This seemed worthy of sharing….
I know there are other organizations who have and are helping out as well…
In times of turmoil, it is refreshing to see the love and care that is also going on…comforting to know ….
Thank YOU….
And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
1Thess.5.14
No straw….
So the taskmasters and the foremen of the people went out and said to the people, “Thus says Pharaoh, ‘I will not give you straw. Go and get your straw yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced in the least.’”
They met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them, as they came out from Pharaoh; and they said to them, “The Lord look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.”
Then Moses turned to the Lord and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.”
Exod.5.10,Exod.5.11,Exod.5.20,Exod.5.21,Exod.5.22,Exod.5.23
Years ago, in some Sunday school class, or sermon, there was an illustration of a circle…the concept was that we are convicted/encouraged to do something by the Holy Spirit, we do it or we don’t - the test- obedience in some area of our lives…some change we should make….I can say that I wasn’t always immediately obedient…but it laid on my heart until I finally followed through…
Back to the circle…conviction, test, obedience or not, and round in round the learning process would go…there were outside forces that could make it harder and harder to follow through…
God was going to deliver these people from their oppressors…but there were some other lessons to be had first…some hard…and the blame game starts…no straw…more hard work, more oppression…and no delivery!
Don’t we still want things to be easy? With no hard lessons?
Reading Colossians 1….this is the goal…but, even Paul acknowledged endurance and patience…through the “no straw” times….
And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking …
*that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
*so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,
*fully pleasing to him:
*bearing fruit in every good work and
*increasing in the knowledge of God;
*being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might,
*for all endurance and patience with joy;
Col.1.9-11
Thank YOU….
God help me….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_pgGgHVxPg
Speaking….
Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”
Exod.4.12
I am not an “upfront” speaker at all…one on one, thinking through my words is my best way to talk to people…so reading about poor Moses and his excuses resonates…he had already run away from this nation and lived in the desert as a shepherd, talking to the sheep…that was his style…plus he probably knew this man he was being sent to …and his people didn’t trust him…
But God….had other plans…He wanted him to speak and would give him the words to speak…then He gave him his brother to speak…
This passage is such a reminder of the New Testament words as well…the Holy Spirit will give us the words to say when called to speak in places we may be afraid…and there are definitely times when He is the only one speaking…He has the truth…it is just as applicable today as it was thousands of years ago…
How often do I speak, not letting the Holy Spirit have free rein to the words I say? How often do I hold back with excuses to not speak when the Holy Spirit yearns to speak?
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Matt.10.16-20
And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
Luke.12.11-12
Thank YOU….
I am the Lord your God,who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
“But my people did not listen to my voice;Israel would not submit to me.
So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,to follow their own counsels. Oh, that my people would listen to me,that Israel would walk in my ways! I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes.
Those who hate the Lord would cringe toward him,and their fate would last forever.
But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat,and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”
Ps.81.10-16
For the Lord gives wisdom;from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.
Then you will understand righteousness and justiceand equity, every good path;
for wisdom will come into your heart,and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
discretion will watch over you,understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil,from men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, men whose paths are crooked,and who are devious in their ways.
Prov.2.6-15
Hear, for I will speak noble things,and from my lips will come what is right, for my mouth will utter truth;wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
All the words of my mouth are righteous;there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
They are all straight to him who understands,and right to those who find knowledge.
Take my instruction instead of silver,and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than jewels,and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
Prov.8.6-11
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart-be acceptable in your sight,O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Ps.19.14
Let the words of my mouth…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr8QoQKmXfk
