Abiding with Him,
Showing posts with label Thoughts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thoughts. Show all posts
Sep 5, 2013
God's Waiting Room
The
door opened just a crack and a small ray of light streamed into the
room. Before now she had only seen tiny glimmers of light as they passed
by the space where the door meets the door frame; and even that wasn't
often. She has been in this room for so long, waiting. For what she
didn't really know, she couldn't quite remember the dream, but she knew
she must wait. She stepped into the light and peered through the cracked
door. Then she saw it, or she saw part of it. He was still working on
it and she could see that it wasn't ready yet, but He allowed her to see
it and she was amazed. With renewed hope she anticipates the completion
of His plans as she abides in God's Waiting Room.
Abiding with Him,
Abiding with Him,
Jun 23, 2010
God's Plans, Not Mine
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
What do your prayers sound like? So often mine tend to focus on what I want. Even when I ask God what He wants, I hardly neglect to let Him know what I want. Now there's nothing wrong with asking God for what we want or what we think we need but are we truly willing to accept what He wants for us?
Many times I have prayed for or about something and God has answered exceedingly abundantly beyond what I had ever hoped for. The last two vehicles I have purchased happened that way. In both cases I had been praying because I needed another vehicle and I asked for something specific in His time. In both cases God went ahead of me and chose vehicles that were what I asked for and so much more.
There have also been those times when it seemed like God overlooked a few details. I have recently asked for prayer for myself as I looked for a job. I want to thank you all for praying and for those that encouraged me and some who even helped me through a few meltdowns. God provides for His children but it doesn't always look like we think it should.
As I applied for jobs, I prayed specifically that God would block all offers except for the job He wanted me to accept. I also asked if there could be at least one deeply rooted Christian where He chose for me to work, and that be someone I could become good friends with. I asked for prayer in my Sunday school class one day and the lady I asked told me there might be a position available soon in her department at work and asked me to email her my resume. Within a week she called me and offered me a job. The offer sounded more like a sales pitch as she was very anxious for me to accept.
So prayers answered, a job that was offered to me by someone I was already developing a friendship with who was a deeply rooted Christian. But it "seemed" that God had overlooked a few details. This was a part time position and paid very little. Not sufficient income to pay my bills but I was sure this was God's choice so I accepted the job. At the start of my 2nd week the position became full time and my supervisor is telling me that she wants to train me for advancement. The pay is still not sufficient to pay my bills but I know that this is the job that God chose for me. If things had gone according to my plans, I would have gone into a full time position that offered better pay but I am learning to accept God's plans and not mine.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9
Throughout my life God has shown me that He is always faithful. He has never left me stranded and has always provided for my needs, sometimes in miraculous ways. He can be trusted even when there is more month at the end of my income. These days it seems that we don't leave any room for dependence on God. We want our safety nets all in place before we take any steps forward. We won't take a job unless it offers high pay, health insurance, and a retirement plan. These aren't bad things but it seems that we, like the world, have come to rely more on these safety nets than we do on God. The world has to depend on these things because they don't have God, but God wants His People to depend on Him. We are called to live a life set apart so that the world can see our God and so that He will be glorified. I am so thankful for all that God has provided for me and that He has cut away the safety net.
Please join me at Titus 2 in action today...
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
Jun 9, 2010
Volunteer Opportunities
This is my grandaughter Word Girl. In this picture she is pouring drinks, not for herself, but for those that we came to serve. Word Girl has expressed an interest in wanting to help others in need since she was very small. I could see that this was something that God had put on her heart so I began to pray for an opportunity.
...To find out how God answered please join me at Titus 2 in Action today.
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
May 26, 2010
Where Would I Go?
Did you ever want to run away from home when you were a child? Maybe
even as an adult. I think most of us can remember at least one time in
our life when we wanted to. When I was about eight years old I had
gotten in trouble for something, I don't remember what, but I do
remember that it made me angry enough to decide I was going to run away.
I packed up as much of my belongings as I could and then I realized
that I had no place to go so I unpacked everything and put it all away.
I lived with my grandma and she was the one who took care of me. She was the one who gave me a place to live, food when I was hungry, clothes, a warm bed, and lots of other extras out of love. When she wasn't treating me nice enough by my standards, I didn't trust her love for me and wanted to leave.
Life can be pretty disappointing sometimes and downright devastating at other times. When trials come we find ourselves grappling with our faith. No matter how deeply rooted in Christ we are, we all experience trials that stretch our faith so thin that we wonder if it will hold. These are the times when we face what we say we believe about God and His love for us, and have to come to terms with whether or not we really do believe.
When God allows a tragedy to happen to your child, the loss of your job, homelessness, a shattered dream, these are the times we question His love, His care, His provision. It's easy to say we trust God when things are going pretty well, but when trials come, that trust is put to the test. It is during the trials that we not only seek God for what He can do for us, but we strive to know and understand Him because of who He is. These are the times we are faced with the question Jesus asked His diciples in John 6:67-68.
Questioning God isn't a sin when we take our questions to Him, it is a stretching of faith. God doesn't frown on us when we bring our doubts about His character and His purposes to Him. He knows that we will have doubts, and He allows us to experience trials so that we will question Him. Then He shows us His love at a greater level, teaches us deeper truths about Himself, and strengthens our faith in Him. We may not understand, but we can choose to trust God and keep walking with Him.
join me at Titus 2 in Action today.
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
I lived with my grandma and she was the one who took care of me. She was the one who gave me a place to live, food when I was hungry, clothes, a warm bed, and lots of other extras out of love. When she wasn't treating me nice enough by my standards, I didn't trust her love for me and wanted to leave.
Life can be pretty disappointing sometimes and downright devastating at other times. When trials come we find ourselves grappling with our faith. No matter how deeply rooted in Christ we are, we all experience trials that stretch our faith so thin that we wonder if it will hold. These are the times when we face what we say we believe about God and His love for us, and have to come to terms with whether or not we really do believe.
When God allows a tragedy to happen to your child, the loss of your job, homelessness, a shattered dream, these are the times we question His love, His care, His provision. It's easy to say we trust God when things are going pretty well, but when trials come, that trust is put to the test. It is during the trials that we not only seek God for what He can do for us, but we strive to know and understand Him because of who He is. These are the times we are faced with the question Jesus asked His diciples in John 6:67-68.
Then Jesus said..., “Do you also want to go away?”
But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. John 6:67-68
Questioning God isn't a sin when we take our questions to Him, it is a stretching of faith. God doesn't frown on us when we bring our doubts about His character and His purposes to Him. He knows that we will have doubts, and He allows us to experience trials so that we will question Him. Then He shows us His love at a greater level, teaches us deeper truths about Himself, and strengthens our faith in Him. We may not understand, but we can choose to trust God and keep walking with Him.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct[a] your paths. proverbs 3:5-6
join me at Titus 2 in Action today.
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
May 4, 2010
If You Want Me To
"...We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you." 2 Chronicles 20:12
This scripture has been on my heart for a little while now. It is sometimes all I know to say and I know several others who are leaning on this one too.
The other day as I was making lunch for the girls, I had the cheese out and was slicing it and noticed that Tobi was laying down near the doorway to the kitchen. I could see her in my peripheral vision. She lay there looking perfectly relaxed but I noticed that her eyes were on me the whole time. Watching my every move wide-eyed and with great anticipation.
She could be relaxed because every time I get the cheese out I give her some. Because she knows that, she was able to sit close and wait patiently, but her eyes, and stretching of her neck said she was wondering if this time would be different. Would I forget her this time? Would I ignore her this time? Do I still love her? Will I provide as I have in the past or just walk away this time?
That cheese was not a need for Tobi, but I planned all along to give her some just because I love her. It was as though God was showing me how I look from His perspective at times.
What would Tobi have done if I had not given her any? She would have stayed loyal to me anyway.
If You Want Me To - Ginny Owens
The pathway is broken
And The signs are unclear
And I don't know the reasons why You brought me here
But just because You love me the way that You do
I'm gonna walk through the valley
If You want me to
No I'm not who I was
When I took my first step
And I'm clinging to the promise You're not through with me yet
so if all of these trials bring me closer to you
Then I will walk through the fire
If You want me to
It may not be the way I would have chosen
When you lead me through a world that's not my home
But You never said it would be easy
You only said I'd never go alone
So when the whole world turns against me
And I'm all by myself
And I can't hear You answer my cries for help
I'll remember the suffering that Your love put You through
And I will walk through the darkness
If You want me to
Cause when I cross over Jordan
Gonna sing, gonna shout,
Gonna look into Your eyes and see You never let me down
So take me on the pathway that leads me home to You
And I will walk though the valley
If You want me to
Yes, I will walk through the valley
If You want me to
The pathway is broken
And The signs are unclear
And I don't know the reasons why You brought me here
But just because You love me the way that You do
I'm gonna walk through the valley
If You want me to
No I'm not who I was
When I took my first step
And I'm clinging to the promise You're not through with me yet
so if all of these trials bring me closer to you
Then I will walk through the fire
If You want me to
It may not be the way I would have chosen
When you lead me through a world that's not my home
But You never said it would be easy
You only said I'd never go alone
So when the whole world turns against me
And I'm all by myself
And I can't hear You answer my cries for help
I'll remember the suffering that Your love put You through
And I will walk through the darkness
If You want me to
Cause when I cross over Jordan
Gonna sing, gonna shout,
Gonna look into Your eyes and see You never let me down
So take me on the pathway that leads me home to You
And I will walk though the valley
If You want me to
Yes, I will walk through the valley
If You want me to
![CD0502X: If You Want Me To: The Best of Ginny Owens, Compact Disc [CD]](http://ag.christianbook.com/g/product/c/cd0502x.gif "CD0502X: If You Want Me To: The Best of Ginny Owens, Compact Disc [CD]") | If You Want Me To: The Best of Ginny Owens, Compact Disc [CD] |
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
Apr 28, 2010
Accepting Disappointment
Disappointment is a hard thing for me to accept. I tend to like getting
what I want. But the hard truth is that I don't always get what I want.
As a matter of fact, I often don't get what I want. It's part of
life. From the time we're born until our last days we will meet with
disappointment. Have you ever noticed how some people seem to be able to
accept disappointment and keep moving forward better than others? They
have probably had a lot of practice and good guidance.
We can help our children and grandchildren to better accept disappointment while they are young by allowing them to experience it. I think this can be especially hard for us grandparents. Allowing children to experience disappointment doesn't mean we cause it and I'm not referring to devastation here either. Allowing children to experience small disappointments and teaching them how to accept those little disappointments, trains them to better deal with the bigger disappointments they will experience later in life. So often we want to shield children from disappointment so we try to prevent it or make them forget it by giving them something much bigger and better. Often when there is more than one child we try to make everything "fair" by making it equal, but equal isn't necessarily fair or what is best.
Dealing with disappointment is generally a matter of redirecting our focus in some way. At the center of disappointment is usually "self" so a part of overcoming disappointment is redirecting our focus from "self" to "other". When my three little granddaughters come over they often want to play Webkinz. Since they all want to be first we have a rotation setup so that each time they come over someone else is first. They spend a few minutes talking about who was first last time and working out what the new line-up is every time. As they do this, they are working through the disappointment and learning to accept it as well as learning to place a little more focus on the others.
Disappointment generally involves a loss so offsetting that with some sort of gain or joy can help to train children to look for something positive in the midst of disappointment. In the above example, the one who is last gets a little more time on Webkinz than the other two. This provides a little disappointment and a little joy to both the first and last position as well as making things a little unequal for all of them. I have noticed that the one who is last will sometimes remind herself that she gets a little more time instead of dwelling on not being first.
Life isn't fair and it isn't equal. We all face disappointments but we can learn to view life and disappointment from God's perspective and teach our children to do the same.
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
We can help our children and grandchildren to better accept disappointment while they are young by allowing them to experience it. I think this can be especially hard for us grandparents. Allowing children to experience disappointment doesn't mean we cause it and I'm not referring to devastation here either. Allowing children to experience small disappointments and teaching them how to accept those little disappointments, trains them to better deal with the bigger disappointments they will experience later in life. So often we want to shield children from disappointment so we try to prevent it or make them forget it by giving them something much bigger and better. Often when there is more than one child we try to make everything "fair" by making it equal, but equal isn't necessarily fair or what is best.
Dealing with disappointment is generally a matter of redirecting our focus in some way. At the center of disappointment is usually "self" so a part of overcoming disappointment is redirecting our focus from "self" to "other". When my three little granddaughters come over they often want to play Webkinz. Since they all want to be first we have a rotation setup so that each time they come over someone else is first. They spend a few minutes talking about who was first last time and working out what the new line-up is every time. As they do this, they are working through the disappointment and learning to accept it as well as learning to place a little more focus on the others.
Disappointment generally involves a loss so offsetting that with some sort of gain or joy can help to train children to look for something positive in the midst of disappointment. In the above example, the one who is last gets a little more time on Webkinz than the other two. This provides a little disappointment and a little joy to both the first and last position as well as making things a little unequal for all of them. I have noticed that the one who is last will sometimes remind herself that she gets a little more time instead of dwelling on not being first.
Life isn't fair and it isn't equal. We all face disappointments but we can learn to view life and disappointment from God's perspective and teach our children to do the same.
Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross... Hebrews 12:2
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:5
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Philippians 2:3
Join me at Titus 2 in Action today...
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
Apr 14, 2010
Encourage Children to Share Jesus
As parents we often don't really want others teaching our children about
their religion. We think they don't have the right to impose their
beliefs on our kids. We don't want anyone leading our kids astray. The
same is true of non-believers. They don't want us Christians filling
their kids minds with thoughts of Jesus. The fact is, we are in a
spiritual battle all the time. You are one side or the other, there is
no in-between.
We can and should keep our children out of situations where they will be wrongly influenced when that is possible, but we should also equip them to handle those situation when they are in them. We should teach our children how to discern right from wrong, how to make good decisions, and how to share Jesus with their friends.
I remember when I was in elementary school my best friend Deana was Jewish. To me this girl was "set apart". I was fascinated by her different lifestyle and the different holidays her family celebrated, and the way they celebrated. As a result I asked a lot of questions. Our kids go to school with kids who have many different beliefs and many different Gods. Our culture is blending many beliefs (including Christian beliefs) into a universal religion that is all inclusive and looks the same no matter what. Do our kids appear "set apart" as Deana did to me? Is there a difference in their lifestyle, activities, and celebrations or does it look just like everyone else?
I remember one day Word Girl was telling me that satan was Jesus' brother. Where did she get that inaccurate bit of information? From a friend at school. Children aren't afraid to talk to each other about their beliefs. They are going to influence each other, and I think sometimes we forget that God can use our children just as effectively (if not more so) to plant seeds, as He can use us adults.
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
We can and should keep our children out of situations where they will be wrongly influenced when that is possible, but we should also equip them to handle those situation when they are in them. We should teach our children how to discern right from wrong, how to make good decisions, and how to share Jesus with their friends.
And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “ How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10:15
I remember when I was in elementary school my best friend Deana was Jewish. To me this girl was "set apart". I was fascinated by her different lifestyle and the different holidays her family celebrated, and the way they celebrated. As a result I asked a lot of questions. Our kids go to school with kids who have many different beliefs and many different Gods. Our culture is blending many beliefs (including Christian beliefs) into a universal religion that is all inclusive and looks the same no matter what. Do our kids appear "set apart" as Deana did to me? Is there a difference in their lifestyle, activities, and celebrations or does it look just like everyone else?
I remember one day Word Girl was telling me that satan was Jesus' brother. Where did she get that inaccurate bit of information? From a friend at school. Children aren't afraid to talk to each other about their beliefs. They are going to influence each other, and I think sometimes we forget that God can use our children just as effectively (if not more so) to plant seeds, as He can use us adults.
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart..." Jeremiah 1:5
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15
...Join me at Titus 2 in Action today.
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
Mar 31, 2010
Trust and Live
The Most High God chose to leave the glorious realm of heaven to live
like the dust of the earth, to live as a human, enduring all the
difficulties, joys, sorrows, and trials of this life. He had mountaintop
experiences and valley experiences. He experienced slander from his
enemies and betrayal from his friends and family. He was bullied,
ridiculed, laughed at, beaten, stripped, humiliated, tortured and
finally killed.
His friends and followers were left feeling confused and hopeless. Their greatest hopes and dreams had been ripped to shreds, their faith stretched so thin it threatened to break at any second. They were left with questions. "Wasn't this the King we had been waiting for?" "How could we have been wrong?" "Did we miss something along the way?" "What do we do now?" "I guess we go back to fishing." "What's left?" "Why?"
Because He loves us...
His life on earth was to identify with us.
His death was the punishment that we deserved for all of our sins, past, present, and future.
But the Power of God could not be contained in death. He defeated death and rose again to life, real life, so that we could live with Him forever in Heaven.
Trust in Jesus Christ ... and live.
Sunday is Resurrection Day. It is the celebration of the day that Jesus Christ, the Messiah, defeated death and sin and it's hold over you and me. I hope you have a wonderful celebration of our Risen Savior.
My oldest grand-daughter has chosen to Trust Jesus with her life and will be baptized on Resurrection Day.
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
His friends and followers were left feeling confused and hopeless. Their greatest hopes and dreams had been ripped to shreds, their faith stretched so thin it threatened to break at any second. They were left with questions. "Wasn't this the King we had been waiting for?" "How could we have been wrong?" "Did we miss something along the way?" "What do we do now?" "I guess we go back to fishing." "What's left?" "Why?"
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9
Because He loves us...
His life on earth was to identify with us.
His death was the punishment that we deserved for all of our sins, past, present, and future.
But the Power of God could not be contained in death. He defeated death and rose again to life, real life, so that we could live with Him forever in Heaven.
Trust in Jesus Christ ... and live.
Sunday is Resurrection Day. It is the celebration of the day that Jesus Christ, the Messiah, defeated death and sin and it's hold over you and me. I hope you have a wonderful celebration of our Risen Savior.
My oldest grand-daughter has chosen to Trust Jesus with her life and will be baptized on Resurrection Day.
Join me at Titus 2 in Action today...
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
Mar 29, 2010
Jehovah-Shalom, Yahweh-Shalom, The LORD is Peace
Studying the Names of God with Yolanda at Joy Comes in the Morning from the book LORD, I Want to Know You by Kay Arthur. I am also studying from the book Praying the Names of God by Ann Spangler. I would like to add that I am just loving this study. With every Name that I learn, I am drawing closer to God and learning so much about His character. If you have never done a study on the Names of God I highly recommend it.
In Judges 6 we find that the Israelites were still doing evil in God's sight so He turned them over the the Midianites for seven years. The Midianites so oppressed and impoverished the Israelites, destroying everything that they had so they hid out in caves and began calling out to God for help. We meet Gideon hiding out in a winepress to thresh wheat to keep it from the Midianites. An angel of the LORD shows up and commissions Gideon to strike down the Midianites with the assurance that the LORD will be with him.
This study came at just the right time for me as I have been filled with much tension and anxiety lately but through this study I found Yahweh-Shalom again, and the peace that He offers in the midst of any circumstances.
Shalom my friends~
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
In Judges 6 we find that the Israelites were still doing evil in God's sight so He turned them over the the Midianites for seven years. The Midianites so oppressed and impoverished the Israelites, destroying everything that they had so they hid out in caves and began calling out to God for help. We meet Gideon hiding out in a winepress to thresh wheat to keep it from the Midianites. An angel of the LORD shows up and commissions Gideon to strike down the Midianites with the assurance that the LORD will be with him.
So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. Judges 6:24 (emphasis mine)This is the first use of the Name Yahweh-Shalom in the Bible. When we think of peace we usually think of tranquility, serenity, and harmony with others, but as Kay pointed out, the Hebrew word Shalom takes the meaning to a deeper level. At it's root, Shalom means to be whole. The relationship is one of harmony and wholeness. It carries the idea of completeness, perfection, safety and wellness. According to Vines shalom as a harmonious state of the soul and mind encourages the development of the faculties and powers. The state of being at ease is experienced both externally and internally. This is a peace that is beyond our comprehension and it comes from living in harmony with Yahweh. Yahweh-Shalom is the source of all peace so it makes sense that His Son is called the Prince of Peace.
This study came at just the right time for me as I have been filled with much tension and anxiety lately but through this study I found Yahweh-Shalom again, and the peace that He offers in the midst of any circumstances.
Shalom my friends~
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
Mar 25, 2010
Jehovah-Mekoddishkem, The LORD Who Sanctifies You
Still joining Yolanda at Joy Comes in the Morning in our study of the Names of God from Kay Arthur's book LORD I Want To Know You. Ann Spangler does not mention this Name in her book Praying the Names of God.
Okay so the week is almost over and I'm just now getting this posted. My back has been out for almost two weeks and I haven't been able to do much but lay around. I'm so tired of laying around, not to mention all the other problems this is creating for me. I appreciate your prayers.
This was a reminder of His covenant promise that He is the One who sanctifies us. It is not of our own doing but it is worked out through our cooperative obedience to Him just as the Israelites were required to keep the Sabbath. As a matter of fact it's interesting to note that it was as Jehovah was giving the first laws (10 commandments) to Moses that He made Himself known as Jehovah-Mekoddishkem.
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
Okay so the week is almost over and I'm just now getting this posted. My back has been out for almost two weeks and I haven't been able to do much but lay around. I'm so tired of laying around, not to mention all the other problems this is creating for me. I appreciate your prayers.
12 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 13 “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. 14 You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. 15 Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. 16 Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’”The word sanctify means to set apart or make holy. The Name Jehovah-Mekoddishkem comes from Exodus 31:13 as noted above. Jehovah referred to Himself by this Name when He gave Moses the command to keep the Sabbath. I never noticed before that Jehovah spells out the purpose for keeping the Sabbath here. It is to remember that in the same way that He made the Sabbath holy or set apart to the Israelites, He also made His People holy and set apart to Himself.
18 And when He had made an end of speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God. Exodus 31:12-18 (emphasis mine)
This was a reminder of His covenant promise that He is the One who sanctifies us. It is not of our own doing but it is worked out through our cooperative obedience to Him just as the Israelites were required to keep the Sabbath. As a matter of fact it's interesting to note that it was as Jehovah was giving the first laws (10 commandments) to Moses that He made Himself known as Jehovah-Mekoddishkem.
7 "Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God. 8 Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the LORD, who makes you holy." [a] Leviticus 20:7-8
Footnotes: a: Leviticus 20:8 Or who sanctifies you ; or who sets you apart as holy
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
Mar 17, 2010
Jesus, Friend to Children
I'm fairly new at the church I'm attending having been there only about
four months. As many of you know, I bring my three grand-daughters to
church with me most every Sunday. At our previous church my oldest
grand-daughter Word Girl went to a kids worship while I went to adult
worship with both of my littlest grand-daughters. At our new church the
two little ones go to their own kids worship and Word Girl comes with me
to adult worship.
One day as we walked into worship we were met by a lady I had gotten to know a little who stopped to say hello. Almost immediately she introduced herself to Word Girl and began a friendly conversation with her. After a few minutes we said our goodbyes and Word Girl and I went to go take our seats. She had a big grin on her face and felt like she had just found a new friend.
The word rebuke is defined "to express sharp, stern disapproval of; to criticize sharply; reprove; reprimand."
People were always trying to get to Jesus to be healed, to ask a question, even just to get a look at Him as Zacchaeus the tax collector was doing when he climbed a tree. Yet when parents tried to bring their children to Jesus to touch them, bless them or pray over them, the disciples were very put out. Jesus not only loved children but he paid attention to them. I imagine when the children were brought to Jesus He squatted down to their height, looked straight into their eyes with a big smile on His face and talked with them. He probably asked them their name, their age, and what they liked to do. I'm sure He listened to them with great interest in what they said and after He prayed for them He probably hugged them or jostled their hair.
The Bible doesn't give us all the details but no doubt, He met them at their point of need just like He did with everyone else, and I'm sure those kids left Him with a big grin on their face and feeling like they had just found a new friend.
We all need a little attention sometimes. Children are often overlooked in a crowd of adults even at church. When you are in church next time and they tell you to greet the people near you, see if there is a child nearby that you can talk to. Maybe you will make them feel like they found a friend, and it just might make an impact on them for life.
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
One day as we walked into worship we were met by a lady I had gotten to know a little who stopped to say hello. Almost immediately she introduced herself to Word Girl and began a friendly conversation with her. After a few minutes we said our goodbyes and Word Girl and I went to go take our seats. She had a big grin on her face and felt like she had just found a new friend.
Then little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." When He had placed His hands on them, He went on from there. Matthew 19:13-15
The word rebuke is defined "to express sharp, stern disapproval of; to criticize sharply; reprove; reprimand."
People were always trying to get to Jesus to be healed, to ask a question, even just to get a look at Him as Zacchaeus the tax collector was doing when he climbed a tree. Yet when parents tried to bring their children to Jesus to touch them, bless them or pray over them, the disciples were very put out. Jesus not only loved children but he paid attention to them. I imagine when the children were brought to Jesus He squatted down to their height, looked straight into their eyes with a big smile on His face and talked with them. He probably asked them their name, their age, and what they liked to do. I'm sure He listened to them with great interest in what they said and after He prayed for them He probably hugged them or jostled their hair.
The Bible doesn't give us all the details but no doubt, He met them at their point of need just like He did with everyone else, and I'm sure those kids left Him with a big grin on their face and feeling like they had just found a new friend.
We all need a little attention sometimes. Children are often overlooked in a crowd of adults even at church. When you are in church next time and they tell you to greet the people near you, see if there is a child nearby that you can talk to. Maybe you will make them feel like they found a friend, and it just might make an impact on them for life.
"Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me." Matthew 18:5
Meet me at Titus 2 in Action ...
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
Mar 3, 2010
Teaching Them How To Pray
Have you ever sat down to a meal with someone who asked their child to
lead in giving thanks and the prayer was spoken so fast that you didn't
even hear it? Did you ever do that when you were a child? Did you have a
specific prayer that you said at every meal or when you went to bed? I
did a Google search on children's prayers and was surprised at how many
little poem type prayers for children there were. Here are a few
examples you may be familiar with.
Thank you for the world so sweet,
Thank you for the food we eat,
Thank you for the birds that sing,
Thank you God for everything.
---
God is great,
God is good.
And we thank Him
For our food. Amen.
---
Lord, Bless this bunch, while we munch our lunch. Amen.
---
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
If I should die before I wake
I pray the Lord my soul to take
God bless our family and our friends.
---
(And the politically correct version.)
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
May angels watch me
through the night and
wake me with the morning light.
While these are cute, amusing, and poetic little prayers, they miss the mark of what prayer actually is. Prayer is talking with God. It is relational not religious. When we teach our children to pray a memorized prayer that was written by someone else, it becomes a set of words that can be recited at the speed of light without a thought. It's important to teach even the littlest child to talk to God from their own heart.
As adults we should also participate in the prayer and not always let the child take the lead. We are the ones who need to model prayer to our children and grand children. Jesus modeled prayer for us in Matthew 6.
In the same way, we need to model prayer with elements of praise and adoration for God, prayer for God's Kingdom and His will to reign on earth, requests for our provision, forgiveness for our sins and for those who have wronged us, for protection against temptation and against Satan. Not that all of these elements need to be included in every prayer but that they all are frequently modeled in our prayer life. In doing this we will teach our children how to develop relational prayer with God, and as we listen to them pray we will also gain insight into their hearts.
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
Thank you for the world so sweet,
Thank you for the food we eat,
Thank you for the birds that sing,
Thank you God for everything.
---
God is great,
God is good.
And we thank Him
For our food. Amen.
---
Lord, Bless this bunch, while we munch our lunch. Amen.
---
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
If I should die before I wake
I pray the Lord my soul to take
God bless our family and our friends.
---
(And the politically correct version.)
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
May angels watch me
through the night and
wake me with the morning light.
While these are cute, amusing, and poetic little prayers, they miss the mark of what prayer actually is. Prayer is talking with God. It is relational not religious. When we teach our children to pray a memorized prayer that was written by someone else, it becomes a set of words that can be recited at the speed of light without a thought. It's important to teach even the littlest child to talk to God from their own heart.
As adults we should also participate in the prayer and not always let the child take the lead. We are the ones who need to model prayer to our children and grand children. Jesus modeled prayer for us in Matthew 6.
"This, then, is how you should pray: " 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." Matthew 6:9-13
In the same way, we need to model prayer with elements of praise and adoration for God, prayer for God's Kingdom and His will to reign on earth, requests for our provision, forgiveness for our sins and for those who have wronged us, for protection against temptation and against Satan. Not that all of these elements need to be included in every prayer but that they all are frequently modeled in our prayer life. In doing this we will teach our children how to develop relational prayer with God, and as we listen to them pray we will also gain insight into their hearts.
Hear my prayer, O God; listen to the words of my mouth. Psalm 54:2
...but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Psalm 66:19
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Matthew 6:7
I am at Titus 2 in Action today. Please join me there.
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
Mar 2, 2010
Jehovah-Rapha, Yahweh-Rophe, The LORD Who Heals
Studying the Names of God with Yolanda at Joy Comes in the Morning from the book LORD, I Want to Know You by Kay Arthur. I am also studying from the book Praying the Names of God by Ann Spangler. I'm a day late in getting this posted this week.
The Name Jehovah-Rapha is first used in Exodus 15:26 by God as He identifies Himself as the healer of His people. The word rapha means heal, cure, restore, or make whole.
The word Marah literally means bitter. I found it interesting that it was only three days after experiencing the incredible miracle of God's parting the Red Sea, that the Israelites were bitter in spirit and complaining against Moses who was following God's direction. There is a connection made between this account and what Jesus did for us on the cross. The word bitter used to describe the water is an indication that the water didn't just taste bad but was likely in an unhealthy state which is why the people couldn't drink it. In the same manner our souls are in an unhealthy state in need of purifying before we are followers of Christ. The tree that God instructed Moses to cast into the water is symbolic of the tree that Jesus was nailed to. In His death, Jesus overpowered the bitterness of sin, and in being made alive again, He became sweet, living water for all who seek Him. This is the spiritual healing that is associated with the Name Jehovah-Rapha.
Whether physical, emotional, or spiritual healing is needed we should always seek healing from Jehovah-Rapha first. Whether for an individual or for a nation, healing comes from Jehovah-Rapha.
In the latter part of these verses, just before God identifies Himself as Jehovah-Rapha, He states the responsibility of His people that will bring the blessing or promise associated with this Name. There is a connection between obedience to God and healing. The nation of Israel was to trust God for their healing as they walked in obedience to His word.
Just as we have rules for our children, God gives us commands to protect us. We can look at many of the laws God gave the Israelites and see that He as instructing them as a physician would to prevent and heal illnesses. Many laws for cleansing and quarantines were put in place by God for their physical health.
During Christ's life on earth He healed many people of physical illness and disease, but his Healing did not stop at the physical. When He healed His purpose was always to bring healing to the soul as well as the body.
This does not mean that all disease is a result of sin, as pointed out in the case of the blind man in John 9, but it does show there is a connection that God wants us to be aware of.
What is one way the Name Jehovah-Rapha speaks to my heart?
There is far too much for me to go into all the ways this Name speaks to me but one of the ways is in the way I as an individual have an impact on the health of the nation. If Jehovah-Rapha promises to heal His People of disease when we walk in obedience to Him, then when our nation is full of moral filth and evil, diseases of the spirit, I have to look at me, His People and sincerely ask Him to search my heart, show me my sins, and help me to turn away from them.
What is one way the Name Jehovah-Rapha speaks to your heart?
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
The Name Jehovah-Rapha is first used in Exodus 15:26 by God as He identifies Himself as the healer of His people. The word rapha means heal, cure, restore, or make whole.
So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet.
There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them, and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.” Exodus 15:22-26 (emphasis mine)
The word Marah literally means bitter. I found it interesting that it was only three days after experiencing the incredible miracle of God's parting the Red Sea, that the Israelites were bitter in spirit and complaining against Moses who was following God's direction. There is a connection made between this account and what Jesus did for us on the cross. The word bitter used to describe the water is an indication that the water didn't just taste bad but was likely in an unhealthy state which is why the people couldn't drink it. In the same manner our souls are in an unhealthy state in need of purifying before we are followers of Christ. The tree that God instructed Moses to cast into the water is symbolic of the tree that Jesus was nailed to. In His death, Jesus overpowered the bitterness of sin, and in being made alive again, He became sweet, living water for all who seek Him. This is the spiritual healing that is associated with the Name Jehovah-Rapha.
Whether physical, emotional, or spiritual healing is needed we should always seek healing from Jehovah-Rapha first. Whether for an individual or for a nation, healing comes from Jehovah-Rapha.
In the latter part of these verses, just before God identifies Himself as Jehovah-Rapha, He states the responsibility of His people that will bring the blessing or promise associated with this Name. There is a connection between obedience to God and healing. The nation of Israel was to trust God for their healing as they walked in obedience to His word.
Just as we have rules for our children, God gives us commands to protect us. We can look at many of the laws God gave the Israelites and see that He as instructing them as a physician would to prevent and heal illnesses. Many laws for cleansing and quarantines were put in place by God for their physical health.
Anyone the man with a discharge touches without rinsing his hands with water must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean till evening. Leviticus 15:11
If the spot on his skin is white but does not appear to be more than skin deep and the hair in it has not turned white, the priest is to put the infected person in isolation for seven days. Leviticus 13:4
During Christ's life on earth He healed many people of physical illness and disease, but his Healing did not stop at the physical. When He healed His purpose was always to bring healing to the soul as well as the body.
Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven." Matthew 9:2
Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” John 5:14
This does not mean that all disease is a result of sin, as pointed out in the case of the blind man in John 9, but it does show there is a connection that God wants us to be aware of.
What is one way the Name Jehovah-Rapha speaks to my heart?
There is far too much for me to go into all the ways this Name speaks to me but one of the ways is in the way I as an individual have an impact on the health of the nation. If Jehovah-Rapha promises to heal His People of disease when we walk in obedience to Him, then when our nation is full of moral filth and evil, diseases of the spirit, I have to look at me, His People and sincerely ask Him to search my heart, show me my sins, and help me to turn away from them.
What is one way the Name Jehovah-Rapha speaks to your heart?
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
Feb 22, 2010
Yahweh-Yireh, Jehovah-Jireh, The LORD Will Provide
Studying the Names of God with Yolanda at Joy Comes in the Morning from the book LORD, I Want to Know You by Kay Arthur. I am also studying from the book Praying the Names of God by Ann Spangler.
Whenever the Name Yahweh (LORD) is compounded with another another name it gives us insight into the very essence of God's character. The Name Yahweh-Yireh means The LORD will Provide. Yireh is derived from the word rach which means "to see". Because God sees the past, present, and future, He is able to know beforehand what our needs are and therefore make provision for all that we need. I found it interesting to learn that the English word for provision is made up of two Latin words that mean "to see beforehand".
The first use of this Name is in Genesis 22:14. Kay makes the connection between this account in Genesis 22:1-14 with the sacrifice that God made of His only beloved Son for our sins. God had told Abraham to go to Moriah to sacrifice his son. This is very near the place where Jesus was crucified. Abraham placed the wood for the fire on his son's back to carry to the alter. Jesus carried His cross to the place where His sacrifice took place. In both instances Yahweh-Yireh provided salvation. In the first instance He provided a substitute sacrifice, in the second instance He provided His own Son as the final sacrifice. Abraham's son was spared, Yahweh's Son was not.
From Genesis 22:16-18 we see that it was because of Abraham's obedience to Yahweh that he received Yahweh's provision. In order for Abraham's descendants to be as numerous as the sands on the seashore, there had to be one grain in place. That one grain was the very thing that Yahweh asked of Abraham. Even though it made no sense at all, Abraham trusted Yahweh enough to relinquish that one grain. The only visible hope of the promise being fulfilled. It was his trust revealed in his obedience that brought the provision.
What does the Name Yahew-Yireh speak to my heart?
Yahweh looks ahead and prepares His provision for my needs, but He is not obligated to provide. He expects my obedience, for obedience is the means by which my trust in Him (Faith) is revealed. My part is not to worry about whether or not God will keep His part. My part is to trust and obey.
Oh Yahweh-Yireh, please help me to walk in absolute trust and obedience to you. In Jesus Name ~ Amen
What does the Name Yahew-Yireh speak to your heart?
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
Whenever the Name Yahweh (LORD) is compounded with another another name it gives us insight into the very essence of God's character. The Name Yahweh-Yireh means The LORD will Provide. Yireh is derived from the word rach which means "to see". Because God sees the past, present, and future, He is able to know beforehand what our needs are and therefore make provision for all that we need. I found it interesting to learn that the English word for provision is made up of two Latin words that mean "to see beforehand".
Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided." Genesis 22:10-14 (NIV)
The first use of this Name is in Genesis 22:14. Kay makes the connection between this account in Genesis 22:1-14 with the sacrifice that God made of His only beloved Son for our sins. God had told Abraham to go to Moriah to sacrifice his son. This is very near the place where Jesus was crucified. Abraham placed the wood for the fire on his son's back to carry to the alter. Jesus carried His cross to the place where His sacrifice took place. In both instances Yahweh-Yireh provided salvation. In the first instance He provided a substitute sacrifice, in the second instance He provided His own Son as the final sacrifice. Abraham's son was spared, Yahweh's Son was not.
...and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me." Genesis 22:16-18 (NIV)
From Genesis 22:16-18 we see that it was because of Abraham's obedience to Yahweh that he received Yahweh's provision. In order for Abraham's descendants to be as numerous as the sands on the seashore, there had to be one grain in place. That one grain was the very thing that Yahweh asked of Abraham. Even though it made no sense at all, Abraham trusted Yahweh enough to relinquish that one grain. The only visible hope of the promise being fulfilled. It was his trust revealed in his obedience that brought the provision.
What does the Name Yahew-Yireh speak to my heart?
Yahweh looks ahead and prepares His provision for my needs, but He is not obligated to provide. He expects my obedience, for obedience is the means by which my trust in Him (Faith) is revealed. My part is not to worry about whether or not God will keep His part. My part is to trust and obey.
Oh Yahweh-Yireh, please help me to walk in absolute trust and obedience to you. In Jesus Name ~ Amen
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33
He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever. Psalm 111:5
Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. Exodus 19:5
What does the Name Yahew-Yireh speak to your heart?
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
Feb 17, 2010
Handling the Word of God
When my daughter was growing up she believed most anything she heard on commercials. She was always telling me which were the best products to buy and why they were the best, When I would ask her how she knew, she would say because they said so on the commercial. It's sad to realize that you must expect an element of deception in advertising and be on your guard for it.
While most of us have wised up about the reliability of commercials, many adults are still quick to believe something simply because another person says (or writes) it's so. Countless emails get passed around cyberspace claiming to be a warning of some sort that will protect you from harm and urging you to pass it along to everyone you know. There are places on the internet where you can verify if that information is correct or not but few people either know where to verify it, how to verify it, or take the time to verify it.
When it comes to scripture we should not simply take another person's word (or written work), for what the Bible says or means, and we should be teaching our children not to either. We should be in the habit of verifying scripture ourselves, and teaching our children how to do the same, prayerfully researching it out. A concordance and bible dictionary are very useful tools for helping to understand scripture as well. We gain more insight into and understanding of God's Word when we look at the original text and it's meaning.
Why is it important to know scripture for ourselves? First and foremost is that studying God's Word for ourselves is the best way to develop a deep, intimate relationship with Jesus.
Another reason is that there are those who would deliberately teach wrong doctrine to draw us and/or our children into their "religion" or cult. The best way to spot a counterfeit is to know the original.
Even with people we can trust, our friends, parents, pastors, reputable authors, etc, we need to remember that they can make mistakes. We are imperfect humans and we all make mistakes. As teachers of God's Word, we are held to a high standard to teach it accurately. So it is important that we use reliable references, research out what we are being taught, and teach our children to do the same. We need to keep in mind that popularity and opinion are not proper gauges for reliability, accuracy is.
One way to teach children to develop the habit of verifying scripture is to have them verify the scriptures and meanings you are teaching them. Who knows, they might come back and teach you something you didn't know.
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
While most of us have wised up about the reliability of commercials, many adults are still quick to believe something simply because another person says (or writes) it's so. Countless emails get passed around cyberspace claiming to be a warning of some sort that will protect you from harm and urging you to pass it along to everyone you know. There are places on the internet where you can verify if that information is correct or not but few people either know where to verify it, how to verify it, or take the time to verify it.
When it comes to scripture we should not simply take another person's word (or written work), for what the Bible says or means, and we should be teaching our children not to either. We should be in the habit of verifying scripture ourselves, and teaching our children how to do the same, prayerfully researching it out. A concordance and bible dictionary are very useful tools for helping to understand scripture as well. We gain more insight into and understanding of God's Word when we look at the original text and it's meaning.
And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. Acts 17:11 (emphasis mine)
Why is it important to know scripture for ourselves? First and foremost is that studying God's Word for ourselves is the best way to develop a deep, intimate relationship with Jesus.
Another reason is that there are those who would deliberately teach wrong doctrine to draw us and/or our children into their "religion" or cult. The best way to spot a counterfeit is to know the original.
Even with people we can trust, our friends, parents, pastors, reputable authors, etc, we need to remember that they can make mistakes. We are imperfect humans and we all make mistakes. As teachers of God's Word, we are held to a high standard to teach it accurately. So it is important that we use reliable references, research out what we are being taught, and teach our children to do the same. We need to keep in mind that popularity and opinion are not proper gauges for reliability, accuracy is.
One way to teach children to develop the habit of verifying scripture is to have them verify the scriptures and meanings you are teaching them. Who knows, they might come back and teach you something you didn't know.
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 (emphasis mine)
Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. James 3:1
Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Timothy 4:2 (emphasis mine)
You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. Titus 2:1 (emphasis mine)
Join me at Titus 2 in Action today...
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
Feb 16, 2010
The Bible is The Word of God
In 2005 the Dallas Biblical Arts Center was destroyed in a terrible fire. Some of the expensive works of art were rescued by courageous firefighters on the scene, but not without damage. Many of the works were destroyed.
I visited the museum the year before it's destruction, when the dead sea scrolls were on exhibit there. It was an incredible exhibit. The museum housed a wide variety of Bibles in numerous languages and ages. They had one of the very first types of printing presses there that was used to demonstrate how bibles were first printed.
As we toured the museum they explained the processes of translating the Bible and the extreme care that went into it to ensure that nothing was translated inaccurately. Lets look at the steps involved.
Then it is back translated word-by-word or phrase-by-phrase to verify that it reflects as closely as possible the meaning and grammatical structure of the indigenous language text. Back translation can improve the reliability and validity by requiring that the quality of a translation is verified by an independent translator translating back into the original language.
Another important element to note is that the Bible should always be translated from it's original language and not from another translation. So as a language changes over time, a Bible translation may be revised to make it more readable, but it must still be translated from the original language to ensure accuracy.
That is quite a process isn't it? Do you know why so much care goes into translating the Bible? Because the Bible is inspired and holy, adherence to the original meaning of the text is crucial. Today computers are used in Bible translation to ensure accuracy but the standards must remain.
I will be discussing more about the Bible in upcoming posts. For now I wanted to share some pictures that I took during my tour of the Dallas Biblical Arts Center. This was before I owned a digital camera so the quality is not what I would like but still acceptable. Click on the pictures for an enlarged image.
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
I visited the museum the year before it's destruction, when the dead sea scrolls were on exhibit there. It was an incredible exhibit. The museum housed a wide variety of Bibles in numerous languages and ages. They had one of the very first types of printing presses there that was used to demonstrate how bibles were first printed.
As we toured the museum they explained the processes of translating the Bible and the extreme care that went into it to ensure that nothing was translated inaccurately. Lets look at the steps involved.
- Reviewer Check
- Consultant Check
- Exegetical Check
- Consistency Check
- Format Check
- Style Check
- Proofreading
- Oral Read-through
Then it is back translated word-by-word or phrase-by-phrase to verify that it reflects as closely as possible the meaning and grammatical structure of the indigenous language text. Back translation can improve the reliability and validity by requiring that the quality of a translation is verified by an independent translator translating back into the original language.
Another important element to note is that the Bible should always be translated from it's original language and not from another translation. So as a language changes over time, a Bible translation may be revised to make it more readable, but it must still be translated from the original language to ensure accuracy.
That is quite a process isn't it? Do you know why so much care goes into translating the Bible? Because the Bible is inspired and holy, adherence to the original meaning of the text is crucial. Today computers are used in Bible translation to ensure accuracy but the standards must remain.
I will be discussing more about the Bible in upcoming posts. For now I wanted to share some pictures that I took during my tour of the Dallas Biblical Arts Center. This was before I owned a digital camera so the quality is not what I would like but still acceptable. Click on the pictures for an enlarged image.
From Parchment to Scroll to Bible ~ The Word of God Preserved
Plague of Locusts found in Exodus 10
Hebrew Torah Scroll
I think this is a German Bible
The Gospel of John
I believe that little card says 1578 First Geneva (something) Bible
"You have exalted above all things Your Name and Your Word." Psalm 138:2 (emphasis mine)
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
Feb 15, 2010
LORD - Yahweh, Jehovah, The Self-Existent One
Studying the Names of God with Yolanda at Joy Comes in the Morning from the book LORD, I Want to Know You by Kay Arthur. I am also studying from the book Praying the Names of God by Ann Spangler.
Yahweh is the most frequently used Name of God in the old testament, it is used 6823 times. It is written as LORD (all uppercase) in the Bible, not Lord, which we learned last week is the Name Adonai.
The first use of the Name Yahweh, actually spelled YHWH, is in Genesis 2:4 where it is compounded with Elohim (Creator). It comes from the word havah meaning "to be". Kay quotes Nathan Stone as saying "We must think of Jehovah (Yahweh) as the Being who is absolutely self-existent, the One who in Himself possesses essential life, permanent existence."
This is the Scripture where God revealed Himself to Moses by this Name, and we can see from this that Yahweh is connected to, and a continual reminder of His covenant promise. He is the One who powerfully delivered His People from bondage into freedom.
Here again we see Yahweh describing Himself and associating these attributes with His Name Yahweh. In addition to His goodness and mercy, He does not neglect to point out His authority to judge and the consequences our disobedience can bring on our family as well.
What does the Name Yahweh speak to my heart?
Until I studied the Name Yahweh, I never understood exactly what He meant when He said His name was "I AM". He was proclaiming that He is the One who was and is and is to come. There was never a time when He wasn't here, and that means here for His People too, and there never will be a time when He won't be here, and here for His People. Yahweh is here, for all of eternity, in full Power and full Love to act on behalf of His People.
As I study His Names, I find myself being grateful for having a concordance to look back to the original words and learn their meanings.
What does the Name Yahweh speak to your heart?
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
Yahweh is the most frequently used Name of God in the old testament, it is used 6823 times. It is written as LORD (all uppercase) in the Bible, not Lord, which we learned last week is the Name Adonai.
The first use of the Name Yahweh, actually spelled YHWH, is in Genesis 2:4 where it is compounded with Elohim (Creator). It comes from the word havah meaning "to be". Kay quotes Nathan Stone as saying "We must think of Jehovah (Yahweh) as the Being who is absolutely self-existent, the One who in Himself possesses essential life, permanent existence."
Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?" God said to Moses, "I am who I am . This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.' " God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation. Exodus 3:13-15 (NIV)
This is the Scripture where God revealed Himself to Moses by this Name, and we can see from this that Yahweh is connected to, and a continual reminder of His covenant promise. He is the One who powerfully delivered His People from bondage into freedom.
Now the LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.” Exodus 34:5-7 (emphasis mine)
Here again we see Yahweh describing Himself and associating these attributes with His Name Yahweh. In addition to His goodness and mercy, He does not neglect to point out His authority to judge and the consequences our disobedience can bring on our family as well.
What does the Name Yahweh speak to my heart?
Until I studied the Name Yahweh, I never understood exactly what He meant when He said His name was "I AM". He was proclaiming that He is the One who was and is and is to come. There was never a time when He wasn't here, and that means here for His People too, and there never will be a time when He won't be here, and here for His People. Yahweh is here, for all of eternity, in full Power and full Love to act on behalf of His People.
As I study His Names, I find myself being grateful for having a concordance to look back to the original words and learn their meanings.
The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26
What does the Name Yahweh speak to your heart?
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
Feb 8, 2010
Adonai - Lord
Study on the Names of God with Yolanda at Joy Comes in the Morning.
Studying from Kay Arthur's, Lord I Want to Know You and Ann Spangler's, Praying the Names of God.
The Name Adonai, or Adonay is first used in Genesis 15:2. When Abram first speaks to God about not having an heir, he refers to God as Adonai. Adonai appear in the bible as Lord, not to be confused with LORD which we will discuss next week. The definition of Lord is Master. Adon describes the one who occupies the position of master over a slave or servant. When applied to God it signifies His position as the One who is Master over His people, with full authority to reward and punish. In the form of Adonai, the word means Lord par exellence or Lord over all.
One thing that strikes me is that Lord is probably the most widely used term used by Christians to refer to God. I have to wonder how many of us know, consider, and take seriously what we are actually saying when using Lord in prayer and conversation. The bible says we should not misuse the name of the LORD, which says that God takes it seriously.
Even though this uses the Name LORD, we need to apply the heart of the command that God's Name is to be held in honor and used appropriately in every form. When God commissioned Moses to go to Pharoah, Moses really didn't want to go. This is how part of the conversation went.
I have often wondered why God was so angry with Moses when there are other's in the bible who appeared to be pointing out to God how inadequate they were for what God was calling them to do. Moses was calling God Adonai, Lord, Master, but was not responding to God's direction as a true servant. Moses was misusing the Name Adonai.
A servant is owned by his master and has no claim at all on his own life. His position states his purpose for life, to do his master's will 100% of the time. He is not merely an employee who clocks out at the end of the day and goes home to live out his own life as he pleases, he is at the service and direction of his master all the time. He is also completely dependent on his master for all things.
The master has the responsibility of taking care of his servant's every need including food, clothing, shelter, and protection. It is also the master's responsibilty to equip his servant for whatever task he is required to carry out. A master doesn't require a servant to cook a meal without providing the food, or make a purchase without providing the funds for it. He must supply what is necessary to carry out his directives.
How does Adonai apply to or impact my life?
My heart is with Kay's on this. Jesus can't be your Savior until He is your Lord. (Master, Owner, Ruler, Commanding Officer) When we give our lives to Christ, we are not simply accepting salvation, we are handing over Lordship of our lives to Jesus Christ. This is what it means to follow Christ. If God is really our Adonai, then our thoughts and actions should always be on serving our Master and trusting Him to take care of all our needs.
How does the Name Adonai impact your life?
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
Studying from Kay Arthur's, Lord I Want to Know You and Ann Spangler's, Praying the Names of God.
The Name Adonai, or Adonay is first used in Genesis 15:2. When Abram first speaks to God about not having an heir, he refers to God as Adonai. Adonai appear in the bible as Lord, not to be confused with LORD which we will discuss next week. The definition of Lord is Master. Adon describes the one who occupies the position of master over a slave or servant. When applied to God it signifies His position as the One who is Master over His people, with full authority to reward and punish. In the form of Adonai, the word means Lord par exellence or Lord over all.
One thing that strikes me is that Lord is probably the most widely used term used by Christians to refer to God. I have to wonder how many of us know, consider, and take seriously what we are actually saying when using Lord in prayer and conversation. The bible says we should not misuse the name of the LORD, which says that God takes it seriously.
"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name." Exodus 20:7
Even though this uses the Name LORD, we need to apply the heart of the command that God's Name is to be held in honor and used appropriately in every form. When God commissioned Moses to go to Pharoah, Moses really didn't want to go. This is how part of the conversation went.
Moses said to the LORD, "O Lord (Adonai), I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue." The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD ? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." But Moses said, "O Lord (Adonai), please send someone else to do it." Then the LORD's anger burned against Moses... Exodus 4:10:14 (emphasis mine)
I have often wondered why God was so angry with Moses when there are other's in the bible who appeared to be pointing out to God how inadequate they were for what God was calling them to do. Moses was calling God Adonai, Lord, Master, but was not responding to God's direction as a true servant. Moses was misusing the Name Adonai.
A servant is owned by his master and has no claim at all on his own life. His position states his purpose for life, to do his master's will 100% of the time. He is not merely an employee who clocks out at the end of the day and goes home to live out his own life as he pleases, he is at the service and direction of his master all the time. He is also completely dependent on his master for all things.
The master has the responsibility of taking care of his servant's every need including food, clothing, shelter, and protection. It is also the master's responsibilty to equip his servant for whatever task he is required to carry out. A master doesn't require a servant to cook a meal without providing the food, or make a purchase without providing the funds for it. He must supply what is necessary to carry out his directives.
How does Adonai apply to or impact my life?
My heart is with Kay's on this. Jesus can't be your Savior until He is your Lord. (Master, Owner, Ruler, Commanding Officer) When we give our lives to Christ, we are not simply accepting salvation, we are handing over Lordship of our lives to Jesus Christ. This is what it means to follow Christ. If God is really our Adonai, then our thoughts and actions should always be on serving our Master and trusting Him to take care of all our needs.
Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33
Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me. John 12:26
How does the Name Adonai impact your life?
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
Feb 3, 2010
Who's In The Conversation?
Have you ever been in a situation where you are with a couple of friends
and they become caught up in a conversation that seems to exclude you?
It wasn't intentional on their part, they were just so caught up in
conversation that they seem to have forgotten that you were there.
In John 16 Jesus is engrossed in a conversation with His disciples. This is the chapter where Jesus is explaining that He will be going away, but He will come back (referring to His death and Resurrection). The disciples aren't quite understanding so there are a lot of questions. Everyone is involved in the conversation. Then John 17:1 begins with like this...
Do you see what Jesus did here? In the course of His conversation, He looked up and spoke to the Father. He didn't gather everyone together to pray. He didn't bow or kneel in formal ceremony. He didn't walk away from the others to quietly pray. As we read John 17, we see that the words Jesus spoke (His prayer) to the Father, were an extension of the conversation. He recognized that God the Father is always with us and He simply included God in the conversation. It was the same as if your friends in the above example would have turned to you and brought you into the conversation.
I am not saying that we should be walking around everywhere we go, engaged in an audible conversation with God. Jesus was with close friends who were believers in this situation. But how often do we forget that God is right there with us waiting to be included in the conversation? The closer our relationship with Jesus is, the more aware we are of His continual presence and the more we naturally begin to include Him in our conversations, whether silently or audibly.
We can model the closeness of our relationship with our Father to our children by looking up sometimes in the course of our conversations with them, to include God. In the midst of our conversation, and our day-to-day, there are many opportunities to look up and say "Thank you Lord.", "What should we do Lord?", "Would you help us with this Lord?", and one of my personal favorites, "Lord, would you please show me where I put my glasses again?". Your children, your grand-children, and others will see that your relationship with Jesus is real and personal, and they just might pick up on making it more personal in their own lives too.
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
In John 16 Jesus is engrossed in a conversation with His disciples. This is the chapter where Jesus is explaining that He will be going away, but He will come back (referring to His death and Resurrection). The disciples aren't quite understanding so there are a lot of questions. Everyone is involved in the conversation. Then John 17:1 begins with like this...
Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You." John 17:1
Do you see what Jesus did here? In the course of His conversation, He looked up and spoke to the Father. He didn't gather everyone together to pray. He didn't bow or kneel in formal ceremony. He didn't walk away from the others to quietly pray. As we read John 17, we see that the words Jesus spoke (His prayer) to the Father, were an extension of the conversation. He recognized that God the Father is always with us and He simply included God in the conversation. It was the same as if your friends in the above example would have turned to you and brought you into the conversation.
I am not saying that we should be walking around everywhere we go, engaged in an audible conversation with God. Jesus was with close friends who were believers in this situation. But how often do we forget that God is right there with us waiting to be included in the conversation? The closer our relationship with Jesus is, the more aware we are of His continual presence and the more we naturally begin to include Him in our conversations, whether silently or audibly.
We can model the closeness of our relationship with our Father to our children by looking up sometimes in the course of our conversations with them, to include God. In the midst of our conversation, and our day-to-day, there are many opportunities to look up and say "Thank you Lord.", "What should we do Lord?", "Would you help us with this Lord?", and one of my personal favorites, "Lord, would you please show me where I put my glasses again?". Your children, your grand-children, and others will see that your relationship with Jesus is real and personal, and they just might pick up on making it more personal in their own lives too.
Pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:17
"For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:20
"...And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20
Please join me at Titus 2 in Action today...
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
Feb 1, 2010
El Shaddai - Almighty God, All Sufficient One
I'm a bit late today but I'm joining Yolanda at Joy Comes in the Morning in a study of the Names of God using Kay Arthur's book LORD I Want to Know You. I am also studying from Ann Spangler's book Praying the Names of God and will share what I am learning from both.
El Shaddai is first used in Genesis 17:1 when God made a covenant with Abram to give him a son in his old age.
The actual translation of El is might or power. There seems to be some division about the meaning of the word Shaddai. Some interpret it to refer to God's power in His judgments, but another definition is breasted. This refers to the power of God displayed as He provides all that is needed for nurturing, supplying, and satisfying.
El Shaddai is the One for whom nothing is impossible. It is His might or power combined with His Love and desire to care for and bless his children. Until the time of Moses, El Shaddai was considered the covenant Name of God. It refers to the One who initiates and maintains a covenant with His people as He did with Abram. El Shaddai not only initiates the covenant, but He accomplishes it in His power and not by any effort on our part.
One thing I found interesting is that it is at the time of His covenant with Abram, that God changed Abram's name to Abraham, and Sarai's name to Sarah. In doing this He added the Hebrew letter He ה which is the chief letter of His own Name, Jehovah, which produces the sound of out-breathing. Kay points out that this is like giving something of His own nature to Abraham communicating a channel of blessing to many others.
Shaddai occurs 48 times throughout the Bible, 31 of those occurrences are found in the book of Job. This is the Name of the One who sustains us.
How does the Name El Shaddai speak to me?
The first time I ever heard this Name, it was defined The God Who is Enough. El Shaddai is the one who fills my deepest longings. Not necessarily by giving me what I long for, although He might, but by giving me Himself. When El Shaddai fills me with Himself, I am filled, I am completely satisfied, all other longings fade behind the abundant sufficiency of this satisfaction. El Shaddai is the One I run to when my world is crumbling around me, when I am completely spent, and when there is no possible way in my circumstances.
How does the Name El Shaddai speak to you?
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
El Shaddai is first used in Genesis 17:1 when God made a covenant with Abram to give him a son in his old age.
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” Genesis 17:1-2
The actual translation of El is might or power. There seems to be some division about the meaning of the word Shaddai. Some interpret it to refer to God's power in His judgments, but another definition is breasted. This refers to the power of God displayed as He provides all that is needed for nurturing, supplying, and satisfying.
El Shaddai is the One for whom nothing is impossible. It is His might or power combined with His Love and desire to care for and bless his children. Until the time of Moses, El Shaddai was considered the covenant Name of God. It refers to the One who initiates and maintains a covenant with His people as He did with Abram. El Shaddai not only initiates the covenant, but He accomplishes it in His power and not by any effort on our part.
One thing I found interesting is that it is at the time of His covenant with Abram, that God changed Abram's name to Abraham, and Sarai's name to Sarah. In doing this He added the Hebrew letter He ה which is the chief letter of His own Name, Jehovah, which produces the sound of out-breathing. Kay points out that this is like giving something of His own nature to Abraham communicating a channel of blessing to many others.
Shaddai occurs 48 times throughout the Bible, 31 of those occurrences are found in the book of Job. This is the Name of the One who sustains us.
How does the Name El Shaddai speak to me?
The first time I ever heard this Name, it was defined The God Who is Enough. El Shaddai is the one who fills my deepest longings. Not necessarily by giving me what I long for, although He might, but by giving me Himself. When El Shaddai fills me with Himself, I am filled, I am completely satisfied, all other longings fade behind the abundant sufficiency of this satisfaction. El Shaddai is the One I run to when my world is crumbling around me, when I am completely spent, and when there is no possible way in my circumstances.
But his bow remained taut, and his arms were strengthened by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, by the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel. May the God of your father help you; May the Almighty bless you with the blessings of the heavens above, and blessings of the watery depths below, and blessings of the breasts and womb. Genesis 49:24-25
"Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? Job 11:7
How does the Name El Shaddai speak to you?
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
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