to pay the penalty for my sin.

I've got my Umbrella method bracelet on and the kids and I are going out to pass out more flyers this AM! Praying for boldness!

A New Site!

2008-10-23T10:16:00.000-07:00

Hi friends and family!
I've decided to start blogging about the the things I'm learning and reading about! This blog will not replace my family blog with photos and updates of the children. I don't write in a journal but thought what a great thing an online blog would be! It saves them for me too so I can go back and reference them anytime! Thanks Chiara for suggesting it in WBS!

As I read through the Bible, do our Thrive homework and messages, as I go through Partners again, attend Sundays message or find something in our Women's Bible study or from a book I'm reading that really jumps out at me, I hope to write about it on my blog so I can remind myself again and again and again!

I named this site Millsap Marvel because, the definition of Marvel is "to be filled with wonder, admiration, or astonishment, as at something surprising or extraordinary
a wonderful thing; to wonder or be curious about :) Psalm 86:10 "For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God." These are just my own personal thoughts and notes on different topics :) Feel free to read and comment!

Psalm 9 talks about the greatness of God, how we should be in constant awe and astonishment of who He is and what He has done for us! May we never forget! Psalm 8: 3 and 9When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Our first message at WBS, our teacher spoke about keeping a "WOW" book, things in the Bible that just make you say WOW God, and what a great thing it would be to write them down and then pass along to our children!

So, here we begin....

DBR

2008-10-23T10:10:00.000-07:00

Daily Bible Reading- 2 Thessalonians 1 Jeremiah 45 Jeremiah 46

I try to daily go to www.compassbiblechurch.org where they post the "Daily Bible Reading" for the day. Here are my comments on the passage.

Rebecca Millsap Says:

God, help our church to model the Thessalonian church. Your faith is growing more and more and love for each other is increasing. We want to be able to persevere DURING persecutions and trails. What a great introductory chapter. May we be counted worthy of the kingdom of God. (5) We thank you God for being a just God (6), knowing that those who wrong you, or wrong us, will be punished in your timing (8).

Jeremiah 45:4-
Help us Lord not to disobey your commands. Verse 7 shows that despite God’s warning, they entered Egypt in disobedience to the Lord. God said in chapter 42:13-18 He commanded them not to enter Egypt or He would destroy them, by fire, by pestilence, by famine.

Help us God to take heed to your warnings, to stop, listen and obey! 46:4-5 says, that prophets told them not to do these detestable things but they did not listen, pay attention or turn from their wickedness.

It angers God when we make anything an idol over Him and worship things created instead of our creator! Let’s continually remind ourselves again and again and again to check our lives for anything we may be placing in front of God!

What defiance in verse 15, the Jews said to Jeremiah the profit “we will not listen to the message you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD.” Woa.