Slow Down - Psalm 106-107 Listen to Psalm 106-107
Insight Into Scripture
Happy Friday the 13th. How did the day; Friday the 13th get such a bad rap? I know that any day in the LORD is a good day!
Today, we start into the last book of the Psalms; Book 5. These include chapters 107-150. Psalm 106 is an interesting historical Psalm. It is sort of an inside look into Moses and how GOD delivered HIS people out of Egypt. The writer almost made a joke of how the people made a golden calf Psalm 106:19-20 . The other insight is how the Hebrews were so into sin they sacrificed their children Psalm 106:36-37
Psalm 107:8-9, 43
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men
for he satisfies the thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.
Whoever is wise, let him heed these things
and consider the great love of the LORD.
Listen to Psalm 107
Thought for the Day
Yesterday, our devotional was about free will. Today's devotional could be called Free Will Part 2. It is a continued thought from yesterday. These thoughts are from my heart ,so in no way are these a law, but hopefully they might help us see things from a different light.
As we spoke yesterday, in Genesis, GOD created the heavens and earth Genesis 2:2-3 . GOD FINISHED HIS work and it was good. GOD gave us everything that we needed to live with HIM. Notice that GOD on the 8th day did not create airplanes, cars, spaceships, guns, bombs, knifes, swords, chemicals..... the list could just go on and on.
I believe that if GOD had wanted us to have these things, HE would have given them to us in the beginning. GOD gave us everything we needed to have a fruitful life in HIM. GOD intended life to be like this from the beginning. In fact if you remember that GOD was extremely disappointed with us that HE was set to destroy all mankind...... until Noah and GOD's grace and mercy came into play, and GOD "Started Over" with Noah and family.
Humanity has a problem. We are never satisfied with what we have, we always want more, plus humanity desires to be GOD, then throw in our free will that GOD gave us and you have bad situations that we ask, "Why GOD?". Here is an example, if GOD gave us everything we needed in the beginning, then GOD did not intend for us to fly. But, we, wanting to be more like GOD and wanting more, build this huge metal shell, put engines on it, and hurl it though space.
One time this metal shell with engines crashes into the earth killing everyone on board. So, we become angry at GOD and say, "How could you let this happen?" GOD looks down on us and says, "I never intended you to fly in the first place, it was your free will that chose to create such a machine. Your machines are not perfect and are going to fail, I am the only thing that is perfect."
Free will is a double edged sword. We want to have our free will, but when something bad happens we do not want to take the responsibility for the choices of that free will. It will make your brain hurt if you think about it for too long. :) I know what it is like driving across country, our planes are a wonderful invention. But, I find myself as I am getting older, desiring a more pure life with Christ. I find myself taking my free will out of it, and replacing it with HIS. Would I want to go back to the way it was with Adam and Eve........ honestly yes. Have a Blessed Weekend!! - Jim
Bible Trivia
What four things did Jesus say "Thou shalt love the Lord they GOD with all thy"?
Hint: Mark 12:30
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Reading Schedule
Saturday, July 14th Reading - Psalm 108-118
Sunday, July 15th Reading - Psalm 119
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Have a Blessed Weekend!!
What an awesome teaching yesterday and today on freewill. I do have to say todays thought was exceptional.
ReplyDeleteThere is something about when I start to think on the freewill that God has allowed us to have, brings up a overwhelming LOVE sensation for HIM.
Some 30 years ago I bagan to understand this LOVE in a very tangible way. As my children grew and when I had done something special for them and they turned and hugged my neck and said Love you and thanks, it was so great but then came that time where just a look was exchanged between us and they ran to me with a hug and maybe a kiss on the check then came those sensational words "I LOVE YOU". These came out of nothing at that moment just straight pure from their heart for me being there. Now I know that both instances were sincere and from their heart but that unsolicted one just swelled my heart and still will today as those same children are now 34 and 31 with children of their own. Those grandchildren are now performing the same work.
I know that this is the same in our relationship with God, He loves to hear those words of I LOVE YOU, at anytime they are from the heart but when we tell HIM just because HE is our FATHER, I cann't help but feel that is extra special to him.
OK OK OK not sure how much of the above dealt with freewill but I sense that my Love of the freewill and the pureness in it had something to do with it.
Close with emphasizing again ENJOYED YOU THOUGHT, JIM.
IN CHRIST
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Donna
Thanks Donna,
ReplyDeleteYes, it is love.... and it is really hard to describe this feeling. But, it is an overwhelming sense of LOVE!
Bible Trivia:
ReplyDeleteWhat four things did Jesus say "Thou shalt love the Lord they GOD with all thy"?
ANSWER: heart, mind, strength and soul.
Mark 12:30
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
AGRANNY3'S a THINKING DUCK:
In this verse we can see that Jehovah is very desireous to have a definite, real, strong and impactful relationship with us and wants us to have the same in return toward Him. We see this cause all action found in the verse comes from us.
Now to look at what He ask us to love Him with? Four things are listed:
1. HEART: Many times people try to associate the SOUL AND HEART together or treat as the same and in some cases it can be but not here. The heart is set apart here from the mind and soul. The heart here is showing sincerity of the thoughts and feelings in other words, us being upright or true-hearted, as opposed to being hypocritical or divided in our affection.
2. SOUL: Our soul is designed to command our emotional nature: It allows us to put feeling or warmth into our affection that we give to God.
3. MIND: This says that we even have to apply our intellectual nature: To put intelligence into our affection, we don't have to be devoted to Jehovah blindly, He wants us to have knowledge of why we are devoted to HIM.
Number 3 here can cancel out what I said yeserday about the MIND but only if our mind is planted upon affections and Love of God.
4. STRENGTH: We are to put energy of intense might in our affection(Ec 9:10).
These four things together, whis remember is a command, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy powers: with a sincere, ferverence, an intelligent, an energetic love."
SUMMERY:
Also "with all thy heart: with perfect sincerity, with all thy soul: with the utmost fervor, with all thy mind: in the fullest of enlightened knowledge and reasoning, and with all thy strength: with the whole energy of our being!
One last point we can tie this into our Freewill that Jim was talking about. Even though it is a command God does not force us to comply He allows us to give as we desire.
Psalm 40:8
I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart."
Romans 8:5
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
IN CHRIST
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Donna
Deuteronomy 6:5
Matthew 22:37
Romans 6:12
Romans 9:16
Galatians 5:17, 24
Just something to read:
ReplyDeleteThe Obstacle in Our Path
In ancient times, a king had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it.
Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the big stone out of the way.
Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. On
approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. As the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he
noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.
The peasant learned what many others never understand. Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve one's condition.
IN CHRIST
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Donna
I want to let a couple of folks know that God has placed you on this granny's heart here in Alabama. I hope you don't mind if I call you by the names I know. Val, Bobby and I bet a wonderful son Jon Jon, oh I have one of those but later he was Johnathon then now at 31 John. The other is you momontherun. This is not to call attention to me but all to our Father above, cause I am just a vessel he knows he can use. I want you and any one else know that God loves you no matter what the problem is that is trying to convince you differently. I know for this past week each of you have felt a varring emotions and have had an inward struggle that was stronger than usuall. All of this goes into the fact that God will use the nature of man to get our attention when we have gotten so comfortable in whatever state we are in an God is wanting to move us on.
ReplyDeleteWell, Bobby, Val, Jon Jon and Momontherun God has laid a deep burden on my heart nd spirit for each of you and I will continue to prayer by His direction and stand in the Gap as long as my Father uses me.
On the personal side. This is Saturday morning and up getting ready to head to the country for horse show. Not sure if we will get it in or not for the 3rd week due to rain and we are not complaining because of how badly we need the rain. It is just hard to get all that it takes ready to run now 3 horses in 6 or 7 events and then have to just turn around and unload. We also are not getting in practice time and with a newly trained barrel horse this is needed. I would appreciate prayer agreement for a show tonight and that horses and riders ride well and safe.
I will close with something I found that is light hearted but a neat way to explain: Ephesians 2:9
HEAVEN'S ENTRANCE EXAM
A man dies and goes to heaven. Of course, St. Peter meets him at the Pearly Gates. St. Peter says, 'Here's how it works. You need 100 points to make it into heaven. You tell me all the good things you've done, and I give you a certain number of points for each item, depending on how good it was. When you reach 100 points, you get in.'
'Okay,' the man says, 'I was married to the same woman for 50 years and never cheated on her, even in my heart.'
'That's wonderful,' says St. Peter, 'that's worth three points!'
'Three points?' he says. 'Well, I attended church all my life and supported its ministry with my tithe and service.'
'Terrific!' says St. Peter. 'That's certainly worth a point.'
'One point?!!' 'I started a soup kitchen in my city and worked in a shelter for homeless veterans.'
'Fantastic, that's good for two more points,' he says.
'Two points!' the man cries. 'At this rate the only way I get into heaven is by the grace of God.
'Bingo, 100 points! Come on in!'
In Christ
Donna Hullett
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