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God Loves, Corrects & Keeps His Promises

Thursday, February 27, 2014

God Loves, Corrects, And Keeps His Promises

As I was reading Jeremiah I found myself starting to skip over sections. I would be reading a certain section, and think to myself, "Oh, I have already read this!" Have you ever found yourself doing that? I mean let's face it, the Bible does repeat itself again and again. But, as I was starting to skip over these sections I thought to myself that GOD put everything in the Bible for a reason, and HE put it in there that many times, so what then, is GOD trying to teach us by repeating HIMSELF again and again.

I believe that GOD is trying to teach us a couple of lessons when we read about the fall of Jerusalem.

First, would be GOD's unending Love, Grace, Mercy, and Patience. Those are 4 pretty deep words, aren't they? Something that we will never understand fully here on earth. GOD has so much love for us that we could sin again and again and again, and HE would forgive us and love us just the same. The other by-products of GOD's great love for us, is HIS grace; giving us what we do not deserve. And HIS mercy; not giving us what we do deserve. The bottom line...... there is nothing that we can not do to, to make GOD not love us, HE just does. Unconditional LOVE.

In my past, I have thought that GOD loves me so much, and I know HE is going to forgive me, so why don't I just keep on sinning, because after all I know that HE will keep forgiving me, right? Well, there are two thoughts that come to mind, first as we grow in Christ, and our relationship grows in Christ, we grow in obedience to HIM. We do not want to sin, we want to make HIM proud of us. It is kind of like the relationship of a father/son or mentor/student. You want your father to be proud of you.

Related Post: Gods Promises To You

Second, we can learn from the fall of Jerusalem, sin comes with consequences. Yes, GOD loves us, but HE will correct us when we sin. The most important thing to GOD is our relationship to HIM, and sometimes it can be a painful road back to HIM, as Jerusalem found out.

The third lesson from the fall of Jerusalem, is that whatever GOD says is going to happen, will! Whatever GOD says in HIS Bible will happen. If GOD says that HE will provide for you, HE will. If HE says that HE will always be with you, HE will. HE does not go back on HIS word (The Bible) so hold those truths close to your heart, live by them, they are GOD's promises to YOU. Now for Jerusalem it was not good what GOD promised, but it did happen. I know that we can learn from their mistakes!

Jeremiah 52:4-7

And in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came with all his army against Jerusalem, and laid siege to it. And they built siegeworks all around it. So the city was besieged till the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land. Then a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war fled and went out from the city by night by the way of a gate between the two walls, by the king's garden, while the Chaldeans were around the city. And they went in the direction of the Arabah.

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Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Do You Learn From Your Past?

Do you learn from your past? When you make a mistake are you able to look at it honestly and admit that you did make a mistake, learn, and move on? If we honestly look at ourselves we do not like to admit when we are wrong, it feels better to be right than wrong.

But, here is the problem, if we can not admit when we are wrong, we will repeat the same mistake or sin over and over again. We will never learn from our mistakes.

This is what was happening to the people of Judah. They could not and did not want to learn from their mistakes, even when a prophet from GOD called them on it. They were to the point in verse 16 where they flat out refused to listen, and said "We will not listen to you". They were so stuck in the sin, they had lost sight of GOD.

That is the next dangerous step of not learning from our mistakes. We become disillusioned, we start to believe what we want to believe. We drift farther and farther from GOD and the real truth, into satan's lies and deceit. I have been in this place and it is a sad place to be where your lies become the truth.

The people of Judah were so far from GOD they actually believed that when they were serving the queen of heaven they had better times, now all they have seen was famine and everything they did not have anymore. They could not see that these bad times were due to their sinful ways.

Learn to learn from your mistakes quickly. When you sin be quick to repent, and learn what caused you to sin. How could you avoid it in the future, what steps could you take to not sin again....... learn from your mistakes.

Related Blog: Does Your Past Dicate Your Future?

Jeremiah 44:9-10, 15-18

Have you forgotten the evil of your fathers, the evil of the kings of Judah, the evil of their wives, your own evil, and the evil of your wives, which they committed in the land of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?

They have not humbled themselves even to this day, nor have they feared, nor walked in my law and my statutes that I set before you and before your fathers.

Then all the men who knew that their wives had made offerings to other gods, and all the women who stood by, a great assembly, all the people who lived in Pathros in the land of Egypt, answered Jeremiah: As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we will not listen to you.

But we will do everything that we have vowed, make offerings to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her, as we did, both we and our fathers, our kings and our officials, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we had plenty of food, and prospered, and saw no disaster.

But since we left off making offerings to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been consumed by the sword and by famine."

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Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Are You Excited To Be A Christian?

Focus Scripture

13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings!

Your incense is detestable to me.

New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations-

I cannot bear your evil assemblies.

14 Your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts

my soul hates.

They have become a burden to me;

I am weary of bearing them.

15 When you spread out your hands in prayer,

I will hide my eyes from you;

even if you offer many prayers,

I will not listen.

Your hands are full of blood;

16 wash and make yourselves clean.

Take your evil deeds

out of my sight!

Stop doing wrong,

17 learn to do right!

Seek justice,

encourage the oppressed.

Defend the cause of the fatherless,

plead the case of the widow.

Thought for the Day

When you read this, you might think to yourself that this was written long ago for the people of Israel. But was it? Can't you see GOD saying this to our culture? I cannot bear your corrupt churches. When you spread your hand out in prayer, I will not listen. Your hands are full of gossip, lies, jealously, and hatred. Sounds like verses that could apply to 8 out of our 10 dying churches in America.

It is so easy to get in a routine. It is easy to loose sight of Jesus' vision for us. We live in a world where we are stretched out everyday. We have to constantly fight what society is tell us. Watch out for #1 or maybe, It is a dog eat dog world. It is easy to let satan in the middle of our church and let him start to pick it apart bit by bit. Soon, after fighting all this, you may find yourself going through the actions, church and worship become empty and meaningless.

I believe that we all need to do a heart check every month or so. Make sure that we are still excited, if not, what will make you excited? Are you just going through the motions at church? If so, what will make you become more involved?

Are you letting personal feeling; jealousy, anger, and bitterness interfere with your relationships at church? If so, what will it take for YOU to mend them? I am sure that you could come up with a few of you own. I know that I can.

So, when was your last heart check, how did you score?

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Monday, January 13, 2014

Are You A Toxic Christian?

Are You TOXIC?

Kim and I were out running errands a couple of days ago. While we were driving we passed a church, with a large sign on the front of it. I looked at it quickly, then I had to do a double take to actually read the sign. When I actually saw what the sign said, my heart was broken and angered at the same time. Here is what this LARGE sign said that was smack in the front of the church.

NO SKATEBOARDING

NO ROLLERBLADES

NO BICYCLES

I do now know why they did not say:

NO KIDS

NO FUN

GO AWAY

This is a subject that GOD has laid dear to my heart; Toxic Christianity & Toxic Churches. Do you know that it has been said that 8 out of 10 churches are dead or dying? How sad is that? There used to be a time that Christianity was the religion of choice. When a person wanted to search for GOD, they would have tried a Christian Church. But that is not the case today. Christianity is just a choice among many religions and gods.

We had one of our good friends prove this. Her daughter went through a shooting at a shopping mall, as you could imagine she was very shaken up. So she went searching for something....... she had a Buddhist saying tattooed on her back. The comment of her parents is that they were glad she found some god and religion. With the statement like the one above, no wonder she found accepting Buddhists.

Some of our churches have become toxic. They are so focused on them and looking inward, that they have totally missed Jesus' last command. They are more concerned with looking good, what type of music fits ME, and not accepting people that are not like them or that would fit into their church mold. What our culture is boiling down to is our Christian Churches do not carry the weight it used to, WE have to carry that weight. We have to be shinning examples of Jesus love and acceptance. Who did Jesus hang out with? The pretty, religious people? Or the lost, hurting, ugly, prostitutes?

You might be saying "What can I do"? Hopefully you are involved in a church that is carrying out Acts 29. One good gauge is to look at your baptisms, do you have them regularly? If not can you remember the last one you had? WE have to be the example of Christianity, church or no church, we need to reach out to the lost, the kids, and hurting of our culture. OK, OK, OK.... I could go on and on.

I believe that you are going to see a shift in our churches in the future. I think that you will see more mini missions going out into the people, instead of waiting for the people to come to them. One good example is a link that Donna sent me yesterday. It is Skate Disciples. A father and son mission to reach the young skateboarders. This is an awesome example of reaching out to a certain group of people that are lost and mislead, showing Christs' love and acceptance. Awesome job guys! So, where are you on the toxic meter?

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Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Is A Little Sin OK With God?

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Insight Into Scripture - 2 Kings 24-25

Today we finish with 2 Kings, and we do not finish on a happy note. The last chapter of Kings tells of the fall of Jerusalem.Blinding as cruel as it sounds was a common treatment of rebellious slaves (25:7)

Bringing the Bible Alive

It is a sad day, God had enough. In chapter 25 it describes how God let Jerusalem be taken over by her enemies. This is an overhead view of the city of David.

While I was looking for pictures I found a life size model of Moses's Tabernacle. It is located in Timna Park in Israel.

Scripture Reading

In the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month-- that was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon--Nebuzaradan, the captain of the bodyguard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. And he burned the house of the LORD and the king's house and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned down. 2 Kings 25:8-9

And the king of Babylon struck them down and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was taken into exile out of its land. - 2 Kings 25:8-9, 21

Think n Grow

As we started the book of 2 Kings we read about Elijah being carried away to

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heaven. Today we read about Judah being carried away as slaves, God had enough. Between those two events we read about many bad kings who did evil before the LORD. We also read of a few very good ones, whose hearts were dedicated to the LORD.

2 Kings is a good example of what happens when we make a decision not to follow GOD. Back then they had man made images; idols, that they served and put before God. Today we still have man made idols that we serve and place before GOD. An idol is anything that you place before GOD.

The people back then became mixed up with the wrong alliances, today we may let our friends and the media influence our decisions. The Law of Moses was tucked away in the temple; forgotten. Today, do we make time to read HIS Word or is it forgotten?

Every sin that lead Jerusalem to be taken over by her enemies, can be committed today. Those little sins lead God to turn HIS back on Jerusalem. Today our little sins will lead building a wall between us and GOD. We make the choice to move out of GOD's blessing to where HE allows our enemies to take over us.

We may fail, like the people of Israel and Judah, but GOD will never fail. HE promises to forgive us and help us if we turn our heart's back to HIM. As we will read in the book of Ezra, this is what happens to Judah and Israel. Have you fallen out of GOD's blessings and need to get straight with HIM again? Search Books on Sin.

Closing Prayer

Dear Jesus

Father thank You for the promise that You are always there, no matter what. Father I pray that I can break any walls down that hold me from You. I pray that You will help me to always be ahead of those walls and never let them block the Son. Father I pray as this week comes close to the end that You will carry me along to grow closer to You and to be a bright shining ray of Hope for Your people.

I love You and I pray in Your Name, Amen.
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Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Which One Of Your gods Are You Spending Time With?

Which god Are You Worshipping?

Insight Into Scripture - 1 King 14-15

Right after King Solomon's death Israel is stuck in a constant cycle of sin. The chapters today are no exception, the cycle keeps on going around. Asherah was a goddess. It is sad, but if you do a search for Asherah Poles on google, our culture still worships her (14:23). (Do not search if you are not firmly planted in Christ) Wiping out a predecessor's family seems extremely harsh, and it is. It was a way of eliminating all future claimants to the throne. (15:29)

This picture is the Elah Valley. This strategic city was wisely fortified by Rehoboam who we are reading about (14:21). This valley was famous for another battle; David and Goliath. This is the brook that David took the stones from that ended Goliath's life. I would LOVE to visit that brook and take home a couple of stones! The picture is from Bibleplaces.com

Scripture Reading

But you have done evil above all who were before you and have gone and made for yourself other gods and metal images, provoking me to anger, and have cast me behind your back.

And Judah did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins that they committed, more than all that their fathers had done. And he walked in all the sins that his father did before him, and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father.

Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin which he made Israel to sin. - 1 Kings 14:9, 22, 15:3, 25-26 ESV

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Think n Grow

Sin is evil and contagious. Once you accept that little sin it is much easier to accept a larger one, then a larger one, then a larger one, the cycle keeps going on and on, till you are DEEP into sin. I am sure that if someone had told King David that he would commit adultery and murder, he might tell you that you were crazy. King David's sin started with just a little look, the look turned into lust, the lust gave birth to action. King David was so stuck in sin it took his friend Nathan to show him what he was doing. Sin has almost a numbing effect on us.

As followers of Christ, we must stay close to Jesus. We need to watch how we are spending our time. In ancient times they did not have TV's, cell phones, or internet, there is so much that consumes our time these days. In ancient times they made their gods, we already have them made for us. As you are reading these chapters, nothing angers GOD more than having a "god" before Him that we worship.

To stay clear of sin and live a life that pleases GOD we have to spend time with HIM. If you are not putting down that other god and giving the Living GOD priority of your time, sin is lurking around the corner to pounce on you. Which one of your gods have you spent the most time with this week?

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Closing Prayer

Dear Jesus

Thank You Father for Your daily teachings. I pray that I will continue to read, Your word and that You will help me to see the words pop out at me and teach me to be like You. Father I know this is a HUGE stretch, but I want to try everyday to be less like me, and only with Your help can I do that.

I love You and I pray in Your Name, Amen.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Are You Tempted by satan?

Where Do You Turn When You Are Tempted By satan?

Jesus Is Tempted By satan

Insight Into Scripture - 2 Samuel 23-24

The list of 30 men in chapter 23 were a special group that had attached themselves to David. They served as a "Special Forces" group.

Taking census was a practical measure utilized by governments. But these census were not appreciated by the people. It usually lead to tax levies as well as forced labor and military services. (24:1-7)

The angel afflicting the people (24:16) was the same terminology used for the destroying angel in the Passover.

A threshing floor (24:24) was a place where grain was threshed. Usually clay soil was packed to a hard smooth surface. Sheaves of grain were spread out on the floor then trampled by oxen. Fans or shovels were used to separate the chaff.

David Built An Altar To God

In verse 24:18 the Bible states how David built an altar to GOD and sacrificed oxen for his disobedience. GOD was pleased with David's sacrifice and stopped the plague on Israel.

Scripture Reading

Again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, "Go, number Israel and Judah." So the king said to Joab, the commander of the army, who was with him, "Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and number the people, that I may know the number of the people." But Joab said to the king, "May the LORD your God add to the people a hundred times as many as they are, while the eyes of my lord the king still see it, but why does my lord the king delight in this thing?" But the king's word prevailed against Joab and the commanders of the army. So Joab and the commanders of the army went out from the presence of the king to number the people of Israel.

But David's heart struck him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the LORD, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O LORD, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly." - 2 Samuel 24:1-4, 10 ESV

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Think n Grow

This story is a good example of pride, faith, God's mercy. See 1 Chronicles 21:1-17 for more insight to this story.

The story starts out by David being tempted by satan. Maybe satan played with David's pride, or maybe satan used fear to tempt David to take the census. Whatever it was David lost the connection with GOD and gave into the temptation. What do you do when you are tempted by satan? See Book on Temptation.

It was wrong for David to take the census. Israel was at peace so there was no need to enlist the troops. Joab knew this census was wrong. He even tried to call David on it, but David, being the anointed king, had the final say and Joab respected him. When you are struggling with a decision you must make, are you open to others opinions or are you closed minded? GOD may put someone in your life to be HIS voice, are you listening?

David, being true to his character felt guilty about his decision, desired to make peace with GOD, admitted his sin, and accepted GOD's judgement. When you have sinned, are you quick to ask forgiveness and humbly accept any consequences given?

In closing I saw one point that I thought I would share with you. GOD gave David his punishment after he had confessed his sin, not before. Maybe GOD wanted David to confess first, and see if David was truly sorry by his acceptance of the punishment. I hope this story of David helped you see events happening in your life. See Books on Overcoming Sin.

Closing Prayer

Dear Jesus

Thank You Lord for this awesome moon and star that are glistening through my window, as if You are saying good night. Father thank You for the time we get to share together, I pray that I can use it wisely. Father I pray that You help me realize my sins, and confess them with an open heart. Thank You for loving me so much.

In Jesus' name I pray,

Amen.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

What Do You Do After You SIn?

What Do You Do After You Sin?

Jesus Forgives You

Insight Into Scripture - 2 Samuel 21-22

Famine or plagues was often looked upon as a sign of divine disapproval or wrath. (21:1) The Philistine's spear weighed 300 shekels which is equivalent to 7 1/2 lbs. Half the weight of Goliath's. (21:16)

Deformities were the object of intense curiosity and speculation in the ancient world.

The next four chapters are an appendix to the book. They are not presented in any chronological order. The story in chapter 21 happened at our present time. Barley harvest was late April. Today, represents the month of Lyyar in the Jewish Calendar.

Gath

This is a picture of Gath. It was the Philistine city where David's brother; Shimeah, killed a "Huge man" with 6 fingers and 6 toes. This is also the famous site where David struck down Goliath.I have often thought when one of the writers of the Bible made light of a certain feature of a person, it must have made an impression on them.

These photos are taken from Bibleplaces.com

Scripture Reading

"And now, O Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord GOD, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever." - 2 Samuel 7:28- 29 ESV

Think n Grow

I really enjoy studying the profiles of great Biblical Characters. It helps me realize that these "Great" men and women of the Bible were just as human as you and I. They made their mistakes and successes and the Bible makes no effort to hide them. I find by looking at their personalities it gives me hope. As we are getting ready to close with Samuel, I have put together a couple of notes for King David.

When I think of King David, I think of a man who loved God with all of his heart. He was a great leader full of grace, mercy, and the peace that can only be found of a life in God.

Let God Mold You

David's Weakness and Mistakes:

Committed Adultery

Committed Murder by Arranging the Death of Uriah

Disobeyed God in taking a Census of the People (Coming chapters) Weak Father, He Did Not Take Care of His Children's Problems

David's Strengths and Success:

Greatest King of Israel

Christ's Ancestor

Described as a Man after GOD's own Heart (Acts 13:22)

Life Lessons:

David had a willingness to admit when he had sinned. He did not try and hide, deny, or try to scapegoat out of the sin. Even when Nathan called David on his sin, David was quick to admit it, and to ask forgiveness from God. He was also sincere when asking for forgiveness.

Sin, and forgiveness of sin does not exclude the consequences. When David sinned even though he was "A man after GOD's own heart" and was sincere about his sin, David still had to deal with the consequences of his disobedience.

I know that God loves and desires our worship and trust. Many times David's life hung in the balance. I am sure at times the only thing that he could rely on was God and HIS deliverance. David also worshiped God with all of his heart. Nothing stood in between he and God. Remember when he was talking to Michal, he told her that he would even be more foolish for God. (6:16-23). Search For Books on David

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Closing Prayer

Dear Jesus

God is good, all the time. Thank You Father for this day, for my Divine appointments and the beauty of my family around me. I pray that I can learn from my consequences, that I can have a deeper heart for You everyday and that I can learn to be less sinful. Father I know that I am not or ever will be perfect, but I want to be more like You and less like me.

I love You Jesus, and I pray in Your heavenly Name,

Amen.

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Friday, September 13, 2013

Are You Exalted In Gods Eyes?

Pride is a hard emotion to keep in check in today's world. Being a servant and humble is almost looked down upon as weak..........

Do You Struggle With Pride?

Insight Into Scripture

When the Old Testament speaks of "The land devouring people" (18:8) it is indicating a hostile, inhospitable environment.

Ten Shekel and a warrior's belt (18:11) would be one year's worth of pay and a distinctive article of clothing.

The javelin used to strike Absalom would have been a blunt rod. The heart section that the Bible refers to would have been Absalom's chest area. (18:14)

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This is a picture of Absalom's monument. You can find the story of the death of Absalom in 2 Samuel 18:18 "Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself the pillar that is in the King's Valley, for he said, "I have no son to keep my name in remembrance." He called the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom's monument to this day."

The tomb is known today as Yad Avshalom (Avshalom's Monument) and is located in the Kidron Valley in Jerusalem, situated between the Temple Mount and Mount of Olives.

A custom that the people of Jerusalem had for centuries is that they used to come to this monument with their children and stone it, to show children what happens to sons who disobey their parents.

Absalom & His Hair

Scripture Reading

And Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great terebinth, and his head caught fast in the oak, and he was suspended between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on. And a certain man saw it and told Joab, "Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak."

Joab said, "I will not waste time like this with you." And he took three javelins in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak. And ten young men, Joab's armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him and killed him.

Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the troops came back from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained them. And they took Absalom and threw him into a great pit in the forest and raised over him a very great heap of stones. And all Israel fled every one to his own home. - 2 Samuel 18:9-10, 14-17