Pastor said last night of the bible "... an old book with a contemporary theme...", and that sure is true, isn't it? I just run across this in my reading:
Matthew 23:
2Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
3All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. ("do as I say and not as I do- pay taxes, avoid regulation that works and affects our personal friends and alliances' BONUSES (Fannie & Freddie..)
4For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. ("we'll spend the money, your kids and grandkids can pay for our likely-to-fail programs that destroy our country's foundations...")
5But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, ("I want my Gulf Stream ride and I want it NOW!")
6And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, (Wednesday's Cocktail hour, anyone?)
7And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. (Yes we can! Yes we can! Oh merciful one! (lol, sorry, couldn't help it)..
8But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
Yet we are to be separate from those who do that.
Showing posts with label reading the bible. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reading the bible. Show all posts
Monday, March 30, 2009
Saturday, July 19, 2008
The LORD trieth the hearts
Proverbs hold so much wisdom, it is worth reading it over and over again for the awesome reminders it gives us for our daily lives, wouldn't you think?
Proverbs 17:
3The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
"... the LORD trieth the hearts."
He knows what's in our hearts, even when we don't know what is it our hearts. He's so faithful to us, so patient when we are seeking him. I've been in the process of letting go things that have been dear to me for a long time. It's been a real process of sorting through my emotions. Sometimes, when when something is not a sin, the Lord may still call us away from it for our own good. He knows our very natures, and he knows how things will affect us, even when we may not realize how something will effect us. We can go on doing what we "think is ok", without taking serious stock into what the Lord would have. I believe sometimes he allows us to wander around the thing he wants us to let go, just so we can see for ourselves what he is trying to tell us.
It's like a parent, they tell their child the plate is hot, knowing, sure as the world, that child is going to touch it anyway. It's not going to cause third degree burns if they child touches it, though no parent wants their child to feel pain. But I have grown to like those moments with my children, when Hannah touches the plate anyway, despite what I've told her. "Ouch!", she says. Then I get that moment ... "Well? I told you so!".
I wonder how many times God giggles at us "Well, I tried to tell you..." "If you would just listen to me...", but it's in those "ouch!" moments, that we learn to trust him more. We need to retrain our thoughts, and stop kidding ourselves when we say the plate is not as hot as it really is. Do we really want to feel that pain? Sometimes, pain might be needed to drive the point home. I can ground Jackson for a month from his favorite home activities- playstation, computer .... but he can endure. What hurts, is when he gets a spanking. Just enough pain to show him the pain it brings to his mother's heart when he acts in an ungodly manner, or makes an ungodly decision. The same kind of grief it brings God, when we, as His children, do the same thing.
I think of an article I read once about a girl hiding from her mother. We cannot hide from God. We cannot hide from God, what is in our hearts. He tries our hearts, he knows what is there. During times of stress or turmoil in our lives, what is in our hearts, truly, in our hearts, will come out. We can stuff our emotions, and act like things are okay, but he knows deep down, they are not, even if we have lied to ourselves for so long we really think it is. It is when we go through the fire, that the truth comes out.
When we lost the baby (our great nephew that I babysat 50+ hrs a week), when we got the news that morning, my supernatural strength went into overdrive. I cried for five minutes when Jay told me what happened, then I jumped up, got ready as fast as I could, and we were on our way to my sister's where my neice was staying, where it happened. I had nearly a dozen calls, people from our church it felt like (which, I appreciated and needed every one of them), and spoke with a sister in Christ about the situation so she could pass on to our online group what to pray for. It felt like eternity before we headed back to my house, everyone, because our house is big enough to accomodate large groups. That whole week people were in and out, I was receiving food, being "hostess". It was only when we went to the funeral home the afternoon of the wake, when the baby was "ready", for my neice to see him. We walked up to the casket, and I looked in, and the others started to cry. My Pastor and his wife were there.
He was at the casket with us, and I looked up and he asked if I was ok, and I nodded yes. Then I looked back down at the baby, and I was SO upset- that did NOT look like him at all, I thought! That was my last chance to see those little itty bitty cheeks, his slender face (when he was laying down, his cheeks looked so slim), his tiny little self! He was BIG! His face was twice the size it should have been. His face was covered in makeup! That was NOT the shape of his lips at all!! I turned around, walked across the room towards my pastor's wife (which beforehand had been becoming a good friend as we had been getting to know each other as of late), and I just fell on her. Alllll of these emotions come rushing through me. We went outside, and bawled, we talked, then Pastor come out. I'll never forget what he said- "I thought you were doing TOO good". I guess I was.
I was so busy stuffing my own emotions aside to try to protect my neice from potential dramas, and to make things as smoothly as possible for everyone, I had not really cried in four days, since I learned the news that Monday morning. The Lord knew those emotions were there. He knew what it was going to take, to make the situation "real", for me. When the fire comes, for me it was seeing the baby in the casket, the true emotions come out. What about other situations in my life? I know I tend to smile and act like I'm at peace with the way certain things are in our home and marriage, because I don't want to seem like a nag; but when my emotions catch up with me, it's an overwhelming whirlwind through my mind. The Lord knows this. He knows it all. Why do we try to fool ourselves?
I would like to think, that when we go through the fire, that what people see, is what has always been there, nothing new. I believe that is what God wants for us. The challenge, is getting to that point.
Proverbs 17:
3The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
"... the LORD trieth the hearts."
He knows what's in our hearts, even when we don't know what is it our hearts. He's so faithful to us, so patient when we are seeking him. I've been in the process of letting go things that have been dear to me for a long time. It's been a real process of sorting through my emotions. Sometimes, when when something is not a sin, the Lord may still call us away from it for our own good. He knows our very natures, and he knows how things will affect us, even when we may not realize how something will effect us. We can go on doing what we "think is ok", without taking serious stock into what the Lord would have. I believe sometimes he allows us to wander around the thing he wants us to let go, just so we can see for ourselves what he is trying to tell us.
It's like a parent, they tell their child the plate is hot, knowing, sure as the world, that child is going to touch it anyway. It's not going to cause third degree burns if they child touches it, though no parent wants their child to feel pain. But I have grown to like those moments with my children, when Hannah touches the plate anyway, despite what I've told her. "Ouch!", she says. Then I get that moment ... "Well? I told you so!".
I wonder how many times God giggles at us "Well, I tried to tell you..." "If you would just listen to me...", but it's in those "ouch!" moments, that we learn to trust him more. We need to retrain our thoughts, and stop kidding ourselves when we say the plate is not as hot as it really is. Do we really want to feel that pain? Sometimes, pain might be needed to drive the point home. I can ground Jackson for a month from his favorite home activities- playstation, computer .... but he can endure. What hurts, is when he gets a spanking. Just enough pain to show him the pain it brings to his mother's heart when he acts in an ungodly manner, or makes an ungodly decision. The same kind of grief it brings God, when we, as His children, do the same thing.
I think of an article I read once about a girl hiding from her mother. We cannot hide from God. We cannot hide from God, what is in our hearts. He tries our hearts, he knows what is there. During times of stress or turmoil in our lives, what is in our hearts, truly, in our hearts, will come out. We can stuff our emotions, and act like things are okay, but he knows deep down, they are not, even if we have lied to ourselves for so long we really think it is. It is when we go through the fire, that the truth comes out.
When we lost the baby (our great nephew that I babysat 50+ hrs a week), when we got the news that morning, my supernatural strength went into overdrive. I cried for five minutes when Jay told me what happened, then I jumped up, got ready as fast as I could, and we were on our way to my sister's where my neice was staying, where it happened. I had nearly a dozen calls, people from our church it felt like (which, I appreciated and needed every one of them), and spoke with a sister in Christ about the situation so she could pass on to our online group what to pray for. It felt like eternity before we headed back to my house, everyone, because our house is big enough to accomodate large groups. That whole week people were in and out, I was receiving food, being "hostess". It was only when we went to the funeral home the afternoon of the wake, when the baby was "ready", for my neice to see him. We walked up to the casket, and I looked in, and the others started to cry. My Pastor and his wife were there.
He was at the casket with us, and I looked up and he asked if I was ok, and I nodded yes. Then I looked back down at the baby, and I was SO upset- that did NOT look like him at all, I thought! That was my last chance to see those little itty bitty cheeks, his slender face (when he was laying down, his cheeks looked so slim), his tiny little self! He was BIG! His face was twice the size it should have been. His face was covered in makeup! That was NOT the shape of his lips at all!! I turned around, walked across the room towards my pastor's wife (which beforehand had been becoming a good friend as we had been getting to know each other as of late), and I just fell on her. Alllll of these emotions come rushing through me. We went outside, and bawled, we talked, then Pastor come out. I'll never forget what he said- "I thought you were doing TOO good". I guess I was.
I was so busy stuffing my own emotions aside to try to protect my neice from potential dramas, and to make things as smoothly as possible for everyone, I had not really cried in four days, since I learned the news that Monday morning. The Lord knew those emotions were there. He knew what it was going to take, to make the situation "real", for me. When the fire comes, for me it was seeing the baby in the casket, the true emotions come out. What about other situations in my life? I know I tend to smile and act like I'm at peace with the way certain things are in our home and marriage, because I don't want to seem like a nag; but when my emotions catch up with me, it's an overwhelming whirlwind through my mind. The Lord knows this. He knows it all. Why do we try to fool ourselves?
I would like to think, that when we go through the fire, that what people see, is what has always been there, nothing new. I believe that is what God wants for us. The challenge, is getting to that point.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Verses for today, July 16th
For my "catch up" reading from Jan 30th, I got tickled to see Genesis 39 was included, as we have been studying that chapter for the past couple of weeks on Sunday nights. The verse I really appreciate from that passage is:
9There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
I appreciate how the Lord included in His Word an example like Joseph, who as far as recorded, always had God first and foremost in his mind. When faced with a temptation, he took stock of all of his blessings, and remembered where his blessings come from, and remembered his moral values and recognized it was blatant sin against God. He was so close to God, it did not take him time to ponder his answer to this woman, his decision was already made before he was in that situation. I like that, that's good stuff *g*
Then you have God's faithfulness even in times of trial-
21But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
23The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.
Even when he is put in jail, he is made a "boss", even in jail, the Lord's presence in Joseph's life was visibly seen. Because what I jsut learned and never thought about was, Potiphar put Joseph in HIS prison (v1, 20), which was in his home. Even though his wife says Joseph tried to seduce her, he chose to keep Jospeh close to him. That's a testimony IMO
In Psalm 30 I find hope:
2 O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.
5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.
Again I got tickled with today's reading from "the plan", it was 1 Cor 5, because Pastor preached on it this past Sunday night, and boy was it a serious sermon too, but done with SUCH conviction and love!!
Then 1 Kings 18 was the story of one of my favorite prophets Elijah. Go read it ;o)
I have to say I don't think I have ever read in Amos maybe besides a cross reference. That was an interesting passage and made me think f my name devo study, about God's name JEHOVAH-NAKAH, "the Lord who smites", (when his mercy and long suffering have been exhausted, the Lord smites in judgement.).
Proverbs 16 is awesome.
There were a few verses in this chapter I love:
3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
5a Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: ...
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
7When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
9A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
11A just weight and balance are the LORD's: all the weights of the bag are his work.
16How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
18Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
19Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
21The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
22Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
23The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
24Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
32He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
9There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
I appreciate how the Lord included in His Word an example like Joseph, who as far as recorded, always had God first and foremost in his mind. When faced with a temptation, he took stock of all of his blessings, and remembered where his blessings come from, and remembered his moral values and recognized it was blatant sin against God. He was so close to God, it did not take him time to ponder his answer to this woman, his decision was already made before he was in that situation. I like that, that's good stuff *g*
Then you have God's faithfulness even in times of trial-
21But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
23The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.
Even when he is put in jail, he is made a "boss", even in jail, the Lord's presence in Joseph's life was visibly seen. Because what I jsut learned and never thought about was, Potiphar put Joseph in HIS prison (v1, 20), which was in his home. Even though his wife says Joseph tried to seduce her, he chose to keep Jospeh close to him. That's a testimony IMO
In Psalm 30 I find hope:
2 O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.
5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.
Again I got tickled with today's reading from "the plan", it was 1 Cor 5, because Pastor preached on it this past Sunday night, and boy was it a serious sermon too, but done with SUCH conviction and love!!
Then 1 Kings 18 was the story of one of my favorite prophets Elijah. Go read it ;o)
I have to say I don't think I have ever read in Amos maybe besides a cross reference. That was an interesting passage and made me think f my name devo study, about God's name JEHOVAH-NAKAH, "the Lord who smites", (when his mercy and long suffering have been exhausted, the Lord smites in judgement.).
Proverbs 16 is awesome.
There were a few verses in this chapter I love:
3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
5a Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: ...
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
7When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
9A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
11A just weight and balance are the LORD's: all the weights of the bag are his work.
16How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
18Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
19Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
21The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
22Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
23The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
24Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
32He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
Reading the bible?
The air is fresh (I think), the sun is shining, the view from the window is bright, I already have a load of clothes finishing the rinse cycle, on my second cup of coffee, Hannah (6) is fed (Jackson (9) is still asleep), I just got out of the shower and dressed, and guess what?
I've read my bible this morning! :D
Now, knowing this is a new blog some of my already-friends are going to have to bear with me while I bring my new friends up to speed on some things. Though some of my already-friends might not know some of the things I will be sharing here on this blog (more blogs to come). My bible reading, aside from a passage here and there for reference, and at church, has been non existent this year. I set out to read my bible in a year, you know, those lofty "New Years Resolutions". In the forum I was leading, everyone (well, almost) said they would like more accountability in their bible reading. I was excited, because I needed it too. So we started off the month with "daily bible threads", for everyone to share what they had read that day and to discuss it if desired. This was to encourage everyone to grow closer to Christ.
I realize God knew that was going to happen, and I do not want anyone to think I am accusing the lack of involvement in those threads as my "excuse" to not read my bible, because we are all accountable to God, whether we have a human to answer to or not. But the interest, or should I say involvement, never started. I done well for about a month. I was using the bible in a year plan presented from http://www.christianity.com/ , which is VERY nifty if you have not seen it yet! Here's a screenshot of what it is like (and is for free)-
So you have your "checklist", and you just check the day off after you have read it, and it will continue to show you month to month what you have or have not read. For example, come to find out, I stopped reading on the plan on January 30th. When I logged in this morning it was automatically on July, so I clicked the months backwards until I found a check mark again:
You can also change your reading plan preferences, start dates (so if you start with me tomorrow on July 16th, your plan will run from July 16th '08 to July 16th '09. You can choose to read your own bible (as I do) or you can read the provided text right on your computer, which I am sure this can be a good thing for people who work outside the home and want to read on their breaks or lunch hours:
So this site is a real blessing for me personally. I hope it might help someone else who stumbles upon this post, too.
So back to accountability. That is part of the inspiration of my personal blog, to keep myself accountable, to myself. It is nice when others join you along, but I will be the first to admit, we are responsible for our own selves.
Sidenote:
If you are struggling with the issue of reading your bible daily, please, join me in the comments area so we can encourage one another! My blog is set up to where you can receive follow up comments after you have commented to a post- so when you sub to a post, you will receive an email with my response (and maybe others) to you :o)
You can also subscribe through feedburner (look to the right) and you will receive notifications of all new posts I make here, which is handy if you check your email first like I do, lol
End Sidenote.
So I confess my own sin in not being in the word daily as I should have this year.
This has been a rough year, too. It's been a struggle of my own "spiritual get up and go", obedience to the Lord, and tremendous grief over the death of our great nephew 4-14-08 (who I babysat 50+ hours a week from this third week of life).
As you can read my the resignation post, I had come to terms with the Lord's will that I was to resign as community leader of that forum in February, I should have posted that post then as the Lord was telling me, but alas, do we always listen and obey immediately? Nope. But it was not new news to the Lord. He has used all of that to my benefit now, because he has shown me my own reflection in my own children, so we are working on instant obedience together now ;o) Along with a good number of other things I'll be covering in due time.
So YAY! I read my bible today! Actually, I sat down and read it three other times this month, too ;) from a daily devotional book I love "Learning to Worship His Name", and the Proverbs reading for the day.
But today! Today, I read the daily reading from c.com-
1 Corinthians 5; 1 Kings 18; Amos 2:1-3:2, and the reading from January 30th- Luke 22:1-38; Genesis 39; Psalms 30, and Proverbs 16, and the snippet from my devo book. My intention / calling is to start writing devotional type posts, which will be on one of my other to-be blogs. But here, I'll just share the verses that jumped out at me, and if anyone reading wanted to join, please feel free. Share what you read that day or the day before (or the day before ...) that spoke to your heart or something you thought was just "good stuff".
My desire is revival in my home. Is it yours?
I've read my bible this morning! :D
Now, knowing this is a new blog some of my already-friends are going to have to bear with me while I bring my new friends up to speed on some things. Though some of my already-friends might not know some of the things I will be sharing here on this blog (more blogs to come). My bible reading, aside from a passage here and there for reference, and at church, has been non existent this year. I set out to read my bible in a year, you know, those lofty "New Years Resolutions". In the forum I was leading, everyone (well, almost) said they would like more accountability in their bible reading. I was excited, because I needed it too. So we started off the month with "daily bible threads", for everyone to share what they had read that day and to discuss it if desired. This was to encourage everyone to grow closer to Christ.
I realize God knew that was going to happen, and I do not want anyone to think I am accusing the lack of involvement in those threads as my "excuse" to not read my bible, because we are all accountable to God, whether we have a human to answer to or not. But the interest, or should I say involvement, never started. I done well for about a month. I was using the bible in a year plan presented from http://www.christianity.com/ , which is VERY nifty if you have not seen it yet! Here's a screenshot of what it is like (and is for free)-
So you have your "checklist", and you just check the day off after you have read it, and it will continue to show you month to month what you have or have not read. For example, come to find out, I stopped reading on the plan on January 30th. When I logged in this morning it was automatically on July, so I clicked the months backwards until I found a check mark again:
You can also change your reading plan preferences, start dates (so if you start with me tomorrow on July 16th, your plan will run from July 16th '08 to July 16th '09. You can choose to read your own bible (as I do) or you can read the provided text right on your computer, which I am sure this can be a good thing for people who work outside the home and want to read on their breaks or lunch hours:
So this site is a real blessing for me personally. I hope it might help someone else who stumbles upon this post, too.
So back to accountability. That is part of the inspiration of my personal blog, to keep myself accountable, to myself. It is nice when others join you along, but I will be the first to admit, we are responsible for our own selves.
Sidenote:
If you are struggling with the issue of reading your bible daily, please, join me in the comments area so we can encourage one another! My blog is set up to where you can receive follow up comments after you have commented to a post- so when you sub to a post, you will receive an email with my response (and maybe others) to you :o)
You can also subscribe through feedburner (look to the right) and you will receive notifications of all new posts I make here, which is handy if you check your email first like I do, lol
End Sidenote.
So I confess my own sin in not being in the word daily as I should have this year.
This has been a rough year, too. It's been a struggle of my own "spiritual get up and go", obedience to the Lord, and tremendous grief over the death of our great nephew 4-14-08 (who I babysat 50+ hours a week from this third week of life).
As you can read my the resignation post, I had come to terms with the Lord's will that I was to resign as community leader of that forum in February, I should have posted that post then as the Lord was telling me, but alas, do we always listen and obey immediately? Nope. But it was not new news to the Lord. He has used all of that to my benefit now, because he has shown me my own reflection in my own children, so we are working on instant obedience together now ;o) Along with a good number of other things I'll be covering in due time.
So YAY! I read my bible today! Actually, I sat down and read it three other times this month, too ;) from a daily devotional book I love "Learning to Worship His Name", and the Proverbs reading for the day.
But today! Today, I read the daily reading from c.com-
1 Corinthians 5; 1 Kings 18; Amos 2:1-3:2, and the reading from January 30th- Luke 22:1-38; Genesis 39; Psalms 30, and Proverbs 16, and the snippet from my devo book. My intention / calling is to start writing devotional type posts, which will be on one of my other to-be blogs. But here, I'll just share the verses that jumped out at me, and if anyone reading wanted to join, please feel free. Share what you read that day or the day before (or the day before ...) that spoke to your heart or something you thought was just "good stuff".
My desire is revival in my home. Is it yours?
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