I appreciate the thought in 1:5 that God will "gift" us with the right words to say and everything I need to know. Well -- what's left to worry about? His gift includes what comes in and what goes out!! I often think I say the wrong thing; maybe that's because I don't surrender this -- laying my daily future words in His hands -- hmmmm; need to do this.
also in vs 26; love how God selects the common, the castoff, the un-status people - - and this is coming from Paul; in his early life he was not common or a castoff and he had lots of status; but he through it all away for the truth; he was definitely born again with a new focus and a new look at who he was . . . and who HE was!
and relying on the Spirit (chpt 2) that again takes all the worry and angst away -- leave it in His (or Her) hands -- the Spirit searches all things, even the deep mysteries of God . . . a person who walks by the Spirit examines everything, sizing it up and seeking out truth.
The song lyrics you started out the week with coincide well with the part of Jacob's life we read today. God didn't throw him aside because of all his issues, his failures, his repeated mistakes. Every time Jacob repented and surrendered his life back to God, God directed him and led him. Even changed his name to signify the changes that had happened in Jacob. That's pretty cool.
Very encouraging for me to read this as well. To see the incredible patience of God for us ever erring humans is mind blowing. And yet, it's what keeps me turning back to Him when I screw up so much and at every turn. He's truly the only hope I have left in this world. Fortunately, He is more than capable of giving me a future and a hope :).
Yup! This is the NEW week Chris -- it is full of possibilities of God showing up.
Jacob was afraid and extremely distressed (bother - do I relate to THAT) and Jacob keeps reminding God what He said. This has to be more for Jacob's comfort than God's memory.
Jacob stayed behind, left alone in his distress and doubt. How very important it is to have that alone time with God -- that's where wrestling happens. Although Jacob had a physical struggle -- we have emotional struggles; how did Jacob "prevail?" I think in the fact that he wouldn't let God go -- he hung on to Him for dear life - - I think that's where my wrestling and struggling needs to turn.
Interesting that Jacob said he'd meet Esau in Sier - then he went to Succoth instead; was he still deceiving? I'll never know that -- and it's a side note.
I love how Jacob talks about his God: "the God who answers me whenever I am in distress and who is with me wherever I go.
What was Rebekah's nurse doing with the Jacob's crowd? That's confusing, especially since Jacob hadn't even made it to Mamre yet -- maybe Deborah was hanging out with Esau's crowd and Esau passed her on to Jacob. another side-note; we'll never know - just found it confusing:)
I didn't even pick up about Deborah being with them. I did wonder why he said he'd go to Seir and then went the other direction. They had some strange ways of interacting with each other back then. Could be like some do now and say come over anytime but they really don't mean it. Jacob knew it was Esau just being polite.
The end of Judges today just gives more questions. Shows how "doing right in our own eyes" gets us very far away from God. I still think it's interesting that the Levite told the gathered group that the men in Gibeon were going to attack and kill him instead of rape him. Maybe the word attack in the Hebrew had that connotation in there, but it's not translated in any version I've read yet. Still sick that women were treated the way they were back then. No rights, just slaves. Now for JC....
It's interesting to me that the original Israelites took such offense that their sister had been raped and took down the town of Shekam; now this Levite throws his mistress out to be raped while he gets a good nights sleep -- and THEN calls everyone to fight because they wanted to attack him. The whole story stinks -- and seems that they are all looking for a cause to fight (not so different from countries today)
The 2 loses before the big win Israelites vs Gebeah show that we need to persevere; we might not understand God's moves -- and sometimes it will seem like our loss; yet He's just setting us up for the big win if we continue to trust. It must have been really confusing to them; God saying go out and fight - and yet they lost. I probably would have said - forget it, you said to go fight last time and look what happened; just shows how weak my faith is -- wins; bring it on -- losses; I get weak in the knees. To the Israelites credit; they mourned, asked for advice, got up and fought.
But fickle fickle -- then it's all about finding brides for the losers; and again -- the women had no say - blah. Glad I live in this century in this country. I LIKE having a say!
Really good stuff about persevering. I don't do that very well. At least not lately.
The verse that stopped me in Psalms was 25:20 "Watch over my soul, and let me face shame and defeat UNASHAMED because You are my refuge." We will face these 2 things but to be able to stand in spite of them is what caught me off guard. Then I thought, Jesus faced a shameful death and apparent defeat and yet He trusted in His only Hope, His Father.
I've been thinking about shame a lot this week and again, the fact that I WILL face them, be in them, was shocking. And yet, it's pretty realistic really. I think the shame is the hardest part for me. I have so much in my life to be ashamed of, it would be nice to have it all covered and everyone's memory wiped clean so they couldn't bring up my past mistakes and missteps. Not reality though. And satan takes great delight in throwing our past in our faces when we're trying to come closer to Christ. I have to try not to defend myself when that happens. I haven't learned that lesson very well yet. I have to apply that to others as well. If I don't like it, I can't imagine others enjoying it either.
The earth is the Lord's -- sometimes it must make Him sooo sad to see the shape the earth is in. He handed it to us so perfect, so pristine; now we have to search for those pristine spots! But He WILL make it beautiful again - I can hardly wait to see what a perfect world looks like. and it says that in verse 5 "the God who redeems will right what has been wrong" that's true in my life, the world, the people around us - He is Almighty!
I Love all the capitalized words in chpt 25 ALWAYS (don't they say never to say always and never? - with God that rule doesn't apply -- but, yeah - in this verse it's iffy "Always I will lift up my soul to You" I wish that was true, but so many times I find myself hanging on to my soul, my heart, my emotions, my rights and not lifting all of that up to Him:(
FEED my Your word -- I just like the word pictures this brings up in my mind -- I am once again helpless -- He has the key to give me new life -- the compassion and patience it takes to feed someone else; to wait until they chew and swallow before giving them the next bite . . . a very different picture than cramming food down someone's throat so they can move on to their next task.
Ah youth -- how many of us have prayed a form of this: "Do not hold against me the sins I committed when I was young; instead, deal with me according to Your mercy and love." and yes - - - - "forgive my sins because they are beyond number" I have sins in my life I'm not even aware of - or don't want to be aware of; yet His grace is enough.
DJ pg 25 "Because I am infinite, I can see you simultaneously as you are now and as you will be in heaven. The present view helps Me work with you on things you need to change. The heavenly vision enables Me to love you with perfect, everlasting Love.
The best way to see through eyes of grace is to look through the lens of My unfailing Love. As you persevere in this practice, you will gradually find it easier to extend grace both to yourself and to to others.
Your love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on me!
I need so much grace. You'd think I'd want to extend the same huge amount to others! We humans are so backwards sometimes!
JC 70 "Let Me help you through this day. The challenges you face are far too great for you to handle alone. You are keenly aware of your helplessness in the scheme of events you face. This awareness opens up a choice: to doggedly go it alone or to walk with Me in humble steps of dependence. Actually, this choice is continually before you, but difficulties highlight the decision-making process. So, consider it all joy whenever you are enveloped in various trials. These are gifts from Me, reminding you to rely on Me alone."
James 1:2-4 (The Voice) "Don't run from tests and hardships...As difficult as they are, you will ultimately find joy in them; if you embrace them, your faith will blossom under pressure and teach you true patience as you endure. And true patience brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the finish line - mature, complete, and wanting nothing."
Can't add nothing to that smack upside the head today! :D
So Isaiah did pretty good today! Looooong though with 5 chapters. 45 talks about Cyrus -- but I think God's words to him can apply; the "nations" being our "struggles"
"with his (put my name in here) in Mine, nations (struggles) are vanquished . . . I will go ahead of you and smooth the way, lower the heights, break down bronze doors, and cut through iron bars. I will give you hidden treasures and wealth tucked away in secret places; I will reveal them to you. Then you will know that I am the Eternal . . . who calls you by name. . . I am preparing you for victory"
and . . . I love God carrying me from birth to death Isaiah 46:3 and 4; I love the word picture of him lifting me up in His strong arms and I lay my head down on His shoulder and rest -- secure.
23:2 - reminds us that we have a responsibility to obey authority even tho we don't agree with their way of doing things -- "do the things they tell you to do" hmmmm
With all the talk recently about the "new pope" it makes me wonder if they actually read 23:8-10??
love vs 11 "Delight in the One who calls you servant!"
vs 23 is another paraphrase of Micah 6:8 -- the "essentials" of the law what the Lord "requires" it's not really so hard -- or is it? in our fallen condition -- our only hope is with His help and He is so eager to help.
After the woes -- there must have been a hushed feeling of horror and doom -- interesting that the disciples were then looking to their next fix on the norm -- the buildings around them; if they couldn't trust leadership, maybe they could trust their physical security? Nope vs 6 "It is inevitable, this violent breaking apart of the sinful world"
I had a great sense of longing as I read about Him coming back -- I hope my mind is always able to jump to that ending as I walk through the birth pains.
I was thinking on vs 34 where he says "this generation will see" that's similar to his declaration earlier - before the transfiguration. So the fall of Jerusalem seems to be an illustration of the last days; similiar to Moses and Elijah being an illustration of the last days.
Be ready - - be ready
the one servant was afraid - so, there was no trust. and the Master said "You are a pathetic excuse for a servant" that's pretty low - - you squandered my generosity -- this gave me pause; Lord, am I doing the same thing - - - yes, I believe I am.
Help me Lord to see the world through Your eyes; not mine.
I appreciate the thought in 1:5 that God will "gift" us with the right words to say and everything I need to know. Well -- what's left to worry about? His gift includes what comes in and what goes out!! I often think I say the wrong thing; maybe that's because I don't surrender this -- laying my daily future words in His hands -- hmmmm; need to do this.
ReplyDeletealso in vs 26; love how God selects the common, the castoff, the un-status people - - and this is coming from Paul; in his early life he was not common or a castoff and he had lots of status; but he through it all away for the truth; he was definitely born again with a new focus and a new look at who he was . . . and who HE was!
and relying on the Spirit (chpt 2) that again takes all the worry and angst away -- leave it in His (or Her) hands -- the Spirit searches all things, even the deep mysteries of God . . . a person who walks by the Spirit examines everything, sizing it up and seeking out truth.
The song lyrics you started out the week with coincide well with the part of Jacob's life we read today. God didn't throw him aside because of all his issues, his failures, his repeated mistakes. Every time Jacob repented and surrendered his life back to God, God directed him and led him. Even changed his name to signify the changes that had happened in Jacob. That's pretty cool.
ReplyDeleteVery encouraging for me to read this as well. To see the incredible patience of God for us ever erring humans is mind blowing. And yet, it's what keeps me turning back to Him when I screw up so much and at every turn. He's truly the only hope I have left in this world. Fortunately, He is more than capable of giving me a future and a hope :).
Yup! This is the NEW week Chris -- it is full of possibilities of God showing up.
ReplyDeleteJacob was afraid and extremely distressed (bother - do I relate to THAT) and Jacob keeps reminding God what He said. This has to be more for Jacob's comfort than God's memory.
Jacob stayed behind, left alone in his distress and doubt. How very important it is to have that alone time with God -- that's where wrestling happens. Although Jacob had a physical struggle -- we have emotional struggles; how did Jacob "prevail?" I think in the fact that he wouldn't let God go -- he hung on to Him for dear life - - I think that's where my wrestling and struggling needs to turn.
Interesting that Jacob said he'd meet Esau in Sier - then he went to Succoth instead; was he still deceiving? I'll never know that -- and it's a side note.
I love how Jacob talks about his God: "the God who answers me whenever I am in distress and who is with me wherever I go.
What was Rebekah's nurse doing with the Jacob's crowd? That's confusing, especially since Jacob hadn't even made it to Mamre yet -- maybe Deborah was hanging out with Esau's crowd and Esau passed her on to Jacob. another side-note; we'll never know - just found it confusing:)
I didn't even pick up about Deborah being with them. I did wonder why he said he'd go to Seir and then went the other direction. They had some strange ways of interacting with each other back then. Could be like some do now and say come over anytime but they really don't mean it. Jacob knew it was Esau just being polite.
ReplyDeleteThe end of Judges today just gives more questions. Shows how "doing right in our own eyes" gets us very far away from God. I still think it's interesting that the Levite told the gathered group that the men in Gibeon were going to attack and kill him instead of rape him. Maybe the word attack in the Hebrew had that connotation in there, but it's not translated in any version I've read yet. Still sick that women were treated the way they were back then. No rights, just slaves.
Now for JC....
It's interesting to me that the original Israelites took such offense that their sister had been raped and took down the town of Shekam; now this Levite throws his mistress out to be raped while he gets a good nights sleep -- and THEN calls everyone to fight because they wanted to attack him. The whole story stinks -- and seems that they are all looking for a cause to fight (not so different from countries today)
ReplyDeleteThe 2 loses before the big win Israelites vs Gebeah show that we need to persevere; we might not understand God's moves -- and sometimes it will seem like our loss; yet He's just setting us up for the big win if we continue to trust. It must have been really confusing to them; God saying go out and fight - and yet they lost. I probably would have said - forget it, you said to go fight last time and look what happened; just shows how weak my faith is -- wins; bring it on -- losses; I get weak in the knees. To the Israelites credit; they mourned, asked for advice, got up and fought.
But fickle fickle -- then it's all about finding brides for the losers; and again -- the women had no say - blah. Glad I live in this century in this country. I LIKE having a say!
Really good stuff about persevering. I don't do that very well. At least not lately.
ReplyDeleteThe verse that stopped me in Psalms was 25:20 "Watch over my soul, and let me face shame and defeat UNASHAMED because You are my refuge." We will face these 2 things but to be able to stand in spite of them is what caught me off guard. Then I thought, Jesus faced a shameful death and apparent defeat and yet He trusted in His only Hope, His Father.
I've been thinking about shame a lot this week and again, the fact that I WILL face them, be in them, was shocking. And yet, it's pretty realistic really. I think the shame is the hardest part for me. I have so much in my life to be ashamed of, it would be nice to have it all covered and everyone's memory wiped clean so they couldn't bring up my past mistakes and missteps. Not reality though. And satan takes great delight in throwing our past in our faces when we're trying to come closer to Christ. I have to try not to defend myself when that happens. I haven't learned that lesson very well yet.
I have to apply that to others as well. If I don't like it, I can't imagine others enjoying it either.
The earth is the Lord's -- sometimes it must make Him sooo sad to see the shape the earth is in. He handed it to us so perfect, so pristine; now we have to search for those pristine spots! But He WILL make it beautiful again - I can hardly wait to see what a perfect world looks like.
ReplyDeleteand it says that in verse 5 "the God who redeems will right what has been wrong" that's true in my life, the world, the people around us - He is Almighty!
I Love all the capitalized words in chpt 25 ALWAYS (don't they say never to say always and never? - with God that rule doesn't apply -- but, yeah - in this verse it's iffy "Always I will lift up my soul to You" I wish that was true, but so many times I find myself hanging on to my soul, my heart, my emotions, my rights and not lifting all of that up to Him:(
FEED my Your word -- I just like the word pictures this brings up in my mind -- I am once again helpless -- He has the key to give me new life -- the compassion and patience it takes to feed someone else; to wait until they chew and swallow before giving them the next bite . . . a very different picture than cramming food down someone's throat so they can move on to their next task.
Ah youth -- how many of us have prayed a form of this: "Do not hold against me the sins I committed when I was young; instead, deal with me according to Your mercy and love." and yes - - - - "forgive my sins because they are beyond number" I have sins in my life I'm not even aware of - or don't want to be aware of; yet His grace is enough.
DJ pg 25 "Because I am infinite, I can see you simultaneously as you are now and as you will be in heaven. The present view helps Me work with you on things you need to change. The heavenly vision enables Me to love you with perfect, everlasting Love.
ReplyDeleteThe best way to see through eyes of grace is to look through the lens of My unfailing Love. As you persevere in this practice, you will gradually find it easier to extend grace both to yourself and to to others.
Your love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on me!
I need so much grace. You'd think I'd want to extend the same huge amount to others! We humans are so backwards sometimes!
ReplyDeleteJC 70
"Let Me help you through this day. The challenges you face are far too great for you to handle alone. You are keenly aware of your helplessness in the scheme of events you face. This awareness opens up a choice: to doggedly go it alone or to walk with Me in humble steps of dependence. Actually, this choice is continually before you, but difficulties highlight the decision-making process. So, consider it all joy whenever you are enveloped in various trials. These are gifts from Me, reminding you to rely on Me alone."
James 1:2-4 (The Voice) "Don't run from tests and hardships...As difficult as they are, you will ultimately find joy in them; if you embrace them, your faith will blossom under pressure and teach you true patience as you endure. And true patience brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the finish line - mature, complete, and wanting nothing."
Can't add nothing to that smack upside the head today! :D
So Isaiah did pretty good today! Looooong though with 5 chapters. 45 talks about Cyrus -- but I think God's words to him can apply; the "nations" being our "struggles"
ReplyDelete"with his (put my name in here) in Mine, nations (struggles) are vanquished . . . I will go ahead of you and smooth the way, lower the heights, break down bronze doors, and cut through iron bars. I will give you hidden treasures and wealth tucked away in secret places; I will reveal them to you. Then you will know that I am the Eternal . . . who calls you by name. . . I am preparing you for victory"
and . . . I love God carrying me from birth to death Isaiah 46:3 and 4; I love the word picture of him lifting me up in His strong arms and I lay my head down on His shoulder and rest -- secure.
23:2 - reminds us that we have a responsibility to obey authority even tho we don't agree with their way of doing things -- "do the things they tell you to do" hmmmm
ReplyDeleteWith all the talk recently about the "new pope" it makes me wonder if they actually read 23:8-10??
love vs 11 "Delight in the One who calls you servant!"
vs 23 is another paraphrase of Micah 6:8 -- the "essentials" of the law what the Lord "requires" it's not really so hard -- or is it? in our fallen condition -- our only hope is with His help and He is so eager to help.
After the woes -- there must have been a hushed feeling of horror and doom -- interesting that the disciples were then looking to their next fix on the norm -- the buildings around them; if they couldn't trust leadership, maybe they could trust their physical security? Nope vs 6 "It is inevitable, this violent breaking apart of the sinful world"
I had a great sense of longing as I read about Him coming back -- I hope my mind is always able to jump to that ending as I walk through the birth pains.
I was thinking on vs 34 where he says "this generation will see" that's similar to his declaration earlier - before the transfiguration. So the fall of Jerusalem seems to be an illustration of the last days; similiar to Moses and Elijah being an illustration of the last days.
Be ready - - be ready
the one servant was afraid - so, there was no trust. and the Master said "You are a pathetic excuse for a servant" that's pretty low - - you squandered my generosity -- this gave me pause; Lord, am I doing the same thing - - - yes, I believe I am.
Help me Lord to see the world through Your eyes; not mine.