I was thinking about this favorite hymn today, and pondering whether most people really give thought to the words or truly know what it means. I had sung and heard the song a million times and never truly knew what it meant until salvation. So here is my attempt at disecting the song.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound.
Before salvation I new what grace was in the wordly sense of the word. I didn't know that we were all condemned to hell and that we were all deserving to go there. I thought the majority of people by right deserved heaven. Now I know we have all fallen short of the glory of God. None of us have earned the right to go there. That Christ paid for our sins in the most gruesome way in a way that I would have never paid for my sin. He didn't have to pay for it. That we have done awful awful sins against him, more than anyone has done against us. We aren't deserving of this free gift of heaven and all of eternity with him. Now that is grace, that we can still have a relationship with him despite our iniquities.
To save a wretch like me.
If you ask the average person they might say that they think they are a "good person." That they have lived a pretty good life. But what is good? How do you gauge that? At least for the majority being good. Is that like 51% good and 49% bad or better. When you stop to think of all of the ways you have sinned you will realize we are BAD people. Have you ever sped, then you have put lives in danger? Ever used the Lord's name in vain? Ever lusted after someone you are not married? Ever become angry and reacted harshly out of that anger? Ever turned your ear or eye against those who needed help? Did you invite the homeless guy to your house for dinner or did you judge that he wouldn't be safe to bring home? Ever ignorantly bought consumer items that have led to the oppression of women and children in a foreign land? Ever taken your health for granted by not eating properly or exercising?
These are just a few ways of the thousands of ways we sin everyday. We aren't always aware of our sin, but to stay in the dark about it and refusing to become aware is sin too. Don't beat yourself up over it, but we are all wretches.
I once was lost, but now am found.
Christ continually pursues us and knocks at the door of our hearts. He looks for us and finds us to bring us to him.
I once was aimlessly lost in this world living my life according to what the world's values are. I didn't take the time to see how the Lord's Word measured up to these values.
Was blind, but now I see.
I used to think this was a song about the writer losing his sight and regaining it.
When you gain your Godly sight you begin to wonder why you thought as you previously thought. It no longer makes sense your former way of thinking.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Day of Fasting
So as I continue to reflect on Psalms 35 one of its verses jumped out at me yesterday that I had previously paid no attention: I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting.
I don't know what will come of yesterday. My boss seemed to continue to try to set up snares for me. Snares in which I previously didn't escape, but never stepped into to begin with. A person in such a position, using their power in dishonest ways, has blown me away. Leaving me dumbfounded!
So today I spent the day fasting. No internet, except for this blog and one item of business. I can easily be online all day checking my email, Facebooking, looking up questions that I have, catching up on the show I missed the other night, paying bills, managing my finances, etc. When I get offline I can easily become distracted, thinking I wanted to look this up too. Today I spent time in prayer, reviewed several bible verses I have memorized over the past year, spent time in 2 Samuel, listened to a couple sermons, and read a couple chapters in a book on fear. Doing what I can to stay spiritually invested with God today! I have not called anyone today, but have answered to those who have called me. No responding to email either until dusk. Keeping myself as unpolluted from the world as possible today, as my song PURE from yesterday goes, "You're all I need!" May the Lord strengthen my heart.
I spent the day praying about my past job and my future job. My recruiter called today and my application was put out to a couple more places today. May the result of this day produce mighty things!
I don't know what will come of yesterday. My boss seemed to continue to try to set up snares for me. Snares in which I previously didn't escape, but never stepped into to begin with. A person in such a position, using their power in dishonest ways, has blown me away. Leaving me dumbfounded!
So today I spent the day fasting. No internet, except for this blog and one item of business. I can easily be online all day checking my email, Facebooking, looking up questions that I have, catching up on the show I missed the other night, paying bills, managing my finances, etc. When I get offline I can easily become distracted, thinking I wanted to look this up too. Today I spent time in prayer, reviewed several bible verses I have memorized over the past year, spent time in 2 Samuel, listened to a couple sermons, and read a couple chapters in a book on fear. Doing what I can to stay spiritually invested with God today! I have not called anyone today, but have answered to those who have called me. No responding to email either until dusk. Keeping myself as unpolluted from the world as possible today, as my song PURE from yesterday goes, "You're all I need!" May the Lord strengthen my heart.
I spent the day praying about my past job and my future job. My recruiter called today and my application was put out to a couple more places today. May the result of this day produce mighty things!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Pure heart and mind=Unsurpassing Joy
The past 5 weeks has been a time of great peace and freedom for me. Losing a job suddenly without any warning has been more than stressful for most in this economy. For me it was a day of singing endless praises. The timing of it couldn't be better. I knew it was part of God's bigger plan!
I have wanted to leave this whole job and that stressful experience behind, but I know God put me in that position to see justice done. Losing my job unjustly, inwhich my coworkers and former coworkers have defended me. The absolute pettiness of it all seems so unreal. I can't help but reflect on Psalms 35 over and over again, and my prayer that God will entangle the one who set out the net for me.
Today has been a much dreaded day for me having to come face to face with my enemy again. I could have ran and left this job behind. Usually I let go of upsetting events after they happen. I hate the face of confrontation. It makes me nervous. This however has been the first time in my life that I have stood up against the enemy and went head on. To pursue what is right and know that nothing worse could come out of it is liberating. Everything lately is stressors I am usually passive about. I usually put off opening up mail that I think might have stressful content or return dreaded phone calls last minute. I stress myself out over the stress that I anticipate. However as the letters have come rolling in from the unemployment office I open them as soon as they are out of the mailbox. I missed a phone call from the Human Resources department to schedule a hearing, and I called back as soon as I finished my meal. As soon as my email came through on my grievance process I read it right away. I've been proactive about everything. I feel as if I am gaining strength in my own life towards the things that I think may hurt me.
I was scared throughout the week as Tuesday morning approached, but not concentrating on it to not stress myself out. I thought on Monday night the stress would have caught up with me and get depressed. I didn't. I thought when I woke up this morning my heart would start palpating. It didn't. As I commuted to the HR hearing I listened to Pure by Gateway Worship as message after message on my phone came through from people praying for me. Tears came to my eyes and I felt an extreme sense of joy, and there was the calm before the storm.
In my mind I started to thinking that I had forgot my taperecorder at home to anonymously record the conversation, since I wasn't allowed to have representation there. I started brainstorming that I could use the recorder on my Blackberry. I thought "Yeah, that's what I'll do!" But then the Lord spoke to me, "I am your advocate!" Then 2 lines from Hosanna by Hillsong came to my mind. "Heal my heart and make me clean! Open my eyes to the things unseen!" Throughout this whole process I have gone over my disciplinary action write up over and over in my mind. The Lord continually has realized the inconsistencies in the write up. My mind has been unclear on some events that happened, because I never expected them to come up again. Last night I was reminded of the true course of events. The open up my eyes to things unseen prayer has been answered as these inconsistencies are brought to light by my family, friends, and myself. My prayer for this morning was to notice these if more came up during the hearing. As I was devising schemes in my head and mind, the Lord was telling me to speak clean from my heart. Being truthful in the past with these people has only got me into more trouble. I've learned honesty is NOT always the best policy. As I continued on my commute I was thinking, "Okay, how am I going to use this mic on my phone?" Then my mind had to be redirected AGAIN, "I am your advocate!" Satan was trying to take a hold of my mind, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you!" James 4:7
When I got to the meeting I was calm until I was forced to sit in this tiny little waiting room with my boss and assistant boss. Very ackward situation and I got very nervous. I spoke the truth. I got a little tongue twisted in the things that I was uncertain of. When questioned, there were issues my bosses were uncertain of the facts that they had documented in my write up. My fear was they would try to bring up extraneous unrelated events and make me look like the bad guy, which they did. One event was something that I had been innocent in. However write ups occur even on day you know you are having a horribly busy day. Still there is no grace. When I went to address the issue, the HR consultant said I didn't need to explain, because I wasn't there to argue that event.
My only hope is going to be that HE is everything! Everything I need (in these circumstances)! Everything I want (everything I want to happen out of these circumstances)! Everything my heart cries out for!
http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwNTsyUuefs
I have wanted to leave this whole job and that stressful experience behind, but I know God put me in that position to see justice done. Losing my job unjustly, inwhich my coworkers and former coworkers have defended me. The absolute pettiness of it all seems so unreal. I can't help but reflect on Psalms 35 over and over again, and my prayer that God will entangle the one who set out the net for me.
Today has been a much dreaded day for me having to come face to face with my enemy again. I could have ran and left this job behind. Usually I let go of upsetting events after they happen. I hate the face of confrontation. It makes me nervous. This however has been the first time in my life that I have stood up against the enemy and went head on. To pursue what is right and know that nothing worse could come out of it is liberating. Everything lately is stressors I am usually passive about. I usually put off opening up mail that I think might have stressful content or return dreaded phone calls last minute. I stress myself out over the stress that I anticipate. However as the letters have come rolling in from the unemployment office I open them as soon as they are out of the mailbox. I missed a phone call from the Human Resources department to schedule a hearing, and I called back as soon as I finished my meal. As soon as my email came through on my grievance process I read it right away. I've been proactive about everything. I feel as if I am gaining strength in my own life towards the things that I think may hurt me.
I was scared throughout the week as Tuesday morning approached, but not concentrating on it to not stress myself out. I thought on Monday night the stress would have caught up with me and get depressed. I didn't. I thought when I woke up this morning my heart would start palpating. It didn't. As I commuted to the HR hearing I listened to Pure by Gateway Worship as message after message on my phone came through from people praying for me. Tears came to my eyes and I felt an extreme sense of joy, and there was the calm before the storm.
In my mind I started to thinking that I had forgot my taperecorder at home to anonymously record the conversation, since I wasn't allowed to have representation there. I started brainstorming that I could use the recorder on my Blackberry. I thought "Yeah, that's what I'll do!" But then the Lord spoke to me, "I am your advocate!" Then 2 lines from Hosanna by Hillsong came to my mind. "Heal my heart and make me clean! Open my eyes to the things unseen!" Throughout this whole process I have gone over my disciplinary action write up over and over in my mind. The Lord continually has realized the inconsistencies in the write up. My mind has been unclear on some events that happened, because I never expected them to come up again. Last night I was reminded of the true course of events. The open up my eyes to things unseen prayer has been answered as these inconsistencies are brought to light by my family, friends, and myself. My prayer for this morning was to notice these if more came up during the hearing. As I was devising schemes in my head and mind, the Lord was telling me to speak clean from my heart. Being truthful in the past with these people has only got me into more trouble. I've learned honesty is NOT always the best policy. As I continued on my commute I was thinking, "Okay, how am I going to use this mic on my phone?" Then my mind had to be redirected AGAIN, "I am your advocate!" Satan was trying to take a hold of my mind, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you!" James 4:7
When I got to the meeting I was calm until I was forced to sit in this tiny little waiting room with my boss and assistant boss. Very ackward situation and I got very nervous. I spoke the truth. I got a little tongue twisted in the things that I was uncertain of. When questioned, there were issues my bosses were uncertain of the facts that they had documented in my write up. My fear was they would try to bring up extraneous unrelated events and make me look like the bad guy, which they did. One event was something that I had been innocent in. However write ups occur even on day you know you are having a horribly busy day. Still there is no grace. When I went to address the issue, the HR consultant said I didn't need to explain, because I wasn't there to argue that event.
My only hope is going to be that HE is everything! Everything I need (in these circumstances)! Everything I want (everything I want to happen out of these circumstances)! Everything my heart cries out for!
http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwNTsyUuefs
Monday, April 12, 2010
Biblical Customs
http://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/bofbooks/booksch6.htm
We are generally unfamiliar with many of the manners and customs of the people who lived in the Bible lands of the Middle East and the Mediterranean World. How these people lived, traveled, dressed, farmed, cooked, ate, worked and worshipped sometimes seems very strange to us. We are separated from these people by thousand of miles (the GAP OF DISTANCE) and by thousands of years (the GAP OF TIME).
(GAP OF DISTANCE)--Suppose you were to spend a year abroad--in England, France, Germany or Spain. Do you suppose you would find people living somewhat differently than what you were accustomed to?
(GAP OF TIME)--Suppose you were to enter a time machine and go back 250 years to the time when our country was first being settled. Do you think you would notice some differences in the manner and style of living?
Can you imagine what life would be like without cars, airplanes, tractors, bicycles, television, radios, computers, newspapers, telephones, cell phones, the printing press, refrigerators, soft drinks (soda), fast food restaurants, elevators, wristwatches, disposable diapers, baby bottles and washing machines? Could you survive? In the Bible we read about men and women who had none of these things, and yet they had to communicate, travel, tell time, eat, wash and raise their children just as we do today! They did all these things without any of the "modern conveniences" which we depend upon each day.
In this lesson, we shall consider only three of the hundreds of customs found in the Bible. Many passages of Scripture become alive with meaning when we begin to understand some of the customs which at first seem so strange to our "Western" and modern minds.
1) FOOTWASHING
Men in Bible times did not walk on nicely paved sidewalks, nor did they wear the kind of shoes we wear today. Their feet were clad with sandals and they walked upon dirt roads. Obviously the feet would be exposed to the sand and dust and would become quite dirty. Thus, upon arriving at one’s destination, footwashing became quite necessary.
As you could imagine, this was a menial and lowly task usually done by a servant or slave. In 1 Samuel 25:41, Abigail expressed her humble attitude towards David’s servants when she said, "let thine handmaid be a ________________ to ______________ the _______________ of the servants of my Lord." She was willing to serve the servants! Likewise John the Baptist felt totally unworthy to even stoop down in front of Jesus to unloose His sandal straps (compare Mark 1:7).
We are therefore amazed to read John 13:4-16 and to discover WHO it was that did the footwashing! The Lord of glory humbled Himself and washed the dirty feet of His disciples! Notice carefully verse 10: "He that is _________________ (bathed, meaning that the whole body has had a bath, from head to toe!) needeth not save (except) to _____________ (this word means to wash a certain part of the body, in this case the feet) his _____________ but is _______________ every whit (completely, entirely, every part of his body was washed in the bath).
What custom was Jesus referring to in verse 10? The guest was supposed to bathe before coming to a feast, and so upon arrival only the feet would need to be washed (on the walk from the bath house to the feast room, the feet would become dirty). Knowing this, the spiritual meaning becomes clear. Peter already had his salvation bath (Titus 3:5--"the __________________ of regeneration") and he was CLEAN and WASHED (1 Cor. 6:11); all his sins were completely cleansed and forgiven. But as the believer WALKS in this sinful world, his feet get dirty (1 John 1:8,10), and he must come to Christ for daily cleansing. Christ cannot have any partnership or fellowship with a disciple who has dirty feet (John 13:8)!
Questions:
Which disciple was still filthy and had never had his salvation bath (John 13:10-11)? ___________________
Have you had your salvation bath? ____________
Are you sure? How can you be sure? ("I know so because God said so!")
Will God allow any UNCLEAN person into His Kingdom (Ephesians 5:5; compare John 3:5)? _____
How can a believer get his feet washed (1 John1:9)? _______________________________________________________________
Who does the cleansing (1 John 1:9)? ___________________
2) TEARING (RENDING) CLOTHES
Suppose you go to town one evening with your family to enjoy a meal at a fine restaurant. After enjoying the conversation at the table, you leave the restaurant, get into your car and head towards home. As you approach your street you discover that the road is blocked off, and you can see flashing lights in the distance. You park in a nearby lot and start walking home. In the distance you can see fire engines and you begin to realize that something is seriously wrong. You can see flames shooting up into the night sky. Whose house it is? As you get closer your worst fears are realized as you see your own house burning down and all your possessions going up in flames. IF THIS SITUATION SHOULD EVER ACTUALLY HAPPEN TO YOU, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD DO? If you were living in Bible times you would probably TEAR YOUR CLOTHES!
The tearing or rending of clothes was an outward sign of grief and distress over some disaster or calamity. It was also a sign of deep sorrow and mourning over someone who has died. Sometimes it indicated a holy indignation (righteous ANGER) against sin and what is contrary to God’s Word. To see how this custom was actually carried out in Bible times, match the following:
1. ______ Genesis 37:29
2. ______ Genesis 44:12-13 A. Sign of distress over some calamity or disaster
3. ______ 1 Samuel 4:11-12
4. ______ 2 Samuel 3:30-31 B. Sign of mourning over someone’s death
5. ______ 2 Samuel 13:30-31
6. ______ 2 Kings 18:37 (Jerusalem was about to be invaded by the mighty King of Assyria.) C. Sign of righteous indignation (anger) over sin.
7. ______ 2 Chronicles 34:24-27
8. ______ Ezra 9:3
9. ______ Matthew26:65 (of course, the Lord was not guilty of this sin)
10. ______ Acts 14:14 (the sin of "creature-worship")
Note: The tearing of clothes would usually be done by tearing a slit in the bottom of an item of clothing, not by tearing the entire garment into shreds.
Sometimes people go through the outward signs of grief and sorrow for sin, but there is no true inner repentance or change of heart. It is only an outward show to cover up the true condition of a heart that is not right with God. This is why God said, "and ___________________ your _________________ and not your __________________, and ___________ unto the LORD your God" (Joel 2:13)! Can people today go through the outward motions of honoring God, but not have their hearts right with Him (compare Mark 7:6)? ______ People may be fooled by our outward show, but is God (compare 1 Samuel 16:7)? What is God concerned about most of all, the outward or the inward (Psalm 51:6 16-17)? ______________ If the "inward" is right, will the "outward" be right also (compare Psalm 51:16,17,19)?
3) THE USE OF SALT
In Bible times salt was used in two different ways. First, it was used to season food, which is how we use salt today (although today there are salt substitutes and other flavorings that make food palatable and these options were not available in Bible times). Can something tasteless be eaten without salt (see Job 6:6)? _____ Salt makes food taste good.
It helps to make our meals appetizing and agreeable to the taste (though some of us may tend to use too much!)
There was another use of salt in Bible times which we are less familiar with but which was even more important. In the pre-refrigerator, pre-freezer days, salt was essential in preserving food. Salted foods would not tend to immediately spoil or become corrupt. Salt in food combats deterioration and decay.
In Matthew 5:13, Jesus said to His followers, "Ye are the ____________ of the earth." This world is becoming more and more corrupt and evil (as men and women allow their sinfulness to express itself openly). Yet, in this world there are believers who are constantly combating moral and spiritual decay. When a believer is obedient to God’s Word, his life will help to restrain the forces of evil. When a godly Christian steps into a group of worldly individuals, often the profanity is left unspoken and the off color joke is held back.
A good example of this is found in the Old Testament. Jehoiada was a godly priest who functioned as "salt" during the reign of King Joash. As long as Jehoiada was alive, what did Joash do (2 Chronicles 24:2)? ____________________________________________________________ But after Jehoiada died and the "salt" was gone, we are shocked to see how CORRUPT King Joash became (2 Chronicles 24:15-22).
Consider your own life. Are you helping to corrupt this world or are you combating the corruption? Are you the salt that is preserving or the food that is spoiling? Are others restraining you (parents, pastors, godly Christians) or are you restraining others? If others followed your life and example, would the world be the better for it?
* * * * * *
Can you think of other customs mentioned in the Bible which when understood would help to make the Scriptures more meaningful?
We are generally unfamiliar with many of the manners and customs of the people who lived in the Bible lands of the Middle East and the Mediterranean World. How these people lived, traveled, dressed, farmed, cooked, ate, worked and worshipped sometimes seems very strange to us. We are separated from these people by thousand of miles (the GAP OF DISTANCE) and by thousands of years (the GAP OF TIME).
(GAP OF DISTANCE)--Suppose you were to spend a year abroad--in England, France, Germany or Spain. Do you suppose you would find people living somewhat differently than what you were accustomed to?
(GAP OF TIME)--Suppose you were to enter a time machine and go back 250 years to the time when our country was first being settled. Do you think you would notice some differences in the manner and style of living?
Can you imagine what life would be like without cars, airplanes, tractors, bicycles, television, radios, computers, newspapers, telephones, cell phones, the printing press, refrigerators, soft drinks (soda), fast food restaurants, elevators, wristwatches, disposable diapers, baby bottles and washing machines? Could you survive? In the Bible we read about men and women who had none of these things, and yet they had to communicate, travel, tell time, eat, wash and raise their children just as we do today! They did all these things without any of the "modern conveniences" which we depend upon each day.
In this lesson, we shall consider only three of the hundreds of customs found in the Bible. Many passages of Scripture become alive with meaning when we begin to understand some of the customs which at first seem so strange to our "Western" and modern minds.
1) FOOTWASHING
Men in Bible times did not walk on nicely paved sidewalks, nor did they wear the kind of shoes we wear today. Their feet were clad with sandals and they walked upon dirt roads. Obviously the feet would be exposed to the sand and dust and would become quite dirty. Thus, upon arriving at one’s destination, footwashing became quite necessary.
As you could imagine, this was a menial and lowly task usually done by a servant or slave. In 1 Samuel 25:41, Abigail expressed her humble attitude towards David’s servants when she said, "let thine handmaid be a ________________ to ______________ the _______________ of the servants of my Lord." She was willing to serve the servants! Likewise John the Baptist felt totally unworthy to even stoop down in front of Jesus to unloose His sandal straps (compare Mark 1:7).
We are therefore amazed to read John 13:4-16 and to discover WHO it was that did the footwashing! The Lord of glory humbled Himself and washed the dirty feet of His disciples! Notice carefully verse 10: "He that is _________________ (bathed, meaning that the whole body has had a bath, from head to toe!) needeth not save (except) to _____________ (this word means to wash a certain part of the body, in this case the feet) his _____________ but is _______________ every whit (completely, entirely, every part of his body was washed in the bath).
What custom was Jesus referring to in verse 10? The guest was supposed to bathe before coming to a feast, and so upon arrival only the feet would need to be washed (on the walk from the bath house to the feast room, the feet would become dirty). Knowing this, the spiritual meaning becomes clear. Peter already had his salvation bath (Titus 3:5--"the __________________ of regeneration") and he was CLEAN and WASHED (1 Cor. 6:11); all his sins were completely cleansed and forgiven. But as the believer WALKS in this sinful world, his feet get dirty (1 John 1:8,10), and he must come to Christ for daily cleansing. Christ cannot have any partnership or fellowship with a disciple who has dirty feet (John 13:8)!
Questions:
Which disciple was still filthy and had never had his salvation bath (John 13:10-11)? ___________________
Have you had your salvation bath? ____________
Are you sure? How can you be sure? ("I know so because God said so!")
Will God allow any UNCLEAN person into His Kingdom (Ephesians 5:5; compare John 3:5)? _____
How can a believer get his feet washed (1 John1:9)? _______________________________________________________________
Who does the cleansing (1 John 1:9)? ___________________
2) TEARING (RENDING) CLOTHES
Suppose you go to town one evening with your family to enjoy a meal at a fine restaurant. After enjoying the conversation at the table, you leave the restaurant, get into your car and head towards home. As you approach your street you discover that the road is blocked off, and you can see flashing lights in the distance. You park in a nearby lot and start walking home. In the distance you can see fire engines and you begin to realize that something is seriously wrong. You can see flames shooting up into the night sky. Whose house it is? As you get closer your worst fears are realized as you see your own house burning down and all your possessions going up in flames. IF THIS SITUATION SHOULD EVER ACTUALLY HAPPEN TO YOU, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD DO? If you were living in Bible times you would probably TEAR YOUR CLOTHES!
The tearing or rending of clothes was an outward sign of grief and distress over some disaster or calamity. It was also a sign of deep sorrow and mourning over someone who has died. Sometimes it indicated a holy indignation (righteous ANGER) against sin and what is contrary to God’s Word. To see how this custom was actually carried out in Bible times, match the following:
1. ______ Genesis 37:29
2. ______ Genesis 44:12-13 A. Sign of distress over some calamity or disaster
3. ______ 1 Samuel 4:11-12
4. ______ 2 Samuel 3:30-31 B. Sign of mourning over someone’s death
5. ______ 2 Samuel 13:30-31
6. ______ 2 Kings 18:37 (Jerusalem was about to be invaded by the mighty King of Assyria.) C. Sign of righteous indignation (anger) over sin.
7. ______ 2 Chronicles 34:24-27
8. ______ Ezra 9:3
9. ______ Matthew26:65 (of course, the Lord was not guilty of this sin)
10. ______ Acts 14:14 (the sin of "creature-worship")
Note: The tearing of clothes would usually be done by tearing a slit in the bottom of an item of clothing, not by tearing the entire garment into shreds.
Sometimes people go through the outward signs of grief and sorrow for sin, but there is no true inner repentance or change of heart. It is only an outward show to cover up the true condition of a heart that is not right with God. This is why God said, "and ___________________ your _________________ and not your __________________, and ___________ unto the LORD your God" (Joel 2:13)! Can people today go through the outward motions of honoring God, but not have their hearts right with Him (compare Mark 7:6)? ______ People may be fooled by our outward show, but is God (compare 1 Samuel 16:7)? What is God concerned about most of all, the outward or the inward (Psalm 51:6 16-17)? ______________ If the "inward" is right, will the "outward" be right also (compare Psalm 51:16,17,19)?
3) THE USE OF SALT
In Bible times salt was used in two different ways. First, it was used to season food, which is how we use salt today (although today there are salt substitutes and other flavorings that make food palatable and these options were not available in Bible times). Can something tasteless be eaten without salt (see Job 6:6)? _____ Salt makes food taste good.
It helps to make our meals appetizing and agreeable to the taste (though some of us may tend to use too much!)
There was another use of salt in Bible times which we are less familiar with but which was even more important. In the pre-refrigerator, pre-freezer days, salt was essential in preserving food. Salted foods would not tend to immediately spoil or become corrupt. Salt in food combats deterioration and decay.
In Matthew 5:13, Jesus said to His followers, "Ye are the ____________ of the earth." This world is becoming more and more corrupt and evil (as men and women allow their sinfulness to express itself openly). Yet, in this world there are believers who are constantly combating moral and spiritual decay. When a believer is obedient to God’s Word, his life will help to restrain the forces of evil. When a godly Christian steps into a group of worldly individuals, often the profanity is left unspoken and the off color joke is held back.
A good example of this is found in the Old Testament. Jehoiada was a godly priest who functioned as "salt" during the reign of King Joash. As long as Jehoiada was alive, what did Joash do (2 Chronicles 24:2)? ____________________________________________________________ But after Jehoiada died and the "salt" was gone, we are shocked to see how CORRUPT King Joash became (2 Chronicles 24:15-22).
Consider your own life. Are you helping to corrupt this world or are you combating the corruption? Are you the salt that is preserving or the food that is spoiling? Are others restraining you (parents, pastors, godly Christians) or are you restraining others? If others followed your life and example, would the world be the better for it?
* * * * * *
Can you think of other customs mentioned in the Bible which when understood would help to make the Scriptures more meaningful?
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Match me O'Lord!
Match.com seems to be the main avenue of dating among my Christian friends. To put it bluntly I regard this as lack of faith, desperation, and fear of being alone. Technology has changed vastly over the past 100 years. It has weakened the strength of relationships today, contributing to the divorce rate. Around the turn of the century the automobile came and the accountability of family and friends around during courting. The car made it easier to get away to remote areas with no one around. Then the televison was invented and created this unrealistic phenomena known as romance. How many movies have you seen inwhich sex outside of marriage is not implemented? People compare their marriages to those on the big screen, and when it's less than fairytale people become unhappy. Marriage in the movies is never portrayed as something difficult! It's always right in the movies when the woman leaves her husband for her high school sweetheart. Movies are fantasy! Fantasy doesn't exist!
Now we have this whole internet generation. Lets continue to pursue this whole idea of picture perfect romance. No longer do we need God to put that one unique person in our path. No, there's a whole entire catalog of unique ones. You can choose the person based on looks, education, religion, age, nationality, income, etc. The problem with this is that it doesn't show character! You can be anyone you want to be, including single. 50% of the men on these website are married. What if God wants to compliment us with someone less than ideal to shame our weaknesses?
Trust the Lord when he says in Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Isn't it ironic that you could know someone and not notice or talk to them. Maybe you already know them, and don't consider them a potential. Had you seen them on Match.com first you would have taken the time to get to know them or loved everything about them. Why is it that you don't like a person, but if you met the same person on Match.com you'd have liked everything about them. People want to get to know a person overnight. Slow and steady wins the race. Internet dating seems to expedite the process, then people miss what is important along the way before entering that relationship.
Lets go back to some biblical principles:
Principle #1: Ask her in person.
In Genesis 29 Jacob worked the field for 14 years for Rachel. He knew he loved her, and was a man about it and went to her father to ask for her in marriage. He didn't send her father a letter or someone else, he did it himself in person.
Principle #2: Observe their character.
In Esther 2 Esther was the most spiritually attractive woman and had won the favor and approval of the king above all of the other queen candidates. She was tested by the king and his royal household before marrying her. Shouldn't a person's character be observed before entering a relationship. Get into a relationship with the wrong person and he/she will certainly lead you away from the Lord. A person can act one way online, but how do they act in their interactions with others? I have known men that have gone to their pastors or the people around the woman to ask for references before pursuing the woman.
Principle #3 Everything online is external it gives no indication of the internal state of the heart.
By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Matthew 7:16 Many people that go to church call themselves Christians, but have no relationship with God. Anyone with enough of a church background can sound churchie. We should never consider dating a person before we know where they are at with God. Which leads to Principle #4.
Principle #4 Do not arouse or awaken love until it so pleases. Song of Solomon 2:7
In this century dates are often isolated with one on one time with another. The more time spent with a person, one on one, the more apt you are towards having butterflies and warm fuzzies. To have this happen is arousal. To continue in arousal is to awaken love. To go on a date with a stranger, who potentially has a minimal to no relationship with the Lord, has the potential of arousing emotions. Arousal based on outward appearance and the sense of having many things in common. People tend to be drawn to those who have much incommon with them. What if the one uncommonality was their relationship with God? Christians all to often let this slide. Why put yourself in a position in the first place that may lead you to later chose between God and love for a person? Or enter into a marriage that has a high potential for divorce because the person is not evenly yolked?
As woman we wear panty hose,bras, and the high heels. We experience the monthly menustration, along with the bloatiness, cramps, and fatigue that comes with it. First time sex isn’t exactly a walk in the park. For 9 months we experience the discomforts of carrying children. Then when the little one decides to arrive we labor in pain giving birth. But it doesn’t stop there, there are the discomforts of nursing the child for months after that. Getting up in the middle of the night for feedings. Sooooo if the only thing a man has to endure is to ask us out, then it must be rough!!!!!
I don’t want a coward who has to hide behind his computer screen to get a date with me. If you aren’t secure enough to take the initiative to ask me out in person, then where else will your lack of security lead. I need someone man enough to do this small thing. I need a man to be a man! I don't want a wimp leading me in all of life's major decisions.
Spending time thinking about things that are not of the Lord is a waste of time. The time you spent thinking about your singleness and online dating should be redirected in developing your personal relationship with God and having a more appealing character. Secondly, be invested in your church, volunteering, and places you are most likely to meet Christians. Make the most of your time. Guys don't be wimps, and women don't be desperate! James 4:2 You do not have, because you do not ask God. God has been the ultimate matchmaker for centuries. Trust in him and he is able to do exceedingly above what you ever imagined. He knows the desires of your heart and is not going to leave you high and dry.
I have friends that invest much of their time on these internet sites and I am annoyed by it. For them they seem to think serial dating is the route to go. They ask me, "How do you meet people?" Let me tell you the places I have met men. I met a man working out at the gym, he approached me, and I found out he was a Christian. I went out one night with a friend and a guy approached me, turns out his dad was a Baptist pastor. These 2 men may not have exactly been what I was looking for, but still they were Christians. My last boyfriend I met when I worked with him 11 years ago. He was not saved. He still remembers the first time he met me. When we crossed each others paths all these years later I discovered he was now a full blown Christian. Men approach me all of the time, whether it be the street corner or the coffee shop. As a woman I have the ability to continue on in a conversation with them, enough to gauge whether it should be something to be taken further. I may not have all of the information about them from a Match.com profile, but slow and steady wins the race. I have asked of many men what is the #1 quality you look for in a woman. There has been a broad range of answers, but the man who said to me "a woman that epitomizes a Proverbs 31 woman" exceedingly won me over. I was only looking for one word, "Godliness!" The number one thing on my mind is God. I like to know that it's the number one thing on a man's mind as well. I don't want someone chosing me by the superficial things of this world.
Now we have this whole internet generation. Lets continue to pursue this whole idea of picture perfect romance. No longer do we need God to put that one unique person in our path. No, there's a whole entire catalog of unique ones. You can choose the person based on looks, education, religion, age, nationality, income, etc. The problem with this is that it doesn't show character! You can be anyone you want to be, including single. 50% of the men on these website are married. What if God wants to compliment us with someone less than ideal to shame our weaknesses?
Trust the Lord when he says in Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Isn't it ironic that you could know someone and not notice or talk to them. Maybe you already know them, and don't consider them a potential. Had you seen them on Match.com first you would have taken the time to get to know them or loved everything about them. Why is it that you don't like a person, but if you met the same person on Match.com you'd have liked everything about them. People want to get to know a person overnight. Slow and steady wins the race. Internet dating seems to expedite the process, then people miss what is important along the way before entering that relationship.
Lets go back to some biblical principles:
Principle #1: Ask her in person.
In Genesis 29 Jacob worked the field for 14 years for Rachel. He knew he loved her, and was a man about it and went to her father to ask for her in marriage. He didn't send her father a letter or someone else, he did it himself in person.
Principle #2: Observe their character.
In Esther 2 Esther was the most spiritually attractive woman and had won the favor and approval of the king above all of the other queen candidates. She was tested by the king and his royal household before marrying her. Shouldn't a person's character be observed before entering a relationship. Get into a relationship with the wrong person and he/she will certainly lead you away from the Lord. A person can act one way online, but how do they act in their interactions with others? I have known men that have gone to their pastors or the people around the woman to ask for references before pursuing the woman.
Principle #3 Everything online is external it gives no indication of the internal state of the heart.
By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Matthew 7:16 Many people that go to church call themselves Christians, but have no relationship with God. Anyone with enough of a church background can sound churchie. We should never consider dating a person before we know where they are at with God. Which leads to Principle #4.
Principle #4 Do not arouse or awaken love until it so pleases. Song of Solomon 2:7
In this century dates are often isolated with one on one time with another. The more time spent with a person, one on one, the more apt you are towards having butterflies and warm fuzzies. To have this happen is arousal. To continue in arousal is to awaken love. To go on a date with a stranger, who potentially has a minimal to no relationship with the Lord, has the potential of arousing emotions. Arousal based on outward appearance and the sense of having many things in common. People tend to be drawn to those who have much incommon with them. What if the one uncommonality was their relationship with God? Christians all to often let this slide. Why put yourself in a position in the first place that may lead you to later chose between God and love for a person? Or enter into a marriage that has a high potential for divorce because the person is not evenly yolked?
As woman we wear panty hose,bras, and the high heels. We experience the monthly menustration, along with the bloatiness, cramps, and fatigue that comes with it. First time sex isn’t exactly a walk in the park. For 9 months we experience the discomforts of carrying children. Then when the little one decides to arrive we labor in pain giving birth. But it doesn’t stop there, there are the discomforts of nursing the child for months after that. Getting up in the middle of the night for feedings. Sooooo if the only thing a man has to endure is to ask us out, then it must be rough!!!!!
I don’t want a coward who has to hide behind his computer screen to get a date with me. If you aren’t secure enough to take the initiative to ask me out in person, then where else will your lack of security lead. I need someone man enough to do this small thing. I need a man to be a man! I don't want a wimp leading me in all of life's major decisions.
Spending time thinking about things that are not of the Lord is a waste of time. The time you spent thinking about your singleness and online dating should be redirected in developing your personal relationship with God and having a more appealing character. Secondly, be invested in your church, volunteering, and places you are most likely to meet Christians. Make the most of your time. Guys don't be wimps, and women don't be desperate! James 4:2 You do not have, because you do not ask God. God has been the ultimate matchmaker for centuries. Trust in him and he is able to do exceedingly above what you ever imagined. He knows the desires of your heart and is not going to leave you high and dry.
I have friends that invest much of their time on these internet sites and I am annoyed by it. For them they seem to think serial dating is the route to go. They ask me, "How do you meet people?" Let me tell you the places I have met men. I met a man working out at the gym, he approached me, and I found out he was a Christian. I went out one night with a friend and a guy approached me, turns out his dad was a Baptist pastor. These 2 men may not have exactly been what I was looking for, but still they were Christians. My last boyfriend I met when I worked with him 11 years ago. He was not saved. He still remembers the first time he met me. When we crossed each others paths all these years later I discovered he was now a full blown Christian. Men approach me all of the time, whether it be the street corner or the coffee shop. As a woman I have the ability to continue on in a conversation with them, enough to gauge whether it should be something to be taken further. I may not have all of the information about them from a Match.com profile, but slow and steady wins the race. I have asked of many men what is the #1 quality you look for in a woman. There has been a broad range of answers, but the man who said to me "a woman that epitomizes a Proverbs 31 woman" exceedingly won me over. I was only looking for one word, "Godliness!" The number one thing on my mind is God. I like to know that it's the number one thing on a man's mind as well. I don't want someone chosing me by the superficial things of this world.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Bicycle in the Clouds
Life for me lately has been what would be very stressful for most people. I was stuck in a job that was extremely stressful. I kept thinking I need to change jobs soon, by this summer. 40 hours a week at a torturous job I could not fathom. The Friday before I lost my job, God gave me the permission to "let it go" through a TD Jakes message. The following Tuesday I was going to put in my 2 weeks notice, but I lost my job instead. It was such a huge blessing and relief. My heart was flooded with joy. Stress DID NOT abound. I knew it was completely the Lord blessing me. I know he's allowing me to do what I had set my heart on doing later on this year.
The extra time I have had to myself while waiting for my plans to pull through has allowed me to focus more no my relationship with the Lord. It has allowed me to see his presence in my life more and more on a daily basis. I was working for Satan, and on a daily basis felt the presence of evil.
My friend sent me an email the other day with a message from the Lord to me. She also saw a vision of a bicycle in the clouds. Neither of us know what it means, but I pray the answer will be revealed. I pray that someone will have an interpretation for me.
The extra time I have had to myself while waiting for my plans to pull through has allowed me to focus more no my relationship with the Lord. It has allowed me to see his presence in my life more and more on a daily basis. I was working for Satan, and on a daily basis felt the presence of evil.
My friend sent me an email the other day with a message from the Lord to me. She also saw a vision of a bicycle in the clouds. Neither of us know what it means, but I pray the answer will be revealed. I pray that someone will have an interpretation for me.
Eye Has Not Seen!
I have entitled my blog this, because faith is not something we see tangibly. We walk by faith not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7
Many people don't understand my faith. They think it's an illusion. A figment of my imagination. Only if I could have a video of Jesus performing miracles, but then some would say he was a magician. I could have all the evidence that he is Lord and Saviour that people could see with their own eyes, and people still wouldn't believe it to be true. Faith isn't something that can be seen with our eyes or emotions. One just has to believe. My hope is that through the miracles Christ has performed in my own life others will come to believe.
No one has ever seen God. John 1:18 We all have our imaginations of what he might look like. Is he a human image, does he look like an alien, or a beast of some sort. My picture is representing that no eye has ever seen God!
I may be beautiful in your eyes. I may be ugly. I may have the appearance of being rich. I may have the appearance of being poor. I may look intelligent. I may look stupid. I might look mean. I might look nice. You may judge whether you choose to follow or be influenced by my thoughts based on outward appearance. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 I want the outward visage to have no influence over whether you chose to follow Christ. May God use me as an instrument to influence you powerfully towards believing in Him.
Many people don't understand my faith. They think it's an illusion. A figment of my imagination. Only if I could have a video of Jesus performing miracles, but then some would say he was a magician. I could have all the evidence that he is Lord and Saviour that people could see with their own eyes, and people still wouldn't believe it to be true. Faith isn't something that can be seen with our eyes or emotions. One just has to believe. My hope is that through the miracles Christ has performed in my own life others will come to believe.
No one has ever seen God. John 1:18 We all have our imaginations of what he might look like. Is he a human image, does he look like an alien, or a beast of some sort. My picture is representing that no eye has ever seen God!
I may be beautiful in your eyes. I may be ugly. I may have the appearance of being rich. I may have the appearance of being poor. I may look intelligent. I may look stupid. I might look mean. I might look nice. You may judge whether you choose to follow or be influenced by my thoughts based on outward appearance. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 I want the outward visage to have no influence over whether you chose to follow Christ. May God use me as an instrument to influence you powerfully towards believing in Him.
Friday, April 2, 2010
A Real Life Horror Story!
We have all heard of the account in church of Christ dying on the cross. Or perhaps you saw Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ drama. However movies are never as good as books, which give even more detail. Here's the details of what happened in those days of Roman floggings:
Before being captured Christ was sweating blood. Hematidrosis is a condition in which someone starts sweating blood due to a high level of stress. Severe anxiety causes the release of chemicals that break down the capillaries in the sweat glands. Bleeding in these glands results in blood tinged sweat. This causes the skin to be very fragile, so it was exceptionally fragile when flogged by the Roman soldiers. Floggings were 39 lashes, but ultimately depended on how the Roman soldiers were feeling that day. The whips were made of leather thongs with metal balls and sharp bones woven into them. This would cause deep bruising and contusions, which would further deepen with each blow. The back would be so shredded that parts of the spine would be exposed. The cuts would go from the shoulders, down the back to the buttocks, all the way to the back of the legs. Lacerations would tear into the underlying skeletal muscles and produce quivering ribbons of bleeding flesh. The veins were laid bare, and the muscles, sinews, and bowels were open to exposure. The victim would experience tremendous amount of pain and go into hypovolemic shock, that is low blood volume due to large amounts of blood being lost. When this occurs the heart beats faster to pump the blood that isn't there, the blood pressure drops causing fainting, the kidneys stop producing urine to maintain volume that is left, and the person becomes very thirsty to replace lost volume.
Jesus was in hypovolemic shock as he carried the cross to Calvary hill. He kept collapsing. The Roman soldier ordered Simon to carry it for him. Next 5-7 inch spikes were driven through the wrists to nail him to the cross. It crushed the median nerve which leads to the hand? Ever hit your funny bone? In reality you are hitting a nerve, and we know how bad that hurts! Next the same would happen with the feet, hitting nerves there as well.
Ultimately Christ died by asphyxiation. The stress on the muscles and diaphragm put the chest in inhale position. Inorder to exhale the person must push up on his feet to the tension of the muscles would be eased for the moment. Doing this would cause the nail to tear through the foot, eventually locking against the tarsal bones. After exhaling the person would be able to relax and take another breath in. This would go on until complete exhaustion took over. (Case For Christ by Lee Strobel)
Some people take this for granted that Christ went through this suffering to die for our sins. To some sinning is something in which to take pleasure in without any conscious. The Christian life isn't a boring life, quite contrary it's abundantly filled. Christ overcame death and sin, and offers the same to us. With a personal relationship with him he gives us the power and strength to overcome our weaknesses. The boring life is the self centered life. A joy filled life is a Christ centered life. Faith isn't about trying to be a good person. It's about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Don't you want to know this person who did this for you on a deeper level?
Go to the Lord daily in prayer.
Read His Word and teachings.
Obey God with each area of your life.
Worship God with glory and praise.
Before being captured Christ was sweating blood. Hematidrosis is a condition in which someone starts sweating blood due to a high level of stress. Severe anxiety causes the release of chemicals that break down the capillaries in the sweat glands. Bleeding in these glands results in blood tinged sweat. This causes the skin to be very fragile, so it was exceptionally fragile when flogged by the Roman soldiers. Floggings were 39 lashes, but ultimately depended on how the Roman soldiers were feeling that day. The whips were made of leather thongs with metal balls and sharp bones woven into them. This would cause deep bruising and contusions, which would further deepen with each blow. The back would be so shredded that parts of the spine would be exposed. The cuts would go from the shoulders, down the back to the buttocks, all the way to the back of the legs. Lacerations would tear into the underlying skeletal muscles and produce quivering ribbons of bleeding flesh. The veins were laid bare, and the muscles, sinews, and bowels were open to exposure. The victim would experience tremendous amount of pain and go into hypovolemic shock, that is low blood volume due to large amounts of blood being lost. When this occurs the heart beats faster to pump the blood that isn't there, the blood pressure drops causing fainting, the kidneys stop producing urine to maintain volume that is left, and the person becomes very thirsty to replace lost volume.
Jesus was in hypovolemic shock as he carried the cross to Calvary hill. He kept collapsing. The Roman soldier ordered Simon to carry it for him. Next 5-7 inch spikes were driven through the wrists to nail him to the cross. It crushed the median nerve which leads to the hand? Ever hit your funny bone? In reality you are hitting a nerve, and we know how bad that hurts! Next the same would happen with the feet, hitting nerves there as well.
Ultimately Christ died by asphyxiation. The stress on the muscles and diaphragm put the chest in inhale position. Inorder to exhale the person must push up on his feet to the tension of the muscles would be eased for the moment. Doing this would cause the nail to tear through the foot, eventually locking against the tarsal bones. After exhaling the person would be able to relax and take another breath in. This would go on until complete exhaustion took over. (Case For Christ by Lee Strobel)
Some people take this for granted that Christ went through this suffering to die for our sins. To some sinning is something in which to take pleasure in without any conscious. The Christian life isn't a boring life, quite contrary it's abundantly filled. Christ overcame death and sin, and offers the same to us. With a personal relationship with him he gives us the power and strength to overcome our weaknesses. The boring life is the self centered life. A joy filled life is a Christ centered life. Faith isn't about trying to be a good person. It's about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Don't you want to know this person who did this for you on a deeper level?
Go to the Lord daily in prayer.
Read His Word and teachings.
Obey God with each area of your life.
Worship God with glory and praise.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)