Saturday, February 4, 2012

week six

here we go!

21 comments:

  1. Today is America's most Holy day of the year, as people flock to the church of the Superbowl.

    Romans 11:5--God CHOSE and selected a remnant of Jews. I get so excited when I hear that we are CHOSEN by God.
    And in vs.7---again the word "chosen" is used. God chooses some while at the same time He blinds and hardens the hearts of others. We have no control.

    Romans 11:6-7--The people were trusting in their works to get them into a relationship with God.
    As a child, I was brought up in a church where they believed that infant baptism, confirmation, service in the church and other church legalisms were the way to go, instead of just that faith in Jesus Christ.

    Romans 11:12--And in the book of the Revelation the Lord will be sealing 12,000 Jews out of each tribe to preserve them through some of the judgments. And in Vs.24 this is mentioned again.

    Romans 12:2--"Don't be conformed to this world,...prove what is the perfect will of God in your life."
    It took me a while to figure out God's will for my life. It took me a few years of asking before He told me. But when I learned what it was---it made everything so simple.
    And daily I must surrender everything. Some days I surrender some things. Some days I surrender my mind---some days I surrender my spirit--but once in a while I have a day when I am able to surrender mind, body and spirit.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Grace is a gift. If we try to work for it, we take away the beauty, meaning, and simplicity of it being a gift -- in away, we turn our back on the gift, thumbing our nose at the gift. That's the gist I read in chapter 11.

    Also in 11:18 and 20 is a reminder that all of us having spiritual growing to do -- don't become overconfident and proud thinking you've got all the answers.

    I love 12:2 "Let God transform you from the inside out and give you a new way of thinking" What a gift -- something I'm not capable of bringing about, He delights in making it happen!

    And I also enjoy 12:18 reminding us to do our best to get along -- good counsel in 19-20 about letting go of our hostility; our desire to get even, make them pay, unforgiving spirit. I think the ONLY way to actually let it go is to go right back to verse 2 and let God transform you:)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ha Ha Sherrie! You're so funny. America's holy day & the super bowl.

    I like the counsel throughout 11 that we don't get proud because we're God's children & we don't get proud & unteachable because of what we've learned so far. Pride & jealousy (as you pointed out so well yesterday Linda) can really stop what God wants to do in a family, church & community. It's only by living with open hands, surrendered, that we are able to get along, take advice (no matter the spirit it's given) & give glory to God.
    Man, that's so easy to type, but hard to put in to practice sometimes.

    And I also like the end of 12 saying how we should get along. Don't think we know it all. Genuinely love each other. And Linda, along with letting go, I think that involves forgiveness. Even if I don't feel like forgiving, I can say the words & ask God to change my feelings & my heart. It does eventually come, but I've found that to be essential in my life & in getting along with others.

    ReplyDelete
  4. well said on the forgiveness Chris -- I like the thought that God works with us -- even if we don't feel like forgiving, we can say the words and ask Him to change the rest of us to match up with our words! Hadn't thought of it that way before -- but sometimes, even the words are hard to form!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Chris--the "Superbowl church" didn't originate with me. It came from the mouth of Madonna who is doing the half-time show.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Just watched the half-time show. Madonna sang "Like a Prayer" and then disappeared into Hell to bring about world peace. The imagery was freakin scary.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Missed that Sherrie, I wasn't paying that close attention to it.

    I know there's a lot of interesting points that are in today's reading but I am struck by some things in Hagar/Ishmael's story.

    When they were sent away, Abraham didn't really give them much. He could have sent them with a donkey loaded with provisions, but I guess there must have been towns close by that he expected them to go to so just gave enough for them to get there. She stayed in the desert though.

    Ishmael is 14 yrs old & apparently he is crying when he's in need (the water ran out). I just find that fascinating that a guy would show emotion like that & as old as 14. The Bible calls him a child still at that age though, so I guess that's perspective. But did Abraham raise him in an atmosphere where it was safe to show emotion? Very interesting to me.

    Also God speaking to Hagar & opening her eyes to see the obvious....or did God just put the well there. I know sometimes, we (me) are so caught up in our circumstances that we are weighed down with grief, anger, frustration, fear, etc., that we don't see what is right before us. When the answer is shown to us by a person or God then we feel foolish (at least I do) that we missed something so blatantly obvious. She was grateful & showed it by calling the place "God provides".

    So we can be grateful & acknowledge the One who helps us or we can be so full of pride that we don't want to admit that we didn't see the answer before & deny glorifying the One who has provided for us. Especially if He chooses to use a person that we don't especially get along with.

    I do also like how God spoke to Abimelech & Abraham thought that they were a Godless nation. We judge people way too quickly, I know I do. Abraham also limited how he thought God could work in the situation as well. Fell back into old habits & thought patterns. I also do this to God. So glad He is Very patient with me & continues to work with me in spite of my lack of faith at times.

    ReplyDelete
  8. the part I'm going to comment on today is the sacrifice of Isaac. 22:5 "After going over and over the promise God had made to him that he would have descendants, Abraham had come to the point where he had total confidence that God would solve the problem by raising Isaac from the dead" Sometimes, we just have to cling to the promises - - otherwise confusion and pain will pull us down.

    22:9"Together they found some stones, arranged them to build an altar and put the wood on it" I was thinking of how Isaac helped build his place of sacrifice; that's true of Jesus as well -- he created this world, created the wood he was crucified on; the different twist here is that Jesus created the humans that would kill him.

    22:9 "Isaac saw it as a privilege to give up his life for God while he was young" I don't know if this is a paraphrase version of this text, but there's no doubt in my mind that Isaac could have run away or fought off his dad. He must have had a deep respect for both his father and God.

    Finally, 22:12 "You have proven your loyalty to me in the sight of the whole universe, because you have not held back your only son whom I know you dearly love" Somehow this tweaked my thinking about how the universe was watching Abraham's loyalty (they also watched Job's loyalty) the Universe watched God's love and loyalty to us when He allowed His son to die - - it's something to realize that there is a universe watching my growth and loyalty to God - - glad that it tells of the doubts, mistakes, & confusion of these great men of the Bible --

    Even tho they struggled with their emotions -- God cheers them on, the part that is celebrated in the Bible is their successes. This makes me think that, unlike humans, God and the universe are pulling for us, cheering us on when we "get it" and prevail over evil.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Good thoughts Linda, really helped me this morning. And yes, that is a definite paraphrase of 22:9. It says nothing that would even hint of that in the actual translations.

    Judges 2:10 After Joshua's generation died, another one grew up that didn't acknowledge God or His past miracles for His people. The power of choice is a scary thing at times. I can see them saying, "unless I see it for myself", kinda like Thomas. But it was just an excuse not to be accountable, I'm thinking. Thomas had real doubts but was teachable & open.

    I think their parents taught them & shared with them the truths. And obviously not all were that way, as judges were raised up from among them. But the majority didn't worship God at all.

    3:1,2 Our trials are supposed to be our teachers, but I'm a really bad student. Sometimes, like the Israelites, I do just enough to get by instead of totally overcoming. I settle for a partial victory because I don't fully surrender to God in order to wipe out my enemies. I'm happy if there's a little bit of peace for a time, when God wants to totally annihilate my enemies, whether they be physical, mental/emotional or spiritual.

    Since I don't fully commit or settle for less than what He wants for me, He allows them to come back & annoy, frighten & even win sometimes. This is so I will see my need to live open handed & abandoned to Him & His desire for me instead of my own wants. Besides, His desire for me is waaaaay better than what I can think or imagine. So the only real problem is me!

    Gideon is a fearful man. Yet God patiently strengthened him to be the chosen man for that hour. Everything rides on what God can do for us & through us. It's not my abilities or talents, it's what God is doing in me & thru me if I let Him. Please just make me a hollow tube that You can flow thru, totally uninhibited by the lumps & curves of my selfishness, fearfulness & pride so others can see who You really are.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Man is so cruel -- the king lives, but without his fingers and toes; and it sounds like in 1:7 that Adoni Bezek did that same thing to others -- and taunted them about it too - argh

    Sounds like cousin Othniel was a brave man that the Lord trusted not only with Caleb's daughter (real estate was her thing) but also with being a judge and leader.

    2:10 "a generation grew up who forgot all about the kindness of the Lord and didn't appreciate the things He had done for Israel" Yes - I see this happening in our country/world today. Each generation seems to live farther from acknowledging, worshiping, and showing gratitude to God. Like a numbness is setting in.

    This reading seemed to be a vicious cycle. Israelites forget God, get conquered, a judge rises up, they repent, things go good -- then the cycle starts again. It's because they didn't WANT to learn their lesson. They WANTED to live with no accountability or authority over them.

    Yeah, I picked up that Gideon was weak, insecure, full of doubts; but what did God see? 6:12 "You're a brave and mighty man!" We'd probably think: "that's a stretch" but God knows what's deep down inside us -- and He can give us the tools we need to accomplish His work.

    God didn't mind giving Gideon evidence (maybe because Gideon was picked on and bullied all his life or something) God didn't mind giving Gideon His Spirit (vs 34) Gideon did what God asked him - - against the odds! Have you noticed how God loves to step in and move when it seems hopeless?

    ReplyDelete
  11. I see your 2nd to last paragraph again in Ps 16 today. It's that child like dependence on God that David is talking about.

    V 2 - You give me everything I need
    v5 - You're my cup of blessing & guard everything I have
    v7 - You instruct me & guide me
    v9 - You keep me safe
    v11 - You give me eternal life & the joy of living with You forever!

    I just want to keep that connection open on my end.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Yeah -- I really enjoyed 16 too! vs 2 "Apart from you, I can do nothing good" It's true -- so many times, even the "good" I do on my own is tainted with selfish roots - blah

    vs 9 "I am secure in hope" I like that, because it seems like nothing is secure as far as this world is concerned -- just take a peak at foxnews.com on any given day -- the world is out of control; BUT - we can find security in the hope He extends to us - hope for peace today, and life with Him tomorrow:)

    vs 11 "In your presence is fullnes of joy" Cant you hardly wait until we are with the Lord -- everything will be "right" and that thought comes out again in 17:15 "Your presence will fully satisfy me" In today's world, we fight against dissatisfaction - - according to this reading, there's only one Place that we can find full complete satisfaction:)

    17:8 - I love the word picture of being a little chick under the mother hen's wings -- ah peace and security.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I take exception to Zophar's comments. Especially v12 that says an empty headed person can't become wise. But then in 13 he tells Job to prepare his heart & pray to God so things can turn around. He's talking out of both sides of his mouth! If v12 can't happen, why would 13?

    I like Job's response though. It's all about God doing the opposite of what is apparent. God is in control & His will definitely will be accomplished. Job is firm in that & knows all things go thru God first. He's just trying to understand why. He counters Z's "wisdom" beautifully.

    His friends & especially Z here, are caught in the "do good, get good, do bad, get bad" mentality. I wonder if they come around at the end when God speaks to them & when they have to have Job sacrifice/pray for them. We never hear from them again.

    I was just encouraged by the reminder that God can do the impossible (like you pointed out Linda, with Gideon) & all of men's scheme's & plans can't alter His will. Nice to know there is an Absolute I can trust in.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I find it hard to even read Job's "friends" arguments -- they seem so cruel.

    BUT - I was humbled at Job's defense of God: vs 9 "all nature knows that the Lord made all things and that He is still in control" vs 13 God not only has wisdom, insight and understanding; He also has power to do as He wishes" vs 16 "He is powerful, and victory is His! vs 18 "He removes shackles and sets free those imprisoned" and finally the ultimate prophecy for Job vs 22 "He reveals things hard to understand and brings dark things into light"

    The humbling part of this defense, is that Job has lost everything; everything! - even the desire to live; yet He defends God's right to rule, the power to leave or change a situation, and the ability to bring understanding to our confusing situations.

    I can see someone expounding these great truths if everything is going well -- maybe if they have a crowd of people to listen and cheer them on; but Job is at the extreme other end of either of those situations - - it's just Him and God.

    Lord, help me to cling to you, knowing YOU have the power in all situations that each one of us walks through.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Isaiah---chapter 29--Spiritual blindness has overcome the people. Judgment is about to come but the people are blind to the fact.
    But instead of turning to God for help, they're sending ambassadors down to Egypt to make a pact.
    But Egypt is going to decline. It's going to fall.
    God's going to break some vessels---He's going to crack some pots.

    God is pronouncing a woe upon the people. They're trying to get help from man instead of God.

    Chapter 32--There's going to be a restoration when Jesus comes and reigns. People who are stuttering and stammering will speak plainly.
    The vile person shall be no more called liberal (32:5) Wow--there's a lot of people who call themselves liberals in the US right now during this presidential campaign season. I wonder if that means they're vile?

    Several verses in today's reading are my favorites--

    The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever (32:17).

    And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places; (32:18)

    Chapter 33:3---The enemy runs at the sound of your voice---Love that scripture!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Excellent point Linda. It kinda ties in to what I'm realizing lately. My thinking about how & when God will act for us, for me has been wrong. I am learning to let Him defend me & that's been going on for a while BUT I haven't expected Him to deliver me, despite evidence to the contrary. This is way down inside of me.

    As I read thru Isaiah today it became even clearer that my thinking is wrong. God tells Israel that He will deliver them & they will live in peace even though surrounded by their enemies & destruction (32:18,19)

    I realize these chapters can also doubly apply to the 2nd Coming & Heaven but God also fights for & delivers His people today. I've always put them only applicable to the actual end of time. Which has caused me, deep down, to doubt & be skeptical that anything miraculous could happen today by the Spirit of God.

    The reading today, however, has given me pause. I have a lot to ponder & sort out. I'm so thankful for the Bible that can point out errors & for the HS which guides us into all Truth!

    ReplyDelete
  17. 29:11 "He will not force you to see and understand truth" God doesn't force, He invites -- it's up to us to read, study, make His truth our own!

    "Can the clay say to the potter, You're not the one who made me; I made myself" kindof reminds me of the phrase "self-made man" or "pulled up by his bootstraps" We go to great extremes to take the credit to ourselves instead of honoring God.

    29:23 is a promise for parents -- I soaked in that awhile:)

    30:10 sounds like everyone I know (sigh - myself included) "We don't want to hear from you what is right and wrong. We want you to tell us something that's fun to listen to and makes us feel good" I am working on the concept of embracing pain -- asking God to use pain to teach me (but if fun comes along in the process -- I'm good with that too!)

    Your hope of salvation lies in repentance (30:15) we don't seem to want to admit we have a problem.

    Loved 30:20 He will be beside you all the way:)

    and I'll end with this wise wise advice: 32:8
    "the Man who is noble plans to do noble things and stands by his deeds. He lives honorably and treats others justly and with respect". This is a life of integrity -- I want to live a noble life based on love (but selfish desires keep side-tracking me -- bother!)

    ReplyDelete
  18. 14:13 -- Jesus was saddened by the news of John's death; maybe He'd miss the conviction and support of John, maybe it made Him realize His own end; maybe He was just sad at the hardened condition of mankind - that humans would take a good, kind man like John and bring him to such an ugly end - all for a dance; pretty sad.

    The first feeding - - I love how Jesus "looked up to heaven and asked a blessing, giving thanks for what they had" They didn't have much, but Jesus gave thanks for it -- and God blessed the little they had; that IS like God! Pretty cool that Jesus looked up to Heaven -- why do we always bow our heads?

    But on the flip side of Jesus blessing and giving thanks is the disciples grumbling and complaining (vs 24) I'm so quick to loose the blessing of the moment and find stuff to get down about -- I need to live in a aura of blessing and gratitude!

    It must have made Jesus a bit discouraged when the disciples didn't even think about the possibility of the 5000 feeding when faced with 4000 hungry people. A reminder to look back at God's blessings! (Jesus kindof alludes to His amazement out their faith-leak in 16:9)

    I never tied the Pharisees & Scribes accusation of Why don't your disciples wash with JEsus final evaluatino in 15:9. I always get lost in the beauty of heart to mouth; but the way this is worded brings it all around: vs 20 "to eat without having washed your hands, much less not having washed them a certain way, does not make you spiritually unclean"

    And a personal encouragement for me today! 15:18 "If your thoughts and feelings are bad and you keep expressing them, they will only make you feel worse because you'll reinforce what you're already thinking." This really applies in so many areas of life -- push out the negative, and replace it with positive, blessings, gratitude!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I've thought about bowing the head, while praying for a while. And I do both but it depends I think where my heart is. Sometimes I'm basking in conversation with Him so I look up. Other times my heart maybe overwhelmed in a trial or humility so I bow my head. Just depends.

    I always like the visual reminder of Peter getting terrified of the wind/waves & starting to sink. It's what I do in trials too. But the great reminder for me is to finish the story. Peter asked for help & it was immediately there...with a mild rebuke. That's a picture of love for me, not making fun of my weakness or failure.

    Something I hadn't thought about was 15:14. The blind leading the blind & both falling into a ditch. So if I'm in a ditch...who was I following or worse yet, who was I leading?

    ReplyDelete
  20. Matt 14--Wow--Herod actually thought when he heard the reports about Jesus that this must be John The Baptist resurrected.
    Amazing. It says to me that Herod was feeling guilty for ordering John's death and that Herod actually believed in the supernatural and that the someone who had died could be resurrected during his lifetime. Of course, when someone dies and you're the person responsible for the death, then I believe you're willing to open yourself up to the supernatural whether it be from God or Satan.

    While in the process of grieving, Jesus still had compassion on the crowds of people following him and healed the sick. I find that astounding because whenever I grieve for a love one, I shut down and don't want to interact with anyone. But Jesus was grieving and his answer to those seeking healing was a divine YES!

    Jesus, the disciples and crowds of people find themselves in a "barren place". And He orders the crowds to recline (rest) and orders the disciples to feed them. This really speaks to me since I'm often in a barren place. But God always supernaturally provides.

    It has been yrs since I'd been to a dentist. Yesterday, a Morman arranged for me to have my teeth cleaned and took care of the payment. God works in really really supernatural ways.

    Chapter 15---We have the traditions of the church verses the commandments of God. These two things usually don't mix. Either we're going to follow in the ways of the church or we're going to follow God. Many times, we have to choose! We can't do both.

    15:21---I thought of you two athletes while reading this verse. Jesus walked 50 miles to Tyre and Sidon---now that's exercise!

    When Jesus gets to the Sea of Galilee, a vast crowd comes, bringing their sick, maimed, blind, etc and He HEALED THEM ALL!
    Every one one of them! No one was left out. Another divine YES!

    I read some of the things Jesus said in these chapters and I wonder if today's churches would welcome Him. He sounds racist (15:24), critical (14:31) rude (16:4) and abrasive (16:23). Would we welcome Him in or turn Him away, saying You're NOT the Jesus I know.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Wow ladies -- some great things for me to think about - - Chris, really appreciated the blind/blind - and the sinking waves; and Sher - - I noticed that about the compassion of Jesus too -- never too tired for helping people, what a God we serve.

    I KNOW! 50 miles! They must have been SO in shape!

    ReplyDelete