This is a beautiful illustration of a way God may have worked during Creation. Even though I do not believe in all of it, I love watching this and praising Him the whole time!
Watch till the very end's statement...
Big Bang Theory
"He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts, but man cannot discover the work God has done form beginning to end."
Ecclesiastes 3:11
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
An Underlined Day
Some days there is just so much going on physically, spiritually, and/or emotionally that there is just no sorting it out. Those are "Underlined Days".
What are you suppose to do?
1. Get out the Bible you use most often, or find one that you use to use a lot, but haven't since you got the new version.
2. Open it to where the binding is the weakest.
3. Start looking for the verses you have underlined or specially marked in the past and read only those.
4. As you read, see if you can remember why it was marked. What did God have to say to you then?
5. If a verse reminds you of troubled times past, praise God for His faithfulness in bringing you through. If it brings to mind happier moments, ask Him to comfort you now and rekindle the joy of your salvation even in troubled times.
6. If you have no clue as to why you marked it, thank Him that His Word is alive. It never changes, but it often comes like a fresh wave. (Don't be sad it's low tide now, just get prepared for high tide later!)
Dear Father in heaven, thank you for my Bible and a good, sharp pencil...
What are you suppose to do?
1. Get out the Bible you use most often, or find one that you use to use a lot, but haven't since you got the new version.
2. Open it to where the binding is the weakest.
3. Start looking for the verses you have underlined or specially marked in the past and read only those.
4. As you read, see if you can remember why it was marked. What did God have to say to you then?
5. If a verse reminds you of troubled times past, praise God for His faithfulness in bringing you through. If it brings to mind happier moments, ask Him to comfort you now and rekindle the joy of your salvation even in troubled times.
6. If you have no clue as to why you marked it, thank Him that His Word is alive. It never changes, but it often comes like a fresh wave. (Don't be sad it's low tide now, just get prepared for high tide later!)
Dear Father in heaven, thank you for my Bible and a good, sharp pencil...
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Crowns
Yesterday I had to go to the dentist and get a crown. Well, actually, I was given a temporary one until the real one comes in. The worst part was all the drilling and even getting to the tooth; of course it was one of the ones in the very back. There's nothing quite like lying there with two sets of hands prying open your jaw while your head vibrates from drilling and at the same time having to breath in the burnt bone smell coming from your own mouth.
I don't like going to the dentist.
Later on as I reflected on the fact that I could actually will myself to be still and let strangers do that to me, a thought came to mind: Being a Christian who is living life fully for God is not easy either. Not only do we come up against resistance from the world, but we also have a God who loves us enough to discipline us (Hebrews 12:5-8). And what will we recieve for enduring this life as His servants?
The crown of life.
"Blessed is a man who endures trials, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that He has promised to those who love Him." James 1:12
I only have my temporary right now in that area as well - His Promise - but one day I will meet my Savior face to face and He will give me my permanent one.
I don't like going to the dentist.
Later on as I reflected on the fact that I could actually will myself to be still and let strangers do that to me, a thought came to mind: Being a Christian who is living life fully for God is not easy either. Not only do we come up against resistance from the world, but we also have a God who loves us enough to discipline us (Hebrews 12:5-8). And what will we recieve for enduring this life as His servants?
The crown of life.
"Blessed is a man who endures trials, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that He has promised to those who love Him." James 1:12
I only have my temporary right now in that area as well - His Promise - but one day I will meet my Savior face to face and He will give me my permanent one.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
How Are These Verses Good?
I haven't been feeling very well since late Sunday night, so I'd just like to leave you with one of my favorite sets of verses. The odd thing is, I'm not really sure why they are some of my favorite or why they encourage me so.
What do you think?
"For with much wisdom is much sorrow; as knowledge increases, grief increases.
...But beyond these, my son, be warned: there is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body. When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is: fear God and keep His commands, because this is for all humanity. For God will bring every act to judgement, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil."
Ecclesiastes 1:18, 12:12-14
What do you think?
"For with much wisdom is much sorrow; as knowledge increases, grief increases.
...But beyond these, my son, be warned: there is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body. When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is: fear God and keep His commands, because this is for all humanity. For God will bring every act to judgement, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil."
Ecclesiastes 1:18, 12:12-14
Monday, November 30, 2009
Josiah's And Your Peace
I've been reading about Judah's King Josiah and am amazed at what the Bible has to say about this man though we seldom hear of him. He reigned from approximately 640 B.C. to 608 B.C., and his grandfather was King Manasseh who was rebuked by the Lord for the evil he did. Josiah was also the father of King Jehoiakim, who reigned when the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar first conquered Jerusalem.
Though there are about two chapters written in 2 Kings about all that Josiah did, a small passage written at the end of his life spoke heavily to me:
"The king commanded all the people, 'Keep the Passover of the LORD your God as written in the book of covenant.' No such Passover had ever been kept from the time of the judges who judged Israel through the entire time of the kings of Israel and Judah.... Before him there was no king like him who turned to the LORD with all his mind and with all his heart and with all his strength according to all the law of Moses, and no one like him arose after him.
In spite of all that, the LORD did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath and anger, which burned against Judah because of all the provocations Manasseh had provoked Him with." 2 Kings 23:21-22, 25-26
Josiah did all that he could do and was loved by the Lord, but His wrath must be satisfied. God did allowed him to reign 31 years and die in the first battle leading to Jerusalem's eventual capture, but it still had to come in order to accomplish the fulfillment of His words. Even the Word of God says there was no king like Josiah - not before of after him - who turned so completely to the Lord, yet even his two sons who reigned did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and his people were captured.
So why bother? Because the promise of the Lord is Good and True. Josiah sent priests to a prophetess named Huldah, who spoke a message to him from the Lord - "...because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and because you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I Myself have heard you - declares the LORD. Therefore I will indeed gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster that I am bringing on this place..." 2 Kings 22:19-20
The Lord promised Josiah that he would not see all the disaster and would die in peace, but read 2 Kings 23:29. "During his reign, Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt marched up to the king of Assyria at the Euphrates river. King Josiah went to confront him, and at the Megiddo when Neco saw him he killed him" So what happened to dieing in peace? I believe that the peace the Lord promised to Josiah was in his spirit - not just in his physical realm. God promised him shâlôm - peace, just as Christ promised it to us. Jesus said to His disciples in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful."
This is the peace I believe Josiah had. This is the peace available to all who will believe: The peace of a trouble free and fearless heart - In the midst of a city, country, and world gripped by the chaotic consequences of sin.
Yes, things will go terribly wrong in life, but we've been given Peace.
Though there are about two chapters written in 2 Kings about all that Josiah did, a small passage written at the end of his life spoke heavily to me:
"The king commanded all the people, 'Keep the Passover of the LORD your God as written in the book of covenant.' No such Passover had ever been kept from the time of the judges who judged Israel through the entire time of the kings of Israel and Judah.... Before him there was no king like him who turned to the LORD with all his mind and with all his heart and with all his strength according to all the law of Moses, and no one like him arose after him.
In spite of all that, the LORD did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath and anger, which burned against Judah because of all the provocations Manasseh had provoked Him with." 2 Kings 23:21-22, 25-26
Josiah did all that he could do and was loved by the Lord, but His wrath must be satisfied. God did allowed him to reign 31 years and die in the first battle leading to Jerusalem's eventual capture, but it still had to come in order to accomplish the fulfillment of His words. Even the Word of God says there was no king like Josiah - not before of after him - who turned so completely to the Lord, yet even his two sons who reigned did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and his people were captured.
So why bother? Because the promise of the Lord is Good and True. Josiah sent priests to a prophetess named Huldah, who spoke a message to him from the Lord - "...because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and because you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I Myself have heard you - declares the LORD. Therefore I will indeed gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster that I am bringing on this place..." 2 Kings 22:19-20
The Lord promised Josiah that he would not see all the disaster and would die in peace, but read 2 Kings 23:29. "During his reign, Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt marched up to the king of Assyria at the Euphrates river. King Josiah went to confront him, and at the Megiddo when Neco saw him he killed him" So what happened to dieing in peace? I believe that the peace the Lord promised to Josiah was in his spirit - not just in his physical realm. God promised him shâlôm - peace, just as Christ promised it to us. Jesus said to His disciples in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful."
This is the peace I believe Josiah had. This is the peace available to all who will believe: The peace of a trouble free and fearless heart - In the midst of a city, country, and world gripped by the chaotic consequences of sin.
Yes, things will go terribly wrong in life, but we've been given Peace.
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