O no; You ever let go - in every high and ever low -- O no; You never let go of me! (I'm up on my Father-God's shoulders - thank you God for carrying me)
Love Phil; and it means more when I think of Paul in a small bathroom sized cell chained to a wall - - why would I ever complain; and why would I not listen to how he survives -- he is caught up in the excitement of all Jesus holds out to him:)
all the stuff he'd worked so hard for in his younger years -- the right look, the right knowledge, the right way to salvation - - is garbage (sounds familiar!) "I want to be found belonging to Him, not clinging to my own righteousness" We put ourselves into such a needless tailspin
True righteousness is supplied by GOD through faith -- how easy is THAT! and at the same time -- how hard is THAT? The hard part is laying down the control, the independence. The easy part is laying down the control, the independence . . .
Again -- you can feel the momentum of the excitement in his voice: "I am charging on to gain anything and everything the Anointed One, Jesus, has in store for me -- and NOTHING will stand in my way because He has grabbed me and won't let me go" Again - written from the cell - - his mind was fixed on the big picture and that's where I want to be
Paul's advice "put everything on the line for this mission" Actions speak louder than words - - or maybe, add emphasis to the words
Just ending with the good advice that I find SO hard to take -- the spiritual discipline of "Don't be anxious about things; instead, pray" and the amazing thought that God longs to hear my request! Thank you God for being interested in me!!
Some of those same verses and concepts leapt out at me as well as I read it today.
I also like the comments about how coveting leads to dissatisfaction and when not surrendered, leads to such ruin and disappointment. Very true observation we see played out over and over again throughout history. Unfortunately, in Christian history as well. It is there for us to learn from to be sure. We haven't proven to be very good students however, just better schemers. We really are the actors in rewrite after rewrite of the script satan began writing in heaven when he started coveting.
I agree with Paul, that I want to be found in Jesus, pursuing Him, surrendering to Him. Being one with God is definitely a more worthy occupation. The world doesn't get it at all. The cross is foolishness to those that are perishing.
SO MUCH food for thought today; hard to pare it down! • The 3rd commander; "May your eyes perceive something worth treasuring rather than destroying" that would be that "he bowed on his knees, humbled himself before Elijah, and begged for mercy" God affirms the ones that "walk humbly with their God" and Elijah heard from God "Follow this man . . and do not fear him" I wonder how many other times Elijah was simply following God's voice - even when commander 1 and 2 were condemned - - I feel like Elijah was God's mouthpiece and we don't get the full pic of God talking to him constantly. This comes out in the Shunamite woman too, when Elisha says that "the Eternal has kept her troubles hidden from me"
Elisha refused to abandon Elijah -- reminded me of Ruth. It seemed like everyone was aware that Elijah was about to be swept away - I guess that knowledge was the perks of being a prophet! AWESOME it would have been; to have seen that blazing chariot and horses!
Tossing salt into the polluted water. Compare that with Jesus words that we are the salt of the earth. When the salt of His love is thrown into polluted waters (people in Rev) it becomes pure, gives life - quenches thirst:)
How bout the grain thrown in the poisoned soup? Jesus is the bread of life, right -- again it's His presence that purifies - and then we destribute that presence - the Bread; "they ate and had food to spare" (PS - didn't realize there was this miracle b4 Jesus did 2 repeats during His lifetime - I wonder if there was any application for the peeps in Elisha's day since Jesus had not yet arrived)
Dig trenches throughout this entire valley. So when we ask God to work -- He says prepare the ground for me to move! We have a part to play -- and not a little part, a that's good enough part. God said -- this ENTIRE valley:) then . . . here comes the water from the HIGHER ground - filling up our dirt ditches, bringing life out of the trenches -- so don't despair when you are in the trenches -- the water is coming:)
Ahhhhh -- and the woman saying "I don't really have much of anything (pause) the only thing I have in my house that might be of any worth is . . . and THEN Elisha could work. So -- look around you; what do you have that you can bring to God -- HE can use it and expand it
Then I was thinking about Elisha laying on the boy -- the dead life; thinking about our dead life, and how Jesus covers our earthly bodies with His robe bringing us life. He doesn't give up on us; tries again when we don't respond. There might be a significance to 7 sneezes, but not sure what it is
I love the love showed by the little girl toward her captors; our culture tend to gripe and complain about the people we work for. With examples like her, Daniel, Nehemiah who were conquered, away from home, limited freedoms - hmmmmmm
Naaman's conversion is so whole-hearted; I hope it lasted; I'm going to believe it did - it'd be fun to here him tell his testimony in heaven:)
So - Elisha said go and be at peace about the matter concerning supporting N's master's worship. This is a different view than when Daniel's friends didn't support their master's worship or Daniel didn't support his master's plan; I think the difference is that Namaan was on a journey - a newbee to who God was and it was God's job to grow him. We need to be careful to let newbees to God, grow at His rate - - I'm wondering if Elisha heard God tell him the answer to N's concern; we need to listen too -- maybe we'll hear the correct answers if we LISTEN!
Finally -- Gehazi! What were you thinking! After all the evidences of how God told/showed E what was going on behind the scenes -- did you really think you could sneekafy your greed?? a - Linda? Maybe you should take note -- God reads your heart too! Just be honest and full of integrity, ok?
I read it this a.m. waiting for my car to get worked on but wasn't able to post. I too liked the 3rd captain's attitude of humility. Sometimes I wish there were more recorded about the conversations God had with His prophets. Things seemed pretty cut and dried back then and all of a sudden you come up on Elisha's response to Namaan about worshipping with his master in the idol temple. I agree with what you said about that. There were a ton of things to comment on but you got a lot of them. Will see if I get up early enough to get a comment in tomorrow morning. :)
Psalms 78 is a great walk through memory lane. It's something I need to do often with my own life so I don't whine and complain so easily. Just remember how God has personally been involved in my liberation. How He continually provides for my every need and even supplies my want. If He "turned against" His chosen people, because they refused to be grateful and trusting, how can I expect anything different when I'm behaving the same?
Then I read in JC again about how God is training me to be thankful, to look at things from His perspective definitely helps me to be thankful. Remembering His blessings and how He's led in my life as 78 does for Israel also aids me.
The one thought that jumped out at me yesterday in Psalms (kind of a lamenty day -- so not my favorite Psalm read) was that God is mindful that I am human, frail and fleeting. Crazy that I don't always realize that; I'm frail - unable to mentally, physically or spiritually handle life - - I need Him as my strength and guidance. That I'm fleeting; life is short - focus on what is important - my relationship with my Creator and other people. Thank You God for understanding little me. Help me to understand little me.
Today: Wisdom makes herself obvious and available. She stands at the highest place, she is at the crossroads, she even prepares a feast and invites - - it's our choice to either ignore or pay attention to her.
I love the thought that the Eternal created Wisdom before time - was right there when He created the world (thinking of the Shack - where Lady Wisdom was an actual being -- it could be!) "I was especially pleased with humanity" this makes me think that us, humanity - was Lady Wisdom's destination, passion and task.
"Dare to be Wise" hmmmm if people are making fun of you for a wise decision - you're probably on the right track! "whoever carefully seeks me in everyday things and delays action until my way is apparent, that one will find true happiness" SO important not to jump into big decisions. Instead this simple question, "what is the wise thing to do" can save us from heartbreak and/or frustration. Take the time to be wise
"if you mock what you don't understand, you alone will suffer the consequences" You (and I'm talking me here) have no one to blame but yourself (myself) if you (I) don't acquire wisdom in the areas that you are (I am) weak and confused.
My reading in JC took me to James 2-4 "Don’t run from tests and hardships, brothers and sisters. 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."
As you give yourself more and more to a life of constant communion with Me, you will find that you simply have no time for worry . . .your best strategy is to sop focusing on this problem and put your energy into communicating more with Me!
In the times I have used the above mentioned strategy -- I have found that it does calm me down:)
I wonder how many Jews and Samaritans made up the 10 lepers. Seems like boundaries go down when we're all in the same boat. Too bad we tend more toward the Pharisee vs Publican attitude when everything is fine. Thankfulness is very eye opening, very heart opening.
Discernment can be used for judgment and criticizing or it can be used for healing if people are open to it. It is also used to avoid pitfalls, physically and spiritually. A very handy weapon to have in spiritual warfare as well.
I tend toward the judgmental/criticizing because I'm human & it's a natural, downward progression. But, God showed me yesterday the latter is more important. Jesus had incredible discernment, but never used it against anyone. He was always for them. Even if it meant being silent because they weren't open to the truth.
I think that was why He didn't commit to men. He discerned at a very deep level, the true heart of men.
If the kingdom of God came with public displays that would attract followers, then what kind of followers would they be? Then kingdom of God comes through His people, through our words and actions. Sometimes those are public displays, just like Jesus healed and cast out satan. But with Jesus, it was all about His Father's purpose and glory. I tend to want to draw the attention to myself. God is still scraping away at that layer. It has to go for the Kingdom of God to shine uninhibited through me.
Oh, and the rich young ruler - when Jesus said to sell all he had and give to the poor, He didn't say it would run out. But that's what we, including the ruler, tend to think. We just can't out give God. As we are generous, God is generous. It's a matter of trusting Him to provide what I really need.
God does everything He can to work with us. Jesus' words "it's not like you need a huge amount of faith" flies in the face of what I feel I've osmosed from other Christians - that I need to be a faith giant. But God will work with whatever we bring to the table (Like the dad that says, Lord, I believe - help my unbielf)
His illustration of how we should live toward God: "We're servants, unworthy of extra consideration or thanks; we're just doing our duty" seems to be played out in the next real-life miracle of the 10 lepers (well the 1 leper anyway - - who was so grateful, and willing to give the credit and the glory to God - acknowledging and worshiping God aaaaand - adding to that gratitude! Jesus capped the lesson off for all of us, reminding us that it was again the 'faith' that was the springboard to God working!
Jesus reminds us at the beginning and the end of this reading that 'even a little faith can accomplish the seemingly impossible' and what is humanly impossible is possible with God'
Love how the blind man shouts even louder for Jesus' mercy when people tell him to be quiet -- I can imagine that Jesus smiled:) and the blind man asked for something humanly impossible - - again, the springboard; faith
Love Phil; and it means more when I think of Paul in a small bathroom sized cell chained to a wall - - why would I ever complain; and why would I not listen to how he survives -- he is caught up in the excitement of all Jesus holds out to him:)
ReplyDeleteall the stuff he'd worked so hard for in his younger years -- the right look, the right knowledge, the right way to salvation - - is garbage (sounds familiar!) "I want to be found belonging to Him, not clinging to my own righteousness" We put ourselves into such a needless tailspin
True righteousness is supplied by GOD through faith -- how easy is THAT! and at the same time -- how hard is THAT? The hard part is laying down the control, the independence. The easy part is laying down the control, the independence . . .
Again -- you can feel the momentum of the excitement in his voice: "I am charging on to gain anything and everything the Anointed One, Jesus, has in store for me -- and NOTHING will stand in my way because He has grabbed me and won't let me go" Again - written from the cell - - his mind was fixed on the big picture and that's where I want to be
Paul's advice "put everything on the line for this mission" Actions speak louder than words - - or maybe, add emphasis to the words
Just ending with the good advice that I find SO hard to take -- the spiritual discipline of "Don't be anxious about things; instead, pray" and the amazing thought that God longs to hear my request! Thank you God for being interested in me!!
Some of those same verses and concepts leapt out at me as well as I read it today.
ReplyDeleteI also like the comments about how coveting leads to dissatisfaction and when not surrendered, leads to such ruin and disappointment. Very true observation we see played out over and over again throughout history. Unfortunately, in Christian history as well. It is there for us to learn from to be sure. We haven't proven to be very good students however, just better schemers. We really are the actors in rewrite after rewrite of the script satan began writing in heaven when he started coveting.
I agree with Paul, that I want to be found in Jesus, pursuing Him, surrendering to Him. Being one with God is definitely a more worthy occupation. The world doesn't get it at all. The cross is foolishness to those that are perishing.
DJ 105 "The more you include Me in your awareness, the brighter your day will be: Your routines will sparkle with the liveliness of My company!
ReplyDeleteSO MUCH food for thought today; hard to pare it down!
ReplyDelete• The 3rd commander; "May your eyes perceive something worth treasuring rather than destroying" that would be that "he bowed on his knees, humbled himself before Elijah, and begged for mercy" God affirms the ones that "walk humbly with their God" and Elijah heard from God "Follow this man . . and do not fear him" I wonder how many other times Elijah was simply following God's voice - even when commander 1 and 2 were condemned - - I feel like Elijah was God's mouthpiece and we don't get the full pic of God talking to him constantly. This comes out in the Shunamite woman too, when Elisha says that "the Eternal has kept her troubles hidden from me"
Elisha refused to abandon Elijah -- reminded me of Ruth. It seemed like everyone was aware that Elijah was about to be swept away - I guess that knowledge was the perks of being a prophet! AWESOME it would have been; to have seen that blazing chariot and horses!
Tossing salt into the polluted water. Compare that with Jesus words that we are the salt of the earth. When the salt of His love is thrown into polluted waters (people in Rev) it becomes pure, gives life - quenches thirst:)
How bout the grain thrown in the poisoned soup? Jesus is the bread of life, right -- again it's His presence that purifies - and then we destribute that presence - the Bread; "they ate and had food to spare" (PS - didn't realize there was this miracle b4 Jesus did 2 repeats during His lifetime - I wonder if there was any application for the peeps in Elisha's day since Jesus had not yet arrived)
Dig trenches throughout this entire valley. So when we ask God to work -- He says prepare the ground for me to move! We have a part to play -- and not a little part, a that's good enough part. God said -- this ENTIRE valley:) then . . . here comes the water from the HIGHER ground - filling up our dirt ditches, bringing life out of the trenches -- so don't despair when you are in the trenches -- the water is coming:)
Ahhhhh -- and the woman saying "I don't really have much of anything (pause) the only thing I have in my house that might be of any worth is . . . and THEN Elisha could work. So -- look around you; what do you have that you can bring to God -- HE can use it and expand it
Then I was thinking about Elisha laying on the boy -- the dead life; thinking about our dead life, and how Jesus covers our earthly bodies with His robe bringing us life. He doesn't give up on us; tries again when we don't respond. There might be a significance to 7 sneezes, but not sure what it is
I love the love showed by the little girl toward her captors; our culture tend to gripe and complain about the people we work for. With examples like her, Daniel, Nehemiah who were conquered, away from home, limited freedoms - hmmmmmm
Naaman's conversion is so whole-hearted; I hope it lasted; I'm going to believe it did - it'd be fun to here him tell his testimony in heaven:)
So - Elisha said go and be at peace about the matter concerning supporting N's master's worship. This is a different view than when Daniel's friends didn't support their master's worship or Daniel didn't support his master's plan; I think the difference is that Namaan was on a journey - a newbee to who God was and it was God's job to grow him. We need to be careful to let newbees to God, grow at His rate - - I'm wondering if Elisha heard God tell him the answer to N's concern; we need to listen too -- maybe we'll hear the correct answers if we LISTEN!
Finally -- Gehazi! What were you thinking! After all the evidences of how God told/showed E what was going on behind the scenes -- did you really think you could sneekafy your greed?? a - Linda? Maybe you should take note -- God reads your heart too! Just be honest and full of integrity, ok?
I read it this a.m. waiting for my car to get worked on but wasn't able to post. I too liked the 3rd captain's attitude of humility.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I wish there were more recorded about the conversations God had with His prophets. Things seemed pretty cut and dried back then and all of a sudden you come up on Elisha's response to Namaan about worshipping with his master in the idol temple. I agree with what you said about that.
There were a ton of things to comment on but you got a lot of them. Will see if I get up early enough to get a comment in tomorrow morning. :)
Psalms 78 is a great walk through memory lane. It's something I need to do often with my own life so I don't whine and complain so easily. Just remember how God has personally been involved in my liberation. How He continually provides for my every need and even supplies my want. If He "turned against" His chosen people, because they refused to be grateful and trusting, how can I expect anything different when I'm behaving the same?
ReplyDeleteThen I read in JC again about how God is training me to be thankful, to look at things from His perspective definitely helps me to be thankful. Remembering His blessings and how He's led in my life as 78 does for Israel also aids me.
Now I just need to practice it!
The one thought that jumped out at me yesterday in Psalms (kind of a lamenty day -- so not my favorite Psalm read) was that God is mindful that I am human, frail and fleeting. Crazy that I don't always realize that; I'm frail - unable to mentally, physically or spiritually handle life - - I need Him as my strength and guidance. That I'm fleeting; life is short - focus on what is important - my relationship with my Creator and other people. Thank You God for understanding little me. Help me to understand little me.
ReplyDeleteToday: Wisdom makes herself obvious and available. She stands at the highest place, she is at the crossroads, she even prepares a feast and invites - - it's our choice to either ignore or pay attention to her.
I love the thought that the Eternal created Wisdom before time - was right there when He created the world (thinking of the Shack - where Lady Wisdom was an actual being -- it could be!) "I was especially pleased with humanity" this makes me think that us, humanity - was Lady Wisdom's destination, passion and task.
"Dare to be Wise" hmmmm if people are making fun of you for a wise decision - you're probably on the right track! "whoever carefully seeks me in everyday things and delays action until my way is apparent, that one will find true happiness" SO important not to jump into big decisions. Instead this simple question, "what is the wise thing to do" can save us from heartbreak and/or frustration. Take the time to be wise
"if you mock what you don't understand, you alone will suffer the consequences" You (and I'm talking me here) have no one to blame but yourself (myself) if you (I) don't acquire wisdom in the areas that you are (I am) weak and confused.
My reading in JC took me to James 2-4 "Don’t run from tests and hardships, brothers and sisters. 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."
ReplyDeleteDJ 106
ReplyDeleteAs you give yourself more and more to a life of constant communion with Me, you will find that you simply have no time for worry . . .your best strategy is to sop focusing on this problem and put your energy into communicating more with Me!
In the times I have used the above mentioned strategy -- I have found that it does calm me down:)
I wonder how many Jews and Samaritans made up the 10 lepers. Seems like boundaries go down when we're all in the same boat. Too bad we tend more toward the Pharisee vs Publican attitude when everything is fine. Thankfulness is very eye opening, very heart opening.
ReplyDeleteDiscernment can be used for judgment and criticizing or it can be used for healing if people are open to it. It is also used to avoid pitfalls, physically and spiritually. A very handy weapon to have in spiritual warfare as well.
I tend toward the judgmental/criticizing because I'm human & it's a natural, downward progression. But, God showed me yesterday the latter is more important. Jesus had incredible discernment, but never used it against anyone. He was always for them. Even if it meant being silent because they weren't open to the truth.
I think that was why He didn't commit to men. He discerned at a very deep level, the true heart of men.
If the kingdom of God came with public displays that would attract followers, then what kind of followers would they be? Then kingdom of God comes through His people, through our words and actions. Sometimes those are public displays, just like Jesus healed and cast out satan. But with Jesus, it was all about His Father's purpose and glory. I tend to want to draw the attention to myself. God is still scraping away at that layer. It has to go for the Kingdom of God to shine uninhibited through me.
Oh, and the rich young ruler - when Jesus said to sell all he had and give to the poor, He didn't say it would run out. But that's what we, including the ruler, tend to think. We just can't out give God. As we are generous, God is generous. It's a matter of trusting Him to provide what I really need.
Trust is just so important!
God does everything He can to work with us. Jesus' words "it's not like you need a huge amount of faith" flies in the face of what I feel I've osmosed from other Christians - that I need to be a faith giant. But God will work with whatever we bring to the table (Like the dad that says, Lord, I believe - help my unbielf)
ReplyDeleteHis illustration of how we should live toward God: "We're servants, unworthy of extra consideration or thanks; we're just doing our duty" seems to be played out in the next real-life miracle of the 10 lepers (well the 1 leper anyway - - who was so grateful, and willing to give the credit and the glory to God - acknowledging and worshiping God aaaaand - adding to that gratitude! Jesus capped the lesson off for all of us, reminding us that it was again the 'faith' that was the springboard to God working!
Jesus reminds us at the beginning and the end of this reading that 'even a little faith can accomplish the seemingly impossible' and what is humanly impossible is possible with God'
Love how the blind man shouts even louder for Jesus' mercy when people tell him to be quiet -- I can imagine that Jesus smiled:) and the blind man asked for something humanly impossible - - again, the springboard; faith