I read the assigned reading this morning! Shocking I know. Of course, I don't want to be Balaam, who does? The commentary said that his type of prophesy came through animal sacrifices. I don't know that I really get that or like it. He is an odd duck. BUT, again, God can use anyone for His purpose. His will can not be thwarted. That should give me encouragement. What really stood out to me was the donkey. Not just the fact that he talked, but what he didn't say when given the opportunity. He didn't defend himself and tell Balaam that he had saved his life. He had every right to do so! He simply said what his job was - to carry Balaam, to serve him. I thought that was interesting. He let God defend him through the Angel Messenger. Basically, the donkey asked 3 questions. He made no statements about himself. He let God make them for Him. Wow and wow. I need so much more humility. Probably why I am where I am.
Nothing from the reading today for me. Went to Ps 34. Was thinking a lot on verses 17-19: "When the upright need help and cry to the Eternal, He hears their cries and rescues them from all of their troubles. When someone is hurting or brokenhearted, the Eternal moves in close and revives him in his pain. Hard times may well be the plight of the righteous—they may often seem overwhelmed—but the Eternal rescues the righteous from what oppresses them."
God can do this in a real tangible deliverance OR by His Presence with the individual. The right don't always get delivered, but it seems, with the accounts we have in the Bible, that God revealed Himself to His people and comforted them. With that type of comfort, who fears the first death? Just means the next thing I see will be His face!
I can enjoy His Presence now, even though I may be overwhelmed. It's my choice, here and now. Forgot about that last week, but refocusing on that this week.
112:7-9 "Nothing will ever rattle them; the just will always be remembered. They will not be afraid when the news is bad because they have resolved to trust in the Eternal. Their hearts are confident, and they are fearless, for they expect to see their enemies defeated."
Resolved to trust in the Eternal. What is my decision now when it's peaceful and easy? If I trust Him now, it will make it easier to trust Him when things heat up. Nothing will rattle me. Work in progress.
111:2 "The works of the Eternal are many and wondrous! They are examined by all who delight in them."
I love sitting and pondering God's creation, especially when I'm in it. Even simple things give me lessons of His dealings with me, His love, His majesty, about Him! This is also true of His work in people's lives. True miracles how He changes stone hard, dead hearts for soft, alive, responsive ones. Thank you Jesus!
proverbs 25:2 stumped me. I checked other versions. One said it's God's privilege to conceal things (NLT), others say it's His glory to conceal things, or He delights in concealing them. Kings delight in discovering them.
I can see where God would delight when we set off on a treasure hunt to "find" Him or more about Him. He says we will find Him when we seek with all out heart. Not half-hearted seeking. We have seen in history where He has hidden truths from people at certain times because either they weren't ready for it or He had other things that needed to happen first.
All goes back to spending time listening to God for YOU and not anyone else. Developing your special and unique relationship with God - even if others don't get it or make fun of you, criticize where He's leading you. If you have that foundation of knowing His voice to YOU, then who cares what mere men say?
Catching up!! Weird week; did more reading in DJ and no posting; but I did read/ponder your posts Chris:)
So the proverbs "God's glory is shown when He conceals things" I was wondering if that matched up with the advice a few verses later that says "remember never to reveal another person's secrets" and I was thinking about how much He knows about me, but doesn't reveal -- that protects me, but also protects His reputation (verse 10), showing Him to be trustworthy, loving and compassionate.
Psalms this week was FULL of good wisdom! Speaking of good wisdom, it clearly says that the first step toward wisdom is reverence for Him. I love baby steps (thinking of how simple DR plan is) God's plan is simple too, we just make it hard.
Just going to sit on two promise-verses from 112: "When life is dark, a light will shine for those who live rightly" and "Good comes to all who are gracious and share freely; they conduct their affairs with sound judgment. Nothing will ever rattle them" Who doesn't want THAT peace in their lives -- in the tough times:) Sweet peace!
John -- the man who loves Jesus and wants desperately for us to love Him too!
I was struck with Pilot's terror at the rabid-ness of the Jews. He was convinced that Jesus was set up, innocent; but terrified when he heard to claim of "Son of God' Why would he be terrified, unless he believed it could be true - why would he attempt to release Jesus unless he believed it. You can tell he was sick of the Jews when he refused to change the sign and gave His body to someone who cared - - he must have been a tortured man the rest of his life; but Jesus loved him; even said that others were more guilty - Jesus loved him.
I loved the commentator's thoughts on who was at the foot of the cross; Jesus' mother, John and other believers (sad that Jesus' brothers weren't there) anyway - "For those who are gathered at the foot of the cross (applies today too), family is less about blood kinship than it is about covenant obedience"
I love how Mary was the first one to the grave and the last one to leave -- what a passion and love she shows.
There is a contrast between John and Thomas. John believed because of the evidence (20:8) faith began to well up inside him. Thomas refuses to let the evidence convince him - - I think he let pride stop his faith; that's very me - - but Jesus still honored Thomas's needs, yet encouraged him to what true faith looked like.
So Peter along with the rest of the disciples didn't know what to do next in their lives (I'm relating) Peter threw out an option (fishing), he was the first to hop in the boat, but when Jesus appears, he's the first to leave the boat. Reminds me Chris of what you said the other day -- throw out an option and if it's not supposed to be, He'll make that clear.
Re-affirming again (daily) to keep my eyes on Him and not be looking at other people's story (21:22)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I will probably read John tomorrow as I didn't necessarily "read" a written book this weekend. I read a ton of nature and did a lot of walk n talks with God. A lot of worship. Very humbling.
I read the assigned reading this morning! Shocking I know.
ReplyDeleteOf course, I don't want to be Balaam, who does? The commentary said that his type of prophesy came through animal sacrifices. I don't know that I really get that or like it. He is an odd duck. BUT, again, God can use anyone for His purpose. His will can not be thwarted. That should give me encouragement.
What really stood out to me was the donkey. Not just the fact that he talked, but what he didn't say when given the opportunity. He didn't defend himself and tell Balaam that he had saved his life. He had every right to do so! He simply said what his job was - to carry Balaam, to serve him. I thought that was interesting. He let God defend him through the Angel Messenger. Basically, the donkey asked 3 questions. He made no statements about himself. He let God make them for Him. Wow and wow. I need so much more humility. Probably why I am where I am.
Nothing from the reading today for me. Went to Ps 34. Was thinking a lot on verses 17-19:
ReplyDelete"When the upright need help and cry to the Eternal, He hears their cries and rescues them from all of their troubles. When someone is hurting or brokenhearted, the Eternal moves in close and revives him in his pain. Hard times may well be the plight of the righteous—they may often seem overwhelmed—but the Eternal rescues the righteous from what oppresses them."
God can do this in a real tangible deliverance OR by His Presence with the individual. The right don't always get delivered, but it seems, with the accounts we have in the Bible, that God revealed Himself to His people and comforted them. With that type of comfort, who fears the first death? Just means the next thing I see will be His face!
I can enjoy His Presence now, even though I may be overwhelmed. It's my choice, here and now. Forgot about that last week, but refocusing on that this week.
112:7-9 "Nothing will ever rattle them; the just will always be remembered. They will not be afraid when the news is bad because they have resolved to trust in the Eternal. Their hearts are confident, and they are fearless, for they expect to see their enemies defeated."
ReplyDeleteResolved to trust in the Eternal. What is my decision now when it's peaceful and easy? If I trust Him now, it will make it easier to trust Him when things heat up. Nothing will rattle me. Work in progress.
111:2 "The works of the Eternal are many and wondrous! They are examined by all who delight in them."
I love sitting and pondering God's creation, especially when I'm in it. Even simple things give me lessons of His dealings with me, His love, His majesty, about Him! This is also true of His work in people's lives. True miracles how He changes stone hard, dead hearts for soft, alive, responsive ones.
Thank you Jesus!
proverbs 25:2 stumped me. I checked other versions. One said it's God's privilege to conceal things (NLT), others say it's His glory to conceal things, or He delights in concealing them. Kings delight in discovering them.
ReplyDeleteI can see where God would delight when we set off on a treasure hunt to "find" Him or more about Him. He says we will find Him when we seek with all out heart. Not half-hearted seeking. We have seen in history where He has hidden truths from people at certain times because either they weren't ready for it or He had other things that needed to happen first.
All goes back to spending time listening to God for YOU and not anyone else. Developing your special and unique relationship with God - even if others don't get it or make fun of you, criticize where He's leading you. If you have that foundation of knowing His voice to YOU, then who cares what mere men say?
Catching up!! Weird week; did more reading in DJ and no posting; but I did read/ponder your posts Chris:)
ReplyDeleteSo the proverbs "God's glory is shown when He conceals things" I was wondering if that matched up with the advice a few verses later that says "remember never to reveal another person's secrets" and I was thinking about how much He knows about me, but doesn't reveal -- that protects me, but also protects His reputation (verse 10), showing Him to be trustworthy, loving and compassionate.
Psalms this week was FULL of good wisdom! Speaking of good wisdom, it clearly says that the first step toward wisdom is reverence for Him. I love baby steps (thinking of how simple DR plan is) God's plan is simple too, we just make it hard.
Just going to sit on two promise-verses from 112: "When life is dark, a light will shine for those who live rightly" and "Good comes to all who are gracious and share freely; they conduct their affairs with sound judgment. Nothing will ever rattle them" Who doesn't want THAT peace in their lives -- in the tough times:) Sweet peace!
John -- the man who loves Jesus and wants desperately for us to love Him too!
ReplyDeleteI was struck with Pilot's terror at the rabid-ness of the Jews. He was convinced that Jesus was set up, innocent; but terrified when he heard to claim of "Son of God' Why would he be terrified, unless he believed it could be true - why would he attempt to release Jesus unless he believed it. You can tell he was sick of the Jews when he refused to change the sign and gave His body to someone who cared - - he must have been a tortured man the rest of his life; but Jesus loved him; even said that others were more guilty - Jesus loved him.
I loved the commentator's thoughts on who was at the foot of the cross; Jesus' mother, John and other believers (sad that Jesus' brothers weren't there) anyway - "For those who are gathered at the foot of the cross (applies today too), family is less about blood kinship than it is about covenant obedience"
I love how Mary was the first one to the grave and the last one to leave -- what a passion and love she shows.
There is a contrast between John and Thomas. John believed because of the evidence (20:8) faith began to well up inside him. Thomas refuses to let the evidence convince him - - I think he let pride stop his faith; that's very me - - but Jesus still honored Thomas's needs, yet encouraged him to what true faith looked like.
So Peter along with the rest of the disciples didn't know what to do next in their lives (I'm relating) Peter threw out an option (fishing), he was the first to hop in the boat, but when Jesus appears, he's the first to leave the boat. Reminds me Chris of what you said the other day -- throw out an option and if it's not supposed to be, He'll make that clear.
Re-affirming again (daily) to keep my eyes on Him and not be looking at other people's story (21:22)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I will probably read John tomorrow as I didn't necessarily "read" a written book this weekend. I read a ton of nature and did a lot of walk n talks with God. A lot of worship. Very humbling.
ReplyDelete