My friend Mei-Ling sent this to me. It is such an effective way to explain my day to day existence that I felt as if I had to share it with you. I hope you'll read it and get an understanding of what it is to live with an invisible chronic illness that impacts everyday activities.
http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/2004/11/the_spoon_theory.php
Hugs & Love
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Can't write it...
I don't know why, but no matter how many times I've tried I have NOT been able to write down the thoughts I have about Daniel 4 in a clear and concise way. I think I'm going to shelf it until tomorrow and see what happens. Sorry.
Hugs & Love
Hugs & Love
Monday, October 22, 2007
Bible Blog: Daniel 3 – October 22, 2007
Daniel 3 – “The Image of Gold and the Fiery Furnace”
If I gathered everyone I knew to see the “great big shiny thing” I made and told everyone to sing worship songs to the “great big shiny thing” I’m sure at least a few would force me to have my head examined, a few more would slam me in the head with a spiritual baseball bat, and many would laugh at me… good for them! But I know of three people who would blindly do as I told them to because mommy knows what is right. It may seem like an overly simplistic way of looking at this situation, but it is accurate. King N was educated, knowledgeable in things the common man didn’t know he was missing… much like a parent-child relationship.
It’s easy to see the “trust in the Lord” message from this passage… less obvious is that we need to try to learn how to lead those around us away from the tempting “great big shiny things” of life and towards the arms of our loving Savior. I don’t want to encourage my children to sing praise to anything evil, I want them to sing praises to Jesus… they won’t do that unless they see me doing it.
I need to make sure I haven’t been leading them to any “great big shiny things” lately. I pray I never will!
Hugs & Love
Daniel 3
1. King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. 3 So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.
4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, "This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: 5 As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace."
7 Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
8 At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever! 10 You have issued a decree, O king, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, 11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up."
13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?"
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?" They replied, "Certainly, O king."
25 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."
26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way."
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
If I gathered everyone I knew to see the “great big shiny thing” I made and told everyone to sing worship songs to the “great big shiny thing” I’m sure at least a few would force me to have my head examined, a few more would slam me in the head with a spiritual baseball bat, and many would laugh at me… good for them! But I know of three people who would blindly do as I told them to because mommy knows what is right. It may seem like an overly simplistic way of looking at this situation, but it is accurate. King N was educated, knowledgeable in things the common man didn’t know he was missing… much like a parent-child relationship.
It’s easy to see the “trust in the Lord” message from this passage… less obvious is that we need to try to learn how to lead those around us away from the tempting “great big shiny things” of life and towards the arms of our loving Savior. I don’t want to encourage my children to sing praise to anything evil, I want them to sing praises to Jesus… they won’t do that unless they see me doing it.
I need to make sure I haven’t been leading them to any “great big shiny things” lately. I pray I never will!
Hugs & Love
Daniel 3
1. King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. 3 So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.
4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, "This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: 5 As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace."
7 Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
8 At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever! 10 You have issued a decree, O king, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, 11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up."
13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?"
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?" They replied, "Certainly, O king."
25 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."
26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way."
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Bible Blog: Daniel 2:24-49 – October 12, 2007
Daniel 2:24-49 – “Daniel Interprets the Dream”
24. Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, "Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him."
25. Arioch took Daniel to the king at once and said, "I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can tell the king what his dream means."
26. The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), "Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?"
27. Daniel replied, "No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, 28. but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you lay on your bed are these:
29. "As you were lying there, O king, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen. 30. As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than other living men, but so that you, O king, may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind.
31. "You looked, O king, and there before you stood a large statue—an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. 32. The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, 33. its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. 34. While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. 35. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were broken to pieces at the same time and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.
36. "This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king. 37. You, O king, are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; 38. in your hands he has placed mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds of the air. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.
39. "After you, another kingdom will rise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. 40. Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. 41. Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. 42. As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. 43. And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.
44. "In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. 45. This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces. "The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and the interpretation is trustworthy."
46. Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. 47. The king said to Daniel, "Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery."
48. Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. 49. Moreover, at Daniel's request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.
I’m starting to understand why people say, “Dare to be a Daniel.” This is a very impressive young man! When he went to King N to tell him his dream and the interpretation, he first gave all the credit to God. How often do you or I have something to share with someone that we don’t give even a mention of who is responsible let alone do it up front like that? It is such an easy thing to do, give credit where credit is due, yet we all fail to do it time and time again and here Daniel is giving credit before the explanation. Remarkable!
Of course he goes on to save the day by telling and interpreting the dream and assuring the lives of the wise men are protected and in the process finds himself appointed as King N’s new advisor. He doesn’t turn around and rub it in his friends’ faces either, nope; he goes and gets them jobs as his assistant. It makes sense, they share the same faith in God, have had the same training, and he trusts them… sounds like a perfect fit to me! By doing this Daniel once again showed that his actions are not for his own benefit, he found a way for his friends to be in prominent positions and set everyone up for success.
How do I do this for the ones I love and care for? Do I build them up and give them reasons to grow or do I cut them down for my own gain? Do I give credit to God and others when it is due? It is time to Selah on this. Hope you do too!
Hugs & Love
24. Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, "Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him."
25. Arioch took Daniel to the king at once and said, "I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can tell the king what his dream means."
26. The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), "Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?"
27. Daniel replied, "No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, 28. but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you lay on your bed are these:
29. "As you were lying there, O king, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen. 30. As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than other living men, but so that you, O king, may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind.
31. "You looked, O king, and there before you stood a large statue—an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. 32. The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, 33. its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. 34. While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. 35. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were broken to pieces at the same time and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.
36. "This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king. 37. You, O king, are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; 38. in your hands he has placed mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds of the air. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.
39. "After you, another kingdom will rise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. 40. Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. 41. Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. 42. As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. 43. And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.
44. "In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. 45. This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces. "The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and the interpretation is trustworthy."
46. Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. 47. The king said to Daniel, "Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery."
48. Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. 49. Moreover, at Daniel's request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.
I’m starting to understand why people say, “Dare to be a Daniel.” This is a very impressive young man! When he went to King N to tell him his dream and the interpretation, he first gave all the credit to God. How often do you or I have something to share with someone that we don’t give even a mention of who is responsible let alone do it up front like that? It is such an easy thing to do, give credit where credit is due, yet we all fail to do it time and time again and here Daniel is giving credit before the explanation. Remarkable!
Of course he goes on to save the day by telling and interpreting the dream and assuring the lives of the wise men are protected and in the process finds himself appointed as King N’s new advisor. He doesn’t turn around and rub it in his friends’ faces either, nope; he goes and gets them jobs as his assistant. It makes sense, they share the same faith in God, have had the same training, and he trusts them… sounds like a perfect fit to me! By doing this Daniel once again showed that his actions are not for his own benefit, he found a way for his friends to be in prominent positions and set everyone up for success.
How do I do this for the ones I love and care for? Do I build them up and give them reasons to grow or do I cut them down for my own gain? Do I give credit to God and others when it is due? It is time to Selah on this. Hope you do too!
Hugs & Love
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Bible Blog: Daniel 2:1-23 – October 11, 2007
Daniel 2:1-23 – “Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream”
1. In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. 2. So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king, 3. he said to them, "I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means."
4. Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, "O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it."
5. The king replied to the astrologers, "This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble. 6. But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and interpret it for me."
7. Once more they replied, "Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it."
8. Then the king answered, "I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: 9. If you do not tell me the dream, there is just one penalty for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me."
10. The astrologers answered the king, "There is not a man on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. 11. What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among men."
12. This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. 13. So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.
14. When Arioch, the commander of the king's guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. 15. He asked the king's officer, "Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?" Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. 16. At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.
17. Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 18. He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19. During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven
20. and said:
"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
wisdom and power are his.
21. He changes times and seasons;
he sets up kings and deposes them.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.
22. He reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with him.
23. I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers:
You have given me wisdom and power,
you have made known to me what we asked of you,
you have made known to us the dream of the king."
This story is much more amazing to me now than it was when I was a child. We start with power hungry King N (I’m not typing that out more than the one time above) who insists that an interpretation of an undisclosed dream must be provided by the wise men or they will all be executed. YIKES! This is a bit harsh. Understandably the wise men didn’t want to try to interpret a dream they haven’t heard, but the power hungry King N doesn’t care, he wants them to tell him his dream also. When Daniel and his friends were gathered for execution and the reason was explained to them, they didn’t cry or beg, but Daniel requested an audience with King N to reveal and explain his dream to him.
I want faith like that. I don’t know how to get it, but I know I’m going to be praying that my faith increases quite a bit! I know it is a change that needs to take place inside me, that I’m the person at fault for not having that level of faith, but I really don’t know how to change my level of faith… yet.
Anyway, in faith Daniel goes to sleep and King N’s dream and its meaning are revealed to him. When he wakes up he behaves in a rather unnatural way for someone whose life and whose friends’ lives are on the line… he stops and praises God. Isn’t that wonderful? Daniel’s character, which I find inspirational, is revealed in this moment. God is first. There are no exceptions or exclusions that so many of us make “I can do it later” or “He won’t mind if I make sure they live first” no, God is good and God is first. Thank him for the revelation THEN take care of life saving business.
I can’t say that God is always a priority in my life. I think if I were in a similar situation my tendency towards self-preservation would kick in and I’d go make sure I was going to remain alive rather than thank God for the revelation of a dream. But Daniel went and thanked God for the revelation, not knowing if King N was going to actually spare him or his friends. His faith, his quick action, and his devotion to God are examples of things I lack in my own life. I know with God’s help I’ll make it though, and I’m going to work on changing my attitudes and faith.
Hugs & Love
1. In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. 2. So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king, 3. he said to them, "I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means."
4. Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, "O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it."
5. The king replied to the astrologers, "This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble. 6. But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and interpret it for me."
7. Once more they replied, "Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it."
8. Then the king answered, "I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: 9. If you do not tell me the dream, there is just one penalty for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me."
10. The astrologers answered the king, "There is not a man on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. 11. What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among men."
12. This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. 13. So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.
14. When Arioch, the commander of the king's guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. 15. He asked the king's officer, "Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?" Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. 16. At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.
17. Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 18. He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19. During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven
20. and said:
"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
wisdom and power are his.
21. He changes times and seasons;
he sets up kings and deposes them.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.
22. He reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with him.
23. I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers:
You have given me wisdom and power,
you have made known to me what we asked of you,
you have made known to us the dream of the king."
This story is much more amazing to me now than it was when I was a child. We start with power hungry King N (I’m not typing that out more than the one time above) who insists that an interpretation of an undisclosed dream must be provided by the wise men or they will all be executed. YIKES! This is a bit harsh. Understandably the wise men didn’t want to try to interpret a dream they haven’t heard, but the power hungry King N doesn’t care, he wants them to tell him his dream also. When Daniel and his friends were gathered for execution and the reason was explained to them, they didn’t cry or beg, but Daniel requested an audience with King N to reveal and explain his dream to him.
I want faith like that. I don’t know how to get it, but I know I’m going to be praying that my faith increases quite a bit! I know it is a change that needs to take place inside me, that I’m the person at fault for not having that level of faith, but I really don’t know how to change my level of faith… yet.
Anyway, in faith Daniel goes to sleep and King N’s dream and its meaning are revealed to him. When he wakes up he behaves in a rather unnatural way for someone whose life and whose friends’ lives are on the line… he stops and praises God. Isn’t that wonderful? Daniel’s character, which I find inspirational, is revealed in this moment. God is first. There are no exceptions or exclusions that so many of us make “I can do it later” or “He won’t mind if I make sure they live first” no, God is good and God is first. Thank him for the revelation THEN take care of life saving business.
I can’t say that God is always a priority in my life. I think if I were in a similar situation my tendency towards self-preservation would kick in and I’d go make sure I was going to remain alive rather than thank God for the revelation of a dream. But Daniel went and thanked God for the revelation, not knowing if King N was going to actually spare him or his friends. His faith, his quick action, and his devotion to God are examples of things I lack in my own life. I know with God’s help I’ll make it though, and I’m going to work on changing my attitudes and faith.
Hugs & Love
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Bible Blog: Daniel 1 – October 9, 2007
In two days, two people have mentioned Daniel to me, specifically, the story of the handwriting on the wall. I’m going to assume there is something for me to learn in the book of Daniel at this time and start from the beginning to find out what it might be. Hope you enjoy!
Daniel 1 – “Daniel’s Training in Babylon”
1. During the third year of King Jehoiakim’s reign in Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2. The Lord gave him victory over King Jehoiakim of Judah and permitted him to take some of the sacred objects from the Temple of God. So Nebuchadnezzar took them back to the land of Babylonia and placed them in the treasure-house of his god.
3. Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives. 4. “Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon.” 5. The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service.
6. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah. 7. The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names:
Daniel was called Belteshazzar.
Hananiah was called Shadrach.
Mishael was called Meshach.
Azariah was called Abednego.
8. But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods. 9. Now God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel. 10. But he responded, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has ordered that you eat this food and wine. If you become pale and thin compared to the other youths your age, I am afraid the king will have me beheaded.”
11. Daniel spoke with the attendant who had been appointed by the chief of staff to look after Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 12. “Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said. 13. “At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.”
14. The attendant agreed to Daniel’s suggestion and tested them for ten days.
15. At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king. 16. So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables instead of the food and wine provided for the others.
17. God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams.
18. When the training period ordered by the king was completed, the chief of staff brought all the young men to King Nebuchadnezzar. 19. The king talked with them, and no one impressed him as much as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the royal service. 20. Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom.
21. Daniel remained in the royal service until the first year of the reign of King Cyrus.
Daniel tried to please God in everything. When Judah was overthrown by the Babylonians and he was forced into the King’s service, he used his intelligence to find a way to maintain his devotion to God by suggesting a “trial period” of vegetables and water instead of foods he felt would displease God. He was rewarded with good health, intelligence, and competence as well a the ability to interpret dreams.
I think the most important thing to learn from this passage is that we need to set ourselves apart in appropriate ways while still living within our culture. We need to know our surroundings, strive for excellence in our work, and do it while maintaining our integrity and identity in Christ. Today our “new cultures” can include anything; a new job or relationship, a move to a new neighborhood, marriage, parenthood, divorce, or even a career change. What we need to try to do is follow Daniel’s example and make those changes while maintaining our identity with God.
It sounds simple… too simple. I know that the things that sound easy are often the hardest but also the most rewarding. I hope and pray I’m preparing myself to stay firm in God when a new culture becomes part of my life.
Hugs & Love
Daniel 1 – “Daniel’s Training in Babylon”
1. During the third year of King Jehoiakim’s reign in Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2. The Lord gave him victory over King Jehoiakim of Judah and permitted him to take some of the sacred objects from the Temple of God. So Nebuchadnezzar took them back to the land of Babylonia and placed them in the treasure-house of his god.
3. Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives. 4. “Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon.” 5. The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service.
6. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah. 7. The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names:
Daniel was called Belteshazzar.
Hananiah was called Shadrach.
Mishael was called Meshach.
Azariah was called Abednego.
8. But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods. 9. Now God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel. 10. But he responded, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has ordered that you eat this food and wine. If you become pale and thin compared to the other youths your age, I am afraid the king will have me beheaded.”
11. Daniel spoke with the attendant who had been appointed by the chief of staff to look after Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 12. “Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said. 13. “At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.”
14. The attendant agreed to Daniel’s suggestion and tested them for ten days.
15. At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king. 16. So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables instead of the food and wine provided for the others.
17. God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams.
18. When the training period ordered by the king was completed, the chief of staff brought all the young men to King Nebuchadnezzar. 19. The king talked with them, and no one impressed him as much as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the royal service. 20. Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom.
21. Daniel remained in the royal service until the first year of the reign of King Cyrus.
Daniel tried to please God in everything. When Judah was overthrown by the Babylonians and he was forced into the King’s service, he used his intelligence to find a way to maintain his devotion to God by suggesting a “trial period” of vegetables and water instead of foods he felt would displease God. He was rewarded with good health, intelligence, and competence as well a the ability to interpret dreams.
I think the most important thing to learn from this passage is that we need to set ourselves apart in appropriate ways while still living within our culture. We need to know our surroundings, strive for excellence in our work, and do it while maintaining our integrity and identity in Christ. Today our “new cultures” can include anything; a new job or relationship, a move to a new neighborhood, marriage, parenthood, divorce, or even a career change. What we need to try to do is follow Daniel’s example and make those changes while maintaining our identity with God.
It sounds simple… too simple. I know that the things that sound easy are often the hardest but also the most rewarding. I hope and pray I’m preparing myself to stay firm in God when a new culture becomes part of my life.
Hugs & Love
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Just a Tuesday afternoon...
What do you get when you put two friends, both female, in a room when one is awaiting a diagnosis that could possibly be cancer?
A. Somber discussion about medical treatments.
B. Prayer session begging God that this isn't going to be cancer.
C. Bible page flipping looking up passages of hope.
D. All the above.
If you answered D, you'd be partially correct... but mostly wrong. Here are some more options to choose from:
E. Abundant laughter.
F. An awesome chuckle inspiring card.
G. Commentary on God's sense of humor.
H. All the above.
H is correct, but still doesn't tell the whole story.
My friend Nancy came over to offer me some support this afternoon because she knows I'm seeing the hematologist tomorrow and she has been through the testing and waiting process in the past and knows how stressful it can be. She showed up with an awesome card, imagine the silly glasses and funny nose attached in card form, I plan to wear this to my doctor appointment tomorrow or at least to dinner if my friends are still taking me. Things became progressively sillier as the afternoon went on.
What I really want to share with you is what had us in stitches and I'm convinced that God was laughing right along with us. Both Nancy and I needed to use the bathroom, fortunately I have two so we parted company. I flushed the toilet, no problem, went to turn on the water and nothing came out. I respond with, "Oh crap, this isn't happening, not now!" to which Nancy comes running thinking her using the water in another room was causing me a problem... soap covering her hands and a concerned look on her face and I realize that she didn't know yet. They had just shut off the water to the building while we were using the toilets. Sure enough we checked every sink, no water to be found anywhere. By now our giggles are filling the whole building as we try to figure out how to get our hands clean. We manage to dry off the soap and find the waterless sanitizer and continue having a good laugh and a discussion about how God made a man pee his pants in the Bible... yeah I'm planning to look that up and it will most likely be a Bible Blog entry.
We decided it was a great time to take pictures, and silly us, we put more soap on our now sanitized hands, held the card in front of our faces (we took turns) and snapped the pictures. We then proceeded to the sink to rinse off the soap... we had forgotten something very important, no water... duh! So another round of giggling and silliness and of course hand cleaning without water (have I mentioned diaper wipes are wonderful things recently?) We then prayed, holding sticky hands, laughing hysterically for God to bring healing and to keep the laughter abundant. And we both felt God's presence, we knew He was laughing right along with us, that He was enjoying that moment with us, the complete silliness and you know what? He loved that we included Him in it! He wants everything from us, not just good, not just bad, He even wants our silly outbursts... isn't that wonderful?
Well, after a round of try to figure out what is wrong with the cell phone (hers, not mine) and finally giving up, she went out the door. I had turned the water faucet in the kitchen on so I would hear when the water started again. Around the time she got to her car, the water started up again. I called her and told her and we continued laughing. God really does have a sense of humor, and this confirms it. He wants us to laugh.
So laugh with me people! If I can get the pictures onto my computer, and get permission from Nancy, I'll post them, otherwise, use your imagination, it's probably just as good.
Hugs & Love
A. Somber discussion about medical treatments.
B. Prayer session begging God that this isn't going to be cancer.
C. Bible page flipping looking up passages of hope.
D. All the above.
If you answered D, you'd be partially correct... but mostly wrong. Here are some more options to choose from:
E. Abundant laughter.
F. An awesome chuckle inspiring card.
G. Commentary on God's sense of humor.
H. All the above.
H is correct, but still doesn't tell the whole story.
My friend Nancy came over to offer me some support this afternoon because she knows I'm seeing the hematologist tomorrow and she has been through the testing and waiting process in the past and knows how stressful it can be. She showed up with an awesome card, imagine the silly glasses and funny nose attached in card form, I plan to wear this to my doctor appointment tomorrow or at least to dinner if my friends are still taking me. Things became progressively sillier as the afternoon went on.
What I really want to share with you is what had us in stitches and I'm convinced that God was laughing right along with us. Both Nancy and I needed to use the bathroom, fortunately I have two so we parted company. I flushed the toilet, no problem, went to turn on the water and nothing came out. I respond with, "Oh crap, this isn't happening, not now!" to which Nancy comes running thinking her using the water in another room was causing me a problem... soap covering her hands and a concerned look on her face and I realize that she didn't know yet. They had just shut off the water to the building while we were using the toilets. Sure enough we checked every sink, no water to be found anywhere. By now our giggles are filling the whole building as we try to figure out how to get our hands clean. We manage to dry off the soap and find the waterless sanitizer and continue having a good laugh and a discussion about how God made a man pee his pants in the Bible... yeah I'm planning to look that up and it will most likely be a Bible Blog entry.
We decided it was a great time to take pictures, and silly us, we put more soap on our now sanitized hands, held the card in front of our faces (we took turns) and snapped the pictures. We then proceeded to the sink to rinse off the soap... we had forgotten something very important, no water... duh! So another round of giggling and silliness and of course hand cleaning without water (have I mentioned diaper wipes are wonderful things recently?) We then prayed, holding sticky hands, laughing hysterically for God to bring healing and to keep the laughter abundant. And we both felt God's presence, we knew He was laughing right along with us, that He was enjoying that moment with us, the complete silliness and you know what? He loved that we included Him in it! He wants everything from us, not just good, not just bad, He even wants our silly outbursts... isn't that wonderful?
Well, after a round of try to figure out what is wrong with the cell phone (hers, not mine) and finally giving up, she went out the door. I had turned the water faucet in the kitchen on so I would hear when the water started again. Around the time she got to her car, the water started up again. I called her and told her and we continued laughing. God really does have a sense of humor, and this confirms it. He wants us to laugh.
So laugh with me people! If I can get the pictures onto my computer, and get permission from Nancy, I'll post them, otherwise, use your imagination, it's probably just as good.
Hugs & Love
Monday, October 8, 2007
Bible Blog: Obadiah – October 8, 2007
Why did I choose to read Obadiah? I don’t remember ever reading it before, although I know I must have at some point in time since I read the entire Bible in HS. I didn’t know anything about it, so I read it. Since the whole book is only 21 verses long, I’m including all of it at the end of my ramblings so you can read it. I’m using the Message version this time because the language is more modern and lets you “feel” what is being said a bit easier.
I like that writing styles in Bible times included the author’s name and a brief subject right up front makes it easy to know that Obadiah was a prophet foretelling the destruction of Edom… but again, my Bible history isn’t what is should be, so I have to find out, WHY Edom is going to be destroyed.
In verses 2-4 it seems almost as though Obadiah is taunting the people of Edom, but the reality is he’s pointing out that they’re going to be destroyed for their pride and feelings of superiority. Obadiah is telling them that God is going to take them from being in a lofty, well protected city and reduce them to nothing. In verses 10-14 we find out that it’s because they were violent towards Judah, they allowed foreigners to attack Judah and cast lots for Jerusalem, they rejoiced in the destruction of their family… Judah was filled with the descendants of Jacob and Edom the descendants of Esau, they pillaged during times of distress, they wouldn’t allow refugees to leave, and turned over survivors to the enemy.
It seems to me a good warning for today as well. We are called to love those around us, to help those in trouble, but if we rejoice in their sorrow and pain we are no better than the Edomites who turned over their relatives to the enemy. But as with any warning against evil, it seems God sends along hope as well because He tells of the restoration of Israel in verses 17-21. We are certainly going to face evil in this life; we are going to face it from friends and family, co-workers, strangers, and people with different beliefs. He will punish all sin, but because Jesus died for us, our sins will be overlooked and we will be restored to Him as heirs and heiresses. Isn’t that wonderful to think about?
Hugs & Love
Obadiah
1
Obadiah's Message to Edom from God, the Master.
We got the news straight from God by a special messenger sent out to the godless nations:
"On your feet, prepare for battle; get ready to make war on Edom!
2-4
"Listen to this, Edom:
I'm turning you to a no-account, the runt of the godless nations, despised.
You thought you were so great, perched high among the rocks, king of the mountain,
Thinking to yourself, 'Nobody can get to me! Nobody can touch me!
'Think again. Even if, like an eagle, you hang out on a high cliff-face,
Even if you build your nest in the stars, I'll bring you down to earth."
God's sure Word.
5-14
"If thieves crept up on you, they'd rob you blind—isn't that so?
If they mugged you on the streets at night, they'd pick you clean—isn't that so?
Oh, they'll take Esau apart, piece by piece, empty his purse and pockets.
All your old partners will drive you to the edge.
Your old friends will lie to your face.
Your old drinking buddies will stab you in the back.
Your world will collapse. You won't know what hit you.
So don't be surprised"
—it's God's sure Word!—
"when I wipe out all sages from Edom and rid the Esau mountains of its famous wise men.
Your great heroes will desert you, Teman. There'll be nobody left in Esau's mountains.
Because of the murderous history compiled against your brother Jacob,
You will be looked down on by everyone. You'll lose your place in history.
On that day you stood there and didn't do anything.
Strangers took your brother's army into exile.
Godless foreigners invaded and pillaged Jerusalem.
You stood there and watched.
You were as bad as they were.
You shouldn't have gloated over your brother when he was down-and-out.
You shouldn't have laughed and joked at Judah's sons when they were facedown in the mud.
You shouldn't have talked so big when everything was so bad.
You shouldn't have taken advantage of my people when their lives had fallen apart.
You of all people should not have been amused by their troubles, their wrecked nation.
You shouldn't have taken the shirt off their back when they were knocked flat, defenseless.
And you shouldn't have stood waiting at the outskirts and cut off refugees,
And traitorously turned in helpless survivors who had lost everything.
15-18
"God's Judgment Day is near for all the godless nations.
As you have done, it will be done to you.
What you did will boomerang back and hit your own head.
Just as you partied on my holy mountain, all the godless nations will drink God's wrath.
They'll drink and drink and drink—they'll drink themselves to death.
But not so on Mount Zion—there's respite there! a safe and holy place!
The family of Jacob will take back their possessions from those who took them from them.
That's when the family of Jacob will catch fire, the family of Joseph become fierce flame, while the family of Esau will be straw.
Esau will go up in flames, nothing left of Esau but a pile of ashes."
God said it, and it is so.
19-21
People from the south will take over the Esau mountains; people from the foothills will overrun the Philistines.
They'll take the farms of Ephraim and Samaria, and Benjamin will take Gilead.
Earlier, Israelite exiles will come back and take Canaanite land to the north at Zarephath.
Jerusalem exiles from the far northwest in Sepharad will come back and take the cities in the south.
The remnant of the saved in Mount Zion will go into the mountains of Esau
And rule justly and fairly, a rule that honors God's kingdom.
I like that writing styles in Bible times included the author’s name and a brief subject right up front makes it easy to know that Obadiah was a prophet foretelling the destruction of Edom… but again, my Bible history isn’t what is should be, so I have to find out, WHY Edom is going to be destroyed.
In verses 2-4 it seems almost as though Obadiah is taunting the people of Edom, but the reality is he’s pointing out that they’re going to be destroyed for their pride and feelings of superiority. Obadiah is telling them that God is going to take them from being in a lofty, well protected city and reduce them to nothing. In verses 10-14 we find out that it’s because they were violent towards Judah, they allowed foreigners to attack Judah and cast lots for Jerusalem, they rejoiced in the destruction of their family… Judah was filled with the descendants of Jacob and Edom the descendants of Esau, they pillaged during times of distress, they wouldn’t allow refugees to leave, and turned over survivors to the enemy.
It seems to me a good warning for today as well. We are called to love those around us, to help those in trouble, but if we rejoice in their sorrow and pain we are no better than the Edomites who turned over their relatives to the enemy. But as with any warning against evil, it seems God sends along hope as well because He tells of the restoration of Israel in verses 17-21. We are certainly going to face evil in this life; we are going to face it from friends and family, co-workers, strangers, and people with different beliefs. He will punish all sin, but because Jesus died for us, our sins will be overlooked and we will be restored to Him as heirs and heiresses. Isn’t that wonderful to think about?
Hugs & Love
Obadiah
1
Obadiah's Message to Edom from God, the Master.
We got the news straight from God by a special messenger sent out to the godless nations:
"On your feet, prepare for battle; get ready to make war on Edom!
2-4
"Listen to this, Edom:
I'm turning you to a no-account, the runt of the godless nations, despised.
You thought you were so great, perched high among the rocks, king of the mountain,
Thinking to yourself, 'Nobody can get to me! Nobody can touch me!
'Think again. Even if, like an eagle, you hang out on a high cliff-face,
Even if you build your nest in the stars, I'll bring you down to earth."
God's sure Word.
5-14
"If thieves crept up on you, they'd rob you blind—isn't that so?
If they mugged you on the streets at night, they'd pick you clean—isn't that so?
Oh, they'll take Esau apart, piece by piece, empty his purse and pockets.
All your old partners will drive you to the edge.
Your old friends will lie to your face.
Your old drinking buddies will stab you in the back.
Your world will collapse. You won't know what hit you.
So don't be surprised"
—it's God's sure Word!—
"when I wipe out all sages from Edom and rid the Esau mountains of its famous wise men.
Your great heroes will desert you, Teman. There'll be nobody left in Esau's mountains.
Because of the murderous history compiled against your brother Jacob,
You will be looked down on by everyone. You'll lose your place in history.
On that day you stood there and didn't do anything.
Strangers took your brother's army into exile.
Godless foreigners invaded and pillaged Jerusalem.
You stood there and watched.
You were as bad as they were.
You shouldn't have gloated over your brother when he was down-and-out.
You shouldn't have laughed and joked at Judah's sons when they were facedown in the mud.
You shouldn't have talked so big when everything was so bad.
You shouldn't have taken advantage of my people when their lives had fallen apart.
You of all people should not have been amused by their troubles, their wrecked nation.
You shouldn't have taken the shirt off their back when they were knocked flat, defenseless.
And you shouldn't have stood waiting at the outskirts and cut off refugees,
And traitorously turned in helpless survivors who had lost everything.
15-18
"God's Judgment Day is near for all the godless nations.
As you have done, it will be done to you.
What you did will boomerang back and hit your own head.
Just as you partied on my holy mountain, all the godless nations will drink God's wrath.
They'll drink and drink and drink—they'll drink themselves to death.
But not so on Mount Zion—there's respite there! a safe and holy place!
The family of Jacob will take back their possessions from those who took them from them.
That's when the family of Jacob will catch fire, the family of Joseph become fierce flame, while the family of Esau will be straw.
Esau will go up in flames, nothing left of Esau but a pile of ashes."
God said it, and it is so.
19-21
People from the south will take over the Esau mountains; people from the foothills will overrun the Philistines.
They'll take the farms of Ephraim and Samaria, and Benjamin will take Gilead.
Earlier, Israelite exiles will come back and take Canaanite land to the north at Zarephath.
Jerusalem exiles from the far northwest in Sepharad will come back and take the cities in the south.
The remnant of the saved in Mount Zion will go into the mountains of Esau
And rule justly and fairly, a rule that honors God's kingdom.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Teachers In-Service
I am home with three small children today, not because anyone is sick (other than me) but because the teachers have an in-service day today. School started a month ago, and the children have a day off already? I don't know why but I don't remember nearly as many days off in my school year as a child, snow days when there is a powdering of snow on the ground, in-service days every month, and of course all the holidays that only bankers and government workers get to take off.
At least they are cooperating to some degree here, they've watched the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (for the first time) and Nanny McPhee as well and have been doing kids' level sudoku and word puzzles. They even showered this morning (amazing).
I somehow doubt that I will be able to find the time to have quiet time while they (and I) are awake at the same time (I've been sleeping through the movies, I'm tired of sleeping so much!) and when they are asleep I am pretty sure I'll be asleep also, so please forgive me. So much for my grand plans for having extra quiet time with God during the month of October! Please know I am still reading daily devotionals every day (usually about 4) and that I don't comment on them because they are based on another person's interpretations as well as their readings, not my own.
I will write more soon, perhaps I'll have a friend join me in reading/writing something, that would be fun!
Hugs & Love
At least they are cooperating to some degree here, they've watched the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (for the first time) and Nanny McPhee as well and have been doing kids' level sudoku and word puzzles. They even showered this morning (amazing).
I somehow doubt that I will be able to find the time to have quiet time while they (and I) are awake at the same time (I've been sleeping through the movies, I'm tired of sleeping so much!) and when they are asleep I am pretty sure I'll be asleep also, so please forgive me. So much for my grand plans for having extra quiet time with God during the month of October! Please know I am still reading daily devotionals every day (usually about 4) and that I don't comment on them because they are based on another person's interpretations as well as their readings, not my own.
I will write more soon, perhaps I'll have a friend join me in reading/writing something, that would be fun!
Hugs & Love
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Oh well...
I just woke up, again, about 20 mins ago, and I'm just finishing up getting ready for my next interview... I can't believe I dozed through another whole day without writing anything. It's a bit frustrating that I have all this time but no energy with which to accomplish anything!
I'll try this evening to post something, if I don't fall asleep that is!
Hugs & Love
I'll try this evening to post something, if I don't fall asleep that is!
Hugs & Love
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Bible Blog: Hope Wanted – October 2, 2007
Psalm 69:29
I am suffering and in pain. Rescue me, O God, by your saving power.
I’m in pain. Physical and emotional turmoil define my existence right now. So as I was trying to figure out where to go next in my Bible Blog journey my thought was “I need help to figure out what I should do next.” Then I realized what I need right now is HOPE. So today, I’m going to list the messages of hope I have read and enjoyed and thought about today along with some of the thoughts, questions, and if I have them, answers I came up with. Mostly questions though, aimed at myself for my less than perfect reaction to circumstances in my life.
Psalm 42:5
Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!
Why do we allow ourselves to be so discouraged, so sad when God has offered us life through Christ? Why is it that when something goes wrong I wonder what the point of life is on some level even though deep down I know my purpose is to serve God?
Proverbs 23:18
You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed.
Isaiah 40:31
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.
I live in physical pain on a daily basis. How I long to have strength, to soar free like the birds, to not grow tired anymore. I don’t know when it is going to happen, but God has promised that I will do exactly what I wish for one day. I am looking forward to a pain-free existence, in His timing of course, but I’m not that patient of a person and have to admit, I want it now!
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord.
“They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
This is the exact sentiment I have about my current employment situation. I seriously doubt God has put me where I am right now (top of the candidate list for a really good job) if He has an untimely demise planned for me. He is setting me up for success, and this is just one stop on the journey to get to that success… perhaps so I can learn to lean on others when it’s appropriate instead of trying to be self-sufficient to a fault?
Romans 5:3-4
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials,
for we know that they help us develop endurance.
And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens
our confident hope of salvation.
I need to adopt this attitude of rejoicing when facing problems and trials. Yes, I still believe I should praise God, yes, I still get up and sing with my heart to my Savior, but is it rejoicing when I let the tears fall, when I feel afraid, when I am struggling with my emotions because I am no longer able to control my muscles or voice because of pain and fatigue? What exactly does it mean to rejoice when we have problems? I’m still seeking God, I still talk with Him, and probably more than before, and I’m not upset with Him in any way or blaming Him in any way… what I don’t know is am I doing something wrong by being scared of uncertainty or crying when the pain gets to be too much or is that just part of it?
Romans 15:4
Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us.
And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently
for God’s promises to be fulfilled.
Romans 15:13
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely
with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will
overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
I feel confident that whatever this illness is that is attacking my body right now, that I will survive and thrive once we figure out what is going on and how to react to it. I trust that God is going to pull me through this, and my only real concerns are to make sure that everything is in line for my children should I happen to be overly optimistic right now… but despite this confidence, I am still afraid of the unknown, still feel sadness at times. Why am I so afraid?
I Corinthians 15:57
But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is why I am not afraid for my well being. I will be alive in one form or another no matter what happens to me. I have no doubt where I will be should I die. I plan to survive, but I don’t fear death because of this promise. Death has lost its grip on me because of Jesus!
II Corinthians 4:16-18
That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying,
our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles
are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that
vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the
troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot
be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we
cannot see will last forever.
Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm,
for God can be trusted to keep his promise.
Hebrews 11:1
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen;
it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
I know that God is faithful; I know He is going to keep His promises, and I know He loves everyone that I love more than I am able. I need to allow myself to really rest in His arms right now so I won’t be overburdened with concerns I don’t need to have, and I don’t know how to do it. I know God will take care of everything because everything is His… I just need to let go a bit more and let Him do His work, and I am having trouble doing it. I want to be able to rest like my children rest when I hold them, peaceful, silent, content, and knowing that I will protect them from anything harmful that comes their way… I know God is that type of a parent, I know He has me in His arms, but for some reason I am still a bit restless, and I don’t want to be.
Okay, before I ramble even more I'm going to get going… sorry this is just a list and questions. Hope you don’t mind too much!
Hugs & Love
I am suffering and in pain. Rescue me, O God, by your saving power.
I’m in pain. Physical and emotional turmoil define my existence right now. So as I was trying to figure out where to go next in my Bible Blog journey my thought was “I need help to figure out what I should do next.” Then I realized what I need right now is HOPE. So today, I’m going to list the messages of hope I have read and enjoyed and thought about today along with some of the thoughts, questions, and if I have them, answers I came up with. Mostly questions though, aimed at myself for my less than perfect reaction to circumstances in my life.
Psalm 42:5
Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!
Why do we allow ourselves to be so discouraged, so sad when God has offered us life through Christ? Why is it that when something goes wrong I wonder what the point of life is on some level even though deep down I know my purpose is to serve God?
Proverbs 23:18
You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed.
Isaiah 40:31
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.
I live in physical pain on a daily basis. How I long to have strength, to soar free like the birds, to not grow tired anymore. I don’t know when it is going to happen, but God has promised that I will do exactly what I wish for one day. I am looking forward to a pain-free existence, in His timing of course, but I’m not that patient of a person and have to admit, I want it now!
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord.
“They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
This is the exact sentiment I have about my current employment situation. I seriously doubt God has put me where I am right now (top of the candidate list for a really good job) if He has an untimely demise planned for me. He is setting me up for success, and this is just one stop on the journey to get to that success… perhaps so I can learn to lean on others when it’s appropriate instead of trying to be self-sufficient to a fault?
Romans 5:3-4
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials,
for we know that they help us develop endurance.
And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens
our confident hope of salvation.
I need to adopt this attitude of rejoicing when facing problems and trials. Yes, I still believe I should praise God, yes, I still get up and sing with my heart to my Savior, but is it rejoicing when I let the tears fall, when I feel afraid, when I am struggling with my emotions because I am no longer able to control my muscles or voice because of pain and fatigue? What exactly does it mean to rejoice when we have problems? I’m still seeking God, I still talk with Him, and probably more than before, and I’m not upset with Him in any way or blaming Him in any way… what I don’t know is am I doing something wrong by being scared of uncertainty or crying when the pain gets to be too much or is that just part of it?
Romans 15:4
Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us.
And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently
for God’s promises to be fulfilled.
Romans 15:13
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely
with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will
overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
I feel confident that whatever this illness is that is attacking my body right now, that I will survive and thrive once we figure out what is going on and how to react to it. I trust that God is going to pull me through this, and my only real concerns are to make sure that everything is in line for my children should I happen to be overly optimistic right now… but despite this confidence, I am still afraid of the unknown, still feel sadness at times. Why am I so afraid?
I Corinthians 15:57
But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is why I am not afraid for my well being. I will be alive in one form or another no matter what happens to me. I have no doubt where I will be should I die. I plan to survive, but I don’t fear death because of this promise. Death has lost its grip on me because of Jesus!
II Corinthians 4:16-18
That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying,
our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles
are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that
vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the
troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot
be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we
cannot see will last forever.
Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm,
for God can be trusted to keep his promise.
Hebrews 11:1
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen;
it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
I know that God is faithful; I know He is going to keep His promises, and I know He loves everyone that I love more than I am able. I need to allow myself to really rest in His arms right now so I won’t be overburdened with concerns I don’t need to have, and I don’t know how to do it. I know God will take care of everything because everything is His… I just need to let go a bit more and let Him do His work, and I am having trouble doing it. I want to be able to rest like my children rest when I hold them, peaceful, silent, content, and knowing that I will protect them from anything harmful that comes their way… I know God is that type of a parent, I know He has me in His arms, but for some reason I am still a bit restless, and I don’t want to be.
Okay, before I ramble even more I'm going to get going… sorry this is just a list and questions. Hope you don’t mind too much!
Hugs & Love
Monday, October 1, 2007
Bible Blog: Romans 15:23-16:27 – October 1, 2007
How to Behave: Part XIV
I’ve been avoiding trying to finish this “How to Behave” series with the I-don’t-feel-well excuse. My mom didn’t buy it when I was a kid, I don’t let my kids get away with it, and my Daddy God isn’t letting me procrastinate any longer. So, since I have plenty of time, I’m going to finish it now.
Romans 15:23-33
23. But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to see you, 24. I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to visit you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25. Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the saints there. 26. For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27. They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. 28. So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this fruit, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. 29. I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ. 30. I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 31. Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there, 32. so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed. 33. The God of peace be with you all. Amen.
A few things jumped out at me when I read this:
1. Paul had a longing for Christian companionship and a time of refreshment. I often hear people say that they worship God in their own way, they don’t need to go to church, etc… While there is nothing wrong with worshiping God in solitude and I think all of us should have our ways of worshiping Him on our own, to do so at the exclusion of interaction with our brothers and sisters in Christ is foolish. I know my church is my family. Without the people at BVBC praying for me, offering emotional support, and even the occasional financial support that they offer, I would be alone. But because I don’t isolate myself from fellow believers, I am blessed with the love that they give me because they are happy to share the love that Christ has given them. When we isolate ourselves from other believers, we isolate ourselves from some of the richest and most meaningful relationships we can ever know.
2. Paul had a desire to share Christ with others. Spain was at the edge of the known world at that time, and Paul wanted to take Christ to the edge of the earth. But, when we think of sharing Christ with others, do we only think of overseas missions and short term missionary projects or do we think of the very real need on our own streets? We are surrounded by people who long to know Jesus, they just need someone willing to show them who He is, and we don’t need to go to China to do that.
3. Asking for prayer is important. We are to rely on each other as brothers and sisters in Christ and share each other’s burdens. If we keep our needs and our burdens to ourselves, how can anyone lift us in prayer or encourage us? We need to swallow our pride and let others help with the hurt we feel. When we do that, we will find that our burdens will be easier to bear and our sorrows will turn to joy more quickly.
Romans 16:1-16
1. I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant[a] of the church in Cenchrea. 2. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me. 3. Greet Priscilla[b] and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. 4. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. 5. Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia. 6. Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you. 7. Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. 8. Greet Ampliatus, whom I love in the Lord. 9. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys. 10. Greet Apelles, tested and approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus. 11. Greet Herodion, my relative. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. 12. Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord. 13. Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too. 14. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brothers with them. 15. Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the saints with them. 16. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.
Obviously, people were important to Paul since he lists friends, family, and other missionaries. One woman in this list stuck out to me though, not because of her achievement, as all that is mentioned is that she worked hard for the Lord, but because Paul calls her “my dear friend Persis”. This is obviously going to be something that is more personal to me than to you, but it is what it is. I have many male friends, and I am a woman. My male friends are closer to me than many of my women friends (and yes, I have quite a few women I consider friends also). But I am often told that men and women shouldn’t be friends, that I should cut all the male friends out of my life and only spend time with women, etc… Here it is, in the Bible, that a man and a woman were not only friends, but they were close friends. They weren’t dating; they weren’t even located near each other! They were FRIENDS! I enjoyed reading this and knowing that the cultural norms of male-female friendships were even breached by Paul. I know, probably not what I should have gotten from this passage, but there you have it.
Romans 16:17-27
17. I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. 19. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. 20. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. 21. Timothy, my fellow worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my relatives. 22. I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord. 23. Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings. Erastus, who is the city's director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings. 25. Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26. but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him— 27. to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Paul is reminding us to keep our eyes open and to avoid deception. It is so easy to just listen to someone else and say “yeah I like that” or “nope, not for me” than it is to look into things and decide for ourselves isn’t it? Yet that is what he is warning us to avoid. If we don’t stay sharp, if we don’t question what we are told, we can easily fall into a trap of deception. I don’t know about you, but I want the glory to go to the only God, who alone is all-wise.
Hugs & Love
I’ve been avoiding trying to finish this “How to Behave” series with the I-don’t-feel-well excuse. My mom didn’t buy it when I was a kid, I don’t let my kids get away with it, and my Daddy God isn’t letting me procrastinate any longer. So, since I have plenty of time, I’m going to finish it now.
Romans 15:23-33
23. But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to see you, 24. I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to visit you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25. Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the saints there. 26. For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27. They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. 28. So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this fruit, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. 29. I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ. 30. I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 31. Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there, 32. so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed. 33. The God of peace be with you all. Amen.
A few things jumped out at me when I read this:
1. Paul had a longing for Christian companionship and a time of refreshment. I often hear people say that they worship God in their own way, they don’t need to go to church, etc… While there is nothing wrong with worshiping God in solitude and I think all of us should have our ways of worshiping Him on our own, to do so at the exclusion of interaction with our brothers and sisters in Christ is foolish. I know my church is my family. Without the people at BVBC praying for me, offering emotional support, and even the occasional financial support that they offer, I would be alone. But because I don’t isolate myself from fellow believers, I am blessed with the love that they give me because they are happy to share the love that Christ has given them. When we isolate ourselves from other believers, we isolate ourselves from some of the richest and most meaningful relationships we can ever know.
2. Paul had a desire to share Christ with others. Spain was at the edge of the known world at that time, and Paul wanted to take Christ to the edge of the earth. But, when we think of sharing Christ with others, do we only think of overseas missions and short term missionary projects or do we think of the very real need on our own streets? We are surrounded by people who long to know Jesus, they just need someone willing to show them who He is, and we don’t need to go to China to do that.
3. Asking for prayer is important. We are to rely on each other as brothers and sisters in Christ and share each other’s burdens. If we keep our needs and our burdens to ourselves, how can anyone lift us in prayer or encourage us? We need to swallow our pride and let others help with the hurt we feel. When we do that, we will find that our burdens will be easier to bear and our sorrows will turn to joy more quickly.
Romans 16:1-16
1. I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant[a] of the church in Cenchrea. 2. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me. 3. Greet Priscilla[b] and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. 4. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. 5. Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia. 6. Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you. 7. Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. 8. Greet Ampliatus, whom I love in the Lord. 9. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys. 10. Greet Apelles, tested and approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus. 11. Greet Herodion, my relative. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. 12. Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord. 13. Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too. 14. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brothers with them. 15. Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the saints with them. 16. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.
Obviously, people were important to Paul since he lists friends, family, and other missionaries. One woman in this list stuck out to me though, not because of her achievement, as all that is mentioned is that she worked hard for the Lord, but because Paul calls her “my dear friend Persis”. This is obviously going to be something that is more personal to me than to you, but it is what it is. I have many male friends, and I am a woman. My male friends are closer to me than many of my women friends (and yes, I have quite a few women I consider friends also). But I am often told that men and women shouldn’t be friends, that I should cut all the male friends out of my life and only spend time with women, etc… Here it is, in the Bible, that a man and a woman were not only friends, but they were close friends. They weren’t dating; they weren’t even located near each other! They were FRIENDS! I enjoyed reading this and knowing that the cultural norms of male-female friendships were even breached by Paul. I know, probably not what I should have gotten from this passage, but there you have it.
Romans 16:17-27
17. I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. 19. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. 20. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. 21. Timothy, my fellow worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my relatives. 22. I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord. 23. Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings. Erastus, who is the city's director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings. 25. Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26. but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him— 27. to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Paul is reminding us to keep our eyes open and to avoid deception. It is so easy to just listen to someone else and say “yeah I like that” or “nope, not for me” than it is to look into things and decide for ourselves isn’t it? Yet that is what he is warning us to avoid. If we don’t stay sharp, if we don’t question what we are told, we can easily fall into a trap of deception. I don’t know about you, but I want the glory to go to the only God, who alone is all-wise.
Hugs & Love
October
It's October.
I feel like September was a huge waste of time. I don't want October to be a waste.
I've decided that I will force myself to write a Bible Blog entry every day even if it takes several hours because I keep falling asleep. I have all the time to do this and nothing else to do except when my children are home on the weekends, so why wouldn't I read AND write about God? Yes, I've been reading my Bible and praying, but it's often interrupted by 2-3 hour long naps. I'm really looking forward to this being done!
I'm going to continue with a project I started 2 weeks ago, I'm going to keep looking up passages of scripture that are associated with songs we sing in church or choir or that I have sung in camp as a kid, etc... It's encouraging to realize I really do know more about the content of the Bible than my memory can recall by just mentioning a passage.
I'm going to set small daily goals for attacking my laundry issue. I still have tons of laundry in bags from the fire we had last year this time. It's still in bags because most of it had been sorted by size and time of year, etc... and was about to be donated then all got mixed up. I have the time to sort it, it's not an overly strenuous task, I should really get to it since I'm home anyway.
I'm going to try to rebuild my strength. I am so physically weak that just walking to the car wears me out. But I want to start dancing again, I miss it a lot! I want to have the energy to go an a hike with the kids, or to play at the playground with them. I want to be able to drive myself to church without feeling like I'm going to fall over by the time I get there!
I'm going to sort through all the toys, also all mixed up because of the fire, and get rid of the things that are no longer age appropriate by donating the good-quality toys to the church (or the Charity George garage sale if it happens) and trashing the rest.
I think that's a pretty ambitious to-do list, don't you? I guess we'll see how October goes soon enough. I hope I am not setting myself up for failure with that list, I know how tired I am still!
Hugs & Love
I feel like September was a huge waste of time. I don't want October to be a waste.
I've decided that I will force myself to write a Bible Blog entry every day even if it takes several hours because I keep falling asleep. I have all the time to do this and nothing else to do except when my children are home on the weekends, so why wouldn't I read AND write about God? Yes, I've been reading my Bible and praying, but it's often interrupted by 2-3 hour long naps. I'm really looking forward to this being done!
I'm going to continue with a project I started 2 weeks ago, I'm going to keep looking up passages of scripture that are associated with songs we sing in church or choir or that I have sung in camp as a kid, etc... It's encouraging to realize I really do know more about the content of the Bible than my memory can recall by just mentioning a passage.
I'm going to set small daily goals for attacking my laundry issue. I still have tons of laundry in bags from the fire we had last year this time. It's still in bags because most of it had been sorted by size and time of year, etc... and was about to be donated then all got mixed up. I have the time to sort it, it's not an overly strenuous task, I should really get to it since I'm home anyway.
I'm going to try to rebuild my strength. I am so physically weak that just walking to the car wears me out. But I want to start dancing again, I miss it a lot! I want to have the energy to go an a hike with the kids, or to play at the playground with them. I want to be able to drive myself to church without feeling like I'm going to fall over by the time I get there!
I'm going to sort through all the toys, also all mixed up because of the fire, and get rid of the things that are no longer age appropriate by donating the good-quality toys to the church (or the Charity George garage sale if it happens) and trashing the rest.
I think that's a pretty ambitious to-do list, don't you? I guess we'll see how October goes soon enough. I hope I am not setting myself up for failure with that list, I know how tired I am still!
Hugs & Love
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