Warm water…

 Warm water…

Warm water is a luxury that many do not have in the world…and I for one take it for granted…

I was giving my little dog  a bath the other day and he was totally enjoying the warm water with scrubbing …he stood patiently taking  it all in… a free wet massage…

I realized I like the same thing, I will sometimes just stand in the warm shower or bath tube, soaking in the warmth…

There are songs that feel like that to me as well…

One of which is…

There’s a sweet spirit in this place…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WAPFp4raTR4&pp=ygUqdGhlcmUncyBhIHN3ZWV0IHN3ZWV0IHNwaXJpdCBpbiB0aGlzIHBsYWNl

It makes me remember…the verse..

 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

Exod.40.34

Or the songs of Moses, Mary, or Zechariah…and others when they paused the Lord…thanked Him…proclaiming Him…or when in Acts,  the people were filled with the Holy Spirit…

 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts.2.1-4

Holy Spirit rain down..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-SI_HRWooA&list=RDd-SI_HRWooA&start_radio=1

Thank YOU…

LORD your God…

 

LORD your God….

He praise, “LORD your God” repeats 272 times just in the book of Deuteronomy…out of over 600 in the whole Bible…talk about repetition!!!! The Word lists what He did, what he will do, who he was to the nation of Israel….he was everything and he reminded them over and over and over…blessing, treasure, care, comfort, etc., etc.,etc…..

I am not an Israelite…I am adopted into God’s family by my redeemer, Jesus, God’s son, who died for my sins, who has saved me, prayed for me, loves me, sent a comforter to live in my heart…but not just for me, but the whole world…He is the LORD my God…

Thank YOU…

 The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything.

Deut.2.7

 For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.

Deut.7.6

 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord your God.’”

Num.15.41

 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

John.3.16-17

“The phrase "The LORD your God" appears frequently throughout the Old Testament, particularly in the Pentateuch, the historical books, and the prophetic writings. It is often used in contexts where God is reminding His people of His commandments, His promises, and His role as their protector and provider.”……

“While the exact phrase "The LORD your God" is less common in the New Testament, the concept of God as a personal, covenant-keeping deity continues. Jesus reaffirms the greatest commandment in Matthew 22:37 , quoting the Shema: "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’" This continuity underscores the enduring nature of God's relationship with His people through Christ.”…..

“The phrase "The LORD your God" encapsulates the essence of God's relationship with His people, highlighting His sovereignty, faithfulness, and the call to love and obedience. It serves as a powerful reminder of the covenantal bond between God and those who follow Him, a bond that is both personal and communal, rooted in love, holiness, and divine promise.”

https://biblehub.com/topical/t/the_lord_your_god.htm

https://namesforgod.net/lord-your-god/

The Lord our God…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTbY24n-8Ik

Widows all around…

 Widows all around….

I found this blog from several years ago and wanted to reshare….

For whatever reason,(divine appointments) this week I have met widows, each with their own unique stories, pain….I was  wishing for a place, a retreat that could be offered for widows like the marriage retreat for couples…encouragement, growth, camaraderie, a place to get away, be real, cry, share, grow, delve into God’s Word…

“Widows...loss..

.

This message was very good...I wanted to share it...

Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the Lord . A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.
Psalm 68:4-5

The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked...psalm 146:9



Thank YOU....



“What Do Widows in the Bible Teach Us about Loss?
Dr. Julie Barrier 

My best friend Abby was widowed at 44. Her husband John passed away from sleep apnea. He was healthy. No warning. Four little faces greeted Mom at the breakfast table. They had no idea their Daddy was gone. Ten years later, Abby cautiously remarried.
Two years after she tied the knot, Abby’s second husband died following a gruesome battle with cancer. Abby loved and lost. Devastating!
Over 220,000 Americans died in World War II. Men and women who sent their loved ones into battle kissed their spouses goodbye never knowing if that goodbye would be their last.
According to wiserwomen.org, 50% of women will lose their spouses by age 65.
My Mom was happily married to my Dad for 63 years. She told me her deepest hurt was going to sleep at night in an empty bed. My mother-in-law lost her first husband in World War II. My husband Roger never knew of his Mom’s first marriage until long after his mother’s death. Helen never grieved openly, and because she hid her pain, she was fearful and angry most of her life.
How will you face the empty bed? The empty pew?
Many women tell me that losing a mate is like losing a limb. They have to redefine who they are and how they relate to others. Couple friendships may be awkward. Income may be reduced. It's a torturous, treacherous journey. Only by the grace of God can one survive it.

The Bible is filled with stories of widows. We can learn much from them.
Ruth and Naomi demonstrated two different ways of dealing with grief. Naomi cried, “Don’t call me Naomi (which means pleasant)” she told them. “Call me Mara (bitter) because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.” (Ruth 1:20)
Ruth, also heartbroken, showed incredible love and loyalty to her mother-in-law:
“Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” (Ruth 1:16-17)
Ruth taught us two invaluable lessons about grief:
From Ruth, we learn to not grieve alone, and to face the future with faith.
Too often we pull away from comforters because we are afraid to show our weakness. Too often we turn away from God because we are angry with Him for taking away the love of our life.
Naomi wallowed in self-pity.
Ruth clung to her dear mother-in-law. She forsook the worship of Chemosh, the Semitic god she feared, for a life-long commitment to Yahweh, the God she had yet to know. The Moabite widow became a beloved wife, mother and the great-grandmother of Jesus.
Joppa’s widow Dorcas blessed others in her sorrow.
Instead of allowing her overwhelming loss to engulf her in self-pity, Dorcas used her solitary moments to minister to the poor:
“In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor...
When he (Peter) arrived, he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive.” (Acts 9:36-41)
Dorcas cultivated a community of widows, a safe place for women to share their pain and an outlet to use their gifts to help others.
God not only blessed Dorcas for her generosity and faithfulness, He raised her from the dead!

Anna continued to worship God through her loss.
The prophetess Anna is only mentioned in two short verses of the New Testament, but her story gives us the greatest inspiration in the loss of a spouse:
“There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:36-38)
Anna, alone and probably destitute, lived her life worshipping God. She drenched the temple floor with her tears. How unfair to lose her family at such a young age! But Anna prayed and praised her entire life.
Her unfailing devotion to God was rewarded. Anna saw the Messiah and joyfully foretold His ministry and coming kingdom.
Anna probably lived 65 years without a husband. I’m sure there were mornings when she didn’t even want to get out of bed. But she kept coming back to God, giving Him glory day after day.
Christ created the church as a place of comfort, safety and service. Only in God’s presence do we find God’s healing and rest.
Ruth, Dorcas and Anna teach us that tragedy and loss does not have to define us.

Widows have the unique opportunity to experience God’s sweetest favor, (Psalm 68:5) protection, and blessing (Psalm 146:9)

“You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy!” (Psalm 38:11)



Dr. Julie Barrier, along with her pastor-husband, Dr. Roger Barrier, have taught conferences on marriage and ministry in 35 countries. The Barriers are founders and directors of Preach It, Teach It providing free resources in 10 languages to 5 million visitors in 229 countries. The Barriers pastored 35 years at Casas Church in Arizona, Julie has served as a worship minister, concert artist and adjunct professor at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. She has authored or composed of over 500 published works.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Tom-Merton”

Heart of compassion…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrDxtxqWL2o



Prepared place…

  Prepared a place…

Reading through the Old Testament books again…

The promise of a promised land for the Israelites is a major theme…over and over…generation after generation throughout history…and that small piece of land continues to this day to be in dispute…at some point in time that promise will be fulfilled…maybe this generation or the future…only

God knows the time, the final circumstances… they wait expectantly…

As Christians, we have a “promised land” as well…no given date on it yet either… 

We all have to trust in the preparations…promises…we wait expectantly as well…for the return of the Messiah…

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

John .14.1-3

 But, as it is written,“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,nor the heart of man imagined,what God has prepared for those who love him”—

1Cor.2.9

 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Heb.11.16

 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Col. 3:24

 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

Heb.9.15

 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. 

This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

1Pet.1.3-6

Thank YOU…

prepared a place for me…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XzYstkSNc88&pp=ygUncHJlcGFyZWQgYSBwbGFjZSBmb3IgbWUgc292ZXJlaWduIGdyYWNl

2604+1

 2604+1….

I started printing off my blogs on to paper this week…all 2604 of them…I could hardly believe there were so many…I had no idea that when I started in 2013 where they would take me, how long they would continue.…I still don’t know….most days the words bubble up within my soul and I can hardly wait to transfer them to the written word…other days the words have to simmer for a day or two, awaiting further instructions…it may be just a verse that captures my heart or a song that won’t stop singing ….or a lesson that God  is teaching me to share…the Word translates to everyday lessons…and I am soooo thankful…I am glad the Holy Spirit teaches us…so glad for the gift that Jesus left us…so glad for His love…

The following is one blog from the past…a poignant one…for this season…for prayer requests that come  my way…for prayers of my own…

Thank YOU….

“

Entrust....

Okay, last year I wrote about my husband-"forever 67" and now another year has passed since he has died...this year seems to have  gone even more quickly than the years before...with so much activity. 

But even though he has died, there are still many times that I turn to share, to point out and realize that I can't. It is a rude awakening again and again. But, I continue to go on..the ache of aloneness is still there, maybe less than last year and the year before...the ambushes of emotion still hit without rhyme or reason at times....the wish for that partnership that we shared is still strong....especially when I am around others whose marriages are intact....

Reading this Jesus Calling this morning, I admit, was hard...I thought I had entrusted my husband to God....But, His decision was to take him home...not leave him with his family...that wasn't my Plan....I wanted to hold my husband's hand...not God's...

I remember the day of the diagnosis, the tear filled, stricken faces of my children, my father, myself, when the doctor told us the prognosis of my husband, their father, his son in law....it is engraved in my mind..."this can't be happening, not us, that only happens to someone else"...and then the resolution, "move forward, day by day...."  And we did, holding each other and holding on to God's mighty hand....entrusting ......

thank YOU for always being  there to hold us.  Help me to entrust You with each person in my family, knowing that You have the Best in mind for each of us. Help me not to hold them too tightly or too loosely, so that You have full reign in their lives. You work mightily on their behalf....

 

Jesus calling-August 23

Entrust your loved ones to Me; release them into My protective care. They are much safer with Me than in your clinging hands. If you let a loved one become an idol in your heart, you endanger that one—as well as yourself. Remember the extreme measures I used with Abraham and Isaac. I took Isaac to the very point of death to free Abraham from sonworship. Both Abraham and Isaac suffered terribly because of the father’s undisciplined emotions. I detest idolatry, even in the form of parental love.

When you release loved ones to Me, you are free to cling to My hand. As you entrust others into My care, I am free to shower blessings on them. My Presence will go with them wherever they go, and I will give them rest. This same Presence stays with you, as you relax and place your trust in Me. Watch to see what I will do.

When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
—Genesis 22:9–12

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…
—Ephesians 3:20

The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
—Exodus 33:14

“ 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcXzSYUjchU

2604+1

Scar tissue…binding…

 Scar tissue…binding…

This past week, I was encouraged to start rubbing all the scar tissue I have  accumulated this past year, to break down and soften the areas, break down the fibrous areas…all the fibrous bindings that scar tissue makes as wounds heal…

As I looked up the word, “bind”, here following definitions were suggested…

Bind….

“To make secure by tying,

To confine, restrain or restrict as if in bonds,

To put under obligation,

To constrain with legal authority,

To wrap around with something so as to enclose or cover,

To fasten round about,

To tie together,

To cause to stick together,

To make a firm commitment for,

To protect, strengthen, or decorate by a band,

To fasten together,

To set at work as an apprentice,

To cause an emotional attachment….”

Merriam Webster 

We are bound by soooo many things…legal obligations, worry, pain, scars, vows, thoughts, things that may consume our minds, etc.,etc….

In Deuteronomy God wanted the Israelites to bind his 

Word on their hearts, their minds, their souls…

Solomon spoke of letting love and faithfulness bind us…

Isaiah speaks of the Lord binding, healing the brokenhearted…

Jesus speaks of what we bind…

Paul speaks of what viruses bring unity…

I had to ask, what am I bound with…what needs softening, what worries/anxiety are binding my mind…do I bind love to seek unity…do I bind God’s Word to my life…(as I looked at these various definitions of “bind” and each could have a unique, spiritual application…)

What should  I be learning from them…

Thank YOU…

 

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 

Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 

Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Deut.6.6,Deut.6.8,Deut.11.18-19

 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;bind them around your neck,write them on the tablet of your heart.

Prov.3.3

 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,because the Lord has anointed me to  proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God,to comfort all who mourn,     

and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning,and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

Isa.61.1-3

 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Matt.18.18

 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. 

Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Col.3.12-14

Blest be the ties that bind….

https://youtu.be/AarVrkf7Kb0?si=00ZWy3gqV2JWd8OZ

https://www.stjamesrehab.com/blog/how-to-manage-scar-tissue-after-surgery-or-injury

1. “Scar tissue forms as part of the natural healing process after surgery.
2. It is made up of collagen fibers that replace normal tissue.
3. Scar tissue can be less flexible and weaker than the original tissue.
4. Some individuals may experience pain or discomfort in the area of the scar.
5. The appearance of scar tissue can vary, ranging from red and raised to flat and pale.
6. Treatments for scar tissue include massage, silicone sheets, and laser therapy.
7. In some cases, surgical revision may be necessary to improve appearance or function.
8. Factors influencing scar formation include genetics, age, and the type of surgery performed.
9. Proper wound care can help minimize scar tissue development.
10. Consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice and treatment options.” 

When, but if…

 When, but if…

As parents we want the best for our children…as we raise them, we realize there are consequences for good or bad…and usually we want them to choose  the good…we should learn from the good and bad choices….

We don’t put our hands on something hot and expect not to get burned…but little ones have to learn that…

We say, “when”…such and such happens, this will usually be the outcome…

The other day, I heard a young woman say, “I wouldn’t make a good mother, because I don’t like to repeat myself”. And as parents we get to repeat often!

And then there are the times, we say “if”…such and such , this will be the consequence…

God wrote, “ when “ in Deuteronomy 30…he knew the Israelites would return…and had promises for their return…

But, He also wrote “if”…there would be those who chose not to return to Him…

Oh, how he must agonize over those who turn away…

As He said, “choose life”…he has so much abundance to give…”for the Lord is your life”…

Thank YOU….

 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. 

Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 

Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 

Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Deut.6.4-9

 When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come on you and you take them to heart wherever the Lord your God disperses you among the nations, and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you. Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the Lord your God will gather you and bring you back. He will bring you to the land that belonged to your ancestors, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors. The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live. The Lord your God will put all these curses on your enemies who hate and persecute you. You will again obey the Lord and follow all his commands I am giving you today. Then the Lord your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The Lord will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your ancestors, if you obey the Lord your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Deut.30.1-10

 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. 

See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. 

But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. 

Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Deut.30.11-20

My life is in you Lord…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBYCsNCnNk4

Comfort verses…17…

 Comfort verses….17…

My comfort verses are in no particular order…they just come and I add to my list…but each one speaks to my soul…I may need that compassion that the Samaritan gave…or just to sit down with Jesus…or courage to face another day, doctor visit, event, etc…or hope…or refuge from whatever is happening,,,etc…

The Holy Spirit speaks truth through the Word…things we need to hear,  comfort , conviction, love….just at the right moment…

Thank YOU…

“But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where [the wounded, half-dead man] was. And when he saw him, he had compassion” (Luke 10:33 NKJV).

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me” (Revelation 3:20 NIV).

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV).

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:19a NIV).

“Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:7 NLT).

 “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10 NIV).  

When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean” (Matthew 8:1-2 NIV).

 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 

I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,and I am saved from my enemies. 

The cords of death encompassed me;the torrents of destruction assailed me; the cords of Sheol entangled me;the snares of death confronted me. 

In my distress I called upon the Lord;to my God I cried for help.From his temple he heard my voice,and my cry to him reached his ears. 

For it is you who light my lamp;the Lord my God lightens my darkness.

Ps.18:2-6, 28

Psalm 18, the Psalms project…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTydrqzccoY

Stiff necked

 

Stiff necked…

Oh dear…did this hit home….literally and figuratively…

I was at a spine pain doctor yesterday…stiff neck…she explained all that has happened, was happening, will happen…with a stiff neck, physically…no surgery available for this, keep moving, pain killers, do specific exercises, was born with this but age focuses on it….

The Word speaks of stiff-necked people throughout….pay attention, listen, remember…it is by Gods grace we have his blessings, not our stiffneckedness…His righteousness, not our own…His blessing, not our works…

Thank YOU…

 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. 

Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 

Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. 

be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 

Do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors, 

And if we are careful to obey all this law before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.” 

Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.

Deut.6.4-9,Deut.6.12,Deut.6.18,Deut.6.25,Deut.9.6

 I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness;I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.

Ps.7.17

 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;love and faithfulness go before you. Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,who walk in the light of your presence, Lord. They rejoice in your name all day long;they celebrate your righteousness.

Ps.89.14-16

 The Lord has made his salvation knownand revealed his righteousness to the nations.

Ps.98.2

 Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.

Prov.21.21

 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Rom.1.17

 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Rom.3:22-26

 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.

Phil.3.9-1

 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Eph.2.8-10

Saved by grace…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUlMAJMqaKY

Stiff

Balm..

 Balm….

I was reading in Deuteronomy this week, and it mentioned Gilead, so of course my mind bounced to the song, “there is a balm in Gilead”…the. I couldn’t get it out of my mind…

What’s a balm…why Gilead?…

I quickly realized that I have been using a “balm” for months, years, just not called that…we used udder balm when milking  cows or goats in years past…a thick lotion to keep our hands from drying out as well as the udders from doing the same… 

I use lotions made from shea butter, tallow,  beeswax, frankincense, joba oil, coconut oil, olive oil, goats milk, etc, etc.,etc…with various healing properties in each one…some for dryness, others for pain, still others for antibiotics…balms ..

The ones from Gilead were made from a rosin from a type of tree that grows in that area…known for  its medicinal uses…balms were mentioned in the Bible as part of things traded, part of the wares bought and sold…ancient physicians made and used it…

But, later, it also symbolized the balm of Christ…only He can heal our souls…while the balms may heal the outward body, Jesus heals the heart…

Thank YOU…

There is a  balm in Gilead..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN9JALQRMb0

https://www.gotquestions.org/land-of-Gilead.html

https://www.gotquestions.org/balm-of-Gilead.html

Comfort verses..16..

 Comfort verses…16…

Last year’s plans for me were entirely not on “my” schedule …

Things change so quickly by a simple doctor visit, a test result, a fall in the parking lot…a whole new language learning experience/vocabulary…new faces, new doctors, etc., etc., etc.,…things I never knew I needed to learn…

But, along with all the earthly lessons, I learned more about the care of Jesus…more about his loving arms, His army of prayer warriors, His comfort…his promises…

Thank YOU…

Behold, I am doing a new thing” (Isaiah 43:18 NIV).

“Cast your cares on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken” 

Psalm 55:22 

 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him;I will be with him in trouble;I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy himand show him my salvation.”

Ps.91.14-16

“So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided” (Genesis 22:14 NIV).

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21 NIV).

 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

Isa.30.20-21

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NIV)

His grace will carry you…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaqd4-5mhcc

The Forge….

 The Forge….

forge, noun—

: a furnace or a shop with its furnace where metal is heated and wrought

forge, verb—

forged; forging

: to form (something, such as metal) by heating and hammering

forged pieces of iron into hooks

: to form (metal) by a mechanical or hydraulic press with or without heat

Our church showed the movie, The Forge, recently…had heard it was good and I was not disappointed…well worth the watch and then contemplation…”what do I need to be doing?”…several themes for audience to think about…

As we move through life, we do encounter times of “forming”, being put to the test, times when we fell like another train is coming instead of a light at the end of the tunnel…or that there is no end of trials…Paul speaks of it, Peter speaks of it, Jesus speaks of it…building our character…building our faith…

Thank YOU…

 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. 

And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Rom.5.3-5

 Remember your word to your servant,for you have given me hope. My comfort in my suffering is this:Your promise preserves my life.

Ps.119.49-50

 He was despised and rejected by mankind,a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.

 Like one from whom people hide their faceshe was despised, and we held him in low esteem. 

Surely he took up our painand bore our suffering,yet we considered him punished by God,stricken by him, and afflicted.

Isa.53.3-4

 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

1Pet. 1:3-12

Joni…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H9ztsfGfRM

Tested by fire…

https://www.gotquestions.org/tested-by-fire.html

Reviews….

 Reviews….

Lately I have been getting pictures of what I was doing with pictures on “this “ day over the years..or reviews of pictures I have taken in the past or pictures I took and saved 4, 10, 15 years ago…for instance, in, 2011, I was sorting through all my albums, making books for each of my children, my father, my husband, my parents, my husband’s  parents…photos of each of our Year’s end collages…I had photos all over the floor in one room, sorting, sorting…then scanning them all into the computer into files to make books…

For me it was one of the “obedient “ times.  I was so convicted that I had to do this job, that I had to do it…not knowing that the following Christmas was to be our last Christmas with my husband , followed the next year by my father…

Reading in the Deuteronomy, it feels  like a review as well…Moses is reviewing what has happened,  who He is, what God has done, how he led them, what He promised, what He will do, what the people are to do, etc…

Just as going through my photos reminded me of times past, God’s faithfulness to our family through thick and thin times….I needed that reminder in the months and years ahead…God’s people needed that review as well…

Thank YOU….

 Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. 

Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, when he said to me, “Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children.” 

You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain while it blazed with fire to the very heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness. 

Then the Lord spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words but saw no form; there was only a voice. 

He declared to you his covenant, the Ten Commandments, which he commanded you to follow and then wrote them on two stone tablets. 

And the Lord directed me at that time to teach you the decrees and laws you are to follow in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. 

You saw no form of any kind the day the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. 

Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman, or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air, or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below. 

And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars—all the heavenly array—do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the Lord your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven. 

But as for you, the Lord took you and brought you out of the iron-smelting furnace, out of Egypt, to be the people of his inheritance, as you now are. 

The Lord was angry with me because of you, and he solemnly swore that I would not cross the Jordan and enter the good land the Lord your God is giving you as your inheritance. I will die in this land; I will not cross the Jordan; but you are about to cross over and take possession of that good land. 

Be careful not to forget the covenant of the Lord your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the Lord your God has forbidden. 

For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. 

After you have had children and grandchildren and have lived in the land a long time—if you then become corrupt and make any kind of idol, doing evil in the eyes of the Lord your God and arousing his anger, I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you this day that you will quickly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live there long but will certainly be destroyed. 

The Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the Lord will drive you. There you will worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell. 

But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the Lord your God and obey him. 

For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath. 

You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God; besides him there is no other. 

Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.

Deut.4.9-31,Deut.4.35, 39

Firm Foundation…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9xzWoTGkKg

Fight for you….

 Fight for you….

Reading Deuteronomy 1:30 brought me to tears as I read it this morning…the reminder that God cares enough to fight our battles for us is just overwhelming…we are sometimes overwhelmed with burdens, pain…you name it and He is right there to carry us through…he doesn’t promise an easy life, but he promises to walk with us, carry us around times…

Thank YOU….

 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Exod.14.14

 The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the wilderness. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.”

Deut.1.30-31

 Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you.”

Deut.3.22

 For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”

Deut.20.4

 They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

Jer.1.19

 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

Rom.8.26-27

 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.     

He makes me lie down in green pastures,he leads me beside quiet waters,     

he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right pathsfor his name’s sake. 

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I will fear no evil,for you are with me;your rod and your staff,they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;my cup overflows. 

Surely your goodness and love will follow meall the days of my life,and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever…

Ps.23.1-6

Psalm 23…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=q25xEFyTHFY

God fights for me…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JezG-ZNQXfE

 

 

Boundaries….

 Boundaries….

“Boundary-something that indicates or fixes a limit or extent”….Merriam/Webster  dictionary 

As the Israelites entered the promised land, there were boundaries…God gave the edges on the north, south, and west…then the land was to be divided amongst the tribes yet again…with the help of the named tribal leaders….with the priest and Joshua as leaders over them….lots of discussions, I imagine, were held, landmarks chosen, boundaries established, geographical features defined…

Boundaries have been fought over, changed, for eons of time…people want more of others’ land, stuff, time, etc…books and books have been written about personal boundaries, when others encroach on our personal space or time, or take advantage of one another…we get suggestions of when to say “no” or go ahead…

During the dividing of land, God also gave instructions for cities of refuge…with definite boundaries there  as well…

I appreciate that God knows our boundaries as well…he knows us from beginning to end…he established a path for our lives…he knows the number of our days…he knows we need a refuge, a place specifically prepared for us…he knows we need a Savior…he knows our inward thoughts ….he has an answer before we even ask…he knows we need Hs Word…he gave us his Holy Spirit to teach us truth, lead us to Jesus…he was prepared for us, we are no accident, no surprise…he has a set timetable for the world…nothing is done without his control……etc…so much more…

Thank YOU….

 How abundant are the good thingsthat you have stored up for those who fear you,that you bestow in the sight of all,on those who take refuge in you.

Ps.31.19

 Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors. 

Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless, for their Defender is strong;he will take up their case against you.

Prov.22.28,Prov.23.10-11

The day for building your walls will come,the day for extending your boundaries.

Mic.7.11

 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. 

Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 

From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 

God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ 

As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 

For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

Acts.17.24-31

El   Shaddai medley …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eX4TRwELUVg

“Setting boundaries as Christians isn’t about building walls – it’s about creating sacred spaces where we can nurture our relationship with God and serve others from a place of spiritual abundance rather than depletion. By understanding and implementing healthy boundaries, we honor both God’s design for our lives and His call to love others effectively. Remember, just as Jesus took time to retreat and pray, we too need to establish limits that allow us to remain spiritually healthy and capable of fulfilling our divine purpose.” 

https://growingintime.com/boundaries-as-a-christian/

Boundaries of the promised land…

https://www.differentspirit.org/articles/boundaries.php 

Let my people go…

 Let my people go….

Yesterday right before my church services started, I watched, teary eyed, as three hostages were released from captivity of 400+ days…(praying that it will continue successfully)…and to make it more teary eyed, they were given into their mother’s arms…what a gift…a  promise of love and care…

Then, arriving at church, the pastor began a series on the book of Exodus…the Israelites leaving the capture/slavery of Egypt…into a land of promise after a sojourn in the desert…

Following that, parts of our family were  treated to a luncheon by friends from Mongolia…my husband’s first short term mission trip was to Mongolia shortly after they were freed from the Russian empire…few Christians, needing the gospel message after living in the darkness of godlessness, he was part of a team that showed the “Jesus Film” in various parts of the country from gers/yurts to walls on buildings, driving around in Russian jeeps, setting up projectors over and over again…the people “drank “ up the Word, the promises after decades of  a long drought…and many accepted Jesus as their Savior and still are…

These three events so fit together for me…the whole theme for the day was “let my people go”…letting captives free …whether from a hostage situation, slavery, darkness to light…God was working in each situation…just as He is each day…finding freedom in Christ over the darkness and deception of Satan…

Thank YOU…

 I will walk about in freedom,for I have sought out your precepts.

Ps.119.45

 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Rom.6.15-18,Rom.6.22-23

 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 

2Cor.3.17

 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Gal.5.1

Jesus we need you…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvMEGoa7FLE

The people were singing this as the hostages were being released…

Bring them home…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A55H5oDLxOI

Do what you are supposed to do…

 

Do what you are supposed to do…

Joshua was mentored by Moses…but, the Lord filled him with the spirit of leadership…

Others were gifted in craftsmanship to design the Tabernacle, build a boat, lead others, follow after God’s heart, be a friend…later to be disciples, writers, prophets, even make it through hardships, be examples, etc…

We still are gifted by the Holy Spirit, with spiritual gifts…those gifts that motivate us to serve God, others…

I like that Moses encouraged, exhorted Joshua in this,   “ be courageous, be strong, be careful, be ready “…those words were not just for him but for generations of leaders, servers in the kingdom…do what you have been given to do…

Thank YOU…

 “May the Lord, the God who gives breath to all living things, appoint someone over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.” 

So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership, and lay your hand on him. 

Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. 

Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him. 

He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the Lord. 

At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in.”

Num.27.16-21

 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Deut.31.7,Deut.31.8

 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. 

As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 

Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 

“Be strong and very courageous. 

Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 

Have I not commanded you? 

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Josh.1.1-9

 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. 

And be thankful. 

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Col.3.15-17

I choose Jesus…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARSGgC9iQb0

Found notes…servanthood…

 Found notes…servanthood…

The other day, I found a box of greeting cards addressed to “church kitchen ladies”…you know those women who serve faithfully who are setting up, washing dishes, planning, cleaning, organizing, working behind the scenes….they may work in the kitchen, the library, the office, VBS, the nursery, etc…always finding ways to serve others….

I found the following notes about servants…

“Real servants act…

Servants make themselves available to serve…

Servants pay attention to needs..

Servants do their best with what they have…

Servants do every task with equal dedication…

Servants are faithful to their ministry…

Servants maintain a low profile…

Servants think more about others than about themselves…

Servants think like stewards, not owners..

Servants think about their work, not what others are doing…

Servants base their identity in Christ…

Servants think of ministry as an opportunity, not an obligation…”

(I think this is from Rick Warren, but not certain, but from seminar years ago)…

When looking at spiritual gifting, service is one of the spiritual gifts…the motivation to serve others…but,  we are all called to serve one another…we may do it in different ways, exhorting, giving, showing mercy, teaching…but serving non the less…

“It has been rightly stated, “Rank is given you to enable you to better serve those above and below you. It is not given for you to practice your idiosyncrasies” (General Bruce C. Clarke, USA, Ret). Let’s serve others by serving Christ (Colossians 3:23-24). God the Father has served us by sacrificing Christ on the cross for our sins, and we should serve others by giving the gospel and our lives to them (1 Thessalonians 1:5-6). Those who desire to be great in God’s kingdom must be the servant of all (Matthew 20:26) gotquestions.org…. https://www.gotquestions.org/servanthood.html

Thank YOU…

 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matt.20.26-28

 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.

Matt.24.45-46

 “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’

Luke.19.17

 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

John.12.26

Make me a servant …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6U8O_WnPZY

Speaking what God wants…

 

Speaking what God wants…

Reading about Balaam in the book of Numbers is similar in to reading about Jonah…

Both men were to give a message that the Lord had given them,  Balaam had a donkey whom he beat three times, Jonah was in the belly of a fish for three days…both were reluctant to speak…Balaam and Jonah had to proclaim…both faced enemies of Israel…their hearts really weren’t right with God…

 The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials. “Well, I have come to you now,” Balaam replied. “But I can’t say whatever I please. 

I must speak only what God puts in my mouth.”

Num.22.35,Num.22.38

 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”

Jonah.3.1-2

“Balaam was a wicked prophet in the Bible and is noteworthy because, although he was a wicked prophet, he was not a false prophet. That is, Balaam did hear from God, and God did give him some true prophecies to speak. However, Balaam’s heart was not right with God, and eventually he showed his true colors by betraying Israel and leading them astray.

Balaam’s name and story became infamous, and he is referred to several times in the New Testament. Peter compares false teachers to Balaam, “who loved the wages of wickedness” (2 Peter 2:15). Jude echoes this sentiment, associating Balaam with the selling of one’s soul for financial gain (Jude 1:11). Finally, Jesus speaks of Balaam when He warns the church in Pergamum of their sin: “There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality” (Revelation 2:14). Satan’s tactics haven’t changed all that much. If he cannot curse God’s people directly, he will try the back-door approach, and idolatry and sexual immorality are his go-to temptations.”  Gotquestions.org 

It was just interesting to me how God used both men to speak…He uses so many methods to tell of his Word…wicked, reluctant…even a donkey…the heavens declare His glory…we have His Word around us in so many ways…He is not hindered in any way in proclaiming Himself…

Thank YOU…

 The heavens declare the glory of God;the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

Day after day they pour forth speech;night after night they reveal knowledge. 

They have no speech, they use no words;no sound is heard from them. 

Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. 

The law of the Lord is perfect,refreshing the soul.

The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,making wise the simple. 

The precepts of the Lord are right,giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the Lord are radiant,giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure,enduring forever.

The decrees of the Lord are firm,and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold,than much pure gold;they are sweeter than honey,than honey from the honeycomb. 

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight,Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Ps.19.1-4,Ps.19.7-10, Ps.19.14

Thy Word….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npWJZwgmKMo

Double lives, double minded…

 

Double lives, double minded…

I had a cancerous mole removed from my face this week…went in for yearly check up, the doctor looks me all over and looks closer at one spot (doesn’t look any different to me), takes a “sample” and it was cancerous…so out comes the needles, the knife, the cauterizing machine, the tests, the bandaids….ugh..and whew…what looked simple led a different life under my skin, spreading and growing…

Recently, along with that, I just finished a book about double lives…people who led hidden lives while purporting upstanding, stable lives to those around them…found out by undercover investigators…all imposters in their lives…one for good,  one for evil…

 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Jas.1.8,Jas.4.7-8

There are those in the Bible who had divided lives…some repented of the evil they has done, while others did not…

David repented and sought after God’s heart…he wanted a whole heart for God…Saul, David’s predecessor, on the other hand, was half hearted…

Saul turned Paul, sought God whole heartedly..he was not double minded after he turned to God, traveling to preach the gospel in so many places…

James writes not be double minded…turning to God Wholeheartedly….

Matthew speaks of two masters, God and money…

  “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Matt.6.24

Matthew later speaks of wolves in sheep’s clothing…

 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

;Matt.7.15-20

Single minded, undivided hearts, bearing good fruit, true, humble…a worthy goal…

Thank YOU…

“This is what the Lord says: ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?’ declares the Lord. ‘These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite [wounded] in spirit, and who tremble at my word’” (Isaiah 66:1-2 NIV).

Spirit lead me…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABWnLjXer10

 

 

 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,for I have put my trust in you.

Show me the way I should go,for to you I entrust my life.

Ps.143.8

Mercies….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJg31komsak

Found notes..friendship…

 Found notes…friendship….

I still have more notes that I found going through files this winter… some to throw away, some  to keep and some to share…

This was one…the abc’s of friendship….

I still have a long way to go on these concepts… a work in progress for sure…

“The ABC’s of Friendship

The ABC’s of Friendship 

Accepts you as you are 
Believes in “you” 
Calls you just to say “HI” 
Doesn’t give up on you 
Envisions the whole of you 
(even the unfinished parts) 
Forgives your mistakes 
Gives unconditionally 
Helps you 
Invites you over 
Just because 
Keeps you close at heart 
Loves you for who you are 
Makes a difference in your life 
Never Judges 
Offers support 
Picks you up 
Quiets your fears 
Raises your spirits 
Says nice things about you 
Tells you the truth when you need to hear it 
Understands you 
Values you 
Walks beside you 
Xxoxoxoxxxoooxxox, explains things you don’t understand 
Yells when you won’t listen and 
Zaps you back to reality”

Author unknown

This was a good article…

Lifelong friend 

Mentor friend 

The adventure friend

The supportive friend 

 https://www.lovewhatmatters.com/the-4-types-of-friendships-that-define-our-lives-and-how-to-nurture-each-one/

An interesting article…

All of these friendships are important. Data from a recent survey exploring friendship networks revealed that most of us, regardless of age, have cultivated a wide variety of social relationships. Here’s an overview of the specific friendship types that were explored:

1. Lifelong Friends

2. Best Friends

3. Close Friends

4. Social Group Friends (friends you socialize with but with whom you are not particularly close)

5. Activity Friends (friends with whom you engage in specific activities, such as “gym buddies,” members of your book club or dinner club, church circles, and so on)

6. Friends of Convenience (the folks with whom you might share carpooling duties, youth sports team parents, neighborhood groups, and so on)

7. Acquaintance Friends (people at work, people you see each day when you’re walking your dog, folks you know to speak to, but not about anything of consequence or especially personal)…d https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/lifetime-connections/202111/the-7-types-friends-and-which-is-most-essential-our-happiness

Our most important friend, who knows us inside and out, a Saviour, a forever friend,  Jesus…

 Yet I am always with you;you hold me by my right hand. 

You guide me with your counsel,and afterward you will take me into glory. 

Whom have I in heaven but you?And earth has nothing I desire besides you. 

My flesh and my heart may fail,but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Ps.73.23-26

Thank YOU…

What a friend we have in Jesus….

https://www.crosswalk.com/video/dennis-quaid-heartfelt-what-a-friend-we-have-in-jesus-live-performance.html?aps=d491a43856e21b587867b447453a930de9780b237aec2d5b87b5802fcc4d8c3d&utm_content=1129189_20250114_322&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=lst_bst_daily_bible_living&utm_source=newsletter&bt_ee=Lg72SqCzgwJOIULrXfAZ/i9vZD6sKQP6Cyf/xRmtIE7hsEdTK/1EQMvr6wRvCqoQ&bt_ts=1736852784568

Hot Seat…

 “Hot seat”…

We played the game “Hot Seat” last night…you answer a  question about yourself and the rest of the group answers what they think you might have said…then share…they range from very unserious to serious…

“What would you name a new shoe business?” .., “what wouldn’t you do even given a million dollars?”

A great way to find out what others think of you or what a person’s personality really is…since we had all ages, three generations, it was interesting…some were simple, easy answers, while others were thought provoking…

A few Verses later came to me…

 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;I am clean and without sin”? 

Even small children are known by their actions,so is their conduct really pure and upright? 

Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.

Prov.20.9,Prov.20.11,Prov.20.15

 Start children off on the way they should go,and even when they are old they will not turn from it. 

Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity,and the rod they wield in fury will be broken. 

Have I not written thirty sayings for you,sayings of counsel and knowledge, teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth,so that you bring back truthful reportsto those you serve?

Prov.22.6,Prov.22.8,Prov.22.20-21

 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

1Tim.3.7

Through out the Bible, God speaks of various people’s character…whether evil, good, bad, a friend, noble, etc., etc., etc….

What would He speak of mine, yours??? We are in the “hot seat”….

Thank YOU…

More like Jesus…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hNGQ2AQWZ6Q&pp=ygUcaSB3YW50IHRvIGJlIGxpa2UgamVzdXMgc29uZw%3D%3D

https://scripturesavvy.com/being-like-christ/

https://www.gotquestions.org/Christ-like.html

Slow…

 Slow…

The other day, I went with some of my family to the Phoenix Zoo…one f the pictures I came away with was one of the tortoise exhibits…a rabbit was sitting next to this huge tortoise…was a reminder of the old story of the “ Tortoise and the Hare”…where the hare challenges the tortoise to a race…of course, the hare just knew he would win, but story tells a different ending, the tortoise-slow and steady , wins…

The scene of the two animals together made me think of the times the word “slow” is used, especially in regard to God being “slow to anger”…

It is repeated several times by several different writers…David, Joel, Jonah, Nahum, James, Peter…along with the character qualities of compassion, gracious, power, great love, patience…

Thank YOU…

 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

Ps.86.15

 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,slow to anger, abounding in love.

 He will not always accuse,nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west,so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Ps.103.8-12

 The Lord is gracious and compassionate,slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all;he has compassion on all he has made. 

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,and your dominion endures through all generations.The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.

Ps.145.8,Ps.145.9,Ps.145.13

 Rend your heart and not your garments.Return to the Lord your God,for he is gracious and compassionate,slow to anger and abounding in love,and he relents from sending calamity.

Joel.2.13

 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home?

 That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish.

 I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.

Jonah.4.2

 The Lord is slow to anger but great in power;the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.His way is in the whirlwind and the storm,and clouds are the dust of his feet.

Nah.1.3

 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

Jas.1.19

 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2Pet.3.9

Numerous “quickly” references, especially in the book of Psalms…

 Lord, do not forsake me;do not be far from me, my God. Come quickly to help me,my Lord and my Savior.

Ps.38.21-21

Ten thousand reasons…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E