Hard to go wrong with a song lyric! :D I see we were both skipping Monday's reading, I didn't even notice the blog wasn't up until last night when I went to see what you posted. Hee hee
I thought that when Abijah was talking to Israel that he listed all of Judah's works & not God's power & mercy. I really expected them to lose. Good thing that God reads the hearts. They must have been sincere in crying out to Him.
I do like how R & his people humbled their hearts when Shisak came against them. And they put up with the consequences of their disobedience. Shows that just because you repent, doesn't mean you still don't suffer the consequences.
Asa just put all his trust in God to fight for Him against a million troops. Man, that must have been intimidating! Good legacy left to us though. God really is our only help when we are overwhelmed.
Neat that God encouraged him when he came back from battle too. Sometimes, that's all we need to make a good decision, a little encouragement.
Totally forgot about putting the blog up! Yeah -- kindof easy to skip that MOnday reading; and it's probably the one day of the week that we need to be in the word the MOST!
11:4 Don't fight against your relatives -- leave their story to God; no need to defend yourself, just "strengthen your defenses" by spending time in God's presence. In the end, the "relatives" that surround you will be people that believe the same way you do:)
Yes! I loved the way the humbled themselves too "The Lord is right in doing this" - - nothing about "that's not FAIR!" they simply realized they had sinned and HE was just.
BUT -- just so they remembered that choices have consequences, God gave them a reminder of how the world views the underdog; and how God views the underdog.
Totally loved as well the way they completely trusted God when they were surrounded. aaaand, how many times do I feel surrounded by troubles -- mine are mostly imagined, theirs were physically apparent -- with swords and spears; YIKES!
Love the story of Asa -- I like how he told the poeple the land is still ours, BECAUSE we sought the Lord our God -- no pride there -- the honor goes all to Him.
There is quite a bit in 15 about if you seek HIM, you will find HIM! it's in vs 2, 4, 15. I'm thinking that holds true for me as well! So -- where are my eyes, where is my heart . . .
Don't know who wrote 118 but it says where their eyes and hearts are; in God. Better to trust Him than humans. I take courage from that. Just like Asa yesterday didn't send off to another king to help him fight, we/I shouldn't either.
As I read 118 I was thinking of how easily intimidated I am & that as God's daughter, I shouldn't be. I need to stay, firmly attached, behind my warrior God. Letting Him stay in front & fight for me, shield me, protect me. His is my strength & my song.
Isn't it great that a whole chapter 117 is summed up in our praise to the loving faithful God!
I underlined the better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people -- David meant that SO much that he said it twice! as in - - - read my lips!
The Lord is for me (vs 6) so I will have no fear. I really like the thought that He is cheering me on.
The Lord is my strength and my song -- He is my all in all when things are tough (strength) and when things are peachy (song)
I like how you applied the strength vs song part. Very true.
I read Prov today, so many good points - which one do I comment on? One thing I saw reading through there was how it seems like the Lord's people get theirs in the end of it all. A reward to me, usually comes after the act. So, our reward, heaven, comes after we've persevered here.
That's hard for me to accept some, actually most, days. I want an easy time right now. I want, I want...so selfish. That's why I'm still alive and kicking! So much work left to be done in my heart.
I had to go back & meditate on Ps 23 again. It reminded me of being in the mtns last week and the peacefulness of the paths He led us up. Even going uphill, it's a quiet, peaceful moment for me. I am going up in anticipation of the view at the top. I need that same perseverance in life and to be in anticipation of heaven.
Thank you Lord for the little glimpses of our true rest down here on this dark earth. Keep me on the path & faithfully putting one foot in front of the other, just following You, my Shepherd.
That's a really good application about the sweat and the work out going up the hill in the anticipation of the rest and view and peace at the top! Thnx Chris! AND the JOY of sharing that moment (both the struggle and the peace) with friends!
OK back to Prov: God DETESTS (vs 9) the prayers of a person who ignores the law. I never thought of God detesting prayer before -- but I think it's because of the hypocracy of that person. Almost like the flattery found in vs 23 -- or the entitlement that is so prevalent today. God wants an honest heart -- no fence sitting. Be in or be out, but please be honest. Most of all -- he wants me to turn and be saved!!
vs 19 working hard vs chasing fantasies - - live in the moment, not the wishful thinking - - I'm thinking the world is more about follow your dreams theory, God is more about the opportunities right where He puts us theory. It's hard for me to figure out the balance in that.
I appreciated all the counsel connected with managing money today:)
I guess I always thought Jonah ran away because he was afraid. It'd be like God asking me to go preach to the gangs in L.A. - - admittedly, I would be afraid.
Yet, it seems (unless it was just the way people talked back then) that death was not what he was afraid of. He didn't seem extremely concerned when the boat was tossing around in the storm. He told the soldiers to toss him overboard. He asked God to kill him once the people rented and God changed his mind (choosing death over looking foolish) and he wished he was dead when he became overheated.
So why did he run? He said he thought God would probably change his mind, knowing that God was compassionate, filled with unfailing love. Was it because he didn't want the gangs saved? If that was the case, I wonder why God chose this uncompassionate man? Probably because God wanted to save Jonah as well as the Assyrians.
Anyway -- I love the response of the sailors: they were awestruck by the Lord's great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him. I like to think they threw any of their piddly gods overboard about that time! What it would be like to see some of the amazing God-directed miracles like this, like the Egyptian plagues, like Mt. Sinai or Mt. Carmel. Hmmmmmmm, if I read my Bible correctly, that time is coming!!
In the mean time, I'll stick with the gentler miracles like a mountain top view or a early morning's canopy of stars:)
Hard to go wrong with a song lyric! :D
ReplyDeleteI see we were both skipping Monday's reading, I didn't even notice the blog wasn't up until last night when I went to see what you posted. Hee hee
I thought that when Abijah was talking to Israel that he listed all of Judah's works & not God's power & mercy. I really expected them to lose. Good thing that God reads the hearts. They must have been sincere in crying out to Him.
I do like how R & his people humbled their hearts when Shisak came against them. And they put up with the consequences of their disobedience. Shows that just because you repent, doesn't mean you still don't suffer the consequences.
Asa just put all his trust in God to fight for Him against a million troops. Man, that must have been intimidating! Good legacy left to us though. God really is our only help when we are overwhelmed.
Neat that God encouraged him when he came back from battle too. Sometimes, that's all we need to make a good decision, a little encouragement.
Totally forgot about putting the blog up! Yeah -- kindof easy to skip that MOnday reading; and it's probably the one day of the week that we need to be in the word the MOST!
ReplyDelete11:4 Don't fight against your relatives -- leave their story to God; no need to defend yourself, just "strengthen your defenses" by spending time in God's presence. In the end, the "relatives" that surround you will be people that believe the same way you do:)
Yes! I loved the way the humbled themselves too "The Lord is right in doing this" - - nothing about "that's not FAIR!" they simply realized they had sinned and HE was just.
BUT -- just so they remembered that choices have consequences, God gave them a reminder of how the world views the underdog; and how God views the underdog.
Totally loved as well the way they completely trusted God when they were surrounded. aaaand, how many times do I feel surrounded by troubles -- mine are mostly imagined, theirs were physically apparent -- with swords and spears; YIKES!
Love the story of Asa -- I like how he told the poeple the land is still ours, BECAUSE we sought the Lord our God -- no pride there -- the honor goes all to Him.
There is quite a bit in 15 about if you seek HIM, you will find HIM! it's in vs 2, 4, 15. I'm thinking that holds true for me as well! So -- where are my eyes, where is my heart . . .
Don't know who wrote 118 but it says where their eyes and hearts are; in God. Better to trust Him than humans. I take courage from that. Just like Asa yesterday didn't send off to another king to help him fight, we/I shouldn't either.
ReplyDeleteAs I read 118 I was thinking of how easily intimidated I am & that as God's daughter, I shouldn't be. I need to stay, firmly attached, behind my warrior God. Letting Him stay in front & fight for me, shield me, protect me. His is my strength & my song.
Isn't it great that a whole chapter 117 is summed up in our praise to the loving faithful God!
ReplyDeleteI underlined the better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people -- David meant that SO much that he said it twice! as in - - - read my lips!
The Lord is for me (vs 6) so I will have no fear. I really like the thought that He is cheering me on.
The Lord is my strength and my song -- He is my all in all when things are tough (strength) and when things are peachy (song)
I like how you applied the strength vs song part. Very true.
ReplyDeleteI read Prov today, so many good points - which one do I comment on? One thing I saw reading through there was how it seems like the Lord's people get theirs in the end of it all. A reward to me, usually comes after the act. So, our reward, heaven, comes after we've persevered here.
That's hard for me to accept some, actually most, days. I want an easy time right now. I want, I want...so selfish. That's why I'm still alive and kicking! So much work left to be done in my heart.
I had to go back & meditate on Ps 23 again. It reminded me of being in the mtns last week and the peacefulness of the paths He led us up. Even going uphill, it's a quiet, peaceful moment for me. I am going up in anticipation of the view at the top. I need that same perseverance in life and to be in anticipation of heaven.
Thank you Lord for the little glimpses of our true rest down here on this dark earth. Keep me on the path & faithfully putting one foot in front of the other, just following You, my Shepherd.
That's a really good application about the sweat and the work out going up the hill in the anticipation of the rest and view and peace at the top! Thnx Chris! AND the JOY of sharing that moment (both the struggle and the peace) with friends!
ReplyDeleteOK back to Prov: God DETESTS (vs 9) the prayers of a person who ignores the law. I never thought of God detesting prayer before -- but I think it's because of the hypocracy of that person. Almost like the flattery found in vs 23 -- or the entitlement that is so prevalent today. God wants an honest heart -- no fence sitting. Be in or be out, but please be honest. Most of all -- he wants me to turn and be saved!!
vs 19 working hard vs chasing fantasies - - live in the moment, not the wishful thinking - - I'm thinking the world is more about follow your dreams theory, God is more about the opportunities right where He puts us theory. It's hard for me to figure out the balance in that.
I appreciated all the counsel connected with managing money today:)
I guess I always thought Jonah ran away because he was afraid. It'd be like God asking me to go preach to the gangs in L.A. - - admittedly, I would be afraid.
ReplyDeleteYet, it seems (unless it was just the way people talked back then) that death was not what he was afraid of. He didn't seem extremely concerned when the boat was tossing around in the storm. He told the soldiers to toss him overboard. He asked God to kill him once the people rented and God changed his mind (choosing death over looking foolish) and he wished he was dead when he became overheated.
So why did he run? He said he thought God would probably change his mind, knowing that God was compassionate, filled with unfailing love. Was it because he didn't want the gangs saved? If that was the case, I wonder why God chose this uncompassionate man? Probably because God wanted to save Jonah as well as the Assyrians.
Anyway -- I love the response of the sailors: they were awestruck by the Lord's great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him. I like to think they threw any of their piddly gods overboard about that time! What it would be like to see some of the amazing God-directed miracles like this, like the Egyptian plagues, like Mt. Sinai or Mt. Carmel. Hmmmmmmm, if I read my Bible correctly, that time is coming!!
In the mean time, I'll stick with the gentler miracles like a mountain top view or a early morning's canopy of stars:)