I love how The Message puts the end of Ch.9 Where the people who originally don't seem interested in the Bible/Gospel end up embracing it & having their lives changed because they opened their arms/hearts to the Truth. But those right in the church, who always had the Truth keep it at an arms distance & are never changed because it doesn't match their agenda. God is a rock in the middle of the road IN the way, not ON the way, so they complain about Him instead of embracing Him. I want to embrace Him! And then 10 where it says Christians are fighting for their salvation, struggling to do it right when God has already done it for them, they need to embrace it & realize they can't do it. Trust God that He's already done it & is changing their lives. And before I can trust I have to listen but how can I listen if no one is sharing what God's done in their lives? So am I willing to be sent where ever He sends me to share? "Here I am, Lord send me, all of my life, I make an offering. Here I am, Lord send me, somehow my story is a part of your plan, so here I am..." (song) Here I Am by downhere
Romans 9:10 jumped out at me too: the Gentiles claimed salvation by faith, the Israelites by keeping the law - - Gentiles win! I loved how Pastor Mike explained keeping the law as a "God-honoring" thing we do and not as a way of earning salvation.
I've been so impressed Romans and Matthew lately - - about that faith emphasis. God is trying as hard as he can to give us word pictures of what faith looks like - - total abandon to trust in God (it's the hardest/easiest thing we'll ever do!)
I liked Chris's take on the rock being IN the path -- God makes it as easy for us as he can (Hello? I'm right here in front of you! - - I WANT you to be saved by me!!)
In Chapter 10 - - did you notice Paul's emphasis on ALL -- verse 4 and verse 13 for starters. God's gifts are always gifts that are accessable for everyone (like salvation or the Sabbath) no matter where you live, how much money you make, who you konw - - His gifts are available!
Gen 18:14 I love this reminder - "Is anything too hard for the Lord"? That stops all my worries & fears & reminds me that I need to trust because I can't do anything. If I've been faithful & done my part I have to let Him do the rest & trust Him. So much easier to type it than to do it unfortunately. And were Lot's daughters controlling women or what? That's so gross! I'd have to be the one getting drunk to even think up such a thing! YUCK!!!
OK -- What do you think? Was God pleased with Abraham dickering with him over Sodom and Gomorrah (as in -- this man has so much passion) or was he annoyed by the manipulation?
I guess Abraham seems like a people pleaser (some might call him weak). He listened to Sarah about Hagar, He tried his best to protect Lot; both he and Sarah laughed at the Lord's prediction - - and, I'm just like all of this - yet God works with me.
I put myself in the place of Lot's fam when they were leaving S & G (thinking of the end of the world). If I were running for my life - and heard a huge fireball hitting the earth; I think I'd look back. So, I thought to myself, "Self, it's very important to listen carefully to God's commands - because He loves me and doesn't want me to get hurt" Again, I love how Pastor Mike put it this week. Doing what He says is God-honoring!
I think God was pleased with Abraham, it showed he had compassion for people. And it also showed Abraham that there weren't that many good people in S & G when God destroyed it. So Joshua...I appreciated the lesson of confrontation in 22. They got all worked up and just laid it on the table. No political correctness, they were worked up for God's honor. Then they listened. It was taken care of & a done deal. Why can't we do that? So many reminders of God doing exactly what He said he would & yet they still wandered. And I do the same thing. He keeps His promises & I doubt, whine, complain & cheat on Him just like they did. The patience He has with me is unbelievable!
I agree Chris -- I think God was pleased too -- just like David had a heart to save people, and Moses had a heart to save people - - I think it makes God HAPPY when we are on the lookout for others - makes us people after God's own heart.
I'm really enjoying this year through the Bible -- and I LOVE reading all your comments.
OK - I'm glad the Levites received land/cities that they could call their own - - God takes care - He knows what we need; whether it's a city or a tent!
21:44 "And the Lord gave them rest on every side . . . none of their enemies could stand against them for the Lord helped them conquer all their enemies. Not one single one of all the good promises the Lord had given . . . was left unfulfilled, everything He had spoken came true!" Wow - there's a "and they all lived happily ever after" in real life -- definately a text we can claim in the middle of whatever our enemies are.
I LOVE Joshua -- the mighty warrior was in the battle from the first spy trip, to Moses right hand man, to conquering Canon, to his last message to Israel. Power simply didn't go to his head - he had it down in 22:6 "Love the Lord your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him and serve him with all your heart and all our soul. Talk about relavant advice - he was also a good preaching; going right to the core message! Then the challenge - - CHOOSE (24:15)
Lord, guide me through each choice today -- because choosing is a moment by moment challenge for me.
I just love David's honesty. It encourages me to be this way with God too. He's the safest one to put out there exactly how I'm feeling, nothing can shock Him & He knows I'm thinking/feeling it anyway so I'm only fooling myself. Really can relate to C 13 wondering how long God's gonna let things go on & then in the last 2 verses saying I'm "I've thrown myself headlong into your arms— I'm celebrating your rescue. I'm singing at the top of my lungs, I'm so full of answered prayers" (Message) There's no other way I've found to get thru things except totally jumping into God's arms, He's never failed to catch me & take me thru so I can say from an experienced heart that I'm full of answered prayers! The last verse in C 14 shows someone experiencing this as well & I love the visual it gives of a delivered, chains broken, hearts healed people. "...God turns life around. Turned-around Jacob skips rope, turned-around Israel sings laughter" Like Mandisa sings "...when you've been delivered like that you got to shout it out! Lift your hands up in the air...I have been set free!" HALLELUJAH!!!!
Man Chris -- you can't beat "the Message" for capturing feelings! How it's written is - - so real!
I was chewing on Chapter 12 - vs 5. Every morning I go to the Fox News website to see what's happening in the world -- lots of evil out there; it's gotta break God's heart. "I've seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. As they gear up for the Super Bowl, police are on the alert for Child prostitution sites -- talk about violence to the helpless - -
and then in 13, David personalizes it all. King David - wealthy, wives, mighty soldier - - no one is immune from the weight of sorrow and struggles -- but, like Job - - he clings to trust through the darkness.
Job kinda reminds me of myself when I'm trying to figure things out. He goes back n forth to extremes, complaining/whining about what's happening to him & then sounding like he's trusting God & knows the Sovereignty of God & throwing himself on God's mercy. Then I read this in Dear Jesus which, since I don't read this every day, thought it was quite fitting again. "The world has it all wrong about what constitutes success. Media (and even some churches) promote health and wealth as ultimate goals. But I have showered you with humble, rarely sought gifts, neediness and weaknesses. These gifts, properly received and used, help make My ways known on earth...One of the most powerful ways to strengthen your trust in Me is to thank Me for the things that are troubling you. This expression of thankfulness will help you accept your neediness as a gift from Me." Like Job, we don't realize troubles or weaknesses as gifts, but if it wasn't for Job, we would understand so much less of the character of God & His love.
Job is at the bottom - - and no wonder when you look at what he has left.
Remember when his wife says something like, why don't you curse God and die? Well -- I wonder what she meant, cuz in 9:23 when it says "When a plague sweeps through, he laughs at the death of the innocent" (that sounds very much like modern day skeptism - - what does it say in the message, Chris?) and later in 10:20 when it says "I have only a few days left, so leave me alone, that I may have a moment of comfort" To me that sounds kindof like cursing - -
We talk about Jobs incredible faith -- but maybe this is all part of a faith journey; how he's on the hills, down in the valleys (where he's at now), but the real story is - - where he ends up - - so I guess this is a story "to be continued!"
I love the book of Isaiah. It's my favorite book in the whole Bible. I could write for hours on each one of these chapters. I have chosen to blog only about chapter 28.
In Isaiah 28 verses 5-8, Isaiah speaks about leaders. He says those that teach (Priests and prophets) are drunk or intoxicated with false doctrines. They err about things concerning salvation, (judgment) and lead their congregations astray. For all the tables are filled with filthy vomit, so there is no place that is clean. (Talking about contaminated churches?)
Then in Isaiah 28:16, the Lord says I am laying in Zion for a foundation a Stone, a tested Stone, a precious Cornerstone of sure foundation; he who believes will not be ashamed.
To me this chapter is saying that we should not be rooted in a church. We should be rooted in the Lord Jesus Christ. Some people mistakenly make the church their God instead of Jesus.
I think what stuck out most to me in all this reading today was in Is 26:3-4 I think it is, hard to tell sometimes in The Message. "People with their minds set on you, you keep completely whole, Steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don't quit. Depend on God and keep at it because in the Lord God you have a sure thing." There's a lot pictured/prophesied in this reading with the end of then known cities/nations & the end of the earth also but thru every twist & turn of events around me if I depend on God I have a sure thing. I don't need to get worked up about it all, just live/depend on Him, one day at a time & I will be taken care of. Linda, as for what The Message says about Job 9:23 (if you didn't look it up already) it's the same idea as you shared, the skepticism. But I agree with your conclusion, it's a journey of ups/downs & Job's being open & honest with God & his faith is even stronger because of it in the end.
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace." Matt 11:28-29 in The Message I love that last part - "unforced rhythms of grace" When we're really linked up with Christ, really His, then it is natural to be like Him since He's living in us. I'm listening to the birds sing this a.m. & it's natural, I don't hear a forced song, they just naturally sing in the morning. I want to be this natural about my Best Friend & what He's teaching me with everyone I meet, not just Christians. And in 12:7 The Message puts it this way. "If you had any idea what this Scripture meant—'I prefer a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual'—you wouldn't be nitpicking like this." So when I start to nitpick at someone or tear them down...what's my heart condition? Is it flexible & being affected by the H.S. or is it hardened by my stubbornness or sin in my life I'm trying to hide? I'm really praying more to seriously see people thru His eyes so I'm open to what He wants me to do/say to them.
I got the impression that God was talking about His second coming in a coup and 27:12 seemed like an end time prediction too! O yeah - and then there's 26:19)
We need to remember that no matter how bad life gets here -- God has an escape plan -- we can trust him -- and what GREAT texts on trusts to grab onto 26:3,4!!
Also -- even Isaiah is huge in using parables -- love the cornerstone parable -- what carpenter wouldn't LOVE that illustration -- then Isaiah throws one out for the farmers too!
AND - speaking of parables -- here comes Matthew. How Matthew must have loved writing down all of Jesus' stories!
And what a precious promise is in 13:12 - To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given and they will have an abundance of knowledge!! Please slow me down, Lord - shut me up, and help me simply to listen!
I've been pondering one of the parables -- the wheat and the tares and how emphatically the farmer said NO -- when they asked if they should pull out the weeds. The farmer said, you'll pull out the wheat if you do. Maybe that's because the workers can't tell the wheat from the weeds -- and. . . guess what, neither can we! It's not my job to judge, only to love and let God do his work.
oh, I like those thoughts in your last 2 paragraphs Linda. Seems like the more I pray to listen, the more I talk (ugh!). And I had never thought about us not being able to tell the wheat from the tares to know which to pull up but I know from experience that sometimes it's hard to tell them apart when they're just starting out! Great ponderings!
I love how The Message puts the end of Ch.9 Where the people who originally don't seem interested in the Bible/Gospel end up embracing it & having their lives changed because they opened their arms/hearts to the Truth. But those right in the church, who always had the Truth keep it at an arms distance & are never changed because it doesn't match their agenda. God is a rock in the middle of the road IN the way, not ON the way, so they complain about Him instead of embracing Him. I want to embrace Him!
ReplyDeleteAnd then 10 where it says Christians are fighting for their salvation, struggling to do it right when God has already done it for them, they need to embrace it & realize they can't do it. Trust God that He's already done it & is changing their lives. And before I can trust I have to listen but how can I listen if no one is sharing what God's done in their lives?
So am I willing to be sent where ever He sends me to share?
"Here I am, Lord send me, all of my life, I make an offering. Here I am, Lord send me, somehow my story is a part of your plan, so here I am..." (song) Here I Am by downhere
Romans 9:10 jumped out at me too: the Gentiles claimed salvation by faith, the Israelites by keeping the law - - Gentiles win! I loved how Pastor Mike explained keeping the law as a "God-honoring" thing we do and not as a way of earning salvation.
ReplyDeleteI've been so impressed Romans and Matthew lately - - about that faith emphasis. God is trying as hard as he can to give us word pictures of what faith looks like - - total abandon to trust in God (it's the hardest/easiest thing we'll ever do!)
I liked Chris's take on the rock being IN the path -- God makes it as easy for us as he can (Hello? I'm right here in front of you! - - I WANT you to be saved by me!!)
In Chapter 10 - - did you notice Paul's emphasis on ALL -- verse 4 and verse 13 for starters. God's gifts are always gifts that are accessable for everyone (like salvation or the Sabbath) no matter where you live, how much money you make, who you konw - - His gifts are available!
btw -- week 5 indicates we've been at this one month! Congrates ladies! we're 1/12 through the Bible - - - yeeee-haw!
ReplyDeleteGen 18:14 I love this reminder - "Is anything too hard for the Lord"? That stops all my worries & fears & reminds me that I need to trust because I can't do anything. If I've been faithful & done my part I have to let Him do the rest & trust Him. So much easier to type it than to do it unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteAnd were Lot's daughters controlling women or what? That's so gross! I'd have to be the one getting drunk to even think up such a thing! YUCK!!!
Double YUCK -- grossed me out as well.
ReplyDeleteOK -- What do you think? Was God pleased with Abraham dickering with him over Sodom and Gomorrah (as in -- this man has so much passion) or was he annoyed by the manipulation?
I guess Abraham seems like a people pleaser (some might call him weak). He listened to Sarah about Hagar, He tried his best to protect Lot; both he and Sarah laughed at the Lord's prediction - - and, I'm just like all of this - yet God works with me.
I put myself in the place of Lot's fam when they were leaving S & G (thinking of the end of the world). If I were running for my life - and heard a huge fireball hitting the earth; I think I'd look back. So, I thought to myself, "Self, it's very important to listen carefully to God's commands - because He loves me and doesn't want me to get hurt" Again, I love how Pastor Mike put it this week. Doing what He says is God-honoring!
I think God was pleased with Abraham, it showed he had compassion for people. And it also showed Abraham that there weren't that many good people in S & G when God destroyed it.
ReplyDeleteSo Joshua...I appreciated the lesson of confrontation in 22. They got all worked up and just laid it on the table. No political correctness, they were worked up for God's honor. Then they listened. It was taken care of & a done deal. Why can't we do that?
So many reminders of God doing exactly what He said he would & yet they still wandered. And I do the same thing. He keeps His promises & I doubt, whine, complain & cheat on Him just like they did. The patience He has with me is unbelievable!
I agree Chris -- I think God was pleased too -- just like David had a heart to save people, and Moses had a heart to save people - - I think it makes God HAPPY when we are on the lookout for others - makes us people after God's own heart.
ReplyDeleteI'm really enjoying this year through the Bible -- and I LOVE reading all your comments.
OK - I'm glad the Levites received land/cities that they could call their own - - God takes care - He knows what we need; whether it's a city or a tent!
21:44 "And the Lord gave them rest on every side . . . none of their enemies could stand against them for the Lord helped them conquer all their enemies. Not one single one of all the good promises the Lord had given . . . was left unfulfilled, everything He had spoken came true!" Wow - there's a "and they all lived happily ever after" in real life -- definately a text we can claim in the middle of whatever our enemies are.
I LOVE Joshua -- the mighty warrior was in the battle from the first spy trip, to Moses right hand man, to conquering Canon, to his last message to Israel. Power simply didn't go to his head - he had it down in 22:6 "Love the Lord your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him and serve him with all your heart and all our soul. Talk about relavant advice - he was also a good preaching; going right to the core message! Then the challenge - - CHOOSE (24:15)
Lord, guide me through each choice today -- because choosing is a moment by moment challenge for me.
Yeah Linda, choosing....the beautiful power of choice God gave us that satan wants us to think we don't have. Nicely said!
ReplyDeleteI just love David's honesty. It encourages me to be this way with God too. He's the safest one to put out there exactly how I'm feeling, nothing can shock Him & He knows I'm thinking/feeling it anyway so I'm only fooling myself.
ReplyDeleteReally can relate to C 13 wondering how long God's gonna let things go on & then in the last 2 verses saying I'm "I've thrown myself headlong into your arms—
I'm celebrating your rescue.
I'm singing at the top of my lungs,
I'm so full of answered prayers" (Message)
There's no other way I've found to get thru things except totally jumping into God's arms, He's never failed to catch me & take me thru so I can say from an experienced heart that I'm full of answered prayers!
The last verse in C 14 shows someone experiencing this as well & I love the visual it gives of a delivered, chains broken, hearts healed people. "...God turns life around.
Turned-around Jacob skips rope,
turned-around Israel sings laughter"
Like Mandisa sings "...when you've been delivered like that you got to shout it out! Lift your hands up in the air...I have been set free!"
HALLELUJAH!!!!
Man Chris -- you can't beat "the Message" for capturing feelings! How it's written is - - so real!
ReplyDeleteI was chewing on Chapter 12 - vs 5. Every morning I go to the Fox News website to see what's happening in the world -- lots of evil out there; it's gotta break God's heart. "I've seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. As they gear up for the Super Bowl, police are on the alert for Child prostitution sites -- talk about violence to the helpless - -
and then in 13, David personalizes it all. King David - wealthy, wives, mighty soldier - - no one is immune from the weight of sorrow and struggles -- but, like Job - - he clings to trust through the darkness.
Job kinda reminds me of myself when I'm trying to figure things out. He goes back n forth to extremes, complaining/whining about what's happening to him & then sounding like he's trusting God & knows the Sovereignty of God & throwing himself on God's mercy.
ReplyDeleteThen I read this in Dear Jesus which, since I don't read this every day, thought it was quite fitting again.
"The world has it all wrong about what constitutes success. Media (and even some churches) promote health and wealth as ultimate goals. But I have showered you with humble, rarely sought gifts, neediness and weaknesses. These gifts, properly received and used, help make My ways known on earth...One of the most powerful ways to strengthen your trust in Me is to thank Me for the things that are troubling you. This expression of thankfulness will help you accept your neediness as a gift from Me."
Like Job, we don't realize troubles or weaknesses as gifts, but if it wasn't for Job, we would understand so much less of the character of God & His love.
Job is at the bottom - - and no wonder when you look at what he has left.
ReplyDeleteRemember when his wife says something like, why don't you curse God and die? Well -- I wonder what she meant, cuz in 9:23 when it says "When a plague sweeps through, he laughs at the death of the innocent" (that sounds very much like modern day skeptism - - what does it say in the message, Chris?) and later in 10:20 when it says "I have only a few days left, so leave me alone, that I may have a moment of comfort" To me that sounds kindof like cursing - -
We talk about Jobs incredible faith -- but maybe this is all part of a faith journey; how he's on the hills, down in the valleys (where he's at now), but the real story is - - where he ends up - - so I guess this is a story "to be continued!"
I love the book of Isaiah. It's my favorite book in the whole Bible. I could write for hours on each one of these chapters. I have chosen to blog only about chapter 28.
ReplyDeleteIn Isaiah 28 verses 5-8, Isaiah speaks about leaders. He says those that teach (Priests and prophets) are drunk or intoxicated with false doctrines. They err about things concerning salvation, (judgment) and lead their congregations astray. For all the tables are filled with filthy vomit, so there is no place that is clean. (Talking about contaminated
churches?)
Then in Isaiah 28:16, the Lord says I am laying in Zion for a foundation a Stone, a tested Stone, a precious Cornerstone of sure foundation; he who believes will not be ashamed.
To me this chapter is saying that we should not be rooted in a church. We should be rooted in the Lord Jesus Christ. Some people mistakenly make the church their God instead of Jesus.
I think what stuck out most to me in all this reading today was in Is 26:3-4 I think it is, hard to tell sometimes in The Message.
ReplyDelete"People with their minds set on you,
you keep completely whole,
Steady on their feet,
because they keep at it and don't quit.
Depend on God and keep at it
because in the Lord God you have a sure thing."
There's a lot pictured/prophesied in this reading with the end of then known cities/nations & the end of the earth also but thru every twist & turn of events around me if I depend on God I have a sure thing. I don't need to get worked up about it all, just live/depend on Him, one day at a time & I will be taken care of.
Linda, as for what The Message says about Job 9:23 (if you didn't look it up already) it's the same idea as you shared, the skepticism. But I agree with your conclusion, it's a journey of ups/downs & Job's being open & honest with God & his faith is even stronger because of it in the end.
Yes Sherrie, I agree with you, some people mistakenly believe that a church saves them instead of Jesus.
ReplyDeleteAnd HAPPY BIRTHDAY Sherrie! :D
ReplyDeleteThank you, Chris!
ReplyDelete"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace." Matt 11:28-29 in The Message
ReplyDeleteI love that last part - "unforced rhythms of grace" When we're really linked up with Christ, really His, then it is natural to be like Him since He's living in us. I'm listening to the birds sing this a.m. & it's natural, I don't hear a forced song, they just naturally sing in the morning. I want to be this natural about my Best Friend & what He's teaching me with everyone I meet, not just Christians.
And in 12:7 The Message puts it this way.
"If you had any idea what this Scripture meant—'I prefer a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual'—you wouldn't be nitpicking like this."
So when I start to nitpick at someone or tear them down...what's my heart condition? Is it flexible & being affected by the H.S. or is it hardened by my stubbornness or sin in my life I'm trying to hide? I'm really praying more to seriously see people thru His eyes so I'm open to what He wants me to do/say to them.
2 days comments from Tennessee!
ReplyDeleteI got the impression that God was talking about His second coming in a coup and 27:12 seemed like an end time prediction too! O yeah - and then there's 26:19)
We need to remember that no matter how bad life gets here -- God has an escape plan -- we can trust him -- and what GREAT texts on trusts to grab onto 26:3,4!!
Also -- even Isaiah is huge in using parables -- love the cornerstone parable -- what carpenter wouldn't LOVE that illustration -- then Isaiah throws one out for the farmers too!
AND - speaking of parables -- here comes Matthew. How Matthew must have loved writing down all of Jesus' stories!
And what a precious promise is in 13:12 - To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given and they will have an abundance of knowledge!! Please slow me down, Lord - shut me up, and help me simply to listen!
I've been pondering one of the parables -- the wheat and the tares and how emphatically the farmer said NO -- when they asked if they should pull out the weeds. The farmer said, you'll pull out the wheat if you do. Maybe that's because the workers can't tell the wheat from the weeds -- and. . . guess what, neither can we! It's not my job to judge, only to love and let God do his work.
oh, I like those thoughts in your last 2 paragraphs Linda. Seems like the more I pray to listen, the more I talk (ugh!). And I had never thought about us not being able to tell the wheat from the tares to know which to pull up but I know from experience that sometimes it's hard to tell them apart when they're just starting out! Great ponderings!
ReplyDelete