Paul says all his teaching has one goal, one destination in 1:5 "...a place where self-giving love reigns from a pure heart, a clean conscience, and a genuine faith."
Only achievable after giving not just my heart, but my current life and future into God's hands. My heart is easier to give than my future, but really, if I haven't given Him my current life/future, then do I really have either? Not really.
Paul was changed right in the middle of his campaign to wipe our Christianity. What a miracle! So shocking that even the believers didn't believe it was possible. How they reacted is how we react today when miracles happen. We're very skeptic. I don't want to miss what the HS is doing around me. I want to be in the middle of it. So again, I have to surrender - every little thing, EVERY, little thing.
Paul urges us to pray, that's where the power and the changes come from. Not from our ideas/agendas, but from God.
O WOW Chris -- I had highlighted those 2 texts to comment on too! I love it when I experience the "place where self-giving love reigns" what a rarity - but oh so sweet.
And yes -- I want to make my default prayer; simply going right there in the middle of concern, confusion, fear, anxiety, celebration -- I want to go to that place.
I sat on this awhile 1:2 "grace, mercy, and peace that come only from God . . . mark your life." I want to soak in grace and mercy -- realizing that those 2 gifts from God lead to a thankful heart and peace. If I don't experience grace and mercy, I won't experience peace -- rather; I'll be swimming in plotting, planning, striving, greed, comparisons -- yuck and double yuck
It is encouraging to know that Paul still grieved over his past; yet he realized that God was merciful because he acted in ignorance. I am so ashamed of ignorant moves and motives I have had -- thank you God for pouring Your grace over me (that line sounds like it could be set to music) I love the word picture of the grace pouring over me, like an anointing of oil.
I also like the thought (and I experienced it this morning) of Men (and women, the same goes for you) reach your holy hands to heaven -- without rage or conflict -- completely open.
I think it pours, falls, soaks -- it's a waterfall, and God wants me right under it feeling the pounding, exploding power of that liquid grace (pretty poetic this morning, I know)
OK -- on to Numbers; not too much, but a few things
Loved the wording of 1:4 "Your leadership team" that sounds pretty contemporary!
3:38 Moses, Aaron, and Aaron's sons camped in a special area by the tent (wonder whatever happened to Moses' 2 boys and Zippora) anyway -- if an outsider trespassed in this area, he would be killed; so apparently, peeps had to wait for Moses to step outside his tent area to talk to him, or Aaron or the sons. Another thing I found interesting was in 3:47, The 5 shekels for the extra peeps were given as a substitute price to Aaron and his sons. Today, that might be looked on as some kind of unfair situation - - that the leadership was making money off a religious taxation - - 47,775 pounds of metal -- wonder where they stored it? Just some stuff I don't understand, but I don't really need to understand it, if God said "do it this way", well -- that's what you do! But glad the people didn't accuse M and A of making up these dictates.
Lot of sea-cow skins used to cover stuff. I think this is referring to manatees; guess I didn't realize manatees were over in the middle east.
Finally, 8,580 peeps -- each had a job specified by the Eternal One and dictated through Moses. That makes J to B seem like a cake walk!
Spent time in different Psalms today as Chronicles didn't hold much for me. What I read tied in beautifully with 2 songs that I listened to while working out. Does Psalms mean songs?
Sometimes God's "loving provision" (23:6) isn't soft,gentle and cuddly because true Love is determined to save, at any cost. to Himself or me.
So here's a couple of lyric lines from the songs that spoke to me this morning.
You’d think I’d know by now Who’s running the show And what really matters. But I keep picking a fight. With “letting go” And keep getting hammered
It’s a knock down. Drag out. Oh and I am face down. For the count. And I’m reminded. I’m not the one in control. "You Know Better" by MercyMe
It doesn’t take much For me to shed a tear And you have done so many things To make me cry Whenever I think Of all that I’ve done wrong And everything that you have done To make it right
Sometimes I wonder why you even love me And why you ever chose to call me child Then I remember It’s by your sacrifice I can say that I am yours and you are mine "You Are Mine" by Third Day
I don't want to be like the horse or mule that has to be led about with a hook in it's nose (man-made rules). I want to be led by the Spirit, which means remembering Who's in control and just living in this moment right now that I've been given. (32:8-9)
I'm so thankful Lord that You "lifted and carried away the guilt of my sin" (32:5).
"Holy Spirit, think through me, live through me, love through me"
"The more you collaborate with the Spirit, the freer you become: free to live exuberantly (for me - that does not include sliding down Adams!! LOL), to love extravagantly, to know Me in ever-increasing intimacy"
Chewing on these words -- I want to digest and absorb them; I want so badly for them to become who I am!!!!
Read Psalms about praise/worship of God. Read other portions of Scripture and in JC. It came back full circle when I read, by mistake mind you, 34:9. "Revere the Eternal, you His saints, for those who worship Him will possess everything important in life." I was supposed to read v 19, but didn't see the 1 in front of the 9.
I like the reminder though of laying at His feet in worship, open hands, open heart in surrender. That is the way I make room for the HS, for God's Will, not mine. Then I do possess every Thing important because God lives in me. Like Ps 23 says, "I have all that I need".
I like the reminder that we are puny in our lifespan compared to the everlasting God; "while lesser kings come and go, God is"
ALL credit goes to the Eternal -- that's a good one to remember! and lest we look on God as a buddy; please remember that He is adorned in holiness, lay awestruck before Him - - Not only is He an intimate friend, who knows everything about me, yet loves me through that -- HE IS GOD!
"Righteousness and justice are the bedrock of HIs rule -- who wouldn't want a leader like that??
AND YEAH! the JOY of worship! "Let your joy explode into song and praise" not to be outdone, "Let the sea rumble and roar, and all the creatures it holds shout praise" and besides humans and sealife, "the mountains join in joyful song" and why, why, WHY?
A lot of good stuff in Proverbs today: zip the lips; listen - especially to instruction; don't cosign for anyone, no matter how well you may know them; and very descriptive verses about what constitutes a fool.
Oh and the verse about grandchildren and parents...I get the first part because usually people are all happy about their kids having kids (for assorted reasons, mind you) but the last part of that verse I don't think we, as a society, share. Most of us are ashamed of our parents, well, maybe more when we're teenagers and think we know it all instead of them.
I don't think our culture honors the grey head as much as others do, that's for sure.
Love how Prov 17 talks about peace - - it is priceless
Good point about the parents typically not the pride of their children - - it is a sad truth
Those who forgive faults foster love, but those who repeatedly recall them ruin relationships. And that recalling can be verbal, but also in the mind - - you can't foster love if your mind keeps going back to the wrongs done to you.
Don't pick fights - walk away; in most cases, it's not worth dying over. But - in the cases where it IS worth dying for -- do you hang in there and enter the tunnel of chaos or, do you walk away?
John is SO full of a beautiful picture of Jesus -- after we finish in Dec; I want to go back and sit at the table with John in a more slow manner; simply trying to see Jesus through his eyes.
Anyway -- I was thinking about the stormy sees; how Jesus said "I am the One" and "the next thing they knew, they were ashore at their destination" I couldn't help thinking this might be a bit of an illustration of our little lives here on earth -- filled with stormy sees, but with Him in the boat -- the next thing we know - we are at the destination (heaven YAY!)
Paul says all his teaching has one goal, one destination in 1:5 "...a place where self-giving love reigns from a pure heart, a clean conscience, and a genuine faith."
ReplyDeleteOnly achievable after giving not just my heart, but my current life and future into God's hands. My heart is easier to give than my future, but really, if I haven't given Him my current life/future, then do I really have either? Not really.
Paul was changed right in the middle of his campaign to wipe our Christianity. What a miracle! So shocking that even the believers didn't believe it was possible. How they reacted is how we react today when miracles happen. We're very skeptic. I don't want to miss what the HS is doing around me. I want to be in the middle of it. So again, I have to surrender - every little thing, EVERY, little thing.
Paul urges us to pray, that's where the power and the changes come from. Not from our ideas/agendas, but from God.
O WOW Chris -- I had highlighted those 2 texts to comment on too! I love it when I experience the "place where self-giving love reigns" what a rarity - but oh so sweet.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes -- I want to make my default prayer; simply going right there in the middle of concern, confusion, fear, anxiety, celebration -- I want to go to that place.
I sat on this awhile 1:2 "grace, mercy, and peace that come only from God . . . mark your life." I want to soak in grace and mercy -- realizing that those 2 gifts from God lead to a thankful heart and peace. If I don't experience grace and mercy, I won't experience peace -- rather; I'll be swimming in plotting, planning, striving, greed, comparisons -- yuck and double yuck
It is encouraging to know that Paul still grieved over his past; yet he realized that God was merciful because he acted in ignorance. I am so ashamed of ignorant moves and motives I have had -- thank you God for pouring Your grace over me (that line sounds like it could be set to music) I love the word picture of the grace pouring over me, like an anointing of oil.
I also like the thought (and I experienced it this morning) of Men (and women, the same goes for you) reach your holy hands to heaven -- without rage or conflict -- completely open.
Hallelujah, grace like rain, pours down on me...sing it every Thursday as practice. It was a subliminal plant! ha ha
DeleteOops, guess it's falls down on me, not pours.
DeleteI think it pours, falls, soaks -- it's a waterfall, and God wants me right under it feeling the pounding, exploding power of that liquid grace (pretty poetic this morning, I know)
ReplyDeleteOK -- on to Numbers; not too much, but a few things
Loved the wording of 1:4 "Your leadership team" that sounds pretty contemporary!
3:38 Moses, Aaron, and Aaron's sons camped in a special area by the tent (wonder whatever happened to Moses' 2 boys and Zippora) anyway -- if an outsider trespassed in this area, he would be killed; so apparently, peeps had to wait for Moses to step outside his tent area to talk to him, or Aaron or the sons. Another thing I found interesting was in 3:47, The 5 shekels for the extra peeps were given as a substitute price to Aaron and his sons. Today, that might be looked on as some kind of unfair situation - - that the leadership was making money off a religious taxation - - 47,775 pounds of metal -- wonder where they stored it? Just some stuff I don't understand, but I don't really need to understand it, if God said "do it this way", well -- that's what you do! But glad the people didn't accuse M and A of making up these dictates.
Lot of sea-cow skins used to cover stuff. I think this is referring to manatees; guess I didn't realize manatees were over in the middle east.
Finally, 8,580 peeps -- each had a job specified by the Eternal One and dictated through Moses. That makes J to B seem like a cake walk!
Spent time in different Psalms today as Chronicles didn't hold much for me. What I read tied in beautifully with 2 songs that I listened to while working out. Does Psalms mean songs?
ReplyDeleteSometimes God's "loving provision" (23:6) isn't soft,gentle and cuddly because true Love is determined to save, at any cost. to Himself or me.
So here's a couple of lyric lines from the songs that spoke to me this morning.
You’d think I’d know by now
Who’s running the show
And what really matters.
But I keep picking a fight.
With “letting go”
And keep getting hammered
It’s a knock down.
Drag out.
Oh and I am face down.
For the count.
And I’m reminded.
I’m not the one in control. "You Know Better" by MercyMe
It doesn’t take much
For me to shed a tear
And you have done so many things
To make me cry
Whenever I think
Of all that I’ve done wrong
And everything that you have done
To make it right
Sometimes I wonder why you even love me
And why you ever chose to call me child
Then I remember
It’s by your sacrifice
I can say that
I am yours and you are mine "You Are Mine" by Third Day
I don't want to be like the horse or mule that has to be led about with a hook in it's nose (man-made rules). I want to be led by the Spirit, which means remembering Who's in control and just living in this moment right now that I've been given. (32:8-9)
I'm so thankful Lord that You "lifted and carried away the guilt of my sin" (32:5).
DJ 114,5
ReplyDelete"Holy Spirit, think through me, live through me, love through me"
"The more you collaborate with the Spirit, the freer you become: free to live exuberantly (for me - that does not include sliding down Adams!! LOL), to love extravagantly, to know Me in ever-increasing intimacy"
Chewing on these words -- I want to digest and absorb them; I want so badly for them to become who I am!!!!
Those are good words from DJ.
ReplyDeleteRead Psalms about praise/worship of God. Read other portions of Scripture and in JC. It came back full circle when I read, by mistake mind you, 34:9. "Revere the Eternal, you His saints, for those who worship Him will possess everything important in life." I was supposed to read v 19, but didn't see the 1 in front of the 9.
I like the reminder though of laying at His feet in worship, open hands, open heart in surrender. That is the way I make room for the HS, for God's Will, not mine. Then I do possess every Thing important because God lives in me. Like Ps 23 says, "I have all that I need".
I like the reminder that we are puny in our lifespan compared to the everlasting God; "while lesser kings come and go, God is"
ReplyDeleteALL credit goes to the Eternal -- that's a good one to remember! and lest we look on God as a buddy; please remember that He is adorned in holiness, lay awestruck before Him - - Not only is He an intimate friend, who knows everything about me, yet loves me through that -- HE IS GOD!
"Righteousness and justice are the bedrock of HIs rule -- who wouldn't want a leader like that??
AND YEAH! the JOY of worship! "Let your joy explode into song and praise" not to be outdone, "Let the sea rumble and roar, and all the creatures it holds shout praise" and besides humans and sealife, "the mountains join in joyful song" and why, why, WHY?
He is coming! He is coming!!
A lot of good stuff in Proverbs today: zip the lips; listen - especially to instruction; don't cosign for anyone, no matter how well you may know them; and very descriptive verses about what constitutes a fool.
ReplyDeleteOh and the verse about grandchildren and parents...I get the first part because usually people are all happy about their kids having kids (for assorted reasons, mind you) but the last part of that verse I don't think we, as a society, share. Most of us are ashamed of our parents, well, maybe more when we're teenagers and think we know it all instead of them.
I don't think our culture honors the grey head as much as others do, that's for sure.
Love how Prov 17 talks about peace - - it is priceless
ReplyDeleteGood point about the parents typically not the pride of their children - - it is a sad truth
Those who forgive faults foster love, but those who repeatedly recall them ruin relationships. And that recalling can be verbal, but also in the mind - - you can't foster love if your mind keeps going back to the wrongs done to you.
Don't pick fights - walk away; in most cases, it's not worth dying over. But - in the cases where it IS worth dying for -- do you hang in there and enter the tunnel of chaos or, do you walk away?
True friends -- as priceless as peace!
John is SO full of a beautiful picture of Jesus -- after we finish in Dec; I want to go back and sit at the table with John in a more slow manner; simply trying to see Jesus through his eyes.
ReplyDeleteAnyway -- I was thinking about the stormy sees; how Jesus said "I am the One" and "the next thing they knew, they were ashore at their destination" I couldn't help thinking this might be a bit of an illustration of our little lives here on earth -- filled with stormy sees, but with Him in the boat -- the next thing we know - we are at the destination (heaven YAY!)